Ch.105Episode 5 – Journalist, Diplomat, Soldier, Spy (End)

# “The death toll has increased. It’s 27 now.”

In the apartment on the 21st floor of the mage tower where Trinity was located.

The sparkling sea and the nightscape stretching along the coastline came into view at once, while mellow jazz with band accompaniment flowed from an elegant turntable.

I sat in a recliner, appreciating the magnificent scenery.

-“I heard. The two who were sent to the hospital also died?”

“They were being treated in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber for inhalation burns, but I heard the oxygen supply was cut off due to an error in the pressure control procedure.”

-“Strange indeed. It shouldn’t have malfunctioned so easily.”

“Well, human affairs are unpredictable, aren’t they?”

Just as I continued the conversation with the mellow jazz in the background.

The lights in the hallway turned on, and someone’s shadow entered my field of vision.

“I’ll hang up now. I’ll contact you first.”

-“Let’s talk face to face. Quietly.”

“Yes-sir.”

I placed the prepaid phone on the table after the screen went dark.

Then I pressed a button to stop the turntable and turned on the magic lamp right beside it.

Click.

“……”

Adjusting myself into a comfortable position, I spoke to the owner of the house.

“You’re here?”

“…Merlot?”

## Episode 5 – Journalist, Diplomat, Soldier, Spy

I’ve known Sofia for over five years now, but I don’t know who she really is.

As is typical with all intelligence agents, most use aliases. She introduced herself as “Sofia,” so that’s what I call her. That’s why I don’t know who she is.

However, I definitely know what kind of person Sofia is.

She was a spy.

She belonged to a military intelligence agency. The exact name was the Integrated Intelligence Department under the Supreme Command of the Republic of Fatalia’s Armed Forces. In South Korean terms, it would be the Defense Intelligence Command, or in North Korean terms, the Reconnaissance General Bureau. I remember her position was deputy team leader. In other words, a deputy operative.

Her area of operation was the Kien Empire.

Five years ago, we met there for the first time.

“It’s been a while, Sofia.”

“See you again, Merlot.”

I politely offered Sofia a seat.

“Sit here. Don’t stand.”

Sofia gave me a slightly bewildered expression.

“You do realize this is my house, right?”

“Of course.”

I sat in the recliner and looked around the house.

Top floor of a five-story apartment. Open the window and you can see the sea; step onto the terrace and you can see the city stretched along the coastline.

One bedroom, one bathroom, separate kitchen and living room, and a dedicated dining area.

In this neighborhood, habitable land was relatively scarce, and given that this floor housed Trinity, the heart of the mage tower, this apartment was quite luxurious.

Perhaps that’s why. The furniture was also quite expensive.

Well-organized bookshelves, a wooden table with a glossy shine, a turntable from a famous brand’s latest line, and a television so thick that the description “fat” wouldn’t be out of place.

After looking around the house for a while, my impression was simple.

“You’ve really splurged. Setting up house?”

“Why so bitter? That hurts.”

It’s a great place to live, but not so great for an operative to stay. Too expensive.

“Planning to live in the mage tower forever?”

“Might as well enjoy myself while on assignment. I’m human too.”

Sofia retorted with a smirk.

She approached her seat very naturally and asked me. There was no sign of confusion in her actions or expression.

“What would you like to drink? Tea? Coffee? Or alcohol?”

“Why drink such things at bedtime?”

“Well, because a friend came to my house?”

I chuckled and said to her.

“Judging by your joking, you don’t seem surprised?”

“Why would I be surprised? I didn’t hide my address. So, what will you drink?”

“I’m fine. I’m just stopping by briefly.”

“Really?”

Sofia made tea with a calm expression. As always, her mouth was smiling, and her eyes were looking at me.

She went to the kitchen, gathered mugs and snacks, and came back to the living room.

Sofia, who had brought refreshments, sat on the sofa opposite the TV. She had a glass and a whiskey bottle in her hand.

Sofia naturally opened the bottle and filled the glass, while I scanned the furniture and muttered.

“…You have a lot of furniture?”

“It’s my home now. It should at least look like a place where people live.”

“……”

Having filled her glass, Sofia put down the bottle and said to me.

“What brings you here?”

“I have something to ask.”

I ran my fingers over the wear and tear on various pieces of furniture, estimating the passage of time embedded in these objects.

“…How long has it been since you changed jobs?”

“Let’s see? About a year?”

“…I see. And the mage tower?”

“Not long. I was at the desk before coming here.”

That meant she had arrived recently.

I took my hand off the furniture and nodded. Then I pressed the button on the turntable and trudged back to the recliner.

The refreshing melody of a saxophonist, band accompaniment, and vocalist’s voice filled the living room.

With the twinkling night sea and the dazzling city lights seeping into the dim living room,

Sofia was in front of me.

“……”

In the living room thick with noise.

In that place where eavesdropping was neutralized,

I asked Sofia a question.

“Where is she?”

“What?”

“Giada Bianchi.”

*

Sofia responded as if she genuinely didn’t know. At least her expression suggested so.

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m asking where Giada Bianchi is. You know what I’m talking about.”

“Why are you asking me about that, Merlot?”

Playing cute, huh.

“…Sigh.”

I got up from my seat and walked to the bookshelf.

I examined every corner of the bookshelf, taking in the books, the dust accumulated there, and the signs of daily use.

“I came here knowing everything, so let’s not waste energy. Friends shouldn’t make each other uncomfortable; it would displease our elected officials.”

I looked around the bookshelf thoroughly and turned back to Sofia.

And asked.

“Where have you hidden her?”

Sofia answered.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Really?”

I sighed deeply, put my hands in my pockets, and leaned against the bookshelf.

I really don’t want to waste energy on this, but it seems I have to explain again.

Leaning against the bookshelf, I carefully chose my words.

“Hmm. Fabio Verati. Your retiree.”

“Yes.”

“He’s currently with us.”

“What?”

Sofia showed a genuinely bewildered expression for the first time. Judging by her voice, it didn’t seem to be a feigned expression.

“Why is he with you? We said we’d take responsibility.”

“Indeed.”

I spoke with an aggrieved expression.

“I don’t know the details either. I heard we’d backed off, but it seems the higher-ups pushed through.”

“Hey.”

Sofia said.

“Are you kidding me?”

“I didn’t know either. I’m sorry.”

“What’s this about? Are you playing games with me?”

Sofia looked at me with a fierce expression, and I shook my head with a smirk.

“Don’t look at me like that. I really didn’t know.”

“This isn’t something that can be resolved with just an apology.”

“Because the Military Intelligence Service kidnapped Fabio Verati?”

Sofia didn’t answer.

In fact, this could be a major diplomatic issue. It’s essentially a foreign national being kidnapped by an intelligence agency. And not just any foreign national, but a former member of an allied intelligence agency, by an allied intelligence agency.

But.

“I don’t think we’re the only ones in trouble here?”

“What?”

Not now.

“You also kidnapped an Abas citizen.”

“……”

“Or should I say diverted?”

I returned to my seat, and Sofia across from me glared at me. Her eyes were fierce. Fierce enough to kill someone.

“This isn’t the time for wordplay, Merlot.”

“Jokes should be made with the right audience, Sofia.”

“Do I look like someone who appreciates jokes?”

An acquaintance threatened an acquaintance.

But the acquaintance didn’t flinch at the fierce gaze, and instead smiled and said.

“Then do I look like a pushover who takes jokes?”

“…What?”

“You.”

A soldier threatened a journalist.

“You lied to me.”

“What are you-“

“Fabio Verati.”

A spy threatened a spy.

“He’s not a retiree who cut ties, but one of your people.”

*

Fabio Verati came from an intelligence agency background.

During the National Security Agency era, Fabio Verati worked as an operative in the Mauritania region, similar to the Middle East on Earth, and built his career there, becoming a section chief in his early 40s.

After becoming a section chief, Fabio Verati transferred departments and briefly worked as an intelligence officer at the mage tower. His official record ended there. At least according to the National Security Agency’s personnel records.

Fabio Verati decided to retire. No one knows why. At least, there was no official record of his reason for retirement.

All intelligence agencies are state institutions, and therefore all retirees receive retirement benefits. Although not disclosed to the public for security reasons, retiring personnel can receive pensions and retirement benefits. Because they’re civil servants.

However, they can only receive within the limits guaranteed by law. Again, because they’re civil servants.

And like all retirees, intelligence officers who decide to retire also face a major dilemma.

Should they receive their accumulated pension all at once? Or should they receive it in the form of a pension?

Fabio Verati chose the former. Despite being eligible for a pension after more than 15 years of service, he simply took the money all at once and left the company. It was about 600 million won in Korean currency.

The problem was that he had five mouths to feed.

A man in his 40s who left his job raising four children who hadn’t even entered college with 600 million won? That would be impossible anywhere. The weight a breadwinner carries is similar everywhere. It’s hard to find someone who can easily decide to gamble with the lives of their spouse and children.

Nevertheless, Fabio Verati decided to retire. Because he had backing.

The Mage Tower Representative Office.

He took a brief break and then moved to the Mage Tower Representative Office. Specifically, the Human Resource Development Institute under the Mage Tower Representative Office. A department where the mage tower develops human resources with money. While it’s called “human resources,” it’s essentially creating “scholarship students.” And the work there was very similar to that of an intelligence agency.

Hired as an experienced professional, Fabio Verati supported his wife and four children. The National Security Agency would have come after him immediately if they knew, but he couldn’t refuse the mage tower’s offer of a high salary because he needed the money.

Thanks to this, Fabio Verati’s family lives comfortably in a house with a swimming pool. Three of his four children have all entered university, and his youngest daughter came to study at a famous academy in the mage tower.

However, Fabio Verati was tracked by the Military Intelligence Service.

He was kidnapped by a Military Intelligence Service agent dispatched to the mage tower and is being interrogated at a disguised facility.

These are the facts that have come to light.

What I’m curious about is this.

The Mage Tower Representative Office is a public institution.

The people who work there are all civil servants.

How,

Is Fabio Verati’s family living comfortably in a house with a swimming pool?

*

“…Logically, you can’t live in such a house on a civil servant’s salary. Maybe if you’re a high-ranking official. But it’s impossible for the family of a mere Grade 3 deputy director to live in such a house.”

So there are three possibilities.

First, embezzlement.

“If he dipped into activity funds, it’s possible. Depending on the scale, operational funds can reach millions. There are actually people who skim off the top as a practice. But if you do that, you get caught during audits.”

Second, investment.

“Sometimes employees use information to play with money. Stocks, real estate, bonds, futures, options…. But this is too risky. Investment isn’t as easy as it sounds. Besides, it’s legally prohibited for agency officers to invest.”

Third, business.

“He sold information. This is the most realistic. It doesn’t leave traces. If you’re careful, there’s almost no worry about getting caught. And you can make a ton of money. It’s not hard to find buyers either. Demand is high, but supply is low, so everyone’s waiting eagerly.”

Selling information is the most realistic way to make money.

In fact, people who sell secrets because they need money pop up all the time. It seems particularly common among retirees, from what I’ve observed.

And Fabio Verati was a retiree.

So what I’m trying to say is,

“Fabio Verati sold information to you – that’s it. He didn’t leak Fatalia’s secrets to a foreign country; he leaked the mage tower’s secrets to Fatalia. For money.”

A former National Security Agency intelligence officer who got a job at the Mage Tower Representative Office sold information to his previous workplace. For money.

To this, the current National Security Agency investigator replied.

“You write good fiction.”

“Right? I’m thinking of writing like Le Carré when I retire.”

I tried to brush it off with a joke, but Sofia didn’t play along.

She crossed her legs.

“Selling information. It sounds plausible…”

“……”

“Do you have evidence?”

“…No.”

There’s no physical evidence for my claim.

How could I catch a retiree from another company selling information? Aside from the time, it wasn’t even my jurisdiction. My mission was to find and punish the higher-ups who sent the spy.

But questions remain. It was impossible for Fabio Verati’s family to live comfortably. How could Fabio Verati afford a house with a swimming pool? He wasn’t a drug dealer. In a world where habitable land is scarce.

I have suspicions but no physical evidence.

I changed the subject.

“Fine. The Military Intelligence Service does have Fabio Verati. If I go to the representative office now, send an urgent message, and make some calls, we might be able to release him. After all, he’s a retiree from your side. But you know.”

“……”

“The higher-ups still haven’t found where Giada Bianchi is. If you just return her, I might be able to put in a good word.”

I offered a deal, but Sofia flatly refused.

“No need for such trouble. We can go get him ourselves.”

“They won’t give him up easily.”

“If they want a diplomatic incident, we’ll oblige.”

Sofia stood up as if she was really going to storm the Abas representative office.

I grabbed her wrist.

“What are you doing? Let go.”

“How long have you been here?”

“What?”

“I asked how long you’ve been at the mage tower.”

Sofia looked down at me with a bewildered expression, and I closed my eyes and pondered while holding her wrist.

“You know. When we first met at the mage tower.”

The number of wear marks on the furniture and the date Sofia and her team entered the country. The move-in date from the real estate agent. Information Sofia let slip and my experience and knowledge. The belated sense of dissonance and some inference.

Regular spies hide and operate for over 10 years.

Then, how difficult is it to find a double agent who is familiar with the internal affairs of an intelligence agency?

“You definitely said Fabio Verati didn’t sell state secrets. Right?”

“Yes.”

The puzzle pieces fit together one by one.

“But you know.”

Finally, I succeeded in completing the puzzle.

“How did you, who can’t even monitor properly and don’t know what that person did or why the Military Intelligence Service is after him, and are just now figuring out the situation.”

“……”

“How did you know that Fabio Verati didn’t sell secrets?”

This doesn’t add up, you bastard.

“……”

Logically, it’s impossible to determine whether someone is a double agent in such a short time. How could verification happen so quickly?

But if Fabio Verati was a “loyal person” planted by the National Security Agency in the mage tower,

Everything makes sense.

Like Peter.

“Don’t you think it’s strange too?”

“……”

“If you’re going to lie, you should have made it more plausible.”

I slowly opened my eyes and looked up at Sofia’s face.

The face that was always smiling had hardened.

I looked up at her face and chuckled.

“What are you doing?”

“……”

“Go and report.”

*

The National Security Agency’s response was immediate.

Less than an hour after Sofia entered the Fatalia representative office, an unofficial letter in the name of the Fatalia Ministry of Foreign Affairs flew to the Abas representative office.

[The Fatalia government has respected the course of the Kingdom of Abas for the past 70 years. However, we regrettably cannot help but express our regret regarding the unfortunate incident that occurred at the mage tower. This is a matter that could have a significant impact on the diplomatic relations between Fatalia and Abas, and the Fatalia government takes a stern stance…]

While nominally from the Fatalia Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it was actually a message from the National Security Agency to the Abas intelligence agency.

It was a typical diplomatic document filled with diplomatic rhetoric and euphemisms, but to summarize-

[Hey, when have we ever let you down? We’re supposed to be allies, but this isn’t proper etiquette. How can you kidnap our citizen at the mage tower? You’re not gangsters. We roughly understand your position, so let’s meet and resolve this through dialogue. Okay?]

…was how it could be interpreted.

Judging by the official position that came out in just three hours, they seemed to have prepared for the possibility of Fabio Verati’s identity being exposed. They even sent a person, not just a letter.

“First, let me express my regret. Although an unfortunate incident occurred due to a misunderstanding, our National Security Agency intends to resolve the situation amicably, considering the relationship between our two countries.”

Originally, matters that occurred in the shadows were resolved in the shadows; that was the industry rule. The National Security Agency wanted to resolve the situation without disrupting diplomatic relations and without going against the president’s wishes, but,

The Military Intelligence Service did not.

“How can allies send spies to collect military secrets?! Huh?!”

“Colonel. Please calm down first…”

“We will formally protest! This is betrayal!”

The Military Intelligence Service was foaming at the mouth with rage.

The National Security Agency argued that “there was a misunderstanding between the two governments regarding the activities of a Fatalia national in the mage tower, and this is clearly a misunderstanding,” but the Military Intelligence Service rioted, saying, “A citizen is missing and military secrets have been stolen, and you call that just words?”

At this point, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should have stepped in, but not wanting to bear the political burden, they stood back and observed the situation.

In the end, the talks broke down, and a tense standoff ensued between the Military Intelligence Service and the National Security Agency. The relationship between the two intelligence agencies became hostile, and rumors began to circulate in diplomatic circles that something had gone wrong. Thus, an ominous current began to flow through the foreign ministries of both countries.

At this rate, there was a high possibility that diplomatic relations would be ruined. Someone needed to step in and resolve the situation before it became too serious.

At that moment, a group stepped forward as a mediator.

The Royal Intelligence Service.

“Well, I’ve heard both of your opinions. If we continue the dialogue slowly, I’m sure we’ll find a consensus that accommodates both positions. First, let me explain the position of our Royal Intelligence Service…”

The Royal Intelligence Service, which had been watching the situation with hands in pockets, intervened in the dispute between the Military Intelligence Service and the National Security Agency. The Royal Intelligence Service arranged a negotiation table at the mage tower for an amicable resolution.

It was a dereliction of duty for the Royal Intelligence Service, which understood the situation, to intervene belatedly, but upon reflection, this was also a kind of negotiation strategy.

While the Military Intelligence Service dragged out talks with the National Security Agency by making unreasonable demands, the Royal Intelligence Service received information from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Military Intelligence Service to consider what proposal to make. More precisely, they gauged “how far” the National Security Agency could accommodate.

“So, do you think this part is possible?”

“Yes. However, information about the Kien Empire’s Mauritania region operation network requires consideration.”

“I understand.”

As the Royal Intelligence Service stepped in as a mediator, the situation showed signs of quick resolution.

The Royal Intelligence Service proposed “release compensation” to the National Security Agency, the National Security Agency stated that they would offer compensation of “equal value” to Fabio Verati, and I went to find Fabio Verati to silence him.

“Congratulations. You will be repatriated to your country soon on humanitarian grounds.”

“……”

“As you well know, just forget what happened here. You understand what I mean, right?”

“…Where is my youngest?”

“Rewards follow when promises are kept. We’re looking for her, so don’t worry.”

My identity as an operative couldn’t be leaked outside. No one could know I was an operative just from fragmentary information, but at the very least, the fact that I was involved in this incident had to be hidden. Even if it was an allied intelligence agency.

Fortunately, Fabio Verati kept his mouth shut. His family was under surveillance by the Military Intelligence Service, and his youngest daughter’s fate was uncertain, so he had no choice but to remain silent.

Meanwhile, the talks continued, and so did the operation.

[Another explosion occurred after just three days. The Director of the Public Order Protection Bureau has classified the series of explosions as terrorism. Meanwhile, the anarchist extremist group ‘Black Fire Conspiracy’ has distributed statements claiming responsibility for the terrorism throughout the city.]

I assassinated most of the targets with the remaining liquid bombs.

Since sending them by courier had become too well-known, I had to hide bombs along the targets’ routes and detonate them remotely.

I disguised all these terrorist acts as the work of an anarchist terrorist group. I found a relatively large group with a history of plotting terrorism from the files kept by the foreign affairs police, created a plausible statement, and distributed it throughout the city in the early hours when few people were around.

People will now think there’s a terrorist group behind the terrorism. The mage tower police and counterintelligence agencies suspect the imperial intelligence agencies, but they need to verify whether this is true or not, so in the meantime, the Military Intelligence Service staff will have time to destroy evidence.

“…Do terrorist attacks happen this frequently here?”

“It’s particularly bad these days. It’s not usually like this.”

“Hmm…”

“Both of you should refrain from going out for a while. Not just because of terrorism, but protests are likely to intensify too. Especially you, Lucia.”

“…Are you referring to me?”

“Don’t go to hospitals trying to save injured people. It’s not safe there either.”

By the way, terrorists in the Middle East and Africa often attack their targets after a slight delay following a bomb attack. Usually, they push in with guns.

There aren’t any professional terrorist groups doing such things in this neighborhood yet, but since human affairs are unpredictable, it’s better to be careful.

“…Thanks for the advice.”

Lucia looked at the devastation flowing from the TV with a slightly complicated expression, and Camilla stared at my face for a long time with an ambiguous expression while fiddling with a plastic bottle of beverage.

“Why are you looking at me? Is there something on my face?”

“Umm… No!”

“…?”

Even as I met with Camilla and Lucia, the covert operation continued, as did the talks.

Spies met in safe houses, lobbying occurred under the surface, and a tug-of-war between interests and principles continued.

Dozens of meetings took place, and the atmosphere grew increasingly hostile as time passed.

Finally, the National Security Agency revealed the truth.

-‘The National Security Agency has admitted that Subject 51 is their operative. They put his name on the retiree list, but he was actually an undercover spy infiltrating the mage tower.’

The National Security Agency admitted that Fabio Verati was their operative.

“Is that all? What about the secrets?”

-‘They’ve recovered everything. They say they had no intention of detecting our military secrets. It should be considered an accident.’

Whether the National Security Agency really collected Abas military secrets by mistake is something only Fabio Verati himself knows.

“But the information has already been passed once.”

-‘They’ve decided to discard what needs to be discarded and preserve what needs to be preserved. There’s probably more to discard, but it wasn’t without gain.’

Anyway, the National Security Agency acknowledged the existence of their operative and requested his repatriation by offering “release compensation.”

The National Security Agency decided to share information they possessed as a condition for repatriating Fabio Verati on humanitarian grounds.

Information about the imperial intelligence agencies’ overseas operation networks, trends in the civil war in the Mauritania region, secrets from various countries that Fabio Verati had taken from the Mage Tower Representative Office, major activity bases of demons and heretics, information about mage tower intelligence agencies, and so on.

Incidentally, the National Security Agency also handed over Giada Bianchi, who had disappeared a few years ago, to Abas.

-‘They said they were planning to repatriate her as soon as they received the report, but they had to hide her because repatriating Giada Bianchi could expose the identity of their operative.’

“Where was she?”

-‘Fatalia.’

Giada Bianchi was living a second life with a new identity given to her by the National Security Agency.

Originally, they planned to repatriate her through the embassy since she was a citizen of an allied country, but due to concerns that Fabio Verati’s identity might be traced if what happened at the mage tower reached the ears of the Abas intelligence agencies, they had no choice but to take her to Fatalia.

They say they treated her well since she was a civilian caught up in the operation, but according to what Clebins said, she seemed to have been living an unexpected life in exile.

Anyway, a Royal Intelligence Service employee assigned to the Fatalia embassy went to find her and asked about her intention to return home. Giada Bianchi expressed her intention to return to Abas without much hesitation.

Thus, the exchange was established.

The Military Intelligence Service sent Fabio Verati in a diplomatic pouch to the Abas embassy in Fatalia, the National Security Agency brought Giada Bianchi to the front of the warp gate going to Abas, and Fabio Verati’s youngest daughter moved to Fatalia by changing ships to avoid tracking.

The National Security Agency, having received their operative back, presented the promised release compensation, and the Military Intelligence Service and the Royal Intelligence Service shared the information handed over by the National Security Agency.

Additionally,

“Now that it’s all over, I hope we won’t have to be at odds anymore. Right, Sofia?”

“…Right.”

“Don’t go around saying strange things. I hope you keep your promises well. I don’t want to have to come looking for you again.”

The National Security Agency promised not to interfere with the activities of the Abas intelligence agencies for the time being. It was a promise limited to the mage tower, but that was enough.

Just like at the Order, everyone gained something by compromising a little.

The National Security Agency concealed their operation at the mage tower while ensuring the safety of their operative, and the Military Intelligence Service mitigated the shock of the covert operation while receiving quality information.

The Royal Intelligence Service, which took on the role of mediator, demonstrated their intelligence and influence. Of course, they didn’t forget to share the information received by the Military Intelligence Service. The shrewd Royal Intelligence Service remained the ultimate victor.

And,

“Thank you for your hard work, Priestess Rebecca. Please accept this as a token of appreciation for your past assistance.”

“What is this?”

“It’s material about the mage tower intelligence agencies that we recently acquired.”

I shared some information with the Heresy Inquisition.

“I know you’ve been working hard to establish an intelligence network lately. It’s modest, but I hope it helps.”

“You’re not telling me the source, I see.”

“That’s difficult for me to disclose. I just want you to know it’s verified material.”

“Thank you.”

I had received help from the Heresy Inquisition in tracking the Mage Tower Representative Office’s Human Resource Development Institute, so this was a way of repaying that.

This action was carried out strictly under the permission of the Military Intelligence Service. The director approved it, and analysts selected appropriate materials to pass to me.

The Military Intelligence Service’s overseas department suggested just sharing the information without giving anything in return, but I convinced them that it was a necessary bribe to form a friendly relationship with the Heresy Inquisition.

Thanks to this, the Heresy Inquisition, which had been sitting idle, obtained the information about the mage tower intelligence agencies they so desperately wanted.

Of course, I was giving the bribe because I had something to gain as well.

“By the way, how is the intelligence network construction going?”

“We’re currently recruiting low-level informants first.”

“Is screening possible? You must have very little information.”

“We have sufficient human intelligence.”

“What does that… Ah, medical service.”

The Heresy Inquisition, disguised as Lucia’s attendants, was building an intelligence network while conducting medical services. According to Priestess Rebecca, they were in the process of recruiting from among those who received treatment and relief supplies, selecting those with clear motives for recruitment.

Thus, the Royal Intelligence Service, the Heresy Inquisition, the Military Intelligence Service, and the National Security Agency each took a piece of the meat and gained benefits.

The Royal Intelligence Service and the Heresy Inquisition gained information about the mage tower intelligence agencies, the National Security Agency secured the safety of their operative and concealed the fact that they had collected state secrets through Fabio Verati, and the Military Intelligence Service received considerable information while quietly resolving the aftermath of the covert operation.

The real fool here was the mage tower, which had no idea what was happening in its territory.

The mage tower, where 31 intelligence agency personnel were assassinated, had to keep quiet without even being able to intervene in the situation.

Thanks to this, the dispute between the Abas and Fatalia intelligence departments was concluded without much noise.

It seemed as if peace had returned to the continent once again.

But.

“31 targets were eliminated, and the total casualties, including civilian casualties, are 27.”

-‘Are there any targets among the surviving injured?’

“Yes. The last one mentioned in the report.”

-‘Take care of it.’

As always, what happens in the shadows doesn’t come to light.

“The National Security Agency seems to have resolved things well, but what’s happening with the mage tower issue?”

-‘The Prime Minister is deliberating. No conclusion has been reached in the cabinet meeting yet. The King’s approval is also pending.’

“I’ve disguised the bomb terrorism as violent struggle by an anarchist group for now.”

Under the seemingly calm frozen lake.

-‘The Reconnaissance Command has detected suspicious movements. The details haven’t come out yet, but the numbers broadcast has resumed, and the volume of communications sent to diplomatic missions has doubled compared to peacetime.’

“What’s the reason?”

-‘Probably because of the mage tower.’

“…Should we withdraw the project team?”

-‘Withdraw only part of it. And you continue to monitor the mage tower police and counterintelligence agencies. We’ll monitor the Reconnaissance Command and the Mage Tower Representative Office from here.’

The serpents were beginning to open their eyes.

*

[Today, a ceremony marking the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations was held at the Abas Embassy in Fatalia. The event was attended by the former president, the Fatalia Foreign Minister, and the leader of the main opposition party. Ambassador Shapanello to Fatalia said at the ceremony marking the 70th anniversary of Abas-Fatalia diplomatic relations that he would spare no effort to promote friendly relations between the two countries…]

The TV was broadcasting news about the 70th anniversary celebration of diplomatic relations between Abas and Fatalia.

Just the other day, they were talking about severing diplomatic ties and retaliation, but seeing the foreign minister and ambassador holding hands and smiling broadly made me feel strange.

I chuckled and broke the silence.

“Politics is beyond me.”

The person sitting next to me answered.

“Does that look like a political issue?”

“Well, isn’t next month the general election in Fatalia?”

“When an election is imminent, everything becomes a political issue.”

Rustle!

With the sound of a newspaper being folded, piercing eyes stared directly at me.

I blurted out while looking at the screen.

“Acting as a mediator, exercising influence, and even getting information. Did you plan this from the moment you gave me your business card?”

“Business card? What are you talking about? I know nothing about that.”

“…Well, let’s say that’s the case.”

Leoni, who had calmly told a lie, threw the newspaper into the empty space below the screen and slumped in the chair.

“Are you going back to your country now? The talks are over.”

“I plan to stay for a while before returning. I got a vacation.”

Vacation, huh.

“I’m envious.”

I checked my watch once, gathered my uniform jacket, and turned the doorknob.

Watching me leave, Leoni blurted out.

“Good job. You did well with what I asked.”

I chuckled and returned what she had said to me.

“Is working hard such a difficult thing?”

“Still no thoughts of changing jobs?”

As I carefully descended the narrow metal stairs and before closing the door, I answered my former superior’s question.

“Enjoy your vacation, Director.”

Thud.

The door of the Royal Intelligence Service’s disguised vehicle closed.

The hem of my jacket fluttered in the wind. A crisp autumn breeze was blowing. I put on my fluttering uniform jacket, buttoned it up, and walked through the crowd toward familiar faces.

“I’m not late, am I?”

“Ah, you’re here.”

“I hope you weren’t bored without me.”

I joked with Camilla and Lucia while adjusting my clothes.

Then I offered a handshake to the woman standing opposite me.

“Nice to see you again, Administrator.”

“Nice to meet you.”

“Let me introduce myself formally. I am serving as a military attaché at the Abas representative office-“

Episode 5 – Journalist, Diplomat, Soldier, Spy – END –