Chapter 384: Heading to Trifas

Chapter 384: Heading to Trifas

After accepting half of the deposit from Reika, the two men left the secluded alley—which they had once considered an ideal hunting ground—grinning and promising to complete the task.

Once the men disappeared, Reika reached out to pinch her daughter's cheek and softly said, "Jack, quietly follow them. Don't let them notice you. If you find any problems, come find us. Make sure Momtoria and I won't be out of your sensing range."

Jack had stopped calling strangers "Mom," but she still called familiar people "Mom." To foster a closer bond with Artoria, Reika had instilled in her daughter the concept that "Mom and Dad are a pair," leading Jack to mistakenly believe that all women around Dad, similar to Mom, should be called Mom.

The first to bear the brunt of this was Artoria, who was called "Momtoria."

This happened after Shinji left, so he wasn't aware of it. Even if he knew, he wouldn't oppose it and might silently applaud Reika—"Well done, you're like the legendary perfect wingman, winning effortlessly."

"Leave it to us, Mom. We'll get the job done."

As Jack spoke, her body turned into spiritual particles and vanished.

"Mom, Momtoria, We off."

"Be careful," Reika reminded, "Momtoria, Jack's saying goodbye."

"Um, be careful on the road, and don't use the dagger," Artoria stammered.

Unfamiliar with such interactions, Artoria awkwardly raised her hand and waved at Jack. Her usual heroic demeanor was nowhere to be found in her stuttering, weakening voice.

"Okay, Momtoria," Jack replied earnestly, then turned into spirit form and phased through the wall, following her targets.

Without looking back, Reika could sense Artoria's discomfort and asked with a smile, "Still not used to Jack calling you Mom?"

Artoria lowered her arm and muttered, "I've been meaning to ask, why don't you correct Jack?"

"Why don't you deny it when Jack calls you Mom?" countered Reika.

Artoria fell silent for a long moment before finally speaking, "Because I can't refuse."

The legend of "Jack the Ripper" is terrifying and brutal, but upon learning the truth behind the legend, Artoria felt only sorrow and pain.

What crime had unborn children committed? They just wanted to be born into this world as complete beings. Being called Mom by such a group of children—whether as the King of Britain or as a woman who had stepped down from the throne—she couldn't refuse.

"In a big city like Bucharest, where the mafia operates, small-time thugs get injured daily, and no one cares."

"Won't those two leak our information?"

"That's not important. It's best if they don't, but even if they do, no one will believe them. Claiming they were beaten up by a child who looks about ten and lifted by the neck—haha, if I hadn't met you all, I wouldn't believe it either. I doubt they'll be as lucky as me. They're just cannon fodder, not in contact with anyone important enough to know such things."

This is what sets Reika apart—an unparalleled natural genius and anomaly in this Holy Grail War. Her understanding and observation of matters are extraordinary. Once she has a target, she devises the optimal strategy like an AI.

In Shinji's view, her tactical planning ability ranks among the top three Masters, second only to Amakusa Shirou and Darnic. However, her self-destructive tendencies and lack of motivation, beyond mere survival, have held her back until now.

"I still feel uneasy and unwilling."

Artoria muttered softly, her thoughts not escaping Reika's notice.

"Because you don't want to let those two scumbags go?"

Artoria didn't deny it.

"Don't worry, they'll get what's coming to them. My money isn't that easy to take."

Reika closed her eyes, hiding the cold glint in them.

Not killing them with her own hands doesn't mean they won't die. The lure of money is irresistible, especially among greedy scum.

In any country, these lowlifes are always the same. A few stacks of green bills, an "accidentally" overheard piece of information, and some alcohol—if nothing unexpected happens, they'll be dead by tonight.

Jack, nestled in her arms, suddenly called out, "Mom."

"Did I disturb you?" ReikaLingxia asked gently.

"No, I just heard Dad talking." The connection between Jack and Shinji was easier and less detectable than the Master-Servant bond with Artoria, as Shinji was currently at the Black faction's headquarters and had to be cautious.

"I see. What did Dad say?" Lingxia wasn't surprised. Stepping into Romania meant the war had already begun.

"He wants us to go to the village between Trifas and Sighisoara, called..."