The Assassin's Seven Principles of Manipulation

Chapter 388: Chapter 383 — Plan

”M-my lord... Lightning Prince... th-there are too many! Far too many! We can’t fight them! We have to get out of here! Please!”

”You will. But first, I need you to listen.”

”B-but—”

”The entire Gravemaw horde has gathered here. Even those that were out hunting have answered the call. If we simply run away, there’s nothing stopping them from following us to the surface. And if that happens, I’m sure I don’t need to tell you what becomes of your town.”

The town head’s face grew even paler.

”Th-then what are we supposed to do?! We can’t possibly fight all of them!”

”This.”

Zephyrion gestured towards the enormous cavern and the countless tunnels branching off from it.

”I’ll bring this entire underground space down on them. Bury the whole pack here.”

”B-but... what about you?! You’d be buried along with them!”

”I would. But someone has to do it.”

The town head stared at him in disbelief, his expression gradually shifting from horror to something resembling reverence, as though he were looking at a hero straight out of the legends.

”You... you’d go that far for us? My lord, I... I don’t even know what to say...”

However, Zephyrion’s expression suddenly grew serious.

”Don’t misunderstand. I’m not doing this entirely out of the goodness of my heart.”

The town head blinked, looking at him as though he’d just heard the most ridiculous thing imaginable.

Zephyrion sighed.

”This is my first mission since becoming an apprentice. You might not understand, but completing it means a great deal to me. Think of it as a rite of passage. I want to see it through with my own strength, without anyone stepping in to help. Which means I need you to keep what happened here to yourself. No reinforcements, no reports, nothing.”

”But... but...”

Zephyrion cut him off by tightening his grip on his collar and giving him another firm shake.

”I understand what’s at stake, and I have no intention of gambling with the lives of your people. So, here’s what we’ll do. Give me two weeks.”

”Two... two weeks?”

”I’ll collapse the cavern and seal myself down here with the Gravemaws. Then I’ll spend those two weeks hunting them down, one by one if I have to, until there’s nothing left. But I need you to keep quiet until then. No telling anyone about this place, and no revealing where I am. If two weeks pass and you still haven’t heard from me, you can call for reinforcements. Is that clear?”

Grr!

Suddenly, a Gravemaw lunged towards them from below, its jaws spread wide. The town head recoiled in horror, but before the beast could reach them, a sharp streak flashed through the air.

The next moment, its body split cleanly in two, both halves crashing onto the ground and splattering purple blood across the town head’s horrified face.

”Ahh! I-I...!”

Zephyrion paid the blood dripping from his blade no mind, tightening his grip on the man’s collar as he pulled him closer and looked him straight in the eyes.

”Did you understand what I just told you?”

The town head swallowed hard.

”B-but... what if they escape before the two weeks are up? What happens to the town then?”

”They won’t.”

Zephyrion paused briefly before adding,

”And if they do, then you can report everything immediately. Call as many reinforcements as you need. But unless that happens, I want you to keep your word. Understood?”

”Why... why would you do all this? You could die down there! Surely you have people waiting for you back home? People who’d want you to come back alive?”

”Why does any Ferran put their life on the line?” Zephyrion replied calmly. ”For glory.”

He finally released the man’s collar, though his gaze remained fixed on him.

”Now, for the last time. Do we have an agreement?”

The town head glanced between Zephyrion and the growing horde below, his expression torn with uncertainty.

Then, almost unconsciously, his hand moved to the pink bracelet around his wrist. He clutched it tightly, and after a moment of hesitation, a look of determination finally settled on his face.

”A-alright! You have my word, my lord! Two weeks. I won’t tell a soul until then!”

”Thank you,” Zephyrion replied, turning his attention back towards the cavern. Then, as though remembering something, he added, ”Oh, and one more thing. You’re a truly good father. Those twins of yours are lucky to have you.”

The town head froze, his eyes widening slightly before he clenched his jaw, visibly moved by the unexpected words.

”You... you know, when I first heard about the Lightning Prince, I never imagined you’d be anything like this.” He hesitated briefly before straightening his back. ”My name is Herod Shark, my lord.”

”Zephyrion Calderalth.”

”Of course I know...” Herod murmured, a faint smile appearing on his face. ”Zephyrion Calderalth... the Lightning Prince. Hah... I don’t think I’ll ever forget that name.”

He looked at Zephyrion one last time, his expression growing solemn.

”Please, my lord... come back alive. We’ll be waiting for you up there!”

With that, he turned and hurried away.

’Good. Two weeks should be more than enough.’

Zephyrion smiled as he approached the edge of the cavern, peering down at the chaos unfolding below.

The number of Gravemaws had swelled to nearly three hundred, and their combined gravitational pressure continued to intensify, growing so oppressive that the air seemed to have thickened.

’Haa, protege, if only you put half the effort you spend manipulating people into wooing women, we’d have a harem large enough to qualify as its own empire by now!’

’You’re still bitter about losing.’

’I am not bitter!’ Demorian exclaimed indignantly, before continuing in a much quieter voice, ’Alright, maybe a little. But that’s beside the point! Explain yourself, protege. What in the heavens are you planning? You send the man away, buy yourself two weeks, deliberately let that idiot summon the entire horde... I know that scheming little head of yours is up to something, so what is it?’

Zephyrion casually swung the rod to the side, its metallic surface rippling as it transformed into a long, slender blade with a viciously sharp edge.

With a swift upward slash, he sent a streak of metal tearing through another Gravemaw attempting to leap towards him, splitting the beast cleanly in two.

Only then did he answer.

”You’ll see.”

And with that, he leaped off the ledge, plunging into the cavern.