A Dark Fantasy Spy

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The core of all information agency activities is security.

Whether the intel is rated A-grade or B-grade, how high the analysis accuracy is, or whether captured spies are major players or small fry is important, but even more crucial is security.

If things go awry, employees could end up imprisoned or worse, so everyone, regardless of their affiliation, is trained to treat security like their lifeline.

Thus, an information agency does not disclose any work details to other institutions, and even employees within the same agency never share work-related conversations.

As a result, sometimes tasks overlap between agencies, and during incidents in the field, the commander’s understanding of the situation can be delayed.

Of course, to prevent such accidents, various safety measures based on laws and systems have been established. However, as information agencies are ultimately run by humans, unexpected accidents and blunders occasionally occur.

No matter how smart an analyst is, mistakes in analysis happen, and no matter how meticulous an investigator is, there are instances of missing suspects.

And.

No matter how meticulous a spy might be, there will come a day when they slip up.

Someday.

For sure.

—

Episode 3 – A Fantastic Vacation

“I’m hungry.”

“What?”

Camila Lowell complained. Slumped over her desk, she spoke in a weak voice unlike her usual self.

“Wasn’t it just a couple of hours since you ate?”

“It feels like it’s been two hours…”

“So you’re already hungry?”

“Exactly…”

She muttered flatly, her face forlorn. It wasn’t a cheerful sight at all.

“It’s strange, but every time I use magic, I feel like my stomach empties. I hope I’m not going to end up rolling around because I gained weight.”

Listening to her almost whiny complaints, I couldn’t help but think that Camila Lowell’s eating habits seemed to be increasing.

To be precise, it was more about snacking. Since she didn’t seem to be facing any health issues, I didn’t think it warranted much concern.

I took out some sweet snacks from the supply room I had packed in the morning and handed them to her. Automatically, she opened her mouth, and I skillfully popped the snack in, pushing her chin to close it.

“Is it good?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, that’s a relief.”

Camila Lowell smiled faintly, and I turned to the researcher standing nearby.

“When does the next test start?”

“It’ll start in 15 minutes.”

So they said.

As time stretched, Camila Lowell’s schedule became a bit more complicated. She needed to extract as much research data as possible before leaving the research institute the day after tomorrow.

If it weren’t for the spy issue, it would have been a three-day job, but with all the top personnel detained, there was nothing that could be done.

Not only she but the researchers and agents were all spending a busy week.

“Well, that’s the situation. Please get up now.”

“…Sigh.”

“This time, try not to melt the building.”

“I’ll try my best….”

I smiled brightly and stood up.

Then I casually made my way through the crowd to find a certain researcher.

“Senior Researcher Bianchi?”

“Yes? Did you call for me?”

There was no particular reason I was sticking by Camila Lowell even during the busy times.

It was because my task was to monitor people.

“Is everything going well with your work?”

A government-sponsored student who majored in magic at a domestic university and went abroad to the Magic Tower for further studies.

A talented individual who was hired at the Advanced Military Magic Research Institute with support from the Magic Tower.

Senior researcher in the biological analysis lab at the Advanced Military Magic Research Institute.

Giada Bianchi.

—

The incident began early that morning.

I brought a list obtained from Veronica to the Inquisition Team, where the team leader sent the list to the Information Agency for verification and further needed information.

After a brief wait, the printer roared to life, spitting out documents.

Thus, the meeting was convened.

“Name: Giada Bianchi. 36 years old. A woman who studied magic domestically, obtained her bachelor’s degree, and went abroad for government-funded studies at the Magic Tower. Her major is biology and magic studies, with a minor in summoning studies. She’s currently the senior researcher in the biological analysis lab responsible for the ‘Next Generation Field Medical System’ project.”

The investigator holding the microphone continued to explain in a calm voice.

A mechanical device projected a dim light on the screen, and several large resumes unfurled before us.

Then, the resumes immediately shifted to photographs.

“These photographs were taken during her studies at the Magic Tower. Giada Bianchi studied there for two years and six months and is believed to have attended several academic conferences and seminars.”

“Academic conferences and seminars?”

“Yes.”

The team leader cocked his head, looking puzzled, and turned his gaze toward me.

I grabbed the microphone to add my explanation.

“Academic conferences and seminars are great places to scout for information agents.”

Events like academic conferences, seminars, and international business meetings are prime hunting grounds for identifying info agents.

Such gatherings allow you to make contact with numerous people in a short time, and even if you disguise your identity, the chance of getting caught is low since everyone there is high-ranking personnel.

From an information officer’s perspective, there’s no reason not to seek out such honeyed venues.

“You can contact as many people as possible in a short period, and since these meetings focus on networking, it’s easy to facilitate follow-up interactions and personal meetings.”

The team leader turned to glance at the investigator.

“So, was she possibly recruited through academic conferences and seminars?”

“I can’t be sure, but it seems plausible.”

“Is there someone she frequently interacted with at the Magic Tower?”

“Yes, there is a man named Fabio Verati. He’s a representative handling diplomatic affairs from various embassies and was often seen having personal meetings with Giada Bianchi and even attended farewell parties with her.”

As the screen changed, several photos appeared on the wall. The images showed men and women in various compromising poses, but the ones of the two entangled like snakes stood out the most.

It seemed they had some kind of relationship.

“These are materials relayed from the relevant agencies. As you can see from the photos, it is presumed they were in a romantic relationship. This is supported by witness testimonies, posts on Magic Tower communities, and records of international post and calls.”

I tore my gaze from the photos and shifted it to the pile of documents.

Is it really such a big deal that a foreign guy and girl fell in love? But all I could see was an obvious attempt at recruitment.

Typically, the process of recruiting an information agent goes through four stages: scouting, evaluation, environment provisioning, and recruitment.

If there are 100 people, the information officer narrows it down to about 10 prime candidates.

Then, the officer contacts the selected targets, evaluates them, creates a suitable environment, and tries to recruit them. Sometimes, the intermediary steps are skipped in urgent situations, but if following the formal protocol, most focus on building close relationships during the environment provisioning stage.

If Giada Bianchi fell in love with a Magic Tower associate while maintaining personal meetings, it meant the environment provisioning was practically complete.

“While circumstantial evidence abounds, do we have any concrete proof?”

“There are some oddities in the overseas travel records, but we couldn’t find any incriminating information in the financial transaction or currency exchange records.”

“What about international calls or postcards?”

“All calls and mail headed abroad are screened by relevant agencies. We requested related materials, but they also didn’t find any concrete evidence.”

It’s a frustrating situation.

Without tangible evidence, capturing a spy based on circumstantial evidence is impossible.

Of course, if we could search a residence to find random codes or communication equipment, we could immediately arrest them on suspicion of being a spy, but conducting a search without a warrant would lead to issues in the courtroom.

“Hmmm….”

In the end, until we acquire a warrant, someone must keep an eye on the prime suspect, Giada Bianchi.

Whether to find evidence or prevent her from sketchy dealings, one of us had to be on surveillance.

However, many of the investigators were tangled up with Fernando’s interrogation, and approaching the suspect without an identity disguise would be far too risky.

Just then, a sub-team leader investigator asked the team leader.

“Who should monitor Giada Bianchi?”

“Well… I’m not sure.”

“In a situation where external communications and access are restricted, it’s highly suspicious for an unidentified person to approach her…”

“Exactly.”

It seemed the investigators were wrestling with similar concerns.

“Wouldn’t it be best if someone with a clear identity went in?”

“Is there such a person?”

“None, I suppose.”

“Right?”

But somehow,

“It would be even better if someone familiar to the researchers…”

“It’s better if their face is well known…”

Everyone was looking at me.

“….”

The team leader, the sub-team leader, the investigator explaining into the microphone, and even the intern doodling on the edge of a paper in the corner of the conference room.

Everyone was casting furtive glances my way.

Though no one spoke, I felt I understood what they wanted to imply.

“….”

Someone with a clear identity and a well-known face who would raise fewer suspicions.

Someone who’s aware of the ongoing investigation and can maintain security.

An employee affiliated with the same institution, not just the research institute.

If possible, someone with a bit of field experience.

“….”

No matter how I think about it, there was only one person in this room who fit that bill.

“…..Colonel? Do you fight well?”

“I’ve been trained, but…”

“….”

“Probably?”

That person was me.