The theft of the Greater Holy Grail completely changed the fate of the three great families. Einzbern broke out of its isolation and began to actively communicate with the outside world. The Tohsaka family gave up seeking the "root" through the Holy Grail and returned to the old path of the family's founder, Tohsaka Nagato, concentrating on practicing gem magic and Bajiquan.
The Matou family gradually declined because its backbone, Matou Zouken, was severely injured and unable to rise again.
Although the identity of the magician who dealt the decisive blow to Zouken was vague, combining Zouken's words and Shinji's own analysis, it is not difficult to guess the identity of this magician - Danic, the current head of the Thousand Worlds Tree family and the leader of the plan to seize the Holy Grail during World War II.
If Shinji remembered correctly, this person, like Zouken, was also good at life-extending membrane techniques, no, magic. The difference was that Zouken's life-extending technique relied on replacing the body, while Danic's magic relied on devouring the soul.
Compared to Zou Yan, whose body is increasingly unusable due to the erosion of his soul by time, Danik has no physical concerns. His appearance has not changed for more than 60 years, and his body has maintained its functions in the prime of his life. However, his magic is more dangerous than Zou Yan's.
In addition to the zero tolerance for error that would lead to death immediately if there was any deviation, there was also the issue of the adaptability of the body and soul. The originally pure soul would naturally become less compatible with the body after being mixed with other souls. Moreover, what was even more troublesome was that Danik's own personality was gradually collapsing.
The soul is a very mysterious area. Even a newborn baby is not completely blank. It is just that the traces of the self are weaker than those of an adult, so it is easier to devour. However, no matter how weak this self is, it will erode Danik's personality. In the long run, Danik will sooner or later become another person named Danik Preston Thousand World Tree. Even if he has memories and all the details are fully recorded, that person is definitely not the original self.
After all, immortality is a taboo that violates the laws of nature. The only way to truly resist the erosion of time is to rely on miracles, or magic.
Of course, Shinji is still young and has never thought about life extension. The most important reason why he wants to see Zang Yan is to confirm the latter's condition and whether this old bug will pose a threat to Shinji in this world.
As long as this lingering old bug shows a little covetousness for his other self, Shinji will kill him without mercy. Even if Zou Yan is in his prime, even if his magic power is less than one tenth, he is confident enough to kill Zou Yan. Even if something unexpected happens, he still has the trump card of Altria - with the personality of the Knight King, he will never mind killing a villain like Zou Yan.
Shinji was basically satisfied with the results of the preliminary confirmation. The old bug who could not rise again seemed to have really lost his previous ambitions. He just hid in his old nest, quietly waiting for the final outcome. The atmosphere lingering in the house, which was old but not disgusting, also provided strong evidence for this judgment - in another world, when Zouken had not died, Shinji still could not forget the dull and disgusting feeling of the Matou family.
However, Shinji did not let down his guard. He knew that he was still a long way from being a 500-year-old bug in terms of scheming and plotting. In order to ensure his own safety in this world, he still needed a guarantee.
"You just said I could ask for anything?"
"Yes, as long as the Matou family can do it."
Zang Yan nodded and soon gave a bitter smile, which made his already ugly old face even uglier.
"That being said, the Matou family doesn't have much power now."
"Don't worry, I won't force you."
Shinji also responded with a smile, but this smile seemed inappropriate to Zōken.
"Sir, please go ahead."
"The Matou family has declined in magic, but has been developing better and better in the secular world. My Master is a little short of money recently and is in urgent need of some money. I'll give you a few million dollars. This shouldn't be a problem for you."
Zouken cannot rise again, so naturally he will not take over the power of the family like in another world line. The affairs of the Matou family are now basically handled by Matou Tsuruya, and Tsuruya's business talent has been fully utilized. In terms of wealth, Tsuruya in this world is richer than Tsuruya in another world.
This is exactly what Shinji and Altria and the others said when they parted ways: "get money". Shinji has no roots in this world, so he can't have money. But he needs a lot of money to do things. So he set his sights on the most familiar natives of this world - the Matou family.
"Although several million US dollars is a lot, the Matou family can afford it. When do you want it, sir?" Zōken's answer made Shinji very satisfied.
"The sooner the better. Open a Swiss bank account in Shinji's name and set his birthday as the password."
"I'm going to contact He Ye."
Zang Yan said as he left the backyard and returned five minutes later.
"Shinji's account is in the Swiss bank, with 1.2 million US dollars in it. If it's not enough, I'll ask Tsuruya to add more."
"No need, this is enough." Shinji waved his hand. He had expected this answer.
In another world, there is also such an account in the Swiss bank, which contains all kinds of expenses for Shinji's trip abroad. No matter which period, the boy of the Matou family spends less time at home and more time outside.
"The second thing is, I am a follower after all, a mere passer-by in this world, and I cannot teach this child anything, so I will trouble you, the great magician, to teach this child. I want you to train him into a first-class magician."
"Shinji is my grandson. I will do my best. Please rest assured, sir."
This time, Zōken's answer did not satisfy Shinji. He shook his head and said:
"Not enough, not enough - to be honest, I don't believe in the promises of magicians, especially magicians like you who would do anything to survive. I'm afraid that if I leave, you will take advantage of his body. I need a more substantial guarantee."
"What guarantees?"
"Self-enforced certificate!"
Zang Yan's already narrow pupils became even narrower.
Shinji also narrowed his eyes and responded sharply.
"If you really want to train him, it doesn't matter whether you sign or not. If you are just trying to please me, haha - although I am not a famous heroic spirit, it is still easy for me to deal with you."
Before he finished speaking, a layer of golden light enveloped Shinji's left arm, which made Zou Yan feel a fatal threat. Before crossing into this world, Shinji had completed the running-in with the relic and officially received the inheritance of the Buddha's bone relic. This inheritance was engraved into his soul and integrated into the body of the Servant by Yustisa, which not only gave Shinji an extraordinary body, but also made Shinji have a natural restraint on demons and monsters - Zou Yan, who turned into a bug, is a demon.
"Now, give me an answer, sign or not."
"Sir, you have really put in a lot of effort for Shinji. Okay, I'll sign." The situation was stronger than the person, and Zang Yan had no choice but to agree, "But, my Matou family does not have parchment to write the certificate. Can you give me two days?"
"It doesn't matter if you don't have it. Just because the Matou family doesn't have it doesn't mean the Tohsaka family doesn't have it. I'll go get it right away." Shinji didn't give Zouken any chance to delay, "Before that, I'll find someone to watch you."
As he said this, Shinji's spirit contacted Altria through the contract.
"Where is it?"
"McDonald's? You really are—"
"Nothing. I'm sorry to bother you while you're eating. I need your help with something."
"It's not dangerous, just a bit urgent. Come to my place as fast as you can and pack ten more burgers."
"It's not that I want to eat, I'm just worried that you haven't eaten enough, you can come over and continue eating."
Don’t I know how much your other-dimensional stomach can hold
PS: The limited free trial ends today, so I will add two chapters to celebrate this long-awaited recommendation.