I’m an Immigration Officer!

"Pig hunting, huh..."
The moment the operation name was announced, the five sensory officers exchanged looks.
The Gustatory Inspector hesitantly raised her hand and asked.

"But... should we handle this on our own?"
She looked around nervously.
"If they’ve already left with the carriage, we don’t even know where they went or how far they've traveled..."

The Tactile Inspector agreed.
"Now that they've fled the country, the search area is too vast. We can’t handle this with just our immigration office."
They were right.

Unless you're an extraordinary being, chasing down someone and catching them is nearly impossible.
We’re not soldiers or generals; we don’t have many combat-trained individuals.
"Don’t worry. Who said we have to do this alone?"

But the power of someone in an official position doesn’t come from strength.
That’s the power of soldiers and generals.
The power of a civil servant comes from their organization.

Various agencies, collaborating branches, and connections are the tools we have at our disposal.
"Aide."
"Yes, Chief Inspector."

The direct aide stepped forward, his face a picture of concern.
"I apologize. I should never have left your side, Chief Inspector..."
"It’s my fault for saying I wanted to be left alone. Get your face out of here."
"But your face...!"

As he said, my face was a mess—split lips and dried blood that hadn’t been wiped off.
"We should get you treated first—"
"Enough. Right now, request urgent meetings with the heads of the Northern, Eastern, and Western border offices."

There was no time for treatment.
And honestly, this appearance might work in my favor.
At my words, the aide quietly touched the communication crystal.

About five minutes later, three faces appeared.
"An urgent meeting, huh? It’s been a while."
"This is the North. Awaiting response."

"Hey, South border! Heard the news. You rejected all those from the Holy Order?"
The elderly man with a long beard, the young, stoic woman from the North, and the wind spirit from the East—each in charge of a border of the Kingdom of Crossroads.
They were all unique in their own way, and I spoke briefly to each.

"It’s been a while, senior officers."
There was no immediate reply.
Instead, after a moment’s pause, they looked at my face and asked seriously.

"...What happened to your face?"
"Combat is not part of an Immigration Officer’s duties. Please explain."
"Ugh, those with skin really do suffer a lot."

Seeing is believing.
It’s tedious and pompous to explain the whole emergency situation in words. It won’t hit home as effectively.
But if they saw my battered face, they'd immediately understand the gravity of the situation.

It worked. Instantly, their attention was captured.
I didn’t waste any time and spoke.
"Currently, the Saintess of the Holy Order has been kidnapped outside the Southern border. The kidnapper assaulted me and illegally crossed the border, now fleeing within the kingdom."

"What?"
"The kidnapping of the Saintess is a major diplomatic issue, and I ask for cooperation from each of you at the borders."
I explained the appearance of the kidnapper and the current state of the Saintess.

'Now’s not the time to hide anything.'
This was a situation where I had to reveal everything and ask for help.
There was plenty of justification.

If a high-profile guest from the Holy Order encountered problems while crossing our kingdom, we could easily be blamed.
"So the Saintess was... ugh, this is hard to say out loud."
The wind spirit scratched its head, visibly confused.

I wasn’t expecting this response.
"Sorry, I can’t help."
"What?"

"It’s not within our jurisdiction."
"What do you mean?! The Saintess has been kidnapped!"
"That’s what I’m saying, kid."

With that, the Eastern Border officer fell silent.
'What’s the problem?'
I couldn’t understand.

This was surely a legitimate request.
Seeing my confusion, the Northern Border Officer spoke up.
"...If we focus on the kidnapping for the cooperation request, since it happened outside the kingdom, it falls outside our responsibility, ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ so it’s difficult to take active measures."

"What? But—"
"However, since the suspect assaulted the Immigration Officer and illegally crossed the border, if we focus on the illegal entry and terrorism, then the authorities should intervene."
Illegal entry and terrorism.

The moment I heard those words, I understood what they were saying.
The Holy Order has no official relations with our kingdom.
Therefore, an incident outside the borders technically isn’t our problem.

More precisely, it meant that there was no justification for a state agency to intervene and help.
Only lukewarm cooperation was possible.
Moreover, since the incident happened outside the Southern border, it was awkward for the other borders to get involved.

But if we focus on illegal entry and terrorism?
Then it becomes our problem.
In the end, it was all about framing the situation in a way that provided justification.

We shouldn’t focus on the kidnapping of the Saintess.
We should focus on the bastard who assaulted an Immigration Officer and crossed the border illegally.
That’s what she was saying.

"Then—"
Before I could speak, the Northern Officer tapped the communication crystal and said:
"Hmm, the signal’s poor. It seems the Southern officer’s message wasn’t clear. Could you repeat that?"

Officially, they were giving me a chance to clarify.
I took a breath and spoke clearly.
"...This incident is an illegal entry! The suspect assaulted the Immigration Officer and illegally entered, which could be considered an act of terrorism. Therefore, I request cooperation from the Southern Border Chief!"

"What’s the request?"
"Please deny exit for anyone with violet eyes and impose control over the livestock transport vehicles."
At last, my clean and concise request earned a satisfying response.

"This is in line with border regulations. We will comply with your request."
"Agreed. We’ll start immediately."
"Wow, it’s been a long time since I’ve implemented the border shutdown protocol."

The responses came one by one, and then the communication ended with the Northern Officer.
"You still look like a rookie, Nadan Kel."
The young, stoic officer from the North.

Dhin Ascurin gave a small smile.
"I hope you grow stronger, young warrior. I like the look of those scars."
It was a word of encouragement in his own way.

As a senior and fellow border officer, it was his form of praise.
"Thank you, Senior."
With that, the communication ended.

The Five Sensory Officers, who had been silently watching, let out a collective sigh of relief.
"We can breathe easier now. I feel more at ease."
"Not yet."

"What?"
Building a proper perimeter takes time. How long do they think it will take to catch a fugitive?
There’s a method to catching a runaway.

First, establish the perimeter.
Second, tighten that perimeter.
Third, form pursuit teams to chase them down.

And with this, the first step was completed.
Now, that bastard won’t be getting out of the Kingdom of Crossroads anytime soon.
At least the minimal barrier has been set.

The next step: tightening the barrier.
"Aide."
"Yes."

No time to waste.
"Connect me with Count Reyes."
The Southern border falls under Count Reyes’s domain.

It’s largely thanks to him that we’ve been able to carry out immigration inspections without problems.
Once the entire border is contained, we need to narrow it down to the land we control.
Within 5 seconds, the Count’s secretary appeared.

"This is the house of Count Reyes. Please state your business."
Her voice was somewhat sluggish. It reeked of annoyance.
"This is Chief Inspector Nadan Kel of the Southern Border. I request an urgent meeting with Count Reyes."

"Do you have an appointment? The Count is busy."
Her tone was incredibly uncooperative, and I couldn’t help but scowl.
"This is an urgent matter. I need your cooperation immediately."

She sighed deeply, her disdain evident as she answered, as if there were a thousand others like me.
"Sigh... If you don’t have an appointment, the soonest meeting is in three days..."
And then, she saw my face.

She jumped up from her seat in a panic.
"I’ll connect you immediately!"
"Yes, yes! I’ll get him, I’ll get him!"

I told you.
Seeing is believing.
Within less than a minute, Count Reyes’s office appeared in the crystal.

"Good day, Count Reyes. Chief Inspector Nadan Kel here."
"It’s been a while since we’ve had a private meeting. What’s this all about, so urgent—"
And my face worked its magic on him too.

"...What happened to your face?"
"It’s related to what I need to discuss."
Cutting straight to the point.

"Currently, the Saintess...”
I paused.
Justification. Think about the justification.

If it were the Immigration Office, I could be more flexible, but with Count Reyes, it would be all about the reasoning and justification.
I quickly changed my words.
"...Currently, there has been an illegal entry in the Southern border. After assaulting me, the perpetrator smuggled a strategically valuable creature into the country and fled."

"He assaulted you? And fled? No, strategically valuable?!"
"The situation was chaotic, and in the confusion, I believe the suspect is highly skilled."
Having explained everything, the Count looked grave.

"So... this happened on my land?"
"Yes, within the borders of the Count’s jurisdiction."
That meant, in other words, a terrorist had entered his land and needed immediate help.

The Count slowly shook his head.
"Coming to me like this, looking like that... it’s hard to help, even for me. This is all rather sudden."
"..."

"However..."
There was a slight pause in his words, and I could feel him calculating in his mind.
— "Helping you could serve as a great opportunity to once again prove my loyalty to the kingdom."

In that moment, I understood exactly what I had to do.
— "Indeed. The Immigration Bureau will make Count Reyes' cooperation crystal clear to the entire world."
Merchant-level flattery.

Scratching an itch that only he could feel.
Reyes, the Duke of the Borderlands, was as stubborn as a border guard. A man who had been defending the southern borders of the kingdom for generations, taking immense pride in his duty as the literal "Duke of the Border".
But not many people praised him for it.

Who thanks someone for doing their job? It's just expected.
And that was the very thing I had to exploit.
— "And, the fact that such a traitor dares to be on my land... that's particularly unsettling."

— "Oh, my lord, a criminal in your territory? How dreadful! Your domain is such a prosperous and peaceful land."
Today, my words flowed easily. Perhaps it was because I had just been slapped.
— "If you're requesting help so urgently, then it must be a dire situation."

— "As soon as this matter came up, you were the first person I thought of, my lord. You are the fair and steadfast shield of the South. There's no one else we can trust but you."
A little extra, with a touch of "there's no one else" thrown in for good measure.
I was pushing at the vanity I'd never seen from him before, scraping it raw.

— "But, what do you mean by having a creature of strategic value?"
At his last words, I paused for a moment.
— "...It's a creature that could change the balance of the kingdom."

Nothing compares to the power of the Saintess of the Holy Church.
If we could bring it to our side, it could overturn not only the trial but also the entire pilgrimage. It could be the ultimate trump card.
If only it weren't in the form of a pig right now.

I wasn’t lying. I just wasn't telling the whole truth.
— "Hmm..."
After hearing my response, Duke Reyes furrowed his brow.

Then, finally, he made his decision.
— "What can I do for you? For the safety of the kingdom, I will lend my full strength."
Exactly what I was waiting for.

I immediately moved to the next point.
— "Please deploy soldiers to block all major roads, bridges across rivers, and key intersections."
Once they flee with the carriage, blocking the main roads will severely limit their options.

Furthermore, if we control the river, even if they abandon the carriage, they'll be trapped.
It was the most perfect way to tighten the noose.
— "I'll do that. But even with that, it'll be hard to chase down the intruder."

I was caught off guard by the sharp point.
I hadn’t anticipated this.
Thinking about it, even if we block their movements, we don’t have the manpower to pursue them.

The third step was key.
Then, Duke Reyes spoke.
— "I'll send cavalry. I’ll give you 50 men, and they’re yours to command."

— "M-Milord!"
I’d never seen such a generous man.
— "I’m the sword that defends the border. But now, a rogue dares to attack an official of the kingdom and walk across my land. I’m not pleased by it."

— "Indeed! The wicked criminal dares to offend the mood of my lord! Who would dare to cross the shield of the South!"
Long live the Duke of the Border.
I internally cheered and saluted him.

— "I deeply appreciate your cooperation!"
— "Solve it well. If you need further help, just speak to my secretary."
And with that, the communication ended.

Thud, thud, thud, thud.
About 40 minutes later, the sound of hooves shook the ground as they drew near.
— "I come at the command of the rightful protector of the South, Count Reyes of Leyes! Please give your orders!"

— "Welcome, the ones who protect the shield of the South."
I never imagined I’d be so happy to see 50 men in my life.
I shouted to them.

— "Time is of the essence, so I’ll keep this brief!"
After quickly explaining the situation, I added crucial details.
— "The suspect is someone who can change their appearance or disguise themselves. They could be any race or gender, so don’t make assumptions even if you recognize a face! Never drop your suspicion prematurely!"

— "However, from what we’ve gathered so far, the purple eyes can’t be altered. Keep that in mind! Purple eyes are rare, so they can be easily identified!"
— "Also, the pig the suspect is carrying has immense strategic value. Therefore, you must capture both the intruder and the pig alive!"
The soldiers nodded in understanding.

— "Which way did that arrogant fool run off? We’ll track him down in that direction!"
— "Well, that’s..."
Just then, the Olfactory Inspector stepped forward.

— "I’ll guide you."
— "The Olfactory Inspector?"
He took a deep breath.

— "I smell blood. It’s strong. Unless it rains, we can track him. Leave it to me, Chief Inspector."
Blaszek, the Olfactory Inspector, was a werewolf.
He could smell things with an intensity that bordered on obsession, which is why his title was Olfactory Inspector.

Once he caught the scent, he would chase it to the ends of the horizon.
There was no reason not to trust him.
I nodded.

— "Then, I’ll leave it to you. And the Gustatory Inspector?"
— "Huh? Yes?"
The Gustatory Inspector hurried out at my unexpected call.

— "Can you ride a horse?"
— "Yes. I’ve been riding since I was three."
She was a nomad, and if anyone could ride like it was second nature, it was her.

I pointed to the horse tied up in the corner.
— "Take me with you."
— "...What???"

— "I can’t ride."
— "Oh... so... does that mean you’re coming with us?"
— "The Immigration Bureau will be protected by the Auditory and Tactile Inspectors."

Right now, the only ones who could provide mobility were the Olfactory Inspector and the nomad.
So, the other two would stay behind, and the Gustatory Inspector would have to follow me, bringing up the rear of the pursuit.
And to understand what kind of pig the Saintess-pig was, I had to be there.

That was the feeling that hit me hard.
— "Ah, got it! I’ll bring the horse!"
The Gustatory Inspector’s eyes sparkled, and she ran off quickly.

Soon, she returned, expertly leading the horse.
As I climbed up behind her, the Olfactory Inspector suddenly took a deep breath.
— "Sniff..."

His chest expanded as if pushing its limits.
At that, I quickly blocked my ears and said.
— "Gustatory Inspector, plug your ears."

— "What?"
The Auditory and Tactile Inspectors had already covered their ears.
And as the Gustatory Inspector managed to touch her ears,

— "Aaaaoooowwwwwwwww!"
The howl of a wolf that shook the heavens echoed loudly.
His body was covered in fur, claws sharp, ready for the hunt.

It was a classic werewolf signal—ready to track down and hunt its prey, driven by nothing but instinct.
He leapt, and the chase began at full speed.
— "Blood scent... blood scent!"

His rough voice faded as the Olfactory Inspector quickly disappeared.
— "I’m following that werewolf! Everyone, move!"
Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud.

Fifty cavalrymen followed, chasing after the werewolf.
The Olfactory Inspector, running on all fours, yelled.
— "The Chief Inspector’s blood! Bleeeding!!!"

A wild howl echoed across the land.
The hunt for the rat in the trap—no, the pig—was on.
 

****
Meanwhile, Shahal was losing his mind.
It had been about two and a half hours since he had escaped.

— “This is a no-passage zone! Turn back!”
— “Tch.”
This was already the fourth checkpoint.

It seemed that the roadblocks had been set up unexpectedly. Every route leaving the borders of Count Reyes’s territory was blocked by soldiers.
— “I’ll have to take a longer detour.”
With frustration, he jerked the reins.

To leave the Count's lands, he needed to cross a river. But now, all the bridges he could use were blocked.
And even the major roads were starting to be controlled.
— “I’ll have to ditch the carriage.”

If he went alone, he could take narrower paths, which would allow him more freedom of movement.
But, taking the Saintess to the North was a long journey.
If he ditched the carriage, it would take him far longer than he expected, and with the uncertainty of when the pig would turn back into the Saintess, the situation could get even worse.

— “Damn...”
Shahal frowned, unable to decide what to do, and sank into thought.
At that moment, a strange sound echoed from somewhere.

— “Blood!”
Someone’s shout.
A loud, booming cry carried from a distance, faintly reaching his ears.

— “Huh?”
Shahal turned his head.
And then he saw it.

— “Blood!”
At the far end of the road, there he was — the werewolf he had seen yesterday, his eyes burning a fierce red, charging toward him.
— “Huh?”

Shahal muttered in disbelief.
The werewolf’s howl rang out, vibrating the air.
— “Blood!”

Behind him, the sound of hooves from 50 cavalrymen followed.
Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud.
And among them was the man Shahal had kicked earlier, now riding a horse, his face smeared with blood.

— “We’ll check this road! Look for the purple eyes!”
— “Find the intruder! Catch the one who dared attack the inspector and rip him apart!”
For the first time, Shahal felt real fear.

Not fear that this mission had gone wrong.
No, this was the primal fear — the fear that he might die.