Re: Tales of the Rune-Tech Sage

Chapter 613: Guardian Family Liaisons

CH613 Guardian Family Liaisons

***

Alex studied Kron Belloc for a moment.

The first Verdantian to arguably join the Fortuna party since their arrival looked... different.

As though he were carrying a heavy burden on his shoulders.

A flicker of understanding passed through Alex’s eyes.

He turned to his wives.

”Settle the others in,” he said. ”I’ll speak with our guests.”

The women nodded.

Raven Horn then led Alex and Kron into the mansion’s study.

Without ceremony, Raven Horn dropped into one of the guest seats.

Kron took the other.

Leaving Alex to occupy the master’s seat behind the desk.

”I suppose congratulations are in order,” Raven Horn said casually.

”I didn’t expect you’d actually succeed,” he added with a grin.

”What exactly are you referring to?” Alex asked, raising an eyebrow.

”Don’t. Please, don’t,” Raven waved dismissively. ”You’re not surrounded by nobles here—there’s no need for all that evasive nonsense you noble like performing.”

Alex glanced at Kron, as if to say he’s a noble.

Raven caught the look and shrugged.

”He’s not the first son. Doesn’t count.”

Kron’s expression twitched slightly, but he held his tongue.

Alex shook his head faintly before turning back to Raven.

”Very well,” he said. ”Let’s be direct.”

His gaze sharpened.

”Who are you really? You’re clearly more than just a Combat Master-level adventurer.”

Raven leaned back slightly, unbothered.

”I’m an elder of the Black Scar Syndicate,” he said. ”Or more precisely... an elder of the Alston family.”

”The Black Scar Syndicate? The Alston family? That’s impossible!” Kron blurted out.

Alex glanced at him.

”Are they significant?”

Kron stared at Raven, still shaken.

”The Black Scar Syndicate is believed to be the largest syndicate in the world,” he explained. ”They operate across multiple empires.”

”As for the Alston family...”

He hesitated briefly.

”They were an imperial lineage— eradicated centuries ago by combined weight of multiple Temples under charges of heresy. Their territories were divided among three of the current empires.”

His tone hardened.

”The temples were thorough. There’s no way any members of the Alston family could have survived.”

”And yet,” Raven said lightly, ”here I am.”

Alex nodded slowly.

”I see,” he said.

”Then you must be part of the guardian lineage responsible for safeguarding the Heaven-Earth Concordance talismanic field.”

His eyes narrowed slightly.

”What happened? Was the secret exposed?”

Raven Horn’s eyes flickered.

”You’re quick to catch on,” he said, studying Alex. ”Let’s just say... when a family grows too large, it becomes harder to keep loose tongues in check.”

”I see...” Alex nodded slowly. ”So the royal family of the past evolved into the syndicate of the present?”

Raven gave a faint chuckle.

”Both are not so different, really. Royal families rule in the day under the authority of the Temples...

”...while we rule in the night—under the authority of money, influence, and greed.”

Silence settled over the room.

For a brief moment, Alex and Raven regarded each other— both measuring.

Eventually, Alex broke the silence.

”I assume you already know the outcome of the trial,” he said. ”Let me guess—Wayne Achard sent me there deliberately. The berserk humans were nothing more than a distraction... a waypoint to guide me in the right direction.”

”You’re correct,” Raven replied without hesitation, nodding openly.

”Why?” Alex asked.

Raven tilted his head slightly.

”Why what?”

”Why me?” Alex clarified. ”Why choose me for the trial?”

Raven shrugged.

”Because the trial field itself pointed you out.”

Alex’s brows furrowed.

”And what exactly does that mean?”

”I don’t know all the details,” Raven admitted. ”But within our family, there’s a group of sorcerers who practise a mystic art that links them to the talismanic field.”

”When a potential Legatee appears nearby, the field sends out a signal. That signal leads these sorcerers to the candidate.”

”It’s our family’s job to evaluate whether the individual is suitable. If we deem the candidate worthy... they’re guided to the trial field.”

He paused briefly.

”You remember Martin?”

”The young man at the front desk of the Dragonstone adventurer association branch?” Alex replied.

”That’s the one,” Raven nodded. ”He’s one of those sorcerers.”

”From what I’ve been told, he received a strong signal from the talismanic field the moment you arrived to register your party.”

”He reported it immediately to the dwarf.”

’So that’s why he looked so startled back then,’ Alex thought.

”If that’s the case,” Alex said, ”Why didn’t Branch Master Wayne test my character before sending me to the trial?”

”He didn’t need to,” Raven replied.

”Someone vouched for you.”

”Who?” Alex asked. ”I didn’t know anyone in Dragonstone at the time.”

”Your patron,” Raven said, gesturing towards Kron Belloc. ”Baron Luth Belloc.”

”He contacted Wayne beforehand and asked him to evaluate you as a potential candidate. He vouched for your character— but still wanted one of our sorcerers to verify it, just to be certain.”

Raven smirked faintly.

”As expected... Luth’s eye for people remains as sharp as ever.”

”It seems the Guardian families are closer than I expected,” Alex remarked.

”Not quite,” Raven Horn replied casually. ”Luth is simply... one of the smarter ones.”

He glanced briefly at Kron, then hesitated.

It was subtle—but noticeable.

As though he were weighing whether or not to speak.

Alex’s brow lifted slightly.

”It’s unlike you to hold your tongue,” he said.

”I may talk a lot,” Raven shot back, ”but I do have tact.”

”Tactful indeed,” Alex replied dryly.

Kron spoke up.

”What is it? There’s no need to hesitate on my account.”

He, too, was curious.

Raven shrugged.

”Alright then.”

”The reason the Belloc family fell centuries ago,” he said bluntly, ”was because its leaders were fools— men who accepted the word of a nobody as truth simply because he carried a token.”

Kron’s expression tightened.

”The fraud claimed he had inherited the Legacy,” Raven continued. ”And your ancestors —eager to finally fulfil their generational duty— followed his orders without verifying anything.”

”They didn’t consult us —the guardians of the trials— to confirm whether the Legacy had truly been passed on.”

He exhaled lightly.

”By the time they realised the truth... they were already too deeply entangled in the man’s delusion.”

”And at that point, pushing forward was their only option.”

Kron frowned deeply, his silence heavy.

Raven, however, had already turned his attention back to Alex.

”Luth wanted to ensure history didn’t repeat itself,” he said. ”So he reached out and built a working relationship with my side.”

”We’ve maintained close cooperation ever since.”

”That’s why we were willing to accept his judgement when he vouched for you.”

”I see,” Alex nodded.

He leaned back slightly, resting his chin against his hand.

”You’re unusually forthcoming today,” he observed. ”You weren’t like this before.”

Raven shrugged again.

”You’re the Legatee now,” he said plainly. ”The Guardian families are meant to fall under your command.”

”In other words—you’re the boss.”

He smirked faintly.

”And as your subordinate, it’d be rather foolish of me to keep things from you, wouldn’t it?”

Alex gave a small shrug in return.

”Would they really accept my authority that easily?” he asked. ”Just because of a centuries-old trial?”

”I find that hard to believe.”

”You’re not wrong,” Raven admitted with a nod. ”If this were before the Belloc incident... perhaps.”

”But now? Things are more complicated.”

”Everyone will want assurance before they commit.”

Alex leaned back further, folding his arms.

”Let me guess,” he said. ”That’s why you’re here. To act as my chaperone?”

”Do you really think that if those old foxes wanted to send you a babysitter, they’d send me?” Raven Horn raised an eyebrow.

Alex chuckled knowingly.

Raven waved his hand dismissively.

”I’ve been assigned as a liaison between you and the Guardian families,” he said. ”But let’s be honest— that’s just a fancy way of saying messenger.”

He leaned back casually.

”Still, it’s a comfortable job. All I need to do is discreetly pass messages between both sides. That’s right up my alley.”

Alex would be a fool to believe that was all Raven was there to do, but still, he nodded in acceptance.

”I’m fine with the arrangement,” he said. ”In fact, to be honest, I’m also wary of the Guardian families.”

His expression grew more serious.

”For now, I’d rather everyone remain where they are and continue with their usual operations.”

”I’ll only need them to act when the time comes. Until then, we can’t afford to draw the attention of the false deities and their hounds.”

A faint glint passed through his eyes.

”Especially now that there are scapegoats more than willing to step into the spotlight on our behalf.”

Raven smirked faintly.

”I’ll pass on your message... as delicately as possible.”

”Don’t,” Alex cut in. ”Deliver it exactly as I said.”

Raven raised a brow.

”You’re not worried that kind of phrasing might offend those old foxes?”

”No,” Alex replied calmly. ”I’m more concerned that your ’delicacy’ would make things worse.”

Raven paused... then shrugged.

”Fair enough.”

Alex shook his head, no longer bothering with him, and turned to Kron instead.

”Let me guess,” he said. ”You’re here for a similar reason— to act as an intermediary between your father and me?”

”Something like that,” Kron nodded. ”Father hopes I can join your party... and keep him informed about your nature.”

”Just my nature?” Alex raised an eyebrow. ”Not my plans?”

”I was only told to observe your nature,” Kron replied with a shrug. ”I suspect he knows I wouldn’t be able to see through your plans if you chose to conceal them.”

Raven laughed.

”You’re straightforward. I like that.”

Kron didn’t react.

Instead, he reached into his inner jacket and pulled out a letter.

”One more thing...”

He handed it to Alex.

”Father asked me to give you this. He said that if you make proper use of the information within... it could help accelerate your goals.”

Alex accepted the letter and opened it.

His eyes scanned its contents briefly—

Then a smile slowly formed on his face.

”I see...”

”This is indeed a valuable gift.”

***