American Tax Officer

As tensions between the two men escalated, Brod hurriedly tugged at Jerome's sleeve, signaling him to calm down.

But by this time, Jerome was blinded by rage and beyond caring for such subtleties.

His gaze bore into David as he said, "Do you have any idea how many people we've lost in Bear Country because of that damned spy?"

David shrugged indifferently and replied, "What's that got to do with the National Tax Bureau?"

This response infuriated Jerome beyond words. He gritted his teeth and said, "Don't forget, you're an American too. All we're asking is for a bit of information to eliminate a significant threat to the country. Why worry about your damned taxes?"

"Heh, damned taxes?"

David chuckled coldly and responded, "Without our 'damned taxes', how would your CIA have so many weapons, so much high-tech equipment?"

"Without our tax bureau's funds, could your CIA operate all around the globe?"

"Without our taxes, what would you use to feed your bunch of good-for-nothings?"

"To think you pride yourselves on being the world's leading intelligence agency. You can't even root out a single spy. You might as well resign and go back to farming!"

His words left Brod and Jerome's faces alternating between shades of green and purple.

The Tax Bureau had beaten them to the punch by exposing Koffdale and that spy, which was humiliating enough.

Now, they had come asking the National Tax Bureau for information, and David's scolding had made them lose face completely!

At that moment, Brod began to resent Jerome for deciding to come here.

Just as Brod thought about dragging Jerome away, Jerome, unable to swallow his pride, glared at David and demanded, "Are you completely unwilling to provide any information for us?"

David spread his hands and replied, "I've made it very clear. We cannot do that according to the rules and regulations!"

"Fine, since you're not willing to give us any leeway, I suppose we don't need to extend any courtesy to you either!"

David's eyes turned frosty as he asked, "What do you mean?"

"We at the CIA may not be able to root out that spy for now, but digging up various criminals in the Lake District is quite simple for us!"

"If we were to pass their details to the local police or the FBI, what do you think would happen?"

Jerome let out a sinister laugh as his fingertips tapped back and forth on the table, continuing, "I know you've just been promoted to Chief Tax Officer. If you don't have any tax achievements to your name, given your experience, it won't be easy to command respect."

At these words, Brod was completely taken aback.

He knew his partner was impulsive and obstinate, but he didn't expect him to go so far as to threaten the Chief Tax Officer of the National Tax Bureau on their own turf.

And David was also beginning to feel a surge of anger.

The CIA did not have law enforcement authority on American soil, nor was it their duty to apprehend regular criminals. However, that did not mean they lacked the capability to punish or uncover them.

On the contrary, given the CIA's intelligence capabilities, it was all too easy for them to unearth ordinary criminals if they wished.

And if they really went through with their threat to hand over the criminals' information to the FBI and police, the Lake District would lose an untold amount in tax revenue.

They were blatantly threatening him!

David hadn't expected that before he could get his feet wet in his new role, the CIA would already be bringing the heat to his doorstep!

David hadn't wanted a conflict with the CIA.

But now that they had come at him so aggressively, if he didn't fight back, there was no point in him being the Chief Tax Officer!

"So, Director David, if you're willing to share the spy's information with me, the CIA will also repay the favor."

"Whatever you need, we can use our channels and resources to provide you with a detailed file on the Lake District criminals, helping you secure your position as Chief Tax Officer!"

Jerome thought that David was in a difficult position and his face, previously stern, betrayed a hint of smugness.

David was amused by his words.

I've got the system, do I need your lousy information?

Jerome's expression turned stern as he asked, "What are you laughing at?"

David replied, "Even if I gave you the spy's information, it's too late for you to act on it now!"

"What do you mean?"

Both were somewhat perplexed.

"Because you won't be able to walk out of our Lake District Sub-Bureau door today!"

Startled by these words, they instinctively reached for the guns holstered at their waists.

But in the next second, they came sharply to their senses.

This is the IRS, not the territory of warlords. David wouldn't dare detain or eliminate them, would he?

Jerome, confident and unafraid, said, "Heh, we're from the CIA, not some criminals you can just handle at will!"

"CIA or FBI, if you've evaded taxes, you're a criminal in front of the IRS!"

Sensing something wrong, Brod asked in a grave voice, "Inspector David, what do you mean by that? What taxes have we evaded?"

David smiled slightly and looked at them, "Where were you on the 7th of last month?"

"The 7th of last month..."

They thought about it; on the 7th of last month, weren't they in Ukrania?

Why would David ask this?

What did it have to do with David?

Brod replied, "We were on a mission, the details are classified and we cannot disclose them!"

"No problem, I'll tell you!"

"On the 7th of last month, you received intelligence. In a warehouse in the suburbs of Zaporozhye, Ukrania, you targeted an agent from the Bear Country Security Bureau."

"After a fierce battle, you killed him and seized 230,000 US Dollars in cash. Each of you took 20,000, and the rest was turned in. Am I right?"

Hearing this, Jerome and Brod stood stunned, their faces as if they had seen ghosts.

Even Congress had no right to inquire into the CIA's operations and finances.

And this Ukranian operation was top secret within their organization, so how did David before them come to know about it?

Before they could recover, David continued, "There's also the mission on December 23rd, when you were sent to Bear Country to turn an engineer."

"At that time, your superiors allocated 130,000 dollars for turning the engineer, and each of you embezzled another 20,000, am I right?"

"And on December 29th..."

The revelation of the Ukranian operation had already caused a storm in their hearts.

But unexpectedly, besides the Ukranian operation, recent covert operations, including the one in Bear Country, were also fully grasped by David.

Now, even the two agents, seasoned in the midst of countless crises, could no longer remain composed.

Brod, somewhat discontented, challenged, "Is the IRS wiretapping us? Have you hacked our database? Or perhaps you've planted a mole inside our organization?"

These were the only explanations he could think of.

Still, he couldn't fathom how David had done it.

Wiretapping, hacking, planting moles—these were all specialties of the CIA!

How did the IRS manage to bypass their entire system and investigate them so thoroughly?

David, imitating Jerome's earlier manner, tapped his fingertips leisurely on the desk, and said slowly, "Do you think these things are important now?"

"According to the Black Tax Act, any illicit income must be declared and the full amount of tax paid to the IRS!"

"The both of you, as senior CIA operatives, pocketed more than 40,000 US Dollars in a month but failed to report to the IRS. That is an intentional violation of the law!"

The two were left speechless, their complexions turning ugly.

After about 30 seconds of heavy silence, Brod defended, "According to CIA Regulation 76, the CIA has the right to decide the disposition of illicit gains. And the funds you mentioned are all involved abroad; the IRS has no jurisdiction!"

"According to Section 98 of the Black Tax Act's 'personal principle,' it's explicitly stated that any American who generates tax revenues anywhere must pay to the IRS. What you're talking about is just a regulation of the CIA. Can regulations be above the law?"

Brod was simply making an evasive argument, and once David cited the provisions of the Black Tax Act, he was instantly pressed and didn't know how to respond.