The Price of Secrets

Theodora, the ministers of the Five Ministries, and I were gathered in the state council chamber. Having reviewed the proposal I drafted, the ministers began to speak up one by one.

"Your Grace, in these turbulent political ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠times, I am not entirely convinced that establishing such a department is truly necessary," Gaston, the Minister of Internal Affairs, spoke first.

"Indeed," Marcus, the Minister of Military Affairs, agreed. "The Empire's military strength has been severely depleted. To fill the void left by the Golden Knights, we must establish a new order of knights as soon as possible."

"Furthermore," Frank, the Minister of Finance, chimed in, "though we have managed to replenish the treasury's gold reserves by issuing bonds, our funds are still far from sufficient. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I must strongly oppose the creation of an inefficient department that demands such an astronomical budget!"

The Ministers of Internal Affairs, Military Affairs, and Finance had aligned to voice their fierce opposition to the establishment of the Information Department.

"I ask you to consider why our political situation became so turbulent in the first place," I countered calmly. "Did this not all happen because we failed to detect and prevent Valorang's treason beforehand? That failure is precisely why I am proposing this department."

"I acknowledge that our military strength has weakened. However, should we ever face armed conflict with rebel remnants or hostile foreign nations, the role of this department will be paramount. In some ways, it may prove to be a blade far sharper than any knightly order. Surely you of all people understand this, Minister Marcus? In war, intelligence on the enemy is the very foundation of victory."

"And to you, Minister Frank. While it is true that our current finances are unstable, the Empire possesses fertile lands, and our commerce, industry, and magical engineering are vast in scale. Furthermore, the Grand Duchy and I will firmly back this endeavor. The commercial intelligence gathered by the Information Department will be shared with the Empire's merchant guilds and banks, granting us a massive advantage in future trade."

I dismantled their arguments one by one. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, being originally from the Grand Duchy, naturally remained silent.

"Your Grace, even so, I find it hard to believe that this Information Department can truly execute such a monumental role," Gaston insisted.

"Do elaborate, Minister Gaston."

Gaston shifted his gaze cautiously before speaking. "As you know, almost every ministry handles some form of intelligence, not just Internal Affairs. Yet, such information is never easily obtained. Frankly, the idea of establishing a sweeping espionage network that spans foreign nations and the territories of independent lords—outside Her Majesty's direct ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠rule—seems utterly fantastical."

Gaston's point was valid. Perhaps because his background was in domestic security and internal affairs, he was acutely aware of the practical difficulties of intelligence gathering.

"I have given that matter a great deal of thought," I replied.

Though I hold the title of Grand Duke in this world, back on Earth, I was nothing more than an ordinary man. I didn't possess a precise, professional blueprint of how modern intelligence agencies gather and synthesize information. However, it was an undeniable fact that even on Earth, countless spies operated during the First and Second World Wars, managed by highly organized intelligence networks. Agrippa and I had spent a long time brainstorming how those historical agencies must have operated.

"First, we will deploy case officers to target regions to establish local networks. Their primary task will be integration—hosting frequent salons to mingle with local dignitaries, or winning the favor of the common folk by offering aid to the impoverished. For a more detailed breakdown, please look at this."

With those words, I handed them the blueprint I had prepared, detailing the structure of our proposed espionage network.

"Once they establish these connections, the gathered intelligence will be funneled back to the central Information Department for rigorous analysis. If further details or active operations are required, we will dispatch field agents to execute the mission. That is the basic operational cycle."

Victor, representing the Foreign Ministry, looked deeply troubled. "Pardon me, but... the role of these 'case officers' seems to overlap significantly with the duties of our diplomats. Is a separate position truly necessary?"

Diplomats were public officials dispatched for the sole purpose of fostering goodwill. While they naturally mingled with high society, they were also subjected to intense surveillance by their host nations. The intelligence they could gather was strictly limited. To bypass this, we needed operatives who could blend in as ordinary civilians.

"Yes, it is absolutely necessary," I replied. "As you know, diplomats are placed under heavy surveillance the moment they set foot in a foreign country. Operating covertly under such scrutiny is practically impossible. That is why we must establish the distinct role of a case officer."

Tasking diplomats with building clandestine networks in the shadows was a recipe for disaster. Furthermore, to root out the Demon Worshippers, our operatives would have to delve into far darker, more dangerous corners of society than any diplomat ever could.

"Consequently, the specialized training, necessary magical artifacts, and operational funds require a substantial investment. I have detailed the tentative budget on the following page."

Rustle. As the ministers turned the page, their faces collectively froze in sheer horror.

"Your Grace... this is far too much!"

I raised a hand to cut them off. "The Grand Duchy will personally cover half of the total expenditure. So, please, spare me the complaints."

Perhaps because the Grand Duchy had offered to shoulder half of this astronomical sum, the frantic atmosphere in the room settled slightly.

"Your Grace... with all due respect, I find it difficult to believe that the Grand Duchy can readily produce such a sum," Frank spoke up, breaking the tense silence.

"I have served in the imperial treasury for over twenty years," Frank continued. "I have a firm grasp of the tax revenues collected across the Empire and our overall gold reserves. No matter how fiscally sound the Grand Duchy may be, covering half of this budget should be an absolute impossibility."

Frank's assessment was incredibly sharp. Having managed the Empire's coffers for decades, he could easily estimate the limits of the Grand Duchy's treasury. And he wasn't wrong. Even with our current tax revenues, funding such an endeavor was impossible. Frank... you are indeed highly competent.

But while I praised him in my mind, Frank merely looked exhausted. He removed his spectacles, rubbed his tired eyes, and then looked up to lock gazes with me.

"Considering the Grand Duchy's gold reserves and annual tax revenue, paying this amount is mathematically impossible. Perhaps Your Grace intends to secure a loan from the Allied Kingdom, given that your maternal uncle rules there. But if you do, the Grand Duchy will face complete bankruptcy within five, or at most, ten years."

A heavy, suffocating silence descended upon the council chamber. Every eye in the room turned to gauge my reaction. Were they wondering how I would respond to a minister I had personally appointed flatly telling me my plans were impossible? Or did they think I would have Frank executed on the spot for his insolence?

But I have always appreciated competent people. And I appreciate those with the spine to speak their minds even more.

"Minister Frank," I said, a bright smile spreading across my face. "You make me incredibly glad that I chose you for this post."

"Your assessment is entirely correct. I am deeply impressed by your foresight. Having a loyal subject of your caliber is a true blessing for the Empire. However... you have overlooked one crucial detail."

I tried to break the heavy tension lingering in the air, but the atmosphere remained taut. Frank pushed his glasses back up his nose.

"And what might that be, Your Grace?"

"First of all, as you said, it would be impossible for me to borrow such a massive sum from my maternal family."

In truth, the cost of procuring magical artifacts, training specialized personnel, building the espionage network, and raising case officers and field agents required an astronomical budget. Even if I was their nephew, the royal family of the Allied Kingdom would never hand over such a fortune so easily.

"Then how do you intend to secure the funds?"

"Well, who knows? There is no need for me to spell it out just yet. Everyone in this room will find out in a few months anyway."

Frank nodded slowly at my response. "Even if you do secure the funds, maintaining the Empire's fiscal health will still be a tightrope walk. Based on the documents you provided, we must slash the budget allocated for artifacts and the training of agents and officers."

When Agrippa and I first drafted this plan, the budget was barely a tenth of what it was now. But I had refused to compromise on the quality of our agents, officers, and the magical artifacts that would support them. I kept adding more and more essential assets until the budget swelled to this astronomical figure.

"No, we cannot cut those corners," I replied firmly. "But this raises a rather interesting question. If the Grand Duchy is willing to shoulder half the burden, is the great Empire truly suggesting it cannot match the contribution of a mere vassal state? That sounds rather problematic, does it not?"

I threw down the gauntlet, provoking Frank, but he merely stared back at me with cool, unblinking eyes. Well... how will you answer? Just as the silent psychological warfare between us reached its peak—

"Grand Duke Deviang. You go too far." Her face flushed red, as if she had taken my provocation ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠personally, Theodora finally intervened.

"The Empire is, and always has been, wealthy. The Grand Duke has offered to pay half. Surely the Ministry of Finance is not suggesting it is incapable of matching that?"

"Your... Your Majesty, it is not a matter of capability," Frank stammered. "The sum required here is so immense that we may have to halt other vital state projects to fund it."

Theodora listened to Frank's plea before offering a compromise. "Then how about we proceed like this? Since the Grand Duke claims the Grand Duchy can secure a massive sum in a few months, let us verify that first before reconvening this council."

Frank nodded in agreement. "Very well, let us do so. I must admit, I am personally quite curious to see what kind of magic the Grand Duchy will perform to conjure up such vast wealth."

I offered him a knowing smile. "You will see soon enough."