Chapter 657 The Army

The Detective Agency now had an unwritten rule: if there were too many people for the chef to handle, everyone would pitch in.

After the new members had settled in, those who were hungry first had some bread to tide them over. Once Inessa, Lina, and the Agents who had been out returned, they started a semi-buffet style barbecue and teppanyaki.

Honestly, the cider Liam had the new members bring was quite good.

Although it didn't smell great, wasn't very clear, and had a mild alcoholic taste, it was refreshing and crisp to drink. It was even better when diluted with an appropriate amount of water, making its advantages enough to 'cover a hundred flaws'.

If it weren't for the fact that alcohol taxes were all the same these days, Wayne would have considered putting it in the restaurant to sell as soda.

If it proved feasible, he could genuinely consider having the First Office regularly supply it to the workshop.

As night deepened, everyone gradually became familiar with each other over food and drinks, and the atmosphere around the large bonfire slowly grew lively.

Some people had already started playing exhibition matches nearby, some were catching up and chatting about their lives, and others were gathered in small groups listening to the old Agents tell stories and discuss rules.

Wayne had also finished eating by now and was holding a wooden cup, chatting privately with a new member named Hope.

On one hand, this guy was somewhat reticent and seemed a bit out of place amidst the lively atmosphere.

On the other hand, Liam had spoken highly of Hope, and Wayne was curious about his former profession.

Hope was previously a soldier, not a 'state militiaman' but a proper Federal Army soldier.

Compared to the militia, which anyone of eligible age could be forcibly conscripted into, the Federal Army was a relatively niche and stable profession these days. The latter's numbers were probably just a 'fraction' compared to the former, and their conscription methods and training models were also different. In peacetime, the Federal Army was volunteer-based, and the service period was longer than the militia, with a common starting term of five years.

Soldiers at this time were, of course, not the same as modern professional soldiers, but they shared certain similar qualities.

Hope was a bit stern but not rigidly inflexible; 'shy' or 'reserved' might be more accurate descriptions. He was patiently answering Wayne's questions:

'Federal Army soldiers can be divided into officers and enlisted, which are two completely different systems. Soldiers like me, in non-war periods, can achieve the highest ranks of different levels of 'NCOs' and 'Sergeant Majors', but it's impossible to be promoted to an officer.

'Although a small number of NCOs became officers during the war with Mexico, they generally only became Second Lieutenants, and those who retired as First Lieutenants were an exception among exceptions, while officers started at least as Second Lieutenants from the beginning.

'Correspondingly, according to the traditional chain of command, officers' combat orders must be conveyed through NCOs and are not allowed to be given directly to soldiers, bypassing the NCOs. Therefore, in principle, they also cannot interfere with the soldiers' specific daily management and battlefield command. The situation you just hypothesized, in reality, does not exist.'

According to Hope, Federal Army officers were mostly graduates of military academies, largely from good families, some even from 'industry families'.

The status of senior NCOs was not too low; they might even be valued more than lower-ranking officers. Some 'soldier king' Sergeant Majors could even become advisors to generals, but they still did not belong to the decision-making system and were not the same as 'officers' in the narrow sense.

This part of the content was a blind spot in Wayne's knowledge. He had actually been chatting with Hope about the 'machine gun move five meters to the left' meme.

However, officers in America these days seemed to be forbidden from micromanaging, and even excessive contact with soldiers, bypassing NCOs, was not allowed. It sounded a bit like not being able to 'lower one's status,' and in some sense, it also seemed like an unwritten taboo—Wayne guessed this might again be related to the Founding Fathers' design, various forms of division and mutual restraint.

Wayne nodded slightly after listening, then continued to ask, 'So what weapons do current Army soldiers use?'

'The unit I served in only had garrison duties. The weapons we primarily used for training before were still the rifled muskets left over from the Mexican War, and cavalrymen would also be additionally equipped with revolvers. Newer weapons did exist, but they were mostly kept in the armory and not brought out for training.'

Hope even chuckled here, 'I once thought about becoming an artilleryman, but unfortunately, artillerymen need more specialized training; otherwise, they can only handle supporting tasks like transport or cleaning. So, until my service ended, I never had the chance.'

Rifled muskets...

Too much old stock not used up yet, huh?

The West of this world can now get lever-action rifles, but ordinary Federal Army soldiers are still training with the previous generation's equipment. It feels like their weapons are not even as good as the militia in the prosperous states. Lining up to shoot each other on the battlefield is not a good civilization.

Wayne then asked, 'To be prioritized for recruitment by Connal, you must also be an Extraordinary Person. Are there many Extraordinary Persons in the Army?'

'I'm not sure.' Hope's expression seemed very sincere: 'The reason I participated in the conscription was actually because I had no choice. At the time, I didn't want to be a bounty hunter and hoped to get a stable job, but besides enlisting as a soldier, the pastor didn't give me any other options.

'I originally thought I would meet other Fallen like myself in the army, but in reality, besides needing to meet with the accompanying chaplain regularly, I seemed to have no other difference from ordinary soldiers, and I wasn't allowed to publicly reveal my identity.'

Hmm... this model sounds a bit familiar, but that's not the point.

Wayne couldn't help but feel suspicious.

Could it be that because this guy's combat power was lacking, he was quietly eliminated by the military?

Wayne tried to confirm: 'Did you fight Connal when you were in Kankakee? Who was stronger between you two?'

'Probably about the same?' Hope didn't seem very sure, 'We probably only had playful spars before. For a while, Connal often came to find me to fight. But I heard there's an Arena with more detailed rules at the Detective Agency; perhaps we'd know after trying it there.'

Then it shouldn't be for that reason...

Connal never minded bullying weaker opponents at the Detective Agency, but he actually preferred sparring with people of similar combat power. Daimon McQueedy, who is currently guarding the Detective Agency headquarters and Emma in Georgeberg, was often 'haunted' by Connal like a persistent ghost.

Recalling that Hope had just said 'Fallen,' Wayne then thought of another possibility: 'Are you a follower of the Holy Spirit Church?'

Hope finally nodded this time, 'From my grandfather's time at the latest, our family has all been believers of the Holy Spirit, attending services at the community church every week.'

Understood.

Regularly going to church, not wanting to be a bounty hunter, yet able to get along with Connal and the others, and joining the Federal Army was a path pointed out by the local pastor.

Combining Wayne's observations tonight, he felt that Hope, based on his personality and character, should be a relatively decent and harmless type, the kind advocated and promoted by the values in the holy book.

He wasn't serving in an important unit of the Federal Army, and perhaps there were no special forces units set up, or it might be that as a devout believer, he received some kind of protection.

Roughly speaking, it's equivalent to a 'David Mills' or 'Merlin' who didn't get a formal position.

I wouldn't look for someone like this if I were doing bad things.

Then this guy probably isn't suitable for Lina's intelligence team; perhaps he's more suited to be Inessa's subordinate or to help Willie with investigations.

But first, let's see his skills. Wayne already had a preliminary idea: 'Later, during the new employee training, I'll have Connal be your Arena examiner.'

...

Meanwhile, on the other side of the city, someone also received unexpected news.

'That Detective Agency brought in reinforcements from out of town today, so many that two carriages couldn't hold them all?!'

'Quickly go notify Schwartz. They're probably coming for our Sailor Gang.'