Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 793

“Commercial district north street, all clear.”

“Same here. I felt faint traces, but tracking was impossible.”

“It seems they’re definitely moving together. If they had split up, it wouldn’t be this hard to find them.”

“Damn it. Did those bastards already bolt?”

Acorella puffed on her cigarette, listening to the mages’ reports.

They were gathered in the basement of the building where Ian and the Eastern mages had met, sharing the results of their search. Acorella’s gaze, as she flicked off cigarette ash, suddenly landed on a bloodstain. It must be Ian’s.

“They’re still in the center.”

“Why do you think so?”

They came all the way from Hawan. Considering they were with Melania, they likely have several things to take care of, including the fire cannon matter. It didn’t seem like they would just turn back after a conflict with Ian.

It’s not like they’re just taking a stroll around the neighborhood. They came all this way? They must be trying to find a way to resolve the situation with a little time-

“Ah.”

Acorella muttered softly, as if she had realized something.

Before Melania, the ones who first informed the Imperial Palace about the fire cannon were the Hawan rebels. They conveyed their opinions through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and if Melania hadn’t intervened, they would have definitely sided with them.

“Those guys, if their deal with Ian fell through, where would they go?”

“What do you mean, ‘fell through’?”

“They’d have to go the other way. Since the rebel bastards are all dead, they have no choice but to contact them directly. Right?”

What is she talking about? The mages glanced at each other, completely baffled, but didn’t ask further. Judging by Acorella’s eyes, whatever it was, it seemed close to the answer.

“So? What should we do?”

“We split into three teams. One closely monitors the Prime Minister, one the Minister of Foreign Affairs. And the others keep following the traces and asking around.”

*Sizzle.* Acorella stubbed out her cigarette on the table and asked,

“Hale, where do you want to go? The Prime Minister?”

“Anywhere.”

“Then Hale, you lead the team to the Prime Minister, and I’ll take the Minister of Foreign Affairs. And damn it, find the owner of this building right now and shake them down. They’re clearly connected, seeing as they’re looking after the Easterners’ stuff.”

“Yes, understood.”

“Anyone object?”

“No, ma’am.”

*Thump.* The mages saluted respectfully and rushed out of the building. When Captain Acorella was pissed, it was best to just follow orders. It was a valuable lesson learned from years of experience.

“Use communication magic if anything happens.”

Hale and Acorella lightly bumped fists and left the building, heading to their respective destinations. The mages followed them, their robes fluttering.

*Tap tap tap!*

Acorella ran almost as if she was flying, getting close to the Minister of Foreign Affairs’ mansion. Then, she felt a strange power from somewhere. The mages following her also noticed it and paused.

“Up.”

At Acorella’s command, the mages immediately flew up and surrounded the mansion. They hid themselves in trees and roof gaps, keenly observing the flow of magic.

“Acorella, it seems they haven’t been gone long.”

“I see.”

*Click click.* Acorella moved her gaze, following the flow. There was a place that was commonly visible from all positions. It was the second floor of the Minister’s mansion.

At that moment, communication magic came from Hale.

-I’m sensing a strange magical power near the Prime Minister’s mansion.

Ah, look at these guys? Acorella grinned and pressed her right ear.

-Here too, traces found.

* * *

Under the moonlight, late at night.

Hohun and Eunrang moved into the Minister of Foreign Affairs’ mansion under the cover of darkness. They had a good grasp of the Imperial Palace’s situation. They had sent the white tiger’s fur to the Prime Minister, so they just had to wait for a response-

“What was the Minister of Foreign Affairs’ name again?”

“Rayburn.”

They would check if Rayburn had received any communication from the East.

They needed to confirm if their grand mage and master, Jaan, had said anything, and if that Ian Hielo was just spouting nonsense.

And more than anything-

“What if they ask for the fire cannon right away? We can’t make it for a while.”

“Don’t worry, that won’t happen. We can just say we can’t give it to them until they give us the box.”

They needed to find out the location of the box.

They might not know as much as the Minister of Magic, but as the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he might know something. At least, he might have heard something. They planned to use the fire cannon as bait to get the box or information equivalent to it.

“Hohun, we’re here.”

On the second floor of the mansion, light was leaking from the Minister’s study, which they had scouted beforehand. Hohun and Eunrang were about to sneak in, suppressing their presence as much as possible.

“……!”

The two paused, sensing an unusual sensation.

“You feel it?”

“Are they Imperial Palace mages?”

Traces were faintly left behind, as if they had come during the day. Eunrang shook her head, looking uneasy, and grabbed Hohun’s wrist.

“Hohun, should we go back?”

But Hohun thought for a moment and shook his head. He decided there was no need to drag things out. Unaware that Ian was on the verge of death.

“If mages have been here, it’s actually better.”

In their plan.

Eunrang frowned with worry, but soon followed him without another word.

*Thud!*

Meanwhile, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rayburn, loosened his tie and grumbled irritably. The crazy mages were on a collective strike, messing up all his work.

“Those lunatics. Even so, to act like that-”

*Whoosh!*

A sharp wind blew suddenly. The lights in the study went out at the same time. Was it a coincidence? Rayburn, who had been diligently working with his pen, froze in surprise. But then, he noticed a long shadow cast from the window behind him and was startled.

“Who-! Huh!”

Long black hair, exotic features, and above all, piercing golden eyes. Rayburn immediately recognized the uninvited guests who had suddenly appeared.

“E-Eastern mages?”

“It’s an honor that you recognized us right away.”

“No, how did you get here-”

They shouldn’t be in Hawan? But how are they in Bariel, and in his room?

Eunrang and Hohun smoothly climbed through the window and then looked around the study with a smile.

“Sorry for startling you, Rayburn?”

“How do you know my name?”

“I’m Eunrang. This is Hohun. Didn’t you hear about us from the Minister of Magic?”

“Minister of Magic? You mean Ian Hielo?”

Rayburn looked completely clueless. The mages all stormed out of their offices, and that was somehow connected to the Eastern mages?

Eunrang’s eyes narrowed at this.

“It seems they didn’t inform the Imperial Palace?”

“I guess not.”

Then why did the mages come to the Minister of Foreign Affairs’ mansion? It doesn’t seem like they came because of this matter. Eunrang and Hohun exchanged questioning glances, and Rayburn hesitantly approached them.

“No, what are you talking about? It sounds like you met with the Ministry of Magic first.”

What did they do meeting with the Eastern mages without informing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs? As Rayburn’s mind became complicated, Eunrang lightly shook her head.

“Putting aside the matter with the Ministry of Magic, we came here to make a direct proposal to you.”

“A proposal?”

“I heard you want to obtain the fire cannon from the Imperial Palace.”

“Ah!”

That’s right! The rebel leaders were dead, so they had no way to contact Bariel! That’s why they came here directly.

Rayburn immediately nodded. If they could make a deal directly like this, they could easily bypass the Ministry of Magic.

“But why didn’t you contact the Imperial Palace?”

“We have our reasons. Let’s just make the deal quickly. In exchange for the fire cannon, we want the Idgal and the Eastern box. Is that possible?”

Rayburn’s gaze became confused. Giving out the Idgal was not under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and he had never heard of the Eastern box.

But he couldn’t throw away this golden opportunity that had rolled right into his lap.

“I will try my best to give you as much Idgal as you want. And as for the box, what exactly are you referring to?”

“Didn’t you receive any communication from the East?”

“The East? Not at all.”

Rayburn smiled awkwardly, and Hohun rubbed his chin, assessing the situation. ‘I will try my best’ to give the Idgal, not ‘I will give it.’ It was a vague answer typical of a diplomatic envoy, but knowing the situation, its meaning was clear.

‘It means they can’t give out the Idgal freely without Ian Hielo.’

“Hohun, it seems he hasn’t heard anything.”

Eunrang whispered to him with a happy smile.

“And it seems he doesn’t know about the box either, right?”

His reaction was as if he had never heard of it. As the two quietly stared at Rayburn, he took a step back without realizing it.

“Ah, instead of this, let’s go to the reception room! It’s not polite to keep such honored guests standing-”

“It’s alright. It’s not like we came through the window because we have manners.”

*Clunk!*

*Rattle!*

The sharp wind that had turned off the lights blew again. The door shook violently, and the papers on Rayburn’s desk flew around in loose sheets.

“Why, why are you doing this?”

Rayburn couldn’t understand their subtle hostility. Why were they doing this? What benefit would they get from this?

“There’s no benefit.”

“What?”

Hohun muttered as if he had read Rayburn’s mind.

“You can’t even guarantee you’ll give us the Idgal, you haven’t heard anything about the East, and you don’t even know about the box.”

There was no reason for them to be with Rayburn.

But, what if this guy died?

Things would get very interesting.

“Blame Ian Hielo.”

“W-Why is his name coming up here? Could it be?!”

Rayburn shouted, his face pale. Could it be that Ian Hielo was trying to eliminate him? He had been in conflict with him recently, from the Hawan fire cannon matter to the dispatch of the investigation team. But to handle things like this!

Rayburn warned in a shrill voice.

“I won’t let this go! This is a grave mistake!”

If he died, would the Imperial Palace not know? If they investigated the scene even a little, it would be revealed that it was the work of mages. Whether they were arrogant or desperate, this was a mistake by the Ministry of Magic!

Eunrang smiled brightly at Rayburn’s threat.

“That’s right. A grave mistake.”

The Imperial Palace would think so too.

This was what Eunrang and Hohun wanted. If Ian’s position in the Imperial Palace weakened, there would be room for them to intervene in some way. Either Ian’s side would bow their heads and ask for help, or they would seek the power of the East to keep the Ministry of Magic in check.

Whatever it was, they would make it impossible to hold out without handing over the box.

*Buzz! Buzz!*

“Now, scream loudly as you die. That it was the work of mages.”

“You crazy-”

Just as Hohun was about to swing his blue whip at Rayburn’s neck-

*Boom! Boom!*

Sudden explosions. Hohun’s whip lost its power and scattered, and at the same time, a heavy and powerful wind swept through the study. The Eastern mages covered their faces with their sleeves.

Then, a woman with pink bun hair appeared from the smoke.

*Swoosh.*

“…Found you, you bastards.”

Acorella smiled, taking a fighting stance with her fist wrapped in red cloth.

“Found them!”

“Fouuund them!”

*Whoosh!*

*Thud! Thump!*

Mages flew in through the windows at the same time. Eunrang and Hohun stepped back, trying to assess the situation. They were Imperial Palace mages. They hadn’t sensed them.

“Hey.”

Acorella lowered her stance and flicked her fingertips.

“You’re the ones, right? The ones who made our Ian bleed?”

“…What?”

Technically, Ian was the one who attacked, but Acorella didn’t care about their answer and turned around. Rayburn, who had turned pale, was staring blankly at the Imperial Palace mages.

“Hey, Minister of Foreign Affairs.”

“A-Acorella, Captain?”

“Please save me♡”

“…Huh?”

Say it, you bastard.

To us, the ones you’re so eager to get rid of.

“Please save us, mages♡ Repeat after me. If you don’t want to die here.”