A Bumpy Road to Power

Chapter 441 441: A Fortunate Start

Early the next morning.

Dirk Carter had just walked into the office.

He hadn't even had time to hang up his bag.

There was an urgent knocking at the door.

This early?

Dirk looked at his watch, there were still half an hour before work start time.

"Come in!"

After Dirk shouted, the door was pushed open.

Deputy Minister Randolph Griffin walked in with an anxious look, saying, "Minister Carter, something's wrong, Genevieve is missing."

Dirk jolted.

He asked, "What's going on? Wasn't she on sick leave?"

Randolph swallowed and said, "Yesterday evening, because there was a document that needed Genevieve's signature, I sent someone to deliver it, but Genevieve was not at home. I couldn't reach her by phone, and this morning I personally went to her dormitory, she still wasn't there, and the phone was unreachable."

"Has something like this happened before?"

Dirk asked.

Randolph shook his head and said, "Before you came, Genevieve was the youngest in our organization department, and we all took good care of her. She usually worked very diligently and responsibly, and nothing like this situation has ever occurred, so I suspect she's missing."

"Did you report it to the police?"

Dirk asked again.

Randolph nodded and said, "I've already notified the municipal police department, they've sent someone over."

Dirk's heart tightened all of a sudden.

Yesterday he had just taken office, and today such a thing happened. This kind of start is quite a headache.

Since the police were already involved, all there was to do now was to wait for their conclusion.

Dirk nodded and said, "Alright, I understand, notify me immediately if there's any update."

"Okay."

After Randolph finished reporting, he turned and left.

Dirk sat behind his desk.

For some reason, he felt unsettled.

Just as he was about to call the police department to ask for updates, with a click, the office door opened again, and a figure slipped in.

It was a young woman.

The woman was very beautiful, wearing a lace-trimmed white shirt with a fitted small suit jacket on top, and a black pencil skirt below.

She wore gold-rimmed glasses.

With her large wavy hair.

She seemed both pure and alluring.

However, her face was full of tension.

She instinctively scanned Dirk's office and then looked at him in a panic.

"You are..."

Dirk asked in surprise.

The woman walked a few steps closer, her hands clasped together, rubbing.

She stammered, "Minister... Minister Carter, hello, I... I'm Annie, from the Party Committee."

"Comrade Annie, is there something you need?"

Dirk put down the phone in his hand and asked.

Annie walked a few more steps forward, almost reaching the front of the desk.

She opened her mouth, looking like she was struggling to speak.

"Comrade Annie, if there is indeed something, you can speak directly."

Dirk said.

Annie swallowed.

As if she had mustered all her courage, she said, "Minister... Minister Carter, I'm here for... for Minister Genevieve's matter."

"Genevieve?"

"Yes!"

Annie nodded her head heavily.

She said, "Yesterday... yesterday afternoon, Minister Genevieve told me... she was going to Blackstone Town, and... and if she... were harmed or... or something happened, it would be related to Eladio Shelby, and... she's missing now, I can't find her."

Dirk's heart skipped a beat.

He asked, "Eladio Shelby? Who is Eladio Shelby?"

Annie, nervous, didn't know how to explain.

Dirk walked to the sofa, invited Annie to sit down, and poured her a glass of water.

After calming her down.

Annie's trembling hands gradually steadied.

She said, "Eladio was an ordinary cadre in the Civil Affairs Bureau, now he's the director of the Municipal... Municipal Transportation Bureau..."

The cause of the issue started a month ago.

In Koryn City, there's a 5A-rated scenic area called Clear-sky Lake Tourist Resort.

On a certain day a month ago.

Within that Clear-sky Lake Scenic Area.

A woman accidentally fell off a boat.

At that time, Eladio happened to be nearby with his wife and child and saw this scene immediately, he dived in and saved the woman who fell into the water.

Eladio was not good at swimming.

While holding the person up from the water, a wave came.

Eladio fell into the water again.

Only through the combined efforts of surrounding tourists was Eladio retrieved.

After rescuing the person, Eladio said nothing and left the scene directly.

This scene was coincidentally captured by a crew shooting a propaganda film.

Later, when the video was posted online, it caused a huge stir. Initially, provincial and municipal TV stations reported on it, and then the national station followed up, giving extensive positive coverage on Eladio's heroic act.

Half a month ago.

The State Propaganda Department and Municipal Propaganda Department both awarded Eladio the title of an outstanding party member.

The Koryn City Committee Organization Department swiftly assigned Eladio as the director of the Municipal Transportation Bureau.

It was also affirmed by the Municipal Organization Department.

They believed Koryn City's Organization Department was promoting talent regardless of convention, decisive and effective, setting a good example.

Thus they were commended citywide.

After hearing Annie's account, Dirk paused and asked, "This should be a good thing, why did Comrade Genevieve say such a thing?"

Annie swallowed again and said, "After it happened, Minister Genevieve always felt there was a problem, so she investigated quietly. After learning the person who fell into the water was a villager from Blackstone Town, she decided to go to Blackstone Town and see for herself. Yesterday she was ostensibly on sick leave, but she was actually heading to Blackstone Town."

"Did Comrade Genevieve tell you all of this?"

Dirk asked.

Annie nodded heavily and said, "Normally, Minister Genevieve and I have a superior-subordinate relationship, but privately, we are close. She told me these things in hopes of someone speaking out the truth if something happened to her."

"Then why did you choose to tell me? And not inform other leaders?"

Dirk asked.

Annie shook her head and said, "It's unspeakable, with Mayor Shepherd here, telling anyone is useless. I came to tell you... just hoping to take a chance, if I fall as well, then so be it."

When saying this, Annie appeared very frustrated and despairing.

As for Dirk.

He had just officially taken over yesterday.

Although he's the head, he's not too familiar with people up and down the ranks, leveraging his influence to solve this problem would indeed be challenging.

Moreover, this matter was handled under the previous head of the organization department.

If the courage deed was indeed fabricated, it would mean the previous head and a few other leaders might be involved.

If he intervened, it would place him on the opposite side of other leaders.

That would be manageable.

The main issue is the former head of the organization department is now the mayor, Robert Shepherd, if you truly pursue this matter, it's akin to opposing the mayor.

One may wonder.

How did the former head of the organization department become the current mayor?

This has to be explained by the unique situation in Koryn City.

About a month ago, the former mayor Cara Marshall of Koryn City unexpectedly discovered cancer during a health check.

For the sake of recovery.

She resigned from the position of mayor.

Logically, the position of mayor should be succeeded by the third in command, the deputy secretary Carly Lambert, but at that time, Carly's tenure in Koryn City was short, and lacked sufficient experience.

The fourth in command, incumbent deputy mayor Cletus Lane had sufficient experience, but was too old, already on the verge of retirement, plus at that time the organization department's handling of Eladio's case was prompt and recognized by senior leaders, Robert Shepherd's promotion to mayor was therefore quite logical.