"Attention!" the guard shouted an order. The soldiers of the guards along the long hallway raised the swords in an orderly fashion.
Door after door burst open before O'Neil Andrew Morisette. The young prince advanced forward, passing soldiers who paid their respects to him one after another and passing the countless portraits of heroes displayed along the hallway, and lastly entered a gigantic room.
The enormous room was completely empty. Only a long table was set up at its center and behind it were the three only surviving Marshals of Titan Empire. The walls of the vast room were covered with murals and an assortment of war equipment. Most of the war equipment were Marshal swords a few centuries old while most of the portraits were of old military men.
"Lieutenant General of the Guards, O'Neil Andrew Morisette?"
"Yes, sir!" Oscar stood still before the long table and saluted Marshal Van Hewitt Alan who asked the question and proceeded to perform the same military etiquette towards his father, Marshal Dortmund, and his tutor, Marshal Robin Sparse. Both of these Marshals were flanking Silver Fox Alan.
"You're very on time!" Alan gave the youngster an appraising look. If he was not mistaken, this young man who has started to put on weight would be the youngest Marshal in the history of the guards.
"Yes, sir!" Oscar stood still on the spot, knowing the significance of standing in this glorious hall.
"Shall we begin?" Alan turned his attention towards the Guard's Chief of Staff by his side.
Marshal Robin nodded and took out a document.
"Lieutenant General of the Guards, His Imperial Highness Prince O'Neil Andrew Morisette, are you ready?"
The sunlight filtered through the glass windows and fell upon the youngster. Oscar squinted his eyes slightly and stuck out his chest as best as he could.
"Yes, sir!"
Robin heaved a contented sigh and passed the document to Alan, but the Silver Fox pushed it back. The chief of staff merely grinned at his old friend's modest rejection.
"Then allow me! I will read out the Empire's Majesty Emperor Alfa III's decree!" Marshal Robin said while unfolding the document in his hand.
"Prince of the Empire, Lieutenant General of the Guards, recipient of the warrior medal, His Imperial Highness O'Neil Andrew Morisette! In the battlefield at Saijo Mountain, he gallantly fought off the invaders and acquired glorious victory! During his capture, relying on his tenacious fighting spirit and his calm wit, he fought against the enemies and successfully escaped, gaining utmost glory for the Empire's Imperial Household! In view of this, the Empire officially mandates His Imperial Highness Prince O'Neil Andrew Morisette to wield the Marshal sword, becoming a member of the Military Intelligence Bureau! May His Imperial Highness Prince continue to carry on the spirit of the Guards in his new position and establish new feats for the Empire! By the Empire's Emperor Osli Alfa Morisette alias Alfa III! Church's year 798, the 27th day of the 3rd month! This decree will take immediate effect!"
Oscar used his most steady gesture to salute his tutor.
Alan took up a brand new Marshal sword from the long table but handed the precious sword inlaid with gold and diamonds to the Dortmund, who was smiling end to end, not uttering a word.
"Better pass this glorious task unto the father of the child! Old friend, we so envy you for having such a brilliant child! A family with two Marshals; this will leave behind a splendid page in history!"
The Commander-in-chief of the Narcissus knights took the Marshal sword gleefully. Oscar already spun to face his father.
"Oscar, do you know what it signifies?" Dortmund held the precious sword with both hands, displaying the symbol of authority and glory before his son.
"Yes, sir!"
"Take the sword!"
"Yes, sir!" Oscar took the heavy sword.
"Marshal O'Neil, welcome to the team!" Dortmund saluted his son. Little Oscar hurriedly returned the salute. He seemed to be at a complete loss for what to do.
Alan finally came forward and replaced the rank on Oscar's royal blue commissioned officer uniform with the golden threaded Marshal rank. He also pinned a red badge that depicted the number of the military unit.
"It's done, Marshal O'Neil!" Having said that, the Commander of the Guards gave the young prince's shoulder an intimate pat.
Oscar nodded. He felt on top of the world and even had the urge to scream at the top of his lungs.
"His Majesty III is waiting for us; we shouldn't keep His Majesty waiting too long. However, before that, you could make a quick trip to the Military Intelligence Bureau's office. That will be your department in future."
"Yes, sir!" Oscar saluted Alan.
"Don't be like this, child!" Alan tugged at Oscar's arm, "there's no need to raise your arm every time you run into us! Don't forget, you're also a Marshal!"
"Right!" Oscar nodded with understanding. He was holding the highest leadership position among the Guards and indeed did not have to be that courteous before Alan.
The Empire's four Marshals strolled out of the hall of the top-tier soldiers. The two older men were teasing their newly appointed companion properly while the middle-aged man was sizing up his son surreptitiously, with expectation in his eyes. Lastly came the youngster who was a mixture of nerves and pride, chattering away cheerfully with the three elders.
The soldiers lined along the long hallway were watching the Commanders walk shoulder to shoulder with eyes that glistened with fervent excitement. This would be the final time in their lives witnessing this scene of these four Marshals gathering together.
***************
The joyful scenario was extremely fitting for a still and relaxing spring day. Lazy sunlight fell upon the huge, dreary banyan tree, causing the branches and leaves to cast a peculiar array of shadows. The decorative shrubs lining the roads had just been trimmed. A gardener left a bucket among the flowering shrubs and a daring insect laid eggs on this small pool of crystal-clear water.
The passage of the light and shadows appeared to have slowed, with the outline of the trees and clouds towering above and remaining the same for an indefinite amount of time. Soldiers were shuttling to and fro along the avenue that widened and narrowed as it pleased. They saluted each other and when they came across a familiar face, they would stop to chat for a period of time.
Passing a circular fountain and a wall of trees, an impressive Roman-styled building materialized beside the lilac trees and laurel flowers. Blossoming flowers clustered on the lilac trees while the laurel remained bare. The branches climbed onto the building's window ledge. Sunlight seeped through in between the leaves, emitting a dazzling brilliance.
"Territory of the Military Intelligence Bureau! Those unconcerned are prohibited from entering!" Oscar assessed the signboard at the end of the avenue. His eyes then darted towards the hidden sentries in the shadows and the cordon surrounding the building.
"How do we get in?" the Marshal asked while indicating the lookout post set up at the mouth of the street before the building.
Messier clapped his forehead, "look at me, overly excited and all! Here, take this!"
Oscar took the hardcover booklet that his Head of Secret Service handed over.
"Your pass! Despite you being a Marshal, without this, you don't even have to think about coming close to the Military Intelligence building!"
Oscar nodded and showed the pass to the sentry. The soldiers on the lookout post immediately saluted. His Highness Prince returned it with satisfaction, enjoying the feeling.
The Military Intelligence building was a three-story construction and if the attic was also considered, then it had four floors. It occupied 16 hectares, extending towards the east and west. It had a main entrance, a back door and four side doors towards the north and south.
As the general headquarters of Titan Empire's Military Intelligence Bureau, it was the center of Westland's most flawless and complicated Secret Service organization and the professional departments derived from it. Nothing was more important than the four great bodies that include the Bureau Chief's office and communications, operations, organizational body and service management.
Firstly, the Bureau Chief's office includes the Bureau Chief, the Deputy Chief, and all the staffs under them. This secret service personnel manages the various divisions depending on whoever they were attached to.
Messier De Quixote headed the first division, known as the Advanced Intelligence Analysis Division. This is the most important Staff Division directly responsible for the Chief of the Military Intelligence Bureau. It is made up of the most advanced think tanks, specialized in proposing a "blue book" or a "white book" regarding military strategy or major intelligence. Included in this blue book are an elaboration and background analysis of the intelligence movement, its origin, and the deduction of its future prospects. The white book details plans for military strategies and an in-depth deployment of operations.
The second division is called the Intelligence Resource Statistics Division. It is mainly in charge of the financial budget and operating expenditures of the Secret Service, balancing military expenditures, advising the Bureau Chief in the usage of funds and ensuring that the sources of intelligence are utilized effectively.
The third division is the Special Staff Institution Division. As the name implies, this division mainly manages the organizational matters of the Military Intelligence Bureau, controls the overall authority of the personnel, and establishes a consistent position chart and task arrangement for the special operations personnel and intelligence staff. It also sets up an archive of each secret agent with a top-secret recording method and codeword system.
The fourth division is the Special Coordination Division. This division is more complicated. It is a unified body similar to that of the Imperial Ministry of Governance. Under it featured different branches that comprise of the administrative office, court office, military affairs office, law office, advisor office, financial accounting office, lawyer office, the guest registry office and so on.
Fifth is the Secret Communications Division. It is directly under the jurisdiction of the Bureau Chief with the main role of setting up secret communication networks between intelligence stations, substations within and outside the nation, each operation site and their subsidiaries and the covert operations they were handling, as well as the general headquarters of the Military Intelligence Bureau. This division's jurisdiction also extends over the Military Intelligence's archive library and the cultivation center. The archive library stores all the classified military intelligence and the master copy of the secret communications network. It provides the various divisions of the Military Intelligence Bureau with intelligence support and data reference. It boasts a tight document access protocol and a password-based security measure. The cultivation center is actually a breeding and operating base for the carrier pigeons and communication hawk eagles. The use of carrier pigeons and hawk eagles in delivering one's feelings and messages could be traced as far back as Church's second century. This method was practically immediately adopted as the main channel for the secret communication network since the day it was discovered.
The sixth division is called the Secret Inspector Division. This division is also under the direct jurisdiction of the Military Intelligence Bureau Chief. It possesses independent jurisdiction and authority over inspection. It can inspect and arrest suspected secret agents without needing to have any instructions. To be more precise, this is the whole Military Intelligence Bureau's internal assurance division, specializing in the investigation of the Bureau's staff. It also wields the veto power over intelligence operations, permissions for military operations, expenditures, budgets and so on.
"Next is..."
"Hold it!" Oscar blurted, finally impatient, "you're saying that you're not done yet? I have never heard of the Military Intelligence Bureau being such a vast authoritative department!"
Messier shrugged, "I apologize, Marshal, according to the ideas of Marshal Alan and the main brain of the Secret Service, Count Rudolf Hoss, the Military Intelligence Bureau should be one that possesses perfect, classified, reasonable..."
"Enough, enough! Proceed! But I beg of you, be more concise!"
"Yes, sir!"
Excluding the Bureau Chief's office, there's the main structure through which the Bureau exercises its authority - the Secret Operations Office. This is the largest division of the Military Intelligence Bureau that mainly focuses on foreign espionage. Its agents are divided into those who handle ordinary spying and special covert operations. They usually disguise as embassy officials, military officials, merchants, bankers, courtesans and so on. From there on, they recruit spies, gather intelligence and pry into the other nation's military secrets and activities.
Under the Secret Operations Office are five divisions. They are the International Operations Department, National Internal Security Department, Staff Department, Service Management Department and the Special Operatives Training Department. Each department has basic authority over their own regional districts. Among them, the largest is the International Department and Internal Security Department, having subdivisions in practically all the sovereign nations of Westland. Under the Bureau, there is still the Mapping Division with the special assignment of exploring Persian, the Far Eastern lands, and the coastal areas of the Great land of Feru. These sub-bureaus and sub-divisions are mainly in charge of spying, intelligence, strategizing and leadership of the operation. These leaders mainly go through the external intelligence stations and substations set up by the Military Intelligence Bureau to carry them out, using the Empire's embassy and consulate as a cover.
The Internal Security Division is actually also an assembly of the sub-bureaus. It mainly conducts covert operations and counterintelligence activities, accomplishing all sorts of stealth operational deployments through the various operation branches in the guard's major respective regions established by the Military Intelligence Bureau.
The Staff Division is a functional division that resembles that of the military staff officers. Its main role is to supply manpower, physical resource, financial ability and intelligence support for the intelligence activities and paramilitary operations inside and outside the country, being directly responsible towards the Bureau Chief's office! One thing worth mentioning is this division possesses a few special mercenaries, assassination groups and other expertise needed when carrying out a mission.
The Service Management Division is essential as its main functions are to manage and protect. It manages the Military Intelligence personnel's essential needs, the expenses of various operational divisions, and arranges for legal and reasonable identities, creates false identifications, statements, and conditions that favor the military intelligence's activities for the operations agents. In other words, this division provides all the logistical support for the entire Secret Operations Office.
The Special Operatives Training Division is known in short as the Training Division. This is the fundamental place where agents of the Military Intelligence Bureau are molded. It is a training place for the intelligence personnel and special operatives recruited by the Bureau.
Finally, at long last, the last division! Ranked last in the military intelligence is the General Affairs Division. It includes two treasuries, three hospitals, four prisons, ten armories, and nineteen large warehouses. Aside from those, there are still the general headquarters of the guards, a map lab, a theory research lab, a historical staff lab, a secret code development lab, a wages accounting lab, a mail room, a military laundry division and... and a few churches.
"Why do we need churches?" the eyes of the Marshal of the Guards, His Highness Prince O'Neil Andrew Morisette, widened.
"Uhh..." Messier scratched his head. He actually felt that it didn't make much sense either. "The General Affairs Office's explanation is... some people are bound to be sacrificed in operations. We need to conduct a proper burial for the soldiers who fought bravely for the Empire in this secret field and similarly, we need to deal with the corpses of the enemies. You know, those working in the secret field usually have some mental stress and set up a relatively safe church to conduct a final farewell is necessary!"
"Ola! Indeed!" Oscar nodded with understanding. However, he was truly shocked by the rosters and various reports spread out over the office desk.
"What... What are these?"
Messier rolled his eyes, "Sir, as you can see, those are the compiled list of the recruits entering the Military Intelligence Bureau and the analysis report of the each country's military intelligence movements just completed today!"
Oscar picked them up mechanically. Although he learned information science back in Dulin Imperial Military Academy, having to manage this enormous intelligence organization was another matter.
"Ola Messier, let us be direct with each other!" Oscar snatched the military cap off his head in frustration. Things were too complicated and he had no idea where to begin.
"Should I be sitting here waiting for reports from you all, or should I personally oversee the daily operations of the Military Intelligence Bureau?"
Messier saluted respectfully, "Sir, your subordinate feels that... it should be the latter!"
Oscar finally felt limp. His mind was a sea of chaos and seemed to be unprepared for the job he was about to undertake!
The young Marshal of the Guards averted his head fretfully. He only had the time to assess the decorations of the office now. It was a massive room facing the sun with its floor to ceiling window beside the pinewood office desk open wide. Just as the prince perceived, the office wasn't much different compared to the study room of important figures. All the essentials were accounted for; two high-backed chairs for guests, a sofa to rest, a fireplace, a wine cabinet, bookshelves, a document case. The military flag of the guards and a golden lion flag were also displayed within the room, flanking the Bureau Chief's seat.
The room apparently also had two secret doors. Oscar was told that behind one of the secret doors was a confined sitting room while the other was a secret escape route that was used during emergencies.
"So... is there anything else that I don't know about?"
"Yes, sir!" Messier nodded in exasperation. His superior still had a lot of things he needs to know about, for instance...
"The staffing at the Military Intelligence Bureau's general headquarters is 554 people. Currently... there are 1291 employed staffs in each sub-bureau and sub-division. However, sir, all these information can be found on the roster. My bureau also comprises of a huge amount of secret agents with the initial statistics totaling to about three thousand people. They are distributed to every sovereign country and each province of our nation. Among these... there are 97 of them you should be familiar with and 201 that you must get acquainted with. As for those you must have met..."
"Okay, okay!" Oscar waved his hand, his eyes darting around with impatience. "I say... could it be that I don't even have a secretary? Do you expect me to handle this stack of work on the table all by myself?"
Messier tapped his forehead, "that's right Your Highness! I forgot to mention, the Bureau Chief's office has a specialized Secretarial Branch that serves you, with fourteen fixed members! You're the one who has the final say here. Every matter will naturally have to be reported to you and will only become an operationally effective official document after your comments. So... despite the Secretarial Branch being able to filter some of these out for you..."
"In other words, it's just for show right? Everything must be decided by me alone?" Oscar cut off his long-winded words in irritation.
Just when Baron Messier felt at a loss for what to do, there came a knock!
Oscar shouted for the person to enter, which in the end startled the person who was opening the door.
"My apologies sir, did something happen?" Count Hadley looked questioningly at the youngster who was sitting upright on the sofa.
"Haha, the person who can be of help to you has arrived!" Messier greeted him cordially and gestured towards him, "my Lord, allow me to introduce to you our Deputy Chief of the Bureau, Lieutenant General of the Guards, Count Tivoli Hadley. Before you were appointed, it was Wolly who took charge of the entire Bureau's daily work!"
The Deputy Bureau Chief of the Military Intelligence Bureau saluted the Marshal. Despite him being about thirty years old older than the youngster before him, this former deputy head of the Staff Department, known for his prudence and far-sightedness, was fully aware of the remarkable disparity between his superior's status and his own.
Oscar stood up to return the salute. He grasped the hand of the middle-aged men and felt the uninterrupted coarseness and strength of it. Two perceptions surfaced within the youngster; first was that this Deputy Bureau Chief Lieutenant General has definitely gone onto the battlefield and second, the grim uncle was absolutely a capable man.
"Sir, I represent all my colleagues in the Military Intelligence Bureau to welcome your arrival!"
"Thank you! You have worked hard this time around!" Oscar exclaimed with heartfelt admiration. He deeply admired those who could handle the whole stack of matter on the table.
"Ah... is there anything?"
Tivoli promptly opened the folder in his hands. One could tell that he indeed had the manner of a capable person. The deputy omitted all courtesy and compliments.
"I would like to inform you that there will be a convening of an operation meeting of the whole Bureau at two in the afternoon. The topic of the meeting mainly comprises of these three. First would be to recommend for you commanding officers and related people in charge of each department in the general headquarters. Second would be to discuss the work outline of the second and third quarter of the year. Third is to coordinate and unify deployments for the recent important intelligence and a concrete action plan, within the scope of the Bureau."
"Uhhh... uh..." Oscar glanced at the impassive deputy and shot another glance at the dejected head of the Military Intelligence Analysis Analysis Division, "Must... must I participate?"
"Of course!" Tivoli and Messier shouted in unison. This was the most important regular meeting of the Military Intelligence Bureau this year.
"Ola! Okay, very well! I will hurry back after my audience with His Majesty III!" Oscar nodded reluctantly, "if there isn't anything else, you may go about your business! I... I have to settle some of the work on hand!"
To cover up for his awkwardness, the young Marshal randomly picked up a document and read through it gingerly. However, the document was instantly snatched away by his Deputy Chief of Bureau!
"My apologies Marshal, which idiot was the one who sent the laundry list here?" Tivoli scrutinized the alien-like thing in annoyance.
Oscar's face turned scarlet. He felt a need to find a place to calm down and think things through.
"Attention!" following the shout from an officer, time appeared to have frozen in the hallway. All the Military Intelligence Officers who were shuttling to and fro became as stiff as a statue.
"At ease!" young Oscar who just strolled out of the Bureau Chief's Office was again startled. Once his subordinates resumed their normal activities, he leaned in towards his deputy Chief, Tivoli's ear.
"I shall call you Wolly! Tell them not to salute me whenever we cross paths. This will impede their work, moreover, it appears weird!"
The rigorous middle-aged man gave a knowing smile but instead shook his head at the Bureau Chief, "my Lord, your command must be issued down through the Secretarial Branch. Only after you and your Confidential Secretary have signed it, then can it be passed on to me or directly relayed to the related department!"
"But I don't have a Confidential Secretary! I have one at home though!" Oscar widened his eyes.
"No, that won't do! Choose one from the Secretarial Branch, they have the best secretaries among the guards!" Lieutenant General Wolly exclaimed while steering the youngster towards a huge room close to the Bureau Chief's Office.
"Attention!"
Oscar rolled his eyes and had no choice but to return the salute. He evaluated his Secretarial Branch, which didn't seem to have anything out of place aside from the more conspicuously enormous Westland Military Map set into the wall.
The young Marshal glanced at the map, then at his fourteen secretaries. He wanted to select the most excellent among them. However, it was not an easy task, especially under the circumstance when he didn't even know their names.
"Who can tell me... what is this place?" Oscar suddenly pointed towards a coordinate on the military map.
More than ten of the secretaries started flipping through the map manual on the office table and only one still had his head up.
"You, the one with the lowest rank! Can you tell me?"
"Yes Your Highness! That is an area extremely close to Cangala City of the Faran Kingdom's Kanai Province."
"Very good!" Oscar did a once over of the young First Lieutenant, "so... who can tell me... what is worth my attention in Cangala City of the Faran Kingdom's Kanai Province?"
The secretaries promptly started another round of cross-checking, but the young First Lieutenant still stood up straight with his head raised.
"Reporting, sir! The twenty-ninth Infantry Corps of the Faran Kingdom is stationed there. The eastern valley area of Cangala City is abundant in copper and to the north of the city, there's a racecourse used by the military."
"Only these?"
"Yes, sir! Just these!" the young officer replied decently.
Oscar gave a curt nod and his finger shifted to another position.
"Reporting, sir. That is Bouloreese Island that belongs to the Kingdom of West Percy. Stationed at the island are a Garrison Group and a small-sized fleet of the kingdom's military."
"What about here?" Oscar again shifted to another position.
"That is..." the officer carefully regarded the remote area. "Reporting, sir. That is an uninhabited region, but the Ollier's caravan and rangers frequent the place."
"Are you certain?"
"Certain sir!"
"Your name?"
"Reporting, sir. First Lieutenant of the Guards, Muktha Singh!"
"First Lieutenant Muktha Singh! Immediately transfer to the post of Confidential Secretary in the Bureau Chief's office! Record my commands!"
"Yes, sir!" Muktha didn't conceal his glee, scrabbling for his notebook and quill pen.
Oscar gave a slight smile. He has taken a liking to this man whose memory was phenomenal.
"In effect from the moment the command is announced, in the common areas of the Bureau office, saluting is prohibited! Repeat!"
"Yes, sir!" Muktha composed his face, "27th day of the 3rd month, the first command of the Military Intelligence Bureau's Chief, in the common areas of the Bureau office, saluting is prohibited!"
"Do you know who you should pass on this command to?" Oscar asked curiously.
"Reporting, sir. This command will be passed on to the whole Military Intelligence and the Special Coordination Division administrative office. After the administrative has verified it, then it will be passed to each office in the general headquarters."
"Very good! Very good!" Oscar nodded approvingly.
As he saw off the young prince whose carriage was gradually moving away into the distance, the Deputy Chief of the Military Intelligence Bureau, Lieutenant General Tivoli inadvertently took a deep breath.
"Mes, old friend! Honestly speaking, have you ever met a 23-year-old Marshal of the Guards? It's just insane! Has our Majesty Emperor gone mad?"
"You don't trust him?" Messier lifted his eyebrows.
"It's not that I don't trust him, but... you've also seen it! He has absolutely no idea what he's supposed to do here!" Lieutenant General Tivoli was apparently very frank in expressing his disappointment towards the new leader.
"It'd be okay if we just teach him what he has to do!" Messier gave a slight grin. He still had full confidence in young Oscar.
"May it be so!" Tivoli sighed. It was his first time resenting the Empire's status system. If the lad wasn't the Emperor's pet, his fiancé wasn't the Empire's Princess and if he didn't have the massive group of Narcissus Knights backing him, then he probably wouldn't even dream about climbing to his position today.
"Really! How could he have so coincidentally set his eyes on Muktha Singh?"
"Is there a problem?" Messier was slightly taken aback.
"Yes indeed! That Muktha is the sole commoner in the Secretarial Branch!" Tivoli scoffed with indignation.
"Wolly, don't be that way!" Messier patted his friend on the shoulder, "our Sir Chief of Bureau doesn't care about the army's internal family status. He will definitely give it to you for saying that!"
The deputy Bureau Chief tactfully remained silent. The prince's charming carriage already vanished on the avenue and the two officers of the Bureau strolled back to the building together.
***************
Oscar leaned against the carriage, bored. He seemed to be comparing the difference between his Marshal uniform and his father's.
"How does it feel?" Dortmund straightened his son's collar.
"Dreadful!" Oscar replied this father's question truthfully, "the Military Intelligence Bureau is like a huge theater. Everyone acted their own roles according to a script, but the only audience was me."
Marshal Andrew couldn't help but smile, "my child, don't be discouraged! You have just embarked on your career. You are viewing the problems from a high point and so what you see is the superficial appearance of things. Besides, the Military Intelligence Bureau can still operate without you; you only need to attain a firm grip on the larger decision making from your dominant position!"
"Father, you must come up with a plan for me! In the afternoon, I have to attend an important regular meeting. During that time, the people in charge of my subordinates will have their eyes fixed on me. You don't wish for them to regard me as a joke right?" Oscar sat upright and clung to his father's arm, like a child who was demanding for sweets.
"Oh, no... Oh God of Light! Just look at you! You can make your Marshal uniform appear as amusing as you please!" Dortmund threw unbridled mockery at his son. Perhaps even his father was unable to accept the reality of this Western culture that put Oscar on the same level as him.
"Child, I shall help you just this once!" Dortmund finally came to a compromise with his son, "during normal days, you should strive to understand the basic level departments and their operating methods. These departments are the main bulk that makes up the Military Intelligence Bureau. The intelligence and news you should be aware of are all obtained from the basic level departments. Only through familiarizing yourself with the operation at the basic level can you formulate effective plans and actions. And during the meeting... well, just take it easy. I can teach you an easy way out, that is, to only listen to the keywords of your subordinate's report. Then getting a grasp of the overall situation will be good enough. There isn't a need for you to hurry and make decisions. Isn't the Military Intelligence Bureau officially made up of over a thousand people? That means that there are over a thousand people as your brains. Unless you wish to exhaust yourself beyond reason, otherwise, why can't you consult the opinions of each department?"
Oscar nodded but didn't feel any relief.
"Father, Dulin is a little stifling, don't you think so?"
"Yes, I will leave right after your marriage with the Princess!"
"Ola! You intend to just leave me alone here?"
"Of course! This is your turf, you need to strive for yourself!" Dortmund patted his son on the shoulder, "child, this is the family's only option. Do not fret that we are leaving your side! This is the Emperor's will; otherwise, he would not have promoted you to the Marshal position. This position is just as it is written on the signboard hanging on the Military Intelligence's building, 'those unconcerned are prohibited from entering'!"
"Hehe!" the young prince laughed coldly. "There's another dirty little secret of Alfa III's urgency in letting me wield the Marshal sword!"
"Oh?" Dortmund gazed at him questioningly.
"He wants to support Alanis in competing with the Crown Prince!"
"Crown Prince?" a switch flipped in Dortmund's mind, "this means that... His Imperial Highness Lobble Alfa Morisette is merely a bait that is waiting to be slaughtered?"
"That's right! Only the annihilation of the Imperial Household's various branches of collateral relatives and the power of the foreign enemies who attempt to destroy the inheritance of the Imperial power would be able to establish a candidate in Alfa III's heart. I'm guessing that... Alanis stands a seventy percent chance of becoming Empress!"
O'Neil Andrew Morisette heaved a sigh. He knew that he had been placed at the forefront of the Imperial Household's fight.
"According to Alfa III's recent actions, the reason he wants me to have control over the Military Intelligence Bureau, is to pay special attention to the work in the counterintelligence field while Alan, who has broken away from the northern battlefield, will interfere internally by commencing a specific purge of the interest groups, huge bureaucrats, and nobles that come together!"
Dortmund shook his head, "I really couldn't tell that the political situation within the country would be this harsh!"
Oscar nodded in agreement, "Me too! I suspect that Alfa III's disbanding the House of Lords is to catalyze this dangerous atmosphere! Those nobles who fail to understand and are incomprehensibly ignorant will be angered and rise to oppose! They will definitely stir another political dispute against the Imperial Household and this will naturally be used by the Emperor as a new excuse to suppress them!"
Dortmund pondered a good while. He understood where the problem was in his line of thoughts! Andrew's usual manner of handling things has destined the family's basis of decision making to be capped by a limitation that was difficult to overcome. The Imperial Household's strategy was not against the Andrew Family, but against the various interest groups in the empire! The reason why Alfa III chose the Narcissus knights as the main force in dissolving the House of Lords on the 12th day of the 3rd month and suppressing the so-called Dulin Arson Incident that night was to eliminate the large interest class within the Empire, isolate the Andrews and split the local feudal lords apart.
With regards to the greatest domain of the Empire's political order, the Crown Prince candidate was admittedly the main issue. However, the truth was that the person seated on the throne of the Crown Prince was not the one that Alfa III had hoped for. The Imperial Household could borrow external enemy power and internal reactionaries to go against the Crown Prince and thus bring about a complete reshuffling of the political structure in the capital's upper stratum. After wiping out both of those borrowed strengths, Alfa III built up a completely new ruling order for his predetermined successor! It went without saying that... Alfa III was really not someone to be trifled with.
"This is the Emperor's own idea?" Dortmund was utterly bewildered.
"Absolutely not!" Oscar said with certainty. "As far as I know, matters of the military field are naturally completely under Alan's authority while the secret field will be taken care of by both Count Rudolf Hoss and I. As for the most crucial political strategy... I believe that the one who devised such a plan for the Emperor is absolutely not Kachev Drakas Ferdinand! I suspect that... there is a group of think tanks providing secret service to the Emperor!"
"Why do you have such a suspicion? Do you have proof?"
"Alanis has unintentionally mentioned it to me before. She even said that I was not equipped with the qualifications to be a part of that group!"
Dortmund plunged deep into thought, "I... may have figured it out! The Morisette Family that occupied the Imperial system for four hundred over years has a group of devoted protectors. They are the founding powers of the nation and there's a person from each generation who serves the Imperial Household! However, the era when this hypothesis took place is far too long ago! I kept thinking it was merely a legend! But it is undeniable that since the Imperial Household has an aristocratic family that they can't trust, for example, us Andrews, then there is definitely an influential family that it trusts! This I can guarantee! These huge influential families possess sufficient political influence and rallying power and it is them who were the Morisette Dynasty's political escort all the while! If the Emperor really does have a secret group of think tanks, then the most possible explanation is that these feudal lords and influential families are taking up the role of advisors!"
Oscar nodded, "there will soon be an answer to this. Isn't my wedding day almost upon us? I reckon that Alfa III will thoroughly lay his cards on the table for me before I become a true member of his family!"
"You brat! Straighten out your priorities!" Dortmund thumped his son on the head, despite him being a Marshal!
"Okay, okay! Andrew Haila! The family's interests far surpass everything else, don't worry! Alfa III is only the father of my wife. He is incomparable to you!"
Duke Andrew ducked his head away in anger. He was just a little uncomfortable, after all, his own son had to assume a name that was of no benefit to the family when he was socializing with others.
"You need to know how to look after yourself! Understand?"
"Yes!"
"You need to remember not to do anything foolish!"
"Understood!"
"You need to look after Sasha and Annie more!"
"This goes without saying!"
"You need to..."
"Father, are you not done yet?"
"Almost! Oh, that's right, don't put on that hateful arrogance of a young Marshal! People will ridicule you for it!"
"Father, talk about something else!"
"Yes, sir! When you're relieving yourself, take another step forward so that you don't wet your pants!"
"Father! Are you looking for a fight?"
***************
"If both of you wish to duel, get lost!" Alfa III's glared at both the white-bearded old Marshals in fury.
Robin Sparse drew in a few deep breaths and admitted that he indeed went a little too far in the act just now.
"Your Majesty, I'm judging the matter as it stands. The organizational structure and scale of the Military Intelligence Bureau are evident. Its role has to be limited by the Staff Department, otherwise, the expenditure it incurs and the various problems it stirs will be passed on to the Combat Department. The Combat Department isn't composed of those who come up with ideas. They are fighters and have no concept of restraints or limits. They..."
"That's enough!" Silver Fox Alan really couldn't stand the old man's endless pestering and even wondered whether Robin was possibly drunk!
"Sir Chief of Staff, I do not wish to discuss further the issue of the Military Intelligence Bureau's role because His Majesty Emperor is far clearer than you in this. I only want to ask you one question. The operation unit of the Military Intelligence Bureau is headed by the Combat Department and those secret agents are the most valuable war assets. If we do as you say, if your General Staff Headquarters were to take away the Intelligence Analysis Division, then wouldn't that be absolutely tearing apart the Military Intelligence Bureau?"
"Okay!" Alfa III suddenly waved his hand, "I've had enough of this! Absolutely enough! This is already the third time this week! Marshals, since both of you refuse to accept the opinions of the other, then would you care to listen to what an outsider has to say?"
Marshal Robin gave an unobtrusive snort while Silver Fox Alan's eyes darted over with vigilance.
Alfa III rapped on the armrest of the Emperor's throne, pleased.
"I have sought the opinion of Duke Andrew regarding the issue of the Military Intelligence Bureau's belonging. Can you both guess what Duke Andrew said? He said that a strong military group must specify the basic standard of collaboration to put an end to all forms of repeated combinations and the misuse of resources. He suggests to let the Military Intelligence Bureau stand alone, becoming the Imperial army's third-largest true collective power. So... what do you both think about this arrangement?"
Alan stood up abruptly and gaped at Alfa III and a protracted silence fell. He didn't believe that the Emperor couldn't tell that this was a trap set up by the Andrews and General Staff Headquarters, but he also knew that the Emperor would dive into the trap without a backward glance.
"Your Majesty!" the Silver Fox gritted his teeth and admitted that he has been caught unprepared by Robin Sparse this time.
"Shouldn't... Shouldn't we listen to His Highness Prince O'Neil's opinions?" Alan still refused to give up.
"There's no need!" Oscar's voice traveled out from the entrance of the palace.
"Your Majesty! Marshals! I need to accompany my fiancé for her fitting during noon. In the afternoon, there's a work meeting of the entire bureau and in the evening, I've hired a painter to do an oil painting of my bride-to-be and I. See, I really don't have time! So just follow His Majesty's arrangement for everything."
Alfa III greeted his son-in-law with excitement.
"Yes, yes! My young Oscar absolutely has no time!"
Silver Fox Alan took the opportunity to edge closer to his once defeated foe when the Emperor was embracing his son-in-law.
"Robin! You and your children are playing with fire!"
"Hehe, Alan! I have absolutely no idea of what you're saying!"