Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 502

The heated atmosphere of the conference hall cooled down in an instant.

The seasoned officials clicked their tongues inwardly and averted their gazes, while the bureaucrats from other departments, except for the Cultural Department, pretended not to hear, burying their heads in their pens.

They thought they had caught a loose thread, but it turned out they had grabbed a snake’s head. Even if they did well, they would bleed, and if they were unlucky, they would be finished. Jin continued to stare at Daph Rontine with a cold gaze, as if urging him to say something.

“Ah, well, that’s not what I meant, Your Highness.”

“That’s not what you meant? I am so sorry that I don’t know what to do. To think that the Crown Prince can’t even understand the meaning of words properly, how have you been working under me all this time? It’s frustrating.”

It was a sarcastic remark with a knife hidden in its tip.

Those who had hoped to gloss over the situation closed their eyes tightly. The venom was about to spread throughout the entire Cultural Department, so it would be better to cut it off, even if it was regrettable. The person sitting in front of the speaker slowly raised their head.

“I am Delma, the Minister of Culture. Your Highness, I will take responsibility as the superior for Daph’s slip of the tongue and reprimand him. Please, calm your anger and settle down. Isn’t it impossible to compare Your Highness, who is of noble birth, with the Minister of Magic from the borderlands? Sir Ian Hiel, I believe you would agree.”

Everyone goes through childhood. However, just because they are young does not mean they are on the same level.

In response to Delma’s question, Ian replied with a smile.

“Of course. As you said, Your Highness and I cannot be placed on the same standard. However, that also applies to me. It would be difficult if you, or rather, Sir Daph Rontine, see me as a ‘child’ as a standard. I am a wizard, after all.”

Among all the departments in the Imperial Palace, only the Magic Department selects and nominates its own minister candidates. This means that the trust, faith, and respect of the members are the top priorities in evaluating the qualifications of the minister, and furthermore, it proves that they possess great power.

Ian drew a line under Daph Rontine’s name and asked again.

“Sir Daph Rontine, who said that being young is a problem, how is it? Do you understand a little now?”

“Yes, yes, I, I have no objection.”

“Good. Then let’s move on to the next topic. First, since Minister Delma of the Cultural Department spoke first, I will address matters related to the Cultural Department first.”

At Ian’s gesture, a wizard standing behind him placed a new report in Ian’s hand. The officials focused their attention on what was written, but Ian leisurely flipped through the pages, pointing out the details.

“First of all, there is no excuse for the Rutherford intrusion at that time. It is true that the Magic Department, which is in charge of a significant part of the Imperial Palace’s security, made a mistake. In this regard, I, as the person in charge at the time, clearly acknowledge it and apologize to the Imperial Palace and the people of the Empire.”

That’s right. It was too obvious, even though a long time had passed. What could a person who had just returned do? Bowing their head and lying flat was the priority. Some officials exchanged satisfied smiles and nodded, determined to push him further.

But that was only for a moment.

Ian looked directly at Minister Delma of the Cultural Department and asked.

“But, you see, ensuring the safety of the Imperial Palace is not a role assigned only to the Magic Department. Directly, the Imperial Defense Department and the Imperial Guard are involved, and indirectly, everyone needs to do their part in their respective positions. At that time, you said that you had dismissed all the responsible parties to restore the prestige. Is that correct?”

Minister Delma looked at Minister Tweller. Why were the Imperial Defense Department and the Imperial Guard suddenly being mentioned?

However, Minister Tweller did not show any particular reaction. It was as if he had expected it. This suggested that he had been given prior notice.

The officials looked around and whispered to each other, holding their breaths.

“Isn’t he asking why only the Magic Department is being targeted when the heads of the Imperial Defense Department and the Imperial Guard remain the same?”

“If you try to catch the Magic Department, you have to be prepared to tie up the Imperial Defense Department and the Imperial Guard as well, which means you are essentially opposing His Highness the Crown Prince, isn’t it?”

“What is this… did that young one hide a knife under his tongue?”

“Shhh. Quiet. Don’t say he’s young.”

Ian scribbled with his pen, glancing at Minister Delma. He had asked a question, but no answer came back. He was probably pondering how to answer. Ian didn’t wait and continued to add.

“And Minister Delma, you know that Rutherford used the paintings in the exhibition hall as entrances at that time. All the works in the Imperial Palace are under the jurisdiction of the Cultural Department, aren’t they?”

“Speak properly! It was clearly a magical area! Before the Cultural Department, it was a problem that the Magic Department should have dealt with!”

“The magic embedded in the paintings is one thing, but where the paintings came from, who painted them, and how they entered the Imperial Palace, shouldn’t you know that? If the entry process had been clear, you would have known that Rutherford’s hand had reached them first. It seems that the Cultural Department is as responsible as the Magic Department. Do you have any objections?”

“That’s why the former Minister of Culture resigned.”

“And Minister Delma, who took office next, did not conduct any special post-investigation. Isn’t this dereliction of duty?”

Ian lightly presented the report as if telling him to read it, and Delma frowned without hesitation.

“Look here. Rutherford’s gang disappeared with you, and at the same time, many treasures were lost. The Cultural Department has been focusing on finding the treasures, not neglecting its duties.”

“So how much have you recovered? Those treasures.”

As if saying he had spoken well, Delma leaned forward slightly and growled.

“Not even half of half. Even if Rutherford’s intrusion is open to discussion, the loss of treasures is the Magic Department’s fault. Because only the Magic Department confronted Rutherford at that time. How will you take responsibility for this? The Cultural Department has suffered enormous losses because of this.”

“Speak properly, Minister Delma.”

“What, what did you say?”

Ian smiled, repeating Delma’s words back to him.

“It’s not the Cultural Department’s loss, it’s the Imperial Family’s loss. The owner of the treasures is the Imperial Family, so if you are going to claim compensation, it should be the Imperial Family claiming it from the Magic Department. Isn’t that right?”

“……!”

Delma paused at the unexpected point. It was actually true. The Cultural Department was a department that managed and excavated various valuables under the orders of the Imperial Family.

“Regarding the lost treasures, I will submit a separate solution to His Highness the Crown Prince. To do that, it would be a priority for me to be reinstated as the Minister of Magic.”

“Wait a minute. Until now, the Cultural Department has been in charge of that task. If you suddenly do this, are we supposed to be left out in the cold?”

Just as officials risked their lives for the right to speak, each department risked their lives for the tasks they were in charge of. The authority that came with the process, and the rights given when the achievement was completed. These were the values and the meaning of existence for the departments.

Especially for the Cultural Department, the recovery of treasures was one of the most important tasks that they could never let go of. In other words, it was an attitude that the Magic Department would take responsibility, but the Cultural Department would take the task.

Ian shrugged his shoulders as if he couldn’t understand at all.

“If you want, you can.”

Oh, damn it-

“Sir Ian!”

“Looking at the past budget, it seems that quite a few departments have divided the budget and manpower allocated to the Magic Department. It seems like they were borrowed under the concept of secondment, but nothing has been properly returned.”

Ian read out the numbers written in detail.

“The Cultural Department borrowed 3,000 gold coins. Have you ever calculated how much the interest alone is?”

“Th, that was done through a legitimate procedure. It was a legal interdepartmental transaction under the jurisdiction of the Administrative Department.”

“I asked how much the interest is. Perhaps, you don’t know what interest is.”

“That’s an insult!”

*Thump!*

Delma slammed the desk and protested strongly, and Ian lightly threw the report down.

“Six departments, including the Cultural Department, have withdrawn the Magic Department’s budget, but not a single one has properly repaid it. This is the insult, Minister Delma.”

Jin, who had been stroking his eyebrows, gestured with his hand, telling Delma to restrain himself.

“It is right to correct what has been given to each. Cultural Department, choose. Will you take both responsibility and the task, or will you abandon both?”

If they opposed Ian, they would have no choice but to hand over the treasure recovery to the Magic Department. It was not a big burden to take responsibility for the Cultural Department now, after a long time had passed, even if it had been right after the incident.

The subordinates next to him covered their mouths and whispered to the minister.

“Minister. Judging by the fact that he officially mentioned the budget withdrawal, he will definitely hold on to that as well. It would be better to step back at an appropriate level.”

“Yes, how about we withdraw from here?”

Delma bit his lip and took a moment to catch his breath. The other departments already seemed to be in a frenzy, holding their own meetings from the moment Ian brought up the budget issue.

Delma took a sip of water and then decided.

“…I have no objection. The Cultural Department will take responsibility for the loss of treasures and will complete the task to the end. Your Highness.”

“I understand. So be it.”

The issue of Ian’s identity and the responsibility for the loss of treasures was settled. Ian drew lines and added one last thing to Delma.

“The Cultural Department should be more careful with its financial management from now on. I will claim the full amount of the loan within the first half of the year.”

“……”

“We have no questions for Minister Ian Hiel.”

“Yes, same here. We will not ask any questions.”

Two other departments quickly raised their hands and expressed their opinions, as if they had made a decision. Ian nodded, saying it was a good decision, and closed the report.

“Well, then, what’s left is about my personal qualifications. The fact that I couldn’t fight Rutherford with magic, that is.”

His smile was unusually bright, as if he was delivering good news. A sudden, bright halo. The officials just blinked.

“Rutherford is not a wizard, but a human.”

“Wh, what did you say?”

“What are you talking about? You said earlier that you couldn’t fight Rutherford because of magic. And many wizards followed Rutherford. But a commoner, it doesn’t make sense.”

“There was a contract magic between me and Rutherford. It was bound by my power. But I cut that link in the abyss, and now there is no connection between him and me. So, I will not lose to Rutherford now.”

Hale, who had been listening quietly from behind, raised his hand. When the officials’ gazes turned to the back, Ian also turned around.

“I’m sorry to interrupt, but Ian, you have never lost before.”

“That’s right! What do you mean by losing? He crashed into the abyss! And went there to have another go!”

“You be quiet, you.”

“I agree. The Magic Department did not lose to Rutherford. So, I think it’s unfair to discuss qualifications.”

“What is the standard for losing? Casualties always occur in battle. It’s not over yet, so I don’t know why you are lowering the status of the Magic Department by saying they lost.”

“That’s right. This is also an insult.”

The wizards also mustered the courage to add a word each. Ian looked at them, shrugged his shoulders once, and turned back to the front. The faces of the officials looking at the wizards were quite a sight.

“That’s what they say. And, to be honest, I’ll ask. Do you have an alternative?”

An alternative to face Rutherford, who has the shadow of God on his back, without the Magic Department. An alternative to minimize the damage to the Empire and overcome Burgos, and even Tolun.

Ian asked again, saying that anything would be fine, just answer.

“Do you have one? Anything at all.”