A Bumpy Road to Power

Chapter 480 480

"Yes, a scoundrel."

Finally determined, Carly Lambert resolutely said.

The scoundrel Carly was talking about was Cheney Marshall, an editor-in-chief of an obscure magazine in Koryn City.

Let's first talk about the relationship between Carly Lambert and Cheney Marshall.

She told Dirk Carter that she was originally the deputy district secretary of a district in Crestfall City, and she gave up the opportunity to be promoted to district chief and transferred to Koryn City, all to escape from Cheney Marshall.

Cheney Marshall is 32 years old this year, one year older than Carly Lambert.

Prior to this, Cheney Marshall was the chief editor of the Fort Saline Daily.

A top executive in a formal institution.

Carly Lambert's family was well-off; her father once held a leadership position in Crestfall City, and it was this prerequisite condition that allowed Carly to hold such a position at her age.

At the age of 24.

Carly graduated from university and immediately passed the civil service exam.

Then she started working at the Crestfall City Finance Department.

She was diligent and responsible, coupled with her father's leadership support.

In just five years, Carly became the youngest leader in Stagview District, Crestfall City.

This speed was astonishing.

Seeing that she was about to cross the thirty-year threshold.

Her family began to worry.

The arrangements for her blind dates began, aiming to solve her marital affairs.

As a woman of the new era, Carly Lambert was unwilling to accept an arranged marriage.

It was also in that year that she met the handsome and elegant Cheney Marshall at a public event.

At first sight, Cheney Marshall was also attracted to this beautiful woman with a good family background.

In a situation where both had feelings, they developed a romantic relationship.

Six months later, they began to live together.

In the beginning, Carly was quite satisfied with Cheney Marshall, but just one year later, many of Cheney's bad habits gradually surfaced.

Carly discovered.

He was a gambling addict; although his work seemed good and glamorous, covertly Cheney had already accumulated lots of debt.

To help him pay off his debts.

Not only did Carly hand over her entire salary to him every month.

But she also asked for a lot of money from her parents to fill his void.

Originally thinking he would change his ways, unexpectedly, Cheney became worse; when he ran out of money, not only did he misappropriate funds from the newspaper, but he also forced Carly to accept bribes, and the money obtained was squandered by him.

Time and again she placed her hopes on him.

But all she received in return was disappointment time and again.

Last year.

Carly finally couldn't take it anymore and proposed breaking up with him.

But unexpectedly, this only infuriated Cheney Marshall.

At this point, Carly paused, her eyes gradually beginning to moisten.

"He has evidence of your bribery, doesn't he?"

Dirk Carter asked.

Carly nodded and said, "Yes, every time I accepted a bribe, the money was handed over to him. That heartless man kept a record of every single instance. He uses these to threaten me, saying if I dare to break up with him, he will hand over the evidence to the discipline inspection commission. Not only will my reputation be ruined, but my father's lifelong integrity will also be destroyed."

"So, you found a way to get transferred to Koryn City?"

Dirk Carter asked.

Carly made a sound of affirmation and said, "I originally thought that as long as I left Crestfall City, he would give up on me, but unexpectedly, by that time he already saw me as a cash machine. Because his embezzlement was discovered, he got fired by the Fort Saline Daily. Two months ago, he came to Koryn City and started a magazine company, continuing to pester me."

"How much money does he want?"

Dirk Carter asked.

Carly extended a single finger.

"Ten thousand?"

"It's ten thousand a day, which means three hundred thousand a month."

"Three hundred thousand?"

Hearing this number, Dirk Carter was quite shocked too.

Knowing that Carly Lambert, as the number three, has just over seven thousand in total salary a month.

Three hundred thousand a month, doesn't that force Carly to commit embezzlement and accept bribes?

"Did you give it to him?"

Dirk Carter asked.

Carly shook her head and said, "No, I can't be that foolish anymore. But if I don't give it to him, he'll destroy me. During this time, I can barely eat or drink, I really don't know what to do."

Dirk Carter frowned slightly and asked, "I've been here in Koryn City for a shorter time than you; why did you choose me?"

"Because what you did made me feel that you're a decisive person, and with what you did for Cranhilla Village, I don't think you're just trying to make a name for yourself; you just want to do something for those victims. You are more trustworthy than anyone else."

That indeed was a supreme compliment.

"There is also another important reason I didn't ask them for help, which is that I don't want my weakness to fall into their hands. They can help me solve this matter, but after this, I'm afraid I would no longer be someone who can think independently. Every decision I make must serve their interests."

Dirk Carter asked, "Then how can you be sure that I won't use your weakness to force you to do things you don't want to do?"

"You won't!"

Carly Lambert said.

Dirk Carter immediately got interested and asked, "Why?"

"Though I've made some foolish mistakes, growing up in a governmental family, I still have a good eye for judging people. A person who would go to great lengths to help the common people wouldn't have such poor character."

Dirk Carter stood up.

He paced back and forth in the office.

Stopped for a bit and said, "I can give it a try."

"Really?"

Carly stood up excitedly.

Dirk Carter waved his hand and said, "Don't get too excited too soon, this matter is quite tricky. Cheney Marshall being a former top media executive knows too well how to use public opinion. So if we go hard on him, there will be endless troubles; even if we seize all the evidence he has, he surely has a backup plan. It won't work to go soft either. Such a greedy person will have insatiable desires once you show weakness. It's a bottomless pit, an endless ruin.

"Then what should I do?"

Carly asked, with worry written all over her face.

Dirk Carter pondered for a while and said, "Don't worry, since I promised you, I will try my best to handle it. I'll have someone look into his background first."

"Minister Carter, I... I don't know what to say. I can only say thank you."

Carly said with a bit of excitement.

Dirk Carter smiled and said, "Who hasn't made foolish mistakes when they were young? Let's not talk about anything else. Let's deal with this matter first. Wait for my news."

"Okay."

Carly nodded and then left.

Once she left.

Dirk Carter called Arlo Yarbrough in.

"When will the others arrive?"

Dirk Carter asked.

Arlo Yarbrough pondered for a moment and said, "Ewan Forrest and Rose Forrest, the two of them will probably arrive this afternoon. Brother Cheng has handed over the management of the Apex Group's Janton State branch to them. Rosie's bathhouse and Zoey's restaurant will soon be coming in as well."

Dirk Carter nodded.

Said, "Contact everyone who is about to come in and tell them not to interact with me. If anyone finds out I brought the Serenity State team here, there will certainly be a backlash. You should also try to keep in touch with them by phone."

"I understand."

Arlo Yarbrough said.

Transferring the Serenity State team to Koryn City was a last-minute decision Dirk Carter made after learning Flower Sister's identity.

Flower Sister holds vast power in Rexton City, which poses a significant problem.

If he were to temporarily raise a team here in Koryn City, it would take too long and wouldn't be timely enough, so he decided to transfer Arlo Yarbrough over first.

Of course, since Arlo Yarbrough was here, others naturally couldn't be left behind.

Besides helping himself, it was also laying the foundation to expand and strengthen his key businesses.

After all, he knows that a showdown with Rasco Shaw is inevitable.