Ch.424Episode 17 – The Blood-Drinking Tree

I was assigned a residence in the heart of Abas, the capital.

It was a gesture of consideration from the company, allowing me to reduce my commute to and from the Military Intelligence Bureau headquarters located in the capital, giving me more time to rest during my stay in Abas.

Thanks to this, it was easy to reach the Fatalia Embassy and the warp gate, both close enough that I could practically touch them if I fell over.

After arriving at the immigration office in Jerry’s car, I entered Fatalia with the help of the National Security Bureau branch director who came from the embassy. This was possible because he, disguised as a consul at the Fatalia Embassy, had already coordinated with the company.

My contact with the allied nation’s intelligence agent, who was waiting on the other side of the gate, happened the moment I was being escorted out the back of the building by the immigration office security.

“You’re here, Merlo?”

“Sofia.”

Sofia, an overseas intelligence officer from the National Security Bureau. My old acquaintance raised her hand to me with a rather somber expression.

“Someone died in Fatalia.”

“Yes.”

“Who?”

Sofia, who had been leaning against a car in the alley, gave me a sidelong glance. An indescribable uneasiness washed over me from her troubled expression and tightly closed lips.

I got into the back seat and looked at Sofia. She glanced at the rearview mirror a few times, then lowered her eyes, avoiding my gaze.

“Who died?”

Sofia answered.

“…Dmitrie.”

It was the death notice of an informant.

Episode 17 – The Blood-Drinking Tree

The familiar smell of chemicals and a grotesque stench.

The small room was filled with a terrible odor.

Within the small space dominated by cool air, there existed an even smaller space. A place just big enough for one person to lie down.

Dmitrie was there.

“……”

When I lifted the cloth covering the cold metal bed, a familiar face was revealed. It was a middle-aged man with his eyes closed.

He used to say that as he got older, he disliked the cold, and that the magic tower with its magically maintained mild climate was more livable than the Empire. Now he lay on a cold bed.

After removing the cloth, I stared at him for a long time. With his eyes closed, Dmitrie was as quiet as someone in deep sleep.

As I silently gazed at him, I carefully took his hand.

There was no warmth to be found in his cold hand. It seemed rigor mortis had begun, as touching his flesh felt more like touching a piece of wood.

“……”

I heard the sound of paper turning. Sofia, who had removed the documents hanging from the autopsy table, quietly spoke.

“…This evening, one of our team members who went out on field duty found Dmitrie at the hotel.”

During a regular contact carried out for informant management, the National Security Bureau agent, following Sofia’s instructions, waited for Dmitrie at the meeting place.

But 30 minutes passed, then an hour, and Dmitrie never showed up. The time and place had been precisely communicated, and he had never failed to appear at a meeting place without notice before.

Sensing something was wrong, the agent reported to Sofia. She called the hotel where Dmitrie was staying, but no one answered.

Sensing that something had happened to him, Sofia gathered her team members and went to the hotel.

And the moment they got off the elevator.

The National Security Bureau staff noticed that the door to the room was slightly open.

“It didn’t feel right. The door being open was strange in itself.”

Sofia said.

“Dmitrie was so meticulous about securing doors. He even had three locks installed on the front door of his home in the magic tower.”

Yes, I know.

His habit of securing doors developed when he was working as a social affairs reporter in the Kiyen Empire. Dmitrie, who had been marked as a dissident for a long time after publishing articles containing sensitive truths and demanding the release of imprisoned journalists, was paranoid about securing his doors.

This was due to police and Guardian Office staff who would search his home without warrants.

He had installed so many locks.

Once, I teased him about it, asking if this was a dragon’s lair.

“For someone like that to not lock his hotel room door doesn’t make sense…”

“……”

I pulled the cloth to examine Dmitrie’s body. I hadn’t noticed when looking only at his face, but there were many wounds from the neck down.

There were dark bruises on his chest and abdomen, his left forearm was broken with the flesh sunken in, and his thigh flesh was stapled.

Twelve, fifteen… no, eighteen. I gave up counting the layers of staples.

The staples were scattered across his thigh like pen scribbles on paper, and around them were marks that looked like burns. Judging by the size and the ash residue, they appeared to be cigarette burns.

“These are photos of the room where Dmitrie was staying at the time.”

The photos Sofia handed me contained traces of torture as vivid as the wounds on the corpse.

“According to the forensic experts and investigators who collected evidence at the scene, the torture seems to have lasted about 2 hours. The exact cause of death will have to be determined by an autopsy, but…”

She trailed off. Sofia also knew what Dmitrie’s cause of death was.

My eyes moved from the bruised skin to the neck area. The first thing I noticed was a long laceration across the Adam’s apple. It was a typical trace of a knife cutting across the throat.

“…The edges are messy.”

I spoke after examining Dmitrie’s neck.

“It’s a trace of someone forcibly tilting his chin back from behind and cutting. Unlike when someone cuts their own throat, when it’s done from behind, the edges become messy.”

“Assassination?”

“In this case, it should be considered an execution.”

There was no need for an autopsy.

Beaten, burned, tortured, and then his throat was cut—what else could this be but an execution? Even if it were an assassination, killing someone this way is not common.

“……”

I leaned against the wall of the morgue and caught my breath. Sofia covered Dmitrie’s face with the cloth.

“…Who did it?”

I asked Sofia. She turned her gaze toward me, her hands in her pockets as she stared at the autopsy table.

“It’s not confirmed yet.”

“So who do you think did it?”

“…The Imperial Guardian Office.”

“The motive?”

A sigh escaped Sofia’s lips.

“What reason would they have for executing a dissident? Obviously, it’s a warning.”

“…Is there a possibility that Dmitrie’s identity was exposed?”

“We’ve considered that too, but the possibility is slim. Logically, if they had found an informant cooperating with a foreign intelligence agency, it would be better to use him in reverse to set a trap. There’s no need to execute him like this.”

She wasn’t saying that Dmitrie died because they failed to protect the informant’s identity.

“Besides, the Empire has no reason to kill Dmitrie now.”

Dmitrie was a dissident from the Kiyen Empire. The Imperial Guardian Office and the Empire’s police had been monitoring and suppressing him for years, and it’s nothing new for the Empire’s intelligence agencies to harm and assassinate dissidents.

But this was only true when Dmitrie was active in the Empire’s press. Since he fled to the magic tower, the Empire had not tried to kill dissidents who had escaped abroad.

Although his activities in the magic tower against the Empire’s government and imperial family did point out the system’s irrationality, from a macro perspective, Dmitrie had never led a force powerful enough to shake the Empire’s system or made revelations that could overturn the imperial family.

So why would the Imperial Guardian Office kill Dmitrie now?

“Dmitrie was in frequent contact with foreign journalists.”

“…Correspondents?”

“Yes.”

Sofia nodded.

“He was contacting foreign journalists and criticizing the Kiyen Empire’s system. Looking at his phone’s mailbox, he had even scheduled interviews with foreign press. He contacted correspondents, had contact information for war correspondents…”

“……”

“Even before, Dmitrie had asked us several times for materials. He wanted us to get him lists and trial records of journalists who were imprisoned for criticizing the imperial family and government in the Empire. He said he wanted to make them public to help his colleagues get released as soon as possible.”

“……”

“Perhaps that’s what caught the eye of the Empire’s intelligence agency?”

It was an uncertain speculation, but Sofia didn’t say more.

She gazed silently at the covered corpse, and I quietly followed her gaze toward Dmitrie.

*

One person’s death is a tragedy, but one informant’s death isn’t even considered special.

Dmitrie’s death was summarized in a diplomatic note sent from the Abas Embassy in Fatalia to the Military Intelligence Bureau.

The Fatalia police asked the Kiyen Empire Embassy whether the bereaved family would consent to an autopsy and receive the body, but Dmitrie’s family refused both.

“…I just got a call from the Foreign Ministry. The family won’t accept the body or allow an autopsy.”

“Because they’re in the Empire. The bereaved family has no choice.”

Most Kiyen Empire dissidents who die abroad for various reasons cannot return to their homeland. This is because their relatives in the Empire adamantly refuse to receive the bodies.

In truth, the bereaved families probably wanted to receive the bodies. Who would want their parents, siblings, sons, or daughters to be buried in a foreign land?

However, the moment a dissident’s body reaches imperial territory, the government takes it away without consulting the family’s wishes. Then, without consent, they cut open the body, conclude it was suicide, an accident, or deterioration of a chronic illness, and incinerate the body without any investigation or trial.

Thus, the bereaved families essentially have no way to receive the bodies. That’s why most families refuse autopsy and receipt.

This is both a wish for their family member to rest in peace from afar and a measure to avoid potential surveillance that might follow the bereaved family.

“…Are the families safe?”

To my question, Sofia shook her head.

“They’re still in the Empire, how could they be safe? We can only hope nothing happens…”

“……”

Dmitrie’s body was taken by the magic tower. He, who had fled from the Empire, considered the magic tower his third homeland.

His first homeland was the Republic of Yerutz where he was born, and his second was the Kiyen Empire where he made a name for himself as a social affairs reporter.

Dmitrie, who was pushed out of the Empire, made his home in the magic tower, and ultimately, he was buried there.

I headed to the park in the magic tower with Sofia.

The funeral held in the park was attended by acquaintances and press colleagues who had been close to Dmitrie.

We sat on the rooftop of a building overlooking the park and watched Dmitrie’s funeral. People in mourning were moving the coffin while a parish priest presided over the funeral.

As we watched the soil being piled onto the coffin, Sofia suddenly spoke.

“Our company has decided not to investigate Dmitrie’s death.”

“…Because he was an informant?”

“Yes. Because he was an informant.”

Unlike the death of an intelligence officer, intelligence agencies don’t pay much attention to the death of an informant.

They thoroughly investigate when a high-ranking defector or a carefully managed informant dies, but the death of an ordinary informant is a common occurrence happening somewhere even now.

That’s why the National Security Bureau decided not to investigate Dmitrie’s death. They judged that even if they started an investigation now, it would be difficult to arrest the assassin.

I lowered my head and replied.

“…We’re the same.”

The Military Intelligence Bureau also showed no interest in Dmitrie’s death.

This was because the company managing Dmitrie was the National Security Bureau, not the Military Intelligence Bureau.

Leoni, who received the report, suspected that the Empire’s intelligence agency might be digging into what happened in the Moritani continent, but as soon as she heard that Dmitrie had been executed, she lost interest.

-‘It’s a tragic event, but not a serious situation. What caught the Empire’s intelligence agency’s attention was not espionage activities but anti-regime activities.’

‘……’

-‘Though it’s unfortunate, it’s fortunate for us. If your informant had betrayed you and sided with the Empire, wouldn’t we be facing a much more troublesome situation?’

‘That’s true.’

-‘Anyway, I’ll process this as sick leave, so recover well and come back. If you need more time, let me know. I’ll extend your vacation.’

The death of journalist Dmitrie was a tragedy, but the death of informant Dmitrie wasn’t even considered unfortunate.

As I was about to look up at the sky with a heavy expression, Sofia broke the silence.

“…What are you going to do?”

Well, what should I do?

The company tells me not to worry about it. Because the death of an informant is too common in intelligence agencies.

If the Empire had truly suspected my relationship with Dmitrie, they would have recruited him in reverse to catch my tail rather than executing him. Uncovering and arresting an intelligence officer’s identity is much more valuable than killing an informant to vent frustration.

The fact that Dmitrie was executed means that the Empire’s intelligence agency is not suspicious of my relationship with Dmitrie. If they had even the slightest suspicion, they would have taken Dmitrie to the Empire instead of killing him in Fatalia.

So, as Leoni said, it would be good to pull myself together and return to the company quickly.

But is that enough?

“…I don’t know.”

I looked at the park where the funeral was being held and raised my head.

“I don’t know.”

*

After the funeral, I made some calls.

“Are you doing well?”

-‘Yes, I’m safe. It feels good to be back in the Empire!’

Camilla.

-‘Thank you for your concern. Laterano is peaceful as always, and I’m the same as ever. If you have time, please visit. I’ll always be waiting.’

Lucia.

-‘Ah… I can’t stand these old fogies. How can people who’ve lived for half a century still be so greedy? Sometimes I wonder if this is a church where clergy gather or a marketplace where merchants gather. So, Major, when are you coming to visit?’

Veronica.

“Are you safe?”

-‘Hmm, I’m always fine. I’ve been too busy with business to contact you lately. The warlords are frantically buying weapons. Sanya is buying weapons like crazy for some urgent reason. Thanks to that, I’m the only one suffering. Are you doing well, Freddy?’

“…Yes, I’m doing well.”

Victor.

-‘I received the items you sent earlier. I made a good profit selling quality minerals and coal. It’s all thanks to you.’

“It’s nothing.”

-‘When you visit the tribe later, I’ll treat you with the utmost hospitality. I’ll let the elders know in advance.’

Hormuz.

“…Hello?”

-‘Yes, Officer.’

Finally, Francesca.

I contacted everyone connected to me. I was worried that the Empire’s intelligence agency might have caught wind and put them under surveillance. Fortunately, everyone seemed to be safe.

Having received a vacation, I spent time staying in the magic tower.

Sofia suggested that I stay in Fatalia where safety was guaranteed, but I politely declined. I didn’t want to leave this place yet.

“……”

In the quiet dawn, I looked at Dmitrie’s grave in the deserted cemetery.

Dmitrie Grigoryevich Sheremet.

Дмитрий Григо́рьевич Шеремет.

1944-1998.

Our eternal friend.

As I scanned the tombstone with his name, years of birth and death, and a phrase summarizing his life, I sensed someone’s presence. When I turned my head, I saw purple hair swaying between the leaves.

“What are you doing here, Officer?”

It was Francesca.

I took my eyes off the tombstone and looked at her.

“How did you know to come here?”

The alchemist smiled gently.

“I heard that you came to the magic tower. It seemed strange that you came without contacting anyone, so I asked around, and well.”

“…I suppose the embassy told you.”

Francesca, who had walked slowly, stopped beside me. After staring at me for a moment, she looked at the tombstone in front of her and carefully asked a question.

“Was he someone you knew?”

Following her gaze, I looked at Dmitrie’s tombstone. After hesitating for a moment, I answered her question.

“…He was a friend.”

*

Following Leoni’s instructions, I was relieved of my duties for the time being.

She told me to rest for a few days, organize my thoughts, and return to the company when I felt sufficiently recovered, but honestly, I doubted whether proper rest was possible in the current situation.

Anyway, since I was excluded from work, there wasn’t much I could do. I decided to try things I hadn’t done before and meet people I hadn’t been able to meet.

The first person I met was, of course, Francesca.

She had been staying at the villa in Fatalia and received my call after a long time. She said my voice sounded strange, so she came to the magic tower to check on me.

I spent some time with Francesca in the magic tower.

The next person I visited was Lucia and Veronica. I suddenly remembered that Lucia had been hinting for two months that she would like me to visit the order.

Since I thought of Lucia and came to the order, it was natural to see her. I visited the Tranquille Cathedral where the new saint resided and stayed for about two days.

And only on the third morning at the order did I finally visit Veronica.

“……”

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“…No, Major. How can you show up only now after not showing your face for two days?”

Veronica, whom I met after a long time, was… well, just the same as always.

“Why are you acting like we haven’t seen each other in months? We met last time.”

“That’s that, and this is this.”

“……”

She looked at me with a very displeased expression when I visited the cathedral. It seemed she was unhappy that I had come to Laterano but visited her sister first instead of her.

I didn’t understand why she was making a fuss about me meeting Lucia first. But there was no other way. I had to spend a whole day trying to improve the mood of the sulking saint.

After entertaining Veronica all day, I was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief lying next to her.

“Hmm…”

“Are you satisfied?”

“Ah, yes, I am.”

The saint, who had woken up after a good sleep, snuggled into my side with a smiling face.

When I looked at her with a tired expression, Veronica smiled mischievously and started poking me with her finger.

“Why are you acting like a monk? You enjoyed it too.”

“Who said I enjoyed…”

“Oh my. Then what was that attitude earlier?”

I sighed as I touched Veronica’s glossy hair and pulled up the blanket. For some reason, I always felt drained when dealing with her.

As I was playing along with her playful advances, Veronica suddenly removed her smile and looked at me with a rather serious expression.

“But what’s wrong? The atmosphere doesn’t seem right.”

“An informant I was handling was killed.”

“An informant?”

Veronica’s expression became serious.

She stopped joking, wiped the smile off her face, and started asking questions. Who died, where did they die, who killed them, and so on.

After listening to my explanation with a serious face, Veronica raised her upper body.

“A civilian died. You said he was a dissident? From the Empire.”

“Yes.”

“If it’s about the movement for the release of imprisoned journalists… I’ve heard about it too. The Intelligence Department, Interior Department, and Military Department were in an uproar over that issue for a while. The Foreign Ministry was also wary of dissidents continuing their activities abroad. Is that why they eliminated him?”

“The Imperial Guardian Office would know that.”

Veronica, who had been thinking deeply, started making her own conjectures.

As someone who was once an informant for the Imperial Guardian Office and a lobbyist for the imperial family, she was a well-known expert on the Empire not only in the order but also in the Abas Foreign Ministry.

“In my opinion, he was likely killed because he was a dissident. The Empire, if nothing else, doesn’t forgive people who expose their flaws. They track them down to the end, even if they flee to another country.”

“……”

“I think there won’t be any issues with your safety, but should I try to find out? The Imperial Guardian Office branch director or the ambassador…”

“No need. It’s too dangerous.”

It would be troublesome if either I or Veronica aroused the Guardian Office’s suspicion by getting involved. For her safety too, we should stay put for now.

When I rejected her proposal with this meaning, Veronica’s expression became strange. Whether she felt sorry, troubled, or some other emotion, I couldn’t tell. Looking at me with a mysterious gaze, she suddenly opened her arms.

“Come.”

“…What are you doing?”

“Come here.”

She pointed to her embrace. After staring blankly for a moment, I made a disgusted expression and tried to pull away, but as if she had expected this, Veronica grabbed my arm and pulled me in forcefully.

Finding myself suddenly in Veronica’s embrace, I looked at her with an expression asking what she was doing. Veronica gazed at me and smiled gently.

“It’s okay.”

The saint, with a benevolent smile, said.

“It’s not your fault. It wasn’t your mistake either. As someone managing an informant, you must feel responsible and it must be hard, but you need to let it go now.”

“……”

“The person who was your informant would want that too. He could have betrayed you to save himself, but he didn’t betray you until the end. So, let him go now. The living must continue to live.”

Veronica whispered in a gentle voice as I was held in her embrace.

I listened to her words in silence for a while.

“…The path of the righteous is surrounded by the flames of the greedy and the tyranny of the wicked on all sides, so blessed are those who guide the weak from the valley of darkness with mercy and righteousness.”

With those words, Veronica didn’t speak anymore, but I could feel her hand gently stroking my skin and patting my back.

As the ticking of the second hand slowly continued.

I carefully removed her hand.

“How is it? Do you feel a little better?”

“……”

Veronica asked with a strangely playful smile. I shook my head slightly, indicating that I wasn’t sure.

“What you need now is rest. I’ll call Lucia, so rest comfortably while you’re here. Even if it’s just for a moment.”

“……”

“Do you have something urgent to do?”

Something to do.

Well.

“…I do.”

I looked at Veronica and added.

“But not now.”