Chapter 28: The Empire (2)

"I thought it would take a few more days, but you came earlier than expected."

Phiri approached me with quick steps. Meanwhile, my mind was racing.

Did we just happen to arrive at the same time? No, that wasn't it. We never set a specific time.

And he couldn't have been waiting here all this time.

Since I entered Chenerus, I was definitely under Phiri's watch.

'When did it start?'

I had kept my senses open ever since I arrived in Chenerus. Wind expansion was a given.

I hadn't been pursued.

Occasionally, I felt someone's gaze, but that was the same anywhere I went.

It was hard to assume everyone I saw was an agent.

And how did he know I entered the capital today?

They couldn't have been waiting for me specifically.

'Hmm...'

In any case, it was a moment when I felt my own inadequacy.

No matter how intense the training, the field is different. There's still a lot to learn here.

Phiri turned his back to me as he approached. We seemed to be looking at the city together.

The city wasn't completely dark, with magical lamps installed in various places. It felt like looking at the night view on Earth.

"How is it? Isn't the view nice?"

"Is this the branch office?"

"Huh? No."

I wondered what was missing.

It was almost comical how I had worried about something I couldn't imagine.

"Then, was the clue you gave me wrong?"

"What clue?"

"The graduation assignment was to find the intelligence unit's branch office, right?"

Phiri tilted his head.

I felt like I was the strange one for asking.

"What's wrong with that?"

"You said this isn't the branch office."

"Oh."

Phiri finally seemed to understand and chuckled.

"Did you expect to go straight to the branch office and whisper a secret code?"

It felt like he hit the nail on the head.

After all, in movies on Earth, that's usually how it goes.

"...Not exactly, but I thought I was supposed to find the branch office."

I wasn't trying to nitpick. Accuracy in a mission is crucial for an intelligence agent.

A clear and precise mission makes it easier to execute and increases the success rate.

From that perspective, this assignment seemed a bit off.

"I understand what you mean. I felt the same way when I was younger. But this is the basic way of making contact."

"Is that so?"

"A person saying a secret code in a normal business would look more suspicious. It's better to meet and guide people this way."

Thinking about it, he had a point.

There's so much to learn. I have practical experience, but I lack field experience.

"Most of the time, it will proceed like this in the future."

I nodded. Even as we talked, I didn't let my guard down.

This was the Empire, not Haisen.

It's a place with intelligence units from various countries. That's why I had to circle around to find it.

Phiri lightly patted my shoulder.

"It's okay. Relax. I've already checked. I'm still keeping an eye on things."

"Yes."

"By the way, it was really beyond my imagination. How did you find it so quickly?"

Phiri placed his hand on my shoulder and patted it twice, as if praising me.

"I put in some effort to make it hard to find. It wasn't just a coincidence."

Indeed, it seemed his playful side had kicked in, as I had thought when I brought the code phrase I had used before.

"The story about the crow that dislikes the sun came to mind during a class."

"Eh? They teach that now?"

"They just mentioned it in passing... Didn't Phiri learn it?"

"Maybe? I don't remember it well since it was a long time ago."

He looked to be in his mid-20s, but I wondered if he was actually older.

"Anyway, it was smart of you to think of that. I really like you. I have a good eye, you know."

"You flatter me."

"Are you saying my eye is bad now?"

Phiri smiled slyly.

"Uh? No, that's not what I meant."

"Just kidding. I really like you. To be honest, I didn't expect you to come to the Empire."

Phiri looked at me with a satisfied expression.

"You said you had a place you wanted to go. Was it the Empire originally? Or did you come because I said I'd treat you well?"

He seemed genuinely pleased, so I didn't feel bad. It felt like being welcomed.

Phiri squinted his eyes.

"Or did you fall for my beauty?"

"I originally wanted to come to the Empire."

I quickly composed myself.

"Really? Why?"

"Um, I thought there would be more to learn in a challenging place."

"Exactly!"

Phiri snapped his fingers and clapped three times.

I had expected the question, but his reaction was a bit surprising.

"An oak tree is known by its acorns. You remind me of myself when I was young. I came to the Empire the same way."

"Really?"

"Yes. Just look at me becoming the youngest deputy leader. The Empire is a great place, you know?"

The youngest deputy leader.

I thought he looked young, but I didn't know he was the youngest. It meant there was a lot to learn, regardless of his playful nature.

"Anyway, I promised to treat you well, so I will. If you have any difficulties, just ask."

"Thank you. But, won't I be assigned a mentor? I heard it's hard to meet the leader or deputy leader."

"Normally, yes. But don't worry."

Phiri winked.

"I'll be your mentor for a while."

"Really?"

"I promised to treat you well, remember? And I'm a field deputy leader."

I wondered if deputy leaders were usually in the field, but I kept quiet.

In any case, it was a good thing that Phiri would be my mentor for a while.

"You don't have any questions? It's your first time in the Empire, right?"

"You've been watching me, right?"

Phiri mentioned it wasn't a coincidence that he saw me.

That meant he knew I didn't find this place by looking at the clock tower's hands.

He had been observing me and knew my destination was here.

"Yeah."

"Even as a deputy leader, is that okay?"

It was a question about whether he had the time.

I could also check if he saw it himself or heard it from someone else.

"Are you criticizing me now?"

"No, that's not what I meant."

"Hey, this is the sweet part. You'll understand once you get into this life."

Phiri dismissed it, as if to show he wasn't just a deputy leader in name.

"Right. When you meet the leader later, can you tell him I convinced you to come to the Empire?"

"Really?"

Phiri scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

"I promised I'd bring a good one. I said I'd definitely bring you."

"During the last mission?"

"Yeah."

So that's why he said he would treat me well at the graduation ceremony.

There was no reason to refuse. It would be good to make a good impression, and it wasn't hard to comply.

But I had a slight doubt.

Given Phiri's personality, it didn't seem like he was trying to score points with the leader.

"But, did you...?"

"Huh?"

"Did you make a bet with the leader?"

Phiri was taken aback.

"...How did you know?"

"I just had a feeling."

"..."

"I'll tell him you convinced me to come."

"Thanks!"

Phiri, who had been silent with a look of defeat, smiled.

"And, by the way, is the carriage driver part of the intelligence unit?"

Phiri only raised the corners of his mouth.

That was the answer I expected. If he knew I was here, it had to be the driver.

Tch. I had chosen the driver myself.

It seemed they had planted him knowing our departure date.

"Any more questions?"

"No."

"Then let's go to the branch office. We need to meet the leader too."

* * *

Hide in plain sight.

One of the famous sayings in the intelligence world. Haisen, of course, adheres to this principle.

The place Phiri took me to was a clothing store. It was neither too big nor too small.

The front door was closed, so we entered through the back door.

It seemed small, but for a branch office of a kingdom's intelligence unit, it was surprisingly small.

Is it expanded underground?

"It seems smaller than I expected."

"We don't run branch offices too big. The longer the tail, the more likely it is to get stepped on, and the more people gather, the more dangerous it becomes."

"I see."

"Usually, we operate like a network. Intelligence activities aren't just needed in the capital of the Empire."

Since he said to ask if I had any questions, I didn't hold back.

Phiri added,

"Usually, agents don't know each other, except for me and the leader. It's safer that way."

I knew this from training, but it was the first time I heard that branch offices operated like a network.

Even when I was in the noble's mansion, they said I would learn on the field.

They respected field work because each field had its own style.

"This way."

Phiri walked confidently in the dark and reached into a display rack.

With a click, the rack moved to the side, revealing a small opening.

It didn't lead underground. I remembered the structure I had seen from outside. It led to the next house.

"It's not underground?"

"Building an underground base makes it hard to escape. You can't dig tunnels every time you move."

It made sense. A hidden basement would leave you with no escape if caught.

A house has windows, and you can break through walls.

"Many inexperienced people build underground bases. Maybe it feels safer?"

Thinking about it, that was true. When I was on a mission, it was easier to catch people in underground hideouts.

The place we entered through the opening was a regular house.

Walking down a dimly lit orange corridor, I met the eyes of a couple sitting at a table in the living room.

They pretended not to see us and continued their usual conversation.

"How was your day?"

"The same as always."

Passing by, I noticed the man was missing one hand.

"Is he a retired agent?"

I asked quietly, and Phiri nodded slightly. The atmosphere inside the branch office seemed serious.

I decided to hold back my questions.

Phiri, who had climbed to the second floor, cleared his throat and knocked on an old wooden door three short times and two long times.

Then, after two seconds, he spoke.

"Boss, it's me."

"Who's this kid?"

"...A tailor."

"Come in."

Creak— The old door hinges groaned as the door opened, and bright light flooded in.

In the center of the room, with the windows blocked by blackout curtains, sat a middle-aged man with glasses.

'...Huh?'

Even after three years, I recognized him at first glance.

My heart rate quickened, but I tried not to show it. The man looked at me.

"Are you Kallin?"

"Yes."

"You're too handsome."

For an intelligence agent, an ordinary appearance is a virtue. Anything above or below the norm tends to stick in people's minds.

My mind was a mess, so I kept quiet. Phiri laughed.

"I'm pretty, and I'm a deputy leader."

"I'm just saying it's a shame to use a promising kid only once."

Using someone only once referred to a cover identity, right?

Phiri shrugged.

"Once in an important place is enough."

The leader, who had nodded, turned his gaze to me.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Derrick. Call me Boss from now on."

"Yes, Boss."

I looked into the leader's eyes, trying to hide my tension. Did he notice?

My heart wouldn't calm down.

'Why is this guy here?'

My mind was a mess. The reason I was reacting this way was simple.

Derrick. The name I knew was Demorick Ruspel.

He was one of the named demon worshippers. Derrick looked at me with sharp eyes.

"Why did you look surprised when you saw me?"