Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 195

Bang! Boom boom!

“Merry Daily! Open the door!”

Despite being heavily pregnant, Viviana was unrelenting.

She left her horse and carriage at the entrance, climbed the stairs two at a time, and shook the iron-barred window. Concerned she might get hurt, Minnie anxiously hovered around her.

Creak.

“Who is it?”

A presence was felt behind the double lock. As a place where scoops were life and death, they were highly vigilant of competitors and found outside visitors suspicious.

The faint sound of typewriters clacking could be heard from inside. Publication was likely underway. Viviana quickly answered while passing her ID through the bars.

“I’m Viviana, residing at 2 Westground Street. Former Imperial Palace Reconstruction Advisor, currently on leave. My husband is the chief of staff to the Ministry of Magic’s minister.”

Westground was an upscale residential area where Imperial Palace officials mainly lived. The man checked Viviana’s face against her ID and nodded, returning it.

“What’s this about?”

“I have a tip regarding the Imperial Palace.”

“You said your husband is the Ministry of Magic’s chief of staff? His name?”

The man narrowed his eyes as if testing her. Although he had verified her ID, this was a necessary procedure.

“Romandro.”

This was exactly why Ian had asked Viviana. Not only to inform them of Romandro’s safety but also judging that her solid identity would prevent the tip from being easily dismissed.

The man glanced at her bulging belly and moved his cigarette out of the way.

“Since the night attack on His Highness Gale, contact with the Imperial Palace has been cut off. We received word from the inside.”

“What word?”

“His Highness Mariv seized His Majesty the Emperor’s seal and incited rebellion. His Highness Gale also engaged in the power struggle but both have now been thwarted under the Ministry of Magic’s lead.”

The man dropped his cigarette, mouth agape in shock.

After a few seconds of silence, he hastily unlocked the door and swung it open. The musty smell of coffee and cigarettes instantly wafted out. The scent of those pounding typewriters, burning their souls in the distance.

“Is, is that true, ma’am?”

“His Majesty is unharmed. At five o’clock this afternoon, the gates will open after the situation is handled. Please issue an extra before then.”

Viviana checked the time, clicking her pocket watch. There was no room for delay to go through writing, printing, and distribution. She looked up at the man and added in a low voice, “Only Merry Daily knows this currently. I will go straight to the Piraceping and inform them as well. It’s up to you who breaks the news first. And make sure to include this phrase in the extra.”

“Ah, wait! Wait!”

As Viviana showed Ian’s note and turned to leave, the man grabbed her shoulder in a panic. Minnie reflexively glared and roughly slapped his hand away.

“How dare you grab her!”

“My apologies! I was just so flustered. But what you just said, is it really true? If not, it’s our necks on the line. Seriously.”

“It’s a handwritten letter from Ian Hielo, the Minister of Magic. When the gates open at five, everyone will know, so the value as a scoop will vanish.”

It was an urging to hurry and print it rather than spouting nonsense. The man turned to his colleagues and shouted, “Everyone, stop writing!”

“Why? We’re almost done.”

“A different tip came in. The masterminds were His Highnesses Mariv and Gale.”

Viviana frowned in puzzlement. What were they talking about? The man awkwardly took out a new cigarette and double-checked Viviana’s letter.

“Didn’t a black hole appear in the sky two days ago? There are rampant rumors that the Ministry of Magic closed off the Imperial Palace and schemed inside. Well, our informant said something similar too.”

“Informant? Which informant?”

“I can’t disclose that.”

“Is it to protect the tipster or because their identity is not upright enough to reveal?”

The man chewed on his cigarette butt. The latter, it was evident although unspoken.

“You are the ones who deliver only the truth.”

“Ma’am, it’s been three whole days. We print dozens of information papers daily, yet we waited for three days. With no news from the Imperial Palace, we had to write something, even if it’s about the doubts. Especially if it’s true. Of course, we weren’t going to officially print it, just circulate it as propaganda.”

‘-As those fabricating stories take advantage of the chaos-‘

Viviana read the remnants of those Ian had mentioned in his note. The man and his colleagues discussed something while staring at the paper loaded in the typewriter. As Minnie called out to her mistress in confusion, Viviana tore the typewriter paper without hesitation.

Rip!

“Ma’am!”

“Milady!”

She threw the torn paper on the floor. If Merry Daily was writing such an article, there was a high possibility other places were in a similar situation.

‘Then instead of wasting time going around, I need to have them print the extra here first.’

It was a game of wits.

Other media outlets would also have drafted unconfirmed articles and were likely on high alert for the Imperial Palace’s movements. If the truth was reported first, the fabricated articles would naturally be discarded.

“You’re in luck.”

“What do you mean, ma’am?”

“Because you’re the first to approach the truth. With the two grown princes clashing and being subdued, you must know who holds the real power in the Imperial Palace now.”

Of course, it was the Ministry of Magic and their leader, Ian Hielo. They instinctively realized they were embroiled in no ordinary matter, and that it came with an opportunity.

“I cannot bear to see fabricated scraps of paper plunging Bariel into chaos. Let Merry Daily print the extra first. Then, when the gates open at five, I will personally inform Minister Ian of your merit.”

“In what way…”

“Request exclusive priority publishing rights for everything that happened in the Imperial Palace during these three days.”

“Is that po-possible?”

As Viviana firmly nodded, everyone in the office buzzed again. Since her husband was the Ministry of Magic’s chief of staff, it might not be entirely unreasonable. The nerve of them, scheming amongst themselves.

“Milady.”

“Shh.”

Minnie worriedly grabbed her mistress’s arm, but Viviana had no hesitation. Ian would understand this level of overstepping authority. The priority was to reveal the truth first.

“But if he refuses-“

Bang!

Just then, an unknown boom erupted outside. The reporters flinched, repeatedly glancing between Viviana and the window. Wondering if it was related to her.

“I cannot guarantee your safety.”

“Wh-what do you mean?”

“I showed my ID, Ian sent a handwritten letter, and had me bring along a swordmaster subordinate. Everything proves and guarantees it! Refusing despite that means you intend to spread false information and throw Bariel into chaos. That is how I will judge and report to Ian.”

Viviana deliberately emphasized the word “swordmaster.” It was an implicit warning that force might be the only recourse.

The man and his colleagues brought over a sheet of paper, shifting their eyes.

“Write us a certificate. For exclusive publishing rights.”

“Regarding the contents of the past three days.”

“Yes. If you write it, we will write ours.”

When Viviana wrote the certificate without hesitation, the man rolled up his sleeves, ruffling his hair. His colleagues did the same. They returned to their respective seats, discarded what they had been writing, and loaded new paper.

Click. Tap tap! Tap!

“Write it in broadsheet size! We’ll print a hundred sheets per batch.”

“There was a sentence you said to include earlier, right? Ma’am?”

“Ah, here it is. It’s written below the letter.”

“Let’s see, I’ll read it out! Everyone jot it down! ‘Although Princes Mariv and Gale threw the Imperial Palace into chaos, their persons were safely secured under the Ministry of Magic’s mediation.’ Keep reading!”

“Wait, slow down! One more time!”

Bang!

Rumble!

She thought it was a coincidental boom, but apparently not. As Viviana opened the window in surprise, her eyes met Beric’s. He was smiling brightly. So brightly that one couldn’t imagine he was facing off against men in black armor.

“Sir Beric!”

The guard who had accompanied them as a guide was writhing on the ground, bleeding. The boom was the sound of killing him.

“Oh, I’m fine, fine. When will it be done?!”

“How long will it take?”

Viviana’s heart sank. She didn’t know where they came from, but their intent, revealed by the situation, was clear. They were trying to spread fabricated rumors to thwart Ian.

The man who poked his head out beside her dropped his cigarette again in shock.

“Well, one of the printing presses just broke down, so printing a hundred copies will take about ten minutes. Usually, extras are scattered along the central road from the Imperial Palace to the outskirts, so with that many…”

“Just the result!”

“One hour!”

“It’ll take an hour! Sir Beric!”

At Viviana’s shout, Beric grinned and spat.

He had already witnessed the might of that armor in the Imperial Palace. One matched a hundred. Even though only half had come, they were powerful enough to temporarily revive Gale’s dying forces.

Beric couldn’t hide his excitement and snickered.

“I, I know who you are~!”

“……”

“Hayman, right? Hayman? Huh? Busted?”

“…Urging us to hurry.”

Shwing!

The armored man brought down his thick fist. With his loose tongue, knowing their identities, they definitely couldn’t let him live now. It seemed Ian’s side was trying to make the first move…

‘This clearly goes against the Duke’s plan. Let’s settle this.’

The enemies exchanged glances and nodded. They would kill this tiny red rat, the woman who received Ian’s letter, and the ones writing false articles inside.

Bang!

“Oh! Damn it!”

Beric barely blocked the fist and staggered unintentionally. The weight was no joke. If it were ordinary, it would be too heavy and sturdy to accurately swing.

“This is why they talk about mana stones, mana stones?! Money is good, isn’t it? Damn, you’re nothing without the shell! Huh?!”

“Stop babbling!”

“I don’t want to? Huh?!”

Bang! Boom!

Clang!

Beric was on high alert for every single movement. His senses were sharp. If he showed even a single opening, his skull would really be smashed. Beric let out a battle cry and swung his sword, only leaving meaningless scratches.

Bang! Thud!

Five suits of armor. Viviana quickly realized Beric was struggling and bit her lip. She extended her hand to Minnie.

“Self-defense item.”

“Milady!”

“Everyone hurry! The future of Bariel is at stake!”

Viviana stood guard at the door, gripping a dagger. If Beric fell, she would be next. Her hands trembled and her heart pounded. Probably amplified by the baby’s heartbeat.

“Please, please…”

Please spare us. Please let me live to see my husband with the baby. Minnie also stood by Viviana’s side, crying, while the remaining reporters ran out into the hallway holding chairs.

Bang! Boom!

That’s when it happened. A different sound from the booms that only broke walls. Beric, who had been dodging nimbly, was hit in the back. The pain of shattered ribs from a single blow rushed in.

“Aaaaargh!”

At Beric’s scream, Viviana reflexively almost ran down the stairs. If Minnie hadn’t held her back, she would have.

“Damn it, ah! Seriously! Viviana!”

“Be-Beric!”

“How much longer?”

“Now, now, five minutes have passed!”

“Damn it.”

Beric crawled on the floor, muttering in annoyance. It couldn’t be helped. Ian hadn’t permitted it, but it really couldn’t be helped.

Zing! Zing!

Beric unleashed his mana. As he stood up, leaning on the Black Sword, another fist flew. The moment Beric gritted his teeth to counter it…

Clang!

Someone who had instantly entered from the left blocked Beric and took the fist instead. Short blue hair fluttered.

“Molars!”

“It’s Barsabe, you idiot!”

Bang!

Zing, zing!

Barsabe, who had appeared out of nowhere, unleashed her mana without hesitation.