Entertainment: Starting as a Succubus, Taking Hollywood by Storm Chapter 292 - 299: 4.2 Billion, the IRS, and the Super Bowl

[Translator's Note: rry Christmas, everyone! To be honest, I'm having a rough day right now. My parents and siblings are off at a family reunion in a different place without ! (i didn't want to go since its full of hypocrite people) so, here I am, alone in this house. I called my friends to see if they could co over, and guess what? They're drinking and partying in Boracay (a beach resort) without ! They didn't even bother to tell about it. So, I guess I'll just sit here and sulk alone, or maybe translate a couple of Chapters while drinking hot chocolate (since its fucking raining right now!). i'll be shaless right now and ask you guys for Christmas Tips. Paypal./GodofReader 😪]

The resounding success of the Lord of the Rings film kept everyone on the production team busy—appearing on shows, giving interviews, and attending various parties.

But Martin had no ti for such indulgences.

With $4.2 billion in funds now in his possession, he was preoccupied with figuring out how to spend it.

In the United States, the most feared institution wasn't the FBI, CIA, police, or even the military—it was the IRS, the Internal Revenue Service.

Do you know where graduates from the prestigious West Point Military Academy most aspire to work?

The military?

Nope—it's the IRS.

What about finance or economics graduates from Ivy League schools?

Wall Street?

Wrong again—it's the IRS.

And do you know which organization has the most powerful investigative capabilities in the country?

The FBI?

Nope—it's still the IRS.

Every Arican is required to deal with the IRS. By April 15 each year, every citizen must submit docuntation of their inco, along with forms for the IRS to review.

With bank accounts and credit cards tied to Social Security numbers, tax evasion is nearly impossible for them to miss.

The U.S. is a "land of a thousand taxes," with personal inco tax collected at progressive rates. The federal tax rate ranges from 10% for the lowest earners to as high as 35% for the wealthiest. Often, taxes are deducted directly from paychecks.

Even the burgeoning e-comrce sector doesn't escape the IRS's reach.

Selling goods exclusively online without a physical storefront might exempt one from sales tax, but federal inco tax still applies to any revenue generated.

Even criminal organizations and gangs must pay taxes to the IRS. Inco from all sources, even illegal activities, must be reported—failure to comply can have severe consequences.

The IRS employs over 40,000 auditors, accounting for 35% of its total staff. These are highly trained professionals—field operatives often co from special forces, while investigators are graduates of top universities.

In the U.S., police might inform suspects of their "right to remain silent," but for tax evasion, silence isn't an option.

Additionally, the IRS has the unique power to freeze personal or corporate assets without a court order, a privilege few other agencies possess.

An old Arican saying goes, "The only certainties in life are death and taxes."

However, people often joke, "If you must cross anyone, never cross the IRS."

In Arica, people might not fear the governnt or even the president, but the IRS evokes dread like no other institution.

This massive organization has guards stationed at its entrances, and everyone entering undergoes rigorous security checks for weapons. Visitors must wait in the lobby until specifically called by an IRS representative.

The IRS's reputation for intimidation far surpasses that of the CIA or Departnt of Defense, a fact well recognized by Aricans as far back as the 1930s.

Let's revisit a famous case:

In 1931, Al Capone, Arica's most notorious mob boss, was a ruthless and cunning figure.

He had killed his way to the top of the mob hierarchy, earning the title of Mafia godfather. Though his cris were plastered across the papers daily, the governnt, FBI, and police were powerless—there was no evidence.

Then the IRS stepped in. A group of seemingly unassuming accountants, summoned by federal agents, turned the tide.

Using the seemingly mundane charge of "tax evasion," the IRS took down the infamous Capone, sentencing him to 11 years in prison. His cri empire crumbled as a result.

Now, let's return to our protagonist.

Martin was deep in thought.

Although his charity partnership with Jolie could exempt part of this windfall from taxes, a substantial amount still remained.

By April 15 next year, Martin needed to spend the money.

Of the $4.2 billion, $1 billion was earmarked for Disney stock, and $400 million could be offset through the charity fund. That left $2.8 billion.

After scanning the stock market, Martin invested in a few promising stocks he rembered, spending another $400 million.

Now he was down to $2.4 billion.

With ti still on his side, Martin decided not to rush, setting the funds aside for now.

In early April, the latest Hollywood Power Rankings were released. Martin, surpassing figures like Michael Eisner, Sherry Lansing, and Steven Spielberg, claid the top spot for the first ti.

That sa day, Martin made a rare public appearance at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Los Angeles.

The stadium, capable of accommodating over 100,000 fans, was the venue for the 1994 FIFA World Cup's organizing committee headquarters.

Today's event was a high-profile football match: the Los Angeles Chargers versus the Buffalo Bills from New York.

The matchup had drawn significant attention across Arica.

The stadium was nearly full when Martin's arrival was caught by the live broadcast caras and displayed on the massive screens, eliciting thunderous cheers.

The crowd's excitent turned to surprise when they noticed who was sitting beside him—recently divorced Nicole Kidman.

"What's going on? Why is Martin with Nicole Kidman?"

"Are they watching the ga together? But...why?"

"No way! Nicole Kidman and Martin? Oh, no, that older woman is so much older than Martin!"

"My God, will Tom Cruise lose his mind seeing this?"

"Martin, honestly, I think this kind of publicity might not be the best idea," Nicole whispered.

Listening to the murmurs rippling through the stadium, Nicole blushed—a rare reaction for her. She looked like a young girl caught by her parents sneaking out on a date.

Her face flushed as she let go of Martin's arm, but—

Martin firmly grasped her hand instead.

"Relax, it's just movie promotion. And honestly, we should keep appearing together like this in public so people get used to it," Martin said with a grin.

anwhile, in a Beverly Hills mansion, Tom Cruise shattered his remote control in a fit of rage.

"Damn it! What the hell!" he fud.

The ga began.

Martin and Nicole appeared genuinely absorbed in the match, frequently cheering for the Los Angeles Chargers.

The live broadcast repeatedly cut to the pair, further fueling the public's curiosity.

Even during halfti, spectators and viewers alike were still puzzling over one question:

Why were Martin and Nicole Kidman together?