A Dark Fantasy Spy

---

“Are you saying you’re going to kill Francesca?”

Sophia, the Information Officer of the National Security Agency, said.

“‘Physical removal’ is not a decided matter. Just think of it as one of the options.”

In every information agency, jargon is in common use, but the form of that jargon varies by nationality. Even in the countries where the study of intelligence agencies first originated, America and Britain, the terms used are different.

For instance, expressions that metaphorically refer to assassination operations. CIA friends referred to assassination as “special activity abroad” or “terminate with extreme prejudice.” Conversely, SIS friends called the assassination operation itself “Special political action.”

The “physical removal” that Sophia mentioned is no different. Physical removal was one of the metaphors used by the Patalia Information Agency to refer to assassination operations.

In other words,

“So, you’re saying you don’t intend to kill her.”

Sophia replied while tilting her wine glass.

“Exactly.”

And as she tilted the glass, filled with a blood-red wine, she added:

“At least not for now.”

—

Episode 13 – There is No Country for Magicians

A heavy silence settled over the table.

The silence was awkward and uncomfortable at the same time.

“…….”

I leaned back into my chair, silently staring at Sophia.

Even with the effects of alcohol, my sharpened senses urged my thoughts forward.

The thoughts were swift.

The blood that surged from my throbbing heart supplied oxygen to my brain more vigorously than ever.

My brain began piecing together the changes surrounding Francesca and the internal affairs of Patalia. Like fitting scattered puzzle pieces together, a rough picture formed in my mind.

As I paused to gather my thoughts and glanced at the sea, I slowly leaned forward to close the distance with my friend. I brought my clasped hands to my lips and whispered softly.

“Is it because of the Magic Tower?”

“…Wow.”

Sophia’s eyes widened, feigning surprise. Her expression seemed to ask how I knew.

Holding her wine glass in one hand, she swept her blonde hair back. Unlike Lucia’s fine golden hair, which appeared to be spun from melted gold, Sophia’s hair, mixed with other colors, looked a dull yellow.

After a brief moment of adjusting her appearance, she lightly smiled and nodded. It was a silent affirmation.

“Well, given what’s happened to the Magic Tower, something was bound to occur. I suppose it would have caused concern.”

Whether it was the Nastasia Treaty, preemptive arrests, or the Magic Tower being targeted like a punching bag, the Tower was still the Tower.

A collective that leads the magical society alongside the Ivory Tower established by the alchemists of the Red Desert. The paradise for magicians and the only sanctuary. Because of the Ivory Tower’s uniqueness and the characteristic of delving deeply into alchemy, most magicians hope to live not in the Ivory Tower but in the Magic Tower.

The problem, however, is that the situation in the Magic Tower is not good.

First, all senior officials who made up the cabinet have been completely reshuffled before their term could finish.

The reasons varied: embezzlement, tax evasion, abuse of power, losses in political struggles, health issues, and more.

Second, massive protests akin to riots have erupted.

A protest initiated by three groups united plagued the Magic Tower for a long time, prompting the Tower’s government to deploy police forces gathered from every corner of the soul to suppress it.

As a result, a security vacuum arose in other regions, leading to a string of looting, arson, robbery, and assault incidents.

Coupled with economic crises and the military’s show of force, the Magic Tower was engulfed in fear. Magicians panicked, gathering in squares to burn piles of magical books as a strong expression of their distrust in the government. They also expressed their discontent toward the Oracle.

Fortunately, the economic crisis eased, and the protests concluded well, but the political landscape of the Magic Tower has turned into a chaotic mess.

This is, in fact, the biggest problem.

“For the first time in a hundred years, the factions and magicians who never expressed dissatisfaction have started openly distrust the three main factions and the Oracle.”

Suddenly, Sophia, with wine in her mouth, scratched her cheek with her pinky finger.

“I don’t know where the accident originated, but it’s a heartbreaking situation.”

“…….”

To be honest, as the person involved, I had nothing to say.

It was Leoni, the head of the Royal Intelligence Department, who caused the turmoil in the Magic Tower, and I was aiding the operation under her instructions, which means I bear some responsibility for the Tower’s ruin.

But it was the same for Sophia right in front of me. The subversion operation of the Abas Information Agency could not have progressed smoothly without Patalia’s collaboration.

Not that she didn’t know that, Sophia suggested to stop any more boring jokes here.

“In any case, let’s end the talk about the past. Now, I’d like you to start telling me what Ranieri has been up to in the North.”

“And what do I get in return for that info?”

“Um….”

Sophia rolled her eyes to the left while letting out a hum.

After a while, as if deep in thought, she nodded slowly and finally opened her mouth, speaking in a slightly playful tone.

“Friendship?”

“That’s nonsense.”

“Come on, Merlo. You know friendship is paid back with friendship.”

“Does that friendship include a guarantee?”

Sophia extended her long middle finger on the table. It was a gesture suggesting she could just eat it.

Despite being an information officer who could dive into dangerous waters, she seemed unwilling to stand guarantor. I shrugged and took a step back, while Sophia covered her mouth and let out a small yawn. Thus, that pointless banter ended.

“So, how do I get you to spill the beans?”

Sophia, with tears pooling at the corners of her eyes, tossed the question out.

It was akin to saying let’s go straight, without needing to take a long detour; she started acting like a downright highway robber, as if she would persistently nag until she got the info.

Growing exhausted, I shivered all over as I paused my cocktail.

“What a persistent brat….”

“I’ll take that as a compliment. So what’s your answer?”

“As I said before, I’d like to hear the reason first.”

“In detail?”

“Yes, in detail.”

“Okay…. I’ll tell you. At least I’ll share the parts I can disclose.”

—

The Magic Tower is a small nation established a hundred years ago during the war.

Officially, the international community has not recognized the Magic Tower as a ‘formal nation,’ but it cannot deny that the Tower possesses all three elements of a state: territory, citizens, and sovereignty.

However, the Kien Empire disagrees with the international community.

“The Magic Tower is geographically located in the Southern Nastasia city of the Empire. Nastasia city is a metropolitan area and major city located along the Borysthenes River in the south.”

The problem arises right there.

“Interestingly, the Borysthenes River, which runs through Nastasia city, traverses numerous cities in the east and south. It means a vital artery for the Empire flows through both the bountiful agricultural lands of the east and the southern region, where magic engineering has developed under the Tower’s influence.”

The Magic Tower is situated in Nastasia, where the ‘Borysthenes’ river flows. This river connects prosperous farming regions with the birthplace of magic engineering.

Coincidentally, Nastasia, where the Tower is located, is precisely at the center of the Borysthenes River. The first city the river reaches after winding through the eastern mountains is Nastasia.

Sophia nodded as she continued.

“From the Emperor’s perspective, it would be bothersome. The eastern region produces enough grain to sustain the entire Empire, and the birthplace of magic engineering falls under the Tower’s jurisdiction.”

While Nastasia was merely an empty wasteland a hundred years ago, once the magic revolution occurred, the royal family developed that entire region. As a result, the eastern and southern regions have become invaluable lands that continuously sustain the Empire.

The problem is that there are magicians living there with rebellious instincts ingrained in their DNA.

“One or two mountain ranges are nothing; if they pushed themselves to fly over them, they would be there in no time. During the time of the War of Independence, magic was wielded with sufficient firepower on par with military magic. A skilled combat magician could attack the main cities in the east and south within three days.”

“Yeah, I know. That’s precisely why they are being suppressed. I can’t have those rebellious brats stirring up trouble in the back to claim the Emperor’s neck.”

“Exactly. So the Empire has been keeping a watch over the Tower for the last hundred years.”

Of course, it wasn’t just the Empire that kept an eye on the Tower. The Cult did too.

As far as I know, after the treaty was established, the Tower sought help from its ‘revolutionary comrades,’ including Abas and Patalia, but nothing significant changed.

The Tower’s situation, living under the Empire’s scrutiny in the south for over a hundred years, remained persistent. However, that situation has started to gradually shift recently.

The demon tribes began invading the Empire.

The Information Officer of the National Security Agency chimed in.

“From the Empire’s standpoint, there was a need for someone to bleed and fight in place of the Imperial Army, and the Tower felt a necessity to break free from the Empire’s influence. So, when the Tower Lord sent the Magic Battalion under the pretense of protecting the mages and the Academy in the North, the commanders from the Tower welcomed it. It’s not often they get a chance to test new weapons and gain combat experience.”

At that time, the National Security Agency had intercepted calls between government officials and commanders of the Magic Battalion to figure out the specifics of the deployment. They even thoroughly investigated to classify who was supporting the war and who was opposing it.

I spoke.

“Did the Tower have a bit of fun, just like expected?”

“For the first year or two, the Tower was full of enthusiasm. Testing new weapons, experimenting with new magic, and revamping tactics.”

However, once the conflict dragged beyond three years, dissatisfaction began to surface within the Tower.

Legally, the Magic Battalion wasn’t a military force, meaning there was essentially no regular army, and they were practically ignorant of combat experience.

Although individually their abilities were quite high due to their past hunts for monsters, they lacked the capacity to break through the defense lines like the Imperial Army.

At this juncture, the Unified Combat Intelligence Division of Patalia’s Military Intelligence Agency concluded that the deployment of the Magic Battalion itself was a failure. When I inquired about where she had heard that, Sophia mentioned she has a junior who is acquainted with that.

Nevertheless.

“As the situation soured, it appears that the Tower Lord and the Oracle were feeling the pressure. So they formed a temporary organization to support the Magic Battalion deployed to the North. You know about this, right?”

“Yeah, I do.”

I nodded and smiled.

“Francesca is in charge of that, after all.”

Francesca’s official title after stepping down from her position as the Administrator of the Economic Management Department of the Secretariat is ‘Head of the Magic Tower Delegation.’ As the name implies, the delegation was not a military but a government entity.

“Since the mid-way through the conflict, the delegation has taken over the subsequent support operations for the Magic Battalion, and since we got involved in the conflict, they’ve also taken on other duties. Expanding medical facilities, overseeing rifts, checking transport networks…. Even managing the sewage systems.”

“Really? Who’s in charge of that?”

“Probably Martinez from the Secretariat. Juan Pablo Martinez.”

While the delegation itself was temporarily formed as a task force, its leadership position held as much weight as that of the commanding officer of the Magic Battalion.

Thus, considering Francesca’s ability and significance, the Oracle appointed her as the head of the delegation. It seemed the experience she gained at the Secretariat wasn’t going to waste, as even while multitasking (smuggling), Francesca performed a grueling amount of paperwork and fieldwork every day.

After greeting her in the evening and returning to the same spot the next morning, I thought I was going to lose my mind when I saw her sitting there in the same clothes handling work.

Meanwhile, Sophia began to lean back, crossing her arms. The tone of her lowered voice was an added note.

“Do you know, Merlo?”

“What?”

“That position was initially reserved for the Deputy Minister of the Magic Tower’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”

Sophia said.

“However, Ranieri’s last held position was merely that of an Administrator. She could neither reach it nor interfere with it. In reality, Ranieri didn’t mention anything about the head of the delegation while preparing for the Northern deployment until the Deputy Minister unexpectedly stepped down.”

“…….”

She lowered her voice and gazed into my eyes.

“Of course, it could have been a burden to head to the war front. It might have been coincidental that Ranieri was appointed as head after that.”

“… But?”

“And during that period, the fact that you were active in the Tower, Merlo, could also be a coincidence.”

I smiled at Sophia, staring directly into her eyes.

“Are you suggesting I pulled some strings?”

“Well, not exactly. I believe you’ll keep your promise. Even if her sitting in the position of head of the delegation is for the benefit of your company, something like that should be easily understood and overlooked. I’m not sure what the higher-ups think, though.”

Thud. Sophia placed her glass down with a clink.

Then, intertwining her legs, she began to warn me as though advising.

“But remember this, Merlo. The fact that Ranieri is in that head of the delegation position is not necessarily a good thing.”

What does that mean?

I was about to ask, but Sophia spoke first.

With a serious tone, she slowly began to explain.

“All political turmoil occurs because the existing systems fail to satisfy people. In that sense, the political turmoil that the Tower is currently experiencing is quite significant.”

—

The Information Officer of the National Security Agency said.

“For the past hundred years, the Tower’s system has undergone little change. Although Tower Lords and Oracle members have changed, the Tower has revolved thoroughly around the three main factions.”

Most of the historical Tower Lords and Oracle members stemmed from the elements, sorcery, and astrology factions. Sophia focused on that point.

“Although it was fake, the magicians I met during my time as a journalist felt a growing discontent with the system. Especially among those from the non-mainstream factions.”

The society correspondent stated.

“What happens if the number of those feeling discontent towards a system that revolves around the three main factions exceeds thirty percent?”

“…….”

“If my data is correct, most people dissatisfied with the current system in the Tower consist of highly educated individuals and the younger generation. Those in their twenties to late teens make up the majority.”

“Does your company know about this?”

“Of course. It was my report that was submitted and it was viewed interestingly up top. Hence, I’d been called around here and there for debriefing since I returned.”

“…….”

“Merlo.”

Sophia called my name. Although it was a pseudonym, it was nonetheless a name I had used.

An Information Officer from the National Security Agency, a former correspondent from the societal department, and a supervisor of Francesca.

She met my gaze and quietly moved her lips.

“What the magicians want is change. At the moment it may be unrealistic, but after a few years, those children will be at the age to enter society. When that happens, do you think these children, raised in the current environment, will accept and consent to the Tower’s system revolving around the three main factions?”

“What are you trying to say?”

“It’s simple, isn’t it? People desire change. Yet there are no individuals present to initiate that change.”

The three factions leading the protests crumbled. The unsupported protests lost their momentum and extremist ideologies could not embrace everyone.

Suddenly, I recalled Pippin’s briefing when I first arrived at the Tower. It was effectively a dictatorial oligarchy—a paradise for magicians sustained by the interests of the three main factions.

A boulder that had steadfastly endured for a hundred years had inexplicably begun to crack without its own realization.

And to split that boulder, a wedge had been driven in by someone…

“…….”

As I continued my thoughts, I fell silent.

I couldn’t tell how Sophia perceived my silence, but her expression was as calm as could be.

With that calm expression, she quietly spoke to me.

“The magicians will need someone to spark change. Someone to oust the revolutionary who has turned into a dictator and initiate a new revolution. Even though there are two powerful archmages who can prevent the monopoly of the three main factions…”

“Neither the Duke nor the Priest will interfere in the Tower’s affairs. If they had thought to act, they would have intervened during the signing of the Nastasia Treaty.”

“Right, that point is valid. In a way, people might be looking for a political alternative.”

A revolutionary, a political alternative…

I didn’t need to ask who she was referring to. From the outset, thinking about where this conversation originated already provided the answer.

“You’re worried that Francesca might become the new focal point of the Tower?”

Sophia replied.

“Yes.”

It was a calm affirmation. It almost seemed to convey a sense of indifference. And that, in turn, felt slightly scary.

I suppressed a hint of anxiety and quietly glanced around me. I thought perhaps looking at the people laughing and chatting at the nearby table would lift my spirits.

However, even as I scanned my surroundings, the weight in my heart showed no signs of lifting.

Eventually, I took a light sigh and reached for a cigarette.

Hiss…! The flames ignited. The flint ground away. A strong flame surged with my breath, fading into wisps of gray smoke that flowed between my lips.

As I paused for a moment to smoke, I silently organized my thoughts.

“…Sophia.”

“What is it?”

“I think, if anyone needs a vacation, it’s you, not me.”

Did your brain fry from working so hard?

In an indirect way to express that, Sophia let out a small laugh.

“Well, I guess that might be true.”

“Don’t work too hard. You just need to collect your paycheck, right?”

“But it’s my job; I have to put in the effort.”

I took a deep breath. Sophia inhaled dramatically as if she was exaggerating for effect, filling her chest until it almost burst.

The salty air filled her lungs, and just as her breath broke free as if escaping a flooded dam.

Finally, Sophia succeeded in changing her mood and started speaking to me again.

“While the higher-ups consider Ranieri a threat, not everyone sees things that way. Many believe that, since public service is all Ranieri has done, it’ll be tough for her to venture into politics. Analysts also predict she’ll get suppressed by the descendants of other archmages and lose in the struggle. Of course, my boss is seriously contemplating what immediate action to take against her.”

“Oh, really?”

“But one thing is for certain, Ranieri is not an ‘imminent threat.'”

It went without saying that it wouldn’t be harmful to the Patalia government for the time being. In other words, this meant that whenever Francesca indeed turned ‘imminent threat,’ the National Security Agency would step in to deal with her.

I nodded in agreement.

“Well, I’m sure being a politician isn’t easy.”

“If she achieves merit in the North, things will change a bit. People love war heroes. Moreover, if that person is a descendant of a great archmage, magicians will go wild over it.”

“…….”

I remained silent, simply nodding and smiling at Sophia’s words.

She took out her phone to check the time. Meanwhile, the dessert we had ordered arrived. We decided to wrap up the unfinished conversation with our sweet dessert.

I asked her.

“Any news about Francesca coming to Patalia?”

“No, she doesn’t come often. She’s been here a few times for work reasons, but when she does, it’s just work and then back.”

“If Francesca returns, how can I help her?”

“There’s nothing specifically you need to assist with. Just make sure she doesn’t come into contact with families. I don’t know what’s up lately, but the Ranieri family has been trying to reach out. They’ve been sneaking around trying to contact her, but besides that, our staff will handle everything else.”

“Well, that’s a relief.”

Having polished off the dessert, we enjoyed the after-dinner drink.

Before we knew it, the darkness settled over the city, illuminated by a brilliant night view.

Among the sounds of laughter and the bustling noise of the city, I sat outside, savoring the brandy made from grape pomace as I gazed at the sea.

“So, how do you feel about being in Patalia?”

Sophia asked.

I responded.

“It’s nice.”

“Well, that’s good to hear. I’ll cover dinner tonight.”

“Oh, is that okay?”

“I’m treating a friend who came to visit; it’s the least I can do. The next time I travel to Abas, you’ll cover a meal. How does that sound? You should be getting a decent salary as a major, right?”

I shook my head lightly. Sophia tilted her head to one side.

“Why? Is the pay in Abas not enough?”

“Not that, but since I got promoted to major, I noticed my performance bonuses took a nosedive—they cut it in half compared to when I was a captain.”

“Oh.”

—

The sound of waves could be heard in the outdoor area. While I was drinking beer and chatting with my friend, my phone rang.

“Hmm?”

I fished around my pocket, thinking it might be my phone, but it was completely silent. It must have been Sophia’s phone.

“Sophia, I think you’re getting a call.”

“Yes…? Oh? It really is?”

Sophia, startled, pulled her phone from her pocket. It looked like a typical, ordinary, run-of-the-mill phone from the 1990s to 2000s.

Setting the beer bottle down, she glanced at the number displayed on the screen and furrowed her brow, sighing deeply.

“What’s up? Who is it?”

“Work. It’s my superior.”

“Oh.”

“Please wait a moment.”

Sophia blocked one ear with her finger and held the phone to her other ear, attempting to listen through the noisy surroundings as she strained to get the call.

I took a sip of my beer while gazing at the sea. I expected the call might take a while.

However.

Something felt off.

“Ah, yes. I’m currently out on duty.”

-‘…….’

“I intend to take the early train, departing at 2:40 AM, expected arrival around 12:10 PM.”

-‘…….’

“…What? Suddenly? No way—”

As the conversation went on, the expressions on Sophia’s face changed from mild concern to alarm.

She was now taking the call with a severe expression, only allowing words from the National Security Agency to be heard on the other end of the line.

“…Yes, understood. I will head over immediately.”

Sophia finished the call just as I was nearly at the bottom of my beer bottle.

I tossed the empty beer bottle into the trash and nodded towards her phone with my chin.

“What was that call about that sounded so serious? Is it an emergency?”

“Yeah.”

“Oof…”

Poor thing.

She’s on vacation, and here her friend is getting hit with an emergency. Talk about a case of bad luck.

For Sophia, who works at the National Security Agency and has to head up to the capital, it’d likely take about ten hours on the train. If she leaves right away, she could blend in with the employees heading to work the next morning.

I sincerely offered Sophia words of consolation, though I couldn’t help but smile a bit in the process.

It wouldn’t feel good for her, but that wasn’t my burden to bear.

As long as it didn’t involve me. As long as it didn’t involve me.

“That really sucks. Once everything blows over, let’s get back in touch. We should grab a meal together.”

Waving her off as I intended to head back to the hotel and rest comfortably, just then,

As Sophia managed to gather the last of the leftover beer and was about to catch a taxi, she hurriedly ran back to me and whispered in my ear.

“She’s here.”

“What do you mean?”

“Ranieri.”

…Huh?

“What do you mean by that—”

I quickly turned my head to face Sophia.

My friend said.

The Information Officer of the National Security Agency said.

“Ranieri just arrived at the arrivals terminal.”