Volume 2: Chapter 199 — Marketing

It was late in the day. Gregoir's trainees were cooling off after a hard workout, while Abby and Connor were casually throwing punches at each other in the center of the ring. Dan idly watched them from the sidelines as he chatted with Gregoir. The larger man was coated in a thin layer of sweat from the day's exercise, though he was breathing normally. It had the distinctly odd effect of making him sparkle under the gym lights.

It had to be deliberate. Some bizarre manifestation of Gregoir's power. Nobody should be that photogenic after a workout.

Their conversation had meandered through several mundane topics before landing on the present issue of funding for Gregoir's extracurricular ideas. Though Gregoir's star was on the rise, he struggled to direct his sudden influence. Gregoir was not—and this really could not be emphasized enough—a politician. He had zero experience with soft power, or indeed anything subtle at all.

Gregoir wanted to revitalize the APD Academy, bring some new blood into the department, and close the gap between officers and civilians. He was making extraordinary progress with the latter, but not so much with the two former. Gregoir had acquired permission to approach these wannabe vigilantes and enlist them in his project, but the amount of money he had to work with was painfully small. The APD wasn't exactly underfunded, but neither were they so flush that money could be wasted on unlikely ventures. Even the brainchild of Austin's hero officer, Gregoir Pierre-Louise. If he was going to completely refurbish the Academy and make it even slightly competitive with private academies, Gregoir would need lots and lots of money.

"This used to be the Academy gym," Gregoir said, gesturing around them. His voice was unusually measured, maybe even somber. "I trained here under Ito. Even back then it was falling into disrepair." He frowned up at the ceiling. The foundations were solid, but everything else was rotting and rusted. Dan could see places in the ceiling where holes had been patched.

"You've been fixing it up," Dan noted.

"We all have," Gregoir agreed, swinging his enormous arm to encompass his students. "Group activities build cohesion and trust. And it makes them more invested in the outcome when they've put their own time and sweat into it."

"And it's cheaper than hiring a proper contractor." Dan paused as he snaked his veil into the walls. "Is it... structurally sound? And would you know if it wasn't?"

Gregoir slapped his chest, affronted. His voice echoed across the gym in a thunderous, "Of course!"

Heads turned their way, and Gregoir immediately lowered his posture. Hunching forward, head down, he muttered, "I called in a few favors with a friend in construction. He's double-checking our work. You know. On the down-low." 

Gregoir winked. It was horrible. Again, this was not a man built for subtlety.

Dan sighed. "So you'll be refurbishing the gym yourself, essentially on your own time?" Gregoir nodded, and Dan continued, "That's going to take months, Gregoir. Maybe years."

"Nonsense!" Gregoir exclaimed with his usual optimism. "This is just another challenge to overcome!"

"What about the Academy itself?" Dan asked, remembering its ragged, run-down hallways and classrooms. "You can't refurbish it yourself. You'll have to hire someone. How much money do you have to work with?"

Gregoir beamed. "Enough to hire new teaching staff!"

Dan waited for an elaboration. When none was forthcoming, he slapped a palm over his face. "And nothing left for remodeling?"

"Not a dime!" Gregoir confirmed cheerfully.

"Gregoir," Dan said, emphasizing every word. "You will not attract new students if your school looks like a hovel."

"That's a harsh evaluation," Gregoir protested.

"You need more funding," Dan continued. "I mean, if you're serious about making the Academy a viable option—"

"I am always serious!" Gregoir exclaimed, voice booming. Somewhere high above, metal vibrated and shifted. Dust rained down from the ceiling.

Dan stuck his pinky into his ear and wiggled it around until the world stopped ringing.

"If you're serious," Dan tried again, "then the Academy has to look the part. I mean, you've seen where Connor graduated from, right?" Dan pulled out his phone and showed Gregoir a picture. "It looks like a billionaire's estate!" 

Dan flicked through his phone again, pulling up the graduation picture from his brief stint in the APD Academy. Their smiling faces couldn't blot out the grungy walls and ragged furniture. He showed it to Gregoir. "Someone who graduated from this—" He flipped back to Connor's alma mater. "—will not be respected by someone who graduated from that. Not at first blush. You remember how Connor was?"

Gregoir guffawed. "Mr. Graham was a unique case. Not all recruits are so... judgmental."

"Maybe not," Dan offered. "But graduating from a rat's nest probably doesn't make a great impression on your peers."

Gregoir heaved a loud sigh. "Perhaps, or perhaps not. It's inconsequential because we do not have the money for a proper remodel. I'd much prefer spending the funding I've acquired on proper staff, to ensure the best education possible."

"Function over form," Dan agreed. "That's admirable, and probably the right call. But, Gregoir, you can't ignore this issue. You need more money."

"If only it were that easy," Gregoir rumbled sadly. "I get the impression this whole thing is seen as a flight of fancy by my superiors. I do not think they believe much will come of it. That they've humored me this much is only a consequence of my triumph over Coldeyes."

"I don't get it," Dan said, shaking his head. "They were ready to give you the moon after Coldeyes. I mean, I remember you told me funds were being allocated. What happened?"

"Time," Gregoir replied with a shrug. "I waited too long to capitalize on my fame. I wasn't prepared for the spotlight, and now I am no longer in the press, or the public eye. There are no consequences for denying me. I'm quite grateful to receive even this much support."

The whole thing sounded pretty awful to Dan, but he wasn't really in a position to criticize. He didn't know a damn thing about how the APD was funded, nor what their needs were. For all he knew, they were being eminently reasonable and practical. Didn't make it feel any better, though. Gregoir was his friend. He wanted to help him.

Work the problem. Gregoir needed money, and he needed to be in the spotlight again. The second wasn't hard. He drew eyes wherever he went. He just needed more exposure. Or maybe controversy. People loved controversy.

"You could go to the press, and make an accusation," Dan suggested. "Tell them promises were made, but not fulfilled."

"I would never!" Gregoir gasped. 

"Why not?" Dan asked. "You could probably get an interview with any of the local papers if you just asked."

"It would embarrass the department and alienate me from my peers! It would be a horrible scandal!" Gregoir said, completely devoid of his usual enthusiasm. "I will not damage the APD's reputation for personal gain."

"Okey dokey," Dan agreed, dropping the idea. What else was there? Maybe a fundraiser of some kind? Might be risky. Dan didn't know how popular Gregoir's ideas were with the general public. There were lots of people who liked Gregoir but might not necessarily support expanding the APD's recruiting pool.

Gregoir needed to just get his ideas out to the public. He needed to advertise, to explain, to build support. If he could get the civilian population on board with his plans, the department and the local government would probably be more willing to chip in. And with more widespread support, something like a fundraiser would be more viable. Or even just regular donations.

It didn't even have to be locals. People from all over the country might be interested. The internet was a powerful force multiplier, and Gregoir was starting from a strong position when it came to brand recognition. He could... start a website, or maybe a blog. It might work. Anything seemed possible in a world where an asshole like Galeforce could get rich streaming himself... fighting crime.

Huh.

Well, there was an idea.