Sakatsuki's strategy was simple—if the homunculus lacked Master qualifications, he would simply grant them himself.
Having connected to the Greater Grail through Jack, bestowing Master qualifications was trivial for him.
"Then what are we waiting for? I've been wanting a new Master for ages! My current—no, former Master reeks of blood and keeps tying me up at night! If possible, I'd much prefer a Master with a better personality!"
Spouting words riddled with questionable implications, Astolfo cheered and skipped toward the homunculus. After fumbling around for a moment, he grabbed her hand and looked up at Sakatsuki with sparkling eyes. "Hurry up and help already, mysterious Assassin-san~~"
As Astolfo waved enthusiastically, his pink ponytail swayed, the ribbon tied to it fluttering gently. Paired with his androgynously beautiful face, he could easily be mistaken for an energetic young girl.
Even the three heroic spirits froze for a moment, struck by an indescribable charm. Recovering, they each rubbed their temples, exchanged wry smiles at their mutual lapse, and sighed in resignation.
This "Innocent Monster" effect is too much...
I recall Sakatsuki mentioned he's male, right? Honestly...
Astolfo, are you trying to turn me? Damn it, the worst part is I'm actually a little tempted...
Though Astolfo's cross-dressing was lethally effective, his presence undeniably eased the tense atmosphere between them. Even Siegfried, who had been backed into a corner with a stiff expression, visibly relaxed.
Yet Sakatsuki didn't immediately comply with Astolfo's request. He shook his head. "It's not that simple."
Not that simple?
Artoria frowned slightly. With Celenike's death, Sakatsuki's original plan had been overturned. She had no idea what new issues her Master had uncovered—or what new scheme he had devised—in such a short time.
"Is there some difficulty with forming the contract?"
As an adventurer who had completed countless commissions, Astolfo naturally assumed that was the issue.
But Sakatsuki shook his head again, pointing out something everyone had overlooked:
"Forming the contract isn't the problem. The real question is—will the Black Faction simply let a homunculus who contracted with Rider go free?"
Oh—why didn't I think of that?
Artoria, who had been following Sakatsuki's train of thought closely, stiffened in realization. Once again, she was reminded of just how meticulous her Master was.
Would Darnic and Vlad III be careless enough to allow a new Master to escape, or let a Rider remain physically present but mentally disloyal?
Of course not!
While this plan would indeed rescue Astolfo, the homunculus would immediately draw the Black Faction's attention, becoming a target—the exact opposite of what they had worked so hard to achieve.
"As expected of you, I hadn't considered that aspect." Siegfried clearly hadn't thought of this either, nodding slightly as his gaze toward Sakatsuki carried newfound appreciation. "Since you mentioned putting on a performance, I assume you have a solution in mind. Please speak plainly—I'll offer my full assistance."
"Me too."
"Mhm, no need to ask me!"
The three Servants voiced their support one after another. Seeing this, Sakatsuki didn't hold back and openly shared his plan:
"All we need to do is this, this, and then this..."
————
Thus, when Reika activated her communication magecraft, what Darnic saw through the link was Sakatsuki breaking through the defenses of Siegfried and Artoria—despite their best efforts to intercept him—and firing at the unconscious Gordes.
Bang!
The gunshot rang out. Fortunately, the Black Faction's Rider, Astolfo, stepped forward, deflecting the magical bullet with his rapier and saving Gordes from a headshot.
"Don't even think about escaping, Red Faction's Assassin!" A sharp cry rang out as Artoria, cloaked in black, swung her invisible holy spear, unleashing a tempest of azure wind that surged toward Sakatsuki.
Yet the young man merely blinked away, reappearing beside Gordes. He spread his arms wide, laughing triumphantly and leaving himself completely open.
"If you wish to harm me, you'll have to take this Master's life first, O wielder of storms!"
"You bastard!" Astolfo thrust his rapier at Sakatsuki, but the difference in their ranks was too stark. After exchanging just a few blows, Sakatsuki found an opening and struck Astolfo square in the chest, sending him flying backward until he crashed against a tree trunk.
The hue of dusk flared as Siegfried appeared before Sakatsuki, his demonic sword swinging with unadorned lethality. The Assassin ducked beneath the slash, ignoring the Saber entirely as he turned and fired several shots at the unconscious, portly man.
"Damn it!" Siegfried's expression darkened as he forcibly halted his sword mid-swing and lunged to block. The potent magical bullets struck his back in rapid succession, one even piercing his fatal weak point. Even the indomitable dragon-slayer let out a pained grunt, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
To any observer, it was clear Sakatsuki was employing the strategy of "holding the emperor hostage to command the lords"—using Gordes' fragile yet indispensable life to force the three Black Faction Servants into a defensive, sacrificial position.
"Assassin, what's happening?!"
Watching the increasingly dire situation, Darnic's expression darkened. The quick-witted Reika, noticing this, promptly connected with Artoria and used her magecraft to broadcast their conversation to the throne room.
"Master!"
Artoria had been waiting for Reika to pick up the act. Feigning urgency, she "truthfully" recounted the events.
"As you can see, the Red Faction's Assassin suddenly appeared here for unknown reasons. He first knocked out Gordes, then took the homunculus hostage before attacking us."
While Reika and Artoria communicated, the Servants continued their relentless battle. In the flurry of exchanges, Sakatsuki's assault grew ever more fierce. Though Gordes remained unharmed, the Servants protecting him were steadily accumulating injuries. Even Artoria, in a moment of distraction, had part of her black cloak torn away by a magical bullet, revealing a slender, snow-white arm.
"Moreover, the most crucial point isn't this, Master!" The invisible holy spear plunged into the ground as the expanding Wind King Barrier transformed into a shield, blocking Sakatsuki's relentless onslaught. Seizing the opportunity, Artoria spoke urgently:
"The key issue is that our Rider has somehow suddenly lost his Master, and after Sakatsuki appeared, he connected Rider's causality line to that fleeing homunculus!"
"What did you say?!"
The roar didn't come from Reika or Darnic, but from the Black Lancer Vlad III who had rushed to the throne room upon sensing the disturbance. Simultaneously, the Black Faction's Masters and Servants arrived upon hearing the commotion, catching Artoria's final words.
"Rider formed a Master-Servant contract with a homunculus? And what do you mean Rider lost his Master?" Sitting in her wheelchair, Fiore gripped the armrests nervously while her brother Caules looked around, calling for Rider's former Master.
"Miss Celenike? Where are you?"
"No need to call for her." Reika calmly interrupted the commotion. Even facing imminent collective scrutiny, she remained composed as she spoke softly:
"Rider's Master, Celenike, was just killed by me after she broke into my room attempting to steal my Command Spells."
In the deathly silence, only Reika's voice echoed through the throne room.
"If verification is needed, Celenike's corpse remains in my room. Feel free to examine it."
...Dead?
A first-class black magus, Rider's Master, Celenike—just like that?
Why were there no warning signs? Why couldn't even her Servant be summoned in time?
The Masters were stunned by how casually their colleague had been eliminated, while Vlad III, leader of the Black Faction, briefly froze before his murderous rage instantly filled the throne room.
"Outrageous! How dare you kill an ally, woman—"
"Please understand this, Prince." Having already experienced death, Reika stood unfazed under the Wallachian Lord's oppressive aura. "She attempted to kill me first. Having resolved to take my life, she should have been prepared to stake everything."
Her words silenced all the magi present.
Victory meant gaining everything.
Defeat meant losing all.
This wasn't merely the simplistic creed of black magi—it was the unshakable truth governing the entire world of mysteries.
The winner becomes king; the loser, a bandit. That was all. Concepts like justice or morality held no meaning in a magus's eyes.
At this critical juncture in the Holy Grail War, would the Black Faction discard Reika—who possessed Assassin—over a dead woman?
The answer was equally obvious.
Thus, Vlad III merely snorted in displeasure before withdrawing his fury, saying nothing more.
Seeing his Servant (and lord) had restrained his anger, Darnic spoke:
"Reika Rikudou, we'll address Celenike's matter later. For now, contact Assassin and have them retreat immediately with Gordes."
"Uncle, what about the homunculus who became a Master—"
"No, Fiore." Darnic firmly cut off his future successor, his voice grave.
"Under that Assassin's attack, it was already difficult enough for the Servants to retreat while carrying that useless baggage."
Publicly denouncing Gordes as 'useless baggage' showed just how frustrated Darnic had become.
"Moreover, that young man would never abandon the Master he personally created."
As if echoing Darnic's words, when the Black Faction Servants picked up Gordes and began their retreat, Sakatsuki similarly withdrew his gun, flashing to the homunculus's side before slinging him over his shoulder and laughing as he departed.
"Never thought tonight's stroll would net me a new Master! Saber, Rider, and Assassin - let's call it a day here. I wonder what benefits our next encounter will bring me? Ahahaha..."
Hearing this, Darnic tightly gripped his cane while Vlad III's fury intensified, his wrist tensing until he crushed the armrest of his throne!
Sakatsuki - that damnable Assassin again!
He was the one who instigated the Holy Grail War, severely wounded Black Lancer and Berserker, blocked Vlad III's ambush, and now... somehow contracted with Black Rider and the homunculus, stealing away the homunculus Master!
"What... humiliation!"
Vlad III practically spat the words through clenched teeth. If the two leaders reacted this way, one could imagine how the other Black Faction Masters and Servants felt.
Fiorre, sitting in her wheelchair, looked up as the cold moonlight fell upon her, bringing the bone-chilling cold of deep night.