Chapter 168: Dream, Target Jack the Ripper
Tohsaka Rin: "What do you mean by that? Aren't the Red and Black factions supposed to be rivals?"
Tohsaka Tokiomi: "Isn't it obvious? They've already formed an alliance."
Kayneth: "As the saying goes, there are no eternal enemies, only eternal interests."
---
[Ding! The first question is about to begin!]
[This question is a three-part quick-answer session. Each question has 1 minute to answer. All group members can participate.]
[Correct answers will reward 3 Saint Quartz. Incorrect answers will deduct 1 Saint Quartz. If no one answers correctly within 1 minute, the question will be voided.]
[Please watch the video below.]
---
Illya: "Looks like today is another quick-answer session."
Chihiro: "With so many people in the group now, speed is key if you want to score."
Illya: "Easy for you to say. You're always first to answer. The rest of us barely stand a chance."
---
[Video starts.]
[The video picks up where it left off yesterday, showing Darnic and the Grand Duke discussing how to deal with Astolfo.]
---
[Vlad III: "What's the latest update? Any news on Assassin?"]
["We've identified Assassin's Master, Sagara Hyouma."]
[Darnic's tone was grim as he explained: "He's already dead, his heart ripped out. This doesn't seem like the work of the Mage's Association or the Church. Could it have been a Servant?"]
["Uncle, were you looking for me?"]
[Fiore, guided by Chiron, entered the room in her wheelchair.]
["Take a look at this."]
[Darnic handed Fiore a newspaper. The front page detailed a series of grisly murders that had been happening recently.]
---
[Meanwhile, in the corridor outside...]
["To put it simply, all of this could have been avoided with better communication."]
[Caules sat slumped outside the room, still brooding over Siegfried's actions the night before.]
[As for Gordes, Siegfried's Master, he had been completely confined to his quarters. His reckless decision to force Siegfried to commit suicide had not only rendered him useless to the Black faction but also earned him the scorn of even the most ordinary magi assigned to guard him.]
[The screen panned to Gordes, who sat seething in his room, powerless to do anything.]
---
Gordes: "..."
Siegfried: "…I'm sorry, Master. My willfulness has caused you trouble."
Gordes: "I want to be alone for now. Don't disturb me."
["The relationship between a Master and a Servant is not just that of a master and familiar. It also involves the dignity, ideals, and justice of a hero."]
[Caules looked at Frankenstein and asked, "Are you dissatisfied with me?"]
[Frankenstein, who had been quietly arranging flowers on the table, was startled at the sudden question. She hesitated for a moment before shaking her head.]
["Really? If you have any complaints, let me know before you explode, alright?"]
[Caules laughed and added, "Don't leave me confused when that happens."]
[Frankenstein nodded obediently, her quiet demeanor contrasting with her Berserker nature.]
["Caules."]
[Fiore appeared at the door, pushed forward in her wheelchair by Chiron.]
[Caules: "Sister, what's going on?"]
[Fiore: "Pack your things. We're heading to Sighisoara tomorrow."]
[Caules: "Sighisoara? Why?"]
[Fiore: "Assassin has appeared."]
---
Jack: "Oh my, it's finally my turn! But I'm Assassin. It's troublesome to be exposed so easily."
Reika: "It's alright, Jack. Let's go somewhere else now."
Jack: "Okay, Mom."
Tohsaka Rin: "Mom?"
Kayneth: "So it's confirmed. Rikudou Reika, you're Jack the Ripper's Master?"
Darnic: "Rokudou Reika, what exactly is your relationship with Sagara Hyoma?"
Reika: "I want nothing to do with that man anymore."
Emiya Kiritsugu: "As expected of the legendary killer, committing a string of murders in just a few days."
---
[Meanwhile, in Trifas, Sisigou was at his temporary base.]
[The location was an abandoned basement, which he had tidied up to make livable. However, the place still resembled a haunted house more than a proper residence.]
[Amidst the dim light, a skeleton-shaped magical printer began to move on its own, spitting out a letter.]
[The content was simple: "Go to Sighisoara. I'll explain the details later."]
[The letter was signed by none other than Lord El-Melloi II.]
---
Tohsaka Rin: "Waver, it seems you've been getting a lot of screen time."
Illya: "You're starting to look like the protagonist of your own story."
Waver: "I'd appreciate it if you didn't remind me. This is completely out of my control."
---
[Upon reading the letter, Sisigou immediately prepared to leave for Sighisoara, taking Mordred with him. After arriving, they checked into a hotel to rest.]
[That night, Sisigou had a strange dream. It wasn't his own memories but Mordred's life flashing before his eyes.]
[The dream began with young Mordred being brought to Camelot by Morgan to meet King Arthur for the first time. There, Mordred developed a deep admiration for her father and worked tirelessly to become a Knight of the Round Table. But no matter how hard she tried, she could never earn her father's approval. Resentment built over time, culminating in Mordred's betrayal during the Battle of Camlann, where she was struck down by her father's Holy Lance.]
[When Sisigou woke up, he was left puzzled. Why had he seen these memories? He chose not to bring it up to Mordred, though, sensing it would only cause trouble.]
[Mordred, meanwhile, was sitting on the bed, happily playing with a stray cat she had found outside.]
---
Waver: "The Master seeing a Servant's memories? That's unprecedented."
Tohsaka Tokiomi: "Another phenomenon we've never seen before."
Irisviel: "So that's Mordred's past…"
The dream was not only Mordred's story but also intertwined with Artoria's experiences. Familiar faces from the Knights of the Round Table appeared one after another: Agravain, Gawain, Tristan, Lancelot, Gaheris, Gareth...
Artoria: "Everyone…"
Looking at the familiar Round Table in the video, Artoria felt a pang of sorrow.
Lancelot: "My King, I am truly sorry… All of this is my fault."
Artoria: "No, Sir Lancelot. The fault lies with me for failing to guide you properly."
Lancelot: "My King…"
Mordred: "Damn it! Why would you dream about that!?"
Mordred, visibly upset after seeing the video, grabbed Sisigou by the collar and demanded an explanation.
Sisigou: "Hey, calm down! I don't even know why I saw those memories!"
---
[The video continued with Sisigou and Mordred heading out for dinner. They sat in a café, sipping coffee while watching the news on a small television in the corner.]
[The broadcast covered the ongoing serial murders.]
[Sisigou: "Serial murders?"]
[Before he could think further, his phone rang. The caller was none other than Lord El-Melloi II.]
[The screen shifted to Waver in his office, flipping through documents while speaking to Sisigou over the phone.]
---
Illya: "Waver, you look exactly the same."
Chihiro: "It seems no matter which world you're in, you're destined to be an overworked uncle."
Waver: "…"
Waver silently vowed to start a proper self-care routine after this.
---
[El-Melloi II: "You've seen the news about the serial murders, right?"]
[Sisigou: "Yeah, I just saw it. What's going on?"]
[El-Melloi II: "It's a mess. All the victims so far were members of the Mage's Association."]
[Sisigou: "So that's why you sent me to Bucharest. Let me guess…"]
[El-Melloi II: "Exactly. Every mage stationed in Bucharest has been killed. This is almost certainly the work of a Servant."]
[Sisigou: "It's strange that the murders didn't occur in Trifas."]
[After a moment of thought, Sisigou asked, "Could the murderer be devouring their souls?"]
[El-Melloi II: "That's what I suspect as well. Servants need a tremendous amount of mana to sustain themselves."]
[Sisigou: "What does the priest think?"]
[El-Melloi II: "He claims the six remaining Servants of the Red faction are all accounted for, and none have resorted to devouring souls."]
[Sisigou: "Then it's the Black faction? No… it would be too risky for Darnic to allow this on his own turf. Could it be a third party?"]
[El-Melloi II: "Whoever it is, their actions have seriously violated the rules of secrecy."]
[Sisigou: "Understood. I'll investigate."]
[Across the room, Mordred continued playing with the cat, completely oblivious to the heavy conversation happening nearby.]
---
Mordred: "Ahhh!!!"
After seeing herself on screen, Mordred turned bright red with embarrassment.
Mordred: "Why am I playing with a cat!? My image is ruined!"
Lancelot: "You have a fondness for animals, Mordred. That's not a bad thing."
Artoria: "Sir Mordred…"
Watching Mordred's carefree demeanor on screen, Artoria felt a pang of guilt. She couldn't help but wonder if she had failed to connect with her child in the way Sisigou seemed to.
Waver: "Devouring the souls of magus… What could be the reason?"
Kayneth: "It's obvious. That Reika woman isn't a magus, so Jack the Ripper must resort to this vile method to replenish her mana supply."
***
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