Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 220

‘Damn it.’ The mage paced around the room, constantly biting his nails. No matter how much he thought about it, he hadn’t done anything that would make Romandro suspicious. He couldn’t figure out why Romandro had turned back at the last minute after going all the way to the reception desk. ‘Okay, honestly, the receptionist could have been like that. The chaotic yet refined atmosphere, if you’re perceptive, you could notice it.’ But why, why didn’t he trust the mages? He wouldn’t even ride in the carriage, and he took Siaosi with him, leaving his colleagues behind as if he were running away. The two mages were left in a quandary, unsure whether they should return to their department, and they had no choice but to ponder for a long time. “Ugh, seriously.” If he had known this would happen, he should have glared at him more carefully! Or he should have taken care of things inside the carriage. Being suspected before even doing anything was frustrating enough to drive him crazy. He looks so indifferent, but his instincts are sharp… Creak. “Sir Ian.” Just then, the door opened and Ian entered. The mage stood at attention, barely holding back his tense breath. Romandro must have said something was strange. Then, would they use the Siltham potion? Or? The mage desperately tried to read Ian’s expression. “I heard you escorted Romandro to the Judicial Department.” But Ian spoke calmly as he sat down on the chair. He even gestured for the mage to sit. The mage hesitated at his unexpectedly gentle tone. He barely managed to answer as he pulled up a chair. “…Yes, that’s correct.” “You’ve worked hard. Have you eaten?” “Not yet, not yet.” “The duck was good today. Go to the dining hall after your report. The chef won’t like it if you’re late.” When Ian said something unexpected, the mage’s eyes widened. Was he using the word ‘report’ instead of an interrogation? Did that mean Ian didn’t suspect him? His mind was spinning. If he was lucky, he could get through this without any problems. ‘No. In fact, it was an escort without any flaws.’ From a third-party perspective, it was as if Romandro was just making a fuss based on his own assumptions. There was no reason to die, the mage thought, hiding his smile as he replied that he understood. “But Romandro said that the attitude of the staff at the Judicial Department was strange. Did you see it too?” “Yes. I escorted him to the reception desk.” “Give me a detailed report.” Ian said this as he lightly held his pen. He rubbed his forehead as if he couldn’t understand, and a faint red mark appeared on his fair skin. Ian muttered as he wrote something on the document. “From what I hear, there was no physical conflict, and the staff member is also from the Imperial Palace. There was no problem, yet Romandro made that judgment. He said it was just a gut feeling, honestly.” “Y-yes, I see.” The mage moistened his dry lips and quickly continued. “Actually, I don’t know why Romandro felt that way either. Latris, who went with me, would feel the same. He rushed out of the Judicial Department as if he was being chased. Until we met Quintana’s carriage, he kept glancing around anxiously. He even said there was no room in the carriage and left first.” “Hmm. Is that so?” “I think it might be due to accumulated fatigue. I know that Judicial Department staff member well. He’s a bit mechanical because he has so much work, but he’s kind and decent.” Ian kept nodding and scribbling with his pen. He even responded from time to time, and the mage felt more and more at ease. “Asking for identification and such might have been a bit insulting to him. How about bringing the accusation and trying to talk to him again?” Tap. At that moment, Ian put down his pen. The mage was speechless at his elegant yet firm gesture. Ian was just smiling. “I asked for the basis of Romandro’s judgment. It’s not for you to decide whether that judgment is right or wrong.” “Ah, I-I apologize.” The mage bit the inside of his cheek without realizing it. He should have just said he didn’t know and left it at that. Ian tapped his pen a few times, then stood up. When the mage followed suit, he smiled and gestured. “Stay seated. It’s a shame. The meal is very delicious today.” As soon as he finished speaking, the door burst open. Soldiers rushed in with magic-sealing shackles. Before the mage could resist, they quickly bound him and pinned him to the bed. “Sir Ian! Sir Ian! Why are you doing this?” “Be quiet.” “Mmph! Mmph!” Thud! Ian glanced at the bound mage, then left the room without a second thought. Romandro, who had been pacing in the office, approached in surprise. “What did he say?” “He’s definitely suspicious, so it’s right to start a full interrogation. Do it secretly, without any problems.” In response to the question about the situation, he answered without any hesitation. If he were someone who didn’t know anything, he would have reviewed and pondered why Romandro had acted that way and come up with an answer. But he didn’t. It was proof that he knew from the beginning, and it was also testimony that assumed Romandro’s judgment was wrong. “Oh my, heavens.” Romandro covered his forehead with both hands. It was true that there were Haiman’s spies in the Magic Department. Even if they fought with one heart and one mind, it would be fierce, and such division was fatal. To prevent any internal chaos and to avoid alerting those who would be weeded out in the future, Ian decided to hide the two mages. “Process the two of them as on a business trip.” “Ah, I understand. How many do you think are in the Magic Department?” “I don’t know. Not until I see them with my own eyes.” “That’s the problem. Not being able to identify them right away is fatal. We don’t have the physical capacity right now, with so many important issues ahead of us, do we?” Usually, it’s not easy to find a traitor. Unless they get caught like today. Either they infiltrate the other side to get clues, or the traitor reveals themselves as a result of their betrayal. It would be one of the two. “If we try to find those who are hiding, it will be like that. But if we make them walk out on their own, it’s relatively easy. We just have to wait.” “What do you mean…” “Shall we borrow Haiman’s name for a moment?” It was a kind of sting operation. By pretending to be the enemy, creating a trap, and defining those who approached as traitors and executing them. Romandro shook his head, thinking it wouldn’t be easy. “We have an absolute lack of information about Haiman’s inner workings. The traitors already have a communication network with them, so they’ll be caught right away. It’s not easy.” Ian smiled as if he agreed. It was an expression that he had already considered that as well. “You’re right. A trap must not be known to be a trap. Then, it would be good to borrow the name of someone who is neither our enemy, nor Haiman, nor Arsen.” “Is there such a person in the Imperial Palace…” Romandro was about to say there couldn’t be. But then he paused, as if he had remembered something. He couldn’t speak, and he just kept snapping his fingers and exclaiming. “Ah!” “It’s His Highness Gale.” “Gale! I, I was just about to say that!” Ian shuffled through the reports piled on his desk. There were many opinions that Haiman would ask for help from the neighboring country, Luswena. Supporting that, there was also a report that Haiman’s knight had crossed the border into Luswena not long ago. “Let’s spread a rumor like this.” He took out chess pieces one by one and placed them on the table. “It’s circumstantially certain that Luswena is trying to intervene in Bariel under the pretext of Haiman’s request. Their justification is that Haiman’s wife is a member of the Luswena royal family, that is, family. Do you understand up to this point?” Tap. Romandro nodded, pulling the black queen forward. There were many pieces swarming in front of and behind the queen. “Then, how should Bariel react to Luswena?” Tap. “It’s possible to put political and economic pressure on them, but considering that His Majesty is bedridden and the Imperial Palace is in turmoil over the succession, I think a conciliatory approach would be better than a hardline one.” “Are all the things you’re saying now assumptions?” “Of course. But they are assumptions with a high possibility of being realized.” Romandro pondered, holding his chin, then fiddled with the white king. Should he put it here, or there? Using Gale, a conciliatory approach? Ian took the king from his hand and moved it forward. “Haiman’s wife is a member of the Luswena royal family, but she’s not a direct descendant of the current king. And the fact that the king is a woman also plays a role.” “…Prince Gale is trying to survive by using these things?” “It’s not much different from the methods he’s mainly used from the start.” “Y-yes, that’s true.” Wesley, Melania, and now the king of Luswena. Hasn’t Gale always survived like that? Romandro scratched his head awkwardly. It was hard to tell if he was lucky or unlucky. “If we spread the rumor that Gale will defect to Luswena, many people will react. The same will be true in the Magic Department. There aren’t many mages in Luswena, so he can receive ministerial-level treatment there.” Ian moved about half a dozen chess pieces to the opposite side at the same time. The board was instantly scattered. “Of course, going to another country according to their beliefs is their choice. I, and of course Bariel, cannot stop them, but-” Here, an important turning point will arise. A very important turning point that can identify the traitors. “Would I, who heard all of this, and Haiman, stay still?” If Gale went to another country and gathered strength, it would be threatening to Ian, especially to Jin. The same was true for Haiman. Since the link connecting Luswena and Bariel would not be unique, his position would be reduced. Ian and Haiman would try to stop it by any means. “Gale will gather forces to check Ian Hielo and Haiman. He will gather internal information about the enemies. This is the key.” The background was all set. The reason why the actors were moving was also appropriate. If the trap works based on this script, the turncoats will flock to it when they hear the sound. If they step in, they will meet death by the turning blades. Ian moved his piece and entered checkmate. “In the meantime, we can do our work. It would be even better if we could find clues through the interrogation of the two mages.” “But, this, doesn’t it entirely require the help of Prince Gale? And what if he really has other intentions?” It would be troublesome if Gale, knowing that there was a way to survive, actually defected to Luswena. Ian raised his magic power and created light with his fingertips. “The prince’s help is not greatly needed. He will be confined to the palace now and when the rumor spreads. And if it’s about defection…” Zzzing. Zzzing. “I will determine his death.” “Determine?” “With the power of magic.” Ian flicked his hand lightly and extinguished the light. As if it were Gale’s breath.