"And yet, my family told me that as a decent person, when I do things, I must also allow others to maintain their dignity.

"So, you tell me..." Saul Aston looked at Dean meaningfully. "What should I do?"

The cup, the dregs...

Dean's thoughts raced, and he immediately caught on.

The cup refers to all aspects of the Los Angeles City Government. The dregs are the Carmen Family members, their supporters, and the vested interest groups previously left in various positions within the City Government. As for dignity? Consider the nobles on the battlefields of medieval Europe, and it becomes clear. As members of the nobility, if they were defeated and captured, not only would they avoid death, but the victors would also treat them with aristocratic hospitality until their ransom was paid, after which they would be released. This was done even if it meant releasing a tiger back into the mountains. In the United States, these major families probably have similar treaties, which is why Saul Aston wants to make a move but can't find a proper excuse. But what does that have to do with me?

...

Dean, somewhat irritated, took out another cigarette.

Damn it all! These assholes never say what they want directly. They're always beating around the bush, making you guess, acting like a bunch of drama queens. If you get it right, then there's no problem. But if you get it wrong... it's the perfect opportunity to make you the scapegoat, while also providing Saul Aston with an excuse to ease the tension and avoid directly confronting the people he's wary of.

This made Dean feel dissatisfied with Saul Aston. He didn't mind helping out with tasks. But being used as cannon fodder for probing was enough to make Dean contemplate getting rid of Saul Aston and finding a new protector.

Saul Aston didn't know that, at this moment, Dean was already considering the chain reactions that would follow his death.

He watched the contemplative Dean with a smile, drew a cigar from nearby, snipped it, lit it, and leisurely began to puff away.

Regarding how to deal with the remnants of the Carmen Family with 'dignity,' Saul Aston actually already had a comprehensive plan. He had originally planned to have Monet, who was about to be transferred, oversee it. That way, even if it caused dissatisfaction among the influential families toward him, Monet could use the opportunity to resign from his position as captain of the detective bureau and get promoted to the investigation division, serving as a scapegoat or a means for Aston to test the waters.

That was until he saw Dean's detailed information: this guy was not only Anthony Morgan's direct disciple but had also, through his own capabilities, obtained honorary agent status with the NSA, FBI, and the New York Police Detective Bureau.

Saul Aston had only recently gained the upper hand, and his intelligence network was still somewhat lacking. He wasn't clear on everything that had happened with Dean. But he understood one thing: Dean was a rare talent with great future potential! The future achievements of such a talent, even without his patronage, were hard to predict.

Since that's the case... I'll use this matter to firmly imprint my mark on Dean!

And so, Dean, who had originally expected to be a mere bystander today, ended up here.

Meanwhile, Monet, who should have stayed for a more in-depth discussion, left the small room through a side door after only a brief chat with Saul Aston.

...

WHOOSH.

He exhaled a puff of smoke.

Ultimately, I have to give up the idea of killing Saul Aston. Killing someone is easy; the trouble is the aftermath.

Even so, his opinion of Saul Aston plummeted into negative territory.

Since I can't get rid of the person posing the problem, I can only find a way to solve the problem itself.

Dean began to ponder seriously.

Working for the City Government in the United States is actually quite similar to working for a company: apart from top positions like Saul Aston's, which require popular election, the rest can be directly appointed. These are mainly divided into two categories: political appointees and career officials, further classified into senior, mid-level, and junior civil servants. Most basic positions are filled by the local government through job postings, interviews, assessments, and subsequent hiring. These positions naturally wouldn't be Saul Aston's target. The key is the senior civil servants in each department! Once those positions are under his control, Saul Aston will essentially hold all administrative power in Los Angeles! Therefore, removing the senior civil servants left over from the previous administration in a 'reasonable' way is not only about creating enough vacancies to distribute as spoils but also a method for Saul Aston to consolidate power. The difficulty lies in that 'reasonable' way. I have no experience with this kind of thing!

...

Seeing Dean remain silent, Saul Aston smiled. "Detective Dean, if you don't have any ideas, perhaps you should take a look at this."

As he spoke, he pushed the black notebook he had been looking at toward Dean.

Dean realized. This guy, Saul Aston, doesn't genuinely want my suggestions. He already has a solution figured out and is just waiting for me to follow the path he's laid out.

He picked up the small black notebook without changing his expression and began to flip through it. Each page contained information on a different person: Some were directors and heads of administrative departments, while others were personnel from the police department. Their roles were varied, but most bore the Carmen surname.

The highest-ranking among them was, surprisingly, the chief of the police station in Dean's own precinct, followed by Eve's former captain.

As for the other Carmen Family members, Dean guessed, they're either dead, or they were squeezed out long ago because their positions were too coveted. That's why these less critical posts—the ones that could be dealt with or ignored—were left for the newly empowered Saul Aston to handle.

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