Fate: Question And Answer System of Traversing Heroic Spirits

[El-Melloi II frowned deeply. "Why is the Astronomy Department paying attention to the Holy Grail War?"]

["The Animusphere family has heard about the murder of the previous El-Melloi."]

[Olga Marie's expression was serious as she explained, "I also heard that you approached Sophia-Ri's family with the intent of participating in this Holy Grail War."]

[El-Melloi II sighed. "Yes, I did. But I didn't expect the Astronomy Department to take such an interest in this matter."]

[Olga Marie tilted her head slightly, her tone confident. "After all, this planet is also a star. Whether it's the heavens or the earth, we are all observing the same celestial body."]

[Trisha, standing beside her, spoke bluntly. "We believe you've come to purchase a Mystic Eye to use as a weapon in the Holy Grail War."]

[El-Melloi II hesitated for a moment before responding, "While that's not entirely accurate, it's not too far from the truth."]

[Olga Marie's gaze sharpened as she made her declaration. "Let's cut to the chase. Our goal is the most important item in this auction—the Rainbow-level Mystic Eye."]

[El-Melloi II's eyes widened in disbelief. "A Rainbow-level Mystic Eye?"]

Kayneth: "Impossible! A Rainbow-level Mystic Eye?! That's absurd!"

Tohsaka Rin: "What's the big deal about a Rainbow-level Mystic Eye?"

Waver: "Rainbow-level Mystic Eyes are the pinnacle of Mystic Eye rarity and power. They're so legendary that most magi doubt they even exist."

Tohsaka Tokiomi: "It must be a fake. If a Rainbow-level Mystic Eye truly appeared, it would cause an uproar throughout the Mage's Association."

Darnic: "If this is true, it's unprecedented."

The idea of a Rainbow-level Mystic Eye being up for auction was too incredible for most magi to believe. However, for some, the possibility sparked ambition.

[Caules looked puzzled. "A Rainbow-level Mystic Eye… is it really that powerful?"]

[El-Melloi II nodded. "Mystic Eyes are classified by their strength and rarity. The highest known tiers are Gold and Jewel. Rainbow-level Mystic Eyes surpass even those."]

[Olga Marie added, "That's correct. Even within the Clock Tower, Rainbow-level Mystic Eyes are considered legendary. No one has ever seen one in person."]

[El-Melloi II's voice was cautious. "If such a legendary item is part of this auction, why would you tell me about it? Aren't you worried I might try to take it from you?"]

[Olga Marie smirked slightly, her tone dismissive. "I doubt El-Melloi II could afford it with his current financial situation."]

[Her words, though harsh, were undeniably true. El-Melloi II's financial resources were no match for an item of this caliber. Competing for it was far beyond his means.]

[Even purchasing an ordinary Mystic Eye was a struggle for El-Melloi II, let alone something of this magnitude.]

[Olga Marie then revealed her true intentions. She had come to propose an alliance with El-Melloi II. She wanted the two of them to work together during the auction. By leveraging the authority of two Lords, they could intimidate other bidders into backing down, keeping the final price from soaring to an astronomical level.]

[To prove her sincerity, Olga Marie shared valuable information about their sources.]

[Trisha, her tutor, possessed the Mystic Eyes of Foresight —an ability that allowed her to glimpse fragments of the future.]

[Realizing that Olga Marie's intentions were genuine and that there was no need to antagonize the Animusphere family over such a matter, El-Melloi II reluctantly agreed to the alliance.]

Kayneth: "Mystic Eyes of Foresight … if that's true, then the existence of the Rainbow-level Mystic Eye might not be a hoax."

Waver: "I still can't wrap my head around it. A Rainbow-level Mystic Eye? It sounds like something out of a fairy tale."

Kayneth: "I agree. It's difficult to believe."

Despite his words, Kenneth couldn't suppress the excitement bubbling within him.

If the Rainbow-level Mystic Eye truly existed, it would be an unprecedented discovery.

As he continued watching the video, Kenneth resolved to memorize every detail. If there was even the slightest chance of locating this Mystic Eye, he would seize the opportunity, no matter the cost.

[El-Melloi II remained silent, the conversation with Olga Marie still fresh in his mind. Gray, feeling slightly carsick, excused herself to the leisure car to rest. There, she encountered Karabo Frampton from the Holy Church.]

[Karabo noticed her discomfort and kindly explained the cause. "This train doesn't run on normal railways but on a magic line created from Leylines. For those unaccustomed to it, the sensation can be disorienting."]

[He handed Gray an apple, smiling gently. "Here, this should help alleviate the symptoms."]

[However, as soon as Gray touched the apple, Karabo was overwhelmed by a sudden vision—a fleeting image of a figure, cloaked in light, standing regally with their back turned.]

[The vision was so intense that Karabo himself staggered back, gripping his chest. His Mystic Eyes, known as the "Mystic Eyes of Transience," had inadvertently triggered when Gray came into contact with him.]

[Despite suffering a backlash from his own Mystic Eyes, Karabo quickly composed himself. Bowing slightly, he apologized and hurriedly left, leaving Gray bewildered.]

Artoria: "As I suspected…"

Her earlier suspicions had been confirmed. This girl, Gray, was undoubtedly connected to her in some way.

Determined, Artoria made a mental note. If she survived the Holy Grail War, she would ask Chihiro to help her travel, to uncover the truth about Gray.

[Shortly after, the train made an unscheduled stop, allowing passengers to disembark and stretch their legs. Most passengers took advantage of the break, but El-Melloi II chose to remain at the bar. There, he encountered Trisha Fellows.]

[The two exchanged a brief but meaningful conversation. Trisha, aware of El-Melloi II's past and his lingering guilt, advised him to let go of his obsession with the Holy Grail War. "You know, the Servants who return to the Throne of Heroes won't retain the memories of their previous summonings. Even if you meet them again, it won't be the same."]

[El-Melloi II sighed, his gaze distant. "I understand that… but it's not something I can let go of so easily."]

[Trisha offered him a faint smile before excusing herself. Moments later, Gray, who had overheard their conversation, approached El-Melloi II. She hesitated before shyly pulling out a small wrapped gift she had prepared for him. Just as she was about to hand it to him, a blood-curdling scream echoed through the train.]

[The scream belonged to Olga Marie.]

[El-Melloi II and Gray rushed to her room, only to be greeted by a grisly sight. Trisha's headless body lay sprawled on the floor, blood pooling beneath her.]

Tohsaka Rin: "Beheading?! This is… this is horrific!"

Irisviel instinctively shielded Illya's eyes. "Don't look, Illya."

Illya whimpered. "Mom, this is so scary."

Emiya Kiritsugu: "The wound is clean. The killer was precise and executed the strike in a single blow."

Tohsaka Tokiomi: "Indeed. This wasn't just a matter of strength, it was likely someone she trusted. Perhaps a sudden attack, a spell, or even poison."

Kayneth: "It doesn't necessarily require brute strength. The element of surprise could have played a significant role."

Waver: "Could the target have been… the Mystic Eyes?"

Darnic: "It seems this journey is finally showing its true colors."

["I got off the board to get some fresh air, and when I returned… I found Trisha like this," Olga Marie sobbed, her voice choked with grief. She knelt beside Trisha's body, clutching her lifeless hand as tears streamed down her face.]

[Despite Trisha's strict demeanor as a tutor, she had cared deeply for Olga Marie. To the young director, Trisha had been more than just a mentor—she had been family.]

[El-Melloi II turned to Gray. "Go find the attendants immediately!"]

["That won't be necessary," came a calm voice. Leandra, the auctioneer, and Rodin, the conductor, had arrived at the scene. Their expressions betrayed no shock, as if they were accustomed to such incidents.]

[Karabo Frampton stepped forward to examine the body. However, Olga Marie, still consumed by grief and paranoia, accused Carla of being the murderer. "It's because of the bad blood between the Clock Tower and the Holy Church! You killed her!"]

[Her voice rose hysterically as she tried to attack Karabo, only to be swiftly subdued. Karabo knocked her unconscious with a single strike, his expression neutral but firm.]

[Gray, still shaken by the unfolding events, couldn't understand why Leandra and Rodin seemed so indifferent. Yvette leaned closer and whispered an explanation. "On this train, it's not uncommon for magi to kill one another. The operator doesn't intervene unless absolutely necessary. Everyone is expected to take responsibility for their own actions."]

[Gray's stomach churned as the harsh reality of the Mystic Eye Collection Train sank in. This wasn't just a marketplace, it was a battlefield disguised as an auction.]

[While Karabo conducted his autopsy, the passengers gathered to discuss the incident. Some passengers, including Yvette and Karabo, had been off the train at the time of the murder, while others, like Hishiri and El-Melloi II, had remained aboard.]

[However, as the magi joked, alibis were meaningless in their world. Spells and Mystic Eyes could easily falsify or erase evidence.]

["Time of death was within the last hour," Karabo announced. "The cause of death was shock due to decapitation. There are no signs of struggle, which means the killer struck instantly."]

["But why take her head?" Hishiri mused aloud.]

["The Mystic Eyes," El-Melloi II replied grimly. "She possessed the Mystic Eyes of Precognition. The killer likely wanted them."]

[Karabo frowned. "But removing the head and extracting the Mystic Eyes… is that even possible?"]

[Leandra's voice was calm, almost dismissive. "On this train, such a thing is child's play."]

Waver: "So… this isn't the first time something like this has happened. This train is far more dangerous than I imagined."

Astolfo: "Magicians are such a ruthless bunch."

Roche: "Hey, don't generalize!"

[Despite his initial hesitation, El-Melloi II decided to examine the body himself. As he worked, Karabo revealed his reason for being aboard the train.]

[To everyone's surprise, Karabo wasn't here to buy Mystic Eyes, he was here to sell his own. With age, his Mystic Eyes of Past Vision had grown too powerful for him to control, and he wanted to rid himself of them.]

[Karabo admitted that he had used his Mystic Eyes to search for the killer but found nothing. All he had seen was Trisha seated in her room, calm and composed. The moment of her death had been obscured.]

["The killer must have prepared extensively," Carla concluded. "Not only to block my vision but also to interfere with Trisha's Mystic Eyes. She wouldn't have stayed seated if she had foreseen her death."]

[El-Melloi II nodded, his voice grim. "The murderer must have rendered themselves invisible to the timeline."]

Kayneth: "Whoever did this is no ordinary magus. This was planned meticulously."

Emiya Kiritsugu: "It's clear this wasn't a spur-of-the-moment act. The murderer knew exactly what they were doing."

Sola-ui: "So Trisha was targeted all along?"

Waver: "It's possible the killer is the same person who stole the holy relic."

Emiya Kiritsugu: "We can't say for certain, but the odds are high."

Kayneth: "What exactly is the thief after? And why take such risks?"

Tohsaka Rin: "Why not ask El-Melloi II himself? @El-Melloi II!"

El-Melloi II: "Sorry, I can't answer. I haven't experienced the events of this video myself."

***

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