The Lord Who Levels Up by Devouring - Chapter 277
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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 277. Ian’s Whereabouts (2)
The tea shop where Marzen had departed.
An employee approached and began clearing away traces of Marzen’s presence.
The empty teacup was quietly put away.
There was nothing particularly said to me.
It was because I was Marzen’s person.
In that sense, this entire tea shop called Whitecent Aroma was Marzen’s domain.
Soon, a fresh teacup and a plate of pastries were placed before me.
The peppermint tea that Marzen had been drinking.
In the Battenberg Kingdom, it was called ‘mint tea’.
In other kingdoms, it was also called ‘eternal life tea’, but regardless.
I lifted the teacup and took a sip.
A refreshing initial taste.
A subtly bitter aftertaste.
‘…Is this actually delicious?’
Marzen certainly had peculiar tastes.
I set down the teacup and reached for the pastries.
This too was something Marzen ate—a confection called yokan.
‘It looks like jelly on the surface.’
I placed one yokan into my mouth.
A subtle red bean aroma.
Concealed within it, a rich sweetness.
‘…This isn’t bad at all.’
It paired remarkably well with the peppermint tea.
◆152 kcal has been accumulated.
I was especially pleased by its high caloric content.
I picked up another yokan.
Then I slowly reviewed the documents Marzen had investigated.
Incidents and accidents that had occurred throughout the Empire over the past four years.
There were an enormous number of them.
I found it unbelievable that all of these were terrorism, rebellion, and unconfirmed accidents.
Moreover, all of this was Invictus.
In other words, I found it utterly implausible that these were intentional moves by Ian to draw the Emperor’s aggression.
‘Let me see….’
I confirmed the contents of the documents I had roughly sorted through.
[Location]: District 5 – Military Industrial Complex
[Overview]: Subsidence of military warehouse foundation. A massive sinkhole formed, causing cascading collapse of nearby production lines.
[Notable Details]: Loss of two years’ worth of military supplies and resources.
[Location]: District 6 – Boundary Outpost
[Overview]: One battalion went missing during night training exercises.
[Anomaly]: Mana interference meter reading zero. No communication signals or traces of surveillance magic detected.
[Location]: District 6 – Boundary
[Summary]: Large-scale extermination of isolated mutant biological samples.
[Anomaly]: Complete loss of experimental specimens and data.
[Location]: District 4 – Commercial District
[Summary]: Supply train derailed due to unknown impact. Chain reaction explosion of loaded mana stones resulted in total resource loss.
[Anomaly]: Presumed to be supplies in transit to the Imperial Palace.
.
.
.
‘…That’s precisely why I haven’t drawn his attention.’
With some mad terrorist running rampant throughout the Empire, why would the Emperor’s gaze fall upon a minor pawn like me?
The Emperor had neither the capacity nor reason to concern himself with someone of my insignificance.
Simultaneously, he couldn’t afford to leave his post.
If the Empire were left unguarded?
The Imperial Palace itself could crumble in that very moment.
Ian was simply too large a variable.
From the Emperor’s perspective, he had no choice but to concentrate entirely on Ian.
The moment I consider that any one of these incidents could occur in Whitewolf Territory… oh my.
‘The Immortal Lord alone caused such devastation in the Territory.’
What would Ian, who is several times more powerful, accomplish?
It was remarkable that the Empire had managed to endure at all.
‘…That’s why Ian hasn’t contacted me even once.’
It wasn’t that he hadn’t made contact.
It was that he couldn’t make contact.
With the Emperor turning the Empire upside down searching for me, where would he find the opportunity to reach out?
‘So that’s why he can’t approach me even now.’
That seemed to be the case.
Currently, rumors concerning me were spreading throughout the Empire.
Though I was disguised under the false identity of Kim Fujiwara Bloodhound, Ian would certainly know it was me.
‘He didn’t exist in my previous life, and this is an incident after all.’
Yet Ian didn’t approach me.
Rather, it wasn’t that he didn’t approach.
It was that he couldn’t approach.
Ian, upon whom the Emperor’s entire attention was focused.
Me, upon whom all of the Empire’s surveillance networks were concentrated.
‘If he’d approached me, he would have been caught immediately.’
A wise decision.
Even as Ian moved to aid me, he maintained a strict distance.
‘Thanks to that, my movements became all the more convenient.’
Now, piece by piece, the puzzle was finally coming together.
Within this unfolding sequence of events, I could only grow more certain.
Ian is alive.
And even now, he moves somewhere within The Empire.
Therefore, whether in my past life or this present one.
The Emperor’s paramount objective remains unchanged—it has always been Ian.
‘You will have no choice but to accept my proposal, Your Majesty.’
The Emperor could not resist the bait of Ian, that most precious lure.
* * *
District 2, the Central Government Administrative Zone.
The Interior Ministry, Foreign Ministry, Information Bureau, and more.
Here, where the substantive departments governing The Empire were concentrated.
Within the massive conference room at the heart of this district, the leadership of each ministry had assembled.
Yet their expressions were uniformly grave.
A heavy silence pressed down upon them all.
Presently, the Finance Minister slowly turned the first page of the document, then furrowed his brow.
“…Is this truly the negotiation proposal that came through?”
Elowin, Deputy Director of the Information Bureau, nodded silently in affirmation.
The Foreign Minister let out a scoff of disbelief.
“Refining costs, transportation fees, taxes—all borne by The Empire. A deposit of one trillion with a balance of eight hundred billion due in full within three days… Are they out of their minds?”
“….”
“And they’ve restricted the negotiation channel exclusively to Marzen Re Ordell as an individual.”
Elowin nodded and opened her mouth to speak.
“It appears they have deliberately excluded The Empire as a whole from the negotiation.”
“What do you mean by that, Deputy Director?”
“The fifty thousand tons of Runesteel was conducted under the direct authority of Barelto Distribution Minister.”
Elowin continued without hesitation.
“Yet fifty thousand tons of Runesteel has vanished, the culprit remains uncaught, and all related information has been classified and sealed.”
“….”
“Kim Fujiwara appears to have judged these circumstances as The Empire’s ‘deliberate misappropriation.'”
“You’re suggesting Our Empire intentionally concealed the Runesteel?”
“Or alternatively, that you sought to neutralize Minister Barelto’s influence by eliminating the Runesteel to check his power.”
In other words.
“This incident is internal political maneuvering within The Empire?”
“What is your basis for this assessment?”
“The proposal contains the following clause:”
[All transaction quantities shall be delivered directly to the Imperial Palace, and Kim Fujiwara must be included without exception throughout the transportation process.]
“This measure is interpreted as ensuring transparency in the transaction process and blocking internal obstruction between imperial departments and political conflicts of interest.”
Furthermore.
“By designating Marzen Re Ordell—someone at least trustworthy—as the transport supervisor, the intention is to pursue a purely legitimate transaction, as the Information Bureau has assessed.”
The atmosphere in the Conference Room grew heavier still.
Representatives from each ministry had gathered.
Whispers bloomed from every corner.
Soon, the Finance Minister spoke first.
“Nevertheless, it is unacceptable. There is no reason for The Empire to be toyed with by mere threats, let alone negotiations.”
“The Administrative Bureau agrees.”
“The Interior Ministry, Foreign Ministry, and Diplomatic Bureau all share the same position.”
Every representative from each ministry made their opposition clear.
“This is a provocation against The Empire.”
“To approach negotiations targeting an individual while disregarding The Empire’s system—it is intolerable.”
“If this becomes precedent, other external forces will make the same demands.”
The atmosphere escalated rapidly.
“We must eliminate them.”
Those words alone transformed the air in the Conference Room.
“The Information Bureau is to prepare a strike team immediately. The objectives are the elimination of Kim Fujiwara and the recovery of the 2.3 trillion in goods already disbursed.”
“Considering Kim Fujiwara’s prowess as a mage, I will assemble our elite operatives.”
“Are there currently active Special Operations Bureau agents available?”
“I cannot disclose that information.”
Elowin’s response was met with a brief silence.
Yet no one questioned her answer.
The Special Operations Bureau was the Emperor’s eyes and hands.
No matter how much authority those gathered here wielded as The Empire’s leadership, they could not command the Special Operations Bureau.
“Then I shall submit an official request. Once approved, operational command will be transferred to the Special Operations Bureau, but until then, this will be a joint operation between the Information Bureau and Interior Ministry.”
Elowin swallowed quietly.
…So it had come to this after all.
Runesteel was certainly a precious strategic resource.
But excessive greed always exacts a price.
Kim Fujiwara had tested The Empire’s patience, and the cost would be far from light.
“Furthermore, the Information Bureau is to mobilize all personnel to identify both the production site of Runesteel and its entire distribution network.”
“…Understood.”
Elowin nodded curtly.
And at that very moment.
A strange vibration cut through the air, piercing the space of the Conference Room.
A sensation that burrowed into the very marrow.
Breath caught in every throat.
As if the surrounding air had solidified, time itself froze.
The entire Conference Room felt crushed beneath something invisible.
No one could move or speak.
And then.
-Deputy Director of Information, come to the Imperial Palace.
A command was injected into her mind like a weight pressing down upon her consciousness.
Elowin lifted her head.
In that moment, frozen time resumed its flow.
Without a word, Elowin rose from her seat and departed the conference room.
No explanation was necessary.
Everyone present already knew who had summoned her.
* * *
District 1, the Imperial Palace’s direct jurisdiction.
The brain of The Empire.
Every command of The Empire originated here.
Every record of The Empire vanished here.
The center of The Empire where all power emanated, and in truth, the center of The Continent itself.
Elowin proceeded along the authorized path.
There was only one route.
It was perfectly aligned along the central black line.
Hundreds of surveillance devices drifted throughout the surrounding space.
No visible guard forces were present.
Yet this very silence testified to how meticulously this district was controlled.
This was not a district as an administrative zone.
It was a world unto itself.
Within this extraordinary world.
There existed a place that existed like another isolated dimension.
The Imperial Palace.
The outer walls, encased in massive platinum barriers, completely blocked all external observation.
Dozens of layers of mana shielding permitted no form of intrusion.
Physical breach was impossible.
Methods such as dimensional transfer were equally impossible.
There was only one way to set foot within this place.
-Authorization from the Imperial Throne has been granted. Removing area restrictions.
Whirrrrrrr!
The outer gate slowly opened.
Yet she could not easily take a step forward.
…It was her first time.
Elowin had handled information so sensitive that even high-ranking imperial officials dared not examine it.
Yet she had never once set foot directly within the Imperial Palace.
Elowin clenched her fist slightly.
Perspiration gathered at her fingertips seeped into her palm.
Elowin steadied her breathing and took a step forward.
A massive dome-shaped structure.
Before it stretched a long corridor.
Elowin proceeded with measured steps.
Though her legs felt heavy, she pushed forward, emptying her mind of all thought.
At the end of the corridor she reached.
A massive door came into view.
It was so imposing and weighty that it felt like a wall unto itself.
Whirrrrrrr!
The sound of countless locks disengaging filled the hallway.
The door began to open slowly, ponderous and deliberate.
In that instant.
“…!!”
My consciousness screamed a warning.
But my body would not move.
As if some colossal thought-form pressed down upon me, I could not stir an inch.
Thud.
Footsteps echoed from beyond the door.
An overwhelming pressure emanated outward.
The world’s colors drained away, and all sound ceased.
Thud.
The footsteps drew closer.
With each moment I tried to comprehend, all thought crumbled to dust.
My senses severed.
And so.
I could understand.
“The Immortal Lord, the Current Emperor.”
I drove my forehead to the floor.
Thud!
It was instinct.
“I humbly receive the presence of one from distant realms!”
The only instinct a mere creature could manifest before such a magnificent existence that dwelt beyond the threshold of comprehension.
The footsteps stopped abruptly.
But I did not raise my head.
I could not dare to.
My instincts screamed that I must not lift my gaze.
My eyes remained fixed solely upon the floor.
In that moment.
【Proceed with additional Rune Steel transactions.】
A transcendent will pierced deep into my consciousness.
Pierced…?
No. It had not pierced.
This was not language.
It was not even communication.
A transmission that bypassed language itself, injected directly through sensation.
And it was nothing but a command.
An absolute decree that allowed no room for even a whisper of doubt.
“…There was an excessive proposal.”
Yet Elowin forced herself to speak, desperate to articulate the words.
“The Empire would bear all refining costs, transportation fees, and taxes, along with a down payment of one trillion and a balance of eight hundred billion…”
Elowin infused each word with the utmost precision.
Not interpretation, but report.
Not judgment, but fact.
That alone was what she had to convey.
“Furthermore, all departments within the Empire have expressed opposition, and an assassination operation was already underway within the conference room.”
Elowin barely managed to finish her words.
Then came a brief silence.
A stillness devoid of any presence or sensation.
And then.
An absolute will bore down upon Elowin’s consciousness.
【Proceed.】
The judgment had been rendered.
No further questions would ever be tolerated.
“I will delegate a portion of my authority to the Distribution Ministry Headquarters for the Runesteel transaction. As for the departments and personnel offering resistance…”
Elowin paused to steady her breathing.
“I will eliminate them without exception.”
And at that very moment.
The overwhelming presence that had been crushing down upon Elowin vanished instantly.
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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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