A Dark Fantasy Spy

---

The grandfather clock in the lobby chimed eighteen times, signaling dinner.

The wide hallway leading to the elevator narrowed infinitely along the shadowy doors on both sides. The firmly closed doors were secured with three locks, their lips sealed in a straight line, reflecting their stubbornness.

Zigmund leaned against the wall, surveying the room.

The neatly arranged guest room was so clean that even a cleaning staff member on that floor would think, “Maybe it’s a family trip, but they left everything tidy after themselves.”

Of course, he didn’t care enough about the evaluation of a hotel cleaner to be hung up on respect and prestige, but tidying up was crucial for him, both professionally and situationally.

“Have the family arrived?”

– “No, Mr. Dryman.”

“I’m sorry for troubling you again. I’m just so worried.”

– “Haha. I understand that feeling. I will inform you as soon as the lady and the children enter the lobby.”

“…Thank you.”

The caution stemming from wartime instincts persisted even after decades had passed.

After the receptionist hung up the receiver, Zigmund cautiously placed the hotel phone down and brought his finger to his lips.

“……”

Helen and the two daughters had vanished. It was during the brief moment he was away to meet with the Imperial Guard that the incident occurred, triggered by a shooting in the park.

When the first shot rang out, Zigmund anticipated an assassination attempt.

The contact person designated by the Guard had been arrested a week prior. Seven days could be somewhat short for the Information Agency to pinpoint his location and activities, but it was more than enough time for the contact’s mouth to open.

If the captured diplomat had leaked information sooner than expected, it would have made sense for the shots to target Zigmund.

However, despite the fact that the Imperial Guard’s agents had gathered on benches hidden throughout the park, he was still alive. Not even a single hair on him had been harmed.

Was it an accident? Or was it terrorism?

Perhaps someone pursuing him had just made an unintentional mistake. But he knew better than anyone that such hypotheticals meant nothing.

After sorting through the turmoil in his mind, Zigmund began to recall the admonishments he had given to Helen.

“Listen carefully. We’re leaving Abas tomorrow. Pack everything you can.”

“What do you mean all of a sudden?”

“I’ll explain the circumstances later. Just remember that we are going into exile and memorize what’s written in this notebook. I’ve noted down what you’ll need. Don’t show it to anyone, and if someone tries to forcibly take it, throw it into a fountain or a water bottle. The paper is designed to dissolve upon contact with water.”

“…Is this related to what you’re doing?”

“Helen.”

“……”

“Don’t worry. Even if we get separated, I will come find you and the kids. I promise.”

He had told her everything he could.

What actions to take while being followed, how to communicate if they lost contact, how to discreetly procure necessities and meals.

And now, several hours later, there had been no word from Helen.

“Umm….”

Could she have forgotten?

That was unlikely. Helen was the wisest person he knew, and she hadn’t taken her eyes off the notebook on their way to Shizuya. She wouldn’t forget the crucial information he had stressed multiple times.

– Ding-a-ling!

The doorbell suddenly shattered the silence.

—

Episode 20 – Who Threatened with a Knife?

—

The orange sunset resting by the lakeside tickled the back of my hand.

A city that once flourished and held a rich history was wilting like a flower petal. Autumn descended brilliantly upon the hill that couldn’t bear the weight of glory and prosperity.

“Hello, Aunt.”

The woman leaned against the window and began to speak in a languid tone. So lost in the warm atmosphere, her voice was exceptionally soft.

– “I’m glad to hear your voice. How’s the weather today?”

“It’s clear.”

– “Is that so? That’s a relief.”

Her voice, imbued with warmth and kindness, felt just like the fragrant aroma wafting from the kitchen.

“Is Uncle there?”

– “Yes. Should I pass you to him now?”

“Yes.”

– “Just a moment, please.”

At the response from across the receiver, the woman relaxed her back against the window.

A faint sigh escaped her lips, and her drowsy eyes brightened with a singular blink.

Returning to the center of the hotel room, she began counting internally. One second, two seconds, three seconds.

– “It’s already time, huh?”

The low voice from the receiver echoed just as she confirmed connections with precision in the familiar timing, to which she promptly replied.

“It’s nice to see you, Uncle.”

– “It’s been 12 hours, Ekaterina Andreyevna, Department Head. Let’s start with the overdue reports.”

“Yes.”

Ekaterina, the department head of the Imperial Guard’s 1st Bureau, reported the progress she had organized in documents to the Bureau Chief.

“The recovery of the Domoboy is proceeding as scheduled. We completed our first contact in Timarshak Park at 13:00 and delivered the activity funds. Although we haven’t secured the gifts yet, the duration of his stay remains undecided; however, we’ve already provided Domoboy with the emergency communications, transportation, and cover identity.”

About a week ago, Ekaterina had been deployed to Ashtistan on orders from the Bureau Chief and had made contact with Zigmund today.

At the meeting location, she had roughly outlined upcoming schedules and reaction strategies for emergencies, as well as plans for their asylum. Several hours ago, she returned to the hotel to submit her report to the Guard.

The base established in the center of Shizuya was ready with the help of the 6th Bureau members.

Once the Bureau Chief reviewed the report, he began asking in-depth questions.

– “It seems there was a disagreement between you and Domoboy. He refuses to change accommodations to our side?”

“I suggested it according to the prior plan, but Domoboy flatly rejected it. He stubbornly insisted despite my attempts to persuade him.”

– “Is he still using the hotel he originally stayed at?”

“He is currently remaining in the hotel he booked, but he will be moving by today. I just confirmed that he checked out via the internal phone.”

Bureau Chief Ilya changed the topic with a relaxed tone. At first glance, it seemed to be nothing but a simple question.

– “Do you think this will resolve easily?”

Ekaterina immediately shook her head, as if there was no need for contemplation.

“Honestly, not at all.”

Zigmund, the double agent for the Imperial Guard, is currently on the run due to his identity being exposed.

Since the contact officer was captured by the Royal Intelligence Department, it was only a matter of time before the fact he was a spy would come out. The researchers at the headquarters even speculated Domoboy might have surmised that he had been betrayed by the Guard.

With the contact being caught, it was inevitable that Zigmund had sensed the danger, but the reasons behind all these events might still remain veiled.

Given that the Imperial Guard could protect him from the Royal Intelligence Department agents, the most rational choice for Zigmund would be to rely on the Guard.

However, Zigmund had vehemently rejected the proposal Ekaterina offered. Instead of entrusting his life and property to the Kien Empire at this very moment, he chose to risk everything until the very last moment, attempting the gamble of a lifetime.

The reason? Simple.

A lack of trust.

“Domoboy does not trust us.”

– “Spies are inherently prone to suspicion. A fugitive remains wary of everyone approaching. Just how tightly do you think the stomach of that double agent is knotted with suspicion?”

Especially since the contact we designated caused the mishap; the following suspicion was predictable.

The analysts at the headquarters even anticipated that Domoboy might suspect “that he was betrayed by the Guard.” The entire sequence of events that led to his escape was processed like the Guard had intended them.

Unless they were mad, the Intelligence Department wouldn’t execute a perfectly good double agent. But when one looks in the mirror, the reflection doesn’t always serve the master, does it?

Over the decades, the Imperial Guard had successfully turned many into double agents from various countries. They varied from the unremarkable to the renowned figures of legend.

Yet many of them ended up exposing their identities. A high-ranking officer of the Guard, who defected to a foreign intelligence agency, leaked the list; an intelligence officer from the Guard who switched allegiance to an enemy country sneaked out the reports of the double agents.

This was the result of failures in internal regulation and source protection, and as a consequence, the Imperial Guard lost numerous double agents. Zigmund was one of the double agents for the Imperial Guard, but at the same time, he was also a key intelligence officer for the Royal Intelligence Department.

Zigmund knew better than anyone that the Royal Intelligence Department wouldn’t let traitors go unpunished.

Equally, he was aware of the sharks drawn by the scent of blood that would come the moment the Imperial Guard made even a minor mistake when his identity became exposed.

Bureau Chief Ilya stated,

– “Considering Domoboy’s unstable mental state, I believe he has witnessed exactly what the Abas does with traitors during his time working as the intelligence chief. Given that he brought his family along, he is under a greater burden.”

“For now, I’ll just put a label on him and observe. Approaching him may only spoil the relationship.”

– “When do you intend to start searching for the gifts?”

“It seems he has already begun. We confirmed that he withdrew funds from an overseas account five days ago for intelligence expenses. By the way, the account was opened eight years ago by the Finance Department, and detailed information is attached in the report.”

– “That’s good news. Any other requests?”

“He mentioned he’d like the safety of his family taken care of first. There are a total of 3 people related to Domoboy, and their identities are….”

In the midst of her report, Bureau Chief Ilya suddenly interrupted her.

– “Let’s save that discussion for later. Anything else?”

“…….”

Ekaterina easily picked up on the Chief’s intentions. Bureau Chief Ilya didn’t care about Domoboy’s family. To be more direct, he didn’t want them brought to the Empire.

Of course, this might be a broad interpretation. A high-ranking intelligence officer for whom every minute mattered would prioritize double agents over civilians.

But language ultimately comes from a person’s mouth, and the intelligence agency is a collection of people.

“Aside from requesting financial support during our initial meeting, there were no other demands.”

After deftly navigating through the conversation, the discussion naturally flowed toward the next topic.

– “Let’s discuss the incident. You mentioned there was a shooting?”

“During our meeting in Timarshak Park, around thirteen shots were fired. The local police suspect it was a terror attack initiated by extremists from another sect of Al-Yadub or anti-Republic underground members.”

Ekaterina added supplementary details as she unfolded the intelligence document.

“With the intelligence gathered along with the 6th Bureau members, there were no casualties reported. While the local security forces are adamant that it was terrorism, the Republic of Ashtistan has found no substantial indicators to identify the perpetrator. It seems like a press release raised to reverse the political instability caused by the recent domestic and international problems.”

– “I assume you and your associates can easily guess what Shizuya friends think.”

Bureau Chief Ilya asked.

– “Do you think it was coincidence?”

Ekaterina responded, “I don’t believe it was by chance.”

Whether it was terrorism or an accident, it couldn’t have been mere happenstance. That thought struck her with conviction.

The Chief endorsed her perspective.

– “You were the one who sensed the signs of the aide who defected to Abas last year, so I trust your instincts. But the core issue lies in the context, not the answer.”

“…….”

– “The fact that you and Domoboy were in Timarshak Park hasn’t changed. The friends from the desert are so creative that they can occasionally concoct absurd tales. Be sure to remember that you must not give Shizuya a chance to intervene.”

This meant not to let the Republic of Ashtistan catch onto this operation. Additionally, it implied to conceal the existence of Domoboy himself.

It was only natural. Operations conducted in a third country do not receive that country’s approval. While allied nations often assist each other, there is always a price tag attached to that help.

If the Ashtistan Information Agency discovers Domoboy’s existence, they will surely demand information. They may want to interrogate him themselves before taking him to the Empire or request any useful intel that emerges…

At the moment one refuses the offer, the Information Agency of Ashtistan would transform into robbers, chasing Ekaterina away.

And Zigmund would then end up being dragged not to the Imperial Guard but to the Law Enforcement Corps for an interrogation.

– “If they catch even a whiff of something to exploit, they’ll rush in without delay. This time, they’ll attempt to peel back layers of skin down to the fat inside.”

A sigh emanated from across the receiver. The Bureau Chief sounded fatigued at the tautness of the conversation.

He had repeatedly warned against giving the Republic of Ashtistan a sewing opportunity for involvement. Ekaterina, aware of how much she wanted to prevent someone else from consuming the feast she had prepared, answered affirmatively.

—

The guestroom, divided into bedroom, bathroom, and living room, was a space prepared in a business hotel for customers visiting Shizuya.

Considering the deeply-rooted customs of hospitality in the locality, the living room could also serve as a small reception area, and it was possible to have long meetings seated around a transverse table.

After finishing the report, Ekaterina swung open the door leading to the living room.

“Regular report finished.”

“Ah, good job, Ekaterina.”

An Ashtistani of Kien descent welcomed her warmly. They were colleagues who had worked together since the 1st Bureau’s training base.

“The Chief asked me to bring you in quietly. Kiril, put down what you’re doing and gather around.”

“Got it.”

Electronics and communication devices in the Hardrec blinked as neatly arranged wires trailed backward like veins.

Communication equipment, which occupied almost every corner of the living room, connected via wires to the transverse table. Devices emitted cold blue lights, noise, and heat while the temperature control device was attempting to manage both personnel and heat.

But for the Kien people hurrying around in t-shirts, saying it was 30 below, it wasn’t anything that could even be called cold.

“Let’s focus, everyone.”

The staff seated around the transverse table, tapping their devices, turned their attention towards Ekaterina. There were five of them, including her.

Ekaterina herself from the 1st Bureau, Kiril specialized in foreign languages and was responsible for translation.

The remaining three were staff members from the 6th Bureau who handled support work. Communication, security, supplies, finance, intel, and so forth. Note that they had originally been working abroad.

“Let’s check in. First, the state of Domoboy.”

Ekaterina, with her hand in her pocket, looked at a liaison from the 6th Bureau sitting facing the communication equipment.

“He’s still stationary in his hotel room. The last signal was picked up there.”

The 6th Bureau support staff rolled up his shirt sleeves and pointed to the device screen.

“Fifteen minutes ago, he spoke with the desk staff on the hotel phone, and about nine minutes prior, he made a reservation at the spa.”

“Weren’t they supposed to check out today? Why the sudden spa reservation?”

“His stay was extended until tomorrow. Since his family’s whereabouts are still unclear, it seems he hasn’t moved yet.”

The 6th Bureau staff member responsible for communications and security was unique from the start (he fell ill while riding a motorcycle). But despite his first impression of seeming a bit air-headed, he was exceptionally skilled.

After discovering the location of the accommodation the day before their meeting, he cooperated with the hotel to plant a listening device in the room phone.

Since he had worked in the Royal Intelligence Department, Zigmund would surely be aware of being under surveillance.

In fact, he rarely used the hotel phone, utilizing it only when ordering necessary supplies.

However, even if Zigmund consciously avoids disclosing sensitive information, he wouldn’t be able to change the fact that every call he made was monitored by the 6th Bureau staff.

And the one being cautious of the eavesdropping was Zigmund himself, not the hotel staff, right?

“Besides the hotel phone, is there any other communication?”

“Not that we’ve found so far. At least from what we know, Domoboy hasn’t used wireless communications. It’s much easier to be eavesdropped upon.”

Wireless communication is fundamentally prone to security breaches, but crucially, this is Ashtistan.

The Republic of Ashtistan has two communications companies, both of which are state-owned and actively cooperate with various surveillance initiatives by local security agencies.

Hence, Zigmund likely used a landline to contact the Guards when he first arrived in Shizuya and scheduled the meeting with them.

Restaurants, vegetable shops, markets, subways, payphones, etc.

“Public phones can be tapped in theory. From home, people could easily access payphones by messing with them. But in Shizuya? That’s wishful thinking. Let alone with the scarcity of manpower, it’s hard to maintain the budget for such surveillance devices.”

Beneath it all, merely offering cash could suffice for bumming a phone.

Particularly in a struggling economy like Ashtistan, let alone how much easier it would be for an intelligence agent to work with people.

Zigmund exploited that loophole.

While venting on the state of Ashtistan’s security agencies, as he casually tapped the keyboard, Ekaterina caught the gaze of her 6th Bureau support staff.

“What’s the likelihood of Domoboy utilizing a mobile phone?”

“Eh… It’s not entirely out of the question but most unlikely. He could find some burner phone market or pre-paid phone. However, the lack of encryption feature is a concern.”

“So if Domoboy were to start using a mobile phone, would we have any means to tap it without help from local authorities?”

“There are many ways. The cleanest would be to use a cloned phone?”

Ekaterina immediately instructed them to create a cloned phone, for the event Zigmund decided to use a mobile phone.

And the 6th Bureau staff replied,

“Are you kidding me…?!”

“Are you insane, Investigator?”

“Is he some academy student? If he finds out he’s being tapped, it’s obvious he’d either grab a can or prepare several in advance to switch them up! What do you expect? Use the phone with a sticker that blinks with magic energy? He’s not naive!”

“We could always make several, right?”

“And besides, even cloning a phone number means any call must be answered simultaneously. Otherwise, the logs would raise suspicion. To do that, we’d need to bring in equipment from headquarters, so until then, we’ll have to manually answer every single call.”

“Wouldn’t that be doable?”

“Do you mind if I sit that one out?”

“That would be impossible.”

“Oh.”

If it were impossible, then perhaps it was said that man ought to put forth more effort. The great secret behind how ancient humanity constructed pyramids was finally shedding light on itself.

As she semi-consciously descended into thought, Kiril, a colleague of Ekaterina, gently pressed the shoulder of the 6th Bureau staff member while rolling his eyes apologetically.

“Geez, you must be really having a hard time.”

Regardless of how much his colleague might be losing their wits, the other staff in the 6th Bureau trying to organize materials looked on with restrained smiles.

“Shandor, don’t you know a lot of people over at the communication companies? You’re friends with the security supervisor, right?”

“Yeah, I do.”

“Then hurry up and ask them. Consider it repayment for the money you lent him last time.”

“No way, do I have to see that guy again?”

The 6th Bureau support staff member named Shandor dramatically sighed before leaving the room.

“I’ll be back.”

“After you’re done, take notes of the interpretations and relay them to headquarters. See you later, Kiril.”

Kiril, the translator responsible for the 1st Bureau, departed with Shandor from the 6th Bureau.

Should Zigmund happen to communicate with his family, allies, or foreigners, Shandor’s support from the state-owned telecommunications company would prove valuable.

Of course, the reverse also held true.

“Domoboy has taken taxis and traveled to these regions: bookstores, libraries, tea houses, sports clubs, restaurants, and so forth.”

The 6th Bureau agent printed the typed list and handed it over.

With the oppressive sun (making everyone wear coats) dominant outside, they ribbed Shandor from the 6th Bureau.

What was his name again? Giorgi?

“First, look into those he’s met. Kiril and Shandor are off for the communications, so we can start with other things now.”

“I’d need to master the shadow clones since I can’t do those….”

Giorgi’s southern accent was clear and distinct from Shandor, another member of the 6th Bureau. They had virtually no overlap—even sharing the same bureau, the two were different in everything from specialization to work assignments.

His task was intelligence support.

“I’ll gather the runners up! If I throw them some cash, they’ll come crawling out like eager kittens.”

If Shandor dealt with communications and security, Giorgi provided the necessary information to Ekaterina.

Considering that informants from the 2nd Bureau dispatched overseas utilize the information networks 6th Bureau support staff set up, the network Giorgi managed was indeed reliable.

However, he also mentioned he was uncertain how well his informants would do against Zigmund.

Ekaterina pondered over the situation board for some time.

“We can only directly watch Domoboy from now on. The family’s location might not be feasible.”

“Ah! Since we’re on the subject of relatives, about the shooting incident. The report to the Law Enforcement Corps stated that the patrol took notice of a suspect in the park. A white female, supposedly speaking Kien?”

Shifting her gaze from the situation board, Ekaterina posed a question.

“How many Empire citizens are currently residing in Ashtistan?”

“About 1900. Including tourists and seasonal visitors, it’s likely a number like that for mid-to-long term dwellers.”

“And those of mixed heritage?”

“According to official stats, around 7000? But those statistics lose meaning. With the revolution, hundreds of thousands of Ashtistani people fled, and Kien isn’t the first foreign language.”

Simply having Kien would not suffice to ascertain identity.

Muttering to herself, she asked Giorgi, “Dig up a few more burrows.”

That meant she’d spread the intelligence network wide.

“Excuse me, but wouldn’t focusing on Domoboy over the terror incident be wiser?”

“An order was issued from higher up. They instructed us to prevent Shizuya from becoming involved.”

“Oh, if that was the case, you should’ve told me sooner!”

Giorgi slapped his forehead and nodded heavily.

“Whether it’s military, police, or the judiciary, there are ways, right?”

“Of course! In fact, I’m quite well-connected in Shizuya.”

“How long do you need?”

“One day. With how my seniors were chewed out by the clerks, I should have it wrapped up quickly.”

Sitting before the device, Giorgi promptly began identifying potential contacts to recruit as informants.

The 6th Bureau’s list of contacts was long and comprehensive. Defaulting on loans, credit ratings, assets—including movable and immovable properties—everything one might expect from a decent bank.

As she followed this, Ekaterina inquired as to what the current list consisted of.

In response, the 6th Bureau staff member pointed at a colleague across the room.

“She made this. They’ve heavily networked with financial institutions.”

“Banks?”

“Ahaha….”

The 6th Bureau staff wore an awkward smile and scratched their cheek upon meeting Ekaterina’s gaze.

“They’re not exclusive to banks, but it varies by industry, and there’s a handful of knowledgeable contacts in different sectors—loans, insurance, securities….”

As Ekaterina watched the red-faced 6th Bureau employee, insight struck her.

She’d heard that a trainee was supposed to join from the economics department but was placed in the 6th Bureau instead.

With excellent marks and few women in the economics department, they figured they’d let anyone apply without scrutiny. Since they were from the same university’s business department, it would be great to look out for her.

“Oksana.”

“Yup…?”

Oksana, the 6th Bureau staff member called by name, looked expectant as Ekaterina considered something to ask.

“How thorough can you be when researching the Ashtistani civil servants?”

“If it involves seeing their wallets, we can easily do that through local financial institutions. However, for back pockets, this place can’t check. It’s even trickier for high-ranking officials in the Law Enforcement Corps or military.”

That meant it would have to be researched from abroad.

She’d anticipated as much. Rumors have circulated for 30 years that the Law Enforcement Corps and the military have dipped into activities overseas.

The problem is whether they operate domestically or abroad, if they fail to wash those funds clean, they will be caught by the Ashtistan financial authorities.

Thus, the funds the Law Enforcement Corps and the military utilized all got exported overseas. Their destination? Tax havens. It was only after those funds have oscillated between legality and illegality, and emerged squeaky clean that they could re-enter Ashtistan.

“Of course, you can’t ignore the cost. You know that laundering cash doesn’t come free; ideally, you want to pick places with lax tax regulations, and nearby means fewer delivery accidents.”

Ekaterina asked if they could probe those funds too. The answer returned was an affirmative.

Oksana accessed the network and displayed the banks and companies frequently used by the Ashtistani military and Law Enforcement Corps’ higher-ups.

“These are the places here based on intelligence collected from foreign financial firms regarding the potential kickbacks for these officials. It’s information collated by seniors in our Economic Counterintelligence and Financial Intelligence departments who have covertly checked in.”

“Or operating a front company.”

“Oh? You know that?”

“I’ve a friend over in Economic Affairs. I’ve supported them a few times as well.”

Plus, there were countless financial firms operating within the Empire run by foreign intelligence agencies. Companies set up for illegal transactions or funding purposes.

As she examined the files Oksana presented, intriguing names caught Ekaterina’s attention.

“I see there are banks related to the Kingdom of Abas. They even have companies set up in the Abas region?”

“Yeah, that’s because their corporate tax rates are incredibly low. Many large and small companies have ventured into that area, making it easier for them to disguise themselves.”

“But those companies must simply have paper trails, right?”

“It’s like gathering pebbles to build a mountain….”

That meant they’d save a dime by avoiding taxes through earnest efforts.

While it struck her as absurd to donate national funds to an adversary, the act of laundering state funds has always defined insanity.

Nonetheless.

The depth of corruption nested within the ranks of the Republic of Ashtistan’s military leaders was little cause for concern for Ekaterina. If anything, the more the better for her.

Slush funds have always been excellent leverage.

Moreover, especially when their origins amass into the realm of illegality.

“But will higher-ups concede this easily under a bit of pressure?”

Oksana tilted her head, perplexed.

In response, Ekaterina, examining the listings, replied, “If they don’t budge, we need to freeze their accounts. It’s undeniably illegal. By the way, there are some countries around here imposing sanctions on Ashtistan.”

The governments sanctioning the Republic of Ashtistan would promptly conduct an investigation into the banks if lightly tipped off. For violating government mandates and contravening economic sanctions, the enforcement agencies would deliver a swift blow.

Those governments that abstained from participating in the sanctions would still unreadably freeze accounts the moment international organizations started pressing them.

Frankly, that’s exactly how it’s been historically.

The sanctions against the Republic of Ashtistan have typically followed such a process.

It’s impressive how effective starving the money supply has been, as proven over decades against the Republic of Ashtistan’s government. Once the Ministry of Foreign Affairs took action, even generals had no room for maneuvering.

“Oops…! I just set up an appointment!”

Giorgi, who had been stretching at the table, reported he had a meeting with the judicial authorities of Ashtistan.

He was still rotating his shoulders when he continued mumbling.

“If I’m going to meet them all by today, I better step out now.”

“Is there anything you need?”

“Money? The budget from the 6th Bureau’s Shizuya branch can barely scrape it together….”

Though formally requesting the budget and gaining approval could take ages.

Giorgi realized he wouldn’t have enough available funds to secure the individuals Ekaterina had identified.

So Ekaterina handed a paper bag she had taken from her bag to Oksana.

“Use this for the expenses. Just display the cover identity to the Ashtistan banks and you’ll get cash from deposits.”

Inside the bag were deposits from the public banks of the Republic of Ashtistan alongside false identification. Oksana examined the passport that indicated her falsified identity and checked the locations and activity funds deposited in the banks.

Zero one, two, three, four, five…

“…Huh?!”

Oksana opened her eyes wide and began to mumble.

It was a terribly large sum. As a finance official in the 6th Bureau, she had provided countless operations expenses for employees of the Imperial Guard, but she had never seen funds of this magnitude allocated for short-term operations.

The issue was that she was the one responsible for sorting through all those funds, an estimated ten accounts at least.

“Wait, is it just me…?”

“Go withdraw it.”

Just the thought of tackling the sluggish throughput of Ashtistan banks sent Oksana into a dazed sense of despair.

How am I supposed to do this all? Even just withdrawing will take forever. And to provide anything to the informants means moving the money here and there…

“…Am I doomed?”

“Yep.”

“…Shut up, Giorgi.”

While the 6th Bureau staff were laughing and chatting, Ekaterina compiled and submitted the details to the Imperial Guard headquarters.

Using the information obtained from the taxi service, she specified that they would be listening to Zigmund himself and foreign nationals he had contacted over the past week. For that reason, Kiril from the 1st Bureau and Shandor from the 6th Bureau were to meet with the security officer at the state-owned telecommunications company.

Based on the list she had prepared in advance and the intelligence sourced from the banks, she’d aim to recruit officials associated with the Ashtistani government. Giorgi from the 6th Bureau would assist Oksana.

The recruited state officials would then monitor the movements of the Ashtistani security agencies.

Whether they had caught wind of Zigmund’s existence, and if so, which agency and how they came to know, would remain to be uncovered.

If luck was on her side, news concerning the Abas intelligence agents might trickle in as well.

“……”

Setting down her glass of water after sending off the report, Ekaterina gathered her outerwear.

“When Kiril returns, please let me know about any replies that come back.”

“Okay.”

Oksana jotted down the instructions in her notepad. Meanwhile, Giorgi tilted his head as he watched Ekaterina don a small woolly hat.

“And where are you off to? It’s nighttime, after all.”

“I’m heading to Domoboy.”

Despite being a double agent, there was no way they could leave him unattended like this.

“Attach a tail to Domoboy for the time being. And if you sense anything suspicious even slightly….”

Ekaterina covered her face fully.

She then quietly added, “As per the Bureau Chief’s orders, we will put the operation on hold and prioritize his safe return.”

—

Ding-dong! The doorbell once again broke the silence.

Zigmund, quenching his thirst with barley tea kept in the kettle, concealed one hand behind his back and proceeded down the hallway.

“…Hena? Lucy? Is that you?”

The quiet inquiry echoed hollow as it became a monologue.

Zigmund scanned the empty space for a significant amount of time until he noticed an unattended object in front of the door.

A telephone.

And a small box.