The summoning light glowed brightly, blinding the entire room. As the light particles subsided, a blonde-haired girl with a pair of blue eyes radiating an arrogant and cunning aura manifested in the center of Mash's shield.
"Heh, so you summoned me? Sima Zhongda is present..." the girl said with a condescending smile, before finally sighing softly. "Ah, but, well, I am a Pseudo-Servant with 'Reines El-Melloi Archisorte' as the vessel. It's fine, it's fine, the main authority has already been passed down to me anyway. Call me Reines, Sima Yi, or Zhongda, whichever you prefer. I look forward to working with you, Master?"
Rikka tilted her head in confusion. She tugged at the edge of Ritsuka's sleeve while looking at the newly summoned Servant.
"Brother, who is this person?" whispered Rikka.
Before Ritsuka had the chance to answer, a gentle voice preceded him.
"Sima Yi... with the courtesy name Zhongda," Kagaya explained. The man, along with Koko, apparently had just arrived through a portal to Chaldea to handle their trade transaction affairs.
Kagaya looked at the new Servant calmly. "According to history, he was a grand strategist, military general, as well as a masterful politician of the Cao Wei state during the Three Kingdoms era in mainland China. He began his political career under the leadership of the Grand Chancellor Cao Cao in the year 208, and thanks to his genius, he was quickly promoted to the highest positions."
Kagaya fell silent. The wise man's lips parted slightly, losing his words as he compared the ancient Chinese historical literature in his head with the form of an aristocratic girl in an elegant European-style dress standing arrogantly in front of him right now. "...However, she is..."
"A WOMAN AGAIN?!"
Koko's scream erupted, shattering the silence. The female arms dealer held her head in immense frustration.
Seeing the speechless Kagaya's confusion and Koko who was almost going crazy due to the historical distortion, Ritsuka could only smile awkwardly while scratching his cheek. Scenarios like this seemed to have become his daily bread. "There is a special reason for this, I will explain what a Pseudo-Servant is to you two later so you won't get more confused," Ritsuka said.
"Alright, now let's move to the meeting room to discuss business matters," said Ritsuka. The young man then turned to the new Servant.
"Sima Yi, you must still be confused by this situation. But let me explain it simply: we desperately need your brain and strategic expertise to handle this transaction."
"Hoo? You want my brain? Not my combat strength?" Sima Yi chuckled softly. The blonde girl smirked with a gaze full of interest. "Fufu~ You are truly a very interesting Lord. You know exactly what the greatest advantage I possess is, Master."
"Eh, wait a minute. I am not your Master," Ritsuka interrupted quickly, waving his hand. He then pulled Rikka, who had been standing behind him all this time, to step forward. "This little sister of mine is the one who just summoned you and became your Master."
"Huh?"
Sima Yi blinked. Her arrogant smile instantly faded, replaced by immense confusion. She looked at Rikka, then back at Ritsuka.
"Am I wrong? How strange... why would I mistakenly recognize someone?" Sima Yi muttered in disbelief, holding her chin. "But... my instinct and intuition as a Servant were very sure that you were the one who had a connection with me earlier."
Observing the Servant's confusion, Nobu, who was standing with her arms crossed, could only stare at Ritsuka's back with a look that was hard to interpret.
'It happened again...' Nobu thought to herself. 'Actually, just how many Heroic Spirits has Master met and saved in his past? To the point that the instinct of a Servant summoned for the very first time reflexively gravitated straight towards him.'
Ignoring Sima Yi's awkwardness, Ritsuka clapped his hands once to divert attention.
"Well, since the introductions are over, please all head to the meeting room now," Ritsuka said with a bright smile. "For the details of the transaction, offers, and diplomacy, please arrange and handle them however you like. I won't interfere at all!"
Ritsuka stepped back slowly, preparing to run away. "Political matters and bargaining like that will only make my head spin. So, I'll leave everything to you experts, okay!"
"Eh? Senpai isn't joining this meeting?" asked Mash in confusion, seeing him actually intending to excuse himself.
"For matters of bureaucracy and complicated negotiations like that, we already have people who are much more competent, Mash," Ritsuka answered while smiling casually. "There's the Director and Sima Yi as the main brains, plus Da Vinci, Doctor Romani, and Nobu who will help in the meeting room. Meanwhile, Rikka and I are more suited to act as field specialists."
"But... I thought you were going to act as the main leader in that discussion, Brother," Rikka said innocently.
Ritsuka gently patted the top of his sister's head. "Everyone has their own role, Rikka. I will only focus on doing what I can actually do. If I force myself to shoulder and solve everything alone, I will definitely break down from exhaustion."
The young man paused his sentence for a moment. His gaze softened, glancing briefly at Salter who stood in silence not far from there.
"...Only a perfect King is capable of bearing such a heavy burden alone," Ritsuka murmured softly.
Clearing her throat softly to break the ice, Olga Marie looked at the young man with a raised eyebrow. "If you throw the negotiation matters to us, then what are you going to do now, Ritsuka?"
Ritsuka refocused his attention on Olga.
"Me? Following his call earlier, I have to go meet Sensei first to discuss something important," Ritsuka explained, starting to give task distribution instructions.
"Rikka, Mash, the two of you come with me. We are going to make a few trips soon. Artoria, you stay here to guard Chaldea's security while I'm gone. And as for you, Nobu... I assign you to be the Director's personal bodyguard to ensure the security and smoothness of this trade transaction."
"W-What?! I'm being left here?! No, Master—"
Salter's protest instantly stopped. Ritsuka raised one of his hands, giving a firm signal that couldn't be argued with to interrupt his Servant's words.
"This is the continuation of your punishment at the Gathering earlier," Ritsuka said. "You are strictly forbidden from leaving the Chaldea facility until I return."
Seeing Salter opening her mouth to argue again, Ritsuka immediately pulled out his trump card.
"If you still insist on disobeying and want to come along..." Ritsuka narrowed his eyes, staring straight at the Saber. "...then I assure you, there will be no hamburger rations for you for a whole week!"
Hearing the cruel verdict, Salter's shoulders instantly slumped. The intimidating aura from her, which had been about to rebel, evaporated without a trace.
Salter bowed her head deeply, her aura looking very gloomy and pitiful like a puppy that had just been scolded by its owner.
"A-Alright..." Salter murmured in resignation.
. . .
In a dead city filled with collapsed buildings—a dark sight of the remnants of a world that had been struck by an apocalypse—the sounds of battle echoed.
A young girl with light purple hair had just finished slashing several giant monsters whose sizes were much larger than her petite body. Using a massive black scythe, she cleaved those monsters before finally jumping lightly and landing gracefully right near her teammates.
"How is it, Shinoa? Have you finished off all the 'Horsemen' monsters in that area?"
The call came from a jet-black-haired youth who looked to be the same age as the girl named Shinoa. He stood not far from there while sheathing his sword.
Shinoa twirled her large scythe casually and then carved a mischievous smile on her lips.
"Oya, oya~ Yuu-san still hasn't finished defeating your share?" Shinoa teased in a playful tone. "So, you intend to beg and ask for my help, huh?"
"Damn it! Who's asking for your help anyway?!" shouted the youth, Yuichiro Hyakuya—or familiarly called Yuu—with a vein of annoyance instantly imprinted on his forehead. "I just want to know if you're done or not, and how many monsters you've managed to kill!"
Seeing Yuu being so easily provoked, Shinoa smiled slightly with a triumphant look.
"Hee~" Shinoa tilted her head. "So... you intend to compete by comparing the number of enemies I've managed to kill with the number of enemies you've managed to finish off?"
"Yeah, obviously! What else?!" replied Yuu passionately, his eyes radiating an explosive competitive aura.
Shinoa had just opened her mouth to reply to the challenge, but suddenly she fell silent. Her eyes blinked slowly. She felt something familiar that had been empty all this time, now just returning inside her.
The girl looked at Yuu with a faint, enigmatic smile.
"Hmm... before I state the number of 'Horsemen' I've managed to defeat, you'd better ask the achievements of the other team members first," Shinoa evaded in a casual tone. "After you've gathered all the numbers, then I'll tell you my final result."
"Alright! Just wait, I will definitely beat that kill record of yours and get direct acknowledgment from Guren!" exclaimed Yuu enthusiastically.
Without suspecting the girl's change in attitude in the slightest, the hot-blooded youth immediately turned around and ran off, leaving Shinoa to look for the other teammates.
As soon as Yuu's back moved away, the mischievous smile on Shinoa's face slowly faded. The girl closed her eyes deeply.
In an instant, her consciousness was pulled and shifted. She now manifested inside her own mindscape—an empty dimension completely enveloped by an endless pure white color.
Before her, stood the figure of a beautiful six-winged creature radiating a dim light.
"Shi-chan," Shinoa called out in a demanding tone, staring intently at the figure in front of her. "Where were you just now? Why did your presence completely disappear earlier? What exactly are you doing outside of my watch?"
The figure—Shikama Doji, the high-tier demon residing inside her scythe—looked at Shinoa with a peaceful gaze that was hard to decipher.
"Shinoa..." Shikama Doji called out with his signature gentle voice. "I only left for a moment. There was a little unexpected business that I needed to take care of."
"What business?" Shinoa pursued quickly, her eyebrows furrowing full of suspicion.
Hearing her pressure, Shikama Doji did not answer immediately. The demon only carved his angelic smile that was elegant as well as full of secrets.
"You don't need to know," Shikama Doji answered softly.
Shinoa glared at him with a very sharp and intimidating look.
"You're already freeloading and constantly trying to possess my body, just so you know, I really don't like that. And now you dare to play secrets with me?" Shinoa bombarded coldly. "What kind of extraordinary thing are you actually planning out there, to the point that someone like you has to bother separating yourself from me, Shi-chan?"
Hearing that sharp accusation, Shikama Doji was not daunted in the slightest. The demon only replied with a calm smile.
"Then, what can and will you do to stop me?" replied Shikama Doji with his gentle yet piercing voice. "Please remember again how weak and fragile you are right now, Shinoa."
Shinoa fell silent. The girl gritted her teeth faintly, realizing the undeniable truth of his words. She turned her body and stepped away.
"Hmm... whatever," Shinoa muttered without looking back. "But whatever you are planning behind my back, Shi-chan... I will definitely expose it. No matter what."
After saying that promise, Shinoa's figure faded like mist and disappeared completely from Shikama Doji's sight, returning her consciousness to the real world.
Left by the girl, the white dimension became quiet again. The peaceful smile on Shikama Doji's face instantly faded, changing into a calculating look.
"That girl... maybe I can use her as bait to tempt and draw empathy from that young man, rather than having to use Yuu," muttered Shikama Doji to himself.
The Fallen Angel touched his chin, weighing the new variables he had just obtained from the Gathering. "Hmm, is this the right time to change my planned route? First of all, I must gain the trust of that boy named Ritsuka. Then, after I manage to secure access to his world..."
Shikama Doji looked up, staring into the emptiness of the white dimension's ceiling. The look in his eyes, which was usually empty, now radiated a very dark obsession and longing.
"Mikaela... and all of you," he whispered with a trembling voice. "If I can utilize the space and time anomaly of that boy's world, maybe... I can bring you all back to life much faster than I ever estimated."
Along with the echoing of that dark promise, the white space behind Shikama Doji's back suddenly rippled. A mysterious mass of water began to form and hover in the air, a mass of water that would connect him to the Gathering.
. . .
Inside the dimly lit Hotel Moscow office room, Revy paced back and forth restlessly.
"Damn it, Sis! Now what should we do?!" Revy exclaimed in a highly frustrated tone. "I never expected at all that the two of us could get completely entangled with a bunch of crazy monsters from other worlds like them!"
"Calm down, Two Hands," interrupted Balalaika coldly. The woman stared at Revy sharply. "For now, you'd better keep your mouth shut tight. Keep the existence of that Gathering a secret from anyone, even from your own boss and the people closest to you in the Lagoon Company. I will also enforce the same gag policy here."
"Huh? But why?!" protested Revy, not understanding. "Dutch and the others will definitely love it if they know there's a business opportunity this crazy!"
"You fool," Balalaika hissed sharply. "The existence of that Gathering is completely beyond human common sense, especially considering how deadly the combat power of the members inside it is. If you dare to tell about it and this secret leaks to the ears of the government..."
Balalaika blew her cigar smoke into the air roughly.
"...after that, that damn 'World Police' will definitely intervene immediately. We will become high-level international fugitives. And without you realizing it, your head will already be priced at trillions of dollars," Balalaika explained full of warning. "On this rotten island, we can't trust anyone with a secret that huge and dangerous."
Hearing that highly plausible worst-case scenario, Revy clicked her tongue and rubbed her hair roughly.
"Tsk... O-Okay, I understand. I'll keep my mouth shut," grumbled Revy somewhat reluctantly, realizing how fatal the risks were. The wild girl then looked at the mafia boss in front of her. "But, what are you going to do next, Sis?"
Balalaika slowly leaned her back against her leather chair. The scarred woman's facial expression turned very dark and calculating.
"I'm going to dig back up all the traces and backgrounds of my subordinates in the past," muttered Balalaika in a cold, merciless tone. "I will re-investigate all of them to make absolutely sure that not a single one of these troops has illicit ties with America or other troublesome countries."
Balalaika narrowed her eyes, radiating vigilance. "From now on, I will examine them one by one to their roots, to ensure whether there are infiltrating rats and spies within my organization or not."
"Then, what about me, Sis? Do I just need to stay quiet?" asked Revy to make sure.
"Yes, keep your mouth shut tight," answered Balalaika coldly, her eyes staring straight at the girl. "And remember this well... if you dare to leak this secret to anyone, don't expect you can still breathe the air tomorrow."
Revy gasped softly upon hearing that cold-blooded threat. She knew exactly that the person in front of her never bluffed at all.
"A-Alright, I understand," Revy obeyed.
The wild girl turned around to immediately get out of the room that suddenly felt suffocating. However, before her hand touched the doorknob, Balalaika's voice stopped her again.
"And one more thing, Revy," Balalaika warned with a much lower and dangerous tone. "Don't ever dare to bring this up in front of those 'Church' people where you usually do transactions. Among those crazy nuns... there is an incredibly troublesome infiltrating rat."
After receiving the warning, Revy finally left the room.
After the girl left, Balalaika let out a long sigh. She inhaled it deeply then exhaled a thick puff of smoke into the air.
"Huft... it's really lucky that I got sucked into that Gathering room with her," muttered Balalaika to herself. "If only that idiot Revy had gone in there, the existence of that Gathering would definitely have leaked everywhere. And in a matter of days, this island would be heavily besieged by military fleets from various countries of the world just to hunt it down."
Balalaika fell silent for a moment. Her military brain started working, devising tactics and possibilities. The image of Koko's eccentric smile briefly flashed in her mind.
"That crazy arms dealer... I'm sure I can weave a very profitable cooperation with her later," she murmured softly.
Balalaika's gaze then sharpened even more as the image of the black-haired youth from Chaldea appeared in her head.
"And regarding that Master boy... finishing him off is clearly not a logical option. Besides the old vampire, that kid is the one who holds control over the main power and the largest forces in this Gathering."
After she said that, right behind Balalaika's leather chair, the air suddenly rippled. A mass of water, whose form was exact
ly identical to the one that appeared behind Shikama Doji, slowly formed and hovered silently in the air.