Chapter 11: Chapter 11: We are Good Citizens

“You all know what our National Tax Agency does, right?”

David’s words left the black people present exchanging puzzled glances. Of course the National Tax Agency dealt with tax matters; who didn’t know that?

After a moment’s contemplation, Osborne replied softly, “Of course we know, Inspector Sir!”

“Good, since you know what our National Tax Agency does, then we also know what you do!”

The hearts of the black people present skipped a beat.

The National Tax Agency knew what they did?

Could it be that they were targeted for their recent series of Zero Purchase Incidents?

Impossible!

No sooner had this thought appeared in their minds than it was instantly dismissed by the group.

The National Tax Agency was indeed formidable but their Zero Purchase activities fell under public security cases, far from the jurisdiction of the National Tax Agency!

“Inspector Sir, we don’t quite understand…”

“It’s very simple. Here’s the thing, on the 3rd of last month, our Congress passed a bill, which stipulates that from now on, all illegal activities like robbery, fraud… including your current Zero Purchase behaviors, will be subject to a certain amount of tax payable to our National Tax Agency. Do you understand now?”

As the words fell, the black people present all widened their eyes and opened their mouths in disbelief, standing frozen as shock rippled through the air.

From now on, they’d have to pay taxes to the National Tax Agency for illegal activities such as robbery, fraud, including their current Zero Purchase actions?

If this weren’t coming from David, an inspector of the National Tax Agency, they would never believe such an outrageous turn of events.

After all, the National Tax Agency was a legitimate state institution, so why leave those office workers and enterprises to come and pluck the wool from their side gigs?

In other words, you represent the lawful while we represent the unlawful; how could we mix the two?

“Inspector Sir, is there really such a matter?”

Osborne was the first to snap back to reality. Although their Zero Purchase activities weren’t as dangerous as drug trafficking, they were still risking their lives.

Even if the National Tax Agency was powerful, it couldn’t just swindle a share of the loot with a few words; did they take him for a fool?

David just shrugged and said, “It’s not your fault that you don’t pay attention to politics, but with the internet so advanced these days, it shouldn’t be hard to check our National Tax Agency’s official website with a smartphone.”

With the discussion reaching this point, the group was inclined to believe what was said.

As David claimed, although they didn’t pay much attention to politics, there was no way that inspectors from the National Tax Agency would dare to fabricate such a matter.

They might believe it, but reporting their hard-won takings for taxes as if baring their own flesh—how could they accept that?

So at this moment, most people turned their gaze to Osborne, hoping that their ‘leader’ would say something.

After some hesitation, Osborne seemed to come up with an idea and played innocent, “I understand, Inspector Sir. But there’s one problem: all of us here are law-abiding good citizens, with no income from illegal activities!”

His strategy was simple: deny any illegal income adamantly.

The National Tax Agency might be fearsome.

But to make accusations, evidence was needed; without it, they couldn’t just force confessions, right?

America was still considered a country that valued human rights after all!

Especially their black community, which in recent years had increasingly taken the moral high ground due to racial discrimination issues; Osborne believed the National Tax Agency would be wary and not dare to take drastic measures against them.

“Indeed, Inspector Sir, we’re all good citizens; we don’t have any illegal income!”

“Inspector Sir, I know that in recent days the Zero Purchase incidents in Las Vegas have been getting out of hand, but they’ve got nothing to do with us!”

Osborne’s words gave direction to the others, who started echoing his sentiment.

If today’s visitor had been any other inspector, they might have had little recourse against these shameless protests, other than slowly interrogating them back at the station.

Unfortunately for them, they had encountered David today.

To be precise, it was these Davids with their golden touch!

So, in his eyes, their denial equated to nothing more than a clown’s performance!

David barely smiled, then turned his gaze to Osborne and said slowly, “On the 9th of last month, at Phon Shop number one in West District of Crystal Shopping Street, you looted an iPhone 13 Pro and later sold it to your familiar fence, Cavaha, profiting 800 US dollars.”

“On December 23rd, you took part in a raid at Macy’s Department Store and got a pair of AIR JORDAN 19, which you sold to another fence, Noihaus, for a profit of 400 US dollars.”

“And on the 25th…”

“From when our new tax law went into effect until now, a total illegal income of 9,100 US dollars; now, tell me, are you a law-abiding good citizen?”

As David meticulously recounted each date and detail, Osborne’s face, once calm and innocent, turned, and his heart was hit by a torrent of shock.

It might be normal for the National Tax Agency to find out that he was a Zero Purchase Participant.

But knowing every detail of his month’s activities, every item obtained, their value, and, most absurdly, even the identities of his fences, was utterly baffling.

Not just Osborne.

Nisen, who had stood by silently watching David’s performance, also appeared surprised at this moment.

The information on this group of Zero Purchase Participants had been prepared by the agency long ago.

But only the initial information indicating they were involved in Zero Purchases, and their large numbers, was provided to the agency.

There was no detail about the items they had acquired in their operations, the profit made, let alone information on the fences, which would be even harder to uncover.

While everyone’s thoughts were different, David turned to a black man on his left and said, “Augusto, you were involved in the raid at Crystal Shopping Street on December 9th, where you got an iPhone 12 Pro, profiting 550 US dollars.”

“Then on December 23rd, during the raid at Macy’s Department Store, you obtained a pair of Air Force 1s, making a profit of 200 US dollars.”

“…”

“From the 3rd of last month when our ‘black tax’ law came into effect until today, you’ve earned a total illicit profit of 4,800 US dollars, correct?”

When Augusto, the man called out, heard the specific details about himself, his eyes bulged as big as brass bells, filled with disbelief.

Because David was spot on; these were the items he had looted during this time.

Although he never calculated the exact income for this period, it wasn’t far off from the figure of 4,800 US dollars.