This Emperor Is Running a Marriage Scam - Chapter 239

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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 239

“There’s nothing grand you need to do.”
Iturn answered Nelloa as though he’d been waiting for this moment.
“Just bring me some food like you did before.”
“……Food?”
“Yeah. Those snacks you brought last time weren’t half bad.”
“Ah. Those.”
Nelloa recalled the day she’d gone to find Anna. Back then, while gathering food for herself, she’d bought cheap skewered meat from street vendors—enough for each of Iturn’s thirteen heads.
‘I thought he’d pretend not to care and refuse to eat them, but it looks like he devoured them when I wasn’t watching.’
Iturn gazed down at his body, which lay flat against the floor, and sighed.
“I know a great deal about this world. I’m very strong too—if I could just leave, I could even rule the entire realm. But the reality is I can’t move an inch from this place.”
Iturn twisted his long neck to look at the small gate behind him as he spoke.
“That’s why my only pleasure is to coax those wandering things from the Abyss Realm and summon them out. It’s rather entertaining to watch those massive creatures squeeze through this cramped space and become monsters.”
‘So if I can manipulate Iturn well enough, the number of monsters that will obey my commands increases.’
With that thought, Nelloa broke into a grin.
“I’ll bring plenty this time. Something tastier.”
“Really?”
“Yes. You’re my friend and my benefactor. It’s only natural I’d do that much.”
All thirteen of Iturn’s heads bared their teeth and laughed alongside her.
“I’m happy to hear you say that.”
“But you know that if I go out this time, my life could be in danger. If luck isn’t on my side, I might not come back.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll increase the number of monsters that go with you.”

* * *

Clark, who had been conducting undercover investigation in the Imperial Palace Prison, found himself reluctantly following an old woman who controlled monsters—Nelloa—to the Roan Times Branch on the outskirts of Utra Territory.
Nelloa confined the resisting typesetters at the newspaper office and ordered them to follow Clark’s instructions. She then commanded Clark to write articles exactly as she dictated, articles that would be distributed as newspaper extras across the entire Empire.

‘Your Highness, are we really printing this as written? A complete closure of the Imperial Palace? Would His Majesty take such a drastic measure?’
‘Just write it. I’ll make it happen that way.’

Terrified that the monsters might tear him apart at any moment, Clark quickly set to writing the article.
The typesetters printed the extras as instructed, and on the day after Bloden’s coming-of-age ceremony, Nelloa had human-sized monsters dressed in robes spread stacks of the newspapers throughout the entire Empire.

[The Imperial Palace is currently overrun by a massive gate, and its internal situation remains unknown. Emperor Bloden Ilpein lost his long-hidden lover, Hailey, in this crisis, and due to the shock, he is reportedly in a state where rational judgment is difficult. The Imperial Palace has sealed all entry and exit, but no concrete countermeasures have been presented thus far.]

The entire Empire, including the capital where festivities were underway and each domain, fell into chaos.
The citizens living in the capital rushed to the Imperial Palace gates, confirming that the closure was real. In mere hours, rumors spread at a terrifying pace.
Everyone trembled in fear and began packing their belongings to flee.
Yet all knew the truth: at this point, there was nowhere left to run from the monsters.
Then Nelloa immediately had Clark write a second extra.

<The Witch Nelloa Succeeds in Controlling Monsters!
Former Regent Anna Beldenburo Steps Forward in Desperate Negotiation……Will She Become the Empire’s Last Hope?>

Four days later, a third extra circulated.

<Former Byeongyeongbaek of Utra Repents His Past Sins and Takes Up Arms Again for the Nation’s Salvation. Pledges Loyalty to Regent Anna and Takes the Front Line Against Monsters.>

In this extra, Anna had somehow become Regent again.
Of course, articles from other news outlets had spread quickly as well. They reported that Bloden was currently conducting state affairs without any issues, and Anna had been arrested for colluding with the witch Nelloa and was under investigation. Word also spread that the escaped Utra, who had attempted rebellion, had been swiftly subdued and captured.
But few could accurately judge which account was true.
And now, Clark was about to print a fourth extra with the typesetters.
As the typesetters arranged type according to the manuscript and assembled the printing plate, they asked Clark in voices thick with tears.
“Sir, are we really going to distribute this content as an extra?”
“They say the pen is mightier than the sword, but isn’t spreading such falsehood too much?”
Clark washed his face with his hands, gaunt with conflict, then peered out the window and whispered.
“What else can we do? If we don’t, we all die.”
The typesetters rushed to speak over one another.
“Even so, this amounts to an attack on His Majesty.”
“He’s probably running about trying to protect the Empire as we speak.”
“We can’t lend our strength, but this won’t do. Isn’t there another way?”
The typesetters had every right to complain or protest.
This edition they were about to print was truly beyond the pale.

<Emperor Bloden Ilpein Flees at Last! Imperial Palace Left with Only Close Advisors Managing the Crisis. Regent Anna Beldenburo, Who Takes Up the Abandoned Imperial Crown, Declares Protection of the Empire Alongside Nelloa.>

“All talk and no action.”
The door burst open, and an unexpected voice cut through the room. Nelloa had entered, leading monsters behind her. The typesetters gasped and huddled behind Clark.
“Look at you—terrified just to see us appear.”
Nelloa sneered at them as she spoke.
“If you really don’t want to do this, say so now. There are plenty of other typesetters scattered across the territories. These friends of mine will take good care of your… situation.”
As the monsters behind her bared their fangs, the typesetters broke into cold sweat and dropped to their knees as one.
“N-no, sir! We’ll work hard!”
“That’s what I thought. Next time something like this happens, remember—you’ll lose your heads.”
After threatening the typesetters, Nelloa approached and reviewed Clark’s manuscript, then laughed wickedly.
“Your articles are always so good—I really do love them. I always say you’re the only reporter who truly understands my heart.”
Clark found Nelloa utterly chilling, but he forced a smile.
“Ha. Thank you for appreciating my work.”
“But there are far too many rebuttal articles from the Emperor’s side. I think we need to publish more pieces supporting our position.”
“I’ll write more immediately once I finish this.”
“Good. Do that for me. And if the typesetters give you any trouble, let the monsters handle it.”
Nelloa patted Clark’s shoulder and stationed one of the monsters in the corner, issuing her command.
“Watch them. The moment the reporter points at anyone or someone raises their voice to him, kill them.”
As Clark wrote his article, the typesetters didn’t make a sound. Yet the way they looked at him had changed.
‘Ah, reporter. What else can we do?’
Clark’s options in this situation were severely limited. One wrong move and he’d be a dead man himself.
But as the article neared completion, the typesetters’ eyes grew increasingly desperate.
‘Will you really kill us? Surely you feel the same way we do, don’t you?’
After wrestling with the dilemma, Clark finally made his decision and gripped his pen tightly.
‘Damn it. For now, I’ll look for an opening and try something. If His Majesty sees this, maybe he’ll understand.’

* * *

Bloden had temporarily entrusted state affairs to Raven and Count Enox.
Meanwhile, he moved back and forth through the gate that had opened within the Imperial Palace, slashing through monsters with the commanders, desperately trying to carve a path through the passage Hailey had vanished into.
But the monsters kept flooding in, and with each battle, only their corpses piled higher.
After much deliberation, he sent Black Libia to scout for an alternative route. But even she didn’t get far before being attacked by monsters and returning in tatters.
With all his focus on finding Hailey, there was no progress to speak of.
Whenever Bloden felt he might lose his mind with worry over Hailey, he did what he could to maintain his sanity.
He summoned one of the spirits.
Camen, Salamander, and Ignis Fatuus.
Once a day, whenever he tried to summon one of the three, he received a clear refusal.
It was a blessing. It meant Hailey was still alive.
So Bloden gritted his teeth and threw himself into the search. A week had already passed since the Gate Crisis began.
Having fought fiercely at the gate again and emerged, Bloden removed his battle gauntlets and wiped his sweat-and-blood-soaked face. The stubble that had grown rough caught noticeably on his palm, but he ignored the sensation and collapsed onto the floor.
Then, as he had been doing, he attempted to summon one of the spirits.
The spirits’ refusal remained consistent. Confirming this, his mind eased slightly and he closed his eyes.
In truth, he didn’t want to sleep. Even a brief rest felt like a waste of time.
But he had to sleep, however briefly, in order to continue the next battle.
Then Raven’s voice reached him.
“Your Majesty, didn’t I tell you? Once battle ends, tidy yourself at once. And sleep in your bed.”
Here we go again.
Bloden’s brow furrowed as Raven’s stern reprimand pierced straight into his ears.
“What will you do if you meet Hailey looking like that?”

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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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