novelraw Chapter 508 508: Mercenary Tao's Ambition
Chapter 508 508: Mercenary Tao's Ambition
"What was your name again, Juro?"
"Alright Juro, I guess you probably know about those people in the Matou family, wanting to guide the direction of the Holy Grail War to that ending, and then have Tohsaka Rin end everything holding the Jeweled Sword."
"But unfortunately, that kind of thing is already destined not to happen."
Mercenary Tao's words made both Tohsaka Rin and Heroic Spirit Emiya feel baffled, especially Tohsaka Rin. She never knew she had become a link in Juro's plan.
Moreover, a thing like the [Jeweled Sword]... although the Tohsaka family had the so-called blueprint, it was completely not something a human magus could create. That was... True Magic!
Juro's expression was serious. He indeed held this idea.
The strength of their team was similar to that of Cannibal Flower's team, but theoretically, Cannibal Flower's team, backed by Matou Sakura who could turn dark at any time, had a more advantageous strength than them.
They could only choose to rely on their advantage of knowing the plot, making Tohsaka Rin cooperate with Emiya Shirou. Through Emiya Shirou's projection magecraft, they would find a way to make the [Jeweled Sword] appear, and then Tohsaka Rin could naturally hold the [Jeweled Sword] and slaughter everyone.
Furthermore, a treasure of the level of the [Jeweled Sword], as Reincarnators, who wouldn't have thoughts about it...
Connecting it to Mercenary Tao having already attacked the Matou family mansion, he guessed whether the other party had already killed Matou Sakura.
Kaito Shirogane didn't give him any more intelligence, but suddenly changed the subject, saying:
"White Mask should have contacted you, right?"
Juro was momentarily stunned, his face changing slightly, and he didn't answer.
Kaito Shirogane merely chuckled mockingly.
"I guess White Mask must have promised you quite a lot of things. Even after knowing I appeared, she would tell you that you can ally to hunt me down..."
At this time, another voice coincidentally appeared in the earpiece in Juro's ear.
"Boss, that guy White Mask found us. She contacted us saying she could dispatch Gilgamesh to help us hunt Mercenary Tao..."
Although the voice in Juro's ear was faint, Kaito Shirogane's senses, with his Constitution breaking through 50, were keen enough to clearly hear the number of times a fly flapped its wings.
He merely hooked up the corner of his mouth, looking at Juro.
Juro's face turned pale, and he immediately refused.
"Tell her we have no interest. Tell her to get lost!"
He felt a bit guilty, but Kaito Shirogane didn't care about this.
After choosing to hunt White Mask, he not only paid attention to the Type-Moon world White Mask was going to enter but also specifically collected some of White Mask's various past deeds.
He found that this guy White Mask indeed possessed a considerable degree of talent as a Reincarnator, worthy of being a Reincarnator who could obtain the special sequence of [Card].
During White Mask's growth process, the number of teams she successively played with and caused to collapse exceeded 10, the most famous of which was the [Fifth Element].
The [Kai] of the Fifth Element was a Reincarnator and fighter with excellent combat aptitude, but was completely played in the palm of White Mask's hand.
White Mask liked to play tricks on other Reincarnators. Something like credibility completely had no need to exist for her.
She often used her unique research into the plot world to grasp the general trend of the world, and then brought the general trend to coerce other Reincarnator teams into cooperating with her.
Those Reincarnator teams, clearly knowing White Mask's vile nature, could only cooperate with her harboring wishful thinking out of fear of the general trend, and ultimately were abandoned by White Mask without surprise.
At the same time, White Mask was very adept at excavating hidden plots and finding various secretive items. She was a genius Reincarnator on the non-combat level.
Kaito Shirogane had already experienced it once previously in the Jujutsu Kaisen world. But at that time, Kaito Shirogane only thought White Mask relied on a special Card ability to be able to initiate the [Taizan Fukun Ritual] in that world. But from the information he learned later:
White Mask herself was very adept at excavating these secretive pieces of information in plot worlds.
She probably realized earlier than Kaito Shirogane that there were connections between those Derivative Worlds, and deliberately collected items to allow herself to complete unique sublimations across worlds.
With the blessing of the Noble Phantasm [Swirl of the Heart], having this information, Kaito Shirogane knew very well White Mask's true purpose.
All these other Reincarnators were merely tool people White Mask found to delay him. The reason Kaito Shirogane didn't continue to try to kill the Matou family was that he had a clearer plan.
White Mask's ultimate purpose was to initiate the [Human Instrumentality Project] in this world. Although it was unknown how White Mask would initiate the [Human Instrumentality Project] in this world where no [Angels] existed.
But since White Mask didn't have Gilgamesh directly try to kill him upon their first meeting—even taking into account the factor that she couldn't command Gilgamesh very well—
At least, White Mask's killing intent towards him wasn't that intense.
This could only show that White Mask's plan still needed time.
Kaito Shirogane actually had a more direct guess. In this world, to make all humans turn into "orange juice" and completely fuse together, probably the most reliable method was only that one.
The [All the World's Evils] currently contained in the Greater Grail would twist people's wishes and fulfill them in the most malicious way.
White Mask's wish actually complemented that black mud quite well.
In other words, White Mask actually hoped that Kaito Shirogane would hunt everywhere. She only needed to get other Reincarnators and Masters to ally with her.
Then she could watch Kaito Shirogane slaughter those people.
Whether Kaito Shirogane won and the Holy Grail War ended prematurely, or Kaito Shirogane died and she slowly harvested afterwards, both were not bad endings.
If Kaito Shirogane wanted to kill Matou Sakura, he would inevitably have to fight Rider · Medusa to the death. Even though Kaito Shirogane now had considerable certainty of winning, he was unwilling to start a battle at this moment.
Because he also had his own plan.
If White Mask wanted the [All the World's Evils] that would descend after the Holy Grail War ended, then what Kaito Shirogane coveted were the things even further ahead.
He wanted... Heroic Spirits.
Yes, after seeing that releasing his Noble Phantasm [Swirl of the Heart] could obtain the same nature as the target, Kaito Shirogane had a bold idea.
Right now, in this world, there existed a Lesser Grail, Illya, and a pseudo-Lesser Grail, Matou Sakura. But he himself could completely become the third Lesser Grail.
Moreover, Illya and Matou Sakura would develop huge problems because Heroic Spirits were stored in their bodies, and ultimately die.
But he wasn't afraid...
His interior had long become a battlefield for various spirits. He successively captured the Guardian Spirit and the incomplete Shinigami spiritual body in this world, increasing the richness of the spirit seeds within his sea of consciousness.
However, [Heroic Spirits] were different from those complete undead spirits. In what way did the so-called legendary bonuses operate? Could the so-called Noble Phantasms be accommodated by his sea of consciousness...
Kaito Shirogane's exploration of plot worlds was far less profound than White Mask's, but his infatuation with and madness for various powers were above White Mask's.
So, contrary to his usual behavior, he didn't go on a killing spree. Instead, he mercifully wanted to cooperate with others, hoping that before he was ready, Servants would try not to die.
And after he was ready... it would be best if all the Servants could die in an instant.
Kaito Shirogane smiled, revealing a mouthful of white teeth.
"Perhaps you aren't clear, but I am a very good collaborator. I abide by contracts very well."
Juro was half-believing and half-doubting. There were indeed no rumors of Mercenary Tao reneging on contracts. On the contrary, that woman Crimson Lotus Mage · Luo Xi, precisely because of her cooperation with Mercenary Tao, regained the trust of His Eminence [Life of Dead Silence] and regrouped.
Looking at Mercenary Tao close at hand, Juro hesitated and finally nodded.
(End of Chapter)
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