The Assassin's Seven Principles of Manipulation

Chapter 228: Chapter 224 — Noticed

High General Rathen sat with a wild grin as he watched the ongoing events on the screen. The pressure test for each fortress had ended, yet he still hadn’t stopped replaying it.

Each screen showed a different spectacle. A purple-eyed boy slitting sanguines’ throats, a massive construct crushing everything in its path, a tall, lithe boy carving through foes, or a braided-haired youth caving in sanguines’ skulls with brutal punches.

Every one of them was savage in their own right, yet High General Rathen only laughed. He looked like a madman, laughing despite the carnage unfolding before him, but Rathen couldn’t have cared less.

He was excited! Never in his reign had a cadet broken the pressure test, yet four had achieved the same feat! North. South. East. West. Four exceptional, prodigal youths.

Rathen drummed his fingers against the armrest.

"Hah... I can’t wait."

The upcoming war between the four houses was one that would shake the academy.

He couldn’t wait!

...

Zephyrion stared at the nurse before him intently. He was trying hard to keep the irritation off his face, hoping his stare wasn’t coming across as a glare. Judging by the beads of sweat gathering on her forehead, and her steadfast refusal to meet his eyes, he wasn’t succeeding.

An excruciating moment later, the nurse finally finished examining him. She looked up with a deep frown, her apprehension momentarily giving way to confusion.

"Haa... you’re not... hurt?"

Zephyrion shrugged.

"I told you I was fine."

"No, this... this isn’t normal." She shook her head. "I’ve been a nurse here for over a decade, and I’ve never seen a cadet walk out of the pressure test without at least one broken bone."

Zephyrion resisted the urge to frown, already disliking where this was heading.

"I’m not like most cadets."

"I can see that." The nurse gave a slow nod, openly studying him now. She tapped lightly against his knee, listening to the dull echo it produced. "Your bone density is... remarkable. Even through your skin, it feels like I’m pressing on metal. How are you this sturdy...?"

Her eyes seemed to brighten with every passing second, as though she were staring at some priceless treasure.

"...If that’s all, I’ll take my leave."

"Wait! Wait!" Realizing her mistake, she quickly cleared her throat and picked up her large rune tab, making a pitiful attempt to regain her professionalism.

"Your external examination came back fine, but after everything you just went through, I really think we should do an internal one. I’ll prep the X-ray and have a look inside."

The corners of her lips twitched, barely concealing her eagerness to find out what lay beneath.

But Zephyrion was far from ready to reveal his secrets. He swung his legs off the bed and stood, startling her.

"That won’t be necessary."

"But—"

"But nothing." He looked her straight in the eyes, freezing her where she stood. "We’re done here."

She quickly nodded.

"Y-yes."

Zephyrion left the examination room, hearing her let out a long sigh of relief behind him.

’I’ll have to be careful about this in the future.’

If he had truly been injured, he wouldn’t have been able to stop that nurse from examining him. The last thing he wanted was the whole world knowing he had metallic bones.

The entire Ferran Empire would hunt him down, desperate to acquire whatever method had made it possible.

The door to the room beside his suddenly flew open, and Zephyrion turned to see Lumi wearing an irritated frown.

"Wait! We’re not done yet!"

She shot the nurse chasing after her a glare, making the woman flinch and instinctively take half a step back.

"...Please! I just need to examine you internally and make sure you’re alright!" the nurse cried.

Lumi scrunched up her face, raised an arm, and flexed, proudly tapping her nonexistent biceps as though that settled the matter.

Then she turned away from the nurse without another glance. The moment she spotted Zephyrion, her face lit up. She hurried over, smiling brightly.

"What happened?"

Lumi’s smile disappeared. She let out an annoyed huff before rapidly signing her complaint as they walked away.

"She wanted to strap you to a big machine?"

Lumi nodded immediately.

’Probably an X-ray.’

Zephyrion shook his head with a faint smile. To think he’d walked out for the exact same reason. In a way, they really were alike.

Lumi was soon staring at him, demanding to know why he was smiling at her predicament.

Zephyrion wasn’t quite sure how to answer.

With his business at the clinic handled, he headed back to his room.

Reaching the door, Zephyrion frowned.

’Someone’s been here.’

The invisible tape he had placed across the door had been cut.

His guard immediately went up.

Lumi noticed the shift in his demeanor and instinctively did the same. Slowly, Zephyrion pushed the door open and peered inside.

Quiet. Not a soul in sight. He confirmed it with both air displacement and blood.

Lumi tugged at his sleeve, drawing his attention toward the bed. Resting neatly on it were a small letter and a plastic container.

Zephyrion frowned.

Only after checking the entire room, confirming they weren’t being watched and that nothing was missing, did he finally approach the bed.

Lumi was already sniffing the container. He shot her a dissatisfied look, causing her to hastily step back and clear her throat as though she’d done nothing.

Then he picked it up. No label. He brought it to his nose. Medicinal herbs. Nothing dangerous.

’It’s... ointment?’

He stared at the letter with a deep frown before opening it and reading the contents.

It’s ointment. For your forehead. Use it, or it’ll scar.

Below, something had been heavily scribbled over. He could barely make out any of the letters. Even so, Zephyrion had seen this handwriting before. Back at the estate, when she’d taught him Titan Armor.

’Ingrid.’

Zephyrion wasn’t quite sure how to react. Ointment was used to treat injuries. Yet he was certain he had none. Ignoring Lumi’s curious stare, he walked over to a mirror.

’Forehead...’

Zephyrion brushed aside the loose strands covering the top of his forehead. He narrowed his eyes and leaned closer. There, hidden beneath his hairline, was a tiny cut. It had already scabbed over and was well on its way to healing.

Zephyrion blinked. Again. He must have nicked his forehead sometime during the test. Still, the wound was so small that even he had overlooked it.

How on earth had she noticed?