Chapter 472
The meeting was abruptly adjourned.
Leaving the murmuring officials behind, Jin nodded toward Xiao Xi. It was a subtle signal to delay the announcement of the emperor’s death, as instructed. Xiao Xi carefully tucked the letter into his chest and led the way, opening the door.
Tap, tap, tap!
Jin was sprinting ahead, and Xiao Xi couldn’t bring himself to scold him for losing his composure.
It had been a full ten years. Ten springs had come and gone without a single trace of the two who had vanished—years that felt lonely, puzzling, and like a fleeting dream. Now, Jin was retracing those lost years as if turning back time itself.
“What about Minister Tweller?”
“He’s just finishing joint military exercises with the Imperial Guard and is entering the palace now. He said he’ll come straight to the office once inside, so he should be waiting.”
“Tell Romandro and Beric to come as well.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Hail isn’t in the palace right now, is he?”
“He’s been dispatched to investigate the northern monster-infested zone.”
“Bring in Akorella.”
Xiao Xi gave a brief nod and signaled his subordinates.
The crowd split into three groups. Jin didn’t stop running until he reached his office, where he met Tweller just as the minister stepped down from his carriage.
“Your Highness.”
Huff, huff…
While Jin had grown from a boy into a young man, Tweller remained unchanged—no gray hairs, no wrinkles—still the stalwart veteran he’d always been.
Tweller’s eyes widened slightly in surprise before he bowed deeply.
“Apologies for my tardiness. Age has slowed me down.”
“Nonsense. No one in the Imperial Defense Department is quicker than you. Come inside.”
Jin tore his gaze away from the stack of documents tucked under Tweller’s arm. Someone using the name Rutherford had appeared.
Was it an impostor? Or was it really him—the one who had fallen through the rift with Lord Ian? Speaking of which, where was Lord Ian? Had he returned? If so, he would surely come to the palace.
Swish.
“Here is the report from Burgos. The anti-royalist faction has established a new supply line, and we’ve traced the source of their materials. It’s uncertain, but Tolrun is the most likely origin.”
“Tolrun?”
“It’s adjacent to the stronghold Rutherford’s group once used. The royalists believe that about two weeks ago, military supplies crossed the northern border into enemy territory.”
“So it wasn’t confirmed at the time, I see. Otherwise, I would have heard about it sooner.”
“Exactly. The initial reports lacked sufficient accuracy to be official. But now—”
Clatter.
Tweller placed a familiar gem on Jin’s desk. It was an amber-hued Idgal, stained with someone’s blood.
Jin frowned, startled.
“Idgal.”
“We’ll need to analyze it further, but it appears to be the same material Rutherford’s group circulated ten years ago.”
Jin picked up the gem, turning it over in his hand. Though it lacked magical power, he could roughly identify it from years of handling such stones.
“New Idgal is flowing in? Could it be from a country other than Tolrun?”
“Currently, all Idgal distributed by Rutherford in Bariel, Clifopod, and Luswena is being used to suppress the rifts.”
Idgal was one of the reparations Bariel demanded from Luswena. Since calming the Clifopod rift was a priority, Luswena was forced to hand over all their Idgal.
Yet the Luswena royal palace had been secretly siphoning off some of the Idgal, prompting Bariel to send regular inspections.
“It’s possible. Luswena might be covertly supplying Idgal. If Bariel absorbs Burgos, Luswena would be the next biggest problem.”
Especially with Jin’s coming coming-of-age ceremony, both Burgos and Luswena were on edge, watching the shifting political landscape.
So the most effective way to bolster Burgos was to supply Idgal—a resource that limited magic and was difficult for Bariel to track.
“I’ll pressure Luswena.”
Xiao Xi understood and began drafting a letter.
Tweller, however, remained cautious. Though the royalists were pro-Bariel, they were still Burgos natives. He couldn’t trust mere scraps of paper in reports.
“If it’s Idgal from Burgos we haven’t identified… if Luswena’s palace is secretly supporting them… and—”
Jin paused, counting the possibilities.
“…if Rutherford has begun manufacturing new Idgal in Tolrun.”
Please, please show yourself again. Let me repay the humiliation in person. Tell me everything—where Lord Ian is, what happened to him.
Once I have all the answers, I’ll tear out the tongue of that king trapped in his tower, counting the years.
Knock, knock! Bang!
Suddenly, a commotion erupted outside. Before Jin could call them in, Beric, Romandro, and Akorella burst through the door.
Leading the charge was Beric, drenched in sweat, pointing an accusing finger at Minister Tweller.
“Damn it! If something like this happens, you should come with us! Why ride alone in a carriage? I ran all this way!”
“…I didn’t expect the Crown Prince to call for me. Beric, have you finished training?”
“Yeah, and it was damn exhausting.”
“Hey, Beric! Show some respect in front of His Highness!”
“Your Highness, I heard new Idgal has arrived? Is it genuine? Damn, all the samples are going to Clifopod, and I’m running out here.”
“Akorella, you too, behave yourself!”
They all longed for Ian’s return as much as Jin did. Jin tapped the report Tweller had handed him.
“Rutherford’s trail has been found.”
“Wha—R-Rutherford?”
“There’s mention of that name at the end of the new Idgal supply chain in Burgos. Whether it’s an impostor or not, we don’t know.”
Beric froze, and Akorella’s eyes went wide. Romandro was the first to speak, stroking his beard as if trying to think quickly.
“Is there any reason for him to suddenly reappear after ten years? If it’s to regroup his scattered forces, it’s certainly possible.”
“Exactly. That’s why we’re sending the Imperial Defense Department to investigate Burgos. We also plan to send someone to Tolrun.”
Swish.
Jin picked up the Idgal, and Akorella accepted it respectfully with both hands. Once so common it threatened mages’ safety, now it was precious, all being used to seal the rifts.
Akorella snorted and declined.
“I can’t go. My leg isn’t well. It’s been aching more lately. Tolrun’s too far.”
“Come on, you run around just fine normally. Just say you want to research it. You’re always full of excuses.”
“Yeah, right. I’ll study this and shove it into Beric’s head. Maybe that’ll shut his big mouth.”
“Hey, hey! Enough, all of you!”
Romandro scolded, then raised his hand and laughed.
“Your Highness, I—”
The words ‘My ten-year-old daughter is at home’ rose in his throat but wouldn’t come out. How could he compare his family to the crown prince’s grand mission?
Jin shook his head, signaling he understood. The right person was already chosen.
“Beric. You’re going. Meet with the Atan tribe on your way, join Captain Hail, and return together.”
Akorella and Romandro both looked at Beric. He was the one least willing to leave the palace, always haunted by the thought that Ian might return at any moment.
“If Rutherford is involved, there’s a good chance Ian is there too.”
Unlike ordinary men, Beric could move swiftly using magic. Plus, he was well-suited for matters involving the Atan tribe.
Beric ran a hand through his hair, hesitating.
“You think Ian might be there?”
“Yes. So go and investigate thoroughly. Capture Rutherford if you find him, dead or alive. Bring back his head if you must. But if you find Lord Ian—”
Jin paused, and Beric finished the sentence.
“I’ll bring him back.”
“…No matter what.”
Beric shrugged, glancing at the incredulous faces of Romandro and Akorella. ‘What are you looking at?’ his expression seemed to say. There’s a difference between a mission from Minister Tweller and one from His Highness Jin.
“I can write reports, but my handwriting’s terrible. That’s okay, right?”
“Of course. Since when did we care about that?”
“When do we leave?”
“Right now, if possible.”
“Yes, Your Highness. I’ll leave after dinner.”
Romandro quietly grabbed Beric’s sleeve.
“Beric, guests will be arriving soon at Hielo Manor. At least see them before you go.”
“I’ll be back soon. Tell them to wait here until I return.”
“You don’t even know where Tolrun is, do you?”
“I do! It’s above the Hasha Kingdom. Oh, Your Highness, I’ll be back before the year’s end. They said the annex construction will be done by then.”
“Beric! I’ll take the kids, use the enhancer, and open the portal. We might not get far, but we should land somewhere near the northern border of Bariel.”
“Oh, look at you—actually being helpful for once.”
Beric stretched and left the office, while Romandro added with concern,
“Your Highness, are you sure it’s safe to send Beric alone? Wouldn’t it be better to send Barsaver as well?”
“Now that Rutherford has surfaced, I can’t spare two palace guards.”
Rutherford was the one who had previously infiltrated the palace. Jin closed the report lightly and nodded, signaling Romandro to leave it at that.
“And besides Beric, the others don’t matter.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“The one who believes most strongly that he will return is the one who will ultimately find his way back.”
In other words, there’s no need to send anyone else besides those gathered here.
Romandro sighed softly, accepted the report without further comment, and left.
Creak.
The door to the dark private chamber opened, releasing a faintly sweet scent as a single beam of light slipped inside.
The subordinates sent by the Banwang faction hesitated, peering cautiously into the room. Though they had been told they could enter once the door was open, the thick darkness made them reluctant to step forward.
“A cold wind’s coming in.”
A low voice came from within. A man reclining on the bed, cigarette holder in mouth, spoke.
The subordinates carefully stepped inside, their eyes slowly adjusting to the gloom until they could make out a figure.
“R-Rutherford, is that really you?”
One of them, who had previously met Rutherford, asked in disbelief. Ten years had passed, yet his appearance and aura remained unchanged. Even his posture in greeting was exactly as it had been back then.
Rutherford chewed on the end of his cigarette and rummaged through his pocket.
Thunk.
He tossed something at their feet—it was an Idgal, a simple but undeniable proof of his identity.
“I’m just making up for the cigarettes I missed,” he said.
“W-What happened? What on earth took place…?”
“I heard you went through the Rift.”
“You’re alive? What about the mages? What became of them?”
Rutherford just stared blankly into the air, savoring the smoke. Ten years had passed in Gaia’s time since he was swallowed by the Rift’s sea. But for him, it had only been ten days. Ten days.
“I heard the Minister of Magic of Bariel was with you. What about him? Did you… deal with him?”
“Oh. Ian?”
Creak.
Rutherford chuckled softly, flicking the ash from his cigarette as if to say, “Don’t even ask.” He never imagined such relentless obsession could exist beyond the bounds of time. Shaking his head slightly, he muttered,
“He must have woken up with me. I don’t know where, but… that’s why now is our chance.”