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

Chapter 382 How many people actually came?
Without a doubt, Waver and Rider's trip to the Matou family to investigate, or rather, to solve the case, involved enough people—or rather, forces—to take action.

"I wonder if Conan has noticed this yet."

On [Da Matou Sakura]'s wristwatch, came the muttering of a certain prisoner.

"You mean..." [Oo Matou Sakura] was somewhat confused.

“What I mean is, this could be a trap specifically set up against us,” Lin Sheng said, revealing his thoughts.

"Leaving aside Gilgamesh's situation," Lin Sheng said with a hint of doubt in his voice, "how did Assassin find Kiritsugu and the others' location?"

"Has Kirei Kotomine been outmaneuvered? Or has Hassan the Hundred Faces decided to go solo?"

"Plus what you and I found in the basement before," Lin Sheng recalled the secret room of [Zouken Matou], "this shouldn't be Conan's doing."

How could magic exist in the world of detectives?

Hearing her own TDD sigh, [Oo Matou Sakura] looked somewhat apologetic.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Lin Sheng, I've dragged you down."

"Otherwise, you can move around freely."

"There's no need to talk about being a burden or not. After all, you're a member of the [Alliance] now."

Lin Sheng paused for a moment, then added, "Moreover, although your vision is somewhat limited now, at least no one will notice when you start moving—your TDD identity is still very useful."

"Moreover, since the guys in the detective camp all carry TDD, it won't be difficult for me to find out where the intelligence is going."

"Although it's a bit troublesome that those criminals can't see, they are already protected by 'invisibility', so it doesn't matter."

At this point, ZC-01's tone couldn't help but show a hint of excitement.

"Besides, it's not bad to try being a grandfather figure with you around."

【大·Matou Sakura】I've gotten somewhat used to Mr. Hayashi's occasional strange remarks.

She simply shook her head slightly. "But if it weren't for you, I would have disappeared by now."

Speaking of this, Lin Sheng sighed, "Well, well, so 'fate' is really a strange thing."

Who would have thought that it was the fate of the past—the fate of both Ms. Miyano and Akemi Miyano—plus their own small help, that allowed this child to survive?

"So, Sakura, how does it feel to see another version of yourself slowly grow up?"

"It feels..." A subtle expression appeared on [Matou Sakura's] face, "How should I put it, it's probably like you said, a little too similar."

“Yeah, that’s why I’m becoming more and more suspicious of it,” Lin Sheng muttered in agreement.

Ultimately, [Great Matou Sakura] is still just a manifestation of a "possibility".

Therefore, in this "detective universe" enhanced by the [CYZ effect], the younger Matou Sakura continues to grow along a similar trajectory to the older Matou Sakura...

Furthermore, Lin Sheng suspects that Conan has unknowingly "defected" to the enemy due to his various actions since the birth of this universe.

—This guy seems to really think of himself as the [headmaster] and the [Beihana Town Court] now.

Simply having Webber as the main force in solving the case is something this guy shouldn't be doing.

"The concept of mental imagery seems to be very difficult to overcome."

"Of course, it's also possible that the 'famous detective' persona has taken over that guy again. Otherwise, no matter what, letting a crime happen without stopping it is not his style."

"Didn't you say that Mr. Conan was unaware of the situation here?"

“That’s a different matter. Not knowing is one thing, but just like in Yu-Gi-Oh!, even if a magic card is destroyed after being used, its effect still needs to be dealt with, even if it’s sent to the graveyard.”

"However, judging from the previous situation in this world, he executed the principle of 'justice will prevail' quite well, it's just that—"

"Just what?"

"But what will happen next is uncertain."

In Lin Sheng's view, no matter who the person behind the scenes is, his sinister intentions are obvious.

How could the Assassins be killed by Kiritsugu Emiya?

And then there's Gilgamesh; he shouldn't have been in the "case" at all at this time.

It's important to understand that these "cases" need to be connected to "reality" later on; they represent the historical inertia that was not yet broken.

Lin Sheng then shared his predictions about the situation.

"Originally, after Gilgamesh, Waver, and Iskandar's contact at Fuyuki Harbor, the next event should have been the 'Feast of the Three Kings'."

"And now it's Kenneth, Waver, Kiritsugu... Well, logically speaking, this 'case' should be the one where Kenneth leaves the stage."

"As for Saber and Irisviel, they should run into Caster..."

But if he had a physical form right now, Lin Sheng would definitely cover his face and sigh.

The location is wrong from the start.

Even if the explosion site was moved from the Hyatt Hotel to the Matou residence, Kiritsugu still hadn't had time to plant the explosives!

This doesn't seem like something Conan was planning at all.

"So right now, everything is in complete chaos. We can't just skip over such a long stretch of plot."

There was also a time conflict.

"If Gilgamesh dies here, how will we cover up the historical inertia of the Fifth Holy Grail War?"

"Also, if Assassin and Kiritsugu were to face off, how would Rider realize the effect of [Mental Imagery]?"

These things gave Lin Sheng a headache just thinking about them.

The situation was truly chaotic; it's safe to say that more than one person had intervened.

"And then there's the situation with the Holy Grail, that's a big problem."

If the points mentioned above can be modified and patched up using the [CYZ effect], then...

There's no way to fool people about the Holy Grail anymore.

"If we end up choosing a fake one, or the Black Grail, then we're really doomed."

This is also the most troublesome problem.

To ensure that the initiative remains with the Alliance, Conan's choice to become both the "Judge" and the "Headmaster" is indeed the least bad option.

"But the problem is—that means we'll have to let Weber find the clues."

Justice will prevail, that's true, but it can be delayed!

The enemy only needs to use delaying tactics, wait for Conan's effect to wear off, and then jump out to point out that "the clues are incomplete."

As for the Alliance, what's the point if they finally uncover the truth only to find out they've obtained a Black Grail?

Lin Sheng looked at [Large Matou Sakura].

"So, Sakura..."

"Can you try to persuade your other self? You yourself are the best example."

【大·Matou Sakura】sighed.

To be honest, she was really startled when she saw that scene.

—【The Lesser Grail】.

Why is the Lesser Grail, which is not the one made of Irisviel, but rather the one made of Matou Sakura, here too?
If Lin Sheng hadn't stopped her, she would have attacked right then and there.

At this moment, Lin Sheng's question caused the young girl, who had always been steadfast in her pursuit of "exercising justice," to have a somewhat strange expression.

She sighed again, as if she felt somewhat helpless and embarrassed.

"That Matou Sakura... her wish is to be with [Emiya Shirou]—"

She hoped to 'find' Shirou Emiya in this town of Beika.

Lin Sheng then helped [Da Matou Sakura] add the second half of the sentence.

"Then you use the Holy Grail to make a wish to be with 'senpai' forever, right?"

Helpless, how to put it? It's just so helpless.

Emiya Kiritsugu, Emiya Kiritsugu.

Why is it that someone is determined to get the very thing you've rejected, no matter the cost?

Just like the ideas that Merlin had abandoned in the past—

what?
If I kill everyone else, can I stay with my senior forever?
This is absolutely fantastic!

"In that case... Black Sakura, don't say I didn't give you a chance."

Lin Sheng is not Conan.

Just like Conan said, Lin Sheng has only one attitude towards those who actively choose to do evil and are unwilling to repent.

"Sakura, let's try to track her down next. Talking won't work. Let's make her realize through physical means that her wish has no chance of being fulfilled."

“If she insists on not taking our side…” Sakura asked.

Seeing that no further words came from her watch, [Oo Matou Sakura] showed a knowing expression.

"I understand."

She knew very well that sometimes, justice cannot be compromised.

……

However, even though Lin Sheng immediately made some arrangements to deal with this surging undercurrent, the current situation of being constrained at every turn and even subtly falling into a disadvantageous position without realizing it was not something that could be faked.

Just like Emiya Kiritsugu, after receiving Lin Sheng's instructions, he simply grabbed Hisa Umaya and ran away on the hill next to the Matou residence.

It must be said that the enemy really chose a very good time.

Kiritsugu Emiya felt that whoever it was, that person must have a deep understanding of their own habits and even their way of thinking.

At that moment, he originally planned to use the whooshing sound behind him to cross the bushes in front of him and retreat towards the roadside—where his motorcycle, which he had prepared in advance, was located.

"Maimi, you show me the way, I'll cover you."

Kiritsugu Emiya was certain that if he followed this plan, he would be met with another trap, like a noose or a snare.

He raised his gun and fired, the sniper rifle bullets clashing coldly with the enemy's weapons.

Even in the darkness beneath the dense forest, Kiritsugu used the fleeting sparks to glimpse more sinister figures.

He couldn't help but curse inwardly.

Placing the body of a Heroic Spirit in this ordinary world is practically cheating.

If it weren't for "Shin'in," who was from the "criminal camp," dealing with them, along with Maimi, they would have been trapped by these people long ago.

Although Kiritsugu didn't know how that guy did it, there was no doubt that the leader—the one who vaguely seemed to be leading the other Assassins—was not an ordinary person.

After all, he had just acted as bait, shooting Maiya in the heart as they parted ways.

There's no need to go around again to check for bloodstains or other evidence from the hit.

Kiritsugu Emiya was very certain.

That sniper bullet, fired at close range, definitely pierced that guy's heart.

"Could it be a skill he possesses that belongs to the [criminal faction]?"

Emiya Kiritsugu quickly dismissed his own idea.

"No, that shouldn't be the case. According to the data, the most likely reason why Assassins possess skills is based on an intelligence network composed of multiple parts."

Even if you don't have the skill of messing things up like Tokiomi Tohsaka, nobody likes the concept of "accidents".

The scene before us undoubtedly indicates that something unexpected has happened.

In the information provided by the Alliance, even if Assassin wasn't the "exception," he shouldn't be listed here.

Unlike other members of the [Criminal Faction], he does not have a [Detective Watch].

The first thing I did upon entering this world was to make contact with the police and the alliance.

—It's just the Witness Protection Program, right? Conan already thought of that.

Therefore, Kiritsugu, as a "tainted witness," undoubtedly has reason to receive a "Detective Watch."

At that moment, he glanced at the watch on his wrist out of the corner of his eye.

An hour earlier, the message sent by [Eiri Kyuin] clearly stated that Tokiomi Tohsaka was on his way to [Beihana Town Church].

According to the plan, after discovering the situation at the [Academy], he should choose to join forces with Kirei Kotomine, just like [Historical Inertia].

Logically speaking, Kirei Kotomine should have no reason to attack him.

After all, Father Raymond joined the Holy Grail War by taking advantage of the recent "Harbor Case".

He should be contacting Kirei Kotomine right now, trying to persuade him to side with the Alliance by claiming that his symptoms have been cured.

"So, it's not Kirei Kotomine, it's not Assassin...?"

"Kiritsugu! There's a trap over here!" A familiar, hushed voice rang out.

While Kiritsugu was contemplating his current situation, he instinctively activated his [Local Time Control] when Hisa Umi made her urgent request.

Kiritsugu, who was using a relatively sturdy tree trunk to fire back at his rear, vanished for a moment.

The next moment, Hisayu Maiya discovered that the landmine that had been lying in front of her had been roughly removed from under the pile of leaves she had noticed.

This is also one of the troublesome situations Kiritsugu is currently facing.

If he were alone, he could have escaped the moment the bomb exploded, and even used it to harass the pursuers behind him.

But Hisayu Maiya is different; without the ability to accelerate time or move her body, she would undoubtedly perish in the flames of the bomb.

At this moment, for the first time, Kiritsugu Emiya had a slight doubt about whether he could escape.

Judging from the fact that the bomb has already been triggered, Maiya's thinking and habits have been seen through.

He had to pause time in Beika Town for half a second and use a knife to cut the fuse in the detonator.

Moreover, this matter is also very strange.

If you follow your own path, the worst that will happen is that you lose the ability to act.

After Maimi took over the directions, the trap turned into a bomb.

Kiritsugu Emiya had a strange feeling—as if someone was biased about this matter.

It's even as if he's "jealous" of Maiya?
"So, are we going to give up on Maimi?"

Naturally, this thought arose in Kiritsugu Emiya's mind.

I have two minutes and thirty seconds left to pause.

If he and Maiya were still not out of the battle by then, the outcome would be obvious.

……

"Are Kiritsugu and the others trapped on that mountain?"

In the office of the Detective Academy, Conan was only about ten minutes behind Lin Sheng when he learned about the situation there.

"Yes," Yongli Jiu reported over the phone.

"Although the Metropolitan Police Department had already dispatched repair personnel when they discovered the damage to the signal tower near the Matou residence."

"But it seems that Kiritsugu Emiya and Maiya Hisau have already fallen into the enemy's trap."

"The armed detectives who used Professor Agasa's airborne equipment to quickly descend did not find any trace of the two on the mountaintop or in the vicinity."

"Is it 'Disappearance'?" Conan asked.

“I think so,” Yuri Kuin replied.

Conan touched his chin.

Logically speaking, [Emiya Kiritsugu] doesn't seem like the type of person who would retreat from the mountaintop.

If I were him, I would choose to take advantage of the mountaintop and create a height difference downwards.

That is to say...

Even if the enemy is spotted, is it still necessary to hide and not use heavy firepower?
Looking at the flickering computer screen in front of him, Conan had some vague guesses in his mind.

"After Kiritsugu and the others re-establish contact with this side, check the information records on their wristwatches."

"You mean—?"

Conan smiled. "Now I'm a little curious, just how many people have we attracted by luring them out?"

"As for his crisis, I have an idea that needs to be verified."

Conan paused for a moment, then continued, "I heard that Attorney Irisviel recently took on a new disciple?"

"Have Zaid take a gift over there, saying it's a storybook personally written by the school principal, and that it's very worthwhile to read."

After hanging up, Conan thought for a moment and then dialed another number.

“Measita, don’t use the armed reconnaissance. Just do it yourself and try to find out the movements of the people who came into contact with Rider at the train station.”

Conan felt that Rider's speech at the train station was indeed very suspicious.

To unleash the true power of one's Noble Phantasm in a different way.

This is indeed feasible.

However, this special method of use should have been gradually revealed by Weber in the later stages of the plan.

In addition, there's Iskandar's occasional hesitation—something must have happened.

What is this seemingly rough and burly man thinking?
Or rather, how much did he actually know about the plan?

If the Rider becomes untrustworthy, the already chaotic situation will suddenly become precarious.

Well, so after luring the snake out of its hole, the next step is still to distinguish between good and bad snakes.

Picking up the phone, without even dialing, Conan spoke directly into the always-accessible hotline.

"Have Kenneth's side start the registration process for the 'Triwizard Tournament' tonight, and require that all registrations be completed in person!"

"What about people from outside the school? After all, detective agencies also have openings," the other person asked.

"Then the registration location, well, let's choose the Hyatt Hotel."

Then, Conan paused, and finally made up his mind—when the nest is overturned, no egg remains unbroken.

"At the same time, I announced that I would take the children of the current generation of the three founding families as my disciples."

No matter what, he's practically a god now! A detective's god!
The title of "World's Greatest Detective" is an advantage that no one would give up once they have it.

Conan refused to believe that no one would care about this move that cut off their supply lines!

(End of this chapter)