Unedited*
At the Morwen Family's main building.
"Mr. Gerard, what brings you here?" Thalion came running to greet a guest he had been expecting—but didn't want to see.
Gerard, the S-Rank, had returned three months later, just as agreed.
He looked away from the fish tank they had there and turned to Thalion. "I'm here for that thing; I think you were already expecting me." He smiled.
Thalion forced a smile. "Although you're not arriving at a good time—I thought you'd come at the end of the month."
Gerard laughed. "As I said, it was three months. Anyway, I think I've arrived at a good time. I heard the good news about that boy—I think it's a cause for celebration for the whole island that he's so talented, right?"
"It makes us researchers and academics happy," Thalion acknowledged. "But not the Rankers."
"Oh?" Gerard was immediately intrigued. "I'd like to hear more about that."
