Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 619

“Lord Romandro.”

“Cough.”

At the wizard’s call, Romandro flinched. Judging by the clear ink mark on his cheek, he must have been dozing for quite some time.

The wizard looked at him with pity and handed him a report.

“Are you alright? You haven’t gone home for days. Don’t doze off sitting like that; go to the duty room and sleep. You’ll hurt your back.”

“Oh, no. It’s fine. I’ll wake up again soon.”

“Lady Vivianna seemed very worried too.”

“I said I’m fine. What’s the report about? Is it related to Lady Philia?”

Romandro rubbed his eyes with the end of his sleeve and took the report from the wizard’s hand.

Since Philia disappeared, the Magic Department had been in an unofficial state of emergency. After all, she was the mother of the Minister of Magic of the Bariel Empire and the mistress of Hielo Territory.

Romandro, in particular, couldn’t shake off the guilt, thinking that if he had been a little more careful that day, this wouldn’t have happened.

“Ah, yes. It’s news from the border guards. Katimako of Astana has just entered the country. He’s heading to the center of Bariel to find traces of Lady Philia. It seems the messenger bird sent to Lord Ian was delivered safely.”

“Border guards? Hmm, did they say anything else?”

“Yes. They’re checking every woman, regardless of appearance or age, but there’s no news. I think she’s already crossed the border. Otherwise, there’s no way there wouldn’t be any clues.”

“Yes. I think so too, but…”

“You were just hoping, weren’t you?”

Romandro smiled with a tearful face, and the wizard made a similar expression. The baseless belief that she was safe was gradually being washed away by time.

Before despair set in, finding even the smallest clue was the way to keep the faith. For Philia, and for Ian and Bariel. It was their mission to prevent even the slightest confusion for Ian, who was leading the war.

‘On the other hand, the ones who took Lady Philia might want that.’

As Romandro ruffled his hair, footsteps were heard outside. It was a Magic Department employee.

“Excuse me, wizards. Have you heard the news about the Astana reinforcements?”

“Oh, just now. You mean Lord Katimako? I just reported it to Lord Romandro.”

“Are you going to meet them?”

“It would be nice to go, but there are only two wizards in the Magic Department right now, so I don’t think I can leave my post. Why?”

“The Foreign Ministry has sent an official notice. The situation between Hawan and Luswena is very unstable.”

So it has come. Romandro quickly examined the official document and grasped the content. The Prime Minister of Hawan had finally raised the flag of rebellion.

While the Emperor and the Bariel army were in Vergos, they couldn’t keep Luswena in check, so the help of Clifford and Hawan was essential.

“There is a fierce civil war in Hawan.”

“Geez, there’s chaos on both the right and left sides of Bariel.”

“The Foreign Ministry is also paying attention because there is a high possibility of Luswena’s participation.”

“If the Prime Minister of Hawan gains power, all the neighboring countries will side with Bariel. Then Luswena won’t be able to compete alone. Especially with Vergos in such a state.”

“Yes, they will have no choice but to participate. The problem is the timing. If Luswena participates in the civil war in Hawan, Clifford is likely to move north.”

“So, the message is that wizards should stay in the capital and protect the Imperial Palace.”

While Hawan, Luswena, and Clifford were fighting among themselves, Bariel had no choice but to watch the situation with an empty Imperial Palace.

If things went wrong, Bariel would also get involved, which would disrupt the Bariel main force’s plan to go to Toolun, wouldn’t it?

“That seems to be the case. And here are the personal details of those presumed to be accompanying Lord Katimako. They’re from Astana, and the Magic Department asked us to confirm them.”

“I received the list earlier, but again?”

“You should look at the back page.”

“Okay, just a moment.”

The wizard casually flipped to the back page and paused. Then, he let out a small, astonished laugh.

Romandro, wondering what was going on, stretched his neck to peek at the document.

“There’s one person mixed in who’s not from Astana.”

“Where are they from?”

“Unknown. It seems to be one of the northern minorities, but they must be in close contact with Astana. It says they have the ability to read memories.”

“Read memories? What does that mean?”

“Let’s see… ‘Reads the flow of time in a specific space,’ it says in the annotation. Aha! Since they clearly know the date Lady Philia disappeared, if they search around Lord Romandro’s mansion, they’ll be able to find out what happened ‘that day’?”

The wizard was constantly amazed, meaning they were very capable. It was called the paradise of sorcerers, but he didn’t know where they found such people. When Katimako was first said to be entering Bariel, he honestly wondered what he could do. But seeing the person he brought, it seemed Ian had a good eye for people.

“Ah, now I want to go meet them.”

“How long do you think it will take?”

“If I can open a portal, I could do it right away. The problem is whether I can maintain it.”

“Hmm. Is there anything Commander Acorella left behind?”

“Magic amplifiers? There are some. They’re piled up in the lab. But they’re all old ones…”

It meant they were unstable to use without worry. Of course, the latest ones were just as unstable.

The wizard scratched his chin and quickly changed his mind. Was there any other way? There was no choice now.

“Still, it’s better to drink them, right? If we want to find Lady Philia’s traces quickly. And the longer we delay, the harder it will be to go out.”

“Yes. It’s best to do that without overdoing it.”

“Understood. Then I’ll be back in a moment. Lord Romandro, I’d like to tell you to rest… but it seems that won’t be possible either. I’m sorry, but please stand by.”

“Of course!”

Romandro nodded vigorously and took out a new piece of stationery. It was to inform the Magic Department of the current situation in the Imperial Palace. He hesitated for a moment, then wrote down a heartfelt greeting.

* * *

“…Minister Ian. This is the Magic Department. Is everyone doing well?”

Hale read the first sentence of the letter sent by Romandro aloud, then looked up at the wizards. They were scruffy, but they all looked good, having spent a few days in the palace.

The wizards, sprawled freely around the office, gave a thumbs up.

“Of course, we’re doing well.”

“There’s a lot of work, but hey. In wartime, this is luxury, isn’t it?”

“Ah, 10 minutes left for break.”

“Is Lord Romandro doing well? I wonder if there’s anything like that in the report?”

Ian continued to move his pen and looked at Hale. It was a gesture to keep reading.

Hale, with a dry cigarette between his teeth, relayed the message.

“Currently, a rebellion and civil war have broken out in Hawan, centered around the Prime Minister. The movements of Clifford and Luswena are unusual, so they will continue to report on this. It’s an important matter, so the administration will also send a separate messenger bird to His Majesty the Emperor.”

“The Prime Minister of Hawan, you mean Shatima?”

“He came to Bariel almost in exile and barely managed to return, didn’t he? But a civil war. That’s impressive.”

“It’s to survive. To survive.”

Ian, who had been listening quietly, asked back.

“Is there any mention of Erica?”

“No. If you’re talking about Bertie Erica from the Imperial Palace Investigation Team, there isn’t.”

Hale carefully examined the letters and confirmed again that there was no message about her. It seemed that it was because it hadn’t been long since the incident occurred.

In fact, the news of the civil war in Hawan was not officially announced by Hawan, but was information gathered by Clifford and Bariel itself.

“And-”

Hale trailed off as he turned the page. The wizards looked at him, wondering if there was a problem.

“Katimako and his party have arrived in the center and have begun investigating Lady Philia’s disappearance.”

“Really? What do they say?”

“But how are they investigating?”

“They say he’s a sorcerer who reads the memories of inanimate objects. As a result of investigating the area near Lord Romandro’s mansion, they confirmed that she was attacked by a puppeteer in a nearby alley.”

An attack by a puppeteer. They had vaguely expected it, but the shock of actually hearing it was different.

The wizards were shocked and covered their mouths, and Ian, who was writing the report, put down his pen.

“An attack?”

“It says Lady Philia fainted and collapsed. Currently, Katimako’s party is tracking her trail and continuing the investigation. But no matter how fast they are, they are ultimately chasing behind, so there is a limit to catching up. The next page is a portrait of the person who kidnapped Lady Philia.”

At those words, the wizards jumped up and approached Hale. Fortunately, it wasn’t a ‘one-dimensional drawing like someone’s’. The long, slender face was impressive, so it seemed like they could recognize him if they passed by.

“If it’s a puppeteer, isn’t it Toolun? Shouldn’t we protest right away? They kidnapped the mother of the Minister of Magic, not just anyone! Their intentions are clear!”

“That’s right! He looks like a jerk too!”

“Is Bariel issuing an arrest warrant?”

“Lord Romandro added that they have begun identifying him.”

Ian also stared at the portrait for a moment, then handed it back to Hale and ordered.

“Gather all the painters in Kalamat and have them make copies. We will issue an arrest warrant centered on the northern region of Vergos. And also with Philia’s portrait.”

“Yes, I understand.”

It was confirmed that he was from Toolun, and it was clear that their destination was also Toolun. But just in case. If they issued an arrest warrant in the vicinity, they might get some information.

Ian thought for a moment, then took Romandro’s letter and examined it.

“What’s wrong?”

“That content is missing.”

“What…”

“Nersarn.”

If he knew that his wife, Philia, had disappeared, he would surely have come up to the center, but there was no mention of him.

Since the civil war had broken out in Hawan, Merelof and Hielo, the closest to it, would be in charge of guarding the Bariel border. In this situation, if Chunryeo left his post and came up to the center, it would disrupt the work.

‘Could it be Roel?’

If Roel had asked them not to tell him about his mother’s disappearance, it made sense.

But this was not indefinite. If Philia could not be contacted, Nersarn would eventually move himself. Leaving behind the explosion in Hawan.

“I will send a letter to Toolun in the name of Ian Hielo, Minister of Magic, not the Imperial Palace.”

Tap, tap, Ian tapped the desk with his fingertips as if asking for the letter to be prepared, and then pondered for a long time.

‘Toolun.’

It was a country with no diplomatic ties. Since it was the first time to open the door, considerable care was needed.

And Ian vaguely knew. That this letter he was sending now would be the beginning of a fierce battle between Bariel and Toolun. So it was important to build a cause first.

-Hello. This is Ian Hielo, Minister of Magic of the Great Bariel Empire. I apologize for the sudden letter….

Ian hesitated for a moment, then chose the most ambiguous and ambiguous sentences he could write.

-Currently, an unidentified person from Toolun has caused a disturbance in Bariel and is currently being captured….