Ch.21Episode 2 – Heroes of the Continent

# Inquisition Commissioner Pedro.

He’s calling for me.

Why is he calling? Despite racking my brain, I couldn’t think of any reason he would summon me.

He’s someone I’d rather avoid dealing with if possible.

With these thoughts, I was just leaving the embassy’s main gate after getting dressed when—

“Major Frederick.”

“…Priestess Rebecca?”

Black clerical robes. Mint-colored hair neatly braided over her left shoulder. The haughty-looking priestess approached me.

“Commissioner Pedro is calling for you.”

## Episode 2 – Heroes of the Continent

I followed Priestess Rebecca into the office.

“Ah, finally here.”

Pedro offered me a seat, and Rebecca handed me a cup of tea.

“It’s been a while, Commissioner Pedro.”

The old man tilted his head with a warm smile.

“Perhaps it’s because we’ve exchanged so many official documents? We’ve only met once in person, yet it feels like we’ve known each other for quite some time.”

Over the past month, the embassy and the Inquisition Office had exchanged hundreds of documents—possibly thousands.

Given the current situation, documents regarding the hero’s security had been flying back and forth like group project messages. We’d seen each other’s signatures daily, so Pedro and I were familiar with each other in a way.

I sat across from him with the desk between us. The cushion beneath me felt soft. Out of courtesy, I picked up the teacup lightly and got straight to the point.

“Why did you call for me?”

“I called because I have something to discuss.”

Come on, that’s exactly what I’m asking about. He’s being frustratingly vague.

I furrowed my brow to convey my impatience, and the old man burst into laughter and nodded.

“Yes, yes. The Major dislikes small talk.”

The crafty old man’s wrinkled eyes crinkled.

He’s truly difficult to converse with.

“I heard you’re looking for the explosives’ entry route. Seems you’re investigating the diplomatic channels.”

“So you knew.”

I responded in a calm tone. Considering the Inquisition Office’s capabilities, they would naturally be aware of my agents’ movements.

There are only two reasons he would sit me down to tell me this.

First, to warn me against indiscriminate intelligence activities…

“Do you need help?”

Or second, to provide information.

*

“Locust Publishing. A publishing house established in the central district of the church eight years ago.”

A photo was placed before me. It showed a logo with the word “Locust” written in elegant cursive.

“A man named Yuri serves as the CEO of this publishing house. He shares the position with a bishop, but Yuri is effectively the president.”

I’ve heard that name before.

He’s a duke’s agent affiliated with the Imperial Guard’s Second Bureau, as Bernard informed me a few days ago. In other words, a spy.

“You know him, don’t you?”

“…I understand he’s a black agent who operates at white-level clearance. I’ve heard he handles lobbying, information gathering, and international crime investigations.”

“He’s been quite helpful to the Security Bureau.”

That’s what Bernard had hinted at.

If my memory serves me correctly, Bernard mentioned he would provide additional information. Now I think I understand what that “information” is. I set down my teacup and asked directly.

“Is the Imperial Guard connected to the recent bombing?”

“Yes. More precisely, explosives were smuggled into the church through Yuri’s connections.”

“I see…”

Another photo was placed on the table.

It showed Yuri conversing with a man in a suit.

I flipped the photo on the table face down.

“Haha! You seem quite upset, Major. Feeling betrayed?”

“…Well, I had my suspicions.”

Pedro continued his explanation with a good-natured smile.

“I’ve been working at the Inquisition Office for over 40 years. Major, would you like to hear my opinion?”

I nodded in acceptance.

The Commissioner laid out several photos on the table.

“Recently, there was a shootout in the slums of the southern outskirts. Analysis of the shell casings found at the scene revealed they were manufactured at the Imperial Arsenal. Do you know what this means?”

“You’re saying Imperial Guard personnel were involved in the shootout.”

“Although we didn’t find any bodies or weapons, the Inquisition Office considers Imperial Guard agents as prime suspects.”

That’s correct.

For reference, our side has the bodies and weapons. We’ve stored them in a safe house freezer to prevent decomposition.

“Personally, I suspect the Imperial Guard is behind both the shootout and the bombing. It’s an open secret that the Guard’s special forces carry out assassinations, facility destruction, and bombings of important national installations, isn’t it?”

Pedro isn’t talking about just any special forces unit.

“You’re referring to the Special Activities Division.”

“You knew about that too? I was keeping quiet since it’s classified.”

“It’s quite well-known as the department handling paramilitary operations.”

Special Activities Division.

A secret operations unit under the intelligence agency. A unit whose activities are completely classified. A division shrouded in ominous rumors, with even its members, size, and facility locations being classified information.

With my black operations command authority, I also gained the power to call upon them.

If I were to seriously target someone, scary gentlemen with wagons full of guns and bombs would cross the border.

Incidentally, Jake initially received a recruitment offer from the Military Intelligence Bureau’s Special Activities Division. But he declined because being an agent seemed more romantic than joining a special forces unit. He’s a bit odd in his own way.

“So, Commissioner, are you saying that the Imperial Guard’s special forces crossed the border and set off the bomb?”

“No. Think more broadly.”

Pedro spoke as if lecturing a grandchild.

“If it had been special forces, they wouldn’t have failed the assassination. I believe the recent bombing was the work of operatives.”

“…You mean it was too amateurish for professionals?”

I had a similar conversation with the Colonel before.

A bomber without professional explosives knowledge. That’s why we didn’t suspect the Imperial Guard.

But now Pedro is asking me to shift my perspective.

“Operatives might be capable of intelligence gathering or simple assassinations, but they lack specialized knowledge about explosives, don’t they? Why do agents carry pistols and poison?”

“…Let’s get back to the main point.”

“I’ve gone off track. Sorry, Major.”

Pedro smiled apologetically.

“The recent bombing was definitely the work of operatives. Whether it was the Emperor’s order or excessive loyalty, one thing is certain—the operation failed.”

“So they conducted an amateurish operation that failed, and the Second Bureau agents were purged? That’s why there was a shootout.”

The logic is simple.

They attempted to assassinate an important figure in a foreign country and failed.

The political responsibility for the failed operation must be shared between the Imperial Guard and the Emperor.

But politicians are the type to deny knowledge when something goes wrong, and they panic at the mere mention of responsibility. The Emperor probably resolved the matter by purging several Imperial Guard officials. And the purge reached the field agents who carried out the operation.

That’s how the operative who smuggled the explosives and the agents who detonated the bomb were all disposed of wholesale. For political stability.

“Quite a good scenario, isn’t it?”

“…A bestseller indeed.”

I answered calmly and maintained my silence.

The Imperial Guard purging the failed operation team. The Emperor cutting off the tail to protect the body. It’s a plausible theory.

But something doesn’t add up.

“…”

“What are you thinking, Major?”

“…”

Just before the explosion, an attacker with black hair and red eyes knocked me down.

It’s just speculation, but she saved my life. If I hadn’t fallen there, the procession would have slowly moved forward, and everyone would have been caught in the blast. Given that she attacked without weapons, her action seemed more like “prevention” than assassination.

She is an agent from the Imperial Guard’s Counterintelligence Department.

The man who called me to the second floor of the party venue warned me about a second attack.

He is an agent from the Imperial Guard’s Counter-espionage Department.

These two people belong to the Imperial Guard’s “First Bureau.”

“…This is strange.”

If Pedro’s hypothesis is correct, there’s no reason for them to help me.

If the Imperial Guard truly planned the attack and the purpose was to assassinate “someone,” there would be no reason to knock me down and prevent me from entering the blast radius. No reason to warn me about the attack either.

“…Commissioner, what typically happens when an operation fails?”

“When an operation fails? Most often, they cease activities and withdraw. Why would they stay and leave traces?”

I closed my eyes slightly and began to think.

This is one of the most frustrating moments in the intelligence world.

When one person claims church insiders orchestrated the attack, while another insists the Empire was behind it.

When the incoming information doesn’t match up.

In this field, you have to dig with a shovel when you’re thirsty to find anything.

Now I need to find the real information among countless pieces of disinformation.

I slowly rose from my chair and straightened my clothes.

Then I addressed Pedro, who was looking at me with a puzzled expression.

“Commissioner, I heard from Director Bernard that you’re quite interested in me.”

“Ha! Bernard even mentioned that? How embarrassing.”

Pedro laughed heartily, twisting his body as if genuinely embarrassed.

I took out a recording device from inside my coat and placed it on the table.

“A gift for you, Commissioner.”

“What’s this?”

“A bribe.”

I grinned and made an offer he couldn’t refuse.

“Commissioner.”

“…”

“Let’s work together on something.”