Chapter 586: Truce
Another week passed. During this time, Jimmy was said to have gone to court twice. Lina was still busy and had even turned a specially cleared small cabin into a rudimentary archive room.
The workshop here was modified and adjusted. With the local supply of meat and cheese, the current cost and taste basically met Mr. Wayne's expectations, at least theoretically satisfying the condition of "economically feasible."
The mill, which required the highest level of technical skill, was initially completed. For the first month, the technicians from Brooks Factory would come twice a week to check on wear and tear and usage. After that, the intervals would be lengthened.
The supporting facilities in the workshop were also completed one after another. Although the style still looked a bit "empty," living and low-load production were no longer an issue.
The weak point, however, turned out to be "manpower." The mill and the design that could barely be called a "production line" did indeed reduce the physical intensity of the workshop.
But loading, unloading, and transportation still required people. Parker alone definitely couldn't handle it, and Lina wouldn't agree to Mr. Wayne using the chef like a beast of burden. It was fine for the Agents to help for a short time, but using them long-term seemed a bit wasteful.
It wasn't impossible to hire people specifically for workshop production, but in that case, the Detective Agency would have to pay more attention to the issue of "Extraordinary Person" as usual.
Moreover, if some commercial technical knowledge leaked out, it would be cultivating competitors for themselves.
Mr. Wayne currently didn't have a much better solution, so everyone could only make do for now.
Some of the pure transportation work was "outsourced" to some slaves from the nearby Plantation – this was their "part-time job." The Plantation Overseer turned a blind eye to this out of respect for Mr. Wayne, and the payment Mr. Wayne had to make was mainly raw meat, as well as products like luncheon meat and processed cheese, which turned out to be very cheap.
Lina's little dark-skinned maid was the main facilitator of this matter. With her as the communication bridge between the two sides, the cooperation was quite pleasant. They didn't have to worry about being beaten or scolded at the workshop, and the workshop didn't have to worry about them slacking off.
Unfortunately, this was obviously not a long-term solution. After all, they were people from the Plantation, and no matter how enthusiastic they were about their "part-time job," the time they could come was still limited.
Mr. Wayne's view on slavery was generally critical, and he had never thought about buying slaves or anything like that.
But now, looking at the numbers, damn, in the long run, it really was more cost-effective to use slaves...
Apart from the slightly larger initial investment, the rest of the time was almost all about getting returns, and it was also more reliable in terms of confidentiality. Even if someone ran away, there would be a slave patrol to help you catch them back.
Hmm...
As expected, when money is involved, it's easy for one's "Dao heart to become unstable."
Mr. Wayne was contemplating in his small cabin when Doug came and knocked on the door. After being granted permission, he only poked his head in:
"Sir, James Damody from the Dock Area is here to visit and hopes to meet with you."
That "Jimmy"? What is he doing here at this time?
Mr. Wayne nodded, "Take him to the reception room. I'll be there shortly."
...
The small cabin in the workshop specifically used for receiving guests was actually a small cabin.
To make it presentable, the location was chosen not far from the river, which could be considered to have "scenery." The water quality would not be stained by the workshop's production wastewater, and it even had a restroom with running water provided by a water tank.
James Damody still had the look of "the situation is stronger than me, I have to bow my head, but my attitude is very good."
After greeting Mr. Wayne, he quickly got to the point, lowering his head slightly, with both hands resting on his knees:
"Mr. Wayne, over the past two weeks, three members of our gang have been brought to judgment by the court, and the evidence was provided by your Detective Agency's Agent Willie – I thought that after I told you the truth, we had already 'called a truce' between us."
"Called a truce?"
Mr. Wayne's face was expressionless, "Originally, I hoped you could accuse the mastermind and overturn the previous reporter case, but you refused. Then I myself became a suspect in another reporter's murder case and am still required by the police not to leave Richmond. It's hard to believe this is just a coincidence."
James Damody looked a little wronged: "I saw the relevant news in the newspaper, but that has nothing to do with our gang."
Mr. Wayne nodded, "I understand completely. So our Agents are just cooperating with the case investigation normally. If this is a war, then you should go to the judge or the prosecutor and ask them to call a truce."
"This..."
James Damody hesitated to speak, and Mr. Wayne didn't engage, continuing to contemplate feasible ways to reduce costs for the workshop. He even started recalling which young townspeople in Blackstone Town might be called over to help.
The silence lasted for several minutes before James Damody finally patted his thighs lightly with both hands, "As I said before, I would rather take the blame myself than testify in court against others. But if I tell you who committed the case that involved you, can your Detective Agency stop investigating our gang members?"
Holy crap?!
I just tried to bluff, and it really was you guys who did it.
Mr. Wayne thought for a moment: "Do you have credible evidence? Or are you still only able to tell me the 'facts' but won't admit them in court?"
James Damody spread his hands, "We are gangsters. Personally, as long as I can confirm who did something, that's enough; I don't need evidence."
That's true... After all, that's indeed their corporate culture.
Mr. Wayne continued to maintain a poker face, "Tell me about it. If the answer is satisfactory, our Detective Agency has many gang cases that need to be investigated at the moment, and some might be able to be put off for a while – at least you don't have to worry about our Detective Agency using gang methods against you."
"The mastermind should be Mr. Schwartz, but the specific people who did it should be the 'Sailor Gang' from the Dock Area."
James Damody answered very quickly, so quickly that Mr. Wayne wondered if he had "asked for too little."
Mr. Wayne smiled, "I think this is the first time I've heard Mr. Schwartz's name from you. Aren't you helping him keep his secret anymore?"
The small gang leader sitting opposite Mr. Wayne shrugged. His thinking was still cunning: "Actually, I've already discovered that the letters I secretly kept have mysteriously disappeared, and they might be in your Detective Agency's hands now. In that case, it's better to choose honesty."
"Does the 'Sailor Gang' you mentioned happen to have overlapping business with your gang?" Mr. Wayne asked.
James Damody seemed very frank, "Actually, the degree of overlap isn't too high. They mainly operate near a few docks, collecting 'intermediary fees' from laborers. Of course, they also help Mr. Schwartz collect some loans. If our gang should go to court, then they are even more qualified. I believe this also aligns with your Detective Agency's principle of 'combating crime.'"
Good heavens, is this driving a tiger to swallow a wolf?
Mr. Wayne gladly extended his hand to the other party, "If the situation is true, at least until their gang is cleared out, our Detective Agency will not file any more charges against you and your people."
"Thank you very much." James Damody quickly reached out his hand and intended to let go after a light grip.
Mr. Wayne smiled and didn't let his hand withdraw, "Our Detective Agency is short-handed, and we are also very curious about the other gangs in the Dock Area. If you can provide more clues, your gang's matters might be able to be put off until after theirs are resolved."
James Damody's eyes shifted slightly, "Which gangs are you interested in now?"
"I'm not sure, perhaps all of them."
Mr. Wayne released the other party's hand, tapped the small table next to him, and then said to Doug, who had been standing outside the door, "Go ask Lina to see who she plans to arrange to learn the specific follow-up situation from Mr. James."
