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The sword was drawn.

Two of them.

– “The Imperial Foreign Affairs Department announced that it would freeze the public assets held by the Magic Tower and nationalize the invested assets.”

– “Some analysts suggest that this move may lead to a default declaration against the Magic Tower…”

– “Following the sanctions announcement, the Magic Tower’s stock market plunged over 20% in a catastrophic crash…”

Economic sanctions.

The Magic Tower had its entire investment in the Empire tied up, blocking the flow of money, which was its greatest driving force.

As foreign capital fled due to the imperial sword dance, the Magic Tower’s economy quickly deteriorated into a limping state.

– “The Imperial Police are conducting a massive preliminary crackdown to stabilize the unstable southern regions…”

– “Large-scale armored units were spotted near the city of Nastasia early in the morning…”

– “The Spokesperson of the Ministry of Defense claimed it was a redeployment to support counter-espionage operations in the northern conflict areas, but some suspect it is a preparation for military action against the Magic Tower…”

At the same time, the Imperial Police began to arrest magicians.

It was a declaration to rectify discipline by capturing those who stirred division and exacerbated social chaos, but no one knew who those “unscrupulous people” really were. Even amid all this, armored units departing from their bases were reported near the Magic Tower.

I couldn’t even grasp what was happening.

However, there was only one thing I knew at that moment.

The Empire had declared total war on the Magic Tower.

That was all.

—

Episode 5 – Journalist, Diplomat, Soldier, Spy

The Empire declared war on the Magic Tower. It wasn’t a military clash but a diplomatic war, though the international community treated it as a situation akin to war.

And it was the information agencies that took this situation the most seriously.

All intelligence agencies monitoring the Empire and the Magic Tower were on high alert.

The communication network connecting command centers and field operations was immediately activated, and all active information officers and operatives were put on alert.

The Military Intelligence Agency was no exception.

“Wake up the branch manager immediately and assess the situation!”

“Have we confirmed the locations of the staff? What? Hey! You’ve got to be kidding me! You can’t be serious about not having their status when they’re all about to be arrested!?”

“Yes, report the urgent status based on the forces spotted near the Magic Tower and their organization.”

It was due to police crackdowns and movements of rear units.

Among the Military Intelligence Agency’s duties is information collection on foreign troops, and thus, the movements of the Imperial Army had to be tracked in real time.

But there were no human intelligence assets that could be moved in the field.

The police had already blared their presence in front of foreign journalists, declaring that anyone caught causing trouble would be thrown into jail.

So, other information assets were mobilized.

“Team one and team two, conduct aerial reconnaissance! Gather your gear and assemble!”

“Starting now, we are going to intercept Imperial Army communications. Connect all listening posts and intelligence collection units on standby.”

“We’ve entered the Empire’s territorial waters. Everyone stay vigilant and prepare for combat. Over.”

“Team leaders, collect all articles currently surfacing in foreign media. Major, minor, magazines, everything.”

All units under the Military Intelligence Agency were deployed for duty.

Magicians were tracking troop movements high above the Empire’s borders while naval information units were skirting a fine line between international waters and territorial seas, eavesdropping on Imperial Army communications.

Officers directed operations in the command center with radios, non-commissioned officers and civilian workers analyzed gathered information while flipping through TV channels, and soldiers were drafting documents at a frenzied pace.

In the meantime, I grabbed the receiver and shouted.

“What’s the situation on-site? Is everyone safe?!”

– “There are police lined up everywhere on the streets. It’s particularly intense near the Magic Tower. I can’t see any way to get in.”

“The headquarters is looking for a way in. For now, stay alert and keep a close watch on the Imperial movements…”

Of course, it wasn’t as if the intelligence officers and operatives were just sitting around.

Information officers disguised as diplomats were roaming around collecting intelligence, and operatives who were confident they wouldn’t be caught by counter-intelligence agencies made contact with information agents.

Some risked their lives brazenly crossing front lines, while others rushed to the scene without leaving a note.

As a result, countless pieces of intel waiting for analysis and freshly processed information piled up in the database, and all intelligence agencies relayed this to relevant bodies while convening emergency meetings.

Only 11 hours elapsed before the situation was resolved.

After a long and grueling night, dawn was breaking.

—

“Manager. The situation has been resolved.”

“…….”

“Manager…?”

“…You can head home first.”

“…Yes. I understand. Take care of yourself.”

After sending Jake off, I sat alone in the office, blankly staring.

“…….”

It was the longest, most intense dawn I had ever experienced.

The window facing the hallway glowed; a nonchalant non-commissioned officer, burnt out from youth, was mechanically pulling out copier paper.

I turned on the terminal and accessed the intelligence agency’s database.

In the brief moment I glanced away, 28 pieces of info had come in, and 46 pieces of intel had been recorded.

[Navy reconnaissance unit encountered enemy patrol boats while on mission. No engagement.]

[Injuries reported at Base 532 of Brigade 510. Suspected overwork. Transported to nearby military hospital.]

[Deaths occurred in the 7th Air Intelligence Unit. Shot down by enemy anti-aircraft defense during mission. Fell into No Man’s Land. Recovery and destruction of equipment failed.]

[Troops stationed in the city of Nastasia confirmed as Army’s 14th Armored Brigade, 2nd Battalion.]

[Security checks intensified in the southern region of the Empire. Checkpoints confirmed set up at major roads.]

[Missing person incident reported at the Empire’s branch. Signs of struggle found at the accommodation. Dispatch recovery team.]

[An unknown explosion was observed in the southern region. No information on perpetrators, extent of damage, or official response available.]

[Interception reveals directives to reinforce alert in enemy naval and ground anti-air units. Border openings confirmed. Search teams initiated.]

“……”

I disconnected and shut off the terminal.

Sunlight streamed through the blinds, casting shadows on the screen where faces seemed to linger.

I stared for a while, unable to discern any expression.

After some thought, I rose from my seat, turned off the office lights, and stepped into the hallway.

The lights fizzled and then went out.

Thus, one star set while another was drawn…

—

“…Is there something wrong?”

“No.. nothing’s wrong.”

The world had turned upside down.

There was no need to explain how or where it had flipped. The media had already reported it.

– “Yes, we spoke with the economics professor and the political science professor to examine what the newly announced additional measures by the Empire this morning might mean.”

– “It’s practically a warning. It may sound odd to say this, but the Magic Tower isn’t a nation, is it? Even within the Empire, there are quite a few cult followers, so how might the Magic Tower’s actions influence the Empire’s government…”

– “An unexplained explosion occurred in the southern industrial zone of the Empire. When asked about the perpetrators and the precise scale of damage, the Public Security Department’s spokesperson evaded the question, stating it is an ongoing investigation…”

– “Patalia has not retracted its support for the Magic Tower. However, amid criticism from opposition parties, a cautious perspective is emerging, and the general election scheduled for early next year…”

– “The Cult National Affairs Council is…”

Official statements did not express any stance. Meanwhile, the Pope sparked controversy by mentioning that magic is related to demonic abilities during the mass battle…

– “The theocratic state! A dictatorial state! Religious figures are inciting riots, everyone! Is this even reasonable?”

– “Isn’t the Magic Tower stock continuing to decline? If so, wouldn’t it be wise to invest in Patalia instead of the Magic Tower or the Empire?”

– “Yesterday around 11 PM, our navy ship fired warning shots at an Imperial Navy patrol vessel in international waters…”

Some information was disclosed to the press, while sensitive information was not reported due to news control, and some information never even reached the ears of journalists.

Politicians, professors, former officials, and policy researchers appeared on the news, spouting their opinions. The media gobbled it up and competed to broadcast it, with ratings soaring to the ceiling.

And in a hotel room, Camila watching TV spoke up.

“Is a war coming…?”

“That won’t happen.”

The Saint of the Cult, Lucia, watching the news beside Camila opened her mouth.

“It’s a common occurrence. Such things.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

Looking back on my 28 years of life, such an incident was by no means common in this world.

However, Camila wasn’t from this neighborhood, and having landed here less than six months ago, her naivety was understandable. After all, it was something a friend said.

Lucia, wearing the same pajamas, reassured Camila with a well-intentioned lie.

“Don’t worry too much.”

“…Hmm.”

“……”

Camila twirled her scarlet hair around her finger, letting out a hum. Lost in thought, she briefly fell silent, then nodded in acceptance.

Watching her, I exchanged glances with Lucia and quietly stepped back.

Lucia picked up the remote and said to Camila.

“Let’s watch some entertainment. That… country? Was it the UK? They have entertainment too, right?”

“They do, but I’m not sure if it’s similar to our entertainment…”

Lucia flipped through the channels, claiming she would show a fantastic entertainment program from this world. Just then, a famous comedy show was on air, featuring a goblin holding a mic and making self-deprecating comments about racial discrimination.

– “Alright. Everybody listen up. I was out shopping early in the morning, headed home to meet the construction worker Orc I live with in a semi-basement. Then I was walking while puffing on some magic herb after a long time. But a cop approached me and said it was drug enforcement period and asked me to accompany him to the police station. So I asked why I had to be subjected to drug enforcement. He said the magic herb I was holding was suspicious as marijuana! Meanwhile, a beastman in a mask was flicking a lighter while holding a tampon-stuffed liquor bottle nearby! Yet they only arrested me! If I’d had cat ears on, I bet the cop wouldn’t have arrested me!”

The audience chuckled and laughed. The goblin, with his ridiculous gestures and whimsical talk, satirized the harsh reality, and the more the comedy reached its peak, the louder the humans laughed.

Lucia laughed at that, and Camila also seemed to enjoy the peculiar sight, subtly curling her lips into a smile.

However, the goblin’s humor and the audience’s laughter did not reach my ears.

“……”

I quietly opened the door and walked out into the hallway. And I wandered aimlessly.

“……”

The Empire declared war on the Magic Tower. For now, it was a warning phase, wrapped in diplomatic language, but there was no hesitation in demonstrating a show of force considering the intention of military intervention.

Of course, it wasn’t merely a simple warning.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ economic sanctions tightened around the Magic Tower with each passing moment, and with blockades enforced by the police and military, the Magic Tower was cut off from external contact.

While it wasn’t determined exactly what orders the Emperor issued, it was clear that he chose a compromise between the hardliners and moderates of the Imperial Army. If he truly wanted to replace the Oracle of the Magic Tower, he could have simply crushed the tower with armored units.

Perhaps they were already orchestrating overthrowing work through the information agencies.

To undermine the prestige of the Oracle Committee through psychological warfare, to block support going to the Magic Tower through diplomatic efforts, and to send assassins to wipe them all out. Whether to disguise their deaths as accidents or natural causes, they would likely do it. They probably wouldn’t kill them with a gun, as that would appear to be martyrdom.

I know it well.

The CIA in America did it, the KGB in the Soviet Union did, and the SIS in the UK and DGSE in France, along with Mossad in Israel, have pulled similar tricks numerous times.

There’s no way I wouldn’t know. That’s why I already foresaw what would happen.

“……”

If the Magic Tower does not stop here and declares independence, and if the Emperor decides to assassinate the Magic Tower Oracle, then the Imperial Guard HQ and the Reconnaissance Command will likely behave similarly.

Maybe.

Maybe.

I repeated countless possibilities.

The psychology and judgment I did not know. The international circumstances surrounding the Magic Tower. The Empire’s determination and the Cult’s movements. A fierce three-way battle that could upend diplomacy. The hidden agendas behind it all. Each position and each desire.

A foggy political landscape.

The mist of information obscuring my sight, someone’s raving opinions dominating the thoughts.

What should I do?

What can I do?

Lost in such thoughts, I found myself at the end of the hallway.

And there, I encountered.

“……”

“…You’ve come?”

“…Any new news?”

“Yes.”

I met with the information agent.

Veronica, looking tired, managed a bittersweet smile.

“You look quite unwell.”

“I worked overtime.”

“…I heard news about the border. We have little time, so I’ll keep it brief.”

She began to speak.

“The Magic Tower is set to open its doors soon.”

“……”

“The Agremment issue will be resolved.”

 

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