The Assassin's Seven Principles of Manipulation

Chapter 42: Chapter 40 — Bet

Garrick made his way toward the small building at the edge of the instructor hall.

Loud noise spilled from within, but a wide grin was already on his face as he stepped inside.

A large, bar-like space filled to the brim with Calderalth warriors unfolded before him. Laughter rang out, mugs slamming against tables in a steady rhythm.

”Garrick! Finally!”

He turned, spotting a busty woman approaching him with a bright smile. Her chest bounced lightly with each step, her hips swaying.

Garrick swallowed, feeling a surge of heat rush downward.

’Focus... focus...’

”Ah, Silverna. Good to see you.”

The woman shot him a sharp glare.

”Good? You call this good? You said one day.”

Garrick coughed lightly.

”Well, I’m here now, aren’t I?”

”I guess you are. Now...”

A jolt ran through him as she grabbed his arm, her soft figure pressing against him. The heat intensified instantly, his fists tightening at his sides.

’Focus... focus... remember why you’re here... remember.’

With visible effort, Garrick eased his arm out of her grasp, letting out a dry laugh.

”Not now, Silverna. I’ve got business.”

She smiled.

”You always have business when I’m around.”

”...That’s not—”

He stopped himself.

’Dangerous territory.’

”Important business,” he corrected quickly.

”You—”

Before she could finish, Garrick quickly moved past her and deeper into the tavern, a bead of sweat forming along his brow. His fists remained tightly clenched, barely restraining the instincts clawing at him.

’Think about the eyes... the eyes... not the—eyes.’

He drew in a slow breath, steadying himself. Only then did the voices of other warriors finally reach him.

”Garrick!”

”Oi! Over here!”

”Drinks on you today!”

He ignored every single one of them. His gaze slowly swept across the room.

Eventually, it settled on his target, seated at a table with a few others, playing cards.

A grin spread across his face as he strode over, snatching a mug of alcohol from a passing server’s tray.

He ignored the man’s protests entirely, slamming the mug onto the table with a loud bang before speaking.

”I want your trainees.”

His target was a man with a toned, muscular build. His hair was cut low, revealing a faint black mark, and much like Garrick, a thick black beard covered most of his face.

The man blinked, clearly caught off guard.

”What in the Iron Father are you talking about? My trainees? Don’t tell me... you’ve switched sides. And even if you have, they’re kids.”

”Your drinking’s finally rotted your brain. I’m still Garrick. Don’t start confusing me with monks.”

”...Then what are you saying?”

Garrick didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he glanced at the others at the table, and they quickly took the hint, nodding as they excused themselves without a word.

Garrick dropped into a seat, the grin still firmly in place.

”I’m saying I want the Iron trainees.”

The man’s eyes narrowed slightly.

”...You serious right now?”

”Do I look like I’m joking, Warren?”

Warren tilted his head, studying him closely. He looked into Garrick’s bloodshot eyes that carried a glint far closer to madness than anything.

After a brief pause, he nodded.

”...Yeah.”

”....”

”...Actually, more than usual.”

”....”

Garrick went quiet for a moment, then cleared his throat.

”...I’m not. I’m dead serious. Hand them over.”

”...Damn. You’re actually serious.”

”I am.”

Warren’s eyes sharpened.

”You already have Steel. Now you want Iron too? What, you trying to insult me or—”

”You can have it.”

Warren’s eyes widened.

”...What?”

”My Steel trainees. Take them.”

Warren stared at him in silence, unable to grasp what was going through his mind. His hesitation wasn’t without reason.

The success and pride of every grade one instructor were reflected in the division they oversaw.

As the head instructor of the Steel trainees, Garrick stood at the peak, handling the very best Calderalth had to offer. For him to give that up so easily... it made no sense.

”...Why?”

Warren finally asked, unable to hold it back any longer.

A slow grin spread across Garrick’s face.

”I found a cub worth raising.”

”A cub?”

Warren’s brows drew together.

”Hmm... right, I heard the young lord’s being assessed today...” His eyes suddenly widened. ”Don’t tell me—he didn’t make Steel?”

Garrick’s expression remained unchanged, but the silence was enough of an answer.

”...You’re serious.”

Bam!

The sharp sound snapped Warren out of his thoughts as Garrick slammed a pouch of money onto the table.

Garrick leaned forward slightly, his gaze locking onto Warren’s.

”Let’s make a bet.”

”A bet?”

”Yes.”

A grin appeared on Garrick’s lips as he continued.

”Give me your trainees till the end of the year... and in the Proving, the Iron trainees will win.”

Warren narrowed his eyes.

”...Impossible.”

The Proving was a competition that spanned the entirety of the South.

Every house, from the high to the lesser ones, would put forward their finest geniuses to compete in a single event that would determine the Prime, the strongest youth in all of the South.

The Steel trainees represented the very best Calderalth had to offer, filled with prodigies of terrifying caliber, youths Warren could only describe as monsters.

Warren was the head instructor of the Iron trainees, and even he knew that none of them could stand against such opponents.

”What exactly is giving you this confidence? The young lord? If he couldn’t even make Steel, then—”

”If I win, I keep them. If you win...”

Garrick slowly opened the pouch, the faint glint of gold reflecting in Warren’s eyes.

”You get this... and you also take over Steel.”

Warren swallowed, his gaze lingering on the pouch before shifting back to Garrick. It was a considerable amount of money...

”...Alright, let’s say I accept. What about Lady Ingrid and Lord Calderalth? They wouldn’t just acc—”

”Don’t worry about them,” Garrick cut in calmly. ”I’ll handle it.”

A wide grin spread across his face as he stretched out his hand.

Warren stared at it for a moment, hesitation in his eyes, before finally reaching out and taking it.