Everyone's attention turned to the old man. Artoria silently stepped in front of Irisviel and shielded her, because her Instinct told her that a great battle was likely about to break out.
The people hidden in the shadows reacted in different ways when they saw the old man. The Light Screen shifted its view to Emiya Kiritsugu. His eyes narrowed slightly as he said in a low voice, "That's the Servant from before."
In the real world, people were reminded by those words of the time when Emiya Kiritsugu had been preparing to snipe Lancer's Master and had unexpectedly spotted the old man standing on an overpass. He'd startled them then, too.
Moreover, compared to the people in the Light Screen, many viewers in the real world couldn't help feeling a sense of superiority, as if they were watching from God's perspective.
After all, before this episode of the Light Screen had even begun, Li Shuwen's identity had already been confirmed. The people in the Light Screen still had no idea who this Old Master Li was. Wasn't that enough to make them feel superior?
Besides, most people found it deeply satisfying. They thought Li Shuwen had given the Golden Servant exactly what he deserved.
They still didn't know who the Golden Servant was, but his arrogant, contemptuous attitude and the things he said were deeply offensive.
This world had many civilizations and cultures, and the histories of its nations were entirely different. Every region had its own history.
At the same time, reverence for one's ancestors was ingrained in humanity's genes. This was true of both East and West. In this worldline, where there was no historyless country called the United States, every nation had its own long history and ancestors to revere, as well as great emperors from its past.
Basically, every great emperor had admirers and followers. Even those who didn't worship them would still feel genuine pride that such outstanding kings had once existed in their country's history.
And yet the Golden Servant had immediately insulted everyone, trampling other nations' histories and legends underfoot with his words while shamelessly praising himself.
No matter where you were, putting one side down while praising another was bound to provoke people. What the Golden Servant had done went far beyond that.
Under the circumstances, and with no one knowing the Golden Servant's background, it was only natural that he'd provoked widespread outrage.
So when Li Shuwen appeared and rebuked the Golden Servant without holding back, many people felt a surge of satisfaction. Some even thought the old man had been too restrained and should have laid into him harder.
Of course, with so many people in the world, there were bound to be some whose thinking was different. So at the same time, some people thought the Golden Servant was a master of showing off. His words were so brazen that he was just too cool.
Well, more than anything, the Golden Servant was genuinely handsome. That arrogant attitude combined with his top-tier looks made him the very picture of a domineering CEO in this looks-obsessed world. Even with that mouth of his, he still got many fangirls so excited they could hardly contain themselves. They thought he was just so handsome and cool.
Then, when Li Shuwen talked back to him, they found Li Shuwen, who looked like an old man, incredibly irritating. How dare he insult their new idol? They'd show that old geezer by tearing into him online.
Of course, their spontaneous fan campaign was soon met with an unprecedentedly iron-fisted crackdown. Some of the more vocal participants were even directly invited in for tea.
After all, in this world, Mr. Li Shuwen wasn't just a Heroic Spirit. He was also one of the martial artists who had helped usher in a new era, a highly respected elder with disciples spread far and wide.
If that elder learned that this sort of person had emerged among the younger generation in the country he'd given everything to protect, how heartbroken would he be? Better to bury them all.
As it happened, the whole world had reached a consensus on fighting the Mystery. Taking the opportunity to launch a campaign to clean things up was perfectly reasonable.
The Light Screen's view returned to the Servants. The Conqueror King's eyes lit up, and his gaze toward Li Shuwen was filled with warmth. It seemed he was thinking of recruiting him again.
As for the Golden Servant who'd been insulted, he glared at Li Shuwen in deep displeasure. His voice held a note of anger. "How dare you show such disrespect to a king? You mere mongrel, do you want to die?"
As he spoke, a terrifying pressure pressed down on Li Shuwen, expressing the king's wrath.
Li Shuwen stared at the golden Servant without the slightest fear. "You are indeed a king, and there are things about you worthy of respect. But your arrogant words are the greatest insult to us martial artists who protect our country. Our land of China has been a land of propriety since ancient times. Treat us with courtesy, and we will be friends! But speak rudely, and we will be sworn enemies! So, Golden King, take back your words, and I will respond with an apology. Otherwise, I will answer you with the martial courtesy of a mere warrior!"
He was upright and full of spirit, neither humble nor overbearing, yet brimming with killing intent.
Basically, he was the very model of the founding warriors of the dynasties throughout China's history.
The people watching from outside were fired up. The people of the Flame Kingdom cheered, many calling out in praise and saying that Old Master Li was incredible, just as expected of him.
The Golden Servant looked like trouble, no doubt about it. But when it came to the founding warriors of the Flame Kingdom, this was exactly the kind of spirit they wanted to see.
As for those foreigners, they didn't share the same sense of connection as the people of the Flame Kingdom, but they still found it satisfying. Gil-chan was so good at making people hate him that watching him take a hit was immensely gratifying. Naturally, they were happy to see Li Shuwen keep going after him.
However, just when everyone thought the Golden Servant would fly into a full-blown rage, he suddenly seemed much less angry. Instead, he let go of his fury and regarded Li Shuwen with interest. "How amusing. I thought that as an Assassin, you'd be a dull mongrel. But it seems you're a brave warrior after all. Very well. I acknowledge you. Give me your name, and consider it an honor! Kotomine Kirei's Servant, you're worthy of having your name remembered by me!"
The people inside and outside the Light Screen all looked surprised. No one had expected the Golden Servant, who'd been so arrogant and contemptuous just moments ago, to suddenly rein in his anger and reveal a side of himself that, while still haughty, wasn't quite so unlikeable.
At the same time, the information revealed in his words set people's minds racing, one possibility after another springing to mind.
He'd named Li Shuwen's class directly. Clearly, he knew who Li Shuwen was.
Kotomine Kirei?
Weren't Kotomine Kirei and Tohsaka Tokiomi on the same side?
What was going on?
Wait, the Golden Servant.
This Golden Servant must be the mysterious Servant summoned by Tohsaka Tokiomi.
The first time he'd been summoned, they'd only seen a glimpse of him, not the whole picture. But comparing the two now, it really was the same Servant.
Tsk.
Did that mean the two of them were on the same side, too?
But if they were, why were they openly at each other's throats? They even seemed not to know each other.
Could Tohsaka Tokiomi and Kotomine Kirei have fallen out?
All sorts of guesses began to spread, and the think tanks of various countries started discussing the possibilities.
As for Li Shuwen being an Assassin, few were surprised. Based on the information gathered so far, a Servant's class was related to their life story. When summoned as a Servant, they would take a class that matched their deeds in life.
Li Shuwen was famous for Baji Quan and the Baji Spear, so it made sense that he'd been summoned as a Lancer. But there was already a Lancer, which meant Li Shuwen might have been summoned as an Assassin.
During the years of war, Li Shuwen had often taken part in assassination missions against important enemy figures as a martial artist fighting for the Flame Kingdom. He'd killed at least a hundred important enemy personnel.
A master of this sort of decapitation strike being summoned as an Assassin made perfect sense.
Now their guess had simply been confirmed.
At Su Yun's home, Artoria couldn't help saying, "That Gil-chan fellow is really irritating, but he does have a king's bearing. Still, he must be from a very ancient era. I don't know much about the East, but in the West, the more ancient the king, the weaker their sense of etiquette and culture."
"So, if that annoying Gil-chan isn't simply lacking in manners by nature, then he must have lived a very long time ago, before the various customs and manners of the ancient world that we know were established. He wouldn't have needed them, either."
"After all, aside from the Four Great Ancient Civilizations, savagery and brutality were the main themes of the Dark Ages. Even in Ancient Rome, beneath the veneer of civilization, there was the Colosseum, an embodiment of savagery at its most extreme."
Su Yun looked at Artoria in surprise. "I didn't expect you to see your side of the world that way. That surprises me."
Artoria shook her head and said very seriously, "Because it's all true. And if it's true, no matter how polished the words or appearances used to dress it up, that won't change the facts. What matters is whether we can acknowledge those flaws and then work to change them. If we know something is a bad habit but take pride in it and refuse to change, that's what's truly tragic."
Su Yun laughed at that. "Seeing this side of you, you really do have the makings of a king. And to figure out so much just from the Golden Servant's behavior—you're impressive, Lia. I should've expected as much from the reincarnation of King Arthur."
Artoria blushed with embarrassment. "The makings of a king? You think too highly of me..."
Though she said that, the joy and sparkle in her eyes were plain to see. After all, she'd just been praised by someone she liked.
Meanwhile, in the Light Screen, Li Shuwen answered Gilgamesh.
"This old man is Li Shuwen, just an unremarkable old man."
He gave his true identity in a calm, modest voice.
Everyone present then looked enlightened, including the Servants who'd received modern knowledge.
The Conqueror King rubbed his chin. "Li Shuwen? A modern Heroic Spirit from the East? I can't believe someone who lived less than a hundred years ago can be summoned. The Holy Grail War really is full of miracles! Hahaha!"
Unlike the Conqueror King, Waver was standing on end. "I-it's Li Shuwen! And he's an Assassin. On top of that, he has a home-field advantage from local legends. H-he's dangerous! Rider, i-if he specifically targets Masters, that'll be very dangerous!"
The Conqueror King raised an eyebrow. "That's true enough, but don't worry! I'll keep you safe, kid. Besides, that old man doesn't look like the sort to go around assassinating people at random. So just relax!"
Waver was close to breaking down. "Idiot, idiot, idiot! That's only because you don't know what he did! During the war, he was specifically tasked with assassinating important enemy figures! He was terrifying! Uh..."
At the end, Waver let out a terrified cry and hurried to hide behind the Conqueror King. Li Shuwen seemed to have heard him and glanced back at that very moment, scaring Waver into an instant retreat.
However, Li Shuwen merely smiled faintly before turning back to Gil-chan. His expression once again calm, he said, "I've answered your question. I wonder if you're satisfied, Hero King of Ancient Uruk, Gilgamesh."
Without a trace of hesitation, the old gentleman had revealed Gil-chan's true identity, too.
His attitude seemed to say, "Gil-chan, there's no need to hide it anymore. Everyone here has already revealed their true identities, so you should join us. Otherwise, you'll stand out too much, and that wouldn't be good."
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