Fate: Hero of Justice Takeover

"Sola-Ui!"

At the sound of the scream, Kayneth forgot his injuries and struggled with all his might.

But whether it was the restraints binding him or the magical circuits wreaking havoc inside his body, they pinned him firmly to the recliner, leaving him immobile.

Once a prodigious genius, he was now completely incapacitated. It would take a long time for Lord El-Melloi to adapt to his current state.

However, the approaching footsteps signalled that merciless fate had already sealed his doom.

The moment the golden-eyed young man stepped forward.

***

White hair, golden eyes—Sakatsuki.

Golden hair, blue eyes—Saber.

When Lancer arrived at the scene as quickly as possible, this was the strange pair he encountered.

As for Sola-Ui, who had let out the scream, she had already been incapacitated and lay unconscious in Saber's arms.

"Saber, Lord Sakatsuki, you..."

"Yo, Diarmuid!"

Satsuki greeted with a smile as if meeting a neighbour on a sunny morning. But his next words dragged everyone back into the cold reality of the Holy Grail War.

"I've found you, Lancer Diarmuid, Master of Kayneth & Sola-Ui."

Hearing this, the handsome spearman raised his hand, gripping his twin spears, his amber eyes sharpening.

"In that case, then..."

"Wait, Lancer."

Kayneth, lying on the geriatric chair, spoke up to stop him.

"Help me up."

"As you command, my lord."

Even with enemies before him, Diarmuid immediately turned and cut the restraints binding Kayneth, carefully helping him lean back against the chair.

After doing this, Kayneth, now slightly breathless, tried his best to remain calm and questioned Sakatsuki, whom he had clashed with before.

"The Holy Grail War is not conducted during the day—this is the minimum limit everyone has tacitly agreed upon. Are you planning to break this rule?"

Not only Kayneth but even Lancer cast a puzzled look at Saber. In his understanding, Saber was the least likely to do such a thing.

Facing Diarmuid's confusion, Artoria's eyes showed a hint of guilt, but she shook her head and remained silent.

Because Lancer and Kayneth would soon learn the answer.

"I just wanted to give you a swift exit."

Sakatsuki raised an eyebrow.

"What, don't you believe me?"

He snapped his fingers.

An intricate magic circle spread out from him, rippling outward like waves until it disappeared.

However, Diarmuid felt an invisible wall surrounding the abandoned factory, blocking all their escape routes.

"Admittedly, Lancer's spear could easily break through this wall, but behind it, I've also set up an electric fence, iron caltrops, and even opened a dimensional rift using imaginary number magecraft..."

By the time the golden-eyed young man finished speaking, Kayneth had already let out a sigh of despair.

With Lancer alone, it would naturally be possible to escape these minor obstacles, but the problem lay with Kayneth himself.

He was now like a helpless infant, and Lancer didn't possess the high luck of someone like Zhao Yun. Moreover, their enemies weren't ordinary soldiers but more dangerous magi and Servants.

There was no way they could replicate Zhao Zilong's legendary feat of breaking through encirclements seven times.

From the moment their hideout was discovered, Lancer and Kayneth's fate was sealed.

But even so, Kayneth wouldn't give up hope for survival, and Lancer wouldn't abandon his lord.

"I have a question, Saber."

Diarmuid stepped forward.

"Why did you kidnap my lord's fiancée? If you challenged me, I would gladly accept, but if you're using her as a hostage, that's something I cannot tolerate."

Even if such tactics seemed slightly dishonourable, if they could restrain Saber, what did it matter if he lost some honour?

"No, Lancer, you're mistaken."@@novelbin@@

Artoria shook her head in response to Diarmuid's questioning, her eyes showing a hint of helplessness.

"I saved Sola-Ui. Otherwise, Sakatsuki would have pierced her heart."

"She unleashed evil spirits on me without a second thought. If she's trying to kill me, why shouldn't I retaliate?"

Sakatsuki shrugged, completely unbothered by his role as an intruder.

Saber shot the carefree young man a glare but continued.

"By all rights, this woman has been stripped of her combat privileges. I won't release her, but I also swear on my honour as a knight that I will not harm her further."

After a pause, the noble King of Knights added.

"Also, I came here in a personal capacity. Rest assured, my Master is unaware of this."

As for the reason?

Under last night's moonlight, just as Artoria had found the unconscious Irisviel and Maiya, footsteps approached from behind.

Turning around, she saw the Sakatsuki's golden eyes gleaming in the dark.

"Saber, I'm going to eliminate the Lancer team tomorrow."

Such a significant matter, yet in Sakatsuki's tone, it sounded as casual as going out for a meal the next day.

"So, how about it? Want to come with me and send Diarmuid off?"

How could she refuse?

The King of Knights pulled herself back to the present and looked at the spearman standing opposite her, her eyes filled with fighting spirit.

After all, you and I still have a promised battle to settle.

On the other side, despite having reached this point, Kayneth still sought to struggle against his fate.

"Hey, Sakatsuki, we've at least exchanged magical knowledge..."

The once-proud, now-humbled lord clasped his hands, forcing a flattering smile.

"If you spare my life, I swear on my honour as a noble that the Archibald family's resources are yours to choose from. If you wish, I can even recommend you to become the Lord of the Modern Magecraft Department at the Clock Tower, and..."

"Enough, Kayneth. Your grovelling is pathetic."

Sakatsuki interrupted with a smile.

"But, considering our past acquaintance, it's not entirely impossible."

A glimmer of hope shone in Kayneth's eyes.

Saber remained unmoved, as all of this was within expectations.

Sakatsuki maintained his harmless smile, stepped forward, and casually tossed a piece of parchment. With a simple manipulation of air currents, the parchment, inscribed with strange patterns and symbols, landed in Kayneth's hands.

To an outsider, the contents of the parchment might seem incomprehensible, but to a magus, it was a binding magical contract.

[Binding Spell—Target: Sakatsuki. By Satsuki's Magic Crest, the following conditions shall become commandments, binding the target without exception.]

[Oath: The magus Sakatsuki shall forever be prohibited from any intent or action to harm or kill Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald and Sola-Ui Nuada-Re Sophia-Ri, and shall prevent any Holy Grail War participant from malicious actions against them.]

[Condition: Sakatsuki shall possess secondary control over the Archibald family. Kayneth and his Servant must achieve victory in two battles.]

In the condition regarding the "two battles," Sakatsuki had added an explanation.

[Battle One: Victory against Master Satsuki.]

[Battle Two: Victory against Servant Saber.]

[If either battle is not won, Master Kayneth shall be deemed in breach of contract.]

***

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