American Tax Officer

What an unexpected surprise!

"What's the matter, David? Is there a problem with him?"

The elevator doors had been open for quite a while, but David's gaze was still fixed on the man who had emerged earlier, prompting Nisen to ask.

"It's nothing, let's go..."

According to the records, this antique dealer named Lynch was no ordinary person, having close ties with many wealthy businessmen and politicians in Las Vegas.

If they wanted to move against him, the badge of the IRS probably wouldn't faze him.

So David had to be patient now, concluding the two cases he already had in hand first before making meticulous plans against Lynch. It wouldn't be too late to act then!

Half an hour later.

In front of an apartment building at Lake District Monarch No.236,

Camilla took out a set of keys, opened the door, and walked in, calling out, "Dan, we're back!"

Soon after her words fell, a room door opened, and a beefy man with an unkempt beard and wearing a vest came out, joyfully saying, "I've checked the security and surveillance systems of the Ward Building, no problems, I can handle it..."

When he saw David and Nisen, two strangers, his voice halted, and after sizing up the two with a guarded look, he asked, "Camilla, who are these people?"

Camilla and the others didn't speak but looked toward David.

[Name: Dan Norton.]

[Occupation: Hacker, Thief.]

[Monthly Income: 360,000 US dollars.]

[Income Details: December 7th, hacked into the security system of Krauser Orlando's Private Residence in the neighborhood, coordinated a diamond swap and received a share of sixty thousand US dollars, December 9th, infiltrated the Beck Estate's security and surveillance systems, coordinated the swap of a royal antique coin and received a share of sixty thousand US dollars...]

[More Details: ...]

[Tax Due: One hundred and eight thousand US dollars.]

David sized up the guy and realized he was indeed a highly skilled hacker, then said, "We are inspectors from the IRS..."

Minutes later, having listened to the sequence of events, Dan stood stunned in place.

After a long while, he looked at Camilla and the others with a bitter face and said, "So, you all agreed to pay taxes?"

Without responding, the despair on their faces seemed to tell Dan, if there were a choice, do you think I would be willing to pay such a large sum?

Dan, displaying resignation, turned to David and said, "Since they all agreed to pay, why then come in person from the IRS?"

"We came to ask for your help!"

"Hah..."

With a scoff, Dan spoke in a slightly reproachful tone, "It's bad enough to pay taxes to you IRS folks, and now I have to help you out as well, isn't that a bit much?"

"This isn't taking advantage of you, we are very fair in our dealings, if we ask for your help, naturally, there will be benefits for you."

Dan showed a flicker of interest and asked, "Oh? What benefits could I get?"

"Under the regulations of the black-market tax law, taxpayers who make a special contribution to our IRS can enjoy tax reduction policies!"

"Tax reduction, how much?"

"If you help us with this matter, I will apply for a personal tax discount of 15% for you, and once it's on record, it's a lifetime benefit!"

"Fifteen percent… a lifetime benefit…"

Dan began to calculate in his mind.

Since the third of last month, his income was about 300,000-ish, and according to the tax rate, he would need to pay around 100,000.

If he could get a 15% reduction, that would leave a 13% tax rate, meaning he would only need to pay about 50,000...

But David also said, once it's on record, it's a lifetime benefit for the individual!

Wouldn't that mean, as long as he continued in illegal occupations, he could reduce a significant amount of tax each month?

That was quite a good deal!

The more Dan thought about it, the more tempted he became; the idea of paying such a large amount to the IRS was bleeding him dry, but now this tax reduction policy made him feel like he was actually making a profit!

It wasn't just him who was tempted; after hearing about this policy, Camilla and the others also had a fervent glint in their eyes.

Although they were thieves, they could still do simple math and certainly understood how much money they could save if they could get this tax reduction policy.

"Can this policy you mentioned really be implemented for me?"

Dan calmed his emotions and remembered David's words—the policy needed to be applied for. What if the application didn't go through?

Then he would have been busy for nothing!

David reassured him, "Don't worry, the application is just a formality. As long as you can get this done for me, I guarantee that the policy will be implemented for you."

"Alright, then tell me what it is first!"

"It's like this, we've been looking for someone recently, a peer of yours, who on December 12th of last year, invaded a casino system, causing the casino a loss of over 2 million US dollars, and then on December 16th..."

David laid out the details of the hacker case.

After hearing everything, Dan furrowed his brows and said, "If he can invade the systems of a casino, that's no ordinary hacker..."

"That's why we've been looking for him for a long time but haven't found much in the way of clues. See if you can dig him up."

After a moment of thought, Dan spoke with a determined expression, "I can't guarantee that I'll find him, but I'll give it my best shot!"

Although it was a difficult and energy-consuming job, he decided to give it a try in order to get the tax reduction policy.

David checked his watch and said, "Then as soon as possible!"

Dan nodded and immediately started up the nearby computer, entering various codes and began to operate.

Meanwhile, David and Nisen sat on the sofa waiting.

During the wait, MacDonald served them each a cup of coffee, then sat beside them with a rather ingratiating expression and asked, "Mr. Inspector, this tax reduction policy of yours, are there other ways... that is, other methods to meet the application criteria?"

It turned out he was somewhat unlucky.

His monthly income had exceeded four hundred and fifteen thousand and fifty US dollars, and according to the black-market tax law's rate, he needed to pay a 39.6% tax rate.

This amounted to nearly half of his income for the month.

So sometimes he was envious of Dan, who, because his income didn't exceed four hundred and fifteen thousand and fifty US dollars, only needed to pay 28%.

If Dan could also enjoy the tax reduction policy, then he would only need to pay 13% each month.

Which is why he wanted the policy even more than Dan did.