President Franklin D. Roosevelt frowns as he looks at his Chief of Staff, William D. Leahy. "Are you pulling my disabled leg here, William?" Roosevelt asked with clear disbelief. "You're telling me that despite all of the resources we have poured into the region so far, we're still hopelessly in the dark about what the fuck happened in the Atlantic? Battleships didn't just sink out of the blue, William, there's an expensive process for that to happen and you're here, saying that your best intelligence is in the form of news channels?"

Acting non-flustered, the Chief of Staff replies. "They're what we have readily available."

The POTUS just stares at him for a long time before saying. "Seriously, William, what the fuck? Not a single soul turned out to be useful. We couldn't even get a shred of credible military intel of that supposedly Bismarck?"

"At much as I wanted to say otherwise, Frank, you're asking for the damn impossible from my staff. To put it mildly, anything involving Belka is information Hell, and from the races we have over there? That's Hell quite literally." William stated with his hands raised.

Roosevelt scoffed. "Surely it couldn't be worse than the sinkhole that is Japan." He then added. "At the very least, you could have gotten a snapshot of a blueprint or something?"

The Chief of Staff just shrugs. It's at this point that Roosevelt further reinforces the notion that the military is incompetent. Pulling out a bottle of whisky from a storage container, Roosevelt pours both himself and William a glass. "That bad, huh?"

William nods while taking the offered glass. "That bad, Frank. Truthfully, I've even reached out to the farthest depth I could possibly reach. And do you want to know what I've seen there? Absolute terror whenever a private agent, talented or not, was offered the job of spying on Belka. Apparently, spies of other powers, including our own, just mysteriously disappear whenever Belka is their objective. And I won't lie, I've lost good men and women over there without knowing as to why."

Roosevelt nods grimly. "If people just keep disappearing like that, I guess it's understandable why they're scared."

William downs his glass before saying with a smack of his lips. "Frankly, I don't see how I can offer more for you with the means I have available. If you want me to get you what's next on the Royal Navy's schedule, sure, I would probably be able to do that. But Belka? That's way over my head. It will just be a deeper grave if we keep digging."

"Damn it, and here I am awfully curious." Roosevelt drinks from his glass before saying. "I guess we have more to improve than just building more carriers and warships."

"I'm surprised you still going through with getting more carriers down the slipway." William commented on the POTUS' words.

"It means that I am very convinced by your words on their power projection capability and cost-to-result." Roosevelt nodded.

"Then I guess you can trust me on this next one." The Chief of Staff said. "As you have seen from my recent failed venture with Belka, it has come to my attention that I've met my match in the military intelligence department. Hence, I must ask you to aid me in the endeavor if we are to ever get a lead on this elusive nation. More funding, more manpower... Whatever I need to help me get the answers you need. I need something to handle their counter-intelligence." William emphasized the last sentence.

Roosevelt mulls over the words of the Chief of Staff for a bit. Currently, the United States doesn't have a dedicated intelligence-gathering branch, weirdly enough, despite evidence that Erusean and Belka have their respective agency. This is all because of one word, money. Due to his priority in recovering from recent economic downfalls and restructuring the US military, Roosevelt paid little attention to understanding his overseas counterparts. Hence the subsequent minimal resource allocation to the intelligence team under the Chief of Staff, and even that was formed over a dining table instead of an office room.

But from the recent development in the Atlantic, Roosevelt has come to a dreadful and sudden realization: Information warfare. A new type of warfare that is dominated solely by none other than the Belkan Reich. Now the POTUS is not savvy enough to delve into the matter of intrigues, but he is politically knowledgeable enough to know that you can't contend against an opponent you don't understand. Belka is one such opponent.

For all he knows, Roosevelt is wasting money on fitting his military for a threat that is perfectly able to counter their upgrades. It's why they need to learn what cards Belka is holding to plan ahead, and unfortunately, have failed to do so. There's also the fact that if the Reich already had such a powerful counter-intelligence capability, what say they couldn't spy on other countries with their skillset? It's such a chilling notion that he may have to check his back every now and then.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

Understandably, Roosevelt comes to the conclusion that he must turn the situation around. America can't stay passive forever. "William, I will see to it that you will get the money, the resources, and the team you need. That I can guarantee so better think up a good name because I will be needing more than just answers when everything is said and done."

The Chief of Staff nods, thinking up a name nearly instantly. "How does the Office of Strategic Services sound?"

---------------------------------------------------------------

"Utterly outstanding!" Emperor Cao Long gleefully laughed while watching an unredacted recording of the Hunt for Bismarck in the Belkan Embassy in Beijing. Cao Long, alongside his retinue of only General Liu, is one of the very few overseas partners that Belka is keen on sharing this information with. This is mainly to further reinforce Belka's position in their foreign partners, an under-the-table way to say: 'You stick with us and we all win, or else.'

This dissemination of unredacted military intelligence can come in many shapes and forms, but currently, it's nothing more than an exciting naval action recap that Cao Long is showing a vested interest. "Can you believe that, old friend? Just a single, mighty salvo from the Bismarck is enough to bring the Royal Navy's newest battleship to her knee! Imagine what the Reichsmarine would be able to achieve with an entire fleet of them! They would no doubt dominate the Seven Seas in a heartbeat!"

General Liu, although his demeanor doesn't show it much, he too is feeling both impressed and scared by the firepower the Belkan vessel possesses. "Emperor, if I dare a presumption, I don't think the Belkan is fielding 380mm. I may not be a proper seaman, but I have watched enough 380mm guns fired to know that the Bismarck is fielding something much more powerful."

Emperor Cao Long just waves his hand. "Bah! So what if they have a bigger gun than our fielded battlecruisers and upcoming battleships? While it's envious that we don't have the biggest guns purchased, I am more than content with what they're willing to give us at a dirt-cheap price. And they're the ones dedicating their shipyards to craft us new vessels too. You can't, in good conscience, ask more than that."

"Best maintain and improve on our already stellar relationship and not asking too much. I see your wisdom, Emperor." General Liu agreed wholeheartedly.

Cao Long nods, slinking back into the comfiest chair he has ever sat on. He even goes out a limb and says that it's even better than the throne room. "Gotta ask the embassy here to give me one of these." He muttered while dining on a snack bowl the embassy staff prepared for them.

Heck, they furnished this specific room to be even grander than the Forbidden Palace and Cao Long can swear that there, by the corner, is an authentic military sword from the Warring States period on a display pedestal, backed by a set of armor his old army used to wear. Granted, Cao Long knows where to get them himself, though it's just surprising to see a European country so committed to accommodating their clearly lesser ally. Hell, Cao Long would find it weird doing the same, even though he would do it anyway if it serves his purposes. But from what he can see, Belka treats their allies with proper respect. As long as both sides respect each other that is.

Cao Long can very much get behind that without any issues. He has seen the world enough to treasure this precious ally he has in this tumultuous time. Thus, Cao Long speaks. "Three years ago, I wouldn't even dare to dream that our fledgling Navy would be able to do anything more than guarding a few fishing boats. But now, look at us, an Army and Air Force strong enough to keep the Japs in their place. And up-and-coming fleets strong enough to maintain our sovereignty on the sea. It's not just the Japanese, but even the Rusviets are wary of us now."

"And Emperor, please don't forget the fact that you have been able to clean out your court of unwanted elements. We have also been able to kick the threat displayed by the Republicans a notch. We will soon be able to eliminate their influence on the populace." General Liu added.

Emperor Cao Long smiles, all too pleased with the direction China is developing. "Military, diplomatically, economically... Belka, or to be more specific, the Reich Marshal herself has aided us at every turn. All so that one day, we, the Chinese people, will be able to stand against the foe that is the Japanese on our own two feet. It will be remiss of us if we stumble on the way to ensure that possibility turns into a reality."

Hearing that, General Liu can't help but ask. "Emperor, must I reiterate to you that the end result of this confrontation will be detrimental, not just to Japan, but also to your Dynasty?"

Cao Long just nods while linking his fingers with his elbows resting on the armrest. "I very well know that, old friend. And while the old me would have been crossed with that notion, the current me isn't aversed by such a development. After all," Cao Long smirks. "I heard that my daughter has taken a liking to the younger sister of the Marshal. From what my dear wife has told me, Mei is obviously taken by her best friend, Ningyo, romantically, she just doesn't know it yet. Ah... Young love is precious indeed."

Stopping for a bit, as if mulling over his choices of words, Cao Long then says. "Although I have... questions about such delicate matters apparently, it isn't uncommon for two females in Belka to birth biologically-related children thanks to magic."

General Liu immediately looks at Cao Long as if he has grown a second head. In a breach of conduct, Liu comments. "I don't think we are drunk enough to talk about this matter, Cao Cao."

Cao Long barks out a laugh. "Hahaha~! That's true, isn't it? But my mind is clear. Between the Japs and the Belkans, I will obviously pick the latter to one day unite both our people into one singular whole. With their policies, Belka will treat our citizens right. And I know that the Reich Marshal will ensure such a possibility will come to pass. Just consider it an evolution from the Long Dynasty, a relic of an age long gone, into a United Belkan Reich, the next step towards the stars."

General Liu sighs but eventually replies. "It saddens me to hear it from the Emperor himself, but I can see where you're coming from. One can say that we're very lucky that our Dynasty is even given the chance for such a transition. A bit forceful though, with Belka assimilating us ever so slowly so far, but it's not an unwelcome one at the end of the day, huh?"

Cao Long nods, suddenly finding himself eating a mouthful of fries. Swallowing just enough, the Emperor adds. "What can I say, our Ancestors are smiling down on us. Quite literally considering that some of the deities are still alive in Belka. But none of that would matter if our country can't stand against the Japanese tyranny."

"Belka needs time, old friend. Time to complete their revolution in the West before they ever dared to make big waves in the East. The time that we will, no, we must buy for them or we risk losing our very roots in the hands of the Japanese." Cao Long ended on a serious note.