Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 536

Jin pressed his fingers against his eyes, trying to shake off the sleep. He couldn’t keep track of time since the boundary between day and night had blurred, but his body was telling him more accurately than anything else that the day had changed.

He leaned back on the sofa and closed his eyes for a moment. He had only been sitting and enjoying the banquet, yet he felt this way. He was amazed at how the mages were holding up.

Knock knock.

“Is that you, Ian?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Come in.”

Just then, Ian entered, and Jin greeted him with only one eye barely open. Ian checked his watch and nodded as if he understood.

“It’s nine in the morning, past dawn. It’s understandable that you’re tired, Your Highness.”

“I’m amazed at what you and the mages are doing. You don’t seem tired at all.”

In fact, Ian’s complexion was a little pale, but other than that, there was no other change. The mages who were wandering outside the waiting room also looked lively and composed.

Ian smiled, looking satisfied.

“The biggest factor is that we can exchange power. Acorella’s ability also played a part. Everyone is working hard to maintain the best environment until the end.”

“What about the nobles?”

“They are still enjoying the banquet. Those who live near the Imperial Palace have left and re-entered, and those who don’t are resting in the provided palaces. They will probably return to the banquet hall when they come to their senses.”

“Those persistent people.”

They were always having parties, like real party animals. Jin rubbed his forehead, feeling disgusted, and then looked at Ian. ‘But, why are you here?’

Ian, who had noticed the question, reported.

“Among the attendants of Minister Shatima of the Hawan Kingdom, there is a former head of the Imperial Palace Investigation Unit. Her name is Bertie Erica. She was someone who came by order of the late Emperor when I was at the border, but she disappeared due to some incident. It seems she has come in collusion with the minister to return. I thought it would be good for you to see her in person, so I’m reporting this.”

“Imperial Palace Investigation Unit?”

“Yes. It’s been more than ten years, so all the members of the organization that Erica led at the time have died. This report lists the charges that can be applied to Erica. Detailed explanations related to it are also included.”

Swoosh.

As Ian handed over the report, Jin immediately checked the contents without hesitation. It was hard to believe that he was the same person who had been rubbing his eyes just a moment ago.

The attendants who were watching the scene exchanged glances and clicked their tongues. It wasn’t the party animals who were terrible, but the Crown Prince. They thought he was so ruthless in his reading.

Jin, who had read the text without a hitch, frowned.

“Bring Minister Shatima and Erica here.”

“Yes, Your Highness. Knowing you would say that, I told them to wait outside.”

Creak.

At Ian’s gesture, the door opened and two people walked in. They were dressed in lighter clothes. The two knelt on one knee and bowed, and Jin allowed them to sit on the sofa.

“Erica, you say?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Hmm.”

Thud.

As Jin threw the report in front of her, Erica’s body flinched greatly.

“As the head of the Imperial Investigation Unit, not only did you disobey the late Emperor’s orders, but you also went missing and were living under the authority of a foreign official. How should the Imperial Palace accept this?”

Even though he knew that Ian was involved in the process and that the bodies of Mary and Chel were also there, Jin’s attitude was firm. When Erica bowed her head without answering, Jin continued.

“You would have no excuse even if you were considered a traitor to your country.”

“No! Absolutely not! From the moment I crossed the border, I have been waiting for the day I could return home. The fact that I am a Bariel person will never change.”

Erica banged her forehead on the floor, claiming her innocence.

The atmosphere was somewhat harsh, but everyone in the room knew that this was just a setup for a conversation. Since every single thing was a transparently intentional conversation, Shatima gradually realized that it was her turn to step in.

“Yes, Your Highness. Forgive me for saying this, but Erica has never forgotten that she is a Bariel person. I swear, she has not leaked even the smallest thing about her country. That is why I brought her with me when I came to Bariel. I needed a bridge to connect with Bariel.”

“You needed a bridge?”

“I believe you know. I am in a position where I cannot easily return to Hawan.”

It was a kind of exile. Under the pretext of seeing and learning new things in Bariel, Shatima would not be able to return to Hawan without the king’s permission. It was the fate of someone who had been pushed out of the power struggle.

“So?”

‘What do you want?’ As Jin subtly brought up the topic, Shatima spoke as if she had been waiting for it.

“Please reinstate Erica to the Imperial Investigation Unit and dispatch her to Hawan, and at the same time, allow me to return as well.”

“Reinstatement? Does the Imperial Investigation Unit look like a position of a class leader in an elementary school to you? It is not an honor to be taken lightly.”

“I will report it. I will report the information that the King of Hawan was in contact with Rutherford.”

Clatter.

Shatima took something out of her pocket and placed it on the table. It was Idgal [a magical mineral]. The amber color was radiant, and it was quite large, as if it had not undergone any refining.

“Due to the incident ten years ago, Bariel announced an agreement to restrict and manage the use of Idgal in neighboring countries. The direct target countries were Vergos, Clifford, and Luswena, but Hawan was also included because it was geographically close.”

After Idgal began to be used for preventing cracks, the mages scattered, and Rutherford disappeared, the method of manufacturing Idgal also disappeared into the labyrinth. Therefore, Bariel had no choice but to be actively involved in the distribution of Idgal.

Of course, it was possible to guess that each country was secretly pocketing it, but they overlooked it. There was no way to know unless it was visible on the surface.

“There is an incomparably larger amount of Idgal in Hawan than the amount reported to Bariel. This is partly because Hawan is a center of trade, but also because Rutherford illegally distributed Idgal in various ways, including jewelry, in the early days.”

Jin picked up the Idgal that Shatima had taken out and slowly examined it. He seemed to understand what she was trying to say.

“Okay. That’s all good. Let’s assume that I send the Imperial Investigation Unit, suspecting a breach of the agreement. But, why does it have to be Bertie Erica? There are many capable and trustworthy people in the Imperial Palace.”

“There are many people in the Imperial Palace who have Your Highness’s trust, but in Hawan, Bertie Erica is the only one who has my trust. Also, no one in the Imperial Palace knows the Hawan Kingdom as well as Erica does. You don’t even know the current king’s most beloved concubine, do you?”

Of the two reasons, the latter was understandable. But the former was questionable, so Jin asked back.

“Is your trust that important?”

“Yes. Of course. If I go back, my king will try to execute me after confirming my will to survive, and furthermore, he will try to purge my people. If I want to survive, I need someone I can trust.”

At that point, Ian asked.

“You’ve already been defeated and came to Bariel, so what can we expect from you?”

It was a remark that could be taken as quite insulting, but Shatima calmly nodded. There was a proper time to retort. Now was the time to just bow down.

“It’s not much, but I have private soldiers. The king ordered them to be returned to the state, but it was put on hold as I was on my way to Bariel. But it’s only a matter of time. It’s obvious where the ownerless private soldiers will go. Also, the late king, who was the king’s brother, has a grown son.”

“Are you saying we should bet on a rebellion in a neighboring country?”

“It depends on what kind of bet it is. The payout is big, so you won’t be disappointed. If a war breaks out, Bariel will only look towards Vergos to advance, but what do you plan to do with the rear where Luswena is? Clifford? Do you think Clifford, who has lost its capital, can stand against Luswena?”

It was a proposal to join forces with Hawan to stop Luswena. The fact that Bariel was located in the center of Gaia meant that its surroundings were blocked by other countries. If simultaneous battles broke out, it was natural that Bariel’s forces would be dispersed.

“We cannot provide troops.”

“Yes. We will also refuse. This is something that needs to be resolved within Hawan. We plan to use the power of foreign forces to a minimum.”

“I can send you back with a proper justification, but I cannot restore Bertie Erica’s honor as the head of the investigation unit.”

At Jin’s decision, Erica’s shoulders flinched once again. Was it really a position she could never return to? Her fists trembled so much that the bones on the back of her hands protruded.

Jin pretended not to see it and turned his head to look at Ian. Then Ian, knowing what he meant, added instead.

“Since it’s an Idgal issue, we will dispatch an investigation unit under the Magic Department. It’s not the Imperial Investigation Unit, but the Magic Department’s Special Investigation Unit. Do you have any objections?”

It meant that they would fulfill the requirements without getting directly involved.

Erica looked up at Ian in disbelief. ‘Now, that is-‘

‘Am I supposed to serve Ian as my superior?’

Erica’s mouth opened and closed a few times, but she couldn’t bring herself to say anything else. She could only say thank you.

“A few more things. All Idgal that Hawan has not reported will be treated as a violation of the agreement, and the penalty will be calculated and all of it will be returned to Bariel. And after the war, Bariel will have priority in the distribution of Luswena’s territory and various agreements. How is that? Is that acceptable?”

Even if Hawan independently stopped and destroyed Luswena, it meant that Bariel would have the priority in deciding when distributing the spoils of war.

It was quite unfair, but Shatima was the one who was thirsty for it right now. She made a brief correction.

“Let’s prioritize only the territory itself. It would be better to agree on other things again.”

Since it was the soldiers of Hawan who were shedding blood, this was reasonable. Ian looked back at Jin, and he nodded his chin without a word. It was a signal to proceed. It was the moment when the advantages that they thought they could gain if the opposition forces of each country visited Bariel were realized. Except for the fools like Luswena.

“Minister Shatima, please move to the Magic Department immediately. Since we will be making a contract magic, please remove any substances that may interfere with the magic, such as Idgal, now. Erica as well. Return to your duties and familiarize yourself with the instructions.”

“Your Highness. Thank you. I will definitely repay your kindness.”

“What kindness? I bet on it because the payout was big.”

As Shatima bowed gracefully, the veil that had been covering her face and hair also slipped down.

The two left the reception room first, and Ian also bowed to Jin with his chin.

“Please rest comfortably, Your Highness. I will see you again in the afternoon.”

“You too. Take care of yourself.”

“Then, I will take my leave.”

Creak.

Ian led the two into the Magic Department with the mages. Unlike Shatima, who was there for the first time, Erica seemed to feel a sense of nostalgia as she was familiar with the place. As they turned the corner of the hallway, the entrance to the director’s office could be seen in the distance.

“……?”

Then, a red-haired man was clearly visible. He was slumped forward with his arms raised, fast asleep, and it even looked a bit eerie.

Shatima recognized that he was the swordsman who had been riding the dragon earlier and frowned slightly. ‘Isn’t he drooling too much?’

“This way, Minister Shatima. Please don’t mind that.”

She barely turned her gaze at Ian’s call, though.

As they closed the door and went inside, Beric twitched, regained his senses, and got up. Then, he blinked, yawned once, and then knelt down and held his arms up firmly.

“One, two, three, four, shi…”

Ian said it was okay to lower his arms when he counted to a thousand, but damn it. If he goes over five hundred, he forgets the numbers, and if he goes over seven hundred, he’s about to die from sleepiness.

Beric sniffled and focused on counting again.