Chapter 135
Chapter 135
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 135
Chapter Title: Love is a Mad Thing
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The Grand Council convened before presenting matters to the Emperor.
Ever since Prince Marib and 2nd Prince Gail had participated due to border issues, the meetings had never proceeded smoothly even once. They were on high alert, handling agenda items meticulously to avoid any noise that might draw the princes back in.
Wesley watched the ministers' discussions with a blank expression.
"Very well, then this matter will be handled by the Administrative Department. Next item. A report arrived from the Mayor of Karenna yesterday. It says the bandit gang that had been plaguing the area has been wiped out."
"Is that so? That's fortunate indeed."
"They gave us headaches multiple times, but it's finally resolved. Did they handle the subjugation themselves? We were about to form a punitive force."
"Well now. As I recall, that mayor didn't seem like the type."
Karenna. It was a city with deep ties to Wesley, yet her expression showed not the slightest change. The Prime Minister gestured for silence and read the report carefully.
"It says most of the bandits were annihilated in the process, with only the leader captured alive for interrogation. However, questions arose during the interrogation, so they've requested consultation from the palace."
"Questions?"
"It mentions the bandits came down from the north carrying several peculiar items. The details aren't attached, but from what's mentioned, it seems related to the undead...."
Wesley's eyes widened rapidly as she listened quietly. Undead? Here, of all places—not somewhere else, but undead discovered in Karenna?
"What did you say?"
Wesley raised her voice involuntarily, but the atmosphere assumed it was natural for the Magic Department Minister to be sensitive to undead. One minister chuckled awkwardly and ventured a comment.
"Wesley Minister, no need to sharpen your tone. We know from every report that the Magic Department manages necromancers well."
"Indeed. The mayor isn't claiming to have undead corpses, is he? Or perhaps mistaking vagrants for undead?"
The Prime Minister shook his head lightly at the ministers' questions.
"No such mention. It seems confirmed through interrogation of the bandits. Since Karenna lacks information on the matter, they're requesting data held by the palace."
Information on undead fell under Wesley's purview. At the Prime Minister's gesture, an attendant brought the report to her. Though she tried to stay composed, her hands moved independently. She devoured the text eagerly, her brows furrowing more and more.
"The mayor has urgently asked several specific questions, so those should be sent via messenger bird, and related information via carriage—that seems appropriate."
"...Questions. I see."
Were undead truly considered magical beasts? Had any slave trading group received official central authorization to trade undead? Was there a way to become undead without necromancy?
"I'll handle it."
Wesley realized the questions were quite detailed. There must have been quite the process leading to this. As she bit her lip and flipped through the report, someone asked.
"But did the Mayor of Karenna handle the bandit subjugation himself?"
It was Taiha, Minister of the Imperial Defense Department. If the bandits had come from the north, they might have crossed the border—something that could potentially fall under his responsibility. There was no border count right on the northern frontier to handle patrols.
"Yes, there were a couple of incursions, it seems. Karenna's guards suppressed them. Though they received some help from external mercenaries. Right, Wesley Minister?"
"Yes. That's what it says."
"External mercenaries? Even a small town like Karenna has mercenaries, huh? Hahaha!"
As the ignorant fools burst into laughter, Wesley couldn't bring herself to smile. External mercenaries—their presence grated on her. Wanderers by nature, it might be mere coincidence, but...
'A small-town mayor mentioning them means they played a key role in suppressing the bandits.'
In a delegated palace setting, everyone was obsessed with formalities more than anyone. Wesley sensed that the mayor mentioning them, even briefly, meant it wasn't something to brush off lightly.
"Anyway, I'll take full responsibility for this matter. We can move to the next item."
Tap.
Wesley suggested lightly as she closed the report. It was fitting for her to handle it at her level. But Taiha, who had been listening silently, interjected.
"Bandit matters fall under our department."
"But it's already suppressed, and the mayor's requests are answers to questions about the undead and various mysteries."
"If slave traders are involved, that's our purview too. Plus, the bandit leader is still alive. Can't Wesley Minister just compile clear answers and send them by messenger bird? It's not even something for a minister to handle, really."
Just answer the questions and step back. Wesley let out an incredulous scoff, tapping the table with her fingers. Silence fell over the boisterous council chamber.
'Here they go again.'
The Prime Minister sighed inwardly, stroking his white beard. It was obvious why they sharpened their blades over something trivial: New Year's, personal grudges, or hidden agendas.
'Taiha seems to be stressing over reappointment due to the New Year.'
Unlike the independent Magic Department with rare leadership changes, others vied sharply over personnel evaluations for reappointments. Things went smoothly without issues, but when was there ever a day without trouble in the empire? Especially the Defense Department—heads rolled two or three times a year after a single war.
"Taiha Minister, it's New Year's—why chase this matter so eagerly? It would only burden your successor."
Wesley prodded sharply, her words laced with insult. What if you took it and got dismissed? Taiha's thick brows twisted attractively.
'Why is Wesley acting like this? It's nothing that requires such edge; I can't understand it. As Taiha says, it's not something to intervene in personally.'
The Prime Minister glanced between them, weighing options inwardly. With their sky-high tempers, it might just be whimsy, but...
Thud thud thud!
"Wesley Minister. Silence, please."
"Very well. If he stops talking nonsense."
"Taiha Minister's words have merit too. So, both departments should handle the Karenna matter jointly. Cooperate, but stick to your own domains—no issue that way. Next agenda."
The Prime Minister sided with Taiha. Wesley wore an incredulous look, but most ministers, as if expecting it, checked the next report.
'That's why you should've known your place.'
The balance from moderate checks had shattered at the New Year's point. Over the Magic Department's 'truth serum' development. Forcing high officials to drink a magic potion revealing faith and truth before appointment—what were they thinking?
"Yes, next is..."
"Continuing..."
Who in the world doesn't have a speck of dirt when shaken out? And the Magic Department made it? On what grounds? Departments outside the Emperor's Administrative Bureau had banded together after ages to oppose this agenda vehemently.
'It'll probably start with the Chief Justice appointment; wonder how that'll go.'
Lord Hailot, backed strongly by First Prince Marib, was the nominee. Talented and respected externally and internally, but his upright character meant poor relations with the Magic Department.
Swoosh.
Wesley beckoned her aide. He approached quietly from observing the meeting, and she whispered into her hand-covered mouth. Everyone pretended not to care, avoiding glances, but their senses were fully attuned.
"Bareto, summon all necromancers."
"Yes, understood."
"And have the Mana Stone Management Division prepare too."
"I'll ensure no issues."
Finishing her orders, Wesley glared sharply at the council ministers. No one looked, but necks stiffened involuntarily.
Everyone, as always, hoped.
For the meeting to end quickly.
* * *
"Should've just let her die back then?"
Romandro muttered gravely while reading the mayor's letter. Hearing such words from him, not Berik.
"You must have asked Berik."
"Huh? No, isn't it? If Wesley Minister finds out, what could be more dangerous? Forget Hasha—even our safety, knowing the secret, isn't guaranteed. She wiped out an entire village."
Saying it aloud seemed to bring reality crashing down. Romandro's face paled progressively, then he screamed again.
"Uwaaah! Right! It's dangerous now! Oh no! Should I relay to Prince Marib?"
"Calm down, Lord Romandro. Rash moves could expose us. First, confirm if the mayor's report has reached the palace. Intercept it midway if not, or check contents if it has."
That meant time for Romandro to act. The Grand Council shared agendas across departments, so a little inquiring would reveal it easily.
"And then?"
Romandro, sweating profusely and wiping his palms on his jacket, asked back. Then, it was Ian's part.
"Since it's gone to the Magic Department, I'll gather information too."
Even if necromancy research was public, differences existed between external knowledge and internal Magic Department intel. And above all...
"Why they conducted 'secret' research on applying necromancy to the living."
Wesley's role in the palace seemed clear. The lead pawn in Gail's rebellion. But in the history Ian remembered, undead were never used in the rebellion.
'Then, this might be Wesley's personal project. Gail might not even know. The key must lie in that gap.'
Secret—another word for the cause of secrecy.
Unraveled, that becomes the weakness.
"Wesley's weakness..."
Ian murmured thoughtfully without realizing. Romandro, regaining composure and wiping cold sweat, reflexively replied.
"Wesley Minister's weakness? That's a bit off."
"Pardon? What do you mean?"
"Her weakness is 2nd Prince Gail, but Gail being a weakness doesn't make sense. He's second in the empire. You know."
Ian pondered his words silently.
Everything Wesley did was for Gail...
But if Gail didn't know about the necromancy incident, then it was for Wesley.
'No way.'
An absurd hypothesis surfaced in Ian's mind. Turning the living into undead under her control? Then, surely not targeting Gail?
'Unless she's insane, no way...'
"In a way, Wesley Minister is mad. 'Mad with love' isn't a saying for nothing."
"Good heavens."
Romandro muttered to himself, skimming the mayor's letter repeatedly. As Ian stared in shock, Romandro blinked in confusion instead.
"Did I... say something wrong?"