"I say, Master, isn't this obviously a familiar set up by another Servant?"
Jason swung his sword, cutting down the approaching Dragon Tooth Warrior. His swordsmanship wasn't particularly refined—among his fellow disciples, he was only considered third-rate—but as Chiron's student, he had no trouble handling these kinds of enemies.
"Breaking into someone else's territory like this is extremely unwise. And the mana in these Dragon Tooth Warriors feels strangely familiar to me… It's giving me chills."
"This wouldn't have happened if you hadn't been wandering around aimlessly during the day! I would have noticed something was off much earlier. And you call yourself a hero who understands the battlefield? You're not even an Archer!"
Rin Tohsaka shattered a Dragon Tooth Warrior behind Jason with a blast of magical energy. The so-called great hero of Greece was surprisingly carefree—once she told him she'd cover his back, he completely ignored everything behind him.
"At least watch your rear!"
"My abilities are pretty average, you know? If my allies can handle something, I don't need to worry about it. Besides, isn't trusting your comrades a perfectly normal thing?"
Jason continued his broad, sweeping strikes, quickly clearing out the remaining Dragon Tooth Warriors.
Once the enemies were dealt with, Rin began investigating the hidden office they had discovered. Most of the staff inside had met cruel and gruesome ends, while the few survivors were covered in wounds, as if they had undergone brutal interrogation.
"Also, their mana was extracted. But if that was the only goal, there would be no need for such slaughter."
Analyzing the scene, Rin muttered, "Using Dragon Tooth Warriors means this was the work of a Caster. It's probably that Middle Eastern Master from the Clock Tower."
Jason frowned as he examined the lingering mana in the air. A growing sense of unease gripped him. He urged Rin, "Master, shouldn't the Church's overseer be handling something like this? It's not a good idea to expose ourselves here."
Rin shot him a glare. "The Tohsaka family is the guardian of Fuyuki's ley lines—we are the true rulers of this city. It's our duty to maintain magical order."
"…Are you really a magus?" Jason couldn't help but recall the magi from Greece. If not exactly friendly, they were at least somewhat human. "I thought magi were supposed to be selfish and lawless."
Ignoring him, Rin traced the mana trail and soon found a significant convergence of magical energy. At least four Servants had stayed in this location for a considerable time.
She picked up a ledger, its cover smeared with dried blood that framed a specific address: a private estate in the outskirts, owned by a well-known investor and philanthropist in the city.
"So, this Servant isn't done yet…"
Rin clenched her teeth. Magi understood the need for secrecy—magic should never be exposed to the public. Yet, this particular Servant had left traces everywhere, as if deliberately provoking attention.
Atrum's manor had been a prime example. If not for the Church's intervention reframing the incident as a large-scale kidnapping, the existence of magic could have been thrust under the public spotlight.
"Based on the mana residue, they were here about an hour ago. Saber, let's go! We should still have time!"
Rin didn't wait for Jason's reply and immediately took off toward the marked location.
Jason sighed, trailing behind her. "I really hope this isn't what I think it is… We've all died once already—can't they just give me a break?"
By the time they arrived at the estate, the entire building was engulfed in flames. The roaring fire turned the night sky red, its smoke thick with the stench of burning flesh and blood.
The security personnel lay scattered across the grounds—some dead, others barely clinging to life.
One body stood out—a guard, still writhing in agony as he tried to crawl away. Blood covered his body, his moans inhuman. Only one of his arms still moved, twitching feebly like a crushed insect.
Rin hesitated, sympathy flickering in her eyes as she reached for a gemstone, intending to administer some basic healing.
But Jason stopped her. Before she could protest, he quickly explained, "Don't touch him. That's poison. Anyone who makes contact will suffer the same fate."
Jason had encountered deadly toxins before, especially during his quest for the Golden Fleece. The guard's scent triggered his instincts—this was something dangerously familiar.
Moments later, the man's body was consumed by a thick, violet liquid. His flesh and bones melted away, leaving only the acrid stench of burning protein lingering in the air.
Rin stumbled back, shaken. Had Jason not warned her in time, she might have suffered the same fate.
"Watch out!"
Jason swung his sword, knocking away several incoming throwing knives. Under the moonlight, the blades gleamed with a faint purple sheen—poison.
"Assassin! You've already been exposed. Stop hiding and face us!" Jason shouted, attempting to sound intimidating.
A skull-like mask emerged from the shadows, eerily blending with the night. As it advanced, a slender figure stepped into view—a woman clad in a tight-fitting black outfit, her silhouette accentuated by the dim glow of the flames. A faint, intoxicating fragrance drifted through the air.
Hassan of Serenity assumed a combat stance. She needed to get close to use her abilities effectively. But the moment she saw Jason, she hesitated—he was a Servant.
"You must be some hero of legend… I have my Master's orders to eliminate any interference. So, I must ask you to die here."
She knew she had no chance in direct combat, so her gaze shifted toward Rin. If she could eliminate the Master, she wouldn't have to fight Jason head-on.
"Master, be careful," Jason warned, gripping his sword tightly. "This woman reeks of poison. If she so much as touches you, even your bones will dissolve."
He swallowed hard. He had no means to counteract such a deadly toxin.
"Close combat favors her… Should we retreat?"
"Now that Assassin has shown herself, we'll take her out here! If necessary, I permit you to use your Noble Phantasm!"
Rin shook her head. With an Assassin exposed, the best move was to eliminate her immediately.