Ice Demon Qiu Luo

Chapter 509: Ice Demon Qiu Luo

"The Matou Family has come under attack. The attacker’s identity is unknown for now, but they’re most likely… unaffiliated Magi like us."

A handsome man with light blue short hair sat in the Tohsaka Family mansion, pressing his left hand to his ear as he spoke.

Directly across from him, Rin Tohsaka, dressed in black thigh-high stockings, sat properly on the sofa with a cup of black tea in her hands. Behind her stood a tall man in red-and-black combat attire with short white hair, casually studying this group of so-called unaffiliated Magi allied with the Tohsaka Family from the corner of his eye.

This group had mysterious origins, but every one of them possessed some highly unique Magecraft and considerable strength. They had also openly stated that they were not the only ones—there was another group of Magi from the same background who had joined other factions.

Short on manpower, Rin Tohsaka had ultimately accepted their cooperation, though both sides still remained wary of one another.

The blue-haired man’s codename was Ice Demon Qiu Luo. He was a Title-level Reincarnator, and a tiny, concealed special earpiece rested in his ear, used to receive signals from his companions.

Having noticed that some kind of barrier interfering with perception had been set up across Fuyuki City, Rodney from their team had deployed a large number of bionic robots and hidden miniature cameras throughout the city.

These "primitive" technological methods that the team had once disdained had become remarkably useful at a time like this.

At this moment, they had picked up the sound of an explosion at the Matou Family residence. At the same time, they had tapped into police communications and obtained some additional information.

"It wasn’t Magecraft. Someone used some kind of high-tech weapon to bombard the Matou Family."

Qiu Luo candidly shared the intelligence with Rin Tohsaka.

Rin Tohsaka set down her tea and frowned, instinctively about to rise, but Archer Emiya behind her pressed a hand onto her shoulder. Sure enough, Qiu Luo continued speaking.

"Heh, Miss Tohsaka, there’s no need to worry. That Man-eating Flower is a Magus highly skilled in defense and concealment. Miss Sakura Matou should be safe for the moment. What you should be paying attention to is another piece of news."

At this point, Qiu Luo’s expression turned thoroughly grim, his face darkening.

"A very dangerous person has entered this Holy Grail War!"

Heroic Spirit Emiya turned around and looked seriously at the formidable blue-haired "Magus."

"A dangerous person?"

Qiu Luo nodded.

"A dangerous existence we call Mercenary Tao. He is proficient in all kinds of martial arts and killing techniques, cruel by nature, and countless people have died at his hands. He is a terrifying man who cannot be communicated with at all and is difficult to match."

As he spoke, he raised his head to look at Heroic Spirit Emiya and continued.

"To be honest, even Servants like you would probably have to fight him head-on!"

Qiu Luo had never fought Mercenary Tao directly, but he had always been cautious, so he estimated based on the most terrifying rumors circulating in the space.

He had killed all manner of Title-level Reincarnators head-on, causing even top-tier Title-level Reincarnators like the Sage and Tang Sanzang to fall…

Qiu Luo believed that Mercenary Tao most likely possessed the strength to confront quite a few Servants directly. He might not be able to defeat someone on Gilgamesh’s level, but Heroic Spirit Emiya’s style of fighting through Projection Magecraft and close combat probably would not necessarily be enough to defeat Mercenary Tao.

Heroic Spirit Emiya showed no reaction to that assessment, while Qiu Luo turned to Rin Tohsaka and revealed his true intention.

"Miss Tohsaka, given the current situation, I think it would be best for us to join forces with the Emiya Residence. Shirou Emiya’s Projection Magecraft can allow you to…"

Heroic Spirit Emiya frowned. He had never revealed his identity, but Qiu Luo had clearly noticed it. He could sense that Qiu Luo had been watching his reaction the entire time he spoke.

Sure enough, Qiu Luo continued persuading him.

"Archer, even if you want to kill that guy, please wait until we’ve defeated the others first, all right?"

Qiu Luo’s words made Rin Tohsaka frown as she looked at her Servant. Just as she was about to ask, a bang rang out.

The front door was violently thrown open.

A figure clad head to toe in heavy black-and-gray armor stomped inside. Seeing countless cracks appear across the expensive floor beneath his feet, Rin Tohsaka’s heart ached.

"Qiu Luo, this is bad! He’s here!"

The Reincarnator codenamed No Edge sounded uncertain and alarmed, the Battle Aura around him extremely unstable.

"Who is it?"

Qiu Luo asked instinctively, but immediately realized who had arrived.

"Mercenary Tao has appeared?! Where?"

Knock. Knock.

A light tapping sounded against the door. Qiu Luo instinctively turned his head and saw that distinctive pink robe. The other man’s long black hair fluttered in the draft sweeping through the entrance as the door opened.

Hearing the sound, Rin Tohsaka turned around. In the next instant, Red Archer had already extended an arm in front of her.

The muscular white-haired Heroic Spirit stared solemnly at the man, whose body was even more powerful and well-proportioned than his own. Merely standing in the doorway, he was like the eye of a storm, continuously radiating an intense threat in every direction.

Buzz!

Two swords had already appeared in his hands.

A blue magic circle appeared before Qiu Luo as well, and intense Freezing Qi began to spread.

"Mercenary Tao, are you going to start a war with us, right now?!"

Qiu Luo could not understand how Mercenary Tao had evaded all their surveillance. He had clearly been spotted near the Matou Family not long ago, yet he had already arrived at the Tohsaka Family mansion.

That ghostly ability made him feel a chill down his spine.

After all, the so-called Holy Grail War did not truly require one to defeat many powerful Servants. For someone like Mercenary Tao, he could simply kill the weak Magus Masters and forcibly bring the Holy Grail War to an end.

While signaling No Edge to notify the others and have them return to gather, he also moved behind Heroic Spirit Emiya.

He had received a Fairy Tail Mage enhancement. Though his physical skills were not weak, he had no desire to fight a Martial Artist like Mercenary Tao at close range.

At the same time, he used Mental Power to send a message directly to Rin Tohsaka.

"Miss Tohsaka, if your family has any Magecraft tools, bring them out quickly. This guy… is terrifying."

Even without his warning, Rin Tohsaka had already sensed the peculiar feeling emanating from the man called Mercenary Tao.

It was an aura that made one afraid after a single glance, like the trembling sensation of seeing lions and tigers in a zoo as a child.

As though a herbivore had encountered a predator.

"Hey, hey, hey, don’t all look at me like that. For once… I came here to work with you."

Bai Cangshu’s voice carried a teasing, mocking edge, but no one relaxed.

"No collaborator would stand at someone else’s doorstep and release such terrifying killing intent…"

Qiu Luo’s thoughts stirred. He had indeed thought of one possibility.

Bai Cangshu pressed the Killing Intent Restriction on his ear. Since he had seen an option in the Noble Phantasm transformation list that would allow him to perfectly control Satsui no Hado, he had done some experimenting.

The Satsui no Hado instantly withdrew.

He leisurely walked into the Tohsaka Family mansion. The estate had been furnished in a highly classical style.

"All right, all right, stop communicating with Mental Power. Those tiny fluctuations are getting rather noisy to watch."

Bai Cangshu waved a hand. Qiu Luo looked doubtful and startled. Could Mercenary Tao detect his "thought messages"? Or was he merely bluffing?

He realized that ever since Mercenary Tao had appeared, the leading position he had worked so hard to secure had completely vanished.

The moment Mercenary Tao appeared, it was as though this place had already fallen under his control.

Heroic Spirit Emiya, however, frowned.

"You are… a Heroic Spirit?"

He was somewhat uncertain. Mercenary Tao’s aura was extremely strange.