The Assassin's Seven Principles of Manipulation

Chapter 33: Chapter 32 — Results

Knock.

”Who’s there?”

”I-it’s me, my lord. Tobias.”

”What do you want?”

”I-I came to invite you to breakfast, my lord. You haven’t eaten since...”

”I don’t—”

Growl...

Zephyrion frowned. He turned toward Lumi, who instantly flinched, her gaze dropping to the ground as though she wished she could disappear. She was clearly hungry.

’So am I.’

The faint disorientation from earlier still lingered. Clearing the fog had taken more out of him than he initially realized, leaving him with barely any energy.

”Alright.”

Moments later, Zephyrion sat in the mansion’s dining room, watching as Tobias set down plates of food across the table.

Beside him, Lumi’s eyes were glued to the steaming bowl of soup in front of her, a thin trail of drool slipping down her mouth.

Zephyrion had already grown tired of the number of times she had thrown him expectant glances, silently pleading for permission to eat.

He ignored her, shifting his gaze to Tobias instead.

”So... you can cook.”

”Hm?”

Tobias blinked, then let out an embarrassed chuckle.

”Ah—yes, my lord. It’s something I picked up while looking after my sister.”

”Sister. Where is she?”

”...She’s at the Justin.”

Zephyrion didn’t miss the shadow that passed through Tobias’ eyes. The ward gave a faint, wry smile, and after placing the last dish, he stepped back.

’Hmm...’

Justin was, in fact, a major recovery center in Dunwall, the capital of the South, located only a few kilometers west of Caldralth Mountain.

They were known for its ability to treat and manage even the most incurable illnesses. However, due to its exorbitant cost, its services were typically reserved for the upper class.

The wards of Calderalth usually came from minor houses or commoners with exceptional potential. For Tobias’ sister to be admitted to Justin meant that someone else was covering the cost.

’The house.’

He was beginning to understand more about this ward of his.

Feeling Lumi’s intense gaze on him, Zephyrion let out a quiet sigh and turned his attention to the food.

He inhaled subtly, sorting through every ingredient in each dish within his mind. Only after confirming the absence of poison did he give a small nod of approval.

Lumi nodded so quickly it was almost a blur, and without a moment’s hesitation, began wolfing down the food at a pace that seemed entirely unreasonable for her size.

Zephyrion began eating as well, but he frowned slightly as he felt Tobias’ eager gaze fixed on him, the boy still standing a few meters away.

”Sit.”

The ward blinked, as though he had misheard.

”...Me?”

”Is there anyone else standing?”

”...No.”

Scratching his head with an awkward smile, Tobias quickly took a seat.

After a moment, Zephyrion fixed him with a steady look.

”You’ve joined the house training?”

Tobias’ eyes widened in surprise, but as Zephyrion motioned toward the light armor he was wearing, realization quickly followed.

”Ah—yes, my lord... I’ll be joining today. I only did the assessment yesterday to determine my placement.”

”Your placement?”

The last time Zephyrion had trained within the house had been just after he became a Vessel. His mother had taken him away from the house training to instruct him personally, leaving him unfamiliar with the current structure.

”Ah.” Tobias quickly straightened, realizing his oversight.

”I’ll explain, my lord. The training is divided into three tiers. The first is for non-ascendants, the second for newly Ascended, and the third is for those who have reached Vessel rank. That’s where I am.”

’So he’s at Vessel rank.’

”Then what was the purpose of the assessment?”

If Vessel rank was the requirement to enter the third season, there was no need for further testing.

”The third tier is split further, my lord. Ore, Iron, and Steel training. Placement depends on rank. From what I understand, marks one to two go to Ore and iron, while three to five are placed in steel.”

”And you?”

Tobias straightened further, a hint of pride showing on his face.

”Steel, my lord.”

’So he’s at least at mark three.’

Zephyrion couldn’t help but regard the boy a little differently. To have reached mark three at his age meant he possessed a certain level of talent, enough to be considered a genius.

’So it’s a talent-based structure.’

It differed from when he was younger, where all children were trained together. In the third season, the house had established a system that clearly separated wheat from chaff.

While the Ore training held the average talents, the steel trainees represented the prodigies.

’Then I’ll probably be...’

Since he was still at mark two, his placement was already evident. Even so, there wasn’t the slightest hint of concern on Zephyrion’s face.

’It doesn’t matter.’

Such a distinction wouldn’t last, especially now that he had found a way to accelerate the clearing of the fog in his mind.

’I just have to get results.’

And right now, the most suitable place to do that was within the training grounds.