A Dark Fantasy Spy

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On the day the Duke’s letter was delivered to Lucia and the various departments, the Empire, the Cult, the Magic Tower, and the governments of different nations fell into serious contemplation.

Massacred combat magicians, Magic Department investigators, and soldiers. Monsters from the Mauritania Continent attacking the Rift. Four Inquisition officers killed while carrying out some operation. The secretive movements of the Holy See. Even the Empire’s government remained silent, not even sending a typical protest letter, while the royal family kept its mouth shut. Letters stamped with the Duke’s seal came in waves, despite his usual reclusiveness.

Although what happened in the North was not known to the world, those with their eyes and ears intact, the ones who could comprehend, realized that something was terribly off.

This included the involved parties, the Cult and the Empire itself. Even magicians and priests sent to the North, as well as foreign military forces, sensed the strangeness. The situation in the North was developing rapidly, and those entangled in it were on high alert, fearing something might explode at any moment.

It was a situation where the phrase “in the brink of explosion” fit perfectly.

All events stemmed from a simple question posed by the magicians dispatched from the Magic Tower.

“Why did the Duke send a letter to the Cult without consulting us?”

—

Episode 12 – The Strongest Magician in History

After the exchange of information regarding the undead corpses, the Archbishop’s letter, and the Duke’s missive, things progressed smoothly as if flowing water.

Numerous governmental departments, including the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Magic, formed response teams, and an investigative unit was established centered around the Ministry of Magic.

Legally, the administrative and judicial authority in the North belonged entirely to the Military Government Headquarters; however, the figure effectively ruling the North was the Duke. The Duke bore the blood of the royal family, a position that transcended the law in the Kien Empire.

Moreover, the fact that she was the current emperor’s aunt and an Archmage who participated in the war between the Cult and the Magic Tower a century ago had a certain influence. Even under martial law, where even basic rights were restricted, the military dared not infringe upon the Duke’s political standing and actual authority built upon lineage and achievements.

The Duke’s intentions were simple.

“If you cooperate with the Imperial Ministry of Magic and the Ministry of Defense, I shall allow the forces of the Inquisition, including exorcists, to investigate freely in the North.”

Considering that she fought in the war a century prior and lost innumerable comrades under the Inquisition’s blade, and the fact that the resentment still lingered even now, allowing the Inquisition’s forces to enter her territory for an investigation was truly remarkable goodwill.

Once the Duke’s approval, thought impossible by everyone, was granted, the Empire and the Cult immediately gathered personnel and dispatched them to the North. Up until that point, everything was fine.

However, the problem arose from where we least expected it.

“…What did you just say?”

“As I stated, I ask you to persuade the Duke to reconsider her decision.”

A magician from the Magic Tower spoke.

“We cannot comprehend the Duke’s intent to allow the Inquisition’s forces to investigate in the North while sidelining the Magic Battalion and the Secretariat.”

A headache formed involuntarily at the magician’s words.

Whatever had happened, it seemed rumors had spread to the magicians dispatched to the North. The fact that the Duke and Lucia had been corresponding directly was causing quite a stir.

While I was rubbing my aching head, the magician solemnly continued.

“Thus, we urgently ask you to persuade the Duke to change her mind.”

“……”

“Administrator.”

A pair of violet eyes, reminiscent of violets, glided slowly.

There was no hint of the intense emotions born from anger, nor the chilling coolness; just a calm gaze that felt completely ordinary.

“That statement sounded as if the Duke made an incorrect decision.”

The Duke was not just any royal or magician.

She was someone who had participated in the war a century ago, referred to as the ‘War of Independence’ or ‘Liberation War.’ The blood of the Imperial family flowed through her veins. A member of the Kien Empire’s royal family held a position that transcended law.

Moreover, she was also the Emperor’s sister and an Archmage who had fought in the war against the Cult, which influenced things significantly. Under martial law, where basic rights could be restricted, even the military could not dare infringe upon the political power and real authority the Duke had built through bloodline and merit.

Of course, the Duke was human and could make mistakes…

However…

Her brilliantly glistening violet eyes narrowed.

“Do you think you have the authority to doubt the Duke’s judgment?”

“……”

“Is that not what you believe, Lord Martinez?”

As the relentless criticism poured down, the person in charge of the Magic Tower Secretariat dispatch, Juan Pablo Martinez, shook his head.

“Then if you heard it that way, we have no other way but to ask for your understanding with a generous heart.”

“……”

“It is the Inquisition. Knowing how much the Duke understands what they have done, to grant permission for the Inquisition to investigate, is that something that can be considered acceptable?”

Francesca tilted her head faintly.

Though her expression was difficult to read from this distance, she did not seem displeased. Martinez began to detail his explanation towards Francesca.

His tone was the epitome of officialness, devoid of any emotional inflection, delivering nothing but the facts.

“All the magicians are confused by this decision.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“As you know, the recent situation here cannot be described as peaceful. Many magicians have been murdered, and the clergy of the Cult have been named as suspects.”

“The official investigation results have not been released yet, Lord Martinez. Please be mindful of your statements.”

“It is important to recognize that people think this way regardless of the facts. For magicians suspecting priests to be murderers, the Duke’s decision resembles pouring oil onto a burning house.”

Though no additional explanations were given, it was clear how the situation had developed.

The magicians dispatched to the Rift had received a request for support from the defensive unit and had witnessed the murder scene firsthand, the bodies of the Empire’s combat magicians mercilessly cut down.

Immediately, the magicians had identified the clergy as suspects.

There were clergy present at the scene where the combat magicians were stabbed to death. The clergy who first discovered the bodies was moving alongside the knights, and crucially, a divine response had been detected from the corpses.

Rumors likely circulated among the magicians dispatched to the Rift. Conspiracy theories tend to get exaggerated or blown out of proportion, so it wasn’t surprising if some strange rumors were going around among the magicians of the Magic Tower.

For reference, at that time, the noble who was inspecting the corpses with his eyes was none other than Juan Pablo Martinez, who was conversing with Francesca right there.

“Lady Ranieri.”

“Speak.”

“Please, convince the Duke to reconsider her mind.”

Martinez said, his voice now tinged with subtle inflections, contrasting his previously unemotional demeanor.

The magician appealed to the descendant of the Archmage.

“Just as Lord Rysidike, you, Lady Ranieri, are a descendant of the great magician. The only ones in the Magic Tower and the Ivory Tower who have the qualifications to converse with the Duke are the Tower Masters and Oracle committee members, direct descendants of great houses. With Lord Rysidike at the front lines, you are the only magician who can meet the Duke.”

Martinez bowed deeply. Francesca’s gaze lingered on his head for a moment before shifting away.

“…Tch.”

Understanding the situation, Francesca clicked her tongue in discontent.

“What did the Oracle say?”

“The committee members and the Tower Master stated they respect the Duke’s decision.”

“Then isn’t that good enough?”

Francesca shot a sharp glance at Martinez, then turned her attention back to her documents.

“The Oracle did not voice any disagreement with the Duke’s judgment, and the Empire likewise has not taken any significant stance. I believe the Military Government Headquarters, which has been delegated administrative and judicial authority from the city government, did not oppose that decision either. Given these circumstances, the fact that magicians are resisting…”

“……”

“Isn’t that rather strange?”

“Indeed, please understand that people are trembling in anxiety.”

He added curtly.

“Besides, didn’t the Duke send a letter to the Cult before us?”

“……”

Francesca did not respond.

She was notoriously tight-lipped.

Martinez tried to convey how the magicians in the North were agitated, what their feelings of unease stemmed from, and why the Inquisition’s forces should no longer be allowed in the North.

But,

“That’s enough.”

Francesca raised her hand, cutting off Martinez’s words.

“That’ll do. Lord Martinez, you may leave now. Please ensure that strange rumors do not circulate and control the magicians to prevent any issues.”

“But, Lady Ranieri, I cannot understand the Duke’s decision—”

“Does the Duke have to seek anyone’s understanding when making a judgment?”

The magician’s mouth snapped shut.

A chilling voice followed.

[Do not exceed the line any further, Lord. This is not advice; it is a warning.]

[…Understood.]

Martinez bowed deeply before quickly exiting Francesca’s office.

The sound of his shoes tapping against the wooden floor echoed as he passed through, and when the door finally closed—

Click.

I ceased recording and removed my headset, placing it next to the eavesdropping equipment.

—

People often think that eavesdropping is an extremely difficult task.

But, in reality, eavesdropping isn’t that hard at all.

With the advancement of technology, everyone is now holding smartphones, and at some point, people began to carry the distilled essence of their information in their hands.

Email addresses, phone numbers, IDs, and passwords, along with location data, transaction history, social media, messenger data, photos, biometric information, and more.

Smartphones are essentially portable safes, and the truth is that one can obtain a treasure trove of information by just hacking into a phone. By extracting all the information on a smartphone and accessing its microphone and camera, an information officer can readily turn a smartphone into a video surveillance and eavesdropping device.

Such tasks don’t even require complicated technology. One can just buy hacker tools made for smartphones from private companies in Israel or Italy.

Of course, if someone carries around a smartphone with special encryption features like a government worker, a little more effort is needed, but with the right angles and good ol’ text or emails, one can achieve results in less than a minute.

However, if one is working in an area where such technology does not exist or in a town devoid of smartphones, then it wouldn’t be possible to easily conduct eavesdropping operations like this.

Regrettably, in my case, I fell into both categories.

“Administrator, did everything go well?”

As I leaned against the office door and asked, Francesca snapped back with a grumpy tone.

“You were eavesdropping and now you’re asking how it went?”

“Come on…. If someone hears that, they’d misunderstand.”

“Forget it. Quickly take back the things you placed here.”

I retrieved the eavesdropping and video surveillance equipment set up in Francesca’s office.

The 1st small magic camera was positioned to see the door through a potted plant, the 2nd device was a palm-sized box with a hole for insertion, and multiple eavesdropping devices were tucked under chairs and inside magic lamps.

Finally, I collected the equipment I had hidden beneath the desk and stuffed it into my bag, then plopped down in front of Francesca.

“Things are spiraling quite out of control. I never imagined the Tower folks would throw a fit.”

I blurted this out with a smile, prompting a distressed noise from Francesca.

“Yeah, I didn’t expect them to rebel like this either.”

The influence wielded by the descendants of the great Archmages in society is immense. They were the ones who led the movement to liberate the oppressed magicians and helped solidify magic as a legitimate academic discipline.

Yet even those who weren’t direct descendants of such great Archmages were now opposing a decision made by a Duke, a figure alongside legendary Archmages.

“It’s more like they are agitated…”

“Well, that’s not really important, is it?”

Francesca pressed her fingers to her temples, letting out a long sigh.

“The agitation of the magicians is a problem, Colonel.”

“True. But what’s really crucial is the reason why the magicians are agitated, isn’t it?”

“That’s kind of true…”

I started to organize things. I combined the information shared by Martinez and what Francesca already knew to analyze the reasons behind the magicians’ unrest.

“Magicians who learned about the bodies of the combat magicians directly witnessed the murder at the Rift have begun to suspect the clergy as potential murderers. During this time, it’s been rumored that the Inquisition, with whom they’ve had a historically tense relationship, would come storming in.

Yet it turns out that it was none other than the Archmage who personally allowed the Inquisition’s forces to set foot in the North, permitting the investigation across the North. And meanwhile, the magicians of the Tower were sidelined.

So, the magicians are likely agitated because of all these developments, right?”

“…I suppose that seems fair.”

Francesca seemed to be fed up, responding without much enthusiasm.

I propped my chin on one hand, briefly reflecting on the current situation.

Then I reached a conclusion.

“This is chaos.”

I turned to Francesca and questioned, “Are magicians generally this temperamental? Who do they think they are to request the Duke to overturn her decision? They didn’t even have the courage to do it directly, just whispering and passing the responsibility onto you to report. Is this the mindset of the Tower folks? It feels quite different from what I know.”

“Why are you taking it out on me? I just sat here.”

“I apologize. I didn’t mean any ill will.”

My tone came out with a hint of incredulity, unexpected even to me. I quickly apologized, and Francesca graciously accepted.

Leaning back in her chair, Francesca exhaled softly and answered my question.

“They never behave this way. It seems the agitation is larger than expected.”

“But can they really act out like this? The Duke sent a letter directly to Lucia, and the Oracle respects the Duke’s judgment! This is tantamount to rebellion.”

“That is exactly the problem; it shows how much meaning this carries for those who understand it.”

“Hmph.”

“It’s possible that the situation could become quite dire. Although they belong to different nationalities, the combat magicians were murdered without operating against the Inquisition…”

“Are they feeling a threat to their lives?”

“Perhaps. With unfortunate incidents piling up on the battlefield, it seems everyone’s nerves are fraying.”

I posed a question towards the muttering Francesca.

“So, what do you intend to do?”

“The easiest method might be to persuade the magicians affiliated with the three main schools to quell the backlash. The primary currents of the Tower include the Elemental School, Sorcery School, and Astrology School. Lesser schools will naturally incline towards the path of the three main schools. Or perhaps simply disregarding everything could work too.”

Despite having such an ostensibly simple solution, the very fact that it wasn’t being acted upon conveyed a singular message.

Currently, that approach could not be employed.

“But ignoring this is not going to resolve the situation. Convincing the three schools might not yield effective results either.”

“Do look into some options; we can’t let things run amok like this.”

“Of course, that’s necessary. For now, I’ll discuss the situation with Lord Evangelos. Before things escalate, we need to devise a strategy.”

“Understood. Is there anything you need?”

“I just want to confirm; you’re not thinking of sticking listening devices in my office again, are you?”

“Of course not.”

I replied with a bright smile.

This time, instead of placing eavesdropping devices in her office, I was considering implanting them directly on Francesca; technically, I wasn’t lying.

As Francesca arranged for a meeting with the Duke’s Magic Battalion Commander, Evangelos Rysidike, I began gathering my belongings, preparing to leave the room.

And just before stepping out…

“Oh right.”

I placed my hand on the doorknob and made one request to Francesca.

“Administrator, about the rumors circulating among the Tower folks…the ones regarding the incident at the Rift, the letter the Duke sent to Lucia, and so forth.”

“Yes? Why?”

“Could you find out who started those rumors?”

“That’s possible. It might take some time, but can you inform me why?”

“Oh, just….”

I licked my lips.

“It’s nothing much. Just a suspicion that…”

“Yes?”

“I’m wondering if someone is deliberately spreading those rumors.”