A Dark Fantasy Spy

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The sword has been drawn.

Two swords.

– “The Imperial Foreign Affairs Department has announced measures to freeze the public assets held by the Magic Tower and to nationalize the invested assets.”

– “Some analysts suggest that this measure could lead to a declaration of default against the Magic Tower…”

– “In reaction to the announcement of sanctions, the Magic Tower’s stock market has plunged more than 20%…”

Economic sanctions.

The Magic Tower’s investments in the Empire were tied up, cutting off the lifeblood that was its primary source of funding.

As foreign capital fled due to the Empire’s sword dance, the economy of the Magic Tower swiftly fell into a crippled state.

– “The Imperial Police are conducting a large-scale preemptive search to stabilize the unstable southern regions…”

– “A massive tank convoy was spotted near the city of Nastasia during the dawn hours…”

– “The Spokesperson of the Ministry of Defense claims it’s a redeployment to support a major counter-intelligence operation currently unfolding in the northern conflict area, but some think it may hint at a military operation against the Magic Tower…”

At the same time, the Imperial Police began capturing magicians.

This was proclaimed as an effort to rectify discipline by cracking down on those who incite division and exacerbate social chaos, yet no one knew who these so-called “evil” people were. Even in the midst of all this, a tank unit that had left its base was spotted near the Magic Tower.

I couldn’t even grasp what was happening.

However, there was one thing I could discern.

The Empire had declared total war against the Magic Tower.

That was the only fact.

—

Episode 5 – Journalist, Diplomat, Soldier, Spy

The Empire declared war on the Magic Tower. While it was a diplomatic battle rather than a military confrontation, the international community regarded it as equivalent to war.

And the agency that took this situation most seriously was the Information Agency.

All information agencies monitoring the Empire and the Magic Tower were on high alert.

Communication lines connecting the control room and the field were activated immediately, and messages of vigilance were dispatched to all active Information Officers and Operatives.

The Military Intelligence Agency was no exception.

“Wake the branch head immediately and assess the situation!”

“Have the location of the staff been confirmed? What? Hey! What do you mean you don’t have updates when everyone is about to be caught?!”

“Yes, report the emergency alert according to the affiliation and units of the armored units that have appeared near the Magic Tower.”

It was due to the police’s preemptive searches and movements of the rear units.

One of the duties of the Military Intelligence Agency included information collection on foreign troops, so they had to track the movements of the Imperial Army in real-time.

But they could not mobilize human intelligence assets present in the field.

The police had announced in front of foreign journalists that anyone caught engaging in foolish antics would be thrown into custody, no questions asked.

So, another intelligence asset took action.

“Units 1 and 2, initiate aerial reconnaissance! Gather your equipment and assemble!”

“Starting now, we will begin eavesdropping on the Empire’s communications. Connect all monitoring bases and operational intelligence collection vessels.”

“We’ve entered the Empire’s territorial waters. Stay alert and prepare for engagement. Over.”

“Team leaders, collect every article currently circulating in foreign media. Include major, minor, and magazines.”

All units under the Military Intelligence Agency were deployed for duty.

Magicians flew over the Empire’s borders to track troop movements, while naval intelligence collection vessels made precarious turns between international waters and sovereignty to intercept the Empire’s communications.

An officer directed operations in the situation room with a radio, while sergeants and civilian workers analyzed the gathered information by flipping through TV channels, and soldiers rapidly drafted documents.

In the meantime, I grabbed the receiver and shouted.

“What’s the situation on the ground? Is everyone safe?!”

– “The police are all over the streets. It seems particularly intense near the Magic Tower. I can’t see a way to get in.”

“The headquarters is looking for a solution. For now, observe the movements of those from the Empire closely….”

Of course, the Information Officers and Operatives were not sitting idly.

Information Officers disguised as diplomats roamed about collecting information, while Operatives who were confident they wouldn’t be caught in the counter-intelligence agency’s net made contact with informants.

Some risked their lives crossing over enemy lines, and some rushed to the field without even leaving a last letter.

As a result, a plethora of intelligence awaiting analysis and newly processed information piled into the database, and all intelligence agencies passed them on to affiliated agencies and convened emergency strategy meetings.

It took just 11 hours for the situation to be cleared.

As the long dawn faded away, the first light of day began to appear.

—

“Manager. The situation has been resolved.”

“…….”

“Manager…?”

“…You should go home first.”

“…Yes. Understood. Please take care of yourself.”

After sending Jake off, I sat alone in the office, lost in thought.

“…….”

It had been the longest and most intense dawn I had ever experienced.

A window facing the corridor showed a young sergeant who had burnt his youth away, listlessly pulling out copies from the copier.

I turned on the terminal to access the intelligence agency’s database.

In the brief moment I looked away, 28 pieces of information came in, and 46 pieces of intelligence entered.

[Naval intelligence collection vessel in contact with enemy patrol boat while on mission. No engagement.]

[More than 510 casualties at Base 532. Work-related stress suspected. Evacuated to nearby Military Hospital.]

[Seventh Air Intelligence Squadron confirmed casualties. Shot down by enemy anti-aircraft fire while on duty. Crashed in No Man’s Land. Failure to recover bodies and destroy equipment.]

[Confirmed the stationed unit in the city of Nastasia. Army 14th Armored Brigade, 2nd Battalion.]

[Increased checkpoints in the southern regions of the Empire. Checkpoints confirmed at significant routes.]

[Missing persons reported at the Empire branch. Signs of struggle identified in accommodations. Dispatch recovery team requested.]

[An unidentified explosion was observed in the southern region. Cannot confirm perpetrator, scale of damage, or government response.]

[Eavesdropping results show strengthened alert orders issued to enemy naval and ground anti-air units. Border passage opened. Search teams confirmed deployed.]

“…….”

I disconnected and powered off the terminal.

Sunlight streamed in through the blinds, casting shadows as faces appeared on the dim screen.

I stared for a long time but couldn’t tell what the expression was.

After a while, I rose from my seat, turned off the office lights, and stepped into the corridor.

The lights flickered and then abruptly went out.

Just like that.

One star set, and another star was etched in.

—

“…Is there something wrong?”

“No. Nothing’s wrong.”

The world had flipped upside down.

There was no need to explain how or where it had flipped. The media had already reported on it.

– “…Yes, we spoke with the Economics Professor and the Political Diplomacy Professor. We reviewed the additional measures announced by the Empire early this morning and what they could mean.”

– “It’s essentially a warning, in a way. It feels odd saying this, but the Magic Tower isn’t a nation, is it? There are quite a number of cult members within the Empire, so how might the Tower’s actions impact the Empire’s government….”

– “An unexplained explosion occurred in the southern industrial zone. In response to questions about the backer and the exact scale of damage, the Public Security Department’s spokesperson evaded the answer, stating it’s an ongoing investigation….”

– “Patalia has not retracted its position supporting the Magic Tower. However, criticism from the opposition is rising alongside calls for caution, as the general election scheduled for early next year approaches….”

– “The Cult National Affairs Council has not expressed any stance on the Empire’s official announcement. Meanwhile, the Pope used the term that magic is related to the capabilities of demons during a mass, causing controversy….”

– “Theocracy! Dictatorship! Religious individuals are inciting riots, everyone! Is this something that makes sense…?”

– “The stock market for the Magic Tower continues its downward trend, doesn’t it? If that’s the case, wouldn’t it be wiser to invest in Patalia than in the Magic Tower or the Empire right now?”

– “Yesterday around 11 PM, our naval vessel exchanged warning shots with the Empire’s naval patrol boat….”

Some information was disclosed to the media, sensitive information was withheld from reports, and some information never reached the journalists’ ears.

Politicians, professors, former bureaucrats, and policy researchers appeared on the news, spouting their own theories. The media eagerly picked up their comments and competitively broadcasted them, causing ratings to soar through the roof.

And in a hotel room, watching TV, Camila said this.

“Are we going to war…?”

“That won’t happen.”

Next to Camila, the Saint of the Cult, Lucia, who was also watching the news, spoke up.

“Such things happen all the time.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

Looking back on my 28 years of life, such events were absolutely not a common occurrence, even in this world.

However, Camila was not from this place, and having been here for less than six months, her naïveté was understandable. After all, it was something a friend said to reassure her.

Lucia, wearing the same pajamas, comforted Camila with a well-intentioned lie.

“Don’t worry too much.”

“…Uh-huh.”

“…….”

Camila twirled her crimson hair around her finger, letting out a hum. She seemed lost in thought, and after a moment of silence, nodded in agreement.

Seeing that, I exchanged glances with Lucia and quietly stepped back.

Lucia grabbed the remote and said to Camila.

“How about we watch some entertainment? That… England? Was it? They have entertainment shows too, right?”

“They do have some, but I’m not sure if they’re similar to the ones here….”

Lucia flipped through the channels, wanting to show them some incredible entertainment from this world. Just then, a famous comedy show was on, where a goblin was holding the microphone and making self-deprecating remarks about racial discrimination.

– “Okay, listen up, everyone. I was going home after grocery shopping early in the morning when I ran into an orc who lives in the semi-basement with me. At that time, I was strolling while smoking some magic weed after a long time. But then, a cop came up to me and asked me to come with him because it was the drug enforcement period. So I asked him why I should be subjected to drug enforcement, and he said my magic weed looked like marijuana! Right nearby, a beastman wearing a mask was flicking a lighter while holding a bottle with a tampon in it! Yet, they only arrested me! If I had cat ears, they probably wouldn’t have arrested me!”

The audience erupted in laughter. The goblin used absurd gestures and humorous remarks to satirize the grim reality, and as the comedy reached its peak, the humans laughed even harder.

Lucia giggled at the performance, and Camila, enchanted by the spectacle, smiled shyly.

But the goblin’s humor and the audience’s laughter were lost on me.

“…….”

I quietly opened the door and walked into the corridor aimlessly.

“…….”

The Empire had declared war on the Magic Tower. For now, it was still at the warning stage with diplomatic phrasing, but it wasn’t shy about showing military displays indicating a potential for forceful intervention.

It certainly wasn’t limited to a mere warning.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ economic sanctions tightened around the Magic Tower by the minute, and with the police and military enforcing a blockade, the Tower was cut off from the outside world.

While it wasn’t clear what exact orders the Emperor had given, one thing was certain: he had chosen a compromise between the hard-liners and moderates within the Imperial Army. Simply put, if the intention was to replace the Oracle of the Tower, he could have just bulldozed it with armored units.

Perhaps they were already preparing a coup with the intelligence agencies in motion.

They could undermine the prestige of the Oracle Committee through psychological warfare, block support through diplomatic means, and send assassins to wipe them out. Whether through disguised accidents or natural deaths, either way was plausible. They likely wouldn’t use guns, as that would make it appear as martyrdom.

I know.

The CIA in America did it, the KGB in the Soviet Union did it, and the SIS in the UK, the DGSE in France, and Mossad in Israel have done similar things multiple times.

It’s unavoidable. Therefore, I could clearly foresee what would happen.

“…….”

If the Magic Tower declared independence without halting and the Emperor resolved to assassinate the Tower’s Oracle, the actions of the Imperial Guard HQ and the Reconnaissance Command wouldn’t differ much.

Perhaps.

Perhaps.

I endlessly repeated countless possibilities in my mind.

The psychology and judgments I did not know. The international situation surrounding the Magic Tower. The Empire’s determination and the Cult’s actions. The fierce three-way battle that could overturn the diplomatic scene. The hidden motives behind it all. Each party’s position and what they desired.

A foggy political situation.

The fog of information obscured my vision, and someone’s brainchild dominated through speculative thoughts.

What should I do?

What must I do?

As I pondered, I found myself at the end of the corridor.

And there, I found.

“…….”

“You’ve arrived?”

“…Do we have any new information?”

“Yes.”

I made contact with the informant.

Saint Veronica looked weary but forced a smile.

“You don’t look so good.”

“I worked late.”

“…I heard about the situation at the border. We don’t have time, so I’ll keep it brief.”

She opened her mouth.

“The Magic Tower is expected to open its gates soon.”

“…….”

“The issue regarding Agremang will be resolved.”