"I talked to you one hour ago. Why, in that length of time, did you suddenly decide to start charging the castle Kadoc is in?" Olga had the most unamused placid expression yet, even through a blue screen and hint of static. "And after, mind you, you were lain out and had to think on the loss of two Servants. After Solomon hung up on us because of our contention for who Jeanne is. That was one. Hour. Ago."

"It was." It actually could have been longer. It felt like that when he was being spoken to by Jesus. It only made sense his Lord could fill him with the wisdom and comfort of days into a few minutes. "Why is that a problem?" The woman across the screen gave a long sigh, after a very long breath in.

"By itself? It's not. After everything I just mentioned? It makes it clear you are acting irrationally." It was. "Who moves from losing two of their comrades to deciding to attack an enemy stronghold?"

"Many legends are made from that, Director~." At least Da Vinci agreed with him. Ritsuka heard Solomon chuckle into his fist beside him. "Though I am surprised the Wise King is aboard with this plan."

"Wait, didn't you just say-"

"There are also tales of soldiers attacking after losses and then losing even more." The incomplete description of defeat was given with the famed inventor smiling down through a translucent screen. "Reaching the conclusion have at the speed that you have is the issue. You wouldn't have happened to have been dropped on your head while you were unconscious~. Did our dear doctor take proper care of you~?" The wistful ploy came through. It turned the Wise King chuckling into a rough cough.

"H-Hey, I didn't hurt him."

"Wasn't your overuse of your magic at fault?"

"… I didn't hurt him beyond that." It felt like the point was being missed. "But no, I didn't hurt him and he reached this conclusion with the others."

"You mean Jesus." The Director was looking right at him. "Don't fib and say he was talking to you and the other Servants. He was talking to Jesus, wasn't he?"

"Is there anyone else I can speak to who would be better than him?" Olga's face fell into her hands as a long gurgle came from beyond the screen. For a moment, Ritsuka honestly thought it was static, until it stopped as she lifted her gaze up.

"There's me, there's Solomon, there's Da Vinci. Hell, I'd even say you can just pray to God himself and get a better answer!"

"But I was talking to God." Now the Director fell back in the opposite direction. The Doctor and Sasaki were chuckling again. "He is though."

"He is indeed~. The son of God, the Prince of Peace, he who died for our sins," Da Vinci mused. "I am curious why you are listening to him for a plan of attack. Did he tell you how to?"

"No, he didn't." The answer had Olga straightening back up. "He made it clear that the sacrifice of Marie and Mozart, combined with the horror the other Servants are casting, is time enough for us to go forth and rescue them. Kadoc, the other villagers who may be alive, and even the Servants."

"There are Servants being held, no wait," Olga held up her hand. "He means to talk to them, doesn't he?"

"Of course."

"Can I please remind you how that did not work last time?" Her amber eyes were misted through the translucent screen. "I heard him calling out like that to Alcides in Fuyuki the whole time the man kept shooting arrows at him, and it ended with that same Servant performing a suicide attack on himself and Cu! Do you really want to commit to a plan of rescue before you are sure on how to save anyone there?"

"Isn't that why I'm calling." Now Da Vinci laughed on the other side of the screen, with eyes cast down at Olga. "It is. Our Lord wishes to act, and it is for us to lead the way."

The Director didn't answer for a moment, too busy dragging on her face with nails.

"If I may interject, I do want to make it clear that Jesus did not tell us to march on the castle in a brazen attack. I would have voiced contempt at that." Solomon waved. "He only made it clear to Ritsuka, and the others, that he's going to dispel the darkness of the land."

"So he gave a cryptic response of what he's about to do." She waved her head until her alabaster hair shook with it. "No, no, that makes sense. Only someone as old as him could say something like that and get you to jump."

"His age has nothing to do with it, and he was only past thirty when he was crucified." Solomon chuckled again. "What?"

"Fine, whatever. I'm not about to start going against him again." Olga threw her hands up. "Last time I did that, I was nearly stabbed to death."

"Then you'll help?"

"Wait, did you think I wouldn't?" She looked honestly hurt. "I'm against the idea of an insane charge, but I'm not about to tell you to do your own thing and damn the Order of Mankind!" That made sense. "Of course we're going to plan, and that starts with understanding what you're going into."

"A castle corrupted by a woman who pretends to be a demonic form of the Maid of Orleans." Olga's eye twisted, visibly, to Ritsuka. "She also has Servants on her side."

"Servants, including at least an Archer you haven't seen, wyverns that can coat the skies, and the ability to manipulate fire." She tapped on her console. "From previous records and Masters of failed Grail Wars, it can be assumed the likely classes of the known Servants, such as Vlad Tepes being either a Berserker or Lancer."

"I believe a Lancer." Da Vinci voiced.

"The woman you met before is easier to name, now knowing that Vlad is among them." The woman… oh, the blood woman. "She is likely Carmilla, the niece of Vlad Tepes, and a cruel woman famed for using the Iron Maiden to skewer woman and bathe in their blood."

"What?" It was the only word he could think of.

"She was a brutal woman. The less you think on her, the better." Olga waved off. "She is most likely an Assassin, though also a Caster is on the table. Her tendency to kill the woman she stole in the night made her infamous for her works." That made perfect sense. "The Count could be an Assassin, but he is also hailed as the embodiment of vengeance, making him an Avenger class." She took time to stare at him.

"What?"

"I said an- oh, you don't know." The young woman sighed. "Apologies, I forgot who I was talking to. Avengers are extremely strong, and also brutal, Servants that are summoned with special circumstances. They are far rarer than any other, and because of it, tend to have more abilities for them to use. I haven't told you, but the stipulation is being a sense of injustice cast upon them that makes them curse God." The very idea made his skin crawl. "Because of that, they tend to be stronger than any average Servant. Think a Berserker with a little more sense." And then, after a moment, his mind flip.

"W-Wait… then… then couldn't all of them be Avengers?" He ran through the Servants they'd seen. "They all blamed Jesus… and the woman with blood, she was intelligent, too."

"That is… un… um…" The Director's words rose and fell as her eyes did, a finger raising to her lips. Her gaze lifted to Da Vinci, who stared back at her. If they shared a conversation, Ritsuka couldn't hear it. He could only look over at Solomon, who looked down at him with a nod of appreciation. Did that mean he was right?

"That was a grand thought." He was right? "But I think I can put that idea to rest." Oh thank the Lord. "If they were all Avengers, then they would have lacked the reason to attack anything else other than the source of the vengeance. As they are all against Jesus, there would have been no chance of them attacking Marie first. He would have been their first target." It wasn't something that gave the young Master a lot of comfort.

"That… That is good news." It did for Olga at least. "I was terrified that we were about to send an amateur to deal with what would be normally handled by Clocktower Lords." Wasn't he already? "But that known, we should still focus on the other Servants. We know Rider has been dealt with, they Vlad, Count of Monte Cristo, Carmilla, a yet to be named Archer, and at least two other Servants."

"How do you know two more?"

"Marie told us, remember." Ritsuka made a motion of remembering. "We know that one had a sword, and none of the ones we've seen so far have. The last is presumed, as otherwise there would only be one servant in the castle with Kadoc, which, even with the strength of a Servant, would make the defense of it against an army rather difficult."

"It is more conjecture, I'll admit, but my genius shows that for a woman who dealt with war, she wouldn't be practicing the folly of letting one powerful man rule a castle alone. Even God as Mary in heaven~." Ritsuka had to smile a that.

"Implications aside, that is good news." Solomon added. "The question is now, how to divide them. We just witnessed what happens if only three attack us." The reminder was not a pleasant one. "We need some means to either separate them, or deal with them individually."

"And using you for anything short of a final blow is out of the question." Olga pointed. "We can't have Ritsuka passing out and letting the Archer shoot his prone body again, or Vlad skewering him." He would be easier to kill if he was asleep. It was why he preferred sleeping in chapels far more than the streets. "Do any of our known Servants have a history that can help us?"

"Sasaki is a Ronin, so he would not." Solomon answered quickly. "And Jesus is literally famed for uniting people of all time." His golden eyes turned to Ritsuka, as did Da Vinci and Olga. It took him a moment to catch it.

"St. George and St. Longinus do not have any thing praised for separating forces." He admitted. "George brought kingdoms under God's banner for vowing to slay a dragon in his name, and so brought back its head to show his courage and God's might, with Ascalon raised. Longinus defected from the Roman Army when the blood of God cured him, and he died a martyr, bringing other soldiers to him."

"Stop, right there!" He jumped at Olga's words. "Say that again!"

"George… brought kingdoms…"

"No! About Longinus!" She emphasized. "What did he do for other soldiers?"

"He brought them to God." He repeated. "He was killed for it later, but he was able to recruit several Roman Soldiers to the banner of God, showing his cured vision from the blood splashed from the Lord of Hosts."

"He attracted soldiers." She emphasized. "Would we consider any of the rogue servants soldiers?"

"Archer could be, as is the Saber," Da Vinci answered. "Though Vlad very likely has the makings of one, though he was raised in nobility may disqualify him, the military mind does not."

"He may be able to attract his attention, especially if he hails God." That, he could do. "If we knew more about Saber, we might be able to see if he could challenge Sasaki to a duel. He would want a great challenge."

"But it assumes the Saber does as well. Saint George doesn't want a challenge unless it brings glory to God." Ritsuka could confirm that. "The better question is how would we earn the attention of Archer?"

"Make an obvious target, and with someone he hates." Solomon answered. "I think with the pattern of Servants summoned, it's easy to assume who he'll aim for next."

"Finally, finally!" He was almost frothing with joy. "I can kill him now! I can, you said I can!"

"And my word is law in these lands, far above that of an already fallen deity." Jeanne purred to Archer. His cries of joy only a note off from mad ramblings. "But you had best not miss, as failing to kill the Son of God now would make you a useless tool."

"I won't miss. There's no way I could." He pulled at his mouth, still unable to drag away the manic grin. "It will be a shot worth more than the one I took against King Richard. The King of Heaven will fall again to my arrow, not a dull lance."

"Good." Her golden eyes turned. "Though I'd like to think them all fools, they won't be so dumb as to all collect around that fake God. They'll flee from him as they did before his first death, and separate about this castle. Count, I expect you to rip apart those you find."

"AHAH! Of course! Take their lives when their furthest from their Lord. It would only better if I did so when they watched him be skewered!"

"If could manage that, then do it." He howled for joy, teeth razed like a wolf's jaw. "But focus on the Wise King first. He has the power to wipe any of us away with a single blast, even if it will do harm to his Master. We cannot say that will be enough to deter him from reducing our numbers."

"A sound idea," Vlad agreed. His feet failed to echo as he walked the sky instead howling above the now ruined hall. "Keep the man with the powerful weapon from grasping a moment to use it."

"Precisely." The fallen Maiden agreed, her smile one to match the Count. "He may not be the Messiah we all wish to kill, but he is responsible for letting others know his day was coming. This is a prime opportunity to flay the messenger."

"What a wonderful chance you've given me then." The Count of Monte Cristo chuckled into his sleeve. "In life, it was the game of leaders making me a messenger that sent me to that damned prison. How fitting that I show the King of Israel the price for making those words one with the immortal wind."

"Then the wyverns are another concern. They're not a major threat to the Servants, but in large number it will make them an easy target for any of the other rogue elements. The last thing we need is George being distracted by a pair and then being skewered."

"Oddly appropriate you brought him up, as I believe he should be the one to focus on them." Solomon hummed. "His presence alone was enough to keep a village safe, and if he were to charge the fort, they would likely fall to him faster, or even avoid him. It would at worst make an opening for Longinus and Sasaki to enter from."

"When we're outnumbered, I don't believe using a Servant as a distraction is a good idea."

"Ordinarily not," the Wise King agreed. "But the other reason is because I believe there will be another foe he will have to fight."

"Another Servant?"

"No, another dragon. A true dragon." Ritsuka stared at the king. "If we are seeing the soldiers attacking and razing the villages, then it only follows that there is a captain between them and the general, the fake Jeanne. One who is stronger than they are, more akin to them, but still subservient to the dark woman. No military functions if a general orders the soldiers directly."

"A fair point~. Even a painter needs a brush to move the paint~." Da Vinci sang in agreement. "Given his history, it would make sense for him to be fighting the dragons, especially any stronger foes that may appear. But the concern then is if they are facing him in tandem with someone else."

"He's at his strongest when he is being challenged." Ritsuka answered. "He is a Dragon Slayer, but before that, he was a guardian knight. It will take a great deal to overpower him, and I don't think it's possible if Jesus is here."

"Others have died with Jesus nearby and while loyal to him." The quick reminder stung. "Though I can admit that he will have higher endurance, though that just means we have to do something to ensure that the Servant he faces will not be able to swiftly deal with him, or pose an equal threat to the wyverns and their possible pseudo-leader."

"Would it be a good idea to have another Servant go with him?" Ritsuka thought on his own question. "What if Sasaki joined him?"

"The idea of a strong and swift blade together is good. It is often how you act in war, razing the largest areas before cutting the strong survivors." Solomon's words were a bit harsher than Ritsuka would have liked. "The issue then is how to drag in more Servants, for ensuring their survival is meaningless if it leads to the other Servants overwhelming the rest of us."

"They will be most likely to try and separate us, and we will have to play the game."

"Must we? Wouldn't it be better to find and kill their Master?" The Saber thumbed at the still jubilant Archer. "He is already set to kill their leader, and his Noble Phantasm will make it possible."

"We must play along, because otherwise we risk charging at the wrong foe." Her own hand extended waving towards the decrepit corner, the only dark spot in the newly opened room. The boy who clung to that corner, licking a plate, stared back with dead haunted eyes. "Because their target will obviously be the one who ensures our power is constant."

"Then place a guard here instead. That way if we guess their assault wrong, we will be able to ensure he remains here."

"I already have." Her golden eyes turned towards the bugged gaze of her long cohort. "Gilles will be able to keep him safe, and lay traps for anyone who dares to take him from us."

"I will do so your most immaculate maiden! I will ensure that any who dare to approach him will have their limbs torn and tongues cut before they can dare utter a word opposing your majesty and truth! They will be damned by my hand, for it is in accord with your word." His bow was great enough to strain the robe he wore.

"No better place for him." The woman across spoke, massaging her long staff. Fresh blood dripped from its end. "But then are the rest of us to walk into the field and attempt to slay them one by one? I'm against have to walk over mud to meet men with blood that rushes anywhere but out."

"You will not, but you will pay attention to my words, Countess." Jeanne's hand gripped her sword, and flames dripped like the blood of the woman. "You will wait in the halls and drown those who approach, but your uncle will turn the field into one of Latvia, so that all who gaze upon it know there is no entry and no escape."

"That will be of no issue." Vlad confirmed. "I rather wish you were there when my country was besieged. Perhaps if I had the rolling fires to turn the bases of the spires to ash, then God would have looked upon us with more than contempt."

"Do not delude yourself." She snarled at his compliment. "You would have been ridiculed for defending your country so. Just as I was. Just as Archer was." The man held back a manic giggle as she waved at him. The beasts above roared with her voice. "You will be given no quarter for your work, and only condemnation instead of praise."

They stared at her, high above them on an already ruined throne. She looked down upon them one at a time. The Saber who leaned against the wall, blade glowing at his back. The Lancer, arms crossed beside his niece, the Assassin with blood mixing with her lipstick. An Avenger, the one whom post ceded her rage, the Archer with a single bolt to his infamy, and the Caster to whom her old life was owed, and who followed her to hell.

Then herself, the maid of Orleans, the dragon witch, to whom the rest of the world and all of the Order of Humanity would know.

Slowly, she sat back down, her armor rattling lightly as she did so.

"History will be retold for our deeds, and they are the actions made without God's false interference." She continued. "He was the one who condemned us for our good deeds, mocked us for our patriotism, and deluded the wills of men who were so desperate to cling to us for strength. He wore the support of walls we built, and ridiculed us for not maintaining the structures he demanded. He is not here today, nor will he ever set foot upon these lands again."

Golden eyes looked up to the great beast above her. The dark dragon, with a single eye larger than her entire frame, gazed back down at her. Down at her, but trembling in fear. It was a beast of hell, and it knew her power.

"When he comes tomorrow, or any day after, he will be met with the wrath of man. Not even the Son of God can endure such a thing."

The others laughed and cheered. Jeanne swallowed the praise like wood to a fire.

"There are still six or seven servants, and we've only account for three." Solomon continued on. "One will doubtlessly be waiting by Kadoc, but I'm not sure who."

"It's impossible to say. It depends upon their worth as a protector as well as their availability. It could be Carmilla as easily as the Count."

"Or someone we haven't seen," the Wise King followed. "They must just do that, as then we would be unable to plan for how to extract Kadoc." He hummed. "If Marie was still here, I would suggest she run forward with Mozart as a ram to remove him."

"Why?" Ritsuka was quick to ask. "I mean, I understand we have to save Kadoc, I'm not against that. I'm wondering why we have to first."

"Because he's the source of their energy, remember?" Olga pushed back. "You're the lynch pin holding all of the devoted Servants to their Prana, empowering them, just like he is for the others. If we break that connection, then they will be greatly weakened."

"To do that… we…"

"Rayshift him, of course~." Da Vinci answered. "Once he has been removed from this period, he will be disconnected from them and, so long as he doesn't return, their power will be reduced~."

"That will make it easier for St. George, Longinus, and Sasaki to deal with them." Olga concluded. "Though I understand we still have to be careful, namely for their Archer." She rubbed her nose. "I don't have any confirmation, but I think he may have a Noble Phantasm that guarantees death."

"He does?"

"It is a fair conclusion," Solomon agreed. "Though an arrow is hardly to be considered an immodest thing, a Servant dying from a single bolt is rather difficult. Normally, we can lose limbs and still be able to perform." Ritsuka heard a beat, looking around to believe Mozart was back. "And not just in bed." His position gave him time to see Sasaki holding back a small chuckle, a distance away."

"Really Romani?"

"Comedy is necessary to break tension. Tension in a war room creates extreme choices. Or are you to say that you made your greatest works while under the greatest pressure, Da Vinci?"

"I would say my genius will always find a way~." She laughed back. "Though a good laugh is appreciated. It makes me wonder if perhaps we should sling some mud to gather up the smiles."

"Can we do that after we decide on how to approach the castle?" Olga's voice drew Ritsuka back. "I propose we have Jesus and Ritsuka go to Kadoc while the others hold back the Servants. It will be dangerous, but divided as they are, they should be able to sustain themselves long enough to get Kadoc home, and then give them the opportunity to win against depowered Servants."

"That assumes Ritsuka can get close enough him." The Wise King gazed down at him. "And yes, you have to, or I do, because we are connected to Chaldea, which will allow us to synch the Rayshift." He continued to stare up. "Or, thought of another way, he's a compass without a center pointing home. We need your or I, two people who came from the modern era, to be able to calibrate and point him in the right direction." He nodded slowly. "That'll have to be enough."

"It will be, though the other issue is that you likely have to go with Ritsuka, or at least we can't put all of our hopes on one of you making it." Olga confirmed. "Because if you have to use your powers even a few times, it will put him into a state that will have every other Servant aiming for him, putting us in the same situation they are in."

"Hence why Jesus should follow Ritsuka in."

"Yes, while Longinus is drawing out Vlad is also good, as his lance will likely be able to bypass any immortality the man may have. Vampire based upon his moniker as Dracula." Olga continued. "And the wyverns, larger beasts, and a couple of Servants are being kept away by St. George and Sasaki." She hummed again. "That still leaves too large a window of chance for them to put the wrong opponents against you. Jesus may be able to protect you from one or two, but only if they are aiming for him."

"Wouldn't they be?" They looked at him. "I mean, if there is an Avenger, then wouldn't they be?"

"Yes… and that is likely why Jeanne will have him be far from you and Jesus. He'll have a priority target other than you." Ritsuka opened his mouth to argue about the nature of Jeanne. She pushed him down with an open palm. "Whomever she is, that is most likely. So then, he may be the one to try and challenge George and Sasaki. Not the most ideal, but the most likely."

"He wouldn't try and attack Longinus?"

"It's a chance, but he couldn't kill him last they fought. What kind of commander would risk the same result from a repeat of a battle~?~" Da Vinci's question did nothing for him.

"She means that he'll not be targeting Longinus, because he failed once." He nodded his head. "That all being said, I'd like to propose the idea of me using my power once, quickly, and near the beginning of the charge." Now he looked up and stared.

"Why is that? I'm hoping for a reason greater than keeping Ritsuka still?"

"Because my power can easily destroy any Servant I contact. It was able to win the Grail War with your father easily because of my might. He, on the other hand, was a more accomplished Magus compared to Ritsuka. I am only limited by the ability of my Master to handle the Prana I need. He's immature in that regard, no offense." Ritsuka held up his hands and shook his head. He had no desire to be mature as a wizard. Far from it.

"Then why are you proposing using it?"

"Because it will even out the numbers, and give us a little less plausibility." He made a show of clinking together his ringed fingers. "Ritsuka is also strong enough to endure at least a partial amount of my magic. It should be enough to tear through one of the Servants, and that is all we need."

"Would it be too much to ask for you to use your magic to transport yourself and Ritsuka there?"

"Into the heart of the enemy's castle?" Da Vinci questioned the Director from behind her. "No unless you wish to offer a commissioner a finish date before you even put quill to paper~."

"What?" "What?"

"She means that we need to make sure we're not going to be in danger using my singular spell by putting us next to Kadoc, and then having the Servant who is likely in wait attack us."

"That's why you know they'll attack. AHAHA! I am pleased to know a fellow scorned by God has their mind as acute as mind."

"No one has their mind twisted to a point as sharp as yours," Jeanne countered the Count. "But I will not let victory slip through our fingers by negligence. I saw the Magic that King used, and I saw how their beloved Master reacted. If our dear Archer had the assurance to hit him, I'd say the Master would be the target first, but…" Her golden eyes lain on him.

"I can't and you know I can't!" He fired back. "Have that man of darkness and lightning kill him. He spoils in slaying those who have little to do and less power than him. I'm the king slayer!"

"My point exactly. Hence you will have the honor of killing the king who claims to be that of all." Even with flames spilling next to her, the chill of her words made the goliath above them tremble. "Kill him, so that the Ruler of Latvia may put him on a lance, so that another may drain him of his blood, so that the last may show the mockery of his ways to his prophets, and so that I may finally be able to show him the pyre he left me to burn in."

"And what joy will I receive?" Saber asked. "Will I be here to merely fill a void of your plans? Just another footnote to the legends being written?"

"You are." His scowl was clear. "A note to a legend that will rewrite all of history, one that will usurp your father's tale as one that did not raise the land of your birth, but showed its uselessness. Your entry in this legend will show that your land raised up two great kings, and you will pull away the curtain to reveal the folly of both." Her standard lowered, and her banner dragged as she pointed at him. "A blade glowing such as yours, to overpower the false light of a false God."

Saber's arms slowly recrossed, regarding her with a red gaze. His blue hair flittered lightly, but he slowly looked away from her, back to the hole her creatures had made.

"Ensure that it is, otherwise you'll betray me like all the others."

"I could never betray you like them." His gaze returned. "I am neither kin nor sworn to you. No betrayal of mine could match."

"AHAHAHAH! She's as cruel as she is true! Fear not though, Saber of the Faelands, you will be known as will we all!" Darkness bloomed from the man. "We who sacked a city lifted by a Holy Maiden, to show the falsehood of the God she listened to!"

"How joyous it will be! Oh glory to you, dear Jeanne! To you whom I have sworn myself you continue to give me the faith to follow. Joy and glory to you!" Gilles De Rais threw the praises out like rotten fruit. "To crush the Son of God and the ludicrous hope he embodies!"

"It is to happen, as we are making it happen, but don't count on our victory yet." Her cool words were followed by her releasing the hilt of her sword, letting the embers cool at her feet. "The same deity who played with us all mocks us with our plans, so we must ensure we have doors to lock so no man may enter. We must ensure that no hallways are skipped and there is no negligence to what is needed. That means if a spire is meant to rise, it should aim for Gabriel's wings. If a fire is meant to burn, it should embody the thralls of hell."

"You think or conviction lacking?" Lancer's words were as sharp as his gaze, and snarling fangs.

"Feh, hardly." Her smile was just as cruel. "But confidence of victory dulls a blade faster than weather. Remain focused, because our foes surely will be."

"They'll be ready for most of what we plan, the obvious at least. Servants in the halls, guards about Kadoc, perhaps more than one." Solomon spoke on. "I would wish for the support of another kingdom before we dare to march on the castle, but I doubt there is any other in this land that may help."

"Could there be another Servant?" Ritsuka dared to think, and then folded his hands.

"The thought is appreciated, but even if the call was answered, it wouldn't help," Olga spoke to him. He didn't unfold his hands. "That's because we would need to retrieve them again, if you found them, and without Maire it would make for several days in a journey, days that the others are doubtlessly amping their way to act upon."

"The time to plan is a time of action~." Da Vinci read off a quote. Perhaps her own, Ritsuka didn't know. "And with their action, we need to plan before they set forth another action."

"Because if they are able to wipe out enough of France, or go beyond its borders, the Order of Humanity will collapse. No French nation to rise, no embodiment of the Revolution, no art to carry on-"

"No one to continue the beauty of God's church." Even the idea of Notre Dame, burning and neglected, filled his gut with a void that he was ashamed to note. It was one that the Lord had filled for him. The idea of it being forcibly pulled out… "Then when should we leave?"

"AFTER… a plan is set." Olga emphasized. "We're close, but barring a few more details, we should be ready tomorrow morning. By then-"

Clap. "It will be too late." Ritsuka held himself up as Jesus Christ put a hand to his shoulder, standing beside and behind him. He looked up at his lord, who stared back at the luminescent screen. "Leader of Chaldean Mystics, I am pleased to see you are well."

"… And I'm happy to hear you are, too. Not that there's anything that can actually kill you." He laughed over Ritsuka's shoulder. "But what do you mean it will be too late? Do you know something we don't?"

"I do. A great deal." That was unsurprising. Him denying it would be odd. The groan of aggravation from the Director spoke the opposite sentiment. "In this manner, I know that patience while the enemy plots will offer you no boon. For what do you hope to hold to show the safety of mankind?"

"Advantages," she quickly responded. "A thing or plan that nearly guarantees that they won't be able to do something, like, kill one of us without us noticing."

"Do you need to speak softly of the death of Marie?" Ritsuka held his head up, lifted by Jesus, even as the same Lord listed a painful subject. "She returned to my father's kingdom with a smile and grace befitting a child such as herself. The same for the musician who followed her, never waning in his love."

"I believe you, I do." Ritsuka wasn't sure she did. "But I'm more concerned over what we have now. Someone passing peacefully is a comfort, but it's not going to be a blade against them."

"Why do you need a blade when you have a strong shield?" Their Lord asked. "What may a sword do that the strong defense of my father cannot?"

"Stop the enemy, Jesus." Solomon returned. "I'm not intending to sound disrespectful, but that's it. It's to make sure they don't return. Defense is great, grand, and its why the walls of Israel were tall and beloved, but it will not crush those who wish to burn us. And yes, I know they want to burn us. Jeanne was rather verbose on that one."

"That woman is lost," Jesus returned first. "She claims to be a saint who prayed for her killers. A woman that smiled gently upon, as she emulated me to her death. The woman who wears her face and carries a darkened banner is not that woman."

"Look, we already talked about this with Ritsuka. Can we please not waste more time on it?" Olga intervened. "I'm more than happy to discuss how that IS Jeanne, just corrupted, at another time."

"A saint pure of heart cannot be corrupted by a devil's wish."

"I said LATER!" She yelled at the Lord. Ritsuka felt his brow furrow. The Director to her credit, straightened her back and sighed. "Apologies, but I'm beginning to lose my patience, especially after you just said we are short on time."

"I can be patient with my lessons," the Lord relented. "Can you be clear of mind as I speak?"

"A good question~." Olga glared up at Da Vinci. "But I believe she'll be able to listen to you, your Grace. And I must add, it is an honor to meet you. I hope the Pieta I once sculpted in your and your mother's visage did justice to your Passion."

"It was an expression of the love in misery that earned the yearning of many souls." Jesus answered. "You have used the gifts of my father well."

"Merci~!" The famed inventor shouted. That wasn't French though. Marie had never said what had to be thanks like that. "Oh, you must excuse me. I was brushing up on my French once I learned of Marie's passing." Ritsuka held his head down.

"I accept your humility. Will you now accept my words?"

"Yes," he answered this time, looking to his Lord. "I'll whatever you ask, and repeat any lesson you have to tell."

"I can vouch for that. He'll jump into hell after you if you asked."

"Of course I would!" the Director rolled her eyes. "In an instant."

"I believe in you as you do me," Jesus spoke, before putting pressure on his shoulder. It turned Ritsuka to face him, closer to his Lord than he thought he ever could be on Earth. Past, present, or future. "But keep your life safe, as you are an instrument of my ways."

"My Lord?"

"Your life is a gift from my father's tongue. Your will is your own, and your dedication of it to mine earns my thanks. But do you not use your will as excuse to throw away your life." His face was stern, like the parents that Ritsuka had seen speak to their children who were loud in mass. "Treat the gift of my father as you would the gift of any neighbor."

Ritsuka swallowed, looking up at his Lord. The words were not to be taken lightly, in any sense. Statements over questions, orders over guidance. That was what reminded him to nod his head.

"I will my Lord. I promise I will."

His smile returned.

Clap. And his hands clapped on Ritsuka's shoulders.

"Thank you for reminding our sole Master to not be careless." The Director spoke again. "But I'm happy to report that since Fuyuki, he has been more apt to letting the Servants protect him."

"They have, but what must be done will require him to walk on the balance of a knife's edge." Jesus spoke without taking eyes off of him. "When that time comes, will you remember my words?"

"I'll remember them all."

"Excellent."

"Excellent, excellent indeed," Solomon continued on. "It would also be excellent if we could talk about that timeline you were hinting at. I have to admit you've made me a bit nervous with that."

"It is not enough nor reason for you to let fear take your will," Jesus continued on. "I only wish to express what must be done." He looked up at the blue screen. "For the time is short, and the actions of the devil require the defiance of man."

"The Devil is involved now?" Olga critically asked. "I know we're not at odds with a force of good here, but I think it these Servants are just misguided with a bad sense of justice."

"What injustice is born of my father?" The question had her screwing her eyes at him. "For what does the Prince of Lies need but discontent among those who look up for hope?"

"Likely servants of his own." She responded before quickly shaking her head. "No, back on track, you said we had to go! Or it would be too late. Why is that?"

"Because it's time." The simple answer he gave had her eyes screwing.

"Time. Time is what you need, as in time to rest, to think, not time to make a wildly inane choice that is likely to result in your death!" She let out with a seethe. Da Vinci blinked behind her, just as Olga lowered hear head. "Please be more direct with what we need to do and what is happening. You can't ask me to just go ahead with a plan without knowing what is needed to be done."

Rather than answering her, Jesus looked down at Ritsuka. The young Master looked up at his Lord, who twisted his gaze and beheld him with a curious look.

"Do you have need of me to explain myself?" Ritsuka was quick to shake his head.

"He doesn't count!" Olga argued back. "He's a Master serving me, and I tell him what he needs to do. And because of that I need to know what is happening."

"Is it not obvious that we are aiming to save the lives of those in this land?" Jesus questioned. "Do you believe I am here for any purpose other than to ensure the Word of my father is fruitful and the seeds of discord are pulled?"

"That's intent, and I didn't think you were here for anything else. But what I don't know is why you say we are short on time!"

"Because the machinations of the devil are beginning to move. I will not await his arrival. He must make way for me."

It was, honestly, that simple. Hearing his Lord say those words had the Director staring at him through the blue screen, Da Vinci regarding him behind her, and a glance up at Solomon showed the Wise King was nodding his head in turn. He understood. The blank stare of Olga showed she did not understand, but did not know how to argue.

That was okay. It wasn't easy to understand the Lord. Just impossible to argue against him.

"Fine… fine, I can accept that something evil is happening and we have to hurry. I'll just make note that a part of your omniscient skill's operation is a sense of vagueness to allies." Skill? Wait, did she still think Jesus was a Servant. "But we're going to hurry. Fine. Then what should we do?"

"Did you not already have a plan?"

"We had the makings of one. But we don't know how to approach, who should take the lead, how we're going to earn the attention of the necessary Rogue Servants, or, more importantly, what we are going to do if they all charge at once." Her finger pointed at him. "I know you haven't forgotten that if Ritsuka is killed, then we lose. And they have more Servants than us."

"You have more at your back than you dare to realize." Jesus returned. "More who have oath to protect you than you care to imagine, or even capable of knowing."

"Wait… are there more Servants?"

"My Servants," Jesus corrected. "Who have made their wish to protect us known."

"Oh? Do you mean there are more Saints around the land?" Da Vinci hummed the question. "That would be a boon. I wonder if any of them are famed members of battle? What a treat it would be to have the makings of St. Michael~."

"Michael stands at the hand of my father now. And those who are here to follow the Word are those who will assist us. But we will be moving now."

"I'll ask just one more time. Just one. Why?"

"Because I say, therefore it must be so."

Author's Note: I don't think I realized before this how hard it is to write a character who is wise in mind but seen as foolish by others. Note, I don't think that about Jesus, but the common complaint of him from the non-faithful is that he is a fool who relies on vague notions to show his truth, and that if he just told people what was going to happen, then it would be obvious to them. This obviously isn't true, case in point, calling something as accurate as the number of rooster calls before Peter betrays him. Issue is you can't convince someone of God when you only reach God by going beyond simple logic, you can literally only do that flying solo.

Not asking anyone to start worshipping God because they have sympathy for the devil or any stuff like that. It'll only lead you to start thinking Judas was a pitiable soul or something crazy like that. He IS the son of God, simple as.

Point is, I tried to outline the battle plans here while showing Jesus has a plan to help. I do have a reason for why he isn't directly telling Olga why, but it won't come up until near the end, maybe the end. It's just the same reason why he tells others to commit acts without telling them what will happen. Same logic, and I hope I make it obvious, or at least coherent.

Also, I'm sure those who look at the reviews have seen the, as they describe, 'reddit tier atheism'. Not incorrect, but I'm not deleting all of them because a lot of people are putting in good counter arguments the few I deleted are just outright death threats, which are not an argument. There is a line crossed with 'I think you're wrong' and 'you better kill yourself to make me happy.'

That said, I thank everyone who reads and doesn't take it as an excuse to try and morally grand stand. This story was written with my enjoyment of Fate but love of God, and how even in this 'upsetting of the world', Jesus reigns supreme.