Chapter 841
“Prime Minister, what did His Majesty say?”
Back in the administrative office, the Prime Minister removed his coat and fell silent for a moment. His aides watched him curiously, and then he motioned for everyone to gather around. The atmosphere was tense. Well, to be fair, things had been chaotic ever since the rebellion broke out.
“There will be a sweeping personnel reshuffle.”
Everyone froze at the Prime Minister’s words. Some wore expressions that said, “It was bound to happen.” The departments buzzed with whispers, but the Prime Minister made no move to stop it.
“Inform each department and request their recommendations for appointments.”
“Yes, understood.”
“And summon Minister Quintana to my office.”
The room fell quiet. That meant the Prime Minister himself would be stepping down after this round of duties. The leading candidate to succeed him was none other than Minister Quintana from the current administration.
As the officials bowed and withdrew, the Prime Minister sat down and let out a small sigh.
‘Something’s off.’
He had expected this moment to come, but not in this way. And above all, the rebellion led by Ian Hielo? Though they had been on high alert, it was hard to believe that he would make such a choice and meet such an end.
It was like a mighty, sturdy tree being felled by a mere breeze. Even with the entire Magic Department standing against him, it had been so easy…
‘Ian Hielo was never the type to go down like that.’
Once he set his mind to something, he saw it through to the end. To have led a rebellion all the way to the palace, yet be subdued without any violent confrontation—that just didn’t add up.
Even if his health was failing, wasn’t he still Ian Hielo? To be blunt, there was nothing he couldn’t accomplish if he truly committed himself, even if it meant usurping the throne.
‘And what’s most suspicious is His Majesty’s reaction.’
Despite once having trusted Ian, there was no trace of resentment. If anything, the Emperor seemed relieved… The Prime Minister frowned, unable to make sense of it.
“Hey.”
“Yes, Prime Minister?”
“Which department is handling the investigation now?”
“If you mean the traitors, it’s the Palace Guard and the Magic Department. Given the nature of the situation, naturally.”
“Hmm. Any unusual developments?”
“Not yet. Why do you ask?”
“Nothing.”
The Prime Minister waved his hand dismissively.
But in his mind, an absurd theory kept surfacing. What if Ian Hielo had orchestrated this rebellion for the Emperor’s sake…
‘That’s ridiculous.’
What could a bright seventeen-year-old boy possibly gain from going that far?
He cut off the thought and opened some documents. This wasn’t the time to dwell on such things. If questions arose later, he would raise them then.
He set the matter aside and focused on his work. The day he left the palace was drawing near. Wrapping up his long journey there was as important to him as Bariel was.
“Barsabe! Did you hear?”
“Geez, what now?”
On their way back after searching the last noble’s mansion, Barsabe rubbed his tired shoulders and asked.
The squad was unusually excited. Had those guys been slacking off? Why were they so hyped?
“Finally! The personnel reshuffle is happening!”
“Huh?”
“The Emperor himself declared it. All key positions, including the Prime Minister’s, will be newly appointed. That includes the Palace Guard too. We’re finally breaking free from Captain Beric’s regime! Hahaha!”
The squad cheered, pumping their fists. How much hardship had they endured under Beric’s dictatorship? Whoever took over the captaincy next, they wouldn’t have to suffer that filth anymore! They vowed to fight tooth and nail to claim the position.
“Starting today, special training!”
“Special training my foot. We’ve got mountains of work, and you’re spouting nonsense. It’s always the mediocre ones who make the most noise.”
Thwack.
It was Beric. He knocked each of the squad members on the head with a file, signaling them to disperse.
“Barsabe, did you send off the confiscated items already?”
“Yeah, just finished and on my way back.”
“Good work.”
Beric stood, flipping through the reports. Sometimes he held them upside down, but impressively, he quickly corrected himself and read properly.
Barsabe watched him closely. Beric, who usually signed off carelessly, now seemed unusually focused.
“Why?”
“Is there something?”
“You know what I mean. This rebellion incident… there’s something, right?”
Beric tapped Barsabe’s forehead with a rolled-up document—a warning to stop speculating.
Barsabe admitted he’d gone too far and apologized.
“Then you tell me first. Why are you so calm?”
“Geez. Even if I’m calm, it’s still a mess.”
“I’m worried. What if you suddenly whisk Ian away right before the execution and he escapes?”
“Hmm. That wouldn’t be so bad. But Ian wouldn’t go along with that.”
See? Told you! Barsabe was about to snap back when Beric crossed his arms and asked,
“If I tell you, will you trust me and follow?”
“What?”
“I heard from Ian himself. You were the last person he spoke to, right? So you’re the last to lose your memory of him.”
What? Barsabe blinked in confusion. Was Beric crazy? Had he lost his mind from the heartbreak over Ian? Barsabe’s eyes softened with pity.
Beric caught the look and narrowed his eyes.
“It’s not like that.”
“Not like that? You’re really not crazy?”
“What I’m about to tell you is something His Majesty already knows. Besides being the last to forget Ian, you’re my comrade. You should know this.”
“Why? Why are you doing this?”
“Not going to take the captaincy? There’s no one else worth it but you.”
Barsabe’s brief joy at Beric’s recognition was cut short by what came next.
“Ian is the Emperor from Bariel, a hundred years in the future. The very Ian Verosion everyone’s been talking about.”
“Hey! Beric!”
“It’s true. The Emperor and the Magic Department all know. That’s why things are unfolding this way. The foolish nobles, Ian’s act, the stabilizing royal court, the complete overhaul of officials…”
All sorts of things.
Barsabe’s mouth fell open slightly. It sounded crazy, but somehow, it made sense. There had been plenty of rumors about Ian’s rebellion, both inside and outside.
“Come with me.”
Beric led Barsabe out, promising to show him firsthand. Where were they going? The underground prison? To face Ian?
But they arrived at the Magic Department.
“Beric, what’s going on?”
“And Akorella?”
“She’s in the minister’s office.”
“Still can’t get used to it.”
“Neither can we.”
Wizards chuckled as they passed Barsabe, giving brief greetings. Their behavior was unexpected, given that Ian, whom they had followed like family, was now imprisoned.
Knock knock. Beric flung open the minister’s office door.
“Don’t come in!”
“Y- Akorella.”
“I said don’t come in!”
Akorella was buried under a mountain of paperwork, clutching her head. Having spent her life in the lab grinding and mixing magic stones, dealing with piles of documents was clearly a struggle.
“Captain! No, Minister! Not there, here! Stamp here!”
“Call me Minister, damn it!”
“Why do you keep stamping only the magic stone documents? Hey! Don’t change that! We already have enough magic stones!”
“Not enough! I know better!”
“What do you know? Stamp here, not there!”
“Ahhh!”
Bang! Crash!
Papers were torn as wizards and Akorella pulled from opposite sides, stamps flying everywhere.
Barsabe doubted if this was really the Magic Department. Even a back-alley market would be more orderly.
“Where’s Romandro?”
“He stopped by a mansion for a bit. Ah! Seriously! Captain!”
“Minister, damn it!”
“This won’t do. We need to replace the minister.”
“Beric, why are you just standing there? You’re making things worse.”
“Do you think me standing here is the problem? Look at you all. Anyway, do we have any of that memory potion left?”
At the mention of the memory potion, the wizards immediately froze. Akorella adjusted her crooked glasses and brightened, like a miner who just found a gem.
“We do! Why?”
“Give me one. Barsabe needs some.”
“Right this way! Over here!”
“Wait, I—”
“No need to refuse. This way.”
Barsabe tried to decline, but the wizards’ insistence was relentless. Akorella roughly tidied her messy hair and rummaged through a drawer.
“See? Barsabe needs to know. To serve His Majesty for a thousand years to come.”
“Y- You mean His Majesty drank this too?”
“Why? Don’t believe me? Or do you think I’ve brewed some crazy potion again to take control of His Majesty and the entire Magic Department? Huh?”
Acorella slipped the vial between her fingers and grinned slyly.
She looked so ridiculous and unimpressive that Barsabe couldn’t bring herself to say yes. That His Majesty had yielded to someone like her… it was a clear sign of her own failure.
“There’s something about your eyes I don’t like,” Acorella sniffed, then tossed the potion toward Barsabe.
Barsabe caught it reflexively, glancing helplessly between Beric and the mages.
“Whether you drink it or not is up to you,” Beric said, “but just know that the truth lies elsewhere.”
Just then—
Knock knock.
“Don’t come in!”
Someone knocked on the door, and as expected, Acorella refused to open it. But the door swung open anyway, ignoring her protests. She rolled her eyes in exasperation.
“Oh? Looks like we have quite the crowd.”
The visitor was Romandro. He motioned hurriedly to the people behind him, urging them to come in quickly.
“Excuse us.”
“Hellooo,” came the awkward greetings.
Viviana and Vivi stood there, smiling sheepishly as they hid behind Romandro.
“What brings you here?”
“Uh, Acorella, do you have any leftover memory potions?”
“Huh?”
Again? Everyone blinked in disbelief, and Romandro quickly explained.
“I wanted my wife and daughter to try it. They care a lot about Ian, and Vivi’s been really worried, saying it’s all because of the novel she wrote. If it’s okay, I’d like them to have some.”
“Oh, I see. Especially for Vivi, that makes sense. Just a moment—I should have some left.”
As Acorella rummaged through the cabinet, the mages busied themselves fixing the reports she’d carelessly approved.
Watching this, Barsabe fiddled with the potion in her hand, thinking how strange the whole situation was.
But it wasn’t over yet. Soon, there was another knock.
Knock knock.
“Aah.”
Acorella sighed, clearly giving up.
“Come in!”
Who now? Everyone turned around, curious.
“Oh, quite the crowd today.”
It was Xiaoshi. He hesitated, looking overwhelmed by the bustling scene.
Was this about the memory potion again? Everyone fell silent, wary of gossip spreading about Acorella’s potions. But Xiaoshi asked calmly.
“His Majesty told me to tell Captain Acorella to go get something to eat. I’m not sure what exactly.”
He muttered that they’d find out once they went.
Acorella smiled knowingly and snapped her fingers, pointing to the remaining chairs.
“Alright, line up. Orders are backed up right now.”
Xiaoshi looked around, trying to get a sense of the situation, then slowly sat down beside Vivi.
As the Vivi family and Xiaoshi exchanged awkward greetings, Barsabe still gripped the potion tightly in her hand, thinking, This really is strange.