Chapter 4
Let us diverge for a bit to tell the tale of a man. Many criticised him, even hated him for a great deal of reasons. But to his own people, he was regarded as a much-maligned, heaven-sent being, who saved them from an existence destined for nothingness and death.
His life was one shrouded in confusion, whose tales of his deeds were never recorded by his own people, and was immortalised in writing only by his enemies.
Having been born in a family of noble blood, he was meant to be raised to be one, along with his brother. He was groomed and schooled in the ways of a leader, but he also found an interest in the ways of a warrior. Some were quick to discover his natural disposition towards the art of warfare, but nonetheless tried their best to guide him to believe that a leader must be able to lead by virtue of guile and charisma.
The hands that tried their best to mould him into such a leader soon found themselves unable to keep him away from the path of a warrior. Truly, the boy was able to somewhat possess just enough measure of guile and charisma befitting a leader, but it was his strength of arms that set him apart from everyone else. Perhaps, he was a leader unlike no other, differing from his brother who lacked only the strength of arms.
As years passed, and times changed, the boy grew to be a man, and along with his brother, assumed chieftainship of a people who in truth, had more than plenty to live on, but had nothing else apart from the produce of their land to distinguish themselves from the other empires that surrounded them.
In need of other provisions, these two chieftains set out westward to negotiate trading terms with another empire. They would provide this western empire with the produce of their land, in exchange for gold and some of the luxuries that the western empire had. Thanks to their guile and charisma, they were able to rejuvenate the happiness of their empire with the introduction of these luxury goods through trade. The man, along with his brother, had hopes of prosperity for his people.
However, it was all good only for a moment.
Truth be told, the western empire was fearful of the military strength of theirs, and negotiated terms just so they could buy themselves time to reinforce their defences. After some years of such preparation, they ceased trade with this eastern empire, leaving them to return to an existence devoid of variety in their meager lifestyle. Worse, they started claiming ownership over the eastern lands, with all its produce.
It was then when this man knew that nobody could be trusted.
Bram woke up quite suddenly upon the realisation that he was experiencing dreams of his Servant's life.
He knew that it was the contract he had with his Servant that channeled those dreams to him, in order to better understand his Servant and to reinforce the contract he had with his Servant. However, instead of doing so, it left a sour feeling in his heart because he has been at loggerheads with his Servant from the first day.
Just what kind of a person was his Servant?
Judging from the content of his dreams thus far, he was supposed to be a ruler of a group of people.
More tellingly, he was not entirely the same person who he is right now.
He had the strength of arms, which fulfilled the requirement of being a Heroic Spirit, but he actually possessed guile and charisma, and that he actually negotiated terms with another empire. So, why did he possess such an abrasive demeanour unfit for a king?
Perhaps, he was a tyrant?
But there was one crucial piece of information which everyone seemed to overlook: everything ever written about him was written by his enemies.
Rider spent most of the night on the warehouse's rooftop, fuming.
He returned from his task of tracking whoever followed his Master's group empty handed, mostly due to this person's weird ability to completely disappear from his sight. He would have wagered that this was definitely a Servant, but there was nothing that he couldn't handle, by right.
"I take it that you didn't manage to find him, huh?"
Rider cast a glare at the Servant with blue hair, tied in a long, slim ponytail. "Watch your words, Lancer. I don't take kindly to any attempts to belittle me."
Lancer's red eyes narrowed for a moment, before he let out a sigh and raised his hands, palms facing forward in a gesture of acquiescence. "Ahh, my apologies, Rider. I meant no offense."
"Why do you seek an audience with me?"
"Y'know, I have had quite a hard time trying to figure you out. And truthfully, I still have not," Lancer said, taking a seat next to an uncomfortable Rider. "Our Masters were in a pact of cooperation. It means that whatever the plan we have, it's for us to see to it that we get it all done together."
"I fail to see why I should work with the lot of you."
"Ah, but you are working with your Master, no?" Lancer asked.
Rider's eyes narrowed this time. "It is so because I must. I have been contracted to him, so as much as I detest it, I have to."
"But your Master is contracted with my Master, and the other two Masters. So, if it is your Master's wish to cooperate, should you not do the same?"
Rider stood up suddenly.
"Really, Rider. I mean no offense. I'm just trying to understand you."
Rider spoke without looking at Lancer. "Understand this then; it's better that you trust nobody. All you get in return for trust is betrayal."
"So, I take it as you don't trust your Master then?"
"... No."
With that, Rider walked away. Lancer remained seated at his place, scratching his head. Trying to understand Rider remains a difficult task.
"I see that we still have no idea on what to do with him," Caster said, walking towards Lancer.
"Ah, lassie. None of us have yet to be able to figure him out at all," Lancer said, leaning back on his arms. "It was hard for me to try talking to him. I only did it because you asked."
"Of course. I know for a fact that Rider would not like talking to me."
"Perhaps we should leave him to his devices."
"I'd rather not. He is, after all, quite a powerful Servant. It'd be a waste of he wasn't going to be like his Master and work together to protect the Miracle that brought us to this day and age," Caster said, casting her eyes on the clouds in a distance. "Somehow I feel that my life has meaning, being brought here."
"Ha?" Lancer asked. "What meaning do you speak of?"
"I don't know. I just sense that this War has meaning. At least for me, personally." Caster replied. She continued to fix her gaze on the clouds. She, who has been proficient with words all her life, cannot find words to describe what she actually felt, for the reason being that she didn't actually know exactly what she was feeling.
"Lord El-Melloi II is asking us to return to the Tohsaka residence now, Shiro." Saber urged.
"Just hold on, I'm almost done." Shiro replied from behind the door.
"I'll prepare the motorcycle, then." Saber said, leaving the corridor and walking to the motorcycle.
The Kawasaki GPZ900R was letting out a deep throated rumble as Shiro emerged from the house. He was taken aback for a moment when he saw Saber sitting on the bike.
"You're riding?" Shiro asked.
"Of course."
"Have you done this before?"
"Being one of the three Knight's class Servant, I have skills in riding anything, even with modern means of travel. And I've done this before in the Fourth War."
"You did? When my father was your Master?" Shiro asked as he took his seat behind Saber.
Saber did not answer the question, however. "Just hold on," was her simple instruction as she powered the motorcycle out of the Emiya residence and made haste to the Tohsaka residence.
"Are you sure this would work?" Rin asked, staring at the contraptions that Lord El-Melloi II constructed over the night.
"It should, provided I place these in precisely the right spot."
"But it only works in theory, right?" Luvia asked. "By placing these prana regulators on the ley lines leading to the Grail's summoning area, one should be able to disrupt the supply of prana to the Grail, which should buy you time to destroy it."
"In theory, yes. However, it was never tested," Lord El-Melloi II replied, checking each of the regulators again to make sure that there was no errors in construction.
"How do we know where the Grail is going to be summoned, though?" Archer asked. Out of everyone in the room, he seemed to show the most interest in these contraptions, studying and analysing its construction and mechanics.
"I have prepared enough for all its possible locations for its invocation," Lord El-Melloi II replied. "The Greater Grail itself is hidden deep beneath this city, but it can be summoned at any place in the city where the ley lines gather. I have identified at least six locations, but I cannot be too careful, thus the preparation of thirty of these regulators."
Archer let out a breath in amazement. "Talk about overkill."
"I'm serious about destroying it, Archer. I have to factor in all the possibilities of malfunction or sabotage."
"You really remind me of my friend Odysseus," Archer replied with a smile. "He was a great man. He was also great with the ladies."
Shiro and Saber was just outside the door at this point. Rin was quick to get the door and give Shiro a hug. "I was worried!"
"Sorry about giving my location away, though." Shiro replied, returning Rin's embrace.
"I would really want to give you two pieces of my mind, but it's no use doing so. We have to tweak our plans moving forward," Lord El-Melloi II said.
"Still, it's quite a feat, holding your own against a Servant, especially since it's an Assassin class," Archer said, tapping Shiro's shoulder with the palm of his hand.
"E-eh, but Saber was the one who saved me in the end. I was about to have my throat slit by Assassin then," Shiro said.
"A normal human being would have been skewered by Assassin at the very beginning. You managed to delay your death long enough to be saved by Saber" Archer replied. "C'mon. Take some credit that is due to you."
"We'll talk about that later," Lord El-Melloi II interrupted. "Emiya, for a blundering fool, you did well to stay alive until Saber saved you. That's a fact. We have to plan our next move now. No doubt Bram and his faction will be keeping an eye out on us from here. And Assassin's Master will be keeping an eye on anything that develops from here."
Shiro eyed the regulators that Lord El-Melloi built. "You want to begin by placing these regulators at the six locations as planned, right?"
"Indeed. Tohsaka and Edelfelt will be protecting me while I place these regulators underground, away from plain sight."
"What about magi who are adept at locating these things?" Shiro asked.
"As long as it is turned off, it holds no prana and will remain undetected until it is switched on" Lord El-Melloi II replied. "I will only switch the regulator on when the Greater Grail is summoned, and only one of these regulators will be switched on - the one located where the Grail is summoned."
"I see. Then it should simplify things."
"Archer will keep an eye out for incoming Servants, while Saber will draw their attention away from me should they approach, with Archer to provide support for Saber. Emiya, you will take the opportunity to take out the Masters of the Servants while you can."
"But what about regulators that have already been placed? They can set about disabling the regulators after we finished planting them," Rin asked.
"They need to know where exactly it is. So long as nobody is observing our movements, they won't know. Nonetheless, that was a good thought, Tohsaka. Archer, Emiya, if you notice any familiars throughout the city as we move around, destroy it."
"Understood," Shiro replied.
"... Archer?"
"Eh, what?" Archer asked, still examining the regulators. He was already holding one of them in his hands, trying out its mechanisms.
"A-Archer!" Luvia huffed in exasperation. "Did you not hear Lord El-Melloi II?"
"You mean about what these contraptions were for?" Archer asked, holding up one of the regulators.
"Uuuuugh. You're hopeless, Archer!" Luvia replied angrily. "Lord El-Melloi II wants you to destroy any familiars you find as we go along today!"
"Oh, that? Okay, that's simple enough."
"Do you know what your main task for the day is then?" Luvia asked.
"Destroy the familiars..?" Archer replied hesitantly.
Luvia wanted to swear so badly at that moment. She marched right up to Archer, and snatched the regulator away from him. "You have to keep an eye out for enemy Servants, and provide fire support for Saber if one shows up later!" Luvia yelled.
"Ah, so basically, spot enemy Servants, fire support for Saber, and destroy familiars. Sure, simple enough." Archer replied nonchalantly, taking the regulator from Luvia's hands and resuming his examination of the weird contraption.
"Ugh. Archer, you better be sharper than you look right now," Luvia grumbled.
"Oh, I can be sharp for you anytime, Master." Archer replied with a wink.
"What the hell? Is he trying to hit on me?" Luvia thought to herself, turning away to hide her reddening face.
Lord El-Melloi II took the regulator from Archer's hands. "I'm sorry, but I've already packed the other regulators, so I need to take this one from you now."
"I have to say, these things are amazing. I always had an interest in all sorts of contraptions. When Odysseus came up with the idea of the Horse to fool the Trojans, I was very much interested in the mechanisms involved in its construction and operation," Archer said excitably. "Perhaps, when we have the chance to, we should share ideas."
"If we have a chance to, perhaps." Lord El-Melloi responded. "For now, we have work to do."
Matou Zouken never liked failing. It is quite understandable considering how many times he came close but failed in his quest to obtain the Holy Grail.
This failure was different, however. It was failure of a greater magnitude. It was humiliating, even ignominious for the Matou household should word of this reach the ears of the Association.
His Servant was unable to kill a human magus. Not only that, but it was the reverse.
Even right now, Zouken was grilling his Servant for answers.
"Our apologies, Master. We thought he was just one human with no chance of fighting us, let alone kill one of us," Assassin said, bowing his head to Zouken.
"How is it that you Assassins would be discovered even though you lot are able to conceal your presence?"
"Perhaps, there was a bounded field and we did not think that a simple human would have been able to defend himself against us despite him knowing of our presence."
"So the one who was killed did not relay his location to you at all? Why did you not send more than one of you to dispatch him then? At least one of you would have come back with information about this person!"
Assassin could not answer. He remained in a bowed position before Zouken, fearing retribution. "Our apologies, Master. We will be more careful from here on," was all he could muster in reply.
"Whoever that was, it is clearly no ordinary person. He is definitely a magus. If you spot him again, make sure to kill him at the first opportunity. Do not engage him alone this time, Assassin" Zouken finally spoke after a while.
"Understood, Master."
"Go and resume monitoring the city. If you see any of the Masters out and about, return to me with the information."
"We will, Master."
Left alone in the room now, Zouken paced around, in a state of deep thought. How could a normal human face off against a Servant and defeat one? Even top level magi would not be able to go toe-to-toe with a Servant, yet this one was able to.
But there was information about one.
When he delved into the information that was collected during the Fifth Grail War, there were unconfirmed rumours that one of the participants in that War who actually fought against not one, but two Servants. Despite just being a magus, he was able to defeat them.
Could it be that he has returned to participate in this War?
Zouken was intrigued by this, despite this information being classified as a rumour, with no form of confirmations or reports. Kotomine Kirei, the Mediator of the Fifth War was killed midway through the War, and there was no form of record keeping since then. Everything after the death of Kotomine Kirei is just pure conjecture, but nonetheless something worth looking into.
Whoever this person is, he is quite possibly a dangerous enemy and should be eliminated quickly.
"Assassin."
Assassin materialised before Zouken after a brief pause. "Yes, Master? Do you have new orders?"
"Do not kill that magus. I wish to collect more information about him. The only information about him so far was that he had red hair and he is wearing black clothing covered by a red coat, am I right?"
"Indeed, Master."
"If he is spotted again, observe his movements. I want to know who he is, and why he is here."
"Understood, Master. However, I would like to ask you a question."
"Speak."
"Once we ascertain his identity, can we kill him as soon as possible? We wish to avenge our fallen comrade."
"Certainly you will. All I ask right now before killing him is to furnish me with information about this magus. He was rumoured to be able to fight against Servants in the Fifth Grail War. This is very much unusual. Thus, find out more about him first before we kill him."
"Yes, Master."