A Dark Fantasy Spy

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War is merely the continuation of politics by other means.
– Carl von Clausewitz, “On War”

Episode 5 – Journalist, Diplomat, Soldier, Spy

All assertions have their grounds. Usually, we refer to those grounds as causes or justifications.

In the political ring, like a dog fight, and in wars between nations, causes and justifications hold great importance.

The Hussein regime in Iraq is hiding Osama bin Laden and stockpiling weapons of mass destruction. The lives and safety of the pro-Russian residents in Crimea are at stake. Jerusalem is a holy land of Judaism, not Islam, and so on.

If there is strong evidence, the assertion becomes solid. Of course, whether that evidence is a cause, a justification, or merely an excuse remains unknown.

What’s important is that there must be a reason to persuade the people that we need to shed blood and fight.

Everyone knows that it’s all nonsensical talk, but the art of politics lies in elegantly wrapping nonsensical talk.

Because war was merely an extension of politics.

In other words,
“Independence of the Magic Tower, a three-way tug-of-war between the Empire, the Cult, and the Magic Tower, the interests are complicated.”
“That’s right.”

Most governments are currently in disarray.

“So it doesn’t matter. It’s complicated. People won’t be listening to the news anymore.”
“That sounds like they’re experiencing fatigue.”
“Yes. Too many events have occurred in such a short time. Now, people probably won’t react to much anymore.”

The Saint, who is also a politician and lobbyist, declared.

It was a voice filled with conviction.

“If something pops off here that can stir people’s emotions…”
Propaganda.

A chaotic world. Agitation aimed at voters living in it.

“…….”
“Whoever explodes will gain the upper hand, right?”

*

“…The Magic Tower violated the treaty.”
“The shaman entered disguised as our government-funded student. Currently, the person who was supposed to study abroad is missing, and the shaman is being interrogated at a separate detention facility.”
“…Has the location been identified?”
“Not yet. However, the genetic testing results show that the genetic information from the body parts found in the shaman’s belongings matches that of the missing person. We believe they are alive somewhere.”

The Prime Minister set down the teacup in his hand and picked up the documents handed to him by the Director.

It was more of an operation plan than a report. The phrase on the cover was read aloud by the Prime Minister.
“Operation name: Opera. That’s an impressive title. Is this the plan? To find evidence.”
“Yes, that’s correct. The Opera operation is aimed at tracking individuals related to the missing people to uncover the higher-ups of the operation. Currently, the Information Agency believes that the higher-ups are the intelligence organization of the Magic Tower.”
“…That’s hard to believe. There’s an intelligence organization in the Magic Tower?”

The Magic Tower had abolished its intelligence agency decades ago.

The fierce intelligence wars that ensued following the signing of the Nastasiya Treaty. Surely, Abas had been involved, but the Prime Minister didn’t concern himself with that. Rather than digging out the decades-old classified documents lying in the archives to uncover the truth, promoting economic cooperation with the dismantled Cult was more important.

The next general election was scheduled in two years, so it was somewhat of a natural choice.

Thus, the Prime Minister said,
“…Anyway!”
So, what now?

“This is quite an interesting story. If the Information Agency secures evidence that the Magic Tower violated the treaty, it could serve as useful bargaining material.”

The Director did not know whether the negotiation would aid the Magic Tower or trample it. After all, the heart of a politician is like a reed, swaying this way and that.

For that reason, the Director didn’t bother to question further.
“Please keep tracking the whereabouts of the missing citizens as well. As long as it doesn’t hinder the operation, of course. If their safety is secured, we will request their return through negotiations later.”
“Yes, Prime Minister.”
“And about the commander who came up with the operation. Can I meet with him?”
“Yes. It’s possible, but may I ask why you want to meet?”
“I’m familiar with the name.”

The Prime Minister tapped the name recorded in the planning document.
“…I guess it’s the person I know?”

He was asking if it was the hero’s comrade. In response, the Military Intelligence Agency Chief nodded in affirmation.
“Yes, your assumption is correct.”
“…Impressive. Then the operation I was briefed on last time also?”
“Yes. The same individual.”
“Wow. I heard that the Information Agency has established a line with him, but I never expected him to be this bold.”

It was a rule in the intelligence industry not to pry too much into the affiliations or identities. Plus, the Prime Minister was not the kind of person who would take the time to fuss over the specifics of a commander’s identity.

So far, that had been the case.
“Then can I meet with him right now? Director.”

Under the Prime Minister’s order, the Military Intelligence Agency Chief immediately contacted the operative to bring him to the Prime Minister’s residence.

However,
“…Prime Minister. Here he is, ah-!”
“Is there a TV?”

The operative barged in, pushing the Prime Minister’s secretary aside without any greeting. The Prime Minister was startled, and the Director grabbed the back of his neck. Considering how he acted, it was obvious he was a bit unhinged, but nobody could have imagined he was this eccentric.

Just as the General was about to yell at the Major for his behavior,
-Screech!
The Major turned on the TV.

-‘…Breaking news! Saint Lucia has announced her intention to enter the Magic Tower, renouncing her status as a saint!’

*

In war and politics, gaining the upper hand often involves derailing the opponent’s justification.

In this context, the justifications the Cult and Empire needed to dismantle the Magic Tower’s credibility were twofold:
1) The Inquisition.
After the signing of the Nastasiya Treaty, the Cult’s indiscriminate Inquisition officially ceased. At least, it appeared that way on the surface.
Yet, the Inquisition still continued to brand individuals linked to the Magic Tower as ‘dark magicians’ and persecute them. Their claim was to root out the groups threatening the continent’s peace through terrorism. That was the Cult’s justification.
The Inquisition’s activities shifted from the public eye to the shadows. Of course, nobody knew who was a heretic and whether those labeled as such truly were. Only the Inquisition would know.

The Magic Tower made the ongoing Inquisition in the shadows its primary justification.

2) Non-diplomatic nations.
This issue was slightly political and tied to history. At the time of the signing of the Nastasiya Treaty, the Magic Tower sought diplomatic relations with the Cult while simultaneously requesting formal recognition from the governments of various countries.
The dream of independence and peace for the Magic Tower concluded as ‘the peace of our era.’ In the first place, the treaty itself was a trap designed by the Cult. Therefore, the possibility of the Magic Tower achieving its intended goal was infinitesimally small.

In any case, formal national recognition had slipped away, and establishing diplomatic relations with the Cult had also failed.

This became the Magic Tower’s second justification.
Ultimately, to take down the Magic Tower, both of these justifications had to be dismantled…

“Propaganda requires materials. Do you happen to know what that might be?”
“I told you, it’s about stirring emotions.”

Veronica pulled out a cigarette from her pocket and lit it.
Then, exhaling a puff of smoke, she added,
“Lucia.”

*

Lucia is the saint of the Cult.
A saint of the Cult can wield influence comparable to that of the Pope.

In fact, Veronica had previously demonstrated her political prowess within the Cult by dispatching healing priests and holy knights to the conflict zones between the Empire and the Magic Region.

Thus, all saints of the Cult receive treatment equivalent to that of a state guest, in accordance with the unspoken agreement of the diplomatic community. The more significant the number of followers in a nation adhering to the Cult’s teachings, the more pronounced this tendency becomes. After all, mistreating someone who stands shoulder to shoulder with the Pope could lead to plummeting approval ratings.

The issue, however, is that the Magic Tower and the Cult are in a state of non-diplomatic relations.

How could a nation that has no diplomatic ties treat the other side as a state guest, especially one that has historically and politically been adversarial? Forget about protocol; security is a major concern. If a crazy magician were to attack Lucia, it would indeed spark a war.

Yet, despite this, the Cult shamelessly demanded that the saint be allowed entry into the Magic Tower.
It was an outrageous request.

Knowing full well how the Magic Tower felt about the Cult, it asks for the treatment of a dignitary simply because she is a saint of their religion—a demand as absurd as asking the oracle to crawl between the Pope’s legs.
It’s a humiliating affair. The public sentiment would never allow it, and politicians who stake their lives on the votes of the people would not permit it. In reality, it played out that way, given that the Magic Tower was a democracy.

Veronica pinpointed the flaw.
“The issue is that Lucia isn’t officially a saint yet. Since she hasn’t undergone the canonization ceremony, from the Cult’s perspective, she isn’t a saint.”
“But we treated her as a state guest.”
“That’s because she’s someone who will soon be canonized. It’s more a matter of etiquette, really.”

She brought up the point that Lucia wasn’t yet officially canonized as a saint.
In truth, it was little more than wordplay. Who in their right mind would say Lucia isn’t a saint of the religion? If that were the prevailing opinion, Abas wouldn’t have treated her as a state guest.

However, such meaningless banter can sound convincing when dressed up by a politician.
“…If Lucia declares that she hasn’t been canonized and wishes to enter as a priest, rather than a saint, what will the world think?”
“……”
“There’s no need for lengthy contemplation. It’s a question with an existing answer.”

So without hesitation, I responded.
“The Magic Tower’s justification would be undermined. They can’t prevent her from entering in a personal capacity.”

Right when the Magic Tower’s representative rejected my agrément, they suggested that she enter in a personal capacity.
However, if the Magic Tower were to block Lucia from entering in a personal capacity, it would create equity issues.

In other words, they would be caught up in the very justifications they proposed.
“Exactly. There are actually priests who enter the Magic Tower on missionary grounds.”

Like Protestant groups traveling to the Middle East for missionary work. Every time I heard that they crossed the border, it irked me.

In any case, what lies ahead is all too apparent.
The Magic Tower could not stop Lucia from entering personally. How could they block a religious figure who wishes to abandon temporal power and assert her identity as a layperson?

“Then the agrément issue would also resolve itself. Abas is on diplomatic terms with the Magic Tower, so there’s no need for further diplomatic disputes, is there? With no justification left, there’s no need to escalate matters.”

If they rejected this too, the Cult and the Empire would make fools of the Magic Tower.

At that point, the Magic Tower’s justification would be dismantled.
No, it had already been dismantled for quite some time. The Magic Tower had thrown itself into a fight it couldn’t win, just as it had done a long time ago.

“There’s no way talks about independence will arise for a while, given how things have unfolded.”
Veronica stated that and returned to her room.

*

Lucia announced her intent to enter the Magic Tower not as a saint, but as a priest, citing that she is not yet officially a saint.

All news outlets broadcast this as breaking news.
[“I will relinquish secular power,” announced Lucia, the 59th saint officially.]
[Archbishop Matteo: “A saint who hasn’t undergone canonization is not a saint.”]
[Cult National Affairs Council: “This is a personal expression, not a consensus matter… we will respect it.”]

The Cult dismissed it as just a personal position, yet in reality, nobody accepted it that way.
No matter what anyone said, Lucia was a saint, canonized or not.

Though they drew a line saying it wasn’t an official stance, they stepped back with a statement of respect for Lucia’s opinion, so hardly any media outlets refrained from calling her a saint. The fundamentalists of the Cult, who valued tradition and principles, criticized her for lacking the qualifications of a saint (saying she’s trying to oppose divinely ordained order and so on), but their voices were too minor and easily dismissed.

And as soon as the breaking news was aired, another breaking news followed swiftly.
The Empire shot back in support.
[The Chancellor of the Kien Empire supporting Lucia, “Her self-sacrifice, dedication, and passion shown on the front lines is an inspiring example for all.”]
[Kien Empire Deputy Minister of Defense: “I propose awarding Saint Lucia a medal.”]

The Chancellor expressed support for Lucia’s decision, and the Deputy Minister of Defense made a ruckus in front of reporters about awarding her a medal.
It wasn’t a problem since Lucia had saved hundreds of Imperial lives, at least on the surface.

However, this was amidst a fierce diplomatic conflict between the Magic Tower, the Cult, and the Empire, turning into a significant setback for the Magic Tower.

A ‘minor’ at one point saving lives through ‘medical volunteer’ work in a ‘war zone’ for two years, now politely requested to enter the Magic Tower while ‘relinquishing’ ‘power’ over the secular world. Not to mention that this was all done right in front of a hotel, not some perfectly arranged press conference.
Story, emotion, and execution.
All three elements aligned perfectly.

“……”
Nations supporting the Magic Tower faced choices ahead.
Either stand side by side with the Magic Tower and resist the Cult and the Empire to the bitter end or take a step back and watch the situation unfold.

[Next update: The Patalia government has officially stated that it respects Saint Lucia’s decision. An official spokesperson expressed respect for Lucia for making such a difficult choice….]
[King Salaji Amir of the Lushan Federation expressed infinite respect for a great choice fitting for a great figure….]
[Patalia’s Ministry of Defense announced that the Imperial Army is still surrounding the Magic Tower. Meanwhile, the opposition leader in Patalia questioned whether the Ministry of Defense’s announcement was a declaration of war….]

While there might be some signs of retreat, all nations supporting the Magic Tower stated they respect Lucia’s decision.
Given that the entirety of the northern and parts of the central continent were under the Cult’s influence, it was an unavoidable choice. The governments still criticizing the Cult faced charming yet violent protests from ardent believers.

Nations maintaining ambiguous positions were startled by that sight and quickly rolled over, wagging their tails at the Cult and Empire. Such protests in a world dominated by divine power, magic, and assorted races were exceedingly violent and dangerous.

And at that moment, an intelligence officer from the Military Intelligence Agency stationed at the Magic Tower reported that an unofficial meeting had taken place between an Empire diplomat and a representative from the Magic Tower.

In the end, the Magic Tower, having tasted the bitter fruit in the fierce diplomatic conflict, declared.
They welcomed Lucia, who is entering in a personal capacity, along with the few attendants currently visiting Abas.

“……”
At this juncture, I understood who was behind all this political maneuvering.
A group capable of influencing the decision-making of the Cult and executing all sorts of schemes based on information. The very institution that consistently took the lead in the war against the Magic Tower.
The epicenter of all the Cult’s inquisitions and covert operations.

…The Inquisition.