Re: Tales of the Rune-Tech Sage Chapter 778: Tavern Rumours II

CH778 Tavern Rumours II

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"Why would the commander of the Frontier Stronghold and a Marquis of the Empire do that?" someone asked, both amused and sceptical.

"Isn’t it obvious? Money!" Reuters declared.

"Think about it. All the ore mined from our domain is taken away by the Viscount and the Marquis while they give us a pittance in return. The excuse they use is that they are the ones defending our domain during the beast tides from the Great Berserk Beast Forest.

"Now, what do you think would happen if a magistrate or a domain lord developed the domain to the point where we could defend ourselves against the beast tides?" Reuters posed.

"We wouldn’t need the Stronghold or the Marquis anymore!" someone answered.

"Exactly. A drink for the gentleman!" Reuters exclaimed.

However, none of the tavern wenches moved.

Completely unabashed, Reuters shamelessly picked up another mug and gulped it down himself, as though he were sharing a celebratory toast with the man who had answered correctly.

"Not only would the domain keep more of its ore to develop itself, but even if there were any left over, it wouldn’t need to sell it to the Stronghold and the Marquis for a mere pittance. That means the Viscount and the Marquis would lose a major source of income!" Reuters continued.

’I’ll be damned... that actually makes sense,’ the tavern-goers thought.

"That isn’t even the worst part," Reuters suddenly said. "According to my uncle’s nephew’s sister’s friend’s lover’s brother’s father..."

The crowd collectively rolled their eyes as Reuters once again mangled the identity of his supposed source.

"...unlike the previous domain lords we’ve had over the last few decades, the Marquis and the Viscount actually ordered the five families to assassinate the new domain lord."

"What?!" The revelation exploded through the tavern.

Reuters lowered his voice even further, prompting the crowd to lean in closer.

"Apparently, the new domain lord is not only a powerful sorcerer, but was also personally assigned to the domain by the Emperor. Do you know what that means? The Emperor personally sanctioned the new domain lord to develop the domain so it could serve as a foothold for an assault on the Great Berserk Beast Forest.

"Left alone, and with the Emperor’s backing, the new domain lord would undoubtedly develop our domain.

"Unfortunately for the Viscount, the Marquis and the five families, the Count proved to be a powerful sorcerer himself. So, the assassination attempt that might have worked against previous magistrates and domain lords failed against him."

"Had the domain lord investigated the attempt, it would have led back to the five families, which in turn would have pointed to the Viscount and the Marquis.

"And if the Emperor were to discover that the Marquis and the Viscount conspired to murder his personally chosen candidate... well..."

A shiver passed through the crowd.

They wanted to dismiss Reuters’ tale as drunken fantasy, yet it sounded just plausible enough to make them hesitate.

"Do you know why the Dunn family wasn’t found?" Reuters suddenly asked, recapturing everyone’s attention. "It’s because they were the ones who carried out the assassination.

"The Dunn family told Castin Town that six of their strongest warriors had gone missing after a hunt. But that was a lie. In reality, those six had gone to assassinate the domain lord... and failed.

"When the Dunn family head realised this, he gathered all his important subordinates and fled to the Frontier Stronghold to seek Viscount Dunhill’s protection. As for the other families, who knew about the plot but refused to abandon the town and place themselves under the Viscount’s control... well, we all know what happened."

"Is this really true? Then why hasn’t the domain lord said anything?" someone asked.

"The Count’s men discovered correspondence between the five families and the Viscount detailing a smuggling route used to move goods out of the domain and into the Stronghold, further impoverishing our lands.

"When the domain lord’s men followed that smuggling route, they discovered that it really did lead straight to the Frontier Stronghold," Reuters replied.

"As for why the domain lord hasn’t said or done anything against the Viscount and the Marquis..." Reuters suddenly trailed off.

He realised his jar was empty.

He looked expectantly at the crowd.

"Waitress! What are you doing? Fill this man’s jar, quickly!" numerous tavern patrons shouted to the tavern wenches.

Seizing the opportunity, the tavern wenches promptly brought out three fresh jars of ale, expertly identifying the patrons who had called out and collecting their payments.

After wetting his lips as usual, Reuters continued.

"The evidence gathered by the domain lord’s men is only circumstantial. It isn’t enough to bring down the Marquis. Short of a direct confession from those involved, every piece of evidence can be explained away by the Marquis.

"And we all know what happened to the people who could testify against him..."

"The Count’s hands are tied. The only way he can gain the upper hand now is to develop the domain," Reuters concluded.

’Develop the domain...’

Reuters’ words echoed repeatedly through the minds of the tavern patrons.

The seeds that had already been planted within them were suddenly nourished, allowing tiny sprouts to break through the soil.

Unbeknownst to the crowd, an important figure had happened to pass by and overhear Reuters’ seemingly outlandish claims.

It was none other than old Milton.

Never mind the tavern patrons—even Milton, the Vice-Magistrate of the Frontier March, had never heard any of what Reuters had just said.

Yet, despite being an insider, Milton didn’t dismiss Reuters’ story outright.

While its authenticity remained questionable, its effect on the people was impossible to ignore.

Milton’s expression turned solemn as he hastened towards Fonterra Manor, determined to seek answers.

However, Count Skywalker wasn’t there.

He was still travelling between Castin Town and the Mining Town, working to stabilise the tense situation in both settlements.

Then again, even if the Count had been present, Milton likely wouldn’t have gone to him first.

Instead, he sought out the person who had all but taken over leadership of the administration and civil service of the domain in the Count’s stead—Countess Zora Frost-Fury.

***