Approximately five weeks ago.
When dealing with a particularly troublesome adversary, the most essential first step is information gathering.
Sure, intelligence is always important, but in situations like this, its significance becomes even greater.
Unlike the Empire, which boldly declared war and attacked head-on, the Holy Nation of Setnil had chosen to engage in covert backroom maneuvers.
They secretly contacted the royal family, orchestrated an escape plan, and even sent their forces to trespass on our land without permission.
These weren’t overt actions but shadowy schemes that, if exposed, could lead to all sorts of complications.
‘What’s their game here?’
If the Holy Nation went to such lengths, we needed to understand their reasons.
What interests or strategic goals were driving them to target us?
They knew full well that their national strength and military power were vastly inferior to ours. So why would they poke the lion’s nose?
And even if their ultimate motives remained unclear, uncovering their weaknesses or internal secrets could also work to our advantage.
If we could acquire blackmail material, we could pressure the Holy Nation into submission without wasting resources on conflict.
But regardless of the angle, this wasn’t the kind of information that could be easily obtained from the outside.
After much deliberation, I made a decisive choice.
‘I’ll personally lead an infiltration team into the Holy Nation.’
I would form a small, elite team of spies, composed only of the most skilled individuals, and infiltrate the Holy Nation to dig through its inner workings.
We’d search key facilities like the Holy See and the Grand Cathedral until we uncovered something useful.
Surely, they were hiding something of value.
‘Wait… are you saying you’ll become a spy yourself? Are you in your right mind? Should I arrange for a good physician?’
‘Have you forgotten that you are effectively the de facto ruler of this kingdom?’
‘Please, let one of us go instead! If you’re caught in the Holy Nation, the kingdom would be doomed!’
‘I am in my right mind, so stop looking at me like that. Do you want to get punched?’
Of course, the backlash was intense.
I had seized control of the military under General Albrecht, the nominal leader, and led the most influential political faction with a majority in the parliament.
If I were to die or get captured while running wild in a foreign land, the kingdom’s administrative and governance capabilities would immediately collapse.
Unlike leaving for a brief diplomatic mission, outright disappearing would leave a power vacuum that no one could fill.
Internal factions wouldn’t be able to reorganize in time, leading to chaos.
The republicans, the military, and the clergy would all tear each other apart in a frenzy, only to destroy themselves in the end.
But there was a reason I was willing to take such a risk.
“Alright, let’s hear it. If any of you think you can do a better job than me, step forward. I’ll hand over full authority to you.”
“Uh… well… I’m not sure I’m qualified for that.”
“W-well, couldn’t we find someone in the intelligence department? Colonel Kys has a lot of talented people under him, doesn’t he?”
“So basically, you’re all saying you don’t know squat. You idiots.”
There wasn’t anyone I could entrust this mission to besides myself.
As I’d mentioned countless times before, I was someone who led from the front, even while wearing a general’s stars during my time in the Northern Front.
Despite commanding an entire division, I personally led operations to infiltrate and take down enemy fortresses as if it were routine.
I only stopped after being promoted to lieutenant general.
Thanks to that, I knew all the tricks of the trade.
How to disguise myself as the enemy, how to move undetected, how to erase my presence—it was all second nature to me.
And my subordinates?
“They’re great at following orders but not at leading missions themselves.”
Because I had always taken the lead on infiltration missions, my subordinates had rarely been given the opportunity to gain hands-on experience commanding such operations.
They excelled at assisting from the sidelines, but expecting them to take the reins was too much.
After I stepped back from frontline operations, the focus had shifted to pitched battles and trench warfare, leaving them with even fewer chances to hone those skills.
Under normal circumstances, this wasn’t a problem.
But in a situation like this, it was a different story entirely.
I couldn’t afford to assign an uncertain candidate to a mission where failure wasn’t an option.
“Alright then, I’ll take that as unanimous approval. I’ll pick the team from my own unit. Just make sure the provisions are prepared by next Monday.”
And so, for these reasons, I personally took command of the infiltration operation into the Holy Nation of Setnil.
Currently
“Your Excellency, that’s the Grand Cathedral of Ammas. It’s the largest religious structure in the southern Holy Nation.”
“Really? We got here faster than I thought.”
After spending several weeks traveling in a modified covered wagon designed for the mission, crossing two borders, and passing through the Kingdom of Kailas, we had finally made our way deep into the Holy Nation’s territory.
“Shall we use the same approach as last time?”
“Yeah. Find a good spot, set up a stall, and start trading. I’ll pick a team of six to rest and move with me during the night. That should be enough for this one.”
“Understood!”
And with that, the preparations for the next stage of the operation began.
At my command, a resounding response echoed back.
Even those who had been awkward at first were now becoming accustomed to the rhythm of these operations after experiencing several missions.
Our strategy was simple: street vendors by day, spies by night.
Mobile stalls selling snacks and drinks were common in any country or city, so they rarely drew suspicion.
Using the cover of a merchant, we could stash ropes, tools, and other supplies without anyone batting an eye. It was the perfect disguise.
“So, is tonight’s target that place?”
“It’s not a ‘target,’ you idiot. It’s a search. This place is directly managed by a cardinal, so there’s bound to be a treasure trove of classified documents hidden there.”
I lightly reprimanded the soldier who made it sound like we were robbing a bank, then muttered to myself.
“All the places we’ve searched so far have been duds. It’d be great if we hit the jackpot this time.”
Small monasteries and churches had yielded little to no results.
We had managed to procure some minor corruption records and a few government documents from the Holy Nation, but such scraps wouldn’t be enough to leverage diplomatically.
This place, however, was said to be one of the top three most important facilities in the Holy Nation.
Surely, it had to be different.
“I’m going to sleep inside. If anything happens, wake me.”
“Yes, sir. See you later.”
Entering the wagon, I set up a hammock between the roof beams and stretched out on it, using my arm as a pillow.
Through the thin wooden walls, which didn’t block sound well, I could faintly hear the voices of my men outside.
“Welcome! A pint of beer is only 40 kilver today!”
“We’ve got sausages and pickled cabbage! Fish and chips for snacks too!”
“Ale and fruit wine are available as well! If you’re a drinker, don’t hesitate—grab a drink!”
“Working hard, aren’t they?”
These were men who had wasted their youth in the military, yet their sales pitches were surprisingly effective.
I made a mental note to plan some support programs to help them find their talents after the war.
I couldn’t let them rot as soldiers forever.
Several hours passed, and the moon hung high in the night sky.
“It’s 2 a.m. now… Alright, time to move out. Is everyone fully equipped?”
“Yes, sir! We’ve triple-checked everything. No worries.”
“Good. Let’s do this.”
Awake in the hours when the rest of the world was asleep, we changed into plain clothes and covered our faces with masks.
This was to ensure that even if we were spotted, no one could identify us later.
Equipped with ropes, daggers, and various tools, we moved silently through the streets, avoiding any attention.
“The cardinal’s private quarters are said to be at the rear of the cathedral. Apparently, he tends a garden there.”
“He must have a separate office too, right? Do you know where that might be?”
“Probably near the library. Important documents are usually kept close to books, aren’t they?”
“Fair point.”
The security around Ammas Grand Cathedral, our target, was lax.
There were no walls encircling it like a fortress, and only a couple of guards patrolled the area.
It seemed the deeply religious people of this theocratic nation believed no one would dare defile a cathedral.
That was fine by us—it made our infiltration far easier.
“You two—Hans and Johann, was it? Check if there’s a treasure vault somewhere.”
“Got it.”
“Karl, Wilhelm, and Joachim, you’re coming with me to the library.”
“Understood.”
“And me, sir? What’s my assignment?”
“Heinrich, you’re on lookout duty outside. Keep an eye out for anyone approaching the cathedral.”
“Understood.”
Taking advantage of the lack of security, we carefully shattered a window and slipped inside.
We found ourselves in a large hallway—likely a prayer room.
Several corridors branched out in different directions, so I quickly divided roles and sent everyone off.
Two were tasked with searching for valuables, while four of us would focus on finding documents and records.
“What floor do we head to?”
“Let’s start by heading up. Books are usually kept in the most secure and secluded parts of a facility.”
In this era, the printing press was rudimentary—something akin to the one used during Gutenberg’s time.
Books weren’t as ludicrously expensive as in the days of manual transcription, but they were still valuable commodities.
Many institutions restricted access to their libraries, storing books in areas where only a select few could enter.
“Let’s move quietly. If this place has what we’re looking for, it’s probably deeper inside.”
As expected, just like the libraries in our royal palace or general headquarters, the one here was tucked away in an ideal, secure location.
“Found it.”
Sure enough, after climbing to the third floor, we arrived at the library and what appeared to be an office.
Bookshelves stretched out in every direction, stacked with what seemed to be over 2,000 books.
By Earth’s standards, it wasn’t much, but in this world, it was an overwhelming collection.
Considering how few kinds of books existed in this era, this was practically a comprehensive collection of nearly every published work.
‘Looks like administrative records and documents are stored here too.’
That saved us the trouble of searching multiple locations.
If we focused on this room, we’d likely find all the information we needed.
There was only one problem…
“Who goes there?! Do you know where you are and dare to trespass so recklessly?”
“…Oh, for fuck’s sake.”
The cardinal was still awake, burning the midnight oil in his office.
“Gag him and tie him up.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Do you know who I am?! You dare to—mpphh!!”
The cardinal’s protests were cut short as my men efficiently gagged and restrained him.
Now that the noise was dealt with, I turned my attention to the documents he had been working on.
“Let’s see… Cathedral maintenance expenses… receipts for cleaning staff wages… and under this…”
“‘List of external assets purchased with tithes and offerings’? Well, doesn’t this just reek of corruption?”
Meanwhile, at the Holy See…
Crash!
“I—I dug my way out! But… where am I now?”
The Saintess, unfamiliar with the layout of the building, had been blindly punching holes through walls, trying to find an exit.