[{"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-622":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},148327,246,"Chapter 621: Jadewell and BattleBane","re-tales-of-the-rune-tech-sage-chapter-622",622,"\u003Cp>CH621 Jadewell and BattleBane\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"For a merchant company’s private quarters... there are quite a lot of trained individuals moving about.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex commented as the carriage rolled into the estate belonging to the Jadewell Merchant Company.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Udara responded calmly,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The estate isn’t solely used by the Jadewell Merchant Company.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In fact, even with their financial power, they wouldn’t be able to secure such a large property on their own.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This estate actually belongs to the BattleBane Guild.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As she spoke, Udara gave a concise rundown of the intelligence gathered by her scout team.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Jadewell Merchant Company was a mid-sized operation within the Hollowcrest Wildlands, with its primary base in BloodIron City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their specialty lay in acquiring goods —particularly alchemical products— flowing through the Wildlands, then distributing them across the continent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most notably, toward the Celahan Empire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Interestingly, much like Eleanore’s shop, Jadewell maintained a close affiliation with a larger mercenary organisation within BloodIron—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The BattleBane Guild.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While not one of the absolute dominant powers in the city, the BattleBane Guild was far from insignificant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It held a considerable voice within the Mercenary Union—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of the most influential forces not just in BloodIron, but across the Hollowcrest Wildlands and Verdantis as a whole.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, the Guild’s direct authority was concentrated within BloodIron’s local branch of the Union.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, due to its importance in the larger association, the branch’s influence extended outward— thus granting BattleBane a level of reach that exceeded its apparent standing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a result, the Guild was widely respected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And as one of its affiliates, the Jadewell Merchant Company benefited from both its protection... and its implicit deterrence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Udara continued,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to confirm the exact nature of the relationship between the two groups.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"All we know is that Lady Rosa Mercier has familial ties to the leader of the BattleBane Guild. But whether they are spouses, siblings, or distant relatives remains unclear.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex raised a brow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why is that?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Guild’s leader is something of an enigma,\" Udara replied. \"No one outside the BattleBane Guild knows their true identity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That makes it difficult to verify her exact connection.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex considered this briefly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What if she’s the one actually in charge?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Udara shook her head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Unlikely.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"While she clearly holds influence, the behaviour of the Guild members during our surveillance suggests otherwise.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex nodded slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Understood.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He glanced ahead as the carriage continued deeper into the estate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well, if things go well, we’ll find out soon enough.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex glanced out the window as the carriage came to a halt before the villa entrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Baron Luth Belloc’s letter had laid out a path toward his goal. And the first checkpoint on that path was the BattleBane Guild.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, approaching them directly was neither practical nor wise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So instead, he chose to begin with the Jadewell merchant company.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’One step at a time,’ Alex reminded himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stepped out first, then helped Eleanore and Udara down from the carriage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Afterwards, he and Udara naturally fell in step behind Eleanore as the villa’s butler came forward to receive them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their positioning made it clear that Eleanore was the lead of their delegation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Lady Rosa has prepared to receive you over tea and pastries in the garden,\" the butler informed them after the exchange of greetings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This way, please.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they began to move, Alex subtly signalled for the guards to remain behind with the carriage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only he and Udara would accompany Eleanore inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The butler gave a faint, almost imperceptible nod.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex’s move was a small gesture— but a meaningful one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a place like the Wildlands, such restraint could be interpreted as a sign of trust...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or confidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even within BloodIron City, where the major powers enforced a semblance of order, danger had not disappeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had merely been pushed into the shadows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A faint smile tugged at Alex’s lips as they walked through the villa corridors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether intentional or not, the route they were led through offered a clear view of BattleBane Guild members training in an open courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For most, it would have been an intimidating display.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For Alex, it only stirred within him a sense of nostalgia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It reminded him of Ashen Castle— of the day he transmigrated into this world, and he had been brought to the castle by his chief maid for the first time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’How long has it been... five, six years?’ he mused. ’I’ve come a long way.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back then, watching a Fury knight cleave a training dummy from a distance had filled him with awe...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And a touch of fear for this new world he found himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, such displays barely registered with him. They had become too ordinary and familiar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A part of him even itched to step into the yard to test himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’They look strong enough...’ Alex mused. ’Maybe they’d finally let me use that new power I couldn’t fully test back then...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’The berserk humans fell too quickly... and I ran out of mana before I could push it further.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A trace of battle intent leaked from Alex.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, he shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’No... not now.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’We’re here to build connections— not embarrass their forces.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A quiet chuckle escaped him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What he didn’t realise was that his fleeting battle lust had not gone unnoticed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment it surfaced, his newly formed All-Weapon Intent subtly resonated outward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Below, the weapons in the hands of the BattleBane trainees trembled for a brief instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The warriors frowned, glancing down at their weapons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a moment, they wondered if it had been their imagination, but the identical reactions across the group told a different story.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silently, their gazes turned toward the strongest among them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man stood still, eyes fixed on the distant corridor— The very path Alex had just taken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without a word to his men, he moved towards it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unaware of what had transpired, the butler continued his duty and led Alex and his wives into the garden pavilion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The garden was breathtaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A vibrant array of flowers filled the space, each one more refined than the last.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike the flora at their own mansion, these were closer to pseudo-alchemical plants— rare and difficult to cultivate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nearly impossible to sustain in a place like the Hollowcrest Wildlands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’No wonder she chose the garden,’ Alex thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A glance passed between him and his wives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They understood immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a subtle flaunt (flex).\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maintaining such a garden required immense resources and expertise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And combined with the earlier display of trained personnel, it was a clear message of power, wealth and influence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’A demonstration of strength... and prosperity,’ Alex mused. ’At least she’s subtle about it. I’ll give her that.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The butler quietly spoke with a group of maids.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moments later, two additional seats were brought forward, placed beside Eleanore’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as they were about to sit, a heavy somewhat oppressive presence approached.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A middle-aged man strode into the pavilion, his aura was sharp with restrained battle intent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He ignored the butler, and everyone else as his eyes locked onto Alex.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, suddenly he asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Would you like to spar?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>",1185,"2026-05-29T03:49:40.912Z","2026-06-01T04:29:07.188Z",1,"novelbin.me","4061f1dd724df1355165e36299492321e61a308b2d51ca2e8aceb72e6a9ecc81","re-tales-of-the-rune-tech-sage-chapter-623","re-tales-of-the-rune-tech-sage-chapter-621",692,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fre-tales-of-the-rune-tech-sage-cover.jpg"]