Chapter 221
Chapter 221
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 221
Chapter Title: Trap Scenario
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‘Damn it.’
The mage paced the room relentlessly, gnawing at his nails.
No matter how much he thought about it, Romandro hadn’t done anything that could arouse suspicion. So how on earth had he turned around and walked out at the very last moment, even after reaching the reception desk?
‘Yeah. Honestly, the receptionist might have acted that way. In that hectic yet refined atmosphere, someone quick on the uptake could have sensed something off.’
But why, just why hadn’t the mages trusted him either? He hadn’t even gotten into the carriage with him—instead, hadn’t he grabbed only Shiao Shi and fled ahead like he was escaping, leaving his fellow mages in a bind? The two mages had no choice but to agonize over whether to return to the department.
“Ugh, seriously.”
If he’d known it would turn out like this, he should have been more careful with his stares! Or handled everything inside the carriage from the start. Getting suspected before he could even do anything—it was enough to drive him mad with frustration.
He looked so indifferent, yet his instincts were razor-sharp...
Screeech.
“Ian, sir.”
At that moment, the door opened, and Ian entered. The mage quickly stood straight and barely held his breath in tension. Romandro must have definitely said something was off.
So, should he use the truth serum?
Or...?
The mage desperately tried to read Ian’s expression.
“I escorted Romandro to the Judiciary.”
But Ian spoke calmly as he sat in the chair. He even gestured for him to sit as well. The mage hesitated at the unexpectedly gentle tone. He finally managed a reply and pulled up a chair.
“...Yes. That’s right.”
“You’ve worked hard. Eaten yet?”
“Not yet, not yet.”
“The oxtail soup was excellent today. Head to the dining hall after your report. The head chef won’t be pleased if you’re late.”
At Ian’s unexpected words, the mage’s eyes widened. Was he using the word ‘report’ instead of interrogation right now? Did that mean Ian didn’t suspect him? His head spun wildly. If he played this right, he could get through without a hitch.
‘No, wait. Truthfully, the escort was flawless in every way.’
From a third party’s perspective, it was as good as Romandro overreacting on his own assumptions. There was no order to kill, after all. The mage suppressed a smile and replied that he understood.
“By the way, Romandro said the Judiciary staffer’s attitude was strange. Did you see it yourself?”
“Yes. I escorted him all the way to the reception desk.”
“Report in detail.”
Ian said so lightly gripping his pen. He rubbed his furrowed brow as if utterly baffled, leaving a faint red mark on his fair skin. Ian muttered as he jotted something down on the document.
“From what I hear, there was no physical altercation, and the staffer was from the palace anyway. There shouldn’t have been any issue, yet Romandro judged otherwise. He claims it was just a gut feeling, so... well.”
“I-I see.”
The mage moistened his dry lips and quickly continued.
“Honestly, I don’t quite know why Romandro felt that way either. Latris, who went with me, probably felt the same. He bolted out of the Judiciary like he was being chased. Until we met Quintana’s carriage midway, he kept glancing around anxiously. Once in the carriage, he even said there was no room and that he’d go ahead.”
“Hm. Is that so?”
“I suspect it was accumulated fatigue. That Judiciary staffer—I know him well. He’s mechanical due to the heavy workload, but he’s kind and decent.”
Ian kept nodding and scribbling with his pen. He even murmured affirmations now and then, which gradually eased the mage’s mind.
“Asking for identification and such must have felt insulting. Why not deliver the complaint and talk it over properly again?”
Tap.
With those words, Ian set down his pen. The elegant yet firm gesture shut the mage’s mouth automatically. Ian simply smiled faintly.
“I asked for the basis of Romandro’s judgment. Whether that judgment is right or wrong isn’t for you to decide.”
“Ah, I-I apologize.”
The mage unwittingly bit the inside of his cheek. He should have just said he didn’t know and left it at that.
Ian tapped his pen several times, then stood from his seat. As the mage followed suit, Ian gestured with a smile.
“Sit. It’s a shame. Today’s meal was truly delicious.”
No sooner had the words left his mouth than the door burst open. Soldiers rushed in holding mana sealing stone shackles. Before the mage could resist, they swiftly bound him and pinned him down onto the bed.
“Ian, sir! Ian, sir! Why are you doing this?”
“Stay still.”
“Mmph! Mmph!”
Bam!
Ian glanced briefly at the bound man, then left the room without a second thought.
Romandro, who had been pacing the office, startled and approached.
“What did he say?”
“He’s definitely suspicious, so we should proceed with a full interrogation. Handle it discreetly, without any hitches.”
When asked for the details, he answered without the slightest hesitation. If he truly knew nothing, he would have recounted Romandro’s actions, pondered them, and come up with an answer.
But he hadn’t. It was proof he’d known from the start—and that he assumed Romandro’s judgment was flawed.
“Oh dear, heavens.”
Romandro clutched his forehead with both hands. It was true that Haiman’s lackeys lurked even in the Magic Department. Even united as one, the fight would be fierce; such division was downright fatal.
To prevent any potential internal chaos and to avoid alerting those they’d weed out later, Ian decided to keep the two mages hidden.
“Process them as on assignment.”
“Ah, got it. How many could there be in the Magic Department?”
“No telling. Not until we see for ourselves.”
“That’s the problem. Not being able to root them out immediately is fatal. With all these major issues ahead, we don’t have the luxury of time, do we?”
Ferreting out traitors in the usual way wasn’t easy. Not unless they got caught red-handed like today. Either infiltrate the enemy side for clues or wait for the traitor’s actions to expose them. One or the other.
“If you’re hunting for those in hiding, yes. But if you lure them out themselves, it’s relatively simple. You just wait.”
“What do you...?”
“Shall we borrow Haiman’s name for a bit?”
It was a form of trap investigation. Set up a bait posing as the enemy, then define and execute anyone who approached as a traitor. Romandro shook his head, deeming it unfeasible.
“We lack absolute information on Haiman’s internals. The traitors already have their communication lines, so it’d be exposed right away. Not easy.”
Ian smiled brightly, as if in agreement. His expression showed he’d already accounted for that.
“You’re right. A trap only works if they don’t know it’s a trap. In that case, why not borrow the name of someone opposing us—one who’s neither Haiman nor Arsen?”
“Someone like that in the palace...?”
Romandro started to say there was no such person, then paused as something dawned on him. Unable to speak, he kept snapping his fingers in excitement.
“Aha!”
“Second Prince Gail.”
“Gail! I was just about to say that!”
Ian rummaged through the reports piled on the desk. They were filled with opinions that Haiman would seek aid from the neighboring Ruswena Kingdom. Supporting that, there was word that one of Haiman’s knights had crossed the border into Ruswena not long ago.
“Let’s spread this rumor.”
He took out chess pieces one by one and placed them on the table.
“It’s clear from the circumstances that Ruswena plans to intervene in Bariel using Haiman’s request as an excuse. Their pretext is that Haiman’s wife is Ruswena royalty—family. Understand up to here?”
Tap.
Romandro nodded, pulling a black queen forward. Pieces swarmed before and behind it.
“Then, how should Bariel respond to Ruswena?”
Tap.
“We could pressure them politically and economically, but considering His Majesty’s condition and the palace turmoil over succession, appeasement seems better than hardline measures.”
“All that you just said—are they all assumptions?”
“Of course. But highly plausible ones.”
Romandro gripped his chin in thought, then fiddled with the white king. Here? Or there? Using Gail for appeasement?
Ian snatched the king from his hand and advanced it.
“Haiman’s wife may be Ruswena royalty, but not direct lineage from the current queen. And the ruler being a woman plays a role too.”
“...Prince Gail plans to use that to survive?”
“It’s not much different from his usual tactics.”
“W-Well, true, but.”
Wesley, Melania, and now Ruswena’s queen too. Hadn’t Gail always survived that way? Romandro scratched his head sheepishly. Whether his luck was good or bad was anyone’s guess.
“If we spread a rumor that Gail is fleeing to Ruswena for exile, many will react. The Magic Department too. Ruswena lacks mages, so they’d get minister-level treatment there.”
Ian moved five or six pieces to the opposite side at once. The board instantly descended into chaos.
“Of course, following their convictions to another country is their choice. Neither I nor Bariel can stop them—but—”
Here came the crucial fork. The key fork to sort out the traitors.
“After hearing all this, would I—or Haiman—stay idle?”
If Gail gathered strength abroad, it would threaten Ian—especially Jin. Haiman as well. The link between Ruswena and Bariel wouldn’t be unique anymore, shrinking his position. Ian and Haiman would do anything to prevent it.
“Gail will gather forces to check Ian Hielo and Haiman. He’ll collect internal intel on his enemies. That’s the key.”
The backdrop was set. The actors’ motivations were fitting. With this script, the trap would spring, and hearing it, the turncoats would flock. Step in, and the whirling blades would claim them. Ian maneuvered the pieces into checkmate.
“Meanwhile, we do our jobs. If interrogating those two mages yields clues, even better.”
“But this—doesn’t it rely entirely on Prince Gail’s cooperation? What if he gets ideas and actually flees to Ruswena?”
Ian drew up mana, creating light at his fingertips.
“We don’t need much from the prince. He’s confined to the palace whether now or when the rumors spread. And if it’s about exile...”
Zing. Zzzing.
“We’ll have sealed his death.”
“Sealed it?”
“With magic.”
Ian flicked his hand lightly, extinguishing the light.
As if it were Gail’s breath.