Chapter 118: Declaring War on the Clock Tower

[In the Clock Tower, a burly man strode down the halls, his heavy footsteps echoing through the corridor. The passing students glanced at him nervously, their faces pale with fear.]

[The man had three deep scars across his face, his features weathered and fierce. He wore a black jacket that clung to his muscular frame, hinting at his raw physical strength. His dark sunglasses and imposing presence made him seem more like a street thug than a magus.]

Zhang Jiao: "This man…!"

Zhang Jiao's expression shifted slightly as he recognized this man in the Necromancy card.

Lionheart: "This person is me. Do you know me?"

Zhang Jiao: "No… no, I don't think so."

Tohsaka Rin: "This guy… is he really a magus?"

Tohsaka Tokiomi: "You can't always judge a magus by appearances."

It wasn't hard to understand Rin's reaction. Sisigou's rugged and mercenary-like demeanor made even someone like Kiritsugu seem refined in comparison.

Tohsaka Tokiomi: "Ah, forgive me. That's not what I meant."

Lionheart: "It's fine. I'm used to it. People always say things like that."

[As he walked through the hallway, Sisigou bumped into a blond-haired young man at a corner. Instead of flinching or avoiding him like the others, the young man greeted him with enthusiasm.]

["Are you looking for something? You seem a bit out of place here."]

[Sisigou didn't waste any time. "Where can I find the office of Rocco Belfeban, deputy director of the Spirit Evocation Department?"]

[The young man nodded eagerly. "Oh, I'll take you there!"]

El-Melloi II: "Wait… Flat?" (T/N: The Goat)

Waver: "You know him?"

El-Melloi II: "You'll meet him eventually. You can't not meet him…"

["Ah, the necromancer has finally arrived," a voice greeted as Sisigou stepped into the office.]

[Inside was an elderly man with white hair and round glasses. He wore an immaculately pressed suit, his demeanor calm and welcoming. This was Rocco Belfeban.]

["What do you want from me?" Sisigou cut straight to the point, his tone direct and unbothered by pleasantries.]

[Rocco smiled faintly, as if he had anticipated such bluntness. "Tell me, how much do you know about the Holy Grail War in Fuyuki City?"]

[Sisigou frowned. "Of course I know about it. But that system collapsed long ago."]

["Yes, during the Third Holy Grail War…"]

[Rocco proceeded to recount the events of the Third War in Fuyuki City. His tone grew serious as he reached the key details.]

[Sisigou listened quietly, and when Locke was finished, he asked, "So, what exactly do you want me to do?"]

[Rocco folded his hands together, his expression now entirely serious. "Don't be impatient. I'll get to the point."]

["Three months ago, the Greater Holy Grail was finally located."]

[Sisigou's eyes narrowed. "Located? You mean someone found it?"]

["No… it would be more accurate to say it was announced by the person who had been hiding it all along."]

[Rocco handed a file to Sisigou. It contained detailed information, along with a photograph of Darnic Prestone Yggdmillennia.]

Kayneth: "Darnic?! So it's you, that Nazi magus!"

Darnic: "That's right."

Tohsaka Tokiomi: "You stole the Holy Grail that my family has protected for generations!"

Darnic: "The victor is king. That's an eternal truth throughout history."

Tohsaka Tokiomi: "You…"

[Sisigou examined the photograph and let out a small, bitter chuckle. "Darnic, huh? That man hasn't changed at all in sixty years."]

[Rocco leaned back slightly. "He's delving into immortality—fusion with the souls of infants, for example."]

[Sisigou's face darkened. "That's madness. No soul, especially one so young, could retain its original personality after such a process."]

[Rocco sighed heavily. "Darnic doesn't care about that. As long as he can maintain his position as the head of the Yggdmillennia clan, he's willing to sacrifice anything—even his own humanity."]

Irisviel: "Soul fusion… immortality… is something like that even possible?"

Darnic: "It is. This is the Third Magic—Heaven's Feel. It's a process perfected by the Einzbern family."

Kayneth: "You're insane. Do you have any idea what kind of monster you might become?"

Darnic: "For the sake of my ideals, losing a bit of my humanity is a trivial price to pay."

[Rocco's voice grew grave. "Darnic's announcement wasn't just about possessing the Greater Grail. He's declared outright rebellion against the Clock Tower. He's forming his own organization, independent of its authority."]

[Sisigou leaned back, stunned. "…What?!"]

Kayneth: "What arrogance… Darnic, do you think the Holy Grail gives you the right to act without consequence? You're asking for death."

Darnic: "The Clock Tower is a stagnant, corrupt institution. Replacing it is only natural."

[Rocco continued calmly, "Darnic may have been dismissed as a second-rate magus in the past, dabbling in shallow disciplines like Kabbalah, alchemy, and witchcraft. But he's mastered each to a first-rate level, making him extremely dangerous."]

["The Yggdmillennia clan isn't a family bound by blood. Instead, they've absorbed anyone willing to join their banner. Quantity over quality—that's their approach. It makes them unpredictable."]

["In fact, it's highly likely that members of the Yggdmillennia clan are already operating undercover in the Clock Tower."]

["In other words, it'll be nearly impossible to act against them without tipping them off."]

[Sisigou frowned. "Then the solution seems obvious, replace the Masters they've selected before the war begins."]

[Rocco shook his head. "We thought of that, but it's too late."]

["We sent fifty elite magi from the Punishment Force to deal with them. Only one returned alive."]

[Sisigou froze. "…They were killed by Servants, weren't they?"]

[Rocco nodded grimly. "Yes."]

Waver: "This is why magi can't compete with Heroic Spirits. In the face of legends, we're just… human."

[Sisigou exhaled slowly. "I see. So you want me to become one of the Masters?"]

["No," Rocco corrected. "We want you to lead the Red Faction and fight against Yggdmillennia's Black Faction in the coming war."]

["Wait… what?" Sisigou blinked, confused.]

[Rocco explained, "The Holy Grail has a safeguard against what Darnic has done. It won't allow one faction to monopolize all seven Servants. When this happens, the system activates a reserve mechanism—summoning seven additional Servants to oppose them."]

["So… fourteen Servants?" Sisigou muttered. "That's unprecedented."]

[Rocco nodded. "Yggdmillennia already knows about this. They've agreed to a new set of rules. The winning faction of this 'camp battle' will claim the right to conduct the Holy Grail War properly."]

["A Holy Grail War between factions…" Sisigou mused. "That name… it fits."]

[Rocco leaned forward. "So, what do you say?"]

[Sisigou's expression turned thoughtful. "I have two questions first."]

["Go ahead," Rocco said, gesturing for him to continue.]

["First, summoning a Servant requires a relic as a catalyst. Do you have one prepared?"]

["Of course," Rocco replied confidently.]

[He reached into a drawer and pulled out a carefully wrapped object, which he handed over to Sisigou.]

[Sisigou unwrapped it and revealed a fragment of wood. His eyes immediately narrowed.]

Rebellious Knight: "This…!"

Lancelot: "It's unmistakable…"

Artoria: "Fragments of the Round Table."

[As Sisigou held the relic in his hand, a tense silence settled over the room.]

Artoria's gaze lingered on the piece, her expression solemn.

Memories of the Round Table—once united but eventually broken flooded her mind. It wasn't just the table that had fractured; it was the ideals, the bonds, and the trust between its knights.

Lancelot: "My King…"

Kayneth: "Fragments of the Round Table? Do you realize how valuable such a relic is? Even my request to use it was denied."

Artifacts tied to the Knights of the Round Table were considered some of the rarest and most sought-after relics within the Clock Tower.

[Sisigou let out a small grunt of acknowledgment, carefully rewrapping the fragment. "This will do. It's certainly potent enough."]

[He glanced at Rocco and continued, "Second question—who are the other six Masters on our side?"]

["Don't worry," Rocco assured him. "They are all top-class magi."]

["The first is Feend vor Sembren, a first-class lecturer at the Clock Tower."]

["Next is Rottweil Berzinsky, known as the 'Silver Lizard.' Although unemployed, his magical capabilities are undeniable."]

["We also have the Pentel brothers. Despite their eccentricities, their teamwork is unparalleled."]

["Then there's the Windwheel Magus, Jean Rum."]

[Rocco paused, raising a finger. "These five have already been sent ahead."]

[Sisigou frowned. "That's five. What about the last one?"]

["The final Master is a supervisor sent by the Holy Church. This time, the Church is fully aligning itself with our faction," Rocco explained.]

[Sisigou raised an eyebrow. "Interesting."]

[Rocco continued, "So, what do you say? Are you willing to take this on?"]

[Sisigou scratched the back of his neck, pretending to think it over. He reached into his pocket, briefly pulling out a cigarette, but stopped when he noticed Rocco's subtle grimace.]

[He smirked and tucked the cigarette away. "I'll need some time to consider. Let's say… three minutes."]

[As he leaned back, his eyes wandered over the items displayed in Rocco's office. His gaze stopped on a peculiar object—a young Hydra preserved in formalin, sitting on one of the shelves.]

["That Hydra specimen," Sisigou said abruptly, pointing at the bottle. "If you give it to me as collateral, I'll agree immediately."]

[Rocco's eyes widened slightly. "That's a rather steep demand for a deposit."]

["Well," Sisigou said with a grin, "I'm not sure if I'll even survive tomorrow, so I might as well secure something now."]

[Rocco stared at him for a long moment before letting out a resigned sigh. "…Fine. I'll arrange it. I'll also notify the other Masters and the Church's representative."]

[Sisigou stood up, stretched, and gave Rocco a small wave as he headed for the door.]

["By the way," he said just before stepping out, "who's this supervisor exactly?"]

[Rocco looked up from his desk. "I only know what was provided," Rocco admitted. "His name is Kotomine Shirou—he's a priest."]

***

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