"What is this?" I got out of the carriage and asked.

We were in the middle of a meadow far off the beaten track. In addition to Loth's mobile fortress, there is another, an outdated but sturdy real coach.

"That's your journey. I've got to take Asni and the wagon with me, you know?"

"Yes, yes, I mean that person."

A prisoner knelt between Roth and Dalton. Sinid stood a hundred paces away, busy drawing a bunch of things in his notebook. Judging by the smell, I guess it's carrion.

"If you believe it, we were attacked by robbers. We thought you might want to have some breakfast. ”

The captive's eyes widened in surprise. It feels like a bad habit to let someone come to me, but I don't want to waste this person's life. I think I could indulge in one night.

I approached him and took a look at him.

What is this test?

"What's wrong, Ali?"

"No, dear, don't tell me you didn't notice what happened?" This man is not a robber. ”

"Good." The wind is whispering.

When Sinid came to us, we all turned to Him.

"I'm afraid you'll miss it, Nightcrawler. I'm glad that's not the case. As part of our safe passage protocols, I believe I still owe you some information, so I decided to turn it into an impromptu lesson. Let's just say that this is a kind of gratitude for yesterday's timely assistance. ”

The elf put his book and pen in his pocket, then turned to me, his hands on his waist. There was a strong and passionate about him that even his thin body could not weaken. He smiled, happy as a well-fed cat.

"Trickery, lies and deception. That's the most powerful tool for people like you. It is not the strength of your arms that turns nations against each other, but a properly placed letter, a bleak love, or a word spoken at the right time. We all know why this has to happen, don't we?"

This is because we will lose ourselves and then lose our lives for a unified humanity. However, there is no need to say it.

"How did those conspiracies and conspiracies unravel?" Only the traction of one line is required. Find a place of inconsistency, unmask a criminal, and the whole plan falls apart like a house of cards. That's why it's so exciting, isn't it? Patience and meticulous planning confront paranoia and observation. The eternal balance of the secret battlefield. Tell the class, oh, the occupants of the darkness. Tell us what you see. Then I'll guide you on the next step. ”

I was reluctant to accommodate him, but I would love to learn from his experience.

"The man smelled like soap, his clothes were crumpled but clean. His beard was trimmed and I could smell the wax. It's expensive. His skin is too healthy for a person who spends a lot of time outdoors in a dirty environment. Finally, his self-discipline is admirable. He was a military veteran and lived in the city. This is a mercenary. ”

"Exactly! Also observe whether the shoes are clean. The layman always wears the wrong shoes. And guns! It's too expensive. It's so modern. Illegal organizations rarely have access to uniform equipment. No, we were deliberately attacked. ”

Dalton and Loth were only surprised for a moment. Soon, their gaze began to calculate, and our fears turned into naked fears.

"Before you two cute pull out the tongs and hot coals, I want to ask you to be patient. I would like to teach Madame how to subtly hint at others. ”

Oh, this must be a good one.

"In this abandoned world, it's not that you have enslaved my kind. Not even my unfulfilled wish is to regain my true power so that I can turn my jailer into a trembling pile of flesh forever, no. What really me off is how pathetically primitive your thinking skills are. You've got thousands of years to survive to come up with something funny and still fail miserably! I know that good technology is a waste for mortals, but, for the love of art! You shouldn't settle for mediocrity! It is therefore my great pleasure to present to you this most sacred pursuit. Now, Nightkin what do you think of your charm?"

"Like a rope."

Sinid became a living embodiment of arrogance. I need to learn how to draw properly so that I can always remember the arrogance on his face, if only so that I have a frame of reference later when I eat him.

"A rope. True. My expectations were so low and I'm still disappointed. Hmm, have you noticed that the rope changes as you operate it?"

"Yes. It can be strong or weak, tight or loose, and it wears out under pressure, just like my tolerance for rude behavior. ”

"yes, well, that makes sense. Clearly, the strength of this connection reflects the depth of this relationship. Time and sincere care improve it more than brute force. Friction arises when you force your victim to do something against their will. The more unreasonable or ridiculous the demand, the more they will rebel. Even the most vulnerable people will give in and rebel if you ask them to kill their own children. ”

I hope he didn't say it from experience, that would be annoying.

"If you pay attention, you'll notice your ...... Rope. They are signs of emotion. Not all keys are created equal. I've found love to trump everything, even though fear is a close second. Now for the basics. What do you think is the most important thing in manipulation?"

"Subtle?"

Wrong, but not entirely off topic. The answer is: another. You're not assassinating the target, you're painting a masterpiece. Every job is different, even if it's done by the same person. You need to understand your goals to some extent so that you can get the best results. A proper meeting is nine parts eloquence, one part magic. Without eloquence, you don't even know what is the best question. ”

"Let me give you an example. Lords, what is the first question you want to ask our guests?"

"Well, do you have any companions? Are they on their way here?"

"It's not bad! I'll give you three points. The right question is: Am I in imminent danger? How do you know that his so-called "buddy" is the only thing that threatens your life? Well? What's your name, lad? What shall I call you?"

The man struggled for a moment before admitting that this was not important information.

"Hendrey, sir."

Hendrix. Do you think I'm in danger right now?"

Silent.

"Maybe a little, huh?"

The man nodded reluctantly.

"It's not that the knife will save you. You see we quarreled. Do you believe you can catch the hostages in time? Not really. Now be a good boy and throw it to the ground. ”

When an open razor fell from the bound captive, Dalton's face turned pale. Loth seemed a little upset.

"The first thing I'm going to teach you when we come back is how to do a proper body search."

"I'm sorry, sir."

"Alright, alright, don't be distracted! Remember, open-ended questions! Don't let your preconceived notions get in the way of the truth. If you want a whole bouquet of flowers, don't ask for them. ”

"What are you doing to me?!" The mercenary asked in alarm.

Sinid thought about him for a moment, as if remembering that this was a living person, not just the point of his argument. How dare a puppet speak out?

Before things could go any further, I stepped forward and our eyes met.

I smiled kindly and stroked a strand of hair behind his ear.

"Shhh As long as we get what we want, you're safe. You want to help us, right? And help us get out?"

"Yes......"

"Is it Hendrix?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"My name is Ali. These people just want to protect me. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Ali."

"You're strong. and brave. Are you a soldier?"

"Yes, ma'am, I was a Marine before I joined this force."

"Marines?" Have you served on a ship?"

"Yes, ma'am, I am honored to serve on the Wasp!"

"Definitely! And then you signed 'your costume'?"

"Yes, ma'am, seven months ago, um. The salary is high. I'm sure you get the idea. ”

"Of course! Even in war, soldiers' salaries are never high, are they?"

"Absolutely ma'am. It's a shame. ”

"I know your current employer would be better able to reward someone as talented as you?"

"Yes, they do what needs to be done, and they know who to hire to do it."

Let him talk, let him say yes, build rapport, let him talk about himself. These are all things I learned from my dad and Achilles. I now understand that this is the core of the charm. My hypnotic abilities are just another tool in my arsenal that will become my crutch if I'm not careful. But if I wish to move on to the next part of our conversation, I'll have to use it now. I put my hands on either side of his head. He's almost there now. My cool breath ruffled his black hair.

"Sounds dangerous."

"Yes, apparently ......"

"You've been put in danger by those incompetent, my good Hendrix," I added with a frown.

"Yes, there is danger."

"They don't know how to work with you. They don't know how to use your skills. Really?"

"Yes."

"Don't you think that's unfair?" You're good at what you do, but they're wasting your potential, so ......"

"Yes......"

"Real fairness. We should do something about it. We're friends, aren't we?"

"Yes."

Friends protect each other and help each other. Really?"

"Yes, protect and help."

"So we should go and see the people who sent you here."

"Yes, they're not far from here."

"Really?"

"Yes, they want us to take you to meet them."

"We are..."

"It's either the bearded one or the blonde one."

"Is that why you were hired?"

"Yes."

"They showed themselves to you?"

"Yes. Two Continental Army officers. A bunch of bastards. ”

"I bet they look arrogant and think they're better than anyone else."

"Yes. Yes! Only because they are still in service. As if they didn't spend money to buy their status! Hah!"

"This place is desolate. How can you find them?"

"Easy, Ali, follow the road west until you come across an abandoned farm with brown brick walls and a burned-out barn. They were waiting there. ”

"Thank you, Hendrix. Gentlemen?"

"I would like to speak to those fine gentlemen right away. Do it quickly. ”

"Say it, girl."

"Have a good day, ma'am."

More often than not, feeding is an intimate experience. In this case, I made it fast and deadly.

Surrounded by three killers, sucking people dry to death is very powerful. Even if the act of drinking makes me vulnerable, I'm not afraid because they're on my side. All those present know who I am and accept my existence, all who can survive.

I'm making a statement, and I like that. Of those killers, I was also the deadliest. My feeding shows that I don't care. It's both a sign of trust and a sign of self-confidence.

I've achieved a lot in the past year.

"Gentlemen, someone is waiting for us. Okay?"

"yes, girl, I can't wait to see those fools again."

"Language!"

"Yes, yes."

We are polite monsters. Sinid kindly asked to sit next to me and continue the lesson, which made poor Dalton eat our dust.

"Don't worry, ma'am. Just make sure you learn everything you can!"

Good vassals.

We sat down next to Rose, and Sinid immediately turned to me, smiling.

"You were born, Nightcrawler, but you missed the point. You're too ruthless and too results-oriented. Glamour is an art, and we should appreciate it for the sake of appreciating it. Ah, how many masterpieces has my race created in thousands of years, and those whom we have never doubted have won in thousands of years? How pleasant it is to retell! Ah, I digress. I'm sure you'll find out one day. Young people are always hungry for instant rewards rather than maturing to perfection. In spite of. Now I'm going to teach you how to force an emotion, and then we'll move on to memory alteration and defense bypass. The most basic, really. ”

We spent an hour studying each other. Si

EAD feels like a genius swordsman with a spoon. Most of his abilities are blocked, but his skills are undeniable. His insight is unmatched acumen and I feel myself progressing at an incredible rate. I believe he is the best Charms teacher on the planet right now, and my opinion of him has improved considerably. We only stopped when we saw that abandoned farm that Hendrix mentioned.

"Great. Now let me see how you apply this lesson to your next goal. ”

The four of us slipped silently past the edge of the overgrown farm. I lead the way by tracking the smell of fresh sweat and bad cologne, while Sinid reveals a glow that only we can see.

Unsurprisingly, we found Captain Lannis and his arrogant subordinates nervously smoking under the moonlight of a large pine tree. I could smell their anxious musk and the slightest panic. They're ripe.

"Does anyone want it?" I whispered.

"I think you need them to practice, hostess, and the lessons applied in the field are the easiest to remember."

"I agree with mortals."

"I want to watch you take class and make it interesting."

I quietly moved upwards and walked around. They had horses in the distance, and more interestingly, there were several unlit torches on the ground.

"I don't like that, they take too long!"

"Shut up, Jenkins."

Aha! I don't know the name of another. Because they have their backs to me, stealing a torch and a match is trivial. I tried a few times before lighting one, but when the sound of burning brimstone reached their ears, they turned around in time and the flames lit up my pale face.

Both men froze with their hands on their pistols, while I smiled lovingly.

I really enjoyed the moment when they realized that the nature of hunting was not what it seemed and that their situation was not what it was for predators. My fangs are still hidden, my claws are still hidden, but they know it. Deep down, they know.

"Why did I snub you, gentlemen?" Didn't you think I'd come?"

I said as I slowly walked to the side. My inner predator taught me how to walk better, and it became easier and easier to improve this skill. My steps were steady and quiet. I still walk in public like a human, but here I don't have to. I know the feeling I give, more twists and turns. Predatory.

Lethal.

The men instinctively took a step back. Lana knew something was wrong. He was hesitating. I could hear the gears in his panicked head turning

"We've been discovered, and the mercenaries have been defeated, but why is this woman here?" Why didn't Rose point a gun at me?"

"Why am I so scared?"

I know the answer. Their well-honed instincts tell them that something is wrong, and their social consciousness tells them that I am harmless.

"Huh?"

Lannis pulled out his pistol and pulled the trigger menacingly. My eyes met him and Jenkins, and I caught their attention.

Follow Si

EAD's suggestion, I tasted the connection. I still think of it as a rope, but this time with a little color and more detail about its strength. There is fear, but also contempt and distrust. Maybe I could force the attraction, but that would defeat the purpose of the exercise. I'm here to learn how to attract people properly, and as my temporary mentor said, it's an art.

"You're arrested!" Now tell us where Loth Delaney is!"

The rope shook as a new emotion passed through the rope beside Jenkins. I'm well aware. Discomfort and embarrassment.

"Arrested? Excuse me, what crime have you committed and under what authority? You lurk in the darkness like a robber, do you still claim to do justice?"

"You and your guys may have fooled the Tillerson family and most of the garrison, but I know better, oh yes! You are the most despicable criminals and traitors!"

"So you're making your own decisions!" Is it illegal to order a mob to be hired to kidnap a citizen? Are these the actions of law-abiding people? Isn't that the kind of thing our parents fought for less than 20 years ago?"

Yes! I knew Jenkins disagreed. With a single touch, I can fan the flames of paranoia in their hearts. It's hard to influence two people at the same time, but I still do it with patience and focus. Lannis's deputy, while cautiously staring at his commander, picked up his own gun.

"Everything I do is to protect us from the outside world!"

"What are you talking about?"

"Don't play tricks on me!" You're foreign agents!"

"These are ridiculous accusations that you have made up out of thin air!" You have no reason to insult us like that!"

I added the simplest hint to this challenge, which was enough for him to choose anger over caution.

"Schaefer is a spy!"

What! Oh my God, it's all Bing's fault! Again! Aaaa

g !

“…… Who?"

"Plant Schaefer! The woman your English scoundrel is a Prussian informant, and your so-called adventurer knows this. Why else would he follow her all the way to this damn mud pit!"

"Love, of course, you monster. He loves her madly!"

I didn't even need to take action for Jenkins' uneasiness to turn into suspicion. Few people are willing to put "Bi."

gle" and "i

tellige

ce" in the same sentence, whether foreign or somewhere else.

"What a strange statement, Captain. I don't think your covert operations were dictated by the government! Where do these accusations come from, I ask? I bet it wasn't our own spies who did it!"

"You! I don't need to defend myself in front of a defamatory woman of unknown origin!"

Now we have Fury, the last of the original dye added to the first painting. All it takes is a slight push and the stone will move.

"Actually......" Jenkins said. I would like to know where this belief comes from, sir. ”

"You dare! Lannis angrily added, "I won't be interrogated by someone like you!"

Oh, it's so easy.

"People like me!" The second shouted angrily.

"You are

Aïve, Jenkins! People like me stand between our country and tyranny. We are the shield of civilization against the machinations of the Old World and its darkest creations!"

"So you admit to being part of the conspiracy!" I happily added.

"It's not a conspiracy!" We protect the country!"

"Secretly, against our will!" It's a conspiracy! Ha! Who's the traitor now?"

"The Shin Kong Brotherhood is not a bunch of scoundrels, you girl......!"

Lannis stepped back from his subordinate, his pistol aimed at his chest, but the righteous Jenkins had had enough. He jumped up and grabbed his opponent's arm. Both of them fell to the ground and struggled, making noises of effort and anger.

I was fascinated. Admittedly, it got out of hand before I knew more, but I don't care. That's really ...... So beautiful.

A gunshot rang out from under the canopy, accompanied by a clear sound of flesh pokes.

Ah, oh?

Jenkins flinched back in horror, staring at his boss's bloody body. In the deathly silence, only a gurgling scream could be heard coming from the ravaged half of the victim's face. Sinuses and other cavities are exposed to air. The socket of one eye was burned, and as I watched, arterial blood gushed out of the terrible wound with every heartbeat.

Ah, what a waste.

I crept over to Jenkins and cleanly finished out the captain with his pistol as the hunter had requested.

Now I'm dealing with a crying guilty person. It's so annoying. He tried to kill you, failed, and you killed him. The logic is sound. You're not even friends!

Jenkins...... Everything was too calm. ”

"It's over, it's all over!" I'm guilty of murder!"

"Nope. Jenkins, look at me. Over there. Good. You have acted in self-defense against someone you think you trust. ”

"Ha," he said, sobbing, "as if it had anything to do with the courtroom!"

"There will be no court."

"What? But...... I killed him. ”

"No, I killed him. I pulled the trigger. ”

Jenkins paused to consider. I use this and the simplest hints to talk about intrigue and responsibility, why Lana's accomplices will never know that they are discovered, and some nonsense such as sacrifice, the interests of the country, and so on.

"You're right, Miss Delaney, I must expose this despicable conspiracy! I'm going to go back and investigate carefully, starting with the personal correspondence of this traitor. But...... What about corpses?"

"I'm here to find out, but my companions are not far away. The ambush of the mercenaries made them very angry, and I'm sure you can understand that. If you leave quickly, I will be able to convince them to let you go and take care of your remains. ”

"But how do I tell anyone else?"

"Nothing. You don't know anything about this man's escape. I'm sure a thorough search of his personal belongings will shed some light on the matter. ”

"Yes...... Yes, you're right. Thank you, Ms. Delaney, thank you! I'll be back, and if I find anything, I'll keep it a secret from you and your uncle. I'll find out! Goodbye, Lady Delaney! Cecily is right, you are a real heroine. ”

Then the brave soldiers galloped away.

A real heroine, well, at least he didn't mention God this time.

The sound of horses' hooves faded away, and I heard a slow clapping of hands. The three of them came out of the bushes, and Senid stood on top of him with a grin.

Young Ariana did an excellent job. Ah, what a joy to see a new genius enter the stage. "Fake Escape" and "Change of Heart" are the first performances in one night! These are two of the five basic episodes described by the elder Arracus in his famous anthology. All you need is "Unrequited Love", "The Bane Brothers" and "The Apprentice" and you have completed an important rite of passage for our Lika people. I'm very happy, very happy!"

I didn't know what to do, so I made a clumsy curtsy salute. I believe this is the first time that Sinid has not called me "Nightkin". I accept your compliments.

"Let's go together tonight, I'll tell you a little more, and then we'll go our separate ways. Fate will make us meet again in the future. I'm sure of that!"

Before leaving, we drew lots to decide who would bury the body, and I lost. Judging by the innocent expression of the other party, I suspected that he had malicious intentions, but I decided not to ask the question. After all, I created this body. As I dig, and later, as we traveled, I absorbed the knowledge of Sinid as best I could, until dawn and exhaustion crept upon me.