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Shirou breathed a sigh of relief as he finally managed to free himself from Arcueid's firm grip. He hadn't surrendered; he simply tossed his phone away, and in a flash, the golden retriever ran over to retrieve it.
Sitting up on the bed, he winced and instinctively rubbed his waist. Her forceful hold had pinned him down, his waist awkwardly wedged against the bed's edge. The position had put significant strain on his sciatic nerve and spine, reminding him of the excruciating pain he had felt when his lumbar vertebrae had fractured before.
Even though the mud possessed remarkable healing properties, he definitely didn't want to go through the agony of a broken back again.
"Shirou, I'll keep this phone for now!" she waved the phone in front of him before stuffing it into her pocket.
Shirou really wanted to say that it was useless since he had already memorized Kariya's number in his head. However, he was unsure of what this True Ancestor would do if he said that. Perhaps she would unleash a "physical memory loss punch" or something equally disturbing.
He never wanted to face Arcueid's strength again; it felt like a futile attempt to compare his own weakness to her overwhelming power. It was simply foolish!
He looked at her with a serious expression. "Don't touch or delete anything on my phone. There are a lot of important numbers stored in there."
She smiled and nodded in understanding. She took his phone, not with any intention of deleting anything, but rather out of a fear that he might call Kariya and reveal her current whereabouts.
Escaping from that cramped, little black room had been an incredibly difficult task for her. The mere thought of being caught again made her shudder, dreading the mind-numbing computer work and the frustrating inability to conjure a single word.
Shirou gently massaged his sore wrist, a vivid reminder of her astonishing strength. The grip she had on him still lingered, causing discomfort.
Despite constantly reminding himself that it was unreasonable for a regular human body to match a True Ancestor's might, he couldn't shake off his unwillingness.
He couldn't believe how effortlessly she had pinned him down, leaving him flailing helplessly. The sheer humiliation was too much to bear!
He needed to find a way to enhance his own physical strength!
The most crucial thing was that someone had seen them just now. It sounded like Gray.
In other words, had Artoria also seen them?
Actually, he knew that Artoria was hiding within Gray's body.
Before deactivating the Class Card, he used his second Noble Phantasm and saw through the connection between Gray and Artoria.
It had to be said that Morgan, the mastermind behind the Adra Castle incident, had done a splendid job. However, he chose not to expose Gray and Artoria.
On his recent visit to Waver, while discussing the Fourth Holy Grail War, Waver mentioned that he had shared the basic information of the war with Gray.
In other words, Artoria probably learned about the Fourth Holy Grail War from Gray.
He wanted to see when she would dare to stand before him and admit her identity.
"Knock, knock, knock—"
The sound of knocking came from the door.
"Who's there?"
"It's me, Your Majesty," Lorelei's voice came from outside the door.
He raised an eyebrow and said, "Come in."
"Sorry for the interruption, Your Majesty."
Dressed in a formal attire, Lorelei stepped into the room.
"What's the matter, Lord Barthomeloi."
"Oh, no, in the presence of Your Majesty, I would never dare to address myself as 'Lord'!" she hastily waved her hand in panic.
After a momentary pause, she regained her noble composure, radiating elegance as she continued, "Zelretch-sama requests your presence, Your Majesty. The carriage awaits downstairs. Please follow me."
"Understood," He then glanced at Arcueid, "I'm heading out for a bit. Don't follow me."
"Okay..." she nodded and pulled out her phone.
He couldn't resist adding, "And hey, don't go deleting anything from my phone, got it?"
She stretched her voice, "Got it~!"
He caught up with Lorelei and stepped outside.
The other residents who were staying in different rooms also came out.
They were all dressed in suits, exuding an air of high society, as they watched Shirou and Lorelei leave.
Indeed, the occupants of the hotel had been replaced before Shirou returned.
In fact, even the entire hotel staff had been replaced. There was no need to mention who was behind this.
After all, even the snack street had been replaced just like that.
However, these were merely minor ripples, and he turned a blind eye to them, accepting them calmly.
And why shouldn't he? After all, he had once reigned as a king, weathering through countless storms and tempests. These were truly just minor disturbances.
As Shirou descended the stairs, he was greeted by an impressive convoy of luxurious cars, a procession of magi adorned in flashy red capes. The street itself was flanked by a group of individuals dressed in black, forming a barricade.
It felt like a scene straight out of a royal gathering, with the Queen of England in attendance.
Onlookers filled the street, their curiosity piqued as they eagerly craned their necks, hoping to catch a glimpse of someone important.
Just as he was about to step onto the ground, Lorelei called out, "Wait a moment, Your Majesty."
"What's wrong?" He asked, coming to a stop.
"It seems like the people in charge didn't do a great job. The red carpet is a little crooked. Just give me a moment," she crouched down and tugged at the front of the hotel's red carpet, bringing it closer. With a noble gesture, she looked up and said, "Your Majesty, please..."
Shirou: "..."
Just a small display.
He calmly stepped onto the red carpet and entered the car, his expression unchanged. Lorelei followed suit and settled in beside him.
The convoy started to move, slowly picking up speed.
He glanced out of the window and commented, "Lady Lorelei, you've really put on quite a show here."
"When Your Majesty graces us with his presence, how could the House of Barthomeloi be anything less than perfect?"
"How is the House of Barthomeloi faring these days?"
She responded with a serious expression, "Your Majesty, I am pleased to inform you that the House of Barthomeloi has remained strong and prosperous for a thousand years. We stand as the elite among nobles, both in London and in the world, encompassing both the surface world and the magi community."
He looked outside and commented, "That's reassuring to hear... However, this grand spectacle is completely unnecessary. The era of the Eternal King has come to an end, and the title of the Eternal King belongs solely to the realm of mystery. There's no need to create a commotion in the surface world."
She reassured him, "You can be completely at ease. The secret of the Eternal King will remain unknown to anyone in the surface world, including the current Queen of England. However, some of the other lords at the Clock Tower are aware of your situation. But rest assured, they wouldn't dare to disturb Your Majesty. I give you my word as a Lord and as the head of House Barthomeloi."
He nodded slightly, "I appreciate your dedication and hard work."
"To continue serving Your Majesty is the long-cherished wish of the House of Barthomeloi, spanning a thousand years!" she smiled with a face filled with longing.
Shirou found it incredibly strange. From a logical standpoint, loyalty that spans three generations is already incredibly rare.
So he couldn't help but wonder, why does the House of Barthomeloi continue to serve a deceased king even after more than 1,500 years? It was a question that perplexed him.
His lack of knowledge about the education of the House Barthomeloi played a significant role in his confusion.
The House of Barthomeloi was an exceptionally aristocratic family, and the origins of their extreme ideology traced back to their very ancestor—the one who had been granted the Red Dragon Badge. The education they had received for generations revolved around the pride of being bestowed with such an honor by the Eternal King.
The Red Dragon Badge could be considered the spiritual cornerstone of the House Barthomeloi, serving as a constant source of inspiration for them to strive forward, demand nothing short of excellence, and hold themselves in high regard compared to other families.
Therefore, the position of the Eternal King, the one who had bestowed the Red Dragon Badge, held an unquestionable presence within the spiritual realm of the House Barthomeloi.
And how great was the power of the House of Barthomeloi?
Seeing that they're standing at the top of the Clock Tower, amidst the factions and numerous aristocrats, it was obvious that the House Barthomeloi had massive influence and power.
After all, this colossal entity has thrived in London for over 1,500 years. Throughout these centuries, dynasties, kingdoms, and even royal families have fallen, yet the House of Barthomeloi remains standing tall, positioned at the apex of all lineages. This demonstrates the immense power this family possesses, both in the surface and inner worlds.
With the Red Dragon Badge and the Eternal King as its spiritual foundation, the roots of House Barthomeloi ran deep.
As the procession made its way through the streets, the onlookers couldn't help but be filled with awe. To an unknowing observer, it might have appeared as though a parliamentary session was taking place, with even the Queen herself in attendance. The crowd quickly scattered, giving way to the grand display.
Finally, they reached their destination—the Clock Tower.
Lorelei, taking on the role of a steward, guided Shirou inside the tower.
The absence of other lords was hardly surprising. Within the Clock Tower, fierce power struggles between different factions were a common occurrence. Yet, if there was one force capable of quelling all these factions, it was none other than House Barthomeloi.
The House of Barthomeloi held unparalleled dominance over the Clock Tower more than 1,500 years ago. However, as time progressed and the family's aristocratic ideology grew more extreme, their authority began to wane. Despite this decline, whenever the Barthomeloi family stirred, other factions dared not challenge them, as long as it didn't threaten their fundamental interests.
This wasn't for any other reason but because it has always been this way since ancient times.
Furthermore, the current visitor was none other than the Eternal King!
Over 1,500 years ago, there was a person who brought together the magi, giving them land and opportunities to grow. He was the original owner of the Clock Tower, even more influential than Zelretch. But similar to Zelretch, nobody dared to challenge him. Instead, the entire Clock Tower revolved around this person.
This was only natural. When the stakes are too high, it's no longer a matter of factions competing for the stakes; rather, the factions revolve around the stakes.
Zelretch embodied this principle.
And Eternal King was no exception.
However, Zelretch preferred to distance himself from such matters, allowing the factions to revolve around him of their own accord. In contrast, the Eternal King relied on the House of Barthomeloi as his guard dogs, dissuading the factions from making any moves.
In that moment, the Lords could only wear bitter smiles.
It finally dawned on them why Zelretch held that person in such high regard. They had even engaged in heated debates, arguments, and personally insisted on bringing that person into the Clock Tower.
After all, wasn't it the most logical thing to do?
Zelretch and the Eternal King...
They were the ones who joined forces over 1,500 years ago to bury the Crimson Moon!
One of the lords let out a sigh, "Looks like the Clock Tower is in for some big changes."
But Shirou couldn't care less about the internal power struggles within the Clock Tower. To him, it was all just a bunch of kids playing pretend, and he had no desire to get tangled up in their games.
What really piqued his interest were the clues that Zelretch was bringing.
Lorelei had shown herself to be a capable guide, leading him right to the door of Zelretch's room before coming to a halt.
"Go ahead, Your Majesty. Zelretch has been expecting you," she said, her voice carrying a touch of elegance as she gestured towards the entrance.
He gave a subtle nod, "Thank you."
He gently pushed the door open and stepped inside. The room greeted him with complete darkness, as if light had never found its way inside. It was a mess, with objects scattered haphazardly and an unpleasant stench that hinted at neglect.
"Brother... Brother?" A delicate voice, filled with uncertainty, called out from the shadows.
Curiosity compelled him to follow the voice, leading his gaze to a young girl with ebony hair. She wore a white shirt and peered at him with a mixture of apprehension and confusion etched on her face.
He couldn't help but feel a wave of surprise wash over him, wondering how she had ended up in this room.
