AN- Here it is. A chapter focusing on everybody's favourite spy. If you discount Chevalier d'Eon. Top Tier Bro, against Top Tier Hoe. Or something like that…
Interlude- Mata Hari's Excellent Adventure
The woman once known as Margarethea found people surprisingly easy to manipulate. Across her lifetime she had shared the bed and ear of countless individuals, and across this time the one truth she had realised was just how easy it was to use what she had to get her own way.
In this instance it was using her kind words and a hint of skin to charm a young school boy for information about what had been happening around Homurahara Academy, but he had hardly been the only one to fall victim to her charms in recent days. An older construction worker to keep an eye on the docks for her, a few kind words for a member of the local yakuza, a smile and a compliment for an overworked member of the NPA. All these and more had fallen sway to her charms in just the short amount of time she had been active in Fuyuki City.
As galling as it was to admit it, she was even better at this now that she was dead than she had been before her execution. Being a Servant had turned even her most mundane abilities into something More, while her more competent abilities had transcended and become Skills. It didn't hurt either that she was now at the peak of her physical beauty once more.
"Thanks for eeeeverything Gai!" She giggled and blew the teen a kiss, before slipping away from the school grounds and into the crowds with a skip in her step. She strolled for several minutes more before finding a quiet alleyway to slip into, upon which she reverted to her Astral Form and began to travel wordlessly to the other side of the city.
Homurahara was a bust as far as information had gone- none of the peoples of interest her Master had told her about seemed to have shown up at school. No Matous, Tohsaksas or Emiyas. It wasn't necessarily a wasted trip, however. Gossip spreads quickly amongst teenagers- only second to gatherings of housewives- so she was certain that they would deliver eventually.
Mata Hari sighed, clearing her mind of unnecessary thoughts, and put her mind towards better things. There were still a few hours left before she was needed back at the base, and she wanted to actually find some definitive answers for her Master. Certainly, it could be argued that the bare minimum was sufficient for her to fulfil her role as an information gathering Servant, but Mata Hari wanted to go above and beyond.
Her Master was a surprisingly interesting child, even if he blustered and blushed far too easily. She'd met many a lesser man, and he was hardly bad on the eyes, and he had a certain earnestness about him that appealed to her. And more than that, he was a Good person. Mata Hari had accepted that she would likely die in this Grail War, as befitting her weak Servant nature, but that didn't mean she wanted him to die too.
It was a poor gift, but if she could provide enough reconnaissance to prewarn and protect James, then she could be satisfied that she had done her best.
"Now if only I could actually FIND some information." She'd visited everyone she could think of, but nobody had anything of interest. Whisperings of the Grail War, hints of people falling victim to mana drainage, and unexplained property damage, but no leads.
It was disappointing, but not unexpected. When it comes to investigation, its often ninety percent sitting and waiting and dead ends, and only ten percent results.
She manifested quietly and re-entered the crowds, pulling out a cell phone she'd acquired to check for messages, and slipped into a popular coffee establishment for business men and other high paying customers. She'd made an in here with a barista, and she hoped to perhaps eavesdrop on city officials.
So, she ordered a familiar blend and a croissant, and waited with one ear open for anything of interest.
Before the croissant had even reached her table, an unfamiliar man sat down before her. Mata Hari would have jumped up in alarm if she hadn't learnt to control her body carefully and keep her true thoughts under control. "Ara ara, who are you and what are you doing here, I wonder?"
Because the important thing to note was that Mata Hari hadn't come here to specifically meet someone, while the aura and appearance of the man revealed his true nature oh so very easily.
And James had been very clear upon how cautious she should be if she ever saw any well dressed, blonde haired men with an obvious attitude problem.
"Hmph. Consider yourself blessed to be graced with my presence." The red eyed man scrutinised her carefully, looking her over with a slight smirk. She could almost feel herself being undressed with his eyes. "In fact, you should be honoured that I even deemed it necessary to allow you to gaze upon me."
"You do honour me." Mata Hair agreed, quickly falling into a formal manner of address. She was in a difficult situation, and she'd need to watch her words carefully. "If you could, your grace, would you please explain how you found me and why you seek out someone as lowly as me?"
"I am the king." He said, as if that was the only explanation necessary for how he of all Servants had managed to track her down- an infiltration specialist whom as far as she was aware hadn't been discovered by any other Servants. "I will concede that it was a tedious endeavour to find you, courtesan. Had I not found you today, then my patience would have drawn thin and I would have directly approached your Master."
Mata Hari didn't need to be told how bad it would have been had Gilgamesh ever directly approached her Master. That still didn't answer how he found her- but she could make a few estimated guesses. Based upon her talks with James, Archer's Master might have had the experience and knowledge to notice her subtle investigations and begin searching from there, while Gilgamesh himself may just have been lucky enough to personally notice her while in Astral Form- something only a Servant could possess. Apart from that, an enemy Assassin could perhaps locate her, while that Ruler class Servant would know her nature at first glance- even with her Skills.
Instead of directly stating any of this, she instead put on a demure smile and fanned her face casually. "Many thanks then deeming me worthy of meeting you."
"You are not worthy." He stated, simply. "Your only worth is in the bedroom. However, your Master is an amusing addition to this competition if only in the chaos he brings, and so in my generosity and boredom, I am here."
"Then I shall thank you for that generosity instead, and gratefully ask that you impart your words upon me." Mata Hari almost jumped for joy at this opportunity for information- even if her anonymity had been broken somehow. That just meant she had to be cautious in the future- but here and now he had information to offer, and she would gladly wring him for everything he would offer.
"Hear my words and warnings." He intoned, grandly. "Firstly, he should visit that damned Saint and actually get all of her knowledge. In addition, there are still two more."
"Two more? Of what?"
Gilgamesh gave her a pointed look of disapproval, and something else. "Do not speak out of turn to me. I told you to listen, so do so. There are still two more."
With that, he rose from the seat and headed to the door. He left, only calling out one more time as he left. "Rats like you are best served scurrying elsewhere. I recommend the Mount Miyama shopping district. If you are quick, you may be able to still acquire an extra hint."
Mata Hari was left to ponder his words in silence, contemplating exactly what she'd been told. James should visit Ruler at some point because he lacks some knowledge of importance, that there are still 'two more' (Of what, she had no clue), and that she should personally visit the Mount Miyama shopping district.
This last point was oddly specific, and she likely would have treated it as a trap if it wasn't Gilgamesh telling her. From what James had said of the Golden Archer in passing and from his legend, he wasn't the sort to trick her. If he wanted her dead, he would do the deed himself.
With a gesture she called over her waiter to pay the bill for the food and drink she hadn't even had the time to consume, and quickly fled the establishment. Miyaya was a good half an hour away on foot, so she would slip away in Astral Form and arrive in ten minutes.
When she got there, she clearly saw the 'hint' Gilgamesh had been referencing. Just out of the corner of her eye, only a good fifty meters away, were a Servant and Master pair whom were most definitely not part of the Blue Team.
It had taken many days, but Mata Hari had finally found a member of the Red Team in person. She smiled a wicked smile, adjusted her shirt and skirt a little bit, and then approached the duo. "It's time to unravel the mystery of the Red Team and their members, me thinks? And what better a gift to give to my Master than knowledge of the Red Team's base of operations from the horse's own mouth?"
XXXXXXXXXX
"Oh, I'm so grateful for you leading me here, mister Velvet!" Mata Hari exclaimed in excitement, upon reaching the base of Ryuudou Temple.
"Don't go thanking me." The tall man growled- rather like an irritable cat. "I only gave you this charity because the great lug over here agreed to help you."
She smiled up at the even greater form of the Servant whom had failed to identify her own status as one. "Then I shall thank you too, mister Red!"
'Mister Red' sheepishly laughed a little, nudging his Master with an oversized elbow. "My young friend here spends far too often around small blondes. Truly, accompanying a beauty such as you should be reward enough." Here, the badly disguised Servant leaned down and whispered loudly to her, "My friend here badly needs to find himself a woman. And I do think he likes you."
"Isk-Red!" the Master protested, just the hint of red upon his cheeks. "D-don't be ridiculous. I keep telling you. I am primarily a scholar and have no time for such a thing as a foreign fling."
"Relax, Waver! I'm just trying to bring you out of your shell a little bit!" the Servant laughed boisterously, and for a brief moment Mata Hari regretted her deceptions. She felt these two were 'decent' people, and probably worthier of the Grail than most of its participants. However, she had her priorities, and no matter how warm Iskandar the Conqueror was, she intended to see the Grey Team to victory.
He sighed. "This doesn't really feel like the time for it, though." He gestured up the great steps to where the burned our husks of the buildings now resided. There were still the occasional reporter and police officer occupying the grounds, but for the most part it was empty save for the Monks that remained who were trying to fix and gather what they could.
"Oh, sweet child, aren't you a generous soul for agreeing to help the temple you were staying over at!" Mata Hari cried sweetly, all the while knowing very well that the man before her was likely one of those responsible for the damages concerning the temple, and that his claims to be helping with rebuilding was likely a lie told to keep up the façade of his Magus nature.
"L-let's just go up, okay. We did say we'd lead you here." Waver said, flushing a little. With a flourish, he moved ahead to lead the way, while the Servant followed shortly behind him, a bit more serious but still joking around a little with his Master.
Then, they reached the top of the Temple, and Mata Hari could definitively say that she was inside enemy territory. At the gate, just as expected, she felt the invisible and barely concealed presence of a Servant. "Oh my, it looks so much worse in person!" She exclaimed, scrutinising the wreckages around her, and seeing what else she could spot.
"Didn't you do any prior research?" Waver questioned. "I mean really, for a reporter you didn't know where the temple was, nor its state?"
"Tee hee. I'm a reporter, not necessarily a competent one. I got lost." The brunette teased, sticking out her tongue and masterfully moving the conversation along as she also gestured for Waver to lead on. "Now, would you kindly lead me about the temple? My job would be soooo much easier if a pair of strapping lads like yourself could show me the important spots."
With nary a protest, the tour began, and Assassin continued her more 'subtle' inquiries. She already knew most of what she needed, but it would be best to stay in character and ask anyway.
"So, tell me, what brings the two of you to Japan anyway?"
"Business." Waver explains, curtly cutting her off. "Me and a few others at the university I work for are here concerning economic grants to go towards a new discovery we're working on. It's a little hush hush, so I cannot say anything more."
"That's one way to put it." Joked 'Mister Red'.
"So, since the temple is wrecked, where do the two of you sleep?"
"A few of the back buildings survived." He gestured towards where the lake lied. In the distance she could spot a few areas where more people gathered together, where the buildings looked less than structurally sound but were still hospitable, as opposed to the piles of debris near the entrance. If it was to be believed, the defences the Red Team had been able to personally set up there was as strong as could be expected- and was a sufficient fall back point should the initial gate fall.
"Who's this then?" A newcomer spoke up, stepping forwards. Dressed properly in a suit and hat, Mata Hari paled. "He's the one who burned down the hotel. While I was still in it."
Cornelius Alba. A Master. Without his Servant. Mata Hari looked about, briefly considering acting upon Alba now, but it would be reckless for her to try it amidst all these people. She knew that other Red Team members were about, so if she were to try something, they would either need to be far more isolated or have the entire team together. She would have to be satisfied with the infiltration she had already initiated.
"Oh, hello handsome!" She greeted him warmly, very happy that Alba had never caught a glimpse of her as she slipped outside with the crowds of the hotel. "My name is Louise. These two were kind enough to help a poor, lost, journalistic reporter!"
He seemed to buy it, at any rate, even if he looked unhappy. He turned on Waver. "I see that you've made a friend."
"We had to leave." He retorted. "Mr Red wanted to purchase things, and I wasn't going to stop my k-friend. And since we were all going to the same destination, it would almost be more suspicious to not help her, wouldn't you say?"
Alba didn't look like he agreed, but he wasn't willing to properly go into what he thought out in the open like this. The masquerade was a very good thing, really.
"Hmmmm… you look like you two need to talk to each other. Do you want to call this tour done?"
'Mr Red' sighed." I am afraid it might be. Waver's 'business associates' are not the friendliest." He leaned in closer to Mata Hari and winked. "To tell you the truth, we weren't really supposed to leave. But I just had to purchase the newest Admirable Great Tactics game! So many have been released since the last time I played! It's a shame I wasn't allowed to bring that console with me here, but I shall not let this hurdle stop me! I shall pillage myself a new console, given time!"
"The sad thing is, he seems to be serious." Mata Hari was almost certain that she was the only sensible Servant out there, really.
Mata Hari gave him a reassuring set of thumbs up and left the group to talk. She slipped away from the Masters and Servants, quickly falling into the background as she donned the mantle of 'Louise Francoir', Ace (But in truth, not that competent) Reporter.
She had the run of the place now, with no one person specifically watching her, an hour or two still to spare, and with an opportunity to finally scratch that itch that could only be found with reliable reconnaissance. There was a lot she had already learnt from Waver and Rider, but even they knew only so much of the machinations of the Red Team- so from here she would need to prove her worth as a Servant of Reconnaissance. She cracked her knuckles, donned her friendliest smile, and got to work.
AN- Mata Hari's Espionage Skill is so broken, plz don't nerf. And 10 out of 10 would abuse the Pheromone Skill. Yeah- Mata Hari isn't good for much, but what she can do- infiltration- she does extremely well.
