The Reason for Marriage

Iveca frowned. Take a break? Things like that were not said lightly in the Bureau of Investigation. It meant that she was being given time to prepare herself. She stood still for a moment, before entering the Director’s office.

Lucas, the director of The Bureau of Investigation, looked very worried at first glance.

“Whenever I go on business trips to the provinces, big things keep happening,” Iveca said in a joking tone as she stood in front of him.

“Is there going to be a battle for the throne? Maybe Staram’s celebrity suddenly falls over, or maybe the rebel leaders come into the palace?” Iveca thought to herself.

Clearly, she was about to receive a very difficult order. As a low-level employee who had not been around for long, there could be no other reason for her to be meeting the director alone.

This was the first time that she was meeting him in the Director’s office since she had first joined the Bureau when he had created a personality called “Eve Jean” for her.

“Eve.”

“Yes.”

“What do you think about Rihan Kadmin?”

“…I don’t know. We haven’t heard enough information yet to judge.”

Lucas then presented a report. It contained the details of Rihan Kadmin’s entry, which Kayden had personally interrogated. He hated the republic, hated the monarchy, and fled to Amethan…

However, Rihan Kadmin was the one who spread the idea of ‘republicanism’ across the continent. Not only did he write a book that reinforced his ideological ideals, but he was so popular that it quickly became famous.

Turning over the report, Iveca’s expression grew more and more serious.

Lucas folded his arms and spoke slowly, “The king has ordered the Bureau of Administration office’s staff to protect themselves. But there are many suspicious cases.

Especially Rihan Kadmin’s boarding house, which is connected to the smuggling route.

I believe this has been planned for a long time, I don’t think that everything is a coincidence.

The second prince, when he was running away, accidentally came across Rihan Kadmin, and they came into Amethan together?”

“However, his Majesty’s order to protect himself must have been unavoidable. It is difficult to dispose of a monarchist who has been exiled in such a public manner.”

“The king wants to use Rihan Kadmin as an example. I believe that he’s thinking of using him for publicity, evidence that the Republican government also has blind spots.”

She said nothing, just listening to his words.

“But the Empire called for Rihan Kadmin directly. His Majesty the Emperor said he wanted to see the performance and told him to join the tribute procession. I’m going to send it to the Empire soon.”

“Then what…?”

“It’s dangerous. It would be a great tragedy if the Emperor were to find out that he was protecting him in the Kingdom of Amethan,” he said looking at her, a complicated emotion behind his eyes.

“I have decided to get rid of Rihan Kadmin.”

Iveca did not avert her gaze. She could guess why he was telling her these words directly.

“It’s the Bureau of Investigation’s dogma. I don’t want to put the burden of killing an artist in exile.”

“I understand.”

“Soon, Rihan Kadmin, his representative, a procession of tributes, and a band for the performance will be dispatched to the empire…”

Iveca calmly waited for Lucas’s order.

“You’re the right person for this job.”

“I know.”

“Since your name is already on the Royal Band, you don’t have to worry about infaltrating with a false identity. You are the most capable assassin we have.”

“Yes,” Iveca said without hesitation.

Each of the Bureau of Investigation’s officers had to trust the organization’s judgment and follow it. Iveca had no intention of rejecting the Bureau’s order.

Lucas covered his eyes with his hand, his face looked more tired than ever.

“It is difficult to organize additional personnel. It’s an unofficial, secret mission, and I’m on the verge of borrowing the hands of other department employees to chase after the smugglers. Besides, the Empire is at war.”

“Until now, I have risked my life on every Investigative Service mission, Director,” Iveca said and grinned to lighten Lucas’s burden.

“You can’t let yourself get caught in the Empire or the Amethan Kingdom, so make sure to aim for the right time. It would be best to shoot when you’re in battle.”

“Understood.”

Lucas presented Iveca with the plan, which included the departure date, schedule, and list.

Iveca accepted the plan, bowed, and left the director’s office.

It’s not the first time she’d been ordered to be an assassin. She had killed numerous criminals thus far.

She usually struck from afar, with a positioned knife or dart. She was not as physically strong as other operatives, but this was where she excelled.

However, this would be the first time that she was sent to a foreign country in a civil war alone.