Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 33

The Departure

Erica, the head of the Imperial Investigation Team, surveyed the messy office, strewn with piles of documents. It was no wonder, considering they had turned every drawer inside out. In the inner office, her subordinates were gathered, drying ink-soaked papers.

“Can they be recovered?”

“We need to check what kind of ink was used. Still, it’s a relief that we salvaged half of them.”

“The rest are fine!”

“Honestly, that guy. He’s quick with his actions.”

‘That guy’ wasn’t referring to the decapitated servant lying dead in the corner. It was Derga, who had ordered the disposal of documents in that short amount of time.

They didn’t care that his guilt wasn’t yet confirmed and that he still held the title of Count. The woman before them, Bertie Erica, would soon become the next lord of this place.

“What about the tax reports submitted to the central government?”

“Here they are.”

“Phillip and Sarieng, calculate the production volume and the tax rate for the territory’s residents. The rest, extract the history of the mines and transactions. Roughly three years’ worth should be enough. Can you do it within a week?”

Her subordinates smiled faintly at their superior’s order. Erica’s question wasn’t a question but a command. It meant they had to get it done within a week.

“Yes, Chief.”

“Good. Delix, you’re in charge of managing the annex. Move out!”

“Let’s go! Let’s thoroughly search this place!”

“Uwaaaah!”

They shouted, full of spirit, vowing to find evidence of tax evasion. If they succeeded, this place would become their territory! Their superior would become a noble, and they would all secure positions in the central government! The starting point of their long-awaited success was right here, in Derga’s office.

‘Damn it, shit.’

Meanwhile, Derga was confined to the room Ian had used in the annex. Except for a few servants who had been selected to assist the investigation team, no one was allowed to leave this place. Derga muttered curses, fiddling with his beard as if he were about to tear it off.

Mary and Chell had not yet returned to the mansion.

“Count, what will happen now?”

“What do you mean, what will happen?! Shut your mouth!”

The butler flinched at the loud shout, but there was nothing he could do. His life was hanging by a thread, depending on the Count’s actions. He paced around the room, trying to organize his complicated thoughts.

‘It’s an investigation team directly appointed by the Emperor. But it was definitely Mollin who stabbed me. If my head is cut off here, it means the Second Prince will benefit. Then…’

Derga rummaged through the desk and found parchment and a pen. He gathered his thoughts and then began to write without stopping. There was no time to correct typos. Every second was urgent, even desperate.

Scribble, scribble.

“Butler, there are two things you need to do.”

“Y-yes, please tell me.”

“Send letters. This one to the Thousand-Eyed Clan, and this one to the First Prince in the central government. After sending them, contact Deo and tell him to prepare the soldiers. Fully armed and ready to depart at any time.”

The letter to the Thousand-Eyed Clan was a request for military support and the execution of Ian. The central support troops were said to be arriving soon, so they had to subdue them by force before that.

But this would truly be an act of treason among treasons.

The thing that would offset this was the letter to the First Prince. If he knew it was part of the Second Prince’s scheme, he would surely take action. Whether he would check it or interfere with it. Whatever it was, it would be an opportunity for Derga.

He couldn’t use his seal, so he took off a ring and put it in the letter.

‘Yes. Let’s survive for now. If I survive and reorganize for the future, it will be fine. It will be fine…’

He was desperately trying to calm himself when the butler said something absurd.

“Leave this place? How?”

The investigation team was guarding the door, wasn’t it? Then Derga nodded towards the window. The butler’s face turned pale, and he shook his head as if to say he couldn’t do it.

“Count! I’m already fifty years old.”

“So? Are you going to die like this? Fifty will be your last age then.”

“If you say it like that…”

The butler looked down below the window with a forced expression. It was three stories high. If he was unlucky, he would die, and even if he was lucky, he would probably break something.

Derga tore off the curtains and threw them at the butler.

“Make a rope.”

That bastard. He couldn’t even help make this. The butler swallowed his rising anger and tightly tied the curtains together. As if it were his lifeline.

* * *

A horse galloped across the desert at dawn. Perhaps it was because it had been running day and night through the sandstorm, but hot steam was rising from the animal’s hide.

A Thousand-Eyed warrior on guard duty noticed its presence. And soon, he realized that the stranger was waving the Bratz flag.

“A message…! A message from Bratz has arrived!”

“Sound the water buffalo horn.”

“They say to sound the water buffalo horn!”

Boooo- Booo-

The clan, who were peacefully preparing for the start of the day, simultaneously looked up at the sky. It was the sound announcing the visit of an outsider. It reached Ian as well, a signal that the time had finally come. The Bratz knight pounded on the outer wall, panting.

“I have brought a message from Bratz! It’s urgent!”

Hee-heeing!

At the same time, the horse collapsed to the side. It was clear how relentlessly it had run. The clan brought water and poured it on the horse’s body, and the warriors guided the knight inside. As if they had been waiting.

Cha-ak-

“A message from Count Derga?”

When the tent was opened, a half-naked Kakantir rose from his bed. The knight suddenly realized that he hadn’t revealed his affiliation at the entrance. He had only said it was a message, but they had let him in without any questions. As if they knew…

“Did he faint while standing?”

When the knight stood there blankly, Kakantir urged him with an annoyed voice.

“S-sorry. I am Bell, a knight from the Bratz territory. The Count has urgently requested assistance.”

The knight quickly regained his senses and handed over the paper he had brought. The handwriting was crooked, and Kakantir chuckled at the crude script. It seemed he was really in a hurry.

“Let’s see, he’s in a dangerous situation due to a misunderstanding with the central government. We have an alliance, so we shouldn’t ignore each other’s hardships. As a friendly ally, I ask for the strength of the Thousand-Eyed Clan to fight together. And in addition, my son, Ian Bratz…”

-Please execute him. If you think this is a blemish on their honor, the knight I sent will do it instead.

Kakantir hummed a tune and nodded.

“What is this misunderstanding with the central government?”

“The Count is being investigated on suspicion of treason. This is clearly false, and there will soon be a clash of forces to resist it.”

“What is the evidence that the treason is false? If it’s true and we get involved, wouldn’t we be at odds with the Imperial Palace?”

“The evidence is Ian Bratz. He said he would prove his innocence with the death of his beloved son.”

“Ahahaha!”

The knight stopped panting at the sudden burst of laughter. He had a look of not knowing what was going on. Kakantir leaned back languidly and lightly chewed on a gurute leaf [a type of stimulant].

He was a truly cunning and shrewd man.

It was like killing two birds with one stone, killing Ian and using it to his advantage. It made him guess what Ian’s existence meant to Derga.

‘A tool. Nothing more, nothing less.’

“Chieftain?”

“It’s just that I’m not fully awake yet.”

“…We have also sent a letter to the Imperial Palace. Please, just for fifteen days, until support arrives from the Imperial Palace. Aren’t we allies who have formed an alliance? I’ve heard that the loyalty of warriors is like a promise to the gods and cannot be shaken by anything.”

Kakantir exhaled smoke, meaning he agreed. And he gestured as if to wait a moment. He put on a light jacket and wrote a reply.

“That’s right. And we are warriors among warriors. Take this reply to your master. We will follow soon.”

“Thank you!”

Kakantir wrapped the leather strap tightly so that the knight couldn’t peek at it. The knight, who had tucked it into his chest, glanced outside.

“Then, what about the disposal of Ian Bratz…”

Kakantir was silent. As the silence grew longer, the knight swallowed hard. He had expected an immediate answer, but when it went against his expectations, his tension rose.

“Ah. About that. As the Count guessed, he is a symbol of reconciliation, but he is also a member of the Thousand-Eyed Clan who has been with us. We don’t want to stain our hands with his blood.”

“…I understand fully.”

“So, you can take care of it yourself. Is there anyone outside?”

“You called, Kakan?”

“Take this one to Ian.”

The knight felt a sense of unease. However, perhaps because he was too tired, he didn’t notice the difference between Ian and ‘Ian-sama’.

Kakantir and his subordinates led the way and stood in front of Ian’s tent. At a nod, the door was opened.

“Ian-sama. Are you awake?”

“Kakan.”

Still the same sparkling blonde hair and green eyes. Ian looked much healthier with his slightly tanned skin.

The knight put his hand on the hilt of his sword.

“This one wants to kill you.”

“As expected. It’s as I thought.”

But he paused. The chieftain’s words once again went against the knight’s expectations. He had expected him to order Ian to be dragged out immediately.

The knight looked back at Kakantir with a bewildered expression, but he continued to stare at Ian and Beric next to him.

“Didn’t we promise back then? That I would show you everything about a warrior. To your red-haired subordinate.”

“Ah, yes, we did.”

“A warrior is someone who goes down the path of death and survives. There is a limit to sparring with us unless there is hostility.”

Combat power needed a flashpoint. To reach a higher level, one had to burn everything.

That everything included life and death.

“The conditions are perfect. There is hostility, and above all, he is a knight of Derga, so his skills are, well, recognized even in Bariel.”

It was laughable to Kakantir, but it was true. Being granted the title of knight meant that he was somewhat recognized. It meant that he had survived battles with large and small monsters and had been active in wars with foreign powers.

“Chieftain. What is this…”

“Since you want to kill Ian, I’m personally setting up a place for you.”

There was something the knight didn’t know. Even though there was, they were treating him like a fool. He gripped the hilt of his sword tightly with an unknown sense of humiliation and glared at Ian.

His neck was clearly exposed. Easy to cut.

“Ha. I see. Then, excuse me.”

The knight let out a short, hollow laugh and then rushed at Ian. There was no time to delay. Since Derga was detained, he had to return as soon as possible to assist his master.

Clang!

At that moment, Beric immediately swung his sword and knocked away the knight’s sword. In an instant, a fantastic spark flew, and Beric lowered his body, taking a defensive stance.

“Ah.”

Ian just blinked. After scratching his cheek, he looked up at the knight. And then, his gaze slowly moved towards Beric. Even from the back of his head, his face was clear. He must have a face that was eager to fight.

“…If you want to kill me, you’ll have to kill Beric first, it seems.”

“…?!”

Even though he had been training with the Thousand-Eyed Clan and rolling around in the sand, he didn’t know if he could face a knight. Many of the knights of the Imperial Palace were magic swordsmen like Beric.

He might have some ability. Who knows?

“I’m looking forward to it. Well, please do your best.”