Even Capitalists Would Call This Professional (Part 2)

Anyone who left us on a cliffhanger deserves to choke!

At that very moment, people all over the world had the same thought. They were so frustrated they could hardly stand it and desperately wanted to curse.

The story had reached a turning point, and something exciting was about to happen. Everyone had been stunned by the Conqueror King's unconventional approach and was burning with curiosity, eagerly waiting to see what came next.

And then...

You actually went and slapped us with a "To Be Continued"!?

Damn it!

Many people couldn't help cursing aloud, convinced that whoever had put out the Light Screen images was a total bastard.

You were supposed to tell the whole world the truth about its buried history, so why the hell did you have to pull this "To Be Continued" crap?

At that moment, the world's collective resentment was practically reaching the heavens.

Su Yun, meanwhile, wore a delighted smile. Those squinty-eyed people are all monsters.

Because right then, Fantasy Power surged once more.

Fantasy Power was a miracle formed from the countless imaginings people produced under extreme emotions. Extreme emotions didn't have to be positive; intense feelings born of negative emotions could have the same effect.

After all, Fantasy Power was a miracle born from the Mystery's invasion and the resulting changes to the planet—a miracle forged from people's fear, despair, and grief, mixed with the hope they still held in their hearts.

Now Su Yun had hit them with a "To Be Continued," leaving countless people feeling anxious, frustrated, angry, and aggrieved. At the same time, they were intensely curious and eager to find out what happened next, and couldn't help imagining how the story would develop.

All those factors combined to produce a great deal of Fantasy Power.

This was much better than showing the entire story all at once. It maximized his returns and ensured they would keep coming.

The whole process was the kind of thing that would make any capitalist nod in approval, while gentry landlords would think, At last, I have a kindred spirit. It was the absolute worst of the worst.

Su Yun planned to release his heavily altered version of the Fourth Holy Grail War over the course of a month or two, maximizing his returns. He also had a few things he could take care of in the meantime.

For example...

Getting stronger!

He hadn't had enough Fantasy Power before, but now he had plenty. He could finally put to use some features he'd designed ages ago but had never had enough Fantasy Power to activate.

Su Yun rose and headed for the school.

Meanwhile, the storm stirred up by that day's images was only just beginning to sweep across the world.

Online, terms like King Arthur, Conqueror King, Diarmuid, and the Fianna Knights became trending keywords—and the keys to traffic and wealth. All kinds of explanatory videos began popping up like mushrooms after a rain.

At the same time, the Conqueror King Iskandar's other identity had been dug up online.

Most people were actually unfamiliar with the name Iskandar. The history books in various countries didn't have many detailed records of him, and they used another name—the one known to people all over the world.

Alexander the Great!

King of Macedon, and the greatest of the West's four military commanders!

Without a doubt, he was a heavyweight. His historical achievements far surpassed those of any figure who had appeared so far.

No matter how much the Holy Britannian Empire boasted, or how much the Pendragon Family embellished the legacy of their ancestor, they still couldn't compare with Alexander the Great, a legendary figure of Western myth.

After all, no matter how great King Arthur had been, he had only united the British Isles, fought the Western Roman Empire, and killed its emperor at the time, Lucius.

He was certainly a great man, but compared with Alexander the Great—who had started with a single city and ended up ruling a vast empire spanning Europe, Asia, and Africa—his achievements paled.

If there was one thing King Arthur had done better than Alexander the Great, it was probably that Alexander's empire had fallen apart after his death, and his bloodline had died out.

King Arthur, on the other hand, had faced a rebellion by his unfilial son in his later years, nearly causing the Kingdom of Camelot—which he had struggled to establish—to collapse. But in the end, it survived, and the Pendragon Family's bloodline endured. To this day, they remained the royal family of the Holy Britannian Empire.

Even though constitutional monarchy had reduced the current royal family to a symbol of the nation, with little real power, they were still nobility of the highest order.

In that respect, King Arthur had been far more successful than Alexander the Great.

At least, that was how the Eastern civilizations, led by the Flame Kingdom, saw it. King Arthur had been more successful than Alexander.

On Eastern soil, civilization had never lost its continuity. Even when it had been battered by foreign peoples, it had ultimately risen again on the strength of its deep cultural roots.

So, when it came to King Arthur, who had also passed his civilization down through the ages, people in the East actually felt that she was greater than Alexander the Great.

At least, that was what Murata Himeko believed. So, after the images ended, while everyone else was still stunned that Rider was Alexander the Great and endlessly discussing it, she turned to Artoria and said, "Alexander the Great was certainly a great king, but his country eventually fell. It reminds me of the once-mighty Mongol Empire. Compared with countries built chiefly on conquest, the continuity of culture matters more."

"So, in my heart, King Arthur is just as great a ruler as Alexander the Great."

Artoria was taken aback, then a faint smile appeared on her face. "Thank you for praising King Arthur. I think she would be very happy to hear you say that."

Murata Himeko smiled, then grew serious. "In that case, could we speak privately about a few things? About the King Arthur in the images, and... about you."

Artoria knew Murata Himeko had surely figured something out, but she wasn't nervous. She had never intended to hide anything. During the dream the night before, while King Arthur had been training her, she had already made up her mind.

So she nodded. "Of course. I also have a few requests I'd like to make, and I hope to have your—or rather, your superiors'—approval. In the name of Artoria Pendragon!"

Her solemn manner convinced Murata Himeko that the conversation would surely prove fruitful. Without delay, she arranged a private meeting room, and the two of them had a long, private discussion.

No one knew exactly what the two of them had discussed, but they certainly talked for a long time. It was only two hours later that they finally left the meeting room.

Artoria said, "Then I'll wait for good news."

Murata Himeko nodded, her expression grave—almost solemn. "You will have it. Rest assured. Our Flame Kingdom has been a warm and hospitable land of courtesy since ancient times. Even in modern times, we're a civilized nation that respects personal choice. We won't act arrogantly or disregard human rights and freedom like certain countries."

Artoria: "..."

She had the feeling Murata Himeko was taking a jab at the Holy Britannian Empire and Ursus.

Though she couldn't exactly argue with that...

Well, even Artoria viewed her own country through rose-colored glasses. And setting aside the fact that it was true, when it came to winning through culture, the victor in this world was in the East.

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