Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 136

Objectively speaking, Wesleigh was truly an extraordinary person.

No one knew her real name or age, which implied that she came from the lowest of the low origins. But in the end, she achieved the honor of being the youngest department head, the prestige of being the head of the Ministry of Magic, and even the position of being the lover of 2nd Prince Gale, the second most powerful figure in the Empire. There were only a few people in the Empire who had risen as high as her.

“Well, no way… Ian, no matter what, isn’t that a bit too much? To say that Minister Wesleigh is trying to turn His Highness Gale into an undead.”

Romandro made an expression of utter disbelief upon hearing Ian’s words. Even though it was his own house, his voice lowered secretively as if someone might hear.

“But with the current situation, we can’t really come up with any other hypothesis. I think she probably tried to find a detour due to the Imperial Palace’s blessing.”

“Wh-when you say the Imperial Palace’s blessing, do you mean that mind control magic doesn’t work on the Imperial family?”

Romandro’s eyes widened again. Even though it seemed like they were together all day, where did Ian pick up such information? Thinking that magicians were indeed different, he just let out a light exclamation.

“That’s right. Undead are similar in result to mind control magic. Because you can control the target as you please. But the spells themselves are different, and if you go deeper, it’s closer to sorcery than magic.”

“I’m sorry, but I’m an outsider when it comes to that.”

“Magic requires mana, while sorcery doesn’t matter if you have mana or not. It’s about exerting mysterious powers through bloodline, individual training, or various objects.”

That was the case with Hasha. He had no mana, but he had the bloodline of a sorcerer passed down through generations in his family, and he created undead with his own secret method. The more Ian explained, the more he felt like he was reading Wesleigh’s hidden intentions.

“So if someone wants to control an Imperial family member, they have to find a method other than mana. It’s clear that the one who tried to turn the living into undead is Wesleigh, and the only one who would have such a motive is Gale, isn’t it?”

“O-or could it be that His Highness Gale ordered Wesleigh to do it?”

There was definitely a possibility of that too. Since he harbored a rebellion, he would naturally target the Emperor or Mariv. But…

“No. There’s a higher possibility that Gale doesn’t know.”

It was the historical record that necromancy was not used in the rebellion that gave Ian conviction. If Gale had known, he would have definitely tried to use necromancy without a shred of hesitation. History would have clearly changed.

“Then what do you plan to do now? For His Highness Gale, Minister Wesleigh is a great force, and this is a threat to His Highness Mariv, so it seems like it could be a big opportunity.”

“I also think the same.”

“Wesleigh…”

Romandro abruptly covered his mouth. It was a burdensome thing to say out loud, but Ian smiled brightly and lightly responded.

“We’ll have to cut her off.”

The current Ministry of Magic is rotten. If the top changes, the bottom will also completely change. This meant a better future for Bariel. Also, it would effectively stop Gale, who was trying to rebel with the Ministry of Magic backing him.

‘But there’s one thing that catches. Wesleigh is clearly the greatest force for Gale right now. But can Gale easily dispose of her? Using the justification of love, he might persuade her in a different way and keep her by his side instead.’

A situation where he had to use Gale to get rid of Wesleigh, and Wesleigh to get rid of Gale. Then he just needed to give Gale one choice.

‘If there’s no problem with the Ministry of Magic without Wesleigh, and furthermore, no problem with the rebellion… Then he’ll be able to cut off Wesleigh. In other words, a magician is needed to replace her.’

Was there anyone Ian knew in the current Ministry of Magic who was capable of that? No. Hail from the Magic Operations Department seemed reliable, but it was still unclear, and judging from his conflict with Wesleigh, he would definitely not get along with Gale either.

‘Then I’ll have to do it. In terms of magical power, I’m the only one who can rival her.’

The tangled threads in Ian’s mind unraveled one by one. As silence continued and the child’s eyes kept shining, Romandro just quietly watched from the side.

“Ian, what are you thinking so deeply about?”

“Ah, Sir Romandro. Hurry up and leave a message to Lady Viviana.”

“To Viviana? Why?”

“Because it seems you won’t be able to come home for a while.”

At the shocking declaration, Romandro made a shocked expression.

“Wh-why?”

“If the mayor of Karenna’s letter reached Wesleigh, she’ll immediately know that we know about the undead. It’s a matter of time. Three days at most, I expect.”

“That means…”

“She’ll definitely try to get rid of us.”

Boom! It felt like his heart was dropping. Then he should immediately run away- no. Where would he run away with his pregnant wife?

“I-I need to ask His Highness Mariv for help!”

“No. I will personally inform His Highness at an appropriate time later.”

“Is that alright?”

“Of course. That’s what we have to do.”

As Ian gave instructions to Romandro, he kept lightly flicking his fingertips. A non-habit that came out when organizing complex thoughts.

“Oh, before entering the palace, pick up some of the Luron mana stones you left behind. One piece should be enough. And as I requested, after working in the administrative department, come to where I am.”

“Where? The Ministry of Magic?”

“No. To His Highness Gale’s palace.”

“What? Are you serious?”

“I’m serious. And by the way, do you know when the high-ranking appointment ceremony is held in the New Year?”

“Hmm. Give me a moment.”

Romandro recalled while looking at the calendar. Not too far from now, a meeting would be held where major officials, including the Emperor, would gather to reorganize the country’s personnel. And based on the results, an appointment ceremony would follow within a few days.

“I expect it to be around next week.”

“The timing is just right.”

“I don’t know how the issue of the Truth Serum will turn out. Find out about that in detail too. The power struggles between each department have intensified… Whew, it’s a bit tough these days.”

“It’s a good thing for us.”

“Hmm? Why?”

“Because it’s a law that those who win in chaos prove their abilities.”

Ian lightly dusted off his hands and stood up from his seat. It meant that it was time to get moving.

“I will stop by the Ministry of Magic and then go to His Highness Gale’s palace. I will see you after sunset.”

“Al-alright. But what about this fellow?”

“Snooore.”

Beric, who had fallen asleep without a care in the world, scratched his chin. When a guard was needed to protect Viviana and Mini against Wesleigh, how could he have such a lack of vigilance…?

“Leave him. It’s probably one of the few times in his life he’s been beaten up so badly. The key now is to act before Wesleigh, so let’s move.”

“Ah, I understand.”

Swish.

Ian put the letter in his bosom and hurried to prepare to go out again. Romandro did the same. The two shared a glance that they would meet inside the Imperial Palace as they got into separate carriages.

“Oh my, where shall I take you two?”

“We’ll go separately. Let’s go to the Ministry of Magic.”

“Ahem, we’re going to the commercial district.”

“Ah, yes. Understood!”

The two carriages dashed off in a straight line and split at the fork in the road. Ian was heading to the palace, while Romandro was heading to the hiding place of the Luron mana stones.

Hiiing!

Clop clop!

Romandro kept looking back at Ian’s carriage getting farther away due to worry. Ian himself was busy calculating numbers in his head with his head fixed upright.

“Sigh.”

This was why the Imperial Palace was chaotic. Romandro vowed and vowed again that he would definitely retire someday and go down to the countryside with Viviana.

“But where the hell did Hasha go?”

***

Meanwhile, Hasha was relentlessly running through the slushy back alleys where the snow had melted. How did it end up like this when he was just taking a lonely stroll around the neighborhood with a frustrated heart?

Woof! Woof woof!

The familiar scent of his hometown tickled his nose. His heart sank as if it would disappear with a single gust of wind. Hasha kept moving his four legs busily, following the gradually fading traces.

‘It’s the smell of Astanain!’

More precisely, the smell of spices commonly used in Astana. The distinctive sour yet sweet scent was truly nostalgic, but it was clearly etched in Hasha’s memory.

Thud!

If they were from the same hometown, and if the heavens helped and they were from the same sect, they might take him back to Astana. Although necromancy was predominant in Astana, a minority of sects worshipped and traditionally preserved various sorceries, didn’t they? Even if it wasn’t his original body, he might find a way to become human again.

Everything stemmed from the hope aroused by the faintly lingering scent of spices.

‘Is it around here? No. I need to go further in! Please go a little slower! My fellow countryman!’

“Oh my, what’s with this dog…?”

“Go away, you beast!”

“Oh dear, why is it suddenly rushing in and going crazy?”

Hasha used his small body to chase the scent as quickly and closely as possible. He tore through piles of boxes, dashed between old men drinking on the street, and was not afraid to step on cold puddles.

Thud!

And before he knew it, he was so close that he felt like he was inside the scent rather than chasing it. Hasha looked around, hiding his presence as much as possible. There was no sign of people in the damp, dirty, and dark alley.

“Hahaha! And then?”

“Don’t even say it, when I grabbed him by the collar, he started whining. It was the first time I saw a person cry like that.”

“You’re exaggerating, really. You’re getting worse by the day. Hmm. Worse.”

“No, I’m telling the truth!”

At that moment, the sound of scruffy men coming out of the building was heard. Judging by the cigarettes in their hands, they seemed to be taking a break in the middle of doing something inside.

“Hmm? What’s that?”

They looked rough and unusual at a glance. Their skin had scars here and there, their hair was in an unclean state, and their half-crazed eyes looked dangerous.

“It’s a dog?”

“Yeah, it’s a dog.”

Hasha was frozen in place, unable to find a chance to turn back. He seemed to be gulping nervously, but they just kept smoking cigarettes, thinking of Hasha as an ordinary dog.

“What are you looking at, you mutt!”

“Should we catch and eat it? Kahahaha!”

“Ah, speaking of that, I’m really hungry. When is Sir Paquins coming back? He needs to settle our wages so we can go to the tavern or not. Aah. Really.”

Paquins? Hasha’s ears perked up.

It was a name he had heard many times before. He was just sniffing the ground, pretending not to understand, but he kept watching them with the whites of his eyes.

“So, you’re saying the goods are quite lucrative this time? What was it? Uh, uh, un…”

“Undead, you idiot! No matter how many times you hear it, you can’t process it.”

“Right. Anyway, won’t we get a lot of money for that?”

“Gasp!”

Hasha couldn’t help but exclaim. Paquins, he remembered. The slave traders in Karenna who made undead using his spells and sold them! The name of the slave traders was Paquins!

“Huh?”

“Was that you just now?”

“No, I didn’t say anything?”

Huff huff! Huff!

The men flicked the cigarette ash and slowly turned their heads. There was nothing here except a white dog?

Hasha drooled as much as possible and made an expression that said, “I don’t know anything.” Damn it.