Chapter 229
Chapter 229
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 229
Chapter Title: The Devil's Whisper
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Time seemed to have stopped.
In shock at the outrageous statement, everyone stared at Ian, forgetting to even breathe. Though the meeting was merely a formality since a decision couldn't be reached, it was still an official gathering, wasn't it?
Ian had gone mad. Otherwise, they themselves must have lost their minds after hearing those words. The ministers just opened and closed their mouths silently.
Kwaang!
"Lord Ian!"
The first to shout was Quintana. She slammed her desk as if genuinely furious. Jolted back to his senses by the sound, Beols stood up as well.
Jairut, a close friend of the Three Great Commanders, simply threw his head back and groaned.
"Lord Ian. You just crossed the line. Anyone else might get a pass, but not you!"
Wasn't he one of the few who knew the emperor had frozen?
Had he already forgotten the emperor's dying words?
Beols had a duty to mediate the overheated succession struggle. He couldn't let Arsen die over such absurd accusations.
"You all must be terribly tired. You're gasping in shock without even hearing me out."
Snap! Ian flicked his fingers, signaling them to calm down. As always, he was composed and matter-of-fact.
Unbelievable. He had turned the entire chamber upside down, yet he alone remained so relaxed? Quintana twisted her lips and rummaged in her inner pocket.
Chiiik.
"...Excuse me."
It was unavoidable. She lit her cigarette and roughly tossed her lighter onto the desk—a signal that anyone who wanted it could use it.
Jairut, equally flustered with no way to calm himself, lit his cigarette using Quintana's lighter.
"Go on. Even the gravest criminal gets to finish their defense. But remember this. Once we leave here, I will report you. I can't entrust the true prince to you."
Ian smiled faintly and nodded. As if to say, do as you please. Quintana's exhaled smoke grew thicker and darker at the sight.
"I'll request your cooperation once more. On the day of the Mana Confirmation Ritual, I will kill Arsen. If he is a mana beast, that is. And if he is not, then I will die."
"...Ha!"
He was speaking of the penalty for insulting and plotting to assassinate imperial royalty. A responsibility without excess.
Quintana added, unaware of the ash falling from her cigarette.
"If Prince Arsen is a mage anyway, aren't you as good as dead, Lord Ian? That's a plain fact. If he enters the Magic Department, the minister position will naturally change hands."
"That day, point your sword at me. I won't dodge it."
Ian turned to Beols and Jairut of the Three Great Commanders as he replied. Without a shred of personal motive, conveying his resolve to stake everything.
By then, some began to think they needed to heed Ian's words. One who stakes all is always sincere.
"Continue."
"I will now explain why Arsen must die on the day of the Mana Confirmation Ritual. You'll see in the report."
Rustle.
The sound of turning pages echoed simultaneously. Quintana, who had stubbed out her cigarette, followed the paragraphs with her eyes, albeit belatedly.
"Time is on Arsen's side. As his body grows, the vessel containing his power expands, and his vicious cunning will surpass human limits. Eliminating him as quickly as possible is the safest and most rational choice."
"But—"
As someone tried to interject, Ian lightly waved them off. He murmured lowly, as if asking for silence.
"Are you interrupting the defendant's defense?"
"Sorry. Heh. Hm, yes. I'll ask later."
"Above all, Arsen's abilities are the problem. From what I can tell, he can manipulate human psychology. Those blessed by the imperial family are safe, but not you all."
No one could predict what tricks Arsen might pull if cornered during the Mana Confirmation Ritual.
What if he tried to control everyone in the chamber, destroying everything in the process? That would be as fatal to Bariel as the princes dying.
"Brainwashing? Is that reliable? I've heard even mages find mental domination extremely difficult."
"That's why we're fortunately having this conversation with sound minds right now. But it's only temporary. Once Arsen matures, no one in the palace will voice their own opinions. My mother, Philia, is a witness who experienced it firsthand."
"The chair would naturally dismiss that. Lord Ian."
"Yes. Fortunately, this isn't a trial."
It lacked objective external validity. The prime minister cut it off sharply, but Ian didn't yield.
Dismissed in a trial? Didn't that mean it could be accepted here?
"In any case, the biggest reason is that we can't predict what Arsen will do if his identity is exposed. Before you all get brainwashed and harm the true prince, I will kill Arsen first. I formally request your 'cooperation.'"
"...Cooperation meaning what?"
"You're not asking for soldiers, are you?"
"You think there's something else? That's rebellion and treason! I can't do it. I refuse in advance."
Voices jumped to conclusions and rejected outright.
The incidents with Marib and Gail hadn't fully settled yet. Rallying soldiers again would be recorded as the overreach of someone coveting power.
Ian shook his head lightly.
"Don't you know about mana beasts? Soldiers are unnecessary. It's too inefficient when a dozen regular soldiers barely take down one. Arsen is an evil passed down since the founding of the nation. The Magic Department will handle it."
"Then? What do you want?"
Ian first looked to Beols and Jairut. Other departments mattered too, but the sword-mages' role was most crucial.
"If trouble arises, have the Imperial Palace Guard, led by Lady Dillaina, block Haiman's intervention. It's different from facing Marib. Since the opponent is a mana beast, even slight disruption could cause problems. I believe that's plenty reasonable for the palace's safety."
"You're saying to evacuate them."
"In any manner. And—"
"And?"
Tap, tap. Ian paused briefly, scanning the bureaucrats. His green eyes darkened. What was he gauging? Everyone held their breath, trying to guess his intentions.
"On the day of the ritual, the area around the stage on the left will be divided by Mana Sealing Stones. I don't know if it will neutralize Arsen's abilities, but those present here should watch the ritual from there."
It wasn't difficult. No direct risk or burden.
Quintana pressed her forehead and sighed, feeling deflated. She felt foolish for tensing up unnecessarily.
"That's all?"
"Yes. That's all."
"But I have a question."
"Who are you? Speak."
"Over here, Sabo from the Culture Department. About revealing Prince Arsen's identity. How exactly do you plan to do it? Knowing the specifics would build more trust."
Sabo from the Culture Department? Quintana irritably wrinkled her nose at the unknown speaker. As if they'd understand the explanation? If a layperson could grasp mages' language, they'd be mages themselves.
But Ian smiled as if he'd been waiting, explaining kindly enough for even a passing child to understand.
"Do you know how a magic circle is drawn under the oracle's light? I performed the ritual atop former Minister Wesley's magic circle at the New Year's gathering. It helps activate the oracle's light even with minimal mana."
"Hm. It's mainly to provide entertainment alongside the mana confirmation, after all."
Of course, in Ian's case, it had been the opposite. He still vividly remembered Wesley's scheme to crush his spirit.
"With the priests' help, I'll modify the magic circle. It will react differently if a mana beast's presence is embedded."
"Oh, so mana activates without the circle?"
"It does. But it requires that much more mana."
Sabo nodded repeatedly, scribbling notes furiously.
Ian looked around as if asking for more questions. Most details were in the report, and night was deepening. The distraught bureaucrats clearly wanted to end the meeting quickly.
"Very well. Let's adjourn. If you have questions, contact the Magic Department."
"Come on, let's go quickly."
"I'll head out first. Ahem!"
The prime minister banged his seal to conclude. Some bolted from the chamber. Gestures of wanting to escape the whirlpool and collect their thoughts.
The meeting dispersed in near silence, much like when it began. Ian gathered his reports to tidy up.
"But Lord Ian. One last question."
It was Quintana, still rubbing her forehead in thought. Ian buttoned his robe and looked down at her.
"I'll answer with utmost sincerity, whatever it is."
"What gives you the confidence to declare this so boldly? Whether Prince Arsen is a mana beast or not, it's dangerous for you."
"If he's not, it doesn't matter. I'd be overjoyed, even. Since I'd be dying from my own blunder. And if he is—"
If he is...
"He'll try to kill me, right? If I die before the ritual, please protect the true prince in my place, Lady Quintana."
"I'm not here for such trivial jokes."
"Was it trivial? Shame."
Ian turned to leave but paused.
"Let me ask one too."
"What?"
"Do you still intend to report me?"
"......"
It referenced her earlier outburst about reporting Ian once they left.
Quintana let out a hollow laugh, and Ian nodded past her. Romandro followed behind, attending him.
"Good work."
"Did you see earlier? That Sabo from the Culture Department?"
"Yeah, yeah. I did. A bit fishy, wasn't he?"
Ian and Romandro whispered secretly as they descended the stairs. If Arsen was a mana beast, he'd do anything to avoid his identity being revealed at the ritual.
For instance, planting someone in the Grand Council since Ian wouldn't cancel. Or having a mage in the Magic Department tamper with the magic circle, and so on.
'Now let's see.'
The two hurried into a carriage and headed to the Magic Department. Night had deepened; dawn would break soon. Morning always follows a long night.
Ian glanced back at the darkened palace.
* * *
Meanwhile, at that moment.
Jin tossed and turned, finding his bed uncomfortable for some reason. He finally opened his eyes, but everything was so hazy he couldn't see clearly.
The faintly visible grayish hair...
Xiaoshi?
"Xia?"
But moonlight streamed through the window, and Jin realized it was silver. He couldn't tell dream from reality. His toes stiffened involuntarily, and he gasped.
"Jin."
It was Arsen. Arsen was looking down at him. The more Jin tried to close his eyes, the brighter Arsen's smile glowed.
"Jin. Shh."
"Ah, Arsen."
"If you make noise, I'll leave?"
"You, what are..."
Like before, Arsen nuzzled Jin's shoulder affectionately.
At that instant, Ian's voice echoed in Jin's mind. Arsen is a devil, an ancient curse come to destroy him and Bariel.
Perhaps sensing Jin's paling expression, Arsen whispered ever so sweetly.
"Jin. Soon, it'll be revealed I'm a mage, and I'll have the entire palace's support. Then you, of course, and even Ian will die. Vanish without a trace, just like Marib. Ahh. My poor brother."
"......"
"So I'm giving you one last chance."
"Please, just stop..."
"Will you kill Ian for me?"
Freeze.
Noticing Jin's body twitch, Arsen chuckled lowly. Though he laughed and laughed, Xiaoshi didn't move.
Ah, this is a dream.
"Then I'll give you your mother back. How's that? I'll make her say she loves you. I'll return the embrace you haven't felt in so long."
A devil in the form of his mother.
Jin bit his lip hard and glared straight at him. The moonlight shone even more brilliantly.
"...Better you die than Lord Ian."