---
Kariya Matou lay in ambush on the hillside, waiting for Artoria to leave.
The transformation ability Kirei had just discussed with him was the effect of Berserker Lancelot's Noble Phantasm **Knight of Owner**.
Its first effect was the ability to conceal his parameters.
Its second effect allowed him to transform into any other heroic warrior capable of achieving great deeds.
However, because Lancelot had become a Berserker, this ability was normally degraded into mere camouflage—the black mist that constantly surrounded him.
To properly activate the Noble Phantasm, a Command Spell had to be used.
And to revert back would require another Command Spell.
Thus, Kariya seized the opportunity and used a Command Spell to have Lancelot transform into Iskandar.
Since it was the effect of Lancelot's Noble Phantasm, the transformation was nearly impossible to detect.
The two of them lay in wait on the mountain.
…
Because of her cold war with Kiritsugu Emiya, Artoria refused to cooperate with him in battle.
The two began operating separately.
Kiritsugu continuously searched throughout Fuyuki City for the locations of other Masters, while Artoria sought out other Servants.
Iskandar flew around the skies daily in his chariot without any attempt at concealment, always bringing Waver with him.
Given the overwhelming power of his Noble Phantasm, both Artoria and Kiritsugu excluded him as their next target.
However, the other Servants had recently stopped appearing, leaving both of them puzzled.
Tokiomi Tohsaka and Archer had not shown themselves for days. Especially after negotiating an alliance with Irisviel, they seemed to have vanished from the face of the earth.
But since they were allied, Artoria could not act against them. Thus, for several consecutive days, she searched for Berserker's whereabouts.
Today was no exception.
Because Irisviel's health was currently poor, she could only remain inside the warehouse's magic circle to recuperate.
Maiya Hisau was taking care of her in Artoria's stead, allowing Artoria to leave alone in search of Berserker.
Not long after she left the Emiya residence, Kariya began to act.
---
At that moment, Haruka Kasugano was next door in the old house, eating hot pot with Circe.
"Why haven't they come yet?" Haruka Kasugano muttered while eating.
"Come? What's coming?" Circe asked in confusion.
Ignoring her, Haruka Kasugano continued muttering, "Sigh… it's been several days… Did I miscalculate?"
Because he didn't respond, Circe's face flushed with anger and she grabbed all the beef from the hot pot.
Suddenly, a loud explosion sounded from next door.
Bang—
Haruka Kasugano had just picked up a sausage when the blast shook the Emiya residence so violently that he dropped it back into the soup.
Then came a series of gunshots.
"They're here! They're here!" Haruka Kasugano exclaimed excitedly.
"What's here? What's going on?" Circe was bewildered.
She flew out to check the situation.
---
Lancelot arrived at the warehouse and kicked the door open.
Maiya and Irisviel were chatting inside and were startled.
Maiya immediately stepped in front of Irisviel and opened fire.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
But how could human weapons harm a Servant?
Lancelot charged like a raging bull, slamming Maiya into the wall. Her old wounds reopened instantly; she coughed up blood and collapsed.
Lancelot then picked up Irisviel and calmly left.
Maiya hurriedly grabbed the phone and called Kiritsugu.
Upon hearing the news, Kiritsugu immediately raised a Command Spell and used a transfer spell to teleport Artoria to the warehouse.
But it was too late.
When Artoria rushed outside, she saw only Iskandar flying away with Irisviel in his arms.
She turned back to check on Maiya.
"Don't worry about me… go save Madam!" Maiya urged.
"I'm sorry…"
Artoria set Maiya down and rushed off in pursuit of Iskandar.
---
Next door, Circe was completely stunned.
"This is what you meant by 'they're here'? Sometimes I really suspect you have future sight…" she said suspiciously.
"I don't. I'm just an ordinary person," Haruka Kasugano laughed.
"Yeah right! But why would Rider attack a married woman in broad daylight?" Circe asked.
"What should we do? He took your lover away. Should I chase after him?"
"No need…" Haruka Kasugano thought for a moment.
The Iskandar from earlier hadn't spoken at all—clearly not the talkative Rider.
This was Lancelot, sent by Kariya at Kirei's request to capture Irisviel.
Heh. Perfect.
Two major events would happen tonight.
One: Kariya would encounter Tokiomi Tohsaka's corpse in the church.
Two: Kirei would take Irisviel to a hidden location and conceal her.
And that place was—
"Caster, the magical workshop we set up in the sewers earlier—you didn't dismantle it, did you?"
---
"No, I didn't dismantle it. Who has time to go into the sewers to erase a magic circle? …Besides, it stinks down there. I'm not going," Circe pouted.
She thought Haruka Kasugano was asking her to remove the workshop now.
"I'm just confirming it's still there. After all… I'll be using it soon," Haruka Kasugano chuckled.
"Oh? What are you going there for?" Circe asked curiously.
"Don't worry about it. Just keep watching the other Servants for me," Haruka Kasugano laughed.
He certainly didn't intend to let Circe follow him.
After all, he didn't want her interrupting his "private interaction" with Irisviel.
But that was for later—there were other matters to handle first.
---
Maiya Hisau was in excruciating pain.
She could feel the blood continuously flowing out of her body.
Her temperature was dropping. She felt colder and colder.
Her limbs were numb.
She felt death approaching.
Ah…
If only she could see Kiritsugu one more time.
If she could die in his arms… she would have no regrets in this life.
At that moment, a silhouette appeared at the warehouse door.
Maiya stirred slightly.
Was it Kiritsugu?
Had her wish really come true?
"Hi~!" Haruka Kasugano leaned in with a grin.
Maiya froze.
"You… you're the one who took Sola that night!" she said in shock.
She wanted to resist, but her body wouldn't respond at all.
Seeing this, Haruka Kasugano revealed a wicked smile.
He snapped his fingers and activated a healing skill.
Maiya's injuries visibly began to mend.
Though not fully healed, she was pulled back from the brink of death.
Maiya: "..."