Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 40

The Reason for Returning

The soldiers outside the main gate still held their swords, maintaining their guard and awaiting orders from within. The atmosphere between the two opposing forces was stark. One side barely stood on trembling hands and feet, while the Cheonryeo [a nomadic desert tribe] calmly chewed on gurut leaves as they waited.

Creak.

The gate opened. They parted to the sides, allowing the strangers to enter.

“Only Ian and the chieftain may enter!”

“Enter?”

“That’s some nice talk, you son of a bitch.”

“…”

The soldier was from the Bariel Central Army, and they were barbarians from the outskirts. It was a natural attitude and tone, but one of the warriors openly sneered and picked a fight.

Then, the other warriors chuckled and created a sympathetic atmosphere. It was a rather intimidating and rough sight, but this time, Ian didn’t stop them.

“Allow the escorts to enter.”

“That is not allowed.”

“Are you the squad leader or the captain?”

“…The orders have already been given from above.”

“I think it would be better to ask again. Your lord’s mind might change, just as ours can.”

At Ian’s calm words, the soldier’s face turned pale. He had said they had no intention of resisting, but this meant things could turn out differently. The Central Army had already suffered significant losses in the battle with Derga, so they had to avoid additional armed conflict as much as possible.

Moreover, the opponents were the belligerent barbarians of Cheonryeo, who were threatening Bratz. No one knew what the future held, but they could easily crush this mansion right now.

Ian turned to Kakantir and suggested,

“Kakan, it seems like Nersarn, Su, and I should go in. That’s four of us.”

“Me! Ian, I’m here too! Beric’s here?”

“Yes. As you wish.”

“Now, go and ask again.”

“Iaaaann! Are you deaf?”

Beric, who was hanging like a piece of luggage, wriggled, asking to be taken along, but he was still excluded.

Under Ian’s pressure, the soldier went back inside and soon returned with satisfactory news.

“Come inside.”

“I’ll be back. Everyone, wait here.”

“Yes, Kakan!”

Creak.

The main gate slowly closed. The Bratz mansion, which they had returned to after two months, was very different from what he remembered. The peaceful and fresh energy was nowhere to be found, and the aura of defeat was deeply ingrained.

The detached building in the distance was as black as if it had been completely burned down. Ian stared at the unidentifiable things piled up next to it. What on earth were those…

“Are you Ian Bratz?”

At that moment, a woman walked out of the main building, escorted by her subordinates. Judging by her attire, she was the head of the investigation team. Her pink hair was tied up in a ponytail, and she was covered in bandages. It seemed there had been a fierce fight inside the mansion as well. She smiled, a cigarette dangling from her lips.

“Ah. Since you haven’t been officially registered, I should just call you Ian. I heard about you from Lord Molin. I’m Erika, the team leader.”

“Are you Lord Molin’s subordinate?”

“Subordinate? Well, I suppose you could say that. Now, come inside. It’s shabby, but it’s better than the ground, wouldn’t you say?”

Erika led the way as if the mansion were her own. Watching her from behind, Ian could guess that she was the next lord appointed by Molin.

Given her position as the head of the investigation team and the fact that she was directly handling matters here, the position of the next lord would be a fair reward.

“What happened?”

Ian, having arrived at the reception room, played dumb and tested the waters. The inside of the mansion was filled with the lingering smell of blood.

“As you can see, there was some bloodshed, but the cleanup is almost done. We’ve also confirmed the tax evasion charges and found the evidence. All that’s left is to cut off Derga’s limbs.”

Ian raised an eyebrow. Most executions of traitors were by hanging. Death by the blade was an honor for nobles, so they usually used ropes. The sight of them dangling in the air, struggling, was also a humiliation rarely seen by the public.

Erika laughed, as if it were a joke. From the main gate to the reception room, she hadn’t once glanced at Kakantir. How arrogant.

“Well, it’s just a figure of speech. He has knights and a captain with him. Deora, was it? He’s quite skilled. He keeps running away, using all sorts of people as his hands and feet, so it’s only natural to cut off his limbs.”

Erika blew cigarette smoke into Ian’s face. Then, she finally glanced at Kakantir and asked with a puzzled expression,

“So, what brings you here? I heard you have a lot of resentment towards Derga. Are you curious about the execution?”

This place was not safe for Ian. Now that the Bratz family was on the verge of disappearing, everyone knew that Derga’s blood flowed through him, even though he had not been officially registered.

“Or are you waiting for a letter from Lord Molin?”

Just the fact that he had cooperated by giving Molin the tip-off was enough to receive such friendly treatment. It was the magnanimity of those who had seized the victory.

Erika clicked her tongue.

“What do you want? I don’t have any specific instructions.”

“It would be nice to hear about Lord Molin’s well-being, but I have other business.”

“Hmm? Is that so?”

Erika didn’t seem to think much of it. As if to say, what could a bastard who was sold to Cheonryeo possibly want?

“Bratz is my hometown. I was so worried when I heard about the trouble that I couldn’t sleep at night. The Cheonryeo people, who were allied with Bratz, felt the same way. That’s why they accompanied me here.”

Erika glanced at Kakantir. Then, she tilted her chin slightly and just smiled. It seemed she hadn’t yet grasped the meaning of Ian’s words.

“Aren’t the barbarians on bad terms with Bratz?”

At her words, Ian burst out laughing. It was a blatant, mocking laugh. Erika’s expression hardened, she stubbed out her cigarette on the table, and her subordinates behind her grabbed their sword hilts.

“Bratz and the Cheonryeo have been allies for a long time, exchanging with each other. We are more than brothers.”

“Brothers? Ha. That’s a load of bull. Everyone in the central administration knows that Bratz and Cheonryeo are at each other’s throats. Aren’t you proof of that? A lowly body sold alive to the Great Desert.”

“Your way of speaking is impressive. It’s unexpected. It seems that these days, they’re even picking commoners as investigation team leaders.”

“What!?”

Erika yelled at Ian’s calm words. It was the same as telling her that her way of speaking was too vulgar.

Kakan also showed his agreement with Ian’s words with a smile.

“Listen here, team leader.”

“Listen here, team leader?”

“I am the center of the Great Desert. Stop spouting vulgar words, and if you’ve confirmed Derga’s tax evasion, hurry up and hold the execution and leave. We will take care of the aftermath of the Bratz territory.”

“Are you crazy? What are you saying!?”

“Erika! There’s no need to listen anymore!”

Clang! Clang!

Erika’s subordinates drew their swords. Kakantir, Nersarn, and Su just watched blankly. Unlike them, who were agitated, the atmosphere was calm.

“You beasts, where do you think you are!?”

Swish!

One of the men closest to Kakantir rushed at him, swinging his sword. Kakantir very lightly grabbed his wrist with his bare hand and then, with a nonchalant expression, began to apply pressure.

“Uh…?”

Crack.

“Ughhhhh!”

With just one hand, he had twisted a man’s wrist. Not stopping there, Kakantir grabbed the man’s hair and slammed his head onto the table. The cigarette ash that Erika had discarded was smeared on the man’s face.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Each time he slammed the man’s head, thin blood splattered, and soon the carpet under the table was soaked. Erika, who had stepped back in shock, screamed shrilly.

“Y-you’re crazy? I’m an envoy of the Imperial Palace! This is an insult to the Imperial Palace!”

“An insult? You’d better watch your words. The fact that you’re alive after being hit by my hand is an honor and mercy.”

It seemed like it wasn’t wrong. To reach the position of chieftain, Kakan had never experienced a single defeat, and all those he had faced had met their deaths.

Erika looked like she was about to lose her mind. She glared at Ian and warned him,

“…Do you want to be beheaded with your father? Everyone knows that Derga’s blood flows through you! Even if I kill you, no one! Can blame me!”

“As you said, I have Derga’s blood, but I am not a member of the Bratz family.”

“Why don’t you try saying that in the Imperial Palace? See if that trickery works!”

“Well, it’s common to end up as a slave in the Imperial Palace, but you should read the situation carefully. Above all, I am the only ‘Imperial’ who interacts with the bordering Cheonryeo.”

This place was a fifteen-day journey from the Imperial Palace. No matter who became the next lord, it was the lord’s duty to protect Bariel’s borders from external forces. In a situation as urgent as this, who was the one backed by Cheonryeo?

Ian lightly raised his head, as if to tell her to look properly.

“Also, due to the alliance, my affiliation is not Bratz of Bariel, but Cheonryeo of the Great Desert. Ah. You should lower your swords. For your own safety.”

They were monsters who could easily defeat dozens of people. Their size alone was obvious. Even Kakantir’s light movements had caused Erika’s subordinate to faint. No one could guess what kind of bloodbath would occur if they even drew their weapons.

“And above all, Team Leader Erika’s mission is to investigate and punish Derga’s tax evasion, not to clean up the Bratz territory. If you finish your work, is it so unpleasant to leave?”

“I’m here to catch Derga!”

“You’ve turned the territory into a wasteland. You’re going too far. You only needed to spill Derga’s blood, but the screams of the territory’s people are everywhere.”

“You’re the one going too far! Face your situation!”

A descendant of Derga, a commoner, and a sacrifice of the Great Desert. If the count’s official trial were held, it was a foregone conclusion that Ian would be sold as a slave. They had to make up for the taxes that Derga had embezzled, no matter what.

“I know my situation well.”

At Ian’s words, Kakantir took out a letter from his inner pocket. And he tossed it onto the blood-soaked table.

“This is the position of our ally, Cheonryeo. Derga’s situation is an internal matter of the empire, but we are allied with Bratz. We want the peace of Bratz more than anyone else.”

“Ha! How shameless.”

“You’d better be polite. Wouldn’t you be the most regretful if you died here?”

It was a simple but clear warning. Erika bit her lip tightly and gripped her sword again. And suddenly, she realized that the Cheonryeo hadn’t even drawn their weapons yet. They thought they were strong enough with their bare hands.

“According to the alliance agreement, we should be supporting Derga. But Derga is a criminal, and Bratz is a piece of Bariel. Therefore, we want to help you…”

Kakantir glanced at Ian.

Everything was as they had agreed beforehand.

“We believe that Ian is the most suitable person to connect you and us, so we would like to delegate all of Bratz’s authority to Ian. What do you think?”

“…Am I misunderstanding? It sounds like you’re saying he’ll become the head of the family?”

Ian and the Cheonryeo just stared at Erika without answering. She was so dumbfounded that she felt speechless. But as if it was too early to be like that, Ian smiled brightly.