NOVEL NEXT Chapter 30
Every action has a consequence.
In this world, there exist promised laws.
There are no questions without answers, and there are no paths without ways to move forward.
One just has to search.
Now, as everyone stumbles through thick fog,
I am seeking my way.
—
Episode 2 – Heroes of the Continent
—
In the Military Intelligence Agency’s communications interception office.
Two men and women sat facing each other on makeshift chairs.
“I hear you know something interesting, why not share it?”
The soldier asked, and the civilian replied.
“Will you grant me asylum?”
“I’ll listen and then decide.”
“No.”
The agent responded, and the Saint answered.
“The asylum process is complicated. It requires the agreement of the parliament and cabinet, and ultimately, the royal decree is necessary.”
“At least promise me verbally.”
“I don’t have the authority.”
“Oh, come on.”
Veronica scratched her head in frustration.
“Why is it so?”
“I’m a soldier.”
“Hah.”
“If you provide information, I can persuade the higher-ups.”
Veronica got up from her chair and began pacing the office.
Seeing her nervously biting her nails, she seemed anxious.
That woman is calculating something. I placed a deal to help her.
“Just give me the information. Then I can promise at least minimal protection measures.”
“Really?”
She completed her calculations.
“Yes.”
“Alright. So, how will you provide protection?”
“Let’s listen and then decide.”
“Hah.”
Veronica let out a hollow laugh and resumed her seat.
She squinted her eyes and fell into thought for a few minutes.
“What information do you wish to know right now?”
“The reason Raul has allied with the Second Country. And why the Second Country is causing a ruckus.”
She fell into thought.
But it didn’t last long. Veronica slumped her body and took a drag from her cigarette.
“This story is a bit complicated.”
“I’m alright with that.”
“Then let’s start with the story about the Imperial Guard HQ.”
Finally, a path begins to appear.
—
*
—
The Imperial Guard HQ of the Kien Empire has its roots in intelligence agencies.
Subversive thinkers, criminals against the state.
Political prisoners challenging the authority of the royal family.
Spies hindering the nation’s interests.
The Imperial Guard HQ has grown by feeding on their blood.
Now, numerous departments have emerged, including a dedicated overseas operations department. Still, the Imperial Guard HQ exists for the Emperor.
Isn’t the name enough proof, Imperial Guard HQ?
The Imperial Guard HQ is broadly divided into two sections; the first is responsible for domestic matters (counter-espionage and security), while the second oversees foreign operations.
The first section is commonly thought of as public security.
The second section as spies.
But there’s a critical issue within the Imperial Guard HQ’s second section.
“The overseas operations department does not exist solely for the Emperor; it exists for the Empire.”
“Please elaborate.”
“The second section is a department that the royalty and nobility share.”
The department shared between the crown and nobility? In other words, it means two factions exert influence over a single department simultaneously.
Anyone who has experienced the bureaucratic system of modern society knows well what that means.
It means that the president and political-business figures manage the intelligence agency together.
How is this possible? That’s because the Imperial Guard HQ expanded and the nobility had their say.
“I don’t know it well since it was almost a hundred years ago, but the creation of the second section was heavily influenced by the nobility’s inclinations.”
“What inclinations are you talking about?”
“You know that intelligence agencies support companies? Then what does that mean?”
“Nobles are using intelligence agencies to profit?”
“Yes.”
Veronica took a deep breath and exhaled cigarette smoke forcefully.
“For a long time, trade people in the Empire have done half-diplomatic jobs.”
She continued explaining in a calm tone.
“When the Imperial Guard HQ was reorganized, the Emperor borrowed money from them. You know that intelligence agencies require substantial funding, right?”
“That’s true.”
“It was insufficient to cover it from the Emperor’s slush fund. At that time, the imperial authority was weakened, so the budget couldn’t be freely spent.”
“So, the nobles provided vast capital. Since it is impossible to keep quiet after getting money, they divided the cake?”
“Yes.”
That’s insane.
To think that the overseas operations department would be utilized for the nobles’ profit.
Even in a fantasy setting, this doesn’t make sense. Has the Emperor gone mad?
“Couldn’t he just receive money and take down the nobles instead?”
“If that happened, the Empire’s money line would dry up. As I mentioned, they were trade people.”
I kind of understand now.
Even in modern society, while it’s possible to imprison the CEO of a conglomerate, it’s impossible to take down all the conglomerates at once. Otherwise, the national economy would collapse.
If the president messes with the economy, he might lose his power and end up in jail, but if the Emperor does the same, he ends up on the guillotine.
“Still, the royal family isn’t so foolish, so they put on a few safety measures.”
“What are those?”
“The counter-intelligence department and soldiers.”
The counter-intelligence department conducts counter-espionage activities abroad.
Covert operations, especially involving the Special Activities Department, which is responsible for armed force.
They create watchers and grip the sword handle.
It seems that the counter-intelligence department has used a fallen operative named Yuri as a puppet. This explanation makes a bit of sense.
It seems reasonable that the Emperor would use the counter-intelligence department to oversee the overseas operations department.
“And also placed royal family members in key positions within the second section.”
“So what do the nobles do with the second section?”
“Obvious things, of course. Steal technology, finalize contracts, lobby, and bring people in.”
“Everything profitable, huh?”
“But they’ve diligently carried out the overseas operations tasks too. It’s a contract.”
The second section is managed concurrently by the royal family and nobles while they each secure their own interests.
The nobility profits, while the royal family gathers intelligence through the second section.
All this was information we weren’t privy to. This means the royal family and nobility maintained strict security. It also means they didn’t betray each other.
However, someone within the second section has betrayed them now.
Veronica referred to that person as a “subversive element.” In other words, a faction opposed to the royal family.
“What is the reason for the alliance between the factions within the second section and Raul?”
“Because it’s profitable. Additionally, it’s a way to create good relations.”
Money. Good relations.
“The factions are using the cult to establish a business, and Raul aims to become the Pope. Their interests align perfectly.”
Religion can be lucrative.
Especially in a chaotic world.
And Raul has strong ambitions. According to Veronica, Raul first attempted to make contact with internal factions.
Such intricate background stories never appear in games. Perhaps I wouldn’t know since I never played a game to the end.
I feel like I’m suffering damage due to actions taken by others.
So, I now ask Veronica.
“The second section’s operative delivered a bomb, and an insider from the cult received it. So, that means Raul detonated the bomb to kill me. Why would he do that?”
“Because it aligns the interests of the nobles and Raul.”
The saint created by the Empire began to explain the tangled web of interests.
“Does anyone not know that I became a saint riding on the Empire’s coattails?”
“….”
“The orphan from the baron family caught the right connections to become a saint. What would that power-hungry old man think?”
Raul has strong ambitions.
However, he lacks a political base and also has a critical weakness against Cardinal Raphael.
Yet, he has witnessed the girl becoming a saint backed by the Empire.
What kind of thoughts would arise?
“Raul is trying to use the power of the second section to become the Pope.”
“Bingo.”
“But why would they need to make a pope? Even with a saint present, the Empire wouldn’t care whether there was a pro-empire lobbyist or a pro-empire pope, would they?”
“While it’s tempting to trade without an intermediary, due to my situation, the nobles want to make Raul the pope.”
Veronica.
The orphan chosen by the Emperor.
The saint created by the entire Imperial Guard HQ.
Veronica is the lobbyist for the Empire. In other words, she is the one simultaneously fulfilling the needs of the royal family and the nobility.
To put it another way, if there is a situation where the interests of the royal family and nobility do not align, their needs cannot be satisfied at the same time.
“I must cater to the interests of the royal family and nobility. If their interests conflict, whose side would I take?”
“You’d side with the royal family. Because you are the person directly chosen by the Emperor.”
“Then would the nobles be dissatisfied? Or not?”
Of course, they would be.
“The Emperor has used me thoroughly up to this point. After spending nearly a century in cozy relations, he’s suddenly devoured the entire cake, and they’d be furious.”
“So the nobles took a rebellious stance? If they set up a pope who is pro-empire and pro-nobility, it would open a monopoly channel.”
“Exactly.”
Now, it makes sense.
The royal family and the nobility are in conflict over the second section.
They had been getting along, but the Emperor shattered that by appointing a saint. It’s a breach of contract. It’s the very thing merchants despise the most.
Thus, they aim to create their own new lobbyist.
“So they attacked Lucia? A message directed not at the cult, but toward the Empire’s nobility, stating that a person who can’t protect a child won’t keep their promises?”
“Wow, Colonel Frederick, you’re sharp.”
Veronica’s actions make sense.
She is the lobbyist for the Empire. However, it seems she’s exerted herself trying to align the Emperor’s interests lately.
“Putting too much effort into sending people to the borderlands?”
“Yes.”
“Now it makes sense.”
What would happen if a pro-empire and pro-nobility pope appeared? The nobles would feast, and the Emperor wouldn’t just sit still.
Of course, the Emperor would try to form a connection with Raul, now a pope, and she would lose her backing.
In other words, she would drift further from power. Power is like the sun. Too close to the sun, and you get burned; too far, and you freeze to death.
Right now, she’s in a situation where she could burn, but if Raul becomes Pope, she could freeze.
“Would Raul abandon Lucia if he becomes Pope?”
“No, he will try to make her a saint in any way possible. The effort invested cannot be wasted; he must recover the investment.”
If Raul becomes Pope and Lucia becomes a saint, Veronica would die.
Would truly die. She knows far too many of the Empire’s weaknesses.
She wasn’t wary of Lucia. She was wary of the approaching death. She was forced into an unwanted game and must tear others apart to survive.
By any means necessary.
Now I have learned almost all I am curious about. Only one question remains.
“My last question.”
“Yes.”
“Why does Raul want to kill me?”
Veronica chuckled softly.
She took a drag from her cigarette, exhaling the smoke gently while closing her eyes.
“Is there anyone who doesn’t know that the Kingdom of Abas is using you to choke the Hero’s leash?”
“….”
“If he becomes the Pope, with Lucia, he could manipulate the hero. Yet, hasn’t someone already stuck the first piece in?”
All questions are resolved.
The strange atmosphere flowing between Raul and Lucia.
The reason Raul didn’t actively protect Lucia.
The reason Raul stayed in the kingdom for a week.
The reason Raul wants to kill me.
“What would you do, Colonel?”
“….”
“If it were me, I’d kill you.”
Colonel of the Kingdom of Abas.
Operative of the Military Intelligence Agency of the Kingdom of Abas.
Originally, the first companion of the Hero, who should not exist.
In the end, every incident leads back to me.
—
*
—
“…Alright. Good job, Frederick.”
“Yes.”
I finished my report in front of the raging flames outside the disguise office.
The Colonel let out a soft sigh as I tossed my cards into the fire. These were Veronica’s cards under financial scrutiny.
“…A bigwig from the Empire has come as an envoy, and it seems the envoy and the saint’s information coincides.”
“Is that so?”
“So what will you do, Major?”
“Why do you ask when you already know?”
I tossed my wallet into the flames as well and dusted off my hands. It looks like I won’t need the pistol I brought today.
“Alright. Let me know if you need anything.”
“Just open the cabinet for me.”
“Sure.”
That morning,
an article stating that large quantities of explosives had been discovered in the basement of a cult official’s home surfaced,
but it vanished, overshadowed by other breaking news.