NOVEL NEXT Chapter 27
The Embassy of the Kien Empire is located in the capital of the Kingdom of Abas.
The Empire and the Kingdom have maintained a somewhat standoffish diplomatic relationship for a long time. However, lately, there have been efforts to get along better. To be precise, this has been the Emperor’s intent recently.
It was certainly something the Emperor, regarded as a living deity, desired. Naturally, the Imperial Foreign Affairs Department and the Imperial Guard HQ made significant efforts to enhance diplomatic relations.
Of course, as with all things in the world, effort alone doesn’t guarantee success. Regardless, the Empire exerted its efforts.
Primarily, a lot of money was poured into it.
Where there is money, power tends to concentrate. Therefore, the Kien Empire’s Embassy in the Kingdom of Abas is an essential stepping stone for diplomats looking to advance.
It’s akin to how Korean diplomats aspire to be assigned to major diplomatic missions in the U.S., China, Japan, and Russia.
“What on earth is going on here?”
The security officer at the embassy yelled and threw a newspaper. The Information Analyst picked it up from the floor of the meeting room and presented it to the ambassador.
“Ambassador! You need to say something!”
“N-no. I just….”
The ambassador’s face turned pale as he checked the newspaper article. He couldn’t believe he was being charged with espionage.
In truth, he was indeed a spy. Officially, he was the ambassador of the Kingdom of Abas, belonging to the Central Division I of the Imperial Foreign Affairs Department, but he was also a spy.
Why was he a spy? This was due to the close relationship between the Foreign Affairs Department and the Information Agency.
Because the two agencies had such a good relationship, they would place agents in diplomatic positions, and sometimes even foreign department personnel in positions within the information agency. It was like a lovey-dovey newlywed couple.
The ambassador had been under the management of the Imperial Guard HQ’s overseas section even before his assignment and had been dispatched for training when he switched positions. He was deeply involved in the ‘overseas operations’ conducted by the Imperial Guard HQ, the Reconnaissance Command, and numerous information agencies.
Of course, everybody knew he was a spy. However, since he wasn’t an agent of the Information Agency but rather a White Agent, he operated in the gray area between legality and illegality.
As long as he didn’t get caught, he figured he could continue; even if he did get caught, he would simply be expelled. He thought that way while operating.
But then he got caught.
“You’re being linked with a subversive organization?”
“I, I just met with some university graduates under the pretext of an academic conference….”
“Did you know they were anarchists when you met them? I mean, did you know that anarchism is considered a dangerous ideology?”
He didn’t know.
He only found out after attending and hadn’t shown his face since. It was even an event he attended only for thirty minutes four years ago.
“Abas is now linking you to anarchists. Our Empire! They have slandered us in the press by claiming we support a subversive group!”
The security officer shouted.
In terms of ranking, he was someone who shouldn’t speak so carelessly to an ambassador.
But he was an official from the Imperial Guard HQ’s First Division, notorious for being someone even veterans in the Foreign Affairs Department were reluctant to deal with.
“Well, first, calm down….”
“Calm down? What do you mean calm down?!”
Crash!
A counterintelligence officer slammed his hand on the table.
He was the person who monitored and managed all espionage activities occurring in the Kingdom of Abas. This meant that if the ambassador fell, his own neck would be on the line too.
By the way, he was in a position where he had to pay the university tuition of two children.
“We’re all going to die now…!”
“No, who dares threaten the ambassador?!”
The First and Second Departments. The Counterintelligence and Operations Divisions. White agents clashed. Other agents watched and started to intervene.
Such was the situation within the Imperial Guard HQ. They were all anxious to not be the ones to be taken down.
Watching this scene unfold, the ambassador covered his face with his wrinkled hands.
“….”
Yes. It’s still manageable. He could refuse to attend due to his diplomatic privileges, and if expelled, that would be the end of it.
Before things escalated, he had to notify the home country to prevent the situation from worsening….
“Amb, Ambassador!”
The secretary who burst through the door was momentarily stunned by the chaotic meeting room.
The secretary was an ordinary Foreign Affairs employee. Therefore, she could hardly bear to look at the sight of agents grappling with one another.
“Uh… what’s going on?”
“A, a message from the home country has arrived.”
The ambassador let out a deep sigh. It seemed a directive had come down from above.
With a heavy heart, he began to read the message.
Then he froze.
“The Imperial Foreign Affairs Department has decided to expel the ambassador of the Kingdom of Abas.”