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“…Recent intelligence assets have reported. This concerns an individual suspected to be directly linked to the major suspect who provided dark magic used in the department store terror attack.”

As I tucked the crumpled paper among the pages of the Bible, Priest Rebecca quietly took the Bible with her.

The sentence written on the paper was simple.

I sat on the long chair in the cathedral, staring ahead, and began my explanation.

“‘In the deep night, seek the inquisitor wandering in a remote place.’ It’s phrased in the classical literary style of the common tongue of the Mauritania Continent.”

Priest Rebecca, scrutinizing the paper, closed the Bible and posed a question.

“Is this information certain? Could it be a metaphorical expression?”

“I questioned that as well for confirmation, but they claim it’s literal.”

“……”

Sitting on the cathedral chair, Priest Rebecca quietly closed her eyes and fell into silence.

After a long pause, she finally spoke.

“…To receive intelligence about a monk linked to dark magic while tracking heretics is rather unsettling to dismiss as coincidence.”

“It’s probably just a coincidence, Priest.”

Her eyes still shut, Priest Rebecca replied.

“I can only hope for that.”

—

Episode 12 – The Most Powerful Magician

Based on the intelligence from Hormoz, the investigation commenced, pulling the Inquisition into the loop through shared intelligence.

This terror incident investigation was carried out internationally.

The cult, which had always been wary of dark magic, the Kingdom of Abas as a victim of the terror, and various information agencies from the Kien Empire, the home country of many terrorists, pooled their efforts.

Moreover, considering it was a terror attack that happened in a developed country, others wanting to help also expressed their interest.

At first glance, it seemed a coalition was formed under the ideal of peace, but digging deeper revealed it was slightly different.

“I don’t understand a word of this.”

Counter-terrorism is a field distinct from security intelligence or counter-espionage investigations.

Counter-terrorism collects information as ‘counter-terrorism intelligence’ from the initial information-gathering stage and spans various regions globally without distinction.

The problem is, unless one has received specific job transition training or refresher training, this field can seem unfamiliar.

“Jake! Have you found any materials related to dark magic in the Mauritania Continent?”

“No. Pippin, we don’t have the minutes from the 15th department store terror meeting. Are we supposed to request those materials again?”

“Ack…! The documents can’t be opened with Charnoy’s authority…! We haven’t verified a mountain of material yet, and this is clearly a problem…!”

That was the reason Pippin, Jake, and Charnoy were buried under paperwork until this point.

In the accommodation assigned by the military government headquarters, the information officers from the Military Intelligence Agency gathered in a hotel, frantically verifying materials sent over from the domestic department.

It has been some time since we asked, yet they still couldn’t get their bearings.

“Manager, have you arrived?”

“Uh, huh.”

I entered the room greeted by Jake with a mouthful of dry bread for lunch.

The table, sofa, and bed were strewn with counter-terrorism investigation materials from Abas’s investigation agencies, and several security terminals on the cluttered business meeting table emitted a blue glow.

I approached Charnoy, who was muttering to himself at the edge of the table with a coffee cup in hand.

“Step aside, Charnoy. Let me try with my code.”

I began to type and entered my assigned access code.

As soon as I hit the last input button, the encrypted joint investigation materials sent by the Magic Department opened without a hitch.

“How grateful…! As a token of my appreciation, Charnoy shall give you a piece of honey candy…!”

Charnoy handed me the honey candy and refocused on verifying the documents.

Struggling to push the dried and crumpled bread into my mouth, I tossed the candy given by a nymph into my mouth while groaning.

“Ugh….”

My whole body ached.

Running two operations back-to-back has left me feeling worn out. Although my circumstances have improved compared to the past, my fatigue feels like it has doubled or tripled.

“Phew. In the past, I could dive in a wetsuit for twelve hours in the desert and still be sprightly. Have I really aged….”

Back when I was in intelligence, I managed a dozen employees while holding the rank of captain, and even wore a wetsuit under my civilian clothes while shooting without getting fatigued.

It seems I genuinely am not what I used to be.

As I grumbled about my body not moving as I wished, a passing blonde, tan punk began to throw out some comments.

“Wow, Manager, the way you’re acting really makes you seem like an old geezer.”

“You little brat….”

As I slumped, Pippin, who was sorting through documents with a pen, chastised Jake.

“Hey, what’s with that way of speaking?”

“I mean, you truly do seem like an old man.”

“Even so, saying it to my face is just rude.”

“May as well curse at me, you brats….”

Pippin and Jake chuckled at my feeble mutterings.

“Sorry for laughing, Manager.”

“Stop messing around and get to work….”

“Yes.”

*

Though the workload has increased, acquiring intelligence from Hormoz was a tangible achievement. The information agencies of Abas, including the Military Intelligence Agency, compiled a list of suspects based on my report.

This presented a new target for the counter-terrorism investigation, which had been stagnating after suppressing the terrorists without casualties and uncovering the backgrounds, motives, and methods of the terrorists. Consequently, agencies began to actively search for the masterminds behind the terror.

Whether it was due to a lack of concrete evidence or a decision to protect sources, the Government of Abas did not share explicit details with other countries. However, considering that everyone reacted positively just knowing they had clues to track the masterminds, it was clear how slowly the pursuit had been progressing.

But amidst this atmosphere, there were those who couldn’t feel glee.

“Are you all right, Priest Rebecca?”

The Inquisition’s Priest Rebecca answered with a troubled face.

“I’m fine.”

“You say so, but your expression doesn’t seem too bright.”

“……”

In the plaza of the Cathedral of Saint Basil, which boasts a long history, the wind was quiet as if even the cold commander had grown weary. Fluffy snowflakes floated down from the sky, painting the world.

Though the air remained cold and the sky gloomy, perhaps due to an easing of the weather, there were quite a few people on the streets. The citizens of the North, who had endured four years of conflict, gathered in the cathedral plaza hoping for the end of tragedy in the upcoming New Year.

There was a slightly hopeful warm atmosphere, but Priest Rebecca’s expression remained far from bright.

Watching the crowd forming to celebrate the upcoming feast, she let out a heavy sigh.

“Honestly, my heart isn’t at peace.”

“I understand.”

Currently, the issues surrounding the North were centered on tracking the masterminds behind the terror incident and the suspect in the murder case—two intertwined matters.

Tracking the individual supplying dark magic to the terrorists in No Man’s Land and the one who killed and vanished the Empire’s magician and Magic Department investigator.

At first glance, these topics appeared unrelated, but by some strange coincidence, a cleric from the cult was identified as a direct or indirect suspect in both incidents.

The Inquisition officer glanced up at the gloomy sky.

“I don’t know if it’s fate or coincidence, but it’s burdensome to have a cleric on the suspect list.”

“What does the Inquisition say?”

“Per the Director’s orders, we are currently conducting an internal investigation.”

The Inquisition had launched its probe.

Upon receiving intelligence that a cleric was involved in supplying dark magic in a terror incident where a saint of the cult was a victim, it was said that Petrus personally issued the command.

“To be honest, it must have been hard to accept such unbelievable content. You’ve moved quickly nonetheless.”

“There was quite a bit of internal resistance as well.”

The Government of Abas’s decision not to share Hormoz’s intelligence with foreign governments stemmed from two reasons.

First, the assessment of the intelligence’s reliability was still deemed insufficient. Therefore, the Abas intelligence agency initiated its verification process separately from the joint investigative unit connected to foreign intelligence agencies.

Second was the potential impact of the intelligence.

Although I had received the intelligence, the notion that a cleric from the cult was associated with dark magic left me questioning its validity.

Still, it was better to report than not, and since the Abas government had no sharp methods at their disposal, they decided to verify it even if it seemed dubious.

The problem is,

“If this turns out to be true, it would indeed be a big issue.”

The moment Hormoz’s intelligence becomes verified, the cult would find itself in an extremely awkward situation. A cleric from the cult aided in harming civilians in a terror attack, from which even Lucia suffered.

Naturally, the capabilities of the Inquisition would come under scrutiny. Externally, they would be ridiculed for meddling without proper internal management, and internally, they would be criticized for failing to operate effectively in proportion to their authority.

Bomb terrorism and assassination attempts, along with murders of foreign soldiers and public officials, not to mention support for terror.

With this level of mess, the next Inquisition director might even have to appear at a hearing on the very first day of taking office.

“Fortunately, it’s a relief that the Director strongly advocated for this. For now, the Inquisition is working to identify suspects. And….”

“I know. The last terror incident is unrelated to the cult.”

“Yes. Thank you for your understanding.”

“Don’t mention it.”

After all, I was there too.

Having hunted down the terrorists means it’s a bit awkward to say I’m a victim. Still, I, too, am one of those who were present at the terror scene.

“At least no one among the party, including the saint, was hurt, so that’s a relief. The terrorists’ motivations were politically driven, with not a trace of religious factors in sight. I can fully understand the internal dissenters’ stances. By the way, did you manage to look into the investigation I mentioned?”

“We’re currently tracking the monks with the clerics sent here and the clerics from the parish, but….”

Priest Rebecca trailed off, her voice low, suggesting that things weren’t going as planned.

“It’s not easy. There’s been no significant breakthroughs.”

“Is that so….”

I have to find a monk, and it’s not an easy task.

Hormoz is gathering information through the Palm Tree Trade Guild, but ever since the Military Government Headquarters’ sweep operation, they’ve been staying low, which means there’s no useful intel coming in.

What can I do? This is all part of my karma.

“Understood. Please contact me anytime if there’s new information.”

“Please take care.”

*

In the blink of an eye, New Year’s was right around the corner.

Perhaps because the New Year was approaching, the Northern Regions began to buzz with activity.

Refugees, previously losing their vitality due to conflict, as well as soldiers and civil servants, not to mention foreign soldiers dispatched from friendly nations, filled the streets, preparing to welcome the new year. Although only a few days were left, everyone seemed to harbor faint hopes that the upcoming year would bring something different.

Fortunately, hopeful news was also circulating on the airwaves.

[The Government of Abas has officially enacted a humanitarian assistance bill. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will inspect supplies for refugee relief and maintain close cooperation with relevant authorities for swift support…]

The Government of Abas has decided to assist refugees in the Northern Regions of the Kien Empire.

I received updates from a civil servant in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

-‘After years of claiming we weren’t receiving aid from the Empire, we finally are. It had been a topic of conversation for a while, but the timing is just impeccable, huh? One might think it’s a New Year’s gift.’

“Older Sister Adela, you look really tired these days. Your voice sounds hoarse.”

-‘Can you tell?’

“Yeah. You’ve lost weight; it’s only natural that it shows.”

-‘You wanna die?’

After a long time, I dropped by the embassy and called my family in Abas. Everyone seemed to be doing well, including my father, Older Brother Jerry, Older Sister Adela, Mother, and Ayla.

On the other end of the line, Older Sister Adela was making a scene as she clocked out for the day.

-‘By the way, Ayla got me a gift this time, you know?’

“What does an idle person need with gifts?”

-‘She got a job, didn’t she? She bought gifts for the family with her first paycheck. For Dad, Mom, Jerry, and me. Apparently, they were quite pricey.’

“What about mine?”

-‘You’re overseas, aren’t you? She said she’d get you something when you come back. Or should I tell her to send it by courier? I can have it sent to the embassy, since I know someone there.’

“Damn…. Just tell her to pay back the money I borrowed from her.”

As it was the year-end, my family in Abas was busy with their daily lives. Being civil servants, of course, there were many events and a heavy workload.

According to Older Brother Jerry, Father had a long day due to a promotion and transfer, while Mother seemed to have been caught up in royal events and couldn’t even go home. It was a given for civil servants like Older Brother Jerry and Older Sister Adela.

-‘A busy year-end is just inevitable. How about you?’

“I’m just hopping between the embassy and the North.”

-‘Are you feeling alright? You shouldn’t get hurt. Mother is sending medicine because she’s worried I might catch the flu. Should I send it through Adela?’

“I’m fine! There are plenty of priests around here for medicine… I just sleep in hotels and go to the headquarters for work, so don’t worry about me. Tell her to take care of her own health. What’s up with dragging old people to royal events?’

-‘Since you’re saying that… okay. How far away are you from vacation? You should at least spend New Year’s at home.’

“I don’t have any plans yet. Older Brother is handling my share.”

-‘I’ll make sure to prepare things. Let me know when you’re able to take a break.’

My family, being civil servants, weren’t the only busy ones. The Imperial Army was also under pressure to adjust their schedules to match the offensive operations set by the military command, making the teams remaining in the North busier too.

“Camila, are you doing well these days?”

“With the abnormal climate causing food shortages, the monsters have started to rampage sooner than last year. They’ve been coming down from the mountains and attacking. I’ve been busy trying to stop them.”

“Any injuries?”

“When they see fireballs flying, they scatter. So, I just burn down the entire forest instead of dealing with them one by one. It’s much easier this way. Tomorrow, I plan to herd them into a nearby valley and torch them all at once.”

“Uh, is that all you think about, setting things on fire?”

Camila has been taking the lead in monster extermination.

While she continues to perform excellently on the defense line of the NaroDah mountains, the early arrival of cold weather has caused even more monster activity, giving her much to do.

As she actively coordinates with the Empire’s military, Camila’s skills have been developing daily. However, she still has her goofy aspects, but I find them quite charming.

“Be sure not to overexert yourself. We’re not even sure what’s causing you to faint… You shouldn’t take risks alone.”

“I get dizzy if I use fire too long, but I’m fine for now. I know my limits.”

“That’s comforting to hear. Ugh…”

“Oh right! I keep the list safe. When do you want to see it?”

“Just keep holding onto it for now. It’s not the right time yet.”

Just like Camila, Francesca was also living a busy life.

In some ways, Francesca might be busier than Camila.

“Administrator, someone from the Imperial Railway Ministry reached out for discussions on railway maintenance…”

“Send staff from the Secretariat. There’s no need for me to be involved in meetings.”

“Administrator, we received support personnel from the Magic Tower. They’re the Combat Mages we requested before. Where should we send them?”

“Contact Lord Evangelos. All Combat Mages are managed by the Magic Battalion, not the Secretariat.”

Though she stepped down from her role as the Administrative Officer of the Magic Tower Secretariat, Francesca was still a civil servant affiliated with the Secretariat. Being a member of the Raniere family, she received treatment befitting a high-ranking executive.

Considering Lord Evangelos from the Licidike family, who oversees the Magic Battalion, Francesca might have seemed slightly lower in status as an ordinary civil servant. However, the Secretariat that supports the Oracle is comparable to a chief secretary in a presidential office, making Francesca impossible to compare with common civil servants.

Francesca led most of the tasks assigned to non-combat personnel from the Magic Tower in the North.

All non-combat mages in the North operated under Francesca’s directives, and even the Magic Battalion, which has its own command structure, collaborated with her and respected her decisions.

Of course, she wasn’t just busy with Secretariat work.

“It seems some of the cargo that arrived at the western port has run into problems with customs. Can’t we find a way to resolve this, Colonel? I could sway the customs officers if needed.”

“I’ve already taken care of that. They seem to be making an issue out of the changed regulations related to alcohol. I settled it with some money, so we shouldn’t have problems for now.”

“Thanks as always, Colonel.”

“No problem. Tell Hormoz to get ready to receive supplies from the homeland soon.”

While carrying out her duties at the Secretariat, Francesca also managed items to be sold on the black market. She replaced documents for cargo ships that stopped at intermediate ports to avoid detection and swapped the packaging to avoid being flagged during inspections.

Every now and then, she sneaked out of the North to meet customs officials, thanks to introductions from Victor.

By the way, I went along with her.

“Freddy! Your pale face looks fine. No sunburn at all; I see you’ve just been in the office again, huh?”

“Try staying in the North for a while. The sky is filled with clouds, and I can’t enjoy the sun. What about you? Where’ve you been for your skin to get so dark?”

“I was delivering necessary items for revolutionaries with hot hearts.”

I joined her partly to share information with Victor, but Francesca still seemed to struggle with pretending to be my fake girlfriend.

She could act pretty normally in front of Victor, but whenever he was even slightly absent, she’d sulk and give me dirty looks from a distance. Still, her acting was very natural, so there was no issue. Her performance was top-notch.

“Seriously… I just can’t get used to this after all this time.”

“No need to adapt… You can start operating solo if you’d like. Victor shouldn’t care if you come alone now.”

“I prefer having clarity. Now, come closer and take my hand quickly. Your friend is coming!”

With each moment I spent with Francesca, I felt like my own acting was getting better.

“How’s the investigation into the terrorism incident going?”

“It’s still without results. The homeland is putting together a new suspect list for review. There are so many names that we hardly progressed.”

“If you need help, please let me know. The Oracle is keeping an eye on the incident related to dark magic, but I only need to be informed of the results.”

“Oh, by the way, is there any list of dark magicians at the Magic Tower?”

“There’s no specific list for dark magicians, but we do manage the list of exiled mages. I’ve never seen it myself since my field differs, but Lord Evangelos likely knows. One of the Magic Battalion’s duties is to capture exiled mages who’ve caused incidents.”

“Sounds good. Please arrange a meeting soon. You can bring the list along.”

As the New Year approached, we were all becoming busier. I had to juggle my role as Camila’s ally while simultaneously executing two intelligence operations, which kept me quite occupied.

However, whether it was Camila, Francesca, or even myself, taking the time to relax and rest was a luxury none of us could afford.

Because someone was definitely busier than all of us.

“Oh, Colonel.”

“Yes?”

“What is the Saint doing right now?”

That would be Lucia.

 

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