Re: Tales of the Rune-Tech Sage

Chapter 779: Alex’s Scheme II

CH779 Alex’s Scheme II

***

Zora looked up from the stack of documents on the study desk when she noticed Milton’s arrival.

“You look like a man with a lot on his mind,” she observed. “You’ve come at just the right time. The tea is ready, and I was just about to take a break.”

She motioned for the old man to take a seat on the sofa.

Zora rose and walked over to a nearby cabinet, from which she retrieved a kettle containing freshly brewed tea.

She poured Milton a cup and handed it to him.

“Thank you, Countess,” Milton said as he carefully accepted it with both hands.

The two took quiet sips of tea.

Milton immediately felt his mind clear, and his eyes widened in surprise.

It was by far the finest green tea he had ever tasted.

They silently enjoyed the tea for a few moments.

“So, what brings you back here? I thought you were supposed to spend the afternoon working on the town registry,” Zora said, returning their attention to the purpose of Milton’s visit.

“I was supervising the registration near the tavern by the town’s business district. While I was there, I happened to overhear an interesting rumour that raised a few doubts in my mind,” Milton replied.

He then recounted the tale Reuters had spun in the tavern.

“This was the Count’s doing, wasn’t it? Otherwise, it’s simply too much of a coincidence,” Milton asked.

“What are you really asking?” Zora looked at him knowingly.

“Did the Count…?” Milton hesitated.

“Why ask a question you already know the answer to?” Zora replied.

She continued, “You witnessed their unrepentant nature with your own eyes. The current situation removes the problem quietly without causing unnecessary unrest throughout the domain.”

“This…” Milton found himself momentarily tongue-tied. “I… understand that,” he finally admitted.

He shook his head.

“I think what I’m really here for is clarity.” He smiled wryly. “I can’t shake the feeling that there’s more to the Count’s actions than I realise. I have to admit that, despite my age and so-called experience, I can’t help but feel completely out of my depth.

“For one, I can’t understand why the Count asked the Castin families for those documents if he intended to remove them anyway…”

Milton paused before adding, “I get the sense that the Count doesn’t do anything without a reason. So far, every one of his actions has been carefully calculated. Because of that, I can’t help feeling there was more to requesting those documents than simply creating the façade that he was cooperating with the Castin families.”

A smile spread across Zora’s face upon hearing Milton’s assessment of Alex.

She nodded in agreement.

Milton’s words had struck exactly the right chord, convincing her that he was ready to understand the bigger picture.

Zora refilled her teacup. Then, placing it back onto its saucer, she gracefully reclined in her seat.

“The first thing you need to understand about Alex’s plan is his true target,” Zora said. “The intended target of the plan was never the Castin clans, nor was it Viscount Dunhill or Marquis Brandford.”

“His target… was the people of the Frontier March,” Zora revealed.

Milton’s eyes widened in surprise.

Then, as though he had grasped the edge of a thought, he felt he was on the verge of understanding something, yet couldn’t quite put his finger on it.

So, he remained silent and listened as Zora continued.

“The plan was set in motion the moment Alex met the clan leaders. Initially, he thought the five clans might be worth something. But after meeting them, he concluded they were nothing more than insignificant people whose ambitions far exceeded their capabilities. From that moment, they ceased to be targets and instead became mere pieces on the board—tools for him to use.”

“Alex’s first move was to request a set of documents; the census records containing information on the entire population of Castin Town, the garrison’s work logs, and the list of people willing to relocate from Castin to help establish the proposed new settlement.

“On the surface, those documents appeared harmless. In reality, however, they were critical pieces of Alex’s plan.”

“From the moment he laid eyes on the clan heads and watched them reduce the garrison captains to nothing more than errand boys, Alex concluded that they were the type of people who would never tolerate anyone undermining their authority. If that was the case, they would undoubtedly seize any opportunity to eliminate potential threats to their power.

“Alex presented his plans for a new settlement as bait. He knew the five clans would leap at the opportunity and use it to push out their greatest rivals within the town—the descendants of the other garrison guards from generations past.

“Over the years, the five clans had taken complete control of the town garrison, ensuring that only members of their own families occupied the three hundred available positions. The names listed in the work logs are proof of that, which is precisely why Alex requested them.

“However, the founders of the five clans weren’t the only original members of the garrison. There would have been many other guards throughout the century since the garrison was established, and those men would have left descendants of their own. Those families would gradually have been forced out of the garrison by the five clans and, naturally, would harbour resentment towards them.

“The five clans were bound to exploit the opportunity presented by the new settlement to drive those people out completely. In other words, the list of people relocating to the new settlement would effectively become a list of everyone who hated the five clans,” Zora explained.

‘Just as I thought…’ Milton’s eyes flashed with understanding.

“The purpose of the census is much simpler. It tells us exactly how many people remained in the town after the purge—essentially, everyone left behind who either supports the five clans or can be controlled by them,” Zora continued.

“To ensure the five clans didn’t deliberately conceal people from the census, Alex dangled another piece of bait before them—the position of mayor. It offered them the opportunity to fulfil their ambition of becoming the true rulers of Castin Town. That meant they had every incentive to provide the names of everyone who could support—or be persuaded to support—their bid.

“Of course, by making it clear that only one person could ultimately become mayor, Alex ensured the five clans became too preoccupied with scheming against one another to realise a far greater scheme was unfolding around them.”

***