The Assassin's Seven Principles of Manipulation

Chapter 69: Chapter 67 — Blood

It took merely an afternoon for the news of Zephyrion’s exploits to spread through the entire house.

The major cause, of course, had been none other than Garrick, who had personally visited every tavern across the estate to boast about Zephyrion’s feats.

By midday, the entire house had been thrown into an uproar.

”Did you hear? The young lord fought a mark six reaver... and won. I heard he even risked his life to save some captured villagers.”

”What? That’s crazy. Isn’t he only mark three? Are you sure that’s real?”

”It came from Lord Garrick himself. You think he’d lie? I heard he got the First Steel title too... and even an iron token from the head of house.”

”...seriously?”

”Yeah.”

”...then how the hell did he fight someone three marks above him?”

”...there’s a rumor going around...”

”What rumor?”

”They’re saying he’s not actually mark three. You remember when we all thought he was mark two, then found out he wasn’t?”

”...yeah.”

”It feels like that again.”

”So... you think he’s hiding his strength?”

”That’s what everyone’s saying.”

”...then how strong is he?”

”...who knows. Probably stronger than we think.”

...

Even after the intensity of their mission, Garrick had still deemed it necessary to complete the day’s training.

It was evening by the time Zephyrion finally began returning to his mansion.

”Hey... that’s him.”

”To think he actually fought a mark six...”

”I thought something was wrong with his talent before...”

”Yeah... clearly not.”

”...he’s insane.”

Eyes followed his every step, whispers spreading in his wake. From guards to maids to every servant he passed, they all looked at him with a mixture of shock and awe.

Soon, he reached his mansion, about to close the door when a petite figure slipped inside.

Lumi rushed forward and wrapped her arms around him without hesitation. Zephyrion paused, his brows knitting slightly as he felt a damp warmth soak through his chest.

’She’s... crying?’

A moment later, Lumi pulled back, quickly wiping at her eyes like nothing had happened. She pointed at him at once, her gaze sweeping over him from head to toe, checking every inch.

’She must have heard.’

Zephyrion shook his head lightly.

”...I’m fine. I wasn’t injured.”

She let out a small breath, her shoulders dropping in relief as she nodded. Then, almost immediately, her expression tightened. She jabbed a finger at him, her eyes narrowing.

”...I didn’t know about the mission. If I had, I would’ve told you. And it was only for iron trainees, you couldn’t even go.”

Her lips pressed together. She pointed at him again, then flicked her hand dismissively before folding her arms and turning away with a soft huff.

”You have something to tell me?”

Lumi shook her head.

”...you’re not going to tell me?”

She gave a small, stubborn nod.

”...alright.”

Zephyrion moved to the bed and sat down, slipping into meditation. Not long after, he felt a steady gaze on him and opened his eyes.

Lumi was standing right in front of him, staring down at him with a deep frown, clearly waiting. She pointed at him again, then sighed like he was being particularly difficult.

”...you want me to apologize?”

She nodded immediately.

’For what?’

He pushed the thought aside. They were just words.

”...fine. I’m sorry.”

Lumi’s lips curled into a smug little smile as she nodded in satisfaction.

”Now show me.”

She perked up instantly and raised her hand. A metal orb formed above her palm, then began to compress, shrinking smoothly under her control.

Zephyrion’s gaze sharpened.

”You’re at Mark Four now.”

Density.

Lumi nodded, smiling brightly. She leaned her head closer toward him, waiting expectantly. With a faint smile, Zephyrion reached out and patted her head.

”You did well.”

Lumi lifted her chin slightly, clearly pleased.

’That was faster than I expected.’

Her comprehension speed and resonance level were among the highest he had ever seen.

The only reason she had lagged behind was the lack of a proper rune.

Now that she had joined the house training, she finally had access to a complete one.

Not long after, Lumi disappeared into the bathroom and returned freshly washed before climbing onto the bed without a word.

Her soft breathing soon filled the room.

Zephyrion glanced at her briefly, then moved to seal each door with metal before returning to his bed.

Exhaling slowly, he steadied his thoughts before bringing out the blood rune.

’It’s time.’

A sharp hum echoed as he reached into the WorldPulse. He stared at the blood rune for several seconds, then his brows drew together when nothing happened.

’So it’s not hunger.’

Activating an elemental rune required one to connect with the WorldPulse through the element’s corresponding emotion. Zephyrion knew the emotions tied to metal, air, fire, and frost, but blood remained uncertain.

’Desperation.’

He shifted his emotion. A few seconds passed, nothing.

’Drive.’

...

’Anger.’

...

He cycled through different emotions, yet none brought a response.

’Did something change?’

This had never failed before. The main reason others couldn’t learn multiple elements lay in the variability of each element’s state.

One’s resonance with the WorldPulse had to align with an element’s state just to access it. It was like needing a specific resonance to speak a particular language to the WorldPulse.

Yet throughout history, no one’s resonance had ever aligned with multiple elemental states at once.

However, since acquiring his first rune in the Order, Zephyrion had never been bound by that limitation... until now.

’Or it’s the emotion.’

Resonance granted access, but emotion acted as the trigger to unveil the rune. He had tested several already, yet none had worked.

Zephyrion closed his eyes and focused, drawing on everything he knew about blood ascendants. Lethal. Predatory. Deadly...

He entered a trance, then a thought suddenly formed.

’Urge.’

His eyes opened, a faint coldness settling within them.

The moment he touched the WorldPulse, the scroll flared into a blinding crimson light before bursting apart into countless motes that surged into his mind.

Zephyrion’s eyes shut again as he entered his mindscape at once. There, among the four slowly revolving runes, a fifth began to form.