Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 158

Unlike the pleasant atmosphere of other departments, the entrance to the Magic Stone Management Department felt different, even in the air itself. The damp walls were covered in haphazardly stuck powder and dust, the magic stone storage units glowed in the darkness, and the place, which held both heat and cold, was reminiscent of a back alley in a marketplace.

‘Lower the fire a bit.’

‘That’s strange. The critical point is much lower, isn’t it?’

‘Just lower the fire, will you?’

Puff!

Every time they took a step, strange sounds echoed from all directions. It was the residue of research involving breaking, grinding, and boiling magic stones. Occasionally, explosions could be heard, but no one there paid much attention. They would simply protect the flasks with their bodies so that their research wouldn’t be disturbed.

‘Hehehe… So radiant, so radiant.’

Ian leaned against the door, watching Acorella’s back. It was a space completely cut off from the outside. Only the faint purple light from the Luron stones illuminated her face. It was the very image of a madwoman. Acorella’s subordinate knocked on the door to make his presence known.

Knock knock.

‘Captain Acorella.’

‘What!! I told you not to call me when I’m researching!’

‘Minister Ian has arrived.’

‘Oh? Really?’

Her change of attitude was so quick it was almost frightening. She took off her goggles and gloves, approaching Ian.

‘What brings you here, Minister? I submitted the report as you asked. Ah, no, never mind. It’s perfect timing. Come this way. When we gradually increase the pressure on the Luron stones at extremely low temperatures, the changes in the bubbles are much more active. But we’ve only been dealing with it in powder form, so how could we have known? Ah, what I mean is, these bubbles are practically the core of the magic stone—’

‘Captain Acorella.’

Ian calmed Acorella, who was excitedly rambling. He placed a report about a hand’s breadth thick on the desk and smiled brightly.

‘That’s what I came to ask about. I’d appreciate it if you could make the reports easier to understand next time. From what I’ve gathered, it seems you can eliminate the side effects mentioned in the Sildam potion.’

‘That’s right. It made people vomit blood, which greatly contributed to its negative reputation. It was something we had to solve for commercialization, and I was worried. But it seems there won’t be any problems.’

Indeed, what changes the world is money and will. With the influx of Luron stone chunks, research had become much smoother. Ian continued to flip through the report, asking,

‘There are no issues with its effectiveness?’

‘It seems to depend on how much Luron stone is used. Originally, it only worked at the moment of vomiting blood, but by solving the side effects, we might be able to adjust it by time. Since we’re focusing on commercialization, I’ll discuss that with other departments first.’

Puff!

Another explosion came from the end of the hallway. It was clear that someone’s research had failed. Ian nodded in understanding and tapped the table.

‘And this is a question born out of concern.’

‘Yes, yes. Ask away! I don’t know what it is, but when you start like that, it’s almost always right. It’s probably a concern.’

Acorella’s eyes sparkled, and her subordinate, as if unable to bear it any longer, left the lab, holding his forehead. Once they were alone, Ian crossed his arms and smiled.

‘There’s not a single word about neutralizing the Sildam potion in the report. Are you planning to submit a separate report?’

‘Oho! Ian, you’re sharp.’

The research on the Sildam potion was being conducted with commercialization in mind. Being commercial meant being chosen by the market, and the easiest way to be chosen by the market was to aim for a counterpart.

For example, if spears sell well, shields will also sell well, and if poison sells well, antidotes will also be in high demand. The same would be true for the Sildam potion. There would surely be an explosive demand for a way to neutralize it.

‘The Magic Department will naturally not officially research neutralization. But other countries or unknown apothecaries in the marketplace might. Figuring out how to neutralize the Sildam potion in advance is ultimately the best way to maximize profits in the long run.’

‘I don’t really understand such petty calculations, and I’m just curious about a spear that pierces everything and a shield that blocks everything. I did find a few errors that cause it to be neutralized when ingested. I was planning to organize that separately and give it to you.’

‘That information is confidential.’

‘Of course. You don’t have to worry about our people. They hardly ever go out because they’re always researching.’

Puff!

Another explosion. When even acrid smoke rose, Ian frowned, as if to ask if this was really okay. But Acorella was casually rummaging through a drawer. Dust fell from between the layers of parchment.

‘Uh, I put it here, where did it go? Anyway, I’ll organize it and send it to you today, at least roughly.’

‘I’ll be in the Minister’s office for a while, so come up directly.’

‘Yes, I understand. Minister Ian, loyalty, loyalty!’

Not only had he supplied a large amount of Luron stones, but he was also someone who seemed to understand her research. Acorella thought it was a good thing that Ian had become the Minister instead of Wesley, and she playfully saluted.

‘Keep up the good work.’

Ian left the Magic Stone Management Department, waving his hand in the air. He could understand why the mages called that place a ‘den.’ It wasn’t like that 100 years ago; it seemed the leader’s personality definitely influenced the department’s atmosphere.

‘It seems things are roughly prepared here.’

‘Have you arrived, Minister?’

‘Someone from the Administrative Department just came by.’

‘From the Administrative Department?’

As Ian returned, Tommy followed him, placing a pile of documents down. What was that now? Beric, who was lying on the sofa eating Gula [a type of sweet], frowned as if disgusted.

‘They came to check if the Sildam potion production is going well. They said the schedule has been set, and they asked if there would be any delays. Just in case, I said I would write a separate reply.’

It was like a kind of trial. A trial to determine whether the curse Gail testified to was true or not. Depending on the outcome of that day, the currents of the Imperial Palace would be swept in one direction or another.

He could roughly see the path, but it was a rapid current, so he couldn’t perfectly draw the trajectory. Who could know where a water droplet would splash?

‘Tell them there are no problems.’

‘Yes, I understand.’

‘Gail is a hair’s breadth from death, and for the time being, it’s as if he’s gained a shield that no one can touch.’

His death was the same as Bariel’s death. It would be revealed someday, but until then, even Marib would not easily harm him.

‘Then how will Marib react? He’s the one trying to bring him down, and Gail is the one holding on. Will he just watch him come back to life after being on the edge of a cliff?’

Absolutely not.

It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Marib as well. He would use any means necessary to push Gail off, to prevent him from rising, to make him fall into the abyss.

‘The most impactful move among them is…’

Ian bit his lip without realizing it. It was blasphemous and horrifying, an act that was even frightening to think about, but it wasn’t entirely unrealistic.

‘Ian, your expression is bad again.’

Beric, who had been watching him quietly, said. Lately, he had been getting lost in thought like that more often. When Ian smiled, Beric clenched his fist and passionately exclaimed,

‘We’re all doing this to make a living, right? Let’s not work! Anyway, he gave it to us roughly.’

‘There are levels to making a living. Beric, if you’re just going to live off Gula, then do so.’

‘…Then, can Ian work a little harder?’

‘Ah, have you smelled this?’

Ian had Beric smell the drug Gail had given him. In the borderlands, people fainted and hallucinated as soon as they smelled it, so if it was the same thing, the reaction would be the same. At Ian’s words, Beric sniffed.

‘I missed dinner because I fainted.’

‘So it’s the same thing. You hallucinated too?’

‘Yeah, but it’s a bit less intense than before.’

‘Even if it’s the same drug, it varies greatly depending on who makes it and how. But what’s important is that they’re the same.’

Ian nodded, twirling a pen in his hand. What connection did the merchant group distributing this drug have with Marib?

‘I sent a letter to Hielo and also mentioned it to Merelof. I asked them to find out where that drug, the one Lady Rien gave me, came from.’

But it would take a long time. Besides, Lady Rien had only obtained the drug; the possibility of her being connected to the central forces was extremely low. She couldn’t do much external activity under the Count’s strict surveillance at the time. For now, the fastest and most reliable way was to receive the data Gail had collected.

‘The clue about the merchant group is Marib’s Achilles’ heel.’

It would be better to think about it after the meeting. Depending on the outcome, or rather, depending on Marib’s actions, the response he would take would change, wouldn’t it?

Swoosh.

Ian looked out the window, wondering where the messenger bird he had sent to Hielo was flying. Thanks to the garden instead of the annex, the sunlight was pouring in without any obstruction.

* * *

And finally, that day arrived.

‘You can’t enter the palace today? Why?’

‘The delivery deadline is today.’

‘I don’t know the details either. An order has been issued to restrict the entry of outsiders as much as possible until sunset today.’

The atmosphere of the Imperial Palace was quite different. It was as fierce and serious as those preparing for battle, and everyone was on edge. Just in case, the guards had minimized entry and exit, and all those who were on the Imperial Palace payroll gathered in front of the Grand Conference Hall.

‘It’s the Magic Department.’

‘The Magic Department has arrived.’

‘Isn’t that Minister Ian Hielo?’

‘Ah, so that’s the new Minister.’

Ian walked ahead, dressed in full uniform. His cloak fluttered, and behind him, Acorella and the members of the Magic Operations Department followed. Until they reached the Grand Conference Hall, the surrounding murmurs showed no sign of stopping.

‘They say they’ve newly manufactured the Sildam potion.’

‘Really? Haha, that’s something.’

At someone’s words, the groups of people gathered together made strange expressions, as if to say that Gail was finished. Since it was a potion made by the person who became the Minister of the Magic Department with Marib’s power, the result was obvious.

‘But we haven’t seen much of Lord Gail lately.’

‘Isn’t it because he’s cursed? He must be refraining from going outside.’

Ian couldn’t help but glance in that direction. In fact, he was also very curious. Of course, he couldn’t contact him alone because of the public eye and Marib’s gaze, but he had also been silent in his messages.

‘I switched the Sildam potion and even sent him a way to neutralize it just in case, but there’s no reply.’

Was he crazy? Well, if so, he didn’t particularly intend to stop him. It was then. The sound of a carriage running loudly echoed behind Ian. It was a magnificent carriage with a momentum that shook the ground.

‘Ah.’

And the flag on the carriage bore the emblem of the Haiman family. Ian, the Magic Department, and the staff of each department all stopped and looked down at the carriage.

Neigh!

The man who got out with a light movement was Gail. He smiled leisurely and swept back his hair. Everyone bowed and paid their respects at Gail’s sudden appearance.

‘Lord Gail, please hold my hand.’

And then, a woman’s voice was heard. It was Melanie, the youngest daughter of the Haiman family. Gail naturally took her hand and then wrapped his arm around her waist.

‘Be careful, Melanie.’

‘With you holding me, there’s nothing to be careful about.’

Everyone noticed the unusual atmosphere between the two. Gail made eye contact with Ian as he climbed the stairs, and then subtly raised an eyebrow.

‘So that’s what you were busy with.’

It was one of the ropes Gail could grab before falling off the cliff.

Ian let out a snort and made eye contact with him, as if to say, ‘You’re amazing.’