Chapter 845
Jin, Romandro, and the wizards sat around the table, their faces grave. Nabu looked up at them slowly, sensing that something serious had gone down.
The wizards clasped their hands together and murmured quietly.
“This is bad. So there are those who’ve caught on.”
“There was a soldier who entered the building not long ago. We let him go, saying he’d taken a wrong turn, but that was a mistake. We should have killed him then and there.”
“He was a spy sent by Charlotte’s faction, right?”
“Yes. According to Nabu, Minister Ravin himself confirmed it based on suspicion.”
Snap! The wizards’ eyes flashed sharply. If only they’d taken that guy out when they blew up the Ravin estate—along with his head. Or better yet, razed the land so thoroughly that rebuilding would be impossible. Tsk! The wizards clicked their tongues in regret.
“Um…” Nabu timidly raised a hand, a nervous smile twitching beneath his mask.
“If Lord Ian is in prison, maybe we could set up a protective barrier, or… have him live within my shadow?”
“Are you joking?”
Even in the well-kept, tidy underground chamber, Ian’s health was poor.
And now they were suggesting bringing him into a shadow realm so bleak it was barely habitable? The wizards glared at Nabu as if to say, “Are you out of your mind?”
When Nabu shivered, Romandro waved his hand, telling everyone to stop. “He’s going to pee himself standing there!”
“We can set up a temporary barrier, but with so many places like Toorun needing magic, maintaining it will be tough. We should have made a bigger fuss to keep people away—something that drives anyone who approaches mad, or something like that.”
“It’s already too late. What’s the point in rehashing the past? We can’t undo what’s done. The plan now is—”
Acorella wiped her nose and paused, clearly frustrated that only one solution came to mind.
“We have to keep the officials and nobles from realizing Lord Ian’s true intentions. If they find out, everything we’ve done so far will be meaningless. The nobles we’ve caught will slip away, but Ian’s tarnished reputation can’t be undone.”
In politics, if you fail to capture your opponent, you end up suffering twice as much retaliation. Since this was a rebellion that had shaken the realm, the emperor’s dignity and the magic department’s credibility would plummet. That was unacceptable. Why had Ian gone this far?
“First, we should cut off the communication networks of the nobles under investigation. You said a guard entered the building?”
“Yes.”
“We don’t know how deep the collusion goes, but cutting it off is enough. The magic department will handle the nobles, Your Majesty. We’ll reduce the number of guards watching them and replace those positions with mages.”
Though this meant more work, the wizards nodded in agreement. Jin rested his chin on his hand, deep in thought.
“I’ll take care of the officials.”
“That’s something only Your Majesty can do.”
He straightened up, as if everything had fallen into place.
“The key is how the other side will raise their objections. I expect rumors.”
“I agree. That’s the easiest and most reliable.”
There were already whispers that the investigation into the traitor Ian Hielo was being obstructed, or that the magic department and palace were giving him special treatment. They would use this to demand an inquiry and restore order. It was obvious.
“They won’t claim to have seen anything firsthand.”
“If they did, that’d be perfect. We could just accuse them of being mentally manipulated by the traitor Ian Hielo and chase them off. No need to pay severance either.”
Rumors were a convenient, irresponsible, and devastating weapon—and at the same time, an attack tool anyone could wield.
Jin pressed his fingers lightly against his forehead and muttered, “Should we strike first?”
“That’s one option.”
“Like saying Minister Ravin, on the verge of retirement, is desperately pushing for Ian Hielo’s pardon to escape this crisis?”
“But isn’t that true?”
“Exactly why it’s so powerful.”
Hoping for Ian’s pardon was tantamount to muddying the charge of treason—and could itself be seen as treason. Acorella tallied the possibilities and nodded, satisfied.
“Strike first, strike hard.”
“Excuse me?”
“Whoever hits first has the advantage.”
The wizards looked at Acorella in disbelief. How could a minister say such a thing in front of the emperor? But she seemed genuinely puzzled by their reaction.
“Don’t get it?”
Her eyes seemed to ask, “Are you idiots or what?”
The wizards quickly averted their gaze, denying it. It was better to make a move while the emperor was absent.
“And one more thing.”
Romandro, who had been quietly listening, raised his hand.
“There’s something very important left.”
“Important? What is it?”
“Ian can’t find out.”
“Ah.”
Everyone agreed with Romandro, letting out a small breath of relief. If the nobles and officials knew Ian was mounting a counterattack, they’d surely say,
“Let’s hurry up and execute him.”
“Ugh, that voice is so clear.”
“And honestly, I hate that it’s the cleanest solution.”
Acorella added. The only way to end this without endless scheming was to execute Ian and erase his existence.
If that happened, the nobles and officials wouldn’t dare raise any baseless doubts, and the palace would regain all its power.
‘By then, even if it’s discovered that Lord Ian is alive, it won’t really matter.’
What could those toothless fools do? Even if Ian Hielo lived in some nice, quiet place with fresh air and good water, who would listen? Bringing him back to the central market wouldn’t cause any trouble.
Anyway, Acorella believed they just had to get through this period.
“Everyone, keep your mouths shut. Lord Ian is sharp.”
“Sharp? More like mind-reading.”
“Hide him by any means necessary. Understood?”
“Yes, understood.”
“And have we found a suitable corpse? Just needs to match the build, Romandro.”
Romandro shuffled through some papers and shrugged.
“Ian’s got surprisingly good proportions.”
“Don’t sound like a proud parent.”
“No, really. Even if the height and weight match, it doesn’t feel right. We’ve got a similar body, though. It’ll arrive through the palace’s back gate tomorrow. We’ll freeze it with magic and use it at the right time. Any news from Astana?”
A wizard sitting across the table rifled through papers.
“We’ve made contact. They’re coming as fast as possible. But King Hasha seemed very surprised.”
“Ah, he’s a close friend of Ian’s.”
“We gave a rough explanation to get Katimako’s help, but he still seemed skeptical. So when Katimako arrives in Bariel, we’ll send the memory potion that way.”
“Good. Better to prepare than rush. Let’s do our best to support Katimako. Can you open a portal?”
“…We’ll try.”
The wizards muttered quietly. Officially opening a portal to Toorun, and secretly another to Astana, plus the extra workload from handling the noble investigation—it was a headache. They scratched their heads but didn’t say no.
“Let’s all work hard.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Then let’s get moving. I’ll summon Minister Ravin immediately. Minister Acorella, report on the progress.”
“As ordered.”
The first to speak holds the advantage. ‘There seems to be collusion in the investigation of Ian Hielo’ versus ‘High officials and nobles are moving to pardon Ian Hielo.’
But since Jin already held the upper hand, there was no problem.
“Alright! Let’s get moving!”
“Yes, Captain!”
Smack!
Acorella flicked a knuckle against a wizard’s forehead. Stressed from ministerial duties, and these guys? Her eyes sparkled as Romandro gently nudged her forward.
“Come on, Minister, let’s get moving!”
“I’m not saying it again.”
“Hurry! Everyone, follow our minister!”
“Yes, yes!”
Acorella’s robe billowed as she strode ahead, with Romandro and the wizards trailing behind.
Left alone, Nabu watched them go for a long moment before slipping back into the shadows. Once again, he vanished into the darkness to gather scattered information from the palace.
Meanwhile, at that moment—
Ian’s eyes snapped open. He was enveloped in pitch-black darkness, unable to tell day from night. Outside, faint footsteps echoed quietly. Ian recalled the wizard’s words.
“Lord Ian, haven’t you sensed strange movements when you’re alone?”
It seemed strangers kept approaching the building. For someone accused of treason to be sought out like this, it couldn’t be for anything trivial. Probably sent by the central family or high officials about to be replaced. Ian slowly sat up.
‘Right. We’re not the kind to just sit and take it.’
Even a worm wriggles when stepped on, but those proud men wouldn’t just stick their necks out and admit everything so easily.
The fact that they risked coming all this way to find Ian meant they suspected there was more to his rebellion than met the eye.
“Seriously—”
Ian frowned slightly. Their probing felt like a warning: leave the palace at once. But he wanted to stay, even if just a little longer.
A shadow stretched out, and Ian looked up cautiously. Then—
“Huh?”
His eyes met Barrick’s directly. Barrick must have thought Ian was asleep, judging by his surprised expression.
“Barrick?”
“Not asleep? I thought it was bedtime.”
“What brings you here?”
“Nothing special. Just came by.”
Barrick set down a book and a bag of snacks he’d tucked under his arm onto the table. He’d brought something to keep Ian occupied and some treats, just in case he got bored. Nodding as if pleased with himself, Barrick said,
“If you’re up, let’s go out. Staying cooped up isn’t good for you. The night air’s cool and nice.”
“Is it night already?”
“Don’t even know day from night, huh?”
Ian stared at Barrick’s large hand as it reached out. When Barrick wiggled his fingers to urge him on, Ian gave a small, reluctant smile.
“Going outside isn’t really a good idea.”
“Why not?”
“People would freak out if they saw me.”
“Don’t you know this area’s under lockdown?”
“Still, the palace has eyes and ears everywhere.”
“I’ll take care of that. If there are eyes, I’ll blind them; if ears, I’ll deafen them.”
How’s that? Barrick raised his eyebrows and urged him again. Ian smiled faintly, resigned, and carefully let Barrick support him as he stood.
“Barrick, I got a letter from Taoma recently.”
“I heard. The Silask prices have been crazy, huh?”
“But I need it. Anyway, thinking about Roel reminded me of the Great Desert. That journey we took together from Bratz to the desert.”
Barrick matched his slow pace.
“Looking back, that trip was really something.”
“Something? I thought I was going to die from the heat.”
“Yeah, it was unbearably hot.”
Ian chuckled softly. Barrick gave a wry smile, caught up in some unspoken feeling.
“But if I get the chance, I want to go back there. It must have been really good, back then.”
“Then go. You’re unemployed now, aren’t you?”
Barrick said casually, and Ian nodded. The night sky was full of stars—just like the one they’d seen over the desert.