Re: Tales of the Rune-Tech Sage

Chapter 318: Reaching the Poisoned Agreement

CH318 Reaching the Poisoned Agreement

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Alex tapped the table as if thinking. He and Esmond exchanged a brief, silent look—an unspoken confirmation passed between them.

He turned back to Earl Kellerman, fingers still tapping against the wood. Then the tapping suddenly stopped as his decision was made.

”Twenty years,” Alex said. ”We will take a twenty-year lease as reparations for the war. However, for your son’s return, the price is the outright cession of the Konradi Barony—nothing less.”

”Don’t go too far!” Earl Kellerman fumed.

The Earl caught the growing frown on Grand Mage Taman’s face and forced himself back into his seat.

”Don’t push me, boy. Do you think I won’t break the entire basket?” he snapped.

”Then do it!” Alex answered, his voice hard and his eyes flashing crimson with Calm Madness. ”Do you think the Fury family fears those people you wish to threaten us with? We step back not out of fear, but to keep the peace. But if anyone reaches out their arm beyond what concerns them, we will not mind lopping the erring arm off.”

There was no doubt to be seen in Alex’s eyes.

”But what about you? Can you say the same? If you invite those hyenas into your lands, can you guarantee you will not lose more than one barony? You’ll be lucky if your House remained at all!”

The crimson in Alex’s gaze softened as he let the Calm Madness state ease away.

”I may be young, Earl Kellerman, but I am not a greenhorn you can bully or threaten. You either cede the Konradi Barony to me outright and lease the Northwest County to us for twenty years—or invite those hyenas into your home and lose everything. The choice is yours.”

He folded his arms, leaned back, and closed his eyes—a clear signal that his terms were final.

Earl Kellerman ground his teeth audibly. His delegation exchanged nervous glances, unsure if their lord still played a role in the plan or had genuinely snapped.

Lucas rose and slipped to the Earl’s side, murmuring in his ear. ”Please—follow through with the plan. You’ll have the last laugh.”

The Earl clutched the armrest so tightly until his fingers were imprinted into the wood. He inhaled deeply, releasing the tension with a slow breath. Then he nodded at Lucas, who stepped back, and turned to Alex.

”Very well. I will accept your demands on two conditions.” Kellerman said.

”Name them,” Alex replied.

”First,” Earl Kellerman said, ”we will be granted a period of two weeks to remove key memorabilia and resources from the county before the takeover. Second, you will not destroy any of the infrastructure we have built on the land. Many of them are part of our history, and we will want them back intact when we retake the land.”

Alex displayed a flicker of surprise, then nodded. ”That’s reasonable. We will not hand the land back damaged—provided you do not scorch the earth yourself before the handover.”

Grand Mage Taman’s eyes flashed.

”With that, I assume both of you have reached an agreement?” he asked.

”As war reparations and the price for the unconditional release of Josiah Kellerman, House Kellerman will cede the Konradi Barony and, for a period of twenty years, lease the rest of the fief’s northwest county to Young Master Alex of House Drake Fury.

”In addition, neither side shall destroy the land nor any constructs of historical or infrastructural significance prior to their handover.

”The first handover will occur two weeks from when this agreement is signed, during which House Kellerman is to remove all memorabilia or items of sentimental significance from the region without harming the land or its infrastructure.

”Are both sides in agreement with these defining conditions?”

”Agreed,” Alex said.

For a brief instant his composed mask slipped, revealing a childish glee—an expression that did not go unnoticed by Earl Kellerman.

’Naïve child. You’re so pleased about getting the land that you failed to see the trap within. Enjoy the useless land you cannot develop,’ the Earl thought.

”Agreed,” he said coldly.

Grand Mage Taman nodded. ”Let the record show that both representatives, Earl Jorg of House Kellerman and Young Master Alex of House Drake Fury, agreed to the defining conditions as listed. With that, the talks are deemed successful and binding under Imperial law, and both Houses must obey.”

Bang!

Grand Mage Taman brought his gavel down, concluding the talks.

”Both parties are to shake hands, as per Imperial etiquette,” he instructed.

Earl Jorg Kellerman and Alex moved to meet in the center, before Grand Mage Taman.

”Boy,” Kellerman said coldly as their hands neared, ”are you sure you dare shake my hand? Are you not afraid I will crush it?”

His tone carried a sharpened meaning.

”Why would I be afraid? You’ll find that I’m sturdier than I look,” Alex replied with his usual composure, his words also carrying their own weight of meaning.

Both men shook hands before the Grand Mage.

Contrary to the High Arbiter’s concern, no physical confrontation broke out. Earl Kellerman merely spoke.

”Don’t worry. I’ll wipe that smile off your face soon enough—and reclaim what is mine.”

”Then I’ll be waiting eagerly,” Alex replied with a nod, his smile unwavering.

”Tsk!” Earl Kellerman clicked his tongue.

He released Alex’s hand before his irritation could make him crush it, then turned sharply, cloak flaring as he left the room—his delegation trailing close behind.

Alex remained where he was, quietly watching the Earl’s retreating back.

Earl Kellerman thought he had shaken him, but all he had done was confirm to Alex that the man had walked straight into his trap.

For a brief moment, Alex’s soft smile twisted—become sharp and predatory. The look in his eyes was that of a hunter toying with his prey before the feast.

The contrast between that eerie expression and the mild smile he had worn throughout the negotiations sent a chill through the room.

Grand Mage Taman realised then that the moments of apparent naivety Alex had displayed were nothing but calculated lures, each crafted to drive Earl Kellerman toward a predetermined conclusion.

Alex bowed respectfully to the old man before leading his delegation out.

With the major terms settled, it would now fall to the scribe teams of all three parties to draft the official document detailing the fine points of the agreement for both representatives to sign.

Grand Mage Taman’s eyes followed Alex as he departed at the head of his group—so naturally, so authoritatively. It was a striking contrast to how the delegation had entered earlier, convincing the Grand Mage that even that had been part of the youth’s larger design.

He let out a long breath as a new realisation struck him.

’The land wasn’t what he was after. It was something else. And from the looks of it, whatever it is, the Earl has just handed it to him on a silver platter.’

His gaze drifted toward the window.

’Indeed, lass... this boy is far from ordinary,’ he thought. ’But I still don’t know if he’s an honourable man or a treacherous one. But one thing is certain—he is not someone to be trifled with.’

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