The raw, pointed question was met with a resounding silence. There was no answer to be found, for if Ian and the Ministry of Magic had not returned, Bariel would have been left with but a single, grim path forward.
A war of attrition, driven by brute force.
The officials in the room could all imagine the astronomical cost, including the depletion of resources and the countless lives extinguished. Yet, they had never considered it a truly prohibitive price. The glory that awaited the victor was always deemed greater than the sacrifice required.
Jin’s gaze swept across the silent hall before he spoke, his voice cutting through the stillness. “It seems we have reached a consensus regarding the Minister of Magic’s reinstatement. Does anyone else wish to speak?”
He offered a benevolent smile, as if he would gladly entertain any further debate, but no one dared to step forward. Had the Ministry of Culture not just provided a chilling demonstration of the risks? A single misstep here could cost them everything.
Someone finally broke the tension with a hearty laugh, a strained attempt to lighten the mood.
“Would there be any need? Hahaha, from where I’m sitting, it’s perfectly clear that he is Lord Ian Hielo, with or without a Homogeneity Potion.”
“Yes, yes! For Lord Ian, it may have been a mere ten days, but for us, a decade has passed. Ah, but to see him now, it feels as if no time has passed at all.”
“Hahaha! Indeed! Lord Ian, allow me to once again congratulate you on your safe return from the Abyss. Truly, you have endured much and accomplished a great feat.”
“Had it not been for Lord Ian, who can say what catastrophe might have befallen the palace back then! It is only right that we acknowledge his deeds.”
“I agree. Verification is proper, but so is commendation. Shouldn’t we all agree to conclude the debate on this point and move forward?”
While some of the voices belonged to those who had merely shifted their allegiance with the changing political winds, most of the cheerful remarks came from those who genuinely welcomed Ian’s return and the reunification of the Ministry of Magic. A strong Ministry meant that Bariel would hold an overwhelming advantage not only in war but in all diplomatic matters. It was a blessing upon the empire.
“Are there no further objections?” Jin asked one last time.
A hand rose tentatively in the air. At the Crown Prince’s nod, all eyes turned toward the speaker.
She was a woman who looked to be newly appointed, her attire slightly plain, her posture radiating a nervous tension so thick it was almost visible. Before she could speak, a man shot to his feet, crying out her name.
“Rashida!”
“I-I-I am R-Rashida, of the D-Department of T-Technological D-Development!” she squeaked.
The man who had stood was her superior, the Minister of Technology Development. He had clearly intended to silence her, but Jin stayed him with a subtle gesture. Rashida was trembling so violently it was a marvel she could speak at all.
“I… I h-have a question a-about the answer r-related to Idgal. W-would it be permissible to a-ask a follow-up?”
“Yes, please do,” Ian said, his voice a calm anchor in her sea of anxiety. He picked up his pen once more.
“You… you s-stated that you c-created Idgal with Rutherford in the p-past. Is that s-still possible? And I am c-curious as to whether R-Rutherford also s-still possesses the technique. Th-thank you!”
Even after finishing her question, Rashida continued to tremble, her teeth chattering audibly. Her Minister pressed a hand to his forehead before adding a clarification.
“Since Lord Ian’s disappearance, no new Idgal has been circulated in Bariel or any of the neighboring countries. We have therefore been operating under the assumption that Rutherford is the key to its manufacture. We ask now because of his sudden return. More importantly, as you yourself have stated, Idgal is now a critical tool for controlling the rifts. Though it is a double-edged sword, we believe it is better that we possess more of it than our enemies. Lord Ian, can you create Idgal?”
Rashida nodded with frantic enthusiasm, confirming this was precisely what she had wanted to ask.
Ian set his pen down, a wry, unexpected smile touching his lips. He had hoped to avoid this particular topic in such a public forum, but he had been cornered.
“I have no memory of the manufacturing process. As I do not know the details, I cannot confirm whether Rutherford still possesses the technique. However,” he added, “I am aware of a method to recover my memories. I ask for your patience.”
“And what method is that?”
“That is a matter I am not at liberty to disclose at this time.”
“…I see.”
Though the question was not entirely resolved, it was a dead end for now. Judging by the Crown Prince’s impassive expression, he had already been briefed on the matter. The Minister of Technology Development raised his hands in a gesture of concession, indicating he had no more questions.
“Is there anyone else?” Ian asked, his gaze sweeping over the officials as he poised his pen above the paper. A few dry coughs echoed in the hall, but nothing more. Ian looked to Jin, who nodded and brought the matter to a close.
“As of this moment,” the Crown Prince declared, his voice resonating with finality, “I officially announce the reinstatement of Ian Hielo as the Minister of the Ministry of Magic.”
“Yes, Your Highness. We humbly accept your will.”
A wave of relief washed over the mages. Without a second thought, they reached for one another, hands clasping tightly as their eyes met. How long had they waited for this moment? In their gazes, a silent understanding passed between them, a shared acknowledgment of the long wait that had finally ended, bringing with it a deep, resonant joy. Their clasped hands tightened, an unbreakable chain of loyalty.
“We did it. You’ve all endured so much.”
“You as well, sir.”
“Lord Ian, a heartfelt welcome back.”
“We’ve been waiting.”
Hearing the greetings from behind him, Ian turned with a faint smile. It was a gentle, wordless rebuke, a reminder that the conference was not yet over. The mages nodded furiously and snapped their attention back to the front.
Jin watched the display with a quiet, observant look before he spoke again.
“Now, there is a small matter to attend to.”
“A matter, Your Highness? What might that be?”
“I have received a certain revelation, but its meaning eludes me. I would like for us to put our heads together and interpret it.”
At a flick of Jin’s wrist, attendants moved through the hall, placing a single sheet of paper before each department head. On it were written the words:
Where the sunset is deep crimson, and black spears rise from the land. Toward the setting sun, there is a low hill with blood-stained flowers. People in black armor are burying a body.
“What in the world is this supposed to mean?”
“Hmm. ‘Black spears’… Could that refer to windows, or a type of weapon?”
“Given the mention of black armor, it’s more likely the weapon, don’t you think? Perhaps it refers to the black armor infused with mana stones we’ve seen before?”
“It could also simply mean the color black. That brings Burgos to mind. The royalist faction’s arms and armor are black, as I recall.”
“The setting sun implies the west. The ‘blood-stained flowers’ seem to point directly to Burgos, which is in the midst of a civil war.”
While the consensus leaned toward Burgos, a dissenting opinion soon emerged.
“The sunset and hills are also characteristic features of the southeastern region. Could it not be the area where Clifford and Ruswena meet?”
“Clifford is famous for its sunsets, and Ruswena for its rolling hills. I would cast my vote for that region as well.”
“The black armor originated from House Hayman, which has ties to Ruswena. Besides, Burgos is far too barren to have fields of flowers, is it not?”
“Ruswena also recently endured a violent struggle for the throne. The phrase ‘blood-stained’ could be a reference to that.”
So many mouths, so many opinions. Jin raised a hand, signaling that the debate was sufficient for now.
“Each department will compile a report on their suspected locations and submit it to me.”
“Your Highness, if I may ask, what is this revelation concerning?”
“I will tell you,” Jin replied coolly, “when you find the answer.”
So, it’s another state secret. The officials carefully stored the documents away, their faces clouded with puzzlement. With that, only one major issue remained: Rutherford, who had returned to Gaia alongside Ian.
“Rutherford is currently presumed to be in Burgos,” Jin announced. “It is not yet known if he is gathering his forces, and there have been no unusual movements from Burgos itself, but I do not expect this peace to last. Coincidentally, I had intended to make the end of Burgos’s civil war the first great achievement of my reign. Is it not fitting?”
The war in Burgos was to be the opening chapter in the history of Jin Verocion. The royalist faction was already pro-Bariel, making the country little more than a sandcastle waiting for a final push. The only thing that mattered was the justification. Jin had planned to weave together various pretexts, but Rutherford’s appearance had just made the process considerably simpler.
“In any case, I am considering dispatching an official delegation to Burgos. What are your thoughts?”
“It seems a wise course of action. Rutherford was anti-royalist, so this is an excellent opportunity to drastically increase our support for the royalist faction and expand our influence.”
“I also approve. If we empower the royalists to end the civil war, the matter will be concluded swiftly.”
“However, Your Highness,” another official cautioned, “the royalists may see things differently. No matter how pro-Bariel they are, they are citizens of Burgos first and foremost, fighting a war for their own country. If they sense Bariel’s true intention is to take over, is it not possible they will unite with their enemies to resist us?”
“That is precisely why we would send a delegation.”
“A delegation would seek to understand their intentions, which would naturally reveal our own. I believe it would be better to eliminate the possibility of them uniting against us entirely. We should press forward with force.”
“Our justification for that is too weak.”
The justifications Bariel currently held were few: the refugee crisis, the recovery of lost treasures, and the matter of unpaid reparations from the Clifford-Burgos war. These were diplomatic grievances, not catalysts for war.
An official chuckled, waving a dismissive hand. “The justification for any war is built with words. This is nothing new. Heh.”
“Everyone knows that Burgos and Ruswena have been on edge since Your Highness’s coming-of-age. It is safe to assume that movements are already underway within their borders.”
“The royalists and anti-royalists are uniting? Where is your proof?”
“There is no proof! That’s why we need to send a delegation to find out! Are you dense?”
“Dense? What did you just call me?”
Bang!
The hall devolved into chaos. How was it possible for the factions to shift with every new topic? The very men who had been united against Ian moments ago were now shouting and pointing fingers at one another.
“That is enough,” Jin said, his brow furrowed in irritation. The officials choked back their retorts and fell into a simmering silence.
Deciding a recess was in order before the room overheated again, Jin prepared to rise from his seat.
“Your Highness.”
It was Ian. He had raised a small, pale hand, quietly signaling his desire to speak. The cacophony of debate ceased as every official, mid-argument, turned to face him.
“As a matter of personal opinion,” Ian began, “I believe it would be more effective to deal directly with the anti-royalist faction, rather than attempting to work through the royalists.”
An older official scoffed. “Lord Ian, you have only just returned from the Abyss and may be unaware of the current political landscape. The royalists are the pro-Bariel faction. To enter Burgos without resistance, opening a path through them is the standard procedure, is it not?”
Ian twirled his pen between his fingers. “And have you ever seen a war that proceeds according to standard procedure?”
“What? Haha! See here, young man, I have seen twice as many wars in my time as you ever have.”
“And you are…?” Ian asked, his voice deceptively mild, “From which department, sir?”
The official looked around, flabbergasted, as if seeking affirmation from his peers. The contrast was laughable: a veteran statesman and a fresh-faced boy. Who here had truly seen more of war?
Ian didn’t wait for an answer. “First, targeting the anti-royalists is a more efficient path to securing Rutherford. If we are fortunate, we might even obtain a decisive clue. Second, we can entirely prevent suspicion from falling upon the royalists. As someone stated earlier, they are citizens of Burgos before they are allies of Bariel. Let me ask you again, to be certain: are we absolutely sure the royalists are pro-Bariel?”
“Yes. It is an unofficial alliance, but it is common knowledge.”
“Then it is imperative that we use that fact to our advantage. When this civil war is over, the royalists will be crucial in ensuring that the people of Burgos do not harbor hatred for Bariel’s soldiers. Earning their unwavering support is far more important than planting seeds of doubt.”
“We are aware of that,” the official countered, “but we are discussing the beginning of the war. The anti-royalists have no connection to Bariel, and therefore we have no justification to engage them. The only path lies through the royalists. That is my point.”
Ian’s lips curved into a slight, knowing smile as his brow furrowed. “There is another way.”
He paused, letting his words hang in the air.
“There is a justification. One that will allow us to march directly on the anti-royalists.”