"Some people just make connections with big shots and lose sight of their own limitations, strutting around as if they've got it all figured out."

Sherman Summers had barely finished his sentence.

When Ty Adler's sarcastic voice cut through the room.

"Comrade Donal, it seems your secretary is getting more unruly by the day. Last time, you already gave him a chance to reflect, but now he's even less like a secretary. When the top beam is crooked, the bottom beam is slanted. Aren't you planning to discipline him properly?"

Sherman Summers immediately redirected his fire.

Aiming at Donal Lewis.

Since the start of the meeting, Donal Lewis had remained silent.

After all, the Standing Committee meetings were under Sherman's control.

Upon hearing Sherman's words.

Donal Lewis chuckled and said, "I think he's doing alright. At least Comrade Dirk Carter still performs his duties normally, unlike some people's secretaries who offend others outside and don't even dare to report it when they get beaten up. I find such secretaries more worrisome."

"You..."

Sherman was momentarily speechless.

He took a deep breath.

And sat down slowly.

He said, "Fine, very well. If you won't discipline him, I will. Even if Mr. Ning personally comes over today, I'll still have a good talk with him."

Finishing his sentence.

He took out his phone.

Dialed a number.

Once the call connected.

Sherman glared at Donal Lewis with a defiant look and said, "Security Department? Send a few people over to the Standing Committee meeting room, immediately."

With that.

He tossed the phone onto the table.

Folded his arms, and said, "Comrade Dirk Carter is disrupting the order of the Standing Committee meeting. I propose we expel him from the meeting room. Does everyone agree?"

"I agree!"

Ty Adler was the first to shout in approval.

Immediately after, Cameron Summers, the Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission, fervently added, "This is truly disorderly. Expelling him from the meeting room is lenient. My opinion is to record the incident and let the Discipline Inspection Commission properly discuss whether this counts as a violation of discipline!"

The situation remained one-sided.

Mr. Ning's appearance earlier only temporarily secured Dirk Carter's position.

It did not change the overall situation.

The principle that local officials are not as influential as current management is something some people don't understand, but most are clear-headed about it.

Sherman Summers knew he couldn't do much about Dirk Carter.

But he could still make things difficult for him within his authority.

Furthermore, this time, it was Dirk Carter himself who stuck his neck out.

At this moment.

The meeting room was silent.

Everyone awaited the arrival of the security staff.

And then to personally witness the scene of the "arrogant" Dirk Carter being dragged out.

Knock, knock, knock.

The sound of knocking came over.

Everyone assumed the security personnel had arrived.

Sherman shouted, "Come in."

The door opened.

But it was not the security team that entered; it was Danel Walsh, the Director of the County Office.

Under the gaze of everyone, Danel Walsh, looking nervous, walked directly to Sherman Summers and whispered something in his ear.

Everyone saw Sherman's expression change from calm to tense.

The entire process lasted about a minute.

Sherman nodded.

Said, "Alright, I understand. I'll find you later."

Danel Walsh nodded and was about to leave when Rash Scott, the Head of the Security Department, entered the meeting room with several security staff.

Sherman's face darkened.

Pointing at Dirk Carter, he said, "Comrade Dirk Carter is disrupting the meeting. Take him to the Security Department to sober up."

"Yes!"

Rash Scott responded.

Walked up to Dirk Carter, disdainfully said, "Secretary General Carter, please."

Dirk Carter was not flustered at all.

Walked directly to Sherman Summers' side.

Said, "Magistrate Summers, I'm leaving for now. Oh, by the way, when you have some free time, let's have a good chat about that U-disk."

Sherman, who was sitting as upright as a bell, suddenly jolted as if electrified.

Swiftly raised his head, instinctively opened his mouth to say something, but words stuck at the tip of his tongue.

"Ahem, ahem..."

Feigning a throat discomfort.

Masked his expression of embarrassment.

Said to Rash Scott, "Alright, Director Rash, you all can leave. Comrade Dirk Carter was out of line. Just give him a lesson."

"So... should Secretary General Carter still be taken away?"

Rash Scott seemed a bit confused by Sherman's words.

Harboring a storm of anger with nowhere to vent.

Sherman yelled, "I told you to leave on your own! Can't you understand what I'm saying? Get out!"

Rash Scott felt so wronged.

You clearly called me over.

And now you're telling me to leave, aren't you playing with me?

He thought this way but dared not voice it, so he just nodded and left dejectedly with his men.

Once Rash Scott and his team left.

The other Standing Committee members were also bewildered.

How could Sherman Summers change his stance so quickly?

He was so decisive earlier, and now, in a blink, he just wanted to "teach a lesson"?

"Secretary Lewis, regarding the position of Director of the County Office, I've thought about it. I feel Comrade Dirk Carter's suggestion is quite reasonable. Your opinion should be the priority."

Sherman had barely finished speaking.

The few members who had echoed his words earlier were dumbfounded.

What was happening?

This position was supposed to be a sure thing. How did it suddenly change?

What exactly happened?

Donal Lewis smiled slightly and said, "Alright, since Magistrate Summers feels this way, I won't stand on ceremony. My opinion is that Rash Scott, the Deputy Director of the County Office, should be promoted. Magistrate Summers, what do you think?"

"Comrade Rash Scott has been serving as a deputy director for several years, and his work has always been outstanding. I personally believe Comrade Rash Scott is suitable for the role of Director of the County Office. What does everyone think?"

Sherman glanced around at everyone present and asked.

Everyone was filled with doubts.

But since Sherman had spoken.

Naturally, no one disagreed.

This was a bizarre meeting.

At the beginning, Dirk Carter was under siege. But as the meeting progressed, they ended up not taking issue with Dirk Carter's rudeness. More importantly, they made a complete 180-degree turn and directly adopted Dirk Carter's suggestion.

The predetermined candidate didn't make it.

Willingly watching such an important position being taken over by one of Donal Lewis's people.

To outsiders, it seemed like Sherman Summers had been bewitched.

Once the meeting was over.

Everyone whispered amongst each other as they exited the meeting room.

Sherman didn't leave, waiting until everyone had gone, then said to Dirk Carter, who was the last one tidying up, "Comrade Dirk Carter, please stay. I have something to discuss with you."

Dirk Carter remained unflustered.

Stood up and closed the meeting room door again.

At this moment.

The meeting room was now left with just the two of them.

Sherman slapped the table, abruptly pointed at Dirk Carter, and yelled, "Dirk Carter, where did the content on the U-disk come from?"

During the middle of the meeting.

Danel Walsh had come in to inform him that a mysterious U-disk had appeared on his desk. When Danel inserted it into the computer, he was instantly terrified.

Inside was a video.

The video's content was about Franco Summers' entire bribery process.

Throughout the video, the person filming used various tactics to entice Franco Summers into confidently guaranteeing that the paid requests would be successful. Moreover, during this process, Franco shamelessly boasted to the videographer that he had handled such cases multiple times, even listing a few examples of his involvement in selling official positions.

When he said these things, Franco was naturally fearless.

After all, on his turf, the other party didn't have any recording equipment. He wasn't afraid of his words leaking out.

But little did he know, all his words were captured by a camera hidden between two giant objects.

This video, if leaked to the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection or online, would undoubtedly mark the end of Sherman Summers' political career.

Dirk Carter remained calm.

Sat down across from Sherman Summers.

Paused for a moment, then said, "Before I answer your question, answer me this: why was Dylan Tate the last person you saw before he died?"

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.