The Assassin's Seven Principles of Manipulation

Chapter 313: Chapter 308 — I

”Alright, genius. What now?”

The metal stickman had already started drawing before the question even left his mouth. Kaiden’s eye twitched.

’Hah. Got you. Bastard isn’t completely perfect after all.’

He’d gotten the timing a little wrong. The stickman finished drawing a large circle surrounded by glowing lines, almost like a sun.

”The core.”

The stickman nodded, then pointed at Kaiden before pointing back at the drawing.

”You want me to go after the core...”

Kaiden let out a frustrated sigh. If he could do that, he would have. Unfortunately, the rune shackles and the jail surrounding him were rather large obstacles.

As though understanding his plight, the stickman scurried over on its tiny legs, stopping beside the shackles around his ankles.

Kaiden frowned, wondering what it was about to do, when the little thing suddenly lowered itself into a stance.

It was definitely a strange sight, and despite its head being completely smooth and faceless, Kaiden could’ve sworn it suddenly looked serious.

The stickman kicked off the ground in a sudden lunge, one tiny arm slicing down. A low, shrill sound rang out.

Then the shackles fell apart.

Kaiden’s eyes slowly widened.

”WHAT THE—”

He immediately slapped a hand over his mouth, catching himself before his voice could rise any further. The stickman had also brought one tiny hand to its faceless head, where his mouth should’ve been, almost as though it had expected that exact reaction.

Clearing his throat awkwardly, Kaiden silently cursed Zephyrion before quickly gesturing towards the shackles on his arms, barely able to contain the excitement rising within him.

’Holy shit... there’s still a chance. I can still get to the bastion core.’

Once the remaining shackles were off, Kaiden gave the stickman a quick pat on the head in thanks before hurrying towards the jail bars.

From the corner of his eye, he noticed the stickman pointing at him. Kaiden barely gave it any thought, simply assuming it was telling him to hurry.

The northern cadet’s whistling had grown louder.

For once, Kaiden was grateful for the layout of the jail. The place was large, with multiple cells arranged in a row and a hallway running across them. The whistling was coming from somewhere at the far right end of the hall, out of sight from his cell.

Which meant the cadet couldn’t see what he was doing. Taking a deep breath, Kaiden dipped into the World Pulse.

He winced as the familiar sharp hum filled his ears, his gaze immediately shifting towards the hallway. Only when the whistling continued uninterrupted did he relax.

Exhaling quietly, Kaiden wrapped a hand around one of the jail bars and tried to move it.

His frown deepened when nothing happened. He pulled harder, channeling his element into the metal, but even after more than a minute of trying, the damn thing hadn’t budged an inch.

’You’ve got to be fucking kidding me. I can’t move it.’

The realization immediately killed most of his excitement. The metal was far stronger than anything he could manipulate. Kaiden even doubted whether any Vessel rank could move it.

’Shit, shit, shit! Of course there’s another fucking problem.’

If he wanted to get out of here, he needed the key. Kaiden’s gaze slowly shifted towards the end of the hallway. He was almost certain the cadet stationed there had it.

The only problem was... how the hell was he supposed to get it?

’Think, Kaiden, think... what would Zephyrion do?’

Kaiden’s eyes suddenly widened.

’Wait. Zephyrion is basically right here.’

He whirled towards the stickman.

”Hey, you. How the hell do I get out of here? Can you do that little chopping shit on the bars too?”

The stickman gave no response, simply continuing to point at him.

Kaiden frowned.

”Why the fuck do you keep pointing at me? Use your little hands or something! What am I supposed to do?”

Still, the stickman only pointed. Then, after several moments, it suddenly went still.

”What? No, no, no, don’t fucking die on me now! What the hell was all that pointing supposed to mean?”

Kaiden picked up the little thing and shook it a few times, but it remained completely motionless. Gritting his teeth, he set it back down and glared at it.

What the hell was he supposed to do with that? All it had done was point at him over and over again, like that was somehow supposed to explain everything.

’Great. Fucking fantastic. Guess I’m getting myself out of here.’

Kaiden turned back towards the jail bars, his brows furrowing as he tried to think.

’What would Zephyrion do?’

The thought had barely crossed his mind when he paused. His gaze slowly returned to the stickman.

’Wait... is that what you were trying to tell me?’

Could Zephyrion have anticipated this? That once Kaiden got stuck, his first instinct would be to wonder what Zephyrion would do? Was that why the stickman had kept pointing at him?

Kaiden stared at the tiny figure for several seconds as the realization slowly settled in.

It wasn’t just pointing at him. It was telling him to do what he would do.

’I get it... I was about to do the same stupid shit again.’

Kaiden’s expression slowly hardened.

’No. Fuck that. I’m not doing that anymore.’

Zephyrion would probably wait for an opportunity. Maybe until a guard came to feed him, or until someone came to question him, then somehow turn the situation around.

But Kaiden wasn’t Zephyrion. No. He was Kaiden.

And it was high time he started acting like it.

Kaiden quickly slipped the rune shackles back around his arms and legs, fastening them just enough to look secure while making sure he could throw them off at a moment’s notice. Then he approached the prison bars.

He drew in a deep breath.

”HEY! You spineless fucking motherfucker!”

The whistling stopped.

”Yeah, you! I’m fucking talking to you! Who taught you to whistle like that, your momma? Because all I hear is a fucking pussy! I’ve always heard northerners were mummy’s boys, but damn, I didn’t know it was this bad. What, you miss sucking on mummy’s titties that much? Must be a rough year for you.”