Re: Tales of the Rune-Tech Sage

Chapter 317: Treacherous Plan

CH317 Treacherous Plan

***

”My lord, I have something to say,” Lucas spoke.

Earl Kellerman’s eyes flickered with interest.

”Let’s hear it,” he said.

”Thank you, milord.” Lucas stood and gave a brief bow. ”My suggestion is to accept the Fury young master’s deal.”

”What?!”

”How dare you suggest that!”

”Have you lost your senses?!”

A barrage of outraged voices erupted from the sycophants in the delegation.

”Silence!” Earl Kellerman thundered.

The room instantly went still. His expression darkened as he fixed Lucas with a long, assessing stare—but he didn’t lash out.

After all, the one man with a proven record in recent months—the only one who had produced actual results—was Lucas Zell himself.

’He solved our procurement crisis. Perhaps he can solve this as well,’ the Earl thought, grudgingly giving the man a chance.

”Do you understand the implication of what you’re saying?” he asked slowly.

”I do.” Lucas nodded, lowering his head respectfully. ”I beg milord’s forgiveness, but I must speak plainly. The war has cost us dearly. Whether it was the Wildkin raids or the assault on the Fury lands, both left our territories devastated. The truth is, we lack the resources to rebuild those ruined regions.”

”So your suggestion is to throw them away?” someone sneered.

”Exactly so,” Lucas replied, nodding with feigned simplicity. ”We should cede the lands we can’t afford to restore—and focus on developing the ones we still can...”

He paused, letting a small smile curve his lips. ”...for now.”

A ripple of confusion passed through the room. Then, slowly, a few eyes brightened with understanding. These sharper minds among them stayed quiet, waiting to see if their suspicions matched Lucas’s scheme.

Lucas clasped his hands behind his back and continued, voice brimming with confidence.

”Tell me—what do you think Earl Drake Fury’s greatest weakness is?”

He glanced around the room, deliberately avoiding the Earl’s gaze before answering his own question.

”It’s people,” he said. ”The Dankrot Plains are infamous for their lack of manpower. Vast stretches of fertile land lie fallow simply because there aren’t enough hands to work them.”

”The Fury boy thought himself clever, spinning tales of compassion and mercy—but his proposal betrays his need. He seeks labour, not peace. And in doing so, he’s exposed his weakness... one we can exploit for our gain.”

Lucas clenched a fist, eyes gleaming as though victory were already in his grasp.

Earl Kellerman’s expression shifted again—interest flashing behind his eyes. He leaned forward on his chair.

”Sit down, Department Head Lucas,” he said. ”And calmly tell us about your plan.”

”Thank you, milord.” Lucas sat down, then continued, ”This is my plan.

”With your lord’s approval, we will prepare a counteroffer. Instead of giving the Northwest County outright, we will lease it to him for a period of ten years, with the agreement that he will do nothing to damage or destroy the land during that time.

”Since his goal is the people, we will take them from him. In the agreement, we can request a grace period that allows us to remove vital resources belonging to our fiefdom for a smooth transfer of authority. Then, just before the handover, we will relocate the people of the Northwest County inland to our other territories.

”It just so happens that the war cost us many working and military-aged men, creating a labour shortage we can fill with these relocated people.

”And by the time the Fury young master takes over the land, all he’ll find is empty land with no workforce to develop them. He will be forced to pour in his own money—money that would otherwise strengthen the Fury House.”

”So, in other words, you wish to use the land to tie up his development?” Earl Kellerman asked.

”Yes!” Lucas exclaimed with passion. ”While we’ll have consolidated our power base, he’ll be sinking funds into barren land. By the time he’s meant to reap the fruits of his investment, it will already be time to return the land to us.

”Milord, the benefits will all be yours to reap.”

Earl Kellerman leaned back, stroking his chin, clearly weighing the idea.

Then someone asked, ”What if he realises we’ve stripped the land of its people and chooses not to develop it?”

Lucas chuckled softly. ”That’s the beauty of this plan. Once the land falls under his dominion, he has no choice but to develop it. He alluded to it himself, didn’t he? By the Will of the Imperial Sun, all nobility are bound to develop the Empire’s lands under their care. By that same law, he must act.”

Earl Kellerman’s eyes gleamed.

The thought of wiping that arrogant smile off Alex Fury’s face using the boy’s own words was simply too tempting to resist.

Immediately, the sycophantic retainers realised the Earl had made his decision. They fell silent for a brief moment—then began to loudly praise the plan.

’Ah... this fief is done for,’ Lucas thought bitterly as he watched.

He wondered how he’d never noticed this rot festering within the fief until now. Truly, perspective changes outlook.

If he hadn’t chosen to follow Alex, he might never have seen anything the wrong with the sycophantic behaviour of the Kellerman retainers. Worse still, he might have joined them.

Knock!

Not long after their decision was made, a knock sounded at the door.

”The High Arbiter requests all parties to reconvene at the table for the continuation of the discussion,” the mediation delegate informed as the door opened.

Once again, Earl Kellerman led his delegation out. The group looked even more forlorn than before, while the Earl’s face grew even darker.

Of course, it was all an act. They didn’t want their expressions to betray their scheming before Alex, so they adopted the demeanour they believed the Fury young master expected to see.

They thought they held control of the board. Alas, they failed to realise they were just another set of pieces in a game they didn’t even know was being played.

Earl Kellerman sat opposite an already-seated Alex, glaring dangerously at the youth.

”My fiefdom’s northwest county has been in my family for centuries,” he said coldly. ”I will not give it up entirely to you. If you want war, so be it. You may be strong, but even your family has people it dares not cross.”

Bang!

”Earl Kellerman!” Grand Mage Taman slammed his gavel, his expression thunderous. ”Do you truly intend to be in contempt of these proceedings?”

Before the Earl could respond, Alex raised a hand. ”It’s fine, High Arbiter. The Earl was merely delivering a message.” He turned toward Kellerman, eyes calm but sharp. ”Message received. So then, what do you propose?”

”As reparation for the war—and ransom for my son’s unconditional release—I will lease the county to you without fee for a period of ten years.”

”No. Ten years is too short,” Alex replied immediately, shaking his head.

Earl Kellerman’s nostrils flared, but he forced himself to stay seated. He had a greater plan in mind. Gritting his teeth, he asked, ”Then how long do you propose?”

His tone carried the resignation of a man who’d accepted defeat.

A flicker of surprise flashed in Alex’s eyes—so brief it nearly went unnoticed. But not to the Earl.

He grinned inwardly, ’Yes, that’s it. Take the bait, brat.’

***