The Assassin's Seven Principles of Manipulation

Chapter 61: Chapter 59 — Sanguine

The moment Garrick gave the word, the trainees split off in different directions and ran.

Moments later, Zephyrion moved through the dense forest with Fiona trailing quietly by his side.

As he recalled Garrick’s wink from earlier, Zephyrion frowned slightly.

Given Fiona’s... problem, the best option would have been for her to sit out the mission. Yet he had assigned her to him instead.

’He did this intentionally.’

Garrick clearly intended for him to do something about her situation. Zephyrion felt a faint irritation at the thought of being used without being asked first. He was certain the man was currently watching them.

As they walked, Fiona kept stealing quick glances at him, only to look away with a faint blush the moment their eyes met.

Zephyrion’s expression remained unchanged.

’It’s possible.’

Considering the nature of this mission, it was possible to resolve her problem and make progress in her acquisition.

After running through several scenarios in his mind, he eventually let his thoughts settle.

’This first.’

He focused on the matter at hand. Given that the main purpose of this mission was to expose the trainees to killing, he was certain Garrick would have taken measures to ensure that each of them was given a chance.

Their targets were likely spread throughout the forest. Still... there was something else.

’There’s a winner.’

As Garrick had said, the one with the highest kill count would receive a reward. That man wasn’t the type to leave something like that to chance, or to how many enemies one happened to come across.

’There’s a main base.’

One that held enough targets to guarantee the outcome of the mission. He just had to find it.

Zephyrion’s gaze moved calmly across the forest. He had passed through this forest several times during his childhood and had a clear layout of it in his mind.

There was only one place that stood out as the most suitable for the Redmaw members to hide.

He shifted directions instantly and began heading toward the rock formation rising in the distance.

Though Fiona kept casting him curious glances, he ignored them and focused on the forest around him.

It was dense, packed with tightly clustered trees and thick foliage. To the untrained eye, everything appeared pristine and undisturbed.

However, as they neared the rock formation, Zephyrion immediately picked out several irregularities.

A broken twig. Bent grass. Crushed, dry leaves.

He followed the trail until he reached one side of the rock formation.

Zephyrion slipped behind a large tree some distance away, motioning for Fiona to do the same. He quietly surveyed the area around the rock formation.

’Two in hiding. I was right.’

They were likely guarding the entrance to their base. As he considered his next move, he felt Fiona’s intense gaze on him. He formed a soundless barrier around them before turning to her.

”Do you have something to say?”

The trainee’s eyes widened, and she quickly lowered her gaze.

”I-I... I was just wondering what you were doing, young lord.”

”I’m following a trail.”

”...a trail?”

Fiona glanced around, as though asking—what trail?

”Two of them are hiding. There and there.”

Zephyrion gestured toward two thick shrubs set a distance apart, ignoring her confusion.

”...what? T-two? Y-you mean Redmaw?”

”Yes. If I’m right, this is where they’re set up.”

”Set up...”

Fiona’s eyes widened, and she swallowed, suddenly feeling out of place.

”...Then we should report to the instructors, right?”

”No. There’s no time. We can’t let them escape.”

”B-but—”

”Listen to me.”

Zephyrion suddenly closed the distance between them and met her eyes. Fiona flinched, her face flushing as she instinctively hid behind her loose hair.

”Those people wiped out an entire village. We’re not letting them get away. Do you understand?”

Fiona nodded quickly.

”Good. I’ll take that one.”

He gestured toward one of the shrubs.

”When the other comes out, you move in and kill him. Don’t hesitate.”

”I—I can’t—”

Fiona’s eyes widened, and she immediately began shaking her head, but Zephyrion had already turned away.

”I trust you.”

He darted toward one side of the forest, vanishing into a dense thicket of grass.

Hidden within the foliage, Zephyrion calmly watched as Fiona began to panic. Her entire body trembled, and it looked as though she might collapse at any moment.

’Good.’

Zephyrion gave a small nod. Then he focused, reaching out to the WorldPulse.

’Soundless barrier.’

A formless barrier spread across the area. He turned and faced the shrub.

Though Garrick hadn’t specified what sort of ascendants they were, the Redmaw, especially their lower ranks, were mostly made up of Sanguines.

’They can sense blood.’

Trying to sneak up on him was useless. Zephyrion began moving closer to the shrub. As he neared, it suddenly rustled.

’He noticed me.’

A figure burst out of the shrub the next moment, alarmed. Zephyrion dashed forward.

”Ferran—ark!”

A single streak, and the figure’s head was severed in one clean motion.

”You!”

Zephyrion turned to see the second man emerging from the other shrub. His eyes were wide as he stared at the corpse of his companion on the ground.

”You’ll pay for this!”

A sharp hum echoed as two crimson curved swords formed in the man’s hands.

’Vessel rank.’

”You Ferran bas—”

”Hhn—!”

The man suddenly whirled back. Behind him, Fiona stood with her sword halted inches from his head. Her arms trembled violently, and she had bitten her lip so hard it drew blood.

”You...!”

Another streak, and the man’s head fell before he could react.

Zephyrion gave Fiona’s frozen figure a brief glance, then turned away to examine the corpse.

’I was right.’

The two men he killed both had deep blood-red hair, along with crimson eyes and lips, clear features of Sanguines.

’They’re all vessel ranks, most likely Mark One.’

As he’d expected, Garrick wasn’t the type of man to give easy tests. Aside from having to kill, their opponents weren’t meant to be easy.

Zephyrion bent down and searched through their corpses.

’Nothing.’

Tch.

As he straightened, he saw Fiona approaching him. Her arms and legs were still shaking. She bowed, unable to meet his eyes.

”Y-young l-lord... y-you trusted m-me and I... I disappointed you... I think it’s better I return... I don’t deserve to be your partner—”

”It’s fine.”

”...h-huh?”

She glanced up, then froze at Zephyrion’s calm expression. There wasn’t even a trace of anger on it.

”Everyone makes mistakes. What matters is that you learn from it, and don’t repeat it.”

Fiona’s eyes slowly widened.

”Now...”

Zephyrion gave a small nod, then turned to face the rock formation.

”...let’s find the rest.”

He left the frozen Fiona behind and approached the rock formation.

The way the large rocks were stacked upon one another created open, cave-like spaces within them. After searching briefly, Zephyrion noticed faint footprints at the entrance of one of the openings.

He fixed his gaze on the darkness within.

’It’s here.’

”Let’s go.”

”...yes.”

With that, they stepped into the caves.