Chapter 89
Internal Revenue Service!
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is, in fact, an entity that could be described as a love-hate relationship for anyone living in South Korea.
For ordinary citizens or those with low income, it is commonly seen as an organization that forces the hassle of year-end tax adjustments or as the entity that takes their hard-earned money in the form of taxes.
However, from the nation’s perspective, the IRS plays a vital role as it serves the crucial function of securing the country’s financial resources.
The taxes collected here become the nation’s budget and fuel its operation.
For this reason, the Balhut Cult also operates its own IRS under the leadership of Economic Official Lee Hyuna to sustain the cult’s administration.
“…Terrifying.”
“Yeah, it’s terrifying.”
Of course, everyone recognizes its importance, but the problem lies in the method of tax collection.
The Balhut IRS, in line with the ideology of the organization, naturally provides services to help its members fulfill their tax obligations properly.
It verifies income information from cult members or business ledgers, calculates taxes accurately, and either sends notifications or personally collects them.
Yes, the Balhut IRS collects taxes in person.
Given the current apocalyptic situation, this might not seem problematic at first glance.
“Did they catch another one recently?”
“Most high-value tax evaders are Awakeners.”
Before the apocalypse, paying taxes was considered a citizen’s duty. However, this is now the apocalypse.
What complicates things is the fact that anyone courageous enough to fight zombies can awaken supernatural powers or exhibit superhuman strength.
This means that those facing tax collection are not defenseless citizens but often Awakeners equipped with powerful weapons and immense strength. Many of these Awakeners, particularly freelancers unaffiliated with the cult, are more common than expected.
“Well, I get it. If you set aside the apocalypse or zombie apocalypse, it’s that trope, right?”
“You mean hunter stories?”
“Ah, that. In hunter stories, governments are usually punching bags or barely mentioned. Honestly, once someone gains enough power, they start seeing the government as a pushover, right?”
For instance, Kim Taehyun, who runs a transport business, is himself a type of freelance Awakener not affiliated with the cult. It’s common to see Awakeners band together to form businesses or guilds instead of joining the army or the cult. And among them, how many are sincerely fulfilling their tax obligations?
“You’re paying your taxes properly, right?”
“O-of course! I even hired a tax accountant to make sure the IRS never sets foot in my company!”
If one’s livelihood is closely tied to the Balhut Cult, like Kim Taehyun’s, they would likely be exceptionally diligent in paying taxes and would do everything possible to avoid trouble with the cult.
Those who understand the cult’s power know it well enough to fear it and pray fervently that the IRS never comes knocking on their door.
However, not all Awakeners living in Gyeongju share Kim Taehyun’s conscientious mindset.
To think that self-proclaimed “chosen ones,” blessed with overwhelming power, would obediently pay taxes when visited by a tax collector is a grave misunderstanding.
“Why should I pay taxes? I don’t see the point. What has the cult done for us?”
“Our guild! Our company is this successful because we’re amazing! Isn’t that right?”
“Exactly! If anything, they should be exempting us from taxes, not demanding exorbitant amounts!”
What has the Balhut Cult ever done for them that justifies taking the money they worked so hard to earn in the name of taxes?
Even though the cult had warned its members about charges for urban services like water and electricity or basic infrastructure fees before initiating a currency-based economy and urged them to file income taxes properly, greed is human nature.
People see only their own contributions and ignore the efforts of others. From the perspective of freelance Awakeners or the guilds they form, it would seem unfair for the Balhut Cult to collect taxes under such pretenses.
Wouldn’t God Bahamut intervene in these actions? Doubts and fears of this possibility naturally arise.
“Why would God get involved in such trivial matters?”
From the perspective of freelance Awakeners, there’s confidence that someone like them—barely a small fry—wouldn’t attract the attention of a great deity like Bahamut.
Considering known behaviors, Bahamut’s direct interventions are reserved for fighting zombies. Human conflicts, especially minor issues like this, are unlikely to concern him.
The great deity certainly wouldn’t personally go after minor tax evaders. This leaves freelance Awakeners to deal only with the weak IRS staff who come to collect taxes.
Yes, for an Awakener with power, scaring off a fragile tax collector with a single shout seems entirely feasible.
“How does the tax we pay even help anyone?”
“Go ahead! Try to take it. Let’s see what happens!”
Some claim to be small business owners or low-income earners, questioning whether their taxes even benefit the cult, and taunt tax collectors with defiance.
“I really don’t get it. I earned this with my power. What gives the Balhut Cult the right to take it?”
From the perspective of freelance Awakeners, this wealth was gained at great personal risk.
Unaffiliated freelance Awakeners risk their lives exploring ruined cities, retrieving hidden treasures like precious metals, and amassing immense wealth.
All the supplies and assets in their possession were obtained through their own strength.
“These precious metals helped the currency economy thrive! Yes!”
Releasing these treasures to the private sector and the cult boosted the overall economy. But what has the cult ever done for them to justify this tax collection?
It’s especially galling that high taxes are imposed specifically on Awakeners, further irritating them.
“Wow, they must be out of their minds. They shamelessly enjoy the benefits the cult provides, yet…”
Of course, the cult also has its explanations.
Strictly speaking, the Balhut Cult provided freelance Awakeners with infrastructure necessary for urban life, such as safe zones in places like Gyeongju or Pohang, energy supplies, and currency issuance for economic activities. Claiming that the cult did nothing for Awakeners was an extremely self-serving argument made by tax-evading freelance Awakeners.
“The weapons, ammunition, and protective gear those pigs use are all created and supplied through the cult’s technology, aren’t they?”
The materials used to explore ruined towns or cities were also manufactured by the cult’s technology and either rented or sold to the Awakeners.
Especially since even Bahamut Rounds could be purchased with proper authorization, the argument that the cult did nothing for freelance Awakeners lost its strength.
“Even though they fully enjoyed the cult’s Awakener support policies, now they’re complaining about paying back? Is that what they’re saying?”
Above all, the cult had adopted an Awakener-friendly policy as one of its main strategies.
Thus, the benefits were extended not only to Awakeners within the cult but also to freelance Awakeners, making them the greatest beneficiaries of the cult’s current policies. These benefits allowed them to amass enormous wealth.
While ordinary individuals who hadn’t yet undergone Awakening training barely scraped by running small businesses or service jobs, Awakeners earned immense wealth and preferential treatment by exploring ruins and collecting resources.
The reason high taxes were levied on Awakeners also had clear evidence and justification.
“All we’re saying is, since they’ve gained so much, they should give back accordingly.”
The cult simply demanded that they pay taxes diligently and fulfill their responsibilities as Awakeners in light of the benefits they received.
“No! No! No! Why should I give my hard-earned money to the government for free? It’s unfair! So unfair!”
“The cult should treat Awakeners better! Give us more privileges!”
“Awaken!”
Of course, no one wanted to part with their money for taxes.
Particularly, since Awakeners were classified as high-income earners, they faced significant tax demands. As a result, they rebelled fiercely against what they saw as an outrageous assault by the cult.
“Hello, we’re here today to assist you with your tax payments….”
“Get lost!”
Some drove out smiling tax collectors with force.
“Do you want to die? Don’t you know how dangerous it is out there?”
“Go ahead! Paying taxes is practically signing your death warrant!”
“The Tax Resistance Alliance remains unshaken!”
Others used weapons purchased from the cult to threaten tax collectors with violence.
Given that Awakeners had access to force, the lawless state of North Gyeongju remained an enticing escape route for those unwilling to comply. Some freelance Awakeners, adopting a “one big score” mindset, outright refused tax payments as organizations or guilds.
“Are they insane?”
Kim Taehyun, himself classified as a high-income earner who paid considerable taxes, criticized their actions as madness.
Kim Taehyun understood one thing clearly.
“The scariest organization in the Balhut Cult isn’t the military—it’s the Internal Revenue Service under Lee Hyuna.”
The Balhut IRS, led by Lee Hyuna, was indeed the most fearsome organization in the cult.
“When we investigate and dig, everything comes out. Now, Awakener, will you pay voluntarily, or will you be made to pay?”
“What? What’s with this wordplay?”
“3… 2… 1… Apprehend.”
Even in pre-apocalypse South Korea, the IRS wielded immense authority to ensure smooth tax collection. Companies would kneel and bow their heads whenever the IRS appeared.
And now, it was the apocalypse.
With most high-income earners possessing the power and strength of Awakeners, the IRS had to evolve to match.
Yes…
“This is insane.”
“We’re proceeding with forced tax collection. Awakener, you are hereby arrested for tax evasion. You have the right to an attorney, the opportunity to provide an explanation, and the right to remain silent against self-incrimination. However, we all know this is just for show, don’t we? Tax evader?”
Equipped with state-of-the-art magical weapons developed by the Balhut Research Institute—devices even the elite forces led by Jung Dong-gun hadn’t fully received yet—along with shields capable of snapping a neck with one blow and protective gear designed to counter Bahamut Rounds, the IRS agents had transformed into a formidable paramilitary group.
Yes, their approach was clear: if words didn’t work, force would.
“A freaking army?! Did they send an army to collect taxes?!”
“We’re IRS agents.”
“Stop lying!”
The Balhut Cult simply could not and would not tolerate tax evasion, which was critical for the nation’s operation.
If there were tax evaders, the cult would demonstrate overwhelming sincerity and respect to ensure compliance.
Even if this required physical persuasion… no, especially because demonstrating overwhelming power was the only way to command respect.
Yes, violence is the miraculous equation that even creates respect where there was none!
“What are you doing? Open the door. If you want to keep your door intact, I suggest you open it.”
“Ah… come in.”
Even the angriest, most ill-tempered Awakeners became docile sheep in the face of such overwhelming violence.
Groups that resisted collectively, whether as corporations or guilds, realized the futility of their actions.
What could they do? Before them stood IRS agents ready to pull the trigger the moment resistance was shown, with riot shields indicating their strong resolve to collect taxes physically.
“So, just to confirm, Awakener, did you say…”
“I said nothing, and I heard nothing.”
“Are you going to behave?”
“Yes! I will diligently pay my taxes from now on! Long live the Balhut Cult! Long live! Long live!”
Understand this: the strongest organization in the Balhut Cult isn’t the one led by Jung Dong-gun.
It’s the Balhut IRS, which has the authority and capability to chase anyone to the ends of the earth to collect taxes.
“The way to earn respect is simple. Show overwhelming force that no one can ignore.”
And with the perfect timing of an exchange with the United States, Lee Hyuna adopted American-style tax collection methods for the IRS.
From now on, all IRS agents were equipped with cutting-edge Awakener-specific gear and assigned capabilities rivaling elite military forces.
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