Chapter 222
Chapter 222
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 222
Chapter Title: Push
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Ian and Romandro were refining the details of their plan when word came from outside.
“Sir Ian. A messenger bird has arrived from outside the palace. It’s regarding the Erikse handler you inquired about. Shall I bring it in?”
“Let him in.”
It was a report from the subordinate who had gone to Erikse’s residence. Ian unfolded the neatly folded note and read it. Romandro, equally curious, craned his neck to peek over from behind.
“What does it say? Was it really a carriage accident?”
“Yes. According to the servants at Erikse’s residence, there was an accident on his way to work this morning, and he was taken to a nearby hospital. Fortunately, his life isn’t in danger, but they say it’ll be difficult for him to come in tomorrow. It was a major accident—the carriage wheel came off.”
“Tsk tsk! Dragging an innocent person into this...”
“It’s Centra Hospital. He says he’ll go there to check Erikse’s condition in person and then return.”
Ian neatly folded the note and placed it on the table. Even if the complaint was somehow submitted, it would take time for it to be referred to the Grand Council. Erikse’s role was to review whether the complaint was appropriate and then submit it to the council chairman.
Even if the employee Romandro had suspected didn’t divert it midway, it might be hard to convene the Grand Council before the Mana Confirmation Ritual. That is, if House Hyman’s plan went as intended.
“House Hyman and Arsen will want to avoid a trial. They have no chance of winning. So they plan to block it at the Grand Council level altogether, preventing the trial from even happening.”
“The entire palace is waiting for that, in fact. Nothing is more important right now than whether Prince Arsen is a mage or not.”
On the flip side, that meant Ian needed to convene the Grand Council before the Mana Confirmation Ritual. It wasn’t mandatory, but it would make handling things easier.
He tapped the end of the note with his finger, then promptly rang the calling bell.
“You called, Sir Ian?”
“Gather the mages centered around Captain Hail.”
“Pardon? Ah, yes, sir.”
Centering on Captain Hail meant mainly gathering those on field duty, right? Instead of explaining, Ian pulled out his official seal for documents. Romandro cleared the desk to make space for the writing tools.
“You’re sending an official document? What will it say?”
“It’d be best to inform the Judiciary Minister of the current situation and make it public.”
“What if Hyman has gotten to him too?”
“He hasn’t. If he controlled the top brass, he wouldn’t resort to such petty tricks. He wouldn’t fear going to trial either. The Judiciary of the Variel Empire prides itself on its fairness, so I doubt Hyman’s influence has reached there.”
“Y-Yeah. True, if he’d pulled strings at the top, he wouldn’t need all this hassle. But sending the document via Captain Hail seems like a waste of manpower.”
“Captain Hail has a different role to play.”
Scribble, scribble.
Ian filled the paper densely with neat handwriting. Just as he was about to stamp the Magic Department’s official seal at the bottom, new news came from outside.
“Sir Ian, uh, apparently the Judiciary Minister and Vice Minister both didn’t come in today.”
Thud.
The seal halted in midair. When did the minister and vice minister both fail to show up? Ian frowned and set the seal down. The attendant bowed deeply and stammered on.
“Th-The minister attended Viscount Davion’s party last night and is out with a hangover. The vice minister went out to the outskirts on business, got severe food poisoning, and can’t move. For urgent documents, they say they’ll convene the departmental handlers to process it. How should I relay your message?”
Ian let out an incredulous laugh, while Romandro gaped in shock. Had they deliberately cleared out the Judiciary entirely for the day? Romandro turned to Ian in panic.
“Does this... does this make any sense? Huh?”
“If they can block it, they’ll use any means.”
“Should we summon the departmental handlers?”
“No. It’s fine. From the looks of it, that won’t be easy either.”
Ian burned the draft document and pulled out a fresh sheet. He scribbled something lightly on it and handed it to the attendant.
“Tie this to a messenger bird and send it to Centra Hospital. A reply will come, so keep watch at the window at all times.”
“Yes, Sir Ian.”
Once the attendant left, Ian changed into lighter outerwear, as if preparing to go out. He glanced at Romandro’s complexion and said,
“Sir Romandro, you should go rest now.”
“My duty is to see the complaint submitted, so I’ll help until the end. B-But what exactly are you planning?”
“I’ll handle it myself.”
“Huh?”
Romandro froze at Ian’s firm response. The minister personally moving to submit a complaint? What kind of farce was this? Romandro shook his head stubbornly.
“N-No, absolutely not! I’ll go with you!”
“You look tired.”
“Am I in the way?”
“Not that, but...”
“Then let’s see it through! I’m still full of energy!”
Romandro clenched his fist and shouted. Ian buttoned up with a smile.
“Very well. Uh, prepare protective gear.”
“...Protective gear? Why?”
Romandro hesitated, sensing something ominous, but Ian just smiled. Sometimes, petty tricks called for petty responses.
A few hours later,
Clatter clatter!
Knock knock!
“Sir Ian! A message from Centra Hospital!”
Ian stood immediately, as if he’d been waiting, and took the letter. He then woke Romandro, who was half-sprawled on the sofa backrest, drooling in sleep. Rubbing his eyes groggily, he looked at Ian.
“Snort, I-I wasn’t sleeping. Ian.”
“Understood. Let’s head out.”
Ian slipped on leather gloves and stepped out of the office. The waiting mages, led by Captain Hail, rose in unison to greet him. They clearly had no idea what was going on. At Ian’s gesture, Hail leaned in close, puffing on his mana cigarette.
“We’re going to the Judiciary.”
“The Judiciary...?”
“We’re going to get Erikse’s seal. Once we have it, head to Centra Hospital. Get the complaint approved there.”
Hail didn’t fully grasp it but nodded anyway. He turned to the mages behind him.
“Follow Sir Ian. We’re going to the Judiciary.”
“To the Judiciary! Let’s go!”
Dozens of mages billowed their robes as they dashed down the building stairs. Leading them, Ian gazed steadily westward without a hint of disorder. That was the direction of the Judiciary.
* * *
It was past noon, yet the Judiciary was unusually quiet. More than half the staff were absent, as if some plague had struck. Especially since even high-ranking officials like the minister had taken leave. It was a near-total shutdown of operations.
“You’d think it was a holiday today.”
“Right? How can all the bosses do this at once? Even the vice minister. I pulled an all-nighter yesterday because he said to report by today, and now he doesn’t show.”
“But with the bosses out, I’m loving life.”
“Exactly. And with everyone gone, it’s great. If just one or two were out, we’d be covering for them and pulling another all-nighter today.”
The staff chatted idly, dividing up work within their capacity. External tasks were lighter than usual today too.
As they sipped tea and flipped through files in peace, someone made a puzzled sound.
“Huh? What’s that over there?”
“What?”
“Looks like the Magic Department flag. A whole convoy of carriages is heading into the Judiciary.”
At the words, others stood and peered out the window. The horses were turning toward the building where the intake desks mainly clustered.
“Leave it. Not our problem.”
“Hmm. Yeah, probably.”
“Ignore it, ignore. Let’s just get through today quietly. Quitting time’s soon.”
Three hours until shift end. Following the handler’s lead, the staff shrugged and returned to their seats, oblivious to what was unfolding at the opposite building.
Creak!
Neigh!
The carriage convoy screeched to a halt before the intake building. Guards panicked and stepped back. The mages looked grim, like they’d come for a brawl.
“Wh-What’s going on?”
Ian stepped down from the carriage, supported by the mages. He pulled a letter from his bosom—Erikse’s handwritten signature on it.
“We’re here from the Magic Department to submit a complaint, but Erikse didn’t come in due to an accident today. It’s urgent, so I contacted the hospital, and they said they’d gladly process it if I brought his seal. So here I am to fetch it.”
The guards couldn’t distinguish a genuine handwritten signature from a fake. They just stood at the gate day in, day out. The guards hesitated and glanced at the mages.
“But why have so many of you come?”
“Is it your business how many subordinates the minister brings? My time is as precious as yours—stand aside.”
Clatter clatter!
As the guards lowered spears and moved, intake desk staff came running in alarm, quickly assessing the situation.
“Th-That’s him! Ian!”
It was the woman who had asked Romandro for ID that morning. Her lips pressed tight, she shouted shrilly.
“What are you doing here?”
“Came for Erikse’s seal at his request.”
“You expect us to believe that?”
“It’s not the emperor’s seal—just an office stamp. Why make such a fuss? Here’s Erikse’s handwritten signature. If someone wants to verify, go ahead.”
Ian clipped the letter between index and middle finger and shook it lightly.
But the staff just clamped their mouths shut and exchanged glances. They showed clear intent to block regardless, no verification needed.
Hail finally grasped the order’s meaning.
‘Been a while since this.’
He cracked his knuckles and joints lightly. Even in the noble palace, physical clashes happened now and then to push through opinions. Not everyone followed rules and principles. Most occurred during meetings, of course.
“No can do. Intake closes soon.”
“We just need the seal.”
“Not without Erikse himself! What are you all doing?”
Slap!
Whatever Hyman paid them, it must’ve been enough to risk their jobs. The staff linked arms tightly, forming a solid wall at the entrance.
“Y-You insolent! Hey! Think you can block the sky with your palm? How can you handle things so simply, crudely, and obnoxiously?”
Romandro fumed and pointed, but they just snorted.
“If it’s no, then it’s no!”
Hail rolled up his sleeves with an inward sigh.
Ian alone could subdue them with magic. But bringing comrades was to deny any claim of one-sided magical violence later. The mages, getting it, loosened up.
“Alright.”
Ian snapped his pocket watch open.
“Ten minutes.”
“Understood.”
“Push.”
Ian gave a curt hand signal. Headed by Hail, the mages charged. Romandro flailed in confusion.
Hop!
Clatter clatter!
“Hyah!”
“Ugh! Ack!”
“Out of the way! Move!”
“What? Get lost! We said no!”
“Hold on! Don’t let go of arms! Hang in there!”
They shoved with shoulders instead of fists, yanked collars instead of hair. As mages and intake staff tangled everywhere, Ian watched from behind.
And beside him, Romandro standing awkwardly. At Ian’s eyebrow twitch, Romandro squeezed his eyes shut like swallowing bitter herb and jumped in.
“Y-You lot! Let us do our work!”
Hop!
He bounced back from the fierce tussle but sprang up again, yelling.
“G-Get out of the wayyy!”