[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/ILmLCSt.png[/img] [color=7ea7d8][h2]Evan Strauss[/h2][/color][i][h3]Strauss Workshop, Shinto[/h3][/i] [@Art of Fun] [/center] [color=7ea7d8]"Fantastic."[/color] That glint in the alchemist's eyes had remained even after he stopped speaking, nodding slightly in response to the Assassin. It was for the best that she seemed willing to work with him. His mind was already running with thoughts. Yes, this partnership certainly had potential, especially when considering [i]those[/i] preparations he'd made. Provided negotiations didn't break down at a point, this could be very much a lucrative venture. [color=7ea7d8]"In that case, I'll start by clearing up my priorities."[/color] He spoke back up, his tone not changing from that almost airheaded flow that it possessed initially, but with a manic steel behind it. [color=7ea7d8]"My goal's to turn a profit. Obviously the end goal's the Grail, both so I can use it to do that and so that you can get whatever your wish is, but that does mean I'll have secondary goals around that. This place is one hell of a business opportunity, we've got high-rank magi from across the world all assembling here for some reason. Their Mystic Codes, their Magic Crests, their bodies, all of those are valuable to me if we can get our hands on them. And it's probably impossible, but if we can somehow steal these 'Noble Phantasms'? Ideal."[/color] A brief shrug accompanied the last of those remarks. Truth be told, he wasn't sure what the nature of this sort of conflict or the beings within were just yet. He doubted even those designers of the ritual were, given the hazy nature of the ritual itself. In that regard, it was better to stay fluid for the time being, spend this chunk of time trying to understand the situation properly and then move from there. Moving for the kill immediately, especially with an Assassin-class Servant, could result in doing away with a few competitors from the get-go, but it would leave them at a disadvantage in the long term. And with the sheer number of magi in this conflict, even only the ones Evan knew about, that was something he refused to take the chance of. [color=7ea7d8]"This shouldn't cause us problems, since taking from our enemies means weakening their fighting force, and weakening them means we get closer to the Grail, so the goals align in the end. I don't plan on risking the war to turn a quick buck, but I just wanna be up front about what my goals are."[/color] The light in his eyes seemed to recede slightly in time with the shifting topics. With that having been said, the next immediate matter was to inform Assassin about what his plans for the war were, most particularly for this day. But in addition to that- [color=7ea7d8]"...ah, right, there are some others I'd like you to meet."[/color] And so, as those 'others' made an appearance within the workshop, he spoke. Of his abilities, of his preparations, of his ideas and aspirations now that he knew of the Servant he had summoned. Of the Masters they he had obtained information on, their abilities and the concerns he had for each of them. Of the considerations he had, for today as well as for the rest of the war. It wouldn't do if he was the only one with information, after all.