Lin Jiuan was numb. He had imagined Merli might be taking him to face some incredibly difficult enemy, even considering the possibility of a one-on-one showdown with Angra Mainyu. But he had still underestimated the depths of this succubus's depravity.
She brought me to find Aoi and Irisviel?!
Currently being forcibly held on Merli's lap, Lin Jiuan glanced at the two women opposite them, their faces frosty and their gazes filled with undisguised murderous intent, before silently lowering his head.
"Jiuan, is there anything you'd like to eat?"
"Whatever."
"Then how about we share a piece of cake? After all, I was 'fed' so well by Jiuan this morning, I'm still quite 'full'."
Hearing Merli's suggestive tone and the deliberate emphasis on 'full', Aoi immediately understood her meaning, the killing intent in her beautiful eyes growing even stronger. As for Irisviel, she wasn't quite sure what Merli was talking about, but seeing the lewd, cheap look on Aoi's face, the intelligent Mrs. Iri immediately understood it was definitely not something good.
"What do you really want?" Irisviel couldn't help but ask. "Are you trying to use Jiuan to threaten us into withdrawing?"
"Eh?" Merli tilted her head with an innocent expression, as if she had no idea why they were so angry. But after looking down at Lin Jiuan, who was pretending to be dead in her arms, a look of sudden realization dawned on her face. "Are you two interested in Jiuan? No can do." Merli wrapped her arms around his waist. "I can't give Jiuan to you. After all, he is my most important person."
"Oh, did you know? Last night, Jiuan fed me all night long. It didn't end until dawn. I'm still so full. He's such a naughty boy with so much energy." As Merli spoke, she stroked his face with a doting expression.
This damn succubus is really not afraid of death! Lin Jiuan was about to snap. Even though Aoi's and Irisviel's killing intent wasn't directed at him, he could feel a chill run down his spine.
"Do you think we don't dare to make a move?!"
"Ooh, whatever," Merli smiled dismissively. "Jiuan is in my arms anyway. If I can die by his side, I'll have no regrets."
Hearing this, Aoi and Irisviel didn't dare to act. This woman was clearly using Jiuan to threaten them! 'Jiuan is in my arms, if you dare touch me, I'll hold him up as a shield!' And it was still daytime, in a bustling city. Even though they were about to die from anger at this taunting succubus, with his life not in immediate danger, they didn't dare to make a move. Doing so would leave them with no way out, forced to become fugitives with him.
Therefore, Aoi and Irisviel could only watch as the woman engaged in a one-sided, lovey-dovey display with the "I'd rather be dead" Lin Jiuan right in front of them. It wasn't until after they had finished their coffee that Merli smiled and said, "Jiuan and I are going shopping. Want to come with?"
Aoi: "?!"
Irisviel: "?!"
An even more intense killing intent fell upon Merli. After a long silence, Irisviel squeezed out a word through gritted teeth. "Fine!"
"Oh, by the way, Mrs. Tohsaka, I didn't bring any money. Could I trouble you to pay for me and Jiuan?" Merli said, leaning down close to his mouth and breathing hot air. "Jiuan, what do you say?"
"It has nothing to do with me. You're the one who ate everything," he said, turning his head away in disgust.
"You're so mean," Merli's cherry lips moved closer to his, her face a mask of sadness. "But last night, Jiuan loved feeding me tasty things so much."
"Stay away from me."
"I don't care! I don't have any money anyway. If we really can't pay, I'll just take you to make some movies to earn money!"
Lin Jiuan: "?"
Aoi bit her lower lip so hard that a trickle of blood seeped out. For Sakura, for Rin, for Jiuan... Aoi, you must control yourself!
"Fine!"
Aoi and Irisviel had never felt time pass so slowly. The day seemed to stretch on for an eternity. For a whole day, they were dragged around shopping by Merli, acting as her wallet while being forced to watch her constantly tease Lin Jiuan.
Fortunately, the sun finally set. The moment the sunset vanished below the horizon, a jet-black figure appeared, rushing toward Merli—who was holding Lin Jiuan and eating ice cream—at a speed invisible to the naked eye. Its longsword thrust unhesitatingly toward her neck.
No blood, no scream. The instant the sword touched her, Merli and Lin Jiuan's figures scattered into a shower of flowers.
"An illusion," Artoria said, her dark golden eyes filled with murderous intent, her tone frigid.
"It doesn't matter." Irisviel reached out and caught a single petal, her eyes filled with an unprecedented anger and killing intent. "She can't escape."
Meanwhile, in a black sedan heading out of Fuyuki City.
Natalia was driving. Sola-Ui sat in the passenger seat, frequently glancing in the rearview mirror at Lin Jiuan, who was being held in Merli's arms in the back.
"Where are we going?" Lin Jiuan asked.
"The Matou household."
"The Matou household?"
"Of course. Since we're participating in the Holy Grail War, shouldn't our goal be to eliminate enemy Masters and Servants?"
"Are you going to fight that old worm and the Matou Servant?" Lin Jiuan turned and looked at her suspiciously. This wasn't right. The sun must have risen from the west. This woman was actively looking for a fight?
"Of course not. I'm just a weak, pitiful, and helpless little succubus with no fixed combat power."
"You're not fighting, so you're sending Natalia to her death?" Even without considering the Matou's yet-to-be-seen Servant, if Natalia were to face Matou Zouken, even with full intelligence on him, Lin Jiuan didn't think she would be a match for that old worm who had lived for centuries.
"But I have you, don't I, cutie pie?"
Lin Jiuan's face was cold. He said, word by word, "First, don't call me cutie pie. Second, in my eyes, you're even more deserving of a beating than that old worm. If I get the chance, I'll beat you up first."
"My, my, Jiuan, you're so mean." Merli smiled, leaned in, and whispered into his ear. Using a voice only they could hear, she breathed, "You wouldn't want Aika to find out about you being fought over by all these bad women here, would you?"
Lin Jiuan's pupils shrank slightly. He then sneered, "What does she have to do with me?"
"What do you think?" Merli straightened up, her beautiful eyes curving into crescents as if she had thought of something amusing. "If she found out that the future she saw had changed, do you think she might become interested in you? Might she see you, the variable, as her one true prince?"
A cold sweat broke out on Lin Jiuan's forehead. After escaping from the Tokyo Greater Grail, he had tried his best not to think about her. But now that Merli had brought it up, he realized he wasn't safe at all. Who knew if Sajou Aika, upon discovering that the 'little darling she was supposed to raise herself' was missing, would suddenly turn her attention to hunting him across the world?
"I'm not trying to scare you. But it's only because I helped you conceal your presence that Aika hasn't found out you left," Merli leaned in again, pressing her soft body tightly against his arm. She pleaded coquettishly, "So, can you help me, please? I know you're the best!"
"Speaking of which," after a long silence, Lin Jiuan turned his back to her and said flatly, "I've disliked that old worm for a long time now."
....
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