Chapter 73. Lord El-Melloi II is Caught in the Vortex
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Clock Tower.
Back in the office where his fate had been changed, Sisigou felt a deep sense of melancholy.
Still no snacks.
Belfeban's fingers were interlaced, steam rising from the freshly brewed coffee in front of him.
"Do you have anything to say?"
"Did you change the sofa?"
Sisigou patted the sofa beside him.
"I'm referring to your report," Belfeban ignored Sisigou's casual remarks. "Your report says, 'All of this is the result of the actions of Red's Assassin's Master, Shirou Kotomine.' Are you trying to exonerate the Black side?"
"There's no problem with the outcome," El-Melloi II took a sip of coffee. "But there are plenty of doubts, like the lack of mention about the Holy Grail's whereabouts and the victor."
"Quite perceptive, but unfortunately, I just wrote down what I knew," Sisigou reclined on the sofa in a relaxed manner. "If you're not satisfied, you can ask the other Masters."
"No, compared to their reports like 'I had a cup of tea, and the Holy Grail War ended,' your report is quite valuable," El-Melloi II seemed to remember something and rubbed his forehead. "Why did we even hire these elites?"
There was no such thing as trust in the Holy Grail War—that's common knowledge. Yet, these people had so casually drunk the tea given by Assassin's Master. It was too careless.
What's worse, the promised reward was significant.
"Right~ My report is more cost-effective," Sisigou shrugged. "So even if there are a few small issues, it's better than a blank report."
"Problems involving the Holy Grail are not small matters," Belfeban crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair. "That's a genuine Holy Grail. If any world-changing wish was granted…"
"We can't do anything about it," Sisigou tilted his head.
Belfeban didn't know how to continue.
Indeed, they couldn't do anything. Perhaps the outcome of that wish might go unnoticed even if it happened right in front of them.
"How long is this unproductive conversation going to continue?" Cyd yawned and murmured in boredom while leaning against the wall.
"Um… It will be over soon," Gray said quietly.
The conversation between Cyd and Gray seemed out of place in the suddenly quiet office. El-Melloi II frowned and put his coffee on the desk, while Gray nervously adjusted her black robe.
"By the way… I remember you left alone," El-Melloi II began to scrutinize Cyd, who had his hood up and was looking down.
"Oh~ This is a friend of mine. He's had some issues, and I heard that you're good at solving problems, so I thought I'd report and then ask for your help," Sisigou grinned. "We can discuss the details in your office later; you'll be interested."
"I need to correct your statement," El-Melloi II rubbed his nose with a pained expression. "I'm not good at solving problems; I'm forced to solve them due to certain circumstances, and I don't even know the specifics to guarantee anything."
"Don't worry; you're probably the only one who can handle it!"
Seeing Sisigou's "you're the only one" smile, El-Melloi II started to feel a stomach ache.
It felt like an attempt to shift the blame.
He might as well refuse outright…
El-Melloi II sighed and glanced at Cyd's direction.
Although he felt a bit sorry, he…
El-Melloi II's eyes narrowed sharply. The young man with his head lowered, Cyd, looked up the moment El-Melloi II glanced at him. Though he quickly lowered his head again, El-Melloi II definitely saw Cyd's face.
El-Melloi II's mouth twitched.
Memory is one of the most fundamental skills for a magician. Just now, his brain had compared that face with his memory and pinpointed it to a photo.
The photo taken by the smiling Sisigou.
Ruler—Cyd.
"I see. I'll take on this commission," El-Melloi II said, covering his face with resignation.
He had confirmed that the young man standing beside Gray, with his head lowered, was related to the heroic spirit Cyd. It might be similar to Gray's situation, but seeing that face meant he had been dragged into a certain vortex.
"Master?" Gray tilted her head, clearly noticing that El-Melloi II seemed to have changed his mind about rejecting the request.
"Really great, you have work again," Belfeban shrugged. "Then discuss it in your office; I still have a lot of work to do here."
"Is it about the Yggdmillenia's punishment?" El-Melloi II raised an eyebrow.
"Sort of. After all, they announced their rebellion. The failure of the Holy Grail War pretty much exhausted their trump cards. Besides surrendering, they have no other options. However, due to your report and the compensation from the Yggdmillenia, the Mage's Association is considering it as if nothing happened," Belfeban shrugged.
"To let you consider it as if nothing happened, what exactly did they compensate?" Sisigou asked, incredulous. "I can't believe that misleading report had any effect."
"Well~ Various relics, and…" Belfeban's lips curled slightly, "a stone tablet~"
"A stone tablet?" Sisigou raised an eyebrow, recalling the stone tablet that was worth more than him.
"Yes, a stone tablet carved by the Hero of Pure White himself. They probably intended to use it to summon him, but it ended up summoning his teacher instead," Belfeban shrugged. "In terms of value, this stone tablet is worth more than the one we have."
So the elite who were taken out by the Yggdmillenia died for nothing.
It was cold but very realistic.
A person's value only matters while they are alive, and in the eyes of these magicians, their value was less than that of a stone tablet.
"They certainly brought something of value," El-Melloi II raised an eyebrow. "To have confirmed that Cyd could be summoned and still handed over the tablet, does that mean they have no more intent?"
No, it was simply because no one could summon Cyd anymore.
Sisigou glanced at Cyd's direction.
After all, the Hero of Pure White had returned to this world, and the living cannot be summoned as heroic spirits.
The stone tablet, once highly valued by Belfeban, was now just a relic.
El-Melloi II squinted. Sisigou's small actions hadn't escaped his notice. He could now deduce that this young man had a certain inevitable connection with Cyd. Only the Mage's Association was unaware.
"Interesting."