Inside the World Serpent headquarters, Gray Serpent raised his right hand as he watched the figure appear before him, traversing space.
Seeing his action, Raven, who was behind him preparing to raise the Seven Thunders of Absolution in her hand, stopped her movement.
"I didn't expect Lord himself to deliver it."
To Gray Serpent's words, Takatsuki simply tossed the contract over.
Under the effect of Hamon, a flimsy piece of white paper became as hard as an iron plate.
Gray Serpent caught the contract document Takatsuki threw with one hand. His scarlet single eye scanned the contents, then he said, "I'd like to make a deal with Lord."
"Not interested."
Takatsuki coldly rejected Gray Serpent's proposal, directly repeating what he had said to others before.
"The information has been conveyed."
After speaking, Takatsuki disappeared from their sight.
After Takatsuki disappeared, Gray Serpent turned to look at the masked Hu Lang behind him.
"Don't look at me, I tried to seal off this area's Honkai Energy and its connection to the imaginary space, but it had no effect on him at all."
World Serpent's technology was entirely derived from Honkai Energy technology, so in their perception, Honkai Energy was the most versatile energy in the world.
Therefore, simply being able to restrict Honkai Energy could restrict most people.
The Previous Era had countless techniques for sealing Honkai Energy or herrscher cores, but these techniques were completely useless against Takatsuki just now.
"It seems that wasn't the Herrscher of the Void's authority after all."
Gray Serpent thought, looking in the direction Takatsuki disappeared.
The obvious space-traversing ability just now, he initially thought it belonged to the Herrscher of the Void, but now it seemed it wasn't.
"In that case… Raven, this mission is yours."
Gray Serpent and his group had their own plans. Although the Holy Grail War was an unexpected development, he wouldn't abandon the preparation of the Stigmata Project. For now, only Raven had no other tasks.
Actually, there was a better candidate.
However, considering the other party's unstable state of constantly disappearing and appearing, Gray Serpent gave up.
"Understood, but if we win, what wish should we make?"
Raven didn't care. Although the Holy Grail War was dangerous, as a mercenary, what mission wasn't dangerous?
"The wish and the summoned Servant, let the Honored Lord decide."
Although Kevin was confined in the Sea of Quanta, World Serpent was not without means to communicate with the Sea of Quanta.
Each communication was troublesome and only occurred when there were important matters, but this Holy Grail War was an important event that could change the world.
...
Meanwhile, Takatsuki, who had delivered three contract documents in ten minutes, returned to St. Freya Academy and handed the last contract to Kiana.
This made Theresa, who was beside him, widen her eyes.
"Takatsuki, you still say you didn't pull strings? Why did Kiana get the qualification?"
"How would I know."
Takatsuki rolled his eyes, "If you don't believe me, you can ask Hestia. Kiana's level of desire really ranks in the top three in the world."
Hestia, who was sitting on the sofa with her mouth full, looked up, nodded at the gazes cast upon her, and then swallowed what was in her mouth.
"Takatsuki-kun is telling the truth, it really was a shock."
Takatsuki: "Actually, there's a reason for this. After all, this selection isn't based on power or influence, but purely on the degree of inner desire. The purer it is, the higher the ranking. Even a slight doubt will significantly reduce the level of desire."
"Any distrust of the Holy Grail, or fear of death in the Holy Grail War, even a little bit of it would almost directly disqualify someone. So, Kiana, who knows the inside story, has a high chance of being chosen."
Even those who have nothing, and wish to use the Holy Grail as a last resort, most of them only approach it with a 'let's try it' attitude.
But it is precisely this attitude that prevents them from being chosen.
Therefore, Takatsuki was surprised that Cocolia was chosen. After all, her selection meant that she firmly believed the Holy Grail could grant her wish and was willing to give everything for it, even her life.
She didn't even consider a fallback.
Although Cocolia's current situation is much worse than before, it hasn't reached the point where she can't live and has to risk everything, has it?
That's why Takatsuki was surprised when he saw Cocolia.
After hearing Takatsuki's explanation, the others still looked at Kiana with some surprise, greatly satisfying Kiana's vanity.
"Perhaps it's because Kiana's mind is pure and her brain is simple, leading her to be too single-minded, which is why she was chosen."
"That's right, it's because I's mind is pure and her brain... Who are you calling simple-minded?!"
Kiana nodded while repeating, only realizing something was off halfway through.
This caused a burst of laughter from everyone.
"Alright, alright. Though Kiana might be simple-minded like a paramecium, I think she had such a strong desire because she wanted to help Durandal."
Amidst Kiana's somewhat displeased "I'm not a paramecium" protest, Durandal walked over and patted Kiana's head.
"Kiana, thank you."
Although they are sisters, carved from the same gene, when they stand together, Durandal is a bit taller than Kiana, making them look like sisters with several years' age difference. It's unclear if it's due to malnutrition or some other reason.
"I'm not doing it for Big Sister. I will achieve the final victory and then make a wish."
Kiana said with a hint of tsundere.
"Then what wish does Kiana want to make?"
Kiana became a bit embarrassed upon hearing this question.
"I want to..."
"Resurrect Mom... The Holy Grail can do that, right?"
"Although I don't have memories of that period, I already know what happened then. Mom, she... it was because of me..."
Kiana was interrupted halfway through by Durandal's action.
Though they should be the same age, there was a clear physical difference between them. Kiana's white-haired head was held against Durandal's chest. Rather than two sisters embracing, it felt more like a mother and daughter.
"It's okay, Kiana, this isn't your fault. I've already taught the culprit a lesson just now."
Durandal, holding Kiana, recalled her recent experience of beating Otto at Schicksal, even feeling that she had hit him too lightly.
"If you're not satisfied, then we'll go beat Otto up again. Anyway, he has plenty of spare bodies, so a few more beatings won't matter."
As expected of Durandal's mindset, solving everything with violence, even when in a bad mood.
However, beating Otto was not urgent for the time being. What was more important for the two sisters now was to perform the summoning ritual and make up for years of regret.