Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor

Chapter 100: Formatting

As day broke, Ian led his subordinates to Mount Monne Mine along with Romandro. As ordered yesterday, the entrance was half blocked off, and the mine manager on duty was talking to some soldiers.

Aww, I left my ledger inside!

Tsk, you never learn.

Just a sec, cmon! Ill zip in and right back out, kay?

Sir Ian, youve arrived.

Huh? Ah, hello.

As Ian appeared, the soldiers straightened up and saluted left and right. The mine manager also bowed in half to greet Ian.

Um, follow me. I have some questions.

Ah, yes, ask away.

The manager nervously swallowed his dry spit and trailed behind him. It felt like he had been struck by lightning first thing in the morning. The mine was ordered closed overnight, and now the lord himself was entering the tunnel? Something clearly out of the ordinary had happened.

Any unusual activity in the mine?

If you mean unusual incidents, Im not quite sure what There was nothing in particular to report.

Theres a new vein about 200 meters in. You didnt know?

A, a vein?

The managers footsteps faltered. His reaction made it obvious it was his first time hearing about it. When Ian glanced back with a faint smile, the man turned deathly pale and prostrated on the ground, yelling.

I apologize!

That wasnt my intent.

Im sorry! Im so sorry!

Though Ian was sincere, the manager could not accept it that way. You knew a new vein appeared but didnt report it? That would arouse suspicions of embezzlement. And if he truly did not know, wouldnt that demonstrate incompetence as a manager?

I, I had absolutely no idea a new vein existed. If its around the tunnel intersection you mentioned, the miners pass through there five or six times a day. But since there was no talk, it seems none of them noticed either

Since Ian personally came, it clearly wasnt something that could easily be dismissed.

As the manager kept pounding his head against the ground, Ian sighed and glanced at Beric. Beric slipped his foot underneath and stopped the man from harming himself.

Whack!

Dont do that, youll get a hole in your forehead.

Huh?

The managers forehead was already pitch black with coal dust. Ian went back ahead and continued speaking as he walked.

Im not trying to assign responsibility, I just need information. If nobody in the mine knew, then it probably appeared quite recently.

Y, you know what kind of vein it is?

It couldnt possibly be gold or something Nothing like that would be found in this dusty pit that only produced coal. But unconsciously, the manager activated his happiness circuit and observed Ians expression.

Yes, I do. Its truly tremendous.

Oh!

The manager unconsciously gasped. So this is how a reversal of fate feels! As long as Ian did not press to assign him responsibility for confirming the vein, he would remain manager here. If new resources were discovered, the bountiful benefits would trickle down to him as well.

You probably know Ill soon be vacating the mansion.

Yes. Congratulations on the conferral of your title. I will run the mine without issue even in your absence.

I appreciate that. However, the mine will have to be shut down for the time being.

Come again?

Indefinite temporary closure.

Despite it being morning, not a single ray of sunlight penetrated deep into the mine. The only light visible was from the lanterns in hand, but the deeper they went, a faint purplish glow seemed to emanate from the distance.

From here on, you must keep confidential everything you see. If you want, you may turn back now.

The manager hesitated briefly at Ians offer. Wasnt this an exceedingly generous proposal for him? Even as the mine shuts down, reducing what he has to manage, his wages will continue to be paid in full!

Plop.

As water dripped from the ceiling, the manager sharply pulled himself together and craned his neck. His crisp answer echoed through the mine.

I, I will keep my lips sealed no matter what!

Im grateful to hear that.

Moreover, if he turned back now, he had no idea how Ian might handle him. Would he just send him home or sever his tongue for having heard such a proposal?

Have you heard of magic stones?

Magic stones? No, never.

Is that right? Id have thought youd know since you work in a mine.

News is slow to reach us out here. Is it a newly discovered mineral?

Similar. Its value probably exceeds gold.

Following Ians chin gesture, the manager reflexively turned his gaze.

Oh! What on earth is!

He doubted his own eyes. Good heavens! Just what was that thing? Never seen anything like it in his life! A faintly glowing, purplish mineral deposit!

But this, this is a mineral vein, right? Whats with the corpse?

There are quite a few bubbles inside, but its definitely completely solid. Ignore the corpse. In a way, we have it to thank for finding this.

With his lower half buried underneath, the corpses face was ghastly white from pressure. The manager, flustered, hesitated briefly before lying prone on the ground, carefully examining the crevices in the rock to locate where the vein originated from.

Aim the lantern here.

Beric.

Yes sir!

Tracing the starting point with probing fingers, the manager soon seemed to notice something. He pulled up his work clothes, took out a small pickaxe from within, and swung.

Clang! Clank!

That wont work. Swords of all kinds didnt leave a single nick either. Looks to me like we need to set off a bomb to crack this open.

Are you suggesting we blow up the mine?

Can it be done? Anyway, no. Just a waste of effort.

Despite Berics dissuasion, the manager kept striking with his pick. But rather than putting his full strength behind the blows, it would be more accurate to describe it as lightly tapping with the point.

Im trying to break the surrounding rock its embedded in. Here it seems like theyre connected, and theres more moisture seeping through compared to other spots.

Clang!

Suddenly, the shards of broken rock scattered with a sharp noise. As the manager lay prone, Beric also rushed forward, trying to peer in.

Huh?

What is it? What is it?

But the manager shook his head, as if unworthy of seeing it. Despite Beric bustling around annoyingly nearby, he didnt budge an inch.

Whats wrong?

Well, something definitely originated from underneath here. There was a lot of liquid accumulated here, the same color as that. But as soon as Sir Beric drew near

As soon as I approached?

It hardened. Theres no more surrounding rock deeper inside to dig out. Unless we break that itself.

As Ian and Romandro turned questioning looks on Beric in unison, he held up both hands defensively. It was as if the situation pinned the blame on him for the magic stone solidifying.

I didnt do anything though!

Beric.

Really, truly! I swear!

Step back over here for now.

Before Ians words even fully left his lips, Beric had retreated from the manager again.

Still the same?

Yes, unchanged.

Ian, do you know something about this?

Romandro glanced at Ian, unable to comprehend it. Unless under special circumstances, ordinary people wouldnt even have cursory knowledge in this area.

Even if Dergha possessed that brooch with magic stones, he probably only knew how to use it. Clearly, he wouldnt have known the exact names, effects, and mechanisms behind magic stones.

Ian seemed to grasp something.

Magic stones fundamentally react to magical power.

React to magical power?

As the name suggests. Their basic function is to respond to external magic.

Just like Derghas brooch.

It absolutely required a special solution to replay voices. Depending on the amount of magic invested during production, the products grade varied.

This one probably

Probably?

Solidifies when external magic draws near. Beric. Yesterday, when you chased that knight, didnt you say it hardened as you approached?

Yeah. At first I thought I had sunk into a mud pit. It got harder and harder to wiggle free.

As a magician knight, Beric possessed magic within his body, albeit faint traces. So when he drew closer, it could have triggered the gradual hardening reaction.

His uncertain recollection transformed into conviction.

Its highly likely to be Luron.

A high-grade magic stone. What was it used for again?

Managing magic stones alone warranted a dedicated division in the Ministry of Magic. It truly was knowledge on a different dimension. Ian waved his hand, signaling them to make way.

Step back.

What? What for?

Ill try breaking it.

With your bare hands? Are you insane?

Berics eyes widened with shock as he seized Ians arm and dragged him back. He then pushed a sword into his hand and nodded proudly.

People should use tools after all. Mm-hmm.

Whatever. You pick it up then.

Eeh? Having second thoughts? Feel like eating rice with your toes?

Lightly brushing him off, Ian laid his hand upon the magic stone. The corpses gaze pierced through the void, waist bent in half.

Jeeeeng.

Crackle crackle!

As he slowly gathered his magic power, the magic stones purple glow intensified. It seemed to heat up, with bubbles inside rapidly drying out.

In alarm, Beric and Romandro retreated further while the manager lay prone, shielding his head.

Ian, Ian! Its gonna blow! Be careful!

Yeow! If we get blasted here, were all screwed!

Have mercy, have mercy! Sir Ian!

Ian, its dangerous! I just got married!

Aah! Cant you do that after I leave first?

With all three yelling simultaneously, it was deafening. Yet Ian did not retreat, slowly concentrating his magic power

Huh?

Huh?

Ian, did you just say huh?

Only silence descended following Ians soft exclamation. Though it seemed to stretch for an eternity in the blink of an eye.

BOOM!

CRASH! RUMBLE!

Aah!

Madman!

In a flash, the magic stone exploded, shards scattering everywhere. Romandro and the manager crouched down shrieking.

Beric immediately drew his sword, deflecting the debris raining toward his face, then looked to Ian.

Ian! You okay?

Huh? Ah, yeah. Im fine.

Ians hair was faintly tousled. Whether due to the magic stones eruption or the explosive force, he wasnt sure.

It blew up right in your face and youre fine?

I seem to have unconsciously summoned a defense shield.

Good job on that.

Ian merely smiled, brushing the dust and grit off his clothes. Strange. Tentatively unleashing the faintest wisp of magic after so long, yet it reacted so intensely, blowing apart.

Swish.

The knights corpse spilled onto the ground as the mineral split in two. Ian glanced down at his own hand, tilting his head.

Odd.

Had his magic become more sensitive? He had no clue whatsoever.

Drawing close, Beric showed a fist-sized piece of magic stone in his hand and bit into it experimentally.

It wouldnt budge an inch no matter what crap got thrown at it, but now it cracked. Is magic really that amazing?

Glancing around, Romandro spotted magic stone fragments scattered all over. Forgetting everything else, he started sweeping the floor with his sleeves.

Hurry up and gather them, Beric!

What a chore Cant we just take the big pieces?

Think of each bean-sized piece as a gold coin.

Are there brooms outside?

As Beric dashed out calling for people, Ian laid his palm on a still intact portion and murmured.

Everyone stand back farther.

Ah, Ian! Wait wait!

Jeeeeng. Jing!

BOOM!

Yeow!

The soldiers waiting outside simultaneously turned their heads toward the tunnel entrance. Curious gazes wondering what was happening inside.