This Emperor Is Running a Marriage Scam - Chapter 211

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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 211

Bloden dismounted from Crockel’s back and faced the King and Queen of Otix Kingdom.
The royal couple, whose legs had already trembled at the mere presence of the Emperor, bowed even deeper until they knelt entirely on the ground.
Before witnessing the true form of the Spirit Legion, the King of Otix had thrilled at the thought of wielding the Empire’s Emperor as he pleased.
But after Bloden single-handedly subdued both Duke Utra’s forces and the Otix Kingdom’s army, he realized they were nothing more than rabbits caught in a tiger’s fangs.
Ever since, they’d done nothing but watch the Empire’s mood, and when given the choice between becoming a vassal state or destruction, they hastily prepared to submit.
Then Bloden’s phantom raven delivered a note.
He’d clearly set a schedule to come and apologize, yet here he was anyway. The King suspected Bloden, unable to bear his own resentment any longer, had come to take their heads personally.
Terrified, the royal couple hurriedly sent their children away from the palace, loaded with every treasure they could gather. Now they themselves were desperately trying to grovel their way to survival.
“Your Majesty, I confess I was blinded by shameful greed for a moment and committed a foolish act!”
Following the King’s cry, the Queen also pleaded.
“I sincerely repent this and will do anything for atonement. Please, I beg your forgiveness.”
At the sight of the royal couple lying flat and trembling, Bloden let out a cold laugh.
“That’s a conversation for a few days from now.”
“…Yes?”
“I’ll be direct. I came because there’s something I want to confirm.”
It seemed he hadn’t come to take their heads after all. The King of Otix, inwardly relieved, bowed his head even lower.
“W-what is it you wish to confirm? Ask me anything, I beg you.”
“The King has an Innate Ability, doesn’t he?”
At this entirely unexpected question, the King of Otix suddenly lifted his head.
“Th-that is to say… what do you mean…?”
“I already know. I want to find out what kind of Innate Ability you possess.”
In that moment, the King of Otix recalled the warnings left by his predecessors.

“My son, you must keep our Innate Ability a secret. It is a power with no use, no benefit to the kingdom.”

But Bloden’s words—”I already know”—threw him into turmoil.
‘What happens if I say I don’t know?’
He was just about to consider his options.
A low growl erupted.
The King of Otix’s body was suddenly hurled backward.
“Ah!”
The Queen beside him, seized by panic, scrambled away.
-Master! This wretch is playing for time! Punish him now!
Seeing the wolf’s fangs looming before his eyes, the King of Otix spoke in terror.
“W-we do possess an Innate Ability, but we do not use it.”
“You don’t use it? Why not?”
The King of Otix bit his lip for a moment.
The Innate Ability of Otix was Creating Capillary-like Passages within Gates.
A power that could only be wielded by risking one’s life at a Gate, yet it was an ability that someone in the world might deem should never exist.
From the founding King who received the power from the divine, they had kept this Innate Ability secret, and passed it down orally to the rightful heir. Even a secret document detailing the ability existed only in single copy in the underground archives of the Royal Palace, for contingencies.
‘I cannot let this be spoken aloud.’
Fortunately, the secret documents were written in Otix Ancient Script, which no one in the modern age could read. He decided to play dumb to the end.
“Although I do not know what the Innate Ability is, I was told it is not a power that benefits the world!”
“…A power that benefits the world, you say?”
“Yes. So I have only received the brief teaching, passed down through generations, that I must not seek to know the Innate Ability.”
“You just expect me to believe that?”
“There is a record in our kingdom’s underground vault. However, it is written in Otix Ancient Script, and because it is difficult to learn, the language has become extinct and no one studies it anymore.”
“Otix Ancient Script, you say…?”
After a moment’s thought, Bloden gestured for Crockel to step back.
The King of Otix, barely standing, led the way while beads of cold sweat poured down his face.
“I-I will guide you there. Once you see it yourself, you will believe my words.”
.
.
.
The Ability Record Book of Otix lay deep beneath the Royal Palace Underground.
Upon opening the record book, Bloden confirmed that at least one part of the King of Otix’s testimony was true—it was written in Otix Ancient Script and could not be read.
But that alone was not enough reason to withdraw.
Bloden placed the record book into his Pocket Dimension.
“I’ll return it once I’ve deciphered it.”
Having emerged from the Otix Kingdom, Bloden recalled that the Ability Record Book from Ilpein was also written in the Empire’s ancient script and was being kept in the Imperial Palace Underground Record Room.
‘Then other nations must be similar.’
His next destination naturally became clear.
Bloden rode Crockel toward the Meridian Royal Palace Ruins.

* * *

The Meridian Royal Palace Ruins, bearing the scorched and crumbled traces of destruction, presented a desolate sight.
After swiftly dispatching several Monster Beasts lurking there, Bloden summoned Camen—only to catch a scorched yet appetizing aroma wafting from him.
To all appearances, Camen had obtained something to eat from Hailey, so Bloden asked.
“What is Hailey doing right now?”
Camen transformed his shape and manifested a sculpture of Hailey making tteokgochi. The sculpture was remarkably detailed, and Bloden couldn’t hide a pleased smile.
“So tomorrow is the tteokgochi market day.”
The timing worked out perfectly. On the eve of tteokgochi sales, Hailey would be preoccupied with making and skewering the rice cakes, so she wouldn’t go out foraging—meaning he could summon Serch at any time without worry.
“First, find out where the underground spaces are beneath the palace. Once you find them, open the entrances.”
Camen sank into the earth.
After about five minutes, a tremor ran through the ground. Soon an entrance leading underground appeared on one side of the palace ruins, and Camen abruptly emerged before Bloden.
Bloden now summoned Serch.
“Ignis Fatuus.”
The white sphere, appearing at the sound of its true name for the first time in a while, brilliantly illuminated the passage surrounding Bloden as he entered the underground corridor.
The entrance dropped away like a cliff directly below, but it didn’t matter. The moment his foot descended, Camen caught him and lowered him gently to the floor.
Having descended comfortably to the underground in a single step, Bloden looked around and widened his eyes.
“This is—”
Though dust had accumulated, they were unmistakably arranged in rows and columns—cruke vessels.
Estimating their number at roughly five hundred, Bloden opened the lid of one.
Unfortunately, it was empty. The cruke beside it was the same. But the moment he opened the next one, Bloden’s lips curved upward at the brilliant gleam.
The cruke was filled with gold.
The neighboring crukes were no different. They claimed to store fermented foods, but it appeared they’d actually been used to hide the Royal Family’s wealth.
‘I should tell Hailey about this later.’
With that thought, Bloden carefully closed the lids and gave Camen new instructions.
“Seal this place, and search for any other underground spaces.”
Camen lifted Bloden back to the surface and closed the entrance.
Shortly after, in another underground chamber that Camen guided him to, Bloden found a single book in a box. Though he couldn’t read the unfamiliar script, he placed it in his Pocket Dimension.
‘This should be a good gift for Hailey.’
At this point, another place he could freely examine came to mind.
The Tillan Kingdom, which had fallen before the Kingdom of Meridon. From what Bloden knew, that too was an island.
He immediately mounted Crockel and surveyed the state of the Tillan Kingdom.
The moment Bloden drew near, two massive Monster Beasts drifting across the sea rushed at him, and a brief battle ensued.
Afterward, summoning Black Libia and receiving her report, he learned that while Monster Beasts swarmed throughout Tillan, there were no flying or larger Monster Beasts.
‘The Gate connected to Tillan must have narrow internal passages.’
In any case, there were too many Monster Beasts to search for records right now, so he needed to schedule a subjugation campaign first.
After assessing how long it would take to clear out all the Monster Beasts, Bloden now headed for Snoril.

* * *

Not long ago, our house warehouse became a refrigerator. It was thanks to Count Enox and his wife providing me with auction schedule information.
An auction house opens periodically in the Mistril Territory, and this time there are apparently several Cold Magic Stones on offer?
Intrigued, I stopped by the auction house on my way back to Snoril and successfully bid on the Cold Magic Stones.
The price was steep, but it was a worthwhile investment—excellent for storing kimchi and maintaining the freshness of ingredients.
On top of that, with Camen and Heart helping with the work today, my tteokgochi production more than doubled.
‘To think I can store all of this until it sells…’
Content as I watched the tteokgochi stacked neatly away, I brought out hand-made tofu, sliced in plenty of hot peppers, and brewed a pot of soybean paste stew.
‘Baron hates spicy food, so I can’t make it when he’s around, but when I eat alone, a good fiery kick is exactly what I need.’
I set the soybean paste stew on the table alongside freshly cooked rice and had just sat down in my chair when—
Someone knocked on the door.
“Who is it?”
I asked reflexively, though I felt a bit puzzled. Raven and Kimarise usually announced themselves with their voices the moment they knocked.
‘Besides those two, is there anyone else who would visit our house?’
The voice calling from outside made me doubt my own ears.
“It’s me.”
‘……Your Majesty?’
I jumped and hurried to open the door.
Beyond the threshold stood Bloden in a hooded robe, holding what looked like a heavy sack in one hand.
“Your—Your Majesty. What are you doing here…….”

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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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