Chapter 198
Chapter 198
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 198
Chapter Title: Taking Advantage of the Commotion
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Clink.
Dillaina carefully set down her teacup. It was the moment Ian's voice opening the castle gates had just faded from her ears.
The servants bowed their heads, glancing at Dillaina and Arsen. This was because Arsen's name had not been mentioned in the matter of restoring order to the imperial palace.
"How blatant."
"Indeed."
As Duke Haiman muttered with raised eyebrows, Dillaina spat out a resentful reply through gritted teeth. This went beyond the matter of succession—it was an issue of honor. If Jin were mentioned like that, one would naturally question what Arsen had been doing at that very moment.
Arsen sipped his tea and soothed his mother.
"It can't be helped. It happened under Lord Ian's authority. It wasn't entirely unexpected, was it?"
"If it had opened just a little later, the press from each outlet would have raised questions about the Magic Department's backlash. Such a shame."
Their positions were clear, and they had immediately permitted entry to the imperial palace. With people seeing and hearing things firsthand, fabricated rumors would be pushed aside.
Haiman stroked his beard and gave a wry smile, and Arsen smiled along.
"It's not too late. Just proceed as planned."
"Your Highness, everyone nearby heard Ian's speech. Wouldn't it be wise to hold back? The slander stands out as slander, so it could backfire."
They could give Ian an excuse under the pretext of disrupting imperial order. But Arsen shook his head slightly, as if to say there was no need to worry.
"Don't we have several press outlets supported by House Haiman? Not right away—bide your time and spread the word starting from the back alleys."
Fabricated rumors held no power on their own. The true purpose was to use them for agitation and brainwashing.
"No matter how absurd the words, if repeated, people will believe them. At first, they'll deny it. But then comes doubt, and doubt is built on a foundation of belief. Wouldn't it benefit us if even one more person harbors resentment toward Ian?"
Rumors from the back alleys were hard to trace. It was a risk worth taking, and the butterfly effects it could yield were endless. It was advantageous to keep the agitation going.
'If repeated, they will believe.'
Arsen knew the power of words. Hadn't his frail brother proven it with a lifetime of results? Arsen smiled thinly and warned Haiman.
"And remember this. We have less time than you think."
He had just received word that Marib had entered the interrogation room. The process from interrogation to trial depended entirely on those involved. If rushed, they could have Marib on the judgment stand as early as tomorrow.
If that happened, Gail's execution would follow soon after. And then it would be Haiman's turn, tangled up with Gail.
"Yes. Your Highness, I will keep it in mind."
Haiman lowered his eyeless whites and replied.
When he returned after receiving orders from the Grand Council, the atmosphere between Dillaina and Arsen had subtly shifted. She, who had been chattering nonstop, had fallen silent, and Arsen had begun issuing instructions.
'Well, this is actually better. It means the prince I'm backing isn't dull.'
They glanced at the clock. By now, crowds must be thronging the castle gates. It was better to wait for things to quiet down before leaving the palace.
"And, well, don't we need some ventilation? Not just for me, but especially for you, Duke Haiman—it seems like you'd breathe easier."
"Hmm. I think so too."
Kill Gail.
Haiman immediately grasped Arsen's implication. Gail was living proof of their collusion, and Ian had openly declared his protection. The intent was to kill him and clear the air.
Haiman nodded in agreement but frowned, seeing no path forward.
"However, I hear two mages are always by His Highness Gail's side. The guards are tight too. The self-inflicted wound is deep, but not fatally so. It seems Ian has that in mind."
Stopping two mages and killing Gail would require considerable skill. But how to carve a path in the chaotic imperial palace, where eyes were everywhere?
Arsen rested his chin on his hand and muttered.
"If there weren't those two mages, it might be easier."
"Do you have a plan in mind?"
"Yes, well. Something or other."
Arsen's words were loaded with meaning, but no one pressed him. Dillaina was staring blankly into space, and Haiman had more pressing priorities.
Swoosh.
Haiman placed the documents brought by his aide on the table—not in front of Dillaina, but Arsen. The boy flipped through the papers with small, practiced hands.
"Once imperial palace operations normalize, bills to check House Haiman will be formally proposed. This is a list we've anticipated and drafted. The most likely is multiple taxation, followed by foreign trade restrictions."
House Haiman controlled the money flow, so they couldn't topple it immediately. Instead, they'd slowly hook one leg, push the back, and soon twist the arms to pin it to the ground. This stack of papers outlined the anticipated attacks.
Rustle.
"Aren't you already paying twice the taxes of other nobles, Duke?"
"You know about that."
Once for the noble title, and again for the finance business. Arsen clicked his tongue sympathetically.
"The palace is polished with your taxes, so of course I know. Hmm. Understood. I'll discuss this with Mother and trustworthy retainers."
Blocking the various regulations headed for Haiman was Arsen's role. They were already in the same boat.
"By the way, Mother."
"Yes?"
Dillaina turned her head at Arsen's call. Her response was swift, hard to believe after her previous daze.
"Why not ask for help from your family home too?"
"From the Carbo?"
"Yes. Didn't my and Jin's oracle start there? Surely something will come through about this matter as well."
"Ah. Right. I'll reach out."
Knock knock.
It was the moment Arsen satisfiedly grasped his mother's hand. Footsteps sounded from outside, and soon one of Haiman's subordinates burst in urgently.
"Uh, Duke. Word from outside."
He whispered something in the duke's ear. Haiman's eyebrows furrowed as he listened impassively, then he stared at the subordinate in disbelief, his neck reddening with boiling rage.
Slap!
"Oh my."
He struck his subordinate's cheek without hesitation.
Dillaina lightly covered her mouth in surprise, but that was all. What great issue was it for a master to discipline a subordinate? If anything, it was stranger that he hadn't maintained decorum in front of Dillaina and Arsen.
"How do you even manage your underlings!"
"My apologies."
His enormous pupil without whites seemed to grow even larger. Arsen munched on a snack and asked Haiman.
"What is it?"
"...Nothing. I've been rude. My apologies."
"Duke, we can only help if you tell us. We're on the same side, aren't we? We've shared everything with you. It's a bit hurtful if you hold back like this."
They had even shared that Jin's parental rights had been revoked. It would become public knowledge anyway, but sharing even the small things was the foundation of a true alliance.
Haiman placed a hand on his waist and paced before the window.
"Duke."
"...One of my men caused an incident outside."
"An incident, you say?"
"It seems Ian sent people to print an extra edition, and in blocking them, my men used mana stone armor."
The slap on the spot made sense now. Arsen whistled inwardly at the spectacular blunder.
"Was the opponent a mage? They wouldn't use that on civilians, I assume. The judgment was regrettable, but better to think there were circumstances."
"It was a sword-mage."
"A sword-mage? The redhead?"
"You know him?"
"He's Ian's closest aide. A sword-mage—what happened? Is he dead?"
"He's barely alive, half-dead. If they were going to kill, they should have done it properly. Tsk! Mages are all over him trying to save him now. There was another sword-mage too, but—"
"Wait, all the mages are on it?"
Arsen cut in and asked again.
All the mages were there—which meant the healing mages were occupied as well.
"......!"
"Duke, you'd best hurry out of the palace."
Gail's quarters were empty. Realizing this, Arsen stood, helped his mother, and bid farewell. With a promise to meet again soon, they parted.
Hiss.
Haiman lit a mana cigarette and turned to his subordinate. Blood trickled from the ring-gashed cheek.
"So, what about the blue-haired swordsman?"
"That's......"
Though only House Haiman members were in the room, the subordinate leaned in to whisper. In the imperial palace, even the ears on portraits did their job. He recited carefully to prevent any sound from leaking.
* * *
"Oh my god, oh my god! Berik! You bastard Berik!"
"Lay him this way! Warm water and clean cloths!"
"Mages, take turns infusing mana! Bolster the healing magic with your power! Call all the doctors! We'll stitch the torn wounds!"
"The bones—these are bones?"
"Damn it, this is insane. Check if the fingers are still attached!"
"Berik, oh, Berik......"
"Lord Romandro. Step aside. You're in the way."
"Sniff, p-please save him. Our Berik, how did this......"
The mages frowned but continued infusing mana. At first, they thought Ian had brought a mangled corpse. No intact part anywhere—it was impossible to think he was alive.
Romandro wiped tears and snot while shuttling hot water basins. Vivianna had been barred from approaching to spare her the shock.
"Haah, he's alive, right?"
"He even spoke."
"Insane. How does anyone survive this? He's not human. This can't be human."
Zing. Ziiing.
The healing mages sweated profusely as they scanned the overall injuries. From their fingertips, they felt inside Berik's body. All organs were wrecked.
"Gasp! What the—"
"Seal the wounds! Not sure if it'll help, but stop the bleeding first. Acoorella! Tell Acoorella to bring all potions with anesthetic effects!"
Ian stared at his blood-soaked hands and looked at Berik. It was fortunate he hadn't died, but it was definitely strange. Anyone else would be buried immediately, so how was Berik alive?
"Lord Ian."
Knock knock.
It was Jeyrat, one of the Three Great Commanders. He knocked on the open door and called Ian. He glanced briefly at the wrecked Berik, then asked awkwardly.
"Do you know Barsabe's whereabouts by any chance?"
"...Haven't heard. According to Vivianna, she lured away the armored ones. I've issued a palace guard alert. Reports will come if they spot black armor and blue hair."
She had vanished. Both the armor and Barsabe, without a trace. Jeyrat's face darkened as he pressed the deep furrows between his brows.
"Haa."
The daughter of a fallen comrade and a trusted subordinate. He didn't doubt her skills, but with Berik in this state...
"And Lord Ian. Remember I said I'd look into that bastard Berik last time?"
When Berik and Jeyrat first clashed in the training grounds, both had harbored doubts about his identity. Too many inconsistencies for a mere sword-mage.
"I gathered what I heard and sifted through, but nothing conclusive. Seeing him like this, though, one suspicious thing stands out."
Ian wiped the blood with a handkerchief and looked at him, urging him to speak.
"Have you heard of the Atan Tribe?"