Chapter 658 Authorization

The next day, the Detective Agency began organizing onboarding training for its new members.

As there were more people this time, Wayne tried to streamline the onboarding process, aiming to form a relatively formal consensus while the numbers were high.

On the first morning, Doug, Willie, and Connal each took turns teaching, introducing the Detective Agency's overview and basic requirements. In the afternoon, assessments like shooting began. The second morning was arranged for tours to familiarize everyone with the layout, division of labor, and processes of each department. Lunch was at a restaurant, and in the afternoon, they went to the Arena for internal matches with new members and ranking for veteran Agents.

The third day, they started grouping up to observe and participate in the Detective Agency's current work with the Agents. The rest would mainly rely on initial integration and mutual learning.

The goal was to confirm the results within a few days, followed by a general meeting to officially welcome the new recruits. Professional training and cultivation would come after they were officially hired.

Wayne had long envisioned an "onboarding review," but even now, it wasn't strictly feasible to implement.

However, fortunately, all the new members this time were recruited and not entirely strangers to each other. Also, there were many veteran Agents from Kankakee City in the Detective Agency, so through cross-verification, obtaining a relatively accurate overview wasn't too difficult.

So, even though it was still a bit rough around the edges, it could at least be formally incorporated into the standard process.

Even if it was somewhat formalistic, it could still be documented and archived.

The partners all made an appearance before Doug started teaching, said a few words, and secretly confirmed that the class order was normal before going about their business.

When Wayne went to City Hall again to inquire about the progress with Tax Officer Quinn, he already saw the administrative order signed by the Mayor.

In a sense, City Hall in a big city these days wasn't much different from a small town's government.

With existing city ordinances as a basis, some matters could actually be decided by the Mayor alone. As for the approval process, it basically involved a clerk going around to various offices. When someone wanted to push it through, the efficiency was higher than Wayne had imagined.

However, the political wisdom of seasoned professionals in the workplace should not be underestimated. The administrative order didn't mention gangs at all. The official reasons were "to verify the historical collection of relevant taxes and fees in the Dock Area" and "to pursue and penalize individuals and actions that factually undermine the consensus on urban governance."

Wayne, who was both voluntarily contributing and being press-ganged, also received the title of "Special Investigator." In short, he was a temporary worker, with an authorized period and scope of investigation, but no actual power to collect taxes. If he caused trouble, he would have to deal with it himself or take the blame, much like a petty officer collecting road tolls outside the city gates in ancient times.

The administrative order Tax Officer Quinn showed Wayne was actually "several documents"; he believed the focus was on the last one:

"City Hall has no additional budget for this, so your participation will not be compensated. However, to motivate the general public, the Mayor has decided to allocate a portion of the recovered taxes and fees as a reward for actively maintaining urban governance—this administrative order will not be publicized, but it will not be a secret either."

Wayne glanced at it briefly, also peeking at other clauses not pointed out by Tax Officer Quinn.

Hmm... The City Hall departments and officials who contributed would also receive a portion of the reward. A rough calculation showed their share was actually higher. Furthermore, they would also have the opportunity to receive honorary commendations from City Hall.

Wayne had no objections to this. The Detective Agency didn't intend to make money from it; being able to cover some food expenses was good enough. As for the portion taken by officials, it wouldn't have ended up in Wayne's pocket anyway, but at least no one in City Hall would be unwilling to speak up for him.

So he just nodded: "Maintaining the city's order is the shared responsibility of every citizen."

With this, the matter entered the execution phase.

Tax Officer Quinn still had his own thoughts on the matter: "Those gang members attacked people from the Cathedral, and the two Cathedral Monks who were attacked with you also have some background. With a suitable reason, no one will openly oppose this matter.

"However, tax issues are always sensitive, and many gentlemen in the city will likely be following your investigation's progress. You had best limit your investigation to the gangs actually involved in the attack—as a private investigator, you might know more about the gangs in the Dock Area than I do."

They're all monsters and demons from various powerful families, I understand.

However, what Wayne wanted was to fish in troubled waters. Did they really think those shares and honors were so easy to get?

"I will control the scope of the impact. But to show fairness on the surface, if we receive intelligence about other gangs, we will also investigate them. If any unfavorable rumors spread during this period, City Hall might need to help clarify and explain."

Tax Officer Quinn nodded in agreement, "Don't worry. It's all for the prosperity and development of the city; we know what to do."

That's enough. Every little bit helps.

Although he couldn't expect someone to bear the brunt if the sky fell, he at least still held the banner of justice. As long as he didn't provoke public outrage, he could at least slightly prevent obvious attacks.

... ...

After leaving City Hall, he went to the Cathedral.

The newly appointed treasurer, Warren Lechter, told Wayne that the plan for the Detective Agency to cooperate with the State Monastery in producing cheese seemed not to be ready yet, and they might have to wait a while longer.

Wayne wasn't there to discuss that with him. He inquired about the injured Cathedral Monks and then informed him about City Hall's administrative order.

Warren Lechter's reply to Wayne was a platitude: "If it's just an investigation, I think His Lordship the Bishop would support it. However, the Cathedral does not wish for the originally stable situation in the Dock Area to become turbulent, nor does it wish to see Extraordinary People illegally using their abilities against ordinary people."

Wayne, of course, nodded repeatedly, and also reported that the Detective Agency was currently recruiting new members.

This guy clearly had some prior knowledge: "Those new faces who arrived yesterday, right? Your Detective Agency's special permit is still valid. Please remember to file for record in time."

At this point, Warren Lechter added: "To be honest, I originally thought there would be some old acquaintances from the Cathedral among them."

Wayne pondered for a moment, thinking the other party might be inquiring about the whereabouts of Peter Clemensa, that big fat man, and his black-clad subordinates.

The waters here felt quite deep, and Wayne didn't intend to get involved for now. He just smiled at the remark, "The new members are all devout followers of the Church. If there's an opportunity, perhaps they can also become old acquaintances of the Cathedral Monks."

Confirming that there was nothing unusual at City Hall and the Cathedral,

Before sunset that day, a large-character poster signed with Wayne's name was posted next to the Church's reward notice for rat tails:

「According to the administrative order of City Hall, we are now openly soliciting clues regarding malicious tax evasion and concealment of income in the Dock Area. Remuneration negotiable.」

As for more practical dissemination in bars and the like, that would wait for "Soften" and his intelligence team members to play their part.

It was only when Wayne was returning to the workshop with the Red Armbands that he suddenly remembered,

Damn, I forgot to include "arithmetic" in the new member assessment. I can't check everything myself, can I?

Otherwise, should I bring Emma from Georgeberg? In terms of mathematics, many Agents are children compared to her.

Seth Grayson, that top student, is also about to graduate. If he has time, he should come too.

Law and taxation are another direction of "investigation," killing without shedding blood.