---

Wandering aimlessly over the undulating waves, one suddenly realizes something.

Somewhere along the line, the water, which engulfed my ankles and rose to my shins, was black. A fluid that combined coal, charcoal, oil, and filth painted the world around me in a cold and merciless hue.

In the frozen city, snow began to fall.

Slush softly settled into the cold darkness. The thick shadows became even more translucent.

The sewer, engulfing both the transparency and the coldness, played a whirlpool-like melody.

The sharp sound of the void shattered the stillness of the night like a phantom.

– *Chwaak!*

A blue thread embroidered the space.

The spellcaster’s magic pierced through the darkness, tearing apart the bright yellow eyes gleaming from beyond.

A shadow, desperately evading the indigo strikes and blue magic threads, leaped into the air.

As the bright full moon shyly revealed its face between the clouds, grotesque teeth began to glint ominously in the darkness.

Bright yellow eyes, crimson teeth.

When the shadow’s form distinctively captured itself on the floating green mirror—

A hand gesture like that of winding thread followed, and the blue threads spread out in the air and instantly tore apart the monster’s limbs.

– *Kuuuuung…!*

The dismembered corpse of the monster tumbled onto the ruins. The woman with purple irises took a step back, gazing coldly at the cooling remains of the beast.

“……”

A signboard standing lonely, relying on a few rusty wires, hinted that this was one of the old downtown areas of the southern Mauritania Continent.

Also, the robe draped over the woman’s shoulders symbolized the authority of a magician, representing the glorious remnants of an ancient era marked with strange lettering.

Just as the woman, having dispatched her fortieth monster, was tidying up her rune sword, a magician descended from the sky and landed beside her.

“I report on the progress of the colonization.”

The magician politely bowed his head toward the alchemist standing over the ruins.

“We have secured two additional locations outside the headquarters, making them available for use. As soon as we install additional bases in the old government office and the bank building, we’ll clean up the surrounding monsters and purify the contamination.”

“Are there any casualties?”

“Some losses were suffered among the patrol squad. So far, there are a total of 35 injuries and 14 deaths, confirming a total of 49 casualties.”

The woman lightly nodded her head and opened her mouth.

“Once the base camp stabilizes, proceed to recover the remains. For the purification work, prioritize the potions already allocated, but if you deem the progress to be slow, request purification from the Cult or Al-Yabd.”

“Then I will report it to Commissioner Merlinus.”

“Do so.”

The magician once again bowed politely, then rode off on the summoned broomstick.

The cloth that wiped the blade vanished in the wind like swirling smoke.

Franĉesca, having donned the newly polished rune sword, silently raised her gaze to the dark night sky.

“Ooh…”

In the deep darkness, translucent snowflakes sparkled.

—

**Episode 21 – Peace of Our Age**

—

“Ranieri is currently down in the Mauritania colonization village.”

“Colony zone? You mean the one in the south?”

“Yeah.”

Nodding, Sophia lightly affirmed while flipping through a booklet.

“Where the dragon’s corpse is. The land that was abandoned during the earthquake of ’46 and is now being reclaimed.”

A southern colonization village in Mauritania was a place I was well aware of.

The legendary spot where the dragon terrorizing since the early 11th century was defeated.

The hero who vanquished it is renowned along with the Northern Duke of the Empire, the High Priest of the Cult, and the Priest of Al-Yabd as the legendary ‘Chieftain’ of the Great Plains.

I took a moment to ponder about this ‘Chieftain.’

Before he became known as ‘Chieftain,’ the Great Plains and all over the Mauritania Continent had been under the dominion of dragons for centuries.

He gained fame by hunting down those dragons one by one, finally culminating in a fierce battle against the last dragon in Parangasan, thereby pacifying the Great Plains and becoming the ‘Chieftain.’

That’s a story from the 18th century.

We’re talking about a history that is at least 200 years old, possibly even 300.

“Isn’t that the dragon that was defeated 300 years ago?”

“To be precise, it was 266 years. It was a golden-scaled dragon, so it probably was.”

266 years? Goodness.

It’s pure fantasy. I shook my head in disbelief.

Should I be amazed that a 300-year-old old man is still alive, or should I be astonished that the corpse of a dragon defeated 266 years ago is still contaminating the surrounding area?

“Well… I find it even more surprising that sentient beings in another world developed civilizations.”

Sophia started to laugh lightly as if it was nothing.

“The Northern Duke has been alive for 120 years, and the High Priest’s age isn’t even known for centuries. What does it matter how old the Chieftain is? There must be elders among the elves who have lived that long.”

“True.”

That was a valid point.

Anyway, according to the National Security Agency’s intel, Francesca is currently active in the southern Mauritania colonization village. The important thing is that it’s a contaminated area.

It was a region where some of the remains of the dragon defeated by the Chieftain 266 years ago surfaced to pollute the surroundings. The cause was the earthquake of ’36.

“It’s been nearly 50 years since that area was left unattended.”

“Right. It had been a living hell with everyone hands-off due to the lack of technology to purify the contamination, and it became a den for monsters instead. About 30% of the monsters in the Mauritania Continent probably come from there?”

“But now they’re finally looking to explore the south?”

As far as I know, discussions about colonization in the southern Mauritania had existed for a long time.

It wasn’t just to remove the native monsters pouring out from the south.

Sophia said.

“The Mauritania Continent’s capacity for supporting its population is exceedingly low. The food production level is at rock bottom while monsters swarm over from beyond the borders. However, the southern region with the dragon’s remains has been known for its remarkably fertile soil, and the excellent crops and underground resources produced there were one of the cornerstones driving the Mauritania economy in the early to mid-19th century. Well… that’s old news now, though.”

Indeed.

As Sophia said, the southern Mauritania Continent was a kind of ‘El Dorado.’ A land flowing with milk and honey. A golden stretch of fertile fields with numerous hidden underground resources.

Of course, it became a ruin due to the earthquake of ’36, and since they couldn’t purify the contamination from the dragon’s remains, it had to be left untouched all this time….

“Seems like they’re looking to reclaim it now.”

Well, not anymore.

I discovered the answer in the document from the National Security Agency that Sophia handed to me. It was the reason why Francesca headed for the southern colonization village and why the colonization discussion had resumed.

“Recently, a new potion was developed at the Ivory Tower. You’ve heard the news that Francesca Ranieri has developed a potion that selectively dissolves monsters, right?”

“I saw it firsthand. I saw the Mauritania Continental Defense Ministries signing military contracts with Francesca.”

“The alchemists at the Ivory Tower made a similar item. However, this one is not for capturing monsters but for purifying contamination, a slight difference.”

“Did Francesca participate? I haven’t heard she took part in any research project at the Ivory Tower…”

“Nope.”

Sophia shook her head negatively.

“That’s not it. It seems she merely provided some personal consulting on a few items from the outside.”

“Is her deployment to the south a personal favor too?”

“Probably? It seems like the Ivory Tower requested unofficial support from the Magic Tower, and Ranieri was appointed as the person in charge, based on our company’s judgment.”

Given that Francesca is Camila’s companion and is expanding her influence in the Mauritania Continent, she seems a perfect fit. Eventually, the time would come when they would have to venture into the southern regions whether immediately or eventually….

Now that we had stepped into the northern regions of the Mauritania Continent, the places we would head toward, whether it be south, east, or west, were already more or less decided.

In that regard, with the northern region areas, including the Jamria Federation stabilizing now, it was not strange at all for the Ivory Tower to request cooperation from Francesca, and for Francesca to have set off toward the south first.

The problem was,

“What do your superiors think about this?”

This action could irritate the National Security Agency.

I casually tossed a question while pretending to glance through the documents. Sophia came over, leaned against a nearby stand, and gave an awkward smile.

“Half and half.”

“What do you mean half and half? Fried and seasoned?”

“Not like that. It means there are those who view Francesca’s activities in Mauritania positively and those who disapprove, half and half.”

Ah.

Sophia seemed to be contemplating how much she could reveal. I asked for more details.

“First, the higher-ups have no intention of obstructing Francesca’s activities as an individual. However, that’s as long as she acts as an alchemist or as a hero’s companion. The common stance is to prevent her from reaching beyond that.”

“Because she’s from the Ranieri family?”

“Exactly.”

The information officer from the National Security Agency nodded her head while showing a somewhat resigned smile.

“Because she is a Ranieri.”

It’s a well-known fact that the Patalia Intelligence Department is extremely wary of the Ranieri family.

The entire family had a history of collaborating with the dictatorship.

To put it in the context of Germany, the Ranieri family is like collaborators who cooperated with the Nazis or the East German Communist Party. Given that the Federal Republic of Germany and the former West Germany intelligence agencies are still skittish about the words “Nazi” or “East Germany” even into the 2020s, one can imagine the stance of the Patalia National Security Agency watching Francesca closely.

After all, she is one of the members of a family that sold their country to a dictatorship.

Not to mention, her grandfather and father were both indicted for collaboration. Specifically, they had a background of having their illegally acquired assets confiscated.

Anyway.

“Let’s stop with the headache-inducing talk for now. Let’s talk about the saints.”

I pushed aside the documents regarding Francesca. With my hands still in my pockets, I opened another information document and spoke.

“I guess the Inquisition is still quite rampant these days? This section is lacking in comparison to Francesca’s documents.”

“It’s not as rampant as it used to be. Lateran has tamed its brutality, too. But then again, even saying it’s improved compared to previous times doesn’t change the fact that they’re still a bunch of bastards.”

Still, what can I do, Sophia let out a little laugh and shrugged her shoulders.

The information officer of the National Security Agency opened up the topic with a light subject. She chose the recent trends of the Inquisition as her topic.

“I received intel that Director Petrus will soon finish his term and pass the director position to his successor. It’s strange that he stayed on longer than initially expected, coinciding with the new pope’s inauguration…but whatever the reason, movements indicating he plans to hand over the director position to a successor have been detected.”

Several candidates are said to be in the running for the next Inquisition Director.

However, among the various candidates, there was only one person who stood out, the one whom Sophia identified as the most likely.

I asked.

“Who is it?”

“Bernard. His baptismal name is Bernardo.”

“…Bernard?”

“Do you know him?”

Maybe I’ve heard that name somewhere before.

As I gently rubbed the corner of my lips, I suddenly recalled someone buried in my memories.

…Bernard. Director Bernard?

Could it really be the guy I met at the Inquisition headquarters during the bombing incident?

“Huh…”

I momentarily fell into thought, recalling my first meeting with Director Bernard, who was rising as the new Inquisition Director.

I think Petrus had mentioned in passing that he could be a future successor… was that just an empty remark?

“I met him once a long time ago. He was quite a stiff guy.”

“He’s famous for the iron mask at Lateran. He’s the type who’s absolutely clear about separating work from personal life. He even gives off a slight feeling of being an outsider in the organization.”

“On our end, we were betting on Archbishop Theodosius as a strong candidate. He’s the archbishop currently managing the northern diocese of the Kien Empire.”

“Archbishop Theodosius? Wasn’t he the president of the Central Theological University?”

“I think he was a professor. I heard he briefly worked for the Inquisition as well.”

Sitting on the stand, Sophia nodded, pursing her lips and making a peculiar humming sound.

“The Northern Archbishop of the Kien Empire…. It’s a well-known secret that the Holy See has utilized common clergy and monks as prospective informants over the last few centuries. Such imperial officials might be necessary in the current climate.”

The information officer from the National Security Agency began to ponder the possibility of someone other than Director Bernard taking over the position.

For reference, her phrase “current climate” refers to the palace and the conspiracy surrounding Emperor Nikolai VI.

The information that the emperor has fallen into dementia is known only to the Abas Intelligence Agency and the Inquisition; however, the fact that ‘the emperor has fallen into a critical state for some reason’ is akin to an agenda shared by all information agencies.

Especially since, despite the Kien-Magic conflict having ended, the emperor has not appeared in public; this suspicion is spreading not only among intelligence agencies but also among the citizens of the Empire.

The Kien Intelligence Department is trying to identify the informant somehow, but ironically, that is only fueling some certainty regarding the emperor’s precarious condition. The Imperial Guard HQ, the Empire’s Counter-Intelligence Headquarters, and the imperial police almost exist solely for the emperor.

The fact that they are showing hypersensitive reactions has been proven true by decades of history past.

That’s the reason why some “irreverent rumors” might have spread among the Kien citizens.

“……”

Is it the counter-intelligence, security, investigation, and counter-terrorism experts claiming decades of experience?

Or is it the imperial official prepared with an intel network built over many years of parish life?

I murmured with a dry tone regarding the Pope’s situation.

“The Medius Cathedral has its hands full.”

“Isn’t that how it always goes for the Pope? Anyway, according to what we’ve gathered, the saints returned to Lateran eight days ago. There will be a big event at the cathedral.”

The event Sophia mentioned was something I was familiar with. To be precise, it was information I heard from my older sister, Adela.

“Oh, the discussion on reparations?”

“Yeah.”

The formal title ‘Memory for Peace and Reconciliation,’ commonly known as a discussion for addressing the historical wrongs and past grievances of the Church.

It is a hot topic stirring the religious community inside and outside today.

In fact, it’s no exaggeration to say that the Cult is the source of all evils in world history, so this matter can’t be taken lightly. It’s a challenge that must be resolved someday, but the question is—who would dare to tackle it…?

The hero who managed to pull that off appears.

Sophia interjected with a grin that suggested this was amusing.

“You guys probably have a more detailed grasp of things going on in Lateran than our company. Still, to summarize, know that the Cult has divided into two factions, led by Saint Veronica and Saint Lucia, and they are in contention. To explain the details, we would need to delve deep into history, religious sects, politics, diplomacy, and economics… What I gave you is just for supplementary reference.”

“Got it. Anything else?”

“First, the point that the Cult has split into two halves centered on the two saints. And that this discussion of past grievances could serve as a precursor to a sizeable schism within the Cult in the future. Naturally, this includes the relationship between the two saints.”

“……”

While the tone was light, the content was not.

What on earth is everyone in turmoil about?

“Let’s return to Francesca.”

I tidied up the information the National Security Agency had gathered on Veronica, Lucia, the Inquisition, and the overall Cult, and returned to the main topic.

As Sophia mentioned, gathering information from the side of Lateran was something the Abas Intelligence Agency was a step ahead of the National Security Agency.

However, in terms of information regarding Francesca and the Ranieri family’s movements, even the Royal Intelligence Department frequently fell short of the National Security Agency.

That was the very reason I had contacted Sophia.

Even though it was just a short time, we exchanged plenty of information.

Sophia shared the intelligence gathered by the National Security Agency within Patalia, and I provided her with the information I had acquired while being alongside Francesca.

“There’s no sign of Francesca having individual contact with the Ranieri family. Was it last year? When she briefly returned to Patalia, the family did send a servant, but I reckon you probably picked up on that too.”

“Yeah. They sent Francesca’s nanny, but despite their relationship, it seems the atmosphere was quite tense. For some reason, it appears the Ranieri family slightly aggravated Francesca’s mood.”

“And how’s the Ranieri family? Since that day, Francesca has become quite famous. Has there been any particular movement from them?”

“Not really? They’ve just been connecting with prominent families in the magical community.”

Sophia conveyed the news that the Ranieri family had recently started to emerge from their long seclusion to show their faces back in the magical community.

The timing was right after Francesca became a notable figure due to her new weapon development.

“Until now, it was impossible for them to even show themselves in social circles. With the judicial authorities watching them, public sentiment didn’t favor news of the Ranieri family. But now that Francesca has become such a well-known figure….”

“They can no longer remain hidden?”

Not quite. Sophia shrugged her shoulders briefly.

She seemed to be in a quandary regarding what to make of it.

“It could be that they were compelled to step into the world due to pressure from other prominent families of sorcerers and eminent figures in the magical community, or perhaps they took this opportunity to brazenly step forward. In any case, the Ranieri family has made their presence felt in the magical community once more. That’s an undeniable fact.”

The National Security Agency decided to take a wait-and-see approach.

They planned to remain passive until they could decipher what intentions the Ranieri family had in breaking their seclusion.

“If they do, let me know right away.”

“I will. Oh, and one more thing.”

Sophia took hold of my arm. I looked at her, and she lowered her voice ever so slightly.

“This is regarding Francesca… but has she ever shown interest in finance before?”

“Finance? Why do you ask that all of a sudden?”

“Recently, stocks and bonds have been traded through Francesca’s personal account. Quite a lot of them, actually.”

Is it unusual for someone with considerable assets to make some investments?

I asked her what the issue was.

“But? There shouldn’t be a problem, right? Since it’s in her own account, she should be paying taxes correctly.”

“If it were about tax processing, then it wouldn’t be an issue for us but for the tax authorities.”

Of course, that wasn’t the reason she brought it up.

After glancing around briefly, Sophia stepped closer to me.

“The source of the funds is suspicious.”

“…You don’t know where all that money came from?”

The information officer from the National Security Agency nodded briefly as a confirmation.

“It’s just that no matter how I look at it, it seems strange. If it were regular stocks or bonds from a private company, it would be one thing, but Francesca is primarily targeting non-standard enterprises.”

“Where’s that? Are you referring to the financial sector?”

“Yes. Exactly. Banks, securities, credit, exchanges…. Initially, she was trading shares of common private firms, but at some point, she began to focus predominantly on small-scale financial institutions, almost akin to acquisitions.”

“……”

“Do you know how much it typically costs to acquire a small regional bank? It’s a staggering amount—hundreds of millions. Even selecting only those on the verge of bankruptcy and assuming she secretly borrowed funds from a ‘dark knight,’ it would still be an arduous task. Yet, Francesca is reportedly doing this.”

I opened a file given to me by an acquaintance. It contained copies of the acquisition contracts that the National Security Agency had obtained, detailing the banks’ assets and loan statuses in meticulous detail.

Sophia stated.

“Not all the acquisitions have been successful. Currently, Francesca has gained control of several bankrupt local banks and a few investment firms that went under due to trading issues, buying them at quite a bargain. Honestly, we could consider it a successful deal. But the source of the acquisition funds remains unclear.”

“The acquisition funds are said to be from purchasing nearly expired bonds at a discounted 50% price. That’s what Francesca’s hired legal firm representatives explained, and those documents were submitted to the relevant authorities.”

“But here’s an interesting fact? The bonds she acquired were all non-performing bonds that had been given up on by the financial sector. No matter how you look at it, they were bombs waiting to explode. Francesca bought them at half price, sold them at full value, and among them were foreign bonds with questionable repayment hopes. Yet, she seemingly suffered almost no losses.”

“…The point is this.”

“Where did Francesca Ranieri get the funds to acquire all those bonds?”

“In my opinion, it doesn’t seem like she earned that money cleanly and legitimately.”

—

“…Hmm.”

After much contemplation,

She dropped her lips with a snap.

“So, you’re saying the source of the funds used to acquire the financial institution is suspicious? It’s not just the acquisition funds, but also the money used for buying bonds and stocks to raise those acquisition funds. Isn’t that all illegal slush money earned through illicit means? That’s what you’re getting at, right?”

Sofia raised her eyebrows as if to say, ‘In conclusion, that’s about it.’

I nodded slowly while asking a question.

“Is this the head office’s assessment?”

I was inquiring whether the National Security Agency suspected that the source of the funds came from Francesca’s illegal economic activities—specifically, her criminal proceeds.

Sofia said no.

“No, that’s just my personal guess.”

“Then what are the higher-ups saying?”

“They acknowledge that the source is unclear, but given the circumstances, they find it difficult to probe deeper. As you know, tracing the flow of funds is a tough job, right? It has to be complicated.”

The term “flow of funds” here doesn’t simply mean the movement of money.

To put it plainly, it refers more closely to ‘taxes’ imposed on the money.

As the old sage said, ‘Death and taxes are unavoidable,’ taxation is a necessary reality. Even when you buy a snack at the supermarket, isn’t there a 10% VAT included in the price?

Typically, taxes are calculated based on the money I’ve earned (income) and the goods I possess, at a set rate. This legally defined percentage used to calculate taxes is called the tax rate.

However, income or goods with an unclear source do not have this tax rate applied. It goes without saying that it’s legally impossible to prove where, how, and by whom they were acquired.

Therefore, these ‘untraceable money and goods’ are often referred to as black money. Most commonly, they arise from criminal proceeds and are frequently revealed during rigorous tax audits conducted by the National Tax Service or financial authorities.

To summarize…

The National Security Agency suspects that Francesca used funds for acquiring banks, securities firms, and lending companies.

This means they are also questioning the ‘process’ by which those funds were raised, along with the so-called ‘capital’ that was labeled as bonds and stocks.

In technical terms, it’s called money laundering.

It’s the magical process of transforming illegal money into legal money.

“Buying stocks and bonds is obviously legal. There’s no question about that. Francesca diligently pays her securities transaction tax and dividend income tax, so who can argue with that? I’m just curious about where she got the money to invest.”

Sofia sighed softly in frustration.

“She might have attached taxes to the black money for the sake of investment, you know?”

“That’s the basis of money laundering. Once taxes are applied, it becomes legal money without further inquiry.”

Of course, money laundering isn’t as simple as it sounds. Whether it’s embezzlement, gambling, drugs, or anything else, any significant amount of money raised makes it suspicious with just a little movement.

That’s why criminals often move their money into high-value assets like paintings, jewelry, or watches.

As soon as the black money is converted into physical assets and publicly traded, ‘taxes’ arise, transforming it into ‘legal money.’

Hence, financial authorities around the globe in the 21st century are adamant about asking for the source of payment. They require proof of the income that was used to make the purchases.

That’s precisely the point I was bringing up.

“Send an official request to the National Tax Service of Patalia. Francesca’s personal assets and income mostly come from the Magic Tower, but there should be some income generated in your country, right? All her contacts are back home. Can we focus on reported foreign income?”

“Of course, we’ve done that. They said they found no significant issues. Ranieri is surprisingly a diligent taxpayer. They even mentioned she received some benefits. At this rate, she might soon be exempt from a tax audit.”

“And yet, it’s still suspicious?”

Sofia nodded while putting her hands in her coat pocket, shaking her head.

“Very.”

“Let’s hear the reasons.”

Various grounds were presented, and they could be summarized into three key points.

1. A significant amount of money moved through intermediary transactions, making tracking difficult.

“They use escrow quite a bit. With strong security and customer protection measures, it will be quite limited in terms of cooperation, even if we request assistance for investigation. The chances of them cooperating just because it’s suspected of being criminal proceeds is nearly zero.”

“Based on the financial crime statistics our authorities have compiled over the last 15 years, intermediary transactions like escrow have a high potential to be abused for crime. After all, legal systems and safeguards regarding this are quite inadequate. Let alone the firms associated with Francesca, we can’t even begin to discuss their terms.”

“It’s still a slightly lesser-known technique among criminals, but… Francesca was probably aware of those loopholes. That girl… she’s surprisingly sharp beyond just magic.”

2. Significant sums were spent on legal firm fees.

“I’m not accusing without reason. Francesca is currently active across the sea, and with no guarantee to be present on crucial contract days, it’s not strange for her to delegate complex acquisition protocols to a professional firm and pay them a substantial fee. That’s standard practice under normal circumstances.”

“However, paying that fee with slush funds to the lawyer and then receiving something back later is one of those well-known tax evasion routes. Under Patalian law, a state agency can’t seize legitimate fees received by a lawyer from a client.”

“Interestingly enough, the law firm that accepted Francesca’s request spent a considerable amount of the fees on relocating their office. Isn’t that odd? Spending extravagantly without a plan? The firm’s head has amassed a huge debt from past business failures, and instead of paying back, his spending only increased. It can only mean one of two things: either he has a businessman’s compulsive spending habit, or something shady is being hidden.”

“The more interesting fact is that those using this method the most frequently are the mafia in our country. And the area where Giovanni Ranieri established his family is in the southern region, where mafia influence is especially strong.”

3. Francesca Ranieri was the one managing the Oracle’s slush funds.

This was indeed the crux of the matter.

“You know that Francesca handled money during her tenure as the administrator of the Magic Tower Secretariat, right?”

“I do. You told me that.”

When I first arrived at the Magic Tower, Sofia had been monitoring Francesca’s activities closely.

She had also captured indications of illegal slush fund formation, acting under directives from above as the administrator who assisted the Oracle.

She had tracked even to the point of meetings with public company officials in the Kien Empire, where the Magic Tower is located, to discuss that.

Sofia pinpointed that aspect.

“An upper official from the Magic Tower managing the Oracle’s finances has begun to acquire financial institutions in our country. Though it’s still in the early stages, if it continues at this pace, voices of concern will undoubtedly arise in the economic sector soon.”

It implied that the Magic Tower’s capital may encroach upon Patalia’s financial sector.

If it actually progresses to capital intrusion, the Patalian government will not remain passive; however, it seemed the National Security Agency wanted to prevent such an unfortunate incident from occurring in advance.

Especially since it involved Ranieri.

I stroked my chin, pretending to think deeply before venturing.

“It has been over a year since she stepped down from her position as administrator. Considering the handover should be complete by now, it seems implausible to assume she would return there.”

“Yet, Merlo, weren’t you officially a companion of the Hero?”

“…Ah.”

That’s right.

I scratched the back of my head awkwardly, and Sofia looked at me with a playful smile.

“Anyway, that’s just my personal opinion.”

*Clap, clap.* The National Security Agency’s information officer began interjecting the conversation.

“If Francesca is trying to slyly devour Patalia’s financial institutions with the Oracle’s slush fund, ‘we’ must do everything possible to stop it. This is a matter directly related to industrial and economic security.”

“Are you worried about market disruption?”

“Broadly speaking, yes. Perhaps through the banks that Ranieri just acquired, she might provide massive loans to our nation’s companies and whisk them off to the Magic Tower, or the Ranieri family might be using that as a foundation for reclaiming their former glory…”

But the outcome remains the same.

Whether companies shift their headquarters to the Magic Tower under the pretext of going global, or the Ranieri family resurrects itself on a pile of gold.

For the Republic of Patalia, it is a painful loss and a severe security crisis.

The National Security Agency will not allow such outcomes.

As security assurance is the foremost principle of every information agency.

Naturally, individuals cannot be exceptions to that rule.

“……”

I concealed the National Security Agency document with the title “The Era of Madness” and tucked it into my pocket, then promptly placed the book back among this month’s bestsellers.

After double-checking my eavesdropping prevention equipment, I turned to Sofia and inquired.

“Can you look into it?”

“If I can help, I will.”

Sofia responded with a picture-perfect smile.

“We’re allies, after all. Friends too.”

I readily agreed to let her know if anything came up. With that, the contact ended.

“What’s the contact method?”

“Don’t worry.”

Sofia, sporting a newsboy cap, waved her hand as she left.

“I’ll come looking for you when the time is right.”

*

After concluding the meeting, I headed to the opposite side of the entrance where Sofia had exited.

I stepped onto the main road, meandering slowly along the side of the street while admiring the glass displays of the ground-level shop buildings, eventually standing at a crosswalk.

Abas’s traffic signaling, as sluggish as European civil servants, showed no consideration for pedestrians. I shivered from the cold, glanced around, and cursed the obstinately red light that didn’t seem to budge.

Finally unable to bear it anymore, I walked around the corner and hopped into a taxi.

My destination was a park. More specifically, a café near the park.

*Schwing…!*

After securing a seat in the warmly comforting café, I took a moment to thaw my frozen body with a latte and a cigarette.

The damned coffee prices seem to be outrageous wherever you go, and I was shocked to see the price of a latte equals three packs of cigarettes. It was the first time I found myself nostalgic for the stink of a 4000-won cigarette.

Once the latte neared the bottom, I returned to the street and aimlessly browsed the stalls.

A sudden recollection of my older sister Adela’s request to pick up something while coming back from the library prompted me to swing by the supermarket, ending at the library I often utilized since my academy days.

“…….”

Navigating through the bookshelves while keeping an eye out, I cautiously moved to a discreet corner. There was an old magical tool for document copying and transmission.

I opened the cover and inserted the document.

After entering the promised 16-digit number and inserting coins, I pressed the send button firmly.

*Weeeeee…*

Following the transmission of the condensed 15-page document, I pulled out a thick book and methodically slipped in the newly sent 15 pages along with the rest of the documents.

I’d needed a book thick and wide enough to cover the documents, so I grabbed whatever came to hand. But now I found a bizarre character wearing a gas mask adorning the cover. What on earth was this?

Seamlessly borrowing the book, I returned home.

As soon as I crossed the threshold, I was greeted by Adela’s blunt voice, signaling that the whimsical evening at the Nostrim residence was unfolding just as usual.

“Hey, foreign exchange offender. Where the hell have you been wandering around until now?”

“Why am I a foreign exchange offender? I’m not a criminal or anything.”

“You are a criminal! The things you do every day are crimes, aren’t they?”

This was what a public servant (though the diplomats’ perspective should also be considered) often sounded like, one who travels outside for leisure expenses via taxpayer money.

Adela sprang out, quickly snatching the shopping bag I was carrying. It reminded me of the beggar I once saw in Berlin.

I couldn’t help but raise my eyebrows in disbelief.

“I went shopping and at least expected pocket money, yet here I am, already facing cold shoulder?”

Adela, with a slightly hurtful glare, placed her hands on her hips and glared back.

“Starting today, you cook dinner.”

“I love you, sis. You know my heart, right?”

“Have this instead, little brother.”

As Adela swayed her waist and headed into the kitchen, I looked at her leaving figure with a bemused expression, thinking ‘who would want to take her?’

I set the book from the library on the table and sorted through the documents I had retrieved.

Although it was handed over by Sofia, this was still a document from the National Security Agency, so it needed to be classified as confidential and stored securely.

Of course, I had already leaked this document outside. The target was Francesca. The report produced by the National Security Agency about its own subject.

If it were known that I had handed over the ‘target of scrutiny report’ to the subject itself, the Abas military tribunal would instantly prosecute me for espionage. However, the Military Intelligence Agency and Royal Intelligence Department would not impose any disciplinary action regarding that leak.

This was something done with permission.

The approval was granted by Leoni.

“… Yes, Director. We have docked. I’ll identify the cargo list as soon as confirmed. Yes, then please proceed.”

I reported via the line that I had delivered the information document. If I received a reply from Francesca confirming receipt of the document, I would follow up with additional reports.

Leoni instructed that when the reply comes, I should prepare for an in-person briefing before terminating the communication.

I then gazed at the back phone with a bittersweet expression and fell silent.

“…….”

To be honest, it was difficult to say that my relationship with Francesca was even lukewarm.

Whether in public or private, our relationship was in a near pre-war state.

When I sent inquiries about her well-being, there were no responses, and I only received fragmented news transmitted through Camila’s channels.

Except for the communications related to work, Francesca hasn’t responded to any contact. It was practically bordering on being unreachable.

Moreover, the reason was wholly my fault.

This was unmistakably my oversight.

“Ugh….”

Sighing deeply, I grabbed a bottle of whiskey I had bought from the market.

It felt like a good idea just to consume it and find some sleep.

“Oh, wait! The cup!”

Suddenly realizing the absence of a cup, I went back down to the first floor where the kitchen was located.

“Sis, can I borrow a cup?”

“Why not get it yourself?”

“Oh come on….”

“Who’s mocking you? Huh?”

Adela scrunched her face as if to protest, “Right now, I have a knife!” The hysteria of an unmarried woman (acknowledged by her parents) was just that terrifying.

Of course, I wanted to prank or provoke my sister, but unfortunately, Ayla, the sibling who usually accompanied me on such antics, was currently abroad.

That being said, it would be madness to provoke Adela now.

One could easily get a real knife incision while teasing someone wielding one, and if I said the wrong thing, I might end up with a change in this evening’s dinner menu.

“What’s for dinner?”

“Something I like.”

“Me?”

“No, ‘something’ that I like.”

“… You jerk.”

Adela kept chopping rhythmically on the cutting board before playfully sticking her tongue out at me. What was that? Did she mean to pick a fight?

“Carrots aren’t bad, though… let’s leave out the carrots.”

“Do you really think it makes sense to be this old and still picky? But wait, where did you get that alcohol?”

Adela, who was busy preparing dinner, immediately looked up, her eyes bulging. The icy glare was fixed firmly on the whiskey bottle.

At that moment, the sweet aroma of cooking rice instantly transformed the kitchen into a hellish sulfur of revolting stench. The knife she was chopping carrots with suddenly morphed into an executioner’s blade poised for the condemned. A terrible demon emerged in the kitchen.

At least, that was how it appeared to me.

“You—”

“…!”

As Adela’s face reddened, brandishing her knife and threatening to take my liquor away, I quickly grabbed a cup from the cabinet and bolted outside the townhouse, cradling the whiskey.

At this point, there was no option but to escape. I had to flee to the official residence and hide.

‘Stop drinking!’ I disregarded the shouting from behind as I hurriedly threw on my shoes and dashed down the street.

And then—

*BANG!*

A vehicle that was illegally parked in front of my house unexpectedly honked the horn.

“…?”

“What the?!”

Both Adela, who had rushed out and grabbed at my clothing, and I, who had been banging against the wall, froze in place.

Staring blankly, exchanging confused glances.

Finally, the car that honked approached slowly, rolling down the window to greet us.

“Hello~ Long time no see! Your sister, right?”

“…Um.”

Adela let out a peculiar sound, turning motionless on the spot. I was equally struck dumb.

I stared at the familiar figure seated at the driver’s side.

Why the hell is this person here?

“And you, Colonel.”

Regardless, Veronica greeted us with her captivating eyes sparkling as she greeted us.

What a long-awaited familiar face it was.

 

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