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The beach was quiet except for the crash of waves and the sound of fists cutting through the air. Alex was still training.
He hadn't stopped, even with the Holy Grail War already underway.
To let Luo Hao and the others stay a few days longer, he'd even abandoned his plan to roll a perfect hand of sixes and end the war in a single night.
Right now, he just wanted to make the most of their company—to learn as much as possible while they were still here.
As for the Holy Grail War itself? That was just a bit of side entertainment.
Since updating his "Blessing" yesterday afternoon, Alex could feel the difference. His strength and magic power had both clearly increased.
Luo Hao was quite pleased with his progress—far better than her so-called "true disciple," Lu Yinghua.
Morning routines stayed the same: running, horse stance, meditation, and cultivation of the Northern Darkness Divine Art.
The final step of his training was sparring—with Luo Hao herself as his partner.
When they finished and walked back to the hotel, she wore a faint frown.
Alex noticed immediately. "Sis, what's wrong?"
"Nothing. Just a few annoying flies," Luo Hao said lazily, not even bothering to act.
That was enough for Alex to guess—Kotomine Kirei must've sent more Assassins to spy on them.
And this time, it wasn't just him. Servants belonging to Kenneth, Kiritsugu, and Waver were also watching.
The first time Assassin had shown up, days ago, both Luo Hao and Hestia had noticed right away.
They hadn't killed him because this Assassin was one of the Hundred Faces—a Hassan with countless bodies. Killing one was pointless, and worse, it might expose their strength too soon.
If the other Masters saw how powerful they really were, what if they formed alliances?
If they all ganged up on him, Luo Hao and Hestia might have to wipe them out early, ending the war before it even began.
That wasn't what Alex wanted at all.
He wanted to drag this war out as long as possible—so Luo Hao and the others could stay just a little longer.
But destroying the Matou family last night had already altered the plot.
Originally, that night was supposed to be Tokiomi and Kirei's little performance—Archer killing Assassin, faking Kirei's death, and letting him hide in the shadows.
But with the Matou family gone, Tokiomi changed his plans.
He didn't know who destroyed them, but the biggest suspects were, of course, Alex and Roxy.
Two Servants, overwhelming strength—yeah, that checked out.
Tokiomi wasn't scared of them, exactly. He just didn't want them charging into his home, forcing a deadly fight and letting someone else swoop in to pick up the pieces.
A fisherman profiting from a clam and a snipe locked in battle—he wasn't about to play that fool's game.
When Alex and Luo Hao returned to the hotel, everyone was already waiting for lunch.
"You're so slow! Poor Sakura's been starving this whole time," Hestia complained, pouting at them.
"You could've eaten first, you know," Alex said helplessly.
"She's the one who insisted on waiting for you," Hestia shot back, rolling her eyes.
Alex smiled softly, sat beside Sakura, and ruffled her hair. "You really are a sweet kid."
Sakura blushed but closed her eyes happily, melting into his touch.
Ever since her father had sent her to the Matou family—ever since that disgusting old man dragged her into the basement full of worms—she had been desperate for affection.
She wanted someone to stay by her side. Someone to protect her.
To her, Alex wasn't just her savior. He was family now—a big brother she could cling to without fear.
"Alright, everyone's here—let's eat!" Hestia clapped her hands.
Moments later, the hotel staff arrived with a spread of luxurious dishes.
This was the presidential suite, after all. The food was top-notch, and every day brought something new.
All thanks to Hestia's conjured cash. Money really did make the world go round.
At the table, Sakura sat a bit stiffly at first. The other women treated her warmly, calling her their little sister, and soon she loosened up, laughing shyly at their jokes.
After lunch, Alex spent a little time playing with her before returning to his lessons.
Today's teacher: Merlin, instructing him in "High-Speed Incantation."
That meant no trips outside—the training could be done right in the hotel.
High-Speed Incantation wasn't exactly a skill so much as a technique.
It was all about mastering articulation and pronunciation speed—fast, precise, and steady.
If you just spoke fast but couldn't hit the right tones, the spell would fail.
Merlin taught him a few vocal tricks, then made him practice them over and over again.
Alex couldn't help but marvel. "So the female Merlin really is different…"
He remembered that the male Merlin wasn't much of a chanter—always biting his tongue mid-incantation.
But this one? She was a virtuoso. Her chants were lightning-fast and flawless.
In the living room, Luo Hao and Hestia watched TV with Sakura while everyone else studied.
Roxy was also practicing high-speed incantation, while Morgan and Merlin pored over Roxy's notes on magic from her own world—comparing it to Type-Moon maguscraft, looking for ways to combine the two systems.
Even Esdeath was studying magic now.
Her Teigu had reached its limits; she couldn't grow stronger through combat alone anymore.
After seeing how much Alex had improved these past days, she was determined to expand her power too—for the day she could hunt gods themselves.
The other Masters spying on them were utterly bewildered.
Was this really the Holy Grail War?
Everyone else was plotting, killing, scheming—and this group was sitting in a hotel room having study sessions.
What the hell was this?
At the same time, at Fuyuki Airport, Irisviel von Einzbern arrived with her Servant—Saber.
Just like in the original story, this Saber was none other than one of Type-Moon's heroines: the legendary King of Knights, Artoria Pendragon.
Her arrival immediately drew attention from every other Master. Surveillance magic and familiars swarmed the airport.
After all, the Saber class was known as one of the strongest among the Knight classes.
But when they got a clear look at her face, every single Master froze.
Long blonde hair tied into a low ponytail, black suit, a beauty so refined it could cut glass—and she looked exactly like Alex's Servant.
Aside from her hair and eye color—and being a few years younger—she was nearly identical.
Could they be sisters? Two Servants summoned together by accident?
Or maybe Alex and Roxy were connected to the Einzbern family, using the same relic to summon a pair of sister knights?
Every Master immediately dove headfirst into wild speculation and conspiracy theories.
The Holy Grail War was about to get very interesting.
"..."
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