A Bumpy Road to Power

"What do I want to do? I'm just considering your future. Do you want to be my secretary for life?"

Dirk Carter shouted.

Arlo Yarbrough let go of his hand.

He snorted, "Dirk, why are you pretending to be so noble? Are you the only good person in this world? You went to duel with someone, do you think I'm a coward?"

With this said.

Dirk completely relaxed.

Clearly.

Arlo had really seen through him.

After a long silence.

Dirk looked up and said, "Arlo, just listen to me on this matter. You and Elaine Nolan are even talking about marriage, right? You can't treat the girl badly, can you?"

"I don't care, even if I don't get married, I can't let you face it alone!"

Arlo Yarbrough roared.

Dirk Carter smiled slightly.

He punched Arlo in the chest.

And said, "I'm not going to die, you're acting like I'm never coming back. Besides, the result of this trip is unpredictable, we can't both be tied to the same boat. If I fall in, at least there's still you, right? You're my backup plan. If I really can't be an official anymore, I'd count on you to cover for me."

A chuckle.

Arlo laughed out loud.

He said, "I'm not cut out to be an official, you should've let me be a doctor like you said, then at least I'd have someone to patch you up when you're injured."

Dirk sighed.

He said, "Saying these things now is too late, you stay in Helios County and take over Houston Marshall's position. You've been with me long enough, the work at The County Committee is something you can handle, find a good day and marry Elaine, then have a chubby son, how nice is that for a family of three."

Between men.

No words were needed.

Arlo knew, Dirk was doing it to protect him.

This trip to Veridia City might lead to a direct confrontation with the Houseman Family.

Even though Dirk seemed relaxed on the surface, everyone knew in previous instances it was only because the Houseman Family didn't mind too much. If it came to a real clash, Dirk could be crushed beyond recognition.

He definitely wanted to accompany Dirk.

But Dirk was right about one thing.

If Arlo stayed behind, then Helios County would always be his escape route.

Even if something catastrophic happened in Veridia City, Arlo could still leverage Helios County's resources to save him.

That was the real reason he ultimately agreed to stay.

Throughout their journey.

The two had weathered many storms together.

Now they suddenly had to part.

To be honest, it was a bit hard to let go.

Seeing Arlo's eyes a bit wet.

Dirk joked, "What? Once I'm gone, you can't make a living anymore?"

"Anyway, when I get married, you have to give me a big red envelope."

Arlo rolled his eyes and said.

"Hahaha..."

Dirk laughed heartily.

Nodded and said, "It's a deal. When you get married, I'll definitely give you a big red envelope."

"That's more like it."

Arlo said.

...

About a week later.

The Organization Department of the State Committee arrived in Helios County.

They conducted an inspection and had discussions with Dirk Carter.

After waiting three or four days.

Dirk received a call from the Organization Department of the State Committee; his appointment was approved.

He was relieved of his duties as a member, standing committee member, and chairman of the Helios County Committee.

He was appointed to Veridia City as a member of the City Committee, a member of the Municipal Government Party Group, and Vice Mayor.

Thus.

At 31 years old, Dirk Carter completed the jump from county-level to bureau-level.

Although moving from a full county-level to deputy bureau-level was only half a step.

But for most people in the system, this half-step was an insurmountable chasm.

More importantly, Dirk was only 31.

At such an age, being in the cadre sequence of deputy bureau-levels was like a trump card position.

At 31 as Vice Mayor, not just in Veridia City, but even in Janton State and nationwide, it was extremely rare.

Once people around him learned the news.

They all congratulated him.

But only Dirk knew, this deputy bureau-level might be the end of his career.

From receiving the appointment letter to officially taking office.

The Organization Department of the State Committee gave him a week.

Since the time was so long.

Dirk took this opportunity to return to Serenity State.

To see his wife and child.

Especially the child, whom he hadn't seen for more than six months, and who had grown significantly.

After a brief moment of warmth, Dirk prepared to head to Kenning City a day early.

After all, he still needed to report to the Organization Department of the State Committee before taking office.

After boarding the plane on time.

Dirk put on his eye mask.

Planning to use this little over an hour to get some rest.

Just as he was about to drift off, he heard a commotion in the cabin.

He took off his eye mask and froze.

Nearly an hour had passed since boarding.

Yet the plane was still on the ground, unmoved.

The passengers in the cabin, after waiting too long, started voicing their complaints one after another.

"Why aren't we taking off yet?"

Dirk stopped a passing flight attendant to ask.

Because Dirk was sitting in the first-class seat booked by Dorothy Zechariah.

The flight attendant was quite polite, smiling as she said, "Sir, we're very sorry, we are waiting for three guests who haven't boarded yet per the tower's orders."

Strange.

This was the first time Dirk heard of a plane waiting for passengers.

And the wait was an entire hour.

"Are they very important guests?"

Dirk asked.

The flight attendant whispered, "Sir, they're foreign friends."

After saying that.

The flight attendant went into the economy class to calm other dissatisfied passengers.

"What's going on? I'm headed to Kenning City for a meeting, if you don't fly soon, I'll be late."

In the crowd, a traveler in a suit complained.

Another person said, "Yeah, we've waited an hour. If they were coming, they should have been here by now. Let's just take off. Everyone has important business!"

This type of thing.

The flight attendant couldn't solve.

She could only accompany them with a smiling face and comforting words.

At this moment, an air stewardess shouted at the cabin door, "They're here, they're here."

As soon as she finished speaking.

Three men, chatting and laughing, walked into the cabin.

They seemed completely unhurried.

Dirk couldn't understand what they were saying, but he could tell these men were from you-know-where.

The species from that small island.

Judging by their attire, they didn't look like foreign diplomats but rather like students.

In the aisle.

A stewardess smiled and nodded at them.

At this moment.

One of the blond guys suddenly reached out his hand and slapped the stewardess's perky behind.

Apparently finding the feel satisfactory.

He said something to the other two, who burst into laughter.

The stewardess was quick to react.

She immediately grabbed the arm of the man who was acting indecently and shouted, "What are you doing, behaving like a hooligan?"

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