Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 911

The military tent was set up just beyond the border. Inside, the chieftains of each minority tribe were already seated around a large circular table.

Their interests were so intricately intertwined that they were neither friendly nor hostile to each other. They were allies when facing Bariel, but when facing each other, they harbored old grudges and conflicts.

*Swoosh.*

At that moment, Crony entered the tent with his subordinates. The chieftains naturally rose from their seats. Crony gestured for them to sit down and took his place.

“Thank you for responding to my sudden request for a meeting.”

“Hmph. You’re welcome.”

“With the situation changing so rapidly, wouldn’t it be necessary to share our opinions?”

They all glanced at each other, wondering when and how to bring up their respective positions.

The first to speak was the chieftain of the Enjargal tribe, the largest among the northern minority tribes. The eight-foot-tall chieftain was sitting awkwardly on the chair, looking constantly uncomfortable.

“By the way, when are you going to give us the funds?”

As a muscular, physical tribe, they didn’t seem to know how to mince words. But right now, their blunt way of speaking was welcomed by the other minority tribes.

The Imperial Defense Department had clearly promised to provide funds if they brought soldiers to the northern region, but they were just facing each other without any exchange. Were they on a picnic?

“It’s a bit much to call it funds—”

Crony corrected, taking out a cigarette.

“How about calling it mutual benefit support?”

“Whatever, tch. Didn’t you say you’d give us money if we made a fuss at the border? But there’s no promise, so the dissatisfaction of our tribesmen is growing. If this continues, we’ll have no choice but to return.”

“Now, now, calm down. The Empire must have something to say as well.”

The one who mediated was the chieftain of the Megetu tribe. He had a unique appearance with green markings spread all over his face and body, and he gave off a subtle scent of grass.

Crony tried to hide his disgust as he flicked his cigarette.

“Yes, well. I believe everyone has been waiting a long time. I also want to apologize for not keeping our promise. But everything takes time when something big happens, doesn’t it? Please be understanding of the Empire’s situation.”

‘The Empire’s situation, my ass. It’s *your* situation.’ The Enjargal chieftain snorted and turned his massive head away. He seemed to be saying that he could no longer talk to the two-faced Empire bastards.

At that moment, Crony placed a piece of paper on the table.

“But I’m glad to be able to deliver such good news. This just arrived from the Empire through the portal. You can consider the funding secured.”

It was Ian Hadel’s joint guardianship application.

Crony knew very well what this meant. His father must be dead, and they were using a shallow trick to perform an autopsy.

Whether it was a thought from that small head or a clever move by that arrogant bitch Arena, he didn’t know. What was important was that a way out had opened up.

“The funding is secured?”

“Yes. We can give you up to twice the promised amount.”

“T-twice the amount?”

‘Why?’

There must be a condition. The chieftains swallowed hard, worried about what Crony would offer.

“We need to hurry back to the capital soon. This means we need to wrap things up here quickly.”

“Are you kidding me? We’re not going anywhere until we get the money—”

“Could you please listen to me until the end? Unless interrupting is part of your tribe’s culture.”

Crony gave a subtle smile, a veiled warning. He meant to tell them not to act like barbarians and to show some respect.

The Enjargal chieftain’s face turned red, but no one defended him. They were offering twice the money, so they had to listen.

“Even if we withdraw now and return to the capital, it will take more than a month. If that happens, we won’t be able to give you the promised compensation.”

“What? Why is that?”

Crony didn’t answer.

The moment he agreed to become Ian’s guardian, the autopsy would take place. Freezing magic? Portal? It was obvious that the Magic Department wouldn’t cooperate. If the autopsy revealed a problem with the cause of death, he would lose everything, let alone take over the Imperial Defense Department.

‘But I can’t refuse either. A gold mine just rolled in on its own.’

‘I’ll make you regret your clumsy scheming.’ Crony’s tightly closed lips curved into a smile.

“But there is a way.”

“No, what’s going on?”

“There are complicated circumstances in the Empire. Anyway, if you want to receive the promised amount, you need to cooperate with one more thing…”

Crony’s gaze moved straight ahead, and the chieftains’ eyes followed.

There was the representative of Astana. Blue hair and pale skin. He looked so pale that the rumor of him living with a corpse seemed true.

The representative of Astana sighed softly.

“I thought we had already finished discussing that.”

“We can start again.”

“I repeat, I don’t know the exact location of the Idgal burial site.”

Among the existing magic stones, there are only two that can neutralize a magician: magic sealing stones and Idgal. [Idgal is a rare substance that can nullify magic.]

The magic sealing stones were owned by the Imperial Palace and each department according to a set share, so they could not be monopolized. But what about Idgal? It was an obsolete substance, so it was scattered indiscriminately under the policy of ‘prohibition’.

“Representative of Astana, we may be facing each other across the border, but we are sitting at the same table now.”

Why make things so difficult when we can end this with a good negotiation? The other tribes’ pent-up dissatisfaction was also slowly swelling.

“So, what Commander Crony is saying is that if we tell you the location of the Idgal burial site, you will give us the funds, no, the support money, and return to the capital, right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Astana, please cooperate. This is an obligation for the unity of the minority tribe alliance.”

The representative of Astana frowned as if he was in trouble. Then, he told the other chieftains.

“I don’t know the exact location of the Idgal burial site. And even if I did, what would you do with it? It’s a region that supports Gaia by preventing rifts [Gaia is a term for the world or the planet].”

“I’ve heard that the amount of Idgal is enormous, piled up like a mountain. Would it be a problem if we took a little from there? Those who already know of its existence are already mining and distributing it little by little.”

They only needed to mine enough to prevent the rifts from reopening. Even that much would be enough to keep the magicians in check.

Even if they didn’t mine it out of some petty sense of justice, it would eventually be revealed to the world, given the current situation. Wouldn’t it be better to take it first and get some money?

“…I need to discuss it with His Majesty.”

The representative of Astana had no choice but to answer. It was the best he could do. The chieftains sighed softly, and Crony also couldn’t hide his disappointment.

“We can’t give you much time.”

“Yes, it won’t take long. Excuse me.”

He excused himself and walked out of the tent. Crony and the chieftains watched his back silently, and as soon as he disappeared, they each added a word.

“Isn’t the king of Astana practically a corpse now?”

“Not just practically, he *is* a corpse. They say he moves his soul around… They’re creepy.”

“I heard that the soul of someone who died over 100 years ago will soon disappear? I heard that he is the most likely candidate for the next king.”

“So that’s why he sent a representative instead of going on the expedition himself?”

“Everyone else sent their chieftains, but he sent a representative alone… Honestly, in terms of power, they’re not that great.”

Astana was a unification of very small tribes. It had been called a kingdom for a long time, but honestly, wasn’t it embarrassing?

Crony got up, saying they should take a break.

“Let’s resume the meeting when the representative of Astana returns.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Crony went outside and gestured to his subordinate. The portal was still open. It was clear that it was waiting for his reply.

“Bring me a pen and paper.”

Crony stroked his mustache and pondered for a moment, then wrote a letter for Ian. The first sentence was ‘To my dear Ian’.

-Ian, I’m glad that you finally seem to understand my true feelings. I can swear to God that I will do my best to fulfill my role as your guardian until you become an adult.

But there’s a bit of a problem with hearing the news from this far away. If I become your guardian, I have a secret to tell you, and I want to tell you in person. Would you mind coming through the portal? It’s about your parents. If you come, I’ll sign the guardianship application. It won’t take long. Try asking the Magic Department to give you about a week.

If they were going to play tricks with an autopsy while he was away, he had no choice but to bring the subject here.

Becoming Ian Hadel’s guardian was a bait he had to take. And the condition of signing in exchange for his parents’ secret was also a temptation that Ian Hadel couldn’t ignore. ‘Let’s see each other get thoroughly entangled. Huh?’

*Swoosh.*

Crony rolled up the paper he had written and sent it through the portal. Then, as if waiting, the hole that had been hovering in the air disappeared.

* * *

Meanwhile, the representative who returned to the Astana camp was scratching his head in frustration.

He sprinkled something on the bonfire inside the tent. Then, the flames grew rapidly, emitting a green light. It only shone brightly without burning the surroundings. Soon after, a voice was heard from inside the flames.

[What is it…?]

It was the king. A weak voice, as if he would wither away at any moment. He had been moving his soul around for over 100 years, so he couldn’t stop the weathering of his soul. Now, it was difficult for him to even move his body, so he was putting his soul into objects instead of corpses.

“Your Majesty. There’s been a problem at the meeting.”

The representative told the king what had happened. Bariel wanted the Idgal burial site, and if they provided a clue, they could secure funds without any armed conflict. In addition, it would also strengthen the alliance with other tribes.

The king listened quietly and asked in a low voice.

[What is the name of the commander of Bariel?]

“It’s Crony. Crony Alphart.”

[Crony Alphart… Crony Alphart…]

The king repeated his name for a long time. The weathering of the soul was similar to the aging of a human. Forgetting the years, forgetting the memories, and even forgetting oneself.

The representative continued to listen to the king’s muttering and pondered.

‘Should I stop it?’

He knew that the king’s mind was not sound. Just as the representative was about to interrupt the king, he spoke.

[I see. So much time has passed.]

“Yes?”

[…I’ve waited a long time. The cycle of fate.]

“Your Majesty. I’m sorry, but I don’t understand what you mean.”

*Swoosh!* The king showed his form outside the green flames and warned.

[I, King Hasha of Astana, command you, do not turn Bariel into an enemy, but kill Crony Alphart.]

“H-how…”

Was it possible to kill Crony without making Bariel an enemy? And why did he have to do that? The representative had many questions, but King Hasha kept repeating the same words.

[Kill Crony. For the golden magician…]