Actually, it wasn't surprising that William knew.

Because not only did he know, but everyone in Winster already knew—

The Military Tax Bureau had arrived.

Of course, the Military Tax Bureau was the term used during wartime; now, it was the era of peace, and the Military Tax Bureau was a relic of the past. According to the latest legislation, the organization established this time to oversee nationwide tax inspections was called the Kingdom Statistical Bureau.

Why did everyone in Winster know that the Kingdom Statistical Bureau had arrived?

The reason was simple: just this morning, five military vehicles entered the city center of Winster in a grand procession.

These five military vehicles were filled with soldiers.

It's important to note that city matters rarely disturb the military, and Winster hasn't had a garrison for years.

The nearest military base to Winster should be the Northern Fortress.

However, the Northern Fortress is close to Butan City, and general supplies are also conducted in Butan City, so it has been many years since military vehicles have been seen coming and going in Winster.

Just those five military vehicles, along with the fully armed soldiers on board, were suffocating and intimidating enough.

And their destination was even more shocking.

They went directly to the main bank of Winster and locked down the entire street.

The largest bank in Winster is the Winster United Bank, located on the bustling Beihai Avenue in Winster.

Locking down this area was equivalent to sealing off the heart of the city. Making it difficult for the whole city not to know.

Almost immediately, journalists from all over the city rushed to the scene.

However, no one could enter because those expressionless soldiers were silently conveying to everyone with their cold faces and guns that advancement was not allowed.

But nothing stopped people from watching, or even taking pictures.

At first, no one moved, but later, the desire for news overpowered the fear of death, and someone was the first to flash their camera.

It was quickly followed by a group of people, recklessly taking pictures.

Finally, a soldier came out, and judging by his rank, he was a captain. He looked at the crowd and said, "You can take pictures, and the newspapers can report the full process of today's events truthfully, but you must not photograph randomly or write irresponsibly. Otherwise, we can always identify which newspaper you belong to. By the way, we are the Kingdom Statistical Bureau, and from today, we will be auditing all tax issues in Winster."

These words were full of murderous intent, frightening everyone while also conveying one message: the Kingdom Statistical Bureau had arrived.

Only then did people notice, besides the five military vehicles, there was also a car parked at the very front.

It was a pitch-black car, appearing to be the latest model from another Kingdom automotive giant, Fulende Company, looking cold and sharp, exuding a sense of iron and blood.

In the very front of this car, a flag was flying. The flag was very new, featuring a triskelion of dragons as the base with scales at its core.

The triskelion of dragons represented the Royal Family of the Kingdom, and the scales probably signified measurement.

This was likely the emblem of the Kingdom Statistical Bureau.

Inside that car, surely sat a real big shot.

From the beginning, the car door hadn't opened as if waiting or perhaps overseeing from above.

Wolf-like soldiers, under the lead of a bespectacled man, had already stormed into the Winster United Bank.

For the time being, no one had come out, and no one knew what was happening inside.

After a while, someone finally came out, but it was the soldiers. They boarded a military vehicle and left the street.

About half an hour later, the military vehicle returned.

A soldier with the rank of second lieutenant strode to the side of that car and reported loudly, "Reporting to the Bureau Chief, the criminal Grue Hayes is suspected of tax evasion totaling 520,000. He resisted arrest and has been shot dead. His assets await valuation for confiscation!"

Only then did the car window roll down slightly, and someone softly responded with a single nod.

And thanks to this moment, those at a close and favorable angle could slightly glimpse a bit of the true face of the mysterious Bureau Chief.

This seemed to be a...

A man who looked gentle?

Gentle?

Those who saw his face couldn't help but have mixed feelings, while those who didn't see it were more scattered by the impact of the scene.

Being shot dead just for tax evasion?

It's important to know that during the past period of economic booming, almost everyone had some degree of tax evasion. Tax evasion seemed ingrained in the bones of the Kingdom's citizens.

Now someone suddenly says, if you evade taxes, you die. How terrifying is that?

But faced with a large group of armed soldiers, no one dared to say anything.

Ethan and his companions also watched this scene unfold.

After getting the news, Ethan, along with John Hott and partners from their illicit alcohol business, came near the Winster United Bank, found a decent café, and sat down. They drank coffee while keeping an eye on the scene.

Initially, John Hott was somewhat relaxed and joked with Ethan, saying, "Look, they're using your guns, looks like your arms business is thriving."

Indeed, the weapons those wolf-like soldiers held were Winster Typewriters.

Only, compared to Ethan's own small workshop products, these soldiers' weapons looked more refined.

From this stance, the Winster Typewriter seemingly started to circulate within the army.

Yet, it seemed, for now, his real name hadn't changed much.

"Thankfully... we didn't invest any money in the United Bank."

Upon hearing the terrifying report, John Horn, though not trembling while holding his coffee, looked extremely troubled.

The only thing to be thankful for was that initially, because they disliked the high laundering rate at the Winster United Bank, they didn't choose this route.

"Is that bank you mentioned reliable?" Ethan finally spoke his first words.

"Absolutely reliable, I've checked it out. If you're still not at ease, you can send someone to look, but you'd better hurry. Given our situation, Butan City is probably also doomed." John Hott kept shaking his head, utterly perturbed.

Ethan then turned to look at that vehicle of iron and blood.

Truly a troublesome spring.

Vito suddenly popping up was already a hassle, and this Kingdom Statistical Bureau Chief who had made a powerful impression without even showing his face was not someone easy to deal with.

"So even now, you have no information on this person?" Ethan looked at John Hott again.

"Yes, of course, I have, but I just got it, didn't I? Otherwise, I'd have already come to you." John Hott rubbed his temples and put down his coffee cup.

"This person is named Joseph, but you definitely won't like his surname. His surname is Evans."

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