A Dark Fantasy Spy

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[Here’s the latest on international news. Today, the Kien Empire government has issued a medium-level alert across all regions except the north. It’s quite unusual for the alert status that has been limited to the north for the past five years to be extended to other areas.]

[There are ongoing speculations regarding the serious issues in the northern front, coinciding with reports that the Inquisition forces of the cult have entered the north. In response to questions from foreign journalists, the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Defense strongly denied any direct correlation between the northern state of emergency and the cross-border disputes, asserting that the north is being managed very stably under military government control.]

[The civil war on the Mauritania continent, centered around the Parangasan region, is escalating. The newly appointed General Wadimka, who seized power through a coup, has signed an executive order approving the military intervention of neighboring countries’ defense forces to eliminate the ‘Independent Tribe Alliance Rebels’ occupying the Parangasan area.]

[The canonization ceremony of Saint Lucia, the 59th saint, is fast approaching. The oracle has selected Francesca Ranieri, a descendant of Archmage Ranieri, to accompany Saint Lucia, sparking debates in religious and magical circles about the participation of Magic Tower officials in the ceremony.]

[The Ministry of Defense of Abas has decided to award the Cross Star Medal to Colonel Frederick Nostrim, designated by the oracle as the companion. The Cross Star Medal is awarded to those who have demonstrated meritorious service, particularly for engaging in combat missions or for contributions to national security during wartime.]

[The Prime Minister of Abas personally invited Colonel Frederick Nostrim to the government residence to bestow upon him the medal and certificate. The award ceremony was attended by military officials, including the Minister of Defense and high-ranking generals, along with those from diplomatic and security sectors.]

—

Episode 13 – There’s No Nation for Magicians

As soon as I returned to Abas, I was awarded the medal.

The Cross Star Medal. It is the second-highest class of the five-tiered medals, primarily awarded to soldiers who participate in wars and combat.

The official reason for the award was ‘engaging in civilian protection activities and performing combat missions equivalent to wartime in a third country multiple times,’ but there was a different, underlying reason.

“For his remarkable contributions to National Intelligence Affairs and national security through initial responses to domestic terror incidents, overseas counter-terrorism intelligence collection, rescue operations for exiles, and numerous foreign intelligence operations carried out in places like the cult, the Magic Tower, and the Kien Empire, Colonel Frederick Nostrim is awarded the Cross Star Medal.”

Clevens, reciting the comment from the award ceremony, beamed with satisfaction.

“It’s a medal not many have received at the company, yet here you are, receiving one. Congratulations.”

“Thank you.”

“I sure picked a good one.”

With a rare smile, he patted my shoulder. The silver medal hanging on my chest glimmered gently.

“Seeing you with that medal makes me envious. It took me quite a while to earn my merit after tirelessly catching spies.”

The Cross Star Medal is the second most honorable medal a soldier from Abas can receive.

Unlike the Kien Empire, notorious for its indiscriminate awarding of medals in a dictatorship, the award system in Abas is known to be quite stringent.

Even Clevens, who has captured over a hundred spies, only received his merit award after being promoted to Colonel.

With that in mind, I smiled slightly and responded.

“Are you that envious of a young one getting a medal?”

“Doesn’t it feel good? You get to be recognized as a meritorious person, and there are pensions involved.”

“You’ve already received plenty of awards, haven’t you? Please don’t take mine away out of jealousy.”

“Oh, come on, don’t be so stingy…”

Though it was I who received the medal, Clevens grinned as if it were his own achievement.

“I’m truly moved.”

I smiled back brightly.

“Is my being recognized truly that delightful?”

“Of course, it’s a good thing for you.”

Clevens, chuckling with his hands behind his back, looked around the inside of the Prime Minister’s residence.

“By the way, where’s Leoni?”

Today’s award ceremony was conducted modestly at the Prime Minister’s residence, yet the attendees’ line-up was glamorous.

The Minister of Defense, Chief of the Joint Chiefs, Chairperson of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chief of the Royal Information Department, Chief of Special Investigation Bureau, Chief of Military Intelligence Agency, as well as core figures from the diplomatic and security sectors including Clevens and Leoni attended.

Of course, not all those esteemed individuals gathered solely to witness me receiving the medal.

“I heard you were pulled aside for a meeting with officials from the security departments earlier.”

“The Royal Information Department?”

“Yes. It seems they gathered the overseas part staff.”

Like Clevens, Leoni, who attended the ceremony, was called away to another room by the Prime Minister.

I shrugged while gazing at the tightly closed security conference room.

“Could it be they’re having a meeting or something?”

“Hmm, it seems so.”

Clevens, the domestic head of the Military Intelligence Agency, nodded while scratching his chin.

“Since the new year has arrived, the intelligence line is most likely quite busy. Let’s have a quick chat before it’s my turn.”

We walked to a room set up in the residence. Clevens plopped down comfortably on the sofa and casually began the conversation.

“Did you enjoy your vacation?”

I nodded in agreement, mentioning that I’d rested well.

“I’m glad to hear that. I was worried when incidents broke out in the middle of it.”

“When have I ever had a quiet vacation?”

With the constant occurrence of incidents even during my leave, I’ve half-grown accustomed to it. It wasn’t much of a big deal anymore, and I cracked a joke.

At this, Clevens suddenly started to chuckle.

“Right, with how often you get caught up in mishaps, I somewhat regret sending you overseas.”

It was a light-hearted joke.

A light banter ensued, with Clevens being the first to speak up again, delivering foreign news to me.

“I hear the Empire and the cult are planning to award you a medal.”

That was news I was already aware of.

“Did you know about it?”

“I heard they were reviewing it, but I didn’t know it was confirmed. But is it alright to receive a medal from a foreign nation?”

“Diplomats receive all sorts of friendship and diplomatic medals when they go abroad; what’s stopping you?”

“Still, receiving a military merit medal from the Empire feels a bit…”

“Come on, man. Just accept it with gratitude. Others would want to receive them but can’t. What would you do if someone keeps rejecting your offer of food?”

“Ah, yes. I’ll gratefully receive it…”

I pondered whether it was indeed acceptable, but since it was said to be fine, I decided to let it slide for now.

Although a medal received from abroad wouldn’t qualify for official recognition as a meritorious person, collecting one or two as keepsakes might become a cherished memory in the future.

For reference, the award ceremony is set to take place before Lucia’s canonization ceremony.

I hear medals will be awarded to me, Camila, Lucia, and Francesca, and it seems the Empire and the cult think it would present a favorable image for us to wear their medals during the canonization ceremony.

The selection of such a politically charged date naturally drew a sigh from me.

“They’re being quite strategic. It appears election season is approaching.”

“It makes sense; the focus will be more on the canonization ceremony than on the Pope’s inauguration.”

With the demon subjugation matter, the imperial military is gearing up to confront the government, and the appearance of demons remains a significant topic within the cult as well.

After all, a wicked entity from the scriptures wreaking havoc in a neighborhood teeming with demons would undoubtedly shake the faith of some clerics and ignite disputes among factions. With tensions on the decline, it’s only a matter of time until the acts committed by demons in the north make headlines.

And that’s why they’re giving us medals.

People will pay attention to us, who have vanquished demons.

I drummed my fingers on the armrest, face contorted with displeasure.

“I appreciate the medal, but I’d actually prefer cash instead. After living in a villa, I’ve found myself wanting a house like that for myself.”

Clevens, reclining comfortably on the sofa, smiled slightly at my silly joke.

“Still, don’t get your hopes up too much. A medal isn’t something you just get handed like a free side of fruits. You might be receiving more medals in the future, so remember what I said.”

In other words, it was a warning to stay on guard, as I’d likely encounter more perilous situations ahead.

I took his words as encouragement.

“You sure seem very worried for no reason.”

“How could I not worry?”

Knock knock! Someone knocked on the door.

The person who entered upon opening the door was a staff member from the Prime Minister’s office.

He informed Clevens that he needed to move to the meeting room. Clevens then exhibited a ‘here we go’ expression as he rose from the sofa.

“Well, I must be off now. Take care on your way back, and don’t forget what I said.”

“Right. See you at the office.”

—

“Oh, there you are?”

“Long time no see, Director. Should I now be calling you General?”

“Just call me the Head. There’s nothing much happening in the Royal Information Department, is there?”

“Just peace and quiet. Thank you for your concern!”

With the Prime Minister calling the diplomat-security line for urgent meetings, the residence was bustling with civil servants pouring in from various ministries.

But among them, Leoni stood out the most.

“Head, regarding the latest reports of the Kien Empire military developments I mentioned last month…”

“The final review for the rescue operation in the Eastern region…”

“The unstable political situation on the Mauritania continent is provoking terrorist organizations…”

“Yes, yes, I understand what you’re saying.”

She had just exited from a meeting, surrounded by operatives from information agencies and the Foreign Office.

Leoni swept through the crowd like a famous singer surrounded by fans exiting a concert.

“I believe everyone will make wise judgments. Please clear the way for a moment.”

She weaved through the throng toward me, gesturing to follow her without giving any further instructions.

I followed her out of the residence and boarded her official car.

—

“Seriously, strange incidents are erupting from the morning of the new year.”

As soon as I settled into the back seat, that was Leoni’s opening remark.

“What happened now?”

“It’s just the usual chaos.”

There’s too much chaos to keep track.

Before I could finish my thought, the driver’s assistant spoke up.

“We’re ready to depart, Director.”

“Oh, right.”

As the accelerator was pressed, the engine roared awake.

The vehicle sped out of the Prime Minister’s parking lot, racing along the black asphalt. The ride in the government-issued car allocated to generals from the Ministry of Defense was moderately comfortable.

As the black sedan cut through the bright lights of the capital, dispelling the darkness, Leoni opened her mouth.

“There was another coup in the Mauritania continent this morning.”

“Really? How many times is this now?”

“The sixteenth. Luckily, in the government that was overturned once by a coup, the military has risen again.”

I couldn’t quite tell if that was fortunate or not. Leoni added,

“It seems the conflict stemmed from divisions between tribes.”

“Is it politically motivated?”

“Yeah.”

The sixteenth coup within the past five years was essentially a civil war fought between two factions within the military.

The president that was ousted had a support base in the majority ethnicity, which conflicted with the tribe of the faction that seized power, according to Leoni.

“It’s the consequence of tribes with differing ideologies banding together for survival.”

“Political ideologies will obviously be different, and the living areas must differ too. Do they have different religions as well?”

“Exactly.”

I lightly nodded, casting my gaze out the window.

“Before long, two entire tribes will be massacred.”

“They’re already in the process.”

Leoni, sounding a bit grumpy, revealed her irritation.

Having just attended a foreign security meeting, she appeared distinctly fatigued. With a civil war breaking out in one nation, the political scenarios of neighboring countries would also likely become unstable. It was evident that in the ensuing chaos, warlords and terrorist organizations were likely to thrive as well.

But the real issue lay elsewhere.

“By the way, it seems the side staging this coup follows the cult’s religion. The government forces are comprised of followers of Al-Yabd.”

“The cult? Are the Inquisition involved?”

“We’re still verifying, but there’s intelligence suggesting some generals have been in contact with the archbishops. And that archbishop is from the Inquisition.”

“… And the Empire?”

“There’s a military advisory group training special forces near the border, and recently, directives have passed enabling foreign troops to suppress the rebel forces.”

So a faction connected to the cult instigated the coup while the government forces that seized power preemptively authorized military operations to allow foreign troops to intervene in subduing the rebel forces. Coincidentally, a military advisory group dispatched by the Imperial Ministry of Defense was stationed in that neighboring country.

At this point, it was almost reasonable to suspect foul play.

“Between arms smuggling, military advisers, and coup suppression, the Imperial scoundrels are pulling all sorts of tricks. The cult is no different. One might think we’ve already eliminated the demons from the north.”

“When conflicts wind down, they probably want to reestablish diplomatic relations with long-lost friendly nations.”

The issue, of course, was that these so-called friendly nations just happened to be dictatorships.

Peering out the window at the city, I plied Leoni with a brief question.

“So, what’s the upper echelon saying? Should we expect some heads to roll in the reports?”

“For now, they’re advising to monitor. Given the Foreign Affairs Office seems to be considering evacuating citizens currently stationed there and even mulling over closing the diplomatic missions, for now, they probably won’t be paying much attention to that issue.”

The Abas government opted to observe passively. Whether supporting the coup forces or the government forces, it decided there were no practical benefits to staking a claim.

Right now, the situation in the Empire and the Magic Tower was much more significant than the problems on the Mauritania continent for the Abas government.

“Given the situation, they can’t afford to tend to events in other continents while closely monitoring the Magic Tower.”

It’s not exactly easy to swap regimes in the Magic Tower using information agencies. Back during the Cold War, it would take the U.S. years just to change a Central American government, and conservatively speaking, Abas would lack the resources to address deeper issues elsewhere for about the next three years.

Anyway, at this moment, that matter wasn’t particularly pressing.

“What about that investigation into the terrorist you mentioned last time? You had field teams pulling operations in Patalia, right? Did anything come from it?”

“Hang tight. You’ll find out soon enough.”

The government sedan, racing through the city, crossed a big bridge and merged onto the highway after hugging a winding road.

It was clear that heading this way wouldn’t lead to the Military Intelligence Agency. I couldn’t help but wonder why on earth we’d come all this way.

As I was lost in thought about it, Leoni broke the silence with her elderly voice.

“You’re getting off here.”

“Pardon?”

As I sat in the backseat of the halted government car, I began to look around, noticing we’d stopped near a rest area by the highway.

“Why suddenly a rest area…?”

“Get off and go find a car.”

Leoni ordered.

“Once you find the car, that’ll take you to the destination. Some staff will be waiting there, including members of your department.”

If she meant department members, she was likely talking about the team I was in charge of. That consisted of Pippin, Jake, and the newcomer, Charnoy.

“Take the car to the designated location.”

“… Are you saying I should go without going there?”

“Correct.”

“…….”

“The answer to your question is also there.”