Re: Tales of the Rune-Tech Sage

Chapter 508: Virgin Interplanar Negotiation I

CH508 Virgin Interplanar Negotiation I

***

Baron Luth Belloc stared at the box his son, Kron Belloc, had placed on the desk before him. His gaze shifted sceptically between the box and Kron’s calm, unreadable face.

Kron sat still, his posture composed, eyes fixed on his father. He made no further attempt to persuade him—almost as if he had already presented the choice and was content to let his father decide whether to accept it or not.

Baron Belloc’s eyes drifted to the wrapped scroll Kron had returned to the table alongside the box.

Kron had called it a Magic Scroll, but the Baron knew it by another name—a Talisman Scroll.

That said, its function was exactly as Kron had described. Once activated, it would veil Juror’s gaze, concealing Kron’s heresy.

’Intelligent outsiders slipping into the plane?’ Baron Belloc thought grimly. ’That should be impossible.’

His thoughts darkened further.

’If it truly is possible... then what of the centuries—no, millennia—of sacrifice? Were they all meaningless if intelligent beings can simply cross into Verdantis?’

His eyes flickered as he realised he was spiralling into fear born of the unknown.

’No.’ He forced himself to calm down. ’I can’t jump to conclusions yet. Whether these outsiders are good or bad for Verdantis remains to be seen.’

His gaze returned to the box.

’Let’s see what the boy has brought me. Perhaps it will offer some insight into the nature of these outsiders.’

Baron Luth Belloc’s expression returned to its usual stoic mask, his thoughts carefully concealed.

He reached out and opened the box.

”What is this?”

Inside lay a cube-shaped device—unlike anything Baron Belloc had ever seen before.

”A communication device unique to the outsiders,” Kron explained.

He leaned forward and pressed the small glassy sphere embedded at the top of the device.

Immediately, a conical beam of light projected upward from the cube’s edges.

A heartbeat later, a figure formed within the light.

A silver-grey-haired noble youth who appeared barely past coming of age—yet whose ruby-red eyes carried a depth of wisdom far beyond his years.

The projected figure was none other than Alex Fury.

The cube-shaped device was a new type of Rune Phone, still in development at the Gold Palace.

Even before his transmigration into this world, holographic projector phones had been a staple of sci-fi literature—an idea many dreamed of making real. Now, in a new life where the means to achieve such a thing already existed in one form or another, how could Alex possibly resist bringing it into reality?

Of course, while the device itself existed, the Gold Palace had no intention of releasing it anytime soon. Their plan was to thoroughly milk the traditional button-type Rune Phones, followed by the smartphone-style Rune Phones, before unveiling holographic projection devices as the next evolutionary stage in Rune Phone technology.

That development roadmap alone—combined with the Palace’s continued monopoly of the technology—was more than enough to ensure the Gold Palace would be flooded with gold coins and mana stones for the foreseeable future.

Much like Pangea before the advent of Rune Phones, Verdantis lacked any truly convenient long-distance communication method.

In fact, Verdantis was even worse off.

The system of deliberately imposing caps and constraints on the number of sorcerers had severely hampered the development of convenient communication. At least on Pangea, before Rune Phones existed, there had still been half a dozen magical or technological alternatives available –albeit greatly inconvenient for reason or another.

The same could not be said of Verdantis.

Thus, Alex sending over a holographic projector-type Rune Phone was not merely a convenience for communication between himself and Baron Belloc.

It was also a deliberate flex—a display of technological superiority from his home plane.

In essence, the discussion and negotiation between Alex and Baron Belloc had begun the moment Alex sent Kron back carrying this device. This was his decisive opening move, one designed to establish a higher starting position.

Baron Belloc, a seasoned diplomat, recognised this immediately.

As such, he did not let Alex’s youthful appearance influence his judgement. He took him seriously from the very first glance.

Alex’s hologram glanced at the two men around it. He looked first to Kron and gave him a teasing smile. Kron responded with a wry one of his own.

Then Alex turned his attention to the other person, who he immediately identified as Baron Luth Belloc.

No introduction was necessary.

The resemblance between father and son spoke for itself.

”Greetings, Baron Belloc. I am Alex Fury.”

Alex introduced himself with a proper noble’s bow. ”It is a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance.”

Baron Belloc rose from his seat and returned the bow as etiquette demanded.

”The pleasure is all mine, Young Master Alex.”

”Please, call me Alex, Baron Belloc. As it stands, whatever noble title I may hold carries no real weight in this world.” Alex replied.

Baron Belloc’s eyes flickered at that concession. His thoughts churned for a brief moment before he spoke again.

”Respect and nobility are not bound solely to recognised titles. Bearing and nature are just as important.” He said calmly. ”From your composure alone, it is obvious you are a noble of repute, and you deserve to be treated as such.”

He paused, then nodded.

”However, if you wish not to be bound by titles, I will respect your stance... Alex.”

Alex’s face twitched ever so slightly, but he suppressed it smoothly, maintaining a neutral, courteous smile and revealing nothing more than he intended.

”Kron has informed me of your... unique origin.” Baron Belloc continued, his gaze sharpening. ”However, I fail to see how my House might be of assistance to you—or rather, why we should be of assistance to you.”

”Baron Belloc, I am a firm believer in mutually beneficial arrangements.” Alex replied evenly. ”I asked your son to help facilitate this meeting because I see a path where your House and my... currently, party, can assist one another.”

”As a noble myself, I can understand the precarious position House Belloc is in simply from the incidental descriptions provided by your son.” Alex continued. ”While everything may appear stable on the surface, I am certain a man of your calibre and experience understands the pitfalls awaiting your House should you continue walking the line you are currently on.”

He met the baron’s gaze steadily.

”But at the same time, I also understand that it is a line you cannot simply step away from.” Alex said. ”Which is why I am offering you a way out—or, if you prefer... an opportunity to reverse the situation entirely.”

Alex paused, watching the baron’s expression closely, before continuing.

”The greatest danger facing your fief is that you are forced to maintain neutrality between the Empire’s power blocs.” He said calmly. ”That same neutrality, however, also paints a target on House Belloc. The moment the balance between those factions breaks, you will be the first to be targeted.”

”And if they cannot claim you,” Alex added coolly, ”then, as is customary among the nobility across the myriad planes, they will simply erase you.”

”If you reach an agreement with me, then at the very least, I can ensure your House and its holdings are protected when that future inevitably arrives.”

His eyes sharpened slightly. ”Or better yet—depending on the depth of our cooperation—I can help you reverse the situation entirely, and make House Belloc the one doing the swallowing.”

***