"Rider, do you think this announcement is true?"
"Oh? How rare. You're actually doubting the word of a Church official instead of just focusing on the reward,", Lelouch mused.
Waver sighed, leaning against the wall of their residence. "I'm not as naive as I used to be. I know that things in this city are rarely what they seem on the surface!"
"Heh. Don't you already have the answer in your heart?" Lelouch chuckled, not bothering to look up from the sofa.
"Shut up! I just wanted to hear your take on it..."
Waver had indeed formed his own judgment, but his lack of confidence often drove him to seek Lelouch's validation. He knew, deep down, that the Emperor's perspective was far more acute than his own.
"There's no need for that," Lelouch said calmly. "You have talent, Waver. But being overly fussy only makes you worry about personal gains and losses. Sometimes, a mature person must simply believe in their own instincts."
Waver felt a wave of relief wash over him. He knew his instincts about the Church were correct. He couldn't help but compare Lelouch's 'hands-off' approach to Lord El-Melloi's constant scolding. While the latter would bluntly call him 'stupid' before he even made a move, the former only intervened after he'd already stumbled into a pit. Fortunately, Lelouch was always there to cover for him.
"Besides, there's no mystery here," Lelouch continued. "If the Church says Lancer killed ordinary people and violated the rules, then as far as the world is concerned, she did. Whether she's actually innocent is irrelevant to the political landscape. Obsessing over the 'truth' is a meaningless endeavor."
"But..." Waver's sense of justice flared. He struggled to accept such a cold, calculated arrangement. To frame an innocent Servant and then incite a mob to hunt them down for profit was beyond excessive. It was repulsive.
He clenched his fists, his body trembling with indignation. "So that's how it is in your era? If the Monarch wants someone dead, they just make it so?"
"Arbitrarily pinning a crime on someone just to ensure they die bearing a stigma... I could never understand that!" Waver shouted, showing more backbone than usual.
"Heh... well said," Lelouch replied, laughing openly. He clapped his hands and stood up, walking over to Waver. "That is precisely why the world needs people like you. If it were left entirely to those with dark hearts and selfish interests, the world would have been reduced to ashes long ago."
Lelouch didn't look down on Waver for his idealism. In fact, he found it refreshing. It reminded him of his own past—the anger he'd felt toward the Holy Britannian Empire and its myriad atrocities.
"Relax," Lelouch said, placing a hand on the youth's shoulder. "Getting worked up over the surface of things will only cause you to miss the real target."
He walked over to a chessboard and picked up a piece. "The real target?" Waver asked, his confusion mounting. "You mean this isn't just about Lancer?"
"Think carefully. If we all participate in this hunt, who truly benefits?"
"The participating Masters receive a Command Spell... so them, I suppose?" Waver said, searching for the logic.
"It looks fair on the surface. But consider this: Lancer's Master is dead. She's already on borrowed time. Why would the Church specifically target a Servant who is already destined to disappear?"
"They aren't targeting Lancer," Lelouch explained, his eyes sharp. "They're using her, and the promise of a Command Spell, as bait to flush out the opponent they actually want to deal with."
"Aside from us, Saber, and the Archer-Assassin duo, there are only two wildcards left: Caster and Berserker."
Waver caught on quickly. "And Caster isn't their biggest concern right now. So..."
"They want to use the reward to draw out Berserker's Master?" Lelouch finished. "Exactly. That Berserker is a monster. No one knows who his Master is yet. The Archer and Assassin teams are working with the Church to solve that little mystery. Can't handle the Servant? Fine. Go after the Master instead."
It was a brilliant, effective strategy. And as Lelouch pointed out, it was an offer most couldn't refuse.
"A Command Spell is equivalent to a life in this war," Waver admitted, his anger simmering. "No Master would pass up the chance to gain an advantage. If they don't participate, they fall behind. It's a flawless 'Open Conspiracy.'"
Risei Kotomine was exploiting the greed and survival instincts of every participant. He knew exactly what he was doing.
...
"Get ready, Saber."
"Kiritsugu?" Saber watched as her Master meticulously checked his firearms. "Does this mean we're participating?"
"Of course," Kiritsugu replied coldly. "There is no reason to ignore an opportunity that offers pure profit with zero risk. Whether Lancer is innocent or not is of no concern to me."
Kiritsugu was down to two Command Spells; the chance to restore his reserves was too good to pass up. And since he wasn't the Church's primary target, he was free to act with impunity. Besides, Lancer still held a Dragon Ball. He couldn't allow it to fall into the hands of another team. In this game, only the result mattered.
**[PS: Servant Status Info]**
**Assassin (Himura Kenshin):**
Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu (B-A+): A style of invisible strikes combining speed and precision. While powerful, Kenshin has yet to master the Amakakeru Ryu no Hirameki, preventing him from reaching his full potential.
Eye of the Mind (False) (A): An acute sixth sense for danger and combat insight, allowing him to navigate even the most disadvantageous situations.
Instinct (A): Developed over years of slaughter; allows him to identify the optimal action in battle, including predicting ballistics and evading gunfire.
Living Towards Death (E): A lack of survival instinct that grants him the resolve to trade blows and even die alongside his opponent.
**Lancer (Kyoko Sakura):**
Magical Girl (A++): Immune to human limitations as long as her Soul Gem remains intact. Her body can be reconstructed indefinitely, making her nearly immortal.
Rossa Phantasma (A): Summons multiple tangible clones that are as capable as the original.
Witchification (A++): A final resort that transforms her into a 'Witch.' The specific details and consequences are unknown.