Chapter 253: A New Appointment
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 253: A New Appointment
"The hardest thing, you say?"
Hearing Audrich III’s words, Muen couldn't help but daze for a moment.
Indeed, it had been hard.
Looking back on the journey so far, everything he had faced was among the most terrifying things in this world.
The Corrupted Love God.
The Withered King.
The Silent Moon.
Evil Gods that ordinary people might never encounter in a lifetime seemed to be flocking to his side in droves.
And even now, as the curtain was momentarily falling, he could only say he had gained a brief moment of leisure. No one could say for sure what the future held.
"But... we can only move forward, can't we?" Muen smiled and replied.
"..."
Audrich III looked deeply at Muen, remained silent for a moment, and then suddenly said:
"Then get the hell out."
"Eh?"
"I said you can scram."
Audrich spoke expressionlessly.
"We're done talking. Do you expect to stay here for dinner? Let me remind you, brat—as a father, however incompetent I may be, I’m sick to death of looking at that playboy face of yours. God knows how many young girls you've charmed with it!"
"..."
The corner of Muen’s mouth twitched violently.
When he first walked in, he was "the Campbell boy," but now that the testing was over, he was a "brat." Who was the real "scum man" here, anyway?
"Then I shall take my leave, Your Majesty."
Muen performed a respectful bow, hand over his chest, and turned to depart.
Just as he stepped out of the room, Muen thought he heard the Emperor’s faint, almost imperceptible murmur.
"Muen Campbell... it won't be that easy to become my daughter's husband."
"..."
*
After Muen left.
Audrich III remained standing with his hands behind his back, quietly watching the setting sun sink completely below the horizon.
The world gradually plunged into the endless night, and stars began to twinkle in the firmament. A majestic silence submerged the man who stood as still as a statue.
"Come and catch me!"
"Haha, you can't catch me, you can't catch me..."
A sudden clamor carried by the wind interrupted Audrich’s contemplation. He knew it was his eldest son—the one whose mind had been unwell since childhood—playing with his maids again.
Carefree.
Out of place.
"How long until Celicia’s birthday?"
In the room that appeared to hold only him, Audrich suddenly asked.
"Replying to Your Majesty, eight months and thirteen days," a raspy voice answered from the shadows.
"Eight months?"
Audrich lowered his head, looking at the city lights gradually flickering to life. In his deep eyes, an indecipherable light finally gleamed.
"That’s a bit too long."
He let out a long sigh and withdrew his hands into his sleeves, concealing his wrists. There, unnoticed even by Muen who had been standing right in front of him, were cracks... identical to the ones on the railing he had just crushed.
*
"Phew... as expected of His Majesty. The pressure is insane."
Muen finally breathed a long sigh of relief once he had walked down the corridor and out of the sight of the two Royal Guard Knights.
Even though it was just a short conversation, it felt more exhausting than a major battle.
Muen couldn't help but marvel—when it came to the ability to make someone’s knees go weak, father and daughter were remarkably alike.
As he thought this, Muen’s footsteps suddenly faltered. His face turned pale as waves of emptiness washed through his body.
Only then did he realize that throughout the entire day, he hadn't eaten anything except for An’s Ten-Complete Tonic Soup.
Well, maybe he’d had a bit of chocolate last night, but compared to the energy he’d expended recently, it was a drop in the bucket.
Hungry. So hungry.
Unfortunately, no rich lady was around to feed him.
"A palace this big and they don't even provide dinner. How stingy."
Muen grumbled to himself and quickened his pace, wanting to leave the palace and find food as soon as possible.
But just then, he heard someone call his name.
"Young Master Campbell."
He instinctively turned his head and saw the middle-aged man he had briefly encountered earlier leaving the Emperor’s room. The man was standing at the corner of the corridor, seemingly waiting specifically for him.
"You are..."
That sense of familiarity hit him again, but Muen simply couldn't place him.
"Young Master Campbell truly has a busy man's memory."
The man smiled, removed his hat, and bowed.
"I am Sean Jones, a humble Baron. I once had the honor of being invited by Duke Campbell to attend your coming-of-age ceremony at the estate. We met back then."
"Oh, it’s you!"
Muen suddenly remembered.
No wonder he looked so familiar; he had seen this Baron while greeting guests during his ceremony.
At the time, his "convenient" father had specifically mentioned that this Sean Jones was...
Gold buried by status.
Yes, that’s what his father had said, his tone tinged with a rare sense of lament. Because it was so unusual to see such melancholy from that lion-like man, Muen remembered it quite clearly.
Thinking of this, Muen raised an eyebrow and looked at Sean.
"Baron Sean, your audience with His Majesty just now was because..."
"His Majesty merely had a few instructions for me."
The man, whose hair was already graying at the temples, held his hat, his expression suddenly becoming animated.
"Despite my lack of talent, I have just been personally appointed by His Majesty as the new Magistrate of the Lower District."
"The Magistrate..."
Muen was stunned.
Sean Jones?
A Baron?
One must remember that the previous Magistrate, Guen, was a Viscount, and even then, many thought his appointment was somewhat unusual.
While the position was neither high nor low and came with plenty of trouble, in the past, it was absolutely impossible for a Baron to...
Wait...
A realization dawned on Muen. Connecting this with previous events, he suddenly understood.
Regarding the noble factions, the Emperor wasn't just throwing a heavy punch this time; he was delivering a whole combination—and every blow was landing squarely on their vitals.
No wonder those fellows were so anxious.
"Congratulations. It seems His Majesty has finally panned for gold," Muen said with a smile. "My father once praised your excellence. I believe that with your abilities, you can truly lead Belland’s Lower District out of its chaos."
"No, I owe everything I have today to the Duke’s patronage."
Sean’s eyes were fervent. "If not for the Duke, I don't know where I would be wasting my time right now. So..."
"Hey."
Muen raised a hand to interrupt him.
"The prerequisite for his patronage was your own excellence. You don't need to belittle yourself. My father isn't home right now, so save your thanks for when he returns. For now, just focus on doing your job well. There’s no need for anything else."
"This..."
Sean dazed for a moment. The fervor in his eyes gradually faded, replaced by a solemn gaze as he studied Muen.
After a long while, he let out a long breath and sighed, "I knew it. How could the son of that Duke ever be as incompetent as the rumors suggested?"
As he spoke, Sean even gritted his teeth slightly. "Those damn, fat-headed nobles... they really spared no effort in trying to blacken the Duke’s name by slandering you!"
"..."
The corner of Muen’s eye twitched imperceptibly. Actually, they weren't really slandering me back then; it was all true.
"I didn't really do anything," Muen continued with a perfect smile. "I am simply doing what a son of a Duke should do."
"As expected of you."
Sean marveled. "You truly are of the same bloodline as the Duke—"
Before he could finish, he was interrupted by a distinct growl.
Muen’s smile froze instantly, his cheeks flushing slightly.
Baron Sean was also taken aback. He glanced at Muen’s stomach, then suddenly smiled and put his hat back on.
"We shouldn't spend too much time on idle chatter. However, to celebrate my appointment, I booked a table at a certain restaurant earlier. I was worried I wouldn't find anyone to accompany me. I wonder if Young Master Campbell would deign to join me?"
"How is the restaurant?"
"The reviews are excellent. I heard the head chef came from the palace. Not only that, but a famous and beautiful violinist will be performing there tonight."
Muen’s eyes lit up, but he immediately kept a straight face. "Since the chef is from the palace, I suppose I must sample the cuisine."
"Haha, naturally. This way, please..."