A Bumpy Road to Power

Chapter 563 563

"Dad, but Zoey really likes Dirk Carter."

Nora Hughes said resentfully.

Miles Hughes glared and decisively said, "In families like ours, it's not about liking or not liking, it's about suitability. This matter is settled."

"But Dad... how am I supposed to explain this to Zoey?"

Nora asked.

Miles waved his hand and said, "No need to explain, I've already arranged a matchmaking session for Zoey."

At this point.

A wave of sadness rose in Nora's heart.

She had known since childhood that women born into aristocratic families have no love.

Their marriages are forever the weapons in the hands of the elders. At that moment, she felt a sense of delight for herself and sorrow for Zoey...

Eleven in the morning.

Rexton City Airport.

Dirk Carter had just emerged from the exit.

When he saw four or five police officers and four or five people dressed as prosecutors waiting at the entrance.

Leading them was none other than Owen, the Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Committee and Procurator-General of Koryn City.

Upon seeing Dirk Carter.

Owen approached with a serious expression.

A prosecutor beside him directly presented Dirk Carter with an official document.

Saying, "Comrade Dirk Carter, you are in violation of the regulation not to leave Rexton City while on bail. The Koryn City Procuratorate has now decided to continue with coercive measures against you. Please come with us."

After saying this.

He signaled to the police officer beside him.

The officer immediately took out handcuffs, intending to put them on Dirk Carter.

No sooner said than done.

A voice called from behind, "Wait a moment."

Everyone turned to look.

At the doorway, another group was approaching.

Leading them was Secretary Sterling of the Rexton City Discipline Inspection Commission.

Upon seeing Wayne Ford, Owen was shocked and quickly greeted him.

Wayne Ford nodded in response.

He said to Owen, "Comrade Owen, you cannot arrest Dirk Carter."

Owen was taken aback and quickly explained, "Secretary, Comrade Dirk Carter violated the bail regulations; we are acting in accordance with the law."

"I understand, but our commission still has some questions for Comrade Dirk Carter; we need to take him away."

Wayne Ford said.

Owen's face showed a hint of difficulty.

He said, "Secretary, regardless of the situation, we must follow the procedure; otherwise, Mayor Vincent will be displeased."

Though not explicitly stated.

The implication was clear.

Owen wanted to inform Wayne Ford that Mayor Vincent was watching this matter from behind.

"Tell Mayor Vincent that this is my order."

Suddenly, a robust voice came from behind.

Owen looked and immediately stood at attention.

The speaker was none other than Secretary Herman Bates of the Rexton City Committee.

Herman Bates, around fifty years old, with a height of about 1.75 meters, wore an administrative jacket. With a stern face, he appeared quite authoritative.

Since the Teresa Thorne incident occurred.

Herman Bates had remained mostly silent.

He seemed detached from the situation.

But today, he not only appeared but also personally came to the airport to assist with the commission's reception of Dirk Carter, making it clear that the order to seize Dirk Carter from Owen came from Herman Bates.

"This..."

Owen was still in a predicament.

Herman Bates sternly said, "What? Comrade Owen, do you only acknowledge Mayor Vincent and not me, Herman Bates?"

"No, no, no, Secretary, you misunderstood, you misunderstood..."

Although unwilling, as a member of the Koryn City Committee, he couldn't oppose both Herman Bates and Wayne Ford, so he grudgingly glanced at Dirk Carter, gestured to his team, and left reluctantly.

Once his people left.

Herman Bates walked up to Dirk Carter.

He scanned him from head to toe.

Said, "Comrade Dirk Carter, you indeed have your ways; your trip to Argentum appears to have been quite fruitful."

His words contained a hint of sarcasm.

Thus it can be seen.

The pressure from above forced Herman Bates to come to the airport to collect Dirk Carter.

"Secretary, my trip to Argentum wasn't solely for myself; it was also for you."

Dirk Carter said with a smile.

Herman Bates paused and asked, "How so?"

Dirk Carter pointed towards the entrance and said, "Secretary, you just saw, Mayor Vincent's faction completely disregards you. In addition, the past ten days must have been difficult for you, right? Hasn't the decision-making power in Rexton City basically shifted to Mayor Vincent?"

This was indeed the case.

Since the Teresa Thorne incident.

Fabian Vincent unexpectedly seized the mayor's position.

The internal structure of the Rexton City Committee underwent drastic changes.

Before this, although Herman Bates was the top leader of Rexton City, he was often constrained by Duncan Linden, and Yves Giles was not on good terms with him. As a result, even though Herman Bates was the Party Secretary, many things were still challenging for him.

The Teresa Thorne incident led to Duncan Linden being arrested.

He initially thought he could seize decision-making power through this opportunity. Who would have imagined Fabian Vincent would rise unexpectedly, collecting all of Duncan Linden's people? Not a single of the five vacancies in the Koryn City Committee was filled by Herman Bates' people. What was even more infuriating was that he, as the Party Secretary, had recently been entirely sidelined by Fabian Vincent. Up and down, people reporting work did not think of him first but of Fabian Vincent.

As the top leader, how could he not feel frustrated?

Dirk Carter's words hit his weak spot.

He was left speechless.

He took a deep breath and said, "Dirk Carter, don't speak too confidently. You are still in a dual-status dismissal. I'm here to meet you because someone from above called me. It's not for your sake, but for theirs. If you want my support, you first need to clear your name. If you can't do that, everything else is nonsense. I'm only giving you five days. After five days, if you still can't turn the situation around, I will have no choice but to send you back to the detention center."

"Alright, it's a deal."

Dirk Carter said.

Herman Bates gave him a disdainful look.

Then turned and left.

Wayne Ford glanced at Dirk Carter and also followed behind Herman Bates as they left.

Once they were gone.

Dirk Carter finally breathed a sigh of relief.

He walked straight to the entrance and waited on the roadside for about a minute.

A business vehicle stopped in front of him; after the door opened, Dirk Carter got in the car.

As soon as the door closed.

Dirk Carter saw Rose Forrest, her eyes brimming with tears.

"Where to?"

Ewan Forrest, who was driving, asked.

Dirk Carter stretched lazily and asked, "Is Rosie's bathhouse open?"

Rose Forrest nodded and said, "It's open."

Dirk Carter laughed, "Then let's go have a bath and change clothes first. There are still many things to do."

Ewan Forrest nodded and drove away from the airport entrance at full speed.

The incident with Teresa Thorne had been costly for Dirk Carter. Not only were his direct subordinates purged, but even his secretary, Arlo Yarbrough, was still detained at the guardhouse for police investigation.

His initial strategy was correct.

He did not involve Ewan Forrest, Rosie Forrest, Rosie, Zoey Moss, and others who had arrived early in Koryn City.

Otherwise, during his time at the guardhouse.

His people might have been completely wiped out by the Houseman Family.

On Valleyview Street, Koryn City, a towering six-story building.

Proudly displayed the words "Elysian Fields Bathhouse" in large characters.

The reason it didn't use "The Tonight Club" name was also to avoid suspicion.

Since it was before noon, the bathhouse wasn't open yet. After getting out of the car, guided by Ewan Forrest, the three entered through a side door.

Upon stepping into the lobby.

Dirk Carter was awestruck by the scene before him.