Re: Tales of the Rune-Tech Sage

Chapter 22 - True Disciple?

CH22 True Disciple?

***

In essence, Alex had proposed the Rune-Net project not merely as a contribution to the Enclaveʼs infrastructure, but as a clever and calculated means to create a powerful supercomputer for his OmniRune Core A.I.—fully equipped with an extensive, ever-growing data library. It was a critical step in advancing his Rune-Tech project to the next stage.

And the best part? He wouldnʼt have to spend a single coin to achieve it.

Instead, he would mobilise the full might of the Enclaveʼs resources to do the heavy lifting for him.

Pinchcoin turned toward Merlin.

While the gnome had the authority to decide on the terms related to the Rune-Phones, Alexʼs request regarding unlimited access to the Rune-Net—and by extension, the Enclaveʼs library—was well beyond his jurisdiction.

Only Merlin could grant that level of access.

Alex knew this. It was why heʼd ensured the Legendary Mage was present in the first place.

Merlin remained silent for a moment, deep in thought.

Then, he looked at Alex and said, ”I can understand your first term. Iʼm quite impressed by your foresight—and your ability to maximise the advantages available to you.”

He paused, his eyes narrowing slightly.

”However, I must admit... I donʼt fully understand your second term. Why insist on unlimited access to the public library? If itʼs secret or top-tier knowledge youʼre after, youʼd be better served by requesting access to the vault.”

Alex shook his head.

”What I want is precisely the bulk of general and mundane knowledge contained in the public library,” he replied evenly.

”Thereʼs nothing particularly mysterious about it. As I mentioned earlier, my OmniRune Core is a blank slate—one that I have to teach and guide in order to unlock its full potential. Thereʼs only so much I can feed it from my own memory. But if I had access to the entirety of the Enclaveʼs library... then training it becomes exponentially easier. It brings me that much closer to fulfilling the purpose behind my entire Rune-Tech path.”

”I see...” Merlin nodded slowly, clearly digesting the implications.

Another pause followed.

Then he said, ”Itʼs evident youʼve put a great deal of thought into this. But I wonder—have you given thought to why this agreement should continue?”

Alex looked momentarily confused.

”This deal benefits both sides without imposing significant costs on either,” he said. ”Itʼs a win-win arrangement. Rationally, thereʼs no reason why it wouldnʼt proceed.”

Merlin shook his head. ”Youʼve misunderstood me, Alex. What I mean is this—your proposals require short-term contributions from you in exchange for long-term benefits from us. Once your work is done, whatʼs stopping the Enclave from terminating the agreement? Youʼre not seriously relying on something as naïve as trust... are you?”

”Oh.”

Realisation flashed in Alexʼs eyes.

He hadnʼt overlooked it—but hearing it voiced so plainly drove the point home with sharper clarity.

Indeed, this world lacked any powerful, impartial legal system that could guarantee his rights if the Enclave chose to renege on their end of the deal.

Yes, their reputation might take a hit if they broke their word—but if the gains outweighed the fallout, what was stopping them?

Merlin expected to see doubt, hesitation, or at least concern on the boyʼs face.

Instead, Alex grinned.

”The Enclave is powerful, sure,” Alex began. ”But letʼs not forget—Iʼm a Fury.”

He leaned forward, his tone measured and confident.

”While my family isnʼt exactly a unified front, nothing unites people faster than shared benefit. If the noble houses of the Fury bloodline—my Earl father, the four Counts, and dozens of Viscounts and Barons—were to rally together, we could hurt the Enclave deeply. Deeply enough that double-crossing me wouldnʼt be worth the price.”

He paused.

”That just leaves you and me.”

Merlin raised an eyebrow.

”You are the Enclaveʼs strongest military deterrent. I have no doubt—none in my family, not even my father, could defeat you. But...”

Alexʼs grin sharpened.

”I donʼt need anyone else to take you on.”

Merlin gave him a dry smile. ”It sounds like you believe you can best me.”

”In the context of this deal? Yes.”

”Oh? Now Iʼm intrigued. Do tell.”

”I am the creator and pioneer of Rune-Tech. The Phone, the Rune-Net—this entire deal hinges on it. If I can create it, I can destroy it. Destruction is far easier than creation.”

Merlinʼs smile thinned. ”So, your plan is to threaten the Enclave?”

”Threaten?” Alex tilted his head. ”No. Iʼm simply stating a deterrent. A matter of mutual assurance.”

Merlin rested his chin against the back of his hand, amused. A subtle yet palpable pressure settled over the room—directed solely at Alex.

”What if I choose to force you,” he said slowly, ”to surrender the secrets of Rune-Tech?”

The pressure wasnʼt overwhelming, but it was uncomfortable—just at the threshold of what Alex could endure.

And yet, Alexʼs grin widened.

”Youʼre a Legendary Mage. Iʼm sure you have methods to extract knowledge,” he said. ”But donʼt forget—I... AM... A... FURY!”

His ruby eyes glinted, turning a deep, blood-scarlet hue. There was a flicker of something unhinged in his gaze.

Furor Bloodline Trait: Calm Madness!

Merlin burst into hearty laughter. ”Good... Good! I expected nothing less!”

The pressure vanished as quickly as it had appeared.

”I wouldʼve been sorely disappointed if you thought you could negotiate with the DragonHold Enclave just because youʼre my student,” Merlin said with a chuckle. ”But itʼs clear—you know well enough not to mix your genius with ignorance of the world.”

Alex smiled wryly, straightening up.

Of course, he knew Merlin had only been testing him.

There was no way heʼd step into a negotiation believing—naively—that the other party had his best interests at heart.

Negotiation was a battlefield. Each side brought their cards to the table, seeking leverage. To give away your hand was to ask to be taken advantage of.

And that was a mistake Alex would never make.

How could he? That lesson had been burned into him from the very start—engraved into his soul from the moment he reincarnated in this world.

Even now, as he sat at this ʼnegotiationʼ table, his fatherʼs words echoed in his mind.

---

”Never forget. Only if I hold a sword, and you hold one as well, can we talk law. If I hold a dagger and youʼre empty-handed, I hold with me, the truth... and your life.

”Those who create the rules are often the first to break them. Rules are chains for the weak and tools for the strong. Everything else is falsehood. Morality, law, rules... they only matter when both sides are equal in power. Power is the only truth.”

---

Say what you will about Earl Drake Fury—but his lessons, and the ruthless way in which he delivered them, were absolutely unforgettable.

Brutal?

Yes.

But effective?

Undeniably so.

He scarred them into his sonʼs mind such that Alex would never—could never—forget them.

-

Merlin rose to his feet.

”Baldrick, thereʼs no need to negotiate further. Go draft the contract according to his terms.”

The gnome instantly understood—this was Merlinʼs polite way of dismissing him.

He bowed to everyone present and hurriedly left the room.

Merlin turned back to Alex. With a casual wave of his hand, a shimmering barrier enveloped the two of them, cutting Zora off from their conversation.

In that instant, Alexʼs mind ran wild with possible reasons for this sudden privacy.

None of them prepared him for what Merlin said next.

”Do you like my daughter?”

”Huh?” Alex blinked, utterly caught off guard. His mind blanked.

”I asked if you like Zora,” Merlin repeated, this time with a touch of pressure behind his words.

Alex nodded before he could stop himself.

”In that case,” Merlin said smoothly, ”if you agree to marry her, I will not only provide the highest-grade resources to resolve your bloodline issues and ensure a stable fusion... I will also take you in as my True Disciple.”

Alex froze. The words struck him like a series of hammer blows—his thoughts completely derailed.

Since the moment heʼd first seen her, he had felt drawn to Zora. It wasnʼt just her beauty, though that was undeniable. She had presence. Poise. There was something about her that resonated with him. He could freely admit—if this were his previous life, heʼd have tried to pursue her.

And now, Merlin was offering her hand?

Not only that—but a permanent solution to his bloodline crisis and elevation to the position of True Disciple?

It was staggering.

Because in the Enclave—and in the greater magical world—there was a vast difference between an Official Disciple and a True Disciple.

An Official Disciple received instruction, yes, but only in a limited, hands-off manner. The relationship was mostly educational—transactional. A mage could take on dozens of Official Disciples, and once the teaching period ended, both sides would part ways, often with no further connection.

It was like a student-teacher relationship from Alexʼs old world—professional, distant, temporary.

But a True Disciple?

A True Disciple was something else entirely.

They were the inheritor of their Masterʼs magic, will, and legacy. The bond between a Master and their True Disciple was lifelong. The Master poured time, effort, and precious resources into them. If the Master had no blood heir, the True Disciple would be the successor by default.

The relationship mirrored the deep martial bonds of cultivation worlds—loyalty, respect, and duty bound them together.

And Merlin was offering him that?

Alexʼs gaze flicked past Merlin, toward Zora.

She was as elegant as ever, but now her eyes subtly searched his face, silently asking, ʼNeed help?ʼ

Alex gave her a small shake of the head—he was fine.

That little moment—unspoken, but deeply understood—solidified something in him.

He turned back to Merlin.

”I—”

***