Chapter 145
Chapter 145
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 145
Chapter Title: Chapter 50: Who is the True Enemy? (2)
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“Your Majesty the Emperor! We have a serious situation on our hands!”
The door to the office flew open, and Azure Tower Lord Risefield Dior burst in, making a huge fuss.
Raymond looked up from the desk, where he had been discussing invasion plans against the Jeist Mage Kingdom with Count Reinitz, using a military map spread out before them.
“What is it?”
“The Haifell Special Affairs Bureau has attempted to make contact with us.”
“The Haifell Special Affairs Bureau reached out?”
Raymond's eyes widened in surprise at Risefield's words. He couldn't fathom why they would initiate contact, leaving him somewhat flustered.
“You're certain it's them?”
It could be an impersonation. The Philius Empire's public channels were open, so a little effort would reveal it.
“Yes, Your Majesty. It's definitely the Haifell Special Affairs Bureau. We verified their seal, and the one who identified himself as Section Chief 11 also presented an official writ authorizing him directly from the Haifell Emperor.”
Risefield was still making a big deal out of it. Raymond recalled the setting for the Section Chief 11 that Risefield had mentioned.
Section Chief 11, Aegis.
He remembered that Aegis was a capable Special Affairs Bureau chief holding the rank of high knight, fanatically loyal to the Haifell Empire.
“Shall we respond?”
Risefield asked in a now-calmed voice.
Raymond rested his chin on his hand, organizing his thoughts for a moment. But it didn't take long to reach a decision.
“We'll respond.”
He figured it wouldn't hurt to probe their intentions via the magical communication request. With that short reply, Raymond rose to his feet.
“I'll escort you.”
Azure Tower Lord Risefield Dior took the lead. As Raymond started walking, the Royal Guards waiting in the corridor followed behind.
Soon, they arrived at the communication room. As Raymond entered, the mage standing before the contact crystal orb stepped aside.
He left the room but kept the mana supply connected to the orb active.
-It is an honor to meet the Emperor who has restored the glory of the Philius Empire, even if only through magical communication.
No sooner had Raymond sat before the contact crystal orb than Aegis of the Haifell Special Affairs Bureau offered his greeting.
It was formal, but considering the diplomatic severance between Haifell and Philius—practically enemies since ancient times—Aegis had shown the utmost courtesy.
-I am Section Chief 11 of the Haifell Special Affairs Bureau, Aegis.
Aegis briefly introduced himself. Raymond nodded with an expressionless face.
Normally, even in the Haifell Empire, it would be difficult for a mere Special Affairs Bureau chief to have a private magical communication with an emperor.
But Raymond was curious about their intentions and had agreed because Aegis claimed to carry a writ delegating authority from the Haifell Emperor.
“What does the Haifell Special Affairs Bureau want with me? I don't care for long preambles, so get to the point.”
-Of course, Your Majesty. I'll skip the introduction and dive right in.
“Speak.”
As Raymond nodded with a blank expression, Aegis narrowed his eyes and quietly opened his mouth.
-Are you aware of the Apocalypse Society?
A cold gaze seemed to pierce through the contact crystal orb. Instead of answering, Raymond slowly nodded.
He had no intention of denying it from the start, no reason to, and even if he did, the Haifell Special Affairs Bureau—boasting the West Continent's top intelligence capabilities—would surely know the Philius Empire's situation.
-Some sections of our bureau, including myself, have been tasked by imperial decree to track down the Apocalypse Society.
“The Haifell Special Affairs Bureau?”
-Yes. I can't go into details, but we're currently pursuing the Apocalypse Society. In the process, we've obtained circumstantial evidence that they were heavily involved in the Jeist Mage Kingdom's great purge.
Aegis explained. Raymond nodded slowly with a calm expression.
He had anticipated some organized force behind the Jeist Mage Kingdom's sudden entry into the war and alliance with the Three Kingdoms, and he suspected it was the Apocalypse Society.
-To the point: We've heard the Philius Empire also views the Apocalypse Society as a thorn in its side.
“I won't deny it.”
-We're requesting military support. In return, we'll provide all information on the Apocalypse Society forces in the Jeist Mage Kingdom and its territory.
“Information in exchange...”
Raymond murmured softly, a faint smile playing on his lips. In the Empire of the Dead world, the Haifell Special Affairs Bureau's intelligence was set as the West Continent's finest.
Though the Philius Empire's Central Intelligence Agency had been bolstered with vast sums of gold recently, improving its capabilities, it still lagged far behind.
If he could obtain the intel they'd secured with their superior prowess, providing troops wouldn't be a bad trade.
Eliminating the Apocalypse Society entrenched in the Jeist Mage Kingdom could allow for a bloodless occupation.
-That phrasing was off. Let me correct it.
Did he seem hesitant? Aegis changed his approach.
-Our Haifell Special Affairs Bureau will provide the Philius Empire with intelligence on the Apocalypse Society forces infiltrating the Jeist Mage Kingdom. We trust you'll handle the rest effectively.
Just a tweak in wording made it look better. If Raymond agreed, the Philius Empire would clean up the Apocalypse Society in Jeist while Aegis used his agents to gather more intel on them.
A mutually beneficial deal. Both Aegis and Raymond thought so.
“We'll agree.”
It wasn't a losing proposition. Aegis's appropriately deferential attitude, considering Raymond's position, also helped tilt the decision positively.
-We express our gratitude for the Philius Empire's support and cooperation. Information related to the Apocalypse Society will be delivered via courier.
“I'll look forward to it.”
Intel gathered by the Haifell Special Affairs Bureau on the Apocalypse Society? He was genuinely expectant.
-Then I'll take my leave.
He had maintained courtesy from start to finish. As Raymond nodded, Aegis bowed and ended the magical communication first.
The contact crystal orb lost its glow, and Raymond rose and left the room.
As he stepped into the corridor, he immediately spotted Risefield and Count Potas, alongside the Royal Guards.
Count Potas had received a brief from Risefield.
Seeing Raymond emerge, the two halted their conversation and hurriedly bowed.
“You're here?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“To the office. I'll receive your report there.”
“Understood.”
Raymond led the way back to the office. Once seated at his desk, Count Potas stepped forward.
“You've heard the gist?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. From Lord Risefield.”
“What do you think? Will they hand over all their intel on the Apocalypse Society?”
He asked directly. Regardless of his world knowledge, Raymond was curious about the opinion of Count Potas, head of the Philius Empire's top intelligence agency.
“They won't give everything. But if the Apocalypse Society's deep involvement in the Jeist Mage Kingdom is true, they'll provide enough to eliminate them.”
Count Potas offered his cautious assessment. Raymond, sharing a similar view, nodded quietly in agreement.
“Count Potas, instruct Count Reinitz to deploy as many troops as possible to the border and pressure the Jeist Mage Kingdom.”
“Any restrictions on engagement?”
“Avoid striking first, but counterattack if they initiate.”
“Understood.”
“Good. You're dismissed.”
Raymond spoke calmly. Count Potas bowed slightly and left the office.
He promptly found Count Reinitz and relayed the emperor's command. Over 50,000 Imperial Army troops began advancing to the border between the Jeist Mage Kingdom and the Philius Empire's Edriger occupation zone.
That late afternoon, as the Jeist Mage Kingdom's airship fleet moved toward the border in response...
Count Potas reported to Raymond that an agent from the Haifell Special Affairs Bureau had arrived.
“You're saying a Haifell Special Affairs Bureau agent came directly to a Central Intelligence Agency outpost?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. Even though it was a relatively unsecured site, they knew the exact location. Quite surprising.”
Raymond shook his head with a short sigh at Count Potas's reply.
It was yet another reminder of the Haifell Special Affairs Bureau's exceptional intelligence.
The world's setting as the West Continent's premier intelligence agency wasn't for show.
But he couldn't just admire it. Raymond ordered Count Potas to further bolster the Central Intelligence Agency's security and to escort the visiting Haifell agent to the Edriger occupation governor's office.
“I'll relay the order swiftly via magical communication to the outpost.”
Magical communication, requiring a top-tier mage to supply the incantation and mana directly to the crystal orb, was a premium contact method even in the Empire of the Dead world.
But an organization like the Philius Empire's Central Intelligence Agency had its network established enough for reliable use.
A day passed. Central Intelligence Agency agents, following Count Potas's orders, brought the visitor to the Edriger governor's office.
The accompanying Haifell Special Affairs Bureau agent was the former branch chief in charge of Edriger.
As it wasn't an official visit, Raymond received him in the drawing room rather than the audience chamber. Royal Guards controlled the corridor, with Gestain and Desia standing at his sides.
“Your Majesty the Emperor, the Haifell Special Affairs Bureau agent has arrived.”
Marquis Blizzard of the Royal Guard reported. Raymond nodded, and the door opened again as a man in his early thirties entered.
He wore glasses and looked more like a desk-bound type than a field operative.
“Your Majesty the Emperor of the Philius Empire. It's an honor to meet you for the first time. I am Lancer, the Edriger branch chief of the Haifell Special Affairs Bureau.”
He spoke of his position in the present tense, implying that while the Edriger Kingdom was gone, the bureau's branch continued to operate.
Raymond didn't inquire about that. He was more interested in the Apocalypse Society intel the Haifell Special Affairs Bureau would provide.
“Pleased to meet you, Sir Lancer.”
“We will now provide the intelligence our Haifell Special Affairs Bureau has gathered on the Apocalypse Society forces in the Jeist Mage Kingdom. It's all documented in the West Continent common tongue, so there should be no reading difficulties.”
Raymond nodded, and Lancer asked permission before carefully opening his subspace pouch and pulling out stacks of documents.
Papers detailing the Apocalypse Society kept emerging. Only after they formed a small pile did Lancer stop rummaging hastily.
“This concludes our investigated intel on the Apocalypse Society forces eroding the Jeist Mage Kingdom.”
Lancer stepped back, speaking calmly. At Raymond's beckoning gesture, waiting Central Intelligence Agency agents collected the materials.
“If you'll permit, I'll take my leave.”
Though from Haifell's intelligence agency—with relations akin to enemies due to severed diplomacy—Lancer maintained courtesy amid the Philius Empire's resurgence.
“Permission granted.”
“Thank you.”
After Lancer departed, Raymond immediately joined Count Potas. The Edriger governor's office housed Central Intelligence Agency facilities. He headed there with his retinue.
“How's the quality of the intel?”
“We'll need more analysis, but overall, it's excellent.”
“Can we act on it immediately?”
Raymond asked urgently. Reports indicated the Lisbon Maritime Kingdom was still amassing mercenaries.
And who knew what the Apocalypse Society was planning. Time wasn't fully on the Philius Empire's side, fueling Raymond's impatience.
“The volume is too vast. We need a bit more time to organize it.”
Raymond nodded slowly at Count Potas's words. They couldn't move without properly verifying the intel, no matter the haste.
It seemed they'd need some time for now.