[{"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-637":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},148342,246,"Chapter 636: Fortuna Hostilities","re-tales-of-the-rune-tech-sage-chapter-637",637,"\u003Cp>CH636 Fortuna Hostilities\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They prioritised stabilising those with life-threatening injuries first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only after ensuring they were no longer in immediate danger did they begin treating the most severely wounded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To conserve as much mana as possible, those with lesser injuries were bandaged and given lower-grade healing potions to manage their condition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It might leave scars—but it ensured they would survive until proper healing could be administered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, Eleanore—and surprisingly, Alex—focused their efforts on the critically injured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had just finished tending to the most severe cases when Zora returned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her expression was already tense—but the moment she saw the condition of the raiding party, it darkened into a deep frown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The city administration denied my request for expansion,\" she reported. \"They also rejected my follow-up request to acquire a larger property.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What reason did they give?\" Alex asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"None,\" Zora replied. \"I believe someone is targeting us.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex raised an eyebrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And what led you to that conclusion?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"While we were waiting, one of the administrative officers tried to sell us several larger properties,\" she explained. \"He was unusually eager—almost desperate—for us to take them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"After our expansion request was denied, I contacted him again to finalise a lease for one of those properties. We were close to concluding the deal—until someone approached him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She paused briefly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"After that conversation, his attitude changed completely. Suddenly, he had nothing available for us.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A cold glint flickered in Alex’s eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, he kept his composure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gestured to one of the Fury Knights nearby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Go and call Raven Horn,\" he instructed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few minutes later, Raven Horn arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment he stepped into the mansion, his gaze swept across the injured—and a flicker of surprise passed through his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Someone is targeting us,\" Alex said without preamble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He briefly outlined both incidents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Raven Horn listened in silence, his expression growing increasingly serious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Give me a moment,\" he said. \"I’ll find out.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He departed swiftly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he returned later that evening, his face was solemn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The bandit group you eliminated...\" he began, his tone heavy, \"...belongs to the Lost Heathens—one of the largest dark mercenary factions in the Wildlands.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Dark mercenaries? Those suspected of banditry?\" Alex asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"More like known to act as bandits on the side, but no one truly cares,\" Raven Horn replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Lost Heathens are fiercely protective of their reputation. So, you flying the banner of one of their units after wiping them out...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He paused slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...let’s just say it didn’t sit well with them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He continued, his tone growing heavier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But the real issue is this—the leader of the unit you eliminated was the younger brother of the Lost Heathens’ leader, Brock Peyton.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex’s eyes narrowed slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So, this is a vendetta.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes,\" Raven Horn confirmed with a nod.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a brief moment, Alex’s gaze turned solemn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How large is the Lost Heathens? And more importantly—how do they have enough influence to interfere with the city administration?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The city administration was not a place easily swayed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a tangled web of competing interests— a structure built on power, wealth, and mutual benefit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No insignificant force could influence decisions such as the leasing of major estates, especially when such decisions directly affected one of the city’s primary sources of revenue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Where there was money, there were vested interests.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And in the Wildlands, no one allowed their interests to be disrupted without consequence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Lost Heathens themselves are not that powerful in the grand scheme,\" Raven Horn explained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They’re roughly on par with the BattleBane group you had me investigate earlier.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He paused briefly before adding,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"However... they serve as the arms and feet of the Drumvale Merchant Company in the Wildlands.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex’s expression hardened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Raven Horn had previously provided them with a detailed dossier on the major powers of Verdantis.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of the most prominent among them—the Free City of Afordocia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A merchant city that had not only gained independence, but had managed to retain it despite the greed of surrounding empires.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like BloodIron, Afordocia was governed by a council.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But unlike BloodIron, its council consisted of the ten largest merchant companies in the city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arguably, the ten most powerful merchant entities across all of Verdantis.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And among them was the Drumvale Merchant Company.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aside from being one of the wealthiest merchant companies in the world, Drumvale was also known to harbour Combat Saint–level powerhouses—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—the pinnacle of strength just beneath the Combat Sages who stood as pillars for empires and temples alike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were not an entity one offended lightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’I see... so that’s why the city administration folded,’ Alex mused inwardly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even so, as he looked upon his injured men, a primal rage ignited within him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It burned fiercely, fuelled by the Furor aspect of his bloodline.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What do you intend to do?\" Raven Horn asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Alex could respond, he caught sight of Zora subtly shaking her head— a silent plea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that moment, a gentle, cooling sensation spread through him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The influence of the Auramir aspect of his bloodline soothed the rising fury.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex exhaled slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’This isn’t just about me anymore. I can’t act on impulse... not when others depend on me.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He steadied his thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Let’s try another approach first.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suppressing the instinctive aggression of his Furor side, Alex spoke calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I understand Brock Peyton’s grief,\" he said. \"Let’s attempt diplomacy first. If this can be resolved with words rather than blades, that would be preferable.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked to Raven Horn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Can you arrange a meeting?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Raven Horn studied him for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are you certain?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes,\" Alex replied with a firm nod.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Very well,\" Raven Horn said. \"I’ll make the arrangements and report back soon.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, he departed swiftly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zora stepped closer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thank you,\" she said softly. \"I know that wasn’t easy for you. We’re in unfamiliar territory—we shouldn’t create powerful enemies before establishing our foundation.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex understood her concern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They might be capable of defeating Brock Peyton and his forces— but doing so could provoke the wrath of the Drumvale Merchant Company behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the matter could be resolved peacefully, it would spare them from far greater consequences.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex was not nearly as optimistic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he had suppressed the impulses of his Furor bloodline, he had not ignored them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’The Diplomacy and military force are tools that complement one another,’ he reflected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’One does not exist without the shadow of the other.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even as he spoke of peace— plans were already forming in his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Later that day, he held a private discussion with Udara.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not long after, a scouting unit quietly departed from the mansion—their destination and true purpose known only to Alex and Udara.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>",1115,"2026-05-29T03:49:40.912Z","2026-06-01T04:29:07.188Z",1,"novelbin.me","d2541f50718c12a478a94f9b63588bc289dd5071258654d9f61ae51401fbcc63","re-tales-of-the-rune-tech-sage-chapter-638","re-tales-of-the-rune-tech-sage-chapter-636",692,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fre-tales-of-the-rune-tech-sage-cover.jpg"]