FATE: Target of Grand Master

"Xiao Wei, you've really worked hard. These fruits are just a small token of my appreciation; you can take them back and share them with your friends."

The middle-aged owner of the kendo dojo handed Williams a bag of fruit.

"Uncle, you're too kind. I wasn't much of a help."

Williams flashed an incredibly charming smile, an expression that had a devastating effect on men his age, like kendo dojo owners.

Whenever he sees Williams, the kendo dojo owner feels a sense of helplessness, wondering why he didn't have a daughter. Then, thinking of his son who only knows how to cause trouble all day long, the kendo dojo owner's helplessness turns into anger.

"Wow, these two older sisters are so pretty!"

Williams looked at the photos of Musashi and Artoria on the wall.

"Haha, yes, these two ladies are not only beautiful, but their skill in swordsmanship can also be described as unparalleled."

"That's amazing!"

Williams looked at the kendo dojo owner with his bright blue eyes.

"Uncle, I can..."

"Ah! Williams, you're here! Sister Karen asked me to take you back."

Williams turned around and saw Lavinia standing at the entrance of the kendo dojo, hands on her hips, looking like a senior about to take her disobedient junior back.

"OK."

Williams immediately walked towards the door.

"Little Wei, what were you trying to say just now?"

Both being around 12 years old, the dojo master had a much better impression of Williams than Lavinia.

This is not only because Williams has a doll-like appearance with blond hair and blue eyes, but also because Williams is more humble and polite than Lavinia.

Take what just happened, for example. Lavinia interrupted Williams without any apology, and didn't even greet the kendo dojo owner.

He wasn't the type to fuss over such things, but in comparison, Williams naturally gave a better impression.

"It's nothing."

Williams stopped and waved to the kendo dojo owner.

Goodbye, Uncle, thank you for the fruit.

"You're welcome. Go ahead, and be careful on your journey."

"Um."

The two little girls walked one after the other down the street at night. Every time they passed a streetlamp, their shadows would intertwine and then separate.

"Williams".

Lavinia, who was walking ahead, suddenly stopped and turned to the blonde girl behind her, questioning, "Why didn't you participate in selling flowers today? Are you afraid I'll surpass you and take first place?"

Williams tilted his head, seemingly not understanding why Lavinia would think that way.

"Lavinia, is being number one really that important to you?"

"Of course. This world will only ever remember the first place; everything else is just fleeting." Lavinia replied without hesitation.

"So you were the fastest flower seller today?"

"certainly."

"Now that you've won first place, you should be happy."

"Williams, are you deliberately mocking me? You didn't even participate, so what's the point of me winning first place?"

"So, what you really wanted to win against was me. I'm so happy that Lavinia pays so much attention to me."

Williams smiled sweetly again.

Yes, that's the smile.

Even though she knew Williams meant no harm, seeing that smile still made her feel inexplicably irritated.

"Oh, right, these are the fruits the uncle from the kendo dojo gave me. There are many kinds, pick one you like first."

Williams held the open bag out to Lavinia.

"you..."

Lavinia wanted to say something more, but when she saw the fresh fruit in the bag, she couldn't help but reach out her hand.

Click, click...

"Let's call it even for today. But next time, you're not allowed to run away from the game."

Lavinia said in a somewhat muffled voice as she chewed on the apple piece she had bitten off.

"Uh-huh."

In the end, Williams managed to win over Lavinia by using the fruit in the bag.

-----------------

"Hey, Xia Yan, still not resting?"

When Cú Chulainn returned to the safe house, it was already past 10 p.m.

Xia Yan nodded, then pointed to the single sofa in the living room, indicating that Cú Chulainn should sit down.

"Have you explained everything clearly to Bazett?"

Xia Yan went straight to the point.

He wasn't trying to pry into the private matters between Cú Chulainn and Bazette, but as Cú Chulainn's Master, he needed to confirm whether Bazette was influencing Cú Chulainn.

"Xia Yan, so you do know Bazett."

Cú Chulainn was not surprised that Xia Yan could pronounce Bazette's name correctly, after all, Xia Yan had also accurately pronounced his name when they first met.

"I've already made things clear with her. The past is the past. Since Bazett survived, she should continue living her own life. I'm just a ghost in history, and besides, I have a new Master now. There's no longer any connection between us."

Xia Yan nodded, then got up and walked towards his room.

"You're leaving already?"

Cú Chulainn was somewhat surprised; he had expected Xia Yan to ask for more details.

"Yes, I know everything I wanted to know. Is there anything else you'd like to say?"

"Forehead..."

Xia Yan's question left Cú Chulainn speechless.

Actually, there are some details he's willing to tell Xia Yan, but he only answers these questions when asked, so it won't seem abrupt. If he rushes to say them without being asked, it would be a bit awkward.

"Don't worry, I'm not the kind of Master who likes to pry into the privacy of my Servants. Each of you can keep your own space, as long as it doesn't affect my trial. I'm going back to my room to rest now. Goodnight."

"Good night."

Watching Xia Yan's departing figure, Cú Chulainn recalled what Osmandis had told him.

"Child of Light, you've really found a good Master."

It's more than just good.

Cú Chulainn thought to himself: Loyal, discreet, respectful of his Servants, and ruthless in crucial moments, he simply couldn't find a better Master than Xia Yan.

Another night passed, and when Xia Yan woke up again, it was already past 9 a.m.

Oops!

Realizing he had overslept, Xia Yan hurriedly ran out of his room, only to find his entire family of followers peacefully gathered around the dining table eating breakfast.

"Ah, Xia Yan, come and have breakfast."

Musashi waved enthusiastically.

"Xia Yan, what's with that 'I'm not here, so how will you guys eat?' look on your face. We're not babies who need your constant care."

Euryale has completely regained the demeanor befitting a goddess.

"You're making it sound like you cooked this breakfast. I clearly bought it from Fuyuki City!"

Cú Chulainn glanced at Euryale and told her the truth.

Morgan quietly ate her food, and when she saw Xia Yan, she just smiled faintly and said nothing, as if she wasn't the leading lady she was accompanying today.

After washing up, Xia Yan sat down at the head of the table and began to eat.

Morgan didn't urge him at all, but Xia Yan didn't keep her waiting for long, and the two soon headed to Fuyuki City together.

"Morgan, are you sure we want to stay here all morning?"

Xia Yan asked Morgan, who was standing in front of the Fuyuki City Library.

"If all goes well, it shouldn't take more than a morning. Xia Yan, if you're bored, you can go wander around somewhere else."

"How can I do that? I promised to be with you today. No matter where you go, I'll be by your side."

Morgan smiled slightly, said nothing more, and immediately entered the library.

Xia Yan picked up a novel and read for a while, but found that he really couldn't get into the story of the Crooked-Mouthed Dragon King. Just as he was about to put the book back, he noticed Morgan frowning at a map of Fuyuki City.

"Morgan, what's wrong?" Xia Yan asked in a low voice.

Morgan didn't answer, but instead asked, "Xia Yan, you went to the kendo dojo with Musashi yesterday, right?"

"yes."

"Have you noticed anything unusual?"

Xia Yan thought about it carefully, but ultimately shook his head.

Seeing Morgan still staring at the map with a frown, Xia Yan naturally understood that Morgan must have sensed something, and asked, "What's wrong?"

Morgan didn't hide anything, saying frankly, "I sensed a very subtle divine aura."