Morning light filtered through the gloomy window frames of the Matou residence, unable to dispel the decaying aura that permeated the depths of the Mansion.
Sakura awoke in Kanjuro's cold embrace, the fear from last night and the hazy memories of that indescribable 'Magic Replenishment' intertwining, leaving her momentarily dazed.
She instinctively snuggled closer into Kanjuro's arms, as if that were the only safe harbor.
Suddenly, she remembered something and jerked her head up, her large eyes filled with worry: "Uncle Kanjuro! Sister... Sister is gone! She was sleeping with me last night..."
Kanjuro gently stroked her hair, a reassuringly gentle smile on his face: "Don't worry, Sakura. Uncle will definitely find Rin, I promise." He took out his phone and dialed a number.
The call was quickly answered. A capable yet slightly sultry woman's voice came from the other end: "Master Kanjuro, what can I do for you?"
"Leona,"
Kanjuro's voice carried a note of unquestionable command, "send a helicopter to the Matou Family to pick someone up. Escort Sakura safely back to Tohsaka Aoi."
"Oh? When did our cold and ruthless Lord Kanjuro start caring so much about little girls?"
Morimoto Leona crossed her legs, sipping red wine contentedly in her office, her tone teasing but not refusing.
"Just do your job." Kanjuro offered no explanation and hung up directly.
Not long after, the roar of a helicopter broke the silence above the Matou Mansion.
Kanjuro personally escorted Sakura to the waiting helicopter, watching as she boarded, looking back every few steps, reluctant to leave.
As the helicopter ascended and disappeared from view, the layer of gentle pretense on his face melted away like ice and snow.
He turned to Jeanne, who had been standing quietly nearby all along, like a silver statue.
"Let's go."
Jeanne nodded without asking their destination, silently following.
Her gaze was complex. Having witnessed last night's twisted drama, she had gained a deeper understanding of Kanjuro's true nature.
Just as they were about to set off to find Rin, Kanjuro's footsteps suddenly halted.
He tilted his head slightly, sensing the faint yet exceptionally powerful magical energy fluctuations coming from afar.
They were three distinctly different auras, each containing astonishing power, racing toward the direction of the Einzbern family castle on the outskirts of Fuyuki City.
A highly intrigued smile curled at the corner of Kanjuro's mouth, his eyes sparkling as if he had discovered a new toy.
"Interesting..." he murmured to himself, then changed his mind and said to Jeanne, "Change of plans. Jeanne, accompany me to take a look." He pointed in the direction of Einzbern Castle.
Jeanne finally spoke, her cool voice carrying a barely perceptible trace of doubt: "We're not going to find Rin? She might be in danger."
Hearing this, Kanjuro's face revealed an almost merciless, lighthearted smile, as if discussing some trivial matter unrelated to himself:
"Danger? If she doesn't even have the ability to protect herself to that extent, or if her luck is so poor that something really happens..." He shrugged, his tone casual, "then there's nothing I, as her father, can do about it, right? After all, right now there are more... 'interesting' things far more important than looking for a lost little girl."
He placed his own flesh and blood on a scale against 'interesting things' and chose the latter without hesitation.
Jeanne looked at him deeply, something in her gaze seeming to settle completely.
She showed no anger, no accusation, only replying with a single word, even colder than before:
"Mm."
She no longer argued, no longer tried to understand. Perhaps, in her view, trying to comprehend Kanjuro's logic was itself a futile and corrupt endeavor.
Thus, as the sunset dyed the sky a bleak, blood-red hue, Kanjuro and Jeanne abandoned their search for Tohsaka Rin and leisurely made their way toward the direction of Einzbern Castle, where the three powerful auras were converging.
The threads of fate were once again casually plucked by Kanjuro, and Tohsaka Rin's safety was cast aside.
The Einzbern Castle in Fuyuki City was less a Mansion and more a fortress built for war.
Cold stone walls, narrow windows, interior decorations opulent yet lifeless, the air filled with the faint glow of magic and a sense of lofty isolation from the mortal world.
In a room within the castle serving as a temporary council chamber, the atmosphere was heavy.
Artoria Pendragon, the king of knights manifested in the Saber class, sat upright in her chair, clad in silver-blue armor, her emerald eyes filled with solemnity and resolve.
Her master, Irisviel von Einzbern, sat beside her. The silver-haired, crimson-eyed homunculus wore a lingering look of worry on her face, her hands clasped together uneasily.
Their daughter, Illya, still young, lay by her mother's legs, curiously observing the adults' serious expressions, completely unaware of her complicated parentage—her biological father was not her nominal husband, Emiya Kiritsugu, but that man who now struck fear into people's hearts, Kanjuro.
Years ago, Kanjuro had invaded this castle with absolute power, violated Irisviel, and left Illya as a'souvenir.' This was the fundamental reason why the relationship between Irisviel and Emiya Kiritsugu remained distant, maintained more as a superficial cooperation based on family duty and the need to confront a common threat.
Emiya Kiritsugu stood by the window, the shadows outlining his gaunt profile.
He smoked silently, the swirling smoke seeming to dispel some of the chill in his heart.
His assistant, Maiya Hisau, stood like a ghost in the corner of the room, head bowed and submissive, appearing as nothing more than an emotionless recorder.
However, no one knew that she was already a hidden pawn planted by Kanjuro, secretly transmitting everything happening here through covert means.
"That man, Kanjuro," Emiya Kiritsugu finally spoke, his voice low and hoarse, bearing the texture of years steeped in gunpowder and despair,
"His schemes began earlier and run deeper than we imagined. He used the power of Black Magic to distort, even substitute the legendary avalon to use as a catalyst for summoning... His goals and methods far exceed the norm. We must assume he possesses trump cards beyond our understanding, cards designed to distort your magical energy."
Saber nodded. She could feel that the once fervent, unyielding spear aura of Diarmuid had completely vanished from Fuyuki City's ley lines, undoubtedly confirming Kanjuro's terrifying ability to easily slay Servants.
"Lancer's presence is indeed gone. Kanjuro's strength is unfathomable."
Upon hearing this, Irisviel's body trembled almost imperceptibly. She hugged Illya tighter, as if this could ward off the danger from outside.
"Do you have any feasible suggestions, Kiritsugu?" Saber turned her gaze to the man known as the 'Magus Killer,' seeking strategic guidance.
Emiya Kiritsugu extinguished his cigarette butt, his sharp eyes sweeping over those present. "During our last confrontation with Lancer, when Kanjuro intervened, I sensed that besides them, there was another powerful presence secretly observing us.
"Based on Maiya's subsequent intelligence gathering and analysis, it is almost certain that it was Archer, the most ancient king of heroes, Gilgamesh."
He paused before continuing, "Moreover, that king of heroes seems to have shown... an unusual interest in you, Saber."
Saber's brow furrowed slightly. She recalled that golden, radiant figure whose words were filled with arrogance and possessiveness, a wave of disgust rising within her.
But she understood Kiritsugu's meaning. "You mean... you want us to ally with Archer?"
"He will definitely agree," Emiya Kiritsugu stated with certainty.
"Gilgamesh is supremely arrogant. He would never tolerate the existence of a 'mongrel' like Kanjuro, who is uncontrollable and could even threaten his entertainment plans. Facing a threat of Kanjuro's level, a temporary alliance is the only option."
Saber remained silent for a moment. Ultimately, the knight's reason prevailed over personal distaste. She nodded gravely, "I understand. Although Archer is detestable, compared to Kanjuro's pure evil and chaos, at least... there is a possibility for communication."
"Not only that," Emiya Kiritsugu added, "According to intelligence, a student named Waver Velvet at the Clock Tower in London has also successfully summoned an extremely powerful Servant, Rider, the Conqueror King Iskandar. I have already managed to send an invitation, hoping they will come to Einzbern Castle to discuss plans to deal with Kanjuro together. Only by combining the strength of multiple masters and Servants might we have a sliver of hope."
As his words fell, Maiya Hisau's ear twitched almost imperceptibly. Through a miniature communicator hidden in her hair, she received a message from the outside.
On the way to Einzbern Castle, the hem of Kanjuro's coat swayed gently with his stride. He appeared to be strolling leisurely, yet his speed was extremely fast. Jeanne followed silently by his side, her silver armor reflecting the last light of the sky in the deepening twilight.
Suddenly, a miniature receiving device inscribed with bizarre runes in Kanjuro's chest pocket vibrated slightly, emitting a faint hum only he could perceive. He slowed his pace, took out the device, and a processed, clear recording of a conversation replayed directly in his consciousness—precisely the entire plan of Emiya Kiritsugu and Saber to ally with Archer and Rider against him.
Instead of showing the slightest tension, Kanjuro's face revealed an even thicker, more intense smile, as if he had discovered the perfect prey.
"So that's it..." he chuckled softly, like a child who had solved an interesting puzzle. "No wonder I sensed three powerful auras gathering without concealment. So they're planning to hold a 'Three Kings Conference' targeting me."
Jeanne, naturally perceiving the communication's content through some connection, spoke with her cool voice, stating the obvious fact: "It seems that by the time we arrive, those people will have already formed an alliance, with a clear target: you."
Kanjuro shrugged indifferently, his tone even carrying a hint of anticipation: "Targeting me? Isn't that perfect? For a banquet led by these three 'Kings'—Saber, Archer, Rider—if I were not present, wouldn't it be too dull, too unworthy of the stage they've so meticulously prepared?"
He seemed not to be heading to a perilous trap, but to a grand drama he himself was directing.
Seeing his utterly unconcerned attitude toward the potential threats, Jeanne said nothing more. She merely nodded expressionlessly, burying all her thoughts once again in icy silence.
Meanwhile, above Fuyuki City, thunder rumbled.
The Conqueror King Iskandar, riding his Noble Phantasm "Gordius Wheel," charged toward Einzbern Castle. The massive bulls' hooves trampled lightning, letting out deafening roars. Behind the chariot, the poor Waver Velvet clung tightly to the edge, his face pale, nearly scared out of his wits by the high-altitude winds and turbulence.
"They... they are our enemies! Why on earth should we heed their invitation and go?!" Waver shouted into the wind, trying to make his objections heard.
"Wahahahaha!!" Iskandar let out a hearty laugh that shook the surroundings. "Enemies? So what! Boy, do you know who they are? King Arthur! The legendary king of knights! Merely meeting such a hero is a joyous occasion worthy of fine wine! Even if it weren't to deal with that guy called Kanjuro, this King would definitely go to meet them!"
"But we are in a Holy Grail War! A life-and-death struggle of a Holy Grail War!!" Waver nearly cried, feeling his Servant's logic was beyond abnormal.
"Holy Grail War? So what!" Iskandar dismissed it, his heroic spirit surging forward like his chariot. "What I seek is conquest, exchange, and collision with the world's strongest! How can the mere rules of a Holy Grail War bind this King's will?!"
Waver looked at the majestic back before him, opened his mouth, and finally, all his feeble rebuttals turned into a silent sigh. He chose to give up arguing, could only hold onto the chariot tightly, praying not to be thrown off.
High above the clouds, a stream of golden light streaked across the sky at a speed that defied physical laws.
Gilgamesh, the most ancient king of heroes, stood with arms crossed on his flying Noble Phantasm "Vimana," his crimson serpent-like eyes looking down upon the gradually clear outline of the castle below. His handsome face carried a hint of disdain mixed with amusement.
"Hmph, allying with a bunch of mongrels to deal with another, even more repulsive mongrel... For this King to stoop to such a level is truly a disgrace," he muttered to himself, his tone filled with condescending contempt.
However, when the image of Saber—Artoria Pendragon—her resolute and beautiful face, her unique aura unlike any other woman in the world, surfaced in his mind, the disdain in his eyes gradually gave way to a fervent, possessive excitement.
"But... if it's that king of knights who refuses to submit to this King... if it's to'save' her from that unpleasant threat, to make her realize who truly deserves to possess her... then, temporarily setting aside a bit of this King's dignity does not seem entirely unacceptable."
At the thought of Saber's face, a blend of sanctity and stubbornness, Gilgamesh's lips curved into a confident smirk. Golden ripples flickered behind him, as if he couldn't wait to add that beautiful 'treasure' to his collection.
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