Shirou, Ace Secret Agent / Everything for Justice

Only then can his own existence truly find peace.

At this moment, Shirou's true form is still in the space of the universe, searching for his true home.

Shirou still needs to figure out the specifics of how to do it.

However! We need to deal with Moriarty first!

"What should we do?" Shirou asked the silver-haired man.

"Of course... I'll transform into a messenger of justice!" Merlin said matter-of-factly.

Chapter 422 Ace Shirou

On a street in Shinjuku at night, Shirou stands by the roadside, waiting for something.

Just then, a pink Japanese luxury car drove towards them, Shirou immediately smiled and waved in that direction.

The car stopped on the side of the road beside him, Shirou opened the door and got in.

There was already someone sitting in the back row; it was Ms. Komatsu, the wealthy businesswoman whom Shirou and the knights had celebrated her birthday with.

"Good evening, Ms. Komatsu," Shirou said with a smile, sitting close to the woman.

"Good evening, Shirou," Ms. Komatsu said with a smile.

"Thank you so much, Ms. Komatsu, for taking me to such a big company banquet," Shirou said.

"Don't mention it, we're friends, it's nothing. But Shirou, are you really sure you want to leave the Round Table Club?" Ms. Komatsu looked at him.

"Well, the club is currently too small. Only by joining Asteroid Company and creating a large-scale clubhouse will it be more beneficial for my future development," Shirou agreed with a smile.

Yes, Shirou betrayed Merlin and the Round Table, and is preparing to join the offensive of the largest force in the entire Kabukicho, and even the entire Shinjuku, in the underworld.

Ms. Komatsu didn't doubt Shirou's statement. After all, male host who constantly switch jobs for money are everywhere. It's like a company in modern society; as long as a high-level male host can bring in customers and generate revenue, other clubs will send headhunters to poach him.

This is especially effective for newly opened stores. The amount of sales achieved determines the reward, and the signing bonus is negotiable.

He changed out of his flashy, casual male escort suit and into a more formal business dinner suit. He also put on black-rimmed glasses and entered the building as the female boss's dance partner.

To Ms. Komatsu, who knew Shirou's usual self well, this was definitely uniform fetish. Thinking about it made her a little excited. She fanned herself with her hand to cool the heat off her face and tried to keep her heart from beating too fast.

The driver pulled up in front of a tall building that resembled a black rocket tower.

As soon as Shirou entered, he sensed something unusual. The arrangement of magical energy in the air was being manipulated by some force, causing it to change.

A barrier... Some kind of Magecraft barrier has been set up inside this building.

Tonight, a routine banquet will be held in this building. As the largest company in the underworld, it invites businessmen and officials here every month to participate in events, enjoy free and luxurious hospitality, and conduct some shady deals.

Shirou surveyed his surroundings. The spacious area had been converted into a reception area, complete with red carpets and a raised platform on one side, seemingly for a symphony orchestra performance. Below, a dozen long tables covered with white cloths were set up, laden with various delicacies, including hairy crabs, lobsters, and roast suckling pig, all served to the guests in a buffet style.

In the corner, there were bulletproof glass display cases filled with various luxurious ornaments, gems, watches, and some strange things, such as the arms of a kappa. Shirou even saw a bizarre skull made of green gemstones.

Shirou sensed some magical energy emanating from these exhibits, suggesting that they might be ordinary objects in addition to being valuable.

Introduced by Ms. Komatsu, Shirou arrived at the home of a glamorous woman who appeared to be of European or American descent and was dressed in a tight black leather outfit.

"Oh, Komatsu-san, what brings you here?" the alluring woman asked.

Shirou had already heard about her from Ms. Komatsu before. This glamorous woman was a female executive here, authorized by the big boss to directly manage the company's personnel transfers and expansion.

"Actually, this gentleman has always wanted to open his own shop, and he just happened to hear that your company is expanding, so he wanted to join your company," Ms. Komatsu explained to Shirou.

"Oh... I know you, the top star of the Round Table Club, wanting to switch jobs? Hmm... I see." The female executive raised her eyebrows, looked Shirou up and down, and finally showed a look of great interest.

Shirou simply smiled, revealing no flaw on the surface, but in reality, the back of his shirt was already soaked with cold sweat.

"I know, thank you, Komatsu-san, you can go to the banquet now. As for you..." The female officer finished speaking to Ms. Komatsu, then turned to look at the boy beside her. Suddenly, she reached out a finger, hooked it around Shirou's chin, and revealed a meaningful smile. Her thick red lips moved as she said, "Come with me to the office upstairs for an interview."

Ms. Komatsu glanced at Shirou, seemingly worried. She knew very well that the female executive opposite her was no good. She'd heard that she enjoyed engaging in extreme activities, and many male host had ended up in the hospital because of it.

Shirou smiled lightly as he bid farewell to Ms. Komatsu, assuring her that she could rest assured.

"I know, then goodbye, Shirou." Ms. Komatsu hesitated, wanting to say something more, but in the end she gave up, waved to Shirou, and turned to leave.

Regardless of what happens later, it was Shirou's own choice. Everyone has different thoughts. In fact, even knowing what might happen, countless people would still want to squeeze into Kabukicho, after all, it's the company of Shinjuku's Kabukicho Emperor of the Night.

But... after tonight, will that simple, sincere boy who would specially bake a cake for her on her birthday still exist?

"Well then, let's go, Shirou-kun." The female cadre flicked the leather whip in her hand, smiled, and swayed her voluptuous body as she walked inside.

Without hesitation, Shirou began mingling with the female executive of the evil group. As an agent infiltrating the organization, he had reached a crucial moment and could not afford to give himself away in the slightest.

However, what Shirou didn't expect was that the female executive was actually plotting how to take advantage of Shirou.

She didn't really like the Round Table Club model. After all, you're just a prostitute, and your salary depends on whether the female bosses are happy or not. You're someone who lives off their whims. Yet, you act like a prostitute but want to maintain a virtuous image, talking about chivalry.

She was tasked with expanding the market, and she wouldn't let go of any promising opportunities, no matter what.

But now that she saw Shirou and felt his unique charm, she couldn't help but feel a little itchy. She wasn't going to let this opportunity slip by. To have the top male host begging for her without spending a penny, she naturally wanted to enjoy herself to the fullest and then introduce Shirou to her own top-class club. That would be a great achievement for her.

At this moment, a head waiter approached the female cadre.

"What is it!" The female cadre frowned, looking impatiently at her slow-witted subordinate and demanding an answer.

"Yes, sir, the concert is about to begin. Would you like to host it?" the foreman reported quietly.

"I'll leave this place to you for now. I have some important business to attend to. The boss won't be coming tonight. You guys take good care of these pig... guests, just make sure they don't cause any trouble. Unless something serious happens, don't bother me again tonight, understand?" The female cadre exuded a murderous aura at the end.

"Yes!" The foreman broke out in a cold sweat, and hurriedly bowed respectfully in response.

At this moment, in the center of the stage illuminated by the golden spotlight, the symphony orchestra began to enter. Violinists, violas, cellists, and musicians carrying various orchestral instruments took their seats. The conductor, dressed in a tuxedo, was there making final arrangements with the pianist.

"Speaking of which, what's the program for tonight?" Shirou asked casually.

"Yes, tonight's theme is the classicism that our host enjoys, starting with Haydn and Mozart, and ending with the Ode to Ode to Joy," the waiter replied respectfully.

"Oh, the three masters of classicism." Shirou nodded knowingly.

"Oh, I didn't know you even know classical music? Our big boss is a big fan of it." The female executive hugged Shirou and said with a smile.

"Haha, I've only heard a little about it," Shirou replied with a light laugh.

"It's okay, just talk about anything, like Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, etc., I don't understand them at all." The female cadre didn't forget to rub oil into her hands.

'Be patient! Be patient!'

Shirou reminded himself that everything was for the mission, for the mission! He had no choice but to tell the female officer the little information he knew, and to make up for his lack of professional knowledge, he even brought up some rumors and unofficial history.

Everyone knows Mozart and Beethoven, and has heard their stories. But some people may be less familiar with Haydn. Together they are known as the three masters of Viennese classicism. Whether it is Mozart, Beethoven or other younger generations, many people affectionately call him "Papa Haydn".

Haydn and Mozart were both outstanding Austria musicians, subjects of the Holy Roman Empire at the time. They lived and worked together in Vienna, joined the same artists' organization, and shared a deep connection.

Haydn is known as the Father of the Symphony. Although he was the oldest, he was also the longest-lived of the three symphony masters, passing away at the age of 77.

Mozart carried forward the symphonic music pioneered by Haydn, but died young. Haydn was also influenced by Mozart's musical style in his later years, refining his technique and gaining worldwide fame.

Beethoven became a student of Haydn in his early twenties, and Haydn was arguably his music teacher during the advanced stage of his musical career. When he left home at the age of 17 and first arrived in Vienna, he also studied with Mozart for a period of time.

When Beethoven was still an immature student, Mozart had predicted that he would one day astound the world.

Each of the three had their own destined partner, but they could be said to cherish each other.

Beethoven's later years were filled with hardship and suffering. After losing his hearing, he even tried to play the piano by biting a stick, using bone conduction to complete his compositions.

Mozart died a year before the French Revolution, which had an enormous impact on the world. Some might think it was like the Beiyang Warlords overthrowing the Qing government —a domestic matter handled behind closed doors, seemingly having no impact on other countries.

The French Revolution was essentially a French domestic affair; it was nothing more than the overthrow of a dynasty, followed by a power struggle among various parties that turned it into a farce of indiscriminate beheadings. In the end, Emperor Napoleon reaped the benefits.

But in fact, this revolution brought about earth-shattering changes to the European world at the time. The American Revolutionary War had only ended less than ten years prior, making it arguably the most shocking event in the Western world.

From that point on, people in Western countries began to realize that imperial power could be overthrown and that people could completely reshuffle the political landscape through revolution.

It could be said that during Mozart's lifetime, the Western world was ruled by aristocrats and religion, but a year after Mozart death, the free will of the people was fully awakened. Merchants who controlled wealth began to wrest more say from the aristocracy, and even ordinary people stood up.

Of the three masters of Classicism, Haydn was the oldest, more than twenty years older than Mozart in turn was more than ten years older than Beethoven.

Mozart was the youngest of the three geniuses to achieve fame, establishing his reputation as a prodigy at the age of six. He also produced the most works, yet he was the poorest of the three. Records of his death indicate that he lived in abject poverty and could not afford a proper burial, so he was placed in a burial plot set up by the church for the poor who could not afford a grave.

Because he was in a very awkward position at the time. Composers could only be employed by nobles or churches, and it was absolutely impossible to perform in those large concert halls without a powerful patron.

As a freelance musician, Mozart could only earn money by composing and performing for others and teaching music to wealthy families; he had no platform to showcase his talent.

When Haydn was young, he could serve important figures such as King and dukes. But by the time of Mozart, royal power had begun to decline. Mozart was far from being famous to the point of being deified in later generations. Although he was famous, his fame was limited to a small circle.

Although it seems glamorous, he actually only works in the local episcopal church, earning a meager salary and playing religious music during services and holidays.

Mozart was young and impetuous, and by nature disliked being restrained, let alone serving as a servant to a priest in the church.

When he resigned from his job and returned to Vienna, he could only take on small jobs, playing music and opera for family gatherings, much like a street performer in Chinese countryside who performed for weddings and funerals.

Once the French Revolution broke out, the status of music craftsmen skyrocketed, and they became artists and big stars, receiving the adoration of countless wealthy and powerful people.

Although Haydn was more than twenty years older Mozart, he lived longer and enjoyed the benefits of the new era, becoming a world-renowned musician and composer like Beethoven.

"Don't you think this is very unfair? He clearly has the ability to rival anyone and has put in enough effort. In his thirty-five years of life, he has written more than six hundred works, which is several times more than other musicians who live to a ripe old age."

"Just because he died a year earlier, the difference is so huge. Musicians like Haydn, Beethoven, and Schubert, who were his contemporaries, enjoyed wealth and honor in their lives and were buried in St. Marx Cemetery with great fanfare after their deaths, receiving the respect of later generations. He, however, received nothing." The woman spoke up at this moment, clearly indicating that she was not unaware of these things as she had previously claimed.

"Don't you think these people are despicable?" The woman's tone seemed to carry a sense of hatred for the powerful and wealthy. Her gaze swept across the banquet hall, looking down on the rich people as if they were pigs being fed.

"But Mozart was also moved to this cemetery for musical patriarchs 60 years after his death, because of societal changes at the time, but people have since made changes, and at least the outcome was good," Shirou said.

The woman smiled, lowered her voice, and said mysteriously, "Yes, I didn't expect you to know so much, Shirou. But did you know there's a rumor about this? It's said that before the grave was moved, someone actually dug up Mozart's skull in the cemetery, and to this day, Mozart's remains buried in the ground are still headless and bodyless."

"Huh? That thing just now... could it be..." Shirou looked at the woman in surprise. Could the relic with magical energy that he had just sensed be the green gem skull displayed in the glass case?!

"People of that era seemed to have a penchant for collecting the heads of artists," the woman said with a wink and a slightly eerie smile.

At this moment, the female cadre led Shirou to the center of the building. In front of them was a checkpoint, like the inspection channel in a train station or a large library. You had to swipe your card to pass through the gate in front of you. There were also guards standing guard inside the gate. Only after you passed through all the checks could you enter.

"Alright, we're downstairs, let's go in." The female cadre ignored the guards, took Shirou, swiped her card, and walked inside.

At that moment, a guard in a black suit and black sunglasses, who was blocking the entrance, stopped Shirou and said...

"Wait! Sir, you are an outsider, please undergo inspection first,"

"Wait! I brought a guest, and you're going to doubt me too?!" The female cadre glared angrily at the gatekeeper. Although this place wasn't under her jurisdiction, she was still a cadre, after all. How could she lose face in front of the boy she wanted to date? The female cadre was about to explode.

"It's alright, it won't take long. Go ahead with the check." Shirou stopped the woman, casually spreading his arms to cooperate with the security guard.

"Thank you for your cooperation." The security guard, seemingly oblivious, scanned his surroundings with the detector.

"Isn't it ready yet?!" the female cadre said impatiently.

"I'm sorry to have taken up your time. It's ready now, please come in." The guard put away the equipment, stood ramrod straight, and saluted.

"No, this is also your job." Shirou chuckled kindly.

Shirou followed the female executive into the elevator, which ascended to the twentieth floor and upwards. He finally managed a smile; he had finally succeeded in hacking in...

Chapter 423 All for Justice

Let's rewind to last night, to the time when Merlin and Shirou were having their conversation in the shadows of the bar.

After the male host club closed, Merlin and the Knights of the Round Table saw off the guests and declined the ladies' invitations to spend the night together.

On the other side of the stage where the upbeat songs were performed, Bedivere moved the microphone and other equipment aside, Gawain placed a large blackboard on a standing stand there.

At this moment, Mr. Merlin took out a thin wand, the kind used by Harry Potter, twirled it, and used it as a pointer.

"Then let's officially begin the Round Table meeting!!!" Merlin said, drawing something on the large blackboard with a pen.

"Huh? What's this...?" Shirou was stunned for a moment, completely bewildered by the situation.

By this time, the other knights had already sat down properly in a circle on the row of chairs closest to the blackboard.

"Come here quickly." Kai waved to Shirou, and when he came in, he put his arm around Shirou's shoulder and pulled him to sit down next to him.

"What exactly is going on?" Shirou asked, looking at the seniors at the Round Table with a puzzled expression.

The knights exchanged smiles and replied with a sense of honor:

"Of course, we must uphold justice for this side! In the name of Knight!"

The Knights of the Round Table were the origin of the term "knight" in the European world. Before that, those who fought for the king included brave warriors, but they were valued more for their strength than for their strategy, let alone their beliefs and morals. They were like the bare-chested, reckless Celtic berserkers of the pre-Christian era.

The King of Knights, on the other hand, was a ruler on the Isle of Britain who, after the decline of the Roman Empire, raised the banner of Christianity apologists. Her Knights of the Round Table were a group of warriors blessed by God, setting a benchmark for knights of later generations.

It can be said that the chivalry and basic principles followed by knights in later generations were established through the subtle influence of these people's behavior and deeds. Even Roland, who represents the concept of 'paladin', derived his title from this premise.

Among Charlemagne's Twelve Knights, besides Afu, the King, there is also Bradamante, who received guidance from Merlin and is a complete fan of the Round Table.

Incidentally, she is also a descendant of Hector of Troy and the true master of the eagle in Astolfo's Noble Phantasm. However, as a Lancer, she also possessed the magic shield of her nemesis from her past life, as well as the ring of Princess Angelica of the East.

It seems that Charlemagne's lineage has a consistent Noble Phantasm.

Every knight in later generations would swear allegiance to his lord and the church, and the person to whom he was to be sworn allegiance would make the sign of the cross above his head with his sword and bestow upon him a sword and a knight's sash. Then each person to be knighted would solemnly enter the church, place his sword on the altar, and solemnly swear that he was obedient to the altar.