บท 440: Blackmail
In a dim, damp room, two figures were having a conversation.
One of them was a frail, slender man with white hair. His face was marred by twisted, bulging veins, especially on the left side where his skin had dried up, leaving his eye a ghastly pale. The most horrifying detail was the way the veins wriggled as if something was crawling beneath his skin. If Kaguya were here, she would immediately recognize him—he was Kariya Matou, one of the most tragic figures in the Fate series.
Opposite him sat a hunchbacked old man with a gaunt, mummified frame. His limbs were as thin as sticks, and deep-set eyes gleamed with an eerie sharpness. Dressed in a mix of green and dark grey robes, he leaned on a wooden cane. He was none other than Zouken Matou—the man Kaguya thought she had already killed.
"What's going on outside?" Zouken Matou asked, his voice grave.
Cold sweat beaded on his forehead, and there was a trace of lingering fear in his expression. Just moments ago, it had felt as though his body had been drained, his mind slipping into a fog. If not for his five centuries of accumulated magical power and willpower, he might have succumbed to being controlled.
Infinite Tsukuyomi didn't affect Masters or Servants, but even a powerful magus like Zouken Matou was not entirely immune to its effects.
"A strange red moon appeared in the sky, but it didn't last long before disappearing," Kariya Matou answered as he walked over.
"A red moon?" Zouken Matou muttered to himself, tapping his cane on the ground as if deep in thought.
"I've done what you asked me to," Kariya Matou said, his voice low. "Now, release Sakura as promised."
Zouken Matou sneered at Kariya's words, a mocking grin spreading across his withered face. "You think that counts as completing your task?"
"You said that if I attacked her, you would let Sakura go!" Kariya stepped forward, his tone urgent.
"Did you think you'd simply get away with doing something so half-hearted?" Zouken Matou taunted, his cane tapping against the floor. "I told you to defeat her and bring her back to me. Do you think you've done that?"
"How can you break your promise like this?" Kariya shouted, his face contorted in anger. "Aren't you supposed to be the head of the Matou family? Are you really going to go back on your word?"
Zouken Matou's smile twisted into a sinister frown, his voice dripping with malice. "Did you honestly think that accomplishing such a simple task would make me let go of the finest material from the Tohsaka family? You're far too naive, Kariya. My goal isn't just this Holy Grail War—I'm also preparing for the next one. Why would I easily give up the Matou family's future hope?"
"You're lying!" Kariya's voice trembled with rage. "All this talk about reviving the Matou family—it's nonsense! All you care about is gaining eternal life for yourself!"
"Oh?" Zouken Matou leaned on his cane, his dry lips curling into a crooked smile. "So, you've figured that much out?"
"Regardless of your motives, I want you to release Sakura! I'll do whatever you ask!" Kariya dropped to his knees, bowing deeply. "Please, I beg you!"
"That depends on how hard you work," Zouken Matou said with a bone-chilling grin. "Time is running out. In one day, the Tohsaka girl will be thrown into the worm pit. And you know exactly what that means."
"What?" Kariya's head snapped up, his eyes wide with horror. "How can you do that to a little girl?"
"A little girl?" Zouken sneered, his tone dripping with contempt. "She's nothing more than material. Only you foolishly think of her as family. If you want to spare her that fate, prove yourself to me. Remember, your time is almost up." His voice oozed with a sickening amusement as he laughed darkly.
Kariya remained silent, his lips trembling as he clenched his fists. His nails dug deep into his palms, drawing blood.
"Yes, your time is almost up, old worm."
Suddenly, a sweet yet commanding voice echoed through the room.
"What?!"
Zouken Matou spun around in alarm, his pupils shrinking when he saw a silver-haired girl gracefully walking towards him. Her soft, rosy face bloomed with a radiant smile.
"So, this is the person causing all the trouble?" Kaguya spoke with a calm elegance. "I should have known it was you. I thought you were already dead. But I see you're just like a cockroach—you have to step on it twice to make sure it's really dead. It was my mistake for not making sure the first time."
Kaguya had initially assumed that Caster was behind Sakura's disappearance. But when she had gone to confront Caster, there had been no sign of Sakura. Instead, faint traces of her presence had led Kaguya to this remote part of the city, where she discovered Zouken Matou was involved. This development was surprising, even for her.
"What are you doing here?" Zouken Matou gripped his cane tightly, glaring at her with growing apprehension.
"Are you suffering from dementia, or is it Parkinson's?" Kaguya shot back with biting sarcasm. "Have you already forgotten what you've done?"
"You mean the Tohsaka brat?" Zouken's voice dropped, his expression turning cold.
"After the lesson you've already been taught, you still haven't learned. You dared to touch something that belongs to me?" Kaguya's beautiful eyes glinted with a sharp, icy light. "Your courage seems to have grown considerably."
Zouken Matou's face darkened, the tension in the air palpable. Suddenly, he broke into a twisted smile and turned to Kariya. "If you kill this wench for me, I'll release Sakura."
Kariya's expression shifted, torn between hesitation and determination. After a moment of silent struggle, he relented. "How can I trust you this time? You lied last time."
"You have no choice," Zouken sneered. "If you don't want that little girl to be thrown into the worm pit, then you better do as I say."
Clenching his teeth, Kariya turned, his Berserker materializing beside him, cloaked in darkness. Even though Kariya knew that Zouken was likely lying again, just as he had before, the cruel reality was that he had no other choice.
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