The General indeed detested the dogs of the Third Bureau, but he never underestimated them.
Since the establishment of the Third Bureau, more than a handful of regional governors have fallen at their hands, and most of the gendarmerie that overthrew these governors were not of Hestingov's rank.
Arthur, armed with information received from Gogol, asked first, "My lord, logically speaking, having someone like you serve as an Imperial Envoy is truly overkill. Investigating the history of Pugachev's rebellion is something that even a minor clerk in the Home Office could handle. Why trouble you with such a task?"
Balakov glanced at Arthur, removed his gloves, and said, "I am a soldier; a soldier must obey orders. It was a direct order from the Duke Inspector Korsakov of Zaporozhye, passed through the Home Office, to have me investigate Pugachev's rebellion history. The order is in my suitcase; do I need to show it to you?"
