MBSE Chapter 139

Romandro anxiously watched outside the carriage. Darkness had completely fallen, and there was no sign of Ian coming. It had been hours since he went in.

Tap tap!

Just then, he spotted a golden-haired boy descending the giant staircase in the distance. The surroundings were so quiet that his light footsteps seemed audible. Romandro woke up the dozing coachman and drove the carriage towards Ian.

“Ian. Hurry and get in, heuheung!”

“I made you wait a long time, sir Romandro.”

“Oh my, oh my! Ian!”

“Shh, it’s nothing serious.”

“N-nothing serious you say?”

Although wiped off, there were traces of blood on his chin and neck, and above all, his clothes were in disarray. What on earth happened inside? Romandro fidgeted restlessly with a dumbfounded expression, unable to grab hold of Ian or let go.

In contrast, Ian nonchalantly instructed the coachman while roughly tidying his collar.

“Let’s depart.”

“Sh-shall we find a medic?”

“No. To His Highness Mariv’s palace.”

“Yes, yes. Understood.”

Hiiing!

The coachman also seemed startled, stammering heavily. Romandro, who had been gaping and checking Ian’s condition, soon realized there were no wounds.

“Ian. This isn’t your blood, is it?”

“It is my blood. I took a truth serum inside. There’s no physical pain, but the side effects are quite severe. This is why everyone gets scared and opposes it.”

As Ian laughed, Romandro also smiled faintly. He seemed to be slightly relieved now. He noticed that the Luron box Ian had carried was gone.

“Can you tell me what happened? And why go to His Highness Mariv’s palace at this late hour?”

“I can tell you, but it would be better for your well-being not to know the details, Romandro. A big storm is about to hit soon.”

“S-storm?”

“Don’t worry. We will always be at the center of it. Things went more smoothly than expected.”

When Romandro tried to wipe Ian’s face with a handkerchief slightly moistened with saliva, Ian refused with the back of his hand. The reason for going to Mariv now was to show him this state.

‘Just go back. I will send word again after confirming if Wesleigh truly researched the forbidden necromancy.’

Even if it was a top secret within the Ministry of Magic, it wouldn’t be difficult for the prince to find out if he wanted to. If everything was true, Wesleigh would surely be expelled at the high-ranking appointment meeting next week.

‘Then this time, I should make use of Mariv.’

Going here and there in the moonlit night, what kind of act was this? But it was something that had to be done someday. Power was originally harder to maintain balance than to push from one side.

“How does the administration currently perceive the truth serum issue?”

“Since the real power in the administration lies with His Majesty the Emperor, we have no choice but to follow his will. But there are growing concerns from below. It is clearly an ideal potion, but the way it’s coming from Ministry of Magic is not ideal…”

Ian recalled the departments within the Imperial Palace and counted them one by one. If it wasn’t much different from 100 years later, there would be about twenty departments in total. Among them, the ones close to real power would be narrowed down to about ten…

“But Ian, isn’t it a bit odd to go straight to His Highness Mariv after meeting with His Highness Gale?”

“It’s fine. His Highness Gale will know too.”

“He knows?”

It’s a kind of double agent. Even if Ian approached both sides, it wouldn’t be greatly suspected. Romandro clutched his powerless hair, unable to fathom how the situation was unfolding.

Just then,

Thwack!

“We’ve arrived, Viscount.”

“Ah, yes. Romandro, please wait again.”

They arrived quickly as there was no traffic due to the late hour. Ian checked once more if the blood was properly stained and opened the carriage door. The guard who approached flinched upon seeing Ian’s condition.

“Did you perhaps come to the wrong place? This is His Highness Mariv’s palace. We haven’t received orders about a visitor coming in the middle of the night.”

“You’re right. I came urgently, so hurry and relay the message. Tell him Viscount Ian Hielo wishes for an audience.”

“Please wait a moment.”

The guard glanced at Ian’s blood-soaked clothes and went inside. Still, their attitude towards Ian and Romandro was gentler compared to Gale’s side.

“…Oh my, Viscount. Are you alright?”

“No problem.”

The expression of the head butler who came out to greet them stiffened. With the instincts of someone who had lived their entire life in the Imperial Palace, it was clear that something unusual was happening. The head butler quickly led Ian to Mariv’s office.

Knock knock.

“Your Highness.”

“Come in.”

Mariv looked the same day and night. He was examining a mountain of reports with his hair neatly tied back and glasses on. He turned his head and furrowed his brows.

“Viscount Ian Hielo. What in the world happened?”

“My lord, I apologize for the late hour, but I have an urgent matter to discuss. I have just come from His Highness Gale’s palace.”

At the mention of Gale’s name, the head butler hurriedly left. The door closed, leaving only Mariv and Ian in the room.

“First, please forgive me for not informing you before meeting His Highness Gale. I needed to create the truth that you were unaware of my whereabouts, as it seemed certain he would make me use the truth serum.”

“Then that blood is the side effect of the truth serum.”

“That’s correct.”

Even though they said research was lacking, it was truly a sight to behold. Talking about commercialization after this, they must be out of their minds.

“While examining the information about Luron stones that you mentioned before, it was revealed that the expected deposits are in the current Hielo territory.”

Ah, Mariv inwardly exclaimed. So that’s why Gale coveted it so much. That was the reason he had been annoyingly persistent, even bringing up the truth serum issue. Ian continued, observing the prince’s expression.

“Therefore, His Highness Gale summoned me and ordered me to supply Luron stones to the Ministry of Magic. It seems difficult to refuse this.”

“You mustn’t do that. Supplying Luron stones will provide an excuse for the truth serum case.”

“Your Highness. Isn’t the Ministry of Magic the biggest reason for opposing the truth serum? Since its head, Wesleigh, is Gale’s subordinate, there is no trust in the potion itself.”

Even if they claim to speak the truth, who knows when they might lie or how they might die from an unknown liquid.

Mariv raised his glasses and calmly asked.

“But?”

“If Minister Wesleigh is removed and the owner of the Ministry of Magic changes, there will be no problem at all.”

Minister Wesleigh removed?

It was an absurd idea, but if it happened, it would be the best news for Mariv. It would be like Gale’s main force disintegrating.

‘But how? Wesleigh won’t step down voluntarily, and the only way is for Gale to remove that woman, but why would that bastard abandon Wesleigh?’

At that moment, Mariv suddenly thought of the youngest daughter of the Hayman family. Recently, Gale had been putting in so much effort for her, so could there have been a fight with Wesleigh over that?

The youngest daughter of a prominent family that monopolized the banking industry in Bariel, mixed with the blood of a neighboring royal family, and renowned for her beauty in social circles. Rumors were already rampant about how she had been attached to Gale at the New Year’s party.

Ian slowly observed his expression and continued.

“It may be presumptuous, but do you know how the Ministry of Magic selects a new minister when the position becomes vacant?”

“The Ministry of Magic values ability above all else, so surely…”

As Mariv’s words trailed off, Ian sat upright and simply nodded. He had thought Ian was extraordinary during the mana confirmation ceremony, but to this extent…

“His Highness Gale seemed greatly impressed by my mana during the confirmation ceremony.”

Mariv also found it beautiful, but he didn’t perceive it as ‘to what extent compared to Wesleigh.’ He merely thought a luckily caught noble from the frontier would be useful.

“So it seems he is searching for potential candidates for the next minister one by one. Based on this, I predicted that His Highness Gale would remove Minister Wesleigh.”

“There must’ve been some kind hidden agenda behind it. Under normal circumstances, Gale absolutely, absolutely would not abandon Wesleigh.”

“I’m not sure about that, Your Highness. But if Minister Wesleigh is removed and an opportunity arises for me…”

What is he saying now? A newly inducted magician mentioning the minister position. But Ian spoke without hesitation.

“I think it would be alright to proceed with the truth serum. To gather internal forces, an external collusion factor is necessary. If you allow the truth serum, I may be able to gather people with it.”

How many departments are involved with the truth serum?

Mana Stone Management Department, Potion Research Department, Magic Experiment Department…

“Can you do it?”

“I will make it happen. If you assist me a little, Your Highness, it will surely be easy.”

Mariv thought.

If Gale removes Wesleigh, he will definitely have a successor in mind for the Ministry of Magic. But the opportunity will unexpectedly be given fairly to everyone. Even though Ian was a newcomer, he was still a magician belonging to the Ministry of Magic after all. It wasn’t something he could boldly assert.

“Ian. It’s all good. It’s all good, but I still can’t grasp the idea of Gale and Wesleigh splitting. It feels like a nonsensical delusion I’m hearing in a dream.”

Will Gale really abandon Wesleigh? No, is Wesleigh even a woman to be abandoned in the first place? Mariv narrowed his gentle eyes and glared at Ian.

‘Urging to proceed with the truth serum… could he have sided with Gale?’

Ian noticed his gaze and bowed his head. This is why quick-witted people are tiresome.

“The reason I mentioned the truth serum is because I will be the mass supplier of Luron stones. Currently, the only major issue related to Luron stones is that, and since all departments except the Ministry of Magic are opposing it, I judged that passing the bill would greatly establish my position in the Ministry of Magic.”

It’s not entirely inconsistent. Mariv brought the pen to Ian’s chin, signaling him to raise his head.

The younger brother pressed a blade, and the older brother presses a pen.

“I understand. But first, Wesleigh’s being removed comes first, and then you, Ian, have to show your abilities in the Ministry of Magic. That’s the condition.”

“Don’t worry, Your Highness.”

Zzing. Zing.

Ian confidently answered while releasing his mana. As his green eyes turned golden, the light of mana swirled around him. If nothing else, this was unrivaled.

“I swear, this light is definitely for you, Your Highness.”

“Yes. I’ll look forward to it.”

Mariv lightly tapped Ian’s chin away and stood up from his seat. Whether it was a trick or not, removing Wesleigh from her position itself would be meaningful.

Ian gently stroked the back of his neck and smiled faintly.