A Bumpy Road to Power

Chapter 625 - 625

"Why are you here?"

Amidst the applause, Dirk Carter asked Dorothy Zechariah.

With a charming smile, Dorothy Zechariah said, "I'm here to support your work. Otherwise, you'd just find other women to help you."

The words were full of jealousy.

Dirk Carter could hear it too.

It seems Dorothy Zechariah also knew who helped Dirk today.

Who else could it be?

It must have been Yara Hughes.

No one else has the clout for such a big gesture except Yara Hughes.

Dirk Carter scratched his head and said, "Alright, you sit for a while. I'll handle some matters first."

Dorothy Zechariah nodded and found a chair to sit down.

32.1 billion!

Not to mention Riverton State, even nationwide, it's an unparalleled achievement.

Originally, the plan was to make Dirk Carter look bad.

But now, it turned into a major success for him. If nothing else, this business attraction event will become legendary and shock the entire province.

Fabian Vincent's face turned a shade of blue and purple, looking extremely unpleasant.

Not only did the plot against Dirk Carter fail.

Those 16 business owners he rallied now all have grievances, just like Alan Goodman from Grant Technologies, who lost the investment. How will they enter The Science and Technology Industrial Park now?

He, the mayor of Rexton City, was actually outdone by Dirk Carter, a deputy mayor of a county-level city. How could anyone feel good about that?

"Mayor Vincent, how did it go? Any gains?"

Dirk Carter asked.

Fabian Vincent snorted coldly, saying, "Executive Carter certainly has great tactics; I admire them."

Dirk Carter smiled faintly and said, "Likewise, it was an unexpected gain. If Mayor Vincent hadn't set up hurdles for me, I might not have won so smoothly."

Hearing this,

Fabian Vincent was stunned.

He asked, "You knew all along?"

"It wasn't that I knew all along, but I had arrangements in place. Mayor Vincent knows I'm meticulous; why would I inform the chauffeur team about my whereabouts for several days in advance? Moreover, I usually don't use a driver, yet during that time, I did. Doesn't that seem odd?"

Fabian Vincent suddenly realized.

He exclaimed, "You intentionally revealed your whereabouts to the driver?"

"Hahaha... Not exactly. We take precautions against gentlemen, not against villains. If no one intended to stab me in the back, it wouldn't be intentional. If someone harbored ill intentions, saying it was intentional wouldn't be too much."

These words subtly jabbed at Fabian Vincent, implying he was the villain.

Fabian Vincent was frustrated.

But under the current circumstances, he could only bottle up his anger.

He had lost face completely.

It was too embarrassing to stay, so he swung his sleeves and gritted his teeth, saying, "Executive Carter, today has been very rewarding. Once I return, I'll definitely hold a meeting with the colleagues at The Science and Technology Industrial Park to discuss this in detail. We'll meet again."

After saying this,

he left in anger.

Dirk Carter turned to look at Elliot Douglas, whose face had turned pale, and with a smile asked, "Mayor Douglas, are you satisfied with this outcome?"

Elliot Douglas shuddered.

He nodded repeatedly, saying, "Satisfied, satisfied, definitely satisfied. Executive Carter's work capability is indeed exceptional, and this achievement for Koryn City is remarkable. I'll certainly commend you when we return."

"So, does that mean I won our bet?"

Elliot Douglas initially intended to brush it off.

Unexpectedly, Dirk Carter wasn't planning to let him off.

Seeing this,

Owen hurriedly said, "Executive Carter, you are a deputy mayor too. Could this bet be just a wordplay? Is there a need to take it seriously?"

These words were obviously an attempt to excuse Elliot Douglas.

Dirk Carter's eyes suddenly glinted sharply as he looked at Owen.

He asked, "Secretary Owen, if I lost today, would you let me off? Would you tell Mayor Douglas that such matters don't need to be taken seriously?"

Upon saying this,

Owen was left speechless.

Those who wanted to excuse Elliot Douglas were also momentarily at a loss for words.

Elliot Douglas's forehead started to bead with sweat.

He only agreed to this bet because he was certain of victory. Who would have thought he would lose so completely?

"Comrade Dirk Carter, let things slide when you can. You did win this time, but who can say about next time?"

Hakeem Young cleared his throat and spoke somewhat sarcastically.

Dirk Carter smiled slightly.

He said, "Secretary Young makes a fair point; it's good to leave room for future interactions. But if I let this slide, some people might really think I'm a pushover. So, I won't be too particular about it."

At this point,

Dirk Carter took out a cigarette from his pocket and placed it between his lips.

He said, "Mayor Douglas, light me a cigarette, and we'll call it even."

Lighting a cigarette?

A mayor lighting a cigarette for a deputy mayor?

Before Elliot Douglas could respond,

Owen gritted his teeth and said, "Dirk Carter, don't go too far!"

Upon hearing this, Dirk Carter smiled slightly, saying, "It seems Mayor Douglas would rather clean toilets. Alright, in that case, I won't insist."

He took out a lighter and lit his cigarette.

He took a puff and said, "That bet was a gentleman's agreement. If Mayor Douglas insists on breaking his word, there's nothing I can do. But I believe Mayor Douglas isn't that kind of person."

After saying this,

Dirk Carter turned and left.

The scene fell silent.

Owen, as if boasting, said to Elliot Douglas, "Mayor Douglas, don't worry about it. What can happen if you don't clean toilets? You're the one in charge. Does Dirk Carter really think he can hold a knife to your throat?"

Elliot Douglas gave him a sidelong glance.

He said, "Comrade Owen, aren't you being a bit nosy for a Politics and Law Committee Secretary?"

Upon hearing this,

Owen's face turned pale immediately.

He wasn't stupid.

He could sense that Elliot Douglas was giving him a warning.

It wasn't unwarranted either.

A simple act like lighting a cigarette could have resolved the issue, but now it got to the point where he had to clean toilets.

A mayor going back on his word is laughable if it spreads. Wouldn't he lose face in Koryn City after that?

Seeing Elliot Douglas also leave quickly,

Owen muttered, "What did I do? I was just trying to help you. How did it become my fault?"

Beside him, Hakeem Young sneered.

He said, "Flattery backfired, Secretary Owen. I really wonder how you became the secretary of the Politics and Law Committee?"

"I..."

Owen shuddered.

He didn't know how to explain.

The news of the first 32.1 billion investment in The Economic Development District quickly spread to Rexton City, and then to Riverton State.

All at once, Koryn City's city committee and government offices were inundated with phone calls.

Besides inquiries from higher government levels about the details, numerous media outlets were vying for firsthand information, as in a time when the economy is king, such news is incredibly inspiring.

Of course,

for some people, such good news is bad news.