A Dark Fantasy Spy

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After searching through all the parking lots near the townhouse, I found an old vehicle that perfectly matched the key in an obscure alley.

I made sure no one was inside the vehicle, glanced around, and quickly jumped into the driver’s seat.

“Ugh…”

It’s cold. Maybe due to the bizarre cold wave, the weather was awful, and the car buried in heavy white snow was frozen solid. I used the delivered key to start the ignition and cranked up the heater.

As the warm air hit me, I began to thaw out. I felt like I could live again.

I clasped my hands together and blew warm breaths into them. For a few minutes, I did my best to maintain my body heat by shifting around without any movement.

Just as my frozen hands and feet started to warm up, I pulled out a notebook wrapped in plastic from my coat.

“Let’s see…”

As I peeled away the plastic, the cold notebook dropped onto my palm. It was small enough to fit in one hand, densely filled with unreadable numbers.

With a familiar motion, I retrieved a scrap of paper and a pencil tucked in the sun visor. It was a random number card.

It took less than five minutes to match the random number card with the notebook and crack the code. The back of the front page, filled with numbers, contained an address, a password, and a few brief sentences.

[Check for any present dangers before arrival.]

[Do not use communication devices without encryption. In case of unavoidable situations, contact the designated number.]

[Make sure to check the leather case provided before departure.]

It was all standard stuff. I memorized the address and number, wiped away the snow obstructing the windows with the wipers, and opened the leather case.

Thud! A familiar feeling of metal met my palm. I placed the item from the leather case on my palm and stared at it for a moment before tucking it at my waist, muttering to myself.

“…Is this a Christmas gift?”

It was a new pistol.

—

Episode 10 – Veer Northwest

Despite its worn appearance, the old vehicle was in decent shape. It was well-fueled, too.

I drove towards the designated address. Even as I cruised on the empty roads away from the capital, I constantly checked to see if anyone was following me.

After cutting through the blinding snowstorm, I arrived at a housing complex located on the outskirts of Abas.

As I twisted around the sparsely populated streets, I halted in front of a man out walking his dog, who was puffing on a cigarette.

“……”

Though a stranger got out of the vehicle in front of him, the man didn’t even spare a glance.

He lit his cigarette, patted his dog a few times, and, after taking a couple of puffs, tossed the not-yet-finished cigarette into the alley and quietly went inside his house.

I took a last look around before stepping inside through the door he opened.

“Been a while, hasn’t it?”

As I removed my coat, the man broke the silence. A woman had taken it, but no matter how I looked at it, the two didn’t seem like family.

“I was a bit disappointed by the lack of contact, but it’s good you made it, even if late.”

“Shall we check the goods first? I need something to gift.”

“Let’s do that.”

With a wave of his hand, people sitting around the kitchen table began to gather. The woman who had received my coat inspected it for any potential listening devices with a radio detection device, while others brought similar equipment and started scanning me. The man watched the scene as he pulled out a new cigarette.

After a while, once the people searching me nodded to each other, the man smoking understood and gestured for them to stop.

The woman returned my coat and extended her hand.

“Please give me the car keys.”

The woman who got the keys handed them to the man from the kitchen. The man, who seemed to be around the same size as me with similarly black hair, could easily be mistaken for me from a distance, especially in this snowstorm.

He waved to me after our eyes met before stepping outside through the door I entered.

Vroom! The sound of a powerful engine echoed. I caught a glimpse of the vehicle I had driven departing through the curtains.

The woman checked outside, locked the entrance, and the others returned to the kitchen to gather around the table. On the old stove, a cast iron pan and a kettle were oddly paired with a collection of sound detection equipment and radios neatly stacked on the table, items not typically seen in a regular household.

While observing the information officers detecting listening devices with headsets, the man who had been smoking stood up and tapped my arm.

“Follow me.”

He opened a door leading to another alley.

We emerged into a narrow alley flanked by high walls and the exteriors of buildings. It was as if the scenes I had just seen were phantoms; the atmosphere in the alley felt entirely different. After just stepping through a single door, the vibe was remarkably altered.

We walked silently down the alley.

The red bricks made me realize just how old these buildings were. The windows had bars, rare to see outside slums, and the plants growing from the backyards of townhouses seemed to reach high, trying to escape the alley. A cat rummaging through a black trash bag appeared to sense our presence and slipped away into a corner, mewing sadly. The cat hissed menacingly at the man, but he only continued to walk with his hands stuffed in his pockets, giving it no attention.

Now that I thought about it, the left side of his coat sagged slightly. Did he have a pistol or something?

As I entertained these thoughts, I quietly passed through the alley.

As we neared the end of the maze-like alley, the man in front slowed his pace, surveyed the area, and pointed to a door next to us. There was no further explanation, but I understood enough.

I opened the back door of a house. There was no knock, so no one came to greet me. I questioned if anyone even lived there.

“Is anyone home?”

There was no reply. I shook off the snow on my shoulders and waited for a moment, but there was still no sign of a guide.

The living room door was slightly ajar. I gently pushed it with my finger.

The living room was dark. Despite the overcast weather, the white curtains meticulously covering the windows intensified the darkness. However, there was a small stove in the corner. The burning firewood inside was the only source of light in the house.

On the side opposite the stove, where the warmth was most prominent, sat a sofa.

A head popped up from the sofa.

I quietly approached the sofa and greeted the person sitting there.

“Sorry for being late.”

“Why are you so late?”

“The snow was heavy, making it difficult to drive.”

“…Tsk.”

The weary-looking information officer sitting on the sofa pointed to a recliner with his finger.

“Sit.”

It was Leoni.

—

I was on leave, enjoying some peace, when I got contacted by the agency. Using the key I left in the mailbox, I found the vehicle and decoded the notebook and disposable random number card located inside the car. That’s how I confirmed the orders issued by the Military Intelligence Agency.

This method of retrieving and utilizing items left at predetermined locations was something we referred to as a ‘dead drop.’

Mailboxes, storage areas, subway lockers, trash cans, beneath rocks, building walls, sewers, under park benches, and so on. The infamous ‘Dvorc’ that became popular due to red spy infiltrators is also categorized as a dead drop.

I tossed the notebook and random number card into the metal stove. They caught fire instantly, burning to a crisp. Ink must be a highly flammable material.

“You’ve been dispatched to the Royal Intelligence Department and haven’t reached out, but I hope you’ve been well.”

Leoni replied curtly.

“Is it frustrating that the old coot didn’t kick the bucket, and I’m back?”

Her tone reminded me of a disgruntled elder, but since I was so used to it, I replied with just a smile.

“Honestly, your attitude… Did your rank go to your head?”

Back in my day, just seeing a superior officer would make us tremble. She sure was bold.

“I got contacted while on leave.”

“Didn’t you always come out without a reason?”

I’d worked at the agency for more than ten years, but I couldn’t recall such a memory of coming in without reason. Who would leave without a cause? That’s just madness.

“Yeah, I think it was more than just coming in without a reason. You were sharp enough to wrap up everything whilst your colleagues were floundering about.”

“Ha ha….”

“When others were failing at recruiting information agents and writing reports, you were busy constructing networks, right? If I recall correctly, you managed to get that done within a year.”

Leoni laughed as she shot back what sounded like a curse or praise. Given her age, it was apparent her laughter lacked its former vigor, only letting out the sound of deflation from her lungs.

Even so, her laughter still held an aura that couldn’t be ignored—a sense of unexplainable intimidation.

If she had retired and I had gained enough experience, I wouldn’t feel intimidated, but, unfortunately, I was merely a junior major with under a year of promotion status, while her peers still had influence and stars over their shoulders.

So rather than pushing for her to hurry, I simply kept my silence, smiling quietly. After all, rank has its advantages.

“How’s returning to fieldwork treating you? Is it tough?”

“……”

When I kept my mouth shut, Leoni seemed bored and moaned as she rose from her seat.

I wasn’t sure what her intentions were in calling me, especially during my leave, but summoning someone to a safe house was not a usual occurrence.

…Although to some extent, I had anticipated this. I just refrained from voice it out loud.

However, Leoni was one step ahead. Her seasoned eyes shimmered faintly in the darkness.

“Yeah, I see you have some expectations. What you’re thinking is probably correct.”

“……”

“I called you because of the tasks you’ll be taking on soon.”

—

The topic Leoni brought up was something I already knew about. To be precise, I had heard rumors.

After getting caught up in recent terrorist activities and recovering from my stint in the hospital, I had attended the ‘Committee’ under the orders of Clevenz. There, the members had encouraged (or forced) me to join an ‘organization’ that would soon be established. Naturally, I had anticipated my new role would commence once my leave ended.

Among the other discussions mentioned during that ‘Committee’ meeting was also a reorganization of the intelligence agencies.

To adapt to the changing security environment, all the information agencies in Abas were undergoing restructuring. While it was unclear when or how far the changes would reach, undoubtedly, the Military Intelligence Agency was included.

After all, the Military Intelligence Agency is a military organization.

What exactly those changes would be was uncertain. But one thing was clear:

“I’ll be overseeing the overseas intelligence operations of the Military Intelligence Agency.”

Leoni had returned.

She had come back from her assignment to the Royal Intelligence Department. While she hadn’t mentioned it herself, the last rank I saw her at was Colonel, so she was probably a Brigadier General now.

How remarkable to achieve such a difficult promotion.

Leoni leaned back against the sofa, draping her arms over the arms of the chair. It didn’t appear to be a display of vigor, more like a lazy posture, absent of haughtiness. Clearly, she was quite tired as she slowly began to speak again.

“When I took charge of the Lusian base during a major incident, I thought my promotions were over when I was banished to the Royal Intelligence Department. But hey, life can throw surprises our way.”

“Ah, yes. Congratulations. How should I address you now?”

“Titles and such are unnecessary. It’s not important.”

Even so. I sensed a hint of a change in her demeanor since transferring to the Royal Intelligence Department, as she was talking much less stiffly than usual.

I congratulated Leoni on her promotion while pondering.

Yeah. I understood that Leoni had returned and was taking on overseas work. No matter how it had come to be, it was the higher-ups’ decision, and thus I had no grounds to meddle.

But…

What happens to Clevenz if Leoni’s back? Wasn’t Clevenz the head of the Military Intelligence Agency?

Though it felt slightly ridiculous to be voicing my concerns at this point, the feeling that things had gotten tangled loomed large. More accurately, the plot was.

While I longed to ask how it all unfolded, thinking of her peculiar relationship with Clevenz made it feel out of the question.

The competition between the domestic and overseas sections in the Military Intelligence Agency was fierce. This sort of scramble for promotions existed across all intelligence agencies, but here it was a whole other level.

I cautiously inquired.

“So what’s going to happen with the Military Intelligence Agency?”

Yet it wasn’t Leoni who answered that question.

“It’s going to change completely.”

Clevenz appeared as he opened the living room door. Had he just come in? A chill followed him, seeping into the warmth of the room.

His abrupt entrance made me quickly collect myself and rise to greet him.

“Good to see you.”

“Oh, it’s been a while. Did you make it home okay yesterday?”

“Yes, I did.”

Clevenz walked into the living room, brushed the snow off his coat, and smiled amicably while removing his leather gloves.

Then, he addressed Leoni, who was sitting on the sofa.

“Did you get back safely? I was worried you’d been kept too long at this late hour.”

“I hope that thought of yours stays uncomfortable.”

“Haha, it was just a joke…”

The conversation they shared was hard to believe, coming from a Brigadier General.

I had heard through the rumors that they didn’t get along well, and considering Clevenz’s previous reactions, I had a rough idea. It felt complex.

When Clevenz greeted me first, it seemed friendly, but when he made remarks about age, it gave off a different vibe. Yet, he’d acknowledged Leoni instead of dismissing her altogether, suggesting a layered relationship that was very nuanced. With Leoni’s response, however, it was hard to think it was a friendly one.

I thought it best not to let it slide further; otherwise, who knows what might happen. I took the initiative to steer the direction.

“So what do you mean by the agency is changing?”

“Literally, it means it’s being reorganized. Haven’t you heard? I figured you would being the first one here.”

“……”

Clevenz took a seat firmly planted in the living room and raised two fingers to begin explaining.

As mentioned in the committee, the Abas intelligence agencies were entering a significant reorganization phase.

The Military Intelligence Agency, under consideration for change, was currently discussing two options. While it struck me as odd that they hadn’t settled on one yet, I began to understand after hearing Clevenz’s explanations.

“The Prime Minister’s determination is solid.”

“Ah.”

“Although it’s sudden, there’s not much we can do since he’s so adamant. Under the Minister’s orders, an executive committee has been established.”

Yesterday’s odd developments hinted this was coming; the VIP’s demands were always of paramount importance in a democratic nation.

The restructuring task force of the Military Intelligence Agency was deliberating two proposals. One was to expand the Military Intelligence Agency into the ‘Military Intelligence Bureau,’ essentially making it a general bureau. The other method aimed to transform the internal organization of the Military Intelligence Agency.

“If it becomes a bureau, the existing departments currently in place would be elevated to the bureau level. You can think of it as expanding while maintaining the structure of the current departments.”

“Then what about the other approach?”

“Consolidation.”

“Ah.”

The first proposal seemed rather moderate.

For now, it meant augmenting the major departments under the Military Intelligence Agency without losing their foundational structures.

If that proposal passed, the head of the Military Intelligence Agency would become a ‘Bureau Chief,’ and department heads or deputy heads would all hold the title of ‘Director.’

A bureau chief sounds rather reminiscent of the central agency for reconnaissance and information.

Conversely, the second proposal was a far more drastic approach. My reservations stemmed from the fact that the method involved consolidating and creating new departments.

This could lead to chaos; offices that were operational yesterday might vanish upon arrival today, merging different roles into one department, irradiating troubles.

While it was unlikely such slapdash management would occur under the scrutiny of a VIP, the word consolidation alone had the weight of dread among intelligence officers.

Creating new departments also poses issues.

To establish a new department, those tasked would undoubtedly argue over who to deduct personnel from and who to primarily assign, leading to potential hostilities and conflicts.

Though this seemed like a careless endeavor, the stakes were high since it related to careers.

If someone takes a position, surely someone will have to vacate theirs. Thus, adopting the second proposal would likely trigger a major purge.

This reorganization, designed to strengthen the intelligence agency, would likely see those officers lagging behind the others head to the chopping block first.

“Yikes….”

I could almost hear the lamentations of those who’d already submitted their resignations. I rubbed my ears as if to dispel the phantom sounds.

“Of course, you have nothing to worry about. You’ll be working in an entirely different environment.”

Clevenz added a joking-but-not tone to that sentence.

“Just checking, but have you changed your mind? If you do, you’d be able to work comfortably in the embassy.”

“I’m fine, my thoughts remain the same.”

Clevenz nodded once and began to explain the department I’d be working for.

“From now on, you’ll be working in a newly established organization. It’s comprised of individuals with experiences across various organizations, including the Intelligence Department. It’s almost akin to a secondment.”

The tasks I would take charge of there would be intelligence gathering and analysis.

Of course, it wasn’t just collecting intelligence and analyzing it (the committee had clearly stated it was quasi-military work), so I figured I’d make the best of it. After all, murky operations like assassination rarely came up at all.

I nodded slightly and inquired about Pippin and Jake’s positions.

“What about my subordinates?”

“They’re naturally following you.”

“Oh, have you already asked them? I haven’t received any contact.”

“Was it even something you needed to ask?”

They’d apparently just meant to go without consulting me. Why was it that we always had no choice? Isn’t this meant to be a democracy?

Resentment boiled within me. Maybe I ought to start a union.

“Your responsibilities won’t stop at that. If necessary, you may be deployed on various covert operations, including quasi-military ones.”

“Am I providing support? Or am I diving straight into it?”

“Can’t give you a conclusion on that yet. It depends on the situation on the ground.”

It had me worried that I might end up having to tackle assassination missions right here. While I’d been through it once already, still…

“The one determining that would not be me. I could participate in the decision-making process, but I wouldn’t be the one issuing direct commands. You will have a separate superior.”

Clevenz pointed toward Leoni. There was a tone of seriousness in the air, but Leoni merely slumped in her seat, looking indifferent to the world.

“Isn’t that delightful?”

“No, not really. Haha…”

“While it’s true there won’t be too many such covert military operations, there are assignments lined up.”

Leoni added with a sense of being burdened.

“There are objectives that you need to deal with in the Empire—quietly, as much as possible.”

The tasks Leoni ordered were numerous, but to summarize them in short:

1. Gather information regarding the ‘trader’ selling dark magic devices that the Joint Inquisition was currently investigating.
2. Monitor the movements of the Oracle members from the Magic Tower who will be staying or visiting the Empire, especially those approaching Francesca.
3. Establish relationships by contacting the Imperial Royal Family and government officials.
4. Collect all information regarding the evolving situations in the northern conflict areas.

Plus, attending a defense industrial exhibition, participating in events hosted by the Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, filming the military parade, and recruiting minor information agents.

Since the upcoming mission was in the Empire, it presumed that all operations would be conducted there.

“Considering that the entire nation is fraught with incidents, both over the demon and otherwise, it’s best not to stir the pot unnecessarily. With the North region barred from entrance to the countrymen, and complaints from foreign agents about surveillance—what a situation to be put in. Whoever is responsible certainly did a spectacular job. All while innocent officials overseas get caught in the crossfire.”

“Ha ha…”

“Well, someone has to fill the gaps, right? Isn’t that the case?”

After the last incident, intelligence officers had been expelled, leading to a catastrophe at the Empire’s branch, which meant the source of that incident was now being asked to clean up the mess.

While the fact that Camilla and her entourage were heading to the Empire had not been officially announced, it was already somewhat accepted in diplomatic circles. More precisely, the Empire’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs was spreading messages to deter interference since they needed to deal with their own house first.

Now that I thought about it, how was Camilla doing? I mean, fainting while using magic was no small matter.

For now, the Advanced Military Magic Research Institute was operational again, and I’d sent some filtered materials to the Magic Tower researchers, so hopefully, they’d have produced something. I sincerely hoped that there were no severe issues.

Lost in thought, Leoni’s voice pulled me back from my reverie.

“Of course, I’m not saying you’ll handle all of that alone, but first on the agenda….”

“What do I need to do first?”

“The orders are being drafted at the moment, so the specifics will be cross-checked before departure. To wrap it up, let’s just say….”

Leoni sunk into contemplation, pondering something.

Before long, the experienced intelligence officer condensed all the complex orders into a single word.

“Exile.”

I was going to need to bring someone back from the Empire.