Alexei had to wait a few more days before he could learn the outcome of the letters he had ordered to be sent. He found himself rubbing his temples at his own oversight; he couldn't go to the Okhrana office as soon as he wanted, as his schedule had already been set. Worse still, he couldn't come up with a plausible reason to visit without arousing suspicion or disrupting his already packed routine.
As a result, he could only wait for a few days while repeatedly warning his minions to remain vigilant. With secret hideouts prepared and their training, he hoped it would be enough to protect them and let them escape in case their plan turned south.
Fortunately, nothing happened, and the day finally came when he could visit the Okhrana.
—--
December 19, 1906
"What's new this week, Lieutenant Orlov?" Alexei asked his guide in the records department the moment he entered his office.
"Nothing much, your highness. There's some development in the gangs in the city but nothing major." Lieutenant Orlov answered attentively to his new superior.
"Hm… It's new if something happened, Lieutenant, and that's what I asked for. Come now, walk me through it." Alexei sat down in his chair behind the desk and flashed the lieutenant a faint smile.
Lieutenant Orlov broke into a sweat as he realized he couldn't recall the details of last week's report. He had thought it unimportant, something the Tsarevich would never ask about. Oh, how wrong he had been. After a moment, he cleared his throat. "May I step out for a moment, Your Highness? I'll retrieve the report on last week's developments. It will be quick, I promise."
Alexei waved a hand dismissively. "No worries, Lieutenant. I only hope you'll be more attentive next time. I came here to learn, remember? And I intend to learn everything I can while I'm here, not just about indexing and storing records in the vault, but about everything happening within my authorized level."
Lieutenant Orlov wiped the sweat from his forehead and nodded. "That's very commendable, Your Highness. I admire your dedication. Please excuse me while I fetch the records." He bowed slightly and hurried out of the room.
Alexei let out a quiet sigh. He hoped that within those reports lay their decision regarding his gang's planned attack on the ratcatcher's.
"Your Highness, here's your tea," Lieutenant Sokolov said as he handed Alexei the blend he preferred.
"Thank you." Alexei accepted it and blew on it a few times before taking his first sip. The warmth gradually spread through his body.
After setting the teacup down, he glanced up at the lieutenant. "How's your week been, Lieutenant Sokolov?"
"It's been all right, Your Highness," Lieutenant Sokolov replied. "Nothing out of the ordinary. I finally finished handing over my previous assignments to my colleagues, so I'm free to focus on assisting you now."
"That's good to hear," Alexei said, nodding lightly.
Sokolov allowed himself a small, relieved smile.
The brief, easy exchange was cut short by the sound of the door opening again. Lieutenant Orlov reentered the office, a small stack of folders held carefully against his chest. He approached the desk and set them down in front of Alexei with deliberate care.
"Here are the reports from last week, Your Highness," Orlov said.
As he did, his eyes flicked briefly toward Lieutenant Sokolov, his expression tightening for just a moment before returning to neutral.
Alexei noticed the glance and couldn't help but curl his lips upward. His hands-on training in the other ministries had been so dull that he found this small tension oddly entertaining. Of course, it would have been far more entertaining if the two of them had simply brawled in front of him. Maybe later, he thought with mild amusement.
"Thank you, Orlov," he said as he rested a hand on the folders. Seeing that both men were still standing nearby, he added, gesturing toward the seats in the corner, "Why don't the two of you sit over there while I look through these reports?"
"As you wish, Your Highness," Sokolov replied, moving to sit down before Orlov could choose his seat.
Orlov hesitated for a moment before following, then took his place beside his colleague.
Watching the two of them sit stiffly in the corner, carefully avoiding even a glance at one another, Alexei quickly lost interest. He turned his attention back to the documents in his hands.
Alexei opened the first folder and began to read.
The reports were neatly organized, with the front page of each folder containing a summary. Even so, Alexei read through everything inside. He moved through them one by one, his eyes scanning quickly, yet missing nothing of importance.
One report detailed a clash between two gangs operating south of the Neva River, the Neva Shadows and the Black Lanterns. According to the file, the fighting had broken out over a disputed stretch of territory near the warehouses, escalating into a brief but violent confrontation before the Politsiya intervened.
Both groups were composed largely of former factory workers, men who had been dismissed in previous years and left with no steady work, no compensation, and nowhere to turn into. The report noted several injuries, minor property damage, and a handful of arrests. There were no fatalities.
Alexei closed that folder and moved on.
There were others. Smaller gangs breaking apart and reforming under new names. Petty extortion rings cropping up near rail stations. A brief note about smugglers operating along the riverbanks, quickly dispersed after a single raid.
He read every document carefully.
Yet with each page turned and each folder finished, the tension in his brow deepened.
There was no mention of the ratcatchers, or the Jackals.
Alexei closed the final folder and let it rest on the desk. His fingers drummed lightly against the cover as he leaned back in his chair. He had expected at least a report referencing the information the informants had sent, but there was nothing.
Had the message been lost? Had it never reached them? No. no.
He dismissed the thought immediately. He had watched the informants hand the letters to the secret courier, and he had personally followed the man. He had confirmed with his own eyes that the courier went straight to the St. Petersburg division of the Okhrana.
Wait. Maybe the information hadn't been passed along here yet.
He stopped drumming his fingers and glanced toward where his assistants were seated. He almost laughed at the sight, both men glaring at each other, stiff and tense, like an Alien vs. Predator poster he saw from his first life. He shook his head at their display and cleared his throat to get their attention.
"Why are you two looking at each other so lovingly?"
Both Lieutenant Orlov and Lieutenant Sokolov startled at once.
"What? No, Your Highness," Orlov said quickly, straightening in his seat. "We were merely… discussing work. Quietly."
Sokolov nodded repeatedly. "Yes, Your Highness. Just an exchange of notes, nothing more."
Alexei looked at them both with amusement. "Really? Because I thought the two of you were about to kiss. I've seen my father and mother kiss before, so I thought… you know…"
Lieutenant Orlov stood up at once, red-faced. "You must have seen it wrongly, Your Highness. I would never kiss this man!"
"Me too, Your Highness. I would never kiss this man. I have a wife and a child," Sokolov said, standing as well to defend himself.
Alexei chuckled at their reactions and waved a hand dismissively. "Relax. I was just joking. The room was so quiet earlier that I thought I should start a conversation. But really, what happened? Why were you looking at each other like that?"
Lieutenant Sokolov felt a wave of relief wash over him that the tsarevich was just joking. Just imagining the rumors that could spread in such a large organization was enough to make him want to dig his own grave and hide in it forever.
"It's nothing, Your Highness. Truly. We were just looking at each other's faces because we thought there was dirt on them."
"That's right, Your Highness," Orlov added quickly, backing his colleague without hesitation. "There's no mirror here, so we were thinking of asking each other where the dirt was so we could remove it."
Heh. Lame excuses.
He tilted his head slightly. "Is that so? Then perhaps we should ask someone to bring a mirror here next time. Or better yet, I'll have my attendant bring one, something large enough for a full-length view."
"You don't have to trouble your attendant, Your Highness," Orlov said hastily. "In fact, I was just thinking of ordering a mirror myself. One large enough for a full-length view."
"He's right, Your Highness," Sokolov added at once. "There's no need to disturb your attendant. We'll handle the mirror ourselves."
Alexei looked at them both with a faint smile. "Then I won't stand on ceremony. Thank you in advance." He just made both of them spend money on the mirror he wouldn't use. He could only shake his head internally at that.
"No problem, Your Highness. We're here to serve you," Orlov said, bowing his head slightly, followed by Sokolov. Both were visibly relieved that they had narrowly avoided disaster.
Alexei nodded in acknowledgment. For a brief moment, he said nothing, his gaze dropping to the folders on his desk as if considering them again. Then he looked back up.
"Actually," he said calmly, "I intended to ask this earlier. Is there any chance there are more reports I can read in the St. Petersburg division? I've finished these, and I find myself wanting to read more. Would that be possible?"
The question was casual, almost offhand, but his attention sharpened as he waited for their response.
Lieutenant Orlov hesitated for a moment, clearly caught off guard by the question. He straightened slightly before answering.
"I'm afraid I wouldn't know much beyond this department, Your Highness," he said carefully. "I'm usually assigned to the records here. That said, the St. Petersburg division typically compiles and sends its reports every three days. If something is considered important or urgent, it's usually forwarded within a day of being received. The ones you read were handed out just yesterday and four days ago. I don't know if there are still reports there that they haven't passed here yet."
"I see," Alexei replied simply, giving a small nod. "That makes sense."
Sokolov, who had been listening quietly, spoke up. "If you'd like, Your Highness, I can give you a tour of the St. Petersburg division offices. They're in the building next to this one." He hesitated briefly. "I can't guarantee access to their reports, though. I don't work there."
Alexei's eyes flickered with interest, but he quickly masked it with a thoughtful expression. "Can we really go there without prior notice? I don't want to disturb their work by arriving unannounced."
Sokolov hesitated. He himself technically couldn't do so without orders, but this was the Tsarevich. Surely, they wouldn't mind. He took a moment to think, unwilling to let the opportunity to impress the tsarevich slip by. "How about this, Your Highness? I'll go there now and inform the branch director that you intend to visit this afternoon. That will give them time to prepare for your arrival. This way, they can welcome you properly, and you won't have to worry about disrupting their work. Would that be acceptable?"
Alexei regarded Sokolov with approval. This, he thought, was what a proper aide should do.
"That's good, Sokolov," Alexei said. "But make sure to tell the branch director that I only intend to make a brief tour and read reports within my authorized level. I don't wish to disturb their work beyond that."
Sokolov nodded. "I'll be sure to pass along the message, Your Highness. I'll go now to make the proper arrangements." He bowed slightly and hurried out to do just that.
Alexei didn't miss the brief look of resentment Orlov shot at Sokolov's retreating back.
He noted mentally. One point for Sokolov. Zero for Orlov. This was precisely why he kept both men close, the rivalry between them made his time in the Okhrana far more easier.
"Lieutenant Orlov," Alexei said calmly, "why don't you assist Lieutenant Sokolov? You don't have any pressing tasks here anyway. I'll be waiting for the two of you this afternoon."
Orlov glanced once more at the closed door, then back at the Tsarevich. Reluctant as he was, he had no choice.
"Then, please excuse me, Your Highness," he said, bowing before turning to leave.
Alexei's neutral expression faded as soon as the door closed, replaced by a deep frown. All he needed was confirmation that they would not interfere once he moved against the ratcatchers and would leave his gang alone. Yet it seemed that even such a small piece of information still required more effort on his part.
He sighed and began preparing himself for later, careful not to appear too eager for information.
—---
The walk towards the St. Petersburg division of the Okhrana was short, as it just stood adjacent to the central Okhrana building. When Alexei and his entourage arrived, they were greeted by several officials, including the division director, Captain Dmitri Volkov, a broad-shouldered man with sharp eyes and a neatly trimmed mustache. The captain straightened at once upon seeing him and bowed.
"Your Highness," Volkov greeted respectfully. "It's an honor to have you visit our division."
"The pleasure is mine, Captain," Alexei replied evenly. "Thank you for accommodating my request on such short notice. I hope I haven't interrupted any of your work."
"No, no, not at all, Your Highness," Volkov said at once. "We're quite free today, so you're not interrupting anything."
"That's a relief, then," Alexei said, glancing inside. "Shall we?"
"Of course, Your Highness."
They walked side by side through the corridors, exchanging a few polite remarks, nothing of consequence, just formalities and reassurances. The captain spoke briefly about the division's responsibilities and ongoing workload, careful to keep his explanations general.
After a short tour of various offices and departments, an aide approached the director and whispered something in his ear. A frown settled on Volkov's face as he listened.
He hesitated briefly before turning back to Alexei.
"Unfortunately, I won't be able to accompany you any further, Your Highness," he said with a note of regret. "Matters require my immediate attention."
"I understand," Alexei replied calmly, nodding.
Volkov turned and gestured to a young officer standing nearby. "Lieutenant Andrei Popov will be your guide for the remainder of your visit. He's familiar with the layout and our current operations." He paused before adding, "You requested to read reports that have not yet been submitted. Unfortunately, we can only show you those within your authorized level, Your Highness. I hope you understand, even I can't bend the rules."
"I understand, Captain. There's no need to worry," Alexei replied. "I finished reading the reports this morning and found myself wanting to read more. Since I'm already familiar with indexing and storing records, I don't have much else to do besides reading."
Volkov smiled at that. "That's a relief, then, Your Highness."
He turned back to the lieutenant. "Lieutenant Popov will show you where we keep the records and explain anything should you have questions. He holds the same authority level as you, so he's familiar with the contents of the reports."
Popov straightened immediately. "Your Highness."
"I'll be in your care, lieutenant." Alexei flashed the lieutenant a brief smile before turning back towards the captain.
"You should be in your way now, captain. I don't want to keep you much longer as your work is more important."
"Thank you, your highness. Then…" Captain Volkov bowed before he left.
Once the captain had departed, Popov motioned for Alexei to follow. "If you'll come this way, Your Highness."
The lieutenant led him through the division at a measured pace, pointing out offices, workrooms, and filing areas as they passed. Clerks and officers paused in their work to bow as Alexei walked by, their movements careful and restrained.
Eventually, Popov stopped before a guarded room set slightly apart from the others.
After they entered, Popov gestured toward a shelf filled with folders and papers. "These are the reports that have yet to be formally submitted, Your Highness."
Alexei looked around the room with a neutral expression. It was spacious, and several clerks and officers were working nearby. They paused when they noticed him, bowing quickly before returning to stillness as they waited for his reaction. Alexei nodded to them and offered a brief smile before turning his attention back to the records.
"May I read the reports now, Lieutenant?" he asked.
"Of course, Your Highness," Popov replied at once. "Allow me to prepare a table and chairs for you and your assistants."
The lieutenant moved quickly. Within moments, a sturdy table was cleared near the shelves, and several chairs were arranged neatly around it. Alexei took his seat without comment, his assistants settling into places nearby, careful to remain unobtrusive.
Once everything was in order, Popov stepped aside. "Please let me know if you need anything, Your Highness."
Alexei reached for the first folder and opened it.
As he moved from folder to folder, he noticed that some of the reports were dated weeks ago. Unable to ignore it, he asked, "Why are these reports from weeks ago still not submitted? As far as I know, reports are sent every three days, and important ones within a day."
"Hm?" Lieutenant Popov glanced at the file the Tsarevich was reading and immediately recognized it. "These reports still require clarification, Your Highness. Some of them need further verification, while others are still awaiting results. That's why they haven't been submitted yet. We can't forward an incomplete report as it could cause confusion later on."
Alexei nodded. "I see. Thank you, Lieutenant."
"It's my pleasure, Your Highness. Please don't hesitate to ask if you have more questions."
Alexei acknowledged the suggestion and returned to reading. From time to time, he asked questions about the reports, though in truth, they were only meant to mask what he intended to ask later on.
When he reached for another file, he paused briefly, but only for a moment. Maintaining a calm, natural demeanor, he picked it up and read the title on the cover.
Gang: Jackals - To Be Verified
At last, what he had been looking for finally revealed itself. He sighed in relief internally and couldn't help the flicker of excitement that followed. This was his first manipulation involving both his gang and the Okhrana. Whatever the outcome, he found himself anticipating what would come next.
He opened the file and was surprised to find that the letters he had instructed the now–double agents to send were still attached. He looked up from the desk and asked the lieutenant innocently,
"What are these letters, Lieutenant?"
Popov glanced at the letters and then at the file bearing the title. "Oh, those. They arrived five days ago from our informants. If you've read the file, Your Highness, it states that the Jackals are planning to attack the ratcatchers over what appears to be a petty grievance and then occupy their territory. The branch director decided to wait and see whether they could actually accomplish such a feat, as the ratcatchers are quite slippery. We've attempted to move against them before, but they always managed to evade our agents."
He paused to catch his breath before continuing. "In fact, the branch director and several analysts within the division held a meeting about this three days ago. There was considerable debate over which of the two groups posed the lesser evil, and the conclusion was that it was the Jackals. Their record is comparatively cleaner. The ratcatchers have supported several revolutionary movements in the past, while the Jackals appear content running their businesses. In the end, it all comes down to whether the Jackals succeed in their plan. That's why this report wasn't submitted also, your highness. As we are still waiting for the outcome of the attack."
"Hm…" Alexei nodded as the lieutenant finished. A frown settled on his face as he read through the report. Inwardly, however, he felt as though a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders. He could finally proceed with the attack without interference from the authorities.
After reading the report carefully, he asked again, "What happens if the Jackals are successful in their attack, Lieutenant?"
"That…" The lieutenant scratched his head, unsure of the answer. "I'm sorry, Your Highness. I don't know for certain. From what I've heard from my colleagues, the threat level of the Jackals would rise significantly, as they would have succeeded where the Okhrana had not. Beyond that, I don't know the rest, Your Highness."
"That's alright. Thank you lieutenant." Alexei flashed the lieutenant a smile. This time though, it was not out of formality but a genuine smile.
Seeing that the tsarevich seemed genuinely happy with his explanation. The lieutenant returned the smile with a bright smile of his own. "Your welcome, your highness."
Alexei set aside the report he had been looking for and continued perusing the rest. After all, it would be suspicious if he wouldn't read the rest after just reading the one before. It took him two hours before he finished reading all the reports. But he didn't feel tired at all, instead he was fired up.
As for the threat level of his gang rising after they succeeded? He wasn't worried about it as he was sure he wouldn't do anything stupid that would anger the authorities. Who knows? Maybe they would hire his gang someday to do things they couldn't do or wouldn't do for appearances sake.
-----
Author's note: Don't forget to leave a review.
You can also read ahead if you want.