Old Gods, Rapid-Fire Guns, and Prohibition

Chapter 134 [March]

"Today's breaking news: This morning, the Kingdom's Senate passed the latest 'Kingdom Taxation Bill, Phase III' with 97 votes in favor, 2 votes against, and 1 abstention. This bill's passage means the old military tax bureau system will be reactivated, and a nationwide tax audit will begin soon. Whether this is progress in the new era or a reversal of history remains to be seen..."

It was already early March, and the sea breeze was beginning to become gentle.

The latest news from the kingdom came from the latest radio.

In fact, Ethan had learned this news from Palen more than half a month ago.

But at that time, it was just a rumor after all, and the final result was completely unknown.

But now it has come true.

Ethan had to deal with this.

Fortunately, everything goes well these days.

Since the last incident with the Evans family, there has been no unusual movement in the Winster underground world.

That day, the boy from the capital named Frank ultimately failed to reach the Evans family. Naturally, he had no chance of bringing people to disrupt Ethan's meeting.

Ethan got the Evans family's contract at the nine o'clock meeting, and the Evans family was kicked out like a stray dog.

Frank also moved out of the North Sea Star urgently that morning, but in the end he did not leave Winster. Instead, he moved into a hotel without any mafia background.

With the Evans family as an example, the rest of the people were even more afraid to do anything. They surrendered as they should, and submitted as they should.

Ethan's road to annexation went smoothly. As long as he was given another year, no, maybe more than half a year, he would be able to completely consolidate these forces and build the entire Winster underground world into an iron bucket.

However, this latest tax bill did cause trouble for Ethan.

At least at a recent internal meeting, John Holt expressed deep worry: "Ethan, this is no joke. The Military Tax Bureau is much more powerful than the Prohibition Bureau. In its heyday, its authority was almost equal to that of the Kingdom Security Bureau. If we are really caught, even... that person can't save us."

Indeed, as he said, Ned also told Ethan privately that he should pay attention to tax issues. This bill is coming with great force. The information he got from his connections in the royal capital showed that the big families and powerful people were behind this tax bill.

I don’t know how many people want to profit from this national tax audit or make a name for themselves.

Ethan's current response is to integrate his casino business as quickly as possible.

He now controls at least 70% of Winster's casinos. Laundering money through casinos is an old tradition of the Mafia.

Now that Winster only has his own voice, washing is much easier.

But this is not enough. In order to minimize the risk, Ethan is also preparing to register some overseas offshore companies under the advice of John Holt.

After all, he has smuggling lines to the Old World and an ally in Fengcui, the Corleone family.

The condition is established.

Moreover, the relationship between the kingdom and the Old World is pretty good now, and trade is frequent.

The third point is the bank.

The issue raised by Eugenides before was brought up again.

But it is definitely too late to set up a bank directly, not to mention the various procedural issues. At this critical juncture, isn't it clear that the tax officials will come to investigate?

The only option is acquisition.

However, Ethan has not yet found the best acquisition target.

There are so many things going on that Ethan hasn't slept well recently.

"In fact, art is also a very good way to launder money."

Vincent said as he listened to the message on the radio.

Ethan naturally knew this, and he had already contacted Jackson, the art dealer in the royal capital.

But first of all, his output is not that fast.

Secondly, this bill also contains very clear restrictions on the sale of artworks.

So this journey isn't so smooth either. "Someone needs to go to the Old World."

Ethan said as he thought about recent events.

After the last four-ship incident, the connection with the Old World was actually a bit severed.

Even though he later established some contact through telegrams, after all, all the elders of the Corleone family were killed or injured that time, and even though the Porletta family is now powerful, he cannot neglect Mrs. Talia too much.

What's more, this time I need help from the other party.

"I'll go. I'm familiar with it."

Vincent volunteered again.

Ethan shook his head.

It's not that he doesn't trust Vincent's ability, he just doesn't want Vincent to take risks.

"After all, that's the territory of the Sun God Cult. We don't know how they will react to what happened to Kasar. You absolutely cannot go there."

When Vincent was captured by Casar, he finally confessed the whole story.

He was young and energetic and wanted to go out and try his luck, so he went against Alberto's wishes, ran away from home, and boarded a ship to the Old World.

As a result, he had nowhere to stay in the Old World and could only accept help from the Sun God Cult.

He was also briefly a member of the Sun God Cult.

If it weren't for what happened later, he might have been a devout believer by now.

Later he was sent to the town of Bad Fran and participated in a secret experiment.

He and a group of children of similar age were injected with some mysterious blood, and then he awakened the true name of the God of War.

In that small town, he suffered inhumane torture.

Until one day, a riot suddenly broke out in the whole town.

He could no longer remember the specific events of that day. He only remembered that many people died and he escaped in the chaos.

Judging from the fact that the Sun God Cult had to send out Kasar to hunt him down, there should be very few survivors of that incident.

The Sun Cult is very eager for Vincent.

Ethan couldn't let him take that risk.

"Let Velen go. He's an old man. When Talia sees him, she'll always give him some respect."

Ethan said finally.

He was already fixing his hair and changing into formal clothes.

He was getting ready to go out.

Because today the city hall will hold the final round of hearings, which is to decide the ownership of the latest municipal project, sewer repair.

Ethan has participated twice. In the first two times, he has already invested money and he also plans to invest people.

To be honest, this kind of municipal project actually makes money in the end.

Ethan planned to make as much money as he could. After all, he had a lot of people working for him, and some of Sandro's former subordinates he had recruited did these things.

Osvaldo has also stated privately that this municipal project will only be given to Ethan.

At two o'clock in the afternoon, Anya drove Ethan out.

This is March Winster, a new story is about to happen.

(End of this chapter)