The Final Plan (6.5k Words)

Not only are they arrogant and conceited, but they also fail to recognize the situation.

Intelligence is the most important thing in the Holy Grail War. Despite having Assassin, he failed to investigate anything, which led to the collapse of the situation and its current state.

If we had known this intelligence beforehand, and adjusted our plans accordingly, many things wouldn't have happened, and we wouldn't be in such a predicament.

However, it's too late to say all this now. The outcome has already been decided. The Tohsaka Family and Einzbern Family will now have to face the counterattacks of the other four riders simultaneously.

It is precisely because of this that the other side dared to so generously reveal previously hidden information, such as: allowing Iskandar to move around, Scáthach bringing Sakura Tohsaka, and disclosing the remaining quantity, etc.

Even if they knew now, it would be useless; the outcome was already predetermined, and they could only wait patiently for the other side's attack.

After pondering for a while, Gilgamesh didn't pay much attention to it.

Because he is the strongest, undoubtedly the oldest, the strongest king! How could he possibly fear a mere pseudo-king?

So what if there are many false kings? He will personally defeat them all!

Even though he was thinking this, his gaze still inadvertently drifted to Scáthach...

Even though he was very confident, he had to admit that what followed was indeed a tough battle, and even he could make a mistake.

But so what?

As a king, no matter what enemies or difficulties lie ahead, he will not feel any fear or confusion! Even if he loses the battle, he will stand tall and face it with dignity and composure.

Even knowing the dangers ahead, Gilgamesh remained fearless.

"Are you inviting everyone? Well, that would be a good idea, after all, it's Banquet of Kings, and banquets should be lively."

Scáthach nodded, inwardly agreeing with Iskandar's idea.

She also felt that this so-called Banquet of Kings would definitely be very interesting.

"That's right. I'll bring Fionn mac Cumhaill along. You just need to have your Master inform Betserker's Master. I want to gather all six heroes together for this exciting feast!"

Iskandar felt a surge of excitement at the thought of his grand banquet.

"Invite Berserker? You know his condition; he sometimes goes insane, and he does incomprehensible things when he sees Saber. Bringing him along might cause chaos at the banquet, you know? Besides, I remember the Berserker angered Archer before, didn't he?"

As Scáthach spoke, she narrowed her crimson eyes and looked at Gilgamesh beside her, speaking in a seemingly provocative manner.

"By then, Archer shouldn't be so rude as to fight Berserker and ruin the banquet, right?"

"Hmph, why would I stoop to the level of a wild dog?"

Gilgamesh let out a displeased snort in response.

"Is that so? I didn't expect Archer to be so generous."

Just as Scáthach was about to say something more, Iskandar hurriedly spoke up.

"Alright, alright, stop fighting each other. Let's put the battle aside for now, then everyone will have a chance to compete later."

He's not just having a headache over Berserker; these two top players are no pushovers either. They've been bickering non-stop since they met, their words full of veiled attacks.

If this continues, we might actually end up fighting here, something Iskandar certainly doesn't want to see.

"Hmph, the Queen of the Land of Shadows, just an old woman who has lived for thousands of years. Don't think that I'm afraid of you... The banquet is about to begin, and now is not the best time to fight you. After the banquet, I will personally cut off your incessantly chattering head and make you atone for your rudeness with your death."

There's no point in talking to someone you don't get along with, and Gilgamesh, who had been arguing with Scáthach for a while, didn't want to continue the conversation.

"What did you say?"

After letting out a cold snort, it immediately dissipated into spiritual particles before Scáthach could unleash her fury.

Upon hearing this, Scáthach frowned and was about to chase after her, but Sakura grabbed her sleeve at that moment.

"Scáthach -neechan, can you take Sakura back with you? I miss Rovey..."

Hearing Sakura's gentle words, Scáthach's anger subsided considerably. She immediately understood that the little girl was concerned about her and didn't want her to take any risks.

Scáthach leaned down and gently pinched Sakura's soft cheek, then replied just as gently, "Thank you for your concern, Sakura. But don't be afraid, big sister, I won't lose to that annoying guy."

"Since you're tired, I'll drive you home."

"Um."

Seeing Gilgamesh leave, Scáthach didn't intend to stay any longer. She picked up Sakura beside her and prepared to return to the base first.

Before leaving, he didn't forget to ask Iskandar was behind him, a question.

Where is the location?

"Saber's Castle".

"Hmm, they really are two kings with distinct personalities."

After Scáthach and Gilgamesh left, Iskandar naturally had no reason to stay any longer. He returned to the shop to retrieve the game he had just bought and then happily left.

Although the process was somewhat fraught with conflict, the ending was ultimately positive. In any case, his unprecedented Banquet of Kings was finally on track.

As the initiator, he should now make preparations so as not to spoil the fun for the guests.

He remembered that Kenneth's Lemon Head man seemed to have quite a few good wines in his liquor cabinet...

Coincidentally, he had specially preserved his wine cabinet when he unleashed his Ionian Hetairoi, and now was the perfect time to use it.

With that thought in mind, Iskandar didn't hesitate and immediately set off towards the stronghold.

"Huh? Another Banquet of Kings? This really is an unavoidable part of the Holy Grail War."

An aged yet spirited voice rang out from the street.

As the three walked further and further away, the discussions among the crowd on the street gradually subsided.

The red-haired gorilla, the golden nouveau riche, and a Purple-haired Beauty left; they had nothing more to see.

As the crowd gradually dispersed, a tall, elderly man walked to the cashier in the game store and placed the game he had selected on the counter.

"Bill, please."

"... Huh?"

The shopkeeper's expression was a little strange as he took the game from the old man. He then carefully examined the game, checking it over and over again. After that, he couldn't help but ask the old man in front of him a question in a low voice.

"Um... sir, did you buy the wrong game?"

There was no other reason why he asked that.

The reason is simply because the games chosen by this old man are all the latest True Magic girl series, and they are all 18+ rated.

No matter how you look at it, this doesn't seem like a game that an elderly person should play. Games like shogi and gomoku would obviously be more suitable for him.

Upon hearing the store manager's reminder, the tall, elderly man in front of him smiled and then calmly said...

"That's right, these are exactly what I want to buy. Please pack them up for me."

After confirming several times, the store manager could only mutter, "... Are all elderly people like this nowadays?" before obediently going to get the goods for him.

Seeing the game store manager leave, the tall old man turned around and looked at the three figures that were gradually disappearing into the distance. He stroked his beard and couldn't help but sigh.

"This World Line has indeed been completely changed. Four kings from different eras have gathered here. I wonder what kind of changes they will bring to this story?"

'Speaking of which, wasn't Merlin supposed to be using that kid to help his lost king? Since there's been no movement for so long, it means he might have failed, which means...'

As if he had thought of something, the tall old man in the game store suddenly let out a strange laugh.

"It seems I have a better chance of winning right now. He might really become Merry this time. Heh heh... My True Magic girl series finally has a new theme."

While thinking, the old man took his game from the shop owner, then casually took a gem out of his pocket and handed it to him, before finally pushing open the door and leaving.

"Wait, guest..."

The shop owner, holding the gemstone, was clearly startled by the old man's actions.

He held the dazzling gems in his hands, then hurriedly pushed open the door and rushed out.

But the old man had already disappeared.

Chapter 56 The Final Plan (6,500 words)

Fuyuki City neighborhood.

Near Kenneth's temporary outpost.

"The Banquet of Kings... a gathering of heroes to discuss the way of the king?"

On a bench by the street, Fionn mac Cumhaill, who had been stopped by Iskandar while on patrol, muttered to himself as he pondered Iskandar's words to him.

"That's right, Lancer, just as you think. Currently, Scáthach, Archer, and King Arthur will all be there. The banquet has already gathered four kings. Since we thought that since we were holding a banquet, it would be best to make it lively, we also wanted to invite the rest of you to join us for a grand feast."

Standing in front of Fionn mac Cumhaill, a burly man with his hands on his hips was vividly recounting the banquet, sincerely wanting to bring Fionn mac Cumhaill along to join the party.

However, compared to his radiant expression, Fionn mac Cumhaill's expression appeared much calmer.

"The Banquet of Kings, what an imposing name! What a grand feast it will be when heroes and kings gather here! It reminds me of the banquets of the Knights of Fianna in my past life. I remember back then, the one who drank the most was..."

As he spoke, he pondered, but at this point, a somewhat unpleasant figure flashed into Fionn mac Cumhaill's mind. He frowned and then sighed.

"What's wrong, Lancer? Did something bad come to mind?"

Iskandar inquired.

"No, it's nothing, I was just thinking about some grudges from my past life."

Fionn mac Cumhaill chuckled self-deprecatingly, "Logically speaking, our feud should have ended at the last moment of each other's lives. I didn't expect that even as Heroic Spirit, I still can't let go. It's really shameful."

"Hahaha, what's wrong with that? Doesn't this just prove that you're capable of both love and hate? It's alright, even if I were to see Darius again now, I'd probably feel the same complicated emotions as you!"

"Perhaps..."

"So, what do you say, Fionn mac Cumhaill? Would you like to come along? You are a rare and outstanding man, and I believe that if you were to attend this banquet, I would certainly hear more profound and different insights."

Iskandar pressed for further questions.

"I am also very interested in this banquet, and of course I would like to go if I could. But I have to follow my lord's orders. I have come to this world to protect my lord's life and help him win the Holy Grail War."

"Although this grand banquet is very appealing to me, I cannot abandon my mission for personal feelings; that is not the conduct of a knight. If my negligence leads to the harm of my lord, wouldn't that be a repetition of the tragedy of my past life? Therefore, I need to reconsider..."

Fionn mac Cumhaill squinted and said, then shook his head slightly.

"Hahaha! As expected of you, always thinking of your Master and putting Master safety first. Lancer, you are truly a knight, and I admire you more and more. If I had a hero as loyal and righteous as you in my lifetime, I believe we could have achieved even greater feats."

After hearing Fionn mac Cumhaill's words, Iskandar's impression of the knight in front of him improved even more.

"You flatter me. I am merely a knight who has achieved some skill in martial arts, not as great as you imagine."

"Who knows? Anyway, I'm quite confident in my judgment. But you mean we can go as long as Lemon Head agrees, am I right?"

Iskandar shrugged, then turned to Fionn mac Cumhaill again to confirm.

"Of course, if my lord agrees to go, then as a knight, I have no reason to refuse."

Fionn mac Cumhaill nodded slightly.

"I see... that makes things easier."

Upon hearing Fionn mac Cumhaill's words, Iskandar laughed heartily, then without further hesitation, he grabbed the game in his hand and turned to run towards the base.

"Just you wait, Lancer, I'll persuade that Lemon Head guy! See you tonight!!"

"Huh?"

Before Fionn mac Cumhaill could react, Iskandar's massive body had already charged straight down the street.

This made him somewhat worried, and he thought:

'Would the King of Conquerors possibly intend to force his lord to submit through some violent means? No, that's unlikely.'

"Although Rider's behavior is rough, he is more uninhibited and his words reveal confidence and domineering. Such a king... is truly admirable."

Fionn mac Cumhaill chuckled and muttered a few words, then stood up from the bench and resumed his patrol duties.

On the other side, at the Matou Family.

"Crowley Patriarch, are you serious about this proposal?"

Matou Zouken looked at the banquet invitation Scáthach handed him, then glanced at Rovey, who had come to visit him, and his decaying eyelids began to twitch wildly.

He found it hard to believe that such a foolish thing could happen.

However, compared to these foolish things, the fact that his useless descendant had let King Arthur escape because he couldn't control Lancelot seemed far less daunting.