After returning to the education bureau, Dirk Carter felt increasingly uneasy.

So he called office director Russell Sadler in.

Russell Sadler had always been a confidant of Yorke Payne, and he could provide some insights about the last reception.

This was one of the reasons Dirk Carter kept Russell Sadler around.

First, Dirk Carter detailed the entire course of events.

Then he said, "Normally, when people from Evermore Education Group come for an inspection, county leaders should be the ones to receive them. Even if Simon Lewis personally received them, it wouldn't be inappropriate. Why was the responsibility given to the head of the task force instead?"

Russell Sadler swallowed his saliva.

He appeared as if he wanted to speak but was afraid to do so.

Dirk Carter glared at him.

Russell Sadler got scared.

He said, "The leaders avoided hosting to avoid suspicion."

"Avoid suspicion? Why avoid suspicion?"

Dirk Carter asked.

Russell Sadler scratched his head and said, "Director Carter, you asked me to speak, so I have to, but if these words get out, my days as an office director might be over."

Dirk Carter smiled.

He said, "As long as Director Sadler's stance is firm, I assure you that your position as director will remain secure. If possible, you might even get promoted."

A firm stance was a hint that as long as Russell Sadler stayed loyal to him, he would naturally have nothing to worry about.

This statement instantly filled Russell Sadler with joy.

He pondered for a moment and said, "Director Carter, to be honest, Evermore Education Group's Deputy General Manager, Penn Vincent, is very hard to deal with..."

Evermore Education Group is a company headquartered in the provincial capital, specializing in vocational education, with its business covering almost all the prefecture-level cities of Serenity State.

Moreover, in Serenity State, they already have five vocational-technical colleges.

As for other vocational training institutions, they are countless.

And the one that Kenton County is looking to invest in is, for now, Evermore Education Group's largest single investment.

Penn Vincent is the deputy general manager of Evermore Education Group and also one of its shareholders.

This man has three major traits.

The first is extravagance.

Penn Vincent highly values extravagance. If you receive him with just a few scattered people, he would certainly feel neglected.

Besides, he has high demands for food, clothing, accommodation, and transportation.

As for meals, there's no need to mention that if the drink isn't Maotai, he won't even sip it. If the dining specs don't meet his standards, he'll put down his chopsticks and leave. For accommodation, it must be at least four-star, five-star being best, and it must be a presidential suite. Otherwise, he won't stay.

In terms of transportation, he must be provided with a luxury car worth millions. He won't even glance at an ordinary sedan.

The second point is his foul temper.

He permanently wears an air of superiority, ordering everyone around like servants, showing no respect to anyone.

The most important is the third point: the man is extremely lecherous.

No matter what he is doing, if there aren't beautiful women accompanying him, he immediately throws a tantrum, and every time he goes on a business trip, he arranges for a female secretary to accompany him. Whether she is willing or not, he takes advantage of the trip to force himself on her.

The last time he came, it was just like this.

The female secretary was absolutely unwilling.

Penn Vincent forcibly had his way with her, leaving the aftermath for Yorke Payne to deal with.

Yorke Payne spent two hundred thousand just to appease that female secretary.

All these reasons.

Are why county leaders were unwilling to receive him.

Without even discussing the issue of rape, just the extravagance makes county leaders keep a respectful distance.

Upon hearing Russell Sadler's account.

Dirk Carter drew in a sharp breath.

He had thought Caden Dixon was only making things difficult for him with the budget, but he didn't expect that hosting the reception itself was a trap; if any part went wrong, Penn Vincent would get angry, and then he'd have enough excuse to cause trouble for him.

"Director Carter, may I ask, how much budget did the higher-ups approve for you this time?"

Russell Sadler asked.

Dirk Carter said, "Two thousand?"

"Two thousand... dollars?"

Russell Sadler was taken aback and asked.

Dirk Carter gave a bitter smile and retorted, "You don't think they approved two million for me, do you?"

Russell Sadler became flustered upon hearing this.

He said, "Director Carter, two thousand isn't even enough for Penn Vincent to stay one night."

After finishing.

He paused and said, "There is a fifteen thousand procurement fund in our office that hasn't been used yet. I'll see the finance department approve it for your hospitality expense."

Seeing the situation.

Dirk Carter shook his hand and said, "Director Sadler, I appreciate the gesture, but I can't touch it. If I do, it'll be used as leverage against me. I'll handle the hosting; you don't need to worry about it."

Russell Sadler had no better alternatives.

He could only nod and ask, "Director Carter, should we hand this over to the newly arrived Deputy Director Sun?"

Sure enough, this seasoned official knew how to shift responsibility.

He said, "By the way, what's Deputy Director Sun busy with on his first day?"

Russell Sadler gave a bitter smile and said, "He didn't come in early today; he said he was visiting the Deputy Director in the hospital who got appendicitis."

"Ah, I didn't expect he had such kind intentions."

Dirk Carter mumbled.

Russell Sadler said, "It's not kindness, though. The other Deputy Director has quite a political background. He went there to curry favor."

"Quite a background? What sort of background?"

Dirk Carter asked, perplexed.

Russell Sadler was surprised and questioned, "Director Carter, you didn't know?"

Dirk Carter shook his head and said, "Didn't know."

"Then it's no wonder. The new Deputy Director is named Daniela Morgan, only 28 years old. She used to be Deputy Mayor Ramey's secretary."

"What?"

Upon hearing the news.

Dirk Carter instantly stood up.

He heard it clearly.

But he still found it hard to believe and asked again, "Who did you say?"

"Deputy Mayor Ramey's secretary."

Russell Sadler repeated.

Dirk Carter's mind buzzed, and he stood there stupefied.

It wasn't that Deputy Mayor Ramey's secretary couldn't be stationed in Kenton County's Education Bureau as the Deputy Director, but because after the incident, although Deputy Mayor Ramey was always at Kenton County, she never mentioned this matter to him.

Of course, whether it was mentioned or not wasn't so important.

Knowing full well the current turbulent state of the Kenton County education system, Deputy Mayor Ramey still inserted her secretary in; but why?

"Director Carter, what's wrong?"

Seeing Dirk Carter's strong reaction.

Russell Sadler asked somewhat puzzled.

Dirk Carter waved it off and said, "Give me the room information for Daniela Morgan; I'll visit after work."

"Alright then."

Russell Sadler jotted it down quickly on a piece of paper.

Looking at the paper for a moment.

Dirk Carter asked, "Director Sadler, has Deputy Mayor Ramey ever worked in our Kenton County?"

"Yes, Deputy Mayor Ramey was the director of our Kenton County Education Bureau at your age, held the position for five years, before being promoted to Deputy County Head, also in charge of education. Only after a significant boost in the county's education level was she transferred to the city education bureau as director for several years. About three years ago, she was promoted to Deputy Mayor, specifically overseeing education. You know, Deputy Mayor Ramey is indeed very capable."

Russell Sadler said with a hint of pride.

Almost flaunting his own success.

"And what about Yorke Payne? Who promoted him?"

Dirk Carter asked.

Russell Sadler thought for a while and said, "Deputy Mayor Ramey was still our county education director when Deputy County Head... Yorke Payne was the deputy director. Later, when Deputy Mayor Ramey moved to the county level as Deputy County Head, Yorke Payne was promoted to director; he can be considered a subordinate of Deputy Mayor Ramey."

Subordinate?

If he was a subordinate, then on the day he took office, Deputy Mayor Ramey backing him without giving Yorke Payne face, initially made Dirk Carter think they didn't know each other at all. But now, it seems to be entirely an illusion.

Thinking of this.

Dirk Carter broke out in a cold sweat.

Could it be that the biggest tiger in the Kenton County education system is not the visible county leaders but...

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