Lapis and Zyro, members of the prestigious yet secretive undercover organization, took great pride in their espionage skills. Their expertise in disguise, stealth, and acquiring confidential information had made them invaluable assets in the world of covert operations.
Of course, none of this would have been possible without their rare magical talent—Misty Magic.
A highly elusive and uncommon ability, Misty Magic allowed them to weave illusions capable of deceiving even the most elite individuals.
More than just a tool for deception, it enabled them to bypass barriers others couldn't, even infiltrating companies bound by "special contracts"—magical agreements that prevented employees from speaking about their work, even if they wanted to.
And yet, they had managed to outmaneuver it.
Their plan had been simple: hire two highly intelligent dwarves, Porta and Nebia, have them apply to Hellfire Electronics, sign the contract, and then assume their identities through illusion magic. With their disguises perfected, they believed the rest of the mission would go smoothly.
Perhaps, in their arrogance, they had underestimated Hellfire Electronics.
At first, things seemed effortless. So much so that they became reckless, even exchanging sensitive information in the restroom without a second thought.
However, as time passed, an unsettling realization set in—Hellfire Electronics was far more dangerous than they had anticipated. Read full story at N0veI.Fiɾe.net
As experienced undercover agents, they prided themselves on their sharp instincts, and those instincts screamed that something was amiss.
There were individuals lurking within the company whose very presence sent shivers down their spines. These were people so dangerous that Lapis and Zyro unconsciously kept their hands close to their concealed magical guns.
But instinct alone wasn't enough to act on.
Instead of making reckless moves, they adapted, becoming more cautious with every step. Gone were the days of casually meeting in restrooms; now, even moving around the building felt like walking through a den of predators. The suffocating tension made them wary of revealing their true nature.
It wasn't just the main building. Even their dormitory—located just beside Hellfire Electronics—felt like a cage where danger lurked in the shadows.
Thus, when an opportunity arose, they seized it.
Under the pretense of handling external work, they managed to excuse themselves from their duties and rendezvous at a local tavern. Free from the ever-watchful eyes at Hellfire Electronics, they shed their disguises, returning to their true appearances.
Lapis sat at the dimly lit tavern, gulping down wine, droplets trickling into his overgrown beard.
Though short and thick-built like any proper dwarf, his agility was unmatched. With practiced ease, he grabbed another bottle from the table and refilled both their glasses without spilling a drop.
The lively noise of the tavern filled the air, but Lapis paid it no mind, letting the warm burn of alcohol ease his nerves.
Then, his sharp ears caught a familiar pattern of footsteps entering the establishment.
Footsteps he recognized without even needing to turn around.
Lapis turned, his sharp eyes landing on the figure of his longtime partner in crime—Zyro.
Unlike Lapis, Zyro was an anomaly among dwarves. Not only was he beardless, but he lacked even a trace of facial hair, giving him an oddly youthful appearance. His bright green eyes gleamed with energy, a stark contrast to Lapis's brooding intensity.
His attire was even more unusual—a casual white shirt emblazoned with the word Pendragon, paired with well-fitted jeans. The look was worlds apart from Lapis's refined, formal suit and thick, professional beard.
They were opposites in nearly every way.
Zyro wordlessly settled into the seat beside him. There was no need for pleasantries or small talk.
Silence passed between them as Lapis poured his partner a glass of wine.
Then, with a barely perceptible gesture, they activated their Misty Magic, forming an invisible barrier around their table. The sounds of the bustling tavern faded, ensuring that their conversation would remain private. No one outside the barrier would hear a word.
"You've felt that danger at the job too, huh?" Zyro finally spoke, raising his glass of wine to his lips.
Lapis's expression darkened, turning solemn. "As brothers, we may not share the same fashion sense," he said, glancing at Zyro's casual shirt with mild disapproval, "but we do share the same magic talent—and, of course, that sixth sense."
Zyro chuckled. "That sixth sense of ours has saved our hides more times than I can count." He lifted his glass slightly in a toast. "Without it, we wouldn't still be breathing, right?"
Lapis gave a firm nod before clinking his glass with Zyro's. He took a sip, then exhaled slowly. "That danger we felt at our job... it reminded me of when we tried to infiltrate the Solarus Temple in Wales."
Zyro's forehead creased as he considered the comparison. "I'm not entirely sure... but yeah, it does feel similar. However—" his eyes narrowed slightly, "the danger we sensed at the Solarus Temple came from the hidden warrior of their faith—their Champion. Those figures are high-level combatants, trained for centuries. I highly doubt Hellfire has anyone of that caliber working for them."
Lapis tapped his fingers against the wooden table, deep in thought. "Maybe... but given the sheer intensity of the danger we've been feeling, we need to stay on guard. Whether the person watching us is a Champion-level or not, they're definitely someone we shouldn't underestimate."
Zyro gulped down another mouthful of wine before shifting the topic. "Aside from that dangerous feeling... how's it going? Were you able to gather any information about the technology behind computers and barcodes?"
Lapis let out a long sigh instead of answering.
Zyro immediately picked up on his frustration and shook his head. "Looks job is way more complicated than we initially thought. I expected it to be easy."
Lapis savored the aftertaste of the wine before finally speaking. "Not just that—the technology behind computers and even those barcodes is far more complex than I imagined." He shook his head again. "Just thinking about it gives me a headache."
The two sat there, feeling increasingly conflicted. However, this wasn't the first time they had encountered such difficulties. From experience, they knew that sometimes, luck was on their side.
Just as they were lost in their thoughts, an unfamiliar voice suddenly cut through the air.
"It seems you two aren't very good dwarf employees compared to the others."
The voice was deep, sudden, and sent a chill down their spines. Lapis and Zyro's eyes widened in alarm. Without hesitation, they sprang up, their hands gripping the table as their wine glasses clanked together, spilling their contents.
Before they could even register what was happening, a man was already sitting across from them.
Their eyes locked onto the figure before them. He was cloaked, his robe concealing most of his features, but it was evident that he was human—no horns, no tail, no scales. His bright blue eyes and golden hair further confirmed it.
Lapis swallowed hard, forcing himself to speak. "Who are you?" His heartbeat was racing, but he knew he had to remain calm in front of someone capable of appearing out of nowhere.
The man simply smiled, extending a hand as if they were old friends. "I'm from Hellsing Organization," he said casually. "Name's Lance."
His voice was cheerful, almost too friendly. "Nice to finally meet the two annoying flies I've been hunting for a week."
Despite his seemingly casual demeanor, his words carried a razor-sharp edge. Lapis and Zyro exchanged glances, their years of experience allowing them to communicate without speaking.
They were both thinking the same thing.
Before they could make a move, Lance chuckled. "Don't even think about running."
His tone was still light, almost amused. "This place is surrounded by my men. There's no escape."
Lapis and Zyro's blood ran cold. Their eyes darted around the tavern, only to realize that the patrons who had been chattering and drinking just moments ago were now staring at them, faces blank, their eyes unnervingly focused.
"You two have no choice but to confess," Lance said bluntly. "We work for Hellfire. Just surrender, or..."
He didn't need to finish the sentence.
Lapis and Zyro knew they had no way out. Neither of them wanted to die.
Inside his office, Arthur leaned back in his chair, reading through the report he had just received.
Lance and his _weaker clones_ had successfully trapped and captured the two spies.
Arthur had meticulously planned this entrapment, going as far as purchasing the very tavern that Porta—or rather, _Lapis_—had chosen as their meeting spot. The so-called "patrons" inside had all been his transformed clones, using Transformation Jutsu to blend in seamlessly.
The two spies had walked right into his trap.
Chuckling, Arthur tossed the report onto his desk. "Dwalric Corporation still hasn't given up, huh?" He shook his head. "To think they're willing to send high-level undercover agents just to steal information..."
One of the major corporations that had opposed his innovations from the very beginning. They had been among the fiercest opponents of computers and barcodes, lobbying against their adoption and funding anti-technology campaigns across multiple nations.
Because their monopolies were crumbling.
Arthur knew their resistance wouldn't last much longer.
The so-called monopoly they desperately clung to was already teetering. And soon, it would be obsolete.
A year ago, he had introduced a primitive version of the Internet—a network that, at the time, could only support simple messaging through an application called Messenger.
Now, the system had evolved. It was no longer limited to messages alone. Web browsing was almost fully operational.
Once this feature was launched, computers would become indispensable. Their user base would skyrocket.