Chapter 57
Chapter 57
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: Merelrof
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“What’s the problem?”
“Hard to adjust the target amount, they say.”
“Isn’t that what we expected?”
“I was hoping it wouldn’t be. Looks like we’ll have to go with the next best option.”
Kakantir and the others all nodded. Berik asked again.
“They said there is some support funding?”
“Yeah. They didn’t confirm it outright, but there is. I’d guess around 3,000 gold coins.”
“Wow, damn. That’s insane!”
Enough to cover two months’ worth, so it was a rough estimate around that figure. Even with the palace helping with reconstruction, solid operating funds were essential for normal operations.
“We’ll probably make contact with Merelrof soon, so we need to prepare thoroughly.”
“Hmm. Right.”
Romandro’s gold coins. Merelrof’s food supplies. And Ian mediating in the middle. If they just watched for the right moment, a pretty satisfactory deal could be struck.
Kakantir nodded as if to say he understood.
“By the way, about this advisor Romandro. He seems genuinely friendly toward us. Do you think so too?”
“Yes. Since he was sent by Prince Marib to handle the situation, he should be on the opposite side from Gail.”
On top of that, Molin’s hostility right from their first meeting had played a big role. Derga’s tip-off had been a joint effort between Molin and Ian, so he must have assumed they were on the same side.
But the atmosphere was so hostile it was like he wanted to devour him. Romandro must have guessed to some extent that Ian wasn’t with Gail.
“If we can pull Romandro to our side, everything will go according to plan.”
“Yeah. Honestly, I was a bit surprised.”
“How...”
At Ian’s puzzled question, Kakantir playfully grabbed his hand, mimicking Romandro’s reaction from earlier.
“A Mana User gets this kind of treatment in the Empire.”
“Because they call him the one who resembles the gods the most.”
People in the borderlands often viewed magic as something out of myths. Kakantir and Nersarn were prime examples. Even after seeing Berik’s case, they didn’t grasp how great a power it could become. Mana’s potential was like a river flowing into a vast ocean.
“Becoming the family head isn’t truly impossible.”
Ian just smiled at Kakantir’s words. It seemed he only felt certain after seeing Romandro’s reaction firsthand.
“Drive the wedge in before autumn comes.”
“We’ll prepare.”
“Keep a close eye on Molin and his group.”
“Yes, Kakantir.”
“Berik, you did as I asked?”
“Hiding the Mana Stone? Of course.”
“Good. Everyone, move out.”
At Kakantir’s command, his subordinates concealed their presence and descended the stairs. Ian returned to Romandro’s room with Berik, and the corridor settled into its usual darkness.
Meanwhile, on the floor just below.
“Teacher. What should we do?”
Mac and Drgor, having finished dinner, turned to Molin. Their mentor sat by the window, lost deep in thought. Mac pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and roughly tore at his hair.
“I can’t think of any way out of this.”
“Mac. Calm down first.”
“I’m not as level-headed as you, Drgor. Erika—no, actually, it doesn’t matter who, but the lord needs to be cooperative with us. Didn’t you see Ian’s attitude earlier?”
Drgor swallowed a sigh at Mac’s outburst. How do you deal with a Mana User allied with the Cheonryeo Tribe? Especially in their home turf in the borderlands, not the center.
“If he’d been friendly toward us, it’d be a different story...”
“Doesn’t seem likely. He’s sticking right by Romandro with his chin held high...”
Pretty sharp, huh? He hadn’t been at the estate long, but he’d already picked up on the tension between Molin’s group and Romandro. Whether he knew Marib and Gail were behind them was uncertain.
“I think we should put someone other than Captain Erika forward.”
“Who?”
“Didn’t Hail from the Magic Department make a big contribution in the recent Roxan battle? The Emperor might grant him a title, so how about recommending he take this territory?”
“Hail is a key force in the palace. With the Emperor rejecting even his vacation, do you think he’d hand over borderland to him? He won’t give any pretext for leaving the capital.”
Mac waved his hand dismissively, as if it was absurd. The cigarette smoke at his fingertips scattered chaotically.
“And Drgor, don’t you know Captain Erika’s personality?”
“…I do. I know it all too well.”
“With her temperament, if things go like this, I can’t even begin to predict how she’ll react.”
Drgor silently agreed completely. A commoner who’d clawed her way to investigation captain through sheer tenacity. Her loyalty to Prince Gail was more about the reliable wealth and honor it brought than true devotion. She’d volunteered for this Bratz trip for that reason.
Swoosh.
Molin, who’d been staring out the window, approached the table and poured wine. In a voice heavy as the night air, he spoke.
“If the one blocking your path won’t move aside, can’t retreat, and there’s no other way—what do you do?”
His eyes, etched with the traces of life. He took a sip of wine and muttered.
“You remove the one blocking the path.”
“Teacher.”
“There’s always a way.”
Kill Ian.
For now, that was the surest and cleanest method. It was tricky because this was the borderlands, but on the flip side, that made it fortunate. If it were the center, and he’d earned the title of mage, it’d be much harder to dispose of him.
“If a Mana User is hostile to us, isn’t it right to cut him down before he grows further?”
“You’re absolutely right. If he becomes a mage and grows beyond control, it’ll soon burden Prince Gail.”
Just get rid of Ian.
Without Ian, the Cheonryeo Tribe beasts would have no justification to be here, and Romandro would have no one to rely on, rendering him powerless.
Erika hadn’t acted out of fear for her life, but for Molin, failure was more terrifying than death. He couldn’t tolerate a mere lowborn bastard jeopardizing Prince Gail’s great achievements.
“We’ll stay here a few days and observe the situation.”
“Yes, Teacher.”
Watch for an opening and bide our time.
That was the plan Molin’s group had set the moment they arrived at the estate. They rinsed their mouths with wine, as if to wash away the words they’d spoken.
Unaware of the red brooch—a Mana Stone—attached under the bed.
* * *
A clear morning without a single cloud.
A long procession from Bratz Territory was passing through the forest. It included not just Ian and Berik, but Romandro and his subordinates, plus Cheonryeo Tribe warrior escorts.
Romandro peered out the window and muttered.
“It’s farther than I thought.”
“We’re out of the forest soon.”
“Does that side border the Great Desert too?”
“Merelrof... it touches the desert a bit, but barely affected. It’s closest to Hwan Kingdom to the east.”
“Ah, right. Hwan Kingdom’s over there.”
Friendly with Bariel and active in trade, Merelrof profited greatly as a hub for exchange between the two nations. Even Mary sourced fabrics from the east through Lady Merelrof.
“Hold up. Where are you from?”
“From Bratz Territory, with the advisor.”
The gate guard checked the coachman’s transit pass and let them through. Inside, it resembled Bratz but brimmed with exotic traces. Just as Bratz was influenced by the Great Desert and Cheonryeo Tribe, this place bore Hwan Kingdom’s mark.
“They haven’t always kept in contact?”
“Not sure about during Derga’s lifetime, but after the investigation team arrived, they shut their doors. Given the situation, they didn’t want to get involved.”
But after Captain Erika withdrew and Ian took real charge of the territory, a letter had arrived first. A formal check on the situation. Was Derga really dead? Had the Cheonryeo Tribe seized the territory? Things a neighbor ought to know...
‘If the palace advisor hadn’t come, these guys might’ve gotten nosy.’
The basic way to expand power in the borderlands, right? Swallow neighbors to grow. They’d been eyeing opportunities, but the advisor’s arrival had clearly thrown them off.
Creak.
The carriage procession finally arrived at the estate after a long ride. The coachman opened the door, and the advisor stepped out first, looking around. Unlike serene Bratz, the landscaping here exuded refined splendor.
“Are you Advisor Romandro?”
“That’s me.”
“Please come inside. The Count is waiting.”
A wizened butler politely guided them. He glanced briefly at the Cheonryeo warriors trailing behind, but that was it.
“Advisor Romandro?”
“Greetings, Count Carlo Merelrof.”
“Come in.”
In the reception room sat a very gaunt middle-aged man. His face was bloodless and rigid, like tree bark. He exhaled cigarette smoke and eyed Ian.
“You’re Ian.”
His piercing gaze was icy cold. As if seeing right through him, laced with subtle arrogance.
“I greet you, Count Merelrof.”
“You don’t resemble Derga at all.”
“Thank you for the compliment.”
“…Have a seat.”
Merelrof, Romandro, and Ian sat around a large round table. The Count offered them tea and got to the point.
“You’re seeking food supplies.”
“Yes. Our already barren territory faces uncertainty even for next month’s provisions, so we turn to our neighbor Merelrof for help.”
“No issues with anything else?”
“Recovery is better than expected. If we secure two months’ worth now, we should normalize by winter.”
Count Merelrof tapped the table with his fingers, clearly deep in thought. He nodded and ordered the butler.
“Bring the prepared documents.”
“Yes, my lord.”
“I pondered after receiving your letter. We can’t ignore a neighbor’s suffering, but we can’t carve from our own flesh to feed others.”
Without the palace advisor, he wouldn’t have even given Ian a chance to negotiate. His lack of funds was obvious, and as he said, his priority was his own territory, not the neighbor’s.
“Here’s a list of what we can provide and the prices.”
Romandro’s brows furrowed as he slowly read. Essential grains like wheat and corn were excluded, and even secondary ingredients usable as such were priced five times above market rate.
“…Um, Count Merelrof.”
“Yes, Advisor.”
Romandro called out, exasperated, but the Count remained composed. He’d agreed to negotiate due to the palace advisor, but made his reluctance abundantly clear.
Romandro fiddled with the edge of the document, lost in thought. When his eyes met Ian’s, he awkwardly asked permission.
“May we discuss among ourselves for a moment?”
“Oh! Haha! With him?”
Romandro’s “we” included Ian. Realizing this, Count Merelrof burst into genuine laughter for the first time. A palace advisor holding a meeting with a lowly bastard bloodline. Ridiculous.
“People from the center are certainly different.”
Blatant disdain, but Ian didn’t bat an eye. He just pondered the numbers presented.
Merelrof might be a border count, but he was plump from sweet trade profits. He had the position to act this bold. All as expected.
“Thank you for the kind words.”
Ian smirked and turned his head away.
Even the biggest laughter eventually fades.