Chapter 127: Disguises and Deception
Although the MP series of submachine guns perfectly matched Barty Crouch's vision, there was a serious issue—the MP submachine gun was invented in 1917, a full fifteen years into the future.
Arthur could only describe the general design, appearance, and intended function of the submachine gun to the armaments factory. The rest would depend on the expertise of the factory's engineers.
To avoid delaying training, all personnel of the Royal Security Intelligence Bureau were temporarily trained using the Lee-Enfield rifle and were also required to become familiar with all current Australian weaponry, including artillery and machine guns.
To enhance their operational versatility, Barty Crouch also demanded that all members learn to drive automobiles and operate small naval vessels.
Indeed, with the mass production of new automobiles underway, the term "car" was becoming increasingly familiar to the Australian public.
Barty Crouch clearly recognized the potential of automobiles, which is why he insisted that all of his subordinates not only learn to drive but become highly proficient in doing so.
To that end, the Royal Security Intelligence Bureau made a special purchase of over a hundred cars from the Benz Motor Company. With one vehicle assigned to each trainee, they were able to practice extensively and quickly master the skills required to drive.
Barty Crouch's training methods were nothing short of brutal. The soldiers who had transferred from the Guards thought their previous training was already harsh—only to discover that the regimen at the Intelligence Bureau was even more unforgiving.
According to Barty Crouch, a person who could proficiently use various weapons and also master different forms of transportation—such as horse-drawn carriages, automobiles, boats, and small naval vessels—was merely qualified to enter the intelligence organization. Can you believe that?
Arthur even saw glimpses of modern-day special forces training methods in Barty Crouch's program. If tanks and airplanes had already been invented, Arthur suspected Crouch would have required his trainees to master those as well.
But Arthur welcomed this intensity. The more capable the intelligence agents, the more effective they would be at uncovering valuable information.
The Royal Security Intelligence Bureau served as Arthur's eyes not only in Australia but also throughout the world, making the ability of its members critically important.
Arthur had no intention of sending out agents who lacked the skills to complete their missions—people who might not only fail but also jeopardize the Bureau itself.
Due to Barty Crouch's rigorous training system, even though the Bureau had only a little over a hundred members, its monthly operating expenses were far from small, consuming several thousand or even tens of thousands of pounds.
Each intelligence agent cost several times more than a regular Guards soldier, but the training proved highly effective. In just two months, nearly all agents had mastered driving and become proficient with the Lee-Enfield rifle, the MA-96 Maxim machine gun, the CA-1 autocannon, and a host of other weapons.
September 3, 1902 – Sydney, Australia.
Just like the establishment of the Bureau, its first mission unfolded in silence. Almost the entire Bureau mobilized, splitting into teams of three or four. Each group boarded ships bound for various neighboring countries and regions. Eventually, at staggered times, they all arrived at their common destination—India.
Southern India.
Although it was already September, the tropical climate of southern India remained oppressively hot. The blistering sun scorched the earth, cracking the farmland and leaving those walking the roads dazed and drained.
Along a baking dirt road, three people who appeared to be refugees trudged under the punishing sun.
Their behavior stood out among the locals, but their white skin and British features kept the nearby Indians from saying anything.
"This damned weather. I'd bet anything it's not even half as comfortable here as Australia," one of the men muttered softly when no one was around.
"Shut up, Val. We're all enduring the same hellish heat. Don't forget what we're doing here—we're carrying out a mission assigned by His Grace the Duke," the team leader reminded him.
At the mention of Arthur's mission, Val promptly closed his mouth, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and continued walking in silence.
"We should be close by, right? Captain, according to that crude map we bought from Vasaka, the temple should only be a few kilometers away," said another team member, holding a wrinkled and haphazardly drawn map.
"Who knows? Just keep walking until we find that damned temple," the captain replied, shrugging helplessly at the poor quality of their map.
In fact, they had purchased the map from local villagers, claiming to be tourists looking for interesting destinations.
At this time, British tourists were still common in India, so no one questioned the intentions of these small, scattered groups—especially since they looked the part.
With thousands, even tens of thousands, of British tourists visiting India each year, the presence of the Royal Security Intelligence Bureau's hundred-plus agents didn't raise any red flags.
This was the Bureau's first mission since its formation, and Arthur placed great importance on it.
To ensure a flawless outcome, Barty Crouch decided to personally lead the operation, deploying the majority of the Bureau's members to complete Arthur's directive quickly and perfectly.
In truth, aside from Barty Crouch, none of the agents yet knew the exact details of their mission.
They only knew that their final destination was somewhere near a temple in southern India and that they were to conduct reconnaissance as quickly as possible.
To remain inconspicuous, Barty Crouch divided the agents into numerous small squads of three to four members and assigned a specific captain to each team.
Most of these squads were disguised as scientific expeditions, trade caravans, or—like Val's team—refugees fleeing disaster.
Regardless of their assumed identities, their objective was the same: to arrive safely and swiftly near the temple and gather intelligence on the surrounding area in the shortest time possible.
No one knew exactly what made the temple in southern India so significant that even the great Duke Arthur had personally ordered the Bureau to investigate.
But thanks to Barty Crouch's training, the agents didn't ask questions. Their one and only goal was to complete their mission quickly, effectively, and without drawing attention.
(End of Chapter)
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