"So, this is the Emperor's privilege—'Eternal Reign,'" Chihiro thought, piecing together how the First Emperor had immobilized Gilgamesh.
An order that could not be resisted, this was the essence of the Emperor's privilege. While in games, the Emperor's privilege was often mocked for its unpredictable effects, here, in reality, it was clearly a formidable skill.
The First Emperor's authority allowed him to impose his will, making anything he declared an unchallengeable truth. With Gilgamesh's low magical resistance, there was no chance of him resisting the First Emperor's command.
And even if Gilgamesh could resist, the First Emperor had access to the Command Seals as a Ruler—one of the unique abilities granted by the Counter Force. As Ruler, he had three skills: Servant Detection, True Name Revelation, and Divine Judgment.
Servant Detection negated Assassin's stealth and allowed Ruler to sense any Servant.
True Name Revelation let him see the true identities of all Servants.
Divine Judgment granted him the authority to issue Command Seals to any Servant twice over, a power even Gilgamesh would find difficult to resist.
---
"Damn you, mongrel king!"
Now able to move again, Gilgamesh's first instinct was to lash out, but a warning echoed in his mind.
[Warning: Hero King, any further disobedience of system rules will result in immediate punishment.]
The message came with an intense sense of danger. Gilgamesh realized that if he acted out, he might be expelled from this space and forced back to the Throne of Heroes.
Although he seethed with rage, he managed to restrain himself. With Gilgamesh calming down, everyone else found their seats around the table.
On the left side sat Artoria's Saber group along with the Caster and Berserker. On the right sat Iskandar's Rider team with the allied Lancer groups.
The First Emperor, seated in the center on his throne, was clearly the host of this grand banquet, so the arrangement felt fitting.
---
"My apologies for the simple setup. Please, help yourselves," the First Emperor announced with a calm smile.
With a wave of his hand, a variety of sumptuous dishes and wines appeared on the table.
There was an array of meats, vegetables, fruits, and delicacies, all served on traditional vessels. Wine cups were intricately crafted, the jars ornate, and the bowls and utensils all had a distinct ancient design.
The layout of the banquet was a reflection of traditional craftsmanship.
"Now this is what a feast should be!" Iskandar said, immediately digging into the food and wine with great enthusiasm.
Gilgamesh took a sip of the wine and coughed, clearly unimpressed. "A poor excuse for wine."
"Haha! This wine is fantastic—refreshing!" Iskandar poured himself a full bowl and drank heartily. The strong, unrefined liquor suited him perfectly.
Gilgamesh sneered, "You're pleased because you don't know what true wine is."
With a dismissive wave, he summoned a fine bottle from his Gate of Babylon and poured himself a cup, looking around with a smug expression. "Now, this is what you call the wine of kings."
Clearly, Gilgamesh wasn't going to let himself be outdone in front of the First Emperor.
The First Emperor didn't react to the display. He simply gestured for one of the Terracotta Warriors to take the bottle and pour drinks for everyone.
"Oh, this wine is also quite good," Iskandar said, downing the entire bowl and giving a thumbs-up. "Well done, Archer!"
The First Emperor nodded. "It is indeed a fine wine."
Gilgamesh, feeling somewhat vindicated, smirked. "Whether it's swords or wine, only the finest treasures reside within my vault."
Ishtar, seated nearby, rolled her eyes. "That wine isn't even yours—it was crafted by the gods."
Gilgamesh shot back, "It belongs to me now. Everything worthy eventually finds its place in my treasury."
Then, he turned to Iskandar with a mocking look. "This only proves who truly has the grandeur of a king."
Iskandar chuckled. "Archer, your wine is excellent, but it's not the vessel or the wine that makes a king. So, why don't you start by sharing your wish?"
"You dare give me orders, mongrel?" Gilgamesh's tone was cold. "And besides, the Holy Grail belongs to me by right."
Iskandar raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "How do you figure that?"
Gilgamesh leaned back, his gaze proud. "All treasures in the world can be traced back to my vault. Every artifact, every piece of wealth from ancient times to the present day—all of it resides in my treasury."
"So, does that mean you already possess the Holy Grail?" Iskandar asked, genuinely curious.
Gilgamesh shrugged. "Perhaps. I have countless treasures, and whether or not I possess it already is irrelevant. The Holy Grail, like all treasures, is mine by default."
Iskandar looked at him incredulously. "You sound more like a miser hoarding trinkets than a king."
Artoria, unable to remain silent, shook her head. "Your words sound more like the ravings of Caster. You see people as mere tools to gather treasures, rather than as subjects to protect."
The idea that all humanity was bound to serve Gilgamesh's treasury seemed preposterous to her.
"It seems we're at an impasse." Iskandar set down his cup, his expression serious. "I am the King of Conquerors. Anything I desire, I will take. That is my way."
Gilgamesh's eyes narrowed, his tone sharp. "Then the only way forward is through a clash of words. A true test of worthiness."
*****
Bonus chapter for 500PS next bonus 1000PS