A Bumpy Road to Power

"Incompetence" is the standard excuse in officialdom.

Dirk Carter was surprised by this answer as well.

He immediately added, "Comrade Carter, this is the organization's trust in you, and also a test of your abilities. You didn't even think it over and just refused outright—that seems a bit disrespectful to everyone present, doesn't it?"

This was clearly meant as pressure.

Having Dirk take over the old residential community renovation project also fit Jamal Palmer's interests.

So he chimed in, "That's right, Comrade Carter, you don't need to make a decision right now. Go back and think about it carefully. You can give the organization your reply whenever you've thought it through."

Since both the number-one and number-two leaders were of one mind,

even if Dirk didn't agree, this matter was definitely not something he could get out of.

Whether he "considered" it or not was only a matter of time.

Dirk was helpless.

He could only nod.

He said, "All right then, since the leaders all want to use this opportunity to temper me a bit, I, Dirk Carter, can't let your good intentions go to waste. I'll take it on. But let me say this up front: if anything goes wrong, I hope all of you leaders will be tolerant."

Putting it that way was also leaving himself a way out.

Norman Ross seemed to pick up on Dirk's misgivings.

He smiled and said, "Comrade Carter, since you're the one in charge of the old city renovation work, the rest of us will only support your efforts. We absolutely won't throw obstacles in your way, right, Secretary Palmer?"

With this, Norman seemed to be telling Dirk that

he wouldn't intervene in this matter, nor would he make things difficult for him.

And that last line seemed to also warn Jamal Palmer not to pull any tricks either.

Now that things had come to this,

Dirk was somewhat at a loss.

From Norman Ross's perspective,

he neither wanted the old city renovation to be a complete success, nor did he want Dirk to sail through this unscathed, so why would he say something like that?

Was there some other trap hidden in here?

Jamal naturally caught the deeper meaning in Norman's words.

He snorted coldly and said, "Mayor Ross, rest assured, I set the policy, but the concrete implementation still has to be done by your Municipal Government. Since Comrade Carter is willing to take on this work, I'll certainly give him my full support."

"Good! Then that's settled."

Norman slapped his thigh.

That basically nailed the matter down.

Just as Dirk was about to get up and leave,

there was a knock at the door—thump thump thump.

City Committee Secretary General Alejandro Dempsey walked in.

He said to everyone, "Leaders, the new City Government Secretary has arrived."

"Oh? So fast? Then have her come in."

Jamal waved his hand as he spoke.

Alejandro opened the door.

A graceful figure slipped in from outside.

Dirk turned his head casually for a look.

And froze on the spot as if he'd been struck by lightning.

"Come, let me introduce everyone. This is Comrade Gwendolyn Lewis, the new Secretary-General of our Municipal Government Office, and also the first female City Government Secretary in the history of Veridia City. Let's give her a round of applause!"

At Jamal Palmer's cue,

everyone applauded.

Seeing how frantically Dahlia Hughes was clapping, you could tell that Gwendolyn suddenly appearing in Veridia City was also the work of that mysterious person.

Holy shit.

Dirk really found this unbelievable.

One old acquaintance after another was showing up,

and all of it completely under the radar.

He hadn't gotten the slightest hint in advance.

Who the hell had that kind of pull?

"Comrade Lewis has always worked in the education system. Before coming here, she was the Director of the Clearwater City Education Bureau. This transfer comes directly from the provincial level. The goal is to have Comrade Lewis come to Veridia City to gain experience, so she can move on to even higher posts in the future."

Jamal went on.

At this point,

the more Dirk listened, the more confused he became.

When he'd first met Gwendolyn, she'd been Deputy Director of the Kenton County Education Bureau.

After she left the Education Bureau,

Dirk actually had no idea where she'd gone.

When had she been transferred to Clearwater City to serve as Education Bureau Director?

And judging from Jamal's tone,

Gwendolyn's move to Veridia City was at the province's behest.

More importantly, it seemed like none of these people had the slightest idea that Gwendolyn had once worked with him.

He shot a somewhat dazed look at Dahlia.

Dahlia winked at him, as if to say that this person's appearance should count as a pleasant surprise too.

He had just barely recovered from the shock of seeing Elsie Eames.

And now Gwendolyn showed up.

This really was one good show after another.

"Comrade Lewis, let me introduce you. This is our Mayor of Veridia City, Comrade Norman Ross…"

Jamal introduced the five leaders to Gwendolyn one by one. When it came to Dirk, he stood up somewhat flustered. After Jamal finished stating his title, Gwendolyn's lips curved into a faint smile.

She said, "Hello, Mayor Carter. I'll be counting on your guidance from now on."

"O-okay… I… I'll be counting on you too."

Dirk spoke with a hint of nervousness.

"Comrade Carter, what's this? You get tongue-tied whenever you see a pretty woman?"

Right at this moment, Dahlia actually took the chance to joke and tease him.

The other leaders all burst into laughter.

Dirk scratched his head and grinned. "Heh, I'm just clumsy with words. I get nervous when I see women."

Gwendolyn arched an eyebrow and said, half joking and half serious, "Mayor Carter really doesn't seem like the type to get nervous around women. On the contrary, I'd say, looking this handsome, you're probably the type who forces yourself on them."

The others, unaware of the backstory,

took it as a joke.

So naturally they joined in the chuckling.

Little did they know,

Gwendolyn's line carried a double meaning, a veiled jab at Dirk's "behavior" back then.

Back in those days, Gwendolyn had been a headstrong, hot-tempered type, a Deputy Director at the Kenton County Education Bureau whom most people didn't dare cross.

At that time, Dirk and Gwendolyn had gone on a business trip together.

Their car broke down halfway,

in that very government sedan from the Education Bureau.

Dirk used his "body" to completely conquer Gwendolyn.

From then on, in front of Dirk, Gwendolyn was as docile as a little chick.

Later, the two of them had a few more "collisions."

And it was precisely because of the ambiguous relationship between Dirk and Gwendolyn that she finally steeled herself and chose to divorce Gauthier Pace.

In a sense, Dirk was the "other man" who came between Gauthier and Gwendolyn's marriage.

And for that very reason,

Gauthier hated Dirk's guts.

Later, when Gauthier served as an acting deputy district chief in Silvercrest District, he was eventually expelled from both Party and office for bribery, which, strictly speaking, was also entangled with Dirk in all sorts of ways.

Of course, Gwendolyn had never blamed Dirk.

Because she cheated with Dirk later, while Gauthier had cheated first.

She felt no moral burden.

She also knew

that Dirk didn't love her, not even enough to call it liking.

He'd simply walked away back then, and they had never contacted each other again.

But now, when Dirk was once more standing in front of her, that heart she had kept under tight control surged again.

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