Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 60

“…We talked about it?”

“Don’t you remember? I said, ‘We will use the rumors.'”

At Ian’s meaningful words, Molin recalled the conversation they had during their second luncheon.

They had discussed how any food was welcome if it could solve the famine, and they even shared ideas on how to distribute it to improve public perception.

“……!”

Could it be that he had this moment in mind since then?

Ian changed the subject with a calm face.

“It is Lord Romandro from the Imperial Palace who is collecting the Gula.”

Everyone’s gaze turned to Romandro.

They were not just anyone, but people from the Imperial Palace, serving the Emperor. If they took the lead in recognizing Gula as food, improving public perception would not be a problem.

“Let’s write a little scenario. The Imperial Palace has been researching alternative crops for a long time. In the process, they discovered that while Gula is highly toxic, its seeds are nutritious and delicious. Lord Romandro preempted this information and collected Gula.”

“Are you sure about this?”

“About what?”

“No…”

“What does it matter? It’s just talk. The rumors about Bratz won’t reach the Imperial Palace. They will only be conveyed through your pens. Don’t you know that?”

Romandro scratched his chin, looking awkward. As he had said that day, the report would accurately point out Ian’s achievements, but the rumors for the territory residents should be different.

“Is that all we need to spread?”

“Of course not. We need to add some research results. What would be good? Should we add that it improves skin and hair, and is effective for longevity?”

“Hahaha! That’s too far-fetched.”

“What does it matter? It’s common to exaggerate to entice the other party. And Lord Romandro and Lord Molin, please take the time to dine outside often. Show off dishes made with Gula. Then I will finish it off.”

At Ian’s words, Molin lightly slammed the table. It was a gesture of refusal, indicating that he could not agree.

“That’s absurd! Using the Imperial Palace in rumors is unacceptable. It concerns His Majesty’s dignity.”

If they distributed Gula, claiming research that hadn’t been done, and problems arose later, wouldn’t they resent the Imperial Palace? It was a reasonable concern, but Ian did not agree.

“…Clearly, back then, Lord Molin seemed to think that solving the famine was a leader’s destiny. He wouldn’t oppose it for such trivial reasons.”

“Trivial? Did you call the Imperial Palace’s honor trivial?”

“In the face of imminent death, everything is trivial!”

It was almost the first time. Ian had raised his voice like this. He had always just smiled and retorted. While Molin hesitated and opened his mouth, Ian put down his napkin.

“Lord Molin. I think there’s some misunderstanding, but I’m not asking for permission right now.”

It was a unilateral notice that he would reject any refusal.

“If you are going to oppose and interfere, leave the territory immediately. I will order the warriors to escort you out.”

“…What kind of rudeness is this!”

“Lord Mac. Be sure of your position. Who is being rude right now?”

Ian, who had come up with a plan to save the territory and its people, and Molin’s group, who were just stationed there as envoys of the Imperial Palace and were opposing it.

Mac’s face flushed red at the insulting words to be sure of his position. They were not comparable to dukes or counts, but they were also from noble families. It meant that they had never been treated like this anywhere.

Romandro, who had been listening quietly, subtly intervened to change the atmosphere.

“Ahem. Calm down, everyone. Well, Lord Molin. I’ve tried it, and it’s quite delicious. The recipes are more diverse than I thought, so the dining table will be more colorful.”

At that moment, Beric slipped into the dining hall. He winked his left eye, subtly signaling. It meant that he had recovered the magic stone.

“I have made my intentions clear. This is important, so I will not tolerate any interference.”

“Ian, how can you be so arrogant!”

“Well, everyone, enjoy your meal. I’ll be going now.”

Ian said that and entrusted the rest to Romandro. Beric, who came out into the hallway, handed him the magic stone.

“But Ian, you sure speak nicely.”

“What do you mean?”

“You expressed ‘I’ll kill you if you eat like you’re eating shit in front of people’ as ‘I will not tolerate it.’ So elegant. So elegant.”

As Beric clicked his tongue in admiration, Ian chuckled.

The two headed to the office that Derga had used. The investigation team had swept away all the papers, but they had left the magic solution as it was. Ian filled a glass bottle with the solution, just as Derga had done, and dropped the magic stone into it.

*Pong!*

The red gem began to shine and make a sound. Ian listened with one ear as he read through the reports that had come up, and Beric lay down on the sofa, chewing on a gurute leaf.

It could be considered a somewhat peaceful rest time.

[With her personality, if things… go like this… how she will react, I dare not… even imagine.]

*Scratch, scratch.*

Amidst the murmuring of the three men, only Ian’s writing sound was heard quietly.

[If the one blocking the way… has no intention of moving, cannot turn back, and there is no other… way, what… should one do?]

It was then. Because the content was quite disturbing, Ian stopped writing. Beric, who had been half-closing his eyes, did the same. He stopped chewing and slightly raised his head.

“What the hell are you muttering about?”

“Shhh.”

[One has no choice but to remove the one blocking the way… and go.]

[…Teacher.]

[There is always a way.]

Ian tapped the table with his pen tip as if amused. Then, Beric, who had come closer, turned his thumb down and made a throat-cutting gesture.

“Isn’t this saying they’re going to kill you?”

“Ah, yeah. Well, it’s not a bad option.”

It was a choice that Ian would have considered if he were in their position. In fact, the best thing would be to give up the Bratz territory, but it would be easier and more convenient to cut off Ian’s breath than to give up this place that they had worked so hard on for months.

Above all, it would be safer if they thought about the future.

“Shall we take them out?”

Beric calmly picked up his sword sheath. It was as if he was picking wildflowers, speaking in a nonchalant tone.

‘It seems like they were just waiting for an opportunity…’

Unfortunately, he had hardly been alone because of work. Not only was he always with Beric, but his sleep schedule was also erratic, so he only took short naps during the day.

“Take them out? Or not?”

“Don’t. Wait. This is too embarrassing to be called evidence. If I had known this would happen, I would have given them more of a scolding earlier.”

Ian chuckled and took out the magic stone. The faces of Molin’s group in the dining hall became clearer. The anger of the noble lords, marked with shame and humiliation.

They might send assassins even tonight.

“What’s so funny?”

“Ah, no, it’s just… it reminded me of the old days.”

It was a short time for him as well, but the Emperor was the Emperor.

He could confidently say that he knew better than anyone how dark the chambers were at night, the sound of the poison scorpions climbing the curtains, and the look in the eyes of those who jumped in with daggers drawn.

“Beric. You need to be on high alert.”

“I’m always in my right mind?”

“A little more. Wide awake.”

Ian tapped Beric’s cheek and asked him to provide flawless security. Of course, he did not forget to place eyes and ears on Molin’s group as well.

* * *

At a village site not far from the mansion, Romandro was checking the construction progress with his subordinates and proceeding with the reconstruction. As the sun was high in the sky, a subordinate cautiously asked about lunch.

“Let’s stop the morning work here.”

“Shall we?”

“Lord Romandro! What should we do with the remaining oak trees?”

“Gather them in a row and move them to the entrance of Gilsem Village. Didn’t they say the suspension bridge there was broken? We’ll build a high bridge, so we’ll use them for that.”

“Yes, I understand.”

“Lord Romandro!”

“Wait a moment. Let’s eat before we do that?”

“I’m sorry, but it’s a bit urgent. The giant rock you told us to remove. We found out it’s the tomb of Iza Abi.”

“What? This is crazy.”

Romandro grabbed his head and gestured to his subordinate. It meant to guide him quickly. He had a feeling that he would miss lunch. He put his hand in his pocket and then poured a handful of something into his mouth.

“Did you see that just now?”

The territory residents, who were watching him with the whites of their eyes, whispered.

“He keeps taking something out of his pocket and eating it every time he works.”

“I know. I asked what it was, but he wouldn’t tell me.”

“Tsk, tsk. You guys haven’t heard yet?”

A man, pretending to know, intervened.

“Isn’t that Gula seed? Gula seed.”

“Ugh? That’s nonsense. Why would the advisor do that?”

“You really don’t know? Well, didn’t they collect Gula for money at the mansion last time?”

“They did.”

The recruitment period was over, so they no longer accepted it, but in fact, there was no way to get it even if they did. It was because the Gula seeds around them had dried up. No matter how deep they went into the forest, they couldn’t see a single Gula leaf.

“That, it’s actually because Lord Romandro was going to eat it!”

“Crazy, it has to make sense to agree with you!”

“No, it’s true. It’s because the news is slow here in the outskirts. People in the center are already eating Gula seeds like peanuts.”

“Is that, did he eat Gula? Is his head spinning because of the poison?”

“Gula is poisonous on the outside, but the seeds are very tasty. They say it makes your skin firm and white. They say they can’t get enough of it in the center!”

At that point, the people who had gathered tilted their heads in confusion.

“Really?”

“If you don’t believe me, go ask the advisor. Ask what he’s putting in his pocket and eating. He’ll never tell you. They’re too busy eating it themselves, would they tell you?”

“So that’s why he had us collect Gula for money?”

“Or is there another reason? Have you ever seen the higher-ups waste money?”

At the man’s words, everyone shook their heads. When it came to money, they sucked it up like blood, without leaving anything behind. There was no way. There must be a valid reason for everything.

“So it wasn’t that Ian was trying to sell it to the Cheonryeo tribe?”

“That’s nonsense! The Cheonryeo tribe won’t be able to stay here soon because of the cold. They’ve all left, and only the chief and Ner, Ner what’s-his-name, and a few others are left. Isn’t the tribe chief on his last legs?”

The rumors that spread from mouth to mouth grew bigger each time they were passed on. Ian, who had secretly planted eyes and ears everywhere, nodded, finally satisfied when ‘that rumor’ had spread.

“Did you know? They say ‘the Emperor eats it for eternal life.’ Is this a joke or what?”

“Haha! Well, what does it matter if it’s a joke or not? That’s enough. It’s done. Beric. Let’s get ready for the next step.”

Ian, judging that curiosity about Gula had reached its peak, moved on to the next stage.