Imperial Intelligence Agency
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Imperial Intelligence Agency
The meaning of being directly under the imperial family meant that their immediate superior was the emperor himself.
All reports went straight to His Majesty the Emperor.
There were only a handful of organizations directly under the imperial family.
Exactly two.
The Imperial Audit Office and the Imperial Intelligence Agency.
Imperial Intelligence Agency.
They primarily handled intelligence on national security and military secrets, information on enemy nations, as well as mine hunts, mine terrorism, and mine criminal organizations.
Moon Kyungshik, the first deputy director of the Imperial Intelligence Agency, was in charge of mine hunts and intelligence gathering.
Lately, the case he was looking into was the disappearance of Lee Dongwoo from Mirinae Pharma and his gang. Mirinae Group had commissioned the New Seoul police to investigate.
The Imperial Intelligence Agency had received the report as well.
Whenever sudden disappearances occurred, they always suspected mine involvement first and foremost.
Moon Kyungshik pored over the police investigation report.
'Lee Dongwoo, Lee Doochang, Jeon Kyungchul, and twelve organization members in total...'
Lee Doochang was a Master, and Jeon Kyungchul an Expert.
How many people could take them down?
It was more than enough to suspect mines.
'Are they really mines?'
If so, it was hilariously ironic—they'd actually contributed to society a bit.
Lee Doochang and Jeon Kyungchul's crew weren't mines, but they might as well have been, if not worse. They were villains the Imperial Intelligence Agency had been monitoring.
They were prime suspects in numerous murders and disappearances.
But their work was so cunning that no evidence ever stuck, so they'd been waiting for a chance to nail them.
Lee Dongwoo, who commanded scum like that? How rotten could he be?
They could all drop dead for all he cared.
But among the suspects Mirinae Group had requested investigation for, one name stood out as very familiar.
Kim Taeju, chairman of Taehong Bio.
The reason for suspicion? The New Seoul Central Station incident just a while back.
It had been quite the famous case.
Kim Taeju and his group, who had come up to the capital, clashed with Lee Dongwoo at Central Station.
In the process, Lee Dongwoo had thoroughly pissed himself.
And why was it famous? The whole thing was caught on video.
It kept popping up on the internet and SNS whenever people thought it was forgotten.
Mirinae's legal team was monitoring and deleting it constantly, but...
'They started the provocation first...'
The facts were already clear.
If they were going to frame a prominent figure as a suspect, they should at least bring evidence.
All they had was that they'd clashed and that Jeon Kyungchul had called him that night.
'Fucking idiots. You don't mess with someone like that.'
Kim Taeju wasn't just any pharma chairman.
He'd played a decisive role in the Jirisan monster subjugation, saved the Fifth Prince's life, and even taken down the Gurye Trio mines.
The public didn't know, so only a tiny circle in intelligence circles were aware.
His Majesty was keeping close tabs too.
He might even get an audience in the palace someday.
'They're probably probing because they're wary of Taehong Bio's New Seoul expansion.'
Suspect or not, Moon had zero intention of investigating him.
As first deputy of the mine division, he owed Kim Taeju for handling the Gurye Trio. Gratitude was the least of it.
So what if he caught a few mines?
Anyone who said that deserved their mouth torn open.
Why else would the empire treat mine appearances on par with monster waves?
Whether mines were strong or weak was secondary.
Tracking and capturing them was damn near impossible.
Only if they monsterized and were tracked, or left evidence at a crime scene as a suspected mine—those were the only cases they could investigate.
If they lived quietly among humans otherwise, no one could find them.
And they were so cautious, they left no traces.
Prevention? Fat chance.
ID checks? It wasn't like "mine" was printed on their IDs.
Your neighbor could be a mine right now.
Your raid team buddy might be one too.
All they could do was post signs like "Report suspicious behavior to Mine Hotline 113."
That's why the mine division had zero success rate.
Right then!
Weeee-ooo-weeee-ooo!
A blaring alarm echoed through the entire Imperial Intelligence Agency.
"...Huh?"
This was the alert for a mine sighting.
Moon Kyungshik hurriedly hit the intercom.
"It's me. Where's the report from?"
- Leaders Club in Sinap-gu. They've subdued a mine and want us there ASAP.
"Leaders Club? Damn it! ...Subdued?"
- They caught it alive, but we'll see when we get there.
"Dispatching?"
- Yes, the elite anti-mine agents are en route.
"Get my car ready! I'm going too."
Leaders Club.
Wasn't that the club where all the empire's big shots gathered?
A mine showing up there?
And subdued—maybe even captured alive.
Moon Kyungshik's heart raced.
※ ※ ※
Sergei's monsterization had worn off.
Now he lay unconscious with a shattered spine, unable to move.
Kim Taeju stood with one foot on his back.
Awakeners had great regeneration, but reattaching a spine would take time.
If he had a regen skill, he'd just break it again.
Igor Baranov stared in stunned disbelief.
His own bodyguard, a mine?
He was too ashamed to even look up.
What if Chairman Kim Taeju hadn't been there?
No wonder the prince acted buddy-buddy with him.
Leaders Club's main businesses were twofold.
One: Charge membership fees and connect members for socializing.
Two: Gather info from those connections and sell it to interested members for a price.
That's why they vetted members thoroughly.
But their intel on Kim Taeju had been oddly lacking.
Their big mistake: Boxing him in as just a pharma owner.
"Don't beat yourself up too much. Everyone slips up sometimes."
"...I'm sorry. I have nothing to say."
"Good thing you caught it early. ...Any missing persons around lately?"
"Not that I know of, but we should check now."
"What do you think this guy's target was? We'll leave him breathing, so investigators can handle it later."
"Well..."
Igor couldn't answer.
Too many ugly possibilities.
Did mines only eat people?
Being human, they pulled all the usual villain crap: kidnappings, abductions, assassinations, thefts...
Why was this bastard Sergei here?
One of the club members must've been his mark.
As he pondered, Club Manager Jo Miyoung came running.
"Member! I saved the CCTV footage on my smartphone."
"Clear shot?"
"Crystal! You can see him monsterize and attack you perfectly."
"Hand it over when the cops arrive."
"Yes, sir!"
Evidence secured.
But Igor's expression stayed grim.
Taeju knew why.
A mine at Leaders Club.
If word spread, it'd tank their hard-earned reputation.
Suddenly!
The door burst open as Imperial Intelligence agents stormed in.
Jo Miyoung greeted them.
"We got the mine report. Where is it?"
"Th-that guy face-down over there..."
"Huh? You sure?"
"We have proof."
Jo Miyoung played the footage on her phone for the agents.
"Hmm..."
Their faces grew serious as they watched.
They eyed Taeju standing beside the mine Sergei with curiosity.
"You're not an awakener."
"As you can see."
"...How, then?"
"You don't need to be an awakener to catch a mine."
"Could you cooperate with a brief investigation? Your name...?"
That's when.
Bang!
The door flew open again.
In walked First Deputy Director Moon Kyungshik.
"Deputy Director!"
"Where's the mine?"
"The guy face-down here."
"This bastard's alive? He has to be..."
He froze.
Moon Kyungshik locked eyes with Taeju beside the mine.
"...Huh?"
Very familiar face.
How could he not know?
Especially that signature silver-gray coat.
"...Ch-Chairman Kim Taeju?"
"You know me?"
"Hahaha, of course. Pleased to meet you. I'm Moon Kyungshik, first deputy director of the Imperial Intelligence Agency."
"Nice to meet you."
After a quick greeting, Moon Kyungshik asked Taeju,
"Did you take down this mine too, Chairman?"
"Yes, I did."
"Ah..."
Moon Kyungshik looked utterly baffled.
A whirlwind of thoughts raced through his mind.
'Not even a mine hunter specialist.'
Gurye Trio, and now Leaders Club mine in New Seoul.
Why was this guy always around when mines popped up?
Coincidence? No way.
In Gurye, Kim Taeju had tracked and caught them solo.
'No way...?'
A hypothesis flashed through Moon Kyungshik's mind.
Time to test it.
"Agents, everyone out!"
"Pardon?"
"Just for a minute. Igor and Manager, you too, please."
"Ah, got it."
Once alone, Moon Kyungshik quietly asked Taeju,
"Can you... detect mines? Even when they're not monsterized?"
Taeju paused at the question.
He'd rather keep it hidden, but things had escalated.
Moon seemed to suspect already.
"Yes, I can."
"H-how?"
"I've got a great nose. I can smell them."
Gulp.
Moon Kyungshik swallowed dryly.
Whether literal smell or something else, the key was Kim Taeju admitting it himself.
He could detect non-monsterized mines.
No lie there.
Moon Kyungshik grabbed Taeju's hand.
"Pl-please help us, Chairman!"
"With what...?"
"Finding mines. We've chased leads on suspects but always failed. As you know..."
"Can't track 'em unless they monsterize."
Except me.
"Exactly. We won't bother you. Full support, whenever you're free..."
"Hmm."
"We won't just take help without giving back. We'll assist you too."
Moon Kyungshik was utterly desperate.
Taeju pretended to think.
The answer was obvious.
If he didn't want to, he'd have hidden it.
Perfect opportunity.
Man-eating ghouls.
He'd vowed before: Never let them live if he met them.
But agreeing rashly could get annoying.
The empire was vast.
No solid leads, they might summon him on whims.
He was stalling a bit when—
'Hm?'
Zing!
Something prickled in his mind.
A faint signal.
'What is this?'
Not unfamiliar.
Like when connecting souls with Dang Gunak...
'This is...'
Suddenly?
Taeju quickly opened his infinite storage.
A sparkling shared warehouse.
'It appeared!!!'
Finally!
If no one was around, he'd have yelled.
Taeju swiftly pulled items from the shared warehouse and moved them to another section.
'Two peaches? Like before.'
And a letter.
He stuffed prepped items into the shared warehouse.
Packing till full!
'Heh heh heh.'
Mood lifted instantly.
Hope Dokseon likes the poison pills.
As Taeju closed his eyes, Moon Kyungshik fidgeted.
Couldn't force him.
Too big a shot—needed his consent.
Cooperation could skyrocket stalled mine capture rates.
"...Can't you?"
To the pleading Moon Kyungshik, Taeju smiled.
"Sure. I'll help."
"Th-thank you!!!"
Moon Kyungshik fist-pumped inwardly, cheering.
"But! We need ground rules first. Can't call me anytime. I'm busy."
"Of course."
"Let's draw up a contract. You'll need higher-up approval too, Deputy Director Moon."
"I'll prepare and visit."
"Oh! And keep this incident quiet. No good comes from leaks."
"Yes! Absolutely."
"Tell Club Owner Igor to zip it too."
Moon Kyungshik nodded vigorously.
Kim Taeju was spot on.
He was linked to both Gurye and New Seoul mine cases.
If out, others would think the same.
'Kim Taeju might detect mines.'
So, keep the circle tiny.
Best for mine hunts too.
※ ※ ※
Immortal Realm.
Dang Gunak's recent worry: Was sending immortal peaches to Taeju really enough?
Even good food gets boring in excess.
So he'd thought of treasures—baopa, items immortals crafted with immortal energy.
But they were rare.
And pricey.
Even junk with no functions cost 5-10 peaches.
His own infinite space? Six peaches for the tiniest pocket.
To make Taeju's infinite space, the immortal energy he'd sent equaled about 100 peaches.
'Tch, with enough immortal energy, I could've made a perfect one.'
Send something besides peaches.
Something truly useful to Taeju.
Prepped already.
Juseon the Alcohol Immortal made baopa too: booze.
Cheap regular stuff, or immortal-energy infused.
Divine Immortal Wine.
50-peach, 100, 200 varieties. Short on peaches now, so he bought a jar of 50-peach one.
Forced him—wouldn't sell otherwise.
Owes peaches on credit.
'He liked the good liquor before. This Immortal Realm brew as thanks should hit the spot.'
Now just wait for the mind-prickle signal.
Then—
Zing!
'Oh! Came through!'
Dang Gunak opened his infinite space.
Wonder what arrived this time?
End of Imperial Intelligence Agency
ⓒ Kkucchi Kkucchi