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Espionage is a crime that falls under the crime of treason.

Those who conspire with foreign entities to harm the state. Those who enlist for an enemy nation. Those who engage in espionage or assist spies for the enemy nation, among others.

Treason is considered an attempt to overthrow the state and is punishable as a serious crime equivalent to rebellion.

Moreover, those who aid or turn a blind eye to espionage activities will face penalties equivalent to those of the spies, treated as traitors and renegades.

In that sense, Chief Researcher Fernan, who hid the fact that he met a spy—

was a traitor.

—

Episode 3 – A Fantastic Vacation

“If what the Colonel said is true, Fernan effectively did not report the spy to us,” the Team Leader continued in a calm voice.

“If he didn’t report it for the purpose of protecting the spy, he would be guilty of aiding espionage.”

In the silent conference room where not even the slightest sound could be heard, only the Team Leader’s grave voice resonated.

He paused for a moment, appearing deep in thought, before pulling out a cigarette from his pocket.

Sizzle. The sound of the lighter igniting, followed by a thin wisp of smoke rising.

“…Huh.”

He remained silent, exhaling a puff of mixed sighs before extinguishing the cigarette.

Then he spoke to me.

“Our team has investigators. Did you know that?”

“…I suspected as much.”

Not all information agency agents are intelligence agents.

Whether in modern information agencies or here, there are specialists who investigate spies, economic crimes, international crimes, industrial spies, terrorists, and drug offenders.

Investigators wield immense power based on the judicial police authority represented by the term public security.

Since Clevenz was originally from the Counterintelligence Investigations Bureau, there was no way the people he sent weren’t investigators.

As if he anticipated my thoughts, the Team Leader nodded slightly.

“For now, we plan to investigate Fernan on charges of aiding espionage.”

“I see.”

Regardless of his guilt or innocence, it seemed they intended to detain him in the interrogation room to coax information out of him.

Just as I expected, the Team Leader nodded and continued explaining.

“As soon as we find out who he met, we’ll secure evidence to confirm he’s a spy.”

“How long do you think it will take?”

“Well, if things go smoothly, we might be able to do it by today, but if he refuses to open his mouth, it might take longer.”

Fernan had not reported to the authorities that he met with a spy. The investigator pointed this out in a calm tone.

“There must be a reason he didn’t report it, whether he was threatened or received some form of payment.”

“Is the reason Fernan didn’t report it important?”

“Yes, even trivial information can be helpful.”

“Hmm.”

It seemed the explanation was coming to a close. I jotted down the key points for the report before questioning the Team Leader.

“What should I do?”

The Team Leader replied.

“Please look into aspects of the case that an investigator might miss.”

—

The Team Leader had made a peculiar request of me.

He wanted me to examine the incident from outside the investigator’s perspective.

He must know that I’m an overseas operative. Why was he asking for an operative’s help in an espionage investigation?

“Hm…”

I closed my eyes and slowly retraced the incident.

The Magic Tower had sent a spy to the Advanced Military Magic Research Institute. The objective was likely data leakage and coercion of researchers.

It was typical industrial spy behavior.

Industrial spies are those who leak industrial information such as technical data, management strategies, and economic policies. They are often employed to reduce costs on research and development.

Hence, private enterprises tend to utilize industrial spies more frequently than information agencies.

If that’s the case, the Magic Tower is targeting the research institute’s outputs.

I couldn’t even guess what that was. From their attempt to recruit Fernan, it seemed likely to be biological research data. Given they failed to access classified materials, it was reasonable to conclude no research data had been leaked.

The problem was that the starting point of this situation was the personal information leak of the employees from the Advanced Military Magic Research Institute.

Where did Clevenz acquire such intelligence?

“What are you thinking about?”

“Ahhhh!”

“Kyaaa!”

I was startled and screamed at the suddenly heard voice next to me.

I instinctively grabbed the pistol in my inner pocket but quickly withdrew my hand upon recognizing the face.

“Miss… Camila Lowell? What brings you here?”

“You scared me! Why are you yelling!?”

“You suddenly popped up…”

As I stammered in confusion, Camila Lowell brushed down her startled chest.

She finally calmed down and explained the purpose of her visit.

“I came to tell you it’s time for dinner.”

—

Due to the nature of my work, I rarely had meals at regular intervals.

While information officers scuttling about or analysts stuck to their desks might not know, investigators and operatives often couldn’t even manage to leave work on time. And I was an overseas operative, to boot.

Of course, when workloads piled up, life became chaotic regardless of the position held.

In any case, meals were one of the few sources of happiness for me.

“Tonight’s dinner looks delicious.”

“Do you like steak?”

“I like all kinds of meat.”

I couldn’t drink freely, travel far, or even meet friends easily.

Had the food here not suited my taste, I might have left the agency long ago.

“Can’t you just buy meat somewhere?”

Camila Lowell tilted her head, seemingly unaware of the situation.

“It’s hard to shop these days because the economy isn’t doing well.”

“The economy is in a recession?”

“I’m not exactly sure. I just know prices have skyrocketed.”

In reality, I already knew why the economy was in shambles.

The reason for the economic downturn was quite simple.

Everything went downhill due to a general collapse of the world, caused by a myriad of factors.

From pirates blocking sea routes to monsters tearing apart railways. The Empire was at war and different races were on extended strikes, not to mention terrorism and epidemics.

Productivity plummeted—the supply couldn’t keep pace with the demand—and transportation costs as well as insurance fees soared, causing prices to skyrocket.

I knew all this because I had seen economy-related reports created by the Military Intelligence Agency during my time operating with the Cult.

Originally, these reports were intended for economic bureaucrats or high-ranking officials, but they were advised to brush up on such knowledge to avoid appearing foolish in front of others.

Recalling the one-on-one teaching I received from an economic bureaucrat dispatched to the embassy made my body shiver involuntarily.

“Why are you trembling? Are you feeling unwell?”

“No, no. I’m just fine.”

I answered casually as I cut my steak.

“By the way, how did today’s examination go?”

Camila Lowell had two tests today. One was the health check she underwent in the morning, and the other was the skills evaluation scheduled for the afternoon.

She smiled brightly as she replied.

“I got to use magic without a wand!”

—

She really had used magic without a wand.

“They said they wrecked the testing facility.”

—’What?’

“They, um, said the military-grade attack magic testing facility got damaged. The target was completely burnt, and the walls and ceiling are all scorched.”

—’Whoa.’

Clevenz let out a breathless sound.

A facility capable of withstanding magic powerful enough to take down a monster the size of a large bus couldn’t withstand Camila Lowell’s flames.

—’Very interesting indeed.’

“They say there are no health concerns, but they still don’t know why people faint. The superior and former researchers are investigating it, but they said precise diagnoses can only be made once the head researchers and lead researchers are released.”

—’Indeed, with all the researchers detained, it’s unlikely anything will be in order… So, is there any progress with the investigation?’

Ah, I almost forgot to report on the investigation.

I hurriedly pulled a notepad from my pocket and began reporting to Clevenz.

“So far, we’ve confirmed that Benoit Fernan, the head of the biological analysis lab, did not inform the authorities that he came into contact with a spy. It’s been confirmed that he refused recruitment, but he seems to be under some form of threat.”

—’Threat? Has he been compromised or something…?’

“Well, he might have received money, or there’s a possibility he’s entangled in some affair or crime. Personally, I suspect that Fernan might be the one who leaked the personal information of the research institute’s employees.”

Hmm. A muted silence came through the transmission.

—’So, he has been unable to report it because he sold the information?’

“Yes, he might not have realized that it was a breach of confidential information.”

—’Then what’s the reason for refusing recruitment?’

“It seems he realized too late that he had leaked confidential information and tried to backtrack. Given that if the spy gets caught, his crimes will be revealed, he likely didn’t report it.”

While there’s no concrete evidence, there’s a possibility that Fernan leaked the employees’ information.

Being a Chief Researcher, he would have sufficient access to Level 2 classified materials. So it makes sense as to why he wouldn’t have reported it.

However, it seemed Clevenz had a slightly different thought.

—’Hmm, no. That doesn’t seem right.’

“Excuse me?”

—’I received a list from an informant that contained the identities of those who were leaked. And it appears Fernan is on that list.’

“…”

—’It can’t be Fernan.’

“…Then.”

—’That means someone has already sold information to the spy.’

 

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