"A thief?"
Roland looked astonished. What had Waver done to deserve the Old Worm's attention, enough for him to invest in advance despite the tremendous risk, just to put a bounty on Waver's head?
Ten years later, when he became Lord El-Melloi II, it might have been possible. But this was the Fourth Holy Grail War!
By the time news of his stolen holy relic reached the Far East, it would have been treated as little more than a joke, wouldn't it? Yet the undisguised hatred on Zouken Matou's gloomy face was certainly no act. Whatever could make this five-hundred-year-old monster look as though he had completely lost his composure must have trampled all over his bottom line.
"Exactly. That fellow is scum, a combination of vile blood and a filthy character. Not only did he brazenly invade someone else's home, he even tried to steal its most precious treasure."
In a rare display, fury filled Zouken Matou's gloomy face as he cursed the so-called thief with vicious words.
At this point, Roland immediately grasped the key.
Given Zouken Matou's personality, he generally only resorted to curses like these when he could do nothing to his opponent. Otherwise, considering the Old Worm's sadistic treatment of even his own descendants, he would have eliminated the man long ago.
"So, what's this thief's name?"
Roland cut straight to the point, staring fixedly at Zouken Matou as he vaguely sensed something was wrong.
"An oversight on my part. You don't know about the other Masters in this war yet, do you?"
Zouken Matou narrowed his eyes. "Aside from the Three Founding Families, under normal circumstances, the Mage's Association, which oversees magecraft, also receives a slot. This time, the one who secured that slot was the thief."
"His name is Darnic Prestone Yggdmillennia."
Roland's mouth fell slightly open. For a moment, he was at a loss for words.
Roland knew that name very well. In another story, Darnic had single-handedly brought about the seven-against-seven Great Holy Grail War.
During the Third Holy Grail War, this unassuming mage had used his Heroic Spirit's power to locate the Greater Grail. After several fierce clashes with the Old Worm, he had stolen it with the help of his Heroic Spirit and worldly forces, changing the worldline single-handedly and putting an end to Fuyuki City's later tragedies. Calling him Fuyuki City's savior would hardly have been an exaggeration.
Had he crossed into the wrong worldline?
Was this the Great Holy Grail War worldline? No, impossible. The fact that the Fourth Holy Grail War was still being held was proof enough. But why was Darnic participating in the Fourth Holy Grail War?
Still, now that he knew who the target was, it wasn't hard to understand why Zouken Matou loathed him so deeply.
For Zouken Matou, who had built the Greater Grail, someone like Darnic, who coveted the treasure he had devoted everything to creating instead of properly fighting in the war, had to be the highest-priority threat.
Winning or losing the Holy Grail War didn't matter. There would always be another chance. But if the Greater Grail was stolen, everything would be over.
With that goal in mind, it was no wonder Zouken Matou had become so accommodating after confirming Roland's capabilities.
Until this hidden threat was eliminated, Zouken Matou would spare no effort in seeking any power he could use, regardless of the other party's motives.
In other words, judging by the current situation, these two sworn enemies had still clashed during the Third Holy Grail War. This time, however, Darnic had failed to steal the Greater Grail, so, unwilling to accept defeat, he was preparing to participate in the Fourth Holy Grail War.
As he digested the changes to the worldline, Roland suddenly realized a crucial issue. The easy, confident smile he always wore instantly turned cold, and he asked in an almost urgent tone.
"Zouken Matou, what sort of Heroic Spirit did the Einzbern family summon in the last Holy Grail War?"
Roland stared intently at Zouken Matou, his breathing quickening.
As far as Roland knew, the crucial divergences between the Fourth Holy Grail War and Great Holy Grail War worldlines were Darnic's theft of the Greater Grail and whether the Einzbern family had summoned Amakusa Shirou Tokisada or All the World's Evil.
"The last one?" Zouken Matou was somewhat puzzled, but this was hardly information that needed to be concealed, so he readily answered.
"As I recall, it was some pitch-black fellow. I'm not quite sure of his name, because he was so weak that he was killed right at the beginning."
"I understand. I accept that condition. Then let's end today's meeting here. Please send the detailed information and the ways you can provide assistance to this address."
Roland raised his head, glanced at the clock on the wall, and stood up without further hesitation.
"Why the rush? Do you have some other important business?"
Zouken Matou gave Roland a strange look. The young man could no longer remain uninvolved, and both his methods and resolve were excellent, so why did he still seem utterly indifferent?
The Holy Grail War was about to begin. Surely the most important things now were gathering information on the other Masters, deciding on a hiding place, choosing a Heroic Spirit, and planning the strategy to follow.
"Of course," Roland said leisurely, without looking back. "It's almost time for work."
For the first time, a twisted expression appeared on the affectedly inscrutable face of Zouken Matou, a man of vast experience who was over five hundred years old.
He wanted to say something, but Roland was already walking away.
"Young people these days truly are impossible to fathom. I hope this fellow doesn't let all my efforts go to waste."
Zouken Matou's gaze flickered. He wanted to lash out, but ultimately fell silent.
Whatever happened, even if he had to temporarily suppress his vile nature, he would never let anyone take the Greater Grail.
As Roland walked, he unconsciously clenched his fists, and his gaze grew contemplative.
He still had far too little information.
He did not know why the events of the Third Holy Grail War had become so distorted, or why Darnic had refused to give up and joined the Fourth Holy Grail War, creating a worldline Roland had never even heard of.
Much of his previous foreknowledge of the plot would now be useless, but along with those losses, Roland had gained something new.
The factor that had distorted and altered the course of the world.
Without a doubt, a Contract Spirit had caused it.
The Key of All Spirits had not sent him to the wrong destination. A Contract Spirit had brought enormous changes and consequences to Fuyuki City. It had simply happened sixty years before Roland arrived.
During the previous Holy Grail War, whatever that Contract Spirit was, it had already caused tremendous changes.
Moreover, judging by the sheer scale of those changes, the Contract Spirit had probably inhabited multiple hosts. Some of those hosts might even have obtained results from the Contract Spirit's maddening corruption.
And even now, it might still be residing in some object, or in someone's body.
It seemed he now had a reason that left him no choice but to get involved in this Holy Grail War.
In the rising morning light, Roland strode forward.