Re: Tales of the Rune-Tech Sage

Chapter 781: Fate of those Remaining

CH781 Fate of those Remaining

***

Like Zora told Milton, Alex’s target for the ANBO unit operation was never the five Castin clans, the Frontier Stronghold, or Marquis Brandford. It was about winning over the people.

In essence, the ANBO mission against the five Castin clans wasn’t just a neutralisation and elimination operation; it was also a propaganda operation.

Interestingly, this wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment plan.

While the operation to neutralise the five Castin clans was improvised, using propaganda to influence the people of the Frontier March was something Alex had conceived long before he ever set foot in the domain.

After all, how else was he supposed to quickly convince a people, who were inherently hostile towards every one of his identities, without a little narrative control?

From the moment they stepped into the Frontier March, the intelligence network Udara and her scout team established across the domain’s various settlements served not only as an intelligence-gathering system, but also as a pipeline for disseminating carefully crafted information.

Old drunk Reuters was merely one of the agents within that network. There were many other similarly disposable assets who proved useful to the network but, in the worst-case scenario, would scarcely be missed should they suddenly disappear when they became liabilities.

Thanks to the actions of the ANBO agents and the subsequent propaganda spread through the intelligence network, Alex now enjoyed enough favourability throughout the domain—even within Castin Town—to dictate the narrative surrounding his actions there.

With the town’s most powerful individuals eliminated, and their rivals already forced out beforehand by the five clans themselves, Castin was essentially at Alex’s mercy. As such, all eyes were upon him to see what he intended to do with the surviving members of the five clans.

With evidence emerging that the five clans had effectively betrayed the domain by conspiring against him, it would not have been surprising for Alex, as the domain lord, to deal with them harshly.

However, Alex did not act as they expected.

“The elders of each clan will be investigated for any possible role or involvement in the clans’ conspiracy. Those found to have had no involvement will be allowed to go free, while those found guilty will be punished accordingly.” Alex announced.

He continued, “However, the women and children are not responsible for the actions of their leaders. Therefore, not only will they not be punished, but the domain will also provide aid for them during these trying times.”

“While travelling throughout the domain to acquaint myself with both it and its people, I observed the unfortunate reality of women and children left without breadwinners to support them. Taking this opportunity, I wish to announce that the domain will be establishing orphanages across the domain.

“These orphanages will not be a charity houses, but institutions dedicated to training these children to become not only useful citizens of the domain, but also capable individuals in their own right.”

“The first children accepted into these institutions will be the surviving children of the five clans, alongside orphaned children from across the domain.

“In addition, the magistrate’s administration will begin vocational training programmes to teach widowed women—in fact, all women throughout the domain—various practical skills that will allow them to add value both to themselves and to the domain.

“Once again, the first batch of participants in these programmes will include the survivors of the clan massacres.”

Alex’s announcement in Castin Town’s central square caught many people by surprise.

He had not only revealed how he intended to help the survivors, but also unveiled plans that would benefit countless others throughout the domain.

Unsurprisingly, although there were no loud cheers, his announcement was met with quiet excitement from much of the crowd, tempered only by their deeply ingrained scepticism.

As Alex swept his gaze across the gathering, carefully observing their expressions—and the subtle changes within them—his own expression gradually became solemn.

“However, while I sympathise with the survivors of the clan massacres and wish to aid them, I cannot, as the domain lord, overlook the transgressions committed by the five clans.

“As such, effective immediately, all assets owned or controlled by the five clans shall be confiscated by the domain administration. All privileges previously granted to the five clans by the domain administration shall be revoked.

“And finally… the five clans shall cease to exist.” Alex announced.

A shudder passed through the crowd as they heard those words while staring into the cold eyes looking back at them.

This was a clear statement from Alex.

While he was generous to those under his rule, it did not mean he was a fool who would tolerate people conspiring against him.

“In addition, with the fall of the five clans leading to the collapse of the town’s garrison, the domain will reorganise the garrison force. Details regarding the recruitment process and the new benefits package for successful recruits will be announced at a later date.”

With that said, Alex turned and stepped down from the podium.

His final announcement was a clear indication that the domain intended to reclaim the authority unintentionally handed over to the garrison by previous magistrates and domain lords.

It meant sweeping changes were coming to Castin Town.

There were those within the crowd who wished to resist those changes.

However, they possessed neither the justification nor the strength to oppose him.

Those who had either the power or the legitimacy to do so had already been eliminated during the five clan massacre, or had been forced out of the town beforehand, with their legitimacy stripped away by those very same five clans.

Castin Town was now firmly under the domain administration’s control, and its people had come to realise that fact, leaving them with no choice but to accept the new reality.

Their only consolation was that Alex had effectively written off the town’s outstanding taxes, allowing its people to retain their current wealth while also promising relief and future development.

Now, all they could do was wait and see whether Alex would fulfil these promises.

***