Chapter 292: Understood

A single all‑directional "All Fish Return to Sect" caused more than eighty percent of the Mutated Rat Monsters in the entire open area to completely lose their livelihood.

The few that luckily remained in attack gaps or at the edges, as if they had seen a natural enemy, could no longer heed any command, emitted extremely terrified squeaks, and fled in panic through the pipe cracks they had crawled in, disappearing without a trace.

The Sewer fell silent again, leaving only the sound of flowing sewage and a dense, indissoluble Lingering Aftertaste in the air that could cause any creature with normal smell to faint instantly.

A Xing stood in place, flicked the Salty Fish Sword, as if trying to shake off a non‑existent "stain" on it.

She glanced around at the environment, which had instantly become much cleaner, then looked down at the remarkable artifact in her hand.

(The effect… is acceptable.)

She was about to report the situation to Black Tower via the Communicator, but found the transmission had already been cut off.

(Bad signal?)

A Xing tried to reconnect, to no avail.

Black Tower, reappearing in another secluded alley, frowned and, with a hint of disdain, held the tiny Communicator a little farther from the ear.

Just now, after a burst of intense battle sounds from A Xing's side, the communication signal suddenly mixed in an indescribable foul odor.

Black Tower even subconsciously held her breath, even though she knew such a smell could not be transmitted through the Communicator.

She acted decisively and temporarily shut down the communication link.

(What's happening in the Sewer? Did they use a biochemical weapon?)

After the brief signal loss, the encrypted communication was reestablished.

"Is it resolved? What's the situation below?"

Black Tower's voice came, with her usual crispness.

In the Sewer, A Xing stood amid a pile of Mutated Rat Monster remains that had quickly lost vitality and emitted a complex Lingering Aftertaste.

Her golden eyes swept the surroundings, finally landing on the nearest, most grotesquely twisted corpse, its shell showing bizarre hatching patterns, desiccated and warped.

She did not answer immediately, but crouched and gently prodded the broken limb joint of the corpse remains with her unarmed hand.

There, in the gap between chitin and dried flesh, a faint mark lingered.

It was so faint it almost merged with the surrounding filthy magical energy; had it not just undergone a mad mutation catalyzed by it and then been violently suppressed with the Immortal Salted Fish, which carries a strong purification effect, it probably would have gone unnoticed.

A Xing stared at the almost‑vanished mark, and in her mind flashed the descriptive traits of certain destiny forces.

She faced the Communicator and calmly uttered two words:

"Breeding."

On the other end, Black Tower, standing in the secluded alley, narrowed her violet‑black eyes, like a hawk precisely locking onto a target.

(Breeding…?)

(Residual of Taziyu Luosi? In this world?)

(No wonder… the incubation inside Kenneth, the forced mutation of Sewer rats… the traits of that twisted fungal life form…)

(If so, whatever lies beneath Winterwood City is probably more troublesome than expected.)

She did not press for details; A Xing's judgment is rarely wrong in such direct observations.

A spreading "Breeding" contamination…

This is far more interesting than any Holy Grail War.

"Understood. Come up first; we'll discuss the details in person."

Black Tower's brief command, then she ended the communication.

She needs to reassess Winterwood City's situation, and… the role Huan Long might play in this incident.

Destruction and Breeding.

Inside the Tohsaka Residence, Shichen was gritting his teeth against a wave of cramping pain in his abdomen, trying to maintain outward composure.

In the magical water mirror before him, his disciple Yan Feng Qili's perpetually expressionless face appeared.

"According to the Assassin's tracking, Miss Yuan Ban Lin is currently at the Central Park Playground in Xindu District. With her is Sakura Matou as well."

"Sakura?"

Shichen's brows knit tightly, the abdominal pain seemingly suppressed by surprise, "How could she be with Yuan Ban Lin? The Jiantong family…"

His first thought was that the old guy Jiantong Zangyan was up to something again, using Sakura to restrain or threaten him?

"The disciple has already scouted Jiantong Residence."

Yan Feng Qili's voice was flat, "Inside the residence there is no one, no battle traces, but signs of an abnormal evacuation. The whereabouts of Jiantong Zangyan and Jiantong He Ye are unknown. The two unfamiliar women protecting the two miss… are present. Preliminary observation confirms one to be a Servant, and the other is highly likely a Master."

"Can you determine their class?"

Shichen pressed on, his fingers unconsciously pressing his abdomen.

The Yan Feng Qili in the water mirror paused unusually, seeming to choose words: "On the Servant side, behavior… differs significantly from conventional expectations. However, by elimination, the only unconfirmed class currently is Berserker. Yet…"

"But what?"

"Its appearance is far from the traits of a 'Berserker'. Though it exhibits some unconventional power, its logic is clear, even…"

Yan Feng Qili's tone showed a subtle shift, "We cannot rule out a second unconventional Assassin, or the possibility of an unknown anomaly in class determination."

Shichen listened to his disciple's report, his already pallid complexion further worsening due to his ailment.

A Servant with odd behavior, seemingly a Berserker yet not quite, a mysterious Master who rescued Yuan Ban Lin and Sakura? The entire Jiantong family vanished? This fog is thickening.

Is the other side enemy or ally? What is their purpose?

Is it targeting the Tohsaka family, or merely meddling in the Jiantong family's affairs?

He quickly contemplated a plan: continue letting the Assassin monitor covertly, uncover the opponent's details and intentions; attempt contact to ascertain stance, at least to ensure Yuan Ban Lin and Sakura's safety; simultaneously, urgently investigate the Jiantong family's disappearance and whether it relates to other Holy Grail War developments…

However, a wave of intensified intestinal cramps interrupted his thoughts. Cold sweat instantly soaked his forehead hair, and he had to bend over, his fingers gripping the table edge tightly.

"Teacher?" Yan Feng Qili noticed his abnormality.

"No… nothing."

Shichen forced a few words through his teeth, striving to keep his voice steady, "Qili, continue monitoring, be sure to track their movements and contacts. For now… do not stir the grass and scare the snakes. I… I need to handle something."

Understood. Please take care of yourself.

Communication cut off.

Shichen could no longer hold on, and at a speed that was as graceful as possible yet absolutely swift, he rushed toward the mansion's bathroom.

The turmoil churning in his gut intertwined with the heavy worries in his heart, causing the Tohsaka Patriarch, who has always prized decorum and control, to experience a state of disarray unlike any before.