New Gods of North America.

Chapter 677 Volume
As it turns out, the detective agency still doesn't have much influence in the dock area.
The gangs might allow the "Red Armband" members to pass through their territory harmlessly, but Wayne's demands weren't really taken to heart by them.

As the situation escalated...
The next night, gunshots continued to ring out intermittently in the dock area, especially in the communities inhabited by the Erlans.

This was a situation Wayne desperately wanted to avoid. Without using firearms, the agents in each team could essentially crush small gangs without sustaining any damage.
However, if they were to open fire, the agents might not be able to dodge the bullets. The difference in ability was brought to a similar level to some extent, and the only advantage of personnel was on-the-spot response and combat experience.

Annoying, why are they all so unruly?

Fortunately, once someone fired a shot, the nature of the situation changed completely.
The detective agency also upgraded its firepower, with each team equipped with a lever-action rifle. Those who fought back on the spot were to be captured alive if possible, otherwise they would be dealt with. The focus was on disarming and arresting the remaining individuals, and the gang to which the shooter belonged was also to be registered.

They were simply benefiting from Richmond's "rule of law society," and coincidentally, Wayne wasn't too keen on making the detective agency's image too conspicuous for the time being.

If this were in the western region, there wouldn't be so much fuss.

Seth Grayson and a few unemployed classmates had just joined the detective agency's tax collection team when they were greeted by a noisy night filled with fireworks and gunfire at their hideout.

They all looked surprised, as if they had been tricked into joining a pirate ship.

They were all students graduating or already graduated from William & Anna Academy. If we were to rank them by seniority, even Wayne would have to call them "senior." By the standards of that era, they were truly high-caliber individuals.
If they weren't all "fallen" and had limited career options without protection, the detective agency might not have been able to secure their services.

—In fact, they all needed the consent of the College Church and the Georgeberg Church to come from Georgeberg. Hope has been running around with the list of new members for the past few days, and the cathedral only replied this morning that the personnel who meet the conditions for the charter have been updated.

Wayne then agreed to give them a pep talk: "Don't worry, although you're all agents, your advantage is your intellect. Your professional focus and career plans are different from other agents. Of course, if you're willing to apply to participate in frontline missions, the detective agency will consider it on a case-by-case basis."

Seth Grayson was selective in his recruitment. Those with strong connections didn't lack protection, those from wealthy families weren't in a hurry to find work, those who were exceptionally talented in various aspects were mostly already reserved, and those with particularly boldness each had their own future plans.
All of them had been "CPUed" by the old, immortal Pastor Paisell in the college chapel. In order to complete their studies, they were all burdened with debts from the "angel investments" of bankers. They were stuck in a limbo, neither daring to aim too high nor too low, and even if they were on a pirate ship, they dared not jump off easily.

So, with Seth speaking up for them, all they could do was say they were willing to try to adapt for a while.
Wayne also promised them a lucrative deal: once they officially joined the company, their treatment would be the same as other agents, and if they made outstanding contributions in the process of collecting taxes, the detective society would give them a share of the rewards given by the city hall.

Once this busy period is over, they'll be placed in the same department as Willie, handling cases and similar matters. Together, they'll help build the detective agency's reputation. Although they're working for the agency, if they can accumulate personal renown, they still have a chance to become top lawyers or something similar.
The partners could even consider helping them pay off their debts and converting them into long-term contracts with the detective agency. This would not only reduce a significant amount of interest but also likely have an immediate and substantial improvement in their quality of life.

After all that empty promises, the mere sound of gunfire seemed insignificant for the time being. Two senior students even went so far as to insist on their "unwavering loyalty," almost messing up the seniority system.

One to say one,

Being "capital" actually feels pretty good.

With the involvement of educated individuals, certain conspiracies and schemes can be carried out with manpower available.
The task of checking the gang's assets would naturally be assigned to them, but that wouldn't start until tomorrow at the earliest. Right now, they couldn't be used as fresh troops, and they had nothing else to do, so Wayne had them "copy homework".

For example, the identities and specific crimes of the prisoners arrested by the detective agency yesterday and sent to the police station today were neatly written on small slips of paper, which the agents then distributed to residents in neighborhoods or bars along their routes.
Those who fired shots tonight were no exception. The intelligence team had already provided the detective agency with general information. After the people were brought back and verified, Seth and his team would each write down a piece of gossip.

Intellectuals can be sly in some ways. After roughly understanding Wayne's meaning, they could still find time to improvise.
For example, they made preliminary statistics on gang casualties over the past few days, compiled a kill ranking, and could also fabricate rumors based on clues, such as the Claw Gang suffering heavy losses last night and predicting a major counterattack, while the Sailor Gang remaining silent was probably just sitting back and reaping the benefits. They subtly stirred up trouble everywhere, and even helped the detective agency explain the cause and effect and play the victim.

Since it's not like it's a newspaper article, their little notes always start with phrases like "I heard," "According to insiders," or "Based on unverified information," etc.
Whether it's true or not is another matter, but written evidence is definitely more convincing than word of mouth.

It's a pity that typewriters these days still have a bit of a luxury car aspect; they're not widely available yet, so the detective agency can't get their hands on one anytime soon, which slightly limits their capabilities.

The bar business has been relatively slow these past few days, with many people afraid to go out. It's said that even the red-light district near the Rabbit Gang has been affected, but fortunately, those who still dare to go out aren't too afraid of trouble, and the news probably spreads to many people's ears overnight.

……

Meanwhile, at the Pryor family's estate,
Secretary of State Pryle, who usually doesn't care about trivial matters, overheard people talking about the commotion in the dock area last night. After thinking for a moment, he went alone to a terrace on the second floor overlooking the dance floor during a break in the ball.

Before he had even taken two sips of the wine, the butler was quickly summoned by his attentive personal servant.
Mr. Pryor spoke first about the important matter: "The witness's problem can now be resolved. It doesn't need to be done too secretly; as long as no results are found, it will be fine."

"Yes," the butler replied politely, nodding like an elegant waiter in a fine restaurant taking orders.

Mr. Pryor downed his drink in one gulp: "The dock area has been a bit chaotic lately. Those gangs may have forgotten who they are. It was the sailors' gang that started this, and some other gangs are taking the opportunity to cause trouble. Let Jason deal with them too, and then he'll be free."

The butler tacitly reached out and took the empty wine glass from his hand, asking, "Should I tell Warren Leitcher?"

“No need. Warren told me about Jason’s situation. Given his rank and crimes, if we help him suppress the pursuit, we’ll owe the Cathedral a huge favor. Jason has been imprisoned in that monastery for so long; that should be enough time for him to recover. Just get him out. He chose his own freedom, so he has to pay the price.”

"I understand." The butler nodded and left silently.

Mr. Pryor sighed slightly. Those fallen ones, though possessing extraordinary power, were ultimately still mortal beings, subject to the same necessities of life: food, clothing, shelter, birth, aging, sickness, and death. They were also subject to control or capture by the Church, and, more importantly, their lifespans could be significantly shortened.

Otherwise, he would also like to try becoming one of them and experience what it's like to do things himself.

Early the following morning, William Garcia, who had publicly accused the Secretary of State of deliberately deceiving the state legislature at a hearing, died in a high-security solitary confinement cell.
When he was discovered by the guards, his buttocks were dangling in the air and his legs were half-kneeling. The torn bed sheet in the cell had become a rope, hanging his neck from the iron bars of the monitoring window, which was at eye level with normal people.

According to the forensic examination, he died by suicide.

His name and public accusation did not appear in any newspapers until the results of the investigation were released.

(End of this chapter)