Ch.79Episode 5 – Journalist, Diplomat, Soldier, Spy

After hearing the investigator’s report, my first suspicion was the National Security Agency.

This was because Sophia had openly stated that she was in charge of “investigation” work and had delivered a warning that the Military Intelligence Agency and Royal Intelligence Department should stay away from the Fabio Verati matter.

Since all of Fabio Verati’s relatives were Patalians, and he himself was originally from the National Security Agency, the natural conclusion was that the group monitoring his youngest daughter was the Patalian National Security Agency.

However…

It seems…

“What did you say?”

-“Well, sir, it appears that…”

It seems there are no absolutes in this world.

-“It appears that the ones currently raiding Location 51 are Imperial intelligence agencies.”

“…I’ll head there right away.”

Episode 5 – Journalist, Diplomat, Soldier, Spy

After excusing myself to Lucia and the people from the Inquisition, I hurriedly left the restaurant.

I caught a taxi and headed to the address I had received through the secure line. After carefully surveying the surroundings for quite some time, I entered the building.

The place I arrived at was an office.

It was a cover location for Military Intelligence Agency employees participating in this operation.

There, I was able to receive a situation report.

“These are photos of the operatives spotted during surveillance of Subject 51’s associates.”

The counterintelligence team leader spread several photos on the table. They showed the surveillance target—a female student in school uniform, men in suits putting her into a car, and four operatives watching that vehicle.

The investigator pointed to one enlarged photo and began explaining.

“Here. Do you see the radio the operative in the passenger seat is holding?”

“Yes.”

The man in the passenger seat of an SUV similar to a Jeep or UAZ was watching Fabio Verati’s youngest daughter while holding binoculars and a radio.

“This radio is manufactured in the Empire.”

The Special Activities Division operations officer added more information.

“It’s a short-range service radio. Mainly used by police command and field officers, and also adopted in small numbers by the military. It’s equipment particularly favored by the Counterintelligence Command.”

“……”

A civilian radio.

Given the technology here, it’s likely an analog radio. While digital radios are becoming available recently, such communication equipment goes straight to frontline military units as soon as it’s produced. Regardless of production capacity, they’re simply too expensive.

In other words, the radio in the photo doesn’t have encryption capabilities. Which means that if you tune into the right frequency, you can eavesdrop on their communications.

“If it’s used by civilians, then it doesn’t have encryption capabilities, correct?”

“That’s right. We attempted to intercept their communications through the vehicle’s radio frequency at the scene and managed to record about 9 seconds of transmission. We’re preparing to play it now, so please wait a moment.”

“I understand.”

I examined the other photos. Most showed Fabio Verati’s youngest daughter, robust men presumed to be her caretakers, and operatives circling around them.

After looking at the photos for a while, the Special Activities Division operations officer pointed to one of them.

“These bodyguards here. They all appear to have military experience.”

“…You mean they’re former military?”

“Their security protocols show similarities to certain special forces regulations. There are no blind spots in their protection. And most importantly…”

The operations officer pointed to their attire and vehicle.

“Their clothing and vehicles are all uniform. Most paramilitary organizations lack uniformity in their equipment and gear, but well-trained small units standardize everything from clothing to equipment. Whether at the platoon or squad level.”

“That seems like flimsy evidence.”

“Look at the vehicle. Dark tinting, additional mirrors, spare tires and jerry cans in the trunk. Where in the world would caretakers looking after a child drive around in such a vehicle? Unless they were adventurers.”

“……”

“Moreover, Subject 51 is a civil servant. His child is already attending the Academy and preparing for university. It’s strange to assign two robust men to such a child. Of course, overall security in the Magic Tower is somewhat unstable, but the target’s routes are far from high-crime areas, in relatively safe middle-class residential areas. Even in the Magic Tower, it’s not common for parents living in such areas to assign bodyguards to their children.”

The information was quite specific, as if from personal experience.

“You seem well-informed about the Magic Tower.”

“My first post was at the Magic Tower. I also have acquaintances who work in security there after being discharged.”

He must be referring to special forces acquaintances.

Military Intelligence Agency Special Activities Division veterans typically find employment under the Royal Intelligence Department or Cabinet Security Office rather than security companies, so they’re likely from military special forces.

In any case, the information provided by the operations officer was quite valuable. Words from a veteran with rich experience were more reliable than intelligence from any informant. Veronica was a similar example.

“In a similar context, the operatives also appear to be former military.”

“Imperial military…?”

“Our staff on standby found cigarette butts where the operatives had been positioned, all military-issue cigarettes supplied to the Imperial army.”

While conversing with the operations officer, the investigator who was organizing the photos handed me an envelope. It contained a couple of cigarette butts, a brand I recognized immediately from my time operating in the Empire.

“It’s Akhtonak.”

“You know it?”

“Yes. I knew some military personnel, and one heavy smoker always smoked these. I remember because he smoked them exclusively.”

There’s no way I wouldn’t recognize the cigarettes my informant smoked. I bought them for him whenever he ran out of tobacco money.

At this point, there was no need to look further.

“Connect me to headquarters.”

It was certain that the Empire was monitoring Fabio Verati’s youngest daughter.

*

-“So, it’s the Empire?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

In the Military Intelligence Agency’s cover office.

In the most secluded and secret room, I conversed with Clavins through the communication device.

-“I’ve listened to the recording thoroughly. They’re using the Imperial language. The equipment is Imperial-made. And they’re ethnically Kiyen, so it’s definitely Imperial.”

Clavins acknowledged the reality in a calm tone. Then he asked me:

-“Which division do you think they belong to?”

“Well, I’m not sure.”

The Empire has two military intelligence agencies.

One is the Counterintelligence Command, responsible for military security, counterintelligence, and domestic intelligence collection. The other is the Reconnaissance Command, handling foreign intelligence and operations.

The problem is that I don’t know which of the two is tracking Fabio Verati.

This isn’t the Empire, after all.

“I understand that both the Counterintelligence Command and Reconnaissance Command operate in the Magic Tower.”

-“You’re right. Both operate there.”

This stems from the Magic Tower’s political, historical, and diplomatic uniqueness.

The Magic Tower was established long ago with the full support of the Imperial family, and from the beginning of the nation’s founding, the Imperial family defined the Magic Tower as a semi-autonomous territory.

The problem is that the Emperor neither incorporated the Magic Tower into Imperial territory nor granted it independence, choosing an ambiguous option before dying.

And the Empire was a typical hereditary autocratic dictatorship.

-“…Well. That Emperor was the current Emperor’s grandfather, and it’s difficult to overturn laws created by one’s own grandfather.”

“That’s how dictatorships typically work, isn’t it?”

Hereditary dictatorships are fundamentally resistant to reform.

This is because their political foundation lies not in the dictator personally, but in bloodline.

Hereditary dictators, fearing downfall, pass power to their children to avoid criticism after death. But what happens when children who inherit power from their parents change their parents’ achievements according to their own preferences?

The moment children suggest their parents’ judgments were wrong, opposition forces will predictably dig the dictator’s parents out of their coffins and begin posthumous executions. It’s obvious without even looking.

This was a fact proven by Stalin and Mao Zedong. Both dictators were posthumously condemned by Khrushchev and Deng Xiaoping as soon as they were buried.

The Empire is no different. Every emperor in Imperial history generally avoided tampering with laws and institutions established by previous emperors. Without valid justification, it would ultimately be self-destructive.

That’s why Imperial intelligence agencies, regardless of domestic or foreign focus, all dispatch personnel to the Magic Tower. With no clear laws, they do as they please.

“…Hmm.”

Even China’s Ministry of State Security has dedicated departments for Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macao, so why are these guys acting like this? I really can’t understand.

While I was thinking about this, Clavins’ voice hit my ear.

-“The affiliation doesn’t matter. It’s either the Counterintelligence Command or the Reconnaissance Command. At least it’s not the Imperial Guard.”

His tone was full of confidence. I was curious about the source of that confidence.

So I asked.

“How can you be so certain?”

-“Are you the only one with ears? We have plenty here too.”

“What do you mean by that?”

-“About a month ago, we planted someone in the Imperial Embassy.”

He meant they had created a mole in the Imperial Embassy. Or perhaps a double agent.

“Wait, when did you manage that?”

-“We have someone who voluntarily defected from their side when the Imperial Guard was making a mess. Someone who would have been eliminated along with the ambassador last time, but turned due to promotion being blocked and money issues. The intelligence about leaks from the Advanced Military Magic Research Institute also came from there.”

“…What?”

-“Well. It’s not that important, so let’s drop it.”

After casually mentioning that they had turned an Imperial Guard agent, Clavins changed the subject in a calm tone.

-“So what are you going to do?”

Clavins was reprimanding me.

Actually, it was more like he was demanding a plan of action.

-“Looking at the materials, it seems the National Security Agency and the Empire are already far ahead of us. If things continue like this, they’ll get to Subject 51 before we do.”

“…Is that so?”

-“Well, we’re latecomers compared to them, so it can’t be helped. But you’re not the type to just sit idle while others are making moves, are you? So if you have any good ideas, tell me now.”

“……”

-“I can roughly see what you’re thinking, that’s why I’m asking.”

It wasn’t a demand for a plan but a leading question. Perhaps it’s because he’s someone who catches spies. Clavins seems to already know exactly what I’m thinking.

Well then,

“…Yes, well.”

I might as well confess.

“What about kidnapping?”

*

My plan was simple.

When multiple intelligence agencies are pursuing the same target, the only way for latecomers like us to get ahead is to secure the target first.

“He’s not someone who will be easily caught anyway. He’ll certainly have escape methods prepared.”

Someone with an intelligence background isn’t the type to be easily caught.

However, that doesn’t mean there are no options.

“I think targeting associates who are relatively easier to capture would be a good approach. From what I’ve seen, he seems to care deeply about his children. Someone like that wouldn’t run away alone if his child were kidnapped.”

I’ve never seen parents who abandon their children and flee. And using family for coercion is a very traditional method of control.

I know because I’ve done it multiple times.

“He’s not the type to abandon his child and run. If we kidnap the child, he’ll definitely crawl to us on his own to find them.”

I asked Clavins:

“What do you think?”

-“……”

“Colonel?”

His response was simple:

-“…I expected this, but hearing it now, it sounds completely insane.”