The Assassin's Seven Principles of Manipulation

Chapter 253: Chapter 249 — Reveal

Of course, Zephyrion could easily replay this entire exchange to the cadets through his perfect memory. However, something like that could easily be fabricated.

The only reason it had worked earlier was because Kaiden had served as additional proof through the injuries he had sustained. Horus could also support Zephyrion’s claims, but as someone known to be fiercely loyal to him, his testimony could easily be dismissed as biased.

”I’m sure you get it, right?” Kaelith smiled. ”So if I were you, I’d pretend none of this ever happened and move on with my life.”

”...”

Horus instantly paled. Was Kaelith really going to get away with this?

Kaelith smirked, thoroughly pleased with himself. He had actually managed to silence Zephyrion.

’It’s over.’

’Never let your guard down, student. Especially not against him.’

’Stop treating him like he’s some sort of god! Can’t you see? I just outplayed him. I’m clearly better than him.’

The old man fell silent.

Kaelith clicked his tongue, muttering something derisive under his breath. Then Zephyrion’s voice cut cleanly through his thoughts.

”You know... there’s one thing about heirs and Inheritance I’ve always found fascinating.”

Kaelith frowned. Zephyrion didn’t wait for a response and continued.

”They inherit the legacy of beings that once stood at the very top of the world’s power hierarchy. Powerhouses. And yet, the moment they bond with an heir, they’re shackled by that heir’s limits. Monsters that once ruled the world suddenly become so... weak.”

”...What the fuck are you even talking about?”

Zephyrion smiled, seeing the confusion steadily grow on Kaelith’s face.

”I mean, that’s why neither you nor your inheritance noticed me, even though I was standing right in front of you. I’m stronger than you. It’s also why you failed to notice something else.”

Kaelith’s expression immediately darkened.

”Wait... don’t tell me—!”

”You were wrong about one thing. I don’t have to prove anything to the cadets.”

Zephyrion slowly raised a hand. The air around them trembled.

”You already did.”

Kaelith panicked.

”Wai—!”

Zephyrion didn’t wait. The air around them rippled. The next moment, the camouflage collapsed.

Dozens of cadets materialized all around them, concealed behind a barrier Zephyrion had erected. Their expressions had already cycled through several emotions before finally settling on one; Pure, unfiltered anger. Even the cadets of House Korrath wore dark expressions.

Every glare was fixed on Kaelith.

”Y-you... how!?” Kaelith’s eyes trembled. ”You mean... they were listening the whole time? You... you played me. That’s why... that’s why you kept saying all that... to bait me. I fell for it... again...”

His voice gradually trailed off as everything that had happened finally caught up with him, as though he were having an existential crisis.

Zephyrion, however, didn’t miss a beat.

”You all heard it. He’s responsible for everything. The rumors. Beating those cadets. And now he was about to steal our water. Disgusting. All of it. This isn’t the Ferran way.

”It’s the way of cowards.”

He let the silence linger, the anger simmer, Kaelith’s horror deepen.

Then he continued.

”Let’s show him what we do with people like him.”

Those words were all the cadets needed.

Fists cracked. Sharp metallic hums echoed as large metal clubs formed. Several others slammed their fists into their palms. Every cadet’s eyes burned with anger, especially Draven, who had somehow taken the lead, the muscles in his arms tensing.

Kaelith snapped out of his daze.

”Wait... wait, what is this?” He instinctively took a step back before his eyes flared. ”Wait, this is insane! You think you can punish me? You? None of you are even strong enough!”

”Compression Armor!”

A gleaming suit of armor instantly encased his body, making the air around him grow heavy. The cadets halted, watching him warily.

”Yes, exactly!” Kaelith laughed. ”So what if I’m guilty? I’m still stronger! I’m an Heir! None of you can touch me—”

”Authority.”

Kaelith dropped, knees slamming into the earth. No matter how hard he struggled, he couldn’t rise. It was as though an invisible mountain had crashed down onto his shoulders.

He barely managed to raise his trembling eyes toward Zephyrion, who hadn’t moved an inch.

Authority.

At that very moment, Zephyrion had taken control of every piece of metal on his body.

”I’ll get you for this...” Kaelith voice trembled with rage. ”I’ll get you for this. I swear it... no matter what...”

The last thing he saw was Zephyrion turning away as though he were an insignificant ant before the cadets engulfed his vision.

Blows rained down from every direction.

...

There were smiles around the room, and there were deep frowns.

Major Dragan wore a subtle smile, while Ingrid’s stretched from ear to ear. Yet somehow, neither of them came close to the broad grin splitting High General Rathen’s face.

’This boy... he’s crazy!’

The bait with the water, then manipulating Kaelith into confessing before a crowd of cadets, every part of it had been perfect.

Just who the hell was this kid?

Was he truly eighteen?

High General Rathen laughed inwardly.

’This kid... he has the makings of a great general. This talent must be cultivated. He won’t be able to become First Prime, but he deserves a worthy apprenticeship. Hmm...’

Several calculations raced through his mind, his attention no longer on anyone else in the room.

The ones wearing frowns were none other than Rhydan and Sera, both of whom had bet against Zephyrion, only to be proven utterly wrong.

”This kid...” Rhydan murmured, his eyes dark.

Zephyrion had turned out to be far more frightening than he had expected.

What sort of eighteen-year-old thought like this?

It had seemed like the obvious choice earlier to pick the heir over him. After all, heirs possessed the greatest advantage of all, the minds of the great monsters of the past. Against an eighteen-year-old, only a fool would have chosen the latter.

Yet they had been the fools.

’He’s dangerous.’

Rhydan’s eyes grew colder.

’He’ll be a problem.’

Though the thought lingered in his mind, he remained utterly silent, just like everyone else in the room.

The actions of a single boy had shifted the atmosphere of the entire command room.