A Dark Fantasy Spy

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“Why did you call me?”

In a dimly lit office of a news agency, Dmitri, who had summoned me, was being dragged away by Suit Men. Meanwhile, Sophia confidently took over the chair where Dmitri had been seated and smiled softly.

Leaning back in the chair, she replied, “You look good! Almost didn’t recognize you. Is it because of the Defense Attaché tag? Seems like you’ve been well taken care of.”

“Cut the crap and get to the point. What do you want?”

I lifted the pistol resting on the desk alongside a glass of alcohol as I spoke.

“Did you come here to pick a fight for not paying your dues?”

“Dues? We aren’t even members of a local association…”

Sophia smiled playfully, her confidence shining through, much like before.

“You’re as annoying as ever.”

“Keep it up and I might just cry.”

“…….”

“Just kidding.”

Sophia lazily began to babble nonsense.

I brought the glass to my lips and glared at her.

Her carefree demeanor.

Her confident smile.

Her charming looks.

“…….”

On the surface, Sophia appeared to be an incredibly alluring woman, but knowing the true nature hidden beneath that skin, she was simply a woman who sent chills down my spine.

If we had to classify her, she’d belong in the same category as Veronica.

I set the untouched glass back down and asked her, “Why are you here?”

Sophia held up her journalist ID.

“I’m here for work. You know I’m a civil servant.”

“More like a spy.”

“Aren’t intelligence agencies just government agencies in disguise?”

A spy sat across from another spy, both showing their teeth in smiles.

Sophia.

Overseas representative for a state-owned enterprise from the Republic of Patalia.

Magic Tower correspondent for a major international media outlet from the Republic of Patalia.

And also,

A spy for an intelligence agency.

“Shall we step outside for a moment?”

“…….”

She was an old acquaintance of mine.

Episode 5 – Journalist, Diplomat, Soldier, Spy

State-owned enterprises and news agencies are darlings of the intelligence community.

It’s not because they provide crucial information but rather, the identities they offer are incredibly attractive.

To put it simply, it means collaboration for obtaining cover identities is relatively easy.

Well-established, massive workplaces are the perfect hiding spots for spies. Just look at South Korea for instance.

During the era of the Korea Tobacco & Ginseng Corporation, how long were KT&G and renowned media outlets cooperating with the National Intelligence Service and Information Command? It was a long time. The same applies abroad. The Russian state-owned enterprise Aeroflot, with 51% government ownership, cooperates with the FSB, SVR, GRU, while numerous American airlines help ensure the safe “business trips” of U.S. intelligence community employees.

In fact, it’s such an obvious truth that all worldwide counterintelligence agencies focus their surveillance on foreign state-owned enterprises and media organizations to combat the activities of foreign intelligence.

However, this is only for dubious figures. A perfect surveillance operation on all individuals is not conducted.

After all, spies aren’t exactly walking around with IDs plastered to their foreheads. How could they monitor all those foreigners at once?

Unless it’s a diplomatic mission.

“How’s the life of a Defense Attaché?”

“Why bother asking when you already know?”

“I’m a journalist.”

“If you want an interview, formally request one.”

The brusque reply drew a chuckle from the spy disguised as a journalist.

Sophia, bearing the journalist ID on her chest, took a deep breath and asked, “The night air feels nice, doesn’t it?”

“You’re better off not breathing in it to save the oxygen.”

The Defense Attaché and the journalist exchanged light banter as they strolled through the night.

In front of them was a Suit Man parting the way, and behind them were Suit Men as well, with a van slowly following them on the adjacent road.

I scanned the Suit Men surrounding us and asked Sophia, “Who are all those guys?”

“My team members. They’re all operatives.”

That meant spies — more precisely, intelligence agency agents disguised as journalists under Sophia.

Of course, I already knew that; it didn’t stir my curiosity all that much. The answer was contrary to what I intended to ask, and Sophia was not oblivious to that.

We weren’t the type to beat around the bush.

“Are you still working over there? The Unified Intelligence Department?”

Sophia was an intelligence officer in the military intelligence organization. To be precise, she worked under the Republic of Patalia’s military joint headquarters. The last known rank I recalled was that of a Lieutenant. Her title might have been Sub Team Leader; that much stuck in my memory. I first met her during interactions with allied intelligence personnel when operating in the Empire.

It had already been three years since I withdrew from overseas assignments. By now, Sophia might have been promoted to Captain.

“No, I’ve been discharged.”

She had left the military.

Sophia’s response ignited a rapid-fire chain reaction in my mind. Military intelligence is part of the sector intelligence organizations. Given the nature of the information field, it’s hard to find new employment utilizing skills and experience, so retirees tend to bombard themselves with applications whenever an opportunity arises at other intelligence agencies.

In other words, Sophia was now working at a different intelligence agency.

As that thought crossed my mind, a name sprang forth unexpectedly.

“National Security Agency?”

“Yep.”

Sophia’s response was immediate. But she didn’t follow through with a detailed explanation.

Due to the characteristics of the information industry, probing into the identity of the counterpart is a serious breach of etiquette. It’s best to listen without prying. Both parties are better off that way for their own survival. So, I didn’t delve deeper and switched topics.

“What are you doing here?”

“Investigating. What brought you here?”

“Just doing the same old Defense Attaché stuff.”

As a Defense Attaché (disguised military intelligence officer), collecting military intelligence was part of my duties.

While my actual mission was tracking down spies’ backers, I technically wasn’t lying since I was indeed collecting information.

Given that we both knew just about everything anyway, it didn’t make much sense to elaborate unnecessarily, so we didn’t extend our conversation further.

Thus, Sophia and I wandered through the streets exchanging trivial dialogue.

But in the grand scheme, based on intelligence industry standards, they were trivial.

“I hear the Magic Tower is bustling these days? With foreign affairs and all. Everyone seems super busy.”

“Naturally it’s noisy; the Empire and the Cult have been at each other’s throats. At least we’re not dealing with constant terrorist incidents like back in the day.”

“Oh, right. I heard from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that there’s a radical group causing a ruckus around here.”

“Radical group? We haven’t caught wind of that.”

“A sudden urgent notice just dropped. They’re planning a protest soon regarding the Saint’s visit and other issues.”

“Then we’ll probably get the notice soon as well.”

As time flowed, the path before us, once illuminated by the sun — whatever that mysterious orb was — began to wane, eventually replaced by the glow of street lamps brightening the darkened alleys.

As the world sank deeper into darkness, the conversation between us edged closer to precarious territory.

“How did you find out about Dmitri?”

“I met him a couple of times in the Empire. You were the one who introduced us, remember?”

“That’s not what I’m asking. Why is it your lot who’s managing our asset?”

Dmitri, the former journalist and now head of a social column at a Magic Tower media outlet, was clearly managed by the Military Intelligence Agency. To put it plainly, he was an informant.

For foreign intelligence agencies like Sophia’s to recognize Dmitri’s existence was not surprising at all. It was customary for foreign intelligence agencies operating in the Empire to cooperate with one another as needed.

The concern arose from why the Military Intelligence Agency wasn’t managing their asset, but the National Security Agency was.

Sophia grinned confidently as she answered, “We saved Dmitri from going to prison because you all couldn’t manage him properly.”

So, the National Security Agency had to pick up and use an asset that the Military Intelligence Agency had neglected.

I was left speechless. I genuinely couldn’t utter a single word.

Whether or not the Military Intelligence Agency was even aware of their informant being apprehended was one matter. The fact that the National Security Agency swooped in to rescue Dmitri implied the Military Intelligence Agency had abandoned their informant.

It was a breach of etiquette in the intelligence community to snatch up an asset from another agency. The National Security Agency surely understood this, so they must have verified that the Military Intelligence Agency was taking no action before stepping in.

“Oh dear….”

I couldn’t help but rub my face to conceal my dismal feelings.

After every single senior operative got apprehended, I’d heard that the intelligence network embedded within the Empire had collapsed, but I never imagined it was to this extent.

“No wonder everyone was cursing them.”

“Can’t blame them. They’re stretched too thin to manage their assets with so few personnel to handle their regular staff. We’ve been in a similar boat.”

“Those Imperial Guard HQ guys are really something. If not for them, I’d be in a bigger mess.”

At the very least, we did manage to repatriate the operatives captured in exchange. It was at least a blessing in disguise.

With all the reckless actions taken by the first and second departments of the Imperial Guard HQ, they likely humiliated themselves greatly — both departments probably suffered equally in the wake of the loss of the overseas intelligence network, revealing the Empire’s weaknesses and inciting an uproar from figures from across society. A massive preemptive round-up was inevitable, but still.

Anyway.

The streets had already fallen into complete darkness. With the world in a state of blackness, only the warmth of the flickering streetlights cast a gradual glow to ward off the dark.

The number of pedestrians had dwindled to a point where they could be counted on fingers, and we strolled slowly through the darkened streets.

I followed Sophia around a corner and into an alley, throwing a question her way.

“By the way, what did you really want to talk about that you dragged me all this way?”

“It’s a bit of a secretive subject. Okay, we’re here now.”

She set up a clean folding chair, which seemed oddly out of place in that back alley.

“Take a seat.”

Her audacity left me momentarily speechless.

I looked around, glancing at the signboards, and checked for any wary Suit Men at the alley entrance.

Inside was a narrow path I didn’t know, and the entrance we had come from was blocked off.

“…Are you messing with me?”

“Maybe?”

“…….”

“Just sit down. I have something to say.”

If I needed to choose three prominent intelligence agencies in this area, one name would definitely come up.

Imperial Guard HQ of the Kien Empire.

Inquisition of the Cult.

Royal Intelligence Department of the Kingdom of Abas.

Aside from these, numerous other standout intelligence agencies exist, but finding one that rivals the status of the aforementioned three is challenging.

To start with, their history exceeds a century. As for the Inquisition, it’s well-known, while the Imperial Guard HQ and Royal Intelligence Department were at the forefront of modern state intelligence organizations. Naturally, they’ve achieved plenty and possess rich experience and know-how.

These three intelligence agencies are the titans of the continent’s intelligence industry. Coveting their glory are also some following agencies.

Reconnaissance Command and Counterintelligence Command of the Kien Empire Military.

Kien Empire Police Intelligence Agency.

Military Intelligence Agency of the Kingdom of Abas.

Total Intelligence Agency of the Lushan Federal Kingdom.

National Security Agency of the Republic of Patalia, among others.

Though they entered the field later, they too have engaged in intense espionage rivalry, amassing their own achievements.

Some agencies have relatively rich histories, much like the Imperial Guard HQ and Royal Intelligence Department. Back when the Magic Tower was at war with the Cult, the Military Intelligence Agency and Reconnaissance Command showed their records of supporting the Magic Tower as the Army’s Intelligence Department. I learned this in intelligence school.

It did come at a cost, however.

Many lives were lost, and many were taken as well. The official count from the Military Intelligence Agency claims that hundreds of intelligence officers have died since its inception, but when including non-official staff like informants, operatives, and collaborators, the death toll could easily reach into the thousands. It might even hit tens of thousands.

Just looking at the number of deceased Northern infiltrators reported by the South Korean media stands at 7,726; I’d wager the figures for this area would be higher, or at least not lesser.

Anyway.

Out of all the aforementioned agencies, the National Security Agency of the Republic of Patalia has the shortest history. It was founded roughly 70 years ago, as far as I know.

“It’s quite a decent job. They provide official residences, high salaries, and good treatment.”

“Oh, of course. I can see that.”

“Want to switch jobs? Being allies, it wouldn’t be a big deal if you came over.”

“Go to hell.”

“You need to have something to lose for that to be the case….”

The National Security Agency’s spy retorted mischievously.

Truly, she’s among the most outrageous women I’ve encountered. Even bringing Veronica would be no match for Sophia.

I adjusted my posture and sighed.

“Lord, what have I done to deserve this trial?”

“What? You’ve picked up a religion? But judging by the fact that you’re not praying to the gods, it sounds like a cult….”

“Something like that. The folks duking it out over scripture interpretations in Jerusalem.”

Sophia nodded placidly, a look of understanding crossing her face.

For whatever reason, she seemed to be well-acquainted with it; otherwise, she was simply ignoring my rambling.

“So, what do you want to say?”

“Is there any rush? You had no plans for today, did you?”

“How do you know that?”

Sophia brandished her journalist ID, grinning brightly.

“Well, you’re a journalist.”

Someone in the diplomatic mission must have spilled the beans to a journalist. I get it. Defense Attachés are diplomats, after all. That makes sense. A quick phone call to the Inspection Office should do the trick.

I didn’t know who had let the cat out of the bag, but I nodded and opened my mouth.

“No rush then, so I’ll just make a quick call.”

As I pulled out my communication device from my pocket, a Suit Man reached out to stop me.

“Please put your phone away.”

“What? Hey! You guys drove here, so wouldn’t it make sense for me to request a ride too? Plus, I’m a military officer. Despite being a diplomat, I’m still a soldier; it’s normal to check in when wandering about unreported, right?”

I was already on the brink of exhaustion, working a laborer’s schedule and dealing with their hindrances only made it harder.

As I shot off my complaints, Sophia waved a hand to have the Suit Man back off. In the meantime, I used my communication device to contact my staff.

“Uh, it’s me. I’ve stepped out briefly, can someone come pick me up? No, not too far. I think they’ll arrive in about 20 minutes, so bring a passenger van — or just get a big vehicle. I’ll need to lie down. Sure. I’ll tell you the name of the store right in front, so hurry over.”

I wrapped up the brief call after providing the store’s name at the alley’s entrance.

Sophia idly scratched her cheek, casually commenting, “Feeling tired?”

“Yeah.”

“Then why don’t you come rest at a place nearby?”

“Are you out of your mind? Why would I sleep at your place when I have a hotel?”

I could stay the night at a top-notch hotel provided by the Magic Tower, so I had zero incentive to seek out another place. Not to mention, I didn’t even feel like it. I couldn’t do that to the staff who were coming to pick me up either.

As I gathered my communication device, Sophia smiled cheerfully.

“Well, if you’re ever interested, feel free to visit. Or at the very least, treat me to a meal. If you’ve been promoted to Major, you should treat a little.”

“Dining out? With a soldier’s salary? No way…. Anyway, hurry up with what you have to say and skip the runaround.”

“Okay, okay.”

Sophia leaned forward, lifting herself off the backrest with intent.

“…Are you still with the Military Intelligence Agency?”

“Yeah. As Defense Attaché, I’m still technically under the Military Intelligence Agency. Though it’s nominally for the diplomatic mission.”

“Got it. Then I have one favor to ask.”

“Let me hear the explanation first.”

“Of course.”

Nodding, Sophia pulled out a magic-infused pen and smiled as she adjusted her position.

Finally, we had reached the crux of the matter.

“Sever all ties with the Military Intelligence Agency and the Royal Intelligence Department. Focus on nothing else.”

“What do you mean -.”

“Fabio Verati, staff member of the Magic Tower representative office.”

The spy from the National Security Agency spoke.

Sophia warned, “As you’re a retiree, stop any foolishness and back off.”