---
"I was originally in charge of gathering intelligence under Kayneth , but I've long admired Miss Sola! After rescuing her, I developed wicked thoughts, so…" Haruka Kasugano said.
"So you want me to kill Kayneth for you, and help you monopolize Sola?" Kiritsugu Emiya cut in.
"Smart. It's convenient talking to smart people," Haruka Kasugano laughed.
"Why should I believe you?" Kiritsugu asked cautiously.
"Because it benefits you without any downside. Killing Kayneth helps you in the Holy Grail War. And I don't even have a Servant—I'm no threat to you," Haruka Kasugano smiled.
"I've left the item at the door. Whether you use it or not is up to you. Goodbye."
Moments later, Haruka Kasugano's voice was gone.
Kiritsugu cautiously opened the door and found that Haruka Kasugano had already disappeared, leaving only a recording crystal at the entrance.
Kiritsugu picked it up and looked at it. He couldn't help but smile.
This really was a good tool to threaten Kayneth.
After thinking it through, he felt the man's behavior was believable. Most importantly, someone obsessed with his boss's wife posed no real threat to him.
So he left and went to Kayneth, preparing to threaten him.
---
Kiritsugu walked directly behind Kayneth's hiding place and stepped out openly in front of him.
Kayneth suddenly turned and shouted, "You… trying to kill—"
Kiritsugu made a silencing gesture.
Then he threw a recording crystal to Kayneth .
Kayneth, seeing it was just a recording crystal, didn't think much of it and picked it up to watch.
"Sola… my Sola…"
"You bastard… what do you want…"
Kiritsugu then tossed him a contract.
It was a binding magical contract—once signed, both parties must obey its terms.
It clearly stated that Kiritsugu would not harm Kayneth or Sola, but Kayneth had to order Lancer to commit suicide.
Kayneth froze. He had to choose between Sola and the Holy Grail.
Of course—
He chose Sola.
---
At that moment, Diarmuid and Artoria were fighting with smiles on their faces.
"Saber, you'd better be careful next. I'm about to—"
In the next instant, Diarmuid pierced himself with his yellow spear, shattering his spiritual core.
"Why…"
"Lancer!" Artoria was stunned.
Kiritsugu pushed Kayneth's wheelchair out into view.
Kayneth said to Diarmuid with guilt, "I'm sorry… I must protect Sola…"
"You bastards! Why do you always resort to such despicable tricks? Why can't you fight like true knights?" Diarmuid roared.
"I curse you…"
Then he dissipated.
Artoria turned and shouted at Kiritsugu, "Why would you do something like this?!"
Kiritsugu couldn't be bothered to explain.
"I can leave now, right? When will you return Sola to me?" Kayneth asked.
"Mm. According to the contract, I cannot harm you. Go ahead. Sola will be returned shortly," Kiritsugu said with a smile.
"What? So you were the one who abducted her?" Artoria and Irisviel exclaimed in shock.
The next second—
Maiya Hisau's sniper rifle shot pierced Kayneth .
"Ah…"
Kayneth died on the spot.
Seeing this, both Artoria and Irisviel were stunned.
"Kiritsugu Emiya! Lancer is already dead! Why did you still have to eliminate him?!" Artoria shouted.
"Even if a Servant dies, the Master can still contract with another Servant. I was just eliminating future trouble," Kiritsugu said impatiently, lighting a cigarette.
"Kiritsugu Emiya, you despicable bastard! You shameless man!" Artoria roared.
Irisviel stood there, lost.
For the first time, she truly witnessed what "by any means necessary" really meant.
Before, when she followed Kiritsugu and heard him say such things, she simply thought it sounded cool. But seeing it firsthand… she still couldn't accept it in her heart.
And her husband…
Not only did he have other women, he smoked, abducted someone else's wife, and now…
She began to no longer understand him.
"Kiritsugu… I think you should at least explain to her…"
"No need."
Kiritsugu turned and left without another word.
He got into the car Maiya drove over and left immediately.
Leaving behind an enraged Artoria and a sorrowful Irisviel.
Moments later, Irisviel suddenly collapsed unconscious.
"Irisviel!" Artoria hurriedly caught her.
Because of Diarmuid's heroic spirit returning to the Grail, her body began deteriorating again.
Helpless, Artoria carried her back to the Emiya residence and placed her within the magic circle she had drawn, supplying her with mana to ease her suffering.
But the two women remained silent.
After all—
Kiritsugu had become a wedge between them, making things awkward.
He was Irisviel's husband; Artoria couldn't freely criticize him.
He was her husband; Irisviel didn't know whether she should defend him.
And so, they fell into silence.
Next door, Haruka Kasugano eavesdropped on their conversation, thinking his plan had succeeded.
Now he only needed to find an opportunity to obtain them.
---
The next day.
Inside the Church.
"So? You're staff from the Church? Since my father is dead, you'll listen to me from now on?" Kotomine Kirei said over the phone.
After hanging up, Gilgamesh laughed.
"Oh? You've become the supervisor now. Happy?"
Kirei shook his head. "Without my father's Command Seals, this supervisor position is just an empty shell."
"What does it matter? Have you found a Servant yet?" Gilgamesh smiled.
Kirei shook his head.
"I actually have a very simple way for you to obtain one… but never mind, I won't say it. Hahaha," Gilgamesh hinted.
Kirei understood the implication and fell silent.
Just then, Tohsaka Tokiomi contacted him telepathically.
"Kirei, I've decided to ally with Saber's side. Come with me," Tokiomi said.
"Understood."
Kirei stood up to leave.
Gilgamesh sneered. "Allying with Saber? Tokiomi always does such boring things."
Reluctantly, he followed Kirei to meet Tokiomi.
---
Irisviel received an invitation from Tokiomi, proposing an alliance to deal with Berserker and Rider.
Forcing herself to endure, she went to the agreed location.
Artoria had no choice but to accompany her.
The meeting place was the Church.
Both sides confronted each other there.
"Saber's Master, what is your decision?" Tokiomi asked.
"With the strongest Saber on our side, why would we need to cooperate? If you truly wish to ally, then have your disciple, Kotomine Kirei, leave Fuyuki," Irisviel demanded.
Tokiomi turned to Kirei. "Kirei? Why? What did you do?"
Kirei had no intention of answering.
Seeing this, Tokiomi agreed.
"Very well. We will also provide the intelligence previously gathered through Assassin. However, when Saber fights Archer, Noble Phantasms cannot be used."
"As long as Kotomine Kirei leaves Fuyuki, anything is acceptable," Irisviel said firmly.
"Agreed," Tokiomi replied.
After the alliance meeting ended,
Tokiomi arranged for Kirei's departure.
Before sending him off, he called him to the Tohsaka residence and presented him with a parting gift—an Azoth Sword.
"Sorry, Kirei. You'll have to leave. But your mission here was already completed long ago. Go out and rest. I'll handle the rest of the Holy Grail War myself," Tokiomi said with a smile.
"Is your flight for tomorrow morning booked?"
"Mm…" Kirei stared at the Azoth Sword on the table.
"Good. I'll go rest first."
Tokiomi turned to leave.
Suddenly—
His chest was pierced through.
"Sorry, teacher. I didn't book any flight," Kirei said with a delighted smile.
"You…"
Bang.
Tokiomi fell to the ground.
Gilgamesh appeared immediately, laughing.
"How does it feel? Have you made up for the regret of not killing your father yourself?"
"It's acceptable," Kirei replied with a smile.
"Let us form a contract! Choosing the subject you favor—how exhilarating!" Gilgamesh laughed.
A slight smile curved Kirei's lips.
How delightful.
---
After Kayneth 's death,
Everything that followed was completely out of control.
Who knew how things would develop now?
To reduce the risks brought by uncertainty, there was only one path—
Strengthen oneself.
After all—
All fear ultimately stems from insufficient firepower.