A/N: Rewrite of Chapter 3, hopefully everyone enjoys.
XxXxXx
After last night's assassination, I guess it'd be better if I keep my operations to a low for a while. Even though the Imperial Guard has no way of connecting those murders back to me and my organization, small as it is, Night Raid has for sure kept me in their crosshairs now. I'm not going to even mention my treatment to two of their members last night.
By the lack of headline news of the killer, I assume Akame and Leone safely made it out of the crime scene before being detected by the Guards. Their capture will also hinder my movements, as I've been using their actions as a mask for mine. Two skilled operators out of the count will drastically cut off my and Night Raid's moves.
Another good thing about last night's exploits is Yoru's condition. He's acting more and more naturally like a boy his age, a blessed relief in these times, both in this world and my old world. I can feel the mask and wall he put up to protect himself after his parents' murder crumbling down, letting me and his colleagues to see him for who he really is. The reports from other members are positve as well, saying Yoru's eyes to be cheerful and no longer clouded with pain and sadness.
After this change, the black-haired boy worked even harder. I found myself worrying less and less about him, as his self-destructive tendencies, which is common for people with his experience, grows less and less everyday.
"Hey, Aniki!" Yoru yelled.
Inwardly, I bitterly smile as he called me by his new nickname for me. It's touching, very touching, for no one has ever looked up and idolized me as a big brother figure. People see me as a leader, a friend, a close confidant, maybe even a lover, but never as a sibling, much less with such enthusiasm. This way of calling me makes me feel like a yakuza boss, somehow. I still remember the moment I stumbled down the stairs when he first called me such.
Both of us grow more and more attached to each other every single day. Truthfully I'm not use to a sibling relationship. When I was with the Kotomine's my reactions with Risei's actual son Kirei were very sparce and limited.
I beckon him to come sit next to me on the porch. He happily obliges, to the point of having a spring in his step.
"So, Aniki, what did you want to talk to me about?" Yoru asked.
"Yoru, you and everyone know about the killer has been going around at night, beheading his victims, correct?"
"Of course! What, do you want to go after him?"
"No. I want you and everyone else living in the mansion to be back inside before nightfall. The killer is indiscriminate with his targets, and has been killing everyone, from civilians to Imperial Guards. I don't want you, or anyone else here, becoming victims. Additionally, this killer may be in possession of a Teigu, judging from the reports of his deeds."
Teigu. 48 superwapons created by the decree of the First Emperor. Their powers and limitations vary, and their users are chosen by the Teigu itself according to their compatibility with each other. To my mind, the Teigus are some sort of powerful Mystic Codes, half-sentient ones at that. In this world, where the supernatural is not observed and harnessed as closely as my old one, having one or two in someone's possession will give them tremendous edge over their opponents.
My subordinates have compiled the information they know of the 48, although some of the Teigu are unknown since no one has used them for several decades to this day. Acquiring a few of them is definitely in my top three to-do list, or having someone that can use them in my good graces will do too.
Yoru put on a confused expression. "Aniki, you do know that the best information dealers come out at night! Also, why don't you just kill him yourself if you're that worried about him?"
I simply sigh. "Yes, I can take down the killer, if I want to. His skills are most likely no match for mine."
"Then why don't you-"
"I need you to understand, Yoru, that right now I am on Night Raid's watch list after that situation with Gamal. And because of this killer's actions, they will definitely try to stop this serial killer as soon as possible, probably in these 2 days, tops. They will likely be very cautious and hostile of me, now that I have shown that I can take down two of their members, and I need to somehow put myself in their good graces for my current plan to work."
I hear him grumble at the mention of 'the plan'. I keep everyone from knowing the full details of it, and I section what little they know. It's not productive in terms of trust, I know, but at this early stage, caution is the name of the game. Even Yoru is no exception, no matter how close he percieves himself to me.
Thankfully, Yoru stops arguing at this point. Then, a glint appears in his eyes. 'Oh, dear...'
"Fine, you win, Aniki… But you gotta teach me something cool as compensation!"
'I knew it...'
I put my hands up in submission. "Alright, alright. I guess I could teach you something. Just letting you know though, I won't hold back. I won't care if you say you hate me or give up on me, and I'll just beat you harder, halfway to death. Are you fine with that?"
Yoru just scoffs. "Hah! I can handle anything you throw at me, Aniki, just you wait and see!"
I pat Yoru's head, smiling. "I'm sure you can, Yoru, I'm sure you can. I wouldn't expect less from my little brother. Now, go inside, and relay my message to everyone else."
I chuckled at his embarassment when I called him 'little brother', and at his silent joy dance in his mind. He gives me a grin and a thumbs-up, before hurrying back to the mansion.
'Glad to see that he's lightened up a good bit. Now, what to do...'
My eyes wander towards the path into town.
XxXx
I decide to take a day off.
A break between work is very important, something I learnt in my life. Overworking will lead to an increased stress, which will reduce mental and spiritual healt and capacity. It'll end on a reduced physical performance, and in this environment, that can only mean death to me and those close to me.
Even during the Great Holy Grail War, i had a day or two to relax before the final assault on the Yggdmillenia stronghold. I used that time to date Semiramis, helping her to familiarize herself with the surrounding town. Granted, the War ended just a couple days later, but it was a precious memory for me... and I'm sure for her as well...
I recalled the sight of her expressions; the usually aloof Queen of Assyria's face changing ever so often, from amazement, wonder, happiness, surprise, disgust, childish, ca-
No, stop it. I can feel my face making a bittersweet smile at her memory. She's gone.
'I'll never see her again...'
My initial summoning of the cunning Queen, taking control of the other servants, the creation of the Hanging Gardens Of Babylon, the final battle against Yggdmillenia, Kairi and Ruler's assault against my remaining forces, and finally the kiss that was given to me as my Servant, my partner disappeared before my very eyes.
"I don't need this right now." I said to myself.
I force my eyes to wander around the streets, hoping to find something to distract me. Somehow, I found myself homing in on a particular bookstore.
It doesn't stand out. Built from the usual brick and mortar, the shop itself isn't that big or strategically located. The outer wall and the sign are a bit worn, the outer glass quite clean. Peering inside through the glass, piles of books and parchments can be seen scattered about and on several shelves. I imagine a passerby will be able to imagine the smell of books just by observing it.
But, then, so can they on any other bookstore.
This store is ordinary on the outside.
So why did my eyes lock on it?
I've experienced too much to ignore this kind of things, to just say 'oh-it's-just-my-feeling' and walk away. I suppose that's why I have the Revelation skill at quite a high rank.
Before long, I found himself through the front door of the bookstore. It only does business on the first floor, it seems, and the upper floors are presumably storage or living quarters. Just as precaution, i did Structural Grasping on the entire building, and I observed a basement under me. Not that it's unusual, no, however the thing that piqued my interest is the material used to construct the basement. It's at least two grades above the main building, reminding me of the bomb shelters used back in my days.
Additionally, it is connected to a tunnel that leads far outside of town. I can't Grasp that far out, unlike a certain Counter Guardian, and certainly not in the short amount of time I have before the store owner greets me.
"Fantastic, a customer!"
I turn my head towards the main desk. There's a green-haired teen standing there, probably around Tatsumi's age. He wears red goggles on his head, along with a pair of gloves on his hand. The gloves give me the same strange feeling as Akame's katana, arousing my suspicions that it's a Teigu, like Murasame.
Come to think of it, Akame herself is quite young, also around this boy's age. Do they start young in this world? His eyes also have the same glint as Akame's, which shows... death, not as intense as the red eyed assassin, but still there. He's killed before, that's for sure, and killed plenty.
'Maybe I can play around with him a little...?'
"Are you the owner of this store? I must say, it is quite impressive that someone your age was able to set up such an establishment." I said.
The green-haired youth puts both of his hands behind his head and smiled at my light praise. "Well, what can I say? I am a hard working and respectable individual. It's high time somebody finally recognized that." His smile grows wider. "My friends tell me that I'm lazy and I don't do anything all the time! That kind of negative feedback can get to a man over time, you know?"
I chuckle lightheartedly. "I bet it could. Just a friendly tip, though. Maybe you should try to rework the schedule your store currently has? When I walked in, I couldn't help but notice the awkward business hours you have. Why is that, if I may ask?"
"Sadly, I have some obligations that I need to take care of, which is the reason behind the awkward business hours. However, once those obligations are completed, I plan on putting all my time into this store. I want to eventually be able to branch out and become the biggest bookstore in the capital!" The teen says the last part with passionate vigor, and I swear I'm seeing sparkles in his eyes, for a brief second.
"Like I said, though, that probably won't be for awhile. My name's Lubbock, by the way. May I ask for yours?"
"Of course. My name is Shirou Kotomine. Pleasure to meet you, Lubbock-san." I shake his hand in a friendly gesture.
Lubbock simply laughs. "Ha-ha, no need to be so formal with me, Shirou! Now, is there any book I can help you look for? I have a wide variety... all kinds of books in my store. My personal favorite are those involving women-"
"If you have anything regarding the Empire's past and Teigus, that would be all." I Interrupt.
"Wow, the Empire's past? Talk about a boring subject! Teigus are slightly more interesting, but everyone knows about Teigu. Why do you want those?"
I dismiss the question with a flip of my hand. "I came from a faraway land, and I'm not familiar to this land's history. Also, I heard interesting things in regards to these Teigu, so I want to know what makes them so special."
Lubbock places a finger on his chin. "Well, I believe I have a couple of books that have the information you're looking for in the back. If you'll come with me, I can show them to you."
'He took the bait easily enough. Is it on purpose? A trap? I'll play with him a little bit, then...'
"That would be very helpful, thank you." I respond with a small smile on my face.
Lubbock starts walking to a door in the back corner of his store, gesturing me to follow him.
He's underestimating me. Showing your back to the enemy is a taboo in a fight to the death, especially in the close confines of this bookstore.
This isn't a fight though. It's a game, a dance, a test on who can outmanouver his opponent first.
But it seems that I'm the one overestimating him.
In the backroom, the boy immediately turns around, killing intent flaring. On his hands, a pair of metal talons made of wires forms on his gloves.
'A strange weapon... A wire manipulator?'
"So, Shirou... It seems to me that your appearance matches that of someone who engaged in combat with two of my colleagues. From their description of your skills, I didn't think you would be someone to blindly follow me in here... Seems like they overestimated your intelligence. You played right into my trap."
Like I said. Overestimation.
His weapon holds so much potential, so much even me, seeing it for the first time, can recognize it. A thin wire, sharp enough to dismember flesh, yet durable enough to form metal claws... it's application is endless.
He may have booby trapped the entire room, cutting off any space for my movements while at the same time capable of fatally injuring me in an instant, but he could have also made a net of razors to defend him from any attack. I'll give him good application on restricting my movements with the wires around the room.
Thing is, he intends to interrogate me, so he could have caught me unaware even without me noticing, hard as it is. A wire weapon could have easily catch a human body without injury.
So many 'could-have's are wasted because of simple brashness of youth.
Perhaps he is angry? Perhaps he is impatient? Perhaps he is stupid? Either way, he already threw away his advantage even before we started. This kid's potential lie in deception and unorthodox tactics, but taking me head-on like this... he's not even a threat.
Even so, my body is still that of a human. I have my abilities as a Servant, but caution must still be exercised to defuse this situation without anyone getting injured. I've already incapacitated two of Night Raid's assassins. It would be foolish to injure a third.
"I must say, I am quite impressed with the trap you have set up here, Lubbock. I was not expecting something of this scale when I decided to follow you back here." I half-lie to him.
"So... you knew this was a trap, but decided to follow me anyways. Why!?" Lubbock practically demands the last part, pulling on his hands, causing the razor sharp threads to inch closer to me.
Again, brashness. Such a shame.
"The answer is simple, really. I wanted to test you, and I must say so far you have managed to impress me a lot more than the other two members of Night Raid I encountered. I reckon it is safe to assume you are a member of Night Raid, correct?" I replied calmly, raising my brow at him.
Lubbock is reckless. I don't know how he normally operates, but his skills are far more suited to assassination than both the Night Raid members I've encountered. Sure, Murasame is powerful, judging from the information I've gathered, but it's very conspicuous for an assassin.
His Teigu... 'Cross Tail', if I remember correctly, is perhaps the most versatile Teigu ever created. Plus, he actually thought of a plan of attack, unlike the two girls who just rushed me head-on without even coordinating their attacks.
"Don't screw with me! Why did you not kill Akame and Leone when you were given the chance?"
"I had no intention of even fighting them, Lubbock. They attacked me first. I would hate to have to eliminate potential allies if I don't have to."
"Allies?" Lubbock asked.
"Yes, allies. We are after the same thing after all. The liberation of the people from the tyranny that is the Empire... or more accurately, the Prime Minister. You people in Night Raid must have noticed that I have been eliminating the same people as you, the corrupt nobility and high ranking imperial officials."
I notice that Lubbock is contemplating what I just said. I cough lightly, to grab Lubbock's attention.
"Also, Lubbock, you and your colleagues in Night Raid do not want me as your enemy. I will eradicate all of you, if you force my hand."
With that being said, I unleashed a part of my power.
Lubbock found himself choking from the aura Shirou was releasing. Forcing himself to make eye contact with the white haired man, Lubbock saw one certainty in the grey eyes of the man before him.
Death…
It was on a desolate wasteland. He himself was crucified with metal barbs running through the muscles of his limbs. Bulat was still standing, but he could smell the man's charring corpse from under Incursio's armor. Tatsumi, the new boy, was convulsing on the floor, desperately trying to force back his open guts.
The girls... Leone was crying, begging for death, as a demon continuously impaled her, dismembered her, mutliated her, all the while Leonelle was healing her over and over again. Akame and Mine were being held by countless others, their arms and legs bent in a twisted way. He closed his eyes at the carnage, his last view of the river of blood running through their legs. Sheele... nothing remains of her anymore, just a pile of rotting organs at his feet.
His boss... Najenda...
His death, and the death of all of his friends in Night Raid. No one would be spared, if he choose to oppose the grey eyed man before him, and Lubbock truly believed that even with his trap set up, Shirou could kill him now if he wished.
Lubbock retracted all of the threads from his Teigu, before walking to one of the back shelves taking three books, and handing them to Shirou.
"Here! Take these books, t-take them and go...!" He shoved all three into the tanned man's hands, voice trembling. Closing his eyes to compose himself, he finally managed to utter, "Think of them as an apology for attacking you. I'll talk to the rest of Night Raid and let them know that you're not an enemy, at least for right now."
Shirou took the books from Lubbock.
"I appreciate that, Lubbock. It should go without saying... I'll keep it a secret that a member of Night Raid owns this little establishment here. Thank you for the books, maybe next time we can have a more pleasant conversation as I look for my next purchase. Maybe over a cup of tea?"
Shirou walked towards the back door before turning around. "Oh, and I wish you the best of luck in catching the serial killer that is out in the streets."
With that being said, Shirou turned around and left the back room, heading out of the bookstore, back into the bustling streets of the capital.
As soon as Shirou left, Lubbock dropped down, resting his back against the wall as he started to breathe heavily, sweat rolling down his face.
"We... can't win. Not against him... At least not now... Gotta tell the Boss and others...
'Shirou Kotomine... What are you? How did you come in possession of such power?'