Joseph cast Robert a meaningful glance.
Randale had originally been an official responsible for palace security. How could he possibly have informants planted in the Intelligence Bureau? This had to be the Secret Police's infiltration of the Intelligence Bureau.
Yet sometimes this kind of infighting had its positive side, as with the matter at hand.
Robert continued, "Although Randale could not access the Intelligence Bureau's files, he judged from the current situation that the Intelligence Bureau should not have been conducting any large-scale operation along the Austrian border."
Joseph nodded slightly.
The Intelligence Bureau indeed had no such mission on the surface.
Its entire annual budget was only 1.7 million francs. This single operation had swallowed nearly a tenth of that. There was no way it could have gone unreported to him.
Robert opened the second document. "Your Highness, these are some irregularities concerning the Udine garrison, from a report submitted by Major Yebor. The garrison rotation took place more than three months ahead of schedule. It was originally supposed to be relieved by the Montpellier Legion, but for some unknown reason, it was replaced by the Corsican Legion.
"Furthermore, colonel Desaix, the legion's temporary commander, transferred large quantities of logistical supplies from Mantua Fortress to Udine in three batches. The amount far exceeded what the garrison required." He pulled several copied notes from beneath the documents. "Only one batch was transferred through proper procedures. The other two were 'borrowed' on a temporary basis through his personal influence in Mantua."
After the war in Northern Italy ended, the Mediterranean Security Organization had "authorized" France to station two thousand troops at Mantua Fortress and five thousand at Udine on the Venetian border, guarding against a possible Austrian invasion of Italy.
Well, both places were strategic strongholds in Northern Italy. Other than