Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 267

Ian regretted his decision the moment he stepped into the alleyway with Beric. It was precisely because Beric was humming a tune and walking ahead of him.

Should he have brought Siaosi instead? Beric kept looking around with an intrigued gaze, and he gratefully accepted some dried leaves from someone.

‘Ian, this is awesome. Hehe.’

‘Beric, throw that away.’

‘Huh? I got it for free?’

‘Before I throw you away.’

As Ian muttered, pulling up the hood of his robe, Beric flicked his finger and tossed away the leaves without hesitation. Then, those who had been watching them immediately picked up the discarded leaves and shoved them into their nostrils.

A drug that is inhaled deeply. It’s a trick to get people addicted by giving it out for free little by little, making it impossible to escape.

Ian clicked his tongue inwardly and looked around.

‘It’s bigger than I thought.’

He had imagined a private gambling den would be just one space. But this was a mess, like the entire alley had become a slum.

It seemed that when there were no games, it was a deserted place, but when the day came, signs were hung everywhere. Unlike normal shops, the only evidence was the flags with patterns on them.

‘But if you look at each one, the scale is small. There seems to be a central gambling den and power supporting this street.’

As the pub owner had said, there were many things to see, and this place was a festival of sorts. Those who were half-collapsed from drugs were yelling loudly, and the floor was muddy with spilled alcohol. Like children playing in puddles, the crazed ones rolled around and laughed on top of it.

‘Jin and I were both recognized as Timothy at the same time. He even naturalized in Bariel. Even if there’s a reason, it’s difficult if he doesn’t have a positive view of Bariel. It’s possible that he personally went in and out of Bariel. But why, of all places, here?’

Ian covered his nose and mouth with his sleeve and kept walking around the street. Timothy was a huge man with a rather intense impression. Even if he just passed by again, he would be recognized immediately.

‘Excuse me!’

‘Ugh…….’

Swish!

Beric flipped away the newspapers of those who were sleeping soundly and checked their faces, drawing even more attention to himself.

Ian grabbed him by the scruff of his neck and pulled him deeper into the alley. The atmosphere inside was quite different. The population density was higher, and it was more fluid. It was to the point where they were being pushed around by people rather than walking.

As the two moved while maintaining a certain distance, Ian spotted a head sticking out from among the people.

‘It’s Timothy.’

It was Timothy! He was chewing on a cigarette and looking around. It was the same as Naum and Romandro’s portraits. Since it was the real thing, his impression seemed more ferocious, but anyway.

Just as Ian was looking for him, he also seemed to be looking for someone. Ian gestured to Beric, signaling him.

‘Beric, there. Follow him.’

‘Move, move. I’ll kill you if you shoulder-check me!’

‘Hey, where are you going in such a hurry?’

‘Hehe. Why don’t you play a round of cards with us?’

‘Get out of the way, you bastards!’

‘Kyaaak! Where are you pushing!’

Beric was weaving through the crowd towards Timothy. Ian confirmed that he opened a green door and went down to the basement.

‘Beric, that way!’

‘Yes, yes. I’m going.’

‘Don’t approach, just watch him.’

Beric went ahead, and Ian ran after him. Before going down the stairs, he asked a man sitting on a chair next to the building, chewing on jerky.

‘Hey, is there another entrance to the building?’

‘Why? Trying to run away?’

‘It would be better for you to answer the question.’

‘…There’s only one. The back door is blocked by luggage.’

Tap tap!

As soon as Ian heard his answer, he went down the stairs. Only one old, dim light was illuminating the hallway. The smell of mold was strong for a moment, but Ian soon realized that there was also a fishy smell mixed in. It was quite unpleasant.

‘Ah.’

The source of the unpleasantness was not far away. As soon as Ian reached the hallway, he bit his lip.

The arena was full of people engrossed in card games, and people were trapped in iron cages hanging from the ceiling. Some had their feet dangling through the bars, while others were lying down listlessly.

‘Illegal slave trade.’

The slave market held in Bariel had to strictly adhere to the period and designated areas allowed under the country’s leadership. However, the taxes on sales were so high that both buyers and sellers tended to avoid it.

However, they couldn’t allow the operation of a permanent market because there was a concern that illegal enslavement, such as human trafficking, which was already rampant, would be further aggravated.

There were more than one or two things to consider, along with the instability of public order. This was one of the problems of Bariel that Ian acknowledged.

‘You crazy bastard! Can’t you watch where you’re going?’

‘No, I said I was sorry, you son of a bitch.’

‘Is saying sorry enough? You made my card hand fall over!’

‘I’ve never seen you before, where did you come from?’

‘Would you know if I told you? You’re really annoying. Your breath stinks.’

Whack!

It was too late when Ian recognized Beric’s voice and turned his head. A man was already swinging a fist at Beric. Beric was just stepping back, avoiding his attacks.

Thud!

Crash! Clatter!

‘Whoa. Sorry, sorry.’

‘What? Go fight over there! We’re in the middle of a game.’

‘Is there no staff here? Call the staff out!’

‘The atmosphere of this place is a mess!’

‘Hey, red head! Come over here and flip this over too!’

‘Are you kidding me? I’m winning, what nonsense are you talking about!’

Thump! Thud!

He wasn’t even attacking, just dodging, so how could all the surrounding tables be overturned? As the commotion became uncontrollable, Ian rubbed his forehead. Foolishly, you keep bumping into things because you’re running away backwards, Beric.

‘Where’s Timothy?’

Ian quickly scanned the arena, leaving Beric behind for now. He had been watching the commotion for a while, but he didn’t seem very interested, as he was just looking at the ceiling.

It was certain. He was looking for someone.

‘But a slave?’

Why would Timothy be looking for a slave in a foreign country, not his own? He whispered to a staff member, covering his mouth, and pulled up a chair to light a new cigarette. By that time, he seemed to be interested in Beric’s commotion.

Then, his eyes met Ian’s in the air. It was the first time Ian realized that he was in the same time and space as Naum’s ancestor.

‘Ah.’

I didn’t know, but he looks exactly like Naum’s nose and mouth.

When Ian didn’t look away, he raised his thick eyebrows. As if asking what he was looking at. Timothy puffed out thick smoke and scratched his cut ear.

‘Does he know me? He doesn’t look like someone who would be in a place like this. He doesn’t seem like a foreign noble…….’

Timothy knew that the new Minister of Magic of Bariel was young, blonde, and had green eyes, but he didn’t immediately make the connection. This was due to the chaotic situation and the unfamiliar setting, and he had never seen a portrait of the minister.

In fact, Ian had only recently taken office, and immediately after, a civil war broke out, and all sorts of turmoil swept through the imperial palace. Not only foreign media, but even the citizens of his own country were unfamiliar with Ian’s appearance and existence.

Clatter! Clunk!

Ian turned his head at the sound of metal bars scraping. The arena staff were surrounding Beric, cornering him with skewers that had dried blood on them.

‘That way, that way!’

‘Ugh, they’re not even a challenge.’

‘That bastard, he just keeps dodging and doesn’t fight back. Stab him without holding back! Look at him, he must have taken the wrong medicine and is causing trouble!’

‘I’m going crazy, really!’

Beric sent a silent plea for help to Ian. *Should I kill them all?* Ian thought. *If I kill them all, there will be no witnesses, so there won’t be a problem, right?*

But Ian firmly shook his head. Aside from the staff, there were at least a hundred or more ordinary people watching them. Killing them all, was that even possible?

Beric was being pushed into an open space. When his back touched the wall, someone shouted.

‘That’s it! Hoist him up!’

Squeak! Crash!

A chain grabbed Beric’s ankles like a noose, and his body shot up to the ceiling in an instant. They prodded him with sticks very skillfully, like hunting an animal, and put him in the iron cage. Only the black sword that Beric dropped was left on the floor. They were clearly experienced in this.

‘Whoa! Why is this happening? Lower this! Let me out, you bastards!’

‘Shut up. As of today, your life is over. It will be the last day you live as a human. If you took drugs, you should have just slept quietly.’

‘He’s lively, he must have some strength.’

‘That’s right. If we sell him, we should get some nourishment.’

‘Okay, okay, it’s over, so everyone go back to your gambling. Don’t worry about it, okay? Let’s go for a life-changing win.’

‘Clean up here. I’m going to have a cigarette.’

…*Should I acknowledge him?* Ian pondered, arms crossed. *It’s not like he’s going to die just because he was caught, and he’ll probably find his way home on his own.*

As if sensing Ian’s internal debate, Beric was startled and shook the iron cage with his hands.

‘Iaaaaan!!’

‘Oh, dear.’

‘You were going to pretend you didn’t know me! Hey! Ouch, ouch!’

The staff who were cleaning up the tables turned their attention to Ian. As if they hadn’t realized he had a companion. They looked Ian up and down with fierce expressions.

‘Is he with you? This guy looks okay though. He doesn’t seem to be on drugs. If you don’t want to get into trouble, cut ties and get out of here.’

‘Or should we claim damages? If you don’t have money, you’ll end up like that. You look pretty, so it might be more profitable for us.’

Ian nodded his head and remained silent. He could feel Timothy looking at him, so it seemed better to react appropriately.

‘My friend has been rude. If you want compensation, I will pay it.’

‘Compensation? How much do you have?’

‘How much do you want?’

‘100 gold coins.’

‘Puhahaha!’

The men blurted out an amount equivalent to ten years’ worth of a worker’s salary. It was clear they had no intention of making a deal.

Ian currently had two gold coins and five silver coins. If he gave them this, those guys would just take the money and not back down.

‘Hey, you idiots! You’re all dead now. Ian is super pissed! Do you know how scary he is? Ian, you’ll save me, right? Huh?’

‘…….’

Beric shouted with great vigor, but Ian only smiled instead of answering. If Timothy stayed here, he would stay to match him, but if he left, he would follow him.

Beric banged his head against the iron cage and went berserk. *Honestly, isn’t it a piece of cake for Ian to clean up this place?*

Crash! Bang bang!

‘Noooo! If you leave me behind, I’m really going to-! Hey!’

At that moment, Timothy was guided by a staff member. It was the staff member he had talked to earlier, covering his mouth. Timothy frowned and took out a gold coin from his inner pocket, and then sat back in his seat. It didn’t seem like he would leave easily.

‘…Okay, Beric. Be quiet.’

Ian watched this and took out a gold coin as well. And he lightly flicked it to a nearby staff member and instructed.

Clink!

‘Oh, you have some money? A gold coin just came out?’

‘This isn’t enough! Hahaha!’

‘…That’s pathetic.’

‘What, what?’

‘Stop talking and go get me chips. I’ll try my best to make as much as you want.’

Ian gestured as he sat down at an empty seat at a nearby table. The people who were enjoying the game glanced at Ian, but that was it. Once you sit here, whether you’re a noble or a bum, you’re given cards fairly.

Ian tapped the table.

‘I said I’m going to be a customer now.’

Since he had declared himself a ‘customer’ in front of everyone, they wouldn’t be able to openly stop him. Instead, the moment Ian stepped outside, they would bare their fangs. Since they knew he had a lot of money without a companion. How could they let him go?

* * *

‘The winning side is our side, Ian is on my side. Cheer up, cheer up! Everyone has a bad hand, please give Ian a good one!’

This was the whole story of Beric singing while hanging from the ceiling.

The chips were piled up five times more than when he started. Ian fiddled with them and kept glancing at Timothy’s side. He was sipping his drink and continuing to stare at the ceiling.

Judging by this, it seems that he is looking for a specific slave. He had been talking to the staff and waiting several times.

‘Okay, let’s go again! Until this guy runs out of energy!’

‘Is this your first time? Why are you so good?’

‘…I have played before. I said this is my first time in a place like this.’

Ian muttered, throwing a couple of chips to the dealer as a tip. *How long do I have to keep doing this? Jin must be waiting in the park. Of course, if it gets too late, Romandro will take care of it.*

The staff who had imprisoned Beric were still glaring at Ian. They gave subtle smiles every time Ian won money. It was their attitude of believing that Ian’s money would soon be theirs.

The card hands were dealt again. Just as Ian was about to continue the uninteresting game.

Swoosh.

Timothy sat down next to him. Despite his huge size, he made almost no sound. Ian scanned him with a calm gaze. *Indeed, the more I look at him, the more he resembles Naum.*

‘Did you say your name was Ian?’

‘That’s right.’

It was over. Ian covered his cards, meaning he would give up. There was no way around it since Beric was yelling Ian’s name, regardless of the fake ID. The only thing that was comforting was that the name Ian was common and that those who were drunk and high couldn’t think properly.

‘I’m curious if you’re the Ian I know.’

Timothy chewed on the short cigarette and turned his body halfway. It was a sign to take off his robe and show his hair. Ian refused, but gave a consenting smile.

‘I was also wondering if you were the Timothy I know. It would be better if we moved our seats.’