A Dark Fantasy Spy

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The investigation had gradually entered its concluding stages.

The team leader divided the investigators into three groups for their missions.

Group 1 was interrogating Benoit Fernand, whom Giada Bianchi had tried to recruit, while Group 2 headed upstairs to search Giada Bianchi’s residence in the housing complex.

The most important was Group 3, the one tasked with tailing and monitoring Giada Bianchi.

I was helping out with that business.

It sounded like a remarkably secretive and grand mission, but in reality, it was just a matter of hovering around. Keeping track of where she went, who she met, what conversations she had—what she was doing.

That was all that needed to be grasped.

In a way, it was a straightforward task, but the fact that the target was a spy made it anything but easy.

Whether official staff or recruited individuals, those in this line of work were quite perceptive.

They were very suspicious, often slow to trust, and once doubt was raised, it would be as if they were tenacious little rats, digging in for the long haul or scuttling away. There were many cases where agents faced fierce resistance from the target.

They’d plow into cars and flee. Throw bricks. Pull out kitchen knives. Ambush in alleyways.

As a result, many agents sustained injuries while tailing suspects, and I’d often seen surrounding people receive threats of murder, be kidnapped, or even, in some cases, betray their country for the sake of a family member taken hostage.

There was no guarantee that this time would be any different.

However,

-“The supervisory recommendations have been reviewed by higher-ups. The dangers of magic are acknowledged by the headquarters. Nevertheless, since there is a risk of innocent civilian casualties during the apprehension process, deployment of a task force cannot be approved.”

-“However, if the investigation rules are followed to apprehend the suspect, but they resist despite being duly informed of their rights, it is permissible to terminate them based on the on-scene commander’s judgment.”

I could only hope that nothing would happen.

*

Episode 3 – Fantastic Vacation

In information activities, the most important thing is naturalness.

Actions. Breathing. Changes in pitch. Trembling. Eye contact.

The moment anything goes awry, the atmosphere becomes awkward.

Thus, all agents went to considerable lengths to portray a look as natural (or as others perceived it) as possible. They’d adjust their speech, be careful with their vocabulary, maintain eye contact but not exceed three seconds, and if the other party had certain words they frequently used, they would intentionally incorporate them into their replies.

These techniques were often used for information gathering, attempts at recruitment, or close surveillance.

It’s an excellent skill when dealing with people, so there were quite a few employees who left and pursued work involving interactions with others.

Of course,

“Magic is fun, but if you use it too often, it feels kind of exhausting.”

“Really? You mean mental fatigue, right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

That skill was currently being used for a counseling session.

Camila Lowell tilted her head with a tired expression. After a simple blood draw, perhaps due to using magic, her face was slightly pale.

She lightly chuckled while massaging her hand.

“According to the researchers, the fatigue accumulates during the process of absorbing external magic and converting it into usable magic, but I still don’t quite get it…”

“What part don’t you understand?”

“The part about absorbing magic and converting it into usable magic.”

Hmm. Honestly, I don’t really know what usable magic is either. How would I know, since I’m not a magician?

The most awkward part of the conversation is exactly this. Choosing a topic but then having something come up that I don’t know about or don’t care for.

But there are ways to deal with it.

“Don’t think about it too hard. Converting magic isn’t much different from purifying contaminated water. External magic is like contaminated water, while internal magic is the purified water. A person acts as the filter.”

“Do you happen to know the exact principle behind it?”

“Well, since I’m not a magician, I wouldn’t know that. I’ll ask my little sister later and let you know.”

Whether she knows the principle or not is debatable, but what mattered now was diverting Camila Lowell’s attention from that topic.

Fortunately, she reacted as I hoped.

“A little sister…? You have a younger sister?”

“Yes, I have a younger sister who is four years my junior and an older brother who is one year older.”

“I don’t think you’ve ever talked about family. This is the first time I’m hearing it today.”

“Well, we’re not really that close.”

“I think I get what you mean.”

Camila Lowell nodded knowingly, mentioning that she had many friends who also had distant relationships with their siblings.

“The only ones who truly worry when you find yourself in a difficult situation are family. I’ve seen that too many times with friends who have distant relationships with their families.”

Our family atmosphere isn’t bad. Except for teasing my younger sister because she’s currently aimless in her studies, the relatives generally get along well.

Of course, I don’t often return home. To be precise, it’s not that I ‘don’t’ return; it’s that I ‘can’t’ return.

Anyway, I didn’t feel the need to add to the conversation, quietly sitting there and nodding along.

“There’s no one as precious as family.”

“Then what about me?”

…Huh?

Did I just hear that correctly?

Thinking maybe I misheard, I turned my head toward Camila Lowell. She was looking at me with wide, bright eyes, waiting for a response.

I wanted to ask why she suddenly posed such a question, but my tongue had a mind of its own.

“Of course, Camila Lowell is precious too, because you’re my colleague.”

“……”

“…Camila Lowell?”

I called her name, but there was no response. She continued to stare at me with an ambiguous expression for quite some time.

“……”

“……”

An awkward silence ensued, and just as I was reflecting whether I had said something inappropriate, she suddenly spoke.

“Colonel.”

“…Yes?”

“I’ve been curious about something for a while, but what if—”

Right at that moment,

“Hero?”

Someone interrupted our conversation. I turned my head in the direction of the voice, and Camila Lowell, appearing startled, stammered.

“Y-yes, four…?”

“You need to move to the inspection room.”

“Ah…”

At the researcher’s words, Camila Lowell hesitated for a moment, shot me a glance with an expression that seemed somewhat regretful, and then nodded.

The researcher, having picked up on the strange atmosphere, suggested that it was okay to have a brief chat since there was still time left, but she politely declined and followed the researcher out.

“W-Well, I’ll see you later, Colonel!”

“…Ah, ah. Yes.”

With an awkward reply, she left the room.

I found myself staring after her retreating figure for quite some time, oblivious to the buzzing of the radio.

*

Regrettably, I had no time to ponder what her question meant.

Because a suspect had appeared.

“Good morning, everyone. Everyone back to your positions.”

Giada Bianchi, leading a group of researchers, instantly commanded the room’s atmosphere as she began directing the inspection.

None dared to challenge her words or show discomfort. With all the senior and responsible researchers detained, Giada Bianchi was one of the few authorities in the field of biology.

Of course, there were several other senior researchers, but according to the military intelligence agency investigators, no one could compare to Giada Bianchi’s capabilities, honed through studying abroad on a state-sponsored scholarship.

To explain precisely, this conclusion came from analyzing the agency’s existing records.

Existing records.

Documents that intelligence agencies compile, tightly packed with ‘everything’ about major figures in various social spheres.

In South Korea, such information is produced by Information Officers (I/O) working at agencies like the NIS, the Military Intelligence Command, the police, and the prosecution, and they’re primarily known to be used when the President selects high-ranking officials or Cabinet ministers.

Naturally, existing records are part of the reasons intelligence agencies get hit by media scrutiny, but their demand is often higher than Christmas cake during election seasons, so they have persisted even after the establishment of a civilian government.

But that’s a discussion for those who report to the President. For folks like me, who have no business reporting to the President, existing records refer to personal data necessary for practical operations (counterintelligence investigations, overseas operations, information collection, surveillance, etc.).

The materials used to specifically identify the last suspect were existing records, and the information about Giada Bianchi’s activities sent by relevant institutions also fell under that category.

“Senior Bianchi, the sample experimental subject is ready.”

“Release the sample’s restraints and have emergency personnel wait inside the inspection room.”

“Then the inspection data….”

“Let’s go with maximum safety. Just stay as safe as possible. Got it?”

While there were many whispers about her study abroad at the magic tower, it was a commonly held opinion among nearby individuals that she was undeniably skilled.

The problem, however, was why such a person had turned into a spy…

“Senior Researcher Bianchi?”

“Yes? What’s the matter?”

That’s something we’re about to find out.

“Is everything going smoothly?”

*

—“Emergency. Emergency. Call the investigation chief immediately. A human body has been discovered in the housing complex. Repeat, a human body has been found in the suspect’s residence on the third floor of the housing complex.”