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The company’s response was swift.

The Military Intelligence Agency, having received information from the Special Investigation Bureau, immediately dispatched police officers to the families’ workplaces.

In fact, even before the news reached the Military Intelligence Agency, a report had been made to the Office of the Prime Minister.

It happened to be during a ministerial meeting, and the Prime Minister instructed the Minister of the Interior to mobilize the police.

-‘There have been discussions about security for a long time. Ever since the northern incidents, it’s been a constant topic.’

I managed to hear detailed accounts from Clevenz.

-‘The Cult warned that it would be wise to keep an eye on the family’s safety for any unforeseen circumstances. Although it’s late, it’s fortunate that we’re addressing it now.’

“Is everyone safe?”

-‘They are safe at the official residence, so don’t worry.’

The government relocated the family’s residence to the official residence. The very official residence where the general assigned by the Ministry of Defense used to live.

Even as civilians, it was within regulations for the family to reside together in the official residence. Thanks to this, they could be safe. They might have had some trouble with luggage left behind in the mansion and townhouse, but for now, they were in a secure condition.

With a security unit stationed nearby and a police station within a stone’s throw, no one would dare approach for the time being. No matter how skilled the imperial guard information agents might be, they couldn’t stand against heavily armed military troops and police special forces.

For the record, there was no specific deadline set.

“When will this be maintained?”

-‘Well, it can continue to remain at the official residence until further instructions come from the Prime Minister’s Office.’

“I’m not sure if I should be happy about that.”

-‘To be honest… it’s not particularly good news.’

A faint sigh came through the phone. Clevenz continued in a troubled voice.

-‘You know, security is more exhausting than one might think. Speaking from the position of being under protection.’

“…I understand.”

While it’s called protection, it’s essentially surveillance. It doesn’t mean that Abas is watching the family, but the family might feel that they are being monitored by the government.

With armed soldiers stationed at the front door, who could comfortably stretch their legs and sleep?

The official residence is protected by military police, and once you step out, there are officers assigned by the Ministry of the Interior following closely. It must have been uncomfortable even to meet friends or commute.

Clevenz understood this better than anyone. Protection for important figures is part of the official duties of the military intelligence’s counterintelligence division. Knowing this made it all the more troubling.

-‘With the situation being chaotic, the Imperial Guard has begun to show suspicious movements… Even though the company is trying everything it can…’

“……”

-‘You’ve been having a lot of mental strain, I see.’

I replied in a flat tone.

“It’s nothing. I’m fine.”

-‘I won’t tell you not to worry about your family. However, it’s problematic if it affects your work. Do you understand what I mean?’

“Yes.”

-‘Alright. When you return, let’s at least meet.”

—

**Episode 17 – The Tree that Drinks Blood**

The list sent from the Ministry of Justice’s immigration office passed through the Special Investigation Bureau and was disseminated to various companies.

Individuals suspected to be foreign information agents had entered the country.

Confirmed agents from the Imperial Guard, including Ekaterina, and numerous suspicious foreigners. It was challenging to accurately count how many spies entered with passports from a third country.

Surveillance began.

The Special Investigation Bureau, an investigative agency under the judiciary, and the Cabinet Security Office that directly reports to the Prime Minister took charge of the operation.

Domestic activities fell under their jurisdiction, so organizations like the Royal Intelligence Department and the Overseas Affairs of the Military Intelligence Agency couldn’t interfere, but since it was connected to military counterintelligence, the domestic division of the Military Intelligence Agency could join in.

While the investigation was underway, Clevenz issued new orders.

To find out if any Imperial Guard agents had recently departed the empire. If so, what operation they were involved in.

Those receiving the orders were the moles inside the Imperial Guard.

These were double agents recruited by the Military Intelligence Agency’s domestic division.

No one could guarantee how long it would take to receive a response.

Not even the moles within the Imperial Guard or Clevenz managing them could be certain.

I was no different. That particular domain was out of my jurisdiction and involvement.

All I could do was wait and hope for the best.

—

The world was in turmoil.

The dying embers flared back to life.

Now, it seemed that even the nation, where the end of the civil war was finally in sight, along with those trying to iron out conflicts, were not exempt.

In the prolonged war of attrition, the involvement of the international community, and the imminent Armageddon, the rising fear swept across all of Mauritania.

[The corrupt regime has plunged its citizens into misery. The president, in collusion with foreign powers, has sold our ancestors’ gifts from the Earth God for a pittance to foreign lands.]

[The Kien Empire has entered this land with its military, violently suppressing the voices of innocent citizens. Therefore, we! Have decided to topple the presidential palace and embassies, symbols of oppression by the invaders and rulers…!]

The tally of high-priority targets (military facilities, government buildings, power plants, embassies, etc., all heavily fortified) had already surpassed double digits.

Though this number seemed small considering the size of the Mauritania continent, it was an insurmountable toll for the local governments’ abysmal response capabilities.

Shells fell on a government army base. Checkpoints came under fire.

Terrorists stormed the presidential palace and government buildings, symbols of the dictator’s authority, while a group whose identity was uncertain—a mob or terrorists—occupied the embassy and took diplomats hostage.

That wasn’t all.

[Amid the increasing instability in Mauritania due to consecutive terrorist attacks, another terror group has issued a statement. General Baramant Al Aqab, commander of the ‘Peraika Guards’ claiming the revival of the Peraika Dynasty, stated, ‘If the military does not withdraw from the borders immediately, we will commence attacks,’ and has begun advancing toward the capital of the former dynasty.]

Taking advantage of the chaos wrought by the terror group, local warlords were beginning to rise against the central authority one by one.

The oppression and slaughter perpetrated by the dominant ethnic group forming the central government. The fury of the minority groups suffering under the government’s harsh blade spilled forth.

The long-simmering rage evolved into chaos fueled by fear, inciting a civil war between the government army and the warlords.

Just four days ago, a rebel alliance was formed in a country located in the west of Mauritania, and today, a government army base near a refugee camp was attacked. Old guards advocating for royal restoration clashed with the protection squad defending the Prime Minister.

A shaman, with a covered face conjured winds, flipping police cars like toys.

As the hazy teargas settled on the streets, soldiers donned in gas masks flooded the area.

At one moment, the front page of the morning newspaper featured the bodies of a civil servant burned by a shaman and a protester beaten to death. These incidents occurred in a distant land.

That evening, the newspapers, as if it never happened, reported mundane government announcements, while unrecognizable corpses dangled from cranes in a ghastly display. What unfolded in Iran echoed eerily in Mauritania as well.

[Claims have emerged that warlords occupying the Zukerha region are committing mass killings of civilians. The head of the local police department stated in an interview with foreign media that more than 300 citizens of minority descent, killed by rebels, have been reported….]

[Terrorists in the southern region attacked a school, beheading teachers. Though specific reasons remain unclear, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs suggested that the executions were likely for conducting education contrary to the laws of religion.]

[Amidst daily protests against the economic crisis and dictatorship, allegations arose regarding gunfire from government troops in the capital, Rakai. When questioned by reporters regarding the situation, local military officials were tight-lipped and evasive….]

[As dangers escalate daily, the kingdoms of Abas and Kien Empire on the Mauritania continent have issued orders for some embassy staff to evacuate.]

[Foreign ministries of various nations have begun advising their nationals to depart the region. While this is interpreted as a response to the consecutive terrorist attacks and civil war, some also speculate that a war over natural resources among local nations is imminent.]

The turmoil in Mauritania also impacted the continent across the sea.

Debates ensued within intelligence agencies and foreign ministries over whether the local governments could manage to address the aftermath.

Defense ministries that dispatched military advisory teams were busy verifying that their stationed troops were unharmed.

Amidst this, intel surfaced that some relatively stable nations were seizing the chaos to position troops at their borders. Shortly after, directions were handed down to several embassies to evacuate.

“……”

I read through the messages from the foreign ministry.

There was information suggesting that the government was contemplating a military operation to rescue diplomats seized as hostages.

Notices urging caution against escalated threats from anti-foreign terrorist groups flooded in.

And when I saw the note indicating that Camila and I, along with other important figures, might become targets of terrorism…

“Ha, those bastards….”

I crumpled the document, spewing curses.

It was a rather sharp reaction.

Considering I was already on edge regarding family issues, an avalanche of absurd incidents unfolded one after another, which was infuriating. Even so, I recognized I was more agitated than usual.

“……”

Numerous warnings were coming in, but there was little I could do.

I couldn’t simply return home as things stood, nor could I intervene in the local situation.

In the perplexing political climate of Mauritania, the Holy See and the Magic Tower found themselves unusually united in opinion. Given how tense the situation was, they questioned whether we had any intentions of returning.

Nevertheless, we decided to stay.

“What’s so terrible about terrorism? They’re just shamans in the streets, after all. I’m not weak enough to be taken down by the debris that have yet to even enter the Ivory Tower.”

“Though the expression may be a bit excessive, I agree. If we succumbed to fear, who would stay here to care for the refugees?”

“…Hmm! Truthfully, I’m a bit scared, but that doesn’t mean I’m thinking of running away.”

“……”

“Let’s just endure! Be it rebels or terrorists, if we can fight, we should! If it comes down to it, we’ll pack our bags then!”

The reactions of the group were quite something. Completely oblivious to the dangers, they casually declared they would charge ahead. So fearless, it was almost ridiculous.

With Camila, Lucia, and Francesca stepping up like that, even the Cult and the Magic Tower had to concede.

While there were no shortage of voices pleading to convince our saint and our leader, were they truly figures who would change their stubborn resolve if I tried to persuade them?

And so, we resolved to stay in the treacherous Mauritania.

Some would protect the wounded and the vulnerable, some would confront fear head-on, while others would face the monsters.

And finally.

After countless preparations and drills.

That day dawned at last.

“Everyone, gather your gear.”

I said, shouldering my pack, addressing the three.

“We are going to chop wood.”

—

Despite the threats escalating daily and flames rising across Mauritania, not all nations were engulfed in the fires of conflict.

The refugee camps where we primarily operated stood as a testament to that.

A vast operational scope spanning four nations. While each country grappled with its own smaller disputes, the situation did not spiral into something serious.

The central governments of the four nations still managed to maintain their influence. The peacekeeping forces dispatched by the World Union endeavored to minimize harm by protecting civilians, and the government armies also meticulously focused on minimizing collateral damage in military operations.

Like many other nations in Mauritania, this place was a developing country, but it was also relatively stable politically—excluding a few dangerous regions.

A dangerous neighborhood where warlords strut around with confidence.

To be honest, most of the areas we operated in were ‘safe zones.’ The World Union must have considered various factors before sending us here.

Of course, there were times we got close to warlord territories like Asen and Sanya.

But at least not today.

“Hmm.”

While we sped down the road after passing a government army checkpoint…

Camila made a strange nasal sound and turned her gaze out the window.

A group of people was walking against the flow of traffic, heading toward the government army checkpoint. By their looks and destination, they were refugees.

On the empty road, there were only refugees. To put it precisely, only refugees.

Except for the occasional military vehicle or a police car that had lost its paint and looked ridiculous, all that could be seen were the walking refugees.

As Camila observed their tired faces, she wore a sorrowful expression.

“Everyone’s on the run. They must be heading to a refugee camp, right?”

“That could be their destination, or they might be going to the house of a relative in the countryside.”

“…Those people. They’re all coming from the south.”

Her blue eyes were lost in thought.

Caught up in complex emotions, Camila took in the long line of refugees.

“The south, that would be Nakbatu, right? The place where the tree showed up.”

“Exactly. A city with tree monsters.”

And coincidentally, it was also where we were headed.

Endless plains stretched out on either side, and the speeding tires kicked up clouds of sand.

Seeing the refugees, who were constantly coughing up dust, I turned on the radio installed in the vehicle.

“Lead vehicle. Slow down a bit. Even with the windows closed, dust is coming in by the bucketful.”

A moment later, the voice of the interpreter blared from the radio, and the car ahead began to decelerate.

I nervously put down the radio and quietly muttered under my breath.

“Honestly, this neighborhood’s military level is…”

A lot had happened since the incident in Nakbatu. The Al-Yabd fundamentalists opposing the Holy See’s involvement in the investigation, local councils suspicious of foreign military intervention, and so on.

The fact that the incident happened in Nakbatu, the capital of the southern part of the country, was also one of the reasons for the significant fallout.

While there was intense debate over the Inquisition’s investigative activities spanning religion, politics, and society, surprisingly, the heated discussions cooled down quickly.

That was because, amidst all the chatter, another batch of victims had already emerged.

Camila, who had been closely monitoring local and international media, mentioned the recent incident in Nakbatu.

“I heard that the people investigating the tree died. Scholars were taken, and those who went to rescue them were also seized.”

“Yes. It was the police and fire services. There were a few soldiers and civilians, too.”

Immediately after the incident, the governor of Nakbatu launched an investigation while sealing off the area.

It was a state-level investigation, with support from Al-Yabd priests responsible for the area.

The problem started when the scholars examining the tree were eaten. The first scholar to get too close was devoured, and those who tried to rescue him followed suit.

The police and fire officials stationed on-site tried to pull the scholars back, but to no avail.

In fact, even the police and firefighters attempting to rescue the scholars were pulled in, and a few soldiers and brave civilians trying to help met similar fates.

It took less than ten minutes for the death toll to reach dozens—around eight minutes, to be precise.

Upon hearing about the incident, the president immediately called for help from the Holy See, Al-Yabd, and the World Union. That’s how we gained the authority to enter the scene.

Francesca, looking incredulous, pressed her hand to her forehead.

“Must people die for change to occur… I don’t even know if I should call this natural or simply sad.”

“Isn’t it similar in every country?”

“Safety regulations are written in blood.”

I stared at the vehicles ahead. It was a procession of government army vehicles headed toward southern Nakbatu.

While this country was relatively stable, it was still very much in a civil war. In a country with an active civil conflict, the military’s power naturally rises, and in national crises, the first group to take action is inevitably the military.

Of course, their motivations were far from altruistic. As is often the case with Third World armies, this country’s military was partially warlordized.

It was a manifestation of their selfish desire to resolve the situation before foreign powers swooped in to claim all the credit.

“Geez…”

I didn’t think for a second that those guys would actually resolve the crisis. And I wasn’t the only one who felt that way.

Honestly, it was better to trust the cult or Al-Yabd. By the way, vehicles carrying members of the cult and Al-Yabd were trailing us. Priest Rebecca, who served as Lucia’s aide from the Inquisition, was also on her way.

My trust in the priests following behind was simple.

A very straightforward reason.

The person appointed by the military was a parachutist.

“Uh, who was the newly appointed regional commander for Nakbatu? I feel like I met him last time, but I can’t recall.”

“Appointed by the Presidential Palace.”

Francesca, who had been in contact with all sorts of defense ministry officials across the border, flashed a smile.

She summarized the newly appointed commander in Nakbatu with a single phrase.

“He’s the president’s brother-in-law.”

A refreshingly simple and clear explanation. That one phrase made everything clear.

Damn it. I should have realized something was off when that president went to the refugee camp just to snap a selfie. What a piece of work.

He was as useless as they come.

Even if the World Union managed to filter out a decent country, that didn’t prove the integrity of the local government. In reality, corruption exists in every country, but finding a non-corrupt state in the Mauritania Continent is as hard as finding a virgin who’s conceived a child.

Needless to say, it was unrealistic to expect the newly appointed southern commander to have the level of response capability of the Kien Empire’s military government headquarters.

At least the emperor didn’t leave the fate of the north to a parachute appointee. Of course, the commander was appointed by the crown prince instead of the senile old man.

“Sigh… I suddenly miss General Mikhail.”

Francesca sighed, looking fed up.

“I never thought I’d say this, but the imperial army really picked a good commander.”

I glanced back at Lucia, who was sitting in the back seat and started to wear a bemused smile.

“Let’s not think too negatively. If you look closely, there must be some positives about the commander.”

Indeed, it seems that being an adult isn’t something just anyone can do. Even in a situation that was absolutely maddening, Lucia was maintaining her positivity.

I turned to her in admiration.

“Wow, you’re really optimistic. But I’ve heard that the newly appointed commander got into some trouble at his previous post.”

“Trouble, you say?”

“What was it? Did he get accused of sexual harassment against a subordinate? He was also accused of embezzling public funds, but I don’t know what became of that ruling. I heard it from the embassy staff, so I don’t know the details… But he was definitely a problem person.”

“……”

A chilling silence filled the vehicle.

Lucia remained sitting still with her smile intact. Just smiling.

It was only a moment before the atmosphere, dampened by the revelation of the commander’s issues, regained its composure and serious discussion commenced.

“Investigations will be conducted by the priests, and our job is to provide security, correct?”

“Yes. While the cult and Al-Yabd study the tree, we need to make sure no casualties occur.”

It had been decided that the task of investigating the tree would fall to the priests. The clergy from both the cult and Al-Yabd would conduct a detailed examination of the tree.

In the meantime, we would take measures to prevent any unforeseen events and prepare to eliminate the tree if necessary. Of course, removing the tree was already a foregone conclusion, no matter what the outcome.

This was the official role we were assigned.

That means there’s an unofficial role.

Implying there’s more to it than meets the eye.

“Before the cult and Al-Yabd take a look, Ramiel and Nathaniel will go in to check out the tree. While they’re doing that, we need to make sure no one approaches the tree.”

I laid out our plan in a calm tone.

“Firstly, we’ve secured the cooperation of the government. The military will prevent entry based on the regional commander’s orders. No one can approach, not even the cult or Al-Yabd.”

Of course, there was a possibility that someone could bypass the military’s borders and sneak in. We needed to stop just those people.

As I explained the plan, Camila pursed her lips and suddenly turned to me with a question.

“Um… When did we get such cooperation?”

“This morning.”

The military attaché Abbas at the embassy received a promise from a senior official in the local defense ministry. A bribe was slipped as expected.

There was no need to bring that up, but it seemed everyone was able to piece the situation together. Francesca wore a bright smile while Lucia grimaced. Camila didn’t seem to mind much.

Camila turned her head and looked out the window. Garbage and scrap were precariously littered by the roadside.

While watching the refugees rummaging through the trash for useful items, she suddenly spoke up.

“Huh?”

“What is it?”

“There’s someone standing over there…”

She pointed towards something in the distance while staring out the window.

Across the shallow sand-covered asphalt, stretching across the vast plains, there was someone in the distance, either by a rocky hill or a sand dune.

It was hard to see from afar, but it was certain that someone stood alone with a long staff in hand. It looked like a wooden cane.

“Oh, it might be an old man passing by.”

“An old man?”

“This area is full of them. Old men wandering around alone. Occasionally, they get caught by monsters and die, but those who have lived here long usually manage to dodge trouble with robbers or monsters alike.”

Living a long time in such a neighborhood means surviving through various crises.

Just like old men in the Afghan mountains who faced Soviet soldiers in their youth, and now contend with the Taliban threatening their tribes. These old men here often prove through their actions that they didn’t live their lives in vain.

I spoke in a nonchalant tone while keeping watch ahead.

However, Camila couldn’t take her eyes off the diminishing figure until it vanished altogether.

“Hmmm…”

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, just…”

Camila turned away from the window, discomfort evident in her expression as she responded.

“I just feel a strange nausea.”

It seems she might be feeling car sick.

 

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