A Bumpy Road to Power

After saying goodbye to Alexander Camden.

Mona cheerfully approached Dirk Carter.

She said, "The banquet earlier was ruined by Brynn Quincy, and we didn't get to eat properly. Come on, I'll take you for a late-night snack to try some of Prospera's delicacies."

On a normal day.

Dirk Carter wouldn't have much interest.

But right now, he was genuinely hungry.

After all, just as Mona said.

At the previous dinner, he barely had a few bites.

Upon exiting the hotel, Mona hailed a car, and after about seventeen or eighteen minutes, they stopped in front of a huge entrance arch.

The words "The Grand Concourse Food Street" were clearly visible.

By this time, it was already around ten at night.

The food street was bustling with people.

Mona pointed at the street with pride and said, "This is the largest food street in Prospera City, the Grand Concourse Food Street. But you mustn't go into the alley next to it; if you do, you might not come back out."

After saying that.

Mona pointed to the dark alley next to the food street.

"Why?"

Dirk Carter asked.

Mona smiled mysteriously and said, "Just listen to me and don't go in."

The more she said this, the more intrigued Dirk Carter became.

He deliberately said to Mona, "Wait for me here for a while; I'm going to stroll into the alley to see if I can come out."

Mona immediately became anxious.

She grabbed Dirk Carter's arm and said somewhat unhappily, "Okay, let me tell you, this alley is called Willow Lane; it's the most famous red-light district in Prospera City, filled with women in the skin trade. If you go in, can you come back out?"

So that's the case.

Dirk Carter asked, "If it's such a famous red-light district, why doesn't the city shut it down?"

"Let me tell you, these places are backed by some leaders, meaning there's protection from above; who would dare to touch them?"

Mona said in a low voice.

Dirk Carter asked, "Your dad is a leader in the disciplinary department; can't he do anything about it?"

"If he could, my dad would've dealt with it long ago. Ah, let's not talk about this anymore; come on, I'll take you to eat something delicious."

After saying that.

Mona confidently took Dirk Carter's hand and walked into the food street.

It really was a large food street; delicacies from all over the country were available. Before they even walked a hundred meters, their stomachs were already stuffed full.

Seeing this and wanting to eat that, but unfortunately, their stomachs couldn't hold any more.

It was just at this moment.

Dirk Carter keenly sensed that the two of them seemed to be followed.

Initially, he hadn't noticed.

It was when Dirk Carter inadvertently turned around and saw two sneaky young men glancing toward them; when he looked back, they pretended to casually chat.

To confirm the situation.

Dirk Carter deliberately hid behind a stall.

Sure enough.

The two young men immediately started searching in a panic.

After confirming this.

Dirk Carter leaned close to Mona's ear and quietly told her the truth.

Mona became instantly tense.

Dirk Carter immediately hugged her neck and said, "Don't worry, we'll lose them."

After Mona nodded.

Dirk Carter then intentionally quickened his pace.

At the same time.

The two also sped up their pace.

In the bustling crowd, Dirk Carter knew that just walking on this street wouldn't be fast enough. His eyes glanced at a dark alley to the side.

Without saying a word, he led Mona and darted inside.

The two trackers arrived at the spot where Dirk Carter and Mona had disappeared.

Looking up, they saw no one.

One of them pointed to the alley and said, "They must have gone in here."

An evil smile appeared on the person's face.

He said, "Well, that's just perfect; once inside this alley, they won't come back out. Call Ironhead and ask them to go in and find them; we'll block this entrance."

...

The alley was quite long.

And lacked any streetlights.

Without the weak light from a few windows, both would stumble blindly.

Mona had never walked through an alley like this before, and tightly clung to Dirk Carter in fear.

Like this, they walked roughly for thirty meters when a sudden open area appeared in front of them.

Both Dirk Carter and Mona were almost simultaneously stunned.

Neither of them expected that this dark alley would lead directly between the food street and Willow Lane.

Before them was another long street.

On either side of the street were various hair salons, foot massage parlors, KTVs, and other shops.

Colorful neon lights illuminated the entire street.

At each entrance stood groups of scantily dressed women.

They flaunted their bodies to the passing men, trying to lure them in.

To them, it seemed like a commonplace occurrence.

"Dirk Carter, let's go back..."

Mona, by nature, was somewhat intimidated by the scene.

She looked up at Dirk Carter and said.

Dirk Carter glanced back.

He said, "If things go as expected, they should be waiting at the alley entrance; it's not safe to go back. Let's cross this street and get out!"

Just as the two were about to emerge from the alley.

From a distance, a group suddenly charged toward them.

About a dozen people or so.

And all looked like typical thugs.

The group entered the alley and immediately started inquiring at the shops along the way, asking the women if they'd seen a man and woman, describing their height and appearance. From their description, it was clear they were searching for Dirk Carter and Mona.

"They're searching for us."

Dirk Carter leaned back a bit and said to Mona.

When Mona heard this.

She became even more nervous.

Their positioning was only about ten meters from that group.

In just a few minutes.

They would likely reach them.

Dirk Carter steeled himself.

He took off his jacket.

Revealing the T-shirt underneath.

Then crouched down.

Grabbed Mona's long dress and yanked hard, producing a ripping sound.

Mona's dress, originally reaching down to her ankles.

Was now torn into a short skirt, not even reaching her knees.

Two fair thighs were exposed.

"What are you doing?"

Mona asked in panic.

Dirk Carter didn't respond.

Immediately, he untucked Mona's shirt from her skirt.

Exposing her slender waist.

Then tied a knot to fix the shirt at her waist.

This transformation instantly gave Mona a somewhat seductive look instead of her usual demure appearance.

Without hesitation, Dirk Carter wrapped his arm around Mona's waist.

The moment his fingers touched her skin.

Mona's face instantly turned red.

"Stay calm when we walk out, and let's go straight to that foot massage parlor; the entrance seems empty, so we'll head directly in."

Dirk Carter pointed to a dimly lit sign across from them.

Mona's heart leapt into her throat.

At this point, she fully understood Dirk Carter's intent.

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