Re: Tales of the Rune-Tech Sage Chapter 790: Domain Council Meeting I

CH790 Domain Council Meeting I

***

Alex and his wives, followed closely by Sugud, walked into the council chamber within the Domain Lord’s manor.

By then, most of the expected attendees had already arrived and were quietly conversing amongst themselves.

The faces gathered there came as no surprise.

They were Alex’s core retainers—the people who currently formed the backbone of the domain’s leadership.

While waiting for the appointed hour, Alex walked over to Saul and exchanged a few words with him.

"It is time, my lord," Milton said, stepping forward.

Alex nodded before sweeping his gaze across the council chamber.

During the brief wait, the remaining attendees had also arrived.

Most of the late arrivals belonged to the military branch of the administration, prompting their leader, Kavakan, to scratch the back of his head sheepishly when he noticed Alex looking his way.

"Let’s begin."

The room immediately fell silent.

Everyone took their assigned seats around the large horseshoe-shaped council table.

According to Milton, the table was as old as the manor itself.

Besides seating the domain’s senior officials, its open centre had been deliberately designed to provide ample space for petitioners, envoys, and invited guests to stand before the council whenever they were summoned.

This was the first official meeting of the Domain Council since Alex had assumed office as Domain Lord.

As such, many of the seats remained empty.

Several positions that would ordinarily have been occupied by senior officials simply did not yet exist, while others remained vacant until suitable candidates could be found.

Nevertheless, the foundations of the domain’s future government had finally been laid.

Present at the council table were:

Zora Frost Pendragon — Grand Chancellor of the Frontier March, Minister of the Interior and Education.

Eleanore Ludevicus — Minister of Works and Construction, and Minister of Trade and Commerce.

Udara Gudrun Kael — Minister of Information, Director of Military Intelligence, and member of the Domain War Council.

Saul Redwald — Lord Protector of the Frontier March, Senior Counsellor to the Domain Lord, and senior adviser to the Domain War Council.

Milton — Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of the Interior and Chief Secretary to the Domain Lord.

Rosa Mercier — Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Trade and Commerce.

Sugud Ironhost — Director of the Domain Bureau of Research and Development.

Kavakan — Commander of the Domain Army and Head of the Domain War Council.

Dalton Asheton — Deputy Commander of the Domain Army and member of the Domain War Council.

Sinia — Deputy Commander of the Domain Army and member of the Domain War Council.

Dyrk — Deputy Commander of the Domain Army and member of the Domain War Council (formerly a BattleBane Captain).

Gunnar — Deputy Commander of the Domain Army and member of the Domain War Council (formerly a BattleBane Captain).

Mogal – Flag Officer of the Domain Army

Mordor Doomcrusher — Flag Officer of the Domain Army.

Silver Blackbolt — Deputy Director of Military Intelligence.

Havel Landomas — Senior Officer of Military Intelligence.

And finally,

Alex Fury — Domain Lord of the Frontier March.

Besides the retainers seated around the council table, three senior officials from the former magistrate administration attended as observers. Standing quietly behind the Domain Lord’s chair was Sergeant Lopota, serving as Alex’s personal guard throughout the meeting.

Alex looked around the horseshoe-shaped table before giving a small nod.

"Thank you all for attending this meeting at such short notice despite the demanding schedules I have imposed upon most of you," he began.

Without waiting for a response, he continued.

"Each of you represents some of—if not the—brightest minds currently serving this domain. I have gathered you here because I cannot build this fledgling territory alone. I need your experience, your judgement, and your expertise to help guide the Frontier March towards a self-sustaining future."

Alex rested his elbows lightly on the arms of his chair and interlocked his fingers before him.

"It would be an impossible task for any single individual."

A faint smile crossed his face.

"And, despite being the one sitting in this chair, I am also the least experienced person in this room. Because of that, I know there are many things I will inevitably overlook while planning the future of our domain."

His gaze swept across everyone present.

"So, rather than pretending I possess all the answers, I would rather rely on the collective wisdom gathered in this chamber."

"Today, I ask that we put our heads together—not as master and subordinates, but as people working towards the same goal—to determine the future we wish to build for the Frontier March."

Alex’s words drew subtle smiles from several members of the council.

Although it was objectively true that he was the youngest person present, not a single member of the council still viewed him through that lens.

Had Alex not mentioned it himself, the thought would never even have crossed their minds.

Contrary to what Alex had just said, everyone present believed the exact opposite.

When it came to planning and governing a territory, if someone claimed Alex was the most experienced person in the room, they would have readily believed it.

No. In truth, they already did.

"We’ll do our utmost not to disappoint you, Sir Count," Saul replied, playing along with Alex’s modest rhetoric.

The others nodded in agreement.

"What is your vision for the domain, my lord?" Saul asked.

Alex nodded.

Leaning forward slightly, he rested his forearms on the table.

"Given the Frontier March’s current population, we possess far more developable land than we have people to properly utilise. Because of that, I believe we should avoid—or at the very least, limit—any further territorial expansion for the time being, aside from the fortified settlement I intend to establish at the southern valley entrance."

"Instead, I want us to concentrate our manpower, resources, and investment on developing the three existing towns. We will strengthen their industries and use them as the foundation upon which we construct the new fortress settlement."

"I believe that, by doing so, we can establish a domain capable of withstanding threats from both within and outside the domain."

Only then did his gaze sharpen.

"And once those foundations have been laid, we can finally turn our attention towards our true objective...

"The Great Berserk Beast Forest."

A solemn silence settled over the council chamber.

Alex slowly looked around the table, meeting each person’s eyes in turn.

"To put that vision into more concrete terms..." he continued, "While our neighbours to the south currently appear content to remain officially neutral, recent events have shown they have no reservations about exploiting us whenever it serves their interests."

"If that is the reality we face, then I want this domain to become as self-sufficient as reasonably possible."

"Even if we cannot produce everything we want, we should strive to produce everything we need."

His voice softened slightly.

"That is why I have gathered all of you here today."

"I need your help to make that vision a reality."

With those words, Alex leaned back into his chair, subtly opening the floor for discussion.

Almost as though it had been agreed upon beforehand, the eyes of everyone present turned simultaneously towards Zora and Saul.

***