A Dark Fantasy Spy

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The Kien Empire is a nation that stands as the head of both a constitutional monarchy and a dictatorship.

Nobles dreaming of power for hundreds, even thousands of years, dictators desperate to cling to power until their last breath, tribal leaders aspiring to become chiefs, and revolutionaries longing for change—all of them overflow in this world, and for them, the Kien Empire is an unwavering ally and a strong support.

However, not even the noble bloodline of the imperial family, said to have inherited the blood of dragons, nor the Emperor—who wields unprecedented power based on fear throughout the history of the empire—can be everyone’s backing.

Because resources are finite.

Human greed knows no bounds.

Hence, it is necessary to utilize limited resources efficiently.

Which royal house should we support for the greatest gains?

To whom should we extend our hands to offer the best gifts?

To which warlord should we give opportunities for the most successful investments?

Putting these into action isn’t too difficult; it’s simply making judgments and bearing the consequences that prove challenging.

In the empire, there are plenty of individuals who will stop at nothing to carry out the Emperor’s orders, making it relatively easy to realize the blueprint drawn by him.

Victor was one of those tasked with implementing the Emperor’s vision.

Being an elite executive buried in the Military Supplies Headquarters and fluent in the culture and language of the Mauritania Continent, thanks to his immigrant parents, he fit the bill perfectly.

However,

What the imperial folks mistakenly believed was the existence of those who cannot bear to witness others thrive, even if it means their demise.

And that misguided individual works in the Embassy of Abas, located in the Kien Empire.

—

Episode 12 – The Primordial Archmage

The word “smuggling” sparked intrigue in Francesca’s eyes.

“Victor, is that how you phrase it?”

“Well, it’s the truth,” Victor shrugged indifferently.

I couldn’t help but chuckle slightly at his shamelessness and turned my head toward Francesca.

“Victor is a respectable businessman, Francesca. He’s a diligent individual who travels abroad to personally oversee his trade efforts.”

“Is that so? I’m just a little curious about what kind of business you’re managing.”

“I operate in various fields. What Victor handles is a type of trade; primarily selling goods produced in the Kien Empire to foreign markets while bringing back items of corresponding value to the empire.”

“For example?”

I kept my response short and to the point.

“Weapons.”

Victor, a former sergeant major of the Kien Empire’s army, specializes not just in any weapons but illegal arms traded in the shadows.

“To be more specific, I sign contracts with foreign clients who have lots of money but no way to acquire their desired items, providing them with customized deliveries.”

While his main clientele is foreign, he occasionally sells to citizens of the Kien Empire as well. Naturally, firearms and drugs are strictly off-limits from empire territory.

That would be a breach of contract.

For reference, the Imperial Ministry of Defense is backing Victor’s arms dealings.

“Quality control is just the beginning; the after-sales support and additional services are offered without hesitation.”

“…….”

“Having been in charge of this field since my active duty, my experience and know-how are quite vast, after all. Of course, bureaucratic issues do exist, but solving them is part of my expertise, isn’t it? Right, Victor?”

As I embellished my friend’s shady business, Victor shot me a look, chuckling softly.

Interrupting our conversation, Victor, that arms broker, sneered and chimed in,

“Freddy. Aren’t you sugarcoating it too much while blatantly violating international law through smuggling?”

“Even if you phrase it nicely, it still stirs up trouble.”

Victor, a weapon broker who once served as a sergeant major in the Military Supplies Headquarters, managed the illegal supply of weaponry from the Kien Empire to foreign royalty, dictatorships, and warlords, and has continued to undertake similar roles post-discharge due to his reputation.

As I provided a brief explanation, the neatly dressed orc chuckled.

“Honestly, there are aspects that are too lacking for comparison. If we were to nitpick, I’d say I’ve stepped up to a much higher position.”

After leaving military service, Victor dove headfirst into the arms export business. As before, he is now supplying arms produced in the Kien Empire to countless warlords on the Mauritania Continent.

He deals broadly with small arms like rifles and pistols, medium weapons like machine guns, and occasionally tanks or armored vehicles such as tactical vehicles.

Of course, this is not done through formal state-to-state contracts.

Selling arms to sanctioned countries or warlords is an illegal transaction that must absolutely remain hidden. Especially when it comes to nations like Abas that are hostile towards the Kien Empire.

But regrettably, I was an Information Officer for Abas.

Victor assessed his business with a neutral tone.

“It’s illegal, but what can we do? When they prevent even basic necessities from reaching warlords or dictators, how can we export arms? Naturally, it needs to be done through back channels.”

“I can’t help but feel that Kien folks are rather shameless, Victor.”

“If only we looked pitiable enough for that darn economic sanction to be lifted, wouldn’t it be great, Freddy? Without going too far, if we could just stop deploying naval mages to puncture under the hulls of ships in international waters, I think we’d avoid so much trouble.”

“That’s not us. That would be those Patalia folks.”

“But I heard them speaking in Abasian, right?”

“Uh… you must have misheard it. Most likely.”

We briefly shifted to the side of the road, engaging in a calm and intellectual conversation about the effectiveness of Abas’s widespread economic sanctions and the tragedies unfolding on the Mauritania Continent.

Francesca’s expression, while listening to that profound discussion, was ever-changing.

She looked intrigued, flustered, and uncertain how to process it. The official from the Economic Management Department, with ties to the Oracle’s slush fund, found herself caught between a current arms broker and a spy, struggling to find her footing.

In truth, it wasn’t that she couldn’t comprehend the conversation; rather, she seemed flustered by the sheer randomness of it. Francesca subtly gave me the look to say, “Why are you all chatting about things only you understand?”

“Ahem… well, let’s save such discussions for later. For now, let’s return to the main topic and talk about business.”

Victor cleared his throat, setting the mood.

The comfortably seated orc sought permission to smoke, gently extracting a pack of cigarettes. The interior of the room was dim, but I immediately recognized the brand he held.

Akhtranyak. A long-discontinued military supply cigarette from the Kien Empire.

He had an odd quirk of only smoking that brand even during his active duty, and it seemed he still stuck with Akhtranyak even after his discharge.

Recalling the times I traversed the No Man’s Land to procure that discontinued cigarette sent a shiver down my spine, as Victor skillfully struck a match and lit the end of his cigarette.

“Ahh, Freddy. This lady wishes to engage in business with me, does she?”

I nodded in response.

Victor’s eyes narrowed. With his green skin, he resembled a reptile.

“Don’t tell me the Archmage wishes to purchase guns…”

“I’m looking more for selling than buying.”

“You have something to sell on the black market?”

“That’s right.”

“Well… it’s not too difficult. It really depends on what you have, though. But before that, if I may ask one thing to the lady.”

Thin smoke billowed up as Victor’s gaze drifted to the alchemist behind the white curtain.

“Just where exactly do you plan on selling these items?”

Francesca answered.

“In the Kien Empire.”

“The empire? That’s my homeland…”

“Does that give you a sense of discomfort?”

With a slightly provocative tone, Victor grinned.

“Not at all. If it’s something I can do as a side gig, then I’m all in.”

“But smuggling in the empire isn’t light on the sentencing… your confidence is rather bold.”

“I don’t care. As long as I don’t get caught, it’s all good.”

“It seems there’s someone backing you. Given how confidently you speak.”

“Oh, that’s my trade secret. I’d appreciate your understanding on keeping that confidential.”

“I completely understand.”

Francesca and Victor exchanged words smoothly, as if they were old friends discussing familiar topics.

The conversation flowed seamlessly for a lengthy duration. Although neither Victor nor Francesca had prepared for this discussion in advance, it seemed that grand gestures were not necessary. With Francesca managing the Oracle’s slush fund and Victor in charge of national-level smuggling, both of them likely had ample ledgers and calculators tucked away in their minds.

“To conduct smuggling into the empire, you can utilize overland and maritime routes. Although there exists the Magic Tower, I’ve heard from a close acquaintance stationed in the south that inspections have tightened recently, blocking many routes.”

“Hmm… then it seems sending items directly from the Magic Tower is out of the question. That’s fine. Anyway, we don’t rely solely on the Magic Tower for transport.”

“What route do you plan on using to bring the items in? Is there any area where I could assist?”

“By sea. I can arrange for a vessel on this end. I’m planning on switching papers a few times at the harbor, which will be the mid-stop.”

“Do whatever is most convenient for the lady.”

“What about the commission?”

“Do you have a preferred rate?”

“Of course, the more I can take, the merrier. But since it’s your romantic partner, I’ll be fair about it.”

As the lengthy business proposal continued, we finally approached the most significant topic of this discourse.

“But where do you plan to distribute the products? If you have no specific locations in mind, I could recommend some to you.”

“I appreciate the offer, but I have somewhere already in mind. I usually relish targeting lands I can’t even completely seize, but that’s not feasible at the moment.”

“The bigger the dream, the better, I suppose. May I ask which location you have in mind?”

Francesca responded.

“The North.”

So brief and clear,

With an even more profound resonance.

“Please distribute the items in the North’s black market.”

*

Victor’s previously narrowed eyes widened to saucers.

His pupils bulged as his shoulders trembled slightly. Fingers clutching the rolling tobacco slightly shook.

The orc information agent, who had visited the safe house of the Military Intelligence Agency, puffed out wisps of smoke and paused.

“N-North, did you say…?”

Francesca nodded her head affirmatively.

“Yes, the North.”

“…That’s a rather troublesome proposal, indeed.”

Victor inhaled a puff from his cigarette before exhaling without swallowing the smoke. The stench of the vile military supply cigarette wafted through the air.

“Do you realize just what the North entails?”

“I’m fully aware. I was just there a few hours ago.”

Francesca replied boldly, refusing to yield despite Victor’s flustered reaction.

But not only Francesca knew how to hold her ground. Victor too, without a moment of hesitation, decisively rejected her proposal.

“The North is off-limits. It’s too risky a region. How about a different area?”

Victor offered an alternative, but this time, Francesca stood firm in her refusal.

Like Victor, the alchemist was unyielding.

“It must be the North. I don’t mind the trouble; just check into it for me.”

“Price isn’t the issue.”

Victor shook his head, his distress evident. His face displayed a sense of discomfort, and a strange light flickered in his greenish eyes.

That light, was fear.

“Why?”

“……”

As Francesca pressed on relentlessly, Victor let out a labored sigh filled with smoke.

“The martial law has been declared in the North. According to imperial law, in regions under martial law, authority shifts from local governments and the central administration to the Military Government Headquarters. The gendarmerie and internal troops enforce the law.”

The former sergeant major of the Kien Empire was referencing the empire’s martial law.

“Consequently, public security in the North also falls under the Military Government Headquarters. The gendarmerie and internal troops take on the roles of the police, military police, and public security combined. Once the judicial rights transfer to the Military Government Headquarters, all the prosecutorial and judicial power goes alongside it. Effectively catching absolute power.”

To summarize Victor’s explanation: when martial law is declared, the Military Government Headquarters is legally assigned all powers in the North. From the administrative capital, Novo Nikolayevsk, to the frontlines in the mountain valleys, the Military Government Headquarters can exercise all kinds of authority.

One such power is judicial authority.

Under martial law, the Military Government Headquarters can exercise judicial power in the North, with military prosecutors and military courts effectively replacing traditional courts. Whether the accused is a civilian or military personnel, they face trial before armed gendarmes and judges in uniform.

In short, engaging in smuggling in the North and getting caught by the gendarmerie means no hopes of release.

The police may overlook you if you slip them a bribe before they cuff you, but the gendarmerie will immediately reach for their clubs to strike your head. Or they might just blast a bullet into your skull.

Victor would be no exception.

Even if he’s a trusted figure who sells arms under the government’s orders to dictatorships, foreign royals, revolutionaries, and warlords, should he act independently in a region under martial law, he cannot escape punishment. Especially if it weren’t part of his orders.

So it’s not surprising that Victor would display such reluctance.

He waved his hands dismissively, indicating his discomfort.

“When I started this job post-discharge, I promised myself I’d only sell two things in the empire: drugs and firearms. I didn’t expect it to come to smuggling in regions under martial law.”

“…I’m not suggesting we deal in drugs or firearms. I’m pointing towards much smaller, less burdensome items.”

“No matter how substantial the backing, right now, touching the North is out of the question. The Military Government Headquarters, or the Duke himself, will certainly come for you.”

“……”

“I’m sorry, but let’s pretend this never happened.”

As he insisted on dropping the matter, Francesca furrowed her brow. She leaned back into the sofa, relaxed.

If this situation is allowed to continue, who knows what might unfold? Someone needs to step in and manage the traffic.

“Urgh…”

Sighing softly, I stepped between Francesca, who frowned, and Victor, who was gathering his things.

“I’ve listened well to your conversation. Now, it’s my turn. Francesca? Would you mind stepping aside? I’d like a brief chat with my friend.”

“…Colonel?”

Francesca turned to me with a puzzled frown still on her face.

I locked eyes with her for a moment, then leaned in close, as if to embrace her. She looked at me with a mix of confusion, wondering what I was doing.

It seems she hadn’t fully grasped the situation yet. If she began to fly off the handle, it could spiral into chaos, so I hastily moved closer.

On her right cheek, the side out of Victor’s view, I leaned in.

At a distance where a mere nudge would bring our lips together, I could feel my breath caressing Francesca’s skin.

–Smack!

I feigned a kiss, moving my lips to produce the sound.

“What…!”

“Shh.”

As Francesca gasped in shock and backed away, I swiftly wrapped my arms around her neck. Then, holding her shoulders and head, I whispered softly in her ear.

“Act natural, Francesca. The moment you slap my face and blow up here, we’re all finished.”

“……”

“If you understood, care to play along and rise, moving to the next room? Close the door properly and pull the curtains tight. Keep your distance from the balcony.”

You know, it could be troublesome if someone sees us out there.

After whispering that, I held her for a moment. I staved off her potential panic, hoping to buy some time until she comprehended.

Even while sitting still, a plethora of stray thoughts raced through my mind, but fortunately, my worries proved unfounded.

As if snapping out of it, Francesca gently placed her hands on my back and began stroking along, resting her head atop my shoulder and whispering softly.

“… Next time, if you could at least give me a heads-up, I’d appreciate it, Colonel.”

“…….”

“I don’t wish to see the sight of your blood over a misunderstanding.”

Now that’s a chilling warning.

After saying that, Francesca casually rose and departed to the next room. If anyone saw now, they’d likely assume we were a couple that couldn’t bear to part.

I wiped the cold sweat trickling down my back with my hand while gazing at Victor, who had paused mid-action.

“What’s wrong, Victor?”

“… No, it’s nothing.”

“Then stay here. I won’t take long.”

Victor, who had been awkwardly standing, returned to his seat. As I exhaled a heavy sigh, I absently dusted off the particles on my shirt.

“Sorry for causing you trouble, Victor. I should have briefed you earlier, but I’ve been rather busy.”

“I think you might be the one with the bigger problems…”

“…That’s.”

I was about to counter, but words eluded me. We’re not in a genuine relationship, so I couldn’t just tell him to stop worrying.

Desperately pursuing an excuse, I blurted out something unexpected instead.

“Don’t go doing stuff like this.”

“……”

Victor sighed lightly, evidently incredulous. Regardless, it seemed things had calmed down, and we had smoothed over the situation, so it wasn’t a priority anymore.

With a sulky expression, I turned to Victor.

“Earlier, I had to listen to Francesca’s wish to distribute goods in the North’s black market. Not drugs or firearms, but basic necessities like food, clothing, medicines, and winter supplies.”

“… Daily essentials? I’ve heard there have been shortages in the North. Why do you care? And why does your girlfriend want to distribute that in the North?”

“What else could it be?”

I need to squeeze intel out of that rat, you see.

“It’s all about the money.”

“……”

Victor regarded me with a curious look, as if he couldn’t believe such words came from my mouth.

He scrutinized me with a blend of interest and skepticism.

“Money? Have you suddenly developed an interest in it, Freddy? I thought you were above material desires.”

“Yeah, you thought I was a homo, so how could it be?”

“Well… that’s something I can’t disagree with. I sincerely apologize. Still, the North is problematic.”

“Why are you saying that, Victor? Have a look at my face.”

“Haah…”

Victor sighed deeply, loaded with turmoil.

It was a long, deep sigh, filled to the brim with confusion.

“Listen, my friend. I truly want to help you as much as I can. I’d assist you with anything within my reach. But the North is beyond my ability to handle.”

I rebutted him firmly.

“Isn’t having generals as backers enough? You know plenty of high-ranking officers. And you also have connections with railway officials, postal offices, and customs employees.”

“……”

I briefly referenced Victor’s connections and the significant influence he had in business.

Normally, such information would be things even his family wouldn’t know, but as an information officer managing Victor, I was expected to know about all of this.

Naturally, Victor wasn’t oblivious to this fact.

As I noted the closed door of the room Francesca had entered, Victor’s weary voice echoed.

The dialogue we were about to have now was one not meant to be shared even before friends, let alone with family.

“The generals are people I conduct business with. The connections I have with railway, postal, and customs employees are those who’ve been paid by me.”

“Yeah. With railway staff and the Military Government Commander, you can ask them to transport goods to the North, right? It might be challenging at the front lines, but you can manage to get to the entrance, no?”

“… Not possible, Freddy. Cargo entering the North is supervised by the Military Government Headquarters, even if they reach the nearby areas. From that point on, it no longer falls under the Military Supplies Headquarters’ jurisdiction.”

Damn it. I had an inkling that might be the case, but I hadn’t anticipated it would be this severe. They’re completely following FM protocols down at the Military Government Headquarters.

The thought of slipping a bribe to a higher-up at the Military Government Headquarters crossed my mind, but that’s not a great option either. Improperly delivering a bribe could put me in serious hot water.

Sure, I could bribe lower-level officers, but you always need to approach high-ranking officials like Colonel Mikhail with care.

I gently bit my lip, clinging to the last thread of hope, and rephrased my inquiry.

“Is there no other way?”

“There isn’t. At least not to my knowledge.”

It was a stern conclusion. Victor categorically stated that no transportation of goods into the North was feasible.

Hearing Victor declare such a thing suggested to me that he truly believed it. This strongly grounded information from someone who possessed ears to the ground.

But that left me with a puzzling question:

“……”

Just how did that Dark Elf manage to distribute so many goods?

Moreover, how could a broker with ties derived from bribery within the military dare to try anything in the North?

It’s quite an unusual situation.

As I was enveloped in confusion, suddenly, Victor’s expression brightened as if an idea struck him.

“Oh, there are two options. Just two options.”

“What options?”

“Finding a new backer.”

Victor raised two fingers.

“In the North, two individuals can exercise absolute authority. One is the commander of the Military Government, Colonel Mikhail, and the other is someone you’re familiar with.”

“Who is that?”

“The Duke.”

The Duke. A distant scion of the Kien Empire’s imperial family. I too am aware of who that is; who wouldn’t?

“The Archmage?”

“Correct.”

The Duke mentioned by the orc is the one in charge of governance in the North. More accurately, he’s been entrusted with the defense and governance of the North for a century, after receiving authority delegated from the imperial family.

Amidst the time where divine forces clashed with sorcery in wars, he rallied people against the cult and played a significant part in winning battles and surviving, eventually establishing the Magic Tower, before returning to the Empire to protect it against devils and monsters at the northernmost frontiers.

The Duke was a universally acknowledged figure within the empire.

Victor stated,

“Even the commander of the Military Government cannot act recklessly in the face of the Duke. In the North, where martial law has been declared, if the Duke supports you, you might get away with murder. She is the high aunt of Emperor Nikolai VI. Unless they’ve lost their minds, they wouldn’t dare treat a senior member of the royal family carelessly.”

“…Hey. This has made me genuinely curious: How exactly does one gain the Duke’s backing?”

“Impossible.”

“What the hell…?”

“Give up. You’ll find peace in letting go.”

Victor slumped his shoulders in defeat, sinking heavily into his chair. I covered my face with my hand and sighed heavily again.

Whether Victor recognized my tangled feelings or not, he muttered to himself, his hands clasped on his belly.

“If you wish to smuggle successfully into the North without repercussions, you must either bribe the commander of the Military Government or gain the Duke’s permission. It’s one or the other. Otherwise, abandon the attempt.”

“……”

I groaned, brushing my hand over my face. Surely there must be some means,

but searching for any solutions, nothing good came to mind. Feeling foggy-headed.

In my anxious state, I began tapping my fingers gently against the armrest of the sofa when suddenly—

“…….”

Like lightning striking, an astonishing idea illuminated my mind. Without a moment’s hesitation, I turned to Victor and pitched it straight.

“What if it’s not the North?”

“Huh?”

“What if you transport the goods to somewhere other than the North, and afterward, we find a different method to funnel them into the North? You wouldn’t have directly transported anything there, so your skin remains safe.”

That could potentially work, right?

With that in mind, I posed the question; Victor seemed to completely have his mind blown.

“Transporting it to a place other than the North…”

“What do you think, Victor? Is it feasible?”

“It’s not unfeasible. In fact, it IS feasible.”

“Great. Then let’s do that.”

I exchanged short opinions with Victor, and before he could summon his usual caution, I made a promise to myself.

“I swear, I won’t place you in any awkward situations. I promise.”

“……”

“Looking at my face, just help me out this time, my friend. Things have gone smoothly thus far.”

Victor squinted his eyes shut.

The orc, resting in his chair with heavy eyelids, fell deep into contemplation.

After a while that felt like an eternity, once he completed his mental calculations, he finally spoke.

“I’m only doing this for you because we’re friends.”

“Great.”

At last, his positive reply came forth.

I stood up from my seat and shook Victor’s hand. He, in turn, took my hand and shook it slowly. We exchanged smiles as we completed our handshake.

“I don’t know what goes through your mind, but please don’t cause any issues now, Freddy. That’s a warning from deep concern.”

“I’ll keep that in mind, Victor.”

Victor retrieved a fresh pack of rolling tobacco. He gently picked out a match from its box and struck it against the wall.

A small flame flickered in the dim alley.

“Is it okay if I take an appropriate commission?”

“Why bother being stingy with a friend? Just keep it fair, fair.”

“Geez, you stingy bastard…”

Victor puffed out white smoke, chuckling softly. As he was getting ready to leave, he suddenly turned to me as if something occurred to him.

“But, Freddy.”

“Yeah? What is it?”

“Can I ask just one thing?”

As he stepped towards the exit, match still in his mouth, and holding another matchstick, he seemed unable to suppress his curiosity.

“Why on earth are you helping that woman? I heard it seems more like a project of the Archmage than your own.”

Victor gestured towards the closed door of the room where Francesca had gone.

I glanced at the tightly shut door before shifting my gaze back to Victor.

Well, what’s the best answer to this?

A multitude of suitable responses flooded my mind, but the only one that mattered right now was quite simple.

“…Because I love her?”

Even I felt the embarrassment in my answer, but it mattered not.

In the eyes of this orc, who prioritizes family and honor above all else, no value could surpass love and honor.

“A romanticist has emerged.”

Victor chuckled at me. As always, he displayed his pristine white fangs.

“It was a pleasure meeting you, Freddy. I’ll return soon with the contract.”

“Sure.”

As he waved his hand at me, Victor raised the half-burned matchstick.

“Ha.”

Puff, a warm breath blew out, extinguishing the flickering match. I remained composed, waiting for Victor to exit fully.

A moment later, I approached the window and peered outside.

The streets had regained their light, with lampposts pushing back the darkness.

And in the distance,

By the faint light of the streetlamp in the alley, stood a familiar orc waving a matchstick in hand.