The Meaning of the Seniors

Hearing this, Kitasan Black's gaze shifted slightly with a hint of realization. "That's not it, Almond Eye. I think I mentioned this before—the late-entry system for the Triple Crown—"

She paused, her tone turning certain. "It only started back in Senior Oguri Cap's time."

She recalled, "Just as Agnes Tachyon said, Senior Oguri Cap was so strong back then, yet she couldn't compete in the Triple Crown. So many people found it terribly, terribly regrettable that they jointly petitioned the URA Association.

"I heard the Association initially clung stubbornly to the rules, but in the end—they still gave in to the pressure and amended them. That was how the current late-entry system came about. The reason many seniors were later able to leave their mark on the Triple Crown was because of that."

"S-So that happened..." Almond Eye said in realization.

"Yes. I happened to hear Senior Oguri Cap talk about it herself once when I was training. And—"

After confirming it, Daiwa Scarlet lowered her voice. "And among the people who ran around and petitioned on her behalf back then was Senior Symboli Rudolph. I also heard that—she even bowed her head to the Association, to that chairman."

The air inside the carriage seemed to freeze for a moment.

They had seen Symboli Rudolph's imposing figure at the hearing, cape fluttering with dignity, her every word carrying finality. They had seen the legendary lineup behind her, gathered with the brilliance of an entire era.

And now, hearing that "she even bowed her head" made it difficult to imagine—almost unreal.

Could that "Emperor," invincible in everyone's memories, with eyes like blazing torches, also lower her proud head for something, for someone?

After a moment, Daiwa Scarlet spoke with a trace of emotion and regret. "It's just a shame, and deeply