Chapter 143
“Why is it so noisy outside?”
“I’ll check it out right away.”
“If it’s a disturbance, let me know who’s behind it.”
“Yes, yes. Understood, Lord Marib.”
Marib’s aide urged the attendant. This was an important meeting, yet the noise was seeping through the door cracks. Noticing Marib’s gaze from the high dais, the attendant bowed deeply. With the Ministry of Magic’s downfall looming, nothing could be allowed to go wrong.
“Silence, please. We will now begin the Imperial Personnel Assembly of the year 1,101. Everyone, rise and pledge your loyalty to His Majesty.”
Crack.
At the prime minister’s command, everyone stood, hand over heart. Marib and Gale, seated closest to the emperor, did the same. The emperor, seated at the highest point, looked down upon them all with solemn dignity.
“We swear by our honor that the purpose of this assembly is to appoint the right talents who will contribute to the proper development of the great empire of Bariel.”
“We swear.”
“We swear.”
It was laughable. They all spoke of fairness and justice, but each harbored their own selfish ambitions. Those with voting rights led the oath, followed by those with only advisory privileges.
“Let us begin. First, the Legislative Department. Minister Kartes, please come forward.”
The current minister needed to actively present what he had done for Bariel over the past year and what achievements he had made. It was partly for reappointment, but also for the honor of one who drew a salary.
“Next, I will call the names of the five candidates for the Legislative Minister position. They will stand in order and introduce themselves, following the Bariel language order.”
The nominees had already secured their bases through behind-the-scenes work before the meeting. The others were mere figureheads, gaining experience for the future. Marib watched the proceedings with a grave expression.
“Your Highness.”
It was then. Marib’s aide, Paarl, who had returned behind the dais, called to him. Marib tilted his head slightly without breaking his gaze.
“Wizards outside are setting up a magical defense formation.”
“A defense formation? Aren’t all the captains inside the meeting?”
“A mysterious smoke started from the north and is moving this way. Outside, those wanting to halt the meeting are clashing with those wanting to continue.”
Marib frowned. He had no idea what was really going on. Meanwhile, the prime minister announced it was the Ministry of Magic’s turn.
“Next is the Ministry of Magic. Minister Wesley is absent, and since there are no registered candidates, he will be reappointed…”
“I object.”
Gale cut off the prime minister. As if waiting for this moment, he raised his hand and stood. A murmur swept quickly through the hall.
“Could it be? No way.”
“Is it true? Gale and Minister Wesley?”
“Shh, quiet down.”
Everyone’s eyes turned to Gale, confirming what had only been rumors until now. The emperor’s gaze was no different.
“Your Highness, if the minister falls, it might be my chance as well.”
Marib recalled what Ian had said late at night. He had been half in doubt, suspecting some hidden agenda. But if Wesley truly fell, wouldn’t that be good news for Marib?
“I oppose Minister Wesley’s reappointment.”
“Oh my! What is this?”
“Gale, what do you mean?”
“Your Highness! Minister Wesley of the Ministry of Magic! That Wesley!”
“Please, let’s pause the meeting for a moment.”
“That’s not possible. This is a valid statement.”
“Everyone, be quiet!”
Bang!
The prime minister struck his gavel, and the noise abruptly ceased. No one wanted to be expelled in such a situation. Gale slowly looked at his brother Marib.
“You wanted this, didn’t you?”
It seemed as if he was saying just that. Marib sighed with a flushed face. Clearly, something had happened between them, just as Ian had said. Gale’s attitude could only be explained by having cut off a bigger poison before it spread.
“Continue, Your Highness.”
“The Ministry of Magic has had Minister Wesley for quite some time. While he is capable, he has repeatedly ignored problems and shown no will to improve.”
Excessive budget allocations, opaque work processes, personal personnel decisions, widespread overreach—each accusation Gale listed shocked the assembly. No one could understand why Gale was acting this way.
Wasn’t he the main beneficiary of all these corrupt practices?
“Therefore, I oppose Minister Wesley’s reappointment and believe appointing a new minister would benefit the Ministry. Those with voting rights, what are your thoughts?”
The hall buzzed with murmurs again.
“If Wesley falls, what about the backlash? The witches won’t stand for it.”
“Looks like Wesley didn’t know either, judging by what we didn’t know.”
“Don’t you see? Wesley’s absence from the meeting means something.”
“Gale has already made his move?”
“My goodness, what on earth is going on…”
“There must be a candidate for the next minister already.”
“Looks like Gale wants to control the Ministry directly. Oh dear.”
Confusion erupted among Gale’s faction, especially those tied to the Ministry of Magic. They served Gale, but their real connection was through Wesley.
“Brother, say something.”
Gale smiled slyly and addressed Marib. Nearly half the attendees were supporters of the first prince. It was as if he was saying, “I’ve lit the fuse; now you handle it.”
“Marib, your turn.”
Marib raised his hand with a strange expression, and the room fell silent again. He looked not at the audience but at Gale, delivering the final blow.
“…I also support Wesley’s removal.”
At once, cheers erupted. Marib’s followers rallied behind the first prince’s intention.
“I agree! I also agree!”
“Indeed. The Ministry of Magic needs change.”
“Absolutely! I’m all for it!”
“No objections!”
“With the minister absent, there’s no one to argue. Let’s move on! We can accept new candidates for the next minister!”
Only the pro-Wesley faction, including the Ministry of Magic, remained silent amid the storm. They had no speaking rights, and given the current tide, it was wiser to let go of Wesley. If only she had been here to devise a countermeasure…
“Oh dear…”
“What is this? Minister Wesley is being removed?”
“This can’t be!”
“Silence! The Ministry’s captains have no speaking rights!”
“This is nonsense! No! Something’s wrong!”
When the head of the Magic Support Unit started shouting, guards dragged him away. The meeting hall descended into chaos. The prime minister repeatedly struck his gavel to restore order, but the agitated voices wouldn’t quiet down.
Even Hale calmly brushed his beard in shock.
Bang!
Then, a tremendous roar shook the building from outside. The guards moved swiftly, and the prime minister struck his gavel again, calling for silence.
“Your Highness Gale.”
Gale noticed the trembling in his aide’s voice. He frowned briefly, then bit his lip and glared fiercely at the aide.
“How did you handle the situation?”
“I-I’m sorry, Your Highness. We dealt with Wesley’s aide, but as soon as the body was sent outside the palace, it turned to wood fragments.”
“And Wesley?”
“With the aide’s help, it seems she broke free from her shackles.”
“You’d better be prepared once this is over.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
That’s why wizards are like this! Gale clicked his tongue and stood. The prime minister looked at him in confusion.
“Continue the meeting. My brother will cover for my absence. Brother, I’ll handle things outside.”
The biggest agenda had just come up. If the commotion outside was Wesley’s doing, Gale had to go out and deal with her directly—before any pointless words slipped from his mouth. He turned his back, making sure Marib couldn’t leave.
“Marib, what shall we do?”
The prime minister asked in a trembling voice. Even with the emperor looming behind, the fact that he asked Gale instead showed who really held power in the palace. Marib glanced at Gale’s empty seat and nodded.
“Continue.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Even if he didn’t leave, there were many eyes and ears. Reports would come later. For now, finishing the Wesley removal was the priority.
‘For the first time, I’m aligned with Gale.’
Though their motives differed, Marib believed this would be Gale’s downfall. Losing such a key ally as Wesley revealed a critical weakness to Marib.
“Silence! The meeting will continue!”
Bang bang bang!
No matter if heaven and earth were torn apart, no matter if the building collapsed, the meeting would go on. The determination of those on the brink of seizing power heated the room.
Bang!
Another roar came from outside, but no one paid it any mind. They desperately ignored it. Their focus was on what was happening inside the hall.
Tap tap tap!
Gale dashed into the lobby, flanked by his aides and guards. Instinctively, he reached to his waist—but found it empty. Noticing his touch, one of the aides quickly barked an order to a servant.
“Bring His Highness’s sword that was left at the entrance to the meeting!”
“Yes, sir!”
“Also grab the bow. And the arrows with the magic-sealing stones.”
As Gale added the last instruction, the servant hurried off, sprinting down the corridor. Near the end of the hallway, they caught a clear view of the lobby—and what they saw was chaos.
Ziiing! Ziiing!
“Damn it! The magic circle’s draining my power!”
“Ugh! I’m at my limit!”
“Pull yourself together! Wesley, please stop this!”
“Someone—anyone—give me some mana!”
“Wesley! You can’t just barge in like this!”
A translucent golden wall shimmered before them, etched with a magic circle—a defensive barrier conjured by the mages. Dozens of them pressed their palms against it, straining with all their might.
Dozens of mages, holding back just one.
“Please! What on earth are you doing?!”
Wesley. It was her.
Her body was burning from within, as if a raging firestorm consumed her. The scorching heat, mixed with black smoke, radiated so intensely it could be felt even from here.
“What’s going on here?”
“Ah, His Highness Gale.”
“Your Highness Gale!”
At Gale’s arrival, everyone turned, relief and surprise flickering across their faces. They had no idea what was happening inside, nor how to handle Wesley’s rampage. But Ian could already read the situation just from Gale’s absence.
“Your Highness, this is Wesley’s condition…”
“This is the grand hall. Inside, His Majesty and the high-ranking officials of Bariel are gathered. And yet she’s trying to break through like this. It’s a threat to their safety—and a grave offense.”
“…Your Highness?”
Was that really Gale speaking? Everyone stared at him, bewildered. But Gale’s expression didn’t waver as he gave the order.
“Kill her.”