Chapter 969

“This is strange.”

“What do you mean?”

“Aren’t there more carriages than usual today?”

In front of the main gate of the imperial palace.

Shopkeepers stood with their arms crossed, murmuring among themselves. From their long experience holding their posts, they knew this was no ordinary occurrence. Like ants sensing an earthquake before it happens, they instinctively felt that something was going on inside the palace.

“Yeah, it does seem that way.”

“Could it be related to Lord Crony?”

“Hmm. Hard to say.”

“Look, another carriage is coming.”

The grand, luxurious carriages bore the banners of various palace departments, signaling that high-ranking officials were gathering. It was well past the morning rush—almost lunchtime now.

“And even the central nobility…”

The shop owner, quietly observing, snapped his rag open and draped it over the edge of the table. That was a clear sign: no more customers would be served. Long-established shops knew exactly how to act in moments like this.

Whiiish!

Tap tap tap!

“Tsk.”

Count Jacques, seated in one of the carriages, noticed the merchants’ behavior and clicked his tongue softly. It had only been a few hours since the rumor of the emperor’s stasis spread beyond the palace to the central nobility. The common people were quick to pick up on the nobles’ uneasy mood. At this rate, news would soon reach every corner of Bariel.

“We’ve arrived, Count.”

“Ahem.”

Carriages lined up in front of the main palace. Among the officials with government posts, central nobles were not hard to spot. Since they were not entitled to attend the grand assembly, they clung to bureaucrats, desperate to extract any information.

“Count Jacques!”

“Welcome. You’ve heard the news, I assume?”

“What did General Hertzi say in his report?”

As Jacques stepped down, nobles swarmed around him, eager to speak. It was no one else but Count Jacques. At least his son and granddaughter belonged to the palace guard, so they must have detailed news about the emperor.

“What are you all doing here?”

“Huh?”

But Jacques’ reaction was unexpected. He lightly scolded the nobles gathered around him and glanced about.

“At times like this, we must be the palace’s steadfast support. If we act recklessly, chaos will spread inside and outside the palace. Didn’t you notice the tense atmosphere on your way in?”

“But still, we can’t just stand by after hearing the emperor was suddenly put into stasis!”

“Didn’t the Prime Minister specifically warn us to be cautious with our words? Until the palace finishes handling the situation, we should wait quietly.”

Someone hesitantly asked,

“…Count, you must know something, don’t you?”

Like Hertzi and Barsabe, Jacques had a close relationship with Ian Hadel. Not only that, but even Xiao Xi, an officer in the Imperial Defense Department, had briefly relied on Jacques. He was more familiar with the palace’s internal affairs than any noble present.

Jacques waved his hand dismissively, calming the nobles.

“This isn’t a topic to discuss out here. And given the circumstances, maintaining decorum is the right thing to do.”

He knew. His subtle message was clear: if anyone wants to know more, don’t act rashly—follow him and stay united.

As the nobles murmured among themselves, Jacques led them toward the palace gardens.

“Let’s go inside and gather our information.”

“Yes, that’s a good idea. We are central nobles, after all. The stronger the storm, the more we must stand firm together.”

“Let’s move! This way!”

“Count Jacques, lead us!”

As the nobles followed Jacques and disappeared inside, Beric and Barsabe quietly appeared from within the palace. Barsabe glanced toward the direction his grandfather had gone and sighed softly.

“He’s gone. Good.”

“Wow, your grandfather’s popular.”

“Not popular… never mind.”

The emperor’s stasis was a matter of grave importance, both internally and externally. No matter how much they begged for time or pleaded for patience, the nobles wouldn’t just sit still. Some mourned the emperor’s passing sincerely, but others would seize the opportunity to scheme, and some might act independently, stirring chaos in the capital.

At that moment, Hertzi emerged behind them and asked,

“The nobles?”

“Oh, Count Jacques just arrived and led them all inside.”

“Hmm.”

Hertzi surveyed the now quiet palace front and nodded with satisfaction.

Though the Prime Minister had issued orders, the nobles were hardly the type to obey blindly. The Prime Minister was respected as the highest palace official, but not as the leader of the nobility. And the emperor’s absence was a chance no ambitious noble would let slip by.

“Right. The situation’s already chaotic enough. If the nobles add to it, the country will be torn apart in every direction.”

So Hertzi had no choice but to ask for help from his father, the esteemed Count Jacques. No one was better suited to rally the nobles and keep them united.

“Hey, look! The Magic Department’s coming.”

Even in this serious moment, Beric leaned against a pillar, humming a tune. Spotting the approaching Magic Department carriage, he waved. Ian would be coming too, right?

“We’re starting preparations for the assembly. Barsabe, Beric, strengthen security around the palace.”

“Yes, understood.”

“Yay! Okay, okay.”

Snap! Both saluted simultaneously—one with a crisp, textbook salute, the other with a casual, streetwise wave.

Hertzi clicked his tongue and entered the palace first. Beric fixed his gaze on the carriage and asked,

“By the way, the captain’s vibe is kinda off, isn’t it?”

Beric’s question drew a deep sigh from Barsabe. Normally, he’d tease Beric for being the cause, but not today.

“Ian cast the stasis spell on the emperor. It was an imperial order, but the only proof is the signal magic stone.”

“So what?”

“If Ian acted on his own, that’s a serious crime—treason. The palace guard has to be on high alert just in case.”

“Come on, everyone with eyes saw it. Ian saved the emperor just before he died.”

“Exactly. But that ‘saving’ can be interpreted in many ways, depending on who you ask.”

That would be the first agenda item at today’s assembly:

Was Ian Hadel’s stasis spell an appropriate measure?

There were rumors that the emperor had patted Ian’s hand with a kind look, but that was just personal testimony. Ian would have to present the signal magic stone and explain that the stasis was carried out according to the emperor’s will.

Whiiish!

The carriage stopped, and the mages began to disembark, all dressed neatly in their uniforms. Beric, watching from the steps, crossed his arms and whistled.

“Well, well. Looks like everyone’s cleaned up.”

Barsabe, startled, hesitated.

“That’s not it.”

“Yeah, they changed clothes too.”

“No, you idiot.”

Finally, Ian stepped down from the carriage. The Magic Department insignia on his chest gleamed brilliantly. The mages parted to clear a path, and as Ian ascended the steps, they followed closely behind.

Tap tap tap!

“Let’s go.”

Barsabe tugged on Beric’s sleeve, pulling him inside. Ian’s gaze was steady, fixed straight ahead, as if he had only one path to follow.

Creak.

“We’ve arrived at the Magic Department.”

The steward’s announcement made the Prime Minister and other officials pause their conversations and turn. As the door opened, the first thing they saw was a platinum-haired, blue-eyed boy. The Prime Minister hesitated, surprised.

“You’re late. There’s a lot of paperwork to prepare.”

“…Not at all. You arrived on time. Please, have a seat. Today’s assembly will discuss serious matters.”

“Yes. I have much to report.”

Ian naturally took the minister’s seat. The mages moved back as if it were his rightful place and began distributing the documents they had brought.

The Prime Minister watched their actions carefully and asked cautiously,

“Is the acting Minister of the Magic Department Mage Ian Hadel?”

Since the department’s leaders rotated regularly, this was a routine question. Of course, since the emperor’s stasis was enacted by Ian, even if another leader sat there, they would have requested a seat change.

Ian smiled faintly and replied,

“Yes. And to inform you in advance, I am Ian Hadel, the interim Minister of the Magic Department.”

“What did you say?”

“According to the department’s laws, the minister is elected internally. We reached a consensus yesterday. Since Minister Arena is absent, communication between departments has been difficult. Especially in the current situation, I believe this is the right course.”

At that moment, someone interjected from the side.

“Still, how can you decide this unilaterally?”

Ian slowly turned toward the voice, though he couldn’t see who it was.

“Unilateral ministerial elections are a long-standing tradition in the Magic Department. The emperor’s approval is required, but as you all heard, that’s not possible now. When Minister Arena returns, this will be reversed. Until then, please recognize that I represent the mages here.”

“Hana Ian Hadel—no, Acting Minister. Today’s first agenda item concerns you directly. It’s about whether it was appropriate to freeze His Majesty the Emperor without any formal procedure. That’s how this meeting will begin.”

But what if Ian Hadel is elected as the representative of the Ministry of Magic before they even get to debate whether it was appropriate or not? In the worst-case scenario, wouldn’t the entire Ministry end up opposing the Imperial Palace?

Thud.

At that, Ian pulled out a magic stone from his coat.

“Many of you have been skeptical because you haven’t seen this with your own eyes.”

“This is…”

“This magic stone was personally handed to me by His Majesty the Emperor ten years ago. You can verify its authenticity by checking the palace’s gem registry records. At the time, His Majesty ordered that if there was ever any suspicion surrounding his death, he was to be frozen immediately. I was simply carrying out that order.”

The Prime Minister took the stone, examining it from all angles before passing it to a bureaucrat. It was a simple matter to confirm whether this was truly a palace treasure.

Putting that aside—

“Was the election process fair?”

I heard the Ministry’s tradition is to settle this through a magical duel?

The Prime Minister glanced sideways at the wizards. Though their faces were partly obscured by makeup or hats…

“Huh?”

Each of them bore the traditional scars—cracks around their mouths or eyes—that marked those defeated in the magical duel. Some seemed to regret having lost so easily to Ian, while others looked resigned, as if they had expected this outcome all along.

The complex, subtle expressions were mirrored by everyone else watching. The Prime Minister and all present kept their mouths tightly shut.

“Is that settled? May we proceed with the meeting?”

Ian lightly tapped the desk, drawing the scattered attention back to him.

“First, I will present the results of the interrogation of the Emperor’s assassin conducted at the Magic Tower. To get straight to the point, I have concluded that Crony Alphat is behind this.”

A ripple of shock spread across everyone’s faces from the very first words.