Ch.257Episode 12 – The Strongest Mage in History

The wizards’ minor rebellion seemed to conclude as a mere incident.

Francesca reached an agreement with Evangelos Lysidike, the commander of the Magic Tower’s Mage Corps. The two decided to ensure that no one would question the Grand Duke’s judgment, who was the Grand Magician, for the time being.

However, expecting this to resolve the situation would be wishful thinking.

“This is merely a stopgap measure,” Francesca said.

“Neither Lord Evangelos nor I can control all the wizards. It’s like temporarily plugging a cracked dam with sand.”

I nodded gravely.

“I know.”

As much as I hate to admit it, reality is harsh. No matter how much I want to ignore it, reality is something that cannot be ignored.

Since I’m not a wizard myself, I can’t sympathize with those opposing the Grand Duke’s decision, but I at least know that this problem won’t be solved by simply silencing people.

The conflict between the Magic Tower and the Church runs deeper than one might imagine.

For wizards, having the Inquisition conduct investigations in the north might be more alarming than for a Jewish person hearing that the Gestapo has stormed into their village looking for someone.

The authority of the Grand Duke and the Oracle might calm things down temporarily, but eventually, it will resurface. Especially if the Inquisition spends time in the north without producing any results.

A faint uneasiness lingers in a corner of my heart like soot, suggesting that this matter will be brought up again soon.

“…We need a fundamental solution.”

At my mumbled words, Francesca opened her drowsy eyes and looked in my direction.

“A fundamental solution? What do you mean by that, Sir Military Attaché?”

“Exactly what it sounds like.”

I added bluntly:

“Why did all of this happen in the first place?”

The cause of the current situation is that some creature appeared and slashed people with a knife.

First, it was an imperial army combat mage, then a magic department investigator and security forces, and now four inquisitors and me.

The suspect in the first two incidents is presumed to be the same person.

I can’t be certain whether the person who killed the wizards and the investigator who attacked me are the same, but circumstances suggest there’s a high probability that he’s the culprit who murdered the wizards.

He knows how to handle divinity and definitely knows how to “steep” people.

Above all, the staff.

From the moment we first met, the investigator never separated from his staff. And clearly, he used the staff to kill the inquisitors in one stroke.

More precisely, using the blade extending from beneath the staff’s handle.

The answer, or something close to it, has emerged, so there’s no need to beat around the bush.

As I struggled to stand up from my desk, Francesca began to speak, suggesting I shouldn’t overexert myself.

“Where are you going in that condition?”

“The cathedral.”

I gathered my things and left the room.

“I need to prepare to catch that investigator bastard.”

Episode 12 – The Most Powerful Wizard in History

Having found the root cause of all the problems, there’s no time to waste.

The Church, which has had its reputation tarnished and lost several clergy members; the Magic Tower, divided over the Inquisition’s investigation; the Empire, struggling to maintain control of the situation; the pro-imperial dictatorial state hiding in the north and treading carefully; and the Abas government.

Many parties are entangled with sharply conflicting interests.

It’s a volatile situation that could explode at any moment. No one knows when, where, or how an incident might occur, or how far the impact might spread if it does.

Still, if there’s something that needs to be done, it must be done.

“Pippin, Jake, Charnoi. Stop whatever you’re doing. From now on, you’re looking for someone.”

As soon as I entered the hotel, I summoned my subordinates. Jake, who had been organizing documents, responded with surprise.

“Suddenly? You were unreachable, and now you appear saying this. What about the investigation into the terrorist incident?”

“We’re changing priorities.”

Pippin asked:

“Is this an order from the director? We haven’t received any directives.”

“I’ll report directly to Leonian. I’ll take responsibility, so you just follow my instructions.”

I suspended all operations we had been handling.

The imperial intelligence agencies must be on high alert right now. Even though we have the Grand Duke’s permission and the situation is developing rapidly, the Inquisition is fundamentally an intelligence agency.

The incident occurred in the north, an area under martial law.

It’s piled high with various cutting-edge weapons developed by the imperial army, has clusters of rifts producing strategic resources, and is occupied by regular troops from friendly nations and foreign military attachés.

In my experience, when situations like this arise, counterintelligence agencies become extremely vigilant. Counterintelligence agencies hate nothing more than foreign intelligence agencies stealing their secrets, regardless of whether they’re from friendly nations or not.

Even if we’ve managed to avoid incidents so far, there’s no guarantee we won’t have problems in the future.

So there’s only one thing to do now.

Cover our tracks.

“Keep only the important documents, back up the critical data, and shred everything else. We don’t know when the Guardian Office or Counterintelligence might barge in here.”

I ordered all documents to be shredded. No one should know what we’ve been doing here.

Pippin and Charnoi quickly shredded the documents and backed up the data on storage devices, hiding them in a safe place.

By the time my subordinates had organized the materials according to regulations and gathered, I issued new instructions.

“From now on, we’ll gather information about the Church’s independent investigation.”

I spoke boldly to Francesca, but I don’t officially have the authority to investigate.

This is a hostile country, a battlefield under martial law. Counterintelligence agencies would never allow a foreigner to act freely in such a place.

The Inquisition has officially obtained investigative authority from the Grand Duke of the North, but that’s the Inquisition’s business. I have absolutely no authority.

Of course, I’m not the type to sit still just because I lack investigative authority.

“The target is a middle-aged man. His mouth smells like a rotting corpse, and he masks it with a strong fragrance. He mainly operates in remote areas and always carries a staff. Go out and collect information about this bastard. I don’t care how much operational funds you use, just find him.”

“Yes.”

“He’s extremely dangerous, so if you spot him, leave the area immediately. Once you’re safe, report to me immediately.”

I immediately deployed intelligence officers to gather information for the investigation.

I’ll either pass the information to the Inquisition to let them handle it, or I might deal with it myself.

Apart from Pippin, Jake, and Charnoi’s activities, I mobilized my local intelligence network.

“Administrative Officer. Can I speak with the guild master now?”

“Yes, you can.”

“Then please check if there’s any new information. Not openly, but discreetly.”

The first intelligence about the investigation came from Hormoz. Through Francesca, I once again obtained information from the Palm Tree Guild.

It wasn’t free, of course.

“I hate to say this, but it’s difficult to do this for free. We haven’t built enough trust with the guild master yet.”

“How much do you need?”

“He’s not asking for cash but goods. He’s planning to supply drugs to foreign troops in the north, but the guild can’t handle the volume.”

“You mean he’s selling drugs?”

“Specifically, painkillers. Your unit seems to need potions made by the Magic Tower, but the commanders are looking for cheaper medications. They probably don’t want to spend too much of the military funds sent from their home country. Due to lack of surplus funds.”

“It’s not that they lack funds, but that they’ve embezzled too much. Anyway, I understand. I’ll contact Viktor.”

Hormoz, the Palm Tree Guild master, intended to supply medications to the dictatorial state’s troops that had entered the north.

The unit seemed to need Magic Tower potions that work quickly, but the commanders had different ideas.

True to their nature as soldiers from a dictatorial state, they fulfilled their duty as soldiers and filled their pockets by embezzling military funds. As a result, this led to them seeking narcotic painkillers to alleviate pain rather than potions that could heal injuries in a short time.

I diverted democratic state aid supplies for the dictatorial state’s military.

Specifically, I passed on to Francesca some specialized medications that had been “accidentally” omitted from the procedural process among the supplies sent by the Abas government to the Empire under the Humanitarian Aid Act.

“Is this amount sufficient?”

“With this much, we could sell painkillers to the entire north.”

“Please make arrangements, Administrative Officer, so they don’t end up scattered on the streets of drug addicts, which would be a headache.”

Francesca supplied narcotic painkillers at a reasonable price.

The dictatorial state’s military purchased large quantities of the relatively cheaper drugs instead of potions, and Hormoz, satisfied with the successful expansion of his market and the lucrative income, provided information as agreed.

If I were still a rookie, I might have been satisfied and backed off, but I decided to go a step further and look for new sources of information.

“Military Attaché Nostrim. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“Pleased to meet you, Commander.”

“Commander? I may be a commander back home, but in the north, I’m just a unit leader.”

“I heard you like that title, Colonel. I was told you distinguished yourself in the civil war, doesn’t that make you a war hero?”

“I merely suppressed rebels who tried to separate along tribal lines after losing an election. Hardly a hero. Please, sit down. Though it’s not home, I’ll treat you well.”

I sought out the dictatorial state commanders who had dealt with the Palm Tree Guild. I made a list of suitable candidates and narrowed it down to those with clear motives for recruitment.

Though they’re not impressive given their embezzlement of military funds, they are elite troops from a pro-imperial dictatorial state.

These people are likely to provide information about the military government headquarters I don’t know about and imperial intelligence agencies operating in the north. I also have leverage in the form of their embezzlement, which could be grounds for purging them, so I can resort to blackmail if necessary.

My meddling didn’t end there.

“Is this the Church embassy? This is Fredrik Nostrim from the Abas Embassy to the Kiyen Empire. Yes, that Fredrik. I’d like to use your line briefly if possible? I have an urgent matter to discuss with Director Pedro.”

I communicated with Director Pedro through the Church embassy. To guard against possible surveillance, I received information about the Inquisition’s operations in the north using appropriate euphemisms.

I contacted many others as well.

“Viktor, it’s me. Do you know anyone in the Magic Department?”

Viktor took my call and connected me with someone in the Magic Department who could access investigation materials.

“Hey, sis. Sorry to start with work talk, but do you still have contacts with imperial officials?”

I received personal contact information for several imperial administrative staff from my sister Adela, who had worked as a diplomat to the Empire.

I’ve rarely worked this hard in my 28 years living in this neighborhood. Today must be one of those days.

I made calls to acquaintances I wasn’t particularly close with, feeling like I was sending New Year’s greetings. Of course, most weren’t ordinary acquaintances.

Anyway, I worked hard to catch the investigator bastard.

It seems the company appreciated my dedication.

“Yes, this is Fredrik Nostrim, Defense Attaché to the Kiyen Empire.”

-‘This is the Military Attaché’s Office calling, Major.’

“Ah, yes. But why are you calling so suddenly?”

-‘The Ministry of Defense has summoned you, Major. Please come to the embassy.’

The Military Intelligence Agency had contacted me.

*

-‘What are you doing right now?’

That was the first question that came through as soon as the secure line connected.

“What am I doing? I was working when I got called to the embassy.”

-‘Who’s asking because they don’t know? What exactly are you doing in the north?’

Klevins’ voice came through the encrypted communication. It was a welcome voice after not hearing it for a while.

“Just work, you know. The assignment from the company is progressing well. The business is going smoothly too. I should be able to submit a report by the end of the year.”

-‘Well, well. The company is in a mess, and that’s what you have to say?’

On the other end of the line, Klevins rattled off complaints like a machine gun. The old man must be getting senile because he was quite talkative.

-‘The urgent message sent from the embassy at dawn caused quite a commotion. Why are these corpse handlers suddenly appearing in the north?’

“I wonder about that myself.”

From what I gathered, he was calling about the report I submitted yesterday. I sent the report to the embassy considering the time difference, but it seems the delivery was delayed.

I brewed coffee and continued in a calm tone.

“Four Inquisition staff were killed. They were people who were moving with me.”

-‘Inquisitors? How did that happen?’

“They were killed while chasing a monk suspected of being a heretic. They died without a chance to fight back.”

-‘Must be related to the terrorist incident.’

Recently, I had retrieved investigation materials about the terrorist incident from the company archives—those documents my subordinates were organizing collectively.

The investigation of terrorist incidents falls under the domestic department’s jurisdiction, and they manage the documents, so Klevins probably inferred the situation based on my recent activities.

He’s quick on the uptake, anyway.

“That’s right.”

-‘How did you end up chasing that guy?’

“It’s a bit of a long story…”

I explained how I came to pursue the investigation.

Hormoz’s intelligence, the kid caught by inquisitors and clergy for using sorcery, finding the village’s location by interrogating the child, and accompanying the inquisitors myself. I revealed everything.

Even though the departments are different, I had planned to pass this information to the domestic department’s terrorist investigation unit anyway.

Although the procedure got a bit tangled, it wasn’t strange to relay the information to Klevins.

After listening silently to the circumstances, Klevins suddenly muttered:

-‘So that’s how it happened. To think there was a necromancer behind the terrorist incident.’

“It’s still at the speculation stage. By the way, is everything alright at the company? Is there any new information?”

-‘Don’t even ask. Your report caused quite a stir at the Ministry of Defense, the Foreign Ministry, and even the Prime Minister’s Office.’

Prime Minister’s Office? Why is that suddenly coming up?

I wondered if something had gone wrong, but Klevins continued his explanation.

-‘All the reports you’ve submitted so far have gone up to the Prime Minister’s Office. Didn’t you know?’

“No. Why would they go that far?”

-‘What did you think? That we just pass your reports around among ourselves and that’s it? You’re a strange one.’

Ah.

Honestly, I thought my reports might go up to the Minister of Defense or the Intelligence Agency, but I hadn’t expected them to reach the Prime Minister’s Office. So my reports went that far.

As I blinked in slight surprise, Klevins said he’d wrap up this topic due to time constraints.

He changed the subject.

-‘Good timing. I actually had something to tell you.’

“Something to tell me?”

-‘Orders. Two orders.’

Klevins said:

-‘The Foreign Operations Department has issued instructions for you. They need to send a few staff to the north and want you to look into it.’

“The north?”

-‘Is that difficult?’

“No, it’s not that…”

I trailed off ambiguously.

Sending intelligence officers to the north? In the current situation?

Feeling a bit puzzled, I tilted my head and couldn’t hide my confusion as I questioned Klevins.

“What’s the sudden reason for sending staff to the north?”

-‘Ah, it’s nothing special.’

Klevins said.

His tone suggested it wasn’t a big deal.

-‘We’re planning to steep someone in the north.’