Chapter 859
Happy cooperation
Chapter 859 Happy cooperation
"IRS?"
Wade was taken aback at first, then suddenly realized.
He had naturally heard of the power of the IRS. It was said that their investigative powers were comparable to the FBI, and even money obtained through robbery, theft, buying and selling weapons, and selling a certain powder had to be taxed.
Otherwise, the tax authorities can bring down anyone with their big stick.
What was unexpected was that Elsie, a pure-blood wizard, would deal with the Purifiers not by using spells or the Magical Congress, but by the most practical tax rules of the Muggle world.
His expression caught Elsie's eye, which surprised her somewhat.
The girl raised an eyebrow and asked inquisitively, "You seem... to know something about the IRS?"
“My father wasn’t a wizard; he ran a small, ordinary company,” Wade said frankly. “For him, taxes were like the weather—something he had to pay attention to every day.”
A knowing glint flashed in Elsie's eyes, but unlike Malfoy and the others, she did not show any disdain for Vader's "non-magical background".
Instead, as if she had found a resonance, she leaned forward slightly and lowered her voice:
"My family is the same... My father follows Muggle news every day, and his understanding of the various tax systems in the United States far surpasses that of most Muggles."
"In fact, the Vanderbilt family has never truly severed ties with Muggle society over the centuries."
Elsie smiled and shared a tacit secret within the pureblood community:
"Magic gives us privileges, but the Muggle world has a hundred times the population and economic activity of us. Only a fool would give up the wealth there."
"But to operate safely in the Muggle world, magic alone is not enough. Confusion of thoughts and alteration of memories can only work temporarily, but they will soon reveal their flaws."
"Only by truly understanding their rules can we navigate this ocean, which does not belong to us, like a whale."
Wade smiled as well: "But the Purifiers were originally lawless mercenaries, and this inherent nature means that they inherently hate rules and love to take shortcuts."
"As long as they want to operate in this country, they will definitely need money, industry, resources, bribe officials and even wizards, which will inevitably involve large-scale capital flows."
“Since their organization has wizards, they must be used to using magic to solve problems, and it’s impossible for them to record every penny of income and pay taxes properly. So the figures in their ledgers simply cannot withstand scrutiny.”
Elsie chuckled softly at his words. She tilted her head slightly, a hint of teasing in her expression, and shrugged, saying:
"Dear Wade, you should know that even if they want to be law-abiding citizens, it's almost impossible for them to understand all the federal taxes, state taxes, city taxes, sales taxes, property taxes, and so on!!"
Wade chuckled and added, "So if it were me, I might consider an even simpler method... to use a little spell to get the officials in key positions in order to avoid sending at least half of the wealth into the national treasury for nothing."
“But once the IRS has its eye on you, no amount of magic can fix it…” Elsie said, “because it’s not one person’s decision, it’s math—numbers are the hardest thing to lie about.”
“Then they’re finished,” Wade said. “Their bank accounts will be frozen by the IRS, their properties and vehicles will be seized, and no matter how well their assets are hidden, they’ll all be dug up…”
“That’s right, exactly,” Elsie laughed. “As long as you can find out who those people are, or what their businesses are, I guarantee everything I just said will come true!”
Wade asked, "Does the Vanderbilt family also have connections in the IRS?"
“What do you think?” Elsie blinked. “Our family is a major taxpayer! So…”
She raised her coffee cup: "Pleasure doing business with you?"
"It's a pleasure working with you!" Wade raised his glass and lightly clinked it with hers.
"The purgers always think Muggles are their base, so let them taste what it's like to be chased around by Muggle laws and violent institutions!"
……
"boom!"
Cassius Thorne slammed his fist on the wooden table, making the empty wine bottles on it vibrate.
"Who? Who did this?!"
He roared furiously, "This isn't helping us, it's digging our graves! Now the entire Magic Council is going to use two hundred percent of its resources to search for us!"
Rolando Stern glanced at the leader, whose voice was hoarse with anger, then at the man sitting in the shadows on the other side.
It was this man wearing a raven mask who brought news of the Magic Congress banquet and told them what was in the video.
“This is very strange.” Rolando Stern tapped the armrest of his chair lightly and said in a low voice, “This is definitely not the work of the Magical Congress. They don’t have the courage or creativity to do this.”
"Nonsense! Is there even a need to say it?"
Cassius Thorne paced back and forth in the room, furious. "Those bureaucrats of the Magic Council, I can imagine their style with my eyes closed! But the important thing now is how we deal with them, in case..."
Before he could finish speaking, a commotion arose outside the door.
Just as Cassius Thorne was about to erupt in anger, a young Purifier member burst in despite being stopped, his face flushed with excitement.
"Leader! Mr. Stern!"
The young man said with fervent eyes, "The word has already spread among the brothers! If there's such a foolproof solution up there, why not make it a reality? Why just put on a show for the Magic Congress?"
“Yes, leader!” The other young people crowded at the doorway, shouting, “It’s time! We should stand up like in that video and tell the whole world the truth!”
"Chief! Chief! I'm a wizard too! I know a little magic!" A boy at the back of the crowd jumped up and down, raising his arm excitedly. "I'm willing to play the role of demonstrating magic!"
"Come on, your shapeshifting skills are terrible, let me do it!" the other boys and girls shouted.
Cassius Thorne and Rolando Stern exchanged a glance.
Thorne's eyes were filled with rage—these incited fools had no idea of the cost of their hasty exposure!
Stern's eyes held deep worry as he looked at the young people, their voices trembling with excitement, and asked in a low voice:
"That video was never released. How did you know?"
"Huh? Lots of people already know!" The young man scratched his head in confusion, then looked at his friend to confirm, "Right?"
"Yes, yes... but who first said that?"
(End of this chapter)