America 1919

Donnie, in the midst of dealing with the IRS investigation and making various arrangements, was finding himself in yet another silent but intense struggle within the IRS headquarters in Washington. In this era, the heads of the IRS sat together, discussing the matter that had occurred in Atlantic City. The cunning Director, knowing he had to step down this year, realized that taking the helm of the IRS was like being the chief of the Bureau of Investigation: his political career was effectively over, with no chance for further advancement. Therefore, the Director directly excused himself from the IRS today, claiming to be unwell. Thus, the meeting was chaired by the Deputy Director, who was the person everybody expected to take over as the next Director, Coshek Kevin. All four directors were present. "Gentlemen, this incident is unquestionably a challenge that Donnie Block has hurled at our IRS, and we absolutely cannot tolerate such a person's existence. Investigating Donnie Block is no longer just a matter of urgency, but a task that must be accomplished—and accomplished swiftly!" Coshek Kevin sat there, speaking with fervor. However, the other four deputy directors had varying expressions: some looked as if they hadn't slept, some seemed to be listening intently but were actually lost in thought, and of course, there were those who agreed and those who opposed! The one in agreement was Bixir Mendy. Though he was dissatisfied with the idea of Coshek Kevin becoming the Director of the IRS, he knew it was a foregone conclusion. With that in mind, he set aside his trivial discontentment to cooperate well with Coshek Kevin. Being younger and with a longer political career than Coshek Kevin, he thought that if he cooperated well during Kevin's tenure, he might inherit Kevin's political capital and perhaps even take the seat of the IRS Director in the future. "I completely agree with Kevin's statement, and I even believe that Donnie is not only challenging the IRS, but also challenging the Constitution of the United States!" He set his tone with one sentence, then Bixir Mendy turned to the dignified Michael Ribeiro and said, "Mika, the Intelligence Division was initiated by you, and those sent to Atlantic City are all elites. Now, however, they have been cornered by Donnie on this matter, and you must bear some responsibility!" This was a clear case of blame-shifting. Although the Intelligence Division was under the management of Michael Ribeiro, the investigation against Donnie had, in fact, been fully overseen by Coshek Kevin. Giving Bixir Mendy a sidelong glance, Michael Ribeiro calmly retorted, "When Kevin initially wanted to investigate Donnie Block, I was the one who opposed it. Donnie Block has immense influence in Atlantic City and deeply entrenched power. Besides, he is backed by a vast network of illegal liquor business interests; it is not an easy task. You all insisted on executing this 'Ice Plan,' and now that there are problems with it, you start to complain about me. Surely, there's no such reasoning in this world?" Coshek Kevin had named this operation against Donnie the 'Ice Plan.' Hearing Michael Ribeiro's straightforward rebuttal, Bixir Mendy's face reddened slightly. At that moment, Coshek Kevin also gave Bixir Mendy a sharp look, then tactfully said, "Mika, although I was the one who pushed for this action, the operatives were indeed from the Intelligence Division, and despite your opposition, you did agree to the plan before it began. The people in the Intelligence Division have always said that I've been cutting their budget, but look at the situation now. I asked them to investigate Donnie Block in secret, but it turned into a citywide scandal, so much so that now even the White House and Congress are calling to ask about it. If we are unable to provide an explanation to the American people on this matter, what will be damaged is the reputation of the IRS, and I hope you can put aside your previous prejudices. This time it's not just for me, but also for the honor of the entire IRS!" Michael Ribeiro looked straight at Coshek Kevin. While the rift between them was well-known within the IRS, at this point Michael Ribeiro still had to acknowledge the pain point Coshek Kevin had pressed on; Michael might not care about Kevin's honor, but he had to care about the honor of the IRS. His family had served three generations in the IRS, essentially dedicating their lives to the organization. So, after pondering for a moment, Michael Ribeiro said in a deep voice, "The stance of the White House and Congress is crucial!" Seeing Michael Ribeiro steer the conversation towards something truly beneficial to the matter at hand, Coshek Kevin felt a surge of happiness inside. As someone who joined the IRS mid-career and whose strengths lay in prestige and tax theory knowledge, he acknowledged that when it came to specific cases and investigations, he was far outmatched by someone like Michael Ribeiro. "The White House initially took a wait-and-see approach to this issue. But as it has become public, they have subtly indicated that Donnie Block is a law-abiding citizen, and tax evasion on his part is unlikely. While their stance is somewhat obscure, one can feel that their scales are now tipping in favor of Donnie Block.