Ch.41Episode 3 – Fantastic Vacation

The crime of espionage falls under the category of crimes against foreign relations.

Those who conspire with foreign countries against the state. Those who recruit for an enemy nation. Those who engage in espionage for an enemy nation or aid spies, and so on.

Crimes against foreign relations are considered attempts to overthrow the state and are serious offenses punishable equally to insurrection.

And those who assist or knowingly ignore espionage activities receive the same punishment as spies. They are treated as defectors, as traitors.

In that sense, Chief Researcher Fernand, who concealed his meeting with a spy, was a traitor.

Episode 3 – A Fantastic Vacation

“According to what the Major said, Fernand failed to report the spy to us.”

The team leader continued his explanation in a calm voice.

“If he withheld the report to protect the spy, he would be punished for aiding espionage.”

In the silent meeting room where not even the smallest sound could be heard, only the team leader’s deep voice resonated.

He maintained a moment of silence as if letting his words sink in, then took out a cigarette.

With a hiss, the lighter flared and thin smoke rose into the air.

“…Huff.”

Silently, he exhaled smoke mixed with a sigh, then immediately extinguished the cigarette.

He speaks to me.

“Our team has investigators. Were you aware of that?”

“…I had my suspicions.”

Not all intelligence agency personnel are secret agents.

Whether in modern intelligence agencies or here, there are specialists who investigate spies, economic criminals, international criminals, industrial spies, terrorists, drug offenders, and more.

Investigators with virtually unlimited power based on judicial police authority, represented by the term “security police.”

Since Clebins was originally from counterintelligence, it was inevitable that the people he sent would be investigators.

As if he had expected this, the team leader nodded slightly.

“For now, we plan to investigate Fernand on charges of aiding espionage.”

“I see.”

It seems they intend to take him to the interrogation room and coax information out of him, guilty or not.

As expected, the team leader nodded and continued his explanation.

“Once we find out who he met, we’ll secure evidence to prove they’re a spy.”

“How long do you think it will take?”

“Well, it could be done as early as today, but if he refuses to talk, it will take longer.”

Fernand has so far failed to report his meeting with a spy to the authorities. The intelligence bureau investigator pointed this out in a calm voice.

“Whether he was threatened or received bribes, there must be a reason he didn’t report it.”

“Is the reason why Chief Fernand didn’t report it important?”

“Yes, even minor information can be helpful.”

“Hmm.”

The explanation seems to be mostly complete. After jotting down a summary of what to report on my notepad, I asked the team leader:

“What would you like me to do?”

To which the team leader replied:

“Please examine the aspects that are beyond the investigator’s view.”

*

The team leader made an intriguing request of me.

He wants me to look at the case from outside the investigator’s perspective.

He must know I’m a foreign operative. Why would he request a operative’s help in a spy investigation?

“Hmm…”

I closed my eyes and slowly reviewed the case.

The Magic Tower sent a spy to the Advanced Military Magic Research Institute. The purpose was likely the theft of research data and recruitment of researchers.

Typical industrial espionage.

An industrial spy leaks industrial information such as technical data, management information, and economic policies. They are often employed to reduce costs in research and development, including funds, time, and manpower. That’s why private companies often employ industrial spies more frequently than intelligence agencies.

So the Magic Tower is after the institute’s achievements.

I can’t imagine what that might be. Given they were trying to recruit Fernand, it might be related to biological data. Since they reportedly failed to access classified documents, I assume no research data has been leaked.

The problem is that this situation began with the leak of personal information of Advanced Military Magic Research Institute employees.

Where did Clebins get this intelligence?

“What are you thinking about?”

“AAAHHH!”

“KYAAAAH!”

I screamed in surprise at the sudden voice beside me.

Reflexively, I grabbed the gun in my inner pocket, but quickly withdrew my hand after recognizing the face.

“Ca-Camilla Rowell? What brings you here?”

“You scared me! Why are you shouting?!”

“You just appeared out of nowhere…”

While I stammered in confusion, Camilla Rowell calmed her startled heart.

After finally regaining her composure, she explained her purpose for coming here.

“I came to tell you dinner is ready.”

*

Due to the nature of my work, I rarely ate meals on time.

Perhaps it would be different for intelligence officers who move around or analysts who work in offices.

Investigators or operatives often couldn’t even leave work as they pleased, let alone eat regular meals. And I was a foreign operative.

Of course, regardless of position, when the workload is heavy, daily life falls apart anyway.

In any case, meals were one of my few pleasures.

“Tonight’s menu looks delicious.”

“Do you like steak?”

“I like all kinds of meat.”

I couldn’t drink freely, couldn’t travel far, and meeting friends was even more difficult.

If the food here hadn’t been to my liking, I might have quit the intelligence bureau long ago.

“Can’t you just buy meat yourself?”

Camilla Rowell tilted her head. She must not be fully adjusted to this world yet.

“The economy’s bad these days, so grocery shopping is difficult.”

“Is the economy in a recession?”

“I don’t know much about it. I just know prices have gone up a lot.”

In truth, I already knew exactly why the economy had collapsed.

The reason wasn’t anything special.

It had simply collapsed because the world had gone to hell.

Pirates blocking sea routes, monsters cutting off railways, the Empire at war, different races on extended strikes, terrorism and epidemics, and so on.

Production rates were destroyed, supply couldn’t keep up with demand, and transportation costs and insurance premiums skyrocketed, causing prices to go through the roof.

I knew this because I had seen economic reports created by the military intelligence bureau during my time with the Order.

These reports were originally shown to economic officials and high-ranking personnel, but I was told to study them as general knowledge so as not to appear ignorant in front of others.

I shuddered involuntarily as I recalled the one-on-one education I received from an economic official dispatched from the embassy.

“Why are you shivering? Are you feeling unwell?”

“No, no. I’m fine.”

I answered casually while cutting my steak.

“Well, how did your examinations go today?”

Camilla Rowell had undergone two examinations today. One was a health check-up in the morning, and the other was an ability test in the afternoon.

She answered with a bright smile.

“I cast magic without a circle!”

*

She really did use magic without a circle.

“The testing facility was destroyed, I’m told.”

-‘What?’

“Well, the facility used for testing military attack magic was damaged. The target was completely incinerated, and the walls and ceiling were all scorched.”

-‘Huh.’

Clebins made a deflated sound.

The testing facility, which could withstand magic capable of killing monster-sized beasts in one blow, couldn’t withstand Camilla Rowell’s flames.

-‘That’s quite interesting.’

“They say her health is normal, but they still don’t know why she faints. The junior and former researchers are investigating, but from what I hear, an accurate diagnosis will only be possible once the senior and chief researchers are released.”

-‘Well, with all the researchers detained, things can’t function properly… Right. Any developments in the investigation?’

Ah, I forgot to give the interim report on the investigation.

I quickly pulled out my notepad from my pocket and began reporting to Clebins.

“Based on what we’ve confirmed so far, Benoit Fernand, the Chief of Biological Analysis, failed to report his contact with a spy to the authorities. It’s confirmed that he rejected recruitment, but he appears to be under some form of blackmail.”

-‘Blackmail? Did they get some dirt on him…?’

“Well, he might have received money, or he could be involved in an affair or crime. Personally, I suspect Fernand might be the one who leaked the institute staff’s personal information.”

Hmm. A contemplative sound came through the communication device.

-‘So he sold information and couldn’t report it?’

“Yes, he might not have realized it was a leak of information.”

-‘Then why did he reject recruitment?’

“It seems he later realized he had leaked classified information and tried to back out. I suspect he didn’t report it because his crime would be exposed if the spy was caught.”

There’s no physical evidence, but there’s a possibility that Fernand leaked the staff’s personal information.

As a Chief Researcher, he would have sufficient access to Level 2 classified information. That would explain why he didn’t report it.

But Clebins seems to think differently.

-‘Hmm, no. That’s not it.’

“Pardon?”

-‘I received a list of leaked identities from our informant, and looking at it now, Fernand is included.’

“…”

-‘It’s not Fernand.’

“…Then.”

-‘It means someone else has already been selling information to the spy.’