Chapter 461

“Ru-Rutherford—!”

Romandro’s shout, sharp and strained, echoed chaotically through the imperial palace. His face drained of color, his body staggering forward as if about to collapse. The courtiers instinctively stepped aside, clearing a path.

Rutherford.

Some knew the weight and meaning behind that name all too well; others only caught it vaguely and tilted their heads in confusion.

Ignoring dozens of gazes, Romandro hurried toward the chamber where the Crown Prince stood, with Beric close on his heels.

Clack, clack!

“Move aside!”

“Romandro, Beric, what’s going on?”

“It’s urgent! Didn’t you hear me? Move!”

“Hey, get out of the way!”

Thud!

A servant guarding the reception room suddenly stepped forward to ask what was happening, only to be knocked down as Romandro and Beric collided head-on with him.

The three of them tumbled into a mess. Romandro clutched his throbbing head, while Beric sprang up, blood trickling from his nose.

“Rutherford has broken in!”

Screech.

At that moment, Tweller, who had been waiting for news, opened the door himself. Behind his broad shoulders, Jin and Xiaosi stood anxiously. Tweller surveyed the chaotic scene and asked,

“Romandro, what do you mean by Rutherford?”

“This is serious, Minister Tweller! Rutherford—he’s infiltrated the palace! They seem to be gathering around the exhibition hall. One of our top mages, Akorella, the head of the Magic Department, has been taken down.”

Romandro’s shout drew grim expressions from everyone.

Rutherford—the mysterious merchant guild known for manufacturing the artificial magic-sealing stones called Idgal, now leaderless and trying to establish influence in the Vargas region.

This was the basic intel the palace had, but for Tweller and others seasoned by war, the implications ran far deeper.

“What about Lord Ian?”

“He’s likely engaged with the mages who went with him. For now, we must ensure His Highness’s safety… Please, send reinforcements immediately!”

This was the imperial palace.

Every entrance and exit was guarded by the Magic Department and soldiers; not even an ant could pass without permission. Everyone present knew this well.

Tweller gripped his sword tightly as Romandro trembled with urgency. This was grave—an internal security crisis far worse than any rebellion.

“Xiaosi.”

“Yes, Minister Tweller.”

“Escort His Highness to safety.”

Swish.

Tweller and Ian simultaneously sensed a strange, ominous sound.

The battle-hardened veteran Tweller detected it with his honed senses; the prodigious mage Ian felt it with a sixth sense—a looming explosion.

What did this noise mean? And what did Akorella’s defeat imply?

“Summon every soldier in the palace at once.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Romandro, how many mages went with Lord Ian?”

“F-five? Or six? I’m not sure.”

“Tell the mages here: no reckless attacks or approaches until we fully assess the enemy’s strength. They are to stand down until further orders.”

“Huh? Why?”

Beric bristled at the command.

Mages were linked organically through their magic. If one was injured, others could share their power to help. So moving as a group was advantageous—Beric knew this well.

“Ian’s not in good shape right now! And if that lunatic Akorella got taken down, shouldn’t we swarm them? Don’t you know there’s no beating a gang attack?”

This was Tweller, a man who once said he’d chew people alive if he had to. Yet now, his subordinates were quietly backing away down the corridor as he pulled a cigarette from his pocket.

“You’re a wild stallion by nature, but somehow you stuck close to Ian.”

“Ian’s got a hell of a temper, you know?”

“Listen carefully. These are thugs who deceived the Magic Department and infiltrated deep into the palace. You said Akorella, a chief mage, was taken down? That means the enemy includes mages capable of handling palace-level magic resources.”

“Akorella’s a researcher, so she’s useless anyway!”

“Is that all there is to it? Rutherford is the core of Idgal’s production. If all the palace mages rush out and lose their power—”

Tweller leveled his cigarette at Beric. His fierce gaze burned through the smoke. He respected loyalty, but everything must happen under orders.

“If the palace loses its strength, Bariel falls. If Bariel falls, the empire’s future disappears. Beric, do you think Ian would want that?”

The order was final. Follow it with all your might.

Calm but weighty, the warning hung in the air. Beric pouted in displeasure but said nothing. After all, if Ian didn’t want it, neither did he.

Just then, Jin appeared, dressed properly, flanked by Xiaosi and Jarrett. The Crown Prince gently took Romandro’s still-shaking hand and asked with concern,

“Rutherford is here? What about Lord Ian?”

“Ian is holding them off, I’m sure. Please don’t worry too much. These are ruthless foes. How on earth did they manage to breach the palace?”

“How?”

“I don’t know the details, but I suspect magic was involved.”

“Have their motives been uncovered?”

“N-not yet…”

It was hard to say. Given the palace’s unique nature, it seemed they aimed to threaten the royal family’s survival.

Nothing was certain yet. Evacuating was the right move. Jin was the empire’s only crown prince and the one leading the empire in the emperor’s stead.

“Your Highness!”

Clack, clack!

At the corridor’s end, high-ranking officials rushed in, faces pale with shock. None had ever seen anything like this. It was unprecedented, and they feared as if Bariel itself was splitting in two.

“There’s an intruder in the palace?”

“They say it’s the Rutherford guild—is that true?”

“It is. Everyone, take cover. We have no idea what their goal is. Tweller! Capture the Rutherford group alive if possible; if not, eliminate them.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Tweller vanished after receiving Jin’s order. The officials, watching his retreating figure, suddenly realized something.

“What about the Magic Department? What are they doing?”

“We understand Lord Ian is currently confronting Rutherford. The remaining mages will coordinate with the Imperial Defense. Everyone, please remain calm—”

“Your Highness.”

One official cautiously called out to Jin.

“Is it wise to have the Imperial Defense and Magic Department working together?”

“What?”

The question struck a nerve. Jin, who had been about to move in the opposite direction from Tweller, stopped and turned to face him. Though he didn’t immediately grasp the meaning, his brow furrowed deeply.

“Listen.”

“Rutherford was the force that caused chaos in Bariel during the civil war using Idgal. And didn’t Lord Ian himself reveal at the conference that he was involved in its production? A sudden infiltration of the palace, where the Magic Department is strong, is hard to accept.”

“Exactly! No one knows for sure. They might have infiltrated with the Magic Department’s help!”

“Frankly, it seems impossible without inside assistance.”

“It would be best to isolate and monitor the Magic Department first, Your Highness.”

“Are you suggesting the Magic Department and Rutherford are working together?”

“It’s a distinct possibility! Very likely!”

“To be honest, Lord Ian’s statements didn’t add up. He said he was involved in the production but has no memory of it?”

“Now I understand! King Damon claimed Lord Ian’s bloodline was royal. Rutherford and Damon are allies. They planned to shake Bariel by deceiving us into thinking Ian was a royal descendant!”

“Enough, enough!”

Crash!

A ceramic ornament flew at the officials’ feet. Jin had thrown it in frustration.

For a moment, the officials were stunned, then quickly dropped to the floor, realizing Jin’s anger. Their teeth grinding was almost audible. As the prime minister approached to calm him, Jin roughly waved him off.

“Why? Why are you all so desperate to tear Lord Ian down? Is it because a commoner rose to a ministerial post?”

“Your Highness! That’s outrageous!”

“We only want what’s best for you and Bariel’s safety…”

“Didn’t I say step back? Leave everything behind—we’re leaving this place now!”

Jin’s voice cracked as he poured out all his pent-up frustration.

Checks and balances—though invisible, they were precious. For their sake, Ian and he had distanced themselves. When walking alone ten steps seemed hard, he had carried five himself. Now Ian was walking well on his own, so he would take a different path.

“Are you all just barking out of fear of magic’s power?”

“Your Highness! That’s an excessive remark!”

“Mark my words carefully!”

Ian sacrificed himself every time. More than that, he urged Jin to use him as a stepping stone to climb even higher. Knowing his own body would vanish anyway, he smiled as he vowed to give himself up for Jin’s consolidation of power—and that smile was suffocating. Yet, how dare he…

Jin quietly warned the officials.

“…Do not bark. Only a frightened dog barks.”

Smack!

Without another word, Jin turned away. Captain Jarrett led the palace guards as they rushed to escort the crown prince.

“Your Highness, where shall we take you?”

There were dozens of safe rooms scattered throughout the palace. They wanted to know which one was suitable. Jin hesitated briefly, then nodded toward the central building of the First Imperial Palace in the distance.

“I will go to my father.”

“What?”

Why approach the emperor, frozen and lying there?

Jarrett was momentarily confused, unsure of Jin’s intent, but then he understood. The secret passage hidden behind the painting that the emperor once used. Jin planned to hide there. It was undoubtedly the safest place, and from there, he could observe everything unfolding at a glance.

Jarrett nodded and gave orders to the other guards. The secret refuge behind the painting was information shared only among the captains.

“The rest of you will secure and control the central palace building. If any officials need assistance, help them.”

“Yes, understood.”

“Your Highness! Your Highness!”

Thud!

Beric suddenly burst through the guards, his eyes blazing. Jin knew exactly what Beric wanted. The boy was silently asking for permission, and Jin gladly granted it.

“Beric, go to Lord Ian. Support him with all your strength. Your mission is to restore the Magic Department fully.”

Though the war between the three kingdoms had ended, the currents beneath were turbulent and murky like the bottom of a deep river.

The king of Luswena had died, cursed by his own hand, and the king of Burgos was imprisoned by the royal family. On top of that, a continental rift had opened right in the middle of Cliffford.

The political situation among the three kingdoms was so chaotic that no one could predict the future. Bariel needed to solidify its status as a great power. And naturally, the key to that was the existence of the Magic Department.

“Beric can’t handle this alone, Your Highness. I will send Barsabe with him. Barsabe!”

“Yes, Captain!”

“I’m off!”

“Beric! Let’s go together!”

Tap, tap, tap!

Barsabe saluted Jin and immediately followed Beric.

Another explosion thundered. Jin frowned, watching the rising smoke. Something serious was definitely happening inside.