FATE: Target of Grand Master

Rin's analysis makes a lot of sense, but unfortunately the two of them currently have far too little information.

"By the way, what's the situation with Sakura?" Rin asked.

"Although they call every day to let us know they're safe, they don't reveal any other information. They just say they'll be back in a few days and we shouldn't worry."

Shirou frowned, clearly still worried about Sakura.

"Sakura isn't a child anymore. Since she said so, just believe her," Rin comforted her.

"Well, that's all we can do for now. By the way, Tohsaka, how did your investigation go last night?" Shirou asked in return.

"Although some people were still unconscious in the city, the flow of magic stopped in the middle of the night. This gave me the same feeling as when the school set up a barrier. It was too anticlimactic, as if the Servants behind both events suddenly lost their motivation and stopped participating in the Holy Grail War."

Xia Yan, who had been eavesdropping on their conversation, couldn't help but exclaim in admiration, "As expected of Rin. Even with just a few clues, she can roughly deduce the logic behind the incident."

After eavesdropping on Shirou and Rin's conversation for a while and confirming that the two would continue searching for clues in the city tonight, Xia Yan finally felt relieved.

The place he and Medea had booked last night was still Ryudouji Temple, because Ryudouji Temple has a spiritual vein enhancement, which can effectively reduce Sakura's pain when removing the Black Cup's pollution. He didn't want Shirou and Rin to see him during the removal process, which could lead to misunderstandings.

Everything was normal in the afternoon, but just before leaving get off work, Xia Yan suddenly had an urgent task, which made him nearly two hours late leaving get off work.

Xia Yan hurried back, and after arriving at the apartment, he grabbed Ying and prepared to go out without even having dinner.

"Sorry, I got held up by work. Sakura, have you eaten yet?"

Sakura had already changed into her casual clothes and replied, "Yes, I've already eaten. This is Xia Yan's portion."

Looking at the lunchbox that Sakura handed over, Xia Yan was touched. This girl was so virtuous!

I must save her!

After taking the lunchboxes, the two of them quickly arrived at Ryudoji Temple, using the mobility of Lancer and Rider respectively.

"Honestly, I thought you were going to stand me up."

Medea and Soichiro Kuzuki, who had already arrived at Ryudouji Temple, walked out of the temple.

"I'm sorry, Professor Kuzuki isn't here today, so my workload has increased and I'm a little late."

Xia Yan wasn't lying. The reason he was working overtime was indeed because Kuzuki Souichirou had taken the day off. But more importantly, he wanted to involve Kuzuki-sensei to reduce Medea's complaints.

"Fine, I'll let it slide since you've been working so hard overtime. So, the girl you're talking about is Rider's Master?"

Medea wasn't blind, so she naturally saw Sakura and Rider behind Xia Yan a long time ago.

"Yes, please."

Xia Yan's tone was very polite.

Originally, he only wanted to use Medea's Noble Phantasm, but considering that the process of removing the Black Grail would not be simple, and that with his novice magical talent, if something went wrong, the consequences would be unimaginable.

After much deliberation, Xia Yan finally decided that Medea should personally control the Noble Phantasm to remove the Black Grail from Sakura.

"Without further ado, now that everyone's here, let's get started."

Medea was quite straightforward; she summoned a sturdy stone table and gestured for Sakura to lie down on it.

The purple-haired girl lay silently on the table, her hands clasped together on her stomach, her eyes closed, awaiting the moment that would decide her fate.

Xia Yan opened the lunchbox and ate it while silently complaining to himself: If outsiders saw this, they would definitely think that he was performing some kind of evil sacrificial ritual.

"Don't worry, this process won't take long, but to make you feel better, I'll put you in a state similar to being unconscious first."

As soon as Medea finished speaking, Sakura felt an overwhelming drowsiness wash over her and instantly lost consciousness.

"Alright, the commotion that's about to start is going to be quite big, so you guys better not let anyone bother me."

Don't worry.

Even without Medea's reminder, Xia Yan was already prepared to issue the order.

"Lancer, and Rider, please keep watch around. Mr. Kuzuki, thank you for staying here with me as a second line of defense."

"Yes, Master."

"Okay, Xia Yan."

Cú Chulainn and Medusa immediately agreed, and Kuzuki Souichirou also nodded silently to Xia Yan.

"Then I'll begin."

Medea summoned her Noble Phantasm, Manjushri's Wrath of the Law, and stabbed it into Sakura's chest.

Instantly, a powerful magical force emanated from Sakura's body, its might so great that it caused a strong wind, with sand and stones flying, to rise within the Ryudou Temple.

Medea was surprised to find that her Noble Phantasm had not pierced Sakura's body at all, but had started to take effect when it was still a few millimeters away from Sakura.

As expected of someone with a fragment of the Holy Grail within them, their magical power overflowed from their body, forming a magical membrane that resembled a protective layer.

It's clear that something inside Sakura is desperately trying to prevent her Noble Phantasm from entering, but this can only buy her time.

Medea gripped the purple lightning-shaped blade of a short sword in one hand and unleashed a divine magic that Xia Yan completely failed to comprehend with the other. The previous feeling of obstruction was relieved, and the Noble Phantasm began to slowly approach Sakura.

"Archer, make your move!"

Suddenly, a familiar female voice reached Xia Yan's ears.

Suddenly, a dense rain of arrows began to fall from the sky.

"Master, watch out!"

Cú Chulainn rushed to Xia Yan's side and shielded him from the attack.

"Souichiro-sama!"

Medea became somewhat distracted, and the speed at which she was pushing her way immediately stopped; she even showed signs of retreating slightly.

Fortunately, Xia Yan had already communicated with Medusa, and that she would be needed to protect Kuzuki Souichirou should a large-scale attack occur.

Medusa did not betray Xia Yan's trust and did not let a single arrow fall on Ge Mu.

"Caster, focus on your work, I'll handle the rest!"

Xia Yan's words made Medea realize that she shouldn't be distracted, and she immediately focused all her attention on Sakura.

What happened?

How did they know I was here tonight?

The attack just now made Xia Yan realize that Shirou and Rin had discovered his actions tonight, but he didn't know exactly when he was discovered.

"Stop! What are you doing to Sakura?!"

Said Cao Cao, Cao Cao.

Shirou and Rin ran in from the entrance of Ryudouji Temple.

"This is quite a big operation. I never expected that you, Teacher Xia Yan, could team up with Caster and Rider. I really underestimated you."

Rin already knows Xia Yan's team's setup from Archer. Their goal is to rescue Sakura, so their first priority is to distract the enemy.

"As expected of Rin, it seems I shouldn't have risked eavesdropping on your conversation during lunch break. You tricked me this time."

After thinking it over, Xia Yan realized that the most likely time for him to be exposed was during his lunch break today.

"That's right. But at the time, I just noticed that someone was watching me, but I didn't know who it was, so I played along and deliberately made up a false arrangement. I didn't even tell Shirou. It wasn't until after school that I had Archer go to observe a few suspicious locations and discovered that there were actually two Masters among our school's teachers."

As Rin answered, she slowly moved to the side.

"Thank you for your explanation. Well then, let me tell you what I'm doing. We're helping Sakura get rid of her pain. As long as Caster cuts off the magic that doesn't belong to her, Sakura will get better," Xia Yan explained patiently.

"Do you think I'd believe your nonsense?"

Rin glanced at Sakura lying on the stone table. Although Sakura's eyes were closed, her face clearly showed a painful expression. Fine beads of sweat kept running down her forehead, leaving a faint human-shaped sweat stain on the table.

Above Sakura, a hooded witch is holding a short sword and trying to stab Sakura's body.

You're telling me this is to save Sakura? There's a limit to treating people like fools!