Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 537

-Kkyuu?

Akorella put her hands on her hips and looked up at the dragon. The creature just sat there, tilting its head back and forth. Its personality seemed relatively docile, but its sheer size was overwhelming. She wondered how on earth she was supposed to manage this thing.

As Akorella calmly massaged her temples, the mages poked the dragon with their pens.

“Don’t you think it treats Beric and us a little differently?”

“Maybe it knows? That Beric is on the same level as it.”

“Are all dragons like this?”

“There must be some real bastards out there. But we can’t bring those without experts.”

“True. That muffin would have died before crossing the border.”

“They must have carefully chosen this one, a manageable one that can still mess with us a bit. Hmm. Let’s start with the scale analysis first.”

“Scales? That thing?”

“Yeah. That.”

“Are you sure you’re okay with that, Captain?”

It was a long time ago, but Akorella had once nearly died from a dragon scale infection. She turned around, wearing her sanitary gloves tightly.

“If not me, who else can do it? Who here has touched a dragon scale? No, who knows how to handle it?”

“…No one.”

“That’s why you should be interested in various fields, huh? Do some research, and be prepared, you guys.”

“Come on. You got infected because of that, Captain.”

“If you’re so eager, you can get infected too.”

Akorella carefully approached the dragon and lifted a scale. The dragon tilted its head as if something felt strange, and the mages went on alert. They knew how pathetic the chains binding the creature were as a control device. If it suddenly turned violent, they had to subdue it immediately.

“Whoa, whoa. Relax. You’re making it nervous.”

“It might rip your head off, Captain.”

“Oh my. Since when were you worried about me?”

“Be careful. You’ll break the scale.”

“Who’s the captain here, honestly.”

*Ttok!* As Akorella tore off the scale, the dragon’s eyes widened. *Krrung krrung*, its breath grew heavy, and saliva dripped from its mouth. It was an unusual reaction.

While the mages tensed up, Akorella pulled on another scale.

“C-Captain!”

“Why do you keep calling me?”

“It’s crying.”

“What?”

Akorella turned her head in disbelief. What she thought was saliva was actually tears. She also noticed that the dragon was trembling, and with only two detached scales in her hand, she sighed.

“Okay, I’ll use these for the test.”

“Don’t cry, you! Why are you crying?!”

-Kkyuuu!

“This is driving me crazy. Don’t cry. What do you eat? Meat? Fruit?”

“Let’s give it what we were going to give Beric.”

The mages, who had been on guard as if they were about to subdue it, approached one by one and stroked the dragon’s forehead. Then, as if it had been waiting for this, the creature flopped onto its back, exposing its belly. The mages were amazed and touched it here and there, and Akorella warned them.

“Get your hands off. Don’t approach it before the scale analysis.”

“Ugh. You’re so heartless.”

“If you’re so eager, what? You die.”

“But, the more I look at it, the more amazing it is. Why does it like strangers so much?”

“It didn’t like Beric.”

“He’s not human. Anyway, it was docile in front of the Luswennian delegation, but it wasn’t like this. Is it because it’s a magical creature and likes mages? I heard Luswenna brought a mage too?”

*Ttaak!*

Akorella smacked the mages who had no intention of backing away on the head.

“Set up a fence and tie it up. I said no approaching. If you break the rules, consider your lives expendable and I’ll invite you to the lab.”

“Gasp! We’ll keep that in mind.”

*Tsk tsk*. They should have done that from the start.

Akorella went straight to the lab and placed the two scales in a clear glass cup. It would be better if a defect was found in the dragon. Then, they could send it back through Repin, and depending on the problem, they could expand the Imperial Family’s justification.

‘But the scale incident already happened ten years ago. We have some information. Luswenna knows this too, so it probably won’t be the same even if it’s an epidemic. Hmm.’

*Swoosh*. Akorella lowered her protective goggles and took a light breath. It was a ritual before a sacred study. This was an important moment to find out what kind of trick Luswenna had sent through the dragon, so she had to put her heart into it.

*Clink*.

*Whoooom!*

“……?!”

Ten minutes after the experiment started.

The mages in the magic stone research department were startled by the sudden explosion and looked towards Akorella’s lab. But it was only for a moment. As it was a common occurrence, they all lost interest and slumped onto their desks.

Resting up before the coronation was essential.

* * *

Meanwhile, the atmosphere in the banquet hall was quite chaotic.

The smell of spilled wine, the laughter of the drunk, and the nobles who were almost sprawled out, smoking cigars in comfortable positions. Whether it was a marketplace or an imperial palace banquet hall, the true face of a party was not much different.

“Lord Repin.”

“Ugh?”

“The Prime Minister and the Minister of Magic of the Hawan Kingdom are nowhere to be seen.”

Repin, who was also quite drunk, stroked his mustache and made a puzzled sound.

Everyone from the Clifford side, except for the king and the young royals, were present. Perhaps it was because of their fondness for alcohol, but they had been leading the atmosphere of the banquet hall for hours while being tipsy.

“Didn’t the minister go to rest? I saw the mages taking turns going in and out frequently.”

“That could be the case, but it’s concerning that the Prime Minister of Hawan is also missing. I suspect they might be having a secret meeting.”

“Pfft! What can he do even if they have a secret meeting? He was exiled after being pushed out of the political struggle.”

“Still, it would be good to check. Hawan and Luswenna are close, so their movements are more important than Bariel’s. If Shatima returns with Bariel’s support, it will be a big headache not only for Hawan but also for Luswenna.”

*Glug!* Repin’s face, who had been drinking from his glass, gradually contorted. The more he pondered, the more reasonable the advice seemed. He covered his mouth with his hand and asked.

“What about the dragon?”

“The Magic Department took it, but there hasn’t been any reaction since then. It seems ‘still’ okay.”

“The pink-haired mage who guided us when we first arrived. The captain, that accordion what’s-her-name.”

“Captain Akorella.”

“Yeah, yeah. Doesn’t it feel a bit off?”

“According to the information, she’s in charge of research at the Magic Department.”

“That’s why it feels off! Isn’t she going to be researching the dragon too?”

If there was no one else suitable, that would be the case. As his attendant nodded, Repin clicked his tongue and muttered.

“I think she’ll figure it out.”

“Figure what out?”

At that moment, King Clifford poked his head in.

His face was smiling, and his eyes were curved into a line. And what about his plump cheeks? He had a warm demeanor that was hard to believe for a king of a nation. The king shook his wine glass and offered Repin a drink.

“I’ll try to figure out what you’re trying to figure out!”

“N-Nothing much. By the way, Your Majesty seems to enjoy drinking.”

“That’s basic for a Cliffordian! We have a drink with every meal. Come on, don’t refuse, have another drink! His Highness Crown Prince Jin has given us very good wine, so we shouldn’t leave a single drop! Kyokyokyo!”

“Ah, I’ll stop now-”

“Why? You won’t drink?”

Even though it was a foreign country, it was still from the king, right? He couldn’t refuse? King Clifford stared at Repin with wide eyes, and then the royal family and their attendants also joined in. How dare he refuse the drink given by their king?

Repin had no choice but to smile awkwardly and drink the glass.

“Good, good, it’s good to see you drinking well! But I have one question.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. *Cough*. Oh my, it’s bitter.”

“About the dragon. Didn’t it cause problems in Luswenna before? I heard that a noble family that was destroyed for treason did something with their dragon.”

“Ah, the Hyman family?”

Repin answered without thinking and looked around. He had momentarily overlooked that this was the middle of the Bariel Imperial Palace. Fortunately, most of them were drunk and unable to take care of themselves.

“His wife was from the Luswenna royal family, but well, the authorities have nothing to do with that incident.”

“I heard rumors that they made something called black armor with the dragon. I’m cautiously asking if that’s true.”

“Isn’t that a violation of the agreement? Not at all. Luswenna only operates internationally recognized dragon breeding facilities, and we know nothing about other matters. It’s a shame how rumors spread, and from where.”

Repin, in order to stop talking, voluntarily poured the remaining wine into his mouth. King Clifford glanced around and sat closer to him, then whispered.

“So, you’re saying you don’t know anything about the black armor?”

“Yes, yes. I’ve never seen it, that’s right.”

“Hmm, is that so? That’s a shame.”

Repin’s eyes narrowed at King Clifford’s muttering. A shame? What was? He tapped the table lightly with his fingertips and pondered. And then, as if he couldn’t stand it, he whispered to the king.

“Is something the matter?”

“Hmm. No, it’s nothing.”

“As a Luswennian delegation, I cannot easily dismiss the matter of the black armor. Your Majesty. Please tell me.”

“Ahem. Then, just a moment.”

The king gestured for Repin to come closer. There was something! As Repin looked at him with sparkling eyes, the king naturally filled his empty glass.

“It’s not that, but it’s been ten years since the Clifford capital was destroyed by a rift. We can’t help but think about independent restoration.”

“Yes, yes. That’s right. It’s a matter related to the dignity of the royal family.”

Repin reacted sensitively to the word ‘independent’. Currently, Clifford’s national affairs were being managed by relying on Bariel, and this meant that they were going to break away from that and create a new situation. This would lead to a very important shift in international affairs.

“I know that the Imperial Palace confiscated quite a number of black armors from the Hyman family, but I heard that support for Clifford is not possible.”

“Well, yes. Because Bariel will need them too.”

“So, I’m asking you secretly, is there any way to obtain black armor? Other than official means. We both know very well that trade between Luswenna and Clifford is impossible due to external relations, so I was wondering if Representative Repin could arrange a meeting.”

“Black armor, hmm.”

“If you just connect me to the supplier, I’ll give you 10% of the transaction amount.”

10%? Repin blinked without realizing it. It was an amount that he couldn’t even imagine. Black armor had an astronomical value per unit. Repin lightly slapped his tipsy cheek.

‘Get a grip. This is a trap, a trap.’

Where would Clifford get that much money to pay? Even if they did pay, the black armor that flowed into Clifford would surely be passed on to Bariel to tighten the noose around Luswenna. This was a very, very clumsy scheme!

“Excuse me, Your Majesty. The black armor-”

“That’s the beginning of a refusal. Come on, let’s have a drink first.”

“Ah, yes, yes.”

Repin tried to suppress the dizzy feeling and drank the glass. It would be better to leave soon. As he tried to wipe his wet mustache, King Clifford asked again.

“It seems Luswenna is preparing black armor.”

“Yes.”

What? What was going on? Repin was surprised by the answer that came out without him realizing it and covered his mouth. But King Clifford continued to speak as if nothing had happened.

“Dragon scales are essential for making black armor, and a large amount must be supplied. Is that possible with just the official breeding facilities?”

“…No!?”

What was this? Repin pressed his teeth tightly on his tongue, which was moving on its own. Something, he had definitely drunk something wrong.

King Clifford laughed as if he knew it and winked.

“So, there’s another breeding facility?”

“Your Majesty?”

“Why are you like that? You seem very drunk.”

Something disguised as drunkenness was dominating Repin’s body. He suddenly remembered the existence of the Siltham potion, but he had to stop thinking because his vision was spinning.

Damn it. He had to get up and claim it was a Siltham potion and object… or they would just think he was drunk and made a mistake…

*Thud!*

Repin eventually fell forward and hit his forehead on the table, and King Clifford laughed and patted his back.

“Hey! Someone from the Luswenna side, help Representative Repin! Oh my, why did he drink as much as he was given when he can’t even handle alcohol!”