Ch.27Episode 2 – Heroes of the Continent

# In the capital of the Abas Kingdom stands the Kiyen Empire’s embassy.

The Empire and the Kingdom have maintained an awkward diplomatic relationship for many years. Still, they’ve been trying to get along better recently. To be precise, that was the Emperor’s recent intention.

Since this was the wish of an Emperor who was treated as a living god, naturally the Empire’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Imperial Guardian Office devoted considerable effort to improving diplomatic relations.

Of course, as with all things in life, effort doesn’t guarantee success. Nevertheless, the Empire made the effort.

Money was the primary investment.

Where money gathers, power concentrates. Therefore, the Kiyen Empire’s embassy to the Abas Kingdom is an essential stepping stone for diplomatic career advancement.

It’s the same principle as diplomats from the Republic of Korea seeking assignments to diplomatic missions in the US, China, Japan, or Russia.

“What in the world is going on here!”

The embassy’s security officer shouted angrily, throwing down a newspaper. The intelligence analysis secretary picked up the newspaper from the conference room floor and handed it to the ambassador.

“Ambassador! Say something about this!”

“Ah, well, I was just…”

The ambassador’s face turned pale as he checked the newspaper article. He couldn’t believe he was being indicted on espionage charges.

In truth, he was indeed a spy. While his official affiliation was the Empire’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Central Continental Department, Central Section 1, and his position was Ambassador to the Abas Kingdom, he was a spy.

Why was he a spy? This was due to the close relationship between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and intelligence agencies.

The two departments were so close that they would place agents in diplomatic positions and foreign ministry officials in key intelligence roles. They were closer than newlyweds.

The ambassador had been under the management of the Imperial Guardian Office’s overseas division since before his assignment, had been seconded to the Imperial Guardian Office during his position transfer training, and was deeply involved in “overseas operations” conducted by numerous intelligence agencies including the Imperial Guardian Office and the Reconnaissance Command.

Of course, everyone knew he was a spy. However, he wasn’t an intelligence agency officer, but rather a white agent rather than a black agent, operating in the gray area between legal and illegal activities.

As long as he didn’t get caught, it was fine. Even if caught, he would only face deportation. That’s what he thought while operating.

But he got caught.

“You were involved with an anti-state organization?”

“I, I just heard that university graduates were having an academic meeting…”

“Did you know they were anarchists when you met them? Actually, did you even know anarchism was considered a subversive ideology?”

He didn’t know.

He only found out after attending, and never went near them again afterward. It was even an event he attended for just 30 minutes, four years ago.

“Abas is now linking you with anarchists, Ambassador! They’re spreading nonsense to the media claiming that our Empire is supporting anti-state organizations!”

The security officer shouted.

By rank, he shouldn’t be speaking so rudely to the ambassador.

But he was an Imperial Guardian Office agent whom even long-serving veterans in the Foreign Ministry were wary of, and moreover, he was a high-ranking official from the prestigious First Bureau’s Counter-Intelligence Division.

“Well, please calm down first…”

“Calm down? Nonsense!”

—BANG!

The counter-intelligence agent slammed the table.

He was responsible for monitoring and managing all espionage activities in the Abas Kingdom. In other words, if the ambassador went down, his head would roll too.

For reference, he had to pay college tuition for his two children.

“We’re all about to die here…!”

“Hey! How dare you intimidate the Ambassador?!”

Bureau 1 versus Bureau 2. Counter-Intelligence versus Operations. White agents clashed. Other agents watching began to intervene.

This was the internal situation at the Imperial Guardian Office. They were at each other’s throats.

The ambassador watched the scene and covered his face with his wrinkled hands.

“…”

Yes. The situation could still be salvaged. He could refuse to appear using his diplomatic privileges and accept deportation.

Before things escalated further, he needed to inform his home country to prevent the situation from growing…

“A-Ambassador!”

His secretary burst through the door and froze at the chaotic scene in the conference room.

The secretary was an ordinary Foreign Ministry employee. He didn’t dare look directly at intelligence agents grabbing each other’s collars.

“Um… what is it?”

“A, a telegram has arrived from home.”

The ambassador sighed deeply. Instructions must have arrived.

With a heavy heart, he read the telegram.

Then he fainted.

‘The Empire’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has decided to expel the Abas Kingdom’s ambassador to the Kiyen Empire.’

## Episode 2 – Heroes of the Continent

Honestly, diplomatic expulsions are common in international society.

And making an issue of a white agent’s espionage activities isn’t really a big deal.

After all, don’t people around the world regularly deploy aircraft carriers, fly fighter jets, and launch missiles when they feel like it?

Most of that is just nations throwing tantrums to get attention. The problem is how dangerous it gets.

Anyway, the intelligence agency’s indictment of the Kiyen Empire’s ambassador on espionage charges wasn’t particularly significant.

Originally, since the assassin died, they couldn’t identify who was behind it.

There are plenty of unidentified black agents out there. There was only circumstantial evidence.

So indicting the ambassador was more of a warning that they were aware of all the Empire’s activities. It was also a message not to cross the line any further.

But then…

‘Breaking news. The Kiyen Empire’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has decided to expel the Abas Kingdom’s ambassador…’

The Empire must have taken it as a provocation.

This was the moment when a national tantrum instantly transformed into a challenge to fight.

Reciprocal expulsion isn’t particularly good in the current situation. What is the Guardian Office doing? They’re probably busy running around.

Anyway, career bureaucrats have no sense of timing.

In any case, with both countries expelling each other’s ambassadors, this had become a “significant issue.”

“Ambassador?”

“…”

“Let’s contact home.”

This was the moment when provocation escalated into a localized conflict.

*

A storm began to sweep across the continent.

It started with two terrorist attacks at the Church.

The assassination attempt using poison needles led to the indictment of the Empire’s ambassador, which led to the expulsion of the Kingdom’s ambassador. The decisive blow was the reciprocal expulsion.

That’s how this ridiculous challenge to fight was accepted.

‘Today, the Abas Kingdom indicted 36 additional people on espionage charges. The Kingdom’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson condemned these as malicious acts inciting ideological criminals…’

The Military Intelligence Bureau launched an additional strike. On the surface, it was aimed at humiliating the Kiyen Empire, but in reality, it was an attack targeting Bureau 2 of the Imperial Guardian Office.

Most spies belong to the Overseas Operations Division, after all. By this point, the Empire must have caught on. According to Foreign Ministry staff, several envoys had visited. The Emperor apparently wanted to defuse the situation.

If no further problems arose, the matter might have been quietly resolved.

But the Pope stabbed the previously silent Emperor in the back.

‘The Inquisition has released a list of companies supporting black magic groups operating within the Church. Many of these companies are from the Empire…’

They destroyed the businesses that the Imperial Guardian Office and Foreign Ministry had worked so hard to establish. Companies supported officially and unofficially for overseas expansion were dismantled.

This was what Petro and the Pope did to survive.

The Church’s reputation has been severely damaged. So they mobilized the Inquisition to crack down on black magic groups.

When people hear that terrible black magicians are running rampant, they become frightened and seek out priests. The Church’s prestige is restored. Conveniently, the Inquisition also gains a shield. In this climate, interfering with the Inquisition’s work would get one branded a heretic and burned at the stake.

Of course, whether they’re really black magicians or not doesn’t matter. No one knows if the companies actually provided funding. What matters is that the media reported it that way.

Many people will remember that the Inquisition cracked down on black magicians.

But in reality, it was a check against Bureau 2’s overseas activities.

It’s quite well-known that the Empire used Saint Veronica as a lobbyist to pressure the Church. The general public doesn’t know, but those who should know, do.

But now the Church has broken its leash and attacked the Empire, so what happens next?

‘Wizards expelled from the Magic Tower for leaking important documents…’

‘Politicians indicted on bribery charges in Fatalia…’

‘Minister of Economy gives speech on economic infiltration by foreign capital…’

‘Authorities decide to reinvestigate the suspicious death of an exiled politician…’

‘Evidence emerges of Kiyen Empire’s involvement in the civil war in the Latuan Duchy…’

The slaves began breaking their shackles.

All hell broke loose.

*

There is no area beyond the reach of intelligence agencies.

Diplomacy. Defense. Economy. Politics. Media. Academia. And so on.

Intelligence warfare unfolds in countless domains.

Using lobbyists to persuade politicians.

Distributing business cards to various places asking them to look favorably on domestic companies.

Exchanging secret information that diplomats shouldn’t know.

Showering money on academic conferences to establish intellectuals as spokespersons.

Wining and dining media executives to curry favor.

Occasionally deploying industrial spies to steal technology from foreign companies.

Sometimes intervening in conflicts to mess with other intelligence agencies.

Monitoring what other countries’ military personnel are doing.

Supporting think tanks to lobby, distribute money, persuade…

In short, intelligence agencies are everywhere and nowhere.

It’s really problematic if you imagine something like James Bond. Most agents handle paperwork more often than guns.

There’s a reason intelligence agencies regularly conduct shooting training. It’s quite a sight to see desk-bound agents with prominent bellies practicing their shooting.

For reference, their protruding bellies are due to sitting at desks all day and eating instant meals. That’s how murderously heavy their workload is.

In that sense, the localized conflicts occurring in all domains right now were enough to make intelligence agency personnel grab the backs of their necks and collapse.

Espionage investigations can take 10 years—can you imagine how much time and budget it takes to lobby foreign politicians?

The intelligence agencies will probably be recruiting a lot of people next quarter.

Of course, people don’t care about such matters. What’s important is that foreign countries interfered in domestic affairs.

Politicians give impassioned speeches, officials make explosive statements in meeting rooms, news anchors raise suspicions, and university professors spout opinions in debates.

Meanwhile, “someone’s” cabinet was opened.

I don’t know who. Anyway, I don’t know.

As a result, the Empire’s spies planted in the Magic Tower were expelled, and black money paid to foreign politicians was exposed.

A foreign minister gave a 1-hour and 51-minute speech in parliament on “the impact of foreign capital on the domestic economy.” The target was obviously the Kiyen Empire.

And authorities began investigating the suspicious death of an Empire politician who had defected to another country. Who’s the culprit? It’s obvious.

A small country called the Latuan Duchy complained that the Empire was supporting rebels. This is half true. I’ll explain the details later.

Anyway, the Empire is being attacked from all sides.

Other countries are being criticized too, and we’re also taking some heat, but less than the Empire.

It’s chaotic.

More chaotic than election-season mudslinging.

Allegations emerge as breaking news every day.

People are drowning in a sea of information.

Countless spies collect intelligence, and numerous analysts are dedicated solely to analysis.

The situation is confusing.

A fog of information obscures vision, and someone’s unfounded claims dominate thinking.

People are wandering through thick fog.

A flare fired by “someone” has summoned this massive fog.

And I realized this smoke screen was prepared for me.

A very elaborate and massive smoke screen.

“Colonel?”

-‘Speak.’

“Please send some people.”

It’s my turn to move.

*

The Colonel has set the stage perfectly.

Not a dance floor, but a grill. The main course is the Imperial Guardian Office’s Bureau 2. Intelligence agencies from other countries are the side dishes.

Bureau 1 of the Guardian Office usually plays nicely within the country, so there’s no way or reason to touch them.

The ones who set off bombs and stuck poison needles in necks were Bureau 2 agents.

In fact, there’s only circumstantial evidence. No one knows if it was really an operative or someone from the Church.

That’s why the Colonel put everyone on the grill.

Intelligence people are a perceptive bunch, so they all probably know whose work this is. They also know why this mess is happening.

As if receiving telepathic messages, intelligence departments from various countries began attacking the Empire. Since being too obvious would be problematic, they also took swings at countries they disliked.

A chaotic free-for-all ensued.

Meanwhile, the Imperial Guardian Office, which caused all this, began operations as soon as they assessed the situation.

“Major, the security officer from the Empire’s embassy…”

“Wants to meet?”

“Yes.”

“Tell him I’m busy.”

“Yes, sir.”

I wasn’t really busy; I just felt uncomfortable meeting him. Bureau 2 agents were the ones who delivered bombs and stuck poison needles in necks. Even though he’s a Bureau 1 agent, I need to be careful about meeting.

Besides, these Empire bastards ignored our KakaoTalk (official document) last time. I don’t want to meet them out of spite.

After sending the Foreign Ministry employee out, I returned to the conference room.

“Ah, sorry. Please continue.”

-‘Yes, we’ve identified the residence of the Church official who took the bomb, and now we just need to investigate their identity.’

“We’ll handle that part; it’s simple.”

-‘Understood. We searched the residence and found industrial explosives in the basement.’

“You preserved evidence, right?”

-‘We documented it with photos and videos. We collected some evidence items too.’

“For now, just hand over the explosives and send the rest to the Intelligence Bureau.”

We’ve just found the person who took the bomb. We’ll analyze the explosives to verify if they match those used in the terrorist attack.

We found them quickly after distributing sketches to our agents.

The “agent’s” job is done. From here, it’s the domain of the scary gentlemen.

“Hello? Can you hear me?”

-‘I hear you clearly, Operations Officer.’

“Nice to meet you, Team Leader. Have you arrived?”

-‘I’m heading to the office in the southern outskirts.’

“So you’ve crossed the border. If I may ask, what equipment did you bring?”

-‘I brought the standard equipment designated by the Intelligence Bureau.’

“Ah, I understand. I’ll leave the plan at the office for you to review as soon as you arrive.”

-‘Thank you.’

“Thank you for your hard work too, Team Leader.”

The scary gentlemen have crossed the border. They brought a few technicians along.

Now the scary gentlemen will kidnap the Church official, and the technicians will make them talk.

Once we get information, I’ll find and take down whoever set off the bomb. The question is who to put on trial. I’ve already discussed that with Director Petro.

“We’ll take the main perpetrator, and the Inquisition can take the rest.”

“Why should you take the main perpetrator?”

“Don’t you need kindling to burn as black magicians? If a big fish gets caught, it could be troublesome for the Church.”

For reference, the Inquisition has been claiming this was a terrorist attack by black magicians. If they suddenly say a Church member set off a bomb, it would only damage their reputation. It would also ruin their relationship with magic users.

Since the Pope is obsessed with killing black magicians, they need to maintain that this was a terrorist attack by black magicians.

Somehow.

“Oh my! Our plan has been discovered.”

“We’ve provided you with plenty of kindling this time, so don’t get greedy.”

“Make sure there’s no gossip afterward.”

“Of course.”

I plan to dump the body in the river so they won’t even find the corpse.

*

So I delivered a few simple instructions.

I asked the special forces to kidnap the Church official who took the bomb, and requested the counter-intelligence department to extract information.

I didn’t touch Yekaterina. I still don’t know if she’s an enemy or ally. Crucially, she’s been cooperative with the investigation.

No matter how much the interrogation room might be her battlefield, enduring interrogation is very different from conducting it.

‘…So it wasn’t a purge, but an attempt to stop them?’

‘Yes….’

Perhaps it was the intense interrogation over several days. She looked inhuman.

The video quality was unnecessarily good, so her physical condition was clearly visible.

I heard they barely let her sleep and conducted relay investigations.

They would wake her if she fell asleep, repeat questions they’d already asked, and make her write hundreds of pages of statements.

It’s a simple method, but people can’t endure it for days.

Eventually, humans have their limits.

‘Tell me again.’

‘…Bureau 2, the terrorist attack….’

The expected answer came from her lips.

‘They planned it….’

After finishing her statement, Yekaterina collapsed face-first onto the interrogation room table. An agent tried splashing water on her, but she didn’t wake up.

The video ended there.

I rubbed my bloodshot eyes, swallowed a painkiller, and played other videos.

‘Why did you come here?’

‘Orders… subdue…’

‘Who were you ordered to subdue?’

‘Operatives….’

The same questions and answers were repeated hundreds of times. There were dozens of such videos.

According to the psychological warfare agent’s report, most answers were correct.

So,

Bureau 2’s overseas operatives planned the terrorist attack.

Bureau 1 agents came to stop it.

They failed to subdue them and a gunfight broke out.

I asked about the possibility of disinformation, but the Intelligence Bureau analysts haven’t responded yet. The analysis seems to be taking some time.

But something is strange.

In my experience, when purging overseas operatives or aborting operations, they first recall the operatives to their home country.

Promotion. Medal ceremony. Vacation.

They attach such reasons to recall them, then internal affairs or counter-intelligence thoroughly investigates and purges them. Handling the lives of loyal agents is never done haphazardly.

But they didn’t recall them to their home country and instead sent counter-intelligence agents abroad?

This means the Imperial Guardian Office couldn’t recall the operatives to the Empire.

In other words, orders weren’t being followed.

Insubordination. Disobedience.

“If this is true…”

Usually such situations are called treason,

And when two departments shoot at each other, it’s called civil war.

A civil war had broken out.

Within the Imperial Guardian Office.

“This is a mess…”

I staggered, grabbing the table as throbbing headaches assailed me. Working while my physical condition hadn’t improved led to this state.

The doctor begged me to rest, but I just got more painkillers prescribed.

I asked Lucia if healing magic could help, but she said even she couldn’t do anything about fatigue.

She just told me to eat well and rest, but that’s easier said than done.

After struggling while holding onto the table for a while, I finally managed to sit down.

-Knock knock.

“…Who is it?”

“It’s Pippin.”

“Come in.”

Pippin opened the office door and entered. She pulled up a chair and sat across from me.

“Did you get any sleep?”

“Yeah.”

“You slept in the chair again.”

She pointed at the blanket. I had nothing to say and just smacked my lips.

“Please take care of your health. Not just for the staff, but the Hero is worried too.”

“Do I look that bad?”

“Yes.”

My health has suffered a bit.

But how can I sleep peacefully when there’s work to be done?

“By the way, why did you suddenly come?”

“…I have something to deliver to you.”

“What is it?”

Silently, Pippin took a note from her pocket and handed it to me.

I unfolded it and read aloud.

“One week later. 01:00. Under the bridge. 25-2. What is this?”

“A meeting place and time.”

“Who am I meeting?”

“Not us—they want to meet you, Major.”

Me?

I pointed at myself, and Pippin nodded.

“Who wants to see me?”

“Saint Veronica.”

Saint Veronica.

A baroness from the Kiyen Empire.

Beneficiary of the Imperial Guardian Office’s overseas operations.

And the Empire’s lobbyist.

“…Why would she want to see me?”

“What other reason would a lobbyist have for wanting to meet?”

She wants to see me.

“I suppose she wants to state her position.”