A Dark Fantasy Spy

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– “As you know, the black operation violates international law and current regulations. However, it’s the judgment of the higher-ups that we must ensure the hero’s safety at any cost for the security of the kingdom.”

An order was given.

– “Any form of operation is fair game. With your current status, any kind of operation that isn’t permitted is now possible. You may utilize somewhat aggressive means for information collection and smooth mission execution.”

It was an order to succeed in the mission by any means necessary.

– “If needed, you can recruit agents from the local area, and you are free to use the intelligence agency’s spies and facilities. If you request it, I will provide you with a disguise and equipment immediately. If necessary, funding support as well as classified and military-nonmilitary assistance will also be guaranteed.”

The colonel declared complete freedom to me, yet…

– “Major. You must stop the terrorists and find the masterminds. You must.”

Ironically, I had no freedom to refuse that.

—

Episode 2 – Heroes of the Continent

A quiet conference room. A secretive place, thoroughly managed by the intelligence department. A place meticulously inspected every day for eavesdropping devices. In that small chamber, three spies gathered.

I lowered my voice as much as possible.

“The intelligence agency has authorized the black operation. Any questions?”

Pippin was silent, and Jake swallowed dryly. Even a rookie with three years of service would understand what this order meant.

“…The black operation is originally handled by the Blacks, but considering the seriousness of the situation, we are tasked with it.”

We had become an ambiguous existence—not White or Black, but Gray.

“The command is mine, and you will assist me. Our mission is simple: to fight for the hero’s safety.”

I didn’t bother adding nonsense about national interests; everyone already knew.

I shoved a handwritten document in front of them as a measure to maintain confidentiality.

“As this operation transcends legal bounds, the state will spare no support for a successful mission, but in a crisis, the state cannot guarantee your safety.”

Pippin and Jake calmly signed the confidentiality agreement.

“From this moment on, we can utilize all assets of the Military Intelligence Agency. We can mobilize agents and use the spy network and safe houses freely.”

The intelligence agency willingly handed over all its assets.

“Disguises and operational funds will be provided to recruit informants, and you may resort to coercive means if necessary. Make sure to obtain the information.”

Jake quietly raised his hand.

“Colonel, are you referring to torture?”

“It’s an order from the higher-ups to use any means necessary.”

“….”

“I’d prefer not to, but we may have to if required.”

Silence enveloped the conference room.

“Use any means necessary and ensure mission success.”

I leaned forward, resting my arms on the table.

“As soon as the official schedule starts, I will be assigned to closely protect the hero. You will support the protection from the rear for the hero’s safety.”

So, I meant…

“Find that bastard who exploded the bomb right in the middle of the street. We must find him.”

—

“Alright! On three! One, two, three!”

The camera shutter clicked like fireworks. Camila Lowell and Priestess Lucia exchanged bright smiles and shook hands.

It was a historic photo commemorating the hero’s first official schedule.

Surrounded by applause from cardinals and bishops in front of the beautiful cult building, the two women appeared genuinely happy.

A swarm of journalists, seemingly waiting for this moment, rushed in with microphones. From afar, they looked like a horde of zombies.

Pushing away the microphones that were almost poking my face, I dove into the crowd.

“Camila Lowell here!”

“Colonel Frederick!”

“It’s been a while, Priestess Lucia.”

“Nice to see you, Colonel.”

The noise around us was so loud that I could barely hear, yet I could figure out their words from their lip movements and expressions. While Priestess Lucia’s response was a simple nod and smile, Camila was waving her hands joyfully with her entire body radiating excitement.

I too smiled back, waving casually.

The media seemed to portray such moments positively.

Honestly, I didn’t trust the press much, but the intelligence agency’s public opinion polls suggested that people felt some charm in Camila Lowell’s demeanor.

Her simple, earnest, and optimistic personality was rare in these times, so perhaps they were drawn to her untainted innocence.

A protagonist who maintains their spirit even under tough circumstances—considering such characters sell well in shonen manga, she might have been quite beloved back on Earth.

“Shall we move on to the next location?”

“Yes! Let’s go together, Lucia!”

Naturally, Camila Lowell linked arms with Lucia and led her inside the building. It was a surreal scene to see the normally composed Priestess Lucia look flustered and taken aback.

I followed them, blending into the crowd.

Suddenly, one agent approached me discreetly and whispered.

“There are currently no threats detected outside the building. The interior remains clean and free of risks.”

“The outside is handled by the Inquisition folks, so let them post a few guards and let everyone else inside.”

I did not know their names nor ages. Their affiliation was irrelevant, and rank held no meaning.

I simply commanded as the on-site commander, and the agent obeyed without protest.

Leaving the departing agent behind, I quietly joined the heroic group.

The contradictory combination of the small crimson-haired girl and the blonde girl was surprisingly well-matched.

As I approached, Camila turned her head sharply, seemingly sensing my presence. She beamed a wide smile.

“Colonel Frederick, please let me know the next schedule!”

I am not your manager, you know.

“You’ll have a brief meeting with the cult officials, followed by a light lunch. Afterward, you’ll attend an event nearby and then have dinner with the cardinals and bishops.”

“Wow, such a tight schedule! When do I get a break?”

“You’ll be done with dinner by around 11 PM, so you can get a decent amount of sleep afterward.”

Camila Lowell’s schedule seemed quite tight.

She’s moving to over five locations a day, keeping up a celebrity-like pace. Just participating in the cult’s official events was already grueling, and if she started engaging in serious external activities, she might suffer from lack of sleep.

Of course, one could always consider canceling the schedule for travel time and safety.

I had the authority to do so. Though I’d be chewed out afterward, I didn’t expect any issues as long as it was a rightful act of power.

“Wow, is it really that packed?”

Priestess Lucia’s eyes widened. Ever since becoming the punching bag for the bishops, she’d mostly stopped engaging in external activities, so the pace of Camila Lowell must have seemed lethal to her.

“Eh, but considering this, it’s still on the lighter side.”

“Camila, if you keep that up every day, you’ll collapse.”

Lucia looked on at Camila with a bittersweet smile.

Back when she served as a healing priestess in the Empire-Magic Realm conflict area before she grew up, I had heard she once fainted from working non-stop for a week in the corridor.

Remembering such a time, Priestess Lucia gazed at Camila with a worried expression.

Whether she knew of Lucia’s concern or not, Camila remained smiling with her arm linked with Lucia.

“Priestess Lucia, do you really like me that much? Please let go of my arm since we are in public.”

“Eh! What does it matter? We’re colleagues! Colonel, would you like to join us too?”

Oh, shit.

It was quite a tempting offer, but I had to refuse. There was a decorum to maintain as a soldier and diplomat.

And considering the conservative old-timers of the cult, I would surely earn a torrent of curses for linking arms like that.

Understanding this cult’s atmosphere well, Priestess Lucia began to gently advise her.

“Camila, that’s a bit inappropriate for the Colonel.”

“Is it?”

“Physical contact between the sexes who do not engage socially is taboo according to the cult’s doctrine.”

When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

I emitted a vibe accordingly, and Camila nodded in understanding. It must have surprised her to see something contradicting her usual norms.

With a mind of “I guess that could happen!”, Camila was actively accepting the culture of this world.

Despite her actions, she had a remarkably composed disposition.

“Then, Priestess Lucia, you must have enjoyed intense physical activities, right?”

“I used to love horseback riding the most. How about you, Camila?”

“I love swimming! I can swim well in the sea or rivers, anywhere!”

“Swimming is great! Just staying still underwater can be so calming for both body and mind….”

Somehow, it seemed Camila Lowell and Priestess Lucia had found a good rhythm together. Observing many overlapping small preferences or hobbies, they seemed to be at the level of best friends.

If only all my other colleagues got along this well, I’d have no wishes left.

“Priestess Lucia, what has Cardinal Raul been up to these days?”

“Ah….”

Priestess Lucia’s graceful features frowned slightly. Though accustomed to people, she managed her expressions skillfully, but I certainly caught on.

“I’m busy, so I don’t know what he’s been up to, but he seems to be doing fine as always.”

“I see.”

It seemed that Lucia and Raul’s relationship had grown distant. The sensitive topic briefly dampened the mood, but thanks to Camila’s lively grip on Lucia’s arm, the atmosphere revived.

As we exchanged small talk, we soon reached the front of the conference room. The heavy doors swung open as knights on either side stood at attention, and people began to enter. I turned to Camila Lowell and spoke.

“I will step out for a moment.”

“Where are you going?”

“I’ll be having a simple meal with some officials while you’re in the meeting. I’ll return by the time lunch begins.”

I left under the pretense of a brief meeting while having a meal for security duties.

The heavy door gently closed behind me.

Dozens of knights and suit men began controlling the building for the meeting’s security.

As I crossed the hallway, I exchanged strange glances with the suit men.

Time to get to work.

—

There are three main methods of intelligence collection.

Human Intelligence (HUMINT)
Signal Intelligence (SIGINT)
Open Source Intelligence (OSINT)

It might sound like a complex and impressive term, but put simply, it means spying, eavesdropping, and Googling.

Meeting with agents from the Imperial Guard HQ and the Inquisition Director to exchange information was part of HUMINT, while Pippin checking newspaper articles in the past was OSINT.

Of course, the actual process of intelligence collection isn’t done crudely. Hundreds of analysts rush in to cross-reference with databases, and undergo complicated and burdensome procedures involving verification with recruited supporters.

One must check for any gaps in key information judgments, verify that cognitive biases did not influence the analysis, categorize information judgment probabilities into percentage ranges, and argue with meticulous analysts to root out errors and logical flaws.

Only after going through these procedures can ‘information’ finally be produced.

There might still be inaccuracies even after going through these convoluted verification processes, but that’s a story for another time.

In the end, what I want to say is, in this field, the thirsty ones must dig to unearth anything.

So, I decided to dig the well myself.

“Welcome!”

As I opened the restaurant door, one staff member began to guide me.

They pressed a button on their microphone and murmured something while leading me through a bustling kitchen filled with chefs to the back, where a storage room awaited.

Entering a password into the lock, the iron door, marked “No Entry for Non-Staff,” swung open.

The staff member bowed their head as they opened the aging storage room door.

“Have a good time.”

—

Stepping through the door revealed a war room bustling with people.

Tactical maps and situation boards hung on the walls, while agents in civilian clothes busied themselves in front of military gear.

A woman with short hair who was flipping through documents on a clipboard approached me. It was Pippin.

“Colonel, you’ve arrived!”

Glancing at my watch, I found I had about an hour before the next schedule. Though it wasn’t enough time to accomplish much, it was sufficient to receive some briefings. I extended one finger, and Pippin began her report upon noticing.

“After eavesdropping on communications delivered to the Kien Empire Embassy for five days, we managed to pinpoint the activity zones of the Imperial Guard HQ agents.”

Pippin indicated red pins stuck on a large map—the starting points of the communications.

Since they didn’t notify us about their informants to protect their own interests, we had to uncover it ourselves.

Once I located the informants he mentioned, I planned to force them to spill whatever they knew by any means necessary.

“The agents are presumed to be reporting within a 3 km radius of the embassy. All confirmed communications occurred within buildings, which are believed to be designated safe houses by the Imperial Guard HQ.”

“And who owns those buildings?”

“Commercial buildings registered under a company name. Here’s the list of the companies.”

Taking the clipboard, I read through it slowly.

“Upon checking, they were all shell companies. Even when looking for factories or offices, they were all locked up.”

It was a front company—a common method used by intelligence agencies in overseas operations. It appeared they spent quite a sum on paperwork. If we rummaged through these, something might surely turn up.

“Assign someone to watch and see who comes and goes.”

“Understood.”

“Just take pictures without following them. I’ll cross-reference identities with the intelligence agency’s database later.”

“Should I also eavesdrop on their communications while I’m at it?”

One agent, manipulating eavesdropping equipment behind Pippin, flinched. It seemed they instinctively realized they were in for a late-night grind.

I felt a bit sorry for them.

“You feeling confident over there?”

I nodded and stood up.

“Alright, it’s either a hit or miss, so let’s proceed.”

—

Time flowed like an overturned hourglass.

The hero had successfully fulfilled their official schedule, and our operation mobilizing the intelligence agency’s resources was gradually making progress.

As usual, Pippin started her report in a calm voice.

“We just received a report. The hero has gone to sleep.”

“Did Jake eat yet?”

“He hasn’t eaten yet, apparently.”

“In that case, relay to him to grab some dinner.”

“It’s already midnight, though.”

“Did you all skip dinner? I’ll treat you, so let’s eat nearby.”

With the hero moving around, our schedule became slightly tighter.

The report stated that the hero would rest for over seven hours, but “rest” essentially included meal times.

“Cardinal Raphael contacted us. He inquired if the event could be expedited.”

“Why’s that old man so impatient?”

“He seems to have gotten anxious after some recent backlash.”

After the bombing incident, Cardinal Raphael had faced criticism within the church.

His past as a former Inquisition Director had backfired. It’s natural for him to receive flak for being in charge while a bomb went off at an event he hosted.

The bishops were scolding him, and it seems like he intends for the hero to keep appearing unharmed at events to quell the public sentiment.

That wouldn’t be achievable.

“Tell him not to mess around. It’s obvious they failed the security checks at the venue. Did he plan to kill someone?”

“I’ve already prepared things in advance.”

“Oh wow! Good work, good work. You’re an SSS-level minion, Pippin.”

“Thank you!”

We casually bantered back and forth.

Recently, I had been feeling a bit off, and any small talk would just slip out at this point.

After all, we used to roast the grumpy seniors while having meals together, so there was no aversion to joking around.

“The Inquisition’s investigation results have come in. They reported that the explosives used in the attack entered via smuggling routes.”

“They’ve certainly caught the smugglers to interrogate them, so let’s focus on other leads.”

“Foreign diplomats don’t undergo luggage checks on arrival. Should we investigate those diplomats?”

“Right.”

Some leads on the bombing incident were beginning to emerge.

“The communication intercept from the embassy indicates an expanded range of activities.”

“How far has it extended?”

“A few signals have been detected in the outer regions of the cult.”

“Let’s set up an office there. As the distance increases, it’ll make it easier to pinpoint the sending location and eavesdrop as well.”

We were slowly achieving something here.

“We received intel from headquarters. They are currently checking the routes Cardinal Raul took during his stay in the kingdom, but there are discrepancies between the reported details and the actual movement paths.”

“That’s the colonel’s business to handle. Just in case, plant a mole near Raul.”

“I’ll contact his closest aides first.”

-Ding ding.

What’s that sound?

As I glanced at Pippin, she busily fished something out.

“What is that?”

“It’s a phone made by the Magic Tower.”

“When did they start producing those?”

“I bought it on installments. Everyone’s carrying it around these days; don’t you have one, Colonel?”

Feeling a bit caught off guard, I scratched the back of my head.

What’s this? I definitely had my share of smartphones back in my day. Yet it felt like I hadn’t kept up with the flow of time since arriving here.

It was akin to being an indigenous person face-to-face with a civilized society.

As I mulled over whether I was the out-of-touch old geezer or not, Pippin, looking at the phone caught my attention, had a slightly serious expression.

“…We just received intel.”

“Let’s hear it.”

“They found the mysterious thug who attacked you, Colonel.”