Chapter 522

“What’s with this long conversation?”

“Exactly. I’m dying of curiosity here.”

“Don’t push. Even if I put my ear to the door, I can’t hear a thing.”

“How long are you guys going to keep this up? Aren’t you going to pack up?”

“Do I look like I’m here on vacation? I’m here to get approval.”

“Ian? Iaaaan.”

“Shh. Quiet, Beric!”

Beric and the mages pressed close to the door, straining to catch any sound. While Zyra was the key figure in the Clifford Rift investigation, the one-on-one meeting was dragging on far longer than expected.

Because of that, more and more mages gathered, lining up to get Ian’s approval. Beric, who just wanted to flop down on the sofa and relax, made a fuss, signaling inside in frustration.

“Hey.”

At the end of the hallway, a palace staff member cautiously called out to them. When all eyes turned, the staff looked quite flustered.

“Is there a problem with the minister?”

“Are you here to submit a report too? Either leave it and go or get in line. We’re all waiting.”

“This is an order from His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince.”

“Oh.”

That changes everything!

Unlike the mages who stepped aside to clear the way, Beric just clung to the doorknob, whining nonstop.

Knock knock.

“Minister. Excuse me for a moment.”

“Iaaaan. It’s an order from His Royal Highness.”

There was no way to just barge through. The staff hesitated, then stepped between Beric’s arms and legs to get through. Immediately, a voice from inside gave permission.

“Come in.”

The door swung open.

Ian stood by his desk, sorting through documents, while Zyra wiped his glasses. Peeking in, a dozen or so mages craned their necks, eyes darting around.

“What is it?”

“Ah, yes. It’s news about the delegation to Burgos. They were ambushed suddenly, and except for the messenger, all were killed. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has called an emergency official meeting and has ordered the Magic Department to attend without fail.”

The entire delegation was wiped out.

Ian’s hand paused mid-sorting, and the mages’ gazes fixed on the staff member. They were certain: this was the spark that would ignite war.

“Understood.”

“Yes, sir.”

The staff bowed and stepped back, and Beric dashed over to collapse onto the sofa.

“Seriously, Beric, you want to lie down even in a situation like this?”

“When the war starts, I’ll be rolling in the trenches. Might as well enjoy myself while I can. You guys should rest up too, if you can. Oh, right. We have to go to the Magic Department meeting, huh? Haha.”

The mages’ eyes smiled, but the irritation bubbling beneath was impossible to hide. As they lunged to grab Beric by the collar, Zyra stood, brushing off his jacket.

“We’re supporting from the rear, so no need to smell the trenches. Beric, you go ahead and roll around all you want.”

“Talking down to your elder?”

“Why? Isn’t that what you do best?”

“Ugh! Come here!”

“Ian, I’ll be going now. I’ll submit a detailed report later, so let’s discuss again then.”

As Zyra bowed to Ian, he flipped the middle finger behind his back. It was clear Beric played a big role in getting mages from Luswena into the Magic Department, though he probably had no idea.

“You little runt! I’ll kill you for real!”

…Some things never change. In many ways.

Ian smirked and motioned for them to leave. Beric ground his teeth at Zyra’s back, helplessly caught in the mages’ collective scolding.

“Ian, what should the Magic Department prepare for the meeting about the delegation’s ambush?”

An attack on a diplomatic delegation was unheard of—something they’d never faced before. Ian felt at a loss about what to prepare.

Rustle. Ian carefully read through the documents, pondering. Depending on who was behind the attack, the course of the war would shift. Was it Rutherford’s side? The Atan tribe? Or perhaps the royalists or some other faction?

In any case, the top priority was the coronation…

“I think they’ll combine the coronation and the deployment ceremony.”

“Ah, that makes sense. His Highness is eager to join the battle.”

“That’s better. Since the war is about to break out, setting a date for the coronation alone is tricky. Besides, there’s no better event to boost morale.”

“Then the Magic Department should prepare for the event. It’s also a chance to show that the Magic Department is still strong.”

Ian gave a faint smile. The mages were quick to read between the lines, though the most important details hadn’t come up yet.

‘By inviting foreign dignitaries, we can gauge each country’s stance.’

Not just gauge. Holding the coronation and deployment simultaneously meant they could keep key figures from countries opposed to the empire tied up in Bariel.

Likely, some countries would send opposition figures or simply refuse to attend. The former would be an opportunity to contact those against the establishment; the latter could be used as justification for showing no respect to the empire.

‘If they don’t even show up, we’ll meet them on the battlefield, so no need to fuss over excuses.’

“Also—”

“More orders?”

The mages hesitated at the door, already bracing for more commands.

“Send ordinary weapons to the Derra tribe for quality inspection. Holinga will do everything it can to protect its remaining business rights. The battle is nearing its end.”

“Nearing the end of the battle?”

“Yes.”

Becoming the empress or the crown princess—which would be easier?

Before Jin ascended the throne, there would be fierce moves to secure the seat beside him. If the Holin and Davion families couldn’t produce a result, others below them would reach upward.

‘Still, Roberside… that dream is strange.’

The one who had acted as Jin’s guardian since childhood was a new figure who had appeared in his place. Ian suspected this might be Jin’s match but had no certainty.

Unconsciously, Ian picked up a pen and lightly sketched the woman he had seen that day. The image was blurry, as he hadn’t seen her clearly…

“Hmm.”

As Ian pondered, the mages sneakily peeked at his drawing. Their mouths dropped open in unison.

‘Ian has a human side after all…’

‘His drawing skills are just like His Majesty Jin’s.’

‘Is that even a drawing? Or some foreign language we don’t know?’

‘Looks like a person, right? Eyes, nose, mouth.’

‘Looks like a sprouted food or something.’

‘…God really is fair.’

The mages exchanged glances, repeatedly sneaking looks at Ian’s pen. Noticing their gaze, Ian raised his head with a puzzled look.

“You may leave now.”

“…Y-Yes!”

“Apologies!”

“Ian—”

“Enough nonsense. Get out!”

Bang!

A mage who had tried to compliment Ian’s poor drawing skills was dragged out by his comrades.

What’s with them? Ian stared at the firmly closed door, then returned his focus to the documents.

---

“How dare they attack the Bariel delegation!”

“Are they crazy? Let’s show them what happens!”

The grand hall was filled with a rare sense of unity. Just days ago, departments had been bickering, but now, faced with a common enemy, only their shared identity as Bariel remained.

Thunk.

Jin slammed a report onto the table. His sharp gaze made it clear to everyone that the Crown Prince was furious.

“…According to the messenger’s report, the attack happened around five in the morning. Dawn was breaking, but it was still dark. The delegation leader was killed instantly inside the carriage. The guards resisted but were overwhelmed and killed without a chance to fight back. All fleeing members were caught and beheaded on the spot. The messenger escaped but felt as if they were deliberately spared.”

All the dead were long-serving officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The foreign minister, equally enraged, added:

“Based on the combat style and witness testimony, we suspect Atan tribe chief Efdiram and his subordinate leader Benno.”

“The chief is a mage, right? Did he use magic?”

“Not directly. It’s believed to be Benno’s doing. Traces of a magic sword were found. The delegation leader’s body was cut in two along with the carriage.”

The officials grimaced, imagining the horrific deaths.

“If the Atan tribe killed the Bariel delegation, there’s no need to hear their side.”

“Unbelievable people. They could have easily fed on monsters while staying north of Bariel.”

“Do we have an accurate assessment of the Atan tribe’s strength?”

“The Magic Department has been steadily reporting from the northern rift zone. Not in detail, but we have a general understanding.”

“So, we can assume the Burgos royalist faction, meaning Rutherford, has allied with the Atan tribe? Any other factions involved?”

“That is—”

As the foreign minister began to answer, Jin raised his hand. Ian lowered his head slightly, waiting for the Crown Prince’s words.

“There are no overt diplomatic moves yet, but we will use the coronation to uncover them.”

As expected. Ian raised an eyebrow and, without realizing it, let a satisfied smile slip across his face. Though they hadn’t discussed it directly, moments like this—when their opinions aligned so perfectly—always brought a quiet smile to his lips.

A few officials, however, looked as if they’d just been struck by lightning, their mouths twitching in disbelief.

“Your Majesty, I’m not sure I understand what you mean by using the coronation ceremony,” one said hesitantly.

“If we hold the coronation and the departure ceremony together, we can not only showcase our awareness of international trends but also host foreign dignitaries here in Bariel. Isn’t that the perfect opportunity to create momentum?”

“But, Your Majesty, the coronation is a grand imperial event. Combining it with a military send-off—”

“If there’s a reason it can’t be combined, speak now.”

At Jin’s command, the officials murmured among themselves for a moment.

The emperor’s coronation was, after all, directly tied to his authority. It was an event he cared deeply about—one meant to be grander and more magnificent than ever, a dazzling display of his power to the world. So, if Jin himself proposed merging the ceremonies, there was really no reason to oppose it.

The officials nudged those who had shown hesitation, shaking their heads slightly. It was a silent signal: keep quiet and let Jin have his way.

“There is no reason not to,” one finally said.

“Yes, holding the coronation and departure together would greatly boost the morale of the empire’s people.”

“In that case, Your Majesty, will you depart immediately after the coronation?”

“If I don’t lead the charge, will you?”

“Ah, I—I was merely asking.”

The official scratched his beard awkwardly at Jin’s curt reply.

At the same time, sharp eyes flickered around the room. Everyone understood that if the emperor left the palace, someone would need to hold down the fort in his absence. Someone like the empress, for example.

“Your Majesty, if I may suggest, perhaps you should formally welcome the crown princess before the coronation to strengthen internal stability.”

“I wholeheartedly agree and recommend it. While Your Majesty is away from Bariel, it’s crucial to have someone steadfast guarding the palace.”

“Time is tight, so I suggest a simple engagement ceremony for now. After the war, you could hold a grand wedding celebration with fireworks and all.”

Jin lifted his head with a faint, knowing smile. It was a point that needed to be addressed at least once. That seat beside him wasn’t just important to him personally—it was vital to Bariel as a whole.

“I’m thinking of setting a few conditions.”

“Yes, please, Your Majesty.”

“Either the family must contribute at least eighty percent of their wealth toward the defense fund—”

Wait, what? What kind of madness was that? Which family in their right mind would—

The officials’ eyes went wide, their expressions a mix of shock and disbelief.

“Or, I want a woman who will ride the battlefield alongside me.”