Episode 2 - Heroes of the Continent
A chaotic world had descended.
The 16 rogue agents died as black mages.
The world drowned in hollow mourning, while those in power celebrated their victory behind masks.
Yet the world began to find stability bit by bit.
And so the world began returning to its normal state.
Episode 2 - Heroes of the Continent
Raoul was a cardinal of the Church and one of the leading papal candidates. Though he hadn't built as much power as Raphael, he was the head of his faction and an idol to his followers. So his funeral was grand.
As the priests carrying the coffin stepped forward, a long procession mourned his final journey. The cardinals, led by Raphael, watched with solemn expressions, and the Pope placed his hand on the coffin, reciting prayers.
We sat on the rooftop, watching impassively.
"...They're all good actors."
"Actors? Someone might misunderstand if they heard that..."
"Raoul's body isn't even in that coffin."
"People won't know anyway."
I savored the scene alongside Pedro. It was like a massive, perfectly crafted movie set. A flawless set to save face for someone.
"At least he didn't die as a traitor. That's a fine funeral."
"Raoul would think so too."
Pedro swirled his glass gently and asked,
"How's Raoul doing?"
"Probably resting deep in the ocean by now."
"Alive? Or dead?"
"I checked at the end—he was still breathing."
"He's dead now."
Raoul hadn't died from the start. He wasn't kidnapped; he fled with the rogue agents. The Inquisition tracked them, and we got the intel and took them out ourselves.
The 16 rogues were killed on site, and Raoul met his "official death" at the villa.
After the doctor's death certificate, Raoul spent three days in Safehouse No. 5 having intense "dates" with Counterintelligence agents before embarking on his long sea voyage.
Thus, the truth of the operation we succeeded in was sealed beneath the deep waves.
"Handled it without loose ends?"
"Had a bag of concrete left over—sealed it neat."
"Ah, the missing batch from the construction site?"
Pedro surveyed the long procession with a faint smile. For the record, Inquisition agents helped with Raoul's "concrete shoes." Priest Rebecca brought it over, saying they had some left from wall repairs.
"How's Veronica faring?"
"Popping champagne."
"She's thrilled."
Veronica was under protection in the safehouse. No longer an imperial lobbyist, she was now a lobbyist for all nations, balancing interests between the Empire, Kingdom, and Church.
With the Imperial Guard pulling their agents, her handler team disbanded too. Once the Inquisition's cleanup finished, she'd return to the Church. She was thrilled no more death threats.
"What'd you think meeting her? Fun woman, right?"
"She's a booze hound."
"And a chain-smoker."
She said drinking alone was lonely, so we shared some—and she spilled tons of fun stories. How she bonded with Lucia, her first meeting with the Emperor, the palace family's dirt, petty Imperial Guard infighting.
Luckily snagged a solid intel source.
"Luck's just skill in the end."
"You think?"
"Bad luck and you crash from the top—that's our life, no?"
Made sense. I'd clung to good luck myself—bomb blast, nerve poison, nearly gone.
If the Kingdom hadn't sent back the Empire's envoy, if I'd refused the counterintel interview...
No meeting Veronica, no knowing the enemy.
A razor-thin tightrope and sheer coincidence crafted this end. That was the operation's essence.
Mid-chat with the Inquisition chief about future events, the procession reached the Church HQ far off, and the funeral ended.
Pedro drained his glass and stood.
"Good work, Major."
"You too, Chief."
Funeral over—time to go. Before parting, we shook hands. The old man's wrinkled grip had a strange power. Experience, aura like that.
Pedro waved casually, congratulating me.
"Back home, medal and promotion await."
"Orders imminent—hard to say."
"Worry about stripping your uniform? Hilarious."
He chuckled incredulously, shaking his head.
"Lots owe you now."
"..."
"Not just the Church—Empire and Kingdom folks too."
My deeds weren't public, but those in the know knew.
The Emperor purged thorn nobles and tightened internals; the Pope solidified his successor; Raphael locked in next Pope.
The Inquisition turned crisis to opportunity; Military Intelligence fulfilled a long wish.
Bonus: Imperial Guard repeated purges, earning Emperor's trust.
Lobbying and payoffs between the three made everyone happy. Mostly political, economic stability.
Everyone but traitors gained something.
I pulled it off with tightrope and luck. I stood at the tangled interests' center.
So Pedro said,
"You're our hero."
"...Feels weird."
My plain reaction burst laughter from the Inquisition chief. Same old laugh.
"Sorry—too deadpan."
"I get it."
"Honestly, I'm stunned too."
He clapped my shoulder.
"Good work all this time."
"Yes, sir."
Thanks from a counterintel boss felt odd.
He pulled two small boxes from his bag.
"What's this?"
"One's a gift."
"The other...?"
"Personal favor."
I opened the favor box. A small necklace inside.
"What do I do with this?"
Curious, but Pedro just left a cryptic line.
"Show Clevins—he'll know."
*
Darkened embassy. Sat in the dim office watching news.
The anchor, once chaotic, now hopeful.
At a glance, the world seemed peacefully transformed.
I activated the comms device and called the Colonel.
"...Not asleep?"
"Just wrapped work."
"Good work, Frederic."
A smile came naturally.
"Not bad for an attaché just two months in."
"Enough for a line in Intelligence history, right?"
"Kingdom history."
Of course, my name wouldn't grace history books. Just an ordinary army major. Hero's companion. Nothing more, nothing less.
But I'd left my mark on the world. Even if no one acknowledged it, someone would remember.
"Good work, Colonel."
"Yeah, heading home for once."
"Staff all gone—what're you doing?"
"Refugee meeting."
The next Military Intelligence director continued casually.
"Terrorists and rebels mixed in refugees."
"What'd you do?"
"Sent 'em all back, refugees or not. Plague issues—sealing borders awhile."
Blood winds somewhere again. Routine, so I shrugged.
"Must've caught heat."
"Don't worry—look after your team."
"Aw, our Intelligence heroes? Gotta."
"Ops like this hard to credit officially—take good care."
"Got it."
Ending the call, my eye caught the box on the desk.
"Oh, right. Inquisition chief had a favor."
"What favor?"
"Gave me an old necklace. Said show you—you'd know."
"..."
"Colonel?"
Silence. Two minutes. Then a heavier tone.
"Keep it till repatriation—bring it then."
"What's the deal?"
"Mm. Just a senior's request."
Cryptic. Senior's request. Gears turned; I pieced past events.
"Pedro's the fixed spy you mentioned."
"...When'd you catch on?"
"Guessed he was an asset."
Unlike other counterintel, friendly to me. Warning agent mistakes. Handing spy intel freely. Telepathic sharpness screwing the Empire.
Lots suspicious. No free favors; too friendly. Crucially, he mentioned knife work and spec ops/agent training neither Jake nor I knew.
That technique? Taught by the "instructor."
"Knew stuff not even in manuals—red flag."
"Huh."
"Internal reports, 'fixed asset' slip... pieced it together."
Inquisition couldn't spy well internally. Imperial Guard full force just bugged Veronica.
Rogues evaded 'cause Raoul hid 'em. Lone agent dodging Inquisition? Luck or...
"Inside man."
Fixed spies rarely return home easy. Bigger role, narrower moves.
Probably why Pedro tasked me—to relay to Kingdom.
"...Sending you outside Intelligence was right."
"Ahaha..."
"Take good care of senior till you return."
"Yes, Colonel."
Call ended. Set down comms, eyed the old necklace.
"..."
50 years active fixed spy. Witness to intel wars. Military Intelligence's fine asset. True elite agent.
Nameless hero.
Episode 2 - Heroes of the Continent - END -