The figure's distinctive appearance, which made his identity unmistakable, left Feng Xi utterly shocked.
But when Feng Xi tried to take a closer look, the figure vanished again.
Had I seen it wrong?
How could that person appear during the Fourth Holy Grail War?
Could someone have summoned him with a Heroic Spirit Summoning Card?
No, that person didn't seem likely to accept a contract with anyone other than a Chinese person.
"You didn't see it wrong."
Zhang Jue interrupted Feng Xi's wandering thoughts and said solemnly, "I saw him too."
Feng Xi: "So I wasn't hallucinating!"
Good grief, that emperor really had descended. It looked like this Fourth Holy Grail War had gone completely off track.
Chapter 44: Relocation, Qin Shi Huang descends
(Pan-Human History's Qin Shi Huang)
Night fell outside Fuyuki City.
"Hmph, already fled?"
Kayneth snorted as he looked at the deserted Einzbern Castle.
As soon as darkness fell, Kayneth had impatiently brought everyone to take "revenge" on Kiritsugu Emiya, only to find the place deserted.
Team Saber had already evacuated Einzbern Castle.
"Hahaha, so we came all this way for nothing?"
Iskandar laughed beside him. "Their Master seems to be a very clever fellow."
"Looks like tonight's operation will end without any results."
Waver looked at Kayneth somewhat helplessly.
He knew Kayneth was angry with Kiritsugu Emiya, but he hadn't expected him to be this angry.
He had brought their entire fighting force: all three Masters and four Servants.
With a lineup like this, he clearly intended to fight Kiritsugu Emiya to the death.
"As long as the War of the Holy Grail hasn't ended, he'll show himself sooner or later."
El-Melloi II said, "There's nothing we can do if he isn't here. Let's withdraw for now."
"Yes."
Everyone nodded, and Kayneth gave his tacit agreement.
There was no telling where Kiritsugu Emiya's group had relocated. No matter how angry Kayneth was, it was no use, so he could only return with the others.
What they didn't know was that, in the nearby forest, the Heroic Spirit Kiritsugu was watching their every move.
After the quiz ended at noon that day, Kiritsugu Emiya and the others had all realized that Einzbern Castle had been exposed and hurriedly relocated.
After all, staying here was too dangerous. There was a very good chance that the others would gang up on them.
Of course, not all of them had withdrawn.
Kiritsugu had specifically stayed behind, hiding in the shadows to see whether anyone came.
Upon discovering that Team Lancer and Team Rider had formed an alliance, he had immediately passed on the news.
Kiritsugu Emiya's expression turned grave when he received it.
This was going to be troublesome.
It wasn't just because the two teams had allied, but also because both teams now had two Servants.
In terms of numbers alone, he no longer held an advantage.
It looked like I'd have to proceed carefully from now on.
As for where Kiritsugu Emiya and the others had relocated, it was naturally the future Emiya residence.
It was a spacious residential property in northern Miyama Town, Fuyuki City, occupying a fairly sizable area.
It had three whole buildings: a main house, an annex, and a storehouse.
The property had originally belonged to the Fujimura Group, Fuyuki City's leading yakuza organization. Before this war, Kiritsugu Emiya had specifically purchased it from the group's boss, Raiga Fujimura.
It was intended as a backup base, just in case.
Kayneth: "Kiritsugu Emiya, where have you scurried off to, you rat?!"
Kayneth: "Aren't you supposed to be so capable? Why don't you dare face me now?"
Unable to find Kiritsugu Emiya, Kayneth started hurling abuse in the group chat, but the man ignored him completely.
"Kiritsugu, are you all right?"
Seeing Kiritsugu Emiya's grim expression, Irisviel asked with concern.
"Yes, I'm fine."
Kiritsugu Emiya waved a hand and said, "We won't go out tonight. Let's stay here and watch how things develop."
After all, Kayneth's group was coming at him aggressively now, so it was best not to show himself rashly.
And so, the second night of the War of the Holy Grail passed in this "peaceful" atmosphere.
Before long, noon on the third day arrived.
[Ding! The quiz will begin in ten minutes. All group members, please prepare.] [Ding! New group members "Sola," "Eldest Valkyrie Sister," and "Qin Shi Huang" have joined the group chat.]
As usual, the system first added new people connected to the Fourth Holy Grail War to the group.
But what on earth was that third one?
"Qin Shi Huang? Could it be him?!"
Startled, Feng Xi and Zhang Jue exchanged a glance.
They really hadn't been mistaken yesterday. That figure had indeed been an ancient Chinese emperor.
They just hadn't expected him to be Qin Shi Huang.
Feng Xi, however, had already suspected it.
Although the one who had descended this time was definitely Pan-Human History's Qin Shi Huang, rather than the familiar one from the Lostbelt, the two would certainly have the same class.
Ruler, the adjudicator.
Now he had an idea of why Qin Shi Huang had appeared in the Fourth Holy Grail War.
He had probably been sent specifically by the Counter Force.
After all, there were far too many variables in this Fourth Holy Grail War.
So far, five additional Servants had already been summoned.
Rider's Red Hare, Assassin's Heroic Spirit Kiritsugu, Caster's Lord El-Melloi II, and Archer's Ishtar.
And the Eldest Valkyrie Sister who had just joined the group should be Lancer's Brynhildr.
If another Saber and Berserker were summoned, they could form a new team of seven Servants.
Under these circumstances, Alaya would certainly send down a Ruler to monitor things.
Furthermore, the Servants in this War of the Holy Grail were all of very high caliber, so naturally, someone stronger had to be sent down to keep them in line.
Most Rulers were Divine Spirits, and sending them down wouldn't keep Gilgamesh in check.
Other Heroic Spirits such as Jeanne d'Arc and Amakusa Shirou Tokisada would be even less able to keep order, whether in strength or reputation.
Thinking of it that way, Qin Shi Huang was just right.
Waver: "This Qin Shi Huang... could he be that one?!"
Feng Xi: "Does that even need asking? Who besides His Majesty would dare use that title?"
Waver: "Really?! I never expected another big shot to join the group!"
King of Conquerors: "Little Master, who is this Qin Shi Huang?"
Waver: "If I'm not mistaken, this Qin Shi Huang is the creator of the title 'huangdi,' the first emperor of China and even the world, Qin Shi Huang, 'Ying Zheng'!"
Qin Shi Huang: "Oh? To think that a foreigner like you would know Our identity so well."
Qin Shi Huang: "Indeed. We are China's first emperor, who ended a hundred years of turmoil in China, unified the six states, equaled the Three Sovereigns in virtue, and surpassed the Five Emperors in achievement-the First Emperor of Qin!"
King of Conquerors: "Hahaha, so this is the world's first emperor?"
King of Heroes: "Hmph, another mongrel calling himself a king?"
Zhang Jue: "King of Heroes, how dare you! His Majesty the First Emperor is not someone you may insult!"
Feng Xi: "Besides, Gilgamesh, are you deliberately playing dumb? An emperor's status is much higher than a king's."
Feng Xi: "Are you looking down on our China's first emperor?!"