Chapter 38: Chapter 38: National Rankings Go Live
David spread his hands, resigned, “I don’t have anything yet, so let’s not rush. Take some time to look into it before we act!”
He had realized that his current rate of solving cases was indeed a bit too astonishing.
Therefore, he decided to slow down a bit and pretend to investigate for a few days first. This way, he could also dispel the suspicions of many.
Nisen nodded and replied, “Alright then…”
…
Three days later, Nisen’s Volvo was parked downstairs at David’s place. Right after that, he picked up the phone.
It was about seven or eight minutes.
David came down, and as soon as he had pulled open the car door and sat down, Nisen anxiously handed over his phone, saying, “Take a look at this!”
David took the phone, and what caught his eye were the words “Tax Authority’s Achievement List.”
Looking down the list, he saw two familiar names, Kelly Orsey and Brown Soros.
And behind their names was the tax achievement figure of “2.296 million US dollars!”
“Hmm? What’s this about?”
He had already heard about the tax achievement list at the assessment meeting three days ago from Gusin.
But back then, Gusin said that after the list was launched, it would be updated once per assessment period. But it’s not the assessment period yet!
Nisen immediately explained, “This list has just been launched on the internal network by the head office. According to their latest explanation, the list won’t update once per assessment period. Instead, from the time it goes live, as soon as tax achievements are successfully recorded, they will be updated in real-time on this list!”
David was somewhat surprised, then replied, “So, you’re saying Kelly Orsey and Brown Soros’s tax achievements listed here were received in these three days?”
“Exactly!”
David now understood, but to receive over two million in tax achievements in just three days was a bit monstrous for this duo from the Manhattan, New York Branch.
If you calculated the average amount, 2.29 million in 3 days would be 4.58 million in 6 days, and 9.16 million in 12 days…
After one assessment period, wouldn’t that amount to over ten million!
What kind of beasts were these!
Continuing down the list, the second place still featured familiar names, Trollope Alger and Bellamy Hardy.
This was the audit team from the Los Angeles Long Beach Branch. In the previous assessment period, they earned a high tax achievement of 4.36 million, ranking second nationwide.
In these three days, they also had over 1.6 million US dollars booked.
Apart from these two teams, there were also thirteen audit teams on the list that had broken the million mark in tax achievements.
This made David question his life a bit. He had a system, but what methods were these people using to achieve such high efficiency?
“David, I think we should take action now!”
Nisen’s tone was somewhat urgent.
It would have been fine if this list hadn’t gone live, but now that it had, and with the tax achievement data being updated in real-time, he felt a bit embarrassed.
After all, during the last assessment period, they had been lauded among the national top hundred!
Yet in these three days, because they were in the process of collecting data, not a penny in tax achievements was recorded, which meant their current tax achievements were still a big fat zero, placing them tens of thousands of ranks below.
This was something everyone in the national audit system could see; plummeting from the top hundred to tens of thousands below was indeed too humiliating!
David’s eyes narrowed, and he wore a contemplative expression.
He had planned to slack off for another day or two before starting work.
But now that the list had come out, it also stirred his competitive spirit.
Though limited by regional factors, he couldn’t compare with those audit teams from Manhattan and Los Angeles, it wasn’t as though just anyone could ride roughshod over him!
He had to maintain a firm hold on the top hundred ranking!
That was helpful both for the impressions of the higher-ups at the head office and for the leaders of his own branch!
Gathering his thoughts, David asked, “What have you found out?”
Nisen looked slightly embarrassed and replied, “I’ve only found out that this gang often hangs out in Horseshoe Bay, Bellagio, and Caesar Resort.”
“Also this”
Nisen pulled out a small card from the inside of his suit.
David took it and saw that it was similar to the little cards often slipped under hotel doors in the middle of the night back in his previous life in China.
It had a contact number on it and a fiery-sexy woman illustration.
“Not bad!”
David smiled and changed the subject, “Let’s go, to Caesar Resort!”
…
Caesar Resort, situated at the border between the Lake District and Clark County.
The resort’s architecture was unique, predominantly white and light gray, with a European style that was low and exquisite, complementing the surrounding environment.
It also boasted the city’s largest artificial lake, making it a location by the mountains and water.
Additionally, there were golf courses, spa centers, gyms, and various other facilities to provide the ultimate luxury experience for vacationing tourists.
In the parking lot, Nisen felt like a pig in the midst of a cabbage patch as he parked his Volvo amidst a collection of luxury cars.
But David didn’t seem to be thinking about that at all and walked straight into the lobby.
“Good day, sir, how may I assist you?”
The front desk at this five-star hotel wasn’t just pretty with a sweet voice, her smile was immensely welcoming.
It made one feel an urge to shout, “Give me the most expensive room you have!”
And indeed, that’s exactly what David wanted to do as he pulled out his card and said, “Give me the Presidential Suite!”
These words stunned Nisen standing by his side.
We agreed to come here to work on a case, and now you’re opening a Presidential Suite?
Wait a minute…
As far as he knew, the Presidential Suite here cost upwards of ten thousand US dollars a night!
Although David had received a sizable bonus for his outstanding tax performance during the evaluation period, money shouldn’t be thrown around like this!
“Certainly, sir!”
In such a hotel, the receptionist seemed desensitized to the wealthy, and she took the card without further question.
In the meantime, Nisen hurriedly asked in a low voice, “David, what are you doing?”
“I’m working on a case!”
“Working on a case?”
“Didn’t you say that the Scam Gang often operates out of this hotel? So, let’s do a ‘sting operation’!”
Nisen was taken aback again.
A sting operation… it didn’t seem like a bad idea.
But the prerequisite was to have solid evidence of their tax evasion!
Otherwise, even if they were caught this time, they could make a fuss and be difficult to handle afterward.
“Wait a minute, David…”
Nisen gathered his thoughts and asked, “Even if we are to perform a sting operation, spending over ten thousand to open a Presidential Suite… isn’t that a bit too extravagant?”
David shot him a disdainful look and said, “Extravagant? What do you think our official funds are for?”