Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 622

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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 621. The Situation in Gaia
“Romandro.”
“Huh?”
At the Mage’s call, Romandro’s body flinched. Judging by the ink marks clearly stamped on his cheek, he had been asleep for quite some time.
The Mage examined him with a pitying gaze and handed over a report.
“Are you alright? You haven’t been home in days now. Don’t fall asleep sitting up like that. Go to the duty room and get some proper rest, or you’ll throw out your back.”
“No, no, it’s fine. I’ll wake up in a bit.”
“Viviana seems quite worried about you too.”
“She says it’s okay. What’s the report about? Is it related to Philia?”
Romandro rubbed his eyes with the back of his sleeve, then took the report from the Mage’s hands.
Since Philia disappeared, the Magic Department had been in an unofficial state of emergency. She was the biological mother of the Minister of Magic of the Bariel Empire and the lady of Hielo’s domain, after all.
In particular, Romandro couldn’t shake the guilt, believing that if he had been just a bit more careful that day, this would never have happened.
“Yes. It’s news from the Border Guards. Katimako from Astana has just entered the country. He’s heading toward the center of Bariel to search for traces of Philia. It seems the messenger sent to Minister Ian arrived safely.”
“The Border Guards? Hmm, did they have anything else to say?”
“No. They’re searching for any woman regardless of appearance or age, but there’s been no word. I suspect she’s already crossed the border. Otherwise, there’s no way there would be so few clues.”
“Yeah, I think so too, but…”
“You’re just being cautious, aren’t you?”
As Romandro laughed with a sorrowful expression, the Mage wore a similar look. The baseless belief that she would be safe was gradually being washed away by time.
Before despair took hold, finding even the smallest clue was the way to preserve hope. For Philia’s sake, and moreover, for Ian and Bariel. Their mission was to prevent any confusion from reaching Ian, who was leading the war.
‘On the other hand, those who took Philia might actually want that.’
As Romandro ran his fingers through his hair in frustration, footsteps sounded from outside. It was a Magic Department Employee.
“Excuse me, Mage. Have you heard about the reinforcements from Astana?”
“Oh, just now. You mean Katimako, right? I was just about to report it to Romandro.”
“Are you going to greet them?”
“I’d like to, but the Magic Department only has two Mages right now, so I can’t leave my post. Why?”
“The Diplomatic Ministry just sent down an official document. They say the atmosphere between Hawanguk and Ruswena is unusual.”
Here it comes. Romandro quickly scanned the official document and grasped its contents. The Prime Minister of Hawanguk had finally raised the flag of rebellion.
While the Emperor and the Bariel forces were at Burgos, they couldn’t monitor the Ruswena side, so the help of Cliffford and Hawan was absolutely necessary.
“A fierce civil war is breaking out in Hawanguk.”
“Good grief, Bariel’s left and right are in complete chaos.”
“The Diplomatic Ministry is paying attention because the possibility of Ruswena’s intervention is high.”
“If the Prime Minister of Hawanguk gains power, all neighboring countries will walk the same path as Bariel. Then Ruswena alone won’t be able to stand against them. Burgos is already in that state anyway.”
“Yes, they’ll have no choice but to intervene. The problem is timing. If Ruswena enters Hawanguk’s civil war, it seems Cliffford will also push northward.”
“So the message is to keep the Mage in the capital to guard the imperial palace.”
Hawan, Ruswena, Cliffford. While these fools stirred the pot, Bariel could only watch the situation with an empty imperial palace in its grasp.
If things went wrong, Bariel would have to get involved too, and if that happened, wouldn’t it disrupt the main Bariel forces’ plan to head to Toollun?
“That seems to be the case. And here are the personal details of those presumed to be accompanying Katimako. They’re from Astana, and the Magic Department asked us to verify them.”
“I already received the list earlier. Another one?”
“You should check the back page.”
“Ah, wait a moment.”
The Mage casually turned the page before pausing. Then, as if genuinely astonished, I let out a small, hollow laugh.
Romandro, curious about what was happening, craned his neck to steal a glimpse of the document.
“There’s someone mixed in here who isn’t from Astana.”
“Where are they from?”
“Unknown. They appear to be from one of the northern ethnic minorities, but it seems they maintain close ties with Astana. According to the records, they possess the ability to read memories.”
“Read memories? What does that mean?”
“Let me see… There’s a note that says ‘they can read the passage of time within a specific space.’ Ah! Since we know exactly when Philia disappeared, if we search around Romandro’s estate, we should be able to find out what happened ‘that day.'”
The Mage marveled repeatedly at the ingenuity. Though this place is called a paradise for sorcerers, I couldn’t fathom where they kept finding such individuals. When Katimako first said he would enter Bariel alone, I honestly doubted what he could accomplish. But seeing the person he brought back, it seemed Ian had truly read people correctly.
“Ah, this makes me want to go meet them right away.”
“How long do you think it will take?”
“If I could open a portal, I’d do it immediately. The problem is whether I can maintain it.”
“Hmm. Did Captain Akorella leave nothing behind?”
“Mana amplifiers? I do have some. Over there, stacked high in the laboratory. But they were all made long ago…”
Which meant they were too unstable to use with confidence. Of course, the newer ones were equally unstable.
The Mage scratched beneath my chin thoughtfully, then quickly changed my mind. Was there any other option? Right now, there were no alternatives.
“Still, it would be better to take it, wouldn’t it? To find Philia’s traces quickly. And besides, the longer we delay, the worse things will get.”
“Yes. Let’s do it without overexerting yourself.”
“Understood. Then I’ll be back shortly. I’d like to tell Romandro to rest, but… given the circumstances, that won’t be possible. I apologize, but please wait here.”
“Of course!”
Romandro nodded vigorously and pulled out fresh stationery. It was to convey the current situation at the imperial palace to the Magic Department. After a moment’s thought, he wrote down an affectionate greeting.
* * *
“…Minister Ian. This is the Magic Department. Is everyone doing well?”
Heil read the first sentence of the letter Romandro sent aloud, then looked up at the Mages. Though disheveled, they all looked refreshed after spending days at the royal palace.
The Mages sprawled freely throughout the office, giving thumbs up.
“Of course, we’re doing well.”
“The work is tremendous, but well. In wartime, this is hardly a luxury, is it?”
“Ah, only 10 minutes of break time left.”
“Romandro is doing well? Would there be such pleasantries in a report?”
Ian continued moving his pen while looking at Heil. It was a gesture to keep reading.
Heil held a dry cigarette between his lips and relayed the message.
“It appears that in Hawanguk, a rebellion and civil war have broken out centered on the Prime Minister. The movements of Cliffford and Ruswena are unusual, so he says he will continue sending reports on this matter. As it’s an important matter, the administrative branch is also sending a separate messenger to His Majesty.”
“The Prime Minister of Hawanguk—are you referring to Shatima?”
“Didn’t she come to Bariel in what was practically exile and barely manage to return? And now a civil war. Quite remarkable.”
“It’s about survival. About survival.”
Ian, who had been listening quietly, asked back.
“Is there any mention of Erika?”
“No. If you’re referring to Erika Berti from the Imperial Investigation Unit, there is no mention.”
Heil carefully examined the text and confirmed once more that there was no information about her. It seemed this was because the incident had occurred only recently.
In fact, the news of Hawanguk’s civil war wasn’t officially announced by Hawanguk itself, but rather information collected by Bariel itself, including through Cliffford.
“And—”
Heil trailed off as he turned the page. I looked at him, wondering if the Mages had some problem.
“Katimako and his party have arrived at the capital and begun investigating Minister Philia’s disappearance.”
“Is that so? What did they say?”
“But how are they conducting the investigation?”
“They say he’s a Sorcerer who can read the memories of inanimate objects. After investigating the area near Romandro’s residence, they confirmed that an attack by a Puppeteer occurred in a nearby alley.”
An attack by a Puppeteer. I had vaguely anticipated it, but hearing it confirmed struck differently.
The Mages gasped and covered their mouths, while Ian, who had been writing the report, set down his pen.
“An attack?”
“Minister Philia apparently lost consciousness and collapsed. Katimako’s party is currently pursuing the trail and continuing their investigation. However, no matter how fast they move, they’re ultimately chasing from behind, so there are limits to catching up. The next page contains a portrait of the one who abducted Minister Philia.”
At those words, the Mages jumped to their feet and approached Heil’s side. Fortunately, it wasn’t a ‘crudely drawn picture like something a child would sketch’. The elongated face was striking enough that one might recognize him in passing.
“If it’s a Puppeteer, isn’t that Toollun? Shouldn’t we lodge a protest immediately? And not just anyone—they abducted the Minister of Magic’s mother! The intent is crystal clear!”
“That’s right! And look at that face—it’s absolutely grotesque!”
“Has Bariel issued a wanted notice?”
“They’ve begun identifying him, as Minister Romandro added.”
Ian also studied the portrait carefully, then returned it to Heil and issued an order.
“Summon all the painters in Kalamat and have them make copies. Issue a wanted notice centered on the northern territories of Burgos. And include a portrait of Philia as well.”
“Yes, understood.”
It was now certain that he was from Toollun, and their destination was undoubtedly Toollun as well. But one never knew. If we issued a wanted notice in the surrounding areas, any number of clues might surface.
Ian pondered quietly for a moment, then took Romandro’s letter and examined it.
“Why are you doing that?”
“There’s no mention of it.”
“What do you mean…?”
“Nersaren.”
If he knew that his wife Philia had disappeared, he surely would have come to the capital, yet there was no mention of him.
Since a civil war had broken out in Hawan, Merelrof and Hielo, the closest to that region, would be taking charge of Bariel’s border defense. If Cheonrye left his post and came to the capital in such circumstances, it would disrupt operations.
‘Could it be Roel?’
If Roel had asked that Mother’s disappearance not be reported, it would make sense.
But this too couldn’t last indefinitely. If contact with Philia continued to fail, eventually Nersaren would act himself. Even as explosions erupted in Hawan.
“Not in the name of the Imperial Palace, but as Minister of Magic Ian Hielo, I will send a letter to Toollun.”
Tap, tap. Ian drummed his fingertips on the desk as if to signal for letter-writing materials, and then pondered for quite some time.
‘Toollun, then.’
A nation with no diplomatic ties. Since this would be the first opening of relations, considerable care was needed.
And Ian dimly understood something. This letter he was about to send would become the beginning of a fierce conflict between Bariel and Toollun. Therefore, establishing justification first was crucial.
-Greetings. I am Ian Hielo, Minister of Magic of the Great Empire Bariel. I apologize for this sudden letter…
Ian paused briefly in thought, then carefully selected the most ambiguous and double-meaning sentences to write.
-Currently, an individual of unknown identity from Toollun has caused a disturbance in Bariel and is currently in our custody…

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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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