The Black Faction's Decision / The Red Faction's Response

The fortress of Millennia, the stronghold of the [Black] faction.

Upon returning to their base, Fiore and Archer immediately went to the King's Chamber where Lancer was located and reported to him what they had seen and heard in Sighisoara and their battle with the Mordred.

After listening to Archer's account, Lancer, seated on his throne, fell into deep thought, while Darnic, standing beside him, pressed for details:

"Mordred's true name is Mordred... Is that true, Archer?"

"That's right." Archer nodded, responding to Darnic's question, "When Mordred used her Noble Phantasm to deflect my arrows, her ability to conceal her Noble Phantasm had already disappeared. Actually, there was no need to analyze her weapon at that point; her true name was revealed the instant she used her Noble Phantasm."

Legend has it that Mordred once stole the Clarent, the symbol of kingship, from King Arthur and used it to inflict a fatal wound on King Arthur. Therefore, in Mordred's hands, it transformed into the malevolent sword, Clarent Blood Arthur, Clarent Blood Arthur.

The sword's imposing presence is still deeply etched in Archer's mind.

"So, what is the rank of her Noble Phantasm?"

"Like Saber on our side, it's also an A+ Anti-Army Noble Phantasm."

"Knowing the effects of different levels allows us to develop countermeasures. The information you obtained is extremely useful. Thank you for your hard work, Archer."

Lancer, who had opened his eyes on the throne, nodded slightly; while Archer below bowed slightly in respect.

You flatter me.

The intelligence Archer provided was undoubtedly very important.

An A+ rank Noble Phantasm can be considered the pinnacle of Noble Phantasm. The average Noble Phantasm possessed by Servant is around B rank. Having an A rank Noble Phantasm means that this Heroic Spirit is a standout among heroes who have accomplished numerous feats in mythology and legend.

Although Mordred is known throughout the world as a rebellious knight, her performance as Saber is exceptionally high. Her stats, except for Luck, all exceed B-rank, seemingly confirming the deeds of the legendary [Rebellious Knight].

She defeated Gawain, overthrew King Arthur's rule, and shared the same red dragon bloodline as her father...

Undoubtedly, as an enemy, Mordred is a rather troublesome opponent for the Fang group. Moreover—

"During our investigation of the Jack the Ripper, we discovered Servant appears to be the Red Faction Caster."

"Oh?"

Archer's words drew everyone's attention in the room.

Currently, of the intelligence gathered by the Black side regarding the Red Faction, only Saber and Rider have their true names confirmed. Although Lancer's name is still unknown, he is a powerful figure who can rival Siegfried). Archer's gender can only be determined. Berserker has been captured and is now being acted as his substitute Master by Avicebron).

The only Servants we haven't seen yet are Semiramis and Caster, but they aren't Servant will appear on the front lines, so it's not expected that we haven't seen them.

And now, Archer has actually encountered Caster from the Red Faction...

Have you gathered any relevant intelligence?

Darnic's tone was urgent, but Archer's answer disappointed him greatly.

"I'm sorry, I was unable to extract any information about [Red] Caster."

Archer's serious tone left no room for doubt about the accuracy of his information.

"It's alright!"

Lancer waved his hand dismissively, dissuading Darnic from pursuing the matter further.

"Being able to track down [Red] Caster is already a pleasant surprise for us; we shouldn't ask for too much."

"I'm sorry, I was rude."

After taking a deep breath, Danis regained his usual elegance.

"If there are no further instructions, we will take our leave."

With Lancer's nod of permission, Archer pushed Fiore's wheelchair out of the royal chamber.

After Fiore and Archer left, Darnic began analyzing the current power gap between the two sides based on the information provided by Archer.

In terms of Servant quality, the other side is indeed superior, a fact that both Darnic and Lancer, as leaders of the [Black] faction, have to admit.

However, the Servant on this side are not inferior to those on the other side. Saber is a well-known hero, and Lancer, as the leader of the [Black] faction, is fighting in his own "territory," so he cannot possibly lose to the other Servant. Archer can also be used as a Joker. The enemy's Berserker is also on their side, so in terms of numbers, the [Black] faction has a clear advantage.

Moreover, the Greater Grail is located in the heart of the [Black] faction's stronghold, the fortress of Millennia. If the [Red] faction wants to win the war, they have no choice but to attack.

The stronghold they had spent half a century preparing was protected by a powerful outer barrier, making it difficult for enemy Servant to break through even with their Noble Phantasm.

Therefore, the [Black] side's Servant are fully prepared to deal with the number of invading enemies, the terrain, and the supply of mana. In these three aspects, they undoubtedly have an absolute advantage.

These are all necessary factors for winning the Holy Grail War. Therefore, even if they are slightly inferior to their opponents in terms of quality, the current situation is still advantageous to them.

"But..."

Lancer, who was leaning against the throne listening to Darnic's report, suddenly opened his eyes and looked at his Master:

"Since even Caster, who is responsible for logistics, has appeared in Sighisoara, it should indicate that the Red Faction will be taking action in the next few days. Therefore, we should also take action."

"Your Majesty is wise."

After bowing deeply to Lancer, Darnic turned and relayed Lancer's message.

As Darnic's orders were relayed through the ranks, Millennia —a behemoth that had been dormant for more than half a century—began to quietly come into operation.

However, I still appreciate the generous gifts of knives; I'll send an extra chapter later. Orz

Chapter 211. [Red] Team's Response

"Are you awake, Master?"

The priest, awakening from a drowsy dream, opened his eyes to see a bewitching face.

After taking a few seconds to sort out the chaotic thoughts in his mind, the priest blinked and looked at the Servant him— Semiramis. Semiramis seemed to have been letting him sleep on her lap the whole time. This was really not the behavior of the Empress.

"Um... why am I sleeping on your lap?"

The priest had no such memory. He did remember lying asleep on a bench, but there should have been no one around.

"Just because I'm an Assassin... right?"

Seeing his Master's confused expression, Semiramis let out a cheerful chuckle.

With her [Presence Concealment] skill, Assassin can even deceive the senses of her Servant. Even a priest from the Holy Church cannot detect when she gets serious.

But faced with that smile that had once captivated countless men in his lifetime, the priest responded somewhat cluelessly:

"What if someone sees us...?"

"It's nothing, nobody saw anything. Hmm, it's rare for me to suddenly feel like doing something befitting my status Servant, do you have any complaints?"

The woman's expression immediately turned into one of anger.

"You must be embarrassed. But thank you anyway."

The priest sat up with a wry smile.

The Assassin, having received thanks, nodded contentedly and said:

"That's good... But speaking of which, it's time. Although we've lost Berserker, the remaining Servant have all arrived."

"... While she's not an absolutely irreplaceable Servant, it would be quite troublesome if she became an enemy."

Upon hearing Assassin bring up the matter, the priest couldn't help but give a wry smile.

"Ah, you mean that guy's Noble Phantasm [Crying Warmonger]?"

Both of them sighed simultaneously. Losing the "Red" Berserker wasn't inherently a fatal problem. Of course, his unparalleled combat prowess was indeed highly valuable. However, controlling him was simply too difficult.

In terms of usage, the only way to deal with him is to send him to the front line at the start of the battle and leave him there until he dies.

His [Crying Warmonger] is a Noble Phantasm that can convert all the damage inflicted on Berserker into magical energy and release Noble Phantasm. Because it is an ability that affects himself rather than his opponent, it is classified as Anti-Unit Noble Phantasm, but in reality it is Anti-Army Noble Phantasm, a good thing that can achieve large-scale destruction.

The problem lies in its sheer destructive range. If used in the wrong place, it could end up causing immense damage to one's own side.

"Fortunately, we know about his Noble Phantasm... Although we don't know at what point it will activate, as Servant, we should be able to sense it."

At that point, running away was the only option. No Servant, regardless of their type, has any interest in fighting bombs, nor is there any need for it.

"Before the battle even begins, we've already lost one Servant. Master, this battle is unexpectedly difficult."

Even after hearing Assassin's self-deprecating words, the priest still responded with a smile.

"Rider and his team are really good too."

"What if they all lose?"

Assassin pressed on relentlessly.

"Ah, then I'll have to ask you to come and save me."

"..."

Assassin did not respond this time.

The priest is her Master. Therefore, it is only natural for her to help him if he is in danger.

But seeing how much he trusted himself, the world's oldest poisoner, Assassin simply couldn't bring himself to be harsh with him. Frankly, in Assassin's eyes, he was truly difficult to deal with.

In the Assassin's view, men are despicable and ugly beings. If women are placed before them, they are nothing more than wild beasts that can be manipulated at will.

But the boy before him had no such desire. He simply clung to his belief, dedicating himself wholeheartedly to achieving his goal, which was devoid of any personal ambition.

"How boring, my lord. The Holy Grail is right before your eyes, yet you have no interest in money, power, or even women."

"That's just the kind of human I am. And if I become obsessed with those things, you'll kill me, won't you?"

"Hehe, it's quite clear."

Assassin smiled merrily. The priest was a type Assassin had never encountered before; he was a completely different kind of "man" from Assassin's definition.

Perhaps that's why, even though he's male, it doesn't make him feel uncomfortable.

"But speaking of which, Assassin, what does your presence here mean...?"

"Of course, all preparations are complete, and we can begin at any time."

Assassin's alluring face revealed a proud smile:

"And I have some good news to tell you--"

When the priest and Assassin entered the throne room, two Servant were already there.

Rider and Archer were both resting there in their own relaxed postures. Rider lay there staring at the ceiling, while Archer sat on the floor eating what appeared to be skewers of meat made from animals he had hunted.

The priest didn't say anything about this, but simply asked them where Lancer was.

"Ah... Lancer was just staring blankly outside."

"The Achilles is lying on the ground," he replied.

"Thanks."

After thanking him, the priest went to call him over.

"Wait a moment, Master. You don't need to go and call him specifically; I'll summon them telepathically."

Although Assassin appears in this Holy Grail War as an Assassin, she is also a highly skilled Magecraft. Her unique skill, Double Summon, is an exceptional ability that allows her to possess skills from two classes simultaneously. Therefore, she is both an Assassin and a Caster. In her legacy, she is also depicted as a powerful Magecraft. It is not Heroic Spirit that she is summoned as a Caster.

Not long after, Lancer pushed open the door to the room.

He was a handsome man of considerable height and clad in golden armor. However, his taciturn nature made it difficult to discern his interests and hobbies. He was a hero who never uttered unnecessary words, silently completing his missions.

I'm so sorry to have made you come all this way.

"I don't mind. What happened?"

"Then let me explain."

Seeing that all the Servant of his own faction had gathered, Assassin, sitting on his throne, attracted the attention of the other Servant with his arrogant tone.

"Speaking of which, you're all tired of small-scale battles, aren't you? Then prepare for a real war!"

Upon hearing Assassin's words, Rider and Archer immediately stopped their carefree behavior. How could Rider, who aspired to a heroic life, and Archer, with the pride of a hunter, be satisfied with just a few outpost battles?

Rider, in particular, had come to regard the [Black] Archer, who could harm him, as an enemy he had to defeat. Therefore, he would not object to the proposal to attack.

Only--