Finger Strikes and the Oath Tree Pact
"Huff... huff... I-I-I told you everything. There's really nothing left... I swear."
I crouched in front of Drvito, grilling him on the questions burning in my mind.
Why did you approach me and Katt?
Orders from above.
Orders? What kind?
They said they'd send someone from the mantis clans infected with the vine parasite. When the time comes, they'll send a signal—use that guy to stir up chaos at Chung Hak Gwan...
What kind of chaos at Chung Hak Gwan?
I don't know. Haven't gotten the details yet.
That was everything I'd squeezed out of him so far. It confirmed my suspicions. The Amar King Centipede clan was plotting something sinister against Chung Hak Gwan.
If they mess with Chung Hak Gwan, all the continental powers backing it will turn on them... What are they thinking?
Some of those powers could rival the Four Great Clans if they united. Not something to take lightly.
The information gap was frustrating. Back before my regression, at this point, I was just a pathetic little mantis scrambling through assassinations. No way I'd known about covert ops from ages ago.
I sank into thought for a moment. Either way, it was clear they'd tried to infect me and Katt with the vine parasite to control us. I had to uncover their scheme.
Time to squeeze this worm a bit more.
I glanced at him, and our eyes met—he convulsed like he'd been shocked.
"Don't lie. You'd better spill everything. What does the Amar King Centipede clan have planned for Chung Hak Gwan?"
"I-I-I really don't know. I swear... I truly don't know... Mmph! Mmphmmph!"
He desperately insisted he had no more info, only for his words to seal shut again.
"Mmphmmph!"
His head whipped side to side in panic. His raised finger trembled, eyes locked on my index finger.
Was he about to cry?
Finger strikes are brutally effective, no doubt.
No one had ever held out against it.
"Mmph! Gah! Grrgh!"
I released another finger strike. He flopped like a dying cockroach.
Less than a minute later, he was drooling and crawling on the ground.
If anyone from Chung Hak Gwan saw this, they'd freak. Drvito, the arrogant scion of one of the Four Great Clans, reduced to slobbering on the dirt.
Poke.
I eased his circuits again.
"Feeling chatty now?"
"I d-don't know! I really don't! I swear I got nothing. H-hic... I really don't... sob sob sob."
Tears and snot streaming, he wailed that he truly knew nothing.
Well, I'd suspected as much. His reaction confirmed it—no need for Illusory Eye even.
Still, considering his high resistance as a Four Great Clans member, finger strikes might've been more effective than illusions for extraction.
In that case...
I stroked my chin.
No choice but to probe their plot directly.
"You can follow my orders from now on, right?"
"...T-That's."
He hesitated. I read the wounded pride in his eyes.
Still hadn't learned his lesson.
Needs more education.
I raised my finger. His face drained white as a sheet.
* * *
The Oath Tree, Grutoria.
Nothing beat it for forging unbreakable pacts. But...
Grutoria's one flaw: can't force it on someone.
It required the target's genuine intent. So, I needed to mix in another method.
Illusory Eye.
My skill had grown since using it on Zakai, but against an Amar King Centipede—not even a king mantis, but born of higher stock—my proficiency still fell short.
Plus, risking detection by some transcendent being later? Better to combine it with Grutoria.
Empathy trait won't work since he's no mantis.
Ultio wasn't either, but I'd hit the 'empathy keyword' hidden piece back then—and didn't fully grasp the conditions anyway. Worked out fine.
I'd successfully bound Drvito that way.
"Do what I say from now on. I'll prop you up in front of others."
"...?"
"Face, man. You want to get beat out there too?"
"..."
"Answer."
"O-Okay."
"Good. Just like that."
I patted his shoulder. His face twisted in humiliation, but he couldn't rebel.
This pawn would serve me well.
Wonder if periodic finger strokes would make him a loyal subordinate?
Right now, Illusory Eye and finger strike aftereffects had him out of it...
Once they wore off and Grutoria's reality sank in—that he was basically my slave—he'd plunge into despair.
Gotta manage him so he doesn't break mentally.
A hassle, but worth it for a usable piece.
It all came down to my trusty finger strikes. Without shattering his mind first, Illusory Eye wouldn't have stuck, and no way he'd accept Grutoria's branch—even on pain of death.
Getting more mileage out of Grutoria's branch than expected. Should contact Estelle for extras.
I grinned at Drvito, head bowed in submission.
"Looking forward to working with you, friend."
"...Yeah."
"First request, then."
"...What?"
"Got any royal jelly collected? I didn't get a drop."
"..."
* * *
"Thanks! I'll put it to good use."
"...Take it. Don't need the miles."
"Don't need 'em? You'll want 'em."
"...?"
"You lost that bet—owe me one mile."
"Oh!"
"Weren't planning to welch, were you?"
I said it casually, habitually raising my right index finger and bending it back with my left hand. My personal finger-loosening habit.
"N-No! I was gonna pay! Swear!"
Misreading it, Drvito freaked.
"Alright, got it. Don't make me feel bad."
"T-That's..."
His eyes stayed glued to my finger. Absolutely terrified.
Must be unimaginable agony.
I suddenly wondered...
Try it on myself?
But botch the release? Transcendent Regeneration would save me, but the pain...
Scary just thinking about it. Shelve the curiosity.
Focus—need top three in this exercise.
Royal jelly and thief ant horn collection.
Royal jelly: Handled via Drvito. He'd even hand over Montiol and Pasasi's shares (they'd flip if they knew). I'd take first there.
Just need decent thief ant horns now.
I turned to Drvito. He stared back, eyes full of lingering fear.
"Drvito, you dig at all?"
"...Dig?"
"Yeah, dig."
Centipedes had a knack for it. Unsure if he'd mastered it in Growth Stage.
"Never dug once."
He replied proudly, like nobility scoffing at dirt.
"Perfect. Learn now."
"...?"
"You're digging from here on."
I nodded at the hole I'd made.
"...!"
His face paled, future flashing before him.
"I've never dug..."
"First time for me today—easier than it looks. You'll manage. You're talented Amar King Centipede! Even if not, better than this, right?"
I raised my finger.
"Y-Yes! Always wanted to dig. Right away!"
Pale and sickly, he bolted to the spot.
Watching his back and my finger, one thought hit:
Damn...
This thing's OP.
* * *
"A-Aleck! When'd you harvest that much royal jelly?"
Exercise over, back at rally point. Katt gawked at my overflowing jar.
Only me, Max, Polt, Jodru, Murian—five full jars.
To fill up in time, had to get handouts...
They looked like team boosts.
No one from my group 10 helped me, but I had stellar(?) teammates.
I glanced at Drvito, Montiol, Pasasi. The centipede trio stared blankly.
I winked and thumbs-upped them.
"Urk."
Only Pasasi scowled. Still sharp after that beating—impressive grit.
Cherry Red Centipede got more spine than Amar King Centipedes?
Flash of using finger strikes on her soon.
"Only five filled their royal jelly jars."
Binzar eyed our jars. Knew it took help, said nothing.
Chung Hak Gwan valued freedom—no 'no help' rule at start.
Skill at wrangling aid? Fair game.
But capped per jar.
One each, no transfers.
Top ranks split on...
"Top three based on thief ant horn count."
Binzar nailed it. Horns decided it.
"Submit in order."
Max went first.
"Whoa, Max is nuts..."
"Insane! Max is untouchable."
"Polt's no slouch."
"Holy crap! Murian's huge too? Neck-and-neck with Max."
Hercules' Max, Coccasus' Polt—expected tops.
But Manticore Tiger Beetle Murian? Shocker. Matched or beat Max.
"Heh, underestimating Emperor Pathfinder hunters?"
Murian oozed confidence in his haul.
"Impressive. Pathfinders' prowess undeniable."
Born hunters. Pathfinders. Emperors topped them.
Murian went all-in? Predictable results.
"Last: Aleck."
Binzar called me. I stood casually, dropped my sack before everyone.