[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-re-tales-of-the-rune-tech-sage":3,"chapter-re-tales-of-the-rune-tech-sage-re-tales-of-the-rune-tech-sage-chapter-390":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Re: Tales of the Rune-Tech Sage",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},147953,246,"Chapter 389: Silver-haired Deceiver I","re-tales-of-the-rune-tech-sage-chapter-390",390,"\u003Cp>CH389 Silver-haired Deceiver I\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There existed a special class of professionals crucial to any interplanar expedition—particularly those venturing into planes with an established Pantheon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Healers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not the \"fraud\" type like Alex, who only knew healing spells.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Real Healers—those trained in the formal lifestyle profession—could do far more than heal injuries or throw out buffs. They carried a vast repertoire of supportive techniques and utilities that made life on expeditions significantly easier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A lesser-known secret, at least within Pangea, was that trained Healers were the natural nemesis of clerics and paladins who channelled the power of Navi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a Virellian Empire princess and a certified Enclave Healer, Eleanor received the best education money—and the Enclave—could provide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As with everything branded Enclave-grade, Eleanor was not merely a world-class potion alchemist for her Tier; she was equally a world-class Healer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Here, stranded in a foreign plane with no rescue and no reinforcements, Alex silently thanked Zora again for insisting he ’snag the princess’.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Silver and Mogal dragged their captive back to camp, Alex immediately recognised the man’s nature: a devout follower of this world’s Navi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And according to everything the chosen Pangeans were taught, Navi devouts were famously dogmatic—often outright fanatical.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Extracting information from them was notoriously difficult, especially once they stepped onto the clergy path—a cleric or paladin’s path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, Alex had the perfect workaround... one far simpler than torture or persuasion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Kavakan, Eleanor. With me,\" Alex called, walking towards the bound man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"#%$##*$%&@!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The prisoner spewed a torrent of words in their unknown tongue—accompanied by flying spit and an expression full of manic hatred. Even without understanding, the meaning was pretty obvious: curses, insults, and\u002For threats.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Eleanor, if you would be so kind.\" Alex smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eleanor nodded gracefully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She raised her hands and began a silent chant. It lasted just over a minute—a record-time, considering most Healers of her level required five.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translate]!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She cast one of the Healer-exclusive spells that made them indispensable in interplanar travel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, many diplomatic—or hostile—situations were made infinitely easier by being able to understand the natives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You heretics—spawn of the Beast God! Release me this instant if you do not wish to incur the wrath of Juror, the God of Light and Justice!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, Alex and Kavakan understood him perfectly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Technically, [Translate] did not convert the language itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead, it conveyed the intent behind the target’s words directly into the listener’s mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, Alex and Kavakan still heard foreign speech with their ears, but their minds received the meaning as clearly as spoken Pangean common tongue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex squatted down until he was eye level with the man tied to the tree a short distance from camp—close enough for the others to watch, far enough that no one would interfere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kavakan loomed behind Alex, arms folded, radiating an intimidating, gangster-like menace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hello. Can you stop cussing so we can have a proper conversation?\" Alex asked politely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thanks to [Translate], the meaning of his words flowed straight into the captive’s mind as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ptui!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man spat to the side. \"I will not speak with infernals from the dark outside world—creatures bent on extinguishing Verdantis’ sacred light!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh? So this world is called Verdantis?\" Alex smiled lightly. \"See? We’re already talking. Progress.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You... you infernal! You won’t trick me! I will not speak!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex chuckled softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a supposed devout, the man was surprisingly... shrewd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Truly fanatical Navi believers would’ve spat right into their captor’s face, consequences be damned. This man, however, spat at the ground, carefully avoiding provoking an immediate execution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Smart enough to keep himself alive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I can understand your position,\" Alex said. \"We are outsiders to your plane—but we are not Infernals.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mid-sentence, Alex’s lips twitched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A strange gut feeling told him... he was lying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, his bloodline’s ancient root traced back to the Infernals. And his bloodline was very pure. One could argue that part of him was infernal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No Infernal would admit they are one,\" the man shot back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No, no. Infernals are very proud—they would absolutely tell you they’re Infernals,\" Alex corrected matter-of-factly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that was true. Pure-blood Infernals rarely hid their nature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps that was why Alex felt a subtle internal poke—his bloodline disagreeing with his denial.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But I believe it’s in your best interest to speak with me while things are still civil,\" Alex continued. \"Otherwise, we may have to explore... irreversible means.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Torture?\" the man sneered. \"I worship the god of light and justice. Do you think I fear your torture?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Boss, let me have him for a few minutes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kavakan cracked his knuckles, grinning with a cruelty that could make even hardened killers flinch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex quickly raised a hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No. We’re not torturing anyone. We are not brut—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stopped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wanted to say that they were not brutes, but looking at Kavakan, that was exactly what he was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We are not barbari—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He paused again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was an actual barbarian—Mogal—in their expedition party.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...we are not sava—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another stop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wanted to say they were not savages, but then he realised Orc where technically categorised as Savages, making Mordor one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex pinched the bridge of his nose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This interrogation was veering far off script.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kavakan and the captive both stared at Alex in bafflement, wondering if something was wrong with his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eleanor, meanwhile, wore a worried expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex cleared his throat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Cough. Don’t worry—we’re not going to torture you unless we absolutely have to. We’re all civilised people here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Civilised, indeed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His expedition team included a wolf who could cook better than most royal chefs, and a Nightmare Eagle who refused to eat anything short of high-grade gourmet meals (exaggeration).\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If that wasn’t civilised, Alex didn’t know what was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you’re not going to torture me,\" the man snarled, \"then release me. No matter what you say, I won’t speak. Lord Juror’s wrath will fall upon you soon enough!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex let out a dramatic sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He hasn’t noticed, has he?\" he asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Seems not,\" Eleanor replied, falling right into step, also sighing pitifully. \"Should we tell him?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I suppose we have to. We are trying to prove we’re not Infernals, after all,\" Alex said ’reluctantly’.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tell me what?\" the man demanded, frowning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You really haven’t realised?\" Alex asked softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Realised what?!\" The captive snapped, unable to withstand the psychological pressure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh, I see...\" Alex smiled faintly. \"It seems your devotion to Lord Juror isn’t as strong as I expected.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That smile—gentle yet glacial—sent a cold shiver down the man’s spine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a brief moment, Alex looked even more terrifying than Kavakan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You haven’t noticed that your connection to your false god has been cut,\" Alex revealed calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man’s face drained of colour.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He finally realised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of the biggest reasons the Navi commanded such powerful devotion—why they could mislead, indoctrinate, and enslave entire civilizations—was because they were tangible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Humans trusted what they could see and feel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Navi exploited this ruthlessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike the distant Creator God revered by Pangeans—a being who created existence yet could not be perceived directly—the Navi regularly manifested avatars before their followers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And when a believer’s faith reached a certain threshold, their mind automatically forged a link with their chosen Navi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This gave their followers a false sense of intimacy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sense of divine favour.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sense of belonging.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But these were merely convenient tools for harvesting Faith Energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An Avatar’s manifestation temporarily amplified the Faith Energy generated by believers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mind-link allowed the Navi to harvest that energy the moment it formed—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>and to monitor the believer’s actions to prevent betrayal or doubt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To Pangeans, this ’divine connection’ wasn’t devotion or goodwill. It was a slave brand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A shackle forged from stolen Providence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>**39**\u003C\u002Fp>",1279,"2026-05-29T03:49:10.137Z","2026-06-01T04:29:07.188Z",1,"novelbin.me","6d6c121080ea6305f69777ced4ebcbcf24acecfe73f1146cb832ac95f034d6cc","re-tales-of-the-rune-tech-sage-chapter-391","re-tales-of-the-rune-tech-sage-chapter-389",692,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fre-tales-of-the-rune-tech-sage-cover.jpg"]