A Dark Fantasy Spy

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The Embassy of the Kingdom of Abas in the Jamria Federation has been busier than ever since it opened its doors.

“Pippin, the Counter-Terrorism Unit is asking for an update on cobalt and zirconium surveillance.”

“I anticipated that and just uploaded it to the company network.”

Like all illicit high-value industries, smuggling raw materials that can be weaponized is a lucrative way to make money.

Moreover, monitoring systems are essential for any information agency to have.

Just as the Republic of Korea’s information agency keeps an eye on hazardous materials like alkali, fuel, explosives, and North Korea’s Uranium Ore Concentrates (UOC), the Abas information agencies are similarly screening the hazardous materials being smuggled out worldwide.

Pippin and Jake were monitoring precisely such materials.

“It’s so annoying! How could there be this many illegal weapons circulating?”

“It’s a war zone. With finished weapons out there, smuggling raw materials is just a part of daily life.”

Since the military coup, the Jamria Federation has witnessed both major and minor incidents.

As soon as the central government’s control loosened, conflicts between various local warlords erupted. Weaker warlords sought their own patrons to change the tide in their favor, while local magnates and foreign armed groups made them irresistible offers.

With the federal army in a state of near demise, the vacuum left by the failed coup was filled by local forces.

The magnates had no choice but to arm their tribesmen against the locals who had transformed into the governor’s private army, while the warlords seasoned in civil war provided them with decent combat power.

Though weak in strength, they were still warlords.

These fellows sold the minerals handed down to them by the magnates to foreign terrorist organizations, and those minerals eventually found their way to sanctioned countries like the Republic of Ashtistan.

This news reached the ears of the power players grasping for dominance in the southern Jamria Federation.

Namely, the leader of the Hassan Warlord, Nasir.

Through connections with Frederick, Nasir provided intelligence to the Military Intelligence Agency. Upon receiving this information, the Military Intelligence Agency swiftly leaked it to the Royal Intelligence Department, and before long, friendly countries’ intelligence agencies and the Abas Intelligence Agency created a joint monitoring network.

Of course, whether this surveillance network was established to maintain international peace or simply to prevent hazardous materials from flowing into hostile nations was anyone’s guess.

But such details didn’t matter at all.

What really mattered to Pippin and Jake was something entirely different.

“Charnoy! What do you want for lunch today?”

Nymph, who was writing a report while resting her feet on the platform, perked her ears up eagerly.

“I want a hamburger…!”

“…Again?”

Jake muttered in disbelief, but Charnoy unequivocally shook her head, not understanding why it was surprising.

“Today, I specially want a burger set made with Cajun fries and whole chicken thigh…! I must have a hamburger…!”

“You’ve been eating burgers a lot lately. Remember how you begged that guy in a tin suit for a burger last time?”

“A country of happiness never gets boring, no matter how often you visit….”

Her short legs bounced on the platform. No matter how earnestly Nymph expressed her desires, all Jake had to offer was a deep, deep sigh reserved for an uncontrollable little rascal.

“Alright. Delicious food is the best.”

“Don’t you worry about your health? What if you get cavities at this rate?”

“I can just sell my rotten teeth at the Magic Tower auction… Ah, fine! I’ll stop joking, Pippin.”

Regardless, today’s menu was decided to be a juicy chicken thigh patty and Cajun fries.

There had been numerous occasions where they hastily grabbed lunch while drowning in hundreds of incoming pieces of information, but who cares? In that moment, as long as there was a delicious burger, fries, and a refreshing carbonated drink, even a buffet at a five-star hotel would be nothing to envy.

And so, just as they were resolving to enjoy lunch in the land of happiness today…

An unexpected guest infiltrated their peaceful routine.

-♬~

Just as Charnoy was stuffing her mouth full of fries and teasing “it must be Mandragora…!”

Suddenly, her work phone began vibrating incessantly.

“Yes. This is Pippin from the Military Attaché of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Abas in the Jamria Federation. Who’s this?”

-‘It’s me.’

“…Manager?”

-‘Can I use the embassy line right now?’

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Episode 20 – Who Was Threatening With a Knife?

In public service, rank is like a gangster.

Especially in the army.

In a group built on a single, vertical command structure, obedience to superiors is an inviolable principle. Otherwise, you might hear something like “should’ve come to the army earlier if you have a problem.”

In that sense, the major who gave the brigadier general a headache was quite an extraordinary figure.

“…”

In front of the device connected to the secure line, Leoni pressed her throbbing temple. Did she just wake up? Her head felt rather painful.

“You received a letter from that old priest?”

-‘Yes, that’s correct. It was more or less like a memo, though.’

A rather calm voice came through, almost as if it was no big deal.

Leoni leaned her head against her chair as she asked, “Is this all the information you have?”

Using the coded language common in the Military Intelligence Agency, a three-line report floated on the device’s screen.

The origin of the report was the Embassy of the Kingdom of Abas in the Jamria Federation. It was relayed through a special room equipped with listening prevention security features via encrypted materials to the Military Intelligence Agency.

Of course, the person who sent the report wasn’t there.

“…”

Leoni’s dry eyes scanned the report. The simplicity of the three-line report meant it hardly warranted careful reading, yet its content captured Leoni’s attention.

The content was straightforward.

Names. Locations. Times.

To be more precise, it included the company name, the name of a paramilitary organization, and a specific location with a time.

As Leoni stared at the report, she relaxed her clenched jaw.

“What does this mean?”

The manager asked.

It was an order to report the findings.

The information officer replied, ‘-The first is ‘Canicular Holdings Co., Ltd.’ A holding company based in the Kingdom of Dariyah. It has approximately 390 employees and primarily owns stakes in foreign telecommunications and financial companies.’

“What about the armed group?”

Leoni’s gaze swept over the second line of the report. Frederick added explanations in a flat tone.

-”Wali al-Dadun’ are guerrillas active in the Republic of Al-Yabd in Balykistan. It’s a group formed by the union of minority tribes led by ‘Mehragan Zulfikar Khan,’ which attacked foreign-flagged vessels traveling on sea trade routes around August and October last year, and has a history of sending combatants across the Mauritania Continent to support civil wars and terrorism.’

“…”

-‘They are also the same guys I ran into on the train.’

The holding company and the terrorist organization.

Whether combined or analyzed separately, it was hard to find any special connection between the two.

However, the fact that the holding company was based in the Kingdom of Dariyah, known as a paradise for the rich, and the terrorist organization allegedly had ties with company staff raised some concerns.

The table received the weight of Leoni’s hand as she slowly began to speak.

“The Kingdom of Dariyah is famous for being a tax haven.”

It was an open secret that the royal family accepted bribes from overseas wealthy individuals and businesses, luring them with low tax rates. Even the press, not just information agencies, had sniffed out the scent of this illicit arrangement.

The company, Canicular Holdings or whatever, that had a base in a tax haven would likely be a ghost company with no significant issues, in other words, one that wouldn’t warrant the interest of information agencies.

However, the source was rather puzzling.

“…”

Leoni tapped her fingers on the table, lost in thought.

The priest of Al-Yabd had passed a letter to Frederick. Although the Duke was involved in the mix, the imperial archmage merely acted as an intermediary without knowing the content.

The real issue was why the priest gave the employee information about a company that seemed shady and a foreign terrorist organization, along with an otherwise meaningless location and time.

“Weren’t there any other contents?”

-‘No. The letter contained just those three pieces of information.’

“In that case, is there a chance this information is connected to the ‘request’ you received from the priest?”

The overseas manager of the Military Intelligence Agency asked whether the government of the Republic of Ashtistan had any ties to this company and the terrorist organization.

More precisely, were connections found between the Law Enforcement Corps, ‘Canicular Holdings,’ and ‘Wali al-Dadun’?

The response returned was adamant.

-‘Nothing has been confirmed yet.’

…Nothing has been confirmed yet.

This implied that something could turn up when they do find out.

“…”

The minister pondered for a moment. Why did the leaders of the Republic of Ashtistan and Al-Yabd forward a letter to an intelligence officer from a hostile nation?

What connection might the holding company and the terrorist organization have, and what significance lay behind the stated location and time?

There was still no clear answer. As Frederick said, no facts had been confirmed.

At that point, the information officer asked, ‘-…Shall we look into it?’

The minister, cautiously examining the report, answered.