Ch.84Episode 5 – Journalist, Diplomat, Soldier, Spy

After completing the investigation by the Magic Tower police who arrived at the scene, I returned to the diplomatic mission and received a report on today’s activities.

“It seems the cover-up was successful. The local police are proceeding with the investigation as a robbery-homicide by an unknown perpetrator.”

“Your source is from the foreign affairs police?”

“Yes. And they’ve requested that you appear soon for questioning as a witness.”

“Hmm… I see.”

I reclined on the unfamiliar office sofa. This was the mission office assigned to me when I was appointed as the defense attaché.

Pippin and Jake sat across from me, continuing their report.

“According to the counterintelligence switchboard, they’ve disposed of all the collected evidence.”

“And the target?”

“Currently detained in a safe house.”

“Tell them not to touch her under any circumstances, and if possible, don’t even approach or speak to her—just keep her under surveillance.”

After giving instructions to my subordinates, I sat on the sofa and gazed out the window.

The Magic Tower’s sky looked as if it had been painted with pink pastels, and the sunset was falling between the buildings of the brilliant city.

While I was silently staring out the window for a while, Jake asked me a question.

“Um… Section Chief.”

“Yeah?”

“What are we going to do now?”

I quietly closed my eyes, sinking into the sofa as I muttered.

“What else can we do?”

The bait has been cast.

“We wait until the fish bites.”

It was time to hook Fabio Verati.

Episode 5 – Journalist, Diplomat, Soldier, Spy

About a week had passed since I arrived at the Magic Tower.

Even for me, who had been exclusively focused on covert operations, duties as a defense attaché were gradually being assigned.

“Attaché, could you move a little to the side?”

“Should I smile?”

“That would be appreciated. Now, I’m taking the photo! One, two!”

It wasn’t particularly difficult work.

This was my first experience with defense attaché duties, but since I was a hastily appointed newcomer and given my special status, I received preferential treatment.

“Thank you for making the effort to come.”

“Haha. Not at all, Director.”

“I’ve heard a lot about you. I was worried since some formidable companies are participating in this project…”

The businessman extended his toad-like hand for a handshake. He was an executive from a company participating in the new military equipment procurement project.

Most of my defense attaché duties involved meeting people connected to the military and making appearances.

It wasn’t much different from when I was at the Order.

Conversing with suited men at receptions, being cornered by journalists for impromptu interviews, attending events to add prestige.

The form was similar, but the purpose was different.

When I was at the Order, I worked purely for Camilla, but now I was working for the country and the military.

“Sec—I mean, Counselor. Are you alright? Your schedule seems quite tight.”

“I’m fine. Besides, I need to do this much to look like a proper defense attaché, don’t I?”

Of course, I wasn’t performing these defense attaché duties solely for military intelligence gathering and military diplomacy.

My essence was that of an operative, and the defense attaché position was merely a cover identity to ensure my safety. My acting as a defense attaché was simply to maintain the appearance of my assigned identity (without arousing suspicion from counterintelligence agencies).

The truly important attaché duties weren’t assigned to me, nor would they be. After all, I was someone who would be leaving soon, and more importantly, I was carrying out missions assigned by the Military Intelligence Service.

I was essentially treated as an extra.

Sitting in the back seat of a vehicle with diplomatic plates, I asked Jake:

“What’s the next schedule?”

“After lunch, you have a meeting with Magic Tower officials.”

“Can’t you go instead of me, Jake?”

“Come on, how could I? It’s an important meeting related to the Hero and the Saint.”

Protecting Camilla and Lucia was my job. In fact, most of my defense attaché duties were related to them.

The British Embassy, which should protect Camilla, a British citizen, wasn’t in this area, and there was no diplomatic mission from the Order in the Magic Tower to manage Lucia.

So I was the only one who could take care of both of them.

“Sigh. I never thought I’d end up being a babysitter.”

“Babysitter? They’re both adults, aren’t they?”

“Shut up.”

Logically, such matters should be handled by international organizations like the UN, but unfortunately, that organization was in a semi-vegetative state (just a month ago, there had been a rush of diplomat expulsions on espionage charges across the continent), so no constructive discussions were taking place.

Simply put, I’d been stuck with the job.

“Oh, right. About the relief supplies that came in from the Order…”

“What about them?”

“They were under customs inspection but were lost—I mean, stolen? The Ministry of Justice just sent a document about it, according to a text from the attaché’s office.”

Stolen? How does that even happen?

As I was unable to hide my bewilderment, Jake, who was driving, asked Pippin:

“Was the customs office attacked? Who did it?”

“They’re saying it was the work of an extremist group? That’s the Magic Tower Justice Ministry’s explanation.”

“Ah, could it be the one mentioned in the Foreign Ministry document?”

“It’s still being investigated, but they think it’s likely.”

So the customs office had been sabotaged by civilians. Whether they were a civic group or terrorists, I wasn’t sure.

What a mess.

I leaned back in my seat and asked Pippin:

“Pippin. Any other news?”

“Number 51 is being questioned by the police. It seems they summoned him as a victim’s family member.”

Fabio Verati had finally received the news. I had a feeling he would bite soon.

I nodded and continued:

“Good. And?”

“The police have requested your appearance for witness questioning.”

“Decline it.”

“Yes, sir.”

*

The operation to kidnap Fabio Verati’s youngest daughter had been successfully completed.

The daughter was under the “management” of the counterintelligence department at a hideout prepared by my staff. It was essentially imprisonment.

And the deception operation I had carried out was also progressing very successfully.

The Magic Tower police had perceived the Military Intelligence Service’s operation as a simple violent crime, and the Magic Tower’s counterintelligence agency had failed to detect the Military Intelligence Service’s activities.

-‘It seems the line is still alive. Good.’

I’ve been postponing the police’s request for witness questioning.

For a diplomat to be questioned by foreign police, scheduling must be coordinated through the diplomatic mission.

-‘I heard the news. Is the defense attaché’s office coordinating?’

“Yes, that’s correct. We’ve made excuses that official duties take priority, so it’s difficult to find time.”

I am officially a defense attaché, and naturally, my schedule is managed by the diplomatic mission.

The mission has informed the Magic Tower authorities that they will cooperate with the police as much as possible but to consult with the defense attaché’s office. However, at my request (or more accurately, under orders from the Military Intelligence Service), the defense attaché’s office has been uncooperative, using the excuse that my duties are too busy.

Passing work to other departments is a universal practice in civil service, isn’t it? With sufficient justification, I’m ignoring the Magic Tower’s request to appear.

Of course, I have a plan.

-‘What is Number 51 doing now?’

“It’s confirmed that he appeared at the police station at 11:00 today and was questioned until 17:00. According to our wiretaps, he’s currently on leave and staying at home.”

-‘Hmm. When do you plan to move to the next phase?’

“I think they’ll contact us first soon. We expect contact within two weeks at the latest.”

According to the Technical Intelligence Department, there are indications that Fabio Verati has been making calls everywhere after hearing that his youngest daughter was kidnapped.

Police, counterintelligence agencies, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Communications, and so on.

Getting case records from the police, collecting information from domestic intelligence officers, inquiring about foreigners staying in the country through the Ministry of Justice, checking for suspicious communications at the crime scene through the Ministry of Communications.

He was desperately trying to find out where his daughter was, like a madman.

The fish is biting, so I plan to wait a little longer, observe the situation, and then hook Fabio Verati.

“Analysis suggests he’s half out of his mind. I may not know psychology, but I could tell just from his voice.”

As I calmly explained the reality, Clavins responded in a gruff voice:

-‘What parent would be in their right mind after hearing their child has been kidnapped?’

“If you look hard enough, wouldn’t there be at least one?”

-‘That’s completely insane. Why are you so twisted?’

How am I twisted? Where would you find someone as kind as me?

I was so dumbfounded that I was at a loss for words.

“Is that so? What did I do wrong? I just followed orders.”

-‘Didn’t you submit the plan?’

“Well… yes, that’s true.”

I could hear him clicking his tongue over the communication device.

-‘Sometimes I think you’re too extreme. You seem to take killing people too lightly.’

“You’re the one who killed people, Colonel. You were an investigator, weren’t you?”

-‘That’s not what I meant.’

“That’s exactly what I meant.”

Clavins was someone who arrested people and brought them to court, while I was someone who tortured people to extract information.

So it wasn’t strange that Clavins couldn’t understand me. He had spent his entire career in a different field. I realized that such reactions could occur because we had different backgrounds.

Anyway.

“If we keep stalling like this, I think they’ll try to contact us first.”

-‘Right. Handle that as you see fit. How is Number 51’s relative doing?’

“She’s alive and well without a scratch.”

The youngest daughter is alive and well. She’s being detained, but we haven’t touched even a hair on her head, so there’s plenty of room for negotiation.

“I think we can continue to manipulate him by guaranteeing the safety of his relative in exchange for information. At least, that’s what I think.”

In other words, it’s a hostage situation.

If you want to save your child’s life, hand over the confidential information. Something like that.

It’s a common cliché in movies and dramas, but it works well in reality, which is why intelligence agencies frequently use this method.

-‘Continuous contact… Even though his child’s life is at stake, we can’t rule out the possibility that he might be uncooperative.’

“……”

-‘What do you plan to do then?’

“Well, you know…”

Whether through torture or killing,

“There are always ways to make someone talk, aren’t there?”

By any means necessary, we’ll make him talk.

*

After completing all scheduled activities, I returned to the hotel.

A magnificent 5-star hotel provided by the Magic Tower. Plainclothes police patrol the perimeter conducting random checks, and armed security hired by the hotel stands guard at the entrance at all times.

“Good work. We’ll maintain surveillance for the time being, so from tomorrow, you can report to the mission.”

“Yes. Go in and rest.”

“Sure.”

After sending Pippin and Jake ahead, I went up to my floor.

Since the operation was successful, I plan to focus solely on defense attaché duties for a while to avoid suspicion.

Meeting Magic Tower officials for meals, taking photos with businessmen, getting acquainted with foreign officials—time will pass quickly with such activities.

I plan to just keep Fabio Verati under surveillance. If he contacts us first, we’ll pressure him using his child to uncover information about the Human Resource Development Institute.

Then everyone will be happy.

Fabio Verati will reunite with his child, the Abas government will gain an advantage in diplomatic relations with the Magic Tower, and I’ll add another line to my personnel record.

A future where everyone is happy.

Except for the Magic Tower.

“……”

Through the elevator’s glass window, I look down at the Magic Tower’s downtown area, where modern architecture blends with buildings of classical style.

Each of those buildings is illuminated by someone’s blood, sweat, and tears.

Suddenly, it occurred to me that my espionage could determine the future of the Magic Tower.

The consequences of violating international law are never light, and right now, the Magic Tower had more to lose than ever before.

Of course, determining how the Magic Tower would be treated depended on the disclosure of treaty violations, which was the responsibility of the government and the Foreign Ministry, not the Military Intelligence Service, so I didn’t worry too much about it.

It had nothing to do with me.

Maybe it’s because it’s night, but I feel particularly pensive.

With such thoughts, I dragged my tired body into the hotel room.

I had to focus on defense attaché duties from tomorrow, so there was much to prepare.

As I opened my bag to pack according to the schedule.

“…?”

I sensed something was off.

“……”

Leaving the bag open, I strode to the closet and checked the hanging clothes.

Shoulders, sleeves, pockets, and even inside the jackets and shirts.

I searched the room for a long time.

And a moment later, an exclamation escaped my lips.

“…Shit.”

The arrangement of items in my bag had changed, and the hair I had placed on my clothes had fallen to the floor.

So,

“…Who the hell was it?”

Someone had searched my room.