"I'll go out and see; try not to leave my side."
Irisviel nodded in response, then accompanied Saber, who was going to meet the enemy.
She knew very well that the safest place on the battlefield was by Artoria's side.
"That thunder just now, and that unrestrained power, the enemy should be Conqueror King Iskandar."
The two hurried through the abandoned castle, arrived at the balcony surrounding the high-ceilinged hall, and then waited for the other party's arrival.
"I thought so too."
Irisviel recalled the power of the Treasure 'Gordius Wheel' she had witnessed in the warehouse district the day before yesterday.
That divine bull chariot surrounded by lightning.
If such an anti-army Treasure were fully unleashed, it would not be surprising if the magical array base points set up in the forest were uprooted.
"Hey, Knight King!"
"I specifically came to find you, why aren't you coming out quickly?"
As the two had expected, the voice calling out brazenly in the hall was indeed Conqueror King Iskandar.
Artoria, while running, transformed her suit into silver-white armor, ready to meet the challenge at any moment.
"Yo, Saber."
"I heard you built a castle, so I came to see."
"Tsk tsk tsk."
Conqueror King Iskandar stroked his chin, sighing, "It's a bit disappointing. This castle is somehow shabby."
"Well!"
"But as long as it's a castle, it's fine."
"You don't mind if I borrow this place for a banquet, do you?"
Conqueror King Iskandar's shameless words truly made the two women's expressions difficult to maintain.
"Rider, you..."
Artoria understood the meaning of his words.
He wasn't here to cause trouble.
"Making such a big commotion just to say these things?"
Artoria glared fiercely at Conqueror King Iskandar: "And don't just unilaterally occupy other people's things!"
"Well, well~~"
Conqueror King Iskandar scratched the back of his head, then revealed his white teeth: "Since I helped you cut down some trees in front of the castle gate, lend me the place, alright?"
"Don't you think the view has become much wider without those trees in the yard?"
'You motherf*cker!'
If Artoria wasn't a moral person, and Irisviel wasn't from a noble family,
upon hearing Conqueror King Iskandar's shameless boast, they would probably have cursed directly.
"What exactly do you want to do?!"
Artoria: "If you can't give me a reasonable explanation, don't blame me for being merciless with my sword!"
"Idiot, idiot, idiot."
Seeing the atmosphere becoming increasingly tense, Waver quickly poked his head out from behind Conqueror King Iskandar: "Really, I told you to ask first!"
"Haha, how would that be quick enough?"
Conqueror King Iskandar ignored Waver's nonsense; he lifted the wine barrel beside him: "Relax, relax, I'm not here to fight you this time."
"Then what is it?"
"Can't you tell?"
Conqueror King Iskandar patted the wine barrel and laughed: "Of course, it's the wine for tonight!"
"Alright, don't just stand there, lead the way."
"Don't you have any suitable gardens for a banquet here?"
"This broken castle is full of dust everywhere, it's unbearable."
Every word from Conqueror King Iskandar was like a sharp blade, piercing deeply into Irisviel's heart.
Even she, with her gentle temperament, felt the urge to perish with him at this moment.
This guy was simply too much of a bully!
"Is it a trap?"
"He's not the type to play petty tricks, is he?"
"Is he really just here to drink?"
Walking towards the courtyard, Irisviel quietly asked Artoria.
Upon reflection, Conqueror King Iskandar had publicly stated earlier that he would not fight Saber until Saber and Lancer had determined a victor.
If that was a promise made by a Heroic Spirit based on their dignity, then his sudden attack tonight would be inexplicable.
"That man, isn't he deliberately trying to gain your favor, then launch a surprise attack?"
"No, Irisviel, you don't understand."
Artoria had already understood Conqueror King Iskandar's meaning.
She put away her fighting spirit, but her expression was even more serious than before.
"This is a challenge initiated by a king."
"I am a king, and he is also a king of a nation."
Artoria: "If he knows both our identities and still wants to drink with me, then this is a 'battle' without weapons."
"Haha!"
Seeing that Saber finally understood, Conqueror King Iskandar laughed: "Exactly!"
"If you don't want to wield swords, then let's raise our cups and drink together, Knight King!"
"Tonight, I'm going to properly question your kingly demeanor. Are you mentally prepared?"
"Interesting, I accept."
Artoria resolutely accepted the challenge, her face radiating the same stern heroism as when she went to battle.
"This..."
As things developed, Irisviel finally understood that this was not a joke, but the beginning of a real contest.
The chosen venue for the banquet was the garden in the castle's central courtyard.
The battle that night had not affected this place, so it was still a suitable spot to entertain guests without losing face.
"So, shall we begin now?"
Sitting cross-legged opposite Conqueror in the center of the garden, Artoria asked.
"Wait, there's still a guest who hasn't arrived."
"A guest?"
"Ah, you and I are not the only Kings who have descended in this Holy Grail War."
"Could it be?!"
Hearing the word 'King,' a name immediately popped into Artoria's mind: "Solomon...."
The girl immediately thought of Bai Luo, whom Wei Gong Qie Si had mentioned.
Of course, a certain incredibly arrogant street lamp King was automatically ignored by Artoria.
That guy was simply too arrogant.
Artoria did not want to invite such a fellow to her home as a guest.
"I shouldn't be late, right?"
Just as Artoria was surprised, Bai Luo's figure appeared in the courtyard at some point.
"This is our first meeting, isn't it, Daimao Wang?"
Bai Luo sat with his back to the east, taking the opportunity to closely observe Daimao Wang's heroic posture.
And after his appearance, the gazes of Irisviel and Artoria fell upon Bai Luo, as if they wanted to see through him.
'This is the legendary King Solomon?'
Even Irisviel, as an artificial human, had to admit that Bai Luo's appearance was simply too astonishing.
He was less like a human and more like a god walking among mortals.