Xingyue, is Xiaokai also considered Kai?

"is it?"

Novia held up the Saint Quartz and peered inside through the light. "Saint Quartz, what a beautiful name. If I were the developer of the Saint Quartz, I would probably give it a name that is completely different from its true nature in order to hide its evil nature."

"Novia, you call it evil... but it's such a beautiful and convenient thing!"

"Ok, I know."

Novia stared at the Saint Crystal for a while, then stroked its surface with her fingertips again. "This was designed by Leonardo da Vinci after he heard you say, Doctor, that it would be great if there were a universal resource that could be used for all purposes. But ultimately, I heard from the Director that the concept of a universal resource itself existed back in the time of the former Director, who was her father."

"Indeed, even if Leonardo da Vinci hadn't been summoned, something similar would have appeared in Chaldea..."

After a brief silence, Novia spoke again with surprising calmness:

"And in these days, Doctor, you've also come to understand the anomaly of the Chaldea Gate, haven't you?"

"...As expected, you noticed it too, Advisor. Chaldea's system gradually accumulates some potential malfunctions over time. However, by giving these malfunctions a physical form and defeating them, we can sort out the fragments, clean up the system, acquire resources, and incidentally make Fujimaru stronger. It's a win-win-win situation."

At this point, Romani shook his head.

"I just don't understand how such a meticulous man could make such a strange mistake..."

"But we still owe you a lot, Romani. Your considerations were at least good for Ritsuka. If Romani hadn't developed the Super Book, if the Golden Apple hadn't been developed, it's hard to say what would have become of the 'Master' who always used Saint Quartz. After all, the idea that 'it's fine as long as you use Saint Quartz' is an incredible desire."

"..."

Looking at the smiling Novia, Romani was about to say something when he suddenly fell silent, feeling somewhat lost.

"...Ritsuka is amazing... unlike me, who's always so easily discouraged..."

The doctor vaguely remembered that when facing King Solomon, Fujimaru Ritsuka, despite being somewhat timid, remained resolute. Although he was somewhat influenced by King Solomon at the time, which caused the communication screen to be a bit blurry, it felt inexplicably real to him.

"Yes, Romani Archman is indeed cowardly and passive."

Novia nodded noncommittally, "But it's precisely because you're still working hard even so that everyone in Chaldea is working hard alongside you, isn't it? In a way, you saved our lives when Chaldea exploded."

"...Yes, I am indeed very afraid of that king, but that doesn't mean we've already lost."

In an instant, Romani seemed to remember something.

"Just get back on your feet, no matter what that man... no matter what Solomon is trying to do!"

"Not bad, very energetic. It's all thanks to your hard work that Ritsuka was able to go from a complete novice to a high-level Master by consuming a huge amount of AP. Just like your name, it's quite romantic."

"Haha, I'm actually being praised by Novia, the advisor with so many identities. But it shouldn't be 'you' but 'us,' right? After all, you're also a member of Chaldea. By the way, thinking about it, from another perspective, I was just being praised by a group of people. It's really making me quite shy."

Romani joked.

Based on Novia's previous feat of directly forcing Typhon to surrender in the Third Singularity, coupled with the events involving Kiyohime and Melsin, the Chaldea staff were now jokingly saying that Novia, the advisor, had quite a few 'aliases' as a pseudo-Servant.

Including but not limited to the first Pope Novia, Raymond, the ancestor of many royal families in Western Europe, the nameless monk of the Maitreya Temple, Typhon's wife Echidna, and even the priest who appeared ordinary in Fuyuki and never revealed his real name, etc...

Some staff members even secretly bet on who would be in the 'Shadow' next, which was one of their forms of entertainment.

"I rarely compliment people, so remember that, doctor."

Novia nodded in agreement, seemingly indicating that this viewpoint wasn't entirely unfounded.

In fact, from various perspectives, the Chaldea system itself was designed specifically to cultivate Masters into independent Masters. But in the end, the old director may have already included the loss of highly trained Masters, led by Group A, in the system.

That's why the Gate of Chaldea has accumulated hidden dangers, but Romani used this to create various levels to eliminate them.

But how many things in the world today actually go smoothly and as planned?

To think that one can control everything is an arrogance. The old director did think of a 'Master', but he probably didn't know that this Master would be 'Fujimaru Ritsuka'.

"In that case, I'll give you a gift when I have the chance in the future."

"Hmm? What is it? Is it a strawberry cake?"

"What are you thinking? I'm just introducing you to a potential partner. After all, you're not getting any younger, Doctor."

After Novia finished speaking, she turned and left, as if to indicate that she had said everything she needed to say.

"……what?"

Romani was somewhat at a loss, as he remembered that Novia believed he was already married.

After all, he saw the ring under his gloves and mistook it for his wedding ring...

But he didn't take it to heart, thinking it was probably just Novia joking.

After talking with Novia, Romani's mood improved considerably after learning that the mastermind was 'Solomon'.

The next second, Romani started writing the unfinished note on the table again—

If we want to overcome this battle, it would be best to summon a powerful Servant.

However, if you can actually consume the equivalent of a thousand Saint Quartz AP in the future, then even as a weak woman, you should be able to become the only and strongest Master of mankind.

To achieve this goal, I must prepare even more challenging challenges. Leonardo da Vinci, her son Glenn, and Novia's advisor will all be there to help. On one hand, I feel very sorry for you, but on the other hand, I am also very much looking forward to it.

Next, just as Romani was about to put down his pen and put it away, he seemed to remember something and added a sentence to the end of the note:

"I think it's true, as Novia said, that a complete novice can eventually become a high-level Master by consuming a huge amount of AP... Isn't that a very romantic thing?"

……

A few days later, Ritsuka, who was still asleep, was awakened by a sudden alarm. Sensing that something might be wrong, she rushed to the control room, only to find that Novia was the only one there.

"It's too tragic, like waking up early in the morning to find that all the data up to yesterday has collapsed."

"what?"

Ritsuka was somewhat taken aback by Novia's seemingly sarcastic remark.

"Well, to put it simply, Ritsuka, did you encounter anyone on your way here?"

"No, there's no one here... Huh? That's strange."

Ritsuka, belatedly realizing that Chaldea was far too quiet, as if there was no one left.

“That’s right. Now, everyone except you and me has disappeared from Chaldea. Not to mention the control room, even the Chaldea staff on standby have all vanished without a trace. In other words, this is an obstruction by an external enemy, or rather, an act of aggression, and it is based on clear malice.”

Novia explained it this way.

Of course, he always felt that Draco was just running around aimlessly, after all, a first-class planetary level expert is not someone who is easily defeated.

"How did they manage that...? Everyone's gone..."

“Spirit transfer, a forced reverse spirit transfer summoning that uses spirit transfer, to put it simply, means that everyone was forcibly transferred away by spirits using something we have not noticed as a catalyst.”

"So, what should we do next, consultant..."

To be honest, although Ritsuka didn't really care about what she said, it was still a subconscious statement.

"Don't worry, after I came to the control room, all the parameters of the spirit transfer-related machinery were fixed. In other words, they are still pointing to a fixed coordinate. That is to say, the person who did this is at this coordinate. I don't know if they forgot or if there was a possibility of intentional inducement."

"Which singularity is that in?"

"Yes, the fourth singularity, located in London, England."

Novia said thoughtfully.

"Ritsuka, as you know, we just discussed a few days ago that we should deal with the increasingly volatile Fifth Singularity first, and leave the Fourth one for later. However... however, I don't know what happened, but the influence of the Fourth Singularity is expanding..."

No, it's an extension. The 'chaotic phenomena' in the singularity should have been confined to that singularity... but while maintaining its singularity, this singularity is attempting to interfere with pan-human history.

Moreover, it seems to have merged with something, encompassing not only London, and its concept lies somewhere between pollution and meaninglessness; let's call it the Humanity Collapse Domain.

Originally, Chaldea planned to conquer each singularity one by one. However, after conquering the third singularity, the staff observing the fifth singularity discovered that the singularity's level fluctuated wildly, sometimes being Ex and sometimes -, and would disappear as if it had never happened. In response to this unusual situation, they initially wanted to go to the fifth singularity.

Since this situation happened so suddenly, it seems we have no choice but to go to the London Singularity first.

To be honest, the Novia anomaly from the Fourth Singularity felt somewhat familiar, like something out of the Ooku...

His thoughts were quickly interrupted by Ritsuka.

“Understood. In any case, now that we know the coordinates where everyone was taken, and the spiritual transfer channel leading there is still open... then the advisor and I have no choice but to go there, rush to the scene, find the culprit, and rescue everyone.”

"Yes, that's certainly true in conclusion."

Seeing Ritsuka's determined gaze, Novia stopped thinking and together with Ritsuka initiated the spirit transfer to the Fourth Singularity.

……

Earlier in time, in the Fourth Singularity, in the city of London, a city shrouded in the fog of death.

In a fog-shrouded city stands a library, its tall Victorian building appearing and disappearing in the mist, tiny water droplets condensing on its ancient stone walls and intricately carved window frames.

The steps in front of the library were covered by a thin layer of fog, and the streetlights emitted a faint yellow light, forming a blurry halo in the fog and illuminating the deserted street.

"No, something terrible has happened, Miss Yuanyuan!"

Suddenly, an urgent voice rang out in the library. The owner of the voice pushed open the heavy oak door and entered the tall and spacious hall with a low creak. The wooden floor gleamed softly under the dim light.

In the center of the hall were several long reading tables, each with a few antique bronze lamps, and the air was filled with the scent of books and wood.

"Huh? What happened, Aria?"

At the empty reading table, Kichijouin Lily flipped through books, not looking up at the pink-haired girl with fox ears who was running over, her eyes squinting, and who was inexplicably covered in sweat.

"Ha ha……"

Exhausted, the pink-haired girl took a deep breath and finally shouted, "Japanese architecture has appeared in the skies above London!"

"Don't make a fuss, it's just a mirage."

"Does Aria mean that Jack's mother is on top?"

In response to Tamamo Aria's words, besides Kichijoin's disdain, there was also a white-haired girl pacing back and forth beside the bookshelf.

"Jack! How many times do I have to tell you, stop talking about your mother all the time! Your mother can't be Japanese, can she?"

Because the two completely ignored her, Aria, who was furious, opened her eyes slightly, revealing her golden eyes, and looked somewhat exasperated.

"Ah, Aria is a bad boy, she's scolding her mother. When her mother comes, we'll rip out Aria's heart and give it to her, because Jack is a good boy, a good boy."

Jack calmly uttered words that were enough to infuriate Aria.

"I'm so angry, so angry, I'm so angry!"

To be honest, Aria Tamamo is so cute that anyone who sees her would turn into a docile mount.

However, after arriving in London, her encounters with Jack and Kichijoin made her feel somewhat withdrawn...

Damn it, once I find the target and bewitch him, I'll make him teach you a lesson!

"Alright, alright, since little Aria is making such a fuss, Jack, why don't you go and take a look?"

"OK, all right."

Then, as Jack looked out the window at the London sky shrouded in mist, his voice changed slightly.

"...It seems like things are really not looking good..."

Upon hearing Jack's words, Kichijoin frowned. He first carefully closed the book and put it back on the shelf, then went to the window to read.

The Ooku, a Japanese architectural complex, rapidly expanded throughout London from Scotland Yard and became an integral part of it.

The black-haired girl, utterly bewildered, could only say this:

"Don't panic, this is just a technical adjustment based on human reasoning..."

But suddenly, Kichijoin looked at Scotland Yard and seemed to have discovered something. After thousands of years, he once again showed the same joyful smile that he only had when he was the 'Pope'.

"Oh my, so we're from the same kind. Let me see if I can tie them up and send them over as a gift before Lord Novia arrives..."

Large and small courtyards.jpg.

Chapter 375 Tokugawa Shogun? He doesn't seem as good as the Scotland Yard Director.

A dimly lit room.

Through the gap in the curtains, where a little light was letting in, one could glimpse the room next door, shrouded in a hazy mist.

Judging from the view behind the room, it is clear that this room is a rare find in London, with multiple rooms.

The interior, illuminated by dim light, gives it the feel of a modern office.

"It went quite smoothly. In the end, we successfully entered the London police station – Scotland Yard."

Novia glanced around briefly and then reached out to look at the documents on the table. "In other words, it's like we've directly barged into a heavily guarded place."

"Huh... the police station?"

Upon hearing this, Ritsuka looked out the window, somewhat bewildered, but could only make out some hazy, indistinct things due to the fog.