Chapter 93

Today is the second chapter update.

There is no existence as specialized in intrigue as a sorcerer.

Poisoning, hypnotism, memory manipulation, curses, and the speed of information transmission through soul possession...

A first-class sorcerer is the best unit in every aspect.

However, hypnotism and memory manipulation are impossible unless there is a gap in the enemy's mind.

It is possible to artificially create a gap by restraining, capturing, and administering drugs or torture.

But it is not realistic to kidnap important figures and do such things. In that case, it would be much more efficient to grip a knife and charge in from the beginning.

However, it also means that it can be done if there is a gap in the mind.

That said, even a sorcerer cannot freely manipulate the mind to such a high degree.

What a sorcerer can do is to encourage what the person originally wanted to do... such as inciting a rebellion, or to lightly hypnotize and extract information.

Still, there is danger. Important figures are guarded by sorcerers.

Basically, sorcery is better at dispelling curses, creating barriers, and reconnaissance than cursing or stealth.

To take down a target guarded by a sorcerer of level six, a sorcerer of level ten is required.

Therefore, the targets are usually nobles who cannot afford a decent sorcerer as a guard, or a captain of a hundred-man unit with no guard at all.

Their job is to extract information from them.

Still, the benefit is great because the information is reliably obtained.

However, there is a major drawback to this intelligence activity by sorcerers.

It is that the cost per first-class sorcerer is extremely high.

Considering the cost and time required to raise a sorcerer, they are not suitable as spies who could die at any moment.

On the other hand, second-rate sorcerers, who are not very useful and whose deaths would not be a significant loss, are only detected by first-class sorcerers engaged in counterintelligence.

Ordinary small countries can barely secure sorcerers for their own counterintelligence.

But this is limited to small countries... those with a population of around 100,000, such as those in the Adelnia Peninsula or the Kirisia Peninsula.

It is a different story for large countries like the Rozel Kingdom, which has a population of over three million, or the superpower Persis Empire, which has a population of over twenty million.

These large countries leverage their national power to gather girls with potential from all over the country and thoroughly train them, while also indoctrinating them to prevent betrayal.

By doing so, they ensure the quality, quantity, and loyalty of sorcerers.

Then they infiltrate them as spies into countries around the world, thereby establishing a position of overwhelming advantage against other small countries.

"Lord Redus, you can do it. Our country will support you."

Mari spoke to Redus with a smile.

Mari has been a guest of the first concubine for several months now.

Things have gone smoothly so far because one of the sorcerers employed by the first concubine is one of Mari's disciples.

Most sorcerers are monopolized by the king, so it is very difficult for vassals to secure sorcerers.

Even if they are foreigners, they tend to hire excellent sorcerers who seek employment.

It was this sorcerer who informed Mari that Redus was a good target.

"But can you really do it... the enemy has several times our strength."

"Yes, you can. Listen..."

She calmly spoke of a strategy that seemed to be winning, and infused a small amount of magical power into her words.

Pleasant words and important matters are easily heard.

The same goes for the curses carried by those words.

Poison is best wrapped in sugar.

Of course, there are other sorcerers among the Equus people besides Mari and the Rozel Kingdom's spies, but they have not noticed that Redus is being hypnotized little by little.

They are even happy that he has become more proactive.

Poison is administered in small doses over time. It is a rule of sorcery.

"Lord Redus, it's time for your meal."

A servant opened the yurt's curtain and informed Redus.

Redus stood up.

"Lord Merlin, would you like to join me?"

"No... I have some business to attend to. I will take my leave."

Mari made a slightly apologetic face and left the scene.

---

"Oh... I just can't get used to the Equus people's horse milk wine. It's too awful. Can't something be done about it?"

"I understand your feelings, but please do not come to my yurt so often. You will be suspected."

The sorcerer... Rozel Kingdom's spy... Lydia, complained to Mari, who was drinking tea.

But Mari replied with a smile.

"It's fine. You are an Adelnia person, and you are quite favored by the first concubine, right? There's no problem. We can pretend to be close friends."

The spy sighed deeply.

Nothing she says to this superior works.

"Still, you have really blended in. You even treat children for free. I'm impressed."

"The Equus people's sorcerers are of a lower level..."

Lydia scratched her cheek, slightly embarrassed.

Mari answered while drinking tea.

"The Equus people are nomads. Recently, they have started to settle and farm as well. Agricultural people live or die depending on the weather, so they pray to the gods and spirits every day. Therefore, high-quality sorcerers are more likely to be born. On the other hand, nomads are less affected by the weather and can move to fertile land or take over land in the worst case. So they do not pray as much as agricultural people. They try to do things on their own without relying on the gods and spirits... it's a matter of nature."

Similarly, Rozel Kingdom's sorcerers tend to be more excellent among Adelnia people than among Galian people, as Galian people are a semi-agricultural, semi-pastoral, and semi-hunting people.

"I received my master's license at fifteen and have been embedded with the Equus people for five years... finally, the time has come for me to be of use."

"It's just the beginning. You will become the head sorcerer of Prince Redus. When Rozel defeats Dorgal and flows into the Rossais Kingdom... I'm counting on you."

Mari smiled.

Lydia also showed a wicked smile.

---

On the other hand, in the Rossais Kingdom.

"Oh, it's not going well..."

Anabella was troubled.

Anabella's mission was to work with the sorcerer embedded in the area to create enemies within the Rossais Kingdom.

Her target was important figures such as nobles.

Ordinary soldiers and servants can be enchanted by average first-class sorcerers or skilled second-class sorcerers.

However, to enchant important figures who have guards and have received anti-curse training, a super-first-class sorcerer is required.

There might be layers within the former Dibel faction who are dissatisfied with the Rossais King. While it might not be possible to incite them to rebel, it is possible to expect them to leak information.

Ideally, she would thoroughly hypnotize them like Prince Redus.

Anabella has a good appearance and figure.

"Please! I need a job. I'll do anything... you can use my body if you want..."

She would say such things to pressure them and cast spells in bed.

She has done this many times before. Men are easy.

However, it was not going well at all. The reason was simple.

The former Dibel faction had no complaints against the current king.

Worse still, one of the embedded sorcerers had been killed.

The Rossais Kingdom has a system for managing sorcerers, including a sorcerer's license.

Due to this system, any suspicious activity is quickly detected.

One of the sorcerers, who was under surveillance, failed and was detected and executed by the Rossais Kingdom's sorcerers.

The Rozel Kingdom's sorcerers had a curse that would make their hearts burst if they tried to reveal secrets, so their true identity was not discovered...

"The sorcerers of the Rossais Kingdom are of a higher quality than I thought... sigh, I have to do something."

She wanted to enchant at least one person.

She wanted to meet her master's expectations.

Knock, knock, knock

The sound of knocking on the door.

Anabella opened the door, wondering who it could be.

"Hello, I am Lulu, a national sorcerer. You are suspected of using sorcery without a license. Please show me your license."

Cold sweat broke out all over Anabella's body.

She was an unlicensed sorcerer.

To obtain a license, she would have to go to the palace and take exams and interviews conducted by several sorcerers.

Of course, doing so would increase the risk of her being exposed as a spy.

Anabella was a sorcerer temporarily dispatched to command and assist the embedded sorcerers in the area.

She would eventually have to return to Galian, so a license would only be a hindrance.

However, she did not use sorcery in front of others.

So the license issue was just a pretext.

(Do they realize I'm a spy from another country!)

She recalled that she might have been a bit too eager and taken some unreasonable actions.

"Show me your license."

"Ah, I understand. I'll get it right away."

Anabella took a smoke bomb from her pocket and threw it on the ground.

Smoke enveloped the surroundings.

"!!"

"I'm not that easy to catch."

Anabella quickly ran to the back of the house.

She took out another smoke bomb and threw it.

The house was filled with smoke, and the view turned white.

"Surround the house!! Don't let her escape through the windows!! Follow me!!"

Lulu surrounded the house and entered with a team of elite members.

If there was a secret passage, she might escape.

And that choice was correct; there was a secret passage in the house.

But Anabella took out a crossbow and fired at Lulu and the others.

An arrow grazed Lulu's ear.

"Crossbow. Let me tell you, I know exactly where you are using sorcery! If you don't want to die, don't move."

Lulu could not move.

While Lulu and the others were immobilized, Anabella escaped through a secret passage dug underground.

---

"Oh, no! It's impossible!! The counterintelligence awareness is too high!"

The troubled Anabella wrote a letter to Mari, who was on a transfer to the Equus people.

---

To Lord Merlin,

Are you well? I am not well at all. For some reason, the former Dibel faction does not seem to have any complaints against the current king. They seem to have a sense of fear and awe, but no intention to rebel.

Usually, those who were originally part of the king's faction would get carried away and attack those who were