Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 805

“You want me to eat this?”

Rayburn, the Minister of Foreign Affairs’ wife, was aghast, as if she couldn’t believe it. It was a familiar sight for commoners—rye bread and roughly chopped bacon stew—but she wrinkled her nose as if she were looking at food someone had spat out.

Her son and daughter had similar reactions.

“Mother, how long do we have to live in this pigsty? I’d rather be in the villa.”

“This dress is so scratchy and uncomfortable.”

They all sighed deeply. Every time they heard they were ruined overnight, they wondered if it was even possible, but it was really happening.

The Rayburn family’s grand mansion, which they were so proud of, had collapsed without a trace, and everything was burned to the point where not a single piece of tableware could be salvaged.

But the problem wasn’t just the household goods.

“Just bear with it a little longer. Once your father resolves the issue of the lost documents, we can temporarily find another mansion.”

The problem was the various documents that had been completely burned by the mages’ flames. Bonds, house deeds, bank accounts, slush funds, and even diplomatic documents related to work.

With no way to get a single penny, they were staying in the stable keeper’s hut at the edge of the mansion grounds.

“Right, dear?”

“Ahem.”

Rayburn, with slumped shoulders, kept cutting up the bacon. He looked so disheveled that it was hard to believe he was the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

They were almost done with their gloomy meal when.

“Master, you have a visitor.”

“A visitor? Who is it?”

“They say they’re from the Imperial Palace.”

Rayburn nodded as if to let them in. Then, high-ranking officials from the administration entered in a line. They all looked pale because of the unique stench of the stable.

“What brings you all here?”

“What do you mean? We heard that Minister Rayburn was going through hardships, so it’s only natural that we should share our strength.”

“Oh, my goodness. What in the world happened?”

“I thought the rumors of the mansion collapsing were exaggerated.”

“U-uh, this way. These are my wife and children.”

The wife and children were too embarrassed to lift their heads properly. They just gave a quick greeting and hurried out of the hut with the servants. It was too cramped to be together anyway.

“Ahem.”

“Please, take this.”

“No, what is this?”

“Just take it. It’s a small token of our sincerity.”

Rayburn was bewildered by the sudden bundle of gold coins. But soon, he understood their hearts and teared up. When they were working together, he thought they were truly incompetent and narrow-minded fools, but they were loyal people who didn’t turn their backs when someone was in trouble!

“I’m ashamed, but I can’t refuse given the situation, so I’ll definitely repay you someday. Thank you.”

“It’s alright. By the way, is the situation getting under control?”

“It’s hopeless. As you all know, who keeps money in the bank these days? The art pieces and everything I’ve collected over the decades have all turned to ashes, and I’m completely broke. I applied for an advance, but it’s still not enough.”

“Oh, dear, tsk!”

“It’s truly unfortunate.”

“Those mages are something else. Even if they were subduing the Eastern mages, how could they destroy a mansion like this? If it were Ian or Romandro’s mansion, they would have lured them far away to deal with them.”

“That’s true. They are a bit ruthless.”

As the administrative officials subtly criticized the mages, Rayburn teared up again. He wanted to curse them too, but he couldn’t bring himself to say anything because of the madness he had seen in Commander Acorella during the ‘Heart Incident.’ He was afraid they might come back and destroy even this hut.

The administrative officials exchanged glances and cautiously made a suggestion to Rayburn.

“Hey, Rayburn.”

“Yes, please speak.”

“Well, the Prime Minister has been placed under house arrest.”

“The Prime Minister? Why is that?”

“I don’t know because it hasn’t been revealed, but anyway, there’s no one in the Imperial Palace to help His Majesty right now. Minister Tweller isn’t here, and Commander Jayrut is… well, Commander Beric is there, but you know.”

Rayburn wiped away his tears and listened carefully to what the officials were trying to say. Being cornered, he instinctively felt a glimmer of hope.

“So?”

“Minister Ian is also down, but he’ll recover soon. The mages are all sticking together and taking care of him with utmost devotion. So, I think now is the right time.”

They pulled their chairs closer. So that no words would leak out.

“What do you mean? Surely-”

Squeak? Rayburn tilted his head, and the officials were even more shocked.

“Oh, no. What are you thinking?”

“Isn’t that it?”

“No. Magic stones!”

“Magic stones?”

This guy must have had a hard time; his mind has gone stiff. He used to understand everything right away. The officials lowered their voices and whispered.

“Think about it. When summer is unusually hot, you invest in ice merchants, and when winter is unusually cold, you invest in lumber mills. The moment you realize that someone’s demand is certain, you seize the opportunity.”

He knew it in his head, but it wasn’t easy to do. Otherwise, wouldn’t everyone be rich? Rayburn glared, but he was holding a bundle of gold coins in his hand. It would be a significant loss to be sarcastic here.

“So?”

“It’s a given that the Magic Department will buy all the magic stones. Now, no one can openly oppose the construction of the annex. In fact, His Majesty has no way to stop it.”

“…You’re saying we should buy magic stones?”

“Now you’re getting it!”

While the Magic Department is in chaos, they would take a little bit of the magic stone stock that was released on the market. This would have two benefits.

“If the price goes up, they won’t be able to secure the magic stones needed for the annex construction, so we can naturally stop it, and if they draw additional funds to buy them?”

“That would make us money.”

“Exactly. You need money, don’t you?”

“That’s true, but.”

Rayburn crossed his arms and thought hard. If the price of magic stones went up, the Magic Department would benefit no matter what choice they made. Politically and economically.

“But I can’t control the price of magic stones. And as you can see, I have no assets.”

“We know. Even if you had money, it wouldn’t work if only one or two people stepped up. That’s why we’re here. You just need to postpone the processing of permits for the traders for a while.”

After the war, traders were eagerly looking for opportunities. Magic stones and various resources that were not available in Bariel were abundant in Burgos.

“The magic stones sent from Calamat are currently being secured by the Imperial Palace, so just by locking up the supply, there will be a response. Of course, we’re also talking to some suitable traders to act as decoys. Later, when we make some profit, we’ll give you 10% of the earnings.”

“10%……”

“Don’t think it’s too little. Most of the magic stones the Magic Department wants are high-grade.”

“I know.”

Rayburn pondered for a long time before cautiously raising his head and asking.

“But what if Minister Ian wakes up?”

That terrifying man wouldn’t stay still. He would surely figure everything out and turn over everyone involved.

Then, the official laughed, saying he was worrying about nothing.

“The unit price of magic stones is set at the midpoint between the highest and lowest prices in the last year. Once we raise it, it doesn’t matter what happens after that. Don’t worry and cooperate. You can’t stay in this hut forever, can you?”

“Yes, Minister Rayburn. Just leave it to us, and you just need to handle a few documents.”

“Honestly, it’s more helpful for you than for us. Who do you think is responsible for the Minister being in this state?”

“The mages!”

Whether it was the East or the Imperial Palace, it was all because of the mages. As Rayburn teared up again, the officials patted him on the shoulder, saying they understood his feelings.

“Isn’t it our duty to repay you like this?”

“But I’m so scared. More than anyone else, that Commander Acorella. He keeps bothering me.”

“Commander Acorella? He’s in charge of magic stones within the Magic Department, but he has no authority in this area.”

“Haven’t you guys experienced it? He’s a real madman.”

They had heard rumors, but what could be so special? All mages are similar.

With the comfort of his colleagues telling him not to worry, Rayburn finally gripped the bulging bundle of gold coins and said he understood.

* * *

“So, that’s what happened, you’re saying?”

“Maybe?”

Ian murmured, carefully examining the documents.

Romandro’s imagination didn’t seem to be entirely unfounded. It wasn’t just one or two departments that had influenced the formation of magic stone prices.

Romandro leaned in and added.

“It started with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. There was a rumor that the entry and exit permits for traders would be suspended for a while. Because of that, the traders dealing with magic stones withdrew all their goods and locked them up. Not only the high-grade magic stones used for the annex construction but also those going to the blacksmiths.”

There were various issues, directly and indirectly, involving the administration and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“Even though it was only for a few days, the price skyrocketed.”

“Since the official Imperial Palace leaked the policy in such a way, there was a quick reaction.”

“The highest price kept being renewed to an absurd level, and the amount allocated to the Magic Department naturally decreased. This is what Sir Timothy was talking about.”

“Hmm.”

Then, after the day Ian got up and started walking, for some reason, the price lost its momentum and began to return to normal.

However, the deed was already done in the records. No matter how you looked at it, there were unnatural traces. Ian tapped the documents, tidied up his seat, and stood up.

“Okay, I understand. Let’s go.”

“Should we take the kids?”

“The kids? Why?”

Why else? Romandro showed his teeth and rolled up his sleeves. He showed his determination to punish the evil forces that were disrupting not only the Magic Department but also the market economy. It was as if he was ready to show a ‘you die, I live’ kind of showdown.

Ian chuckled and turned his head.

“It’s alright.”

“But still!”

“Everyone is busy.”

“They’re busy clearing stumps, what great things are they doing?”

Ian smiled faintly as he fastened his robe button.

“I’m enough on my own.”

That was true too. Romandro quietly lowered his sleeves and picked up the documents needed for the general assembly.

“Oh, right. I heard that His Majesty will not be attending this general assembly. Is that correct?”

“That’s right. He’s overwhelmed with work.”

“That’s good.”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s just as I said. We can’t show His Majesty a bad side of ourselves.”

At Ian’s casual and refreshing murmur, Romandro’s neck prickled. But he shook it off and followed Ian into the carriage.

“I told you once, didn’t I? That solving things with money is the easiest thing to do.”

“You did.”

“But attacking with money is the most dangerous thing to do.”

Romandro didn’t fully understand what Ian meant. But it was okay. He would see it with his own eyes soon enough.

Inside the carriage heading to the conference hall, Romandro put his hands together and prayed for the souls of the officials.