The Assassin's Seven Principles of Manipulation

Chapter 200: Chapter 196 — Trauma

Moments after Kilo left, a knock came at the door. Zephyrion opened it to find Tobias standing on the other side. Clad in light armor, he awkwardly scratched the back of his head while avoiding his gaze.

”My lord... you seem busy. Maybe I should come back another time.”

”It’s fine.”

Due to everything going on, he’d almost forgotten the promise he made to the ward. With Kilo out and no elixir on hand, the only thing he could possibly do was uselessly try to get a response out of the rod. It was good. He needed something distracting anyway.

”Let’s go.”

Moments later, they stood opposite each other across the mansion’s training grounds. Lumi had accompanied them and was currently meditating at one side of the field. After their moment yesterday, she’d suddenly taken a keen interest in training.

Tobias appeared visibly nervous. It was expected. After all, they were about to confront a trauma that had plagued him for most of his life.

”Tell me what happened.”

Tobias hesitated.

”It’s important that I know where the fear comes from. That’ll tell us how best to deal with it.” Zephyrion patiently explained.

”...Okay.”

Tobias took a steadying breath.

”I was maybe nine when my parents decided to move to the capital with my sister and me. We joined a caravan. On the way there, bandits attacked us. My father helped the others fight them off, but...”

”I remember hearing these wet thuds over and over. We were losing.”

”My mother saw it first. She hid us beneath the carriage compartment and pretended she was the only one there. She wouldn’t leave. I think she knew that if she did, they’d search the carriage and find us. But the bandit was impatient.

”He stabbed her.”

Tobias lowered his head.

”We promised my mother we wouldn’t make a sound. I can still remember her blood dripping through the compartment while my sister struggled in my arms.”

”I don’t remember what happened after that. I think... I think I passed out.”

”So it started after that?”

Tobias silently nodded.

There was no trace of emotion on Zephyrion’s face. One would think Tobias had just described the weather rather than the slaughter of his entire family.

But when it came to trauma, affection and gentleness belonged in drawing it out. Once it was out in the open, there should only be blunt truths and ruthlessness.

Zephyrion had no problem embodying that.

It was a sad story, but who in this world didn’t have a sad story?

Still, he briefly wondered whether his lack of empathy was due to emotional attachment. After all, he remembered his blood boiling when Lumi narrated everything the Sarakhel had done to her.

He shook the thought aside.

”For us to deal with this, you’ll need to face it head-on. Can you do that?”

Tobias clenched both fists.

”Yes.”

”Then look at me.”

Tobias lifted his head and froze at the sight of the crimson liquid dripping from Zephyrion’s arm.

He had cut himself.

Zephyrion saw panic flash across the ward’s face, followed by realization. Tobias staggered backward. The veins in his neck bulged and his pupils lost focus.

Then he collapsed.

’Two seconds.’

Several moments later, Tobias groaned.

”Urgh...”

Clutching his head, he slowly pushed himself upright, only to flinch when he found Zephyrion crouched directly in front of him.

”M-my lord?! What happened?!”

”You fainted.”

”I... what?”

”You fainted.”

Tobias’ expression darkened and his gaze dropped.

”I-I’m sorry, my lord. I—”

”It doesn’t matter. Close your eyes.”

Tobias blinked, hesitant. But one look at Zephyrion’s deadpan expression made him quickly nod and comply.

Zephyrion raised his bloodied hand and held it beneath Tobias’ nose.

”Smell it.”

Tobias took a deep breath. The moment the scent registered, he froze.

Blood.

His face gradually drained of color. His features twisted as though he were fighting the urge to vomit, yet he kept his eyes shut.

Several seconds passed. Then, eventually, he reached his limit and crumpled to the ground.

’Ten seconds.’

He could withstand it longer when it was only the smell. That was good.

Zephyrion rose.

To be honest, trauma like this was something he was very familiar with. He had grown up surrounded by children ripped from their homes, orphans, and children who had been made orphans. Trauma was commonplace.

He had already thought of the perfect way to cure Tobias of this problem. Yet it was something that needed to be carefully engineered.

Unfortunately, it was not something they could do here.

’The military academy.’

It was the perfect place.

Still, Tobias needed to be able to withstand blood far better than he currently could before that time came. The next few weeks before they headed to the academy would be focused on exactly that.

When Tobias woke again, Zephyrion gave his instructions.

”You will sit here blindfolded and smell blood. No matter how many times you faint, you will continue until you reach your goal.”

”...Goal?”

”Yes. Remain conscious for fifteen seconds. Use whatever means necessary. Achieve that and you’re done for the day.”

Zephyrion left beneath the ward’s horrified stare. He remained nearby, hidden from sight, to ensure Tobias actually followed his orders. Only after watching him make several attempts did he finally leave.

There was a lot to do.

Zephyrion spent the rest of the day trying to get a reaction out of the rod, but it was to no avail. He had already begun growing frustrated when Kilo returned late that afternoon.

She set a large sack down before him.

”I-I got the best deal I could under the circumstances, my lord. This is—”

”Five thousand three hundred and one gold,” Zephyrion said mildly as he lifted the sack.

”...Eh?”

”Five thousand three hundred and one gold.”

”Y-yes. That’s correct.” Kilo blinked, speechless. ”How did you know, young lord?”

”Weight.”

”...Weight?”

”Yes.”

”....”

”Thank you, Kilo. You may leave.”

Even as she departed, her eyes remained filled with bewilderment.

Zephyrion picked up the gold he had received from Kastor and Garrick. Adding it to this brought the total to roughly twenty thousand gold.

Enough for a few high-grade elixirs. Zephyrion stared at the pile of gold, contemplating his options.

Purchasing elixirs, especially high-grade ones, would always attract attention. His movements were already restricted by the Whitesteel. Trying an underground market would be difficult.

His best option was the normal market. But the last thing he wanted was for word of this to spread, especially with the eyes of the entire South currently on him.

A moment later, Zephyrion nodded.

’I’ll use him.’

Later that afternoon, he left the mansion and put his plan to acquire more elixirs into motion.

When he returned, he checked on Tobias.

The pale light of the setting sun washed over the ward’s unconscious form.

A moment later, Tobias jolted awake. He stared around wildly, muttering about why everything was dark. Then he touched his face, felt the blindfold, remembered his training, and let out a defeated sigh before continuing.

At least he was dedicated.

Zephyrion retired to his room, only to find the silence weighing heavily upon it. He shook his head and dismissed the thought. For a moment, it had almost seemed as though he missed the crazy ancestor.

A ridiculous thought.

Still, the rod’s silence was damning. He wasn’t certain what to expect. Was this temporary, or had something happened to the ancestor? Something he simply wasn’t aware of?

Zephyrion decided to meditate and clear his head. Giving a brief glance toward Lumi, who was still training in the corner, he settled onto the bed.

But he had barely begun when a maid knocked on the door and informed him he had a guest. Sighing, Zephyrion made his way to the living room.

There, he found a man dressed in a neat butler’s uniform, with a weathered face and calm disposition.

Zephyrion recognized him.

Hess.

The head butler responsible for his father’s day-to-day affairs.

”I pay my respects to the young lord.”

Hess bowed deeply before speaking.

”The Head of House has summoned you.”

Zephyrion furrowed his brows. Even as he left the mansion and headed toward the main building, the frown never left his face.

He couldn’t understand it. Why was Kastor summoning him?

Selis had been present and witnessed the entire incident. Her report should have been far more reliable than anything he could provide. Unless it wasn’t about that. But Zephyrion couldn’t think of any other reason. Or...

Had Kastor discovered something about the Order? About him? Zephyrion’s eyes turned cold and he immediately went on alert.

He reached the grand doors just as the announcer straightened.

”Prime Zephyrion Calderalth has arrived!”

The doors swung open. Zephyrion strode inside with a level expression, his gaze sweeping across the hall. He frowned. A familiar figure stood at the foot of the grand staircase.

Ingrid.

A flicker of surprise crossed Ingrid’s eyes the moment she saw him.

’She wasn’t aware of this either.’

The realization caused Zephyrion’s frown to deepen slightly.

Only the two of them were present in the hall.