Re: Tales of the Rune-Tech Sage

Chapter 523: Wayne’s Commission II

CH523 Wayne’s Commission II

***

”You’re actually giving me something this valuable?” he asked.

”I don’t have much of a choice,” Wayne admitted. ”To be honest with you, you’re not the first person I’ve approached today. I made the same request to the high-ranking adventurer parties currently in Dragonstone. Unfortunately, their demands were beyond what I could meet.”

He sighed lightly.

”You, on the other hand, seem to possess strength comparable to those high-ranking parties. If it were wealth you wanted, I know I have nothing that could move you. Fortunately for me, there is something you need—something I can offer—that you would struggle to obtain anywhere else.”

Alex nodded slowly.

He had already reached that conclusion himself, but he appreciated Wayne’s frankness.

”Is the berserk human gathering really that serious?” Alex asked.

”I don’t know,” Wayne said honestly. ”Humans are naturally afraid of the unknown. In my more than two decades stationed in Dragonstone, I’ve never once heard of berserk humans gathering together. They don’t possess the clarity of mind for such behaviour.”

His expression darkened.

”So you can imagine my horror when reports began coming in of multiple berserk humans moving together, and in a specific direction at that. If not for my duties here, I would have gone to investigate personally.”

Wayne shook his head.

”Berserk humans are already dangerous enough on their own. If they were to gather in groups and surge forward like the beast tide we saw yesterday...” He trailed off, then exhaled heavily. ”I shudder to think of the consequences.”

He leaned forward, his voice dropping.

”Did one of them suddenly develop a sane mind? Or an ability to control the others? Is there something in that direction drawing them in? And if there is—what is it? Or worse... is someone controlling them?”

Wayne looked Alex straight in the eye.

”And I have a strong hunch that whatever is behind this... it’s connected to the beast tide as well.”

The man didn’t bother to hide his paranoia. Still, it was the final part of his statement that caught Alex most off guard.

”What do you mean by that?” Alex asked.

”People say the Wildlands are chaotic, but I don’t believe that,” Wayne said firmly. ”I believe there is an order to the chaos—an order I’ve been able to glimpse if I look hard and closely enough.

”Not to mention humans— Though deranged, more bloodthirsty and more violent, even berserk beasts and monsters still retain instinctive behaviours they cannot escape.”

He raised a finger as he spoke.

”They establish territories. They hunt prey. They avoid predators. They avoid danger. They avoid threats. They would not abandon what is familiar for the unknown without a compelling reason.

”Any beast or monster—berserk or otherwise—knows that a human settlement is an enormous source of danger. They would not attack one without cause.”

Wayne’s voice hardened.

”All beast tides happen for a reason. This is a truth many adventurers have paid for with their lives to confirm. More often than not, that reason is a significant disruption to what is familiar to a large number of beasts, forcing them out of their usual routines. Beast tides occur because they are desperately seeking a way back to that lost familiarity.”

Alex nodded in agreement.

Across countless planes, most beast tides could be traced back to two primary causes.

The first was overpopulation.

When beast numbers swelled beyond the carrying capacity of a region—threatening the natural balance or hierarchy of the land—more powerful, and often more intelligent, beasts would drive the excess outward.

Sometimes, this was done deliberately, using human settlements as a means to cull bloated numbers. Other times, it was an attempt to expand territory by seizing land from humans.

The second major cause was fear.

When a significant threat emerged within a large beast territory or habitat, the beasts would flee en masse—hooves, claws, and fangs all turning away from the danger. If a human settlement lay along their escape route, then that settlement would inevitably be forced to endure a beast tide.

There was also a third prevalent reason, but this one was rarely spoken of because it was... non-spontaneous.

Beasts could be attracted into attacking a settlement.

There were lures that could draw beasts in. If something—or someone—from a territory stole something important from a beast domain—an item, a treasure, or anything carrying a strong imprint—then a beast tide could be triggered in response.

However, such causes were seen as unnatural. They were considered consequences of deliberate human action rather than something born from the beasts’ instincts themselves, and so they were often omitted from official explanations.

’Since he’s said the Association and the settlement actively cull beast numbers in the surrounding areas and nests, we can rule out overpopulation,’ Alex mused.

’That leaves the second and third reasons.’

His thoughts flowed smoothly.

’If the surrounding regions are being regularly culled, then the beasts that attacked Dragonstone must have come from much further away. They wouldn’t travel that distance without cause. Something—or someone—must have either frightened them all the way here... or lured them.’

Alex’s eyes narrowed slightly.

’And if there is something capable of attracting berserk humans to gather at a specific location, then that same thing could also influence berserk beasts and monsters. Either through fear... or through allure.’

His gaze flickered back to Wayne.

’I can see why he’s worried,’ Alex thought grimly. ’If he’s right, then this isn’t a random disaster. It’s a sign of something to come.’

”So, to confirm,” Alex said aloud, his tone measured, ”you suspect that whatever is attracting the berserk humans might also be connected to the beast tide that struck Dragonstone, correct?”

”Exactly, Young Master Alex,” Wayne replied without hesitation.

”Then the mission is twofold,” Alex said calmly, organising the information in his head as he spoke.

”First, to clear beasts and monsters along the route to Blood Iron. Second, to actively investigate the reported gathering of berserk humans.”

He paused briefly, then continued,

”For the former, we’ll be rewarded by presenting proof of kills—ears—at the Blood Iron Adventurer Association branch. For the latter, I receive an upfront payment in the form of a complete Association map of the Hollowcrest Wildlands.”

Alex looked directly at Wayne.

”Did I miss anything?”

”Essentially, no,” Wayne nodded. ”However, note that you will not be permitted to circulate the map without prior approval from the Association.”

”Naturally,” Alex replied with a faint smile.

He leaned back slightly, considering the matter.

’I have a nagging feeling I’ll be dragged into this mess whether I accept or not,’ he thought.

’In that case, I might as well gain some goodwill with the Association—and with Wayne.’

”Fine,” Alex said aloud. ”I’ll take the commission. However, I’ll need additional information. Local terrain, beast distribution, danger zones, things I should expect to encounter on the road.”

”That won’t be a problem,” Wayne said readily. Then he hesitated, a flicker of uncertainty crossing his face.

”I do know someone who can help you with that... though I should apologise in advance.”

”Oh?” Alex raised an eyebrow.

”He’s a bit... eccentric,” Wayne admitted. ”Your first meeting may be somewhat rough. But I can guarantee that no one knows every speck of sand in the areas surrounding Dragonstone better than he does.”

Alex chuckled softly.

”That’s fine. I’m quite familiar with eccentric people. A few peculiar habits won’t deter me.”

”In that case...” Wayne stood up, extending a hand. ”To a pleasant collaboration.”

Alex rose as well, clasping the man’s hand firmly.

”To a pleasant collaboration, indeed,” he replied.

***