"It seems... not only five Servants have appeared, but also those two troublesome existences."
"According to the information, it has been confirmed that the man is the new King of Britain, Moran Edelfelt Pendragon. The other woman, if I’m not mistaken, she is probably the True Ancestor Princess Arcueid Brunestud who appeared in various countries some time ago."
The female reporter said to the man in the main seat.
The man is one of the people behind the scenes of the Holy Grail War.
His name is Orlando Reeve, the police chief of Snowfield City, and also a magus.
Earlier, he had just finished talking on the phone with his Servant.
That is, Alexandre Dumas.
The Servant summoned by Orlando, Dumas, is a writer-type Servant with no combat ability.
He was recorded in the Throne of Heroes by virtue of his literary achievements.
Now, he appears in the world as a Heroic Spirit.
Dumas’s job is to write false stories for his master Orlando, and strive to sublimate those false Noble Phantasms, or even surpass the real ones.
In this way, the power of the "Twenty-Eight Monsters" police group belonging to Orlando is enhanced.
These twenty-eight people are both Orlando’s confidant subordinates in the police station, and his disciples taught as a magus.
That’s right, the path Orlando chose is—
To allow human beings to use Noble Phantasms that can surpass the original, in order to defeat those Heroic Spirits.
This is not an impossible thing.
Even Moran would find it very interesting.
This is a path that ordinary Masters would not choose, and it is also a path with considerable potential.
Heroic Spirits are stories of human achievements in the past.
But can’t the humans of today become future Heroic Spirits?
Humans themselves have infinite possibilities!
If past legends are combined with present miracles, then surpassing Heroic Spirits who are "only from the past" is definitely not impossible!
"Justice, huh~ You can really say that, newbie~"
In the room, there is a girl who appears to be fifteen years old.
She is wearing a Gothic Lolita-style outfit based on white and black, and despite being indoors, she is holding an overly decorated umbrella.
After Orlando gave a pre-battle speech called "Justice," the girl came to this room during a break.
"Speaking of which, it’s simply a masterpiece! You’re one of the masterminds behind this Holy Grail War, yet you’re telling those hot-blooded rookies that you are justice!
Such exquisite acting, if I were a judge for the Golden Raspberry Awards, I would definitely give you the Best Actor award without hesitation!"
The girl sits on Orlando’s desk.
She twirls her umbrella while giggling as if she’s throwing a tantrum, looking quite cheerful.
This girl, no, calling her a girl isn’t accurate.
In fact, her identity is that of an old monster who has lived since the Hundred Years’ War in France, hundreds of years old.
Her original name was François Prelati.
He was a close friend who gifted Marshal Gilles de Rais of France with a city-destroying textbook, and also the mastermind behind Joan of Arc’s execution by burning.
Now, she uses a disguised name—Francesca.
Francesca’s previous body was male.
Unfortunately, she was too talkative and called Touko Aozaki "Scarred Red " to her face.
The result was obvious.
The Grand-ranked puppeteer dismembered her on the spot.
However, due to Francesca’s hard-to-kill nature, the matter ended without resolution.
Francesca had to change her body because of this.
Since then, she has transformed from male to female.
"I’m just stating the facts.
Besides, I wouldn’t say that our justice is the same for the Holy Grail. Depending on how things develop, we may be at odds not only with the Association and the Church, but also with the Holy Grail War system itself."
Orlando doesn’t pay attention to Francesca’s antics.
His words are more like he’s saying them to himself.
"Don’t worry, there won’t be any mediators coming to this Holy Grail War. Because it was a defective product from the start! It’s already heretical~! There’s no room for mediators to intervene."
".....The defect in the Saber seat?"
"That’s right, it wouldn’t matter even if it became real. You know it too, right? The king and princess in this Holy Grail War~!"
The cheerful smile on her face is innocent.
"These two are the biggest problems, right?
If those two intend to break the game, then whether it’s our schemes, this Holy Grail War, or Snowfield, they will all disappear in an instant."
This is what Orlando is wary of.
The King of Britain and the True Ancestor Princess possess absolute power.
Presumably, no conspiracy will work.
"There’s no need to worry about that~ That princess and king won’t break the game. Rather, that king will maintain this Holy Grail War and keep it running."
"....What do you mean?"
"Hehe, what if I said I happened to meet him on the street? Although, it felt like I almost died, I still gained a lot~!"
Francesca seems to be having lingering fears.
She covers her chest, putting on a very affected look of fear.
Orlando’s pupils shrink slightly.
He can’t believe that Francesca dared to contact the King of Britain, knowing that he is one of the bombs in Snowfield City.
If she’s not careful, if that king has any intentions,
All of his plans could be ruined.
Since things have come to this, and Francesca has already done it, Orlando can’t pursue the matter any further.
He can only think about staying as far away from this guy as possible from now on.
Lest this lunatic’s blood splatter on him.
Francesca almost died the last time she met Touko Aozaki, and now she actually has the guts to contact the King of Britain.
This is not just walking sideways, it’s practically flying sideways.
"What did he say to you?"
"Nothing much, he just gave me a warning. That great and dazzling king actually called me a clown to my face! How mean~ But, I also confirmed one thing... That king is the same as us in some ways~!"
Francesca reveals a mischievous smile.
It makes Orlando feel uneasy.
"Like us, he is also someone who laughs and wants to manipulate the Holy Grail War and the Third Magic! No, that’s not right, he is already manipulating it! He’s surpassed us and is ahead of us! Amazing! I can only admire him!"
Francesca claps her hands cutely.
She doesn’t care about Moran’s actions at all.
Because Francesca is a pure thrill-seeker, she will let things develop as long as they are interesting.