A Dark Fantasy Spy

---

In a house at the center of the cult, a priest resides.

He has lived as a cult priest for nearly 20 years. Many people regarded him as diligent and a good person.

Having finished his backlog of overtime work, he had just laid down in bed to prepare for another day of work tomorrow.

– Knock knock.

That was how it was until the knocking sound arrived.

The man, dragging his weary body, approached the front door and opened it.

“Who is it…?”

Standing at the entrance was a woman with mint-colored hair. Behind her were at least a dozen people.

“Who…?”

“Are you Basilio?”

“Yes.”

The woman pulled out a wallet from her bosom and opened it.

“We are from the Inquisition.”

“Please come with us.”

—

Episode 2 – Heroes of the Continent

“I was told that we received items from the Inquisition.”

Jake, who came in while I was taking a short nap under a blanket, delivered the good news.

I turned on the news to confirm the related facts.

It was reported that explosives had been found in the basement of a cult official’s residence, and soon after, a breaking news story emerged about a sex video of an imperial politician being leaked.

Just as planned.

Pulling up the blanket, I said to Jake, “Tell them to begin operations.”

It was time to draw the sword.

—

In the week that followed, numerous news stories shook the continent.

A signal flare launched by the world of espionage stirred up a tempest.

Expulsions of diplomats. Identification of spies. Charges against anti-state organizations. Suppression of dark magic groups. Illegal funding of corporations. Capital plundering. Dismissal of university professors. Punishment of industrial spies. Bribery suspicions. Sex trafficking scandals. Reinvestigation of suspicious deaths. Allegations of civil war involvement. Discovery of illegal lobbying. Apologies. Sex videos. Drug scandals. Tape storm. Military secrets leaked. Resignations of high-ranking officials. The death of someone. The recluse saint.

Various suspicions and incidents erupted across all fields of the continent, and the world began to go crazy.

Of course, nothing was reported in depth.

The Information Agency had its news desk completely under control. So all of this was merely an unnecessarily noisy empty vessel.

In fact, this was the aim of the whole operation.

“Team Leader, let’s begin the work.”

– “Yes, Operative.”

Although the plans deviated slightly, ultimately everything proceeded as naturally as it should.

As promised, Petrus took care of all the fluff among the masterminds behind the bomb terror.

According to the original plan, we should have dealt with the guy who received the bomb, but since it’s tangled with big names, there’s no reason to chase after the small fry.

“We’ve already planted agents near Raul’s associates. You can meet them.”

– “The meeting time and place were communicated through a secure line yesterday.”

“Oh, then that’s good. Thank you, Team Leader.”

– “See you later.”

We decided to capture someone among Raul’s associates who had ties to the Empire.

It was pointed out by Saint Veronica. After cross-referencing the colonel’s activities in the kingdom with the Inquisition’s data, it was determined to be a link between the empire’s nobility and Raul.

So, I set the scary aunts and uncles in motion. Information Agency’s Special Activities Department.

“We’ll bring in a delivery package from these gentlemen. It’s scheduled to be moved to a villa.”

“Should we make them talk?”

“Yes.”

“That’s our specialty.”

If the Special Activities Department from the Information Agency kidnaps Raul’s associate, the technicians waiting at Safe House 5 will interrogate the associate and extract a confession.

“It’s been a while since I saw the Counterintelligence Department people.”

“I’ve seen Colonel next to the General often.”

“Oh, it turns out we are acquaintances.”

They were counterintelligence technicians. So, they were the specialists for interrogations.

They were sent by the General specifically.

It turned out they had worked under the General before, and we warmly greeted each other and made light conversation.

“What on earth is this?”

“This is a truth serum.”

“A truth drug? If you hit them right, will they spill everything?”

“Haha, people often misunderstand, but that’s not the case. It just makes one feel dazed.”

“Will it hurt if you take it?”

“The symptoms vary depending on the type of drug.”

It was casual talk by Information Agency standards. The counterintelligence agent’s bag was truly a new world.

“Did you say Ekaterina? Counterintelligence agent from the Imperial Guard HQ.”

“Is there a problem with that friend?”

“The doctor came with her and said her health is not good.”

“Hmm, since we’ve gathered all the information anyway…”

“Excuse my boldness, but how about releasing her at this point?”

Since it was said by someone who catches spies, it was worth hearing.

So, I took Ekaterina with me to meet someone.

“It’s been a while. Should I call you Counterintelligence agent?”

“…What do you want?”

“Let’s make a deal.”

After releasing Ekaterina, we handed over the corpses of a few guards found in the slums to the Empire.

It was a warning: “We know what you’ve done, so don’t act up.” Incidentally, this was not something I handled at my level.

It was the result of unofficial talks between the Military Intelligence Agency and the Imperial Guard HQ. Thus, we covered the messy actions of the Imperial Guard HQ and received a modest compensation.

“Here’s the requested material.”

“Is this the personal information on the Second Department agents working in the cult?”

“To be exact, they are reactionaries.”

Who knows who qualifies as a reactionary.

First of all, I don’t even know if it’s right to call them that.

But I have a local supporter who can verify. So, I took the list and found Veronica.

“Is there anyone who served you?”

“…No, there isn’t.”

“Then they’re reactionaries. I’ll pass this on to the higher-ups, and you’ll hear news soon.”

“Thank you.”

When I showed the list to Veronica, she said the people she knew weren’t on it. I compared them to those who rummaged through the inn rooms, and they weren’t on the list either. It means at least the operatives normally managed by the Imperial Guard HQ are not on the list.

It seems those who ignored the order to return have indeed stabbed a poison needle.

I found them, those sons of bitches.

Anyway, I went to find someone with the material validated by Veronica.

Petrus from the Inquisition.

“What’s this?”

“These are the guys who stabbed a poison needle into my neck. Probably.”

“Are you asking me to find them or to capture them?”

“Please find them.”

“Got it.”

There were some complaints coming from within the Inquisition as foreign soldiers intervened. It was the result of dissatisfaction built up because I had stuck too long with Petrus.

So, I distributed the assassination materials that were in the cabinet to shush them. Since they made the mess, they ought to clean it up.

Thus, a strange triangular relationship emerged among the Military Intelligence Agency, the Inquisition, and the Imperial Guard HQ.

As each side made small concessions to one another, everything proceeded smoothly.

The Imperial Guard HQ covered up the scandal and safely withdrew the operatives, while the indicted operatives were released. For a while, a bloodstorm was expected within the Imperial Guard HQ.

The Inquisition ignited several fabricated dark magicians which revved up their operations. Thanks to that, Raphael’s political foundation became solid. The Pope was pleased too.

The Military Intelligence Agency received the top brass who led the terror and the Empire’s reactionaries. Furthermore, we also learned about the internal conditions of the Imperial Guard HQ, which had been a long-cherished wish, and even got our hands on a high-ranking informant.

Strangely enough, none of this came to light.

Dozens of spies who were indicted and released at the border, self-proclaimed dark magicians who died in torture chambers, and the abductions and disappearances that took place in the heart of the cult.

When the news reported the affairs of an older businessman in his sixties and a famous singer, who would care about that?

In any case, everything proceeded smoothly.

And,

“Hello?”

– “Reporting from Safe House 5. The technicians have received the delivery.”

Finally, the time had come to take the heads off with the sword.

—

Magic Mirror.

The scene of the interrogation room viewed through a one-way transparent mirror was gruesome.

Blood splattered on the walls, and water and bloodstains soaked the floor.

Raul’s associate was unconscious, bound to a chair, while an agent moved a mop with an expressionless face.

My impression was simple.

“I’ve never seen such a sight before.”

The interrogation room, which I hadn’t seen for nearly 30 years, was terrifying.

An agent sitting on the desk wiping his glasses said,

“You may see this often from now on.”

“It seems you are familiar with it.”

“It’s just work.”

The agent laughed while wiping the blood-splattered glasses. There was a bit of blood on his cheek, which was slightly scary.

He looked quite ordinary. But what he did was anything but ordinary.

“Well, agents do a similar job anyway.”

“Was the Colonel from the Operations Department?”

“Yes.”

“Well, it’s hard for espionage agents to witness such scenes.”

Certainly, it’s rare. The only situations where one might see such an interrogation room are when they were captured by enemy nations or in cases where they were labeled as reactionaries.

I slowly read the interrogation material handed to me by the counterintelligence agent.

“It’s clear that Raul has colluded with the Empire. How long did it take you to figure that out?”

“It took about an hour, I think.”

“An hour?”

“Yes.”

I raised my finger to confirm, and that was indeed the case.

“What on earth do you do to get them to give information in just an hour?”

“There are always ways.”

It took me over a month to discover that Raul and the Imperial Guard HQ’s reactionaries were colluding.

But these people figured it out in just an hour.

Where did all my effort and time go?

As I wore a despondent expression, the counterintelligence agent chuckled.

“Don’t be too down. The information you brought helped make the interrogation easier.”

“How long does it usually take?”

“Assuming we’re doing what you did alone, typically, it takes several years.”

Spying investigations take ten years.

This means that the time taken to obtain the evidence needed to prove someone is a spy is very long. The country has to invest all the time, money, and personnel for it to take ten years.

So, should I consider it a joy that we handled this in a month and a half?

“We got the confession, and the evidence was obtained through a search.”

“Yes, so you found the documents?”

“Our agents found them; we only extracted the confession.”

The counterintelligence agent stood up from the desk as he put on his glasses.

He gestured towards the interior of the interrogation room.

“This is our domain. Not foreign.”

Before I knew it, all traces of blood had disappeared, and only Raul’s associate remained stained red.

The counterintelligence agents entered the interrogation room with tape and plastic.

I lowered my gaze to the documents and asked him.

“Do you think a trial will lead to a prison sentence with just the confession and evidence?”

“Well…, it seems difficult.”

“Why is that?”

“Probably because the weight of the confession is too high to get a guilty verdict.”

He pointed to Raul’s associate.

“That person has a meticulous personality, so he destroyed a significant portion of the related materials.”

“It implies a lack of evidence.”

“Yes, I’m sorry, Colonel.”

“No, you all have made enough effort.”

I put the documents into my bag, tidied up my clothes. By then, the magic mirror was covered with plastic.

The counterintelligence agent reloaded his gun and asked me.

“Should we report this?”

“Just leave a record. I’ll report everything in one go tonight.”

“Thank you.”

“Not at all, we should help each other.”

At my response, he smiled broadly.

I also smiled and shook hands with him.

“I’ll be going first. I’ll let them know upstairs, so please rest comfortably once you’re done.”

“Haha, thank you.”

“Then I shall take my leave.”

“Take care.”

As I received the farewell from the counterintelligence agent, I headed down the hallway.

He took a brief pause before entering the interrogation room.

I exchanged glances with him in the hallway and turned to head towards the ground level.

The concrete structures felt particularly bleak.

In the quiet hallway, only the sound of army boots echoed.

How long did I walk?

While climbing the stairs, I heard gunfire from a distance.

– Bang.

And so.

The counterintelligence agents’ job was concluded.

—

– “Good job.”

The Colonel said briefly.

After finishing the usual daily report, I ended the call.

The view of the cult from the embassy terrace was as usual.

The sunset was setting, and the Knights were withdrawing.

It seemed the work hours were over.

The embassy guards locked the main gate and opened the side gate.

Diplomats who had completed negotiations returned with briefcases in hand, and the undercover agents quickly accepted the briefcases.

Everyone was doing their best in their respective positions.

The line between diplomats and spies was blurred, and the sight of plainclothes agents circling the embassy was no different from the counterintelligence agents in the interrogation room.

In fact, I couldn’t tell what was what.

Is this just a world inside a game, or reality?

Whether my memories are real or fake.

There’s no difference between my past life and present life.

I am still a soldier.

Although my name, age, nationality, and affiliation have changed, I still wear military uniform.

As the work was coming to an end, I began to have many stray thoughts.

There have been a lot of events.

It feels both refreshing and hollow.

I think I might also feel a little proud.

– Ding.

However, there is still a path ahead.

“Speak.”

– “The whereabouts of Cardinal Raul and the Second Department’s escaped agents have been identified.”

Jake spoke in a calm tone.

He seemed to have a voice filled with resolve.

So I casually said, “Grab the gear.”

Let’s go stir things up.

—

A week later.

The spokesperson for the Inquisition announced that they had killed 16 dark magicians who kidnapped Cardinal Raul.

The kidnapped Cardinal Raul was confirmed dead, while the dark magicians were revealed to be the terrorists who had planned and executed the previous bombing and assassination attempts.

Firearms, explosives, and poisons were discovered at the scene, with the explosives and poisons confirmed to have been used in the terror and assassination. Officially, this operation was declared a solo operation by the Inquisition.

All operations concluded successfully.