---

The exile failed.

As soon as I received the call from the situation room, I hurriedly drove to the embassy. Camila had decided to return to the hotel in the morning, and I left the lodging under the pretense of going to work early.

Upon arriving at the embassy, I entered the tightly secured bugs and surveillance control room and contacted the advisor.

Fortunately, it seems he wasn’t caught by the police. He answered the phone immediately.

“It’s me, Mr. Vasily. I’ve heard you’re having issues, what happened?”

-‘I was kicked out of the departure hall.’

“What?”

-‘They said I can’t leave the country.’

Episode 10 – Head Northwest

The flustered advisor stumbled over his words. Even over the phone, I could clearly hear the quiver in his voice, alongside the anxious voices of his wife and daughter coming through.

I tried to calm the advisor with a steady voice.

After regaining his composure, he shared the story of what happened at the departure hall.

“…It seems I’m unable to leave due to my daughter.”

The advisor’s daughter is attending the Royal Academy’s magic department. Being in her third year, she is of legal conscription age at over 18.

However, the problem didn’t lie with military service.

“It’s said that she is currently taking supplementary classes in the Academy’s magic department. Even though it’s vacation, according to the educational laws, students attending supplementary classes are not allowed to leave the country without the dean’s permission.”

Even during vacation, students attending classes at the Academy can’t go abroad without permission due to being treated as still in session.

This exile operation was planned on the pretense of a family trip abroad before the Academy graduation, but neither the advisor, his wife, nor even the embassy was aware of such regulations and could not obtain the necessary permission.

“I heard that the immigration officer stopped them, saying they couldn’t depart without proof of documentation.”

Leoni, who had been quietly listening over the secure line, spoke up.

-‘Where is the dean now?’

“It appears he is on a business trip to the region. According to regulations, his signature is absolutely necessary, so to obtain formal permission, we would need to wait at least three days.”

-‘Is there a way to forge the documents?’

“We’ve tried, but we haven’t been able to find a technician capable of counterfeiting the anti-fraud magical emblems. There aren’t any in the embassy either, and those we used to trade with during active duty can’t be contacted.”

The anti-fraud magical emblem is the cornerstone of document security in this area. It must be present on identification or official documents, and information agencies constantly strive to find ways to counterfeit the anti-fraud magical emblems used by foreign governments.

The issue is that just mismanaging the magic contained within the emblem even slightly would lead to getting caught.

Of course, for advanced information agencies like the Imperial Guard HQ or the Royal Intelligence Department, cracking that wouldn’t be difficult, but finding a counterpart for the Royal Academy’s magical emblem is impossible.

If someone is caught trying to forge with the wrong forms, that information agent could be arrested by the imperial police.

“For now, I will see if it’s possible to obtain the Royal Academy’s anti-fraud emblem. Additionally, I’ll secure other departure routes just in case.”

-‘Report every 30 minutes.’

“Understood.”

After finishing my urgent report to Leoni, I worked to ascertain the location and status of the advisor and his family.

The advisor, who had been stuck at the immigration checkpoint, was confirmed to be currently at home. I maintained the emergency contact line with him while striving to monitor the movements of the Empire’s information agency.

Next, I started sniffing out smuggling routes.

If the Imperial Guard HQ, Counterintelligence Headquarters, or Imperial Police had not caught wind of the exile operation, I could send them through clandestine routes to Abas.

I pulled up a list of domestic and overseas smugglers registered in the Military Intelligence Agency’s database to see if there were any smugglers who could move three people right now.

However,

The plan for illegal entry collapsed due to an external information officer’s contact.

-‘Colonel? It’s me. Earlier this morning, I followed the advisor to the departure hall for surveillance, and something unusual caught my eye, so I’m reaching out.’

“Oh, yes. What is it?”

-‘I will send you a photo, so please check it. I’ll just send this and return immediately.’

A photo material popped up on the terminal connected to the Military Intelligence Agency’s internal network.

I was left speechless upon seeing the photo sent by the information officer.

“Why is this jerk here…?”

In the picture, a woman with black hair and red eyes was watching the advisor’s party leave the departure hall.

*

During my time in the cult, I experienced two assassination attempts.

This was orchestrated by Cardinal Raul, who is now in the depths of the ocean with microorganisms and crabs after being shot alongside the sixteen officials of the Imperial Guard HQ, and the collusion of the nobles of the Empire who supported them.

The first terror incident where I encountered someone used a bomb.

The woman with black hair and red eyes.

Ekaterina, the domestic information officer of the Imperial Guard HQ’s Counterintelligence Department.

She was a soldier who had been scouted from the Counterintelligence Headquarters and had also endured disgraceful discharge to deceive double agents.

However, after being repatriated alongside a prisoner exchange, her whereabouts became a mystery, leading analysts to conclude she had been “decommissioned.”

They assumed she either lived quietly after resigning for another job, or maybe at best, worked in a clerical position.

Initially, it appeared challenging for her identity to be exposed and engage in field activities.

But that wasn’t the case.

“Ekaterina Andreyevna Ivanova. Former domestic information officer of the Counterintelligence Headquarters.”

In the dim meeting room, the information officer who had been out in the field began to speak.

A screen hung on the wall, and as the projected magic reached it, several photos floated up.

Images of the advisor and his family rushing out of the departure hall, along with one where they were looking around before entering the departure hall.

“This information officer was first mentioned in a report from a low-ranking agent embedded in the Imperial Ministry of Defense.”

With a push of a button, the information officer changed the photo.

It was a photo of the internal network of the Imperial Ministry of Defense, displaying Ekaterina’s personnel record card during her time as a military officer.

“She was outstanding in her studies during military academy and was granted a special designation for intelligence due to her remarkable language skills. The agent who was her senior remarked on the absence of records concerning her duty station while searching for military academy graduates in the database.”

The duty station noted on the personnel record clearly pointed to the name of a certain unit. However, searching for that unit’s name in the database returned no results.

“She was involved in various incidents, including conflicts with superiors during her service, and was known to have been discharged under dishonorable conditions.”

“…….”

“Several months ago, it was detected by the branch staff of the cult that she was operating abroad. Since then, no records have surfaced.”

It seemed the information officer had only managed to ascertain that Ekaterina had been discovered by the cult. It appeared she hadn’t received clearance to access specific detailed documents related to her.

As a side note, all records pertaining to the incidents I had been involved with to date had been classified by Clevenz, blocking access to anyone other than high-ranking officials.

While I sat there feeling distantly uneasy, the information officer projected the photos taken at the departure hall onto the screen.

“This is a taken photo of the departure hall’s interior. Here, you can see the domestic information officer of the Imperial Guard HQ engaged with the immigration officer and the security bureau chief from the immigration office.”

“…….”

“The immigration officer was the one who examined the advisor and his family’s departure. Additionally, by intercepting communications in the nearby area, we determined that the immigration office had conveyed information about their attempt to leave somewhere. They probably contacted an agency within the Empire’s law enforcement or intelligence system.”

“…….”

“The fortunate point is that the targets of exile have not been captured, but….”

The information officer paused slightly, taking a deep breath.

“It seems the operation has been exposed to the counterintelligence agency, Director.”

The attending information officers looked to the Colonel.

The Colonel left the room to contact Leoni, and the other information officers gradually returned to their seats.

Thus,

In the darkened office with the lights turned off,

I sat alone in the empty chair, lighting a cigarette.

*

The operation has been compromised.

It appears the Imperial Guard HQ was possibly aware of the exile in advance.

After the end.

Leoni called me to relay a new order.

First, find a way for the advisor and his family to escape abroad by today.

Second, if the situation becomes difficult, eliminate everything related to this operation.

Though it was phrased as ‘cleaning up,’ it really meant that if we couldn’t escape by today, they’d be silenced, by any means necessary.

-‘Information is valuable, but nothing is more important than the operation.’

Leoni’s cryptic voice echoed through the wiretapping security room.

“Do I have to do it myself?”

-‘No. I’ve sent technicians, so you can stay out of it.’

The information officers assigned to carry out the assassination were already dispatched to the Empire. They were newly deployed officers experienced in operations related to the northern regions.

“I oppose this.”

I challenged Leoni’s order.

“If we assassinate the advisor now and get caught, it’s highly likely the plausible wife would be taken down. If it’s revealed that we initiated the operation…”

-‘Do you think we’ve only done a handful of assassinations?’

Leoni replied.

She was the youngest information officer selected, having risen through the ranks from the head of the Empire’s branch to the head of the Royal Intelligence Department. She currently held one of the highest positions in the Military Intelligence Agency.

-‘There are many ways to kill without knowing who did it. You know that too.’

“…….”

Indeed.

There were various methods to kill discreetly, ensuring the assassin couldn’t be pinpointed.

In the case of poisoning, one could leverage a grudge and weave a simple scenario to disguise it as an ordinary murder. Targeting someone with a known grudge against the advisor would be easy.

Alternatively, one could infiltrate the apartment and force medication down their throat. Of course, forensic evidence would be clear, but one could stage the scene as if the victim had ingested poison and committed suicide afterward.

The key was situational judgment.

What decision to make in this moment, who to use, and how to create a natural situation.

That’s the duty of an information officer.

Simultaneously, it was our role, Leoni’s and mine.

-‘If you’re not confident about getting them out today, then handling it quickly is best. It’s good for you and the information agent too. If we let it linger, there’s a strong chance the Imperial Guard HQ will capture you.’

“…….”

-‘Make your judgment and decide.’

*

I returned to the office.

About thirteen hours remained until midnight. If we couldn’t get the advisor and his family out in that time, the assassination operation would proceed.

I sat in the office, trying to think of ways to facilitate their asylum. However, now that the Imperial Guard HQ was aware of their intent to flee, all thoughts of illegal entry were futile.

From this moment on, the advisor’s apartment was undoubtedly under surveillance.

If the advisor, his wife, or daughter stepped outside, the information officers of the Imperial Guard HQ would follow them.

The same went for the embassy.

The moment the information officers, including myself, moved even one step outside the embassy, the Imperial Guard HQ would surely intervene and cause a ruckus.

Fortunately, the emergency communication network was still operational.

-‘The family is safe.’

“Great. There’s nothing wrong, right, Advisor?”

-‘Yes. They’re staying home for now.’

The advisor and his family were in no trouble. They were trying to contact the Academy to get permission for their daughter’s overseas travel.

That phone call was already under surveillance by the Imperial Guard HQ. There’s a chance an information officer or investigator was dispatched to the Academy. There was absolutely no way the permission slip would come through.

However, if they acted even slightly suspiciously, the chances of getting caught by the Imperial Guard HQ grew significantly. So, I recited meaningless educational articles and the Royal Academy regulations to them.

“…….”

After hanging up, I sat back in my chair, lighting a cigarette.

The routes for illegal entry were probably blocked by the Imperial Guard HQ. The Border Guard may have disseminated the family’s details, tightening border scrutiny, or they may have bullied human traffickers into cooperation under threats of reporting them to the police.

The financial aspect was also a problem.

The cost of facilitating illegal entry was no small amount.

Even if we managed to pay, once the naval special forces conducted boarding checks on the ship, the family would undoubtedly be caught red-handed.

The nearest Latuhan Principality could be crossed with just one bridge, so there might be a chance there, but relations between the Latuhan Principality and the Kien Empire were troubled.

Even if we broke through the checkpoint barricades and crossed the bridge, we’d get mowed down by machine guns from the Latuhan side.

Seeking cooperation from the Latuhan intelligence agency would also be difficult. If information leaked, the Imperial Guard HQ would raid the apartment instantly.

It would be a problem if the advisor and his family managed to enter the Abas Embassy. There would be no way to send them abroad in the heart of Petrogard, the Kien Empire’s capital.

If they somehow got into the embassy, the Kien Empire would need to issue an expulsion order for them to be sent out of the country. But if an arrest order was issued instead, who knows how long they’d be stuck at the embassy.

It’s possible information has already leaked.

They might not be unable to discern whether it was merely overseas travel or asylum, but they might clearly recognize it as asylum and have set traps.

“…….”

No answers came.

Holding the phone, I sighed deeply and reclined in my chair.

“How nice it would be if I could just fly to the sky….”

As I closed my eyes to ease my headache for a moment, a soft knock echoed in the office.

“Come in.”

“Colonel, I’m sorry to interrupt you at work. May I come in for a moment?”

“Oh, Secretary.”

I warmly welcomed the second secretary who had come to visit the office.

On the very first day in the Empire, he had driven me to the diplomatic staff residence late at night and helped me move my things.

The second secretary smiled awkwardly.

His shirt’s sleeves were severely wrinkled, and the hem of his suit pants was damp.

“What happened to you that you’re all soaked?”

“Ah, I was washing the car. Washing.”

“Washing…?”

“Yes.”

The second secretary continued with a grin.

“There are so many vehicles at the residence that I couldn’t keep up with the maintenance, and they had accumulated a lot of dust. So I cleaned the cars today. I was wondering if your vehicle needs washing as well.”

“Ah… I’d appreciate it if you could, but it’s already clean enough that it doesn’t need washing.”

“Really? I’ve overstepped my bounds. You seem busy, so I’ll be on my way. Just call me if you need anything.”

The second secretary gave a slight bow and tried to leave the office.

And just as I was lost in thought after his words, I hurriedly grabbed him.

“Wait, just a moment, Secretary.”

“Yes?”

I posed a question to the secretary, who seemed to wonder if I had any work for him.

“What did you say earlier? About the vehicles at the residence?”

“Oh, that? It’s nothing much….”

The secretary scratched the back of his head.

“Actually, there are many vehicles sitting idle at the residence right now. Due to the mass expulsion of diplomats and administrative staff, there are fewer people to utilize the vehicles….”

“Secretary, do the registered vehicles at the residence have diplomatic license plates? Not just some of them, but all of them.”

“Yes, they all have them. Naturally, diplomatic vehicles must display diplomatic license plates, or it would be illegal.”

The rest of his words fell silent.

“…….”

First characteristic of diplomatic vehicles.

They are not checked at checkpoints.

“Thank you, Secretary.”

“Huh? Thank you for what?”

I immediately took out my phone and reached out to my contacts.

I had finally found a way to help the advisor and his family escape abroad today.

 

---