Ch.15Episode 2 – Heroes of the Continent

-“As you know, black operations violate international and current laws. However, the higher-ups have determined that we must guarantee the hero’s safety at any cost for the sake of the kingdom’s security.”

The order was issued.

-“Any type of operation is acceptable. You’ll be able to conduct all kinds of operations that would normally be impossible in your current position. You may employ somewhat extreme measures if necessary for information gathering and smooth mission execution.”

It was an order to succeed in the mission by any means necessary.

-“If needed, you can recruit agents on site and freely use the intelligence agency’s network and facilities. If you request it, we’ll immediately provide cover identities and equipment. We’ll also guarantee funding, security clearance, and military or non-military support as necessary.”

The colonel declared complete freedom for me, but,

-“Major. You must stop the terrorism and find those behind it. You must. Understand?”

Paradoxically, I had no freedom to refuse.

Episode 2 – Heroes of the Continent

A quiet conference room. A secretive place meticulously managed by the Intelligence Department. A place that’s carefully checked for listening devices every day. Three spies gathered in that small sealed room.

I lowered my voice as much as possible.

“The Intelligence Agency has authorized a black operation. Any questions?”

Pippin remained silent while Jake swallowed hard. Even as a third-year rookie in the Intelligence Agency, he would understand what this order meant.

“…Black operations are usually handled by the Blacks, but considering the seriousness of the situation, we’ve been assigned to handle this black operation.”

We’d become neither White nor Black, but something in between. Gray people.

“I have command authority, and you two will assist me. Our mission is simple: to fight for the hero’s safety.”

I didn’t bother adding unnecessary talk about national interests. Everyone already knew that.

I handed them manually written documents. It was a measure to maintain security.

“Since we’ll be operating beyond the bounds of law, the state will spare no support for a successful operation, but in case of emergency, the state cannot guarantee your safety.”

Pippin and Jake calmly signed the confidentiality agreements.

“From this moment, we can use all assets of the Military Intelligence Agency. We can mobilize agents for smooth mission execution and freely use the intelligence network and safe houses.”

The Intelligence Agency willingly offered all its assets.

“Cover identities and operational funds will be provided for recruiting informants. You may use coercive measures if necessary. Get the information by any means.”

Jake quietly raised his hand.

“Major, are you talking about torture?”

“These are orders from above to use any means necessary.”

“…”

“I’d prefer not to, but if necessary, we’ll have to.”

The conference room fell silent.

“Succeed in the mission by any means necessary.”

I leaned forward, placing both hands on the table.

“Soon, when the official schedule begins, I’ll be assigned to the hero’s close protection. You will support the security detail from the rear for the hero’s safety.”

So.

“That son of a bitch who set off a bomb in the middle of the street. Find him without fail.”

*

“Now! Look here! One, two, three!”

Camera shutters popped like firecrackers. Camilla Lowell and Lucia the Priestess exchanged handshakes with bright smiles.

It was a historic photo commemorating the hero’s first official schedule.

The two women, surrounded by the applause of cardinals and bishops in front of the beautiful Order building, looked truly happy.

A swarm of reporters clutched their microphones and rushed toward them as if they had been waiting for this moment. From a distance, they looked like a horde of zombies.

I pushed away microphones that nearly jabbed my face and made my way through the crowd.

“Camilla Lowell, I’m here.”

“Major Frederick!”

“It’s been a while, Priestess Lucia.”

“Good to see you, Major.”

I couldn’t hear their voices due to the surrounding noise, but I could roughly understand from their lip movements and expressions. While Priestess Lucia simply gave a slight bow and smile, Camilla Lowell waved her hands enthusiastically to express her delight.

I also smiled casually and waved back.

The newspapers portrayed such behavior positively.

Honestly, this world’s media wasn’t very reliable, but according to Intelligence Agency polls, the public seemed to find some charm in Camilla Lowell’s actions.

Her unpretentious, modest, and optimistic temperament was rare in today’s world, so perhaps people were drawn to that untainted purity.

A protagonist who maintains vitality and composure even in difficult situations. Considering that manga featuring such protagonists are steady sellers, perhaps she was quite beloved on Earth.

“Shall we move to the next location?”

“Yes! Let’s go together, Lucia!”

Camilla Lowell naturally linked arms with Lucia and led her into the building. It was quite a spectacle to see the usually confident Priestess Lucia flustered and awkward.

I followed them, blending into the crowd.

An agent quickly approached from the side and began whispering in a low voice.

“Currently, we’ve determined there are no threats outside the building. The interior also maintains a clean state with no risk factors.”

“Since the Inquisition is handling the building exterior, post a few sentries and have everyone else come inside.”

I didn’t know his name or age.

His affiliation was meaningless, and his rank equally insignificant.

As the field commander, I simply gave orders to the agent, and he carried them out without complaint.

Leaving the departing agent behind, I quietly joined the hero’s party.

The contradictory combination of small auburn hair and blonde hair matched surprisingly well.

As I approached, Camilla Lowell turned her head sharply, sensing my presence. She grinned broadly.

“Major Frederick, please tell me the next schedule!”

I’m not your manager, you know.

“You’ll have a brief meeting with Order officials, followed by a light lunch. After lunch, you’ll attend an event nearby, and then have dinner with the cardinals and bishops.”

“That’s a tight schedule! When do I get to rest?”

“The dinner should end by 23:00 at the latest, so you can get to bed at a reasonable hour.”

Camilla Lowell’s schedule is quite tight.

She visits more than five different places daily, handling a schedule that would rival a celebrity’s. This is just for the Order’s official events; once she starts external activities in earnest, she might not have enough time to sleep.

Of course, I could cancel schedules considering travel time and safety.

I have that authority. I might get some complaints behind my back for canceling schedules, but it wouldn’t be a problem since it’s a legitimate exercise of power.

“My goodness, is her schedule really that packed?”

Priestess Lucia’s eyes widened. Since she hadn’t engaged in external activities after becoming the bishops’ scapegoat, Camilla Lowell’s schedule would seem murderous from her perspective.

“Ah well, this is actually light compared to what it could be.”

“Camilla, a person would collapse with such a schedule every day.”

Priestess Lucia looked at Camilla with a bitter smile.

I’d heard that before she became an adult, she once fainted in a hallway after working non-stop for a week as a healing priestess in the Empire-Demon Realm conflict zone.

Perhaps recalling that past, Priestess Lucia looked at Camilla Lowell with concerned eyes.

Whether aware of her concern or not, Camilla Lowell just kept smiling with her arm linked with Priestess Lucia’s.

“Do you like Priestess Lucia that much? Please unlink arms in front of others.”

“Oh come on! We’re colleagues, what’s the problem? Would you like to join us, Major?”

Oh shit.

It was a rather attractive offer, but I had to decline. As a soldier and diplomat, I had to maintain a certain dignity.

And linking arms in front of the conservative old men of the Order would surely earn me a barrage of curses.

Well aware of the Order’s atmosphere, Priestess Lucia began to gently admonish her.

“Camilla, saying such things is disrespectful to the Major.”

“Is it?”

“According to the Order’s doctrine, physical contact between unmarried men and women is taboo.”

When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

Conveying that general sentiment, Camilla Lowell nodded in understanding. It must be confusing when faced with customs that contradict one’s usual common sense.

Camilla Lowell was actively embracing this world’s culture with a “that makes sense too!” mindset.

Despite her behavior, she possessed a rather calm personality.

“So Lucia has always liked vigorous physical activities.”

“I loved horseback riding the most. Does Camilla have a favorite sport?”

“I like swimming! I can swim well anywhere, whether in the sea or a river.”

“Swimming is great! When you go deep underwater and stay still, it really calms your mind and body…”

It seemed Camilla Lowell and Priestess Lucia were on the same wavelength. Judging by how much their tastes and hobbies overlapped, they were practically best friends.

I wish all my other colleagues got along this well.

“Priestess Lucia, what has Cardinal Raul been up to these days?”

“Ah…”

Priestess Lucia slightly furrowed her delicate brow. Being accustomed to dealing with people, her expression management was top-notch, but I wasn’t the type to miss such details.

“I’m too busy with my schedule to know what His Eminence is doing, but he’s carrying on as usual.”

“I see.”

It seems the relationship between Raul and Priestess Lucia is distant. The atmosphere had momentarily soured due to the sensitive topic, but thanks to Camilla Lowell pulling on her arm, the mood became cheerful again.

After exchanging various conversations, we eventually arrived at the conference room. Knights lined up on both sides opened the heavy doors, and people began to enter. I turned to Camilla Lowell and spoke.

“I’ll be away for a moment.”

“Where are you going?”

“You’ll be heading straight to lunch after the meeting, so I’ll have a quick meal with the officials and return by the time your lunch begins.”

I excused myself, saying I was going to have a brief meeting over lunch for security duties.

The heavy doors closed smoothly, and dozens of knights and men in suits began controlling the entire building to ensure the safety of the conference hall.

I crossed the corridor, exchanging peculiar glances with some of the men in suits blending in.

Time to get to work.

*

Intelligence collection methods are broadly divided into three categories:

Human Intelligence (HUMINT)

Signals Intelligence (SIGINT)

Open Source Intelligence (OSINT)

They might sound complicated and impressive, but in plain terms, they’re spying, eavesdropping, and wiki searches.

My exchange of information with the Imperial Guard agent and the Inquisition Chief was part of HUMINT, and Pippin’s speculation based on newspaper articles the other day would be considered OSINT.

Of course, actual intelligence collection isn’t done haphazardly. Hundreds of analysts pore over databases for comparison, verification procedures are followed with the help of recruited collaborators, and many complex and frustrating procedures must be completed.

You need to check for gaps in critical information assessment, verify that cognitive biases haven’t affected the analysis, divide the probability of information judgments into percentage ranges, and argue with picky analysts to check for errors in intelligence and logical fallacies.

Only after completing all these procedures is “intelligence” produced.

Of course, even after complex verification procedures, intelligence can still be wrong, but that’s a story for another time.

What I’m trying to say is that in this field, you have to dig desperately to get anything worthwhile.

So I decided to dig the well myself.

“Welcome!”

As I opened the restaurant door, an employee began guiding me.

The employee pressed a microphone, muttered something, and led me through the kitchen bustling with chefs to a storage room at the back.

After entering a password into the lock, an iron door marked “Staff Only” opened.

The employee opened the old storage room door and bowed.

“Have a good time, sir.”

*

Beyond the door, an operations room full of people came into view.

Tactical maps and situation boards hung on the walls, and plainclothes agents were busily working at military equipment arranged on both sides.

A short-haired woman holding a clipboard approached me. It was Pippin.

“You’re here, Major?”

A quick glance at my watch showed I had about an hour before the next schedule. It was too short to do much, but enough time to hear a report. I held up one finger, and Pippin, taking the hint, began her report.

“After five days of intercepting communications sent to the Kiyen Empire embassy, we’ve been able to identify the operational areas of the Imperial Guard agents.”

Pippin pointed to red pins stuck in a large map. These marked the locations where communications had originated.

Since they wouldn’t reveal their informants due to turf wars, we had to find out ourselves.

Once we find the informants they mentioned, I intend to make them spill everything they know by whatever means necessary.

“The agents appear to report from within 3km of the embassy. All reports were made from inside buildings, which we believe are safe houses designated by the Imperial Guard.”

“Who owns those buildings?”

“They’re commercial buildings registered under company names. Here’s the list of companies.”

I took the clipboard and read it slowly.

“We’ve confirmed they’re all shell companies. When we visited the factories or offices, they were all locked.”

They’re front companies. It’s a common method used by intelligence agencies for overseas operations. Looking at the paperwork, they seem to have spent quite a bit of money setting them up. We might find something if we raid these places.

“Put people on surveillance to see who comes and goes.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Don’t tail them, just take photos. We’ll cross-reference with the Intelligence Agency database later.”

“While we’re at it, should we intercept their communications too?”

An agent operating the interception equipment behind Pippin flinched. He instinctively realized he wouldn’t be getting off work on time.

I felt a bit sorry for him.

“You seem confident?”

I nodded and stood up.

“Alright. We’ve got nothing to lose. Proceed.”

*

Time flowed like an inverted hourglass.

The hero successfully completed her official schedule, and our operation using the Intelligence Agency’s assets was making gradual progress.

As usual, Pippin began her report in a calm voice.

“We just received word that the hero has gone to bed.”

“Has Jake eaten yet?”

“He says he hasn’t.”

“Tell him to meet me for dinner.”

“It’s midnight now.”

“None of you have had dinner. I’ll treat you, let’s eat somewhere nearby.”

As the hero moved around more, our schedule became a bit tighter too.

The report stated that she would rest for more than 7 hours, but that actually included meal times.

“Cardinal Raphael has contacted us. He’s asking if we can move up the Order’s event schedule.”

“Why is the old man in such a hurry?”

“He seems desperate after all the criticism he’s been getting lately.”

Cardinal Raphael had been criticized within the Order right after the bomb attack.

His background as a former Inquisition Chief came back to haunt him. It’s understandable that he’d be criticized when a bomb went off at an event he organized, given that he used to be in charge of counter-terrorism investigations.

The bishops were particularly harsh in their criticism. It seems he wants to calm public opinion by showing the hero safely attending events.

That’s not going to happen.

“Tell him to stop being ridiculous. It’s obvious they haven’t properly checked the venue’s security. Is he trying to get someone killed?”

“I already declined on your behalf.”

“Oh! Well done! You’re an SSS-tier sidekick, Pippin.”

“Thank you!”

Pippin and I exchanged light banter.

I’ve been a bit off lately, spouting nonsense whenever I open my mouth.

Since these were the same people I used to gossip with about difficult seniors over meals, they didn’t mind the jokes.

“We’ve received investigation results from the Inquisition. The explosives used in the attack came through smuggling routes.”

“They’ll certainly torture the smugglers they catch, so let’s look elsewhere.”

“Diplomats don’t have their luggage checked when entering the country. Should we investigate them?”

“Yes, do that.”

We were beginning to see small clues about the bomb attack.

“According to the interception of the Empire embassy communications, their operational range has expanded.”

“How far has it grown?”

“We’re picking up signals from the outskirts of the Order’s territory, though in small numbers.”

“Set up an office there. As the distance increases, it should be easier to track transmission locations and intercept content.”

We’re making progress bit by bit.

“Intelligence has come in from our country. They’re checking Cardinal Raul’s movements during his stay in the kingdom, and it seems his actual route differs from what was reported.”

“The Colonel will handle that. Just in case, keep tabs on Raul.”

“We’ll approach his closest aides first.”

-Ring ring.

What’s that sound?

Startled by the sudden alert, I looked at Pippin, who was fumbling to take something out.

“What’s that?”

“It’s a telephone made by the Magic Tower.”

“Wow, when did that come out?”

“I bought it on installment. Everyone has one these days. Don’t you have one, Major?”

I awkwardly scratched the back of my head at Pippin’s question.

Strange. I clearly remember a time when I walked around using a smartphone. Somehow, since being born here, I feel like I’m not keeping up with the times.

I feel like a native encountering civilization for the first time.

While I was pondering whether I was out of touch, Pippin, who had been looking at the phone, spoke up. Her expression was somewhat serious.

“…Intelligence just came in.”

“Go on.”

“That assailant who attacked you. They’ve found him.”