A Bumpy Road to Power

"Made a mistake?"

Dirk Carter mumbled.

Nathan Walsh didn't care whether Dirk Carter agreed or not.

He started searching through that stack of documents.

He searched until he reached the very bottom.

Only then did Nathan Walsh let out a long sigh and pulled out that particular document.

He bowed slightly to Dirk Carter and said, "Sorry, Commissioner Carter, for interrupting your work."

She was just about to turn and leave.

Dirk Carter asked, "Director Walsh, what document is this? Can I take a look?"

Nathan Walsh was taken aback.

A bit nervously, he said, "Commissioner Carter, this... this was a case handled by former Commissioner Jiang. Since it's already closed, the documents should logically be in the archive by now."

"Alright then, if I can't see it, so be it."

Dirk Carter mumbled again.

Nathan Walsh immediately looked panicked.

He said, "Since you took over from Commissioner Jiang, you're of course able to see it."

Having said that.

He very reluctantly handed the document to Dirk Carter.

Dirk Carter opened it and glanced at it.

It was a dossier for an electronic product smuggling case.

It was marked as closed.

However, the dossier contained no information about any arrests.

Dirk Carter asked, "This dossier shows the case is closed, but why wasn't anyone arrested?"

Nathan Walsh was stunned.

He said, "That... I don't know."

"Alright, take it away."

Dirk Carter returned the document to Nathan Walsh.

Nathan Walsh took the document and hurriedly left.

Dirk Carter naturally had his doubts, but he had just started his position and hadn't officially begun his work, so paying attention to such an old case wouldn't accomplish anything.

So he decided not to bother with it.

He got off work at half-past five in the evening.

Dirk Carter first went to the dormitory located in Clearwind Gardens.

It was a two-bedroom, one-living room setup. Although not luxurious, it was decent enough for a dormitory.

After taking a shower and changing clothes,

He received a call from Anselm Hall, saying he was already waiting downstairs.

Dirk Carter hurriedly went downstairs and saw Anselm Hall standing next to a car, smoking.

"Commissioner Hall, I could have come here myself. There's no need for you to personally pick me up."

Dirk Carter said anxiously.

Anselm Hall smiled and said, "It's on the way. As I always say, our customs office is like one family, no need to be so formal."

This welcome dinner was arranged at the well-known "Highpine Restaurant" in Ardmore City.

When the two of them got out of the car, Zachary Ford and the other leaders were already waiting at the entrance.

Seeing Dirk Carter arrive, they all came over enthusiastically to greet him.

On the way there, Anselm Hall had already mentioned to Dirk Carter that this welcome dinner was his personal treat, without using any unit funds. Except for Shelby Linden, who couldn't make it due to other commitments, all other committee members were present.

There were five people at the table.

It was just a simple meal.

Dirk Carter didn't want to make a big deal out of it.

This kind of dinner was just perfect.

The five of them sat down.

Each chatting away.

The atmosphere was quite pleasant.

However, midway through the meal, the door of the private room was suddenly opened with a crash.

A man in his thirties, looking drunk and wobbly, entered holding a bottle of alcohol.

"Oh, Commissioner Hall is here."

The drunk man immediately noticed Anselm Hall and said in surprise.

Anselm Hall seemed uninterested in dealing with him.

He raised his glass towards Dirk Carter and said, "Commissioner Carter, let's drink."

The drunken man seemed in no hurry to leave.

Instead, he noticed Dirk Carter, pointed at him, and said, "Commissioner Carter, the new one, right? Come, let's have a drink."

Having said that,

He filled his glass and sat down in the empty seat next to Dirk Carter.

"Commissioner Hall, this..."

Seeing that no one seemed inclined to expel him, Dirk Carter realized he must be a familiar face and asked somewhat confusedly.

Anselm Hall gave him a cold glance and said, "Theodore Hughes, the owner of Prosper Trading Co., Ltd."

Prosper Trading?

Hearing that name,

Dirk Carter's heart skipped a beat.

He knew about Prosper Trading.

Not from before, but he had only learned about it this afternoon.

The document Nathan Walsh took contained details about a smuggling case involving Prosper Trading.

At this moment.

Theodore Hughes had already placed one hand on Dirk Carter's shoulder.

He shook his head and said, "Commissioner Carter, I've long heard that you were coming. Always wanted to invite you for a meal, but didn't expect to meet here. Come, have a drink."

After Dirk Carter sipped his drink,

Theodore Hughes stood up.

He said, "Tonight, it's on me, Theodore Hughes."

Having said that,

He told the waiter at the door, "Bring over two more bottles of Maotai. I want to drink well with the leaders."

"Theodore Hughes, we didn't invite you over, nor do we want to drink your Maotai, so stop imposing."

The one who said this was Deputy Commissioner and Anti-Smuggling Bureau Director Ansel Crawford.

Theodore Hughes laughed heartily upon hearing this.

He said, "Leaders, even if you're beating a dog, you need to take its owner's feelings into account. You should all show some respect, right? Consider it for yourselves when we're bound to see each other often."

With that said,

Ansel Crawford's face turned somber.

He lowered his head and remained silent.

Anselm Hall snorted coldly and said, "Theodore Hughes, what do you mean by that? Are you threatening us?"

"Threatening? So what if it's a threat? Anselm Hall, who do you think you are? If you don't want to be given face, then none of us will take it. Who's afraid of whom?"

Having said that,

Theodore Hughes suddenly exploded with anger.

He smashed the bottle he held onto the ground.

The bottle shattered, and the scent of the alcohol filled the room.

The atmosphere in the private room became tense all of a sudden.

"Mr. Hughes, had a bit too much to drink? Want me to find someone to help you out?"

Deputy Commissioner Zachary Ford said coldly.

Theodore Hughes sneered disdainfully and said, "Help me? Do you have what it takes? Zachary Ford, who do you think you are? Is it your place to speak? If you have nothing to say, then shut it."

Dirk Carter was truly taken aback.

One would think that in the trade business, the customs officials would be the ones you should especially try to get on the good side of.

After all, the import and export of goods are controlled by customs.

Offending customs is like asking for trouble, right?

Yet, here was Theodore Hughes, blatantly disrespecting all the leaders of Ardmore Customs. Honestly, this was a first.

"Dirk Carter, why don't we end this dinner here? I'll invite you again next time."

Anselm Hall paused for a moment and said to Dirk Carter.

Dirk Carter nodded and said, "Alright, let's wrap it up then."

Everyone put down their chopsticks.

They filed out of the private room.

At the door,

Anselm Hall looked apologetic and said, "Dirk Carter, the dinner was going well, and then... never mind, I won't say more. We'll be working together in the future, so there will be plenty of opportunities."

"Commissioner Hall, if I may ask, why is Theodore Hughes so... arrogant?"

Dirk Carter asked curiously.

Anselm Hall sighed deeply and reluctantly said, "You just arrived, so I didn't plan on telling you about this. But since you've witnessed it, I might as well share. Theodore Hughes... is Chadric Gates' son-in-law."

"Chadric Gates? Is he the Executive Vice Mayor of Ardmore City?"

Dirk Carter asked.

Anselm Hall nodded and said, "With Chadric Gates backing him, he naturally has the confidence to challenge us. Our customs office here has no way to deal with it."

"Commissioner Hall, isn't customs a direct institution? Not subject to local government control."

Anselm Hall patted Dirk Carter on the shoulder, took a long breath, and said, "Direct institution, indeed. But our unit is in Ardmore City. When it comes to actual work, if the local government wants to constrain you, it's not difficult for them to make things difficult."

"Commissioner Hall, about that previous electronic product smuggling case..."

Anselm Hall's face darkened.

He said angrily, "That Nathan Walsh, really clueless!"

He sighed again and said, "Alright, we're all on the same team. It's okay if you know. Commissioner Jiang was transferred because of this."