Chapter 905

“Captain Crony’s uncle, you say?”

Ian stared quietly at the hand Soren extended. Of all the titles the palace could have used to address him, why mention him as ‘Crony’s uncle’?

Slowly, Ian raised his hand and shook it, introducing himself.

“Yes. Ian Hadel of the Magic Department.”

Before anything else, he was a mage.

His correction was gentle but firm. Soren offered a polite smile.

“Just as I’d heard.”

“I’m not sure what you’ve heard.”

“Perhaps you’re on your way out after meeting His Majesty the Emperor?”

Soren’s words circled naturally.

Ian frowned slightly, feeling a twinge of discomfort. This man was clearly in league with Crony. His affiliation with the Imperial Defense Department and the way he treated Ian bore a strange resemblance to Crony’s own manner.

“…Yes.”

“What did you discuss?”

What could the emperor, barely in his right mind, have wanted to say to Ian in his private chambers? Soren looked deeply into the boy’s eyes, as if trying to discern truth from lies.

Ian met his gaze without flinching.

“Why do you want to know?”

“Though you’ve only recently entered the palace, it’s curious that His Majesty would take such a liking to you.”

“Then ask His Majesty yourself. If you’re trying to guess his intentions, why seek answers from me?”

Don’t ask me what you can’t ask the emperor. Such insolence from a child was unexpected.

Soren fell silent for a moment, as if at a loss for words, then brought up Crony.

“When the deputy minister’s guilt is fully exposed, Captain Crony will become the head of the Imperial Defense Department. I hear there’s some misunderstanding between you two. Wouldn’t it be better to clear the air for both your sakes?”

Unnecessary meddling, Ian thought, quietly mulling over Soren’s words.

“Have you found evidence that the deputy minister is the culprit? How can you be so sure?”

It had only been half a day since the minister’s body was discovered. Yet Soren spoke as if the deputy minister’s guilt was a foregone conclusion.

Soren grinned and crouched down to meet Ian’s eye level.

“There’s a way everyone knows.”

“…Captain Crony is currently in the north. He just left on the expedition, and now you say he’s returning?”

“Does the length of the expedition matter? The outcome is what counts.”

Ian found that hard to grasp. Soren lightly patted his shoulder in encouragement and stood.

“I should get going. Here’s a signed recommendation for Captain Crony as the next head of the Imperial Defense Department. We don’t know when His Majesty will fall asleep or wake again, so we must hurry.”

With that, Soren left a brief farewell and strode down the corridor, followed by dozens of Imperial Defense Department officers. Each one cast Ian a hard, sidelong glance.

Ian stepped carefully out of the main palace and leaned against the stair railing, his mind swirling with questions. What on earth was going on?

“Ian!”

A familiar voice called out. Arena poked her head out from a carriage waiting in front of the palace, waving him over. Ian broke into a run.

Pitter-patter!

“Minister!”

“Get in quickly. More of those Defense Department guys are coming.”

“What brings you here?”

“Just waiting for you. Heard you came in during the meeting. Coachman! Let’s go!”

“Yes, Minister!”

The carriage jolted forward.

Arena pushed some papers aside and asked,

“What did His Majesty say?”

Ian recalled the emperor’s dry warning: trust no one. After a moment’s hesitation, he gave a vague answer.

“He asked how I’m adjusting to the Magic Department.”

“And? Did you answer well?”

“Of course. Everyone’s been very kind.”

“Good, good.”

Arena nodded, folding her arms.

She had noticed too. There was no way the emperor had summoned Ian to his chambers just to ask that. But if Ian chose not to say more, there was nothing to be done but respect his silence.

“And Minister,”

“Hmm?”

“Looks like Crony will become head of the Imperial Defense Department.”

Ian’s cautious words made Arena pause. Curious, she gestured for him to explain. Ian recounted his conversation with Soren. Listening quietly, Arena rested her chin on her hand.

“So the talks with the north are already settled.”

This was a campaign waged in the empire’s name. There was no justification for retreating just because the Defense Department’s leader was gone. That meant negotiations with the northern minorities had progressed, and they had formed an alliance.

“Campaigns are just an excuse. They’re going to meet face to face and shake hands.”

With the northern forces backing him, Crony now held command over the imperial army. Who in the Defense Department would dare oppose him? Even the officers who followed Soren had likely joined forces with him.

“What if Crony becomes head of the Defense Department?”

Ian muttered anxiously. Arena placed a hand gently on his head and stroked it.

“If he does, then so be it. No need to worry. We’re the Magic Department.”

No matter how powerful Crony became, he wouldn’t dare touch the Magic Department. That was a reassurance.

“Ian, like I said, keep going to school and stay out of the palace drama until things settle down.”

She meant for him to live his own life, ignoring the complicated affairs of adults. When the carriage arrived at the Magic Department, Ian got out and asked,

“May I stop by the office briefly to grab something? I left a book there.”

“Sure. Take care of it quickly.”

“Thank you, Minister.”

Arena hurried up to her office.

Ian passed through the lobby and entered the office corridor. The palace was in such turmoil that all the mages seemed to be on high alert. The halls were empty.

“Found you!”

Suddenly, someone grabbed Ian from behind.

Startled, he spun around. A mess of pink hair shaped like dumplings, orange eyes, and freckles.

“Huh?”

“It’s hard to catch you around!”

It was Ako, the shopkeeper who dealt in magical stones.

Ian blinked in surprise, recognizing her.

“What’s got you so busy?”

“Why are you here?”

“Work, of course.”

“Oh, so you’re the new mage they mentioned?”

“A secondhand rookie♡, as they say. But what’s going on? No one’s around.”

Unlike the other mages who were running errands, Ako had been holed up in the underground lab, seemingly unaware—or uninterested—in the situation.

“Well, about that—”

“Forget that. Come with me!”

With a whoosh, Ako dragged Ian down to the underground lab.

It was Ian’s first time there. The air was damp and musty, but the space was generally clean and well-maintained. Opening the door at the end of the corridor, green smoke billowed out.

“……”

Is it really safe to go in? It feels like my lungs would melt if I breathe this in, Ian thought. Noticing his concern, Ako laughed and fanned the air.

“Don’t worry, it’s all just nutrients. Nutrients! Breathe it in deep! Hup! Ha—!”

Ian discreetly covered his nose and mouth with his sleeve. Ako pushed a chair toward him and pulled out an idgal from a drawer.

Plop.

“This is the one from last time…”

“That’s right! The gem! Want to try holding it again?”

Hesitantly, Ian reached out and picked up the amber-colored stone. It slowly began to glow. Ako twisted with delight.

“Kyaa! See? See?”

“Why is it doing this?”

“I don’t know! But there must be some reason it reacts to you. How about we figure it out together? Huh?”

Smoke puffed from Ako’s nostrils. Ian, feeling something was off, calmly declined.

“The minister forbade me from entering for now.”

“What?! Why?”

“Don’t you know? The palace is in chaos after the Imperial Defense Department minister was murdered. Until the case is resolved, I’m not allowed inside.”

Eeeh?! Ako froze, mouth agape, as if struck by lightning.

“What about my research? What about it?”

“…I don’t know.”

Ako rolled up her sleeves, ready to bolt out.

“So, if they find out who did it, everything will be settled?”

“Probably. I have a suspect in mind, but—”

How could they find evidence?

The guards were investigating, but surely Crony’s people were among them. Without catching the culprit, they couldn’t prove Crony ordered the murder…

“They should just conduct a search and seizure.”

“There’s no justification. Everyone suspects someone else as the prime suspect. I think the culprit will soon be found dead. They’ll take the blame and that will be the end of it.”

“Hmm.”

Ako snorted softly. How long would it take for this whole mess to settle? Since the Ministry of Magic was getting involved in the investigation, it didn’t look like either side would back down easily.

“Why not just barge in?” someone suggested.

“That’s not really an option…”

A sudden thought flashed through Ian’s mind—the invitation. The one from Crony’s father, asking him to come to the mansion because his illness had worsened.

“Oh.”

That could be the perfect excuse to get inside the mansion. Surely, there would be some evidence or traces proving that Crony had orchestrated the assassination attempt on the Minister.

If Ian could find that and get it to Arena, they could stop Crony from becoming the Empire’s Defense Minister—and maybe even have him executed.

“Right, I can just go there myself.”

“To where? That guy’s mansion?”

“Thanks, Ako. You just helped me figure it out. I actually have the invitation.”

As Ian started packing up to leave the lab, Ako stepped in front of him.

“Whoa, whoa. Calm down. Just calm down.”

A tiny kid, and yet he was planning to walk straight into the middle of a murder case?

“I’m fine. I can handle it.”

“It’s not about handling it. Who goes to someone’s house empty-handed?”

Ako snapped his fingers and told Ian to wait a moment. He rummaged through a cabinet, checking labels carefully before placing several potions on the desk.

Plop.

“This one’s invisibility potion, that’s a lightning bomb, and this one…”

There were about five small potions in total—an emergency kit of sorts. Ako handed them to Ian, winking with one eye.

“If you come back safe, want to research these with me?”

Holding up his thumb and forefinger in a little gesture, Ako whispered the offer. Ian nodded as if promising, then dashed out of the underground lab.

Ako waved his hand through the smoke and clicked his tongue.

“…Guess I better file a report.”

How could he stop Ian when he was going to the mansion on an official invitation? Judging by Ian’s expression, no amount of arguing would have worked anyway. So Ako lazily wrote up the report and stamped it with a loud thud.