The Einzbern Castle in Fuyuki City was built at the end of the 18th century and has a history of about 200 years.
The castle's defense system was just as good as it was evaluated by Lu Xiao and Kiritsugu, but it was already the limit of what the Einzbern androids who were not good at fighting could achieve.
"Moo!"
Accompanied by lightning and thunder, the cow's cry echoed over the castle. Rider without any scruples broke through the barrier that had become ineffective after losing Irisviel's control, and landed on the square in front of the castle gate.
"Einzbern! Rider Iskandar arrives with his master!"
Rider's self-introduction of home did not receive any response. Maiya, who was sitting in the monitoring room, frowned and looked at the footage captured by the camera.
"Rider, why is he here?"
When Kiritsugu and Maiya made their plan, they prioritized threats based on the compatibility and personality of each Servant and Master.
The biggest threat is undoubtedly Kotomine Kirei and Berserker, who are regarded as thorns in Emiya Kiritsugu's side.
Next is Tosaka Tokiomi, who is well versed in the art of survival and holds the ace card of Gilgamesh, and then comes Assassin, whose true identity is still unknown.
After Irisviel was abducted by a servant suspected of being an Assassin, Kiritsugu and Maiya raised the threat level of the Assassin, second only to Kotomine Kirei.
Rider and his immature little master were ranked very low in terms of threat. If Rider's Noble Phantasm hadn't given them the ability to move up and down easily and not be easily tracked, Kiritsugu, who likes to pick on the weak, would not have chosen to be a foreign monk.
Kenneth made the first move.
Considering Rider's attitude of breaking in openly and proactively announcing his home, Maiya hesitated for a moment and finally decided to open the door to welcome him.
If the rider is aggressive, relying solely on the traps arranged by Kiritsugu and the defense of the castle itself, it is very likely that he will not be able to stop this rampant conquering king. It is better to go with the flow and show Einzbern's demeanor.
"Crunch~"
The old heavy wooden door slowly opened inward, and Maiya, dressed in black slim-fitting clothes, walked out of the castle with a calm expression.
"Conquering King Iskandar welcomes you."
Maiya explained in a neither humble nor overbearing tone: "Unfortunately, the owner of the castle is still out. Please wait inside for the time being. I will contact you immediately..."
"Haha, no need."
After carrying the big wine barrel and retracting the Kamui wheel, Rider pointed to the small garden on the side of the castle with his radish-thick thumb.
"I just want to use the garden of this castle to hold a banquet, and get to know each other with a few invited guests before the official battle."
'Banquet?'
Maiya couldn't understand Rider's brain circuit, but it was okay for Rider and Weber not to enter the castle. She calmly led them to the small garden on the side of the castle.
Perhaps because he was ridiculed and scorned by the Clock Tower elite since childhood, Webber developed an introverted personality. He always seemed very timid when facing strangers.
Relying on Rider's broad body as a shield, Weber carefully avoided Maiya's scrutinizing gaze and came to sit down in the small square in the center of the garden.
"Boom!"
Placing the barrel on the ground, Rider sat down without any scruples.
The rider reluctantly lifted Weber out from behind: "Weber, don't be so timid. You are the master of my conquering king. At least show some domineering power and sit next to me. Don't always go around behind. You are taking the test."
Pull it?"
"Who is the koala! You muscle stick!"
"Xilulu!"
While the master and slave were having a "happy" interaction, Lancer, as the host, finally rushed back in time with Kiritsugu.
The war horse dropped from the sky and landed in a corner of the garden. The Lancer raised his gun and stared at the Rider with a solemn expression.
"Rider, what do you mean by rashly breaking into our stronghold? Are you here to declare war?"
"No, no, of course not."
The rider slapped open the wine barrel, and the rich aroma of wine wafted out from the barrel.
"I'm just borrowing your castle to hold a king's banquet, Lancer, and you are also one of the participants I plan to invite."
"The king's banquet?"
Lancer relaxed his vigilance slightly and looked at the huge wine barrel next to Rider with some confusion.
Emiya Kiritsugu noticed Rider's words, looked at him sharply and asked: "One? Does that mean you also invited other kings?"
"snort!"
A haughty cold snort came from the void, and Archer, wearing golden armor, emerged from his spiritual state and appeared on the scene.
"Since it is a banquet for the king, my participation is naturally indispensable."
"Bastards, tonight I will make an exception and grant you the opportunity to admire the majesty of the king. Please feel honored for this."
Archer's arrogant remarks made Lancer, who had always been strict with etiquette, a little dissatisfied, but Rider didn't take it seriously.
"Haha! You've come just in time, Jin Shining, please take a seat, the banquet is about to begin."
Archer ignored Lancer's hostility and followed Rider's guidance to sit opposite him.
"so?"
Archer glanced at Lancer, who was still wary: "Rider, where does the groom over there come from? Do you already know her identity?"
"Humph~ Of course."
Rider joked tactfully: "What? As the Ancient King, haven't you guessed her identity yet?"
"Ha~" Archer twitched his lips without anger or joy: "The king is reserved. If I have the intention, I can indeed make myself an omniscient and omnipotent person."
"But that kind of life is too boring. Exploring the unknown is the driving force behind the progress of human civilization. Don't you think so? King of Conquerors."
Not only did Rider guess Archer's identity, Kiritsugu also roughly guessed the identity of the Golden King based on the other person's Noble Phantasm and style of speech and behavior. When Rider mentioned the Ancient King, he immediately confirmed his guess.
.
'The oldest heroic king in human history, the ruler of the city-state of Uruk, and the tyrant Gilgamesh.'
Through the contracts connected to each other, Lancer learned the identity of the other party from the information transmitted by Kiritsugu.
The identities of the two kings attending the banquet have been revealed, and Lancer's pride as a king does not allow her to continue to conceal her identity.
"Master."
Seeing Lancer's firm eyes, Kiritsugu thought about it for a moment, and finally nodded and agreed to her request.
"Okay, but don't expose too many of your cards."
The world's understanding of King Arthur mainly comes from the Knights of the Round Table he established, and the related rumors about the Sword in the Stone and Contract Victory. There are relatively few legends about King Arthur with the Holy Spear, and they are not so easy to see through by the enemy.
Jumping off Dong Stallion, Lancer removed part of the armor that was inconvenient for movement, generously revealing his mature and beautiful figure under the armor, and walked to Archer and Rider to sit down.
"I am the King of Britain, Arturia Pendragon."
Arturia's beautiful green eyes like lake water looked at Iskandar and Gilgamesh calmly: "The Hero King of Uruk and the Conquering King of Macedonia, it is an honor to fight with the two in this Holy Grail War.
There is a chance for a fight."
"oh?"
Gilgamesh's arrogant expression fluctuated slightly, and he looked at Arturia with some surprise: "It turns out to be King Arthur, who is known as the King of Knights by the world. He is interesting. He is indeed a bit more imposing than other bastards."
Turning his scarlet eyes towards Iskandar, Gilgamesh asked calmly: "King of Conquerors, you didn't just call us here just to hold a banquet, right?"
"If you have anything to say, just say it. I'm thinking of your creativity to please this king, so I won't allow you to say anything outrageous tonight."
"Don't worry, don't worry."
Rider glanced around: "I also invited some heroes to listen to the Theory of Three Kings."
"The heroic spirits who have arrived in advance, please show up!"
"Huh~"
As a deliberate breeze blew by, a black figure wearing hooded leather armor appeared a little far away from the center of the garden.
Seeing this person appear, Emiya Kiritsugu's pupils shrank suddenly, and he almost lost control of his emotions. Maiya put her hands behind her back, ready to take out a weapon and attack at any time.
'assassin!'
Rider looked around with some disappointment: "No? Leaving aside Berserker who can't communicate, don't Saber and Caster plan to participate in this banquet? What a pity."