Re: Tales of the Rune-Tech Sage - Chapter 314

Chapter 314: Reparation Demand
CH314 Reparation Demand

***

With Earl Kellerman and his delegation reseated, the talks resumed.

Grand Mage Taman continued the proceedings.

“For these talks, our priority is to determine a clear cost for reparations stemming from the recent conflict between your two houses, and to arrange for the release of all peerage prisoners of war in custody,” he said, turning to the two representatives.

Then, directing his attention to Alex, he asked, “Young Master Alex, as the victor and the captor of the PoW, what are your demands for reparations and the release of the captives?”

“Thank you, High Arbiter.” Alex inclined his head. “A lot of good men and women in my service were lost during that needless conflict. Each had families left devastated by their deaths. It’s impossible to put a true price on those lives, but by the wisdom of the Imperial Sun we must try, if only to resolve the matter quickly and prevent further escalation.”

Alex didn’t claim to be a negotiation expert—far from it—but he understood a principle from his previous life: start large; exaggerate the stakes, make the event sound more complicated, and only then reveal the high demand.

It was an tried and tested tactic for a reason.

“Our family’s experts and I deliberated for days before settling on our demand.” He looked directly at Earl Kellerman. “Please take them seriously. This is not a joke.”

Earl Kellerman’s frown deepened—less at the audacity of a youth addressing him and more at the implication behind Alex’s words. He had come expecting to be squeezed, but he might be in for more than he bargained for.

“Just speak already,” Earl Kellerman barked.

“Very well.” Alex nodded. “For both reparations and the release of the peerage prisoner of war—specifically your heir, Josiah Kellerman—we have one request: the Kellerman House’s northwestern county will be ceded to me.”

“What?!” Earl Kellerman shot to his feet. Even in his worst nightmares he had not imagined such a demand. “There is no way I will pay such a price!”

Alex shrugged nonchalantly. “That’s not my problem, is it? There’s a saying—if you can’t afford the punishment, don’t commit the crime. Wasn’t your goal to swallow a piece of my father’s fief? You were quite ready to seize another’s land, but now you can’t fathom someone targeting yours?”

His eyes flashed, his tone turning icy. “If you’re unwilling to pay, then it’s not my problem. We’ll settle this on the battlefield.”

Bang!

Grand Mage Taman slammed his gavel onto the table.

“Young Master Alex, please refrain from making statements like that. Such words dampen the spirit of these talks,” he scolded before turning to Earl Kellerman. “Earl, please—take your seat. This is a negotiation. Young Master Alex has merely presented his terms. You may now raise your counteroffer, and we shall work towards a price acceptable to both sides.”

Earl Kellerman sat down again, fuming.

“There’s nothing to negotiate if the other party starts with something so absurd. We might as well settle this on the battlefield as he suggested,” he huffed.

Bang! Bang!!

Grand Mage Taman’s eyes flared with restrained annoyance as he glared daggers at the Earl.

“I do not wish to repeat myself,” he said coldly. “Both of you are learned men of standing. Please refrain from making statements that could jeopardize these proceedings, or else expect a summons from the Imperial Courts and Treasury.”

His gaze alternated between both sides of the table until they each nodded in acknowledgment.

Then he turned to Alex. “Young Master Alex, your demand is indeed steep—so steep, in fact, that its reasonability is questionable. While the law grants the victor the right to request reparations, such demands must be within reason, or these talks will be meaningless.”

“But I believe my demand is reasonable,” Alex replied calmly.

“I see. Then, would you care to explain why you believe so?” Grand Mage Taman asked, leaning slightly forward.

“I can,” Alex said, nodding. “As I mentioned earlier, we deliberated at length before deciding what would be a fair price. As you can understand, ‘reasonable’ is a relative term. For us, this reasonability depended on three things:”

“First, our territorial security and development. We wanted a reparation that would serve as both a deterrent to House Kellerman—and to other like-minded Houses tempted to repeat such an invasion—while also supporting the economic, political, and social rebuilding within our lands. These were severely hindered by House Kellerman’s unprovoked assault, which came even as our men and women were dying in their territory, providing what we believed was a genuine request for military aid… which we now clearly see was nothing more than a ruse to weaken our defences.”

“Second, the Kellerman House’s ability to pay. We conducted a comprehensive assessment of their fief’s economy. Contrary to what House Kellerman may claim, we have found—supported by evidence—that they cannot afford to pay monetary reparations. We are unwilling to be bogged down by empty promises or prolonged delays in payment, hence we concluded that gold would not be an acceptable medium. Simply put, House Kellerman cannot afford to pay in coin.”

Earl Kellerman’s mouth twitched as he prepared to interrupt, but one sharp look from Grand Mage Taman—gavel poised—silenced him immediately.

It wasn’t the mage’s glare alone that quelled him, but the unmistakable weight of Imperial authority behind it.

Alex watched the exchange with quiet amusement, though none of it reached his face. As ever since the talks began, his expression remained calm, composed, and unreadable.

With the Earl effectively muted, Alex continued.

“Third, the wellbeing of Imperial citizens. We needed to ensure the safety and stability of the people. As history has shown, it is always the citizens along the borders between warring territories who suffer most—both during the fighting and after it ends. In this case, that region is the Northwestern County of the Kellerman fief.”

He looked toward the Earl as he spoke. “We cannot allow House Kellerman to vent its failure upon the people—especially since our own soldiers bled and died defending that very same land during the Wildkin invasion. Their sacrifice must not be made meaningless.”

Alex leaned forward, clasping his hands together calmly atop the table.

“Taking all these factors into account, we concluded that a cession of control of the Northwestern County is the most reasonable and beneficial path forward—for both our fief and the people.”

***