Chapter 150
Chapter 150
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 150
Chapter Title: Berik's Scribbled Letter
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There were seven candidates registered in total, including Jang and Ian. Among them, three were not from the captain ranks.
The captains' participation was lower than expected. It seemed the burden of immediately succeeding Minister Wesley was too much. Her abilities were one thing, but cleaning up the messes she had already made was another problem entirely.
‘The current flow is like a storm. Jump in recklessly, and you’ll get torn apart. Better to watch for an opportunity and aim for later.’
That was the captains’ general sentiment. Of course, there were quite a few like Hail who had no interest at all. In any case, even if the next minister was selected from within the Magic Department itself, imperial approval was ultimately required.
No one knew when or how the political landscape might shift.
“Alright, then. Candidate registration ends here. We’ll set the election date sometime next week and proceed with the selection. The non-candidates among the captains will band together to handle it fairly. On the honor of mages.”
“There will be a simple procedure in the middle, including the mana confirmation ritual, so keep that in mind. We’ll notify the candidates separately and share the results as well.”
“Then how about we wrap up for now? I hear Prince Gail has woken up safely, so it’d be good to rest and then reconvene to discuss countermeasures.”
While Ian was at the emergency meeting, the mages had endured just as grueling a time. One look at Tommy and Nakina’s slumped postures told the story. Ian nodded in agreement.
“Very well. Have the mages out on site investigations and those checking the forbidden magic books rotate shifts with each division. Also, all communications from the palace will come through me, so keep emergency summon magic active at all times.”
Jang pouted. A young punk with no experience stepping up like that. If they had been at the scene back then, they could have subdued Wesley without issue. They might have even done it before the curse hit Prince Gail. No use dwelling on what-ifs in the past, but the mind was always full of them.
“And Captain Acorella.”
“Hm? What is it!? Minister Ian!”
“She’s lost it. Completely lost it, Acorella.”
Acorella’s eyes sparkled as she responded to Ian’s call. The other captains urged her to maintain some dignity, but she didn’t budge. She was no easy mark in her own way, Ian thought with a grin.
“Captain Acorella, could you stay back for a word? I’d like to discuss the Luron Stone delivery.”
“Good! Perfect!”
“Alright, alright, then we’ll be off. Ha.”
“Jang, you stay and watch us too.”
“Ahem. Good work. Call a summon if anything comes up.”
The mages rose en masse and filed out of the conference room. Only Acorella and her subordinates, along with the Magic Operations Division, remained in the empty space.
Ian turned to Hail.
“Captain. Feel free to go if you’re hungry.”
“Nah. Let’s eat together. We’re family, after all.”
That was what he said, but really, it was to back Ian up during the negotiations with the Mana Stone Management Division. From Acorella’s reaction, she was already half-sold.
Acorella couldn’t hide her excitement and pressed close to Ian. Her scarlet eyes gleamed dangerously.
“So, where’s the Luron Stone right now? You said it’s being held at Romandro’s estate, so it’s there?”
“No. It’s stored elsewhere.”
“Let’s go! Right now!”
“Captain Acorella. But can you take delivery of 80 kilograms all at once?”
“Eh? What do you mean?”
Ian hopped lightly onto the table and started counting on his fingers, as if to say, listen carefully to what comes next.
“As you said, Captain, 80 kilograms of Luron Stone is worth far more than several years’ budget for the Magic Department. Rolling it over to next year’s purchase isn’t viable given the department’s current state.”
Now that the palace realized mages’ power could sway the empire’s fate, restrictions would surely come under the guise of oversight. The most basic one: budget cuts. Acorella looked stunned and reacted vehemently.
“No, no way! I was so excited earlier! I haven’t done any other research because of the truth serum work! The higher-ups tell us to skimp on every last grain of powder, but honestly, is that shit or what? Let me use a chunk for once! Please!”
“Calm down. That’s why I’m making a proposal. I’ll deliver the full 80 kilograms at a price slightly below market rate all at once, and we can settle the payment over a long period.”
“Long period” or not, it was such a massive sum that 10,000 gold coins upfront wouldn’t be an issue. Acorella panted, reining in her excitement.
“…Really?”
“Yes.”
“As expected of Minister Ian.”
Clap!
She extended her hand in satisfaction. Tommy and Nakina gave sympathetic looks to Acorella’s subordinates. Their captain’s state was pitiful; one could only imagine the hardship for those under her.
“But in return, I’ll have my part to play, right?”
Ian clasped her hand and smiled.
“The Magic Department has all divisions tightly linked, but I understand certain ones collaborate especially frequently.”
“Exactly. Especially the ones who need mana stones—we’re absolutely vital to them! Ahaha!”
Mana stones had surprisingly broad applications. They could reinforce weak points in barriers, power magic tools, supplement weak mana in potions, and more. It wasn’t an exaggeration to say they were used everywhere except in magic circles themselves.
Given mages’ preference for mana training, the Mana Stone Management Division had low visibility but influence that rivaled any.
‘Well, no division in the Magic Department is unnecessary.’
“Have Acorella tell them: if I become minister, there’ll be no budget cuts for the Magic Department, and we can push for truth serum commercialization.”
Everyone froze at Ian’s words. Not just the Mana Stone Management Division members, but Hail, Tommy, and Nakina too. The truth serum issue was one where every department except the Magic Department had fiercely opposed it, wasn’t it?
And he was saying he could push it through?
“Ian, you serious?”
“This has already been discussed with the prince.”
He didn’t specify which one. But most of them knew Ian was aligned with Prince Marib anyway.
‘True, Prince Marib’s faction was the one opposing the truth serum hardest. If Ian becomes minister, it might actually happen. Though that would color the entire Magic Department with Prince Marib’s hue.’
Acorella didn’t care. If anything, it was only right. With Prince Gail cursed and all, sticking with his backers would just get them swept up too.
The Magic Department belonged to the palace, after all. Factions shifted—that was the natural flow of history.
“I’m fine with anything, as long as I can keep researching.”
“Truth serum commercialization would also guarantee mages extra income. Plus, we could restore the Magic Department’s shaken prestige from the Wesley incident right away. This benefits not just the related divisions, but everyone.”
On top of that, the mages had followed Gail largely due to Wesley’s influence. With her gone, there was no reason it had to be Gail.
“Okay! I get it!”
Snap!
Acorella snapped her fingers excitedly over and over. She shook from head to toe in thrilled shivers.
“Voting for you means richer research! Right?”
“More or less.”
“Got it. Then before the mana confirmation, I’ll reach out to the other divisions and drop some hints. I’ll even set up meetings. There are tons of guys who secretly got weak potions from us! I’ve got them all logged! Ahahaha!”
If they didn’t vote, she’d expose it! What else would they use secretly obtained love potions for with lovers on the sly? It could cause quite the stir. Watching Acorella’s lecherous grin, Ian realized he’d pulled a surprisingly dangerous ally to his side.
Crazy people really shouldn’t be poked.
“…Music to my ears.”
“Hail, you’ve got a damn fine youngest!”
“If I become minister, he won’t be the youngest.”
Acorella then offered Hail a handshake too. Her subordinates and the two division members guarding the rear followed suit. They were longtime colleagues who shared joys and hardships, but this alliance felt oddly off.
“No other candidates have a prince’s faction backing them like this.”
And both Marib and Gail, at that.
Honestly, snagging the minister position didn’t seem hard for Ian. The real issue was after becoming minister—stabilizing things, then building the Magic Department annex.
‘With the forbidden magic investigation underway, we’ll surely uncover clues about Naum’s spells too.’
In a way, Wesley’s misdeeds were a boon for Ian. They’d led to his status climb and uncovered various leads.
Ian suddenly recalled Naum’s final words.
—Ian-nim. It’s okay. Opportunities are always there, always. The gods don’t give unsolvable problems.
If he went back, would he meet a living Naum? Or return after everything ended? If so, had he found the right answer?
What if he couldn’t go back…?
“Ian.”
His endless thoughts snapped at Hail’s call. Ian quickly schooled his expression and turned.
“Yes, Captain.”
“Looks like we have a visitor.”
“A visitor?”
Ian followed Hail’s gaze. Through a slightly open gap, a round face peeked in. It was Romandro. He smiled awkwardly and cautiously called out.
“Uh, hey, you all super busy? Your office was empty when I checked.”
“No. We’re all done here.”
“Good. Then let’s wrap this up. Ian, I’ll be waiting for your call. Heh heh heh. I’ll kill anything that tries to bother us.”
Acorella flashed a wicked grin and signaled her subordinates. They gave light bows and left the conference room. Romandro glanced at her retreating figure and dabbed sweat with a handkerchief.
“Are all mages like that?”
“She’s a bit peculiar. But what brings you here? Aren’t you busy?”
After the Wesley incident, Romandro had been swamped too. The palace in chaos meant the administration was too. He’d barely carved out time from nonstop work, not even getting bathroom breaks.
“Word from Vivianna. Some vagrant came to the estate, handed these over, and demanded payment.”
He grinned at Hail, then whispered to Ian. In his hand was a crumpled sheet of paper and a compass linked to a mana brooch—the one Berik had taken.
“Looks like Berik’s left the capital.”
“Not sure. The vagrant was from a nearby slum. Anyway, Vivianna sent someone right away to forward it to the administration. Take a look.”
Swoosh.
He wasn’t the type to get beaten to death somewhere, but after a week, this contact was worrying. Ian unfolded the paper, and Romandro craned his neck to read along.
-I aan. Com to me. Got cau ght!
“What is this…”
Written by a tumbling lump of coal? Setting aside the atrocious handwriting, it was so smudged it was illegible. Romandro scratched his chin and muttered.
“Maybe Hasha wrote it?”
“Lord Romandro. Hasha’s a dog.”
“Oh right. Yeah.”
“Probably drew it as Hasha instructed.”
“What now? Go pick him up?”
At Romandro’s question, Ian checked the compass. Surely something had happened that kept Berik from coming alone.
Ian smiled faintly and nodded.
“Perfect. I’ve got some time.”