Re: Tales of the Rune-Tech Sage

Chapter 455: Dinner Table Negotiation II

CH455 Dinner Table Negotiation II

***

The dining hall descended into a heavy, oppressive silence.

Both sides looked on subtly, watching their respective leaders, ready to act at a single word. Meanwhile, Alex and Azgrug stared at each other as if locked in a childish staring contest—though nothing about it was childish.

Alex maintained a calm, serene expression, his posture relaxed. Across from him, Azgrug searched relentlessly for a flaw or a crack, any weakness at all—yet found none.

”Hahahaha!”

Azgrug suddenly burst into laughter, diffusing the situation.

”Very well,” he said. ”I will take your word and believe that you harbour no nefarious intentions toward my tribe’s Camp Red Rock.”

Alex simply nodded, neither relieved nor triumphant.

Azgrug’s gaze then swept over Alex’s body.

”Tell me,” the orc asked abruptly, ”are you truly a sorcerer?”

Alex’s brows lifted in surprise, clearly not expecting the question.

Seeing his reaction, Azgrug quickly clarified,

”Forgive me. I do not mean to pry. It’s just that your physique... it resembles a warrior’s body more than a mage’s. Even your footsteps carry the subconscious rhythm of someone trained in a warrior’s movement technique.”

Realisation dawned on Alex.

”So that’s what you meant,” he said with a small nod.

Indeed, he understood the confusion.

Standing close to one hundred and ninety centimetres tall, with broad shoulders and a physique honed by his bloodline—and his admittedly limited combat training under the Dark Knight Jared—Alex was undeniably outside the norm for a mage.

While he was arguably on the smaller side for a warrior, he was far too solidly built for what most imagined when they thought of Verdantian sorcerers –or even Pangean mages.

”Honestly,” Alex said evenly, ”my innate talent as a warrior exceeds my innate talent as a sorcerer, as my physique suggests. However, my disposition and mindset align far better with the sorcerer’s path. That is why I chose it.”

He paused briefly before adding,

”In the long run, disposition and mental aptitude matter far more than raw innate talent after all.”

”I see...” Azgrug nodded, seemingly satisfied.

After a moment of thought, he asked,

”Then, as a sorcerer, you must capable of producing the magical artefacts you require, right? Or is it the responsibility of the other sorcerers in your party, seeing as you are busy with the responsibility of leading your party?”

Alex shook his head.

”Being a sorcerer alone does not mean one can craft all magical artefacts,” he explained calmly. ”There are many categories of artefacts, and each requires specialised craftsmen.”

He continued, ”Most magical weapons are produced by forgesmiths. Accessories and intricate devices often require the input of material alchemy expertise from an Alchemist. Enchanting spells onto objects requires the techniques of an enchanter. Sigil-based items fall under the purview of a talisman master.”

”Beyond that, many artefacts are best handled by even more specialised professions—magical swordsmiths, golem alchemists, arcane enchanters, specialised elemental talisman masters, and so on.”

Alex’s gaze was steady as he concluded,

”The world of magical craftsmanship is in its own an entire domain. Simply being a sorcerer does not grant mastery over every corner of it.”

Alex’s explanation left Azgrug genuinely stunned.

Before today, neither he nor his tribe possessed more than fragmented knowledge about magical artefacts—scraps picked up from passing travellers and wandering adventurers.

It didn’t help that magical-class orcs were exceedingly rare within the Copper-skinned tribe. Any orc who did awaken magical aptitude was invariably guided down the path of an Orc Shaman. As a result, shamanic magic had become the tribe’s sole preserved magical tradition. Knowledge of other magical disciplines had either been lost to time or never existed within the tribe to begin with.

”If you can tell me what kind of artefact you require, or what purpose it is meant to serve,” Alex said calmly, ”I might be able to provide something suitable.”

Azgrug did not answer immediately.

”I need a means—artefact or otherwise—that can increase my strength, and the strength of my tribe,” he said at last. ”Even if only temporarily.”

He rose from his seat and walked to the window, gazing out over Camp Red Rock.

”Just north of here lies a berserk beast nest,” he continued. ”We have been trying to eradicate it for over a decade, but with little luck. We have barely been able to contain it.”

His voice hardened.

”In that time, I have lost two of my children... a disciple... and a close friend to it.”

He turned back toward Alex.

”As you surely know, if left unchecked, a berserk beast nest will continue to grow—both in size and danger posed by it. Soon, my tribe will no longer be able to defend Camp Red Rock. If that happens, we will be forced to abandon it and move elsewhere.”

His tusks clenched slightly.

”That would mean the loss of one of the few stable settlements available in the Wildlands, not to mention the increased danger the berserk beast nest will pose.”

Azgrug exhaled slowly.

”The clergy do not enter the Wildlands. And even if they did, they would not spare resources for a settlement as insignificant as ours. We are alone.”

He met Alex’s gaze directly.

”That is why I have come to accept something I once resisted—that if we are to deal with the threat at our gates, we must rely on magical artefacts supplied by sorcerers... despite our history with your kind.”

He returned to his seat.

”Can you help us?” Azgrug asked.

”And more importantly—will you?”

Alex fell silent.

’The way he speaks of a berserk beast nest...’ Alex mused. ’This isn’t just a gathering of beasts, nor a common breeding ground.’

’There’s something unique about these nests in Verdantis—something I don’t yet understand.’

His eyes narrowed slightly.

’In that case...’

”I do possess items that can aid a combat force in general,” Alex said evenly.

”For instance, we carry healing scrolls and potions capable of treating severe injuries—and even saving lives. There are also mana potions that can replenish one’s reserves, allowing warriors to fight longer without exhaustion.”

Azgrug’s eyes flashed. The orc chief barely restrained himself long enough to allow Alex to continue.

”As for more specialised methods to directly increase an individual’s strength...” Alex paused briefly. ”That becomes more complicated.”

”Complicated how?” Azgrug asked at once.

”Any method that can safely and reliably enhance someone’s strength—especially someone of your calibre—even temporarily, is both rare and prohibitively expensive,” Alex replied.

”It is not something just anyone possesses, sorcerer or otherwise.”

Azgrug’s expression darkened slightly.

”Fortunately,” Alex continued, ”I do have access to one such method.”

”Truly?” Azgrug’s eyes lit up once more.

Alex nodded, though his expression remained solemn.

”However, you should be warned. This method is still undergoing testing and has not been proven completely safe. The risks are significant enough that I do not use it recklessly—even on my own people—despite having witnessed its power firsthand.”

He met Azgrug’s gaze directly.

”That said, if you are willing to bear the risk, I am confident it can push you fully into the realm of a Combat Saint—short of forming a Saintly Domain of course.”

Azgrug, predictably, latched onto the promise rather than the warning.

”How much will the potions, scrolls, and this method cost?” he asked.

”These are not commodities that can be exchanged for mere Berserk stones,” Alex replied calmly.

”They are valuable assets that can only be traded for materials or items of equivalent—or combined—worth.”

”If you can truly demonstrate the means you’ve promised,” Azgrug said after a brief pause, ”I will open my tribe’s vault to you.”

Alex blinked in faint surprise.

”You are not concerned that I might deceive you?” he asked.

Azgrug snorted.

”You are a sorcerer, are you not? Your kind’s pride would not allow you to sully yourselves by cheating in a trade.”

Alex nodded his head, outwardly impassive.

’So sorcerers of this world are bound by pride to that extent...’ he noted inwardly. ’That’s a useful knowledge to keep note of.’

”I do not personally discuss prices for the goods we sell,” Alex said. ”That responsibility lies with others in my party. If it pleases you, I will inform the appropriate person. She will compile a full inventory of what we can offer.”

He continued,

”Tomorrow, she will accompany me to examine your vault and select what our side considers a fair exchange. If necessary, we can negotiate further afterward.”

”Very well,” Azgrug said. ”We will conclude matters tomorrow.”

With that, the discussion at the dinner table came to an end.

Alex left Azgrug’s mansion with his two hulking bodyguards, deep in thought.

He hadn’t been entirely truthful with the orc chief.

In truth, he could have quoted Azgrug a price for the healing scrolls and potions. Thanks to the small note Eleanor had passed him before the meeting, Alex already had a rough understanding of the goods and their relative value within Camp Red Rock.

However, the reason he chose not to do so was simple.

He needed time.

Time he could use to investigate the berserk beast nest Azgrug had mentioned.

’Who knows?’ Alex mused inwardly.

’That nest might very well be a massive opportunity just waiting to be exploited.’

***