🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 99
“Our National Security Bureau has the critical mission of apprehending spies who infiltrate the Kingdom of Adlabor and rooting out rebels harboring subversive thoughts!”
The fiery determination of the rookie drew subtle smirks from both the bald man and the red-haired man.
“Young and full of spirit, huh.”
The bald man rolled down the car window.
“Good day.”
With a friendly smile, he pulled out his ID from his pocket.
“I’m Dekar Bo of the National Security Bureau.”
“What brings you here?”
“It’s confidential. Likely, you received a notice from above—”
“Please wait.”
The guard headed to the sentry post beside the entrance.
“Hmm…”
Watching this, Dekar Bo leaned back comfortably in his seat, pocketing his ID again.
“This might take a while, so everyone take this chance to rest.”
“Why is that?”
The junior beside him looked puzzled.
“If we get in even a moment later, we might miss the spies or internal traitors hiding in there—!”
“Nabi.”
Nabi Carlos.
Dekar called the junior’s name slowly, wearing a forced friendly smile. Nabi immediately shut his mouth.
From experience, when Dekar called someone’s name with that expression, it never meant anything good.
Sure enough, Dekar launched into a scolding.
“What are you thinking having such prejudices before any investigation, huh?”
“But, senior, you know…”
Despite glancing at him, Nabi’s thoughts remained unchanged. He referenced the spies captured the previous weekend.
“The last place those spies were hiding was the Sharp territory, and even the naval defection incident this spring occurred there.”
“So?”
“Other spies could be hiding here. What if the navy is aiding them?”
“……”
Dekar no longer smiled. Listening quietly, he realized the overzealous junior was crossing the line.
“Are you serious?”
He asked again, half in disbelief.
“So we have to rush the investigation, don’t we? If we’re kept outside like this, who knows what they could be doing inside—”
“Ah, geez…”
Dekar’s normally calm expression darkened. Using a hand the size of a pot lid, he repeatedly splashed his face with water. Veins stood out sharply on his smooth scalp.
“……”
Just as the red-haired man in the back seat was about to speak,
“Excuse me.”
The guard, who had been expected to take a long time, returned quickly.
“You may enter. Please use the external visitor parking lot for your vehicles.”
“Ah, thank you.”
Dekar gave a sincere bow. He was grateful that the guard arrived just as he was about to lose his patience with Nabi.
Feeling slightly in good spirits, he joked lightly.
“Is there a parking fee?”
“Welcome to the Navy.”
But the guard didn’t respond to the joke and simply returned to his post.
The soldier’s unwavering composure in the scorching sun, without breaking a sweat, was impressive.
“Impressive,” Dekar said, resting his arm on the open window as he slowly drove.
A row of black motor-powered vehicles entered the headquarters in formation.
“Looking at that, the navy definitely gathers talented people.”
“Mostly because of Adbelor and Oceanus’s influence.”
“Seriously, stop it.”
The black vehicles stopped neatly in the external visitor parking.
“Nabi Carlos. This is the last warning.”
Stopping the engine and unbuckling his seatbelt, Dekar offered a sincere warning to his junior.
“We’re not here to fight the navy. We’re only here to check if there are subversive elements inside the navy.”
“So you think someone might be hiding—”
“We haven’t even investigated yet, so stop jumping to conclusions.”
Dekar’s friendly smile was gone, replaced by a serious tone.
“You may be suspicious, but don’t be consumed by prejudice.”
“But—”
“If you really believe your thoughts are right, could you say the same things to Captain Adbelor that you said to me?”
“……”
Only then did Nabi fall silent.
No matter how eager he was, he fully understood how formidable and terrifying Adbelor was.
Dekar, observing his overzealous junior, felt uneasy.
Ambition was commendable, but it often led to conflicts with other agencies, which worried him deeply.
‘This could get messy…’
The National Security Bureau is an agency that must remain invisible.
Existing quietly, like being there but unseen, is their operational guideline.
But because they handle counterintelligence, top-secret info, and national security matters, employees took immense pride in their work.
This often led them to underestimate or look down on other agencies—just like Nabi.
‘It’s fine to feel a sense of belonging, but don’t let it become a delusion.’
Dekar already felt exhausted. He was uneasy that the bureau was taking the navy visit as an opportunity to assert themselves.
The bureau had been sidelined when spies were secretly apprehended in the south—a serious blow to their pride.
So they argued that the recent naval defection incident warranted a thorough ideological verification across all troops.
‘It’s basically vengeance…’
Yet they acted as if they had every right to do so. Why bring in a fleet of expensive motor-powered cars in formation just to show off?
‘One mistake and we might get replaced.’
The navy visit wasn’t entirely beneficial to the bureau. Dekar and other experienced staff understood this.
“Senior.”
The red-haired young man, who had been silent, finally spoke.
“It’ll be fine.”
“……”
“What could go wrong?”
“…Right.”
Dekar patted the young man’s back lightly with his large hand.
“We just need to do our job.”
“You’re right, Arca.”
A faint smile appeared on Dekar’s worried face. He seemed somewhat reassured.
“Let’s hope everything ends safely.”
He murmured while looking at the blue sky.
The National Security Bureau’s visit was not entirely welcome by the navy.
Even though the navy is freer than other military groups, it is still a closed and conservative organization. They did not appreciate outsiders meddling in their affairs.
Fortunately, the bureau maintained proper etiquette and a polite demeanor, unlike the royal knights who visited this spring.
Thanks to this, the navy could remain rational, despite any internal complaints.
In fact, “no particular interest” was more accurate.
Especially the special unit, which even contemplated using the bureau for their own schemes.
“…Damn it.”
Damn military.
Sitting on a chair that seemed only partially designed for the sitter’s back and hips, Ami slumped, staring at the ceiling with a lifeless expression.
“Finally, the day has come.”
Not just Ami, but the entire team in the command office wore the same expression.
“……”
“……”
As if standing at the edge of death.
The only sounds in the quiet command office were weak breaths and occasional muttered curses.
On their desks lay a notice sent by Captain Adbelor:
[The qualification test will be held on the day the first typhoon of the season arrives.]
Captain Adbelor announced that the special unit would undergo their navigation qualification test on the first typhoon of the summer.
“This is both skill and cruelty…”
Sergeant Logan Mitas muttered with a deadpan expression.
“To write a single line on paper, and with that one line, drag us into hell…”
“If the typhoon doesn’t come, is there no test?”
“Nowhere predicts the weather as accurately as the south.”
Celine stared at the calendar.
“Let’s see…”
The south had a fairly regular climate compared to other regions. Even approximating seasonal weather events like the rainy season or typhoons usually matched reality.
“…If everything goes as scheduled, a week from now.”
Groans rose here and there at Celine’s words.
“But after the test, we get a two-day break. Not entirely unfair.”
Private Hones Mera, the only recruit from last year, quietly asked, watching his seniors. He had yet to realize just how terrifying this “test” could be.
“……”
“……”
The team didn’t crush the youngest member’s hope.
“But, Noah.”
Ami, somewhat recovered from the shock of the test, remembered the visitors arriving at headquarters today.
“The National Security Bureau is coming today, right?”
“Yeah.”
Noah stretched as he answered, his words dragging slightly.
Raising his arms and letting them droop, he continued, finishing his thought.
“They’re starting ideological verification today.”
“Let’s avoid calling it that,” Colonel Ice suggested, his tone mild. He was holding a finished cup, seemingly heading to the break room.
“How about calling it an irregular aptitude test to determine if we’re fit for military service?”
“But isn’t that basically ideological verification?”
Ami grumbled.
“What is this! It’s like they treat us as spies!”
“It’s a matter of perspective.”
“Why are you suddenly siding with the bureau, Colonel?”
“I’m a pacifist.”
He was exhausted by the events in the navy between spring and summer this year.
“Just go along with it. It’s just a formality.”
With that, Colonel Ice left for the break room.
“…He’s right.”
Noah agreed.
“It’s just them puffing up their pride. Ignore it.”
“But it’s annoying.”
Ami reacted sharply not simply because the bureau was active internally, but because…
