Everyone's Calculations

"Good work, Leonidas."

The frozen surface sealed the battlefield in peace once more. The shockwaves from the clash between the two Servants had caused the re-frozen ice plain to become jagged and treacherous.

Abner's pride and joy, his castle, had been hit by a special beam attack. However, it was only equivalent to the power of a D-rank Noble Phantasm, so Abner considered such an attack beneath notice.

The only damage from that energy cannon was a layer of unsightly char on the outer wall of Abner's Ice Castle. Nothing else.

It couldn't even melt the semi-transparent outer wall.

Inside the castle, Leonidas moved his arms, then swung his spear in arcs, seemingly releasing his pent-up energy.

The burly man, who looked like a stack of muscles, wore a satisfied smile. His young, proud face was illuminated by eyes as bright and burning as a raging inferno, making Abner unsure of what to do.

Considering Leonidas's extreme hatred for magecraft, Abner had refrained from extensive magical healing, other than using a Command Spell to fix the fatal wound of his pierced heart. Leonidas hadn't asked for anything either. His bleeding thigh had already healed, leaving only a light brown scar.

Did he just notice Abner approaching? Leonidas seemed to realize something, his eyes locking onto Abner.

"Yo, Abner, did you see it? The Spartan way of fighting."

"Ah, it truly stirred my soul."

Abner didn't hide his excitement.

That fearless, head-on combat style was enough to make anyone's blood boil, making them wish they could don armor themselves and fight to the death with sword and shield. He now understood the feelings of those young people in the cinema earlier, whose chests were overflowing with passion.

Moreover, Leonidas and Lu Bu were peerless warriors, masters of the art of combat. If two Berserkers had clashed, it probably wouldn't have been as thrilling to watch.

"So, was it as effective as you expected?"

Leonidas laughed heartily, a confident smile spreading across his lips. Although it sounded like a question, the overflowing confidence in his words made him certain he had satisfied Abner.

"Ah, I'm very satisfied."

As expected, Abner admitted it. He nodded, his golden hair sweeping in a gentle arc. He bowed slightly, offering Leonidas a noble salute.

The purpose of tonight's operation was to let the various Masters know: "Lancer Leonidas is invincible. Therefore, if you want to eliminate our team, come and target me, Abner."

However, the earlier actions of the Assassin proved something else: that Abner himself didn't seem to be in this castle. This castle was a trap.

It made sense. Where would a Magus walk around on the streets openly, with a materialized Servant, emitting magical energy? Wasn't that practically inviting people to follow them?

With these two conditions combined, it wasn't hard for people to reach a simple conclusion: this castle was a trap, and Abner was elsewhere.

Then, when they found Abner's second workshop, they would face a choice. With Abner being so intelligent, would he employ the strategy of "a cunning rabbit has three burrows," or would he believe that "the most dangerous place is the safest place"?

The smarter a person was, the more they would overthink.

This was the effect Abner wanted.

As for the conclusion? It didn't matter.

Whether the trap was here or there, it was all the same.

It didn't depend on Abner, but on the attacker.

It seemed Abner was prepared to fight a war of attrition to the end.

And...

Abner chuckled softly and raised his hand, pinching the gray suit he was wearing.

If one looked closely, they would notice it wasn't made of fabric. Under the dim moonlight, the suit exuded a bright, metallic sheen.

This was mercury, a fluid metal, rare in nature.

Abner's magecraft was "Precision Manipulation of Fluids," so naturally, mercury fell within his operational range.

Furthermore, Abner's teacher, Lord El-Melloi II's master, Lord Kischur, proudly possessed the Mystic Code "Volumen Hydrargyrum," which was constructed from mercury and boasted immense defensive and offensive capabilities. Abner had integrated it into his own magical theories, constructing his "Mercury Mystic Code."

If any foolish Servant dared to attack him, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that even if Lu Bu himself charged at Abner, he had absolute confidence in escaping unscathed.

Tonight, Leonidas's fierce battle was enough to convey this information to all the Masters monitoring them.

"Now... how many fish will take the bait?"

Abner smiled faintly, then his brow furrowed...

Tohsaka Mina... where was she right now, and what was she doing?

Please don't let anything happen...

"Master! You idiot!"

About two kilometers away from Abner's castle, the crimson Rider roared in anger as he set his Master down. Lu Bu's ordinary features were contorted with rage, and his eyes seemed to spew flames.

This was an uninhabited park. The only people wandering around a park late at night were likely couples. Unfortunately, due to Qianxi's peculiar nature, there were very few couples.

As if startled by Lu Bu's thunderous voice, Tohsaka Mina flinched like a kitten, trembling.

Then, as if remembering she was the Master, she tried to lift her eyebrows, forcing herself to gather her courage and a bit of authority from within, and retorted, "You too! Think about it! That guy's Noble Phantasm is EX! EX! And ever since you pierced his heart, all his stats have been EX! You can't beat him! Besides, his heart was destroyed, so leaving it alone should be fine, right?"

Lu Bu agreed with every word Tohsaka Mina said.

Although her methods as a Magus were somewhat crude, any idiot could figure out this information.

Leonidas's true strength was indeed inferior to Lu Bu's.

But that ability to get stronger the more injured he became was truly troublesome. Servants like that could only be eliminated in one go when they were still in peak condition. Lu Bu, who fought enemies head-on, was perfectly countered by Leonidas!

However, if he were to execute that plan, his EX-rank Endurance would become the biggest obstacle…

This Servant was the very embodiment of "headache."

Still, with his heart pierced, Lu Bu figured Leonidas's death was only a matter of time. At the very least, he wouldn't have to worry about encountering Leonidas again.

Then the question arose…

When one person is entirely correct, will the other person admit it?

"Hah? Don't be stupid! I am the invincible Lu Fengxian! That guy! Hmph, even if he had a Noble Phantasm, he's no match for me! Only fighting the weak when you're strong, what kind of hero is that?!"

Lu Bu retorted furiously. His already imposing demeanor turned terrifying as his eyes widened in rage, his expression contorting into a ferocious scowl. Tohsaka Mina was startled again. Her legs, already trembling from the magical depletion after projecting Excalibur, could barely support her. She stumbled back several steps before managing to steady herself.

Yes, Lu Bu couldn't accept this outcome.

Even though he knew himself that Tohsaka Mina was completely right, and that he was indeed inferior to Leonidas.

Even though he knew himself that a decisive retreat at that moment would have been the correct course of action.

Even though he knew himself that to overcome EX-rank Agility, he would have needed to use a Command Spell to boost his Servant's speed.

But what he needed wasn't correctness, it was an outlet.

Consumed by rage, he had to vent his anger on someone. When a person is angry, logical reasoning doesn't extinguish the flames of fury; instead, it fans the embers, provoking defiance. Lu Bu retorted to Tohsaka Mina with a hardened tone, attributing all the blame to "the Master's misjudgment."

This wouldn't solve the problem.

But it would make him feel better.

(And besides!)

Lu Bu thought to himself.

(This is the Master's problem! I didn't lose to that muscle-head! It's the Master's problem! Someone else's Master can freeze rivers; they must be a top-tier Magus. That guy's stats are also top-tier, but my Master… Hmph, if I also had a top-tier Magus as my Master, I'd definitely be stronger than that guy!)

With that thought, a faint, burning ghost fire ignited within Lu Bu.

(A top-tier… Master?)

His gaze flickered to Tohsaka Mina in his arms, who was gritting her teeth, wanting to retort but also wanting to cry. His heroic eyes shifted from her beautiful blonde hair to her crimson coat and her ample chest.

(Heh… Forget it, I'll wait for now. It would be bad if I, Lu Fengxian, seemed dangerous by rebelling carelessly… White Gate Tower… I don't want to experience that a second time…)