The Assassin's Seven Principles of Manipulation-Chapter 56 - 54 — Anomaly

"No, that’s not it."

Ingrid shook her head immediately.

"Even if the relic was wrong, he was tested again by the instructors."

Lina’s gaze darkened slightly.

"Then do you think he got to the instructors—"

"No, that’s not it either. The test was overseen by Uncle Garrick. He may support my brother, but he’s the type of man who would butt heads with Father if something goes against his ideals. He wouldn’t compromise on this..."

"But the results show he was still in the early stages of Mark Two. It’s impossible to break through that fast..."

"It’s not."

This was the same boy that shattered every record and reached the Vessel rank at eight. He could not be measured by normal means.

"I’ve narrowed it down to one possibility,"

Ingrid said, her expression hardening.

"Something must have happened during his absence that caused him to remain stagnant. Now that he’s back home, he’s free of it."

It would explain why Zephyrion didn’t return home all these years.

"But... that would mean we were wrong, and he was never talentless?"

"Yeah."

"That... then... does that mean things will go back...?"

Clench!

As images of the younger Zephyrion flashed through her mind, Ingrid’s grip tightened around the stress ball.

Back then, he had dominated the entire house and drawn the awe of every single person with nothing but his talent.

She couldn’t have that again...

Bam!

The stress ball imploded in her grasp, releasing a sharp gust across the office.

"My lady—!"

"...I’m fine."

Tsk.

Ingrid clicked her tongue and tossed the remnants aside without a second glance.

In any case, one thing was certain.

Her brother wasn’t the trash she had believed him to be. He was something far worse, an anomaly.

Ingrid leaned back in her seat, her body suddenly feeling heavy.

’Nothing changed.’

Even after all these years... she still couldn’t read him.

...

"Ah... young lord. I trust you remember me?"

"I do, City Lord Ociden. It’s been a while."

"Haha, far too long. Things have been rather... turbulent in the west. My apologies for not coming to greet you sooner."

"It’s fine."

"...still, your performance today was remarkable, young lord. I nearly fell out of my seat watching."

"...thank you."

"I won’t keep you. I have a long journey ahead of me. But if time permits... do visit Drask. We would be honored to receive you."

As the man left, Zephyrion continued through the estate.

He was stopped and greeted by many familiar faces, heads of high houses of the South, men and women who controlled cities and held seats in the Southern Council.

"To think he advanced to Mark Three... were we wrong about him?"

"He was using multiple rune arts like it was nothing. That kind of control isn’t normal for someone who just broke through..."

"If he advanced that quickly... then why was he stagnant all these years?"

"...maybe that’s exactly it. His disappearance must be connected. Something held him back, and now that he’s returned, it’s gone."

"Then—"

"Yes... he was never trash."

Despite the endless whispers, Zephyrion’s expression remained unchanged. He gave slight nods to familiar faces as he moved past them without pause.

Once he was out of sight, his thoughts began to move.

’It worked.’

His revelation during the evaluation had produced the desired results.

Before, due to his stagnation, the entire South had regarded him as talentless and worthless. Yet within two weeks of returning, he had risen to Mark Three.

Such speed was enough to shake them.

’Now they don’t know what I am.’

Mark Three was still too low to be considered a true prodigy, yet his rate of advancement was far too abnormal to ignore.

The most likely conclusion many would reach was that something during his absence had suppressed him, and now that he had returned, that restraint might have been removed.

Regardless, that uncertainty was enough. It turned Zephyrion into an anomaly in the eyes of the South, one they couldn’t define.

Many were already trying to gain a favorable position with him, in case he returned to being the prodigy they once knew.

All because of a single revelation.

’Rule Eight.’

Never reveal everything you know. Mystery forces others to guess, and guessing creates mistakes.

With a cold glint in his eyes, Zephyrion continued toward his mansion.

...

Garrick burst into the tavern and slammed his fist onto a table. Instantly, the loud, rumbling laughter and chatter died as all eyes turned toward him.

The next moment, Garrick broke into a wide grin.

"EVERYONE! Drinks on me tonight!"

"Woah!"

"That’s amazing! Seriously!?"

A chorus of loud cheers erupted across the tavern as people began praising Garrick.

"Who are we thanking for this, Garrick!?"

Garrick grabbed a large cup of booze and raised it high.

"To the rise of a cub!"

The people exchanged confused glances, then lifted their cups and roared in unison.

"To the rise of a cub!"

They each drank their fill.

...

The day passed in a blur. As Zephyrion had expected, many more came to greet him at his mansion and compliment him on the battle.

By the time night fell, Zephyrion stood before a pile of gifts with a faint frown.

’No elixir.’

His guests had come bearing gifts, but none were what he wanted.

’They’re still being cautious.’

It was clear that many were still uncertain about his rise and were only offering the bare minimum, just in case.

Hmm...

His thoughts were interrupted by Lumi’s frantic waving. The petite girl pointed at the stack of neatly wrapped gifts, staring at him with wide, pleading eyes.

She had done well in her evaluation today...

He gave a small nod.

"...Go ahead."

He watched as Lumi rushed toward the gifts and began tearing into them with bright, eager eyes, then shook his head slightly.

Sometimes, it was hard to believe they were the same age.

...

"Oh look... it’s him."

"He took a bad beating. How is he already walking?"

"Shh... quiet. Look at his eyes, he looks like he’s about to kill someone."

"...yeah."

Kaiden ignored the whispers of the trainees around him as he strode toward the Iron Training Grounds.

His gaze was fierce, his fists tightly clenched. Even now... he still didn’t understand. How did he lose to someone like that?

’It was a fluke!’

It had to be. Otherwise, none of this made sense.

A moment later, he pushed into the training grounds. Rage flared within him the instant he saw Zephyrion seated calmly in his usual spot, eyes closed.

He moved straight toward him.

"Look! He’s going up to the young lord?"

"What do you think, are they about to fight again?"

Whispers rippled through the trainees as they stopped what they were doing, their attention locking onto the scene.

Soon, Kaiden stood before him. The young heir slowly opened his eyes, then raised a brow.

"What?"

Kaiden exhaled, his gaze fierce. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

"Fight me."