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

Chapter 350 [The Grace of the Four Saints] (Seeking monthly votes at the end of the month!)

After the uproar surrounding Assassin's death, or after the completion of [historical inertia].

During those three seconds when the "time" of the entire Fuyuki City synchronized with the "time" of the outside world—

The RSI background index, for some reason, suddenly dropped from a stable 106 back to 104.

“If the data is correct, then someone must have taken action using that non-existent ‘history’ as a pretext.”

With this in mind, I stood in the empty, cyclical spacetime of the [logistics and support layer].

Conan pushed up his reflective glasses and looked at Hasegawa Tsukito beside him.

"Just passively taking hits won't do."

"Now it can be basically determined that the historical inertia of the Fourth World War is very weak."

"Then, we will be deeply involved in the entire course of the war."

The detective turned his head to look at the only piece of equipment placed there—a device that looked like a cargo outlet that someone had installed on a wall.

However, both Hasegawa Tsuki and Conan knew that behind this wall was actually a facility covering an area of ​​about ten kilometers.

A "garment factory" that is draining the earth's veins dry.

After all, the most direct manifestation of technological power lies in its ability to mass-produce something given sufficient resources.

Thanks to the contributions of Jubstakuhaid von Einzbern.

The legacy left by Einzbern continues to function here—

Countless "doll terminals" were directly replicated and activated in this cyclical spacetime, where size was not a concern, at a near one-to-one ratio.

Of course, its true core.

It originated from the clothes of that silver-haired girl...

Without a doubt, the Third Law Mystic Code, known as the Garment of Heaven, was destined to be worn by this child.

……

Therefore, after giving Ilya many, many "pretty clothes",

A replica of the costume, named "The Grace of the Four Saints," has finally been created.

Even if the amount of [Third Magic] in this costume is almost zero, that doesn't matter—the key is that it has it.

Because all the alliance needs is a connection based on the fact that "the body is the operating device of the soul".

After all, before the [Heroic Throne] belonging to the [Alliance] was constructed, the entity containing the [Attribute Panel] would be attacked by the [Heroic Throne] once it left the base.

However, that won't happen from today onwards.

This Mystic Code can fix the "Servant" in a "pseudo-flesh" existence and provide complete defense in terms of the three elements of [spirit], [soul], and [body].

[Inherent Time Control], [Heavenly Garment] structural characteristics, [Heroic Spirit Class] spirit particle structure, [Third Law (Extreme)], [Command Seal Structure], [Imaginary Number Magic]...

These crystallizations of the demonic path contain the true concepts "fused" within them.

In a sense, the "Blessing of the Four Saints" can be considered the highest-level technological verification product of the Alliance's research based on the "Type-Moon Universe".

Its full name is [Unique Barrier: Grace of the Four Noble Ones].

It belongs to the concept, phenomenon, and medium layer, while the specific categories are barrier, costume, and third law.

Its effect is to construct an invisible, sacred barrier that is deeply bound to the soul, centered on the user.

This barrier imbues the caster with four divine blessings in conceptual form, granting them four incredible abilities.

Yes, considering the planned destinations, the Alliance "slightly" borrowed the Church's Magic Foundation.

As for who bestows the "favor" of "God," that goes without saying.

……

Of course, in order for these technologies to run on the costume in a way that "complies with local rules".

The CYZ effect costs are also considerable.

The main reason for this is:

The most crucial element of this costume—the structure of the [Heavenly Garment]—can only be reproduced through a certain "accident" by relying on Yubustakuhaid, this puppet system.

"This should be the upper limit for these materials."

Conan wasn't particularly surprised by this, and he calmly read out the conclusions drawn by TDD.

"It's very likely that the Alliance can't fully analyze it—no, considering the worldview of this [universe]."

"We can only say that until we grasp the definition or some of the rules of 'mystery,' we cannot influence the 'mystery' in the material."

Strictly speaking, it's not impossible.

After all, it's not difficult for Conan to "modify the definition of mystery"—he just needs to deduce it.

However, considering that these formal attires will eventually be worn in the outside world.

The revised "mystery" will inevitably require the use of the CYZ effect for anchoring—which contradicts the concepts of "localization" and "reducing waste."

Therefore, given that all these complex conditions are met, it is natural that such a formal dress would be extremely expensive.

If you don't bring your own materials, you'll need about 13 flying strings to buy the finished product, which is about 130 million flying strings.

For example, if Weber wanted to buy this dress.

At his daily wage of 1 puxian, he would only need to work for about 36 years to afford it.

Therefore, the alliance has only produced ten pieces so far.

After all, there's no need to have too much.

The Alliance has no need to mass-produce it until someone, or another force, actually tries to "buy" it.

At this stage, the Alliance only needs to produce enough to equip the [Heavenly Executioners] for their operations.

For this reason, they do not currently belong to any specific [level].

According to the alliance's rules and regulations.

They should be considered as having been created by the current supervisor (TDD) of the logistics layer, commissioned by the execution layer.

Then it is provided under the guise of "action preparation" or "planning preparation".

……

At this moment, Hades Raymond...

He was the first person to "wear" the "Grace of the Four Noble Truths" and personally verify its efficacy.

He is stepping onto the stage of the Fourth Holy Grail War as planned.

It's only natural that Raymond would be the one to embody this [Craft Essence].

—He is probably the most devoted magician in the league right now.

Yes, because it references the magic foundation of the [Church].

This technique is extremely dependent on the practitioner's devotion and unwavering belief in their "faith".

Furthermore, once this [Mystic Code] is successfully cast, its barrier becomes part of the caster and merges with the physical body and spiritual structure.

And it is clear that Raymond is able to perfectly unleash the power of this "miracle".

In fact, the magician offered his utmost reverence to this divinely inspired garment.

Therefore, the plan went very smoothly.

Before the "defeated" Kirei Kotomine arrived at the Church in Fuyuki City.

He has perfectly demonstrated his power as required by the plan and joined the ranks of the Church.

And gave Kirei Kotomine a "surprise".

……

The church of the Holy Church is located on a small hill on the outskirts of Xindu.

The night fog was thick, and the chill of the early winter morning seeped into everything along with the cold wind.

Logically speaking, at such a late hour, when most people are resting, no one should be going to this remote place.

But at this moment, under the compassionate gaze of the statue of the Virgin Mary at the church entrance.

Kotomine Risei, the supervisor of the Holy Grail War, is waiting for a special "guest".

His son, Kirei Kotomine, arrived as promised.

“Based on the rules of the Holy Grail War,” Kirei said calmly, “Kirei Kotomine requests the protection of the Holy Church.”

But as he said this, his gaze shifted to the unfamiliar figure standing beside his father—

A pastor who doesn't look like a pastor.

What bothered him even more was that his father glanced at the man with a slight sidelong look, almost as if asking for permission.

It seemed that the pastor beside him held a much higher position than the overseer of the place.

After the other party did not express any opinion, Kotomine Risei looked at his son with a solemn expression:

"As your overseer, I accept your request. The church will ensure your safety."

It has to be said that this scene is somewhat ironic.

One plays the role of a just priest, the other the role of a defeated master.

Now, under the gaze of the icon, they step together through the doors of the church.

And the somewhat unfamiliar person followed behind.

Kirei observed him carefully:
This man was exceptionally tall, with broad and upright shoulders that almost blocked out the light from the porch. He looked more like a warrior than a priest.

He wasn't even wearing the dark robes commonly seen in churches; instead, he was wearing a grey cloak.

It is decorated with silver-white ring patterns—some of which resemble horizontal numbers eight, with ring-shaped silver-white decorations.

Although he was undoubtedly holding a scripture that proclaimed his identity as a preacher, the cover was not the cross that usually symbolizes Jesus' sacrifice.

Instead, it is a cross formed by the same silver rings—

Two intersecting bands form a cross with a distinct style.

As a believer who had spent a long time practicing in the monastery, even Kirei Kotomine found it difficult to discern which branch of faith this belonged to.

However, his father's actions and his own rationality advised Kirei not to worry too much.

"They must be new people sent by the church."

This was a perfectly normal thought, but Kirei's sensibility, or rather his intuition, told him that it wasn't so.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the figure that moved forward with him like a ghost.

Kirei had a misconception—

He felt a strange sensation emanating from this person, a feeling that he was an unnatural presence.

It was as if that person had already entered heaven, finding peace and tranquility in complete redemption.

It seemed as if they had been given some kind of mission by the church.

After entering the church chapel, the taciturn pastor remained silent, only pausing in the empty chapel before casually finding a chair to sit down.

Then, he began to look through the scripture he was holding.

……

"Ignore it," Yan Fengli said softly.

He led Kiri through the central hall, where candlesticks were placed.

He pushed open a heavy oak door at the end and entered the priest's chamber, which was used by the clergy for performing ceremonies.

The room was filled with a faint scent of incense and the cleansing aroma of holy water.

But in this sacred atmosphere, the priest's solemn expression quietly faded, replaced by a relieved smile.

Kotomine Risei stopped acting and looked at his son.

"Everything seems to be going very well."

Kirei nodded slightly, sat down on a bench, and exhaled deeply.

According to the original plan, he should have checked the security situation of the church with his father at this moment and exchanged information.

But deep down, there seemed to be some deeper emotion stirring within.

The figure of that unfamiliar priest seemed to possess some inexplicable magic, drawing Kirei's attention almost to him—second only to his concern for the "magician killer" named Emiya Kiritsugu.

"Father, who was that person just now—?" Kirei finally couldn't help but ask.

"Ah, I did forget to tell you about that."

Kotomine Risa paused as if suddenly "remembering" something, and then explained:
“That’s Father Raymond, an officer of the Knights of the Inquisition, because the Church is worried that this place might be targeted by heretics—”

"Has his identity been confirmed?" Kirei commanded in a cold tone.

These words were certainly not spoken to his father.

In the shadows of the corner, a petite female figure quietly emerged.

A heroic spirit with a graceful figure, clad in a long black robe.

The mask she wore was identical to the one worn by Assassin, who died at the hands of Archer.

Without a doubt, this is one of Hassan's many personalities.

"There are indeed very complete procedures."

Assassin then reported his findings.

But anyone could hear a faint hint of fear in her voice.

“I had already tested him before he entered the church.”

"He should have used one of the four kinds of grace: 'Holy Communion,' 'baptism,' 'firm belief,' and 'confession.'"

……

Assassin will never forget that scene:
When the poisoned hidden weapon struck the man, it actually made a sound like metal clashing against stone.

Before the poisonous mist could even get close to him, it transformed into sweet spring water in the flowing silver light.

And there was that chanting that seemed to cleanse all the dead.

That radiance can only be seen by those who have no physical body.

Just as the Kingdom of Heaven descends to earth, the Spirit of God calls back the spirits that remain in the world.

It is holy to the point of being "terrifying".

Assassin's unnaturalness was noticeable.

Kotomine Risuke took over Assassin's statement and spoke in a somewhat low voice.

"They must be paladins from some knightly order, sent here as support to protect the church."

He witnessed the scene.

Assassin seemed to have encountered his natural enemy, and all his attacks were as futile as dust.

The opponent didn't even move an inch, while the attacker seemed unable to cause even the slightest damage, like "a dirty hem of clothing."

The "baptism" possessed by the other party is like the natural enemy of the spirit.

When three Assassin clones skilled in melee combat attempted to close in and capture him, the priest known as "Raymond" finally made his move.

That colleague, in theory, simply moved closer to Assassin, and then—

They melted away like snowflakes, revealing their holy radiance in an instant.

This is why, even though Raymond didn't say a word, there were still subtle signs that the church's leadership had shifted.

In any case, even the slightest words from the strong will be taken seriously by the weak.

Thinking of this, Father Li Zheng sighed.

After all, this powerful being is only a colleague in "theoretical" terms.

As a force capable of rivaling the entire Mage's Association, the Holy Church, like the Mage's Association, naturally has many scattered organizations:

For example, almost every cathedral has its own independent order of knights to indict heretics;
The [Agent] is responsible for eliminating ordinary Dead Apostles and heretics;
The Eighth Secret Society is a special agency dedicated to recovering and managing relics scattered around the world.
And the [Burial Agency], composed of the Church's top combat forces, which can even rival Servants.

However, it is clear that not every strong person would choose to go to the so-called "burial facility" to practice their "faith".

Some believe that punishing heretics is more urgent than hunting down vampires.

Some also hope to walk in the world more openly and honestly.

For them, joining a knightly order under the banner of a certain cathedral and dedicating themselves to the glory of the Lord was undoubtedly a more glorious choice.

This is one of the reasons why Kotomine Risei didn't find the bizarrely symbolized Bible strange, and even readily accepted Raymond's explanation.

It's important to know that in 2004 alone, there were over ten thousand registered Christian denominations, and [Holy Church] doesn't ask whether you're a Catholic, Protestant, or any other denomination.

In other words, anyone can participate.

Because of the immense power of the "Old Catholic" cardinals within the church, some "radicals" wanted to physically eradicate all factions, or heresies, other than the "Old Catholics"...

Therefore, whether it is resistance, defense, or a desire to conquer, all are valid reasons.

Well, it's quite reasonable for a certain cathedral to lead its subordinate Inquisition Knights in a "holy war."

In Kotomine Risei's view—

This time, the Mage's Association took over the final stages of the Holy Grail War.

Based on previous intelligence from the church regarding the movements of the [Ancestor of the Dead Apostles]:

The appearance of a powerful paladin at this time, seen as both support and a declaration to the Mage's Association, seems quite reasonable.

But this is also the tricky part that Father Li Zheng is facing at this moment.

"Kiri, I have to reveal the arrangements of the Eighth Secret Society to him."

Li Zheng's voice was mixed with apology and a hint of barely perceptible relief.

"Otherwise, Assassin would probably have been completely eradicated."

—After all, the existence of Assassin cannot be hidden no matter what.

However, Kirei Kotomine then immediately told Kirei some even better news than that he had taken control of the Assassin.

"According to that knight commander, since the cleanup work in Fuyuki has now been handed over to the Mage Association, he will be responsible for ensuring the safety of the church in order to prevent any accidents."

……

Clearly, this priest intended to use the "pastor's" power to interfere in this Holy Grail War.

Unlike Father Li Zheng, who was full of confidence, Kirei had some doubts about it.

Having shared vision with Assassin, he truly witnessed the Hero King easily slaying Zaid.

I recall that golden brilliance that illuminated the sky.

Having not witnessed Raymond personally taking action, Kirei did not believe that a knight commander could defeat the King of Heroes.

Kirei expressed his doubts.

This is followed by a statement that adds doubt about whether he can be mobilized.

"Moreover, his primary task should be to ensure the safety of the church."

The safety of the church may be different from the safety of its members.

Kirei was able to figure this out.

To put it bluntly, the world's largest "landlords" today, besides the Magic Association, are the Church of Sanctuary.

That knight commander who looked extremely powerful.

Whether he was dispatched to "support his colleagues" or to "take over and occupy" the third largest spiritual vein in Fuyuki City remains to be seen.

"Hmm, so Kirei, do you remember the spiritual vein that disappeared in Fuyuki City not long ago?"

Kirei immediately understood his father's meaning.

Having mastered Assassin, he undoubtedly possessed an intelligence network spanning the entire Fuyuki City.

Kotomine Risei added, "Although the Eighth Secret Society and the Knights of the Inquisition are different, they are ultimately both subordinate to the Church."

"As an 'overseer' appointed by the Church, I should have jurisdiction over matters concerning the Holy Grail War."

"Plus, that person is clearly not familiar with Fuyuki."

Clearly, this is under the premise of "intelligence asymmetry".

All that's needed is to report that the "Holy Grail War" might have damaged the spiritual veins...

"So basically, we can have complete control over how we deal with the enemy."

If the previous cheating was done with the church's permission...

So what the two of them were about to tell was a complete lie.

After Kirei reported to Tokiomi Tohsaka, unsurprisingly, the magician gladly accepted such a powerful assistance.

"Yes, I will inform the King of Heroes about this and ask him to avoid being hostile to the church's knights in future battles."

……

"...As ordinary agents, we are simply no match for you. If it weren't for your appearance, we would probably have been forced to rely on the protection of the Mage's Association and cower within the confines of the church in this Holy Grail War."

The old priest knew very well how to persuade a paladin to fight for him by appealing to honor and faith.

"But you can also see that it's merely relying on heroic spirits called Assassins to try and protect the land watched over by the Lord..."

With a soft "snap," Raymond closed the Bible in his hand and stood up from the bench.

His every movement was solemn and composed, as if he were always under an invisible gaze.

At this moment, every move is being made under the gaze of the "Lord".

Even the ability to predict the future is no different.

A steady voice, carrying an unquestionable determination, echoed in the empty chapel.

"Now that I have arrived here, I will not allow the territory of the Lord to be damaged."

"If there is any place where I need to fight, please speak frankly and do not hold back for my safety."

Seeing that the plan was progressing so smoothly, Kotomine Ryougi secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

The tension that had lasted all night finally eased, and a wave of fatigue immediately washed over the aging body.

"Then I shall take my leave and rest. As for Kirei—"

He turned to his son and said, “I would like to trouble you to explain the rules of the Holy Grail War to Father Raymond in detail.”

The two exchanged a knowing glance.

Father Risei then turned and left, leaving only Kirei Tsunemine standing alone in the sanctuary.

The explanation of the ritual in which seven magicians fought each other rang out again.

Kirei Kotomine then explained all these matters in great detail.

Furthermore, it was specifically stated that the heroic spirit clad in golden armor and his Assassin belonged to the same allied faction.

Throughout the entire process, the strange knight kept his head down, flipping through the blank Bible in his hands, without ever asking any questions.

Kirei did not react to this.

As a fellow devout believer, he knew that there was no need to doubt the loyalty of these beings to the Lord.

As for the strange behavior just now, it can only be said that there are many people in the [Holy Church] whose personalities are detached from the general values ​​and morals of the world.

Therefore, Kirei cautiously spoke only after everything had been explained:
"If you have no further questions, Kirei will take his leave now to begin preparing intelligence."

The book was closed once again.

Raymond raised his head, his gaze as calm as an abyss:

"Yes, go do what you should do—twisted soul."

The departing footsteps paused almost imperceptibly.

Kirei did not turn around or show any unusual behavior, and continued to walk towards the door with his usual steady pace.

But the tightly clenched fingers hidden in his sleeves revealed that he was not at peace.

Even now, he had to suppress the urge to immediately seek an answer from this person.

A voice inside me murmured:

"How...did he figure that out?"
-
The effects of 【Unique Boundary: Grace of the Four Saints】 have been synchronized to "Author's Note" and "Work Related".

Priced at only 13 Flystrings, feel free to call the CYZ Alliance External Liaison Department hotline to order.

(End of this chapter)