Chapter 149
Chapter 149
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Translator: Penny
Chapter: 149
Chapter Title: Next Minister Candidate Registration
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The Magic Department faced unprecedented chaos. It was the first time both the Minister and his aide positions had been vacated simultaneously. And since it stemmed from such an unfortunate incident, the entire department's position was inevitably awkward. It was only natural that the captains gathered in the conference room raised their voices.
"Watch your words."
"No, they're excluding the Magic Support Division from the investigation team!"
"We didn't say we were excluding you. We said we'd form the team mainly from other divisions."
"Isn't that the same thing? When something like this happens, deploying personnel is the Magic Support Division's role. This is overreach by other divisions!"
"Then, is it reasonable for the Minister Wesley's direct division, the ones who tried to assassinate Second Prince Gail, to continue the investigation? You all just shut your mouths and stay out of it."
"If you were going to serve a minister, you should have done it properly! What have you been doing as captain of the Magic Support Division until something like this happened?"
"Ha! We're mages! We're one family!"
"Watch your tongue! Wesley might as well be a traitor!"
Bang! Thud!
Sounds of file folders slamming on tables echoed here and there. Only Captain Hail of the Magic Operations Division sniffed and rummaged through his pockets. The meeting was dragging on, so he figured he'd smoke a cigarette.
Creak!
At that moment, the door opened amid the commotion. It was Ian. The captains had been in a strategy meeting at the time and hadn't witnessed the scene themselves, and among those who had, only Ian had confronted Wesley. Thus, he had attended the Emperor's emergency meeting as the Magic Department's representative and returned.
"Ian, you're back?"
"Yes. Sorry I'm a bit late."
"No. Good work."
Hail pulled out a chair as if telling him to sit and patted the backrest. Behind him, Tomi and Nakina stood half-dazed, clinging to him. One could guess that fierce arguments had flown here just as much as at the Emperor's emergency meeting.
"There's blood on your sleeve."
"Ah, it's fine. It's not mine."
Ian responded to Hail's question with a light smile. Everyone watched them whispering without missing a beat. Their faces screamed curiosity about what punishment had been handed down to the Magic Department.
"Ian, what did they say?"
"Tell us in detail. Don't leave out a single thing."
"Why call only a newbie who just joined?"
"They don't trust the other mages."
"Thanks to Minister Wesley, our position is just, just fantastic! Damn it!"
The division captains couldn't hold back and tossed in their comments, but Ian sat down and straightened his clothes properly.
"Don't beat around the bush!"
"Do I look like I'm beating around the bush?"
Ian furrowed his fine brows at someone's question. The atmosphere froze in an instant. Everyone thought some serious punishment had come down and shut their mouths.
'Amusing.'
Everyone except Hail, who saw through Ian's ploy. He smirked and chewed on his cigarette. He didn't know what the youngest was thinking, but he playfully wiggled his fingers under the table.
"Second Prince Gail has regained consciousness. Do you know?"
"What? He's come to?"
"No major injuries?"
"Yes. He seemed fine even moving around."
"Then, the, the curse? Did they say it's actually been cast?"
As everyone asked tensely, Ian nodded gravely. Various gasps erupted around them. Their worst fears had come true.
"No need to say it twice—the Magic Department's existence is in crisis."
"Still no leads on the Forbidden Magic materials?"
"Ian, keep going. If possible, every last detail."
This was exactly why Ian had put on such a heavy air.
He was the only one delivering the imperial will right now, and wasn't he the only one connected to the rising power player, Prince Marib? The information imbalance would naturally turn into power, bringing him one step closer to the next Minister position.
"It's not the Magic Department's existence at stake, but Bariel's. Thus, the palace wants to verify the truth via Truth Serum on Second Prince Gail, so discard all currently stored ones and produce new batches to deliver."
At his words, all eyes turned to the relevant captains. The freckled woman blinked in surprise.
"Uh, by when?"
Mana Stone Management Division Captain Acorella.
"The sooner the better. But I conveyed that at least half a month is needed, so as long as it's within that, it'll be fine."
Acorella let out a trembling sigh of relief. Given the gravity, she'd feared they might demand it in a day or two. Then, one of the murmuring captains raised a hand and questioned Ian.
"Any other sanctions on the Magic Department?"
"Nothing specific yet. We're handling the Forbidden Magic investigation ourselves. Once Second Prince Gail's curse is identified, related matters will come up again. In any case, the independent and exclusive authority we've enjoyed so far will likely be greatly reduced."
"Then, how about we hurry and elect the next Minister in the meantime?"
"Yeah. Even interim is fine. It'll be chaotic for everyone, but we need to stick together now!"
"With a representative, it'll be easier to declare. I'm for it!"
"But exclude the Magic Support Division, Wesley's direct subordinates. In this situation, a Minister from there would be like endorsing Wesley."
Under the mages' glares, the Magic Support Division captain and members bit their lips. Infuriating, but they had no rebuttal. The captains exchanged glances and cleared their throats awkwardly.
"Magic Research Department Captain Jang intends to register as a candidate."
"I have no intention."
"Mana Stone Management Division abstains."
"What if it's not the captain?"
"Why? You gonna run?"
"If there's no issue. Seeing the bookworm Research Division throw their hat in, it gives me confidence."
"Ha! Listen to this punk's attitude. Hey! Train your subordinates properly! If I become Minister, you're demoted on the spot."
"Hahaha! Best thing I've heard today."
Crash! The conference room grew noisy again. Aspiring candidates, those blocking them, and the indifferent ones' chatter mixed into a din. Hail was in the latter camp.
"Wanna grab food after?"
"Captain Hail. Not registering?"
"Nah. Not doing it. I hate stamping seals. Can't even talk to those high-and-mighty palace folks. No interest."
Tomi and Nakina seemed the same. They shared a smoke and stared at Ian intently.
"Gonna do it?"
"Our maknae wants to, huh."
"Felt good scrapping with Wesley, eh?"
"Ah, kid's got talent. Real talk. I acknowledge it."
"...Can I?"
He didn't really need permission. He'd do it regardless of what they said. It was just for show and courtesy. But Hail replied indifferently, as if it were nothing.
"Do it."
Instant approval. Ian turned to Tomi and Nakina. They nodded simultaneously, as if wondering why he'd even ask. The opposite of the other divisions yelling and hollering.
"Yeah. If you wanna, go for it."
"If you become Minister, funnel some budget to our division. Fuck, our field gear is shit."
"Ooh, good idea. But if maknae becomes Minister, what do we call you? Maknae-nim?"
"Minister-nim, you idiot."
"Ahh. Wait! Then I lose my junior?"
"Yep. You're eternally the maknae then."
"Th-then I'm against!"
Tomi shot up, but Nakina's shin kick forced him back down. Hail twitched his eyebrow, signaling to hurry and register.
Swish.
"Ian Hielo of the Magic Operations Division. I register as a candidate."
As Ian stood and declared, the murmurs stopped dead. They'd half-expected it, but now it was here. The captains glanced at each other and asked the Magic Operations Division.
"Not Captain Hail, but you, Ian Hielo?"
"Yes. Any problem?"
"No problem. No problem, but..."
Jang, the first to register, stroked his goatee as if pondering. Those exchanging looks with him were the captains who'd abstained. Clearly, they'd already built their own factions aiming solidly for the next Minister spot.
The higher Ian's presence and status rose, the more the existing captains had to tense up. Nothing worse than having a newbie as your boss.
"Speak."
"Viscount Ian Hielo. You're undoubtedly a noble granted territory by His Majesty the Emperor. And you made your mark while we captains were absent."
Ian nodded slowly, as if listening attentively. But laying groundwork before pointing out issues wasn't to be taken lightly. The guy seemed oblivious.
"It's certainly acknowledging your proven ability among those present at the scene, excluding the captains."
He kept subtly emphasizing that Ian couldn't have stepped up if the captains had been there.
Hail wrinkled his nose and eyed Jang and his allies. Impressive maneuvering—building a power base amid all that chaos.
Ian just shrugged.
"I still don't see the problem."
"But Ian. Doesn't your status have an expiration date? I think it's a year."
"Expiration? What're you talking about?"
"Ah, quite a few don't know. Ian Hielo is the bastard son of the former Bratz Border Count. Everyone knows he was beheaded for treason. Since you informed on your father's crime, His Majesty quelled the traitor, so you must pay both reward and penalty."
The reward was the new surname Hielo and a lordship; the penalty, 10,000 gold coins in tribute. Within a year.
"Fail to pay 10,000 gold within a year, and you lose your title and become a palace slave. Got a way out? If not, we'll all be in trouble. We've never even heard of a slave mage, let alone a former Minister slave. What dishonor."
"Yeah! That'd shame the Magic Department."
"A Minister who's a slave?"
"Hey, even running for Minister candidate is a problem. How ridiculous will the Magic Department look later?"
Those hearing Ian's situation for the first time buzzed fiercely. Hail, Tomi, and Nakina swallowed sighs inwardly and looked at Ian.
'Ian?'
But his expression showed no disturbance. If anything, he seemed to enjoy it, with a faint smile.
"Ian Hielo, is everything Jang said true?"
"All true."
"Then I refuse your candidacy."
"Yeah! Me too!"
"I assure you, there's absolutely no issue gathering the tribute gold."
"Don't lie! Aren't you still freeloading at that Romandro guy's mansion from the Administration?"
"You seem awfully interested in me, Captain Jang."
Jang scowled in disbelief at Ian's calm retort. Ian turned to Mana Stone Management Division Captain Acorella.
"I'll ask. What's the current market price of Luron Stones?"
"L-Luron Stones? Didn't check today's."
"Approximate is fine. Again: about 80 kilograms of Luron Stone—how much?"
"Can't calculate offhand, but, uh, it'd exceed the Magic Department's budget for several years."
Acorella tilted her head, wondering why. Then, suddenly excited, she shouted. Gone was the quiet voice—now the wail of a mana-stone-obsessed scientist.
"No way! You have that much Luron Stone!?"
"A Luron deposit was found in Hielo territory. We'll formally supply the Magic Department and settle the tribute immediately. No issues then."
"L-Lies!"
Ian laughed at Jang's simplistic denial.
"Why would I lie? I'll settle the tribute today or tomorrow. Then, I'm a noble granted territory by His Majesty and the only mage who acted on-site—fully qualified, right?"
"Of course! 80 kilos of Luron Stone? Gladly, my vote's yours!"
"Captain Acorella, calm down."
"Calm? You think I can calm down now!?"
Acorella's eyes rolled wildly as she shrieked madly, and Ian just nodded. As you see, no problem—put my name on the list.
"I! I support youuu!!"
"Captain Acorella!"
One vote secured already.