Episode 345

“Understood.”

Volv raised both hands, signaling his intention to step back.

The generals quickly shook their heads, silently protesting. How could they let such a golden opportunity slip away? They pressured him not to retreat.

But Volv’s stance remained firm. The tension in the room was palpable—everyone could feel the shift in atmosphere. Sometimes, knowing when to back down is just as important. Besides, wouldn’t it be better to leave with something in hand?

“We will continue to keep a close watch on Clifford, but under His Highness’s orders and those of several officials, we will have Lord Ian stand by until new instructions arrive.”

He made it clear that if any problems arose, the fault would lie not with the Imperial Defense Department, but with Crown Prince Jin and those who supported him.

Jin let out a quiet sigh inwardly. For now, things had gone according to his plan. What happened next would be a matter to observe and reconsider.

“And—”

Volv pressed on, his gaze fixed on Romandro. Romandro furrowed his brow, ready to push back, but given their respective positions, it wasn’t easy.

Reluctantly, Romandro lowered his head slightly.

“We will also faithfully carry out the checks on Burgos and Luswena as per Your Highness’s orders. However, during this process, information regarding the distribution and acquisition of Idgal will inevitably surface. Given the current situation, the Magic Department is unable to handle this. I request temporary decision-making authority for the Imperial Defense Department.”

“No! That cannot be allowed!”

“Romandro, do you even know what Idgal is made of? What its dangers are? How to handle it safely? What precautions to take?”

Volv lifted his chin and retorted sharply. Currently, the Magic Department had only a handful of magicians, including Romandro, who managed palace access. Though some information on Idgal remained, it wasn’t their specialty, so they couldn’t approach it lightly.

“Look, even the Magic Department’s advisors can’t add much on this matter. We can’t just stand by and watch Idgal, which could destabilize the Bariel situation, unfold unchecked. We need authority to verify and handle it ourselves. We can’t keep asking Lord Ian at Clifford for every little thing.”

It was obvious that Idgal would come up during the investigation of Burgos and Luswena. The real issue was whether the Imperial Defense Department could be trusted to report properly if given temporary authority. Even if some details were omitted when handing it over to the palace, no one would notice.

Granting this authority was like handing the Defense Department a new sword—one that could threaten the Magic Department, the palace guards, and ultimately burden the royal family.

“Volv, I thought we had already agreed on the Idgal investigation.”

Jin’s voice dropped low.

Though calm on the surface, the prime minister sitting beside him could see the child’s neck flush with anger.

It was fury—anger at Volv for stirring up noise amid the chaos.

“Yes. Of course, the Magic Department should conduct the investigation. But if Idgal is right there during the checks on Burgos and Luswena, we can’t just ignore it. We may be different departments, but we’re all under the same palace roof.”

At the mention of “same family,” Romandro couldn’t help but laugh bitterly.

He laughed? The generals shot him sharp looks, but Romandro met their gaze defiantly. Maybe not the ministers, but the generals were worth challenging. Damn them!

“This is about flexible handling of affairs. Please grant the permission. When Lord Ian returns, I promise the Defense Department will hand over everything without issue. Otherwise, are we to serve only as a watchtower?”

Volv placed a hand over his chest, looking almost pitiful. The officials began whispering among themselves, exchanging opinions on the matter.

The prime minister gave Volv a warning glance, but Volv looked more wronged than chastened. He seemed to think that since they were united in checking the Magic Department, he didn’t understand why the Crown Prince and the prime minister were trying to suppress the Defense Department instead.

“Your Highness, I believe Minister Volv has a point. The Magic Department is currently incapacitated, and naturally, some overlap will occur during the investigation. Dividing tasks as ‘this is Magic Department’s job, that is Defense Department’s’ is inefficient and frankly foolish.”

“It’s only temporary authority. Would you not grant it?”

“I share a similar view.”

“I agree. I know it’s inconvenient for the Magic Department, but what choice do we have? There are no magicians.”

“Your Highness…”

The prime minister whispered softly to Jin. Even he had no reason to oppose the flow of the meeting.

Jin kept his mouth firmly shut, eyes fixed on Volv. The difference from before was that the burning anger had cooled to a cold calm. His gaze swept Volv up and down, empty and unreadable.

“…Very well. I agree.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

“Once Lord Ian and a specialist magician on Idgal return, all decision-making authority will be revoked.”

“Romandro, don’t worry too much. It’s the Imperial Defense Department, after all. They’ll be flooded with information on Idgal soon enough. Who knows? Maybe they’ll even hand it over in bulk.”

Bang! Bang bang!

The prime minister glanced at Jin, then struck the table with his baton to signal the end of the meeting. The generals patted each other on the shoulder, satisfied, and some officials quietly left the room.

But Jin remained still, staring straight ahead. Eventually, only the prime minister and Romandro stayed behind. The prime minister’s aide discreetly closed the door, giving them privacy.

“Your Highness, are you alright?”

“Of course. I feel clearer-headed than ever.”

“Pardon? What do you mean by that…?”

Jin looked at the prime minister, then gestured toward Volv’s empty seat, as if reminding him of what had just happened.

“Prime Minister, you saw it. The Magic Department’s oversight is meant to strengthen royal authority, but some just don’t get it.”

“I didn’t expect Minister Volv’s sudden move either, Your Highness. I will meet with him again and try to reason with him…”

“No. Enough. They say you can’t change a person. Besides, Volv was appointed temporarily during the rebellion. He’s in a position too big for his own capacity.”

The Crown Prince’s muttering was ominous. The prime minister checked the door was securely closed again, while Romandro nervously bit his dry lips.

“Good thing Lord Ian isn’t here right now.”

“Your Highness… I’m sorry, but what are you implying?”

“To them, I’m still just a young royal. To truly seize power, the best and fastest way is to place my own people in key positions. Any objections?”

None. The Defense Department’s current threat came from Volv not fully sharing Jin’s goals.

Jin wanted to strengthen royal authority; Volv wanted to elevate the Defense Department’s status and his own power. Conflict was inevitable.

“Romandro, you’ve been in the administration. You know when ministerial changes usually happen.”

“Typically, the Emperor selects at the New Year’s gathering. In special cases, a majority vote at a conference attended by his proxy appoints a temporary minister, who remains if no issues arise…”

“Besides those usual cases. There must be others.”

“Ah, well, if a sitting minister dies, the Emperor selects again. But His Majesty’s condition is unstable, so the conference will likely elect a new minister.”

Jin looked at the prime minister, as if hoping his meaning was clear.

“Are you saying we should remove Minister Volv?”

“Not remove, exactly. More like, he’s unfit for the position and should step down.”

“I understand, but there are generals under Volv. They won’t accept this quietly, and one of them will likely become the next minister.”

“That will be General Jarrett.”

“General Jarrett?”

“Yes. I’ll summon Jarrett to His Majesty’s chambers.”

“…Your Highness!”

Jarrett, unaware of the Emperor’s frozen state, was in a delicate position with the palace guards. Though he was Jin’s man, he had a primary lord to whom he owed allegiance.

But seeing the Emperor’s condition with his own eyes, Jarrett would fully recognize that Jin was the next Emperor and take a clear stance.

“Jarrett’s views align with the Defense Department’s: to check the Magic Department and stabilize royal authority. Though he walks a different path than Volv. If summoned to His Majesty’s chambers, Jarrett won’t just want stability for the throne—he’ll want stability for me.”

Romandro blinked, confused. Was the Emperor really that unwell? It was a wonder he was still alive.

Jin suddenly turned to Romandro.

“Romandro.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“You will represent the Magic Department at the conference. I ask for your cooperation. I promise again: exclusive authority over Idgal will be granted. Lord Ian will make all final decisions.”

“Ah, yes. Of course. I will follow Your Highness’s wishes.”

“Prime Minister, I leave the administration in your hands.”

Jin’s relief that Ian was absent was clear. The boy was taking a leap to strengthen royal authority by using the Magic Department to check itself.

If Ian were here, it would have been impossible. His presence was so strong that all other factions would appear as one color.

But now, with Ian gone, it was an opportunity to weed out those disguised in similar hues.

‘Even if I fail, it’s alright. When Lord Ian returns, everything will look the same again.’

And Ian wouldn’t just stand by and watch him fall.

It was an opportunity. Just as Volb saw it as one, Jin saw it the same way—a chance to step back five paces. If all went well, even more than five steps back, so that when Ian returned, he’d find Jin right where he left him.

“Your Majesty, no matter how I look at it, this is too dangerous. If it fails, it will spark a civil war.”

“Every breath taken within the palace walls is dangerous. Chancellor, you know that well enough. And Volb isn’t like Prince Marib or Prince Gale. Do you really think Bariel can be controlled just because an illegitimate man holds military power?”

The boy’s arguments were so precise and correct that the chancellor found himself at a loss. He clutched his head, sinking into thought. His duty was to serve the royal family, to support Jin and the Jin dynasty.

But power doesn’t grow simply with the passage of time. Objectively, now was the perfect moment to seize control of the palace. This aligned perfectly with Jin’s desire to keep the magic department in check.

“…Who will you use? If you wish—”

“No. That’s not for the chancellor to decide.”

Everything had to move under Jin’s command. Otherwise, it would mean nothing.

The boy glanced back at Xiaosi standing behind him. A member of the Imperial Defense Department, someone who could claim any incident as an internal matter if discovered. A man of skill and grit. Above all, someone willing to die for his lord.

“Xia.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

They exchanged no further words, as if the plan had already been discussed. Romandro clasped his hands together, silently praying for Volb’s swift death, while the chancellor closed his eyes, calmly calculating any unforeseen complications. With the crown prince’s resolve set, there was no choice but to support him.

“First, I will summon Captain Jarrett to His Majesty the Emperor’s chambers. Then the generals…”

Whether to deal with them, persuade them, or clean house—that was Jarrett’s responsibility. Jin looked out at the setting sun and placed a hand on Xiaosi’s shoulder.

“Xia.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“I trust you.”

Romandro’s trembling hand rested on the other shoulder.

“Xia, I trust you too.”

“Don’t worry.”

“When do you plan to carry this out, Your Majesty?”

“Tomorrow is the new moon.”

Under Ian’s orders to kill the precious one, they had once infiltrated Gale’s chambers. Of course, that had all been staged.

“This time, we kill for the precious one.”

Xiaosi looked up at Jin with a determined smile.

A night without moonlight would be the perfect time. A night where even the blood on their hands wouldn’t be seen. A night when the enemy couldn’t see them, and if things went wrong, they could die without a trace.

Jin wrapped his arms around Xiaosi’s waist, swallowing a heavy sigh of regret.