Darkstone Code
Chapter 45 - 0045 For the pension, go all out!

Chapter 45: 0045 For the pension, go all out!

At this moment, in the office of the Director of the Federal Tax Bureau in Sabin City, there is another conversation happening.

On one side is the owner of this office, the local Director of the Tax Bureau, and on the other side is the highest official of the state’s office.

The structure of the Bail Federal Tax Bureau is relatively simple, with the highest body being the Federal Tax Administration Bureau, and the top official being the Director General of the Administration Bureau. Below that, aside from the various offices of the Administration Bureau, are the federal tax administrative management offices for each state.

These state-level administrative offices do not undertake any tax-related services; they are simply management institutions. Although from some perspectives their power is not greater than the grassroots, meaning the federal tax bureaus in various regions, they do have control over the assessment and administrative work of tax officers in local areas, making their implicit power somewhat larger.

Only a day has passed since the incident occurred, yet in this one day, the Director General of the Federal Tax Administration Bureau has been alarmed, demanding that the matter be resolved quickly and without public uproar.

In another world, there is a saying, "The person who ties the bell is the one who needs to untie it." This world has similar ideas. Perhaps the language and expression differ, but people’s thinking and mentalities are still quite similar.

"Michael’s work can be halted for now. Let him disappear temporarily from the public eye. I also heard that he suspects there may be some issue with this Lynch?"

The Special Envoy’s tone carries a hint of indifference, which makes the Director somewhat anxious. He is over fifty and, despite not wanting to give up his position, he won’t be able to hold onto it for much longer.

Especially if his successor is promoted from below, he can only keep his position for two or three years at most. After all, the successor needs time to become familiar with the work to better serve the Federation.

He has a minor issue to resolve here: during his impending retirement, should he enjoy a leisurely life or face the arduous, thankless tasks that come with demanding work?

All are "promotions." Some jobs are very relaxed, like the advisory group under the state office, which doesn’t even require one to stay at the work site; only appearing when necessary is sufficient.

Such places are prepared for arranging those management personnel about to retire—relaxed, with good pay and better benefits, allowing for a comfortable later life after exhausting oneself for the Federation.

But some places are less pleasant, such as the state-level archives and evidence management office, where all kinds of archives and evidence from the entire state eventually converge, leaving no room for error. It’s daunting and indeed exhausting.

Ultimately, where he is promoted to and where he is transferred afterward is determined by the state office. While wiping the sweat off his face, he nods continuously, "Yes..."

"Then investigate Lynch thoroughly. If it’s possible to prove Lynch is indeed a criminal, it might help cool down the public opinion."

"Also, there are some views from above about your conduct in Sabin City. I know you’ll soon retire, but that’s not an excuse for inaction. We are a Federation Government department, not some private enterprise. If the proper reason is found, there’s a possibility of clearing you out even in your remaining short time."

This statement makes the Director’s eyes suddenly tense. The Bail Federal retirement age is fifty-six for women and sixty for men. After retiring, pensions are paid based on social insurance contributions.

This standard is divided into three main levels: fifteen, twenty-five, and thirty-five years, each divided into four smaller tiers.

If the Director can work in the Tax Bureau until sixty, he can receive the Federation’s current highest pension after retirement, at least seven hundred and fifty dollars a month.

Although this amount may not be so striking to people in many big cities, for retirees in Sabin City, it amounts to a considerable sum, as the average worker’s income is only about two hundred dollars; his income alone equates to that of three workers.

However, if he slightly falls short on the thirty-five years of social insurance contribution, he can only receive second-tier pension, about four hundred dollars monthly, which is half of the full third-tier pension.

The pension system has been widely praised all along, yet it is hard to imagine that it was not the Federation Government that pushed this system through, but various new or veteran capitalist consortiums.

Some say it is a conspiracy policy because most people aren’t likely to pay insurance fees for thirty-five years. Life has unexpected events such as job changes or unemployment.

As soon as it’s slightly prolonged, the payment will be interrupted, and they can never reach the full tier, convenient for capitalists to exploit employees without worrying about drastic reactions. If they want their later life not to be miserable, they must meekly accept oppression.

Once a person loses the ability to work and their source of income, their value in society drops to zero. People without value cannot survive in this society.

Not only do ordinary people do everything to keep their pension by swallowing any unfair treatment or exploitation and oppression, during investigations, they have to show that sacrificing personal interests for the company is gladly done.

The Director also shares this anxiety, thus he must save his later life.

There was a brief silence on the other end of the phone, followed by, "Hurry up and let me, let the top see you are doing something, understand?"

The Director nodded vigorously, whether for his dignity or future pension, he was determined to defend everything, "Understood!"

In the following days, news and public opinion continued to ferment, and some well-known socialites began discussing concerns over the unrestrained law enforcement powers of various agencies. They believe what happened to Lynch or others might happen to them.

These expressions were affirmed by many bottom-level folks in society, yet these bottom-level groups will never realize that those who declared their positions are precisely the recent years’ or decades’ rapidly rising Federation Dream representatives, who articulate, yet fear power.

However, these things were still too far from Lynch. After resting in the hospital for three days, Lynch returned to work. Richard and his team had saved up quite a bit, exchanged it all in one go, and got busy again.

Vera also returned to the office, and she was in a cold war with her husband, having slept in separate rooms for several days.

In such circumstances, she felt an increasing sense of crisis that without achieving financial independence, a family upheaval would leave her with nothing.

"Boss, there’s five thousand here..." Richard once again proved his worth with an extraordinary speed.

During this period, he finally managed to hold his head up proudly in front of his family, and the daily earnings of several tens to one or two hundred of revenue per day rendered his family speechless with amazement, showing him a bright future.

Lynch nodded, allowing the coins to be poured into a small cart, issued a cheque, and after Vera handed him a receipt, Lynch pushed the cart into the small room at the warehouse’s rear.

As he switched on the ultraviolet lamp, the glowing green light was blinding!