Chapter 22: Bribery

"For those of you making over 9,726 US dollars and less than 37,650 US dollars, you only need to pay a tax rate of 15%, which isn't too excessive, is it?"

"We're not preventing you from making a living, but in America, everything must be done according to our laws!"

Upon hearing the 15% tax rate, the people from the Island Nation calculated carefully.

In other words, for every ten thousand they earned, they would have to pay a tax of 1,500 US dollars, for twenty thousand it would be 3,000 US dollars, and for thirty thousand, 4,500 US dollars...

Overall, this amount of money was indeed not unbearable, but still, they felt a bit of pain and reluctance to simply hand it over obediently.

"What if it exceeds 37,650 US dollars?"

The one who asked this, Miyano Masho, as the head of the gang, naturally had an income incomparable to his underlings.

Although he had no immediate plans to pay taxes to the IRS, he still wanted to understand what the tax rates would be at his level.

David replied, "For incomes over 37,650 US dollars and under 91,150 US dollars, according to our IRS tax rates, it's 25%."

"For incomes over 91,150 US dollars but under 190,150 US dollars, it's 28%."

"For incomes over 190,150 but under 413,350, it's 33%."

"For incomes over 413,350 US dollars, a uniform rate of 39.6% applies..."

Miyano Masho's face immediately darkened.

As income rose, so did the tax rates in a steep climb.

That meant for his level of income, the tax rate would be 33%.

This was more than double his subordinates' rate.

Moreover, according to the enforcement regulations of the Black Tax Law, this wasn't just a one-time deal.

Once he was recorded in the IRS system, he would have to pay taxes honestly every month from then on, unless he kicked the bucket or truly had no income.

But no matter how you looked at it, wasn't this all just a massive grudge to bear?

Miyano Masho, who was originally not keen on compromising, became even more determined in his thinking after hearing such high tax rates.

"Bang bang bang..."

Just as the atmosphere at the scene had become slightly calmer, a series of knocks suddenly came from outside the door.

Miyano Masho's eyes lit up, and he signaled to one of his underlings, "Ogawa, open the door!"

As the underling took out a remote control and pressed it, the iron shutter door that had been pulled down began to rise slowly.

Soon, everyone noticed that there were two people in police uniforms standing in front of the door, and behind them, there was a police car parked.

[Name: Wade Blair.]

[Occupation: Officer at the Las Vegas Lake District Sub-bureau Branch.]

[Monthly Income: 6,936 US dollars.]

[Monthly Illicit Income: 7,000 US dollars.]

[Income Details: On December 3rd, earned 1,000 US dollars by sheltering a group of robbers. On December 9th, obtained 800 US dollars by erasing a criminal's record. On December 22nd, gained benefits of 1,500 US dollars by protecting a car theft gang in the Lake District.]

[Further Details: …]

[Taxes Due: 700 US dollars,]

…

[Name: Balk Descott.]

[Occupation: Officer at the Lake District of Las Vegas.]

[Monthly Income: $7,102 USD.]

[Illicit Monthly Income: $7,000 USD.]

[Income Details: On December 3, protected a gang of robbers to profit by $1,000. On December 9, erased a criminal's record to profit by $800. On December 22, sheltered a Lake District car theft ring to benefit by $1,500.]

[More Details: …]

[Tax Due: $700 USD.]

"These two corrupt officers, they must be the subordinates of that Chief Smith who Ono Yutaro mentioned before!"

David was sizing up the personal information that appeared above the two men's heads.

Meanwhile, Miyano Masho, who had been hoping for something better, seemed a bit displeased when he saw the two officers and said, "Officers Wade, Balk, where is Chief Smith?"

"The Chief is busy with official duties, that's why he sent us to handle this!"

The two officers glanced at the scene and then at David and Nisen standing in the middle, furrowing their brows slightly.

The so-called "official duties" keeping Chief Smith busy were nothing but an excuse, of course, as in reality, he knew how troublesome the tax bureau could be and didn't want to face it personally.

And they certainly didn't want to deal with the auditors either. Those inspectors wielded incredible power; they wouldn't just go after people but even dogs passing by with any tax issues would get bitten. While they were police officers, they would prefer to keep a respectful distance where possible.

But today, they had no choice.

Firstly, their boss, Chief Smith, didn't want to show up himself and had delegated the task to them.

Secondly, they had indeed accepted a good amount of protection money from this group of people from the Island Nation, and if they didn't show up this time, why would the others be willing to pay next time?

They truly couldn't avoid it!

Wade and Balk pushed through the crowd, pulling Miyano Masho aside to ask, "What's the situation now?"

"These two tax bureau guys said we must pay taxes, or they'll freeze all our accounts and assets and then deport us!"

Miyano Masho was slightly angered and his tone carried a hint of grievance.

Wade and Balk didn't find his words exaggerated or surprising; the tax bureau indeed had the power to do all that, and such forceful and tyrannical actions were consistent with their usual style.

Wade asked, "So what do you want us to do about it?"

Miyano Masho didn't hesitate and said, "I don't want them to trouble me and, of course, I don't want to pay taxes!"

Hearing this, the two officers were speechless.

To avoid hassle from the tax bureau, the best choice was naturally to pay taxes promptly.

But if you didn't want to be troubled and also didn't want to pay taxes, then not just them, two low-ranking officers, even if their boss came, he might not be able to settle the matter.

"I know this is a difficult situation for you," Miyano Masho said, "but if you help me resolve it, I'm willing to pay double the protection money every month!"

He was indeed making a considerable offer to persuade them to sort out the matter for him.

Of course, his so-called considerable offer was nothing compared to the taxes he would have to pay to the government every month.

Double the protection money was tempting to both Wade and Balk.

After pondering for a moment, Wade said, "Here's the deal, I'll go talk to those two inspectors, and perhaps... we can bring them into the fold. But you know, tax bureau inspectors have a lot of power and tend to be quite arrogant. If we really want to get this sorted, it might cost a fair bit..."

Miyano Masho was somewhat interested and asked, "Are you confident?"

He had thought about bribing David and Nisen, but David had been too imposing just now, and he couldn't figure out what kind of person this inspector was.

Acting rashly like that might lead the other party to think he was insulting them and could potentially add a charge of bribery to his troubles, which would be a loss far outweighing any benefit.

But if Wade was the one to talk, that could be different.