A Dark Fantasy Spy

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Spying is classified as a crime related to treason.

Those who conspire with foreign entities to harm the state. Those who enlist for the enemy country. Those who engage in or aid espionage for the enemy country, and so on.

Treason is considered an attempt to overthrow the state and is punished as a serious crime equivalent to rebellion.

Additionally, anyone who assists or condones any activity of espionage will face penalties equal to that of the spy. They will be treated as traitors and rebels.

In that context, Chief Researcher Fernan, who concealed the fact of meeting with a spy, was a traitor.

—

Episode 3 – A Fantastic Vacation

“If what the Colonel says is true, then Fernan hasn’t reported the spy to us.”

The Team Leader continued to explain in a calm voice.

“If he didn’t report it with the intent to protect the spy, he’ll be charged with aiding espionage.”

In the quiet conference room where even the slightest sound seemed amplified, only the Team Leader’s deep voice resonated.

After a moment of silence, he casually took out a cigarette from his pocket.

With a slight flick, the sound of a lighter igniting filled the air, followed by a thin wisp of smoke rising.

“…Hoo.”

He spoke without a word, releasing the smoke mixed with a sigh before extinguishing the cigarette.

He turned to me.

“Our team includes investigators. Did you know that?”

“…I had my suspicions.”

Not every information agency agent is a spy.

Whether in modern information agencies or here, there are specialized investigators for espionage, economic crimes, international crimes, industrial spying, terrorism, drug crimes, and more.

Investigators wield significant power under the legal authority represented by the term “public security.”

Since Clevenz was originally from the Counterintelligence Agency, it was obvious that the people he sent were investigators.

The Team Leader nodded slightly, as if he expected that.

“We plan to investigate Fernan for aiding espionage.”

“I see.”

Regardless of guilt or innocence, they’ll likely detain him in an interrogation room and coax him for information.

As expected, the Team Leader nodded again and continued explaining.

“As long as we find out who he met, we can secure evidence proving he is a spy.”

“How long do you think it will take?”

“Well, it could be done by today if he’s cooperative, but it may take longer if he refuses to open up.”

Fernan had yet to inform the authorities of his meeting with the spy. The information agency investigator pointed that out in a matter-of-fact tone.

“There must be a reason he hasn’t reported it, whether he was threatened or received money.”

“Is it important why Chief Fernan didn’t report it?”

“Yes, even minor information can be useful.”

“Hmm.”

It seemed the explanation was wrapping up. After jotting down the key points in my notes, I asked the Team Leader.

“What should I do?”

The Team Leader replied.

“Please look into aspects that the investigators cannot see.”

—

The Team Leader had made a rather mysterious request of me.

He wanted me to examine the case from outside the investigator’s perspective.

He knew I was an overseas operative, so why would he ask for my help in spying investigations?

“Hmm….”

I closed my eyes and slowly retraced the events of the case.

The Magic Tower had sent a spy to the Advanced Military Magic Research Institute. The objective was likely to leak research data and recruit researchers.

A typical act of industrial espionage.

Industrial spies are agents who leak industrial information such as technological data, management insights, and economic policies. They are often employed to save on the costs of research and development, time, and personnel. Thus, private enterprises frequently make use of industrial spies more than information agencies.

This means that the Magic Tower has its sights set on the research institute’s成果.

But I couldn’t quite guess what that might be. Considering they were aiming to recruit Fernan, it seemed related to biological research. Since they had failed to gain access to confidential materials, I judged that no research data had been leaked.

The issue at hand is that the starting point of this whole matter was the leakage of personal information of the staff at the Advanced Military Magic Research Institute.

Where had Clevenz obtained such intel?

“What are you thinking about?”

“Yahh!”

“Kyaah!”

I jumped and screamed at the sudden voice coming from beside me.

Instinctively, I grabbed the pistol from my pocket, but upon recognizing the face, I hastily put my hand away.

“C-Camila Lowell? What are you doing here?”

“You surprised me! Why are you shouting like that!?”

“You popped up out of nowhere….”

In my flustered state, as I stammered, Camila Lowell anxiously patted her startled chest.

After finally calming down, she explained her reason for being here.

“I came to tell you it’s time for dinner.”

—

Due to the nature of my work, it was rare for me to have my meals on time.

Unlike the information officers or analysts who were stationed in the office, investigators or operatives often didn’t even get to leave work freely, let alone eat. And I was an overseas operative, after all.

Of course, regardless of the position, if there was a heavy workload, daily life would suffer.

Either way, meals were one of the few joys in my life.

“Today’s dinner menu looks delicious.”

“Do you like steak?”

“I like all meats.”

I couldn’t drink freely, traveling far was tough, and meeting friends was even harder.

Had the food here not suited my palate, I might have quit the information agency a long time ago.

“Can’t you just buy meat somewhere?”

Camila Lowell tilted her head in confusion. She must still be unaware of the harsh realities.

“These days, it’s tough to go grocery shopping because of the economy.”

“The economy is in recession?”

“I’m not sure. I just know that prices have surged.”

In truth, I already knew why the economy had tanked.

The reasons for the economic downturn were nothing special.

The world was falling apart, which led to total collapse.

Pirates blocked sea routes; monsters cut off railways; the empire was waging war; and various races went on long strikes; terrorism and epidemics, all that jazz.

Production rates plummeted, failing to keep up with demand, while transportation and insurance costs skyrocketed, exploding the prices.

The reason I knew all this was that during my time in the cult, I had seen the economic reports prepared by the Military Intelligence Agency.

These reports were originally meant for high-ranking officials, but I was told to familiarize myself with them so I wouldn’t appear ignorant in front of others.

Recalling my one-on-one training session with an economic official sent to the embassy made my body shiver.

“Why are you shivering? Are you feeling sick?”

“No, no. I’m fine.”

I replied casually while cutting the steak.

“Well, did you have your exams today?”

Camila Lowell had two examinations today: one was a health check in the morning, and the other was a skills test in the afternoon.

She beamed as she replied.

“I was able to use magic without a wand!”

—

She truly used magic without a wand.

“They said the experiment facility was destroyed.”

—”What?”

“Uh, well, the military attack magic testing facility was wrecked. The targets were completely burned, and the walls and ceiling are all charred.”

—”Huh.”

Clevenz let out a sound of disbelief.

An experiment facility capable of withstanding magic that can take down a monster as large as a bus couldn’t endure Camila Lowell’s flames.

—”That’s quite interesting.”

“They say there are no health issues, but they still don’t know why I fainted. My predecessors are trying to investigate, but I’ve heard that it would be challenging to get accurate diagnoses unless the chief and lead researchers are released.”

—”Well, they’ve got all those researchers locked up, so it would be impossible to function properly… So, is there any significant development in the investigation?”

Ah, I almost forgot to give a progress report.

I hurriedly took some notes from my pocket and started briefing Clevenz.

“As of now, it has been confirmed that Benoit Fernan, the head of biological analysis, has not informed the authorities about his contact with the spy. It has been verified that he declined recruitment, but he seems to be under threat.”

—”Threat? Has he been blackmailed?”

“Well, he might have received money, or he could be embroiled in some scandal. Personally, I think it might have been Fernan who leaked the personal information of the institute’s staff.”

Hmm. A low hum echoed through the communicator.

—”So he couldn’t report it because he sold the information?”

“Yes, he might not have realized it was information leakage.”

—”Then what was his reason for refusing recruitment?”

“It seems he tried to distance himself after realizing he had leaked classified information. If the spy gets caught, his own crimes would be exposed, so he presumably chose not to tell anyone.”

While there was no concrete evidence, there was a possibility that Fernan had leaked the personal data.

As a head researcher, it’s reasonable he would have access to classified information of at least level two. Thus, his reason for not reporting it made sense.

However, it seemed Clevenz had a different line of thought.

—”Hmm, no, that’s not it.”

“What?”

—”I received a list from an informant detailing identities that were leaked. Now that I look, Fernan’s name is included.”

“….”

—”Fernan’s not the one.”

“…Then.”

—”That means someone has already sold information to the spy.”