"Four people? How did it become three?" Irisviel was confused by Kiritsugu's initial statement.
Emiya Kiritsugu frowned and explained slowly, "The head of the Archibald family was killed. His relic was also stolen."
"This…" Irisviel covered her mouth in shock.
"He's a dangerous individual…" Kiritsugu's voice was low. "To brazenly kill a Clock Tower lecturer, a noble, right at the headquarters of the Mage's Association, and for the Clock Tower to still have no idea who did it… I suspect the recent attacks on those small families in London were also his doing. His actions are too purposeful."
"It seems this is someone intent on interfering with the Holy Grail War… His true identity will inevitably be exposed, and he will face the pursuit of the Mage's Association. This person isn't a madman acting recklessly; he must be a powerful individual with a complete plan and absolute confidence…"
But no matter what, he was a dangerous variable. Kiritsugu did not voice this last thought.
Hearing this, Irisviel's heart was filled with worry.
Seeing his wife's concern, Emiya Kiritsugu placed a hand on her shoulder. "It's alright, Iri. No matter what, we cannot lose… I have thought of a way to maximize the power of the 'strongest' Servant class."
"Mhm!" Reassured by her husband's words, Irisviel relaxed slightly and said with determination, "I will not hand over the Holy Grail vessel entrusted to me to anyone else. When the Holy Grail is filled, the only one worthy of possessing it will be you, Kiritsugu!"
…
Meanwhile, in the Far East, at the Tōsaka Residence nestled in the mountainous Fuyuki City, Tōsaka Tokiomi also received a report from a spy infiltrated in Britain.
"Kayneth is dead! Such a blatant provocation against magi and the Association? Unforgivable!" Tōsaka Tokiomi's face was filled with anger. In his view, if a magus died at the hands of another magus, it was a matter of skill. However, the scene clearly indicated the killer was no ordinary magus. He was angry at Kayneth for being killed so easily, and also felt resentment and… a sliver of fear towards the murderer.
"If he participates in the Holy Grail War, he must not be spared! …Once he is summoned, he will surely…"
His disciple, Kotomine Kirei, paid no attention to Tokiomi's words. Despite years of studying magecraft, the emptiness inside him remained. He still had no purpose of his own and had long since stopped truly caring about Tōsaka Tokiomi's ambitions.
Kotomine Kirei stared intently at the information on Emiya Kiritsugu. He had a feeling that this man might hold the answer to his questions.
…
Matō Kariya walked towards the basement of the Matō residence and encountered Matō Sakura along the way.
When Sakura saw the horrifying changes on Kariya's face, her expression filled with fear.
"…" For Matō Kariya, this reaction was perhaps even more painful than the physical agony.
"Are you scared, Sakura-chan?" He tried to force a kind smile, but the indescribable horror etched on his face remained.
"Uncle… what happened to your face?" Matō Sakura asked softly.
"Ah, it's nothing, just a small problem. It's fine." Struggling to maintain his smile, Kariya knew that even he had been shocked when he first saw his own reflection, let alone a young child.
"I'm still not as patient as you, Sakura."
"…"
Sakura's face still showed fear. "Uncle Kariya… you seem like a different person now."
"Haha, perhaps I am." Matō Kariya smiled bitterly. But hadn't Sakura changed too?
Here, enduring the torment and violation of the worms, what kind of scars would that leave on her young mind?
The only comfort was that Sakura would let her guard down around him and occasionally speak to him with childish innocence. No matter what, she saw him as different from the others in this house.
"…"
"Sakura, when Uncle finishes his work soon… I'll take you, Rin, and Aunt Aoi, and the four of us will go somewhere far away to have fun together, okay?"
"Can I… see them again?" The young girl's voice was filled with innocent hope.
Matō Kariya hugged Sakura's shoulders, burying his face deeply to hide the tears welling in his eyes, though his trembling body betrayed him.
"Yes… of course you can. I promise!"
I will save you, Sakura. I definitely will!!
Holding Sakura quietly, he waited for his trembling to subside. Thinking of the task ahead, Matō Kariya said softly, "Well, Sakura, Uncle has something to do now. I have to go…"
"…Okay. Goodbye, Uncle Kariya."
His tears had dried, but he had more important things to do to save Sakura.
…
Matō Kariya's spirit had endured the pain, but his body was reaching its limit.
His hair had turned white, his skin was covered with scars, and the rest of his body had lost all color, turning ashen grey. His body was deteriorating so rapidly that he felt his left side was almost paralyzed.
But despite it all, Matō Kariya had made significant progress. Three Command Spells had appeared on his left hand. The Holy Grail had recognized him—an outcome even Matō Zōken had not anticipated.
…
The moment Ryougi Raku set foot in Fuyuki City, he felt a burning sensation on the back of his left hand. The pain came and went quickly. To him, it was nothing.
Seeing the three Command Spells etched there, Ryougi Raku nodded in satisfaction. The Holy Grail had made its choice.
"Next, I need a base and then to summon a Servant."
Compared to the rest of the country, Fuyuki City was a remote town without the bustle of a metropolis. If not for the ley lines beneath it and the Holy Grail War, it would likely only be found on a map.
Due to its spacious layout and sparse population, Fuyuki had many large Western-style houses. Using his connections, Ryougi Raku quickly found a residence that suited him perfectly.
It wasn't overly luxurious, but the courtyard was very large, making it ideal for his needs.
He entered the vacant house and used the basic magecraft he had acquired to clean it swiftly. Then, Ryougi Raku began preparing for the summoning ritual.
He didn't need to search for ritual tools; the flames of his Origin Power could serve as a substitute.
Using his power, he drew the magic circle on the ground, placed the stolen relic at its center, and then waited quietly for the most opportune moment.
At the same time, in the distant Einzbern Castle, in the Tōsaka basement workshop in Fuyuki, in a wilderness forest, and in a serial killer's room… identical scenes were unfolding.
…
"Let thy body rest under my roof, thy fate tied to my blade.
Shouldst thou heed the call of the Holy Grail, and obey this will and truth, answer me!
I so swear.
I am the wielder of all virtue in this world, the arbiter of all malice in this world.
Thou art bound by the Three Great Words of Power for seven heavens, emerging from the ring of restraint, O Guardian of the Scales!"
Feeling the magic circle draining his magical energy, Tōsaka Tokiomi endured the discomfort, pouring out the maximum amount of prana until a golden light appeared before his eyes. The majestic figure within the light prompted Kotomine Risei to murmur uncontrollably, "We've won, Kirei, we've won…"
…
The pressure on his body grew immense. Matō Kariya gritted his teeth, Sakura's image flashing in his mind as he endured the endless pain. Gradually, an ominous black light filled the lower levels of the Matō residence. Finally unable to bear it, Kariya leaned against the wall, gasping for breath. With a mix of joy and resentment, he muttered, "Just you wait, Tōsaka Tokiomi… This is all your fault…"