Episode 902
“Ian.”
At Hans’s call from behind, the tension in Crony’s grip on Ian’s hand suddenly eased. Crony looked at Hans and Naum with a puzzled expression, and the two of them exchanged a brief nod before approaching. Ian’s face looked troubled—worse than usual.
“Is something wrong?”
“Who?” Crony straightened up and asked, wearing a polite smile, but the contempt lurking in his eyes was unmistakable.
Or maybe he never intended to hide it in the first place. Judging by Hans and Naum’s attire, it was clear they weren’t nobles, nor palace staff.
“Surely, you’re not referring to your uncle’s so-called close friends?” Crony’s tone seemed to say, “What happened to noble honor and dignity, associating with such lowly brats?”
Ian furrowed his brow slightly and replied, “They are my close friends.”
“Oh, really! Count Jacques promised to care for your uncle as if he were his own child. How could he be so negligent?”
If it were true that Ian was associating with commoners, he could formally raise an objection. Legally, there might be no issue, but socially and morally, it was another matter.
The mention of Count Jacques sharpened Ian’s gaze for a moment.
“Please don’t say that. Count Jacques has been very considerate of my convenience. And these two are my close friends, students of Enerjes, and newly minted magicians.”
“Ah, new magicians, you say?”
Crony asked, feigning surprise at the news. So the number of magicians had increased again?
Sensing the clear intent to pry for information, Ian quickly changed the subject.
“For details, please inquire formally with the Magic Department. And, Sir Crony—”
Ian looked Crony straight in the eye and said firmly,
“I will not be going north.”
Ian preferred to stay in the capital. Count Jacques’s estate was prosperous, and there was much to learn at Enerjes and the Magic Department. Not to mention the endless kind and interesting connections. Even if someone other than Crony had suggested it, he would have refused.
But to go with Crony? There was absolutely no reason to accept that.
“Is that so,” Crony murmured with a low chuckle. Ian couldn’t quite grasp the meaning behind that laugh, but he felt something between them crack and crumble.
“Understood, uncle. Please take care of yourself.”
That was the last chance. Without another word, Crony turned his back and strode out of the Magic Department. The gazes of the magicians watching from afar slowly followed him.
“Ian, what’s going on?”
Hans and Naum approached Ian’s side, keeping an eye on Crony’s retreating figure. Judging by their titles, they seemed to be family, but their cold, sharp demeanor suggested they could cut each other down at any moment.
Ian smiled faintly, brushing it off.
“Nothing, really. Sorry if I caused you to hear anything unnecessary.”
“Forget it. But that guy’s really annoying. He’s military, right?”
“Yeah. Did you get a look around the annex?”
“Ah…”
Hans and Naum nodded awkwardly. The tour was brief—mostly just checking out the building and skimming through some books. Then Hans suddenly spoke, as if recalling something.
“Ian, I saw an interesting book earlier.”
“What kind?”
Ian’s gaze remained fixed on the Magic Department as he responded, searching for Arena. Something about Crony’s words felt significant enough to warrant consulting the Minister.
“It’s titled The Chronicles of Hielo. They said it’s about you.”
“Ian? Me?”
No way. That can’t be. Hans shrugged.
“Probably a different Ian. Judging by the title, it’s about Ian Hielo.”
“Ian Hielo…”
Ian repeated the name absently, turning it over in his mind. It sounded familiar, but not quite. If he had Hans’s knack for never forgetting what he’d seen, he would have recalled immediately.
“Do you know him?”
“No, I don’t think so. Where did you hear about it?”
“Anyway, if you’re interested later—”
“Ian!”
Ian spotted Arena and waved. She was passing by with a report tucked under her arm. At his call, she glanced over and stopped.
“Hans, Naum! Wait a moment!”
“Ian? Ian!”
“If you’re busy, you can go ahead!”
With that, Ian dashed toward Arena. Hans and Naum exchanged looks, reading each other’s thoughts.
“Hans, what do you want to do?”
“Let’s wait a bit before leaving.”
“Right. We’ll see each other again tomorrow.”
Hans was from Enerjes, Naum from the Magic Department—they could ask again then.
They sat on a bench outside the annex, watching Ian animatedly explain something to Arena. After listening for a while, Arena handed her report to an aide and led the boy into the minister’s office.
“Are there any disadvantages if you don’t go north?”
Arena perched on the edge of her desk, pondering the boy’s question. What nonsense was this? But Ian repeated the question with a slightly tense expression.
“Exactly as I said. If I don’t go north, will there be any disadvantages? Personally or for the Magic Department?”
“Where did you hear that? I heard Crony came by briefly earlier.”
“Yes. He suggested I go north.”
“Ah…”
What a damn lunatic. He actually said that in front of the boy? Arena smiled sweetly but inwardly imagined tearing Crony apart limb by limb to contain her anger.
“But what made you worry about disadvantages?”
“Nothing specific, but the atmosphere…”
“Atmosphere?”
That was a very subjective standard. Arena raised an eyebrow, and Ian added,
“Also, I don’t understand. Sir Crony has no reason to leave the capital now. If anything, he shouldn’t leave.”
“On what grounds?”
“My father is ill. And there are personal matters he’s involved in.”
Namely, the traps Ian Hadel had set to kill him—the bandits, the spies in Enerjes, the schemes to seize the estate.
Yet, he would stop all that and go north? Even if it was an order from his superior, Ian thought it should be reconsidered.
“I have many doubts, so I’m asking.”
“I see.”
Arena stroked her chin thoughtfully.
“For now, there’s no disadvantage. From the Magic Department’s perspective, it’s actually a loss if you go north. If the youngest, inexperienced one causes trouble up there, it just creates more problems.”
They had even used that as an excuse to get rid of someone once.
“Personally, Ian Hadel, you know yourself well. But from a third-party perspective, there’s nothing particularly concerning.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, it is.”
Arena winked and smiled.
Ian sighed quietly in relief. He had refused, but worried that some unknown scheme might harm the Magic Department. Arena tapped her pen lightly and watched him.
“Ian.”
“Yes, Minister?”
“You worry too much.”
“Excuse me?”
Arena crossed her arms, puzzled.
Isn’t it true? What if the Magic Department gets hurt?
“I’m the one responsible for the Magic Department, along with the commanders. It’s not something a junior like you, who just manages inventory, should worry about.”
No matter how much Crony schemed behind the scenes, the Magic Department was solid.
“Even if there’s damage, it’s on us. Ian Hadel, it’s not your responsibility. Understand?”
She meant Ian shouldn’t feel guilty for anything happening in the palace. After all, he was only five years old.
“You just need to study hard and live well, like you do now. And sometimes bring back a magician or two. That’s all I could ask for.”
As Arena playfully ruffled Ian’s hair, he smiled faintly and nodded.
“Now, stop worrying! Go home! You don’t often hear me tell you to leave, do you?”
“No, Minister. Understood. See you tomorrow.”
“Alright. Take care on your way back.”
Ian bowed politely and closed the door behind him. Arena kept smiling until then.
Creak.
Thud.
As soon as the door shut, she clicked her tongue with a stern expression.
She furrowed her brows deeply, pressing her fingers against her forehead. That damn Crony—if he was going to go, he should have done it quietly, not make a fuss until the very end.
“But Ian Hadel’s suspicions aren’t entirely baseless.”
Arena hadn’t expected Crony to actually go on the northern expedition. Sure, it was a good opportunity for someone in the Imperial Defense Department, but knowing Crony’s temperament, she thought he wouldn’t want to leave the capital.
“Why would he leave the capital if he knew what was going to happen?”
There had to be another reason for Crony’s departure.
Arena called for the aide waiting outside.
“Is he out there?”
“Yes, Minister.”
“Gather all the intel you can on the Imperial Defense Department. It seems General Crony has been appointed commander of the northern expeditionary force. I want to know the internal atmosphere—anything unusual.”
“Oh, I’ve caught wind of something about that.”
“That’s good. What is it?”
Arena lifted her chin expectantly, urging him to speak.
“Originally, there were rumors that the Deputy Minister would lead the expedition, but suddenly, General Crony was chosen instead. The officers don’t seem to have much of a reaction, but the Deputy Minister is reportedly quite displeased.”
“I see.”
Got it. So Crony is teaming up with the Minister to edge out the Deputy Minister and take that position. If this northern campaign goes well, the Deputy Minister won’t be much of an obstacle.
“Still, I’ll dig deeper just in case.”
“Yeah, gather every scrap of information you can. Our youngest seems pretty worried.”
“You mean Ian Hadel?”
“Exactly. Maybe it’s because he’s a noble, but he keeps trying to shoulder all these burdens.”
Arena’s last words were almost a mutter to herself. The aide nodded and left the minister’s office, spotting Ian Hadel walking alone in the distance.
‘Is he going alone?’
He thought about calling a carriage for him, but before he could, Hans and Naum, who had been waiting, rushed over to Ian. Romandro and Varsabe, who had been occupied elsewhere, also came looking for him. The aide smirked slightly and jotted down Arena’s orders in his notebook.
Swish.
There were orders to investigate, so he would, but chances were what he already knew was all there was: Crony aiming for the Deputy Minister’s position—that was the root and center of all the rumors.
The Imperial Defense Department… it’s surprisingly opaque.
But it wasn’t long before Arena, the aide, and the entire palace realized his assumptions were wrong. The dark seed Crony had been nurturing had finally begun to sprout.