Chapter 277

Clatter. Clatter.

The train passed through a tunnel. Moonlight brushed over us as Gewin and I looked at Thistle.

"Our objective is to assassinate Kruger, the director of the northern Camp."

Thistle stated the purpose of the operation.

Kruger. The director of the northern Camp.

"Why?"

"Kruger doesn't treat the prisoners inside as human beings...... Apparently, Kruger does things too horrible to put into words."

I pressed further.

"Then what about the two people whose faces you know?"

"......"

When he hesitated, Gewin gave him a look. Did that mean it was all right to tell me?

"The Master's face."

Thistle pulled a composite sketch from inside his coat.

"The other has already been shot dead by Inspector Gewin."

The bastard I had killed first.

Gewin avoided my gaze, clearing their throat.

"......"

It gave me pause.

But why?

What exactly were they after?

They had mobilized a Revolutionary Faction executive just to kill one Camp director?

"Are you certain the Master is here?"

"Yes. I saw his face myself."

He didn't seem to be lying.

If he had been a double agent, he would have sold this information too and sought another position. But the reward Thistle wanted was complete "retirement."

As long as he wasn't Izenheim, he seemed trustworthy for now.

"Wow. That's a good composite sketch."

I looked at the face drawn on it.

"......Indeed."

Was the Master really this careless? It was as if he wanted to be caught......

KABOOM!

Then a tremendous roar suddenly echoed through the train.

Boom!

The train jolted up and down.

An explosion.

"What was that?!"

"The orders."

Thistle calmed the startled Gewin.

Ding ding ding ding ding!

Even the fire alarm was ringing. Their orders were being carried out simultaneously.

"Inspector Gewin. Let's move."

We headed toward the passenger cars.

When Thistle tried to follow, I stopped him.

"Stay here."

"......Pardon?"

"From now on, you're under protection. Stay here and look after your own safety."

Regardless of whether their revolution was right or wrong, defectors needed to be treated properly.

Leaving Thistle in the cargo car, I entered third class.

"Everyone, please remain calm!"

"Remain calm! Remain calm!" Railway staff repeated the words as they moved through the corridor.

"The platform isn't far! Please remain calm! We're assessing the situation now......"

"Hoo."

Gewin took a deep breath and pushed me forward.

"Take the lead, Paul from Empire Point."

"Yes."

I moved while keeping an eye on the railway staff. Behind me, Gewin released the safety on their pistol.

* * *

Twenty minutes earlier.

In the swaying dining car, Elmer, a Georgen agent, sat quietly at the counter.

As he silently sipped water, someone approached the seat beside him.

"Thistle was an agent."

The Master informed Elmer of the agent's identity.

"Then......"

"We'll disperse after carrying out our orders. I'll give Lily separate instructions."

Tap.

Elmer set down his glass.

"......You already showed Thistle your face."

"It couldn't be helped."

The Master took a sip of water. Elmer asked,

"Then what about the rest of the plan?"

"Leave it to Lily."

"......Can you trust her?"

"If she carries out her orders, I will."

Elmer's brow furrowed.

Clatter. Clatter.

The surface of the water trembled with the train's rumbling. The Master spoke.

"More importantly, she has two people to help with the operation."

"Two people?"

"Halbert Goring. Sergeant Paul."

Elmer's expression twisted in disbelief.

"She seduced another one already?"

"......"

The Master fell silent for a moment. With a strange expression and a faint smile, he looked at Elmer.

"You seem disappointed. Did you like her?"

"......Ahem."

Instead of replying, Elmer drained his glass. His gaze lowered as he muttered,

"Isn't it strange? Even with that train-wreck personality, she's hard not to like."

Looks were strange things. We all knew sayings like, "What matters is the inside, not the outside"...... Yet when faced with perfect beauty, you couldn't help thinking, "Only ugly people say that sort of thing."

Rattle.

The dining car door suddenly opened. A crowd of footsteps and presences filled the room.

"Hm? Sergeant Elmer?"

At the voice calling him, Elmer turned around.

"Ah, Inspector."

"......"

Step. Step.

Borhi walked up to the counter. Glancing at the robed man seated beside Elmer, he asked,

"Do you know each other?"

"This person?"

"Yes."

Elmer looked at the Master with innocent eyes.

"No. I don't know him."

"Hmm......"

Borhi stared hard at the Master, then asked Elmer again without leaving his spot.

"Sergeant Elmer, do you know a woman named Yvette?"

"Ah, yes. I know her. She's Sir Halbert's companion."

After nodding once or twice at Elmer's answer, Borhi said,

"I see...... Excuse me, sir?"

This time, he addressed the Master.

"I'm Inspector Borhi of Northern Georgen. May I inspect your family register and identification for a moment?"

"......Yes."

As the Master tried to pull out his family register, Borhi gestured with his hands behind his back.

People entered the dining car.

Georgen agents, presumably. Two, three, four...... There were many of them.

"Here it is."

The Master handed Borhi his family register, but Borhi had no intention of examining it. He merely glanced at it and put a hand on his holster.

He had already received the information from the traitor, Thistle.

Just as Elmer tried to draw a pistol from inside his coat.

KABOOM!

An explosion went off somewhere on the train. Everyone lurched violently. Taking advantage of the moment, the Master drew a gun from beneath his robe, and Borhi hastily rolled aside.

Bang!

"Aaagh!"

An agent was hit by the Master's shot. He deliberately shot Elmer in the thigh as well.

"Urgh!"

Leaving Elmer writhing in pain, the Master threw himself behind the counter.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Precise shots rang out.

"Shoot him! Shoot that bastard!"

Borhi shouted desperately at the Georgen agents.

A firefight erupted.

Bang! Bang bang!

The windows shattered. The agents overturned tables to use as cover.

Bang! Ratatat!

Gunshots ricocheted off every wall in the narrow dining car, but soon smoke from the fire rapidly filled the space.

"Inspector! There's a fire!"

The Master leaned over the counter and shot the agent who shouted that. He took down two more that way, but a third gun found him first.

The Master collapsed over the counter where the water glasses sat.

"Urgh......"

Thick smoke already swirled through the blackening dining car. The Master threw himself beyond the train connection severed by the explosion.

Whoosh.

His airborne body rolled onto the tracks......

"What's going on?!"

Inspector Gewin and Sergeant Paul rushed in belatedly.

"Those fucking useless Central bastards......"

Borhi clenched his teeth, touching his shoulder as blood streamed down it.

"Sergeant Elmer!"

Borhi called out to Elmer. Elmer lay on the floor, clutching his thigh.

Perhaps this was the Master's final gift.

A reason no one would suspect him.

Suppressing a smile, he closed his eyes......

* * *

......The explosion had separated the first class passenger car from the train.

Thus, only the first class section remained stranded in the middle of the tracks.

"Oh my. How could something like this happen......"

Yvette put on a show of distress inside the salon car compartment.

"Are you all right?"

Halbert Goring placed a hand on her shoulder. Pretending to tremble, Yvette brushed away his touch.

"Yes, I'm all right."

"That is a relief...... Hoo. But don't worry. Who am I? A hero who survived the Titan. So it'll be all right. Don't worry."

"I said I'm all right."

After going back and forth like that several times,

"Rescue will come soon. Don't worry."

"......I told you, I'm not worried."

Listening to him, Halbert seemed to be shaking much more than I was. His mustache was even fluttering like some sort of butterfly.

What a funny man.

Thunk.

Then a stone struck the salon car window.

"......"

Yvette glanced between the window and Halbert.

"......Ah. My anemia."

"W, what's wrong?"

"I'm sorry, Sir Goring. I think I need to rest alone......"

She looked up at him with moist eyes.

"If I'm to spend some intimate time with Sir Goring in the north, I need to take care of my condition......"

"Intimate......!"

Goring's eyes went wide.

"Y, yes! Of course! Naturally!"

"Ha, haha! Hahahaha!"

Letting out bizarre laughter, Goring departed.

Thunk. Thunk.

She threw open the window the stones had been tapping against. Outside it, someone climbed in, practically crawling.

The Master.

"Master!"

He was in poor condition. His face was pale, and dark red liquid seeped between the fingers pressed against his side.

Lily gritted her teeth.

"......Didn't I fucking tell you not to come? If you die..."

"Lily. Listen carefully."

The Master put a hand on her shoulder. His grip was powerful.

Lily's expression hardened in earnest as well.

"The rendezvous point isn't the White Wolf. It's the Black Chimney. Narcissus will be waiting for you."

"......What about you?"

"I'm not going there. I'll be caught."

"Caught?"

The Master gave a small smile.

"Most of Georgen's manpower will focus on me. But."

He shook his head.

"I'm not the Master."

"......What? What the fuck are you talking about?"

"The Master is at the northern Camp."

The real Master had been caught crossing the border while transporting funds and bonds because of an absurd tipoff.

Worse, it was a false accusation.

"If they capture me as the Master in the real Master's place......"

The false Master whispered a name into Lily's ear.

It was the real Master's name.

"......Lily. I leave the rest to you."

She could seduce Goring and gain his help. She could seduce the northern Camp director and make him open the gates.

Either way.

"Anyone will kneel if you set your mind to it."

"......"

Lily stared blankly at him, then asked quietly,

"Then what's your name?"

The Master thought for a moment, but soon chuckled as if there had never been any need to think about it.

"......Ebisu. A friend who has been with the Master for a long time."

"Then you're a Servant."

Master and Servant.

He smiled at the wordplay.

"Can I ask this of you? It'll be difficult."

At his pale face, Lily quietly nodded.

"But try not to get caught too. You don't have to get caught, do you?"

"......All right. Thank you. Then I leave it to you."

The false Master smiled faintly and crawled back out the window.

"......"

Yvette took a deep breath and waited.

With her eyes closed, she quietly and calmly collected herself.

How much time passed like that? A few hours?

Knock. Knock. Knock.

The door opened with that sound.

Only then did she feel truly relieved.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Sergeant Paul of Georgen......"

The man entered while introducing himself, then gaped foolishly the moment he saw her.

"Sergeant Paul!"

Pretending to be frightened, Yvette threw herself into his arms.

* * *

A search operation unfolded in the northern mountain range. Northern Georgen agents, including Inspector Borhi, pursued the Master. Yvette and the other distinguished guests safely reached the platform and were transferred to Georgen's Northern Branch.

"Honestly! Do you know who I am?! Do you know who I am?!"

In the corridor of Georgen's Northern Branch, Halbert Goring caused a tremendous scene. Before long, he met the head of the Georgen branch and went somewhere with them.

"Quite a few Georgen agents were hurt too...... How frightening."

In a private meeting room, Yvette sighed as she looked at Paul.

"Yes. Please wait just a little longer. Once the identity verification is complete, you'll be able to leave."

"Then...... Could you perhaps look over my family register, Mr. Paul? I think I need to get to a hospital quickly."

I wanted to get out of here as soon as possible, if I could.

Yvette handed Paul the family register.

"Uh...... Yes."

Paul accepted it and stared intently at a certain page.

"I think it requires detailed verification."

"......Detailed verification?"

"Yes. Please wait a moment."

Paul suddenly left.

"What's with that bastard?"

Making me nervous for no reason.

Yvette waited while biting her nails, but fortunately, Paul returned before long.

"Here. There's no problem."

Yvette received her family register back.

"Then......"

"Yes. You may go."

Bang!

The meeting room door suddenly opened.

"Hey, Paul!"

It was Inspector Gewin.

"Yes?"

"They say the Master has been caught."

Gewin shrugged with a bitter smile.

"The north took that valuable bastard for themselves."

Paul considered those words and nodded faintly.

"It can't be helped."

"It can't be helped? That bastard Borhi might come up to Central. If he gets promoted, he'll be our superior."

Yvette cut in.

"......Wouldn't that be a problem, Mr. Paul?"

Paul and Borhi had been sizing each other up because of me.

Paul scratched the back of his neck.

"It can't be helped."

Does he know any other words?

As Yvette looked up at Paul, Gewin suddenly approached her.

"Ah, um...... Lady Yvette."

"Yes?"

Gewin answered Yvette's smile awkwardly.

"It seems Sir Halbert Goring will take some time. He met with someone from his family......"

In truth, that was why Yvette had deliberately seduced him. Halbert Goring had close ties with influential people in the north.

"Ah...... Then could Sergeant Paul perhaps take me there?"

Yvette asked Paul instead. Paul tilted his head.

"Where do you mean?"

"I have a hotel reserved. I think I need to visit a hospital too."

"Ahem!"

Inspector Gewin cleared their throat as though jealous.

"Paul, go with her. But, Ms. Yvette?"

Gewin held out a hand to Yvette.

"The family register. I'll verify it one last time."

"......I don't know how many times this makes."

Yvette gave Gewin her family register. Gewin glanced it over and smirked.

"Um, Ms. Yvette. Do you happen to know something?"

With meaningful words, Gewin looked back and forth between Paul and Yvette.

Yvette asked innocently,

"What would that be?"

"......"

Gewin seemed to consider whether to say it, but soon shook their head.

"......I mean your family register is perfect. Hey, Paul! Take her there safely. Bring her there and come right back. Don't be late! Absolutely not!"

"Yes. Let's go."

Yvette and Paul left Georgen's Northern Branch together.

They got into the parked car and drove away.

"......Is it raining?"

Tap. Pitter-patter.

Rain was rare in the north. Rainwater streaked across the windows.

Paul silently turned on the wipers. His expression was stiff.

Yvette glanced at him cautiously.

"Are you all right?"

"......Yes."

Is he tense because of me?

In any case, he didn't say a word, and the two arrived at a hotel somewhere in the north amid an odd silence.

"This is the place."

"Yes."

Paul and Yvette got out side by side.

"I should be going now. Thank you."

At the roadside, Yvette looked at Paul. Paul stared straight back at her.

Pitter. Patter.

Raindrops fell softly.

Paul held out an umbrella to Yvette. She waited for his next words.

We'll see each other again sometime. Or, It was an honor to meet a goddess like you. Or perhaps a completely out-of-nowhere confession. I fell for you in just one day, something like that.

"Ms. Yvette."

Paul merely pulled something from his inner pocket.

"Would you hold out your palm?"

He wanted her to hold out her palm.

What the fuck? Was he really proposing after one day? Did lunatics that absurd actually exist?

"Uh......"

When Yvette reluctantly held out her hand,

"......Here."

Paul smiled quietly and placed a small metal pin on her palm.

A staple.

Yvette blinked.

"......What is this?"

"A staple used in family registers."

Tap. Pitter-patter.

Amid the rain, Paul's quiet voice flowed on.

"The Imperial Family Register Administration deliberately uses cheap metal staples when issuing family registers."

Yvette looked at the staple.

"When the family register system first began, iron was scarce, so they used cheap ones. Then it became tradition. That's why family register staples rust within a few months."

The staple on her palm gleamed without a single scratch.

Paul nodded toward it.

"That was the staple in your family register."

"......"

Yvette went rigid without a word. Her mouth suddenly went dry, and her mind went blank.

She hurriedly pulled out her own family register.

The staple was rusted.

Had he switched them in that brief moment?

"......Give me your family register."

Yvette held out her hand. Paul obediently handed it over.

The staple in his family register had been removed.

He had pulled it from his own family register and inserted it into mine.

"......"

Yvette asked with her eyes.

What are you doing? Who are you? Is this really all right?

"I have connections."

Having answered that way, he even placed the umbrella in her frozen hand.

"Go far away."

To Yvette, who couldn't bring herself to say anything,

"Leave as far away as you can."

He repeated himself.

"Keep yourself safe."

"......"

Yvette stood there holding Paul's umbrella.

It was too late to say anything, and it seemed she no longer had the right to.

Tap. Pitter-patter.

So she only moved her lips before turning away.

Leaving him behind as he watched her, she walked down the rain-soaked street.

Pitter-patter. Pitter-patter. Pat-pat-patter.

The sound of rain gradually grew heavier......

* * *

I stood there for a long time.

I watched Yvette recede into the distance.

"Their objective."

I murmured those words as I thought deeply.

The Master couldn't have been caught so easily.

Inspector Borhi, an Izenheim, captures the Master, earns merit, and comes to Georgen Central?

That would benefit Izenheim too, but there might be something beyond even that......

Then a shadow appeared beside me.

I gave her an order.

"Keep watching her."

Schatz Heizen.

She would remain by Yvette's side for a while.

That was why I let Yvette go.

Why I went even further and helped ensure she wouldn't be caught.

Yvette would surely carry out the Master's true orders.

Footnotes:

The Master and Servant exchange references the paired roles commonly associated with the Fate series.