A Dark Fantasy Spy

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The alliance between the Patalia Information Agency and the Abas Information Agency is one of mutual cooperation across various sectors.

High-level staff meetings, overseas training for agency personnel, delegated education, joint operations, and more.

One of these is the ‘Information Sharing Agreement.’

This is similar to the ‘Passenger Name Record (PNR) Agreement’ struck between the EU and the U.S. for transferring passenger reservation information to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Then there’s the agreement between the EU and the United States regarding the processing and transfer of Financial Messaging Data from the EU to the U.S. for purposes of the Terrorist Finance Tracking Program (TFTP).

South Korea has also signed the General Security Of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) with 34 countries including the U.S., the U.K., France, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine, and Japan, among others.

Countries with reasonably good relations make such agreements to exchange all sorts of information.

Of course, there are cases where essential details are left out or entirely concealed.

Anyway…

The Abas Information Agency collaborates with the Patalia Information Agency in various aspects, often sharing information through formal and informal channels, just like right now.

“Did you arrive, Merlo?”

Sofia from the National Security Agency waved her hand from leaning against the vehicle.

“Where are you now?”

“You seem curious about a lot of things.”

Sofia smiled brightly as she opened the car door for me.

“Get in for now.”

—

Episode 6 – The All-Knowing Spy Perspective

A civil servant from the Magic Tower contacted an executive from a Private Enterprise of Abas. And guess what? Francesca Ranieri is tangled up with that Magic Tower official.

That was all the information Sofia had relayed to me.

As soon as I finished the call, I dashed out of Veronica’s villa and used my prepared false passport to leave the country. I mobilized all connections to gather information up until I passed through the exit checkpoint and crossed the Warp Gate.

First, the Magic Tower.

Through civil servants I had gotten to know over the past month, I figured out where Francesca Ranieri worked, what she did, and where she was right now. They had a rough idea too, but lacked detailed information, especially about the location of the alchemist.

Next, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

I activated both official and unofficial lines connecting with the diplomatic mission of the Kingdom of Abas in the Kien Empire, successfully identifying the identity and intentions of the Private Enterprise of Abas executive.

The Abas national was an executive from a medium-sized enterprise within Abas. The purpose of the visit was for an overseas business trip to finalize a deal. The meeting itself was known to the government. Specifically, it was acknowledged by the department underneath the Ministry of Finance that handles trade.

However, Francesca’s name was not listed among the civil servants scheduled to meet this executive.

Lastly, the Information Department.

Using the Military Intelligence Agency’s network, I investigated the executive’s background and company name. If it was a front company established by the Military Intelligence Agency or the Royal Intelligence Department, it might be a contact meant for ‘overseas business’.

Fortunately, neither the medium-sized enterprise nor the executive had any ties to the Information Department. They were just ordinary civilians.

It took me just about 20 minutes to gather all this information. Evaluating all the data to determine if the contact was dangerous took another 30 minutes. But there was one piece of information I couldn’t uncover.

The reason.

Why was Francesca Ranieri in contact with the executive from a private enterprise?

Why had Francesca left the hotel and not returned?

Why was Francesca present in the Empire instead of the Magic Tower?

There was nothing certain. I needed some insights to make a judgment. Like feeling around in the dark for the legs of an elephant, I had to keep rolling my brain to find some plausible conclusions.

I had to do what needed to be done. I had to do what I could. What I needed right now was information.

So I met with Sofia.

“Here we are.”

A sedan smoothly passed through an alley and entered a parking lot. A location somewhere near the city of Nastasia in the southern Kien Empire. We arrived at a building nestled between tall structures.

“You seem to be doing well here too? You suddenly vanished without a word.”

“I had some help from the support department. You can get out now.”

Following Sofia’s lead, I got out of the car.

It was quite an expensive-looking house. We passed the parking lot and crossed the yard to enter the front door.

I casually spoke while taking in the surroundings of the National Security Agency’s location.

There was no need for formalities between us.

“But is it okay to pass this information informally and not formally share it? If it’s Ranieri, she’s quite a big deal.”

“We’re doing it informally precisely because it’s Ranieri.”

The investigator from the National Security Agency chuckled calmly.

“If you think about it, this is civilian surveillance. It’s better to leave fewer records of this kind, right?”

Of course, while the outward appearance suggested otherwise, that was not the case at all.

“Weren’t you conducting an investigation? You said it was related to the family of a public security perpetrator.”

“The sedition investigation wrapped up a while ago. What we’re doing now is surveillance.”

“Oh dear… what a flex.”

“Anyway, we can’t officially pass on information related to Ranieri. Unless it’s an emergency, we’re trying to avoid leaving any digital traces. There are diplomatic issues… and legal problems to consider…”

I summarized her words briefly.

“You expect me to collaborate in keeping a record from being left since the documents have to be disclosed after a while?”

“Exactly, Merlo.”

That was the gist.

“And if documents leak, you guys will be in trouble too, right? In a way, you and Ranieri are colleagues. If documents come out, it’d look like a colleague surveilling another colleague.”

This meant that if there was any record left, I could get harmed if it leaked.

There shouldn’t be any chances of National Security Agency documents leaking, but you never know in this unpredictable world.

“If you’re putting it that way, I guess I have no choice but to cooperate.”

“Thanks, Merlo.”

Sofia smiled brightly and led the way, while I quietly followed, taking off the wig I had been wearing to match the photo on my fake passport.

“So… what do you want to show me?”

In response to my question, Sofia turned around as she walked ahead and grinned.

“Ranieri’s secret?”

—

“This is a document we prepared.”

Sofia handed me a cover sheet packed with the Patalia agency’s distinct confidentiality markers and advisory formats. Flipping through to the typed document revealed a diplomatic file.

“You typed this? Nowadays, people use terminals, right?”

“It’s an old document from a few years back, so it was written on a typewriter.”

“Why would you bring that up? The diplomatic mission at the cult still uses telegrams anyway.”

“That’s because the cult hasn’t allowed for new communication equipment to be installed.”

The document Sofia handed over was filled with diplomatic correspondence. The sender was the I/O stationed at the Magic Tower, and the recipient was the headquarters of the Patalia National Security Agency.

Now that I looked closer, it wasn’t a diplomatic document, but an intelligence document. It contained a multitude of reports on information exchanged and directives shared between the information officer and the headquarters.

Filtering out core information that didn’t pass through the security review process, the contents of this document could be summarized into one report.

Francesca Ranieri’s activity report.

“……”

Details about the alchemist’s work, the number of individuals she interacted with, the identities of those people, her workplace, a list of colleagues and juniors she was friendly with, her financial records, immigration records, communication logs, the internal layout of her home, escape routes, and the locations and layouts of acquaintances she could rely on in an emergency…

All the information about Francesca Ranieri, from her time studying abroad (which was essentially a forced expatriation) as a junior alchemist in a renowned workshop up to becoming an administrative officer in the Secretariat.

It was clear that the information officer had been active for a long time. Alternatively, that meant Francesca had been under surveillance for a significant period as well.

The amount of intelligence gathered was substantial, enough to match the length of time the information officer had operated. The details were also richly packed.

After reading through the documents for a while, I spoke bluntly.

“Why were you so thorough in your investigation? Are you planning to arrest her or something?”

That was a question about whether the National Security Agency intended to raid Francesca Ranieri.

In response, the investigator from the National Security Agency chuckled dismissively.

“Why would we arrest a civilian with no power? We’re just keeping an eye on her.”

What that meant was that if Francesca Ranieri were to develop something akin to power, the National Security Agency would get involved. Whether she entered politics or rose to a higher position.

But whether that involves arrest or assassination remains a mystery. Sofia didn’t mention that part either.

What’s important is…

That’s none of my business.

“Doesn’t seem like there’s much to it?”

I closed the intelligence document and leaned back in my chair.

What was truly important was, why was Francesca Ranieri here instead of the Magic Tower?

“I checked on the way here, and it just looked like an ordinary meeting to me. The Private Enterprise of Abas initiated the contact. They’re trying to secure a deal for exporting goods from the Magic Tower.”

The Magic Tower is not a country that people commonly think it is. Its administrative structure is completely different from that of the U.S. or South Korea.

To put it simply, the political system and administrative structure in the Magic Tower resemble a group leadership system akin to China or North Korea, where a single ‘party’ governs the entire country. In other words, it resembles a one-party dictatorship.

From that perspective, the ‘Magic Tower Secretariat’ is similar to the ‘Central Secretariat of the Workers’ Party of Korea.’

Not just in name, but the actual tasks performed are similar as well.

In the Magic Tower’s administrative organization, aside from a few exceptions, every report must be coordinated with the Secretariat before it’s reported to the Oracle. It’s a form of policy coordination. Translating that would be…

When the working department presents a proposal,

(Hey, our department is considering doing something next year, is that okay?)

The Secretariat attains and reviews it,

(This looks feasible, but this part won’t work. Revise this and send it back.)

Once the working department revises and resubmits the proposal,

(I’ve made the revisions. Is it okay now?)

The Secretariat reviews it again.

(This seems good. We’ll report it to the Oracle.)

This is how all administrative duties in the Magic Tower operate.

Administrative agencies proceed with policies and projects after consultation with the Secretariat’s relevant department, which then reports to the Oracle to receive directives to pass onto the administrative agencies.

Though there are exceptions like the diplomatic missions and the Public Order Defense Bureau that handle domestic intelligence and counterintelligence inquiries. Agencies managed directly by the Oracle or the administration of the Magic Tower don’t follow this reporting system. In extreme situations of urgency, even heads of administrative agencies might report directly to.

So, I’ve always viewed the Magic Tower Secretariat as a body similar to the National Policy Coordination Office under the Prime Minister of South Korea or the Secretariat under the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea in North Korea. Based on the real tasks, reporting systems, and organizational status, the latter might be a more fitting comparison.

The issue, however, is why Francesca Ranieri was in the Empire instead of the Magic Tower.

Especially without notifying the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Abas.

The investigator from the National Security Agency, Sofia, highlighted this point.

“Isn’t it strange? Why is Ranieri, who should be at the Secretariat, in the Empire without prior consultation?”

“…You really are persistent. Let’s cut to the chase instead of beating around the bush.”

“Okay, okay.”

Sofia pulled a brown envelope from her bag and placed it in front of me.

She rhythmically tapped the edge of the desk with her finger. Then she spoke to me.

“Ranieri is earning foreign currency through a private enterprise overseas.”

“And?”

“But that foreign currency is Oracle’s slush fund.”