Ch.436Episode 17 – The Blood-Drinking Tree

When asked to name the representative military groups of the Church, there are certain organizations that are always mentioned.

The Inquisition.

The Exorcism Society.

And the Holy Knight Order.

One common misconception people have is that these are “armies” protecting the Church.

Inquisitors and exorcist priests are not soldiers. This was true both in international law and in the Church’s official position. The same goes for Holy Knights.

The Vatican has never officially recognized the Holy Knight Order as a formal military.

The Holy Knight Order was officially established as a security organization for domestic peacekeeping, and its foreign activities are strictly limited to counter-terrorism.

In other words, the Holy Knight Order’s foreign activities are simply part of the war on terror. Like the FBI counter-terrorism unit being deployed to Afghanistan.

Therefore, the Holy Knight Order’s status under international law is that of a “paramilitary organization,” similar to police special forces or counter-terrorism units.

This raises a question.

Where is the Church’s actual army?

Episode 17 – The Blood-Drinking Tree

In the musty basement of a safe house.

As the dim magical projector’s light cut through the twilight between day and night.

The cripple broke the silence.

“The Templar Order is… simply put, the Church’s army. If the Holy Knight Order is like riot police, then the Templars are the real deal.”

As the sound of a cane echoed through the basement, the Royal Intelligence Agency’s senior analyst continued.

“If you took military history classes at the academy, you’d know exactly what kind of group they are.”

“They’re the elite unit that achieved the most military accomplishments during the Magic Tower Independence War.”

While the Holy Knight Order is a paramilitary organization with internal security characteristics, the Templar Order is a pure military organization. They’re the ones who take the front lines when war is declared. Even their name reflects this: “Templar” Order.

I recited what I had learned in my military history class.

“During the war with the Magic Tower, when the Holy Knight Order began to falter against battle mages, the Vatican declared war. The Pope of that era designated the Magic Tower as a pagan group, which served as the legal basis for declaring a holy war under church law.”

“Well learned. Let me add a bit more.”

Larry added some additional explanation.

In the early days of the war, when the Magic Tower was preparing for independence, the Vatican issued suppression orders upon hearing news of the mages’ rebellion.

At that time, the Vatican denied the existence of mages, so the Church treated the mages’ rebellion as a popular uprising.

The Holy Knight Order, deployed to suppress the rebellion, initially pushed back the Magic Tower. The Inquisition has always been a group of experts in anti-magic warfare, and the Holy Knight Order was their finest counter-terrorism unit, leaving the mages helpless.

However, as the war entered its middle phase, the situation began to change.

After enduring fierce battles, the mages started pushing back against the Holy Knight Order. Years of warfare had been enough time to transform a ragtag group into elite guerrilla fighters.

When the Inquisition and Holy Knight Order began to be pushed back, the desperate Vatican declared war. Mages, whose existence had been denied, were now classified as heretics, and what had been a suppression of a popular uprising was instantly elevated to a holy war.

The unit deployed to the battlefield then was the Templar Order.

This was the Church’s army that had a history of expeditions across the sea to distant continents to kill heretics.

“The Templar Order is a military organization that has existed for thousands of years. They’re an elite army that has gone through thirteen expeditions to the Mauritanian continent and the Eastern continent since the First Continental Integration War.”

Tap, tap. Larry moved toward the screen, his cane marking each step.

“Although they’ve officially suspended activities now that religious wars are a thing of the past, the Templar Order still exists. You could say that the changes of the times have suppressed the madness of these war fanatics.”

“……”

“But while the madness has disappeared, the Templar Order still remains and continues its activities unofficially. Instead of disappearing from the battlefield, they’ve gone underground.”

As he pressed a button, the screen changed. Numerous photos appeared on the transparent display.

Standing in the blue-tinged shadows, Larry pointed with his cane.

“At the forefront of this is Unit 92541.”

Unit 92541. Officially known as the Jutland Knights.

The senior analyst of the Abbas Royal Intelligence Agency called them:

The Special Operations Unit.

“Unit 92541, the Jutland Knights. The Church only has two ways to refer to these guys, but for convenience, we call them the Special Operations Unit. Their nature is identical to that of special warfare units.”

I observed the photos that appeared on the screen. They were photographs of Unit 92541’s operations, materials that the Abbas intelligence authorities had collected over decades.

My first thought upon seeing the photos was that these guys had been poking around in a lot of places.

The backgrounds in the materials were filled with deserts, jungles, and exotic urban settings. No matter how I looked at it, these weren’t taken in Laterano.

In them were fully armed soldiers.

“They’re a specialized unit focused on foreign special operations. They’re mainly tasked with assassinating cultists operating abroad and securing artifacts and mysteries. Of course, these aren’t operations that could be conducted openly—most are unofficial.”

“Covert operations?”

“Exactly. In fact, the Jutland Knights often cooperate with the Inquisition. Well, Abbas special forces also cooperate with intelligence agencies, so it’s similar.”

The senior analyst explained, and the operation team leader added.

“They’re not a unit under the direct control of the Inquisition. That’s why we classify 92541 as special warfare rather than special intelligence.”

“Calling them just a special warfare unit would be an understatement. Who but a religious fanatic would join such a place?”

Listening to Matt and Larry’s conversation, I leaned back in my chair.

“So… these religious special warfare operatives worked with my team member?”

“Yes.”

I turned to look at Jake. Hunched over with his fingers interlocked, he slowly began to speak.

“…We were deployed on the same operation. The location was Kandahar.”

“What was the operation?”

“Assassination of a cultist terrorist. He was quite notorious.”

Jake is an officer who served in a special warfare unit. Selected for his language specialty, he was deployed overseas.

“Due to the confidential nature of both the mission and the operation itself, we couldn’t deploy local collaborators. So headquarters recruited people who could speak the local dialect…”

“And you were selected?”

The former special operations operator nodded.

The Abbas Department of Defense, having received a joint operation proposal from the Church, selected operators from special warfare units stationed on the Mauritanian continent. Due to the nature of the mission and to prevent information leaks, they chose Jake for his language skills.

Since assassinations need to be carried out quickly, the main force that would execute the finale of the operation waited at the base. Instead, they dispatched a detachment to Kandahar to guide the aerial teleportation and gather local intelligence.

“I was part of the detachment. My mission was to contact local residents and gather intelligence on the target. That’s where I met Ibrahim.”

Jake, who had infiltrated as part of the detachment, formed a friendship with one of the Jutland Knights’ soldiers. That was Ibrahim.

Jake described Ibrahim as a devout believer. Someone who had converted to the faith despite family opposition and death threats. He praised him as being exemplary both as a religious person and as a soldier.

The problem is,

“He showed up here?”

That this person appeared at the refugee camp.

I asked why the Church’s special warfare unit had appeared at the refugee camp.

“Larry. Did the local government or the coalition request the Church to deploy a special warfare unit?”

“No.”

“Then why is this Unit 92541 person at the refugee camp?”

Thump. The senior analyst, resting his cane and sitting down, let out a low groan as he speculated about the situation.

“There’s no way to know what conversations have been happening between the government here and the Vatican, but I see three possible reasons why Unit 92541 might have appeared here.

First, to guard the Saint. They might have attached a security team in case dangerous elements have infiltrated the refugee camp.

Second, official deployment. They might have been sent to eliminate someone who infiltrated the refugee camp. If this hypothesis is true, the local government probably requested the deployment first.”

“And the last one?”

“Unofficial deployment.”

Larry said.

“The Church sent troops to assassinate someone. No government would stand by and watch a foreign assassination squad operating on their soil, so it’s not a pre-agreed military operation. Obviously, it would be an illegal operation. Just like us being here right now.”

It was a plausible hypothesis.

Upon receiving Matt’s urgent report, the Royal Intelligence Agency dispatched intelligence officers to Jake’s quarters.

This was because Jake had mentioned having materials related to Ibrahim in his quarters.

While Royal Intelligence Agency staff searched the quarters, the team leaders gathered in the basement to discuss how to resolve this situation.

“Jake. Think calmly. Did you really make eye contact with him?”

“Yes.”

“Do you think he recognized you?”

“He definitely recognized me. Ibrahim reacted as soon as our eyes met.”

“……”

Larry argued that since nothing was certain yet, they should continue the operation, while Matt insisted they should stop because they couldn’t proceed with such a risk factor.

I contacted Military Intelligence. I wanted to check if there had been any unusual news from the Inquisition.

Just then.

A call came in from the Royal Intelligence Agency.

-“I apologize for calling at such a late hour. We received an unusual call for one of your team members.”

“What kind of call?”

-“A call from abroad.”

Hearing what the Royal Intelligence Agency staff said, I immediately sensed who had contacted Jake.

I gestured for Matt and Larry to gather around. The Royal Intelligence Agency soon connected the call.

“…Hello?”

Jake, seated in front of the communication equipment, spoke.

The answer came immediately.

-“It’s me, Jake.”

“Ibrahim?”

-“Yes.”

With the radio between them, the two soldiers conversed.

“What’s going on all of a sudden? Making contact like this…”

Jake’s question continued, but the other party didn’t answer.

Instead, he said in a plain voice:

-“Let’s meet for a bit.”

*

The countries of the Mauritanian continent strictly prohibit alcohol consumption.

According to Al-Yabd doctrine, alcohol is an impure substance that clouds the mind, so governments that have adopted Al-Yabd as their state religion have legally banned the sale of alcohol.

However, secular states allowed alcohol sales to foreigners.

In a bar for foreigners in a famous tourist city.

The Church’s soldier had summoned Jake there.

“Hello, Ibrahim.”

A man in civilian clothes leaning against the bar turned his head.

“You came.”

“You called me.”

Jake sat down on the long chair. It was next to Ibrahim.

The seating arrangement was natural. Even to my eyes, it seemed flawless.

However, Jake’s expression as he took his place beside his friend was not bright. With a stern face, he broke the ice.

“Why did you call me?”

“Just because.”

Ibrahim answered.

With a faint smile, the mixed-race cleric turned his head toward the seat next to him.

“I saw you passing by.”

“……”

As a new guest appeared, a waiter with an order pad showed up.

“What would you like?”

“…Beer.”

“The same as what I’m having.”

Ibrahim spoke while raising his glass. The waiter, who briefly left, returned with a cool beer with bubbles rising and a swishing bottle of wine.

Even as the wine filled the glass, the two didn’t exchange words. Until the waiter who provided the drinks took his tip and completely left, no one opened their mouth.

Finally, as the waiter’s back completely disappeared, Jake’s lips parted. After taking a sip of beer, he placed his interlocked hands on the bar.

“Why did you want to see me?”

Jake turned and asked Ibrahim. The cleric opened his mouth while rolling his glass.

“What were you doing there?”

“……”

It was a direct question.

Jake brought the glass to his lips.

“It was for an operation.”

“Hmm. An operation…”

The wine slowly flows along the rim of the glass. Where the reddish liquid traces the glass, a red trail remains.

Jake asked.

“Are you still with the unit?”

Ibrahim nodded.

“I’m still serving. How about you?”

“I’m working at the embassy.”

Ibrahim tilted his glass and drank the wine. Judging by his drinking posture alone, he looked like a heavy drinker similar to Veronica, but despite tilting the glass significantly, the wine in the glass hadn’t decreased much.

He was controlling the amount of alcohol he consumed. To avoid getting drunk.

Such habits often appear among intelligence officers at drinking gatherings. Because blabbering about known information while drunk can destroy one’s career, people working in intelligence agencies practice methods to avoid getting intoxicated.

Of course, intelligence agency officers aren’t the only ones who develop habits of not getting drunk.

There are many civil servants who handle sensitive confidential information in the public sector. For example, special warfare unit members who were deployed on operations classified as top secret.

“……”

I roughly understood what kind of person Ibrahim was through his drinking habits. He is someone who exercises good self-control.

I had seen such people in American special warfare units like Delta or SEAL. Special operations and paramilitary operations have many commonalities, and special warfare is one of the units that frequently access top-secret information. My friends at the CIA have often received help from the Department of Defense’s special units.

“I heard the news.”

Ibrahim turned his head toward Jake and broke the silence.

“You’ve been to Laterano, right? When a colleague of the First Son came to meet St. Lucia.”

The First Son. A term from the Church’s scriptures referring to a warrior.

Jake nodded.

“Yes.”

“I’m curious how someone who used to kick down doors in the field ended up moving to an embassy… but I won’t ask why. Nor will I ask about your purpose for being here.”

“……”

“Instead, could you do me one favor?”

Ibrahim smiled and turned his gaze toward Jake.

Jake seemed to be contemplating.

Tap, tap. His fingers drummed on the bar. After silently staring into Ibrahim’s eyes, he cautiously broke the silence.

“Let’s hear it.”

“I’d like you to introduce me to someone. Nothing more, nothing less, just put in a word for me.”

“Who do you want to meet?”

“Your superior.”

Ibrahim turned his gaze.

“Frederick Nostrum.”

At Ibrahim’s voice coming through the communicator, all eyes around turned.

From the technician to Larry with his large backside flattening the seat, to Matt and Bill.

“…What do you want to do?”

Matt, putting down his headset, asked me. He gestured outside the van and said,

“The team members are ready.”

I turned my gaze to observe the surrounding buildings. Beyond the second-floor window, armed operation team members were ready to exit through the door. They seemed poised to raid the bar at a moment’s notice.

“……”

Meeting Matt’s gaze, I remained silent for a while.

I just crossed my arms and silently exchanged glances with the operation team leader.

And after some time had passed.

Rising from my seat, I broke the silence.

“…Let’s do this.”

*

Jake opened his operational mobile phone placed on the bar. After briefly leaving the store, he paced around nearby while making a call.

And shortly after.

A man in a suit visited the quiet bar.

“……”

At the desolate bar where a half-empty beer glass sat alone, the back of a man drinking wine by himself was visible.

The suited man who entered through the main door walked steadily forward. Passing by tables and comfortable seats, he took the place next to the man tilting his wine glass.

“I heard you wanted to see me.”

I rested my arm on the bar. Then I turned to look at Ibrahim.

He glanced sideways at the suddenly appearing suited man. His expression seemed quite composed.

“Since we’re both busy, let’s get straight to the point.”

“……”

“What do you want?”

Ibrahim took a large sip of wine from his glass. After wiping the residue from his lips with a handkerchief, he put it back in his pocket and began to speak.

“I came because I heard a rumor.”

“What rumor?”

“A rumor that if one needs help, one should seek you out.”

I asked about the source.

“That’s a rumor I’m hearing for the first time. Who told you?”

“……”

Ibrahim crossed his arms deeply and looked around. He seemed to be checking if there were any listening ears.

After briefly scanning the interior of the store, the Church’s soldier slightly lowered his gaze.

“The Inquisition.”

“……”

He continued, quietly moving his lips.

“From what I heard from people there, if it’s related to St. Lucia, I could seek your help… in an unofficial manner.”

“When you say something related to the Saint, what exactly do you mean?”

“Security issues.”

Security issues. That must be very important.

Click! I lit a cigarette. As the smell of oil invaded my nostrils, I closed the lighter and smoke began to puff out.

“Let’s hear it.”

I raised my eyebrows as if to say “continue.”

“It’s a complex issue to explain briefly, but since this isn’t a secure location, I’ll explain simply.”

Ibrahim moved his lips and quietly closed his eyes.

Then, in a deep voice, he spoke.

“There’s a cultist in the refugee camp trying to assassinate the Saint.”