Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 56

Mereloff

“What’s the problem?”

“It seems difficult to adjust the target.”

“Well, wasn’t that expected?”

“I hoped it wouldn’t be. It seems we have no choice but to take a second option.”

Kakhantir and the others nodded. Beric asked again.

“Is there really any support fund?”

“Yes. He didn’t answer definitively, but it’s there. I’m guessing it’s around 3,000 gold coins.”

“Wow, damn. That’s crazy!”

Since it was said to be enough to support for two months, it would be around that amount. Even if the Imperial Palace helped with the reconstruction, a solid operating fund was essential for normal operations.

“It seems we’ll be meeting with Mereloff soon, so we need to prepare well.”

“Hmm. Okay.”

Romandro’s gold coins. Mereloff’s food. And Ian mediating between them. If they just looked for an opportunity, a quite satisfactory deal could be made.

Kakhantir nodded in agreement.

“By the way, about that advisor, Romandro. He seems quite friendly to us. Do you think so too?”

“That’s right. Since he was sent by Prince Marib to deal with the situation, he’s likely to be the opposite of Gail’s faction.”

Moreover, Molin’s hostility from their first meeting seemed to play a big role. Since Derga’s tip-off was a collaboration between Molin and Ian, he must have thought they were on the same side.

But judging by the atmosphere, they were not just hostile but ready to tear each other apart. Romandro had some idea that Ian was not on Gail’s side.

“If we can bring Romandro to our side, everything will go as planned.”

“Yeah. To be honest, I was a bit surprised.”

“About what….”

At Ian’s puzzled question, Kakhantir playfully grabbed his hand. He was imitating Romandro’s reaction from earlier.

“That a mana user would be treated like this in the Empire.”

“Because they are called the ones who most resemble the gods.”

Many people in the borderlands often regarded magic as something from myths. Kakhantir and Nersarn were among them. Even after seeing Beric’s case, they didn’t know how much power it could grow into. The flow of mana was like a river flowing into a vast ocean.

“Becoming the head of the family might not be impossible after all.”

At Kakhantir’s words, Ian just smiled. It seemed he was only convinced after seeing Romandro’s reaction himself.

“Let’s hurry and drive in the wedge before autumn comes.”

“I will prepare.”

“Keep a close watch on Molin and his group.”

“Yes, Kakan.”

“Beric, you did as I told you, right?”

“Hiding the mana stone? Of course, of course.”

“Good. Everyone, move out.”

At Kakhantir’s command, his subordinates hid their presence and went down the stairs. Ian also returned to Romandro’s room with Beric, and the hallway was as dark as ever.

Meanwhile, on the floor just below.

“Teacher. What should we do?”

Mac and D’Gore, having finished dinner, looked at Molin. Their teacher was sitting by the window, lost in thought. Mac took out a cigarette and roughly tugged at his hair.

“I can’t think of a solution at all.”

“Mac. Calm down for a moment.”

“I’m not as calm as you, D’Gore. Erica, no, actually anyone would do, but the lord must be someone who cooperates with us. But did you see Ian’s attitude earlier?”

At Mac’s shout, D’Gore also sighed. How could they defeat a mana user who had joined forces with the Cheonryeo tribe? Especially in the borderlands, which was their base, not the center.

“It would have been different if he had been friendly to us….”

“That doesn’t seem likely. He was standing stiffly next to Romandro with his chin up….”

He was also quite perceptive. He noticed that Molin’s group and Romandro were wary of each other, not long after arriving at the mansion. It was unknown whether he knew that Marib and Gail were behind them respectively.

“In my opinion, it would be better to appoint someone other than Commander Erica.”

“Who?”

“Didn’t Hale of the Magic Department make a great contribution in the Roxanne battle recently? Since the Emperor is likely to grant him a title, how about recommending this territory to him?”

“Hale is a major force in the Imperial Palace. The Emperor even refuses his leave, so how would he give him land in the borderlands? He wouldn’t give him an excuse to leave the capital.”

Mac waved his hand, meaning it was absurd. The cigarette smoke at his fingertips scattered messily.

“And D’Gore, don’t you know Commander Erica’s personality?”

“…I know. I know it too well.”

“With her personality, I can’t even imagine what she would do if things went this way.”

D’Gore remained silent, fully agreeing. A person who rose from commoner to the head of the investigation team, a personification of determination. Rather than being loyal to Gail, she was more interested in the wealth and honor that came with it. That was probably why she volunteered for this trip to Bratz.

Swoosh.

Molin, who had been looking out the window, approached the table and poured wine. He spoke in a voice as heavy as the night air.

“If the one blocking your path has no intention of moving, you can’t turn back, and there’s no other way, what do you do?”

His eyes were filled with the traces of life. He took a sip of wine and muttered.

“You have no choice but to remove the one blocking your path.”

“Teacher.”

“There’s always a way.”

Kill Ian.

For now, that was the most certain and clean method. It was difficult because this was the borderlands, but on the other hand, it was fortunate. If it were the center, and he had the title of a mage, it would be harder to deal with him.

“If a mana user, not just anyone, is hostile to us, it’s right to cut him down before he grows any further.”

“You are right. If he grows uncontrollably after becoming a mage, it will soon become a burden to Gail.”

It would be fine if Ian was gone.

If Ian was gone, the Cheonryeo tribe beasts would have no reason to be here, and Romandro would have no power to rely on, so he wouldn’t be able to use his strength.

Erica couldn’t do it because she feared for her life, but what Molin feared more than death was failure. He couldn’t tolerate a mere bastard commoner causing problems for the great Gail’s achievements.

“Let’s stay here for a few days and observe the situation.”

“Yes, Teacher.”

Let’s look for an opening and seize the opportunity.

That was the plan they made as soon as Molin’s group arrived at the mansion. They rinsed their mouths with wine, as if they wanted the words they had spoken to disappear.

Unaware that a red brooch, a mana stone, was attached under the bed.

* * *

On a clear morning without a single cloud.

A long procession from the Bratz territory was passing through the forest. It was a procession that included Ian, Beric, Romandro and his subordinates, and even the Cheonryeo tribe escort warriors.

Romandro muttered, looking out the window.

“It’s farther than I thought.”

“It’ll be quick once we get out of the forest.”

“Does that side also border the Great Desert?”

“Mereloff… does have some parts that border the desert, but it’s hardly affected, and it’s closest to the Hawan Kingdom to the east.”

“Ah, right. The Hawan Kingdom is this way.”

Since it was friendly with Bariel and trade was active, Mereloff was profiting a lot as a trading post for exchanges between the two countries. The reason Mary got fabrics from the East was also through Mereloff’s wife.

“Stop. Where are you from?”

“We are from the Bratz territory, the advisor is here.”

The gatekeeper guarding the outer wall checked the coachman’s pass and opened the way. The inside was similar to Bratz, but with many exotic traces. Just as Bratz was influenced by the Great Desert and the Cheonryeo tribe, they were influenced by the Hawan Kingdom.

“You haven’t been trading continuously?”

“I don’t know about Derga’s time, but since the investigation team came down, they’ve locked their doors. Since the matter is what it is, it would have been difficult to get involved.”

However, after Commander Erica stepped down and Ian took charge of the territory, a letter had been sent first. It was for a routine situation check. Whether Derga was really dead, and if so, whether the Cheonryeo tribe had occupied the territory, etc. It was information that they should know as neighbors, but….

‘If the advisor from the Imperial Palace hadn’t come down, these guys might have bothered us.’

Wasn’t it a basic method to expand power in the borderlands? To grow by devouring neighbors. They must have been waiting for an opportunity, but they were clearly flustered when the advisor from the Imperial Palace came down.

Squeak.

The carriage procession drove on and arrived at the mansion. When the coachman opened the door, the advisor got out first and looked around. Unlike the quiet Bratz, the landscaping was stylish and luxurious.

“Are you Advisor Romandro?”

“Yes, I am.”

“Please come inside. The Count is waiting for you.”

A wizened butler politely guided them. He glanced at the Cheonryeo tribe warriors following behind, but that was all.

“Advisor Romandro?”

“Greetings. Count Carlo Mereloff.”

“Welcome.”

A very thin middle-aged man was sitting in the reception room. His impression was bloodless and stiff, like tree bark. He blew out cigarette smoke and looked at Ian.

“You must be Ian.”

His gaze was cold as he stared intently. It felt like he was seeing through your true nature, with a subtle arrogance.

“I greet Count Mereloff.”

“You don’t resemble Derga at all.”

“Thank you for the compliment.”

“…Please, sit down.”

Mereloff, Romandro, and Ian sat around a large round table. The Count offered them tea and got to the point.

“I heard you are seeking food.”

“That’s right. Our territory is already barren, and we are in a situation where even next month’s food is uncertain, so we are asking our neighboring territory, Mereloff, for help.”

“It seems there are no other problems.”

“The recovery is better than expected. If we can solve the problem for just a couple of months, it seems we can normalize things before and after winter.”

Count Mereloff tapped the table with his hand. He was clearly thinking deeply about something. He nodded and ordered the butler.

“Bring the prepared documents.”

“Yes, Count.”

“I thought about it after receiving the letter. We shouldn’t ignore the pain of our neighboring territory’s people, but we can’t cut our own flesh to save others.”

Clearly, if there had been no advisor from the Imperial Palace, Ian wouldn’t have even been given a chance to trade. It was obvious that he had no funds, and as he said, what was important was his own territory, not his neighbors.

“This is the list of what we can provide and the prices we have set.”

Romandro’s eyebrows furrowed as he slowly checked the letters. Wheat and corn, which were considered essential, were excluded, and even the things that could be used as secondary ingredients were more than five times the market price.

“…Excuse me, Count Mereloff.”

“Yes, Advisor.”

Romandro, who was dumbfounded, called out to the Count, but he was calm. He had agreed to the trade because the advisor from the Imperial Palace had requested it, but he was subtly showing that he didn’t want to do it.

Romandro, who was fiddling with the edge of the document, asked for understanding with difficulty after making eye contact with Ian.

“May we discuss this among ourselves for a moment?”

“Oh! Hahaha! With that fellow?”

Romandro’s ‘we’ included Ian. Count Mereloff, who noticed that, burst out laughing for the first time. An advisor from the Imperial Palace having a meeting with a low-born bastard. It was ridiculous.

“Those who come from the center are different in many ways.”

It was blatant disregard, but Ian didn’t even blink. He was just deeply lost in thought, looking at the numbers presented.

Mereloff was also a border count, but he was a man who had grown fat from sweet trade. It meant that he was in a position to show this much audacity. This was all expected.

“Thank you for your kind words.”

Ian smiled and turned his head away.

No matter how big a laugh is, it will eventually stop.