Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 223

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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 223
Seal Stamp Crushed
A hospital room at Centra Hospital. As a place where countless patients came and went, it was the busiest and most chaotic in the vicinity. Yet today’s particular commotion stemmed from Erikse, who had been brought in that morning for emergency treatment.
“Does that even make sense? You don’t know what carriage it was?”
“We’re investigating the area, but we’re having difficulty finding traces.”
“Carriages aren’t something every Tom, Dick, and Harry goes around in, and you’re telling me it was a red oak personal carriage? Our carriage wheel got knocked off—the perpetrator’s carriage must be completely destroyed in the back! And this isn’t even near the border. How can you not find it? That’s ridiculous! It has to be somewhere nearby!”
Having suffered an accident first thing in the morning was bad enough to make his blood boil, yet the investigating guard kept saying they couldn’t find the perpetrator.
Nonsense! Were all the numerous witnesses at the scene blind? Erikse’s face flushed red as he shouted at the top of his lungs.
“Find them immediately! Catch whoever did this to me!”
“…I’ll do my best.”
“Do you know how much tax I pay? This is ridiculous!”
“Then I’ll take my leave. I’ll visit again once the investigation progresses. I hope you recover soon.”
Dumbfounded and deflated, Erikse flopped back onto the bed. Then a sharp pain shot up his lower back. This wasn’t an injury that would heal quickly. For someone like him who sat all day handling administrative work, such pain was debilitating.
Knock, knock.
“Come in.”
“Master. Someone from the Magic Ministry has arrived.”
“The Magic Ministry? Not our department?”
The servant poked his head in slightly. There had been no contact from the Justice Ministry, his own department, yet suddenly the Magic Ministry? Erikse gave permission to enter with a puzzled expression.
“Hello. I’ve come from the Magic Ministry. Is this a good time? This is a gift of consolation sent by Minister Ian.”
A man in a mage’s robe entered carrying a fruit basket. Erikse was taken aback and couldn’t respond. It was surprising enough that a minister would send a gift to a mere staff member, but the timing was awfully fast—almost as quick as his manor servants had found him.
“…I appreciate it. But how did you know?”
“The Magic Ministry went to receive the complaint form early this morning and confirmed your absence. The Minister wanted to entrust this matter directly to you.”
“He could have just left it with the staff below me.”
“Well, there’s a problem with that.”
“What?”
The mage smiled faintly and signaled the servant to leave. When Erikse nodded, only the two remained in the hospital room.
“What’s going on?”
“Isn’t it strange that the Justice Ministry hasn’t contacted you despite your injury?”
“Don’t tell me—another rebellion? Is there a problem?”
“Not exactly. It seems Duke Haiman’s faction is moving systematically to block the complaint form from being received. Several people from the Justice Ministry didn’t come to work today. Though it seems few have been injured as severely as you.”
It was unbelievable. Several people from the Justice Ministry didn’t show up—and because of sabotage by Haiman’s faction? The mage handed Erikse a letter from Ian as he stood there with his mouth agape.
“I suspect the perpetrator of the carriage accident may also be connected to Haiman. If so, it would be difficult for the guards to find them.”
“Wait! I’m overwhelmed right now. Give me a moment to think.”
Erikse raised his hand urgently to collect his thoughts. Then he quickly scanned Ian’s neat message. The gist was as follows:
There are many interference schemes at the Justice Ministry’s reception desk, so cooperation is requested. And whether the hospital could process the complaint form if he brought the seal stamp.
Erikse furrowed his brow and looked back at the mage.
“Would there be a problem if this is delayed a few days?”
“I don’t know, but there must be a reason for such urgency, wouldn’t you say? Especially given your injury.”
“Hmm.”
Could it really be Haiman? Had Haiman’s men rammed his carriage? Erikse racked his brain continuously. But reaching a conclusion didn’t take long.
‘If I’d shown up at work anyway, this would’ve been something I’d handle myself.’
One problem there, one here—what’s the difference? Besides, if the Magic Ministry’s claim is true and this is Haiman’s scheming….
“Then so be it.”
I’ll do it without hesitation. I’ll make sure he pays the price for daring to break my arm—whatever the cost may be. Erikse returned the letter with a final instruction.
“The seal is on my desk. You need to bring every single piece of supporting documentation to attach to the complaint, and have the person for the face-to-face review come here. Once business hours are over, it moves to tomorrow, so you need to arrive before then.”
“Understood.”
“And one more thing. I’m thorough when it comes to reviews. I don’t let things slide easily just because of circumstances. Handling business here doesn’t mean a rubber stamp, understand?”
“I’ll convey that. Please write a brief personal response.”
“What in the world is this mess? Ugh. Argh.”
Scratch, scratch!
Erikse groaned as he wrote with his right hand, a nagging feeling that his body aches would only worsen after sleep. As the Mage hurried out of the hospital room, the Servant approached hesitantly.
“Master. That person was a Mage, wasn’t he?”
“Yes. Massage my legs a bit. They’re killing me.”
“It’s strange. I’ve never seen that Mage before. What’s the matter?”
“What’s it to you? Just massage my legs, will you?”
“Yes, of course.”
Erikse clicked his tongue and stared at the white ceiling. What in the world was happening at the Imperial Palace right now? If the Mage was right about Haiman’s schemes, that would be a problem in itself.
‘I’ll understand the full picture once I see the complaint.’
“…And have all the Manor Guards come here.”
“To the hospital room?”
“Yes, here. Tell them to guard me well.”
“Understood.”
Assuming everything I’ve heard is true. Haiman seems desperate to stop the complaint, just as the Magic Ministry seems desperate to receive it. So if he were to come with the seal and try to pressure me, that would be troublesome, wouldn’t it? Being outside the Imperial Palace made caution all the more necessary.
* * *
“Master, Master!”
“Huh?”
When had I fallen asleep? Erikse jolted awake at the Servant’s fuss. Then a sharp ache shot through his ribs, making him wince. He’d completely forgotten about the accident.
“People from the Magic Ministry have arrived.”
“The Magic Ministry? Ah. Let them in.”
“Yes. But, um, one of them seems to be in an odd state.”
“Odd state? Why?”
“I’m not sure. I think they should receive treatment here after handling the matter. Anyway, I’ll show them in.”
Erikse couldn’t understand what the Servant was saying. Not until the door opened.
Creak.
“Greetings. I am Captain Heil of the Magic Operations Division. I’ve come on Minister Ian’s orders. I heard there was a serious accident—are you doing alright?”
“Ah, yes, yes. Well, you know.”
Captain Heil—famous, indeed. Erikse sat up and looked him over from head to toe. He knew the man was naturally free-spirited, but why were his clothes so torn? His hair was rather disheveled too.
As Erikse muttered to himself that he couldn’t understand Mages’ eccentricities.
“Nice to meet you. I am, *cough*, Assistant to Minister Ian of the Magic Ministry, Romandro.”
“…Are you alright?”
Romandro was in such a deplorable state that even the patient lying in the hospital bed could only stare in bewilderment. Bloodstained tissues were stuffed into both nostrils, and his eyes were swollen with scratches visible across his face. While Captain Heil’s clothes were merely disheveled, Romandro looked like an absolute beggar. He kept sniffling continuously.
“To be honest, I’m not doing well.”
“Yes, it certainly appears that way.”
“…Before I become even more depressed, could you please hurry and handle this for me?”
Romandro dragged over a chair as if he’d given up on everything and sat before Erikse. A thick accusation document lay on the desk serving as their table. And from his pocket, Erikse carefully withdrew his official seal for judicial work.
Tap.
From the round bead attached to the end of the seal’s handle, a light flickered, indicating the passage of time. This was how Erikse and the judicial department employees maintained strict adherence to business hours.
Once the designated time passed, the seal would stamp tomorrow’s date instead of today’s. Naturally, all official processing would then proceed based on tomorrow’s date.
“Then I shall begin. The accusation document is being filed with the Magic Ministry, and the target is not Duke Haiman alone, but the entire Haimanga family.”
“That’s correct. I would appreciate it if you could speak a bit faster.”
“I shall endeavor to do so.”
Romandro anxiously checked the time. If the proceedings were delayed, bringing the seal here would be pointless. It was a seal he’d obtained through his first physical confrontation ever.
Erikse, whether aware of Romandro’s concerns or not, meticulously read through the accusation document.
“Please clarify this section. You claim that research results on the black gemstone confiscated from the Cheteur region indicate it’s dragon scale? Is this trustworthy?”
“There are separate attached research results.”
“However, the research period documented is unreasonably short. I must judge this as lacking credibility.”
Heil observed from beside the hospital room door. Romandro, fortunately anticipating this question, answered without hesitation. Had it not been for those two bunches of tissue in his nostrils, he would have appeared quite impressive.
“I don’t believe the duration determines the credibility of the results. Some research depends on time, others don’t. Identifying the nature of a substance naturally falls into the former category. And above all, to confirm this, a full-scale investigation into Haimanga is necessary. That’s only possible once the accusation document is filed.”
“…So you’re saying the dragon scale matter will be clarified during the trial. I understand. I accept your argument.”
Rustle.
Erikse raised his eyebrows slightly and turned the page. This exchange of questions and answers continued several times. Tick-tock, Heil kept checking his watch, acutely aware of time. The business deadline was approaching. The seal would change soon, and as Erikse had warned, he let nothing slide without thorough examination.
‘This is maddening.’
He felt an anxious urge to chew on a cigarette. Had this not been a hospital, cigarette butts would have piled up at his feet long ago. The servants also sensed the unusual atmosphere and held their breath.
Scratch, scratch.
Erikse continued writing something. The pages turned slowly but steadily. Finally, they reached the last page without omission.
“I shall now conduct a final confirmation. This is one of the official procedures. To ensure credibility in the upcoming council meeting and subsequent trials, please answer carefully.”
Finally! At last! Romandro’s eyes sparkled as he nodded vigorously, urging him to ask quickly.
“Of course.”
“Are there any falsifications or intentional false statements in the above content by which the Magic Ministry accuses Haimanga?”
“I swear there are none. Absolutely none.”
“Should it be discovered that the accusation document contains falsifications or intentional false statements, you understand that you may be held accountable for such crimes. Do you agree?”
“Of course I agree!”
“Understood.”
Erikse grasped the seal lightly. The bead, responsive to the administrator’s fingerprint, gleamed softly. He pressed the seal firmly onto the front of the accusation document.
-No. 52398, accusation document filing complete.
Click.
At that very moment, today’s date appeared clearly below. The instant Erikse lifted the seal, the bead’s time changed. They had barely made the business deadline.
Romandro embraced Erikse in overwhelming gratitude. The tissues stuffed in his nostrils flew out with a pop.
“Done! Thank you! Oh, thank you so much! But why do you talk so slowly! I’ve been sweating cold sweat this whole time!”
“Aaaah! That hurts! It hurts!”
“Oh dear, my apologies, my apologies indeed.”
Captain Heil ignored the two flustered men and retrieved the complaint document. With the seal already stamped, destroying it now would incur severe penalties. I simply needed to return to the Imperial Palace. The head of the Magic Division was likely waiting.
“Romandro, let us make haste and depart.”
“Hmm? Ah yes, of course! That’s right. Erikse, recover well! And you really ought to replace those employees of yours! Tsk tsk. Brute strength alone doesn’t suffice. They’ve learned nothing but wickedness!”
“I beg your pardon?”
Romandro drew his finger across his throat with an exaggerated grimace. Erikse, bewildered by the cryptic gesture, could only tap his tingling arm as he watched their retreating figures.
What on earth had transpired at the Imperial Palace?

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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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