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

Chapter 395 The Elephant in the Room
It is extremely difficult to shake the inertia of history, and we even doubt that it can ever be changed.

——CYZ Alliance Historical Inertia Research Institute.
-
Is this a coincidence, or something destined?

Slowly moving forward along the reversed timeline, Lin Sheng directed [Great Matou Sakura] to leave the church.

He arrived at the church in Mihana Town around the same time as Gilgamesh.

But when Lin Sheng glanced at Gilgamesh, who had already "snatched" Kirei, and began to flee in a sorry state under the fury of Black Sakura, he instead had Sakura, who was preparing to provide support, divert her from the target.

"You mean, Kotomine Risei isn't dead?" [Oo Matou Sakura]'s voice was somewhat surprised.

“I find it strange too.” Lin Sheng projected his miniature image onto his watch, which floated around Dai Ying.

“If you hadn’t been so close just now, I really wouldn’t have noticed this.”

Data collection on the enemy has always been one of the Alliance's strengths.

And if it is Lin Sheng himself and the TDD that carries him who do this, then it is even more so.

Based on the fluctuations in the RSI value of the environment after the appearance of the Black Cherry—

Kotomine Risei's "life and death" only truly began to slide in a certain direction the moment Kirei believed his father was dead.

In other words, Father Li Zheng's soul did not leave his body.

"It would be great if we could confirm whether this was due to her 'persona' or the 'historical inertia'."

This was Lin Sheng's only regret, but obviously, he couldn't just let [Big Matou Sakura] walk up to Kuro Sakura and ask her if she wanted a "physical examination".

【大·Matou Sakura】carefully considered the differences in Lin Sheng's words.

If she had only felt a little confused before, now she felt a chill run down her spine.

She asked, somewhat incredulously, "You mean, I'm actually still acting under the influence of inertia?"

Unlike Conan's stronger empathy, Lin Sheng's identity as a "time traveler" allows him to view situations more comprehensively.

“I suspect…” Lin Sheng hesitated for a moment, “I suspect that the historical inertia of World War IV and V has led to a war.”

If you analyze it from the perspective of the plot, you will be surprised to find—

Kirei Kotomine's resistance to his own "persona" ironically led to the occurrence of some important turning points in those "historical inertia".

You should know that, theoretically, it is now the "third day".

In other words, according to the "historical inertia," after Tokiomi Tohsaka's death, it should indeed be Kirei's betrayal of his teacher.

This has indeed happened.

But Black Sakura's next move led this development to a more subtle step.

She tried to "invite" Kirito to join her and attempted to fill his heart with black mud.

This should have happened at the end of the "Fourth Shinobi World War," and then Black Sakura planned to use this opportunity to eliminate him at the end—

This is yet another event from the "Fifth World War".

Considering that the Black Grail has already appeared.

Lin Sheng frowned.

No, it's already quite unusual that two Black Grails have appeared here.

Lin Sheng suddenly realized a very important issue.

Why were there "two" Black Grails, who arrived in the universe created by Conan under the pretext of "discovering" anomalies?
The situation of Irisviel, who is the Black Grail, now seems to be from "Please! Einzbern Consultation Room".

This cannot be explained simply by "chaos".

Lin Sheng knew very well that a real "Einzbern Consultation Room" was impossible.

because--

This work is intended to explain the Holy Grail War to the "audience".

Just like the copy of "Fate/Zero" that was sent to "Disciple Zero," which is in the hands of Fujimura Taiga.

Logically speaking, this "historical inertia" shouldn't be at work; in fact, it shouldn't exist at all.

Because this involves... a rather "taboo" term in the [League] these days.

It's the first three characters of the department called "Narrative Studies".

In fact, according to the research of the Narrative Studies Department—which you can easily tell from the name of the department—it is actually a research department that studies the “narrative layer.”

"Whether it's the inertia of history or the character design, it easily tells us that this is the kind of force that exists above the universe and even shapes it."

On the first page of the book *General Introduction to Narratology* published by the [Alliance], there is a very vivid analogy:
This is an 'elephant in the room'; for those who see elephants as air, they can breathe them easily.

Unfortunately, if you are aware of its presence, it will be already in your lungs.
There is no doubt about this.

Just like Lin Sheng, he only began to be truly interfered with by the dual timelines and began to discover the "anomalies" of the universe after he realized that the place he was in was actually a certain "Detective Conan world".

Therefore, what matters is not what is written in that book, Fate/Zero.

Rather, the very fact that it exists indicates that something is wrong.

If that Black Alice is real, then the Fifth Holy Grail War should have already taken place.

Moreover, unlike different parallel universes, there are no differences in the progress of the timeline.

It should have already happened in the universe where the Alliance exists today.

“In other words…” Lin Sheng’s tone turned serious, “we have actually already won.”

……

Connecting all these things, Lin Sheng had to consider this possibility.

What if your plan has already succeeded?
What if the "timeline" of this universe has been extended, and the Alliance has successfully obtained the Holy Grail?
He suddenly realized that he might be overthinking things.

But if this actually happens, it means that "time"—the most useless thing—is in trouble again.

On his way to the Einzbern Consultation Room, Lin Sheng tries to contact Conan.

His voice rang out through the TDD communication system in the principal's office.

“There are two possibilities now,” Lin Sheng said, offering his analysis. “First, the Einzbern Consultation Room existed in this universe a long time ago, but one party just started using it.”

In fact, Lin Sheng even hoped that this was the possibility—

This means that historical inertia and established personas can find their limits in this universe, as well as the methods to completely change them.

This, of course, means that many theories of the Narrative Studies Department will be overturned.

However, this overthrow will actually give the Alliance greater freedom.

Conan nodded; he had firsthand experience with both of these things.

So he skipped over that slim possibility and asked, "What's the second possibility?"

Lin Sheng replied, "The second possibility is that the nature of [Irisviel] is actually the same as that of [Great Matou Sakura].

Even Lin Sheng, who was hiding in TDD at this moment, felt a kind of electric shock, just like when his body still existed in the past.

“Conan,” he said, posing the question he least wanted to hear, “do you remember when Merlin confused the matters of compilation with historical inertia?”

"Isn't it strange that no one in countless parallel universes has actually discovered this?"

Is there a possibility.

So, in this universe of worldviews that includes [Humanity], [Alaya], and [Gaia], is the "elephant in the room" alive? "According to [Merlin's] memories, that [transmigrator] like me, whether he came from another [universe] or was [Fujimaru Ritsuka] himself, has been missing for a long time."

"Over time, even this part of the effect can be discovered by others who can figure out how to use it, and even realize that some things are not right."

Conan's face was extremely pale, just like the pale face he had when he was hung on the Star Viewing Tower.

He pressed on, pointing out the real issue Lin Sheng was trying to address: "Lin Sheng, are you saying that 'historical inertia' also utilizes the CYZ effect?!"

……

Clearly, the Alliance has been missing something important from the very beginning.

Just like the saying, "'Information gap' can sometimes become 'stereotype'."

The Alliance has rarely considered what would happen if historical inertia also started to utilize the CYZ effect.

First and foremost, the most important reason is undoubtedly Lin Sheng's own inclination—

Just like when he decided to save those tragedies in [this universe].

This is undoubtedly driven by the instinctive motivation of a time traveler who wants to change something.

Furthermore, the fact that the dual timelines directly encompass the entire Detective Conan universe makes reconciliation between Lin Sheng and them impossible.

In other words, from beginning to end, neither the Alliance nor Lin Sheng ever tried to apply historical inertia...

Wait, did I really not use it?

Lin Sheng realized a terrible truth.

Perhaps the CYZ effect can indeed be applied to historical inertia.

He spoke with some difficulty: "The prophecy machine of the Narrative Department."

Lin Sheng found it difficult to articulate his thoughts at that moment; in fact, he felt unusually disoriented.

The prophecy made by that [prophecy machine] accurately predicted the entire development of the [Alliance] in the [universe].

When Lin Sheng and Conan discovered this terrible fact, their first reaction was relief.

It's wonderful that no one realizes the difference between "historical inertia" and "compilation matters".

Regardless of whether these so-called "strong individuals" possess enough of the [CYZ effect] to support a terrifying device like the [Prophecy Machine], or even whether they know how to do it.

Whenever someone tries this, the results always seem terrible and disastrous.

“But this is clearly not a coincidence,” Conan pointed out the source of the misunderstanding.

"From this perspective, it's clear that Chaldea made such an attempt before realizing the extremely terrifying consequences it would bring."

Moreover, considering the strange aspects of Merlin's memories, it is clear that such disastrous consequences have already occurred.

Lin Sheng pointed out the doubts he had always felt: "According to Merlin's memories, there were three important turning points in the War of the Branches, and he didn't remember them very clearly, only roughly."

Clearly, the Holy Grail is a very important point.

This can be seen from the fact that all the "strongest beings" in the entire universe have realized this.

But that was the "second" point, which is related to [Artoria] trying to become the [Core].

"Something must have happened in the control room that Merlin mentioned."

Lin Sheng made a definitive deduction: "At that time, it was absolutely impossible for it to be a peaceful parting as he said—that Fujimaru Ritsuka was as popular as he claimed, and that no one would stay to wait for her."

Upon closer examination, this is indeed a significant problem.

Lin Sheng also played FGO.

He knew very well that among those hundreds of Servants, many had formed deep bonds with Fujimaru Ritsuka.

"At the very least, some of the special classes and anomalous Servants created due to [Singularities] and [Losers] will definitely choose to stay."

For example, one of the "Four Girlfriends Outside the Shield," a woman who is the easiest to win over in Chaldea.

Moreover, since each of these is a unique spirit origin, they only exist during a time when human reason is in a state of chaos and uncertainty.

Having no ties to the normal "universe," they had no need to leave Chaldea for somewhere else.

Chaldea is their true home.

"So, if someone really does what the [prophecy machine] does, wouldn't we have already lost?"

"No." On the contrary, Lin Sheng refuted this view. "It depends on the persistence of the effect value... Conan, you forgot that they are using the effect as diesel fuel."

"From this perspective, the reason why the 'Branch War' has dragged on to this point might also be due to this idea of ​​wearing down the other side."

"Furthermore, the most important point is the mechanism of the shell."

This can even be linked to Conan's initial suspicion that it was a "trap".

If we go back even further, it can be connected to the question that has been hotly debated in the [Research Layer]—why the moon over Hasegawa appears there.

At present, it's hard to even call this a shell anymore.

The most crucial point of the alliance's assessment of the shell is that the mechanism will change with the degree of change in historical inertia.

For example, [Detective Conan Universe - 003].

Whoever goes will die; there are no surprises, and no amount of "CYZ effect" can change that.

From this perspective...

"Conan, do you remember the plan that TDD originally proposed to Matou Sakura?"

Lin Sheng paused.

"According to its own account, it 'found' a path, rather than 'walked' a path."

What does it mean to find a forest path in the vast, dense forest?
This means that someone has already walked this road.

……

Thinking of this, Lin Sheng couldn't help but chuckle.

He only just realized that.

The existence of Black Alice is the most obvious evidence.

If she doesn't come from "Please! Einzbern Consultation Room," then she can only come from the historical inertia of the Fifth World War.

If this is a conflict between the historical inertia of the "Fourth World War" and the historical inertia of the "Fifth World War".

Considering the identities of [Black Alice] and [Black Sakura]...

Isn't it perfectly clear who's behind it all?

The only person who can truly send someone in to hint at something even after Conan has set up a barrier...

"It seems someone was 'helping' us from the very beginning."

At this moment, Lin Sheng mentioned that when the moon landed over Hasegawa, it might have noticed the ally of the [Alliance].

"—Emiya Shirou (輝宮士郎)."

……

There are no "coincidences" when faced with the inertia of history.

(End of this chapter)