The establishment of the Time Travelers Alliance began in the first year of Conan

Chapter 312 Dear Mr. Weber Velvet, We cordially invite you... (Seeking monthly votes)
Weber felt that he must have made a mistake.

Unlike other Masters who participated in the Holy Grail War—

They did so either to fulfill their lifelong ambition or to boast of their achievements.

Or it could simply be an accident that occurred during a murder.

Waver Velvet, the man who decided to steal his mentor Kenneth's relics and participate in the Holy Grail War, actually only wanted to obtain a "fair evaluation".

Of course, you could also euphemistically call it "he wants to prove his worth".

But after finally summoning his Servant, he was inexplicably attacked in the dead of night by a giant over two meters tall, the tyrant who had conquered most of Europe, the King of Macedon—

He was dragged by the famous Alexander the Great to steal things from the city library.

To be honest, before Waver summoned Iskandar, I never knew that the "short guy" recorded in history books was actually a muscular, tall, and strong man.

His entire body seemed to be burning with flames, almost a symbol of "fiery red" itself.

Besides having short, fiery red hair, even the beard attached to his sideburns was red. Even his thick, short eyebrows and the pupils visible beneath the whites of his eyes were red.

This man's temperament was as bold and unrestrained as a flame. He stared at the world map spread out in front of him and burst into hearty laughter.

Weber has always disliked dealing with these "muscular big men".

Just like the saying goes, "When a scholar meets a soldier, reason is useless."

No matter the reasoning, this kind of "brute" who relies on "criticism with weapons" will not give you any chance to defend yourself.

Therefore, Waver always followed the wishes of his servants, partly out of a desire to improve his relationship with Rider, but also out of a degree of fear.

Even the most good-tempered person will get angry if they wait for half an hour, shivering in the winter wind.

After the burly man stole three books from the library, Weber practically ran all the way to avoid being caught by the police amidst the sounding alarm.

He ran until he was out of breath, and only stopped when he reached the deserted Fuyuki Bridge.

More importantly, what happened after that!
After he stopped, Rider started "going crazy" again.

He looked at the world map, and after answering a few geography questions from junior high school students, he burst into unrestrained laughter.

"The vastness of this world is truly exhilarating!"

Then, something unbelievable happened.

His own followers actually started spouting nonsense like "we'll travel halfway around the world," "we'll conquer every country along the way as we head west," and "we'll return in triumph to Macedonia."

Weber was completely baffled by the goals Rider had proposed.

His anger finally erupted: "Hey! What are you thinking?! Our goal should be to win the Holy Grail! The Holy Grail!"

The mention of the Holy Grail may be a mistake.

Rider turned around because of Weber's words.

He stared directly at him, his eyes filled with an overwhelming aura of dominance.

"Oh? So what wish do you wish to achieve with the Holy Grail?"

"If you want to conquer the world like me—"

The bold voice instantly turned into a biting cold wind.

Rider merely stared coldly at his Master, as if scrutinizing an insignificant being.

"Then we are enemies."

"It's not some vulgar desire like conquering the world!"

Weber then expressed his wish with all his determination and "full of authority".

"I want to prove myself and make everyone acknowledge my talent—"

Then, he was slapped hard across the face by his own follower.

He even spun around in the air before crashing heavily to the ground.

"Foolish! Petty! Narrow-minded!"

Iskandar roared in fury.

The spirits he summoned, after inflicting physical humiliation on Waver, also mercilessly subjected him to spiritual, dignified, and personal insults.

"Your long-cherished wish, which you placed on the Holy Grail, was merely to demonstrate your own worth?!"

He then berated his master as if he were the master himself.

"How can you be my master like this?!"

"Burning with rage, hair standing on end in fury"—this is the most accurate description of Webber's state at the time.

It's unclear whether it was because he was slapped by his own follower, or because of the disdain and contempt shown in his words regarding his dignity and ideals.

His breathing became heavy and rapid, his chest heaving violently, as if his heart was pumping all the blood into his brain. Weber felt a wave of dizziness, and even heard a piercing buzzing in his ears.

Once again... and once more...

It felt as if the whole world was laughing at me.

And this Servant—this Heroic Spirit who descended from the heavens—actually gave himself such an insulting evaluation.

The feeling of being enraged almost made Weber lose his mind.

His body trembled with anger, and he subconsciously channeled his magic, causing a mark on the back of his hand to light up.

"Command it with a Command Spell, and in accordance with the commandments of the Holy Grail, let my followers—"

Weber almost blurted it out.

But in the end, the urge to use the Command Seal was finally suppressed.

The red light of the Command Seal, which symbolized absolute control over the Servant, dimmed.

There are only three Command Seals.

He told himself, "Weber, if you want to win the Holy Grail, you must not use it carelessly."

He took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down rationally.

"Is being yelled at by a stranger really worse than having your paper torn up and your intelligence insulted by Kensney in front of all the students in the lecture hall?"

"That heroic spirit doesn't know what happened to you; he's just spouting nonsense."

As the magician's composure slowly returned, Webber looked at the third book he had taken from the library, which he had already begun to peruse.

It was unclear what he had seen, but Iskandar's brow furrowed more and more deeply.

As for Webber, he gritted his teeth because Rider ignored his actions.

But after careful consideration, he made a concession:
"As long as I can get the Holy Grail to prove myself, you can do whatever you want after that."

He paused, trying to remind Rider again that everything depended on obtaining the Holy Grail.

"In short, whether you want to conquer the world or whatever, the most important thing is to obtain the Holy Grail first—"

"Okay, okay," Rider replied casually to Weber.

The book with its black cover and silver-white lace seemed to possess some kind of magic.

For a moment, Rider stared intently at a few lines of text, a terrible heaviness building up in his eyes.

Meanwhile, Weber's nagging continued in my ear.

Although the Holy Grail granted Waver the ability to sense that Rider was indeed a powerful Heroic Spirit.

But Weber was still not at ease until he witnessed it with his own eyes.

"Rider, the other six Masters can also summon very powerful Servants! If we don't plan ahead—"

The spirit that had been sitting cross-legged on the ground stood up.

In the center of the book's cover,

He carefully tucked the book, whose cover featured a silver Möbius strip, to his side, then looked at his Master.

"If we're talking about any chance of winning..."

Keeping those unbelievable pieces of information to himself, Iskandar snorted coldly. He drew a sword from his waist with a "whoosh," its cold light reflecting off the streetlights and pointing towards the sky.

Dark clouds immediately gathered in the sky above the Fuyuki Bridge, the thunderous roar shook the atmosphere, and dazzling lightning, like silver snakes, darted through the layers of clouds.

It was as if Zeus himself had torn through space with lightning, and then a thunderous hoofbeat came from the sky!

Beneath the hooves of the divine bull, which trod on purple lightning, the wheels, imbued with divine might, pulled the chariot offered to Zeus to its feet.

This is the Noble Phantasm of Iskandar, the Conqueror King, manifested in the world as a Rider – [Divine Wheel].

Weber was dumbfounded.

When the powerful chariot, crackling with lightning, landed at his feet, he involuntarily collapsed to the ground.

However, he was inwardly excited.

Such terrifying power, such immense magical force...

Perhaps, if Rider were to drive his chariot across the battlefield, he could blast any enemy who tried to resist him into dust with lightning!

Looking at the chariot gleaming with lightning, Rider's face revealed a rare hint of genuine pride.

He was not boasting about himself with his chariot, but rather using it to demonstrate the power of a king.

"Well... this is an offering made to Zeus from the Temple of Gordium."

He sheathed his sword, turned to look at Weber on the ground, and lifted him into the car.

Iskandar's tone became serious:

"In short, if you want to win the Holy Grail War, first find the guy who brought the spellbook to us."

My body was still weak from the shock, but my mind gradually cleared from the frenzy.

When the somewhat dazed look finally faded from his face, another look of doubt arose because of Rider's voice.

"Bring the magic book...to us?"

"Our intelligence was leaked from the very beginning."

……

For a Rider with a B-rank inherent skill called [Military Strategy]—

Learn the names and deeds of the other heroic spirits.

They even know the life story and personality of their Master, as well as his/her position and the actions he/she will take...

Iskandar understood all too well what this meant.

He tucked the third book into Weber's arms, his tone carrying a hint of seriousness.

"Kid, this book is for you."

"Written for me?"

Weber took the black-covered book, completely bewildered.

The silver ring on the cover, like an embossed sculpture, flows slowly like moonlight—this is clearly a magic book.

Strangely, Weber did not sense any trace of magic or enchantment on it.

His pupils contracted sharply as soon as he turned to the title page.

Your Majesty Master of the Conquerors, Mr. Waver Velvet:
Those in the Clock Tower who are burdened by fame and fortune and blinded by desires cannot understand your true value, while we have noticed your unprecedented talent.

You are now cordially invited to join the [■■■ Alliance].

Please believe me, this is not only a recognition of your exceptional talent, but also an opportunity to open up a whole new world for you to showcase your true value. Here, your worth will be recognized in unparalleled ways.

Every decision you make will lead to the complete construction of a brand new foundation for modern magic and the opportunity to lead it to its peak.

And in order to prove to you that what we say is true.

We will show you the most basic [Exchange Panel], as well as provide two free uses of a magic spell called [Detect Evil].

This magic trick can help you uncover those sinister entities hidden in the darkness, and it will surely be a powerful aid to you in this Holy Grail War.

——【■■■ Alliance】.
Besides the brief invitation, Weber noticed a small note in the bottom right corner of the book.

It was written in an elegant font:

Please do not lose these valuables.
A sense of indescribable surprise swept through Weber's mind.

Researching and leading the development of modern magic has always been his deepest, most secret desire, an idea he has never mentioned to anyone.

Even his thesis that Kensney tore up—

On the Path of Magic in the New Century.

This paper, which took three years to conceive and one year to write, not only expresses a critique of the "bloodline theory," but also subtly incorporates some of the author's thoughts on "modern magic."

"This...this is..."

The lavish praise in the invitation letter made Weber's voice stammer, and his excitement was almost impossible to conceal.

He checked repeatedly and found that there seemed to be absolutely no magical fluctuations in the magic book.

However, the heavy feel in his hands and the gleaming cover told him that it was all real and undeniable.

At that moment, Weber felt—

He seemed to see a tremendous force, something truly unprecedented and unheard of before, surging forth from these words and beckoning to him.

He was in a daze as he was about to sign his name in the places that said "Enter Magic".

Then, the book in my hand was snatched away in an instant.

As if a piece of a puzzle was missing from his heart, as if he had suddenly lost his support, a strong sense of loss suddenly struck him, and Waver subconsciously reached out to snatch the magic book.

"Hey—! Give it back to me!"

Just as he reached out, Weber was flicked on the forehead with a sharp sound.

He fell backward onto the chariot seat, only then realizing that he was already high in the air, and the encouragement and cheers he heard were actually just the whooshing sound of the wind.

This shock instantly extinguished Weber's courage, but it was followed by another stubborn force.

The affirmation conveyed in that invitation letter still made Weber stubbornly stare into Rider's eyes.

But he was met with an unprecedentedly harsh rebuke from Rider.

"Idiot! Can't you see such an obvious trap?!"

The feverish brain calmed down again.

Weber finally remembered what Rider had just said.

But in order not to lose face in front of his followers, and to prove his resolve, he stubbornly insisted:

"What kind of trap is this! There's clearly no magical energy fluctuation here."

……

This is also what puzzled Rider.

That book was so "clean" that, if you didn't mention what was written in it, you could say there was almost nothing unusual about it.

If the book hadn't actually "accepted" Waver's attempt to input magic, Iskandar would have thought it was just an ordinary fake.

But clearly that book has a lot of problems.

The lightning bolt streaked across the sky towards the woods on the outskirts of Fuyuki City, finally stopping at the area where Waver had summoned himself.

Iskandar waved his hand, causing the [Divine Wheel] to disappear into the void. Then, he looked around, his gaze sweeping across the surroundings with the sharpness of a hawk.

Apart from the traces of weeding left by Waver, there were no signs of being spied on, nor any fluctuations resembling familiars or spells.

Rider's brow furrowed even deeper.

During this time, Weber stood quietly to the side, wanting to apologize several times, but he hesitated because of his complicated emotions.

He knew that his behavior just now was almost foolish, and might even have been affected by some kind of mental interference.

As a magician of the Clock Tower, even if he only audited a few classes in the Spirit Conjuring Department—

Weber understood perfectly what this "contractual tool that actively approaches you" meant.

Rider's actions clearly amounted to saving his own life.

Thinking of this, Weber even broke out in a cold sweat.

Why was I so easily moved by the affirmation and recognition contained in that magic book?
Was even that sudden surge of courage I had just mustered also its "bait"?

The thought of this filled Weber with a strong sense of shame.

If Rider hadn't stopped him in time, he might have already...

Weber lowered his head, inwardly mocking himself.

Rider must be even more disappointed in me now.

Perhaps, from the very beginning, I was not worthy to be Iskandar's Master.

Thinking this way, he finally spoke in frustration:
"Um, Rider, it was my fault just now. If, if in the end you really want to use the Holy Grail to fulfill some wish, I—"

"Hey kid, are you sure you've chosen this location—"

Two voices sounded almost at the same time.

Rider's fiery red eyes returned to their surroundings, his gaze lingering for a moment on Webber's face.

Then, without warning, he reached out and slapped Weber on the shoulder.

The force was so strong that Webber almost stumbled and cried out in pain.

But this slapping didn't feel like being humiliated.

Because the subsequent voice, full of certainty and arrogance, seemed to state a fact:
"Young man, are you saying that I chose the wrong person?"

As Weber stared in disbelief, Iskandar's hearty laughter echoed across the woodland.

"Oh dear, if even such a formidable enemy regards you as a 'treasure' that must be obtained, then I will not let you go easily."

Weber was stunned.

He opened his mouth, but couldn't say anything. A bittersweet feeling welled up in his heart, making Weber's nose tingle and his eyes slightly moist.

It must be because of the cold weather; I must have caught a cold.

But Webber Velvet couldn't deceive himself.

—It has been affirmed.

Weber cleared his throat, trying to appear as if nothing was wrong:
"You...you mean—"

"In short, we're at war now!" Iskandar interrupted his question without room for further discussion. "Boy, answer my question—are you sure no one has discovered this stronghold you've chosen?"

“Absolutely not!” Weber instinctively shouted back.

His eyes regained their confidence, and he composed himself to begin outlining his plan:

“I spent three whole days examining the barrier reaction and the flow of the earth veins in this woodland. Although it is a node, it is so remote that almost no one comes here, and there are no traces of any magicians.”

"Really? I understand."

Rider nodded slightly. As a king, he naturally had to place the necessary trust in his subordinates before he had any evidence.

More importantly, he had just deliberately driven his chariot back along the route he had come from, turning back through the sky, and even instructed the divine ox pulling the chariot to be wary of any signs of magic or spying.

The result was exactly as Weber had predicted.

But it was precisely this overly "clean" state that made Rider more vigilant.

His question made Weber flinch.

Weber finally realized the underlying meaning in Rider's words.

His gaze lingered on the dark woods in the distance for only a second before he quickly shifted his attention back to the safe target.

"Rider, you mean we're being watched?!"

"—Exactly!"

Rider's voice suddenly turned serious, but his tone revealed an undisguised excitement.

"The situation is already quite clear."

His fiery red cloak billowed in the night wind, and the wildness and boldness in his words revealed the aura of a king.

"My every move, and your every move... are now probably being watched by a pair of mysterious and unpredictable eyes!"

He raised his hand, clenched his fist tightly, and his eyes burned with fighting spirit.

"When you summoned me, or even before you summoned me, or even when the thought first arose—that person had already foreseen this 'encounter'."

“He knew that I would definitely ask you for books, knew that you would take me to that library, and knew exactly which two books I would take out.”

"He didn't stop us because he didn't need to."

"Because that's exactly what he wanted us to 'take away'."

Like a cheetah that has caught the scent of a formidable foe, the warrior is about to face the challenge head-on.

The thought that he might actually be "hit" before his own Master filled Iskandar with excitement at the prospect of facing such a formidable adversary.

His heart began to surge with emotion.

"That's really exhilarating, kid!"

He turned to look at Weber, his voice filled with hearty laughter.

"To be outmaneuvered by such an opponent shows that I have finally faced a truly worthy enemy!"

"This is something no ordinary strategist could do... That guy not only understands people's hearts, but also knows the 'thinking of a king'!"

“I have never heard of anyone being able to dissect my tactics before they even arise, outside of the battlefield—yet he did just that.”

Weber's voice began to rise and fall again.

As a magician, he knew very well what the most precious "clairvoyance" meant.

"Rider, you mean... someone summoned a Servant with [Future Sight]?!"

Iskandar, meanwhile, laughed loudly as Weber's expression grew increasingly worried.

"Excellent! Excellent! This is what war should be! This is what I, Iskandar, should give my all for!"

Then, he abruptly stopped laughing, his eyes becoming deep and intense.

"but--"

"That is why we must take risks and do the opposite to find out the enemy's movements and objectives."

He put the book, which he couldn't even turn to the second page of, back into Weber's hands.

"Kid, if you have the guts, see if you can turn to the second page."

Rider paused, then added, "I'll interrupt you before you get confused."

(End of this chapter)