Gilgamesh was momentarily stunned, not expeg such a stroion from Zhang Jiao.
---
The First Emperor: "Oh, are you my desdant?"
The First Emperor: "Very good, very spirited. But there's o be riled up."
The First Emperor: "As a citizen of a great nation, maintain ynity before the king of a small, ignorant nd."
---
Hero King: "Ignorant… small nd?!"
Hero King: "Mongrel, who are you calling that?"
The First Emperor: "Hmph, the barbarian king truly has no manners."
Hero King: "World's first emperor? It's just aitle to stroke yo."
The First Emperor: "What would a simpleton like you know of an emperor's true meaning?"
The First Emperor: "The territory of my Great Qin stretches far and wide—from Liaodong in the east to the western pteaus, from Lingnan in the south to the Yin Mountains in the north. Over a thousand ties, each its own city."
The First Emperor: "And you, fn king? How many cities do you rule?"
---
Hero King: "…"
---
The King of querors: "Hahaha! As expected of the First Emperor. Truly impressive."
The King of querors: "But I'm not oo back dowher."
The First Emperor: "Oh? And you are…?"
---
Chihiro: "First Emperor, this is Iskandar, the quering King of the West. He lived around the same time as your aor. In his lifetime, he trolled around 5.2 million square kilometers and ruled over a popution of about 20 million."
The First Emperor: "And what of me?"
Chihiro: "You ruled over roughly 3.4 million square kilometers, with a popution of around 30 million."
---
The King of querors: "Hahaha! First Emperor, it seems we both hold round quite well."
The First Emperor: "You are a respectable king, worthy of my aowledgment."
The King of querors: "First Emperor, would you be ied in joining forces with me?"
The King of querors: "With our birength, perhaps we could quer the world together."
---
Waver: "!!!!"
Waver: "What nonsense are you talking about!"
The First Emperor: "Bold of you to ask me to serve you."
The First Emperor: "But I owe my empire to the dedication of my soldiers and the efforts of my people. Even I could not have achieved greatness alone."
The King of querors: "Hahaha, on that, we see eye to eye."
---
Tohsaka Tokiomi: "Your Majesty, have you e to participate in the Holy Grail War as well?"
---
The First Emperor: "The Holy Grail… an intriguing relic."
The First Emperor: "If I'd known of its existen life, I would have seized it without hesitation."
The First Emperor: "But no, I am not here for the Grail this time."
---
Tohsaka Tokiomi: "Then, if I may ask… your purpose?"
---
The First Emperor: "I am the Ruler css Servant. I have desded from the Throne of Heroes at the request of the ter Force."
The First Emperor: "The nature of this Holy Grail War has deviated severely from its intended form. As a result, the ter Force has seo act as the referee."
---
Kayh: "Ruler! A judge!"
Waver: "I didn't expect this Holy Grail War to have attracted the ter Force's attention."
---
Tohsaka Tokiomi: "If I may inquire, Your Majesty, what exactly does your role as a referee entail?"
---
The First Emperor: "If I am ever required to judge between two choices, I will always choose the ohat maintains bahis is my duty as Ruler."
The First Emperor: "I do not favor any side, nor will I interfere with your battles. My only purpose here is to ehat the Holy Grail War reaches a proper clusion."
The First Emperor: "Now, do any of you have further questions?"
---
Tohsaka Tokiomi: "No… no further questions, Your Majesty."
Hearing that the First Emperor was here as a ral arbiter left Tokiomi somewhat uneasy.
In a sense, he had beeing in this Holy Grail War.
He had secretly colluded with the overseer, Kotomine Risei, to obtain intelligen other Masters.
For a moment, Tokiomi had feared the First Emperor's presence mearibution, and he was visibly relieved that this wasn't the case.
---
[Ding! The first question is about to begin!]
[This is a debate topic. Please watch a video first.]
---
Waver: "A debate topic? That's new."
Kayh: "Does that mean we're meant tue about something in the video?"
---
[The video begins, showing the familiar se of Einzbern Castle.]
[The castle gates have been broken through yet again. This time, Iskandar drives the Gordius Wheel straight into the main hall.]
[Artoria and Irisviel, hearing the noise, rush over to iigate.]
["Ah, Saber!"]
[Iskandar is dressed casually, with no hint of intrusion in his demeanor. He hops off his chariot, carrying a rge barrel of wine, and greets Artoria with a hearty smile.]
[Behind him, Waver looks utterly exhausted, leaning against the chariot to catch his breath.]
---
Waver: "Rider, what are you doing this time?!"
The King of querors: "How should I know? It looks like he just wao have a drink with Saber."
---
Artoria: "Bursting in here unannounced doesly look like a friendly invitation for drinks."
---
Chihiro: "Didn't Kayh already break that door dowerday?"
---
Tohsaka Rin: "They fixed it, and it barely sted a day!"
---
Chihiro: "At this rate, they might as well leave it open."
---
["I heard you had a castle, so I thought I'd stop by and take a look. Seems like a rather lifeless pce."]
[Iskandar remarks, looking around casually. "By the way, Saber, why are you still wearing armor? You should try some modern clothing!"]
[Artoria looks mildly exasperated. "Rider, what is it you really want here?"]
["Isn't it obvious? I'm here to share a drink."]
[With a cheerful grin, Iskandar says, "Alright then, don't just stand there. Show me to a proper courtyard. It's too dusty in here."]
[With no other option, Artoria and Irisviel lead him to the tral courtyard.]
[The two Servants sit across from each other, with Irisviel and Waver standing a respectful distance away.]
[Iskandar smashes the barrel lid with his fist, lifts a dleful of wine, and takes a hearty swig.]
---
Waver: "This guy… I 't believe him."
Watg the se, Waver felt a mixture of embarrassment and sedhand shame.
Rider had bulldozed his way into the castle without asking anyone's permission, ag as if he owhe pce.
---
Chihiro: "King of querors, you realize smashing the barrel lid like that will get wood chips in the wine."
---
The King of querors: "Ah, d, don't fuss over such minor details."
---
Chihiro: "But you're drinking with a dy. Manners, at least?"
---
Artoria: "It's alright. I'm not bothered."
