The Assassin's Seven Principles of Manipulation

Chapter 76: Chapter 74 — House Duel

’Rule three.’

Emotions cloud judgment.

Zephyrion had lived by his mother’s rules for years now. They were a major reason he had survived in the Order and had become the person he was today.

He had always followed them, to a fault, to the letter. Yet this was the fifth time Zephyrion had repeated it within the span of minutes, and it did nothing to calm the pounding of his heart.

’I can’t let this go.’

This was Calderalth, where the weak were chewed up and the strong revered. They had attacked one of his own. He had to teach them a lesson so something like this would never happen again.

That was why he was doing this. Yes... he wasn’t doing this for her.

Something twisted in his chest, and Zephyrion clenched his fists until his nails bit into his palms.

’Rule three.’

Emotions cloud judgment.

Yet his heart was still pounding. He was still moving.

He reached the grand gates of the steel training grounds and shoved them open.

The loud bam of the gates slamming against the wall rang through the entire training ground, drawing the eyes of every trainee and instructor alike.

”...young lord? What’s go—”

Whoosh.

Warren’s eyes narrowed. The temperature in the training ground had suddenly dropped, a biting chill spreading through the space.

”W-why is it suddenly so cold...?”

”...it’s him, isn’t it?”

”...it’s just like last time...”

Whispers spread as the trainees shivered uneasily. Kaelion’s fists tightened at his sides, his gaze narrowing. Off to the side, Lumi watched the scene with a faint frown, while Tobias’s eyes widened in shock.

As Warren fixed his eyes on Zephyrion, his gaze sharpened. The air around him felt... heavy, suffocating.

’Bloodlust...’

For a child to carry such intense bloodlust...

”...”

He had just interrupted the entire steel training session, yet Zephyrion’s expression remained blank as his gaze moved unhurriedly across the trainees.

He found his target almost immediately and began walking toward them. Around him, the training ground had fallen into a tense silence, every eye fixed on his figure.

Yet Zephyrion only saw the five standing at the edge of the arena.

As he came to a stop before them, Jerom and the others exchanged uneasy glances.

”...Young lord—”

”I challenge you to a house duel.”

Jerom’s eyes widened slightly.

”...a house duel?”

It was an event used to settle disputes within the house. Anyone could challenge another to a duel, where both sides would wager anything. As long as both parties agreed, anything short of taking one’s life was permitted.

”Wait... between the young lord and Jerom?”

”But Jerom’s mark four... how’s he supposed to win?”

”...he’s literally top ten here...”

Low whispers spread among the trainees, each watching the scene with undisguised shock.

A deep frown formed on Kaelion’s face.

’What’s he doing?’

He couldn’t afford to let Zephyrion lose to anyone, not before he regained his power and defeated him himself.

A moment later, as the initial shock began to settle, a smile slowly spread across Jerom’s face.

”...I accept—”

”All five of you.”

”...what?”

Jerom’s gaze hardened. Around them, the trainees, and even Warren, stiffened in disbelief. All... five of them?

Jerom was the fifth strongest, and the other four were either within the top ten or not far from it. None of them were opponents to be taken lightly.

It was already impossible for an iron trainee to defeat even one of them. To want to face all five at once...

Jerom frowned deeply, clearly offended.

”...you think we’re a joke, young lord—”

”I’m wagering my title as First Steel.”

”...the First Steel?”

Jerom’s eyes widened.

”Wait... he’s serious?”

”He’s putting First Steel on the line?”

”For all five of them? That’s insane.”

”...Jerom just got lucky.”

The trainees shook their heads in disbelief as they watched the scene unfold.

Jerom exchanged a brief glance with the others. A glint passed through their eyes as they gave subtle nods, then he turned back to Zephyrion with a smile on his lips.

”...alright then.” Jerom said. ”What do you want in return, young lord?”

”Your arms.”

”...what?”

”Both arms. All five of you.”

Jerom’s smile faltered for a moment as the weight of the demand settled in. However, he inwardly shook his head.

’It doesn’t matter.’

Since Zephyrion was facing all five of them, there was no outcome where he could win.

”...fine. We accept.”

...

Zephyrion had scheduled the battle to take place after the day’s training. By evening, he had expected the pounding in his chest to have eased, yet as he stood in the arena, it still hammered relentlessly against his ribs.

”He’s really going up against five steel trainees... did he even think this through?”

”...I doubt it. I still don’t get why he’d do something like this.”

”I heard he asked for their arms as the wager... so yeah, it’s personal.”

”Even then... five at once? There’s no way he wins.”

Waves of whispers rippled through the coliseum, rising and falling like a tide. The stands were packed, every seat filled with spectators.

As it turned out, the rumors of the challenge had spread across the house before the day had even ended.

From instructors to trainees, everyone, whether within the estate or nearby, had gathered at the coliseum to witness the battle.

Zephyrion remained unmoved amid the constant murmur, his gaze fixed on the figures seated on the highest platform.

’...he also came.’

Garrick, Garaxe, Ingrid, and several other powers were seated there. Their presence made sense, but the appearance of the man seated on the grandest throne did not.

Kastor Calderalth.

”...”

A moment later, Zephyrion shifted his gaze to the trainee stands until it settled on Lumi and Tobias.

The latter clutched his arms tightly as he stared at Zephyrion with worry. In contrast, Lumi’s eyes lit up the moment their gazes met, and she raised a hand and waved cheerfully. There was not a trace of concern in her expression.

”...”

Zephyrion held her gaze for a moment before exhaling softly. He gave a curt nod, then turned away and faced his opponents.