Chapter 160 - Plans for Groundwork
One afternoon, some of the senior members gathered in the intelligence room.
They were here to discuss the groundwork they were about to start.
As the discussion progressed, Josephine, the head of the room, spoke in her usual casual tone. "What should we do with the traitors? Should we take care of them now?"
Her calm demeanor was truly terrifying.
"Hey, are you talking about killing them? Sure, betrayal is unforgivable, but I don't think it's that serious, right?"
Even Gradena, the leader of the combat unit, seemed reluctant to take the lead. After all, these were people they had shared hardships with, even if they were traitors. It was natural to grow fond of someone you saw and talked to regularly.
In the past, I hadn’t informed Gradena about the traitors, but recently she had become capable enough to handle the responsibilities of an acting vice-commander. Given her new role, she needed to be in the loop. No point in holding back.
"Yeah, thanks to Ortlinde and the others, we've set things up so that the spies can be identified early. In practice, the damage has been minimal. In fact, the misinformation has even helped confuse the enemy," Siegrune added.
Indeed, the damage had been negligible, thanks to the exceptional work of our intelligence unit.
"So, should we just maintain the status quo?"
Hmm, what should we do?
In the Kikyo Society, traitors are a constant presence. We have an open recruitment policy, which means spies from other organizations sometimes infiltrate us directly. These cases can be classified as pure espionage, and we let them roam free, knowing who they are.
However, if their numbers get too high, it puts a strain on Ortlinde and the others. It might be a good idea to sweep them out now and then.
While we've been letting them run free for a while, there's a risk that we're seen as incompetent for not noticing them. I don't mind being underestimated, but I don't like being taken lightly.
For those who were coerced into becoming spies, our intelligence unit handles them on a case-by-case basis. No matter the reason, once someone betrays us, they can't just be let off. Depending on the nature of their betrayal, they might be quietly dismissed or turned into double agents. The intelligence unit handles these situations, and I don't get too involved. However, staying in the Kikyo Society will never be easy. While we consider the circumstances, the consequences of betrayal must be severe.
Maybe I'm being too lenient by not executing them outright. But as Siegrune and Gradena pointed out, the damage has been minimal. It’s not a matter of life and death.
The biggest problem is the members who unknowingly aid espionage.
For example, someone might accidentally leak secrets while chatting in a bar or while drunk. Or they might be tricked into it. The worst cases often involve romantic entanglements or admiration from fans. Friendships form, and conversations flow, which can be a goldmine for professional spies.
This is hard to prevent. Proper training during the apprenticeship is crucial, and regular refreshers are necessary even after becoming a full member.
In reality, it’s a tough issue. We all need to stay vigilant. No one should talk about internal matters externally.
Then there are those who betray us for selfish gain or out of delusion. These are sent straight to hell. No excuses, no mercy, no consideration for the damage done.
Unfortunately, such cases have occurred, even if rarely. I, as the president, took responsibility for the first such incident. It’s not something I can delegate. I won’t shirk my duty.
I don't intend to forgive anyone who betrays the Kikyo Society, my comrades, or our trust. We are a close-knit community, and such acts are particularly unforgivable.
I have empathy for my fellow members. I recognize contradictions and don’t intend to punish mistakes. I won’t get angry over minor damages. Within reason, humans make mistakes, and if the reasons are understandable, I might even forgive a betrayal.
But there are irredeemable fools who betray us for no good reason. They exist, and I can’t let that slide.
In summary, important secrets are known only to the senior members, who are trusted not to betray us. I’m not worried about those secrets leaking.
The problem is with less critical information. Just because it’s not important doesn’t mean it’s okay to blab about internal affairs. It’s a tricky issue. What’s trivial to us might be crucial to someone else.
"I’m against maintaining the status quo. We’re here to discuss the reorganization of the Kikyo Society, aren’t we? I think we should take a clear stance now. We need to send a clear message to our enemies."
Frederica had a strong opinion.
"I understand, but are you suggesting we kill everyone? If it comes to that, I’m prepared to do my part, but think of the young members."
"We may be a rough bunch, but we’ve formed bonds. Even the spies have some camaraderie. Killing many of them will cause unrest, especially with so many new members."
I knew it would be difficult, but this was the price of inaction.
"What do you think, Yukari-san?"
Hmm, this is tough.
"True, everyone’s opinion has merit. I understand the urge to purge or send a message, but mass executions seem excessive. Many of the young members have formed friendships with the spies. Overkill will only make them wary."
Sometimes, a show of strength is necessary, but it’s not what the Kikyo Society needs now. We have many new members and apprentices. We don’t want to scare them. We’re not about ruling through fear.
"I didn’t mean to suggest mass executions..."
"Sorry, I got ahead of myself."
We were the ones getting carried away.
"So, what should we do? The spies are actually useful to us, after all."
They spread misinformation, causing confusion among our enemies. That’s true.
"Are we back to square one?"
"No, I think we’ve reached a consensus. The spies are useful, but we also need to send a clear message. The question is how to do that."
The vice-commander and the head of operations agreed. I had no objections.
"Don’t ask me to figure out the hard part."
This is when the brainiacs like Josephine and Frederica come in.
We looked at them expectantly.
After exchanging glances, Josephine started to lay out her idea.
"Here’s a proposal: We’re planning to reorganize soon. The details will be discussed later, but what if we gather all the spies into one unit?"
"That’s a good idea. Currently, even spies from different organizations don’t know each other’s true identities. However, anyone skilled enough to be a spy will notice something off."
"Exactly. They’ll start wondering, ‘Is that person a spy too?’ and ‘Is this whole unit made up of spies?’ A competent spy will realize the truth and panic."
Josephine and Frederica built on each other’s ideas. It was an interesting approach.
"So, what happens then?"
"A unit composed entirely of spies can’t happen by chance. The spies will figure out it’s a setup. They’ll report this to their employers and try to escape."
We’re not known for being soft. Any member who’s been around long enough knows what happens to traitors. The spies will run. They can’t stay and pretend to be oblivious.
"So, we’re just letting them go?"
"Yes, that’s the plan. Forming a spy unit is only possible if everyone involved knows it’s a trap. It’s a clear enough message."
"They’ll tell their employers, ‘We were found out, and it was a waste of time.’ They might also think, ‘If the Kikyo Society is this thorough, what will happen if we push further?’"
It’s a complex plan, but it makes sense.
"Will it work that smoothly?"
"They’re the type to overthink things. It’ll be fine."
Alright, the plan is set.
The special unit of spies will be so obviously a trap that they’ll have no choice but to escape. They’ll suspect it’s a setup and will likely report back to their employers. It’s a clever move.
We’ll also decide the fate of the double agents. Some will continue their roles, while others will be demobilized. The intelligence unit will handle these decisions.
We won’t dismiss all the spies. Some will remain, but the majority will be let go. We’ll make sure they leave without taking anything valuable with them, especially the special Kikyo Society coats.
We’ll let them escape this time, but we won’t allow them to take anything useful. We need to make it clear that they can’t leave with our equipment.
This will require careful monitoring. The intelligence unit will keep a close eye on them and intervene if necessary.
It’s a lot of work, but it’s necessary for the reorganization of the Kikyo Society. We can’t build on a shaky foundation.
Deciding what to do with traitors is crucial. Our reorganization has been a long time coming.
As our numbers grow, so does the need for more teams and leaders. The roles will diversify, and we’ll need more leaders.
It’s impossible for a few of us to manage everything. We need to restructure to keep up with our growth.
The Kikyo Society is at a turning point. I’m not afraid of change. I’ll think and act boldly.
The Kikyo Society’s leadership is strong. They understand me and support my vision.
With their help, we can overcome any challenge. This is our strength and our purpose as an organization.
I’ve made my decision. I’ll push through with it, no matter what.
Change can be scary. What if things get worse? What if there are unforeseen consequences? What if someone is unhappy with the changes?
But I won’t let those fears stop me. We will overcome any obstacle and move forward. This is our commitment. Together, we can achieve the impossible.
I’m ready to face this reorganization head-on.
This was a discussion we touched on before, but today we focused on how to handle traitors and spies. It will lead to the organizational restructure we’ve been planning.
Next time: "Kikyo Society, Reconstructed."