Re: Tales of the Rune-Tech Sage

CH352 Alex's Gambit – Rune-Tech Penetration Testing

***

Alex inwardly sighed.

Even he, the so-claimed Father of Rune-Tech, didn't truly understand everything about his creation—especially how it functioned or what its full capabilities were.

Well, then again…

'That's the beauty of exploration, isn't it?' He chuckled to himself.

Zora, on her part, found it difficult to fully grasp Alex's explanation. It didn't make sense to her; it seemed to defy the principles of Array Mastery as she understood them. Still, she could tell that Alex's account was the best explanation even he could give.

'I should just assume this is a unique quirk of Rune-Tech. It's not like the platform has always obeyed the conventional rules of Array Mastery anyway,' she decided inwardly—for the sake of her sanity.

The couple reached their respective conclusions simultaneously.

Alex continued, "In more extreme cases, the encryption formation even converts smaller sections of a formation into semi-greater runes—a process that not only enhances the efficiency of the formation but also makes it far harder to decipher for anyone unfamiliar with Greater Runes."

"Because of what I intended to use the Coinage Moonstone for," he went on, "I attached the highest level of importance to the Interspatial Formation used to construct the ring's internal space. So, its encryption is the strongest my Rune-Tech platform currently offers."

"The semi-greater rune method?" Zora asked.

"Yes," Alex confirmed. "Hence my confidence. Unless they can unravel my Greater Runes without any aid from me, they won't be able to make any progress."

Zora nodded in understanding.

Unexpectedly, Alex's expression turned solemn.

"If—and I mean if—they're able to crack it, that wouldn't bode well for me," he admitted quietly. "I might never be able to create a better encryption or security method. So, if they succeed, it would mean my Rune-Tech platform isn't just less secure than I thought—it's actually far more vulnerable than I realised."

He offered a soft, almost resigned smile. "In essence, I have no choice but to believe the structure will hold, because the validity of Rune-Tech itself depends on it."

In other words, Alex was conducting his own form of penetration testing on the Rune-Tech platform before making it widespread. But his approach was far riskier than any standard test.

Instead of using controlled conditions with paid testers, he was daring enough to use the real-world experts of the Tri-Association Alliance—for free, in an open and unpredictable trial.

The only safeguard he had introduced was that he wasn't exposing the full Rune-Tech platform—only one isolated aspect of it.

Understanding what was truly at stake, Zora couldn't help but feel a pang of worry. Was Alex in over his head this time?

Still, she kept her concern to herself. She chose instead to trust in his ability to bring about the unexpected—as he always had.

Instead of voicing her concern, Zora chose to ask, "How would you even know if they manage to crack it or not?"

"Well, first of all, we'll start seeing more replicas of the Coinage Moonstone appearing," Alex replied. "At first, I worried that any replicas would be limited to the upper nobility or royalty—people I have no direct connections with. But thanks to Eleanor, that's no longer a problem."

"Her introduction to Prince Caesar, and his subsequent introduction to Sir Archilles… it means you now have acquaintances within that sphere," Zora deduced.

"Exactly." Alex chuckled. "I'm certain Prince Caesar, at the very least, will let me know the moment he gets his hands on one."

Zora thought about it for a moment before nodding.

'Caesar might even go as far as getting you one himself,' she mused inwardly, though she didn't say it aloud.

"Secondly," Alex continued, "I have a… hunch, if you'd call it that—that I'll know if the formation gets cracked. I think there's a connection between me and the formation through the Rune-Tech platform."

He paused, looking mildly uncertain. "While I can't directly track it, I'm fairly sure I'd be able to feel it if its general condition were to change."

"Wait," Zora said sharply, her tone rising with alarm, "if you have a connection to it, doesn't that mean someone could potentially track it back to you?"

"Don't worry. I thought of that too," Alex said, raising a calming hand. "While I might not be able to track the ring through that formation, it doesn't mean others won't try. In fact, I expect the Alliance to employ shamans and hexers to trace any lingering presence I left on the ring in order to find its creator."

He smirked faintly, his tone growing sly. "So, as a precaution, I created a node from the faint connection between the formation and myself, and then I… implanted that node onto someone else. I even took a bit of that person's aura and smeared a trace of it on the ring. Not enough to mark them as the ring's crafter, but enough to make them suspected of having contact with the creator. It'll cause them a bit of annoyance when the matter eventually surfaces."

Zora arched an eyebrow. "Alex Fury… who do you hate so much that you'd drag them into such muddy waters?"

She knew Alex wasn't the type to entangle others in his problems. The fact that he could have easily severed the link but chose not to meant there was definitely more to it.

Alex smiled—brightly, almost cheerfully—but there was no warmth in it. Instead, his smile carried a biting, unnatural chill.

"Alric Wastelander," he said simply.

"!!"

Realisation dawned on Zora, and her eyes widened slightly.

No wonder his smile had seemed so wrong.

He was mimicking his target.

"Are you really that vindictive?" Zora rolled her eyes.

"No," Alex said with a light chuckle. "I'm a peace-loving person."

However, his expression quickly shifted—his smile faded, and the crimson in his ruby eyes deepened.

Calm Madness.

"But because he wanted to attack me," Alex said quietly, his tone edged with frost, "he sent his dog of a brother to spit on you… that, I cannot forgive."

"Alex…" Zora whispered, tightening her embrace around him.

Gradually, Alex's breathing evened out. The scarlet haze receded as Calm Madness withdrew.

Still, his next words carried a quiet, icy weight.

"Whether he intended it or not—whether he realised it or not—he must be punished for daring to let his dog sling mud at you. If I had my way, I would destroy him completely… but I'll make do with this for now."

"You're letting your emotions get the better of you," Zora said softly, cupping his face in her palms.

"I know," Alex admitted, smiling faintly. "And I'm allowing it. What kind of humble serf would I be if I allowed a riffraff to stain my Queen's—no, my Empress's robes?"

Zora couldn't help but laugh, her earlier tension melting away.

Alex leaned forward and pressed his forehead against hers.

"Don't worry," he murmured. "You know I'm careful whenever I act. I won't do anything beyond my means."

"I'm not so sure about that," Zora countered curtly. "I can name at least three times you've gone overboard."

Alex winced, unable to argue. Instead, he leaned in and stole a kiss as quiet retaliation.

"Those were controlled risks for the advancement of Rune-Tech," he quickly defended. "I don't take such risks for anything else."

Zora only rolled her eyes.

'Well,' she thought, 'at least nothing should happen if the Tri-Association Alliance fails to crack the ring.'

Her curiosity was mostly satisfied, though one question still lingered—how Alex had managed to harness Providence in the crafting of the Coinage Moonstone… and why.

But then she remembered Merlin's warning—never pry into another's Providence. The risk of inadvertently harming Alex made her abandon the thought.

It wasn't something she needed to know anyway.

She exhaled softly and shifted her focus to something far more pressing.

Her eyes gleamed with mischief and affection.

"You've been getting a little too unruly lately," she said, her voice sultry. "It seems you need some… discipline."

Alex caught the look in her eyes and chuckled. "My Empress, your humble serf accepts his pun—"

Before he could finish, Zora's lips captured his, her tongue slipping past his defences.

Ever the ready rogue, Alex responded in kind.

And so, within the quiet quarters of the Enclave Tower Master's office, away from prying eyes, the couple lost themselves in a passionate embrace.

**(2/70)**