A Saiyan's Journey

The Tohsaka family's intelligence network was thorough and diligent. Not only had they gathered detailed information on other participants, but they also pinpointed the specific locations of their bases.

Emiya Kiritsugu had gone into hiding the moment he arrived in Fuyuki City, so the intelligence operatives had yet to locate his hideout.

However, the Einzbern Forest wasn't exactly a secret location. As the local powerhouse, the Tohsaka family's operatives quickly identified its precise location.

In other words, Zuke could now launch a direct assault—especially since, according to Kiritsugu's plans, Saber and Irisviel would undoubtedly be together.

Originally, the plot was supposed to unfold tonight with Lancer releasing magical energy at the Fuyuki City docks, provoking a gathering of multiple Servants.

Unfortunately, most of those Servants had already been killed by Zuke, including Lancer, whose death left no room for this part of the story to play out.

"These are the events in Fuyuki City lately."

In a nondescript room of a modest hotel, Emiya Kiritsugu frowned as he reviewed the information in his hands.

He had arrived in Fuyuki City earlier than Irisviel and Saber, primarily to gather intelligence.

But the intel he obtained was increasingly bizarre, rendering much of his prior preparation useless.

For example, Kenneth, who had been staying in the top suite of the Hyatt Hotel, was now missing, with two large pools of blood left on the floor.

Additionally, Matou Kariya, suspected to be the Matou family's participant, had suddenly attacked Tohsaka Tokiomi late last night. He stabbed Tokiomi to death, only to be killed himself by Tokiomi's apprentice, Kotomine Kirei.

In just one day, three participants in the Holy Grail War had been eliminated?

And they weren't just any participants—they included one of the Twelve Lords of the Clock Tower and two of the Holy Grail War's founding families.

Now, as the Einzbern family's representative, Kiritsugu's faction was the last remaining member of the three founding families in this war.

Should he feel relieved or utterly exasperated? Kiritsugu lit a cigarette, his face clouded with worry.

"Are you sure these people were killed only after summoning their Servants?"

He looked at Maiya Hisau, who stood before him. The intelligence she had painstakingly gathered now occupied all his focus.

"Almost certainly," Maiya replied, nodding. Her sources were reliable—even if the news itself wasn't encouraging.

Kiritsugu's expression darkened. This meant that the souls of at least three Servants had likely already returned to Irisviel.

As the "vessel" for binding Servant souls, Irisviel's condition would deteriorate the more souls she absorbed.

No wonder Saber had just mentioned that Irisviel wasn't feeling well. Kiritsugu hadn't understood the cause at first, but now it was clear.

Still, he couldn't be blamed for not figuring it out sooner. Who could have predicted that three participants would be eliminated so quickly?

"Who killed Kenneth?"

Although the report claimed that Kenneth and Lancer were missing, Kiritsugu was convinced Kayneth was dead.

What mattered more was the identity of Kenneth's killer. The presence of two pools of blood suggested the assailant acted swiftly, leaving Kenneth no chance to resist.

"I'm not sure. It could be Matou Kariya, but if that's the case, it doesn't explain why he would later risk attacking Tokiomi alone."

Maiya was puzzled as well. No one yet knew about Tohsaka Rin's unauthorized summoning of Zuke.

Although both Kayneth and Kotomine Kirei had seen Zuke accompanying Rin, neither had survived long enough to share this information.

Thus, for most people, Kenneth's death remained a mystery.

Before Kiritsugu could speculate further, his expression changed—he had just received a message from Saber.

Masters and Servants shared a magical link that enabled long-distance communication. Saber's voice had just reached him.

The message was simple: The Einzbern Forest is under attack!

"So this is the Einzbern family's base in Fuyuki City… They bought the entire forest?"

With Tohsaka Rin cradled in his arms, Zuke strolled casually into the Einzbern Forest.

As one of the three founding families of the Holy Grail War, the Einzberns were exceedingly wealthy.

It made sense—an alchemist family that crafted homunculi couldn't possibly be short on funds. After all, materials for homunculi weren't cheap.

"I suppose, in a way, Emiya Kiritsugu's marriage into the Einzbern family has been quite the windfall," Zuke remarked with a grin, stroking his chin.

Though Kiritsugu's true motive was to use the Einzbern family to obtain the Holy Grail, Zuke thought he must still be enjoying the lavish lifestyle that came with it.

"Berserker, you don't have any strange ideas, do you?"

Seated in Zuke's arms, Rin grew uneasy at his comment, clutching his sleeve tightly.

"Our Tohsaka family is plenty wealthy! Who cares about the Einzberns?!"

Rin seemed genuinely worried that Zuke might defect to another faction over something as trivial as wealth.

Normally, Servants wouldn't betray their Masters over such things, but Rin had noticed that Zuke was far from an ordinary Servant.

She was understandably terrified that the one person she could rely on might switch sides.

"You're talking as if you want me to marry into the Tohsaka family," Zuke replied, half amused, half exasperated. Did she even realize how awkward her phrasing was?

And considering how Rin had struggled financially to maintain her jewel-based magecraft in the original story, her statement seemed even more ironic.

Before long, a sinister aura emanated from deep within the Einzbern Forest.

As the Einzbern family's base, the forest was, of course, equipped with magical defenses. Zuke's unrestrained approach immediately triggered their alarms.

Soon, two figures appeared before him as he leisurely made his way toward the forest's center.

It was Saber Artoria and her pseudo-Master, this war's "Little Grail," Irisviel.

To be continued…

Advance 50 chapters are up on my Patreon!

I bulk-released a few chapters on my Patreon again as the members don't want to read Shin's school life daily, and the MC has landed in the DB world again!

Btw, Hoi Ningen, FBI is after you after going through your search history. Hand over your Power Stones to me so I can bribe them for you winks.

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