The Assassin's Seven Principles of Manipulation

A flicker at the edge of his vision made him turn. In the distance, flocks of birds burst into the sky, scattering wildly, while several trees toppled one after another.

Dune’s eyes narrowed.

"M-my lord... what’s happening!?"

Guren reappeared beside him, clutching the vial tightly with a panicked expression.

Dune didn’t respond. His focus remained fixed on the distant forest. A moment passed, then his eyes sharpened as he made it out.

’Steelhorns?’

Steelhorns, massive, bull-like beasts with gleaming metal horns. They usually moved in calm herds, keeping to themselves and rarely interacting with other creatures.

But what he saw now was anything but calm. Dozens upon dozens of them thundered through the forest, their heavy bodies smashing through trees, sending splinters and trunks crashing down as the entire forest shook in their wake.

’Odd.’

Dune could clearly see the ferocity in their expressions, the raw anger driving them forward. Steelhorns only behaved like this when something had provoked the entire pack.

His gaze sharpened, locking onto the Steelhorn at the very front, then shifted to the figure standing on its back.

The beasts tore through the forest without hesitation, trunks snapping and debris scattering in all directions, the killing intent of the entire horde pressing down like a tide.

Yet, amidst it all, the boy’s still purple eyes remained completely unmoved.

Dune’s brows drew together slightly.

"...who is that?"

"Ah! It’s him!"

Guren’s sudden exclamation broke through the moment, and Dune’s frown deepened as he glanced at him.

"You know him?"

"Yes, my lord. One of the Calderalth warriors... just a trainee, but he’s the one who ruined our plan earlier."

"...a trainee?"

Dune couldn’t help but feel a slight shock. It was already clear where the horde was heading, the villagers.

Which meant the boy had deliberately provoked them and drawn them here. With their sheer number, even the slightest mistake would mean instant death.

The level of control and foresight required for something like this could not be overstated.

Besides...

His gaze narrowed again, settling on those unmoving purple eyes.

Dune had endured the harsh training of a Warden, guards assigned to protect each scientist.

Though he had yet to reach Herald rank and become a full-fledged Warden, he had already fought and trained among individuals who stood at the edge of danger.

He knew what he was looking at.

Those were not the eyes of a mere trainee.

The boy suddenly turned, and despite the distance, their gazes locked. For a brief moment, a surge of adrenaline coursed through Dune as his eyes sharpened.

’He’s strong.’

A faint itch spread through his body, one that stirred an almost instinctive urge to act. Dune’s fingers tightened slightly. Trainee or not, this boy was strong.

It had been a long time since he had come across someone worth clashing with.

’I want to fight him.’

The boy broke eye contact just as the horde reached the hill.

Below, the village head’s heart, and those of the elders, seized at the sight. With this many beasts... there was no surviving it.

Yet, the moment their eyes fell on Zephyrion, standing calmly atop one of the leading beasts, shock replaced that fear.

"ROAR!"

The mutated beasts that had been facing the warriors abruptly turned, staring at the incoming horde with killing intent.

Under the influence controlling them, everything else had become an enemy. With a collective roar, they charged forward, flames igniting across their bodies as they unleashed a torrent of fire toward the oncoming beasts.

Zephyrion launched himself into the air as the flames swept past. Attacks from the surrounding beasts shot toward him from all directions.

But to him, the world flared like a canvas, every trajectory laid bare before his eyes. Metal formed beneath his feet in rapid succession as he wove cleanly through the barrage.

The next moment, he landed lightly before the village warriors.

They stood frozen, their eyes fixed on him as though they were staring at something unreal.

Zephyrion’s gaze, in turn, was steady.

"We’re retreating."

Of the countless thoughts rushing through his mind, the village head found only one word.

"Yes."

...

Dune watched with narrowed eyes as they took advantage of the horde’s chaos to withdraw from the area.

’Should I go after them?’

The thought surfaced briefly before he dismissed it with a faint shake of his head.

The boy could clearly use his head, and Dune had no idea who he’d told or what measure he put into place before coming here.

Though he could deal with them without much trouble, revealing himself here wasn’t an option. If Calderalth, or any other force, became aware of their presence in this forest, the consequences would be severe.

Even so, the situation had already shifted. The villagers, and more importantly, someone from Calderalth, had witnessed the beasts wielding two elements. Once that information spread, it would inevitably trace back to them. They couldn’t be left alive.

’But once I kill someone from Calderalth, they’ll be forced to send more people here.’

His gaze darkened slightly.

If more attention was drawn to this place, it would only be a matter of time before everything was uncovered.

’Then the best move here is...’

Dune let out a quiet breath.

It seemed the Calderalth warriors... along with the entire village... would have to be erased.

"That bastard... how dare he..." Guren’s teeth ground together as he spat the words, his gaze burning with killing intent. He quickly turned to Dune.

"My lord, leave it to me. I’ll deal with him tonight... I swear it. I’ll finish him, and I’ll make sure you still get your specimens."

Dune regarded him for a moment, then let out a quiet breath. He had wanted to face that boy himself... but there was no choice. They were all going to die anyway.

"Handle it."

"Yes, my lord."

With that, Dune’s figure blurred and vanished from the tree. He had to report to Victor first.

The doctor wouldn’t be pleased with how things had turned out, but there was little that could be done now.