Ch.80Episode 5 – Journalist, Diplomat, Soldier, Spy

# The Avas Representative Office Building in Ju Matap.

On the fifth floor is the Defense Attaché Office.

From the outside, it looked no different from offices on other floors, but security was undeniably tight. Security was so thorough that not even other staff members or even the diplomatic representatives who walked around with authority could enter freely.

Only a select few were granted access, including Military Intelligence Service personnel.

And here were those authorized individuals.

“Pippin. I’ve finished the report.”

“Oh, thanks.”

Pippin, the Information Management Officer of the Defense Attaché Office and Team Leader of the Information Analysis Team at the 73rd Project Group of the Military Intelligence Service, took the document handed over by the civilian employee.

As soon as she put down the document, she automatically picked up a pen and signed her name in the signature field on the cover.

And suddenly, she thought how strange the work she was doing felt.

“…”

She was certain she had been an analyst, but somehow, before she knew it, she had become something resembling an analysis officer.

Though she didn’t exactly dislike it since she had been promoted, she still felt like she was wearing clothes that didn’t quite fit her.

“I’ve looked into it, but I can’t find any information about the Talent Development Institute in the official records. I think we’ll need to transfer this to another department-. …Pippin?”

“…”

“…Pippin?”

“Oh, yeah. What is it?”

“Are you feeling sick?”

Snapping back to reality at her colleague’s voice, she realized she had been spacing out. The pen was still in her hand.

“Sorry. I was just thinking about something else. Where were we?”

“You don’t look well. Why don’t you go home for today?”

“No, I’m fine.”

It seemed that both she and Jake would need time to get used to the work they had suddenly been tasked with.

And as far as Pippin knew, there was only one person among her acquaintances who could handle this kind of work assignment and remain unfazed.

-Knock. Knock.

“Come in.”

“Hey, everyone. Good work.”

“S-Section Chief?”

That would be the person who just opened the door and walked in.

“Yes. Where is Pippin?”

## Episode 5 – Journalist, Diplomat, Soldier, Spy

“I’m right here.”

“Ah, thank you.”

I visited the Defense Attaché Office located on the fifth floor of the representative building.

Since I technically held the position of Defense Attaché, calling it a “visit” might be inappropriate, but since I wasn’t actually handling Defense Attaché duties, this expression seemed more fitting.

“You’re drinking the same instant coffee mix here in Matap as you always do. Figures.”

“Well, it’s made in Matap, after all.”

“Ah, right.”

Pippin handed me a paper cup and sat down in her chair.

Her desk was piled high with papers, and I sipped my coffee while flipping through the documents with my hand.

“Are all these materials from the Matap representative office?”

“Yes. We’re currently searching for information on the Talent Development Institute. There’s very little publicly available information.”

She says they can’t find it through OSINT.

That means either the Talent Development Institute is small enough that little is known about it, or Matap is controlling information about it. Which is correct? Probably both.

“Take your time looking. By the way, why is this coffee so sweet?”

“The team members like sugar…”

“Don’t eat too much sugar. It’ll rot your teeth.”

“I’ll put it under my bed and the fairy will take it away, I guess.”

It sounded like something from a fairy tale about the tooth fairy, but in a world where fairies actually exist, it was somewhat reasonable. Of course, these weren’t the kind fairies who replace old teeth with new ones, but the bastards who steal your new teeth while you sleep.

Anyway.

“Pippin. I have a favor to ask.”

“What kind of favor…?”

“I need you to find some information for me. Publicly.”

The information analysis team led by Pippin performs information analysis and open-source intelligence collection, or OSINT missions.

Press releases.

Academic journals.

Research papers.

Daily newspapers.

Promotional materials.

Parliamentary audit materials.

Official educational materials, and so on.

The information I’m looking for is in there. So Pippin is the right person to find this information.

“Go ahead.”

“I need you to collect information on robbery, murder-robbery, or similar crimes, focusing on local police and the Ministry of Justice. Types, methods, techniques, victims, perpetrators, locations…”

I muttered while reading information about Fabio Verati on the pin board that filled one wall of the office.

As I was scanning through information memos with one hand and drinking coffee with the other, Pippin, who was watching me from behind, asked a question.

“Why are you looking for that kind of information? Are you involved in something dangerous?”

“Not exactly.”

I turned my head to look at Pippin.

“I’m planning to do it myself.”

*

The moment I said I would kidnap Fabio Verati’s youngest daughter, I received an agitated response.

-‘Have you lost your mind?’

“Why are you reacting like that again, sir?”

-‘Kidnapping a child? In the middle of Matap?’

Even I had to admit that saying I would kidnap a 17-year-old minor was a slightly shocking statement. But at the moment, I couldn’t see any other option.

I tried to convince Clevins with plausible reasoning.

“If another intelligence agency gets involved and they move first, wouldn’t the operation be ruined? If the National Security Agency, the Imperial Military Intelligence, or the Royal Intelligence Service beats us to it, we’ll lose our chance before we even start.”

-‘Still, kidnapping is out of the question. This isn’t just about politics or diplomacy.’

It was a statement that didn’t match the image of Clevins, who had captured hundreds of spies, but I understood since that was his true nature. If my superior had been Leoni, she might have approved.

Anyway.

Clevins opposed my proposal from a moral and ethical standpoint.

But the facts were clear: we were latecomers compared to other intelligence agencies, and time was running out. So the decision was passed up to someone higher than Clevins.

To the Director of Military Intelligence.

-‘I’ve received the report. But there are issues with the interim report. This isn’t something to rush to a conclusion on, so first bring me a more detailed plan.’

“Understood.”

Clevins looked extremely displeased, but he didn’t argue with the Director’s orders. I suspected that once Clevins became Director, such aggressive, rough approaches would become impossible.

But for now, I had permission.

So, what I needed to do next was clear.

“…So now I need to collect information.”

-‘So that’s why you asked Pippin to look into robberies or murder-robberies or whatever?’

“Yes.”

Pippin and Jake showed reactions similar to Clevins’. They didn’t like my plan.

It wasn’t an appropriate reaction for subordinates to show to a superior, but I understood. I used to be the same way. Even now I’m a bit uncomfortable with it, but since I make my living doing this kind of work, I’ve gotten somewhat used to it.

“Jake. Take some staff and go near the Academy to dig through the trash.”

-‘Trash, sir?’

“Yes. Don’t pick up anything strange. Focus on papers, especially documents.”

Every organization uses paperwork. Private companies, public corporations, banks, public institutions, educational institutions, military, prosecutors, police, diplomatic missions, and so on.

A huge amount of paper is consumed daily. And the next day, and the day after that, a similar amount of paper is turned into documents.

Naturally, no place has enough space to store it all. Even if they had the space, they would need to periodically shred and dispose of documents to make room.

And those papers contain a wide variety of information, including the information I’m targeting.

-‘Why…?’

“School newsletters, meeting materials, documents exchanged between departments. We need to check if there are any schedules for students going outside.”

This is a method frequently used by the KGB, the epitome of communist spies, when they were infiltrating Western diplomatic missions. They usually recruited janitors and low-level employees, but this time we need to do it ourselves due to time constraints.

“We’ll track the students’ external schedules to plan our route. We can’t make a plan based solely on Subject 51’s contacts’ movements, can we?”

-‘I see you’re creating a Plan B. Understood.’

So Jake’s human intelligence team was dispatched to seize paper documents (or rather, to dig through trash cans).

I turned off my communication device and entered the office.

The information I needed wasn’t just limited to that.

“Excuse me.”

“Who is- Oh, it’s the Defense Attaché!”

A police officer sitting at a desk stood up and greeted me warmly.

“You’re the police officer assigned to the representative office, right?”

“Ah, yes. I’m from the Foreign Affairs Bureau.”

Foreign Affairs Police.

They’re police officers who investigate crimes related to foreigners, overseas Koreans, and foreign-related crimes. They’re called Police Attachés and, unlike intelligence agency officers who engage in espionage under official cover, they actually handle investigation-related duties.

“By the way, what brings you here…?”

“Do you have any materials related to high-crime areas in Matap? I understand you’re in close contact with local police.”

“Oh, of course we do. But why do you need that?”

“Well, you know, it’s about those people with strong faith.”

“Ah, are you talking about the medical volunteer work you mentioned…?”

“Yes.”

“Then of course I should give it to you! I saw on the news that you’ve been going to some dangerous neighborhoods.”

As it turned out, the Police Attaché was a believer. I don’t know if he was genuine or not, but when I mentioned it was about protecting the Saint, he pulled out materials from a secure cabinet and handed them to me.

“As you probably learned in your pre-assignment training, these can’t be checked out or removed, and photography is prohibited. Copies can’t be made either.”

“…Is it classified?”

“No, not exactly, but these aren’t entirely our materials… though I think we can work something out as long as they’re not lost.”

“Thank you.”

The Police Attaché accepted the bribe I slipped him and turned a blind eye to the removal. It’s illegal, but we’re both public servants, so what does it matter?

“Ah, one more thing.”

“Yes, what is it?”

“Could you look into these people for me? It’s a similar issue, but I’d like to ask discreetly. Given the situation.”

“Of course. That’s possible.”

I handed over photos of the individuals guarding Fabio Verati’s youngest daughter to the police. Deceiving someone full of conviction was as easy as pie.

While the officer was making phone calls, I copied all the materials, tucked them under my arm, and headed to the office.

“I’ve got the materials.”

“…Where did you get all this from?”

“Foreign Affairs Police materials. I noticed there’s something about robberies in the middle there.”

“I’ll reference it. Thank you.”

The information analysis team began analyzing the materials I received from the police.

Since they were diplomatic documents exchanged between governments, the quality and quantity of information was very high. Naturally, this would reduce the time needed for information collection and allow for cross-verification as well.

After that, I spent some time going around various places, putting in the legwork.

Special Activities Division, Technical Intelligence Department, Counterintelligence Division, Defense Attaché Office, Matap Representative Office, Matap Police, Inquisition Office, and so on.

With my diplomatic credentials and status as a hero’s companion, no one stopped me. Besides, the senior priest at the Inquisition Office, Rebecca, was someone I’d worked with several times before.

I compiled all the collected information, put it into a plan, and sent it to the Military Intelligence Service.

And that evening.

-‘It’s been approved.’

The Director of Military Intelligence gave his permission.

“Thank you, Colonel.”

-‘Well. The water’s already been spilled, so try to wrap this up as best you can. Be careful.’

The state had authorized a crime.

They’re saying I can kidnap her.