As one of the two major mysterious forces with influence throughout the world, the Holy Church possesses terrifying power in both the secular and mystical worlds.
Less than an hour after receiving Justisa's call, Father Risei had completed his investigation and disguised the scene as a fire.
A few hours later, the morning papers and TV news had a new piece of news: "Early this morning, a fire broke out in a residential building in the northwest of Fuyuki City, causing the house to collapse and three people to die. Citizens are urged to pay attention to fire prevention."
The morning newspaper was delivered at the same time as breakfast time at the Matou family.
Having finished the tasks at hand and finally having a few days of free time, He Ye drank black tea and read the newspaper.
"It was a fire. The houses collapsed. It was so tragic. It seems that there hasn't been such a big fire in Fuyuki City for many years."
Sakura put down her knife and fork like a lady and wiped her mouth. "It's okay, Dad. This won't happen in our family. My brother and I will use the magic that our master taught us to put out the fire."
Tsuruya smiled and said, "Sakura is really reliable. I'll leave it to you."
Shinji then said, "But Sakura, although firefighting is important, fire prevention is more important. No matter how small a fire is, it will cause damage. Only when the fire does not start will there be no damage."
"Got it, brother." Sakura nodded seriously. In the entire Matou family, the one she admired the most was this brother who was one year older than her. She would listen carefully and think about everything he said.
"I'm full." Kariya, who was sitting opposite the brother and sister, put down his chopsticks and stood up. "I'll go out for a while and come back before lunch."
He Ye closed the newspaper and asked casually: "Where are you going?"
"Fire scene." Kariya said as he picked up his coat from the hanger behind him.
Tsuruya quickly understood his brother's thoughts: "Do you suspect there is something wrong with this fire?"
"Well, every piece of news after the start of the Holy Grail War could be a fake. I'm going to verify it just in case." After summoning the Servant, Kariya was completely in the state.
Shinji interrupted, "I don't recommend that you go to the fire scene, uncle."
Kariya paused: "Why?"
Shinji put down his knife and fork and said calmly: "When I heard the news, I had the same idea. Other masters might have the same idea. If we go there now, uncle might be targeted by other masters. The fact that uncle returns to the Matou family will attract attention from all sides."
Tsuruya suggested, "Then let's not go to the scene, but to the Fuyuki City Fire Department. I have business dealings with the Fire Department, so Kariya, please invite the chief to have a cup of tea. It's only been a few hours, and if this is a fake fire scene, there will be loopholes in the procedures. If the other party doesn't cooperate, Kariya, you can use magic to make them cooperate."
"Good idea." Kariya's eyes lit up, "Let's do it."
Just as Tsuruya and Kariya were about to go out, Tōsaka Tokiomi received a call from Kotomine Risho.
"Based on the traces left at the scene, it can be determined that one of the parties in the battle was Caster. The unidentified Master did not lie about this, but the Master consciously deleted his own information before leaving. His Servant is unknown, and his magic skills are unknown. The only thing that can be determined is that this person once set up a large-scale barrier around the scene. He is an experienced and cautious magician."
After listening to Kotomine Risei's analysis, Tōsaka Tokiomi fell silent. After a while, he spoke, not to the communication gem, but to Kotomine Kirei who was standing in front of the desk: "What do you think?"
"The masters confirmed so far include you, teacher, Matou Kariya of the Matou family, Kenneth El-Melloi Archibald, a first-class instructor from the Clock Tower, and Emiya Kiritsugu, son-in-law of the Einzbern family."
When he said the last name, Kotomine Kirei's eyes narrowed slightly.
He had heard of this name before, and he got the detailed information from Tōsaka Tokiomi just a few days ago.
Kiritsugu Emiya, once a killing tool affiliated with the Magic Association, was a notorious magician killer who specialized in hunting down magicians using methods that were most inconsistent with the rules of magicians.
Dropping bombs in public; shooting down planes with many passengers; even indiscriminate large-scale terrorist attacks. Although there is no definite evidence, based on the analysis of the intelligence collected, it is most likely he did it.
Nine years ago, such a man became the son-in-law of the Einzbern family, who never communicated with the outside world. This once caused a lot of controversy in the Magic Association. However, the only people who saw through the truth of this matter, besides the old monster Matou Zouken, was the head of the Tohsaka family, Tohsaka Tokiomi.
The magicians of the Einzbern family, who only have deep attainments in alchemy, are not good at fighting, which is the main reason for their failure in the Holy Grail War in the past. In order to obtain the Holy Grail, they need external aid who is good at fighting, and no one is more suitable than the magician killer.
Such a choice is understandable to Tōsaka Tokiomi, but the mage Emiya Kiritsugu who does not follow the rules of a magician, has no sense of pride as a magician, and only uses magic as a tool disgusts Tōsaka Tokiomi, who is proud of being a traditional magician. It is this disgust that arouses Kotomine Kirei's curiosity.
Kotomine Kirei collected his thoughts and continued his analysis: "Matou Kariya has only been trained in magic for a year, so he doesn't have the ability to set up such a large-scale barrier. Even if Emiya Kiritsugu has the ability, he won't set up such a barrier. He will choose to drive out everyone in the residential area. Lord El-Melloi is a proud man, and he won't inform his father in this way."
Lord is the exclusive title of several ancient families that rule over the Magic Association. Kayneth is the ninth-generation head of the Archibald family, one of the ancient families. He possesses strength and reputation commensurate with his status and is the most powerful magician in this Holy Grail War.
"The only one left is one of the two besides Master Caster."
"Just as I thought, it seems that a magician of considerable caliber has come to participate in this Holy Grail War." Tōsaka Tokiomi was satisfied with his disciple's performance. "As the manager of the spiritual vein, the Tōsaka family's every move will be monitored by other masters, so, Kirei."
"My teacher." Kotomine Kirei bowed his head respectfully.
"I need you to collect information about the two Masters on my behalf. The more detailed the better."
"Yes, my teacher."
Looking at Kotomine Kirei's departing back, Tōsaka Tokiomi let out a sigh.
"If only your stigmata hadn't disappeared two years ago."
Kotomine Kirei had obtained the qualification to participate in the war three years ago, and was the first one among all the candidate masters to be engraved with the stigmata. It was precisely because of this that Tokiomi accepted Kirei as his apprentice, hoping to combine the power of the two masters to take the Holy Grail into his pocket.
However, after Kirei had studied with Tokiomi for a year, his stigmata suddenly disappeared, and this incident has troubled Tōsaka Tokiomi to this day.
"Perhaps the Servant you summoned was too powerful, so the Holy Grail deprived Kirei of his stigmata." Risei's voice sounded at the right time.
Thinking of his Servant, Tokiomi felt much better.
As long as he is there, the Holy Grail will be in his pocket.