Part 2 The Faceless Man Chapter 143 Informant’s Fee
Ahem!
Mike Joseph took out his handkerchief, covered his mouth, and coughed several times.
The fog in the factory district was thicker than anywhere else, and the mid-air was gray with a yellowish tinge, as if floating with dust, and occasionally gave off a choking, pungent odor that was hard for Mr. Reporter, who had long been accustomed to the air of Bakerland, to endure.
He turned his head to Klein, who was also coughing low:
”I’ve always been very supportive of the government’s formation of the Kingdom’s Air Pollution Investigation Committee and the establishment of the Alkali Prosecutor, but I just realized today that the problem has become so serious.”
”If effective measures aren’t taken, it might turn into a tragedy in the future.” Klein struggled to open his clogged nose.
Maybe it will make the whole of Bekeland shrouded in a fog with a sight distance of no more than five meters, and the Evil God is likely to descend or be born in such a scenario …… he added silently.
Old Kohler, not quite understanding their conversation, cleared his throat with its thick phlegm and led the reporter and the detective around the watchmen and infiltrated a lead-white factory.
The place was dominated by female workers, who were working unprotected, and there was a noticeable dust that permeated the plant.
Looking at the “little particles” suspended and floating in the air, Klein saw poisonous gas, and the young women without masks were like lambs to the slaughter.
In this moment, it was as if he had returned to Tingen, back to the time when he had helped Sir Devereux to deal with his grievances.
He seemed to have witnessed the future of one of the women workers here; some of them had a throbbing pain in their heads, some had blurred vision, some became hysterical, some had blue lines coming out of their gums, and, eventually, they either became blind or died quickly.
It was like a large-scale blood sacrifice ritual, except the target was the flashing money symbol …… If the Aurora Order, the Rose School, and other cults could capitalize on something similar, as Lanlus did, there would be a big problem …… Klein covered his mouth and nose and silently staring.
Mike Joseph, on the other hand, whispered in shock and anger:
”How could they?”
”How could they?”
”Lead poisoning has been focused on in various newspapers and magazines for some time now, and they didn’t even take any precautions?”
”Can’t even spare a mask?”
”These factory owners are committing murder!”
What a journalist with a sense of justice, not too young, with a meaner style and quite good acting skills, but still retaining his beginnings …… But how does he know so much about lead poisoning? By the way, I had forgotten that I had asked Sir De Vere to widely publicize the dangers of lead poisoning in various newspapers and magazines …… It looks like he’s doing a pretty good job, but what’s the matter with some people when one or two of the lower class untouchables die? There were people waiting for a chance to work! Klein thought with a heavy heart.
Being a veteran reporter, Mike did not lose his head and left the lead and white factory after quietly observing and questioning a few workers who were changing shifts.
Subsequently, they entered one factory after another, and were put out of the mood for discussion by the dirty environment and the intense labor of the people inside.
Near noon, Klein suddenly realized that a number of people, mainly women, had gathered outside a factory ahead of them, and they were shouting something excitedly and trying to rush inside.
”What’s happening?” Mike questioned Old Kohler suspiciously.
Old Kohler was also puzzled:
”I’ll go over and ask.”
He jogged to the outside of that factory, blended into the crowd, and returned to Klein and Mike after several minutes interval.
”They’re going to smash those new machines!” The elder Kohler gasped and got to the point first.
”Why?” Mike hadn’t been in charge of similar news before and didn’t know much about it; Klein had a vague guess as to why.
The elder Kohler pointed to the factory:
”It’s a textile factory, they’re switching to the latest type of textile machines, and the manpower in charge of maneuvering them will be reduced along with it, like, I think it says, a third of the workers will be fired!”
”The women workers want to smash the machines and get their jobs back, or else, or else they, they probably won’t survive, or, they’ll just have to go and work as street girls.”
Mike’s mouth opened, and from the shape of his mouth he was vaguely inclined to say “stupid,” but, in the end, he said nothing, and only looked over in silence, without even making an approach.
”Go back, I’m almost done with my investigative interview.” After a long time, Mike sighed and said.
The three of them immediately turned around and traveled outside the factory area, silent all the way, no one spoke.
When they were about to part ways, Mike glanced at Klein and spoke in a low voice:
”Do you think that if the lead-white factories that don’t do protection were closed down, or if their owners were taken to court, those female workers would be able to find something else to do?”
Klein thought hard and said:
”If it’s just a few, it’s not a big problem, but some of the women workers might suffer from hunger and cold while looking for other jobs, and gradually lose their labor force, because they have no savings at all.”
”It would be a disaster if too many were closed at once in a short time, together with those who lost their jobs passively after the application of the new textile machines.”
There will be perhaps thousands or even tens of thousands of unemployed workers in the Bakerland factory district alone, who will have no food or clothing and wander the streets like living corpses, or lower their pay demands and compete for the jobs of other workers …… There is no telling how many people in the entire East End will die as a result of this, or have a much harder time, and it will be a hellish sight, even if the world Without transcendent power, it would still bring great disaster, and right now, various evil gods are secretly coveting and waiting …… Klein swallowed many words back into his stomach.
Mike once again became silent, and after paying the 10 pounds 6 Sools, left the factory area with smoke everywhere in a carriage.
Klein watched the carriage go away for a long time without speaking.
When he was a night watchman, he had known and touched the lives of those poor people, but none of them were as impressive as this one.
The all-round, three-dimensional observation presented an earthly abyss in its entirety before his eyes.
The Eastern District is really hiding danger everywhere, hiding fire ah, if not careful, it may be ignited by any cult …… Klein pondered for a few seconds and said:
”Kohler, I’d like you to keep an eye on all aspects of the Eastern District for me, well, outside of your work.”
”I’ll pay you to have the money to build up friendships with other workers, and every week, we’ll fix a time to meet at that cafe from before.”
Old Kohler’s eyes lit up:
”No problem!”
He did not mention the price, fully trusting the good Mr. Detective.
Klein deliberated:
”For each meeting, I’ll give you 15 Soules of funding plus pay, and an additional 5 Soules if the information you provide satisfies me.”
”One pound?” Old Kohler came out of his mouth in consternation.
The warmest and happiest years he’d ever lived had paid him a weekly salary of only 21 Soule, or 1 pound 1 Soule.
”Yes.” Klein nodded, “You have to be careful with what you say and do, don’t be too eager to gather information, and keep asking less and listening more, otherwise, you’ll be subjected to a certain amount of danger.”
This kind of informant fee, in theory, can be reimbursed, however, I am now the five pence party that brings its own dry food …… Klein gave a half sigh, half self-deprecating laugh.
……
Queens, within the luxurious villa of the Earl of Hall’s family, in the study that belonged exclusively to Miss Audrey.
This blonde-haired, blue-eyed young girl was listening to the psychology teacher, Ms. Yslante, and from time to time, she used her hand to stroke the big dog, Susie, who was squatting next to her.
Yslante Osisleka, who had waist-length black hair, noticed that the dog seemed to be listening attentively as well, and couldn’t help but smile and pause for two seconds.
Then she continued her presentation:
”Currently, there is no absolutely orthodox theory in the field of psychology, and several schools of thought exist, such as the psychoanalytic school, the personality analysis school, and the behavioral psychology school.”
”Of course, the study of the mind on the spirit is not only done by psychologists and psychiatrists, but many professionals in the field of occultism are also carrying out similar work, of which, the most famous is, heh, sorry, I’m straying from the textbook, let’s go back to what we were talking about earlier and start with the psychoanalytic school.”
Audrey, clearly hearing the other’s intent to seduce, asked with feigned ignorance and curiosity:
”Teacher, I’m more interested in knowing about the psychological aspects of research in the field of occultism.”
”You know, I’m very interested in this area.”
Yslante pursed her lips and frowned slightly in embarrassment:
”But this involves some oaths of secrecy, I mean, these theories, these research situations, belong to the secrets of certain occult circles and are only disseminated internally.”
”So …… that, so can I join?” Audrey asked expectantly, “They shouldn’t be involved in evil things, right?”
”Ha, how could they? That’s just a seminar organized by enthusiasts.” After mentioning it, Yslante took the initiative to digress, “We’ll talk about this matter later, let’s continue the course first.”
Knowing how to stop and take things one step at a time, if this is the general quality of the members of the Psychological Alchemy Society, then I don’t have to worry too much about the fact that they’re filled with lunatics and perverts like Mr. A. …… Audrey intentionally showed a look of reluctance to let go of that topic from just now, but she still had the good sense to listen to the theoretical basis of the Psychoanalytic School.
When this lesson was over and she sent Ethylant away, she returned to her study, cautiously closed the heavy wooden door, and said to the big golden-haired dog:
”Susie, what do you think of her?”
”She’s insincere!” Susie answered bluntly.
Then it cocked its head and said:
”But she talks about interesting things, and I think it’s more interesting than meat and snack crackers!”
Susie, do you want to be a psychiatrist someday? Specializing in treating animals for mental illness? For example, the horse …… Audrey, the one at the Greylint’s house who might be depressed, suddenly fell into a deep thought, considering whether she should prepare a set of special white coats and a pair of gold-rimmed glasses for Suzie to make it look a little more professional.