Takatsuki originally thought Kiritsugu was going to transfer Artoria's contract, but upon closer inquiry, he learned that his connection with Artoria had already been severed, and it was highly likely that she had died.
However, even so, a Master who still possessed Command Spells could still contract with an unowned Servant.
Kiritsugu offered the Command Spells partly to reassure Takatsuki that he was officially withdrawing from the Holy Grail War, and partly to make the Command Spells effective.
However, Kiritsugu did not know how to transfer Command Spells; after all, he was a Magus Killer, not a Magus, only a Magus User, merely a killer who used Magecraft.
But after seeing what Takatsuki did to Kotomine Risei, he knew that Takatsuki had the ability to seize Command Spells, so he voluntarily offered them, only to be able to work together to stop Tokiomi from releasing the evil of this world.
Takatsuki accepted this.
Although he couldn't use Avalon, he had the system, and perhaps he would find a way to use it someday.
So he still asked for it and put it in his backpack.
However, although Kiritsugu wanted to go with Takatsuki and the others to stop Tokiomi, he prevented Irisviel from going with them.
In the end, this man still wanted to bear everything by himself.
Knowing Irisviel's character, Takatsuki sent her to Matou Residence to be with Sakura, and to help take care of Sakura. Although Irisviel herself was not very old, perhaps because she had a child, she liked children very much and readily accepted Takatsuki's arrangement.
Kiritsugu then took Takatsuki and the others to the Rider's previous stronghold, which was an ordinary house that Waver had hypnotized with Magecraft.
But when they arrived, all they saw was a mess on the ground.
"No bodies. It seems Rider must have escaped, and the original owners of this house must have been taken away as well."
The house Waver chose was in a relatively remote part of Fuyuki City, with the nearest neighbors dozens of meters away. Kiritsugu's hypnotic Magecraft yielded no information.
However, many traces of sharp blade penetrations were found on the ruins of the house.
"It seems it must have been Gilgamesh's doing."
Since Iskandar couldn't be found, Takatsuki and the others immediately continued to the hotel to find Diarmuid's Master, Kayneth.
Compared to Waver, Kayneth was a Lord-level Magus, and the place he resided in was Fuyuki City's most luxurious hotel. This hotel was once completely blast by Kiritsugu, but due to Takatsuki's interference, Artoria was not harmed by the Gae Buidhe, so Kiritsugu did not blow up the hotel to restore Artoria's injuries, allowing this landmark building to remain.
"Saber, and Berserker's Master, I didn't expect you to actually dare to enter my Magecraft workshop."
Takatsuki and the others did not choose to force their way in, but instead went through normal procedures to have the hotel lobby contact Kayneth, and Kayneth directly invited them to meet him on his floor.
To participate in the Holy Grail War, Kayneth brought a large amount of materials, rented an entire floor of the hotel, and constructed it into his impregnable Magecraft workshop.
When they met, Kayneth was sitting on a luxurious chair, with Diarmuid guarding beside him.
"We are not here to fight this time."
As soon as Kiritsugu spoke, Kayneth tilted his head and said arrogantly, "Is it for an alliance? Then why is Berserker's Master also here?"
"Tohsaka Tokiomi went to the great holy grail and resurrected Gilgamesh using the evil of this world within the great holy grail. I have withdrawn from the Holy Grail War and only want to prevent what is in the Holy Grail from being released."
Kiritsugu showed his hands, the Command Spells completely gone: "Saber was also captured by him, and Rider is now missing."
"Oh? So you want me to fight Tohsaka Tokiomi with you?"
Kiritsugu nodded: "Once what is in the Holy Grail is released, not only Fuyuki City but the whole world will be destroyed."
"That sounds serious, but…" Kayneth paused: "I refuse!"
"What…"
"It's just a third-rate Magecraft ritual held in the countryside, and you think it can destroy the world? Don't make me laugh. I, Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald, am the head of the Archibald family, one of the twelve Lords of the Clock Tower, a mere third-rate…"
Blast!
Before Kayneth could finish speaking, the wall behind him suddenly exploded, and several powerful Noble Phantasms flashing with light flew through the air.
"Watch out! Master!"
Diarmuid immediately blocked Kayneth, his twin spears quickly batting away the Noble Phantasms flying towards Kayneth.
Takatsuki and Durandal also moved, intercepting the other Noble Phantasms flying towards them, and also protecting Kiritsugu and Medea.
After the first wave of attacks, everyone saw the Golden King—Gilgamesh—riding on a golden flying machine outside the damaged wall.
"Hahahaha! Takatsuki! The mongrel who once defeated me! I am waiting for you in the Great Cavern. Don't make me wait too long, and Lancer, and Caster, don't forget to bring them too. This feast is only missing you all."
Gilgamesh suddenly burst into laughter, then without further attack, he quickly drove his Vimana away.
"He came just to declare war?"
Kiritsugu found it hard to understand, and Kayneth was also extremely enraged.
"That bastard! A mere familiar! How dare he disregard me, Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald! Good, good! I will definitely make him pay the price!"
The veins on Kayneth's forehead throbbed. As a Magus, he only regarded Servants as familiars, and now, this familiar's provocation also made him angry.
"Hey! You two over there!"
He directly ignored Durandal and Medea beside Takatsuki.
"He just said Great Cavern, right! I'll go with you. I'll let him see the price of ignoring me, Kayneth!"
Although Kayneth agreeing to Kiritsugu's invitation seemed like a good thing, Takatsuki always felt that something was off about it.
He looked up at Diarmuid, who had been guarding behind Kayneth like a loyal knight, but only saw him with his head bowed, as if nothing concerned him.
"Be careful of Kayneth and Diarmuid. I think there's something wrong with them."
As they left, Takatsuki's voice reached Durandal's ears.
Durandal paused slightly, but quickly resumed her original pace. Although she didn't know how Takatsuki managed to make only her hear it, from his action of avoiding others, she also realized that something seemed a little off.