A Dark Fantasy Spy

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The World Union’s resolution No. 3774 to resolve the crisis in the Mauritania Continent was met with support from the international community, aiming to address the prolonged civil war and numerous international and social issues.

Despite the strong opposition from the Al-Yabd coalition and fierce resistance from several local governments, the deployment of a large expeditionary force was ultimately scrapped, though the overarching goal remained unchanged.

The main focus of the resolution was military intervention.

While the intention was for the international community to use force to settle disputes, the reality was somewhat different.

—

Episode 17 – The Blood-Drinking Tree

After spending some time nibbling on food at the information agency, a point comes where information naturally arrives without one needing to actively seek it out.

It’s akin to breathing without concentrating on it; it simply continues.

In that context, just by observing the various individuals gathered at the peacekeeping force base, I could get a rough estimate of the situation.

“Glory to the great descendants. It is an honor to meet you, Saint. We have been eagerly awaiting your arrival.”

“Glory to the warriors who fight like dragons. I have heard much about you from the archbishops. It is an honor to meet you.”

First, the cult.

The cult dispatched personnel to the Mauritania Continent to support Lucia, ranging from clergy skilled in healing to the Knights Order.

The dispatch of a chivalric order, symbolizing a holy crusade, into the continent of heretics speaks volumes—politically and religiously.

However, given the small size of the Knights Order, it seemed unlikely that the cult intended to confront Al-Yabd and the various religions of Mauritania head-on.

In fact, among the cult’s personnel who followed Lucia to the area, there was a significantly larger number of clergy than inquisitors or knights. Considering Lucia’s importance, it was likely that the knights were primarily there as security personnel.

Thus, the cult’s intent appeared to be to control military force at a level sufficient to protect Lucia’s safety while avoiding conflict with local religions, also hoping to establish connections with the local government through civilian diplomacy, perhaps even eluding Al-Yabd’s notice.

On the other hand, the magic tower took a different approach.

“I am honored to meet the descendants of the Father of the Nation, the great visionary Ranieri.”

“Francesca Ranieri meets the seeker of knowledge and truth. It has been a while, Professor. Have you been well?”

“Well, well. What extraordinary occurrences could an old man have? Oh, and now I am an diplomat, not a professor anymore.”

“Is that so?”

“I set aside my teaching position to focus on research, and somehow ended up in a government position during my old age. Ha ha.”

“Ah, by the way, I hear the Magic Battalion will be arriving here soon?”

“Yes. That’s precisely why I’m here—to discuss that very issue with government representatives.”

Unlike the cult, which sent a multitude of clergy to positively influence diplomatic relations, the magic tower opted for a military organization.

The Magic Battalion, the pride of the magic tower.

While they were officially a paramilitary organization established for maintaining public order, as the magic tower had not been recognized as an official state, they were regarded as a massive military group even by the Kien Empire and the cult.

The reason the Magic Battalion could come to the Mauritania Continent was due to the unique diplomatic standing of the magic tower. Disregarded by the international community under the Nastasiya Treaty, the magic tower was politically at odds with the cult, and Al-Yabd, which firmly held its grip on the Mauritania Continent, was a religious entity that clashed with the cult in various areas.

Moreover, the renowned great archmage ‘Suleiman’ was known to be a devout follower of Al-Yabd. The magic tower owed much to Suleiman, who participated in the holy war (the term used here for the conflict between the cult and the magic tower) for significantly contributing to the establishment of the magic tower, indicating that the cult and the Mauritania government’s ties were far from nonexistent.

I discerned the intentions of the magic tower based on its approval for deploying the Magic Battalion and the positive stance of the local government in discussions with the tower’s diplomats.

Rather than opposing the deployment of an expeditionary force dictated by superpowers, they were inclined to accept the magic tower’s military, aiming for conflict resolution.

By extending support, the magic tower sought to strengthen its relations with foreign governments.

The unity exhibited by the international community was likely a reaction against the strong governments represented by Kien and Abas.

There was probably resentment in domestic propaganda to prevent intervention by the foreign annexers, which resulted in the annulment of the expeditionary force.

The spectacle of the Mauritania government’s united front against the international community’s decision must have appeared quite appealing to the magic tower.

For having deployed the Magic Battalion in the north for five years, the oracle faced the backlash of domestic public opinion.

The oracle likely intended to stabilize its position on the international stage and create plausible achievements to quell public dissent. Perhaps even to leverage the current situation into a 200-year prolonged reign of the three great factions.

Of course, both the cult and the magic tower were acutely aware of each other’s intentions for coming to the Mauritania Continent.

Likewise, governments like Abas and Kien also had their suspicions.

While it’s hard to predict what schemes the governments of Abas and Kien will hatch, it’s nearly guaranteed that whatever plans they concoct won’t be entirely for the benefit of the Mauritania residents.

In that sense,

“Then, Commander, please assist the clergy currently stationed at the refugee camp for the time being.”

“Understood, Saint.”

“The Magic Battalion will take some time to reach here from the port, so I should meet with representatives from the Ministry of Defense in the meantime. I had some questions regarding the No Man’s Land anyway. That’s alright, isn’t it, Professor?”

“Is there any doubt about that?”

“Oh! Take me with you! We need military assistance to catch the monsters coming over from the No Man’s Land.”

“Very well, Hero.”

Regardless of their intentions, it was Lucia, Francesca, and Camila who came to Mauritania with pure motives.

To put it another way.

“Manager.”

“Yeah.”

“You need to move as soon as the meeting is over.”

In other words, I wasn’t someone who came here with pure motives either.

—

To resolve the international crisis, each country’s government united their strength.

Drive out the monsters, tidy up the refugee camps, and rebuild the collapsed cities. All in the name of international peace.

At first glance, it seems like a suitable story, but the essential core is glaringly absent.

Scholars differ on the fundamental reasons for the destruction of the Mauritania Continent, but those studying the region generally share common threads in identifying the roots of the profound issues.

Militias formed in reaction to specific ethnicities monopolizing the government.

An unstable political environment due to civil war.

Widespread corruption throughout society.

A non-competitive industrial structure in the market, and so on.

The Mauritania governments are typical underdeveloped nations, comparable to the impoverished countries in the Third World, with all societal issues intertwined in a web of negative synergy.

In such a situation, the solution seems obscured. To address the fundamental problems would require a monumental undertaking lasting over ten years.

However, in my view, the Mauritania governments lacked the will to resolve these issues. The international community mirrored this sentiment.

The international community is not a charity organization.

It’s a place where hundreds of countries with differing stances hit each other with ties for profit, and where, if things go awry, they’ll create reasons to squeeze profit from one another.

Thus, I looked upon the passing of resolution No. 3774 with an indifferent gaze. What use is it to prepare a budget in the trillions and deploy tens of thousands of expeditionary forces? It’s bound to fall apart anyway.

If the international community’s vigorous involvement was enough to eradicate disputes, Afghanistan would never have collapsed in the first place. Armenia and Azerbaijan wouldn’t wage wars either.

Yet regardless of my personal feelings, the international community was aiding the beleaguered Mauritania, and I was here.

“Let’s prioritize our tasks first.”

In a meeting after half a year, I proposed in response to someone’s suggestion to discuss what to do next.

“It’s more necessary to operate together here than to move about separately, given the circumstances. Let’s decide on a priority and tackle things step by step.”

This deployment was realized under the auspices of the World Union. There exists an international law requiring any guests from other worlds to be affiliated with a subsidiary of the Union to operate legally.

However, the nature of international law and humanitarian principles is often more of a suggestion than a binding rule, meaning nobody contested the fact that Camila wasn’t formally part of the international organization.

As a result, while it appeared that the activities of the group centered around Camila were under formal international organization control, in practice, it was primarily driven by a handful of influential governments like the cult and the magic tower, Kien, and Abas.

This deployment was no different.

The cult to which Lucia belongs, the magic tower to which Francesca belongs, her homeland Patalia, Abas which summoned Camila and dispatched companions, along with Kien and Lushan, which exert substantial influence over the Mauritania Continent, all played significant roles in making this expedition a reality. Naturally, they also took charge of overseeing the activities.

I decided to introduce a slight shift into the framework tacitly agreed upon by the powerful governments.

In a manner most favorable to us.

“We won’t be here for just a day or two. We might be staying for months on end; is it necessary to split our forces? We’re already in a situation of understaffing. Wouldn’t it be much easier if more people assisted with each task instead of one person attempting it alone?”

It was merely a suggestion to stick together instead of scattering apart, as we did in the north.

Lucia, who seemed deep in thought, expressed concern.

“There are urgent matters that need addressing; is it truly wise to wander about together?”

She raised doubts regarding the potential for delays increasing damages.

While saving lives is critical, it shouldn’t be at the expense of another’s life.

However, there are people in the world with varying mindsets.

Francesca countered with a calm voice.

“The Colonel is correct. We do need to stick together here.”

The alchemist, arms crossed, nodded in agreement, her demeanor serious as she crossed her legs.

“In the northern regions, we had the support of the government, and the military had complete control over the area, but that isn’t the case here in Mauritania. Many nations are embroiled in civil wars.”

That was indeed the case.

The four countries we were dispatched from have experienced both large-scale and minor civil wars. Some areas were plagued by goblin guerrillas operating in remote villages, while others witnessed local government offices being bombarded by rebel shamans.

Listening to Francesca, Camila cautiously interjected.

“While the capital is stable for wealthy nations, the Mauritania Continent as a whole is a dangerous area. Robbery is rampant, and terror attacks targeting foreigners are frequent.”

Camila bolstered her argument with reports from international organizations and research institutes, supported by reputable and authoritative information.

“Moreover, there have been recent increases in terror attacks against foreign embassies.”

“Most of these have been thwarted, but considering that even heavily guarded embassies are not safe, it appears risky for anyone to operate alone. We’re not just heading to safe zones, after all.”

In light of this situation, Lucia no longer opposed the idea. While saving lives is crucial, sticking to one’s principles becomes pointless when it jeopardizes the lives of others.

I chimed into the conversation.

“However, should we find ourselves in situations that demand solo action, let’s promise to prepare thoroughly. We should maintain communication within reachable distances so that we can come to help at any time.”

“Yes. That sounds good.”

Seated around the conference table, we unified our sentiments. Having achieved consensus, it was now time to establish priorities.

I presented the list that various governments had compiled over the past few months. The three others selected what they deemed to be the most pressing issues.

The first identified issue was the humanitarian response for the refugee camp.

“There are 60,000 refugees here.”

Lucia pointed to the camp marked on the map. She was the one who initially highlighted this issue.

“Statistically, it’s noted as 60,000, but the actual number is far higher than that. Too many people are congregating in the facilities exceeding their capacity. There are also many others waiting in tents nearby to be admitted.”

Everyone was aware of the serious plight surrounding the refugee camp. We all agreed without putting forward any objections that we should begin our activity there.

Next on the agenda were the restoration of social infrastructure and the eradication of monsters, chosen as second and third priorities, respectively.

We resolved to address all three issues simultaneously.

“Looking at the location of the refugee camp, it’s quite close to the border—only about 30 km away.”

“Beyond the border lies a No Man’s Land, but there are cities dividing the camps and the border. It’s well within reach via magic or vehicles.”

“There’s a peacekeeping force outpost near the camp. If we can secure vehicle support from there, it should make operations much smoother. We can easily request assistance. We’re part of the Union, after all.”

That was the reality despite being a mere formality.

Camila calculated the distances between the peacekeeping force outpost, the refugee camp, the border, and the surrounding cities. During that time, I reached out to the outpost to see if their cooperation was feasible.

Fortunately, I received a positive response, and thus our operational area was settled for the foreseeable future.

As I organized the map, I reminded everyone.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs must have adequately briefed you, but there are many regulations to adhere to here. It’s not just about following the law; customs and religious rules matter too.”

In a region steeped in tribalism, adherence to tribal rules is of utmost importance. Fail to respect them, and the locals may no longer welcome us.

Similarly, religious rules must also be observed.

“In Mauritania, each state has its religious police. These organizations monitor compliance with principles instituted by Al-Yabd’s punitive committee and possess the authority to arrest without a warrant and exercise summary punishments based on subjective judgments.”

For reference, foreigners are also subject to these penalties.

The religious police in Islamic states wield similar powers to those of Mauritania’s religious police, sometimes leading to tourists being expelled or fined for violating Islamic codes.

“Don’t let your guard down just because you’re a foreigner. Especially you, Lucia.”

I directed a cautionary note towards Lucia.

“You’re not simply a foreigner but a religious figure, so the chances of encountering scrutiny from the religious police are significantly higher. Please avoid direct interactions with the police, and whenever possible, seek help from interpreters or diplomats. The cult has already requested support from all embassies in the host country, so you can approach any of them.”

“I’ll be cautious.”

Lucia nodded calmly.

Francesca regarded the scene with a dubious glance, but thankfully it passed without incident this time.

As I organized the documents, I continued.

“And it seems I’ll have matters to attend to, so I might not be able to accompany you for a while.”

“Matters?”

Camila asked, her expression indicating she’d never heard of this before.

“What could it possibly be?”

“Scheduling. We need to look into the next countries for dispatch.”

This mission spanned four countries in its long duration.

Unlike during our stay in the Kien Empire, we would need to traverse across borders, rather than limiting ourselves to a specific area within a particular country.

I had made commitments with local governmental representatives regarding entry issues and activities. Even as a colonel, I was still technically a diplomat. Problems like these were my responsibility.

As I was sending Lucia and Francesca on their way and cleaning up the conference room, Camila, who had been circling the room, cautiously spoke up.

“Um….”

I anticipated her concern and cut in.

“You’re wondering if I’m leaving because of company matters, right?”

“How did you know? You’re a complete psychic!”

She only had cliches to say.

I silently nodded as I gathered my belongings. Leaning against the wall, Camila gave me a puzzled look.

“Are you leaving because of that warlord, Asen, and Sanya?”

“Yes.”

Her gentle sigh filled the room.

“If you leave now, won’t foreign companies become suspicious?”

“Don’t worry. I’ll be back soon.”

“Am I supposed to stay here?”

“You must. The orders are for me, not you.”

“Am I going alone?”

I placed the heavy backpack that I had raised onto the table, the thud reverberating through the space.

“No.”

“Then who are you going with?”

Hmm.

I inserted my hands into my pockets and gazed into the void before answering.

“A cat?”

—

Through the gap in the curtains, a tail sways.

Knock knock. A soft knock sounds at the door, and two seconds later, it creaks open slightly.

“State the password.”

The unusual request from Thanos, standing by the locking mechanism, caught me off guard.

With a bemused expression, I scanned the hallway and, in a tone of exasperation, replied,

“Is this really the mood for jokes?”

“One cannot live solely in grimness, can they?”

“Sigh….”

The locking mechanism disengaged, and I stepped through the fully opened door. Jake, following behind, cast a final glance about and locked the door behind us.

I tossed my backpack haphazardly onto the table and took in the surroundings.

A beastman’s tail flickers atop a box by the window; a nymph delicately sways grass that was picked from the roadside.

Screens are set along the walls, technicians donning headsets.

As I maneuvered through the tangled wires, I was met with the simultaneous gazes of numerous personnel.

“…….”

I removed my gloves.

“Dear suspicious tourists visiting this cursed land, welcome!”

I addressed the information officers as I gripped the gloves in my hand.

“Are you all ready to stir up some chaos?”