[{"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-682":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},148295,246,"Chapter 681: Bandit Becometh the Raided I","re-tales-of-the-rune-tech-sage-chapter-682",682,"\u003Cp>CH681 Bandit Becometh the Raided I\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next day...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a string of successful raids on Lost Heathen bases, outposts, and caravans, Alex and the Fortuna company finally enjoyed a full night of uninterrupted rest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The irony was not lost on Alex.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His company had effectively become a band of raiders—preying upon the Lost Heathens, who were themselves a notorious bandit group.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was no accident.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was simply Alex’s—arguably twisted—method of retaliation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beat them at their own game.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While the Lost Heathens across the Wildlands likely spent the night in fear and sleepless vigilance, the Fortuna company rested soundly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As dawn broke and the group prepared their morning meal, many cast subtle glances towards the young man who had led them from one decisive victory to the next.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this point, they were more eager to fight under his command than he was to lead them into battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex noticed the looks and could only offer a wry smile in response.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He shook his head lightly and returned his focus to his meal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once they had finished eating, the company conducted a swift but thorough supply check—paying particular attention to the number of bolts available to each unit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The importance of ammunition had been made abundantly clear in recent engagements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without needing instruction, each sub-unit leader ensured that every spent bolt had been recovered. Even bent or damaged ones were collected—on the off chance they could be repaired and reused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the inspection, the company began making preparations to move out once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex paused for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes narrowed slightly as he spotted a figure descending rapidly from the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He raised his arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A messenger bird landed gracefully upon it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex untied the message secured to its leg before releasing it. The bird immediately took flight, returning to wherever it had come from.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He unfolded the note, read its contents, then gave a faint nod.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A flicker of AetherKindle flame reduced the paper to ash in his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The next location has been confirmed,\" Alex called out to Kavakan. \"Prepare the troops.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of the key reasons the Fortuna company had been able to locate and destroy so many Lost Heathen strongholds lay in a battle their enemies did not even realise they were fighting—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An information war.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex had financed and instructed Raven Horn to discreetly establish an information bounty network.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In exchange for rewards ranging from a single low-grade berserk stone to as much as a hundred mid-grade berserk stones—or their equivalent—locals were more than willing to provide intelligence on Lost Heathen operations scattered throughout the Wildlands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And as long as the information proved credible...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rewards were paid without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Interestingly, much of the intelligence gathered through the bounty network was so precise—so intimately detailed—that only insiders within the Lost Heathens themselves could have provided it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’No honour among thieves and bandits... as expected,’ Alex mused inwardly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within minutes, the camp had been cleared, and the entire company was mounted and ready to move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Senu circling overhead and relaying her vision directly to Alex, and Fen’s temporary pack guarding the flanks, the Fortuna company advanced swiftly towards the newly revealed location.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their route took them through a rugged mountain range that encircled a wide basin. Water flowing down from the surrounding heights often became trapped within it, allowing for surprisingly rich vegetation to flourish within the basin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under normal circumstances, it might have made for an ideal settlement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, the region was plagued by unpredictable flooding during its irregular rainy seasons, making permanent habitation untenable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even so, it served as an excellent travel route—much like the Rock Monkey Gorge that separated Camp Red Rock and Dragonstone Town from the BloodIron region.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rising morning sun cast a hazy glow across the landscape, and a thin fog lingered over the basin, obscuring visibility from the higher elevations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex’s lips curled into a faint sneer as he discerned the enemy’s intentions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, he chose to play along.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He ordered the company to take position near the basin’s exit and wait.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before long, a caravan came into view.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first glance, it appeared modest—far fewer carriages than expected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some members of Fortuna murmured in quiet disappointment. Fewer carriages meant less loot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, Alex’s campaign was not driven by vengeance alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The spoils taken from each raid helped soothe the lingering grief within the ranks—especially among those who had lost comrades during earlier engagements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, the loot served another purpose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It kept morale high among the newer recruits—those who did not share the same personal vendetta against the Lost Heathens—strengthening unity and reinforcing their collective drive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, the disappointment did not last long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the caravan drew closer, it became clear that the number of guards far exceeded what would normally accompany such a small convoy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The implication was obvious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whatever the caravan carried, it was exceptionally valuable—goods worth far more per unit than ordinary cargo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex raised his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An eager barbarian immediately rushed forward, moving to signal the caravan to halt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The caravan guards could scarcely believe what they were seeing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They bore the banner of the Lost Heathens—a flag that, under normal circumstances, was enough to deter any bandit group from even considering an ambush.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet, on this day, that symbol held no power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A bandit force had stopped them regardless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The caravan leader’s expression hardened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He raised his hand sharply, signalling the caravan to halt and assume defensive formation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The guards reacted instantly—weapons drawn, shields raised, eyes locked onto the approaching threat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man had spent decades traversing the Wildlands before eventually settling into his role as a caravan leader for the Lost Heathens. He understood one simple truth—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If someone dared intercept a convoy bearing their flag... then they were fully prepared for what followed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex urged Dread forward, breaking from the formation before coming to a halt at the forefront of the Fortuna company.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He waited deliberately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He allowed the caravan time to complete their defensive preparations, his cold gaze fixed beyond them, as though already looking past the outcome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only once they were ready did he raise his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With eerie calm, he gave the command—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Kill them all.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Charge!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The roar came from multiple sub-unit leaders at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Formation after formation surged forward, disciplined and precise despite the ferocity of their advance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kavakan’s strike unit led the charge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The front line—composed of orcs and barbarians—advanced with massive tower shields, many of which had been... ’confiscated’ from various Lost Heathen weapon caches.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Directly behind them moved the main force under Sergeant Lopota, while Silver’s marksman unit maintained position just beyond, ready to provide covering fire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The caravan’s archers responded swiftly, loosing volleys of arrows in high arcs, aiming to bypass the shield wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But before the arrows could land—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mogal stepped forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[One-Heart Punch] [Unyielding]!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Drawing upon the stored force within the Chain of Unyielding, he unleashed a single, devastating punch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sheer pressure of the blow disrupted the air itself—scattering the incoming arrows mid-flight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those that did manage to fall upon the formation landed with greatly diminished force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The attack claimed no lives, only succeeding in shattering the Lost Heathen’s own morale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortuna’s ranged units retaliated instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hundred-strong pump-action crossbow division and the fifty marksmen armed with bolt-action crossbows unleashed a coordinated barrage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heavy bolts tore through the air—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thwack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>",1230,"2026-05-29T03:49:41.560Z","2026-06-01T04:29:07.188Z",1,"novelbin.me","afc7673e20017d7957bf7425ea6d75be93abfcba89a3073fe0d2aa9cd807a9fd","re-tales-of-the-rune-tech-sage-chapter-683","re-tales-of-the-rune-tech-sage-chapter-681",692,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fre-tales-of-the-rune-tech-sage-cover.jpg"]