This Emperor Is Running a Marriage Scam - Chapter 125

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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 125

Bloden had pondered this as well, and it hadn’t taken him long to reach a conclusion.
“Lord Roelden wants to hide his situation from Nuna. If he’d intended to tell her, she would have known by now.”
“But what if he wanted to tell her but couldn’t?”
“If any signs of that emerge later, I’ll let her know then.”
Bloden, arms crossed, fell silent in thought before shaking his head.
“Nuna’s only memory is the day Lord Roelden saved her by taking on the flame curse himself. So if we check his condition now, there’s no countermeasure we can take—it will only cause her suffering. When the day comes that Nuna no longer suffers, that’s when I’ll tell her.”
“When Hailey is no longer suffering?”
Raven, who had posed the question, suddenly grasped Bloden’s true intention.
“You’re planning to save Lord Roelden.”
At the same moment, he glanced toward Kimarise. The demon, who had kept his mouth firmly shut throughout the entire conversation, immediately thrust his thumb upward the instant Raven looked at him—a sign of approval.
‘A useful one.’
In that instant, the resentment Raven had harbored toward Kimarise vanished without a trace.
Kimarise lacked the sensitivity to recognize names, but at least he served as an excellent compass for Raven in serving his master.
“Then I’ll search for the Empire’s finest physician. As for the Toto matter, there are many candidates, so we just need to execute the plan….”
Raven spoke with confidence as he began writing in his notebook. Then his pen came to a halt.
With a grave expression, Raven furrowed his brow and carefully opened his mouth.
“Your Majesty. What is the current situation with the island where the Kingdom of Meridon once existed?”
Instead of answering, Bloden summoned his spectral raven.
The phantom bird that appeared instantly spread its smoke-rippling wings and bowed respectfully to its master.
“Report on the Gate situation throughout the Empire.”
-Empire-wide. Surveillance. None. Additional creation. Derivative Gates.
Black Libia continued reporting on the defensive status of the Derivative Gates.
A total of eight Gates had been identified so far, and the army under Durahan’s command had already blocked the Passages or was in the process of doing so.
Imperial Guard units and forces capable of dealing with Monsters had been dispatched to all locations for management.
The growth rate of the Gates was not particularly rapid. From what he heard, the growth speed of the Gates near Snoril’s Wheat Field and the Orphanage was unprecedented.
Once Black Libia finished her report, Bloden nodded and issued new orders.
“Good. Now expand the Gate surveillance area.”
-Surveillance. To where.
“Not just the Empire, but the entire world. Keep checking until I call you again.”
In that moment, Black Libia flinched. The raven tilted her head in apparent bewilderment before stammering.
-M-many. Vast. Surveillance area. You, too much.
“What do you mean ‘many’? That’s your job.”
-Exhausted. Raven. Like this. But.
Raven, hearing Black Libia’s plea to Bloden, suppressed an involuntary laugh and asked.
“What’s this? You’ve got a girlfriend? When did that happen? Is she a raven lady from the Imperial Palace?”
Black Libia, looking at Raven, narrowed her eyes into an inverted triangle.
-Solo. Forever. Raven.
“What?”
-No charm. Compared to me. Skeleton face. Raven.
Then she even let out a mocking cackle.
“This is ridiculous.”
Just as Raven was about to say something to Black Libia, who was fluttering her wings after taking a hit, Bloden cut off their conversation.
“Enough of this nonsense. Bring me the map.”
When Bloden interrupted the two, Raven shot Black Libia a glare before unfolding the world map.
“Then first, focus on this place—the Kingdom of Meridon. Investigate the situation thoroughly and return here immediately. If the Gate is open, check inside as well. Once you finish this task, I’ll grant you four days of leave.”
Black Libia’s eyes widened as she spread both wings wide.
-Thank you! Thank you! Your grace! I’ll go! Whoosh! Nothing faster than me!
She flew away so quickly that all that remained before their eyes was her afterimage.
“In any case….”
Once the surroundings fell silent and Black Libia’s afterimage faded, Raven let out a deep sigh.
“Now all that remains is handling the minor matters and establishing the plan to close the Gates within the Empire.”
“Minor matters?”
“It seems the minor lord here sent a mobilization order to the landowners for his succession banquet.”
Bloden nodded. It was common for lords to mobilize their landowners when holding major events.
“However, I suspect Hailey may have been included on that mobilization list.”
“What? Why would Nuna be included?”
“The Merchant Guild leader was apparently demanded to provide three hundred kimbap rolls. If they comply, they receive an invitation to the banquet; if they refuse, it’s one month imprisonment. Since they’re demanding kimbap, they certainly won’t exclude the tteokkkochi.”
“Ah.”
Bloden glanced at Kimarise, then simply exhaled through his nose.
The surveillance reports through Salamander and the clone were set to alert Bloden if Hailey faced danger while he was away.
When Linda arrived, he had been beside Hailey before going to Raven’s House. Since Salamander and Kimarise’s clone only reported that Linda from the Government Offices had come while monitoring the passage, he didn’t know the details of what Linda and Hailey discussed.
“I’ll confirm that separately with Nuna. Let’s move on for now.”
“Yes, then the plan to close the Gates within the Empire remains. I’ve already completed the review. The key point is that Hailey shouldn’t worry even when Baron is out of sight, and if something happens, Your Majesty must be able to move quickly.”
Raven set down his pen and pulled documents from the drawer.
“I’ve organized the plan. First, we need to summon both Dantarion and Crockel—the two highest-ranking commanders….”
As Bloden listened to Raven’s explanation while examining the documents, he sighed again.
“After enrolling in the Academy, using the dormitory…is this really the best option?”
“Hailey’s educational zeal toward Baron happens to align perfectly. After enrollment, Baron can only return home on weekends, so time won’t be wasted.”
“So he closes Gates diligently on weekdays?”
“If Baron takes the tteokbokki that Hailey made and travels with Crockel, you should be able to close one Gate per week. If nothing unexpected happens, that’s a two-month course.”
“….”
“Wouldn’t it be better to summon both in advance and provide them with adaptation training? Listen to what I’m saying.”
“….”
“Especially since that fool Crockel bites anyone indiscriminately—it could become a serious problem.”
Bloden pressed his brow together and pondered for a moment before nodding.
“Understood. I’ll summon Crockel first at an appropriate time, then Dantarion afterward.”
That was when it happened.
-Report. Your Majesty. Returning. Black Libia. Screech!
Black Libia materialized before my eyes.
“What, what? Why are you back so quickly?”
Raven was taken aback by the sudden appearance.
Black Libia spread her wings with a self-satisfied air, ignoring Raven entirely as she paid her respects to Bloden.
-Monsters. Swarming. Island. Kingdom of Meridon.
“What’s the status of the Gate?”
-Gate. Medium-sized.
A brief silence followed.
After a considerable pause, Bloden was the first to speak.
“Have there been sightings of monsters escaping from the island?”
Black Libia tilted her head in confusion before eventually nodding vigorously.
-Yes. Swimming. Four large ones. Toward the Empire.
Bloden, Raven, and Kimarise’s gazes turned toward the world map still spread before them.
At that moment, Black Libia descended onto the map and pecked at Tillan Kingdom with her beak.
-Yes. Monsters. Swarming. Gate. Medium-sized. Here.
Sailing south from the Empire’s waters would reveal the island where the Kingdom of Meridon once stood, and venturing further south beyond that lay the fallen Tillan Kingdom.
Four large monsters escaping from the Kingdom of Meridon were already troublesome enough, but now they had to prepare for monsters flowing out from Tillan as well.
“Is that certain?”
-Saw. Clearly. Passing by.
Black Libia bowed respectfully in response to Bloden’s question.
-Vacation. Four days. Black Libia.
Bloden exhaled deeply and gestured.
“Well done. Go rest.”
-Grateful. Screech! Your kindness.
Black Libia’s afterimage lingered before my eyes once more.
Cold sweat beaded on Raven’s forehead as he bit his lip.
“Your Majesty. The situation is unfolding in a rather… peculiar manner. Shouldn’t we return to the Imperial Palace at once?”
Bloden rose from his seat. His mind was turbulent, but the matter was too complex to process and organize immediately.
“Let’s clear our heads first, then discuss this again.”

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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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