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Dictators tend to preserve their power in remarkably similar ways, though the methods they predominantly use differ from country to country.

This is entirely due to the unique circumstances surrounding each dictator and their region, which are distinct from those of other dictators or nations.

Nikolai VI, the ruler of the Kien Empire, utilized secret police.

As a direct descendant of the previous emperor, he possessed a solid legitimacy, and with the justification of ousting the regent who usurped the throne, he initiated a coup d’état himself.

The young emperor, having regained imperial authority, sought to excise the corrupt elements within the empire, particularly those who had held office during the regency.

However, even the mightiest empire would tremble under the purge of tens of thousands of public officials.

The iron-fisted monarch required a scalpel, not a butcher’s knife.

Thus, the young emperor mobilized the special forces responsible for the security and counterintelligence of the Imperial Army, along with an internal inspection agency overseeing postal services.

In later years, these forces would be elevated to the Imperial Army’s counterintelligence command and the Imperial Guard HQ, an organization directly under the emperor.

Once, the military junta ruling Patalia had relied on propaganda.

The coup leaders, who severed the final ties of the caste system, comprised Patalia’s elite, yet they lacked distinguishing legitimacy or charisma like Nikolai VI.

A revolutionary force that usurped the throne from a tyrant who had lost the people’s favor.

This was the essence and limitation of Patalia’s military government, and as the fervor of the revolution waned, this limitation gradually surfaced.

International pressure for the government to transfer power to civilians grew stronger year by year, and doubts circulated among citizens that a new dictator might arise.

Feeling a sense of crisis, the military government sought a sponsor to fill the legitimacy it lacked, and chose the Ranieri family as their partner.

Individuals who would not stand by injustice,

free spirits dreaming of liberation from oppression,

revolutionaries pursuing equality against persecution, and so on.

Even now, the authority of archmages is beyond imagination.

In an era when the world was swept by the winds of revolution and the Magic Tower-Cult Wars, the tales of heroes stirred the hearts of many, making it even more so.

Archmages who triumphed in battles against the cults were celebrated as national heroes, and their descendants enjoyed immense renown.

Thus, the official declaration of support for the revolutionary government issued by the Ranieri family, leveraging the authority of the archmage, stirred an incredible storm.

This fateful event altered the destiny of Patalia.

Just as the two atomic bombs dropped on Nagasaki and Hiroshima determined the outcome of the world war, the declaration of support from the Ranieri family forged victory for the military government.

The provisional government established by the coup d’état had finally gained recognition as the “official government supported by national heroes.”

Of course, in the process, Patalia’s politics regressed by thirty years.

Later, the civilian government, having taken over the power, seized the Ranieri family’s wealth for their collusion with the dictatorial government.

However, no one could dispute the fact that the propaganda of Patalia’s military government was highly effective.

In contrast, the method of maintaining power in the Republic of Ashtistan had a somewhat unique aspect.

The dictatorial government in this country neither employed secret police nor propaganda. Even now, secret police and religious police roam the city, and propaganda is scattered throughout the streets.

But at least during the revolution, there were no secret police or propaganda.

No, to be precise, there was really no need for such things from the outset.

What was needed in the Republic of Ashtistan were not watchers or banners, but private soldiers to protect themselves from insurrectionists.

—

Episode 20 – Who’s Brandishing a Sword to Intimidate?

Clank-!

As I nervously set down my cup, lukewarm tea spilled onto the carpet, and the woman’s eyes widened in surprise.

“What the….”

Like a cat irritated by the world, Camila lazily stretched her dazed head on the silk bed.

“What’s wrong all of a sudden?”

“It’s the priest. That damn old man.”

How is it reasonable to ask me to deal with the commander of the Law Enforcement Corps?

Muttering irritably, Camila began to look at me with a puzzled expression.

“Did you have a fight with the priest? He seemed like a really nice person to me. He even gave me a lot of tasty treats, and the stories were fun.”

“Well, fine, about the food…. But what could we have discussed that leads to such a high opinion?”

“Um, we started with jokes and wrapped it up with compliments?”

Damn it.

It looks like I was the one rambling on with odd topics. Why can’t I just joke around with Camila instead? This is disgusting, like some ridiculous wizard cartel (which doesn’t even exist).

Sipping the half-finished tea, I recounted the conversation I had with the priest.

“I have no clue what to do about this order to deal with Darius Ismailzahi.”

“Deal with? Are you implying assassination?”

“That’s exactly what I’m saying.”

I find that ambiguous too.

“I was told to deal with the commander of the Law Enforcement Corps, but I have no idea why or how I’m supposed to do it.”

Nothing was definitively established.

Deal with Darius Ismailzahi. That was just setting the target.

No other information was provided whatsoever.

“Deal with. Deal….”

Camila pondered, then suddenly tilted her head.

“The more I think about it, the more it sounds like an assassination order. But why did they choose you specifically for that?”

“I have no idea. That’s part of the problem.”

If what she said was true—if dealing with the priest means assassination—then there should be solid information backing it up.

“We’re supposed to deal with the commander of the Law Enforcement Corps? Sure, that’s not an impossible operation. If I contact the headquarters, they’ll support us with information, supplies, or personnel. The problem isn’t ‘how?’, it’s ‘why?’”

Why must Darius die?

What problems would arise if Darius were to remain alive?

Therefore, how am I supposed to remove Darius?

“I need to know this to plan, and to get approval for the assassination operation from the company….”

Yet, the priest didn’t provide any of that information.

On top of that.

“No, fine. Details aside, if you’re asking me to deal with him, you should at least provide clear conditions. What do you mean by ‘it’s fine to do it or not’?!”

When the priest first mentioned dealing with Darius Ismailzahi, I had asked for them to clarify ‘conditions.’

To be precise, I requested clarity on whether they wanted him incapacitated temporarily or permanently.

If it were the former, it would imply that the priest wanted to temporarily halt the commander’s activities.

This could be interpreted as intending to check the recently empowered Law Enforcement Corps, which means I could undermine Darius through psychological warfare or public opinion manipulation.

Conversely, if it were the latter, the matter becomes complicated. Permanent incapacitation would imply death or a serious injury.

This inherently meant that the priest wanted the death of the commander of the Law Enforcement Corps.

In this case, the Military Intelligence Agency, alongside the Royal Intelligence Department and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, would meticulously analyze the situation in Ashtistan before determining whether to proceed with the assassination operation. During this process, analysts would conjure dozens of scenarios regarding what benefits the priest could gain from Darius’s death.

However, to my surprise, the priest of Al-Yabd expressed that he wanted neither a halt nor an assassination.

To be more precise—

“You can do as you please.”

Basically, he just wanted me to act as I saw fit.

I was baffled and asked for clarification again, but the response I received only puzzled me further.

“It doesn’t matter to me whether you do it or not. It could be Darius’s death or his resignation, whatever happens.”

Damn it.

At this point, I couldn’t help but seriously worry about the future of the Republic of Ashtistan, as well as the priest’s mental health.

“I bet that guy is definitely suffering from dementia, or maybe he’s bipolar.”

“Emotional volatility and extreme shifts in thinking are representative symptoms of bipolar disorder. You might have a point. Though for now, we don’t have any evidence other than Frederick’s testimony.”

Camila, using her arms as a pillow, nodded along. It was like a scene from Tom and Jerry.

Feeling supported, she twirled once and then began to analyze with a serious look.

“Well…. Before we judge the priest’s intentions, there’s something we should first ask.”

“Go ahead.”

“What is the Law Enforcement Corps?”

“…….”

I closed my trembling eyes and prayed internally.

Jesus, Buddha, Allah.

Please grant me the chance to be a just and kind assaulter today as well.

—

If you’re interested in the situation on the Mauritania Continent, you cannot be unaware of the Law Enforcement Corps.

The Law Enforcement Corps of the Republic of Ashtistan (پاسداران قانون جمهوری آشتیستان)

Colloquially known as the Guardians. In local terms, they are the Protectors of Order.

The moment I encountered this organization, which I had never seen before, I felt an eerily familiar impression. While I might not have had any direct connection with the Law Enforcement Corps, I had facing similar organizations in my past experience.

“Camila, have you heard of the Revolutionary Guard Corps?”

“Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps?”

“Looks like you know.”

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, also known as the IRGC, was the focal point of my comparison.

“The Law Enforcement Corps is an organization quite similar to the Revolutionary Guard Corps you know.”

“Meaning they have many similarities.”

“Not just slightly similar; they are almost mirror images.”

I began to pour from the teapot and kicked off the explanation.

“When the new government was established after the Islamic Revolution led by Khomeini in 1979, a grand game emerged in Iran. It was a game of watchfulness between the new government and intelligence agencies.”

There was a company called SAVAK (سازمان اطلاعات و امنیت کشور, National Intelligence and Security Organization).

Among the numerous intelligence agencies that had existed in the Empire era in Iran, SAVAK once represented the Iranian Imperial Intelligence Service with high prestige.

What’s important is that SAVAK operated as secret police under the reign of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.

“When Mohammad Reza Pahlavi ruled Iran, those intelligence agencies effectively doubled as secret police. Their main mission was to suppress dissent.”

The Operation Ajax, carried out jointly by British SIS and CIA. The coup requested by the British ousted Prime Minister Mossadegh and allowed the Pahlavi dynasty to stack power by preventing the nationalization of oil.

Thus, numerous Iranian intelligence agencies were established through SAVAK, with their top priority being the suppression of individuals opposing the monarchy.

“The first ones to be oppressed were the leftist parties. From communist-socialist political organizations to armed groups were all targets of suppression, followed by university students and intellectuals, eventually even Shia scholars were arrested. Ayatollah Khomeini was once arrested during that time as well.”

“It was a time condemned for radical westernization, alliances with western nations, and oppression of dissenting figures, which culminated in Khomeini being imprisoned for about a year before going into self-imposed exile for almost 15 years.”

The dilemma came with the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Anti-monarchy protests erupted like wildfire. The Iranian army and police did not hesitate to use bloodshed, yet the accumulated anger of the citizens exploded, and the protests escalated into a revolution.

“In 1979, Iran was a literal chaos.”

The king fled to Egypt with his family and supporters, while the military turned sides and pointed guns at the government.

The most unhinged individual must have been the last Prime Minister of the Iranian Empire.

“What was his name again…. That person who took over as Prime Minister after the previous one collapsed from a heart attack in January?”

“Shapour Bakhtiar. That was probably the name.”

“Oh, right. The person who only served a little over a month as Prime Minister.”

The last Prime Minister of the Iranian Empire, who was left in Iran with a handful of government troops in lieu of the fleeing Shah, was ironically a figure who would criticize the Pahlavi dynasty within his cabinet.

I mentioned the decision made by the last Prime Minister of the Iranian Empire.

“I recall that it was February 12. The day SAVAK was disbanded on the orders of Prime Minister Shapour.”

“He held the prime ministership until the 11th, so that must have been effectively his final command.”

“That’s about right.”

Pur Barkhtiar dismantled all the intelligence agencies of the Iranian Empire, including SAVAK.

By that point, most of the government troops had already shifted into neutral gear, and the Prime Minister himself was in a situation where he had to flee to France to preserve his life.

The secret police had to escape at all costs before it was too late.

If they didn’t want to end up dead.

“Most of the high-ranking intelligence officers from SAVAK ran away, right? The ones who used to capture and torture dissidents? Now that the people they used to torment are coming after them with guns, they must have been terrified! So they all fled for their lives. Well, a few were captured and ended up dead, though.”

I sipped my tea while recalling the documents I had on the situation at that time.

“The new regime in Iran tried to eliminate all potential threats loyal to the Pahlavi dynasty, especially from the military and intelligence agencies. So, right after the revolution in ’79, twelve new intelligence agencies emerged in Iran.”

However, here’s a funny fact.

Many of the personnel from the newly established intelligence agencies had been involved with the agencies during the time of the Iranian Empire.

In other words, the Islamic Republic of Iran directly hired the intelligence officers from the Pahlavi dynasty.

“If it were up to them, they would have loved to herd all the SAVAK guys into a stadium and execute them. But those guys, especially the overseas staff, were too valuable to waste. Why do you think that is?”

“…Because they’re veterans?”

I nodded in agreement.

“They’ve been facing off against Mossad since the Middle Eastern wars.”

This is why the twelve intelligence agencies of Iran, represented by the Ministry of Intelligence and Security (VAJA), could operate steadily from the Iranian Revolution through the 2020s—by hiring experienced personnel and absorbing their information networks and know-how.

“Their capabilities were guaranteed, and they swore their loyalty. However, given that Western aid was cut off and the Iraqi army was on the offensive, they were hired. But there was a problem.”

“Because they worked under Pahlavi, it was hard to trust them?”

The veterans within the intelligence agencies were indeed a troublesome presence for the Iranian government.

Trusting them entirely felt uneasy. And letting them go would be a waste since they had substantial experience. If, by any chance, they got infiltrated by ‘Zionists,’ it could lead to leaks of Iranian secrets.

There was no time to build trust. Just a year after the revolution, in 1980, the Iran-Iraq War broke out.

Camila nodded as if she empathized with the headache of the situation.

“Indeed… it would have been challenging to show them unlimited trust. That’s why the IRGC came into play.”

“Exactly.”

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (سپاه پاسداران انقلاب اسلامی)

Established in 1979, it is a military organization in Iran, a powerful paramilitary group designed to keep the Iranian military in check.

The IRGC is a massive organization loyal to ‘Rahbari’.

It was created to suppress any revolts by the Iranian military, so its forces total over 200,000, with air, naval, and ground forces, including the Quds Force (نیروی قدس, IRGC’s special operations unit), making it essentially a second Iranian army.

Of course, due to the U.S. government designating the IRGC as a terrorist organization, it isn’t recognized as a regular military force by most countries.

Nevertheless, the size, equipment, and training of the IRGC were comparable to a standard army.

“While IRGC’s primary mission is to keep an eye on the military, this is what’s publicly known. However, the groups actually monitored by the IRGC include both the Iranian military and intelligence agencies.”

“Is that even possible? To oversee both the military and the intelligence agencies at the same time?”

“Ordinarily, no one can pull that off. But they can. They were established with that very purpose in mind.”

In the same vein, the Law Enforcement Corps does the same.

The Law Enforcement Corps of Ashtistan and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Iran both operate as private military organizations to oversee and suppress the regular military and intelligence agencies that are likely to stage a coup.

The key point is that the intelligence agencies are included among those they oversee.

I highlighted that point.

“In a dictatorship or authoritarian state, the role of overseeing intelligence agencies typically falls to other intelligence agencies. This is also true in democratic states. Security audits and inspections can be internal, but they often come from external offices or supervisory agencies.”

Usually, intelligence agencies are heavily scrutinized by higher authorities (the Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Interior) or national intelligence agencies.

However, the ‘oversight’ in democratic states differs slightly from the ‘checks’ carried out in dictatorial states.

“Intelligence agencies in a dictatorship primarily compete for loyalty and aim to prevent insurrections. To unearth the secrets tightly hidden within the agency, mutual oversight among the various intelligence agencies tends to be active, and the IRGC and Law Enforcement Corps undertake similar missions.”

It’s for this very reason that the IRGC effectively served as an intelligence agency as well.

“The IRGC has its own internal intelligence and investigative bodies, actively capturing foreign intelligence agents infiltrating Iran and dispatching its officers abroad. I’ve seen instances of this myself.”

“Where?”

“When I was in Tehran, they executed an Israeli intelligence operative. I watched the video of the public execution while having a meal—it happened to be someone my acquaintance managed.”

“The one from Mossad you mentioned before?!”

Camila exclaimed, shocked, leaning forward. I, too, flinched and pushed her face back.

“No, he was from Aman, not Mossad. That’s over in the Israeli Defense Ministry. The Mossad acquaintance had been dispatched to Iraq, so he wasn’t in Iran.”

“How did you end up meeting him?”

“They asked me to look into something from the Beirut office…”

“In Lebanon, that must have involved Hezbollah. It’s well-known that the IRGC supports Hezbollah. Similarly, the pro-Iran rebel groups in Syria and the Houthi rebels in Yemen all align closely with the IRGC, Hezbollah, and the Houthi rebels, being hostile to Israel… Am I right?”

“Correct. Absolutely right. So, um, could you… move your head back a bit?”

“Gyah—!”

Anyway.

The Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps, boasting a long-standing tradition and history (around 40 years), was an abnormal organization existing as both a military unit and an intelligence agency.

As Camila said, through its special operations unit, Quds Force, it also supports armed groups across the Middle East, and this has led the U.S. government to impose sanctions on the IRGC leadership.

“In that vein, the Law Enforcement Corps isn’t much different. They also engage in arms smuggling and dispatch intelligence agents abroad.”

But do they only engage in smuggling and espionage?

Not exactly.

“Know that the IRGC operates directly under Rahbari? The Law Enforcement Corps operates in a similar manner. They follow the Prime Minister’s directives, but the Prime Minister is basically a puppet of the Priest.”

“A rubber stamp?”

“To put it accurately, they’re proxies. They undertake external activities and overall governance on behalf of the Priest. But ‘proxy’ sounds good, while this guy was the leader advocating the revolution when the Priest toppled the old dynasty.”

“Aha! It’s similar to the relationship between the Professor and the Emperor.”

Camila nodded vigorously in response. I looked at her with surprise.

She’s finally capable of making a judgement! She’s figured out the relationship where the Duke and the Emperor are one and the same just by living a little in the Empire!

Thus, it was proven that the DNA of those who caused turmoil by analyzing the racial composition of the colonies during the British Empire still lingers into the 21st century.

Indeed, it was a testament to the intellectual prowess spawned from a prestigious British university (which I don’t take pride in at all).

“Regardless, that means they’re not an easy opponent. To deal with such a commander of the Law Enforcement Corps… oh, it hurts…”

“That’s true.”

As for the Information Agency of Ashtistan, it may be a hot potato, but that’s something applicable only at the company level.

For a spy like me, without any information network, if luck runs out, I could get cut down at the police line.

Yet here I am, the Priest of Al-Yabd, having come up with an unprovoked request to eliminate the commander of the Law Enforcement Corps.

“…Sigh.”

I let out a deep sigh and emptied my tea cup.

“So, I’ve explained according to your wishes. What do you think?”

“Huh? What about?”

“Do you have any good opinions?”

Having explained, it was time to find a resolution.

Wasn’t the reason I asked what the Law Enforcement Corps was, precisely for that?

Thus, I sought Camila’s opinion.

And she said,

“Um…”

Caught off guard by the sudden request, Camila scratched her head and began to stammer with an ambiguous voice.

“Is it absolutely necessary?”

“?”

“No, it’s not that I can’t think of anything. I’m genuinely curious—if the Priest said it’s optional, then is there really a need to take on a dangerous task… that’s what I’m wondering.”

In that moment, a shock hit me like a hammer striking the head, and my eyes opened wide!

That’s right. I had no obligation to fulfill the Priest’s request.

Because the Priest himself said it could go either way.

And besides, I’m an information agent, right?

“Camila.”

“Yes?”

“You’re truly a genius.”

The first characteristic of intelligence agencies around the world.

That is, they often think of themselves as untouchable.

Those British with hearts dumped in the Thames and agents who boiled down their consciences share a common trait.

They lack a conscience altogether.

Among the typically cowardly spies, abandoning duties is merely an everyday skill. The concept of “Cut-Out”—casting aside agents deemed useless—is a type of failure too.

That’s right!

State agencies worldwide actively encourage public servants to swindle foreigners when the opportunity arises!

Of course, if intelligence agents were to hear this, they’d collectively fill the air with question marks above their heads. But I couldn’t care less.

After all, intelligence agencies are departments where government conspiracy and defamation are routine.

Getting routinely defamed can make one brush it off with a laugh just as easily as Sen. Cyborg might!

Or, they could let anger boil to the top and snap the spine of those who spread slander.

Anyway!

Camila’s insight, which had thrown her conscience into the Thames, lit a spark in Frederick’s cognitive clarity. Thus, the spy duo decided to shamelessly ignore the last wish of the 120-year-old man (still with many days left to live).

Of course, it wasn’t solely about dismissing the Priest’s request because they had tossed their conscience away.

After all, the Priest had left ambiguous grounds saying it was fine to do or not, but above all, this wasn’t an official mission dispatched by the agency?

There might be an illusion of being too~~~ long-winded, but that was merely an illusion. Nonetheless, that was the case.

“That’s right. Since this isn’t even my work, there’s no need to do it.”

Frederick nodded repeatedly. It was a scene of self-rationalization at a speed rivaling a centrifuge.

“What good would it do to refuse? The Priest would probably just exile me. There’s no way he’d come for me, right?”

“That’s true.”

Even Camila was stoking the flames of self-rationalization beside him; it was a naturally indulgent impulse that would have impressed even their ancestors, who thrived on dividing colonial tribes!

Could it be that the Earth God is displeased with these audacious schemes of betrayal against the Priest who is akin to the heavens (a guest visiting)?

To punish those disrespectful wretches who dare belittle a priest, the civil servants of the Republic of Ashtistan took action!

—Screeeeeech…!

“?”

“?”

A car that left a rich skid mark appeared. The moment I faced the suit man who stepped out of it.

Frederick couldn’t believe his eyes.

“…No way. Did that guy run out of money? Why is he here again?”

The finest day laborer the Republic of Ashtistan boasts!

It was the ‘that guy’ of the Security Committee.

 

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