In a secluded courtyard of the City Lord's Mansion, the lights were on full display.
Robert had a stack of documents and bills beside him, and he was carefully checking them with several staff members from the City Lord's Mansion.
Michael stood to the side with his hands behind his back, his expression slightly gloomy.
Many officials from the City Lord's Mansion were sitting in the conference room, looking at the scene with some confusion, wondering why the City Lord had called them here so late at night.
However, since the City Lord hadn't spoken, everyone remained silent. They wondered why Robert, who had been at the Catering Association for over a year, was here again, seemingly the mastermind behind today's events. Was the City Lord planning to transfer him back? Or was today's incident related to the Catering Association?
Everyone was lost in thought, and many were already sleepy, but they had to force themselves to stay awake and sit up.
"City Lord, all the bills have been tallied. These bills show the Catering Association's profits from selling ranking voting slips from the beginning of this year to now, totaling 35,600,000 copper coins. However, the Catering Association only has 2,000,000 copper coins in its deposit account at Buffett Money Shop. After deducting the salaries of the association's staff, the whereabouts of 30,000,000 copper coins are still unknown." Robert stood up and looked at Michael as he spoke.
"30,000,000 copper coins! How much money did these guys embezzle?"
The once quiet meeting room erupted in uproar. The officials' faces showed disbelief. Although they knew the Catering Association was a very lucrative place, but no one expected it to be this lucrative. Moreover, these guys were incredibly audacious. They had practically embezzled all the money.
However, everyone now knows why Michael called them here today. Judging from the situation, he is preparing to take down the Catering Association, which is a fat sheep. Robert has been in the Catering Association for a year. Could it be that the City Lord had already set up this scheme?
Looking at Robert, everyone felt even greater awe for Michael's wisdom and foresight.
"Besides, the relationship between the higher-ups of the Catering Association and certain restaurants and Merchants' Union is extremely improper. They have been selling rankings for a long time, and they have put a price on the rankings. As long as the money is right, they can guarantee that the ranking on the list will match their expectations." Robert picked up a piece of paper and continued, "For the food rankings, 50-100 places cost 10,000 copper coins to secure the ranking, 31-50 places cost 20,000 copper coins to secure the ranking, and for each additional place within the top 30, the price increases by 5,000 copper coins. For the top ten, in addition to the money, the restaurant itself cannot be too bad. After a month of rankings, after deducting the few established restaurants that made the list based on their strength, the Catering Association can receive about 30,000,000 copper coins, and this money does not go into the Catering Association's revenue."
"A mere Catering Association can embezzle 60,000,000 copper coins a year! City Lord, this behavior must be severely punished! Arrest them all and throw them into Basti Prison!" a bearded general said angrily.
"Yes, and all this money comes from the restaurant, and in order to make money, the restaurant will definitely pass on this money to the customers, which is simply increasing the customers' dining costs."
"This is so unfair to the other restaurants that didn't pay, they have no way to get on the list. What's the point of such a food ranking?"
The officials chimed in, all somewhat indignant.
"A petty official with enormous greed—this is a prime example, and it's why I called everyone here today." Michael said, his gaze sweeping over the officials from the City Lord's Mansion present. He continued, "If the Food Ranking didn't bear the City Lord's Mansion's name, the City Lord's Mansion wouldn't have the right to interfere with how it operated. But now that it has become an institution under the City Lord's Mansion, although according to the original agreement, the Food Ranking still belongs to Warren's leadership, and he can receive a high percentage of the profits every year, but the current way it operates is different from what was agreed upon. This is fraud under the guise of the City Lord's Mansion—fraud against customers, fraud against merchants, fraud and harm to the entire catering industry."
"So, the reason I called you all here tonight is to have you work together to first take control of all the top executives of the Catering Association, then seize all the accounting records and documents, and clarify all the forces and figures related to this matter. We will show no leniency." Michael placed his hand on the table, leaned forward slightly, and looked at everyone in a deep voice.
"Yes!"
The officials responded solemnly. The crackdown on the Catering Association was likely just a warning shot, in the past two years, many officials had used their influence to run side businesses, earning significantly more than their salaries from the City Lord's Mansion. Their expressions were grim, but they dared not show it.
"Robert will be in charge of this operation. He has already prepared the specific plan. We must control the impact of the case and not let the City Lord's Mansion lose its credibility. We must restore the food ranking list to its rightful place, making it a ranking list that customers can trust, rather than a tool for merchants to manipulate and make money at will. Tonight, no one in the operation is allowed to leave the City Lord's Mansion." Michael looked at everyone, turned around and walked out, saying, "Robert, come with me for a moment."
"A major overhaul of the Catering Association is inevitable, but even if we get rid of Warren and his ilk, how can you guarantee that the Catering Association won't follow in their footsteps? People change, especially when faced with the temptation of money, the change can happen even faster. I've seen this happen many times." In the study room, Michael looked at Robert and asked, his expression serious and earnest.
"City Lord, I believe the most crucial step in eliminating the drawbacks of the Catering Association is to reform it. I have given this some thought and have several directions and ideas:
1. Decentralize the power of the Catering Association by introducing a third party vote counting agency. Simultaneously, establish a supervisory body within the City Lord's Mansion to oversee the Catering Association, without participating in its operations but monitoring its behavior in real time. This three-pronged approach will eradicate voting slips selling and manipulation of the rankings.
2. Reform the ranking's scoring structure. Reactivate the Catering Association's internal review mechanism and reorganize the sixteen member food review panel. First, conduct a preliminary ranking of the food in Aden Square. Use this ranking as a base score, then add points based on customer votes and reviews to arrive at the final ranking…
3. …"
"Robert, after the Catering Association matter is over, you should come back to the City Lord's Mansion. There's a position there that suits you." Michael said with admiration after hearing Robert's words.
"City Lord, I still want to stay in the Catering Association. I think my grandfather wouldn't want to see the Catering Association, which he founded, become like this. Seeing this food ranking list would make him sad. He poured his whole life's effort into it." Robert shook his head and said firmly.
"You rascal." Michael chuckled helplessly, patted Robert on the shoulder, and said, "Alright, let's go with your plan then. The list Laurie set back then allowed me to taste quite a few delicious foods. I hope the food list you set in the future won't disappoint me either."
"Oh, and that Restaurant Mai Mi, it should still be on the list and get the ranking it deserves." Michael said, pausing as he left and turning back to look at Robert.