Intelligence Department
Stepping out of the cold, damp dungeon filled with an atmosphere of despair and back into the upper levels of the castle where there was sunlight and fresh air, Karl finally felt the oppressive feeling in his chest ease slightly.
He had intended to go to the Lord's Hall for a detailed discussion, but as soon as he reached the door, he saw the servants still busily arranging the wedding decorations. The gorgeous silks and silverware shimmered in the light, creating a stark contrast to the scene in the dungeon just now.
He paused, then turned around, gestured to Richter and Brendan, and walked toward a small room next door used for filing documents.
The room was small, piled with some files, but quiet enough.
Karl closed the door, shutting out the outside noise, and his expression turned serious again.
He looked at his two capable subordinates and spoke in a deep voice, which was particularly clear in the small space:
"You've heard the situation yourselves. There are at least seven, maybe more. The Sauron's spies have infiltrated our territory under the guise of the refugee movement. They lurk like vipers, watching our every move. We can no longer afford to be passively attacked; we must take the initiative and drag these worms out!"
He looked sharply at Richter and announced an important decision with a decisive tone, "Therefore, I have decided to immediately establish a brand new Intelligence Department."
"Richter," Karl called out directly, "You will be in full charge of this department!"
Richter's body trembled slightly, and his eyes instantly flashed with disbelief and extreme longing.
He had been working hard in the military, but he did feel lost about his future.
In terms of strategic planning and command, Lord Karl himself is an unparalleled genius; in terms of daily troop training and discipline, he has a steady and reliable colleague like Brendan; in terms of personal bravery and charging into battle, Roland is already a powerful Second-Order Knight, shining brightly.
Even Lyon, who later distinguished himself through his cavalry command talent, found his place.
Only Richter seemed to lack an irreplaceable stage where he could fully showcase his talents.
At this moment, Lord Karl is actually entrusting him with a brand new and crucial domain! This is not only a sign of trust, but also an opportunity tailor-made for him!
His experience dealing with small groups of Sauron infiltrators on the border of Fran City, and the skills he honed through interrogating prisoners and gathering intelligence, finally found a purpose! The intense excitement and sense of mission made him almost tremble.
Without pausing, Karl clearly outlined the initial responsibilities of the Intelligence Department: "Your tasks mainly consist of two aspects. First, internal counter-espionage! Like this incident, you need to establish a network of eyes and ears to dig out all the spies who have infiltrated our ranks!"
"Second, espionage! We need to proactively gather intelligence from within the Sauron. We can't always wait for them to come to us before we know anything. Of course, at this stage, the conditions for espionage are not yet ripe. Your primary and core task is to sharpen the 'anti-espionage' knife for me! You will report directly to me on all related matters!"
"Yes, my Lord!" Richter suppressed his excitement, straightened his back, and said in a slightly hoarse but exceptionally firm voice, "I will do my utmost to live up to your trust! I will forge a sharp sword hidden in the shadows for you!"
"Very good!" Karl was satisfied with his attitude, but went straight to the core issue, "I know that we are just an empty shell right now, so I grant you the authority to secretly select from our existing refugees, the army, and even low-ranking civilian staff who you believe have the potential, are sufficiently loyal, and are meticulous."
"Remember, intelligence work values quality over quantity. In the beginning, select about ten people as the core team to build the framework. I need capable elites, not bureaucrats just there to fill quotas."
Hearing Karl so readily delegate authority and offer his full support, Richter's eyes flashed, and he almost immediately replied, "Excellent! Sir! Since you've allowed me to choose my own men, there's one person I want right now! It's that sentry Franz who discovered and captured the spy at Outpost No. 3!"
Upon hearing this, Karl was slightly taken aback, then a knowing smile appeared on his face. He hadn't expected Richter to react so quickly and with such a clear objective.
He didn't answer immediately, but instead turned to the Military Chief Brendan and asked, "Brendan, what is the current recruitment situation for our Main Corps?"
Brendan, fully aware of the situation, immediately reported smoothly, "My lord, the recruitment of new soldiers is progressing smoothly. To date, we have recruited and completed initial training for nine hundred qualified new soldiers, all of whom are strong, obedient young men. Moreover, the number of applicants remains high, and we expect that reaching the final strength of two thousand men will not be a problem."
Hearing this reassuring figure, Karl nodded and said, "Since we have a sufficient number of main force personnel, it shouldn't be a problem to give Franz, such a promising talent, to Richter's Intelligence Department, right?"
Although he was asking a question, his tone indicated that he was inclined to agree.
Brendan was a man who considered the bigger picture. Although he was somewhat reluctant to part with the talent he had just discovered, he readily agreed, "Of course, sir. Franz has shown exceptional talent in counter-espionage, and transferring him to the Intelligence Department would indeed allow him to play a greater role, but..."
He added, half-jokingly, but also with a hint of warning, "Richter, you'd better be more careful when you're selecting people in the future. Don't poach all the good prospects from our Main Corps. We need elite troops for our wars!"
Richter quickly assured him, "Commander Brendan, rest assured! I only need Franz. I'll find the others through other channels. Intelligence work is specialized; not all excellent soldiers are suitable."
"Hmm." Karl was satisfied with their attitude. He leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers lightly on the table, and said thoughtfully, "This Franz, I remember it was Tommy who initially recommended him. That Tommy kid has a good eye for people. I didn't expect him to be such a hidden gem, achieving one success after another."
But then he changed the subject, his tone becoming serious. "However, even rough gems need careful polishing, especially in critical positions like Intelligence Department where life and death are at stake. The demands on a person's character, loyalty, and ability are extremely high. Richter, bring him over tomorrow; I want to meet him in person and have a talk with him."
"Yes, sir! I will bring him to see you first thing tomorrow morning!" Richter replied respectfully.
Upon hearing Richter's words, Karl suddenly remembered something and abruptly changed his mind, saying, "Forget it... forget it, no need for tomorrow, I'll see him in a few days, after my wedding."
With the matter settled, Richter and Brendan bowed and took their leave to attend to their respective tasks.