PFC Chapter 3260 Bloody New City (9)
Chapter 3260 Bloody New City (9)
Chapter 3260 Bloody New City (Part )
Bruce now had some understanding of why those people had unsteady steps, pale faces, and sweat all over their foreheads when they walked out before.
It was much the same when Gordon and Nightwing walked out.
He came out of the lounge and saw Schiller writing something at his desk. When he saw him coming, he looked up at him and said, "Aren't you going to take care of the matter in Area X15?"
"Do I have to go?" Bruce felt like he was asking for trouble. Schiller was so busy that he wished he could chop him in half. The Pale Knight should not be idle either, but he was just watching the fun here.
But unexpectedly, Schiller shook his head and said, "If you don't want to go, forget it."
"Do you have any other ideas?"
"I guess so." Schiller looked up and shouted to the outside of the door: "Ms. Weiss, please come in. I have two new appointments here. Please arrange for someone to receive them..."
Ms. Weiss came in, took the appointment list and went out again. Bruce asked curiously, "Who is it?"
"Two reporters." Schiller took out two documents from the cabinet next to him and placed them in front of Bruce, then said, "One is from Gotham TV, and the other is from Gotham Daily."
"Why are they visiting you?"
"They are not here to visit me, but to visit the mayor. However, the mayor is ill now, so I am here to convey his wishes to him."
"…What do you want to convey?"
"I'm apologizing, mainly for what happened in District X15." Schiller explained without Bruce even asking, "TV and newspapers are the most accessible channels for ordinary people. Even poor people can easily see them. We must show our attitude in this regard."
"But if you apologize, doesn't that mean you're admitting it was your fault?"
"Anything that happens in this city is the mayor's fault," Schiller said. "You have to take this kind of responsibility to gain the trust of the citizens."
"But they will take advantage of this." Bruce sat down opposite and said, "They originally planned to put the blame for the pollution on the Pale Knight and alienate him from the people who support him."
"That is why we need to apologize as soon as possible, immediately launch cleanup and rescue operations, and compensate the people for their losses as soon as possible."
"But we don't have that much money, let alone compensation, it's even impossible to clean up the pollution in the forest land."
“No, we can’t clean up the pollution, not because we don’t have the money, but because the government is shutting down tomorrow.”
Bruce was stunned.
"Because the government is shutting down tomorrow, we have the best plan today to save the city, but alas, the government is shutting down tomorrow."
"Isn't this a bad idea?" Bruce said. "Isn't this a lie?"
Schiller leaned back on the mayor's office chair and said, "Do you think you can do anything else besides cheat people when you sit in this chair?"
There was a knock on the door, and Ms. Weiss walked in with a male reporter. Schiller walked over, shook hands with him, and then took him to the meeting area.
The two began to talk about pollution control. Schiller spoke in great detail, even down to the precise time of work, which company's team would be hired, what equipment would be used, and what compensation measures would be taken for certain households in several nearby streets...
It doesn't sound like bullshit at all.
Then another female reporter came, and Schiller used the same words, and the details matched exactly, and it didn't feel like something he had made up on the spot.
After the reporters left, Bruce asked, "If we had the money, you would go through with this plan, right? ... You would?"
Schiller smiled but said nothing.
"If you don't want to solve the pollution problem, then I'll give you a quick job," Schiller said. "Help me find a few moving companies and a few renovation teams. They have to be quick and efficient."
"What do you want to do?"
"Don't ask so many questions, just go."
Bruce actually wanted to stay, but he thought that everyone was very busy, and it would not be good for him to slack off here. After all, it was just hiring a moving company, which was not that difficult.
"Okay, when do you want them to come?"
"After get off work today, when everyone has left, ask them to bring in a few more trucks and more people, but don't make too much noise."
Bruce felt confused, but he went anyway.
When he finished making arrangements and came back, the entire city hall building had become filled with anger. Bruce asked carefully and found out that the mayor had just announced that all civil servants in the municipal system would have their salaries cut by 50%.
Not only that, the supply of snacks and coffee was cancelled, employees were required to go to work one hour earlier every morning, public transportation and fuel costs were not reimbursed, and they were required to work overtime voluntarily without pay.
Even the cats that were originally kept inside the building are no longer kept. The plane trees are going to be cut down and replaced with trees that are easier to care for. As for holiday benefits, don't even think about it. Even the elevator has to stop for five hours every day to save electricity.
The entire building was in an uproar. Bruce even felt that even if Schiller did not arrange anyone to act as an insider, the strike was a foregone conclusion. Given the extent of the cuts in salaries and benefits, wasn't this purely working at one's own expense?
But no matter how much they complained, there was nothing they could do. Most people couldn't see the mayor at all. By the time it was almost time to get off work, the atmosphere in the building had become a little strange. It was obvious that an insider was behind the action.
Everyone was silent tacitly, exchanging glances with each other, and some even felt a little gloating.
Before the reporters left, many employees asked them what the mayor had said, and the reporters had no need to keep it secret, so they told them that the mayor already had a foolproof plan for dealing with this pollution crisis.
Unexpectedly, the mayor announced a reduction in civil servants' benefits at this time. Without people to do the work, no matter how good the policy is, it will not be implemented. Who will connect with the pollution control company? Who will select and arrange transportation equipment? Who will count the number of affected residents? Who will calculate the specific amount of compensation?
This is simply destroying the Great Wall and digging one's own grave.
For some reasons, the employees no longer dragged their feet when leaving get off work, and they left as soon as it was time to get off work.
It was just getting dark at this time, and one van after another slowly drove into the parking lot of the building.
As Bruce looked shocked, Schiller directed the workers skillfully, "Come on, move all the tables and chairs away. Don't forget these paintings. Have someone unscrew the light bulbs and load them onto the truck."
"Take this coffee machine away from me. Be careful. If even one coffee bean spills out, I won't pay you. And these two water cups... What? One corner is chipped off? Take those too. There's bound to be someone who wants them on the second-hand market!"
"Those people over there, go to the bathroom and take down the toilets. They are all expensive smart toilets made in Germany. Take down the sinks completely. Don't throw away the water pipes. Be careful not to break the mirrors..."
"Clean up the utility room. Be sure to take the disposable shoe covers over there. Don't leave any pair behind. Remove everything that can be removed from the windowsill. Also remove the balcony guardrails and take them away."
"The floor of the mayor's office was pried off. Be careful not to leave any scratches when prying, otherwise it won't sell for a good price. The decorative wall panels here were all removed, and the wallpaper was also peeled off."
Schiller stood in the middle of the hall and clapped his hands, saying, "Listen up! If there's a room that's not restored to its original state, you won't get a penny of the bonus! Hurry up! Hurry up!"
Bruce slowly turned his head and looked at Schiller and said, "Let's not talk about anything else. How are you going to pay them their bonuses? Do you have money?"
"No, but it's not me who will pay for it. You'll know when the time comes."
"You looted the municipal office building, what will happen after the government reopens?" Bruce asked.
"I don't mind working in a rough-hewn room," Schiller said. "I can sit directly on the floor, and with the fog, I can go without food, water, or toilet."
"That……"
Bruce suddenly realized who the biggest victim of Schiller's actions was.
Who else could it be? Of course it was the people who worked here. How could they go to the bathroom without a toilet? It was fine that there were no modern equipment like a copier, but there was not even a desk or chair. Could they really sit on the floor to work?
"If they feel uncomfortable, they can decorate it themselves." Schiller nodded.
"Who would pay a decoration company?!" Bruce said.
"Then they just have to endure it, or resign," Schiller shrugged. "But I think the latter is unlikely, after all, the big rats behind them are still counting on them to poach employees."
Only then did Bruce realize the viciousness of Schiller's move.
Gotham’s government system has been infiltrated by 99%, which means that almost all employees working here now have bosses other than the mayor.
Their purpose of working here is not to earn that meager salary, but to drain Gotham's municipal funds for their masters and then get bonuses from their masters.
So they can hardly resign. Even though there is no civil service exam in the United States, stable jobs in government departments are still very popular, and it takes some effort to arrange for someone to come in.
Now Schiller has cleared out the municipal office building. After they came here, the working environment is worse than in Iraq, but they can't resign, and they can't not come to work, so they can only endure it.
But not everyone can tolerate it, so they have to go to the mayor and ask him to redecorate it. But the mayor is now in Wayne Manor, and no matter how powerful they are, they can't break into Batman's home.
Then they can only go to their immediate superior, because it was you who forced me to work here, and now my working conditions are bad, so of course you should help me improve them.
But the people behind them are crazy to come and renovate the municipal building. They decorated it so luxuriously in the past because all the mayors were their lackeys.
But now the Pale Knight has not given in to them at all, how can they come here to help the Pale Knight create a safe and comfortable office environment? Then who is whose lackey?
If the people behind the scenes are unhappy, the employees can only endure it, but they are human beings, not robots, nor real dogs. They have their own needs and will instinctively hate people who ignore their needs.
Although it was Schiller who demolished the office building, it was actually their master behind the scenes who directly ignored their needs. This contradiction is almost irreconcilable.
History has proven countless times that it is impossible to expect a horse to run without giving it grass to eat.
By that time, even if there are still some people who are loyal to their masters, most ordinary people will still prefer to seek benefits and avoid harm, and move in the direction that is more conducive to their survival.
Even if he is unwilling to risk his life, Bruce believes that with Schiller's ability, there will be a lot of room for maneuver as long as he relaxes his hands and turns a blind eye.
After working for most of the night, I finally dismantled most of the soft furnishings in the municipal building.
Bruce and Schiller got into the first car in the convoy. As soon as the door closed, Bruce asked, "Where are we going with all this stuff?"
Schiller smiled.
"Wayne Manor."
Batman: ? ?