Target, Faction, and Variable

While Shiki and the Black Knight were fully engaged in searching for Lancer, Kiritsugu Emiya was methodically organizing weapons and equipment within a hidden stronghold in Miyama Town.

Recalling his intense gunfight with Shiki earlier, Kiritsugu inwardly cautioned himself: in this Holy Grail War, the advantage of modern firearms was no longer his alone.

Berserker's Master, that mysterious young man, was far more troublesome than anticipated.

Acting rashly against him without thorough preparation had undoubtedly been a misstep.

Now that the opponent was alerted, finding such a favorable opportunity again would be as difficult as reaching the heavens.

"Kiritsugu," Irisviel's gentle call came from behind him.

Kiritsugu stopped his actions at the sound and turned, seeing Irisviel standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Saber at the doorway. Saber, dressed in men's clothing, stood tall, her eyes holding a resolute determination that could not be underestimated.

"What is it, Irisviel?" Kiritsugu's voice was as cold as ice, betraying no warmth expected for a loved one.

Irisviel was long accustomed to this, and she calmly stated, "Saber wishes to speak with you."

Speak? A hint of resistance stirred within Kiritsugu.

In his view, Servants were merely tools to fulfill wishes, and besides, he and Saber already had poor compatibility; what could a conversation possibly change?

It was better to maintain the status quo until victory was secured.

Irisviel keenly caught the fleeting, subtle expression on Kiritsugu's face and immediately added, "Kiritsugu, the situation of the Holy Grail War is becoming increasingly severe. We must communicate properly. If things continue like this, our chances of winning are slim to none."

A lack of communication and understanding between Master and Servant would make tacit cooperation difficult, and the absence of such understanding would become a huge obstacle to improving their combat effectiveness.

At this moment, the Holy Grail War had entered its white-hot stage. All Servants had been summoned and had already engaged in fierce clashes. The probing phase was over; from here on, it would be a fight to the death with real swords and real guns.

It was precisely because of this understanding of the situation that the awakened Saber, the King of Knights, was determined to have an in-depth conversation with Kiritsugu.

However, when Saber stood before Kiritsugu, he was genuinely taken aback.

The Saber before him was like a different person from her past self. Her small frame exuded a powerful aura, and an invisible pressure forced Kiritsugu to involuntarily take a small step back.

"!"

What had this Saber gone through?

Saber's gaze was firm, her tone leaving no room for doubt: "Master, we must communicate deeply. Whether for you, for me, or for Irisviel, this is a necessary action. If you refuse to communicate and leave this place, I won't hesitate to find a Master who can truly fight alongside me."

Kiritsugu heard the threat in her words.

The powerful presence emanating from Saber made him truly feel that if he insisted on refusing, Saber might very well strike him down.

That palpable killing intent was no illusion.

"Saber!? You..."

Kiritsugu was filled with confusion. What had caused Saber, who was once as pitiable as a young girl, to transform into such an imposing king?

This sudden change clearly exceeded his expectations.

The feeling from the binoculars and the feeling in reality were completely different.

Finally, Kiritsugu realized that he could no longer underestimate this Servant.

"Alright, let's talk then."

He compromised helplessly and took out his phone to call his assistant.

"Maiya, cancel tonight's operation. You don't need to continue tracking Lancer's Master. Come back."

Earlier, although Maiya had not arrived at the port in time, she had unexpectedly discovered Sola, the fiancée of Lancer's former Master, Kaineth.

With her sharp eyes, Maiya noticed the Command Spells on Sola's hand and immediately judged that Sola had become Lancer's new Master.

Upon learning this, Kiritsugu quickly formulated a plan: have Maiya track Sola to find Lancer's hiding place, then have Saber confront him directly, while he would seize the opportunity to sneak an attack and eliminate Lancer in one fell swoop.

However, this plan was forcefully interrupted by Saber before it could be put into action.

"So, where shall we begin?" Kiritsugu asked.

Saber walked out of the room without looking back and said loudly, "Let's go to the living room. There, we will frankly discuss each other's ideals and wishes."

Kiritsugu clenched his fists, a strong sense of loss surging within him. The initiative seemed to have slipped from his grasp without him even realizing it.

Although the Command Spells on his hand were still there, meaning he theoretically had absolute control over Saber, he had to make a careful choice for the sake of the entire team's survival.

"This feeling... it's the first time since Natalia."

Kiritsugu felt uneasy.

Saber's first in-depth conversation with him thus began. This crucial step, which should have been completed immediately after summoning the Heroic Spirit, was only now belatedly arriving.

Meanwhile, other factions were also secretly adjusting their strategies.

After the battle to subjugate Caster, the first climax of this Holy Grail War had ended. Assassin and Caster had successively withdrawn. The remaining five Heroic Spirits were all powerful and formidable opponents, none to be underestimated.

The battles had been immensely draining, both in terms of magical energy consumption and mental fatigue, requiring time to recover.

After the terrifying incident of the monster's descent, everyone urgently needed time to adjust their state and face the subsequent challenges in their best condition.

However, the combination of Shiki and the Black Knight was an exception.

After obtaining the old priest's Command Spells, Shiki gained a massive source of magical power, instantly straightening his back. He could now expend magic without any scruples, no longer worrying about magical exhaustion.

With the miraculous ability of his Magic Eye, the Deva Path, Shiki tore through the night sky like a meteor, flying towards the highest point of New Capital—the roof of the central building.

The sea breeze howled past, chilling him to the bone. Shiki couldn't help but complain, "What rotten luck. Why did I forget to grab an extra layer when I left? Sigh, my brain… I just can't break old habits. I always think I'm still in the ninja world, still a ninja myself."

Changing one's thoughts and habits wasn't something that happened overnight; it required a long time to adjust.

The Black Knight slowly materialized from his spiritual form, standing quietly behind the Master.

He looked down at the brightly lit city below, his brow furrowed slightly. He asked, "Master, Lancer's previous stronghold has been leveled. Where should we start looking?"

The two had rushed to the Hyatt Hotel earlier, only to discover that the information provided by the old monster was already outdated. The hotel had long since been reduced to ruins, and Kaineth was nowhere to be found.

Gazing at the rubble, Shiki suddenly remembered that it was precisely because his stronghold was bombed that Kaineth had gone to the eastern outskirts to cause trouble for Kiritsugu, though the outcome hadn't been pleasant.

"Since Lancer isn't there, let's start with related personnel. I don't believe such a significant person could just vanish into thin air in this city."

Magus were also mortals; they needed to eat, drink, live, and travel. Magic wasn't omnipotent. As long as they were active in the world, they would inevitably leave traces, and these traces were the clues Shiki would follow.

Shiki quickly locked onto his target—the firefighters still busy in the ruins.

He had already made inquiries from various sources, learning that on the day after the building collapsed, only one captain had left the scene alone with a strange package.

At this moment, standing atop the tall building, Shiki's gaze was sharp. The captain's home was already in sight.

As the saying goes, standing tall allows one to see far.

"Let's go find that captain."

The Black Knight nodded slightly, and his figure instantly vanished from his spot.

Shiki, meanwhile, shot into the sky, speeding towards their target.