A Dark Fantasy Spy

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Frederick was wandering around the city, hand in hand with Camila, humming cheerfully.

Meanwhile, the Nostrim Family was holding an emergency meeting.

“…So, you mean you don’t know where Frederick is?”

As the noblewoman’s voice echoed in the living room, the Treasury Department Official stammered, “Uh, yes. He never mentioned where he was going.”

“And did he say anything about the youngest coming?”

“He did. Well, he sort of did…”

He trailed off, tucking his head in like a turtle.

“He did say that?”

“He said he had somewhere to go.”

The Royal Court Maid closed her eyes and spat out, “He’s dressing up the fact he’s going to meet a girl in grandeur.”

At his mother’s sigh, Jerry Nostrim subtly tilted his head. Right beside him, the eldest daughter, Adela Nostrim, was also rolling her eyes, leading to an awkward moment where the siblings’ gazes met in midair.

“…”

It had been a month since the second son, who had participated in the coup that brought disgrace to the country and the family, had been chased out of the house.

Though Frederick had been forcefully evicted from the official residence by their mother’s commanding presence (historically, the commands of the female members of the family had always been more powerful than a ruler’s words, as evidenced by a wife’s successful administrative execution of chasing away a nuclear submarine captain), he remained her son nonetheless.

Madam Nostrim was beginning to hope her son would return.

Just then, she heard from officials coming in and out of the palace that the day the youngest returns from his business trip coincided with the day the investigation on the third child would be completed. She thought today would be a good day to prepare for that.

But the son who left home wasn’t returning promptly; instead, he had vanished to meet some woman!

Ah! To be blinded by a woman (or perhaps) to push family aside! There was truly no end to her lamentations.

“Did you just watch that?”

“No, Mom! What were we supposed to do when he disappeared without a chance to stop him?”

Adela, fulfilling her role as the elder sister by shifting the blame onto Frederick, made the Madam Nostrim ponder.

Ah, they had no intention of stopping him.

“Sigh. Good going, my daughter…”

The family, who set their blood ties far back, including the son who dashed off to meet a woman, and the eldest son and daughter who let the youngest go. They were truly all the same kind of children.

This is exactly why the saying that raising children is futile isn’t made up.

With a deep sigh, Grace Nostrim held her simmering forehead and barely managed to speak.

“Go and find him.”

Tell her to bring back the son who has ventured out of the house!

Side Episode – Suffering from various intrigues

While the eldest son and daughter frantically searched for their brother at their mother’s command, the second son of the Nostrim family, who had run away due to an affair with an outsider, was strolling about the Abbas capital.

“What’s wrong all of a sudden?”

“No. My phone keeps ringing…”

Frederick tilted his head as he looked at his ringing phone. His usual contact, who rarely checked in, was crazily calling him today!

Jerry and Adela performed an Indian-style rain dance with the pinnacle of modern magical communication device (known as a mobile phone in corporations) but, sadly, because they lacked urgency in their prayers, they weren’t conveyed at all. The troublesome second son of the Nostrim family switched his phone to silent mode and even removed the battery.

As Camila, who was savoring crispy waffles topped with luscious vanilla ice cream, sneakily hinted at her own concerns.

“Isn’t it important? What if it’s really important?”

“It’s fine. It’s just my brother and sister calling.”

“Aha!”

She seemed to have had an epiphany, much like an ancient Greek who was soaking in the bath and cried out ‘Eureka!’

Camila, biting down on a disposable spoon, nodded along knowingly.

“I get it. Whenever my brother and sister call, it’s usually something trivial. Like asking me to pick up pasta on my way home, or telling me to turn off the gas they left on.”

“Seems like siblings are the same in any country. It’s the same for us. They never pick up when it’s urgent but will call if they need something.”

“Yes, yes. It’s quite infuriating.”

A delightful scene unfolded as the Nostrim second son and the Lowell family’s second daughter critiqued their siblings together.

If their siblings had seen this, they would have caused a ruckus to avoid the intrigue. But the unfortunate fact was that this was the truth. Most calls and messages from siblings only contained trivial content. It could be seen as some karma, I guess.

But this time it was real.

As the mother wielded the cool, heavy handle of a mop like ‘Ahh- it’s been so long since I had that sensation,’ she waved it in the air!

Although Madam Grace Nostrim hadn’t been able to smack her four children with it in the last 20 years, the reappearance of the moral baton (home etiquette instiller: available at Daiso) was enough to make civil servants’ butts clench instinctively.

“What do we do, Jerry?”

“Ugh…. I don’t know either.”

While Adela dripped cold sweat looking at her silent phone, Jerry checked his wristwatch, his shirt half-soaked.

Ayla was supposed to arrive in about 2 hours. If the third child didn’t return in about 3 hours, who knows what might happen.

“Ugh…”

At that moment when the diplomatic official was pacing anxiously, Abbas’ Treasury official approached the Royal Court Maid and quietly began to whisper something as if he’d made up his mind.

‘Mother, it seems the third one is bringing the nephew back today-’ a heartwarming excuse!

The astonishing news delivered by the oldest son was enough to rearrange the Royal Court Maid’s outfit.

Furious at her oldest son’s silly words (for reference, Jerry is in his 30s), Grace Nostrim roared with all the trained roar of the queen’s chief maid.

“Jerry, lie down right now!”

The feeble Treasury Department official instantly fell to the floor, burying his face in it.

Having gained golden time thanks to the heartfelt sacrifice of the eldest son and misleading betrayal, the news, in fact, did not even reach its own ears.

Because Frederick was too busy having fun with a girl to bother with it.

Whether his older brother was scolded by their mother or his sister hid behind the sofa was completely irrelevant to him.

“Now, shall we practice for a while?”

“Sure!”

*

Surveillance represented by stalking and wiretapping is an essential activity in the work of information agencies.

And responding to enemy surveillance with counter-surveillance and counter-intelligence activities is the best buddy to said surveillance.

“Counter-surveillance, counter-intelligence are essential skills trained in information agencies. They protect our locations and units from enemy surveillance and reconnaissance while preventing wiretapping and hacking, ultimately ensuring the safety of agents.”

Today’s educational content was the flower of counter-surveillance/counter-intelligence activities.

Methods to detect and deal with being followed.

I began explaining the basic theories while taking Camila out for a walk.

“Following and surveillance are fundamental and core activities that agents can attempt either alone or as a team. Hence, South Korea’s information agency combines the two as ‘follow surveillance.’”

“Follow surveillance?”

“Think of it as a sort of abbreviation. By the way, information agencies love using acronyms. Whether in the West or the East, especially CIA and SIS.”

The key to following is secrecy and observation skills.

“Since it often involves surveilling specific targets over a long duration, following requires high focus and tenacity. The pursuer needs to constantly stay focused and aware of their surroundings while figuring out the target.”

Let’s give an example.
We emerged from an alley back into the plaza. There, I could see the bench I had been sitting on earlier, a stream of tourists and passengers flooding out of the train station. There were many paths Camila and I had taken before.

I asked, ‘What do you see in this space?’

With her hand on her cheek, Camila pondered for a moment and finally started moving her lips.

“There’s no place to hide.”

“You see perfectly.”

Besides a fountain and a few trees, benches, and streetlights, there was virtually nowhere to conceal oneself.

As Camila surveyed the open plaza, I shared a concept that penetrates all follows.

“Basic to following is that the pursuer has to conceal themselves while only keeping track of the subject’s location. The moment the one being followed notices the tail, the operation is compromised, you see.”

In that light, such an open area is like poison for the pursuer, because first, there’s no room to hide.

Naturally, there are many other reasons, too.

“What other reasons?”

“Many! Third-party observers, unexpected situations, CCTV…”

No agent among the information agency worries about being followed.

Especially those like me, who move around internationally. So we are always on the lookout for signs of following, and some methods are often employed.

“If you’re concerned about being followed, agents have two options. One is to detect it themselves, and the other is to ask a colleague to check.” That colleague is the ‘third-party observer’ I mentioned earlier.”

“You mean someone who checks if you have a tail from a distance? I’ve seen that in movies.”

“Yes, exactly so.”

Most overseas operations of information agencies are performed in teams. Whenever an agent heads into the field to meet a source or visit somewhere, team members wait nearby to check if there’s a tail on the agent.

“Those observers wait on rooftops or in upper floors of buildings, or down below in the ground. Their location varies with conditions, but the common point is they are always around ‘open areas’.”

Camila climbed the low stairs leading to the bank and quickly took in her surroundings.

“In an open area like this without spaces to hide, the pursuers would surely stand out, even if they were here. So, what are the methods for the agents to detect if they’re being followed?”

“There are many.”

The principle of recognizing a tail is fundamentally simple for both the observing colleague and the agent being followed. If I see someone following me, they’re most likely the pursuer.

What’s important is the ability to discern who is the pursuer. In other words, having a good instinct to survive in the following scenario.

I donned a pair of gloves and broke the ice.

“Camila, you know as well as I do, that the pursuer can’t help but focus on the escapee.”

They must know where the target is and in what direction they’re moving to follow.

“Detecting a follow begins from that clue.”

If someone frequently makes eye contact with you or is oddly staring in your direction, then the agent must suspect they’re being followed.

At this point, it’s crucial to ascertain whether or not that person is truly a tail.

From here, the judgment and skills of the agent dramatically come into play.

“If someone just locked eyes, or if you see in the rearview mirror someone seems to be adamantly following, or you feel your back itching, etc., in such cases an agent must change directions immediately.”

Pointing toward the streets and alleys near the plaza, I continued.

“The best method is to turn a corner. If you have turned four corners and the person you saw earlier reappears, or if someone continues to move in the same direction but keeps following you, that new person is definitely a tail.”

“But to check if someone’s following, you have to look back, right? If you keep watching behind you, won’t that seem suspicious?”

“The human field of vision is wider than you imagine. You can easily check with sidelong glances using reflective surfaces like road mirrors or the side mirrors of parked cars.”

For reference, this is also a method I just employed. When I confirmed Camila was behind me, that was how I did it.

Demonstrating, I first sent Camila into the alley and pretended to follow her, and after about two rounds of the alley, she effortlessly grasped the technique.

Following her into the alley, I adjusted my stride, adding to my explanation.

“When turning a corner like this, you can see if anyone is following you. However, if you happen to divert into a path that’s overly suspicious—completely unrelated to your destination—the pursuer would likely notice you.”

“Do you mean to take a natural path that wouldn’t raise suspicion?”

“Exactly. So agents have a habit of not heading directly to their destination but naturally curving their route an extra three blocks or so.”

I instructed Camila on all methods an escaping subject could feasibly employ. Just like the prior session, this one involved some practical exercises.

“If you suspect there’s a tail, check in an open area like the plaza or train station for any followers. If you enter a narrow street, avoid deep alleys and instead enter only those from which you can quickly exit, as delving too deep could lead to being surrounded.”

“If you recognize a tail is on you, you need to shed them immediately. You can entice them away and deal with them discreetly, however… when possible, avoiding confrontation and fleeing is preferable.”

“The best way to shake a tail is to dive into a populated area. Blend in with the crowd to hide from detection. Accessible tourist-heavy squares, busy central streets, subways, or airports, high-rise buildings, etc. Oh, and when entering buildings or a train station, make sure you know where the exits are and ensure there’s not a scarcity of them in case multiple pursuers might be waiting at the door.”

“For rural areas without high-rise buildings—say in Africa or the Middle East?”

“You’ll have to leverage alleys and markets. Just by shifting between overcrowded spots and alleys a few times, it becomes vastly challenging to follow.”

Encouraged, I practiced together with Camila through the high-rise, the plaza-alley routes.

At first, Camila confidently followed me, but I went so far as to sneak through the male restroom ventilation system on the 4th floor, while she spent over 20 minutes lost in the building!

With great delay from my route, she jumped out into the plaza, blended into the crowd (keeping in mind I was ordering coffee right next to an alley), and nearly screamed for help as she was bumped by office workers emerging from the subway…

Sliding and horrible mistakes led to a delightful spectacle of fun.

Anyhow.

Now that I had shared how to escape a tail, I needed to explain how the pursuer could approach following someone.

“Following someone is exceedingly straightforward. Just keep them in your sights without losing them. But whatever you do, you mustn’t get caught.”

The reason why following is viewed as exceptionally challenging comes down to this one aspect.

“Simple to say, but not getting caught is the hardest part. Honestly, consider this. Is it only us getting trained? The opposing party is probably trained too.”

“But there are methods, right?”

“Well… they’re not entirely absent.”

I explained the basic principles of following and important points the pursuer needed to keep in mind.

“As I mentioned earlier, agents are always wary of being followed. A hidden colleague or bodyguard may watch the situation and mark someone continuously watching the agent; conversely, if someone happens to be from a counterintelligence agency, they might also capture the face via CCTV or dashcam when needed. Sometimes, when checking if there’s a tail around corners or in alleys, they’re cautious about external elements, meaning those tracking need to be very mindful of risks.”

First, don’t stare too hard.

“That’s an obvious one, but staring too often or for long periods is a no-no. There could be third-party observers who might watch and possibly mark you, or the fleeing individual can detect being followed. Now here’s the question: how do you manage your line of sight?”

“By covering your eyes?”

“Then how do you cover them?”

“Hmm… wearing a hat or sunglasses?”

Correct.

I smiled brightly and took out my phone.

“In this area, it’s easier said than done, but in the 21st century, a smartphone is practically essential for modern humans. People find it odd not to be staring at it while walking!”

Just by saying this, Camila easily reached the answer. She tilted her head slightly, mimicking holding a smartphone.

“Pretending to be looking at a smartphone while surveillance?”

“Exactly!”

In practice, when following someone in the 21st century, many people tend to watch their phones during the entire ordeal. Sunglasses depend on seasons and climates while smartphones can magically appear without raising eyebrows almost everywhere.

“If you watch with sunglasses in a season with weak sunlight, it appears suspect. But if you’re on your smartphone, no one finds it suspicious. If you pair that with a hat or a hood tilted down, you’ve got your sight covered perfectly. You can smoothly tail without anyone realizing it.”

“Aha.”

Secondly, consider TPO (Time, Place, Occasion).

“Since we’re talking about seasonality, to add onto that, wearing outfits or accessories inappropriate for the time and location can actually be harmful. For instance, if a 30-something Caucasian male in a suit enters the back alleys of Myanmar, what does it look like?”

“Without a doubt, a CIA agent.”

“Right.”

Third, move with a group.

“I can’t stress this enough, but following even someone alone is a tremendously challenging task. Statistically, another person can pursue the same subject in different surrounding areas, which is improbable. Thus, when organizations follow someone, it tends to involve a group of 2 or 3 and, for car followers, usually two or more vehicles.”

“Are there points to be cautious about when moving around in a group?”

“Make sure to switch often! Ideally, every 2–3 blocks, one should come and go. Keeping up with new members makes it difficult for the target to detect they’re being followed.”

In fact, this method was utilized during the combined operations of the Royal Intelligence Department and Military Intelligence Agency on the Mauritania Continent. Agents disguised as local refugees took turns moving while following their target.

Though the operation was disrupted by unexpected situations with Ibrahim and the Holy Knights, other than that ridiculous incident, the three-dimensional following measures had always been effective.

No other reason than because of that.

“When I was being followed by those Chinese dudes, that’s exactly how they trailed me. I only realized it right before I entered my hotel.”

“…What? What did you do for them to follow you?”

“Eh, you know, it just happened while I was working. Don’t worry about it. That’s what they’re best at, marking suspicious foreigners.”

Anyhow.

After the theoretical explanations, Camila jumped straight into practical training.

The exhilarating pursuit commenced, and we dashed around the capital for nearly 2 hours.

Having spotted me fleeing by bus, she dashed into an alley without hesitation. I halted her, cautioning her.

“Hold up! I get that you’re in a rush, but you shouldn’t run if the target hasn’t turned the corner yet. Doing so advertises that I’m chasing you.”

“Oh, is that how it works?”

“And you should confirm where they’re heading. If you blindly dash after them into a random alley, it’s pointless, right? Usually, if you enter a path that lacks meaning, they’ll realize they’re being followed and try to eliminate you, so be prepared either with magic or a weapon.”

Crunch—leaves crunched beneath my shoes as the faint noise echoed against the streets.

I sighed lightly, turning my head, while Camila nervously chuckled and rubbed the back of her neck.

“As I said at the beginning, information agents use three senses among their five basic senses when tracking. The visual, olfactory, and auditory senses. But what do you do if you crush leaves?”

“What happens if that goes on?”

“Even under typical conditions, when someone fresh steps on the leaves, they can’t help but check behind themselves.”

“Eheh…”

“No matter how dark the surroundings, you should still watch your feet! And be careful of odors too.”

“Odors?”

“Ordinarily, both pursuers and escapees will attempt to be nonchalant. At such times, some agents intentionally smoke. The smell of cigarettes can be easily detected from a distance. Even other smokers can often detect the scent while non-smokers catch the whiff of it easily. For reference, I caught an escaping person once because their cigarette smell lingered on the doorknob.”

“…Oh, I see.”

“Hey, want me to tell you a fun fact? Some locales filled with individuals avoiding frequent washing—like India, Southeast Asia, the Middle East—often have their agents getting tripped up while working abroad due to their deodorized scent. It’s a smell that local agents don’t emit.”

“How interesting.”

“So Camila, make sure you shower often. Apply deodorant.” – “Wait, why are you lighting a fire?”

“Just warning you to stay cautious, you arsonist!”

Clearly, as a beginner, Camila kept blundering, yet she was truly filled with potential.

She understood well the methods I taught her, and actually began to utilize even points I hadn’t shared with her!

“Catch me if you can!”

The bright highlight was when she played the role of the escapee.

Realizing she was being followed, she entered the plaza and began running frantically, legs flailing as she yelled, “Help me!”

When I later asked her after the training session concluded, “Why did you run in the plaza?” she giggled and replied:

“Well, Frederick mentioned earlier that I shouldn’t run until I turn the corner, so otherwise, it would raise suspicion the pursuer could detect.”

“And?”

“So if I start running in an open area like the plaza and someone else starts running after me, then he’s obviously a pursuer, right? Just that alone casts doubt, but if I switch direction while continuing to follow, that’s confirmation!”

“……”

“What do you think?”

“Very clever.”

*

The exciting training on stalking, surveillance, and counter-surveillance was now coming to a close, and we enjoyed our dinner at a pretty decent restaurant.

The restaurant overlooking the river exuded an air of elegance, even without opening its menu. Anyone dining here must be genuinely fortunate, for the food and view were nothing short of perfect.

“Do you like it?”

“Yes!”

Camila, enjoying mussels and fries, exclaimed heartily.

With the strong aroma of blue cheese mellowed by a refreshing broth of white wine, massive pots filled with tender mussels and clams exhibited their soft, juicyinsides, making Camila tremble as she devoured the flesh straight from the shell.

“Mmm…. This is really delicious.”

“Eat up. You’ve earned it.”

As I quenched my throat with some wine, I murmured. This was something that, after a busy life, Camila surely deserved.

An exquisite view poured through one of the glass windows as we gathered around the well-prepared table, engaging in diverse conversations.

I cut a slice of duck and savored the bursting juices, before speaking.

“Everyone’s straining with the situation here?”

“Very much so. You know what the Mauritania Continent is like.”

The group was concluding operations across the civil war-stricken area, attempting to solve numerous issues. As with most third-world nations, the problems were mostly things that made it challenging for foreigners to intervene.

After the Jamria Federation’s military coup ultimately failed, the military groups that had strategized the coup had collectively decided to abide by the rules, yet no one knew how long this calm would persist. True peace was always a distant prospect for Mauritania.

Just when I also had news to share.

“Several companies are preparing to launch into the local market.”

“Which companies?”

“Yes.”

“Are you referring to Abbas?”

“I can’t say specifically.”

“…Does that mean it’s a lot?”

Immediately after the military government was overthrown in a counter-coup, countless intelligence agencies began preparing to deploy personnel to the Jamria Federation.

Whether the Royal Intelligence Department or the Military Intelligence Agency—every foreign ally and rival intelligence organization faced a similar situation.

While the demand for information on the local scenario escalated due to the dynamic atmosphere, naturally, staffing raised concerns.

Camila, dipping the fries in cream, cautiously inferred her thoughts.

“Given increasing needs for local intelligence due to the changing situation, it’s plausible that more personnel are being assigned. The concern, however, is….”

Not merely for this reason.

The shifting situation suggested substantial upheaval which would greatly influence relations and government policy among respective nations.

Moreover, the news that neighboring military groups seemed agitated upon hearing about the Jamria Federation’s coup became public knowledge, thus an open truth everyone was aware of.

Hence,

“What’s going on in the Jamria Federation could potentially alter the entire Mauritania Continent!”

“…”

“Sending new forces merely for information network expansion isn’t a likely scenario.”

An hesitant query loomed as the risks involved. I acknowledged gravely.

“If the emergence of a new regime carries significant implications, and if it can affect adjacent countries’ conditions, then indeed there must exist other motives beyond mere intelligence collection. Even if we don’t know what those motives could be, they’re likely significant.”

“Should I interpret that as a come-to-grips with caution?”

“Yes.”

We reached a consensus to tread cautiously for now. While the information agencies would continue their tasks, it wouldn’t harm to be wary.

With my lips moistened with wine, I exhaled a sigh.

“I fear the Jamria Federation may become a playground for corporate entities. I had my hands full while working in Damascus. Ugh.”

“Syrian conditions are quite a mess. Still, let’s not worry too much. There hasn’t been a major issue yet, right? The new federal government seems positively inclined toward us.”

“Anyone who helped oust rebels wouldn’t look bad to see, would they? By the way, where’s the Duke?”

“The professor is still in the Jamria. He mentioned he has a few things to sort out… From my perspective, he seems to be having difficulty returning to the empire. Quite the pressure.”

Incidentally, Alexandra Petrovna, who had undergone a double crisis with the embassy raid and counter-coup, remained with the entourage. While the stated reason included Camila’s training and regional stabilization efforts, as well as personal agenda,

Given the overwhelming correspondence igniting a fiery situation of the magical crystal sphere, it was glaringly evident that she merely wished to delay returning to the empire.

After all, one could at least see why I’d want to stay abroad. How could a civil servant take part in a government shift while holding their position in a foreign nation? Goodness me… (Military Intelligence Agency: What the heck.)

“I sometimes think the Duke might be going senile.”

“Don’t badmouth the professor.”

“It’s not defamation; it could very well be the truth. He’s already a hundred years old.”

“Oh? Come to think of it, that’s true?”

The tainted intrigue flowed easily from my breath and by the mere chance, even Camila began to question the state of her mentor.

Frederick soon retrieved the separated battery and connected it to his phone. As he awaited it to turn on, sipping wine, his eyes widened with the texts and missed calls starring back at him.

“What’s this?”

“Hmm? What happened?”

“What kind of calls are there….”

He had received a staggering 90 texts and over 40 missed calls. Seeing that he had turned off his phone to escape the calls from his household, it seemingly had been flooded with work-related queries.

Frederick sensed doom at once, covering his throbbing forehead with his hand. How on earth was he going to deal with this?

“Ah…”

Yet he had to check the content. He hastily opened the missed call list and called the number labeled ‘Situation Room Chief.’

The tension in his hands creased and lingered momentarily. Before the phone rang three times, the other side picked up first.

“Yes, this is Frederick Nostrim—”

‘This is the Situation Room Chief. Major, where are you right now?’

“I’m eating out. What’s the matter?”

‘No need for details. Return to the residence right away. Immediately!’

Click!

The Situation Room Chief hung up without providing a further explanation.

Feeling a sense of urgency, Frederick quickly packed his belongings, bringing along Camila, and left the restaurant.

With her expression of bliss as she relished her meal, Camila hurriedly stuffed fries into her mouth before dashing out.

“Wha-What’s with the sudden urgency?”

“I don’t know! They just told me to come back!”

Taxi!

The suit man bolted into the street, flagging down a taxi while shoving Camila inside. His frantic movements made the cab bounce as he hopped in.

The seasoned taxi driver, grasping the situation, skillfully embarked on a chaotic ride. Amidst the screams from Camila, it felt as chaotic as riding a disco boat. Frederick began a call to the family remaining at the residence.

– Ringing…
– Ringing…
– Ringing… — Click!

“Brother Jerry!”

Frederick queried in a desperate voice about the situation. What on earth had transpired?

Had foreign agents maybe infiltrated? Or had someone in the house fallen ill? What on earth was happening that occupied his company with unanticipated calls?

As the intel agent hustled to spin his brain’s simulation in light of the unusual urgency,

‘Oh, um. Frederick. It’s great that you finally called…’

The Treasury Department Official’s response droned distantly.

‘There’s been an incident at home while you were away.’

“What incident? Did someone get injured?”

‘Um, no… a guest came to see us.’

“A guest? Why are you calling from the office? And why does your voice sound like that?”

‘Um, well…”

Frederick, now puzzled, listened to the disjointed discourse of his brother.

‘Your girlfriend is here.’

“?”

‘To be more specific, it’s your girlfriends….’

“?”

‘Anyhow, it’d be best if you hurried back. They’re guests after all. Uh-huh.’

“……”

‘But it would’ve been nice to be informed earlier if there were this many fiancées among us. I’m not blaming you—but having this many wives is a bit much…’

“…What in the world are you talking about?”