I, Kenneth, am going to get to the root of the problem today.

Page 52

Behind Kenneth, a phantom appeared behind Gold: Danick Preston Yggdmillennia, the true leader of the Yggdmillennia clan. After Kenneth's series of actions, the other party finally couldn't sit still anymore.

Kenneth had been fishing all along, targeting the old fox Danic. The Yggdrasil race couldn't possibly have missed Karna's displayed strength; being on the same side was pointless. What they really wanted was the power Kenneth possessed.

Gold is indeed a fool, but even fools have their uses. Those who can be won over by a fool are naturally fools as well. In that case, Danic can activate the backup plan. Conversely, if Kenneth is not won over by Gold, Danic will show up, say some polite words, and just pass the buck to Gold. It's just a formality to get rid of the matter. So, it's not just Kenneth who is waiting for Danic to show up; Danic is also waiting for Kenneth to make a choice.

"Oh? Interesting. It seems there are some intelligent people among you at the Thousand Worlds Tree. Tell me, I'll give you three minutes."

Arrogant, Kenneth's attitude was incredibly arrogant, but only in this way could Kenneth establish an image in Danic's mind. Karna's strength was one factor, as was the previous intimidation. Danic had a deep understanding of souls, and if he weren't completely confident, Kenneth would have really wanted to go to the Thousand World Tree and glare at him, saving Kenneth's subordinates from so many schemes.

"Master of Assassin, I am Danic, the patriarch of the Yggdrasil clan. We belong to the same faction and should gather together. Moreover, that Faker must have been summoned illegally. Ruler has already arrived. We are all intelligent people, so I think I don't need to say anything more."

With a smirk, Kenneth had to admit that this was indeed a magician who could elevate someone to the Grand rank with just words. He was very good at playing the game of politeness first and then force. Danic's meaning was simple: if Kenneth didn't agree, he would join forces with Ruler to eliminate the anomaly. If he couldn't have it, he would destroy it. A very realistic choice.

"You are threatening me."

A surge of superhuman magical power erupted from Kenneth, but without using any spells, his eyes suddenly sharpened, a show of defiance. Even now, Kenneth was still demonstrating his skills to Danic. It wasn't time to reveal his identity as a mage, much less to overturn the table. Kenneth needed to 'coexist peacefully' with that old fox Danic for a while.

"Not at all, Your Excellency's strength far exceeds my expectations. The Thousand Worlds Tree will certainly make you feel right at home. How about it, shall we cooperate?"

Feigning deep thought, after a short while, the snap of his fingers rang out again, and Gold, who had been bound to the chair by Kenneth, resumed his movements.

"Then, it's a pleasure to cooperate with you, Your Excellency."

"Yes, it's been a pleasure doing business with you, Chief Danic."

The projection disappeared, and the numb crowd shook their heads in a daze and resumed their previous actions, sitting back down opposite Gold. Kenneth gave a friendly smile, and the next second, Gold jumped up from his chair, bowing and scraping to Kenneth while quickly opening the door.

Satisfied with Gold's actions, Kenneth glanced at Siegfried, who was following behind Gold, and then, surrounded by Karna and the other two, got into the car bound for the Yggdrasil Clan.

Chapter 139 Cannon Fodder, Searching

Yggdrasil, a conglomerate originating in Northern Europe, grew by absorbing magic families that had fallen on hard times for various reasons, and Danic is the chairman of this conglomerate. Led by Gold, Kenneth crossed the dense array of barriers and puppets and entered a castle with a classical atmosphere. It was there that Kenneth met Yggdrasil's Berserker, the Three Reds War God, Berserker.

"Well, so it really is a gathering of teachers and students. I hope the person with the heel is alright!"

At this point, apart from Lancer of the red side, Kenneth had already learned about all the Servants in this Holy Grail War. Ascending the spiral staircase, Kenneth entered a slightly dimly lit study, where in the center of the study, the Grand Duke, who had been cultivating all night, was playing chess with Darnic.

"Magicians seeking the Holy Grail, first achieve victory as the Black faction. Only those who fight to the very end can hold up the omnipotent wish-granting machine."

With an air of otherworldly grace, the Grand Duke rambled on to Kenneth with a string of meaningless platitudes before handing the stage over to Danic. Danic bowed until the Grand Duke left, at which point he stood up and looked at Kenneth.

"Sir, please allow me to introduce myself. I am Danic..."

After a long and tedious conversation, Kenneth used the name of the vehicle killer Leon to appease Danic. After several unsuccessful attempts to probe him, Danic arranged for the android to take Kenneth to the guest room.

"Your Majesty, what do you think of him?"

"They have many schemes, but under my power, all their plots are futile."

The Grand Duke was very confident; no one knew Romania better than him. On the streets of Romania, the Grand Duke felt that no one could outwit him. With the composure befitting Vlad III, the Grand Duke continued the unfinished game of chess with Danic.

"Daniac, Vlad III, Dracula, what should we do with you...?"

As Kenneth pondered the remaining value of the two, he continued downwards. The androids created by the World Tree based on Einzbern technology were completely unaware of Kenneth's presence. In the underground magic factory, Kenneth found his target: Avisbro.

His gaze fell upon Roger, and the thirteen-year-old boy froze on the spot like a puppet. The next second, a crystal of pure magic appeared in Kenneth's hand. Before he could finish speaking, Avisbro's breathing suddenly became rapid.

"To seek out the original beings, one must offer them tribute. Do you think these artificial beings are appropriate? Or rather, what would be the point?"

With a casual smash of a petri dish, these artificial beings, whose success rate was far lower than that of Einzbern, died the moment they left the petri dish. Magic surged out, and in no time, the magic circuits of this corpse underwent a qualitative leap under Kenneth's modification.

His breathing grew heavier and heavier. Realizing what was happening, Avisbro immediately stepped forward to examine the corpse in front of him. As Avisbro's body trembled violently, he felt that he had found an opportunity to fulfill his dream!

"What are you hiding behind that mask? Magic circuits are necessary, and the spirit must be in harmony. You pursue the primordial will, but how far can you go?"

The seduction, like the whispers of a demon, was irresistible. Although this wasn't Gotham, Kenneth still played the role of the riddle-maker. In just a few minutes, Kenneth's words had broken down Avisbro's psychological defenses. Avisbro realized that the man before him could realize his dream, that his salvation was in the other's hands.

Crown of Wisdom, a Noble Phantasm with extremely high growth potential. Facing the possible appearance of the 666 Beast, Avisbro's extraordinary Noble Phantasm will become an essential tank for Kenneth.

"Let's make a pact, magician. For my dream, I will give my all."

"As you wish, Avisbro."

...

After selecting an "extremely suitable" unnamed homunculus for Avisbro, Kenneth left the magic factory and headed to the secret location of the Yggdrasil, the Holy Grail System from Fuyuki City.

"Tsk, is this what the Great Sundae looked like before it was contaminated? I must say, it's much more pleasing to the eye than that thing hanging on the wall."

Using his knowledge of the Holy Grail system, Kenneth hacked into the core of this giant furnace that connects to the earth's veins. Sin did not exist, the void was not yet filled, and the ritual before him awaited the opportune moment to be filled.

"Hey, is this the Holy Grail of this world? It looks a little different. Would you be angry if I destroyed it?"

Like a ghost, Ayaka Sajou popped out again. Maintaining an indifferent attitude, Kenneth turned and left the underground cavern. Kenneth's purpose in appearing here was simple: to check the Holy Grail system. The world held no secrets in Ayaka Sajou's eyes. Even though she had not yet shown the ability to interfere with the world, Kenneth had to ensure the normal operation of the Greater Grail for the sake of stability.

"Are you worried I'll harm the Holy Grail? Damn it, damn it, I won't destroy that thing. Ah~ I want to become one with you~ I want... all of you!!"

His expression twisted, and the phantom of Ayaka Sajou hopped and skipped around Kenneth, its infectious laughter piercing Kenneth's head with pain.

Returning to Romania, Shishikai Kairi and Mordred were fleeing in a somewhat disheveled state. Under Kenneth's guidance, Shishikai Kairi went to the church again. After several tests, Semiramis, the wicked woman Mordred mentioned, noticed something was wrong. If Amakusa hadn't had no intention of killing, Shishikai Kairi would probably have already become a member of the sleeping squad.

“Saber, you’re right. That priest isn’t as simple as he seems. Pshaw!!”

He drew his gun, leaped, and the familiar pigeon Semiramis used for tracking turned into a bloody mist with a single shot. He threw the Heart Grenade, and in the spreading smoke, Shiki-kun rolled back to the ground.

Clang——

The radiant royal sword, dragging crimson lightning, deflected the piercing spear. The next second, Achilles, with his loose-fitting robes, withdrew his spear and gave chase.

"Can't you just get to the point? What kind of man are you, dawdling like that?!"

Faced with Mordred's taunts, Achilles glanced at the pigeons that had gathered again, scoffed, and then appeared in front of Mordred as if by teleportation. The tip of his Star Spear, which had been soaring through the sky, fell down, and the ground beneath Mordred's feet collapsed with a deafening roar.

"You're so annoying!!"

After being chased by Achilles for hours and unable to shake him off, and with the other party unwilling to fight, Mo Zai's already meager mental state instantly exploded. The magic power within his body suddenly spread outwards, and countless magical lightning bolts rapidly spread outwards in a sweeping manner.

Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed that all the pigeons nearby had been sent flying by Mordred's attack. Achilles, who was focused on throwing the match, deliberately ran into the greatsword wrapped in crimson lightning and was heavily smashed away by Mordred.

"Saber, retreat immediately!"

The reminder from Shishi Jie Li stopped Mordred from engaging in a bloody battle. Mordred glared fiercely at Achilles, who had smashed through several large trees and was lying dead on the ground. He then removed the King's Sword from his hand, grabbed Shishi Jie Li by the collar, and began to attack.

After Mordred had completely left, Achilles, who was unharmed, jumped up from the ground with a start. He glanced at the pigeons that had somehow surrounded him again, spat, and then drew his spear and swayed back to the church.

Chapter 140 All I Seek Is Peace of Mind

In a Romanian cemetery, while fiddling with the skulls of innocent, long-buried souls, Mordred, dressed in a revealing outfit, propped her head up and looked at Shishijie Jie Li, who even wore sunglasses in the darkness. After a long while, Mordred, wanting to go out and cause a scene, slapped the pitiful skeleton in front of her away, glaring through gritted teeth at Shishijie Jie Li, who had been staring blankly at the formal attire Kenneth had given him since returning.

"You dumped that guy and then locked yourself in this place? Are you out of your mind?! I'm a knight, the rightful heir to King Arthur, how come I'm just sitting here all this time?!"

Watching Mordred roll on the ground like a child, Shishigake Kairi, who hadn't felt this way in a long time, smiled wryly and picked up the formal attire in his hand.

"Saber, if you're bored, you can go out for a walk. By the way, what do you think of that man?"

Through previous exchanges, Shizi Jieli was also aware of Mordred's wariness of Kenneth, but the current situation was very unfavorable for them. The Red team had become the sole voice of the party, and the Black team was destined to be the enemy. Just as Kenny said, as loners, they needed to communicate properly.

"Hey! You're not planning to team up with that guy, are you? That guy's got nothing but schemes on his head. Wake up!"

As Shizijie Jieli had expected, Mordred immediately bristled. Facing Mordred's approaching head, Shizijie Jieli instinctively leaned back a few feet. Considering the brat's personality, Shizijie Jieli said:

"Is your mind filled with conspiracies? I do have that feeling, but Your Majesty, you are very powerful. I think we can still make contact with them for the time being."

Overjoyed by the title "Your Majesty," Mordred casually draped her arm over Lion Jie Li's shoulder, her prominently swaying ponytail revealing that Mordred was easily swayed by this gesture.

"You think you're so clever? As the rightful heir to King Arthur, Mordred's strength is no joke. So what if he's a magician? I can subdue him with one hand."

Mordred slapped the old man's back with a hand that could kill a bull, making the magician, who was already in a midlife crisis, tremble a few times. After smoothing Mordred's fur, the magician called Kenneth and left his formal attire.

In the castle of the Thousand World Tree, Kenneth hung up the communication from Shishikage Kairi and pointed his finger. As the light particles gathered, a substitute created by the Third Law appeared before Kenneth. After arranging for the substitute to meet the subordinate from that other world, Kenneth closed his eyes and pondered the question that had been troubling him for a long time: should he try to win over Amakusa?

Faced with the potential threat of a calamity-inducing beast, Amakusa, whose goal is to save humanity, would certainly not refuse to cooperate with Kenneth. However, Kenneth has always been reluctant to make this choice, not because of any profit or goal, but simply because of his inner aversion.

"Why? Why do I instinctively reject him? If it were me back then, I should—no! I would definitely have cooperated with Amakusa..."

Rubbing his head, Kenneth looked at the ceiling in frustration. Although he was facing the same threat, Kenneth's mindset was completely different from when he transmigrated. Although he was just as anxious, the sense of crisis was not as intense as before. After a long while, a dark glint flashed in his eyes, and Kenneth noticed the imperceptible change.

"So that's how it is. As my power increased, my mindset changed, and my true nature was revealed?"

Neutral evil—this is the answer Kenneth came up with. His lack of power in the past made him incredibly cautious, but now, with his newfound power, he prefers to manipulate everything from a detached perspective, neither rejecting desire nor denying the possibility of killing. At the point of his journey, reality suppressed his evil side, revealing only a fleeting glimpse. But now, with the pressure dissipating, Kenneth's true nature is being revealed.

From clearing out the clock tower to rejecting Amakusa, from building trust with others to manipulating people's hearts now, it can be said that, except for a few individuals, Kenneth can hardly trust others anymore. His true nature has made him prefer the feeling of controlling others.

At this point, Kenneth finally understood why he disliked cooperating with Amakusa. One was an idealist who carried the burden of humanity's salvation on his shoulders, while the other was a sophisticated but self-serving individual seeking personal salvation. This was a clash of ideologies, a contradiction that could never be understood when standing on different paths.

"A delicate little person?"

Having understood everything, Kenneth faced two paths: suppress his true nature and cooperate with the savior to combat the potential crisis; or let go of his true nature, follow his own desires, manipulate everything as a sophisticated little man, and pursue his own salvation.

The room fell silent once more. Kenneth was caught in a struggle: return to the past or embrace his true self? Suppress his desires or follow them? Deep down, Kenneth had a feeling that his choice would have a huge impact on his future. This was a decision that concerned his path and his future.

"A normal person who adheres to the rules and suppresses their true self? Or a pure human being who follows their heart and liberates themselves? Suppression, liberation! Adherence, compliance!"

His thoughts were in disarray, his consciousness began to tear apart. At this moment, Kenneth stood at a crossroads of choice. Particles of his soul diffused through his body, and the shifting balance between good and evil caused the colors of Kenneth's soul to constantly change...

"Phew... Really, what am I agonizing over? My body has already made its choice, so why should I deny myself? So what if I'm neutral or evil? I feel indignant about evil but also mock good. Gem old man, I'm indebted to you again this time."

The interplay of black and white subsided, and the refined gray pointed Kenneth's soul in the right direction: neutrality versus evil. This was Kenneth's choice: to follow his desires, to be a pure human being, and to face the worldly gaze with the attitude of a schemer.

With Kenneth's epiphany, the Third Law, etched into his soul, was activated under some inexplicable circumstances. His spirit, consciousness, and soul, transcending the physical body, began to sublimate. The shackles that bound him shattered, and the strength of Kenneth's soul increased at an extremely exaggerated rate. The magic flowing in his circuits was as thick as blood, and his spirit, which was his weakness, became as resolute as iron at this moment.

"Facing myself and seeking the truth, I never thought I would be awakened by this sentence. The world is irrelevant to me. All I seek is peace of mind. From surviving to living better, people will always become the kind of person they hate. I am such a despicable person. However, I don't hate this feeling."

Having seen through his own heart, the man finally unleashed the beast within him. What he wanted was to live a better life; what he pursued was his heartfelt desire; what he desired was the purity of following his instincts.

Chapter 141 Offering Loyalty

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The dissipated magic vanished, and Kenneth emerged from his state of enlightenment. A seven-colored light shone in his indifferent eyes. Without further hesitation, following his heart, Kenneth would control the Black faction to destroy the Red faction, making the Black faction sacrifice everything for his own completion. Even if the Beast of Calamity descended, so what? The world was irrelevant to him. What Kenneth wanted to do was follow his heart and satisfy his desires. He wanted to live a better life.

"Knock knock knock—Mr. Leon, the patriarch wants to see you."

The voice of the android sounded outside the door. He opened the door with a calm smile. Half a day later, Kenneth met Danic again, and met this decaying magician who had survived by devouring souls.

"Sir, the Red team's Berserker is on their way. As our comrades, we'd like to witness your prowess in battle. Of course, we'll also assist you. For our shared victory, what do you say?"

"As expected of the man known as the Eight-Tongue Man, what a statement he makes. But is he trying to use me as cannon fodder? Interesting."

Kenneth nodded expressionlessly at Danic's compliments and left the room. Danic wanted to squeeze every last drop of value out of Kenneth before discarding him, and Kenneth, in turn, longed to turn him into a puppet. Unbeknownst to Danic, a glimmer of inspiration had already infiltrated his chaotic soul. Kenneth was waiting, waiting for the monster called Dracula to descend, for only that innocent monster deserved to be controlled.

Following the android into the hall, Kenneth found the assistant of the Thousand World Tree already waiting there. Looking at the energetic, androgynous pink-haired creature, Kenneth's mood became somewhat complicated.

"Hmm, so you're our partner this time? I'm Astolfo, one of Charlemagne's twelve warriors. Is that Faker next to you? Oh... oh! Is that Karna? You looked so cool fighting Archer earlier, with those fiery wings growing out of your back. Can you teach me how to do that?!"

Upon meeting, the little cutie stared up at the serious-looking Karna with starry eyes. The adoring gaze, coupled with her big, sparkling eyes, immediately made the usually taciturn Karna feel a little awkward.

"Karna, it's alright. Language is always the best way to communicate. Just say what you want to say, and Rider won't mind."

Encouraged by Kenneth, Karna pondered for a moment and then stammered out his answer to the little fangirl's (brother's) question, just like before. However, the harmony among Servants does not necessarily reflect the situation between Masters. Seeing that Astolfo's interest was entirely focused on the three people behind Kenneth, Sereneke, Astolfo's twisted Master, had some ulterior motives.

"You are Assassin's Master, right? Your Servant, Faker, is quite the handsome man."

Kenneth, whose true intentions lay elsewhere, harbored hormonal thoughts about Karna, whom he regarded as a mere plaything. His eyes narrowed, but Kenneth did not respond and stepped out of the gate of the Thousand World Tree.

"cut!"

Seeing that Kenneth was completely ignoring her, Sereneka's expression immediately twisted. Remembering the orders Danic had given her privately, Sereneka suppressed her rage and waited for an opportunity.

In the Romanian cemetery, Kenneth's consciousness split in two. His spirit possessed this temporary body. At the edge of his vision, the Lion Cutter, who could scare children to tears, sat on a grave, smoking a cigarette. Mordred, whose body was covered in armor, stood not far from Kenneth, leaning on his sword. Ignoring Mordred's increasingly tangible hostility, Kenneth calmly sat down on the grave opposite the Lion Cutter.

"Saber's Master, what do you want to know this time?"

“Master, he came alone.”

At Mordred's reminder, Shiro Jie Li looked up at Kenneth, who was sitting casually. He stubbed out his cigarette with a tense expression, his casual action and indifferent attitude making it seem as if the other party had him figured out.

"I want to know the truth about that priest, and how do you know all this?"

When asked a question by Shi Zi Jie Li, Kenneth nodded to indicate that he had heard it, then crossed his legs and remained silent, and the atmosphere gradually became tense.

"You bastard! What does this attitude mean?!"

Before long, Xiao Mo, who was already short-tempered, couldn't sit still any longer. He placed his crimson knight's sword on Kenneth's shoulder, and his angry voice seemed to want to tear the demon in front of him to shreds. Similarly, Shi Zi Jie Li did not stop Xiao Mo and continued to stare at the calm and composed Kenneth.

“Young man, don’t be too hot-blooded, you’ll get a beating, Mordred.”

Kenneth flicked the greatsword off his shoulder and snapped his fingers, and a phantom image of Artoria being forcibly fed by Morgan appeared before Mordred.

"King Arthur!! What is your relationship with her?! And Mother, is this all part of your conspiracy? Answer me! Magician!"

Clang——

He flicked away Mordred's sword as it pressed down again, turned his head, and a flash of seven-colored light appeared. Mordred's body suddenly froze for a moment, and it was in this instant that Kenneth spoke.