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Dramatic and glorious deaths do not exist.

Even if one risks their life for a noble cause or fights valiantly to uphold their beliefs on the brink of death, no one acknowledges it.

The death of another is not a source of sorrow and mourning.

For some, it’s merely an opportunity.

Empty spaces are filled, and the world flows by as if nothing ever happened, like a noble river.

On a particularly cold day in January, the north saw three wizards vanish.

That was all.

—

Episode 13 – There is No Country for Wizards

—

Time flew by swiftly after Martinez’s death was confirmed. For five days, I kept a pistol under my pillow and spent sleepless nights.

A lot had happened during that time.

Avoiding possible surveillance, I extracted the field team from the north and met with the port manager bribed by the pudgy superior analyst.

I darted around the Military Government Headquarters to wrap things up.

And just past midnight today, I finished the final report at the embassy building in the capital of the Kien Empire, Petrogard.

“The operations team personnel have boarded the ship and contact vessel in the open sea. Based on eavesdropping on the Western Sea Fleet’s communications, it seems the Imperial Navy did not detect the movements of the contact vessel.”

The communications room, perfectly shielded from eavesdropping assets.

The green lights of the cipher materials shimmered in the darkness of dawn, spewing out the encrypted voice of Leoni.

-“Did you secure the materials?”

“I have copies of the evidence obtained from the Magic Tower used by the Necromancers and from the lodging, office, and workplace in the north.”

-“What about the Counterintelligence Department’s movements?”

“They seem to have noticed something has happened, but they don’t know the details either. I handled it on my end for now.”

Immediately after the assassination operation concluded, the police and the Counterintelligence Department were dispatched upon receiving reports of gunfire.

Before they could move, I gathered up all the evidence left at the scene, like shell casings and bloodstains, while Pippin and Charnoy at the hotel shredded all documents related to the operation.

Thanks to that, the Imperial authorities couldn’t recover any evidence.

“I disposed of all evidence linked to the company.”

-“Alright. What did you do with the documents found at the terrorists’ lodging and office?”

“I sent them with the operations team returning to the homeland. Our team completed a preliminary analysis and forwarded the information memo to Senior Analyst Larry. They will compile it and report it to the Department Head.”

-“You said copies.”

“You heard correctly.”

-“Then where are the originals?”

“Our Information Agent is keeping them safe.”

-“Francesca, huh?”

“Yes.”

A brief silence followed. I could hear the sound of paper rustling from the other end.

Leoni spoke.

-“According to the embassy staff, it seems the Duke hasn’t moved again. Did you hear anything?”

“Nothing.”

-“Is that so?”

Leoni sighed as if deep in thought and spat out.

-“There’s not much time left until your return, so don’t do anything that stands out for a while and just stay quiet. We’ll talk in detail once we’re back home.”

“Understood.”

-“You’ll be responsible for wrapping things up.”

The Director of the Military Intelligence Agency ordered.

-“Keep the Information Agents in check. Prevent anything from leaking out, so the company isn’t affected. Hmmm?”

It was a signal to make someone take the fall if things went awry.

-“Given the things we’ve pulled off, the Empire won’t come down on us too hard just because they exchanged gunfire in their own backyard, but let’s keep it safe. Safe….”

Diplomatic relations with the Empire, international criticism, low-intensity conflicts in unmanned border zones, security of overseas branches, threats of full-scale war, and so on.

There were many rational reasons, but Leoni kept his comments brief.

-“Do you understand what I’m saying?”

I nodded.

-“Catch you at the company.”

—

“…Manager.”

On my way out of the embassy, while I was fussing about gathering my belongings, Jake stopped me.

“What’s up?”

“I heard from a naval attaché that the contact vessel just docked. Do you remember the naval lodging we stayed at last time?”

“Yeah.”

“They’ll be waiting there before heading back to headquarters for debriefing.”

The Imperial Army’s preparation for an offensive was also nearing completion. The best mechanized, armored, and artillery forces, as well as combat magicians, were deployed at the frontline.

With the cult and Magic Tower preparing to return to their homeland, it seemed I too should start preparing for my return.

“Got it. Any other unusual news?”

“Only that Charnoy is throwing a tantrum. Just bored with nothing to do.”

We all exited the north.

Thanks to the embassy providing a suitable distraction based on Leoni’s orders.

It’s a diversion, but really, most of it was just meeting with foreign diplomats stationed in the Kien Empire, so it was more or less like having a half-vacation while killing time.

“Why is she throwing a fit?”

“It’s because of Kair, the Beastman from the operations team. She’s been sulking ever since learning that he got into the Royal Intelligence Department. They’ve been friends for twenty years, and now she’s threatening to pluck all his fur out if they cross paths.”

I crossed through the embassy hallway and exited into the courtyard. The staff mentioned there was a smoking area out there.

Even on our way to the smoking area, Jake buzzed on without pause.

He talked about how Pippin was on edge due to her weight, how Charnoy’s teeth rotted from eating honey candy, and speculated that the next deployment might be to the Mauritania Continent, among other things.

Until the moment I lit my cigarette, that blonde tanned punk wouldn’t stop chatting.

But as the ember flared from the tip of the cigarette and I exhaled a puff of smoke, unexpectedly, he fell silent.

Glancing at his expression, I spoke through the smoke.

“Got anything else to say?”

“How did you know? Your instincts are impressive, Manager….”

“Instincts, my foot…. You’re just like a puppy that has to pee.”

“I’m not falling for that nonsense.”

I finished my sentence with a grunt, shaking the ash from the smoking area’s ashtray.

“If you’ve got something to say, spit it out quickly. I need to clock out.”

It was only then that Jake seemed to muster his resolve and began speaking. He discreetly glanced around before pulling a crystal ball from his pocket.

“This is the recording sphere that Pippin and Charnoy had in custody. It contains the footage captured by Pigeon No. 3.”

I took a drag from my cigarette, wearing an unimpressed expression.

“Why are you still holding onto that? When was it I ordered you to hand it over to the operations team leader? You’re slacking after coming back in the field from Special Forces, huh? That’s classified information, you moron. Have you forgotten when you just joined and got grilled in the inspection office for putting classified documents in the shredder?”

“No, that’s not it.”

“Then why did you bring it to me?”

“Pigeon No. 3 captured the only footage of the scene when Martinez was killed.”

“……”

Jake continued, surprisingly serious for once.

“Pigeon No. 5 got the shot from a distance. But it was too far away to identify Martinez from just that footage. Without this crystal, we wouldn’t even have known Martinez was dead.”

“I’m more curious about why that important data is in your hands than what footage is stored in there.”

“…The person who killed Martinez is also recorded. Even the moment of the murder is vividly captured.”

There was no need for further explanation.

So I avoided asking any more questions.

“Hand it over.”

Jake silently passed me the crystal.

“It’s the original, right?”

“Yes.”

“Who else knows you pocketed the crystal?”

“Pippin and Charnoy know too. I discussed it with them.”

So it was a scheme cooked up by those subordinates together.

Those bastards.

“What a proud bunch you are. You really think security protocols are a joke?”

“Joke? That’s too small. How about a bad joke… Ah, Manager! Don’t pull my hair!”

As I yanked at his blonde bangs, Jake screamed.

While he rubbed his flushed, bronze skin with tears welling up in his eyes, I anxiously took a deep drag on my cigarette and exhaled.

“What about a copy?”

“It’s against regulations to copy company data without permission, right?”

I smirked and spat back.

“Is there a regulation that says you can swipe data without a report?”

“Ah, Manager, please.”

“Fine, I won’t report it, you brat.”

“I love you!”

“Buzz off, you disgusting freak.”

“Deaf-peated!”

Bow deeply with a 90-degree bow, Jake declared he was off home and left the smoking area. I watched his retreating figure with a look that said I couldn’t do anything about it.

“…Ha.”

The crystal ball Jake had handed to me sat idly in my palm.

Pippin wasn’t the type to cause problems without a plan, so she probably filed a decent report without missing data. Whether she edited the video or substituted it with other materials, whatever it was.

Those idiots.

“These kids these days are really something….”

Stuffing the crystal into my pocket, I tossed the stub of my cigarette into the ashtray and hastily gathered my belongings as I left the smoking area.

*

The dawn in the capital of the Kien Empire, Petrogard, was resplendent.

The towering skyscrapers and aged stone buildings held the rich history and future of the empire from centuries past.

In the colorful glow of lanterns and bright yellow magic lights, it was hard to find any signs of worry or unease on the faces of the people.

Office workers barely catching the last bus after a night shift, lovers whispering sweet nothings as they sat in the tram, police officers looking down on citizens frying pancakes beneath the streetlights, and people huddling around stalls eating sizzling pilog; Petrogard was in a festive mood ahead of one of the empire’s biggest national holidays, the Military Day.

There were no long lines for rations or armed troops guarding intersections, and not a single tent for the refugees occupying the parks and alleys.

Unlike the northern regions, the citizens of the capital seemed preoccupied with how to spend the New Year’s holiday coinciding with the national holiday.

Streets filled with dazzling lights reminiscent of neon signs.

Suddenly, I spotted a familiar figure as I drove around, honking my horn.

“Ah! You scared me!”

I could hear the startled gasps of passing citizens, but I didn’t care.

I turned the wheel and parked by the side of the road. Lowering the passenger window, I fired off a line I’d used a million times.

“I didn’t expect to find you here. What a coincidence running into you on my way home.”

“……”

“Need a ride?”

The woman strolling down the street turned to me. After staring for a moment, she broke into a gentle smile and greeted me just like always.

“Nice to see you, Colonel.”

An officer of the Magic Tower Secretariat and Camila’s colleague.

Also, an information agent.

Francesca wore the same familiar smile but slyly asked in a soft tone.

“That wasn’t a date proposal, was it?”

I beamed and responded with a grin.

“What would you do if

 

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