Re: Tales of the Rune-Tech Sage Chapter 656: Theolonium Trade Deal I

CH656 Theolonium Trade Deal I

***

Alex’s words were steady, almost emotionless.

"Lift your head. If you seek our assistance, do not resort to pleading. Persuade me—not with tears, but by demonstrating my benefit in aiding you."

With deliberate slowness, the woman raised her gaze to meet his, clearly taken aback by his directness.

A wave of hopelessness quickly washed over her features.

She possessed nothing of value. Her skills? The group she was with had already vanquished the very individuals who abducted her and her kin—their prowess far exceeded hers. Her beauty? The woman who initially addressed him was as beautiful, if not more so, than herself. Furthermore, the female companion who had descended into the dungeon alongside this 'white-haired' man possessed a breathtaking allure that made any comparison feel utterly demeaning. How could she possibly hope to captivate a man already in the company of such remarkable women, especially in her current state of disarray?

Alex perceived the answer within her expression and gave a slight shake of his head.

"It appears I have expended both my breath and my time needlessly."

He turned, preparing to depart. Then, at that precise moment, the barbarian woman’s eyes caught sight of the ore still held in Alex’s hand.

Her eyes widened significantly.

"That!" she suddenly cried out.

Alex halted his movement.

"I can guide you to the location where they extracted it," she stated rapidly, her voice tinged with desperation and urgency.

Alex stopped walking and pivoted to face the woman once more.

"You know the mining site for this ore?" he inquired. "Where is it?"

"Assist me in achieving revenge, and I will reveal its location," she responded.

Alex regarded her for a moment before speaking again.

"What prevents me from simply extracting the information through torture?"

For a fleeting instant, a flicker of fear crossed the woman’s face. She instinctively drew back slightly.

Then, she pressed her lips together, steeling herself to maintain eye contact with him.

"This is the sole possession I have left to offer you. If you wish to inflict pain, then proceed. Let us see whether I succumb to death first, or break and divulge the information... whichever occurs sooner shall be the outcome."

She spoke with every ounce of defiance she could muster.

Udara subtly nudged Alex from his side, remaining out of sight.

’I understand, I understand,’ Alex communicated internally. ’I will cease pressuring her now.’

’However, just to be absolutely certain...’

Spirit Sight Lv.2 was activated!

Alex silently scrutinized her and then gave a small, self-assured nod. There were no discernible traces of hostility or ill intent directed towards him or his companions. At the very least, her current stance was not a fabrication intended to cause them harm.

[Detection] was employed!

Acting on a sudden impulse, Alex initiated his rune-slot inspection spell upon the woman.

A grin threatened to form on his lips. Only the fear of being perceived as unsettlingly intrusive prevented him from displaying his amusement more openly.

"Very well. My group will aid you in liberating your village. In return, you will disclose the location of this ore’s mining site. However, understand this clearly—our assistance is solely for its recovery. We will not remain to defend it afterward," Alex articulated unequivocally.

The woman clenched her fists tightly.

"Upon our arrival, you must eliminate every single bandit encountered."

Her voice was low, yet the ferocity and hatred it contained were undeniably potent.

"That can be arranged," Alex confirmed with a nod. "Then let us formalize our accord."

The woman stood straighter.

"I pledge upon the sacred name of my Andaroga tribe that I shall honor my commitment to this agreement."

"And I shall honor mine—upon my reputation and the esteemed name of House Fury," Alex responded.

The two of them proceeded to spit into their palms and clasp hands.

The pact was thus solidified.

From that defining moment, Alex harbored no lingering doubts about the woman's potential to betray them.

A significant contributing factor to the native barbarians of the Wildlands being highly sought after as slaves was their unwavering adherence to oaths sworn in the name of their ancestral tribes. Once such a solemn vow was uttered, they would uphold it resolutely—even if it meant sacrificing their own lives.

Exploitative individuals, such as the Lost Heathens, capitalized extensively on this inherent trait by compelling high-value captives to swear oaths of servitude invoking their tribal lineage.

Following the utterance of such a vow, its origin—whether given willingly or under duress—became irrelevant; the barbarians would fulfill it without exception.

Nevertheless, this profound oath of servitude could only be declared once in an individual's lifetime, typically reserved for post-purchase scenarios or once their intended purpose had been firmly established.

For a people who would honor even a coerced pledge of servitude, a considerably less binding agreement presented an even more negligible risk of treachery.

Or so Alex had learned.

"So, where is your village located?" Alex inquired.

"In the direction of the dawning sun—approximately a full day’s journey by horseback," the barbarian woman replied. "The ore deposit is situated in that same general direction."

She paused briefly before elaborating further,

"The mine lies nestled within the mountain range situated behind our village."

This individual was none other than the stunning barbarian woman who had previously attempted to shield her fellow tribeswomen from the lecherous bandit, only for him to be eliminated by the Lost Heathens’ Second-in-Command.

’So, the Lost Heathens attacked their settlement to ensure no one would know about the mine,’ Alex deduced.

"Can you depart right away?" he inquired.

"Yes, I can," the woman responded without missing a beat.

"Master..."

Udara gently guided him to the side.

"The plan..." she reminded him in a low voice.

Alex’s brow furrowed.

She was correct. Their current objective was time-critical, and they could not afford the entire day’s delay that traveling to the barbarian village would entail.

A moment later, an idea struck him.

"Come with me," he instructed Udara and the barbarian woman.

The trio proceeded outdoors, into the open space in front of the two-story warehouse.

From high above, Senu descended with swift grace, landing before Alex with an air of majestic elegance.

She inclined her head towards him, and Alex reached out, stroking her gently before briefly pressing his forehead against hers.

"I must request a significant favor from you, my queen," he murmured. "I require your assistance in transporting Udara—and this lady here—to a location far from here.

"Will you do this for me?"

Senu lifted her head from Alex’s and fixed her keen gaze upon Udara.

The magnificent eagle offered a clear, human-like nod, which Udara returned without any sign of astonishment.

However, when Senu’s eyes then moved to the barbarian woman, a distinct pause occurred... accompanied by palpable hesitation.

She disliked having anyone other than Alex ride upon her back; she might tolerate Udara, albeit grudgingly, but she absolutely refused to permit a stranger to mount her.

Such an act would be an insult to her sovereign status.

"She is someone in dire need of assistance," Alex stated softly. "It is a queen’s duty—a higher calling of noblesse oblige—to aid those less fortunate, even if it means a slight compromise to your own dignity."

***