Chapter 688 Employment

As night fell, Wayne arrived at the community where the Irelanders gathered today. Besides continuing to search for the two gang members who might know the inside story, he also had an additional task to keep him busy.

Sellen Guide was much more well-behaved now. Wayne's carriage was scrapped, and Mr. Paul, the leader of the Rabbit Gang, lent him his own carriage. Wayne didn't stand on ceremony.

This guy didn't recognize him at first and quickly retreated behind the window when he heard the commotion. Then, he probably thought something was amiss and, after confirming Sanders in the driver's seat, quickly came out to greet them obediently.

After getting into the carriage, he even looked around the compartment and flattered, "Mr. Wayne's new carriage is more luxurious than the previous one; it's very impressive."

This was a misplaced compliment, and Wayne didn't bother to explain. It was more important to reduce costs and increase efficiency for the Detective Agency:

"I've had an idea these past two days. The community is, after all, your own community. The Detective Agency has been assisting with tax collection recently and can also help maintain order. If we leave, and O'Sullivan and his men are all taken care of, what will you do?"

It's unclear if Sellen Guide had heard some rumors, or if this kind of thing had already circulated in the community multiple times.

His reaction in this regard was quick, and his expression seemed a little wary: "Are you saying you plan to establish a new gang in the community?"

"It wouldn't go that far..." Wayne was also trying things out in this area. "Some blocks in the city also organize their own security. You could appropriately organize some adults to take turns assisting in maintaining the community or something."

This path seemed to have been trodden before, and Sellen Guide quickly responded: "And families who don't contribute people will need to provide corresponding financial support?"

Hmm...

In fact, even in small towns in the West, many blocks operate this way: those with money contribute money, and those with strength contribute effort. The Sheriff is usually a lone wolf and, even if he can pursue criminals afterward, he may not always be able to prevent crimes in time.

However, the key to such matters lies in voluntariness. In good communities, those with money are generally more willing to invest in this area. But in the Dock Area, it would probably be another form of disguised poll tax or protection fee.

Wayne genuinely didn't care for such paltry sums: "Our Detective Agency doesn't intend to profit from this. The goal is to reduce the level of violence in the Dock Area. Those who contribute effort only need to report situations promptly. Even if someone voluntarily provides financial support, that money will only be spent within the community; we won't take a single cent. The existing situation, apart from where everything remains the same, will not develop in a worse direction."

Sellen Guide thought for a moment and seemed to understand: "So, the things used for community autonomy can only be purchased from designated people? Although theoretically everyone has the right to choose vendors, in reality, some things are predetermined?"

Damn it, why do these gangs have so many tricks?

Wayne simply laid his cards on the table, bringing out his previously unsuccessful proposal and iterating on it again: "I'm planning to open a cannery in the Dock Area soon. The location will likely be near your community, and people living nearby can apply for jobs there. So, making gangs no longer so contemptuous of the law is both for everyone in the Dock Area and for my personal interests."

Sellen Guide accepted this very quickly this time: "It's business, we all understand."

"Those products have already received a large number of orders. Everyone can buy them if they want, but actually, shipping them out for sale yields higher profits for me. You don't need to worry about forced purchases.

"On the contrary, considering that canning production requires a certain level of skill, the wages I offer will be higher than working as a laborer on the docks. You also don't need to worry about me deducting wages or taking a portion again. I'm doing big business; efficiency and quality are priorities. I don't care about those small amounts of money.

"Compared to temporary laborers on the docks, my workshop should be able to operate longer, which should provide more stable income for employees. If they become skilled, their wages will also increase accordingly."

The sins caused by capital are indeed too numerous to count, but in terms of incentives, it still has its advantages.

Even if slaves were unwilling in the Plantation, with overseers pressing them, the crops would still grow on schedule. Industrial production couldn't quite work that way; if problems arose, even killing someone might not be useful.

Wayne continued to think as he spoke: "At that time, besides having employees work in the workshop, I will also require them to put in a certain amount of extra working hours. They won't need to do anything else, just patrol in their own communities and report problems promptly. They don't need to personally intervene—conversely, those who are proactive in this area will also find it easier to become my employees."

Now Sellen Guide clearly looked surprised: "Are you saying that you won't only not make money from this, but you will also provide us with jobs, and the only cost is spending time patrolling the community where we live?"

Wayne found that the persona of a selfish person was more easily accepted: "You're wrong. I will make money from this, but I don't need to make money from you. Similarly, I don't intend to make your lives significantly better—that's your own business—but I also don't want anyone to affect my business.

"As for those who disrupt order, you should have seen what I do these past few days. I also don't trust your combat effectiveness, but I'm putting in people and effort here, so you can't just stand by and watch completely."

Sellen Guide seemed a bit moved, but still somewhat wary: "If you're building a workshop, will it be built on someone else's territory? Have you chosen a location?"

It seemed he was not only worried that the Detective Agency would use them to seize territory externally, but also a little concerned that Wayne might be making empty promises, fabricating a cannery...

Wayne slightly straightened his expression: "Legally speaking, apart from some private land in the Dock Area, the rest is public domain, owned by the City Hall. I will buy or lease land from the City Hall. I don't need extra territory, nor will I allow outsiders to disturb it without authorization. As for the address, it should probably be by the river in that direction, not too far from your community."

Sellen Guide was still quite perceptive. After he had no more questions, he quickly realized that Wayne wouldn't just tell him these things for no reason.

So, he didn't actively pledge allegiance or try to apply for a job. Instead, he took a defensive stance: "Do you need me to do anything for you?"

Alright, this version of the statement seemed to work. It felt like it could start being rolled out. If there were problems, he could always revise it.

Wayne outwardly pretended not to care too much: "First, come with me tonight to find those two gang members. As for what I just said, you can go back and promote and discuss it with everyone.

"I haven't decided on the specific wages yet. An announcement will be posted then, and the published information will be final. However, you can inquire about this with the members of our Detective Agency. I've always disliked shortchanging others when it comes to wages."

To be honest, the largest portion of the Detective Agency's profits now comes from extra gains during missions.

Even if all the profits within the Detective Agency's entrusted scope were distributed as wages, the partners would no longer need to worry about their investments going to waste.

If the workshop and cannery could get fully operational, and the restaurant also brought in a little money, then the Detective Agency could even become an internal security department.

Maintaining a balanced budget and scale, some commissions with hidden benefits could even be considered without charging a fee.

Wayne was pondering how far he was from making money while lying down when several plainclothes monks running out of the community saw Sanders in the carriage and then turned to approach:

"Mr. Wayne, Jason Voorhees has committed another crime. It seems to be someone from the Sailor Gang again."

Hmm?

Does that guy have a grudge against the Sailor Gang? He's killed them twice already, and he's coming again tonight?

I have a genuine beef with the Sailor Gang, but if I were to act, it wouldn't be this exaggerated...

The carriage picked up the monks and rushed to the scene. Wayne mused for a moment on the way.

Wait,

The person who has such a great vendetta against the Sailor Gang right now should be "that one," right?