Hiding My Identity From My Husband - Chapter 17

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 17

“You think I’ll just answer because you ask?”
“Of course not!”
The kid crossed their arms confidently, as if they’d expected exactly that.
“Agent, or… well, what should I call you?”
“Charle.”
“Right! Either way, Charle, you’re clearly exceptional—how could I just waltz in empty-handed and walk off with information?”
There it was.
The kid was showing more of an agent’s sense now than before, and I found myself warming to them.
I smiled and tilted my chin slightly.
“So? What did you bring?”
The kid smiled back and lifted their chin.
“You’ve been away from Catacl for quite a long time, haven’t you?”
Then they held out their index finger in front of my face and winked.
“Aren’t you curious what’s happened in Catacl while you were gone?”
Interesting.
I’d been wondering about that anyway.
“I can tell you everything.”
The kid extended their hand toward me, eyes sparkling.
Probably what they were curious about was Captain Henry.
I wrinkled my nose and smiled.
“Deal.”
And we shook hands.

* * *

The kid’s name was Pinky.
Pinky had somewhat unkempt orange hair and gleaming yellow eyes.
Their sun-tanned skin bore marks of exposure here and there, but was naturally pale enough that the scattered freckles stood out prominently.
“Wow! This is incredible!”
Pinky sucked down a mouthful of yuzu smoothie and let out an exclamation.
We’d stepped into a nearby cafeteria—you couldn’t just chat in the middle of the street, after all.
I sipped my cold iced coffee and nodded slightly.
“So, what information do you have for me?”
“First I should check if you already know the things I’m curious about, shouldn’t I?”
Pinky answered with the straw still in their mouth. I let out a quiet laugh.
“You’re curious about Captain Henry, aren’t you?”
“Exactly!”
Pinky leaned forward and spoke in a hushed voice.
“The captain has gone missing.”
I felt it then—a cold chill running down my spine the moment I heard the word.
A shudder ran through me at the mere word “missing.”
‘He’s not missing.’
He’s dead, surely. Definitely.
The general would never overlook a defector.
“Well, I imagine he’s dead. But officially, it’s been reported as a disappearance—keep that quiet.”
“Right. So what else?”
“I want to know how the captain’s betrayal came to light.”
That was thanks to the trap Adrian had set.
But before I disclosed that information, there was something I needed to confirm.
“Before that, I need to ask you something.”
I met Pinky’s eyes and asked.
“Are there many defectors inside Catacl?”
Pinky’s expression grew slightly uncomfortable, then slowly they nodded.
“There’s been quite a lot while you were away.”
I nodded, silently urging them to continue. Pinky went on.
“First, the Empress has begun actively involving herself in Catacl affairs.”
“The Empress?”
I frowned.
Catacl was a direct imperial organization.
But Bailor had pursued a course different from Catacl’s traditional orientation, and as a result, the distance between him and the imperial court was widening.
And now the Empress was inserting herself.
“As you know, the Commander doesn’t wish to distance himself from the imperial family. That’s why he opposes the Empress’s involvement—but in the meantime, there are people who’ve sided with her.”
So Catacl had fractured from within.
My brow tightened of its own accord.
“Who?”
“That I don’t know.”
Pinky shook his head regretfully.
“Of course, since I served under Vice-Commander Henry, I knew he’d defected—but beyond that, I’m in the dark.”
That made sense.
Catacl operated under an extraordinarily rigid hierarchy; even the vice-commanders knew nothing of other teams’ assignments except what Bailor, the Commander, allowed them to see.
They might meet in secret and conspire, but since nothing surfaced openly, tracking down defectors would be nearly impossible.
“That’s what makes Vice-Commander Henry’s disappearance so strange.”
I nodded, understanding Pinky’s bewilderment completely.
“It’s simple, really.”
I drained the last of my coffee and answered.
“A trap was laid.”
Catacl—or rather, Bailor—had used a method to identify the defectors.
He’d leaked different information about a Sacred Artifact to each vice-commander.
Then, by tracking whoever acted on that particular intelligence, he could see who was making contact with his subordinates without his authorization.
‘Themis was on Henry’s side.’
But why Themis, specifically—I still couldn’t figure that out.
If they’d been planning to push through distribution of the Modified Aura, they wouldn’t have killed Themis.
“Why kill Themis at all……”
Pinky dropped his shoulders at my musing, answering with a note of regret.
“That much, I don’t know either.”
That figured.
Pinky hadn’t yet risen to the rank where he’d hear the organization’s inner workings.
“In any case, there must be other traps set……”
More snares to root out the defectors within Catacl.
Each time someone tripped one, another agent would vanish into the void.
‘It feels strange, somehow.’
So why defect in the first place?
I exhaled heavily and set down my cup.
“Either way, blood will spill. Watch yourself.”
“Me? I’m just a rookie, so I don’t have much to fear yet.”
Pinky drew his remaining smoothie through the straw again as he spoke.
“So?”
I looked at him with a spark of curiosity.
“Why are you telling me this, and why are you curious about it?”
A sly smile crept across Pinky’s face.
He set his cup aside and clasped his hands together on the table.
“My role was originally that of an informant—I’d gather what Vice-Commander Henry asked me to gather and bring it to him. That duty was known only to him and me, so he paid me separately for it.”
He flashed his eyes and continued.
“But now that the Vice-Commander’s disappeared, my source of income has dried up.”
What came next was predictable.
“How would you feel about hiring me instead?”
He was essentially offering himself as my information broker.
Since I’d already suspected as much, I didn’t answer immediately.
When receiving an offer like this, it’s effective in negotiations to pretend to deliberate.
“I can give you inside information on Catacl faster than anyone else. Trust me on this.”
I let a faint smile play at my lips.
“It’d be dangerous.”
“A man should live taking risks, shouldn’t he?”
“No. I meant it’d be dangerous for me.”
“Ah.”
Pinky nodded as if satisfied.
As a formal operative, I’m using a rookie agent to gather intelligence on Catacl’s internal workings—it’s bound to carry risks.
But…
While searching for the Sacred Artifact, Catacl’s internal affairs could become an obstacle.
Since I must prioritize Bailor’s orders, I can’t afford to have such complications.
That’s why I need to understand what’s happening inside.
‘Bailor will understand, even if he finds out later.’
With that thought, I looked back at Pinky.
“So, what’s your rate?”
“Just one gold coin per job, sir.”
“That’s steep.”
But Pinky stood firm.
“Mr. Charle, think about it. I’m risking my life out there. Isn’t one gold coin cheap for a life?”
He had a point.
Thinking of my own vault sitting dormant in the bank, I nodded.
“Twice a month—when the new moon and full moon rise. Come find me then. But if the information isn’t solid, you won’t get paid.”
Pinky’s face lit up.
“Leave it to me! I’ll work hard!”
“Work smart, not hard.”
“Yes, sir!”
I fell into thought for a moment, watching him answer so eagerly.
What was the most critical information I needed right now?
That would be…
“Look into Adrian’s background for me.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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