Hospitals and Intelligence

Victor hadn't even noticed Orlando's arrival and was quite curious. "When did you get here? I didn't see you earlier!"

"I've been here since you brought Supervisor Weber back. There were so many people earlier, you probably didn't notice me!"

Orlando said calmly, seemingly unconcerned that Victor hadn't noticed him.

Since becoming the head of the Intelligence Department, he has become increasingly low-key and his presence has become increasingly inconspicuous.

Victor was also curious about how Orlando managed to do it, but when he asked Orlando, Orlando himself couldn't explain it. Moreover, there wasn't anything particularly special about his faint presence; Victor could still detect his presence as long as he activated his Supernatural Perception.

Are you here to see Weber?

I remember your funding for this year has already been approved?

Orlando's Intelligence Department has certain unique characteristics, so they have two sources of funding. One is special funds from the territory's Finance Department, which also require advance budgeting and year-end review. The other is funds allocated to them by Victor in the name of the Lord's Mansion. These funds are not subject to review and are much easier to use.

However, Victor remembered that the Intelligence Department's funding had already been allocated at the beginning of the year, and he wondered what Orlando had come to the Finance Department for today.

However, Orlando quickly replied, "Marquis Excellency, I'm not here for the Finance Department; I'm here to see Deputy Director Stanchiu."

Victor became even more curious. Why would the Intelligence Department need the medical system? They couldn't possibly equip their operations teams with doctors, could they? That would be quite unnecessary.

Just then, Stanchiu came out of the Finance Department and saw Victor and Orlando chatting outside the door, so he walked over.

"Marquis lord, I've finished dealing with things here. The money will be sent to the Medical Department. I need to head back now!"

"Stanchiu, wait a minute!"

This is the Orlando director, the head of the Intelligence Department; he needs to speak with you!

Stanchiu was momentarily stunned; he couldn't understand what kind of relationship their Medical Department had with the Intelligence Department.

To their surprise, Orlando didn't immediately answer their questions. Instead, he used the excuse of too many people talking to leave as an excuse to take Victor and Stanchiu away!

The group went directly to Victor's Ducal House, and only after Orlando closed the door did he reveal the reason for their visit to Stanchiu.

Victor's voice was full of surprise. "You mean you want to use the Medical Department's outpatient hospital to monitor nobles and merchants who come to the territory for treatment, and gather some intelligence that is useful to the territory!"

Victor hadn't expected Orlando to do this, but after careful analysis, he realized it could indeed be helpful for intelligence work in the territory.

As for how to achieve this, Orlando also gave his preliminary plan: install eavesdropping devices directly inside the hospital and send skilled people to infiltrate among the hospital's servants and medical staff to spy on the nobles and merchants.

"We plan to embed metal pipes in the walls, with the pipe openings connecting to each ward, and then connect the other end of the pipes to the basement of the hospital that receives patients, to establish an intelligence aggregation center."

As for the intelligence agents hidden among the staff, they would work normally until they heard valuable intelligence, at which point they would record it and hand it over to the intelligence aggregation center.

..."

From Victor's perspective, Orlando's plan is highly complete, and if it can be successfully launched, it will indeed be a powerful supplement to the territory's Intelligence Department.

However, considering that the external hospital is likely to be the cash cow for the Medical Department, Victor also has to take the feelings of the Medical Department into account.

He turned his gaze directly to Stanchiu, and thankfully, Stanchiu did not have any aversion to Orlando's actions; on the contrary, he appreciated the work of Orlando and the Intelligence Department.

"I see no problem at all. As long as it benefits the territory, our Medical Department is willing to cooperate with the Intelligence Department, that's all..."

Stanchiu paused abruptly at this point, and Victor and Orlando both became more alert, wanting to see what he was going to say next.

"After all, it involves the renovation of the hospital and the deployment of personnel from the Intelligence Department, which requires some additional expenditures. If possible, I would like to apply for some more funding for the Medical Department. I hope Your Lordship will approve it!"

Victor thought it was something serious; it wasn't a difficult matter. He was actually prepared to give the Finance Department another order to allocate some money to the Medical Department from the contingency budget.

However, Orlando stopped Victor, "Sir, since this was a proposal initiated by our department, there's no need for the Finance Department to cover the cost. Let's use our other funding channel; that way, it will be easier to conceal this intelligence line."

Victor agreed, finding it quite reasonable. If they went through the Finance Department, the money and investments would likely face year-end audits, just as Orlando had said, which would make it difficult to keep the secret.

Anyway, that money was allocated to the Intelligence Department by Victor in the name of the lord, so they can spend it however they want!

Now that the money issue was resolved, Stanchiu had no more worries. He discussed it briefly with Orlando and then left Victor's Ducal House.

After Stanchiu left, Victor decided to find out about the current situation of the Intelligence Department and asked Orlando to give a brief report.

Orlando, as expected of the head of the Intelligence Department, was fully aware of the recent work of the Intelligence Department, even though the incident was sudden, and could recite any data off the top of his head.

"Currently, we have reorganized several intelligence points in the Vela Region, including branch stations in several major cities such as Silver Maple City, Blackwater City, and Sunset City, with at least one action team; and we have also selected special intelligence personnel to investigate all the major noble territories in the Vela Region, and established intelligence stations with at least two people per team."

Even in the south and west, where intelligence capabilities were originally virtually nonexistent, we have established intelligence outposts, forming an intelligence network consisting of 6 intelligence substations and 17 intelligence outposts. It can be said that we have completed the full intelligence deployment of the entire Vela Region.

Currently, we compile an intelligence summary report each month and submit it to the Lord's Mansion for your reference!

If there is any urgent intelligence, it will be sent to the Lord's Mansion immediately for your decision!

However, a problem has also emerged: our intelligence system is still large but incomplete, and the territories of many minor nobles are still intelligence deserts for us!

Therefore, our next plan is to expand our intelligence system to every corner of the Vela Region, which is not difficult for us to achieve.

After all, since the end of the Civil War, the Golden Sunflower Family's caravans have gained the right to move freely throughout the Vela Region!

Furthermore, two task forces have been dispatched to the mainland of the Raine Kingdom and the territory of the East Sea Alliance, and they will provide us with useful intelligence in the future.

..."

"Very good, Orlando, you did a great job!"

"If the Intelligence Department needs anything, they can contact me directly!"

Victor was very satisfied with Orlando and the Intelligence Department's work; they had done a great job, much better than he had ever seen before, which was why he said that.

Orlando then made a request. "Sir, I would like to establish a training institution under the Intelligence Department, whether it's a school or a temporary class. We are becoming increasingly short-handed, and we hope to supplement our manpower in a more efficient way."

The teachers can be staffed by personnel from our Intelligence Department, and we have ample funding for the school. My question is, could you please offer some advice regarding the students?

Originally, many of our department's personnel came directly from the military, but after many rounds of screening, there are fewer and fewer people within the military suitable for this job. We must seek more fresh blood!

Victor: "You're right!"

Alright, I will soon establish a number of schools in the territory to promote primary education. At present, the students will mainly be Freemen and military dependents.

I'm giving you the authority to directly select people from the serfs, and you can arrange their training yourselves.

However, you must remember that even the sons of serfs are not people you can sacrifice at will. You must be careful to save their lives as much as possible, and if they are not suitable, you can let them go back."

Orlando naturally thought it was no problem, after all, Victor had already agreed to his request, so this small request was nothing!

Orlando left satisfied. Although the Intelligence Department would be very busy, he felt highly motivated. Once he completed the construction of his planned intelligence system, the Intelligence Department's importance would be significantly greater.

Victor stayed in the room processing documents, mostly routine work, Victor simply skimmed through.

It wasn't until Victor came across a document from the army that he began to read it carefully, and his expression became somewhat serious afterward.

"It seems the size of the army needs to be further reduced. Let's simply establish a number of settlements for retired soldiers and militiamen on the border and in the next area to be developed. Everyone can receive a border settlement allowance!"

We can't just let them go back to agriculture like this; we must find a way to organize these retired soldiers to continue contributing to the region.

After all, they are veterans who experienced the Civil War; it would be such a waste to let them go to waste!

Without hesitation, Victor drafted an order and plan, which he then sent to the General Staff for refinement.