"…Shirou, you're wondering whether the only reason Sakurai-san didn't get mad at me for kicking out the real estate moguls was just because they owed me money, right?"
Su Enxi's high heels tapped over the moonlit floor, her eyes drifting again and again toward the table lined with rare brandy bottles. She remembered her cursed weakness—if she opened even one, she wouldn't be able to stop drinking.
Resisting temptation, she grabbed a can of Coca-Cola with her lace-gloved hand. With a crisp pop, the pull tab opened, and fizz bubbled up noisily.
"The reason is simple. They owe way too much money. So technically, I'm their family's biggest creditor… Let me think… I hold about 75% of their overseas assets and 45% of their domestic ones."
"Roughly two to three hundred billion euros, give or take—depending on factors like Japan's recent economic recovery, rising stock and futures markets… Oh, and about seventy billion in convertible bonds not included. So yeah, just that."
"How much?!"
Shirou's eyes bulged. And no, it wasn't because he was some uncultured bumpkin or money-obsessed fool. His financial views had always been simple—just enough to live was fine. Why hoard more?
Even with his black card, he hadn't racked up a billion in lifetime spending…
So this was his first time facing someone like the "Black Gold Swan"—a woman whose wealth could rival nations. And she still had the nerve to call herself "ordinary"!?
"Why the look, Shirou-dono? Staring at me like that… Let me make this clear—no, I'm not ditching my partners to come work for you~" Su Enxi teased, pretending to shy away coyly.
"No, no. I just had a drink earlier. I lost my cool for a moment."
Shirou averted his gaze, finally understanding. Su Enxi's stake in Sakurai's family business was massive. She could withdraw funding at any time and crash their companies.
That was why Sakurai Nanami couldn't afford to go against her—why she had to account for Su Enxi's opinions in any decision.
The elegant Sakurai looked up, "So, Shirou-san, you and Enxi-san have known each other for some time?"
She was clearly in a tough spot. Su Enxi couldn't be offended, but the thank-you gift for Shirou had just been ruined too. No matter how she acted now, she'd lose on both ends.
But watching how familiar the two seemed, maybe… maybe there was still room to mediate.
"Oh, of course we've known each other!" Su Enxi answered before Shirou could. "We're longtime partners! We know each other inside out, right, Shirou-dono?"
The friendliness and familiarity practically screamed sworn siblings, with Shirou as the big bro.
"…We have worked together before, but—"
"That's the same thing! Come on, you're our top-tier VIP guest, one of our oldest clients! I'll outbid those Mitsui geezers with ease. Just name your price—write any number you want on the check!"
She raised her can of cola in place of a wine glass, speaking with high-spirited flair.
"Let's keep our close collaboration going, build strong bilateral ties, and create a bright new future together!"
Shirou was about to retort—where did this political speech suddenly come from? But he caught her eye, and saw her raise the cola to cover her face… and silently mouth four syllables in Chinese:
"Holy Grail War."
At that moment, Shirou's phone buzzed.
Nanami, oblivious to their silent exchange, watched Su Enxi with subtle admiration. Her grace, her poise, her control of the situation—it was no wonder she was called the Black Gold Swan of the financial world. Compared to that, Nanami felt like a small-time amateur.
Her family was practically the third wheel now. The opportunity to win Shirou over had slipped right through her fingers…
—
The next morning, during breakfast at Shirou's home, the peppy voice of the morning news anchor echoed through the dining area as Shirou, Eriri, and Saya sat at the table.
"Good morning, Tokyo!" the host beamed.
"…Bringing you today's Death Flash News! Yesterday, 243 gang members clashed in Shinjuku, resulting in a devastating bloodbath—yes, you heard that right. They repainted Kabukichō with their brains! Casualty numbers for innocent bystanders are still being tallied—"
"But don't worry! Lawmakers fed up with yakuza antics are pushing amendments to the Anti-Gang Measures Law. Expect satisfying results soon…"
"And the winner of yesterday's disaster sweepstakes? The Shinjuku Central Gas Pipeline! That 30-billion-yen firework show sent entire blocks into fiery collapse!"
The broadcast cut to a middle-aged man caked in soot, a Tokyo Metropolitan Police spokesperson standing amidst ruins, giving a textbook PR statement. Behind him, rising smoke and charred debris… along with what might or might not have been real corpses.
"So fake!" Saya scoffed, cheeks puffed as she munched on youtiao. "What kind of gas explosion wipes out entire blocks? That's gotta be some shady gang bombing houses for cheap land grabs. Then they fake it as an 'accident' to dodge compensation. Classic capitalism!"
Eriri raised her notebook: "Exactly!"
She didn't quite understand the full logic, but was happy to join in.
After all… Eriri had no idea that the "violent organizations" they were blaming… were her own family.
"…"
While the girls speculated about conspiracies and fake news, Shirou sat in silence, deep in thought.
He wasn't shaken by Su Enxi's "write whatever number you want" check. He was still reeling from something far more serious:
Someone had publicized the Holy Grail War.
Su Enxi had brought word that just one hour before Shirou's meeting with Sakurai, someone had posted a video to "HunterNet." The footage showed his battle with Attila.
The post claimed this was the Holy Grail War—a ritual to summon ancient heroes and fight alongside them. The winner would receive the Holy Grail and have one wish granted.
It was a pitch-perfect PR statement.
Anyone who desired the Holy Grail, anyone who had a relic tied to an ancient hero—could participate.
It sounded like the devil himself was recruiting: "Even if you're broke, who cares? You've still got your life. Join the Holy Grail War—take a gamble, trade your blood for a dream. Bet your life, and maybe turn your rags into riches."
Of course, HunterNet was full of maniacs willing to risk everything for a payday.
Shirou stayed up that night watching the thread skyrocket in popularity. From obscurity, it rose rapidly to the top of trending posts.
Hunters debated the video's authenticity—but interest was growing. More and more people were planning to join in, treating it like a massive treasure hunt. They believed the Holy Grail was some priceless artifact leaked by a generous benefactor.
Meanwhile, threads selling "ancient relics" and "grave goods" were popping up like weeds. Even nobodies with dusty old junk were now marketing it as "Grail-eligible relics," inventing myths and selling fakes.
The Holy Grail War had become not just a deathmatch for lunatics—but a playground for unscrupulous merchants.
The Tokyo incident wasn't over—it had only just begun.
—
Bang!
A heavy slap struck the table. Source Yuzuru's hand nearly shattered the hardwood. He had completely lost his composure.
"That Holy Grail War post—there's really no way to delete it?"
In the Yanagi Research Facility, technician Miyamoto Shio looked up with tired eyes. "That site, HunterNet, uses an unconventional login method. It's not hosted on standard HTTPS. We can't even trace its root server. It's like a ghost drifting through the net…"
"Our AI system—Kaguya-hime—can't touch it."
"What about Norma?"
"Cassell's 'Norma' isn't fundamentally different. Same tech, slightly better specs—still can't do a thing."
"Then find me that user who posted it!" Yuzuru's voice thundered. "Find out who this 'Huginn' really is!"
Huginn, one of Odin's ravens in Norse myth—he and Muninn flew across the Nine Realms gathering knowledge. They were Odin's spies and messengers.
(End of Chapter)
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