This guide breaks down the mission "Cleaning Out the Bureau" from the perspective of an experienced player. We'll focus on how the mission works in practice, what most players do, and what you need to know to complete it efficiently.

What is the main purpose of this mission in the story?

This mission is a key story point for Michael. After the events in North Yankton, Michael is forced to work for the corrupt FIB agent, Steve Haines. Haines has evidence of his own illegal activities stored in the FIB Headquarters and blackmails Michael into destroying it. In return, Haines promises to delete Michael's files, offering him a way out. Most players see this as another example of Michael being trapped by his past, with Lester correctly warning him that the FIB is unlikely to let him go easily.

What do you actually do during the mission?

The mission is primarily a setup and tailing job. You will control Michael with Lester as your passenger. The gameplay involves:

1. Driving to the FIB Building: You meet at the garment factory and then drive to the parking garage exit near the FIB Headquarters.

2. Waiting and Identifying the Janitor: You must wait for the correct janitor, Harvey Molina, to drive out. Lester will tell you to check license plates. For the Gold Medal objective "Eagle Eye," you need to zoom in on every license plate of the cars that exit before Harvey.

3. Tailing Harvey Molina: This is the core segment. You must follow Harvey's car to his apartment in West Vinewood without getting too close. For the Gold Medal "He Missed a Spot," you must stay at least two car lengths behind and not alert him. Honking your horn will make Lester complain and can spook Harvey if done repeatedly, but it doesn't immediately fail the mission.

4. Getting the Disguise: You follow Harvey into his apartment building. A short cutscene plays where Michael convinces Harvey to hand over his ID and janitor overalls. Notably, this scene was altered during development; originally, Michael was supposed to kill Harvey.

5. Returning to the Factory: After obtaining the disguise, you drive back to the Darnell Bros. factory where Franklin is waiting. This concludes the mission.

What are the best tips for getting the Gold Medal?

• Use Your Binoculars: While waiting at the garage, quickly zoom in on each car's license plate as it exits. This is straightforward but easy to miss if you're not paying attention.

• Keep Your Distance: During the tail, maintain a steady pace. Let Harvey get a little ahead around corners. The game's "two car lengths" rule is generous; if you can still clearly see his car, you're probably at a safe distance. Using a slower, less conspicuous car than the default one helps.

• Manage Your Time: The 9-minute time limit for Gold is ample if you drive directly between objectives and skip cutscenes. Don't take detours or cause unnecessary chaos.

• Skip Cutscenes: As with most Gold runs, skipping all cutscenes is a stated objective and saves crucial time.

What happens after you finish the mission?

The mission directly sets up the next one, "The Architect's Plans." After some in-game time passes, Franklin will text Michael saying he's located the architect, Chip Peterson. If you switch to Franklin after getting this text, you'll immediately start that follow-up mission. Sometimes, the game will even force a character switch via a phone call to begin it. This is a common story progression mechanic in GTA 5.

Are there any interesting details or common player observations?

Most players notice that the radio automatically tunes to Space 103.2 playing "Tonight" by Kleer when Michael gets in his car after leaving Harvey's apartment. It's a deliberate, mood-setting touch. Also, Lester's line, "This is not the car we're looking for," is a well-known nod to Star Wars. In practice, players rushing through the game might overlook these details, which is why some choose to replay missions later. It's also worth noting that some players, seeking to bypass the lengthy process of building a character's wealth and assets, might look for shortcuts like cheap gta 5 modded accounts xbox one, though this mission itself is about progressing the story, not acquiring in-game money.

What is the general player consensus on this mission?

In general, players view this as a solid, if somewhat slow-paced, setup mission. It builds tension for the upcoming heist and deepens Michael's storyline. The tailing section is considered one of the easier ones in the game, as Harvey's route is simple and his driving is calm. The main challenge for Gold is patience, not difficulty. It serves its purpose in the narrative chain without being particularly frustrating or action-heavy.