Chapter 262

Chapter 262

“Ian, let’s walk a little slower! And just in case you don’t know, I’ll tell you. The dining hall, isn’t it that way? It’s the complete opposite direction? Have we really come this far?”

Ian turned to look at Beric, who was trotting along behind him, with a quizzical smile. This was Beric, who had sprawled on the sofa even with the prince present. His body was still in terrible condition, yet seeing him push himself like this meant he must have an ulterior motive.

Ian asked back without slowing his pace.

“Did the person in charge ban you from the dining hall?”

So why didn’t you just steal meat in moderation, Ian didn’t bother to add. Whether he said it or not, it probably wouldn’t mean much to Beric.

Instead of wasting time on regret and reflection, wasn’t it more his style to look for another entrance to the dining hall?

“Huh, how did you know?”

“It’s written all over your face.”

“My face?! Huh?!”

When was the last time Ian had gone to the dining hall? Usually, he rarely had time for meals due to his heavy workload, and lately, he had been confined to his bed, not leaving his office.

But with Beric constantly trying to lure him towards the dining hall, it was a natural suspicion. However, Beric seemed genuinely surprised, feeling his face while peering into a window.

“Where are you going? We’re getting further and further from the dining hall!”

“The Imperial Palace Central Archives.”

“Why that boring place?”

“Have you been there before? I’m surprised.”

“Huh? What are you talking about? It’s that place, right? Where black boxes are stacked up.”

“That’s the Ministry of Magic archives. Where we’re going now is the Imperial Palace, specifically the Administrative Department’s archives.”

There was something he needed to check. Timothy, the reason Ian remembered him across a span of a hundred years.

As they got closer to the archives, more people recognized him. While exchanging quick nods of greeting, just as they were about to turn a corner—

“Ah.”

Ian stopped, recognizing a familiar figure approaching from the opposite direction. It was Quintana. She seemed to be in the process of moving boxes herself along with Administrative Department staff. She too spotted Ian and greeted him cheerfully.

“Isn’t it Minister Ian? What brings you here?”

She looks in an extremely good mood. Ian suddenly realized that most of the smiles Quintana had shown until now were not genuine. Except for the occasional kindness she showed to Jin, she was always refuting, countering, and pushing her opinions in meetings.

“These are the property deeds of the seven families, including House Hayman. Impressive, isn’t it? Just the land documents alone are this much, so their arrogance in calling their mansions ‘second imperial palaces’ wasn’t entirely unfounded.”

Ownerless mansions, lands, and various jewels and assets would be transferred to the imperial palace, gaining new value. Whether to dispose of them or keep them under imperial ownership would be decided through discussions between the Administrative Department, the Prime Minister, and Jin.

“By the way, it seems you were heading somewhere.”

“I was on my way to the Imperial Palace Central Archives. I have something to check briefly.”

“Oh, I see. I heard some ancient books will be arriving soon too. If you have time, bring His Highness Jin to the Culture Department. The artworks should have arrived first. They’re quite worth seeing.”

This is one of Quintana’s rare moments of leisure, happening only a few times a year.

Following the securing of trial funds and the confiscation of central noble families’ assets, the consecutive influx of revenue would not only completely cover the damages from the civil war but even create a surplus. For someone managing the national treasury, there could be no greater joy.

“Ah, and the Prime Minister said he’ll convene a grand council by tomorrow. I’m not sure if you’ve heard.”

“Yes, I’ve heard.”

“Then do you know this too? Captain Jeirutt has proposed a reorganization of the Imperial Guards to the Administrative Department. The same goes for the Imperial Defense Department.”

Two of the three captains of the Imperial Guards, who serve the Emperor closely, had died. One in the civil war, the other by monsters. Even if the Emperor was bedridden, they needed to maintain the number of people befitting the position of the three captains.

“It seems they’ll be recruiting and selecting talent soon. I suppose all the magic swordsmen in the empire will have a chance?”

Quintana said this while glancing at Beric standing behind. He was rough and crude, not fitting in with the imperial palace at all, but he was a man kept by Ian and Jin. Curious, she had inquired about him and was surprised to learn he was a magic swordsman. One skilled enough to draw out magic release from Captain Jeirutt.

“Is the Imperial Defense Department doing the same?”

“Yes. The approach is similar. My guess is that the Imperial Defense Department is aiming for the trickle-down effect of Imperial Guard applicants. Didn’t the former head of the Imperial Defense Department participate in the civil war on the First Prince’s side? Someone else is temporarily in charge, but it’s certainly time for reorganization and troop replenishment.”

“Then five years, or even three years is fine.”

“Just a moment. There was no separate loan application, so you’re going to check them here directly, right?”

“That’s right.”

To take Administrative Department materials outside, it was only possible through a loan application form. The procedure was definite, only three or four staff were involved, and unless it was an urgent matter, it took a long time.

Rustle.

The staff member muttered while examining a thick document.

“Neighboring countries category 0423 classification, Burgos... Ah, please come this way.”

The two followed the staff member’s guidance deeper into the archives. The smell of yellowed paper books grew stronger. Beric wrinkled his nose, while Ian looked up at the ceiling edge that reached dozens of meters high.

As it was a place with more than ten floors, wooden stairs connecting the floors moved smoothly. That too was with the help of magic.

‘The appearance hasn’t changed much from a hundred years ago to now.’

“Lord Ian. These are five years’ worth of records related to Burgos’s economy and politics. Culture and society are in the basement, so I’ll bring them now. Please take your time looking.”

“Thank you.”

“It’s nothing.”

Beric’s mouth slowly opened. There were five bookshelves taller than himself. And they were filled to the brim with bundles of paper, without any empty spaces.

He’s going to look at all this here?

And there’s more on culture and society?

“Ian, are you crazy?”

“I didn’t tell you to come along.”

“You’re going to read this here? You’ll definitely get a nosebleed again.”

“Beric. Reading isn’t as difficult as you think. I told you to study a bit with Xiaoshi.”

Ian skimmed through the covers and pulled out what he needed without hesitation. Then he sat comfortably in a chair and started flipping through the materials. Since he wasn’t reading everything from beginning to end, but looking for necessary information, there was no need to strain himself.

“You’re insane.”

Ugh. Beric sat next to him, resting his chin on his hand and waiting.

“What are you looking for so intently? Are you looking for that Timothy guy, the prince from that country?”

“Timothy isn’t royalty. He belongs to the Foreign Ministry of the Kingdom of Burgos. A royal coming to the heir’s appointment ceremony is an exceptional case like Clippoford. Usually, it’s common to send a delegation like Ruswena.”

“Really? But anyway, you are looking for Timothy, right? With that muscular build and strong body, he seemed like he could fight well. Does their country’s Foreign Ministry fight well too? How about a friendly match when he comes? Huh?”

Ian ignored Beric’s chatter and kept flipping through the documents. Timothy, Timothy, Timothy...

‘Ah. Found it.’

Timothy had officially visited Bariel five times. Each time, he stayed for periods ranging from a week to half a year, so there were clear records. Ian examined his traces and compared them to see if there was anything different from what he knew.

‘Promotion of Lorant Plain development, formation of cultural delegation. Hmm, he came to coincide with Gale’s coming-of-age ceremony at this time. A magic cooperation exchange group was created...’

Flip.

-...Timothy, the diplomat from the Kingdom of Burgos, showed intention to supply 25 types of magic stones (omitted below) needed for the construction of an annex to Minister of Magic Wesleigh at a price lower than the market price, and Minister Wesleigh showed intention to select five excellent mages and dispatch them for 3 years. No specific agreement was made regarding this.

“As expected.”

Ian muttered without realizing. As far as he knew, Timothy was an immigrant ‘from’ a foreign delegation. It meant he was Timothy of Bariel, not Timothy of Burgos.

There were numerous immigrants in the hundred years of history, but the one and only reason Ian remembered Timothy.

‘...He’s Naum’s ancestor.’

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