American Tax Officer

Leo's face turned red with anger, but when he thought of the tax amount of over $320,000, he still felt unwilling to let it go and continued to argue, "When I said just $80,000, I didn't know he needed to pay over $320,000 in taxes. If I had known, I would never have agreed to just $80,000!"

"How about this, you guys take $80,000, and the rest goes to us, after all, this is a case from our Lake District!"

Even though David had anticipated that Leo would definitely make a fuss afterward, he was still left speechless by such shameless words.

You'd think splitting the money fifty-fifty would be enough.

Give themselves $80,000, and the rest just goes to their Lake District?

Do they take me for a fool?

David directly took out his cell phone, pointed with his finger, and then countered, "Inspector Leo, we had an agreement beforehand. If you go back on your word like this, let alone taking it up with the city bureau, even if it goes to the state bureau or even the head office, you're the ones in the wrong!"

"You..."

Leo was choked by these words, his face reddening even more.

Just now, he thought recording the conversation was a wise move, but now he realized his own action was simply too foolish.

If there had been no recording, he would still have had room to back out.

After all, the case was from the Lake District, and that tax money was also supposed to go through the Lake District Sub-Bureau. Even if they forcibly held onto it without giving David a share, David would have no means of recourse.

But now, there was a recording as evidence.

If they dared to withhold it by force, once David exposed the recording, their Lake District would become a laughingstock.

Furthermore, as David said, even though their Lake District is one of the most important districts in Las Vegas, if the matter was unjustifiable, even the city bureau wouldn't be able to help them.

"Inspector David, over $320,000 in taxes is not a small sum. Let's do this, let us each take a step back and split it in half, and that would be fair for both parties!"

This time it was Milimo who stepped forward.

Even if they split it in half, they would still get more than $160,000 in tax revenue.

They might not even collect such a large amount of taxes in an entire assessment period, so they had to fight for it no matter what.

As for the promise just now?

What's the value of a promise these days, when tax revenue is clearly more important!

David was once again amused by these words and firmly stated, "Fair? We agreed you would take $80,000, and that's all you're going to get. There's nothing to discuss on this matter!"

With that said, David turned and walked away, not giving the two of them another chance to argue.

As they watched David leave without any hesitation, the expressions on Leo and Milimo's faces were as dark as iron, but in the end, they did not follow him.

"You damn bastard, why didn't you tell us about such a large amount of tax evasion!"

Frustrated and unable to vent, Leo could only take his anger out on Li Gensheng.

Li Gensheng did not argue, but looked at Leo as if he were looking at a fool. That look seemed to say, would you have been so honest if you were in my position?

Faced with such a gaze, Leo's anger intensified, and just as he was about to burst out even more, Milimo held him back.

In the end, the two of them could only leave the tea house feeling depressed.

...

Half an hour later

In the office of a Chief Tax Officer at the Lake District Sub-Bureau branch,

Leo and Milimo walked in, looking at their boss Bruster with hesitation.

"What's the matter? Did you settle that antique case?"

Bruster set down the documents he was holding and looked up at the two.

Leo was silent for 5 seconds before finally nodding and saying, "It's been taken care of…"

Bruster revealed a hint of satisfaction, adjusted his glasses, and asked, "How much did we get, 30,000 or 50,000?"

"We received 80,000…"

"Oh? 80,000?!"

Bruster was a bit surprised before he beamed with praise, "Well done!"

If it had been any other time, they would certainly have been pleased by such praise, but now, instead of feeling happy, they felt even heavier-hearted.

They had no idea how their boss would react when he found out the whole story behind this incident.

The very thought sent shivers down their spines.

But this was something that could not possibly be kept secret, because once the taxes from Li Gensheng's account were received, everyone would know.

"What's the matter, you should be happy to have collected such a large sum of taxes, shouldn't you?"

Seeing the troubled looks on the faces of the two before him, Bruster was a bit puzzled.

Leo and Milimo exchanged glances, and finally Leo mustered up the courage and said, "Chief Tax Officer Bruster, this case… there's been some complications, and here's what happened…"

A few minutes later.

After understanding the whole story, Bruster froze like a statue.

The Lake District Sub-Bureau's David intervened in this case?

David turned the estimated tax collection of 50,000 into more than 320,000?

And in the end, their main district could only take 80,000?

It was a while before Bruster could digest all this information, his face changing instantly, his tone nearly rising to a roar as he bellowed, "What the hell have you done, this case was our main district's responsibility, why did you let David interfere?!"

"Even if he did interfere, why the hell did you agree to let him take more than 240,000 in taxes?!"

Leo and Milimo shrank their necks, full of unspeakable bitterness.

They had initially decided to let David intervene with the mindset that they would earn at least 80,000 either way.

But who would have thought that David, by some means, had managed to squeeze more than 300,000 out of that old man?

If they had known earlier, obviously they wouldn't have made such a foolish mistake.

After venting his frustration, Bruster gradually calmed down and said in a deep voice, "Fortunately, this is our main district's case, and the tax payment must go through our procedures. Go and tell David that the higher-ups in the bureau have withheld these taxes. It's not that you failed to keep your promise, got it?!"

Currently, there is a rivalry between their main district and the Lake District Sub-Bureau.

And this was over 320,000 in taxes, which he naturally couldn't just let go to the Lake District, so he planned to unreasonably hoard them.

Hearing this, Leo and Milimo felt bitter once again.

Because they hadn't yet mentioned the matter of the recording.

But after being roared at once already, Leo really didn't dare to speak up again, instead turning his gaze to Milimo, signaling that it was her turn to step forward and explain.

With no other option, Milimo likewise braced herself and stepped forward, saying, "Director, there's something else I need to tell you about that cunning David…"

A few minutes later, after listening to the matter of the recording, Bruster clutched his chest with his right hand, his face mixing pain, anger, and helplessness as he slumped into his chair.

"Chief Tax Officer, are you alright?"

The two of them rushed over immediately, looking at him with concern.

Bruster, looking ashen, said, "God, how did I come to manage such idiots…"