I, Kenneth, am going to get to the root of the problem today.

Page 10

Enjoying the sensation of being enveloped in hot water, Kenneth picked up the phone and dialed Aozaki Touko's number.

"Hey, Orange, how's the Demon Eye projection device coming along? Is it under construction? Okay, I'll send over a pair of Demon Eyes later so you can transplant them onto the doll. Oh, and come to the Clock Tower when you're done; I need you to transplant the Demon Eyes for me..."

After hanging up the phone, enveloped in the warmth of hot water, Mr. Ken, who had been working tirelessly for several days, was finally able to close his eyes peacefully.

-------------------------------------

As the clock struck midnight on New Year's Eve, Kenneth, beaming with joy, headed to Euphoria's house early on this special day.

Unfortunately, the relics of the Conqueror King and the Little Sun haven't been delivered yet, and the cooperation between El-Melloi and Euryphus hasn't ended. Before he can completely squeeze out all the profits, Kenneth can only do his best to play the role of a good son-in-law.

Looking in the mirror, Kenneth, who hadn't acted like a sycophant in a long time, managed his expression and knocked on Euryph's door with a face full of flattery.

After a brief scuffle with Director Ken's father-in-law, Kenneth finally managed to get the irritated Sora out of Euphoria's house. Suppressing the urge to kick Sora out of the car, Kenneth tried his best to imitate Director Ken's mannerisms.

"Ugh, this is so annoying. How did Euryphus raise such a weirdo? Couldn't they at least cultivate him a little, even if he's just a pretty face?!"

Sora was fawning over him so diligently that even Kenneth, who had developed a thick skin in his past life, was starting to lose his composure. This Sora was truly brainless. This Director Ken was, after all, her nominal fiancé. Couldn't he at least put on an act when they went out? If he had any sense at all, he wouldn't be completely brainless!

"Seriously, how did Director Ken manage to do that? Being a sycophant is really something else!"

He smiled on the surface, but cursed inwardly. Kenneth swore that he would kick Sora out of the Holy Grail War.

"Hmm, how should I kick them? Schemes and tricks are out of the question. Sora being poached by someone else would be a slap in my face. Looks like I have no choice but to openly and honestly crush the Yunlan Sect... no, crush the Yulifis family. Fortune changes every thirty years, and I'm better off without Director Ken's fiancée!!"

"If you're going to go all out? Then we'll have to plan carefully. We can break off relations anytime; the most important thing is whether we can gain anything. After all these years of fawning, getting some compensation for emotional distress isn't unreasonable, is it? And yes, compensation for wasted youth and time..."

On the streets of London, Kenneth, who was busy calculating with his abacus, gradually merged into the crowd with Sora. Not far away on a street corner, Lydia noticed Kenneth's fleeting look of disdain and felt that she had once again caught the key point.

"Are those Lord El-Melloi and his fiancée? That expression just now... it was disdain, wasn't it..."

Chapter Twenty-Four: First Encounter with the Tool Person

After a day of being a simp, Kenneth was exhausted and hadn't even caught his breath when an unexpected figure appeared in El-Melloi's living room, showing off a cake while gulping down black tea like a whirlwind.

"Hey, big boss, you're back! Did you have a great New Year's date?"

"If you can talk, then talk more. Go away, this is my seat, go to the side."

Pushing aside Aozaki Touko, who was occupying his throne, Kenneth accepted the black tea Roy offered and raised an eyebrow at Aozaki Touko, who clearly didn't consider him an outsider.

"The doll isn't finished yet, is it? Why did you suddenly come back to the Clock Tower?"

"An old friend of mine committed suicide. I came back to mourn him and, while I'm at it, to transplant the Demon Eye into you."

As she answered Kenneth's question, Aozaki Touko didn't slow down her snacking at all. Catching the mention of "old friend" in Aozaki Touko's words, and considering the suicides coming from the Clock Tower, Kenneth's lips twitched uncontrollably.

"Is your friend named Floros?"

"Hmm? You know him? He's a decent guy, what a pity..."

Awkwardly turning his head away, Kenny quickly picked up a snack to cover up his guilty conscience.

"I've heard of him; he's a talented person."

Before Aozaki Touko could respond, Kenneth quickly changed the subject away from the topic of the Bomberman.

"Don't rush to transplant my magic eye. Let's transplant it for my apprentice first. By the way, don't be idle these few days. Take some time to guide them."

"Alright, alright, since you're the big boss, whatever you say goes. Oh, and get me a room. I'll be staying here for the next few days."

......

Regarding the Mystic Eyes of Petrification, Kenneth wants to give them to Sakura Tohsaka. Given the compatibility between Sakura and Rider, Kenneth thinks they are quite suitable. As for the Mystic Eyes of Purification, Kenneth plans to transplant them before the Holy Grail War. People are afraid of becoming famous, just as pigs are afraid of getting fat. There are too many eyes watching him, and Kenneth doesn't want his trump cards to be exposed too early.

Once the news of his participation in the Holy Grail War spreads, Kenneth can guarantee that his information will be presented to Kiritsugu Emiya the next day. It is precisely to lull Kiritsugu Emiya into a false sense of security that Kenneth, who doesn't want to be taken advantage of, has maintained the appearance of Director Ken for the past six months.

"Judging by the time, Artoria's scabbard should have already been found by the Einzbern family. Seriously, is the Clock Tower an idiot? They managed to dig up such a treasure from England. How can the Mage's Association be built with a bunch of insects like you?!"

Cursing the bunch of infighting bastards, Kenneth walked toward El-Melloi's classroom. Just three days ago, a third-generation poor student named Webber Velvet finally appeared on Kenneth's student list. Looking at Webber on the list, who looked like a submissive little guy with the words 'tool' written all over his face, Kenneth revealed his ugly capitalist face.

According to Kenneth's investigation, Webber is still the UC teenager who tried to shock the Clock Tower. When he pushed open the door of the El-Melloi classroom and saw Kenneth, the Clock Tower's top lecturer, appear on the podium, the packed lecture hall immediately fell silent.

Maintaining the arrogant attitude of Director Kenneth from his memory, Kenneth completely ignored the students sitting in the classroom. He drew a World Egg entwined with a snake on the blackboard behind him, tapped the blackboard, and Kenneth's little class officially began.

"Projection magic, as a basic form of magic, is a type of magic that uses magic to project mental images onto the real world in a similar form. In order to project internal mental images onto the external world, one must correctly understand the differences between oneself and others..."

P.S.: Projection magic is indeed a basic magic, and it's useless for many magicians, but Shirou Emiya is an exception. Before he went to the Clock Tower, Shirou Emiya only knew projection magic. In addition, the high compatibility between Origin and projection magic created Archer, a guy who is all steel and doesn't have any flesh.

"Mr. Kenneth, I have a question!!!"

Upon hearing that familiar voice, Kenneth, who had been counting the light bulbs, twitched his eyebrows a few times. It was only the first class, and Webber was already trying to make his presence known? However, considering his role as a tool, Kenneth also turned his gaze from the ceiling to the rustic Webber.

"Your name, and your question?"

Feeling Kenneth's gaze, Webber broke out in a cold sweat, but then he clenched his fists and immediately displayed his stubborn, headstrong nature.

"Wave Velvet, Professor Kenneth, my question is, since projection magic can project the simulated appearance of matter in one's mind onto reality using magic, if projection magic is developed to its limit, is it possible to materialize a mental storm through projection magic, thereby achieving a replication of a Reality Marble through an alternative means?!"

"hiss!!"

This time, not only the students around him, but even Kenneth on the podium couldn't help but gasp. This Webber is really a talent. He has analyzed the release method of Red Archer's Unlimited Blade Works without even seeing him. Kenneth was truly amazed.

Whispers filled the classroom. Feeling the gazes increasingly focused on him, Kenneth cleared his throat twice and looked expressionlessly at Weber, who was staring back at him despite his fear.

"What a troublemaker."

On the other side, Weber, whose palms were soaked with sweat, noticed an undisguised gaze. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the little princess of the El-Melloi family staring at him with a strange smile. Just as Weber was wondering why the other girl always appeared in the same classroom as him, Kenneth's somewhat shrill voice suddenly echoed.

"Your perspective is good, but that's about it. Even if the theory is correct, a magician like you can't put it into practice. If I remember correctly, Waver Velvet, your family only has three generations of inheritance. Magic circuits, bloodline, talent—everything about you is an unchangeable fact. Instead of pondering these unrealistic fantasies, you should first think about whether you can graduate from the Clock Tower!"

The classroom was filled with laughter. Webber bit his lip until it bled. Noticing the jeers around him, Webber looked up and stared straight at Kenneth, who had a cold expression on his face.

"Mr. Kenneth, I believe that magicians shouldn't be judged solely on lineage; as long as..."

“Sit down, Webber Velvet. Your unrealistic ideas are beyond the scope of this lesson. With your talent, you will never be able to realize your fantasies!! Even if your theory is correct, so what? No one in the magic world today can put it into practice. A theory that cannot be proven is garbage!!”

Suppressing the laughter in the classroom, Kenneth completely ignored Weber, who was standing still, and continued the previous lesson.

The Clock Tower is not short of geniuses, but those who survive are all those with a combination of family background, strength, and emotional intelligence. Without a matching background, it is very dangerous to stand out in Kenneth's mixed classroom. A grassroots magician like Waver is the favorite bait of those old fogies. If Waver continues to show his talent, the Sealing Designation Bureau might prepare a private room for him.

After pondering Kenneth's reprimand, Reines's gaze toward Waver was instantly filled with pleasure. Don't ask why it was pleasure; it's because Reines' favorite thing to do is to savor the misfortunes of others, especially the expression on Waver's face after all his hard work and struggles.

"Sparashi!! Webber Velvet, you really are an interesting toy (VAN)."

Chapter Twenty-Five: The Old Director's Attention

"Hey, big brother, you actually want to protect that magician named Webber Velvet, don't you!"

As soon as they left the clock tower, Reines immediately moved closer to Kenneth. Turning to look at the obedient Reines, Kenneth didn't hold back and directly expressed his expectations for Waver.

"His idea is not wrong. Projection magic and Reality Marble are connected at the underlying level. However, most magicians, including myself, cannot achieve this even if they spend their entire lives. Projection has its limits. What limits the manifestation of mental images is not only magic power, but also talent. Only magicians whose origin is highly compatible with projection magic can achieve this."

"So the idea proposed by Webber Velvet is feasible. Spallanzani, he's just an unknown magician, yet he has such insight."

Noticing Reines's increasingly pleased expression, Kenneth silently offered incense to Waver in his heart: "You old hag, you'd better obediently become Sima Yi's plaything."

"By the way, Reines, when you get back, you should start learning from Orange. Her magical skills are definitely better than 99% of the people in the Clock Tower. I've already told her that. What you can learn from her depends on your abilities."

"I understand, elder brother."

It's impossible for Reines not to have any thoughts about the magician who was granted a Grand rank by the Clock Tower. If it weren't for wanting to see Waver make a fool of himself, Reines would definitely have stayed at the El-Melloi residence and asked Aozaki Touko for advice. Apart from the extraordinary puppets, Aozaki Touko's masterful rune magic is a mystery that has been the envy of the magic world for a long time.

"By the way, how is Sakura doing? Is she having any rejection reactions?"

"No, even the puppeteer was surprised. Those demonic eyes seemed to have been made for Sakura, and their adaptability was no different from her original eyes."

"That's good. By the way, Reines, keep an eye on that student named Webber Velvet for me. If anyone tries to take advantage of him, contact Roy directly."

Faced with Kenneth's arrangement, Reines immediately showed a surprised expression. After understanding Kenneth's meaning, Reines cupped her cheeks with both hands, and her rosy lips stretched all the way to behind her ears.

"Please rest assured, brother, I will take good care of Mr. Weber."

At that moment, Kenneth seemed to see a wagging tail behind Reines. Realizing that Waver was about to enter a life of stomach pain ahead of schedule, Kenneth clasped his hands together and prayed in his heart for his future tool.

"I hope everyone's alright, Amen!!"

Back at the El-Melloi house, Kenneth was immediately speechless as he stepped into the living room.

"Hey Orange, can't you act like a woman for once? What's that Japanese saying, 'Yamato Nadeshiko'?"

Faced with Kenneth's nagging, Aozaki Touko, who was sprawled on the sofa with her feet up on the coffee table, flicked the ash off her cigarette while flipping through a magazine with one hand and the other holding a cigarette. She glanced at Kenneth, who looked annoyed, and immediately revealed a shrewd smile.

"Hey, hey, hey, what price range of service are you looking for, boss? Given your status, I recommend the first tier, only 998..."

"Stop!!!! I don't want an ashtray service, and besides, I'm a gentleman, talking about money is too hurtful!!"

Kenneth's words made Aozaki Touko burst out laughing. Putting aside whether Kenneth was a gentleman or not, Aozaki Touko couldn't hold back her laughter at just the phrase "talking about money hurts feelings." Talking about money hurts feelings? So you mean it's okay to not talk about money? Moreover, Aozaki Touko also had doubts about whether Kenneth was a gentleman. If it were in the past, Aozaki Touko would definitely believe it, but now, Aozaki Touko could only say: Heh.

Based on her observations over this period, Aozaki Touko was certain that the man in front of her was definitely not the sycophant in the rumors. Moreover, Aozaki Touko had to admit that Kenneth, a wealthy oil tycoon, was much to her liking, as he didn't have the bad temper of other magicians.

"Alright, enough joking around. How long do you plan to stay in the Clock Tower?"

"You use her and then kick her out? Big boss, you really are a heartless man. And you're right, I can't compare to Sora. She's your heart, your liver, and three-quarters of your life..."

"stop!!!"

At that moment, Kenneth was overwhelmed by a sense of shame that his browser history had been discovered.

"Impossible!! I clearly destroyed all the love letters left by Director Ken, how did Aozaki Touko know? She must be bluffing me!!"

Raising her head, Kenneth, a master of facial expression control, revealed a puzzled look. Seeing that Kenneth intended to put on a brave face, Aozaki Touko extinguished the cigarette between her fingers and, under the watchful eyes of Kenneth's varied expressions, pulled out a crumpled piece of paper from the cracks in his heart.

"What, Orange, you still have the habit of leaving things there? Is it something important? Or is it an IOU?"

Standing up from the sofa, Kenneth moved closer to Aozaki Touko without making a sound. As if unaware of Kenneth's intentions, Aozaki Touko put down the magazine, took out a cigarette from the cigarette case, lit the letter between her fingers, and gracefully lit the cigarette between her lips.

The situation was so sudden that Kenneth was completely taken aback by Aozaki Touko. Seeing Kenneth frozen in place, Aozaki Touko calmly exhaled a smoke ring, casually took a gem from her pocket, and tossed it to Kenneth.

"I have another box here. I can give you a few more if you want."

Kenneth: ∑(ΦдΦlll).

With a last glimmer of hope, Kenneth shakily channeled his magic into the gem. Immediately afterward, an 8K resolution photograph flashed into Kenneth's mind. After glancing over the extremely servile, sycophantic literature, Kenneth froze on the spot.

"I never expected the mighty Lord El-Melloi to be so affectionate. If word got out, it would definitely surprise many people!"

Kenneth took a deep breath and pulled out a check, waving it in front of Aozaki Touko.

"Let's be friends, I wasn't here today."

"puff!!"

Having successfully broken Kenneth's guard, Aozaki Touko laughed so hard she threw the cigarette in her mouth to the ground. Ignoring the hush money Kenneth had given her, Aozaki Touko walked up the stairs with a delighted expression.

"Don't worry, you're my bread and butter. I'll definitely treasure this interesting thing. Don't you agree, my darling?"

"hiss--!!"

He gasped, Kenneth's ashen figure looked utterly desolate. Rubbing his slicked-back hair, Kenneth just wanted to escape this planet at the speed of light.

Meanwhile, far from the Clock Tower, at the Animusfia family home, after learning from Olga Marie that Kenneth was going to participate in the Fourth Holy Grail War, the trouble that had been lingering in Marisbury's mind for so long finally came to a head.

"The Holy Grail War, an all-powerful wish-granting machine? The simulated Earth environment model: CARNEADDES is already completed. The Animusphia family's funds can no longer support the research on the near-future observation lens: SHEBA. If it really is possible to make a wish, the Holy Grail War is worth a try."

Having thought everything through, Maris Billy picked up the phone in his study and dialed the butler's number.

“Send a letter to the El-Melloi family; I wish to meet Lord El-Melloi.”

Chapter Twenty-Six: Weber Resurfaces

“Lord, this is a letter from the Animusfia family.”

"let it go."

After finishing his plan to usurp Archerlot and watching his familiar fly out the window, Kenneth Not Lazy finally turned his attention to Byhan on the table.

"We've been waiting for you, Maris Billy."

After quickly glancing at Bai Han's message, Kenneth picked up the phone on the table and made arrangements:

"Roy, please send a reply to Animusfia for me. Let's set the date for three days from now."

After hanging up the phone, Kenneth recalled the plot of FGO. In this world, Lev had committed suicide (that's what the investigation report said, with blood splattered all over the room), but even so, Kenneth would absolutely not allow Chaldea to be established.

"The fish has taken the bait. What should I get out of Marisbury? Money? Forget it, Animusfia is probably even poorer than El-Melloi right now. Magical materials, that's a good idea. The Astronomical Department has quite a collection of materials..."

As a magician, Marisbury does not pursue the origin but rather fulfills the long-cherished wish of the Animusphia family: to observe the past through a reverse summoning known as pseudo-spiritual transfer, using the miracle of time travel to bring celestial magic back to that mysterious and abundant era.

However, even with just the initial plan, Marisbury burned through Animusfia's millennia-old fortune. To carry out the plan, Marisbury had to travel to every corner of the world to attract investment. Now, with such a wish-granting opportunity that could directly give him a large sum of money, how could Marisbury possibly miss it?

P.S.: The old director participated in the Holy Grail War for money, and when Solomon transformed into a human, he saw a doomed future, and Chaldea was born.

On the other hand, a week later, Lydia finally received Kenneth's reply. Seeing the weariness revealed between the lines, Lydia suppressed her dissatisfaction.

"So you were out busy? I thought something had happened, which made me... cough cough..."