Chapter 30: Kahalin

“So, what’s the problem?”

At Phiri’s question, the branch manager glanced at me. It was probably a question of whether I should be listening.

Phiri frowned.

“If it’s okay to say, why would you ask?”

“Oh, right.”

The branch manager couldn’t be clueless. The fact that he asked just now was proof that the matter was quite important.

Focusing, the branch manager swallowed hard.

“We were collecting Leon ore according to the plan, trying not to attract the Empire’s attention, when a mysterious group suddenly appeared.”

“Is there competition?”

“Yes. At first, we didn’t even know it was a group. It’s not uncommon for merchant guilds with tight delivery deadlines to prowl the black market, offering extra money to buy the ore.”

Phiri nodded.

“After tracking the movements of various small and medium-sized merchant guilds, we confirmed that the ore was flowing to one place.”

“Does the Empire suspect something?”

“Not yet. We could tell the flow because we were collecting it ourselves. But the other side is being too aggressive, so it’s only a matter of time.”

Phiri hummed. I, too, was quickly thinking.

Leon ore is mainly found in the north and is primarily used to make magical items.

However, it’s also a crucial material for manufacturing magic bombs, so the Empire’s surveillance is strict.

The first question that came to mind was why Haisen was collecting it, aside from the mysterious group.

My thoughts turned negative, thinking about the captain.

“Given that they’re buying it even though they can’t resell it, there must be a purpose. What have you found out about the other side?”

“Other than their base being in the Kibelun Mountains, we have no leads.”

“...”

“I apologize. The other side is more thorough than expected, making it difficult to track their movements.”

Phiri bit her lip in frustration. It was, in fact, inevitable.

It’s hard for Haisen, located in the southern continent, to exert influence in the north. That’s why this place is considered a difficult area.

“Where do you think they are?”

“There’s a possibility they’re in Lialto or Hisala, which are close to the north...”

The branch manager paused, as if hesitating.

Just as Phiri was about to speak out of frustration, the branch manager continued.

“Personally, I think it could be the Empire.”

“The Empire’s dogs are up to something?”

“Yes. They’re too aggressive to be Lialto or Hisala. There’s no reason for them to draw attention like this.”

Logically, the Empire doesn’t need to buy what comes from its own land.

However, if they have some ulterior motive, it could be different. It was a reasonable assumption from the field officer.

I would have thought the same if I hadn’t entered the game.

‘Devil worshippers.’

In the game, the devil worshippers first appeared in the north.

With the grand explosion that destroyed a fortress, they naturally became linked to Leon ore.

The reason they haven’t thought of this is that the devil worshippers haven’t fully revealed themselves yet.

Since the founding emperor, devil worshippers have been nearly extinct.

The intelligence network can’t grasp every situation.

The same was true when playing the game. The continent was shocked by the appearance of the devil worshippers.

Of course, some people knew about it.

One thing that bothered me was the captain.

He, too, is a devil worshipper, so he must know what’s happening here.

Yet, he sent Phiri here.

A character not in my memory. If he’s this strong, he must have died somewhere.

‘Could it be now?’

There’s no immediate warning of death.

But that doesn’t mean I’m safe. It comes at the most dangerous moment.

Of course, I can’t definitively say Phiri is dead now. I just need to be prepared mentally.

Moreover, the current captain might not be a devil worshipper.

It’s a matter of timing.

He was a named devil worshipper, but we don’t know when he became one. We need to be cautious but keep the possibility open.

In the silence, the branch manager swallowed hard.

“A week ago, two agents died. They weren’t weak, so it’s definitely not a place to be taken lightly.”

“Who died?”

“Ferret and Haim.”

“...They were useful.”

Phiri closed her eyes, placed her index and middle fingers on her forehead, and slightly bowed her head.

It was a silent vow by Haisen’s intelligence agents never to forget. The branch manager and I followed suit.

After a moment, Phiri opened her eyes and looked calmer than ever. But the silence that followed was chillingly cold.

I could tell she was genuinely angry.

“Kalin.”

“Yes.”

“What do you think should be done first in this situation?”

It was a question from a senior. I answered immediately.

“Erase the traces of collecting Leon ore, and if that’s impossible, evacuate the branch.”

Whether the other side collecting Leon ore is the Empire or not, the result is the same.

If it’s the Empire, they would know there are others collecting Leon ore.

Even if it’s a third group, the aggressive buying would certainly catch the Empire’s attention.

There’s a high chance the Empire’s investigation could reach us. We might be implicated.

“You’re right.”

The branch manager looked slightly surprised as Phiri nodded.

“How far have you progressed?”

“All traces have been erased. We were cautious from the beginning, so the line shouldn’t reach us.”

At that moment, someone knocked on the door.

“Guildmaster, it’s Hendrick.”

Phiri was about to straighten up, but the branch manager immediately waved his hand.

“It’s an agent.”

The branch manager, gritting his teeth, opened the door.

“What is it?”

His voice carried restrained irritation.

He was angry that an agent interrupted while he had a guest, but he asked, sensing there must be a reason.

If it wasn’t important, the agent would be in trouble.

“2nd and 4th squads are out of contact.”

“What?”

The branch manager turned to Phiri, surprised. I was equally surprised, but for a different reason.

What? Why is he here?

Though he looked a bit older, it was definitely Mohen. He’s here. What a coincidence.

Mohen, who was tense seeing Phiri, soon noticed me.

He looked slightly surprised, and for a moment, a smirk flashed in his eyes.

He must think I came to the Empire because I’m not as skilled as him.

‘Nothing’s changed.’

I suppressed a hollow laugh, partly due to the atmosphere created by the branch manager and Phiri.

Phiri gestured with her hand.

“Details.”

Mohen approached quickly and reported in a formal stance.

“Daily reports were submitted by 9 a.m. along a predetermined route, but there’s been no contact since 12:20 p.m. In my judgment...”

“Who asked for your judgment?”

“S-Sorry.”

Mohen bowed his head at the sharp voice but kept glancing at me.

Phiri, noticing this, glanced at me.

An individual shouldn’t give their opinion before a senior asks. Moreover, it was a serious matter.

Mohen must have known this but tried to look important in front of me.

‘Stupid guy.’

Phiri turned her gaze to the branch manager.

“Situation.”

“After the 6th squad went missing in the Kibelun Mountains, the 2nd and 4th squads, a total of four agents, went undercover as herbalists to investigate.”

“Is there a chance of survival?”

No news of trouble had been reported, but the complete loss of communication from skilled agents was a serious issue.

“...There’s Torn Zahar. He won’t go down easily.”

“Torn Zahar.”

Phiri nodded. Though it was the first time I heard the name, it seemed she knew him.

“Was there an escape route planned?”

“They were to escape on their own, depending on the situation.”

“Map.”

The branch manager nodded, and Mohen hurriedly fetched a map from the bookshelf.

The branch manager reported.

“Here, they started the investigation from the southern end of the mountain range and moved northeast.”

“Either there’s something in the northeast or they encountered a problem during the move.”

“Yes.”

Phiri, who had been silently studying the map, asked everyone.

“If they’re still alive and trying to escape, where do you think they went?”

The branch manager looked anxiously at Phiri, while I quickly thought.

If I were them, and a problem arose while undercover as herbalists, how would I move?

There were too many factors to consider since we didn’t know the exact situation.

We didn’t know if there was something in the northeast, if they encountered a patrol, or the number of enemies.

One thing was certain: they wouldn’t head toward Kahalin.

A major city close to the mountains. The enemy would naturally deploy forces there.

‘Hmm...’

Let’s think from the beginning. They had regular reports. They weren’t individual groups.

They would attempt to escape on their own, but if that was impossible, they would wait for Haisen’s support.

Since no reports were coming in, we would naturally notice something was wrong.

Suddenly, something clicked in my mind.

They used three carrier pigeons. But there was no contact.

In the mountains, distinguishing carrier pigeons is difficult.

If they weren’t dead, they would have sent a pigeon, even at the risk of death during their escape.

‘Intelligence agents value information more than their lives.’

If they weren’t dead, the conclusion was one: they couldn’t send a pigeon.

Alive, but in a situation where even sending a pigeon was dangerous.

‘Could they be hiding near the enemy’s base?’

A picture formed in my mind.

If they hadn’t been discovered, the enemy might have found the herbalists’ trail and started tracking them, and the agents might have noticed and hidden.

“Hmm.”

The branch manager and Mohen gave their opinions, each with different directions and reasons.

But Phiri didn’t look satisfied.

“Kalin, what do you think?”

“I think they’re hiding somewhere between the last report point and the northeast.”

“Why do you think so?”

I explained my reasoning clearly. Of course, it was just an assumption, and there were many counterarguments.

But Phiri nodded briefly.

“I think the same.”

Feeling a slight thrill, I subconsciously glanced at Mohen. His tightly pressed lips trembled.

Phiri looked at the branch manager silently. A brief, wordless conversation seemed to pass.

“We’ll escort them.”

“...It’s dangerous.”

The branch manager answered immediately, as if he had anticipated this. Phiri ignored his concern.

“Only me and Kalin will go. We don’t need a support team.”

“Deputy Captain!”

“I won’t accept objections. Time is urgent. Is there a better agent here than me?”

It was an unanswerable question.

We needed to act quickly to assess the situation and accept the risk of losing personnel in the process.

“...”

The branch manager remained silent, rebelling in his own way. His concern was visible in his eyes.

Phiri sighed softly.

“Don’t you trust me?”

“That’s not it. But the previous incident...”

“Branch Manager, don’t worry. I’ll act according to the situation. If it’s dangerous, I’ll retreat immediately.”

Previous incident? Is there something going on?

“There’s no need for you to move, Deputy Captain. I’ll send agents.”

“I said I won’t accept objections.”

“...”

In fact, most intelligence units do their best to rescue agents, even if it’s just a show.

Otherwise, the organization loses credibility, and agents won’t risk their lives for it.

The branch manager’s concern was that Phiri was moving personally.

Phiri pointed to the map with her finger. It was a path skirting the mountains.

“Four days from now, at noon. Send a guild here. I’ll meet you there.”

The branch manager, who usually talks a lot, couldn’t bring himself to speak.

The result was already decided. If the boss says to peel, you peel.

The branch manager, after some thought, hardened his expression. It meant he had made up his mind. The atmosphere changed.

“...What will the operation be called?”

“Escort.”

“Understood.”

“Time is urgent. We’ll leave in ten minutes, so be ready.”

“Yes.”

The guildmaster and Mohen rushed out. Phiri, still seated, took out a cigarette and put it in her mouth.

I took a short, deep breath. The expected fatigue was setting in. This would be my third consecutive move.

Though I was a bit reluctant, I had to save people, and allies at that.

In a way, it was also my first real mission as a formal intelligence agent. I absentmindedly stroked the hilt of my sword.