Chapter 851

“What? Ian has disappeared?”

The wizards who heard the news about Ian first thing in the morning were stunned. Perhaps it was because his final farewell had been so peaceful—they had simply assumed he was on his way, safe and sound. But this sudden, shocking report shattered that illusion.

The carriage overturned, Ian vanished, and Raiven died? Well, at least the last part was some good news.

“Captain Akorella! The palace requests that we dispatch the truth serum. They plan to execute the officials arrested for manipulating the magic stone market immediately.”

“…What on earth is going on?”

“The Emperor has drawn his sword. He’s already swept through the nobles’ residences.”

Akorella tucked the vial of truth serum into her robes and dashed out. From outside, the hurried voices of palace officials demanding the serum could be heard.

Raiven’s death had triggered a storm. A bloody purge was underway—cutting out the rot, striking down anyone who displeased the Emperor’s gaze.

Akorella pressed her brows together and asked again.

“The western forest outside the capital, right? They’re still searching?”

“Yes. The Varsabe unit is in charge.”

Despite deploying specialized search troops, the limits were clear—not technical, but situational. They were blindly combing the forest, not even sure what they were looking for.

“Should we go out there too?”

“…Hail, Nakina, Tomi. The three of you go. Join the search party, and if you find Lord Ian, make sure to silence everyone who was at the scene. The rest of you handle the magic department’s affairs and prepare the bodies. Understood?”

At Akorella’s command, Hail, Nakina, and Tomi immediately turned and flew off. She descended to the underground chamber where the bodies were frozen, frowning deeply.

‘This is a mess in every way.’

If Ian had simply gotten lost, he would know that his very presence only complicates matters. He would deliberately hide deeper.

‘Or is it a matter of his safety?’

Frustrated, Akorella slammed her fist against the wall. Boom! Unintentionally, magic surged through her blow, shaking the entire magic department with a thunderous roar. The wizards stepped back in surprise, and she muttered irritably.

“…That’s just as bad.”

“Ah, Akorella?”

“Those bastards! Why now of all times! Aaargh!”

“P-please calm down. Lord Ian will be safe.”

“Yes. Captain Hail will surely find him.”

“I’m going to suggest sending all the captured scum to my lab. I’ll chew them up from head to toe and pick their bones clean!”

“Eek.”

Akorella’s furious shouting caught the attention of Eunrang and Hohun, who were locked up in the prison. Wondering what was going on, they exchanged glances after sneaking a peek at the situation.

“Release the freeze!”

“Yes, understood.”

Akorella entered the morgue and put on gloves. Although the magic had been lifted by the wizards, the bodies were still stiff as ever.

But since decay would accelerate rapidly over time, reapplying magic quickly was crucial.

“Transformation.”

“This is my first time doing this. Hope it works.”

“Who said you’ve done it before? Just keep quiet and do it.”

“Someone’s cranky…”

But it was understandable. With Ian’s fate unknown, nerves were understandably frayed. The wizards focused on altering the corpse’s appearance.

Ziiing! Ziiing!

The facial features gradually reformed into a more beautiful, delicate visage. If not for the pale skin, it could almost be mistaken for Ian peacefully asleep.

“The charge was murder, right? Lucky you. Who else gets to look this good after death?”

Akorella lifted the eyelids to check the eye color and the length of the eyelashes carefully.

“Good. Don’t forget to maintain the magic until the body fully decomposes. Tell the soldiers outside it’s ready to be taken. They’ll hang it in the central square.”

“Tch. I know it’s not really Ian, but seeing it like this… it stings a little. Feels wrong.”

“Get a grip. We have to keep it up for at least three days.”

“Yes, understood.”

No matter how much they knew it wasn’t really Ian, the thought of his body being displayed in broad daylight was unsettling. But there was no choice—it was the only way to protect Ian’s life.

The wizards steeled themselves and stepped outside with a light breath of resolve. Moments later, the waiting soldiers entered with tense expressions, following them inside.

“This is the body of Ian Hielo.”

“Y-yes, sir.”

“No need to be nervous. No matter how powerful a wizard is, death is the end. We’ve taken precautions just in case, so carry it with confidence.”

With a crisp salute to Akorella, the soldiers lifted Ian’s body and left. Wizards responsible for maintaining the magic followed behind.

Akorella roughly tossed off her gloves and was about to leave when—

“Hey!”

If not for Eunrang calling out, she would have slipped away unnoticed.

Akorella turned toward the wizards, puzzled.

“No gag?”

“Well, he’s usually quiet.”

Not missing a beat, Eunrang cut in again.

“Come here for a moment.”

“Ha, so you weren’t beaten as badly last time?”

Akorella clenched her teeth, her eyes flashing sharply.

Eunrang flinched, recalling the madness she’d seen in Akorella at Raiven’s mansion, but quickly steeled herself. At this moment, the cage wasn’t imprisoning her—it was protecting her.

“Just one question. Ian Hielo is dead?”

“Yes. So?”

Of course, the ministers had changed, and they had just seen the body carried out. Eunrang and Hohun were wizards too, but with their magic sealed by the power stones, they couldn’t tell what magic was being cast in other rooms.

“Hmm.”

Eunrang raised an eyebrow, then abruptly turned away as if satisfied.

…Is she really losing it? Akorella briefly considered breaking down the bars and giving a piece of her mind, but there was too much to do.

“Put the gag back on. Your nonsense is annoying.”

“Yes, understood.”

Just before the gagged wizards entered the cell, Eunrang whispered to Hohun, who looked at her with concern.

“There’s something going on.”

“Eunrang.”

“The curse hasn’t been broken.”

The day Eunrang and Hohun first met Ian and fled, Eunrang had cast a family curse on him through her ancestral astrology.

It was a curse, and if the target didn’t accept it, it should have bounced back to the caster.

But—

‘It doesn’t feel like it’s been fulfilled, nor does it feel like it ended with death. Even with magic sealed, I can tell.’

Nothing had happened. Ian wasn’t dead, and the curse still lingered around him.

Eunrang, gagged, chuckled as if amused and looked up at him.

“What’s wrong? Going crazy?”

A wizard nearby, annoyed, snapped his fingers and left. Eunrang flopped down, giggling over the curious discovery.

Snap!

Meanwhile—

Akorella and the wizards arrived at the palace to report the situation. Unlike usual, carriages were scattered messily at the foot of the stairs—no doubt officials and related parties were coming and going in a rush.

“Your Majesty?”

As Akorella and the wizards entered the hall, they froze in shock. The sharp stench of blood filled the air. Vials of truth serum lay scattered on the floor, and blood pooled in places, its owner unknown.

In the center, Jin was wiping blood splatters from his face with a handkerchief. He spotted Akorella.

“I was just about to call you.”

“Well, this is—”

“Don’t worry about it. The serum’s effectiveness remains unchanged.”

Jin waved his hand, and attendants busied themselves cleaning the blood from the floor. Beric, standing by the Emperor’s side, took the cloth and tidied his sword. The scene made it clear what had transpired here.

Akorella steadied herself and lifted her head slightly.

“Who died?”

“Raiven and five ministers, plus nine deputy ministers. That’s the count for now.”

The weight behind “for now” was heavy. The Emperor’s resolve to cut out the rot completely was palpable. Carriages hauling corpses would likely continue nonstop for days.

“We displayed Ian Hielo’s body in the central square to demonstrate the royal authority. Regarding the unfortunate incident last night, the magic department has dispatched an investigation team. Hail, Nakina, and Tomi will assist the Varsabe unit.”

“Hmm. Very well.”

“Yeah, yeah…” Jin muttered weakly.

Even if Ian was found, nothing would really change. Ian had to be moved secretly to a hideout in the west.

Jin clenched his teeth in frustration and threw down his sword. His jaw hardened, and the atmosphere around him instantly turned grim.

“While you all do your part, I have my own duties. I’ve been thinking—”

Jin gestured for Xiaosi and Beric to come closer.

“Among the nobles currently detained, it would be best to deal with the Charlotte and Daphne families, as well as the families of the Minister of Justice.”

Jin added in a flat, emotionless tone. There was no hint of feeling, and his voice was cold and monotone, as if he were simply relaying calculated data.

“Charlotte’s estate was used to plot treason. For the sake of example, it’s only right to wipe out her entire family. Daphne is a greedy one. From the way she acted during the signing, she seemed to submit but showed no intention of giving up. It’s best to deal with her now.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“And among the Minister of Justice’s children, there’s the dean of Bariel University, isn’t there? He was a key figure in the scholarship corruption scandal that came up earlier, wasn’t he? I recall the evidence was insufficient, so it was swept under the rug. Let’s send him along this time. Once he learns his father is dead, he’ll surely rise up.”

Each time Jin struck a name through with his pen, it felt as if a sword was slicing through their necks. Berrick and Xiaoshi carefully examined the death list Jin handed over, dividing up the tasks.

“I’ll go see the nobles. Xia, you head outside.”

“Understood.”

“While you’re out, send my regards to Lady Chloe.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I will.”

Xiaoshi nodded.

Though the Davion Count and his immediate family were untouched, three officials already dead bore the Davion name. To avoid trouble, the Count and Chloe would have no choice but to hide behind Xiaoshi.

“You must feel at ease with such a reliable son-in-law.”

Once this storm passes, Xiaoshi’s position within the family will be solidified. It’s good for him personally, and politically, it’s a positive development.

“Your Majesty.”

The chamberlain approached cautiously, delivering a message. The Emperor’s anger was already at its peak, and the chamberlain seemed unsure if he should even relay this news.

“What is it?”

“It’s about the corpse of Ian Hielo hanging in the square.”

Corpse? What about the corpse?

Had the magic been lifted? Just as Akorella was about to look back at the mages in surprise, the chamberlain prostrated himself as if begging to be spared.

“The… the gathered crowd is praying.”

“What?”

Instead of throwing stones at the traitor Ian Hielo, people were quietly praying or laying flowers in a procession of mourning.

“The guards are trying to hold them back, but they ask how to respond.”

“Hm.”

Though a traitor, Ian was still the archmage who led the empire’s revival, a war hero who brought peace to Gaia.

Jin rested his chin on his hand and muttered softly.

“Let them be.”

“Pardon? But—”

“Just let it be.”

The erasure sentence would be carried out soon enough. What harm was there in allowing a brief moment of remembrance? This was Jin’s small gift to Ian: to show that even in Bariel, there were those who honored his efforts.

“Understood…”

The chamberlain hurried away, thinking the harsh atmosphere had softened somewhat. Or perhaps it was just his own illusion.

“Now, let’s move. Behead the nobles’ heads just in case, and keep them separate.”

As Jin gave final orders to Berrick and Xiaoshi, the chamberlain muttered repeatedly, as if only now realizing the gravity of the situation. Hmm, yes…

‘…It was just an illusion.’