American Tax Officer

Richardson and his three companions turned to look at Baldwin.

Without the slightest hesitation, Baldwin tossed his handgun about five or six meters away.

His three subordinates followed suit and did the same.

Seeing this, a member of the Mexico Gang named Robin asked, "Richardson, are we really going to surrender?"

Richardson hesitated for a moment, then looked up again, but with the strong lights above, he couldn't see anything clearly. Ultimately, he gritted his teeth and also threw his gun away.

Seeing Richardson do this, Robin and his three men, after a brief pause, also threw their guns away.

Upstairs, noticing that the opposition no longer posed a threat, David gestured to Bucky and the others, who immediately understood and pointed the searchlights upward.

Without the blinding glare of the strong lights, the members of the Mexico Gang and Baldwin were finally able to see the people who had attacked them.

But when they saw Nisen and his men armed to the teeth with M4A1s, M16 rifles, tactical helmets, tactical vests, and night vision goggles, they were stunned.

They had been dealing drugs, sure, but there was no need to deploy special forces to catch them, was there?

They weren't some terrorist organization or warlord!

Indeed, they thought David's group consisted of special forces personnel.

Because, as far as they knew, neither the police nor the FBI would be armed to this extent.

In their minds, only special forces would go to such lengths!

But whether or not to say it, they now felt somewhat relieved about the decision they had made earlier.

If they had dared to resist earlier, with these people's equipment and capabilities, wouldn't they have been slaughtered like pigs?

Just as both groups were still in a state of shock,

the sound of footsteps coming from a nearby passage snapped them out of it, and they all looked in that direction.

Soon, a figure appeared before their eyes.

The others were just curious, as they didn't know who David really was.

But when Warren of the Mexico Gang saw David clearly, his expression changed drastically.

"Ladies and gentlemen, don't be nervous. We're from the National Tax Bureau Lakeside District Sub-Bureau Branch. My name is David, and I'm the Chief Tax Officer!"

The two groups, who were still guessing David's identity, were suddenly baffled when they heard the words "National Tax Bureau."

They had suspected that today's ambush was set by the police or the FBI, and they had wildly guessed that it might be a special forces operation.

But they had never considered it would be the National Tax Bureau!

I mean, the National Tax Bureau is just for collecting taxes, isn't it? Is there any need for such a big display of force?

Wait a second...

Apart from Warren, the other seven people suddenly came to their senses.

If it was the FBI or the police ambushing them, it would be normal.

But why would the National Tax Bureau stage such a large-scale ambush for them? What was the reason?

Confused, Richardson asked, "Wait... Director David, what's the reason for the National Tax Bureau to make such a big fuss over this?"

"That, I think you could ask Mr. Warren!"

David looked at Warren with a tone as if talking to an old acquaintance, "Isn't that right, Mr. Warren?"

"You bastard, did you betray us?"

Richardson glared fiercely at Warren, thinking that Warren was a mole who had set them up with the current David.

Otherwise, how could their transaction today have been leaked?

Warren immediately explained, "It's not like that, Richardson. Listen to me, last month on the 3rd, the National Tax Bureau introduced some sort of black tax law..."

After Warren's explanation, Richardson and the others finally understood.

But their faces showed a mix of bemusement, speechlessness, and various other expressions.

From the third of last month, any income from illegal activities had to be declared and taxed by the National Tax Bureau, including their current drug trade?

In their home country of Mexico, there were numerous official agencies that took their black money.

Although these agencies took black money, they dared not to do it openly.

But now the National Tax Bureau, by openly collecting taxes, was essentially doing the same thing as taking black money, right?

And they even deemed it a legal act!

This felt utterly preposterous to them!

David, seeing everyone still in a daze, said, "So, do you all understand now?"

Baldwin stepped forward, slightly disgruntled, and said, "Director David, if you're here to collect taxes, just say so. There's no need to ambush us with such a big show, is thre?"

"There's no need for others, but for dealing with a group of ruthless drug traffickers like you, I think it's somewhat necessary!"

This left Richardson and Baldwin somewhat at a loss for words.

But upon reflection, they realized it was true.

If David hadn't shown up today with such a formidable display, and had tried to discuss the tax issue with them, they would probably have resisted right away.

But now, with so many guns pointed at them, they couldn't dare to make a scene, no matter how unhappy they were.

Without concerning himself with what they were thinking, David walked forward to the pile of money that had fallen on the ground in the commotion, shuffled through it, and asked, "This is four million US dollars, right?"

Richardson's brow furrowed as he replied, "What do you want?"

"I've already said, I'm here to collect taxes. According to the black tax law, any amount over four hundred and fifteen thousand and fifty US dollars is subject to a tax rate of 39.6%."

David looked at Richardson and said, "This here is four million, so I will take one million five hundred and eighty-four thousand US dollars. You don't have any objections, do you?"

Hearing that one million five hundred and eighty-four thousand was going to be taken, Richardson looked very displeased.

Meanwhile, Baldwin secretly rejoiced inside.

There was an unwritten rule in drug dealing transactions.

If you're caught a second before taking delivery, the loss of the goods has nothing to do with the buyer.