Chapter 359: Impact

In Chang Ye Yue's family living room, the air was somewhat heavy, yet carried a faint glimmer of light after darkness.

San Yue Qi curled up on the single‑seat sofa, hugging a train‑shaped pillow.

Her eye circles were still slightly red, but her gaze was no longer the previous panic; it was clear and lively, though now tinged with the fatigue of having just endured intense emotional swings.

"So…"

She gently pinched a corner of the pillow, her voice a bit lower than usual, "We are now trapped in this massive Illusion Realm, and outside Alice sister and… um, Ge Ni Wei Er, and Xing are destroying the nodes that support the realm. Meanwhile, we inside need to find a way to awaken more key figures, to weaken the Illusion Realm's power from within?"

"Basically correct."

Chang Ye Yue sat on the sofa opposite her, her crimson eyes calmly scanning the present Tengwan Lixiang and Mashu, "'A massive mental shock can awaken the Drowned,' this is a preliminary inference drawn from your case, San Yue Qi. We must choose targets and methods carefully."

Tengwan Lixiang nodded thoughtfully, her eyes flashing with contemplation: "The target must meet several conditions: possess strong mental or Spiritual Core resistance, play an important role in the Illusion Realm, and… we have a chance to create a stimulus that is sufficiently impactful without causing disastrous consequences."

Mashu recorded the points diligently, adding, "And preferably someone we can safely approach."

San Yue Qi suddenly sat upright, eyes brightening: "Next door! Isn't Ailisi Feier aunt and… Saber living there? Saber is Arthur Wang! Her spirit must be very resilient! If she can wake up…"

"No."

Chang Ye Yue almost immediately rejected the suggestion, her tone steady and unquestionable.

"Why?" San Yue Qi asked, puzzled.

Tengwan Lixiang and Mashu also cast questioning glances.

Saber Artoria is indeed, theoretically, an excellent target.

Chang Ye Yue lifted her teacup, took a sip, her crimson eyes slightly lowering, masking the coldness deep within.

The gentle, smiling "Ailisi Feier" next door is not a real person at all, but a disguise of This World's Evil beneath this beautiful illusion.

Rashly stimulating the Saber beside her could very likely directly trigger this disguise, causing unpredictable malignant changes, and might even make the Illusion Realm notice their awakening and take suppressive measures.

"The risk is too high."

Chang Ye Yue offered a seemingly reasonable explanation, "Saber's Contract Link with Master Weigong Qiesi is close, and Weigong Qiesi's current status is unknown. More importantly, we don't know Saber's specific cognition within the Illusion Realm. If she firmly believes she is merely a pet of the Weigong family, our shock action could be judged by her as a threat to the household, leading to hostility. Until we grasp more details, we shouldn't stir the snake."

The explanation made logical sense, and San Yue Qi let out an "oh" and accepted.

Tengwan Lixiang and Mashu, though feeling it was overly cautious, also agreed that a steady approach was needed.

At that moment, the sound of a key turning and a youthful conversation came from the entrance hall.

"I'm back!"

"Sorry to disturb."

It was Sakura and Lin returning home from school.

The two little girls entered the living room, saw the unfamiliar guests, and politely halted, curiously surveying them.

"Sakura, Lin, you're back."

Chang Ye Yue's face broke into a gentle smile, "These two are my sister's friends, Tengwan Lixiang sister and Mashu sister. Lixiang, Mashu, this is the girl staying at my house, Sakura and Lin."

"Hello to you."

Tengwan Lixiang immediately raised a friendly smile and greeted.

Mashu also gracefully bowed, "Nice to meet you, I am Ma Xiu·Ji Lie Lai Te."

Sakura, a bit shy, whispered softly, "Y‑You… hello."

Lin, more outgoing, let her black twin tails sway, "Lixiang sister, Mashu sister, hello! I am Tohsaka Lin!"

Tohsaka Lin…

Tengwan Lixiang looked at the young, lively black‑haired girl before her, and couldn't help but marvel.

(It's really the Lin from childhood… and the grown‑up one, and the one with the Heroic Spirit; the temperament difference is huge, yet the charm in her eyes is indeed similar… fate is truly strange.)

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Chang Ye Yue let the two girls return to their rooms to do homework.

Sakura and Lin obediently complied, carrying their schoolbags upstairs.

Their voices of conversation faintly rose from the stairs:

"Lin, did you really solve that extra problem that Black Tower teacher gave today?"

"Of course! Though it took a bit of time… Black Tower teacher is really amazing, the method she taught I never thought of before!"

"Hmm… the teacher seems to know everything…"

"Black Tower" floated into the living room, like a stone tossed into a still lake, rippling in Chang Ye Yue's heart.

Her crimson eyes flickered slightly.

(Black Tower… right, and her!)

(The Intellect emissary, Black Tower.)

(If it's her… with her vast wisdom, once she realizes she's in a meticulously crafted false world, a cage that traps her…)

(And she now plays the role of teacher, a fixed position, contact relatively safe and controllable.)

A clear idea formed in her mind.

"Perhaps… we have a more suitable target," Chang Ye Yue lifted her head, looking at Tengwan Lixiang and Mashu.

"Who?" Tengwan Lixiang asked.

"Caster."

Chang Ye Yue slowly said, "In this Holy Grail War, the Servant of the Caster class in the present world, and also the teacher of the kindergarten attached to Suiqun Yuan Academy within this Illusion Realm—Black Tower."

"Caster? Black Tower?"

Tengwan Lixiang quickly recalled known Servant information, having no impression of this name.

Mashu also showed a thoughtful expression.

"Is she strong? I mean, as a Servant?"

Chang Ye Yue chose her words carefully; she could not directly reveal Black Tower's "Intellect emissary" and "Genius Club member" identities that exceed the Type Moon worldview: "She… is one of the smartest beings I know. If she can awaken, with her insight, perhaps she can help us parse this Illusion Realm faster and find more loopholes."

One of the smartest beings…

This assessment was spoken by the composed Chang Ye Yue, and it carried great weight.

Tengwan Lixiang and Mashu immediately took it seriously.

"Then what should we do? How do we shock her?"

San Yue Qi asked, "Black Tower Lady… seems calm about most things; is there anything that could truly astonish her?"

The question made Chang Ye Yue pause briefly.

She knows Black Tower's temperament: proud, rational, disdainful of mundane trivialities, focused on her own research and intriguing puzzles.

What could deliver a sufficient mental shock to a genius who has almost seen through the many mysteries of the universe?

(When has Black Tower ever encountered something truly shocking?)

This doubt not only lingered in Chang Ye Yue's mind, but also simultaneously reached Heimu Lady, who, far away in the Xianzhou hotel, was eavesdropping on everything through a hidden link.

Lying on the sofa, Heimu Lady's violet‑black eyes flashed with a hint of reminiscence, and then an uncontrollable smile quietly crept up her mouth.

(The most shocking thing?)

(That would probably be the "Black Tower's Sister" incident, right?)

(And I'm also one of the parties involved, aren't I?)