The Assassin's Seven Principles of Manipulation

Chapter 247: Chapter 243 — Choose...

Zephyrion stared at the trio writhing on the ground, contemplating his options. After less than a second of thought, he glanced around, confirming no one else was in sight except for Lumi, silently watching the scene. Then he fixed his gaze on the lone tier two cadet for a brief moment before placing a foot on one of the Heno tier one cadet’s legs. He remained unfazed despite the horror and panic that flooded the cadet’s eyes.

”Who asked you to do this?”

The cadet hesitated for a moment, then slowly shook his head.

Zephyrion stomped down.

Crack!

”Hmm! Hmm! Hmm!”

Tears welled up in the cadet’s eyes as he thrashed wildly, but Zephyrion’s leg was like an unmovable mountain pressing down on his own. Realizing it was a futile struggle that only brought him more pain, he stopped. By then, his entire body had begun shaking, and he stared up at Zephyrion as though looking at a reaper.

Silent and unmoved, Zephyrion shifted his foot onto the cadet’s other leg, staring straight into his eyes.

”Who?”

Tears streamed down the cadet’s face.

”P-pleas—”

Crack!

”AHHH!”

Zephyrion lifted his foot, not even sparing the cadet another glance. He turned toward the other tier one cadet, the Ocren. The cadet’s eyes trembled, and he hastily tried to crawl away despite his caved-in throat. But a heavy aura pinned him in place.

Zephyrion placed his foot on the cadet’s leg. The cadet immediately broke into tears, pleading desperately.

”N-no, no, please.”

”Who?”

”P-please... I don’t—”

Crack!

”Ahhhhh!”

The agonizing scream pierced the silent night, yet Zephyrion remained unfazed. He had erected a sound barrier the moment he spotted the trio.

No one would hear their screams.

”P-please... not again... please.”

Zephyrion shifted his foot onto the second leg, and after a few seconds of the cadet’s begging, brought it down. The cadet screamed and thrashed violently the next moment.

Both cadets had refused to speak, but it didn’t really matter. They hadn’t been his target in the first place.

When there were multiple enemies, always identify the weakest link. Then torture the others painfully and brutally, letting the weakest link watch. In a sense, the process itself became their torture. By the end, one wouldn’t even have to touch them. They would cave all on their own.

Slowly, for greater effect, Zephyrion turned toward the tier two cadet, eyes like blocks of ice. The cadet was shivering as though he’d been doused in icy water. A pool of warm liquid had already formed beneath him.

Zephyrion took a step forward, watching the cadet recoil, both hands waving frantically before him.

”W-wait, wait! I’ll talk! I’ll talk! P-please... just don’t break my leg, please...”

Zephyrion paused, slowly tilting his head before giving a small gesture for him to continue.

The cadet swallowed.

”T-thank you. A-about who sent us, it’s—”

A sudden light flared from beneath the cadet’s neck.

Zephyrion rushed forward and ripped open his clothes, freezing instantly. The light was emanating from several runes engraved across the cadet’s chest.

Zephyrion studied them, comprehending their function almost instantly. He gritted his teeth.

’Shit.’

It was a rune that used metal to emit certain waves capable of affecting the mind. In this case, Zephyrion could determine it served only one function.

To make the cadet forget.

’A safety measure...’

The next moment, the cadet’s words slurred, and his eyes gradually lost focus. By the time the light faded, he blinked, every trace of horror gone. He looked around with a confused frown.

”W-what... what is this? Where am I?”

Zephyrion’s eyes darkened. The next moment, he knocked the cadet unconscious. Then, with a deep frown, he stood in silence, running everything through his mind.

It was the first time he had come across such a rune. However, runes capable of affecting something as intricate as the mind were no trivial matter.

They were not something a bunch of eighteen-year-old youths should have been capable of using.

...

”Sheesh, that’s one scary eighteen-year-old.”

Major Rhydan Sarakhel whistled as he leaned back in his seat. Though the room was utterly silent, there was little doubt everyone was thinking the same thing. After all, it wasn’t every day one witnessed an eighteen-year-old torturing his peers.

’He’s ruthless.’

High General Rathen brushed his beards, a faint smile on his lips.

Ruthlessness and decisiveness were expected of a true leader, but ruthlessness needed a purpose. Without one, a person was simply a homicidal maniac. Being a ruthless leader was one thing. Being a homicidal maniac was another.

Yet Zephyrion had tortured the first two cadets to get to the third. And even when the rune of forgetfulness activated, he hadn’t lashed out. He had simply knocked the cadet unconscious, proving he possessed restraint.

’Impressive.’

”At this point, I’m pretty sure we’re all thinking the same thing.” Rhydan said after a moment. ”The kid’s fucked. He’s been phenomenal so far, but this time? I think he’s bitten off more than he can chew. His opponent is basically everything unfair about this world rolled into one. Shame, really. I was just starting to like the brat.”

Ingrid fixed Rhydan with an unwavering stare.

”...You think he’ll lose?”

”You don’t? We all know who the perpetrator is. We know what his kind can do, and we know the advantages they have. I don’t see a way he wins this. He’ll lose the cadets’ trust, lose control of the group, and with the next test around the corner? That’s game over.”

”He won’t.”

Rhydan frowned at Ingrid’s firm gaze. Then a smile crept onto his face.

”Seriously? I thought you two couldn’t stand each other. Don’t tell me you’ve secretly liked him all along?”

Ingrid’s glare turned glacial.

Seeing that, Rhydan immediately threw up his hands, chuckling.

”Alright, alright. You don’t love him. Happy?”

Then, a moment later, he turned to the others.

”Alright, I vote lose. Sister of the year over there votes win. What about the rest of you? Win or lose?”

”Lose.” Major Sera of Eryndor said almost instantly. Ingrid scoffed. Then, every eye turned toward the bald giant.

”Dargan?”

Dargan’s eyes seemed boundless as they remained fixed on Zephyrion on the screen. Several moments passed before he finally spoke.

”Win.”

Rhydan frowned.

”Hmm. Two for two. Didn’t expect that. What about you, High General?”

All eyes turned toward Rathen expectantly.

Rathen frowned for a moment, running everything through his mind. Then, as though arriving at a conclusion, he gave a slow nod.

”I choose...”