A Dark Fantasy Spy

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In old tales, they even said that you should be a servant at the Duke’s house.

I really love this saying. And I can deeply relate to it.

How great would it be to live as a servant in the well-stocked Nohbu household rather than being dirt poor in the impoverished Heungbu household? Of course, that only applies if you were born a servant in the first place.

Anyway, living as a servant should be done at the Duke’s house.

The same goes for being a spy. If you want to live as a spy, you must go to a developed country.

Why, you ask?

“Money.”

If you live as a spy in a developing country, you get caught up in ridiculous situations like this.

—

Episode 20 – Who Threatened with a Blade?

It was just an ordinary day, nothing special.

The day I was dragged to Ashtistan by the Duke. Even though they clearly stated we were going to enemy territory, the company kept spouting nonsense about a short exotic trip, and I hadn’t heard anything from my scattered companions.

At least the High Priest, Lucia, promised to let me know as soon as she reached me on the train.

If it weren’t for that, I might have lost my spirit, constantly trying to contact my group right up until departure.

Still… the trip had nothing extraordinary.

The Duke was awkward, but at least we had Camila with us. I figured that traveling (though it was more of an overseas assignment than a trip) with her wouldn’t be too dull.

Of course, despite what the Military Intelligence Agency claimed, it wouldn’t turn into an “exotic trip.”

Perhaps that’s why.

Even in the sudden moments, I couldn’t find anything special.

“Republic Security Committee here. Please present your passport.”

A harsh flash of my identification card was proof that the person before me was an information investigation officer working for Ashtistan’s counterintelligence and investigation agency, the Republic Security Committee, colloquially known as the “Ashtistan Security Committee.”

As in any country, counterintelligence agencies are a source of fear. Especially as the atmosphere grows heavier, this tendency only becomes more pronounced.

Take Venezuela’s SEBIN (Servicio Bolivariano de Inteligencia Nacional). If you end up in the wrong situation, not only will you be jailed, but coming out as a fool is common. They are strict with foreigners but are tyrants towards their own citizens.

This was the image of the Security Committee in Ashtistan.

For reference, although they are called a counterintelligence agency, they were essentially a quasi-military organization. So, they were often referred to as “security forces.”

The problem is that even though they claimed to be an army and a counterintelligence agency, they were closer to a power agency that would arbitrarily arrest people. You could even say that foreign news reports had dubbed the Republic Security Committee and other counterintelligence groups in this land as a “factory for nails and fingers.”

“Passport? Just a moment….”

Of course, I wasn’t involved.

The counterintelligence agency of an authoritarian state like Abas, which has a hostile relationship with this government.

Such things didn’t even faze me.

I was simply in Shizuya as the Duke’s companion. In other words, there was no reason to feel intimidated.

“Hmm….”

However, what I hadn’t expected was.

“There is a problem with your passport.”

“A problem? If it’s about the entry stamp, it should be in the visa section there.”

“Yes, I see it. However, there seems to be something missing due to an error on the office’s part.”

The security official from the committee, who had abruptly requested my passport, made an unexpected remark.

He claimed there was some sort of mistake during the entry process.

“…Oh, really?”

I wasn’t panicking.

Having anticipated some sort of quibble, I understood, “Ah, they’re just nitpicking.”

As the passport passed to the hands of the Security Committee employee, I stared at the problematic passport and then tilted my head.

“That can’t be. There was no issue at the immigration office.”

“You are a citizen of the Kingdom of Abas. According to regulations, some foreigners arriving in Ashtistan must complete a training session after their arrival to be allowed entry. Did you happen to undergo any training right after your arrival?”

“No.”

There was no guidance given. And it was perfectly contrary to what I had been told by the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

According to the “Republic Immigration Control Act,” foreign nationals hoping to enter Ashtistan are only allowed entry upon completing a simple training course.

Nothing elaborate—just a 70-minute lecture on which direction to go when driving and what actions are prohibited at the Al-Yabd temple.

However, this regulation can be waived for special reasons, including official duties (particularly for those invited by the government of Ashtistan).

For reference, my purpose here was due to an official invitation. An invitation had been issued to everyone scheduled to accompany her, including the Duke, and I was among them.

Furthermore, training is something that happens before visas are obtained, not upon arrival at the immigration office.

“I was invited. It’s an invitation from the Ashtistan government; you can check it.”

I showed them the invitation with the government emblem stamped on it, but the Security Committee officials barely glanced at it.

The moment I saw their indifferent expressions while they skimmed the document, an ominous premonition crept in, suggesting something dirty might unfold.

That premonition hit the mark exactly.

“Please follow us.”

The security official, who had taken a brief look at the invitation, tried to lead me somewhere.

The answer was, without a second thought, “Don’t be ridiculous.”

“Why should I follow you?”

“There are matters we need to investigate.”

What a ridiculous statement.

What kind of investigation? It was clear they intended to unjustly apprehend someone.

“Do you have a warrant?”

“It would be in your best interest to comply. If you refuse to cooperate, we could even arrest you.”

That warning hinted at their intent to whip out handcuffs at any moment.

“Huh, truly….”

I flicked my hair back and locked eyes with the glaring security official. I was dumbfounded, to the point where words almost failed me.

The guides keeping watch nearby had kept their distance, perhaps out of shock at the sight of the Security Committee identification.

Seeing that, the security official sheepishly approached me, seemingly ready to act.

-Swish…

The hand that had reached up to lift the edge of his jacket naturally moved towards his waist.

With a collarless Persian-style shirt that showed off his neck, just as the shape of his shirt began to emerge from beneath the rustling jacket, an all-too-familiar silhouette began to make its presence felt from his armpit.

The grip of a pistol. The security official deliberately revealed the pistol holstered on his side.

As if to imply he might use it if I didn’t comply willingly.

“…….”

As my blank gaze skimmed over the information officer in front of me, my brain processed the situation faster than ever.

Why is this happening? What’s their plan?

Could information have leaked?

Or maybe it was just a bluff? That could be possible.

Unless the Military Intelligence Agency’s security was breached, the counterintelligence agency here had no reason to suspect me, save for my affiliation with the Abas Ministry of Defense.

If that’s the case, I can afford to be a little stronger in my response. Whether it’s the foreign ministry or the intelligence agency, the Abas government holds all the cards.

Moreover, even if I refused a warrantless investigation, the Ashtistan government had no grounds on which to hold me accountable.

Having sketched that outline, I reached the judgment.

Alright. I have plenty of excuses, so it’s crucial to find out what these folks are really up to.

Calmly gathering my thoughts, I waited for the next line from the Security Committee. It was time to see how they would proceed and what they truly desired.

“Money.”

A short, concise syllable.

In that single tiny word that slapped against my eardrums, my mind went blank, drowning in overwhelming thoughts.

For a brief moment, I doubted my ears, but I was sure I had heard it right. The representative from the Ashtistan Republic Security Committee met my gaze squarely and then nodded as if to signal agreement.

Staring at that scene, I could only slap my palms against my face.

“…Oh, please.”

Damn.

This was the first time in my life someone openly threatened me for a bribe.

—

It was a ridiculous situation.

A truly absurd one.

“Haa…”

I swallowed a sigh and ruffled my hair.

I felt a mix of curses and sighs bubbling up from the depths of my stomach to my throat.

How on earth did it come to this?

“So… are you really telling me that this is the investigation you want from me?”

I questioned, unsure if I had accurately grasped the situation.

I asked the same question again, but the reply remained unchanged.

The security official nodded, and I barely suppressed the expletives that threatened to escape my lips.

“We have the authority to apprehend foreigners. That means we can detain you at any given moment.”

I was momentarily stuck for words. I had nothing to say.

Was it because I knew they had such significant powers? No, it wasn’t that.

Other intelligence agencies also had the power to arrest foreigners. The Imperial Guard HQ did; the Inquisition did; so did the counterintelligence agencies of Zambia.

What locked my mouth was their audacity in openly demanding bribes.

This absurd and outright ridiculous situation muffled my speech.

“The authority isn’t limited to that. What’s important for you is the fact that you could be arrested. That’s all that matters.”

The information investigation officer who demanded the bribe maintained a confident demeanor throughout.

There was a noticeable confidence in his tone, but I couldn’t care less about his absurd words.

My concern was singular.

Are they acting independently, or did they receive orders to come here?

If the counterintelligence agency of Ashtistan was suspicious of me for some reason, then they would likely gauge my reaction when presenting their unreasonable demands.

Counterintelligence agencies in authoritarian or dictatorial states often use such tactics.

If this was part of a procedure, then I needed to keep up the faҫade of being an “ordinary public official” in front of them.

But what if they were acting independently? Then there was no need for any performances.

Their focus would solely be on the crumbs.

They wouldn’t care if I were a military information officer, a defense attaché, or just a civilian fooling around.

“…….”

My priority was to ascertain their intent.

I began piecing together all the elements and circumstances surrounding the situation.

First, the timing.

The moment they approached was when Camila and Alexandra Petrovna, the Duke, were away. I was there with the guides.

Whether they needed information or finances, it was clearly urgent to separate the Duke from me.

That left two possible scenarios.

First, they had been observing me from somewhere and approached me clandestinely.

Second, the request for a collar has been part of their scheme all along.

Next, I considered the guides.

The officials from the Security Committee had threatened me in front of the guides. While they used “investigation” as an excuse to try to take me away, failing that, they quickly resorted to authority.

If they had enough foresight to prep for the meeting with the collar, then it felt a bit awkward. They could have set up plausible procedures for the guides to have taken me elsewhere.

If the goal was a bribe, then they wouldn’t concern themselves with the guides. The moment the name of the Security Committee is mentioned, the guides would already be frightened to the point they wouldn’t dare intervene.

Lastly, I considered their demeanor.

In authoritarian, dictatorial nations, counterintelligence agencies may engage in somewhat illegal investigative activities.

When I was deployed abroad, I encountered agents from the MSS (Ministry of State Security) or FSB (Federal Security Service) who monitored and followed suspicious foreigners without any warrants.

They shoved cameras into the hotel rooms of foreign journalists of Japanese descent and similarly engaged in surveillance when they infiltrated as businessmen or tourists.

As for the Middle East? South America? Southeast Asia? It wasn’t as extreme as the MSS or FSB, but it wasn’t trivial either.

From 2-man surveillance teams circling near my accommodation on 250cc Suzuki off-road bikes to investigation officers mistakenly picking up innocent civilians thinking they were my informants, the experiences varied widely.

However, never once, from any counterintelligence agency, had I encountered someone openly brandishing a gun while brazenly threatening me.

At least as far as I knew.

And crucially.

“…It would be in your best interest to hurry. For both you and us, there’s no reason for either of us to blush.”

The ones boldly showing guns were acting like puppies desperate to take a dump.

There should have been no reason to panic if it was a legitimate inquiry. In fact, agents acting under orders wouldn’t need to behave in such a way.

I’d much prefer if they deployed surveillance, wiretapping, or other means, instead of openly lauding it over me—it would only make it seem like “Hey, you’re being watched.”

In short,

These idiots were just dumb enough to go out of their way to receive bribes.

—

“Haa…”

An involuntary laugh escaped me.

I had heard tales of counterintelligence agencies in developing countries and backward nations accepting bribes in both the intelligence sector and the Military Intelligence Agency, but I had never imagined I’d be on the receiving end.

“What a bunch of clueless idiots, thinking they could get away with anything…”

As I fired off that candid scorn, the expression on the Security Committee official’s face twisted.

“What did you just say?”

I replied with feigned indifference.

“Who do you think would just open their wallet when you wave around rules and regulations like a badge? You should be careful not to inflate your delusions of grandeur.”

I couldn’t fathom what kind of drugs these people were on to think in such horrendous ways.

His face flushed red. The Security Committee official turned crimson from his cheeks to his forehead and even the crown of his head.

Due to his balding head and stern beard, he looked almost like an octopus.

“You—”

The idiot was about to express his anger with a finger-pointing gesture.

Of course, my sharp tongue got ahead of him.

“If you’re just a worthless worm asking for bribes, at least you should have the decency to be observant. Who do you think you are to stand tall without even knowing your place?”

My voice rose. I was more so baffled than anything, and with ears around, I wasn’t cautious.

Of course, even if no one were around, I would still rant.

“Shut your mouth….”

“No. And if you’re gonna show your gun, at least take it out. I can see you’re trembling from worrying about what others might think, so why even wear it?”

It was clear I could see right through their solo endeavor.

Though I lacked concrete evidence, mere speculation based on circumstantial details was already ample.

Those who blustered with their mouths like they were ready to spat out curses suddenly shrunk back in silence.

Witnessing that confirmed it. These idiots genuinely were here for my bribe.

“What’s all this noise?”

A chilling voice suddenly shattered the silence.

The idiot from the Security Committee, with his mouth likely reeking of some foul cigarette or chew, turned to see who had spoken.

He hastily adjusted his attire with his hand resting on his waist, then respectfully bowed his head and placed a hand at his chest.

“Duke.”

Alexandra Petrovna, the Duke, accepted the greeting with a casual nod.

Having returned, she appeared with a collar adorned upon her head.

Considering the Duke rarely wore hats unlike the nobles of the empire, seeing Alexandra Petrovna covered in a scarf was a rare sight indeed.

With both hands stuffed into her pockets, she cast her gaze at the officers of the Security Committee.

“Who might you be? You seem unfamiliar.”

“We are from the Ashtistan Republic Security Committee.”

“The Security Committee?”

She seemed to savor the name for a while.

Then, as if a thought sparked, a small gasp escaped her lips.

“Ah, you’re from ‘Rabari.’ I have a memory of having seen you a few times in Petrogard.”

Rabari. Nahre e Rabzadi. It is a street in Shizuya. There, close to the old town, are historical sites and traditional markets clustered around.

It was the very place where the Security Committee headquarters was situated.

“What do you mean you’ve seen us…?”

“I heard there was an exchange program. When the usually quiet Imperial Guard HQ got busy, I wondered if there was a significant incident. I was told that the officials from the Security Committee visited the Imperial Guard HQ. It was already two and a half years ago.”

“Ah, thank you for remembering. I happened to be there too.”

The security official swiftly sought camaraderie, making a desperate attempt at networking.

Whether this idiot was a legitimate high-ranking official who’d actually attended any exchange events was uncertain, but I had my suspicions leaning toward the latter.

Regardless, the Security Committee official’s grateful remarks met with her unceremonious nod. Then she muttered dispassionately.

“Is there something concerning Rabari that my apprentice’s companion wishes to discuss?”

Her tone didn’t exude any curiosity; to put it more accurately, she seemed unwilling to hear anything at all. It was a signal for me to disappear.

“…….”

Recognizing the implied meaning, the Security Committee officials remained silent.

Their numbing expressions made them look utterly defeated.

“If there’s nothing further, I’ll take my leave.”

“Duke, that is…”

The Duke’s single word interrupted him.

“You must surely be busy with official duties; there’s no need for you to waste time here.”

A warm smile graced her face, and her voice was endlessly gentle.

But her gaze held no warmth whatsoever.

The Duke, who playfully posed a question with a grin, seemed to be rather displeased—especially visible in the guides who accompanied her, visibly on edge.

Camila, standing slightly behind the Duke, began muttering something only she could hear.

“Listen. Listen.”

Flicking her fingers at her ears, Camila’s actions made it clear to me what had ruffled the Duke’s feathers.

To put it simply, her ears were sharp.

Naturally, she had intended her remarks to be overheard.

“Do I need to repeat myself?”

The Duke glared at the hesitant officials of the Security Committee. Her kindly tone maintained, but her eyes surely did not align.

From the bickering officials, she withdrew her gaze.

Taking a deep breath, she lamented quietly.

“Even though this is a private matter and I’ve been enduring it, to express my dissatisfaction so… over the one remaining friend I’ve had for 13 years. Chit.”

The subject was omitted, yet no one within the conversation would have been unaware of whom Alexandra Petrovna derided.

Considering the Duke’s only remaining companion, it could only refer to the leader of Ashtistan, the Priest.

But as always, oblivious individuals exist no matter where you go.

“Could someone who hasn’t shown their face in 13 years be called a friend…?”

Stepping into the silence, the murmur of the apprentice shattered it.

A vein popped on the forehead of the mentor.