"..."

"Meanwhile, Rappa stood atop a building, gazing down at the city of beautiful dreams."

""...Yo, Toad Ninja." Rappa turned around, looking at the man walking towards her from behind."

Rook sighed softly: "I really hope you can call me something else in the next scene, my good actor. Are you alone?"

"Every Ninja Hero has their own prey. Silver Spear, Your Highness Shura, is merely assisting out of goodwill this time. Is there anything you need, sir?"

"Heh heh, you've helped me film such a wonderful movie, I'm here to present your payment."

Rappa shook her head: "There's no need for payment. This one acts heroically only for the ninja way in her heart, never coveting wealth."

"Don't say that. You'll definitely be interested in this payment, because the content of this payment is..." Rook paused slightly, his crimson eyes narrowing, seemingly enjoying the feeling of personally pushing the movie to its climax.

"—The whereabouts of the Dr. Primitive."

—

Fate/Emiya Household.

"Oh, oh, oh! The whereabouts of the Dr. Primitive!"

Rin Tohsaka's eyes instantly lit up. Clasping her hands together, she looked full of anticipation: "So, next, are they going to deal with the Dr. Primitive? Another great show of confronting an Emanator!"

If Madam Herta could also be called to deal with this Dr. Primitive, that would be even better. She was very curious what kind of sparks would fly when two Emanators of Erudition clashed.

"Aren't you afraid of the meme virus infecting you again through Celestial Screen?" Acher said indifferently, her arms crossed: "Currently, the biggest impacts are from the meme virus and the power of the Nihility Path. As long as there aren't any 'big scenes' like Phantylia's star-destroying event, there's no need to worry too much."

Saber finished a cup of instant noodles, a look of contentment on her face: "Ah... it's so good not to smell bananas. Even the instant noodles taste better."

"Saber, remember to eat less, we'll be having grilled fish soon." Just then, Shirou poked his head out from the kitchen: "Tōsaka, could you come and help me bring out the miso soup and grilled fish? Be careful, it's hot."

"Honestly, you're quite good at bossing me around." Rin Tohsaka complained, but her body dutifully left the warm kotatsu, put on her slippers, and walked towards the kitchen.

The two were busy in the kitchen for a short while. Shirou plated the last vegetable salad, while Rin Tohsaka carefully carried the steaming soup bowls and fragrant grilled fish.

"Alright, dinner's ready!" Shirou wiped his hands with an apron as he and Rin walked towards the living room.

However, as they reached the kotatsu, both of them were instantly stunned.

The lively area around the kotatsu was now empty.

Archer, Lancer, and even Saber, who was most dedicated to eating, had all vanished without a trace.

On the kotatsu table, four steaming cups of tea were still placed, and a pair of chopsticks rested on Saber's instant noodles... "Acher, stop joking, come out quickly."

Rin placed the dishes on the low table, then looked up, surveying the empty room, and scratched her head in confusion: "Strange, why can't I feel Acher's magic anymore?"

"Rin, me too." A drop of cold sweat slid down Shirou's cheek, "I can't feel Saber's connection either. Wh-what exactly is going on...?"

They... disappeared?

—

""Hoshino."

"After the opening ceremony, Robin proactively sought out Hoshino backstage, stating that she had a very important matter to discuss with her."

"Old Odi has recently been preparing a commercial event called the 'Holy Grail War' and wants to invite her and a representative from the Astral Express Crew to participate together to build momentum for the event. This 'Holy Grail War' is said to grant one wish upon victory—any wish at all. Hoshino, are you interested?"

"Grant any wish??"

"Hoshino's eyes instantly widened."

""How do I sign up?"

"Robin smiled gently: "There's no need to be so hasty. You can come with me to see Old Odi. It's said that we'll also receive something called a 'Command Seal.' Since this is Penacony's first Holy Grail War, there will also be interviews to attend...""

—

Fate/Zero.

"Pfft—!!"

In a slightly dilapidated small warehouse on the outskirts of Fuyuki City, Waver, who was drinking water, nearly choked to death and then coughed violently, his face turning beet red, almost becoming the first Master in history to choke on his own saliva.

"Th-they said what?! Holy Grail War?! In that kind of place?! What a joke!"

Leaving aside how they got that Holy Grail, the Holy Grail War has always been conducted in secrecy from the public. To do it so openly... and under the guise of a "commercial event," it just seemed strange, didn't it?

"Hmm?" Iskandar, the King of Conquerors, sitting opposite him, closed the map in his hand, and a look of great interest appeared on his rugged face, "Boy, what's going on with their Holy Grail War? Why would a Holy Grail appear in other people's hands?"

"This... I've never heard of it either, but the one who seems to possess the Holy Grail is that merchant, Old Odi. I also don't quite understand why a Holy Grail would appear in a merchant's hands. No, wait... the very fact that a Holy Grail appeared in Penacony is strange! And they even have Command Seals?"

"Boy, your intelligence work is terrible. You can't even get information on the enemy."

"Enemy? How could such people be enemies! They're separated by a whole..."

"If they are competing with us for the same Holy Grail, then they are our enemies!" The King raised his voice, but he wasn't angry; instead, he let out another booming laugh, "However, this is certainly interesting! Very interesting!! The Holy Grail that this King seeks, in another world, has become a strange commodity in the hands of a merchant? Used to host a... hmm, 'commercial event'?"

He stroked his chin, his eyes gleaming with the curiosity and excitement of a conqueror exploring unknown territories.

"So, what kind of individual is the Servant Hoshino summoned? Is it a hero from the Astral Express Crew? Or a hero from Penacony? If their war is a commercial event, then their objective is probably completely different from ours."

—

""As Penacony's previous superstar, Hoshino was once the focus of everyone's attention."

""And now, the unprecedented first Penacony 【Holy Grail War】 is about to begin, and Hoshino has once again returned to everyone's sight!""

""Come, sister, show the audience that thing on your hand... What was it called again... a tattoo?""

"Sampo zoomed the camera in a bit, moving from a close-up of her face down to the vivid red mark on the back of her hand."

""It's a 【Command Seal】!" Hoshino said proudly, putting her hands on her hips."

""That's right, a Command Seal! As proof of qualification to participate in the Holy Grail War, it's said that with its power, you can command famous figures from Penacony's history to fight for you!""