Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 694

The gallery owner stared at Ian, his eyes half-glazed.

Exotic features. He was quite bulky, and his tightly braided beard gave him a unique look. Definitely not a Burgosian [a person from Burgos].

Ian pulled up a chair and sat across from him, smiling. Even as he did, a familiar scent wafted faintly. He had definitely smelled it somewhere before, but he couldn’t quite place it…

“Ah.”

On the other hand, the gallery owner seemed to recognize Ian immediately. He flicked his fingertips while holding his glass.

“Aren’t you the Minister of Magic of Bael?”

“It’s impressive that you recognize me, even though you don’t seem to be from Bael.”

“Oh, please! Nowadays, if you don’t know the Minister of Magic of Bael in Gaia [the world they are in], you’re the biggest idiot, aren’t you?”

The owner didn’t recognize me. Ah. Was he too drunk to notice the commotion? Ian carefully observed the man. He didn’t seem hostile or malicious, just the attitude of a drunkard.

“It’s not that extreme.”

“No, it is! It means you have no interest in politics, economics, or even aesthetics. I’m not just saying this because you’re the Minister! If someone doesn’t know Ian Hiel, the Minister, I’d report them to the guards first. Yes! Would you like a drink?”

Chatter, chatter, was he talkative because he was drunk, or was he always like this? Ian politely declined, lightly touching the rim of the glass with his fingertip.

“I’m fine. I can’t drink.”

“Hey, where’s the fun in that?”

“The owner’s rules say otherwise.”

Uh? The gallery owner craned his neck towards the entrance. He was chatting non-stop with Berrick, who was holding a broom.

Then, he suddenly noticed something. Weren’t there about six people sitting in the corner, glaring at them? Ian waved his hand, telling him not to mind them, and redirected his attention.

“They’re my people.”

“Oh my, your parents must have had good chemistry. Wait a minute, but did the Minister of Magic have siblings?”

His life, starting from the bottom as an illegitimate child, was now a story that even the kids in the alleys knew.

The gallery owner twisted his beard and trailed off, so Ian took his bottle and poured him a drink. He couldn’t share a drink, but he could fill his glass.

“It seems like you’re having a good time, so let’s cut to the chase.”

“Yes, yes, well. I’m actually quite relaxed. The night is long, and there’s plenty of booze.”

“You know that a mana stone painting came from the gallery, right?”

“Of course. I spent some money fixing the broken doors and windows because of it. Haha!”

“I heard that you supplied paintings to the Burgos Royal Palace ten years ago. Does that mean mana stone paintings are also circulating in the palace? If so, how many, and where do they go?”

His tone was polite, but there was an underlying pressure. If you spoke carelessly or acted disrespectfully, your life would become miserable.

The gallery owner took a sip of his drink and started chewing it. He was trying to think with his addled brain.

“And more than anything, I want to know the overall distribution system of mana stone paintings. Even though there aren’t many mages outside of Bael, they are widely used.”

In the Imperial Palace, they were secretly used through the Emperor’s secret passages, but Rutherfurd had already used them ten years ago, and now they were widespread among even ordinary merchant groups like Valijuard.

The gallery owner chuckled and swallowed the drink he had been holding in his mouth.

“That, I can answer right away. As you said, it’s because ‘there are no mages’.”

If there were mages, why would they need to use mana stone paintings? They could instantly travel to distant places or use magic to hide themselves.

The reason why mana stone paintings were adopted so quickly and enthusiastically outside of Bael was because they didn’t have ‘mages’.

“It’s true that I supplied paintings to the Burgos Royal Palace. But I didn’t have a painter in the gallery. I just selected works that appeared from somewhere and suggested them to the palace. Fortunately, the works somewhat matched King Damon’s taste.”

Swoosh.

As he reached into his inner pocket, the mages who were watching from afar simultaneously widened their eyes in alarm. You never knew what might come out of there!

But disappointingly, what came out was a business card.

“But as you can see, there’s no need to stay in a ruined country. I’m a merchant who travels around, buying and selling goods. Ah, if you need anything, let me know. If I can trade with the Imperial Palace, my life will be easier and better.”

The gallery owner’s name was Taoma.

Ian examined the square business card, front and back. It was made of a unique material, which was a sign of his identity. He held something rare that not everyone could easily see. Even Ian, the former Emperor of Bael, didn’t know what it was made of, so its power was considerable.

Thud.

“You want to trade with the Imperial Palace?”

“Of course. It’s the dream of every merchant.”

“It’s a dream only those with a strong conscience or none at all would have.”

“Merchants are originally one of the two. They just change depending on the situation.”

He was eloquent, unlike his appearance. Ian nodded in agreement.

“And you, Taoma?”

“Me, hahaha! Well, it’s better to check it out yourself later.”

“To kneel before His Majesty, you’ll have to put down everything you’re carrying on your back.”

It was a warning that if he had ever distributed mana stone paintings in Bael, it would be best to find and collect them. Anything that blurred the meaning of national borders should be discarded. And so should the one who distributed them.

Taoma just shrugged his shoulders.

“No one knows what I’m carrying, not even Minister Ian, who’s sitting right here.”

Clink!

Taoma ostentatiously toasted Ian’s empty glass and gulped down his drink. The mages leaned forward, their legs half-extended. They were ready to pounce at the slightest sign of trouble. Who did this punk think he was, showing off in front of them? They’d show him what real power was! Seriously!

“Show me then. What are you carrying on your back?”

“Hmm. Actually, this is my family business. It’s what we’ve been doing since my grandfather’s grandfather’s time, and if I may be so bold, there’s no land our family hasn’t set foot on.”

“So?”

“Looking at you, aren’t you worried about the mana stone paintings?”

Shhh. Taoma put his palms together and made a gesture of opening a book.

Ian immediately understood what he meant.

‘A ledger.’

So, he was saying he would sell the previous information about the mana stone paintings he had distributed? Ian frowned. It sounded like a bluff.

“That seems impossible.”

“Magic that makes the impossible possible. That’s the only magic I can use. Hahaha! I was good with words just now, wasn’t I?”

Ian crossed his arms and calmly observed Taoma. Was he lying? Or was it another trap? Or was it just a way to avoid the situation?

“Not good enough?”

“If it wasn’t good enough, I would have refused right away.”

“Well, that’s true. If we build trust gradually, there will be better and more enjoyable things, right?”

Of course, Ian didn’t believe that he could control all mana stone paintings with just one ledger. He couldn’t. But-

‘If we know the points of sale and purchase, we can track and recover some of the mana stone paintings, and also expose the impure groups.’

Would an ordinary citizen of the Empire have bought mana stone paintings? If so, there must be someone behind it. It could be a hidden individual, or perhaps a large group like the Valijuard Merchant Guild or Toolun.

In any case, if obtaining the ledger simplified the investigation process, it would be an immeasurable benefit to Bael.

“And honestly!”

Clang!

Taoma slammed his glass down roughly. The mages bared their teeth, looking fierce. Who did this punk think he was, showing off his strength in front of them? They’d show him what real strength was! Seriously!

“Isn’t it also thanks to our gallery that Hiel survived?”

If it hadn’t been for the gallery’s painting, the Valijuard Merchant Guild wouldn’t have known about Hiel’s emergency so quickly. The forbidden mage and Rusweena would have crossed the border and kept going, and the Bael main force heading to Toolun would have had to turn back.

Ian raised an eyebrow.

“How did you know that?”

“Information is my lifeline. The painting that the Valijuard Merchant Guild came on was actually hanging in the gallery all along. I don’t know if the owner changed in between, but the guild leader asked to rent the space, saying they would pay a certain amount every year.”

There was no reason to refuse. The gallery was an unused space, and the Valijuard Merchant Guild needed a safe and fixed location.

“If you look at the ledger, you’ll find out who the original owner is.”

“You’re negotiating and soliciting at the same time.”

“Isn’t this a busy society? It’s the same reason why we have two arms.”

“Alright. What’s the price you’re asking for?”

Having a connection with the Imperial Palace was an additional benefit. Could a merchant not have a price? Taoma pondered for a moment, then flicked his empty glass.

“First, let’s get properly drunk, then we can crunch the numbers?”

“What if you miscalculate and lose out?”

“That’s also part of my skill. But, I might also benefit from miscalculating?”

It was absurd, but it seemed to be Taoma’s way of doing business.

Ian fiddled with his empty glass and turned his head towards the entrance. The owner was now watching them, wondering what the Minister of Magic could possibly be talking about with the gallery owner.

“Owner.”

When Ian raised his glass, the pub owner was startled and shook his head.

“Please, drink! Drink as much as you want! Who am I to interfere with what the Minister of Magic is doing, huh huh.”

“Then I’ll take you up on that. Give me a drink.”

“Ian! Are you drinking?”

“Sir Ian! Are you going to drink?!”

Berrick and the mages rushed over, shocked. They had seen him have a glass of wine occasionally, but this was the first time he was drinking in such a place with a stranger.

Ian said as if it was nothing.

“Isn’t today a day off?”

“Ah, well, yes, it is.”

“If you drink, I’ll drink too! Owner! Another round!”

“Ugh, me too, me too!”

Berrick and the mages squeezed into the empty seats.

Ian looked at Taoma, asking if it was okay, and he laughed heartily, saying it was even better. After all, the more people you enjoy alcohol with, the sweeter it becomes.

“Alright. Then, the person who stays the most sober until the end will do the calculations! Hahaha! This is going to be fun, fun!”

“Bring it on!”

“No setting up the snacks. No drinking in the middle.”

“Why are you saying the obvious? You’re making my mouth dry.”

“Let’s get wet, let’s get wet. Sir Ian. If we win this, we get a benefit, right?”

The beer, poured to the brim, sloshed and spilled. As Taoma, Berrick, and the mages raised their glasses, Ian also grabbed his handle.

Clink!

The glasses clashed as if they would break, and they all tilted their heads back and gulped down their drinks.

Ian watched them quietly. Then, he pretended to drink, but instead, he poured the alcohol down his back.

“Burp! Ah, that’s delicious!”

“Right away! Another round!”

Taoma, already tipsy, naturally didn’t notice, Berrick was too busy marveling at the taste of the alcohol, and the mages couldn’t open their eyes because of the bone-chilling cold.

Clink!

One glass, two glasses, three glasses… Empty barrels continued to pile up, and the smell of alcohol grew stronger. The floor became soaked, and the owner kept wiping it down.

Then, Berrick paused.

“Hey, Ian-”

“Hmm?”

…Did he notice me throwing away the alcohol? Ian replied naturally, signaling with his eyes that he shouldn’t let Taoma find out.

But Berrick’s words were completely different.

“Doesn’t it smell like silask [a type of spice or herb] somewhere?”