I, Kenneth, am going to get to the root of the problem today.

Page 19

Upon hearing Hyakko's report, Kirei Kotomine froze.

"Have they all disappeared? Then Father must be dead too. Should I show a sad expression now?"

"Sadness? Fear? Anger... those are the emotions I should be expressing..."

As Kirei Kotomine trembled and repeatedly questioned himself, Hyakko's voice rang in his ears once again.

"Master, the church has fallen. It's now a sea of ​​fire, and we haven't found Lord Lizheng."

"I understand, let's put out the fire first."

His voice trembled as that strange emotion surged into Kirei Kotomine's mind once more. Suppressing the turmoil in his heart, Kirei Kotomine's voice returned to its previous calm.

"Do everything you can to find my father. Notify me immediately if there are any developments."

After severing contact with Hyakko, Kirei Kotomine used a gem to contact Tokiomi Tohsaka, who was in the basement.

"Kiri, what happened?"

Suppressing the strange feeling in his heart once again, Kirei Kotomine said in a calm tone:

"Teacher, just now, the church was attacked, and all the Assassins who stayed behind were killed. Our plan may have been exposed."

Silence fell immediately on the other end of the phone. It took Tokiomi Tohsaka a long time to break free from his unease.

"Let's proceed according to plan. The attackers shouldn't have leaked information about Assassin. Do you know who did it?"

"The other party's methods are very subtle, and coupled with the means of isolating Assassin's empathy, it is very likely that they are Caster."

As Tokiomi Tohsaka's palm caressed the gemstones engraved on his cane, his tense nerves relaxed a little.

"Fortunately, it's just Caster. Caster's territory is nothing compared to that king's Noble Phantasm."

Constantly reassuring himself, Tokiomi Tohsaka then remembered Kotomine Risei's problem. The thought of the Command Seals accumulated by the church made Tokiomi Tohsaka's heart leap into his throat.

"Kirei, how is Mr. Risei doing?"

"The church has been set ablaze, and there is currently no trace of my father."

The breathing on the other end of the gem disappeared, and after a long while, Tokiomi Tohsaka slowly uttered two words.

"Condolences."

Kirei Kotomine's expression did not change in the slightest because of Tokiomi Tohsaka's words. Gazing into the distance, Kirei Kotomine seemed to see a sea of ​​fire, and in that sea of ​​fire, there was a lifeless corpse.

Thinking about such a scene stirred a ripple in Kirei Kotomine's heart, and an unusual seed began to sprout in his mind.

"So, teacher, what should I do next?"

Noticing the tremor in Kirei Kotomine's voice, Tokiomi Tohsaka assumed it was due to grief over his father's death and didn't think much of it. His gaze fell on the closed door, and Tokiomi said in a serious voice:

"Kirei, I understand how you feel, but the most important thing right now is to help me obtain the Holy Grail according to Mr. Risei's last wishes. So I hope you can cheer up, adjust your emotions, and do your best to help me obtain the Holy Grail."

……

"I understand, teacher."

After hanging up the communication, Kirei Kotomine, following Tokiomi Tohsaka's instructions, walked towards the church in Fuyuki City like a puppet. Tokiomi Tohsaka's words of forceful righteousness echoed in his mind, and imagining the other party's earnest performance, Kirei Kotomine's heart stirred again.

Chapter 47: The Holy Grail War Is About to Begin

The ahoge (cowlick) has finally made its appearance.jpg

Golden spiritual particles gathered in front of the French windows, and Gilgamesh, expressionless, reappeared in the study of the Tohsaka residence.

"You really bothered me with such a trivial matter, Tokiomi."

Gilgamesh picked up the wine glass on the table, crossed his legs, and sat down in front of Tokiomi Tohsaka with the 'click-clack' sound of his golden armor.

"Your Majesty, there have been some minor changes to the plan. Would you mind...?"

"Are you trying to fool me! You're just a mere subject; the king's glory is not something you can use so casually!! Find your place, Tokiomi!!"

Despite Gilgamesh's reprimand, Tokiomi Tohsaka maintained his bow, his head bowed, his expression one of utter disdain.

"My willingness to condescend to descend upon you is already an immense favor. Do you still wish to embarrass me with your foolish ideas?!"

“Your Majesty, in order to rid the country of those rebellious people who covet your treasures, I, as your subject, have no choice but to offer this advice. I beg Your Majesty to forgive my transgression.”

'Snap!'

Crimson wine dripped from the broken goblet onto the luxurious carpet, and Gilgamesh's face was suddenly overwhelmed with rage.

"You scoundrels who covet my treasures!! Whether they are qualified to hold my treasures should be determined by me. Fine, I will forgive you for now."

"All the treasures in the world belong to me, whether it be the Holy Grail or anything else. Those monstrous cultivators start fighting over them without my permission, and this is something I, the king, cannot tolerate!!"

"Tokiomi, I'm entrusting the detailed plan to you. Don't embarrass me; my patience is limited."

......

Only after Gilgamesh completely disappeared did Tokiomi Tohsaka, who had been bowing the whole time, straighten up, put the half-full glass of red wine back on the desk, and gracefully rubbed his slightly sore shoulders as he sat down in the seat Gilgamesh had previously occupied.

"Seriously, the original plan was for Saber, so why did Gilgamesh descend as an Archer and act alone? And it seems like Kotomine Ritsumasa is already dead... If that's the case..."

Looking down at the back of his hand, Tokiomi Tohsaka made up his mind.

"At least one Command Seal should be left."

After a while, the ruby ​​on the brooch began to sparkle. As he swirled the red wine in his glass, Tokiomi Tohsaka elegantly placed his fingers by his ear.

"How is the situation, Qili?"

"The church grounds were completely burned down, and no clues were left at the scene."

"Where are the Command Seals? And is the Spirit Disk that monitors Servants still there?"

Even though he already had a guess in his mind, Tokiomi Tohsaka still wanted to struggle a bit.

“The Command Seals and the Spirit Disc are both on my father. The attack on the church's servants must have been for this. Master, our information may have been leaked.”

Tokiomi Tohsaka gripped the cane tighter, desperately trying to suppress his inner unease.

"Kirei, continue with the original plan. A smart person will not leak information. All groups other than the attackers will think you have lost your qualifications. Now that Mr. Risei is no longer here, as the successor, you can reasonably inherit the position of Overseer. Find out as soon as possible who attacked the church and order their elimination on the grounds of breaking the rules."

"I understand, teacher."

Having severed communication with Tokiomi Tohsaka, Kirei Kotomine looked up. In the sweltering heat, his face was etched with shadows by the firelight. At the edge of his vision, a charred corpse was being licked by the flames...

The morning sunlight wiped away the murderous intent of the night, and Kenneth, who had a fruitful night, answered the call from Lion Jie Li.

"Lord, the Magician Assassin arrived in Fuyuki City an hour ago. A minute ago, he went into a hotel; he should be meeting his assistant."

"Continue to monitor. I will issue an invitation at Fuyuki Port tonight, and I will send you the suitable sniping positions later."

......

After disconnecting from communications and watching the first light of dawn on the horizon, Kenneth, who hadn't slept all night, stretched and lay down on his bed. Before his true identity was revealed, Kenneth planned to abide by the rules of the Holy Grail War and obediently wait for nightfall.

"Lancer, wake me up before dusk. I'm counting on you tonight."

"Get some rest, Master."

Even breathing filled the air as Karna thoughtfully brought Kenneth a blanket, which stood like a statue beside Kenneth's chair. While Kenneth waited for nightfall, the unsuspecting Waver happily shared the news of Assassin's departure with Iskandar; in the hotel, Kiritsugu Emiya questioned Hisau Maiya's recording.

Faced with this open and blatant battle, Kiritsugu Emiya, a notorious assassin, increasingly questioned the authenticity of Kirei Kotomine's betrayal.

"Woo——"

A plane from Germany landed. Irisviel, with red eyes and white hair, who was fighting against the Chinese special forces, stepped down the escalator with a wisp of silver hair. After being amused by Artoria's remarks about holding the reins and flying the plane, the two walked out of the airport surrounded by a group of artificial maids.

"Alicefell, are the clothes I'm wearing really appropriate for this era?"

"Don't worry, the clothes I'm wearing for this trip are all the most suitable for ordinary people in this era, so there won't be any problems."

Feeling the stares of passersby, Artoria reluctantly accepted Irisviel's explanation and got into the Einzbern family's car. Irisviel's eyes lit up as she observed the street scenes along the way.

Sensing Irisviel's anticipation and learning about her past, Artoria immediately had her maid pull the car over to the side of the road. Like a prince, Artoria opened the car door and extended an invitation to this lady whose physical and mental age were completely inconsistent.

By sheer coincidence, Irisviel, holding Artoria's arm and with a faint green glow emanating from her head, appeared outside the inn where Kiritsugu Emiya was staying. Just as Kairi Shishikate was about to report the matter to Kenneth, the lively and energetic Irisviel grabbed Artoria's arm and quickly left the scene of Kiritsugu Emiya's infidelity.

"Phew, is it a coincidence? Oh well, let's keep observing."

Unaware of Irisviel's subtle movements, Shishikatsu Kairi informed the others of their location and continued to stake out outside the inn where Emiya Kiritsugu was staying.

"Master, the time has come."

Called by Karna, Kenneth opened his bloodshot eyes and went to the bathroom. Stimulated by the cold water, Kenneth adjusted himself to his best condition.

"Lancer, has any new information come in from over there?"

After tidying up his somewhat messy slicked-back hair, Kenneth got up, took his coat from the hanger, and opened the door.

“Saber and her substitute Master have arrived and are currently strolling around the city. Caster hopes we can make a big commotion tonight; she wants to go to the Einzbern castle to set things up.”

"I see. It looks like tonight is going to be very interesting. Let's go. The stage is all set up. As the hosts, we can't keep our guests waiting."

Tonight, the Holy Grail War will officially begin, and Kenneth's blood is boiling at this moment.

"Come on, Kiritsugu Emiya, let me see if you can feed me a few peanuts!!"

Chapter 48 Garen Whisper

Before sunset, after making the port workers skip work for a night without cause, the unscrupulous capitalist Kenneth walked into the bunker that had been prepared beforehand.

"Lancer, it's up to you now. Unleash your full power."

After arranging for bystanders to dispel the barrier and casting a concealment spell on himself, Kenneth also used magic to suppress the temperature of his body surface to a level that blended with the environment. Touching the expensive bulletproof vest he had bought, Kenneth, having made all the necessary preparations, gave Karna the same order as in the original story.

Kenneth absolutely had to wear a bulletproof vest. Ordinary bullets couldn't penetrate the protection of the Moon Spirit Fluid, but the Origin Bullet was the nemesis of all magic. To avoid being hit by a 7.62 caliber bullet, Kenneth had no choice but to use technological countermeasures against attacks from the technological side.

"This body can't be out of the game so soon. Level IV bulletproof vest, don't let me down!!"

After confirming that Kenneth's hiding place was safe, Karna, having released his spirit form, was engulfed in crimson divine fire. The tip of his indestructible spear sliced ​​through the concrete, and the expressionless little sun silently emanated the aura of a top-tier Servant.

Upon sensing the aura of the divine little sun, Gilgamesh's goblet shattered instantly.

"You lowly cultivator, are you provoking me?! How dare you act so insolently in my back garden! Are you prepared to quench my rage with your filthy blood?!"

"My king, please calm your anger. Those servants are nothing but clowns in your glory. As the king of kings, you only need to sit on your throne and watch them perform. Only those who survive to the end are qualified to have an audience with the king."

"You're trying to teach me how to do things!!!"

Facing the enraged Gilgamesh, Tokiomi Tohsaka, bowing respectfully, forced a smile and explained:

"I dare not, it is merely my humble advice, and I urge Your Majesty to consider it carefully."

Ignoring Tokiomi Tohsaka, who was practically bent over at a 90-degree angle, Gilgamesh snorted and vanished from the Tohsaka residence in spirit form. Raising his head, Tokiomi Tohsaka looked at the Command Seals on the back of his hand, but ultimately couldn't make up his mind.

Similarly, on the Fuyuki Bridge, while pouring strong liquor into his mouth, Iskandar paid no attention to Weber, who was lying on the bridge roof in an OR2 position with his buttocks sticking out and trembling. His squinting eyes took in Karna on the dock.

"What a terrifying aura! He's an amazing servant, little Master. I've decided, I'm going to invite him to join my ranks!! Hahaha!!"

"Rider, take me down here quickly!! I want to go back to England, I want to go back to England!!"

"What?! Isn't this the perfect spot for watching the battle? And how can you, as my Master, the King of Conquerors, show such an expression? Come on, stand up with me, with dignity!!"

With a gulp of the strong liquor in his mouth, Iskadar lifted Webber up to him like a chick, and as his feet left the solid steel, Webber let out a hysterical scream.

"Quiet, you are my Conqueror King's Master! What kind of behavior is this, crying and sobbing like this? Look, things are finally changing!!"

Following the King of Conquerors' gaze, Waver, who was holding the King of Conquerors' arm, also looked towards the distant port. In his field of vision, Artoria, wearing a fitted suit, was already standing opposite Karna.

An invisible wind began to swirl, and a blue-green vortex of magic enveloped Artoria. *Balala energy, whoosh whoosh*, the little ahoge transformed completely!! *Ahem, wrong scene*, dazzling white light illuminated the harbor. Taking a step forward, silver iron boots stepped out of the vortex, and a form-fitting skirt armor covered the delicate body of the girl named Artoria (A-cup). Illusory winds swirled around the holy sword in her hand, and a solemn light shone in her azure eyes.

"Clear eyes, the last king under the afterglow of the divine age, your soldiers uphold your noble virtue, bid farewell to the past, and bear the burden of all living beings. Your life is full of legends, so why deny your past? Were you influenced by rumors? No, you are not ignorant of people's hearts, you just do not respond to expectations. Did you already know the ending when you made your choice? Why feel guilty for your predetermined fate?"

It's starting, it's starting again, Karna has started again!

“Saber…”

Knowing Artoria's wish, Irisviel immediately realized that the Servant opposite her had read Artoria's true name. Muttering to herself, Irisviel looked at the girl standing with her sword with concern.

"Nonsense!! A deceptive and misleading doctrine. If...if only back then..."

“Saber, calm down, don’t let their words affect you.”

Through the Command Seals, Kiritsugu Emiya's voice echoed in Artoria's mind. Realizing that she had indeed lost her composure, she adjusted her mindset, her hand holding the sword stopped trembling, and Artoria tried to calm her breathing.

"Lancer, I must admit, your words have affected me. As a knight, I cannot condone your despicable behavior!!"

"So I was really disliked? I finished speaking exactly as Master instructed, so why is it still like this?"

Faced with the furious Artoria, Karna's face also showed distress. Artoria, who was always on guard against Karna's movements, subjectively believed that Karna was humiliating her. She gripped the hilt of her sword with both hands, and the moment the ground shattered, Artoria appeared in front of Karna.

'Clang—!'