"So, this time's reward..."
Inside World Serpent, Raven, wearing a hood, looked at the familiar figure in front of her.
Although the figure in front of her was identical to the one who took her away when she was a child, she clearly knew that this Gray Serpent was one with a number she didn't know.
"Don't worry, you won't be shortchanged on the reward."
"Then I'm relieved. So, regarding the Holy Grail mentioned above, what wish should we make?"
Although a World Serpent cadre, Raven worked for World Serpent as a mercenary.
"While I'm happy you're confident in winning, let's talk about this question after we win."
Raven looked at the Gray Serpent, number unknown, in front of her with a look of doubt.
"You're not interested in this Holy Grail?"
"That's the so-called omnipotent wish-granting machine."
Gray Serpent was unmoved by Raven's doubt: "Since that's the case, the right to make the wish will be yours. Consider it as a reward for your hard work."
"..."
Raven looked at Gray Serpent in disbelief, but the other party was an android, so naturally, she couldn't discern anything from that metal head with only one electronic eye.
"Coincidentally, don't you also want to find your brother? And those children you adopted."
Gray Serpent's words silenced Raven.
"Alright, since you've said so, don't regret it."
Both her brother and the orphans she adopted were people Raven cared about.
Although she hoped her brother wasn't dead, her rationality told her that no one could survive in such circumstances, especially since her brother was just an ordinary child.
This was also why she had never asked Gray Serpent to help her find her brother.
Before knowing the answer, there would still be that little bit of hope.
But after knowing the answer, all that remained was despair.
Even if her rationality knew, human sentimentality still made her choose self-deception and not think about it.
"However, the summoned Servant needs to obey World Serpent's arrangements."
Raven showed a look of understanding. She knew it; how could Gray Serpent be so kind?
Gray Serpent never did anything without certainty.
Winning against the other six was no easy task. Although World Serpent's technology was advanced, other organizations were not weak, especially the organization that created the Holy Grail War.
Even World Serpent wasn't entirely confident of victory.
After all, a serpent exerts its greatest power by hiding in the shadows and striking unexpectedly.
So they set their sights on the summoned Servant.
Are they going to summon some special existence?
"Alright, alright, who should we summon then?"
Raven didn't care about this. If they summoned a super weak Servant, they would just surrender anyway, as losing a Servant meant losing qualification.
Are they planning to summon a researcher?
Raven had entered Elysian Realm and knew that there were strong individuals from the Previous Era called Flame-Chasers, including a scientist she didn't even want to recall.
If they were to summon that guy... should she ask Gray Serpent for more compensation?
As Raven was thinking this, Gray Serpent had already answered.
"You'll have to ask."
"Me ask?"
Raven didn't understand, but Gray Serpent had already explained.
"The Honored One has no desire for the Holy Grail, so He lets His former companions decide who to summon."
"Elysian Realm has been opened for you. Go for another trip, Raven, and bring out the Holy Relic needed for the summoning."
Elysian Realm, located underground, didn't just contain memories.
Some relics of the Flame-Chasers were also stored there.
"Got it, got it. I really don't know what for."
Although she said this, Raven's movements were not slow at all; she walked directly towards Elysian Realm underground.
Passing through the narrow passage, Raven once again saw that familiar place.
Elysian Realm...
A space of memories formed by memory data.
Although it was just data and memories, the things experienced within Elysian Realm were real.
The powers of those Flame-Chasers were also substantial, without any falsehood.
The only difference from reality was that they would never change, because they were just a record left behind from the past.
And this place was also World Serpent's trial ground for its cadres.
Almost every official member of World Serpent had been here.
However, the Flame-Chasers each person had seen here were not entirely the same. Raven didn't know how many Flame-Chasers there were in Elysian Realm; at least, Gray Serpent had no interest in introducing them to her.
"Welcome, Miss Raven."
The first to appear before Raven was the Flame-Chasers she was most familiar with and had the best relationship with in Elysian Realm, Sakura.
Looking at those ears, which she couldn't tell if they were rabbit or fox, Raven also greeted Sakura: "Long time no see, Sakura."
"Are you here to participate in the trial this time?"
Only after passing the Flame-Chasers's trial and gaining their recognition could one obtain the Flame-Chasers's Stigma.
And the Stigma of Sakura in front of her was the earliest one Raven obtained.
It wasn't that Sakura was weak; she was just easier to talk to and had the best relationship compared to the other Flame-Chasers she had met.
However, this time Raven came with a mission.
"No, let's talk about the trial next time. Gray Serpent asked me to ask you all who should participate in the Holy Grail War."
"Holy Grail War?"
Sakura naturally hadn't heard of this term, but Raven knew this and roughly explained the Holy Grail War and Heroic Spirits to Sakura.
"Gray Serpent said that as long as it's not a living Flame-Chasers, anyone can be summoned, but the Honored One wants you all to decide for yourselves."
"Kevin, huh... But I'm not clear about Heroic Spirits and the Holy Grail War. Perhaps I should ask others."
Sakura nodded, half-understanding: "Miss Raven, please wait here for a moment. I'll go find the others."
As a mercenary, Raven could control her curiosity well.
Although she was very curious about how many Flame-Chasers there were in Elysian Realm, she wouldn't run around looking for them.
After all, although it was the organization of World Serpent's founder, there were still many dangerous individuals, and the one who left her with the biggest shadow was Mobius of the Infinity Stigma.
"Okay, I'll leave it to you then. I'll wait for your good news here."
Raven sat down directly on the sofa in the main hall of Elysian Realm, watching Sakura enter the interior of Elysian Realm.