Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor #Chapter 333 - Read Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor Chapter 333 Online - All Page

Chapter 333

Though the Prime Minister was reading documents while adjusting his glasses, his aide could tell. He hadn’t turned a single page yet. He showed signs of distraction, fidgeting with his pen and checking the clock.

Tick tock, with each movement of the minute hand, the Prime Minister’s gaze shifted toward the office door. Other high officials were probably doing the same.

Knock knock

A careful presence from outside. The Prime Minister unconsciously jumped up. With a desperate wish that the news would be as good as their anxious wait deserved.

“Enter!”

But the attendant who poked his head in had a grim expression. The Prime Minister collapsed back into his seat, feeling his heart sink.

“My apologies. There’s been no word. Shall I call for the Grand Council?”

“…Yes. As an emergency. Tell all mages to attend as well.”

“Yes. I understand. I’ll make preparations.”

Creeak

When the door closed, the Prime Minister rubbed his eyes, deepened by wrinkles, and sank into thought. It had been a week since contact was lost with Ian’s group who crossed into Clifford. Though they’d sent up to ten messenger birds, there wasn’t a single bird returning, let alone replies.

What kind of situation was this? Why was there no response from Clifford?

“Prime Minister.”

“Yes.”

He rose at the call announcing preparations were complete. Those missing were the Ministry of Magic Minister and his mages, plus two Imperial Guards. These were among the highest caliber personnel in the imperial palace, so the truth needed to be ascertained.

Clatter clatter!

Neigh!

The Prime Minister’s carriage rushed to the main palace, and simultaneously dozens of other carriages headed for the same destination. Officials and mages responding to the emergency Grand Council summons.

“Romandro.”

“Your Majesty?”

“Shh.”

On the stairs entering the council chamber, someone grabbed Romandro’s arm – it was Jin and Xiaoshi.

Jin led him behind a corner, conscious of surrounding eyes. The youth bit his lips repeatedly while whispering.

“Does the Ministry of Magic have any idea what’s happened? It’s been a week since we lost contact with Lord Ian.”

His muttering, almost threatening tone was clearly anxious. Romandro met the youth’s eyes and calmly reassured him.

“Your Majesty. Please stay calm. First, Ian should be fine. Don’t you know him well?”

“But, but…”

He investigated the Clifford carriages, crossed into their country, and then contact was lost. What more reason for suspicion was needed? No matter how you looked at it, something must have happened to them in Clifford. In fact, all the officials gathering for the Grand Council probably thought the same. Except for the Ministry of Magic people.

“Ian is someone who returned alive even from the middle of a desert. Beric is with him too. There’s nothing to worry about. Now, you should enter the council. There are many watching eyes, so I’ll go in first.”

The distance between Jin and Ian signified the distance between the royal family and Ministry of Magic. Romandro had a duty to understand and support Ian’s intention to maintain distance for an ideal relationship. Just as he was about to bow and turn away.

“Wait, Romandro. How far has the investigation into Idgal progressed?”

Jin grabbed him again and whispered. This was an even more secretive and careful matter.

Xiaoshi kept looking around to check for any presence, and Romandro, recognizing something serious, knelt again.

“…The report submitted to the imperial palace is all we have on the Idgal investigation, with no further progress. Partly due to Akorella being on sick leave, but also because our limited supply of Idgal makes analysis difficult.”

Romandro also knew the contents of Ian’s final note. That a comprehensive investigation of Idgal was needed. He tilted his head curiously before suddenly realizing something and hesitating.

“Your Majesty, perhaps…”

“It will be discussed at the Grand Council, so be aware.”

While the Ministry of Magic aimed to track down and annihilate Idgal’s very existence, those checking the Ministry of Magic would want to get their hands on it instead.

Romandro unconsciously rubbed his forehead and sighed. Of all times for this to happen when Ian was away.

“Your Majesty. I hear footsteps.”

“Romandro.”

As Xiaoshi warned Jin about approaching footsteps from afar, Jin gripped Romandro’s shoulder and met his gaze firmly. Though no words were spoken, his straight blue eyes comforted Romandro.

That he could do it, that Jin himself didn’t want it to go that far either. But due to external appearances, he regretted being unable to help openly.

Swish

Jin nodded and disappeared around the corner first. Other department officials passing by started at seeing Romandro kneeling in the middle of the corridor.

“Isn’t that Lord Romandro? Is something wrong?”

“Huh? Ah, no. Just felt dizzy for a moment.”

“Shall we help you up?”

“No, no. I’m fine. Let’s go in.”

Romandro stood up, dusting off his knees with a dazed look.

Most participants had already arrived, and the mages too were gathered on one side waiting for Romandro. With Ian absent, his aide Romandro was essentially Ian’s proxy.

“Well, if everyone’s here, let’s begin the meeting.”

Bang! Bang bang!

Creeak

As the Prime Minister struck his gavel, the doors closed. He unconsciously stroked his chin with a sigh. As if unsure what to say first.

Though he’d been in public office long, this was a first. That none other than the Ministry of Magic Minister had lost contact along with his mages.

“Has there been word from the Imperial Defense Department?”

“Yes. They arrived yesterday and are investigating with the border guards. Another messenger bird is expected this evening.”

Unlike the mages who took portals directly to the border, the Imperial Defense Department traveled by horse, so they only just reached the site of the incident.

In fact, it had become unnecessary since Ian had made contact with the Clifford carriages and learned the inside story. Nevertheless, they were continuing their own investigation.

“How many messenger birds have been sent to Clifford so far?”

“…Exactly twelve.”

“That not a single one has replied surely means something serious has happened? I suspect there may be problems with their safety.”

“But this is Lord Ian. Ministry of Magic Minister Lord Ian. Not just one or two mages accompanied him, and two Imperial Guards as well. Even if problems arose in Clifford, surely they would have found a way.”

Clifford officially had not a single mage. So if they wanted to, they could not only escape without problem but even throw the country into chaos.

But according to reports from the border, there had been no disturbance from Clifford’s side.

“Idgal.”

Someone spoke up cutting through the murmurs.

“Isn’t Idgal a substance with the same effect as magic sealing stones? It was mentioned in Lord Ian’s report. Clifford must have secured it. That resolves all questions.”

“Correct. He warned us to watch Burgos and Ruswena too, meaning a three-nation alliance has been formed under the surface.”

“If the royal palace secured Idgal, hmm. That resolves the questions. Isn’t Lord Ian just a boy without his magic?”

“What about the magic swordsmen? Does Idgal affect them too?”

All eyes turned to Jeirutt. He moistened his lips with a sip of water and carefully offered an answer.

“Magic swordsmen’s power is fundamentally the same as mages’. It has an effect.”

“Good heavens. We need see no more.”

“We must mobilize the army. Before the three-nation alliance moves, we should move first. We have clear justification so there’s no problem.”

“This isn’t something to consider lightly. What you’re suggesting is war. If Bariel attacks Clifford, will Burgos and Ruswena sit idle? If they’ve secured Idgal as Lord Ian said? With mages rendered useless, do you have any special measures?”

An attitude treating mages as mere weapons. Nakina frowned while clicking her tongue. Hale likewise. He suddenly desperately wanted a cigarette.

“Now, now, everyone calm down.”

Bang! Bang bang!

The Prime Minister looked around while calling for order. Jin and Romandro had yet to speak a word. He carefully suggested:

“There should be no disagreement that we must send people directly since messenger birds aren’t reaching. Ministry of Magic?”

“Yes, Prime Minister.”

“Can you activate transportation means like the Black Moon that Lord Ian used?”

At his question, Romandro made a troubled expression. He was a regular person, not a mage after all. Hale sitting behind raised his hand to speak instead.

“My apologies, but it’s impossible. It’s magic that uses an enormous amount of power, and without Lord Ian the positioning accuracy would be quite poor.”

“Then we have no choice. Imperial Defense Department, organize and report troops to send to Clifford.”

“Prime Minister. The Ministry of Magic…”

“The Ministry of Magic will be excluded from this matter.”

“…Pardon?”

Romandro and all the mages wore incredulous expressions. It wasn’t just anyone, but their superior and colleagues who were missing. Yet the Ministry of Magic shouldn’t accompany them?

“If there are problems with Lord Ian’s safety, it means mages’ power has been neutralized. Therefore the Ministry of Magic is excluded from this matter.”

“Wait a moment!”

As Nakina raised her hand to protest, Romandro calmly stopped her.

“But Prime Minister. If Lord Ian and the mages are injured but alive, they’ll need someone to share magical power. It’s right to have mages accompany them. Even if Idgal exists as a threat to us, we can surely help rather than hinder. Don’t you know this?”

The Prime Minister’s eyes narrowed. Across from him, Jin shook his head slightly, signaling to Romandro. As if something had gone wrong.

“Right. That makes sense. Then let the Ministry of Magic accompany with minimal personnel. But during that time, investigation of Idgal must continue. The imperial palace will send support staff to the Ministry of Magic.”

Paradoxically, the Ministry of Magic’s power was needed to control Idgal. Since it was beyond ordinary people’s common sense and ability, they would start by mixing their people into the Ministry of Magic.

Then, following and helping them to grasp authority over Idgal within Bariel, and the moment the Ministry of Magic tried to eliminate it-

They would snatch it away.

“Lastly, let’s send one more messenger bird, and if there’s no reply by tomorrow we’ll depart immediately. The Ministry of Magic should prepare thoroughly as well.”

Bang! Bang!

The signs of war.

Each department quickly rose, anticipating the flood of work to come. Expecting objections from the Ministry of Magic, everyone disappeared without leaving gaps.

“Prime Minister!”

“Romandro, I’m sorry but we’ll talk again later.”

Though Romandro tried to stop the Prime Minister, it was useless. The mages left behind. They all let out bitter laughs as if dumbfounded.

“This is maddening. Is this treatment of us right?”

“I never expected them to go this far just because Lord Ian isn’t here. Wow. This is harsh, really. After all we’ve done.”

“Seriously. Should we just flip everything over?”

“Using a meeting as cover to completely stomp on us? Did we work ourselves to death for this kind of treatment? Ha.”

“…Everyone watch your words.”

Hale muttered while putting a cigarette in his mouth. The already small number of mages had become even smaller with Ian taking five or six with him.

“If we could somehow activate a portal we could hurry to Clifford…”

“We could rescue Lord Ian and the others right away if there really is a problem…”

“But we’re nowhere near capable enough.”

They all sighed wistfully while thinking the same thing. Magic amplification drug. If only there weren’t side effects, maybe they could do something with that…

Knock! Knock knock!

Just then came a cheerful knocking at the door. Everyone looked up curiously to find a welcome figure standing there. Though she had become quite gaunt, her eyes still sparkled with that same madness.

She waved in greeting.

“Ta-da! Smart Akorella makes her en-trance!”

Story Arcs