American Tax Officer

"We are not clear on that either..."

This question had been troubling both Jerome Brod since yesterday's detention.

Even now, they could not understand how David knew so many of their secrets.

Elvis's brow furrowed, about to rebuke again.

But at that moment, a staff member from the Tax Bureau entered and said, "Mr. Elvis, our Director David has arrived at the bureau!"

Elvis gave the two men a glare, then walked out.

On the fourth floor, in the Chief Tax Officer's office.

Hearing a knock, David called out from inside, "Come in."

Elvis walked in, extending his hand and introducing himself with a friendly expression, "Director David, I am the CIA Bear Country Station Manager!"

[Name: Elvis Rigeca.]

[Occupation: CIA Bear Country Station Manager.]

[Monthly Income: Fifteen Thousand US dollars, illegal income Seventy-Three Thousand US dollars.]

[Income Details: On December 3rd, subordinates confiscated a batch of illegal funds, pocketed Two Thousand while depositing into the treasury; on December 7th, subordinates turned in some illegal funds, skimmed off Two Thousand during the deposit...]

[More Details: ...]

[Amount of Tax Owed: Eighteen Thousand Two Hundred and Fifty US dollars.]

"The guys at the CIA are indeed all cut from the same cloth..."

Having silently reviewed Elvis's dirty dealings, David felt some disdain in his heart, but on the surface, he pretended as if nothing were amiss and said, "Hello, Director Elvis, I am David!"

"Director David, I have fully understood the situation now, and indeed, my subordinates were at fault. I apologize to your Tax Bureau on their behalf..."

Compared to Jerome's defiant arrogance yesterday, Elvis's attitude now seemed quite sincere.

Of course, this was also because David had a stranglehold on their lifeline.

Otherwise, someone as high-ranking and slick as the other party would never stoop so low.

However, Chief William had already conveyed to him yesterday that the CIA needed to clearly recognize who truly was America's foremost law enforcement agency!

Therefore, David certainly wouldn't let the matter slide just because of an apology from the other party.

"Director Elvis, I believe you are well aware of the Back Tax Act, yet your subordinates blatantly came to me yesterday, threatening me to hand over our taxpayers' information to them. If I don't punish them severely, how would our Tax Bureau explain this to the taxpayers? Where would we put our face?"

Elvis was somewhat at a loss for words upon hearing this.

This damn thing, if you don't speak of it and I don't speak of it, how could it possibly get out?

We would prefer if nobody knew about such an embarrassing affair!

Although that's what he thought internally, now that he was at their mercy, it was not his place to show anger, and he could only inquire in an even tone, "Director David, this is all a misunderstanding. There's no need for harsh punishment, is there? We are all law enforcement agencies of America; let's make a big issue small and a small one disappear."

David, pretending to consider the suggestion, responded, "To make a big issue small and a small one disappear is not without solution!"

Elvis's expression shifted, and he asked, "Please speak frankly, Director David!"

"First, I need your CIA to use its channels and resources to conduct a detailed investigation of all the criminals and lawbreakers in Las Vegas, and then provide me with that information."

"Second, have your subordinates pay the taxes on their illegal income according to the rate set by the Back Tax Act!"

While the Lake District had its own intelligence department, with such a powerful intelligence organization as the CIA now in their hands, it would be a waste not to use this resource!

Hearing this, Elvis frowned.

The first request was not bad; it was just to make use of the CIA's channels and resources, which was quite harmless.

But the second request was a bit harder to accept.

Paying taxes to the Tax Bureau would mean recording the data.

If someday David wanted to come after them, he could always pull out these records to deal with them.

It felt like a bone stuck in his throat.

Gathering his thoughts, Elvis responded, "Director David, the first request is no problem, but as for the second... perhaps we could let it go, give them a chance!"

David folded his arms across his chest and replied, "Director Elvis, that's my condition. Whether you agree or not is up to you!"

The wrinkles between Elvis's brows deepened, and after a long minute of thought, he spoke up, "May I have a talk with your Chief?"

David picked up the phone on the desk, dialed Chief William's number, and said, "Chief, CIA Director Elvis is in my office here, wanting to have a word with you."

"Give him the phone!"

David handed over the phone, and Elvis took it, saying, "Hello, Chief William..."

"Good to hear from you, Director Elvis. I'm not in the office right now. Whatever it's about that case of your subordinate, discuss it with Director David. He has the authority to decide!"

The voice from the other end of the line left Elvis silent for a good while, and in the end, he could only muster an 'alright' before handing the phone back.

"So, what's it going to be, Director Elvis? You know the Black Tax Bill was introduced just over a month ago, and the Washington D.C. Headquarters put us on this evaluation period to push us, so we're really pressed for time here!"

Elvis knew he was being pressured to make a decision. After 30 seconds of silence, he gritted his teeth and responded, "Fine, we'll do it your way!"

A smug smile crossed David's face as he dialed another number, "Bring Agents Brod and Jerome to my office, and prepare two sets of filing materials as well!"

10 minutes later.

The office door was pushed open, and Nisen walked in with Agents Jerome and Brod.

Seeing their superior with such a dark expression, Jerome and Brod sensed something ominous.

"Pay that damn tax and fill out your damn personal information!"

Hearing this, the color drained from Jerome and Brod's faces.

Brod even asked anxiously, "Director, this... we can't do this!"

"Yes, Director..."

Jerome, too, caught on and echoed him.

By paying this tax and filing their information, it was a small matter to lose money, but it would be like being yoked with a nose ring like oxen, forever led by the nose by the tax authorities.

And this wasn't even the worst of it.

The worst was that in the entire CIA system, only the two of them would be tied down by the tax authorities. Wouldn't their colleagues laugh themselves to death?

"When I tell you to fill it out, you damn well fill it out!"

Seeing Elvis so enraged, neither dared to argue. After another 30 seconds of silence, Brod, with a murderous look at Jerome, finally picked up the pen.

And at that moment, Jerome, though utterly disheartened, likewise picked up the pen.

Under Nisen's guidance, it did not take long for the two to complete the information for the files. Nisen turned to David and said, "It's all set!"

David nodded and said to Elvis, "Director Elvis, you and your subordinates may leave now, but send us the tax money and the files as soon as possible!"

Although Elvis was also implicated in tax evasion,

for one, he had not provoked David, and for another, he had some status in the CIA, so after much consideration, David decided to let bygones be bygones and leave him alone.

After all, the tax he needed to pay was less than twenty thousand dollars, hardly worth offending him over!

Elvis didn't respond, he stood up and left with sharp strides, as if not willing to stay another moment.

Jerome and Brod paused for a second before following suit and leaving.

"Haha, you've really got a way with things, David. Even CIA people are so compliant with you!"

Nisen laughed at the sight of the three men leaving.

But it soon seemed like he thought of something and said with slight regret, "It's a pity though, turning a big issue into a minor one. If it could have been made public, our Tax Authority would have gained quite the reputation!"

"I wish we could, but going public might bring fame; it comes with many disadvantages!"

David was certainly aware of the sensational nature of the news of senior CIA agents being arrested by the tax authorities for suspected tax evasion.

But with the rigorous enforcement of the Black Tax Law,

falling out with the CIA during this period could greatly harm tax work.

Besides, neither he nor Chief William wanted to become the focus of the CIA's 'special attention.'

So for now, teaching them a lesson, while ensuring they swallowed their pride, was the best outcome imaginable.