Ch.50Chapter 50 – The Prime Minister Has an Audience with the Emperor

A being who stands above all others, second only to Decatro IV, the absolute ruler of the Gelebrio Empire.

Bergen Steyler, the Chancellor of the Gelebrio Empire, was currently traveling by carriage from Arkenium to Aurelios, the capital of the Gelebrio Empire.

He typically left Arkenium once a month to visit Aurelios and report to the Emperor on the current state of Glesius Academy.

However, Bergen was now rushing to Aurelios despite it not being his regular day to visit the imperial palace.

This was due to a secret order that had come down to him from Decatro IV.

‘If possible, find someone who can cure my baldness.’

Bergen was one of the few people who knew that Decatro IV struggled with baldness.

Normally, Decatro IV concealed his baldness with powerful illusion magic.

This was because he, as the absolute ruler of the Gelebrio Empire, could not afford to show any sign of weakness.

He had even created a massive magic circle encompassing the entire imperial capital to maintain this illusion.

Furthermore, beneath the imperial palace, he had installed a permanent mana supply device combining a dragon heart with mana stones to sustain the magic.

That was how desperately Decatro IV tried to hide his baldness from the empire’s citizens.

Bergen Steyler understood well the efforts of Decatro IV, who always strived to project strength in order to stabilize the empire and deter other countries from challenging it.

For this reason, he had made every effort to solve Decatro IV’s problem.

However, despite deploying people to gather information, no solution for treating baldness had emerged.

Just as he was considering giving up the search for a baldness treatment, suddenly one person came to mind.

“That’s it! If it’s him, he could certainly cure His Majesty’s baldness.”

Bergen chastised himself for not thinking of him sooner.

Pathos. A user of unprecedented abilities directly bestowed by the great goddess Epitrina.

The man who had resolved the curse afflicting Regina Blasteria, the Chancellor of Glesius Academy.

The thought that he could surely solve Decatro IV’s baldness problem began to fill Bergen’s mind.

“Heron! Heron, are you there!”

Bergen called for Heron, his closest aide.

“Yes, Chancellor.”

Heron, who was always on standby near Bergen’s office, immediately appeared at his call.

“Prepare a carriage at once. We must depart for the imperial palace immediately.”

“Understood, Chancellor. I will have it prepared right away.”

At Bergen’s command, Heron immediately left the office to arrange for a carriage.

Once the carriage was ready, Bergen left his office, boarded it, and departed from Arkenium toward Aurelios.

Bergen’s carriage moved quickly along the main road that crossed the entire empire toward Aurelios.

Thanks to the roads built for smooth logistics transport within the Gelebrio Empire, Bergen’s carriage could reach Aurelios after about two days of travel.

“It’s the Chancellor’s carriage. Let it through!”

“Yes, sir!”

As the carriage with the Steyler family emblem prominently displayed approached, the guards at the entrance to Aurelios opened the VIP passage.

Moreover, since the carriage now bore the Steyler family flag indicating that the Chancellor was aboard, it was not stopped for inspection.

Bergen’s carriage passed through the VIP passage opened by the guards and entered Aurelios.

After entering Aurelios, the capital of the Gelebrio Empire, Bergen’s carriage reached the imperial palace without any hindrance, assisted by the city guard.

The palace gates opened, and Bergen’s carriage entered the palace grounds.

As Bergen stepped out of the carriage, the captain of the imperial guard gave him a precise salute.

“It is an honor to receive Chancellor Bergen Steyler.”

“You work hard, Endu. Where is His Majesty?”

Having received the salute from Endu, the imperial guard captain, Bergen inquired about Decatro IV’s whereabouts.

There was no time to waste as the matter was urgent.

“He is attending to business in his office.”

“Send word to His Imperial Majesty. Tell him I have arrived.”

“Understood!”

The imperial guard captain Endu saluted Bergen and stopped a passing servant.

“Go to His Imperial Majesty and inform him that the Chancellor has arrived.”

“Yes, understood.”

The servant hurried off toward the Emperor’s office at Endu’s instruction.

Shortly after.

“Chancellor, His Imperial Majesty has requested your immediate presence in his office.”

“Very well. Thank you all for your hard work.”

Bergen expressed his gratitude to the servant and Endu as he headed toward Decatro IV’s office.

“Your Majesty. I, Bergen Steyler, have arrived. May I enter?”

Upon reaching the office, Bergen knocked on the door and asked if he could enter.

Normally, he should have announced his arrival to the servant waiting outside the office, but Bergen Steyler was a person who enjoyed Decatro IV’s trust.

Therefore, instead of asking a servant for permission to enter, he could directly ask the Emperor himself.

“Oh! Bergen, do come in.”

Decatro IV immediately invited him in upon hearing of Bergen’s arrival.

Having received permission to enter, Bergen opened the office door and went inside.

“Welcome, my old friend. So, what brings you to see me?”

Decatro IV warmly greeted Bergen, his friend and the Chancellor of the country.

What Bergen saw upon entering the office was Decatro IV, shining much more brightly than before.

More precisely, Decatro IV’s head was shining. This meant that his baldness had worsened.

“Yes, Your Majesty. I am truly delighted to bring you positive news.”

“Oh, positive news. How exciting. Well then, what news have you brought?”

When Decatro IV heard the words “positive news” from Bergen’s lips, his eyes began to shine.

The mention of positive news from him truly meant that there was remarkable news, as Bergen Steyler was not one to speak of positive news without good reason.

“Yes, Your Majesty. Do you remember the order you gave me recently?”

“Yes, I remember it well. Have you perhaps found a medicine that can cure baldness?”

When Bergen mentioned the secret order, Decatro IV unconsciously blurted out the word “baldness.”

“I haven’t found a medicine. However, I have found someone with the ability to definitively cure Your Majesty’s baldness.”

“Hmm, is this person’s ability reliable?”

Decatro IV was slightly concerned by Bergen’s words.

This was because, until now, there had been many who claimed they could cure baldness, but none of them had actually succeeded.

Even elixirs were useless against baldness.

Although the imperial storehouse of the Gelebrio Empire contained dozens of bottles of the legendary elixir, even this legendary potion could not cure Decatro IV’s baldness.

So he had nearly reached the point of giving up and accepting his condition.

“Yes, Your Majesty. You know of Regina Blasteria, the Chancellor of Glesius Academy, don’t you?”

“Yes, I know her well. The Master suffered an unfortunate accident and was cursed, causing her body to become younger. Is she not still suffering from that curse?”

How could Decatro IV not know about that?

He, along with Bergen, had expended the most effort to resolve the accident that had befallen Regina.

For this reason, he occasionally served as the acting Chancellor of Glesius Academy.

“Hahaha. No, Your Majesty. The Master has recently returned to her original state.”

“Is, is that truly the case? Has the Master really returned to her former self?”

Decatro IV showed disbelief at Bergen’s words.

A curse that could not be resolved even with a legendary elixir had completely disappeared?

This was received as a positive sign that perhaps his baldness could also be cured.

“Yes, Your Majesty. In fact, I’ve heard that she has become even stronger than before.”

“Hahaha! That is wonderful news indeed. So, who is this kind person who resolved the Master’s curse?”

“He is a man from the Eastern Continent. His name is Pathos, and he has been admitted to Glesius Academy through a special admission process.”

Bergen explained to Decatro IV how he had met Pathos and how he had persuaded him to enroll in the academy.

“Hmm. If he is such a remarkable individual, we must certainly make him a citizen of our empire. Yes. If there is anything else needed, just say the word. I will provide support even from my personal fortune.”

After hearing Bergen’s explanation, Decatro IV felt that they must make Pathos a citizen of the empire.

Therefore, he promised generous support for Pathos.

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

“Not at all. Money invested in talent is never wasted. So, when can you arrange for me to meet him? I wish to have this baldness treated quickly.”

Decatro IV’s interest shifted back to his baldness.

Since Pathos was remarkable enough to cure Regina’s curse, Decatro IV’s expectations for him continued to grow.

“The academy will soon begin its vacation period, so it would be good to invite him to the palace then.”

“Very well. We shall do as you suggest.”