Ch.350Chapter 350 – Seeking Help from the Imperial Intelligence Agency

Peter, an agent of the Gelebrio Imperial Intelligence Agency.

Standing in front of the main gate of Glesius Academy, waiting for it to open, his expression was visibly tense.

His obvious nervousness stemmed from the person he was about to meet.

As a low-ranking agent of the Imperial Intelligence Agency, he was dispatched here for one purpose only.

‘I need to meet His Highness Duke Aurelion and secure his help.’

Specifically, his mission was to find Pathos at Glesius Academy and obtain his assistance.

Being merely a low-ranking agent, Peter couldn’t understand why the higher-ups at the Imperial Intelligence Agency needed Pathos’s help.

Unless absolutely necessary, even agents within the same department were only given the minimum information required for cooperation.

Thus, Peter too had only been told whom he needed to meet and where that person was staying.

He had no idea what specific help he was supposed to request.

‘I’m supposed to meet the Duke, ask if he can help, and if he agrees, hand over the crystal sphere.’

He checked once more to ensure the small leather pouch in his possession was secure.

Inside this leather pouch was the crystal sphere he needed to deliver to Pathos.

This was a specially crafted crystal sphere that allowed two-way communication with an agent of the Imperial Intelligence Agency.

Being an item that could be used without fear of wiretapping or eavesdropping, its value was beyond imagination.

‘How much longer do I have to wait?’

Peter had informed the guard at the entrance that he had come to meet Pathos on imperial orders, but there had been no response for about 30 minutes.

As an intelligence agent accustomed to stakeouts lasting days for desired results, waiting 30 minutes wasn’t particularly difficult for him.

“I’ll guide you to the reception room. Please follow me.”

When his patience finally paid off, the guard opened the door for outside visitors.

Peter passed through the door opened by the guard and, after walking down a long, straight corridor, reached a door with a sign that read “Reception Room.”

“Enter through this door, and His Highness the Duke will arrive shortly. I wish you a pleasant time.”

The guard returned the way he came, and Peter carefully opened the door to the reception room.

The reception room visible through the open door had a common layout.

It was a typical reception room structure with sofas arranged around a rectangular table so people could sit and converse face-to-face.

Peter entered the reception room and sat on the sofa closest to the door he had come through.

About five minutes after he sat down, the door opened, and the person he was looking for appeared.

“What brings the Imperial Court looking for me?”

A man with an ordinary appearance, notable for his black hair and black eyes.

It was Pathos.

“Your Highness Duke Aurelion. I sincerely apologize for visiting you so abruptly without any prior notice.”

“It’s fine. More importantly, I’m curious about why you’re looking for me.”

Pathos took a seat, and the formal conversation began.

“Yes, Your Highness. I am ‘Peter,’ an agent of the Imperial Intelligence Agency.”

“Imperial Intelligence Agency? Why would the Imperial Intelligence Agency be looking for me?”

Pathos was surprised when Peter revealed his identity.

He hadn’t expected the Imperial Intelligence Agency to seek him out at all.

“I don’t know the reason either. However, the Imperial Intelligence Agency needs Your Highness’s help. Of course, it’s not mandatory. If you can help, I’ll provide you with a crystal sphere that allows direct communication with the agent in charge.”

“Hmm, I understand. I’ll help. After all, I’m now connected to the Imperial Family by blood.”

As soon as Pathos agreed to help, Peter quickly took out the leather pouch from his possession and handed it to Pathos.

“What is this?”

“It’s a leather pouch containing a crystal sphere that allows direct communication with an agent of the Imperial Intelligence Agency. My only order was to deliver this to Your Highness.”

“Is that so? Very well. You may go now. I suppose the rest of the conversation will proceed through this crystal sphere.”

“That’s correct, Your Highness.”

Peter realized his mission was complete now that he had secured Pathos’s cooperation and delivered the crystal sphere.

He bid farewell to Pathos and left the reception room.

From now on, it was no longer his domain but that of the person who had given him orders.

Having completed his assigned mission, Peter walked away from the academy with light steps.

◈◇◈◇◈◇◈◇◈◇◈

After receiving the crystal sphere from the Imperial Intelligence agent named Peter, I immediately returned to the mansion.

I figured it wasn’t something I should use in the reception room.

Upon returning to the mansion, I went to my room and took out the crystal sphere.

Then, I infused it slightly with the energy of the Celestial Demon Cultivation Technique, causing the cloudy crystal sphere to become transparent and connect with the person on the other side.

“This is Duke Pathos Severio Aurelion. I was told this allows direct communication with an Imperial Intelligence agent.”

[Glory to the Empire. Your Highness Duke Aurelion. It is an honor to meet the hero of the Empire.]

“Let’s skip the formalities. According to Agent Peter, the Imperial Intelligence Agency needs my help.”

If they’re using the name Imperial Intelligence Agency, they must be receiving support from the Imperial Court, but what kind of help could they need from me?

“Do you want me to restore some hostile organization’s intelligence materials?”

[Similar, but rather than materials, it’s a person who knows about those materials.]

“Huh?”

I momentarily froze at the words of the intelligence agent speaking to me through the crystal sphere.

Not restoring damaged or corrupted intelligence materials, but restoring a person who knows about those materials?

“I didn’t mishear, did I?”

[No, Your Highness. What you’re thinking is correct.]

Wait, so what they need my help with is…

[What we need Your Highness’s help with is to fix a person who knows the location and contents of intelligence materials.]

Given that they want me to fix someone who knows the location of intelligence materials, it seems there was some unfortunate incident during their investigation that left the person mentally damaged.

‘Since I expected something like this, it’s not particularly surprising.’

This world has magic and alchemy, so there might be drugs that force confessions or magic that controls the mind.

They probably tried to extract information using such methods and accidentally damaged the brain, turning the person into an idiot.

Or perhaps they employed somewhat more aggressive physical methods?

“Couldn’t you have been a bit gentler?”

[It couldn’t be helped. He was quite stubborn…]

Seeing the agent on the other side of the crystal sphere shaking his head, it seems the person had resisted despite the agents’ strong demands.

I don’t know what information this person had that got them kidnapped by Imperial Intelligence agents, but they must be involved in something dangerous.

Hmm, hmm. I should avoid getting deeply involved. I’ll just fix the person and let them handle the rest.

“I can fix them, but I’d prefer if the repercussions didn’t affect me.”

[Of course not. Your Highness will not suffer any harm whatsoever.]

The Imperial Intelligence agent speaks as if it’s obvious, but somehow, it doesn’t inspire much confidence.

“Set up a contact location, place, and time, and let me know.”

[Yes, understood. Everything is for the Empire and the Imperial Court. Glory to the Empire!]

With these final words, the Imperial Intelligence agent ended the communication, and the crystal sphere became cloudy again.

“Sigh…”

I got up, put the crystal sphere back in the leather pouch, and left the room.

By the way, today is the weekend, so I’m taking a break from my duties as the head of the Disciplinary Committee.

“Oh, darling. You’re out?”

Karen, who was sitting in the living room, welcomed me as I came out of the room.

Oh, right. Karen might know something about the Imperial Intelligence Agency.

“Karen. Do you know anything about the Imperial Intelligence Agency?”

“Of course I do. Why? Did they approach you?”

I nodded at Karen’s question, and seeing this, she fell into thought for a moment.

“The Imperial Intelligence Agency approached you… Did they ask you to fix someone?”

“Huh? That’s right, but do you know something?”

Does Karen know something?

“I just heard from my father that intelligence has been received about suspicious movements from rulers of other countries recently.”

“Suspicious movements?”

What’s this? Are they collectively joining forces to oppose the Empire?

I don’t understand why they’re doing this when it hasn’t been that long since the threat of the Demon God disappeared.

“If the Imperial Intelligence Agency is asking for your help, the situation must be quite serious.”

Karen explained that they wouldn’t interrogate someone to the point of mental damage unless the situation was dire.

In other words, the Imperial Intelligence Agency asking for my help means they’re conducting such intense interrogations that people are breaking down.

Perhaps I’ll have to postpone my plans for a peaceful life a little longer?