Chapter 237 – The Base Under Attack
After leaving the temporary base, Maiya began heading toward the city center. But only halfway there, her battle-honed instincts immediately warned her that she was being watched.
"Ugh!" Before she could even draw her gun or assume a combat stance, several throwing knives shot out of the darkness, pinning her firmly against the nearby wall.
"Assassin…" Enduring the pain, Maiya lifted her head and looked toward the source of the flying knives. A cloaked figure with a skull mask slowly emerged from a narrow alley, steadily approaching her.
.
.
.
Meanwhile, Kiritsugu Emiya sat alone in his room. Over half an hour had passed since Maiya left, yet no news had come through.
"Something's happened, hasn't it?" Thinking not just of Artoria and Irisviel, but even his capable assistant Maiya being out of contact, Kiritsugu's expression darkened.
He waited a while longer. By Mai's usual speed, she should have been near the city center by now. Yet there was still no word.
He couldn't delay any longer. Standing up, he quickly packed the necessary weapons and items, preparing to move to a new base. After all, Maiya might have already run into trouble and been captured.
Though he trusted her not to betray him, he could not guarantee that the enemy lacked methods to force her to talk.
"Master!" Just as Kiritsugu was about to leave, Artoria burst into the room carrying Irisviel.
"Saber?" Her sudden return surprised him. He had already prepared for the worst, but Artoria had returned safely…
After confirming that Artoria had sustained no injuries affecting her combat abilities, Kiritsugu breathed a sigh of relief and then turned his attention to Irisviel, whom she carried.
"What happened to her?" He carefully examined Irisviel's body. No external injuries, heartbeat normal, no internal organ issues. Yet she looked extremely weak.
"It's Caster…" Seeing Kiritsugu, Irisviel quickly revealed the culprit behind her condition.
"He summoned something that can replace other Servants to complete the Holy Grail's fulfillment. Caster is already dead, but the equivalent of six people's worth has been completed…"
"Irisviel, what are you talking about?" Artoria frowned in confusion. "Fulfillment… six people's worth?"
"Saber, this doesn't concern you." Kiritsugu didn't intend to tell Artoria that Irisviel was the vessel for the small Grail in this Holy Grail War.
Knowing the Grail's quantity was sufficient, his immediate plan was to take Saber and Irisviel to the easily defended Temple, set up barriers, summon the Grail, and then use it as bait to eliminate the remaining participants.
With Saber guarding the main entrance, the defenders would be virtually invincible.
Having formulated the plan, Kiritsugu got up, signaling Artoria to take Irisviel while he went to the garage to move the car to the entrance.
But as he reached the garage, a severed hand was thrown at his feet.
"Maiya's?" A mere glance was enough for Kiritsugu to recognize it.
"Kirei Kotomine, Assassin's contractor, the so-called Magus Killer of the Mage World, Kiritsugu Emiya." Kirei appeared from a corner of the garage, expressionless, muttering Kiritsugu's data.
"You're with the Church?" Kiritsugu frowned at the cross around Kirei's neck.
Anyone appearing here, aside from Hikigaya, would be recognized by the other Masters. Kirei had attempted to assassinate Tohsaka Tokiomi the day before the war officially began, failed, lost his eligibility, and fled to the Church for refuge.
Later investigation proved he hadn't lost his eligibility—Assassin was still alive. Seeing Kirei dressed as a priest now, Kiritsugu understood everything.
"The Church has allied with the Thosaka family?"
"You are intelligent, but you are about to die." Kirei stepped closer, the thin blade of his Black Keys extending. He neither denied nor confirmed Kiritsugu's guess.
"Have you forgotten Saber is right beside me?" Seeing Kirei so brazenly approach to attack, an uneasy feeling gripped Kiritsugu. Assassin couldn't beat Saber, but if Kirei only needed to stall, Kiritsugu—missing an arm—might not be enough to stop him.
"Do not worry. There is a Servant specialized to deal with her." Though confused by his teacher's command, Kirei still chose to comply.
"A specialized Servant?" Kiritsugu's pupils constricted. If it wasn't Assassin, the identity of this Servant could only be…
"Boom!" Suddenly, a massive explosion erupted from the next room. Through the garage doors, Kiritsugu clearly saw Gilgamesh leap from the Vimana into the courtyard, smiling as he approached Artoria and Irisviel.
"Damn, Saber must evacuate immediately!" Using his link with the Servant, Kiritsugu ordered Artoria to leave with Irisviel, the Grail vessel.
He quickly drew his handgun and fired at Kirei.
"Bang! Bang!" Two ordinary brass bullets were easily blocked by Kirei's Black Keys. He then tossed eight more and drew two more, rushing toward Kiritsugu.
Rolling to dodge, Kiritsugu holstered his pistol, pulled out a special grenade, bit the pin, and threw it into a corner at the back of the garage. A rapid series of explosions followed. A figure burst through a wall gap in the smoke and debris.
As he left the garage, Kiritsugu ignored the danger, detonating the high-concentration explosives he had pre-placed inside the building.
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