A Dark Fantasy Spy

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“Director! We’ve received a call from the Royal Intelligence Department.”

The voice of an officer echoed in the office of the Military Intelligence Agency, located on the upper floors of the building divided into various departments.

“The infiltration by the operations team has not been detected by the Kien Information Agency, and the team is fully prepared to move north. We only need to decide on the infiltration route now, Director.”

Leoni Risha, seated at the desk, raised her head. Reports prepared by the dispatched information officers and documents from departments handling overseas operations cluttered the desk.

Overseas Operations Director, Leoni Risha. The title on the nameplate shone brightly under the light.

After scribbling her signature, Leoni spoke up.

“Is everything ready for sure?”

“Yes.”

The report from the officer continued.

“I just confirmed it from the situation room.”

“And the Empire hasn’t caught on to anything?”

“Absolutely. We’ve checked if there are any surveillance following up with the embassy and the domestic department, but there were no notable issues.”

“Good.”

“What about the infiltration route? I’ve received reports that all paths to the north are blocked.”

Even with the subordinate’s question, Leoni remained silent.

She finished signing and briefly placed her pen down, lost in thought.

Currently, all resources from the Military Intelligence Agency and the Royal Intelligence Department are focused on the Mauritania Continent issue. Most urgent matters observed by the Prime Minister’s office, the Ministry of Defense, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were centered there.

However, Leoni’s thoughts fluctuated slightly between the Royal Intelligence Department and the Military Intelligence Agency.

Finishing her signature, she capped the pen tightly and spat out, “Forget about that. We have someone who will help with the infiltration.”

“…Uh, where exactly is this person who will help infiltrate? Are they in the north?”

The hawk-like eyes of the officer darted nervously at Leoni.

The officer in charge of the overseas department quickly lowered his gaze under her scrutiny.

“Uh, I will prepare follow-up operations as you instructed. Once the operations team successfully infiltrates the north, I will report back then.”

“Don’t wait until after the success. Report back daily.”

“I will bear that in mind, Director.”

“Get out.”

Once the order was given, the officer hurriedly exited the office.

Watching him leave, Leoni clicked her tongue in disapproval.

As she stood up from her chair to prepare to leave, her advisor cautiously entered the room and closed the door.

“What is it?”

“I have an urgent report from the military attaché office in Kien Empire.”

It was a report that arrived just past midnight. Not a good sign at all.

Gathering her clothes to leave, Leoni clicked her tongue again and returned to her desk as the advisor handed her a single-sheet report.

The contents of the report were concise, with more whitespace than text.

Yet, the information contained within was not something to take lightly.

[Urgent.

Four Inquisition officers killed in a clash in the northern region. The suspect is a male monk from a cult. Presumed to be a necromancer or a possessed person. The cult ambassador is being summoned to the Inquisition.]

Officer in charge: Colonel Frederick Nostrim.

Episode 12 – The Most Powerful Mage

With the discovery of the undead in the north, the cult’s stance flipped.

Clergy, who had been rallying around Director Petrus, suggesting that they carefully investigate the situation, fell silent.

Murders of combat magicians and soldiers, monster incursions, sorcery manifestations, terrorism, deaths of Inquisition officers, and undead, all combined into an uncontrollable crisis that the cult could no longer ignore.

The cult immediately summoned the ambassador of the Kien Empire from their homeland.

“An individual suspected to be a necromancer or a possessed person has been found in the north. This individual has killed four Inquisition officers operating locally, and undead have appeared in the area where he was last seen.”

“……”

Originally, the nature of intelligence agency activities is hypocritical.

If I engage in espionage in another country, it’s deemed a necessary evil, but if others do it in my country, it could be seen as grounds for execution.

From this perspective, the Empire’s ambassador should have lodged a protest against the illegal activities of the Inquisition in the north, yet,

“… I will notify the Royal Family.”

The ambassador did not protest.

The information supplied by the Inquisition was relayed through diplomatic channels to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where it was immediately passed on to the Royal Family through the palace representatives.

“What do you want?”

“I request a swift and thorough investigation. Given the nature of the matter, the cult is fully willing to cooperate with the Kien Empire’s investigation, Ambassador.”

“Approval from His Majesty the Emperor will be required. However, I will inform the Ministry of Defense and the Magic Department for now.”

At the time when a joint investigation by the Inquisition was proposed, a letter from Archbishop Theodosius reached the Empire’s government.

The letter detailed extensively about the situation in the north and had naturally been sent to the Chancellor’s residence, personally crafted by none other than an archbishop.

Along with the remains of the undead that Lucia brought.

As the unmistakable remains of the undead were delivered from the north, both the Ministry of Defense and the Magic Department were thrown into chaos.

Hearing reports of significant incidents occurring in regions under martial law and the appearance of undead, the Ministry of Defense and the Magic Department were in a frenzy over the implication that a suspected necromancer was roaming around.

Quick decisions were demanded by the cult, and both departments promptly formed task forces to address the incidents unfolding in the north.

“We must immediately send investigators to the north!”

“According to diplomatic channels, a suspected necromancer or a possessed person has appeared in the north. Shouldn’t we call the Inquisition officers?”

“I heard all of the ones sent there were killed.”

“What, an entire village disappeared? What was the city government doing while the citizens went missing?”

“We should ask the Inquisition for assistance. This is no ordinary matter. We need military support as well.”

“We should gather as many combat magicians from other fronts as possible.”

“Wouldn’t it be better to deploy the Special Forces from the Reconnaissance Command? They excel at capturing mages, right? Surely a necromancer would drop dead with a bullet to the head.”

Various countermeasures were discussed primarily among the military and the Magic Department.

However,

“But calling the Inquisition without approval from the Royal Family might be… ”

“This is where the Duke resides.”

No matter how elite one might be, acting without the Emperor’s or the Duke’s permission could very well result in treason overnight.

Moreover, the actual ruler in the north is the Archmage and the Emperor’s aunt, the Duke.

Though martial law had been enacted and administrative and judicial powers had shifted to military rule in the north, it did not indicate the political downfall or purge of the Duke.

Still, who would dare to act independently without even seeking the approval of the Royal Family or the Duke?

Moreover, gaining the Emperor’s or Duke’s approval presented a problem. While the Emperor might be reachable within the palace, finding the whereabouts of the Duke, whose location was uncertain, posed a challenge.

Although there were rumors that the Duke currently resided in her stronghold, even if those rumors were true, whether she would read messages from junior officials or grant access remains uncertain.

Of course, we weren’t without methods.

“Who are you? This is a place where outsiders cannot enter freely.”

“I have come to deliver a letter to the Duke. It’s urgent.”

“The Duke has prohibited any external contact and visits from outsiders. I don’t know who you are, but that is incredibly rude…”

“I am Lucia, the 59th Saint of the cult. This is a matter of life and death for innocent people, so I must deliver this letter to the Duke.”

Lucia used her authority to deliver the letter to the Duke.

She respectfully implored for permission for the Inquisition’s exorcists to enter the north to track the monk, detailing the circumstances of the incident, and what she had witnessed firsthand.

Then, unexpectedly, a surprising response came back.

“I have received a reply…!”

The Duke of the north personally wrote back to Lucia.

The letter stated that under the authority granted by the Royal Family, it would be permissible for Inquisition forces to deploy to the north in order to conduct the investigation.

At the same time, letters with the Duke’s seal were dispatched to the Chancellor’s residence and other departments.

The letters contained instructions that every available means be utilized to solve the issues arising in the north, and that the Duke would take the responsibility, implying that removing the need for Royal Family approval could be postponed.

“I didn’t think the Duke would actually reply.”

“The letter was written directly by Her Highness, after all.”

“I honestly expected she wouldn’t read it. From what I’ve heard from the Archbishop and others in the diocese, she reportedly sent back all ceremonial letters asking about her well-being during anniversaries back to the cathedral. I was worried she would do the same this time.”

It seemed that this event caught both the cult and the Empire officials off guard.

It was indeed astonishing that the Archmage, who had once fought tooth and nail against the cult, would respond to a letter from a cleric, no less from a Saint.

“Seriously. Mages are something else… But what would you have done if they didn’t accept the letter?”

“I would’ve simply pushed through the guards and gone to meet her directly at the stronghold.”

“……”

Regardless, with the Duke’s permission secured, which held powers equivalent to that of the Emperor in the north, everything began to take shape rapidly.

The Empire dispatched a large-scale investigation team to the north, and the cult offered support in manpower and resources to the Inquisition. Although the exorcists were not yet sent, the Inquisition made sure to give adequate support.

Meanwhile, I went around meeting my colleagues.

“What happened yesterday? You suddenly stopped responding.”

“Camila. For now, stay away from the frontlines and move to the rear. You can move your things later, just get in the car quickly.”

“Why? Is something wrong?”

“I’ll explain on the way. And you’re still keeping the item I gave you, right?”

“Yes.”

“Let’s find one person. I’ll give you a description, so keep an eye out.”

Camila.

“Ah, you’ve arrived? How was it? Was the information you got from the Palm Tree Trade Guild accurate?”

“It was correct, but I’m not sure about its precision. Anyway, Francesca, could you take a look at this?”

“Why are you suddenly undressing…?”

“……”

“…What on earth happened to you?”

“I got stabbed, and this is what I ended up with. The wound is rotting after just a day. Do you have any way to treat it?”

“It’s not a common situation, but… it’s not entirely impossible. First, you need to lie down so I can diagnose the condition. Please explain what happened.”

Francesca.

The one who killed four Inquisition officers in a single blow and wiped an entire village off the map. If he was behind the terror, murder, or rift attacks, there’s a significant likelihood that he would target Camila, Lucia, or Francesca.

I moved the two to a safe location, while also exploring if there was any way to treat the injury without Lucia’s assistance.

Though it wouldn’t be easy, Francesca said she might have a solution, so I could cautiously hope for a positive outcome.

Everything was proceeding smoothly.

With the Duke’s approval, there were no more reasons to hesitate, and no obstructive barriers remained in our way.

Thus, it seemed like everything was finishing well without major clashes.

However.

As is always the case in this world.

Problems tend to erupt from the most unexpected places.

*

“…What? Francesca, what did you just say?”

“The personnel from the Magic Tower are in an uproar. Specifically, the personnel dispatched to the north…”

“Excuse me?”

“They cannot condone the cult conducting investigations in the north.”

“Dammit.”