D1 - P4

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"Overthinking it you may be, but you are on the right track," Saizou said, giving the Raiga some credit. He wasn't blind, nor was he ignorant it seemed. "I will skip the small talk, then."

"A conflict is currently taking place within Fuyuki. Not a grand war, but a battle nonetheless. It is meant to be a quieter sort, but there will be damages along the way," Saizou narrowed his eyes slightly, trying to make a point. The safety of Fuyuki, in general, was likely an interest of Raiga's. If they cooperated, then there was the chance they could reduce any damages to a minimum. Maybe. "The Emperor is watching, and he has ordered several individuals and myself to ensure that this conflict ends as quickly and quietly as possible, all the while seeing that the invaders are sent running without their prize."

"The foreigners consist of Europeans who wish to steal something from Fuyuki, something linked to the Tohsaka family as you may have guessed," Saizou bowed his head. "And I would like to make a request of you and your organization to assist your country in seeing this conflict ended. I will not ask for you and yours to fight, but to be present and ready to assist when required," he said, gesturing with a hand. "Keeping an eye on the streets for the foreigners, and keeping us informed, for example."

Saizou raised his head, smiling. "The idea of letting foreigners steal from our lands disgusts me. I only hope it disgusts you as just as much."

"Ahaha, no, I can't imagine your family remembers this old man. That was quite some time ago, after all, when even I was a youth venturing out into the world. I would be rather surprised if there was anyone in your family who could recognize me face to face. I am no longer that young man of years past, after all. Nonetheless, it is good to see that even the wolves aren't so ravenous that they'll vie for every last scrap."

The voice continued to emanate through the halls of the mansion, an amused lilt to its tone, as though the unseen magus were telling a joke that only he knew the punchline to. "I must wonder, though, what it says of your allies if you have such disagreement with them. To hear that the Edelfelts were descending on this town of mine with the military of Germany at their side was something of a surprise. I of course understand the theory behind it, but I do question the rationale."

"If you came to this place for a reason besides that most obvious of goals, then you will be disappointed. The Tohsaka and the Matou have created nothing of note save for our shared triumph, and while I'm sure the Einzbern's research would be valuable to you, I must wonder if you'd be able to decipher it. Since that's the case, surely you don't believe that, while the dog of the Chancellor and the hound of those regressive fools draw breath, you will be able to reach victory. Perhaps you believe that after obtaining your goal, you and your other half can strike them down?"

Another laugh flowed through the air to punctuate the magus's statement, as if his grin was widening with each word. "Ah well, perhaps you are no longer the wolves I knew, or perhaps I'm merely misreading the situation. Such is the problem with aging; once you've been around for so long, everything seems to move so quickly, but all you can do is slow." He continued on, a trace of bemusement entering his tone at Janika's later comment.

"Acquainted with the system? But of course, it's these three families of Fuyuki that designed it, after all. Surely you are aware of that much, given that you are attempting to pillage what we created."

An abrupt change. The previously amicable, if chiding, tone of Zouken grew harsh for a moment. As if that grin etched across his unseen face had sharpened into a leer. One neither had to be a magus nor a Servant to feel it, that brief flare of killing intent that laced his tone, something that held the weight of a human's grudge. Just as quickly as it appeared, though, it vanished.

"...ah, forgive me. My blood came to a boil for a moment. It seems that senility has done an excellent job at sinking its claws into me. If there is nothing else, I would advise you take your leave. It would be problematic if that were to happen again, but if I were too slow to restrain myself that next time."

---

Several seconds of silence endured before Raiga let out a tense sigh, lifting the cup before him to his lips before setting it down. His eyes glinted, evaluating the boy before him with a trace of skepticism, as though trying to feel out his intentions.

"...if what you're saying is true, then I'd be happy to hand you my eyes, and I'm sure the others would feel the same. But, you'll understand my hesitance." He began, resting a hand on the table and drumming his fingers lightly. "A group of Europeans came to Fuyuki to steal something from it, something related to the Tohsakas, and whatever this is has enough importance that the Emperor himself took action? It's a lot to take in. You're no imposter, we checked that much when you contacted us, and I don't see why you'd lie about this. Even if you were lying, it doesn't make sense that you'd say something like that as opposed to a simpler story."

"I can't even think about what we have in this city that's important enough for this sort of operation on the Emperor's side. I'm guessing, though, that since you didn't mention what it was, that's supposed to be confidential. Easier to guard something if as few people as possible know about it, after all. Still, from our perspective, the more information you can give me on this, the better." He sighed, shaking his head a bit before he looked back over to Saizou. "Well, either way, you don't seem like you're trying to trick me, and even if you aren't, it's not like we lose anything by monitoring some suspicious foreigners.

A grin flashed across Raiga's face as he straightened up slightly. "So sure, the Fujimura Group will stand behind you on this."

[@breogan]



No presence of a servant. No presence of any individual, or even a familiar.

Perhaps there was some great misunderstanding on the Japanese front that they had. To Saber’s knowledge despite all of their visits there had been only one time where there was an actual hint of an enemy presence. Was it truly a war they wished to fight? Even as they moved all around their land with a number disadvantage the enemy was content to remain unseen.

It was strange. From what he had learned of the enemy families the Einzberns were foreigners who stayed in their homeland, who came to Fuyuki and Japan for the sole purpose of participating in the Grail War. They even held a castle that they used as their home and base for other wars, a holding that was their answer to the Matou and Tohsaka who lived as part of the city.

The Tohsaka were at their manor for at least a night, but abandoned it without any real willingness to defend it.

The Matou. Was it that their representative saw no value in their estate or that he believed it safe with that man, Zouken?

What are the views of the Einzberns he wonders. Does their castle have no worth to them now, or do they believe it to be safe against the enemy even without a servant?

To protect something is to find something valuable. If they were concentrating themselves somewhere else then it was likely where the Grail is. What else would motivate the enemy to completely let their enemy wander about the city without any direct intervention?

Something as half-hearted as simply giving an illusion of unimportance would be foolish. He could not think of anything that would motivate them to hide away beyond the Grail.

Where would they then store it? Where would they be in lieu of a workshop?

He could not think of many more places that they could be in the city at this point.

He looked to his master, who he had set down when they reached the forest.

"Perhaps I should advance to their castle alone. Or perhaps we should go there swiftly and see whatever... if there is anything at this point to expect, they have ready for us. We may miss something, or perhaps a more normal walk there would give you time to think and realize something, but it might be best for us to move with my speed and get the full picture of the Einzbern's holding swiftly. It is possible that even if they do not have a servant here right now that they will finally send one after all."

Nothing.

It was an oddly common occurrence, although, as she thought on it, not an altogether unexpected one. The divide between their sides and their conditions of victory should have been clear from the start, so it would make sense that they would abandon any place that was not essential. In the end, they had come to plunder this land while the enemy was out to defend their treasure, so one should think it reasonable to concentrate wholly on that which would aid in such efforts.

Apparently the problem was simply that they had been walking blindly around the city and all their guesses had been phenomenally wrong, in the end. The Tohsaka Manor would have been a far reach considering the family’s history—or lack of thereof, more accurately—whereas the Matous had been a shot in the dark they had missed, although at least they had gained some interesting information and the conversation had not been unpleasant.

But if anything, she would have guessed they would have rallied here. It was a reasonable expectation, considering just who the owners of this little slice of land were, and their name alone instilled more caution in her than all the others put together—for a reason, of course.
Of this entire War, they were indeed what could be said to be the ‘known factor’. So it was interesting to see they also had not rallied here, though maybe they had also thought it much too obvious. Ah, well.

It was with those thoughts in mind that she paid heed to Saber’s own words as they made their way through the area, the trees providing shade from the morning rays of sunlight. Stopping for a second, she placed her hand on one of them—feeling the rough bark under her fingers as she thought about the proposal, and discreetly using the chance to rest her feet, because heels were not made for this sort of terrain.

“. . .Together, perhaps,” She decided, in the end. “But nonetheless, I recommend caution, Saber. If it comes down to it, I trust your capabilities, but I also trust those doll-makers to be a crafty lot. With any luck, we will get some interesting insights out of this journey and more. . .in fact, I think I might already have some.”

Not the Tohsaka Manor, not the Matou Manor and if this place wasn’t it, either. . .well, at least they had managed to narrow the list down to one obvious spot. It wasn’t the best way to go about it, but it would be useful, at least.

“Now then, let’s go. . .is what I want to say, but really, they could have stood to make a clearer path for guests, couldn’t they?” Sighing, she withdrew her hand and started walking again. At the very least, she seemed to be in a talkative mood—perhaps she was just a morning person, perhaps a night's sleep was what she needed after the previous day.

Maybe both.

@Yukitamas

"Crafty," he snorted, whiskers bobbing up and down. Saber began to walk a bit ahead of Janicka, stomping ahead at a pace that broke away from their united march. Twigs and branches broke under his feet that stomped through them, smashing and splintering them.

“Crafty is one thing, master. But at this rate I fear I might never get the chance to do what I am meant to do. Gods forbid that there is a war that does not hold any battle.” Saber came to a stop, an exasperated sigh bringing his large shoulders to sink and relax. His bestial and yet noble face peeked into Janicka’s view, his head craning over his shoulder to show off a wry smile. “I am not Rider, but you do not have to be like him to think this silly”

...And if that is the case surely there were some on the opposing side who saw this as a ridiculous game too. Would they gleefully fight when the time finally comes? Would they stand their ground dutifully? or would they fight like cornered rats, all other options pushed away until they must finally fight?

Even if their light were to shine brighter, even if their light were to burn out their own he would wish to see them glow as well.But he was confident. He was confident, even split into two that he would shine as an equal. Yet he could slowly only come to expect a group of flighty spinsters at this rate. Surely with such lack of conviction clearly displayed their reasons for fighting, and for victory were silly and small.

Ah, but his own reason for fighting was a bit silly wasn’t it? Perhaps that was why he had a master too… A master to him was more than simply an anchor, it was a strong reason to fight, a strong reason to win, a strong reason to be what he truly was.

He reached out to take her in his grasp again like before.

“I do not think they will have any spare slippers for you to comfortably slip into. But let’s go anyway.”

She was an odd master who did not bring too much direction at times. But at least they could agree that they hardly wished to grow lean on scraps and leftovers. With his master in hand Saber rushed through the forest, hoping that there would be something of substance that would be worth their time at the castle.

D1-P4

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”Two beings are in the forest.” Speaking suddenly while watching the process, Uva stood up and seemed to bolt to return to where her servant was. If anything this was somewhat urgent. The sound of her steps carried surprisingly far as she as she moved, making haste to return to the surface. If it was a servant there was the possibility they'd arrive before she got up there, which would disastrous. Possibly not considering who was up there but it was still a concern of hers. And there was always the possibility things would go even worse than she was assuming as well.

Once she arrived though she would immediately just repeat what she said for everyone to hear. ”Two beings are in the forest. Prepare for contact.” Spitting it out quickly, with an additional line added, she seemed to be tying her hair up a bit as if mentally preparing herself for a confrontation. She was aware she wasn't the one who'd be fighting but that kind of thing seemed to help her collect her thoughts.

Placing herself right before the temple itself, she made sure to not wander over to the gate. Though the gate might have been the correct choice seeing as they had entered the forest instead. She couldn't stop the smirk rising to her face when she thought about it. A servant entering through the forest meant she'd finally get to see what these Servants could do, thus a small voice in her gave it's hope that it was an enemy Servant indeed.