Even though it was high noon, the temperature seemed to drop a few degrees the moment Assassin appeared.
"Ah! Assassin, it's you again!" Waver screamed, tumbling right off the sofa in sheer terror.
Iskandar, however, merely picked up his wine glass with perfect composure and took a sip. His gaze burned like a torch as he stared at the dark figure. "Oh? Crashing the party uninvited again? It hasn't even been a day and you're already back to bother us. What is your business here?"
"If you have come for my head, your skills are somewhat lacking."
The original plan to use Assassin's faked death to monitor everyone from the shadows had been completely abandoned. Now, Tokiomi intended to make it abundantly clear to everyone that even the Holy Church stood on his side.
"King of Conquerors, Iskandar." Assassin's voice was hoarse and hollow.
"The ally of my master, the King of Heroes, Gilgamesh, invites you to the courtyard of the Einzbern Castle tonight."
"The Banquet of Kings shall be held there."
"Oh?" Iskandar raised an eyebrow. "That golden, glittering fellow? Heh, how interesting."
"Still, does he really have the right to host a banquet in someone else's castle? Hahaha, I suppose that is the audacity of a king!"
Deep within the forest, at the Einzbern Castle.
Although the afternoon sun shone brightly, it still could not pierce the gloom surrounding the ancient fortress.
Artoria Pendragon stood alone on the castle balcony, gazing out at the distant city that had been ravaged by the fires of war the previous night.
She gripped her invisible sword, her brow slightly furrowed.
"Saber," Kiritsugu Emiya's voice called out from behind her.
The man always walked without making a sound, much like a ghost.
Artoria turned around to face the true mastermind behind her summoning. "Good afternoon, Master."
"Do you have any orders?"
Kiritsugu did not look at her. Instead, he walked to the edge of the balcony on his own and lit a cigarette.
"Last night in the residential district, why did you let that Avenger go?"
Kiritsugu exhaled a ring of smoke, his eyes as calm as a pool of stagnant water. "That was the perfect opportunity... Kayneth was severely injured, Lancer was tied up, and Avenger was exhausted."
"If you had struck then, you could have easily killed Avenger right there."
The previous night, he had tailed the furious Kayneth, discovered Asuka's location, and witnessed the ensuing battle.
He had summoned Artoria, intending to work with her to assassinate either Avenger or Kayneth, but she had outright refused him.
"I refuse to fight an unjust war." Artoria's answer was just as resolute as it had been the night before.
"Given the circumstances last night, Avenger had exhausted himself protecting his Master and the civilians. To strike him down then would be a desecration of chivalry."
"Chivalry..." Kiritsugu let out a contemptuous scoff. "Can such a thing save the world?"
He had even considered using a Command Spell to force Artoria's hand, but ultimately decided against it.
Influenced by his Master, this Avenger was far from being an overwhelming threat.
Reserving the power of the Command Spells for Archer or that mysterious Caster was the optimal strategy.
"Saber, you must understand that this is not a mere duel. This is a war."
Kiritsugu turned his head, fixing his emotionless eyes on Artoria. "War has only one purpose, and that is to eliminate the enemy. To achieve that goal, it matters not whether the methods are honorable."
"That is the path of wickedness!"
Artoria could not help but take a step forward, her emerald eyes blazing with fury. "If we pursue victory by any means necessary, then how are we any different from beasts that only know how to slaughter? If the realization of justice must be built upon despicable schemes, then such justice is utterly worthless!"
Kiritsugu flicked the ash from his cigarette, a flicker of exhaustion and disappointment passing through his eyes.
"You are a noble king, but it is precisely because of that nobility that you failed to save your country."
"I hope this is the only time. You are not to disobey my orders again."
Artoria clenched her fists. Those words pierced the most tender scar in her heart like a sharp knife.
Just as the atmosphere between the two dropped to a freezing point, Irisviel ran over in a slight panic.
"Kiritsugu! We... we have guests!"
At the main gates of the castle, several figures wearing skull masks stood silently.
"Lady Einzbern, and the Saber-class Servant," the leading Assassin bowed slightly. "We wish to borrow your grounds for tonight."
"The King of Heroes extends his invitation."
Night fell.
The courtyard garden of the Einzbern Castle was now enveloped in a bizarre atmosphere.
A massive barrel of wine had been boldly placed in the center of the courtyard by Iskandar.
"Hahaha! So this is the wine of this country? Though the taste is a bit mild, it certainly has its own unique charm!"
The King of Conquerors smashed the lid of the barrel open with a single punch, scooped up a ladleful of wine, and gulped it down, letting out a satisfied sigh.
Opposite him, Artoria sat upright in her blue knight's attire, her expression solemn.
And situated above the two of them, Gilgamesh sat upon a golden throne that had materialized at some unknown point, looking down upon the two Heroic Spirits from his high vantage point.
"Hmph, does this inferior swill even deserve to be called wine?"
Gilgamesh looked at the ladle in Iskandar's hand with a face full of disgust.
"Since this is a Banquet of Kings, how can it lack a fine wine worthy of a king's status?"
As his words fell, golden ripples spread across the empty space behind him.
An exquisitely crafted golden wine set, along with a bottle of premium wine exuding a rich and mellow aroma, slowly emerged.
It was a treasure from the Age of Gods. Even the faintest trace of its escaping fragrance was enough to drive any modern drunkard mad with desire.
"Ohoho! Now this is truly something special!" Iskandar's eyes lit up, and he unceremoniously accepted the wine cup Gilgamesh handed him.
The three kings sat beneath the moonlight, exchanging cups and drinking together.
"Still, Goldie, while your wine and cups are quite nice, they can't compare to the Holy Grail."
"Why are you fighting for the Holy Grail? Do you have some grand wish you want to fulfill?"
Gilgamesh scoffed coldly without even batting an eyelid. "Hmph, what do you mean 'fighting for the Holy Grail'? The Holy Grail is already my property."
"Oh? You claim the Holy Grail is your property. Isn't that a bit too arrogant? Are you saying you once possessed it?"
The King of Heroes raised his chin slightly, his tone dripping with an absolute, domineering certainty. "I do not know. Do not try to fathom the depths of my treasury with your shallow mind."
"The origins of all the treasures in this world can be traced back to my vault. Since this so-called Holy Grail is a treasure, it must naturally be just another lost item from my countless collections."
"Since I have personally descended upon this land, it is only right that it returns to the hands of its original owner."
"Therefore, what you call 'fighting for the Holy Grail' is nothing more than attempting to steal from my vault."
Hearing him say this, Artoria and Iskandar exchanged a glance and shook their heads with helpless smiles.
The King of Knights took a small sip of her wine. "Your words truly make no sense."
"Then let me ask you, King of Conquerors. Once you obtain the Holy Grail, what wish do you intend to fulfill?"
Caught off guard by the sudden question, Iskandar actually rubbed his cheek in a somewhat embarrassed manner.
"Heheh... I want a physical body."