Chapter 583: Leo, Sakatsuki, Rin, Shinji
"About the incident a few days ago at Ichinotsuki Soukai where numerous Masters died mysteriously... was that related to you?"
Upon hearing Rin's question, Hakuno suppressed the urge to glance at Sakatsuki, struggling to contain her agitation.
Fourteen Masters had died in Ichinotsuki Soukai—a place that should have been a beginner's zone. When the Moon Cell announced this news and rearranged the matchups for the first round, the Masters in the academy couldn't help but erupt into chaos.
After Sakatsuki had eliminated all threats for Draco, he simply dusted himself off and left, vanishing with an almost infuriating nonchalance. Yet the repercussions of this incident were far from over.
Out of the 128 Masters who had just taken their first steps into the finals, a tenth had already perished... in such a brutal manner. It was as if the Masters had crashed headfirst into the grim reality of the finals. Like adventurers cheerfully stepping out of a beginner village only to be greeted by a hulking figure labeled "Boss," sneering down at them:
"So you're the damn heroes, huh?"
Whether out of fear or caution, the number of Masters heading to the arena drastically decreased after the incident. It wasn't until the eve of the finals that everyone reluctantly mustered the courage to return, cramming for the battles ahead.
Meanwhile, the identity of the killer responsible for these deaths became the focal point of hushed discussions among the Masters. Knowing who it was—whether to prepare or avoid them—would be far better than stumbling upon them unprepared.
If the killer were exposed, they would undoubtedly become public enemy number one, wouldn't they?
Of course, Hakuno, who was already exhausted just completing her daily tasks, remained oblivious to these undercurrents. But that didn't stop her from recalling how, on the night the Masters died, her magical energy had been violently drained, flowing through their contract to her Servant.
It was hard to imagine what kind of intense battle could have forced the usually self-reliant Sakatsuki to seek his Master's support. Yet the sheer killing intent and will to protect had unmistakably reached Hakuno through their bond. That vague premonition had now evolved into an almost unbelievable suspicion.
Could it be that Sakatsuki was the one who killed those Masters and Servants...?
But why?
And how did Rin Tohsaka know about it?
While Hakuno was at a loss, Sakatsuki calmly held his knife and fork and casually asked, "Why would you think that?"
"Just a hunch. I feel like you're the type who'd do something like this..." Rin muttered, her gaze flickering between Sakatsuki's impassive face and Hakuno's bewildered expression before she finally shook her head. "Never mind. Thinking about it, it shouldn't be possible. After all, Hakuno hasn't recovered her past memories yet, right?"
The girl sighed, dismissing her impulsive thought.
No matter how strong a Servant was, they were still limited by their Master's capabilities. And Hakuno, having lost her memories, couldn't possibly utilize her Servant's power effectively—let alone effortlessly kill so many Masters and Servants.
Moreover, Rin simply couldn't imagine someone as naturally gentle as Hakuno committing such cruel acts.
Absolutely impossible, right?
"Just treat it as a joke, forget I said anything..." Tohsaka Rin was about to change the subject when an incredulous voice suddenly rang out.
"You're—that woman from the preliminaries!"
Matou Shinji once again appeared before the group, holding a plate with an unpleasant expression as he scrutinized Rin and Hakuno sitting together. "Hakuno, you bastard... don't tell me you've teamed up with her?!"
"My, my, to think one of Asia's most prominent hackers could be so fragile, Matou Shinji-kun?"
The Rin at this moment bore no resemblance to her earlier worried self. With her elbow propped on the table and chin resting on her hand, her playful gaze exuded the air of a haughty young lady.
"H-how do you know about me...?"
"Not only you can conduct covert investigations, you know?" Tohsaka Rin smiled. "I considered you a rival during the preliminaries, but if you're just here to play around, then you're nothing special after all."
"Wha—" Shinji's breath hitched, prompting Rin to sigh.
"Take a look around you. The homunculus from Atlas, the old knight from the kingdom, the Clock Tower's candidate lords... This Holy Grail War has attracted quite a few important figures. The only ones completely oblivious to this are you and Hakuno."
"You seem to have deliberately left someone out, Rin."
The lowered tone carried a magnetic quality as Sakatsuki sipped his tea, golden eyes locking onto the boy who had appeared behind Rin.
"The junior head of the Western European conglomerate, Earth's future ruler, and the very person your rebel army has sworn to defeat—Leonardo Bistario Harwey."
"To you, isn't he the most formidable opponent in this Holy Grail War?"
A collective gasp rippled through the room. Not only did Rin stand up in shock, but murmurs erupted from surrounding tables as people hastily set down their utensils, unable to hide their reverence as they stared at the young king standing before Sakatsuki. Whether familiar with him or not, whether they had anticipated his presence or not, all lost their composure in the face of his undeniable majesty.
"Greetings to you all."
The discovered boy flashed a radiant, sun-like smile as he addressed the crowd. Yet despite Leo's courteous greeting, not a single Master responded.
It wasn't that they were too stunned to react—but rather, their subconscious told them they weren't worthy of standing as equals before him.
Or perhaps, they simply harbored nothing but hostility toward him.
"Leonardo Bistario Harwey..." Rin gritted her teeth as she glared at the young king, venom dripping from each syllable. Leo, meanwhile, met her gaze with an amused smile.
"Just call me [Leo], Miss Tohsaka. This is our first direct meeting, isn't it? I never expected someone of your caliber to participate—what a delightful surprise."
Though fully aware they were enemies, Leo remained utterly composed, conversing with Rin as if making small talk:
"Harwey's Asian branch has been quite troubled by your... enthusiastic activities, Miss Tohsaka."
"...To think you'd come personally. Not bad." Rin struggled to maintain her calm, but her eyes had already sharpened into blades. "I'll pay you back double for all the grievances we've suffered on Earth."
"Is that so? Then I'll look forward to it. After all, when it comes to actual combat experience, you far surpass me, Miss Tohsaka."
Leo laughed heartily, and Hakuno caught the underlying meaning in his words.
In other words, when it came to magecraft, Leo believed himself to be no less skilled than Tohsaka Rin.
"And then, Miss Hakuno, I'm quite interested in you." While Hakuno was deep in thought, Leo actually looked past the bristling Rin and directed his gaze straight at her. "To think you could summon Sakatsuki under those circumstances to defend against his attack."
After a pause, Leo's expression suddenly turned mischievous.
"Rumor has it, the moment you two met, you alrea—"
Ahem.
Sakatsuki set down his teacup, cutting Leo off. "I won't bother asking about your relationship with that black-robed assassin. So, what brings you here unannounced?"
"How cold, Sakatsuki. I thought we were on decent terms." Leo shrugged, showing a hint of youthful playfulness only then. "But this time, I just came to say hello. Though I'd already received intel, seeing it up close is still hard to believe—I never expected the opponent I had my eye on during the preliminaries would end up becoming a Servant."
A participant turned into a Servant?
Leo didn't lower his voice, and upon hearing this, the crowd immediately stirred. Before anyone could react, the young man snapped his fingers.
"Gawain, introduce yourself."
Spiritrons gathered, and the suddenly gleaming silver-white armor was so dazzling that Hakuno had to squint, barely making out the noble floral engravings on the knight's armor.
As if bearing the sun itself, when the handsome knight materialized, his dignified bearing silently proclaimed his master's strength.
"As you command, my lord." The knight named 'Gawain' first bowed to Leo, then turned to Sakatsuki, standing straight as a sword.
"I am the Servant Gawain. I look forward to our future encounters and hope you will prove a worthy rival to my master."
After a brief silence, the Masters' discussions erupted like thunder. Countless gazes burned with intensity, lingering on Gawain and Sakatsuki, unable to decide which piece of news was more shocking.
That Leo had voluntarily revealed his Servant's True Name—or that a preliminary contestant had become another Master's Servant!
Either one was worthy of days, if not more, of careful consideration and digestion.
But why... why drop such bombshell news right before the first round?!
Amid the uproar, Sakatsuki merely smiled, as if he had anticipated all of this:
"Not at all, I'm just an amateur who can barely perform thanks to my Master. I don't have the power of a proper Heroic Spirit... Maybe the Moon Cell made a mistake?"
"Oh, is that so?" Leo remained unfazed. "Sakatsuki, you do understand what a Servant represents, don't you?"
Servants—emanations of Heroic Spirits, the reflections of humanity's greatest heroes cast into the modern era.
"Those living in the present are also part of human history, and thus can become Servants." Leo raised his eyes, something glittering in them—full of curiosity. "Rather than believing the Moon Cell made an error, I'd sooner consider another possibility—"
After a pause, Leo dropped news that left everyone stunned.
"Outside the jurisdiction of the Western European Financial Group, there exist heroes whose deeds are worthy of being recorded in history."
Upon hearing Leo's judgment, Rin and Shinji's pupils contracted, Hakuno held her breath, and even Gawain raised his eyes, looking in surprise at the handsome young man who was smiling faintly. Then, due to a faint yet familiar aura, he furrowed his brows in disbelief:
This feeling... could it be...?!