Re: Tales of the Rune-Tech Sage

CH717 Baron Belloc’s Stance and Standing

**[A.N: Mass Release Chapter: 5/10]**

Count Morgan’s expression visibly darkened for a brief moment before he quickly regained control. Nevertheless, Baron Belloc still noticed the reaction.

Shaking his head lightly, the Baron continued,

"I understand what Asher von Luxen is truly concerned about. My foolish eldest son, York, choosing to accompany Clinton von Luxen on his expedition was his own personal decision. It has no bearing whatsoever upon House Belloc itself.

"Similar to what I stated earlier, York is merely a scion of House Belloc. Likewise, Marquis Clinton is merely a scion of House Luxen. Their individual actions do not represent the official will of either House Belloc or House Luxen."

"The relationship between our two Houses remains exactly as it has always been," the Baron declared decisively.

"Are you certain this is the choice you wish to make? House Luxen, under the proper leadership, could assist with your current... predicament," Count Morgan said meaningfully.

However, Baron Belloc merely shook his head.

"I thank both the Count and the Marquis for their concern regarding my House, but I believe the two of you should first resolve your own troubles before concerning yourselves with mine," he replied bluntly.

"Very well." Count Morgan rose to his feet. "It seems my visit must end here, then."

Baron Belloc simply nodded.

Count Morgan practically stormed out of the castle in barely restrained fury.

After the Count departed, Baron Belloc returned to his study, where he stood silently by the window, seemingly watching the Count’s carriage gradually disappear into the distant horizon.

A weary sigh escaped his lips.

Under the banner of Duke Luxen’s second son—the Marquis of RavenLight, Asher von Luxen—Count Morgan had been making increasingly aggressive moves in recent times.

After Fortuna decimated the Barnsil Fortress’s forces during their passage through Helton Barony, Count Morgan had swiftly completed the marriage rites with Lady Helton, successfully becoming Regent of Helton Barony under the justification that the rightful heir remained underage.

To any discerning eye, it was obvious that this was merely a convenient pretext for seizing control of the Barony outright. And with the Count steadily placing his own loyalists into key administrative and military positions throughout the territory, it was nearly impossible to imagine the young heir ever truly reclaiming the fief upon reaching adulthood.

However, by marrying Lady Helton, Count Morgan had also acquired the justification he needed to extend his influence into Swiftsong—the merchant company owned by Lady Helton’s father.

By the time Lady Helton realised the Count’s true intentions, it had already become far too late. At present, Morgan effectively controlled nearly half of the merchant company already.

And this was far from an isolated incident. Other nobles operating beneath Asher von Luxen’s banner had similarly carried out quiet coups and takeovers against neighbouring fiefs and merchant organisations.

To outsiders, many nobles viewed these actions as proof of the Marquis’ intelligence, ambition, and leadership.

But to the Houses targeted by him, Asher von Luxen was nothing less than a wolf they absolutely could not afford to invite into their homes.

Aside from vassals quietly taking over the fiefdoms of others, there were also disturbing rumours surrounding the Marquis of RavenLight himself.

Some whispers even suggested that he might have been involved in the death of one of the Luxen Dukedom’s Combat Saints—a veteran warrior and soldier who had loyally served House Luxen for decades—all because the Saint had refused to involve himself in the struggle between the Duke’s children for succession.

And as though that alone was not alarming enough, the Marquis of RavenLight had recently begun turning his attention towards smaller fiefdoms outside the allowed area of influence of the Duchy possessing resources capable of advancing his ambitions.

From Baron Belloc’s experience, that was a recipe for disaster. The Imperial Family would never tolerate such unchecked expansion indefinitely.

Still, Imperial authority was slow-moving by nature, and until it finally acted, the smaller noble Houses remained entirely at the Marquis’ mercy.

Due to the considerable distance separating the Luxen Dukedom from Belloc Barony, Baron Belloc might ordinarily have viewed the situation merely as a distant observer. However, because of his eldest son’s close relationship with the Marquis of VirtuousLight—Clinton von Luxen, Asher’s elder brother—House Belloc had inevitably found itself within the sights of a very dangerous man.

Under normal circumstances, Baron Belloc would never have rejected Count Morgan’s proposal so forcefully and directly.

The only reason he possessed the confidence to refuse so decisively today was because of the second letter he had received earlier.

A letter of support... from someone the Baron respected immensely.

This individual was perhaps one of the greatest statesmen Baron Belloc had ever encountered in his lifetime.

The man possessed many identities, but the title used within the letter might have been the most significant of all—for it confirmed the progress of one of the Baron’s carefully placed gambles.

The sender of the letter was none other than the Third Elder of the Alston Guardian Family.

The Third Elder’s direct involvement—and his written support—confirmed one of the Baron’s recent suspicions, pieced together through the subtle details within Kron’s letters.

’Alex Fury has become the Legatee.’

With such a card now in his possession, and with the backing of someone who possessed the ear of the Lumeria Emperor himself, Baron Luth Belloc finally found the confidence to reject the banner of a mere Ducal scion—one who had not even secured his own position yet, and who would likely soon attract the scrutiny of the Imperial Family itself.

Well... unless Duke Luxen personally chose to intervene, of course.

--

Back in BloodIron...

Alex and the Fortuna Company remained entirely oblivious to the powerful ally they had just gained at the very highest level of the Alston Family as well as the political situation simmering within the Lumeria Empire.

Then again, even if they had known... it likely would not have changed much anyway.

Raven Horn returned with the message—or rather, the good news—and preparations for the plan swiftly began in earnest.

While Eleanore concentrated on the research and development side of the project, Fortuna and its partners—particularly the Black Scar Syndicate and its numerous branches spread across the continent—quietly began acquiring the raw materials required to mass-produce the treatment potions ahead of time.

This served two purposes. First, it would prevent the Temples from cornering and starving the market of essential materials. Second, it would help generate operational revenue to sustain the enormous undertaking that the project would eventually become.

Mobilising a colossal continent-wide organisation required vast amounts of wealth to keep the wheels of progress turning smoothly.

However, while Raven Horn’s report may have been the largest and most impactful development in terms of continental consequences, the most important piece of news for Fortuna itself came from someone else entirely—

Saul Redwald, the Master of the BattleBane Guild.

"Young Master Alex, I bring good news," Saul Redwald announced.

"What is it?" Alex asked.

"I have discovered a way for you to enter the Celahan Empire as a noble," Saul replied.

The revelation left Alex momentarily stunned.

***

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