In Britain, the Noble Phantasm: Divine Key

"Everything is in the past now."

Chapter Twenty-Five: Assassin Appears!

Deep in the mountains of Fuyuki City, further west, a long corridor stretches westward, its back to the city lights. Ahead of the road awaits visitors a vast, undeveloped forest. Following this road across the prefectural border, the corridor winds quietly ahead.

Although it's a two-lane highway, there's almost no sign of oncoming cars on the sparsely lit sidewalk. Only a wisp of mist lingers with the faint morning light, as if forgotten in this silence.

And in this silence, a silver beast was galloping across the sky.

The Mercedes-Benz 300SL. Its elegant and streamlined body is as dignified as a noblewoman, while the roar of its six-cylinder engine is as powerful as a wild beast. Yet, what drives this elegant yet savage classic sedan to speeds of over 120 kilometers per hour is a girl who looks no more than fifteen or sixteen years old.

“Saber…Saber, aren’t you…driving a little too fast…” Irisviel, sitting in the passenger seat, looked visibly nervous, managing only a weak smile.

"It's alright. My riding skill is B. Driving this kind of vehicle is just a piece of cake for me." Saber's tone was frighteningly calm, and her face was expressionless. Although she had only been driving this car for a short time, her skillful gear shifting was enough to make even seasoned drivers with years of experience feel ashamed.

"Saber, are you angry?" Irisviel cautiously looked at Saber's profile.

"How could that be? I'm just a Servant, I don't have that kind of qualification." Saber's tone remained unchanged. She stepped on the gas, and the Mercedes' speed soared again, the speedometer needle instantly breaking the 150 mark.

Although it was early morning and there was relatively little traffic on the national highway, speeding at 150 kilometers per hour on such a winding mountain road was still extremely dangerous. A slight mistake could cost you your life. However, Saber's expression remained calm and composed, as if she were just having a spring outing in the countryside.

Oh no, she's really angry!

Irisviel groaned inwardly, deeply regretting her decision to agree to drive Saber back to Einzbern Castle.

I should have just stayed in Fuyuki City and waited for Kiritsugu to come.

Watching the needle slowly turn on the speedometer, Irisviel's heart was in her throat. She wasn't actually worried about her own safety; after all, with Saber's skills, she could save her in an instant even in a car accident. The key issue was that if that happened, this legendary sedan, worth 1000 million yen, would be completely totaled!

Moreover, this was a vehicle that Kiritsugu specially prepared for her. So far, she has only ever driven around the courtyard of Einzbern Castle and has never even been on the road. It would be too sad if it were to be scrapped like this!

Just as Irisviel was trying to recall whether Kiritsugu had insured the car, Saber suddenly slammed on the brakes. The Mercedes' tires screeched as they rubbed against the asphalt, and Irisviel's body lurched forward uncontrollably before being pulled back by the seatbelt.

"Saber?" Irisviel blinked in confusion, but before she could get a response, a small knife suddenly tore through the metal roof of the car and fell toward her head.

when!

The jet-black holy sword was swung out, the blade and the tip of the blade colliding and bursting out a short and ear-piercing sound.

Seeing that the ambush had failed, the perpetrator did not hesitate and immediately jumped off the roof of the car and hid in the nearby forest.

"Trying to run?" A cold glint flashed in Saber's eyes. She immediately opened the car door and got out. Her attire instantly changed into black and red demonic armor, and the jet-black aurora sword, exuding a strong magical aura, swung straight down at the departing figure.

"ExculiburMorgan!!"

Rumble, rumble—!!

The jet-black beam of magical light roared out like a demonic dragon, instantly severing the smooth cement road and the adjacent mountain wall as if they were made of tofu, and shooting straight into the distant sky.

When everything calmed down, only the remaining magical energy fluctuations remained, forming a thin mist that permeated the air. The road and the mountain walls had been completely destroyed, leaving behind a desolate wasteland.

Saber stared blankly into the distance, his armor and the holy sword in his hand turning into specks of light and dissipating.

“Saber, what was that just now…”

Irisviel, who had just gotten out of the passenger seat, still had a clear look of lingering fear on her face, and looked at Saber with worry in her eyes.

“It is Servant,” Saber said calmly.

"Servent?" Irisviel paused slightly, her ruby-like eyes widening a little. "Then wouldn't that mean..."

Saber nodded slightly: "If nothing unexpected happens, it should be Assassin, who hasn't shown up before."

The ability to silently climb onto the roof of a car traveling at 150 km/h, only slightly revealing its presence just before making a move, clearly demonstrates an aura concealment skill that only an Assassin can master.

However, the fact that even her intuition failed to detect the other party's arrival is enough to prove that this Assassin's aura concealment is at least A-level or higher.

Irisviel looked slightly uncomfortable. In all the Holy Grail Wars, Assassins have always been the weakest class, but because they possess the ability to conceal their presence, they pose a far greater threat to their Masters than other Servants.

Looking at the enormous crack before her, as if cleaved by a giant axe that had split the heavens, Irisviel turned to Saber: "Saber, Assassin..."

“He got away.” Saber’s tone remained unchanged. “He was too fast. I didn’t have time to aim, and my Noble Phantasm just grazed past him.”

“How could this be…” Alice Feld frowned slightly.

"Let's go, Irisviel. We're clearly their target. The longer we stay in this desolate place, the more dangerous it becomes." Saber wasn't afraid of Assassin, but the opponent's extremely high-level aura concealment combined with his equally impressive agility posed a significant threat to Irisviel.

Irisviel, aware of the urgency of the situation, nodded with a slightly solemn expression: "Yes, Saber."

The two got back into the Mercedes. To avoid being caught by Assassin, Saber accelerated to 180 kilometers per hour this time, while also maintaining high concentration and paying close attention to her surroundings.

Irisviel also released her familiars to follow the car, so she could spot Assassin as soon as he appeared.

Aura concealment is not invisibility; it simply means completely hiding one's aura and minimizing one's presence, but one can still be seen with the naked eye.

Whether it was because Mercedes was too fast or Saber and Irisviel's defense was too tight, Assassin did not launch any more attacks on them after that.

An hour later, they drove safely into Eindzbern Castle.

As the Einzbern family's stronghold in Fuyuki City, this place is equipped with numerous spells and barriers, making it impossible for even a Servant to sneak in unnoticed.

"lady."

The car door opened, and a woman with a cool and aloof demeanor stood outside, giving Irisviel a slight bow.

"Maiya, where is Kiritsugu? I have something very important to tell him," Irisviel asked urgently.

"Kiritsugu is in the reception room now," Maiya said calmly. "A special guest has arrived."

......

......

Kiritsugu Emiya stared at the man in front of him.

His burgundy suit, meticulously groomed mustache, and every gesture exuded aristocratic elegance. Although not very old, he possessed a remarkably composed demeanor and dignified bearing, making him appear very authoritative.

Tokiomi Tohsaka is the head of the prestigious Tohsaka family in Japan, and also the Archer-class Servant in this Holy Grail War, as well as the Master of Gilgamesh, the oldest hero king.

In this Holy Grail War, there are several participants who are the focus of Kiritsugu Emiya's attention, and Tokiomi Tohsaka is one of them.

In terms of magical skill, he is second only to the monarch from the Clock Tower in this Holy Grail War; judging from his past experiences, although his talent is not outstanding, he has become an excellent magician through his own efforts. He is undoubtedly a man with a firm will and outstanding talent; in terms of preparation, he can even summon a Servant of the exceptional level like Gilgamesh.

If this were a normal Holy Grail War, he would definitely be the strongest contender for victory.

Unfortunately, things don't always go smoothly in this world; accidents are the norm.

Just as no one would believe that the powerful Gilgamesh could be defeated so decisively by Lancer, Kiritsugu Emiya also did not expect that Tokiomi Tohsaka would come to him so directly, without even carrying any Mystic Code, acting as if he were just visiting a friend.

This act, which is tantamount to sending lambs to the slaughter, is hardly something a man named Tokiomi Tohsaka would do.

Is it because they've reached a dead end?

"So, Archer's Master, what brings you here?" Kiritsugu Emiya placed one hand on the table and held the Calico M950 under the table with the other. At this distance, he could riddle Tokiomi Tohsaka with bullets even with his eyes closed.

Tokiomi Tohsaka gracefully picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and with just that simple gesture, he exuded the charm of a mature man.

It's foreseeable that if this man had been a little more indulgent, he would probably already be burdened with a mountain of romantic entanglements.

"Why waste time on such things, Kiritsugu Emiya?" Tokiomi Tohsaka put down his teacup, his deep, mellow voice echoing calmly in Kiritsugu Emiya's ear. Even trapped in enemy territory, he remained composed. "You should know very well why I'm here. Otherwise, given your personality, why would you have let me in?"

Kiritsugu Emiya remained silent for a moment, then quietly placed the Calico M950 back in its original position, placed both hands on the table, and stared intently at Tokiomi Tohsaka with a deep gaze: "You want to form an alliance with me to deal with Lancer?"

"Don't you think that the Lancer group is the enemy we need to deal with most right now?" Tokiomi Tohsaka smiled subtly and elegantly. If it were anyone else, such a smile would feel artificial, but it was just right on this man. "The strongest Master and the strongest Servant, such a combination is too terrifying. If we don't join forces to eliminate them, we have no hope of obtaining the Holy Grail at all."

Kiritsugu Emiya stared silently at Tokiomi Tohsaka, without uttering a word.

"Of course, I know you must have prepared your trump card against Kenneth in advance, but how can you guarantee that it will work?"

"We still only have a superficial understanding of Lancer's abilities. If your trump card fails, I think I don't need to elaborate on the consequences, right?"

Tokiomi Tohsaka gave Kiritsugu Emiya a meaningful look: "I don't think you're naive enough to believe that Lancer will show you mercy because of Saber, right?"

Kiritsugu Emiya was not so naive. His more than twenty years of life had made him deeply aware of the cruelty and helplessness of reality. Moreover, this was war, and the final result would inevitably be a fight to the death.

“There is no basis for trust between us.” He looked at Tokiomi Tohsaka expressionlessly, “especially under these circumstances.”

He had just ordered Saber to launch a surprise attack on the Tohsaka family the night before last, even blowing up their house. How could Tokitomi Tohsaka, who was seeking an alliance with him at this time, know if the other party was planning to take the opportunity to retaliate?

"Trust? There's no need for trust. This is war. We're fighting for our own interests, and interests are the strongest bond." Tokiomi Tohsaka smiled.

Kiritsugu Emiya's eyes flickered slightly: "But in Archer's current state, what can he use to fight Lancer?"

"Don't worry." Tokiomi Tohsaka revealed the back of his right hand, where only one clear red line remained, while the other two had faded considerably. "I've already used Command Spells to heal Archer. Although he hasn't fully recovered to his peak condition yet, he should be fine for combat. Also, Berserker will be joining us."

“If that’s the case…” After a moment of silence, Kiritsugu Emiya stood up and extended his hand to Tokiomi Tohsaka.

"I accept."

Chapter Twenty-Six: Kiritsugu Emiya's Resolve

"Kiritsugu." The door to the reception room suddenly opened, and Irisviel and Saber walked in, followed by Hisa Umaya, who looked utterly helpless.

"Irene?" Kiritsugu Emiya was slightly taken aback. "Why are you back?"

"This beautiful lady must be Miss Irisviel from the Einzbern family." Tokiomi Tohsaka stood up, bowed gracefully to Irisviel, and smiled politely. "Hello, I am Tokiomi Tohsaka, the head of the Tohsaka family. I wonder how Ahadeon has been lately?"

Looking at her former ally, Irisviel's eyes showed a hint of wariness, and she nodded slightly, saying, "Ahadeon has been doing well."

“Is that so? Then I’m relieved.” Tokiomi Tohsaka smiled. “After this Holy Grail War ends, I’ll visit the Einzbern family. After all, we were the three founding families who built the Holy Grail system together. Although we parted ways later due to ideological conflicts, this connection is real. If possible, I would like to relive the glory of my ancestors and have the three founding families renew the alliance from two hundred years ago.”

Irisviel's eyes narrowed slightly: "Then the Einzbern family will welcome the esteemed head of the Tohsaka family."

"Hehe, I believe that day will come." Tokiomi Tohsaka smiled, stood up, and walked gracefully out of the reception room.

Saber stared at the other person's back, her brows furrowing slightly.

Seeing Kiritsugu Emiya's expression, Maiya Hisau nodded, opened the door, and caught up with Tokiomi Tohsaka: "Mr. Tohsaka, let me see you out."

"Hehe, I'm truly grateful."

Listening to the footsteps of the two receding into the distance, Kiritsugu Emiya slowly exhaled, sat back down in his chair, and murmured, "Tokiomi Tohsaka, he is indeed a confident man."

He said he would visit the Einzbern family after the Holy Grail War ended, but his confident tone and unhurried attitude clearly meant, "I will visit the Einzbern family after I win the Holy Grail War."

And then there's the matter of renewing the original alliance—something that so many outstanding talents from the three founding families haven't been able to achieve in the past two hundred years. Who does Tokiomi Tohsaka think he is? If he really obtains the Holy Grail and reaches the Root, he might actually be able to accomplish this.

This man appeared outwardly kind and gentle, but his every move revealed the demeanor of a victor.

Is he really that sure he'll win in the end?

Kiritsugu Emiya frowned slightly. If anyone else had made this gesture, he would have just assumed that the other person was blindly confident. But Tokiomi Tohsaka was different. Although this man had the pride and confidence of a magician in his bones, he was not lacking in subtle caution, as could be seen from the many preparations he made for the Holy Grail War.

Tokiomi Tohsaka is not the kind of person who makes empty promises easily; his composure and confidence are based on a solid foundation.