Hunger Is the Greatest Enemy / Shirou Has Been Kidnapped

Despite banning magic, the existence of a system allowing Servant to possess beings and establishing rules is like a completely different person. This has resulted in all humans in this world possessing a very interesting ability: they all have a constitution that makes them easily possessed by heroic Servant. (Monthly membership group: 694936135)

Such a world might be a happy one for humanity, but Shirou-senpai lived in such a world, was not able to obtain a happy future.

"Senior~, this is all for you, so BB-chan decided to destroy this world." The purple-haired girl said with a smile, her eyes flashing red.

Of course, given her personality or inherent characteristics, it would be difficult for her to stand on the front lines of the battlefield. So the girl thought to herself, "Then let BB-chan help everyone and make the world more lively!"

BB-chan began to get to know people who possessed and summoned Servant through various means, among whom Kayaba, a researcher with extensive knowledge of the virtual world, became her ally.

After learning of the Holy Grail's existence, BB immediately set up various challenges for people, distributed the Holy Grails he had collected as prizes, and lured them to search for and compete for the Holy Grails in various places.

The effect was surprisingly good. Humans, blinded by greed, are truly capable of anything, and they didn't even spare the powerful black mud Heroic Spirit.

"Shirou-senpai ~! This time, BB-chan will definitely change the future and save you!" The purple-haired girl clenched her fists and silently vowed.

Meanwhile, in a private residence in Chiba, the boy being targeted was completely unaware of everything, busy in the kitchen. Although a new problem had been discovered today, he hadn't received any definite information and couldn't find a solution.

But we still have to eat. No, rather, it's precisely because of this arduous battle that we absolutely must eat.

And there are now four mouths to feed in the living room.

After a day of shopping, the girls, no matter how they thought about it, still felt that home-cooked meals were the best. So they suppressed their urge to continue shopping and returned home before dinner time.

They were sitting on the sofa watching TV and playing on their phones to pass the time. The girls seemed to have gradually gotten used to this lifestyle of sitting and waiting for food.

With the arrival of the girls, more people started eating, and the boy felt more motivated to cook.

After some time, Shirou, who had prepared a dinner featuring dishes from various countries, took off his apron and hung it back in front of the kitchen door, preparing to call the girls to eat.

At that moment, Da Vinci of Chaldea appeared in the living room via a holographic projection and said, "Shirou! Everyone! There's progress on this matter, and it's very serious! They're planning a large-scale Holy Grail War!"

The roar of large turbine engines echoed in the sky as another enormous aircraft landed at the airport, carrying a group of tourists who had just disembarked from a plane flying directly from Jiangnan West Circuit to Tokyo.

A cute little girl carrying a small bag walked towards the immigration checkpoint, her twin ponytails swaying as she walked.

"What's this?" The immigration officer asked, looking at the small bag the girl with pigtails was holding.

"It's a commemorative trophy I got as a prize for competing with my friends here!" The little girl smiled brightly, opened her bag to reveal the golden trophy, and answered in Japanese.

"Oh? Your Japanese is excellent. Is it some kind of competition? Table tennis? Badminton?" the staff member asked curiously.

"It's a game! A multiplayer online game!" the little girl replied with a smile.

The staff at the checkpoint were charmed by the girl's cuteness, smiled, stamped her passport, and said, "Is that so? Well then, welcome to Tokyo!"

"Thank you, uncle, goodbye~!" The little girl with pigtails waved to the staff member.

"Uncle? I'm not even twenty-five yet, but I'm very cute, so uncle it is then. Goodbye~!" The staff member waved as if he had been healed.

"Wait for us, Your Princess!" Two girls, dragging suitcases, caught up with us.

The three girls walked to the parking lot, where a black extended Bentley was already parked, waiting for a long time. The one who got out of the car and opened the door for the girls was Zhang Qing, the Featherless Arrow. He was now dressed in a black suit and acting as the girls' bodyguard.

Chou Meimei got into the car, where she saw a girl with long brown hair and blue eyes, dressed in a JK uniform, already sitting inside. The girl was playing with a sharp blade in her hand, which gleamed with a chilling light and exuded the aura of someone who walked in dangerous territory.

"Hi, thank you for coming all the way from Fukuoka. I'm counting on you for this event, Linlin," Chou Meimei said to the person sitting opposite her.

"Tch, all I care about is making money." A long-haired JK girl in a Japanese school uniform sat cross-legged on the car, speaking in a masculine tone.

A closer look reveals a slightly protruding Adam's apple on his neck, and he's wearing flat pants underneath his raised thighs.

"Of course, I always keep my word, and anything that can be solved with money is the best I can do!" Chou Meimei, no, now Wu Zetian, readily agreed.

As the daughter of a merchant, she was perhaps the only female emperor in Chinese history, and also the one who least looked down on merchants and understood the value of commerce best. Her reign coincided with the most active period of foreign trade development in the Tang Dynasty.

Even though her foreign policy was relatively conservative, she only guarded against the Turkic and completely abandoned the rebellious Khitan.

However, only by maintaining control over the Western Regions, continuously sending troops, firmly grasping the region, establishing Protectorate General, actively exploring business opportunities, and ensuring the smooth flow of the Silk Road.

Furthermore, they continuously constructed water conservancy projects, excavated various channels, and developed a network centered on Luoyang, with all waterways leading to Luoyang, connecting Sichuan, Zhejiang, and Fujian. They also developed several port cities such as Guangzhou, Jiaozhou, and Dengzhou for maritime trade.

So much so that during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong, the Master Xuanzang, riding a white horse, traveled 108,000 li and endured 81 tribulations to reach India. By the time of Empress Wu Zetian, when the eminent monk Yijing went on a pilgrimage, he could travel directly by sea on a merchant ship.

During the "Middle Tang Restoration" in the late Tang Dynasty, there was a famous story of "Father and Son Both Become Chancellors." The father, Prime Minister Li Jifu, wrote the line, " In the Southeastern Prefectures and Counties, there is no waterway that is not accessible. The Profits of the World are mostly made by boats."

So her trip to this country wasn't simply about seizing power by force, but about discussing business.

If she were to live alone in this world, one Holy Grail would be enough. However, if there were others who could threaten her and potentially obtain the Holy Grail, that would not be good news.

In this world, to gain an independent body and be reborn, one must use a Holy Grail. However, she is not very good at fighting head-on, and it would be very dangerous if she became the target of everyone's attacks.

Therefore, capable subordinates and protection mechanisms are also necessary. At this moment, what comes to mind in the girl's mind is the kind, reliable, and sincere boy, the smiling face of the boy next door.

Chapter 257 An empty stomach is a formidable enemy

This competition, initiated by the BB of the Servant, was based on intelligence provided by Wu Zetian's informant in the Kingdom of He. There will be at least four Holy Grails in this competition: one in Wu Zetian's possession, one in the Kingdom of He's organization, one in India, and one in Korea, in alliance with several other countries.

With the future in mind, Wu Zetian wanted to obtain another Holy Grail to ensure the strength of her forces. So when BB extended an invitation to her, she accepted without much thought. This trip also allowed her to look for worthy allies or potential partners for war or cooperation.

Although the competition takes place in the world of electronic networks, she is not naive enough to think that it is just a matter of determining the winner in a duel. The allure of the Almighty Wish Machine is too great. In fact, this Holy Grail War has already begun the moment she set foot on this land.

As the black limousine started up and drove out of the parking lot, looking out through the bulletproof glass, one could see several suspicious-looking individuals, seemingly observing the situation.

"There are three rats outside, do you want me to get rid of them?" Lin Xianming, a man dressed as a woman in a JK uniform, asked.

"No, it's just a test of this level. Let them be. Anyway, I've done my part," Wu Zetian said nonchalantly.

According to the plan, she will lead a group of people to infiltrate the electronic world, but Zhang Qing, as Servant, will stay behind to act as a guard and protect them who have no ability to resist in reality once they enter the network world.

The man in women's clothing in front of her was a backup plan she had prepared; she planned to send another assassin to have some fun with the other side.

"Any other special requests? It would be best to make them clear at once," said Lin Xianming, the cross-dressing assassin.

"Well, if I had to say, it's this person. He's no longer part of the plan, but if you encounter him, retreat and don't hurt him," Wu Zetian said, handing over a photograph.

The photo shows that kind young man she met while traveling in Lushan. If she were to gain a physical body, the first person she would want to date would be him. However, the problem is that her host, Meimei, and several of her other trusted subordinates seem to have feelings for him as well.

'She's fairly good-looking, probably a high school student. Isn't the age gap between her and this child a bit too big? Could she be a lolicon?'

The cross-dressing assassin Lin Xianming, took the photo, looked it over, then glanced at the petite girl with pigtails beside him, and couldn't help but ask worriedly, "Is this man your boyfriend?"

"Hmm... Although we haven't dated yet, I am indeed very interested in him. But I don't dislike men like you either. Would you like to consider it?" Wu Zetian didn't deny it, but looked at the beautiful man in women's clothing in front of her and said teasingly.

"Forget it, besides being an assassin, I don't know how to do anything else. And I have absolutely no interest in being someone's mistress." The cross-dressing assassin Lin Xianming shrugged. If he had to say something, he couldn't possibly make a move on a girl who looked even younger than his own sister.

"Eh? So you're refusing my invitation? Fine, do you prefer that type of man?" Wu Zetian said with some surprise, but she still granted the other party's request. After all, he was a capable person, and therefore she was entitled to make concessions.

"No, you never even considered inviting me, did you? You seem like it anyway," the cross-dressing assassin said, tossing his long hair as he looked at the girl.

Seemingly having her thoughts exposed, the little girl blushed and retorted, "What nonsense are you talking about! I only made a promise to him that I would come here to see him, but the outcome depends on his performance! In the end, there are good men everywhere, don't think I'd hang myself on one tree!"

"Okay, okay." Lin Xianming casually shrugged and agreed, but his expression towards the girl was one of 'I believe you, I believe you, okay?'

'She's gone so far as to carry a photo of the other person with her at all times. Even if she's Servant, she's still a little girl. With that innocent girl expression, what else can he say?' Lin Xianming thought to himself with amusement.

"How infuriating! Who do you think you're talking to! I was once the most powerful being in the world, no less powerful than Emperor Wu of Zhou during the Tang Dynasty!"

She is the only female emperor in China's five thousand years of history. Regardless of gender, if we only consider her achievements, she believes that in terms of civil administration, she can rank among the top ten even compared to all the Emperor of all dynasties.

Although her current Spirit Origin is actually fixed at the moment when she first entered the palace and aspired to become a superior person, which is the starting point of her legendary life.

Because of the influence of her Spirit Origin in her childhood, her personality remained that of a young girl, and her later experiences only appeared in her mind as memories.

One general's success is built on the bones of ten thousand, and how many more lie beneath the throne of an Emperor? She, having embarked on this path to power, was destined for loneliness.

In the memories she possessed, a group of ministers worshipped their powerful clans. There were no dynasties with a thousand-year history, but there were clans with a thousand-year history. In their eyes, imperial power could only be exercised by relying on their clans to govern the world. Emperors could be replaced at any time, but clans were indispensable.

Those who sided with her, as their children grew up, all wanted her to relinquish power for them. And the high-ranking officials she promoted were only loyal to their power.

Even the few loyal officials who were willing to dutifully assist her in managing the government still secretly hoped that she would agree to return power to the Li Tang Dynasty after her death.

Therefore, you actually only meet a handful of truly trustworthy people in your lifetime.

It's understandable that Wu Zetian, who retained a girlish personality, would yearn for a gentle and considerate handsome boyfriend, just like a young girl like Meimei.

Moreover, she understands better than other girls how rare and precious a man is who can be sincere with her and has little interest in money or power. Of course, if such a man is also handsome, has a good personality, and is an expert in housework, that would be even better.

If Wu Zetian were to be reborn in this world, she could continue to prove herself. Even if she couldn't be the emperor anymore, she could still accumulate wealth, control land, gain prestige, and become one of the most powerful people in the world through various means.

However, following her usual practice in life, after winning this Holy Grail War, she will probably establish a company and gradually eliminate her competitors. In short, she will try her best to do things like poisoning and assassination without relying on the power of Servant.

In short, she will eventually become the first woman in modern times to become the world's richest person.

The company's management style emphasizes fair competition, promoting the capable and eliminating the incompetent; however, the supervision will be extremely rigorous, with undercover agents frequently visiting branch offices to inspect the operations, and any problems discovered will be dealt with ruthlessly.

Then, when the children grow up, even though the current rule only allows two children, there are always ways to make money. Or, why not just include pushing for legal amendments to allow for reproductive freedom in the five-year plan?

"However, if everything proceeds according to the pace of his life, it will probably end up with a bunch of good-for-nothing relatives, and then sons, daughters, and nephews will all be thinking about dividing the inheritance and inheriting the family business. While such a future may bring success and fame, can it truly bring happiness?"

The girl with pigtails, sitting inside the black luxury car, sometimes rested her chin on her hand, sometimes crossed her arms, squinted her eyes, and shook her head from side to side in a conflicted manner.

"The Princess is being cute again~!"

"This is definitely practice done to lower the opponent's guard. As expected of the Princess!"

The two girls who were following along said with stars in their eyes, "I admire you."

"No... is that really true? Although she is indeed very cute..." the assassin beside him said uncertainly.

The little girl with twin ponytails was still deep in thought and didn't hear what the people around her were saying.

'So... as expected, besides power, if one also wants happiness in relationships, then a gentle and family-oriented father is indeed needed to set a good example and educate the children well. But if that's the case, then there really aren't any other options in the entire world, are there?'

'Hmm... After all, Shirou isn't just a pretty boy; he's quite capable himself, so he could be a suitable marriage partner, right?' Wu Zetian tried to convince herself.

"One more question, to what extent are you planning to make me go?" Lin Xianming asked helplessly, deftly twirling the dagger between his fingers before sheathing it and disappearing.

"Just do as you please, whether it's subduing, coercing, or killing, as long as I win, that's enough for me. But remember to be careful. Although they're not like a trained professional like you, they can still be possessed by heroic Servant."

Wu Zetian warned the assassin, who was also from China, "Don't die. We'll have many more opportunities to cooperate in the future."

"I know, I have a younger sister to support. I would never do anything dangerous like that," the cross-dressing assassin replied, opening the car door.

The black limousine stopped at the intersection. People on the roadside looked at the beautiful girl in a JK uniform who didn't look like a rich girl at all, with surprise, and made all sorts of guesses in their minds.

However, Lin Xianming ignored their stares, walked along the path, disappeared into a dark alley.

The dining room of the Chiba house was filled with the aroma of food. A large plate of crispy fried chicken nuggets was covered with golden, uneven breadcrumbs. One bite revealed a crisp texture, filling the mouth with the rich aroma of wheat and the unique flavor of chicken.

In the 3D projection, Da Vinci, sitting in his workshop in Chaldea, is explaining the current crisis to everyone.

"This Holy Grail War is terrifyingly involving multiple Holy Grails, and they plan to have 128 Master with the qualifications to possess and summon them fight each other to determine a single victor."

Another dish was placed on the table: deep-fried red lobsters, their bodies slightly curled, their bright red shells coated with fine salt and spices. The marinated lobster meat became exceptionally sweet after being deep-fried. They were small and long, with many claws folded together and curved tails. A bite of them was crunchy, and you could even swallow the head.

Da Vinci held up one finger and said with a serious expression, "Nothing like this has ever happened before. Even though the current participants are all summoned through restricted possession, a hundred is still a terrifying number. It could easily cause chaos on the level of a 'Singularity'!"

"We absolutely have to stop them!" Shirou nodded solemnly and agreed earnestly. However, his hands didn't stop working; this time, he served up meatballs that Artoria would like.

Using a 7:3 ratio of lean to fat meat, mince the meat and mix it with various spices and starch. Shape the mixture into meatballs, fry them in oil until fragrant and set, and finally place them in a Chinese iron pot with a broth made by simmering garlic and other spices in water. Cover the pot and let the meatballs fully absorb the broth. The delicious Braised Lion's Head Meatballs are now ready.

"Hey! Wait a minute!! You lot! Are you really going to eat all this delicious food while talking to me?" Da Vinci protested, looking at the group with great displeasure. She had been working overtime at Chaldea conducting various investigations.

"Even if you say that, you still have to eat properly, otherwise how can you fight?" Shirou placed the France -style cheese stew in front of the silver-haired girl and said to Da Vinci as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"Shirou is right! An empty stomach is a major enemy!" Artoria said in agreement, her face glistening with oil as she ate a mountain of rice.

"Hurry up and tell me what it is! Today's dishes are served on huge platters of Chinese Cuisine. If we're not careful, they'll all end up in this king's mouth!" Jeanne d'Arc complained, quickly picking food from the plates in front of Artoria with her chopsticks.

As usual, Mashiro remained silent, savoring the food in small bites. Although she didn't speak, her words were always audible; everything was understood without being spoken.

"Well, Da Vinci, just say it! Komachi will listen carefully!" The understanding Komachi said with a bright smile to the person on the screen.

"Komachi- chan..." Da Vinci looked at the girl with emotion. She now seemed to understand why Shirou was a siscon.

However, as Shirou returned from the kitchen, Komachi's attention was quickly drawn to the dishes that had just been served, and she exclaimed in surprise.

"Ah, as expected of my brother! This is what Komachi likes to eat! Sweet and sour fish! Just the smell is enough to whet my appetite. Pineapple and tomatoes are rich in vitamins."

The best part, of course, is the golden-brown fried fish chunks. They're sweet and sour, fragrant and crispy, and you can even chew through the bones without worrying about fish bones.

"Damn it... I'll go to the kitchen and get some snacks, then I'll come back and talk!" Da Vinci said tearfully, unwilling to give up.

Chapter 258 Shirou is kidnapped

"My investigation revealed that this organization has scientists with technology similar to Spiritron Transfer. This Holy Grail War is a game where 128 people enter a cyber battlefield to fight each other for the Holy Grail."

Da Vinci ate his snacks and drank his black tea. At least he had food in his mouth and didn't have to look at the person opposite him with a gloomy gaze.

"I see... wait, the online world? Is that even possible?" Shirou asked curiously.

"Although I also find it incredible, it's a really good rule that in cyberspace, while there are still some side effects on the mind, the physical body remains safe." Da Vinci seemed to be expressing his approval to the person behind the scenes.

"How exactly did they do that?" Shirou asked in confusion. Although the technological development in this world is quite rapid, it is more reflected in the multifunctionality and convenience that technological updates bring to people's lives, and these are indeed constantly improving.