"On what grounds?!"

Confronted by this Statistical Bureau person's arrogance, Marvin's subordinates couldn't bear it and retorted back.

The man sneered, seemingly about to say something, but Marvin took the initiative and opened the car door, saying, "Who's leading your team?"

"It's our director." The man looked at Marvin coldly, as if expecting to see him scared.

"Take me... no, I wish to request an audience with your director." Marvin took a deep breath and spoke respectfully.

Upon hearing this, the man laughed, remained silent for a while, and then said, "Alright, let's go."

Marvin got out of the car, straightened his uniform, and followed towards an old black Forland car not far away.

However, he was stopped before he could get close.

The soldier turned around and spoke with a man wearing a captain's rank for a few moments, the captain glanced at Marvin, then walked to the car window and knocked. The window slowly rolled down a bit, probably reporting back.

But after the report was finished, the door didn't open; instead, the window rolled down lower.

Afterwards, Marvin saw the man sitting inside the car, a man with an extremely kind appearance. He also saw Marvin, then reached out and gently waved.

"Major Marvin, right? I heard you wanted to see me, come over here."

Marvin couldn't help but clench his fist, but eventually, he walked slowly towards the car, finally saluting the man inside.

"That's better, Major Marvin. It appears you listened to what I said on the phone last time, very good." Joseph seemed pleased and nodded.

"Director Joseph, actually..." Marvin finally had a chance to speak.

But Joseph looked at his watch and said, "It's getting late, and we still have important matters. Let's talk next time."

He said this while about to roll up the window.

Marvin couldn't hold it in and said, "Director Joseph, could you please give me a minute?"

"Marvin, don't embarrass yourself." Joseph said this and then seemed to think of something, "Oh, right, I just heard a joke, want to hear it? It's about someone who reported to the Judicial Hall saying he had arrested a bunch of bootleggers and found a lot of illegal liquor, asking the hall to send someone to investigate. But guess what, those so-called illegal liquors turned out to be water, haha."

Joseph laughed.

His subordinate, Captain Steve, also laughed.

Only Marvin didn't laugh.

"Not funny? Major Marvin?" Joseph stopped laughing too.

"I have something else to do, I must leave now." Marvin said that and walked away step by step.

He suddenly didn't want to leave, suddenly felt that everything still had meaning.

He also suddenly thought of the things Ethan had said in the reception room, which seemed quite reasonable.

It's just that now Ethan was in trouble, even though Marvin was considering that proposal, it would have to wait until Ethan could overcome his difficulties.

Marvin had his subordinates drive the car a little farther away but didn't really leave.

He wanted to see what Joseph was truly capable of.

Indeed, he couldn't win against Ethan.

So can you make it work?

Will your liquor not turn into plain water?

After Marvin left, people from the Kingdom Statistical Bureau surrounded Bolita Manor.

Ethan was in the house painting.

He was seriously preparing for his solo exhibition.

And at that moment, someone came to report that Director Joseph of the Kingdom Statistical Bureau had come to visit.

Saying it was a visit, but the meaning was obvious.

"Let him in then."

Ethan didn't know why Joseph suddenly came to the door.

They had crossed paths before.

In fact, since the Kingdom Statistical Bureau showed up, they had made several moves against him.

The first, naturally, was against the industries of the Evans Clan.

Unfortunately, he had disposed of all of them.

Then there were the industries left by Sandro.

With Sandro's fall, among the chaos there were always some loyal and righteous ones who wanted to take revenge on Ethan, like Aaron who had plotted to assassinate him.

Only, these people weren't assassins, but aimed to backstab him with tax issues.

Unfortunately, he had anticipated them as well.

In short, the Kingdom Statistical Bureau's attempts had all been neutralized by him.

For the moment, he couldn't fathom the opposition's intent.

And he wasn't in that reception room.

This time, Ethan received the director of the Kingdom Statistical Bureau in the garden.

This was also the first time he had met this man who also shared the Evans surname.

"Oh, Ethan, Ethan, Ethan. Since I arrived in Wenster, I've heard your name countless times. Everyone says you're an outstanding young man, radiant as the sun. Meeting you today, it is indeed so."

Joseph walked towards him with a smile, seeming to want to embrace him.

Out of courtesy, Ethan hugged him briefly.

Then he heard Joseph speak softly with a smile, "Ethan, but did you know, being too radiant can hurt yourself first."

"What?" Separated, Ethan looked at him and asked.

"Nothing, on such a fine afternoon, isn't it a pity not to have a drink?"

Joseph sat back on a deck chair that had already been set up in the garden.

"Drinking is illegal, Director Joseph." Ethan sat across from him.

"Very well said. Do you also know evading taxes and money laundering can cost lives?" Joseph, though not lame, leaned on a cane, perhaps to accentuate style or authority. At that moment, he placed the cane in front of him, speaking those words as if passing judgment.

"Director Joseph, I don't understand what you're saying. Your words are so profound." Ethan leaned back in his chair, showing no sign of backing down.

"What's so profound? I'm just telling a joke, do you like jokes?" Joseph's smile grew brighter.

"Love to hear it in detail."

"Here's how it goes. There's a joke that says there's a rich man who's very afraid of others knowing how much money he has, so he never deposits money in the bank. Later, the bank got robbed, and that rich man laughed and said, luckily I never deposit money in the bank. Then someone got curious and asked, where do you put your money then?" Joseph rubbed his cane, as if waiting for Ethan's reaction. But when Ethan didn't respond, he could only continue, "The rich man mysteriously said, I'll tell you secretly, all my money is in foreign banks. But he didn't know, the foreign banks were run by robbers, haha."

He laughed heartily while Ethan's expression gradually turned solemn.

"What's wrong, isn't this joke funny?"

"Oh, right." At this point, Joseph seemed to remember something. He tapped his watch vigorously, saying, "Time's about up. The person we're waiting for is almost here. Make sure your people let him in."

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