The biggest taboo in intelligence work is relying on a single source of information. In this realm, where deception is constant and betrayal and sell-outs are daily occurrences, trust is a scarce commodity that's out of reach. Don't even mention the relationship between informants and intelligence officers; even among colleagues, superiors, family, and blood relatives, you cannot confidently guarantee whether any of them are moles from different organizations. In fact, being betrayed by lovers and relatives has always been one of the main reasons why intelligence officers fail.
When it comes to the Empire, things are different again. In this nation suffused with surveillance, where everyone could be an informant, suspicion is everyone's instinct. This is even more so for those working on covert fronts. Only God and they themselves know how much effort and even risking their lives they need to expend just to verify the authenticity of a piece of information.
