Fate/White Parmesan

[] "Take me to your leader. I just want to have a talk. Preferably without getting shot at."

You gave the man a bright smile while holding his collar, "Take me to your leader. I just want to have a talk. Preferably without getting shot at."

The man's eyes widened in fear as he looked between you and Rider before you dropped him into the ground. He scrambled to his feet and nodded before taking out his phone. With a quick text message, he never let his eyes wander away from you.

You picked up his friend's gun and inspected it before you slung it over your shoulder. You planned on coming unarmed but you're just going to borrow this for a little while. You looted the fallen Cultist's body for some ammo and hid it in your new belt.

"Your gun too. Give it," you told him as he looked at Rider and then at you.

"W-Who the hell are you?" He asked as he tossed the handgun and ammunition on the floor.

Picking up the gun you met his gaze, "I'm the Master of Rider. I'm interested in your Archer after he tried to kill me. Tell him I'm not mad and I'm coming for him. Get us a car and I'll find out if it's sabotaged to explode. If I do, you're going to lose some fingers."

"Yes ma'am!" The man whined with a nod as he fell down his rear.

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...

A van had come to pick you up. But that wasn't before you shook the cultist down on the location of his people. It did match with what was known of the place. Emiya had the place marked on his maps based on the information Hans had shared before. You were going to be sure if it was the place because if it wasn't, you were going to throw a fit.

The vehicle was a sleek black van driven by a man in white uniform. You looked inside to find a woman waiting for you there. She was a blonde haired woman dressed in pristine white robes that already set off alarms in your head. You couldn't help but resist just shooting the entire thing because of how shady the whole situation was.

Archer's Master must be pleasantly surprised if you were walking right into their home territory. Rider had vanished into her spirit form to show that you were alone, however this shouldn't matter if the Cult had Magi supporting it, she would be tripping a bounded field despite not being in the flesh.

"Hello Miss Brie. We've come according to your summons. We take it that you're interested in speaking with our esteemed Guru?" The woman spoke in a pleasant and airy voice.

"Preferably without getting killed. I want to talk and I'm willing to look past the attack last night," you replied with a narrowed look.

The woman smiled and nodded, "We understand. Please, join me. We will take you to our Guru and you may discuss with him the details."

"Got it," you nodded as you stepped in the van.

Shutting the door behind you, you ended up seated beside the attendant as she kept that dazed and unfocused look on her face. You were a little creeped out but Rider's presence never left you.

That was the sole comforting thing you had other than the weight of your weapons. You felt the van move before it soon drove out the older part of town into the city proper. It seemed like you were going to cut through downtown to the southern part of the city.

Driving by the other cars that went by, you eventually turned your gaze back to the attendant as she smiled towards you. You really felt your skin crawl at that.

"So what's the religious speech you folks normally give prospective devotees?" You asked with a raised eyebrow, "Don't groups like yours normally have such things?"

"Well we do but those are reserved for followers on the lower level of the caste," The attendant replied with the same warm tone.

"A caste. Are you serious?" You blanched as you stared at her.

"Worry not. Given your status, I'm sure the Guru will provide you with a high position. As a Master in the Holy Grail War, you will be under his direct supervision for the duration of your stay," the attendant added with a nod, "A caste was established in order to bring order to our group and one way of ascending would be through monetary donations, which grants access to our group's privileged areas not accessible to normal newcomers."

"Areas. I don't suppose this includes that fancy drug of yours?" You blinked as you watched her.

The attendant took out a vial from her robe pocket. It was a clear vial with a small amount of glittering silvery white powder inside. It wasn't the appearance of normal drug substances... But you could feel a slight power from it.

Prana? Was this shit infused?

"The Cult of Serene Lotus does not recognize the substance as a Drug. But instead it is virtue and karma given form," the attendant said as she held it close to her chest, "It is the backbone of our religion. It allows us to achieve Nirvana and glimpse of true enlightenment if only for a few moments."

No doubt that some sap knowledgable about a little alchemy managed to cook it up and stir up a crowd, gaining enough power to start a cult. The Association was not going to be happy with this if a crackdown were to happen.

"Nirvana..." You breathed with a narrowed look, "Isn't the ingestion of that thing trivialize the tedious task of achieving enlightenment monks have been searching for hundreds of years?"

"It merely gives us a glimpse of our true goal. It keeps us focused on our task and relieves us of the weight the current world has brought upon us," the attendant said as she uncorked the vial, "Here, I am allowed to provide you with a sample-"

Rider manifested and slapped the vial away before pulling you back away from the woman. She had Caladbolg summoned and was lifting it up over the woman's throat while keeping a protective hand on your waist.

"You keep your dirty hands off my treasure," Rider growled as she narrowed her look.

For her part, the attendant simply giggled, "Ah, what wonderful devotees you two will be. Rest assured it will all be all right. The Guru will be seeing you... We have arrived."

You blinked before looking out the window to see a white temple rise along the residential area. You could see white tents and various stalls installed along a large part of a neighborhood. You looked to see the building stretch larger as you came close to it.

This place was supposed to be the entertainment center for the city, wasn't it? Did the Cult take over the place somehow? No, it seemed just a part of the whole shitshow. There was an adjacent building nearby, which was the actual temple replica you were driving to.

"Our numbers are now there thousand strong and we weather the winter nights as a peaceful congregation only intent on spreading love and the glimpse of Nirvana," the attendant said in her warm voice, "We welcome you, Sister Brie. Welcome to the Serene Lotus."

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....

They let you keep your weapons.

You walked towards the building and were admitted inside as the attendant led you. The people here... They weren't normal. How hasn't the church noticed a gathering this big in the city proper?

"Magi," Rider said as you noticed some people walk by eyeing you warily before glancing at Medb in fear.

They were hurrying away.

"Are you we the only ones with zero resources?" You frowned as you walked by your Servant's side.

"Maybe. Well no, Olga Marie was pretty much by herself last time but..." Rider said with a grimace.

The attendant stopped at that, "Oh? You know of Olga Marie?"

You and Rider stopped, looking at her with steely gazes. The Attendant remained unfazed by this as she smiled.

"My, she was the first Master to join us after all," the Attendant said as she clapped her hand, "You should have told me. I'm sure she would be happy to see you."

"She staying here?" You blinked before frowning. She did attack at the same time as Archer did last time...

Did they have an alliance? Probably but in that case Emiya...

"She is. However Servants are not allowed within the inner Sanctum. An exception will be made for Lady Rider but as a general rule, only the Awarded Hero is allowed to wander freely," the Attendant replied with a nod.

Carmilla wasn't here. Medb held your hand and glared at the attendant.

"We won't be long. I don't plan on staying for the night anyway," you said as you looked at her.

"Then the Guru will meet you now. Please follow me," the Attendant said as you followed her.

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...

The Inner Sanctum could be described as a room of grand opulence. It was gaudy and filled with silver and gold statues of men and women. Embroidered art images were hung on the walls as the room was alive with merrymaking and drinking.

Men and women in white robes sat and embraced one another as you stepped in. Many of them partook in the substance you were offered before and the incense in the air was clouding your mind if only for a little bit.

A rustic cadence of music played as you walked up to the man lying down upon a large reclining bed being attended to by a group of women in white and silver robes. He was large and fattened as he looked like a mockery of the Buddha himself, aged, flabby and balding. A kind and warm smile filled his face as he rose up and faced you.

Rider was looking around with a raised eyebrow while you simply kept your gaze upon the man before you. This was the Guru then...

"Welcome, Master of Rider to the heart of my temple. I am the man known as the Guru, the Master of Archer. To what do I owe this pleasant visit?" The Guru loudly greeted you as he flashed you his perfectly white teeth.

He was huge... Easily over six feet tall and probably weighing hundred of pounds. You grimaced as you stood beneath his throne.

"You tried to kill me," you openly stated with a narrowed look, "Archer blew up my apartment."

"It wasn't my intention. I do apologize," the Guru said as he looked down at you.

"Then what was your intentions?" You frowned as you crossed your arms.

"Merely to flush out the remaining Master's and gauge their strength. I have information that strange newcomers have arrived in the city. They have acted to suppress my forces but I finally had information on them," the Guru explained with a solemn tone, "I apologize. Truly. You looked like one of them."

This guy...

"Though I doubt this is merely a visit for that, no! We have been watching our for a long time. You must need something given you are not one to walk into my temple in this manner," the Guru said as he flashed you his command seals etched on the back of his hand.

Your own Seals didn't react. That means...

"Have you come for an alliance? To join my retinue as a fellow Master? One has already availed to my offer, there would be room for more," the Guru said with a small smile.

You perked up and sensed eyes on you from... Somewhere. One wrong move and your head will go flying.

He's here and he's watching.

[] "I need your help in taking out Berserker. Otherwise you will die."
[] "I don't need your alliance. I just need Archer's strength. We have a common foe that's all there is to it."
[] "Not an alliance. A truce. This is an offer you can't refuse. Not unless you want to get torn apart by Berserker."
[] Write in...