A Bumpy Road to Power

"Hahaha, looks like you've spent a lot of effort digging into me."

Rasco Shaw didn't feel the slightest shame; on the contrary, he was proud of it and burst out laughing.

"Governor Shaw, if you're just here to show off these tricks of yours, there's no need. I, Dirk Carter, have been mentally prepared for a long time. If you don't manage to kill me today, I will definitely strike back."

With that.

Dirk Carter stood up.

Rasco Shaw waved at him again and said, "Dirk, don't be in such a hurry. You're not like your father. Your father had a very steady temperament—his face was calm even when he died…"

What did that mean?

A naked provocation?

Dirk Carter's blood surged.

He wished he could kill Rasco Shaw right now.

But Dirk knew this was the crudest and most useless way.

Letting himself carry a criminal charge because of someone like Rasco Shaw really wasn't worth it.

"Judging from your eyes, you're thinking about strangling me."

Rasco Shaw asked with a squinting smile.

Dirk Carter gave a faint smile.

He said, "I do have that thought. But you also know I won't do it. I'm not as despicable as you. I'll defeat you fair and square in the political arena."

"Just you? Sometimes I really don't know where your confidence comes from. You think those little tricks you used in Serenity State will still work? Dirk, oh Dirk, you're still too naive. If I hadn't been at a critical juncture back then, I'd probably have finished you off long ago. Look at me now—I'm not only back, this time I'm already the governor."

"So what?"

Dirk Carter asked.

Rasco Shaw's face suddenly darkened.

He said, "Right now you're just a piece of meat on the chopping block. I can cut whenever I want, however I want. I can let you go, or I can have you destroyed. It all depends on your attitude."

"Attitude? What attitude? Am I supposed to kneel down here and beg you for mercy?"

"Hahaha, how much is begging worth? If it was just about you begging, why would I bother with all this effort?"

At this point.

He paused for a moment.

He stared straight into Dirk Carter's eyes.

Enunciating every word, he said, "When Dylan Tate died, didn't he leave you a notebook? Hand that notebook over to me, and the Terrence Hall incident will vanish as if it never happened. I guarantee it will definitely not drag you down."

A notebook?

Hearing those three words.

Dirk Carter's heart gave a chill.

His formal entry into officialdom had depended on that notebook.

But ever since he left Stillwater County, that notebook had lost its value.

He had almost never taken it out again.

What was recorded in it was just the petty corruption of Stillwater County's cadres; he'd studied it carefully.

What did that have to do with Rasco Shaw now?

Back in Serenity State, Rasco Shaw had already tried more than once to get his hands on that notebook. Why was he still fixated on it now, after leaving Serenity State and even becoming governor?

This wasn't normal!

Could it be that notebook contained something unfavorable to Rasco Shaw,

something that would still pose a serious threat to him even now?

What on earth was it?

Dirk Carter's mind was racing nonstop.

"Well? Simple trade, isn't it? That notebook can't be of much real use to you now, can it?"

Rasco Shaw pressed him again.

Dirk Carter smiled.

He said, "Governor Shaw, I think I answered that question years ago. And didn't you have Caleb Ford and the others test me back then? If that notebook were really in my hands, you would have gotten it long ago. Why wait until now?"

With a loud smack.

Rasco Shaw slammed his palm on the table.

The impact even jolted the car door open.

Edgardo Houseman stuck his head in.

Seeing nothing was happening, he quietly closed it again.

"Dirk, don't be ungrateful. If you won't drink the toast, you'll drink the forfeit. Do you really think that just because of that notebook I don't dare touch you? You're wrong. Even if I can't get my hands on it, I still won't let it see the light of day."

Rasco Shaw shouted harshly.

Dirk Carter let out a long breath.

He said, "Governor Shaw, then I wish you success."

"Dirk, you're courting death!"

Rasco Shaw saw that Dirk was about to turn away.

He pointed at him and roared.

Dirk Carter snorted coldly. "What's there to fear in death?"

Leaving those words behind.

He opened the car door and got out.

"Comrade Carter!"

He had just taken a few steps forward.

Edgardo Houseman suddenly called out.

Dirk Carter turned and asked, "Yes?"

"Mayor Carter, young and promising, over thirty and already where you are now. All you need to do is hand over that notebook and your rise will be smooth sailing. Why not?"

"Seems your Houseman Family also cares a lot about that notebook. What exactly is in it?"

Dirk Carter asked.

Edgardo Houseman smiled faintly.

He said, "The Houseman Family isn't interested—our leader is, that's all."

"That's not the answer I see in your eyes."

After Dirk Carter said this.

He turned and walked away.

Edgardo Houseman was so angry his whole body was shaking.

At this moment.

Rasco Shaw also got out of the car.

He asked Edgardo Houseman, "What do we do next?"

A trace of darkness flashed through Edgardo's eyes.

He said, "Since that's how he wants it, we'll control him first. Once he falls into our hands, we can do whatever we like with him. Just follow the original plan."

Rasco Shaw nodded.

Muttering, he said, "Dirk, oh Dirk, you brought this on yourself."

In the grand auditorium of the Municipal Party Committee.

The four sets of newly welcomed leadership had just all taken their seats.

There were four seats on the rostrum.

The ones in the center were for Rasco Shaw and Municipal Party Secretary Jamal Palmer.

The two sides were for Mayor Norman Ross and CPPCC Chairman Thayer Burke.

Dirk Carter had just sat down at his place below the stage.

Rasco Shaw walked in through the main entrance as well.

The three leaders who had already taken their seats immediately stood up and sat back down together with Rasco Shaw.

The audience broke into thunderous applause.

It looked quite lively.

Jamal Palmer spoke first, briefing Rasco Shaw on Veridia City's development over the past few years.

Then.

Norman Ross delivered a government work report.

He was speaking at length and in high spirits.

Just then, Rasco Shaw suddenly tapped the microphone, making a series of pops.

This cut Norman Ross's speech short.

Everyone turned to look at Rasco Shaw.

They saw him pull the microphone closer.

He said, "Mayor Ross, I don't need to hear these high-sounding things. On my way here I heard something. I'd like your Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government to give me an explanation."

As soon as he said this.

Jamal Palmer's heart clenched.

The people below were somewhat at a loss.

Because the Terrence Hall incident hadn't really spread yet.

Not many knew the inside story.

Norman Ross had prepared in advance.

Pretending to be puzzled, he said, "Governor Shaw, what is it?"

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