Fate: Hero of Justice Takeover

You can't help but admire Assassin's stealthy reaputation—even the rewards gained from them are just as elusive.

Pushing his complaints about the rewards from the Fate Compendium aside, Sakatsuki looked up at the individuals in front of him who urgently needed handling.

The Assassin who severed the contract with Kirie Kotomine was still alive and well here. However, due to the loss of mana supply, most of them had become incredibly weak and were hanging their heads, appearing as if they were completely asleep.

In response to their silent resistance, Sakatsuki gave a peculiar smile and clapped his hands.

"Miyu."

"Mm!"

Miyu turned around and left, returning shortly with a delicious scent filling the air.

She was holding a rich breakfast; crispy yet tender milk pancakes, gleaming eel sushi, and yuzu tea as clear as if it held no impurities.

Just by looking, you could tell that the food was incredibly appetizing, making it hard to resist the urge to taste it.

As mentioned before, the so-called "Delusional Illusion" was essentially the manifestation of multiple personalities, and as the split personalities of the Hassan lineage, they were bound to have a weakness—an irresistible love for food.

With a devilish grin resembling a certain red demon, Sakatsuki placed the steaming breakfast in front of the Hassans, allowing the irresistible aromas to enter their noses. He even secretly used a magical barrier to enhance their sensory experience.

The scent quickly filled the sealed underground room, and the senses, particularly the perception of hunger, were amplified multiple times, forcing various personalities of Hassan to grit their teeth and resist the temptation.

Stay calm!

We are the shadow assassins who inherit the name "Hassan-i-Sabbah!" How can we succumb to mere food?

"Still not giving in?"

Sakatsuki snapped his fingers and projected a small fan to blow the scent toward them.

One of the Hassan personalities, unable to resist the temptation, was restrained by another personality who wouldn't let him ruin their pride.

However, when Sakatsuki mischievously increased the fan's speed, the fragile defence finally collapsed.

"I... can't stay calm any longer!"

One of the slightly plump Hassan personalities, looking like a wealthy merchant, howled toward the sky in frustration.

"At least let me eat one bite of food!"

A purple-haired Hassan, seemingly the leader, sighed deeply, realizing the situation was lost.

Though she inherited most of the personalities of Hassan, she couldn't control all of them.

After all... the ominous sound of a bell still echoed in her mind. No one knew its meaning better than they did.

"First Master..."

She muttered.

***

In the background, a speaker played 'Break Through the Sky.' Over twenty hooded Hassans sat on small stools in a neat row, giving off the distinct impression of a pyramid scheme recruitment session.

"Ahem, all eyes on me, I'm announcing something!"

The young leader banged his hand on the table, raising it dramatically.

"Let's get straight to the point, give up your previous Master! Think about how Kirei Kotomine treated you all!"

"He lied about you being killed by Gilgamesh, let your allies die without help, and then used you as cannon fodder to escape!"

"Join me, become my servant, and from now on, everything's covered—food, shelter, utilities, even health insurance! How's that for a great deal?"

Sluuurp~

Unfortunately, the passionate atmosphere was ruined by the sound of someone enjoying their food. All the other Hassan personalities turned their heads, glaring at the first to surrender, their gazes clearly saying: "Embarrassing, just leave the group."

Knowing that she couldn't rely on the chaotic split personalities, the purple-haired Hassan coughed lightly and took on the responsibility of communicating with Sakatsuki.

"We can agree to the contract, but first, you must answer a few questions. First, how was our connection with our previous Master, Kirei Kotomine, severed?"

Upon hearing this, Satsuki smiled brightly.

"You want to know our secrets before becoming my subordinate? Fine, Miyu."

"Mm!"

Now fully transformed, Miyu took a card from a holder strapped onto her thighs and placed it onto her magic wand.

"Sapphire."

"Understood."

With a glow of Include spell, the magic card, inscribed with the Caster class symbol, merged with the Sapphire wand, transforming into a magnificent dagger.

Unlike a tactical dagger, this one had a jagged blade like lightning and shimmered with an ominous, poisonous, and betraying gleam.

"Rule Breaker... Now, with the knowledge granted by the Holy Grail, you should understand."

Sakatsuki, wielding the weapon, aimed it at the purple-haired Hassan's heart and demonstrated how to break their contract with Kirei Kotomine.

The weapon, taken from the Ainsworth Castle, was one of five class cards, a Caster card. Miyu, holding the sapphire wand, could use these cards to summon or even dreamlike call upon other Heroic Spirits' powers—one of the trump cards of Sakatsuki's group.

As Medea's life manifestation in tangible form, Rule Breaker was a tool capable of breaking any magical contract, easily undoing the agreement between Kirei Kotomine and Assassin.

You should know, that in the Unlimited Blade Works route of the Fifth Holy Grail War, Medea used this weapon to contract with both Saber and Archer, almost ending the war and claiming the Holy Grail for herself.

With the Rule Breaker in his hands, Sakatsuki's group enjoyed an unpredictable, overwhelming advantage.

"Unlike Tokiomi Tohsaka's clumsy tricks, I've placed mana links on you all that connect to the Imaginary Number Space. Not even the Holy Church's 'Spirit Graph' can detect your existence anymore. Assassin—Hundred Faced Hassan—you are now the true shadows of this war. And the one who will wield these shadows… is me."

And with Sakatsuki's foresight and strategic acumen, along with the elusive Assassin by his side, this combination was a nightmare for any Master or Servant.

"No."

Suddenly, the purple-haired Hassan shook her head, her voice quiet.

"You may call us 'Hassan,' but we no longer deserve the title 'Hassan-i-Sabbah.'"

"Why?"

Sakatsuki asked, puzzled.

"This is what I want to ask you."

The purple-haired woman removed her skull mask and bowed respectfully as if seeking guidance from the long line of Hassans.

"Do you—have any connection to the First Generation?"

The first generation? The original Hassan-i-Sabbah? The Old Man of the Mountain?

Wait... King Hassan!

Remembering the achievements of that incomparable Assassin, Sakatsuki shivered.

"I-I'm don't—I don't know him at all!"

"Is that so?"

The Hassan, not giving a definite answer, nodded slightly and suddenly spoke.

"Then, please check how many of us there are."

Numbers? Sakatsuki reflexively scanned the faces of the Hassans.

One, two, three... twenty-four... Hmm?

Sakatsuki froze and suddenly widened his eyes in realization.

Why... is someone missing?!

***

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