American Tax Officer

You should know that the combined fines of Migaomei as well as Allied America Movie Company didn't exceed 1.5 billion US dollars.

Steeling himself, Evan cautiously spoke up, "Director David, the amount you're asking for... it's a bit too large. The film industry is also in a slump, can we consider reducing it a bit?"

"Indeed, indeed, with the downturn in the economy, the film industry is truly not what it used to be, and our companies' revenues are getting worse. Please consider reducing the amount, Director David."

"..."

The others also started bargaining.

However, David seemed to have already seen through them and sneered, "Don't play the pity card with me; among all in Hollywood, other than Disney, your four major film companies are the most profitable."

"And even Migaomei, in such a state, still managed to come up with 1 billion. Don't tell me you can't come up with the money."

"If you can't come up with it, that's fine too. Our Internal Revenue Service is not without assessors. I will send someone to your companies to have a look at what other quality assets you have, and I will help you deal with them!"

David's words left the representatives of the four major film companies speechless.

Because Migaomei's financial situation is well known to be quite bad, and these several major film companies are behemoths with market values of several tens of billions of dollars, there's no reason they can't come up with 2 billion.

But market value is market value, and cash is cash.

For them to cough up 2 billion all at once would indeed be a severe blow to their vitality.

Besides, nobody's money comes easy. If they could negotiate down to paying less, that's what they would save, so they continued various attempts to plead poverty and hardship.

After ten minutes.

David looked at his watch and said impatiently, "I have limited time. I said 2 billion, and it's 2 billion. If you keep on wasting my time with this stalling..."

"Alright, alright, you say 2 billion, then it's 2 billion!"

Seeing his stance, Evan didn't dare continue the argument. If David got angry and added another 1 or 0.8 billion, it would be a real shock.

And seeing Evan step back,

The other three major film companies naturally didn't dare keep on arguing either, promptly expressing willingness to pay up, then left the office with defeated expressions, went downstairs, and left through the doors of the Western Suburbs Branch.

"Mr. Evan, may I ask if you have finished negotiating with Director David?"

"..."

Seeing the few coming out, the reporters who were already desperate for news immediately stepped forward to ask questions, wishing to get the content of the conversation first-hand.

Evan raised his hand and pressed downward, signaling everyone to quiet down, then he said, "After discussions with Director David, we acknowledge that there have been some oversights in the past tax filings which weren't reported in time and deeply realize our errors. After Director David's correction, we will comply with the 2 billion US dollar penalty for tax evasion. That's all there is to it."

He agreed to the interview first because that was David's request, and second, to tell the markets that the tax dispute with the Western Suburbs Branch had been completely resolved, so there was no need to worry about other issues.

"What, a 2 billion US dollar penalty for tax evasion!"

Although the media present had speculated that once the tax evasion of these major film companies was verified today, they would undoubtedly face hefty fines, just like Migaomei and United America before them, they were still shocked to hear the fine was as high as 2 billion.

And the audience watching the broadcast was equally shocked.

But before they could react,

The executives of the remaining three major film companies also stepped forward one by one, adopting the same rhetoric as Evan.

When it was heard that these three companies were also facing a 2 billion US dollar fine each, the reporters and the audience were stunned again.

But soon after, netizens online reacted, and a heated discussion ensued.

"24 divided by 8, that means the combined tax evasion fines of these four film companies amounts to a total of 8 billion US dollars!"

"8 billion dollars, that's like three aircraft carriers! These are the contributions made by Director David!"

"Adding that to the previous Migaomei and United America companies, the total reaches 9.5 billion dollars, and that's just the movie companies in Hollywood. If Director David visits Silicon Valley or Wall Street, what kind of harvest might he have?"

"Going to Wall Street and Silicon Valley, that's a possibility!"

"..."

Originally, many netizens were still shocked by this amount.

But when some netizens shifted the conversation to Silicon Valley and Wall Street, it immediately drew everyone's attention.

After all, the majority of netizens are from the middle and lower classes of this country.

What rich people, consortia, and the lives and deaths of capital companies have nothing to do with them.

The more taxes the IRS receives, the more budget there will be for education, facilities, health insurance, welfare, and other benefits.

This is more advantageous for the middle and lower classes of this country.

So of course, they are incredibly supportive.

"Of Hollywood's Eight Major Film Companies, aside from Disney Film Company and its sibling Fox Film Corporation, the other six have already 'surrendered'," one of the netizens guessed. "What do you think Disney is doing now?"

"Disney can now be said to be bare-poled, of course, even as a bare-poled commander, with the backing of The Walt Disney Company, its strength is still robust. It's hard to say whether they'll compromise."

"Just wait, the deadline set by the Western Suburb Branch is today; we'll know the outcome soon!"

Seeing that Hollywood's Eight Major Film Companies are now only left with Disney and its sibling company, the crowd is even more expectant about what will happen next.

Disney Film Company.

After witnessing the four major film companies announce the payment of 2 billion US Dollars in tax evasion penalties, Okonji was beside himself, now on the phone discussing countermeasures with the company's higher-ups.

Just then, his secretary knocked on the door and entered, saying, "Mr. Okonji, someone from the Western Suburbs Branch is here; Director David has summoned you."

"Summoned me?"

Okonji was initially surprised, but his face quickly darkened.

Although Disney wasn't planning on submitting, if he dared not to go to Director David's summons, he estimated that the IRS inspectors would come bursting in and forcefully drag him there.

With this in mind, Okonji could only say, "Prepare the car!"
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At the entrance of the Western Suburb Branch, as a grim-faced Okonji stepped out of the car, he immediately caused a media frenzy.

"Dear viewers, as you can see, the main person in charge of the Disney Film Company, Mr. Okonji, has arrived here. Let's see if he will submit like the other film companies?"

"..."

As the media broadcast the news widely, there was an instant uproar online.

Many believed that, considering the other seven major film companies had 'surrendered,' Disney must also be unable to withstand the pressure and had no choice but to capitulate as well.

Yet, many also believed that Disney, after all, is a leader in the domestic entertainment industry with robust strength. Most importantly, it's said that the company's boss has the backing of the Jewish People, so this visit was merely for 'negotiations' and not an actual surrender.

As the debate among netizens continued without end.

Some traffic-savvy apps immediately opened betting odds on the issue.

There were four options to bet on.

[1: Will Disney, like the other seven major film companies, choose to pay a huge penalty fine?]

[2: Disney, relying on its robust background, will continue to resist!]

[3: Disney chooses to resist but ultimately fails and is forcibly executed!]

[4: Disney successfully rebels and escapes the sanctions of the Western Suburbs Branch!]

Once these bets were opened.

They attracted tens of thousands of people to participate.