Re: Tales of the Rune-Tech Sage

Chapter 131: Raising The Stakes

CH131 Raising The Stakes

Alex cast a sidelong glance at Earl Drake before his eyes settled once more on Viscount Lars.

He studied the old man in silence.

Despite being well over sixty, Viscount Lars was still just an Elite-ranked mage—albeit at the peak of that rank.

The fact that he hadn’t advanced to Great Mage by now meant he likely never would.

It was a known truth in the magical world: talent was the key to becoming a Great Mage. Hard work mattered, yes—but talent mattered more.

The reality that Lars was still at this level, despite his age, made it obvious. He didn’t have the talent.

The man bore the burden of double misfortune—a low-purity Furor bloodline and subpar magical aptitude. Together, they formed an insurmountable wall.

Alex turned to the heirs of the Family Council.

”If you lot give up now, I’ll overlook the transgressions of your fathers and branch representatives against me and my line,” he said calmly.

”Save it, brat. None of us will be swayed by your words,” Viscount Lars cut in sharply before any of the heirs could respond. ”Just make your decision and let’s get on with it.”

Other than the female rogue, the rest of the heirs had seemed tempted—at least briefly—to consider Alex’s offer. But once Lars spoke, it was as if their path to retreat had been sealed off.

One by one, they roused their fighting intent, each signalling their rejection of the offer.

”Very well,” Alex nodded. He looked at them and said coldly, ”I was going to make things easy for you. But now that you’ve chosen the hard way... you’ve only yourselves to blame.”

Then, turning to Viscount Lars, he spoke plainly, ”I will kill you. I promise you that.”

It was a simple statement without Alex’s formed Killing Intent behind it, yet it sent a chill down the spines of both Lars and the gathered heirs.

Unbothered by their visible discomfort, Alex turned back toward the VIP gallery—towards Earl Drake.

”I choose to raise the stakes. If I win, not only will the Family Council be disbanded, but the fiefdoms of its members will be taken over by the Family. Their heirs and offspring will be forced to serve the Family faithfully for twenty years before the fiefs can be restored.”

Gasps rang out as blood drained from the faces of the Council members seated in the stands.

Alex’s proposed stakes were vicious—and they struck where it hurt most.

The worst part?

None of them could protest.

After all, it was merely a tempered reversal of the punishment they had initially proposed against him. At least Alex had the decency to give a clear timeline.

Once again, all eyes turned to Earl Drake.

Would he accept?

The Earl nodded once.

”I will allow it.”

”If the heirs of the Family Council win, all transgressions against the Drake family branch will be forgiven. The Council will be granted the right to conditionally exist, and Alex Fury will be stripped of his position as heir to the Drake family branch. He will serve the Fury Family in enforced labour for the next ten years.

”However, if Alex Fury wins, the Family Council will be disbanded with immediate effect. The Council members and their branches will be declared guilty of violating family law, and their lands will be confiscated by the Fury Family. These lands will remain seized pending a twenty-year period of servitude by the branch representatives, their heirs, and offspring to the Fury Family.”

Earl Drake clearly laid out the stakes of the duel for all to hear, leaving no room for doubt or misinterpretation.

Some in the crowd couldn’t stop gasping at the sheer weight of what was at stake—especially the consequences for the losing side.

At a glance, it seemed both parties had more to lose than to gain. But those with deeper insight understood the true prize behind victory in this duel...

Power.

In the game of power, it wasn’t always about acquiring more.

Sometimes, your strength increased simply by removing your rivals.

That was what this duel was about.

This wasn’t a contest for direct gain—it was a bid to eliminate the other side’s influence. And once that influence was gone, the victor’s power would naturally rise to fill the void left behind.

Still, one matter puzzled a few within the crowd.

”If the duel conditions are supposed to be fair, then why does Alex only serve ten years, while the Family Council’s condition is twenty? Isn’t that biased? Is it because he’s the Family Head’s son?” someone asked aloud.

But someone else answered immediately—and passionately.

”What do you mean unfair? The Family Council was in the wrong from the beginning! If this were any other family, they’d have already been punished for breaking the family laws. But because it’s the Fury Family, they get the luxury of defending themselves through a duel.

”And not just any duel—but one against the Family Head’s own heir. You think that’s fair?

”On top of that, their opponent is someone who just finished a brutal duel. And now, they’re forcing him to fight again—six against one!

”And they’re not even ashamed! An old man over sixty is joining in to gang up on a fifteen-year-old!

”So yes, you’re right. This is unfair. But you tell me—who is it unfair to? The shameless Family Council? Or the heroic heir who isn’t backing down even with the odds stacked against him?”

From the man’s clothes, it wasn’t hard to tell he was a squire under Earl Drake’s banner.

Those who had doubts wisely kept them to themselves.

That said, many couldn’t help but start seeing Alex in a different light.

After letting the weight of his words settle in the minds of the duelists and the audience, Earl Drake turned to the platform and addressed them directly.

”Is there anyone among you who still harbours doubt and wishes to step down from this duel?”

No one moved. Not a word was spoken.

”In that case,” Earl Drake said, voice even and final, ”may fortune be with the victor.”

**