NOVPUBGrace finished speaking, and the entire venue, as well as the onlooking audience, fell silent.
At the same time, everyone’s gazentinuously swept across the floor, looking to see if any Senators were raising their hands.
After a long two minutes, just at that moment, people suddenly saw a slender arm rise on the far right of the seating area.
"It’s Senator Yuna, she voted in favor!"
"Haha, wonderful Senator Yuna, we love you!"
"Long live Senator Yuna..."
"..."
Upon seeing who had raised their hand, the bill’s advocates erupted in excitement, and the supporting Senators at the scene were also greatly euraged.
But before their excitementuldntinue, something even more exhilarating happened—another arm was raised in the middle of the seating area. It belonged to none other than Mandel.
"Nice, very nice!"
"We can finally get through this damn speaking procedure!"
"We’ve finally arrived at the real decisive voting phase!"
At the Headquarters of the Internal Revenue Service, seeing this result, the senior officials also became elated.
Although David, sitting to one side, did not show much emotion, he was inwardly relieved.
Even though he had reached an agreement with these two Senators this morning, people are unpredictable—who knows if they would flip at the last minute.
If they turned, that would spell trouble, but fortunately, the current result was still satisfactory.
"What’s the matter, David, is there something else you’re worried about?" Donald, seeing David without expression, quickly masked his joy to ask.
"Although I have dealt with the events of last night, and you must have learned something about them, it was all very rushed. I wonder if there will be any unexpected developments..."
David, watching the screen, keenly observed that some of the Senators in their camp seemed to be showing expressions of unease.
Thinking carefully about The Big Three Groups’ planned threat and kidnapping incident, it was understandable that these Senators were still veryncerned about the personal safety of their friends and family.
Knowing the extreme actions taken by The Big Three Groups, these Senators still did not dare retaliate against them or oppose them.
And other Senators, whose family and friends were unharmed, must also be feeling uneasy.
So it was uncertain whether they wouldntinue to support their bill.
After all, the current speaking votes were based on previous tallies.
Before the real vote, no one knew the oume, noruld anyone guarantee that Senators, fearing thensequences, wouldn’t overturn their initially planned votes.
At this moment, Daviduld only hope that these Senators would remain true to their own hearts and not be too deeply affected by last night’s events!
Upon hearing this, Donald and the others instantly looked more somber.
Obviously, they had thought of what David wasnsidering, but there was nothing thatuld be done now; theyuld only hope for a good oume in the uming votes.
Meanwhile, at Senado Island.
Most Freemasonry members were not surprised by Yuna and Mandel’s affirmative votes, as last night, the CIA and FBI had rescued their families.
However, a small faction of members, after seeing the speaking procedureme to an end because of these two votes,uldn’t help but curse openly.
After venting, theyuld only refocus their attention back on the big screen in the Senate.
They knew that no amount of cursing would help now; only the uming real vote would be truly decisive!
In the Senate.
Seeing that the voteunt had reached 60, it was Raglen’s turn to be smug, and he said with a sneer, "Heh, Grace, we have enough votes now, I think you’d better hurry up and announce the start of the official vote on the bill!"
Although Grace was reluctant, he had to announce, putting on a fair and lawful facade, "Since 60lleagues support moving to the bill voting phase, I hereby announce that the vote on the Offshore Tax Avoidance Bill officially begins now!"
After he spoke, Raglen was the first to raise his arm, and the supporting Senators next to him also raised their hands one after another.
At the same time, people inside and outside the chamber were tensely tallying the votes.
"38, 39, 40... What’s going on, only 40 votes?"
"We had 58 votes to bypass the speaking procedure yesterday, but now that we’re at the actual bill voting phase today, why has it halted at 40?"
"Come on, Senators, we only need 11 more votes to pass!"
"..."
After careful calculations, the audience in front of the TV realized that the voteunt did not meet their expectations, and they all became nervous.
At the same time, back at the Internal Revenue Service Headquarters.
Seeing that things seemed to be getting unfavorable, the senior officials felt a sink in their hearts and a sense of foreboding washed over them, making it difficult for them to breathe.
Ofurse, aside from people like Obadiah, David himself was not feeling any better. 𝑛𝘰𝑣𝑝𝑢𝑏.𝘤𝑜𝘮
Heuld already see from the big screen that many Senators from their own camp were showing more and more hesitance and were not as decisive as they had been in yesterday’s vote.
It seemed like the situation he least wanted to see was still unfolding.
