Chapter 286: Assassination, the Unlucky Jack Group

[Time passed quickly, and night fell once more, the start of Sieg's bait operation.]

[However, the weather was less than ideal. As soon as night fell, rain began to pour.]

[While walking through the city, Sieg passed by a mother and daughter. They seemed familiar, and after a moment, he recalled seeing them earlier at a restaurant during lunch.]

[He was about to continue on his way when he suddenly heard the mother and daughter scream. Turning back, he saw that the fog had silently crept in, completely engulfing them.]

[Sieg immediately covered his mouth and nose before rushing into the fog. He quickly found the mother collapsed on the ground, but there was no sign of the child.]

[Sieg: "Stay strong, I'll find your daughter…"]

[He helped the mother up, preparing to escort her out of the fog—when he suddenly felt the cold barrel of a gun press against his chest.]

[The next moment, he was shot straight through the heart.]

[The woman was actually Reika in disguise. Without hesitation, she fired three more shots into Sieg's body.]

---

Astolfo: "Sieg!"

Waver: "Come on, how did you fall for such an obvious trap?"

Sieg: "But what if it was real? I couldn't just stand there and let them die just because I had doubts."

Kayneth: "Hmph. That's just sentimental foolishness."

Chihiro: "Shut up. He did the right thing, he's just still too naive."

Siegfried: "Yes, but one should always stay vigilant."

Chihiro: "You shouldn't be heartless, but you also can't afford to be soft. Got it?"

Sieg: "Yeah… I understand."

---

The First Emperor: "You seem to have taken a liking to this boy."

Chihiro: "At the very least, he's much more pleasant to deal with than most magi."

Kayneth: "Hmph."

Waver: "Hey, let's not make blanket statements about all magi here."

---

[Meanwhile, Jeanne realized that the entire city had been engulfed by Jack's fog. She had lost sight of Sieg and was searching for him amidst the thick mist.]

[Jeanne: "Sieg!"]

[Hearing a gunshot, Jeanne called out his name in concern—but instead of Sieg, she heard the voice of a child responding.]

[However, Jeanne was far more cautious than Sieg. She first confirmed that the child was indeed human before approaching.]

[Jeanne: "Don't worry, I'll take you to your mother right away."]

[Wrapping the girl in her holy shroud, she prepared to escort her to safety only to suddenly sense intense killing intent.]

[Not only was the murderous intent directed at her, but also at the child in her arms.]

[Jeanne tightened her grip on her flag and scanned her surroundings warily, unaware that the girl had reached into her own mouth and pulled out a scalpel from her stomach.]

["Hell starts here, We are the fire, the rain, the power. Let the slaughter begin."]

["Maria the Ripper!"]

[Jack's Noble Phantasm activated. The conditions were met. She aimed to carve out Jeanne's heart with a single strike.]

---

Jeanne: "???"

Astolfo: "Wait, you got caught too?!"

Jeanne: "That's impossible! I checked, this was clearly a human child!"

Fiore: "Yes, and Jack doesn't have the ability to shapeshift."

Sisigou: "So that's it… she's controlling the child like a puppet."

Atalanta: "How dare you use innocent children like this?"

Jack: "Hmph, kids like this are easy to find. Just pick one up from the streets."

Waver: "Where the hell did you even learn this stuff?"

---

[On the other side, Sieg had somehow survived three bullets to the heart, surprising Reika.]

[However, she swiftly reloaded, preparing to finish him with a headshot.]

[At the last moment, Sieg, regaining control over his body, cast a defensive spell. The barrier blocked the shot, and he slowly stood up.]

[Sieg: "Are you the Master of Black Assassin?"]

[The situation had instantly reversed.]

---

[Back with Jeanne, as Jack's dagger fell, her Noble Phantasm Luminosité Eternelle, activated on its own, successfully blocking the assassination attempt.]

[Jack's Maria the Ripper was essentially a "curse," and Jeanne, a saint whose existence embodied faith itself, was one of the worst possible opponents for it.]

[What had been a carefully planned assassination had turned into a complete miscalculation.]

---

Tohsaka Rin: "Wow… as expected of Siegfried's heart. Even getting shot through the heart isn't a big deal."

Waver: "So Jack's Noble Phantasm is curse-based? Jeanne was the worst possible target to use it on."

---

[Sieg: "Can Black Assassin control spirits?"]

[Jeanne knocked the girl unconscious, then sprinkled her with holy water. Immediately, a black mist dissipated from her body.]

[Jack: "Why aren't you dead?!"]

[Jeanne: "Unfortunately for you, I have resistance to curses."]

[Jack: "It's that flag… Are you a Lancer? No, the numbers don't add up. A Saber?"]

[Jeanne: "Neither. I am the Ruler—the overseer of this Holy Grail War."]

[Jack: "Ruler? Never heard of it."]

[Jeanne slammed the base of her flag into the ground, dispersing an evil spirit that had been attempting to secretly possess the girl.]

[Jack had tried to distract her with words while continuing to manipulate the child.]

[Jeanne: "Assassin, the Holy Grail War is a battle between Servants. I won't let you go if you continue harming innocent children."]

[Her voice was sharp with anger. A child's spirit was delicate, if possessed for too long, even exorcism wouldn't save them. They would be left as an empty shell.]

[However, her words seemed to trigger something in Jack. Instead of responding, she suddenly threw a scalpel at the unconscious girl.]

[Jeanne swiftly intercepted it.]

[Jack: "There are plenty of children out there. If you want to protect them, then do your best."]

[Jack materialized, holding several scalpels, her intent clear.]

---

Waver: "Jack can control spirits? But there's no historical basis for that."

Kayneth: "Was Jack the Ripper actually a necromancer?"

Sisigou: "Kid, where the hell do you even get these ideas?"

Jack: "None of your business!"

---

[Meanwhile, on the rooftop of Trifas' town hall, Atalanta gazed at the horrifying state of the city.]

[Because Jack had released her fog as soon as night fell, countless residents—still outside at the time—were caught in it. The city was filled with wails, shifting from confusion to terror, and finally, to hoarse cries for help.]

[Atalanta had little concern for adults, but when it came to children, she was different.]

[This was due to her own past.]

[Born a princess, she was abandoned as an infant simply because she was a girl. Raised by Artemis, she later reunited with her father, only to be treated as nothing more than a pawn for political marriage.]

[Even in her fated race for marriage, she was deceived by Melanion's trickery, forced into a relationship she didn't want. Ultimately, she was punished by the gods, transformed into a lion to pull Aphrodite's chariot until her death.]

[Her experiences led her to despise adults.]

[Hearing the voice of a child in distress, she immediately leapt into the fog without hesitation.]

Fiore: "Looks like Red is stepping in now."

[Back on Sieg's side, Reika fired several more shots, but Sieg blocked them all. Seeing the fight turning against her, she immediately turned and fled.]

[Sieg was about to give chase, but Jeanne and Jack arrived at the scene.]

[Jack: "I won't let you lay a hand on Mom."]

[Jack blew a whistle, and countless children wielding scalpels emerged from the fog.]

[Jeanne and Sieg were immediately forced into a difficult battle, protecting the unconscious girl while fending off Jack's relentless assault.]

[In a brief moment of distraction, the two found themselves separated. By the time they realized the danger, it was too late. Jack had already scaled the wall and was lunging toward Sieg, aiming to take his head.]

---

[Video paused.]

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[Question: What happens next?]

A: Sieg is beheaded by Jack.

B: Jack is severely wounded and killed by Jeanne.

C: Jack is severely wounded and killed by Sieg.

D: Jack is severely wounded and killed by Chiron.

E: Jack is severely wounded and killed by Atalanta.

F: The battle turns against them, and Jack flees.

[Please answer within one minute. Failure to respond within the time limit will be considered forfeiture.]

---

Tohsaka Rin: "Six choices this time?!"

Fiore: "This is tough. It's hard to judge what the correct answer is."

Astolfo: "What's so hard about it? It's obviously C!"

[Ding! Astolfo answered incorrectly. 1 Saint Quartz deducted.]

Astolfo: "Ah…"

Gordes: "I told you not to answer so recklessly."

Caules: "Well, at least that eliminates one option."

***

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