"Ugh..."
Mordred turned her head, clicked her tongue, but obediently shut her mouth.
Seeing that Mordred had stopped interrupting, Agravain finally got to the point:
"Based on the terrain information provided by the magus and the location of the workshop, we can deduce that the base of the Crusader remnants, led by the Lionheart, is situated in a mountain valley.
The area is swarming with Chimeras and Wyverns, and the presence of concealing bounded fields makes it easy for us to overlook the base."
Agravain struck the long table heavily, his tone serious.
"Sir Agravain, what should we do then?"
Alaric glanced at the supposed terrain map in front of him but couldn't discern much useful information from it. Beside him, Gawain and the others also awaited Agravain's answer.
"Sweep and decapitate.
Before the Lionheart can react, we strike directly at the base. There's no room for delay. However, since we only have the approximate location of their base, we must conduct a sweep. Even if it means overturning the entire mountain, we must annihilate the remaining remnants!"
Agravain's plan was straightforward. With the overwhelming strength of the Knights of the Round Table, most strategies were mere embellishments—this brutal, direct approach was far more efficient.
The only challenge ahead was whether the Lionheart would manage to escape.
"And what about this guy? Carrying the Holy Grail, he'll alert the Lionheart to his movements!"
Mordred raised her hand and pointed her thumb at Alaric. Hearing this, Lancelot and Gawain both turned to Agravain.
"I am already aware of this," Agravain replied.
"The Lionheart has some unknown means of tracking the Grail's location. Now that the Grail has entered Camelot through Sir Alaric, it's likely that the Lionheart is already aware.
Our actions may have already been partially exposed, which is why we need a faster, more decisive decapitation strike."
Agravain had prepared for Mordred's question.
As the focus of their discussion, Alaric was curious about the countermeasures Agravain had devised.
From Agravain's response, it was evident that much intelligence had been gathered from Alaika, including confirmation of the Lionheart's ability to track the Grail.
From Alaric's perspective, there were only two solutions to this problem:
Either remove the Grail or exclude Alaric from the operation.
Removing the Grail would drastically reduce Alaric's combat capability. Without the limitless mana supply it provided, Alaric's underdeveloped abilities would fall short of the standard required to join the Round Table's fight.
Having Alaric sit out the operation and stay behind in Camelot seemed like the optimal solution.
Given the current strength of the Knights of the Round Table, Alaric's absence would hardly make a difference.
But this was not an outcome Alaric was willing to accept.
Faced with this dilemma, Agravain quickly proposed a solution:
"If Sir Alaric were to relinquish the Grail, his combat effectiveness would decrease significantly, making it impossible for him to participate in the operation. Therefore, we must divide our forces.
Sir Alaric and Mordred will act together to divert the Crusaders' attention, while Sir Gawain, Sir Lancelot, and Sir Tristan, accompanied by the Crusader magus, will strike directly at the base."
"Interesting. Can you keep up?"
Mordred nudged Alaric with her elbow, seemingly less opposed to teaming up with him than she had been days before.
"As for you, Sir Gawain, you will act alone and join the fray at the final moment. With your power, approaching recklessly will only alert the Lionheart."
Agravain glanced at Gawain as if to confirm there were no objections.
Gawain, understanding Agravain's reasoning, nodded.
"If this is the King's decision, I have no choice but to comply. When should I join the fray?"
Blessed with the power of perpetual noon, Gawain's presence was like a blazing beacon. Entering too early would be no different from announcing their arrival.
"Naturally, you'll enter once Sir Lancelot and Sir Tristan locate the base and signal its location.
The Crusader magus will accompany Sir Lancelot and Sir Tristan until they find the magus workshop."
"According to the magus's statements, the workshop's location should not be far from the base. Finding the workshop will bring us close to the target."
Agravain pointed to the hypothetical terrain map again.
"One crucial point to note is the Crusaders' use of berserk curses. According to Sir Alaric and the magus, this curse can even be applied to Servants.
It's possible that any of you could fall under its influence, so caution is imperative."
"A curse powerful enough to drive Knights of the Round Table to madness... What an apocalyptic sight that would be. Would I be forced to slay my comrades? Such sorrow..."
Tristan, who had been silent until now, finally spoke, his tone filled with lament.
Gawain and Lancelot nodded subtly, clearly placing the berserk curse high on their list of concerns.
Alaric, meanwhile, stroked his chin, recalling his earlier encounter with the berserk curse.
Even back then, he had been able to withstand it unscathed. Considering the extraordinary Magic Resistance of Gawain and the others in their Saber and Archer classes, they should be impervious to the curse.
"Oh? It seems everyone has already settled on a plan to defeat the Lionheart."
An ethereal voice interrupted, startling everyone present. The Knights of the Round Table turned toward the doorway in unison.
There stood the pure white sovereign—the Lion King—approaching with measured steps.
As the Lion King entered the great hall, all present, including Alaric, knelt on one knee in a show of respect.
"Rise, my knights. Sir Agravain, summarize the plan," the Lion King commanded. Her clear footsteps echoed in the hearts of those present as she walked toward Alaric, eventually stopping in front of him.
From a distance, Agravain replied respectfully: "My King, we plan to divide our forces. Sir Alaric and Mordred will act as a diversion, while Sir Gawain, Sir Lancelot, and Sir Tristan, accompanied by the magus, will head directly to the Crusader base."
"Oh? And why is that?"
The Lion King did not look at Agravain but focused her gaze on Alaric, who had undergone yet another transformation overnight.
Believing the Lion King was questioning the division of their forces, Agravain explained, "My King, according to the Crusader magus, the Lionheart can track the Grail. If Sir Alaric joins the main operation, his presence could alert the Lionheart, allowing him to flee and costing us the element of surprise."
Alaric, realizing what the Lion King sought, decisively drew the Sword of End and held it up with both hands, presenting it for inspection.
To his surprise, the Lion King merely glanced at the sword before dismissing it, as though its transformation were of no consequence to her.
"Approved. When the coordinates are confirmed, I shall descend with the judgment of the storm," the Lion King declared indifferently.