Promotion

The clan leader's words lingered in the air, painting a picture of limited choice for Emery in refusing the bestowed position. The genuine surprise that crossed Emery's face didn't go unnoticed by the astute eyes of the female grand magus.

"There is no need to be surprised; this is a promotion, an upgrade from a mere subsidiary outsider to a Count, a Nephilim second-class nobles," she explained with a reassuring smile, attempting to cast the development in a positive light.

With the clan leader having left the room, the female grand magus shifted her demeanor, signaling her readiness to address the situation more candidly. Emery, having some awareness the intricate workings of his promotion, perceived it as a shift from a faction member to a position that carried increased responsibilities, akin to some kind of employment.