---

---

Gajah Mada held onto her kris tighter, ready to draw it at a moment's notice, as Arachne hostility towards her and Lorenzo became apparent. It was then, that Jan intercede, placing himself between the two.

"Near the center, you say? Wonderful! It seems we have our target, then. Time to get going, I'd say!" Jan declares as he physically interposes himself in the center of the conflict, body blocking both sides from one another as best as he was able. Not moving to defend either, but simply attempting to form a physical wedge to end the stand-off. This.. was actually not new territory for him. While Jan was not politically savvy, he was a friendly enough face that he was able to prevent arguments from escalating. That didn't mean he missed doing it, though.

"Caster, you said you'd be going with us, then? I notice you do not have a vehicle of your own. You're welcome to catch a ride with me on my steed. She isn't as mighty as the Warhorse I once rode, but I find it quite the charming modern vehicle. Ah, of course if you have your own method of transportation I will take no offense." He was of course referring to his electric scooter. A very non-threatening, unimpressive vehicle. Though Shielder might have been aware that Jan had some ability to allow it to go far faster than it ought to have been, since he saw it briefly in action on the way over. "Either way, we ought to conclude the conversation and make our way over. I doubt our newly revealed foes will be content to wait patiently."

Gajah Mada gave Jan a nod of gratitude at his attempt at deescalation. She did not fancy having a fight with Arachne right now, in these circumstances, but given Arachne's disdain of her, exacerbated by her master's provocation, Gajah Mada concluded that were she to attempt saying anything to deescalate, it could probably backfire and incense Arachne further. It was fortunate that Jan saw it fit to intercede.

She then spoke, "I agree with Rider. We should finish up here and make our move toward the anomalous Ghost Liners. Though one last thing..." turning to Arachne she continued, "It wouldn't do for us to charge into danger blindly. Against existences such as ourselves, that is to say, Heroic Spirits, information is key. What can you tell us about them? Any clue of their true identity? Oh, and...give us the name of your class. In honour of our alliance, temporary as it is, I will refer to you with your Class. The declaration from the overseer earlier was intended for all the Servants, and some are not yet here. This way, in the chance they have not figured out your identity, it will remain that way. Consider this an...olive branch in light of our current shared goal, so to speak."

@GubGar@Digmata@Letter Bee

---

In another time, Arachne would simply decide she had enough and pounce, devolving the negotiations into a sudden fight. Maybe she will win or at the very least retreat to fight another day. Fortunately for the two, they are not the only party in the talks.

"Near the center, you say? Wonderful! It seems we have our target, then. Time to get going, I'd say!" Jan declares as he physically interposes himself in the center of the conflict, body blocking both sides from one another as best as he was able. Not moving to defend either, but simply attempting to form a physical wedge to end the stand-off. This.. was actually not new territory for him. While Jan was not politically savvy, he was a friendly enough face that he was able to prevent arguments from escalating. That didn't mean he missed doing it, though.

What was a bit awkward was that while he disapproved of the reveal of their new ally's name, he.. didn't have anything else to refer to her by when speaking to her.

"Ms. Arachne, you said you'd be going with us, then? I notice you do not have a vehicle of your own. You're welcome to catch a ride with me on my steed. She isn't as mighty as the Warhorse I once rode, but I find it quite the charming modern vehicle. Ah, of course if you have your own method of transportation I will take no offense." He was of course referring to his electric scooter. A very non-threatening, unimpressive vehicle. Though Shielder might have been aware that Jan had some ability to allow it to go far faster than it ought to have been, since he saw it briefly in action on the way over. "Either way, we ought to conclude the conversation and make our way over. I doubt our newly revealed foes will be content to wait patiently."

Arachne was still pissed at her name being revealed but Rider has a point, the war is temporarily halted thanks to these ‘corrupted servants’, it would be a horrible idea to forcibly start one now. But she will get back at that barbarian princess for this humiliation, she swears on her pride because swearing for gods is a horrible idea.

“I suppose I’ll take your offer Rider, swinging around the city is pretty tiring.” she answers as she looks at his colorful steed. It wasn’t anything like a magnificent beast of her time but humanity had made an amusing but interesting replacement. If she survived this war, she would try learning how to ride one. She is beginning to like the old man, he might be a little naive and his intelligence can be a little higher but his transparency and earnestness is a refreshing contrast to her enmity in Saber.

He could trust Rider to be simple but Saber is a threat that had foiled her at every turn. She must have a skill based on observation, very likely a god given one.

She then spoke, "I agree with Rider. We should finish up here and make our move toward the anomalous Ghost Liners. Though one last thing..." turning to Arachne she continued, "It wouldn't do for us to charge into danger blindly. Against existences such as ourselves, that is to say, Heroic Spirits, information is key. What can you tell us about them? Any clue of their true identity? Oh, and...give us the name of your class. In honour of our alliance, temporary as it is, I will refer to you with your Class. The declaration from the overseer earlier was intended for all the Servants, and some are not yet here. This way, in the chance they have not figured out your identity, it will remain that way. Consider this an...olive branch in light of our current shared goal, so to speak."

“Caster.” the greatest weaver in history spoke in a frigid tone, she hates that Saber’s request is a good idea but she will take the olive branch. There is a clear understanding that it is only temporary and they will return to the war the moment it restarts.

“Let’s go deal with these intruders, let’s make it quick.”

@GubGar@Randomguy@Letter Bee

The night was dark. Enough to suffocate the world itself with the sheer lack of light. It was as if the moon and sun had been removed from the Earth’s view, leaving it in complete, cold darkness. Its source? The Ghost Liner that had traveled to the middle of the city, to where it sensed its first victim to be.

Meanwhile, up in his ivory tower, the Lord of the Clocktower observed through familiars the entity that had just emerged from the shadows. Of course, he was afraid - not that he would admit it. The message from the Overseers meant that whatever it was that entered his territory was something that not even his Servant alone could deal with.

But before he could even hope to change anything, something shifted in the bounded fields that he had casted over the high-rise hotel. It was not subtle at all. An abrupt, erratic change in the air that shook him to the core. He was sweating now, a cold chill running up his spine.

It had entered the hotel. That by itself was cause for concern - if not downright panic - however, what came with it was even worse. Countless humans had become distorted, shifted into something abominable, their souls twisted into an alien form. From what he gathered, it was similar to the curse of the Dead Apostles, yet so much different from them.

“Fellow participants…” His voice was shaky, an audible tremble to it.

“...one of the Ghost Liners has entered my workshop. I am sending you the coordinates of my workshop immediately…” It was abundantly clear that the man was afraid, even from the familiars that he used to communicate with the others and the Overseers.

Upon hearing this news, the Overseers immediately opened up their communications: “Attention all participants of the War: the first Ghost Liner has been spotted in the workshop of one of the participants. The coordinates shall be sent to you shortly.” And with that, the location of the Lord’s workshop was relayed to the rest of the participants. Hopefully, he would somehow keep his pride, the Lord thought to himself.

But in the darkness near the workshop, something else emerged, a being cloaked in corrupted light that sought to destroy the one that had tried to kill it. It was the second Ghost Liner that had emerged, and it simply watched what was to occur in silent observation.

“Interesting…”