Episode 850

“He’s late.”

Jin muttered to himself without realizing it as he worked on some paperwork. Beric, standing behind him, seemed to share the same thought and immediately responded.

“Indeed. Shall we check?”

Barsabe’s return to the palace was taking longer than expected. They had assumed it would take about four hours to escort Ian back, but already six hours had passed.

Jin frowned as he looked up at the brightening sky. Hopefully, nothing’s wrong.

Tap tap tap!

Just then, hurried footsteps echoed down the hallway. Jin immediately set down his pen, and Beric turned his head toward the door. The steward’s voice came through.

“Your Majesty, it’s Barsabe of the royal guard.”

“Send her in.”

As the door opened, Jin and Beric both frowned. Her uniform was caked in dust, her hair disheveled, and worst of all, her white shirt soaked with bloodstains.

Jin jumped up in alarm, but Barsabe shook her head as if to say she was fine.

“That’s not my blood.”

“Then what happened?”

She pulled out the corpse of Jeon Seogu, wrapped in cloth, and reported.

“We tracked down Jeon Seogu after an ambush by the Raven faction, who anticipated Ian’s departure. It seems they hired mercenaries from outside, but that’s not the main issue…”

“Is that a magic stone on his leg?”

“Yes. They recorded my voice calling for Ian, but as soon as the recording started, they destroyed it. We caught them near the Minister of Justice’s residence.”

It was a close call. If they had been any later, the magic stone would have fallen into the hands of other ministers, giving them an excuse to pardon the traitors.

“And Ian?”

“And Ian?”

Jin and Beric asked simultaneously. Barsabe looked down, troubled. Her duty was to serve Ian until the end, but no matter the circumstances, this was a failure.

“I’m sorry. I couldn’t stay with him until the end because I was chasing Jeon Seogu. He must have gone to the rendezvous point alone.”

“Alone?”

“I’m losing my mind. He can barely walk properly!”

“Sorry, Beric. But there was no other way.”

Beric opened his mouth to scold but stopped. Barsabe didn’t do this willingly. If anyone was to blame, it was the ministers who launched the midnight attack.

“We executed Minister Raven and his remaining followers immediately.”

“Well done.”

Jin encouraged him without even taking a breath. He had already grown tired of this mess, and hearing they died on the spot was a relief.

Jin ordered Xiao Xi to be summoned at once and began reorganizing the paperwork.

“Barsabe, confirm whether Ian and the escort met safely.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Could she confirm that? If they had met safely, they would have left by now. If not, the escort would already be on their way. Barsabe left the office, hoping they had at least left some sign.

Just then, Xiao Xi entered after being summoned. She glanced briefly at Barsabe as she passed and then faced Jin.

“Xiao Xi, immediately arrest all Raven faction members who left the palace. Charge them with manipulating the magic stone market.”

Jin handed her a document listing names and charges, stamped with the imperial seal to prove it was the emperor’s order. Without question, Xiao Xi bowed and left.

Jin busily rifled through more papers.

“Your Majesty, what should I do?”

“Beric, you—”

Jin muttered through clenched teeth, as if making a decision.

With Minister Raven dead, this was the signal to purge. His death indirectly suggested Ian was still alive. It was time to eliminate all involved and restore order.

“Draw your sword.”

“Yes, sir.”

Swish.

“As ordered.”

“Let’s go.”

Jin immediately entered the building where the nobles were detained. It was early morning, and the nobles, still half-asleep, scrambled to their feet to greet the emperor.

Bang!

The door slammed open as the emperor and royal guards stormed in. Count Charlotte straightened his clothes and bowed.

“Y-Your Majesty, what is the meaning of this?”

“Have you heard?”

“H-Hear what…?”

“That Ian Hielo, former Minister of Magic, died in the underground prison early this morning.”

Charlotte’s eyes darted around. Ian Hielo was dead? Before any execution?

There was no need to think deeply about what this implied. The sword at the emperor’s side spoke volumes.

“In his final statement, he strongly accused the House of Count Charlotte of treason.”

“Your Majesty, as I have said many times, we are a proud central family of Bariel and would never—”

“Some speak before death, others only with their tongues. Whose words do you think I should believe?”

Jin tossed a sheet of paper onto the table in front of Count Charlotte.

“If you make accusations, you must back them with credible evidence. Isn’t that right?”

Ian Hielo had risked his life. You, too, must stake everything worthy of death’s weight.

The document detailed the transfer of Count Charlotte’s business holdings to the palace and the sale of most of his land at a fraction of its value, excluding his mansion. Reading this, the count’s face paled, and he shouted.

“Your Majesty, it is unjust to act solely on Ian Hielo’s one-sided claims!”

“Unjust?”

Jin gave a subtle nod, and Beric stepped forward.

Charlotte couldn’t believe it. Even if they were accused of treason, such a haphazard judgment was unacceptable. Nobles and officials who valued tradition and rules would never stand for this.

Jin let out a small sigh.

“Ah, don’t worry.”

Those destined to die should only worry about death.

“Minister Raven is dead.”

“What?!”

“And the Imperial Defense Department is sweeping outside the palace, arresting all involved. The situation is chaotic; no one will dare criticize the palace’s decision.”

As Beric gripped his sword, the count’s wife let out a shrill scream.

“Husband! Husband! Sign it! Hurry!”

“B-But—”

“No buts! Don’t you understand the situation?”

She dropped to her knees before the emperor, clasping her hands desperately.

“Your Majesty, we offer everything to prove our innocence once more. Just as death was everything to Ian Hielo, this is everything to us. Please show mercy and spare our lives.”

Jin glanced at the count. His wife was begging, but what were you doing?

“I-I’m sorry.”

The count swallowed hard and knelt carefully. With Ian Hielo dead, there was no more time to delay or plead innocence. He had to abandon any hope of protecting his family.

“I’ve heard enough empty apologies.”

Jin shook his head, and the steward handed the count a pen. With trembling hands, he signed at the bottom.

Beric took the document, and Jin turned away as if done. There were too many nobles to face.

“Rest now. If you stay quiet, you’ll be allowed to leave the palace soon enough.”

Creaaak.

From then on, Jin went from noble’s quarters to quarters, confiscating businesses, lands, and assets.

Nobles who had resisted with officials realized they had no choice but to sign the documents Jin presented. Otherwise, Beric, standing behind the emperor, looked ready to swing his sword at any moment.

“Your Majesty! W-What is this!”

“This is unjust! Your Majesty!”

“Please conduct a thorough investigation! Your Majesty!”

High-ranking officials arrested by Xiao Xi shouted as if the palace would collapse. They were clearly flustered, caught not as officials but as criminals.

Jin sat on the throne, calmly watching the officials plead their innocence.

“Ian Hielo is dead.”

“Pardon?”

“Minister Raven is dead, too.”

“Th-That…”

Jin’s blunt words made the officials’ eyes dart around. Was there a connection between their deaths? Did Raven kill Ian?

Without revealing details, Jin was testing them, and the officials were at a loss, falling silent.

Jin didn’t miss this.

“Why so quiet?”

“…Your Majesty, Ian Hielo was a traitor. Whatever happened, no one will question his death.”

Jin was certain they knew Raven had pursued Ian Hielo. That Ian died during the chase, and the emperor was making an issue of it.

Jin propped his chin on his hand, nodding with interest.

“On the surface, it seems a just death, but you’re missing the point.”

“What do you mean?”

“To dare target the imperial carriage in pursuit—that alone is an insult to the royal family. Even if ‘no one’ was inside, it was clearly a mission under imperial orders. To attack such a carriage? Are you sane?”

“We don’t know anything about that!”

“That’s right!”

“But you just answered as if you knew. You seem to have some idea about Ian Hielo’s death and Minister Raven’s death. Am I mistaken?”

Everything will come to light once the investigation begins.

Besides, the charges they were arrested for were completely different. Jin tossed the evidence he had prepared right at their feet.

Thud.

He had been waiting for this moment for a long time—ever since Ian raised concerns about irregularities in the magic stone market prices. Even if Ian hadn’t rebelled, these cases would have been brought forward long ago to tighten the noose around their necks.

“This is the Ministry of Magic’s indictment for manipulating the magic stone market.”

“Why… why now?” one official stammered.

Hadn’t they just let this slide before?

Jin smiled, amused by their reactions. But the smile was chillingly cold.

“Is there ever a right time for justice?”

At that moment, Barsabe hurried into the chamber, covering her mouth as she approached Jin.

“Your Majesty, there’s been a problem.”

Jin listened impassively as she reported.

“When we reached the rendezvous point, there was only one unfamiliar person there—a mercenary. They said Ian never showed up and left early, even though the scheduled time had passed. They waited, hoping Ian might arrive late, but it seems he never made it to the meeting place.”

A twitch. Jin’s brow furrowed sharply. The officials, who had been watching the emperor’s mood closely, froze in place.

“We’ve dispatched people to search the surrounding forest. I’ll provide a detailed report once the search is complete.”

“Good work,” Jin said.

Barsabe bowed and quickly left the chamber.

Jin remained silent for a long moment, lost in thought. He glanced at the officials, then stared into space, even closing his eyes briefly as if displeased. Finally, unable to contain himself, the emperor rose from his seat.

“There’s no need to complicate things. What’s the point of holding a formal execution ceremony for someone so insignificant?”

Jin turned to Xiao Xi with a command.

“Execute them immediately after the investigation. Anyone who sided with Raven—no exceptions. Kill them all.”