The Assassin's Seven Principles of Manipulation

Chapter 277: Chapter 272 — Rat

High General Rathen straightened the moment his colonel stepped into the command room. He fixed the man with a hard stare.

”Well?”

The colonel, too, realizing Rathen’s impatience, didn’t bother with elaborate greetings. With a brief nod, he said,

”We found him, High General.”

Rathen’s eyes sharpened, and he gestured for him to continue.

”Through the relic you had us place on Malach, we managed to record one of their meetings.” The colonel paused briefly. ”It’s the northern house commander, Major Rhydan Sarakhel, High General.”

Rathen’s eyes narrowed, and he fell silent.

’Rhydan...’

In a way, he had already suspected this. Everything he had done had simply been a way of confirming it. After all, the ’strange’ occurrence of the resource drop falling within Sarakhel territory was evidence enough.

However, while Rhydan wasn’t of the direct primary line of the Sarakhel house, he was still closely related, and his standing wasn’t one to scoff at. To move against him, they needed proof.

Which was why he had asked his colonel to attach a hidden relic to Malach. Now, they had gotten that proof. Now, he could rid his academy of the cunning rat threatening to poison it.

”But...”

Rathen came out of his thoughts to find the colonel watching him hesitantly. He frowned.

”What is it?”

”It’s just... toward the end of the meeting, his expression suddenly changed. I think he realized the relic was there.”

Rathen’s frown deepened.

”Is he still in the academy?”

”Yes, High General. We confirmed he was at the northern watch only minutes ago. We have eyes on him.”

”Good. Then nothing changes.” Rathen nodded, his aura settling heavily over the room. ”Take a few capable soldiers and bring him to me. Immediately.”

The colonel fisted his chest.

”Yes, High General!”

Then, as though remembering something, he quickly added,

”Ah, right. The southern house commander is here to see you, High General. She... doesn’t look pleased.”

Rathen released a low grunt.

”Then she already knows. Let her in. She might as well watch us deal with the rat.”

”Yes, High General.”

As the colonel began walking toward the door, Rathen leaned back in his seat, his eyes like twin glaciers.

’This is my world. These fools think they can come here and do as they please? I’ll remind them who the god here is.’

He had no doubt this somehow extended beyond Rhydan, to the Sarakhel, but Rathen didn’t care. Today, he would remind the Sarakhel that they might own the people, but he was the law here.

A chime from his rune tab drew his attention.

”Hm?”

He tapped it a few times. The next moment, it lit up.

Then, Rathen froze, his brown eyes trembling.

”How...?”

The next instant, he snapped toward the colonel.

”Wait!”

The colonel turned, confusion flashing across his face. Rathen grit his teeth, forcing his expression back under control.

”Cancel that order. Leave Rhydan.”

The colonel was taken aback.

”High General... what?”

”I said leave him. Just follow orders, colonel.”

Rathen’s eyes hardened, causing the colonel to flinch before instinctively standing at attention.

Seeing the colonel’s unease, Rathen frowned before adding a moment later,

”We’re here to foster talent in this academy. Zephyrion has the potential to become a great general. I want to see what he does.”

The colonel, whether through understanding or simply fear, nodded.

”Dismissed.”

As he turned to leave, he paused, remembering something.

”What about Major Ingrid, High General?”

Rathen’s gaze darkened. Then, after a brief silence, he leaned back in his seat.

”Turn her away.”

”...Yes, High General.”

The colonel departed the next moment, and a deep silence settled over the room.

The High General stared at the live footage before him, a weary expression on his face.

Somehow, he seemed to have aged a decade.

...

”What?”

Ingrid stared at the High General’s colonel, who was currently blocking the entrance to his office, with a deep frown.

The colonel held his ground.

”The High General is occupied with important matters, Major. He cannot see you right now.”

Ingrid stood alongside her assistant house commander in the lobby of the academy’s administrative building, while academy staff wandered through the hall, casting curious glances their way.

Still, Ingrid took a threatening step forward, her eyes turning cold.

”Then tell the High General one of his damn house commanders is busy breaking the rules of the war. Or does that suddenly not qualify as an important matter?”

The colonel’s eyes darkened slightly, a reaction Ingrid did not miss. However, he recovered just as quickly, clearing his throat.

”I’ll pass the message along,” he said. ”But you still cannot see him.”

”What the fuck are you even saying?” She blurted out without even realizing.

”Are your ears clogged? Did you miss everything that just came out of my mouth? A house commander is breaking the rules. He’s the damn head of this academy. If enforcing his own rules isn’t important, then what the hell is?”

Her voice rang across the lobby, causing several staff members and soldiers to pause and turn toward them.

The colonel’s expression tightened, an oppressive aura slowly spilling from him.

”I’d watch my tone, Major. You may be of the primary Calderalth line, but this is not the south. I outrank you here, and you will address me with the respect my rank demands.”

It was true. The ranks of the Ferran military were as follows: Recruit, Cadet, Tempered Soldier, Squad Leader, Lieutenant, Captain, Major, Colonel, General, High General, Marshal, Grand Marshal.

A Major ranked below a Colonel, and speaking to a superior officer in such a manner was grounds for a court-martial.

The southern assistant house commander, Roen, noting the tense atmosphere, cleared his throat.

”Maybe... we all calm down a little?”

But Ingrid completely ignored him. Despite everything, she didn’t back down.

”I want to see the High General. Now.”

”You are in no position to make demands, Major.”

The colonel tapped his rune tab, and almost immediately, several soldiers stepped through the doorway behind him, coming to a stop at his back.

”The High General will not see you. Continue speaking to a superior officer in this manner or refuse to comply, and I will have you apprehended for insubordination.”