American Tax Officer

Washington D.C., Internal Revenue Service Headquarters.

Directors and deputy directors from all over the country were sitting in the conference room, listening to the training on the black tax law provided by an advisor on stage.

Just then, the phone of Megan, the deputy director of the Lake District Sub-Bureau Branch, rang.

She took one look and her expression changed instantly before she quickly stepped out.

About ten minutes later, she returned and said to William, the director sitting next to her, "Chief William, there's been some trouble at the bureau..."

After hearing what she had to say, William was startled and then asked incredulously, "Are you saying that David's team has climbed to rank 43 nationwide, and our Lake District Sub-Bureau's total tax achievement has reached 4.83 million US dollars?"

Megan nodded and said, "According to the news from the bureau, that's indeed the case!"

With confirmation, William was even more astonished.

Until yesterday, David's tax achievement had been just over 2 million, ranked 106th in the nation, a fact he was aware of.

But how could it have skyrocketed by more than 1.6 million overnight?

By the tax rate, to collect over 1.6 million in taxes, the taxpayer's monthly income must be at least 4 million US dollars.

A monthly income of 4 million US dollars would definitely rank someone as a prominent figure in their Lake District!

Who could it be?

Unable to figure it out, William directly asked, "Whose taxes were collected to account for this sum?"

"According to Tax Investigator Gusin, it was collected from a businessman engaged in the antique trade who owns an auction house, named Lynch!"

"Lynch..."

William did indeed have some recollection of that name.

But then again.

Someone at Lynch's level, with his network of connections and influence, was certainly not comparable to average criminals.

And yet David managed to collect his taxes, which meant one of two outcomes.

Either that guy had gone insane,

Or, David had enough evidence of his crimes to render his network and influence completely ineffective!

Of course, William felt the former was unlikely, and the latter was far more probable!

Megan added, "Chief, I think we have underestimated David. His ability... might be even more exceptional than we thought!"

William nodded in agreement.

Initially, they thought David was only good at dealing with criminals.

But unexpectedly, he managed to handle someone as influential as Lynch so easily.

If they could resolve a few more major cases like this, their Lake District wouldn't just be breaking into the national top 100 bureaus, but could potentially reach the top 50 or even higher!

Bear in mind, the Inspector's tax achievement ranking clearly highlights the inspectors themselves.

But if the Sub-Bureau's overall tax achievement ranking climbed higher, the most prominent figure would be him, the 'well-led' bureau chief!

"Chief, Keanu also told me something else that I think it's necessary to report to you..."

William stopped his daydreaming and replied, "What is it?"

"According to the information he got, the Las Vegas Avenue District Bureau Branch had a talk with David a while ago, wanting to poach him. However, this matter wasn't reported to the bureau, and currently, we don't know what his thoughts are on it..."

"That's…!"

William was initially surprised, then his expression gradually turned grim.

They, the Lake District, were finally nurturing a tax inspector like David amidst the black tax law era, and he had barely warmed his seat when the Las Vegas Avenue District Bureau Branch wanted to poach him?

If they took him away, what would become of the Lake District Sub-Bureau Branch?

This rare opportunity to outdo the Las Vegas Avenue District Bureau Branch couldn't just be snatched away!

Outrageous!

The more Chief William thought about it, the angrier he became, and he suddenly looked up, searching the room.

Soon, he spotted a woman about seven or eight meters to his right, dressed in a women's suit, with rather harsh features.

She was none other than Katharine Agnes, the bureau chief of the Las Vegas Avenue District Bureau Branch.

Just at this moment, the consultant on the stage announced the end of today's training session.

Without a second thought, William rose and walked straight towards Katharine.

Megan, on the other hand, had just received a message from her subordinates.

Her face was ashen, and paired with her severe countenance, it was enough to intimidate anyone.

After all, just this morning the Lake District Sub-Bureau Branch's David had once again triumphed, bringing in more than 1.6 million in tax achievements.

The total tax achievements of the Lake District Sub-Bureau Branch had now reached 4.83 million, an amount Katharine's Las Vegas Avenue District Bureau Branch could not possibly catch up with or surpass in the remaining days of the assessment period!

This infuriated her.

Her Las Vegas Avenue District Bureau Branch, as the economic powerhouse of Las Vegas.

And yet, nearly three assessment periods had passed.

They had only clinched the first place in the first assessment period, and shockingly, they were outperformed by the Lake District in the second one; but that was not the worst of it.

The third assessment period was looming.

And their total tax achievements didn't even amount to half of the Lake District's?

What did this mean?

It meant she was ineffectual in her leadership, it meant that she, as the bureau chief, was incompetent!

Being the economic leader of the city yet being roundly defeated in tax collections by another district was utterly humiliating!

"Bureau Chief Katharine, your Las Vegas Avenue District Bureau Branch really has quite the nerve,"

Just as Katharine was in a state of turmoil, a voice at her side caused her to turn her head.

But seeing that it was William, her expression grew even darker, thinking he had come to mock her, she angrily retorted, "That will be enough, Chief William. You just got lucky with a capable inspector, nothing more!"

"Heh..."

William scoffed, replying, "Yes, I got lucky, but unlike some people, I don't resort to poaching talents when I'm out of luck!"

Katharine's face stiffened; a few days prior, indeed, her department had suggested poaching David.

While she internally agreed with the idea, she considered it somewhat underhanded, so she hadn't explicitly ordered it.

But to her surprise, this information had somehow reached William.

No wonder he looked as if he was ready to devour her!

But now that it was out in the open, there was no point in hiding it anymore, and she shot back, "Our Las Vegas Avenue District Bureau Branch has a high platform. If Inspector David wants to join us, we would naturally welcome him!"

William's expression turned solemn in an instant.

In his anger, he had forgotten about that.

Yes.

For inspectors, the prospects in the Las Vegas Avenue District were always more promising than in the Lake District.

And Megan had mentioned to him before,

David had not reported the poaching attempt to the bureau proactively.

What was his mindset?

Did he genuinely consider jumping ship?