A Bumpy Road to Power

Chapter 435 435: Doesn't Know the Rules

"Oh no, Heidi, you wet the bed."

Early the next morning.

The Leopard Cat just got out of bed.

Heidi, who was playing nearby, pointed at the sheets and shouted.

The Leopard Cat turned around and her whole face immediately flushed red.

Right where she had been sitting, there was indeed a large wet patch.

And the area it covered was no smaller than a bedwetting incident.

One could see how much liquid she had released at the time.

Just as she was feeling awkward and didn't know how to explain to Dirk Carter, Arden Rivers, standing nearby, said, "Heidi, don't say that. Sister Cat was sweating a lot last night because of a fever."

"Oh? Sister Cat, did you have a fever?"

Heidi asked worriedly, coming over to The Leopard Cat.

The Leopard Cat squatted down, still red-faced.

She said, "It's nothing. Dirk knows some medical skills. After his special treatment, I've already recovered from my fever."

"Dirk's amazing! I want to be like him and learn to treat fevers in the future."

Heidi cheered.

Dirk felt so embarrassed.

He could only awkwardly laugh it off.

At nine in the morning, Dirk asked The Leopard Cat and Arden Rivers to take the two children to settle in Koryn City first.

Then he headed to the Rexton City Committee Compound.

The two imposing sixteen-story buildings towered into the sky, with a glass corridor connecting them.

The newly commissioned offices for the Rexton City Committee and Government had a pleasant official name: the "Concord Building."

After security checked his identity, they let him in.

Because he called the Organization Department's office beforehand,

when he reached the eighth floor office area of the City Committee's Organization Department, Minister Jackson Perry was already waiting for him.

After a very routine job-related discussion.

At ten o'clock,

the Organization Department arranged for the Executive Deputy Minister, Michael Hall, to accompany Dirk Carter to assume his new post in Koryn City.

But while waiting downstairs from 9:50 to about 10:20, Michael Hall still hadn't arrived.

Dirk started to get a little anxious.

He asked the driver sitting in the car, "Excuse me, may I ask if Minister Michael has something going on?"

Unexpectedly, the driver just gave Dirk a sidelong glance and asked, "You didn't follow the rules, so naturally, Minister Michael can't come."

"Rules? What rules?"

Dirk asked, puzzled.

The driver calmly retorted, "Minister Carter, didn't anyone teach you the rules before you came to Rexton City for your appointment?"

"Nobody mentioned any rules to me."

Dirk replied, confused.

The driver leisurely lit a cigarette and said, "Minister Carter, let me explain. Every place has its own rules. Our Janton State is a prosperous region, not like your poor Serenity State. Everyone's busy, and no one has time to waste accompanying you on this trip. You understand what I mean, right?"

"Are you saying I didn't prepare a gift?"

Dirk suddenly understood.

The driver blew out a smoke ring and said, "Exactly. It's a capitalist society now. The higher-ups keep saying 'economy first,' so shouldn't those below follow suit?"

Using "economy first" as an excuse for accepting bribes—Dirk was truly enlightened.

He paused and asked, "So what kind of gift should I prepare?"

"That depends on Minister Carter's intentions. For someone as busy as Minister Michael, a minimum of five thousand is standard. As for me, I'm easier to please. If Minister Carter thinks I'm worth it, just buy me two packs of Blended Gold, and I'd be grateful."

"I need to give you a gift too?"

Dirk asked.

The driver chuckled and said, "We drivers work hard, don't we? The leaders are swamped with work, and we have to help carry all these gifts. Besides, if you invest a little now, Minister Carter, won't you easily earn it back once you're in position?"

"So if I don't give gifts today, Minister Michael won't come?"

Dirk asked.

The driver arrogantly replied, "Listen to what you're saying. It's not that Minister Michael won't come—he's the Executive Deputy Minister of the City Committee's Organization Department, very busy. It's quite normal to delay three to five days, isn't it?"

The tone was clearly a threat.

"But Minister Perry said that he would send him to accompany me today."

Dirk said.

The driver folded his arms, reclined leisurely in his seat, and said, "Then you should find Minister Perry and see if he's free to accompany you instead."

At this point,

Dirk finally understood.

The reason they hadn't left was because his "gesture" wasn't in place.

Moreover, people like Michael Hall never accept gifts directly—they let the driver accept the bribe for them.

If anything happens,

it wouldn't be connected to them at all.

Normally,

Dirk wouldn't mind spending that few thousand yuan.

Given his capability, spending fifty thousand, not just five thousand, wasn't a big deal.

But now, he decided not to spend the money.

No one could force him to do what he didn't like.

Just as he retrieved his bag from the car's trunk,

the driver saw his actions and asked, "Minister Carter, what are you doing?"

"Since Minister Michael is unavailable, I'll just take a taxi. No need to trouble you."

Dirk said.

The driver's face showed a disdainful smile.

He said, "Minister Carter, consider this carefully. The appointment letter is with Minister Michael. Do you think you'll be able to officially take your post just by going to Koryn City?"

Dirk smiled.

He said, "No problem, I'm not in a hurry to take the post in just a day or two, right? If it doesn't happen, I'll just explore Koryn City more."

After saying that,

Dirk left straight away.

Such a person hadn't been seen before.

The driver felt all flustered.

He returned to the car and hastily called Michael Hall.

Sitting in his office, Michael Hall answered the phone, asking, "So, is it done?"

"Minister Michael, this guy is hard to handle. I explained the rules to him, and he just took his bag and left, saying if he can't take his post, he'll just explore Koryn City more."

The driver said, a bit agitated.

Michael Hall paused, murmuring, "Hmm, quite temperamental, huh?"

"Minister Michael, what should we do next?"

The driver asked.

Michael Hall chuckled coldly and said, "Still too young, thinking he's full of individuality. No worries, if the edges are too sharp, we'll just polish them gently. Given time, he'll understand. Take the car back; I'll handle whatever comes."

"Okay."

After the driver ended the call,

Michael Hall got up and walked to the window.

Watching the car gradually turn around and drive into the garage,

he muttered, "Let's see, Dirk Carter, if you'll come back to me…"

Making statements like this, Michael Hall felt confident.

He was the Executive Deputy Minister of the Organization Department—no one knew Dirk's background better than him. A deputy director-level cadre brought in from another province without any background, daring to act so recklessly. What could possibly happen if he disciplined him a bit?

Did Dirk really leave?

Of course not.

He was also aware that even if he went to Koryn City, without an official appointment, he couldn't successfully assume his post.