Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 342

It was clear that something had happened.

The people of Clifford, gathered in front of the royal palace, showed no intention of returning home despite the complete darkness of night, their resolve only growing stronger. For farmers to spend a night of hard labor like this was a significant decision, indicating their genuine concern for the nation.

The soldiers, with their faces hidden behind helmets, remained tight-lipped, offering no information. Only occasionally did palace staff come and go, indirectly hinting at the busyness inside, but there was no official announcement.

*Poof!* *Bang!* *Whoosh!*

“Huh?”

Then, suddenly, fireworks erupted from the palace spire. The colorful lights that adorned the night sky spread in all directions with a loud roar.

It seemed like an explosion, but there were no flames or smoke. Above all, the sparkling beauty was something they had never seen before. People stared blankly, mesmerized.

As if inspired, the street band began to play the ‘Braku,’ a traditional Clifford instrument. People swayed slowly to the resonating music. They sang loudly in unison. It was a kind of protest, but their earnest hearts made it sound particularly mournful.

*Oh, King in the palace, if you hear the songs of your people, please come out and tell us that the peace of the vineyards is secure. We will make a crown of fresh leaves for you, so please cross the river of wine flowing to the earth and sing with us.*

Meanwhile, at that very moment.

Hale, startled by the sudden explosion, pounded on the door. The palace attendants were also at a loss, looking pale. Could the entire palace be blown away?

*Thump!* *Bang!*

“Acorella! Acorella!”

“M-Magician, are you alright?”

“Can you hear me? Acorella!”

Although the light from the window was beautiful, there was no telling when it might engulf the spire. Hale’s loud knocking finally caused the door to open.

*Bang!*

“Aish, this is not good. I told you not to come near until I was done, didn’t I? Do you want to see me go crazy? Huh? If you want to die, just say so. I’ll make it happen.”

Acorella, holding a half-shattered flask, was fuming. Hale paused, looking at it. Wasn’t she already half-mad? Her hair was completely burnt at the ends from the explosion, and her face was a mess of soot.

She threw down her protective goggles and pointed a finger at Hale.

“Right now, the world’s greatest researcher, Acorella, is concentrating in a terrible environment! The magic stones are lacking: 20 grams of Caclon, 15 grams of Tapiclon! Caclon can be replaced with Lacaloclo, but even that is 5 grams short! You crazy Captain Hale! I’m about to blow my brains out calculating, so why do you keep knocking on the door and making a fuss!”

Hale quickly put a cigarette in her mouth, telling her to calm down. Acorella, who had been barking like a mad dog, immediately calmed down and took a deep drag. Even though it was a kingdom, he hadn’t considered that there might be magic stones they couldn’t obtain.

“It can’t be helped. For a country without a magician, that’s excellent. The Clifford National Research Facility is on the outskirts, so they should be able to get the materials soon.”

“Unbelievable. That’s what you said an hour ago?”

In the makeshift lab, round puffs of smoke rose. Hale covered his nose and mouth with his sleeve as he entered. It was such a mess that one wouldn’t doubt a small war had broken out.

Acorella shook the blue liquid on the table and tilted her head back. Her bizarre appearance made the attendants hesitate to enter, their faces full of distress at the door.

“The color is different?”

“Of course. Because we don’t have the damn Lacaloclo. But why? I hope your business is valid. Nothing pisses me off more than a terrible research environment.”

“Sir Ian said it’s okay if there are side effects, as long as it’s effective.”

“What?”

Acorella’s head snapped up.

Was it time to stop? Was it time to stop wasting her innate talent in this awful environment where they didn’t even know the ‘basics’ of this research?

Her eyes sparkled, and Hale stroked his beard. Something must have gone wrong in the research process. Otherwise, how could she look more dangerous than usual?

*Clatter! Clang!*

“You should have said so sooner! Even if I’m someone who creates something from nothing, I can’t stand not having magic stones!”

Acorella ran out with the flask of blue liquid. The attendants screamed and moved aside. Hale hurriedly followed her, telling those ahead to be careful.

“Be careful! Be careful! She’s crazy!”

“Move aside! Ahahaha!”

“Aaaah!”

Acorella, excitedly sliding down the railing, found the basement with unfamiliar but skillful movements, and the soldiers recognized her and cleared the way.

Inside the basement, which was made large for storing wine, there was a loud commotion.

“Sir Ian!”

“Acorella.”

Ian, with his shirt sleeves rolled up, was sitting at a desk, flipping through documents. It was information containing the personal details of the envoys investigated by Clifford.

The Burgos envoys were gagged and bound, and the Clifford soldiers were adjusting the ropes.

“Ta-da! I present to you a potion with unknown side effects but guaranteed effectiveness!”

“Good work.”

“But, I really don’t know what will happen.”

“It’s okay. We just need to find out the truth.”

“Did you find anything out?”

The Burgos envoy’s eyes widened as if they would pop out. The blue liquid. It was clear that it was not for drinking, but now they were going to feed it to him? *Mmph!* He struggled desperately, but there was no way to escape.

Ian continued to flip through the documents as if he heard nothing.

“The other envoys are being investigated by Clifford. Prince Noah confessed that he didn’t know he was going to die, but this one seems to be different.”

“Acorella’s special potion will be necessary.”

Acorella stroked her own head, not hiding her self-love. It was confidence based on evidence, so Hale just chewed on his cigarette, annoyed.

*Creak.*

“Prince Noah.”

“Sir Ian. Any progress?”

As Prince Noah entered, covered in blood, the Burgos envoy closed his eyes tightly. He realized that he was at least receiving a humane investigation by facing Ian.

“I don’t know about the others, but this one seems to know the signaling system. He has a lot of trust in his own country, Burgos. As I said, that possibility is high.”

Signaling the situation in Clifford with the number of dead envoys, and using that as an excuse to start a war.

“Clifford will be flustered and inform Burgos of the envoys’ sudden deaths. The moment they say that several people have suddenly died, Burgos will grasp information about the internal situation of Clifford.”

“Then, before discussing how to handle the matter by exchanging replies, they can first prepare themselves to gain an advantage.”

“To be precise, they wouldn’t even have thought of discussing it. Their goal is to take advantage of the moment Clifford is flustered. Hmm.”

Ian muttered, flipping through the messy papers.

“Since one envoy has died, it seems to be a signal that there is a magician in Clifford. It would be good to find out what happens when two, three, or more die.”

Ian and Prince Noah looked at each other, then slowly turned their gaze to the Burgos envoy. His body trembled, startled, looking pitiful. Noah shook the blood-soaked gloves and took a step towards the envoy.

“We’ll find out. What’s the problem?”

“…Wait a minute. Your Highness.”

Ian stopped him, blocking his way with the documents. Noah tilted his head, asking if there was a problem.

“Whatever happens, informing them of the envoys’ sudden deaths will give Burgos the justification for war.”

“My father has recognized the seriousness of the situation and has ordered the mobilization of each army.”

“What about the difference in power? Can you grasp it? Please speak without considering us.”

Ian was helping them, but it was only a favor based on a future alliance. If a turning point came that would benefit or harm Bariel, the magicians would not hesitate to turn their backs on Clifford.

Noah hesitated for a moment at Ian’s question.

“We have a slight advantage in troop numbers.”

“Because you have a large population. I asked about power, not troop numbers.”

“……”

“The number of soldiers is important, but power is not determined by that alone. Burgos is determined, even to the point of sacrificing people in the royal palace. Do you dare to say that there will be no problem?”

The choices of the privileged would determine the fate of the entire nation. Instead of wine, the blood of screams would flow, and the grapes would grow horribly, using corpses as fertilizer.

“There can’t be no problems. But seeing how far Burgos is going, we can’t avoid war.”

“We can’t avoid it, but we can pass it on.”

“Pass it on? What?”

“The justification.”

Think carefully, Ian tapped the documents with his pen.

Isn’t war the act of gathering the lives of individuals and sending them to their deaths?

Therefore, the decision-makers have no choice but to appeal. To add your blood and flesh to the facade of justification. It is truly insignificant, worthless, and invisible, but in the end, it is like the bone that supports everything.

“The key is to make Burgos bear the cause of the war. That way, Bariel will also have a reason to help Clifford. Under the name of a great cause, it will be easier to form an alliance.”

“I know. But one envoy has already died, and we’ve stepped into it.”

They had bitten the trap. Even now, Burgos would be eagerly waiting for news of the envoys’ sudden deaths. At this moment, when war could break out at any moment, what could Clifford do?

“Don’t think of it as stepping into it-”

Ian smiled as if to tell them to be a little more restrained.

“Think of it as having crushed it.”

*Swish!*

Ian poured the water from his glass onto the floor and then poured half of the Sildam potion that Acorella had brought. A foul smell and bubbles rose. It was definitely not something for humans to consume.

“We don’t know what side effects this will have. But we can definitely find out the information. Would you like to try it?”

“It’s a bit different from the Sildam potion I heard about from your side.”

“No, that’s-”

“I know how difficult it is to obtain this much magic stone in a country without a single magician. Thank you, Prince Noah.”

As Acorella was about to get angry, Ian subtly deflected it. As if to say, what could they do when Clifford’s magic research base was so weak.

Prince Noah sighed and took a step back. Since drinking it could lead to death, it would be better to conduct a final interrogation.

“It would be good to look into the side effects. Have him drink it first. I will interrogate the other envoys and return.”

“Understood, Your Highness.”

“Just one question.”

“Anything.”

“What if all the envoys die?”

There was nothing that would give Burgos more justification than that. Ian smiled leisurely and closed the file.

“Since I am not a Clifford citizen, all choices and decisions are made by the royal family. You understand?”

“So, if you were me…”

“I would remain silent.”

The only thing that would make those waiting for news of how many envoys died anxious was to not tell them anything. Then, when they moved again, it would be easier to disrupt their signaling system by grasping it on this side.

Prince Noah left with a look of understanding, and only Ian’s group remained in the interrogation room. Ian slowly got up and dusted off his collar.

“Well, then-”

“Please get some rest. We’ll finish up.”

“No. The more precise the questions, the better, so I’ll join you. Let’s begin.”

At Ian’s gesture, Acorella’s eyes sparkled as she removed the envoy’s gag. Indeed, what kind of side effects and how much efficacy would this method, slightly different from the recipe, show?

She was annoyed when she was making it, but now that she was about to experiment, her heart was pounding with excitement again. Acorella grabbed the envoy’s cheeks and looked at him lovingly.

“Now, our dear envoy.”

“Save me, save me-”

“Ah, try it. Ah~”

“Save me! I’ll tell you everything!”

“Ah, drink this and tell me. Once more, ah~! If you spill it, you’ll be in trouble. I worked so hard to make this.”

“Aaaah!”

It was practically being poured onto his face. Ian watched the scene calmly, then picked up his pen. And in a low voice, he began the interrogation.

“It’s the same question as before, but it would be very regrettable if a different answer comes out. Now, I ask. Did all the envoys come knowing the death signaling system?”