The officials attending the meeting did not expect Detective Meteor of the Seawall District Secret Intelligence Bureau to directly retort against Councilor Virgil, showing no regard for his face.
Virgil's expression became quite complex.
"Detective Meteor..." Councilor Virgil's tone turned severe. "Every year, the Storm City Administration allocates substantial funds to various Secret Intelligence Bureaus to provide subsidy funds. This is to ensure that in matters involving city safety, the Secret Intelligence Bureaus can assist the city.
This point is formally backed by an agreement between the City Administration and each Secret Intelligence Bureau, and it has been approved by the Imperial Secret Intelligence Directorate.
Since the City Administration has issued a commission for investigation, the Seawall District Secret Intelligence Bureau, receiving city subsidies, has the obligation to fulfill its responsibilities.
Do not shirk your duties! When it is time for the Security Bureau to answer questions, I will call upon them. For now, you need to give us an explanation."
Counciman Virgil continued to press Lucas. The potential city security crisis caused by Ela was still unknown.
If Ela could be caught promptly, it would showcase the leadership of the City Safety Committee.
If Ela caused catastrophic events, a scapegoat would be needed to bear the brunt of the aristocracy's anger.
Since Ela first appeared in the Seawall District, the Seawall District Secret Intelligence Bureau would be held responsible for not preventing the crisis.
Lucas whispered to Karina, "Give me the financial report from last month for the City Administration."
"Yes, Inspector."
Karina quickly found the financial report among the materials and handed it to Lucas.
Lucas glanced at the data and loudly said, "Councilman Virgil, I have here the City Administration's public financial report from last month.
The allocation for the Seawall District... The Seawall District Secret Intelligence Bureau received 2 million Imperial Marks, while the Seawall District Security Bureau received 26 million Imperial Marks.
Councilman Virgil, is this what you call the City Administration's subsidy to the Seawall District Secret Intelligence Bureau? Hmph!"
Lucas let out a cold laugh.
His meaning was clear: with so little funding, don't expect us to do much work.
Councilor Virgil angrily pounded the table and shouted, "Detective Meteor, mind your attitude! You are a senior imperial official, not a mercenary working for money."
Lucas retorted sharply, "Councilman Virgil, you were the one who started talking about money. Furthermore... I think you need to explain to the officials attending this meeting.
Why did you initially assign the Seawall District Secret Intelligence Bureau to investigate these cases, instead of the Seawall District Security Bureau, which receives 26 million Marks from the city every month?
How many imperial agents can 2 million support? How many security officers can 26 million support? Councilman, what role do you play in this crisis?"
Lucas's counterattack left Virgil red-faced.
Initially, assigning the investigation of the "Nielcolone's Heart" theft to the Seawall District Secret Intelligence Bureau was a way to assert dominance, reminding these agents who held the purse strings.
After Lucas took office, Virgil continuously issued communiqués, partly to tie up the Secret Intelligence Bureau's resources, aiding the Security Bureau in gaining control over the docks in Seawall District.
Who would have thought Ela would steal the Book of Calamity from Arcanum Academy! Now, trying to find a scapegoat, Virgil found himself countered.
If he couldn't explain clearly, people might suspect his involvement with Ela.
"Inspector Meteor... The 2 million is a subsidy from Storm City, and you still receive your salaries and operational funds from the Empire..."
"Councilman Virgil, what does the Empire's funding have to do with you?"
"You!"
At this moment, a middle-aged man in an Imperial Navy admiral's uniform sitting beside Virgil said, "Virgil, my time is very tight, please get the meeting back on track quickly."
"Yes, Rear Admiral Nelson." Virgil nodded apologetically to the military representative. "My concern for city safety caused me to lose my composure."
Virgil then turned back to Lucas, "We can set aside the previous matters for now... Ela's theft of the Book of Calamity has escalated to an imperial security event. We all want to hear Detective Meteor's perspective on this incident.
What methods does the Seawall District Secret Intelligence Bureau plan to use to capture Ela?"
Seeing that Virgil was still unwilling to let him off, Lucas said, "Seawall District is the largest district in Storm City, with an estimated permanent population exceeding 700,000. Our Seawall District Secret Intelligence Bureau has 248 agents on staff.
With so few people trying to search for and capture the elf Ela in such a large district, it's absolutely not enough.
I plan to recruit a temporary force of over 3,000 agents to conduct a thorough search, household by household. As long as the elf is in the Seawall District, she will definitely leave traces. With our Imperial agents' professional skills, we can definitely find her.
However... currently, the Seawall District Secret Intelligence Bureau doesn't have enough funds to recruit this temporary force or to cover the expenses of such an extensive search.
Therefore, we hope the City Administration can allocate us a special fund, estimated to be..."
Lucas glanced at Karina.
Karina quickly calculated the expense in her head and wrote on a piece of paper: 400 million Imperial Marks per month.
"400 million Imperial Marks per month."
Karina was stunned for a moment and then checked the number she wrote.
That's correct!
Virgil didn't expect Lucas to dare to ask for 400 million, clearly treating the City Administration like fools who can be easily used!
"Detective Meteor, please be serious. Adding personnel for the search will indeed incur extra expenses, but it absolutely cannot reach 400 million Imperial Marks per month. And do you think it will take a month to capture Ela?"
Lucas replied, "Salaries are paid monthly. No matter when Ela is caught, we must pay for that month in full.
As for other expenses... Shouldn't we compensate homeowners for entering their homes for searches?
Ela is so powerful that capturing her will require organizing a suicide squad. Who would risk their lives without being paid?
If people die, there needs to be compensation. Informants providing information need bounty payments.
Additionally, I plan to issue a 100 million Imperial Mark bounty for Ela. The City Administration's 2 million Imperial Mark bounty is too stingy.
I heard that the head of Mad Axe Gang leader Jumu is worth 5,000 gold notes, equivalent to 25 million Imperial Marks.
Ela, who can steal the Ruhad Staff from Headmaster Willard, deserves a 100 million bounty, don't you think?"
When Lucas heard that the City Administration had offered a 2 million Imperial Mark bounty for Ela, he felt it was unfair.
Even if other things couldn't be accomplished, he at least wanted to raise Ela's value.
Set a small goal of 100 million first! Councilman Virgil was so angry he could only laugh.
Seawall District Secret Intelligence Bureau compensating homeowners for searches?
'If you're going to scam money, at least come up with a plausible reason!'