The Assassin's Seven Principles of Manipulation

Chapter 68: Chapter 66 — Token

”Fiona Calderalth, Garrick Calderalth, and Zephyrion Calderalth have arrived!”

The grand doors opened. A heavy pressure swept over them, tugging at their clothes.

Zephyrion stepped forward without hesitation, his gaze lifting to the figures at the top of the grand stairs.

Ingrid stood behind the throne, her gaze narrowed, with Grand Marshal Garaxe at her side.

Seated upon the throne was Kastor himself. The instant their eyes met, Zephyrion felt a quiet weight settle over him.

He reached the grand stairs and dropped to one knee without hesitation.

”Zephyrion Calderalth, responding to the head of house summons.”

”F-Fiona Calderalth... responding to the head of house summons.”

A moment of silence followed as Kastor’s gaze settled on Zephyrion.

”Tell me everything that occurred during your mission.”

’So... the mission.’

”Yes, head of house. Based on the nature of the mission, I determined the Redmaw would have a base. Using the layout of the forest, I...”

He went on to recount everything that had happened. He left out his multi elements and the blood rune, of course, but he did not lie.

By the time he finished, Ingrid’s eyes had narrowed to slits, while Garaxe’s had widened, both clearly taken aback.

A deep silence settled over the throne room.

”You fought a mark six reaver?”

”Yes, head of house.”

”...”

Kastor’s expression did not change, but the pressure bearing down on Zephyrion eased slightly.

’What’s he thinking?’

”Zephyrion Calderalth.”

At the sound of his full name, Zephyrion lowered his head further.

”Yes, head of house.”

”The people of the south are our responsibility. As the strong, we protect. By risking your life to save those people, you have upheld what it means to be Calderalth. For that... you will be rewarded with an Iron Token.”

Ingrid and Garaxe’s gazes widened. Zephyrion was no different. The weight of those words was unmistakable.

’An Iron Token.’

Achievements were the only way to receive anything from the house, and each one was rewarded with a Token graded by value, bronze, Iron, or Steel, with Steel being the highest level of recognition.

Receiving a bronze might require saving an entire village from destruction, with each tier demanding significantly more.

To have given him an Iron token for this...

”F-father...” Ingrid spoke quickly. ”...an iron token? Isn’t that too much? He ju—”

Kastor cut her off with a glance, then returned his attention to Zephyrion.

”Do you accept?”

Zephyrion wasn’t sure how far an iron token could take him, nor why Kastor was granting it so easily, but it was not an opportunity he intended to refuse.

”Yes, head of house.”

”Fiona Calderalth.”

”Y-yes, head of house!”

”You showed courage as well, leading the villagers to safety. You will be granted a bronze token.”

”T-thank you, head of house!”

Kastor gave a slight nod.

”If that is all—”

”I’d like to use my token now, head of house.”

Kastor’s gaze shifted back to him.

”...What do you want?”

Zephyrion paused briefly before answering.

”A high-grade mind cognition elixir.”

Kastor’s brows drew together slightly.

”...What?”

’Was it too much?’

Elixirs were valuable, especially high grade ones. He had assumed an iron token would be enough to obtain at least one, but it seemed he had misjudged.

”Are you looking down on Calderalth?”

”...?”

Zephyrion blinked, caught off guard.

”...I don’t understand, head of house.”

”An iron token holds more value than that. Choose something else.”

A low scoff came from Garrick behind them, but Zephyrion paid it no mind, thinking for a moment.

”...then... two high grade elixirs?”

Kastor’s expression tightened slightly.

”It seems you don’t understand the value of an iron token. So I will choose for you. In addition to the elixir, you will be granted access to take one item from the house treasury.”

Ingrid’s eyes widened.

”Father... that’s...”

Kastor raised a hand, stopping her where she stood, his gaze never leaving Zephyrion.

”If that is all, you may take your leave.”

”Yes, head of house.”

Zephyrion rose, then turned and left the hall.

...

”Father, I understand what he did... but the house treasury? Isn’t that too much?”

Ingrid stepped forward, unable to hold back her shock.

”He earned it.”

”Bu—”

”That will be all.”

”...”

Ingrid clenched her jaw, then lowered her head in a bow.

”Yes, head of house.”

The moment she left, Garrick burst into loud, rumbling laughter.

”Haha... that was fucking hilarious. You think we’re all idiots? ’Don’t look down on Calderalth, so I’ll choose for you’—I’ve heard better lies from whores.”

The corner of Kastor’s lips twitched.

”...why are you still here?”

”Gloating, obviously. What, you couldn’t just say you wanted to spoil the boy?”

”I wasn’t spoiling him. He deserved it.”

”Like hell he did. The house treasury? I haven’t even set foot in there. Forget iron—even a steel token wouldn’t buy that kind of shit.”

”...”

A moment of silence passed, then Garaxe frowned slightly.

”...did he really take down a mark six, Garrick?”

”Yeah. I showed up right before he was about to blow the bastard’s head off.”

”That’s...”

”I’m telling you, the kid’s fucked. In a good way. If I hadn’t seen it myself, I’d call bullshit. Hard to believe he came from you of all people.”

He sneered.

”But I can see I’m not the only one, daddy of the year had to reward him properly, huh? What’s next? He gets a paper cut and you hand him the throne?”

Boom!

Kastor’s aura surged outward, flooding the throne room and making the entire space tremble.

”...Leave.”

Garrick chuckled and waved a hand.

”Yeah, yeah. I’m going. Someone’s gotta drink to this.”

The moment Garrick stepped out, the pressure in the room disappeared just as suddenly.

”Did you find out?”

”Yes.”

Garaxe gave a short nod.

”The Redmaw attacked the village and took captives. They were handing them over to the Heretics.”

”The Heretics...”

A dangerous glint passed through Kastor’s eyes.

”Garaxe.”

”Yes, head of house.”

”It’s been a while since we last purged the south. Get it done.”

”As you wish.”

Silence followed.

Then, a moment later, Garaxe’s eyes widened slightly as he caught Kastor’s expression.

”...Brother... are you smiling?”

Kastor’s lips flattened at once.

”I’m not.”

”Hah...”

Garaxe studied him for a moment, then shook his head with a faint look of amusement.

”Garrick was right.”

”You agree with that fool?”

”On some things. You’re a lot softer than you think.”

”...since when does the Grand Marshal have this much free time? Go.”

Garaxe shook his head with a smile.

”Yes, head of house.”