Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 883

“…Push it away.”

The Emperor pushed away the food, barely having touched half of it. It had been so long since he had eaten properly that he couldn’t even remember when it was. The attendant cast a worried glance, but the Emperor turned his head away as if he couldn’t bear it any longer.

“What about the agenda?”

“There is nothing that has been submitted.”

“Nothing submitted?”

Was that even possible? The Emperor looked at the attendant with a bewildered expression.

It was true that he had not been able to attend the Grand Council and had not been able to take care of state affairs as well as before. However, he had always stamped the imperial seal from his bed, and there had been no problems so far.

“It seems that everyone at the Grand Council has taken care of everything, concerned about Your Majesty’s health.”

“Who asked them to worry about my health? How impertinent!”

The Emperor got out of bed as if he would rush out at once, but he staggered greatly after only a few steps.

Several attendants rushed over and grabbed his arms and waist. He lay back down on the bed, powerless, and let out a lamenting sigh.

“Go immediately and bring me today’s Grand Council minutes.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

It felt as if the things he held in his grasp were slowly slipping away. Both the authority and power of the imperial family, without even a chance to hold on.

‘But it’s okay now. The time has come.’

The Emperor wiped away the cold sweat and recalled Ian Hadel, whom he had seen earlier. The child was strikingly similar to the descriptions he had heard since childhood.

He recalled the words his father had repeatedly told him.

“Someday, a boy with platinum blonde hair and blue eyes will come to the Imperial Palace. He will bear the title of the first noble mage. That boy is Bariel’s blessing from the gods, so if you are truly descendants of the imperial bloodline, respect and cherish him deeply. Then he, too, will help the imperial family and bring prosperity to Bariel.”

The beginning of this oracle-like request was from Jin Berosion, his grandfather’s generation. Therefore, there was no way of knowing what this meant or where it came from.

“Watch the boy carefully. If there is anyone insolent by his side, be sure to be wary of them. That person will devour not only the boy but also Bariel.”

The Emperor struggled to turn the page of the report. It was the information he had received from the Three Commanders, Herchi. A child whose parents were both dead, with no one left around him.

The most noticeable part was….

‘He is related to Crony as an uncle.’

Like Count Zak, the Emperor was also paying attention to Crony’s unusual movements. However, the problem was that he was hiding behind the Minister, so there was no justification to strike him down.

To catch him, he would have to cut down the Minister first, but it was difficult for the Emperor, confined to his bedchamber, to struggle against the Minister of the Imperial Defense Department.

‘Even if I replace the Minister, the next person will also be from the Imperial Defense Department. It could only provoke them unnecessarily.’

Knock knock.

“Your Majesty, I have brought the minutes.”

“Yes. Bring them here.”

The attendant brought a stack of minutes and placed them next to him. The Emperor sighed and slowly examined the contents, soon frowning. It was because of the content proposed by the Imperial Defense Department.

“This is-”

The Emperor was speechless. He muttered Herchi’s name without realizing it.

“What does this mean? Herchi.”

Sarak.

At his master’s call, Herchi, who had been hiding in the shadows, revealed himself. He paused as he examined the minutes the Emperor had handed him.

-The Imperial Defense Department proposes to dispatch additional soldiers to strengthen the border in the northern region of Bariel….

On the surface, it seemed like there was no problem at all, but no.

“The number of troops is excessive for the purpose of simply strengthening the border. What do you think this means?”

The Imperial Defense Department was a department that grew by feeding on blood. To expand its dominance, it needed ‘war,’ but its relationship with the three neighboring countries of Bariel was strong, maintaining peace.

Then there was only one place left, the north.

“They are trying to take advantage of the fact that communication is difficult due to the numerous tribal nations. If they send troops and create tension, it will be easier to ignite the flames of war with even a small movement.”

The Emperor, confined to his bed, knew this, so there was no way that the officials of each department would not know. However, since the military control was under the authority of the Minister of the Imperial Defense Department and the Emperor, no one could say anything.

“I will call the Minister of the Imperial Defense Department.”

“No, wait. Just wait a moment.”

The Emperor waved his hand with difficulty. There was not enough justification. What justification could he use to stop the dispatch of troops to reorganize the chaotic northern region? That a private dispute could turn into a war?

“They would call me a coward. An Emperor who has forgotten how to care for the world because he is only lying in bed. It would only be giving them a sword.”

“Your Majesty. You are overly concerned.”

“It is true that the small tribes in the northern region are constantly causing problems, so there is no reason to oppose the reinforcement of troops. The Grand Council also acknowledged this and passed the agenda.”

War was like a spark. Once it ignited, it would engulf everything it touched and grow in size. The beginning might be a small conflict in the north, but there was no way of knowing how it would change and determine the fate of all of Bariel.

“Or….”

Herchi trailed off, as if he suspected something.

“The unrest of the small tribes may be a scheme of the Imperial Defense Department.”

“What do you mean?”

“There has been a sharp increase in conflict reports over the past 10 years. It is possible that the Imperial Defense Department, which wants war, has actually instigated it.”

To put it nicely, they ‘instigated’ it, but who knew? They might have given money and told them to cause trouble. As suspicion grew, the Emperor frowned.

“Wait. Did you say that Crony volunteered to be Ian Hadel’s guardian?”

“Yes, but it was canceled due to the intervention of the Magic Department.”

What if they had instigated the unrest in the northern region? They would have to pay a corresponding price.

The high-ranking officials, including the Minister of the Imperial Defense Department, were not free to manage slush funds. The assets of public officials were regularly tracked by the Imperial Palace.

But.

‘What if they could raise funds from outside?’

That is, through Ian Hadel.

The scale of the estate and mines was considerable, but the Hadel family, that is, Ian Hadel, had no connection with the Imperial Defense Department externally. Even if they disposed of it to create a slush fund, the Imperial Palace would have no way of knowing, would it?

“Herchi, investigate this in detail. It seems that it is not just a simple concern.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“If the Imperial Defense Department targeted the Hadel family for the purpose of raising slush funds, then Ian Hadel will continue to be exposed to danger.”

“Currently, Ian Hadel is staying at Count Zak’s residence. I am confident that it is safer than anywhere else. I also know that my father has assigned escorts when he goes out.”

Yes, it was Count Zak after all. He was always one step ahead of him. That was why he was even more trustworthy.

The Emperor slowly leaned back on the pillow to overcome the oncoming headache, and Herchi disappeared back into the shadows.

Swaaaa.

The peach tree swayed greatly in the wind blowing outside the window.

* * *

“Ian Hadel, sir?”

At the central Hyman Bank.

Ian looked at the employee in front of him. It was the largest branch in the Empire, so there were a lot of customers, and the number of employees handling them was astonishing. Ian nodded, holding the bag he was carrying tightly to his side.

“I am Ian Hadel.”

“You have been waiting a long time. Would you please come this way?”

Following the employee’s guidance, Ian entered the inner office. Romandro and Hanna followed as well. As the bank employee filled out the documents, the feather on the pen fluttered coolly.

“I would like to proceed with the inheritance process and tax payment. Have you prepared the documents?”

“Ah, here they are.”

“Are you the guardian?”

“No, the official guardian is the Magic Department. I am just delegated to handle the paperwork. Ah, I am Romandro. Here is my ID.”

“Ah, the Magic Department-”

Tap tap tap. The employee, who had been tapping on the calculator without much thought, suddenly opened his eyes wide.

“Are you the noble mage who entered the Magic Department?”

“That’s right.”

“Oh my, it’s an honor. Oh, would it be too late to shake hands now?”

The employee, who had been about to ask for a handshake, clicked his tongue in regret. Ian looked at Romandro with a puzzled expression, and he smiled, saying it was nothing.

“Let’s see, the documents are perfect. It seems that we can apply and process it today. But….”

But? The employee pushed up his glasses, as if something was strange.

“There is not enough money to pay all the taxes.”

“What do you mean?”

Ian asked in confusion. He was sure that the money his mother had left for taxes would be just right.

The employee flipped through the documents and explained.

“The amount itself is not insufficient, but there is a recent provisional seizure. There is a restriction on 500 gold coins, and the applicant is-”

No way.

“It says Crony Alphart.”

“That can’t be.”

“Wait a minute, can I take a look?”

“Ah, yes, yes. Of course.”

Romandro took the documents from the employee and carefully examined the contents.

“It seems that they have filed a lawsuit. Simply put, the Hadel Lord and his wife borrowed money from a person named Crony, and since they could not repay it, they have temporarily frozen the account, demanding that the young master pay it back instead.”

“There is no way my parents would have borrowed money from Crony!”

“Yes, it is a one-sided claim from Crony’s side, so if you just provide an explanation to us, we can immediately lift the provisional seizure. Please don’t worry too much.”

“An, an explanation….”

That meant he had to prove that it was not true, right? But how? Judging by the fact that they had even filed a lawsuit, it meant that Crony’s side was confident about something, didn’t it?

Hanna stood up abruptly, bursting with anger.

“What, seriously! He was just a freeloader who stuck around the mansion for days! Ian, sir, there is no need for this, I will go and confront him right away.”

“Hanna, no!”

As Hanna tried to run out, Ian grabbed her sleeve tightly. His eyes were shaking greatly, but his breathing was calm as if he was trying to regain his composure.

“…No.”

“Yes? Why?”

“It could be a trap. To make me come to them on my own.”

A bait thrown to lure him to Crony’s mansion or a place where they had prepared a trap. If not that….

‘It’s a trick to delay the inheritance.’

Although he told Ian not to worry, Romandro realized that this was quite a sharp warning.

If the inheritance was carried out, a huge amount of taxes would be paid. That would mean a loss of property. What did it mean that the person targeting Ian Hadel was trying to preserve his assets?

‘It means that they intend to seize the assets without going through Ian Hadel.’

500 gold coins…. This was getting serious. Romandro decided that it would be best to go to the Imperial Palace immediately and discuss the current situation with the Minister.

‘The process of disposing of assets to create cash is complicated. There may be a gap for Crony, who is a relative, to intervene.’

If he was lucky, the Magic Department might be able to provide funds, or he would have to ask Count Zak for help.

Romandro got up from his seat, saying that he had to go.

“First, I need to take care of this matter-”

“Ah, excuse me.”

The employee, who had been carefully reading the documents, raised his hand, asking them to wait a moment.

“Are you by any chance from the Hadel family, a side branch of the Imperial family?”

“That’s right.”

“That’s strange. Why is there an unclaimed account?”

“Unclaimed account?”

The employee ran to the storage room and brought back a pile of old papers. Then, he kept muttering in confusion.

“Do you have any records of selling an estate a long time ago?”

“Hey, how would the young master know about that?”

“Ah, that’s right. I’m sorry. There is a record of a transfer from the Enrow family to the Hadel family. The content only says ‘proceeds from the sale of the estate,’ so I don’t know the details of the transaction. Why hasn’t the Hadel family claimed it all this time?”

Enrow? It sounded familiar, but also not…. While Ian was making a confused expression, Romandro stretched his neck and asked.

“So, how much is it?”

It was cash that could be used right away, right? The employee counted the numbers with his fingers, asking them to wait a moment.

“One, ten, hundred….”

“100? Oh my god.”

“It’s a thousand.”

“……!”

“1,000 gold coins.”

Unlike Romandro, who was shocked, the employee was busy checking why 1,000 gold coins had been dormant in the central bank for so long. After checking the documents for a long time, she finally found the answer.

“Ah. It was a personal receipt method. It is a method where you have to come directly to the center to receive it, but it seems that it was not shared with the Hadel branch. It happens often these days…. But didn’t Enrow send a message? Oh my, how long have you been letting such a large sum of money rot.”

At the employee’s question, Ian looked at the employee with a perplexed expression. As if he had just heard of the Enrow family for the first time.