As he drew closer, however, he suddenly realized that the figure seemed strangely familiar.
Meanwhile, the figure, without turning its head, uttered a familiar voice, "Don't be so nervous, I bear no ill intent..."
David slowly drew back the balcony curtains and, upon a closer look, realized that the visitor was none other than Maggie, the spy from Bear Country!
Today, she wore a tight-fitting black dress that adhered to her body. The high-neck design of the dress exuded elegance and nobility, while the form-fitting material hugged her shape, outlining her perfect curves.
She sat in the chair, drinking from a bottle of red wine that had cost David 200 US dollars, acting as if she were anything but a stranger.
But even though he now knew it was her, David remained on high alert, maintaining a vigilant state from head to toe.
After all, he had seen what she was capable of.
Even Nisen, a former tough guy from the Marine Corps, had been subdued by her in one move.
"Breaking and entering, by the laws of the America Federation, I could shoot you on the spot!"
David had guessed some of the reasons for her visit.
But the unsolicited 'ambush' without his permission made him feel somewhat irritated.
Maggie was not intimidated; instead, she responded with a shallow smile, "Well, if that were the case, the National Tax Bureau would be missing out on some taxes every month!"
"Spit it out, what do you want to ask me?"
"David Tax Inspector... oh no, I should call you Director David now!"
After correcting herself, Maggie continued, "I heard that Koffdale has been arrested, and I also heard that CIA agents visited you at the Lake District Sub-Bureau Branch this afternoon. Is that true?"
"If you already know, why bother asking me?"
Maggie lifted her head, her eyes fixed intently on David, and asked, "So, about my information, did you reveal any of it to the CIA?"
Although David had promised before not to disclose her identity information to anyone.
But the CIA and the National Tax Bureau are both official institutions of America, and who knows whether these two agencies might strike a deal and turn her in.
And even if they did turn her in, she had nowhere to appeal.
David sneered, replying, "If I had revealed your information to the CIA, do you think you'd still be sitting here talking to me?"
"Oh? Really?"
Maggie was still somewhat skeptical.
"I've said it before, we at the National Tax Bureau have principles in our work; if you've paid your taxes, we will keep your identity confidential. You have nothing to worry about on that count."
"After all, to us, the taxpayer is the most important, and we wouldn't tarnish our reputation just because it's the CIA!"
Hearing these sincere words from David, Maggie finally began to relax a little.
But then she seemed to remember something else and asked, "I have a question..."
"What question?"
"To my knowledge, two senior CIA agents came looking for you this afternoon, but why haven't I seen them leave your bureau?"
Maggie had taken the risk to come here, even knowing the danger, largely because of this concern.
The next morning, the National Tax Bureau Lakeside District Sub-Bureau Branch welcomed a man dressed in a black coat and wearing a gentleman's hat.
"I want to see Jerome and Agent Brod."
"May I ask who you are?"
"Their boss!"
"..."
Detention room.
At that moment, both Jerome and Brod appeared utterly drained.
Even though they were agents trained through countless rigorous exercises, spending a whole night in a place without even a bed was torture for them.
Right then, footsteps from outside made both men immediately stand up and walk to the bars to look out.
Upon seeing the man in the black coat and gentleman's hat, they were first startled, but then seeming to anticipate what would happen next, a hint of fear appeared in their eyes.
Because the man was none other than their boss, Elvis!
Approaching them, Elvis said to the escorting National Tax Bureau staff member, "Thank you. If Director David arrives at the office, please let me know."
The staff member nodded and then turned to leave.
Elvis looked at Jerome and Brod and cursed, "You idiots made me fly here overnight from Washington D.C. I'd rather you were dead!"
Jerome and Brod didn't dare retort and both bowed their heads low like children who had done something wrong.
"Tell me everything from beginning to end, and make it damn clear!"
Elvis also only knew the gist of the matter over the phone, with many specific details still unclear to him.
"We were tracking that hacker..."
Brod began to explain the details of the incident with precision.
When Elvis heard that the National Tax Bureau had found Koffdale and even obtained the spy's information before them, even he, a high-ranking officer, was shocked.
These two were targets that the CIA had been chasing for a long time, but to think the National Tax Bureau had already taken them into their fold was far too outrageous.
Was the National Tax Bureau's investigation capacity now surpassing the CIA's?
Or was it that the CIA's intelligence capabilities had become outdated?
"After that, Jerome decided to try his luck with Director David, but in the process of negotiating..."
Although they were partners,
this matter was obviously heading for major disciplinary action, and Brod certainly did not want to share the blame. He spilled the details of Jerome's threat.
Upon hearing this, Elvis, already full of rage, became even angrier and pointed at Jerome, shouting, "I thought you were an idiot, but I didn't expect you to be this stupid. Not even the Chief would dare to make such threats on National Tax Bureau territory, you brainless fool..."
"Supervisor, I..."
Jerome's face turned red with embarrassment, but he didn't know how to defend himself.
Elvis calmed down a bit and asked, "Let that hacker and the spy go, but what's the deal with you two? How could Director David have known about you skimming off the top?"