Volume 1: Raging Waves City Chapter 53: Talking about Money
None of the officials attending the meeting had expected that Inspector Meteorite of the Cape District Secret Intelligence Bureau would directly retort without any regard for Congressman Virgil's face.
Looking at Councillor Virgil's expression, it is very rich.
"Inspector Meteorite..." Councillor Virgil's tone became stern: "The Government Affairs Office of Raging Waves City allocates a large sum of special funds every year to provide subsidies to various secret intelligence bureaus. This is so that the secret intelligence bureaus can provide assistance to the city in cases involving urban security.
This was endorsed by a formal agreement between the City Hall and the various secret intelligence agencies, and was also approved by the Imperial Secret Intelligence Agency.
Since the Government Affairs Department has issued a letter of commissioned investigation, the Cape District Confidential Affairs Bureau, which receives city subsidies, has an obligation to fulfill its responsibilities.
Please don't shirk your responsibilities!
When I need the Public Security Bureau to answer questions, I will naturally call them. Now you need to give us an explanation."
Senator Virgil continued to attack Luke.
It is still unknown what kind of urban safety crisis the Elf Clear Sky will cause.
If the clear sky can be caught in time, it is naturally due to the good leadership of the City Safety Committee.
If Clear Sky causes a catastrophic incident, a scapegoat needs to be found in advance to bear the wrath of the powerful. Since the spirit Clear Sky first appeared in the Cape District, the Cape District Secret Affairs Bureau is responsible for not preventing the crisis in time.
Luke whispered to Kylena: “Give me the financial statement of the Government Affairs Office last month.”
"Yes, Inspector."
Kylena quickly found the financial statement from the materials and gave it to Luke.
Luke glanced at the data and said loudly, "Congressman Virgil, I have in my hand the public financial statements of the City Hall last month.
Among them, the financial allocation to the Cape District...the Cape District Secret Intelligence Bureau actually received 2 million Reichsmarks, while the Cape District Security Bureau received 26 million Reichsmarks.
Councillor Virgil, is this the subsidy you mentioned from the City Hall to the Cape District Intelligence Bureau?
snort!"
Luke sneered.
What it means is that if you pay us little, don’t blame us for not working.
Senator Virgil slammed the table in anger and shouted, "Inspector Meteorite, watch your attitude! You are a high-ranking imperial official, not a mercenary who works for money."
Luke responded, "Senator Virgil, you were the one who talked to me about money first.
And...I think you need to explain this to the officials attending this meeting.
Why did you let the Cape District Secret Intelligence Bureau investigate this series of cases at the beginning instead of letting the Cape District Security Bureau, which receives 26 million from the city's treasury every month, investigate?
How many imperial spies can you support with 2 million? How many sheriffs can you support with 26 million?
Congressman, what role did you play in this crisis?"
Luke's counterattack made Virgil blush.
At first, he asked the Cape District Secret Intelligence Bureau to investigate the theft of the "Heart of the Red Dragon Neil Colon" as a way to suppress it and let these spies know who their God of Wealth is.
After Luke took office, he sent out circulars in succession, in large part to tie down the attention of the Secret Service and help the Public Security Bureau compete for the interests of the Cape Harbor Terminal.
Who could have thought that the elf Qingkong would actually go to Oulu College and steal the Book of Disaster!
Now he wants to find someone to take the blame, but instead he is being blamed.
If I can't explain it clearly, I'm afraid some people will really doubt my relationship with the elf Qingkong.
"Inspector Meteorite... 2 million is the subsidy given to you by Raging Waves City. You are also receiving salaries and department operating funds from the Empire..."
"Congressman Virgil, what does the money the Empire gives us have to do with you?"
"you!"
At this time, a middle-aged man wearing the uniform of an Imperial Navy general sitting on the other side of Virgil said, "Virgil, my time is very tight. Please get the meeting back on track as soon as possible."
"Yes, Major General Nelson." Virgil nodded and apologized to the military representative: "I lost my composure because of my concern for the safety of the city."
Virgil turned to Luke and asked, "We can put the previous matters aside for now... The theft of the Book of Disaster by the Elf Qingkong has risen to the level of an imperial security incident. We all want to hear what Inspector Meteorite thinks about this incident.
What methods does the Cape District Secret Intelligence Bureau plan to use to hunt down the elf Qingkong? "
Seeing that Virgil still refused to let him go, Luke said, “The Cape District is the largest urban area in Raging Wave City, with an estimated permanent population of over 700,000.
Our Cape District Secret Intelligence Bureau has 248 agents on its payroll.
Such a small number of people is definitely not enough to search and capture the elves in such a large urban area.
I plan to recruit a group of temporary agents, more than 3,000 in number, and then search every household in the city. As long as the elf is in the Cape District, she will definitely leave traces. With the professional qualities of our imperial spies, we can definitely find her.
But... the funds of the Cape District Secret Intelligence Bureau are not enough to recruit this temporary team of agents, nor can they afford the expenses of such intensive investigations.
Therefore, we hope that the City Hall can allocate us a special fund, which is expected to be..."
Luke glanced at Kaileena.
Kalina estimated the expense in her mind as quickly as possible and wrote it on a piece of paper: 40 million Reichsmarks per month.
"400 million Reichsmarks per month."
Kylena was stunned for a moment, then checked the zero she had written.
That’s right!
Virgil didn't expect that Luke would dare to ask for 400 million. It was obvious that he was treating the City Hall like a fool and slaughtering them like pigs!
"Inspector Meteorite, please be serious. Adding more manpower to hunt for the elves Qingkong will indeed incur additional expenses, but it is definitely not possible to reach 400 million Reichsmarks per month.
And do you think it will take a month to capture the spirit Qingkong?"
Luke replied, “The salary is paid monthly. No matter when we catch the elf Clear Sky, we will definitely pay the full amount for that month.
As for other expenses...
When conducting a house search, shouldn’t the owner be given some money as compensation?
The elf Qingkong is so powerful that we need to organize a suicide squad to capture her. Who would be willing to risk their life if no money is paid?
People need pensions when they die.
Anyone who provides information needs to pay a reward.
In addition, I plan to issue a bounty of 100 million Imperial Marks for the elf Qingkong. The 2 million Imperial Marks bounty offered by the Government Affairs Office for Qingkong is too shabby.
I heard that the head of a Mad Axe member is worth 5,000 gold certificates, which is equivalent to 25 million Reichsmarks.
Fairy Qingkong is a powerful person who can snatch the Ruihuo Wand from Dean Wilred, so a reward of 100 million is not too much."
When Luke heard that the City Hall offered a reward of 2 million Reichsmarks for Qingkong, he spoke up for himself.
Too stingy!
Even if other things cannot be accomplished this time, Qingkong's status must be raised.
Let’s set a small goal of 100 million first!
But Senator Virgil was so angry that he just wanted to laugh.
The Cape District Secret Service Bureau conducts a home search and is going to pay compensation to the owner?
If you want to cheat people out of money, you should at least make up a reasonable reason!
