Re: Tales of the Rune-Tech Sage

Chapter 735: Narrative Control

CH735 Narrative Control

***

It was obvious he was intentionally guiding Alex’s thoughts towards something.

“Your Grace is referring to territory?” Alex replied.

After all, every landed noble required land.

“House Skywalker’s primary fiefdom now lies within the Great Berserk Beast Forest. Meanwhile, many of the peripheral territories that a restored House Skywalker could theoretically lay claim to have already been occupied by other noble Houses for decades.

“These nobles would undoubtedly oppose any attempt to restore House Skywalker’s claim over the Tat Espa fiefdom and its associated territories.”

“How do you propose we handle that?” Duke Cyrindale asked.

“According to noble convention, a lord who fails to protect and maintain control over his lands for an extended period forfeits his claim to them,” Alex replied. “In that regard, the nobles who have occupied and governed the peripheral territories over the past century possess a stronger legal claim than I do.

“And I have no intention of challenging those claims.”

Alex’s eyes sharpened slightly.

“Instead, my attention is focused on reclaiming the heartland of Tat Espa from the Great Berserk Beast Forest itself.”

Duke Cyrindale said nothing.

He simply continued to observe Alex with a gaze rich with meaning—a gaze Alex immediately noticed.

Taking that as a cue to continue, Alex pressed on.

“This is also my answer to the other issue I highlighted earlier.

“Whether I act or remain idle, short of joining them in their decadence, the more stagnant members of the nobility will oppose me regardless.

“So I have decided to do things the Skywalker way. Chivalry. Patriotism. Honour.”

His voice became firmer.

“Rather than engage in a cold war within the Empire, I will point my blade outwards and reclaim the lands stolen from both House Skywalker… and the Empire itself.”

Alex leaned forward slightly.

“And in doing so, I will show the rest of the nobility—those who ignore or cower before the looming threat of the Great Berserk Beast Forest—that, like any forest (wilderness) and like any beasts, this forest and its inhabitants can be tamed.”

His voice rose with conviction.

“I will show them that House Skywalker did not fall into ruin, nor did it flee to become ‘savages of the Wildlands’. Rather, House Skywalker chose to do what few nobles would ever be willing to do in pursuit of victory.”

“To walk amongst its enemies and learn from them.”

Alex’s eyes burned passionately.

“As the saying goes, ‘Know your enemy and know yourself, and you shall prevail in a thousand battles.’

“Outside the Great Berserk Beast Forest itself, the Wildlands arguably possesses the highest concentration of Berserk Beast nests on the continent.

“For a century, House Skywalker retreated into the Wildlands to study the Berserk Beasts. And now, I have returned to put that knowledge to use—to reclaim House Skywalker’s lost lands and restore its honour.”

Alex suddenly paused.

His passionate tone receded, returning to one of calm calculation.

“This will be my chosen narrative. And, incidentally, one that resolves the issue of our identity as adventurers originating from the Wildlands.”

The Duke’s eyelids fluttered almost imperceptibly for the briefest of moments.

“Young Master Alex, you intend to proactively announce your time in the Wildlands rather than conceal it?” Saul asked, clearly surprised.

Alex turned towards Saul and nodded.

“Yes,” he confirmed. “It is not a secret that can remain hidden forever anyway. If someone is determined enough to investigate our past activities, they will eventually uncover the truth.

“By taking the initiative, we can get ahead of the issue and control the narrative ourselves—framing it in a manner favourable to us while making it significantly more difficult for others to twist or weaponise the information against us.”

He then turned back towards the Duke.

“It also makes matters considerably easier for Your Grace,” he added.

Unfortunately, Duke Cyrindale remained as unreadable as ever. Not even the slightest clue escaped his composed expression.

In the end, Alex decided to ask directly.

“What do you think of my response, Your Grace?”

“It is certainly an interesting one,” Duke Cyrindale replied in a measured tone. “I will discuss your proposal and response with my vassals and gauge their reactions.

“That should provide a reasonable indication of how similar arguments may be received within the Imperial Court, where the final decision on this matter will ultimately be made.”

‘Old fox,’ Alex thought inwardly after hearing the answer.

The Duke was firmly guarding his true thoughts behind an impenetrable wall.

“Nonetheless,” Duke Cyrindale suddenly continued, “you have conducted yourself admirably during this discussion. If you perform equally well before the Imperial Court, I believe our chances of achieving a favourable outcome will increase considerably.”

“Understood,” Alex nodded.

“You may remain in Qulin City while awaiting the summons to travel from the Imperial Capital for the final judgement on this matter,” the Duke said. “Before then, however, I hope you can begin fulfilling your side of our arrangement.”

Alex nodded once more.

“May I see the patient?” he asked.

“Naturally,” the Duke replied with a nod of his own.

He stood up.

“Please, follow me.”

Duke Levin Cyrindale personally led Alex, Udara and Saul through Qulin Castle, taking them along a maze-like route. From time to time, guards would emerge from all manner of hidden corners to greet and acknowledge him.

They travelled deep into the castle’s rear grounds until they reached an isolated courtyard that arguably possessed more fortifications per unit area than the castle’s main structure itself.

Aside from the dense fortifications, the obvious effort to keep the courtyard’s inhabitant out of sight somewhat reminded Alex of his own Back Mountain Lodge within the rear mountains of the Ashen Castle.

Duke Cyrindale led them into the courtyard building and stopped before a particular door. Opening it, he guided them into a dark, damp passageway.

The hidden corridor was long and narrow, sloping gently downwards while growing increasingly moist the deeper they travelled.

Alex mentally estimated that they had descended the equivalent of two or three floors underground.

Eventually, the passage opened before another heavy metal door, beyond which lay a surprisingly vast space.

The underground chamber resembled a large subterranean courtyard, complete with numerous rooms and even an underground spring, all illuminated by intricate magical lamps.

Duke Levin appeared thoroughly familiar with the place, navigating its winding paths as though it were second nature.

They passed a couple of rooms filled with scrolls, parchments and books scattered around on tables, shelves and the ground.

Alex’s Truth-Seeker Eyes happened to catch a glimpse of the glyphs written upon a random sheet of paper lying on the floor.

Unable to suppress his curiosity, he bent down and picked it up.

The moment his eyes landed upon the contents, a shudder ran through his body.

His pupils constricted.

‘These…’

His heartbeat quickened.

‘These are Interplanar Coordinate calculations!’

***