---

The girl looked up at the sky.

The gloomy weather and overcast sky. The streets, a blend of serene ancient buildings and modern architectural styles.

As I gazed at the city shrouded in mist from the drizzle that fell in the morning, I couldn’t help but recall the last sight I had of London a year ago.

With the vast ocean beneath my feet, I felt a strange thrill and tension as I soared over the equator toward the dark continent.

Crossing through the trees faintly illuminated by moonlight, I strolled across a meadow lush with underbrush, feeling a sense of calm and dreaminess.

While distant from such feelings, this place had another charm that beckoned.

“……”

Thus, the girl silently gazed at the sky from the magic tower for some time.

“What are you thinking about?”

“…Ah, is that you, Lucia?”

Turning my head, I found Lucia, returning with a bright smile.

“Were you watching something interesting?”

“Hmm… I was just looking around the city.”

“The magic tower is quite a fascinating place.”

Lucia lightly nodded, exchanging greetings and hung her pure white robe on the hanger.

“Huh? What’s this?”

As she looked around the room, Lucia suddenly discovered something she’d never seen before and asked the girl.

“Why is there tape on this plastic bottle? If it gets squished, you can just throw it away.”

“Yeah? Ah… it’s nothing special.”

The girl, momentarily caught off guard, smiled awkwardly and hid the plastic bottle she had placed on the table.

Lucia stared at her intently. Soon, she lightly shook her head to shake off her fatigue and thoughts.

“So, what were you thinking about?”

“…What?”

“I just thought it didn’t seem like you were only sightseeing. Is there something on your mind?”

“…Not really. Just—”

The girl faintly smiled and looked back at the sky.

To that gray sky reminiscent of London,

“I think it might rain.”

A storm was on the horizon.

—

**Episode 6 – Omniscient Spy Perspective**

A nation is fundamentally composed of three elements.

Territory.

People.

Sovereignty.

Land where people can live.

People living on that land.

Sovereignty that protects the rights of those people.

We refer to a group encompassing those three elements as a nation. And the group that represents the nation and manages its affairs is called the government.

Even though the titles for the head of state and the head of government vary by regime, there is no disagreement that a government operates as a community run by multiple people rather than by a single individual.

Whether the leader of the government is a president, a chancellor, or a prime minister, ultimately, the one handling the actual work is not a politician but a civil servant.

In that context,

The group that seized control of the magic tower was the Secretariat.

The bridge connecting the Oracle and government agencies. The command center overseeing all government institutions within the magic tower.

The primary target of the operation was the Secretariat.

There were various methods.

“130,000 dinars. You seem to have more debt than I expected. How much do you make in a month?”

“…Yes, about 5,500 dinars.”

“Let me see… With a salary of 5,500, that’s 66,000 dinars a year. Even assuming no interest starts accruing from now, if you work for a year without spending a penny, you’ll only be able to pay back half, right?”

“…Yes, that’s correct.”

“Here’s 50,000 dinars. If you do me a few favors, this money will all be yours.”

Bribery.

“I heard your son likes sports? But can he run even if his legs get cut off?”

“W-wait, you—!”

“Listen carefully if you don’t want to witness your son end up a fool. Got it?”

Threatening.

“Long time no see, Deputy Director.”

“Oh, Administrator. What’s the sudden reason for this visit?”

*Greeeak!*

“Cough…!!”

Assassination.

“…Is that really okay? It looks insufficient for killing anyone.”

“Have you ever choked someone with wire?”

“No.”

“If you haven’t, keep your mouth shut. And it will be disguised as a suicide, so it doesn’t matter.”

The targets were officials of the Secretariat.

Some willingly cooperated for money, some were coerced into compliance, and those who refused were quietly eliminated.

It wasn’t my doing.

I hadn’t done it, and I hadn’t planned it. A mere operative like me couldn’t dare decide and execute such a significant act.

Logically, one individual cannot simply decide to attack a foreign government agency.

So,

-‘It was approved by the Prime Minister.’

This meant that someone else had planned and approved it. On the other end of the communication device, Clevenz calmly recounted the full circumstances of the incident to me.

-‘It was approved by the Prime Minister, and the parliament allocated the budget. Of course, the royal family gave their final approval too. It’s a formal process, but still.’

The entity that approved the operation was the Government of Abas.

To be precise, the Prime Minister approved it. The members of the Information Commission handled the budget. And although it was a formality, the king ultimately put his seal on it.

Of course, the plan to physically attack the magic tower wasn’t devised by the government or the Military Intelligence Agency.

“Who devised this plan?”

-‘The Royal Intelligence Department.’

The group that devised the plan was the Royal Intelligence Department. While the information agency crafted the plan, only elected officials could approve it.

-‘Sorry I couldn’t give you a heads-up, Frederick. I imagine you’re quite taken aback.’

“Honestly, yes. I am quite bewildered.”

-‘This was originally the work of a competitor, and we only recently learned of it, so I couldn’t tell you beforehand.’

I didn’t understand why the Prime Minister had approved such an operation. I hadn’t even known of the operation’s existence, so how could I know about it in the first place?

What mattered was that the Government of Abas had approved covert operations.

And that I had become a part of that operation.

-‘Have you read the plan?’

“…Yes. But is this operation actually successful?”

-‘Worried, are we?’

“…This is essentially a coup to overthrow the government. If it fails, the damage will be significant.”

This operation aimed to overthrow the government. Hence, it was a subversive operation.

A clandestine effort to overthrow foreign governments by inciting coups or shattering approval ratings to create a political environment favorable to our country.

It was a tactic frequently employed by the United States and the Soviet Union in Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East.

And now, the Government of Abas was attempting it.

Right here, in the magic tower.

-‘Frederick.’

“…Yes.”

-‘You’re unaware of certain conditions. There are some dirty backstories. Though I’d love to share everything, unfortunately, I can’t explain each detail at this moment due to the urgent situation. Just keep this in mind: this operation isn’t aimed at overthrowing the government. Rather, it’s more about shaking the tree to cause confusion. So we can more easily initiate actions from the magic tower in the future.’

“…….”

-‘And as you well know, this kind of covert operation won’t be attempted if failure seems likely. So don’t worry.’

“…….”

-‘We’ve done it multiple times already.’

The Government of Abas had unleashed the information agencies with just a stamp. Unleashed hunting dogs started rampaging.

The Royal Intelligence Department and the Military Intelligence Agency immediately assigned duties to all information officers and operatives dispatched to the magic tower.

Of course, ordinary information officers or operatives couldn’t carry out tasks like bribery, threats, or assassinations. Their duties were not covert ops but intelligence gathering.

However, there were professionals within the information agency who specialized in such matters.

Those who knew how to fight dirty and vilely.

“Thank you all for coming. I imagine the boat ride was quite exhausting?”

“Seasickness was bearable, but the fishy smell was overwhelming. Still, it wasn’t too bad, but my friend with a sensitive nose kept gagging, so it must have been pretty bad.”

“That’s because it’s a distant fishing vessel.”

“Anyway, nice to meet you. These ladies and gentlemen are from the Royal Intelligence Department, and these gentlemen are from the Military Intelligence Agency.”

“Welcome to the magic tower, operatives. I’m Colonel Frederick, and I’ll be your guide during this trip.”

The formal title is Quasi-Military Operative. The informal titles used in the field are Operative or Special Operative.

As the name suggests, these were specialists in handling particular dirty jobs. Assassination, kidnapping, sabotage, guerrilla tactics, terrorism…

Experts who could carry out all the filthy operations that intelligence agencies couldn’t openly commit.

The Royal Intelligence Department and Military Intelligence Agency had dispatched quasi-military operatives to the magic tower. I helped facilitate their clandestine entry into the tower.

To be precise, I utilized the timing of an international deep-sea fishing vessel docking at the port of the Kien Empire to quietly smuggle personnel and goods into the magic tower, avoiding customs scrutiny.

Helping with smuggling wasn’t particularly challenging, as I’d often done similar tasks back in Russia.

Of course, I wasn’t there just to help smuggle these individuals, nor were they there for a sightseeing tour of the magic tower.

“First, our Royal Intelligence Department will make contact with political figures and civic organizations in this area. We’ve decided to prioritize contacting the organizations leading the protests and the parties supporting them.”

“Here’s the list. However, the leading protest organizations lean towards extremism, so it’ll be much easier to bribe them with money rather than try to engage them in terms of ideology or beliefs.”

“Totalitarianism, communism, anarchism. I hear the current protests are led by these three groups. Which one do you think is best to approach?”

“The anarchist group will likely be the most accessible.”

Political operations.

“I’ve read the plan. But considering the current situation in the magic tower, it would be challenging to destroy vital facilities. Police forces have been reinforced at each site.”

“What should we do then?”

“We need to adjust the plan. How about changing the target to the common sewer instead? That would be much easier than sabotaging each individual facility.”

Terroristic operations.

“I’ve seen the list of members from the Secretariat, and there are quite a few names that need to be erased. Do you have any weapons?”

“We have firearms. However, due to recent incidents involving reconnaissance command operatives, assassinations using firearms might be difficult.”

“Then let’s disguise it as suicide or an accident.”

Quasi-military operations.

The quasi-military operatives who infiltrated the magic tower quickly dispersed and undertook their assigned missions.

Some engaged with political parties and civic organizations, while others approached armed groups with funds. To speak with refined academic terminology, this was political operations.

More precisely, it falls under the category of support operations in political operations. A tactic the CIA often used to provide political funds to politicians in allied nations or to gobble up leftist guerrillas in Latin America alongside right-wing guerrillas.

Though I didn’t know their hidden agenda, the fact that the Royal Intelligence Department quasi-military operatives’ actions intensified anti-government protests suggested they were stirring the pot.

But whatever those folks did was none of my concern.

“Manager, the operations team is ready for deployment. They need a guide to the common sewer. Who should we assign?”

“I’ll go myself. You all handle support from the representative office.”

I wandered through the magic tower’s sewers with the quasi-military operatives from the Military Intelligence Agency.

It wasn’t exactly human to see writhing fog or bloated corpses marching around, but still, there was a reason I traversed the sewers.

The quasi-military operatives from the Military Intelligence Agency were scurrying between the layers of the magic tower, paralyzing all social infrastructures. To be precise, they were destroying the sewers.

Water supply. Sewage. Electricity. Magic. Gas. Communications, among others.

Facilities holding systems essential for maintaining the functionality of society and the city. Attacking power plants or communication base stations guarded by armed police is quite difficult, but destroying the buried wires and communication lines underground was comparatively simpler.

As the sewers were destroyed, the city functions of the magic tower began to fail one by one. Water ceased to flow, lights went out. It became unimaginable to cook food, and even basic lighting became impossible. Communication was out of the question.

With crises already stirring in the magic tower, the chaos escalated uncontrollably.

While looting, arson, and robbery didn’t run rampant, in the vacuum of public authority and administrative paralysis, wizards began to stir trouble in various locations.

Under normal circumstances, the government departments would have acted first and reported to the Oracle through the Secretariat, or the Secretariat would have aggregated reports from various departments and taken the lead in crisis management, but—

“What happened?”

“We’ve taken care of all the names on the list.”

Those capable of completing that task were either already under the control of the Royal Intelligence Department or the Military Intelligence Agency or long dead.

The unstable situation in the magic tower made headlines across the globe. Although it didn’t attract great interest due to the civil war erupting in Mauritania, the state of affairs grew dire enough to make the magic tower’s stock market swing violently.

As the stock market experienced rollercoaster rises and declines, speculative capital streamed in, seizing the opportunity. The more overheated the speculation became, the more the economy became disrupted, and private enterprises began struggling in management. Consequently, public sentiment towards the magic tower government and the Oracle began to turn negative.

However, this was not enough to topple the magic tower government or its economy. The magic tower was not an incompetent entity.

A strong follow-up blow was necessary.

At that very moment, the Ministry of Finance of Abas plunged a knife into the economic heart of the magic tower.

[Today, the Central Bank of Abas announced during a regular briefing that it is reviewing an increase in interest rates. Experts warn that a rapid tightening decision could lead to an economic recession.]

[Meanwhile, as the Abas Central Bank’s review of interest rates raises concern, fears of economic recession are spreading. The continental stock market has been experiencing a series of wild fluctuations… ]

[During a meeting at the Ministry of Finance, a decision was made for mass sales of copper and nickel. With concerns mounting about a potential collapse in international raw material prices, the government’s decision has drawn a strong backlash from the Abas Economic Union, which fears a downturn in manufacturing.]

Outwardly, the justification was to raise interest rates to calm the overheated real estate market and achieve stability in raw material prices by selling off metals held by the government. However, considering that the magic tower’s stock market and the global economy were affected by Abas’s economic policies and given the magic tower’s geographical features—lacking primary industries and heavily leaning towards manufacturing—this was evidently an attack directed at the magic tower.

One thing was for certain: no one connected this action of the Ministry of Finance to the covert operations of the intelligence agency.

Selling off raw materials appeared to have no connection to the intelligence agencies whatsoever. But this was clearly a covert operation named economic operations, and I understood very well how outstanding the effects of such economic operations could be.

In the Cold War era, the CIA had executed a massive sell-off of copper to destroy the Chilean economy in an attempt to take down President Allende. While they couldn’t prevent Allende’s election, the ensuing strikes throughout Chile provided a pretext for the military to execute a coup under the banner of an economically wrecked nation.

If it had been ineffective, then those CIA fellows from the Cold War wouldn’t have routinely destroyed economies across Latin America.

As I’d expected, the effects were undeniable.

-‘I checked yesterday’s report from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ International Trade Division. The report noted concerns over manufacturing stagnation due to the sharp drop in raw material prices, worries about increases in corporate debt and procurement costs should interest rates rise in succession, and market disturbances due to weakened investment sentiment and inflows of speculative capital… The magic tower’s economy sustained a massive blow, didn’t it?’

“Yes.”

The magic tower’s economy crumbled almost instantly.

As major stocks continued to decline due to the unstable domestic situation and the actions of the Ministry of Finance, all kinds of investors sold off their shares. Stock prices plummeted, and the enterprises within the magic tower suffered fatal blows.

[According to industry insiders, if the stock price decline continues, large-scale restructuring is unavoidable… ]

[A construction industry representative stated that due to the stock price crash, many countries are beginning to suspect the credibility of domestic construction firms… ]

[Amid the stock price crash and falling collateral value of securities held by enterprises, financial institutions have begun to demand additional collateral or move to withdraw credit lines. Signs point to an increasing funding crisis for domestic enterprises, and some companies are seemingly selling off their own stocks to raise funds alongside restructuring… ]

The stock market crash raised the debt ratio of enterprises, and as the hard-won efforts to reduce that ratio evaporated almost overnight, the credibility of magic tower enterprises began to plummet. As credibility diminished, problems began to arise in securing funding to keep the companies afloat.

With enterprises unable to receive timely financial infusions, the media, which dined off advertising fees from those companies, screamed in agony. Notable figures appeared on television channels, criticizing the government’s incompetence while anchors and newscasters called for the magic tower government to implement measures.

Of course, this was merely a temporary phenomenon.

-‘Yesterday, the representative of the magic tower used the ambassador’s corridor to meet with the second deputy minister. Rumors indicate that a dinner arrangement is in the works with the economic committee this week and that they appear to be in contact with corporate executives as well.’

“Oh, looks like they’re busy. But sister, the second deputy minister of foreign affairs oversees international trade and commerce, right? And the economic committee refers to the joint economic committee of both houses?”

-‘Yes, it’s the standing committee under the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Normally, the Foreign Affairs Committee handles diplomacy, but for inquiries regarding trade and commerce, the second deputy minister attends as well.’

The magic tower government was not an incompetent group, and they wouldn’t just sit around while the economy crumbled. Moreover, it was clear that companies weren’t foolish enough not to utilize all means available to defend their stock prices.

Thus, it was reasonable to view the magic tower economy as experiencing a temporary setback.

In fact, it might be seen as a blessing in disguise.

-‘A national economy doesn’t easily collapse as one might think. Falling stock prices aren’t always negative. In fact, during a falling market, companies can buy back their own shares to increase their holdings. Right now, the magic tower stock market is in decline not solely because of failed economic policies, but largely due to protests. When domestic security becomes unstable, foreign entities begin to withdraw their assets. Once the situation calms down, stock prices will likely return to normal.’

The eldest son of the Nostrim family, an economic bureaucrat working in the Ministry of Finance, succinctly summarized the situation of the magic tower’s economy. Perhaps it was because he made the call as lunch hour approached that his voice sounded slightly worn-out.

-‘From the company’s perspective, now is a great time to buy back its own shares. Plus, it’s a good opportunity to weed out troublesome executives through restructuring, and by reducing the workforce, overhead costs decrease, reducing deficits, thus increasing the chances of the company’s survival.’

“What kind of nonsense is that? Speak clearly.”

-‘Oh, you clueless idiot with a grade 9 understanding of economics. What did you even learn at the Academy?’

“History.”

-‘Ugh, you didn’t even pick a business major when you had the chance. Seriously…’

Of course, that didn’t mean I understood it. Even though I was in the humanities, I knew nothing about economics. The only words I knew were a handful that the Military Intelligence Agency taught me as common sense.

Yet, my brother, who worked at the Ministry of Finance, refused to give up, peppering his explanations with colorful profanity.

-‘Don’t think of it too hard; keep it simple. Restructuring is like shedding excess weight from a company. It’s like a diet. Just as an overweight person isn’t healthy, a company with too much excess fat isn’t performing well. Do you get it?’

“That shedding of fat is what restructuring is?”

-‘Exactly.’

As my brother described it, restructuring was indeed a diet. By merging departments and reducing staff, the company could cut various expenses, thus lightening itself and improving performance, leading to a rise in stock prices.

In fact, according to some information that the Domestic Information Officer from the Cabinet Security Office picked up (or what some call useless investment gossip), the Magic Tower corporations were rumored to be undergoing massive restructuring. Given that the information source was some executive from a completely unknown company, it wasn’t exactly trustworthy intelligence.

-‘It might mean temporary losses, but in the long run, it could be profitable. Something like that. However, if the Magic Tower conglomerates undergo massive restructuring, the subcontractors are likely to go bankrupt. Of course, there are variables, and whether it ends up being a gain or a loss is still uncertain.’

“Okay, I don’t fully understand the detailed principles, but I get the gist. I heard on the news that there are speculators involved— is that a problem?”

-‘Economic criminals can just be arrested. There are rumors about the Budget Bureau officials of the Magic Tower moving, and they’re shutting down the stock market to prevent speculation…’

“And what about the restructuring?”

-‘Restructuring? I haven’t heard anything about that. No news from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs either… Wait, but come to think of it, the fact that you phone out of the blue after three years to ask this is just—’

“Alright, alright! I’ll call more often!”

Anyway, though the introduction was long-winded, the conclusion was clear: the Magic Tower economy wasn’t likely to crash. At least, that was the judgment from the Abas Foreign Affairs and Finance Ministries.

But that perspective was through the lens of foreign affairs and economics. From an information standpoint, the story was a little different.

The Royal Intelligence Department and the Military Intelligence Agency didn’t desire the economic downfall of the Magic Tower; they wanted chaos. Chaos that could lead people to rush out in panic.

In that sense, the news about massive restructuring among Magic Tower corporations was indeed valuable intelligence.

“Hey? What’s going on here, Merlo? Did you come to look at articles on drug-related issues? It’s been pretty rough around here lately, so I can’t really show you anything yet, still gathering information.”

“No, it’s not that. Dmitri. You’re not close with the economic reporters, are you?”

“Uh, why are you asking that all of a sudden?”

“I have some information to tip off.”

I spread that information to the press, making sure to carefully conceal the source.

The effect was immediate.

[The Magic Tower is engulfed in chaos! The streets are soaked in blood, and violent clashes between protesters and police continue…!]

[The approval rating of the Oracle’s governance has been declining for four consecutive weeks. Amid record-low government support, distrust toward the three main factions is spreading around minor factions in the assembly…]

[The Magic Tower is facing what’s considered its largest political crisis since the signing of the Nastasia treaty…]

[It’s the worst state of affairs! This is the biggest political crisis since the founding! The country is collapsing! In this critical situation, what is the Oracle doing, and where is the Lord of the Tower?]

[Today at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, negotiations regarding the import-export of magic power and natural resources between the Magic Tower and the Empire were held. The representative of the Magic Tower visited the Empire’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. However, some speculate that due to the declared emergency due to conflicts with the Magic Kingdom, exporting natural resources classified as strategic materials is nearly impossible…]

[Negotiations between the Magic Tower Manufacturing Association and the union have fallen apart. Amid falling raw material prices and power supply issues, factory operations are disrupted, and the union has declared that total strikes are on the table if negotiations do not resume.]

[The police are fully committed to suppressing the protests. The spokesperson stated in a regular briefing that “no illegal activities that threaten the government’s survival or public order will be tolerated.”]

[Yesterday at around 9 PM, a couple in their sixties who ran a business were found dead at their home. The suicide note expressed remorse and apologies to their family and employees.]

[The Public Security Department has indicted union leaders and leaders of anarchist groups. They face seven charges, including arson of industrial facilities, destruction of public property, and incitement to violent protests….]

[Next news: This morning, Ethernus Lux, the state-owned enterprise of the Magic Tower, officially requested an increase in the magic supply from the Kien Empire. The spokesperson for the Empire’s Ministry of Magic stated they are reviewing plans to significantly increase the magic supply input, but the Ministry of Defense is publicly opposing the Ministry’s decision to increase magic exports, causing a major stir.]

[Cardinal Raphael expressed concerns during a mass regarding the situation in the Magic Tower. Meanwhile, voices worrying about the safety of Saint Lucia, who continues relief efforts in the Magic Tower centered around the Kien Empire military bishopric, are rising…]

[Citizens, please be informed that there is currently a blood shortage in Ward 17. The health department and hospital are conducting blood donation drives, so please participate….]

[During the fierce standoff between the protesters and police, analysis reveals that former knights have been deployed as contractors to dismantle illegal structures erected by the protesters.]

[Seventeen foreign ministries, including Abas, Patalia, and Lushan Federation, have advised their citizens to leave the Magic Tower. Diplomats stationed at the Magic Tower are activating emergency communication networks and focusing on securing the safety of their nationals.]

As time passed, the situation in the Magic Tower rapidly deteriorated.

Different sectors of society were erupting, and law and administration in the Magic Tower were pushed to the brink of collapse.

It was only natural that the Magic Tower was not a group to sit back and take this lying down. Generally, if foreign intelligence agencies insulted them, it was customary to apprehend spies and lodge a strong protest through unofficial channels. Otherwise, they might contemplate significant retaliatory actions.

However, the Magic Tower could not take any countermeasures.

They lacked the ability to respond.

Dispersing the crowd gathered in front of government institutions and embassies was already overwhelming; how could they think about hunting spies? Moreover, the Royal Intelligence Department and the Military Intelligence Agency were no sloppy agencies that could be easily caught by some counter-espionage agency.

The personnel from the police and the Public Order Defense Agency were exhausted from the prolonged protests and severely understaffed. They sought to rehire retired police officers, and even brought in washed-up knights who barely scraped by, but that was still insufficient to suppress protests raging across the nation.

Some perceptive individuals sensed the gravity of the situation and suggested that it would be better to stop fighting and solve things through dialogue, but—

“We have casualties in the operations team. There was an engagement with civilian security while executing an assassination mission…”

-‘Civilian security? There’s no way they’d outmatch an operations team.’

“We were up against adventurers looking to make a living. There were more of them than the intelligence officers expected, and the resistance was fierce; it seems we’ll have to transport some seriously injured personnel to the rear since the onsite medical team can’t treat their wounds.”

-‘So the number of personnel increased… Get a list of recent contracts with high-value targets and local security firms.’

“Yes. I’ll gather information from the informant.”

-‘And prepare for the dispatch of additional troops, including escort personnel, Frederick.’

“When a fixed spy meets up with a guide, I’ll ensure they bring him right in.”

…The one who spoke in such a manner quietly went missing not long after.

Chaos surged like a tsunami through the Magic Tower.

Society floundered in conflict and confrontation, and debates in the political arena raged over who bore responsibility. The waves swept over everything, irrespective of the surface or the depths.

None could escape from it.

The Magic Tower, which was supposed to lead the magical society, was in disarray, and the government that led the Magic Tower fell into deep turmoil. Discussions flared that not only the three main factions revered for a century since the founding but also the Oracle should be held accountable.

Yet, the collapse of the Magic Tower or the fall of the Tower’s government was far from reality.

Why?

*

“The Magic Tower is not merely a state or organization. Rather, it’s closer to a religion.”

Francesca Ranieri mumbled with a slightly slurred speech.

“The Magic Tower is the birthplace of all magic. Elemental magic, sorcery, astrology, alchemy, illusionism, necromancy, and so on… Of course, it’s not the actual place where magic was first born. Thanks to the Inquisition’s relentless witch hunts… It’s nearly impossible to find the true birthplace of magic….”

Her eyes, reminiscent of violets, looked half-dazed.

There was something decidedly off about her expression.

“So all magicians are obsessed with the Magic Tower. It’s like a sort of spiritual homeland. This is where modern magic was established and where magicians were first recognized and settled… Even banished magicians long to return to the Tower….”

She was completely different from the Francesca Ranieri I had previously known.

A calm and composed official of the Tower, as expected from a prestigious family.

An irritable and scattered alchemist who was anything but elite.

Two conflicting and divergent faces.

“Hence, the collapse of the Magic Tower is unthinkable. The Tower is not simply a state; it represents the spiritual pillar symbolizing the birth of the magical society… Rather, a regime change could be a different matter….”

What her true face was, I couldn’t discern.

However, as I sat across from Francesca Ranieri in the quiet room, gazing at her face, I felt something.

“Should the Magic Tower vanish for some reason or become something it once wasn’t, then another Tower will arise… be it the Ivory Tower or something else….”

Francesca Ranieri was too scattered to be called calm but too composed to be called reckless.

Additionally, she was excessively political for an administrator and far too secular and disorderly for a scholar.

She was the strangest person I had ever met.

It was impossible to tell what her true nature was.

“If a new Magic Tower were to be born, the power dynamics would shift, making it much harder for everyone to control magicians as they do today. Whether the Kien Empire, Abas, or Patalia…”

“…….”

“And that’s something no one wants to see as an outcome…?”

Magicians are certainly not ordinary people, she murmured with a wistful smile before continuing softly.

“The Oracle consists of nine members who take turns ruling the Magic Tower. Of course, excessive power is concentrated in the Lord of the Tower… but every member of the Oracle has two weapons at their disposal.”

Francesca Ranieri raised two fingers.

“The right to vote, and the right to veto. The right to vote in the meetings of the Oracle and the right to reject any proposed agenda or legislation… In the case of the veto, it takes only a third of the present members to agree for it to take immediate effect….”

The veto power.

The veto power of the Magic Tower’s Oracle differs slightly from the veto exercised by permanent members of the United Nations Security Council. If any of the permanent members veto, no resolution is possible; however, the Oracle can block any discussion of a proposal if a third of the members oppose it. With only nine members in the Oracle, that means if three agree, any proposal can be rejected.

It’s a very threatening power.

“In its early days, the condition for the veto power was that it could be enacted if just one person opposed it, right?”

“Yes, that’s true. There was a time of internal conflict within the Oracle. After a problem arose, the conditions for veto power were raised….”

At this point, I asked Francesca Ranieri.

“But what does that mean?”

She paused for a moment, seemingly dazed, before eventually breaking into a cheerful smile.

“Colonel, do you know how many members from the Kien Empire are currently in the Oracle…?”

“There are three, including the Lord of the Tower.”

For reference, the term for Lord of the Tower is three years long. The members of the Oracle take turns serving as Lord of the Tower, and after their term ends, they typically fade into retirement, disappearing from the political scene of the Tower.

And currently, the Lord of the Tower was from the Empire and known to be a notorious pro-Empire member; if this person were to leave, only two members from the Empire would remain in the Oracle.

But.

“Among the candidates for this Oracle election, there’s another Empire-born candidate.”

That person might fill the vacancy. As I mentioned earlier, a third of the members’ agreement is enough for veto power to be exercised.

In other words, they might not be able to sway Oracle’s decision but could certainly throw a wrench into it. Especially if those from the Kien Empire got together.

From my experience, the group that fervently led such antics in the Empire was the Imperial Guard HQ. This was precisely how it was. Whenever the Empire caused trouble, it was nine times out of ten these guys pulling the strings. They were the ones who would even resort to assassinating Cardinals to create Saints, so something like that would be a piece of cake.

As I was about to ponder over my drink, my mind was suddenly interrupted.

-Thunk.

Francesca Ranieri placed her hand on mine.

My train of thought was derailed, and I stared blankly at the woman seated across from me.

She spoke.

“Wait a moment.”

“…….”

“Shall I take a guess at what you’re thinking…?”

The administrator began to mumble, seemingly tipsy and drowsy.

She wasn’t particularly eloquent.

“On your way back to the hotel… a crazy lady suddenly hiring some knife-wielding thugs to kidnap you… and just leaving booze behind while blabbing about the Oracle… you probably have a rough estimate in your head…? Ah, I guess she wants to become an Oracle member….”

Her impulsive behavior and scattered disposition. Not clear and crisp as before, her speech now slightly slurred.

“With just three seats in the Oracle, they could exercise veto power… and yet, here you are bringing up the Empire in front of the Abas Intelligence Agency….”

This wasn’t just the usual case of being tipsy. It felt more appropriate to call it an outburst of drunkness.

Yet, I couldn’t brush off Francesca Ranieri.

In her conversation with me, I recognized the strange sense of discomfort I had been feeling.

Her usual scattered and impulsive demeanor. Her derailed gaze. Her swaying body, even while sitting still. That once-precise enunciation was now lost, hazy, with a hint of slurring.

Thus far, I had seen only those traits.

And only now did I realize one crucial fact.

Those violet-like eyes were,

“How foolish do I seem to you?”

Never wavering for even a second.

This girl isn’t drunk.

“Am I right?”

“…….”

Francesca Ranieri beamed.

“I have no interest in positions like the Oracle. Even if offered, I wouldn’t want to, and I’m quite content with the Secretariat as it stands.”

“What do you want?”

“A revolution.”

Between her softly folded eyelids lay the deepest, darkest chasm.

“The Secretariat isn’t simply a link between the government departments and the Oracle. It wields authority capable of deeply intervening in all aspects of administration. The Economic Management Department oversees the economic policies of the Tower and international trade. In short, it’s a department holding the reins of wealth.”

In that deep valley, two violet flowers gazed up at me.

“The Magic Tower leads the magical society, and it can exert influence wherever there’s a magical society in the world. Connections, funds, public opinion… If it can be easily mobilized—”

Eyes glistening with greed.

“There’d be less of a chance for you to be toyed around by the cultists, wouldn’t there?”

“What does that mean—?”

“The Inquisition. Why do you pretend not to know it when you clearly do?”

“…….”

“The Inquisition’s been spreading its network of information under the guise of protecting the Saint, rummaging around all kinds of places. Even if they’d love to tear apart that witch of a magician next to the Saint, they couldn’t kill her because of the prophecy, could they? If they actually did, the fundamentalists wouldn’t just sit quietly. The Inquisition would have no choice but to back down, right?”

“Are you going to oppose Lucia?”

“Is there even a reason to clash with a Saint? They don’t seem bothered by what the Inquisition does, do they?”

“Aren’t you just going to mark the Inquisition?”

“That would certainly look better, wouldn’t it?”

“…….”

“I won’t have any conflict with Saints or Heroes. In fact, if I could assist them, I would. I’m not the kind of person who lacks manners to the extent of ruining harmony.”

“…So you’re the younger sister that Veronica mentioned.”

Francesca Ranieri smiled brightly and fell silent. Her silence was acceptance.

An unexpected useful card had just rolled my way. While perhaps not as potent as Veronica, she was the most powerful informant I could gain within the Magic Tower, where I had no connections whatsoever.

“Did Veronica send you my way?”

“No, that was my own desire.”

Voluntarily rolling in.

Kidnapping and nonsense at that point was just plain stupid.

The problem was,

“Colonel.”

“Yes?”

This wasn’t a contact established through Veronica.

“Who notified you about my time off work?”

 

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