Re: Tales of the Rune-Tech Sage Chapter 924: Warden of Intelligence and Secrets

CH924 Warden of Intelligence and Secrets

***

"That’s the goal," Alex confirmed from behind. "Wars are not won simply because one has the strongest army. More often than not, it is logistics that wins you a war.

"The ability to move troops to a battlefield, the ability to feed them, the ability to replenish your weapons and supplies, the ability to move injured troops from the battlefield for rescue... In short, the ability to project your strength on the battlefield depends largely on managing logistics."

Alex straightened from where he had been leaning against the wall and walked over.

"I have studied many wars and many battles. And I have come to a few conclusions which I believe should act as the guiding philosophy for our organisation’s actions.

"Unlike what most people believe, war isn’t an end—it is a means to an end. A tool, and not the destination or final point of a process.

"Also, in war, the battlefield is neither the sole nor the most important piece of it. Logistics, intelligence... these are also vital pieces we must control beforehand," Alex said to the three.

He turned to Alpha and Haggleworth.

"The contingency plans I gave you two are more than just plans to manage things in my absence. They are proof of concepts—of sorts—that I prepared for you so you can see my vision as well.

"Imagine if we knew everything on the continent... Imagine if everyone needed our services to move anything on the continent... You tell me, would it still be impossible for us to take control, even in the rigid system that shackles our world?"

He smiled, then turned to Udara.

"This is my vision, and the tools I have prepared for you. Now, it is up to you to decide how to use them," he said to her.

Alex’s expression suddenly hardened, becoming authoritative as he leaned towards her, bringing his face close to hers.

"You are one of the people who know me best. You have been my shadow for almost three years, and now you are my hands behind the dark curtain—my Warden of Intelligence and Secrets.

"You now have all the tools at your disposal. Make me proud."

Alex placed his forehead against hers, then suddenly pulled back.

He looked at the three again.

"My legs feel stiff. I need to go stretch them. I will leave you all to figure out what to do next from the dark side of our domain."

To the three’s surprise, Alex began walking away.

’You don’t need my presence to continue casting a shadow over you. You are already my shadow,’ Alex thought to himself as he walked out.

Just as he reached the door, he stopped as if remembering something.

"Alpha, come see me later. There’s something I need you to help me look into," he suddenly said.

"All right. Carry on with the scheming." He waved behind him and left.

—

The three left behind looked at each other, somewhat speechless, as Alex’s actions felt so random and spontaneous. Yet, at the same time, they could feel his trust in them and their abilities.

’I don’t use people I don’t trust, and I don’t doubt people I use.’

Alex’s trust philosophy suddenly flashed through their minds, and his actions no longer felt quite as spontaneous as before.

Since he said he trusted them to act on his behalf, he probably felt no need to linger any further.

Besides, no matter what was decided by them, they would still eventually need him to sign off on it later.

Though technically inefficient, he had clearly communicated his inner evaluation of the people present.

’Far better than his father,’ Alpha chuckled to herself.

She turned back to Udara.

"So, Lady Warden, what is your plan?"

"What did you call me? Warden?" Udara blinked.

"Yes." Alpha nodded. "Master just called you his Warden of Intelligence and Secrets. I take it that is the title he wants you to take up as a Lady of his House."

"I see..." Udara muttered.

’Warden of his Secrets, huh...’ she muttered to herself, feeling a sweetness in her heart.

However, in the next moment, seeing Haggleworth and Alpha waiting for her word, she shook her head and focused on the matter at hand.

"This is tricky," she muttered aloud.

’According to Master, since the three-scion alliance attempted to assassinate him as part of the Interplanar Heir Hazing Ritual, he has the right to attack them without justification.

’With Master’s current strength and resources, getting revenge against the three scions isn’t the problem. It is what comes after it. The Reichart and Wastelander Duchies, as well as the Machholt Grand Duchy, would become Master’s overt enemies.

’Knowing Master, he would rather avoid that at the moment,’ Udara mused to herself.

’But if we avoid the three scions and don’t retaliate, Master’s reputation will be stained. He will be labelled a coward.’ Her hand tightened into a fist underneath the table.

But a moment later, she released it.

’Master won’t care. This isn’t the first time he has lived with a bad reputation for a period of time, only to return and shatter everything for his opponents. This time won’t be any different.’

She told herself, ’Master is the kind of person who can lay low for as long as needed while his plans unfold. Even though he is one of the richest people on the continent, he doesn’t let it show. Instead, he lays low while he converts that wealth into covert power.

’I should also follow the same doctrine. Until everything is set, those under me and I must not reveal anything to outsiders. At the very least, any connection to Master must always remain veiled at all costs.’

Her eyes flashed.

’What was that thing he said a while back? "If you are going to do something, do it all at once." In that case, the three scions can live for now. But not for free. They will provide their use—interest for not killing them right now,’ she decided.

She turned to Alpha.

"We won’t make any overt moves against the three scions at the moment," she declared. "Otto Reichart, Erman Machholt, and Alric Wastelander—the three of them are not our true enemies. It is the Houses and organisations behind them. So, for now, we will hold off on attacking the three of them. Instead, our job will be to set up the net around them and their backers."

***