A Dark Fantasy Spy

Chapter 117




I wandered around the containers stacked on the Magic Tower platform alongside Saint Veronica.

Agricultural products. Machinery parts. Confectionery. Herbs. Chemicals. Luxury goods.

I saw countless contraband items there.

“Hmm….”

And even drugs.

“Colonel, are you alright?”

“My tongue feels numb. Is there no water?”

“There’s seawater over there.”

“Cut the crap, will you?”

Episode 6 – The All-Knowing Spy’s Perspective

In fact, just trying a little bit of drugs doesn’t really give you a high.

The characteristic of drugs is their incredibly bitter and sour taste, enough to numb the tongue.

When the National Intelligence Service or the police undergo drug detection training (also called drug specialization training), they taste a bit of the drugs, and if they actually did get high, they wouldn’t order it.

So, I didn’t see a problem with having a small taste of drugs. Back when I was dispatched to North Africa or the Middle East, I tried cocaine a few times, and it had no effect on me, so it’s no surprise.

In fact, licking Veronica’s finger was more unsanitary than inhaling a small amount of drugs.

“Your fingers are being kept clean, right?”

“I wash them with Holy Water every day.”

“Throwing money around, I see.”

I leaned back against the car and stared at the horizon.

Smuggling. Drugs. Oracle. Slush funds. Secretariat. Economic Management Department. Alchemists. Private Enterprises. National Security Agency. Veronica.

It felt like something was about to connect, yet the links kept breaking, leaving me with a sense of unease.

“…….”

Lost in thought, Veronica suddenly approached me and asked.

“So, what will we do now?”

*

“Under no circumstances should our government’s name be mentioned. Absolutely.”

The Minister stated with a firm voice.

Though his pronunciation felt slightly mumbled, the low pitch made each of his words seem to pierce through and lodge in my brain.

The Military Intelligence Agency Chief nodded, while the Royal Intelligence Department Chief flicked the ash from his cigarette into the ashtray and replied.

“Understood, Minister of Finance.”

“Thank you for your understanding. Information Chief, and Intelligence Director.”

No matter how powerful the Information Department might be, the Ministry of Finance was not someone they could easily overlook.

A department managing a nation’s economy, adjusting budgets, and collecting taxes has always been the strongest organization in any time and place. And the Information Department was in a position of receiving funds (budgets) from the Ministry of Finance.

Moreover, the Minister of Finance, Abas, was also regarded as a likely political successor to the Prime Minister alongside the party representative.

In other words, if the Prime Minister failed to re-elect, the Minister of Finance would be among the two most likely candidates for the next Prime Minister. To put it bluntly, he was the most powerful figure in this room closest to the presidency.

Of course, even such a powerful figure couldn’t act recklessly in a situation like this.

In front of the Prime Minister.

“Have the three of you finished your discussion?”

“Yes, Prime Minister.”

The Prime Minister smiled kindly and raised his coffee cup.

“I think our Minister of Finance tends to be overly long-winded, don’t you think, Minister of Foreign Affairs? Haha!”

As always, the Minister of Foreign Affairs responded to the Prime Minister’s joke with laughter. The Prime Minister always behaved this way, whether in an official setting or privately, so no one paid much attention to his jokes, including Colonel Clevenz, the Military Intelligence Agency Counterintelligence Chief.

“Oh, Clevenz! It’s been a while since I’ve seen your face. Are you doing well these days?”

“Yes, Prime Minister.”

“You’ve done a great job with the Advanced Military Magic Research Institute work, and the Magic Tower construction as well. I’m happy to see that the Military Intelligence Agency is doing such great work. Right, Information Chief?”

The Royal Intelligence Department Chief nodded as he sat on the sofa.

He looked more like he couldn’t muster the strength to speak rather than being arrogant. In reality, the Royal Intelligence Department Chief was old, on the verge of retirement, and looked completely worn out.

Clevenz thought it was probably due to the upcoming operations that were keeping him up at night.

“Alright. So what’s the conclusion?”

“It seems it will proceed as a joint operation. The Royal Intelligence Department, the Military Intelligence Agency, the Cabinet Security Office, and the Special Investigation Bureau. Additionally, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defense, and the Magic Department are expected to act together.”

“Hmm! Just hearing that sounds dreadful. I’m already contemplating if I should take a nap, thinking about the paperwork piling up in this mansion’s corridor.”

With a joke, the Prime Minister gestured for them to continue speaking.

The Royal Intelligence Department Chief nodded and continued.

“This operation is a significant burden for our government as well. Analysts expect that whether the operation succeeds or fails, there will be repercussions felt throughout the nation. This will affect not just the economy and diplomacy but also international relations and national security, particularly cooperation with our allies.”

“Such headache-inducing talk for the morning. Can’t you just say it briefly?”

“It’s a matter of whether success or failure will lead to problems, Prime Minister.”

Damn it.

The Prime Minister grumbled lightly as he took a bite of the sandwich filled with fresh lobster meat.

“Then, if we move with our allies, we could mitigate the shock.”

The Minister of Foreign Affairs answered that question.

“Of course, Prime Minister. It is quite feasible.”

“Is that so? Then let’s move to contact Patalia as per the report that came up from the Military Intelligence Agency last time. Cautiously.”

“I will arrange a meeting with the Ambassador of Patalia.”

“Great. Then could the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Finance take a moment to prepare?”

With a brief command, the two ministers packed their bags and left the mansion. The Prime Minister turned to look at the Royal Intelligence Department Chief, the Military Intelligence Agency Chief, and Colonel Clevenz, who remained in the mansion.

Holding a sandwich and coffee, the Prime Minister suddenly spoke out of the blue.

“What’s the Colonel at the Magic Tower doing?”

“He is doing well without any issues. His identity concealment is effective, and his activities have not been detected by local counterintelligence agencies or enemy intelligence agencies.”

“Oh, Director. That’s not what I’m asking.”

Thud. A few files fell onto the side table.

The brown file with “Confidential” stamped in red letters on the cover.

Both the Military Intelligence Agency Chief and Clevenz knew well enough what those files contained. They were documents produced by the Military Intelligence Agency.

“I’ve been under the impression that the Colonel is not taking part in this operation. Yet, according to the reports from the Colonel, it feels as if he’s been involved in the operation. I would like you to speak honestly…”

“…”

“…Did you include him in the operation?”

The Military Intelligence Agency Chief shook his head.

“Prime Minister, this operation is directed by the Royal Intelligence Department, and all discretionary authority lies with them. Even if the Military Intelligence Agency intends to deploy what you mentioned, we need to obtain the Royal Intelligence Department’s permission. Naturally, your final approval is also required, Prime Minister.”

“Then, did any information leak, or did anyone tip him off?”

“…”

At the Prime Minister’s question, the Director quietly turned to the Chief.

But Clevenz, being honorable, simply shook his head in silence. The Director looked at him and spoke up.

“No, security has been maintained perfectly. It is practically impossible for an officer out in the field, not at headquarters, to be aware of information unrelated to their duties.”

“Damn it. Then what happened? Don’t tell me he just found out by sheer luck.”

The Prime Minister chuckled awkwardly and looked at the Royal Intelligence Department Chief, who shook his head.

“I don’t know if it was luck, but at the very least, no one from either the Royal Intelligence Department or the Military Intelligence Agency has passed information to the operative. No one has contacted him, and there are also no records of accessing information related to this operation in the internal network.”

“Is that true?”

“I did find one piece of related material, but it wasn’t anything significantly important.”

“If that’s true, it’s hard to believe.”

The Prime Minister turned to the Royal Intelligence Department Chief and asked.

“So what will you do?”

The Royal Intelligence Department Chief replied back to the Prime Minister.

“What do you wish to do?”

“If I can be a bit selfish, I think it would be nice to involve the Colonel in the operation.”

The Military Intelligence Agency Chief interjected into the conversation cautiously.

“I’m sorry, Prime Minister. The 73rd Project is still in the pilot program stage.”

“Oh, Director. Can you please speak clearly?”

“It means it’s in the testing phase. The 73rd Project is undergoing procedures to verify political, diplomatic, and military effectiveness.”

“But that test should be over by now, shouldn’t it? It seems like the effectiveness has been sufficiently proven.”

“Prime Minister, evaluations don’t end after just one or two trials.”

“…Is that so?”

The Prime Minister paused, took a moment to look at his watch, then gathered his coffee cup and the plate holding the sandwich and got up from his seat. The watch was close to marking 9 o’clock.

“It’s time for work. Let’s put this matter on hold for now, and everyone go back.”

“Understood, Prime Minister.”

“…Oh. And.”

The Prime Minister, dragging his slippers that poked out under his pajama pants, spoke.

“Who was the person in charge of this operation?”

*

“…….”

“What brings you here, Director?”

Leoni stared at me with a blank expression from the chair across.

It was hard to tell if she was just expressionless or simply not paying attention to the conversation. The seasoned Information Officer was difficult to read.

“Did you come here to say something? Hurry up and speak.”

“Have you been causing trouble lately?”


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