Kim Churchill also instantly caught on.

"Right, everyone knows Cosimo Griffin is... he's in the underworld, so what he says can't be used as evidence," he clamored.

Cosimo Griffin sneered and said, "Director Churchill, I've been in business all my life, grappling with society, and dealt with more officials than you ever will. You think I'd trust you completely on our first collaboration? I have recordings of everything we talked about when we first met. How about we play them somewhere for everyone to hear?"

With those words.

Kim Churchill was instantly deflated.

A look of utter astonishment on his face.

Seeing this, Charleston Thorne shouted, "Kim Churchill, is this true or not?"

Kim Churchill shuddered.

His face was more miserable than crying.

"Let me ask you again, is it true?"

Another stern inquiry.

Charleston Thorne's authoritative presence, along with his fierce gaze, finally broke down Kim Churchill's defenses.

He wailed, "I was wrong, Executive Thorne, I was wrong, I promise I won't dare do it again..."

As soon as he said that.

Everyone instantly realized the truth.

It turned out that the affair between Dirk Carter and Daisy Young was entirely fabricated by Kim Churchill.

"Tell us, why did you do it?"

Charleston Thorne demanded again.

Larry Lewis also began to feel afraid.

Kim Churchill, the coward, might very well give him up, so he quickly said, "Executive Thorne, we're truly grateful to you. Without you, we'd all have been in the dark..."

Charleston Thorne could naturally see through this little scheme.

He patted Larry Lewis on the shoulder, saying, "Since Principal Lewis has said so, the task of investigating this matter will be handed over to you. You should be able to handle it, right?"

"Yes, yes, certainly, I can definitely handle it and give the leadership and students a satisfactory answer."

Larry Lewis responded, trembling.

Charleston Thorne pointed at Dirk Carter and Daisy Young, asking, "And what about these two?"

"Reinstate their academic status, immediately reinstate their academic status. I'll handle the paperwork personally."

Larry Lewis hastily replied.

Charleston Thorne nodded.

He walked leisurely out of the school gate, turned to Dirk Carter, and said, "Comrade Dirk Carter, come over here for a moment."

Under everyone's watchful eyes.

Dirk Carter walked over to Charleston Thorne.

"I owed you one before; now it's settled, and we're even."

Those in high positions are truly merciless, unwilling to leave any favor unreturned.

Dirk Carter wasn't a fool.

He nodded and respectfully said, "Thank you, Executive Thorne, for your help."

Charleston Thorne waved his hand and said, "Alright, I'm leaving now."

"Wait a moment!"

At this moment, Cosimo Griffin suddenly shouted.

Under the puzzled eyes of everyone.

Cosimo Griffin walked straight to the dazed Kim Churchill.

He put a hand on his shoulder and said, "Buddy, you know... I never had the habit of recording conversations with anyone."

"You..."

Kim Churchill's eyes went wide; only then did he realize he'd been played. But what could he do now? Everything had already been said.

Cosimo Griffin smiled slightly, then caught up with Charleston Thorne and disappeared through the gate.

Leaving the stunned Kim Churchill to slump to the ground, murmuring, "Bastard, bastard... all bastards..."

"And that Charleston Thorne is something else; if he had kept asking, Kim Churchill might have exposed his backer, but he just left it alone."

Daisy Young complained somewhat.

Dirk Carter smiled and said, "Anyone in high positions isn't simple. Of course, he knows if he keeps asking, there would be more to gain. He just chose not to."

"Why?"

Daisy Young asked, surprised.

Dirk Carter slightly smiled and said, "It's simple. This way, he holds leverage over Larry Lewis. Would Larry dare to oppose him in the future?"

Daisy Young's mouth dropped open, asking, "You mean he wasn't really here to right the wrongs for us, but to seize this opportunity to win over Larry Lewis?"

Dirk Carter nodded, saying, "Like you said, there are lots of shady dealings at the State Political School. With Larry Lewis under his wing, won't his future pupils receive special treatment there? These people calculate every step so carefully, not wasting any resources."

"Don't you think people like them must have a tiring life? Always plotting and scheming?"

Daisy Young asked, somewhat pensively.

Dirk Carter patted her shoulder.

He said, "That's why they say power is poison; once you step in, you'll never get out..."

In any case.

Charleston Thorne's "upholding justice" was indeed effective.

After he left.

The Party School's Party group convened a meeting.

An hour later, the meeting concluded.

Dirk Carter and Daisy Young's academic statuses at the Party School were reinstated.

But Kim Churchill was in serious trouble, having colluded with outsiders and framed colleagues, breaking a major taboo in officialdom. Not only was he expelled from the Party School, but he was also taken away by the school's disciplinary committee.

The nature of this incident was severe.

It might result in criminal charges.

After such a major upheaval.

Things quickly settled down at the Party School.

No news about Rasco Shaw was heard for a whole week.

Until the eighth day after the blackmail joke came out, a major news arrived from the province that Rasco Shaw was about to be transferred.

When Dirk Carter received the news, he was surprised yet not surprised.

He initially thought after this joke, Rasco Shaw might at most have to make a self-criticism to the State Committee, lose some face, but ultimately no rules were broken or violated.

It wasn't until two days later that he understood.

This transfer was Rasco Shaw's voluntary application.

After thinking it through, Dirk Carter figured out the rationale behind it.

Rasco Shaw was using a strategy of advancing through retreating.

After such a major blunder, hoping to become Serenity State's governor was nearly impossible. Instead of waiting another term, it was better to self-reflect to higher-ups, apply to leave Serenity State, thus seeking a roundabout way of salvaging one's career and also crafting an image of someone who takes responsibility.

It could be seen as minimizing the damage to the greatest extent.

About two or three days later.

Rasco Shaw's transfer order was officially issued.

He was removed from his position as Vice Secretary of Serenity State Committee and reassigned as Deputy Director of the Hido Province People's Congress Standing Committee.

To others, Rasco Shaw's move from Vice Secretary to a deputy position might seem like a step back, but to Dirk Carter, Rasco Shaw was still quite shrewd.

If he remained in Serenity State, to become governor would require waiting at least until the current term ended.

But in a deputy position at the People's Congress, he could still be reinstated if the opportunity arose.

In any case, it was great news for Dirk Carter.

If Rasco Shaw stayed, Dirk Carter would face unprecedented pressure; without the governor issue tying him down, Rasco Shaw would easily overpower him.

Now, moving to Hido Province.

Dirk Carter could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Rasco Shaw's sudden departure.

Triggered a series of chain reactions in the Serenity State's political scene.

Of course, these reactions had little to do with Dirk Carter, as he still had more than four months of studies left.

With Kim Churchill out of the picture.

He could finally focus on his studies.

Just a few days before graduation.

The Vice Secretary position, vacant for over four months, finally found its successor.

Serenity State's Executive Vice Governor Charleston Thorne took over as Vice Secretary of the State Committee and also became principal of the State Political School.

In less than a month, Governor Leland Fuller would be transferred.

At this point, Charleston Thorne's rank was moved up one level, indicating that the higher-ups were not inclined to have him take over as governor.

This also sent a signal to the outside.

Implying the people of Serenity State should not vie for this position, as the governor is likely to be appointed from outside.

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