Chapter 846

Minister Rayburn hurriedly adjusted his uniform as he climbed the palace stairs.

The sudden summons had caught him off guard for a moment, but then he thought, maybe this is an opportunity. If he could accurately gauge the emperor’s intentions, their plan would have an even better chance of success.

As Rayburn entered, the chief steward gave him a subtle nod.

“Shall I inform them?”

“Yes, do so.”

Clearing his throat, Rayburn tapped the insignia on his uniform, preparing himself thoroughly.

“Your Majesty, Minister Rayburn of the Foreign Affairs Department has arrived.”

“Send him in.”

The door creaked open.

The moment Rayburn stepped into the office, he hesitated. Sitting on the sofa were Jin and Akorella. Their expressions were as usual, but there was an unmistakable chill beneath the surface.

Rayburn cleared his throat casually and greeted Jin.

“Your Majesty, you summoned me? I was just—”

“Shut up.”

“Pardon?”

Shut up? Rayburn’s eyes nearly popped out in shock.

Reflexively, he clamped his mouth shut and lowered his posture as much as possible. When the emperor was in a bad mood, this was the safest course.

‘A preemptive strike, huh.’

Meanwhile, Akorella, watching the scene unfold, nodded silently in approval. The emperor told him to shut up—well, of course, he’d better keep quiet. In a matter where who speaks first about the incident is crucial, no one could outmatch the emperor.

“Minister Rayburn, there’s a very disrespectful rumor circulating within the palace.”

“Excuse me?”

Startled, Rayburn looked up, only to see Jin’s face darken. He should have kept quiet, right?

“The rumor is that you intend to reduce the sentence of the traitor, Ian Hielo.”

“Th-that’s absurd—!”

Rayburn wanted to deny it outright, but he couldn’t. Before the emperor’s order to stay silent, the rumor was actually true.

To be precise, his goal wasn’t to reduce Ian’s sentence but to uncover some secret deal between Ian and the emperor. But from the outside, it looked like the same thing.

“I’ve heard that some have defied orders and accessed Ian Hielo’s underground prison, which is off-limits. Rayburn, you’re said to know about this.”

Whistle. Akorella wanted to whistle in delight. This was the emperor’s contradictory attack on Rayburn.

If Rayburn denied it—

‘If he says he’s never seen it and no one else has either, that would be tantamount to admitting the palace’s collusion with Ian is just a baseless rumor.’

But he couldn’t just accept that either. If he did, not only would he have disobeyed orders, but as the emperor said, they’d just accuse him of mind control and end the game.

Rayburn fell silent for a moment, weighing the situation.

‘…So it’s true, then?’

He was certain. He didn’t know how the emperor and the Magic Department had learned of his plan, but their sharp reaction proved it was based on fact. The emperor’s pressure was fierce and unsettling, but it was an unexpected gain.

“…I cannot confirm whether anyone has accessed the underground prison. That is a question better directed to Captain Akorella, who is in charge.”

Akorella let out a small “Ah!” then quickly added,

“That’s what I’ve found. Minister Rayburn should know.”

According to some flimsy intel, Rayburn himself had entered the building. If not, they’d tear that damn mask to shreds.

Rayburn raised a question at Akorella’s response.

“May I ask the source of this information? Who exactly is making the assumption that I know about this?”

He was trying to find out where the leak came from.

Akorella twitched her eyebrows, hesitating whether to reveal the source. Though she was an informant for the Magic Department, given the nature of her shadowy work, it wouldn’t hurt to let it out. Yes, let’s just spill it all—

“Rayburn—”

But Jin stepped in, blocking her. He frowned, clearly annoyed.

“I never gave you permission to ask questions.”

It was a warning: answer when spoken to, don’t start scheming on your own. As a former diplomat, Jin was quite skilled at controlling the conversation.

Rayburn bowed his head again, pressing his lips tightly shut.

“There is only one thing I want to ask you, Minister Rayburn. Are you interested in pardoning Ian Hielo?”

“Of course not. Anyone who disrupts the order of the Great Empire Bariel must pay the proper price. However—”

“However?”

Rayburn spoke cautiously. Since death was inevitable sooner or later, he was trying to buy some time.

“Whatever the baseless rumors may be, this is truly unfair. For what purpose would I aid the rebel Ian Hielo? This slanders my honor. Please allow me to investigate this matter thoroughly and clear my name.”

Look at that. Jin lightly lifted his chin.

“Ian Hielo, the center of these rumors, is also under investigation.”

Trying to wrest the authority to investigate Ian away like this?

“If you wish, I fully support the swift execution of those involved in this incident. Your Majesty, all of this stems from the conflicting claims between Ian Hielo and the nobles. Perhaps it’s best to nip this discord in the bud.”

Jin and Akorella both caught on immediately. This guy was testing them—was he truly serious about executing Ian Hielo?

Akorella was about to object, but Jin cut her off.

“Of course. I’ll inform the central nobles.”

Rayburn was suggesting they hurry the execution.

For bureaucrats, the biggest issue was personnel reshuffling, but not for the central nobles. They were fighting with their lives—and their families’ legacies—on the line.

What would an execution mean? It would be the final nail in the coffin for the rebellion. The central nobles wouldn’t have a chance to argue or recover. Even their acts of offering themselves to the palace to buy time would become meaningless.

“Are you sure about this?”

Weren’t you and the central nobles on the same side, Rayburn? That sharp comment seemed reckless, like he might stab friend and foe alike.

In truth, Jin and the Magic Department had already found a substitute corpse for Ian, so it was no problem at all. The only downside was that Ian would have to be released from the palace a bit earlier. But—

‘If it breaks the collusion between the central nobles and the bureaucrats, I’m all for it.’

Jin would never miss the opportunity Ian had given him.

Akorella glanced at the emperor but said nothing more, only letting out a small sigh internally. Rayburn, too, seemed at a loss for words, unable to find a suitable response.

---

After stepping down from the carriage, Akorella rummaged through her pocket for a cigarette. As she placed the dry stick between her lips, a mage sparked a flame at her fingertips. She raised one corner of her mouth and looked up.

“Save your magic, will you?”

“How did it go?”

“It’s settled for now… but…”

Trailing off, Akorella entered the Magic Department building.

With Rayburn backing down, the meeting had ended. The once naive emperor had grown so much. Whenever she saw Ian, time seemed to stand still, but with His Majesty, the passage of years was unmistakable.

“Everyone’s fighting for their lives, so I doubt they’ll back down easily. We need to take action on our side too—”

Suddenly, a loud noise came from the backyard. Akorella turned her head in surprise. Were they crazy to be making such a racket in the middle of the night? She and the mage went outside, and soon she was smiling as she lit her cigarette.

“Ian, damn! This is amazing! Can calculations really be this simple? I swear, I’ve been wrestling with this for three days.”

“Just think of the upper and lower lines separately. Got it?”

“Yes, so this part was the problem, right?”

“…You don’t understand it at all.”

“Idiot, not there—here!”

“…You come sit here too.”

Ian was adjusting the portal magic circle that would connect to Torlun. Since it was just checking the incantation and verifying calculations, not using magic power, it seemed fine.

The mages looked genuinely happy to be working with Ian again after so long.

“Hey, Akorella!”

Beric spotted her and waved. Ian and the mages turned around, and she crossed her arms, nodding.

“Yeah.”

“Where have you been sneaking off to?”

“Who’s sneaking off? You’re the one slacking off.”

Ian chuckled and stood up. Seeing them like this made Jin, who would be running the government with these two, seem impressive. Neither of them lacked personality.

“Working late, huh?”

“Not at all. Ian, is the night air alright for you?”

“Yeah. Not cold, just cool and refreshing. Shall we head back to the minister’s office for a bit?”

As Ian approached Akorella, the mages grabbed at his sleeves, clinging.

“Ian! Just a little more help, please? We’re almost done, and if we stop now… I’ll be so sad!”

“Hey, handle your own work!”

“Beric, don’t say things like that.”

“Why not? I do my part. Just not very well.”

“Ian, you haven’t even looked at my part yet! I’m handling the toughest section. Seriously.”

Akorella raised the edge of her hand in a warning ‘tsk,’ and the mages softened a bit. Still, they weren’t ready to give up, so Ian soothed them gently.

“I’m just going to check on Akorella for a moment. Wait here.”

“Do you promise?”

“Yes. I promise.”

Ian nodded toward Akorella, as if to signal her to lead the way. After all, the chamber no longer belonged to him—it was hers now.

She limped slightly as she guided him inside, awkwardly opening the door to welcome him.

Creaaak.

“Please, come in. Something feels off.”

“Does it? I think it suits the place perfectly.”

Ian sank into the sofa and glanced around. It was late at night, so unless something happened, no one from other departments would drop by. Besides, the mages outside would likely keep watch.

Still, Ian had a gut feeling he shouldn’t stay here too long. It was as if he instinctively knew this wasn’t his place.

“How’s the work going?”

“Not well,” she replied.

Ian expected at least a polite “It’s manageable,” but that was Akorella for you. She immediately shook her head and slumped as if she might die from the stress.

“How on earth have you managed to get your work done, Ian? I really admire you. I don’t say this lightly, but you’re the real deal. You can’t just brush off your time as emperor.”

“You’ll get used to it soon enough. Have you reviewed the reports?”

“I have. And I’ve done a lot of reflecting.”

“Excellent.”

“Would you like some tea?”

“Why not?”

Normally, Ian would have declined, but this time he gladly accepted. The tea set Romandro had arranged to suit Ian’s taste was still perfectly in place.

“You have something on your mind, don’t you?”

With a soft clink, Akorella poured the tea and asked quietly. Then she swallowed nervously.

Ian crossed his legs, glanced around casually, and dropped the question as if it were nothing.

“I’m curious about the situation at the palace.”

“No need to worry. His Majesty must have informed you, right? Everything’s under control.”

“Is that so? Aren’t the bureaucrats or nobles suspicious?”

“Not at all. They’re all just keeping their heads down, scared stiff of what might happen.”

As Akorella turned with two cups of tea, their eyes met sharply. Ian let out a soft hum and smiled lazily, stepping forward to take a cup from her.

He whispered with a grin, “Looks like you’re not much good at lying either.”