Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 562

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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 561
Fire. The Gypsy’s Whereabouts
“Here, we have the appearance of that young boy.”
The words captured Heil’s attention.
He stood silently, watching Ian’s back as he awaited orders, while the other soldiers gripped their weapons tightly and kept their eyes fixed upward, ready to charge forward at the slightest signal.
But Ian remained silent, then gently raised his hand, commanding a retreat.
“Until tomorrow’s sun rises. Those who follow Rutherford must deliberate deeply and make your decision. This is Bariel’s final mercy.”
Rutherford laughed, narrowing his eyes as if he had expected this. His demeanor suggested he understood well that these distinguished members of the empire could not go back on what they had declared.
The mages bared their teeth and growled, while Akorelra and Berik raised their middle fingers and continued to cause a commotion.
“Ian?”
“It’s done.”
A thin scratch marked Ian’s cheek as he turned away. Everyone was startled and about to make a fuss, but Ian firmly stopped them. His gaze was unusually grave and dignified, unlike his usual demeanor.
“Spare me empty words.”
Whether as Emperor or now, I remained the same. I understood my position well and was acutely aware of the responsibility I bore. If word spread that I had bled first, there was no telling how the atmosphere among the soldiers would shift. To maintain momentum, I lightly wiped my cheek and whispered.
“Rutherford is hiding something.”
“Are you referring to that attack just now?”
“We need to discuss this with everyone. Let’s return, Heil.”
“Yes, Ian.”
“Select a mage to accompany the sentries.”
Heil bowed in acknowledgment, then gestured to Nakina and Tomi. Without any further words, they understood and fastened their armor properly.
Looking upward, I could see Rutherford with a subtle expression still watching me intently. But it was only for a moment—he disappeared beyond the barrier, his hair flowing behind him.
Tap, tap, tap!
“Minister Ian.”
“Minister Tweller. Did you see it?”
“I confirmed it with the mages’ magical tools.”
“Though you said you would give them until dawn, given the nature of the opposition, we cannot overlook the possibility of a nighttime surprise attack.”
As I returned to the camp, Jin and Minister Tweller, along with officers from the Imperial Defense Ministry, approached. All of them noticed the small wound on my face, but no one mentioned it, and silence fell. Jin was no exception.
“…What about the forces inside?”
“We haven’t been able to confirm. From the sky, it seems we might be able to see inside the barrier, but it appears we cannot fly there easily. It seems…”
Whatever Rutherford possesses. Until we understand what it is.
As I paused for a moment, something fluttered down and approached me.
“It’s a messenger bird!”
Whistle!
At my whistle, the messenger bird slowly descended onto my fingertips. It was a letter from Romandro, bearing the official seal of the Magic Department.
I gave Jin an apologetic look and unfolded the paper. My eyes moved busily as I read through Romandro’s report.
“What is it, Count Ian?”
“…There was an intruder in the Imperial Palace.”
“What?”
Unlike the startled Jin, Tweller closed his eyes as if he had expected this. I handed the letter to Jin and added.
“There is no need for concern, Your Majesty. This was anticipated, and the Magic Department will handle it quietly. Rather, this is a good sign. The fact that Rutherford’s side attempted to sever the bond between Bariel and the royalists shows that their situation is not as comfortable as they would like.”
But whether here or there, the real problem was an incalculable force. Tweller shared the details and muttered with doubt.
“The Mage Tower—and the highest floor where King Damon resides is quite elevated. An attack reaching the iron bars there… it’s difficult to gauge.”
“That’s correct, Minister Tweller. So I have one proposal. I wish to take the vanguard in this battle.”
“Count Ian?”
“I believe this approach would be easiest to handle, simplest to assess, and would prevent unnecessary casualties. If Your Majesty permits, could you grant me the honor of serving as commander of the first assault?”
Tweller stroked his beard for a moment. This wasn’t just any war—it was the first battle of the first war since the Emperor’s ascension.
There had already been incidents in the north, but symbolically speaking, wasn’t this the first battle that mattered? Yet he was asking to hand this position to the Magic Department.
“Of course, if Your Majesty permits.”
He fell silent briefly, but accepted readily. He understood it was a rational judgment and decision. It was somewhat disappointing, but he wasn’t the protagonist of this war.
“Here stands that young boy.”
In the past, this might have been cause to suspect he wasn’t human, but now they understood well. Ian was trustworthy, an indispensable presence to Bariel, and even if he weren’t human, he would be a blessing bestowed by God.
Jin nodded immediately and ordered Ian to take the vanguard position.
“Very well. Let it be as Count Ian wishes.”
“I accept your command, Your Majesty. And Minister Tweller—that was a most thoughtful judgment. Once I confirm what Rutherford’s weapon is, I’ll yield the glory to the Imperial Defense Ministry.”
Tweller shook his head as if to say it was settled.
“Do you think Rutherford traveled directly from the Bariel Empire here by portal?”
“That doesn’t seem to be the case. The reports make no mention of the Black Moon, only that they’re searching for an intruder.”
“Then it may not be Rutherford’s unique ability.”
Rutherford in Burgos and the intruder in the Bariel Imperial Palace couldn’t be the same person. It was likely either weaponry, or like the other races in the north, multiple people possessed the same ability.
Without realizing it, Ian reflexively touched his cheek.
“Are you alright?”
“Yes, remarkably so.”
It was merely a surface wound. Ian felt the stinging pain directly and examined it carefully to ensure there were no issues.
Just as Ian was about to shake his head, finding nothing particularly unusual—
“Your Majesty.”
Xiaoxi appeared, pushing aside the tent flap.
He set down a wanted poster distributed from the Imperial Palace. It was a paper with simple sketches of three portraits: the Gypsy who consumed secrets, Melania, and Clark.
“According to inquiries, several residents claim to have seen these three.”
“Correct. This is the right place. Where did they go?”
“The last sighting was them entering beyond the barrier.”
“Beyond the barrier means toward Rutherford’s side?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
At Xiaoxi’s answer, everyone turned their gaze toward the barrier. Within it, Ian’s secret lived on.
“The center of Abygar is beyond that barrier. We estimate there are five or six times more civilians there than in the outer settlements.”
“That’s true, Your Majesty. However, a Gypsy is a being who can freely traverse the abyss, so physical human threats pose no problem for her. She likely entered to conduct business.”
“To conduct business?”
At Jin’s question, Ian murmured softly.
“To consume secrets, she went to find someone like me.”
The one person who had rolled through the abyss with Ian. And the bait regarding secrets that Melania likely threw to survive.
‘Rutherford.’
Surely he must have entered beyond the barrier to meet Rutherford.
* * *
“Move aside, move!”
Clop clop clop!
Neigh!
Inside the Agiar Barrier.
Carriages moved endlessly through the filthy, narrow passages.
With war approaching at their doorstep, all supplies flowed toward the barrier. The residents of the central district armed themselves individually, locked their bolts firmly, and gathered to protect their families.
“What was that black moon from earlier?”
“Seems like it’s a path the Mages use. I heard the Ruswena reinforcements came through it.”
“So that’s the power of magic.”
“Ruswena is Ruswena, but I heard Bariel has especially many of them? Ever since a large number of Ruswena Mages defected during the Cliffford-Burgos War.”
“I heard their Minister is particularly a genius. Was he only ten, eleven years old? Anyway, incredibly young, yet called a genius of the century. In Bariel, everyone knows of him.”
“Sigh, with such a person holding King Damon captive, the country is in this state. I wish he’d bite his tongue and die right now. Then we could unite with the southern regions and resist.”
“You don’t know, do you? King Damon’s tongue was cut off long ago. Tsk tsk. Not even knowing how the world turns.”
“Come now, whether his tongue was cut or his arm was cut, does that matter? What matters is that he’s alive! Even if the country is ruined, the King is alive! Right? That’s it!”
“Oh dear, are you drunk? Why are you shouting like that?”
An Elder in a robe passed by the heavily intoxicated men. Since he appeared to be a stranger to the area, they blocked his path with a stick.
“Hey. Wait a moment.”
“What is it?”
“Are you an Agiar resident? We haven’t seen your face around here. You know everyone’s on edge because of the war, right? It’s been a while since we decided to guard our own districts. So? Show me your pass. Let me see where you live.”
“You’re not even Soldiers, yet you demand a pass?”
“Huh? This old woman seems suspicious.”
Hack, ptooey! As the men spat phlegm and stood up, the Elder hesitated for a moment. Noticing the commotion, Armed Soldiers also began watching this direction.
Hmm. What to do. While the Elder pondered, someone gently wrapped an arm around her shoulder.
“Mother. You can’t do this here.”
“Excuse us. Here are our identification papers. It’s our fault for not managing Mother properly, as she’s not in her right mind.”
A Young Woman and a Man—a couple by appearance—handed over Burgos identification papers while supporting the Elder.
The men checked the passes, then rinsed their mouths with alcohol and nodded. It meant to go home quickly.
“Take good care of the old woman.”
“Yes, we will.”
“Mother, let’s go.”
With the support of the two, the Elder moved slowly. But the moment they turned the corner and reached a place without people, they separated from each other.
The Elder flared her gills wide and shot out words in disbelief.
“What? Not in her right mind?”
“What else could we do? That’s why I keep telling you to stop running away.”
Melania removed her robe and replied irritably.
“Why would I stay with swindlers?”
“Swindlers? That’s harsh language.”
“You said you’d give me secrets if I brought you someone from the Abyss! The details of the contract between Ian and Rutherford! But how many days have passed now, and instead of secrets, you just keep spouting nonsense!”
Melania tied her hair back tightly while surveying her surroundings. Clark likewise scanned the area with sharp eyes, checking for any eavesdroppers.
“When did I say I wouldn’t help? I simply added conditions. First—”
“Exchange it for another secret? No way! I was supposed to get paid for the transport in the first place, so why should I?”
“And second—”
“I don’t like that either! Whether you two make it back to the Imperial Palace properly or not, it’s none of my concern!”
Melania was a survivor of a traitorous house, and Clark bore the identity of an accomplice to Rutherford, suspected of murdering nobility. Since they couldn’t know what circumstances they might fall into while searching for Count Ian, they were observing the situation as cautiously as possible.
Of course, Clark wanted to return to Merelrof immediately, but…
‘The time to help Count Ian hasn’t come yet.’
“But wait! How do you two even know about me? Why do you keep chasing after me?”
At the Elder’s outcry, Melania’s gaze wavered for a moment.
The Imperial treasure that had fallen into the abyss together with them. She hadn’t known, but one of the items turned out to be a mana stone, allowing for location tracking. She had hidden it by reinforcing the lining of her robe without the Elder’s knowledge.
“This is already the second time, isn’t it?”
“I don’t know. I just followed my intuition.”
“This is ridiculous. Get lost! Let’s each go our own way, alright? I’m giving up on that contract!”
“Don’t do that. Come with us to meet Count Ian. There’s no other way to untangle this complicated situation.”
Whoosh! Judging from the way the Elder was patting his body here and there, it seemed he would be discovered soon.
The Elder fussed with his upper garment, hardened with dust and mud, muttering to himself.
“I’ve finished my business there. Now, is there only one more secret left on that side?”
“That side would be…?”
“I’m going toward Rutherford’s territory to hunt.”

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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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