A Dark Fantasy Spy

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Pippin thought it was quite an awkward situation.

Recently, she was living a remarkably tough life with an average of only six hours of rest per day.

With work piling up, she felt like she was losing her mind and eventually split her tasks with her colleague from the Information Agency.

Lately, she had been only focusing on operations such as surveillance, stalking, and background checks.

Of course, analyzing the intelligence reports coming in from across the cult and writing up the documents wasn’t exactly an easy task.

Still, she was managing to hang in there for now.

Her superior wasn’t piling on work, and her colleague was diligently handling his assigned tasks as well.

Leaving aside the problem of being short-staffed, she thought it was a pretty decent operation team.

After all, the Information Agency itself was chronically understaffed. Considering that intelligence agents were high-caliber personnel, it wasn’t really a big issue.

Other operation teams faced betrayals from spies who got entangled with enemy forces or made wrong judgments leading to the extermination of dozens.

And as she thought, the Colonel was capable enough that no major issues seemed likely to arise.

He had received a medal for a single battle and was swiftly promoted from captain in the notoriously infamous department managing the Kien Empire. He even made it to the rank of Colonel at just 28 years old.

Now, he wasn’t just an operative but also an operative of the Military Intelligence Agency, holding command over black operations.

Even though Pippin was still inexperienced and the youngest, she knew that having command over black operations wasn’t a position one could simply gain through someone’s protection.

It meant her superior was an elite who attracted the attention of high-ranking officials.

Of course, he was playful, had questionable pasts, and given how he broke away from the Inquisition Director and the cult, he seemed to have a bit of a quirky nature.

Despite the lengthy explanation, to summarize briefly, Pippin trusted the Colonel. She believed that no matter what problems arose, he would handle them well.

So, after submitting the final report, she finally drifted off to sleep.

“…What’s happening?”

“Put on some clothes!”

The Colonel appeared out of nowhere, fully dressed in civvies.

Glancing toward the door, she saw her colleague also in casual clothes, yawning.

“It’s two in the morning…? What’s going on…?”

“That’s why we need to move. We have to get to the Safe House before dawn, so hurry up and wash your face.”

“The Safe House…?”

“Safe House No. 5.”

Safe House No. 5.

As soon as she recalled that they were detaining a counterintelligence agent from the Imperial Guard HQ there, Pippin’s mind snapped to attention.

“Did he… die?!”

“No.”

The Colonel looked up at the clock hanging on the wall.

“Apparently, he woke up fifteen minutes ago.”

—

Episode 2 – Heroes of the Continent

Far away from the center of the cult, we three had arrived at a villa somewhere on the mountainside.

The path leading to the villa was gravel-strewn and softly illuminated, creating a charming atmosphere.

An elderly woman sitting on a bench in front of the stairs greeted us with a warm smile.

“What brings such young folks here at this hour…?”

“I feel like a rain shower is coming, so we’re looking for shelter.”

The old woman, smiling kindly, began to guide us.

I followed behind the old woman with a blank expression while Pippin and Jake looked on, bewildered.

“Weren’t we supposed to go to the Safe House?”

Pippin whispered to me quietly, but the old woman must have had sharp ears because she answered.

“This is the Safe House.”

“Is that so?”

The two of them had silly expressions, like they had just opened a pizza box only to find a pineapple pizza inside.

Before we knew it, the old woman stopped walking and moved a hidden door aside, saying, “Welcome to Safe House No. 5.”

—

Safe House No. 5.

Commonly referred to as the Villa.

One of several Safe Houses established within the cult during a time when fierce intelligence wars were ongoing.

Its purpose was interrogation and questioning. Now, with the fervor of this intelligence war dwindling, they were considering shutting down the facility.

To be precise, it was primarily due to claims from the Ministry of Finance and Economy that the maintenance costs were too high, but still.

“I’ve managed this place for fifty years, and I never dreamed this door would open again.”

With a kind smile, the old woman moved the heavy iron door aside.

Despite the peaceful aura the villa radiated after so many years, opening the door leading to the basement revealed a stark concrete structure, like a scene from a movie featuring a secret base.

The old woman leaned on her staff and slowly began to guide us.

Despite her age and the significant gap in years, she consistently treated us with polite demeanor.

“This is the first Safe House established within the cult 78 years ago.”

She shared stories entwined with the history of the facility for quite a while, and just as her tale was winding down, Pippin asked a question.

“Why do we call it No. 5 if it’s the first Safe House?”

“For security reasons.”

I added to clarify, “As counterintelligence. If the official name is Safe House No. 5, when the Inquisition discovers it, they’ll think there are five Safe Houses.”

“Ah….”

“They’ll be poking around looking for others, which is just a waste of time, money, and resources.”

Spreading misinformation to weaken the counterintelligence agency’s efforts.

So, they would use the Safe House until it could be discovered, getting as much information as possible while also enjoying the false success of the public security forces.

In most intelligence wars, misinformation serves such a role.

Thus, analysts always first suspect whether incoming intelligence is true or not.

Of course, right now, that’s not the priority.

“While there are more Safe Houses now, at that time, Safe House No. 5 was the only one.”

“Then how many of these facilities exist now?”

“Classified.”

The old woman smiled kindly but cleverly shifted the topic. In truth, she probably didn’t know how many Safe Houses there were in the cult. Not knowing would actually be normal.

Before long, as we continued our conversation, we arrived.

“Here we are, we’ve arrived.”

—

Name – Ekaterina.

Gender – Female.

Age – 29.

Affiliation – I/O of the Imperial Guard HQ Counterintelligence Department.

Family Relationships – Father (Doctor) / Mother (Nurse) / Eldest Son (Died at 7) / Eldest Daughter (Her) / Youngest Daughter (Paralyzed from waist down/unemployed)

Special Notes – Found unconscious at the time of discovery. Despite being part of the Counterintelligence Department, she performed intelligence missions in the cult. A former lieutenant of the Kien Empire’s Intelligence Agency, discharged. Minor disciplinary actions: 4 / Major disciplinary actions: 1. Essentially an undignified discharge.

Medical Records – Nutritional imbalance. Overwork. Multiple abrasions and bruises. 6 cm stab wound on right thigh. First-degree burns on both palms.

Summary from Relevant Personnel – Immediate supply of nutrients and treatment is urgent. Considering her health status, high-intensity interrogation is impossible. It is assessed that there may be some challenges during questioning given her background as a Counterintelligence Department member. Accurate analysis of the psychological agent requires audio and video recordings.

Summarizing the handwritten documents from the agents, it read, “This chick won’t budge.”

Setting down the file and looking across the desk at the restrained Ekaterina, I murmured, “….”

Her skin and hair were dull.

Her face was worn down and tired.

Her lips were cracked, and her pupils were dilated.

She looked like a ghost from a movie rather than a human.

According to what my grandfather told me while he was blowing on a soju bottle, this was precisely the state most suitable for interrogation. After twenty years of working at the Central Intelligence Agency, his words were credible.

“Haah….”

With a sound like a clap, I set down the file and let out a deep sigh.

How did I end up here?

After living as a black operative handling the Kien Empire for several years, I barely made it into an internal position under a colonel, only to suddenly be chosen as a companion of the hero, becoming an operative.

On the first day of arrival, a bomb went off, and for a month, I juggled various tasks between the Military Intelligence Agency, the Imperial Guard HQ, and the Inquisition in trying to find terrorists.

In addition, I supported diplomatic work, got involved in politics contrary to my destiny, and even ended up protecting the hero, and now I was caught up in espionage investigations.

It was complicated. Very damned complicated.

So I said, “Ms. Ekaterina.”

“….”

“Do you know who I am?”

She slightly nodded her head.

If the counterintelligence department folks saw her, they would have likely slapped her for her apparent attitude, but I understood. I knew well how messed up her condition was.

And, on order of the Colonel, I had to be humane.

“The situation is quite dire. Although we are confining you for your safety, considering the current circumstances, this is more like a protective measure.”

I rambled some absurd nonsense.

“This facility itself is outdated, and I understand it might be uncomfortable for you. If you cooperate with the investigation….”

“You’ll give me compensation to spill information?”

“….”

“Ha.”

The agent from the Imperial Guard HQ’s Counterintelligence Department scoffed.

Despite the chaotic circumstances, she was remarkably unfazed.

Being a counterintelligence agent, the interrogation room was basically her domain.

“I’d appreciate your cooperation.”

I swallowed the curse that meant to spill out and flipped through the files.

The investigation form from the Military Intelligence Agency sent by the Colonel appeared.

“Please provide your name and affiliation.”

“….”

“It’s protocol.”

Ekaterina clanked her handcuffs before responding.

“Ekaterina. Affiliated with the Imperial Guard HQ.”

“Your position, please.”

“….”

Silence lingered. I closed the file and stood up from my chair.

-Clack.

Activating the video recording device, the red light turned on. It was a camcorder in this world.

I checked that the camcorder was functioning correctly, stepping back with my arms crossed and began to walk slowly.

The sound of military boots echoed in the interrogation room. It was a perfectly soundproof room, and even the slightest noise was magnified.

“Investigator. Colonel Frederick Nostrim, operative of the Military Intelligence Agency, affiliated with the Kien Empire.”

“….”

“Interrogation subject. Agent Ekaterina of the Imperial Guard HQ Counterintelligence Department.”

“….”

“Commencing interrogation.”

—

“Hmm….”

“How is it, agent?”

“It’s intense….”

The psychological operation agent murmured after reviewing the six-hour-long video.

The information analysis officer standing behind him spoke up.

“She seems to be in a highly diminished psychological state.”

“…That’s true, but she really can’t lie, can she?”

“Lying?”

Even after six hours of getting nowhere, what on earth was he talking about?

The psychological operation agent smiled wearily.

“In interrogation, language usually plays a minor role. Tone, pitch, and physical responses reveal the psyche.”

This person studied psychology at university and dealt with espionage investigations in the Counterintelligence Department for years.

In short, they’re a mind reader based on analysis.

The psychological operation agent rewound the video and tapped on the screen with his finger.

“Look here. The Colonel showed her a picture, and she reacted.”

“….”

Though the video replayed multiple times, I couldn’t grasp what they were trying to show me.

After a long sigh, the information analysis officer chastised the psychological operation agent.

“Do you think people will understand if you phrase it like that? Just get to the point.”

“Yeah.”

The psychological operation agent turned up the volume and played the video again.

A deep voice flowed out from the speakers.

‘Do you know this person?’

‘….’

‘They used to be part of the same Counterintelligence Department. How about this person?’

‘….’

“From analyzing the interrogation subject’s physical reactions, she recognizes the person in the photo.”

“….”

“Let’s take a look at something else.”

‘Your family looks quite close. Don’t you want to see them?’

‘….’

‘Your younger brother died of an illness when he was 7, and your younger sister is paralyzed from the waist down, right? Your parents are in the healthcare field, but with today’s conditions, it must be tough for them to support growing children, right?’

‘…Are you threatening me?’

‘Aren’t you the one who enlisted to support your younger sister? You even got a scholarship and commissioned after attending a military academy, didn’t you?’

‘….’

‘How did a person like you get discharged? Ah, did you have an ‘accident’? Or were you just pretending to be a spy to cover your tracks? A disguise.’

“See, when family matters are brought up and the subject of hiding her identity comes up, she reacts. It looks like the Colonel’s questions are on point.”

“So it’s correct to say she enlisted to support her family and tried to hide her identity to enter the Imperial Guard HQ?”

“Yes!”

What a fascinating talent.

Indeed, one must study to understand people.

“While there are other points of interest, I’ll compile them into a report and let you know.”

“Thank you, agent. Appreciate your hard work.”

“Goodbye!”

Leaving the psychological operation agent behind, I exited the room.

The bright red warning that read “No entry except for authorized personnel” was quite striking.

As I exchanged light greetings with passing embassy staff, I shoved a scrap of paper containing the psychological operation agent’s notes into my inner pocket.

“….”

After hearing the psychological operation agent’s explanation, one question lingered in my mind.

I distinctly showed Ekaterina four photographs.

And the psychological operation agent said she recognized the people in the photos.

Ekaterina.

Agent of the Imperial Guard HQ Counterintelligence Department.

…How could she identify the Second Department agents?