Chương 54: C54
Upon discovering from the police chief that Ryuunosuke was still alive, Kiritsugu immediately used "Suggestion" to inquire about Ryuunosuke's current location. Later, Kiritsugu drove to the police hospital but halted before arriving. Upon observation, he noticed diesel generators supplying power to the police hospital.
The hospital was constructed like a prison, with only one entrance consisting of three layers of iron bars to prevent any inmates from escaping after being cured.
He realized that if someone were to enter through the main entrance and block it, then ignite the diesel generators, it would cause a massive explosion, destroying the entire hospital and everyone inside. To Kiritsugu, it was a perfect burial ground!
Kiritsugu had begun to have doubts about his plan. As a killer, he had always avoided dangerous situations like this. However, he knew he had to uncover the truth about Caster's Master otherwise, he would not be able to rest easy.
In fact, the best time to investigate was yesterday when Caster's Master had committed suicide. However, at that time, Caster had disappeared in front of him, resulting in a clear defeat for them. As a result, Kiritsugu was preoccupied with thoughts on how to clean up the mess caused by Caster's Master.
People tend to act this way when they are worried about something, reason disappears and they tend not to pay attention to the finer details. However, Kiritsugu is not an ordinary person, he had his doubts from the beginning. It's just that Caster's withdrawal seemed to have no problems, so he quickly moved on to dealing with the trouble caused by Caster's Master.
The more he felt something was amiss, the more he rushed to investigate. He knew that if dirty and contemptible individuals like Caster's Master were allowed to continue existing, they could cause even more trouble. However, before confirming that it was safe, he wouldn't easily get caught up in the such an obvious trap.
Kiritsugu surveyed his surroundings and his gaze finally settled on a small grove of trees nearby. The grove was the highest point in the area, and from there he could clearly see the inside of the police station hospital with the use of binoculars.
However, he knew that the places with the best visibility were also the best hiding spots for those keeping watches. Therefore, Kiritsugu avoided the grove and instead hid in a van. He then opened his toolbox and deployed two small surveillance drones. One flew towards the police hospital, while the other flew towards the small grove of trees.
These drones were very small and could easily go unnoticed if not observed carefully.
If the police station hospital was indeed a trap for him, then there must be someone lying in wait outside the hospital. The small grove of trees not only provided a good hiding spot but also a way to monitor the inside of the police station hospital, making it a perfect location for an ambush.
As Kiritsugu zoomed in on a tree branch displayed on the screen, he spotted a figure dressed in an unusual outfit, perched on a branch and peering through a binoculars towards the hospital where the police station was located.
The figure's attire was entirely a verdant green, with a helmet covering its face and a pair of scarlet compound eyes that gave the impression of an insect. Could this be some sort of specialized gear?
However -
"Sure enough, someone is keeping watch on the police hospital."
Kiritsugu felt unperturbed, in fact, it was such a predictable outcome that he would have been surprised if he hadn't made the discovery. The only question that remained was, who was this individual? As of now, the only person whose identity remained a mystery was the Master of the Matou Family.
Based on intelligence gathered by the Einzbern Family, the current head of the Matou Family and Master of the Holy Grail War was Byakuya. According to records, he was an unremarkable magus, yet he had summoned the powerful servant, Berserker. If the figure Kiritsugu had spotted was indeed Matou Byakuya, he couldn't help but wonder why he would be present.
Kiritsugu's mind raced as he considered the possibilities. 'Could he be planning to use Caster's Master's body and lying in wait for me to investigate?' he wondered. 'No... I'm getting ahead of myself. First, I must confirm if this person is truly Byakuya. It's possible that he is Caster's Master in disguise.'
Although shocking, Kiritsugu couldn't completely rule out this theory. Even though Caster's Master had committed suicide in front of him the day before, but his methods were still fresh in Kiritsugu's mind. He knew that if he didn't consider every possibility, his years as a magus killer would have been for nothing and he would have died a long time ago. Having been deceived by Caster's Master's tactics before, he was determined not to let it happen again.
As for Caster's aura disappearing in front of him, Kiritsugu couldn't help but wonder if Caster possessed a treasure or skill akin to Assassin's Concealment, allowing him to fake his death and lurk in the shadows. The possibility couldn't be ignored.
If that were the case, then the young man who had committed suicide yesterday was merely a decoy. But if he was a decoy, how could he have possessed such strong magical energy?
His eyes flickered as he considered all the possibilities. He methodically listed them in his mind, refusing to jump to any conclusions without solid evidence. He knew the importance of patience and not making hasty decisions. He knew that the truth will reveal itself in due time, and he was determined to find it. And ultimately, the decisive evidence was Caster's Master - or more accurately, the young man who had committed suicide yesterday.
Kiritsugu's gaze was fixed on the surveillance monitor in the police hospital.
"Crackle~"
The screen flickered and crackled as he watched. The surveillance monitor of the police hospital was now filled with static, the last image that came through was of raging flames.
What happened?
...
In the police hospital, Tokiomi gazed upon the destroyed surveillance monitor, a small smile playing at the corners of his lips. "It seems the Einzbern family also desires the vessel capable of merging with the servant."
Tokiomi's smile remained calm and collected, betraying no hint of surprise at the sight of the surveillance monitor. He had been well aware of Kiritsugu's activities beforehand. The previous night, upon hearing from Kirei the truth about the vessel, Tokiomi had wasted no time in coming to the police hospital to make necessary arrangements.
The body capable of merging with the servant was an invaluable treasure for any magus. As the master of the Clock Tower, Kayneth desired it, as did Tokiomi. The two of them were willing to do whatever it takes to claim it as their own and use it for their own benefit.
So his primary adversary in this affair was Kayneth, but thanks to Kirei's assistance, he had received the crucial information in time. Upon his hurried arrival at the police hospital that night, he found the place still abuzz with activity, and Kayneth was nowhere to be seen. This proved to be a fortunate turn of events for Tokiomi.
Tohsaka Tokiomi's opponent, the ruler of the Clock Tower, was a formidable force, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of pressure in his heart. However, he had an ace up his sleeve in the form of Gilgamesh, who he knew was far superior to his opponent's Servant, Diarmuid.
He believed that if he could take the initiative and attack with Gilgamesh, he had a good chance of defeating Kayneth. However, the problem was that Gilgamesh refused to follow his orders.
Tohsaka was faced with a magus from a highly esteemed nine-generation family of magi and one of the twelve lords renowned as the prodigy of the Clock Tower. Given this formidable opposition, Tohsaka lacked confidence in his own abilities. As a result, he had resolved not to leave the safety of the Tohsaka residence since the war's inception. His plan was to bide his time, allowing the other factions to weaken one another before using a command seal to control Gilgamesh and eliminate the final group, ultimately securing victory in the war.
To prevent any exposure of the Mystery, Tohsaka used [Suggestion] to drive away the mortals in the area and set up a Bounded Field around the hospital. Once the Bounded Field was set up, he planned to go to the morgue to examine the vessel that could fuse with the servant. However, at that moment, the Bounded Field was activated, causing a surveillance drone that was monitoring the area to crash.
Tokiomi, having thoroughly researched his opponent's information, knew that the only one who would possess such technology was the Einzbern family's infamous magus killer.
It was only natural that they would be intrigued by the corpse, given its extraordinary ability to merge with a Servant, a trait that only a magus could appreciate as being of great worth. For the Einzbern family, who specialize in the creation of homunculi, this vessel was a true gem among gems.
"This couldn't be more perfect. While Saber might be a formidable opponent, I can use this opportunity to eliminate both Lord El-Melloi and the magus killer at once."
Tokiomi smiled confidently. He had already set up a Bounded Field, making this location his own battlefield. Dealing with a researcher like Lord El-Melloi and a lowly magus would be effortless. Even if the opponent summoned a Servant, he could use his Command Seals to summon Gilgamesh, giving him the upper hand.
The most important thing was...
"Tokiomi, has your Assassin established an ambush in this area?" Tokiomi communicated with his most reliable disciple using a gem imbued with magecraft.
"Yes, teacher. The ambush has been put in place," Kirei replied.
"It's not just Kayneth, but also the insidious magus from the Einzbern family that we must contend with. I intend to take them out all at once. I'll let you know when I'm ready. I will require the aid of Assassin," Tokiomi stated.
"I understand, teacher."
Tokiomi nodded in agreement. He trusted Kirei, who was a participant in the Holy Grail War and had no flaws or evil. As long as Kayneth and Kiritsugu fell into his trap, Tokiomi was confident he could kill them.
This place had already become his workshop. Even if they combined their Servants, they may not be a match for Gilgamesh. Most importantly, with Assassin already in ambush, as soon as Tokiomi saw an opportunity, he would give the order for a surprise attack and kill them.
"By eliminating both Saber and Lancer in a single move, and with Caster already defeated, we have removed three Servants from the playing field," Tokiomi remarked.
According to the intelligence gathered by him, eliminating Saber and Lancer at this juncture would give him a strategic advantage. He dismissed Berserker as a mindless beast and deemed Rider's master, a reckless youth, as a non-threat. As for Assassin, Tokiomi believed that Kirei, who was there to support the Tohsaka family, would ultimately use a command seal to force Assassin to take their own life.
"If we emerge victorious in this battle, the Holy Grail shall be mine! The hundred-year aspiration of the Tohsaka family shall finally be realized under my hands," Tokiomi exclaimed, gripping his staff tightly with mounting excitement as he saw victory within reach.
However, is it really that simple?
Shirou, Kiritsugu, Kirei, and Tokiomi were not divine beings; they did not possess the ultimate truth. Their actions, beliefs, and goals were all intertwined and had resulted in a convoluted tangle of chaos.
What should be the ultimate outcome of this situation?
...
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