Time for Exchange

"Legendary witch?" Ritsuka Fujimaru looked at Medea curiously. When Medea had spoken with them earlier, she had never mentioned that she would become a witch in the future.

If Kayneth had not said it, newbie Ritsuka Fujimaru would not have understood any of this.

For Artoria, this meant two fewer opponents. If Medea did not act, then the magus most difficult to deal with in a battle of territory could be ignored. The Lancer only wanted to enjoy combat, and having already learned every legend surrounding Diarmuid, she was not afraid of him. She could win!

Waver Velvet looked at Kirei Kotomine. "What about the Assassin? Don't you want the Holy Grail either?"

Kirei Kotomine shook his head slightly. "I have already found what I seek. The Holy Grail holds little meaning for me. Hassan wishes to have his true name passed down through the ages, rather than sharing the name Hassan like the other Hassans. That is not difficult for me to arrange, so the Holy Grail is not essential to my Servant either. In this battle, he need only display his abilities to the fullest and ensure that the order of the Holy Grail War is maintained."

Mo Li looked at Kirei Kotomine and secretly shook his head. Hassan had lied to Kirei Kotomine. Hassan of the Hundred Faces had only revealed half of his wish. The other half was to unite his personalities into a single one and no longer be the Hundred Faces. That was something only the Holy Grail could accomplish for Hassan of the Hundred Faces.

Hassan of the Hundred Faces, the Assassin, nodded. "That's right. The overwhelming majority of Assassins throughout history have been Hassans, but there are actually many Hassans. We share a single title, yet have no legends bearing our own true names. That is a truly heartbreaking matter."

Iskandar found it amusing. "Of the three groups we know of so far, none of you actually need the Holy Grail? I can understand Mr. Mo and that priest for the time being, but Kayneth, Lancer's Master—you desire victory through Diarmuid. Do you not need the Holy Grail either?"

Kayneth said indifferently, "I want Lancer to gain victory only to prove my own brilliance and greatness. Besides, that thing called the Holy Grail is hardly trustworthy, is it? Otherwise, we would not be sitting here discussing matters today. And with the El-Melloi Family's standing, do we need something like the Holy Grail to embellish ourselves?"

"Oh? How interesting. Mr. Mo Li, do you think the same?" Iskandar looked toward Mo Li.

"The Holy Grail's existence is certainly quite wonderful, but I do not need it all that badly. After all, once one reaches a certain level, such a thing is not particularly rare."

Mo Li looked at Gilgamesh. "Just like your close friend, King of Heroes Gilgamesh. Anything that a half-baked wish-granting device like the Holy Grail can accomplish, he can accomplish with his own abilities as well, can't he?"

Gilgamesh smiled disdainfully. "Naturally. It is merely a half-baked wish-granting device."

Iskandar looked thoroughly helpless. "Ah, what a headache. I never expected the thing I desired to be looked down upon like this."

Artoria said nothing. Still in the midst of doubting herself, filled with suspicion toward her own abilities, she desperately desired the Holy Grail.

Mo Li said, "I would not call it disdain. It is simply not necessary for us, and most of our wishes can be fulfilled without the Holy Grail."

Iskandar sighed. "That truly is enviable. My wish—no, it would be more accurate to call it my greed. The road of conquest has no end."

At that moment, a projection suddenly appeared beside Ritsuka Fujimaru.

"Mr. Mo Li..." Romani had barely spoken before falling silent at the sight before him.

From Romani's side, not much time had passed. They had just finished listing the items, but when they contacted Ritsuka Fujimaru's group again, they suddenly saw a whole crowd of Servants looking at them.

What the hell? Why were all the Servants from the Fourth War here?

"What is this?" Irisviel looked curiously at the screen of light. "Some cutting-edge technology? Which country developed it?"

"That's right, though it does not belong to any country. Romani, what is it?" Without changing his expression, Mo Li immediately gave Chaldea a cover identity.

Instantly understanding Mo Li's intentions, Romani immediately said, "We've finished compiling the list. We'll transfer it over now. Mash, put down your shield and begin the summon."

"Okay!" Mash Kyrielight put down her shield and began responding to Chaldea's Spiritron Transfer.

Then, a booklet was transferred over, and Mash handed it to Mo Li to read.

After flipping through it for a while, Mo Li closed the booklet. "That will do. I will make the arrangements afterward."

The resources listed inside looked plentiful, but they were all quite ordinary—things that could be obtained in 1994. Those special materials, on the other hand, were absent.

Kayneth commented on the screen, "Such technology is truly astonishing. Even that newly risen great power certainly does not possess such technology. If it belongs to no country, then it is even more astounding."

Mo Li smiled faintly. "Chaldea is a rather special achievement. Mr. Kayneth, if you are interested in that place, even throwing in the entire El-Melloi Family would not be enough."

"Oh? It is that special? Then forget it." Upon hearing Mo Li's answer, Kayneth immediately lost interest.

Mo Li said, "By the way, Mr. Kayneth, I have become rather interested in the supplies you brought for the Holy Grail War. Would you be willing to sell them?"

"Hm? The supplies I prepared for the Holy Grail War?" Kayneth hesitated for two seconds before saying, "Before, I might not have wished to sell them. But since an ally needs them, of course I can. A friendly price—ten billion yen for the whole package. You definitely won't lose out by buying them."

Other than the Mystic Codes from the FGO crossover story, the things Kayneth had prepared were quite comprehensive.

Although Mo Li had not used Leinys's name to solve the problems on their side, he had resolved the matter with only a slight adjustment in wording. As a result, Kayneth now approved of Mo Li considerably, and selling some supplies was no longer a concern.

After all, what Kayneth wanted was not the Holy Grail, but victory and glory.

"Thank you for your generosity, Mr. Kayneth. Now, let us return to the Holy Grail War itself." Mo Li looked at Tokiomi Tohsaka. As one of the Three Great Families, his death had reduced the Tohsaka Estate to a name in all but reality. It truly was lamentable.

Irisviel asked, "So, Mr. Mo Li, have you already found a way to resolve the Holy Grail War's problem?"

Kiritsugu Emiya desperately needed the Holy Grail to fulfill the wish he desired: world peace, a world where there would no longer be conflict between people. Yet even the Third Magic Heaven's Feel could not make that wish come true.

After all, if there were world peace and no more disputes between people, the world would be destroyed and then pruned away. Or aliens would descend and humanity would await death. Or ORT, that giant spider, would awaken and wipe out all humanity. Any one of those outcomes was inevitably a dead end.

What? Humanity would unite sincerely, cooperate, and advance toward the stars? Do not overthink it. Although the Black Grail had been toying with Kiritsugu Emiya at the time, even the uncorrupted Third Magic Heaven's Feel could not accomplish such a great undertaking. That had been made clear in the Worldline where Jeanne d'Arc existed.

While Heaven's Feel would not deliberately twist a wish, it would inevitably fulfill world peace and the end of all human conflict through a method that Kiritsugu Emiya himself could understand and accomplish. The final result would be humanity's premature extinction. Once humanity had been wiped out, there would naturally be world peace and no more disputes between people.

That was the ultimate ending of Kiritsugu Emiya's tragic wish. No Holy Grail could ever fulfill it.

Mo Li said, "Yes. We are already preparing to dismantle the Holy Grail system. While ensuring that it continues functioning, we will carefully cleanse and reconstruct the Holy Grail. This requires the cooperation of all Servants. At the very least, do not cause us trouble at this critical moment."

"Let me explain briefly why the Greater Grail was corrupted. The Holy Grail War is designed to absorb the souls and magical energy of defeated Servants during battle, thereby fulfilling the predetermined conditions. Once the Third Magic is completed, it connects to the Root. At that point, any wish can be fulfilled so long as there is enough magical energy within the Holy Grail. At the same time, the souls of the defeated Servants return to the Hall of Heroes."

No one replied. They waited for the words that were certain to follow.

Sure enough, after pausing, Mo Li looked at Irisviel. "However... during the Third War, the Einzbern Family was desperate for victory and summoned a weak yet exceptionally special Servant: Angra Mainyu. Angra Mainyu was quickly killed in battle, but when his soul returned to the Holy Grail, it contaminated it. This caused the Holy Grail itself to change from Heaven's Feel into the Black Grail. Irisviel, call Kiritsugu Emiya out here."

Mo Li chose his words carefully. "Tell him I will explain how the Holy Grail can fulfill his wish."

As soon as he spoke, all eyes turned to Irisviel.

"Uh... I can't guarantee that I can bring him here." Irisviel looked somewhat embarrassed as she immediately took out her phone and called Kiritsugu Emiya.

Kiritsugu Emiya, who had been monitoring this place all along, received the call. After listening to Irisviel's explanation, he fell silent for a while before agreeing.

Not long after, Kiritsugu Emiya entered Ryudoji Temple.

Waver Velvet said quietly, "So this guy is the Swordsman's Master? He really knows how to hide. I had no idea where he'd been hiding."

Kayneth sized up Kiritsugu Emiya, somewhat hostile toward him. He had heard of the man's reputation.

Kirei Kotomine, meanwhile, stared intently at Kiritsugu Emiya as though he had discovered something entertaining.

Tokiomi Tohsaka, on the other hand, remained indifferent.

Looking at Kiritsugu Emiya as he entered, Mo Li smiled and asked, "Kiritsugu Emiya, right here and now, declare the wish you desire before every Master, every Servant, and all the spectators gathered here. And I will give you the answer that the Holy Grail is certain to give you."