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Rimuru was a different person. His education was in business and management, not just thaumaturgy. And in business, bowing your head wasn't a defeat. It was a tactical maneuver. You bowed so you could get close enough to the other party to swallow them whole.
"Ah, you are quite right, Lord Meluastea."
His voice was soft, almost gentle.
May turned to him in surprise, her eyes widening with delight. But as she looked closer, she saw that the golden hue of his eyes had deepened. There was something profound and calculating swimming in those depths.
"It is Blue. Unmistakably."
Rimuru might not be adept at navigating the ancient, rigid etiquette of magi, but if this was a game of corporate warfare? He wouldn't lose to a bunch of stuffy old men.
If you want to invite me to the table, I'll play. But be warned. I'm not the prey. I'm the shark. And the winner takes all.
"Oh..."
Meluastea was visibly taken aback. He had expected resistance, perhaps an angry outburst denying the title. Choking on his own trap, he twitched his thin mustache nervously.
"Ahem. Well... it seems Lord Rimuru has undergone quite a significant change recently. Hahaha..."
"Indeed, quite significant." Rimuru shook his head slowly, his smile never wavering. He locked eyes with the Archaeology Lord. "Is there anything else you would like to ask? Lord Meluastea?"
He placed a heavy, deliberate emphasis on the name.
It was a subtle threat: I remember you. I know who you are.
Rimuru knew exactly what he was doing. Meluastea belonged to the Neutral Faction. He wasn't afraid of offending him.
The reality of the board was simple: The Neutral and Democratic factions would likely vote against him anyway. Rimuru and the Archelots were staunchly Aristocratic.
In this twisted web of politics, even a rival like Eulyphis was a safer bet than a "Neutral" party.
The Aristocratic Faction currently held six of the twelve seats. That gave them massive leverage, essentially veto power. If Rimuru joined their ranks...
Good lord, Rimuru thought. If I get in, the 'Academic Assembly' might as well rename itself the 'Aristocratic Assembly'.
Seeing Rimuru actively pressure a sitting Lord, a flicker of surprise passed through Eulyphis's eyes. Lord Gaius, meanwhile, looked visibly relieved, and perhaps a little proud. Good lad. Looks like he won't be a liability after all.
Suddenly, a voice drifted from the second seat.
"Speaking of which..."
Lord Trambelio, the old fox who had appeared to be asleep until this very moment, slowly opened his eyes. His voice was faint, ghostly, like an old man waking from a nap.
"Lord Rimuru is currently a Grade 3 Lecturer in the Department of General Fundamentals, is he not? If he becomes a Professor... I assume he would remain a Professor of General Fundamentals?"
The audacious old bastard!
The mental curse echoed simultaneously in the minds of almost everyone in the room.
It was a naked power play.
Trambelio was the Lord of General Fundamentals. By asking this, he was signaling his terms: 'If you agree to stay in my department, under my thumb, I will support your promotion.'
He was trying to snatch the moon from the water before anyone else could reach for it.
"Isn't the Professor position and department assignment decided by the Director?"
Rimuru tilted his head, feigning innocence.
"While the Director makes the formal proposal, every Magus has their own style and specialized field of research," May explained helpfully, playing along.
It was like expecting a PhD in Biology to suddenly teach Quantum Physics. It didn't happen.
"So, even if the Director designates a position, it's usually based on a combination of your past performance and your own subjective preference."
She smiled. "And knowing the Director's style over the years... your personal preference will likely account for the majority of the decision."
In other words: The Director respected the autonomy of the Magus.
"I see." Rimuru nodded slowly, tapping his chin in thought.
He had to admit, being stared down by twelve of the most powerful people in the magical world was... surprisingly exhilarating.
"That being said," Rimuru spoke up, addressing the room, "I believe we should wait for the Director's final allocation."
He turned to Lord Trambelio and offered a polite, apologetic nod.
" However, I have spent several years as a Lecturer in the field of Magical Contagion. It is one of the few areas where I have genuine experience. Therefore, should my position change, I would hope that Lord Trambelio might allow me to retain my status as a Lecturer within the Mystile."
Mystile. The name of the massive lecture hall for the Department of General Fundamentals.
This answer didn't surprise the other Lords. It was the standard political maneuver, the "Kayneth Strategy." When Kayneth had branched out from the Eulyphis faction to establish the El-Melloi independence, he had done the exact same thing to maintain good relations: he kept his position as a First-Class Lecturer in his old mentor's department.
It was a way of saying, 'I'm moving up, but I'm not cutting ties.'
Trambelio didn't look thrilled, but he wasn't angry either. It was the baseline result he had expected.
In reality, blocking Rimuru from becoming a Professor was impossible.
As May had pointed out, Rimuru had the backing of the Archelot family. He had personal ties to Aozaki Aoko (the Fifth Magician) and the Kuonji family (the last pure-blooded witches). He had the Tempest lineage.
Once a man with that resume stopped being a recluse and started accumulating prestige, holding him back was futile. Even if they all voted "No" today, he would climb the ladder eventually.
After all, a Professor wasn't a Lord. Even if this specific Professorship was a "ticket" to the inner circle, the agenda item wasn't "Shall we crown Rimuru a King?"
Blocking him too hard would only create unnecessary enmity.
Whether this motion passed or not, the moment Rimuru agreed to meet the Director, his promotion to First-Class Lecturer was guaranteed. The title of Professor would land on his head within a year, max.
So why bring it to a vote at all?
Simple. Horse trading.
This meeting was a marketplace for exchanging favors and gauging attitudes.
Rimuru had clearly signaled that he was aligned with the Aristocratic Faction, but he had also extended an olive branch to Trambelio, promising continued cooperation.
Trambelio calculated the odds. No matter how much this kid jumps around, he can't overthrow the absolute status of the Three Great Families. Might as well do him a favor now. I'll support you, but you owe me one.
….
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