Mistaken For a Couple

Chapter 2: Fraudulent Contract

Priscilla Herchil, a special intelligence officer from the Naifel Empire, was stationed in the Rungsa region of the Bayrn Empire.

[Agent Papa (P). Prioritize the most urgent mission.]

Priscilla etched the words from the tiny radio earpiece into her mind.

In her hand, she carried a suitcase larger than her own body.

"Here."

Bayrn Empire, Rungsa District, Harubel Street, No. 27.

Brick house, E1004.

It was a cozy, modest one-story house with a small yard.

Next to E1004, another brick house stood in a neat row.

A newly built housing complex in the Rungsa region of the Bayrn Empire.

E1004.

Priscilla read the number before her eyes.

This would be her base for intelligence operations—and also her cozy new home.

Just then.

Creek—

A man walked toward her from a distance.

Priscilla, seeing him pulling a suitcase similar in size to hers, smiled prettily and gave a slight bow.

The man was none other than:

Bayrn Empire, Imperial Army’s Special Operations Squadron, 1st Commander, Colonel Rahan Ortalin.

[Codename ‘Black Shark’. Prioritize the most urgent mission.]

Rahan responded by tapping his tiny radio earpiece.

He noticed Priscilla greeting him and returned the bow.

Priscilla spoke.

"Hello. I guess you’ve just moved in?"

Priscilla’s intelligence operation Rule No. 1:

Be a friendly neighbor.

So no one would suspect a thing.

Rahan also greeted her warmly.

"Yes. Did you move in today? I’m Rahan Ortalin, the head of the Rungsa Resident Center."

Rahan’s disguise rule No. 1:

Be a friendly neighbor.

So no one would suspect a thing.

The two of them, hiding their true purposes, smiled at each other.

Rahan asked.

"Are you moving in next door?"

Did the person move into E1003?

Priscilla responded.

"Looks like it."

Just then.

"Good morning!"

A couple came carrying a pile of moving boxes.

They greeted Priscilla and Rahan before opening the front door of E1003.

"……."

"……."

So they must have moved into E1005.

Looks like they moved into E1005.

Just then.

"Wow! A new house!!"

An innocent child ran up excitedly, opening the door to E1005.

The two of them stared at each other.

‘…?’

‘…?’

An awkward atmosphere started to settle between them.

"Excuse me, may I ask where you’ve moved to?"

"Me? I’m at E1004."

"What? I’m at E1004."

"What are you talking about? Did you misread it?"

"Isn’t it you who misread it?"

The two quickly started rifling through their belongings.

Almost simultaneously, they pulled out a contract.

It read:

[Harubel Street 27, E1004 Contract]

[Harubel Street 27, E1004 Contract]

"……."

"……."

The two spun around, and almost simultaneously pulled out their portable mana-powered communication devices (commonly known as cell phones).

Brrring—

The ringing continued for a long time.

Priscilla gritted her teeth.

Why isn’t it picking up? I could’ve sworn it was working until last night?

Meanwhile, Rahan was also listening to the endless ringing.

Damn it. Pick up. Pick up!!

Eventually, both of them dropped their hands in frustration.

Rahan spoke.

"That can’t be right. Double-check the contract. Is it the real one?"

"Excuse me, but isn’t that fake? This is an official document stamped with the real estate seal!"

After checking each other’s contracts, the two stood with their mouths agape.

It was a real contract.

Both of them.

That meant.

"Fraud?"

"Fraud?"

What a surprise.

The Naifel Empire’s top intelligence officer… scammed?

Impossible. Who would dare scam an Imperial Army officer?

Rahan asked.

"Did you sign the contract at Harubel Real Estate?"

"Wait, you too?"

The same real estate.

The same scam.

Both of them burst out laughing in disbelief.

"Let’s go."

"Yes, let’s go. There must be some mistake."

A moment later.

"……This can’t be."

"Ugh, I’ve been had."

As expected.

The Harubel Real Estate building, located along the Harubel River, had its lights turned off.

The firmly locked door showed no sign of opening.

Rahan pressed his face against the glass door, looking inside in disbelief.

"Do you see anything?"

"Damn it. The desk is all neat. Looks like they took off with everything."

"Those bastards!!"

Priscilla shouted, startling Rahan.

"Sorry about that."

"No, it’s fine. I was about to curse too."

Eventually, the two could only return to E1004, defeated.

Rahan was frustrated.

To catch the Naifel Empire’s spies in the Rungsa region, I need this house as a base. If it’s like this…

Meanwhile, Priscilla was just as frustrated.

I spent all the intelligence subsidy money on the house...

Both of them had strong reasons for needing to stay in this house.

Priscilla broke the silence first.

"I really need this house. So, I think it’s best if I stay here until the matter is resolved."

Rahan scoffed.

"I need it too. As someone with a stable job, doesn’t it make the most sense for me to use it?"

Priscilla scoffed as well.

Her expression turned cold.

"You’re quite amusing. Want to die?"

"Very violent. I wonder if you can kill me with those delicate arms."

"We’ll have to see who’s stronger."

Furiously shaking, Priscilla regained her composure.

Phew. Intelligence rule No. 1. Intelligence rule No. 1.

Be a friendly neighbor...

Wait. We’re not neighbors, are we?

That meant.

We don’t have to be friendly.

Meanwhile, Rahan was thinking the same thing.

This house is mine anyway. She’s the one who has to leave.

No need to be considerate.

Thud!

Almost simultaneously.

The two forced their way through the narrow gate.

"Move, please."

"Y-You move first! Ah, why are you so big!"

"Tch, I’ll sue you for trespassing!"

"Who’s the one trespassing here?"

Without waiting for the other, they both stormed through the small yard with the modest and lovely garden.

And at the same time, they both grabbed the door handle.

"Let go."

"You let go."

"I’m holding on."

"My arm’s already coming off before you count to three."

"Your bluffing."

"Does it look like bluffing?"

Crack—

The door handle creaked loudly under the pressure.

The two glaring at each other locked eyes in the air.

Without speaking, both secretly hid their weapons behind their backs.

If necessary, they planned to kill each other and claim the house.

Just then.

Crack—!!

Apparently, the door handle couldn’t take the force, and it broke off.

"……."

"……."

The two, now holding hands by accident, immediately pulled away in shock.

The broken door handle lay on the ground.

Well, even if we’re not neighbors, we might run into each other sometimes. I was too hasty.

Rahan, slightly relieved by the broken handle, reconsidered.

What was I thinking? I should’ve considered that we might meet again.

Priscilla also reconsidered.

Rahan spoke first.

"Uh, uh. I’m sorry. This is my first time in a situation like this, so I was a little flustered."

"It’s okay! I also spoke too sharply."

"The fraudsters are the ones who made the mistake, so there’s no reason for us to be fighting."

Priscilla nodded in agreement.

Rahan spoke.

"I plan on reporting it immediately. What about you?"

"I’ll report it too."

"Then, let’s leave our luggage here and report it. Maybe we can catch them sooner than expected."

"Yes. That’s probably best."

Rahan and Priscilla left the yard, leaving their luggage behind, and walked out.

They walked in opposite directions.

***

Rahan, who arrived at the Rungsa police station, submitted the fraud report.

"Yes, your report has been filed. You’ll receive a text later."

"...Is that it?"

"Yes, that’s it."

"Shouldn’t you be leaving now?"

Rahan pointed at the dozing officers in the back, and the officer receiving the report frowned.

"Sir, we have many cases to handle, so we can’t react to each one immediately. We need to gather evidence and assign personnel. You’ll get a text."

Rahan furrowed his brow.

He had to get into that house immediately.

If not, he needed to get his money back.

To fight enemy agents, he had to secure a place to stay in the Rungsa region.

It was the cheapest and most strategic location.

"Please leave immediately."

"Do you think we’re just sitting around doing nothing?"

"Ha! Should I file an official complaint?"

"Look at this! Threatening an officer!"

The officer’s face reddened, but Rahan didn’t back down.

"Unless you resolve this matter immediately, you’ll be causing serious harm to the empire’s safety. You might even be labeled a traitor. Are you okay with that?"

The words "empire’s safety" and "traitor" drained the color from the officer’s face.

Could this scammer...

Be a notorious criminal the royal family is after?

Is this person from the royal family’s special forces...?

"Wh-What are you?! Who are you?!"

"I am, from the empire..."

Rahan was about to reveal his true identity, "Colonel Rahan Ortalin, Commander of the Special Operations Squadron under the Imperial Army. I am carrying out an imperial mission, so if you're an imperial official, you must cooperate without hesitation."

But he shut his mouth.

Many people were staring at the commotion.

For someone like Rahan, who had to keep his identity hidden, it was uncomfortable being the center of attention.

"……Citizen."

"Excuse me?"

"I’m a citizen. Just the Rungsa Resident Center head."

"Is your position that important? Ah! No! If you’re a fellow public servant, you should know! Why are you being so stubborn? Just wait, and they’ll catch them for you!"

The officer shouted, and Rahan felt his blood boil, but he couldn’t do anything.

Keeping his identity secret was the top priority.

Guess there’s nothing to do but wait.

At that moment.

"Hurry! Find them!!"

A rough voice rang from nearby.

"Look, I told you, we can’t leave right now. Sir, there’s a process..."

"My money... all my savings are with that bastard..."

"1004?"

Rahan recognized Priscilla’s face and spoke.

Priscilla, still shouting in anger, turned to look at Rahan.

"…Oh? The man from 1004?"

"Did you come to the same police station?"

"Well, there’s no other police station around here."

The officer clasped his hands together and pleaded.

"Please, consider our position. We’ll definitely catch this scammer, just please..."

Priscilla sighed, seeing the officer’s pleading face.

They were busy.

Arguing more here would only imprint her face in their minds.

It wouldn’t help her intelligence work.

In the end, the two left the police station with no real progress.

The evening had already descended.

"……In the end, nothing has changed."

"……Yeah. It seems so."

"What do you plan to do?"

"What else can we do? The police are busy."

I’ll catch them myself and strip them down to their bones.

Priscilla’s eyes gleamed with fierce determination, but she swallowed her words.

Just then, Rahan spoke.

"I plan on catching them myself."

Surprised, Priscilla turned to look at him.

"Catch them yourself? Really?"

"I can’t keep wearing this wrinkled clothes. It’d be faster if we solve this quickly and find new places."

Priscilla snapped her fingers.

"Okay, I’ll join you."

"Yes?"

"Why? Do you think I can’t catch someone?"

"...You don’t seem to have the skills for it."

Priscilla snorted.

"Well, I can’t tell you everything, but I’m probably better than most detectives."

"Well, that’s up to you. So where are we staying tonight...?"

The two of them locked eyes.

An awkward atmosphere lingered.

It would be strange for a grown man and woman to sleep under the same roof, right?

"I’ll sleep outside tonight."

"What? No, you don’t have to do that."

"I think it’ll be more comfortable outside. I plan to visit an inn to gather information or evidence."

Priscilla nodded.

"Thank you."

"No need to thank me. Everything will be back to normal by tomorrow."

Rahan turned coldly and walked away.

"Then."

He gave a slight nod and walked away.

Priscilla watched his retreating back for a moment before adjusting her coat and walking toward home.

***

A little while later.

Knock knock knock!!

Inside E1004, Priscilla Herchil heard a sudden knock on the door.

She tilted her head, wondering who it was.

"Who’s there?"

No one should be coming at this time.

Creek—

The door opened with the sound of a hinge, its knob missing and tape stuck all over.

As Priscilla saw the person standing at the door, her eyes grew wide.

It was Rahan, the man who had said he was going to stay at the inn.

And there he was, standing in the cold, facing the door.

"…Ha, the inn rooms are all full."