Chapter 239: Tohsaka Lin

System pulls up a comparison panel: "Conclusion: The current world line is confirmed as the target world line. However, the Time Coordinate shows a deviation. We have arrived during the Fourth Holy Grail War of that world line, not the predicted Fifth War. Time point: roughly ten years ago."

"Fourth War? So… we arrived early?"

Heimu's mouth twitched uncontrollably, and a helpless flicker passed through his violet‑black eyes, "Aha this guy… when he threw Huo Huo in, didn't consider the Time Anchor Point synchronization? Or was that itself part of the fun?"

"According to Cross‑Universe Observation Experience, the Time Flow Rate between different worlds is not constant, and is affected by major events, high‑energy reactions, and even interference from certain High‑level Existences, causing irregular offsets."

System explains in a matter‑of‑facts tone, "This deviation is within the error tolerance range, but it does indeed cause a temporal misplacement of the Task target."

Heimu raises a hand and rubs his temple: "I knew it, the Aha mixing thing will never let me easily get that 2% Repair Degree. What now? Let them both just wait over there?"

"Theoretically feasible, but inefficient."

System quickly calculates, "Rough conversion based on the current two‑world Time Flow Rates: 1 day of this system ≈ 1 month in the target world. From the end of the Fourth War to the start of the Fifth War in the target world is about 10 years, i. e., 120 months. Converting to this system's time, we need to wait about 120 days."

"Four months?!"

Heimu's voice rises slightly, "Four months in the Beng Tie Universe, Weng Fa Luo Si's Plot would already be finished!"

This cost and efficiency Heimu cannot accept at all.

"Attempting secondary negotiation with the local 'Suppression Force', submitting a Time Flow Rate Adjustment Request."

System's voice remains steady, "Based on our 'No-harm Passage, Clear Objective' premise, and the displayed 'Potential Threat Level', the other side may, considering 'getting rid of trouble quickly', offer a workaround."

Heimu folds arms, watches Chang Ye Yue in the light screen who is now somewhat idle, and can only wait patiently for the system's negotiation result.

Winterwood Gongyuan, Chang Ye Yue received Black Curtain Lady's brief reply, "Await further instructions, Time Coordinate Error."

She let out a light sigh, elegant yet unable to hide a hint of boredom, and leaned back on the bench.

A Xing has already shifted positions, beginning to study an old Drinking Fountain in the park.

At this slightly stagnant moment, a light yet hesitant footstep sounded.

Chang Ye Yue glanced slightly aside.

A girl about five or six years old stood near a nearby shrub, blinking large sapphire‑like eyes, curiously looking at her.

The girl had beautiful long black hair tied into symmetrical twin ponytails, wore a neat little dress, a delicate red silk ribbon around her neck—clearly a well‑tutored child.

She seemed attracted by Chang Ye Yue's distinctive aura, her splendid black‑red dress, especially the pair of crimson eyes that looked especially mysterious and gorgeous in the sunlight, and stared dumbfounded.

Chang Ye Yue's mouth curved into a slightly interested arc.

She nodded gently at the girl, as a greeting.

The girl, like a startled small animal, shrank her shoulders a bit, but soon a child's curiosity overcame her shyness.

She carefully took a few steps forward, then stopped, seeming to hesitate whether to speak.

"What's wrong, little one?"

Chang Ye Yue took the initiative, voice soft, with a rhythm that soothed the spirit, "Are you playing here alone?"

"I—I'm not a little kid!"

The girl immediately puffed out her tiny chest, tried to look serious, but her soft childlike voice made the seriousness fall flat, "I am Tohsaka Lin! I'm already a very sensible lady!"

(Tohsaka Lin…)

Chang Ye Yue silently recited the name, and in the system‑synchronized basic info about this world's Fourth War participants' families, there seemed to be this surname.

"So she's a lady of the Yuanban Family."

Chang Ye Yue, being courteous, gave a slight nod, "Honored to meet you, Miss Lin. I am Chang Ye Yue, a… traveler passing by."

"Traveler?"

Xiao Lin's eyes brightened, curiously appraising Chang Ye Yue, "Sister, aren't you from Winterwood City? Your clothes are so beautiful! Your eyes are so special! Like… like a gem!"

A child's intuition is often sharp; she could feel a different‑than‑ordinary aura on this beautiful sister, mysterious yet not frightening.

"From a far‑away place."

Chang Ye Yue smiled, gave no further explanation, "Your observation is keen, Miss Lin. Does anyone worry about you when you travel alone?"

"Mom is over there!"

Xiao Lin pointed toward the opposite side walking path of the park, "I… I just saw you sitting here, seemed… um, like a princess stepped out of a fairy‑tale book! So I just…"

She shyly lowered her head, kicked a small stone at her foot, ears slightly flushed.

"I don't dare to claim the title of princess."

Chang Ye Yue found the child amusing, her precocious yet childlike pure innocence, "Miss Lin, you're a cute little lady. Winterwood City is a beautiful place; do you like it here?"

"Yes! I like it!"

Xiao Lin nodded vigorously, then as if recalling something, sighed like a small adult, "But dad has been busy lately, saying there's something important… and he doesn't play with me much."

At that moment, the system's voice rang in Chang Ye Yue's mind, and Black Curtain Lady's instructions came clearly.

Her eyes flickered briefly, receiving new Task parameters:

Participate in the current timeline's Fourth War, summon a Servant as a local "Master" to fight, obey the Rule, refrain from overusing out‑of‑spec power, and in exchange, after the war adjust the Time Flow Rate directly to the Fifth War period ten years later.

(…participate in this 'Holy Grail War' game as a Magus?)

Chang Ye Yue understood in her heart; this indeed was the most direct way to obtain a "legal" staying status and quickly push time forward.

But…

"Sister? What's wrong with you?"

Xiao Lin keenly sensed Chang Ye Yue's momentary distraction.

Chang Ye Yue quickly reined in her thoughts, the smile on her face still gentle, "Nothing, Lin. Just thought of some distant trivialities."

She looked toward the distance, where a gentle‑tempered woman was looking this way, seemingly searching for something.

"Mom seems to be looking for me!"

Xiao Lin also noticed, hurriedly said.

She looked at Chang Ye Yue with a hint of reluctance, then at the mother who had already begun calling her name.

"Go quickly, don't let Mom worry," Chang Ye Yue said gently.

"Hmm!"

Xiao Lin nodded vigorously, stepped back two paces, then suddenly stood upright and, like a little lady, gave a slight knee bend as a bow, "Goodbye! Beautiful Chang Ye Yue sister!"

After speaking, she turned around, took light yet somewhat hurried little steps toward her mother, her black twin ponytails bouncing behind her.

Chang Ye Yue watched the little girl's retreating silhouette, a thoughtful glint in her crimson eyes.

(Yuanban Family…)

She stood up, picked up the Black Umbrella, and walked toward A Xing, who was still studying the water output principle of the Drinking Fountain.

"A Xing, there's a new Task."

Chang Ye Yue's voice returned to the steady calm of work mode, "We have to legally have a fight here."

A Xing lifted his head from in front of the Drinking Fountain, his golden eyes calmly looking at Chang Ye Yue, seemingly unsurprised by the 'fight' Task itself, and calmly asked, "Target?"

"First become the 'Master'."

Chang Ye Yue opened the umbrella, its rim tracing an arc in the winter sun, "Then, win a Holy Grail War… a 'game' between Magus. In this process, seek any clues that may already exist, and prepare to leap to the correct moment."

A Xing nodded, indicating his understanding.