In Britain, the Noble Phantasm: Divine Key

Upon hearing this, everyone's eyes widened in shock.

Joan of Arc was about to step forward when a black and white spear was pointed at her head, preventing her from taking another step.

"What follows is an internal matter for the Black Faction. As the Ruler, you'd better remember your place," Yanan said expressionlessly.

Joan of Arc frowned and said, "How can I do this? How can I just watch a life be lost..."

"Whether he is alive or not, he is the internal property of our Black Faction," Yanan said calmly. "Besides, didn't you hear? This android is an important tool for perfecting our Caster Noble Phantasm."

Caster and Roger's eyes lit up immediately. Did Rider mean to help them?

Koles and his sister Fiore exchanged a glance and frowned simultaneously.

Danic's face instantly stiffened. If Archer really clashed with Rider, it would be an unbearable blow for them!

No! This absolutely cannot be allowed to happen!

However, Danic couldn't think of a good way to resolve the dispute at the moment.

“How can you make such a racket in front of outsiders?” A deep, authoritative voice came from the void, and Vlad III Lacner emerged from it.

“Your Majesty.” Danic, Gold, and the others quickly bowed.

Vlad III glanced at the trembling homunculus, then turned to Caster: "Caster, are you sure this homunculus is the core you've been searching for?"

“That’s right! It’s him, I’d swear on my life!” Caster said quickly.

Vlad III showed no reaction, but turned to Archer: "Archer, are you determined to save this homunculus?"

“I will never turn a blind eye to those in need,” Archer said calmly.

"Since you two are unable to reach an agreement, let's discuss it another day," Vlad III said coldly. "Gold, this homunculus is yours for now. Keep a close eye on him. If anything happens to him, I will hold you accountable first."

Chapter Nine has reached its limit...

"Huh? Leave it to...me?" Gold was a little confused. He was just here to watch the show, so how did this melon suddenly fall on his head?

"Is there a problem?" Vlad III glanced at him, his tone unchanged.

Gold gritted his teeth and lowered his head: "Yes, I understand."

He then turned to Siegfried and said, "Saber, go and bring that homunculus over here."

With Archer and the three-headed dog guarding him, he dared not go forward himself.

Saber nodded and silently walked towards the android.

"No...don't come any closer!"

As if sensing the impending danger, the android's will to survive was instantly ignited. He raised his arm, pointed at Siegfried, gritted his teeth, and, drenched in sweat, groaned with difficulty and pain:

"Guidance [Straβe] / Activate [Gehen]!"

The dark green, regular stripes were instantly activated, and the magicians around them couldn't help but look even more astonished at this sight.

"It can even control magic circuits..."

Caster's breathing grew heavier as if he were gazing at some rare treasure, while Saber's face remained expressionless as she continued walking towards the homunculus without stopping.

Just as the android was about to fight back, a hand suddenly chopped at his neck, instantly knocking him unconscious.

"Thank you."

Saber nodded to Anan, bent down, picked up the android, and left the incubation chamber with Gord.

Whether it was Anan's intervention or Saber taking away the androids, Archer remained silent, watching Saber and her group leave with the androids, as if he couldn't see anything.

Joan of Arc, the only outsider present, had a complex expression on her face. After a long while, she could only let out a soft sigh.

"This homunculus will be temporarily kept by Gold. Until a final conclusion is reached, none of you are allowed to approach it. Anyone who violates this rule will be treated as a traitor." Vlad III glanced around, his figure gradually dissipating into spiritual particles. "Danick, come to the Royal Chamber. I have something to discuss with you."

Danic bowed slightly and said, "Yes."

Seeing that the androids had all been taken away, the others had no reason to stay any longer, so they followed suit and left one after another.

Just as Yanan was about to leave, a hand suddenly grabbed the hem of his clothes.

Looking at Jeanne d'Arc behind him, dressed in a high school girl's uniform, Anaen said with a hint of helplessness, "Weren't you leaving already?"

“I don’t understand why you did this.” Joan of Arc gently bit her lower lip. “That child has developed his own will, and he deserves the freedom to choose his own future.”

"Freedom? Who lives in this world truly free?" Yanan scoffed. "Even we, once-renowned heroes, haven't we become mere tools for others to pursue their own interests?"

"No...this is..."

“This is none of your business, Joan of Arc. Don’t forget you are the Ruler. You have your own things to do.” Anahn lightly brushed Joan of Arc’s hand away and strolled outside.

However, Joan of Arc stood in his way, staring straight at him: "I will not forget my duty, but I expect you to give me an answer."

"The answer? That android can improve our Caster's Noble Phantasm, increasing our chances of winning. That's my answer. Are you satisfied?" Anahn replied casually, continuing to walk away.

But Joan of Arc once again stood in his way: "I do not believe you would sacrifice innocent lives for victory."

"Innocent? That android was created to be used as a expendable resource. I don't think he's innocent at all. Besides, how long have you and I known each other? Making such a judgment about someone so easily only exposes your naivety and ignorance," Yanan said sarcastically.

“Perhaps my experience and knowledge are indeed insufficient, but the merciful Lord will guide me on the path forward.” Joan of Arc pressed her hand to her heart, her gaze fixed firmly on Anahn. “I do not believe that you, who possess that power, would do such a thing as leaving someone to die.”

Looking into those clear, clean violet eyes and that familiar, righteous face, Anan remained silent for a moment before letting out a helpless sigh.

"Alright, come with me."

Between the kings.

Vlad III, dressed in a black tuxedo, sat on his throne, holding a glass of blood-red wine, his gaze deep and profound.

"Danick, do you know why Yu just did that?"

Danic, standing to the side, bowed slightly and said, "No, even if a magician as insignificant as me thinks deeply, I can't possibly keep up with the thoughts of someone as renowned as 'Little Dragon King'."

Vlad III suddenly gave him a displeased look:

“Danic, if obedience turns into blind obedience, it means that’s all you’re capable of. You who address me as Lord are my Master, and I am a Servant; this is undeniable.”

"……Yes."

"That's gone too far..." Danic clicked his tongue inwardly. Even so, Lancer... Vlad III was once the ruler of Romania. Even when facing a magician who was detached from worldly affairs and could commit heinous acts without batting an eye, he wouldn't hesitate to express his respect.

Of course, it is the absolute distinction between superiors and subordinates established by the Command Seals that maintains their relationship. It is because he holds the collar that can restrain the other person in a crisis that Danic is willing to show his loyalty.

“A ruler must take a holistic view, weigh gains and losses, and remain impartial.” Vlad III gently swirled the red wine in his glass. “Only in this way can he win the hearts and minds of the people and maintain overall stability.”

Danic pondered for a moment, then tentatively asked, "You mean, you want to use that android to counterbalance Archer and Caster?"

“Archer is one of our top combat forces, and Caster is also our largest source of manpower. Losing either of them would be an unbearable loss for us, and could even cause internal divisions.” Vlad III took a sip of red wine. “Right now, both sides have an extreme obsession with that homunculus. Favoring either side will cause dissatisfaction from the other. Therefore, it is better to remain neutral and thus keep both sides in check.”

“So that’s why you handed that android over to Gold, who doesn’t belong to either side.” A thoughtful look appeared in Danic’s eyes, then he let out a long sigh. “Fortunately, Rider stepped in at that time, otherwise Caster alone wouldn’t have been able to stop Archer at all.”

The premise of a balance of power is that the two sides are evenly matched. With Archer's strength, he is more than capable of easily defeating ten Casters. If he is determined to protect the androids, Casters will be powerless against him. At that point, they will have to make a choice between the two sides.

Fortunately, Rider stepped up and achieved a balance with Archer.

"Do you really think that Rider stood up for the sake of Caster to protect that android?" Vlad III glanced at Danic with a half-smile.

“You mean…” Dannick’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“Don’t forget, Danic, Rider is a king just like me. Do you think he wouldn’t see what I can see?” Vlad III said leisurely.

"You mean he deliberately stepped forward to use himself to restrain Archer?" Dannick asked, his brow furrowing slightly.

"The art of balance is a required course for every king. It was precisely because Rider sided with Caster that I took that approach."

Vlad III tilted his head back and drank the red wine in his glass in one gulp, looking at his pale face through the smooth glass.

"This is a tacit understanding that only kings can achieve."

"So, you only stepped forward to help Caster?" Jeanne stared unblinkingly at Anahn, her large violet eyes shining brightly.

“I have to convince Caster that I’m on his side, or he might do something crazy,” Yanan said as he walked down the corridor without turning his head.

In the original work, Caster betrayed the Black Faction and shifted his target to his own Master precisely because he had no hope of making Sieg the core.

Yanan did this precisely to prevent the tragedy from happening again.

“This is wonderful.” Joan of Arc intertwined her fingers, a beautiful smile on her face. “You really aren’t that kind of person.”

"Don't be so happy yet. The crisis with that homunculus isn't over yet," Yanan said calmly. "Vlad III is currently trying to use that homunculus to restrain Caster and Archer, but if we fall behind in the battle against the Reds, he will still sacrifice the homunculus without hesitation, or..."

He suddenly stopped and turned to look at Joan of Arc meaningfully: "Use him to coerce you."

Joan of Arc's face immediately froze.

“So, if you really care about him, don’t show your concern for him, and it’s best not to see him again,” Yanan said calmly.

“I…” Joan of Arc pursed her lips, then lowered her head in frustration. “I understand.”

Yanan nodded, glanced at the night outside the window, and said, "Alright, it's about time now. It's about time you..."

thump—

Without any warning, Joan of Arc suddenly fell to the ground.

Yanan was stunned and quickly went over to pick him up: "Hey! What are you doing!?"

"I'm sorry." Joan of Arc forced a smile and raised her head. "Because I manifested in this world through possession this time, so—"

"So?" Yanan tilted his head.

"We've reached our limit..."

Chapter Ten: Archer, Late-Night Talk

Heroic Spirits are beings summoned from the Throne of Heroes to the mortal world through the Holy Grail ritual. Their existence is based on the Holy Grail, and their activity is powered by magic. In other words, they do not need to replenish their nutrition or adjust their bodies with food and sleep. As long as they have sufficient magic, they can be active at a high intensity 24 hours a day.

Of course, there are sometimes special cases. For example, when the Master's magical energy level is too low, the Servant can replenish magical energy through sleep and eating. However, this method is extremely inefficient and far less efficient than normal magical energy replenishment.

Jeanne d'Arc, appearing in the world as a Ruler, has her magical power directly supplied by the Greater Grail, so she naturally does not experience a lack of magical power. However, unfortunately, she does not descend in the form of a normal Heroic Spirit, but rather appears in the world by possessing the girl Leticia, which makes her have many flaws.

She gets hungry if she doesn't eat and sleeps if she doesn't sleep. Although she can ignore these things, Leticia's body can't handle it. Once she's on the verge of her limit, Leticia's body will force her to log off.

Two full days and one nights have passed since Joan of Arc disembarked at Henri Coander Airport. She has not eaten or drunk anything the entire way, nor has she closed her eyes to rest for even a moment. For a girl who is only fourteen or fifteen years old, it is quite remarkable that she has been able to persevere this long.

Joan of Arc originally planned to find a church to rest in immediately after leaving the World Tree Castle, but unfortunately, her journey was delayed again because of the homunculi. Now she could no longer hold on, and with Ananon by her side, who made her feel very safe, she simply collapsed.

"So, this is your reason for bringing her back?" Nidhogg raised an eyebrow slightly as he looked at Joan of Arc lying quietly on the bed, then turned to look at Anahn.