Chapter 21: The Leak Incident


    When Paul returned to the hall, the officers were still engaged in a heated discussion about the next phase of the operation.


    He shouted angrily, Stop! Everyone stop!


    The crowd looked at him, puzzled. The Count had been out for a while; perhaps he was upset over his own invention of gunpowder.


    Our secrets have been exposed, and it infuriates me, the Count said resentfully. He then exaggeratedly described his encounter with the two clergymen, how they were suspicious and interrogative, and how he had to reluctantly justify his innocence.


    What? Those two men were too rude. They disregard their own lord just because they are clergymen?


    Count, you have the authority to expel them from your territory and have the bishopric send a more courteous priest.


    Thats strange. Father Anderson doesnt seem like that type of person. My house is near the church, and hes usually very kind.


    Yes, and I know Dean Leonard too. Hes a bit old-fashioned but a very decent person.


    Sir Schroeder mmed his hand on the table, and everyone immediately stopped talking and looked at him.


    Gentlemen, I think youre missing the point. The fact that a soldier, despite orders, disclosed military secrets to others, even if they are clergy, is worrying. Who can guarantee there are no corrupt individuals among religious figures? What if our secrets are traded with our enemies for some benefit? This is what the Count is worried about, right?


    Yes, exactly! You all you all Paul was deeply distressed,menting theck of vignce among his officers.


    The officers looked at each other, their faces flushed with embarrassment, filling the hall with an awkward silence.


    Finally, Bryce broke the silence: Sir, what should we do about this?


    What else can we do? We cant let this go unchecked. We must find out who leaked the information. Everyone who went to the church after the battle is a suspect. Its better to wrongly use a thousand than to miss one.


    Two dayster, the leaker was found, and a public trial was quickly convened to serve as a warning to all the soldiers and officers, drawing a red line in their minds.


    The dangers of leaking information are clearly stated in the confidentiality regtions Speaking carelessly is akin to disregarding the lives ofrades Even among clergy, there can be corrupt individuals


    The Count, in front of the entire army, lectured vehemently for two hours.


    Finally, he turned to the trembling leaker kneeling on the ground.


    Now, I sentence Seeing the leakers intense trembling, he hesitated, but ultimately couldnt bring himself to be too harsh, Considering this is the first urrence of such an incident, I sentence him to 10 years of hardbor. However, if such an incident happens again, I will definitely impose the death penalty by hanging. Mark my words.


    The officers and soldiers were deeply shaken by this, while the leaker, feeling like he had been granted a pardon, fervently thanked the Count for sparing his life.


    The leak incident served as a wake-up call for Paul Grayman. It was time to establish an intelligence agency, not just for military matters, but also for gathering political and economic intelligence as the territory developed. Additionally, it was necessary to safeguard their own secrets and prevent espionage from other powers.


    Paul summoned his most loyal and reliable butler, Philip, to discuss the establishment of an intelligence agency. To his surprise, the old butler expressed his inability to undertake such a significant role and rmended another person for the job.


    Paul was astonished: Cecil? I dont find him very reliable. I remember on the day I assumed the lordship, he remarked, Hes just a child; what does he know?


    Cant you see? He was just ying along with Bryce. Bryces performanceter intimidated those with ulterior motives.


    So it was a good cop, bad cop act.


    The Cecil family has served the Grayman family for generations. Before the relocation to the Northwest Bay, they were already with your ancestors. Old Cecil was the intelligence chief for your grandfather and had considerable expertise in espionage. Cecil learned many skills from his father, but after your father became the lord, he thought espionage unnecessary and assigned Cecil to manage the forestry.


    Oh? Pauls interest was piqued.


    Lets do this; call him over, and Ill see what hes like.


    That afternoon, Cecil, the forestry manager, arrived at the lords castle. Paul, after conversing with him, felt there were no issues. Perhaps Cecil had indeed been acting that day to assist Bryce.


    He then appointed Cecil as the intelligence chief of the territory and, until a suitable recement could be found, to continue as the forestry manager as well.


    Its hard work, but Ill double your sry.


    To serve you, my lord, is my duty; I dare notin of hardship. Cecil knelt on one knee, his previous sullen demeanor reced by solemn gravitas.


    Good, rise. Lets go to my study and discuss in detail how the work should proceed.


    In the study, Paul and Cecil meticulously nned the formation of the intelligence agency and the protection of the territorys secrets. Paul, unaware of the espionage techniques of this world, shared some ideas he had read in online novels from his previous life, and Cecil agreed to several measures:


    1. Secrets within the territory would be ssified into three levels: Confidential, Secret, and Top Secret. Top Secret pertains to the most vital secrets, the disclosure of which could cause especially severe damage to the territorys security and interests. Secret involves important secrets, the leak of which could result in significant damage, and Confidential includes general secrets whose exposure could cause harm.


    2. Individuals with ess to secrets would be categorized into three levels: core, significant, and general personnel. Core personnel can ess Top Secret, Secret, and Confidential information; significant personnel can ess Secret and Confidential, while general personnel can only ess Confidential.


    3. A dedicated agency, tentatively named the Bureau of Secrecy, would be established to manage secret matters, including ssifying the level of secrets and evaluating the level of personnel with ess to them.


    4. Even high-clearance personnel would not be allowed to ess lower-level secrets without relevant departmental authorization.


    5. A specialized code system would be developed for intelligence work.


    During the discussion, Paul learned that some of these measures had already existed in this world, and Cecil was amazed that a young man knew so much about them.


    Finally, Paul instructed that the immediate focus of intelligence work should be on gathering information about pirates, especially the Shark Gang, which had upied Port Fran. He nned to eradicate all pirates from his territory within three months to secure a maritime outlet.


    Cecil took a piece of parchment and meticulously recorded the details of the Counts instructions.