A Dark Fantasy Spy

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War is an extension of politics.

The state represents national interests, while businesses pursue private gains.

Whether engaging in politics or playing with money, one must never incur losses.

Minimize risks as much as possible, maximize returns. That is the value and goal that everyone strives for.

No one in the world wishes to live at a loss.

And that’s the same for me, living by espionage.

—

Episode 11 – No Issues on the Northern Front

Francesca’s plan was simple.

We would press the Palm Tree Trade Guild operating in the northern black market to extract information.

It didn’t matter whether we negotiated with Guild Master Hormoz to secure control of the black market or seized the Palm Tree Guild’s northern connections to gather information ourselves. The key was to gain the upper hand, whether by dragging the ear-thing down or stepping on it.

In that sense, our first objective was to nibble away at the guild’s share of the black market.

“Nibble away? That’s such a pathetic way to put it.”

“Then, what would you call it when we’re nibbling away at shares?”

“Please say we’re sweeping them up instead.”

Clap.

Francesca, who had lightened the mood with a gentle clap, spoke up in a soft voice.

“Anyway, it’s a short-term plan, but we’re well-prepared. Since the Secretariat has launched the ship, we should be able to import goods into the north as soon as the smuggling route opens up.”

I read the documents handed to me by Francesca.

The paper, adorned with an anti-counterfeiting magic rune from the Magic Tower, listed the contraband held by the Economic Management Department of the Secretariat. It also mentioned that the cargo ship loaded with contraband had just docked at the western port of the Kien Empire early this morning.

“I trust you’ll bring in the goods without a hitch. What sort of price are we looking at for these items?”

“I’ll have to discuss the specifics with the broker, but since we’ll be handling a large quantity, I don’t think the prices will be too high. They should sell at a reasonable price.”

“I’ll tell the broker to take a smaller commission, so sell them as cheaply as you can.”

To lower the Palm Tree Guild’s market share, we absolutely needed to sell as many products as possible. To pressure Hormoz, who makes exorbitant profits from a single can, we had to sell cheap and high volume.

Francesca and I tentatively agreed on a strategy of low prices and high volume.

“Let’s not think about anything else and just focus on cutting off the ear-thing’s money supply. There’s nothing more disgraceful than failing a business in Dark Elf society, so they’ll probably react in some way too.”

“Let’s do that.”

It was a strategy that a typical black market trader would never adopt, but since I wasn’t the one making money, I didn’t have to worry.

After wrapping up our simple business plan, Francesca settled onto the sofa, looking a tad disappointed as she licked her lips.

“What a shame. I thought I might make a big score from our year-end performance bonuses…”

“Meddling over petty cash can lead to troubles. Money can be more toxic than you think.”

“What’s the big deal about a scratch while playing with money… Anyway.”

Francesca, cutting off her words, turned to me and asked.

“By the way, are you not interested in this work, Colonel…?”

“Me?”

“Yes. You seem to know a bit about how this industry works, and you seem to have connections… I was just wondering if you’d consider making some money together…”

I waved my hand without a moment’s hesitation.

“Isn’t it said that friends shouldn’t do business together? No way.”

“…Were we friends?”

“Because we’re not friends, I’m saying this. How many close friends end up ruining their relationship by doing business with each other? How could I possibly go into business with you?”

“…….”

Francesca blinked twice before bursting into a chuckle, shaking her head as if she couldn’t believe she was outright rejected.

As she sat there shaking her head, Francesca embraced herself with a playful smile.

“I think I just got a little emotional scar from that…”

“Then die.”

“Not funny.”

—

Humanity has risen to the top of the food chain as the pinnacle of creation because it discovered fire.

The origin of fire appears in the myths of all cultures. In ancient Greek and Roman mythology, Prometheus stole fire from the gods and gave it to humanity, and in Dogon mythology, fire is also depicted as something taken from the heavens.

Though not about the origin of fire, similar content can be found in creation myths handed down through oral tradition. I believe there was a myth passed down in the Hamgyeongdo region, but it was so long ago that I can’t remember it well.

Thus, stories about the origin of fire exist in every culture around the world. And this neighborhood is no exception.

“…Long ago, when the celestial gods created the world, there existed an angel who served the gods. That angel lay down on the cold, damp earth, and seeing the humans wandering in the dark night, took the sacred flame from the celestial forge and delivered it to the earth.”

“…….”

“But while carrying the fire, the angel was discovered by another angel and, in a hurry, threw the fire from the heavens to the earth, which became lightning, rushing down to the ground. This is the story of the origin of lightning explained by the cult.”

Tap tap.

A small campfire crackles. White snowflakes from the sky melt swiftly upon contact with the warmth.

The red-hot flames keep flickering. Charcoal burns black, the scent of burning wood tightens around my nose, and the sound of the campfire captivates my ears.

I continued my explanation while poking the campfire with a metal skewer.

“Of course, the content described in the indigenous religion of the Mauritania Continent or the tales from the East are completely different. That side has a different religion altogether. But broadly speaking, it ultimately says that fire came down from the heavens, and in a sense, it is a divine gift that values all humans equally.”

“…Wow.”

“…Camila, are you listening to me?”

I stopped speaking and turned to look at Camila. She had been earnestly listening to my explanations about the myths and customs of this area just moments ago, but somewhere along the line, she had become entranced by the campfire and was no longer paying attention.

I looked back and forth between the blue eyes fixed on the campfire, the stick in her hand, and finally the three marshmallows stuck on the stick.

As soon as I saw that, my neck stiffened.

“Ugh…!”

The sudden spike in blood pressure made my head dizzy. Seeing Camila not listening while I was emphasizing culture and common sense made it hard for me to contain my frustration.

It had already been a tough time. Despite Leonard’s instructions to lay low, remaining quiet in the heart of the Empire felt like walking on thin ice every day.

Still, I couldn’t neglect training Camila and was putting in the effort, even sacrificing my sleep, but she wasn’t even paying attention to my explanations.

I felt like I was about to explode. My hands trembled, and I thought I might burst into tears.

Finally, unable to hold back, I clutched my neck and let out a sigh.

The one who caught me was Francesca, who had been sipping coffee next to me.

“Whoa… If I had been a moment slower, Colonel, your head would have cracked open.”

Francesca, smiling gently, used her whole body to shove me back into my seat. Back in my spot, I glared at Camila, widening my eyes.

She seemed to have finally realized the commotion around her. Like a student caught using their phone in class, she timidly shyed away and hunched her shoulders.

“…Camila, why weren’t you listening?”

“Uh… I was listening well, you know?”

“What did I say earlier?”

Camila’s lips twitched. After a pause, a tiny response finally slipped out.

“…Fire is equal?”

I smiled brightly. Then I took a deep breath and pinched Camila’s cheek while raising my voice.

“I told you to teach! Teach about culture! But why aren’t you focused? Huh!? Didn’t I say the most important part is about religion?!”

“Uhg…!”

“If you’re going to act like that, then don’t! Just give up! I said don’t do it!”

“Hiiieeek…!”

Francesca, who returned to her seat, watched the scene like a passerby witnessing a fire across the river while sipping on her freshly brewed warm coffee.

With a bittersweet smile, Francesca chimed in.

“Aren’t you being a little too harsh? There are a lot of eyes watching; be a bit more restrained.”

“Quiet down!”

“Why are you getting mad at me…”

Slurp!

Even after being scolded, Francesca couldn’t help but keep smiling.

Regardless, I stretched Camila’s cheeks side to side until I got her promise of “I won’t lose focus again” out of her.

A stormy few minutes passed in the blink of an eye, and we finally calmed down, settling around the campfire.

“If you do anything else even once more, don’t think I won’t throw you onto the frozen river. Got it?”

“Eeep….”

—

We sat around the campfire, chatting softly. We encountered some minor issues along the way, but thanks to Camila’s cooperative attitude, they got resolved well.

As things settled, Francesca, leisurely sipping her coffee, spoke up.

“You two seem to be getting along well.”

“Where do you see anything good about it…?”

Francesca’s shoulders shook, a gesture of ‘Take it or leave it.’

With a light smile, Francesca added smoothly.

“Though it’s a bit late to introduce myself, welcome to the Rift. It must have been tough on the mountain roads, right?”

“Yeees….”

Camila muttered weakly, rubbing her reddened cheeks.

We visited the Rift, which Francesca had been assigned to. A basin located in the heart of the mountain range. The Rift, formed hundreds of years ago, was right there.

I gazed up at the aurora streaking across the sky.

“The Rift is quite an amazing thing. Even after hundreds of years, seeing magic still lingering in the air is impressive.”

“The magic accumulated over thousands of years. At least it should last for another hundred years.”

“Well, considering the Rift is like the lifeblood of the Empire, it should at least live up to its name.”

Francesca nodded along as she brought her coffee cup closer.

Perhaps due to winter or being in the mountains, the day gave way to night sooner than expected. As darkness enveloped the surroundings, the colors of the magic drifting through the air became even more intensified.

In the early night of the North, the bluish magic that rose from the basin dazzled the night sky.

Camila couldn’t tear her eyes away from the Rift radiating magic. Completely captivated, she absently parted her lips.

“That’s the Rift….”

“Indeed, Hero. That is the Rift.”

With a smile, Francesca looked up at the rising cold light and added.

“The magic stones imbued with the North’s cold are said to be as good in quality as the magic stones of the Mauritania Continent. Though the Imperial Ministry of Magic controls the production quantity, the number of people wanting to obtain the magic stones from there is countless.”

“Is that because they have good fuel efficiency?”

“Well… that’s not entirely wrong, but the key reason lies in the abundant magic held within the magic stones.”

As Francesca placed her coffee cup down and flicked her fingers, a small pouch dropped from midair onto her palm.

Unraveling the tightly bound thread, she flipped the pouch inside out, spilling its contents into her palm.

They were alchemical gemstones.

“I might have mentioned it, but alchemical gemstones are one of the items that alchemists value above all else.”

Alchemical gemstones literally mean gemstones that are used in alchemy. Similar to the magic stones of the Rift, the gemstones absorb magic from the underground, with the concentration of magic increasing over time, thus becoming usable for alchemy.

“Of course, they can’t compare to magic stones. However, gemstones with high-quality magic are often traded at prices higher than that of lower-grade magic stones.”

“Value changes depending on the quality of the magic, huh?”

“Exactly, Hero. The same applies to magic stones. That’s why the rarest alchemical gemstones or magic stones are traded at astronomical prices, and storied magical families always keep such items in their vaults. The Ranieri family used to be that way too.”

“Used to be, huh.”

It meant that it once was, but not anymore.

Francesca’s gaze settled on the basin.

The dense magic contained within the Rift—which had been pouring its magic into the heavens for hundreds of years—was something beyond human comprehension.

“Magic stones imbued with warmth are scattered across the Mauritania Continent, but those imbued with cold can only be found here. Except for the frozen lands controlled by the demon tribes and the northern regions of the East, the Kien Empire is virtually the only source.”

“…….”

“So, they’re determined to defend this place, no matter the sacrifices.”

Leaving unsaid what sacrifices they were willing to make.

Francesca seemed to want to say that more than anything else.

After staring wistfully at the Rift for a moment, she sipped the warmth left in her coffee. Camila let out a soft sound as she gazed at the Rift, while Francesca placed her cup above the campfire and leaned toward me.

A mischievous smile had somehow crept onto her lips, appearing somewhat wicked.

“If we consume the black market and use that money to butter up the military or the Ministry of Magic, I wonder if we could monopolize the magic stones coming from there. What do you think, Colonel?”

“If the Magic Tower ends up swallowing it all, there would be quite a few people turning their stomachs over.”

I meant to say that neither President Patalia nor Prime Minister Abas would take that lying down. Also, that the nations on the Mauritania Continent, living off the magic stones, wouldn’t just stand by.

Of course, the Emperor wouldn’t give the Magic Tower the right to export magic stones unless he had dementia, but if such a scenario unfolded, the first to protest would be the kings and tyrants of the Mauritania Continent.

Just like how organizations like OPEC exist in the global village for oil-producing countries to come to agreements, this neighborhood wouldn’t be all that different.

Francesca was not ignorant of this.

“It was just a joke. Let’s not take it too seriously.”

“Ugh…”

“But… just for the sake of argument, if someone were to gain the right to export magic stones or some similar authority from there…”

After a brief pause, Francesca’s voice trailed on.

“That right will certainly not fall into the hands of the Magic Tower.”

“…….”

I stopped stirring the campfire and looked at Francesca. She was gazing intently into my eyes with a very serious expression.

Just as a moment of silence passed between us, Camila, who had been admiring the magic-dyed night sky, shivered and crawled closer to the campfire.

“Ugh… it’s cold…. How about we go inside the building instead of sitting here? The campfire is good, but it’s too cold. Look at my teeth chattering.”

Camila’s chin trembled uncontrollably. Tap tap tap. It sounded like a woodpecker pecking the tree with its beak.

Wrapped in a blanket she had pulled out from somewhere, Camila urged us with a trembling voice. Francesca shot a pained expression and replied bitterly.

“Hero… it’s a heartbreaking story, but even if we go inside the building, it won’t really get any better.”

“Why not…?”

“Earlier, when I was explaining about the Rift, what did I say?”

“Uh….”

Camila’s eyes rolled back as if she was trying to recall something important. A moment later, she gasped and exclaimed.

“You said it’s the only place where magic stones imbued with the cold come from. But why is that all of a sudden?”

“Because the rift exposed to the surface over thousands of years has released its dense magic into the outside world. And the rift that is there is of the type that emits magic, having the property of radiating magic into the air. Just like that aurora you see.”

Francesca pointed toward the bluish magic illuminating the night sky as she continued to explain.

“So….”

And she smiled sadly as if feeling pity.

“That means no matter how many warming spells you cast or heaters you turn on, it won’t work in this area.”

“Yes…?”

“Actually, it’s not entirely useless, but the coolant supplied to the heaters in the lodgings has frozen, and the facilities are down. I requested manpower and materials from the Magic Tower to fix it, but… it seems it’ll take quite a while to arrive.”

At that instant, Camila’s face went blank. She looked like she had been hit with a hammer.

After a moment of being speechless, Camila opened her mouth, dazed, and then, realizing the situation, she started firing off questions in a panicked voice.

“W-What do we do? Aren’t we going to freeze to death? It’s so cold! How are the people working here eating and sleeping? The guards or workers should need to sleep too, right?”

“They’ll manage on their own. To be honest, with several hot packs and a sleeping bag, you can sleep in sub-zero temperatures.”

“Does that even make sense?”

“I know because I’ve done it.”

“…….”

By now, it seemed her mind was going blank. Selecting to speak on behalf of the bewildered Camila, Francesca, who had been sipping coffee by the campfire, jumped in.

“Colonel, isn’t there any other way?”

“What other way do we need? We can head down right now. Camila! I’ll give you the keys, so go start the engine down there.”

“…Excuse me, Colonel?”

“What?”

“Are you joking about that right now?”

What on earth was she saying? Confused, I looked at Francesca, but she was genuinely asking if I was kidding.

Francesca continued.

“Did you not notice the road conditions as we came up?”

“I did see them. It seemed like there was a lot of snow, but it looked manageable if we drive carefully.”

“No, that’s not it. If it was sunny during the day, the snow would have melted a bit, right?”

“That’s true.”

“Then now, at night, did the melted snow freeze again or not?”

“…Uh.”

Suddenly, memories of a ski trip to Gangwon-do came flooding back.

The skis I rode early in the morning were definitely much harder to control than those I rode during the day. Because of the icy layer on the snow.

And surely, the mountain road leading up to the Rift was very steep and treacherous, meaning that if I didn’t drive carefully, it would be easy to go right off the cliff…

“……”

As that thought dawned on me, an involuntary gasp escaped my lips.

“…Ah. I forgot.”

I looked at Camila, whose face looked like the sky had fallen, and Francesca, who shook her head as if in utter disbelief.

I really didn’t want to admit it, but…

“…Hoooy.”

It seemed like we were stranded in the mountains.