Sakura: Can You Really Call It Undermining Him If It's Your Little Sister? / Sakura: This Melon Isn't Juicy Enough!

"Did the tax bureau come looking for you?"

Shinji's smile vanished instantly.

Chapter 131 Sakura: Can you call my sister's words sabotaging me?

What constitutes a local film? While the criteria may vary from place to place, they generally consider factors such as the film's creators, actors, filming locations, and the first language spoken.

But in the United States, this is quite bizarre.

According to the official definition, whether a movie qualifies as an American film has nothing to do with any of the above; it only depends on how you pay taxes.

First of all, it's impossible not to pay taxes no matter what. The IRS will do everything it can to collect taxes; otherwise, it wouldn't be known as the most powerful agency on Earth.

As for how wealthy people outsmart the tax authorities and try every means to evade taxes, that's another story, and we won't go into it here.

In the United States, there are generally two ways to pay taxes on film and television works.

One approach is to only pay taxes to the main members of the production crew.

If you choose this option, then even if the movie is filmed in the United States and the crew members are all Americans, it will still be considered a foreign film.

Powered Ultraman is a typical example.

Despite being promoted as an American Ultraman series by Tsuburaya Productions, the company was too poor at the time to pay taxes for the entire production team. Therefore, in the United States, Powerd is considered a foreign production.

It was precisely for this reason that Ultraman, Powerd, which was clearly made for Americans, was unable to be broadcast on American television and could only be quietly released in the United States in the form of videotapes.

Unless you're a seasoned tokusatsu enthusiast from North America, you probably haven't even heard of this work.

Conversely, if you pay taxes for the entire crew, then even if the film is shot overseas and the main creators are foreigners, it is still an American film.

Typical examples include the Harry Potter series, where all the actors are Britain, and the Lord of the Rings series, where the majority of the cast and crew are Australian.

The North American tax authorities don't care where the artwork came from; they only care how you pay your taxes.

As long as you pay enough, even if you were the reincarnation of Lü Bu, this Grand Tutor Dong Zhuo would dare to recognize you as his godson.

Don't be fooled by the extra money you pay to be a US-made film; you also gain many hidden benefits, such as preferential treatment in promotion and theater scheduling.

If it were the world before the time travel, Second Master would definitely apply for his film to be a North American domestic production to facilitate its promotion in North America.

That's right, but that's assuming it's the world before the time travel.

In this Parallel world, because North American filmmakers needed the help of European filmmakers, those European films received far more preferential treatment than the Second Master had before his time travel.

One of the most obvious examples is that even if a film is taxed in North America according to the standards for foreign works, North American distributors will still gladly promote it.

So, when Second Master described North America as a field of leeks, he wasn't wrong at all.

Unfortunately, before Second Master could even fatten up the leek field, the leeks began to rebel.

To be honest, this whole thing stems from Shinji's ruthless exploitation of people in North America.

Europeans might only get a green tip, but Shinji's FZ completely chopped off the white stem.

The tax bureau, looking around, saw Shinji; it would be strange if they didn't come after him.

Shinji could somewhat understand the tax bureau's actions. After all, no one is born with the mindset of being exploited; they'll always have to put up a fight.

However, while I understand, there's no way I'd expect Second Master to accept it.

"Those tax bureau guys are dreaming!"

During dinner, Shinji wiggled his chopsticks and complained to Chloe.

"Whether it's an American product or not, I get the same treatment, so why should I pay more?!"

"Because this time you might be treated differently."

"That's what Chloe, who was sitting opposite Shinji, replied."

"If your new film is still intended to be released in North America under the name of a foreign film, then the theaters will take appropriate action."

Chloe's words made Shinji frown slightly. "What, are they planning to reduce my screenings?"

"No way, they're counting on your work to make money." Chloe mimicked Shinji's gesture, shaking her chopsticks and chuckling, "They'll probably reduce their share of the box office revenue by claiming it's a foreign film."

Shinji was extremely annoyed. "Tsk, what are they trying to do?"

Chloe shrugged and reached for a piece of sushi covered in glistening fish roe.

"Although you have influence in the Britain, you can't offer any help to North American films at the three major film festivals. Therefore, North America naturally won't give you preferential treatment."

"Is there nothing your Jidai Group can do?"

"A tough stance wouldn't be out of the question, but we're just business partners; there's no need to fight to the death with the theaters," Chloe replied.

The current relationship between Type-Moon Group and Jidai Group. is somewhat similar to the Sun-Liu alliance during the Battle of Red Cliffs; they are not a single entity, but rather their interests align.

Of course, Miss Chloe is definitely not Sun Shangxiang; she's more like a female version of Sun Shiwan, and she's the kind of person who's interested in Shinji, the Liu Bei.

However, Shinji dared not say this aloud, or he would be severely punished by Chloe.

"You can't avoid this, because Disney and other Film Company are also involved, forcing you, Shinji, to increase the cost of showing films in North America."

Chloe added, "Ultimately, it's Shinji, as an outsider, is making too much money in North America, which makes people jealous."

After saying that, Chloe prepared to pick up the sushi and eat it.

Clatter

As a result, her hand trembled, and a few fish roe fell onto the plate.

"Um..."

Chloe narrowed her eyes slightly, carefully placing the fallen fish roe back onto the sushi, and then continued eating with her chopsticks.

Clatter

This time she used too much force and broke off a small piece of the vinegared rice from the sushi.

Feeling humiliated, Chloe pouted, "I refuse to believe it. The heir of the Flora family would lose to a piece of sushi!"

Chloe reached out her chopsticks and started to gnaw on the piece of sushi.

Every time Chloe tried to pick something up with her chopsticks, a grain or two of rice or fish roe would fall out, making her feel embarrassed.

"I strongly suspect that Shinji did this on purpose."

"I'm so resigned," Chloe said, then reached out and put the sushi in her mouth.

"You should have done this sooner! I told you, it's easier to eat sushi with your hands than with chopsticks." Shinji rolled his eyes at her. "Besides, you're supposed to eat sushi with your hands anyway."

"How was I supposed to know chopsticks were so difficult to use? Chinese fast food in North America is so convenient..."

"I'm so sorry," Chloe said, her big red eyes shining brightly.

Sakura, who had come along with her older brother to freeload a meal, laughed and said, "Sister Chloe, you're using too much force. This is how you should use chopsticks."

As she spoke, Sakura skillfully picked up a piece of tuna sushi and stuffed it into her mouth, chewing it with relish.

Chloe raised Shinji.

"Ahem. I'm treating you to Japanese food; I just wanted to show you some unique Japan cuisine."

Shinji, slightly embarrassed, and then continued the previous topic.

"So, either I get a smaller share, or I pay taxes to the IRS. Either way, I have to pay money to avoid trouble?"

Sakura chimed in again, "That's definitely hopeless. Brother, you don't have any money to pay up to avoid trouble right now."

"Sister Chloe, actually, my brother treated you to this restaurant because he's short on cash and could only afford a cheap place."

Sakura didn't give Shinji any face at all, and directly exposed his secrets.

"However, the food at Sister Chloe's shop is actually quite good. Artoria really likes it."

After saying that, Sakura gave Chloe a sweet smile.

"Cherry..."

Shinji's eyebrows twitched involuntarily twice.

"What do you want to do, brother?" Sakura pouted. "Let's make it clear first, I'm not going to speak well of Chloe for you, so you can successfully live off Lizzie."

Shinji replied irritably, "I don't need it either!"

"Who would believe that? Brother, isn't your biggest dream to lie in bed and have me take care of you for the rest of your life? Isn't that just being a kept man? Even TV dramas have exposed your filthy thoughts."

Sakura looked at her brother with disdain and brought up the ending of the Matou Family in UBW.

Shinji's lips twitched twice. "You actually mixed up reality and fantasy stories. Sakura, you should be more capable."

"Tch, from the heart."

Sakura made a series of unseemly "pfft" sounds in protest, then lowered her head and started eating tempura before Shinji could unleash his fury.

Chloe, however, was very interested in what Sakura had mentioned.

"Hey? Shinji, you're broke again?"

Chloe deliberately made a sound of surprise.

Shinji shrugged. "That bastard Gilgamesh wrecked the company; I have to pay some of the damages."

Since Gilgamesh is his own Heroic Spirit, Shinji must be held responsible for his actions.

After all, Gilgamesh himself was a spendthrift and didn't have much savings.

Fortunately, this guy's Golden Rule means he can find money even on the street, so he won't starve to death.

But forget about him paying compensation; only Shinji bill.

After going through similar processes several times, Second Master realized that he couldn't save money on his own.

As long as he has income, there will always be various things that force him to spend the money he earns.

Compared to Shinji himself, who had little luck with money, his business partners made a fortune by following him, which Shinji greatly envied.

Even the Matou Family has doubled its wealth in the past few years, steadily progressing from city-level landlords to national-level landlords.

Only Shinji companion, despite spending money that wasn't entirely wasted, just couldn't save any.

This made Shinji feel a kind of malice from the Counter Force.

"Could this be a curse from Alaya? Will I never have any savings? Should I offer incense to Red A sometime?"

If we consider Alaya Buddha, then even if Red A isn't a Bodhisattva, he's still at the Arhat level. Offering incense to him might be helpful?

Anyway, there was no loss.

"Actually, it doesn't have to be so complicated, Shinji. You can take a completely different path." Chloe smiled slightly at Shinji. "If you become a member of the Flora family, wouldn't all the problems be solved?"

Upon hearing this, Shinji crossed his arms and chuckled coldly, "Lizzie, you think you can teach me how to do things?"

Sakura, who had watched many Hong Kong movies with her brother, poked Shinji with her finger. "You're a kept man, Brother, and you still say you don't want to be a kept man?"

"You can eat your own food."

Shinji smacked Sakura on the head hard.

Chapter 132 Sakura: This melon isn't exciting enough!

"Let's put that idea of becoming family on hold for now."

Shinji directly rejected Chloe's suggestion, declaring righteously, "I, Shinji Matou, would rather starve to death or die on the street than live off a woman!"

Chloe waved her hand with a cold laugh, "Hey, hey. Say whatever you want, just don't regret it later."

"Of course not, I'm an upright person."

Despite Shinji's confident assertions, his next words revealed his true intentions.

"How's the rollout of the new screen going?"

"So-so."

Chloe pursed her lips and said, "You've really caught a lucky break. Many cinemas are switching from film projection to digital projection, otherwise your technology wouldn't have been promoted so quickly. You're really fortunate."

Of course.

Second Master let out a cold laugh; he was taking advantage of the opportunity presented by cinemas worldwide upgrading their equipment to promote his own.

Otherwise, Shinji's efforts to promote his 3D without glasses device would be significantly slower.