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Chapter 57: The Complexity of Human Nature Lies in Contradictions within Humanity
If Joegleman was simply unaware that Johnson intended to introduce a small figure to him, then Johnson was now sitting beside Lynch with a face resembling one who had just eaten feces.
There was a bit of disgust, a bit of loathing, a bit of regret, a touch of an indescribable irritation, and a face full of disdain.
Based on common sense, it was hard to imagine a tax bureau chief facilitating introductions of important connections for someone like Lynch, who was a relatively insignificant figure. Especially considering the recent trouble Lynch had gotten him into, which had created significant turmoil within the entire tax system from top to bottom.
Particularly regarding Michael’s matter. Last night, there was a leaked rumor from the state office, saying that given the current public opinion pressure, the higher-ups were considering abandoning Michael.
The highest-ranking official in the state office had made it clear during the phone conference several times that the stance of the higher-ups was not to abandon subordinates when faced with issues; they had never done so in the past and disdained the idea altogether.
The Federal Tax Bureau, known for tackling issues head-on, had its own military division; they never knew what it meant to give in. However, the issue this time lay within problems at lower levels; even if the higher-ups tried to resolve them, they still couldn't fully clean up the mess. Therefore, the people at the lower levels had only themselves to blame.
Previously, they had hinted to Johnson to swiftly label Lynch as a criminal. The notion that Lynch could be a potential criminal was also suggested by the Federal Tax Bureau of Sabin City themselves, with Michael being the one who put forward such thoughts.
Though Director Johnson believed Lynch might not be entirely clean, from the current perspective, he clearly hadn't engaged in any illegal activities, including his company's accounts. When they apprehended Lynch and inspected the entire warehouse, they also found no anomalies.
The main reason for the public uproar was that Lynch was innocent. Combined with prior law enforcement brutalities, mainly from the Bureau of Investigation, and some people's instigations, it led to the current situation.
As long as Lynch was labeled as a criminal, the majority of the public wouldn't empathize, despite the fact that the Baylor Federation always touted itself as a human rights state. Clearly, people's attitudes towards criminals had nothing to do with human rights.
Attitude determines the trend and future of events. Even the most foolish of the masses wouldn't seek justice for a criminal.
However, a week had passed, and despite the joint efforts of the Sabin City Tax Bureau and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the two strongest federal departments, they failed to label Lynch as a "criminal".
This had infuriated the senior officials at the tax bureau. If the people at the lower levels couldn’t even handle such trivial matters well, how could they expect them to perform well in their duties?
However, it wasn't entirely the fault of these two institutions. Currently, society's focus was on Lynch. Any slight mistake in the process of pinning him as a criminal could worsen the situation further.
Therefore, during the phone conference, they pointed out that if they couldn't save Michael, then abandon him. Moreover, by doing so, both the Sabin City Tax Bureau and Michael would bear some responsibility.
One was the incompetence of the Sabin City Tax Bureau, and the other was Michael's multitude of personal issues—bad temper, frequent outbursts at work, erupting whenever provoked, whether by suspects or coworkers.
The public uproar this time was also related to his own actions. Without any evidence to incriminate Lynch, he directly labeled Lynch as a criminal suspect and harmed him multiple times, resulting in such dire consequences. He needed to be held accountable for his actions.
Meanwhile, the state office has expressed a desire for the Sabin City Tax Bureau to soothe the emotions of the victim. Recognizing their inability to simply defeat Lynch outright, they aimed to refrain from treating him as an adversary and even consider befriending him, hoping to salvage some part of their public image.
As for dignity, the Federal Tax Bureau was a crucial federal institution, the dignity of one person was not important at all.
Apart from this, a different narrative was being pushed from above, aligning perfectly with what Lynch had previously discussed with Director Johnson at the barbecue restaurant.
Since the higher-ups had decided to make Michael the scapegoat, they would ensure that he carried it seamlessly, without granting him any chance of redemption. If even this matter was not coordinated well from below, it would result in the entire leadership of the Sabin City Tax Bureau being abandoned.
At this point, it was evident that the future direction wasn't something a local tax bureau director could control. They could only comply with the decisions from above. Johnson had called Lynch in the morning, implying the need for him to align with the Tax Bureau's upcoming actions in the media.
At the same time, he also hinted to him that he had already considered the things they had discussed at the barbecue restaurant last time. This was an instinctual tendency toward seeking personal advantage. Even though he didn't lead the development of the situation, when the outcome favored him, it tended to blur his value within the entire context of the matter.
It was akin to how Michael, upon hearing about a promotion opportunity, began working hard. If he succeeded, Director Johnson would definitely claim credit for his success.
Why refuse extra benefits when they didn't affect his interests?
With such a conversation, Lynch happened to mention his interest in getting to know the head of the bank's credit department, regardless of the specific bank—any bank would suffice. This became part of his exchange for cooperating with the Tax Bureau's actions.
His exact words were, "My current workload is quite heavy, and I might not be available for media interviews. If any mishaps happen in coordination, I would sincerely appreciate your understanding!"
At this stage, Director Johnson had already made a firm and resolute decision; there was no turning back for him. The private meeting with Lynch, coupled with the current internal trends, gave him a peculiar sensation of 'conspiring' with Lynch to harm Michael. This feeling wasn't overt but nevertheless existed, making him one of Lynch’s accomplices.
Coupled with pressure from above, this usually complacent old bureau director from the Sabin City Tax Bureau reluctantly agreed to Lynch's request, leading to the lunch meeting.
However, he still couldn't help but feel disgusted—not only due to Lynch but also himself. He had thought he was a person with limited abilities, not particularly strong-willed, but with an absolutely clear and firm stance. Unexpectedly, he turned out to be so "weak"!
"I don’t need to put in good words for you; these are your words." Director Johnson couldn't help but make a sarcastic remark, observing Lynch's naturally calm demeanor.
Facing his sarcastic remarks, Lynch remained unperturbed. Instead, he retrieved a small note from his pocket and slid it into the napkin, pushing it across the table.
Johnson furrowed his brow as he unfolded the napkin, revealing two lines of typewritten numbers. "What does this mean?"
Lynch chuckled, "I heard that Landlith banks are going digital. They believe combining numbers and letters in bank accounts burdens work too much. I think the top six banks should consider this too."
The bank accounts within the six major federal banks were categorized as 'custom accounts,' primarily composed of alphanumeric combinations. This setup inadvertently escalated workload, leading to a slower pace of work and an increased susceptibility to errors.
Just as Director Johnson was about to ask why Lynch would mention this to him all of sudden, he suddenly clenched his fists. Undoubtedly, considering Lynch's words and this note, it confirmed this was a Landlith bank account.
Landlith was a neutral nation, often labeled a tax haven, filled with various financial crimes, some of which involved federal matters.
He glared at Lynch with a fierce expression. "This is bribery! You're insulting me!"
Lynch shrugged, "You know, nobody can remain isolated from everything (nobody can exist completely outside of any situation without influencing it or being influenced by it), and I don't need you to do anything that would compromise the Federation’s interests. This is simply a gesture between friends."
"Instead of wearing that expression now, I think you could take this thing and try to trace the flow of funds between accounts. Perhaps it might uncover something that could be used against me, or it could be donated to those in need, such as Michael's wife."
"When Michael goes to prison, his family will be on the brink of falling apart. His wife has never held a job, and their child will come out of prison next year. They'll need money, and Michael won't be able to provide for them..."
"We all know Michael is innocent..." Lynch paused briefly. He then smiled, "Of course, I don't mean that I’m... you know, I'm innocent too."
He looked at Director Johnson, a gaze that seemed to be able to penetrate one's innermost thoughts.
Just as Director Johnson was tormented, feeling guilty for the "betrayal" and needing to do something, Lynch's words stimulated him, awakening a sense of "responsibility."
Since he couldn't alter the present situation to provide a possibly fair outcome for Michael, he might as well take care of his family. After all, his wife and child needed money.
When a person wants to soothe their guilt, they often do foolish things.
During this brief silence, Joegleman appeared earlier than anticipated. Director Johnson couldn't risk giving the note back to Lynch. He believed that even if Joegleman caught a glimpse of it, he'd know what was written. He couldn't take that chance.
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