---

The thunder flashes in the gray sky.

The black clouds that overshadow the blazing midday sun dyed even the red desert in a gray hue. The prayers of Azan echoed through the glass windows, as raindrops, descending from the murky sky, began to cross the heavens of Shizuya.

After the meeting,

we unpacked our belongings in the hotel prepared by the Government of Ashtistan.

I didn’t receive any explanation on how much longer we would have to stay here, but looking at the local situation, it seemed unlikely that we would be heading back home anytime soon.

“…….”

Standing by the window, I gazed down at the city.

Smoke, rising against the backdrop of Shizuya, clung to the ceiling, while the ashes that precariously hung around gently settled next to my shoe.

The rain, which had been drizzling, began to thicken.

As I stared at the city of Ashtistan soaking in the rain, I bit down on my cigarette with the hand gripping the security phone, then closed my eyes softly, lost in thought.

—

Episode 20 – Who Threatened with a Knife?

When the word “Operative” slipped from her lips,

I found myself entirely unflustered.

Why? Because there’s a hierarchy in the information industry.

“Operative, huh…”

I mumbled, raising an eyebrow in confusion.

“I don’t quite grasp what you mean.”

It can’t be compared to the country’s representative bringing home a gold medal from an international competition against an amateur from a local gym.

A formidable wall exists between the companies of developed and developing countries.

To put it simply, it’s a gap—some might even call it a superiority-inferiority divide.

In that sense, the assessment of the Information Agency of Ashtistan was nothing short of disastrous.

While they often meddled in the conflicts of the Mauritania Continent, they possessed hardly any capability to carry out high-level intelligence operations in other continents.

Whether it’s intelligence gathering, data analysis, or covert operations,

the disparity becomes stark when compared to the Inquisition that obtains other companies’ confidential information or the Abas Information Agency that plants undercover spies in foreign intelligence agencies.

Counterintelligence was at least moderately passable, but even that felt like a small dog frolicking on a big dog’s back when compared to the Imperial Guard HQ.

In summary, their competence was only trusted to operate within the Mauritania Continent. That was the general opinion of many companies regarding the Information Agency of Ashtistan.

By comparison, the intelligence agencies of Iran, which often tussled within Sunni Middle Eastern countries or pro-American nations—even on American and Israeli territory—outshined the Information Agency of Ashtistan, which seemed like a restaurant with a ‘Normal Business’ sign while everything was crumbling within.

(Of course, every time the Iranian folks tried to make something happen, the Tel Aviv enforcers would storm in and wreak havoc. For reference, Israel’s intelligence agency was well-known for its disruptive operations against Iran since the Cold War.)

To sum it all up,

they simply lacked the capability to surpass the Abas Information Agency.

“…You don’t know my intention?”

“Were you joking?”

I wore a friendly smile as I passed her words back to her.

“If so, I apologize for not grasping the priest’s humor and being the flat character I am.”

With a smile on the surface, my brain whirred in thought. What could this vague idea of hers truly mean?

Surely, my personnel record being managed by the Military Intelligence Agency wouldn’t have spilled over into Shizuya. If my identity were to be revealed, the first ones to grab hold of it would undoubtedly be the folks in Petrogard.

And the companies from the Kien Empire, the ones I knew, were definitely not friends willing to share information with allies or allies.

“Maybe the Empire tipped them off, don’t you think?”

The leader of Ashtistan asked, a cigarette holder in his mouth.

“Really?”

I denied it without a moment of thought.

“In ’75, a cruiser undergoing overhaul at the Herab shipyard sank.”

The key driving mechanisms supporting the Goliath crane, all seven of them, had explosive devices with magic detectors installed. The third-grade earthbound sorcery used in the industrial site exploded, causing the crane to collapse, and its debris tumbled down onto the cruiser.

“That cruiser, once the pride of the Ashtistan Navy since the kingdom era, was crushed underfoot like gum stuck to a shoe. I still remember the article from then. A professor at the Academy accidentally showed the bodies crushed by the crane without any mosaics, and had to apologize due to the parents’ complaints.”

“…….”

“From what I know, the Kien Empire was aware that the crane was going to collapse back then.”

It wasn’t the level of just “being aware.”

The Kien Army’s Reconnaissance Command had already bribed a general from the local Ministry of Defense two months prior to obtain the operation plan.

The listening post established on the Mauritania Continent had been eavesdropping on communications exchanged between the Ministry of Defense and the Information Agency in real-time, monitoring the developments from within, and all reports sent through various channels were relayed to the Imperial Guard HQ and the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

In other words,

“When the neighboring country’s Herab Shipyard collapsed, did the Imperial Foreign Affairs Ministry ever give a heads-up to the Government of Ashtistan?”

The Empire monitored the military operations happening across the sea but notably withheld information from the Ashtistan government.

The reason was simple.

The moment they passed that information to the Republic of Ashtistan, one of the foreign intelligence assets operating in the area would undoubtedly be exposed.

What a prudent decision it was.

Back in the ’70s, countless fleets traversing the strait of the red desert didn’t even have a clue that their communications were being monitored.

The Kien Army’s listening post, established in the 60s, had been listening in on the communications of naval operations for over 15 years without the naval intelligence agencies of the 20 countries—including Abas and Patalia—even realizing it.

That was until one of the soft-hearted information officers from the Reconnaissance Command passed along a report to the Information Agency of Ashtistan, stating that the Lushan Federation’s fleet would soon arrive near Ashtistan’s territorial waters.

That report had been intercepted by the Royal Intelligence Department, which was monitoring Shizuya.

The Military Intelligence Agency and numerous military intelligence agencies began raiding the Imperial Ministry of Defense, and after a year of investigation, the listening posts established by the Reconnaissance Command throughout the Mauritania Continent were publicly revealed.

After that incident, the Empire’s intelligence agencies no longer trusted the Information Agency of Ashtistan.

This was merely a little over 20 years ago.

While newcomers might treat it as just a ‘thing from the past,’ the high-ranking intelligence officers who were active back then surely had not forgotten that event. A web of intelligence, firmly cultivated with an annual budget in the hundreds of billions, had crumbled in just a year due to the careless security of the Information Agency of Ashtistan.

What thoughts must those esteemed seniors have harbored while watching their colleagues lose their heads in real-time?

It was quite a well-known fact that the high-ranking intelligence officers from the Kien Empire treated the Information Agency of Ashtistan as a parasite, as a pest.

“Right.”

Jeinaab Eskander replied listlessly.

“Indeed, the Empire and we have a close relationship, but we aren’t glued to the extent of sharing secrets.”

What a refreshing acknowledgment.

Even she, being closer than anyone to the Duke of the Empire, could not deny that there existed subtle discord between the two nations. It was too deep a rift to simply be dismissed.

Thus, the head of the government of Ashtistan spoke in an indifferent tone.

“I was joking. Did you find it boring?”

“I thought the Security Committee would come to grab me. I expected to be in jail for about a year and a half.”

“I see. Sorry to hear that. Sasha sometimes tells me not to joke around, claiming I lack talent.”

Well, quite the discerning eye.

Watching the priestess banging on her cigarette holder, I was convinced: the abruptly unhinged actions the Security Committee representative had shown me had nothing to do with her.

Even after I mentioned the name of the Security Committee just in case, the priestess showed no reaction, let alone a hint of realization.

Was she just very good at hiding her emotions? Or was she completely oblivious?

“…Cough!”

Suddenly, the priestess, who had been smoking, broke into a fit of coughing. She hurriedly removed the bitten cigarette holder from her mouth, her expression twisting into one of dismay as she coughed violently.

It was reminiscent of a patient suffering from tuberculosis. It wasn’t just a simple cold; it seemed as if she was trying to wring out her lungs.

“Cough, cough…!”

“Are you alright?”

The Duke, brushing off his protégé, and even Kimila, fleeing from her mentor, approached her with worried expressions.

Yet, she merely waved them off, insisting that she was fine.

“Ugh- I’m fine. It’s nothing, no cough… it’s nothing at all.”

“…That doesn’t seem quite right.”

“I’m fine. Sasha, I’m alright. It’s all good now.”

“Isn’t simply wasting away in your corner what’s making you ill?”

You should go out once in a while. The Duke scolded his long-time friend, and the priestess, unable to argue, reluctantly nodded.

“It’s getting late, so let’s stop for now. Since we’ll be here for a while, we can catch up on things later.”

“Sure, Sasha. But can you wait a moment? I still have some things to discuss.”

Judging by her expression, it seemed she wanted to suggest something like, “Wouldn’t it be better to rest already?” but the first one to relent was none other than the Duke himself.

“Do as you please. Just don’t overdo it.”

“Thank you.”

Alexandra Petrovna reluctantly agreed to her friend’s request. The Archmage vanished in a swirl of blue flames, only to appear in mid-air, conjuring a fiery ‘whump,’ and whisking Kimila away.

“Come on. You rotten disciple.”

“Gyaaah…! Sneaking in with teleportation isn’t fair!”

“If you saw magic, you should’ve thought of running away first. Who told you to react slower than your master?”

While she carried her protégé away like a sleeping bag, the priestess silently picked up the fallen cigarette holder.

Igniting a spark with sorcery while the reinserted tobacco burned away, she still did not open her mouth.

The moment the silence was about to break, as the fiery ashes were about to be blown away by her breath, she finally spoke.

“…What I’m about to tell you is my own little joke, so feel free to ignore it.”

I’m telling a joke and this isn’t a conversation—it’s a monologue. The priestess opened, continuing in a flowing voice.

“If you aren’t an operative from Abas, then there would be no reason for you to seek out two ships, whereabouts unknown, departing from some port at some day and time.”

“…….”

“Even if those ships sailed without a flag, hiding their destination. Even if a few weapons painted in the color of sand were onboard.”

Unflagged cargo vessels. Weapons painted in desert camouflage.

Separately, they are nothing more than common materials. Smuggling ships and weapons with desert camouflage patterns are frequently seen across the Mauritania Continent.

However, when those two words are put together, the context changes completely.

Unflagged cargo vessels are generally used for smuggling. Hiding nationality is like the first step in maritime smuggling. And the desert camouflage pattern is something introduced by many regular armies due to the geographical characteristics of the Mauritania Continent.

What’s crucial is where the weapons with that desert camouflage pattern—most commonly utilized by countries, local regular armies—are exported from and through what routes.

For reference, Ashtistan holds the largest number of smuggling vessels on the Mauritania Continent.

Moreover, the Republic of Ashtistan is the only country producing desert-pattern weapons on a large scale. To be precise, it was the defense industry of the Kien Empire that built the factories in this land, and the weapons produced there have been exported across the Mauritania Continent since the days of the monarchy.

And incidentally, the location where this discussion is taking place is also the capital of Ashtistan, Shizuya.

What a coincidence.

“…….”

I chuckled.

“It seems my sense of humor really is lacking.”

—

As the vehicle headed toward the hotel, a report was dispatched to one of the many cover companies owned by the Military Intelligence Agency.

The headquarters confirming the memo assigned directives to various departments.

A woman solving a crossword puzzle in a coffee shop in Shizuya checked her mobile phone; a man leaning back in a chair, dozing off, put on headphones; and sailors bouncing around the swaying cabin gathered closely around a PDA.

[ Two undetermined nationality ships Geared (also known as crane, derrick for port loading and unloading) MPV (Multi-Purpose Vessel), identified at Port Asalughi. Considered a smuggling vessel operated by the Law Enforcement Corps. *Details attached. ]

[ Results of communication eavesdropping between Nizawa and Beshe reveal the final destination confirmed in a conversation between executives of an Ashtistan construction company and a port supervisor. The cargo is expected to arrive at an industrial port in a third country about 160 miles from Port Asalughi in three days. ]

[ Current location latitude — / longitude —. Currently 14 miles from the MPV, moving at a speed of 21 knots, approaching MPV’s port side. Contact expected in ○○ minutes. Boarding search team led by Captain □□□□□ and ○○ crew members on a fast boat. Fast boat drop teams ○○ assigned at starboard. ]

[ Non-compliance with engine shutdown orders. Three wireless communications conducted without a response from the MPV. Attempted further contact via visual signaling, but received no reply. Warnings shots fired followed by VBSS. Seized numerous illegal weapons including approximately 2,900 automatic weapons, portable anti-tank firearms, and components for reconnaissance aviation magical tools, among others. *Weapons and magical tool serial numbers attached. ]

Literally overnight, the nation had been turned upside down.

The local government of the region where the smuggling ship was supposed to arrive angered, claiming external forces attempted to supply weapons to rebels, and upon realizing the implication of Ashtistan behind it, publicly announced a protest statement at the government level.

The Kien Empire wasn’t exactly in a good position either. While the weapons originated from the Republic of Ashtistan, they were the ones who established the arms factory there.

The Empire’s Foreign Ministry distanced itself, asserting, “In name and substance, this arms deal is unrelated to the Empire,” but when suspicions arose about the Empire once again interfering in the civil war of the Mauritania Continent through the Republic of Ashtistan, the spokesperson in charge lashed out at the reporters.

Just as the barrage of accusations was about to pour in, the Government of the Republic of Ashtistan refuted, claiming it had made no attempt at arms dealing.

Moreover, they dismissed any responsibility citing “the vessels in question are foreign-flagged smuggling ships” and “there are no Ashtistani nationals among the crew aboard the ships.”

However, they made no comment regarding the Ashtistani language found in the seized illegal weapons and magical tools.

As for the Government of Abas,

having inspected Ashtistan’s smuggling vessel, Abas similarly issued a protest statement like other governments. However, the anticipated sharp rebuke was not forthcoming, and only a level of generic protests continued.

In light of this, numerous speculations arose…

I wondered if the Government of Abas was gradually trying to distance itself from the situation on the Mauritania Continent, or if it was merely a matter of carefully adjusting the temperature to avoid friction with the Kien Empire.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Abas simply repeated, “It is the government’s fundamental policy that the peace of the Mauritania Continent must be preserved at all costs.”

Yet, they didn’t express any position on such suspicions.

To put it strictly, they were too preoccupied to respond to such doubts.

— “What on earth is going on?”

*

Receiving a call from Leoni, who seemed baffled, I realized it was after having spent the entire night awake.

I had been restless pondering what had happened to the cargo ship that departed from Ashtistan yesterday and the intentions of the priest who tipped me off just before that ship set sail.

Leoni’s questions echoed my own.

— “So, Jainab Eskander provided you with information, knowing you were employees of our company?”

“That seems likely.”

I could hear Leoni’s exasperation through the phone. He muttered as if he couldn’t believe what he was saying.

— “Has the priest lost his mind after turning 120? Why would he do something so crazy?”

“I have no idea. Whether he’s gone insane or is suffering from dementia….”

No one could guess why the priest had engaged in such antics.

Analysts gathered by the Royal Intelligence Department and the Military Intelligence Agency, not to mention high-ranking information officers like Leoni and Clevenz, were even seriously considering whether the priest was mentally unfit.

Of course, I was the one pushing the ‘priest dementia theory’ the most.

I rubbed my throbbing forehead and continued speaking into the phone.

“What if he’s deliberately leaking information to confirm my identity? Assuming the priest suspects me of being a spy.”

— “Are you starting to lose it? How can you even say that after seeing the cargo listed?”

“Yes, I know. I did see it….”

The MPV, equipped with a crane for cargo loading, turned out to be a smuggler owned by a quasi-military organization in the Republic of Ashtistan. There’s this group called the Law Enforcement Corps that looks suspiciously like the IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) of Iran.

The problem was that one of the weapons they were presumably trying to support foreign rebels with.

“Are the parts stored in the green container really Oqab?”

— “Yes. It’s the one that Ashtistan shot down four years ago and reversed engineered. The Advanced Military Magic Research Institute confirmed it.”

“Damn….”

I muttered a curse under my breath.

“Oqab,” which means eagle, is similar to an UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) in terms of weapon systems on a global scale. Of course, it’s not like the real drones used by the military; rather, it’s a military weapon system that uses magical creatures flying in the sky.

Just to note, in the past, they used to train real live animals for reconnaissance or attack purposes. It was like a ‘beast version of a kamikaze,’ used as recently as five years ago, if I remember correctly.

Training and raising animals is quite costly and takes a long time, and since the control methods were incredibly unstable, they’ve switched to creating stuffed versions that have devices and gadgets installed inside to send flying.

As I recall, an outdated griffin (a live bird’s body with equipment just glued on) was shot down in the territory of Ashtistan a few years ago.

“So you’re saying they dissected it and copied it?”

— “Specifically, just the parts. It was an outdated model.”

These lunatics took it, chewed it, devoured it, and now were outright selling it to rebel scum.

The Oqab parts we confiscated today were the proof of that.

— “There have been whispers since late last year that a griffin reverse-engineered in Shizuya had fallen into the rebels’ hands. Speculation has been rife over whether the explosives used in attacks on hospitals were from the rebels or the Republic of Ashtistan’s Oqab. Now we finally have confirmation.”

“The key question is, why did the priest leak such significant cargo to me?”

To be frank, I struggled to guess her intentions, but if she intended to leak information in order to confirm if I was a spy, it made sense. The Oqab was certainly not a thing you could bet on in such a gamble.

Just the revelation of the Oqab’s existence would cause a storm for the Government of Ashtistan.

Supplying the new weapon system first unveiled at last year’s military parade to rebels could be interpreted as intentions to topple foreign governments.

In fact, the government officials responded to the news with threats, stating they would “absolutely not let this slide.” In the worst-case scenario, Ashtistan might have to brace itself for a full-scale war.

Furthermore, the fact that the new weapon system Oqab had fallen into enemy hands was another issue.

Military equipment imbued with magic and sorcery serves as a basis to gauge how far a nation’s military technology has advanced. Yet, the ship seizure was carried out by the Navy of Abas, and the Advanced Military Magic Research Institute is currently tearing the Oqab apart.

How sensitive of an issue this is for the Government of Ashtistan?

That was easily understood just by watching the news.

[ “Our Republic of Ashtistan is always prepared for war, but we have no intention of going to war with any country.” ]

[ …The commander of the Law Enforcement Corps stated in a press conference today that the weapon trades discovered in international waters were an external plot aimed at slandering Ashtistan.]

[ However, an unnamed government official from Abas revealed that a message was sent requesting the quick return of the confiscated Oqab by the government of the Republic of Ashtistan….]

They really want their stuff back, huh? I can hardly believe it.

I had to ask Leoni in disbelief.

“Is this for real?”

— “Does it sound like a lie?”

“…….”

— “I got contacted through the Empire Embassy. They’re demanding their property be returned immediately. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kien has also received the request, so they conveyed the message, but judging by the consul’s expression, it seems they’re just as troubled.”

The world was indeed strange.

Anyway, there was no longer any need to figure out just how badly the Government of Ashtistan was caught in this situation. The crucial point is that the one who managed to ensnare the Ashtistani government was none other than the nation’s head of state.

If the priest truly suspected my identity, there was no need to go about it this way. It’s the job of intelligence agencies to track down spies; it makes no sense for the head of state to take matters into their own hands.

Not to mention, even if it wasn’t vital information, it would have been possible to leak some appropriately misleading information to find it out.

If that were the case, the remaining conclusion is that the priest deliberately leaked the information to blow the whole weapon trade operation wide open.

But why?

“Chief, is it even possible for the one who toppled the monarchy to take down the government he established with his own hands?”

— “Is the priest trying to keep the Law Enforcement Corps in check?”

“…Just a guess. A personal guess.”

Who knows.

Leoni began to trail off, as if wrestling with a difficult riddle.

— “In a normal situation, it would be crazy to do that. A dictator wouldn’t have a reason to keep their loyal guards in check.”

“Exactly. There would be even less reason to eliminate them.”

— “If there was a need to check autocracy, he would have bolstered the army, intelligence agencies, or other organizations. After all, wasn’t that the reason for establishing the Law Enforcement Corps? To suppress rebellion if the Republic’s army revolted?”

A part of me wondered if perhaps, just perhaps, he aimed to eliminate me.

However, Leoni dismissed that as a question not worth answering.

— “You think he’d cause so much trouble just to capture you? Has the priest lost the ability to do simple arithmetic?”

With intelligence that weak, he should have been sent to a nursing home or a mental hospital.

Of course, I wasn’t just speculating.

“If he suspected me, the arresting squad would have been at the door when the ship was inspected, right?”

— “Were you caught?”

“No. Only room service has arrived.”

— “So you managed to eat in the meantime. Your guts are truly impressive.”

Not at all. If a situation requiring me to flee arose, I should have at least eaten in advance.

In truth, I only ordered room service because of Camila, and she ended up eating it all. But anyway.

To sum it up, here’s the conclusion:

First, the priest intentionally leaked confidential information to me.

Second, she will definitely report to Abas, whether I am a spy or not, and she can fully comprehend that if such information is leaked, it would put the Government of Ashtistan in an awkward position.

Third, still, Jainab Eskander leaked the information, knowing full well what was likely to happen.

Whatever her objective was, amidst this chaotic whirlwind, she successfully achieved what she desired.

Perhaps, to overturn everyone’s expectations, she endured significant losses just to catch a single spy. Yet if the source of information were to be uncovered, the priest’s authority would certainly be shaken.

Historically, leaders who conspired with foreign powers always had to pay for it.

Having ruined the national administration with such poor judgment, it wouldn’t be surprising if someone in Ashtistan soon made a ‘great national decision.’

“…….”

This situation would be the best possible outcome from the perspective of Abas.

Though I didn’t yet know who the next leader of Ashtistan would be, wouldn’t it be wonderful if, with the advent of a new government, the one who took power was someone with whom we could communicate well? Abas could nudge that person along from behind.

Of course, I would get a slap on the wrist once my identity was exposed. That wouldn’t be such a bad outcome either.

If necessary, I could hide behind Veronica or Lucia. If the saint offers me cover, what kind of lunatic would dare to attack?

…Except Francesca.

— “Anyway, we need to find out what that old man is thinking to do with all this. However, don’t dig too deep. They have a branch in Shizuya, too.”

I couldn’t fathom what kind of plot this old dictator was concocting by enticing some gullible foreigner, but for now, both Leoni and I agreed that we needed to play along.

So I decided to put on a little performance.

“I’ll just test the waters a bit. It seems we’re meeting again on the third day. I’ll report to you as soon as I leave Azadi Palace tomorrow.”

— “Keep in mind there are eyes on the ground, so take action and report back.”

He was giving me free reign with most matters.

— “By the way, I visited Azadi Palace the day I first arrived, and now I’m going back again tomorrow?”

“It’s not a scheduled visit, but I received a summons through the Duke. The priest wishes to see me.”

— “Just you?”

“No, I’ll be going with the Duke. All three of us received the summons and will be going together.”

— “Be careful. If you happen to be jailed, at least make sure to show your face in the media.”

I replied with feigned surprise.

“Are you planning to come rescue me?”

— “No.”

Damn it.

Well, that’s that.

The head of the Military Intelligence Agency spoke nonchalantly.

— “If you get caught, we’ll capture a few of theirs for a prisoner exchange. We have a couple we’ve been keeping an eye on.”

*

A day had passed since the smuggling ship of the Republic of Ashtistan was caught in international waters, and today marked the third day since we entered Shizuya.

As I approached Azadi Palace again, it exuded a serene atmosphere quite similar to my first visit.

But the gazes upon me were anything but ordinary.

“The atmosphere here is something else.”

“It feels like laser beams are shooting from their eyes….”

Perhaps due to the commotion with the smuggling ship, some civil servants could hardly conceal their expressions as they looked at me.

It was as if they understood, rationally, that this was an unrelated diplomatic issue, yet peculiar resentment lingered due to my nationality being from the Kingdom of Abas.

Noticing those stares, Camila seemed to hold a subtle concern in her eyes.

“Are you sure you are alright? It seems it’s best to keep a low profile right now….”

“Daah— I’m fine. This sort of thing is everyday life in Africa. It’s not like there weren’t plenty of people shooting me disdainful glares.”

“While in Africa, dealing with Easterners? What exactly was the reason?”

It wasn’t a big deal.

“Well, I happened to be carrying a Chinese passport back then….”

“…….”

“When you get told to get lost by their people, what can I really say? After all, I’m not even Chinese. Honestly, there were times it was convenient to be mistaken for one.”

“…So you were in a pro-China country, like Myanmar?”

“Not at all. I’d pretend to be Chinese whenever trouble came up abroad. Especially that time when I mistakenly drove on the wrong side of the road.”

“…….”

Camila glanced at me with worry, as if she had been struck by a hammer and was tilting her head.

“What?”

“…I don’t know about any other reasons, but the way you think might just surprise even the Chinese.”

Though her words felt oddly unpleasant, I chose to interpret it as a compliment. It had to be a compliment. Otherwise, Camila would likely split open from the top of her head.

Anyway.

Leaving behind the visibly disturbed public servants, I made my way deeper into Azadi Palace’s ‘Citadel.’

Now was the time to find out what the century-old elder had in mind when he approached me.

*

And precisely 18 minutes and 28 seconds later.

“I need you to take care of someone.”

I couldn’t help but question my ears.

“…Who did you say?”

“Darius Ismailzahi.”

Darius. That’s right, it’s a very common name in the Persian cultural sphere, often spelled as Darius, Dariush, Dariush, and sometimes pronounced slightly differently.

And the most famous person named “Darius” in Ashtistan was undoubtedly just one.

“The commander of the Law Enforcement Corps, that Darius?”

The priest nodded with a smirk that suggested everything was just fine.

Without a doubt, it was a confirmation.

“Exactly.”

“What the hell!”

 

---