On Sunday, Luca stood atop the casino, deliberating his approach. He planned to enter through the front entrance, fully aware it would draw unwanted attention—a risk he begrudgingly accepted. His priority was to scrub the cameras clean of any evidence afterward, but with patrons already inside, word of his return would spread by morning. In this world of parahumans, where actions were widely documented unlike the clandestine world of Magi, there was no erasing the legacy of Emiya's deeds.

With resolve etched in his expression, Luca leaped down to the alley's edge, blade in hand.

He strode towards the casino entrance, where two guards stood watch. Keeping to the shadows, he silently closed the distance until he was right behind one of them. In one swift motion, Luca drove his knife into the guard's throat. The other guard, catching on to the commotion, began to shout, "Intrud—" but before he could finish, Luca swiftly pivoted, withdrawing his knife and driving it into the second guard's eye.

'2 down 25 to go'

The sudden violence drew the attention of guards inside the casino, who quickly drew their firearms. Luca moved swiftly, pulling out his Glock as he dashed forward. With a practiced motion, he threw his knife at the closest guard, the blade finding its mark in the guard's head.

As the remaining guards took positions almost about to pull the trigger, Luca acted decisively. With precise aim and speed, he fired three shots in rapid succession. Each bullet found its mark with lethal accuracy, delivering perfect headshots that swiftly disposed of the three guards.

'21 alive'

'14 bullets'

He saw three more guards running from the back corridor, heading straight for him. Sliding to the body of the guard he had taken down with his knife, he retrieved the weapon and took cover. The guards quickly took their positions, guns at the ready. Glancing around, Luca noticed the casino patrons lying on the ground, hands over their heads, frozen in fear.

The air was filled with the deafening sound of gunfire.

~Ratatatatatatataa

Then, a brief moment of silence as two of the guards reloaded. It was all the time Luca needed. He leaped sideways out of his cover, his Glock at the ready. He pulled the trigger three times in rapid succession. Each shot was precise and deadly, and three more guards fell to the floor.

'18 alive'

'11 bullets'

He dashed to take cover at the wall of the corridor, hearing the footsteps of two more guards approaching. From the sound, he could tell they were carrying heavier weapons. He steadied his breath, positioned his knife, and remained silent.

The instant one of the guards crossed the threshold, Luca struck swiftly, burying his knife in the guard's eye. He used the now-limp body as a human shield just as the other guard raised his semi-automatic and fired. The rounds were absorbed by the body in Luca's grip.

Without wasting a moment, he pulled out the knife and threw it with precision at the second guard, hitting his target perfectly. Another guard down.

'16 alive'

He continued down the corridor, moving with calculated precision. Each time a goon appeared, he fired a round before they even realized what was happening. One by one, they fell. Five rounds, five goons down.

'11 alive'

'6 bullets'

Rounding the next corner, Luca sensed five guards stationed at the entrance to the collectible chamber, all armed with semi automatics and ready. He clicked his tongue in annoyance—he didn't want to waste more rounds on guards. He'd just pick up their guns once he disposed of them.

Without hesitation, he took a few steps back, then sprinted towards the corner. Just before reaching it, he dropped to his knees, sliding into the open corridor. This unexpected maneuver left the guards momentarily stunned, not prepared to shoot at such a low target. Taking advantage of their surprise, Luca fired five precise rounds, each one hitting its mark. Five guards down.

'6 alive'

'1 bullet'

Luca was about to pick up one of the fallen guns when he decided to cast one last Structural Analysis to assess the forces he might face within the chamber. Upon realizing what was hidden behind the door, he couldn't help but smirk. Rather than picking up one of the fallen guns, he reholstered his pistol.

With newfound confidence, he pushed open the chamber door and strode in. He found himself facing six men, each holding a katana. The walls were lined with an array of katanas and other Asian weapons, and the chamber was filled with dozens of planks displaying similar collectibles within glass casings. The room glowed with a golden hue, reflecting its rich Asian decor.

This would be fun.

Luca walked up to the wall, his eyes never leaving the six henchmen, who watched him with a mixture of confusion and apprehension. Understanding what he was doing, they tensed up, readying themselves for the inevitable clash.

He picked up a katana from the wall, testing its balance with a quick flourish. Satisfied, he turned to face the goons once more, taking a more aggressive stance. The air was thick with tension, the golden hue of the room casting an almost serene glow over the impending violence.

"Tachi no sabi to nare"

Fear flickered in their eyes, but it didn't matter. One of them, likely the leader, shouted a battle cry.

"Temeeeee!"

With that, he attacked, followed by the five other goons. Luca's smirk widened, his grip tightening on the katana. The leader's strike came first, a wild slash aimed at Luca's head. Luca parried it effortlessly, the clash of steel ringing through the chamber.

He spun around, his movements fluid and precise, using the momentum to strike at another goon who was lunging at him from the side. The blade found its mark, cutting through the man's defense and sending him sprawling to the ground, with his throat sliced.

The other four circled him, trying to find an opening. Luca's eyes darted between them, reading their intentions before they even moved. Another attack came, a synchronized assault from two sides. Luca ducked under one blade, simultaneously blocking the other with his katana. With a swift counter, he disarmed one goon and drove his blade into the other's chest.

Two down, four to go.

The remaining goons hesitated, fear now fully replacing their earlier bravado. Luca gave them no time to recover, pressing his advantage. He moved like a shadow, quick and lethal, each strike perfectly executed. The chamber echoed with the sounds of clashing steel and pained cries, a symphony of combat.

Within moments, it was over. Luca stood amidst the fallen, his breath steady, katana still in hand. The golden hue of the room now reflected off the scattered weapons and blood stained floor. He took a moment to survey his surroundings, ensuring there were no more threats.

He spotted the Thompson Contender, the object of his quest, resting within a glass case. As he walked towards it, his eyes fell on a black mempo displayed on one of the nearby planks.

"Hmm, maybe a memento for all this trouble," he mused aloud.

Without a second thought, he picked up the mempo, its dark surface gleaming under the chamber's light. Turning his attention back to the Thompson Contender, he carefully lifted it from its display. He admired the weapon for a moment, feeling the weight and the history it carried. Memories of the night he promised to be a hero of justice flooded his mind—memories of a path he had strayed from, yet here he was, holding his father's gun, a symbol of that very promise.

He sighed, a mixture of nostalgia and resolve washing over him.

"Guess some things never change," he muttered, holstering the gun.

With the mempo and the Thompson Contender in hand, Luca took one last look around the chamber. He had what he came for, but the night's work wasn't done yet. There were still loose ends to tie up. He needed to erase any trace of his presence here.

Later, Luca teleported back to his room, the familiar surroundings a stark contrast to the chaos he'd just left behind. Within a few minutes, he knew the entire police department, PRT, and Lung would be alerted to the disturbance at the casino. But it would be too late. He'd meticulously erased all traces of his presence—no fingerprints, no DNA, no recording, nothing. Only the patrons and eyewitnesses could place someone there, and even their accounts would be muddled by the speed and precision of his actions.

"Luca!" Elza's voice sliced through the tension like a knife. Luca froze, guilty as charged. He turned slowly to find his mother standing at the threshold, eyes sharp as swords.

"Hey, Mom," he managed, scratching his head nervously.

Elza's gaze flickered over his outfit, now adorned with smudges of crimson. "Luca Saijo, care to explain why you're dressed like a shadow ninja dipped in blood and where you disappeared off to in the middle of the night?"

Luca gulped, his mind racing for an answer. "Mom, it's, uh, part of my... uh, Job. Yes, a contract I had to fulfill."

Elza arched an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "Job in the dead of night, dressed like a murderous shadow ninja?"

"Yeah, exactly!" Luca tried to muster conviction, but his flustered state gave him away.

Elza sighed, crossing her arms. "We need to talk, Luca. This better be one heck of an explanation."

And so began a long night of explanations, contracts, and hopefully, some convincing storytelling.

"So let me get this straight," Elza began, her voice tinged with a mix of disbelief and concern. "On your way here, Gaia, mother earth herself, contacted you for a contract?"

Luca nodded solemnly.

"And she wants you to assassinate two parasites," she continued, seeking confirmation.

Again, Luca nodded.

"And if you fail, it would be the end of the world," Elza summarized, her expression now a blend of worry and resignation.

Yet another nod from Luca affirmed her words.

She sighed deeply, her worry evident in her voice. "Luca, I don't know how things work in the world of magic, but I've just got you back and I don't want to lose you again." Her plea was heartfelt, filled with a mother's protective instinct.

Don't worry, Mom," Luca reassured her with a wry smile, "I'm not a hero of justice. The moment things get out of hand, I'll grab our family and get out of this world. At the end of the day, I'm a selfish person."

His words carried a mix of determination and self-awareness, acknowledging his priorities while reassuring his mother of his cautious approach.

"You see to that. Meanwhile, I'll let you do what you're doing. I don't want people in this world to die," Elza agreed finally, her tone tinged with resignation.

"But you'll keep me in the loop, no hurting mothers and children, and you'll only go after the bad people," she admonished.

"Of course, Mom," Luca nodded solemnly, agreeing to her conditions.