They've already fought their way through the Holy Grail War, and you still call them dragons?

Humph, even if I haven't inherited the position of school director yet and my power is limited, I will dig out your secrets sooner or later.

-

After avoiding the eldest lady's entanglement, Emiya Shirou breathed a sigh of relief.

Huh... a famous alchemy family... When he mentioned this, he always thought of the fat director Goldruf in FGO, whose alchemy he was good at was "turning rotten meat into frosted beef", and he came from the Law and Politics Department of the Clock Tower.

However, he had a very bad impression of the Clock Tower, a massive yet bloated Magic Association organization, and didn't want to dwell on it. In the FGO worldline where the Humanitarian Crisis occurred, the Magic Association's other two major organizations were performing well, but the Clock Tower was the only one that performed poorly.

In addition, the Clock Tower will issue a "seal designation" for "rare talents" and send seal-designated executors to capture and "recover" them.

What constitutes a rare talent?

In the future, when Emiya Shirou refines projection magic to the extreme and uses his human body to create a unique barrier and unlimited swordsmanship, it will fall into this category - no, maybe when he is able to project a treasure, he will be sealed.

Therefore, even if the Clock Tower established schools and branches around the world to recruit students, he would hardly be able to develop a favorable impression. Rather, he should regard those Western forces as imaginary enemies.

However, Shirou Emiya's hasty logoff this time was not entirely an excuse to run away.

Because he received an encrypted call from his bounty hunter teammate, Lao Tang.

"Old Tang?"

"Haha, it's me. Brother Emiya, there's news about the ancient sword 'Gan Jiang Mo Ye' that you were looking for last time!"

The voice on the other end of the line was pure American English with an enthusiastic tone, and the image of a man with drooping eyebrows and a happy face immediately became clear in Emiya's mind.

Old Tang's full name is Ronald Tang. He seems to be a Chinese American. After dropping out of high school, he lived in the slums of Brooklyn. He usually took on bounty hunter tasks to make a living.

Old Tang claims that he does not have strong skills, but he has great luck. Even in dangerous missions to explore ancient tombs and ruins, others are often injured or killed.

However, as a person with poor direction, he was always able to make incredible moves by guessing and making a safe and easy escape after finding ancient treasures. As a result, his peers often scolded him for being born with bad luck.

Shirou Emiya and Old Tang met during the last mission. Old Tang was amazed to see Shirou Emiya rubbing the alchemical tool with ease, and said happily, "Give those broken antiques to me, brother, and you can deal with them and then sell them on, packaging them as "masterpieces of a master excavated from a certain ancient site"... You can make a huge amount of money just by doing nothing."

Then he clapped his hands and laughed, saying that from now on, I, Old Tang, will dig for treasure, and you, Emiya, will forge the treasures. When your output increases, I will look for ways in the hunter circle, open an agency company, and invite more brothers to come in, and we will jointly take on such tasks, and we will make money together.

I provide the manpower and you provide the labor, we dig the ground to find treasure and open the coffin to make a fortune, the road leads to the sky and we each go our own way, we both have a bright future.

Old Tang also drew a round cake, for which Emiya complimented him and said he admired him. Let's encourage each other. Also, this is not what "the road leads to heaven and each goes his own way" means. You used the Chinese proverb incorrectly.

At this time, Lao Tang exclaimed, "Brother, do you still understand Chinese?"

Shirou Emiya rolled his eyes, thinking to himself, "In my past life, I was a Chinese." He found it rather odd that Old Tang, a fake Chinese who had grown up in America, suddenly started speaking Chinese.

Old Tang waved his hand and said that he recently made friends with a StarCraft player whose IP address is in Shenzhou and whose ID is "Mingming". The other party is good at playing Zerg at a young age and seems to be on par with him. He felt that he could make friends with him, so he practiced Chinese typing and chatting in his free time. In the future, when the company becomes bigger and stronger, he can go to Shenzhou to develop business branches. There are many benefits to learning Chinese.

Emiya didn't really want to hear Old Tang bragging about how "masters are as lonely as snow" in the field of StarCraft, because Emiya didn't play StarCraft at all.

"Okay, let's get down to business."

"Okay, news on 'Gan Jiang and Mo Ye' depends on this mission. This time, you and I will team up again. Luckily, Old Tang, having been single for years, was quick enough to snatch two spots. Haha... Actually, I also used a lot of my connections. The mission location is in a southeastern city in Shenzhou. It's rumored to be a relic of the Chu State from the pre-Qin period. It's very likely the 'Three Kings' Tomb.'"

The twin swords Gan Jiang and Mo Ye, Red A's most iconic weapons, were the first Noble Phantasm Emiya decided to project. Rumor has it that they possessed the properties of mutual attraction and extreme sharpness. They were forged by a Wu couple from a fusion of five mountain spirits, six-grain gold, and a human life. They were ultimately used to assassinate the King of Chu, and both the assassin and the King were buried in the Tomb of the Three Kings.

Then Old Tang on the other end of the phone muttered a few more words, saying that he wanted to set up a chat group to meet the employers, or task agents, whom he had made friends with through his connections.

Then, Emiya found himself pulled into a newly created StarCraft chat channel. There were only three people in the channel: Emiya, Old Tang, and someone with the ID "Wazhu".

"?"

So your connections are those in the gaming field!

"What's wrong with games? It's a skill to be able to make connections through this!" Old Tang said confidently, even though he was not convinced.

"Did you see that 'Lord Wa' in the chat? She's the one in charge of this mission. She's the one who organized the team of hundreds of people. She's also a master at playing the Protoss. Even I have to admit she's better than her!"

If you don’t know, you might think that Lao Tang is going to form a team to enter the StarCraft IEM finals.

Emiya Shirou couldn't really find an angle to add to the joke, so he just said dryly, "Oh, that's incredible! What about the 'Mingming' you mentioned earlier? How good is he?"

"Well, you're still young and a little behind. You're barely third below me. There's still a lot of room for improvement." Old Tang on the other end of the phone sounded very arrogant, as if he was making a "fingertip universe" with his hand.

Then Old Tang introduced his "good brother" Emiya to Wa and praised him profusely, wanting to tout him as a once-in-a-century genius...

Wazhu just looked at the message without saying anything. After a while, she typed:

"An alchemist who has awakened his bloodline on his own? Which mixed-blood family is he from?"

"Mixed-blood family?" Old Tang was dumbfounded and didn't know how to respond. He was only half an "inner world person" and didn't even know the truth about the dragon world.

"It refers to the nonhuman race, right? In the distant past, the descendants of humans and nonhuman races were also called 'mixed-bloods.' These bloodlines often have physical characteristics that surpass those of ordinary people and possess special abilities."

Emiya promptly explained the situation, but he felt a little complicated.

The last time I heard the word "mixed-blood" was last time... In my previous life, when I was playing "Tsukihime", the Tohno family who adopted the protagonist Tohno Shiki was a mixed-blood family of humans and demons.

What world line is this? How did I end up on the set of Tsukihime?

Chapter 4: Eastern Nibelungen Plan

The mixed-race families that appear in the Type-Moon series, such as the Tono family, are not only a large chaebol in modern society, but also the patriarch of subordinate branches such as Kugamine, Zama, and Tozaki. Their influence is enormous.

Mixed races who inherited non-human blood often awaken powerful strength and unique abilities. The higher the bloodline, the greater the strength. Of course, it is not impossible that due to the dilution of the bloodline, they are no different from ordinary people.

However, mixed-blood is only part of Type-Moon's worldview.

What Emiya didn't know was that compared to the Type-Moon world, where gods, demons, and monsters were everywhere, the Dragon Clan's world was much simpler. Regardless of any supernatural powers, sorcery, or divine authority, they were essentially the abilities of the Dragon Clan, and all human supernatural families and factions were composed of mixed-bloods, almost without exception.

"Wow, they're just like mutants from an American comic book! And it's hereditary!" Old Tang was filled with envy after hearing the explanation. "Brother, do you think I'll awaken some abilities since I'm always so lucky on missions?"

Emiya Shirou poured cold water on him, "Great power often comes with risks. While mixed-blood gives people great strength, it also makes human moral values ​​fragile. When the blood of other people is thicker than human blood, a 'reversal impulse' will appear."

"In short, from human to 'ghost'!"

Wazhu seemed to be interested in Emiya. "Interesting. Do you Japanese half-bloods call those out-of-control guys 'ghosts'?"

Shirou Emiya was surprised. Isn't it on the side of Lord Wa?

...That's right, the name "Nuwa" is very Shenzhou style, not to mention that ghost species are a unique product of Japanese legends.

According to the setting of fgo, the demon king Shuten-douji of Mount Oe also has another divine side - "the divine spirit Ibuki-douji". Ibuki-douji is the son of Yamata no Orochi, which means that the source of the demon's bloodline is most likely Yamata no Orochi.

As for the mixed-bloods of Shenzhou, it is impossible for them to have the blood of a demon or Yamata no Orochi. The most likely possibility is...

"China, with its dragon as its symbol of good fortune, has remained unchanged for thousands of years." Even through the screen, one could almost taste the proud tone in Wa's words. "True dragon bloodline, the orthodox lineage of the Divine Land."

This is so reasonable!

China does have a profound dragon culture heritage, and the dragon is also a national totem. Emperors in feudal society all called themselves "the true dragon emperor." It would be unreasonable if there wasn't some dragon hybrid among them!

Shirou Emiya complained silently, could this be the mixed-blood worldview that will be expanded in the future Tsukihime 2?

"Let's get back to the topic, kid. Which mixed-blood family in Japan are you from?" Wazhu's tone became more conscientious.

"...I'm actually Chinese. Not really mixed-race, just a half-baked magician."

"Oh, your ancestors lived there?"

Emiya Shirou said, "Yes, yes, yes. Yes, ancestors (referring to a previous life). Nothing wrong with that."

"Magician? One who performs Western magic tricks?"

Shirou Emiya frowned. He remembered that Type-Moon's Shenzhou also used magic, but the system was completely different from Western magic, involving thought disks and other things, and there were few specific settings.

As for the Western magic system, he could explain it. First, a magic circuit must be created in the body - a simulated nerve throughout the body that is used to absorb magic power from the external planetary source (Mana) and convert the body's own small source of life force (Od) into magic power to provide energy for the launch of various spells.

As for techniques, Emiya only knows the basic ones like strengthening and projection. Those less basic ones can basically only be passed down from generation to generation in Type-Moon.

Wazhu was very interested. "Hahaha, interesting! This 'circuit' theory is quite similar to 'meridians'!"

Wei Gong immediately clapped his hands in agreement, thinking that this made sense, as the Taoist inner alchemy theory also included cultivation methods such as "refining essence into qi".

The "essence" here refers to the essence of heaven and earth and the essence of the human body, which is the same as the planetary energy/big source and human vitality/small source mentioned in Western magic!

The two began a heated discussion on the "cultivation system", and the style of the chat interface instantly became more like that of cultivation.

Only Old Tang, who was just learning Chinese, was left staring at the message in confusion.

What is "Qi Xing Tu Na" (spiritual breathing exercise)? What is "Qi and Shen integration" (spiritual energy and spirit integration)? What the hell are you talking about? I even used Google Translate, and I still don't understand.

----

Xiangyang, China, a Tang Dynasty city.

This is a local palace with ancient Tang Dynasty style, flying eaves and pointed corners. The wooden structure has thick pillars and interlaced beams. Colorful lanterns are hung at the four corners, reflecting the intricate and exquisite patterns of auspicious dragons and phoenixes, water and cloud patterns, etc. on the walls. Under the fluorescent lights, many people dressed in Tang Dynasty clothes are lined up in two rows waiting, like majestic and solemn generals in front of the palace.

In the center of the hall, a beautiful girl sat in front of the computer.

The little girl was wearing a gorgeous Tang skirt with a very long train. Her long hair was loose. She had no makeup on her face, her cheeks were small and round, her eyebrows and eyes were picturesque, and her skin seemed translucent.

Not far away, a thin young man, also wearing Tang Dynasty clothes and with a calm expression, stood quietly.

"Zhou Yuxuan, do you think this kid's theory about the 'circuit' is true or false?"

The little girl spoke first, her voice clear.

Zhou Yuxuan, a lean young man, spoke politely.

"Reporting to Lord Wa, this person's remarks are similar to the theory of 'qigong'. Ji Kang's early work 'On Health Preservation' states, 'Breathing in and out, inhaling and exhaling, nourishing the body.' However, after the Tang and Song dynasties, the idea of ​​inhaling and exhaling has been discredited. While inner alchemy may be useful for cultivating the mind, it's probably wishful thinking to hope that it can enhance cultivation."

"Instead of pondering the inner alchemy, it is better to study mantras, magic, and the art of refining equipment and drawing talismans."

The so-called "True Word Technique" in Shenzhou is called "Word Spirit" in the West. It is a special ability possessed by the hybrids with dragon blood in this world. The Word Spirit is released through dragon characters and dragon language, and drives elements. It is a heritage from the dragon realm.

Another inheritance of the dragon clan is called alchemy. In the Western mixed-race world, it has evolved into the knowledge of refining the philosopher's stone and alchemical weapons. In Shenzhou, it has also evolved into the knowledge of refining pills and weapons.

As for the cultivation of magical power or Qi cultivation mentioned by Emiya Shirou, it didn't exist in this world. Half-bloods with dragon blood generally tended to utilize the advantages brought by their bloodline, or study how to refine and improve their bloodline.

There's no such thing as becoming stronger through practice. Instead of relying on that, it's better to hope for strength through bathing in dragon blood like Siegfried, or using dragon fetal blood, evolution potions, or other methods to enhance your bloodline. Even the elixir of immortality can only be refined with dragon blood.

"Oh, you're completely on the side of the 'Outer Alchemy School,'" Wazhu chuckled. "What if... it's true?"

Zhou Yuxuan was surprised, "Lord Wa thinks it's true?"

"--Do you know Western alchemy? Recently, some young people who studied abroad in the Western city of 'Kassel' came back with rumors that the Kassel Academy is proposing a Nibelungen Project, which can implant an alchemical matrix similar to Dao patterns throughout the human body to stably improve bloodline." Lord Wa mentioned some rumors, his eyes flashing.

Zhou Yuxuan seemed to recall something. "The Chen family's disciples seemed to have said something similar. Is this magic circuit the alchemical matrix? Is there really such a thing?"

When she heard the word "Chen family", a hint of disgust appeared in Lord Wa's eyes.

"Whether it's true or not, we'll know once we try it."

Chapter 5 Little Devil: This script is wrong!

The Nibelungen Project was designed in this world by Nicolas Flamel, the vice-president and night watchman of Kassel Academy. It combines alchemy and biotechnology, using serum purified from dragon blood to awaken the dragon blood in hybrids.

Generally speaking, it is very dangerous to increase the dragon bloodline in the body too much. This will cause the dragon bloodline and human bloodline in the hybrid body to lose balance, causing the dragon's murderous and bloodthirsty tendencies to overwhelm human reason, and finally turn into a monster that has lost human will - Deadpool.

But the breakthrough of the Nibelungen Project is that Flamel can artificially implant the alchemical matrix into the human body and use alchemy to restrain dragon blood, so that the hybrids will not lose their minds even if they exceed the critical blood limit. In this way, the academy can artificially create "super hybrids" that can rival high-level dragons.

One can imagine the sensation this plan caused when it was proposed.

If this can be implemented without restriction and super hybrids can be mass-produced, then the revival of the dragon race may no longer be a threat.

However, the academy soon discovered that the cost of this plan was enormous and that it was impossible to mass-produce super hybrids. The serum production was limited, and only Flamel himself could complete the difficult task of implanting the alchemical matrix, so at most he could only complete one.

At this moment, the mixed-race people of China like Wazhu are still unaware of the flaws that were discovered later in the Nibelungen Plan, and this plan is still in the "sensational stage".

They simply judged that if the rumors were true, the threat posed by Western forces would be greatly increased.

"Hmph, ever since the Thirteen Hongs opened in Guangzhou, countless precious relics from China have been lost," said Wazhu, with a gloomy face. "The Western secret party has always acted with a tough attitude. If the rumors are true, their Kassel Shenzhou branch is becoming even more arrogant."

As the "dragon slayer" and "hawk faction" among the mixed-race group, the Secret Party has established executive branches all over the world and has a wide influence on the world in the name of slaying dragons.

The age of dragons has passed, but not all dragons are dead. Instead, they are cocooned and dormant, waiting to awaken in the future. The goal of the secret party's executive department is to kill dragons completely.

Objectively speaking, they have indeed seized a large amount of resources and interests through "dragon-slaying globalization."

In comparison, the mixed-blood families in Shenzhou have a long history but are conservative in style. They are local organizations that only care about the interests of local dragon slayers and mixed-bloods in Shenzhou.

"Lord Wa is right. We should make preparations early." Zhou Yuxuan agreed.

They decided to increase the importance they attached to Shirou Emiya.

"Zhou Yuxuan, you will be responsible for meeting that kid from Japan. Now, contact the Taoist masters from the Danding School, the Fulu School, and the Zhanyan School. I'll say... I've made some recent discoveries and want to discuss Dao with friends."

"clear."

Zhou Yuxuan's figure disappeared in the hall.

Wazhu looked at the cold moonlight outside the palace gradually being obscured by heavy dark clouds. Golden light flickered in her eyes, like spinning golden petals. "The wind is about to pick up."

The cool breeze blew the girl's long skirt.