The Assassin's Seven Principles of Manipulation

Chapter 266: Chapter 261 — Cough

Lucien was in charge of the Rangers. The chubby Donvaire stood somewhat stiffly around the table, looking as though he wasn’t entirely sure he belonged there. After everything that had happened with Vaelor, Zephyrion supposed it was understandable.

Fiona and Tobias were in charge of the Support Group, and both wore smiles, clearly pleased to be here. Fiona, however, stood beside Zephyrion, closer than was remotely necessary. Over the past few months, she had only grown more brazen, especially since Lumi began distancing herself from him.

Without looking at her, Zephyrion subtly inched away, careful enough that no one would notice.

Then he frowned at the empty space beside him. He was saving it for a particular petite girl...

’Where is she?’

Nedra was in charge of the Sentinels, those responsible for the fortress’s defense. Currently, however, her attention was fixed entirely on the last person among them, Kaelith. The Korrath was in charge of the Siege Corps, those responsible for breaking through enemy defenses.

Unlike Lucien, Kaelith didn’t look the slightest bit uncomfortable about being there. If anything, he seemed entirely unapologetic, meeting Nedra’s glare with his chin slightly raised and a faint smile on his face. The smug look only seemed to irritate her further, judging by the way her jaw tightened.

The silence was broken by the door opening, pulling Zephyrion’s attention away from them. Every head turned as Lumi calmly walked into the war room.

’She’s here.’

Unfortunately, because they stayed in separate rooms now, their movements had been different.

Lumi was another one of his generals, in charge of Special Operations, a group consisting of cadets the academy had simply termed monsters. She was technically the only member in the southern house. Zephyrion imagined the academy simply hadn’t known where else to place someone with her... particular skill set.

Lumi blinked at the numerous eyes suddenly fixed on her, then proceeded to ignore them entirely. Her gaze wandered across the room before eventually settling on Zephyrion.

Zephyrion shifted slightly to the side, making the empty space beside him a little more apparent.

Lumi looked at the space, then at him. She smiled brightly and gave him a small nod before, after the slightest hesitation, walking over and placing herself between Nedra and Kaelion instead.

Silence fell.

Almost immediately, every eye in the room drifted toward Zephyrion, curiosity practically radiating from their faces. Zephyrion, however, made sure not a trace of emotion touched his expression. As far as anyone in the room was concerned, his attention had never once left the map.

Tobias’ awkward cough sounded particularly loud in the sudden silence.

If that had been where it ended, Zephyrion would have been grateful. Unfortunately, Draven had never been particularly skilled at keeping his thoughts to himself.

”Did you two fight or something? You’re usually stuck together.” Draven glanced at the conspicuously empty space beside him. ”You even saved her a spot, didn’t you, brother?”

’He noticed?’

Zephyrion immediately shifted back, casually closing the space as though it had never existed.

To think Draven of all people had noticed. Had he really been that obvious?

Every ear in the room immediately perked up, eager for the tea. It went without saying that Lumi suddenly distancing herself from Zephyrion had caused quite a stir among the cadets of the southern fortress. By now, many of them, especially the ladies, couldn’t help but wonder what exactly had happened between the two.

Lumi furrowed her brows and immediately shook her head, quickly signing that they hadn’t fought.

Draven didn’t look convinced. ”Then why’d you suddenly stop hanging around each other? That’s weird.” He looked around the table. ”Right? You all noticed it too. Don’t look at me like I’m the nosy one here.”

The others instinctively began nodding, only to stiffen when Zephyrion’s cold gaze swept across them. Awkward coughs immediately filled the room as everyone suddenly found something else to look at.

Lumi, however, grew visibly unsettled. She turned toward Zephyrion, her large eyes wavering slightly, as though worried that he might be wondering the same thing.

Zephyrion’s fingers tightened against the edge of the table before he looked away.

From the corner of his eye, he caught Lumi’s gaze slowly dropping.

”Enough gossip. Focus on what matters.” He said.

That was enough to silence them. Even Draven wisely kept his mouth shut this time. A moment later, however, Nedra scoffed.

”Oh, I’d love to focus on what matters. Like why the fuck this cocksucker is standing in our war room.” She jerked her chin toward Kaelith. ”Shouldn’t backstabbing pigs be rolling around in shit somewhere?”

Kaelith’s eyes narrowed, but he said nothing. Nedra clearly wasn’t alone in her opinion either. The others regarded him with varying degrees of suspicion, and after everything he had done, Zephyrion could hardly blame them. Most were wary enough simply being in the same room as him, much less trusting him with anything important.

”I say we strip him naked, tie him in front of the fortress, hang an anchor from his dick, and let the other houses figure out what the hell they’re looking at.” The sheer hatred in Nedra’s voice left little doubt that she had given the idea some thought.

Kaelith, however, didn’t so much as flinch.

”You can try, tots.”

”T-tots...?” Nedra went completely still. Then her eyes sharpened dangerously as she took a step toward him.

”Say that again. I fucking dare you.”

”That’s enough.”

Zephyrion cut in before the blade could fully form in her hand. Nedra stopped and turned toward him.

”But he—”

”I can vouch for him. Leave him.”

Zephyrion held her gaze, seeing the defiance burning within. She clearly wanted to argue, perhaps even ignore the order entirely, but then her eyes flickered down to his rune tab, where a constant green light glowed beside Zephyrion’s name, marking him as Prime.

Her jaw tightened.

”Tch, fine. But when the snake bites us, I’m cutting it into pieces. Don’t complain then.”

She reluctantly backed down and fell silent. Kaelith glanced at Zephyrion and gave him a small nod of acknowledgment, but Zephyrion ignored it entirely.

The silence had barely settled when the doors suddenly burst open and Horus rushed into the war room, bearing the news they had been waiting for.