The Assassin's Seven Principles of Manipulation

Chapter 307: Chapter 302 — Tricked

”When... when the fuck did you even do this?”

Zephyrion answered without turning around.

”Last night.”

”Last night...” Nedra blinked, still trying to process it. ”You planted all this last night? How the hell did you even know they’d attack?”

”It was a possibility.”

That wasn’t entirely accurate.

After all, one of the reasons he had issued that challenge in the first place was to bruise the fool’s ego enough that he would send his army over.

Still, Zephyrion could see the confusion on their faces. They were clearly wondering why he had prepared the trap so secretly, without telling even them.

The reason was simple.

There was a spy among them. Or rather, someone was spying on them.

So Zephyrion had chosen the moment he was least likely to be watched, when practically everyone’s attention was fixed elsewhere. Last night, when Arcturus had taken the western fortress alone.

’She should know about the spy by now.’

He had already left more than enough hints for her to figure it out. Regardless, everything had worked out quite well.

With this, the northern army had been all but crushed.

Even after several seconds passed, everyone was still staring at him.

Zephyrion found their reaction somewhat premature. After all, this was far from the end of his plans.

A moment later, he waved a hand, sending a powerful gust across the plains. The thick dust and smoke were swept away, gradually revealing what remained of the northern army sprawled across the ground.

The majority of the northern cadets had vanished, clearly taken away after sustaining fatal injuries. But a little over a hundred still remained, many sprawled across the plains with broken bones and metal spikes piercing various parts of their bodies.

Zephyrion quickly spotted their commander among them. Gordon was barely able to remain on his feet, yet he was still shouting orders.

”RETREAT! If you can still walk, grab someone who can’t! We leave no one behind!”

The northern cadets immediately began scrambling across the plains, those still able to move lifting their injured comrades before retreating towards the northern fortress.

Having finally recovered from her shock, Nedra sneered.

”Hmph. At least the bastards have enough balls not to leave their own behind.”

A wide grin had returned to her face despite the fact that she had been on the verge of losing her mind only moments ago. Clearly, seeing the northerners in such a miserable state had done wonders for her mood.

”I’ll finish it.” Kaelion stepped forward, narrowing his eyes at the retreating army.

”No, not you.” Zephyrion turned towards Kaelith and Lucien. ”You two. Go.”

Kaelion frowned, but by now, he had already learned not to question Zephyrion’s orders, no matter how absurd they initially sounded.

Zephyrion walked over to Kaelith and whispered something into his ear, too quietly for anyone else to hear. Kaelith’s brows furrowed slightly at whatever he heard, but just like Kaelion, he didn’t question it.

Soon, Kaelith and Lucien left the fortress and raced after the retreating northern army.

Zephyrion then turned towards Kaelion and Draven.

”You two, bring your men and follow me. I’ll show you what comes next.”

The two exchanged confused looks, but neither questioned him as Zephyrion turned and led them deeper into the fortress.

...

Standing atop the northern wall, Malach stared at the battered remnants of his approaching army with clenched fists.

’Fucking useless.’

He wanted nothing more than to leave them outside to rot.

Unfortunately, refusing to let them back inside would damage the reputation he had spent so much effort building among the common cadets.

’Fine. I’ll deal with that useless bastard later.’

He quietly decided on Gordon’s punishment. Now that his earlier rage had somewhat subsided, Malach could finally think more clearly.

The southern cadets were hot on the northern army’s heels, but given the distance between them, his men should still reach the fortress before their pursuers could catch up.

’A little over a hundred left...’

It was a far cry from the army they’d had before, but the situation wasn’t hopeless yet.

’The barrier will hold. We still have the ballistas, and Rhydan can get me more weapons if I need them. And if all that fails... I still have that little rat.’

The fool, Kaiden, whom they had captured a few nights ago, was still locked away in their prison. If worst came to worst, Malach could use him to force the southerners into a favorable situation.

All was not lost.

”Open the barrier!”

”Open the damn barrier!”

Once the retreating army came within a hundred meters of the fortress, the cadets began shouting desperately for entry.

Malach glanced at the cadets in charge of the barrier and gave a curt nod.

”Let them in.”

The golden barrier slowly parted, and Malach exhaled, suddenly becoming aware of the heat of the sun beating against his skin. Almost on impulse, he checked the time.

11:50 a.m. Ten minutes to noon.

Malach scoffed, a cold laugh escaping his lips.

”What a fucking joke.”

With only ten minutes remaining, there was no conceivable way Zephyrion could take the northern fortress before noon.

The fool had made a promise he couldn’t possibly keep. Malach shook his head, wondering how he had somehow allowed himself to be repeatedly outmaneuvered by such an impulsive fool.

Suddenly, a bright light flared below. It rapidly intensified, forcing Malach to shield his eyes from the blinding glare.

”What the hell...?”

As the light faded, Malach slowly lowered his hand. And the sight that greeted him made his entire world come crashing down.

”W-what...? How the fuck...?”

Standing barely fifty meters away from the fortress, directly between the retreating northern army and their destination, were Kaelion, Draven, and more than five hundred southern cadets.

Malach’s eyes widened.

”Teleportation...? No. How the fuck did they—?”

That shouldn’t have been possible. To teleport such a large group, they would first need to draw the necessary runes at the destination. So when did—

Malach froze. His eyes slowly widened even further.

”No fucking way... That was what he was doing?”

This morning, when Zephyrion had challenged him, he had drawn the word NOON on the ground. And now, the southern army had appeared at that exact same spot. It meant...

Malach’s expression slowly changed as the pieces fell into place.

The word NOON had never been Zephyrion’s true goal. He had used it as a cover to draw the teleportation runes! Malach hadn’t suspected a thing because Zephyrion had disguised the entire act as part of his challenge.

He had tricked him. Right in front of his fucking eyes, Zephyrion had completely tricked him.

Malach’s entire body began to tremble.

”That fucking bastard... He planned all of this.”