The next day, Mike came to the Tingen Squad's Detective Agency again to continue the investigation he and Klein had planned for the day.
Mike's investigation would last three days in total. Reliable detectives had been hard to find lately, so he offered fourteen pounds. Klein naturally accepted with pleasure-normally, a commission like this would pay around ten pounds at most. This was nearly fifty percent more.
Klein and Mike rode a carriage toward East Balam Dock, intending to visit the Dockworkers' Association.
Yesterday, Mike had completed his preliminary interviews and initial investigative notes. After applying to his newspaper for permission, he had decided to interview the dockworkers and gather firsthand material.
After all, so many reporters were investigating conditions in the East Borough. Without news that could attract widespread attention, how could he make his paper sell?
Although newspaper sales were merely a string of cold numbers to Mike, the bonus in his hands would be warm pounds.
Of course, to avoid offending certain important people, Mike had also sought his editor-in-chief's approval.
Soon, the two arrived at East Balam Dock.
Fresh sea air drifted into their noses. Although the stench of Backlund's famously foul air still lingered in their nostrils, the sea breeze diluted it somewhat, lifting Klein's spirits for a moment.
Now this is air people can actually breathe! Environmental action here really can't wait. Klein grumbled inwardly and looked at the two-story building before him.
Pushing open the front door, Klein surveyed the interior of the Dockworkers' Guild.
The layout was very basic. There was no receptionist, nor a spacious lobby. The entire place exuded an unadorned sense of poverty.
The stairs to the second floor stood in the middle, flanked by corridors packed with offices. The floor had simply been paved with cement-it immediately reminded