Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 222

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 222
A Step Back
Ian and Romandro were refining the details of their plan when word arrived from outside.
“Lord Ian. Jeonseogoo has returned from outside the palace. It concerns the Erikse employee you inquired about. Shall I show him in?”
“Let him in.”
The subordinate who had gone to Erikse’s residence was delivering his initial report. Ian unfolded the neatly creased note and read through it. Romandro, equally curious, craned his neck from behind to peer at the contents.
“What does it say? Was it a carriage accident?”
“Yes, it was. According to Erikse’s servant, he had an accident on his way to work this morning and was taken to a nearby hospital. Fortunately, his life is not in danger, but it seems he won’t be able to return to work until tomorrow. Apparently it was quite a severe accident—the carriage wheel was completely destroyed.”
“Tsk, tsk! Dragging an innocent person into this mess.”
“It’s Centra Hospital. My subordinate says he’ll go there to verify Erikse’s condition directly before returning.”
Ian folded the note neatly and placed it on the table. With this development, even if an accusation were filed, it would take time before it reached the grand council. After all, it was Erikse’s responsibility to review whether the accusation was proper and then submit it to the council chamber.
Even if the employee Romandro had suspected didn’t deliberately remove documents in the interim, it might be difficult to convene the grand council before the mana verification ceremony. At least, according to Haimanga’s plan.
“Haiman and Lord Arcen will likely attempt to avoid trial. They have no chance of winning. So their intention is to cut it off entirely at the grand council, preventing the trial from ever being held.”
“In truth, everyone in the imperial palace is waiting for exactly that. Nothing is more important right now than whether Lord Arcen is a mage or not.”
In other words, I needed to convene the grand council before the mana verification ceremony. It wasn’t strictly necessary, but if I could make the proceedings easier, it was worth doing.
I tapped the edge of the note with my finger, then rang the call bell.
“Lord Ian, did you call for me?”
“Gather the mages, with Captain Heil at the center.”
“Yes? Ah, understood.”
Gathering mages with Captain Heil at the center meant primarily assembling those who worked in external duties, didn’t it? Rather than explain further, I retrieved the official seal. Romandro then cleared the desk and arranged the writing implements.
“Are you sending an official document? What will it say?”
“I think it would be best to inform the Minister of Justice of the current situation and bring it to public attention.”
“What if Haiman has already made his move with that office?”
“I don’t think so. If he controlled the upper echelons, he wouldn’t resort to such crude schemes. He wouldn’t fear the trial proceeding. Bariel’s judiciary is known for its exceptional impartiality, so I suspect Haiman’s influence hasn’t reached there.”
“Right, right. If he’d involved the higher-ups, he wouldn’t have had to go through all this trouble. But having Captain Heil deliver the official document seems like a waste of manpower.”
“Captain Heil will be performing a different role.”
Scratch, scratch.
I filled the paper with neat, precise writing. Just as I was about to affix the official seal of the Magic Ministry at the end, new information arrived from outside.
“Lord Ian, it seems both the Minister of Justice and the Vice Minister didn’t come to work today.”
Tap.
The seal froze in mid-air. When would both the minister and vice minister ever be absent simultaneously? I frowned and set down the stamp, and the servant bowed deeply, stammering.
“The Minister attended Count Davion’s party yesterday and can’t get up due to a hangover. The Vice Minister went out on business to the outskirts and has severe food poisoning—he can’t move at all. If it’s an urgent matter, they say they can summon the department heads to handle it. How should I relay this?”
While I laughed in disbelief, Romandro gasped, his mouth hanging open. Had they deliberately orchestrated this to leave the judiciary completely vacant? Romandro turned to me in alarm.
“This… this makes no sense, does it?”
“If one can prevent something, what is there that cannot be done?”
“Should I have the department heads summoned?”
“No. Never mind. From the looks of it, that won’t be easy either.”
I burned the official document I’d been writing and took out fresh paper. Then I quickly scribbled something and handed it to the servant.
“Have Jeonseogoo take this to Centra Hospital. Another reply will come, so keep watch by the window at all times.”
“Yes, Lord Ian.”
Once the servant left, I changed into lighter outer garments, as though preparing for an outing. I studied Romandro’s complexion before speaking.
“Romandro, you should rest now.”
“My duty extends until the complaint is filed, so I’ll see this through to the end. But what exactly are you planning to do?”
“I intend to handle it personally.”
“What?”
Romandro faltered at my resolute answer. A Minister moving directly to receive a complaint filing—where else could such an absurd spectacle occur? He shook his head firmly and refused to budge.
“Wait, no—absolutely not! I’m coming with you!”
“You look exhausted.”
“Does my presence bother you?”
“Not particularly.”
“Then let’s finish this together! I’m still full of energy!”
As Romandro clenched his fist and shouted, I laughed while fastening my buttons.
“Very well then—prepare protective gear.”
“…Protective gear? Why would you need that?”
Romandro hesitated, sensing something ominous, but I merely smiled. Sometimes, responding to petty schemes with petty measures wasn’t entirely unwarranted.
Several hours later,
Tap, tap, tap!
Knock, knock!
“Lord Ian! A message has arrived from Centra Hospital!”
I rose immediately as though I’d been waiting and accepted the letter. Then I roused Romandro, who lay half-sprawled across the sofa’s backrest, drooling in his sleep. He gazed at me with bleary eyes.
“Huh, I, I wasn’t sleeping, Ian.”
“I understand. Shall we depart?”
I pulled on leather gloves and stepped out of my office. Captain Heil and the waiting mages rose simultaneously to greet me. Their bewilderment was evident. At my gesture, Heil leaned in close, chewing on a cigarette.
“We’re going to the Ministry of Justice.”
“The Ministry of Justice? Why—”
“To retrieve Erikse’s seal. Once we have it, we’ll proceed to Centra Hospital and obtain the complaint filing’s approval there.”
Though uncertain of the purpose, Heil acknowledged the order and turned to the mages behind him.
“Follow Lord Ian. We’re heading to the Ministry of Justice.”
“To the Ministry of Justice! Everyone, move out!”
Dozens of mages rushed down the building’s stairs, their robes billowing. I, leading their vanguard, gazed westward without the slightest wavering. That was the direction of the Ministry of Justice.
* * *
Though it was past noon, the Ministry of Justice was unusually deserted. More than half the employees had abandoned their posts, as though a plague had swept through. Even high-ranking officials, including the Minister himself, had taken leave. The situation was severe enough to be called a complete work stoppage.
“Anyone seeing this would think today was a holiday.”
“Exactly. How can all the higher-ups take leave simultaneously? Even the Vice Minister did. He told me to submit the report by today, so I worked late yesterday, but he didn’t even show up.”
“Well, with the bosses gone, I’m actually enjoying myself.”
“Right. And with everyone absent, it’s wonderful. If only a few had left, we’d be covering for them and working late again.”
The employees divided the manageable workload among themselves and chatted idly. External tasks coming in today were sparse as well.
While peacefully sipping tea and shuffling through documents, someone uttered a puzzled sound.
“Huh? What’s that over there?”
“What? What is it?”
“It appears to be the Magic Ministry’s flag. A convoy of carriages is entering the Ministry of Justice.”
At the employee’s words, the others rose from their seats and peered down from the window. The horses were directed toward the reception building where most of the Ministry of Justice’s intake operations were concentrated.
“Leave it alone. It’s not our concern.”
“Hmm. I suppose you’re right?”
“Ignore it, ignore it. Let’s just get through today quietly. We’ll be leaving soon anyway.”
Three hours remained until the end of the workday. At their supervisor’s instruction, the employees merely shrugged their shoulders and returned to their posts, oblivious to whatever was unfolding in the building across from the Ministry of Justice.
Screech!
Whiiiing!
As the convoy of carriages descended upon the reception building, the guards stumbled backward in alarm. The mages bore expressions as solemn as those who had come for battle.
“What, what is the matter?”
Supported by the mages, I descended from the carriage. I withdrew a letter from my breast pocket—one bearing Erikse’s personal signature.
“The Magic Ministry wishes to file an indictment, but I’m told Erikse, the responsible officer, didn’t come in today due to an accident. Since this is urgent business, I contacted the hospital, and they said they would gladly process it if I brought the seal. So I’ve come to retrieve it.”
The guards could not distinguish Erikse’s genuine signature from a forgery. They merely stood at this post and guarded the entrance, nothing more. The guards hesitated and glanced back at the mages.
“But why have so many of you come?”
“Must I justify the Minister traveling with his subordinates? My time is as precious as yours. Step aside.”
Tap tap tap!
Just as the guards lowered their window and began to turn aside, the reception desk employees inside rushed out in alarm, then surveyed the situation with bewilderment.
“It’s, it’s her! Ian!”
It was the employee who had been asked to present identification by Romandro that morning. The woman who had been pointed out bit her lip hard, then cried out in a sharp voice.
“What are you doing here?”
“I’ve come at Erikse’s request to retrieve his seal.”
“You expect me to believe that now?”
“It’s not the Emperor’s seal, merely an official stamp. Why make such a fuss? Here is Erikse’s personal signature. If anyone wishes to verify it, let them do so.”
I held the letter between my index and middle fingers and waved it lightly.
But the employees merely clamped their mouths shut and exchanged glances with one another. They showed a determination to block us unconditionally, without any means to verify whether it was genuine or forged.
Heil finally understood the meaning of the order.
‘It’s been a while.’
And with a crack, he loosened his hands and feet lightly. The imperial palace was dignified, but physical confrontation occasionally occurred when pushing through one’s position like this. Not everyone adhered to principles and rules. Of course, most such incidents happened during conferences.
“That’s impossible. The business closing time is coming up soon.”
“All I need is the seal.”
“Until Erikse himself comes, absolutely not! Everyone, what are you doing?”
Thump!
Whatever amount Haimanga had paid them, they seemed prepared to quit their jobs. The employees linked their arms firmly across their chests, their bodies locked together, and immediately formed an unyielding barrier at the entrance.
“You, you insolent fools! Listen here! Do you think you can cover the sky with your palm? How is your work so simple, so crude, so absurd?”
Romandro fumed and pointed accusingly, but they merely snorted in response.
“If it’s impossible, then it’s impossible!”
Heil rolled up his sleeves and swallowed a sigh internally.
If I used magic, I alone could subdue them. But the reason I had brought my colleagues along was to deny any subsequent one-sided violence caused by magic. Heil and the other mages, realizing this, loosened their bodies in preparation.
“Well then.”
I clicked open my pocket watch.
“Ten minutes from now.”
“Understood.”
“Push forward.”
I gave a brief hand signal, and with Captain Heil leading the way, the Mages charged ahead. Romandro merely stumbled about in confusion, flinching at every moment.
Thud!
Tap-tap-tap!
“Ahhhhh!”
“Ugh! Ugh!”
“Move aside! Get out of the way!”
“What are you saying? Why won’t you budge? I said it’s impossible!”
“Hold on! Don’t let go of my arm! Keep pushing!”
Instead of throwing punches, they shoved with their shoulders, and rather than pulling hair, they grabbed and tore at collars. As the Mages and the Minister of Justice’s staff tangled together in chaos, I watched from behind.
And there stood Romandro awkwardly beside me. When I raised my eyebrow, he squeezed his eyes shut with reluctant determination and charged forward.
“Y-you! You! You lot! Let’s do this!”
Thud!
He was immediately bounced back and tumbled to the ground, but Romandro sprang back up and let out a battle cry.
“M-move! Moveeeee!”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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