Chapter 612: Rumors
The Dock Area was a peculiar place.
On the surface, Richmond's high society seemed to adopt a high-and-mighty attitude, turning a blind eye to the state of public order there.
However, in reality, because goods representing large sums of money needed to constantly flow and be distributed through this area, many subtle rumors from the Dock Area often became exceptionally jarring, and important figures could quickly detect any movement from afar.
Some important figures only briefly paid attention during social interactions, then disregarded it:
"I heard the City Hall sent health commissioners to the Dock Area to screen for plague. Is that true?"
"Indeed. Members of the Health Committee mentioned this last night. Those people have official authorization, and it's said there's an instruction from the Cathedral involved. However, the church hasn't issued any warnings, so it shouldn't affect normal trade."
"Then it's probably more illegal immigrants with diseases who smuggled themselves in by ship. In my personal opinion, the moral management of captains should be strengthened. Those unhealthy illegal immigrants should be asked to leave the deck or be drowned in the sea before approaching the East Coast."
"Ah... that won't do. I've already prepared to arrange for people to go to the Old Continent to purchase surplus war medicine, and I've also booked some newspaper news, striving to increase the state government and City Hall's investment in health next year. Before the budget approval comes down, your moral proposal really can't be put forward."
"Heh heh, that's just a joke. But speaking of the Old Continent, it's said that the medicine procurement volume in several countries there has stagnated for a while. Besides medicine, what other goods do you think are suitable for cargo ships to bring back recently?"
"You might consider purchasing some ammunition. If there's a channel, the price of stock should be very affordable, and the profit from transporting it to the west might be even higher than tobacco and whiskey."
"..."
Some important figures were more concerned about their own and their families' health, as well as tangible, stable interests:
"Recently, have someone keep an eye out and determine the scope of the health co-investigation commissioners' key screenings. Don't let our cargo transport be affected, and people and goods with health risks should not approach the manor recently."
"Yes. The person who just came from the dock reported that today they mainly went to the areas where the Ireland people live, as well as the several docks controlled by Mr. Schwartz. It's said that some small-scale conflicts also occurred."
"The Ireland people's residential area?!"
"Mm. The Ireland people are still maintaining restraint and don't seem to have any intention of retaliating. They've temporarily acquiesced to the screening."
"That's not far from our docks! Plague is a big deal that can affect business. If those Ireland people can't think clearly, then find a way to replace them. I don't believe any gentleman in Richmond is willing to bear the blame of the public. No matter who is behind the restrainers, such conflicts will not be allowed to continue."
"Yes. I've already informed our gangs at those docks. They won't affect the plague screening."
"Go ask who is specifically in charge of this matter and find a way to make them prioritize screening the areas related to us. If there are people who have already been infected, you know what to do."
"Don't worry. Those gang members are very good at creating accidents."
"..."
Some important figures were worried about their interests being affected and were more concerned about specific details:
"Are you sure the church and the City Hall are screening for plague this time?"
"From what we can see so far, that's indeed the case. There are no abnormal personnel movements at the Police Station; it's an investigation arranged by the Cathedral. However, not many people have been dispatched, so they might have only detected some signs. The private Detective Agency that previously helped the Cathedral investigate cases also participated in the screening. They've recently prosecuted many gang members and might take the opportunity to clear out some gangs."
"That great detective who was previously suspected of murdering a journalist? If he's rational, he wouldn't start retaliating before the trial results are out. Could he be investigating something else?"
"That person seems to have been getting closer to the Beaton Family recently, and it's possible he's investigating firearms smuggling. 維多克·比頓 has re-established stable relations with the army and militia. Old Bask might be trying to come back and get a piece of the pie. As for those few neurotic Windsor people, they didn't even arrive on America ships when they came over, so they have nothing to do with us."
"That's best. After the matter is over, find a way to make them leave as soon as possible. The Whig Party has already disappeared. If Old Bask is still not content with retirement, then first chop off his tentacles in the City Hall and replace him with a mayor who respects local interests more. How much longer do those Windsor people need to stay in Richmond?"
"When they disembarked, they said it would take at least three months, otherwise the effect might not be ideal—just enough to coincide with the end of someone's mayoral term."
"Is the no-confidence motion ready? That guy has accumulated considerable prestige among ordinary citizens. I don't plan to leave him a seat in the state assembly. This time, we must end him and the people he promoted, just like we sent away Paster Beaton. For a commoner to resign from the mayoral position due to fault is already glorious enough."
"Counting those gentlemen who are still neutral for now, as long as the momentum is strong enough at that time, the votes for the no-confidence motion will definitely be sufficient. They just don't want to lose their votes by offending some citizens, but no one will mind their party having more potential seats. Even if the Beaton Family exhausts all their favors, they probably won't be able to change the situation."
"That's best. Pay attention, if the church investigates those few Windsor people, if necessary, cut ties in advance. They are all wanted criminals, and even if it offends Military Intelligence Section 7, the Windsor authorities will only express appreciation for their capture."
"No problem. I've even made the worst-case scenario plan. If all else fails, we'll let a few of our docks and warehouses have accidents too. Then no one will be able to blame us."
"Alright. Oh, by the way, what exactly did those people from South Carolina transport last time? There didn't seem to be any eye-catching goods ashore."
"To maintain trust between us, I didn't arrange for anyone to investigate. They had O'Sullivan's people kill all the informed laborers and a few gang consumables overnight, and a few others were killed by themselves in advance. It's said that the blood on those few corpses was drained, so they're probably also some 'guests' from the Old Continent."
"..."
As for the small figures who were actually closely related to the incident, they often felt somewhat powerless in the face of such a situation:
"What?! I'm not allowed to take action to deal with those outsiders?!"
"Yes. Mr. O'Sullivan, you should be able to do it, right?"
"Those guys have been walking around my territory for almost an entire day, chaining my men! I've been patient enough. Can't they just have an accident in someone else's territory tonight?"
"I'm sorry, but no. They have special authorization and now represent the face of many gentlemen in Richmond, at least for now."
"I know they were sent by the City Hall, and they seem different from those weak tax thieves from before. Otherwise, they wouldn't be alive now!"
"The situation might be more complex than you imagine. Just bear with it for a while longer. How are those few Windsor people doing now?"
"They're still living in that dilapidated house they rented, going out at night dressed in different disguises every day... It was precisely to prevent official personnel from getting too close that I arranged for my subordinates to focus on expelling outsiders from the surrounding streets. Now our gang is going to become everyone's drunken joke in the Dock Area!"
"I can only express regret about that. Do you need me to convey these words to Mr. Prior?"
The wine glass was angrily smashed to the ground, followed by a slightly helpless reply, "No need. If there's a problem, I'll personally report it to the Secretary of State."
