Chapter 154: Unsuccessful Communications

The young man before them appeared unremarkable, likely in his early twenties. His attire was ordinary, offering no distinguishing features. Everything about him seemed clean and nondescript—nothing stood out as particularly noteworthy. If one were to encounter him on the street, they'd simply assume he was an average office worker.

Yet here they stood, face-to-face with this individual amidst the ruins of the Matou estate.

"Why did you attack the Matou family?"

The question didn't come from Rin Tohsaka but from Shirou Emiya beside her. Attacking a household without provocation, reducing it to rubble—was this how magi should conduct themselves? Shirou felt disgust and hatred toward such actions.

Li Mo could see the disdain etched into Shirou's expression. "Do you think I'm evil?" Li Mo asked lightly. "Shirou Emiya, we've only just met, and already you judge me as wicked? From what I know, certain self-proclaimed champions of justice aren't much different when punishing those they deem evil. Don't you agree, red Archer?"

Because Li Mo knew—the identities of all participants and Servants involved in this Holy Grail War were clear to him. With three Servants under his command, his combat strength was formidable. In Fuyuki City, there wasn't much that could threaten him… unless Chaldea or some other dark force decided he posed a danger to human history and sent several Heroic Spirits to eliminate him. But so far, he hadn't done anything to warrant such intervention.

Thus, Li Mo acted without fear.

On the contrary, Shirou frowned deeply. "Is that your excuse for destroying the Matou residence?"

"Let me clarify," Li Mo continued. "Before taking action, the Matou estate contained only Zouken Matou. Neither Sakura Matou nor Shinji Matou were harmed. What I caused was purely property damage. If you'd like, I don't mind expanding my efforts further."

Li Mo observed carefully: Shirou Emiya, Rin Tohsaka, Red Archer (Archer), and Saber (Artoria) stood before him. The Masters posed little threat—he could easily handle two at once—but their Servants were another matter entirely.

"Of course, if possible, I'd prefer not to fight against you. It would complicate future arrangements. Rider might even turn on me mid-battle, which would be inconvenient." 

If Sakura Matou were forced to choose between Shirou Emiya and himself, she'd undoubtedly side with her senior. And Rider would align with Sakura. Li Mo had no interest in opposing the protagonist group; after all, they represented one of the few forces of good in this harsh world. Such goodness was rare and fragile, something Li Mo didn't wish to destroy.

Rin and Shirou exchanged glances, quietly conferring. They seemed inclined toward dialogue rather than conflict.

"Master, shall we wait?" Archer asked.

"Not yet. Let's try talking first. If we can bring him to our side, even someone like Archer wouldn't stand a chance. If not, we'll avoid confrontation for now. This isn't the time for disputes, is it? Right, Rider?"

Li Mo smiled faintly as he greeted Medusa. She responded, "I won't engage in conflict with you until after we return."

"Understood."

As Li Mo turned back, he noticed the shikigami he'd reclaimed from Raijin earlier, originally left behind by Seijuro Kishinami, returning to report. These shikigami, tasked with centuries-old duties, had expended much of their power over time. Under Li Mo's careful cultivation, however, they had regained some strength. Though weak in battle, their purpose lay elsewhere—in domestic tasks like tidying up or managing minor chores.

"Hmm… so nothing valuable survived, exactly as I expected. The basement was well-preserved, but it only contained insect corpses. That must have been where Zouken bred his Crest Worms."

After listening to the shikigami's report, Li Mo gained a general understanding of the current state of the Matou estate. After being subjected to Gorgon's Noble Phantasm, the place was utterly devastated. Whatever magical knowledge the Matou family had accumulated was now gone—though their wealth remained tied to Zouken's assets. As a magus family, the Matou clan had long since declined; Li Mo merely accelerated their inevitable fall.

Having concluded his business with the shikigami, Li Mo redirected his attention to Shirou and Rin. They were still discussing, though more accurately, Rin was attempting to persuade Shirou.

In situations like these, Rin remained far calmer than Shirou. While Shirou possessed magical talent, he lacked true insight into the arcane world.

Ultimately, it was Rin who addressed Li Mo directly. "Do you know where Sakura Matou is?"

"At present, Sakura Matou is my ally. Rider's Master serves as her Servant. Miss Tohsaka, does this information ease your hostility? And you, red Archer and Saber, perhaps you can lower your weapons. From the start, I've expressed no intention of fighting against you."

The rhythm of the conversation belonged entirely to Li Mo. Rin disliked this dynamic—it reminded her uncomfortably of her interactions with Kotomine Kirei. Both men exuded an unsettling sense of control, as if everything unfolded according to their plans.

Through gritted teeth, Rin retorted, "These are just empty words. Why should I believe you?"

"You raise valid points," Li Mo admitted. "Right now, I lack evidence. To you, I'm the one who destroyed the Matou estate. However, anyone familiar with the Matou family would agree Zouken deserved his fate. Still, mere words carry little weight. Since we cannot reach agreement now, let us table this discussion until trust has been established. For now, I intend to leave. What will you do? Shall we fight, or shall you let me go? Personally, I prefer avoiding meaningless conflict—but if you insist on battle, then so be it. Let's settle this decisively."

Tension rose again as both sides assessed their positions. Each side boasted two Servants, and engaging in a life-or-death struggle during the first night of the Holy Grail War was something everyone tried to avoid. Magi may differ greatly from ordinary people in worldview, but that doesn't make them fools. A premature clash resulting in mutual destruction would only benefit others waiting in the wings—a classic case of "the clam and the snipe fighting while the fisherman profits."

Rin countered, "Your claims remain unsubstantiated. How can I trust you? Moreover, Sakura Matou's whereabouts remain unknown, and you hold the only clue. Battle seems unavoidable."

"Very well," Li Mo replied casually. "I'm heading back shortly. You're welcome to follow me. Once there, Sakura herself can explain everything. My destination is Mount Enzo. If you wish to accompany me, feel free. Rider, Assassin, let's head back."

Li Mo prepared to depart, moving swiftly enough to rival a Servant's speed. Shirou watched in awe, catching only a fleeting shadow—a reminder of the battles he'd witnessed between Archer and Lancer at school.

"Oh, and one last thing," Li Mo added. "Berserker is approaching, and it looks like you're his target."

With that, his voice lingered in the air as he vanished.

Even without his warning, Rin and the others sensed Berserker's imposing presence drawing near. The massive figure emerged before them, radiating unmistakable hostility.