A Bumpy Road to Power

Chapter 812

"Secretary Carter? Are you Dirk Carter?"

The woman stared wide-eyed and asked.

Dirk Carter smiled slightly and said, "I am Dirk Carter."

"Little kid, go back to your room."

Houston Marshall shouted unceremoniously at his daughter.

Yana Marshall turned her head and left, feeling a bit wronged.

"Secretary Carter, if you don't mind, please come in and have a seat."

Houston Marshall stepped aside to make way at the door.

Dirk Carter glanced around.

The house didn't seem very large; after all, the living room was small, and the furnishings inside looked quite aged.

After Dirk Carter walked inside.

Houston Marshall invited him to sit on an old wooden sofa, its paint peeled off, looking rather mottled.

He hurriedly started to make tea.

Dirk Carter waved his hand and said, "Director Marshall, there's no need to busy yourself. I have something to discuss with you."

Houston Marshall immediately went for his briefcase to find paper and pen.

Dirk Carter said, "No need, I just wanted to have a casual chat with you; it's not about work."

Upon hearing this.

Houston Marshall stood in front of Dirk Carter, his hands gathered at his lower abdomen, looking as if he was ready to listen to instructions.

Dirk Carter knew he was always cautious, so he didn't try to dissuade him.

He turned around and glanced back.

A crack in the door of the inner room was opened.

Yana Marshall was peeking at them through the gap.

"Director Marshall, I came here today because of your daughter Yana."

"My daughter?"

Houston Marshall was taken aback.

Immediately, he shouted to Yana, "Yanyan, what's going on? Have you given Secretary Carter any trouble?"

Yana had no chance to speak yet.

Dirk Carter quickly said, "Director Marshall, why are you in a hurry? Can you let me finish speaking?"

"Secretary Carter, please, go ahead..."

Still, it was Dirk Carter's words that worked. A flattering smile appeared instantly on Houston Marshall's face.

"I don't know how to start, let me show you a video first."

After saying that.

Dirk Carter took out his phone and held it in front of Houston Marshall.

The phone was playing the process of Kahlil Sutton being interrogated by Dirk Carter.

Hearing Kahlil Sutton say it was Liam Zane who instructed him to do so.

Houston Marshall didn't show much surprise on his face.

He let out a long sigh, calmly returned the unfinished video to Dirk Carter.

He said leisurely, "Secretary Carter, this matter is already in the past, I don't want to mention it again."

"Is it because you don't want to mention it, or because you're afraid to?"

Dirk Carter asked.

Houston Marshall shivered slightly.

He finally sat down.

The whole person also became more competent and composed.

Frowning, he said, "Secretary Carter, I can tell you want to accomplish something in our Helios County, but Helios County is unlike any other place. This is where the light doesn't reach, and you have only two options, either to blend in with the crowd or to become corrupt."

"So, you chose the former?"

Dirk Carter asked.

A wry smile appeared on Houston Marshall's face.

Shaking his head, he said, "It's impossible, really impossible. I actually just want to blend in with the crowd, but they wouldn't give me that chance."

"So, does Esau West's resignation have to do with you?"

Dirk Carter asked.

Houston Marshall shivered again.

It was clear that he didn't expect Dirk Carter to see through the intricacies.

Then he let out a long sigh.

He said, "Secretary Carter, you're really smart. Even though you've been here for a short time, nothing escapes your eyes. I truly admire you."

"Let's talk about what happened?"

Dirk Carter sighed and said.

Houston Marshall glanced sideways at the ceiling.

At this time, he also noticed Yana eavesdropping.

He waved to her.

Yana obediently came out; she had obviously heard the conversation between Dirk Carter and her father.

After she sat beside Houston Marshall.

Houston Marshall stroked her messy hair.

He said, "This child is quite pitiful, losing her mother at the age of 8. These years, I've raised her by myself. I've been busy with work and neglected her a lot. If I could have paid more attention to her, maybe things wouldn't have turned out so bad."

"Dad, it's my fault, it's not related to you."

Yana said, her eyes red.

As if she had made up her mind.

Houston Marshall held Yana's hand.

After a pause, he said, "Secretary West is a good cadre..."

Esau West, although not very old, was a quite principled leader.

After he came to Helios County, he quickly discovered the huge problems existing in Helios County and planned to initiate a significant reform here.

Houston Marshall said.

He had seen the filth of Helios County for a lifetime.

He was also helpless.

Esau West's actions after coming soon moved him.

He wholeheartedly acted as an insider for Esau West.

Just like this.

Esau West's bold measures posed a threat to Brett Summers' group.

Under such circumstances.

Brett Summers' group naturally sought trouble with Esau West.

But Esau West was a man of upright conduct.

Making it impossible for Brett Summers' group to get their hands on him.

At this critical juncture.

Jabez Shaw targeted Houston Marshall.

After all, at that time, Houston Marshall was a confidant of Esau West.

Later, there was Kahlil Sutton who approached, fabricating a persona, getting close to Yana.

Inexperienced, Yana fell.

To protect his own daughter, Jabez Shaw had to borrow money to fill the gap.

From then on.

He was also caught by the Talon Group.

"Jabez Shaw said, as long as I framed Secretary West, he would spare my daughter. I didn't know what to do at the time, and then Secretary West heard about this and proposed to resign voluntarily."

Speaking to this point.

Houston Marshall's voice was already a bit choked up.

Dirk Carter felt a pang of pity in his heart.

He asked, "So, Esau West's resignation was also to protect you and your daughter?"

Houston Marshall nodded.

He said, "At that time, I also thought, for all the people of Helios County, there's nothing wrong with sacrificing myself and our family Yanyan, but Secretary West was also somewhat disheartened. He realized that if he didn't back off, more innocent people might suffer..."

Houston Marshall became more and more emotional.

By this point, he was already at a loss for words.

His face filled with guilt.

He even slapped himself hard.

Now Dirk Carter finally knew why Houston Marshall always displayed a submissive demeanor.

Why Darien Griffin and the others always oppressed and bullied him.

Thinking of this.

Dirk Carter asked, "If it's so tough, why don't you leave?"

Houston Marshall raised his head.

Bitterly smiled.

He said, "I can't leave, there are too few clear-headed people in Helios County. If one day Brett Summers' group collapses, I hope I can be the one to tell the truth, to stand and testify, and for this, I must remain in the dark."

These words were said smoothly.

But they left Dirk Carter deeply shaken.

He was very glad that his initial impression of Houston Marshall was correct.