[{"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-451":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},148114,246,"Chapter 450: Silver Tongue","re-tales-of-the-rune-tech-sage-chapter-451",451,"\u003Cp>CH500 Silver Tongue\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Damn you, Brieger. You stupid donkey-headed fool.’ The Orc leader cursed inwardly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex was right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the standards of the Wildlands, Alex had been not only justified—but restrained. Greater battles had been started over slights far smaller than any one of those offences.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the Wildlands, where chaos was the natural order.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a squad leader of Camp Red Rock’s Guard militia, he could not simply overlook what had happened. Doing so would undermine the Guard’s authority and set a dangerous precedent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chief Azgrug worked hard to maintain this fragile peace,’ the Orc thought grimly. ’If this precedent stands, the chaos we barely hold back will return.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He felt trapped—caught between a rock and a hard place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dilemma weighed heavily on him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex noticed the squad leader’s dilemma, but he said nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Fight or flight,’ Alex thought coolly. ’Which will you choose, Orc?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sharp glint flashed in his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What is going on here, Hargul? What caused this ruckus?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as the weight of the situation threatened to crush the squad leader’s spine, a voice rang out—one that made his expression brighten as though salvation itself had arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex turned toward the source of the voice, his smile widening slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Shaman,\" he greeted calmly. \"You’re here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh? Young Master Alex?\" The Shaman froze in surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The casual familiarity in the Shaman’s tone caused Hargul to swallow the complaints he had been about to unleash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Who exactly is this human...?’ he wondered grimly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Young Master Alex, did you attack Brieger?\" the Shaman asked hurriedly. \"Even if you are a sorcerer, that was far too rash. I told you we would—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His words died mid-sentence as his eyes fell upon Brieger’s corpse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To say he was stunned would have been an understatement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Brieger is dead?’ the Shaman thought in disbelief. ’Even if his estate was destroyed, Brieger is still a Gold-rank warrior with Troll heritage. He should have been able to retreat—even if he couldn’t win.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The look he gave Alex grew complex.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This noble—one so familiar with Orcish customs—continued to surprise him at every turn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This isn’t what you promised me, Shaman,\" Alex said suddenly, his tone cold and measured. \"I would prefer not to believe this is how your tribe treats its guests.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is this what you meant when you said your tribe would give me a satisfactory response?\" he continued. \"By having your Guard militia insult me... and then attempt to arrest me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did the Shaman fully take in the tense standoff between the Guard militia squad and Alex’s expedition party.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What is going on here?\" he demanded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hargul hesitated, unsure how to respond.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex did not give him the chance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"When the Guard militia arrived, I attempted to explain that my party and I were the victims here—that we were merely seeking proper recompense,\" Alex said calmly. \"Yet your squad leader—Hargul, was it?—insisted on arresting us instead.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked directly at the Shaman, crimson eyes unwavering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So I will ask again,\" Alex said gravely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is this how your tribe treats its guests... and delivers a satisfactory response?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Shaman frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned sharply toward the Guard squad and fired off,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What arrest do you think you’re making? Did you investigate properly? Is this how you were taught to act? Are you trying to disgrace the tribe?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice grew harsher with every word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you not know that Young Master Alex is a guest of our tribe? You didn’t, did you? Did you listen? Did you try to confirm anything?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Shaman’s gaze turned cold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you had, you would have known that Young Master Alex received permission from me to deal with Brieger for his repugnant behaviour!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Guard militia froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Alex and his expedition party were momentarily stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Why didn’t you tell us that?’ The Guards wanted to glare at Alex—but wisely restrained themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’When did Alex\u002Fthe commander\u002Fthe boss get permission from the Shaman?’ The expedition party members exchanged confused looks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex, however, simply gazed deeply at the Shaman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Well played,’ he mused inwardly. ’What a wily orc you are.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A chuckle almost escaped his lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By now, the commotion had drawn attention. A small group of onlookers had returned, hiding at a distance as they observed the unfolding scene.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With just a few words, the Shaman had not only absolved Alex, but also preserved the Copper-skinned Orc tribe’s reputation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, if the Shaman himself had granted prior permission, then this was neither a breakdown of order—nor a case of a sorcerer throwing his weight around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One stone, multiple birds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Shaman stepped closer to the Guard squad and whispered something to them before dismissing them with a wave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Guards did not linger. They scurried away at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Turning back to Alex, the Shaman bowed deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I apologise, Young Master Alex. I hope you can understand why the Guard militia acted so... forcefully,\" he said. \"These are the Wildlands, after all. The little order we maintain is precious.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He paused, then added smoothly,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Rest assured, I will ensure they are punished severely for their mistake. This will not happen again.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Punish them, my ass,’ Alex thought dryly. ’I’d be a fool to believe that.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outwardly, however, he smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As expected of an honourable Orc tribe,\" Alex replied warmly. \"I am already satisfied with the response you’ve given me. As you said, these are the Wildlands.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I understand the Guard militia was simply doing their duty—albeit a little zealously. There is no need for punishment. They are doing divine work in these cursed lands.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh, how magnanimous you are, Young Master Alex,\" the Shaman said, flattering him shamelessly. \"I will ensure the squad is made aware of your mercy—and that they learn from it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex and the Shaman continued exchanging shameless pleasantries. If one didn’t know better, they might have thought the two had been friends for years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is it just me,\" Kavakan muttered, \"or do both of them have fox tails sticking out of their backs?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s not just you,\" Zora rolled her eyes. \"Those two are an old fox and a young fox.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The nearby party members chuckled quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eventually, the contest of shameless flattery finally came to an end. Beads of sweat trickled down both the human’s and the orc’s temples.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It turned out that taking turns piling praise upon each other—while trying to outdo the other—was far more exhausting than it looked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I won’t keep you any longer,\" the Shaman said at last, retreating with dignity. \"I shall take my leave.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah, yes. I should also return to my party,\" Alex replied, more than happy to step away himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before leaving, the Shaman paused and added,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Our Tribe Chief will be returning later tonight. If you are planning on doing business in the camp, you won’t find a better partner than our Chief.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex let out a quiet sigh of relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All that sophistry—words he didn’t even know he knew nor could say with a straight face—had not gone to waste.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thank you for your kind offer. I will gladly oblige,\" Alex said, bowing slightly in gratitude.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Excellent. I will send for you once the Chief has returned and rested.\" The shaman reciprocated with a bow of his own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, the Shaman took his leave, leaving Alex and his expedition party behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zora stepped closer and handed Alex a handkerchief. He took it gratefully and wiped the sweat from his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Facing off against the Shaman had turned out to be far more draining than attacking Brieger’s base.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Alex wiped his brow, Zora looked at him teasingly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You know,\" she said, \"I’m starting to think your title should be changed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex glanced at her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Instead of Silver Fang, it might be more fitting to call you Silver Tongue.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a brief moment, Alex’s mind went completely blank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thwack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex spanked her decidedly meaty backside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s what you get for insulting your husband!\" he fumed theatrically while making sure to fully enjoy the meaty ripple on his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zora didn’t mind in the slightest. Instead, she burst into peals of laughter as she ’ran’ away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>",1360,"2026-05-29T03:49:10.137Z","2026-06-01T04:29:07.188Z",1,"novelbin.me","a123f2bc0b5a5af17173d8860bdc90ef194fe0394f9441de156b3754bd101e7c","re-tales-of-the-rune-tech-sage-chapter-452","re-tales-of-the-rune-tech-sage-chapter-300",692,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fre-tales-of-the-rune-tech-sage-cover.jpg"]