The Shadow of Great Britain-Chapter 517 - 272: Timely Rain Hastings (4K2)_2

"Sorry, I just heard someone mention the word ’prostitute.’ According to the recent bill passed by Parliament and the newly revised ’Town Police Clause’ by the Home Office, due to its derogatory connotations and unique social stigma, the term is now officially prohibited from use. Under the ordinance, any individual or group using this term shall be subjected to three to seven days of labor, so..."

The Civil Servants turned their heads upon hearing this to gaze at the young police officer who had appeared among them at some unknown time, a bandage still hanging from his neck, and his assistant.

"Inspector Hasting, and... Officer Bonaparte?"

Arthur, who was previously pretending to supervise Louis writing a case report, looked up in feigned surprise and asked, "You know me?"

Upon recognizing Arthur’s face, the Civil Servant paused for a moment, then exclaimed with joy, "It really is you, sir!"

Arthur frowned and remained silent for a while before suddenly saying, "Sir, cozying up to the police after being caught red-handed in a crime is futile. Looking at the way you are dressed, you must be a respectable person. If you do not wish to be punished with labor, paying a fine is also an option. Seeing that this is your first offense and the circumstances are less severe, just ensure it won’t happen again and pay three shillings and this will be behind us."

The Civil Servant quickly defended himself, "Mr. Hasting, have you forgotten? We’ve met before, earlier this year when you came to the Home Office to submit the equipment requisition for the Police Intelligence Department. I am, Frank Bart, from the Home Office."

"Frank Bart?" Arthur pondered and said, "Submitting equipment requisition? I’m sorry, that was too long ago; could you be more specific, please?"

The Civil Servant eagerly added, "That day was rainy, the wind was quite strong, and there was an issue with the format of your equipment list. You had to run to Whitehall several times, even fell once, not until the fourth trip that you finally..."

The Civil Servant stopped himself mid-sentence, not waiting for Arthur to tell him to shut up; he simply closed his mouth and said no more.

Bart awkwardly chuckled, "Mr. Hasting, if it’s regarding that incident, then I apologize. But you must understand, it’s departmental regulations, and we are just following the rules."

This time, before Arthur could speak, Louis, who had just finished writing the case report, tore a sheet from his notebook and spoke out, "Commander, according to the regulations, we need to take this Mr. Bart to Scotland Yard. You’ve been injured and are inconveniently mobile; why not let me take care of it?"

Upon hearing this, Bart quickly changed his tune, "Mr. Hasting, rules are rules, but people are inherently flexible. That day, the main issue was the Home Office had run out of forms, otherwise, I wouldn’t have had to send you back and forth to the print shop for a reprint. But rest assured, the Home Office has recruited quite a few newcomers this year, such a basic mistake definitely won’t occur again, especially not with you."

A young Civil Servant beside them saw a police inspector from Scotland Yard managing to lord over senior department officials and couldn’t help but slightly frown.

Seeing this, the leading Civil Servant hastily glared at them, then turned to Arthur with a smile, "Inspector Hasting, everyone knows how diligent you are in your duties, always preferring to handle matters personally. However, please allow me to offer some untimely opinions; small tasks like submitting equipment lists, having someone of your rank deal with them is somewhat overkill.

But I also understand, given that at the beginning of the year, the Police Intelligence Department was short-staffed, and often you couldn’t find anyone to share your tasks. This point will certainly be considered in the Home Office’s budget allocation for next year, and adding a few civilian positions in critical departments like the Police Intelligence Department is absolutely necessary. Don’t you think so?"

At these words, Arthur finally showed a smile, shaking the other party’s hand, "Thank you for your understanding of the work of subordinate departments; our tasks are indeed arduous. However, considering that other departments are equally busy, I have been restraining myself from submitting a request for staff expansion to the Home Office. Your proactive suggestion to add six police chief rank civilian positions indeed addresses our urgent needs."

At this, the other Civil Servants drew a sharp breath.

They had not expected Arthur to use such a minor issue to blackmail the Home Office, let alone boldly demand the addition of six positions, and that they must be at the police chief salary grade.

A police chief’s annual expense amounts to about 50 pounds in salary supplement; six would total 300 pounds.

And the appalling fine was merely three shillings, marking a difference of two thousand times in cost.

Bart, who had just been displaying a shrinking demeanor, upon hearing this price, couldn’t help but turn pale, and he asked, "Mr. Hasting, I know you’ve been educated at the university. So you should know that three shillings are less than three hundred pounds."

Arthur spoke mildly, "The relationship between three and six thousand wasn’t directly taught to me by the professors at the University of London. However, as far as I am aware, according to the general knowledge of the neighboring Department of Classical Literature, the knowledge gained from tuition of twenty-three pounds six shillings is usually greater than what is learned from one hundred pounds. Therefore, I infer that three shillings could also be greater than three hundred pounds."

"What?"

When Bart heard this, thinking Arthur had gone mad, he was about to mock him when the old Civil Servant beside him agreed outright.