Re: Tales of the Rune-Tech Sage

Chapter 129: The Secret Plan

CH129 The Secret Plan

***

The first part of the scheme was to get Kurt to confirm that he and/or Joselin were behind the assassination attempt on Alex’s life back in Moormont City.

For that, Alex needed Kurt to get comfortable—comfortable enough to spill the truth.

Ordinarily, Alex would have simply used his mental ability Beast Intimidation, or the conceptual force of his True Name fragments: Solmir’s Regality and Dominion, or Velkar’s Domination and Subjugation, to force the truth out of the boy. But because of the artefact necklace Kurt wore, he had to abandon that plan.

Unbeknownst to Kurt, Alex had already noticed the artefact the moment he laid eyes on him during the family meeting a few days prior.

He had deduced the nature of the item based on Kurt’s behaviour—specifically, the exaggerated confidence—and the materials and enchantments laced into the artefact’s construction.

He concluded that the artefact greatly enhanced Kurt’s innate mental defences.

It was certainly rare and valuable.

Unfortunately for Kurt, it would do little to stop Alex if he truly intended to break through.

After all, the foundation of Alex’s mental attacks lay in concepts—a level of existence only a step below the fundamental laws of the world.

The enchantments on the artefact could delay or obstruct such attacks, yes, but they were far from sufficient to stop a conceptual incursion.

There was just one minor issue.

While Alex was confident he could break through the artefact-enhanced defences, he wasn’t entirely sure what state Kurt’s mind would be in afterwards.

And it wasn’t because he cared about Kurt’s well-being.

No.

It was because he wouldn’t be able to get what he needed if Kurt ended up in a vegetative state.

So rather than brute-force his way in, Alex opted for a softer approach.

One vital—or fatal—trait of the Fury bloodline was their heightened emotional state, especially when it came to rage.

In such states, their mental defences became significantly weaker.

That was precisely why the Calm Madness trait was so critical. It compensated for this dangerous flaw by offering clarity and defence during this heightened state. But only those with the purest bloodline, a durable Spiritual Force, or a high cultivation rank could access it.

And Alex knew for a fact that Kurt didn’t possess Calm Madness going into the duel- only acquiring it during the fight.

So his plan was simple.

Provoke Kurt into an enraged state.

And what better way to do that than to first let him taste the high of superiority—before systematically tearing it down?

Had Alex come out strongly from the beginning, all Kurt would have felt was fear.

Sure, fear was an emotion.

But it wasn’t one that was heightened by the Furor Bloodline. In fact, it would more likely trigger the rebellion embedded deep within it.

On the other hand, the arrogant high of superiority would cause Kurt to underestimate him—seeing Alex as something beneath him.

So that whenever Alex poked or prodded him, the effect would be magnified.

And, as expected, seeing Alex laid out on the ground, yet still daring to trash-talk, infuriated Kurt.

So much so, he didn’t even realise that his mental defences had weakened.

Nor did he realise that he had already confessed—admitting that his mother, Joselin, was behind the assassination attempt on Alex.

As the portable main terminal of the OmniRune Core, the Beta Bracer was also effectively a phone—since the OmniRune Core included the communication functions of the Phone Rune.

Within this Phone Rune was a voice-record feature, added as a selling point in the higher-end versions of Rune Phones.

The Bracer had recorded Kurt’s confession to Alex.

And with that, the first phase of Alex’s plan was complete.

Afterwards, there was no reason to continue playing with Kurt, which was why Alex had finally finished him off.

He hadn’t just used Kurt as a public example to deter anyone else from standing in his way—he’d also used him as a piece in a broader, secret agenda... one that would only unfold with time.

While these thoughts passed through Alex’s mind, the coliseum staff entered the arena with stretchers to carry away Kurt’s corpse.

Meanwhile, the healers began tending to Alex, working to restore his injuries and physical state. After all, one more duel remained.

Although he had an affinity with the light element and could heal himself, he chose to let the healers do their work.

There was no need to reveal that particular card... unless absolutely necessary.

With his face and expression hidden beneath his hood, Alex silently watched as Kurt’s body was taken away, giving nothing of his inner thoughts away.

-

”AHHH!!!”

A shrill cry tore through one of the coliseum’s dressing rooms as Joselin arrived to claim Kurt’s lifeless body.

She collapsed beside the bed and wept for a long while.

Eventually, the crying ceased. In its place was a wrathful, vengeful look.

She reached out and held Kurt’s cold, pale face.

She stroked it lovingly.

”Don’t worry, my son. You won’t die alone. I’ll make sure that lowborn bastard follows you into death, no matter what it takes.

”Wait for me, my son. Your death won’t go unanswered.”

She kissed his forehead.

Then, she stood, turned around, and left.

”Take me to the castle,” she ordered her retinue.

”Yes, Your Ladyship.”

Joselin entered a luxurious four-horse-drawn carriage, escorted by four mounted knights. The carriage sped away from the coliseum, heading for the Ashen Castle.

”Leave me!”

When they arrived, Joselin dismissed her servants as she made her way to her quarters, walking so fast she was almost running.

She slammed the door shut behind her and bolted all the locks, ensuring no one could disturb her.

Then she pulled out a large chest and began packing her clothes and valuables.

Once done, she reached beneath the bed and retrieved a decorative dress box—revealing her hidden Phone Rune.

She was just about to dial her collaborator’s number when, suddenly, the world went dark.

Thud!

Joselin’s body collapsed to the floor, motionless.

The shadows beside her body flickered... and a figure materialised from within them.

”So, he was right...” the figure muttered.

Not long after, both Joselin and her packed belongings vanished from the room.

By the time anyone came to check, they would simply believe that the second mistress of Earl Drake had departed the Ashen Castle in the wake of her son’s death.

Unbeknownst to them... an unknown force had intervened.

**