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Calmer now, Mordred realized how foolish she had been. But things had come to this, there was no way out.

She sat down cross-legged and took out the Grail. "Master, you need to retreat now."

He looked at her strangely. "Why do I need to retreat?"

"That black Saber is on his side. He'll definitely come chasing after me," she explained. "I'm already dead - being killed again is no big deal. But you're still alive. Go quickly."

Sisigou frowned. "You're Mordred from the Eternal Kingdom, right? Doesn't that make Eternal King your father? So why..."

"It's complicated," she said calmly. "If I had to define our relationship, it would be mostly hatred and murderous intent. I'm probably no match for him in a direct fight."

"In that case, retreat with me first. Don't you have a concealment Noble Phantasm?"

Mordred shook her head. "No use. He has a Noble Phantasm that restrains mine. My concealment is useless against him."

Sisigou looked uneasy. "Even so, he might not come chasing after you..."

A deafening boom cut him off, like a massive pillar hammering the earth. Sisigou staggered as vibrations shook the cemetery.

Then Shirou's voice rang out loudly: "Red Saber, come out! I've found you!"

Sisigou gave a helpless look. "I guess he really did come chasing..."

"He found us faster than I expected... Seems the black Saber had no hesitation selling me out. But this is the price for my selfishness," she said somewhat hoarsely.

She rose to her feet and pointed Sisigou to another path. "Master, leave through there."

"The cemetery sits along the north-south leyline connected to Romania's main line," she explained calmly. "The black Assassin's likely laid ambushes around it already. I'll hold him off - you escape through the underground waterways. They'll take you into Valcea. Blend with the citizens and get out. If I'm still alive by then, use a Command Spell to pull me out!"

"I understand." Sisigou nodded.

He didn't say much more.

He already understood the situation.

The reason Mordred came back was entirely because she was afraid it would implicate him.

If not for having him as her Master, Mordred would have probably run somewhere else already. How could she take the risk to come back?

Sisigou took one last glance at Mordred's back, then fled.

"Master, thank you for enduring my childish selfishness," Mordred said without turning around.

She lowered her head to look at the half-closed eye on the Grail and took a deep breath. Then she strode out majestically from the workshop.

Dressed in azure armor with the Grail in one hand and a black-red sword in the other, Mordred emerged to face Shirou. He too wore azure royal armor, arms crossed as he glared at Mordred's approach.

"Walking out to face me directly. I have to say, this is a smart choice, Red Saber."

Mordred pointed her sword at the ground and laughed. "Because the ground's probably filled with Your Majesty's lovely black mud already, right?"

"Smart." He nodded with a smile, "I like smart children."

He still doesn't know who I am?

Mordred was surprised. From their brief exchange, it seemed Shirou didn't actually know her identity.

So her mother hadn't sold her out completely after all!

Licking her lips, she forced an innocent and harmless smile. "Great Eternal King, I'm just a silly stupid kid. I'm really sorry for the misunderstanding back there...So could you let me off for now?" she asked amiably.

Shirou smiled at the suddenly harmless-looking Mordred. "But you bit me quite hard just now. My hand still hurts, Red Saber."

He held out his palm and waved it in front of her.

Mordred twisted coyly, sneaking a glance at the Grail's eye. Still smiling, she said, "I think I can make it up to you."

"Oh? And how do you plan to compensate?" He asked with interest. "Let's hear it."

"How about I help you against the Red and Black factions?" she pleaded earnestly. "I know I'm the Red Saber, but honestly I've always respected you. And the Reds have a nasty one!"

Licking her lips again, she added, "You may not know, but the Red Assassin's Master, Kotomine Shirou, is a big villain! He's capturing all the Red Masters, so most Red Servants are under his control. Since I'm righteous - I've been dissatisfied with this for so long! Give me a chance to charge ahead and fight for your aspirations."

"Your mouth is really sweet." He couldn't help laughing.

"No way! Your Majesty the Eternal King, every word I say is from the bottom of my heart! I hope you can discern subtle details!" she said sincerely.

Seeing her "sincere" face...Shirou couldn't help but stroke his own cheek. Her expression stirred some memories from the past.

"Alright, Mordred. Daddy won't joke with you anymore, put down your sword." Shirou said.

"Huh?"

Mordred was startled.

"Don't you want your daddy's love?" He spread his arms.

"You—what are you saying?!" she cried.

"Don't pretend - you already know I'm your father."

Mordred: "..."

Looking at the serious Assassin, she couldn't help but twitch her mouth.

She understood - Saber had told him everything.

That backstabbing mother had sold her out completely!

Mordred panicked inside. Her feelings for him were too complex to describe.

Admiration yet hatred. Affection yet resentment. He evoked such contradictory emotions in her.

This inner conflict led to Mordred disliking any praise of the King, yet also bristling at any insult toward him. Her emotions were a mess of contradictions.

Shirou spread open his arms, beckoning her closer. "Put down your sword and come to your father, Mordred. I had no choice before, but I will love you now."

She went silent, her smile freezing.

A trap? She eyed him warily.

On careful thought, it made sense. If Eternal king knew her identity, how could he be so calm?

Glancing at the eye on the Grail, and sensing Sisigou's position through their contract, Mordred was anxious inside.

Master, why haven't you escaped yet?

In fact, she already had the intention to retreat.

She didn't want to confront Shirou head-on.

But she found that Sisigou's position was still near the workshop.

Just what was going on?

"Don't think too hard on it," he said with an easy smile. "Haven't you noticed someone missing beside me?"

Missing? Mordred's eyes shrank as she looked at his leisurely smile.

Not good! Master!

She shouted inside.

Looking at the leisurely smiling Shirou, she understood that Sisigou was probably in danger!

And the one who went to capture him was probably Saber!

Although she had guessed everything in her heart, she didn't show any flaws on the surface.

Mordred was vigilant inside, but revealed a smiling face on the surface, "It seems His Majesty has thoroughly researched this city's terrain."

"Of course. Didn't I always say to study the land, weather, geography wherever you go?"

"You did. 'Understand the world around you, and success will be endless.' - that famous quote in Uncle Kay's notebook. I didn't forget," she replied.

And then...

Nothing.

Shirou didn't know how to continue with this girl. Their recent fight made things especially awkward.

His emotional intelligence wasn't weak, and he was usually eloquent. But she was too special - he didn't know how to communicate with her.

It was truly a first for him...no prior experience.

Seeing Mordred's wariness yet calm, Shirou sighed inwardly. He was at a loss.

If Artie was here now, it would help. Perhaps she could get through to this girl.

At this time, Saber came over pressing on a bitterly smiling Sisigou.

Saber said, "Captured him."

Shirou nodded to her. In truth, he had thoroughly studied Valcea's leylines when they first came with Spartacus.

He knew of the cemetery's existence, including the path to the underground waterways below it.

On the way here, Shirou had learned about the layout of Sisigou's workshop from Saber.

As Mordred expected, Shirou had foreseen her Master escaping through the waterway, then summoning Mordred with a Command Spell to flee. It was the only way to avoid a direct confrontation.

But Shirou had already countered this. Before coming to the cemetery, he had Saber lie in wait at the waterway entrance.

"You're the Red Saber's Master, Sisigou?" Shirou asked, looking at him.

"Yes," Sisigou nodded with a sigh.

It had to be said, most Masters were burdens in the Holy Grail War. Sisigou had thought he could help his Servant, but here he was, restrained and at Shirou's mercy.

Mordred didn't actually understand what kind of temperament her old man had.

Everyone praised that her father was a great and honorable king who bridged the classical and medieval eras, perhaps it was true.

But Mordred also knew, a king could be great, but his methods could not be honorable .

Moreover, her father was the founder of the kingdom.

In turbulent times, if he was upright, he would have long been torn to shreds.

Yet he quelled turmoil, founded an eternal kingdom, held all power in his palm, made nobles grateful, and kept things running smoothly!

Squinting, Mordred said, "Many say Eternal King was a man of lofty morals. But perhaps he was someone who liked to bully the weak?"

Shirou glanced at her, smiling gently. "Don't worry. I won't harm your Master. Quite the opposite - I'm grateful to him now. So you don't have to deliberately provoke me."

Mordred went silent. His reaction wasn't what she expected.

Malice or anger she could handle, but this gentleness...it made her uncomfortable.