NOVEL WEB Chapter 540
In the 1970s, shortwave radio became a primary communication tool for North Korean agents working in the South.
HF (High Frequency) communications operating in the frequency range of over 3 MHz and below 30 MHz utilized the properties of shortwaves that are absorbed or reflected by the ionosphere, enabling long-distance communication.
This was the reason why shortwave radios and transceivers drew attention from North Korean operatives on the Korean Peninsula, where an intangible barrier known as the Demilitarized Zone exists.
However, issues such as inadequate frequency bandwidth, communication interference from high-power signals, malfunctions, and vulnerability to eavesdropping led to several complications.
Consequently, since the 2000s, North Korean agents sought VHF (Very High Frequency) communication devices, and in 2009, North Korean scientists succeeded in launching ‘Gwangmyeongsung 2,’ which allowed UHF (Ultra High Frequency) relayed communications.
An interesting fact is that, beginning around 2002, South Korea had been monitoring signals from geostationary satellites.
Specifically, this was overseen by the Central Radio Management Office.
This made South Korea the fifth country in the world, after the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, and Germany, to deploy such monitoring systems.
Fourteen years later, in 2016, monitoring of non-geostationary satellites was even conducted.
Considering that the Central Radio Management Office inherited fixed and mobile eavesdropping equipment previously used by the military, such as the ‘G/2’ and ‘M/2’ listening devices, one could say that a tremendous achievement had been accomplished in just under 50 years.
However, the question arises here.
The fact that the Central Radio Management Office started to monitor illicit communications using military equipment suggests that the military had already been engaged in radio monitoring at that time, doesn’t it?
Moreover, the establishment of a satellite signal monitoring system, making South Korea the fifth country in the world, implies that someone might have been eavesdropping on satellite communications since the Cold War period.
—
Side Episode – YES WE CAN
From the hill where the sun rises to the seafloor where light fades, there’s no area out of sight. Rumors that circulate among people, as well as radio waves and magical waves bouncing off the ionosphere, cannot escape surveillance.
The eyes and ears of the watchers are everywhere. If it relates to sciences or technological fields tied to magic, it’s even more so.
*
If you were to ask gossip enthusiasts who love mysterious tales, ‘What is the best intelligence agency?’ their responses would vary widely.
– “They’re proficient… obviously. I’d bet it’s the organizations from the Mauritania Continent, which are rumored to be perilous. Ashtistan is similar, and so is the Lushan Federation, which is geographically and culturally close.”
People interested in international affairs might point out the ‘Law Enforcement Corps,’ ‘Special Investigation Bureau,’ or ‘Barak (בָּרָק).’
In the Mauritania Continent, plagued by continuous religious conflicts, these organizations engage in meticulous and efficient struggles for survival, and who could dare to compete with them?
– “I want to commend the Northeastern Alliance. How much have the Eastern magicians and shamans improved? The common view in our generation was that they were inept, but these days they’re catching up in terms of magic and every other field.”
Some economically driven gossipers focus on Eastern intelligence agencies. While they may be weak now, they are expected to soar in population, market influence, and reach globally, signaling an imminent rise of the Eastern dragon.
– “In terms of status, they indeed can’t catch up to the Empire and the Holy See. Take the Magic Tower for example; there was a moment when its fame could have surpassed our kingdom, but in the end, the Oracle couldn’t even get close to the royal shadow and failed, right?”
Meanwhile, traditionalists who respect heritage reflect on the three intelligence agencies. The Imperial Guard HQ, Inquisition, and Royal Intelligence Department. They claim these will always be the best past, present, and future.
– “Whether it’s the Magic Tower, Lushan, or the Northeastern Alliance, those gossipers are far from catching up to us, at least that’s the general sentiment.”
But there’s an unknown fact that the gossipers don’t know. The ‘behind-the-scenes’ talk they share has reached the ears of the ‘party involved.’
“If it’s the shadow of the royal family?”
“It’s undoubtedly the Royal Intelligence Department. I’ve heard that for several years now, the Oracle has been paying attention to the outside world and putting effort into gathering information. But lo and behold, whether it was due to an oversight or plotting, they got caught by our intelligence agency, didn’t they?”
As a man continued his call somewhere in the capital of the Kingdom of Abas, the communication crossed through the coaxial cables of international waters and reached a dark blue submarine lurking beneath the sea.
The moment the electromagnetic wave emitted from the copper cable was detected by underwater sensors, the ‘581-class research vessel’ of the Royal Northern Marine Research Institute, advancing through the cold sea, captured the signal sent by a ‘deep-sea exploration submarine.’
“Director Jung? You should take a look at this.”
“What is it?”
“This is a conversation captured a little while ago, but doesn’t it seem odd?”
The man frowned upon seeing the display. Wearing a headset, he furtively glanced at a marine battle uniform in shades of blue that appeared beside him.
As he began typing a brief report, numbers and symbols were encrypted in real-time to ensure no one could decipher them, then conveyed to the research institute.
The encrypted message sent from the ‘581-class research vessel’ soared through the ionosphere, making its way to the Kingdom of Abas without straying even slightly, thanks to high-powered magical waves boasting exceptional straight-line accuracy.
The cryptic digest relayed through the reporting system entered a consolidated network, and a program filtered out magical wave and electromagnetic communication based on the database.
Before long, that content could be automatically disseminated to each department.
“Hey, let’s loop that in ASAP.”
“What form should it take?”
“Let’s see… for wired, and since it’s electromagnetic… um, let’s go with type three.”
“Turning it into Colonne now.”
The analysis team fed the accompanying audio record into the program.
The voice analysis program, which processes thousands of communications daily, began deriving information based on the speaker’s voice, language, intonation, and expressions.
“Where was the communication launched from?”
“Right in the middle of the capital. It’s from residence number 24, and we’re speculating the call was made while moving.”
“Oh dear… how busy can they be at this hour? Wake up the surveillance team, get the portable equipment and send a van out.”
“Yes.”
“Did you contact the observation post?”
“They’re already in the loop.”
“…Whoa. Everyone’s got their hands full.”
The monitoring site located at a high altitude illuminated the urban center. Vans wandered the city while cars made their ascent toward the hill.
A team member, holding portable equipment, scanned below the hill, and from the vans equipped with mobile devices, beeping sounds filled the air.
With the angle of incidence for signals from various locations, DF (Direction Finding) was carried out. The plainclothes police who heard the radio transmission, along with the arrest team, began searching for the handler.
The information agent, who was walking around and chatting in the city center, was caught just 16 minutes after the report was relayed from the Royal Navy Intelligence Collection Vessel.
“…Hello?”
“Apologies for contacting you at this late hour, Chief. There’s an urgent matter that requires reporting.”
The news of the arrest reached the ears of the Royal Intelligence Department chief exactly 2 minutes and 47 seconds later.
*
“I can’t believe this!”
A director-level official raised his voice.
“Do you really think it makes sense that at that age, he was so enraptured by a woman that he mistakenly sold out the country? This must have been a deliberate act!”
The vehemently expressing high-ranking intelligence officer slammed the document folder down on the table. The investigative material received from the Special Investigation Bureau, which operates as the intelligence agency under the Ministry of Territorial Administration, was at hand.
In the early morning, everyone in the conference room was at the director level. To be precise, every director, without exception, had gathered here.
This would normally be an expected occurrence, as only one person could call for such a meeting within the agency.
The Royal Intelligence Department Chief.
“…….”
The elderly intelligence officer had been occupying the head seat since the moment the directors arrived at the conference room.
That didn’t mean he arrived at the office before the directors. The chief’s residence was at least an hour from the headquarters, and it wasn’t rare for the directors of the Royal Intelligence Department to remain at the office past quitting time.
In reality, the director of the Operations Directorate, seated to the right of the leader’s chair, had been working in his office just before this. The weariness evident on his face was proof that no air freshener could disguise.
Even so, the director could only arrive at the meeting later than the chief.
It wasn’t because he was inherently lazy.
It was simply that his office was closer than the others, and he, too, had yet to leave the office.
“Deliberately leaking classified information to a foreign entity…”
The Royal Intelligence Department chief nodded briefly.
“It’s a reasonable suspicion since information related to activities in the Magic Tower was leaked to the Empire.”
As he mentioned, the consciousness of suspicion was rational. There was ample reason to suspect it.
The fact that the Oracle, governing the Magic Tower, desired to have an intelligence organization and had nearly seized it was undeniably national intelligence.
The chief posed a question.
“What was the name of the intelligence agency they intended to establish in the Magic Tower?”
“The Talent Development Institute. It was under the Foreign Affairs Ministry of the Magic Tower.”
“Right. That was its name.”
He had forgotten, but was grateful for the reminder. The chief rhythmically tapped his fingers on the table, leaning back into the leather chair, gazing pensively at the opposite end.
“The Talent Development Institute… We first identified that agency quite some time ago. The significant issues concerning it were raised the year before last.”
To be precise, it was when the ‘guests’ from another world were staying at the military’s magic research institution. A spy from the Magic Tower had infiltrated the military research institution disguised as an international student, which the Military Intelligence Agency’s counterintelligence unit managed to capture.
The problem arises here.
While the Military Intelligence Agency detected and apprehended the spy of the Magic Tower, there was information that someone had contact with the suspect suspected as a spy, specifically that person was from the Foreign Affairs Ministry’s Talent Development Institute.
Fabio Verati.
Director of Overseas Intelligence at the National Security Agency of Patalia. Currently, he serves as a high-ranking executive in an allied country’s intelligence agency.
The entity that initially took hold of this information and managed it was the Royal Intelligence Department.
And today, that information was leaked to the Kien Empire through an outsider.
“But where did this individual acquire their information?”
The Royal Intelligence Department chief shook the investigative material before him.
They had traced back the records of an executive believed to work in the intelligence agency thought to be affiliated with the Magic Tower. No matter how proficient an intelligence agency might be, once this becomes public knowledge, it could quickly escalate into an international diplomatic issue.
However, this wasn’t really the core problem. The fact that the Royal Intelligence Department surveilled personnel from the Magic Tower wasn’t important at all.
What mattered was the fact that the individual from the Magic Tower was actually an information agent dispatched from the Patalian intelligence agency and that the Magic Tower had set up an intelligence organization, violating the Nastasia Treaty, and that various Abas intelligence agencies, including the Royal Intelligence Department, were attempting to overthrow the Magic Tower government.
“What if information surfaced that an intelligence officer from Patalia had actually infiltrated the Magic Tower, or that operations planned by the National Operations Directorate were exposed?”
What would happen then?
No one dared to answer. Although they hadn’t voiced it, the prospect of having to flee and avoid reporters for the rest of their lives was a fearful one, especially for those gathered there, including the chief of the Royal Intelligence Department.
They knew what they were doing. They did it knowingly.
If they failed, they’d be in court, but if they succeeded, the Magic Tower would side with Abas for decades to come; as a steadfast ally or perhaps a puppet state.
Nobody knew if a special envoy from the prime minister would be dispatched to the Magic Tower, or if an economic advisory group from the Abas government would be sent. The overthrow operation, estimated to take no less than three years from initial preparations to execution, had just but begun.
Now, the Royal Intelligence Department still plots against the Magic Tower government from unseen quarters.
“What about the leaked information?”
The slim secretary opened her mouth in a small voice.
“From what we gathered through eavesdropping, it appears that ‘while the government department of the Magic Tower was collecting certain information, it was detected by our agency,’ that’s the extent of it confirmed.”
The elderly intelligence officer leaned forward to study the documents before him.
The documents, bearing anti-tampering magical inscriptions, contained contents investigated jointly by the two agencies: the Military Intelligence Agency’s signal intelligence division and the Royal Intelligence Department’s communications division.
Whether it is through electronic or magical means, these divisions could screen communications exchanged tens of thousands of kilometers away from foreign nations. Even love letters exchanged by eight-year-old boys and girls abroad could fall under the same scrutiny, as long as those letters weren’t from the past or the future.
Intercepting communications over seabed cables wasn’t much different from thoroughly examining those love letters.
They intercepted them because they could, and they looked because they had the capacity.
“Um….”
The intercepted communications appeared harmless on the surface.
A foolish man wanting to maintain his pride before his mistress exaggerated some trivial news he had unknowingly come across while serving as a civil servant.
However, the fact that this man was a senior diplomat in the Abas Foreign Affairs Department, who formerly served as the Kien Empire’s embassy, was critical.
The fact that the information he unknowingly acquired was tied to the intelligence agency also carried weight.
Most problematic was that the woman receiving the information was a citizen of the Kien Empire.
As the chief’s forehead creased, the thin man seated on the right side began to speak first. He was the director of the National Operations Directorate, the first to arrive at the conference room.
“I can confirm that the only agency directly mentioned in that conversation was our Royal Intelligence Department. The names of other agencies involved in the affair, such as the Military Intelligence Agency, the Magic Tower’s Talent Development Institute, the National Security Agency of Patalia, and the reconnaissance command of the Kien Empire, were notably absent.”
“That means the Foreign Ministry official acquired some hearsay and delivered it to a nameless woman from the Empire, does it not?”
A middle-aged woman responded, who sat diagonally across from him.
She was the head of the analysis division, responsible for distributing publications to members of the royal family, prime ministers, and heads of government departments while drafting daily briefings for the king and prime minister.
The head of analysis nodded in agreement, adding.
“That makes sense. The narrative of the Magic Tower’s intelligence agency gathering vague information in an unknown place only to be caught by us sounds plausible at first glance, but logically, it doesn’t align. After all, we aren’t a law enforcement agency, right? The capture was originally carried out by the military as well.”
“Did the Ministry of Defense control information at that time?”
Inquired the Royal Intelligence Department chief, and the secretary hesitated for a moment before affirming it.
“Well, either they did or did not. What constitutes ‘did’ exactly?”
“Well… both the Military Intelligence Agency and the Defense Department Task Force separately conducted investigations and secured confidentiality agreements. However, considering there were so many employees at the research institute….”
This was another way of expressing that it was realistically difficult to keep tabs on all those individuals.
Should they be relieved that no one tipped off the press? Although news outlets and papers wouldn’t make noise, it seemed difficult to completely halt the rumors circulating privately.
In any case, the main point was this.
“Isn’t it possible that the Military Intelligence Agency’s counterintelligence unit misjudged our employees as having leaked information within the agency?”
The Operations Directorate chief spoke up.
“Rather than opinions suggesting talk escaped from within, chit-chat and distorted memories of witnesses created the rumors—”
“But if it is so.”
The director fell silent.
The thin director couldn’t remain silent either.
He was silenced by one line from the chief.
“If classified information truly leaked?”
“……”
“Then, someone among our staff consciously leaked information, and that individual has had contact with this foreign operative.”
The Royal Intelligence Department chief closed his eyes, waiting for someone to respond.
But none could easily open their mouths.
The soundproof conference room boasted absolute soundproofing, where no waves of any sort could penetrate. Therefore, the silence felt even more accentuated.
Time dragged on.
The atmosphere grew tense, each one stepping gingerly. It remained uncertain who would fall if the ice broke.
It was the National Operations Directorate chief seated to the right of the chief who shattered that uncomfortable silence.
“If it’s true that we have a mole within the agency, then he must already be waiting for a lifeline to descend upon him.”
The intelligence officer remarked.
“Surely right about now, he’s in some corner waiting for that to happen.”
*
Having concluded the lengthy meeting, the courtesy vehicle passed through the checkpoint of the Royal Intelligence Department just as it turned noon.
39 hours. No, it wasn’t right. It was 45 hours and 57 minutes since office hours were called.
Though everyone should have been happy about heading home, the air today felt particularly heavy.
Perhaps it was due to lack of ventilation, or due to fatigue from lack of sleep. Or maybe it was because the Prime Minister’s response to the information memo (IM) sent this morning had drummed up unease.
The chief of the Royal Intelligence Department shifted his gaze from the view of the city and his vague reflection in the glass.
“……”
With his eyes closed, the old man seemed to have fallen into a light sleep. However, the driver, knowing well the chief’s nature, opted for conversation rather than silence.
“Reports have come in from the Frangia branch. It seems foreign businessmen presumed to be ‘Barak’ are about to acquire six combat ships to mine marine mana stones.”
Frangia. Barak. Combat ships. The words began aligning in his mind like connecting dots, flowing through his consciousness.
Months back, the Frangia government had entered into contracts with a country on the Mauritania Continent, agreeing to sell six latest-model combat vessels.
The first condition was that the buyer must keep peace on the Mauritania Continent.
Yet, the nation seeking to purchase the combat ships engaged in preemptive attacks against a neighboring country embroiled in territorial disputes.
A small city had been reduced to ashes with 5th-grade military magic, and the attacked nation’s president rushed to the friendly Frangia embassy to protest against selling the combat ships.
However, it wasn’t that the allied nation was pushing them toward it.
When the Frangia government had been offered the defense contracting proposal, one of their initial conditions had been ‘peace on the Mauritania Continent.’ The problem was that the opposing side had committed an aggressive assault despite consenting to that condition.
Consequently, the Frangia government decided against selling the completed vessels.
Yet intelligence agencies seemed to be covertly facilitating the transfer.
“Do our Frangia allies know this?”
“It appears they don’t. At least their military and defense contractors remain unaware.”
“I can just picture the president of Frangia throwing a tantrum.”
The chief chuckled while the driver replied.
“The drug cartels from the Latouan are expanding their reach. Dobres Cabesa, Caballeros, El Familia….”
Familiar terms floated by in foreign tongues. The old man’s mind began retrieving files in an orderly fashion.
The shining economy had summoned not only prosperity but shadows as well. The cityscape’s dazzling nightlife illuminated now stood alongside blood-stained syringes, leftover bags, stumbling rats, and unidentified corpses.
The Special Investigation Bureau’s drug enforcement department had fought for two decades to remedy the epidemic eating away at Abas, but with little to show for it: countless fallen officers and continually increasing domestic consumption leading to increasingly sophisticated criminal organizations.
Efforts alone do not always correlate to results, nor does guidance always lead to repentance.
This was why the Abas government adopted punitive measures.
For the last seven years, the Royal Intelligence Department had carried out numerous intelligence operations aimed at dismantling international organized crime across various regions: intelligence gathering, analysis, surveillance, eavesdropping, sabotage, psychological warfare, torture, abduction, assassination…
All illegal operations, yet no one raised concerns. Just dressing them in the four-letter phrase “international cooperation” made even the local governments welcome it wholeheartedly. If there were any dissenters, they were simply replaced with new personnel.
This method was effective across all nations.
The ally Patalia had sentenced a 36-year-old mafia leader, who murdered a local inspector, to life imprisonment without parole, and the historically antagonistic Kien Empire had deployed two companies of public security forces to clean house on criminal organizations.
The agent who facilitated this cleaning was none other than the chief of the Petrogard branch, who had enjoyed the unprecedented distinction of being the “Director of the Kien Empire Branch” for three consecutive terms since the founding of the Royal Intelligence Department.
The chief of the Royal Intelligence Department allowed himself a soft smile.
“Let’s have the Operations Directorate prepare personnel and secure transactions via the local office. If needed, we’ll request support from the military. Finally, what about the points of contact?”
“It seems the local diplomatic representatives from Latouan will arrange it.”
The Latouan intelligence agency’s affiliates would arrange accommodations, helping out in managing personnel who have been sent to gather intelligence, while quasi-military operatives would immediately connect with the Latouan branch to hunt down targets.
All unlawful issues arising during this process would be of little concern. Even if the Latouan press labeled the Royal Intelligence Department personnel as a “killing squad,” the Latouan judiciary would probably not even entertain the notion of prosecution.
To begin with, there would be no chance for the press to catch wind of anything. After all, the Latouan Ministry of Defense had been cleaning up criminals in conjunction with the Abas Ministry of Defense and intelligence department since last year.
This time as well, the scenes captured on camera would likely feature unidentified ‘Latouan special forces’ acting alongside local military and police forces.
“Well….”
Musing over it, the chief of the Royal Intelligence Department exhaled softly in the thick darkness.
At that moment, the driver, carefully adjusting the steering, glanced at the rearview mirror with a worried expression.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Keep going.”
“Yes. Up next are reports from the Ivory Tower….”
Seems I’ve grown old. My stamina isn’t what it used to be.
The seasoned intelligence officer fell into contemplation about how much longer he could work, yet that concern would soon dissipate.
This is not the time to consider retirement. At the very least, he couldn’t step down just yet.
Even if he had only suspicions, there might be a mole within the agency, one likely planted by the Kien Empire, the Imperial Guard HQ, or the reconnaissance command.
“…….”
After more than 30 years of service with the Royal Intelligence Department, he didn’t wish to suspect the colleagues and juniors he had worked alongside for so long. But if, hypothetically, a double agent did indeed exist?
That mole must be captured at all costs.
By any means necessary.
The problem lies in identifying who the traitor is and how to root them out.
The structure of the Royal Intelligence Department is Director – Head of Department – Division Head – Section Head – Team Leader. While there are several information agents under the team leaders, they are all new hires.
Considering the level of classified information leaked, it is very likely that the incident originated from intelligence officers at the level of division head or above. In short, it’s likely an issue arising from the line of department heads, head of division, or even the directors.
Could one of the directors be the culprit? That seems unlikely. In terms of the grades of classified documents handled by directors, the leaked information couldn’t even compare to that of stock traders’ trivial chatter.
Then what does that mean?
“Just a sec, I need some fresh air.”
– Chiiiii.
The screech of tires followed shortly after the driver exited the vehicle.
Observing this, the Royal Intelligence Department chief retrieved an old PDA.
An esteemed communication device manufacturer in Abas had specially constructed a mobile phone at the behest of the Cabinet Security Office, built for the royal family and the Prime Ministry.
With its unmatched security, it caught the attention of intelligence agencies, and numerous models were delivered for a multitude of intelligence agencies.
This very PDA was currently in his hand.
-♪
As a familiar melody brushed past his ears, the gruff voice came to him through the device.
– “Please proceed.”
The solid tone burrowed through his eardrum.
*
The moment he crossed the threshold of his residence, checking the living room instinctively crossed his mind.
Navigating cautiously around the corner cloaked in darkness, he positioned himself several steps away from the entrance.
A sweeping look over the quiet living room made it clear that curtains and mail were all in the same state as when he had last exited.
As the old man turned his gaze to the kitchen briefly, he flipped on the vintage chandelier, illuminating his home.
– Clack.
With the intrusion of light upon the encroaching darkness, the yellow glow bathed the area.
The momentary brightness reached the hallway and kitchen, revealing a man seated at the table.
“You’re back?”
The old man asked as he removed his gloves, and the man waved his hand in reply.
“I came because you called.”
“That’s true.”
“The emptiness of this place certainly suits a bachelor, don’t you agree, Chief?”
Living alone, the chief of the Royal Intelligence Department chuckled lightly at the title of a “bachelor.”
“Since Ani left, it has become a tad empty.”
“…A tad?”
The man muttered as if questioning how this could be merely a tad empty.
It was nothing short of embarrassing for the subordinate to hear it from his superior. The chief approached the kitchen table.
“Some people are still outside.”
The chief implied how they managed to enter without the employees noticing.
The man could only smile broadly.
“Do you really think I’d forget the one who helped me extract a magician from the Snezgorni correctional facility back in ’89?”
The aged intelligence officer smiled back, fully aware of it.
“Ah, I remember. I remember very well.”
“It was unbearably cold, wasn’t it?”
“Exactly. It was unforgivingly cold.”
The vehicle used for extraction had its engine freeze, and one of the captives was unable to walk due to frostbite on his right leg. In that state, a Kien soldier’s round lodged itself in his calf, and with bleeding wounds, survival was bleak.
While he was gripped by tensions and fear, a collaborator lured over two months’ worth of his trust suddenly got cold feet, and with sirens blaring at the prison, it wasn’t long before the Kien Empire’s counterintelligence unit chased them down.
The hunting dogs and combat magicians pursuing them through the horrendous blizzard had been a genuinely terrifying sight.
The operation had nearly ended in disaster, entirely due to his misjudgment.
Yet, once past that critical moment and across several thousand kilometers,
Who wouldn’t remember the individual responsible for their safe return?
The chief of the Royal Intelligence Department smiled brightly for the first time in a long while.
“Glad to see you again, Matt. Back from the homeland.”
The intelligence officer gladly replied, “It’s good to see you again, Chief.”
*
“Today has been unbearably tiring, hasn’t it?”
Matt playfully inquired of his weary superior. The Royal Intelligence Department chief, nursing his cup of tea, simply nodded.
“Is there ever a day without exhaustion?”
“You should just retire already. I’ve lost count of how many years it’s been since I last saw you at the branch.”
“Has it been around 30 years now? Suddenly, that feels like a puzzling question,” the subordinate remarked, and the chief returned with an air as if this inquiry was somewhat amusing.
“Thirty-two years.”
“Whoa— at that rate, you’re practically a ghoul.”
“Just call me a ghost. Ghoul feels….”
– “Wrinkly?”
“Um… While I’m not sure if that’s the right term, it’s certainly within the ballpark.”
The man who was both the homeowner and superior skillfully brushed aside the subordinate’s teasing, exuding a demeanor that made it hard to believe he was facing an unexpected visitor.
To clarify, Matt wasn’t a visitor in the strictest sense, nor was he an intruder unwelcome. His arrival there was predicated on the call from his chief.
As the Chief of the Royal Intelligence Department refilled Matt’s teacup with splendid hospitality, he began casually.
“How are your team members faring?”
“Too energetic, to be honest; it’s become a problem. I thought they’d drain out if I tossed them to the desert.”
“Mauritania is a place overflowing with passion. There’s fierce, aggressive conflict between warlords and government troops…. In that context, it’s hard for anyone not to be energized.”
“It’s probably quite normal.”
“That’s only because you’ve aged. Make sure to frequently take your vitamins.”
“I’ll have to include that in next year’s budget proposal. The support department should send medical supplies, so why not add some vitamins while they’re at it?”
“Vitamins aren’t covered by insurance, which complicates it. But I’ll at least consider it.”
“Eliminating the candies, snacks, and drinks the Analysis Division is wasting should prevent any concerns of insurance premium hikes… Do they think that medical insurance is free?”
“Meanwhile, you’ve all been using military equipment costing hundreds of thousands of siling like it’s nothing.”
“Since that’s my tax money, who cares?”
That was a statement that would surely break the heart of the Ministry of Finance.
A teacup rattled as the aged officer of the Royal Intelligence Department continued with small talk, pondering through the questions as they flowed organically.
“I’m aware it’s been quite some time since you served in the National Operations Directorate. Don’t you think it’s about time you got a promotion?”
“I prefer the fieldwork, to be honest. Oh, right, what’s up with Larry? I heard he’s been suffering from asthma again.”
“The Senior Analyst is currently being treated by the company’s medical team. Recovery is progressing well, and he’s expected to return to the field soon.”
“That’s heartening news to hear.”
“What’s happening with Kair? They’re contemplating whether to recruit more beastmen in the next quarter, and I’d love to hear your thoughts.”
“Trained intelligence officers. Both Bill and Steve express satisfaction about his performance, so certainly his training in night shooting and sniper team instruction is doing well.”
“What do you mean by saying the basics are top-notch?”
“It’s hard to draw a direct comparison between human employees and beastman employees. Take Kair as an example; he’s seen as a target due to his different species in areas with many humans. Conversely, in beastman residential zones, he just moves around like he owns the place.”
“And so, that’s what qualifies him as specialized personnel… but what are the downsides?”
“Uh, he set up something like a cat tower in his residence, and he’s requesting the same be formally introduced back home.”
“Let’s review that on a welfare basis. Anything else?”
“Too many hairballs. What can we do about that? They’re getting into our electronic devices, not to mention gun imports, where all the fur has been such a mess.”
“How peculiar; the last meeting, Kair complained he was suffocated by your smoke.”
“… Darn.”
Should probably cut back on smoking, Matt mentally grumbled.
The friendly back-and-forth continued for a good long while. The two exchanged numerous inquiries.
“What’s it like working closely with the Military Intelligence Agency?”
“It’s gone well. Especially that tiny one with the sharp features. She’s cute and quick-witted, the analysts seem to favor her. That analyst seems competent despite being a newbie.”
“I’ve already heard evaluations on the command officers through Larry. I’ve seen the Navy’s documentation. He’s quite a fine individual. What about Nymph?”
“Aside from constantly bickering with Kair, everyone seems to like her. Should we nominate Nymph?”
“She’s an endangered species, it seems too complicated.”
“What a shame.”
While the chief of the Royal Intelligence Department sipped his tea, their conversation hit a brief pause. The old man calmly set his teacup down and, with an expressionless tone, continued casually.
“What are your team members currently doing?”
“…….”
Those words instantly gave Matt a gut feeling that perhaps they were transitioning towards serious topics.
Furthermore, it wasn’t difficult to discern that every exchange until that moment hadn’t merely been casual pleasantries.
The chief of the Royal Intelligence Department posed a query, while the quasi-military operative provided a response.
“You already know what the focus of your team’s mission entails, Chief.”
If there was work to be done, the implication was to state it outright.
To which, the chief responded with a bright smile, finally placing his teacup down upon the table.
“Leaks detected.”
“……”
“We’ve captured evidence of a breach of our agency’s secrets earlier this morning. And I suspect someone in our agency has shared that information without proper clearance.”
A mole.
Though unspoken, the Royal Intelligence Department chief was clearly contemplating the existence of a mole.
His subordinate then questioned why he hadn’t mobilized the Inspection Office yet.
“Do you know how the inspectors work?”
“Yes, they likely do. Considering there are already plans in motion for extensive inspections within the agency. There also seems to be some inquiry regarding this matter from the Prime Minister early this morning.”
“Who exactly would you be suspecting?”
While stroking his sleeve, the chief lowered his eyes.
“All the division heads and section heads.”
The laughable idea of investigators looking into the personal lives of his fellow comrades generated an audible exhale of disbelief from Matt; after all, several of Matt’s closest colleagues had already climbed into high positions.
If the inspection department uncovered any wrongdoing, no less than a significant number would find themselves expelled. Even if no real mole existed, they might still be expelled.
Every transgression, no matter how petty, was the essence of the Inspection Department’s duties.
But at that moment, Matt had more pressing concerns than fear of expulsion regarding his colleagues.
“Is there something you want to assign me?”
A directive was issued.
“Form a team. Quietly.”
The chief of the Royal Intelligence Department commanded. Not to gather a team but to create one, giving orders to physically establish a group.
Matt could easily infer the reason behind it.
“Is it alright for me to leave my team with Bill?”
“Indeed. Ideally, we should minimize their stress level. Ensure an even distribution.”
This meant that no team should withdraw from their tasks. The moment anybody perceived a tactical withdrawal, suspicion would arise.
Especially when that very individual isn’t stationed in an overseas location but a local one, situated in the capital’s headquarters.
What a headache.
Matt sighed inwardly, pulling out a cigarette.
“Do you have any personnel in mind?”
“Well… I might have a few near the vicinity.”
The Royal Intelligence Department chief granted Matt permission to gather whichever intelligence personnel were readily available. Names of staff performing operations in Mauritania flashed through his mind.
“I’d like to prepare the mission’s logistics outside of the agency. Using internal resources might make things too conspicuous.”
“Where shall I acquire the budget?”
“Funds will be allocated through the shadow companies established for tax evasion. Orders will be channeled through the supervisory board.”
“Then where am I off to?”
With a calm demeanor, the quasi-military operative presented his question, sounding as if he were inquiring about a picnic destination.
The Royal Intelligence Department chief scrutinized Matt’s face, redirecting his gaze towards the tea.
“Shizuya.”
*
With a counterfeit passport and Warp Gate ticket in hand, Matt promptly got into a taxi.
“Where to, sir?”
“Immigration Control Office.”
Smoothly gliding along the roadway, as Matt contemplated the information received at the department, he carefully assembled it in his mind.
A former high-ranking officer of the Abas Foreign Affairs Department likely leaked state secrets to the Kien Empire. The individual presumed to be the recipient was a woman, encountered during his time at the embassy, who had received classified information directly from the ex-official.
The classified intel had leaked from the Royal Intelligence Department. It was possible that careless chatter regarding the high military magic investigation was exaggerated into hearsay, but the chief suspected a deeper breach of confidence.
There was but one order.
Identify the double agent responsible for the leak.
Right about now, the Inspection Department was likely fumbling through the recorded locations and agendas of all staff members, but should that perpetrator be aware that his operative had been caught, he might have already fled abroad.
The chief believed that the double agent would likely be on the lookout for one last big score. It could be something critical on the classified documents he could acquire as per his authority, but in a situation where he has to urgently leave, casually stopping at the headquarters would involve too much risk.
Then,
‘…Oh. Hello?’
Speaking into his phone in a low voice, Matt spoke gingerly.
“Where are you?”
‘Haah- I’m getting ready to cross over to Shizuya or somewhere like that. These damn old ladies are putting me through hell.’
“You arrived yet?”
‘Nope. Departure’s in two days. Once there, I’ll head straight into Azadi Palace and meet someone. Beyond that, I don’t have any intel.’
Gotcha.
Matt nodded slightly, mumbling.
“I’ll contact you when you arrive.”
Click.
The call ended, and he stared blankly at the dead screen for a while.
With his eyes slowly closing, Matt began to visualize placements of potential colleagues who could be taken to Ashtistan.
Numerous associates abound, from Kair to those in the Military Intelligence Agency’s intelligence team and other operational teams on missions in neighboring countries.
However, the number of those deemed ‘minimally likely to betray him’ was rather slim.
“Hmm…”
Staring out at the urban skyline, Matt opened his phone. The area code had been input, and the brief ringing followed.
Finally, he made contact with the most suitable individual.
*
What the hell.
Just mere hours ago, she had been in a palatial lodgement, indulging in extravagant feasts and soaking in the goodwill of esteemed diplomatic representatives from ally nations.
Now, after a lengthy voyage, she found herself at the nation of estrangement.
“…….”
With a disheveled appearance, the woman atop a tell-tale mess of hair stared blankly up at a sign. A gaunt soldier’s squinty smiling visage would be the first thing she chanced upon stepping foot in this place.
One was the country’s presumed war hero, and there, facing this land, a woman with soul seemingly lost!
Amidst the buzz, another woman brushed past, her appearance indicating she was a senior colleague, with a hardcore and resilient aura.
And in this most unfortunate locale that had summoned her emerged her very own.
“Did I hear correctly that you were dispatched to the Mauritania Continent before?”
“…Yes?”
“Indeed.”
The man with an over-prominent jaw slung a duffle bag over his shoulder while offering a suitcase that he declared contained all of her initial supplies.
“You might have to procure other supplies along the way, but make sure to ration these essentials. There’s enough for about four days.”
“…Oh, okay. Thanks?”
“You don’t even need to feel grateful.”
With an urge to administer a slap to this overly nonchalant senior, she took over the suitcase.
Ayla Nostrim, less than a year into her tenure with the Royal Intelligence Department, found herself drawn into duty once again through the whim of her brother, who had been sent off to Mauritania.
“…Damn it.”
A touching moment of family reconnection could only feel post-apocalyptic!