Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 825

“Wait a minute!”

The Maeil Daily headquarters. Inside the building, only the sound of printing presses echoed.

The employees, cigarettes dangling from their mouths, stared at the hotel errand boy with bewildered eyes. One of them, after a long pause to choose his words, cautiously asked,

“Did you perhaps have a drink?”

“No.”

It could have been considered rude, but no one there seemed to care. The tip was that shocking.

“So, you’re saying that Minister Ian Hielo spirited away the youngest daughter of the Haiman family ten years ago to chase after Rutherford?”

“That’s what I’m saying.”

“And the informant is Ian Hielo himself?”

“That’s right.”

“This is crazy. Did you take drugs instead of alcohol?”

“I told you, no. If you’re so doubtful, I’ll take you to the hotel. You can ask him directly again.”

When the errand boy firmly denied it, the Maeil Daily employees collectively groaned. It was an overwhelmingly shocking revelation.

They each lit a cigarette and gathered for a meeting. The errand boy stood there blankly, but they didn’t pay him any mind.

“If we publish this carelessly, we could face a backlash.”

“But the informant is Ian Hielo himself. Isn’t his intention obvious? If Maeil Daily doesn’t publish it, he’ll definitely turn to another outlet. Right now, Ian Hielo wants to spread this all over Bariel.”

“That’s right. Moreover, he sent a person instead of a letter… This means he doesn’t care about the information leaking.”

“If we don’t publish it, someone else will for sure.”

“I agree. It’s not just anything, it’s treason. If we receive this tip and don’t publish it, we could be misunderstood as siding with Ian Hielo.”

“But there’s no physical evidence. Even if it’s his own tip, it’s dangerous to write an article based solely on someone else’s words, not the person himself.”

“We can’t exactly ask Minister Ian to come here, can we? And we can’t go either, geez.”

What’s the point of an exclusive report? It’s a race against time. While they hesitate, another outlet could break the story first.

And to go and verify the truth when the person himself has already reported it? To the Minister of Magic, Ian Hielo? That’s ridiculous.

“Ah, excuse me-”

The errand boy, who had been listening quietly, raised his hand slightly and added,

“He said there would be evidence if you go to the Magic Department.”

“The Magic Department? What kind of evidence?”

“He didn’t say anything beyond that.”

This gave them a way to report it.

But-

“……”

They were faced with an even bigger problem. Puff, puff. The Maeil Daily employees just puffed on their cigarettes, glancing at each other.

“Who’s going?”

“……”

Even the kids on the street knew that the Imperial Palace was in turmoil these days. And yet, the evidence was right in the middle of it.

What on earth is happening in the Imperial Palace?

“I don’t know the details, but… considering that the Minister of Magic himself reported it, it must be evidence that’s favorable to his side.”

“I really can’t grasp it. What’s the situation that he’s even getting involved with the Haiman side himself?”

“There aren’t any magicians in the Magic Department right now.”

That the Magic Department is favorable means the Imperial Palace is unfavorable. Would the Imperial Palace allow them to check the evidence in the Magic Department to cover that? If they’re unlucky, they might not be able to leave the palace until the matter is resolved. No, that would be fortunate. They could be quietly disposed of without a sound.

“…So, who’s going?”

“The president should go.”

“What? Me?”

“The Imperial Palace isn’t some back alley warehouse. Only someone of the president’s stature would get permission to enter.”

“Oh, you guys.”

Knock, knock.

It was then. Someone was knocking on the door of Maeil Daily. The employees, startled for no reason, flinched, and the errand boy also trembled with anxiety, quietly hiding behind a desk. He hadn’t done anything wrong.

“Who is it?”

“Ian Hielo, Minister of Magic.”

Bang!

The employee, surprised, threw the door open.

It was real. Golden hair and green eyes. The Maeil Daily employees who remembered him from ten years ago were slightly agape with surprise.

Ian passed by them and entered, raising an eyebrow at the sight of the printing press being stopped.

“Wh-what brings you here?”

They had just been talking about him.

“Things got a bit tangled. I have a favor to ask.”

Now that he knew that Acorella, the next minister, was still in the Imperial Palace, he needed someone to convey a message to her. Maeil Daily was the right group to move around without attracting attention.

“A favor?”

“Before that, please confirm if the tip is true. That I spirited away the daughter of the Haiman family.”

“No, why did you do that? And what is your intention in revealing this now?”

Shhh. Ian raised his hand to calm the employees, signaling them to be quiet for a moment. At that, the employees habitually grabbed their pens and paper, as if they wouldn’t miss a single syllable from Ian’s mouth.

“It’s true.”

“Oh my god.”

“That’s not all. I also interfered with the safety of the Holy Knight whom the Emperor cherishes, in order to gain an advantage in the power struggle within the Imperial Palace. I have committed many disloyal acts, so it would be right for the Imperial Palace to dismiss me from my position as minister.”

The Holy Knight whom the Emperor cherishes? Is he talking about the woman named Eylin? If that’s true, Ian Hielo has really caused a big incident.

“Moreover, Rutherford called me Ian Verosion at the moment of his death. Why he did that will forever remain unknown, but the Imperial Palace considers this a deeply disrespectful situation.”

The pens of the employees, who had been scribbling hastily, stopped. The strange rumors about Ian Hielo that had been following him since the battlefield had been reignited. At this point, isn’t there really something going on?

The president of Maeil Daily shook his head, signaling them to stop for a moment.

“I have one more question. Why did you report this to us? I would understand if you had done it in the Imperial Palace. Please reveal your intention in trying to throw yourself into a pit. What if we publish the article and get caught up in the political situation-”

“Isn’t Maeil Daily a newspaper company?”

Ian cut him off in a low voice.

“Just a newspaper company that conveys the truth. There is no falsehood in what I have conveyed, so there is no problem with you publishing it as an article. If you try to calculate the gains and losses by considering the repercussions, is that a true journalist?”

It was a reminder of Maeil Daily’s duty. It was the job of politicians to gauge the political situation and act accordingly, not theirs.

“Th-”

“I want to step down from the Imperial Palace, but His Majesty won’t let me, so I’m doing this. The next minister is Acorella, the captain of the Magic Department. She seems to be somewhere in the Magic Department building right now, so please meet her and deliver my letter.”

Ian handed over a neatly folded piece of paper.

The president glanced around before taking it and immediately put it in his pocket. He was curious about the contents, but he couldn’t openly look at it in front of Ian.

“Isn’t this an issue that won’t end with just stepping down from your position as minister?”

“I don’t recall asking you to worry about me.”

“…If we don’t publish the article, you’ll go to another newspaper company.”

“You know well. Just like ten years ago.”

The day Vivianna came directly and threatened to go elsewhere if they didn’t print the newspaper. The president of Maeil Daily still vividly remembered that day. It was a very important turning point in his life. If he hadn’t accepted Vivianna’s offer back then, he wouldn’t have achieved the honor of being the empire’s top newspaper company now.

And now, that opportunity had come again.

“You said there’s evidence in the Magic Department.”

“In the report related to the Eastern Magician, it’s written that I was with Melania. I don’t know if the Imperial Palace will give you the evidence. If it’s hard to find, deliver that letter to Acorella and ask for her help.”

“Can I read it?”

“Of course. Feel free.”

Ian clapped his hands lightly as if he had finished his business. Clap! The short but firm sound made the employees snap to attention.

“Alright, everyone, get to work?”

Ian’s one sentence contained a lot of meaning. Hurry up and print the newspaper. The evidence can be included in the follow-up article. Since any information war is a race against time, there’s no time to be standing around like this……

The president also gestured to the employees to get to work and then grabbed his coat.

“Are you going, president?”

“Weren’t you telling me to go earlier?”

“Yes, well. I did, but now that you’re actually going…”

“Thanks for the empty words.”

“Yes. Please go and ask about everything.”

The president clicked his tongue and smiled. Then, he called out to Ian, who was about to leave, and extended his hand.

“When will we ever see the empire’s great magician again?”

No one could guess what would happen to him after the article was published. Considering Ian’s achievements so far, he might avoid execution, but he would certainly be dismissed, and he might not be able to show his face publicly for the rest of his life.

Ian lightly grasped his hand.

“Thank you for everything, Minister. Whatever the circumstances, I support Minister Ian.”

“That’s a dangerous statement to make.”

“So what? It’s the truth.”

The empire’s guardian, a genius magician, the protagonist of fate who rose from a bastard of the border to the position of minister. No amount of embellishment was enough to fully express Ian.

The president shook the hand he held with sincerity, and Ian smiled softly.

“I hope Maeil Daily’s reputation continues. May it span beyond the empire and across the ages.”

“I will strive for that.”

The sight of the boy handing over the knife that would cut him down and leaving without a care was unreal. The president watched Ian until he disappeared, then finally got into the carriage.

“To the Imperial Palace.”

Then, he unfolded the letter that Minister Ian had told him to deliver to the next minister.

As he silently read the neat handwriting, he suddenly gasped in surprise.

* * *

“Ah, ah, Captain Acorella?”

“Why is the captain here?”

The officials clutched their pounding hearts and looked up at Acorella. Was this situation right? Who was telling whom to freeze?

Acorella crossed her arms and raised her chin, as if she wouldn’t tolerate any nonsense.

“Explain what you just said.”

“What, what did we say?”

“About Ian’s dismissal-!”

Damn it, these guys! As Acorella raised her fist as if she was about to hit them, the officials reflexively cowered and answered.

“We, we only heard rumors, we don’t know much either!”

“There were so many things said at the conference!”

Acorella learned from the officials what had happened in the meantime.

When Minister Rayburn submitted a memorial [a formal written request or statement], Ian gathered the nobles using the Empress’s recommendation as an excuse. In response, the Emperor presented the mandatory wearing of magic sealing stones, and Ian defiantly shook his control over his departure from the palace and the decision regarding Eylin’s safety.

And furthermore, the dismissal of the Magic Department.

“The entire Magic Department?”

Acorella muttered as if dumbfounded. And then she immediately realized that it was Jin’s way of trying to hold onto Ian.

It was a bit of a nasty method, but she didn’t want Ian to step down from his position as minister either. No, but still. His Majesty went too far!

“Damn it, how hard we worked to get here.”

Whoosh. It felt like an invisible energy was swirling around her.

The problem, however, was how to move in this situation to help Ian while protecting the Magic Department. Looking at how things were going, it seemed like they had no choice but to choose between the Magic Department and Ian, one or the other……

Swoosh.

While Acorella was deep in thought, the officials stealthily tried to retreat and escape. If they just went down to the lower floor, there were Imperial Guard members. If they just let them know that the captain was here-

Whoosh!

At that moment, a syringe flew past their earlobes and stuck into the wall. The officials froze like stones.

“Where are you going?”

“…C-Captain?”

“Please spare us……”

Acorella flicked the syringe she had on her finger, telling them to come here and not do anything foolish.

“You can’t leave now.”

Because they knew she was here.

“First, this way.”

It would be good to keep them here until she understood the situation in more detail.

And also, just in case……

“But do you guys have any symptoms of being forgetful or anything these days? Like your memories have been cut out, or you feel like you’ve forgotten something.”

“Huh? We’re still young.”

“Is someone old?!”

“Eek!”

The officials shed tears as Acorella grabbed them by the collar and shook them while growling. The rumors were true. There was a madwoman living in the Magic Department.

Acorella snorted as if she was done and dragged them by their necks.

“Let’s have a cup of tea and talk in more detail. The way the Imperial Palace is going is so messed up, it’s hard to get information just by doing it roughly.”

“Tea……”

The officials trailed off as they discovered a mysterious liquid on the desk. It was something multicolored, but no matter how they looked at it, it didn’t seem like something to drink.

Acorella smiled brightly, poured the liquid into a mug, and slammed it down on the table.

“Here, get wet.”