Fate/Zero: A Different Path

Chapter 25

K: We need to talk

Z: Oh my, that's earlier than expected! I take it she'd made her move?

K: I am now labeled as a child murderer on the television. One of the Masters has been injured, and there are signs of tampering on the Tohsaka's corpses. Just what am I dealing with here?

Z: Hard to say as to what she is, but as to who...well, I believe you can figure that out yourself

K: Give me a break

Z: No can do. I'll give you a clue though. It's Bluebeard

Z: Well, that's all

K: Hey, just you wait a fucking minute

Zelretch K.S have blocked you. You can now no longer send text to this person

The phone's screen cracked

Bluebeard?

My hand which is hovering on the phone twitched at the revelation. the darkness of the room reflected off my form and the chaos going on outside

Saber is shouting at Avenger while holding a sword at her throat, with the latter not backing down, a black flame summoned inside her palm. Irisviel, propped against the wall, laid bleeding with neither paying attention to her

I tuned them out in favor of delving into my thoughts  

Bluebeard. By Marriam-Webster definition, is a man who marries and kill his wives, one after another

Even when it's just a word, the fact is that there's a story behind this

Servant Caster from Fate/Zero. Sir Gilles de Rais of Orleans is called by this same title

A title from the 15th century of the esteemed lord Baron who fought alongisde the famed Jeanne D'Arc and ended up being an accomplished commander later in his life, it reflected off the word's most popular origin, at the same time showing his madness later in his life

The fact that it was merely a clue pointed me to a direction I have not considered before

My grip around the phone tightened 

Because then that would insinuate the real perpetrator behind this is not Caster, but none other than the one associated with that title the most -- An Italian alchemist who goes by the name of Francois Prelati

Francessa Prelati, my mind helpfully corrected

Damn Nasuverse and its genderbend fetish

The phone ended up being tossed into the bed without care as I rushed outside to assist Saber

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With swiftness, we hurriedly carried the injured Irisviel into the bedroom.

Blood dripped down the ground from her wound and stained the floor in pools of crimson red, causing me to eye her critically. The woman is suffering from concussion and severe blood loss, her hand shivering ferverishly in mine