"Zachary, are you feeling hot?"

At this moment, Anselm Hall noticed something unusual.

There were actually beads of sweat on Zachary Ford's forehead.

His heart sank.

Zachary Ford wiped the sweat away and said, "I just jogged over and drank some hot tea, so I'm sweating."

"Then you're feeling a bit weak, aren't you?"

Anselm Hall patted him on the shoulder.

Then he said to Shelby Linden, "Shelby, go get a towel."

"Oh, sure."

Shelby Linden quickly walked into the bathroom.

The reason she had to walk so fast was that when she got up, the soy milk was already running down her thighs. If she didn't walk quickly, she feared Anselm Hall would notice.

Monday.

Customs Building.

After the routine meeting ended.

Anselm Hall had just returned to his office when the secretary came in and said, "Director Hall, Commissioner Carter is looking for you."

"Oh? Let him in."

After Anselm Hall responded, just as he was getting up, Dirk Carter walked in.

"Commissioner Carter, come, come, sit down, please sit down."

After warmly inviting Dirk Carter to sit.

Anselm Hall was just about to show some concern.

Dirk Carter said, "Director Hall, there are some things I'd like to discuss with you."

The implication was to have the secretary leave.

Anselm Hall glanced at the secretary, nodded, and after the secretary closed the door and left, Anselm Hall chuckled, "Comrade Carter, is there a problem at work? It's okay, you can tell me, and I'll help you solve it."

Dirk Carter said seriously, "Director Hall, do you play chess?"

"Chess? Chinese chess? A little. Does Comrade Carter want to play with me?"

Anselm Hall asked, puzzled.

Dirk Carter smiled slightly and said, "Director Hall, you're quite a chess player, and you call that a little? Are you being too modest?"

"No, no, this isn't modesty, it's true."

Anselm Hall waved his hand dismissively.

Dirk Carter suddenly looked at him, his gaze sharp.

He said, "The conflict between Jaden Lawson and me, was it specially arranged by Director Hall?"

As soon as those words were spoken.

The smile on Anselm Hall's face froze.

After a pause, he chuckled and said, "Comrade Carter, what are you talking about? I'm a bit confused."

"If you don't understand, then I'll make it clearer."

Dirk Carter paused, then continued, "Firstly, there was the erroneous document. Honestly, at the very beginning, I didn't suspect anything. I really thought Commissioner Lin made a mistake, but now it seems that Director Wang's appearance at that time was meant to draw my attention to this document, or rather, to make me notice the name Theodore Hughes."

"Then, we happened to meet the arrogant Theodore Hughes at Highpine Restaurant. We were having a good meal in our private room, so how did Theodore Hughes know we were there? It must have been someone who made sure he knew, right?"

"Then, I had a conflict with Theodore Hughes, which in turn led to the appearance of Jaden Lawson. Everything seemed like a coincidence, but when I thought it over carefully, I found a flaw."

"What flaw?"

Anselm Hall asked instinctively.

Suddenly realizing he spoke wrongly, but since it was already out, he didn't bother to explain.

Dirk Carter smiled slightly.

He said, "When I went to Highpine Restaurant, Director Hall personally picked me up, but when we left, you left me behind by myself. That was because you knew that the person behind Theodore Hughes was also about to show up."

Having heard these words.

Anselm Hall sneered and said, "Comrade Carter, your imagination is quite rich, isn't it? I just wanted to treat you to a meal, and now I'm facing unwarranted accusations?"

Seeing Anselm Hall speaking like this.

Dirk Carter nodded, took a deep breath, and said, "Maybe I overthought it. Fine, then I'll go and reconcile with Jaden Lawson now. After all, we don't really have any deep-seated enmity, at worst, I'll just bow my head."

After leaving this sentence.

Dirk Carter just got up.

Anselm Hall said, "Wait a moment."

Dirk Carter turned and asked, "What's the matter, Director Hall?"

At this time, Anselm Hall's expression was somewhat dejected.

Such a seamless plan shouldn't be seen through by anyone; he had that confidence, but Dirk Carter did see through it, putting him in a difficult position.

If Dirk Carter reconciled with Jaden Lawson, then his own boasting to his superiors would be mere bluster.

At this point, besides admitting it, he had no other choice.

Thinking quickly, he said, "I didn't expect Jaden Lawson to do such a thing either. As for that girl who was harmed, I can only express regret."

These words amounted to an acknowledgment.

Then, he put on an apologetic facade and said, "Comrade Carter, I had no choice either. Jaden Lawson was already on customs' radar, but once he came to Ardmore City, he was tied to Chadric Gates. No one dared to touch his case in customs. After hearing about your achievements, I decided to give it a try. My purpose was solely to combat smuggling."

"So, I, Dirk Carter, became the weapon in your hands for killing, right?"

Dirk Carter asked.

Anselm Hall waved his hands repeatedly, saying, "That's not quite right. I believed in your abilities and your courage, and that's why I planned it this way. If you want to blame me, I won't argue. If you want to reconcile with Jaden Lawson, I won't stop you. I'm just sorry for that girl who was mistreated."

As he spoke, he secretly observed Dirk Carter's expression.

Dirk Carter paused and said, "Fine, since Director Hall says so, can I handle the Prosper Trading smuggling case?"

"Of course, of course."

Anselm Hall was overjoyed.

He quickly stood up.

He walked to the door and said to the secretary in the outer room, "Bring all the documents on the Prosper Trading smuggling case to Commissioner Carter's office."

"Comrade Carter, with you handling this case, I can finally put my mind at ease. Whatever you plan to do, just go ahead. You have access to all the department's resources."

Anselm Hall said.

Dirk Carter nodded and said, "Then I'll get to work."

"Alright, Comrade Carter, you go ahead."

Not long after Dirk Carter left.

Zachary Ford and Shelby Linden came into his office one after another.

After recounting what had just happened, Anselm Hall said cheerfully, "At first, I really thought this kid was sharp-minded, but I didn't expect him to be easily bamboozled. Our original goal was to let him take over this case, and now he wants it himself, which is exactly what we wanted."

"Hahaha... Looks like we overestimated him. There really are people willing to jump on the chopping block."

Zachary Ford also burst into laughter.

It was clear that all three were in good spirits.

A feeling of relief from a false alarm yet exhilarating excitement.

...

That evening.

At the exit of Ardmore City's train station.

Dirk Carter was standing with his hands behind his back, anxiously looking around.

Suddenly, his eyes lit up as a familiar figure emerged from the exit.

It was none other than Daisy Young, his classmate from the party school.

As soon as she saw Dirk Carter, she hurriedly walked over.

"Congratulations, congratulations on our Daisy's promotion to district head."

Dirk Carter playfully said.

Daisy Young gave him a sideways glance and said, "Stop fooling around. Speaking of which, this district head position is really thanks to you."

Dirk Carter immediately changed the topic and said, "We could have talked over the phone; why did you have to come all this way?"

Daisy Young's expression immediately turned serious and said, "There's no way to discuss this over the phone. Let's find a quiet place to talk."

"How about my place?"

Dirk Carter asked.

Daisy Young chuckled and said, "I'm a divorced woman, lonely, empty, and cold. Aren't you afraid if I go to your house, I'll drain you dry?"

Dirk Carter challenged, "If that's the case, I don't know who'd end up draining whom."

Daisy Young, too, showed defiance.

She said, "Alright, as soon as we step inside, it'll be a knife fight, a real battle."

"Who's afraid of whom?"

Dirk Carter said.

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