Re: Tales of the Rune-Tech Sage Chapter 923: Intelligence Review

CH923 Intelligence Review

***

Udara and Alpha didn’t notice this, as they were still focused on their discussion.

"That’s pretty much all the information we have on the three scions," Alpha said with a slight shrug. "The only thing I have left to report with regards to the three scions are the actions Dark Water took against them according to Master’s contingency.

"I can bring you up to speed if you want before you make your decision," she said.

Udara nodded. "Please do."

"Okay." Alpha nodded.

She played around with the magic table once more.

"Before your group left for the Interplanar Expedition, Master left a guide on contingencies we should take in the event of an accident befalling him.

"With the plans for these contingencies, we carried out different covert operations which slowed down the momentum of the three scions, but more importantly, the Houses behind them," Alpha said.

She swiped a window before Udara.

"First, Reichart. Since their goal was to influence the northwest, I decided to put roadblocks in their way, but before that could be done, we needed to understand the Reicharts’ plan for the northeast.

"So, I had a new operative infiltrate the Reicharts’ intelligence outfit, planting a connection there that would allow us to monitor every piece of intelligence flowing through the outfit, allowing us to pre-emptively move against them," Alpha revealed.

"From the intelligence we gathered, it seems the agreement between the alliance of the three scions—in particular, Otto Reichart and Erman Machholt—didn’t end with the expedition incident.

"Erman and Otto agreed to have their proxy Houses in the northwest work together to help move Reichart forces and assets into the region. So, before the order could come down and take effect, Dark Water supported the Fangs in carrying out a series of false-flag operations in the region."

Udara looked at the window displayed before her on the magic table and read through the file.

The file before her showed a record of operations carried out by the Fangs between the Holts and Herzogs.

The Holts were obviously the proxies of the Machholts in the region, while the Herzogs had sworn fealty to the Reicharts.

The Holts and Herzogs, like their lieges, Machholt and Reichart, were generational rivals. The two neighbouring Houses were uneasy allies and ready-to-become hostiles.

In other words, there was a lot of bad blood between the two Houses, and the Fangs took advantage of this fact.

A single false-flag operation was enough to create tension between the Houses, to the point where they were ready to go to war.

Were it not for the goals of their liege Houses, they might not have held on for as long as they did.

"Thanks to the Fangs sowing discord between House Holt and House Herzog, the Reicharts were barred from exerting their influence in the region, particularly when it came to helping House Kellerman.

"The growing tension between the Holts and the Herzogs also meant that the food trade from the northwest to the Reichart Fiefdom stalled. Haggleworth thought it was too good an opportunity to miss," Alpha said.

"Sending in a group of merchants belonging to our subsidiaries at this time, we now control a significant share of the market in the Fiefdom. With our superior logistics network, it wouldn’t be wrong to say we have a hand on the pulse of the Reicharts’ food lifeline.

"Oh, yeah, it also allowed us to obtain minerals for cheaper than the typical market price. We’ve been needing a lot more resources due to our recent expansions. Multiple birds with one stone, I’d say." Haggleworth, who had been mostly silent for a while, said proudly.

Alpha shook her head, then continued once more.

"The Holt-Herzog tensions also grabbed the attention of the Machholts, simultaneously reducing the eyes they have on the Fury Clan. Unfortunately, aside from that, we weren’t able to do much to Erman or the Machholts. But fortunately, we were able to do more against Alric and the Wastelanders."

"Alric’s men sealed an agreement with the Draconians which secured them limited hunting rights within the DragonMourn Highlands, as well as the use of smuggling routes through the Highlands that would have allowed him to send men into the Confederacy unnoticed.

"An asset infiltrated one of Alric’s tribute convoys to the Draconians and set up a trap spell which detonated, killing off one of the Draconian tribes and breaking the treaty between the Wastelanders and the Draconians for a while," Alpha revealed.

"The treaty is back in effect?" Udara asked.

"Partially," Alpha replied. "Alric has the support of an influential Draconian Chief. They vouched for Alric, causing the Draconians to reluctantly recommence the agreement—but in a more limited capacity.

"The hunting rights are void, while the smuggling routes have been reduced to two. The cargo allowed through the routes at any given time is limited, and the price for each shipment has gone up."

Udara nodded in understanding.

"Although the Draconians continued the agreement, trust between them is broken. Alric and his supporter must have taken the unfavourable deal with the future in mind. They hope to mend what was broken in time, allowing for a future where the deal can be reworked," she said.

A glint in her eyes betrayed a plan she was cooking up in her mind.

Alpha swiped another data file towards Udara.

"Aside from the smuggling, we also targeted a legal trade route that connects the Wastelanders to the northeast through their generational ally and vassal, the Jurgens.

"The Rudel Bridge, which connects the Wastelanders to the Empire’s northeast over a tributary of the Argean River through Jurgen County, collapsed a few months ago. We manipulated things to ensure we gained control of the temporary trade permit the Jurgens and Wastelanders jointly issued, while removing a competent Hardline True Blood of House Wastelander and pinning it on another one.

"With this, we were able to remove two useful pieces from Alric’s hand while gaining control of the route between himself and his House’s generational ally and vassal," Alpha revealed.

"Same as before, thanks to the gap in the market, our subsidiaries were able to expand further into the region. We now control the majority of the legal logistics network within and around the Wastelander Fiefdom. There is little they can move without us knowing about it," Haggleworth chipped in.

"It seems to me that you spent a lot of time gaining control of the logistics network in and around our own and our enemies’ territories," Udara surmised.

***