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Chapter 43: Collision Between Dark Clouds
Things had escalated significantly, and Lynch did play a role in it. He had thrown himself into the situation as one of the elements. However, what truly accelerated the situation was not him or the media.
They didn't possess the capability to shake the official stance significantly. What made the authorities cautious were their enemies of equal standing.
Not everyone had a "licensed" friend, nor could everyone utilize a friend's "license" to accomplish their tasks. Many people were the ones who were targeted by the people with the license. This situation caused anxiety among individuals who held esteemed positions in society but lacked direct access to power.
Their anxiety stemmed from the fact that their wealth and influence didn't align as seamlessly as they had initially imagined. As of now, these were merely two parallel lines. It implied that if their opponents utilized the power they lacked against them, they would struggle to resist.
Among these people, the emerging capitalists predominated. They had rapidly accumulated wealth under the explosion of the era's opportunities, often amassing fortunes that might have taken two or three generations to accumulate in the past, yet lacking sufficient depth or background.
They began to fear. They feared the power they had fantasized about numerous times. It was like many people saying they wanted to cage capitalists, but for these emerging capitalists lacking background, it was not them that should be caged but rather the power.
So, when Lynch's incident rapidly escalated after he set it in motion, it wasn't because Lynch was exceptionally special. He merely crafted a weapon for these individuals.
This weapon might not necessarily break the impregnable wall that the federation had built over centuries, but it would leave another mark among the existing ones, making it a bit deeper!
One day, they would eventually slice through this intangible wall, one cut at a time.
The swift pressure exerted by these people compelled a compromise from the Federal Central Tax Bureau. Ironically, those currently exerting influence were also the biggest taxpayers annually.
Discarding an inconspicuous lower-level investigator in exchange for quelling this storm made it seem like the Federal Tax Bureau had lost this fight. But in reality, the only one who truly lost the fight was Michael.
As long as the enforcement power of the Federal Tax Bureau remained intact, they had a chance to turn the tables!
Despite the situation being clear, Michael's inner world was gloomy and stormy. The words from the director before he left had thrown him into a frenzied state. That man had actually made him bow to his enemy, seeking genuine forgiveness.
Anyone with a certain understanding of this world knew that Lynch's statement in public was a way of advancing by retreating. The more he appeared weak, the more it would provoke a severe societal reaction.
Now the task was to convince Lynch to genuinely forgive Michael. Then, this matter would be easily resolved, merely a minor offense.
Mrs. Michael was still undergoing treatment in the hospital. The injuries to her face and outer thighs weren't light. She hadn't fully recovered and needed psychological counseling, which coincidentally was happening together.
This incurred significant expenses. Additionally, dealing with Michael Junior's affairs required money to pay for a defense lawyer. At the same time, it required Michael's current status to solve troubles that weren't troublesome for the privileged class.
This also meant that if he lost his current job, Michael's family would collapse in an instant. They'd soon be struggling with various bills, possibly selling their house and moving to a lower-cost neighborhood, signaling the end of this family's life as they knew it!
After a great deal of turmoil, Michael stepped out of his home in formal attire. His head buzzed, and his eardrums pulsed outwardly.
When he just stepped out, he clearly saw the concerned expression on his neighbor's face and noticed they seemed to be saying something, but he couldn't hear anything. His mind was filled only with a deadening ringing in his ears.
He barely mustered a forced smile, opened the car door, sat inside, started the engine, shifted gears, and slowly drove out of the residential compound.
He was going to see Lynch and resolve these issues. He had never expected that he would face such a hurdle, nor did he believe he would encounter it. After all, he was the competent head of the Federal Tax Bureau's investigation team, with prospects of climbing even higher in the future.
He had wrongly estimated himself and others. He was about to pay the price for his mistake.
When Michael arrived at the hospital, the reporters had almost finished. Lynch's cooperation had expedited the interview process. Michael directly found Lynch's ward. Upon entering, he saw Lynch in hospital attire sitting on the bed watching TV.
Though he appeared feeble, Michael saw through the facade of fatigue in his bright eyes.
A surge of anger rose momentarily within him, yet before it could scorch his rationale, he extinguished it with his own hands.
Lynch also noticed Michael entering the room. He muted the TV with the remote and looked at Michael.
Michael felt uneasy under his gaze, so he took a deep breath and, with what he deemed a sincere approach, apologized, "I apologize for my previous irrational actions. I hope you can forgive me."
It was already quite challenging for him to say these words. Years of smooth sailing had also constituted his bad temper. In such a humiliating situation, if this had happened before, he would have preferred to let the situation worsen rather than apologize.
But now, family had become the straw that broke him, and he had indeed begun reflecting on some issues.
Lynch shook his head, "Your words seem perfunctory, and I see no sincerity in them. This is the first time I've heard someone requesting forgiveness in such a manner...," he scrutinized Michael and mockingly continued, "it sounds like I begged you to apologize to me."
"Actually, I feel like you aren't here to apologize, but to flaunt that I'm lying here while you can stand!"
Michael's brows immediately furrowed. He had already apologized, so what more did Lynch want? But observing Lynch's smirk and considering the dire situation he was facing, the rising anger was once again smothered by him.
Feeling somewhat numb, he stood up. He felt like he was just an empty shell, unable to feel his true self.
He quickly left the room, bought some flowers, fruits, and gifts from the hospital lobby, then returned upstairs. This time, he knocked on the door before entering, then forced himself to lower his voice, reiterating what he had said earlier, "…I earnestly ask for your forgiveness for my recklessness!"
Lynch still wore that unpleasant expression. "If buying gifts represents sincerity, then this world wouldn't have wars."
Michael's voice rose immediately, "Then what do you want me to do?" He glared at Lynch, but quickly softened his tone, "I'm sorry. You know my bad temper. What do you want me to do? Just tell me straight away."
Only then did Lynch nod in satisfaction. "Kneel down, sincerely apologize to me, and beg for my forgiveness for your previous behavior."
He sat on the bed, looking at Michael, who appeared incredulous.
The two stared at each other for about half a minute. Lynch's gaze didn't yield an inch, and Michael seemed to gradually understand something.
He lowered his head and remained silent for a while, then with a thud, knelt down, keeping his head down, earnestly apologizing and pleading for Lynch's forgiveness.
As he spoke, his voice trembled slightly, as if suppressing something. Lynch knew it was anger, resentment, and a desire for destruction.
In reality, Lynch was aware that all this was a temporary choice, a compromise from Michael's side.
He thought about it and smiled, pressed the nurse call button, and chuckled, "I refuse!"
Michael lifted his head abruptly, looking at Lynch in shock, as if he hadn't heard what Lynch just said and wanted him to repeat it.
Seemingly hearing his inner voice, Lynch continued, "I refuse to forgive you."
Michael stood up, and walked to the bedside, his face showing signs of ferocity, "You made me buy things, made me kneel down, and I did as you said. And now you say you refuse?"
Facing the increasingly closer Michael, Lynch showed no fear. Instead, he asked, "If apologies were effective, why would there be law enforcement officers and the judiciary?"
"You committed a crime, Michael. If you think apologies could absolve your guilt, then you are really retarded." Lynch swiftly covered his mouth, "Oh my, mind my language. I suppose you are just too naive."
Michael's eyes turned red. Just as his rationality was about to extinguish again, the room's door opened, and two nurses stared at Michael, then let out screams of shock!
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