Theft, Swindling and Honesty

When Aoi Tohsaka finally ovulated a week since Sierra left Japan for mainland...she quickly went for her quarry.

Extracting her capsule and taking a chunk of hair at the tip where Aoi won't notice, as well as tubes of blood, Sierra quickly went home to Clock Tower to open her shop to maintain her facade, and start polishing her wares.

She has a full stock of precious gems. A chest worth each gem since magi are such...gem hogs.

She also saw order requests in her Message Machine.

'Humm...I gotta do these specific jobs huh? Good thing I went on a raid or they'll be mad.'

She flipped the sign on her store.

There were three signs. Open, Closed, and At Work.

At Work means, she's polishing her wares before she opens up shop.

Then she worked on the clone, and Waver's children at night.

A genetically-tweaked Tohsaka Aoi so she looks different from the original. She did not tell Sirius her name so he wouldn't slip. The clone will take about a month to be born with the knowledge she put in and removed while the children will grow the more food they got. Upon genetically-tweaking the fertilized egg cells and maximizing the Sorcery Trait using her own magic, this ensured that Waver, who was born with seven circuits, may have more than the typical boost when the fertilized cells eventually gain life. And the children are designed to develop quickly up to at least, age 5 before releasing them from their tanks in order to age normally. They are fed lots of nutrients that would ensure they come out smart. And Waver has two sons and one daughter.

All they have to do now, is wait.

Back to the shop she went, while observing the war from afar...

'Alrighty, I got some top priority orders done, I can relax now.'

Were her thoughts as she went to polishing diamonds.

She doesn't just supply jewels for Jewelcraft. She also makes actual jewelry too. Be it golden bracelets studded with gems and such.

But also jewel-encrusted and studded Mystic Codes.

As a Witch, one of her inherent abilities is Enchanting.

Stuff like Charmed Tents exist because of Enchantments. Magi cannot Enchant even if their lives depended on it as Enchanted Objects last a long time even if its caster is dead. Stuff created by Magi don't last long thus required constant maintenance, upkeep and bounded fields to hide it from Gaia.

Ahem, 'She's a Magus who could Enchant.' they say!

Not to mention no Bounded Fields except for typical security stuff, her works last a long time.

Nobody could believe it but as Magecraft is a Mystery, everyone else was trying to enchant their wares too and figuring out how she does it.

"Sorry guys, but you're of the wrong race!" Sierra sniggered.

Oh well.

xxx

The bells of her shop tinkled.

'Irrashai!' Sierra greeted Lord Edelfelt, her customer as she took out a five-layered suitcase of her own make and removed the card bearing the Edelfelt Name stuck on it. 'Your order tallies to 9.5 million pounds.'

Raising and maintaining a family specializing in Jewelcraft, you gotta keep money raining on you somehow.

'Mm.'

While he was paying, Zelretch came in that got Lord Edelfelt wary.

'Irrashai! Yours are here too.' Sierra took out a ten-layered suitcase. '20 million!'

Granted, a 900 years old vampire is very rich but isn't that a bit much?! That was Lord Edelfelt's thoughts.

'What the hell are his orders?!' he burst out.

'Specially-cut and polished jewels that cost me sleepless days.' said Sierra flatly. 'I'm not gonna ask what it's for.'

Zelretch cackled.

'For fun stuff of course!' Zelretch grinned, all teeth and jovially left after paying up, leaving Lord Edelfelt sputtering.

Next was her master.

'Sierra, you've been to Japan I recall?' Inorai asked Sierra.

'Yes. I wanted to see heroes upfront~!' Sierra took out clearly stolen shots but well-taken stolen shots of Servants except for Assassin and Berserker. 'Can't take Assassin and Berserker, don't wanna die too young and I can't find Caster. At least I got the others though.'

'Mm. Their identities?'

'All I know is their Servant Classes and whose are those, but I could care less about soon-to-die masters anyway. I care more for once-a-blue-moon sightings like long dead heroes called up for a ritual.' said Sierra apathetically to hide the fact she knows Waver's a Master. 'They're mysteries themselves since History Books tend to be biased I wanna see the real deal.'

'Mm.' Inorai nodded. Indeed, who cares for soon-to-be corpses? Lord El-Melloi may be a fellow lord but he'll soon be just another corpse.

'I'm missing four people but it cannot be helped unless I scored a real opportunity somehow.' Sierra pouted. 'Can I stick around longer, sensei?' she asked around hopefully with puppy-dog eyes with clasped hands.

'Triple homework: report about the war and those shots had better look good.' the old woman's eyes glinted.

'Deal!'

xxx

Fuyuki, Japan...

Unknown to Inorai, Sierra has had a Headstart in her life-risking Triple Homework, considering she has eyes EVERYWHERE.

Even in the so-called secure mansions of the two magus families and Einzbern Castle.

Her kind and House Elves can bypass Bounded Fields with no trouble, thank you.

'Ehhhh?! Compile a report about the War? Isn't that the Church's Job?!' Waver sputtered as they met up in his apartment. Moreover the Tower would know about him!

'Not if they're gonna be biased about it...Tohsaka and the Kotomines are in cahoots I wouldn't expect an honest report from them if sensei chucked me here. The Tohsaka are Christians and have a good relationship with the Church.' Sierra snarked. 'Come to think of it, it's been days since the battle in the Shipyard isn't it?'

'Yeah. Nobody's been active since and I'm getting really bored.' said Rider. 'The heck is everyone doing?'

'Gathering intel and trying to spy on others, no doubt. Same as I'm doing on sensei's homework.' said Sierra. 'In a war like this, Information is worth more than gold.'

'Mm. True. Because faulty information would mean death.' said Rider, agreeing seriously. 'As King where my subordinates' lives are in my hands, I make their deaths at least, worth something for the sake of others.'

'But really? Tohsaka and the Church are in league? That's kinda worrying.' Waver frowned.

'Yup. I'm still discerning why. They faked Assassin's death in order for Assassin to spy and Tokiomi's doing the offensive. The problem is that arrogant goldie himself. I don't see him obeying him anytime soon.'

'Indeed so. He has every right to.' said Rider. 'He is immensely powerful and with pride to match, he's really angry he was ordered to retreat.'

'Yes. Archers have Independent Action too. So they got leeway to be very, very difficult.' Sierra shook her head. 'Sucks to be Tohsaka now but he was the idiot who summoned a hero way outta his league in the first place. There's a price for everything. Indeed, Archer is powerful but in turn, a pain in the ass to deal with. Moreover he is made to be bound to a two-faced flatterer and the guy can clearly see through Tohsaka. He's no fool. Makes me wonder who he is...so what are you guys up to?'

'Well, we're taking our time relaxing since.' said Rider. 'I'm being careful in resupplying myself with Mana so I don't kill bouzu by accident.' he said.

'And we're watching TV so we'd know our next course of action too.' said Waver. 'So far, our fight at the shipyard was reported as 'mysterious explosion'. Have you told Lord Valueleta about this...alliance of theirs yet?'

'Not until I got all facts. She got wind I've been to Japan and I got Triple Homework by reporting the war.'

'By the way...' Waver frowned. 'Your eyesight is good, why the glasses?'

'To protect myself from Lancer.' Sierra stated flatly. 'He has a cursed mole on his face that any girl who looks at him will fall hopelessly helplessly in love with him and the curse is in effect even if he's gone from this world. It has the same effects as Mystic Eyes so I got myself these special glasses. I looked at books at home and his identity is Diarmuid Ua Duibhne.'

'Oho! We know his Noble Phantasms then!' Rider perked up. 'Gotta avoid those cursed spears of his!'

'By the way, activity update.' said Sierra, quickly activating her writing machine. 'Saber's Master blew up a hotel to get to Lord El-Melloi.'

'WHAT?!'

'By the way shoujo...how do you know all this?' Rider asked, intrigued as Waver turned on the TV to see the news.

/We've just got a report on a terrorist bombing attack on Hyatt Hotel in Shinto District.../

'Holy cow!' Waver gasped out.

'I'm using bugs as familiars. Tiny bugs I created with Alchemy as well as other things. Due to high mana output dwarfing my bugs, most magi won't even detect them so I can spy anywhere...but that darn Archer could tell...and he summoned me or else.'

'Can you safely run?' Waver asked her worriedly. 'I can ask Rider to be with you.'

'I have to go alone.' said Sierra. 'This isn't Triple Homework for nothing.'

'What a cruel teacher you've got.' Rider shook his head as Sierra vanished. 'She'll be OK somehow bouzu. She has tricks up her sleeve incase Archer wants to hurt her.' he reassured Waver. 'She has no signs of nervousness at all. Had it been other Magi they wouldn't have the same confidence she has.'

'I hope so!' Waver fretted. 'She's my only friend!'

'Only friend? That's kinda sad, kid.'

'She was the one who taught me friendships are as rare as morals and conscience among magi in the first place.' Waver griped. 'She also looks after me until I can be on my own in regards to our society of constant power struggles, competition over budget, swindling each other in politics and so on. Hell, politics can't even be called politics in Clock Tower anymore. We should just call it swindling instead!'

'And you two still stay as magi with that?'

'Well, we're magi simply for learning magic. We don't embrace that sociopathic lifestyle of theirs.' Waver told him. 'We just want knowledge without crossing lines. I grew up among humans, not magi. Sierra is raised by the Magician of the Fifth Magic who has morals and conscience. She was taught to value and love life. Do you see a psycho anywhere in that when most magi would use even their own children as test subjects?'

Rider looked amused.

'Iya, I don't.' he said. 'Its a good value to have, bouzu. You can still be a magus without losing your heart and humanity like magi in my time. Humanity in this era sure has fallen.'

xxx

Mion Shipyard...

Sierra appeared behind Archer.

'You came, little spy.'

'I wonder why you wish to see me though.' said Sierra politely. 'Are you gonna tell on me to Tohsaka?'

'If he can't even sense your familiars, I can't be bothered to tell him.' Archer sneered condescendingly. 'But why are you keeping an eye on him?'

'Iya, I'm keeping an eye on everybody to report on this ritual without bias.' said Sierra, causing Archer to look at her. 'My teacher, Lord Valueleta is interested as a fellow Lord is participating. He is the master of Lancer. However, she also noticed something off from the reports coming from the Church since its quite 'restrained' with some facts along with cover-ups that should not be on a supposedly unbiased report. I was ordered to investigate and then I find out a supposed neutral overseer is in cahoots with a participant.'

'It'll be interesting how they'll react to this. Then again, in Grail Wars, everyone cheats don't they?' Sierra snorted. 'I'm almost looking forward to see what happens if I submit it.'

'How about you, girl? As a Magus, are you just as interested in this foolish thing called 'the Root'? Tokiomi is such a boring, but two-faced man even though my reception is acceptable as I should have as a King when welcomed by a servant. But he called me for such a boring reason I have had the misfortune to be summoned by a simple, two-faced fool.' Archer complained.

'Not interested.' said Sierra flatly. 'I honestly don't see the hype. Besides, there can only be five who can access it at a time yet everyone and their ancestor is fighting over it.' she huffed with an armfold. 'And suppose they reach the Root, the supposed fountain of all knowledge, what're they gonna do with all that? They can't even use a drop of it in their entire lifetime so its a waste in the end. Unused knowledge is just as useless. I'm better off sticking to what I can actually obtain than long for what I can't.'

'That's a very honest, yet good answer. Realistic and practical.' Archer approves as he also reads her eyes and body language. 'Then, do you know the complete truth about this war?'

'Hai. It was easy to sneak around before the Servants are all summoned. The gist of it is that when Servants die, their souls power up the Lesser Grail that is within an Einzbern Homunculus that acts as a guard to protect it until it's time. Servants think they should be the last one standing to get the prize but that's half-right, half-wrong too. The three Command Spells...all Servants must die in order for the Lesser Grail to open the Greater Grail and use its stored mana to open a hole to the Root.'

'I see where this is going.' Archer narrowed his eyes. The Three Command Spells force actions out of a Servant and he just got a taste of it not long ago. 'So even if I win, I will be betrayed in the end, is that it?'

'Yes. You will be ordered to kill yourself as the final soul. All Servants are in the same situation though my friend does not know this yet and I can't bring myself to tell him since he and Rider gets along really well like a house on fire.' said Sierra matter-of-factly. 'Well, this is Magus kind we're talking about...betrayals and swindling is as natural as breathing for them. But I'll tell Rider at some point since I'm shacking with them. I can't bring myself to tell Waver, he'll be devastated. He honestly believes losers just die in this ritual and he came because he wanted to prove himself even accepting his own death is a given should Rider die. That while he may be a magus from a lineage as young as a newborn, he too, can be someone great and capable through hard work and effort instead of sailing on one's blood and lineage.'

Archer snorted before laughing.

'Make a fool out of me, will they? I'll play along...until the moment they open their foul mouths to order my death.' he growled. 'They got another thing coming, little spy.' Archer told her. 'But you're one odd duck.'

'I was raised to love and value life by the Magician of the Fifth Great Magic. She saved my life and raised me as a child after saving me from my abusive relatives.' said Sierra wistfully. 'She taught me human rights and other things I was denied simply for existing.' she chuckled bitterly. 'I was raised a human while learning magic before she sponsored me to another teacher. I can't be around her for too long since her Great Magic is Time Control and Travel. It was why she valued life and living life to the fullest, a life where you're happy and content with what you have and can get instead of being stupid. Stupidly longing for what can never be yours.'

Archer liked that piece of wisdom. He thought Aoko was a very wise person indeed to her student.

'Mm. Girl.'

'Hai?'

'For being honest with me about my incoming...situation, I shall be generous this once.' said Archer. 'You may wish for a treasure from my treasury if you so desire.'

Sierra quickly took out her camera with a smile.

'A full body photo of you sir!' she said. 'Its rare to meet Heroes after all!'

Archer blinked. Not a treasure from his treasury but a photo instead?

'Ohya? My portrait alone is enough? You're one odd magus indeed.' Archer chuckled in amusement. 'Very well!' its a childish desire, why not? Little spy is also just a child herself. But a well-taught child.

'Smile sir!'

Sierra took many photos in many angles as she wanted and thanked Archer gratefully. She also got his name as a bonus.

xxx

'Are you OK?!' Waver was quickly onto her.

'Archer just asked questions.' said Sierra. 'He's an OK guy to be with as long as you're very sincere and honest. He can clearly read one's eyes and body language, so I had to be really truthful and honest. In turn I got as many photos of Archer as I wanted!' she said, holding her camera like it was fragile glass. 'I got good photos of Rider and now Archer. My earlier photos are all stolen shots sensei wants good shots...'

'Ohya, so who is he, shoujo?'

'Gilgamesh.'

Rider grinned.

'The King of Heroes?! Well, I'll be!'

'He's WHO?!' Waver howled in horror.

'One can say he is the first hero of this world, hence the King of Heroes.' said Rider. 'I'd say we're in for fun times I want to meet him as a King at some point!'

'Are you nuts?!'

'Humm...why not? I mean, we got three Kings here.' said Sierra. 'King of Heroes. King of Conquerors and now King of Knights. I'd say Saber's the youngest of you three. Her name is King Arthur Pendragon.'

'Sonova...' Waver twitched. 'That means her noble Phantasm is Excalibur. Gotta watch out for that one.'