Episode 580

Ian raised a hand to his aching abdomen. The healing magic’s effect was gradually fading. If he didn’t receive treatment again within an hour or two, the pain would likely surge back fiercely. Yet, the meeting of those claiming to represent the townsfolk showed no sign of ending. In truth, it was more like one side trying to persuade the other.

The meeting room’s door was barely hanging on its hinges, so their voices from outside carried clearly inside.

“How can a person live by abandoning their beliefs? We are people of Burgos. There’s no greater shame than cooperating with the enemy.”

“Please reconsider. Otherwise, you will die. Haven’t you seen the war with your own eyes?”

“I have. I saw my parents die with my own eyes. That’s why I cannot back down. I’d rather choose death than live without a soul.”

“You’re so stubborn. This isn’t just your problem. The fate and lives of everyone who wants to survive are at stake. We’re not asking for anything unreasonable—just to spread the news of Agiar’s fall and urge other cities to surrender. Don’t see it as shameful. Think of it this way: you could save countless lives.”

“That’s true. Honestly, what’s the point of risking our lives for a homeland that’s already lost? The leaders of Agiar have all fled. Why should we bear the burden of their failure?”

“Because this is our home!”

“Everyone, please calm down. Lower your voices.”

“Opportunities will come again. For now, let’s cooperate with Bariel and preserve our lives. I beg you.”

Clink.

Tweller shook his head slightly and took a sip from his glass of ice-cold liquor. If these were his own people, he might have admired their spirit. But these were Burgos citizens. If they refused to surrender, they would have no choice but to set an example through death.

“It’s late. Perhaps it’s time to wrap this up.”

“Yes. It’s already this late.”

Ian nodded in agreement with Tweller’s suggestion. There was only one chance. Bariel had already shown considerable leniency by offering them a choice.

Just as Ian was about to signal the soldiers, who had been quietly waiting, to move—

“But, there’s one thing I’d like to ask.”

Tweller spoke up. He’d been curious since they left the castle, but the matter was so sensitive that he’d been holding back, observing the situation instead.

Ian smiled, signaling it was fine to ask.

“Yes, please go ahead.”

“Sir Ian, may I ask—how did your parents originally pass away?”

It was an unexpected question.

Ian hesitated briefly, then searched his memory. His father and mother hadn’t died far apart in time. Both had passed away before Ian turned five, within a single season of each other.

“Honestly, I don’t know the exact details. According to the nursemaid at the time, my father’s chronic illness worsened, leading to his death. My mother rapidly weakened after my father passed.”

“I see. Well, you were very young, so it’s understandable you wouldn’t know much.”

Ian had never seen his mother’s face after she fell ill. He only heard her faint groans from outside the door, as if quietly suffering.

“But why do you ask?”

Tweller rubbed his flushed face roughly, shrugged to indicate he didn’t want to be misunderstood, then stroked his beard and wiped the liquor from his mouth.

“Have you ever heard of ‘Pharmadinia,’ the most celebrated Minister of Imperial Defense in history?”

“I’ve heard the name. One of the pioneers who helped establish Bariel’s borders alongside the former emperor.”

“Do you know what he said when he died?”

“No. Did he fall in battle?”

“He did die on the battlefield, but the cause was illness, not combat. It’s now suspected he was poisoned, but no one knew at the time. Even as he was dying, he looked sharp-eyed and said this.”

Tweller lowered his voice to a whisper, as if Pharmadinia’s words were echoing in the room.

“‘Stop your crying. I do not hear the laughter of those who rejoice at my death.’”

Ian immediately understood what Tweller was implying.

Death always has a cause, doesn’t it? There’s the death granted by the gods, inevitable and inescapable—and then there’s death caused by human hands.

The person facing death can’t always tell the difference. Pharmadinia had listened carefully, searching for the faint laughter hidden beneath the tears.

“When I heard your story, Sir Ian, I thought of Crony. He’s a cunning man, skilled at survival. People like him don’t just wait for opportunities—they create them by any means. Do you remember how Crony reacted to your parents’ deaths?”

Ian froze, speechless. He had never once suspected Crony had anything to do with his parents’ deaths.

Crony was the man who had led him to ruin and a life of storms. Yet, unconsciously, Ian had drawn a line, refusing to connect Crony to his parents’ passing. After all, their first meeting had been at a funeral.

“I remember Crony, but I don’t know.”

“Good. I’m not saying to jump to conclusions, but to keep suspicion and caution alive. The dead cannot speak, so the living must relentlessly seek the truth.”

Ian had thought his entanglement with Crony was a twist of fate. But what if it wasn’t? What if everything had been in Crony’s grasp from the start?

Ian ran a hand through his hair. Tweller looked at him with concern, but Ian’s expression was not what he expected.

“It must have been very easy for him.”

That was a clear sneer—aimed at the greedy Crony who had tightly bound Ian’s fate.

“Isn’t that right? If he was involved in my parents’ deaths, Crony must have thought very little of me. A five-year-old orphan blindly following without knowing the truth—how foolish and laughable that must have seemed.”

“Sir Ian.”

“Don’t worry. Thanks to Minister Tweller, I’ve just opened my eyes to one possibility. Thank you. I will keep it in mind and think deeply.”

For now, there was no way to investigate. Crony was nowhere to be found in Bariel.

As Ian wet his throat with a drink, Tweller suddenly noticed the quiet outside. The heated voices of the townsfolk had finally died down. He signaled his subordinate to check the situation.

Creak.

But before that, the Agiar residents came in first. Their faces were stern as they bowed deeply to the two men, as if to thank them for their patience.

“Have you reached a decision?”

“Yes. We apologize for the trouble. We will fully cooperate as Bariel wishes. We will also draft a letter urging others not to resist. We earnestly ask that you ensure the safety of the civilians.”

“Our emperor has spoken without hesitation. You will live under the great empire’s mercy, so do not worry. By the way, who was the one speaking so loudly earlier?”

Specifically, the one who said they’d rather be prisoners of war than cooperate. The others waved their hands, begging for leniency just this once.

“Ah, my apologies. That man is a member of the Agiar guard and the youth representative of the vigilante group. During the civil war, when security was unstable, the Agiar residents banded together, and he took on the tough tasks. He’s responsible but spoke rashly. Please forgive him this once. I will make sure he understands.”

The old man bowed repeatedly as Tweller lit his pipe.

“He loves his homeland. How could I add harsh words? Very well. Since he has the trust of the Agiar people, let him handle the taxes owed to Bariel and the disposal of Burgos soldiers’ corpses.”

The old man’s eyes widened in disbelief. To collect the blood of his own people and personally deliver it to Bariel, and to clean up the bodies of his family and friends—wasn’t that a cruel fate?

Tweller’s tone grew harsh.

“Is there a problem?”

“No, sir. I will convey it as such.”

As they bowed deeply, Tweller glanced at Ian and nodded lightly. It was a carrot-and-stick approach for propaganda.

The resentment toward Bariel wasn’t limited to that one young man. Even those who said they would cooperate harbored anger deep inside.

“For the next battle, any captured territory must be secured without complications. Especially now, with the southern advance imminent. If we leave loose ends, we’ll be surrounded from all sides.”

The most effective way to control public sentiment was to maintain balance. If the Imperial Defense Department cracked the whip, the Magic Department would soothe the people, so no one would feel any bias.

Even the Magic Department itself would be mistaken for an independent force caring for Agiar.

“Wouldn’t a young man like Sir Ian be better suited for propaganda than a gruff old man like me?”

Tweller’s smile seemed to say as much.

Ian lowered his gaze and gave instructions to those bowing before him.

“The emperor will determine the exact taxes after confirming your sincerity. Prepare a messenger; the person in charge should come here. Also, is there anyone familiar with the local geography? There were discrepancies in the maps found in Agiar Castle that need verification.”

“I’ll handle the maps. I’ve lived in Agiar for sixty years. I can navigate most places with my eyes closed.”

“We need tough leather and metal parts. Inform the villagers to donate whatever they can.”

“Yes, yes. Understood.”

“And…”

They glanced nervously between Tweller and Ian as they responded. With the elderly white-haired man standing behind them, a young boy stepping forward to give orders left them unsure of the chain of command.

But judging by the atmosphere, Ian seemed far softer and more moderate than the stern warrior Tweller.

Sssst.

Just as Ian was about to continue speaking, the wall trembled ever so slightly. An earthquake? The villagers, still sensitive from the damage caused by the barrier’s explosion, stiffened at the faint vibration.

“Did you feel that, Minister Tweller?”

“Yes. It was faint, but definitely a tremor. Outside! Is something happening?”

At Tweller’s fierce bark, a soldier rushed in from outside, swallowing nervously.

“N-no abnormalities to report!”

“Is that so?”

Hmm, strange.

It could be dismissed as a natural phenomenon, but every time the ground shook until now, it had been linked to a specific event—like a crack forming in the earth or someone engaged in an explosive battle.

Ian closed his documents and looked up at the sky outside. It was still pitch black, revealing nothing.

“The Magic Department and the Imperial Guard are conducting a night patrol nearby.”

“I heard about that, but… hmm. In that case, the Imperial Defense Department will send a follow-up reconnaissance team.”

Not a patrol, but reconnaissance. The purpose was clearly different. Ian nodded, signaling he wouldn’t interfere, and Tweller called out to the soldier standing guard outside.

“We’re selecting a reconnaissance squad. Bring Siaoshi here.”

“Yes, Minister.”

“Aerin! Time for your shift!”

Soldiers bustled past through the open doorway, and amid the noise came a youthful voice—one that sounded oddly familiar. Ian turned toward the voice and called out.

“Hey, wait a moment.”

“Yes? Did you call me?”

Their eyes met precisely at that moment.