Chapter 32 - 12: Claiming the Prize

Although there are still two months left to claim the lottery prize, Zhou Qingfeng decided not to delay any longer. If the FBI really has any tactics waiting for him, he would still have to face them two months later. But two months later, the cheap deals from "Apocalypse Creatures" would not be his to pick up. The bio-apocalypse will arrive in a year. But in two to three months, the first generation of the 'X' virus will escape from the laboratory, spread on a small scale, and quickly iterate into the 'Super Virus'. If he truly wants to reverse his fate, he cannot wait until the crisis erupts to solve it; it's best to resolve it before the crisis occurs. "Go claim the prize." Zhou Qingfeng looked up the address, phone number, and email address of the Miami District lottery office online in advance. To ensure that nothing could go wrong, he first called the office to ask in detail about the prize-claiming process. The voice on the other end was polite and professional, as if telling him: "Don't worry, everything will go smoothly." After parting with Selena, Zhou Qingfeng took a bus straight to Downtown Miami. During the trip, he occasionally looked out the window, his feelings tightly gripped by an invisible hand, both excited and nervous. Winning the lottery jackpot was his first step in reversing the apocalypse, very successful. Now comes the second step... After transferring twice, he walked into 14621 Oak Road, Lake District—this place was not a high-rise building, but a very ordinary office building. The lawn in front of the building was neatly trimmed, and a modest sign at the entrance read "Florida Miami District Lottery Office". The staff at the office were very enthusiastic as it was not their first time receiving a lucky winner. The receptionist smiled and handed him a form, indicating for him to fill out his basic information. First, they confirmed his age—nationality was not an issue, but age was a strict requirement. If he was under eighteen, he wouldn't be able to claim the prize even if he had won. Zhou Qingfeng handed over his passport, and after carefully checking it, the staff nodded and indicated he could enter the manager's office. The office manager was a slightly bald, red-faced white man, dressed in a floral shirt and big slippers, giving the office a casual feel. Lottery promotional posters hung on the walls, and a computer and several stacks of files were on the desk. Zhou Qingfeng handed over his passport again along with the signed lottery ticket. When the bald manager saw the lottery ticket, he laughed heartily, warmly shaking Zhou Qingfeng's hand, and said: "Victor, you are the lucky winner of the over 2.2 billion US Dollar 'Power Ball' jackpot! We have been waiting for you for an entire month, you will become the most envied person in the nation and even the world. I hope good luck accompanies you always." Zhou Qingfeng was indifferent to this enthusiasm and specifically reminded, "No, I didn't buy this ticket, I found it." Found, he had to say 'found'. Because this ticket was linked to a case involving at least four deaths and multiple injuries. The FBI must have checked the surveillance footage at the point of sale and could confirm that Zhou Qingfeng was not the purchaser. But it doesn't matter, the lottery only recognizes the ticket, not the person. The office manager was slightly taken aback, then began to explain the prize-claiming details in depth. "Victor, according to Florida law, after claiming the prize, you can remain anonymous for 90 days, after which we will disclose your name, identity, phone number, and address." Zhou Qingfeng had also looked into the anonymity issue last night and tentatively asked, "Can it not be fully anonymous?" The bald manager shook his head, "Some states allow it, but not Florida. We must disclose it to ensure the fairness and reasonableness of the prize. Ninety days is already a long buffer period." This gives you enough time to notify family and friends, seek financial advice, create a budgeting plan, implement security measures, and get ready for the final public disclosure of your information." He paused and continued, "A word of caution, winning the lottery brings complex financial and legal issues. You need experienced lawyers and financial advisors to protect your rights. At the very least, banks will definitely know you have money; they will list you as a top-tier VIP and do everything possible to provide you with the best services. Additionally, there are crucial tax issues that determine the final amount you receive. So you can't be fully anonymous but you need to control the information within an appropriate range." The manager smiled and then asked, "If you don't have connections in this area, I can recommend some lottery office lawyers and accountants for you. By the way, do you choose a lump sum payout or an installment payout?" Zhou Qingfeng chose the lump sum payout. He had already made up his mind, "Getting the money all at once incurs higher taxes, but at least I won't have to wait that long." The bald manager continued to explain, "As a foreign national, you need to pay a 30% federal tax. Fortunately, there is no state tax. Aside from that, there are some personal taxes, and the final amount of the prize will be about 1.1 billion US Dollars. We will transfer the prize to your account within ten to fourteen business days from the day you submit the formal application." Announcing this number, the office manager couldn't help but marvel at the lottery's unbelievable randomness. Who could have thought that this unprecedented super jackpot would fall on a Chinese kid? Moreover, Zhou Qingfeng had to find a lawyer to be present, and also a financial expert to handle tax issues—these were semi-mandatory and quite expensive. But for the lottery office, these matters had long since formed a fixed procedure. Soon, a lawyer named Richard, an "old white man," was introduced to Zhou Qingfeng.