In Britain, the Noble Phantasm: Divine Key

"Is this what it feels like to become a spirit?" Yanan clenched his fist and pursed his lips. "No wonder nobody likes it."

This was his first attempt at spiritualization. The feeling was as if he had become a rootless duckweed, a ghost of nothingness, with no sense of real existence at all. Although it was convenient, it was not comfortable at all.

“You did very well, Lancer.” Kenneth stood up from the sofa, looking at Yanan with admiration. He couldn’t be more pleased with Lancer’s performance tonight.

He single-handedly fought against two great Servants, King Hero and King Arthur, and won easily against both. Such a glorious achievement is unique in the history of the Holy Grail War.

If it weren't for his nobleman image, Kenneth would have been tempted to burst into laughter.

Perhaps the only regret is that no Servant left the stage tonight.

However, Kenneth remained incredibly confident. With Lancer's strength and the assistance of his genius Master, victory in this Holy Grail War was only a matter of time.

With such an impressive resume, from now on no one will dare to say that he is just a theorist.

“Actually, my victory wasn’t easy either.” A hint of helplessness appeared on Yanan’s lips as he reached out and a dull-colored crystal ball appeared in his hand.

Kenneth's lips twitched slightly as he sensed that less than half of the magic power remained in the magic furnace.

According to the Clock Tower's standards, a magic core can hold roughly the same amount of magical energy as a regular ley line for five years. Such a massive amount of magical energy is enough to power an ordinary Servant to fight an entire Holy Grail War without any worries.

In just this one fight, Lancer lost half of his magic power.

This level of consumption is simply terrifying!

What if he hadn't brought his magic core and had instead used his own magic to supply Lancer... Just thinking about that scene sent chills down Kenneth's spine. If that had happened, he'd probably be drained dry by now.

"Don't look at me like that. Equivalent exchange, isn't that the basic principle of your magic world?" Yanan casually tossed the magic furnace core back into the alternate dimension, sat on the sofa, and poured himself a cup of pre-brewed black tea.

After all, the Divine Keys on his body are not real, but Noble Phantasms constructed by the Throne of Heroes, and each use requires a large amount of magical energy.

Furthermore, due to class restrictions, the amount of magic power he needs to consume to use the other Divine Keys, besides Black Abyss White Flower, is a level higher.

When facing Gilgamesh this time, he used the spatial power of the Rain of the Void and the Thousand Worlds, and it was because of the consumption of these two treasures that the Magic Core only had half of its magic power stored up.

The mere two Divine Keys require such a massive amount of magical power; if other Divine Keys and Noble Phantasms were to be unlocked, the amount of magical power required would be astronomical.

Fortunately, he had Kenneth prepare two more Magic Cores before he came, making a total of five Magic Cores. Excluding the one Kenneth had prepared for himself, the remaining four Magic Cores, along with the three Command Seals, were enough for him to demonstrate his full power.

In fact, if his only goal was to win the Holy Grail War, he wouldn't need to make such extensive preparations. However, his purpose in coming here is to resolve the crisis in this world, and for that, he must ensure that his combat strength is sufficient.

He had a strange intuition that the source of this crisis was hidden somewhere in this Holy Grail War.

However, his Master clearly lacked this awareness. This Lord El-Melloi was completely focused on the Holy Grail War, pacing back and forth as he pondered, "Now that Gilgamesh is severely injured, it's the best time to eliminate him. However, with that obviously strong Berserker guarding him, it might not be easy to deal with. By the way, Lancer, do you think we could find other Masters to cooperate with and take down Gilgamesh together?"

Yanan said calmly, "Given the current situation, who do you think would dare to approach us for cooperation?"

Kenneth was slightly taken aback, but quickly realized what was happening.

Lancer's performance tonight was truly outstanding. Now they have inevitably become the target of everyone's attacks. At this point, it's already a good thing that others haven't joined forces to attack them, let alone cooperate with them.

He also didn't want Lancer to attack alone, after all, Lancer's consumption was too terrifying, and he understood the principle of the snipe and the clam fighting and the fisherman benefiting. If they finally managed to defeat Gilgamesh, and then other Servants immediately jumped out to attack them, then they would probably be in grave danger.

However, he was really unwilling to give up the opportunity to eliminate Gilgamesh just like that. Wouldn't that be the same as them not doing anything tonight?

"Don't worry, even if we don't make a move, others will definitely." Yanan sipped his steaming hot black tea and said calmly, "Gilgamesh isn't much of a threat to us, but it's a different story for others. Whether they face one tiger or two tigers is a choice they have to make, not us."

Kenneth stroked his chin thoughtfully: "But can they really kill Gilgamesh on their own?"

“You’d better not underestimate them. After all, they are heroes who have left their mark on history,” Yanan said in an unchanged tone.

“That makes sense.” Kenneth nodded, then pursed his lips and said, “He should feel honored to have made such a fuss over a Caster who has already left the stage.”

Tonight's probing was mainly Yanan's attempt to find out who had attacked Caster's group.

But the final outcome remains unclear.

This Holy Grail War has undergone significant changes compared to the original Fourth Holy Grail War. Saber has been reversed into her corrupted form, and Kirei Kotomine has not summoned Assassin, but rather a berserk Cú Chulainn.

However, none of these are the key points. The key point is that none of the Servants who have appeared so far have the means to kill Caster.

It's not that they lacked the ability, but the key point is that Caster was killed immediately after being summoned, indicating that the person who did it had foreseen his arrival. There were no signs of battle at the scene, meaning that Caster was eliminated and eliminated without any resistance.

The only one who could satisfy both conditions is Gilgamesh, but given his personality, it's impossible for him to do such a thing.

In that case, there's only one possibility left.

As Yanan gazed at the night view outside the window, his dark eyes revealed the same profound depth.

......

......

Fuyuki City is modeled after Kobe City in Hyogo Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan. The city is divided into two distinct parts by the Mien River, which runs through the entire city. The east side is a highly modernized new city, while the west side is Fukayama Town, an old city that is basically just residential areas.

Fukayama Town has a distinct old-world feel, with its architecture predominantly Japanese in style and built into the mountainside. Compared to the bustling new city, the pace of life here is noticeably more relaxed, which is why many prominent families from Fuyuki City choose to settle here.

As evening approaches, the afterglow of the setting sun spills across the earth, draping everything in a fiery red coat. People who have finished a hard day's work drag their weary bodies toward home. In the current economic downturn, in order to avoid being laid off, they must put in several times the effort of the past just to barely keep their jobs.

In the bustling crowd, one figure stood out: a young man in a hoodie and jeans. His dark eyes revealed an indescribable depth, and his handsome appearance was comparable to that of a currently popular star. He exuded a unique noble aura, making him instantly recognizable and unforgettable.

Strangely, no one looked at him, as if he didn't exist at all.

The young man strolled along like a tourist until the sun had completely set and night had fallen, at which point he finally stopped in front of a magnificent mansion.

Unlike other buildings in Fukayama Town, this is a mansion filled with Western style. If an expert were here, they would be able to tell at a glance that it is a Nordic-style building.

Although the visibility was poor, the young man could still clearly see the two characters "Jiantong" inlaid outside the mansion. He touched his chin thoughtfully and pointed, and the heavy iron gate slowly opened to both sides.

The man had his hands in his pockets, completely oblivious to the fact that he was trespassing, and strolled into the house as if no one else was there.

"I never expected that the renowned King Arthur would grace my humble abode with his presence. I am truly flattered."

A hoarse, aged voice, like sandpaper scraping, rang out, and a figure slowly emerged from the depths of darkness.

It was a short, hunchbacked old man, bald, with limbs as thin as a mummy, deep-set eyes that revealed two points of sharp, shrewd light, holding a wooden cane, and wearing a kimono in a combination of navy blue and dark gray. With his appearance, an unpleasant smell, like rotting wood, began to permeate the air.

“Since you’re an uninvited guest, how could I trouble Matou-no-Mikoto to come and greet you personally?” Anaen dropped his pretense of being a novice and looked at Matou Zouken, smiling nonchalantly. “Or perhaps I should call you Machiri Zorgen?”

Om-! !

In an instant, countless insect chirps came from all directions. The dense, restless noise would terrify an ordinary person, but Yanan remained calm and composed.

A moment later, the chirping of insects gradually subsided, and Zouken Matou let out a harsh, gritty laugh:

"It's been a long time since I've heard that name... As expected of King Arthur, who could easily defeat even a tyrant like Gilgamesh, you so easily saw through my secret. But I don't understand, I've never had any dealings with you before, so what brings you here?"

Chapter Sixteen: Matou Sakura

Although Zouken Matou appeared calm on the surface, he was actually highly focused, paying close attention to Anain's every move.

The fact that someone can reveal your real name immediately suggests that they likely possess abilities such as clairvoyance or omniscience. In either case, it means that your secret has been completely exposed to them.

Zouken Matou was well aware of how he had committed heinous acts over the years, so many that they were too numerous to count. If these things were exposed, he would have nowhere to hide in either the outer or inner world from now on.

So he tried his best to conceal it, living a low-key life and minimizing his contact with the outside world.

He had never had any connection with King Arthur, nor had he ever even met him. Under these circumstances, the only possibility he could think of was that the other party disapproved of his actions and intended to rid the people of this scourge.

This is not surprising, after all, according to the epic, King Arthur himself is a noble, righteous, and honorable hero who hates evil. It is only natural that he would disapprove of the evil and heretical people like himself.

He also knew very well that King Arthur, who could even defeat the hero-king Gilgamesh, was definitely not someone he could challenge.

Therefore, what he is showing now is just a clone made of insects, and once the opponent shows any intention to attack, he will immediately run away with his main body.

Even if it means abandoning the entire Matou family, it doesn't matter.

He wouldn't care if it meant sacrificing everything just to survive.

Immortality was his only obsession, even if it meant living like a slug in a dark, damp underground place, or parasitizing others like a parasite.

The man named Machiri Zorgen died two hundred years ago, leaving only a monster named Zouken Matou to roam the world.

Looking at this old man who had completely lost himself on the path of pursuing his ideals, Yanan felt a complex mix of emotions. For a moment, he couldn't help but think of himself—if he still hadn't upgraded [Savior] to EX level fifty years later, would he also lose his way on this path like the other man?

Shaking his head to put those useless thoughts behind him, Anaen said calmly, "I've come here to make a deal with Matou-oki."

"Oh~ that's really strange. The Matou family, which is so poor, actually has something that can catch the king's eye?" Matou Zouken was indeed a little surprised, but his vigilance did not decrease at all. After all, no one could be sure if this was a smokescreen.

“Whether something is valuable or not depends on the need,” Yanan said calmly.

“That’s true.” Zouken Matou smiled sinisterly, like a demon lingering among mortals. “In that case, Your Majesty, please come to my humble abode for a chat.”

Although he knew that the other party wanted to take him to their home field, Yanan was still unconcerned. He could not do anything to Zouken Matou with his little tricks. In fact, it is no exaggeration to say that even if Machiri Zorgen from two hundred years ago reappeared, he could beat him to a pulp.

He followed Zouken Matou into the Matou family mansion. The light here was not bright, it could even be described as dim. Because of the depravity of his soul and the decay of his body, Zouken Matou could not withstand sunlight, so he had an unusual aversion to any bright environment.

"It's so dark, aren't you afraid of slipping and falling while walking?"

Yanan pressed the switch on the overhead light, and the dazzling light instantly illuminated the hall, making it as bright as day.

Zouken Matou's hands trembled slightly, and his face was extremely gloomy. However, seeing Anaen's ambiguous smile, he could only forcefully suppress his physical discomfort and anger, and made a gesture of respect: "Please take a seat, Your Majesty."

The sofas in the living room were arranged in a layout of one main sofa and two secondary sofas. Yanan sat down on the main sofa without any hesitation, while Matou Zouken moved stiffly and sat down on his left.

"I was unaware of Your Majesty's arrival, so I was unprepared. I hope Your Majesty will forgive me." Matou Zouken coughed, his rotten smell growing stronger. "I am very interested in the deal Your Majesty mentioned earlier. Would Your Majesty be willing to explain it to me in detail?"

"Before that, I have a question for Matou-no-o," Anaene said, crossing her legs and arms. "Did the Matou family participate in this Holy Grail War?"

Although he didn't understand why the other party would ask this question, Zouken Matou still answered truthfully: "No, the Matou family has completely declined now. None of the younger generation can even gain the Holy Grail's approval, so naturally they can't participate in the Holy Grail War. It's really shameful to say that we are the first to be eliminated when we are the same three families."

Anann paid no attention to the old insect's sighs and said in an unchanged tone, "But with your methods, if you really want to participate in the Holy Grail War, it's not like there's no way."

"It seems Your Majesty truly understands this old man very well," Zouken Matou chuckled hoarsely. "To be honest, Your Majesty, I do have a way to participate in the Holy Grail War, but it's pointless. My two unfilial sons are utterly incapable of participating; even if they went, they would only be wasting their spots. It's better to..."

"Why not put our hopes on the next time, right?" Anaen looked at Zouken Matou expressionlessly.

"Hehe, Your Majesty truly has discerning eyes." Zouken Matou couldn't help but feel a little doubtful. Even if Anaun possessed clairvoyance, he shouldn't have been able to see through his plans so clearly. It felt as if the other party had already experienced all of those things.

As expected, the Matou family did not participate in the Fourth Holy Grail War... Anan's eyes showed a thoughtful expression, and he nodded slightly: "Now let's talk about the contents of the deal."

Zouken Matou straightened up slightly: "I'm all ears."

"The child you adopted from the Tohsaka family a year ago, Tohsaka Sakura—no, she should be called Matou Sakura now—hand her over to me," Yanan said calmly.

Zouken Matou frowned deeply: "Your Majesty, you should know that child is my only one right now..."

Before he could finish speaking, he saw Yanan suddenly pull out a black and white knight's lance, the powerful aura of which caused the magic array in the mansion to tremble slightly.

The old insect was nearly scared to death on the spot. He struggled to suppress his wildly beating heart and asked in a trembling voice, "Your Majesty, what do you mean by this?"

Yanan did not answer his question, but went straight to a withered potted plant in the corner and inserted the Black Abyss White Flower into the soil.

As the lily pattern on the gun flashed with a faint light, the withered plant miraculously came back to life, its vibrant petals bursting into bloom.

"These are the terms of my deal." Anaen turned to look at the stunned Zouken Matou, his tone unchanged, and asked, "What do you think, Matou-sensei?"