Just A Reincarnation Story (Summoning Japan Edition)

Chapter 85: Meteos Wrought His Wēoh

Early Fructidor (Month 8) 12016 Muish Calendar (Aug., 1616 CC)

Otaheit, Kingdom of Mu

When there is light, there is shadow.

The apparently peaceful yet slightly awkward rapport between the Holy Milishial Empire and the Kingdom of Mu conceals the maneuvers of their respective intelligence communities. Both sides engage in a dance of espionage in an attempt to uncover the other's advancements and machinations. But while the Holy Empire's Imperial Intelligence Bureau observed no particular difficulties in conducting its operations as the "face," Mu's Directorate of Intelligence and Information Analysis (DRAI) whirred with a quiet desperation as one of their major missions, to peel back the layers of the Holy Empire's secrecy and glean whatever scraps of information they could, has been completely compromised.

The disparity in technological advancement loomed large between the two countries, and the shadows cast by the so-called world's strongest on not only Mu but other countries seemed to grow longer with each passing day. As such, on one hand the DRAI is already constantly derided as a meaningless nuisance that gathers "useless" information on weak barbarians a bit too enthusiastically and on the other hand they were under immense pressure from the government to find out what the hell is the Holy Milishial Empire up to time and time again.

For a period before the present day, the information their spies gleaned from the Holy Empire succeeded in temporarily pacifying factional squabbles within the Muish Royal Navy. This led to the development of a smaller yet qualitatively more formidable naval fleet, featuring advanced weaponry such as all-big-gun battleships and large armored cruisers intended to be a counter to the evolving threat posed by the Holy Empire's navy. However, there remained a cautious restraint, as there was a fear of overreaching and provoking an undesirable alarm from the other side. It was something that thankfully appeased both the Navy's Neutralist and Innovator factions, that is until new sources of contention reignited their disputes once more.

But now? The DRAI was thrown into an even worse situation than normal—they were under fire.

"...With our recent complete inability to contact the Central World Department's field operatives anymore, I'm afraid that's it for our spy network in Milishial. All of our contacts have gone silent across the board."

"Every one of them?"

"...Yes, as much as it is hard to believe."

The DRAI's Director Maurice Lamarre's sullen gaze was fixed on the weathered face of the visiting Admiral Jean Pierre d'Artagnan of the Navy across him. As the Navy and the DRAI are closely cooperating and helping each other, the Admiral pays visits to his office from time to time hoping to get information about Milishial. However, other than the report that the other side's giant state-of-the-art aircraft carrier called the Orphan Wolf Legend has been sighted near the Sol Islands as part of its sea trials, not even confidential information, only dreadful news awaited d'Artagnan.

".........Are you absolutely certain about this?" the elderly gentleman said after a long pause.

There was a hint of resignation in his posture, and knowing that he firmly wished against this outcome, Lamarre hesitated a bit before answering.

"Yes. After years of struggling to establish a functional information network in Milishial's territory, it seems that now our rival has decided to stop fooling around. From now on, the only 'intel' we're going to get now is what the other side wants us to see: public pronouncements, military parades, that sort of fluff."

"I see."

"I'm terribly sorry, sir."

"Hm..."

D'Artagnan's expression strained even further, though he abstained from complaints that would change nothing. The Holy Empire's infamy as an "impenetrable fortress" against foreign espionage was well-deserved, and Mu's spy ring in Milishial was always a precarious affair. Their degree of information control and counter-espionage was ruthless and their methods shrouded in secrecy—there must be some magick they conjured out of their arse somewhere in there. Yet, even with all that pressure, the network had somewhat functioned in providing a trickle of information that proved invaluable in shaping Mu's national strategy. But a complete network collapse was a different story altogether. It meant they were now flying blind, with no eyes or ears inside the Holy Empire to help the decision-makers in making a countermeasure.