Chapter 457

“Do they have it? Huh? Do they?”

If that’s the case, shouldn’t we share this wisdom with everyone immediately?

Romandro whispered excitedly, but Ian raised a hand to cover his mouth. He could feel the eyes of everyone in the meeting room slowly turning toward him.

“Yes, they do have it, but it’s useless right now.”

“Why not?”

“Just as Rutherford has consolidated his power within Burgos, Bariel is doing the same. Unlike Rutherford, who wants to unleash the chaos inside Burgos outward through war, Bariel plans to crown a pro-Bariel figure as king—someone who will bear the internal turmoil. That way, the chaos inside won’t escalate into a full-scale war. But if that happens, the civil war will become severe, and we can’t guarantee that we’ll reap any benefits from the Clifford-Burgos war.”

The bigger problem was that there were very few influential Burgos figures loyal to Bariel. The Burgos royal palace was already filled with Damon’s loyalists, and that was the foundation for the war.

The only person who might have the palace’s backing was Timothy, but he had already been purged, lost everything, and naturalized elsewhere. He couldn’t return to Burgos, and even if he tried, it would be difficult.

‘Besides, I don’t want that.’

Timothy must no longer have any ties to Burgos. Only by settling in Bariel could he hope for Naum’s future.

“So, what do we do then?”

“It’s a bit complicated, but for now—”

A hardline approach was the right course of action. The defeated nation, the aggressor in this war, had no right to act so brazenly in the royal palace. Neither the royal family nor Ian would tolerate it.

Even if the enemy unites through war, protecting Bariel’s dignity must come first. Nothing was more important.

“We have no choice but to cut them down, defend the honor of the royal family, and overwhelm the Burgos side.”

So it would come down to war again. A look of despair briefly crossed Romandro’s face. He was a reconstruction expert, after all. Though most of his work involved natural disaster zones, he had often traveled war-torn areas with Viviana.

The Clifford-Burgos war was someone else’s problem, so he hadn’t worried much. But now, seeing Bariel take the lead, and with mysterious forces gathering in the western country, it was a whole different matter.

“Ian, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has declared he will dispatch you to Clifford, and some of the Magic Department’s personnel will accompany you.”

“…They won’t mobilize many.”

“That’s your opinion! Still, war… Of course, I trust Bariel’s military strength, but to secure a clear victory with minimal casualties, won’t the Magic Department’s involvement be necessary?”

“Do you see Minister Tweller’s expression?”

“Maxim Tweller?”

Ian nodded slightly, and Romandro turned his eyes to meet the gaze of the Empire’s Defense Minister, Maxim Tweller, seated not far from the Crown Prince. Tweller wrinkled his nose in satisfaction, as if savoring the scent of the impending war.

They were creatures who thrived on bloodshed and grew stronger through cries of anguish. This wasn’t a foreign war—it was one led by the Empire itself. For them, it was a feast laid out perfectly.

“The Defense Minister will be pleased. These are the kinds of people who get promoted through war. His status will rise as well.”

“That’s true, but what I’m really seeing is his eyes.”

“Hm? His eyes?”

“The look of someone who has harbored deep resentment for a lifetime.”

Romandro focused on Tweller’s gaze, puzzled by Ian’s words.

“This is a man who has waited his whole life for a moment like this. Even without mages, he will perform admirably on the battlefield. Rutherford’s presence is a concern, but he’s on the losing side. If any mages try to intervene in this war, Minister Tweller will find a way to cut them off.”

Noticing their gaze, Maxim Tweller glanced at Ian, raised an eyebrow, and gave a faint smile. He placed his dry, firm hand over his chest in a gesture of respect, as if relieved that the Magic Department would go to Clifford and the Defense Department to Burgos.

Romandro awkwardly returned the smile.

“Right. That makes sense. Since the Magic Department played a big role in the Clifford-Burgos war, this time the Defense Department will take the lead no matter what. Oh, dear.”

“For now, it’s best to respect and follow the royal family’s wishes. Let’s watch and wait.”

Jin whispered various things with the Prime Minister, nodding several times—once as if acknowledging, once as if granting permission, and finally as if everything was settled.

Vania lifted her chin stiffly, watching the scene. The fate of Burgos, along with the delegation she came with under the young Crown Prince’s orders, was about to be decided. No matter what happened, the big picture would remain in Rutherford’s grasp, but the fear of the trials ahead was an unavoidable human instinct.

Bang! Bang!

The Prime Minister struck his staff down sternly, silencing the noisy meeting room.

“Representative Vania of the Burgos delegation.”

“Yes, Prime Minister.”

“As the Burgos delegation, you insist on rejecting Bariel’s negotiation proposal. Is that correct?”

“It’s not that we reject it—”

“Bariel has made it clear there is no room for compromise. You would be wise to recognize your position. Whatever you hope for, do not insult the royal family’s meeting with hidden agendas. This is my final warning.”

Bang!

The Prime Minister’s rare loud strike echoed through the room. His hand came down with force, and the officials tried hard not to flinch, staring straight ahead.

“Will the Burgos delegation not accept Bariel’s proposal?”

Vania took a breath, then sighed as if resigned.

“Yes. We cannot accept it.”

“How insolent! Such disrespect!”

“You refused the offer, so you must bear the consequences! Your Highness, you must have them beheaded immediately to send a warning to Burgos!”

“Yes! Exactly! How dare they!”

“It’s obvious what they’re up to. We must show them the death that awaits without delay! This is for the best! We should seize all Burgos territory and annihilate them!”

“Everyone, be quiet!”

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The Prime Minister slammed his staff down as if it were the enemy’s head.

The chaos was the same in Clifford. They had agreed to hand over the right of recourse to Bariel, but if Burgos acted like this, what would Clifford’s position be?

Damon stared drowsily at the ceiling, his expression unreadable.

“By order of the Prime Minister of the Bariel Empire, I declare: The Burgos delegation currently in the royal palace is hereby dismissed. They show no willingness to cooperate for friendly negotiations between Burgos and Bariel, which is an insult to Bariel. Therefore, they are no longer recognized as a delegation.”

Crack!

At the Prime Minister’s command, armed soldiers burst in from outside. The delegation had lost their status, so their treatment going forward was obvious. They would be held accountable for following Rutherford, who was involved in the royal palace rebellion, and receive fitting punishment.

Would Burgos follow the same path as Luswena? The Clifford king watched tensely, while the Burgos delegation was quickly surrounded by soldiers.

“Especially you, Vania. You declared loyalty to Rutherford, who aided the royal rebellion, and insulted the Empire’s ministers by associating them with him. Moreover, you were present when King Eriphoni of Luswena caused trouble. You will not leave this palace alive. Let the rest of Burgos hear this!”

Sharp spears and swords seemed to pierce their throats, but not a single one flinched.

Ian sensed the unnatural tension in the air. Anyone, no matter how backed, would show at least a flicker of fear—but there was none. It was as if they believed they would not die.

“Wait.”

Breaking the silence, Ian raised his hand and slowly stood. Jin and the royal officials turned in surprise to look at him.

“Is there a problem, Minister Ian?”

“Yes. Not a problem, but a suspicion.”

Ian approached Vania slowly.

His gaze seemed to peer into her very soul, and Vania instinctively lowered her eyes, afraid her true thoughts would be revealed. Ian tilted his head with growing certainty.

“There’s something more beneath their surface. They’re provoking war to bring about their own deaths. Your Highness, if you agree, please allow the mages to interrogate them briefly.”

“Wasn’t that already done when they entered the main gate?”

“Yes, Prime Minister. But only a handful of mages questioned nearly dozens of people—from Clifford, Burgos, and Luswena—important figures from all three countries. I ask this as a precaution. Please consider it.”

“Hmm.”

The Prime Minister glanced at Jin, silently asking what to do. The decision on Ian’s request was made, but he seemed worried Jin might waver again.

“And if we don’t know what they’re hiding?”

But Jin asked calmly, without a trace of emotion. This was no longer the child who had just moments ago been tearful and quarrelsome with Ian.

“I’m sorry, but we’ll need to conduct an investigation to be sure. For example…”

Ian gracefully lifted the tip of Vania’s chin with his fingertip, gently tilting it upward. He then examined the inside of Vania’s lips with persistent scrutiny.

“To see if, like King Damon, something is hidden beneath the tongue—”

“Let go! That’s rude!”

“You are no longer the envoy of Burgos, so how can you accuse me of rudeness?”

Vania roughly brushed Ian’s hand away, but Ian only smiled in response. Thanks to his leather gloves, not even a scratch was left.

“Or perhaps our intentions differ.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“It’s a method Burgos often uses. Before the war broke out, when the Burgos delegation first arrived in Clifford, they were unaware they were walking into their deaths. That’s why they could remain composed even in harsh circumstances. Seeing these men now brings back those memories.”

As Ian spoke softly, a few of the Burgos envoys’ eyes flickered ever so slightly. Ian snapped his fingers and gave orders to the mages.

“Search the reception room where the Burgos delegation stayed.”

“Yes, Lord Ian.”

“And these men—may we take them to the Magic Department for a while? Your Majesty?”

“Your Majesty, that’s not possible. Haven’t you heard the testimony linking Lord Ian to Rutherford? It’s only right to eliminate any risks. Bring them to the royal palace.”

“But investigations like this are best handled by mages…”

“Your Majesty, no. Regardless of trust, this cannot be allowed publicly.”

No sooner had Ian finished speaking than officials crowded around Jin, whispering urgently.

Jin, deep in thought, soon waved his hand to silence the private commotion.

“Only Vania will be investigated within the palace. The others will be handled by the Magic Department, but palace personnel will observe the process.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

So, the negotiations would be suspended for now. Neither Luswena nor Burgos had found common ground, and everything had fallen apart.

In this room, the only party to secure their own interests was Clifford. The king quickly skimmed the remaining text and signed at the bottom.

Bang!

The Clifford seal was stamped just as vividly and boldly in red.