The three people didn’t notice they were being watched by the two satisfied-looking individuals.

Captain Gorick and the crew members Nan and Nin.

The three of them were visiting various places as instructed by the Suje Kingdom Embassy.

Their job was to deliver letters from the embassy.

The task itself was, of course, not illegal.

However...

“We’re still being watched, aren’t we?”

“Yes. The two have been following us ever since we left the embassy.”

“Exactly as the embassy said.”

Nan and Nin nodded in response to Captain Gorick’s confirmation.

Yes, the three of them were being tailed.

In a way, that was part of their role, so it wasn’t a problem.

The problem was who exactly was following them.

It would be fine if it was the intelligence agency of the Free City of Kwebasa.

“What’s the name of Kwebasa’s intelligence agency again...?”

“Special Defense Bureau. It’s said they blend into the city so well that no one notices them moving around.”

“Exactly. But the fact that we’ve noticed these people following us means...”

“They aren’t from the Special Defense Bureau?”

Nan replied to Captain Gorick’s observation with a slight frown.

Nin also frowned silently.

By the way, Nan and Nin are brothers with excellent eyesight, often assigned to lookout duty on the mast of the Lone Dark using telescopes.

Unlike their usual shouts when reporting to Captain Gorick.

Now, they were whispering.

That day, the trio delivered their fourth letter from the embassy.

The contents of the letter were simple: an invitation to a garden party at the Suje Kingdom Embassy in a week.

So even if the letter were stolen or read on the way, there would be no serious issue.

“We’re still being watched.”

“Yes.”

Nan nodded at Captain Gorick’s murmur.

“Alright, let’s take a break and observe the situation.”

Captain Gorick suggested, and they entered a teahouse facing the plaza.

About half the seats were occupied.

They moved to the table at the far back.

Which allowed them to overlook the entire shop.

They could also see half of the plaza from there.

It was a good spot for counter-surveillance.

“Captain, look over there...”

Without moving his fingers or chin, Nin drew attention to two people.

Sitting by the window.

A swordsman and a magician.

“Isn’t that Abel-san and Ryo-san?”

Gorick recognized them immediately.

The two didn’t seem to notice the trio.

They were only looking toward the plaza, not at the three.

Gorick couldn’t imagine that Abel and Ryo were purposely avoiding looking at them to not interfere with the trio’s work.

“Let’s hope they don’t notice us.”

Gorick whispered, and Nan and Nin nodded in agreement.

The three were under surveillance.

If Abel and Ryo made contact with them, they too could become surveillance targets.

Abel and Ryo were guests on the Lone Dark, sent to this free city under a royal order from Queen Iliaja. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

They couldn’t be dragged into any operations in this free city.

After Captain Gorick and his crew entered the teahouse, a woman entered as well.

She sat at the counter, her back facing the three.

“She’s not one of the two following us.”

Nan’s words were met with a nod from Gorick.

The people following them weren’t likely to attack them.

They were merely being watched.

That’s what the embassy said, and that’s how Gorick saw it.

Still, being constantly watched wasn’t pleasant.

After about twenty minutes, Gorick, Nan, and Nin left the teahouse.

Abel and Ryo, watching from the corner of their eyes, exchanged a glance.

“Did the Captain and his crew get lunch?”

“Who knows? At least, they didn’t eat as much as we did.”

“They seem to be moving fine.”

Abel and Ryo were still sluggish after their meal.

Although they’d recovered somewhat after drinking green tea and resting, they wanted to stay like this for a while longer.

There was no urgent work waiting for them...

They did feel a little guilty, though, seeing how hard the Captain and his crew were working.

“They’re being watched, too.”

“Yeah... about six people, I think.”

“Six? I only sensed four.”

“Sensing their presence... that’s so cool. I wish I could do that.”

“Ryo, you’re a magician. Magic is much more reliable...”

The grass is always greener on the other side.

People always want what others have...

“That woman who left the shop after the three of them, she’s also a watcher.”

“Really? I didn’t count her. So, with her included, that makes five. Where’s the sixth...?”

“Slightly to the left of center, far ahead in the tower of some mansion. Someone is watching with binoculars from the top. Following the three’s movements. I think I’m right.”

“A tower... that’s about 500 meters away. Yeah, I’d never notice that.”

Abel shook his head slightly in response to Ryo’s explanation.

In matters like these, a magician definitely had an edge over a swordsman. Abel had to admit that.

Still, it was debatable whether Ryo could be simply categorized as a ‘magician’.

“But it’s impressive that Captain Gorick and his crew are being watched so closely, even though they just arrived this morning.”

“There must be some information that made someone decide they needed surveillance.”

“That decision-making still has a long way to go.”

“What do you mean?”

Ryo waved his finger as if to say, “Tsk tsk”, while Abel asked in confusion.

“Think about it. The most dangerous man of all, swordsman Abel, should be under strict surveillance. Yet here you are, roaming free... they’ve still got a long way to go.”

“You can have the title of ‘most dangerous man’.”

“No thanks. I’m obviously...”

“Neither gentle nor harmless.”

“Y-you beat me to it...”

Ryo slumped, defeated by Abel’s quick retort.

“Abel the Joke Crusher...”

“Stop giving me weird nicknames.”

Whether he’s called the Hungry Swordsman, the Full Swordsman, or now even the Joke Crusher, Abel had earned quite a few strange titles.

His companion, Ryo, seemed to ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) have it tough dealing with him.

That evening.

At the Atinjo Grand Duchy Embassy. Second Secretary’s Office.

The Second Secretary’s office was larger than that of the First Secretary.

This was because a conference room was adjacent to it.

In the Atinjo Grand Duchy, Second Secretaries sent to embassies weren’t just ordinary diplomats; they were the coordinators of covert operations.

Hence the need for a conference room, and in certain cases, their influence could surpass even that of the ambassador, the official head of the embassy.

The ‘Covert Operations Division’, to which Second Secretaries belonged, reported directly to the Grand Duke.

The orders for covert operations came straight from the Duke himself, bypassing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs entirely... that was simply the way it worked.

“The three surveillance targets have just returned to the Suje Kingdom Embassy.”

“Such hard workers, getting right back to it.”

Minny, the secretary assigned to Second Secretary Zlurma reported, and Zlurma replied with a sardonic smile.

If Ryo or Abel were present, they would have immediately recognized Minny.

As the woman from the teahouse.

“And did you manage to place the ‘charm’?”

“Yes. Only on one of them, but it’s in their ear.”

“As expected. Not only can you handle such a minuscule charm, but you’re able to do it without being noticed. That’s something only you could pull off, Minny.”

“Thank you.”

Zlurma praised her skill, and Minny lowered her head modestly.

Most people would notice if even a tiny insect crawled into their ear.

That’s why the charm had to be smaller than an insect...which in itself was incredibly difficult to craft.

Moreover, manipulating such a small charm and getting it into a target’s ear unnoticed required a very high level of skill.

Even the slightest gust of wind could affect its movement, making the feat all the more remarkable.

“We can listen in on their conversations, correct? What’s the range?”

“Once it’s affixed, up to 500 meters should be fine.”

“Lucky for us. The Suje Kingdom Embassy is quite close to ours on Diplomatic Island. Even though the island is large, it’s convenient that they’re right next door.”

Zlurma smiled as he said this.

And then he continued.

“By tomorrow, ‘His Excellency’ will arrive. Along with 200 ships and 40,000 navy soldiers. It’s all coming together.”

His expression was one of pure joy.

This was undoubtedly a major operation in the history of the Grand Duchy.

The sense of pride, satisfaction, and joy in playing a crucial role in such a monumental task was evident.

Of course, as part of the Covert Operations Division, their names would never be known.

Nor would they appear on the stage of history.

But that didn’t matter.

For Second Secretary Zlurma...this operation was the culmination of his work as a covert operative.

It was all for the Grand Duchy’s ‘Operation to Annex the Free City’.