ã€ŠLet them offer their loyalty!ã€‹


 Chapter 1 Crisis Intuition

    The white curtains, yellowed with age, the walls spotted with mold, a cramped and dim room.

    The scent of a woman''s body mixed with the blooming fragrance of heather.

    "Tick-tock, tick-tock..."

    Apanied by the dripping sound of an old faucet in the toilet, Qiu Tu slowly woke up.

    He opened his weary eyes, shook his dizzy, aching head, and surveyed the room he was in.

    In the tiny seven-square-meter room filled with clutter, there was an old wooden bed.

    A slender woman with skin white as snow slept soundly on the bed,pletely naked.

    Looking at the woman, Qiu Tu''s mind automatically conjured her identity.

    The mistress of Director Yan Chen of the Xinjie City Investigation Bureau.

    And himself...

    Qiu Tu shook his aching head again...

    A Second-ss Investigator at Xinjie City Investigation Bureau... a confidant of Director Yan Chen.

    His primary duty was...

    To ensure the safety of this mistress!

    Qiu Tu suddenly sat up, looking at his own body, which was also bare, his face full of shock.

    No, wait a minute.

    Wasn''t he at an explosion at thepany? How did he be an investigator?

    Did he... travel through time?

    ...

    Half an hourter.

    The toilet.

    Standing in front of a dirty sink, Qiu Tu, his face wet, looked at his own reflection in the broken mirror and roughly figured out everything before him.

    He had indeed traveled through time.

    Travelled to this somewhat chaotic, bloody world.

    An unexpected cataclysm had devastated most nations, caused mutations in species, abandoned cities, scarcity of food, and obliteration of civilization, reced by endless chaos, thew of the jungle, and survival of the fittest...

    After the cataclysm, the world was in chaos for decades before civilization began to regrow anew.

    With the joint efforts of several powerful figures, humanity slowly established the Eight Great Shelters, gradually restoring the order of the pre-disaster world, giving humanity new hope.

    Unfortunately...

    The Xinjie City where Qiu Tu was located was not part of the Eight Great Shelters, but a nning Area.

    That is, the areas situated between the Sanctuaries and the Disaster Zone, prepared for the next steps in reconstruction.

    There was noprehensivew here, no strict rules to adhere to, only the most basicw of the wild.

    Although middle and high-level management personnel from the various shelters were arranged to manage these areas, they were only tasked with preventing these areas from falling into major turmoil; as for other aspects, they didn''t interfere at all.

    This resulted in every high-level manager being a Local Tyrant with great power over their respective nning Area, decreeing life or death at will...N?v(el)B\\jnn

    And Qiu Tu''s immediate superior, Investigation Bureau Chief Yan Chen of Xinjie City, was one of the high-level managers sent by the shelter, one of the Three Giants in Xinjie City, holding all the power of the Xinjie City Investigation Bureau.

    As for Qiu Tu himself, he was Yan Chen''sckey, a mid-level investigator in Xinjie City, specially tasked with doing Yan''s dirty work.

    Such as killing, collecting taxes, and... ensuring the safety of mistresses.

    Well... that protection went all the way to the bed...

    Wiping his face, Qiu Tu recalled thest memories of his predecessor in his mind.

    In the memory, after an intense encounter with Yan Chen''s mistress, the predecessor fell asleep; and while sleeping, he suddenly felt his heart contract sharply, in pain.

    The past life was jolted awake, straining to open his eyes, only to be met with ringing ears and vertigo that came hand in hand. His strength dwindled further and further until his consciousness vanished entirely. That was when Qiu Tu took over his identity.

    ''Was it a sudden illness?''

    Reflecting on the previous life''s memory of death, Qiu Tu was a bit puzzled.

    But he didn''t delve deeper into it, after all, sleeping with the Investigation Bureau Chief''s woman, dying sooner orter didn''t seem to make much of a difference.

    In an era where the death toll was uncertain each day, having offended such a significant figure, he was lucky to have been sacked and sank into the sewer the very next day.

    If the bigshot was vengeful or psychologically twisted, it was expected for Qiu Tu to be maimed into a specter and haunted for life without death.

    ''It''s a bit thrilling...''

    With that thought, Qiu Tu lifted his head to face the very cause of all troubles¡ªthe handsome face in the mirror. A radiant smile suddenly spread across his face,

    ''But... it''s already much better than my previous life.''

    In his past life, Qiu Tu was deceived by friends and sold off to Northern Myanmar, beaten and insulted every day, too scared to close his eyes at night for fear of being buried alive or having his organs harvested the next day.

    So in that environment, he "turned to the dark side" and voluntarily "joined" a tele-scamming group, bing a specter himself.

    Swindling, shing, killing. He climbed up the ranks step by step, and then... sent each and every person who had deceived and insulted him in the past to hell.

    Afterwards, he continued to climb, reaching the management level of the group, and then... At the group''s celebratory banquet, he wrapped himself in explosives and blew up the entire syndicate, including the mastermind behind it all, to kingdome.

    Recalling hisst years in his previous life, from the moment he was conned into going to Northern Myanmar, he had only death on his path. Compliance meant death, resistance meant death, scheming was death, and lonely revenge was also death.

    Now, though dangerous, there was at least a chance at life!

    After all, ording to the memory of his former self, Bureau Chief Yan Chen did trust his predecessor quite a bit.

    As long as Qiu Tu didn''t give himself away moving forward, he shouldn''t be in danger... right?

    And at this moment, as Qiu Tu was lost in thought.

    Suddenly, "buzz buzz..." the sound of the Communicator vibrating stirred the air in the cramped toilet.

    Hearing the vibration, Qiu Tu nced at the old Communicator with physical buttons atop the washbasin.

    The Communicator''s low-resolution yellow-green screen disyed three characters: Director Yan.

    Even though he had already braced himself for anything, Qiu Tu''s heartbeat still surged at the sight of that name.

    He took a deep breath, pressed down the astonishment in his heart, and silently reminded himself to remain calm, the Bureau Chief knew nothing, and if he could just appear a bit moreposed, there should be no problem.

    However, just as he thought this, suddenly, his vision shed.

    The next second, row after row of prompts also appeared in his sight.

    ''Crisis Intuition activated! Generating Crisis Report!''

    ''Your direct superior, Xinjie City Investigation Bureau Chief Yan Chen, ismunicating with you.''

    ''He is suspicious and brutal by nature.''

    ''Before contacting you, he has alreadymunicated with other confidants and found out that you and his mistress Qin Shuman intentionally dismissed others, spending 4.5 hours alone outside without a third person''spany, and have not returned to this moment.''

    ''Qin Shuman''s maid has also secretly informed him that in the past two days, you and Qin Shuman have been flirting relentlessly.''

    ''He is now extremely angry and has started to doubt your loyalty.''

    ''However, the cunning and calcted he does not n to startle the snake in the grass but instead intends to test you.''

    ''You have only two minutes.''

    ''If within two minutes, you fail to regain his trust, then by tomorrow, your and Qin Shuman''s bodies will be found in the sewers of Xinjie City. You know that with his power, you can''t escape.''

    ''Now, the 2-minute countdown begins.''

    As the prompts ended, a sandss-shaped countdown icon slowly appeared in the upper left corner of his vision....

    Qiu Tu: ???

 Chapter 2 Personality Weaknesses

    Looking at the countdown and text that suddenly appeared before him, Qiu Tu was full of question marks.

    ''Is this... the Golden Finger?'' he wondered.

    A Golden Finger that can hint at risks?

    After a moment of contemtion, Qiu Tu felt it was a bit weak, but still eptable.

    After all, had it not been for the hint from his "Crisis Intuition," he would not have known that Yan Chen had gleaned some information from the maid and begun to suspect his involvement with Qin Shuman, preparing to test him.

    Had he picked up themunicator and dared to tell one lie to cover up the matter, the next day he would have died in the filthy sewage ditch.

    In such a scenario, the Golden Finger had indeed saved his life.

    ''Anyway, I can''t change the Golden Finger, so it''s pointless to think too much about it. I should focus on figuring out how to deal with the current situation...'' he reasoned.

    With that thought, Qiu Tu began to reflect on how to deal with the situation, observing the pile of hints before him...

    Themunicator vibrated in the palm of his hand, buzzing, and the bright red countdown pulsed like a heartbeat...

    [1:56]

    [1:55]

    ...

    [1:52]

    [1:51]

    ...

    [1:48]

    [1:47]

    As time ticked away, second by second, it wasn''t until it reached [1:45] that Qiu Tu''s gaze slowly became resolute and he pressed the receive button without hesitation!

    The next moment, his expression seamlessly switched as he reverently said into themunicator, "Bureau Chief, were you looking for me?"

    "I had something to deal with, which is why I waste to answer themunicator," he exined.

    Perhaps it was an influence from his previous life, but Qiu Tu spoke those ingratiating words with such fluidity that he surprised even himself.

    [1:42]

    [1:41]

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s voice, no different from any other day, Yan Chen on the other end of themunicator did not be suspicious. He gave a profound "hmm" and then said, "Qiu Tu, I have a task for you to handle."

    "Xiafang Street Public Security Bureau has arrested a Pharmacist selling illegal potions. Go there and bring that person back to the Bureau; I have use for him."

    [1:27]

    [1:26]

    Glimpsing the ever-decreasing numbers of the countdown, Qiu Tu quickly replied, "Yes, Bureau Chief!"

    However, after his response, he pretended to be in a difficult position and said, "But, Bureau Chief, I..."

    Yan Chen spoke sternly, "What''s the matter? Is there a problem?"

    He was like a volcano about to erupt¡ªthe heavy pressure so palpable it came through themunicator, clearly felt by Qiu Tu.

    [1:18]

    But Qiu Tu wasn''t swayed by Yan Chen. He continued to keep his tone steady and spoke softly, "Bureau Chief, actually I have some other matters to take care of as well."

    Then, intentionally hesitating for two seconds, he finally spoke as if he had made a decision, "Bureau Chief, in fact, there was something I''ve been wanting to report to you for the past few days, but I didn''t dare to mention it without evidence."

    "There''s something off about Qin Shuman. I suspect she''s a spy sent by the Municipal Committee to monitor you!"

    As he spoke these words, the atmosphere suddenly became still, and the countdown seemed to freeze as well, halting at [1:03].

    After a full five seconds of stillness, the countdown resumed ticking.

    On the other side of themunicator, Yan Chen asked in a deep voice, "What do you mean?"

    [1:00]

    With only one minute left, the countdown turned a ring, blood-red and began to sh frically.

    However, Qiu Tu was not rushed. He calmly exined, "Bureau Chief, I''ve been under your orders to ensure Miss Shuman''s safety. But I''ve noticed some things about her that don''t seem quite right."

    "For example, I remember you saying she had juste from the Disaster Zone to Xinjie City, but she seems very familiar with Xinjie City."

    "For example, she''s not a resident of the Sanctuary like us, yet her skin is so smooth, fair, without a single scar or callus."

    "For example, every time I appear near her, she tries to talk to me, initiating conversations about you, probing for information."

    "All these signs suggest that she is probably not as simple as she appears."

    "And don''t you find it a bit too coincidental?"

    "Xinjie City is so vast and chaotic, yet why would such a beautiful person be so conveniently discovered by you?"

    "Are all the other men blind? Wouldn''t they want her for themselves?"

    "Is that really reasonable?"

    Speaking of which, Qiu Tu paused before saying, "So, these past few days I''ve been trying to curry favor with her, subtly expressing my admiration to gain her trust."

    "Perhaps my approach really did earn her trust. Today she told me she felt like a canary trapped in a cage and wanted to go out alone. So, in coboration with her, we managed to distract the maids and other security staff, and I went out alone with her."

    "Throughout these hours, I''ve been at her side, covertly observing her every move, trying to figure out what she really wanted to do."

    [0:15]

    At this time, the countdown timer glowing with red light seemed to havepletely stopped.

    After a two-second silence on the other side of themunicator, Yan Chen asked, "So what did you find out?"

    Qiu Tu, "Nothing at all."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    As if seeing Yan Chen''s face darken suddenly through themunicator, Qiu Tu paused before adding another sentence, "But... that''s the biggest problem!"

    "She went to the trouble of shaking off everyone just for a simple stroll?"

    "Bureau Chief... Does that sound reasonable?"

    Yan Chen remained silent.

    Two secondster, instead of answering Qiu Tu''s question, he asked, "Then why do you say she was sent by the Municipal Committee to monitor me?"

    Qiu Tu, "Spection."

    "After all, the entire Xinjie City knows that the Municipal Committee is at odds with our Investigation Bureau, and Commissioner Jiang even more so with you..."

    Yan Chen let out a cold snort.

    Seeing he had pushed far enough, Qiu Tu did not continue to discuss the private affairs of the higher-ups. Instead, he switched gears and summed up, "That''s why I suspected the Municipal Committee first when considering who to doubt."

    "But, I''m still in the process of verification, with no evidence so far."

    Yan Chen''s tone noticeably softened. After a moment of thought, he then asked, "So where are you right now?"

    Qiu Tu, "At my ce."

    "It was Miss Shuman who requested it."

    "She''s currently ying video games there, and I took the excuse of hiding in the bathroom to answer your call."

    Upon hearing this, Yan Chen "Hmm" responded.

    He did not express his attitude to Qiu Tu but reverted to his initial topic, "I will have others handle Xiafang Street''s matter for now. Continue to apany Miss Shuman."

    "Yes! Bureau Chief!" Qiu Tu bowed slightly, respectful as if Yan Chen could see him, "I will certainly help you ascertain Miss Shuman''s identity and not let down your trust."

    Yan Chen did not respond and cut off themunication.

    Listening to the "beep...beep..." sound on the other end, Qiu Tu, who knew he had narrowly escaped for now, slowly exhaled. He straightened up slowly, his smile gradually fading to a nk expression.

    In those years with the Northern Myanmar fraud group, he learned a lot, including reading people, discerning their psychology, and finding weaknesses in their personalities.

    The weak point in Yan Chen''s character was obvious: he was suspicious.

    Such people, once they start doubting, won''t easily stop.

    So, when Qiu Tu realized he was "exposed," he knew the more he exined, the more he would arouse Yan Chen''s doubts.

    For a powerful figure like Yan Chen, confidants and mistresses were nothing more than dogs begging at his feet for scraps.

    In these chaotic times, two lower-ss individuals who hadn''t even secured sanctuary status could easily be snuffed out if he felt the slightest suspicion or displeasure.

    Therefore, for Qiu Tu to stay alive, he had to introduce a formidable "Third Party Force" that could make Yan Chen wary.

    Only then would Yan Chen control his emotions and not act recklessly, giving Qiu Tu time to defuse the crisis.

    And this formidable "Third Party Force" that could make Yan Chen wary was¡ª the Municipal Committee.

    The Municipal Committee was the highest governing body of Xinjie City, holding all the rights of legition, personnel appointments, finances, and more.

    In theory, the Investigation Bureau should also obey the Municipal Committee.

    But for checks and bnces, when the Sanctuary sent high-level managers, the Municipal Committee, Investigation Bureau, and the military all had the right tomunicate directly with the Sanctuary.

    So, in the nning Area, the three parties were rtively independent; the Municipal Committee couldn''tmand the other forces outright, but instead had to use benefits, situations, righteousness, and various other means to make themply.

    This led to a rtionship that was both full of conflict and yet necessarily coborative between the three parties, extremely delicate and precarious.

    In such a situation, facing a person suspected of being nted by the Municipal Committee, the wily Yan Chen would most likely act cautiously. Before rifying Qin Shuman''s identity and understanding the Municipal Committee''s intentions, he would not rashly harm them, thus upsetting the delicate bnce of Xinjie City.

    Such a lie also made Qiu Tu and Qin Shuman appear as potential adversaries in Yan Chen''s eyes, reducing the suspicion that the two might be in cahoots.

    Moreover, Qiu Tu''s "forthrightness" in voluntarily disclosing their whereabouts would likely make the information seem more credible to Yan Chen.

    The n was bold and fraught with future troubles, but it was the best Qiu Tu coulde up with in a matter of seconds.

    After recalling the n he had devised, Qiu Tu looked deeply at the stalled countdown timer in the upper left corner, his mind continuing to patch up any weaknesses in his n,

    ''Although I acted quite well and reced the original question with a new doubt, thereby steering Yan Chen''s suspicions,''

    ''But... given Yan Chen''s suspicious nature, would the seed of doubt really be dispelled that easily?''

    ''Can things really be this simple?''

    With this thought, the hourss of the countdown timer in the upper left corner of his vision began to change slowly...

 Chapter 3 Supernatural Power?

    And with the shift of the hourss, several new prompts did indeed pop up in front of Qiu Tu.

    "Congrattions on sessfully oveing the recent crisis, you have gained Yan Chen''s initial trust," it read.

    "However, his naturally suspicious nature was notpletely convinced by the lies you fabricated¡ªafter all, there were some holes in your story that couldn''t withstand scrutiny."

    "Therefore, he ns to go to Qin Shuman''s residence tonight to question you in person."

    "You will have five hours to prepare."

    "Try to spin all your lies thoroughly, and prepare suitable evidence to vie for a chance at survival."

    "You wouldn''t want to know the consequences of failure."

    As all the prompts ended, the original countdown hourss slowly became a small, shaking treasure chest, and another countdown hourss emerged, jumping next to the chest, side by side with it.

    [4:59:50]

    Staring at the new countdown, Qiu Tu was silent for a few seconds, then slowly smiled.

    He had known that with Yan Chen''s suspicion, it wouldn''t be so easy to fool him.

    This was always a high-stakes game of walking on a tightrope, it wasn''t so simple to just get through it.

    But five hours, huh... that was a lot better than the two minutes he had earlier, at least it gave him time to do something else. Like...

    ...Thoroughly examining his Golden Finger.

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu''s gaze fell on the treasure chest icon that had just appeared, trying to click on it.

    The next second, the chest opened and disappeared, reced by a piece of sea-blue, semi-transparent stone.

    At the same time, two small prompts refreshed in front of Qiu Tu.

    "Survived the crisis, obtained treasure chest reward: Aurora Stone."

    "Aurora Stone: One of the important Cataclysm Materials. Just gather the other materials and you can make a variety of Cataclysm Potions, Cataclysm Props. For example: ''Cataclysmic Potion,'' ''Skull Talisman,'' ''Old Seal,'' ''Shining Prescriptive Octahedron,'' etc..."

    Staring at the two prompts that popped up before him, Qiu Tu fell silent for a few seconds, then slowly furrowed his brows.

    Cataclysm Materials?

    Cataclysmic Potion? Skull Talisman? Shining Prescriptive Octahedron?

    This world was not an ordinary world after all, but one where Supernatural Power exists? This was obviously somewhat unexpected for Qiu Tu.

    With this thought, he quickly went through his memories again¡ªbut he couldn''t find any information rted to Supernatural Powers.

    Neither the official news from the Sanctuary nor the rumors circting in the nning Area had ever mentioned the existence of Supernatural Powers in this world.

    In this world, the armed forces still relied mainly on firearms, with agriculture and industry as the core industries.

    Even the major Sanctuaries, it was said, were built on the site of military factories,rge farms, or industrial bases abandoned before the Cataclysm.

    "What''s going on here? Could it be... that the Supernatural Powers of this world are not widely known?"

    "Then... do the major Sanctuaries know about this?"

    With these thoughts, Qiu Tu quickly sorted through his memories again.

    This time, he quickly noticed some clues.

    The first clue came from something a colleague who had been transferred to the City Hall let slip.

    He said that while the City Hall was epting refugees from the Disaster Zone for free, they always had an odd request for the refugees: they were asked to mark out dense areas of animals and nts they encountered along the way from the Disaster Zone.

    The second clue came from a ck market merchant while Qiu Tu was scrounging around the market.

    The merchant whispered to him that The military, one of the three major forces in Xinjie City, had been secretly collecting certain materials in the nearby Disaster Zone, but no one knew what exactly they were collecting.

    The third clue was something Yan Chen let slip when he''d had a little too much to drink.

    Once, seemingly out of the blue, Yan Chen received an unexpectedmendation from above and held a small celebration banquet.

    At the banquet, after drinking a bit too much, he pped the shoulders of those next to him and said: The Cataclysm may have destroyed human civilization, but it also presented humanity with new opportunities.

    When someone asked what he meant, Yan Chen just smiled without answering, and the next day, he vehemently denied ever saying such a thing.

    Because these three things were very scattered and all the mid-to-high-level managersing down from the Sanctuary were so secretive, Qiu Tu didn''t think much of them before.

    But now, as he connected all the dots, Qiu Tu felt something was off.

    ''Could it be... that this world, because of the great Cataclysm, really gave birth to Supernatural Powers? And that all the Sanctuaries already possess these powers?''

    ''So, the reason they established various nning Areas might be to collect all sorts of Cataclysm Materials and precious resources, right?''

    The more he analyzed, the more Qiu Tu felt that his spection might be correct.

    Moreover, through this clue, he thought of even more possibilities.

    If the Sanctuary really had a way to make humans evolve and gain Supernatural Powers... then the Municipal Committee''s Commissioner Jiang, the big shot from the military, and Yan Chen... Could they all possess Supernatural Powers?

    After all, they were the key figures entrusted with important missions,ing to the nning Area, a dangerous region, to execute official duties...

    Thinking of this, Qiu Tu suddenly felt even more pressure.

    After all, no one knew what kind of Supernatural Powers existed in this world, what direction they took, or what kind of powerful, bizarre, or magical effects they had.

    And this could make his situation even more dangerous...

    After pondering in silence for a while, Qiu Tu took a deep breath and exhaled the heavy pressure.

    ''Forget it, it''s useless to think too much, better to continue researching the Golden Finger.''

    Thinking this, he stopped dwelling on those troubles and once again turned his gaze to the upper left corner of his field of vision.

    He had casually clicked on the Treasure Chest earlier, which had triggered a reward, giving Qiu Tu encouragement.

    So he stretched out his hand to continue randomly clicking on the prompts and icons on the upper left corner.

    After about five or six clicks, a prompt actually popped up in front of him.

    ''Golden Finger Name'': Crisis Intuition (unfixed, refreshable)

    ''Golden Finger Type'': Trigger typen/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    ''Golden Finger Effect'': When facing a major crisis, Crisis Intuition will be triggered, giving a corresponding Crisis Warning. If the crisis is sessfully ovee, a reward corresponding to the crisis can be obtained.

    ''Current Number of Refreshes'': 0

    Qiu Tu: ??!

    ''This is truly a pleasant surprise everywhere!''

    Qiu Tu swore that his random clicking was really just to not miss any possibility, but he didn''t hold much hope in his heart.

    As a result... he really did click on something incredible.

    What was this?

    The "true form" of his own Golden Finger?

    After analyzing the panel that appeared in front of him for a while, Qiu Tu broadly understood what it was.

    If he wasn''t wrong, he was not like the ordinary transmigrators.

    Most transmigrators only had one fixed Golden Finger, and the Golden Fingers they got were random. It might be useful, or it might not.

    But his... Golden Finger could be both fixed and "refreshed"!

    Hold on to a Golden Finger you like, get rid of one you don''t¡ªthis was simply the most powerful Golden Finger!

    The only pity was... the condition for refreshing was unknown.

    ''Looks like I need to continue my research.''

    Thinking like this, Qiu Tu once again started the "click click click" endeavor.

    But perhaps his luck had indeed run out, and this time, no matter how much he clicked, there was no response in front of him.

    ''It must be the wrong conditions for triggering it... right?''

    With that thought, Qiu Tu stopped researching the Golden Finger.

    Having been given a second chance at life, his current mindset was very good: After all, he had already been a dead man, so transmigrating to this new world and living an extra second meant he was already making a profit!

    So... use the Golden Finger if you have it, and if not, forge your own path!

    Without discontent or giving oneself pressure, fully enjoy this brand new life!

    Thinking so, Qiu Tu smiled as he straightened his clothes, then opened the door and left the bathroom, ready to meet the "ally" who was still sleeping on his bed...

    [4:52:03]....

 Chapter 4 Xiao Bai Hua

    When he entered the bedroom, Qin Shuman was still sleep, her seductive figure sprawled luxuriously across the bed.

    Shey on her side, her beautiful hair randomly strewn by the pillow like ck velvet.

    The soft, thin quilt wrapped around her jade-like body, faintly revealing the graceful lines of her back and a waist that one could seemingly grasp with a hand. With each breath, her lovely body contoured a bewitching and enchanting silhouette, igniting endless fantasies.

    She was an incredibly beautiful woman, the likes of which Qiu Tu had seldom seen even in his past life, and she exuded an even stranger sense of being out of ce in this world.

    Standing by the bed, he silently admired this creature for a while, looking at the origin of all these troubles, Qiu Tu tugged at his cor and, without any hesitation, pounced....

    Startled by Qiu Tu''s sudden weight, Qin Shuman, who was in deep sleep, was taken aback. While struggling, she whispered softly, "Wait, wait a moment."

    "Be good, I can''t wait..."

    .....

    .....

    Twenty minutester, Qiu Tu leaned against the headboard, holding the sultry Qin Shuman and contentedly lit a cigarette: The mistress of a big shot is indeed different, very smooth!

    This was not a loss.

    Even if someday he stumbled while walking the tightrope and was killed by Yan Chen, at least he had had the experience, so he wouldn''t be considered a fall guy.

    At that moment, perhaps sensing a change in Qiu Tu, Qin Shuman leaned on his shoulder and asked curiously, tilting her head, "You, you seem a little different."

    "Really?" Qiu Tu held her shoulder, took one final drag of his cigarette, crushed the butt on the table and said indifferently, "Maybe it''s because I''ve died once."

    "What? What?" Qin Shuman was a little stunned and turned her head in surprise to look at him upon hearing Qiu Tu''s words.

    Qiu Tu smiled and patted Qin Shuman''s pale, smooth back, "Just kidding."

    With a sigh of relief, Qin Shuman rolled her eyes at Qiu Tu, "You scared me to death."

    Qiu Tu said, "What I mean is, we might be about to die."

    "Yan Chen already knows about us."

    Qin Shuman: ??

    Perhaps because the news was too shocking, Qin Shuman, with a clutch of the thin quilt to her chest, sat up abruptly, looking at Qiu Tu in utter amazement.

    Qiu Tu appeared unconcerned, but the corners of his eyes were surreptitiously observing Qin Shuman, trying to determine whether her surprise was genuine or feigned.

    But whether because her acting was too good or some other reason, after observing her closely for a full two seconds, he couldn''t detect any w in Qin Shuman''s reaction.

    So he patted Qin Shuman''s slender arm, then, feigning confusion, he asked, "Didn''t you think we might get caught when you came out with me?"

    Qin Shuman was clearly bewildered, her face a picture of cluelessness, "No."

    "You just said you wanted to take me out to have fun."

    "I... I never thought that we would..."

    As she spoke, she looked down at their naked bodies and began to panic, hurriedly picking up their clothes to put them on.

    Qiu Tu raised his hand to stop her, "If I were you, I''d take a shower first to clean up the traces."

    "Otherwise, you might get stains on your clothes."

    Qin Shuman halted in her actions.

    Qiu Tu''s hand gently glided over her smooth back, "But don''t wet your hair, and don''t use any toilet articles so as not to leave a scent."

    "Try to make yourself as clean as possible."

    "Yan Chen has a very sensitive nose."

    Qin Shuman: .....

    After a brief two-second pause, Qin Shuman red fiercely at Qiu Tu and then, clutching her clothes, jumped out of bed and ran "pitter-patter" towards the bathroom.

    Watching Qin Shuman''s bewitching back, Qiu Tu touched his chin with a puzzled expression on his face.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Something was off... still off...

    Perhaps owing to his time in the past life, swindling day in and day out in a fraud syndicate, since crossing into this world, Qiu Tu couldn''t help but doubt everything.

    He felt that Qin Shuman''s behavior seemed too naive andcking in cunning.

    If he were to make aparison, the nning Area of this world was like the Mexico and Laos from his previous life....

    Chaos, bloody,wless.

    How could such a ce give rise to someone as innocuous and clueless¡ªyet beautiful¡ªas a white lotus?

    Could this be too much of a fantasy?

    His predecessor, having grown up in the nning Area, had not seen a beautiful girl and was blinded by "love (lust)" failing to notice anything odd. But he, from his previous life, had seen too many beautifuldies.

    The shrewd, the foolish, the innocent¡ªall would be forced into degeneration, into numbness, in that environment... So Qiu Tu really did not believe that Qin Shuman could be such a pure flower.

    ''A shrewd woman who is good at disguising herself?''

    Qiu Tu tried toe to a verdict about Qin Shuman. But then, he stumbled upon a new question...

    Why would such a clever woman take such a big risk to have an affair with him?

    Himself, or rather, his predecessor, what did he have that was worth her making such arge investment?

    If Qiu Tu had just now, in order to save their lives, fabricated some half-true, half-false intelligence about Qin Shuman to deceive Yan Chen. Then now, he really started to doubt Qin Shuman....

    [4:30:13]

    ...

    Ten minutester, Qin Shuman, neatly dressed, walked out of the bathroom.

    As she stepped out of the door, she took a deep breath, raised her head, and was about to call Qiu Tu out for a chat.

    Just then, a pistol was slowly pressed against her temple.

    The metal barrel felt ice-cold.

    In that moment, Qin Shumanpletely stiffened, not daring to move an inch.

    They were at a standoff for a good ten seconds; seeing that the other party did not proceed with further action, Qin Shuman stiffly turned her head bit by bit, following the direction of the pistol.

    Then she saw Qiu Tu leaning against the door, with the gun pressed against her temple, while his gaze was deep, watching her intently.

    And as Qin Shuman looked over, Qiu Tu slowly spoke up,

    "Miss Shuman, who do you belong to?"

    "The Municipal Committee? Commissioner An? Commissioner Wang?"

    "Or... the military?"

    Seeing that it was Qiu Tu holding the gun at her, disbelief etched on her face, Qin Shuman said, "What are you going crazy about?"

    "What Municipal Committee, what military!"

    "I don''t know what you''re talking about!"

    Qiu Tu still did not see any ws, so he retracted the gun without a change in expression, pretending to be satisfied, he nodded, "Good. You''ll need to keep up this act when we go back."

    He said, "I told Yan Chen that you might be a spy nted by ''The Military'' at his side."

    Seeing Qin Shuman''s surprised attempt to argue, Qiu Tu raised his hand to stop her, "This is the only way to ensure we stay alive."

    "Yan Chen is inherently distrustful. Unless hepletely figures out your identity and fully assesses the gains and losses, he won''ty a finger on you."

    "And if you want to live, we''ll have to work closely together; there''s no choice."

    "Scenarios like the one just now, you might face quite often in theing days."

    "You must remain calm and not reveal any ws."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, fear was apparent on Qin Shuman''s face.

    Shaking, she said, "I''m scared. I dare not. I''m afraid he''ll find out."

    "If he finds out, he won''t spare us."

    "Is that right..." Qiu Tu thought for a while, then reached behind to pull out a police dagger, and handed it to Qin Shuman.

 Chapter 5 This is the Chaotic Era

    Looking at the dagger in her hand, Qin Shuman looked up at Qiu Tu and asked with a trembling voice, "You... you want me to use this to kill him if things are exposed?"

    Qiu Tu shook his head, he reached out and patted Qin Shuman''s heavy chest, saying,

    "If you find out that things have been exposed, pull it out and stab yourself here, stir it around, you''ll feel nothing in two seconds."

    "Trust me, being dead is better than living a life worse than death."

    Qin Shuman: ....

    Her face shifted through several expressions before her eyes reddened, and she heavily pounded Qiu Tu a few times with her hand, "You are such an asshole!"

    Her voice wasced with sobs, "You tricked me into bed, and now you want me to do something so dangerous."

    "I shouldn''t havee out today, I just shouldn''t have."

    Qiu Tu stared intently at the emotions on her face, seeing that she seemed truly frightened and regretful, so he showed her his tender side. He gently embraced the girl before him, patting her back, trying tofort her.

    But behind her back, where the girl could not see, his gaze turned notably deep, filled with a darkness so thick it could not be dispersed....

    ....

    Women are indeed made of water.

    Qin Shuman''s tears were abundant, as was the water in other areas.

    Qiu Tu spent over ten minutes pacifying her before Qin Shuman gradually stopped crying.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    After soothing Qin Shuman, Qiu Tu pulled her over to sit on the battered sofa, ran through their story again, and briefly exined the next steps he needed her to cooperate with. He made sure she memorized it well before pulling her out of his home.

    At that moment, there were 4 hours and 10 minutes left until the life and death trial of that night....

    ...

    Stepping out of his home, Qiu Tu sniffed the decaying smell of the corridor and looked up at the sky.

    The sky of this world was overcast, as if perpetually shrouded by a thick miasma, heavy and dark.

    ording to the memory of his predecessor, the sky had been like this ever since the Cataclysm, with sunshine bing rare and precious.

    The Cataclysm that urred decades ago had destroyed the world''s Order, demolished human civilization, andpletely changed this world....

    "What... are you thinking about?" Seeing Qiu Tu in a daze, Qin Shuman, standing beside him, cautiously nced over at him.

    Perhaps because she had recently had a gun pointed at her, Qin Shuman showed a bit of fear towards Qiu Tu.

    Qiu Tu came back to his senses, gave her a nce, and shook his head, "It''s nothing."

    After speaking, Qiu Tu lightly reminded her, "Don''t show that kind of expression. You''ll just get the both of us killed."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Qin Shuman gave him a pitiful look, took a few deep breaths, and adjusted her demeanor.

    Then she pped her face, nodded at Qiu Tu, and carefully led the way down, holding onto the rust-streaked stair railing.

    Qiu Tu followed behind discreetly, keeping a moderate distance from Qin Shuman, close enough to ensure her safety without appearing too intimate.

    Qiu Tu''s home was located in a tube-shaped building on Old Alley Street. Even though this was already considered a nicer area in Xinjie City, it was still dpidated:

    Stairs covered with cracks and gaps, corridors littered with discarded books, broken ss, and dirty stic bags. It looked like a slum.

    ¡ªThe nning Area was built upon the ruins of a city.

    Descending the worn staircase, Qiu Tu keenly sensed several covert gazes sweeping over them.

    ''It must be Yan Chen''s people.''

    As soon as he had reported the matter to Yan Chen, Qiu Tu guessed that given Yan Chen''s character, he would surely send people to monitor and observe.

    Moreover, he had guessed that, given the sensitivity of the matter, Yan Chen would definitely have to call trustworthy confidants from his direct department¡ªthat''s why he dared to steal a moment from his busy schedule to manipte Qin Shuman.

    Sure enough, as Qiu Tu was thinking this, an undercover detective stepped out from the shadows.

    He had a stern face, unsmiling and seemingly difficult to get along with.

    After taking big strides to Qiu Tu, he first gave Qiu Tu a prating look, then took out a ck ID and shed it, saying, "Agent Qiu, I am Fang Ming, a First Level Detective from the Special Service Department."

    "By the Bureau Chief''s orders, I am here to escort you and Miss Shuman to a vi in the city for a temporary rest. The Bureau Chief will speak with you tonight."

    ''Special Service Department?'' Qiu Tu looked deeply at the detective in front of him and felt a bit sentimental, "Yan Chen really holds me in high regard."

    As one of the three major power institutions in Xinjie City, the structure of the Investigation Bureau wasplex and strict. In addition to the directly subordinate eleven departments, there were also seven branches and seventy-nine Public Security Offices under its jurisdiction.

    Among these dozens of departments, the one with the least power was the grassroots Public Security Office, while the ones with the most power were the Political Department and the Special Service Department among the eleven directly subordinate departments.

    As the two strongest departments of the Investigation Bureau:

    The Political Department was in charge of intelligence, espionage, counter-espionage, internal supervision, and various other affairs, holding a high and heavy authority.

    The Special Service Department, on the other hand, was responsible for countering anti-government armed forces, preventing riots, armed patrols during specific periods and in key areas, making it the Bureau''s most powerful force.

    Such a division ofbor not only gave the Special Service Department an establishment independent of the Investigation Bureau but also allowed it to possess luxuriously equipped forces that could rival the military in power.

    This was an armed force that belonged solely to Yan Chen''s lineage, and it was also the key trump card that allowed him to secure his position as one of the Three Giants of Xinjie City.

    Therefore, even as Yan Chen''s ckey," Qiu Tu could only obediently follow the orders of the Special Service Department.

    ''It looks like... Yan Chen is nning to lock down my and Qin Shuman''s movements, and then proceed to direct interrogation,'' Qiu Tu thought.

    ''Luckily, I have arranged a safety.''

    With this in mind, Qiu Tu, although expressionless, turned to Qin Shuman at his side and said, "Miss Shuman, you have heard the Bureau Chief''s order. From now on, your safety will be in the hands of Agent Fang."

    Upon hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Qin Shuman blinked her eyes.

    She cooperated by showing a look of disappointment, nced at Fang Ming with her beautiful, peach-like eyes, and then turned to Qiu Tu with a grievance, saying, "But... I was hoping you would apany me to Street Crossing for a stroll."

    After she spoke, she looked pitifully at Fang Ming, "Agent Fang..."

    As a confidant of Yan Chen, Fang Ming certainly recognized Qin Shuman and also knew about the rtionship between Qin Shuman and Yan Chen.

    Since Qiu Tu and Qin Shuman''s affair had not been exposed, and Yan Chen would not tell a subordinate about being cuckolded, this immediately led Fang Ming to a misjudgment.

    He hesitated for a moment, nced at the time, and, after a moment of thought, said to Qin Shuman, "Miss Shuman, the Bureau Chief will return to the vi in the city center before 18:00. I can only get you one and a half hours of time."

    Qin Shuman obediently nodded her head and agreed.

    Qiu Tu stood by with his hands in his pockets, watching coldly, like an outsider throughout the process.

    After reaching a consensus, Qin Shuman''s security was promptly handed over.

    The detective from the Special Service Department took over Qiu Tu''s position and began guarding next to Qin Shuman, while Qiu Tu and Fang Ming patrolled the periphery, with the group moving grandiosely towards the street corner.

    Perhaps because such a group of neatly dressed people were too conspicuous on the street, the bottom-level citizens hiding in the dpidated buildings did not dare to move, their gazes filled with fear, numbness, or dullness as they watched them walk past on the sewage-filled road, afraid to provoke these clearly prominent individuals.

    For most ordinary people in the city, whether it was Qiu Tu or Fang Ming, they were big shots who could easily decide their fate.

    What they didn''t know was that in front of the real big shots, Qiu Tu and Fang Ming were just like ants...

    This was the cruel reality, a cannibalistic world born from the Cataclysm...

    The detectives on the scene were already immune to these various gazes, so their expressions remained unchanged as they quietly escorted Qin Shuman through rows of low, run-down buildings to an old-fashioned sedan.

    This was a car specially prepared by Yan Chen for Qin Shuman.

    Seeing the old-fashioned sedan, Fang Ming quickly walked over, then reached out to open the rear car door, and offered a standard salute to Qin Shuman, "Miss Shuman, please."

    Qin Shuman turned her head to look back at Qiu Tu, and without receiving any response from him, she bit her lip with a look of resentful longing and lifted her skirt to walk over.

    Just as she reached the car door and bent her head to get in, suddenly from above her came a man''s teasing voice, "Heh heh, how embarrassing~"

    Upon hearing that voice, everyone looked around in confusion only to see a blur before them, and then with a "bang!" a body mmed heavily onto the roof of the old-fashioned sedan!

    In that instant, the roof of the car was smashed into a deep dent, and the broken body, with blood sttering and limbs flying, created chaos!

    The piercing screams and the wildughter echoed throughout Old Alley Street...

    Such a major incident happening so suddenly left everyone with their heads buzzing.

    Only Qiu Tu maintained hisposure at this moment, quickly stepping forward to protect the screaming Qin Shuman as they ran to the side.

    At the same time, the detectives from the Special Service Department also came to their senses. Like arrows shot out, they surrounded the two, raising their guns without hesitation and opening fire towards the rooftop...

 Chapter 6 Extremist Organization

    "Bang Bang!" "Bang Bang!" "Bang Bang!"

    Bullets flew chaotically, kicking up dust from the decrepit rooftops.

    The street was filled with the piercing screams of passersby and the sound of footsteps running in all directions.

    Qiu Tu shielded a trembling Qin Shuman as they ran to a fragmented low wall by the roadside, pressing her head down to hide her while cautiously peering out to assess the situation.

    The enemies were few, only seven or eight in number.

    They wore uniform ck knit bva hats and patched-up tactical vests, with arge red cross spray-painted on their chests.

    That conspicuous attire allowed Qiu Tu to recognize them at a nce, ''Is this... the Innovative United Front?''

    The Innovative United Front, also known as the United Front, was an extremist anti-government armed force opposing the rule of the Eight Great Shelters of this world.

    Their objective was to liberate the nning Area from the rule of the Eight Great Shelters, employing violent activities such as assassinations, kidnappings, and attacks as their main methods.

    Qiu Tu had heard Yan Chen mention this organization before. At that time, Yan Chen was so angry that his eyes nearly split apart as he cursed the organization as vermin!

    He hadn''t expected to actually see them today.

    If Qiu Tu could recognize the members of this organization, then Fang Ming and the other Special Service detectives certainly could as well.

    Therefore, the detectives'' shouts immediately filled the area,n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "It''s the vermin from the United Front!"

    "Take cover!"

    "On the rooftop, direction 30-70 degrees, 16 people, all armed!"

    At this moment, Fang Ming, the highest-ranking detective on site, fully took over themand of the scene; while frantically gesturing to his subordinates to disperse, he also shouted towards Qiu Tu''s side, "Ensure Miss Shuman''s safety, wait for us to eliminate the enemy!"

    Hearing Fang Ming''s arrangement, Qiu Tu nced at Qin Shuman out of the corner of his eye.

    At the moment, Qin Shuman was still in a state of shock; cowering beneath him, she dared not move. Without any movement or unusual signs, but Qiu Tu felt something was amiss.

    Old Alley Street was just the most unremarkable out of Xinjie City''s seventy-nine streets. There were no military facilities, no government agencies, no United Banks¡ªnothing. Why would it be attacked by the United Front without any reason?

    Were they drawn here by those detectives from the Special Service Department?

    But... wasn''t that too coincidental?

    Qiu Tu couldn''t understand it and decided to observe a little longer.

    He peered cautiously to take in the scene.

    With one look, he was a bit startled.

    The Special Service Department was the most powerful force of the Investigation Bureau, and the United Front was known as a ferocious extremist organization. Qiu Tu originally thought there would be exchanges of fire and fiercebat between the two sides.

    But... the reality was that over thirty people from both sides, armed with over thirty guns, opened fire with a "bang, bang, bang." Though it was noisy, at best only some were injured, yet not a single person dropped out of the fight.

    Witnessing this scene of novices pecking at each other, Qiu Tu was shocked.

    What was this? An act?

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu quickly rifled through his memory, trying to understand what was really happening.

    Soon, he found the reason.

    It turned out that in a world after a Cataclysm, resources were scarce. Gunpowder and firearms were rare resources. Hence the members of the extremist organizations had little training and were mediocre in skills.

    While the Special Service Department was indeed a powerful branch of the Investigation Bureau with many perks and bullet quotas, the fact was that Xinjie City had only been established for less than a year, and the lower-ranking detectives were mostly newly recruited novices without much training, which also made their skills quite average.

    This resulted in incapacitating the other party effectively when both sides engaged inbat.

    This unexpected discovery shocked Qiu Tu, but it also gave him a bold idea...

    Perhaps this was a good opportunity to break the deadlock?

    Keep in mind, although those two groups were ipetent, Qiu Tu was not!

    In his past life, to protect himself, he had yed with guns every day, practiced shooting, and even had the opportunity to receive semi-militarized training. With his not-so-poor innate talent, his level was way above these rookies.

    He had even participated in a few small-scale squabbles and shootouts between gangs, acquiring some actualbat experience.

    If he could showcase his shooting skills in this gunfight, then operate a bit... perhaps tonight''s difficulty could be easily ovee, and he might not even need to head to Street Crossing....

    Slowly outlining a blueprint in his mind, before long, a n gradually took shape in Qiu Tu''s head.

    A momentter, Qiu Tu''s gaze became resolute.

    He took another look at the two parties in the midst of battle, then took out his old-modelmunicator from his pocket, pressed a few buttons, and sent a message.

    After the message was sessfully sent, Qiu Tu reached toward his lower back and took the handgun that had once been pointed at Qin Shuman.

    This was the standard equipment given to the regr detectives by the Investigation Bureau, used to ensure absolute suppression over civilians in the nning Area....

    He deftly ejected the magazine and checked the number of bullets: 12.

    Then he recalled the memories of the previous owner using this handgun.

    It had an effective range of about 40 meters, but since the guns of ordinary detectives were all old goods discarded by the Sanctuary, their precision might be somewhat off.

    However, for the current distance of just over twenty meters between the two sides, it was already enough.

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu adeptly reinserted the magazine, rack the slide, and with high alert posture, observed the battlefield, patiently waiting for an opportunity.

    It was only a few seconds before Qiu Tu''s peripheral vision caught an enemy expose arge part of their body from cover on the opposite rooftop.

    In that instance, he didn''t hesitate for a second, suddenly leaning out and adopting the Weaver stance, aligning the sight in a straight line, and aimed at the enemy with a "Pop pop pop!" firing three shots!

    Gun smoke lingered, bullet shells flew, and three bullets like thunder tore through the air, striking towards that enemy with lightning speed.

    The timing Qiu Tu chose was so impable that the enemy had no chance to dodge!

    Thus, with a "crack!" "bang bang!" three sounds, a bullet whizzed past his body, and two bullets urately prated his left abdomen and left leg!

    In that instant, the enemy, as if struck by a hammer, staggered uncontrobly! The next second, two blooms of blood blossomed, quickly staining his clothes red!

    "Thud!" He crumpled onto the rooftop, moaning and out of the fight!

    This was the first casualty since the start of the battle, so the entire battlefield seemed to freeze for a second at that moment.

    The detectives from the Special Service Department reflexively shifted their gaze towards Qiu Tu, as if seeing him for the first time.

    Meanwhile, the thugs from the extremist organization were taken aback, scrambling for cover and counterattacking in Qiu Tu''s direction.

    But by that time, Qiu Tu had already withdrawn back to cover well in advance, stray bullets whizzing past, hitting the wall he was hiding behind with a "bang bang," but they couldn''t harm him in the slightest.

    And so, under the sudden surprise of Qiu Tu''s intervention, the battlefield entered a brief period of calm. Neither side dared to shoot carelessly like before, bing much more cautious instead.

    But... novices are novices, and even with extreme caution, they could still easily reveal ws.

    Thus, it wasn''t long before Qiu Tu spotted another enemy leaving their cover, and he decisively moved his gun muzzle, firing three shots once again!

    "Pop pop pop!" "Bang!"

    This time, luck was average, and only one of the three bullets hit the enemy''s right chest, but it still seeded in eliminating the opponent''sbat capability.

    But that was enough!

    If wounding an enemy badly the first time could be coincidence, doing so again crisply and efficiently the second time was hardly likely to be another coincidence.

    So...

    "Retreat! Retreat!"

    The opponents, who were just a bunch of disorganized soldiers, now saw that Qiu Tu was a "sharpshooter" and lost their will to fight, quickly carrying their wounded away in a frantic retreat.

    The low nted rooftops of the abandoned city provided perfect cover for retreating, so the detectives from the Special Service Department bluffed with a few more shots before letting the enemy flee without pursuing.

    And as the anti-government army retreated, the detectives from the Special Service Department finally began to emerge from their various covers slowly.

    They looked at Qiu Tu withplicated expressions, opening their mouths several times as if to speak, but not knowing quite what to say...

 Chapter 7 Primogeniture Power

    As the Investigation Bureau''s ace department, the Special Service Department enjoyed abundant training resources, handsome remuneration, and always looked down on other departments from their lofty perch.

    Faced with ordinary agents like Qiu Tu, the detectives of the Special Service Department felt an overwhelming sense of superiority, believing that their abilities far exceeded Qiu Tu''s. That''s why they told Qiu Tu to hide at the first sign of an ambush, waiting for them to eliminate the enemy.

    However... the situation didn''t unfold as they had envisioned. Their routine training was of little use in realbat. After dozens of shots, only two or three mobsters were hit.

    Instead, it was this ordinary agent they had underestimated who stepped up in such a time, effortlessly neutralizing two enemies with two shots and repelling the enemy attack all by himself.

    This caused them to question their life choices, and their gazes at Qiu Tu began to change...

    Qiu Tu keenly sensed the shift in the atmosphere, but he didn''t allow himself to becent. Instead, he coolly engaged the safety on his weapon, tucked the gun back into his waistband, and warned, "Let''s not drop our guard, guys. Be careful of a second enemy attack."

    After speaking, he turned to Fang Ming, "Agent Fang, should you perhaps report to the Bureau Chief about the situation here? See if the Political Department or Security Section needs to get involved."

    Upon Qiu Tu''s reminder, the other detectives remembered that the danger wasn''t fully resolved yet. They quickly began to divide the tasks, some standing guard around, others moving to Qin Shuman''s side for protection, and some started to climb onto rooftops to search for clues.

    As for Fang Ming, he readily pulled out amunicator and began to report to Yan Chen.

    While the Special Service detectives were busy, a mor of footsteps and shouts suddenly erupted at the entrance of the street.

    "Brother Tu! Brother Tu!" "Hurry! Hurry!" "Here! Here!"

    About a dozen uniformed detectives, though somewhat disheveled, grasped worn police batons and rushed in haste from the corner of the western street.

    Leading them was an exceptionally burly detective.

    Standing at one meter ny, with a physique like a bear and a back like a tiger, his arms were as thick as the average person''s thighs, which unavoidably made one''s heart tighten at the sight of him.

    Unlike the other detectives who carried police batons, he wielded a sledgehammer the size of a fist, his eyes fierce and murderous. If not for the tight-fitting detective uniform that seemed ready to burst, he resembled more a blood-stained mobster than an officer.

    "Special Service handling a case! Which department are you from!"

    Seeing the group of unfamiliar, aggressively approaching detectives, the Special Service detectives standing guard to the west stepped forward vigntly and sharply halted them.

    Perhaps intimidated by the neers'' numbers, his hand even moved toward the pistol at his back, looking as though he would draw it at the slightest provocation.

    Meanwhile, Qiu Tu, hearing the noise, also looked over and instantly focused on the muscr leading detective.

    "Ah-Tai!"

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s call, the strong detective became even more agitated, waving his small sledgehammer and preparing to rush forward.

    Seeing this, Qiu Tu hurriedly addressed the detaining Special Service detective, "They are temporary investigators from Old Alley Street; I called them to assist with the case. Let them through."

    Upon hearing Qiu Tu''s words, the Special Service detective hesitated for a moment but ultimately nodded and stepped aside to let them pass.

    With the Special Service no longer obstructing them, the group of temporary detectives hastily came through and surrounded Qiu Tu.

    After stealthily excluding the views of the others, the burly Ah-Tai closed in on Qiu Tu and said in a low voice, "Brother Tu, as soon as we received your message, we rushed over. Did something happen?"

    Then, with fierce eyes, he nced at the detective who had initially stopped him and quietly asked, "Did that guy give you trouble?"

    "Don''t worry. Just say the word, and I''ll squat by his door tonight, catch him off guard, and give his skull a couple of whacks with the hammer, guaranteeing he won''t see tomorrow''s sun!"

    Hearing Ah-Tai''s menacing words, Qiu Tu''s gaze fell upon him as he recalled the identity of the group before him...

    Although his predecessor had been Yan Chen''sckey, his position within the Investigation Bureau wasn''t high, merely a Second-ss Investigator, and his role was in the weak Administrative Office. So, upon leaving Yan Chen, he had virtually no influence in the entire Investigation Bureau.

    Fortunately, the predecessor was a loyal person. After ingratiating himself with Yan Chen, he did not forget the brothers who had struggled with him at the bottom.

    Therefore, after being promoted to a Second-ss Investigator and gaining a bit of power, the predecessor, using Yan Chen''s name, secretly arranged jobs for his dozen or so brothers.

    Although they were only temporary investigators at the grassroots Public Security Office, without ranks or guns, they at least had a regr ration and hope for a permanent position.

    These brothers did not let down Qiu Tu''s loyalty, either. After bing temporary investigators, they still looked up to Qiu Tu as the leading figure. They were always ready to take action. Many of the things Qiu Tu couldn''t do personally were handled by them.

    One could say they were in the same boat with Qiu Tu, sharing both honor and loss. They were Qiu Tu''s true direct force in this world.

    That''s why, on receiving a single message from Qiu Tu, they hurried over, armed with police gear.

    With this in mind, Qiu Tu didn''t treat them as outsiders; instead, he naturally spoke in a low voice, "Did you bring the things I asked you to?"

    Upon hearing Qiu Tu''s question, Ah-Tai nodded, then turned to look at a detective with a hooked nose beside him, "Eagle."

    The detective with the hooked nose reached into his coat and pulled out a weighty little cloth bag, handing it to Qiu Tu. As it passed from hand to hand, the "ng" of dully shing metal came from inside the small cloth bag.

    Qiu Tu took it, opened it to check, and confirmed it was what he wanted before tucking it into his jacket.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    Then, he pped Ah-Tai on the shoulder and whispered a few instructions. Ah-Tai frowned as he nodded and listened.

    Their exchange appeared lengthy, but in reality, itsted only a few brief seconds. So, by the time the detectives from the Special Service Department looked their way, Qiu Tu had already taken the initiative to lead the temporary investigators in search of Fang Ming.

    No one knew the extent of the arrangements Qiu Tu had secretly made in those short seconds.

    When they found Fang Ming, he had just ended amunication.

    Seeing Qiu Tu approach, he took the initiative to say, "Agent Qiu, you''ve arrived at the right time, I was about toe find you."

    He said, "I''ve just finished talking with the Bureau Chief. Learning about the attack from the Lianzhen mobsters, he''s extremely furious. He demands that the Political Department intervene and coborate with the Special Service Department to jointly investigate and cleanse Xinjie City of the Lianzhen mobsters."

    "Due to the current chaos in the city, he has ordered you and Miss Shuman to return to your city vi as soon as possible and not to linger outside."

    Hearing Fang Ming''s words, Qiu Tu covertly nced at the countdown timer at the top left corner of his vision.

    [3:28:12]

    The countdown hadn''t changed, indicating that Yan Chen likely didn''t n to interrogate him and Qin Shuman ahead of time, but simply wanted to prevent them from going to Street Crossing.

    If this were Qiu Tu before the shootout, such a change might have been troubling. But now...

    "Alright. No problem," Qiu Tu responded nonchntly.

    He even remembered his own n. With Ah-Tai behind him, he said to Fang Ming, "Agent Fang, this is my cousin Ah-Tai. He''s currently a temporary investigator on Old Alley Street."

    "Hearing about the shootout here, he immediately brought his colleagues to assist."

    "What do you suggest we do...?"

 Chapter 8 Greed

    Earlier when Qiu Tu came by, Fang Ming had already noticed Ah-Tai.

    After all, in a world where the average height following the Catastrophe was around five-foot-three to five-foot-seven, the six-foot-three Ah-Tai stood out like a crane among chickens. Plus, with his broad shoulders and muscr build, it was hard not to draw attention.

    So, hearing what Qiu Tu said, Fang Ming sized up Ah-Tai and showed a look of interest on his face.

    But he didn''t say much, simply nodding his head, "Okay. Then leave three or four to help maintain order here."

    Hearing Fang Ming''s words, Qiu Tu looked at the group of temporary detectives and after a moment of thought, called out, "Ah-Kun, Monkey, Ah-Shui. You three stay with Ah-Tai to maintain order here."

    "The rest of you head back to the Public Security Office."

    After speaking, Qiu Tu made a covert gesture towards the man with the aquiline nose standing next to Ah-Tai.

    The man with the aquiline nose nodded subtly without a word, then led the other temporary detectives away from the scene¡­

    ......

    After arranging for Ah-Tai, Qiu Tu and Fang Ming escorted Qin Shuman back to her townhouse in the city center, while the other Special Service detectives remained on standby at the scene, maintaining order and waiting for the Political Department personnel to arrive.

    On the way back, Qin Shuman sat in the back seat of the old sedan, Fang Ming in the passenger seat, while Qiu Tu drove.

    The predecessor managed to suck up to Yan Chen and be a detective chiefly because of the rare driving skills in the nning Area. The modern-day Qiu Tu, havinge from the contemporary era, naturally had no issues with his driving skills either.

    So, watching Qiu Tu drive steadily, Fang Ming asked curiously,

    "Agent Qiu, your driving is quite good. Do all from the Administrative Office have this skill?"n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Hearing Fang Ming''s question, Qiu Tu nced at the rearview mirror and responded with a smile, "The Administrative Office is there to provide logistical support for various departments after all. We need to have a mix of random talents."

    "Unlike you guys in the Special Service Department, with good treatment, better equipment, and greater power, you just need to train peacefully without worrying about anything else."

    As he spoke, he feigned a sense of envy, "All departments envy you guys and would want to transfer there."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Fang Ming just grunted in assent, not bothering with pleasantries. Although Qiu Tu was somewhat ttering, what he said was true. As one of the two ace departments of the Investigation Bureau, the Special Service Department indeed was the division all detectives wished to join.

    However, the entry threshold for the Special Service Department was high; even in its early stages, it required physical capabilities far above the ordinary people of this post-Cataclysm world. Ordinary detectives simply could not join.

    With that thought, the image of Ah-Tai''s muscr and robust stature suddenly popped into Fang Ming''s mind, and he was involuntarily intrigued. Then, probing, he asked, "Agent Qiu, that Ah-Tai¡­"

    Seeing Fang Ming taking the bait, a subtle smile crept across Qiu Tu''s lips. However, he remainedposed and, sticking to the n, began to introduce Ah-Tai with a mix of truth and fiction,

    "Oh, Ah-Tai. He''s a distant cousin of mine. He''s been daring andbative since childhood, with a hearty temperament, but¡­ well, he''s not the brightest bulb in the chandelier."

    "Back when Xinjie City was still the Disaster Zone, he had joined a gang and got his hands bloodied."

    "Later, when Xinjie City was about to be established, the military came in early to clear out the underground forces, their gang was eradicated, and he was marked for resisting the military, and he had to hide out even after Xinjie City was established."

    "Soter, when the Bureau Chief was recruiting detectives to establish the Investigation Bureau, he didn''t participate in the selection."

    "I received help from his parents when I was young. After I became a detective, he came to rely on me, and I couldn''t very well refuse, so I pulled some strings to clean his record and introduced him as a temporary detective on Old Alley Street."

    "Though he''s a bit rough and simple-minded, he knows to repay a debt of gratitude. That''s why when he heard I was attacked today, he didn''t hesitate to bring his colleagues over to help."

    In just a few sentences, Qiu Tu hadid out Ah-Tai''s "history" and character, giving Fang Ming a general impression.

    Yet he didn''t say anything more, as if he was just asking casually.

    As Qiu Tu drove, he kept stealing nces at Fang Ming from the corner of his eye. Seeing Fang Ming deep in thought, Qiu Tu felt assured that things were likely settled.

    He had steered the topic towards the Special Service Department precisely to tempt Fang Ming.

    Being a First Level Detective in the Special Service Department, Fang Ming had the power to rmend regr detectives into the Special Service Department.

    These rmended detectives naturally carried thebel of their sponsors and became the direct subordinates of thetter.

    Therefore, in a situation where the Special Service Department is not yet fully staffed, every team leader will do their utmost to scout for talent and im it for their own use.

    That''s why Qiu Tu deliberately showed off Ah-Tai in front of Fang Ming and casually steered the conversation towards "joining the Special Service Department". He was tempting Fang Ming...

    Once Fang Ming was interested and rmended Ah-Tai to the Special Service Department, it would be as though Qiu Tu had nted a spy in the strongest department of the Investigation Bureau, which would make many operations much more convenient.

    His past life experiences in a fraud syndicate taught Qiu Tu that "greed" is humanity''s greatest original sin, and that wisely exploiting "the enemy''s greed" is the most powerful weapon in the world...

    This was the case with Fang Ming, as it was with Yan Chen tonight...

    ....

    Xinjie City was designated a nning Area just a short year ago. Therefore, many parts were still in disarray and ruin. However... this did not include the districts of the privileged.

    As the military hade in advance to clean up the underground forces in Xinjie City, the future mid to high-level managers had already sent people to construct their residences in Xinjie City early on.

    Thus, when Qiu Tu drove to Yan Chen''s townhouse in the city, a vast garden greeted his eyes.

    In the garden, a plethora of precious flowers were meticulously nted: mutated Dendrobium nobile, mutated Allium, and mutated Chrysanthemum all vied for bloom, their fragrance overwhelming, like a vibrant oil painting.

    Along the winding paths, the shrubs were trimmed to perfection. Thest rays of the setting sun cast a dreamy glow upon the path, stunningly beautiful.

    Through the rearview mirror, Qiu Tu nced back at the dpidated, old residential buildings and the potholed streets behind him, as if he was looking at two different worlds...

    Driving through the garden gate and under the scrutinous gaze of the Security Section agents at the gatehouse, Qiu Tu drove up to the vi''s entrance.

    Upon arriving, Fang Ming got out of the car first to open the door for Qin Shuman. However, Qin Shuman hesitated, seemingly reluctant to disembark.

    Seeing her like this, Qiu Tu fell silent for a moment before persuasively hinting, "Miss Shuman, rest assured. The Bureau Chief won''t be angry just because you sneaked out to have fun."

    "I''ll exin it to him properly tonight."

    Upon hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Qin Shuman paused for a moment before sighing in relief as if she had understood, and then gingerly stepped out of the car, holding her dress and bowing her head.

    As he watched Qin Shuman and Fang Ming step by step enter the dark vi, Qiu Tu''s gaze became profound, his eyes unflustered...

    Then he drove to the backyard, handed over the car to a servant, and also stepped into the vi...

    [2:53:51]

    ...

    Three hours flew by in the blink of an eye.

    At 18:15 in the evening, the door to the guest room where Qiu Tu was temporarily resting was gently knocked.

    When Qiu Tu opened the door, standing outside was a maid in her thirties, barrel-waisted and dark-skinned.

    At the sight of the maid, Qiu Tu''s eyes flickered. She was Qin Shuman''s personal maid and the key witness who had testified to Qiu Tu''s affair with Qin Shuman: Cui Lan.

    "Agent Qiu, the Bureau Chief requests your presence," Cui Lan said.

    Upon hearing Cui Lan''s words, Qiu Tu''s face remained as calm as ake''s surface.

    He nced at the countdown timer in the upper left corner of his vision.

    [00:18]

    There''s no denying it, the Golden Finger is indeed precise. When it says five hours, it means exactly five hours.

    Thinking thus, he took a deep, silent breath, then straightened the cor of his uniform slightly before speaking in a low voice, "Thank you."

    Cui Lan nodded respectfully but couldn''t suppress the schadenfreude smile curling at the corners of her mouth as she turned away to lead the way.

    Qiu Tu sharply captured the change in her expression but said nothing. His gaze, however, grew ever more intense...

 Chapter 9 Showtime!

    Upon leaving the room, Qiu Tu followed behind Cui Lan.

    He walked at a measured pace, his demeanorposed. The flickering lights in the hallway cast his tall shadow, like a painting in motion.

    Soon, the two arrived at the entrance of an elegantly decorated study.

    At the entrance of the study waited a middle-aged man with rimmed sses and a schrly demeanor. He was dressed in a well-tailored Zhongshan suit, with a duplicitous smile hanging on his face, resembling a sly fox.

    Qiu Tu recognized him, he was the director of the Political Department at the Xinjie City Investigation Bureau, Yan Chen''s right-hand man, his chief strategist: Jia Shu.

    Despite his genteel and courteous appearance, only those who had truly dealt with him knew how cruel and bloody his methods could be.

    The Political Department''s reputation for instilling fear throughout Xinjie City wasrgely due to him.

    Each midnight, the blurred corpses carried out from the Political Department could be attributed to this sly fox more often than not.

    He was like a shadow cast by the Investigation Bureau''s vast reach, silently prating every corner of the city, unfathomable and omnipresent...

    Thus, upon seeing Jia Shu, Qiu Tu immediately became alert. He quickly stopped and saluted Jia Shu, "Sir!"

    It seemed that Jia Shu had been waiting specifically for Qiu Tu. Upon seeing him, Jia Shu sized him up and then asked with a smile, "Qiu Tu?"

    After seeing Qiu Tu nod, Jia Shu''s smile grew wider, "The Bureau Chief is waiting for you. Please."

    Having said that, he turned and opened the study''s grand door, gesturing for Qiu Tu to enter.

    The light within the study was dim. Qiu Tu couldn''t tell if it was an illusion, but the open door felt like the gaping maw of a beast, ready to devour anyone at any moment...

    Today, however, he was prepared for a walk in the tiger''s den, so without revealing any emotion, he took a deep breath and stepped inside...

    .....

    Yan Chen''s study was spacious, but dimly lit. Therge windows were draped with two thick curtains that blocked all outside light, castingrge shadows.

    The only light in the study came from a deskmp, which was dimmed to illuminate only a small area of therge rosewood desk. Yan Chen sat behind that desk in the shadows, where only his silhouette was faintly visible...

    "Good day, Bureau Chief!"

    Upon seeing the overlord of Xinjie City, Qiu Tu quickly straightened up and gave a respectful salute.

    But.....there was no response.

    Keeping his salute, Qiu Tu tried to discern Yan Chen''s expression, but the room was too dark to see anything clearly.

    He just felt that Yan Chen was observing him, a chilling gaze that made one''s scalp tingle and shudder in fear...

    After about a dozen seconds, a dull "Hmm" came from the shadows, "At ease."

    Qiu Tu let out a sigh of relief, lowered his hand, and then used his peripheral vision to scan the study.

    There was more than just Yan Chen in the study. Apart from Jia Shu, who had led Qiu Tu in and now stood beside Yan Chen, Fang Ming was also present, standing not far from Qiu Tu.

    Upon seeing Fang Ming, Qiu Tu''s heart stirred, and he had a rough guess: it looked like his arrangements from the afternoon might have had an effect.

    Indeed, apanying this thought, Jia Shu, who stood by Yan Chen''s side, slowly began to speak.

    With a mocking smile, he looked at Qiu Tu and praised, "I hear... Agent Qiu has excellent marksmanship?"

    Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu replied earnestly, "Sir, my subordinate''s marksmanship is quite ordinary!"

    "Oh? Is that so?" Jia Shu said with an exaggerated expression of surprise, "But that''s not what I heard."

    His gaze swept over Fang Ming, who stood to the side, and he said with a sly grin, "Did you know that in just a few short hours, the news of a sharpshooter from the Administrative Office, repelling the United Front with six shots, has spread throughout the entire Investigation Bureau?"

    "Even some staff members at the City Hall have heard of it."

    "On my way here, I received at least threemunications, all concerning you."

    Qiu Tu didn''t directly answer Jia Shu''s question. He turned to look at Yan Chen and then sincerely said, "Bureau Chief, you personally chose me to join the Investigation Bureau; you are aware of my abilities."

    "I''m all right with driving and handling matters. But my marksmanship is trulycking."

    Yan Chen, seated in the shadows, sat upright in his chair, his gaze deep and tiger-like as he watched Qiu Tu without a word.

    Jia Shu adjusted the gold-framed sses on the bridge of his nose and said with a smile, "Agent Qiu, are you implying... that this matter is a fabrication?"

    Qiu Tu shook his head, "No, it''s not fabricated. But there''s more to the story."

    Speaking, he nced at Fang Ming beside him and earnestly said, "Agent Fang was at the scene at the time. He saw how formidable the United Front was."

    "The Special Service Department attacked with full firepower for over a minute and failed to injure a single member of the United Front."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Fang Ming''s face suddenly looked a bit embarrassed. But in front of Yan Chen, he dared not hide anything, and could only nod slightly, speaking in a grave voice, "Yes."

    Having said that, he also took the initiative to admit his mistake, "It''s ourck of sufficient training andck of realbat experience that led to disarray in our ranks."

    "But Bureau Chief, believe me, as long as..."

    He was only halfway through his sentence when he was interrupted by Qiu Tu, "Agent Fang, don''t underestimate yourself."

    Fang Ming frowned and looked at Qiu Tu, not understanding what Qiu Tu was really trying to say.

    But Qiu Tu didn''t even look at him, gazing directly at Yan Chen as he said, "Bureau Chief, the agents of the Special Service Department are actually very capable, it''s just that, today the United Front was intentionally avoiding their attacks."

    Upon hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Jia Shu''s smile did not reach his eyes, as he said, "Agent Qiu must be joking. In battle, isn''t avoiding enemy attacks the very intention, rather than ''intentionally'' getting hit by the enemy?"

    After speaking, Jia Shu seemed to have thought of something, suddenly paused, and narrowed his eyes at Qiu Tu.

    At this moment, Qiu Tu finally revealed the first smile since entering the room. He nodded and said, "Correct! Those few shots of mine were intentionally allowed by them to hit!"

    Perhaps because Qiu Tu''s words seemed too preposterous, the study fell silent for a moment...

    After a while, Fang Ming looked at Qiu Tu,pletely perplexed, and said, "Qiu Tu, what are you talking about? They let you hit them on purpose?"

    But before he could finish, the normally reticent Yan Chen suddenly spoke up, "Fang Ming, get out."

    Fang Ming looked at Yan Chen in the shadows with a face full of surprise, not understanding why he was suddenly being ordered to leave.

    But Yan Chen offered no exnation, only staring at him with that deep gaze.

    The heavy pressure swept over him, causing beads of sweat to form on Fang Ming''s forehead.

    After a moment, he lowered his head, "Yes, Bureau Chief!"

    Having said that, he saluted and walked quickly out of the study.

    As the study door closed behind him, Yan Chen slowly straightened up, his tiger-like eyes ominously fixed on Qiu Tu, "Tell me what exactly happened."

    Qiu Tu responded and then slowly began, "Bureau Chief, it''s a long story, starting from when we hung up themunication."

    He said, "After I hung up your call, I returned to Miss Shuman''s side and took the initiative to tell her about themunication with you."

    "She was startled, then asked me how I dealt with it."

    "I told her that I brushed you off with an excuse that wouldn''t arouse your suspicion, and once again expressed my affections for her."

    "Perhaps she saw that as my Letter of Challenge, so she finally stopped acting and hinted to me in a veiled manner that her identity was extraordinary. As long as I remained loyal to her, she could guarantee my prosperity and riches."

    "And to prove her power to me, she said she would also send me a weing gift..."N?v(el)B\\jnn

 Chapter 10 Technology before the Cataclysm

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Yan Chen asked deeply, "A wee gift?"

    Qiu Tu nodded, "Yes."

    Then he gestured towards Jia Shu and confirmed, "It''s exactly what Chief Jia mentioned earlier, ''repelling the United Front with six shots''."

    "Back when I was at my home, Miss Shuman had already told me that she would arrange for the United Front to attack."

    "She told me to be on my guard and not to get identally injured."

    "She also told me that this attack was designed to make me famous."

    "During the incident, members of the United Front would deliberately expose their weaknesses for me to shoot, and even deliberately walk into my bullets. Afterwards, I would be celebrated for repelling them all by myself."

    "To ensure that the Special Service Department wouldn''t steal my thunder, the members of the United Front would do everything possible to avoid getting hit by the agents of the Special Service Department."

    "So, even if there were some good opportunities for a counterattack on the scene, they would pretend not to see them."

    After listening to Qiu Tu''s exaggerated yet somewhat reasonable exnation, Yan Chen''s gaze was deep, his inner thoughts inscrutable.

    Meanwhile, Jia Shu squinted his eyes, the gaze behind his sses flickering non-stop, as if he was constantly contemting.

    The pace on the scene was now in Qiu Tu''s hands, so seeing that the two men were silent, Qiu Tu also shut his mouth, saying nothing.

    For a time, the room fell into an eerie silence.

    As time ticked away second by second, the atmosphere in the room grew increasingly oppressive.

    Just when the tension was about to reach its peak, Jia Shu snapped back to reality. He looked at Yan Chen and, seeing no objection from him, he forced a smile and took the initiative to break the deadlock, "Qiu Tu, all you''ve said is just your side of the story. Do you have any additional details or evidence?"

    Qiu Tu had prepared thoroughly when he nned everything, so he dered confidently, "Of course, I do."

    "1. Since I knew in advance about the United Front''s attack, I was mentally prepared early on. This allowed me to react first and rush to protect Miss Shuman when the attack urred, while the trained agents of the Special Service Department were still unresponsive, thus continuing the n."

    "2. Knowing that the target of the United Front''s attack was neither Miss Shuman nor myself, when Agent Fang Ming arranged for me to retreat first while protecting Miss Shuman, I did not retreat. Instead, I waited on the side for an opportunity."

    "3. Because I was aware of the intended oue of this y, and at Miss Shuman''s request, I sent a message to the Old Alley Street Public Security Office in advance, asking backup agents toe and assist¡ªactually to increase the number of eyewitnesses and magnify the impact of the incident."

    "The heads can verify these points by inquiring with Agent Fang Ming or agents from the Special Service Department and the Old Alley Street Public Security Office."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Yan Chen gestured indifferently towards Jia Shu.

    Jia Shu bowed slightly in acknowledgment, then left the study to verify the information.

    After Jia Shu had left, only Qiu Tu and Yan Chen remained in the room.

    Yan Chen stared at Qiu Tu for a while, then picked up a cigarette case from the mahogany desk and pulled out a cigarette.

    He put the cigarette in his mouth and then fished out a matchbox.

    "Scratch!" Apanied by the sound of the match striking, a me burst forth in the dim study.

    Yan Chen brought the me close, lit the cigarette, then shook out the matchstick and tossed it into the ashtray.

    Qiu Tu watched silently the entire time, not speaking.

    Having lit his cigarette, Yan Chen smoked and yed with the matchbox, ''ck ck,'' shaking it quietly. After doing this for a while, he exhaled twin dragons of smoke from his nose and began to speak distantly,N?v(el)B\\jnn

    "Qin Shuman could not possibly be an informant. You have been looking for the wrong excuse from the very beginning."

    Perhaps because of the certainty in Yan Chen''s words, for a moment, Qiu Tu''s heartbeat suddenly elerated, and he felt an ominous premonition.

    Yan Chen didn''t look at Qiu Tu. He silently smoked his cigarette and said slowly, "In yourmunication, you said she had several suspicious points."

    "For example, she just arrived in Xinjie City, yet she seems to know Xinjie City very well."

    "For instance, she clearlyes from the lower ss, yet her skin is smooth, fair, and without a single scar or callus."

    "Another thing is, with Xinjie City being sorge and chaotic, why such a beauty just happened to be found by me...."

    As he spoke, Yan Chen looked profoundly at Qiu Tu, "The doubts you''ve found do seem very reasonable."

    "But you''ve overlooked the most important point."

    "That is... the origin story of Qin Shuman I told you is fake...."

    Hearing Yan Chen''s words, Qiu Tu''s pupils slightly contracted, a bolt of shock shing through his mind!

    Yan Chen lowered his head and took a drag of his cigarette, continuing, "Qin Shuman was not a Disaster Zone refugee I found while on patrol."

    "She was a ''Cloned Female Body'' presented to me by the Qin Family."

    "This technology predates the Cataclysm."

    Surrounded by swirling smoke, his voice seemed even more ethereal, "Humans are a very resilient species. The great Cataclysm of 40 years ago nearly wiped out humanity, but still, some people stubbornly survived."

    "Among these people, the majority are ordinary folks, but a small portion are national leaders, wealthy businessmen with control over various means of production, and scientists with core technologies."

    "In the first few years of the Cataclysm, theyid low to conserve their strength."

    "But after the Cataclysm ended, they burst forth from the soil, using their corepetitive advantages to grow and multiply through blood and interests in the various Cataclysm-affected cities, eventually forming ns and interest groups of various sizes."

    "And the Qin Family... is one of them."

    "The technology they possess is ''Cloned Female Bodies''."

    At this point, Yan Chen paused, looking at Qiu Tu dispassionately,

    "Over the years, the Sanctuary has been expanding into the Disaster Zones, establishing a number of nning Areas, which inevitably leads to conflicts with the existing powers in those Disaster Zones."

    "Faced with these established powers, the Sanctuary typically uses two methods to resolve issues."

    "One is cooperation. Coborate with ns and interest groups willing to side with the Sanctuary by conceding some positions in the Governing Hall and the Investigation Bureau, absorbing them to jointly govern the nning Areas."

    "Like Fang Ming, he became a First Level Detective in a crucial department at such a young age with no remarkable aplishments¡ª simply because his family elders hold high positions in the Investigation Bureau."

    "The other is suppression. Resolutely suppress, without mercy, the Underground organizations, Dark forces, and some ns and interest groups that are unwilling to cooperate."

    "The United Front, those disgusting vermin, are merely the remnants who luckily escaped our crackdown."

    "As for how to distinguish which ns and interest groups are willing to cooperate, and which are not...."

    As he spoke, Yan Chen exhaled hisst puff of smoke, snuffing out the glowing cigarette butt in the ashtray, "That is determined by the Investigation Bureau Chiefs of each nning Area."

    After finishing, he looked deeply at Qiu Tu and summed up, "So, the Qin Family dare not offend me."

    "Not just offend¡ª they have even been secretly pledging allegiance to me since four years ago."

    "And Qin Shuman was a Cloned Female Body specifically found and cultivated to my tastes by them...."

    "Because the technology isn''t perfect, so her lifespan isn''t long, just a few short years."

    "You mean... such a woman with that identity was a spy nted beside me by City Hall? And today, she even helped you make a name for yourself?"

    In the end, Yan Chen crossed his hands and rested his chin on them, looking at Qiu Tu with interest....

 Chapter 11 Reversing the Situation!

    At this moment, watching Yan Chen''s cat-and-mouse game expression and listening to his exnations that were detailed to the point of mockery, Qiu Tu felt like cursing.

    He finally understood why "Crisis Intuition" in its second hint reminded him, "Your lies still have some loopholes that won''t hold up to scrutiny."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    This wasn''t "some loopholes"; this was nothing but holes!

    Who could have imagined that everyone treated Yan Chen as a "brother," yet he yed mind games with his "brothers," going so far as to fabricate the background of his own mistress!

    However, he also knew that now was not the time for regret or frustration.

    After all, regret and frustration wouldn''t help the situation at all and might even cut off hisst avenue of escape.

    So he had to calm down and find a way to break the game!

    Thinking this way, Qiu Tu slowlyposed his emotions, and his mind began to operate at high speed.

    At this time, his "work" experience from many years in a fraud group finally came into y...

    During those years "working" in a fraud group, Qiu Tu receivedprehensive scam training, which included not only how to see through a person''s weaknesses but also...how to continue the scam after being exposed.

    Therefore, he quickly assembled the clues he knew and adjusted his n.

    Soon, he had a n in mind...

    Possibly because he had a n, he no longer panicked. So the next second, Qiu Tu naturally began his second performance.

    He didn''t make any defense, but instead showed a timely expression of confusion and then asked Yan Chen, "Bureau Chief... are you sure that everything you just said is true?"

    "There''s something wrong with this matter."

    "The Qin Shuman you''re talking about and the Qin Shuman I''ve been in contact with don''t match up at all..."

    ''The one who lies will exin when someone points out the loopholes. The one who tells the truth will first suspect that there is something wrong with the other party.''

    Then, Qiu Tu urately pointed out the ws in Yan Chen''s previous statements.

    He said, "Additionally, Bureau Chief, even if everything you say is true, it doesn''t clear Qin Shuman of suspicion."

    "After all, Qin Shuman was cloned and raised by the Qin Family the entire time. No one knows what they taught her during her upbringing."

    "The Qin Family might have taught her to be forever loyal to you, or they might have instructed her to gather secrets around you."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s rebuttal, Yan Chen''s smile slowly faded, and his face became expressionless.

    Seeing this, Qiu Tu''s heart settled a bit, and he continued to point out the problems in Yan Chen''s logic chain,

    "Furthermore, you said the Qin Family doesn''t dare to offend you because you hold the life and death of the Qin Family."

    "Allow your subordinate to make a bold assumption. If you truly can control the life and death of the Qin Family, wouldn''t you also be able to easily handle the other ns and organizations of Xinjie City?"

    "As the Investigation Bureau Chief of Xinjie City, you can easily handle the various ns and organizations of the entire city, so can the Bureau Chiefs of other cities also easily handle their city''s ns and organizations?"

    At this point, Qiu Tu paused and then quietly asked, "Then... what''s the point of Sanctuaries establishing City Halls in various cities? Why not just let the Investigation Bureau be in charge of all the city''s big and small matters....?"

    Upon hearing Qiu''s words, Yan Chen did not speak for a moment, and the atmosphere in the study room suddenly became silent....

    Seeing this, Qiu Tu knew he had made the right bet.

    He didn''t show it on his face, but inwardly he was already unceasingly cursing Yan Chen''s ancestors.

    This old bastard was indeed trying to deceive him!

    No wonder he felt something was off when he was listening: if the Investigation Bureaus of each city were really that powerful, wouldn''t that render the Municipal Committees powerless?

    How could the Sanctuaries and Municipal Committees possibly allow such a powerful department to exist!

    This simply didn''t make sense!

    Of course, Qiu Tu didn''t think that Yan Chen would lie about such a matter, he surmised that Yan Chen was most likely concealing part of the truth:

    For instance, the Bureau Chief of the Investigation Bureau might indeed be able to "determine" whether a n or organization was suitable for cooperation, but only had the "right to investigate," not the "decision-making power."

    Such a significant affair is likely to be reported to City Hall, where the Municipal Committee would discuss and decide.

    Therefore, even if the Investigation Bureau Chief concludes through investigation that a certain n is not suitable for cooperation, City Hall could disregard this investigation, send it back, and ask the Investigation Bureau to re-investigate.

    This is in line with Qiu Tu''s understanding of the power structure in the nning Area.

    Just now, Yan Chen obviously yed a game of words, deceiving Qiu Tu momentarily.

    Realizing this, Qiu Tu felt even more confident. He was just about to "press his advantage" when suddenly, at that moment, the study door was flung open from the outside.

    Qiu Tu looked toward the door and saw Jia Shu walk in.

    Upon entering the study, he closed the door behind him, then walked slowly over to Yan Chen, bent down, and whispered a few sentences in Yan Chen''s ear.

    The study was very quiet, so even though Jia Shu''s voice was soft, Qiu Tu still vaguely heard parts of the key conversation, such as,

    "At the time of the attack, Qiu Tu was indeed the first to react."

    "Fang Ming did indeedmand Qiu Tu to protect Qin Shuman and evacuate, but Qiu Tu didn''t evacuate."

    "The Old Alley Street Public Security Office did indeed receive a distress call from Qiu Tu right at the start of the shootout."

    Qiu Tu looked calmly at Yan Chen and Jia Shu, feeling even more settled, and then... he timely presented the most heavyweight piece of evidence.

    "Bureau Chief, perhaps you think that everything I''ve said is just empty talk, which is why you don''t trust me. But... in fact, I have evidence."

    As he spoke, Qiu Tu took out the cloth bag that Ah-Tai had brought from within his coat.

    He stepped forward, ced the cloth bag on the mahogany desk, and then respectfully retreated to his original ce.

    Jia Shu nced at Yan Chen, and upon receiving an affirmative look, he walked to the desk, reached out to pick up the cloth bag, and opened it to take a look.

    At the first nce at the items inside, he was unconcerned, but at the second, his pupils contracted sharply, and with a bit of disbelief, he reached in and fiddled in the bag.

    After a moment, he quickly walked to Yan Chen''s side and said in a low but rapid voice, "Bureau Chief, take a look."

    Upon hearing Jia Shu''s words, Yan Chen looked up at the cloth bag.

    At that instant, Qiu Tu clearly saw Yan Chen''s figure pause for a moment.

    The next second, Yan Chen looked at Qiu Tu with a grave expression and asked in a deep voice, "Do you know what this is?"

    Qiu Tu first nodded, then shook his head, "I only know a little."

    "Miss Shuman only told me this thing could change my fate, could give me incredible power."

    "But she didn''t borate. She only said that as long as I continued to work for her, she would give me even more... "

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Yan Chen took the cloth bag, tilted it towards the mahogany desk.

    "ng~" "ng~"

    The first things to fall out were several Silver Yuan, followed by a few Little Goldfish.

    It wasn''t until the very end that a half-translucent, sea-blue stone, twinkling with faint light, fell onto the desk with a "ng."

    It was, unmistakably... Cataclysmic Material: Aurora Stone.

    Seeing this precious material obtained from Golden Finger fall onto the table, Qiu Tu felt no regret.

    On the contrary, he watched withposure as a sh of greed passed through Yan Chen''s eyes and recalled that phrase once more:

    Greed is the most powerful weapon in the world...

    Yan Chen was about to fall for it...

    ----

    The performance during the new book period is very important, so I kindly ask everyone to follow along every day, cast rmendation and Monthly Tickets, thank you everyone!

    Updates of 2-3 chapters daily, 6000-7000 words. Updated at 12 noon and midnight.

 Chapter 12 Promotion! Transfer!

    In fact, from the moment he obtained the "Aurora Stone," Qiu Tu had considered how to handle this cataclysm material.

    Despite just reading the introduction, he knew it was very valuable. But... no matter how valuable, Qiu Tu could not use it now.

    Looking at the introduction of the Aurora Stone, with phrases like "one of the cataclysm materials," "used in potion formtions," "for creating cataclysmic items"¡ªwere these things that Qiu Tu could currently achieve?

    It simply wasn''t realistic.

    For someone with Qiu Tu''s carefree character, something that wasn''t immediately useful was just waste.

    And coincidentally, this "waste" was also of high value, so naturally, Qiu Tu considered using it as "bait"...

    The person he intended to fish for, of course, was Yan Chen, who was now in control of Qiu Tu''s fate...

    Offering the Aurora Stone to Yan Chen would make it easier to gain his trust.

    After all, with Qiu Tu''s current status, it was utterly impossible for him to have obtained an Aurora Stone. Where could it havee from then?

    Looking into the people he could havee into contact with these past few days, the only suspect could be the unidentified Qin Shuman.

    This way, Qin Shuman wouldpletely cement the identity that Qiu Tu had concocted for her, and Qiu Tu''s crisis would be neatly resolved.

    Secondly, one must be willing to sacrifice something small to gain something greater.

    During his previous life "working" within a fraud syndicate, Qiu Tu had seen plenty of such fishing tactics.

    First, throw out some sweeteners, arouse the target''s greed, then step by step lure the person deeper into the abyss.

    Now, the same strategy worked on Yan Chen.

    As long as he coveted the Aurora Stone, desiring more of them or wanting to unearth the channels where they could be obtained, he would need to maintain Qiu Tu as a connection...

    When that time came, Qiu Tu would slowly reel him in, allowing him to taste the sweetness but never letting him be fully satisfied, leading him step by step into the trap...

    And during this process, Qiu Tu would also continue to grow until hepletely turned the tables...

    While Qiu Tu was pondering over this, Yan Chen, who had finished examining the Aurora Stone, also spoke up.

    His expression had clearly softened a lot, and he wasn''t so stern anymore.

    He fondled the Aurora Stone in his hand, his voice hoarse as he said, "Qiu Tu. Don''t me me for not trusting you enough before..."

    "After all, Shuman is my closest confidante, it''s hard for me to believe that she would betray me without seeing irrefutable evidence..."

    Qiu Tu nodded, expressing understanding, his expression open and honest.

    Yan Chen fell silent for a while upon seeing this. After a moment, he turned his gaze to Qiu Tu, slightly puzzled, and asked,

    "However, even though I now believe what you have told me, there''s still something I don''t quite understand."

    Qiu Tu, "Please speak, Bureau Chief."

    Yan Chen neatly aligned the Silver Yuan, Little Goldfish, and the Aurora Stone on the table, then gestured with his hand, "The conditions offered by Qin Shuman were quite generous, why didn''t you ept them, and instead chose to report to me?"

    "Moreover, from where did you get the courage to suspect and investigate my closest confidante? Were you not afraid I would secretly execute you to keep it quiet?"

    Before his words fell, a trace of invisible killing intent quietly spread out.

    But Qiu Tu was not frightened in the least.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    ''Intimidate someone else... If he wanted to kill me, he would have done it long ago. Keeping me now means he''s interested...''

    Thinking this, he looked straight at Yan Chen, his face serious as he replied, "Bureau Chief... because I desperately want to make progress!"

    "Even though I am already a Second-ss Investigator, I am not satisfied!"

    "I want to be a First Level Detective, an Investigator Chief, an Office Head, or even a Deputy Director!"

    "Also, I don''t want to be confined to departments like the Administrative Office anymore, I want to transfer to the Special Service Department, the Political Department, the Security Section, or even... I''d be willing to work at a grassroots Public Security Office!"

    "So, I had to take a gamble!"

    "Otherwise, I would be filled with regret!"

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Jia Shu beside Yan Chen adjusted the gold-framed sses on the bridge of his nose and responded with a half-smile, "Agent Qiu is quite frank indeed."

    "I thought you were going to say it was all because of your loyalty to the Bureau Chief."

    Qiu Tu followed with augh, "That would have been too hypocritical."

    Listening to their conversation, Yan Chen quietly contemted while fiddling with the Aurora Stone.

    After a moment, he raised his eyes to look at Qiu Tu and said expressionlessly, "Since you have such ambition, I am willing to give you an opportunity."

    "Do you not want to advance? Then I will let you advance."

    "Starting today, you will be transferred to work in the Political Department, promoted to the position of First Level Detective."

    Hearing Yan Chen''s words, Qiu Tu''s pupils contracted slightly.

    While he had anticipated that Yan Chen would offer him something sweet, he had not expected it to be so substantial...

    It seemed that his rank was only raised by one level, but being transferred from the weaker Administrative Office to the most powerful Political Department meant his actual power had increased by more than tenfold.

    Moreover... don''t think that there''s only a small difference between a First Level Detective and a Second-ss Investigator; a First Level Detective is already qualified to lead a team, to be a team captain.

    The captain of the Political Department...

    Thinking of this, Qiu Tu couldn''t help but take a sharp breath.

    Yan Chen seemed to have given a bit too much, how did it feel like he was the one being hooked?

    Thinking this way, he couldn''t help but nce at Jia Shu, the head of the Political Department, but at that moment, Jia Shu''s expression remained unchanged, his smile even brighter than before.

    Seeing Jia Shu''s reaction, Qiu Tu had an ominous premonition. His past life experience with the fraud group taught him:

    Pies don''t just fall from the sky for no reason. If a pie does fall, it''s likelyced with a potion¡ªwhen you are coveting someone else''s pie, they may well be coveting your behind...

    Indeed, after handing Qiu Tu such a big pie, Yan Chen spoke up.

    He looked at Qiu Tu with an unfazed demeanor and slowly said, "But, this position is not given to you for nothing. You have to do something for me."

    Qiu Tu thought to himself: Here ites, here ites, it''s happening.

    He rallied his full attention, eager to know what Yan Chen intended to have him do.

    Then he heard Yan Chen say, "Since Qin Shuman is a thorn nted by the City Hall by my side, it seems the Qin Family must have already betrayed me."

    "So... go and pluck it out for me."

    "Within 7 days, I want to see evidence sufficient to destroy the Qin Familyid out on my desk."

    Qiu Tu: ??

    At that moment, upon hearing Yan Chen''s words, the only thought in Qiu Tu''s mind was: What? Me?

    He felt like the bbergasted Bumbler in Journey to the West.

    What is the Qin Family? One of the top three Major ns in Xinjie City! Their family business spans across numerous domains, from illegal medical practices to underground brothels, from casinos to usury¡ªall in the gray area.

    Well before Xinjie City was designated as a nning Area, the Qin Family was already one of the dominant forces, not only nurturing over a thousand underlings but also armed to the teeth with gunmen and well-trained private soldiers...

    What kind of evidence could possibly bring down such high-level forces in the nascent, stabilizing Xinjie City?

    Murder? Arson?

    Stop kidding... In this Cataclysm-ridden chaos, which n hasn''t killed some people? Which hasn''t lit a few fires for entertainment?

    How could they possibly be brought down!

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu felt utterly bewildered.

    Meanwhile, Jia Shu, who had been standing beside Yan Chen, adjusted his gold-framed sses and began to speak...

 Chapter 13 The Lions Mouth Opens Wide

    He looked at Qiu Tu with a smile that was not quite a smile and said, "Qiu Tu, don''t worry too much about this mission."

    "You are now a part of our Political Department, and we will certainly not let you fight this battle alone. We will try our best to create some conditions for you and offer some support."

    Hearing Jia Shu''s words, Qiu Tu also came back to reality.

    Right... with such a powerful force as the Qin Family, how could one possibly bring them down alone?

    Then... he heard Jia Shu say with a chuckle, "When the timees, I will have the Bureau Chief arrange for Miss Shuman to return home for a visit."

    "As the head of her security team, you will apany her to stay with the Qin Family, and then start your investigation."

    "With Miss Shuman''s trust and high regard for you, I believe you can dig out the secrets of the Qin Family smoothly and thenplete the mission."

    Hearing Jia Shu''s words, a jolt went through Qiu Tu''s heart.

    At this moment, Jia Shu continued, "Moreover, I can point out a direction for your investigation."

    "You reported to the Bureau Chief earlier that you suspected Miss Shuman was one of the City Hall''s people, but this suspicion has no evidence."

    "However, Miss Shuman''s connection with the United Front is something you''ve witnessed yourself."

    "So... you might have guessed Miss Shuman''s camp wrong."

    "Perhaps she and the Qin Family are not City Hall people but supporters of an anti-government organization!" By the end, Jia Shu''s gaunt face revealed a cruel smile, the transparent lenses of his sses shing cold light.

    "Investigate in this direction, and you won''t go wrong!"

    At that moment, Qiu Tu felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over him, leaving him thoroughly chilled.

    Cruel! Too cruel!

    This move of going with the flow had blocked all his retreats and excuses!

    He had "personally witnessed" Qin Shuman "bribing" him and had "personally witnessed" Qin Shumanmanding the United Front to help him gain fame and fortune. Whether Qin Shuman and the Qin Family were City Hall people was debatable, but they definitely had ties with the United Front!

    And since Qin Shuman did not avoid him when colluding with the United Front, he should be able to easily find the evidence of collusion between the Qin Family and the United Front upon investigation!

    While murder and arson might not bring down the Qin Family, collusion with the anti-government armed forces¡ªa grave crime¡ªwould surely suffice!

    So... he either had to produce irrefutable evidence of the Qin Family''s collusion with the United Front, withstand the Qin Family''s retaliation, destroy the entire Qin Family andpletely prove himself.

    Or... the lies would fall apart by themselves.

    This was a pincer tactic that left no way out.

    Thinking of this, Qiu Tu''s emotions rapidly withdrew, and he forced himself to calm down.

    Perhaps his mindset had shifted, but he felt that the previously bright study seemed much darker again.

    Darkness closed in from all directions, and only the circle of pale yellow light cast by themp on the mahogany desk held its ground, struggling against the gloom.

    Yan Chen and Jia Shu, either seated or standing, watched him from within the darkness, one expressionless, the other with a smile that was not quite a smile, making his scalp tingle...

    While suppressing the restlessness in his heart, Qiu Tu''s mind raced, swiftly considering his options.

    Time ticked by, second by second...

    After a moment, he finally came to a decision...

    He intentionally furrowed his brows and said, "Officer, I think the investigative direction you''ve pointed out is absolutely correct."

    "But... isn''t it too hasty?"

    "Miss Shuman just bought me off today, and immediately after that, the Bureau Chief is arranging her to go back to the Qin Family for a visit. I''ve also been promoted and am apanying her back to the Qin Family."

    "Such an obvious arrangement, practically writing ''conspiracy'' on our faces¡ªthe Qin Family will surely see through it."

    Jia Shu looked at Qiu Tu with interest, "So your suggestion is...?"

    Qiu Tu spoke seriously, "I think we shouldn''t have the Bureau Chief arrange her to visit home, but rather she should take the initiative to ask for it!"

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, the eyes behind Jia Shu''s sses flickered slightly as if he were pondering.

    But Qiu Tu didn''t give him time to think and directly voiced his own thoughts.

    He pointed at the Aurora Stone on the table and said, "Although I don''t know the purpose of this stone, seeing how Miss Shuman, the Bureau Chief, and you, sir, treat it with such solemnity, it must be a treasure that interests everyone."N?v(el)B\\jnn

    "I hope the department can provide me with more treasures like this and inform me of the relevant intelligence."

    "Afterwards, I will take these treasures and intelligence to meet Miss Shuman, telling her I have made significant gains and want to report to her and have her arrange my next move."

    "But it''s impossible to discuss such secretive matters in the Bureau Chief''s vi, so I will suggest that she take the initiative to ask the Bureau Chief to return home to visit rtives. The reason will be that she was frightened in this attack."

    "That way, everything will bepletely logical, and will not only not arouse Miss Shuman''s and the Qin Family''s suspicions, but Miss Shuman and the Qin Family will even trust me more because I brought so many Letters of Challenge."

    "I can also investigate the evidence of the Qin Family''s collusion with the United Front more quickly."

    As Qiu Tu finished speaking, the room fell into silence.

    Yan Chen and Jia Shu both fell silent...

    Did Qiu Tu''s words make sense? They did.

    Was the n more refined? Indeed, it was.

    But... both of them just felt that something wasn''t quite right.

    Why should the Cataclysm Materials that were just acquired and not yet warmed up be returned, and even more be given to the other party?

    This... why does it feel like a scam?

    Could it be that Qiu Tu is nning to abscond with the "treasure"?

    After quietly contemting for a while, Yan Chen spoke.

    He gazed deeply at Qiu Tu before saying hoarsely, "Qiu Tu, this treasure is called the Aurora Stone, and although it is not particrly valuable, it is a controlled item."

    "Even I cannot simply take it out of the department."

    "So while your n is good, but... I still need to think it over carefully."

    After saying that, he paused, waved his hand, "For tonight, you should go back and rest."

    "Tomorrow, I will have someone send you a response."

    Upon hearing Yan Chen''s words, Qiu Tu''s gaze flickered slightly, somewhat surprised.

    He wasn''t wrong; Qiu Tu''s n was actually a checkmate, intending to trap him deeply andpletely disorder the situation, then to look for a new way to break the game.

    He even considered, if unable to find a solution, to flee far away with the spoils of Cataclysm Materials and a beauty.

    Yet, to his surprise, he didn''t agree?

    This instantly deepened Qiu Tu''s understanding of the value of the Aurora Stone.

    ''If the Aurora Stone is truly that valuable, then Yan Chen would never be willing to give up on this lead, right?''

    ''So... can I y an even bigger game?''

    As these thoughts flowed through his mind, Qiu Tu seemed to have found the key to breaking the game...

    In this way, with the three of them each harboring their own schemes, Qiu Tu was escorted out of the study by Jia Shu.

    Once out of the study, Qiu Tu took the initiative to salute and bid farewell to Jia Shu. Jia Shu didn''t say much, only patting Qiu Tu on the shoulder with a smile that was not quite a smile, saying, "Not bad, very good indeed."

    And as Qiu Tu left, he consistently felt as though there was a gaze following him, like a haunting presence behind him...

    That sensation persisted until Qiu Tu turned a corner and it finally disappeared.

    When that sensation hadpletely vanished, Qiu Tu slowly let out a breath of relief, and it was at this moment, he noticed the Crisis Countdown in the upper left corner of his vision had also begun to change slowly...

 Chapter 14 Blue Moon

    Qiu Tu''s steps faltered slightly, but the next second, they resumed their normal pace.

    While continuing to walk without any outward change, he nced toward the upper left corner of his vision.

    Simr tost time, several new prompts popped up in front of Qiu Tu.

    "Congrattions on sessfully navigating the recent crisis, but you have also drawn Yan Chen''s attention."

    "He has developed a certain curiosity about your changes, secrets, and the lies you''ve concocted."

    "Fortunately, he is in the midst of a massive storm vortex and does not wish to invest too much energy in someone as weak as you for the time being."

    "Cherish the calm before the storm, for you have only 24 hours of rest time...."

    As the prompts ended, the hourss slowly transformed into a treasure chest. Unlike the treasure chest that opened directlyst time, this chest turned gray and had a 24-hour countdown timer on it.

    [23:59:59]

    Qiu Tu: ....

    The good news: There was no new countdown, meaning he was at least safe for the night.

    The bad news: The reward would have to wait 24 hours, and this time, he made it through not because Yan Chen trusted him, but because he had caught Yan Chen''s interest.

    inly speaking, his lies did not fool Yan Chen, but the Aurora Stone had sessfully piqued Yan Chen''s greed, preventing him from making a move against him.

    Although he had anticipated this possibility during thest gamble, Qiu Tu couldn''t help but feel a bit disappointed: Having such a clever boss takes away the sense of achievement, doesn''t it?

    He still preferred the simple mode and didn''t enjoy walking a tightrope like this.

    If only he could draw a "Difficulty Reduction" Golden Finger next time....

    While envisioning such future possibilities in his heart, Qiu Tu walked outside.

    Stepping out of the vi, the moonlight was like water, draping the tranquil night in a mysterious and enchanting blue veil.

    After the Cataclysm, the moon turned azure blue because the Earth''s atmosphere was filled with tiny particles slightlyrger than 0.7 micrometers (the size of red waves). These fine particles scattered the red light, hence the blue moon seen by those below the surface.

    ''What a severely polluted world....'' Qiu Tu sighed internally as he strode through the garden.

    In the garden, various flowers were faintly visible under the Blue Moon, emitting a light fragrance as they swayed gently in the evening breeze, like whispering sprites. However, Qiu Tu, preupied with his thoughts, had no interest in admiring them.

    Leaving the garden and reaching the guard post, Qiu Tu saw two familiar figures crouching by the road¡ªAh-Tai and Eagle.

    Shoulder to shoulder, they both had their hands crossed, squatting like oversized penguins by the roadside. Ah-Tai had a wild grass in his mouth, chewing it as he looked up, while Eagle was vigntly scanning the surroundings out of the corner of his eye.

    Perhaps because the postures and actions of both were so bizarre, the detective from the Security Section at the guard post was staring at them intently. They probably would have been driven away if not for their detective uniforms.

    Eagle was the first to notice Qiu Tu''s emergence. He gently nudged Ah-Tai and hurriedly stood up to greet him, "Brother Tu."

    Ah-Tai, on the other hand, was much more upbeat. Seeing Qiu Tu, he spat the wild grass from his mouth with a "tui~" and shouted as he ran over, "Bro! You''re out!"

    Watching the two figures¡ªone tall, one short¡ªcharging towards him, Qiu Tu was initially taken aback, then a warm surge filled his heart....

    .....

    Meanwhile, in Yan Chen''s study.

    The lighting was as dim as ever, and Yan Chen was still obscured in the darkness.

    "Have you checked all the people around him?"

    Sitting opposite him, Jia Shu smiled and said, "Checked. They''re all nothing but riffraff and hooligans. They couldn''t possibly have had ess to Cataclysm Materials."

    "He used your name to ce these people as temporary detectives in the grassroots Public Security Office, so it wasn''t hard to check, and the uracy of the information is quite reliable."

    Yan Chen gave a sardonicugh, his voice hoarse as he said, "He sure has a sense of loyalty."

    Having made this remark, Yan Chen fell silent, and the room slowly quieted down.

    After a while, Yan Chen spoke again, "So, the only way he could havee into contact with an Aurora Stone is through the Qin Family?"

    Jia Shu nodded, "In theory, that''s how it should be. But... my intuition tells me it''s not."

    Yan Chen also shook his head, "I also feel it''s not."

    He toyed with the Aurora Stone in his hand, "That kid thinks he can easily fool everyone with a story as bizarre as a fantasy. He''s deluding himself."

    "He definitely has a secret, a big one at that."

    "But I don''t have time to pay attention to such a minor character right now."

    Hearing Yan Chen''s words, Jia Shu tentatively asked, "Then... should I just take him into custody?"

    "You should know my methods, no one canst a night, can they?" He made a gesture of torture.

    Yan Chen hesitated for a second but ultimately shook his head,

    "No need. If he was able to obtain an Aurora Stone, there must be someone behind him."

    "Lately, City Hall has been keeping a close eye on me; I don''t want to stir up unnecessary trouble."

    As he spoke, he paused, then continued, "Let him and the Qin Family dog eat dog."

    "He wants to bring the ''Letter of Challenge'' to the Qin Family, doesn''t he? Then give it to him."

    "Cataclysm Materials are controlled resources; we can''t give those to him."

    "But didn''t we arrest a Pharmacist selling contraband potions on Xiafang Street today?"

    As he spoke, Yan Chen put the Aurora Stone, the gold bars, and Silver Yuan back into the cloth bag and tossed it to Jia Shu,

    "Arrange for someone to bring out that Pharmacist tomorrow and send him over with these things."

    "A Pharmacist capable of making Cataclysmic Potions is worth far more than some Cataclysm Resources."

    "I want to see how he''s going to y this act..."

    .....

    [12:09:57 (Treasure Chest)]

    Early the next morning, Qiu Tu was awoken by a "thud thud thud" of knocking at his door.

    He yawned as he climbed out of bed, then kicked aside Ah-Tai and Eagle, who were sprawled beside him haphazardly.

    As someone who had lived two lifetimes, Qiu Tu hadn''t had close friends for a long while. Plus, having just gotten through a crisis the day before, he needed an outlet. So he had pulled the two of them into a night of drinking untilte.

    All three of them drank too much, so they simply decided to sleep over at Qiu Tu''s ce.

    After shoving the two aside, Qiu Tu yawned and went to open the door.

    As the door opened, there stood a detective in uniform.

    Seeing Qiu Tu, he snapped to attention with a "thwack!" and saluted, "Good morning, sir!"

    Qiu Tu reflexively returned the salute, then btedly asked, "You are...?"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    The detective at the door answered formally, "Sir, I am Li Ke, a Third-Level Detective from the Administrative Office, sent by our superior to deliver your new uniform and epaulets."

    With that, he waved his hand behind him, and suddenly a temporary detective appeared beside him, holding a set of ck detective''s uniforms.

    ck was the exclusive color of the Political Department, representing the official status of a [Secret Police].

    On the uniformy a pair of epaulets, studded with three gold stars, signifying the rank of a First Level Detective.

    Though Qiu Tu had already received Yan Chen''s promise the previous night, when all of it wasid out before him, his heartbeat still unavoidably quickened.

    And just then, "Brother Tu, what''s going on?" came Ah-Tai''s inquiring voice from behind him, "Who''s here?"

    But in the next second, the inquiry turned into an exmation, "Holy shit! A First Level Detective from the Political Department?"

    Turning around, Qiu Tu saw Ah-Tai and Eagle standing agape at the doorway.....

 Chapter 15 Hold Ones Head High

    Both of them were obviously awakened by the noise at the door, so at the moment, their hair was a mess like an ubed chicken''s nest, and they were only wearing big underwear,pletely disheveled.

    But the detective outside the door was not at all surprised. In this world, survival itself is a difficult task, and aside from the very few powerful elites, how many people pay attention to the quality of life?

    So he reached out to take the temporary detective''s uniform and epaulets, and handed them to Qiu Tu with both hands, "Commander!"

    Once Qiu Tu had taken the uniform, the detective did not leave. He took out a slip of paper from his pocket and once again offered it respectfully to Qiu Tu with both hands.

    "Commander! This is my contact information."

    "If there''s any way you can make use of me, please feel free tomand, and I will be at your disposal at any time!"

    Then, he repeated his own name, "My name is Li Ke."

    After speaking, he gave Qiu Tu a standard salute and then left promptly without any hesitation.

    Watching Li Ke''s retreating figure, Qiu Tu''s eyes flickered slightly, and then a smile curved at the corner of his mouth.

    Indeed... intelligent people are everywhere.

    Yesterday, in order for Ah-Tai to fall into the Special Service Department, he had continuously tried to gain favor in Fang Ming''s presence, scheming.

    And today, having been promoted to a First Level Detective in the Political Department, someone immediately started to offer their allegiance actively.

    Indeed, a First Level Detective, particrly from a powerful department, is very much sought after.

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu tucked Li Ke''s note into his pocket. In the future, if a suitable opportunity arose, he would not mind giving this smart detective a chance.

    Turning back, Ah-Tai had alreadye over, looking around dumbfounded, hardly believing as he said, "Bro, did you really be a First Level Detective? And entered the Political Department?"

    While closing the door, Qiu Tu nodded with a smile, "Yes."

    Ah-Tai yelled excitedly, "Damn, I was worried about you getting into troublest night!"

    "That''s why I dragged Eagle to squat at the garden entrance, nning to rush in and save you if you didn''te out!"

    "And now, not only did you have no trouble, but you also got promoted?"

    Hearing Ah-Tai''s words, Qiu Tuughed, "Rush in to save me? With that little hammer of yours?"

    "Do you know how many detectives are inside, how many guns?"

    "I bet you would have been shot dead by random gunfire before you could even reach me."

    Ah-Tai scratched his head naively upon hearing this, "But I don''t care! Anyway, I was going to save you!"

    "From the moment you picked me up when I was little, my life has been yours!"

    Hearing Ah-Tai''s words, Qiu Tu''s eyes flickered, inevitably remembering the past with Ah-Tai...

    That day, what Qiu Tu said to Fang Ming was indeed half-true, half-false. It was true that Ah-Tai had been involved with gangs and was cklisted for resisting the military.

    But what was false... was not that Qiu Tu had been looked after by Ah-Tai''s parents, but rather that the two of them, or perhaps their group of more than a dozen people, had always depended on each other for survival.

    Qiu Tu was an orphan of chaotic times, surviving on scavenging as a child. At 6, he found the dying Ah-Tai in a pile of garbage, at 8 found Eagle, at 10 found Ah-Kun...

    In the chaos of the Cataclysm, unsure of the next day''s survival, the children banded together for warmth. Gradually, their group grew in number and eventually expanded to more than twenty people.

    Later, as they grew older, they were discovered and absorbed by local gangs, but their bonds didn''t weaken, and they still helped each other.

    Afterward, the Sanctuary listed Xinjie City as a nning Area and the military came in early to clear out the gangs. The underground organizations were eradicated like bubbles popped.

    Some of the youths from their small group were killed, some were cklisted, and some ran away.

    In the end, with the establishment of Xinjie City, Qiu Tu, because of his decent looks, healthy body with no criminal record, and having learned to drive in the gang, sessfully became a detective and gradually brought back his brothers one by one, finding them proper arrangements...

    That''s why he and Ah-Tai shared a life-and-death friendship, that''s why Ah-Tai could so sincerely say, "Even if I get killed by stray bullets, I must save Qiu Tu..."

    Thinking of this, Qiu Tu looked deeply at Ah-Tai, then patted his shoulder heavily.

    Subordinates like Li Ke, who cozied up for personal gain, were needed by Qiu Tu; brothers like Ah-Tai were even more necessary.

    Just as the great man had said, "If you want to achieve something, you should have as many friends as possible and as few enemies as possible."

    Only by uniting all possible forces can you grow stronger and create glory!

    ...

    After changing into his uniform and donning his new epaulettes, Qiu Tu received amunication from Jia Shu.

    In themunication, Jia Shu asked him to visit the Garden Vi for a task assignment.

    Qiu Tu guessed that it must be that Yan Chen had made up her mind.

    So, he exined briefly to Ah-Tai and Eagle, then went downstairs, casually bought a bun, and while eating, he boarded a city bus powered by horses heading toward Yan Chen''s vi.

    As for Ah-Tai and Eagle, the two weren''t idle either; they got ready and strutted off to their jobs at the Old Alley Street Public Security Office with a bit of swagger.

    They could be temporary detectives all because Qiu Tu once pulled Yan Chen''s rank. At first, the office valued them highly and entrusted them with important tasks.

    Butter, when they found that Yan Chen apparently didn''t care about them at all and never mentioned them, the office gradually came to understand the situation.

    Thus, they were gradually marginalized and became the lowest rung in the office.

    But now it was different. Qiu Tu had been promoted to a First Level Detective in the Political Department, and his brothers would rise with the tide, strutting with renewed spirit...n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    That''s why they were eager to announce this good news at the office...

    Glory in the evening, gone by morning? No such thing! In a post-apocalyptic world, if you don''t show your strength, everyone will feel bold enough to crap on you!

    You have to be stronger and tell everyone you''re strong, then others will not dare to bully you!

    [11:27:03 (Treasure Chest)]

    ....

    After transferring buses twice and walking for more than ten minutes, Qiu Tu finally arrived at the City Center Garden again.

    After such a long journey, Qiu Tu had only one thought: I really need to get a car! Otherwise, it''s just too time-consuming!

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu confirmed his identity with the sentry, then stepped into the garden.

    Yan Chen indeed had a taste for living. The garden was beautiful at night, but even more so during the day.

    Neatly pruned shrubs, trimmed greenery, and sparkling fountains under the sunlight could make one temporarily forget this was a world after the Cataclysm.

    Indeed, no matter the world or era, the lives of the elite are always iparably superior.

    "Qiu Tu?"

    As Qiu Tu was secretly reflecting, he suddenly heard Fang Ming''s voice.

    Looking up, Qiu Tu saw Fang Ming leading a team escorting a young girl out.

    The girl looked young, no more than fifteen or sixteen, with three stripes of red, yellow, and blue paint on her face. Her eyes were sharp yet slightly immature in their ferocity, like a wolf cub that might turn vicious and bite at any second.

    Qiu Tu nced at the girl and asked curiously, "What did she do to necessitate the Special Service Department to escort her personally?"

    Fang Ming let out a sigh and said with a smile, "She''s a ck market Pharmacist we caught in Xiafang Street yesterday. It seems the higher-ups are very concerned about this, they specifically asked us to escort her for interrogation."

    "We just finished the interrogation, and we''re now ready to take her away."

 Chapter 16 The Young Female Pharmacist

    "Pharmacist?" Upon hearing this title, Qiu Tu''s eyes blinked, and then his gaze fell on the girl.

    Perhaps because she heard the two people discussing her, the girl bared her teeth at Qiu Tu in a fierce expression.

    But unfortunately... she was too young, and with her two small canines showing, Qiu Tu only saw cuteness.

    "Xiafang Street... Xiafang Street..." After mumbling the name "Xiafang Street" twice, Qiu Tu suddenly remembered why it sounded so familiar.

    Wasn''t this the task that Yan Chen had asked him to handle yesterday, which he had turned down?

    So, this girl was the criminal he was originally supposed to take away?

    Thinking of this, Qiu Tu couldn''t help but feel a sense of fate, so he casually asked, "By the way, where is she being sent to?"

    Perhaps Qiu Tu''s question was a bit sensitive, so Fang Ming had a hard time answering it.

    Just then, in the midst of this awkward moment, Fang Ming suddenly noticed Qiu Tu''s new uniform.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    He was initially stunned, then he pointed to the new uniform on Qiu Tu and asked in surprise, "You were transferred to the Political Department?"

    Qiu Tu merely nodded lightly.

    Fang Ming nced at Qiu Tu''s epaulets, and the next second, he was even more astonished, "First Level Detective? You got promoted too?"

    Qiu Tu nodded lightly again.

    Fang Ming opened his mouth as if to say something but couldn''t find the words, and after several attempts, he just managed to utter, "Awesome."

    After understanding Qiu Tu''s new position, he didn''t beat around the bush and directly answered Qiu Tu''s question, "She will be temporarily detained at the Old Alley Street Public Security Office."

    The Political Department has the authority to monitor all departments, so his response to Qiu Tu''s inquiry waspletely in line with regtions.

    "Old Alley Street...?" Hearing this answer, Qiu Tu was startled for a moment, then thoughtful....

    Like that, the two chatted a bit more before their conversation ended with the girl''s shouting, "Are you guys leaving or not!" "You''re really unprofessional!" "Don''t criminals have rights!"

    After bidding farewell to Fang Ming, Qiu Tu entered the vi and, following the directions in Jia Shu''s message, quickly found a flight of stone steps.

    He followed the stone steps downward, and at the end was a massive oak door adorned with iron decorations, ancient and solemn.

    Qiu Tu stopped, lifted his hand to the door knocker, and rapped on the door, which soon conveyed Jia Shu''s voice from inside, "Come in."

    Qiu Tu pushed open the door and entered, discovering a huge underground chamber.

    The walls were made of rough-cut stone; in the center stood an oak workbench marked with dried blood and knife carvings, surrounded by all kinds of des and torture instruments.

    A girl covered in scars and showing no signs of life was bound to the oak table, while Jia Shu, wearing gold-rimmed sses, stood next to her, with a gloved left hand and a sharp scalpel in his right, dissecting her body.

    The de moved along the bones, flesh turned inside out, organs exposed. His movements were so precise they were nearly reverent, as if conducting a mute ceremony....

    The chandelier swung, casting faint and harsh shafts of light, dividing light and shadow into a strange geometric pattern, with a faint scent of rust and undried blood lingering in the air.

    Even someone like Qiu Tu, ustomed to grand scenes from a former life, was almost unable to withstand such a hellish setting.

    After a while, "What a pity..." arose an enigmatic sigh from Jia Shu in the chamber.

    Then, he set aside the scalpel, removed his gloves, and washed his hands in a nearby basin.

    The clear water gradually stained red, as if it were a basin of blood...

    He said faintly, "This girl''s parents were once junior managers at the City Hall; she could have had a bright future, could have gone to school with other managers'' children, yed together...."

    "And then after growing up, have a sweet romance, get married, have children, and lead a in but happy life...."

    "But during yesterday''s investigation, we discovered that her parents secretly contacted and assisted the anti-government armed forces."

    "Thus, a flower that was once vibrant simply withered away...."

    Although Jia Shu''s words seemed to carry regret, whenbined with his indifferent tone and the fact that he personally tortured and executed the girl, Qiu Tu just felt a chill permeating into his heart.

    After indifferently recapping the girl''s situation, Jia Shu picked up a towel, wiped his hands, and then folded it neatly.

    Then, he walked to the wall, opened a cab, and took out a familiar cloth package, tossing it to Qiu Tu from across the room,

    "Did you see that pharmacist on your way here?"

    Qiu Tu paused, then nodded, "I saw her."

    A meaningful smile appeared on the corners of Jia Shu''s mouth, "The Bureau Chief agreed to your n but made a small modification."

    "Cataclysm materials are controlled items, and we can''t just take them out to assist you with your mission. So, that ck market pharmacist is for you."

    "She not only knows how to make the Cataclysmic Potion but also has ck market connections. Her value vastly exceeds that of mere Cataclysm materials. Enough to satisfy the Qin Family."

    Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu felt a surge in his heart.

    The value of the pharmacist indeed outweighed that of the Cataclysm materials, but... it was not as convenient as the Cataclysm materials.

    With the Cataclysm materials in hand, he could just run away if things turned south.

    But a living person, a girl of fifteen or sixteen at that, would undoubtedly make it much more difficult and risky to escape with her.

    Did Yan Chen guess that he might attempt to flee and intentionally arrange this encumbrance?

    As Qiu Tu''s brain raced, he didn''t forget to keep up his act with Jia Shu, "Cataclysmic Potion? Pharmacist? What are all these?"

    Jia Shu adjusted his gold-framed sses, speaking indifferently, "You''ll find all the answers to these questions in the material inside the cloth package. Take your time to read through it."

    "Right, remember to destroy it and keep it confidential after reading."

    Having said that, he looked deeply at Qiu Tu, and said lightly, "You wouldn''t want to know the consequences of a leak..."

    Qiu Tu: ....

    After warning Qiu Tu, Jia Shu waved his hand in dismissal, "Now, go read the material."

    "Once you are done, remember to find Qin Shuman and persuade her to return to the Qin Family."

    "The Bureau Chief''s patience is limited."

    "Yes, sir!" Hearing this, Qiu Tu stood at attention and saluted precisely.

    After saluting, Qiu Tu took the cloth package and stepped out of the underground chamber.

    What he didn''t know was that behind him, Jia Shu''s gaze followed his departing figure like a shadow, the desire hidden behind his sses nearly spilling out from the depths of his eyes....

    [9:03:18 (Treasure Chest)]

    .....

    As he exited the basement, the fresh scent of soil and fallen leaves rushed to meet him, starkly contrasting the suffocating stench of blood from the basement.

    Qiu Tu took a deep breath of the chilly air, looked up at the overcast sky, and stepped into the mansion.

    Guided by a servant, he sat down in a reception room, ready to inspect the intelligence on supernatural powers provided by Jia Shu.

    This information would be crucial for his ns moving forward...

 Chapter 17 Cataclysm Awakening

    Sitting down on the sofa, Qiu Tu opened the cloth bag.

    The first thing that caught his eye was a document so thin it only had two pages.

    He set the document aside and checked the other items in the cloth bag.

    One Aurora Stone, three Little Goldfish, and twelve Silver Yuan. These were all things Qiu Tu had given to Yan Chen yesterday, and now they were returned to their original owner.

    Satisfied, Qiu Tu tucked the assets that his dozen or so brothers had scraped together into his bosom, and then he picked up the document he had ced aside to start reading.

    The document was brief and rudimentary at best, but it was enough for Qiu Tu to glimpse a corner of the supernatural powers of this world...

    However, the more he read through the document, the deeper his frown became, until atst he put the document down with a face so grave it seemed water could drip from it.

    "If this document is true, then I''ve encountered the worst possible scenario..." he thought.

    With that in mind, Qiu Tu also recalled the contents of the document:

    ording to the records in the document, the thirty years following the Cataclysm had transformed the entire world beyond recognition. A weird and mysterious force had quietly awakened, reshaping the veins of the world and the forms of life.

    Among them, what was most hair-raising was the unusual mutations starting to ur among the creatures of the natural world:

    For instance, the English ivy inexplicably began to swell and twist, its thickness rivaling the water pipes of the abandoned cities;

    Themon weeds by the roadside seemed normal in daylight, but under the moonlight they became as sharp as knives, radiating a chilling edge;

    The ants, so small as to be unnoticed by most, had now grown asrge as hounds of the night, wandering through the ruins and emitting deep, nightmarish growls...

    At that time, humanity was struggling for survival and had no time to take heed of these bizarre life phenomena.

    It was not until 15 years ago, when the first Sanctuary was erected and the elite of humanity gradually gathered there and began to venture into the outside world, that they were shocked to find the world had fallen into an even more bizarre state.

    The mutated animals and nts not only saw significant enhancements in strength, speed, intelligence, and aggressiveness, but some individuals even acquired inconceivable abilities...

    Humans spected that all of this originated from the unprecedented Cataclysm, and thus the phenomenon was dubbed "Cataclysm Awakening."

    Yet, what was utterly puzzling was that the entire world''s biologicalmunity had undergone the Cataclysm Awakening, but humans alone did not show any change.

    Thus, two hypotheses gradually emerged among humans regarding this phenomenon.

    One was that humans might also be awakening, but due to the long life cycle and weak reproduction abilities, it would take several more generations before naturally born humans with mysterious powers would emerge.

    The other was that humans were already at a high level of life and the Cataclysm could not fully awaken them. Thus, humans had to actively steal the mutated powers from other creatures to truly realize their own awakening.

    These two hypotheses caused a continuous debate during the early days of the Sanctuary.

    That debate was temporarily put to rest 13 years ago when a Pharmacist identally created a Cataclysmic Potion and sessfully gave the test subject some bizarre power.

    Apanying the birth of the Cataclysmic Potion, the value of the Cataclysm Materials from various mutated creatures began to soar, and professions such as Pharmacists started to rise rapidly...

    If the document had only recorded up to here, Qiu Tu''s eyebrows might not have been so tightly knit.

    What truly troubled him was thetter half of the document.

    ording to the records, humans couldn''t attain mysterious powers with a 100% sess rate after using the Cataclysmic Potion. On the contrary, the failure rate was over 80%.

    And once it failed, those who took the potion would go through irreversible catastrophic mutations, turning into monsters with astounding destructive powers but no spiritual wisdom.

    Even for the lucky few who came through, the direction of the Cataclysm Awakening was not fixed but varied from person to person.

    This meant that apart from the moment of awakening, no one could predict how far they''d venture on an unknown path....

    "Damn it.... I originally thought I could change my fate with supernatural power."

    "But not only is the sess rate low, the supernatural powers in this world are also of a peculiar kind."

    "Who knows if such powers could have any side effects?"

    While thinking this, Qiu Tu took a match out of his pocket.

    "Scratch!" Apanied by the sound of the match striking, a faint me ignited the two thin sheets of information.

    Watching the information slowly burn to ashes in the dancing mes, Qiu Tu also fell into silent contemtion....

    "The path of resolving crises with supernatural powers is temporarily blocked."

    "Yan Chen might possess some strange supernatural power, and running away without a n is tantamount to suicide...."

    "So, it looks like I have to make a trip to the Qin Family after all..."

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu''s eyes grew somber,

    "However.... this might also be a good opportunity to interrogate that young pharmacist."

    "Perhaps.... the information obtained from her might offer some unique insights?"

    A momentter, the documents had burnedpletely. Qiu Tu stomped out thest ember and nced at the Treasure Chest''s timer in the upper left corner, which showed just over 8 hours remaining. Then he got up to look for Qin Shuman....

    He did not have much time left....

    [8:27:39 (Treasure Chest)]

    ....

    Following the maid, Qiu Tu ascended two winding staircases and turned down two dim corridors before arriving at the door to Qin Shuman''s boudoir.

    At the door to Qin Shuman''s boudoir, the maid took the initiative to step forward and tapped lightly on the door.

    The next second, a voice as pleasing as a nightingale''s sang from inside, "Come in."

    Pushing open the door, they entered to see Qin Shuman in a pink cheongsam with slits, seated by the window. While sipping tea, she gazed out mncholically, resembling a canary yearning for freedom.

    "Miss Shuman, Agent Qiu is looking for you." The maid courteously bowed towards Qin Shuman''s back and spoke softly.

    Upon hearing the maid''s words, Qin Shuman quickly set down her tea cup, turned around with a look of joy that she could not hide, and eximed, "Qiu... Agent Qiu, you''vee?"

    As there was someone else present, Qiu Tu did not behave too affectionately. He just smiled and nodded, "Yes, Miss Shuman, I have something important to discuss with you."

    After speaking, he gave Qin Shuman a meaningful look.

    Qin Shuman understood immediately. She elegantly stood up and then demurely said to the maid at the door, "You may leave us. I want to chat privately with Agent Qiu for a moment."

    "Yes, Miss Shuman," the maid replied, curtsying lightly before she turned and left the room. But after reaching the doorway, she intentionally left the door slightly ajar.

    Qiu Tu nced back but didn''tment. He gestured to Qin Shuman, and only then did he walk over to her side....N?v(el)B\\jnn

    Approaching Qin Shuman, the faint, cherry blossom-like graceful fragrance unique to her wafted over to him....

 Chapter 18 Entering the Qin Family

    Inhaling that familiar body scent, Qiu Tu''s heart fluttered.

    He looked down, and into his sight came the swan-like slender neck and full curves of Qin Shuman''s chest.

    The cheongsam outlined her figure just perfectly, making her already graceful posture appear even more exquisite and delicate.

    It also made Qiu Tu involuntarily recall the tenderness and charm she exuded in his embrace.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    At this moment, Qin Shuman was unaware that Qiu Tu''s mind had wandered because of her allure. She reached out to grab Qiu Tu''s sleeve, her eyes swirling with a mix of nervousness and worry.

    She asked softly, "What''s the situation now?"

    "I was so scaredst night, I didn''t close my eyes at all, waking up in fear every time I fell asleep."

    "I had several dreams, all about Yan Chen trying to kill us."

    By the end, her eyes had reddened again, and she said with a choked voice, "I''m really scared...."

    On hearing this, Qiu Tu looked deeply into her eyes, carefully discerning her expression....

    There were no traces to be seen, truly no ws to be found.

    But Qiu Tu''s intuition was telling him there was something off about Qin Shuman.

    It felt like the sensation of encountering one of his own kind....

    However, his Crisis Intuition had not been triggered, suggesting that Qin Shuman posed no immediate threat to him, which is why he was willing to keep cooperating with her.

    While thinking this, Qiu Tu reassured her with a gentle voice, "Don''t worry, everything has been resolved."

    With that, Qiu Tu took Qin Shuman by the hand and walked to the window. The sunlight quietly bathed them both, as he softly briefed her on the events of the past two days.

    Of course... he deliberately avoided the topics of the Cloned Female Body and the Aurora Stone. He simply said that he had spotted loopholes in Yan Chen''s words with just a fewments and eventually managed to persuade Yan Chen.

    This, naturally, significantly diminished the truth of the matter.

    So, after listening to his exnation, Qin Shuman looked at him with a doubtful expression, "Is it... really that simple?"

    Qiu Tu nodded, "Yes, it''s that simple."

    He said, "Now, you just need tomunicate with Yan Chen ording to the n, and you''ll be able to leave here."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Qin Shuman hesitated for a moment but finally nodded.

    She let go of Qiu Tu''s hand, bit her lip gently, and sashaying like a willow in the breeze, slowly walked towards the bed.

    Her figure was slender, her legs long, the pink slit cheongsam slightly swaying with her steps, shes of her pale skin blooming like a startled swan, and as she moved, the tassels of the cheongsam gently swayed, enhancing her elegant charm.

    ''This woman is seducing me....''

    For some reason, this thought popped into Qiu Tu''s mind.

    His gaze sharpened, continuing to observe Qin Shuman.

    He then saw Qin Shuman walk to the bed, bend over slightly, her full buttocks arching as she picked up thendline phone and dialed a number.

    After a moment, the phone connected. Qin Shuman straightened her back and said quietly, "Hello, Secretary Bai, this is Qin Shuman. I would like to speak with Director Yan."

    Then, Qin Shuman waited a while before Yan Chen came on the line.

    Thereupon, she parted her rosy lips and repeated the wish to return to the Qin Family as Qiu Tu had taught her.

    This was exactly what Yan Chen was willing to approve, so Yan Chen simply responded with an indifferent "Hmm" before agreeing to it.

    After hanging up themunicator, Qin Shuman, like a startled rabbit, patted her heavy chest, looking at Qiu Tu with a face full of surprise, "It really worked!"

    "He agreed, and said he would have someone take care of it."

    Just as Qiu Tu was about to nod, his worn-outmunicator buzzed to life.

    When Qiu Tu picked it up, he saw the words "Secretary Bai" disyed on the screen.

    Secretary Bai is Yan Chen''s dedicated secretary, mainly responsible for arranging Yan Chen''s official activities, receiving important visitors, and coordinating work with various departments of the Investigation Bureau.

    Though a secretary by title, his position was not low, especially since he was also the head of the Administrative Office, making him Qiu Tu''s immediate superior.

    The reason Qiu Tu was able to hitch his wagon to Yan Chen''s star also had to do with his appreciation and rmendation.

    It was just unclear whether the affair between Qiu Tu and Qin Shuman would affect his standing with Yan Chen.

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu answered the call.

    Upon connection, Secretary Bai''s demeanor showed no change, still approachable with a hint of appreciation.

    He first briefly congratted Qiu Tu on his promotion and transfer, then ryed Yan Chen''s orders.

    It was almost identical to what the three had discussed the night before; Qiu Tu, as Qin Shuman''s personal bodyguard, was in full charge of arranging her trip home to visit her family.

    What Qiu Tu hadn''t expected was that Yan Chen had appointed other members for this security team as well.

    Responsible for Qin Shuman''s safety was the seventh sub-team of the Special Service Department, where Fang Ming served.

    Looking after Qin Shuman''s daily needs was her personal maid and the previous informant, Cui Lan.

    It seemed that Yan Chen had wrapped up all the participants in this incident and sent them off to the Qin Family in one fell swoop.

    It looked like she intended to solve all rted issues at the Qin Family in one go¡­

    With that thought, Qiu Tu had no mind to continue soothing Qin Shuman. After hanging up the call, he gently patted Qin Shuman''s hand, then turned and left her boudoir to convey the orders and make some preliminary arrangements.

    But just as he stepped out of Qin Shuman''s room, he suddenly found Cui Lan lurking outside the door with a guilty expression on her face.

    Qiu Tu nced at her, then at the marks on the door, and immediately guessed that the maid had been eavesdropping for quite a while.

    Qiu Tu gave her a deep look but chose not to expose her, instead striding away¡­

    [7:46:21 (Treasure Chest)]

    ¡­

    Time always flies when one is busy, and in the blink of an eye, several hours passed.

    That evening, the Qin Family hosted a grand banquet to wee Qiu Tu and his party.

    Those attending the banquet included not only Qin Heng, the current family head, but also the second, third, fourth, and fifth branches of the Qin Family.

    Old Master Qin was born before the Cataclysm and hadid the foundation of the Qin Family with the inheritance from his parents. He passed away suddenly three years ago, and now the family was steered by this generation''s head, Qin Heng.

    However, his prestige was obviously not as great as Old Master Qin''s, at least that was what Qiu Tu noticed during the banquet as various branches of the Qin Family were actively trying to cozy up to him.

    The reason might be that Qin Heng had been in poor health from a young age, constantly coughing, and he only had one daughter, so the other branches were somewhat restless¡­

    Qiu Tu silently took note of the current situation at the Qin Family. Although he had the information Eagle had gathered over the past two days, firsthand experience was always more reliable than reports¡­

    After the banquet, Qiu Tu politely declined the fervent invitation of the third branch of the Qin Family, took his team, and returned to the amodation prepared for the Security Team, ready to meet the young Pharmacist¡­

    He arrived at the guest room where the young Pharmacist was held captive, pushed open the door, and the Special Service Detective inside instantly stood up vigntly.

    Upon seeing it was Qiu Tu, he let out a sigh of relief and saluted, "Sir!"

    Qiu Tu nodded at him, then said, "You can leave us for now, I want to interrogate her alone tonight."

 Chapter 19 My Dad Shen Yuzhou!

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, the agent shed an "I understand" expression, then grinned, saluted, and strode out.

    After all, Xinjie City had only recently been established, and most people living here still retained the habits of chaotic times. There was no custom of treating criminals kindly...

    At this time, Fang Ming, who had been following behind Qiu Tu, quickly stepped forward and tugged at his sleeve.

    When Qiu Tu looked over, Fang Ming lowered his voice and warned, "Don''t do anything reckless."

    "If you need anything, just go straight to the Qin Family. They specialize in that kind of business; they''ll surely be able to arrange something for you,"

    "Otherwise, we could also go out and look around, this is the downtown area, there must be suitable ces nearby."

    As he spoke, he paused, perhaps fearing Qiu Tu didn''t understand his implication, he added in a whisper, "That girl''s identity... it''s likely not that simple. Don''t be fooled."

    At this, Qiu Tu couldn''t help butugh in disbelief. He responded in a low voice, "Do you really think I''m that desperate? I truly just have some questions I want to ask her."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s reply, Fang Ming looked at him suspiciously, trying to find a trace of lying in his eyes, but what he saw was nothing but sincere.

    "Anyway... I''ve told you, just be careful," Fang Ming whispered once more, then left the room.

    Watching Fang Ming disappear from sight, Qiu Tu''s lips curled into a smile, thinking the guy was quite interesting.

    Not only was he a good person, but... he also had a clear head.

    But how did he know the girl''s identity wasn''t that simple?

    Even he himself only found out after entering the Qin Family and when the countdown refreshed...

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu couldn''t help but recall the scene when he entered the Qin Family...

    As soon as Qiu Tu stepped into the Qin Family, the 24-hour frozen Countdown Treasure Chest finally began to unlock slowly, and a new Crisis Warning popped up in front of him.

    "Peaceful life is always fleeting, but crises lurk like a shadow."

    "Your immediate superior, Yan Chen, hasn''t been fooled by your lies, but he''s wary of your non-existent background and is also very interested in the origin of the Aurora Stone you possess."

    "However, recently caught in the eye of the storm, he has no time to deal with you, so he conveniently sent you to the Qin Family, wanting them to test your depth."

    "To make this test more challenging, he handed over a Pharmacist with a special identity to you and also spread a rumor that you had an old grudge with the Qin Family. You are ostensibly here to protect Qin Shuman, but in reality, you are investigating the Qin Family."

    "So the moment you set foot in the Qin Family, thousands of eyes within the family were tightly fixed on you, waiting for you to slip up..."

    "At the same time, Yan Chen is also closely monitoring your every move from behind, wanting to pry into your secrets..."

    "Hide your weaknesses, disy your strength, only then can you survive among encircling wolves..."

    Apanying this warning, the new Crisis Countdown also appeared: 7 days.

    Through this Crisis Warning, Qiu Tu became more clearly aware of the perilous situation he was in:N?v(el)B\\jnn

    He was pressed by the aggressively approaching Qin Family, with Yan Chen watching him like a tiger waiting to pounce, and carrying a "Criminal Girl" with an unclear identity.

    Add to that Qin Shuman with unclear allegiances and Cui Lan, the maid who was monitoring him at all times.

    Describing his current situation as "peril at every turn" couldn''t be more apt.

    That''s why, after the banquet ended, Qiu Tu sought out the Pharmacist with a special identity as soon as possible.

    After all, only by first understanding her identity could Qiu Tu adjust and carry out his next n...

    ....

    After watching Fang Ming leave, Qiu Tu turned to close the door and then stepped into the inner room.

    There, the girl Pharmacist with a special identity had her left hand cuffed to a chair, but she was happily wolfing down food with chopsticks in her right hand.

    Possibly because the food today was decent, her cheeks were puffed out, making her resemble a hamster.

    Seeing Qiu Tue in, she didn''t act unfamiliar; instead she enthusiastically waved her chopsticks towards him and mumbled with her mouth full, "Come and have some."

    Qiu Tu almostughed.

    This girl seemed quite at ease, as if she didn''t know she was a suspect and Qiu Tu was the agent.

    It seemed her identity must be out of the ordinary for her to be soposed even when in detention.

    With that thought, Qiu Tu couldn''t help but ask, "I''ve seen many suspects. There are the fearful ones, the arrogant ones, and those who scream their innocence at the sight of an agent, but I''ve never seen anyone as calm as you."

    As he said this, Qiu Tu paused, "I heard from Fang Ming that you have some background? Tell me about it. What kind of background is it that scared him into arranging such good treatment for you?"

    Upon hearing Qiu Tu''s words, the girl nonchntly flicked her chopsticks and said with pouted lips and conviction, "My dad is Shen Yuzhou!"

    When Qiu Tu heard the girl''s words, he was stunned for a moment.

    Then... he had a face full of bewilderment, "Who?"

    Girl: ???

    Perhaps the name of her father had always been very effective, and the girl had grown ustomed to the astonished reactions upon hearing it, so Qiu Tu''s nk look confused her as well.

    Her face turned red, and she hurriedly said, "Shen Yuzhou! Shen Yuzhou! Deputy Speaker of the Third Sanctuary''s Supreme Sanctuary Council, Shen Yuzhou!"

    Hearing the girl''s words, Qiu Tu quickly rifled through his memory, then continued to look perplexed...

    Because in his memory, there was no mention of this person''s name at all.

    After all, Xinjie City belonged to the Eighth Sanctuary, and as it was just getting started, Qiu Tu, a low-level investigator, couldn''t even recognize all the high-ranking officials of his own Sanctuary, let alone those from the distant Third Sanctuary: he''d never had the chance to hear of them...

    However, Qiu Tu finally understood why Fang Ming had a weird look on his face and why Yan Chen had pushed this girl onto him.

    Simply put, no one in Xinjie City could verify whether this girl was telling the truth or not. Neither Qiu Tu nor Yan Chen had the authority.

    If the girl''s identity was real, any rash punishment could potentially cause a conflict between two major Sanctuaries, a responsibility no one wanted to bear.

    And if the girl''s identity was false, scaring the entire Investigation Bureau into not daring to convict her over a lie, then the Bureau would lose all its credibility.

    So, this was indeed a hot potato.

    Thinking this way, Qiu Tu also began to have doubts about the girl''s identity; after all, his "Crisis Intuition" only indicated that the girl had a special identity, but who knew if it meant that her father was Shen Yuzhou?

    Maybe she was a spy? Maybe there was something fishy about her mentor?

    The term ''special identity'' could be too broad of an interpretation...

    With these thoughts, Qiu Tu''s mind was racing, and he curiously probed, "If your dad''s position is so noble, then why do you find yourself in such a predicament?"

    "You couldn''t be lying, could you?"

 Chapter 20 The Eccentric Shen Lingshuang

    Upon hearing Qiu Tu''s words, the girl became even more anxious. She pped the table and shouted, "Who are you talking about! Who are you talking about!"

    "How could I, Shen Lingshuang, possibly lie!"

    Qiu Tu gave the girl a suspicious look. Although he wasn''t adept at interrogation, he... was good at deceiving others.

    To a master of deception like him, the girl''s expressions and actions were full of ws.

    Firstly, the girl was habitually maintaining eye contact with him. This is amon mistake among novice liars: they mistakenly believe that it can enhance credibility.

    Secondly, the girl repeated certain pieces of information several times, such as "Shen Yuzhou" and "Who are you talking about," which actually indicated a guilty conscience.

    Lastly, yelling and exaggeratedly mming the table were signs ofcking confidence and trying to bluff.

    So... was this girl lying?

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu slowly retracted the smile from his face and quietly watched the girl.

    At first, the girl continued to bluff, but gradually, her gaze became more and more unfocused, until she finally lowered her head and simply began to eat her vegetables.

    Seeing this, Qiu Tu reached out to pull the table aside. The girl, holding her chopsticks, eximed, "Hey? Hey? Hey? What are you doing!"

    Qiu Tu, with a cold face, pointed at the ck uniform he wore and asked in a deep voice, "Do you know which department this uniform belongs to?"

    The girl looked puzzled.

    Qiu Tu stated emphatically, "The Political Department!"

    After saying that, he asked again, "Do you know what the Political Department does?"

    The girl shook her head in confusion.

    Qiu Tu said, "Responsible for espionage, counter-espionage, internal supervision, and various other dark affairs!"

    Then, he continued to ask, "Do you know what methods we use to interrogate prisoners?"

    The girl''s attitude softened considerably. She hunched her shoulders and shook her head pitifully.

    Qiu Tu took out a stack of slightly blurred color photos from his pocket and pped them heavily into the girl''s hands.

    The girl took the photos, wanting to look, but found it inconvenient while still holding chopsticks. Hesitating for a moment, she put the chopsticks in her mouth and flipped through the photos.

    These photos, which Qiu Tu had specifically gone to the Political Department to request that afternoon, were all of torture scenes or corpses that had died horrifically.

    Even Qiu Tu felt horrified looking at the photos, let alone a girl like Shen Lingshuang.

    So after just seeing two pictures, her little face turned deathly pale, and her eyes began to ze over.

    Seeing this, Qiu Tu asked knowingly, "Why are you trembling?"

    Shen Lingshuang stuttered, "Me, where am I trembling?"

    By the end, her teeth were chattering uncontrobly.

    Seeing this, Qiu Tu secretlyughed to himself: Weakling, thought you were so tough, but a little scare and you cower as well.

    Realizing the time was right, he didn''t continue to press the girl. Instead, while reaching out to take the photos back, heforted her, "Don''t worry, as long as you behave, I won''t hurt you."

    "You wouldn''t want to experience something like this, would you?"

    Shen Lingshuang quickly shook her head. Perhaps for fear that Qiu Tu wouldn''t believe her, she shook it as if it were a rattle drum.

    Seeing this, Qiu Tu nodded with satisfaction, then began a new round of questioning, "Now, tell me, who are you really? How did youe to Xinjie City?"

    Shen Lingshuang looked at Qiu Tu pitifully, "I... I escaped from the nning Area of the Third Sanctuary. My family suddenly faced a disaster, and I had no choice but to seek refuge in the Eighth Sanctuary..."

    Qiu Tu took out a notebook and casually started to record the interrogation, "Don''t be so vague, give me specifics. Which nning Area of the Third Sanctuary?"

    Shen Lingshuang shrank back, "The Seventh District."

    Qiu Tu wrote it down, then asked further, "How did you be a Pharmacist?"

    Shen Lingshuang timidly said, "It''s a family heritage..."

    "Family heritage?" Qiu Tu asked with curiosity.

    Shen Lingshuang nodded, "My family has a long history of medical practice, so I learned to concoct potions from a young age, and gradually I became proficient."N?v(el)B\\jnn

    Qiu Tu frowned as he looked at her, "Is the recipe for the Cataclysmic Potion also passed down from your family?"

    Shen Lingshuang gave Qiu Tu a surprised nce, "You actually know about the Cataclysmic Potion?"

    Qiu Tu: ....

    "How fresh, don''t you know why you were arrested?"

    Shen Lingshuang blinked, saying with a puzzled face, "Wasn''t I arrested for selling fake potions?"

    Qiu Tu: ?

    The two exchanged perplexed looks.

    After a moment, Qiu Tu tapped on his notebook, saying sternly, "Stop joking around!"

    "Do you think I''m ying with you!"

    "Let me tell you, this is an interrogation, an interrogation!"

    Having said that, he red viciously at the girl and switched his questioning approach, "I''m asking you, can you make the Cataclysmic Potion?"

    Shen Lingshuang shrank her head in, saying cautiously, "I can only make inferior quality Cataclysmic Potions."

    "But as for the specific effects, I really don''t know...."

    She said softly, "The potions I make have always been odd. They always have some strange effects."

    "For instance, when my father had a fever, I made him a fever-reducing potion ording to the recipe."

    "His fever indeed subsided, but he also becamepletely cold to the touch....."

    Qiu Tu: ???

    "Another time, I was testing a new potion and found out it was poisonous; I could only take Antidotes."

    "But after eating several Antidotes without effect, I had no choice but to retch green foam while gnawing on Detoxifying Herbs."

    "I chewed through all the Detoxifying Herbs stored at home until my whole face turned green before I was cured...."

    Qiu Tu: ???

    He felt like three ck lines were hanging from his forehead.

    Just what kind of creature was this girl in front of him?

    Was she joking, or was she serious?

    If she was serious... then did she dare to take her own Cataclysmic Potions?

    Meanwhile, perhaps noticing the grim look on Qiu Tu''s face, Shen Lingshuang tilted her head, looking up at Qiu Tu with curiosity and asked, "Why aren''t youughing anymore? Are you naturally disinclined to smile?"

    As she spoke, a mischievous cleverness shed in her eyes.

    Qiu Tu: ???!

    In that instant, Qiu Tu confirmed something: The girl was acting! From the moment she saw the photo, she had been putting on a show, including the stories she toldter to tease him!

    This waspletely outrageous!

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu could no longer suppress his anger. He directly pulled the girl up and pushed her into the chair.

    Then he reached behind his back and pulled out his dagger, intending to give Shen Lingshuang a harsh lesson and intimidate her!

    After all, whether it was the fraud rings of his previous life or the Political Department of this world, there were many cruel and painful punishments that inflicted harm without causing disability!

    But just as his hand touched the hilt of the dagger, he suddenly remembered the girl''s identity shrouded in mystery. In that moment, he calmed down.

    He looked at Shen Lingshuang fiercely, torn between letting her go and carrying out the punishment. Caught in his dilemma, his gaze fell on the girl''s slender waist and perky buttocks as she leaned over the table.

    The next second, his hand came down hard!

    "p!" "p!" "p!"

 Chapter 21 The Second Treasure Chest Opens

    Qiu Tu really put some muscle into it, so after just two hits, the girl was crying out in pain.

    She seemed to be genuinely angry, as she turned around to re at Qiu Tu with tears in her eyes, her little canine teeth tightly biting her lips, and she bellowed, "You''re done for! Really, you''re done for!"

    "I''m going to have my dad kill your whole family! All of them!"

    "And scatter your ashes to the wind!"

    Qiu Tu couldn''t help butugh angrily at her words. He pped her shapely buttocks hard again and countered, "Well, that''s a coincidence, because I''m a man with no attachments. My parents and rtives are all dead!"

    "So don''t mess with me. If you really piss me off, I''ll rape you before I kill you, and then just run away!"

    "I don''t care who your dad is, even if he''s the lord of heaven, can he bring you back to life?"

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Shen Lingshuang was stunned.

    She realized she waspletely out of options with this tall investigator before her. Neither soft approach nor hard tactic worked.

    Usually, mentioning her father''s name was enough to have everyone showing the utmost respect, but this man didn''t care at all.

    He was like someone not of this world, totally oblivious to what the title of Deputy Speaker of the Supreme Sanctuary Council truly implied¡­

    Was she really going to take a fall here today?

    As Shen Lingshuang''s mind raced, Qiu Tu remained silent, and the room quieted down for a moment.

    After a while, seeing that Shen Lingshuang had indeed calmed down, Qiu Tu quietly clenched his hand that had turned red from pping, and taunted, "What, got scared? Bring it on!"

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s taunt, Shen Lingshuang snapped back to reality.

    With tearful eyes and a look of feigned sorrow, she pleaded at Qiu Tu, "Investigator brother, I was wrong~ Please don''t be angry, and don''t hit or scold me anymore. Whatever you ask, I promise to tell the whole truth¡­"

    After saying this, she puckered her lips pitifully, batting herrge eyes at Qiu Tu.

    Qiu Tu wasn''t fooled by Shen Lingshuang''s pretense of submission.

    He still firmly pinned Shen Lingshuang to the chair, then ced a paper and pen on her back, and said coldly, "Alright, I''ll ask, you answer."

    "If I''m not satisfied, the punishment won''t be as simple as before."

    Embarrassed and annoyed at being put in such a humiliating position to answer questions by force, Shen Lingshuang''s inner feelings were a mix of shame and anger. But given the circumstances, she had no choice but toply.

    Consequently, Qiu Tu soon extracted much valuable intelligence from her, such as...

    ''After the Cataclysm Awakening, each person takes a different Cataclysm path?''

    ''There are six paths in total: Destruction, Life, Mystery, Immortality, Order, and Chaos?''

    ''The abilities or traits each person acquires after their Cataclysm Awakening align with their respective Cataclysm path?''

    ''For instance, a Cataclysmic on the path of Life has the simple trait of being prolific in childbirth? Hence, she gave birth to 10 babies at a time, totaling 107 children in five years?''

    ''For instance, a Cataclysmic on the path of Destruction has the ability to devour everything? Soil, gravel, buildings, all consumable by biting directly?''

    Truth be told, as he listened to Shen Lingshuang''s reports that sounded like utter fantasy, Qiu Tu felt like he was turning into Yan Chen from the previous night.

    He felt she was lying, yet everything was logically consistent.

    He felt she was telling the truth, but it was all too magical...

    Qiu Tu was finally beginning to understand the loathsomeness of a "liar."

    He gave a suspicious nce at Shen Lingshuang, whoy prone on the chair, but in the end, he decided to provisionally trust her this one time.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    So, Qiu Tu first helped her up from the chair, then dragged the table back over that he had moved earlier, and finally handed her a pair of new chopsticks, "Eat."

    Shen Lingshuang didn''t take the chopsticks. She rubbed her arm that had been painfully tugged and her swollen buttocks while looking up with reddened eyes and pouting, "I don''t want to eat, it''s all cold~"

    Qiu Tu: .....

    This girl really has a lot of demands!

    Taking a deep breath to suppress the nameless anger in his heart, Qiu Tu stood up and went outside to call a servant from the Qin Family, arranging to have the dishes reheated. As for himself, he lit up a cigarette and stood frowning alone in the courtyard.

    The moonlight, obscured by sparse dark clouds, left only a dim glow that draped over the quiet courtyard in a cold blue veil.

    The cigarette butt in his hand flickered on and off, like a lonely firefly, while Qiu Tu''s thoughts were immersed in the method for making the Cataclysmic Potion he had just obtained from Shen Lingshuang.

    ording to Shen Lingshuang, the recipe for the Cataclysmic Potion was actually notplex; one merely needed to follow the "Star, Moon, King, and Minister" ratio to concoct the potion.

    Star, Moon, King, and Minister are nicknames for the roles different ingredients y in the form for Secret Medicines.

    Moon Medicine and Star Medicine refer to the two main ingredients in Secret Medicines.

    In the Cataclysmic Potion, Moon Medicine is the primary Cataclysm Material, such as the Aurora Stone; Star Medicine, on the other hand, is an assistant medicine that activates the effects of the primary Cataclysm Materials, generallymon medicinal ingredients.

    King Medicine and Assistant Medicine refer to two types of auxiliary medicines in Secret Medicines.

    Assistant Medicine is used to moderate the effects of the primary medicine, usually alsomon medicinal ingredients, and the required Assistant Medicine varies ording to the effects of the primary medicine, which could be one or several types.

    As for King Medicine, it is the agent that binds the Secret Medicine together to ensure its stable effect, so a neutral and harmonious liquid Cataclysm Material is needed.

    Speaking of neutral and harmonious liquid Cataclysm Materials, Shen Lingshuang also provided a few examples. Commonly used ones include Glow-worm Blood, Tears of Moon Color, Ancient Tree Sap, etc.....

    "Tears of Moon Color...."

    Muttering the name of this material, Qiu Tu looked towards the Treasure Chest in the upper left corner, the one he received after surviving thest crisis.

    Inside the chest was a bottle of treasure-blue liquid, none other than Tears of Moonlight...

    "Tears of Moonlight: One of themonly used Cataclysm Materials. Just gather the other Cataclysm Materials to make items like the ''Cataclysmic Potion,'' ''Key of Different Dimension,'' ''Nat''s Manuscript,'' and other Cataclysm Props."

    Qiu Tu wasn''t surprised that the Treasure Chest just happened to contain Tears of Moonlight. After all, under the introduction of "Crisis Intuition," it was already noted that "rewards rte to the crisis."

    Since the two Treasure Chests were obtained from consecutive crises, it was reasonable for the rewards to be a match.

    But now, Qiu Tu''s dilemma was...with only this one set of materials for making the Cataclysmic Potion, should he really hand them over to Shen Lingshuang, who seemed so unreliable?

    Moreover, given his current rtionship with her, would she really put her heart into making it for him?

    After staring nkly at the sky for a while, Qiu Tu suddenly threw his cigarette to the ground and stamped it out ferociously, ''Damn it! There isn''t anyone else anyway, I have to try it out to be at peace!''

    At the same time, just as Qiu Tu made up his mind, suddenly, there was a flicker before his eyes.

    The next second, a series of prompts appeared in his line of sight.

    "Under your firm repression, Shen Lingshuang has developed a strange emotion towards you."

    "If you entrust her with making the Cataclysmic Potion, her kind heart will lead her to scoff verbally, but she won''t deliberately spoil it¡ªshe might at most spit in the Potion after she has made it."

    "But the arrangement of the Cataclysmic Potion doesn''t just require adherence to the Four Essentials of Secret Medicines, but also the crucial fifth and sixth elements: auspicious time and favorable location."

    "Following the Four Essentials of Secret Medicines is only enough for sessful concoction of the Cataclysmic Potion, but the fifth and sixth elements are what determine the effect this Potion will have..."

    "You wouldn''t want to know what effect a Cataclysmic Potion concocted near Xinjie City in thest three days would have upon consumption...."

    With the end of the prompts, a three-day countdown hourss slowly appeared beside the first hourss.

    Now, looking at the new countdown hourss in the upper left corner of his vision, Qiu Tu couldn''t help but blink.

    Wait a second, wasn''t the information revealed by this Crisis Intuition a bit too much?

    Let me think this through....

 Chapter 22 Emotional Scam

    Looking at the lines of prompts before him, Qiu Tu''s brain quickly worked through the analysis of the newly acquired intelligence.

    First, it turns out... "Crisis Intuition" can trigger multiple alerts at the same time, not just one!

    This discovery immediately improved Qiu Tu''s situation quite a bit. After all, even if many crises were to happen at once, he could be aware of all of them.

    Secondly, the "Crisis Intuition" could also be triggered not only when someone else intended to harm him but also when he was about to do something that could lead to his own demise.

    In that case, the usefulness of this Golden Finger had been greatly elevated. It could even assist Qiu Tu in making some crucial decisions.

    Furthermore, the configuration of the "Cataclysmic Potion" actually has "hidden elements" rted to time and ce?

    No wonder the odds of obtaining Supernatural Power in this world were so low; the key element had been overlooked.

    Or to put it another way... from the perspective of scientific development, no one would consider time and ce critical factors affecting a drug''s efficacy.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    What''s more... even if others learned this information, it would be hard to verify: each experiment might cost them a precious Cataclysmic Potion and a living human life.

    Only Qiu Tu was different. With his "Crisis Intuition," he would get a corresponding warning if he faced a fatal threat.

    So... if he configured the Cataclysmic Potion ording to the "Crisis Intuition" prompts, couldn''t he awaken to the Cataclysm 100% of the time?

    Thinking of this, Qiu Tu suddenly felt all the worries of the past two days dissipate like smoke.

    Besides these three key pieces of information, Qiu Tu also deduced a somewhat amusing insight from the prompts... Shen Lingshuang was actually a masochist?!

    She had actually started to feel something unusual for him in response to his rough treatment?

    If that wasn''t a masochist, what was?

    With that thought, Qiu Tu couldn''t help but turn around, his gaze falling back on the room, ''Could it be... that from now on, he had to enhance their rtionship by spanking this girl?''

    Qiu Tu was a bit baffled. After all, he was a respectable man...

    As he thought this, the maid came over with a tray of hot food.

    Seeing this, Qiu Tu actively reached out to take it and then carried it into the room.

    Inside the room, Shen Lingshuang, wearing silver handcuffs, was propping her cheek with her left hand, gazing out of the window as if lost in thought.

    Qiu Tu sized her up for a moment, finding the girl quite pretty when she was quiet: a palm-sized oval face, delicate lips, and a slightly upturned nose formed a youthful and tender visage.

    Perhaps because she was still maturing, her presencecked the warmth and charm typical of her age, reced instead by a hint of youthful vitality.

    Maybe Qiu Tu''s gaze was too direct, as Shen Lingshuang frowned and turned her head, pouting with a childishly fierce expression, "What are you looking at? Keep staring, and I''ll poke your eyes out!"

    Possibly because he knew about Shen Lingshuang''s personality from the Crisis Warnings, Qiu Tu''s temperament had mellowed as well.

    While calmly cing the food on the table, he said to Shen Lingshuang, "Ling Shuang, I''m pleased that you''re willing to cooperate with the interrogation and tell me everything you know."

    "But I don''t like your attitude."

    Shen Lingshuang gnashed her tiger teeth, wanting to retort but perhaps remembering she was still at Qiu Tu''s mercy, so she just snorted through her nose and went back to eating in silence.

    Qiu Tu didn''t continue to press her. Although he knew the girl was a masochist, training a masochist was like scamming¡ªit was all about baiting and reeling in, a game of giving and taking.

    You couldn''t just oppress; you also had to offer some warmth asionally.

    ```

    So it was that Qiu Tu, while looking at the interrogation records in his hand, silently finished the meal with Shen Lingshuang.

    When Shen Lingshuang put down her chopsticks, Qiu Tu also timely closed the interrogation records and stood up.

    Shen Lingshuang gave him a curious nce and asked, tilting her head, "Were you just keeping mepany while I ate?"

    Qiu Tu nced at her and deliberately said, "No."

    After speaking, he swept away, leaving the room with a flourish and arranging for servants toe in and clean up.

    Shen Lingshuang watched Qiu Tu''s dashing figure disappear, blinked her big eyes, and thinking back to the scene where Qiu Tu had firmly pinned her down on the chair for a harsh scolding, a ripple stirred in her heart...

    Meanwhile, Qiu Tu, who had stepped outside, looked at the murky sky and let out a slight sigh as he reflected on his past.

    Aside from economic fraud, there''s actually another branch of deceit: emotional maniption.

    And many times, emotional maniption can extract benefits more easily than financial scams.

    In his previous life, Qiu Tu''s phone scam syndicate was aprehensiverge group that, aside from economic fraud, also dealt with emotional maniption schemes.

    Twelve types of women, thirty-six response ns, one hundred and eight ways to foster feelings and PUA techniques... all had beenpiled into a manual and distributed to the staff to study.

    Although Qiu Tu had not studied it seriously, he had dabbled in it.

    He hadn''t considered this before, but it was the system''s Crisis Warning that reminded him of Shen Lingshuang''s fondness for him. So he just went with the flow to enhance their rtionship.

    After spending a night together, Qiu Tu had made a rough assessment of Shen Lingshuang''s identity: even if it wasn''t as exaggerated as she imed, it was pretty close to the truth. At least the identity of a high-ranking official''s child was indubitable.

    Although it was unclear why such a girl would end up in the nning Area, it was indeed an opportunity for Qiu Tu.

    If he could really grasp this lead, maybe there would be room for things to turn around.

    With this thought, Qiu Tu found Fang Ming and made arrangements for Shen Lingshuang''s security, mainly borrowing two maid servants from the Qin Family to take care of her.

    After all, Shen Lingshuang was a girl, and the Security Team was all rough men; some matters were not too convenient.

    Fang Ming was indeed a rare good man in this Cataclysmic world. Just days ago, Qiu Tu had been under hismand, but now he had suddenly leaped to be Fang Ming''s superior. Despite this, Fang Ming did not show any hard feelings andpetently served as Qiu Tu''s deputy.

    With him assisting by his side, Qiu Tu could devote more energy to solving his current predicament.

    After arranging for Shen Lingshuang''s daily care, Qiu Tu walked toward the residence that the Qin Family had prepared for him.

    To amodate the Security Team, the Qin Family had specifically vacated a two-entry courtyard. Since Qin Shuman was staying directly at the Qin Family''s Main Residence, it was natural for Qiu Tu to move into the main building of this courtyard.

    Upon arrival at the main building''s entrance, before he even stepped into the room, Qiu Tu noticed the door to the front hall was open, and the light inside was on.

    He paused for a moment, then stepped inside.

    Entering the front hall, Qiu Tu saw a portly middle-aged man leisurely sipping tea in the guest chair.

    A girl about sixteen or seventeen stood by his side, head bowed.

    Perhaps hearing footsteps, the middle-aged man turned around; seeing Qiu Tu, his face immediately filled with smiles, and he stood up to greet him warmly, "Ah, Agent Qiu, I''ve been waiting for you."

    Qiu Tu''s gaze flickered slightly as he walked over warmly, "Master Qin Si, do you have matters to discuss with me sote at night?"

    Master Qin Si, the fourth son of Old Master Qin, also the head of the fourth branch. Despite his genial appearance, he managed the Qin Family''s underworld businesses like the Underground Brothel and gambling dens...

    ```

 Chapter 23 Late Night Secret Talks

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Master Qin Si''s plump face revealed a sincere smile. As he pulled Qiu Tu down to sit, he said, "There''s nothing much. It''s just that I felt an instant connection with Agent Qiu at the banquet earlier and wanted to get to know you better in private."

    Upon saying this, he tentatively asked, "It''s still early, would Agent Qiu be interested in taking a walk with me?"

    Seeing the expression on Master Qin Si''s face and considering his status, Qiu Tu certainly could guess where "taking a walk" would lead¡­

    But given his current official duties, he smiled and politely declined the invitation, "Thank you for your kind offer, Fourth Master. However, I''m feeling slightly unwell tonight. Perhaps another time."

    Master Qin Si, still smiling, replied, "I understand, I understand."

    He then pointed at the girl next to him and instructed, "Xiao Ying, what are you standing there for? Go brew some tea for Agent Qiu."

    Upon hearing Master Qin Si''smand, the girl quickly bowed in acknowledgment.

    Shortly after, a cup of fragrant tea was ced beside Qiu Tu.

    Qiu Tu nodded his thanks, and while sipping tea, he recalled the situation of the Qin Family''s Fifth House in his mind.

    Apart from Old Wu of the Fifth House, who was born of the legitimate wife, the others from the four houses had the same mother.

    The eldest house was headed by Qin Heng, the current patriarch of the Qin family, whose official position was Director of the Civil Affairs Bureau at Xinjie City City Hall. He was mainly responsible for household registration, social assistance, and welfare management.

    In the whole of Xinjie City, he was a significant figure, second only to Yan Chen and the other three big bosses.

    The second house was led by Qin Zhengguang, the Qin Family''s second-inmand on the surface. His official position was Deputy Division Chief of the Public Security Management Division at the Xinjie City Investigation Bureau, mainly in charge of city-wide public security management and a person of actual power within the Bureau.

    It was to pave the way for him that Old Master Qin kept making private connections with Yan Chen while he was alive.

    The third house was Qin Shu, the third brother among the five Qin siblings. Unlike his two brothers, he did not enter politics but chose to engage in business. The Qin Family''s various business affairs were managed by him, mainly in legitimate industries like ready-to-wear, jewelry, and department stores.

    These three brothers of the Qin family, together with Master Qin Si, who was sitting beside Qiu Tu and in charge of the family''s grey industries, formed the Xinjie Qin family, extending across both the legitimate and underworld realms.

    As for the Qin Family''s Fifth House, because their mother was the second wife and they were pampered by Old Master Qin due to their young age, they were somewhat unruly and had now be a well-known profligate son in Xinjie City, already excluded from the Qin family''s core of power.

    Therefore, even before entering the Qin Family, Qiu Tu had selected two points of breakthrough for his mission. One of them was Master Qin Si.

    What he had not expected was that before he had taken the initiative to approach Master Qin Si, Master Qin Si had found him first. Moreover, having found him, all he did was engage in idle chat without saying anything of substance.

    What was he trying to sell in his gourd?

    Thinking this way, Qiu Tu sipped his tea quietly, patiently waiting for Master Qin Si to speak.

    After all... if Master Qin Si was not in a rush, neither was he.

    Perhaps not expecting Qiu Tu to be so patient, Master Qin Si drank three cups of tea and remained silent for approximately ten minutes before he finally couldn''t help but speak up.

    He asked cheerfully, "Does Agent Qiu have a mission here this time?"

    Hearing his question, Qiu Tu, who had been counting the tea leaves in his cup, slowly came back to reality and also smiled as he replied, "What mission could I possibly have? Naturally, it''s to ensure Miss Shuman''s safety."

    Upon hearing that, Master Qin Si, unconvinced, shook his head and raised an eyebrow, "But that''s not what I''ve heard..."

    A thought shed through Qiu Tu''s mind. "Oh?" he uttered, then looked at Master Qin Si with feigned curiosity, "What has Fourth Master heard then?"

    Master Qin Si nced outside to confirm that no one was eavesdropping. He then lowered his voice, softly saying, "I heard you have a grudge against our Qin family and havee to investigate the Qin Family."

    Of course, such matters couldn''t be discussed openly, so Qiu Tu couldn''t help but wave his hands repeatedly, "Fourth Master, what are you joking about?"

    "What am I that I could investigate the Qin Family?"

    "Let''s not even talk about Commissioner Qin Heng''s status in Xinjie City or Director Qin Zhengguang''s power, even you... could crush me to death with just a finger."

    "If I offended you all, wouldn''t I be afraid that one day I''d be sunk in a pond on my way back home? Hahaha."

    Hearing Qiu Tu speak like this, Master Qin Si also burst intoughter. But the next second, he changed his tone and pointedly said, "So that''s why you moved into the Qin family home."

    In that instant, Qiu Tu''s expression changed, and he almost couldn''t maintain his smile.

    Is this guy really so steeped in the ways of Jianghu to tantly threaten a public officer?

    But then upon second thought, Qiu Tu felt he might be wrong: after all, if Master Qin Si really wanted to harm him, his "Crisis Intuition" should have directly triggered a warning, right?

    Could it be...

    With that thought, a light bulb went off in Qiu Tu''s head, and he guessed a possibility.

    He retracted his smile, and suddenly looked at Master Qin Si, then seriously said, "Are you threatening me, Fourth Master?"

    "What, I''m in the Qin family, you wouldn''t dare act against me because it would be hard to exin to the Investigation Bureau. But if I go out, then I''m as good as dead, is that it?"

    "Are you threatening an agent, trying to provoke the entire Xinjie City Investigation Bureau?"

    Master Qin Si probably didn''t expect Qiu Tu to be so bold. He was taken aback and then his face changed back to the cheerful expression he had before, saying, "Agent Qiu, you''ve misunderstood me. I''m just making conversation with you, why take it so seriously?"N?v(el)B\\jnn

    "I haven''t threatened you, and I haven''t provoked the Investigation Bureau."

    "But people go through birth, old age, sickness, and death. Who knows whether tomorrow or an ident wille first, right?"

    Speaking thus, he narrowed his eyes, patted Qiu Tu''s shoulder with an ambiguous smile, "So, Agent Qiu, you must take good rest, take good care of your health, don''t catch any illnesses or suffer any idents."

    After saying that, heughed heartily as he stood up, then left Qiu Tu''s room in a carefree manner. However... as he got up, a white booklet seemed to have identally dropped from him...

    Qiu Tu watched him leave, then slowly got up and picked up the booklet from the floor.

    Opening the booklet, it contained records of the second household''s Qin Zhengguang''s illegal actions during his time as the Deputy Division Chief of the Public Security Administration, including epting bribes from gang members, indulging gang members'' crimes, releasing members of the anti-government armed forces without permission, and adjusting patrol routes to create opportunities for the members of the Anti-government Armed Forces to carry out operations, among other charges.

    After reading the booklet, Qiu Tu smiled.

    He indeed hadn''t guessed wrong; Master Qin Si hade to tip him off and make overtures.

    Although he appeared to be threatening him on the surface, he was actually indirectly telling him that the Qin family had be aware of his real purpose, and warned him to be careful.

    As for this booklet, it was Master Qin Si''s way of testing him, to see if he dared to investigate the Qin family and to what extent he wanted to probe.

    The only pity was... he somewhat took me for a fool...

 Chapter 24 Kill!

    With these thoughts, Qiu Tu closed the small booklet in his hands and gently tapped it while silently analyzing:

    If all the charges recorded in this booklet were true, then even if the Qin family was not implicated, Qin Zhengguang would definitely be finished.

    At that time, with one of the Qin family''s two major pirs in politics chopped off by himself, would they let him off?

    As for the impractical idea of using this evidence to drag down the Qin family, Qiu Tu hadn''t even considered it.

    After all, this was information collected by the Qin Family''s Fourth House. How could they possibly set themselves on fire and bring down their own family?

    If Qiu Tu wasn''t mistaken, there were both truths and falsehoods among the charges in this booklet, and even for the genuine parts, Master Qin Si must have made preparations for severance early on, so as not to let the fire spread to the Qin family.

    So, were they using him as their weapon for internal conflicts among the brothers?

    But by bringing down Qin Zhengguang, did Master Qin Si really stand to gain any benefits?

    Could this be a trap?

    Qiu Tu patted the booklet in his hand as he quietly pondered.

    And as he was deep in thought, suddenly a sneaky figure caught his peripheral vision outside the window.

    He was startled for a moment, and without giving further thought to the analysis, he immediately gathered his thoughts and called out sharply, "Who''s out there!" before striding out.

    Qiu Tu moved quickly, so as soon as he had stepped outside, he caught Cui Lan, who was attempting to flee.

    Caught by Qiu Tu, Cui Lan didn''t dare to run away any longer. She turned around with an embarrassed face and bowed slightly, "Agent Qiu."

    Seeing Miss Shuman''s ck, chubby maid again, Qiu Tu''s brows furrowed deeply: Why was it her again?

    Qiu Tu asked expressionlessly, "Why aren''t you taking care of Miss Shuman and instead hanging around my doorstep?"

    Cui Lan, with her head lowered and feeling guilty, said, "Just passing by."

    Qiu Tu''s face grew colder, "Passing by? Miss Shuman lives in the main house, at least a minute''s walk from here. Don''t you think your reason is a bit far-fetched?"

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Cui Lan defended herself, "It''s my first time at the Qin family''s, I don''t know the way and just happened to wander here after getting lost."

    Qiu Tu looked at her impervious attitude and felt a surge of irritation.

    He simply made it clear, "How long have you been here? What did you hear and see?"

    Possibly encouraged by the topic, Cui Lan slightly raised her head to confidently meet Qiu Tu''s gaze, a schadenfreude smile on her lips, "For over ten minutes. As for what I heard and saw... I wouldn''t dare to say."

    "Anyway, I saw Master Qin Si and you having a pleasant conversation, so I waited outside, not daring to disturb."

    Qiu Tu''s prating gaze became especially profound, filled with an intensity that couldn''t dissipate...

    Over ten minutes, and she ims she was just passing by?

    He looked at Cui Lan intently, about to say something.

    But Cui Lan took the initiative to speak first, "Agent Qiu, don''t always focus on me. Although I am also part of the entourage, I''m not with the Security Team."

    "I''m a servant of the Bureau Chief, directly taking orders from him. If the Bureau Chief assigns me some other tasks, I definitely have to do them..."

    "If you have been loyal to the Bureau Chief, what is there to fear?"

    Having said this, she looked up with a somewhat defiant gaze at Qiu Tu.

    Qiu Tu looked at her, just looked at her.

    After a moment, he took a deep breath andughed, "Ha ha," saying, "Understood, Cui Lan. After all, you are a close confidante of the Bureau Chief, with special assignments, I get it."

    Finishing his address, he extended his hand to see her off, "Then I won''t disturb you any longer. As you were."

    Seeing Qiu Tu conceding, Cui Lan raised her head proudly, then with a perfunctory bow towards Qiu Tu, she turned and left arrogantly.

    Just as she was stepping out, suddenly, she felt arge hand violently cover her mouth, and then she was brutally pressed against a chest devoid of warmth.

    The next second, she felt a sharp pain in her back as a cold, sharp object was fiercely stabbed into her lower back.

    As she felt the bone-piercing agony, Cui Lan had only one thought: had Qiu Tu gone mad? How dare he!

    She was Yan Chen''s maid, after all, and she even had orders from Yan Chen to surveil him!

    Was he not afraid of Yan Chen''s wrath?

    She tried hard to turn her head to see Qiu Tu''s expression, but the hand over her mouth held her face down firmly, preventing her from moving.

    She struggled to break free from this control. But apart from intensifying the pain as she writhed, it was of no use.

    At this time, perhaps sensing her resistance, Qiu Tu''s low, hoarse voice timely reached her ear, "Take a deep breath, it''s okay, it will be over soon."

    Apanying that whisper were the slow but firm twists of the dagger and even more severe pain....

    Feeling the weakness in her body and the ebbing of life, tears flowed uncontrobly from the corners of Cui Lan''s eyes. She shook her head desperately, crying silently, but none of it could stop her life from inching closer to its countdown....

    As consciousness flickered, she seemed to see herself from yesterday noon, vividly recounting to Yan Chen how Qiu Tu and Qin Shuman were exchanging nces...

    She seemed to see herselfst night, leading the way for Qiu Tu with a look of schadenfreude....

    She seemed to see herself this morning, hiding by the door eavesdropping on Qiu Tu and Qin Shuman''s secret whispers...

    She also seemed to see Yan Chen calling her into the dark study, rewarding her with a Silver Yuan for surveilling Qiu Tu, and the ecstatic expression she had....

    If she had known it would end like this, she would never have gotten involved in the affairs of such important people....

    Gradually, Cui Lan''s consciousness grew blurrier until it faded awaypletely.....

    ....

    Feeling Cui Lan no longer struggle, Qiu Tu emotionlessly let go of his hand.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    He coldly looked at Cui Lan''s corpse, then skillfully dragged her into the house, returned to the courtyard, and lit a cigarette. While silently smoking, he calmly cleaned the bloodstains from the ground.

    After finishing all this, Qiu Tu changed his clothes, then dialed amunication number.

    Soon, Eagle and Ah-Kun arrivedte at night. Upon seeing Cui Lan''s corpse, they didn''t say anything, just took out a sack to bag the body, cleaned up the traces once more, nodded at Qiu Tu, and left with the body on their shoulders.

    Watching the backs of the two men disappearing into the distance, the darkness in Qiu Tu''s eyes deepened.

    After a moment, he softly said, "The first one...."

    ...

    Late at night, the door of a side room in the Qin Family''s secondary residence was suddenly rapped on "tap tap tap."

    Shortly after, a middle-aged woman''s questioning voice came from inside, "Who is it?"

    The caller said softly, "Madam, it''s Ah-Fu. I have urgent matters to report to the Patriarch."

    After a while, the sound of rustling clothes came from within the room.

    Shortly, the Patriarch of the Qin Family, Qin Heng, wrapped in a robe, walked out from the inside.

    He bore a resemnce to Qin Si by about fifty to sixty percent, but his body was very thin and frail, with a sickly paleplexion.

    Stepping out of the room, the chilly breeze blew causing him to cover his mouth and cough twice before he looked towards Ah-Fu and asked coldly, "What happened?"

    ---

    During the new book phase, I need continuous reading and rmendations. If it''s convenient for everyone, please continue reading every day or click through to thetest chapter. Thank you, everyone. Lastly, I ask for your rmendation votes and monthly tickets~~

 Chapter 25 Way 37 of 108 to Improve Relationships

    ```

    Ah-Fu knew that Qin Heng was unwell and couldn''t stay outside for long, so he hurriedly came forward and whispered his report, "Master, three hours ago, the guards reported that Agent Qiu had summoned two people over."

    "Half an hourter, those two people left carrying a sack."

    "An hour ago, the servants reported that Miss Shuman''s personal maid Cui Lan has gone missing."

    "She said she was going out for a walk around 9 o''clock tonight, but she has not returned. I''ve arranged for people to search everywhere, but there''s no trace of her. All the ponds and wells have been checked as well, with no sign of her."

    "But a servant recalled that three hours ago, she was seen heading to the courtyard where the Security Team was staying...."

    Ah-Fu didn''t finish his sentence, but the implication was clear.

    Qin Heng muttered to himself expressionlessly, "Cui Lan...?"

    "Isn''t she the maid we hired to serve Miss Shuman?"

    Ah-Fu reminded him in a low voice, "Master, have you forgotten? The maid sent to serve Miss Shuman was returned the same day after being sent to Director Yan''s vi."

    "So, Cui Lan is a maid personally used by Director Yan."

    Qin Heng''s expression darkened instantly, "Did he bring her from the Sanctuary?"

    This time, Ah-Fu clearly hesitated for a second, then remembering Cui Lan''s plump, darkplexion, he shook his head, "She shouldn''t be."

    Qin Heng''s expression eased slightly, and after pondering for a moment, he said, "Then tell the second brother. Let them deal with the internal affairs of the Investigation Bureau themselves."

    Ah-Fu took the order, "Yes."

    Qin Heng coughed twice again, then turned around and went back to his room.

    After a while, a woman''s concerned low voice came from the room, "What''s wrong?"

    Qin Heng replied softly, "It''s nothing, just a minor issue."

    The woman responded with a "Hmm".

    The room gradually quieted down, and the blue moonlight, like water, spilled over the entire Qin Family Mansion....

    [7 Days]

    [64:25:01]

    ....

    A silent night passed.

    Early the next morning, Qiu Tu got out of bed and habitually nced at the two hourss timers in the upper left corner.

    In the timers, the first was for the time Director Yan Chen had given him to investigate the Qin family''s crimes. Six days left.

    The second was for the Cataclysmic Potion''s preparation time, about 57 hours remaining.

    ''Calcting the time, the Qin family should have reported Cui Lan''s death to Yan Chen by now?''

    ''Then, his reaction should be seen soon....''

    ''By then, I''ll know if I guessed right...''

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu got up, freshened up, then went out of his room to have breakfast.

    To amodate the Security Team, the Qin family had set up a small kitchen in the courtyard. Every morning, the small kitchen would be ready with meals for the Security Team to eat.

    During breakfast, Qiu Tu and Fang Ming sat at the same table.

    While eating with his head down, Fang Ming said in a muted voice, "Qiu Tu, to be honest, I admire you."

    "When I first met you, you were just a regr detective, and it seemed like you had offended the Bureau Chief''s woman, earning his dislike."

    "But that same night, you turned the tables. Not only were you transferred to the Political Department, but you were also promoted."

    "At the time, I was surprised and curious."

    "But unexpectedly, in just one day the situation turned around again. You were appointed as the Security Team Captain, escorting Qin Shuman back to the Qin family."

    ```

    ```

    "Although I''m not sure what you''re peddling in that gourd of yours, any clear-eyed person knows this is a setup for disaster."

    "A First Level Detective from the Political Department is leading the team, it''s just short of pulling out an investigation warrant right there."

    "Which of those who has made it in the officialdom isn''t cunning? Who couldn''t guess that this is a political statement?"

    "So, countless pairs of eyes in Xinjie City are watching the Qin Family, watching the Bureau Chief, watching you."

    At this point, he paused, then continued, "As a result,st night you first met with Master Qin Si, then killed Yan Chen''s personal maid, Cui Lan..."

    "To be honest, I''m a bit confused about whose side you''re on and exactly what kind of game you''re ying..."

    "My dad always said, when you encounter someone you can''t figure out but still find somewhat trustworthy, the best method is to be honest with them."

    "Otherwise, the other person will calcte against you thoroughly, even making you count the money for them."

    "So, I want to be a little honest with you too. I got involved in this matter purely by ident, and I hope you won''t drag me into your schemes."

    "As long as you don''t involve me, I will owe you a favor."

    "As for your group of brothers, I really like Ah-Tai, and I''ve already arranged for him to participate in the Special Service Department''s selection this morning, no problem there."

    "If you pull through in the end and he continues to follow you, I''ll consider that favor repaid."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "If something happens to you, I will treat him like my own brother and train him well. With him there, your brothers won''t bepletely powerless without your care."

    "But you should try your best not to involve him in your next moves. Otherwise, I won''t be able to protect him."

    After finishing, Fang Ming continued to lower his head to eat, as if waiting for Qiu Tu''s decision.

    Qiu Tu looked at Fang Ming, just watching. After a moment, a smile bloomed on his face, and he extended his hand, "Deal."

    Fang Ming breathed a sigh of relief and extended his hand as well.

    The two hands sped together.

    When they let go, Fang Ming added in a whisper, "Be careful, the Qin Family''s situation is not that simple, it may involve some higher-level struggles..."

    Qiu Tu felt a slight stir in his heart as he was reminded of the Crisis Intuition''s constant alerts about Yan Chen being caught in a storm. He nodded and sincerely said, "Thank you."

    ...

    After finishing the meal, as the captain of the Security Team, Qiu Tu naturally had to report to Qin Shuman.

    But before he could move, Qin Shuman came looking for him in a fluster, her skirt in hand.

    Upon seeing Qiu Tu, Qin Shuman visibly rxed.

    She hurried over to him, leaned down close and whispered, "Qiu Tu, there''s trouble."

    Smelling the burst of cherry blossom fragrance and watching the surging white waves before him, Qiu Tu continued to eat calmly while he softly inquired, "What happened?"

    Qin Shuman looked around. There were still other detectives eating at several tables, but she couldn''t care less at that point, so she sat down next to Qiu Tu and lowered her voice, "Cui Lan has disappeared. I suspect someone has harm her."

    "After I returned to my roomst night, she asked for leave, saying she wanted to..."

    She was cut off before she could finish by Qiu Tu, "I know."

    "You know?" Qin Shuman''s eyes obviously froze for a moment, making her look much more bewildered.

    Qiu Tu hummed a confirmation, continued to eat without looking up, and said casually, "I killed her."

    Qin Shuman: !!?

    Qin Shuman''s eyes widened in shock as she stared at Qiu Tu.

    Fortunately, she was still rational, so the next second she regained herposure, swallowed, and asked softly, "Why?"

    Qiu Tu looked at her, not hesitating as he began to use one of the "108 Ways to Foster Affection" No. 37: For you.

    "It was of course for you."

    "For me?" Qin Shuman blinked her eyes, revealing a hint of rity and silliness....

    ```

 Chapter 26 Testing the Bottom Line

    Qiu Tu stated matter-of-factly, "Nonsense, if it weren''t for you, why would I kill her?"

    Qin Shuman''s mind couldn''t quite catch up, and she asked puzzledly, "But... what did she do to me?"

    As he picked at his food, Qiu Tu exined slowly and methodically, "She was Yan Chen''s person, following you around to keep watch over you."

    "Yan Chen clearly didn''t trust you as a ''mole'' for the military, so he had her record your every word and deed to regrly report."

    At this point, Qiu Tu countered, "Are you a ''mole'' for the military?"

    Qin Shuman hastily and nkly shook her head.

    Qiu Tu said, "There you have it. She found something amiss with you and meticulously recorded all the details."

    "Last night, when she was about to report to Yan Chen, I happened upon her, so I figured I might as well go all the way and killed her."

    Qin Shuman''s mouth fell open slightly, momentarily at a loss for words.

    Meanwhile, Qiu Tu was smiling, contentedly eating a mouthful of meat.

    People, after all, live their whole lives learning the art of passing the buck.

    If you can shift the me to others and gain their gratitude in the process, why bear it yourself?

    Lay aside personal integrity, and enjoy the life of the shameless...

    ...

    Perhaps truly persuaded by Qiu Tu, Qin Shuman seemed to be in much better spirits.

    Although she was still muttering worriedly about Yan Chen''s wrath, under Qiu Tu''s "leave it all to me" reassurances, she gradually calmed down.

    After dinner, to alleviate Qin Shuman''s concerns, Qiu Tu took the initiative to bring her to the pond to feed the fish.

    As one of Xinjie City''s most powerful and influential families, the Qin Family''s estate was broad in area and massive in architectural scale, ranking prominently within the entire city. Thus, the Qin Family Mansion not only boasted a well-arranged residence but also a meticulously designed garden with a distinctly oriental charm.

    Sunlight filtered through the delicate leaves of the bamboo, dancing on the pebble-paved pathways in a mottled pattern,

    Qin Shuman sat on a stool beside the path, her long legs stretched out in front. She pinched a handful of fine fish food and gently scattered it into the crystal-clear pond.

    Suddenly, the previously peaceful waters came alive, as various mutant fish converged from all directions.

    Watching the fish swim around her, a faint smile yed on her lips, and her bright, star-like eyes sparkled with allure.

    Qiu Tu stood not too far away, his gaze softly falling upon her. He felt this was the most leisurely moment he had in days.

    Yet he also wondered how much longer he could enjoy such times.

    With that thought, his gaze pierced through the Qin Family Mansion, the streets, and the buildings until it settled on the dark silhouette ensconced in the office atop the Investigation Bureau Office Building...

    At the same time.

    In the Xinjie City Investigation Bureau Office Building.

    Yan Chen sat in the Bureau Chief''s office, bowing his head as he worked through documents, listening to Secretary Bai''s report.

    After a while, he signed on a document and then looked up to ask, "So, in summary, Second Qin came to report to you today that Qiu Tu killed Cui Lan, correct?"

    Secretary Bai respectfully replied, "Yes."

    Yan Chen let out a light "hmm" from his nose, "Old Qin is really slippery, still unwilling to take a stand up until now."

    "Alright, I''ve got it," he said, and returned to reviewing the documents before him.

    Seeing that Yan Chen had no further instructions, Secretary Bai did not leave but cautiously inquired, "Bureau Chief, should we warn or discipline Qiu Tu in any way?"

    Upon hearing this, Yan Chen paused in his actions.

    He lifted his head, his gaze sharp as he looked at Secretary Bai, flipped his pen around, and tapped it heavily on the desk, saying sternly, "Bai Yu, I know you have high hopes for Qiu Tu, but don''t try to y games with me!"

    At that moment, Secretary Bai broke out in sweat, quickly straightening his back, "Yes."

    Yan Chen''s face turned cold, and she waved her hand, "Go out."

    Secretary Bai saluted respectfully and turned to walk out of the office.

    After leaving the office, Secretary Bai closed the door behind him. Then he let out a slight sigh and shook his head as he walked toward his own office.

    ...

    The fact that Qiu Tu had killed Cui Lan was not exactly a secret. As such, many keen onlookers had also been watching how the situation progressed.

    But after waiting a day, there was absolutely no response from Yan Chen.

    No reprimand, no chastisement, and certainly no rewards. It was eerily quiet, as if she werepletely unaware of the incident.

    However, by evening, most people had caught on.

    Theck of any reward meant the incident was not instigated by Yan Chen. Yan Chen was very dissatisfied with it.

    The absence of reprimand or chastisement meant the issue was not yet resolved.

    By intentionally not defining the situation, Yan Chen could, in the future, use the incident to incriminate Qiu Tu whenever she wished, be it in a major or minor way.

    On the contrary, if there were reprimands or admonishments, it would mean the incident was over. Yan Chen, although not pleased, was not preparing to take any action against Qiu Tu.

    ''Just as I thought,'' Qiu Tu felt greatly relieved after waiting an entire day with no resolutioning forth.

    ''Indeed... with my current value, Yan Chen wouldn''t inconvenience me over some non-crucial matters.''

    ''Although she still harbors some wariness towards me, she has actually made concessions in practice.''

    Thinking this way, Qiu Tu''s gaze was filled with amusement...

    Anyone familiar with scamming tactics would recognize this as the bait that conned parties bite, amon trick used by swindlers: testing the limits...

    Once a person is hooked by their own greed, their bottom line will be gradually lowered by the swindler, until it''s gonepletely.

    So the next step was quite simple...

    ''It''s time to slowly increase Yan Chen''s "sunk cost"...''

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu didn''t even hesitate, immediately sending up a report...

    "Discovered significant clues, requesting backup of one team of Political Department Investigators for deployment, and an increase in operational funds: 399 Silver Yuan."

    "[49:19:48 (able to produce Cataclysmic Potion)]"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    ...

    In the evening, as Qiu Tu and Yan Chen were engaged in their strategic contest,

    Shen Lingshuang sat nkly on the steps of the small courtyard, holding a short-legged tabby cat and looking up at the sky with her cheek in her palm.

    A maid and a Special Service Detective stood next to her, keeping watch over her.

    After a while, she turned to look at the Special Service Detective, "Hey, don''t you think you should go check on your boss?

    "Could he have choked to death on water? Otherwise, why hasn''t hee to interrogate me all day?

    "As a significant criminal, don''t I deserve a bit of face?"

    Having probably repeated this spiel all day, the Special Service Detective, upon hearing her, silently turned away, pretending not to have heard.

    Seeing this, Shen Lingshuang red at him indignantly, then, pouting, stroked the short-legged tabby cat a couple of times, almost yanking out its fur!

    The maid looked on sympathetically and reached out to stop her but didn''t dare to speak up...

    And just then, Qiu Tu''s voice came from outside the courtyard...

 Chapter 27 Making the Cataclysmic Potion

    "What kind of face? You''re a suspect, and you still have face?"

    Upon hearing that familiar mockery, Shen Lingshuang''s eyes brightened, and she stood up abruptly, eximing, "Qiu Tu? You''vee!"

    As she spoke, Qiu Tu, with his hands in his pockets, strode in from outside the courtyard.

    His legs were long, his figure perfect, and the ck uniform of the Political Department looked exceptionally crisp on him.

    Plus, with his handsome looks that rivaled Yanzu, bathed in the glow of the setting sun, Shen Lingshuang was momentarily mesmerized.

    108 Ways to Enhance Affection #7: If you have outstanding physical attributes, be sure to use them to your advantage. This can help you quickly conquer a woman''s heart.

    Stepping up to Shen Lingshuang, Qiu Tu gestured with a wave of his hand for the Special Service Detectives and the maidservant by her side to leave.

    The Special Service Detective, seeing this, clearly breathed a sigh of relief. He saluted Qiu Tu respectfully before hastily making his escape from the yard.

    The maidservant also left in a hurry, but not before she snatched the little cat from Shen Lingshuang''s arms¡ªthen, with tears in her eyes, she ran off clutching the kitten.

    Watching the two flee as if avoiding the gue, Qiu Tu was full of question marks: What exactly did Shen Lingshuang, the little witch, do to make those guarding her act like they''ve seen a ghost...?

    By then, Shen Lingshuang had also finally snapped back to reality.

    Looking at the handsome Qiu Tu, her face blushed slightly. But her strong pride still made her hold her head high as she asked, "Where did you go today? Howe you didn''te to... didn''te to interrogate me?"

    Qiu Tu frowned slightly, not indulging her rebuke, "What does it matter to you what I do?"

    But after the rebuke, he still added, "I am the captain of the Security Team; naturally, I must be guarding Miss Shuman."

    When Qiu Tu first rebuked Shen Lingshuang, although she found it satisfying, she still felt somewhat indignant.

    But as soon as she heard what Qiu Tu said next, her attention was diverted,

    "Miss Shuman?"

    Muttering the name, Shen Lingshuang couldn''t help but recall the celestial-like woman she saw when she was sent to the Qin Family.

    It was beauty that she, as a woman, envied.

    She felt a slight sense of loss, and then, as if possessed, she asked, "So, who do you think is prettier, Miss Shuman or me?"

    Qiu Tu looked Shen Lingshuang up and down upon hearing this.

    The young girl was actually quite attractive, but because she hadn''t fully blossomed yet and was too green, it was a bit humiliating for her topare herself with Qin Shuman...

    So...

    "Definitely you."

    "How can Qin Shumanpare with you?"

    108 Ways to Enhance Affection #9: Offer somepliments that you know are false, as it can quickly increase the other person''s favorability.

    Shen Lingshuang, who unexpectedly received such an answer from Qiu Tu, blushed and asked awkwardly, "Do you really think so?"

    "Of course." Qiu Tu raised his hand to swear, "I swear on the life of my immediate superior, Yan Chen, that if there is a single false word, he shall have no ce to be buried."

    Upon hearing that, Shen Lingshuang felt a sweet sensation in her heart. After all, who didn''t know that Yan Chen was Qiu Tu''s benefactor, and that his young age as a First Level Detective of the Political Department was entirely due to Yan Chen''s patronage.

    ¡ªShen Lingshuang had indeed learned quite a bit about Qiu Tu from the detectives guarding her today~~

    Shen Lingshuang nodded contentedly, and although she didn''t say it out loud, she felt very pleased inside.

    Meanwhile, Qiu Tu, having finished boosting Shen Lingshuang''s goodwill, also timely started the topic he came to Shen Lingshuang for, "Ling Shuang, I need you to do something for me."

    Although just moments ago Qiu Tu''s two bination punches" had sessfully hooked Shen Lingshuang, she still habitually yed coy in response.

    She tilted her head, pouted her lips slightly arrogantly, and said, "Just because you tell me to do something, I have to do it? How embarrassing for me."

    Qiu Tu, however, said, "This is amand, not a question."

    "If you don''t agree, I can only help you remember yesterday''s punishment."

    Listening to Qiu Tu''s domineering yet ambiguous words, Shen Lingshuang felt an inexplicable shiver in her heart.

    Her cheeks flushed, she turned her head away and muttered insincerely, "Fine, I''ll do it... no need to threaten people..."

    After speaking, she asked without much enthusiasm, "So what do you want me to do?"

    Qiu Tu took out a package from his pocket and handed it to Shen Lingshuang.

    Shen Lingshuang was rather casual when receiving the package, but when she saw what was inside, her eyes widened in an instant, "Aurora Stone! Tears of Moonlight!"

    After recognizing these two precious Cataclysmic Materials, Shen Lingshuang couldn''t help but look at Qiu Tu in surprise, "Where did you get these two things from?"

    Qiu Tu shook his head, refusing to answer, "That''s a secret, you shouldn''t pry."

    Shen Lingshuang was indeed obedient. When Qiu Tu told her not to ask, she didn''t ask any further. However, as her handcuffed hands brushed over the two Cataclysm Materials, her gaze still became extremelyplex.

    Putting away the yful expression on her face, she looked at Qiu Tu and asked seriously, "Our rtionship shouldn''t be good, right? How can you trust me with these items?"

    "Aren''t you afraid that I will deliberately sabotage and ruin the potion?"

    "You haven''t seen a Cataclysmic Potion before, have you? Aren''t you afraid that I might secretly make a fake potion and pocket these two Cataclysmic Materials?"

    "And... have you ever seen my alchemy skills? Aren''t you afraid that I''ll fail in making it?"

    Qiu Tu did not directly answer Shen Lingshuang''s barrage of questions, but instead fired back, "Would you intentionally spoil my Cataclysmic Potion?"

    Shen Lingshuang shook her head, "I wouldn''t."

    Qiu Tu then asked, "Would you pocket these two Cataclysmic Materials then?"

    Shen Lingshuang shook her head again, "I wouldn''t."

    Qiu Tu finally asked, "Then, do you think you can sessfully create the Cataclysmic Potion?"

    This time, Shen Lingshuang hesitated for a moment. But in the end, she nodded, "I am at least 90% certain."

    Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu said with a smile, "Then what do I have to worry about?"

    "You may think our rtionship is not good, but I find you very trustworthy."

    "So..... I trust you."

    Apanying those final words, Shen Lingshuang stood frozen in ce.

    Possibly having never been trusted so much by anyone, Shen Lingshuang was somewhat at a loss for what to do. She stuttered, "But, but, I, you...."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    After a moment, she took several deep breaths, forcing herself to calm down.

    Then with aplex look in her eyes, she gazed at Qiu Tu, "But Qiu Tu, I can''t guarantee that the potion I make will truly cause a Cataclysm Awakening when you drink it."

    "You know... the awakening rate of the Cataclysmic Potion is less than 20% now; it''spletely a gamble with one''s life."

    Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu heavily patted Shen Lingshuang''s shoulder and said earnestly, "Then I entrust my life to you."

    Time seemed to stop at that moment, as Shen Lingshuang felt the world around her so vast, yet as if it could only fit a single person, Qiu Tu....

    Tomorrow is my daughter''s birthday, so the two chapter updates will probably both be in the evening. Everyone can enjoy reading them togetherter; it''ll be more satisfying that way.

 Chapter 28 The Dangers of Awakening

    For a moment, she regained herposure and said to Qiu Tu with a determined look, "Don''t worry! I will definitely ensure your sessful Cataclysm Awakening!"

    Having said that, she seemed to have also entered work mode, waving her hand and saying, "Bring paper and pen, I need to write down the other ingredients for the potion."

    "Although none of them are rare or precious herbs, they still require some time to prepare."

    Qiu Tu nced at the countdown timer in the upper left corner [46:35:17], then asked, "Is a day and a half enough time?"

    Shen Lingshuang thought for a moment, "It shouldn''t be a problem."

    Qiu Tu was relieved.

    So, Qiu Tu fetched some paper and a pen, and Shen Lingshuang quickly wrote down what was needed for the Cataclysmic Potion and the equipment. Qiu Tu carefully folded the note and put it in his pocket, ready to contact Eagle, Ah-Kun, and the others to take care of this matter.

    However, after seeing Qiu Tu put away the note, Shen Lingshuang hesitated for a moment before speaking up, "Qiu Tu."

    Qiu Tu looked up at her.

    Shen Lingshuang said, "Actually... I have some things about the Cataclysmic Potion that I want to discuss with you."

    "I think you should be aware of them beforehand."

    Shen Lingshuang always appeared to Qiu Tu as carefree andwless. Now that she was suddenly so serious, Qiu Tu knew what she was about to say must be very important.

    Indeed, Shen Lingshuang began to speak slowly,

    "From the birth of the first Cataclysmic Potion and the first Cataclysmic, it has now been a full 13 years."

    "Research on the Cataclysmic Potion and Cataclysmics by the various Sanctuaries has continued uninterrupted."

    "But the more research is done, the more Sanctuaries realize there are significant problems with Cataclysm Awakening."

    Pausing, she asked, "You still remember the six Cataclysmic pathways I told you about, don''t you?"

    Qiu Tu nodded, "I remember. Destruction, Life, Mystery, Immortality, Order, and Chaos."

    Shen Lingshuang nodded and then said, "Yes. But do you know why these pathways are named after these particr words?"

    Qiu Tu shook his head.

    Shen Lingshuang exined, "Because these are the paths that the six pathways follow, and they are also their biggest issue."

    Fearing that her exnation might not be clear enough, Shen Lingshuang gave an example, "If you are a Cataclysmic of the Destruction pathway, then all of your actions must align closely with ''Destruction''."

    "The more you ''Destroy'', the faster your strength will progress."

    "Of course, what you ''Destroy'' is for you to decide."

    "Some people choose to destroy ''Life'', others ''Food'', and some ''Peace''..."

    "Corresponding sub-pathways include ''ughter,'' ''Gluttony,'' ''War''..."

    "If it ended there, it might not matter so much. But there is a very terrifying rule on the Cataclysmic pathways."

    "That is¡ªif you only follow your path, your strength will improve, but if you betray or stop your path, then your strength will also start to decline rapidly."

    At this point, Shen Lingshuang''s gaze revealed a deep concern,

    "It is under this sort of pressure that many Cataclysmics be increasingly extreme. Their minds even start to deviate from normal, turningpletely insane..."

    "Now many specte that there is a problem with the Cataclysmic Potion itself, or that perhaps humans must undergo Cataclysm Awakening on their own, rather than stealing the cataclysmic powers of other beings."

    "So... the offspring of the higher-ups in the Sanctuary mostly don''t undergo Cataclysm Awakening. They are just ordinary people."

    Hearing Shen Lingshuang''s words, Qiu Tu was silent for two seconds, and then asked, "Then what about the high-ups of the Sanctuary themselves?"

    Shen Lingshuang''s eyes were filled with a sorrow so dense it was almost tangible, "They have no choice."

    "In the face of the great Cataclysm, in the face of the life-and-death situation of our race, someone must carry the heavy burden and forge ahead."

    Qiu Tu fell silent.

    Shen Lingshuang looked at him and then said, "That''s why I hope you will consider it carefully."

    Upon hearing her words, Qiu Tu took a few deep breaths, vigorously rubbed his face, and then said with a smile, "No need to think about it anymore, I will definitely walk this path."

    Shen Lingshuang looked at him, puzzled, "Why?"

    "If you said you didn''t know the dangers of this road, I could understand your choice."

    "But you clearly know how dangerous this road is, why do you still want to continue down it?"

    She said, "You should know about the dispute over the path of human ''Cataclysm Awakening'' in the Sanctuary, right?"N?v(el)B\\jnn

    "Ever since the ''Cataclysmic Potion'' was researched, the faction advocating for ''stealing mystical powers from other life forms'' has been dominant."

    "However, with more and more people losing control after using the ''Cataclysmic Potion'' over the years."

    "Now inside the Sanctuary, the voices of the faction that believes in ''relying on the natural birth of a new mankind through generations of human reproduction, who inherently possess this power'' are getting louder and louder."

    "You don''t have to..."

    Qiu Tu, however, waved his hand with a smile and cut off her words, "Even if a new mankind is indeed born in the future, that won''t be me, nor you. Am I right?"

    "This is a chaotic era where it''s every man for himself. If you''re not on the dining table, you''re on the menu."

    "I have seen the qualifications to sit at the dining table and don''t want to give up due to my own cowardice, to be ughtered like pigs and sheep."

    "I''d rather have a splendid and illustrious life. Even if it''s very short..."

    Having said this, Qiu Tu paused for a moment, and then continued softly,

    "And besides, although I don''t know what dangers humanity has encountered that require the leaders of the Sanctuary to be Cataclysmics and bear the heavy burden."

    "But if they can sacrifice themselves for the future of our race, then I can too. I think... I want to walk with them."

    Having said that, Qiu Tu stood up and left the courtyard, leaving behind a dashing and resolute silhouette for Shen Lingshuang...

    Shen Lingshuang stared nkly at Qiu Tu''s retreating figure without snapping back to reality for a long time...

    [45:02:01 (Cataclysmic Potion can be produced)]

    ...

    After leaving the courtyard, Qiu Tu gave a few instructions to the rotating scouts and maid at the courtyard entrance, asking them to satisfy Shen Lingshuang''s reasonable requests as much as possible during the time they guarded her.

    Having interacted with this girl for two days, Qiu Tu had confirmed Crisis Intuition''s assessment of her as "having a kind heart."

    She was like a cactus that had grown wildly in the apocalypse, thorny on the outside but always maintaining a pure heart at her core.

    So within his own authority, Qiu Tu still hoped to make her life as good as possible.

    Yep... And it had nothing to do with her Speaker father.

    ¡ªDuring today''s conversation, Shen Lingshuang had revealed too much information that only the offspring of the high ranks of the Sanctuary would know.

    So even if she wasn''t the daughter of Shen Yuzhou, the Deputy Speaker of the Supreme Sanctuary Council of the Third Sanctuary, her background must be extraordinary...

    With that thought, Qiu Tu left the small courtyard where Shen Lingshuang was being held and headed towards his own residence.

    But just halfway there, he received amunication from Fang Ming.

    The content was brief, with just one piece of news... the reinforcements Qiu Tu had applied for in his report this afternoon had arrived...

 Chapter 29 Establishing Authority!

    It has to be said, when Qiu Tu learned this piece of news from Fang Ming''s mouth, he was somewhat surprised.

    He had considered the possibility that Yan Chen might agree, but he never expected her agreement toe so swiftly, nor did he expect Jia Shu to carry out the orders so quickly.

    Reflecting on the time psed from when he requested reinforcements to when they arrived, it was a mere four hours.

    This indicated that Yan Chen had hardly hesitated after receiving the report before approving his request, and Jia Shu had caused no dys.

    ''It''s good news... This means that in Yan Chen''s eyes, I am bing more and more important...''

    ''However...'' As this thought crossed his mind, Qiu Tu couldn''t help but specte, ''Given Yan Chen''s character, there must definitely be a catch with this reinforcement, right?''

    With these thoughts, Qiu Tu leisurely returned to the courtyard where he was staying.

    Indeed, upon arriving at the courtyard, Qiu Tu discovered a team of Political Department Investigators in ck uniforms resting inside.

    And the entrance to the courtyard, which had been rather quiet these past couple of days, today saw several additional servants from the Qin Family Mansion interior.

    They peered into the courtyard from time to time, clearly there to observe and gather intelligence.

    Witnessing this scene, Qiu Tu couldn''t help butugh wryly to himself.

    It seems the first pitfall had arrived: Yan Chen actually hadn''t sent the Political Department Investigators in secret but let them enter the Qin Family Mansion openly?

    What is the Political Department for?

    It''s a secret branch responsible mainly for espionage, counter-espionage, and internal supervision.

    Such a sensitive department always acts with consideration for their impact and keeps a low profile.

    Now, a team of Political Department Investigators entering the Qin Family Mansion openly will probably soon stir up a storm throughout the city.

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu stepped into the courtyard.

    When Fang Ming, who was receiving the reinforcements, saw Qiu Tu, he hastily greeted him, "Agent Qiu."

    After the greeting, he introduced Qiu Tu to the two Political Department Investigators beside him, "This is our Security Team Leader, Agent Qiu."

    Having said this, he led the two men forward.

    As the two men approached, Qiu Tu''s gaze also fell on their epaulettes.

    One of the men had two golden flowers pinned on his epaulette, while the other had three, just like Qiu Tu.

    That meant he, like Qiu Tu, was a First Level Detective of the Political Department, a squad leader.

    Indeed, when Fang Ming introduced them to Qiu Tu, he particrly emphasized this point, "Agent Qiu, these two are Investigators Cao Dabiao and Chen Feng."

    "They are the leaders and deputy leaders of this reinforcement squad."

    At this point, Fang Ming gave Qiu Tu a meaningful look, clearly indicating that there was an issue here.

    Qiu Tu kept hisposure, but inwardly he was almost amused to the point ofughing by Yan Chen:

    He had requested just one squad of Political Department Investigators, yet a full squad had been sent over, with even their squad leader included.

    He was of the same rank as this Squad Leader Cao Dabiao, whose seniority was greater than his and who was more familiar with the team members. Without disying some skill, he could be sidelined within minutes. How then could he control this squad and cultivate his own power base?

    With these thoughts in mind, Qiu Tu nced at Cao Dabiao and Chen Feng with a profound look.

    Cao Dabiao was a man in his thirties with a round face, a beard around his jaw, and squinting eyes that betrayed ruthlessness and greed.

    With just one nce, Qiu Tu knew this man was an unruly rascal who would not easily take orders.

    As for Chen Feng, he was a young man in his twenties, with sharp and well-defined features that seemed a bit difficult to deal with, and he appeared somewhat indifferent when he saw Qiu Tu.

    It seems... he''s a thorn too, isn''t he?

    Having considered this, Qiu Tu gained a general understanding of the "test" Yan Chen and Jia Shu had set up for him.

    However... such a trivial difficulty didn''t even register in Qiu Tu''s eyes.

    With that thought, he abruptly stood straight and bellowed, "Assemble!"

    Upon hearing Qiu Tu''s full-throatedmand, the Political Department Investigators who had been resting in twos and threes were suddenly startled.

    Earlier, Fang Ming had already introduced them to Qiu Tu''s identity, so upon hearing his call to assemble, they hurriedly ran over and formed up.

    Even if Cao Dabiao and Chen Feng harbored other ulterior motives at this moment, seeing all the team members assembling, they too could only stand before Qiu Tu.

    After seizing the initiative, Qiu Tu swept his gaze sharply across everyone, and then, pointing at his own epaulettes, he introduced himself, "I am Qiu Tu from the Political Department, a First Level Detective! I am the captain of this Security Team, and also themanding officer of all of you!"

    "Now, attention~~~!"

    As Qiu Tu finished stating his identity and the hierarchy of superior and subordinate was established, everyone''spliance visibly increased, and they immediately straightened their backs, standing upright.

    Even the old fox, Big Biao,zily straightened up.

    Qiu Tu''s eyes swept across all the members and hemanded, "Salute!"

    Following Qiu Tu''s cue, a dozen right hands lifted in unison!

    Qiu Tu also stood straight and returned the salute.

    Then he lowered his hand, looked at Cao Dabiao, and said, "Cao Dabiao, step out!"

    Qiu Tu and Cao Dabiao were of the same rank, and Qiu Tu''s seniority was slightly less, so theoretically, he couldn''tmand Cao Dabiao.

    But because Qiu Tu''s position included the role of Security Team Captain and the entire squad had just followed his orders, even if he felt somewhat aggrieved, he had no choice but to cooperate.

    Now that Qiu Tu had singled him out with amand, his difort intensified. But since he had followed the previousmands and a pattern had been established, he could only reluctantly step forward and said perfunctorily, "Agent Qiu, what instructions do you have?"

    However, Qiu Tu didn''t give him the slightest face, and directly snapped, "Address me as yourmanding officer!"

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s upromising words, Cao Dabiao felt a burning sensation on his face. He could almost feel the awkward stares from his team members behind him without even looking back.

    He knew Qiu Tu waspletely undermining his authority in the squad and forcibly establishing the concept of hierarchy in front of everyone.

    So, gritting his teeth and ring at Qiu Tu, he was tempted to challenge Qiu Tu to a contest of wills and push back against hismand.

    But just at that moment, Qiu Tu spoke again.

    With a cold gaze, he sternly shouted at Cao Dabiao, "What? Are you resisting a superior''smand?!"

    In that instant, Cao Dabiao felt utterly embarrassed.

    In a disciplined force, defying orders is an extremely serious matter¡ªeven to the extent of being shot on the spot during wartime!

    Furthermore, what was more important was that he noticed Qiu Tu''s hand had already moved toward the gun holster on his back.

    ''Does he truly intend to kill me?''n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    ''How dare he?!''

    ''Has he gone mad? To shoot a First Level Detective over a formality? He wouldn''t survive the repercussions either!''

    Although he couldn''t believe in his heart that Qiu Tu would do such a thing, the dark intensity in Qiu Tu''s eyes forced him to yield at that moment due to the overwhelming sense of danger.

    ''There''s no point in reasoning with a madman!''

    ''As long as I live, I can seek revengeter!''

    With that thought, he lowered his head and shouted loudly, "Yes,manding officer!"

    Qiu Tu''s hand rxed from the gun holster, and he nodded in satisfaction, "Good!"

    "Now, I have a mission to assign to you!"

 Chapter 30 Power

    ```

    After one''s spine is forcibly broken, it bes very hard for them to hold their head up high again.

    So, when Cao Dabiao showed weakness, he had already reached a point of reckless abandon.

    He bellowed, "Please give your orders, sir!"

    Seeing this, Qiu Tu let out a slight smile,

    "Now, Imand you to leave the Qin Family with two familiar agents. In half an hour, I will contact you and give you further instructions."

    "Huh?" Possibly not expecting such an order from Qiu Tu, Cao Dabiao looked at Qiu Tu with a confused expression.

    But now, the entire scene was under Qiu Tu''s control, and his prestige and confidence had just been thoroughly crushed, so he didn''t dare to voice any objections.

    Thus, like a zombie, he picked out two of his confidants from the ranks and, still dazed, led them away from the Qin Family, ready to receive Qiu Tu''s nextmand in half an hour.

    In this manner, they left the Qin Family Mansion.

    Standing at the entrance of the Qin Family Mansion, facing the extensive city roads that branched out in all directions, Cao Dabiao was bewildered for a few seconds before he suddenly came to his senses!

    Damn it! Was I just stripped of my "military power"?!

    Thinking of his squad, nowpletely out of his control, a horde of unspeakable emotions surged wildly in Cao Dabiao''s heart!

    However, the next second, when he saw the two confidants by his side, he eximed again, "Damn it!"

    Shit! Did I just take my confidants with me?

    Doesn''t that mean I don''t even have anyone to pass on messages or give remote orders??

    With this realization, Cao Dabiao felt an icy chill throughout his body.

    He thought back to Qiu Tu''s series of actions just now: preemptive strike¡ªherd mentality¡ªoverwhelming authority¡ªintimidation¡ªrelocation. Abination of moves that left him out of the game before he even got into the groove.

    At that moment, Cao Dabiao only felt an ominous chill.

    He was tempted to go back and challenge Qiu Tu again, but Qiu Tu''s recent tacticalbination hadpletely sapped his courage.

    Being not of a tough disposition to begin with, after much hesitation, he chose to give up.

    ''Forget it, he''s a tough nut to crack... better not provoke him.''

    ''Might as well consider it a vacation.''

    ''After all, I''ve got two confidants with me. Worstes to worst, after this mission is over, I''ll just gift something nice to the superior officers and get transferred to another squad...''

    Thinking this way, Cao Dabiao wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and waved to his two confidants, saying generously, "Let''s go, off to have some barbecue. It''s on me."

    ...

    Meanwhile.

    Inside the barracks of the Security Team, Qiu Tu looked at Chen Feng and the remaining nine agents with satisfaction and nodded approvingly.

    After kicking out Cao Dabiao, who was of equal rank to him, all the agents present were now lower in both position and rank,pletely eliminating the possibility of challenging his authority.

    However, while this squad appeared outwardly obedient to him, to truly win their allegiance required some additional methods...n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    With this in mind, Qiu Tu turned to Fang Ming and asked, "Agent Fang, has the funding I applied for from the Bureau Chiefe through?"

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, the bewildered Fang Ming at his side snapped back to reality.

    The shock of what had happened in those few short minutes was greater than the teachings of his family over several years.

    ```

    Upon witnessing how Qiu Tu dispatched Cao Dabiao with just a few swift moves, a phrase his father once taught him echoed through his mind:

    "The essence of power isn''t the ability to do what you want, but the ability to make others do what they don''t want to do."

    In that instant, he felt as if he trulyprehended what this sentence meant. And... it was his first real encounter with Qiu Tu.

    Therefore, when he heard Qiu Tu''s inquiry, he snapped back to reality, gave Qiu Tu a deep look, and then respectfully responded, "Reporting to the officer, we have arrived."

    Having said that, he stood up to retrieve a small box bearing the Investigation Bureau''s insignia from the room and presented it to Qiu Tu with both hands.

    Qiu Tu received the box, opened it to inspect the contents, and found it brimming with shiny Silver Yuan.

    He grabbed a handful¡ªthirty to forty coins¡ªand threw them directly at all the agents.

    Seeing the scattering Silver Yuan, the agents'' eyes reddened. Their reflex was to reach out and collect them.

    But at that moment, Qiu Tu let out a thunderous shout, "Don''t catch it!"

    "You are agents! A disciplined force! If the officer hasn''t told you to move, I''ll see who dares!"

    Upon hearing Qiu Tu''s words, the ten agents present swayed slightly, but ultimately all stood still. However, from their fervent gazes, one could tell their desire had not lessened at all.

    After all, in the nning Area, Silver Yuan had substantial purchasing power.

    A single Silver Yuan could buy 80 pounds of top-quality rice, 10 to 20 pounds of meat, or 30 feet of cotton fabric. Its purchasing power was roughly equivalent to 800 of Qiu Tu''s former world''s currency. It was generally not used in transactions among the lower ss.

    So, for the agents whose monthly sry was only "three Silver Yuan," these thirty to forty coins truly represented a fortune.

    Seeing his authority and prohibitions respected, Qiu Tu nodded with satisfaction.

    He returned the small box to Fang Ming, then paced in front of the ten agents. Only then did he speak under the intense gazes of the crowd, "You are all my subordinates. As long as you follow me and work hard! What are promotions? What is Silver Yuan? You will have it all!"

    After finishing, Qiu Tu gestured with his hand, "Now, Chen Feng takes five coins, everyone else takes three, and the rest will be picked up and returned to me!"

    "Chen Feng supervises!"

    "Dismissed!"

    Apanying Qiu Tu''s voice, the agents eagerly bent down to pick up Silver Yuan from the ground.

    But owing to Qiu Tu''s prior order, they did not scramble for it and tacitly picked up only the coins nearest them.

    Soon, each agent held three Silver Yuan in their hands, and the extras were handed over to Chen Feng, who then presented them all to Qiu Tu.

    After cing the Silver Yuan in Qiu Tu''s hands, Chen Feng looked at him withplexity in his eyes and sincerely expressed, "Officer, you, you are... very impressive."

    Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu scanned the other agents, who now regarded him with a mix of awe and eagerness.

    Qiu Tu knew that these ten individuals were now reliable...

    "In name, poweres from above, but in substance, it derives from below."

    .....

    After calling the ten Political Department Investigators to the room, Qiu Tu first divided them into pairs, then took out several clues copied from Master Qin Si''s booklet, instructing them to follow up on the information.

    Soon, the five teams of Political Department Investigators were assembled into squads and set off in sequence.

    Before they left, Qiu Tu made sure to exchangemunicators'' numbers with them, demanding immediate reports on any developments without causing rm.

    Perhaps motivated by thebination of reward and authority exercised earlier, all five teams cooperated fully.

    Afterpleting all these arrangements, Qiu Tu left the room and, watching the Political Department Investigators file out, took out hismunicator and dialed Cao Dabiao''s number....

 Chapter 31 The Drunken Qin Shuman

    A momentter, themunication connected.

    Qiu Tu didn''t beat around the bush and simply said, "Captain Cao, due to an ident, your task has been temporarily canceled. Return to the Qin Family''s quarters now, I have new instructions for you."

    Once he finished speaking, Qiu Tu directly hung up themunication.

    Meanwhile, Cao Dabiao, who had just started drinking with his two confidants and enjoying barbecue, listened to the "beep beep beep"ing from the handset in a dumbfounded manner. After a moment, he violently mmed the skewer he was holding onto the table and cursed angrily, "Damn it! That bastard is really pushing it too far!"

    "It''s like he''s ying me for a fool!"

    But that''s how it is in a disciplined force, where rank and hierarchy crush people. No matter how unwilling he was in his heart, if he still wanted to carry on working in the Investigation Bureau, he had no choice but to suppress his displeasure and obey.

    So, with a face ashen, he settled the bill and hurried back to the courtyard with his two confidants.

    Qiu Tu wasn''t toying with him, rather... it was for insurance.

    With the squad''s morale just settling, Qiu Tu wouldn''t allow any risks: so when the squad was by Qiu Tu''s side, Cao Dabiao had to be pushed to the outside; when the squad dispersed to carry out tasks, Cao Dabiao had toe back and stay by Qiu Tu''s side.

    This way, the possibility of Cao Dabiao colluding and undermining him could be maximized.

    By now, the trap that Yan Chen had dug was thoroughly stepped over by him.

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu gazed at the courtyard entrance, silently contemting: but even though this trap was stepped over, there was another pit lying in front of him.

    With this thought, Qiu Tu''s mind couldn''t help but fly to the matter of the Political Department Investigator making a big show of force entering the Qin Family.

    His brain worked at lightning speed, pondering countermeasures.

    A momentter, his heart subtly shifted, feeling... although the matter was a bit tricky, could it actually be used to his advantage?

    He had originally requested reinforcements to secretly investigate the Qin Family; now that a secret investigation was no longer possible, why not take the opportunity to probe a bit?n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Perhaps... someone would be restless and reveal their ws?

    For example, that person he was most interested in...?

    With that thought, Qiu Tu felt he had a clear n in mind.

    He didn''t wait for Cao Dabiao toe back, instead, he stepped out of the courtyard.

    Since it was rest time, some of the Special Service Department''s detectives were chatting and exercising in the courtyard.

    Upon seeing Qiu Tu, they were visibly more respectful than they had been two days before, standing up to salutate and greet him, "Good day, Sir!" "Good day, Sir!"

    Qiu Tu waved back warmly and exchanged a few caring words.

    Seeing their enthusiastic demeanor, Qiu Tu knew that what he had done today¡ªfirmly dealing with the Political Department squad and the fact that he gave each person three Silver Yuan¡ªhad already spread.

    People are attracted to benefit and avoid harm, and they yearn for those who can offer them greater benefits.

    However... Qiu Tu was very clear about his own position. Though he was now the Captain of the Security Team, it was a temporary position and not meant tost.

    His actual rank was just that of a First Level Detective in the Political Department, at most only qualified tomand a Political Department squad.

    This meant that once the Security Team disbanded, his control over the Special Service Department squad would not be justified.

    Furthermore, he couldn''t even transfer people from this squad to his side¡ªmoving personnel across two powerful departments required too much energy.

    Therefore, he would provide tangible benefits to the Political Department squad but would only curry favor with the Special Service Department squad, leaving a sense of goodwill...

    Leaving the residence, Qiu Tu went to the separate courtyard where the person he was most interested in¡ªQin Shuman¡ªlived.

    Miss Shuman''s public identity was that of a goddaughter acknowledged by the Lady of the Qin Family Head, and on top of that, since she was Yan Chen''s mistress, she owned a separate courtyard within the Qin Family''s Main Residence.

    The courtyard had few rooms; apart from the main hall, the other chambers had all been transformed into entertainment rooms such as an audio-visual room, an art studio, a bar, etc.

    When Qiu Tu found Miss Shuman, she was alone in the little bar of the courtyard, drinking by herself.

    Apparently not expecting Qiu Tu''ste-night visit, she was without any disguise, unceremoniously slumped over the bar counter, her eyes blurred as she swayed a clear, square-shaped ss.

    Under the colorful lights, her deep red dress was as enchanting as fire, stark against her skin as pale and delicate as jade.

    It was Qiu Tu''s first time seeing herpletely without any pretense, and for a moment, he was spellbound.

    But soon, he regained hisposure and, from the alluring yet mncholic look in Miss Shuman''s eyes, he sensed that something was amiss....

    This woman''s heart seemed to be filled with stories. This did not correspond with her identity as a "Cloned Female Body"....

    ''It seems I am destined to have a gain tonight...''

    Thinking so, Qiu Tu gestured to stop the maid from saluting and walked over, taking a seat beside Miss Shuman.

    Feeling someone beside her, Miss Shuman nced over with hazy eyes and, upon seeing Qiu Tu, she suddenlyughed.

    "Qiu... Tu~~~"

    Her voice stretched out, carrying a hint of seduction, then shezily wrapped an arm around Qiu Tu''s neck, slurred and said, "Why are you here? Come on, have a drink with me!"

    After speaking, she snapped her fingers at the maid, "Give him a ''Fallen Night''."

    The maid nced at Qiu Tu, and upon seeing his nod, she took out a bottle that looked quite premium and poured a ss of amber-colored liquor for Qiu Tu.

    Once the liquor was served, Qiu Tu waved the maid off, instructing, "You can go now."

    "Yes," the maid bowed slightly and left the bar, closing the door behind her and waiting outside.

    After the maid left, Qiu Tu tasted the liquor, then asked softly, "What''s the matter with you?"

    Miss Shuman''s slender fingers caressed the crystal-clear ss, she tilted her head back to down the amber liquid in one gulp and then said, tipsily, "Nothing~ I''m just... happy! Extremely happy!"

    As she spoke, she forced the corners of her mouth into a fake smile.

    Qiu Tu just watched her, simply watched her.

    After a while, he smiled and clinked his ss against hers, downing the drink in his ss all at once.

    Having finished his drink, Qiu Tu picked up the exquisite bottle from the table and poured another round of "Fallen Night" for both of them, gesturing towards Miss Shuman.

    This time, Miss Shuman seemed a bit moreposed. She gently swirled the liquor in her ss, and then with a bit of a distant look, she posed, "Qiu Tu~~ do you think in this world there could be people who suddenly be someone else?"

    Startled by her words, Qiu Tu pretended not to understand and replied, "I''m not quite following you. Do you mean...."

    Miss Shuman ced her index finger on Qiu Tu''s lips and leaned her beautiful face closer to his, then said softly with blurred vision, "Like... for example... you."

    "...Don''t you feel like you''ve be a different person?"

    Qiu Tuughed "haha" twice, taking a small sip from his ss, "After experiencing major events, a person''s character can indeed undergo significant changes."

    He continued, countering, "As for Miss Shuman, it seems like you''ve remained quite the same."

    He paused, then added with a suggestive tone, "Except... tonight."

 Chapter 32 Qin Shuman Blunders

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Qin Shumanughed so hard she was falling backwards and forwards. She then reached out to hook her fingers under Qiu Tu''s chin, looking at him with an alluring yet dangerous gaze, and breathed out softly, "Well, Agent Qiu really doesn''t know me too well, does he."

    Qiu Tu''s brows furrowed slightly as he pondered the meaning behind Qin Shuman''s words. He always felt that Qin Shuman seemed to have revealed a very important piece of information, but he couldn''t quite make sense of it at the moment.

    At this time, however, Qin Shuman didn''t give Qiu Tu more time to think.

    She seemed to sense something amiss and poured herself a ss of cold water.

    With the cold water down, her eyes cleared slightly, and the dangerous aura about her abated considerably.

    Then she slowly reverted to her usual innocent demeanor, "By the way, what brings you here sote? Is there something you need?"

    After speaking, she looked worriedly at Qiu Tu, "It can''t be that Yan Chen has started trouble again¡­"

    Qiu Tu''s gaze swept over her, and while taking a sip of alcohol, he said with a deep look in his eyes, "Yes, Yan Chen has stirred up trouble again."

    He said, "Actually, aftering to the Qin Family, I guard by your side during the day, but at night I''ve been going around gathering intelligence."

    "And believe it or not, after these past two days of investigation, I''ve really found some leads."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Qin Shuman was momentarily stunned, then propped up her cheek curiously and asked, "What leads?"

    Qiu Tu''s eyes were sharp as he said decisively, "I''ve found that the Qin Family might indeed be in collusion with the military and the Anti-Government Army!"

    As he said this, Qiu Tu''s gaze was fixed intently on Qin Shuman. He clearly saw her slender waist suddenly tense up.

    "Oh? Is that so? Have you found any evidence?" Qin Shuman asked indifferently.

    Qiu Tu''s brow furrowed slightly, "I actually found some. So I reported to Yan Chen requesting reinforcements and called in a team of Political Department Investigators to conduct a secret investigation."

    "Who knew that Yan Chen, trying to trip me up, would let that team of investigators enter the Qin Family openly!"

    At this point, Qiu Tu pounded the table in frustration, "The Qin Family is not stupid; this ispletely startling the snake."

    After speaking, Qiu Tu downcastly took another drink

    Meanwhile, Qin Shuman, as if struck by a thought, took a pensive sip of water and asked, "So what do you n to do now?"

    Qiu Tu continued drinking, "What else can I do? Keep investigating."

    Qin Shuman kept drinking water, "And where do you n to start?"

    And so the two of them chatted, one drink following another.

    They didn''t know how long they drank or how long they talked¡­

    Just when Qin Shuman was getting a clearer picture of Qiu Tu''s ns. Suddenly! She felt arge hand mp on her waist.

    That instant, she was startled and quickly turned to look at Qiu Tu.

    Only to find that the previously sober Qiu Tu, perhaps because of the alcohol, was now looking at her with drunken eyes, his gaze containing something untouchable¡­

    She pressed down the hand that was trying to lift the hem of her skirt in a panicked whisper, "Qiu, Qiu Tu, the servants are still outside!"

    At this moment, Qiu Tu''s eyes were drowsy with drink, and his handsome face was flushed with intoxication. He leaned in close to Qin Shuman''s ear and murmured, "Be good... cover your mouth, and no one will know."

    "Besides... I just want to exchange some information with you."

    As he spoke, his breath tickled Qin Shuman''s ear, warm and raising goosebumps¡­

    ....

    .....

    Half an hourter, Qin Shuman, with her waist feeling weak, leaned against the bar, clutching her skirt, her face showing a mix of embarrassment and annoyance as she watched Qiu Tu''s retreating figure, muttering nonstop, "Bastard, he''s just aplete bastard!"

    As Qiu Tu fastened his belt, his bleary eyes squinting, he pushed open the door and stumbled out of the small bar, his hand inexplicably marked with several deep, crimson bite wounds...

    The waiting maid outside detected nothing amiss; she nced at Qiu Tu and curtly bowed.

    Qiu Tu nodded at her, then slurred, "Miss Shuman is also drunk and can hardly walk. Help her back to her room to rest."

    "Yes."

    The maid pushed the door and entered the bar, while Qiu Tu wobbled out of Qin Shuman''s courtyard.

    However, the moment he stepped out of the courtyard, his pace gradually steadied and his drunken eyes slowly became sober and deep.

    ''Drinking really does lead to mistakes.''

    ''Regrettably, not for me, but for Qin Shuman...''

    ''She''s been pretending for so long, yet today, she let her guard down a bit too much after drinking...''

    ''Although we''re in the same boat now, there''s still a slight difference in our positions.''

    ''For instance... proving that the Qin Family really colluded with the military and the Anti-government Armed Forces benefits only me, not her.''

    "Because, once I gather enough evidence, I can solidify the lies and betray both her and the Qin Family."

    "Under such circumstances, she isn''t worried about how to keep herself safe after I find the evidence. Instead, she''s concerned about where I''ll start my investigation. This is highly inconsistent with her persona..."

    ''It seems my intuition is correct: there''s indeed something off about her identity.''

    ''Now that the bait has been cast, I just have to wait for the contacts to reveal themselves, and then I''ll know who Qin Shuman is really working for...''

    ''I can also figure out why they''ve been pestering me incessantly...''

    Thinking this way, Qiu Tu felt the fog that had clouded his vision since his transmigration begin to disperse somewhat, and he could almost make out the outline of the truth...

    ...

    Upon returning to the Security Team''s base, Cao Dabiao had been waiting for quite a while.

    When Cao Dabiao saw Qiu Tu arriving btedly, he red at him, his voice almost squeezed out through his teeth, "The officer''s official duties must be very busy. Your subordinate has been waiting here for several hours."

    Qiu Tu didn''t care and didn''t even respond to Cao Dabiao''s remarks.

    He sauntered over and took a seat, then seamlessly shifted the subject, "Brother Biao, how old are you this year?"

    Cao Dabiao couldn''t keep up with Qiu Tu''s erratic line of thought, but he still answered, "35."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Qiu Tu uttered an "Oh," took a sip of tea, then looked up and asked, "I remember there''s no significant Cao family or the head of an organization with the Cao surname in the entire Xinjie City, right?"

    Cao Dabiao''s gaze flickered slightly, he did not reply directly.

    Qiu Tu set his teacup aside and tapped his fingers lightly on the table, "Temporary agents earn a monthly wage of 300 Copper Yuan, Third-Level Detectives get 1 Silver Yuan plus 500 Copper Yuan, Second-ss Investigators 3 Silver Yuan, and First Level Detectives 8 Silver Yuan."

    "Xinjie City has been established for a year, the Political Department has only been in operation for half a year; after deducting daily expenses, how much savings could you have? 30 Silver Yuan?"

    Cao Dabiao opened his mouth as if to say something, but in the end, he closed it again.

    Seeing this, Qiu Tu went into the inner room, brought out the box containing the funds for this operation, and ced it on the table, revealing the gleaming Silver Yuan inside.

    He settled back into his seat and spoke leisurely, "I''m 21 years old this year, the same rank as you, with the support from high-ranking Sanctuary officials above and the backing of the Bureau Chief below."

    "Young, wealthy, powerful, and also your superior. What can you possibly gain by going against me?"

    "Even if you do manage to cause me some trouble, once I get promoted in a few months, dealing with you will be a piece of cake, won''t it?"

 Chapter 33 The Fish That Took the Hook

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Cao Dabiao''s gaze flickered ceaselessly as if analyzing whether the information Qiu Tu had divulged was real or fake.

    Seeing this, Qiu Tu didn''t rush him; he simply took out a cloth bag, counted out 80 Silver Yuan from the box full of them, and tossed it to Cao Dabiao.

    "Ding ding ding~" As the cloth bagnded in his hands, it discharged a symphony of intoxicating coin clinks.

    Cao Dabiao epted it nkly, then looked at Qiu Tu in surprise.

    Qiu Tu said, "This is 80 Silver Yuan, yours."

    Feeling the hefty weight in his hands, Cao Dabiao swallowed hard, forcibly suppressing the greed in his heart, then tentatively asked, "Officer, this seems to be operational funds, isn''t it? This...."

    Qiu Tu waved his hand to interrupt him, "As long as I dare let you take it, I can ensure your safety."

    "If I''m not afraid, what are you afraid of?"

    "If the sky falls, won''t I be here to hold it up for you!"

    "Make your choice now. If you are willing to follow me, take the money, and I''ll keep you in mind when it''s time for promotions and wealth!"

    "If you''re unwilling, just put it down, then find a ce to stay for a few days. After Iplete my mission, you cane back, and I absolutely won''t make things difficult for you!"

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Cao Dabiao''s expression changed rapidly.

    After a moment, as ifing to a realization, he bent over. Grinning up at Qiu Tu, he said obsequiously, "You jest, Officer."

    "Actually, from the first time I met you today, I felt an instant connection, eager to serve before and behind your saddle."

    "It''s just that you seemed to have some misunderstandings about me, not giving me a chance."

    "Now that you are willing to ept me, I couldn''t be happier."

    As he spoke, he tucked the cloth bag into his chest, with an ingratiating smile he said, "From now on, justmand me for anything, Officer. I assure you, I will go through fire and water and not shirk from death!"

    Listening to the obsequious words, Qiu Tu looked at him deeply and then burst outughing, "Haha."

    Cao Dabiao alsoughed along, his demeanor resembling that of a fawning dog...

    Half an hourter, Cao Dabiao nodded and bowed as he backed out of the room. Once he turned around, his hand touching the weighty Silver Yuan in his chest, his face brimmed with excitement.

    Meanwhile, Qiu Tu watched his retreating figure, his eyes filled with amusement...

    See, greed is always the most powerful weapon.

    Without avarice, it would have been difficult to find the opportunity to drag Cao Dabiao and the entire Political Department squad into the mire.

    Now that the entire squad had taken misappropriated public funds, especially with Cao Dabiao taking so much, they were truly tied to the same string of grasshoppers.

    They would be safe while everything went smoothly for me, but if I were to encounter danger... they would have to protect me in turn to save themselves.

    Used properly, these people could achieve some unexpected effects...

    With that in mind, Qiu Tu took out themunicator and dialed Eagle''s number.

    On themunicator, Qiu Tu arranged for Shen Lingshuang to purchase the herbs and ordered him to have Ah-Kun, Monkey, and a few other brothers go to different pharmacies and the ck market to buy them in batches.

    After giving instructions on what to pay attention to, Qiu Tu said to Eagle, "Eagle, I''m preparing to transfer you and Ah-Kun to the Political Department to help me."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Eagle replied steadily, "Alright, Brother Tu. Then I''ll go to the Political Department to submit my report tomorrow and prepare for the assessment."

    Qiu Tu said, "Hmm, but don''t put my name as your rmender."

    Eagle asked, "Then whose name should I write?"

    Qiu Tu, "Cao Dabiao."

    "I''ll give you his contact information in a bit; you get in touch with him."

    "Okay," Eagle responded, then thoughtfully added, "Brother Ted received a notification from the Special Service Department today and has gone for the assessment."

    "I heard that apart from failing in the shooting, he got grade As in all the other subjects. There won''t be any problem with him passing the assessment."

    This was a matter agreed upon by Fang Ming and Qiu Tu, so Qiu Tu merely responded with a nomittal "Hmm" and did not offer any furtherment....

    With that, themunication was ended, and Qiu Tu sat on a chair, quietly gazing at the night outside for a while.

    He felt like he was a frail ghost face spider in the Amazon Rainforest, silently weaving his own dark, extensive web that sprawled across the entire Xinjie City, then patiently waiting for the moment to hunt....

    ----

    [5 days (thetest deadline to obtain evidence against the Qin Family)]

    [31:12:11 (time remaining to create the Cataclysmic Potion)]

    The night passed uneventfully.

    The next day, before Qiu Tu could receive contact from the forces behind Qin Shuman, another fish took the bait first.

    "Fourth Master? I didn''t expect you wouldmunicate with me."

    Upon hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Master Qin Si chuckled over themunicator, "Hahaha. Agent Qiu, you know I don''t visit without good reason."

    "Oh?" Upon hearing Fourth Master''s words, Qiu Tu, while sipping tea, casually asked, "What matter brought me to Fourth Master''s mind?"

    Master Qin Si said, "It''s still about my good-for-nothing Second Brother, of course."

    Continuing, Master Qin Si said, "Tonight, I would like to invite Agent Qiu to watch a y."

    Qiu Tu, "A y?"

    Master Qin Si affirmed, "Yes, a y."

    "To let you witness firsthand my Second Brother''s confidant getting in contact with the anti-government organization."

    At Master Qin Si''s words, Qiu Tu paused.

    His interest piqued, he asked, "Actually, Fourth Master, more than Director Qin colluding with the anti-government organization, I''m curious about... why you are targeting Director Qin so specifically."

    "What benefit would Director Qin''s fall have for you?"

    Upon hearing this, Master Qin Si dered unequivocally, "No benefit!"

    He expressed a sort of exasperation, saying, "But I just can''t stand by and watch him destroy the family business my father worked so hard to build from scratch!"

    With a hint of nostalgia, he continued, "Back in the day, my father started with nothing, battled through hardships, and established the vast Qin family wealth! Besides my grandfather''s 100 jin of gold, a techpany, and a few dozen trustworthy lieutenants, he relied on no one!"

    "So I will not allow anyone to destroy what he spent his lifetime building!"

    Qiu Tu:....N?v(el)B\\jnn

    "Understood."

    Master Qin Si grunted, then went on, "That''s why, when I found out what my Second Brother had done, I knew only by condemning my own kin could I save the Qin family from ruin."

    "The reason I left that documentst time was because I wanted to see if you, Agent Qiu, truly dared to investigate this matter."

    "And yesterday, when you deployed a team of Political Department Investigators to start looking into it, you convinced me of your sincerity, so I am also willing to show you even more of mine."

    After listening to Master Qin Si, Qiu Tu fell silent for a moment, then said, "Okay, then I''ll trouble Fourth Master to send the address and time to mymunicator."

    Master Qin Siughed heartily a few times and then ended themunication.

    Sure enough, before long, Qiu Tu''smunicator received an address from an unfamiliar number: Zhizhen Grand Hotel, Room 108, 8 p.m.

    "Zhizhen Grand Hotel?"

    Murmuring the name, before Qiu Tu could make a decision, hismunicator rang again the very next second.

    This time too, it was a message from an unfamiliar number.

 Chapter 34 Getting on the Bandits Ship

    ```

    After ncing at the unfamiliar number, Qiu Tu clicked on the message.

    It contained only a brief sentence, "Agent Qiu, I have information you might be interested in. If you wish to cooperate, pleasee to Mn Grand Hotel at 8 p.m. tonight for a talk."

    Seeing this message, Qiu Tu stroked his chin and silently pondered.

    Which fish had taken the bait this time?

    City Hall? The military? The other branches of the Qin Family? Or perhaps an anti-government organization?

    Moreover, could this mysterious number have a connection to Qin Shuman? Or was it just an outsider?

    Because of the limited information, Qiu Tu could not determine it for the time being.

    However... what he could be sure of was that he now faced an intriguing choice:

    Master Qin Si or the mysterious person?

    Zhizhen Grand Hotel or Mn Grand Hotel?

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu''s gaze became unfathomable.....

    ...

    ....

    Time passed by the minute and second, and soon, several hours had flown by.

    7 p.m.

    At the entrance of Zhizhen Grand Hotel.

    Dressed in casual clothes and nked by two confidants, Cao Dabiao swaggered in with a cigarette in his mouth.

    Seeing the trio, the tall receptionist hurried forward with a smile, bowed, and asked, "Hello, gentlemen, do you have a reservation?"

    With the cigarette in his mouth, Cao Dabiao arrogantly nodded, "Room 107."

    Hearing Cao Dabiao''s words, the receptionist said with a beaming smile, "Please wait a moment."

    After saying that, she took out the reservation list, checked it, and asked, "May I know if you are Mr. Cao?"

    Cao Dabiao nodded.

    The receptionist immediately smiled and gestured, "This way please," said, and then turned to lead the way.

    Following the receptionist, Cao Dabiao and his two confidants surreptitiously surveyed theyout of Zhizhen Grand Hotel with the corners of their eyes.

    They quickly arrived at the private room and entered.

    After looking around the interior decorations of the room, Cao Dabiao satisfiedly pulled out a 100-value Copper Yuan from his chest and handed it to the receptionist.

    The receptionist''s eyes lit up, and she excitedly stretched out her hand to catch it, but as Cao Dabiao caught a glimpse of the Copper Yuan in his hand, he quickly retracted it and took out a 10-value one to give to the receptionist instead.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    The receptionist''s smile vanished from her face; she epted the money coolly, gave a polite bow to Cao Dabiao, and walked away, swaying her hips.

    Once the receptionist had left the room, Cao Dabiao and his men dropped their fa?ade.

    The two confidants approached Cao Dabiao and asked quietly, "Brother Biao, what are we doing here?"

    With no outsiders present, Cao Dabiao no longer acted so carelessly. He gestured towards the open door.

    One confidant skillfully went to close the door, and then Cao Dabiao said in a low voice, "We are here for a mission."

    He checked his watch and whispered, "At 8 o''clock, there will be a meeting between two parties in the next private room."

    "Our goal is to eavesdrop and capture images of both sides."

    After saying that, he signaled to the two confidants. They immediately understood, taking out several small devices from their clothes.

    Cao Dabiao put his arms around their necks and quietly arranged, "Later, Old Liu will go to the restroom. On his way back, he''ll ''identally'' enter the wrong room and install the bug next door."

    "Old Qi will go to the corridor to smoke. Once he sees the targets entering the private room, he''ll try to take photos with his camera."

    "If he can''t find the opportunity, then he must memorize the targets'' appearances well, so we can reconstruct their facester."

    ```

    The two confidants nodded and took their orders.

    However, after taking the orders, Little Liu, who was sitting next to Cao Dabiao, suddenly realized something. Curiously, he asked, "So Brother Biao, what are you going to do?"

    Upon hearing this, Cao Dabiao pped him on the head and said irritably, "Are you stupid? Of course, I have to carry out the most arduous task¡ªordering the dishes!"

    After saying that, he grumbled, "I was called back halfway through dinnerst night and starved for most of the night. Today I''m on official duty, so I must make up for it!"

    "Since Qiu Tu is paying, I might as well rip him off."

    Little Liu covered his head, his face a picture of realization.

    Meanwhile, Little Qi also asked curiously on the side, "By the way, Brother Biao, are we really going to follow Qiu Tu from now on?"

    At Little Qi''s question, Cao Dabiao''s expression began to change¡ªhe remembered a little episode from this afternoon.

    This afternoon, as he was happily counting his Silver Yuan, he suddenly receivedmunication from a stranger.

    The person imed to be one of Qiu Tu''s men, prepared to join the Political Department on Qiu Tu''s orders, and needed Cao Dabiao to give a rmendation.

    Hearing the introduction, Cao Dabiao''s first reaction was to doubt that the person was a scammer.

    But it quickly dawned on him: In the newly established Xinjie City, only public officials and some extremely wealthy or influential people had ess tomunicators.

    Scammers couldn''t get their hands on such devices.

    Moreover... not only did the person know hismunicator number, but they also urately addressed him by his name and department, which really didn''t seem like fraud.

    So, he went to Qiu Tu in a fog to confirm it.

    The scene from that time was still vivid in Cao Dabiao''s memory, even several hourster.

    When Cao Dabiao met Qiu Tu, Qiu Tu was sitting at a desk copying a document.

    After listening to Cao Dabiao''s ount, Qiu Tu didn''t even lift his head to carelessly respond, "They''re my people, and I n to have them join the Political Department. Help me with the rmendation."

    At that moment, Cao Dabiao''s expression really kept changing.

    He wanted to argue, like "If they''re your people, why don''t you rmend them?" or "Why do I have to be the one to rmend?"

    But he just epted Qiu Tu''s money yesterday and had been under Qiu Tu''s control all this time, and it seemed he had no grounds to refuse, both emotionally and rationally.

    Thus, he could only put on a sham smile and get the task done.

    However, after the task waspleted, Cao Dabiao felt more and more uneasy about it.

    He felt as if Qiu Tu had tied him to a crooked ship.

    The problem with the task wasn''t whether to do it, but how to do it! Qiu Tu had "executed before reporting," forcing him to get it done!

    He didn''t refuse this time, but would Qiu Tu continue to "execute before reporting" and force him to do other things in the future?

    One or two incidents were no big deal, but if this continued indefinitely, wouldn''t he bepletely subservient to Qiu Tu?

    Realizing all of this, Cao Dabiao felt a cold sweat breaking out.

    He wanted to jump ship and stop ying along with Qiu Tu, but he couldn''t bear to do so.

    After all, he had just done a favor for Qiu Tu today and hadn''t yet reaped the benefits. If he were to fall out now, not only would his efforts have been in vain, but he would also have to face Qiu Tu''s wrath, and he might even have to return the 80 Silver Yuan!

    How could he be willing to let that happen!

    Humans are creatures that canfort themselves. So after much deliberation, Cao Dabiao decided to wait and see...

    He thought: Maybe Qiu Tu wouldn''t do such things in the future? Maybe Qiu Tu could offer him more benefits...?

    Therefore, facing the question of his confidant, his answer was ambiguous, "Hmm... Let''s follow Qiu Tu for a bit, and we''ll see how it goes..."

    ...

    Meanwhile, while Cao Dabiao was investigating at the Zhizhen Grand Hotel.

    Qiu Tu had alsoe to the Mn Grand Hotel alone¡­

 Chapter 35 Security Department!

    Xinjie City was a nning Area that had just been developed near the Eighth Sanctuary in the past two years.

    Material life was scarce, and living conditions were poor, with many basic infrastructures being cleaned up and rebuilt.

    However, severalrge hotels and restaurants had been established early on. After all, no matter how dire the life of the lower tiers was, the upper echelons still needed to eat, drink, and enjoy themselves...

    Walking into the Mn Grand Hotel, Qiu Tu felt like he had traveled through time and space.

    If he didn''t know that he was still in a world stricken by the Cataclysm, he would have thought he had traveled back to Earth and walked into a high-end four-star hotel.

    ¡ª¡ªThe tall ceiling was adorned withrge crystal chandeliers, the floor was paved with high-quality marble, and the walls were decorated with exquisite reliefs or hanging calligraphy and paintings. Even the seating area was equipped with luxurious sofa sets.

    Although this caliber of hotel generally only catered to wealthy merchants and officials from the Sanctuary, the living environment was still somewhat exaggeratedly luxurious.

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu didn''t gawk like a country bumpkin, but instead naturally took a seat in the lobby area, ordered a cup of tea, and began to wait patiently.

    He didn''t have to wait long. At 7:20 PM, 40 minutes before the scheduled time, a hotel waiter approached Qiu Tu and respectfully handed him an envelope.

    Qiu Tu looked up at him.

    "Sir," the waiter said reverently, "this was given to me by your friend to pass onto you."

    "My friend?" Qiu Tu raised his head and looked around but didn''t see anyone suspicious.

    He took the envelope with his hand. It was light and thin, as if it contained nothing substantial.

    After the waiter departed, Qiu Tu opened it to take a look.

    Inside, to his discovery, was a... room card.

    Room number 416.

    Qiu Tu toyed with the room card, an amused glint in his eyes.

    Having finished his tea, Qiu Tu picked up the room card and stood up to walk towards the elevator.

    He pressed the elevator button, and soon the elevator doors opened.

    Qiu Tu stepped inside.

    While the elevator ascended, Qiu Tu touched his waist and felt the reassuring presence of his service pistol still holstered there.

    Before departing, Qiu Tu had already checked his handgun, adjusted it to a ready state, and disengaged the safety.

    This allowed him to fire at a moment''s notice should danger arise.

    The elevator ascended level by level, and quickly stopped at the fourth floor.

    With the opening of the elevator doors, Qiu Tu cautiously observed the surroundings before stepping out.

    Since Xinjie City was newly established, the business environment was stillparatively poor, leading to a low overall upancy rate for the hotel, and Qiu Tu encountered no other guests as he made his way to room 416.

    Upon reaching the door, Qiu Tu tentatively knocked, but there was no response from within.

    He hesitated for a moment before swiping the room card.

    The sound of the door lock turning emanated from within, and Qiu Tu pushed the door open.

    Inside the room, a young man with a square face dressed in in clothes was standing by the window, looking at him.

    "You are...?" Qiu Tu stepped into the room, closed the door behind him, and inquired tentatively as he observed the young man.

    The young man pulled out an ID from his pocket and showed it to Qiu Tu. "Hello, Agent Qiu, let me introduce myself. I am Lin Zuo, Deputy Staff Chief of the Investigation Department from the Security Department."

    "The reason for the presumptuous invitation today is to request your cooperation with our work."

    At Lin Zuo''s introduction, Qiu Tu''s pupils contracted slightly.

    Security Department...?

    If it were the former Qiu Tu, he probably would have been clueless at the mention of the "Security Department," given it wasn''t a high-profile department.

    But having spent thest few days with Shen Lingshuang, Qiu Tu had gleaned much covert information from her, including details about the Security Department...

    The Security Department, officially known as the Department of Security Protection and Secret Investigation, was a confidential division under the military.

    Its primary roles were tobat anti-government armed forces and handle crisis events.

    More importantly, secret affairs rted to Cataclysm Awakening also fell under this department''s jurisdiction.

    ording to Shen Lingshuang, everyone in the department was elite, and many were Cataclysmics.

    Additionally, since the members of this department were selected directly from the Sanctuary and not recruited from the various nning Areas, theirbat capabilities were said to be unmatched by any department within the nning Areas.

    However, why would such a formidable department seek him out?

    Was it because of themotion he had stirred up recently, drawing their attention and interest, or was it... that Qin Shuman''s background was connected to this department?

    With that thought, Qiu Tu also asked tentatively, "What does Section Chief Lin need my assistance with? And why seek me out?"

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s probing, Lin Zuo said, "Actually, we have been monitoring the key members of the Qin Family for the past six months."

    "So when the United Front attacked you and Qin Shuman, we likewise took notice of you."

    "Later, we discovered the Investigation Bureau seemed to be investigating the Qin Family as well, even transferring you to the Political Department specifically for this matter, so we hesitated over whether to make contact."

    "It wasn''t until yesterday when you ostentatiously moved a team of Political Department Investigators into the Qin household that we felt things might be getting out of hand, prompting us to make an urgent connection with you."

    "The reason for inviting you over is to bothmunicate and exchange intelligence and to discuss our respective operational scopes to prevent mutual interference leading to the failure of our missions..."

    Lin Zuo''s reasons were well-founded and outwardly beyond reproach, but... Qiu Tu just didn''t trust them...

    He probed again, "Section Chief Lin seems very well-informed about the current situation in the Qin household. Have you nted a spy there?"N?v(el)B\\jnn

    Lin Zuo''s expression remained unchanged, "I apologize, Agent Qiu. That is a secret of the Security Department and I regret I cannot disclose it."

    Qiu Tu was not offended; his mind raced. "Alright then, I won''t ask about that. Let''s get right to the crux of our potential cooperation."

    He said, "I recall Section Chief Lin mentioned in the text message that you have information that would interest me. Might I inquire what information Section Chief Lin believes would pique my interest?"

 Chapter 36 The Secret of the Qin Family

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Lin Zuo looked at him expressionlessly, just like that.

    Momentster, he sighed and said, "Agent Qiu, we both belong to the secrecy departments, and should know that some intelligence can be shared, while some cannot."

    "We genuinely want to cooperate with you, so please stop probing us."

    Qiu Tu looked at Lin Zuo and was not easily sidetracked, speaking earnestly, "Section Chief Lin, I understand the difficulties you face. But I''m not actually trying to make you break any rules."

    At this point, he paused, then provided a very legitimate reason,

    "We are, after all, in the business of exchanging information, so I think it would be beneficial for us to first understand what kind of intelligence each side can offer."

    "This will not only allow both parties to more effectively assess the value of intelligence and reach cooperation but also avoid the risk of intelligence leakage after discovering that the shared information doesn''t meet our needs."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Lin Zuo fell into deep thought.

    After a moment, he made up his mind.

    "You make sense."

    "Then I''ll just speak frankly. We can provide you with clues about the Qin Family''s secret collusion with the United Front and evidence of benefit exchanges between the Qin Family and several members of City Hall."

    Upon hearing Lin Zuo''s words, a smile couldn''t help but form at the corner of Qiu Tu''s mouth: Sess...

    In fact, the reason he had been persistently focusing on this topic was to verify something: whether the Security Department approaching him had anything to do with Qin Shuman.

    After all... the work scope of the Political Department only covers espionage, counterespionage, and internal supervision.

    So to outsiders, Qiu Tu''s cement in the Qin Family had only one purpose, which was to investigate the Qin Family, especially whether Qin Zhengguang (of the second house) was involved in any illegal or undisciplined acts.

    Although Master Qin Si provided Qiu Tu with some clues about Qin Zhengguang''s collusion with anti-government armed forces and gangs, they all fundamentally fell within the Political Department''s sphere of "internal supervision."

    But Lin Zuo was different. The intelligence he offered to Qiu Tu was about the "Qin Family''s collusion with the United Front" and "benefit exchanges with City Hall" which suggests that he was indeed fully aware of Qiu Tu''s [real purpose] for staying with the Qin Family.

    However, it should be noted that in the entire Xinjie City, only Yan Chen, Jia Shu, and Qin Shuman were privy to Qiu Tu''s true purpose at the Qin Residence.

    Even his own people like Ah-Tai and Eagle were not given the slightest hint by Qiu Tu.

    So how did the Security Departmente by this information?

    Thus, the answer is seemingly apparent.

    ''I didn''t expect Qin Shuman to keep such a deep cover...''

    While he silently marveled to himself, Qiu Tu subtly nodded in agreement, confirming the cooperation with the Security Department, "Section Chief Lin, I am very satisfied with the intelligence you provided, so I agree to exchange intelligence with you."

    Saying this, Qiu Tu took out the intelligence he had copied that afternoon, exchanged it with Lin Zuo, and they had a brief discussion.

    The ovepping information between the two was not substantial, and the clues in Qiu Tu''s hands were mainly four points.

    1. Qin Zhengguang (of the second house) has a problem with benefit exchanges with the underground Fierce Tiger Gang.

    2. Qin Zhengguang has been secretly coborating with the United Front.

    3. Two months ago, Qin Zhengguang released a batch of suspects, among whom were members of the United Front.

    4. Qin Zhengguang skimmed medicines from ck markets he controlled, then sold them at high prices to anti-government groups.

    Lin Zuo, on the other hand, had some clues about the Qin Family''s collusion with various forces.

    For example, the Qin Family had dealings with the United Front even before Xinjie City was established, maintaining business in human trafficking, medicines, and weapons.

    For instance, during the nning stages of Xinjie City, the Qin Family had very close interactions with Yan Chen.

    Such as after the establishment of Xinjie City, the Qin Family engaged in some gray business with several members of City Hall in private, using these gray businesses to transfer benefits to those members.

    Such as the Qin Family''s underground dealings being anonymous, meaning any power could use vouchers to pick up and sell goods without verifying identities, making many underground organizations and anti-government armed forces their clients.

    Afterparing each other''s clues and evidence, Qiu Tu and Lin Zuo keenly noticed an interesting point.

    Lin Zuo, "All your clues rte to the Qin Family''s second house?"

    Qiu Tu, "All your clues rte to the entire Qin Family?"

    The two exchanged a nce, then smiled at each other.

    Qiu Tu exined, "The Political Department''s jurisdiction is internal supervision, so its main target is naturally the Qin Family''s second house."

    After saying this, Qiu Tu asked, "But the evidence you have involves the entire Qin Family?"

    He paused, then probed with a question, "Is it that you haven''t examined the details, or do you think the entire Qin Family is problematic?"

    Lin Zuo said, "It''s that the whole Qin Family might be problematic."

    His gaze was firm. "Don''t forget that Old Master Qin has just passed away."

    "Before Old Master Qin died, all four houses of the Qin Family had already begun handling their affairs and cooperating with each other."

    "So, in terms of collusion with the United Front and the transfer of medicines and materials, they are likely all involved."

    After hearing Lin Zuo''s exnation, Qiu Tu nodded thoughtfully...

    And so, in the following hour, Qiu Tu and Lin Zuo fully exchanged their respective departments'' views and then reached a basic consensus, Qiu Tu would act openly, while the Security Department would work behind the scenes, with both sides jointly investigating and sharing information.

    If in the end, no issues were found, they would keep each other''s secrets.

    If they really could take down the entire Qin Family, then the credit would be shared equally.

    After finalizing their discussions, the two men sped hands firmly together.

    Thus, the cooperation was set, and Lin Zuo escorted Qiu Tu out the door.

    Upon reaching the door, Qiu Tu suddenly stopped, then turned back to give Lin Zuo a smile and said, "Give my regards to your superior."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Lin Zuo visibly started, his brain whirring. After a moment, he nodded with a smile.

    Seeing this, Qiu Tu turned with satisfaction and headed towards the elevator.

    He wasn''t bluffing Lin Zuo, but had genuinely guessed that there were others behind Lin Zuo.

    The reason was quite simple:n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Even though the military and the Investigation Bureau are separate systems, their rank structures correspond.

    Starting with temporary investigators, temporarymissioners, and then rising to Third-Level Detective (Third-Level Commissioner), Second-ss Investigator (Second-Level Commissioner), and First-Level Detective (First-Level Commissioner) in session.

    After First-Level Detective, management roles follow; these would be Investigator and Senior Investigator at the operational level, and at the office, they would be Deputy Staff and Section Chief.

    So, in terms of rank, Lin Zuo''s position as Deputy Staff was in fact a whole level higher than that of Qiu Tu. Moreover, one was a manager while the other was a lower-level employee.

    Therefore, ording to the principle of equal inter-departmental cooperation, if the Security Department wanted to liaise with Qiu Tu, the person to approach him should not have been Lin Zuo, but someone subordinate to Lin Zuo.

    Yet now Lin Zuo was stooping to make contact with Qiu Tu, which could only mean one thing: that the task was pressed down by his superiors, and furthermore, Lin Zuo''s superiors had specifically requested that he personally take on this assignment.

 Chapter 37 Qin Shuman Died?

    "So... Qin Shuman''s contact person is at least a department head with real power from a secret department?"

    Thinking of this, Qiu Tu''s eyes looked a bit peculiar...

    He felt he might have underestimated this woman.

    He had originally thought she was nothing more than an insignificant piece among several forces, but it turned out she was quite substantial?

    As for whether Qin Shuman could be from the Security Department, Qiu Tu felt it was highly unlikely.

    After all... unless Qin Shuman was Lin Zuo''s boss, personally in charge of this matter. Otherwise, even if she was also a deputy head, there was no reason for Lin Zuo toe forward and make the contact for her.

    Half an hourter.

    "Yes, you guessed it, I am Lin Zuo''s boss."

    Looking at Qin Shuman''s stunningly beautiful face, Qiu Tu: ...

    He raised his hand to stop Qin Shuman from continuing to speak and said with a troubled face, "Wait a moment, let me sort this out first."

    After saying this, he hurriedly recalled the events of the past half-hour.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Half an hour earlier, after finishing the discussion about cooperation with Lin Zuo, Qiu Tu returned to the Qin Family from the Mn Grand Hotel.

    At the base of the Security Team, Qiu Tu first inquired about Cao Dabiao''s situation.

    Upon learning that Cao Dabiao had not returned to the unit, he didn''t wait any further but went straight to find Qin Shuman, intending to probe her background.

    Qin Shuman seemed to be waiting for him too, so the two hit it off and went to the bar where they had drinks the night before to continue their chat.

    Due to his habit of deceiving others, after finishing the discussion about Lin Zuo with Qin Shuman, Qiu Tu casually tested her by saying, "Actually, if you wanted to cooperate with me, there was no need for your subordinate to approach me."

    "Is there anything we can''t talk about between us?"

    Originally, Qiu Tu just wanted to bluff, but who knew that Qin Shuman would actually admit it straight away...

    ....

    Struggling to pull his thoughts back to a normal track, Qiu Tu, by the light of the bar, looked at the beautiful woman before him and seriously analyzed the possibility that she was Lin Zuo''s boss.

    But... no matter how he analyzed it, he found there were too many holes in this idea.

    So, after hitting a dead end with that line of thought, he looked at Qin Shuman with a peculiar expression and said, "You''re not pulling my leg, are you?"

    Having seen Qiu Tu calcting behind the scenes many times, Qin Shuman burst intoughter for the first time seeing Qiu Tu off guard, shaking withughter.

    Afterughing, she regained herposure, sighed, and then spoke lightly, "Actually, don''t say you don''t believe it. Even if you told Lin Zuo everything now, he probably wouldn''t believe it."

    Qiu Tu was dizzy with confusion by Qin Shuman and looked at her with a perplexed face.

    However, Qin Shuman suddenly asked a question, "Qiu Tu, do you remember the question I asked youst night: Do you believe that a person can suddenly be someone else?"

    Qiu Tu''s keenly caught the hidden meaning in Qin Shuman''s words, his eyes narrowed slightly, "What do you mean? You are not the former Qin Shuman?"

    Qin Shuman nodded.

    She leaned against the bar''s counter, looking at Qiu Tu, and then spoke softly, "You have been in contact with the young girl Shen Lingshuang these past few days, you should be aware of the Cataclysmics, right?"

    Qiu Tu nodded.

    Qin Shuman took a sip of her drink, "Actually... I am a Cataclysmic."

    "Or rather, once was a Cataclysmic."

    Her gaze was filled with memories and mncholy, "My original identity was the head of the Investigation Department of the Security Section in the military, codenamed Rain Butterfly."

    "My Cataclysmic path was Mystery. And the ability I gained from the Cataclysm was ''Control Possession.''"

    "This ability allowed me to remote control the person I possessed. Not only could I attach myself to her body andmunicate with her mind from a distance, observing her thoughts, but I could also forcibly control her body."

    "It was a very powerful ability."

    "And Qin Shuman... or rather, the original Qin Shuman was one of the people I had possessed."

    "She was a very kind and adorable young girl. Despite having a tragic background and her short life being nothing but a ything for some big shot, she was still very positive and optimistic."

    "Perhaps because she was so lonely, even though I wasn''t friendly towards her, she always treated me as a friend, regrly chatting with me and sometimes even helping me investigate certain matters on her own initiative."

    "Everything was going well until you..." At this point, Qin Shuman nced at Qiu Tu, paused, and added, "Or should I say your predecessor."

    Qin Shuman said, "She fell in love with your predecessor at first sight. Just a few days together, and they had fallen deeply in love..."

    Qin Shuman sighed, "I was quite busy at the time and didn''t possess her, so I had no idea this was happening."

    "So, when I possessed her one day to see how she was doing, I discovered that things had already gone too far..."

    "I was truly terrified at the time. Not because I was worried something might happen to her, cutting off this source of information, but because I knew that Yan Chen, with his personality, would never let them off the hook if he discovered their affair."

    "So, I tried my best to discourage her, wanting her to give up. But she showed a determination she never had before."

    "I still remember the words she said to me back then."

    "She said, ''Sister Rain Butterfly, I only have a short five years to live, and to meet someone I like is really too difficult. I don''t want, when after I die, to only remember being under a man covered in fat...''"

    "I didn''t know how to persuade her, and could only watch as the two of them moved closer to the abyss step by step."

    "And then... until that day."

    At this point, Qin Shuman covered her face with her hands and said in agony, "That day, after finishing my official duties, because I was worried about her, I wanted to see how she was doing recently."

    "But who would have known that when I used my ability and possessed her, I discovered she and your predecessor were lying naked in bed, their bodies still breathing, but their souls werepletely shattered."

    "I was startled and wanted to flee. Suddenly, a pain that pierced into the soul hit me, and Ipletely lost consciousness."

    At this point, Qin Shuman''s eyes were filled with sorrow, "And when I woke up, it was when you suddenly pushed yourself on top of me."

    "I was terrified at that moment. I wanted to resist, but I simply couldn''t."

    She sighed, "It was only then that I realized I had be ''her''."

    "I went from the third-person perspective of possession to the first-person perspective. From being able to disconnect the possession at any time to ''Permanent Possession.''

    "So, although I didn''t know what had happened, I had no choice but to take it one step at a time and first pretend to be her."

    "Fortunately, I had often observed her life andmunicated with her frequently before, and coupled with the residual habits of her body, besides those close to her, no one else could really tell."

    At this, she had a distant look in her eyes, "Of course, she didn''t have many close people."

    "Except... your predecessor."

    After listening to Qin Shuman''s words, Qiu Tu''s mouth slowly opened, and it took a long time for him to snap back to reality.

 Chapter 38 The Magic Reality (Please follow the story!)

    Qiu Tu felt that his worldview had received a great shock, as everything that had happened to him since he traveled through time seemed to have been overturned by Qin Shuman''s story.

    He quickly reenacted the whole story ording to the truth Qin Shuman had revealed.

    As a result, well... it was surprisingly consistent.

    Qiu Tu was a bit dazed.

    He felt this was all too magical, right?

    So, what exactly happened that day? Why did not only he travel through time, but Qin Shuman also got trapped in this body?

    At this moment, just as Qiu Tu was questioning his life, Qin Shuman began to speak.

    Her red lips lightly touched the edge of the cup, her eyes carrying a hint of mystery and a teasing smile as she asked, "Qiu Tu, I''ve told you my entire identity. Isn''t it your turn to be honest with me and tell me your story?"

    Speaking, she propped up her cheek, looking at Qiu Tu with a yful gaze, "Who are you really? And why are you trapped in the same body as I am?"

    Qiu Tu: ...

    Hearing this question, Qiu Tu reflexively wanted to lie, to gloss over the details. But upon seeing Qin Shuman''s gaze, he hesitated for a moment.

    What kind of eyes were they?

    Bewilderment, mncholy, indecision... and a faint glimmer of hope hidden deep within...

    In that instant, Qiu Tu felt as though he understood the beautiful woman before him:

    A proud daughter of the Sanctuary, suddenly trapped in a cloned female body with only two years of life left and stuck in a crisis.

    Unsure if she could return to her original body, uncertain of the fate of this body, and unaware if her soul would dissipate along with this body''s demise. She must feel incredibly desperate, right?n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    And then, at this time, she discovers that there is someone beside her with a simr experience...

    In that moment, the desperation in her heart must have subsided quite a bit, right?

    It was like¡­ one lonely soul encountering another...

    That''s why she relied on him so much.

    Because... he might be thest ray of light in her life...

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu took a deep breath and then softly said, "I... might have a situation even moreplicated than yours."

    "I did indeed enter this body after its previous owner died."

    "But... I am not a person of Xinjie, I don''t even know where Xinjie City is."

    "I also don''t know why I entered this body."

    "If it weren''t for the memories I discovered after I entered his body, I probably wouldn''t even be able to pretend."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Qin Shuman gently swirled her wine ss, her face breaking into a bright smile, "I knew my feeling was right. We are the same kind."

    Saying this, she raised her ss to Qiu Tu.

    Qiu Tu smiled, picked up his ss, and clinked it with hers.

    "Ding~" A clear sound rang out.

    Both looked into each other''s eyes, draining their sses in one gulp.

    In that moment, they both felt as if the distance between them had narrowed considerably...

    After drinking a few more sses, Qiu Tu, emboldened by the alcohol, broached the topic he was most interested in, "Have you thought about returning to your original body?"

    Qin Shuman gently stroked the rim of her ss, her gaze hazy, her breath fragrant, "Of course, I have."

    "In fact... I''ve already tried all the methods I can think of over the past few days, but all have failed."

    "Otherwise, I wouldn''t be so dejected."

    Qiu Tu sighed softly and asked, "Have you considered asking for help from the military or the Security Department?"

    Qin Shuman shook her head lightly, "There are several Cataclysmics in the Security Department, and I''m very aware of what abilities they possess. But... they can''t help me."

    Her eyes revealed exhaustion, "As for the military, they won''t bother with me."

    Qiu Tu was curious, "Why not?"

    Qin Shuman looked deeply into his eyes, "Have you forgotten what my identity is now?"

    Upon hearing Qin Shuman''s words, Qiu Tu was first stunned, then realized he had asked a rather foolish question:

    Qin Shuman''s predecessor was Yan Chen''s mistress. Was Qin Shuman''s possession of her body really just to investigate the Qin Family, as Lin Zuo had revealed?

    Impossible!

    To investigate the Qin Family, why not choose another point of entry?

    With the Qin Family being so powerful, which entry point wouldn''t be better than a Cloned Female Body created by the Qin Family, who stayed by Yan Chen''s side every day?

    Therefore, the reason Qin Shuman chose to possess the body of Yan Chen''s mistress was actually to investigate Yan Chen himself.

    That is to say, Yan Chen was the original target of the Security Department.

    But who is Yan Chen? He''s the highest-ranking official of Xinjie City Investigation Bureau. He''s also one of the Three Giants of Xinjie City, alongside General Ye from the military!

    If the Security Department conducted a private investigation of such a big shot and something went wrong, whether it was General Ye or the head of the Security Department, they would immediately disassociate themselves and dere it as "Qin Shuman''s personal behavior."

    In the face of such significant issues, no one would risk causing a sh between two major departments just for a minor section chief.

    Nor would anyone secretly take Qin Shuman away for treatment: whose predecessor was Yan Chen''s mistress, who in their right mind would try to take her away without Yan Chen''s knowledge?

    So that''s why Qin Shuman felt so desperate.

    Because she discovered that whether she looked forward or back, there was no way out....

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu also fell silent.

    After quietly contemting for a while, he finally said, "So, only by taking down Yan Chen, will you be epted back by the military and get their help to treat you?"

    Qin Shuman spread her hands, "There''s just a slight hope. After all, no one really knows how to reverse our condition."

    "Maybe... it will naturally recover over time?"

    "Maybe it requires some special Cataclysmic using their powers in a certain way to restore me?"

    "Maybe... it needs some precious Cataclysm Prop?"

    "Or maybe... it will never be restored in this lifetime."

    As she spoke, Qin Shuman''s gaze dimmed, "Moreover, even if there really is a way in this world that could cure me, this body''s lifespan is too short. I might not be able to wait that long."

    Possibly affected by Qin Shuman''s mood, Qiu Tu couldn''t help but sigh deeply upon hearing her words.

    He consoled her, "In fact, thinking so much is rather pointless. We are already walking on a tightrope; who knows, maybe we will be eliminated by Yan Chen before the lifespan of this body even ends."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Qin Shuman also smiled. She toasted with a tipsy gesture, "Right. That''s why I''vee to terms with it, to enjoy life while I can!"

    "Enjoy life while you can~"

    ...

    After getting Qin Shuman drunk again, Qiu Tu lookedplexly as the maid helped this pitiful woman into the bedroom, and then he turned and left the courtyard house.

    Perhaps because of their simr experiences, Qiu Tu felt a great deal of sympathy for Qin Shuman.

    He thought, if there was a chance, he should try to help this woman.

    After all, she was a section chief of the Security Department; capturing her could be very useful...

 Chapter 39 The Dirty Qin Family (Please Follow!)

    As for the method of assisting Qin Shuman, it was quite straightforward. The first was through "connections," and the second was through the "Golden Finger."

    Regarding connections, Qiu Tu nned to find an opportunity to have a sidelong chat with Shen Lingshuang.

    Shen Lingshuang''s father was a high-ranking official in the Sanctuary, and she was a Pharmacist herself. It was very likely that she knew how to help Qin Shuman.

    And if Shen Lingshuang didn''t have a way to help Qin Shuman, then Qiu Tu still had his Golden Finger.

    His current Golden Finger, "Crisis Intuition," would reward him each time he got through a crisis. Perhaps it contained an item that could solve Qin Shuman''s predicament.

    Even if "Crisis Intuition" couldn''t aid Qin Shuman, Qiu Tu could also try to refresh other Golden Fingers to see if there was any way to help Qin Shuman.

    Thinking this way, Qiu Tu suddenly had a goal in mind.

    For this first woman he had met after crossing over, the first woman with whom he had shared a skin-to-skin bond, knowing her tragic fate, Qiu Tu didn''t feel nobly obliged to be responsible for her life, but he still wanted to rescue her as much as he could...

    Moreover, Qiu Tu knew that this was not just him being unterally sentimental¡ªQin Shuman was in fact also trying to find a way to save herself.

    After learning about the real objectives of the Security Department, Qiu Tu immediately guessed that today''s meeting with Lin Zuo was most likely an arrangement made by Qin Shuman on her own initiative.

    The purpose was simple, to provide him with more information about the Qin Family, to prevent himself from being sold out by Master Qin Si.

    Thinking of this, Qiu Tu exhaled deeply. Indeed, it''s hard to repay a beautiful woman''s favor...n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    ...

    Upon returning to the Security Team''s base, Cao Dabiao and his twopanions had alreadye back. They reeked of alcohol and had eaten until their bellies were round.

    Seeing Qiu Tu, Cao Dabiao approached with a ttering smile and said softly, "Commander, I''ve taken care of the task you gave me."

    "Oh? Is that so?" Hearing Cao Dabiao''s words, Qiu Tu nced at his drunken state and gestured, "Let''s talk inside."

    Cao Dabiao staggered and followed him in.

    Inside the room, Qiu Tu brewed a pot of tea and poured a cup for Cao Dabiao.

    Cao Dabiao, belly bulging, waved his hands repeatedly, "No more, no more, I''ve drunk my fill."

    Qiu Tu looked at him and chided with augh, "You really don''t hold back when it''s on the public dime, do you?"

    Cao Dabiao chuckled, "Well, the Investigation Bureau reimburses it, so why not spend it if it''s there?"

    Qiu Tu knew he was probing, so he offered reassurance, "As long as it helps solve the case, spend what must be spent. If the money''s not enough, I''ll apply for more!"

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s assertive words, Cao Dabiao genuinely smiled. He then took out an envelope and passed it to Qiu Tu with both hands, "Commander, here is what we''ve gathered tonight."

    Qiu Tu responded with a "hmm," as he reached for the envelope and sat down.

    He opened the envelope and started going through the documents inside, page by page.

    It had to be said that Cao Dabiao, capable of bing a First Level Detective of the Political Department, possessed certain skills. The documents not only detailed all the pertinent conversations from room 108 that night in text but also differentiated and marked the individuals involved in the dialogue.

    For example, a total of seven people had entered room 108 that night, with the main conversation urring between a crew-cut young man and an elderly man in ck.

    And on the first page of the file, simple sketches of the two men''s faces were attached.

    Though their identities weren''tbeled... it was enough for Qiu Tu to get a rough idea of who these two men were.

    In addition to the paper files, the archive bag also contained original audio tapes and undeveloped film rolls, so Qiu Tu was very satisfied with Cao Dabiao''s work for tonight''s mission.

    With that in mind, Qiu Tu was not stingy with his praise. He nced at Cao Dabiao and smiled, "Brother Biao has a knack for this. The information is veryprehensive."

    After speaking, he continued to review the materials and asked, "Was there anything worth noting during tonight''s surveince? What are your thoughts?"

    Cao Dabiao had clearly prepared in advance. Upon hearing Qiu Tu''s words, he pointed to his drunken face with a ttering smile and said, "Sir, while I was monitoring, I was busy eating and drinking, so I didn''t really pay much attention."

    "For the specifics, you''ll need to take a look yourself."

    Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu gave Cao Dabiao a look. Seeing that his expression remained unchanged, Qiu Tu immediately knew he was deliberately ying dumb.

    Qiu Tu wasn''t annoyed. He quickly sorted through the information and then understood why Cao Dabiao was ying fool...

    It was simple¡ªbecause Cao Dabiao had discovered that tonight''s incident was a bit too sensitive, involving not only the middle ranks of the Investigation Bureau but also the Qin Family, a Major n.

    He couldn''t afford to offend the "Mystery" that was Qiu Tu, but neither could he afford to offend Qin Zhengguang and the Qin Family.

    So, although he had recorded everything very meticulously tonight, he had deliberately drunk a lot of alcohol, using intoxication as an excuse to feign ignorance.

    This was amon self-preservation tactic employed by the small folk in these chaotic times.

    Therefore, Qiu Tu didn''t make things difficult for him; he waved his hand and let him go to rest.

    After carefully reviewing all the materials and ying back the audio tapes to listen to all the conversations in the private room, Qiu Tu sat in the chair with his eyes closed, his fingers gently tapping on the table.

    The content of the materials and audio recordings was simple: representatives of two forces were negotiating.

    From the way they addressed each other, one side was a captain from the United Front (a man with a buzz cut), and the other was a steward from the Qin Family (an elder in ck clothes).

    As for which branch of the family this steward belonged to, it was not clear from the recordings, but... the likelihood was that he was from the second branch.

    The purpose of the negotiation between the two parties was also straightforward¡ªit was about a drug trade.

    In these chaotic times, besides gold, the most valuable and scarcemodities were drugs and weapons.

    Therefore, in the face of the United Front, the Qin Family demanded a price far above the market rate and also made a series of other harsh demands.

    For example, they required the United Front to cooperate with the Public Security Bureau''s certain operations to help Director Qin gain merit; for another, they requested that part of the payment be made in young women or boys around two to three years old, and so on.

    Although the Sanctuary controlled the nning Area, most of the world was still a Disaster Zone. In the Disaster Zones, many ordinary people lived in dire straits. The Qin Family could not scour these Disaster Zones for people, but the United Front could.

    The young women scavenged by them could be sent to the Qin Family''s underground brothel, earning the Qin Family exorbitant profits; the young boys, on the other hand, were to be groomed from a young age as private soldiers or enforcers...

    After listening to all the recordings, Qiu Tu''s gaze became profound.

    The Qin Family''s filthy dealings reminded him of the days when he had been sold to Northern Myanmar in his past life.

    In the eyes of the scamming groups and the Qin Family, people were never "people" but "goods."

    "Truly despicable..."

    Qiu Tu murmured softly and then his brain started to work rapidly, pondering how to deal with the Qin Family...

    Soon, he reached a decision...

 Chapter 40 The Political Department Has No Wrong Cases

    Having ced the material into the file bag, Qiu Tu carried the file bag to the study.

    Inside the study, there was a safe.

    He turned the dial, opened the safe, and Qiu Tu took out a small booklet¡ªthis was the original evidence given to him by Master Qin Si.

    cing the booklet on the desk, Qiu Tu proceeded to take out several other paper documents from the safe. These were the reports from the investigations and evidence verification conducted by the teams led by Chen Feng and four others in the past two days.

    He ced these along with the file bag onto the desk and bent over his desk to transcribe all the intelligence Lin Zuo had told him that day.

    Half an hourter, looking at the several pieces of informationid out before him on the desk, the corners of Qiu Tu''s mouth curled into a smile.

    Whether the n would work or not, would be seen tomorrow....

    ....

    [4 days (Thetest deadline to obtain evidence of the Qin Family''s guilt)]

    [7:59:41 (Time avable to create the Cataclysmic Potion)]

    The night passed without incident.

    The next day, Qiu Tu got up early, freshened up, and then went to report to Qin Shuman.

    Having slept through the night, Qin Shuman was noticeably in a better mood. And perhaps because she was in thepany of outsiders, she reverted back to her innocent and na?ve persona: herrge eyes revealed a transparency and foolishness that one could see through at a nce.

    But Qiu Tu did not dare to underestimate this woman.

    After all, she was not only the chief of a secret department, but she also possessed supernatural powers as a Cataclysmic.

    Although she had made herself sound quite pitiable the night before, and while Qiu Tu did indeed n to lend her a hand if he had the chance, it was still essential to maintain a degree of caution.

    In this dog-eat-dog world, to trust someonepletely was to make a mockery of one''s own life.

    After chatting with Qin Shuman for a while and arranging her duty roster for the day, Qiu Tu left the courtyard, ready to head to the Investigation Bureau.

    However, just as he left the courtyard and hadn''t yet walked far, Qiu Tu''smunicator rang: a call from Master Qin Si.

    Qiu Tu''s steps faltered slightly, and then he continued walking out unobtrusively while answering themunicator.

    Once themunicator connected, the cheerful voice of Master Qin Si came through the receiver, "Did Agent Qiu make any gainsst night?"

    Hearing Master Qin Si''s words, Qiu Tu replied with a smile, "Quite substantial, indeed."

    "I also have to thank you, Fourth Master, for the clues and help provided, which finally allowed me to advance this case."

    Master Qin Si was clearly surprised by the response, "That fast?"

    He probed, "Did they provide Agent Qiu with critical evidencest night?"

    As Qiu Tu walked, he exined with a chuckle, "Fourth Master has misunderstood. The Political Department and other departments of the Investigation Bureau are not the same."

    "Other departments conduct their investigations with the presumption of innocence, investigating first before arresting suspects."

    "However, due to its special nature, the Political Department operates on the presumption of guilt. As soon as we have a lead, we can directly arrest and investigate."

    Upon hearing this, Master Qin Si couldn''t help but ask, "What if you arrest the wrong person?"

    Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu burst intoughter, "Arrest the wrong person? How is that possible? The Political Department has been free of wrongful convictions since its establishment."

    As he said this, Qiu Tu''s voice dropped, "Otherwise, why would the floor of the Political Department''s interrogation room always be ck and red....."

    Even as a major underworld figure, in that instant, Master Qin Si felt a chill run down his spine.

    But in the next second, he wasughing heartily again, "Then I''ll be waiting for Agent Qiu''s good news."

    After he finished speaking, he was ready to hang up the phone.

    But just then, Qiu Tu interjected, "Fourh Master, don''t hurry. Let''s chat a bit more."

    Qiu Tu paused, then said, "As you know, Fourth Master, I have dozens of people under me. These past few days, we''ve been busy running around, putting a lot of effort into handling this matter, you say..."

    Master Qin Si was startled, then he understood and burst intoughter, "Agent Qiu is really straightforward. Rest assured, the Qin Family has noticed all the effort you''ve put into contributing to Xinjie City."

    "Later on, someone will send some gifts of gratitude to your room. Make sure to ept them with a smile when the timees!"

    Qiu Tuughed, "Then I must thank Fourth Master! Rest assured, as public servants, we will definitely do our best to handle each case."

    "And not let any criminals escape justice!"

    Upon hearing this, Master Qin Si hung up the phone, still smiling.

    At this moment, as Qiu Tu heard the "beep... beep..." from themunicator, the smile on his face slowly faded.

    He expressionlessly put themunicator back into his pocket and left the Qin family residence without lingering, carrying the documents with him...

    ....

    No sooner had he stepped out of the Qin family''s gate than a brand-new ck sedan pulled up in front of Qiu Tu.

    Qiu Tu stopped in his tracks and cocked his head towards the car.

    The window of the rear seat slowly rolled down, revealing the face of Qin Zhengguang, the Deputy Division Chief of the Public Security Bureau from the Investigation Bureau''s secondrgest family, the Qin n. He sat in the car, his gaze deep as he looked at Qiu Tu.

    Upon seeing Qin Zhengguang, Qiu Tu''s expression remained unchanged, and he greeted with a smile, "Good day, Chief."

    Qin Zhengguang, with slicked-back hair and dressed in a ck suit, exuded an aura of unspoken authority.

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s greeting, he responded with an indifferent "Hmm" and then looked straight ahead, asking faintly, "Agent Qiu seems to be quite busy with official duties recently? Going out frequently?"

    Qiu Tu replied with a smile, "The tasks from the Political Department are indeed heavy, so even when we go out on missions, we have to work overtime."

    Qin Zhengguang said indifferently, "No matter how heavy the tasks, work needs to be meticulous. Don''t jump to conclusions based on rumors. Be careful that in trying to investigate others, you don''t trap yourself and end up in trouble."

    Qiu Tu continued to smile, "Thank you for the concern, Director. But I only have this one sorry life, so I''m not afraid of getting trapped."

    Qin Zhengguang, after hearing this, took a deep look at Qiu Tu and then snorted coldly, looking at the driver and was about to tell the driver to go.

    But at that moment, Qiu Tu spoke up again, asking curiously, "Where is Director Qin heading to?"

    Qin Zhengguang nced at Qiu Tu with the corner of his eye, and replied emotionlessly, "To the Bureau."

    Qiu Tu said with a smile, "That''s perfect, I''m also headed to the Bureau. Please, Director Qin, let me hitch a ride."

    After saying this, he casually opened the front passenger door, sat downfortably, andined, "Having a car is really amazing! If I didn''t have a car, I''d have to change vehicles three times and walk for more than ten minutes from the Qin residence to the Bureau, which is really inconvenient."

    Qin Zhengguang: ??

    Watching Qiu Tu close the door and even skillfully adjust the back of the seat, Qin Zhengguang initially was puzzled, followed by a prolonged silence:.....

    The driver looked back at him, a bit helplessly seeking guidance, and after two seconds of silence, he finally nodded.

    However, after nodding, he shifted to the side-- the adjustment Qiu Tu had made to the seat back squished the space where he was sitting quite a bit...

    And so, the car slowly moved along the bumpy roads of Xinjie City, heading towards the Investigation Bureau.

    Qin Zhengguang initially thought Qiu Tu got in the car to discuss some secret topic with him, but as he waited throughout the ride, Qiu Tu not only didn''t say a word, but even fell asleep...N?v(el)B\\jnn

    This left himpletely baffled and even more at a loss as to what exactly Qiu Tu was up to.

 Chapter 41 Great Favor

    Actually, as soon as Qiu Tu had led his team into the Qin Family residence, Qin Zhengguang had already secretly investigated Qiu Tu.

    After all, the arrival of a First Level Detective from the Political Department at his family n was a political signal far too sensitive.

    Adding to that, the rumors within the Bureau about "Qiu Tu holding old grudges against the Qin Family" made him exceedingly careful.

    So, he meticulously looked into Qiu Tu.

    He discovered that... Qiu Tu and the Qin Family had almost no interactions, nor any grievances.

    This suddenly left Qin Zhengguang somewhat perplexed.

    Therefore, he began to investigate the source of the rumors iming "Qiu Tu bore a grudge against the Qin Family."

    In the end, the investigation circled back to Yan Chen and Secretary Bai.

    But the problem was... during the investigation into Qiu Tu, Qin Zhengguang found out that Qiu Tu was Secretary Bai''s man. It was precisely because of Secretary Bai''s trust that Qiu Tu was able to cling to Yan Chen''s powerful coattails.

    Now, as Qiu Tu came to investigate the Qin Family, were Secretary Bai and Yan Chen pulling his legs??

    But... wasn''t it Yan Chen who had engineered Qiu Tu''s promotion and departmental transfer? Wasn''t Yan Chen the mastermind behind this investigation?

    This web of contradictory and intricate rtionships left Qin Zhengguang unable to uncover the truth for a long time and shrouded Qiu Tu in a veil of mystery in his eyes.

    Therefore, even though Qin Zhengguang knew that Qiu Tu might be up to no good against him, he dared not act rashly.

    After holding off for two days, Qin Zhengguang happened to run into Qiu Tu on the road today, so he took the opportunity to try and intimidate Qiu Tu, hoping that Qiu Tu would back off in the face of difficulty.

    Yet... who would have thought that not only did Qiu Tu not back off, but he became even more aggressive? He even caught a ride in his own car?

    Truly, Qin Zhengguang was at a loss to understand Qiu Tu''s thought process.

    And what he found even more baffling was...

    When the car stopped at the Investigation Bureau, Qiu Tu simply stretched, yawned, and got out without a word of thanks!

    After alighting from the car, Qiu Tu seemed to suddenly remember something and turned back to knock on Qin Zhengguang''s window, leaving a "threat," "Director Qin, a piece of advice for you, better not wander around this morning, just stay in your office, have some tea, and read the documents."

    Watching Qiu Tu''s carefree figure walking into the Investigation Bureau, Qin Zhengguang''s brows were tightly furrowed, feeling more and more at a loss in understanding this young man in front of him....

    ...

    Arriving at the administrative building of the Investigation Bureau, Qiu Tu took the elevator and went directly to the top floor: this was the private office space for the high-ranking officials of the Investigation Bureau.

    As one of the three major power institutions in Xinjie City, the Xinjie City Investigation Bureau had one Bureau Chief, three Deputy Directors. Together with Jia Shu, Secretary Bai, the Special Duties Department Director, and the Public Security Department Director, who held actual power, they formed the pinnacle of the Bureau''s authority pyramid.

    These were the nine individuals at the very top of the tens of thousands of investigators in the entire Bureau.

    So, upon reaching the 12th floor, Qiu Tu behaved with utmost discretion. He made his way to Secretary Bai''s office, familiar with the path, and then knocked.

    Before long, a deep "Come in" echoed from the office of Secretary Bai.

    Qiu Tu pushed open the door to enter and saw Secretary Bai on the phone.

    Seeing Qiu Tu, Secretary Bai was initially startled, then he gestured for Qiu Tu to sit down first while he continued his phone conversation, "Commissioner Wang, I understand, I understand. But this needs to pass through the Municipal Committee before it can take effect. Until it''s in effect, our Investigation Bureau really can''t arrange it in advance."

    "I know, I know, but..."

    After stalling for a minute, Secretary Bai hung up the phone with a relieved face.

    After disconnecting the call, Secretary Bai looked up at Qiu Tu and asked with a smile, "Why do you have the time toe back to the bureau today?"

    In the presence of the superior who had always guided him, Qiu Tu was very respectful, saying, "I''m here to report to the Bureau Chief."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Secretary Bai paused for a moment, then said with a smile, "Wait a second, let me check the Bureau Chief''s schedule."

    After speaking, Secretary Bai took a folder from the desk, opened it, and said casually, "Qiu Tu, the Bureau Chief is indeed very busy."

    "Besides handling various matters of Xinjie City, he also has to look after joint operations with several neighboring cities from time to time."

    "It''s just that Director Liu of Eastern City doesn''t have much to do with our Bureau Chief... um... the two don''t really cooperate, so there''s not much coboration."

    "So, don''t always crowd around the Bureau Chief''s office without reason. Go do what you need to do."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "If you interfere with the Bureau Chief''s important affairs, I won''t be able to protect you when the timees."

    Upon hearing Secretary Bai''s words, Qiu Tu first froze, then looked at Secretary Bai with aplex gaze.

    Although Secretary Bai''s words seemed like a reprimand to Qiu Tu, they were actually informing Qiu Tu of Yan Chen''s sphere of influence:

    There are six or seven cities near Xinjie City; Yan Chen can exert influence on these cities. Even if Qiu Tu fled to those cities, he couldn''t escape from the palm of Yan Chen''s hand and would likely be apprehended and arrested.

    Only the Bureau Chief of Eastern City had a grudge with Yan Chen, so if Qiu Tu needed to run, he could flee to that city, and then from there to the Disaster Zone...

    This was a piece of information worth its weight in gold, as well as a way out for Qiu Tu should the situation be hopeless...

    Thinking of this, Qiu Tu looked at Secretary Bai with aplex gaze, heaving an inward sigh,

    ''Even in an apocalyptic world, there are still good people who remember kindness and seek to repay it....''

    Many in the Investigation Bureau knew that Qiu Tu was Secretary Bai''s man and that it was through Secretary Bai''s support that Qiu Tu hadtched onto Yan Chen''s thigh.

    But what they didn''t know was that Qiu Tu was, in fact, Secretary Bai''s lifesaver.

    Two years ago, when Xinjie City was in its nning stages, Secretary Bai, as a confidant of Yan Chen, came to Xinjie City with the military to prepare in advance, clearing out underground forces.

    During that period, Secretary Bai was ambushed, got separated from the main force, and nearly lost his life in dire straits.

    It was Qiu Tu who brought him home and saved his life. Just like when he was a child finding Ah-Tai and the Eagle...

    Thus, when Xinjie City was established, Qiu Tu was able to connect with Secretary Bai and join the Investigation Bureau. Later, he was rmended to Yan Chen, and was promoted to a Second-ss Investigator...

    Otherwise, how could such a low-level person have such a stroke of luck.

    Originally, Qiu Tu thought that by now Secretary Bai had fully repaid his debt of gratitude. Therefore, he dared not trouble Secretary Bai afterwards.

    But unexpectedly, when Qiu Tu was deep in trouble, Secretary Bai did not forget to point out an escape route for him...

    .....

    Meanwhile, as Qiu Tu finished recalling his past with Secretary Bai, Secretary Bai had also finished looking at Yan Chen''s schedule for the day.

    He put down the folder, looked up at Qiu Tu, and inquired, "I checked, and the Bureau Chief is indeed quite busy today, but he can spare a few minutes now. Will you go back and think it over, or should I notify him for you?"

    Qiu Tu snapped back to reality, looked at Secretary Bai, and smiled, "Please notify him, sir."

 Chapter 42 Ive solved the case!

    Secretary Bai looked at Qiu Tu, just looked at him. After a moment, he sighed softly and then picked up thendline telephone on the desk.

    Soon the call connected and Secretary Bai had a brief chat with Yan Chen before standing up and saying to Qiu Tu, "Come with me. The Bureau Chief is waiting for you."

    Qiu Tu sincerely said to Secretary Bai, "Thank you, sir."

    Upon hearing this, Secretary Bai gently patted Qiu Tu''s shoulder. Although he didn''t say a word, everything was understood without speaking.

    As Secretary Bai was the head of the Administrative Office and also Yan Chen''s secretary, their offices were very close to each other.

    Qiu Tu followed Secretary Bai for just a short walk before they arrived at Yan Chen''s office door.

    Reaching Yan Chen''s office door, Secretary Bai was about to knock when suddenly a "ding-dong~" sound rang out in the hallway¡ªit was the sound of a text message.

    Secretary Bai stopped his hand movement and looked at Qiu Tu.

    Qiu Tu quickly showed an apologetic smile and took out hismunicator to nce at it.

    The text message was from Fang Ming, and its content was straightforward, containing only nine words: Master Qin Si''s item has been delivered.

    A smile appeared on Qiu Tu''s face. He put hismunicator on silent mode and ced it back in his pocket before then whispering to Secretary Bai, "Everything is taken care of."

    Secretary Bai nodded, then knocked on the office door.

    "Come in."

    Apanied by Yan Chen''s low and husky voice, Secretary Bai opened the door, leading Qiu Tu into the office that represented the Investigation Bureau''s highest authority...

    Simr to Yan Chen''s study, his office was also adorned with thick curtains. Even though it was morning, the room was still incredibly dim, with only the deskmp casting a faint glow.

    Qiu Tu was curious how Yan Chen could manage to go through documents in such an environment.

    "Bureau Chief, Agent Qiu is here." "Good day, Bureau Chief!"

    Hearing their greetings, Yan Chen, hidden in the darkness behind themp, hummed lightly and then looked at Qiu Tu with an expression neither happy nor sad and slowly asked, "I heard you have a situation to report?"

    Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu nodded, "Yes, Bureau Chief."

    "I''ve found clues and evidence of the Qin Family colluding with the United Front. I would like to report this to you!"

    Upon hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Yan Chen''s expression showed no change, but Secretary Bai beside him looked at Qiu Tu with a surprised expression.

    Qiu Tu pretended not to notice Secretary Bai''s expression and just quietly looked at Yan Chen.

    Yan Chen was silent for a moment before asking in a t voice, "You found the evidence in just three days?"

    Qiu Tu replied, "Yes."

    After speaking, he added, "If you don''t believe me, you could call Director Qin Zhengguang to confront me."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Yan Chen seemed much more interested.

    He shifted his gaze to Secretary Bai and inquired, "What''s my scheduleing up?"

    Secretary Bai bowed slightly, "Bureau Chief, you have a mid-level meeting in 10 minutes, and in one hour, the Special Service Department is scheduled to give you a summary report."

    Yan Chen pondered for a moment, then said, "Let''s cancel that meeting."

    "Also, call Qin Zhengguang here."

    Secretary Bai bowed, "Yes."

    Having said that, he turned to leave.

    At this moment, Yan Chen spoke again, "Right, summon Jia Shu as well. After all, this involves their Political Department."

    Upon hearing this, Secretary Bai nodded again, "Yes."

    After Secretary Bai left, only Qiu Tu and Yan Chen remained in the office.

    Qiu Tu was looking at Yan Chen but his mind was on the information Qin Shuman had drunkenly leaked to him the night before.

    ording to Qin Shuman''s ount, Yan Chen had indeed experienced a Cataclysm Awakening and was at least a Second-Order Cataclysmic Awakened.

    No one knew the specifics of his Cataclysmic path, but from some of his usual behaviors and interests, it was very likely that it was "Life" or "Immortality."

    And his own abilities were probably rted to darkness or death.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    These types of paths and abilities were the most dangerous and the most prone to "Degeneration." That''s why the Security Department was secretly monitoring and investigating Yan Chen.

    Having learned this information, Qiu Tu wasn''t surprised; on the contrary, he felt that Qin Shuman must be hiding something from him.

    After all... merely "suspecting Degeneration," and the Security Department conducting a private investigation of a high-ranking official was quite exaggerated.

    Qiu Tu suspected that this was likely rted to the special privileges of the Security Department or some characteristics of Cataclysmics.....

    ....

    As time ticked by, two minutes quickly passed, and a knock was heard on the office door.

    With Yan Chen''s low "Come in," Secretary Bai, Jia Shu, and Qin Zhengguang entered the room.

    They first greeted Yan Chen, and then their gazes fell on Qiu Tu.

    Jia Shu was fine, his gaze merely one of interest, his eyes seemingly smiling but not quite. But Qin Zhengguang was different, he stared angrily at Qiu Tu, his eyes as if they could spit fire.

    Clearly... both of them were already aware of the matter at hand.

    Seeing that everyone had arrived, Yan Chen, leaning back in his chair, eyesnding on Qiu Tu, said in a hoarse voice, "Report."

    "Yes!" Qiu Tu responded, then he first nced at Qin Zhengguang, then at Jia Shu, and finally took out several documents from the file and said, "Bureau Chief, a few days ago I was ordered to protect Miss Shuman in her return to the Qin Family for a family visit."

    "Unexpectedly, I received an anonymous tip that night."

    "The tip-off stated that the Qin Family was colluding with anti-government organizations."

    "It detailed not only the Qin Family''s secret transportation of drugs, weapons, and other controlled resources to anti-government organizations but also recorded instances of the anti-government organization cooperating with the Qin Family to gain merits, helping the Qin Family to expand their influence in Xinjie City."

    Upon hearing such severe usations from Qiu Tu, Qin Zhengguang''s face turned green with rage. His eyes aze, he bellowed at Qiu Tu, "You''re ndering me! Who put you up to framing the Qin Family?"

    His voice caused the office to "buzz" with the reverberation.

    Qiu Tu wanted to defend himself, but before he could even speak, Jia Shu next to him began to jokingly refute on his behalf, "Director Qin, no need to be so agitated. Whatever issues you have can wait until after Qiu Tu has finished his report."

    "We''re all on the same side here. Surely we wouldn''t wrong you, would we?"

    Jia Shu was not only Yan Chen''s right-hand man and one of the top nine officials of the Investigation Bureau but also a middle-management personnel with privileges who came down from the Sanctuary. Qin Zhengguang dared to vent at Qiu Tu, but he wouldn''t dare to provoke Jia Shu, thus he had no choice but to press his lips together in silence.

    However, although he was silent, his gaze towards Qiu Tu was filled with unadulterated murderous intent.

    The Qin Family was no small force but a prominent, widespread family within the entirety of Xinjie City.

    For a power group of such level, not to mention vague and elusive clues, even with conclusive evidence, dealing with them would be very troublesome andplicated, with actions affecting the whole body.

    Therefore, even if Qiu Tu''s evidence was sufficient, the Qin Family was most likely not going to fall.

    When the Qin Family recuperated, what awaited Qiu Tu would be their relentless retaliation....

 Chapter 43 Playing the Reverse Game

    And if the evidence in Qiu Tu''s hands isn''t sufficient, that would make things even easier...

    Without the Qin Family even lifting a finger, he would directly ensure that Qiu Tu has no ce to be buried when he dies!

    At this moment, as if having guessed Qin Zhengguang''s inner thoughts, Qiu Tu continued with a smile in his report, "After receiving these allegations, I did not act rashly but instead reported to you, Bureau Chief, requesting reinforcement."

    "You approved my investigation that very night and sent reinforcements."

    Upon hearing this, Qin Zhengguang''s heart skipped a beat. He covertly nced at Yan Chen, hidden in the darkness, and suddenly realized that he might have misjudged the situation.

    That Qiu Tu dared to investigate this matter clearly indicated someone was instructing him, and the most likely candidates were Yan Chen, Secretary Bai, or Jia Shu.

    Although so far, he couldn''t figure out what the rtionship was exactly between Qiu Tu and these three individuals.

    But it was certain that Qiu Tu was closely rted to these three, and the masterminds behind this operation also seemed to be shadowed by their figures...

    ''What if they want to go against the Qin Family, what to do?''

    Thinking of this frightening possibility, Qin Zhengguang''s face darkened, and his hand involuntarily clenched.

    Qiu Tu nced at Qin Zhengguang and continued, "After receiving reinforcement, I didn''t waste any time but immediately directed the reinforcements to investigate these leads."

    "Very quickly, I obtained quite a lot of relevant evidence."

    "We not only found warehouses where the Qin Family was secretly storing contraband drugs, letters of contact with anti-government organizations but also tracked and eavesdropped on the entire process of the Qin Family''s dealings with the United Front."

    "Even... we found evidence of the Qin Family illegally releasing members of anti-government organizations."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Qin Zhengguang turned pale.

    He knew trouble had arisen; the Qin Family must have a mole, otherwise, Qiu Tu couldn''t possibly have found so many key leads and pieces of evidence in just a few days.

    And what''s more terrifying was, he realized... he was finished.

    With so many issues found, the Qin Family couldn''t possibly get through this unscathed.

    Even if the Investigation Bureau and City Hall wouldn''t annihte them due to the Qin Family''s deep roots, the Qin Family would still need to offer a scapegoat after paying a huge price in order to calm this matter!

    And considering the evidence that Qiu Tu had gathered, who could be more suitable as a scapegoat than him, the Deputy Division Chief of the Public Security Bureau?

    The family, in order to save itself, would certainly sacrifice him to preserve the others!

    Thinking of this, Qin Zhengguang felt his mouth dry, his legs weak, and even a ringing in his ears. He felt as if the sounds around him were getting further and further away, and he was bing less and less able to hear clearly...

    And in that moment of daze, he faintly heard Qiu Tu say.... "And after two days of investigation, coupled with the inquiry of Director Qin this morning, we have basically confirmed that Master Qin Si, also known as Qin Jinsheng, is the mastermind behind everything."

    "After Old Master Qin...."

    In that instant, Qin Zhengguang felt his mind go nk.

    Who?

    Who is the mastermind behind the scenes?

    Not me? It''s the Fourth Master??

    In that moment, Qin Zhengguang felt his thoughts rapidly crystallize, and even the surrounding sounds seemed much clearer.

    Then he heard Qiu Tu continue, "After Old Master Qin''s death, when the Qin siblings divided the family assets, Master Qin Si inherited the underground brothel, gambling dens, usury, and other illicit industries."

    "Because of the nature of these industries, he came into contact with members of the United Front, and then he discovered that this was an opportunity to make a fortune!"

    "So, he secretly collected drugs under the guise of Director Qin and Commissioner Qin Heng, and sold them at a high price to the United Front."

    "What''s more, when settling ounts, he wouldn''t ept currency from the United Front but instead demanded that they scavenge for people in the Disaster Zone to settle the debts with human lives."

    "Among them, girls in their teens or early twenties were sent to the Underground Brothel; boys aged two or three were taken to be trained as enforcers."

    At this point, Qin Zhengguang''s mood had gradually calmed down.

    He listened to Qiu Tu''s narration, knowing that Qiu Tu indeed had a lot of criminal evidence against the Qin Family.

    Although this evidence wasn''t enough to destroy the Qin Family, it was sufficient to cause them serious harm and make him, the second-inmand of the Qin Family, the scapegoat.

    But... Qiu Tu had raised the stakes so high, only to let them down gently, merely demanding that Fourth Mastere out and take the me.

    This was a path he had never considered.

    Thinking this, Qin Zhengguang looked at Qiu Tu with aplicated gaze, trying to figure out what game Qiu Tu was ying.

    At this moment, Qiu Tu also happened to look towards him.

    Upon making eye contact with Qiu Tu, Qin Zhengguang''s eyes flickered with guilt.

    Then he heard Qiu Tu say, "Director Qin, I recall this morning, when I was in the car informing you of everything, you were also very shocked. You then strictly told me not to worry about your pride and to definitely investigate thoroughly without any leniency!"

    "Moreover, you said that you and Commissioner Qin had prohibited Fourth Master from engaging in those illicit industries right from the start when Xinjie City was established. But it turned out he had only pretended to heed your advice and was secretly still involved! Now that such a huge issue has arisen, it''spletely his own fault!"

    "You said that you would definitely be just and not conte family ties with justice, making him personally hand over the evidence and then delivering him to the Investigation Bureau to be punished ordingly!"

    "And to prevent the Qin Family from repeating the same mistakes and also to facilitate the Investigation Bureau''s investigation, you would hand over all the involved drugs, resources, industries, and any other potential grey-area industries belonging to the Qin Family to the Bureau for aprehensive examination."

    "Do you remember saying all this?"

    Upon hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Qin Zhengguang gave him a subtly observant nce.

    If he remembered correctly, Qiu Tu had slept all the way in the car, not exchanging a single word with him!

    So... were these Qiu Tu''s conditions?

    To get through this ordeal, did he need to furnish all theplete evidence and have Fourth Master personally confess?

    As for those ck and grey industries, they were clearly intended as a tribute to Yan Chen and other higher-ups in the Bureau.

    The conditions weren''t low, but... they were already much better than the oue Qin Zhengguang had originally anticipated.

    Therefore, Qin Zhengguang readily agreed. With aposed expression, he said in a low voice, "I remember."

    After uttering these words, he couldn''t help but look at Qiu Tu again.

    As their gazes met, he caught a fleeting smile in Qiu Tu''s eyes.

    For that instant, he felt awkward standing so exposed before Qiu Tu, but... he was also grateful. So, he looked away from Qiu Tu''s gaze, pretending not to see anything.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    After pinning the me on Fourth Master Qin and taking the pressure off Qin Zhengguang, Qiu Tu then turned to Yan Chen and said,

    "Bureau Chief, while the Qin Family is indeed a major n and both Commissioner Qin and Director Qin are influential figures in Xinjie City, bringing Fourth Master in for questioning directly could have some adverse effects."

    "Therefore, what do you think about giving Director Qin some time to bring all the evidence and Fourth Master himself to the Investigation Bureau, is that eptable?"

 Chapter 44 Secretary Bais Astonishment (7000 words, please follow)

    As Qiu Tu''s voice trailed off, the entire room instantly fell into silence.

    All eyes within the room were cast towards Yan Chen.

    This matter had significant implications, not only involving the Qin Family, a major n deeply rooted in Xinjie City, but also pertaining to the Anti-government Armed Forces, and even other forces intricately linked to the Qin Family.

    Therefore, only Yan Chen, the highest-ranking official of the Investigation Bureau, could make the decision.

    At this moment, Yan Chen, concealed in darkness, had his eyes slightly shut, his fingers gently tapping on the backrest of the chair, "tap... tap... tap..."

    The crisp tapping echoed in everyone''s ears, but each person perceived it differently.

    Especially Qin Zhengguang, who felt as though his heart was about to leap out of his chest with each tap.

    He clearly understood Yan Chen''s meaning. Hurriedly bowing his head, he offered new terms, "Bureau Chief, I truly did not expect Fourth Brother to do such a thing."

    "Rest assured, not only will I ensure he admits his guilt and surrenders himself, but I will also make Sure my eldest brother personally apologizes and reflects on his actions before you," he said.

    Although Qin Zhengguang spoke cautiously, everyone present was astute, so they immediately understood his implications:

    Qin Heng was the Director of the Civil Affairs Bureau, a crucial part of the government system. If Qin Heng made a mistake, he should be held ountable to the Municipal Committee, note to Yan Chen.

    Therefore, when Qin Zhengguang said he would reflect before Yan Chen, it was clear he was promising that the Qin Family would fully align with Yan Chen.

    Upon hearing the terms Qin Zhengguang put forth, Yan Chen finally ceased the tapping of his hand, then spoke indifferently, "I have time tonight at 8 o''clock."

    That set the final deadline for the Qin Family.

    Wiping the cold sweat from his forehead, Qin Zhengguang bowed his head in acknowledgment, "Yes."

    With an agreement reached between the two men, the remaining matters were easier to handle. Qiu Tu reviewed all the other evidence and clues once again, evenying out the fact that Master Qin Si had tried to bribe him that day.

    However, in Qiu Tu''s ount, the bribe from Master Qin Si was not solicited by him; it was offered by Master Qin Si himself to persuade Qiu Tu to stop his investigation.

    Thus, within just over half an hour of reporting, aplex political deal was struck.

    Qiu Tu sessfullypleted his mission, the Qin Family resolved their crisis, and Yan Chen gained the Qin Family''s allegiance. As for Secretary Bai... he also got to ''enjoy the show.''

    So, when leaving the office, everyone still wore rtively good expressions on their faces.

    Leaving Yan Chen''s office.

    Once the door slowly closed behind him, Qin Zhengguang, with aplex look in his eyes, turned to Qiu Tu. Ignoring Secretary Bai''s presence beside him, he murmured, "Thank you."

    Qiu Tu smiled and retorted, "If Director Qin''s thanks are merely verbal, that would be rather insincere."

    Qin Zhengguang was taken aback by Qiu Tu''s directness, leaving him in an awkwardugh as he nced at Qiu Tu, "Don''t worry, it won''t just be words of thanks."

    Qiu Tu replied with a salute and a smile, "Then I shall thank Director Qin in advance."

    Qin Zhengguang said nothing more, giving a wry smile before shaking his head and taking the elevator down from the 12th floor.

    Although he had reached a verbal agreement with Yan Chen, the crisis for the Qin Family was not genuinely over.

    ¡ªUntil everything was finalized, verbal agreements were worth less than waste paper. So, he needed to rush back to the Qin Family and discuss with his eldest brother, then convince Master Qin Si to sacrifice himself...

    As the elevator doors closed behind Qin Zhengguang, Secretary Bai gave Qiu Tu a slight nod, and understanding the signal, Qiu Tu followed Secretary Bai into the office.

    Inside the office, while casually closing the door, Secretary Bai spoke softly, "You really gave me a scare just now."

    "I thought you were really... bing a scapegoat."

    His face was fraught with relief, "The Qin Family isn''t easy to provoke, right? They''re one of the biggest snakes in Xinjie City. Even the Bureau Chief has to be cautious dealing with them."

    "Moreover, Xinjie is in its infancy and needs the full support of all families. The Sanctuary must also ''buy the horse''s bones for a thousand gold'', setting an example for other yet-to-develop Disaster Zones."

    "So, the Qin Family won''t fall, nor can it be allowed to fall. This is a political necessity."

    "So, when I heard you discovered evidence of the Qin Family colluding with the United Front, I really sweated bullets."

    "Thankfully, you were smart. Although you raised the issue high, you let it down gently. You showed the Qin Family your evidence and left the handling of the matter to them. Most importantly, you saved Qin Zhengguang."

    At this, Secretary Bai looked at Qiu Tu with satisfaction,

    "If it weren''t for your rhetoric in turning the situation around, the Qin Family would have 100% sacrificed Qin Zhengguang."

    "If that happened, with the Qin Family deeply hurt, they would certainly harbor resentment against you. Once they caught their breath, they definitely wouldn''t let you off easy."

    "But now, you''ve saved Qin Zhengguang, and things are different. You''ve been gracious to Qin Zhengguang, so even if the Qin Family is displeased with you, he can help withstand some of the pressure."

    "He is the second-most prominent figure in the Qin Family, with a pivotal status."

    "Plus, this opportunity allows the Qin Family to cut off all their ck and gray industries in one fell swoop, thoroughly whitewashing themselves and eliminating future worries."

    "Who knows... after this ordeal, the Qin Family might even be grateful to you."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    "So, you..." Secretary Bai gave Qiu Tu a profound look,menting, "You''ve done a decent job. You have improved."

    Hearing Secretary Bai''s analysis, Qiu Tu chuckled twice and humbly replied, "Chief, you tter me. I was simply reporting the facts. I didn''t think that far."

    Secretary Bai pointed at Qiu Tu,ughing and chiding, "You, you just can''t take apliment."

 Chapter 45 Promotion! Envy from Everyone (7000 requests for follow-up reading!)

    ```

    With these thoughts, Jia Shu stood by the window for a while and went over the whole matter in his mind once again.

    A momentter, he returned to his desk and amended Qiu Tu''s appointment, changing "starting from tomorrow" to "effective immediately."

    He then temporarily held back Qin Shuman''s arrest warrant, nning to issue it after the Qin Family had dealt with their own matters...

    Ultimately, he opted for a more cautious approach...

    .....

    "My God! Another promotion?"

    "Who?"

    "Who else but Chief Qiu."

    "Ah? Chief Qiu got promoted again?"

    In an era with radios and vehicles, the speed ofmand transmission was very fast.

    Qiu Tu hadn''t even returned to the Qin Family before his promotion notice had already been sent to the Security Team.

    So upon his arrival at the Security Team''s base, what he heard were the many detectives'' discussions.

    "Chief Qiu has been promoted two ranks in one week!"

    "He''s heading for an office job already? I''m so envious."

    "From now on, he''s a big shot. Not the same as us anymore."

    Because he faintly heard his own name, Qiu Tu beckoned a Special Service Detective over and asked, "What happened? Who got promoted?"

    The detective Qiu Tu had singled out scurried over and saluted him respectfully amidst the envious gazes of others.

    After that, he whispered to Qiu Tu, "Chief, it''s you who''ve been promoted! Congrattions on bing a Deputy Staff Director!"

    Hearing what the detective said, Qiu Tu couldn''t help but pause.

    Promoted? Deputy Staff Director?

    What are Yan Chen and Jia Shu up to?

    Though he was hesitant inside, he managed to show a happy expression on his face.

    He smiled and patted the detective on the shoulder encouragingly, "Keep up the good work, and you''ll be a Deputy Staff Director in the future too!"

    The detective blushed with excitement upon hearing Qiu Tu''s encouragement and quickly saluted again, "Thank you, Chief!"

    And once he returned to the midst of the other detectives, he instantly became the center of attention, with the others eagerly questioning what Qiu Tu had said to him, whether there was any mention of taking him under his wing.

    Obviously, with Qiu Tu''s promotion, the attitudes of these Special Service detectives toward him had once again undergone a dramatic change...

    As mentioned earlier when introducing Lin Zuo, it seemed like there was only one rank between a First Level Detective and a Deputy Staff Director, but in reality, it was a world of difference.

    A Deputy Staff Director could not only transfer detectives they liked to their own department so they wouldn''t have to do fieldwork anymore, but they also had the authority to rmend promotions below First Level Detective and had a decisive role in selecting detectives.

    Add to this that Xinjie City was newly established and the Investigation Bureau''s middle-management positions were not yet full, so a Deputy Staff Director entering a leadership position had ample room for advancement.

    So if they could gain the favor of a young Deputy Staff Director like Qiu Tu, it could be a life-changing opportunity for those lower-ranking detectives.

    Having been through several days in Xinjie City, Qiu Tu also had aprehensive understanding of the power structure and thus knew what those detectives were yearning for.

    However, he hadn''t even seen his own promotion fax yet, hadn''t figured out what moves Yan Chen and Jia Shu had made, so he was not in the mood to recruit these detectives.

    He called over a detective to ask for Fang Ming''s whereabouts and went straight to him.

    As expected, the promotion fax was in Fang Ming''s hands.

    Seeing Qiu Tue to him, Fang Ming handed over the promotion fax with aplex expression on his face.

    Clearly, even someone with a strong background like him found Qiu Tu''s rapid ascension somewhat unbelievable.

    Qiu Tu took the promotion fax, read it carefully, and then couldn''t help but curl his lips into a smile.

    ''Deputy Director of the Political Department''s Interrogation Section? Effective immediately? Handover work to Cao Dabiao?''n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    This fax seemed fine at a nce, but upon closer scrutiny, it revealed a lot of hidden implications.

    A smile yed across Qiu Tu''s eyes,

    ''It seems like Yan Chen and the others have sensed the danger, so they want to act in advance to separate me and the Qin Family...''

    ''Too bad it''s toote. The trap has been set...''

    At this point, as Qiu Tu finished reading the report, Fang Ming sighed softly and said, "Your promotion speed is really like being on a rocket."

    Qiu Tu tucked the fax away and asked with augh, "What''s the matter? Jealous?"

    Fang Ming unusually maintained hisposure at such a time. He first nodded, admitting his envy, "Of course, who wouldn''t be?"

    He then said to Qiu Tu, "But... I''d advise you to be cautious."

    Qiu Tu looked at him.

    He said calmly, "If you''re not a secret child of some big shot from the Sanctuary, or if you haven''t gotten ahold of leverages over some high-ups at the Investigation Bureau. Or perhaps, caught the eye of some bigwig''s daughter..."

    "Then you''d better make sure if those above aren''t setting you up."

    He continued, "You''re too young, and your promotion speed is too rapid. We ordinary detectives might only be envious, which won''t impact you."

    "But what about those at the same rank as you, the other Deputy Directors or Directors? Could they affect you? Might they also have an issue with it in their hearts?"

    ```

    "You should know that many of them are heads of various medium torge forces in Xinjie City, and it''s by seeking refuge in the Sanctuary that they''ve managed to secure their current positions after the establishment of Xinjie City."

    "And yet you surpassed them in just a week''s time...."

    Fang Ming didn''t finish his sentence, but his meaning was crystal clear.

    Upon hearing his words, Qiu Tu fell silent for a moment, then reached out to pat Fang Ming''s shoulder, saying, "Don''t worry, I''ve got it under control."

    Seeing this, Fang Ming didn''t try to persuade him further, only reminding him, "Stay safe."

    Qiu Tu hummed in response and then said, "Since the order has been given from above, I''m going to go and hand over the Security Team."

    After finishing his statement, he lifted his leg, ready to leave.

    However... just as he took one step, he stopped again.

    He hesitated for a second, then with suggestive intent, he said, "I remember you don''t get along with Cao Dabiao, do you?"

    "It seems like you''ve always looked down on his carefree demeanor."

    "Now that you two have to work together, watch your temper and don''t start any conflicts as soon as he takes over. If you get kicked out of the Security Team, it won''t look good for anyone."

    Fang Ming: ??

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words left Fang Mingpletely baffled.

    Since when did he have bad rtions with Cao Dabiao? And when was his temper ever bad?

    Although he looked down on Cao Dabiao... there were plenty of others he disapproved of. Cao Dabiao was just one among many.

    Besides, his temper had always been good. Hadn''t he been provoked by Qiu Tu so many times and yet remained soposed?

    As he thought about it, a bolt of lightning shed through Fang Ming''s mind. He abruptly looked up at Qiu Tu.

    But Qiu Tu merely gave him a meaningful look before he walked away....

    Watching Qiu Tu''s retreating figure, Fang Ming swallowed nervously, understanding....

    At noon, Qiu Tu and Cao Dabiao carried out the work handover in the presence of the Security Team. Then, skipping lunch, Qiu Tu went straight to the Political Department''s Interrogation Section to report.

    That afternoon, a fierce argument erupted between Fang Ming and Cao Dabiao over Fang Ming''s dissatisfaction with Cao Dabiao''smand.

    Because the matter escted to a point of no return, Fang Ming and his team of detectives were reassigned back to the Bureau by the Special Service Department, reced by a new team of Special Service Detectives for assistance.

    However, what no one knew was that during the chaotic handover period, Shen Lingshuang had also been secretly moved out of the Qin Family''s residence.

    Shen Lingshuang had originally been sent to the Qin Family in secret. Without Qiu Tu or Fang Ming saying anything, and with no investigation from above, Cao Dabiao and the new First Level Detective from the Special Service Department had no knowledge of her....

    .....

    At 5 p.m., Qiu Tu left the Investigation Bureau and returned to his home.

    But the moment he unlocked and opened the door, he was stunned.

    His home waspletely transformed:

    The previously somewhat messy living room now looked brand new, the sofa neatly arranged, the misceneous items on the table tidily organized, and the floor, tabletop, and even the windows were cleaned to a shine, glistening with cleanliness.

    If not for the familiar items still in the room, he might have doubted he had entered the wrong house.

    "You''re back~?" A crisp and pleasant voice came from the direction of the bedroom.

    Possibly having heard the door open, a sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl emerged from the bedroom. It seemed she had just taken a shower; her hair was still damp, adorned with sparkling droplets, her skin as creamy and smooth as po with a healthy rosy hue.

    She wore one of Qiu Tu''s white shirts, which hung loose on her small frame, barely concealing her fair jade-like legs beneath.

    Yet she seemed unconcerned, merely tilting her head slightly and looking at Qiu Tu with bright andrge eyes.

    In that instant, Qiu Tu''s heartbeat momentarily quickened.

    Nheless, he swiftly adjusted his emotions and, ncing over the tidy room, he asked, "Did you clean all this?"

    Shen Lingshuang nodded with a smile. She was naturally at an age of innocence, and her untainted smile, sunny as a spring day, was infectiously bright.

    Qiu Tu hummed in acknowledgment, then proceeded to close the door and remove his belongings as he asked, "Is everything ready?"

    Upon hearing Qiu Tu address serious matters, the smile on Shen Lingshuang''s face faded, and she nodded, "It''s ready."

    After speaking, she gestured with her hand and led Qiu Tu into the bedroom.

    The previously cramped bedroom had been cleared out, even the bed tipped on its side, leaving all the space for a Magic Potion brewing setup and various ingredients.

    This was something Qiu Tu had arranged for Eagle and Ah-Kun to purchase from the ck market over the past two days.

    Having inspected the brewing equipment, Qiu Tu nced at the countdown timer in the upper-left corner.

    The countdown that remained for several hours this morning to "make Cataclysmic Potion" had now hit zero, changing into a small, trembling Treasure Chest.

    After confirming everything was ready, Qiu Tu turned to Shen Lingshuang and said, "Well, since it''s all set, let''s begin."

    Hearing Qiu Tu say this, Shen Lingshuang nodded vigorously, then moved to the equipment to start brewing the "Cataclysmic Potion."

    Qiu Tu stood silently behind her for a few minutes, making sure no new Crisis Warning popped up, before he finally let his guard down.

    He left the bedroom and entered the small living room. Standing by the neat window, he looked outside at the prairie fire-like sunset and the zing clouds, slightly lost in thought....

    ''The Qin Family must be starting now as well....''

    ----

    The new month should see an increase in update speed (around 7000 words a day), and I hope everyone will keep up with the reading.

 Chapter 46 Would you like to be my first love? (7000 words, please follow)

    At this moment, the Qin Family''s main house.

    Just as Qiu Tu had predicted, the members of Qin Family''s Fifth House had all gathered and were quarreling non-stop behind closed doors!

    Among them, the most intense argument was between Qin Zhengguang and Master Qin Si.

    At first, when Master Qin Si received the notification that the family was going to have a meeting to discuss important matters concerning the future of the Qin Family, he was overjoyed, thinking that since Qiu Tu had taken the money, he indeed did the job.

    However, he was shocked when he learned from Qin Zhengguang that Qiu Tu had pinned all the evidence he had collected so painstakingly on him.

    At that moment, he wanted desperately to interrupt Qin Zhengguang, then question him, "What? What did you say? Qiu Tu said I did all those things? Has Qiu Tu gone mad?"

    But... he didn''t dare.

    After all, up to this point, none of the Qin houses knew that it was he who had betrayed the Qin Family.

    Through the years, despite the heavy internal conflicts, the Qin Family had always observed one bottom line, which was to present a united front externally.

    If he exposed that it was he who had sold out the Qin Family''s evidence to Qiu Tu, he guessed he wouldn''t even need the Investigation Bureau to take action; he would immediately be the target of all.

    Thus, all he could do was sit on the chair in a daze and listen to Qin Zhengguang recount the events that had happened in Yan Chen''s office.

    But, as soon as Qin Zhengguang got to the part where he was about to take the fall for all the crimes, Master Qin Si couldn''t sit still anymore.

    With his belly out, he put on an incredulous face and looked at Qin Zhengguang, "Big brother! I didn''t hear you wrong, did I?"

    "You n to let me take the fall for all the crimes?"

    "How many lives do I have to take on so many crimes!"

    "I''m your own brother for God''s sake!"

    Hearing Master Qin Si''s words, Qin Zhengguang''s face was also filled with conflict, and he said gravely, "Fourth brother, really, this is beyond your brother''s control."

    "Right now, Qiu Tu is pinning it all on you. Even if we offer up some other branch of the family, the Bureau won''t believe it."

    "Since you''re going to be implicated anyway, isn''t it better to take the me than for everyone to be ruined together?"

    Master Qin Si mmed the table with a "pah" and stood up, ring at Qin Zhengguang, bellowing, "What kind of talk is that!"

    "Are you going to just watch your own brother be thrown into the mes?"

    As he spoke, he swept a nce at Patriarch of the Qin Family, Qin Heng, seated at the head seat, then looked at Qin Zhengguang again, and said in frustration, "I''ve figured it out long ago. Ever since our father died, you and the eldest brother have looked down on me and third brother."

    "After all, you are both political bigwigs, influential figures in Xinjie City. While me and third brother are just businessmen. Especially me, who deals with the ck market."

    "You''ve always looked down on me, and I''ve endured it because that''s how our father divided the family. But now that something has happened, you still want to push me out to take the me? I won''t ept this!"

    Seeing the two of them arguing, Patriarch Qin Heng, seated at the main seat, covered his mouth with a cough twice, then said in a deep voice, "Alright, let''s all say a little less."

    After saying that, he looked towards Master Qin Si, and spoke gently, "Fourth brother. Second brother has reported this to me at noon. We have discussed it for a long time, and this is really the best oue."

    "Of course, I know this matter has indeed wronged you."

    "But, this is for the sake of the family, isn''t it?"

    Seeing that Master Qin Si was about to argue again, Qin Heng raised his hand to gesture him to pause, adding, "Don''t worry. We are aware of the contributions you have made for the family."

    "So, as long as you weather this storm, I guarantee your two sons will hold a position of at least section chief at the City Hall or in the Investigation Bureau once theye of age."

    "As for your assets, one-third of the legitimate business in third brother''s hands will be divided to ensure your family''s future expenses."

    "Regarding your safety... when I meet with Yan Chen tonight, I will secure a guarantee for you."

    "Guarantee that you won''t be tortured and that your life will be free from any danger."

    "So, for now, go to jail for the family. Once the dust settles and we find an appropriate opportunity, we will find a way to get you out."

    Hearing Qin Heng''s words, Master Qin Si''s face changed rapidly.

    But just then, Qin Shu from the Qin Family''s Third House suddenly stood up. He expressed his dissatisfaction, "Wait a minute. Big brother. Why should I pay for the crimes that second brother and Master Qin Si havemitted?"

    "I''ve been conducting my business just fine, so why is a third of my family''s business suddenly being divided away?"

    "I still have to give half my ie to the family every year. What will I have left?"

    "I do not agree with this!"

    And so, a new round of quarreling began¡­

    But what no one knew was... while they were all caught up in their tumultuous argument, Master Qin Si''smunicator suddenly vibrated twice.

    Master Qin Si discreetly took out themunicator to have a look.

    At that instant, his face turned exceedingly grim, but it quickly returned to normal...

    ¡­

    The process of concocting the Cataclysmic Potion is troublesome yet simple.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    The difficult part is that the Pharmacist must understand all the Cataclysm Materials. They must also know the timing and interactions of the "Star, Moon, King, and Minister" medicine categories, thoroughly acquainted with when to add which ingredient, when to stir, and when to take the Potion off the fire.

    The simple part is that once these steps are memorized, for the most part, the brewing is fully automated and doesn''t require the Pharmacist to keep constant watch.

    Thus Shen Lingshuang had ample time to pester Qiu Tu.

    After setting the rm for the next stirring, Shen Lingshuang tiptoed into the living room and tilted her head to look at Qiu Tu.

    Qiu Tu was sitting on the couch at that moment, with his hands crossed behind his head, seemingly deep in thought.

    Shen Lingshuang silently watched him for a while and got bored, so she took the initiative and called out, "Hey, Qiu Tu~"

    Qiu Tu came back to his senses and turned his head towards her.

 Chapter 47 Cataclysmic Potion Refinement (7000 words, please follow!)

    Upon hearing Master Qin Si''s words, Qiu Tu knew that Master Qin Si had been persuaded by him and was preparing to test him.

    With this thought, he began to execute thest step of his n, "Yes, I can save you."

    He said slowly, "Fourth Master, your original n was to use the Political Department''s authority for internal supervision to pull down Qin Zhengguang."

    "But you obviously forgot the most important point: Qin Zhengguang is also a man of the Investigation Bureau."

    "At this sensitive time, how could Director Yan possibly allow a director of the Investigation Bureau to have issues?"

    "Isn''t that just giving the Municipal Committee and the military a reason to criticize him?"

    "So, even if I hadn''t betrayed you and had be your pawn to go against Qin Zhengguang, it wouldn''t have been possible to seed! Director Yan would just suppress everything."

    "I believe you must have heard this analysis from your two brothers tonight...."

    "So, the reason I betrayed you is truly because I was forced to..."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Master Qin Si fell silent.

    Indeed, as Qiu Tu had said. When he had refused to take the fall for the Qin Family, furiously asking why Qin Zhengguang couldn''t step forward to take the me himself, Qin Heng had given him a lesson on the spot.

    He had learned that Yan Chen and Qin Zhengguang were on the same boat, and Yan Chen would not allow Qin Zhengguang to take the me at this critical juncture.

    The Investigation Bureau could not afford to make mistakes!

    Sensing Master Qin Si''s silence, Qiu Tu''s lips curled into a smile, and then he whispered, "So, Fourth Master...do you want to switch camps?"n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    In that instant, Master Qin Si was taken aback.

    His voice, full of disbelief, came through the receiver, "Aren''t you Yan Chen''s confidant? You...?"

    Qiu Tuughed, his eyes wide open as he told a bald-faced lie, "I am indeed Director Yan''s confidant. But...I''m certainly not Qin Zhengguang''s confidant."

    "You don''t know, but this time after I targeted the Qin Family, Qin Zhengguang was actually very grateful to me, and he even took the initiative to give me a car, along with many gifts."

    "To be honest...I''m really scared."

    Qiu Tu expressed, "Fourth Master. To be frank. If he had cursed me out or threatened me, I wouldn''t worry; after all, that would indicate Director Qin is nothing but a brave sans strategic fool."

    "But his sycophantic approach, even given me gifts... I''m very worried he''s harboring ill will and nning to settle scores with me in the future."

    "Furthermore, the Qin Family is about to lean towards the Bureau Chief and be epted as a confidant. In the Bureau Chief''s eyes, do you think I''m more important, or is such arge Qin Family more important?"

    "So, I don''t want the Qin Family to lean towards the Bureau Chief. Or to be more precise, even if they do, there must be someone I can control."

    "For example... you."

    The contempt and threats from Qiu Tu did not anger Master Qin Si. On the contrary, it brought quite a bit of peace to his heart.

    Qiu Tu continued, "Fourth Master, I hold your damning evidence, the proof of you betraying the Qin Family. In the future, when you take charge of the Qin Family, you wouldn''t dare harm me."

    "Even if you can''t swallow this humiliation and truly n to make a move against me, we might as well perish together."

    "We have a basis for cooperation...."

    After hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Master Qin Si''s expression changed continuously over the other side of themunicator.

    After a long moment, he asked, "Which other camp are you suggesting?"

    The smile on Qiu Tu''s face grew broader as he softly uttered two words, "The military."

    Master Qin Si''s pupils contracted slightly, his heart shocked.

    The military, the most inconspicuous of the three major powers. Even General Ye of the military kept an extremely low profile in Xinjie City.

    But... No one could disregard the presence of this department and this powerful figure.

    After all, two years ago, when he was still Colonel Ye, he led a division''s troops to station in Xinjie City under the pretense of passing through.

    Then, after having thoroughly investigated the distribution of power in the entire Xinjie City, he directly cleansed all the underground forces and dozens of families, big and small, in Xinjie City.

    At that time, rivers of blood flowed through Xinjie City, and all those who opposed the rule of the Sanctuary were genocidally destroyed.

    Afterwards, Colonel Ye was promoted to Major General Ye, and while retaining a core force of a regiment, he recruited and expanded to a division, continuing to station in Xinjie City.

    Therefore, although the City Hall is the supreme authority of Xinjie City, and the Investigation Bureau is a violent institution closely linked to most people in Xinjie City, there is no one who dares to overlook General Ye and the military...

    ''If I could really hold onto the military''s coattails, then...''

    At this thought, Master Qin Si shivered all over and suddenly realized he had almost been dazzled by the huge pie Qiu Tu was painting.

    Once he came to his senses, he couldn''t help but question, "The military? Why would the military want to protect me?"

    "Besides, the military has no authority to intervene in city governance. How can they protect me?"

    "You''re not telling me that for my sake, a discard, they would publicly confront the Investigation Bureau, are you?"

    Hearing Master Qin Si''s words, Qiu Tu smiled again and then said softly, "Fourth Master, are you aware of... the military''s Security Department?"

    Master Qin Si''s body jolted sharply, his face showing a realization and...excitement.

    ....

    In the next fifteen minutes, Qiu Tu vividlyid out the benefits of siding with the Security Department to Master Qin Si.

    For instance, the Security Department would protect Master Qin Si to the military''s safe house and destroy all traces, ensuring the Investigation Bureau couldn''t find any.

    This was a lot more reliable than the Qin Family''s promise to send Master Qin Si to prison.

    For example, the Security Department would arrest Qin Zhengguang based on Master Qin Si''s report, clearing the way for Master Qin Si and Third Master Qin to take over.

    For instance, the Security Department would grant a special amnesty to Master Qin Si for surrendering and reporting others, he wouldn''t be punished, and after everything was over, Master Qin Si would regain his freedom, and so on....

    After hearing the prospects Qiu Tu depicted, although Master Qin Si still hesitated, he was clearly tempted.

    Seeing this, Qiu Tu didn''t pressure or rush him. Being deeply knowledgeable about human nature, he knew that in order to make someone take the bait, it was essential to bnce giving ck and pulling tight¡ªpatience was crucial.

    Therefore, they set a final deadline. Neither early norte, it was precisely one hour before Qin Heng was to meet Yan Chen: 7 o''clock.

    After that time, their deal would be void. Before then, Master Qin Si would have ample time to think it over and make his final decision.

    After hanging up the phone, Qiu Tu looked at the sky outside and felt the sunset was unexpectedly beautiful.

    Although it wasn''t yet time, he was already more than 90% sure that this fire would ignite.

    During the days he had been in contact with Master Qin Si, Qiu Tu had already figured out his character through various pieces of intelligence.

    Perhaps because he was thest son of the first wife, Master Qin Si had been willful and defiant from a young age, not only cold-hearted but also a tremendous gambler.

    Qiu Tu remembered a saying that Master Qin Si often had on his lips: "To the victor belong the spoils, he who gambles must ept loss."

    Therefore, if the same conditions were given to Qin Zhengguang, he would most likely give up due to familial affection or the risks involved.

    But Master Qin Si.... As long as there was a sliver of possibility, he wouldn''t resign himself to fate....

    So, having given him such great hope, all he had to do now was quietly wait for him to bite....

    With this thought, Qiu Tu no longer focused on Master Qin Si but went to his bedroom to check on his Cataclysmic Potion.

    Pushing open the bedroom door, he was first hit with a briny scent, like that of the sea. Following that, Qiu Tu felt as if he had been transported into the midst of a vast ocean.

    At this moment, the whole room had turned azure blue, and the rippling surface of the water reflected on the ceiling as if it were the ocean floor.

    The sounds of the sea breeze and thepping waves surrounded him.

    He reached out, and the sea water flowed over his body, soaking his clothes through and sticking them tight against him....

    "Hey! Qiu Tu! Qiu Tu!"

    While Qiu Tu was engrossed in this "indoor ocean" spectacle, suddenly, he heard Shen Lingshuang''s voice calling out to him.

    Groggilying back to his senses, Qiu Tu realized he was standing in his bedroom.

    But... there was no ocean, no sea breeze, no waves in sight, only a room full of alchemy equipment and ingredients.

    ''Was everything just now a hallucination?''

    Qiu Tu was startled, but then he noticed something was off because... he truly seemed as though he had just been pulled out of the sea, drenched from head to toe.

    "Drip... Drip..."

    Qiu Tu looked down; his shirt, pants, and shoes were all soaked, dripping water.

    He touched a drop of water and tasted it. It was salty....

    Qiu Tu looked up at Shen Lingshuang, who appeared concerned, and asked, "What happened to me?"

    Shen Lingshuang was hesitant.

    She carefully said, "I''m not sure either...."

    "I''ve encountered something simr before. But... my father told me it involves the truth of the Cataclysm and the nature of the world."

    "He said unless one embarks on the path of the Cataclysm, there''s no need to know. So, I don''t understand what''s going on either. All I can say is, this isn''t the first urrence."

    Hearing this, Qiu Tu''s gaze turned to the bubbling blue Magic Potion within the device....

    Could it be that all that just happened was caused by this bottle of Cataclysmic Potion in front of him?

    Just a potion, and it could create such a vivid hallucination? Moreover... could this hallucination turn from fiction to fact?

    Then... how wondrous must the world of the supernaturally gifted be...?

    With these thoughts, Qiu Tu looked at Shen Lingshuang and inquired, "How much longer until the Potion is ready?"

    Shen Lingshuang paused for a moment, "Ten minutes."

    Qiu Tu nodded, "I''m going to change my clothes."

    Having said that, he took a towel from the restroom to dry off his body, and then found a couple of clean clothes in the living room to change into.

    Just like that, ten minutes passed in a sh.

    By the time Qiu Tu had changed, Shen Lingshuang walked slowly out of the bedroom holding two bottles of azure Potion¡­

 Chapter 48 Successful Cataclysm Awakening (Urgent Plea for Follow-up Reads)

    With just a nce, Qiu Tu felt his gaze irresistibly drawn to the two bottles of potion, as blue as the deep ocean.

    It was as if some invisible force was tugging at his spirit, pulling him deeply into the gem-like liquid, leaving him unable to extricate himself for the moment.

    It seemed that the unique salty scent of the ocean once again lingered in his nostrils; the low chanting of waves hitting the shore echoed in his ears, as the vast expanse of the sea emerged before his eyes¡­.

    Fortunately, with the experience he just had, he didn''t sink into the sea but, with a jolt, managed to break free from the hallucination.

    Shen Lingshuang was a bit surprised that he was able to break free from the hallucination for the second time so quickly and eximed, "Qiu Tu, you might actually have the talent to be a Cataclysmic."

    "I remember I went through a dozen simr hallucinations and had to be awakened by my father each time."

    Having said that, she nced down at the two bottles of Cataclysmic Potion she had concocted, feeling a little sentimental, "Also, although I''m not sure what exactly happened this time."

    "But I always feel that the Cataclysmic Potion I concocted this time seems different from before."

    She tilted her head, her eyes swirling with the light of reminiscence, and said cutely, "I feel that the effects of this batch of potions are particrly strong. Even I fall involuntarily into hallucinations every time I look at them."

    "This is a phenomenon I have never encountered before."

    After hearing this, Qiu Tu immediately had a guess in his heart: Perhaps... thanks to the right time, ce, and people, the probability of Cataclysm Awakening for these two potions was indeed high enough, which is why there was such a special phenomenon.

    Thinking this, he took one bottle of potion from Shen Lingshuang''s hand, and then nced over to the upper left corner of his field of vision.

    In the upper left corner, two small treasure chests were shing, with no new crisis countdown emerging.

    ''It seems there''s at least no danger to life.''

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu made up his mind.

    He shook the bottle of potion.

    "Qiu Tu!"

    As the potion swayed, the hallucination slowly began to appear again. But at that moment, Shen Lingshuang''s crisp voice sounded in Qiu Tu''s ear.

    Qiu Tu stopped his action and looked at the young girl before him.

    Shen Lingshuang gently ced her hand on Qiu Tu''s hand, her beautiful eyes filled with worry, "Are you... really sure you want to drink this potion?"

    Sensing the girl''s nervous mood, Qiu Tu made a light-hearted joke, "What? Did you spit in it?"

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s ill-timed joke, Shen Lingshuang''s face turned red as she protested, "What nonsense are you talking about?"

    Qiu Tu smiled and patted her head, then said softly, "Don''t worry. I''ll be fine."

    "Besides, I''ve made proper arrangements for all of you."

    With that, his smile was warm and full of strength, "If I don''te back, ''Eagle'' will take you away from Xinjie City and send you home."

    "I''ve prepared two little goldfish and two hundred Silver Yuan for you, which should be enough for your fare back to the Third Sanctuary."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Shen Lingshuang turned pale, her grip tightening on Qiu Tu''s hand as she rified, "I''m not concerned for myself. I''m worried about you."

    "I always feel that... "

    But before she could finish, the hand Qiu Tu had on her head turned into a chop and deftly struck the back of her neck.

    The next second, the girl, with an incredulous expression on her face, slumped softly into Qiu Tu''s arms.

    Carefully, Qiu Tu took the second bottle of Cataclysmic Potion, ced the two potions temporarily on the table, then picked her up by the waist and walked towards the door.

    A momentter, with the sound of his home''s door opening, the door to the room next door also opened from the inside.

    Eagle stepped out of the house.

    He nodded at Qiu Tu, then stepped aside to clear the doorway.

    Carrying Shen Lingshuang, Qiu Tu entered the next room, where a woman in her thirties was already waiting.

    Upon seeing Qiu Tu, she hurriedly stepped aside, and Qiu Tu carefully ced Shen Lingshuang onto the bed.

    Then he instructed the woman, "Sister Xin, I''ll have to trouble you to look after this girl."

    Sister Xin immediately responded, rubbing her hands together, "Ah-Tu, don''t worry. You''ve taken care of us for so many years, we''re all grateful and will surely return the favor."

    "Leave her with me, and I''ll take good care of her. Even if she wakes up, I''ll keep her calm."

    Qiu Tu nodded and then left the room.

    Approaching the door, he looked at Eagle standing by the entrance and softly instructed, "Stand guard at my doorstep."

    "If something goes wrong, don''t hesitate, take Sister Xin and Shen Lingshuang and leave immediately."

    Eagle replied with a "hm," his gaze steady.

    Qiu Tu then took out hismunicator and handed it to him, ordering, "If Old Fourth Qin calls before Ie out, you respond as I taught you this afternoon."

    "I don''t care about the rest, but most importantly, make sure he takes Qin Shuman away from the Qin Family."

    "At that time, there will be people from the military waiting to meet them at the designated location."

    Eagle grunted again in acknowledgment.

    Qiu Tu continued, "Over the past few days, I''ve got my hands on thousands of Silver Yuan from the Investigation Bureau and the Qin Family, all stashed in the ck car that Qin Zhengguang brought over today."

    "If something happens to me, you guys take this money and drive to Eastern City in the south."

    "The Bureau Chief there has issues with Yan Chen, so they won''t go after you. You can settle there or use it as a transit point."

    The Eagle fell silent for a moment, seemingly ufortable with Qiu Tu''s ns for the worst-case scenario, but eventually spoke up to persuade, "Do we really have to take this gamble?"

    Hearing this, Qiu Tu pped his shoulder, his words carrying a mixture of resilience and openness, "How can one rise above without taking risks?"

    "We''re already fortunate to have this chance to gamble. Who knows how many people wish for a chance to gamble but never get one?"

    Having said that, Qiu Tu turned and went back to his room, then closed the door.

    The reason he had arranged everything in such meticulous detail was because he also wasn''t sure what would happen after drinking the Cataclysmic Potion.

    Although there might not be a risk to his life, the dangers of the Cataclysmic Potion didn''t lie in taking lives, but... mutation, degeneration, and alteration were all possibilities.

    That was why he had put everything in order before setting off on this path filled with unknowns.

    Like Shen Lingshuang''s journey home, Qin Shuman''s freedom, like the livelihood of Ah-Tai and Eagle for the next few years...

    In the end, there was still a trace of kindness in his heart...

    With this thought, Qiu Tu lifted his head and took another deep look at the dark, tranquil sky outside the window. Then he picked up a bottle of Cataclysmic Potion, removed the cork, and drank it down with a decisive tilt of his head!

    ''After all, I have lived again, and slept with a great beauty like Qin Shuman, it''s worth it!''

    As the Cataclysmic Potion slid down his throat, for a moment, Qiu Tu felt a coolness spreading swiftly from his throat to his chest and abdomen, then quickly to every corner of his body.

    In the next instant, he felt as if he were submerged in a clear, azure ocean once more.

    Only this time, it was different from the previous experiences; he dived straight into the depths of the sea, or rather... he became the sea itself.

    His thoughts began to disperse and drift away, like raindrops scattered by the wind, merging into rivers,kes, and oceans. He seemed to be the water droplets, the morning dew, the storms of the Cataclysmic world.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    He roamed with the storms over every inch ofnd controlled by the Sanctuaries!

    It was an indescribably mystical feeling, yet it immersed him...

    However, the peaceful moment was short-lived. As he delved deeper, the mist around him turned increasingly viscous and filthy, as if the clear waters had transformed into foul, thick bitumen.

    His entire being felt encased, bing rigid and slow, even breathing became difficult.

    Darkness intensified along with the sense of danger, the shadow of fear, and the mes of anger mingling in his heart.

    At the very brink of copse, that coolness within Qiu Tu finally burst forth. It served as his final bastion, guarding thest bit of his consciousness, and freed him from his constraints!

    Qiu Tu stirred the storms again, carrying clouds of mist as he escaped from the thick, foul abyss.

    After an indeterminate period, when Qiu Tu finally escaped the suffocating area, he looked back.

    His perception seemed to pierce through theyers of space, revealing a brand-new world¡ªwhat was once a vast and boundless ocean was merely a small pond, while most of the world was enveloped in darkness as dense as bitumen, mud...

    In that instant, a boundless sorrow surged within him, as if he mourned for the entire world...

    A secondter, hepletely lost consciousness...

    Time passed, maybe 10 minutes, perhaps an hour. When Qiu Tu awoke from the darkness,

    He found his body had undergone many changes, and his mind also possessed much new information...

    These were the codes engraved on the cornerstone of the world, revealing the secrets of the universe''s supernatural powers. Every supernatural being receives this mysterious gift upon their first awakening.

    Closing his eyes, he quietly sorted through the information in his mind.

    After a while, Qiu Tu slowly opened his eyes.

    The next second, his normally deep ck pupils transformed into a clear azure blue.

    At the same time, his sight suddenly blurred, as if ayer of frosted ss had beenid over it. The material world around him began to fade, reced by a dim, dreamlike fog that quietly spread.

    Looking around, the objects he saw were no longer tangible, but a collection of nearly transparent, almost vanishing lines.

    His gaze prated the illusory walls, clearly seeing the neighboring room where a cluster of lively firey quietly, and another of dim fire sat beside.

    Looking outside the door, a cluster of fire paced restlessly. Beyond that cluster, a few kilometers away, a giant shadow stood tens of meters tall, silent, majestic, and solemn...

    ''Era of Disaster, Boundless Heart Sea...''

    With these thoughts, Qiu Tu slowly exited the state of Spiritual Vision, his expressionplex.

    The information obtained from the origin of the world finally allowed him toplete the secrets of this world...

 Chapter 49 The First Cataclysmic Ability (7000 words, please follow)

    ording to the information etched into the cornerstone of the world, this world did indeed experience a catastrophic upheaval known as the "Apocalyptic Cataclysm" several decades ago.

    This great disaster plunged the whole world into a chaotic and shattered abyss, with all creatures undergoing a baptism and enlightenment by Catastrophe Power.

    What''s more serious is that, because of this great disaster, above the material world, a spiritual realm named "Boundless Heart Sea" was born.

    That world is the collective manifestation of the consciousness of all things, mirroring the material world and affecting each other. Itsndscape changes with the beliefs, emotions, and memories of the living, yet it, in turn, affects the real world.

    Order, Chaos, Life, Immortality, Destruction, and Mystery are the six Catastrophic powers that were born in the "Boundless Heart Sea".

    Every creature who steps onto the path of transcendence will resonate with one of these six powers and then... be a "Practitioner" of these six powers in the material world.

    The power that Qiu Tu resonated with was... Order.

    Coming back to his senses, Qiu Tu''s eyes revealed deep thought.

    He wasn''t surprised that the path he resonated with was Order. After all, for most of the more than twenty years before he crossed over, he had lived in a peaceful and stable era.

    Even during the years when he was locked up, he always longed to return to a life of orderly and peaceful Order.

    What surprised him was... the branch he was on the path of Order...

    "Order-Political."

    "Politics refers to the actions of governing a nation by the government, political parties, etc. and it''s the sum of all kinds of social activities and social rtionships that revolve around state power," he thought.

    "In the Era of Disaster, establishing a stable, healthy nation is undoubtedly the best way to guide humanity towards recovery."

    "So, climbing to the top within the existing Sanctuary system, or building a new nation from scratch, would be the best way for me to walk the path of Order?" he wondered.

    "The higher my position and the greater my authority, the more people I can gather, call upon, and influence, and the stronger my power will be?"

    Recalling the information in his mind, Qiu Tu wore a strange expression.

    ''So... to increase my strength, I must get promoted? From Staff to Director, Bureau Chief? And then from ruling one city to dominating the nning Area, and then reigning over the Sanctuary?'' he pondered.

    ''Only by making everyone submit to my Order can I reach the pinnacle of this transcendent path?'' he considered.

    To tell the truth, Qiu Tu felt that this goal was a bit too grand and exaggerated.

    He felt that although he had some ambition, at most he wanted to be a staff head or a director, take the state stipend; have a few beautiful subordinates to have heart-to-heart talks with, drink tea, and handle official business.

    Suddenly being asked to take such a high position and having the heavy responsibility of rebuilding the entire human Order ced on him, he felt quite overwhelmed.

    But... the supernatural power of this world was just so special, once someone''s path was determined, it couldn''t be changed.

    So...

    Qiu Tu blinked, "How about setting a smaller goal first? Taking Yan Chen''s position?"

    "From Staff to Bureau Chief should be enough to give my supernatural power a dramatic transformation, right?"

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu also firmly resolved: Then let''s start by taking Yan Chen''s position!

    After making up his mind, Qiu Tu''s mentality also became much more peaceful.

    He temporarily set aside his thoughts and began to focus on his body''s condition after the Cataclysm Awakening.

    He meticulously checked his body.

    After the examination, the most direct feeling was that his body seemed to have been remodeled. Not only had he be stronger, his skin had be finer, and even the scars on his body were gone.

    He clenched his fists and swung forward, "Whoosh!" a gust of wind caused papers to fly everywhere!

    "So strong," Qiu Tu muttered in surprise.

    He wasn''t sure if it was an illusion, but he had the feeling that he could now kill a bull with a single punch.

    He put his fist down, then half-squatted, gathering strength in his knees, and suddenly pushed off.

    The next second, his head collided solidly with the ceiling!

    There was a "bang!" as Qiu Tu, holding his head, fell to the ground.

    Hey, it didn''t hurt.

    "Thud thud thud!"

    Just as Qiu Tu was engaged in these experiments, all of a sudden, someone knocked on the door from outside.

    Along with the knocking, there was Eagle''s inquiry, "Brother Tu, is that you? Are you alright?"

    Qiu Tu came back to his senses and looked towards the door.

    In the state of Spiritual Vision just now, He saw that although Eagle was outwardly calm, he was, in fact, always very worried about him: pacing outside.

    Eagle must have heard the unusual noises inside the room by now but hadn''t seen hime out, suspecting that his Cataclysm Awakening had failed, which is why he was anxious.

    With that thought, he said, "I''m fine," as he walked toward the door, ready to open it.

    He grabbed the doorknob and gave it a twist.

    "Creak." The door didn''t open.

    The doorknob had been twisted off.

    Qiu Tu: .....

    The Eagle outside clearly became more anxious, asking again, "Brother Tu, are you sure you''re alright?"

    Seeing this, Qiu Tu didn''t bother fixing the door; he simply punched the door lock.

    With a "boom!" the wood around the door lock shattered, creating a hole.

    The Eagle outside jumped in shock, instinctively wanting to step back, but at that moment, Qiu Tu had already reached through the hole to pull the door down.

    "Find someone to rece the door for meter. Get a metal one. The wooden one isn''t sturdy enough," Qiu Tu casually said as he tossed the door aside, leaving Eagle with a dashing view of his back.

    Eagle was dumbstruck by this scene, taking a moment toe to his senses.

    After a short pause, he took a deep breath to calm down, then strode into the room.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    Entering the room, he cautiously examined Qiu Tu a few times before asking in a low voice, "Brother Tu, did you seed?"

    After speaking, he licked his lips and asked, "Are Cataclysmics this strong?"

    For the reticent Eagle, managing to utter these two sentences already demonstrated the shock and curiosity in his heart.

    Therefore, Qiu Tu simply had him act as a sparring partner to test his current strength.

    Five minutester, after Eagle had been knocked down for the Nth time, he was rubbing his sore arm and his body was covered in bruises, with disbelief filling his eyes.

    Although Qiu Tu used to be everyone''s big brother, it was mainly because of his smart brain,bined with the fact that he had nurtured everyone like a father and a brother. As for physical fitness and fighting ability, he was actually quite average.

    Not to mention Ah-Tai, even Eagle would definitely be able to take on two Qiu Tu.

    Yet now... Eagle found himselfpletely powerless under Qiu Tu''s hands.

    No matter what move Eagle tried, Qiu Tu simply pped him away, sending Eagle tumbling to the ground.

    After being hit several times, Eagle gradually became familiar with Qiu Tu''s routine. He figured that with a few tricks up his sleeve, he could exchange a few moves with Qiu Tu.

    But as it turned out... none of that worked: even if he could see clearly, his speed simply couldn''t keep up, and his body couldn''t react in time.

    So, after just five minutes of practice, Eagle was gasping for air and drenched in sweat.

    "Strong... so strong... Is this what Cataclysmics are like?"

    Eagle felt that with thebat power Qiu Tu was now demonstrating, he could take on twenty or thirty young adults by himself¡ªand that was with Qiu Tu not being adept at fighting.

    At that moment, after hearing Eagle''s words, Qiu Tu just smiled and didn''t say anything.

    The strength of the Cataclysmics isn''t limited to enhanced physicality. Those unique and bizarre abilities are what truly make them fearsome...

    ...and they mark the insurmountable gulf between Cataclysmics and ordinary people...

    For instance, the Cataclysmic ability Qiu Tu gained when he first awakened: Reshape Order.

    This ability allowed Qiu Tu to set one rule every day.

    The rule could only affect a fixed space norger than eight cubic meters, and it onlysted for one day.

    But as long as the beings or objects within this space were not of a higher rank than Qiu Tu, they would be affected by this rule.

    ording to Qiu Tu''s understanding, he could set any rule within a space, even if the rule was "water flows upwards" or "women don''t wear pants" or "people can''t die," it would work.

    The only problem is, he could only set one rule, and he couldn''t affect those of a rank higher than his.

    But for Qiu Tu, this was enough.

    Moreover, this was the ability effect of his Deputy Staff position. With future promotions, this ability would obviously strengthen further, suggesting immense potential...

    And as he grew, he would obtain a second ability, a third ability, a fourth ability...

    He would be more and more powerful.

    ''So, to settle the score with the Qin Family, to deal with Jia Shu, to conquer Yan Chen, and to climb to the peak of Xinjie City step by step!''

    ''That is the path I will follow next!''

    Qiu Tu''s gaze became resolute and fervent, filled with the desire to burn everything...

    Having tested all his abilities, Qiu Tu arranged for Eagle to restore the room to its original condition, while he solemnly stowed the second bottle of the Cataclysmic Potion and went next door to carry Shen Lingshuang back.

    Perhaps because she had been constantly anxious since her arrest by the Investigation Bureau, or maybe because Qiu Tu''s chopping blow had been a bit too heavy, Shen Lingshuang was still unconscious even after an hour had psed.

    So, Qiu Tu ced her on his bed, tucked her in, and let her continue to rest, while he sat on the living room sofa, patiently waiting for Master Qin Si''s call.

    With the worst possibilities averted, everything seemed to be back on its original track, only Qiu Tu knew he had be apletely different person...

    Time stealthily slipped away. Soon, it was the time Qiu Tu and Master Qin Si had agreed upon.

    Five minutes before 7:00 PM, Qiu Tu''smunicator vibrated sharply.

    Feeling the vibration of themunicator, the resting Qiu Tu opened his eyes and looked down to pick it up.

    As expected, the call was from Master Qin Si.

    A smile curled at the corner of Qiu Tu''s mouth as he answered the call.

    From the other end of themunicator came Master Qin Si''s hoarse, angry voice, "I agree to your terms."

    Qiu Tu replied with a smile, "Fourth Master, you won''t regret this."

    Clenching his teeth, Master Qin Si growled lowly, "I just can''t ept it, I can''t bear it!"

    "Why must I be the sacrifice!"

    "I''m the biological son of my father too, his own brother!"

    "Why! Why!"

    Hearing this, Qiu Tu smoothly responded, "Fourth Master, I understand you. Isn''t life all about seeking six words."

    "Fairness! Fairness! Damn fairness!"

    "Why should you be the one to suffer all the hardships, while Commissioner Qin and Director Qin enjoy all the blessings?"

    "Just because you were born a few yearster?"

    Qiu Tu''s words hit right at the heart of Master Qin Si.

    In these few hours, he must have gone through multiple mental struggles and faced a lot of pressure from the main and secondary branches of the Qin Family.

    Thus, biting his teeth, Master Qin Si said fiercely, "Exactly! I won''t ept this!"

    Then, in a lower voice, he asked, "So, tell me, what do you want me to do? How can I connect with the military?"

    Even in such a moment, Qiu Tu didn''t take things lightly.

    He spoke deliberately, "Fourth Master, the n is straightforward, but we must take it step by step. What you need to do tonight is just keep yourmunicator open and listen for my instructions."

    "If Commissioner Qin pressures you again, or asks for your opinion, you can agree for the time being to appease him, then let him go and see Bureau Chief Yan."

    Qiu Tu nced at the time and said, "It''s now 7 o''clock sharp. It takes about 20 minutes to travel from the Qin residence to the vi in the city."

    "Therefore, Commissioner Qin should leave the Qin residence around 7:30."

    "At that time, I will give you new instructions."

    Master Qin Si genuinely seemed eager to cooperate, so he replied in a deep tone, "Fine. Then I''ll wait for your message."

    After hanging up themunicator, Qiu Tu stood up, a smile on his face.

    As he walked to the window and looked out at the evening sky growing dark, Qiu Tu''s pupils contracted for an instant, then his dark eyes suddenly turned a deep blue.

    A gray fog spread, materiality dissolved, and his spirit ascended to the Boundless Heart Sea.

    Distance and walls were no longer obstacles, and his gaze prated countless spaces, focusing on the Qin residence...

    ''The show is about to begin...''

    ----

    I''ll be challenging Sanjiang tomorrow, so I''m asking everyone to catch up on the reading tomorrow and cast your votes for rmendations and Monthly Tickets, thank you!

 Chapter 50 The Qin Family on Fire (7k Words Plea for Follow-up Read 1/2)

    ```

    Time ticked away, second by second.

    Soon, it was 7:25.

    Yan Chen left the Qin Family''s Main Residence under the escort of a motorcade, heading towards the City Center Garden vi where Yan Chen lived, five minutes earlier than Qiu Tu had predicted.

    Through his Spiritual Vision, Qiu Tu watched from afar as Qin Heng left and took out hismunicator to call Master Qin Si.

    The call connected, and Master Qin Si''s deliberately lowered voice came from the other side, "Hello? What''s happened?"

    Qiu Tu said indifferently, "Commissioner Qin is gone. We can act now."

    Upon hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Master Qin Si felt a surge in his heart.

    He reflexively looked at the wall clock, which showed it was 7:26. Four minutes earlier than Qiu Tu''s original n.

    It might seem like a mere four minutes, but it signified apletely different meaning: Qiu Tu had actually been in control of Qin Heng''s movements all along!?

    At that thought, Master Qin Si first felt a bit annoyed¡ªhe had truly underestimated Qiu Tu before, not expecting Qiu Tu to be so capable; then he felt somewhat pleased¡ªafter all, the more capable Qiu Tu''s methods were, the more his own safety was guaranteed.

    With this in mind, he also adjusted his mood and then asked, "So, we start executing the n now? Do you need me to do anything?"

    In response to his question, Qiu Tu said in the gentlest tone possible, "Fourth Master, the first thing you need to do now is call your wife and children to pack their valuables and be ready at a moment''s notice."

    "Oh, and remember to have them pack all the house deeds and wealth they can carry with them. Take whatever you can and hide what cannot be taken."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, a sudden shock went through Master Qin Si. Having been a figure in this field for many years, he immediately sensed something amiss.

    Having his wife and children pack up house deeds and money...?

    This...?

    Master Qin Si tentatively asked, "Qiu Tu, why are you making these arrangements? Wouldn''t it be more convenient for them to stay at the Qin residence?"

    Qiu Tu spoke with genuine earnestness, "Fourth Master. You''re breaking away from the Qin Family to join the military''s side, which means confronting Director Qin and the Investigation Bureau fiercely."

    "This is a fight to the death, not some dinner invitation."

    "If at this time, your wife and children are still at the Qin residence, and they discover something is wrong and use it to threaten you, how will you deal with that?"

    Master Qin Si instinctively opened his mouth, intending to make some arguments, but Qiu Tu, as if guessing his thoughts, directly said, "To take a step back, even if your elder and second brothers wouldn''t use their brother''s wife and nephews to ckmail you. But... what about the Investigation Bureau? The Political Department?"

    "They have no kinship with you. Why should they consider your feelings?"

    Qiu Tu said indifferently, "Fourth Master, don''t forget what I told you yesterday: There are never any miscarriages of justice within the Political Department."

    "Are you really willing to gamble with your wife and children''s lives?"

    At Qiu Tu''s words, Master Qin Si''s expression changed rapidly. After a moment, he said in a deep voice, "I understand. I''ll arrange for them to start packing right away."

    After hanging up the phone, Qiu Tu stood quietly by the window, looking into the distance.

    He didn''t care about Master Qin Si''s distrust and doubts. After all... he never had good intentions.

    To truly control a person, just offering incentives is not enough. Between life and death, the best approach is to grasp their vulnerabilities¡ªtheir family.

    Hostages from enemy states, families of devoted soldiers... it has always been so throughout history.

    Therefore, the first step Qiu Tu had to take was to grasp Master Qin Si''s vulnerability.

    Of course... with their current identities, Master Qin Si would certainly not willingly give up this leverage, so Qiu Tu had to make him see reality and then gradually guide him...

    Qiu Tu patiently waited half an hour.

    8:00.

    As Patriarch of the Qin Family Qin Heng stepped into the City Center Garden and began his conversation with Yan Chen, Qiu Tu picked up themunicator and issued a secondmand to Master Qin Si.

    "Next, please arrange for several of your confidants to escort your wife and children out of the Qin residence to a safe ce to hide temporarily, waiting to rendezvous with you."

    Fishing could never solely rely on brute force, a mix of ck and tension is required to sessfully reel in the fish that takes the bait.

    Just now, Qiu Tu had made Master Qin Si worried about his family''s situation, even suggesting that Qiu Tu was about to grasp his vulnerability.

    Now, Qiu Tu needed to dispel that suggestion, releasing the leverage: he let Master Qin Si send his own confidants to escort and chose the safehouse himself, not interfering at all, just to "tell" Master Qin Si that he had no ulterior motives.

    This contrast would not only thrill Master Qin Si, making him too excited to think clearly in these critical moments about whether Qiu Tu might have other ns...N?v(el)B\\jnn

    Therefore, he agreed very readily, and in less than ten minutes, everything was arranged.

    And Qiu Tu...

    Turned and left the room, called for Eagle, and gave his service weapons to Eagle...

    Eagle, holding the gun, went downstairs.

    Downstairs stood the group of temporary detectives who had originallye to Qiu Tu''s aid and... Ah-Tai, who had since joined the Special Service Department, dressed in the formal detective uniform, equally armed with a service weapon, towering at a height of 1.9 meters, with a build like a bear, resembling a King Kong...

    8:15.

    The wife and children of Master Qin Si left the Qin residence quietly under the escort of six bodyguards, heading towards one of Master Qin Si''s safehouses.

    Before entering the safehouse, they were intercepted by Ah-Tai and his people.

    Faced with two handguns, a Special Service Detective, and over a dozen temporary detectives wielding police weapons, the six bodyguards had almost no chance to resist, were disarmed, and not a single one managed to escape....

    Meanwhile, Qiu Tu''s third order was issued to Master Qin Si: he instructed Master Qin Si to have the maids take Qin Shuman to the main residence''s garden for a walk and to arrange a team of confidants for her protection.

    8:35.

    As nned, Qin Shuman arrived at the main residence''s garden and started walking near the pond where she and Qiu Tu had fished together.

    Master Qin Si''s confidants quietly took their positions.

    8:45.

    Just as Patriarch of the Qin Family Qin Heng and Yan Chen''s conversation was heating up...

    ```

    Qiu Tu finally cast off his disguise and issued the fourthmand to Master Qin Si, he directed Master Qin Si to arrange for a confidant to, within 20 minutes, gather as much kindling, gasoline, and fuel oil as possible to act as elerants.

    This time, Master Qin Si distinctly felt something was wrong and asked with a cold face what Qiu Tu was really nning to do.

    But Qiu Tu simply said indifferently, "Fourth Master, just do it."

    After hanging up the phone, Master Qin Si''splexion rapidly changed.

    Kindling, gasoline, fuel oil¡ª all inmmable materials. It was not hard to guess what Qiu Tu nned to do with these gathered together: it was to start a fire.

    But...where this fire was to be set, where it burned to, borepletely different implications.

    Master Qin Si was intent on rifying everything, but by this time, Qiu Tu had already hung up the phone.

    Coupled with the fact that so much had already been done and the constraint of a 20-minute deadline...

    In the end, Master Qin Si grit his teeth and still yed his luck. He picked up themunicator and made several calls...

    Qiu Tu was not surprised by Master Qin Si''s choice.

    The reason he didn''t inform Master Qin Si of the entire n for the evening beforehand was not only to prevent Master Qin Si from leaking information, but also to give him no chance to refuse.

    If he hadid out the entire n, Master Qin Si might have refused or hesitated, either because the n was too outrageous, or there was a part of it he didn''t like.

    However, when Qiu Tu guided him step by step, because Master Qin Si was unaware of the full extent of the n, by the time he realized something was amiss, he no longer had an escape route.

    Could he call back his confidants? Could he bring his wife and children back to the Qin Family? Take back the money and deed to the house?

    He wouldn''t. The enormous sunk costs would press on him to continue moving forward.

    So, 20 minutester, when Qiu Tu called Master Qin Si, although thetter''s tone was poor, he still had everything ready.

    And at this moment, Qiu Tu revealed his ultimate goal.

    He issued the finalmand to Master Qin Si:

    To set the Qin Family''s Main Residence aze in the chaos, kill the rotational detectives and maids guarding Qin Shuman''s side, and then flee the Qin Family with Qin Shuman.

    Upon learning Qiu Tu''s ultimate intent, Master Qin Si went mad.

    He thought he was crazy enough, but Qiu Tu was even crazier!

    So he roared on the other end of themunicator, "Do you have any idea what you''re doing! Setting fire to one of Xinjie City''srgest n''s main residence! Assassinating officers with official statuses!"

    "Are you trying to make me rebel?!"

    "If I do this, who could protect me!"

    "You want to y! I''m not ying with you anymore!"

    Hearing Master Qin Si''s hysterical roar, Qiu Tuughed.

    Then he simply said, "You might want to call your sister-inw and your little nephew."

    "They must really want to see you."

    Upon hearing this, Master Qin Si''s mind went nk.

    He suddenly realized he had missed something!

    Qiu Tu had seemed too innocent before, making him forget that this was a schemer who delighted in manipting others and betraying them for fun!

    Qiu Tu painted a grand vision for him, and step by step, he was led into Qiu Tu''s rhythm, along with Qiu Tu''s constant "countdown" that rushed him to execute the n, leaving him no time to consider any underhanded moves by Qiu Tu.

    Now, as he calmed down, he realized he had been duped: if Qiu Tu could monitor Qin Heng, he could just as easily surveil him and his family!

    Even if he sent his trusted aides for protection, his aides were exposed while Qiu Tu lurked in the shadows, able to amass more people than his confidants to take his wife and children hostage!

    So... did he just hand over half of his fortune and his wife and children to Qiu Tu?!

    Perhaps sensing the incredulity and rage emanating from Master Qin Si, Qiu Tu spoke slowly,

    "Please don''t misunderstand, Fourth Master. The reason I sent someone to protect your sister-inw and nephew is because only I am authorized to interact with the military, and they do not allow contact with anyone else."

    "Thus, as long as you carry out the task well, once you reach the military''s safe house, you and your sister-inw, and your nephew will be reunited."

    "As for... burning the Qin residence and murdering the detectives. Heh... isn''t it just a messy affair?"

    "As long as we win, we just need to find a few fall guys, have the military mediate, and what trouble can''t be ovee?"

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Master Qin Si was seething with fury. He didn''t believe a word from Qiu Tu any longer!

    But... he really had no other choice!

    Half of his wealth, his wife, his child¡ªthey were all in Qiu Tu''s hands. His trusted aides had been dispatched, and the materials for the fire were ready!

    What could he do? Give up?!

    Thinking thus, Master Qin Si ominously said, "You better keep your word. If you dare to trick me... I''ll fight with my dying breath and not let you off!"

    Qiu Tu chuckled, "Fourth Master, you jest. Aren''t we dear friends, almost like brothers?"

    "How could I possibly trick you."

    Master Qin Si snorted coldly and hung up the phone!

    10 minutester, at 9:20 PM.

    mes ferociously erupted at the Qin Family''s Main Residence! The fire raged and roared like a furious beast, devouring one eave after another!

    At that moment... In a vi in City Center Garden, Qin Heng had finally reached an agreement with Yan Chen. The two stood up, shook hands, each with relieved smiles on their faces.

    They werepletely unaware of the dramatic changes urring at the Qin Family''s premises at that moment...

    ----

    This chapter is 3500 words, and there will be another update of around 3500 words at 12 PM. That''s a total of 7000 words.

 Chapter 51 Cataclysmic Treasure: Nightmare Crystal Vial (7k words, please follow!)

    ```

    Night descended, a vast swathe of velvet drapery that muffled the mor of the world.

    Twinkles of blue moonlight interwoven with sparse starlight serenely and mysteriously sprinkled across thend.

    In the city''s vi, outside the study.

    In the dim corridor, Yan Chen stood alongside Qin Heng. The light nted from behind, casting their tall, intersecting shadows, segmenting the silent space into streaks of gold.

    "I didn''t expect the Bureau Chief to have such profound insights into civil affairs. The issues you pointed out are indeed ones we at the Civil Affairs Bureau hadn''t considered."

    "In the future, I shall certainly trouble you more, and I hope you won''t mind."

    Upon hearing Qin Heng''s words, Yan Chen chuckled twice before he spoke in a deep, husky voice, "Commissioner Qin is too polite."

    "I had a very close rtionship with Old Master Qin. Before his passing, he asked me to look after the Qin Family."

    "So in the future, feel free to consult me on any matter."

    The two had already reached a consensus in the study. Now they were just exchanging pleasantries, so the atmosphere was exceptionally harmonious.

    Just then, suddenly, a figure hurriedly approached from the end of the corridor.

    They stopped their conversation to look at the approaching figure.

    It was Qin Heng''s assistant, a member of the younger generation of the Qin Family whom he had carefully cultivated.

    Rushing in front of them, the assistant bowed slightly to Yan Chen and greeted, "Director Yan."

    Yan Chen nodded slightly and grunted from his nose in acknowledgment.

    The assistant then quickly stepped up to Qin Heng and, covering his mouth with his hand, leaned in to report.

    Seeing this, Qin Heng pushed away his hand and chided with a frown, "The Bureau Chief is present. What kind of behavior is this, sneaking around?"

    After speaking, he paused, then added with a serious face, "Whatever it is, report it directly."

    Qin Heng was already frail; speaking with such intensity, he immediately covered his mouth and coughed twice.

    At this time, hearing Qin Heng''s words, the assistant had a troubled expression. He nced at Yan Chen and then back at Qin Heng.

    Qin Heng understood his assistant''s difficulty but also knew that his family had nowpletely aligned with Yan Chen. At such a moment, it was crucial to show the proper stance.

    Therefore, he gave the assistant a strict look.

    Seeing this, the assistant, still with a troubled face, made his report,

    "Master."

    Qin Heng red at him again, "Address me by my position at work."

    Assistant: ...

    "Commissioner, the main house is suspected of being deliberately set on fire."

    "The fire is spreading, and the entire n is in chaos."

    "Director Qin Zhengguang is organizing emergency firefighting while also conducting a headcount and investigation."

    "Since the fire started in a sparsely popted area, although the ze is fierce, only two have suffered minor injuries, with no fatalities. But... Fourth Master and his wife and children have all disappeared."

    Upon hearing the assistant''s report, Qin Heng''s expression turned drastically.

    He couldn''t help but look at Yan Chen.

    Yan Chen, half-shrouded in darkness, showed no expression on his face, as if he hadn''t heard the report at all.

    Seeing this, Qin Heng tamped down his inner turmoil. He gave a slight nod to Yan Chen and then calmly said, "Bureau Chief, there''s been an incident at the family abode. Please allow me to leave immediately."

    Yan Chen smiled lightly and said, "Commissioner Qin is too courteous. If there''s anything you can''t handle, feel free to contact me."

    Having said that, he called out, "Ji Chen."

    A butler emerged from the dark, standing in front of Yan Chen, head bowed and hands sped.

    Yan Chenmanded, "You go with Commissioner Qin to take a look."

    Upon hearing this, the butler bowed to Qin Heng and said, "Commissioner Qin, if you please."

    Qin Heng didn''t reject Yan Chen''s kind offer. He first nodded at Yan Chen, then gestured to Ji Chen, before striding away.

    As he gradually left, the inquiry he murmured to his assistant echoed softly in the darkened hallway, "What exactly happened?"

    The assistant hurried behind him, softly responding, "Commissioner, it''s like this..."

    Back at the entrance to the study, Yan Chen stood with his hands behind his back, watching with an unfathomable gaze as Qin Heng''s figure disappeared at the end of the corridor, then turned and re-entered the study.

    Once back inside, beneath the dim light, he strolled over to the desk and picked up the telephone.

    He dialed a few numbers, and once there was a voice on the other end, he ordered, "Check what happened with the Qin family."

    A deep voice from the phone responded, "Yes, Bureau Chief."

    ......

    Simultaneously.

    In his home on Old Alley Street, Qiu Tu witnessed through Spiritual Vision as Master Qin Si, leading Qin Shuman and guarded by several henchmen, hurriedly left the Qin residence.

    Behind them, the wild mes danced like an uncontroble dragon, its furious roars in vain as they failed to stop their departure.

    Watching Master Qin Si and Qin Shuman get into the car, heading for the Mn Grand Hotel, Qiu Tu also deactivated his Spiritual Vision.

    The grey fog slowly dissipated, and the material world''s outlines filled back in, solidifying into wall after wall, building after building...

    As the lingering sapphire hue of Spiritual Vision faded from his pupils, Qiu Tu felt a wave of dizziness.

    Bracing himself against the window frame, he struggled to support himself, btedly realizing he might have overexerted his mental faculties.

    Like Cataclysmic abilities, Spiritual Vision was not without limits; each use required a significant expenditure of spiritual power as a price.

    ording to the information carved in the world''s Foundation Stones, this was because all Supernatural Power in this world needed to be driven by Cataclysmic Power, which only existed within the "Boundless Heart Sea."

    Thus, to wield such power in the material world, beings needed to connect with the "Boundless Heart Sea" and actualize Cataclysmic Power into the material realm.

    And this required an immense amount of spiritual power.

    ```

    For someone like Qiu Tu, who had just undergone a Cataclysm Awakening and then forcefully used spiritual vision for an hour, it was an incredibly extreme approach.

    Unless there was a potion to replenish spiritual power or a Cataclysmic treasure, one would need to rest for over ten hours to recover.

    ''A potion to restore spiritual power or a Cataclysmic treasure...?''

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu looked toward the two tiny treasure chests in the upper left of his field of vision that were still swaying....

    ''I actually have...''p>

    There were two Crisis Treasure Chests. One was from this morning when Qiu Tu hadpleted the task in Yan Chen''s office by implicating Master Qin Si, corresponding to the crisis of "Collecting Evidence of the Qin Family''s Crimes."

    The other had popped up automatically after the countdown ended at 6 p.m. today, in response to the crisis of "Creating an Awakening Elixir."

    And Qiu Tu had already checked the contents of these two crises.

    The treasure from "Collecting Evidence of the Qin Family''s Crimes" was still a piece of Cataclysmic Material.

    ''Memory y: A precious Cataclysmic Material, bred from the Night Demon Swamp, capable of recording and reproducing a creature''s memory.''

    ''With certain forging skills, one could craft Cataclysmic treasures such as "The Thinking Sculpture," "Reverberation Echo Pot," "Starry Beyond Letter," and "Eye of Future Foresight."''p>

    A piece of Cataclysmic Material that seemed very valuable, but Qiu Tu had no way to use it at the moment.

    As for the treasure chest from "Creating an Awakening Elixir," it was different because it actually contained a Cataclysmic treasure.

    ''Treasure Name: Nightmare Crystal Vial''

    ''Treasure Description: A unique container made primarily from Spirit Breath Crystals. It contains an energy that drives people to madness.''

    ''Treasure Effect: Simply leave it under moonlight for one night, and the vial will be filled with spiritual nourishment condensed from the power of the Cataclysm and the essence of dreams. Drinking it can instantly replenish depleted spiritual power.''

    ''Side Effects: Unknown.''

    ''Note: When you wander the Boundless Heart Sea or confront those terrifying entities trying to devour your mind, the Nightmare Crystal Vial is an indispensable treasure for maintaining mental vigor and resisting mental breakdown.''

    It was because he had obtained this Cataclysmic treasure capable of restoring his spiritual power that Qiu Tu dared to use Spiritual Vision so aggressively....

    With this thought, Qiu Tu clicked on that treasure chest.

    In a moment, a colorfully radiant crystal bottle appeared in his hand.

    The Crystal Bottle was notrge, only the size of a thumb, and looked a bit like some kind of oral liquid Qiu Tu had drunk in his past life.

    Holding the Crystal Bottle, he gently shook it twice, and the contents rippled with iridescence like stars.

    Qiu Tu tipped his head back and drank the spiritual nourishment inside. The colorful liquid slid down his throat, as if illuminating every corner of his bones and organs, making them clearly visible.

    Suddenly, the light went out, and Qiu Tu felt a coolness reaching his brain. His thoughts, which had been somewhat painful and fatigued, instantly became crystal clear.

    Qiu Tu shook his head, then opened his mouth and exhaled a colorful bubble....

    Qiu Tu covered his mouth, trying to prevent the bubbles from escaping. But then.... he felt the bubbles continuing to move downward....

    Qiu Tu, rmed, quickly released his hands, allowing himself to exhale a colorful bubble every now and then....

    After spitting bubbles for a while, the side effects of the Cataclysmic treasure gradually disappeared.

    Feeling his spiritual power restored, Qiu Tu picked up the Nightmare Crystal Vial and shook it; it was nowpletely empty. It seemed it could only be used again after being left still overnight.

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu put the first Cataclysmic treasure he had obtained into his pocket and made sure it was secure.

    Then he stood up, walked next door, called over Sister Xin to help watch over the still-sleeping Shen Lingshuang, and then he went downstairs.

    The climax is never the most important part of a y; it''s the curtain call.

    He had already let Master Qin Si perform in the first half of the y, and in the second half, he intended to personally draw the curtain on this show.

    After all, don''t forget, facilitating Master Qin Si''s escape from the Qin Family was only the first step.

    Negotiating with the military, handling the subsequent reactions from Yan Chen and the Qin Family, and maximizing the benefits from this situation, were the most crucial parts of the entire y....

    With these thoughts, Qiu Tu got downstairs, started the ck sedan given to him by Director Qin Zhengguang, and headed toward the Mn Grand Hotel.

    He didn''t know if the Nightmare Crystal Vial had other special effects.

    The bumpy roads of the nning Area somehow did not stir any negative emotions in Qiu Tu. He felt exceptionally calm, and even his thoughts seemed to flow much more smoothly.

    ''Ring, ring, ring''¡ªHalfway there, themunicator suddenly rang.

    Qiu Tu gathered his wandering thoughts and picked up themunicator to see it was Jia Shu calling.

    Seeing the name on themunicator, Qiu Tu''s eyebrows knit slightly. He pondered for a moment before calmly answering the call.

    "Good evening, Director."

    From the other side of the phone, Jia Shu''s feignedughter came through, "What are you busy with, Agent Qiu?"

    Qiu Tu nced at the rearview mirror and lied without changing his expression, "A friend asked me out for a drink; I''m on my way there."

    "Oh? Is that so?" Jia Shu, on the other side of themunicator, smirked while looking out the window before saying, "Then Agent Qiu,e to the Bureau for some overtime work."

    "There''s an urgent case."

    Upon hearing Jia Shu''s words, Qiu Tu gradually brought the car to a stop.

    He pondered for two seconds, then suddenlyughed, "Alright."

    Jia Shu continued, "I remember Director Qin gifted you a car at noon today? It should be about a 15-minute drive from your ce to the Bureau."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "Shall we meet in... 18 minutes?"

    Qiu Tu did not refuse, "Yes, Director."

    After hanging up the phone, he looked through the car window at the pitch-ck, deserted street, took a deep breath, and his face revealed an inexplicable expression.

    ''Interesting, very interesting.... One should never underestimate the enemy.''

    ''I''ve just made my move, and they''ve already responded?''

    ''But do they really suspect me, or are they just trying to lock down a suspect?''

    After contemting for two seconds without reaching a conclusion, Qiu Tu smiled nonchntly.

    Too bad... they can''t hold me down.

    This y, I''ve already got it set.''

 Chapter 52 Slapping Master Qin Sis Face (Thanks to the Warm Sun Giants Silver League!)

    Thinking this way, Qiu Tu tapped the steering wheel and made a U-turn, heading back towards the Investigation Bureau building.

    He wasn''t idle while driving.

    Jia Shu had indeed restricted his movements, but... he hadn''t restricted his mouth.

    Who said he couldn''t carry on with the act just because he couldn''t be at the scene?

    The real protagonist neverins about the environment!

    With that thought in mind, Qiu Tu took out anothermunicator while driving: this was themunicator Ah-Tai received after bing an official agent of the Special Service Department.

    Qiu Tu took Ah-Tai''smunicator and made a call to himself.

    "Dudu... Dudu... Dudu..."N?v(el)B\\jnn

    After a few rings on his ownmunicator, Qiu Tu answered the call.

    He waited another ten seconds or so before hanging up themunicator.

    After making these preparations, he took Ah-Tai''smunicator and called the third golden supporting role in this drama: Lin Zuo from the Security Department''s Investigation Section.

    Soon, the call connected.

    Lin Zuo''s cool voice came from the receiver, "Hello. Who is this...?"

    Because time was pressing, Qiu Tu didn''t bother with pleasantries and instead got straight to the point, "Lin Zuo, it''s Qiu Tu."

    "Mymunicator might be monitored for call records, so I''m using thismunicator to call you."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Lin Zuo didn''t immediately believe him and asked, "How do I know you''re not a voice changer?"

    Qiu Tu said, "416."

    This was the hotel room number from theirst meeting, known only to the two of them, so Lin Zuo nodded slightly, preliminarily believing Qiu Tu.

    He asked, "What happened? Have you made any progress on your end?"

    Hearing Lin Zuo''s words, Qiu Tu exaggerated while driving, "Not just progress, it''s a major breakthrough!"

    "I''m preparing a big gift for you."

    Lin Zuo asked in a cool tone, "What kind of gift?"

    Qiu Tu said, "I''ve turned Master Qin Si. He holds evidence of Yan Chen''s collusion with the United Front in his hands."

    As Qiu Tu''s words trailed off, the sound of objects colliding "tter tter" suddenly rang from the other side of themunicator.

    If he hadn''t guessed wrong, it was probably because Lin Zuo got too excited and knocked something over when he stood up abruptly.

    Seeing this, a smile crept across Qiu Tu''s lips.

    See... everyone has desires.

    Even the most honest and dedicated person harbors ambitions in their career.

    Once you pinpoint their desires, you can easily "manipte" them.

    Thinking this, a voice came through the receiver, Lin Zuo suppressing his excitement as he inquired, "Is it true or false?"

    Qiu Tu didn''t answer directly but coolly replied to Lin Zuo, "Section Chief Lin, a question like that only makes me feel you''re unprofessional."

    Lin Zuo, momentarily taken aback, calmed down quite a bit.

    He reflected on his question: Indeed, since it was information given by Qiu Tu, no matter how he asked, Qiu Tu would only answer "it''s true."

    To find out if Qiu Tu was lying, he would have to verify it himself.

    ''A sudden clue made me lose my cool.''

    After quietly making a judgment, Lin Zuo''s emotions stabilized, and he returned to his normal professional level as the head of a security department.

    He didn''t ask any more foolish questions, and instead directly started talking business, "What do you need from me?"

    Qiu Tu nodded slightly. As expected of an elite trained by the Sanctuary, he''s more professional than newly recruited agents.

    With that thought, he said, "Master Qin Si left the Qin Family in two separate groups."

    "He himself is now on his way to the Mn Grand Hotel."

    "His wife and children arrived at a courtyard at 19 Nanfang Street half an hour ago. My people are... protecting them."

    "The clue he has is too important and involves Director Yan, it''s too sensitive."

    "So, I need your Security Department to send someone to clean up any traces left by these two groups of people."

    "Or, at the very least, make sure the trail goes cold."

    "Once the job is done, the safety of Master Qin Si''s wife and children will be the responsibility of my people, and he himself will be under the protection of your Security Department."

    "The intelligence and merits obtained from him will be shared between our two parties."

    Lin Zuo didn''t agree immediately upon hearing this. After thinking it over for a moment, he asked cautiously, "How long ago did this happen?"

    Qiu Tu quickly calcted the time, "Less than 10 minutes."

    Lin Zuo said, "We still have time."

    "I''ll send someone right now to clean up the traces."

    "Guarantee even if the Political Department steps in, they won''t be able to track down any leads to you."

    Hearing this, Qiu Tuughed, "Pleased to cooperate."

    Lin Zuo said, "Pleased to cooperate."

    After hanging up the phone, Qiu Tu felt somewhat at ease.

    In creating this n, the Security Department was one of the cores of Qiu Tu''s strategy.

    With such amotion today, it was highly likely that Yan Chen would take notice.

    And in order to investigate tonight''s affairs thoroughly, Yan Chen would probably dispatch his trump card¡ªthe Political Department.

    The Political Department, although mostlyprising newly recruited investigators, also included some elite agents who hade down from the Sanctuary.

    If they got involved in the investigation, with non-professionals like Ah-Tai and Eagle leaving behind traces, they would definitely find out everything there was to find.

    Thus, Qiu Tu had to find someone to help handle all traces of the incident.

    And in the whole of Xinjie City, only the military, only the Security Department had such experts who could clean up traces, magically cover up the whereabouts of Master Qin Si and his family without anyone noticing!

    Therefore, Qiu Tu had to cooperate with the Security Department.

    Of course, knowing how crucial the Security Department was to the n, Qiu Tu didn''t put all his hopes on Lin Zuo.

    He had a n B¡ªstarting with Qin Shuman.

    Just... that would make things much moreplicated.

    For now, having negotiated with Lin Zuo and achieving his aim, Qiu Tu''s mood instantly became much lighter.

 Chapter 53 Dealing with Jia Shu! (Subscribe please!)

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, the detective replied respectfully, "The minister is waiting for you upstairs."

    Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu looked up at the Investigation Bureau building.

    It seemed as if he could see a pair of profound eyes watching him...

    He smiled.

    This was not bad news.

    Because... since Jia Shu was still in the Investigation Bureau building, it meant that the Political Department had not yet officially intervened in the matter, and that... the Security Department would have ample time to erase any traces.

    He and Ah-Tai, along with Eagle, would be that much safer...

    Thinking this way, Qiu Tu calcted the time and formed a rough guess in his mind.

    Old Alley Street, the Qin Family, and City Center Garden roughly formed a triangle.

    And the Investigation Bureau building was right in the middle of this triangle.

    Therefore, when Qiu Tu arrived at the Investigation Bureau, Qin Heng should still be on his way back, not yet having reached the Qin Family residence.

    Before fully understanding the beginning and severity of the event, Qin Heng wouldn''t ask the Investigation Bureau for help.

    Hence the situation, where he hade to the Investigation Bureau building first, and Jia Shu had not yet left.

    With this in mind, Qiu Tu couldn''t help but make a further spection: So... did Jia Shu, knowing something had happened to the Qin Family, call and lock him down immediately?

    Qiu Tu''s gaze flickered.

    Heh heh... Look at that, this is the real master. A step in chess, seemingly effortless, yet it yed a critical role, almost disturbing his own ns.

    It''s known that the oues of many ns executed in person and those remotely directed can be worlds apart.

    If Qiu Tu had not connected with the Security Department in advance, tricking the Security Department into covering for him; if Qiu Tu had not taken control of Master Qin Si''s wife and children beforehand, stopping Master Qin Si''s betrayal with just a phone call; he who needed to handle everything personally would have already been defeated by this move.

    So... the greatest danger tonight was indeed here...

    It seems it was time to meet this legendary chief.

    With that thought, Qiu Tu straightened his clothes and then, with a smile on his face, stepped into the Investigation Bureau building.

    The Investigation Bureau building at night was pitch-ck, like a monstrous beast choosing its prey.

    Taking the elevator to the 9th floor, Qiu Tu followed the guidance of the detective and arrived at Jia Shu''s office in the Political Department.

    "Knock, knock, knock."

    "Come in."

    Upon Jia Shu''s consent, the detective opened the door and led Qiu Tu into the office.

    "Minister, Chief Qiu is here."

    Qiu Tu''s gazended on Jia Shu.

    Jia Shu, dressed in casual clothes, wore a pair of gold-rimmed sses on his nose, his eyes narrow and smiling behind the lenses.

    If one hadn''t seen his perverse side, they might think he was just an ordinary beast in gentleman''s clothing...

    "Good day, Minister!" While inwardly sneering, Qiu Tu saluted.

    Seeing this, Jia Shu returned a forced smile and pressed his hand down, "Just us folks here, no need for all the formalities."

    His smile narrowed his elongated eyes into slits, imparting a falsely cheerful yet insincere aura.

    Qiu Tu replied seriously, "It''s the protocol, sir. I''m afraid I cannotply."

    Jia Shu didn''t argue further, waving the detective off. Once the detective had left, he then asked with a grin, "Agent Qiu, you got here quickly."

    He nced at his watch, "You said 18 minutes, but you only took 15 to get here."

    Qiu Tu said, "I just left the house, turned around, and drove here. Didn''t waste any time on the way."

    Jia Shu gave a half-smile and nodded, then as if out of curiosity, inquired, "nning a gathering with friends tonight?"

    Qiu Tu, "Yes."

    Jia Shu, "Which friend?"

    Qiu Tu, "Wang Tai. He just passed the Special Service Detective assessment the day before yesterday. Celebrating for him."

    Jia Shu, "Where?"

    Qiu Tu, "At a small restaurant on Nanfang Street, number 29."

    Jia Shu, "Who else will be there?"

    Qiu Tu hmm, "Some friends who grew up with me and Ah-Tai."

    Jia Shu swept his gaze over Qiu Tu twice, finding no ws, then asked again, "Did you receive any calls on the way?"

    Qiu Tu, "Yes!"

    Jia Shu, "Whose?"

    Qiu Tu, "The first call was from Ah-Tai, asking where I was. I told him I had official business and couldn''t make it."

    "The next few calls were from Master Qin Si."

    Jia Shu uttered an "Oh" with an interested look on his face, "Master Qin Si? What did you talk about?"

    Qiu Tu nced at Jia Shu and said without any change in expression, "He cursed at me. Said that I took his lead and then turned around to betray him."

    "Said he would never let me off."

    "I hung up on him several times. But he kept calling back."

    "Finally, I answered the call again and cursed a few words back at him."

    "Do you need me to repeat the content of his curses at me and mine at him?"

    The smile on Jia Shu''s face became incredibly brilliant, "No need. We''re just making small talk."

    "After all, I''ve disrupted your ns for the evening, so I care about you."

    After saying this, he acted as if he was indeed just making casual conversation, reached out to open a drawer, and took out a file to toss to Qiu Tu.

    "This is your mission for tonight. We just caught a ''Female Captain'' from United Front who had infiltrated Xinjie Chamber of Commerce."

    "You''re working overtime to interrogate her. See if there are any breakthroughs."

    Qiu Tu received the file, and while looking down at it, he asked, "What methods can we use?"

    Leaning back in his chair with a half-smile, Jia Shu watched Qiu Tu and teased, "Does Chief Qiu also understand interrogation?"

    Looking up at him, Qiu Tu replied with a smile, "No."

    "But I understand killing."

    The yful look in Jia Shu''s eyes was almost spilling out as he watched Qiu Tu with interest, his narrow eyes narrowing, "No bottom line; the Political Department isn''tcking in death quotas."

    Qiu Tu saluted, "Yes!"

    After assigning the task, Jia Shu waved his hand, "Alright, go on with your work."

    Qiu Tu nodded, then turned and left the office.

    Once Qiu Tu had left the office, silence slowly returned to Jia Shu''s office.

    Jia Shu sat quietly in his chair for a while before reaching out to pick up an upside-down document from the desk.

    Opening the file, it clearly recorded Qiu Tu''s call history from just the past several minutes.

    Xinjie City was newly established, and the Information Department of the Investigation Bureau was not fully equipped, with limited devices, so they could only record and monitor the targeted call history.

    Thus, he only had reports of iing and outgoing calls on Qiu Tu''smunicator after he had called Qiu Tu.

    The record clearly showed that the first call was from Ah-Tai to Qiu Tu,sting only over ten seconds.

    Then it was Master Qin Si calling Qiu Tu, also a brief talk of a dozen seconds.

    After that, Master Qin Si made three consecutive calls that went unanswered.

    Finally, Master Qin Si made a fourth call, Qiu Tu answered, and the two talked for some twenty seconds.

    It all exactly matched what Qiu Tu had just imed.

    "Interesting... very interesting...."

    Jia Shu''s smile became more and more splendid, his pupils turning slightly red, as if filled with the desire of encountering prey....

    ...

    Carrying the file, Qiu Tu didn''t let his guard down after leaving Jia Shu''s office but methodically carried out the task Jia Shu had given him.

    He turned and headed for the Interrogation Section.

    Approaching the door of the Interrogation Section,ughter and chattering from the lit room could be heard.

    A young girl''s curious voice, "Sister Liu,e on, tell us what''s going on between you and Section Chief Liu from next door?"

    A mature woman''s voice, "Hoho~ there''s nothing going on between us. We''re just ordinary friends."N?v(el)B\\jnn

    A young man''s voice, "No way~ I see you two exchanging nces every day, there''s got to be something."

    The girl, "Yeah, yeah, I was on duty the other day and even heard Liu Ke feeding you in the meeting room, saying it was too big and you couldn''t swallow it."

    "You little wench, you''re asking for trouble! Keep bbing and see what happens!"

    "Giggles."

    Listening outside, Qiu Tu felt as if a certain part of his body had stiffened....

    Indeed, the office was always brimming with juicy news....

    With this thought, he coughed and knocked on the door.

    Hearing the knock, the noisy chatter inside instantly ceased.

    Seeing this, Qiu Tu pushed open the door and stepped inside.

    In the afternoon, Jia Shu took Qiu Tu to the Interrogation Section and had already met everyone.

    So, as soon as they saw Qiu Tu, the three men and two women present stood up with varying expressions and called out in a jumble, "Good afternoon, Chief." "Hello Chief Qiu." "Good to see you, sir." "Sir!"

    .....

    Meanwhile, in Jia Shu''s office.

    The desk phone suddenly rang, "Ring ring ring."

    Jia Shu, sitting in deep thought, snapped back to reality, nced at the caller ID, and immediately picked up the phone.

    "Bureau Chief, is there news?"

    Yan Chen''s deep and husky voice came from the receiver, "Hmm... Ji Chen just reported. Old Fourth Qin has run off, and his wife and children were moved away early."

    "Qin Shuman has also disappeared."

    "The detectives who were protecting her and the maid were knocked out and dumped in a warehouse. But because the fire wasn''t severe, no one was hurt."

    "The fire has now been extinguished, and after a brief inspection by Ji Chen, it was found that the ignition points were all in the remote courtyards of the Qin Family."

    "It seems Old Fourth Qin is leaving room for both the Qin Family and us."

    "He might have beenpelled."

    Hearing Yan Chen''s analysis, Jia Shu''s gaze flickered slightly as he pondered quietly.

    After a moment, he asked, "Bureau Chief, do you have any suspects?"

    Yan Chen didn''t respond directly but instead asked in a low voice, "Has Qiu returned to the Investigation Bureau?"

 Chapter 54 The Beautiful Young Widow (7000 words, asking for Monthly Tickets)

    Jia Shu "Hmm"ed and then actively reported, "After I called him, it took him less than 15 minutes to arrive at the bureau."

    "On the way here, he answered six phone calls, five of which were from Master Qin Si," Jia Shu continued.

    Yan Chen, discernibly intrigued, "Oh?" responded, "How did he exin that?"

    Jia Shu said with a smile, "His exnation was perfect."

    "He said Master Qin Si was calling to scold him, using him of betraying Master Qin Si," Jia Shu exined.

    "He couldn''t stand being scolded, so he hung up, but Master Qin Si continued calling, continuing to scold."

    "Finally, he couldn''t take it anymore, and he fought back against Master Qin Si, which made Master Qin Si stop harassing him."

    "The causes and consequences of the calls were clearly exined, and it all seemed very reasonable," Jia Shu remarked.

    Upon hearing this, Yan Chen rarely cracked a smile. Hisughter was eerie, sending shivers down the spine.

    After hisugh, he asked, "Do you believe him?"

    By then, Jia Shu was alsoughing so hard his smile nearly reached the heavens, "I believe him, my ass."

    "How can there be so many coincidences in the world, all of which just happen to ur to him?" Jia Shu questioned.

    Yan Chen "Hmm"ed, gradually reigning in his amusement, and then solemnly instructed, "Then investigate along those lines."

    "Let''s see what exactly our little friend is nning, to stir up such a fuss..."

    "Yes!" Jia Shu respectfully responded...

    After hanging up the phone, Jia Shu sat quietly in his office for a while. After organizing all the information, he picked up the desk phone and dialed a number.

    A momentter, the connection was made, and Jia Shu, with a smile, gave an order, "It''s our turn."

    Having said that, he hung up the phone, stood up and donned an overcoat, then left the office to head downstairs...

    Walking through the dark corridor, Jia Shu''s mind involuntarily revisited the scene from half an hour ago.

    At that time, Yan Chen had informed him that the Qin Family''s ce had caught fire, and Master Qin Si had fled.

    His initial thought was to have the Political Department intervene immediately to investigate the matter.

    After all, for such a major incident, each minute''s dy meant the shadowy figure behind the scenes could potentially destroy more clues and evidence.

    However, Yan Chen insisted that Qin Heng should first return to the Qin Family, and only after proactively requesting support from the Investigation Bureau, would they get involved.

    He had three main reasons for this.

    First, as Qin Heng had just aligned with him, it was important to save face for Qin Heng and the Qin Family;

    Second, no one cherishes what they get easily; only what is earned through hard work is truly valued.

    Third, Xinjie City was newly established and all the powers that be were rough around the edges. Even if they were given some time to cover their tracks, with the methods of the Political Department, the truth would still be uncovered.

    Both of their perspectives were correct: one from the standpoint of solving the case, the other from a political standpoint.

    Ultimately, Jia Shu heeded Yan Chen''s arrangement.

    But now that it was time to start the investigation, Jia Shu couldn''t shake the feeling that due to this half-hour dy, something about the whole affair seemed to have shifted in an unforeseen way...

    Yet, what could happen in just half an hour?

    He''d even confined the prime suspect, Qiu Tu, within the bureau...

    With that thought, a trace of deep contemtion shed behind Jia Shu''s spectacles.

    A momentter, he took out hismunicator and made a call.

    "You don''t have to join this operation, go to the surveince room and keep an eye on Qiu Tu for me," he instructed.

    Suddenly, a man''s voice came through the phone, "Yes, Director."

    Having finished all this, Jia Shu put on his mask of a forced smile and headed downstairs, stepping out of the Investigation Bureau building.

    By then, a T-model car had already stopped at the entrance of the Investigation Bureau building, where a few middle-aged men, evidently experienced, were already waiting.

    They were senior detectives who had followed Jia Shu and Yan Chen from the Sanctuary to Xinjie City, where they were promoted in situ to heads and deputy heads of various departments.

    This was the backbone of Yan Chen''s confidence in handling this case.

    Today, due to the unexpected ze, they were urgently gathered together to work in coboration once again...

    ...

    Meanwhile, at the same time as Jia Shu and his team embarked on their case.

    In the office of the Interrogation Section.

    Qiu Tu was also scrutinizing the detectives standing in front of him.

    The Interrogation Section is a major division of the Political Department, containing subgroups such as the interrogation team, service team, psychological analysis team, forensic pharmacist team, and the records and archives team.

    Simr to other departments of the Political Department, these groups operate independently, but when confronted with a case, members are drawn from each to form a special task force.

    The three men and two women present tonight were members of the "espionage case" task force.

    Song Qing, the youngdy who had just made an off-color joke. Female, Third-Level Detective, a records officer from the records and archives team.

    Wang Xi, male, Second-ss Investigator, the young pharmacist from the forensic pharmacist team who had just spoken.

    The other two silent, burly middle-aged men were Third-Level Detectives from the service team, responsible for the security of detectives during interrogation and assistance with the process.

    As for thest one, the sultry young widow, of course, she was just the protagonist of the "Peach Blossom News"... Liu Fuping.

    She was in her early thirties, widowed, childless. When sheughed, she always preferred to look at people with a sideways nce, her slightly upturned, amorous peach blossom eyes exuding allure in every nce.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    A woman like her naturally became the source of office gossip.

    After a brief nce at the beautiful widow, Qiu Tu smiled and said, "Sister Liu, howe you look even more beautiful tonight than this afternoon?"

    Upon hearing Qiu Tu''s teasing, Liu Fuping''s peach blossom eyes curved up, and with a roll of her eyes toward Qiu Tu, she somehow appeared even more captivating.

 Chapter 55 Using Cataclysmic Ability (7000 words, seeking follow-up readership)

    With that thought in mind, Qiu Tu took themunicator and said to Liu Fuping and Wang Xi, "You guys get ready, I''m going to make a call."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Liu Fuping responded with a sweet voice, "Yes, Commander."

    Wang Xi also stood up straight and respectfully replied, "Understood, Section Chief."

    After greeting the two, Qiu Tu took themunicator and went to the end of the corridor.

    Instead of redialing immediately, he... first used his "Cataclysmic ability."

    Ever since he left the Interrogation Section''s office, Qiu Tu felt like someone was watching him.

    As a newly awakened Cataclysmic, Qiu Tu was sure his Spiritual Perception couldn''t be wrong.

    So he surreptitiously checked his surroundings to ensure no one was there; then, he focused his attention on the surveince cameras scattered throughout the Investigation Bureau.

    As one of the three major institutions of power in Xinjie City, the Investigation Bureau was equipped withplete security measures and anti-theft systems. This included several surveince cameras in each floor''s corridor.

    Ordinarily, no one would watch these cameras; they were just for show.

    But today''s unusual feeling led Qiu Tu to specte: Could someone be observing him through the surveince?

    This suspicion peaked while he was exchanging flirtatious nces with Liu Fuping.

    Because he noticed that, at that time, that sense of being "watched" disappeared for a moment. Qiu Tu guessed that the watcher had be bored and either had a momentary distraction or shifted their gaze away.

    And now, as he was about to make a phone call, that feeling of scrutiny returned. Clearly, the watcher had also noticed Qiu Tu''s "situation."

    Qiu Tu wasn''t sure if the Investigation Bureau''s cameras had audio capabilities, so he had to... eliminate all possibilities as much as he could.

    With that in mind, Qiu Tu tried to use his "Cataclysmic ability" for the first time.

    There was no difficulty, no unfamiliarity; it was as if it was an inborn instinct. As the notion surged in his heart, the Cataclysmic ability "Reshape Order" immediately took effect.

    In that instant, Qiu Tu''s eyes turned deep blue once again, the misty gray fog spread, and the surrounding environment began to fade away...

    He found himself standing in a narrow space of only four square meters.

    He felt like he could be the omnipotent god in this space, acting at will: nobody could refuse him, and nobody could resist him...

    It was the intoxicating feeling of standing at the pinnacle of power, inmand of everything!

    ''Is this... my Cataclysmic ability?''

    Qiu Tu silently marveled to himself, then forced himself to calm down and set the rules for this "Order Space" for the next 24 hours.

    "When I enter this space, all people, machines, and Treasures outside will only see, hear, and record me continuously dialing the phone without getting through... "

    As the rule was established, the gray mist dispersed, the physical world returned, and everything seemed no different from just a moment ago. But... it was entirely different.

    Qiu Tu turned and looked back, and Liu Fuping was also looking his way.

    Their gazes met, but the beautiful matron, as if she hadn''t seen Qiu Tu at all, casually brushed her hair and turned her head away.

    Seeing this, Qiu Tu knew the rule he had set was in effect.

    He didn''t dy; rather, he immediately pulled out twomunicators, first using Ah-Tai''smunicator to return a call to Lin Zuo.

    Then, he used his ownmunicator to dial Ah-Tai''smunicator.

    Of course... since Ah-Tai''smunicator was in the process of making a call, it couldn''t go through...

    Having done all this, the call from Lin Zuo came through.

    He was clearly waiting for Qiu Tu''s call, so as soon as it rang, he picked it up.

    Upon picking up, Lin Zuo''s chilly voice came through, "Qiu Tu. You''re messing with the Security Department."

    Hearing this, Qiu Tu knew Lin Zuo had indeed inquired with Master Qin Si.

    But he couldn''t admit it, so heughed and said, "What are you talking about, Section Chief Lin? You''re from the Security Department. If you gave me eight guts, I still wouldn''t dare to toy with you guys."

    Lin Zuo chuckled twice and said, "Is that so?"

    "Then why does Master Qin Si say he doesn''t know anything about Yan Chen colluding with the Anti-government Armed Forces?"

    "Furthermore, he said you also deceived him. You told him, we were investigating the Qin Family''s collusion with the Anti-government Armed Forces!"

    "How do you exin that?"

    Feigning surprise, Qiu Tu said, "Ah? Is that so?"

    "Impossible!"

    "He personally told me yesterday that he had evidence against Yan Chen!"

    After this, Qiu Tu hesitated for two seconds before pretending toe to a realization, "Could it be that he got scared and changed his mind?"

    "Section Chief Lin, let me tell you, that old man started to get cold feet on his way to you. He called me several times, with threats and attempts to ingratiate himself, all because he no longer wanted to report on Yan Chen. But after I threatened him with his wife and children, he finally went to you."

    "I reckon he deliberately lied to you because he''s afraid of offending Yan Chen."

    "Qiu Tu, you motherf@#%!@"

    "Son of a b@#!*#!"

    "You''re really not a f@#!#!"

    And just as Qiu Tu was pinning all the me on Master Qin Si... from themunicators came a barrage of expletives fragrant with Master Qin Si''s anger.

    Obviously... possibly worried that Qiu Tu could hoodwink them, Lin Zuo, while making the call, had switched on the speakerphone. Qiu Tu''s attempt to frame Master Qin Si was heard by Master Qin Si himself, word for word.

    Qiu Tu: ...

    Qiu Tu touched his nose, feeling that this was the most embarrassing situation he had encountered since crossing over to this time.

    It wasn''t really his fault. Who would have expected the normally rule-abiding Lin Zuo to breach confidentiality protocols and let an outsider listen to a conversation between two secret departments?

    However... fortunately, he had a n B.

    With that thought in mind, Qiu Tu also dropped his joking demeanor and said seriously to Lin Zuo, "Section Chief Lin, what you are doing is a vition of the confidentiality regtions."

    "I have the right to report your dereliction of duty to the military after this case is over."

    Lin Zuo was not intimidated by Qiu Tu; he said coolly, "That''s assuming you get past this current hurdle."

    "Qiu Tu, I''m giving you onest chance to exin. If your exnation still doesn''t satisfy me, then I will terminate our cooperation and report your actions to City Hall and the Investigation Bureau."

    "Let them deal with you."

    Upon hearing this, Qiu Tuughed, disyingplete indifference as if being sliced to ribbons, "You won''t do that. If you report me, City Hall and the Investigation Bureau will find out that you''re secretly investigating Yan Chen."

    "Conducting a private investigation of a high-ranking official without evidence¡ªthat''s a major scandal. Not to mention your own department, even General Ye might face reprimands from the Sanctuary."

    "You!" Lin Zuo was clearly infuriated by Qiu Tu''s defiant attitude.

    Just as he was about to argue with Qiu Tu, Qiu Tu said, "Alright, Section Chief Lin, I''ll stop teasing you. I do have some progress to report. Now, give the phone to Qin Shuman; I need to speak with her directly."

    Qin Shuman''s real identity was Section Chief of the Security Department''s investigation division, and Lin Zuo, as her confidant, of course knew her position.

    Qiu Tu and Qin Shuman had also had in-depth exchanges asrades-in-arms. Therefore, he understood her all too well.

    Among the four people on either end of the phone, only Master Qin Si was in the dark about Qin Shuman''s identity.

    So he looked bewilderedly at Qin Shuman, who was slowly standing up, a whole host of question marks above his head:

    Wait a minute? Qin Shuman taking a call? What does that mean?

    Isn''t she just Yan Chen''s mistress, Qiu Tu''s fling?

    Why does Qiu Tu need to speak directly with her?

    Before he could figure it out, Qin Shuman casually walked over, reaching out for themunicator. Seeing this, Lin Zuo also proactively handed themunicator to Qin Shuman.

    Seeing this scene, Master Qin Si was even more confused:

    Wait a minute? Qin Shuman taking a call, and this Security Department''s Section Chief Lin has no objections?

    And... why does he seem so respectful towards Qin Shuman?

    Just what is Qin Shuman''s real identity?

    With these thoughts, Master Qin Si''s gaze couldn''t help but drift towards Qin Shuman''s shoulder wrapped in bandages, still marked with spots of blood...

    In that instant, only one thought crossed his mind: Oh shit! Has Qiu Tu screwed me over again?!

    Who the hell did I actually stab?!

    Meanwhile, Qin Shuman had also started talking to Qiu Tu while Master Qin Si was still in shock.

    First, she turned off the loudspeaker, then with a charming smile and a gentle voice tinged with a sting, she said, "Chief Qiu really is ruthless, huh~~"

    "Here I am, being so sincere to you, yet not only do you y our Security Department for fools, you also let me get stabbed for nothing~~"

    Master Qin Si''s face went deathly pale.

    And at that moment, on the other side of themunicator, Qiu Tu, alsoughing, said, "Shuman, you have to understand me, everything I''ve done has been for you."

    "Oh? Really?" Qin Shuman obviously didn''t believe him, andughed as she asked, "Can Chief Qiu really just shift the me to someone else like that?"

    Qiu Tu, keeping a grip on the rhythm of the conversation, timely threw out his bait, "I''m not shifting me, everything I said is true."

    "I''m currently under Jia Shu''s surveince and don''t have time to exin in detail."

    "But I hope you can believe me, all of this is to find a cure for your condition. And fortunately, I really did find one..."

    ---

 Chapter 56 The Deal with Qin Shuman (Seeking Monthly Ticket!)

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Qin Shuman''s pupils contracted sharply, and her body trembled slightly.

    Because¡­ Qiu Tu had perfectly seized her vulnerability.

    As a Cataclysmic, Qin Shuman was desperate to resolve her current situation.

    This was not only because the body she was in now was too special, too sensitive, too dangerous, but also because¡­ the operational rules of Cataclysmic ability.

    All Cataclysmic abilities were supported by a "price". The stronger the ability, the higher the price.

    Over a short period, the "price" could still be "paid" with "spiritual power".

    But once the time was too long, if the spiritual power was not enough to pay, or it could not be paid with spiritual power, unimaginably dreadful things would happen¡­

    And now, Qin Shuman had been using the possession ability for four days, pushing the limits of her ability. She really could not imagine the horrors that would happen in a few more days¡­

    By then, even if she returned to her own body, it might already be toote.

    That''s why she had seduced and given herself to Qiu Tu, why she had risked revealing her identity to him, why, without knowing the n, she had unhesitatingly followed Qiu Tu''s arrangements, leaving the Qin Family with Master Qin Si.

    After all, the "Mysterious person" who had "possessed" the original "Qiu Tu" was the only lifeline she could grasp.

    In fact, Qiu Tu did manage to do just that. Although he had used Master Qin Si and the Security Department, he did sessfully rescue Qin Shuman from a precarious situation.

    The only thing Qin Shuman didn''t expect was that although she thought Qiu Tu was so kind to her because he truly cared, in reality, Qiu Tu was someone just like her: outwardly loving and devoted, but inwardly exceedingly rational.

    The knife from Master Qin Si was a warning to Master Qin Si, as well as to her: no matter how deeply involved, interests remain separate¡­

    In troubled times, there is no room for love-struck foolishness...

    Thus, when faced with another lure cast by Qiu Tu, Qin Shuman was not immediately ovee with confusion.

    Knowing that Qiu Tu excelled at manipting people''s hearts, she quickly analyzed the truthfulness of Qiu Tu''s lure, the benefits he wanted to exchange, and weighed the pros and cons...

    After a moment, she had her answer. She waved her hand toward Lin Zuo.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Seeing this, Lin Zuo nodded, then took Master Qin Si to the next room and closed the door.

    Once the room was empty, Qin Shuman walked to the window, lowered her voice, and calmly stated her price, "Tonight''s operation was independentlypleted by our Security Department Investigation Department. It has nothing to do with you."

    "The cause of the matter is that we''ve been investigating the Qin Family''s collusion with the Anti-government Armed Forces, so we made contact with Master Qin Si."

    "This time, the Qin Family wanted to push Master Qin Si to be the scapegoat. In desperation, he took a wild risk, set fire to the Qin Family, and killed Qin Shuman. Afterward, he was taken away by our Security Department for protection."

    "This will be the official record and archives. No matter who inquires, it will remain as such."

    "Moreover, I assure you that even if the Political Department sends a letter demanding people, we will not hand over Master Qin Si and his family."

    "Or¡­ we won''t hand over anyone alive."

    Hearing Qin Shuman''s words, Qiu Tuughed.

    He knew that Qin Shuman''s asking price was to take the entire me and perhaps face an internal disciplinary action, all to ensure her safety.

    But he still shook his head, "Not enough."

    Qin Shuman wasn''t surprised; she pondered for two seconds, then raised the stakes again, "I recall you have several good friends."

    "I''ve observed them over the past few days and found that they have potential."

    "I can rmend two of them to join the military. And I guarantee one of them will be promoted to Lieutenant within a year."

    Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu pondered for a moment.

    Lieutenant, equivalent to a First Level Detective, usually holds the position of a toon leader in the military department,manding about 30 soldiers. It''s practically the limit of promotion for ordinary people.

    The conditions offered by Qin Shuman were more than generous.

    But Qiu Tu still shook his head, "Not enough."

    Qin Shuman was a bit exasperated and was about to retort when this time Qiu Tu took the initiative and said, "I would also like some information about Cataclysmic treasures and Cataclysmic abilities."

    Qin Shuman hesitated for a moment and finally exhaled two words slowly, "Deal."

    After the deal was done, the atmosphere became much more amiable.

    Qin Shuman visibly rxed, but she didn''t forget to warn Qiu Tu, "Qiu Tu, I have already shown enough sincerity; if you dare to deceive me, then don''t me me for being unkind."

    "At that time, I''ll get even for the ck pot I''m carrying today, as well as for this stab wound on my body."

    Qiu Tuughed audibly and then teased, "They say ''For one day as husband and wife, a hundred days of kindness''."

    "Does Miss Shuman really have the heart to do me harm?"

    Qiu Tu emphasized the word "day", instantly adding a hint of flirtation to the conversation.

    Upon hearing this, Qin Shuman''s voice became seductive.

    With a voice so soft it could make a man''s body go numb, she said, "Chief Qiu had the heart to stab me~~ how could I possibly not have the heart to stab you~"

    "Rest assured~~ I''m not as heartless as you. When it''s time to stab you, I''ll definitely choose a pretty knife~~ A pink one, does Chief Qiu like that~"

    Hearing Qin Shuman''s words, Qiu Tuughed aloud and asked in a rxed tone, "Then Miss Shuman, shall we meet tomorrow at 11 pm at the Mn Grand Hotel?"

    Qiu Tu''sughter seemed to infect Qin Shuman; the corners of her mouth involuntarily lifted slightly, and then she gave a light hum from her nose.

    The two exchanged a few more words offhandedly, then ended themunication.

 Chapter 57 Golden Finger Refresh +1 (7k Seeking Follow-up Reads!)

    Hearing Jia Shu''s question, the shadow replied softly, "Everything is normal."

    On the other end of themunicator, Jia Shu "hmm" in acknowledgment but remained silent for a long time, without revealing his signatureughter.

    Sensing something unusual about Jia Shu, the shadow asked, "What''s wrong? Did the investigationst night not go smoothly?"

    Jia Shu came back to his senses upon hearing this and said with a chuckle, "It went very smoothly. It''s just... the oue was a bit unexpected...."

    ....

    At 10 a.m., in Yan Chen''s Garden Vi in the City Center Garden.

    That dimly lit study.

    The deskmp cast a dull yellow glow, the whole room was haze-filled, wisps of smoke entwining in the air, constantly rising and spreading over time.

    Yan Chen was half-shrouded in darkness, the other half... with a hand holding a cigarette, he smoked and squinted, deep in thought.

    Jia Shu stood in front of him without saying a word.

    The room was immersed in an eerie silence.

    Time passed in this way, perhaps a minute, or perhaps fifteen minutes had psed.

    When only the cigarette butt remained in Yan Chen''s hand, he stubbed it out in the ashtray and then hoarsely asked, "So... have we been misunderstanding Qiu Tu this whole time?"

    Jia Shu wasn''t smiling anymore. His face was devoid of any expression, and the gold-framed sses added to his severity.

    He shook his head, "I didn''t say that."

    "But... there certainly is that possibility."

    Having said that, he exined, "Last night, we started our search with Old Fourth Qin and his wife and child. It took us to many ces."

    "But the more we searched, the less it made sense."

    "When we backtracked and started over, we realized that a lot of the key clues and information had been erased."

    "After hours of searching, we could only confirm that Old Fourth Qin vanished from the Mn Grand Hotel, and we had almost no other leads."

    Speaking to this point, Jia Shu adjusted his sses and said earnestly, "This irrational phenomenon, however, has pointed us in a new direction."

    "The few of us are the elite from the Sanctuary, with professional detective training. Which forces in Xinjie City could possibly escape our sight, who are more professional than us?"

    "The military...?" Yan Chen narrowed his eyes slightly and quietly uttered two words.

    But in a moment, he shook his head and corrected himself, "Not just the military. It should be the Security Department of the military."

    Jia Shu nodded in agreement, "Yes."

    "Most of Xinjie City''s other forces are country bumpkins; even the best among them are only at an amateur level."

    "They couldn''t possibly erase all traces and sever all clues within a short 30 minutes, leaving us with no leads to follow."

    "This level of professional technique could only be essed by mid-level management from the Sanctuary. That means people from the Investigation Bureau, the military, and City Hall."

    "Although City Hall is the highest authority and has the most middle management, most of them are civil servants and do not possess such professional means."

    "And the people from our Investigation Bureau were all summoned by mest night; they didn''t have time tomit the act."

    "So it can only be the military, or rather, the Security Department of the military that has this capability."

    At this point, Jia Shu paused, then continued, "We''ve been rivals with the Security Department for many years and are familiar with each other''s tactics. So once we zeroed in on the target and investigated in this direction, we quickly found some subtle traces."

    "So, it''s confirmed that the mastermind behindst night''s actions was indeed the Security Department."

    Hearing Jia Shu''s words, Yan Chen''s expression changed unpredictably.

    He lit another cigarette and slowly said,

    "Last night, Master Qin Si set the Qin Family estate on fire and took Qin Shuman away. Shortly afterward, the Security Department stepped in to cover their tracks."

    "That indicates Master Qin Si and Qin Shuman are with the Security Department...."

    "And Qiu Tu initially said he suspected something was off with Qin Shuman, suspecting her of having another identity."

    "So, he... didn''t lie to me?"

    By the end, Yan Chen''s brow was deeply furrowed.

    Jia Shu didn''t know what to say either. He fell silent for a moment before adding, "Last night, Old Fourth Qin deliberately held back, refraining from burning the main Qin residence and from killing the agents guarding Qin Shuman, indicating he was being coerced."

    "So he''s more likely not the mastermind behind the whole n, but rather just an executor."

    "So..."

    Yan Chen''s eyes narrowed further, "So, is it likely that the mastermind of this n is Qin Shuman?"

    "Does this further confirm Qin Shuman''s identity?"

    At this, Yan Chen paused, "However, Qiu Tu still got Qin Shuman''s identity wrong. She is not with the Municipal Committee as he had guessed, but with the military."

    Jia Shu nodded slightly and continued, "And... if Qin Shuman really is from the Security Department."

    "Then it makes even more sense that she could offer something like the Aurora Stone as an awakening material to bribe Qiu Tu."

    Yan Chen nodded and replied in a low voice,

    "Indeed... the Security Department is the one responsible for handling extraordinary affairs."

    Just as Qiu Tu had analyzed and predicted before, Yan Chen and Jia Shu had never trusted him, and thus they had never believed that Qin Shuman was a spy either.

    But when the Security Department got involved and Qin Shuman''s identity as a spy was confirmed, all of the logic the two had previously held was overturned.

    This shock made them inherently start analyzing the situation from Qiu Tu''s perspective.

    As a result, the more they analyzed, the more they felt Qiu Tu was wronged and that Qin Shuman was the root cause of everything.

    This would also make them overlook many ws and details in Qiu Tu''s lies¡ªor even if they noticed them, they would find reasons to gloss them over.

    So... the room once again fell into silence for a time.

    Now that the situation was "clear", the two realized they had reached an impasse.

    They initially didn''t trust Qiu Tu and had not controlled Qin Shuman immediately.

    Now that Qin Shuman had escaped, they no longer had any pretext to confront the military about it.

    After all, as long as there was no person caught red-handed, the military would not acknowledge Qin Shuman''s identity, and there were too many reasons they could use to whitewash the whole affair.

    For instance, Qin Shuman was just an ordinary person, and Yan Chen had irritated Master Qin Si, so in his escape, Qin Si could''ve abduct Qin Shuman, made Yan Chen a cuckold, and then killed her.

    Then, the Investigation Bureau would not only fail to achieve anything good but would also be embroiled in an even bigger scandal.

    "One wrong move in the game..."

    Yan Chen silently sighed and then looked toward Jia Shu, asking, "What do you think?"

    By then, Jia Shu had gradually returned to his state of strategicmand. His eyes behind the sses were flickering with a cold light,

    "I feel... there are still many suspicious points in the whole matter. Qiu Tu''s facts are too coincidental, and some anomalies on his person are indeed difficult to..."

    Yan Chen raised his hand to interrupt him, saying a bit wearily, "Stop focusing on Qiu Tu for now."

    "No matter how many doubts he has. His judgment of the whole matter is correct. Indeed, someone is causing trouble by my side."

    "He is all merits and no demerits. It''s us who did not trust him."

    Yan Chen said, "What I''m asking is, how should we deal with the Security Department matter?"

    After crushing a cigarette butt in the ashtray, he regained the demeanor of one of Xinjie City''s Three Giants, and said deeply, "I can''t just swallow this loss."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Jia Shu''s face wore a smile, and he said with a semnce of jest, "I have two suggestions."

    "One is... we also have our moles in the military, in the Security Department."

    "Let them investigate who is secretly probing you. Is it General Ye? Director Dai? Or some department head who''s out of his ce!"

    "After that, we deal with it specifically."

    Yan Chen nodded slightly and asked in a low tone, "And the second one?"

    Jia Shu''s smile grew even brighter, "The second is... didn''t Qiu Tu say that Qin Shuman had approached him?"

    "Let''s go with the flow and simply turn him into a double agent. Let him continue to interface with the Security Department."

    "We could let him feed the Security Department some non-critical intelligence to gain their trust."

    "As for the task we give him, it''s simple, just one, that is to find out the other moles the Security Department has by my side, inside our Investigation Bureau..."

    "This task can most simply discern his allegiance and also solve problems for you..."

    Hearing this, Yan Chen''s eyes flickered slightly, and finally, he nodded slowly...

    ....

    After teasing Liu Fuping and having a bit of fun, Qiu Tu returned alone to the Interrogation Section.

    As the Deputy Staff Officer, he had a leadership position, but not a private office.

    Therefore, he could only find a random meeting room to catch up on sleep.

    He had exhausted a lot of brainpower, energy, and physical strength the previous night. Using "Spiritual Vision" and his "Cataclysmic ability" had worn out his spirit. He desperately needed some sleep now.

    So he went to sleep deeply, and in his dreams, Qiu Tu vaguely sensed someone entering the meeting room.

    Then they covered him with a coat and left...

    He felt the person was familiar, but perhaps too tired, he couldn''t recall who it was...

    And like that, he slept until 2 pm, when Qiu Tu slowly awoke from his sleep.

    He stretched, feeling revitalized!

    But just then.

    Suddenly, a few lines of prompts appeared before him.

    [Acquired Cataclysmic ability, became a Cataclysmic. Golden Finger position +1, the number of refreshes +1.]

    [Current 2 Golden Finger positions, 1 fixed position, one random position. Refreshing frequency once per month.]

 Chapter 58 Acquiring a New Golden Finger

    Seeing the prompt before his eyes, Qiu Tu, who had been in a bit of a daze, suddenly tensed and became fully alert!

    He sat up straight and looked around to make sure no one else was in the conference room before carefully examining the changes to his Golden Finger.

    On the first day of his transmigration, Qiu Tu had discovered that his Golden Finger was different from that of other transmigrators. While others had only one Golden Finger, his could be refreshed and fixed.

    However, since the conditions had not been met at the time, he had not known how to trigger these two functions.

    Now, with the prompt, Qiu Tu also had a moment of realization: It seemed that his Golden Finger evolved with the enhancement of his Supernatural Power, didn''t it?

    So, would it mean that he just needed to continue improving his strength to gain more Golden Finger slots and more refresh opportunities?

    With that thought, Qiu Tu also tried to check his Golden Finger''s brand-new panel.

    [Golden Finger Slot: 1/2, Refresh Opportunities: 1 (once per month)]

    "Golden Finger Name": Crisis Intuition (Unfixed, refreshable)

    "Golden Finger Type": Trigger type

    "Golden Finger Effect": When facing a major crisis, Crisis Intuition will be triggered and provide the corresponding Crisis Warning. If the crisis is sessfully ovee, you can obtain rewards rted to the crisis.

    "Golden Finger Slot 2": Vacant (refreshable)

    After reviewing the entire Golden Finger panel, Qiu Tu had a moreprehensive understanding of his Golden Finger.

    After bing a Cataclysmic, he would have two Golden Fingers. Moreover, he also had the opportunity to refresh a Golden Finger once a month.

    If he felt that a certain Golden Finger was not useful, or he didn''t need it temporarily, he could refresh it.

    And if he felt that he would need a certain Golden Finger in the future, he could temporarily fix it and make it a regrly used Golden Finger.

    ''Indeed powerful....''

    With this in mind, Qiu Tu did not waste any more time, but prepared to refresh his second Golden Finger.

    He first fixed [Crisis Intuition], then lightly tapped to refresh.

    Without any special effects or sound, the next second, the panel for his second Golden Finger changed.

    "Golden Finger Name": Loyalty Game (Unfixed, refreshable)

    "Golden Finger Type": Passive & Active Type

    "Golden Finger Effect (Passive)": You will see the impact of your actions and words on your subordinates and superiors.

    "Golden Finger Effect (Active)": You can actively check the "Subordinate''s" Loyalty. And... once a certain level of Loyalty is reached, initiate the Loyalty Game.

    Note: Subordinates include your directly reporting juniors, those under yourmand in name, or those who are controlled by you and submit to your authority. Past subordinates are also included in this scope.

    Looking at his new Golden Finger, Qiu Tu blinked his eyes.

    A multi-functional Golden Finger?

    The Loyalty Game?

    Seems... pretty interesting.

    From the description of this Golden Finger, he could not only see the impact of his every word and deed on his superiors and subordinates, but he could also actively check the Loyalty of subordinates and start a "Game"?

    Although he didn''t yet know what the "Game" was about, Qiu Tu felt that this whole Golden Finger fit well with his uing development n: gathering followers, expanding his group, and increasing his influence within the three major forces.

    Andbined with [Crisis Intuition] giving him danger warnings....N?v(el)B\\jnn

    ''One "defense," one "expansion," perfect!''

    Thinking this way, Qiu Tu was eager to test out his newly acquired Golden Finger.

    He got up and was about to leave the conference room when he realized that a uniform had slid off his body.

    Qiu Tu was taken aback, then nced at the epaulettes on the uniform.

    Two bars with a flower.

    That was one more bar than Qiu Tu''s, which meant... it was a senior level position.

    Qiu Tu then looked at the color of the uniform. ck.

    At that moment, Qiu Tu felt goosebumps all over his body.

    He vaguely remembered someone entering his office in his sleep and covering him with a piece of clothing.

    Because [Crisis Intuition] hadn''t given any warnings, Qiu Tu hadn''t paid it any mind.

    At that time, he had thought that it might be the beautiful young widow Liu Fuping, or the cute Song Qing, who had covered him with the clothing.

    At worst, it could have been Secretary Bai checking on him after starting work and draping a piece of clothing over him on her own initiative.

    But... he had thought it over and over and never expected that it would be Jia Shu who had covered him!

    After all, only the Political Department of the Quan Investigation Bureau wore ck uniforms, and there was only one senior level official in the Political Department....

    That instant, Qiu Tu felt that his entire being was not alright. What crafty scheme was that sly old fox conceiving this time? Or did his sexual orientation suddenly have some issues?

    But... as the old saying goes, a higher-ranked official can crush you to death. When one''s immediate superior shows concern, one should at least say thank you.

    With that thought, Qiu Tu pushed aside his desire to test the new Golden Finger and decided to meet with Jia Shu first.

    He folded the uniform neatly, got up, and walked towards Jia Shu''s office.

    Jia Shu''s office had two locations, one on the 12th floor at the top level and one on the 9th at a midpoint.

    The former was his private office as a high-level official of the Investigation Bureau, while thetter was where he normally worked.

    And Qiu Tu was headed to the office on the 9th floor.

    But just as he got to Jia Shu''s office door, before Qiu Tu could knock, the door to the office opened by itself: Liu Fuping, carrying documents and swaying gracefully, came out from inside.

 Chapter 59 Testing the New Golden Finger (7k for subscription)

    Seeing the prompt that suddenly popped up before his eyes, Qiu Tu suddenly remembered that his new Golden Finger ability allowed him not only to see the loyalty changes of his subordinates but also to notice how his superiors'' attitudes toward him changed.

    So, after having such an enthusiastic chat with Jia Shu and acting for so long, Jia Shu waspletely unmoved?

    When he saw Jia Shu looking at him with appreciation just now, he almost thought that Jia Shu truly believed in him and intended to cultivate him as a confidant.

    It turns out that in the drama of life, it''s all about acting.

    You act me, I act you, and no one knows for sure who is sincere...

    And when he thought about the incident of Jia Shu draping a coat over his shoulders, Qiu Tu felt even more chilled¡ªhe suddenly remembered that Jia Shu never wore a uniform.

    So Jia Shu had put on his uniform just for him...?

    Thinking of this, Qiu Tu''s gaze sharpened, and he once again resolved in his heart: he must take out Jia Shu.

    Having such a venomous snake watching over him meant he could never sleep peacefully!

    After encountering Jia Shu and inexplicably receiving a task to be a double agent, Qiu Tu returned to his original "mission line"¡ªto test out his newly acquired Golden Finger.

    His first target, of course, was the numerous subordinates in the Interrogation Section.

    The Interrogation Section had one Principal Staff, two Deputy Staffs, and Qiu Tu was the third Deputy Staff.

    Since he had just joined the Interrogation Section yesterday, his management scope hadn''t been defined yet, so theoretically, everyone in the Interrogation Section with a lower rank than him counted as his subordinate.

    Thus, Qiu Tu simply took advantage of his position to inspect each work team in turn.

    [Song Yan, Loyalty: 35]

    [Wang Xue, Loyalty: 37]

    [Cheng Jianxin, Loyalty: 31]

    [Chen Fan, Loyalty: 32]

    [...]

    As the newly appointed chief in the department, most agents took an attitude that was neither offending nor overly friendly towards him.

    So everywhere Qiu Tu went, the agents all stood up, saluted, and greeted him. Although they were polite, they were not very enthusiastic.

    This indeed matched their loyalty ratings of around 30.

    After making his rounds, Qiu Tu guessed that "30 Loyalty" might be a threshold, indicating that they recognized Qiu Tu as their superior and were willing to follow his orders.

    If Qiu Tu assigned tasks or scolded them, they wouldn''t openly defy him; after all, they still needed to have a ce in the department.

    If the loyalty rating was below 30, it could mean that Qiu Tu couldn''t even maintain his authority as a chief in front of them, and they might covertly resist his orders.

    If the loyalty rating was above 30, for example, 40, 60, 80, they would be increasingly convinced by Qiu Tu and follow his instructions.

    Even at a certain high level of loyalty... if Qiu Tu asked them to defy the orders of the Investigation Bureau or betray the Bureau, they wouldply.

    With this thought, Qiu Tu gained some general understanding of what the loyalty rating numbers meant.

    With this understanding, he went specifically to check on the five agents of the "Female Spy Special Task Force" he had led personallyst night to see if they would differ from the others.

    After checking, Qiu Tu discovered that two agents from the service team had loyalty ratings not much different from the rest: 39 and 40.

    But the Pharmacist, Wang Xi, and the record keeper, Song Qing, were more interesting.

    Wang Xi had the highest loyalty rating he hade across on his way: 45.

    Contrastingly, Song Qing was at the opposite end, with only... 28. The lowest in the entire department.

    This left Qiu Tu puzzled. He had no idea how he had offended this girl.

    Hadn''t he not done anything yesterday? Are women truly this unreasonable?

    And throughout the whole process of testing the Golden Finger, the only disappointment for Qiu Tu was that he hadn''t run into Liu Fuping.

    It seemed like the beautiful young wife had taken the day off again to catch up on sleep at home.

    Honestly, Qiu Tu was very curious to know how much loyalty this beautiful young wife had toward him, whether it was higher or lower than an ordinary agent?

    This would determine how Qiu Tu would perceive her...

    ....

    In no time, a day passed.

    At five o''clock in the afternoon, Qiu Tu finished work on time.

    After cking off the entire day, he felt energetic and was ready to go home and get ready to meet up with Qin Shuman.

    However, just as he left the department, he bumped into his superior, the Chief of the Interrogation Section: Zheng Tao.

    Zheng Tao was a man in his early thirties and a confidant who hade down from the Sanctuary along with Yan Chen and Jia Shu.

    Being able to serve as the chief of the ace section of the ace department of the Investigation Bureau, he was deeply trusted by Yan Chen and Jia Shu and was cultivated as a key figure by both.

    He did not disappoint Yan Chen and Jia Shu''s trust, working in a steady and meticulous manner, with the ability to unearth and cultivate talent.

    This could be seen from the orderlypletion of the interrogation by several agents of the "Female Spy Special Task Force"st night.

    It should be noted... these agents were merely ordinary people recruited from Xinjie City justst year.

    To be able to train them to the point where they could independentlypleteplex interrogations in less than a year is proof of his capability.

    Comparing this to the agents in the Special Service Department who hadn''t even mastered how to handle a gun... the difference was instantly clear.

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu didn''t act arrogant but saluted respectfully, "Good day, Chief."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Zheng Tao seemed preupied, nodded expressionlessly, and brushed past Qiu Tu, ready to leave.

    Qiu Tu, who offered a warm face only to receive a cold shoulder, didn''t mind. He shrugged and prepared to continue on his way home.

    But just after he took a couple of steps, Zheng Tao behind him seemed to snap out of it and suddenly turned around, asking, "Chief Qiu, are you leaving work now?"

    Qiu Tu let out a bewildered "Huh?" He stopped in his tracks and turned around, baffled, "Yes, it''s time to get off work."

    Zheng Tao nced at his watch and frowned slightly, "You leave as soon as it''s time? Do you see anyone else leaving?"

    Qiu Tu was full of question marks.

    He had worked overtime all ofst night, and he was scheduled to work overtime again tonight as a double agent¡ªnot to mention he was simply leaving at the regr quitting time. What was wrong with that?

    Was Zheng Tao taking out frustrations on him that he faced elsewhere? Or...was his management technique to pua his subordinates into working overtime?

    With these thoughts, Qiu Tu didn''t indulge him. He pretended to look around, then feigned realization, "Indeed, no one''s leaving. Chief Zheng, I get it. Don''t worry, I''ll call everyone to leave together right now!"

    With that, Qiu Tu made as if to rally the investigative teams to leave work together.

    Upon seeing this, Zheng Tao got anxious. He quickly grabbed Qiu Tu and lowered his voice, "Chief Qiu, what are you doing!"

    "What do you mean by leaving work! As agents of the Political Department, we should be working overtime and dedicating every second to the department, to the Bureau! To relieve the Minister and the Bureau Chief of their worries!"

    Hearing Zheng Tao''s words, Qiu Tu was full of question marks again.

    You say serving the people, that''s understandable, but working overtime to relieve the worries of the Minister and Bureau Chief?

    Could the person in front of him be a brown-noser?

    However, those were thoughts he could only afford to keep to himself, so Qiu Tu said with a puzzled look, "But we can''t just work without rest either."

    "The value of work is not measured by time."

    "Only with proper rest can we have the energy to throw ourselves into our work."

    Saying this, Qiu Tu paused, then smiled and waved his hand, "Anyway, I''m off."

    "Goodbye, sir."

    After speaking, Qiu Tu turned around and left the Interrogation Section with a flourish.

    Working overtime was out of the question; he had lived through the 997 grind in his past life and if he had to go through that again in this life, it would make his reincarnation pointless.

    He was in this world to enjoy life, not to suffer.

    If Zheng Tao wanted to workte, that was his choice, but Qiu Tu was not going to oblige.

    And seeing Qiu Tu just walk away from the Interrogation Section like that, Zheng Tao''s face turned blue with anger.

    He pointed at Qiu Tu''s retreating figure, sputtering "You... you... you..." for quite some time, eventually letting it go, frustrated.

    Meanwhile, an array of prompts popped up in front of Qiu Tu.

    [Zheng Tao Satisfaction -5....]

    [Song Qing Loyalty +3]

    [Wang Xue Loyalty +1]

    [Cheng Jianxin Loyalty +4]

    [...]

    Seeing this array of prompts, Qiu Tu nearly missed a step as he walked downstairs.

    His head was filled with question marks: ??

    Well, it turned out that bunch of investigators had been eavesdropping on his conversation with Zheng Tao.

    But...just by firing off a fewments about overtime, he gained so much loyalty?

    Just how much were that group oppressed by Zheng Tao normally...?

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu paused for a moment. Suddenly, he remembered the Female Spy Special Task Force working through the entire previous night and continuing work today.

    It dawned on Qiu Tu... perhaps this was a way he could leverage change in the Interrogation Section...

    .....

    As he thought this over, Qiu Tu drove back to his own ce.

    He was meeting with Qin Shuman tonight and needed to prepare in advance.

    After parking his car at the end of the alley, Qiu Tu locked it and, swinging his car keys, walked toward his house.

    However, as soon as he entered the alley, a scream pierced his ears, "Oh my God! A ghost!"

    Qiu Tu jumped in shock and quickly looked in the direction of the sound, only to see a neighbor scramble away in panic.

    Confused, Qiu Tu looked around but saw nothing out of the ordinary.

    Touching his head in puzzlement, he continued to walk down the alley.

    Initially thinking the neighbor was just ill, he was taken aback to find that everyone who knew him ran faster than monkeys at his approach.

    More question marks formed over Qiu Tu''s head as he failed to understand what was happening.

    He looked down at his attire, and though the ck uniform of the Political Department might be quite intimidating to ordinary people, it shouldn''t be enough to make anyone flee at the sight of it, right?

    What on earth had happened?

 Chapter 60 Heard I Died? (7k for Monthly Tickets)

    Qiu Tu''s philosophy had always been to ask whenever he didn''t understand something, rather than stewing in his confusion alone.

    So, when he encountered yet another neighbor who ran away at the sight of him, Qiu Tu swiftly stepped forward with an agile move and grabbed the fellow by the cor, "Uncle Chen, what are you running for?"

    In Old Alley Street, Qiu Tu was considered a person of stature.

    Before the establishment of Xinjie City, he ruled over several nearby streets, leading the likes of Ah-Tai and Eagle.

    Although he wasn''t particrly warm to the local neighbors, he didn''t bully people like other groups did. He would even asionally stick his neck out to help resolve troubles for the neighbors.

    After Xinjie City was established, Qiu Tu, through his connection with Secretary Bai, joined the government ranks, instantly bing a lofty figure in the eyes of those neighbors.

    But Qiu Tu still didn''t throw his weight around the streets. Instead, he leveraged his rtionship with Yan Chen to find jobs for his brothers like Eagle who followed him, and even secured some benefits for the street, truly full of the milk of human kindness.

    This way of conducting himself also earned him a good reputation and a certain degree of prestige in the street.

    Thus, Qiu Tu had never before encountered a neighbor who took off running at the sight of him.

    What surprised him even more was that once he stopped Uncle Chen, the man''s face instantly turned dead white. He kept bowing and scraping to Qiu Tu, mumbling nonstop, "Qiu Tu, we had no quarrels in the past, and no enmity in recent days."

    "When you were alive, I even watched your door for you. Yes, I stole two potatoes from you once, but I was starving. Please don''t take me with you."

    Qiu Tu: ??

    Qiu Tu caught a keyword with sharp ears, "when you were alive."

    He thought backward and realized... did these neighbors think he had died?

    Qiu Tu''s brows furrowed slightly, and holding onto Uncle Chen, he "smack smack" pped him twice, jolting him awake...

    After getting pped, Uncle Chen wasn''t scared anymore. Instead, he shouted with excitement, "Qiu Tu, you''re not dead? You scared me to death! I thought I had encountered a ghost!"

    Qiu Tu: ...

    Looking at Uncle Chen, who was not watching his mouth, Qiu Tu suppressed the urge to p him twice more, and instead patiently asked about the whole story.

    It didn''t take long... for him to know everything.

    He walked home with a dark face.

    Then... there she was, kneeling on the ground beneath his apartment building, draped in mourning clothes, holding a ck and white photo of himself... Shen Lingshuang.

    The little girl couldn''t fill out the mourning attire and looked pitiful. Her big eyes were red and swollen from crying, yet she was still throwing joss paper into the brazier while clutching the ck and white photo of Qiu Tu and crying nonstop.

    Seeing this, a wave of exasperation washed over Qiu Tu.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    He approached Shen Lingshuang and asked in a grim tone, "I''ve heard... you''ve been going around telling people I''m dead?"

    When Shen Lingshuang heard Qiu Tu''s voice, she was stunned for a moment, her gaze settling on his ck boots.

    Then, bit by bit, her eyes moved upward until she saw Qiu Tu''s handsome and dashing face. Only then did her expression shift from sorrow to disbelief.

    For a moment, she leaped up from the ground and threw herself onto Qiu Tu, then burst into loud sobs, "Wuu wuu wuu! Qiu Tu! Qiu Tu, you''re still alive! Still alive! That''s great!"

    Qiu Tu had originally wanted to teach the "jinx" of a girl a lesson for cursing him to death, but seeing her genuinely distressed look made him go soft.

    He hesitated for a moment, but ultimately, he gently supported the girl''s petite derriere with his right hand and lightly patted her back with his left, soothing her, "Alright, alright, why the tears? Also, who told you that I died?"

    Shen Lingshuang replied with a pitiful look, "No one told me."

    "I guessed it myself."

    Two question marks appeared above Qiu Tu''s head: ??

    Shen Lingshuang exined amidst sobs, "When I woke up, I found the house in disarray, the door damaged, the roof broken, things all over the ce. I got really anxious, fearing the worst had happened."

    "After that, I searched everywhere for you but couldn''t find any trace."

    "I asked Sister Xin, and Sister Xin said you were fine, just busy with something."

    "Although I didn''t believe it, I still clung to thest hope at home, waiting for you. I waited for you all night and morning."

    "But when you didn''te home for an entire night plus a morning, I panickedpletely."

    "Then I went to find Eagle to ask about your real situation. I asked lots of people and finally reached the Old Alley Street Public Security Office."

    "I had someone send a message before Eagle came out."

    "Seeing me, he said you were okay. I asked him to call you, to let you know everything was alright."

    "He imed he didn''t have amunicator and that you were probably busy. He told me not to disturb you and to go home and wait."

    "Maybe because I experienced too much disappointment startingst night, and with you not returning for the whole night and day, I began to suspect that something had really happened to you, and that he and Sister Xin were worried I''d be upset, conspiring to deceive me."

    At this point, tears came down Shen Lingshuang''s face again, and she said with a choked voice, "I''ve seen too many...."

    Perhaps remembering that the Cataclysm Awakening was a secret, she deliberately left her sentence vague, "I''ve seen too many who had idents."

    "I''m just too sad, too sad...."

    With that, she buried her face in Qiu Tu''s chest and began to cry again.

    Hearing Shen Lingshuang''s ount, Qiu Tu genuinely didn''t know whether tough or cry.

    He felt it wasn''t strange for Shen Lingshuang to overthink. The Cataclysm Awakening was an exceedingly rare event, and right after awakening, he had gone out and not returned the entire night or day.

    If he were Shen Lingshuang, he probably would have had irrational thoughts as well.

    He couldn''t help but feel a tinge of self-me. He had cked off all day, how had he forgotten toe back to ease her worries?

 Chapter 61 A Night Meeting with Qin Shuman (7k for Subscriptions)

    "You help me refine the potion, I''ll give you freedom."

    "Now that you''ve helped me refine the potion, I should also give you your freedom."

    At this point, Qiu Tu paused, "You are a suspect proposed by Yan Chen with his pardon power for other uses, and your record has already been erased from the Investigation Bureau."

    "Yesterday afternoon, during the handover with the other agents, I crossed your record off the handover sheet."

    "Plus, with the fire that Master Qin Si startedst night, your traces have now beenpletely cleared."

    "So, you''re free..."

    As he said this, Qiu Tu ced two Little Goldfish and a hundred Silver Yuan on the table, admonishing her,

    "This is the fare for your trip home. Sew it into your clothes in a bit, and make sure no one discovers it."

    "On your way back, be careful and don''t act like a spoilt youngdy. Compromise where you can. Others won''t indulge you like I do."

    Having said that, Qiu Tu stood up and left the room.

    But when he reached the doorway, Qiu Tu stopped as if he remembered something. With his back to Shen Lingshuang, he said, "Oh, and remember to close the door when you leave."

    After saying this, he left home without looking back.

    As a pharmacist capable of creating Awakening Elixirs, Shen Lingshuang was well aware of her value.

    And having interacted with Qiu Tu and his people in the past couple of days, Shen Lingshuang also knew how much assets Qiu Tu had.

    So, she really never imagined that after his sessful Cataclysm Awakening, Qiu Tu would let her go, and... even leave his "entire fortune" for her as travel expenses.

    In that moment, Qiu Tu reached a new height in her heart.

    She looked up nkly at Qiu Tu''s retreating figure, her eyes reddening slightly. After a moment, tears uncontrobly began to fall "plop plop"...

    It had been so long since she left home, and she had never met someone who treated her so well...

    Thinking this, she quickly looked down and shoveled food into her mouth, the food mixed with tears tasted salty...

    After a few bites, she abruptly lifted her head, silently making a decision...

    ....

    [Shen Lingshuang Loyalty+12, Current Loyalty: 83]

    Driving towards the Mn Grand Hotel, Qiu Tu saw the alert that popped up but didn''t feel particrly happy.

    Guided by the "Emotion Manual", he knew all too well how to manipte a naive girl like Shen Lingshuang.

    "108 Ways to Enhance Affection" No. 82: Give real emotion while appearing empty-handed.

    Women are emotional creatures, and once the rtionship progresses to a certain point, a big gesture can touch her heart far more than small ones (and because the gesture is so grand, she''s likely to refuse to ept it).

    Thus, a decisive departure and leaving all his money to Shen Lingshuang was actually a tactic he used to encourage her to stay of her own ord.

    The reasons were simple. Besides his worry that Shen Lingshuang might encounter danger on her way home, he also desperately needed an experienced pharmacist for his recently established enterprise.

    But for some reason, after all that, Qiu Tu felt a twinge of regret.

    Was it because of the jokes Eagle and Ah-Tai made that afternoon? Or maybe because of Shen Lingshuang''s foolish kindness towards him?

    He felt that his methods were somewhat despicable.

    After quietly reflecting for a while, Qiu Tu''s gaze slowly regained its firmness.

    ''A person with great ambitions shouldn''t bother with trifles. I''ll just have to treat her doubly well in the future.''

    ....

    The twenty-minute drive passed in a sh. At 22:30, Qiu Tu arrived at the Mn Grand Hotel.

    Like thest time, he ordered a cup of tea and sat in the lobby''s resting area, waiting patiently.

    This ce might indeed be a base for the Security Department, as it was constantly monitored. Thus, within 2 minutes, a server again delivered an envelope to him.

    Qiu Tu opened the envelope, and inside was indeed another keycard. Room number: 511.

    After taking the keycard, Qiu Tu walked towards the elevators.

    But just as he was about to step onto the elevator, suddenly, hismunicator rang out.

    "Ring ring ring..."

    The clear ring of themunicator sounded especially jarring in the empty hall. Qiu Tu stopped in his tracks and took out hismunicator to look.

    It was a call from Secretary Bai.

    Without hesitation, Qiu Tu answered.

    And then, Secretary Bai''s hushed voice came through, "Qiu Tu, where are you?"

    Qiu Tu, sensing something was off with Secretary Bai''s tone, responded quietly, "I''m out on a mission."

    Secretary Bai uttered a monosybic "hm", then spoke softly, "Listen to me now. There''s been an incident in the Interrogation Section, involving the special case team you''re responsible for."

    A chill went down Qiu Tu''s spine as he heard Secretary Bai continue, "The female spy you interrogatedst night is dead."

    "She died in the guard room."

    "The specific cause of death is unknown, but foul y has not been ruled out."

    "The Bureau Chief was enraged and personally called for a coroner from the Sanctuary to determine the cause of death."

    "And including you, everyone who has had contact with that female spy in the past two days has been listed as a suspect."

    "This case was already significant, involving the Anti-government Armed Forces, several well-known businessmen in Xinjie City, as well as Vice President Tian with ties to the Sanctuary and several members of the Municipal Committee."

    "Now, with the death of the most important suspect and witness, the pressure on the Bureau Chief is immense. He may be forced to resort to some unconventional methods."

    "You must be very careful...."

    Having said that, Secretary Bai didn''t even wait for Qiu Tu''s response before hurriedly hanging up the phone.

    Listening to the "beep... beep..." from the receiver, Qiu Tu''s face kept changing.

    The female spy interrogatedst night is dead?

    Someone silenced her?

    Qiu Tu''s brows furrowed slightly. This was not good news.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    Because if that female spy really was from the United Front, then it would prove that there might be spies from the United Front within the Investigation Bureau, especially within the Investigation Bureau Political Department!

    It''s no wonder Yan Chen was so furious if spies from the Investigation Bureau''s Intelligence Agency had been infiltrated.

    And considering the significant impact of the case involving the female spy, Yan Chen''s use of extraordinary measures could be justified.

    But why would Secretary Bai want to tip me off?

    As Qiu Tu pondered with furrowed brows, he stepped into the elevator.

    He pressed the button for the fifth floor, and the elevator doors slowly closed and began to ascend.

    "Ding!"

    Just as the elevator doors opened on the fifth floor, a bolt of lightning shed through Qiu Tu''s mind, and his face turned pale!

    He finally understood why Secretary Bai would take such a big risk to tip him off!

    Because Secretary Bai, or rather Yan Chen... suspected that he himself was the one who carried out the silencing!

    The reason was simple: when he had first crossed over to this time, in order to make Yan Chen wary and pique his curiosity, he tied Qin Shuman to every power rted to the Governing Hall and the United Front.

    Yesterday, once Qin Shuman''s identity with the Security Department was confirmed, most of the suspicions were cleared up, except for one: the rationale for her collusion with the United Front didn''t quite add up.

    Originally, with "Qin Shuman''s death" and as time passed, the incident would have slowly faded away, bing an unsolvable case.

    But who would have thought the United Front spy Qiu Tu handled would be silenced?

    Wouldn''t that immediately raise the level of suspicion against Qiu Tu!

    After all, if Qiu Tu were a spy for the United Front, all doubts regarding the two cases would be neatly and logically exined.

    That''s why Secretary Bai took the risk to warn Qiu Tu, to give him a chance to escape....

    ''Damn! What rotten luck!''

    With that thought, Qiu Tu couldn''t help but curse silently.

    Although he had nothing to fear from a straight back, what he did that night didn''t exactly keep him on the straight and narrow.

    If Yan Chen were to use extraordinary methods such as Supernatural Power to investigate, and it turned out he too had used Supernatural Power that night, he wouldn''t have a leg to stand on.

    ''I must find a way to catch that spy! Clear up this case!''

    ''Otherwise, I''ll be the one in trouble!''

    With these thoughts, Qiu Tu took a deep breath, decided to quickly resolve matters with Qin Shuman that night, and leave some time to figure out the case involving the United Front spy.

    However, just as he thought this, suddenly, the door to room 503 beside him cracked open, and a hand shot out from the darkness, reaching for him!

    The moment the door to room 503 opened, Qiu Tu had already reacted, reflexively wanting to counter-attack. But upon smelling the familiar fragrance, a smile yed at the corners of his mouth, and he stopped resisting...

    Thus, the owner of the hand easily seized Qiu Tu, pulling him into the room!

    "Click~" With a soft sound, the door closed, and the corridor returned to its quiet state, as if Qiu Tu had never been there.

    Meanwhile, in the dark room of 503, Qiu Tu felt a soft, seductive body pressing tightly against him.

    A dagger was also pressed against his neck.

    The softness of the body and the coldness of the dagger created a shocking contrast, adding a sense of allure and thrill to the atmosphere.

    "Chief Qiu seems a bit off tonight~~ You''re not as vignt as usual," came Qin Shuman''s sultry, intoxicating voice from the darkness.

    "In a secret department, losing vignce is tantamount to death~~ I hope Chief Qiu remembers my words when you''re down below."

    After speaking, the dagger glittering with a cold light shed towards Qiu Tu''s neck!

    ---

 Chapter 62 Qin Shuman Recovers Her Health (Thanks to "KAWABUNGA" for the 100,000 reward)

    Facing Qin Shuman''s attack, Qiu Tu was unfazed.

    If Qin Shuman really had the intention to kill him, his [Crisis Intuition] would have warned him long ago.

    And now... since [Crisis Intuition] hadn''t issued a warning, it proved that... all of this was merely this woman''s "amusement".

    Thinking thus, Qiu Tu didn''t dodge but even purposely leaned his neck closer, intending to see if Qin Shuman truly wanted to kill him.

    As expected, at the critical moment, the gleaming cold light from the dagger halted at Qiu Tu''s throat.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    Qin Shuman asked in a sultry voice, "Chief Qiu~~ you''re not dodging? Do you think I still need you to help me recover my body, so you dare not kill me?"

    Hearing Qin Shuman''s words, Qiu Tu reached out and wrapped his arm around her slender waist, pressing her hot body tightly against his own muscr one.

    Then he whispered into Qin Shuman''s ear, "No... it''s that I would be willing to die by your hand."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s cheesy sweet nothings, Qin Shuman''s face turned slightly red, and the next second, she angrily thrust the dagger into Qiu Tu''s shoulder!

    Unfortunately... the dagger in her hand was pliable, merely a piece of silver-glittering paper, and couldn''t hurt anyone at all.

    Seeing this, Qiu Tu yed along and cried out, "Ouch, ouch, ouch. Miss Shuman, you have to take responsibility."

    Qin Shuman was amused by Qiu Tu''s shameless manner.

    She lifted her leg and gave Qiu Tu a knee strike in the stomach,ughing, "So shameless."

    Qiu Tu clutched his stomach but didn''t forget to flirt, "Seems like you still care for me, or else you''d have aimed two inches lower."

    "You!" Qin Shuman was so annoyed she itched to really give Qiu Tu a blow there.

    But regrettably, after teasing, Qiu Tu immediately protected himself thoroughly, giving her no chance at all.

    Seeing this, she red at Qiu Tu in frustration, but she didn''t continue the tussle and instead turned around, switched on the light, and strode into the room, motioning with her hand, "Come on. Let''s talk."

    It had to be said, Qin Shuman indeed was quite the enchantress. She could be enticing when she wanted and absolutely serious when she needed to be. Just a few steps she took exuded the air of a female officer''s bold and resolute bearing.

    Witnessing this, Qiu Tu also put away his yful demeanor and followed her into the room.

    They entered a hotel bedroom with twin beds.

    On one of the bedsy a woman wearing a dark green military uniform.

    The woman appeared younger than Qin Shuman, but equally stunning. Contrasted with Qin Shuman''s fully bloomed, myriad charms, she conveyed a more steely presence and less coquettish allure.

    Qiu Tu scrutinized her closely, vaguely seeing some of Qin Shuman''s features in her.

    He couldn''t help but look up at Qin Shuman and asked, "Is this your own body?"

    At that moment, Qin Shuman was also looking at her own body. Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, she nodded slightly withplex emotions in her eyes.

    However, the next second, she snapped back to reality, then nced at Qiu Tu skeptically, "Feeling a bit disappointed?"

    Qiu Tu looked at her in confusion, "Disappointed?"

    His tone changed, "I''m even more excited, okay!"

    Qin Shuman choked, throwing him a coquettish re, "You''re utterly incorrigible."

    Qiu Tuughed, knowing what Qin Shuman wanted to ask, and sincerelyplimented, "Actually, both areparable."

    Qin Shuman''s lips curled up into a slight smile, which quickly faded.

    She strode to a chair and began discussing serious matters, "You said you could help me recover my body?"

    Qiu Tu nodded and then took out the [Nightmare Crystal Vial] from his pocket.

    He exined, "This is a Cataclysmic treasure, named [Purification Holy Vial]. Its effect is to cleanse all Catastrophe Power from the body just by drinking the liquid inside."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Qin Shuman eyed the [Nightmare Crystal Vial] skeptically.

    Then she looked at Qiu Tu with a cynical smile, "Chief Qiu wouldn''t be ying tricks on me, would you~? Is there really such a Cataclysmic treasure in this world?"

    Qiu Tu unblinkingly and unflinchingly nodded.

    "If you don''t believe it, you can try it."

    Saying this, Qiu Tu handed the [Nightmare Crystal Vial] to Qin Shuman.

    Seeing Qiu Tu''s confidence, Qin Shuman uncertainly took the crystal bottle.

    Pulling out the stopper, she brought it to her nose and fanned lightly with her hand. A strong scent of alcohol assailed her senses.

    She looked toward Qiu Tu with some suspicion.

    Qiu Tu confidently gestured with his hand.

    After a moment''s hesitation, Qin Shuman tipped her head back and drank it all.

    As the liquid from the crystal bottle went down her throat, Qin Shuman furrowed her brows; the liquid smelled like alcohol, and upon swallowing... it felt like alcohol too!

    Burning, acrid, and it was 56-degree liquor!

    Qin Shuman frowned, swallowing the alcohol, then looked up at Qiu Tu with fiery eyes,

    ''Could this bad man actually be deceiving her?''

    At this time, seeing Qin Shuman drink the liquor, Qiu Tu standing in front of her also timely used his own ability [Reshape Order]...

    The next second, the gray mist reappeared, and matter was extracted.

    ''Remove the Cataclysmic ability from this woman''s body, and let her soul return.''

    As Qiu Tu set the rules, a mysterious power suddenly descended upon Qin Shuman with force.

    The second before, Qin Shuman was questioning Qiu Tu. The next second, she felt darkness before her eyes and lost consciousness...

    Watching Qin Shuman slowly copse onto the bed, Qiu Tu immediately knew the ability had taken effect.

    He tried to lift his ability. The next second, dizziness followed.

    Qiu Tu hurriedly sat beside the bed, silently recovering.

 Chapter 63 Cataclysmic Treasure: Cursed Reproduction Agent (7k words, subscribe!)

    Upon saying this, Qiu Tu also looked helpless, "So... I really can''t clear my name even if I were to dive into the Yellow River."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Qin Shuman''s expression couldn''t help but turn grave.

    She took a deep breath and said earnestly, "Don''t worry just yet. I will definitely help you."

    What Qiu Tu needed was precisely these words from Qin Shuman.

    He timely added, "My friend told me that this matter has a big impact, involving Vice President Tian and several members of the municipalmittee."

    "Therefore, Yan Chen might resort to exceptional measures."

    Upon saying that, Qiu Tu probed, "Do you know what exceptional measures he might use?"

    "Can these exceptional measures detect the traces of the Cataclysm Prop I usedst night?"

    After listening to Qiu Tu''s words, Qin Shuman pondered quietly for a while before slowly saying, "The procedure of the Investigation Bureau in investigating cases is generally fixed."

    "If I''m not guessing wrong, now that the female spy is dead, the first thing they will do is to have an experienced forensic doctor to examine and dissect the body to determine the cause of death."

    "And if the cause of death is identified by dissecting and examining the body, then they will determine the range of suspects ording to the cause of death."

    "If the cause of death is not found through dissection and examination of the body, then the Investigation Bureau will proceed with the next step of Mystic Arts Inspection to see if there are any traces of Catastrophe Power on the female spy."

    "If they indeed find traces of Catastrophe Power on her, they are very likely to check everyone who has had contact with the deceased."

    "To see if these individuals exhibit traces of having used Cataclysmic abilities or Cataclysmic treasures."

    "Of course, in addition to this, they might also report to their superiors, or request assistance from our Security Department for investigation, or even directly transfer the case to our Security Department, and so on."

    "These are all fairly typical procedures, and it really depends on what the Political Department decides."

    "But if, as your friend says, Yan Chen is preparing to use exceptional measures."

    "Then it''s very likely that he is nning to use brutal methods for a forceful investigation."

    "Inside the Investigation Bureau there is a type of banned drug called Cursed Reproduction Agent."

    "It is a Cataclysmic Potion of a not very high ss but with powerful effects. It can muddle people''s thinking and spirit, causing them to relive what they have done in recent days and can be particrly used to reenact specific segments. It is often used in the interrogation of some special cases."

    "But this potion also has a significant drawback, which is that the side effects are very strong."

    "At the lightest, the user can suffer memory confusion, paralysis of half the body, and at the worst, direct death."

    "It is precisely because of such side effects that the Sanctuary has ssified it as a ss C Forbidden Drug. Only a few departments authorized by the council can use this potion under special circumstances."

    "Any private use of this banned drug by anyone else would constitute an illegal act."

    After finishing Qin Shuman''s exnation, Qiu Tu''s expression grew solemn as he asked, "So... if the forensic determination is that the female spy died from ordinary injuries."

    "Since I haven''t had any private contact with her, it''s less likely that I''m a suspect, and Yan Chen probably won''t investigate me."

    "But if the female spy died from Cataclysmic ability or Cataclysmic treasures, then it''s very likely my traces of using Cataclysmic treasures will be detected. I would be the prime suspect."

    "And if Yan Chen fails to find the murderer after a while or bes crazed, he might use the Cursed Reproduction Agent on everyone who had contact, and then it''s quite likely I''d end up dead or crippled?"

    Qin Shuman nodded gravely.

    Silent, Qiu Tu suddenly understood the purpose behind Secretary Bai''s phone call.

    It seemed that Secretary Bai not only suspected that he might be the assassin covering his tracks but was also worried that even if he weren''t the killer, Yan Chen, in a frenzy, would indiscriminately use the Cataclysmic Potion endangering him as well.

    So... what should he do?

    Perhaps sensing the pressure in Qiu Tu''s heart, Qin Shuman gently sat in his arms, her voice soft and seductive as she said,

    "Chief Qiu~ actually... you have another choice."

    Qiu Tu looked down at her.

    Qin Shuman smiled irresistibly, "And that is to let our Security Department take over the entire case directly~"

    "With me here~ nobody can hurt you."

    Qiu Tu: ??

    Looking into Qin Shuman''s eyes, Qiu Tu was briefly stunned, feeling inexplicably as though he was epting charity?

    Chief, hungry...?

    Yet, this thought was quickly dismissed by him as soon as it flitted through his mind.

    Qin Shuman made it sound easy, and her tone was ambiguous as if she had taken advantage of him. But Qiu Tu was not deceived by her seductive gesture.

    The case of the female spy was both "rted to cases involving the Anti-government Armed Forces" and a "spy case." Therefore, since the Security Department could take over the investigation, the Political Department could also conduct the investigation on its own.

    In such a situation, unless the Political Department took the initiative to ask, the Security Department was unlikely to actively intervene in the case - that would mean pping the faces of the Political Department, Jia Shu, and Yan Chen.

    So, the only way the Security Department would want to take over this case is if Qin Shuman, without approval from above, barged into the Investigation Bureau, showed her true colors, and forcibly snatched the case away.

    In that event, Qin Shuman would not only have to endure Yan Chen''s wrath, but might also have to face the fury from the Security Department and the military.

    The reason why Qin Shuman used such an ambiguous tone when mentioning this method was actually just to make me preemptively assume that this matter would work in her favor...

    ''This woman....''

    With that thought, Qiu Tu, although somewhat touched, still patted her hand and said, "No need. Things haven''t reached that point."

    Qin Shuman was indeed deliberately misleading Qiu Tu''s thoughts, but now seeing that he wasn''t fooled, she ceased those little maniptions.

    She believed that Qiu Tu knew what he was doing, and she was willing to trust him, just as she would trust herself...

    And so, she quietlyy in Qiu Tu''s embrace, enjoying the rare moment of warmth....

    Thus, in the short span of an hour, the two went from passionate intensity upon entering the door to being heavily burdened with thoughts at their parting.

    In these chaotic times, everyone is struggling to survive, with romantic sentiments pressed deep into their hearts, yet evident in their eyes.

    As he was leaving, Qiu Tu told Qin Shuman about Yan Chen''s n for him to be a double agent.

    Qin Shuman was not surprised, even yfully hooking her arm around Qiu Tu''s neck and asking him a charming question, "So, Chief Qiu, this double agent... are you on Director Yan''s side, or are you on my side?"

    Qiu Tuughed and tapped her forehead, "I''m on my own side."

    Watching Qiu Tu slowly walk away, Qin Shuman gazed at his retreating figure and softly said, "Bad man...."

    After speaking, she turned back to her hotel room with a smile on her lips.

    In fact, not only was Qiu Tu faced with a mess, her situation was equally muddled: the issue of Master Qin Si''s arrangements, the problem of a mole being exposed, and the ountability from the authorities above all added to her stress....

    The bizarre event five days ago had changed too many people, too many things.

    Every time she thought about it, Qin Shuman still felt a lingering fear.

    Standing in front of the bed and looking at the body she had used for the past few days, Qin Shuman''s brows lightly furrowed.

    Though her soul had clearly returned to her own body, the soulless shell had yet to deteriorate.

    Qin Shuman reached out to touch it, finding the body warm and soft.

    She ced her hand on the left side of the chest and could even feel the heartbeat.

    If she didn''t know that "Qin Shuman" was already dead, she might have thought it was just a beauty sleeping quietly....

    Moreover, the fact that she returned to her body without "paying" any "price" made her find it incredible¡ªshe hadn''t even used the Cataclysm Prop she had prepared. This raised a daring thought in Qin Shuman''s mind... could she possess "Qin Shuman''s" body again?

    Would such possession be like before, where she could release it at any time, or would it be like these past few days, trapped within that body?

    And what secretsy hidden within this "Qin Shuman" body and that "Qiu Tu" body?

    What on earth had happened five days ago?

    Qin Shuman felt as though new mysteries were cropping up before her....

    ....

    Leaving the Mn Grand Hotel, Qiu Tu drove home.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    This meeting with Qin Shuman was very fruitful.

    Though he hadn''t found a solution to the crisis, it had... given Qiu Tu a clearer understanding of how events might unfold.

    This gave him reassurance, allowing him to adjust his strategy ording to any shifts in the situation.

    Of course, the biggest reason he could refuse Qin Shuman''s help was that his Crisis Intuition hadn''t been triggered!

    This suggested that, at least for now, his life wasn''t in danger, and things were unlikely to deteriorate to the worst-case scenario.

    With these thoughts, Qiu Tu rxed quite a bit.

    But in his rxation, Qiu Tu couldn''t help feeling a bit chagrined: he''d lost out tonight!

    He''d shared a bed with two "Qin Shumans", and yet he hadn''t made a move on either!

    Indeed, tonight''s "hidden benefit" had been wasted!

    Feeling this annoyance, he arrived back at Old Alley Street and parked beside the dirty, disorderly roadside. Qiu Tu turned off the car and was just about to get out when suddenly, "tap tap tap..." his car window was softly knocked on.

    He looked up in surprise and saw Liu Fuping, the girl who had gone missing for a day, standing outside his car window....

 Chapter 64 Astonishing Loyalty (7k Subscriptions Please!)

    Seeing Liu Fuping outside the car window, Qiu Tu raised an eyebrow, a bit surprised.

    After all, it was already 12 o''clock at night.

    In these troubled times, the night was very dangerous, and without a car, a beautiful woman traveling alone deep into the night was not a simple matter.

    So, unless there was a special circumstance, Liu Fuping would not take the risk ofing out to meet him.

    And thinking of special circumstances... Qiu Tu''s heart suddenly stirred: Could it be... she also knew about the female spy''s death?

    With that thought, Qiu Tu smiled at Liu Fuping, then opened the car door and got out.

    Liu Fuping was wearing a green knitted sweater tonight. The sweater was loose, with arge, slightly skewed neckline, allowing one to see the ck strap of her lingerie on her fair left shoulder, and if one looked down, there was a cleavage that could bury a person.

    Liu Fuping noticed something was off with Qiu Tu''s gaze, looked down at herself, and made no adjustments. Instead, she even sped her hands under her chest, making herself even more prominent.

    Seeing this, Qiu Tu couldn''t help but smile. Look, this is the advantage of a married woman, she always cooperates tacitly with you...

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu leaned against the car, lit a cigarette, and teased nonchntly, "Sister Liu, are youing to see me sote because you can''t sleep alone?"

    "Hohoho~" Liu Fupingughed, shaking her whole body, creating waves of motion.

    Afterughing, she put her hand on Qiu Tu''s arm, and with a smile that wasn''t quite a smile, she said, "Is that what you''re coveting, Chief?"

    But Qiu Tu''s smile remained as he replied, "Isn''t it Sister Liu who has always been coveting me?"

    The two of them looked at each other, their smiles growing brighter, a sense of ambiguity as if "you know my unscrupulous intentions, I understand your feigned modesty."

    And just as the atmosphere was getting more and more romantic,

    suddenly, a horrific scream of "Ah!" echoed between the densely packed buildings on Old Alley Street.

    Followed by a "thud!" as something like wet mud pped against the wall.

    Liu Fuping was startled, locking her neck to look in that direction.

    Qiu Tu casually flicked the cigarette ash, "It''s nothing, probably just some unfortunate soul who couldn''t handle the pressure and jumped from a building."

    Liu Fuping immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

    In this chaotic world, human life was cheap, and nobody cared, except... the group of urban sanitation workers that City Hall had just recruited.

    However, because of that interruption, the romantic atmosphere was broken. Liu Fuping finally started talking about serious matters.

    She gathered her hair and moved closer to Qiu Tu, whispering, "Chief. I heard some news. Yin Caimei is dead."

    The name was somewhat unfamiliar, and Qiu Tu almost didn''t react in time, "Who?"

    Liu Fuping said, "The female spy we interrogatedst night."

    Qiu Tu "Oh~" in understanding. It matched his own intelligence.

    Liu Fuping earnestly observed Qiu Tu''s expression, noting that he didn''t seem surprised, and her expression becameplicated.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    She continued to probe, "Chief, her identity is quite special, and this case involves a wide range of issues."

    "I''m worried that the minister will be furious when this gets out, and all of us involved in the interrogation won''t be able to escape the consequences; we may be implicated."

    Qiu Tu, upon hearing this,ughed, flicked away the cigarette butt, and reassured her, "Don''t worry, the minister won''t."

    Liu Fuping didn''t understand where Qiu Tu''s confidence came from and was taken aback for a moment.

    Then, the next second, she heard Qiu Tu say, "Because the one who''s furious is the Bureau Chief. He''s already gotten involved in this matter."

    Upon hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Liu Fuping''s body shivered noticeably, and she appeared astonished, "The Bureau Chief got involved?"

    Qiu Tu put his arm around her and pulled her into his embrace, the married woman''s body soft andfortable to hold. Then he replied casually, "Yes."

    "Isn''t it very normal for the Bureau Chief to get involved in such a sensitive issue?"

    After finishing, Qiu Tu gazed at her, probed with a smile that wasn''t quite a smile, "Sister Liu, you''re not the murderer, what are you nervous about?"

    Liu Fuping swallowed and said softly, "Chief, you don''t know the methods of the Investigation Bureau."

    "Once the Bureau Chief gets involved, the whole affair will be incrediblyplicated."

    Pausing, she continued, "The Bureau Chief getting involved means he doesn''t trust the Political Department. And this will provoke the anger of the minister."

    "And the minister... he''s a pervert!"

    "His interrogations never aim to extract information but to take pleasure in torture."

    "As long as someone is suspected, whether they are the real criminal or not, they won''te out alive from his hands."

    "Our Interrogation Section was cultivated by him personally, so we are too familiar with his methods."

    "With the gravity of the situation and the Bureau Chief''s involvement, it''s very likely he will just detain us internal staff first and torture us, to vent his rage and force confessions."

    By the end, herplexion was pale, her voice trembling slightly, "I haven''t even learned the basics from him, and few prisoners can survive. There''s even less chance for us."

    Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu pondered for a second, then smoothly asked, "So, you think we should find the murderer ahead of time?"

    Seeing that Qiu Tu finally got to the content she was most interested in, Liu Fuping nodded eagerly.

    She spoke softly, "We must find the murderer in advance, to clear ourselves of suspicion. Only by doing so can we avoid being implicated."

    Hearing the words of the beautiful young woman in his embrace, Qiu Tu''s eyebrows twitched slightly, and he watched her quietly, his gaze somewhat inexplicable.

    The beautiful young woman felt a strange look from him, then touched her own face, puzzled, she inquired, "Chief, what''s wrong?"

    Qiu Tu smiled and nced once again at Liu Fuping''s astonishing loyalty.

    [Liu Fuping, Loyalty: 13]

    Then, smiling, he said, "It''s nothing. I just thought Sister Liu looked especially beautiful tonight, and I got lost in thought for a moment."

    Although heplimented her with his mouth, Qiu Tu''s mind was rapidly analyzing the matter of Liu Fuping''s loyalty.

    Just like the experience he had confirmed in the Interrogation Section before: without the influence of personal interests, most subordinates should have a loyalty above 30 towards him.

    This wasn''t due to Qiu Tu''s personal influence, but rather the natural oppression from superiors to subordinates under the strict system of the violent organization.

    After all, if Qiu Tu hadn''t made any mistakes, opposing him would be tantamount to opposing the entire violent organization.

    And yet, Liu Fuping had a loyalty towards Qiu Tu that didn''t even reach the basic 30 points.

    This could only mean three possibilities.

    One, Qiu Tu''s teasing in the past two days made her dislike him, reducing her loyalty.

    Two, she was part of a faction within the Investigation Bureau, and that faction was hostile or disliked Qiu Tu.

    Three, she... was a spy.

    All three scenarios could lead to her loyalty dropping below "30," the minimum threshold, causing her to disobey Qiu Tu''s orders overtly and covertly.

    Especially the third possibility.

    If she were really a spy, then the likelihood of her being the murderer also greatly increased.

    But... what Qiu Tu couldn''t understand was: if she really was the murderer, why would shee to see him?

    Was she nning to frame him? Was it a case of a thief crying "Stop thief"? Or did she intend to deflect the me elsewhere?

    ''Things are getting interesting...''

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu also probed, "Sister Liu, who do you think the murderer is?"

    Liu Fuping hesitated for a moment before whispering, "I think it might be Wang Xi."

    Qiu Tu went "Oh?" and asked with interest, "Why?"

    Liu Fuping replied, "He''s a Pharmacist, responsible for dispensing interrogation potions."

    "So, he could easily add some lethal drugs to the normal interrogation potion without anyone noticing."

    Qiu Tu went "Oh," as if in deep thought.

    After a moment, as if something suddenly urred to him, he looked sharply at Liu Fuping, then feigned surprise and said, "In that case, Sister Liu, you''re also quite suspicious."

    "After all, you were the interrogator for that female spy. During the interrogation, you too could have poisoned her without anyone noticing."

    "For example, hiding poison in the crevice of your nails, then applying it to her wounds during execution."

    Liu Fuping wasn''t frightened by Qiu Tu; her face fell as she admitted, "It''s precisely because I know I''m one of the most suspected that I''m so anxious."

    "If I were like you, Chief, having never made contact with that prisoner, I would be sleeping without worries."

    Qiu Tu looked earnestly at Liu Fuping''s expression, finding no faults...

    So he continued to probe, "Then, Sister Liu, what brings you to me tonight?"

    "I should be one of the most suspected as well, right?"

    Liu Fuping''s response to Qiu Tu''s relentless questions showed some difort as she said, "I... I''m just a little panicked inside. So I wanted to consult with you, Chief, to see if we could find other clues."

    ''That''s a lie.''

    Qiu Tu sensed something off.

    Liu Fuping''s gaze clearly shifted towards the bottom right as she spoke.

    But interestingly enough, Liu Fuping''s gaze snapped back immediately after shifting to the right.

    A hint of amusement shed in Qiu Tu''s eyes.

    ''Interesting...''

    If the gaze had just darted to the bottom right, it would have indicated Liu Fuping was lying, but nothing more could be proven.

    However, this retraction indicated that she was likely trained professionally, aware of the micro-expressions when lying, and was trying to control them. Perhaps it wasck of skill, or a fluctuation in emotion, that led to the slip.

    ''So... is the beautiful young woman in front of me a spy?''

    ''Does the Political Department actually have a spy in its midst? And is it her?''

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu tightened his hold around Liu Fuping''s arm, pulling her closer into his embrace.

    Liu Fuping thought Qiu Tu had some ulterior motives at first, so she initially struggled politely, but soon gave up.

    Then, the next second, she felt the barrel of a gun pressed against her waist.

    With one arm, Qiu Tu encircled Liu Fuping tightly in his embrace and with the other hand, he pointed the gun at her.

    Then heid his head on Liu Fuping''s shoulder and asked in a whisper close to her ear, "Sister Liu, have you ever considered that you might be the person I suspect the most?"

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Liu Fuping frozepletely...

 Chapter 65 Launching the Loyalty Game (7k Subscriptions Please!)

    ```

    Seeing this, Qiu Tu became even more certain in his heart. He smiled and asked, "What''s the matter? Is there a problem with my suspicion?"

    In just that one second, Liu Fuping also recovered.

    She obviously wanted to continue pretending, so she twisted in Qiu Tu''s arms and gently pounded his shoulder, coquettishly saying, "Commander, stop teasing~ I''m discussing serious matters with you~"

    Hearing her words, Qiu Tu "haha"ughed twice, then slid his hand holding the gun up from her slender waist, over the profound hollow, her fair neck, all the way to her chin.

    With the muzzle of the gun, he lifted Liu Fuping''s chin and looked into her beautiful eyes, speaking softly,

    "Sister Liu, I''m not messing around either."

    "You might have misunderstood me due to my image all this time. Thinking I''m just a rogue who got into the Interrogation Section through connections."

    "But actually... I do have some skills of my own."

    "Not many, unfortunately... but your w was too big."

    After he finished speaking, Qiu Tu turned off the safety with one hand and asked the final question, "Tell me, Sister Liu, who are you working for? Why did youe to see me tonight?"

    Seeing Qiu Tu was not joking but actually intending to take action against her, Liu Fuping immediately struggled to free herself from Qiu Tu''s restraint.

    The result was that she didn''t realize until she struggled that Qiu Tu''s body was as solid as steel, locking her firmly in ce, unable to move at all.

    Her face didn''t show it, but her body secretly exerted more strength.

    But what was more frightening was that no matter how much strength she used, Qiu Tu seemed to feel nothing and bore it all.

    Liu Fuping was stunned. Although she was not skilled in strength, she was not someone who could be easily restrained by an ordinary man.

    Now, it felt not like she was being held in a man''s arms but was bitten by a great beast!

    The power was so strong it made her despair!

    At this moment, feeling her struggle, Qiu Tuughed as well, "Sister Liu not pretending anymore?"

    Liu Fuping, seeing that she couldn''t get away from Qiu Tu, could only give up struggling.

    But even so, her "professionalism" still made her force a smile and said defiantly, "Commander, I really don''t know what you''re talking about, please let me go...."

    Originally, Liu Fuping had no hope when she said this.

    After all... Qiu Tu''s sudden turnaround tonight had proven her misjudgment about Qiu Tu: the person in front of her was not an ignorant rogue at all, but a hunter lurking in the shadows!

    Who knew, just when she was in despair, Qiu Tu actually let her go....n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    This move threw Liu Fuping off.

    She stood there, her beautiful eyes dazed as she looked at Qiu Tu.

    Seeing this, Qiu Tu, while putting away the gun, asked with a smile, "What''s the matter? Sister Liu, do you miss my embrace?"

    Liu Fuping realized her ownpse. She reached up to adjust her hair, giving Qiu Tu aplex look, and couldn''t help but ask, "Why?"

    Qiu Tu responded casually while leaning on the car,

    "If I''ve seen through your identity, does it matter whether you admit it or not?"

    "We''re all in the same boat, there''s no need to push things to the extreme. Maybe in the future, I''ll fall into your hands and be begging you for mercy."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Liu Fuping silently stared at him.

    After a long moment, she said softly, "I''m not the murderer. I came to you to actually see if you were the murderer."

    "When I told you about the female spy''s death, you didn''t show any surprise, I thought you might really be the murderer."

    "Later, I realized your calmness probably meant you already knew the news."

    "And since you weren''t flustered by my probing, it''s highly likely you''re not the killer."

    "So, for the time being, I''ve excluded you from the list of suspects."

    When she finished, she stepped backward out of Qiu Tu''s attack range.

    Seeing that Qiu Tu really didn''t intend to harm her, she slowly turned around, ready to leave.

    But as she took her first step, she immediately drew it back.

    With her back to Qiu Tu, she said softly, "I can''t let my identity be exposed, so I must find the murderer in advance to avoid this matter affecting me."

    "Sorry about tonight...."

    After that, she didn''t linger, striding away from Old Alley Street.

    Watching the beautiful young woman leaving, the smile on Qiu Tu''s face grew wider.

    Sometimes, controlling a person doesn''t mean you have to force them relentlessly; a bnce of give and take can often achieve the desired result more effectively.

    Look, by simply sparing Liu Fuping for a moment, not only did he immediately gain an ally for the investigation, but he also got a lovely scapegoat...

    The case hadn''t blown up yet, and even if he arrested her, it would only involve his own efforts.

    Better to give her freedom first, let her do some investigating and see if there''s any unexpected gain.

    Even if she doesn''t root out the murderer, he could reveal her identity when the case blows up. By then, she would instantly be a perfect shield, buying a few more days.

    If she runs, she''s the criminal.

    If she doesn''t run, she''s the spare tire scapegoat.

    And once the case is over, well... Madam, you certainly don''t want those above you to find out about your spy identity, do you?

    Qiu Tu felt that no matter how things developed, he could easily maximize her value.

    ''This isn''t a bad move.''

    Just as Qiu Tu was thinking this.

    [Liu Fuping Loyalty +8]

    Qiu Tu paused, thenughed.

    Heh... it''s not just not bad, it''s an overwhelming win....

    ```

 Chapter 66 Harvest - Memory Fragment (4k words)

    Hearing the scream that pierced the entire room, Qiu Tu groggily woke up.

    He slowly opened his eyes and looked over at Shen Lingshuang.

    Then he saw Shen Lingshuang hugging the nket, shrinking at the edge of the bed, staring at him in horror.

    Qiu Tu yawned and asked, "What''s wrong?"

    Shen Lingshuang red at Qiu Tu, "How did you end up in bed with me?"

    Qiu Tu paused for a moment, then innocently pointed around his cramped home, "Where else? There''s only one bed here, and the sofa is so small, I can''t sleep on the floor, can I?"

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Shen Lingshuang stared nkly for a moment, then snorted and turned her head aside, "Well, you brought this on yourself, don''t expect me to take responsibility for you!"

    After saying that, she pulled her pants and walked away.

    Qiu Tu: ??

    Now it was Qiu Tu''s turn to be stunned.

    Wait a minute, did he get up wrong? Why didn''t things feel like how he imagined?

    Thinking along these lines, he paused and then lifted the nket to check; his clothes were intact with no signs of being tampered with.

    He looked up again at Shen Lingshuang, who was heading to the living room. The girl''s ears were a bit red, and herplexion seemed unnatural.

    Qiu Tu... understood.

    She really is a tsundere, isn''t she? Her mouth is definitely tough.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    But... maybe I should tell her that the era of being a tsundere has passed?

    ...

    After silently mocking the situation for a while in his mind, Qiu Tuy back in bed and realized he couldn''t fall asleep again.

    Instead of trying to get some more sleep, he decided to check his gains from the gamest night.

    He called up the panel of the "Loyalty Game" and the first thing that caught Qiu Tu''s eye was a "Game Over" screen.

    In the screen, Ah-Tai''s pixel figure was holding a tiny hammer, with hands on his hips,ughing uproariously towards the sky. Meanwhile, Wang Xi''s pixel figure sat on the ground with a swollen nose and bruised face, crying while clutching his head.

    Along with this image, a package gleaming with golden light appeared in the middle of the screen.

    Seeing this, Qiu Tu knewst night''s game was likely won by Ah-Tai, and that package must be the reward he had earned.

    With this thought, Qiu Tu didn''t dy and mentally clicked on the package.

    The next second, several prompts appeared before him.

    [Victory in Loyalty Game, reward earned.]

    [Wang Xi Loyalty +5]

    [Wang Xi Memory Fragment (Short) +1]

    After reading the game prompts, Qiu Tu''s eyes brightened slightly, feeling the rewards were quite good.

    Not only had he gained some loyalty, but he also obtained a memory fragment.

    If this memory fragment showed the process of Wang Xi''s murder, then Qiu Tu felt he could close the case now.

    Thinking this, he tried clicking on the [Memory Fragment] to see what was inside.

    As he clicked, the next second, Qiu Tu felt a darkness before his eyes, and then he seemed to appear in a small room.

    In the room was a stranger, dressed in a ck suit, with bright red-dyed hair, wearing a clown mask.

    The stranger was holding a shotgun, cleaning it.

    After cleaning it, he tossed the shotgun to "Qiu Tu," then picked up another shotgun, grinned at "Qiu Tu" and said,

    "Tomorrow, we''ll rob the Pharmacy. The n is...you take care of the clerks and customers inside."

    "I''ll handle the security guard and the responding agents."

    The scene went ck again after this. When Qiu Tu came back to his senses, he found himself back in bed.

    Qiu Tu sat on the bed, stunned for a while, then in his mind a myriad of expletives stampeded!

    Damn! The task force I''m in really is full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers!

    Out of four well-known members, one is a double-dealer, one a spy, and another... a hardcore criminal?!

    Qiu Tu recalled the content that appeared in the scene just now, then quickly searched his original memory.

    Soon, he found relevant information.

    Half a month ago, an official Pharmacy on Xiafang Street had been robbed.

    The robbers not only stole hundreds of Silver Yuan worth of medicines and herbs but also brutally killed 2 security guards, 3 clerks, 3 customers, as well as 6 temporary agents and 2 formal agents from the Investigation Bureau, totaling 16 people...

    Because the incident was so serious, the Investigation Bureau received a severe reprimand from the Municipal Committee.

    The Public Security Bureau, where Qin Zhengguang worked, also faced serious disciplinary action within the Investigation Bureau and was demanded to solve the case within a limited time.

    But...in an era without surveince cameras and DNA testing technology, cracking the case wasn''t so easy.

    Moreover, after the robbers killed all the staff and security personnel, they left, leading to arge crowd of onlookers rushing into the store to loot, nearly obliterating all evidence from the scene.

    Therefore, to this day, the case remained unsolved.

    To his surprise... this major case was actually pulled by Wang Xi, the demure and docile Pharmacist?

    With this realization, Qiu Tu was somewhat astonished.

    Indeed, you never know what your colleagues will do after work.

    After silently mocking the situation for a while in his mind, Qiu Tu also quickly analyzed the information revealed by the memory fragment.

    First, it confirmed the contrast in Wang Xi''s identity: a hardcore criminal.

    This identity proved that Wang Xi wasn''t as in and ordinary as he appeared, but rather someone on the fringes of darkness.

    Secondly, Wang Xi seemed to belong to a small group or organization.

    From the images in the memory, he was taking orders from a strange man wearing a clown mask, implying he wasn''t the leader of that small group or organization.

 Chapter 67 Yan Chen is Satisfied +9 (7k for Monthly Tickets!)

    Hearing Yan Chen''s inquiry, Jia Shu obviously hesitated for a moment.

    He adjusted the gold-rimmed sses on the bridge of his nose, then said somewhat ambiguously,

    "Bureau Chief, I think... how that woman died isn''t important. What matters is what her death will bring us."

    As he said this, he paused before adding, "For example, her death could put many people at ease."

    "Despite the Municipal Committee''s harsh criticism of our Investigation Bureau, who knows how many members had a good night''s sleepst night."

    "For our Investigation Bureau, and for you, this is not necessarily a bad thing."

    Upon hearing this, Yan Chen fell into deep thought.

    After quietly pondering for a while, Yan Chen looked up at Jia Shu, his expression half-smiling, "It seems you have quite a few other thoughts about this case?"

    Jia Shu smiled and replied, "Bureau Chief, recent cases have shown me how important a good information surveince system and a city-wide monitoringwork are."

    "And... that is something only Vice President Tian''s side can aplish."

    Yan Chen once again fell into silence, then tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest of his chair before softly saying, "You make the decision on this matter."

    "But we need to close the case. Don''t let it be an unsolved mystery."

    Jia Shu hurriedly bowed slightly with a radiant smile, "Rest assured, Bureau Chief, I''ll handle it."

    After finishing this topic, Jia Shu thought today''s conversation was over. He straightened his back, ready to take his leave.

    But just then, Yan Chen suddenly spoke again.

    He slowly asked, "By the way, the team of Political Department Investigators who were sent to the Qin Family the other day, are they still being held?"

    Possibly not expecting Yan Chen to bring this up suddenly, Jia Shu was taken aback. Then he nodded, "Yes."

    "The team from the Special Service Department has been demoted one rank for their poor performance and sent back to the Special Service Department for retraining."

    "As for the team from the Political Department, I thought it''d be good for them to learn a lesson, so they''ve been kept locked up in the detention room awaiting punishment."

    At this, Yan Chen hummed in acknowledgment before saying, "I think that since Qiu Tu is no longer a suspect, we should still cultivate his talents."

    "He was in charge of that operation and is now the Deputy Head of the Interrogation Section. Let him be responsible for the review and punishment of this team."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Hearing Yan Chen''s words, Jia Shu was stunned for a second, then looked at Yan Chen.

    Yan Chen''s gaze was as still as an ancient well, as if it were just another ordinary arrangement.

    Seeing this, Jia Shu''s face also immediately disyed a brilliant smile, "Understood, Bureau Chief."

    A slight smile appeared on Yan Chen''s face as he then picked up the teacup from the table and took a sip.

    Seeing this, Jia Shu also wisely retreated to the office door, then turned and left...

    Meanwhile.

    Qiu Tu, who was eating soup dumplings with Shen Lingshuang, suddenly saw two prompts sh before his eyes.

    [Yan Chen Suspicion -4, Satisfaction +9]

    [Jia Shu Suspicion -0, Satisfaction +0]

    Qiu Tu, who was biting into a dumpling, briefly froze in his actions, and a question mark slowly appeared over his head: ?

    Then... he waspletely baffled.

    ...

    Shen Lingshuang was indeed a good girl.

    Though somewhat haughty, she was very good at taking care of others, and... she was also diligent.

    While Qiu Tu was in bed checking the rewards fromst night''s "Loyalty Game," she had "pitter-pattered" into the bathroom, pulled up her pants after, and "clomp clomp clomp" went downstairs.

    By the time Qiu Tu had examined his "Loyalty Game" reward and was analyzing information, she had "clomp clomp clomp"e back upstairs with two baskets of soup dumplings, calling Qiu Tu to eat.

    After eating Shen Lingshuang''s dumplings, Qiu Tu washed up briefly, then, with the girl''s help, dressed in his uniform, armed himself, and set off for work.

    The two had an unspoken understanding: one did not ask why you didn''t leave, and the other did not say why she stayed.

    It was only during the meal that Shen Lingshuang returned all the money Qiu Tu had given her the night before.

    Qiu Tu silently pocketed the money, and that was the end of it.

    Before leaving the house, Qiu Tu also gave Shen Lingshuang two reminders.

    The first was to be careful on her own at home and to go directly to the Old Alley Street Public Security Office for help if there were any problems. He had already informed the "Monkey."

    The second was... to stop burning paper offerings and hanging his portrait! He did not want to see such "surprises" a second time!

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s blunt criticism, Shen Lingshuang''s face showed defiance, her pursed lips almost able to hang an oil pot.

    Even after Qiu Tu''s scolding, she still muttered under her breath behind him:

    "It''s still because you didn''te home all night." "Who is a good person and doesn''te home for a whole night?" "Must be hooking up with some woman out there," and other nonsensical mutterings.

    Qiu Tu paid no mind, turned around and gave her a flick on the head, knocking some sense into her, before heading downstairs to drive to work.

    However, after sitting in the car, Qiu Tu did not start it right away, but instead reviewed the two prompts he had received while eating the dumplings:

    [Yan Chen Suspicion -4, Satisfaction +9]

    [Jia Shu Suspicion -0, Satisfaction +0]

    At that moment, Qiu Tu was genuinely puzzled.

    Because he was truly just simply having breakfast and hadn''t done anything else.

    Why Yan Chen decreased his suspicion and increased his satisfaction towards him was aplete mystery to him.

    So, at that time, he said nothing and just quietly finished the meal with Shen Lingshuang.

 Chapter 68 Saving Secretary Bai (7k for follow-up reading!)

    As he thought this, Qiu Tu also came to his senses and replied with a smile, "Thank you for your concern, Director Qin."

    "I''m still getting ustomed to the public service. As for whether I''m used to it or not...?"

    "Well, I can only say that I am a member of the Investigation Bureau, so no matter what tasks my superiors assign to me, I will get used to them."

    Listening to Qiu Tu''s utterly official response, Qin Zhengguang smiled and patted Qiu Tu''s shoulder, "It''s good to have that awareness."

    "However, if you''re not used to it, you can talk to me."

    "If you''re willing, I can go have a chat with the Bureau Chief and transfer you to our Public Security Bureau."

    Hearing Qin Zhengguang''s words, Qiu Tu looked at him seriously to make sure he wasn''t just being polite, then his eyebrows slightly lifted, and he replied with a smile, "Thank you for your concern, Director Qin."

    "If I need to, I will definitely trouble you."

    Qin Zhengguang "hmmed" in response, then gestured to Qiu Tu before they started walking towards the Investigation Bureau building together.

    Meanwhile, as they walked, Qiu Tu wasn''t idle. He nced at Qin Zhengguang walking beside him and tentatively asked, "Director Qin, are you familiar with Vice President Tian?"

    "Vice President Tian?" Upon hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Qin Zhengguang clearly paused for a moment.

    After hesitating briefly, he shook his head smilingly, "I''m not very familiar with Vice President Tian."

    "But my eldest brother, my third brother, and... Fourth Brother have quite a good rtionship with him."

    When mentioning "Fourth Brother," Qin Zhengguang''s expression visibly soured.

    On hearing this, Qiu Tu''s eyebrows slightly furrowed, ''Commissioner Qin, Third Brother Qin, Old Fourth Qin all have good rtions with Vice President Tian?''

    It was normal for a city hallmissioner and a major businessman to be acquainted with Vice President Tian, but why would Old Fourth Qin, a tough guy, have dealings with him?

    At this moment, seeing Qiu Tu ask such a question, Qin Zhengguang curiously countered, "Chief Qiu, why do you ask this? Has something happened to Vice President Tian?"

    Hearing Qin Zhengguang''s question, Qiu Tu recovered his wits and was just about to give a perfunctory reply.

    However, at that moment, a familiar voice called out from behind them, "Qiu Tu?"

    Hearing that call, Qiu Tu, who had been quite rxed, suddenly tensed up.

    Because... that was Secretary Bai''s voice.

    ''Why would I encounter him at a time like this?''

    With that thought, Qiu Tu stealthily swept his gaze over the entire first-floor lobby of the Investigation Bureau building.

    Perhaps because it was during work hours, there were a lot of investigatorsing and going in the lobby.

    Seeing this, Qiu Tu felt slightly stirred: although it wasn''t the most ideal scene, could it be an opportunity to save Old Bai?

    At this time, hearing the voice behind him, Qin Zhengguang also looked back.

    Seeing that it was Secretary Bai, he turned around, smiling as he patted Qiu Tu''s arm, then prepared to leave swiftly.

    But the moment his right foot stepped forward, Qiu Tu suddenly reached out and grabbed him.

    This action left Qin Zhengguang bewildered.

    He stopped walking, surprised, and looked at Qiu Tu, not understanding what Qiu Tu was up to.

    At this moment, Qiu Tu, while holding on to Qin Zhengguang, turned around and saluted the approaching Secretary Bai with a standard gesture, saying in a distant, formal tone, "Good day, sir!"

    Seeing Qiu Tu''s action, Secretary Bai was slightly taken aback as well, and his pace involuntarily slowed down, his gaze flickering.

    At that moment, Qin Zhengguang standing next to Qiu Tu was alreadypletely dumbfounded.

    In the Investigation Bureau with so many senior staff, who didn''t know that Qiu Tu was brought up by Secretary Bai''s own hand?

    It was because of Secretary Bai''s rmendation that Qiu Tu managed to catch Yan Chen''s eye, be put to good use, and step by step reach his current position.

    Therefore, Secretary Bai could be said to have been the benefactor who recognized Qiu Tu''s potential. And thebel of being part of Secretary Bai''s loyalists had long been stamped upon him.

    Yet now, Qiu Tu was being so cold to Secretary Bai?

    There must be something fishy going on!

    At this moment, Qin Zhengguang felt as if he had wandered into a "Melon Field," looking back and forth between Qiu Tu and Secretary Bai, his heart filled with curiosity...

    But at that time, Qiu Tu did not give Qin Zhengguang the chance to continue "watching the show."

    After asking and receiving a response, his expression cooled. Then he nodded slightly to Secretary Bai, turned around pulling Qin Zhengguang, and walked away.

    Qin Zhengguang was reluctant to leave, but... he had to. So he smiled at Secretary Bai, and then was pulled by Qiu Tu into the elevator.

    The two men stood inside the elevator, while Secretary Bai stood outside.

    Qiu Tu and Secretary Bai looked at each other across the space.

    Taking advantage of the moment when Qin Zhengguang was not paying attention, Qiu Tu''s head moved slightly left and right.

    Because he was in the elevator, the outside investigators couldn''t see him ¨C only Secretary Bai, who was directly in front of him, saw the movement.

    Secretary Bai''s brow furrowed slightly, as if he had thought of something.

    The elevator doors slowly closed...

    And just as they were about to close, Secretary Bai''s expression subtly changed, he cast a resentful nce at Qiu Tu and then spat on the ground, muttering under his breath, "What a thing! Ungrateful! Doesn''t know when he''s well off!"

    Apanying that mutter, the elevator doors sealed shut, as if severing the inside world from the outside.

    And faintly hearing Secretary Bai''s response, Qiu Tu alsopletely rxed; he still had an understanding with Old Bai...

    As the elevator ascended slowly, Qin Zhengguang scanned Qiu Tu multiple times throughout the ride and finally couldn''t help himself, "Chief Qiu and Secretary Bai...?"

    Hearing Qin Zhengguang''s words, Qiu Tu pretended to just snap back to reality, then he ''oh''-ed, smiling hastily as he said, "There''s nothing between us. All normal. Director Qin misunderstood."

    At that moment, the elevator doors opened, reaching the 5th floor, which was the office level of the Public Security Bureau.

    Qin Zhengguang''s face revealed an "I''ve seen through it all" expression, smiling as he patted Qiu Tu and teased, "I haven''t even said anything yet. How do you know I misunderstood?"

    After saying that, heughed ''haha'' twice, with the smile of a victor, and stepped out of the elevator.

    And behind him, an expression of chagrin involuntarily appeared on Qiu Tu''s face, as if Qin Zhengguang really had seen through him.

    Only when Qin Zhengguang''s figure hadpletely vanished did his expression slowly return to normal, and his eyes started to yfully twinkle.

    Every good show needs an audience, and Qin Zhengguang was clearly a qualified one.

    With his preconceived notions, the incident of his conflict with Secretary Bai would likely spread throughout the Investigation Bureau quickly.

    Moreover, with so many investigatorsing and going in the lobby just before, there would certainly be some who noticed the abnormality between himself and Secretary Bai. They would add fuel to the fire as the topic spread.

    So, he believed it wouldn''t take long for this matter to reach the ears of Jia Shu and Yan Chen.

    He and Secretary Bai had a very good rtionship just yesterday. And now, they''re suddenly at odds this morning?

    Under these circumstances, they would easily suspect that the conflict with Secretary Bai might have something to do with the phone callst night.

    If Secretary Bai had been tipping him off, there would be no reason for them to fall out.

    Therefore, the call from Secretary Baist night was most likely about something else.

    With this preconception in ce, handling the rest with Secretary Bai would be easy.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    He just needed toe up with some lie about their conflict when it was appropriate, such as when Yan Chen asked, and he could use that opportunity to clear a lot of suspicions.

    And even if there weren''t a good opportunity to exin, as long as the fake news reached Yan Chen and Jia Shu''s ears, it would influence their judgment regarding Secretary Bai''s potential betrayal.

    Even if, retreating ten thousand steps, Qiu Tu had guessed everything about the true nature of the incident wrong, andst night wasn''t a scheme,

    It was beneficial for Qiu Tu, enmeshed in a great vortex, to keep his distance from Secretary Bai for Secretary Bai''s own good as well.

    With these thoughts, Qiu Tu felt that he had truly invested a lot of care for both himself and Secretary Bai...

    ''Old Bai, I''ve done all I could. The rest is up to you...''

    Thinking thus, the elevator doors closed slowly, and then it continued its ascent.

    Soon, he arrived at the 9th floor.

    Qiu Tu got off the elevator and headed towards the office area of the Interrogation Section.

    On his way, Qiu Tu was not idle; he kept a discreet watch on the Political Department Investigatorsing and going.

    Just as he had surmised, the whole Political Department was not busier than usual because of the female spy''s death; everything was as orderly as in the days before.

    This showed that the information was indeed being contained, only leaking out quietly through a few hidden channels.

    This was indeed very consistent with the theory of a "trap."

    While thinking this, Qiu Tu also reached the Interrogation Section.

    But as soon as he arrived, his subordinate Song Qing found him.

    Saluting Qiu Tu, Song Qing reported respectfully, "Chief, the Commissioner wants to see you."

    Qiu Tu nced at Song Qing''s "Loyalty."

    After yesterday''s "strike deration," Song Qing''s Loyalty finally exceeded 30, reaching 31 points.

    This indicated that she now saw him as a normal superior, without the inclination to "resist orders" or "speak ill behind his back."

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu also probed with a question, "What does the Commissioner want to discuss with me?"

    Indeed, the loyal Song Qing hesitated briefly but still whispered a piece of news to Qiu Tu, "It seems he wants to talk to you about Cao Dabiao and his issues."

    ----

    We''ve started a new reader group for our book, hah. Reader group number: 486883284 (5 groups of regr book friends).

    You can also join the group directly by clicking on the link in the author''s message.

    Those interested can consider joining.

 Chapter 69 Sugar-Coated Cannonballs (7k words for Monthly Ticket!)

    Upon hearing Song Qing''s words, Qiu Tu was stunned for a moment.

    ''Cao Dabiao?''

    ''The First Level Detective from the Political Department who was tricked by me to take the fall for the Qin Family?''

    Qiu Tu was taken aback,

    ''So...is it about the issue with the Political Department team stationed at the Qin Family?''

    With this thought, Qiu Tu''s gaze flickered slightly, and he roughly had a guess in his mind.

    The art of controlling subordinates changes endlessly but never strays from its root: it''s all about the stick and the carrot.

    Previously, the "sticks" given to me were more than enough; now, are they preparing the carrot?

    Combining the increased satisfaction from Yan Chen this morning, Qiu Tu felt his guess was very close to the truth.

    At this moment, as Qiu Tu silently pondered, Song Qing was curiously sizing up Qiu Tu by her side.

    After a moment, when Qiu Tu came back to his senses, Song Qing asked curiously, "Chief, do you already know what''s going on?"

    Upon hearing her, Qiu Tu looked at her and said with a smile, "I have a rough idea."

    "It''s probably about conducting an internal review of Cao Dabiao and his team. After all, I''ve once been their superior."

    "If that''s the case, the minister''s attitude might be to let them off."

    "They''re really lucky."

    At Qiu Tu''s words, Song Qing couldn''t help but show a trace of surprise on her face.

    She found it quite magical.

    The young chief before her seemed to have many facets: there was the image of the Profligate Son who teased his subordinates, the image of the warrior who dared to challenge his superiors, and the clever image of a strategist who nned with cleverness...

    Song Qing''s perception of Qiu Tu had changed a lot, perhaps influenced by Qiu Tu''s confrontation with Zheng Tao yesterday.

    Qiu Tu, with his keen awareness, noticed the change in Song Qing''s attitude toward him, so on the way to see Jia Shu, he kept busy.

    He recalled the reason for Song Qing''s increase in loyalty yesterday and then chose a simr entry point.

    "Is our Interrogation Section always this busy?"

    Qiu Tu might have really found Song Qing''s switch.

    Upon hearing Qiu Tu''s question, Song Qing immediately opened up and started a torrent ofints.

    Qiu Tu listened quietly by the side, asionally joining in theint, providing some emotional value.

    So, in just a short two-minute walk, Song Qing''s look at Qiu Tu had alreadypletely changed, almost considering Qiu Tu a confidant.

    And Qiu Tu also received the feedback he wanted:

    [Song Qing''s loyalty +11. Current loyalty: 42.]

    Seeing how rapidly he was closing the distance with Song Qing, Qiu Tu''s lips curled into a slight smile.

    ''Sure enough, young girls are easy to deceive.''

    [108 Ways to Boost Affection] No 41: Women are emotional creatures. Being a listener at the right time and joining theirints can quickly close the distance between two people.

    So, a bad man must learn how to bring out a girl''s topics and listen. If you can turn on her switch, then the other switches... will be much easier to turn on as well.

    Having conversed all the way, Song Qing seemed a bit reluctant to end the conversation, but they had reached the ce where Jia Shu was waiting to meet with Qiu Tu, so she had to stop there.

    Her eyes twinkling, she looked at Qiu Tu and said, "Chief, I didn''t expect us to have so much inmon, I hope we can talk more in the future."

    Qiu Tu, smiling, replied, "You cane to me anytime you have any issues. Let''smunicate more."

    Song Qing gave a cute "Mhm" and then pointed to the Sky Garden not far off, saying, "Chief, the minister is waiting for you at the Sky Garden."

    Upon hearing her, Qiu Tu nodded slightly, said a polite "Thank you," and then stepped towards the Sky Garden.

    Walking onto the rooftop, Jia Shu indeed stood at the edge of the Sky Garden, hands behind his back, gazing at the scene of Xinjie City where much needed to be done.

    Maybe having heard Qiu Tu''s footsteps, he did not turn around but continued looking at the scenery while saying with augh, "If you find that you get along with a stranger no matter what you talk about, you must be careful."

    "Because more likely than not, they aren''t trulypatible with you but have knowledge, experience, emotional intelligence, and IQ far above yours."

    With that, he turned around, his expression mockingly smiling, and looked at Qiu Tu, "Don''t you agree, Chief Qiu?"

    Knowing that Jia Shu was hinting at his overpowering treatment of Song Qing, Qiu Tu merely smiled nomittally, "Communicating more with subordinates and listening to their opinions about the department is my responsibility as a chief."

    Jia Shu watched Qiu Tu, and Qiu Tu also just quietly looked back at him.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    After a moment, the smile on Jia Shu''s face became incredibly radiant.

    He turned back to continue gazing at the distant scenery and then inquired, "Do you still remember where this ce is, Chief Qiu?"

    Qiu Tu paused, his gaze sweeping over the Sky Garden.

    Jia Shu continued, "Don''t remember?"

    Qiu Tu quickly searched through the memories of his predecessor but... came up empty.

    So he could only respond with an evasiveugh, "I really don''t seem to have any impression..."

    Upon hearing that, Jia Shu chuckled lightly, "That''s right. You should have no memory because this is your first time here."

    Qiu Tu was filled with question marks: ??

    What''s wrong with you?

    It''s my first time here, and you make all this fuss, scaring me! I thought my time-traveling secret was going to be exposed!

    Jia Shu, oblivious to Qiu Tu''s internal monologue, continued gazing at Xinjie City with his back to Qiu Tu, and kept speaking, "This is the Sky Garden, where only chiefs and above middle-level officers are allowed."

    "Here, you can enjoy tea and desserts while looking down at the whole Xinjie City."

    "You can also have a waiter clean your uniform, prepare dinner, or even buy you anything you want."

    With that, Jia Shu turned around and motioned with a wave of his hand. Immediately, a young and beautiful female server approached to hand him a cup of coffee.

 Chapter 70 The Agents Were All Stunned (7k Request for Follow-up Reading!)

    However, upon hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Jia Shu just smiled and said something rather inexplicable, "It doesn''t matter, even if they don''t trust you now, they will soon rely on you heavily."

    Qiu Tu always felt there was a deeper meaning to Jia Shu''s words, as if there were some problems within the Security Department. But because of his position, he couldn''t inquire further, so he had no choice but to let it go.

    And so, after discussing all the matters, Qiu Tu and Jia Shu had a brief chat before Qiu Tu saluted and left the Sky Garden.

    After leaving the Sky Garden, Qiu Tu held the two Authorization Letters from Jia Shu, and as he walked towards the Interrogation Section, he pondered his next steps.

    ording to the hints provided by "Crisis Intuition," this case was riddled with a great deal of insider dealings, and various forces were involved, likely with misaligned targets and interests.

    Take Jia Shu, for example...

    Given the implications of Jia Shu''s words, it was clear he wanted Qiu Tu to make the case appear fraudulent, to deal with it perfunctorily.

    But... Qiu Tu definitely couldn''t justply with his wishes.

    Otherwise, who knows, he might end up being thrown out as a scapegoat!

    Therefore, he must investigate this case personally, or at the very least... he had to make some noise about it!

    Investigating required manpower, and so did making noise. Right now, he had only a few individuals at his disposal, so the first step was to release Cao Dabiao and his group.

    Thinking along these lines, Qiu Tu couldn''t help but contemte how to release Cao Dabiao and his people, while also taking this opportunity to maximize their loyalty...

    Gradually, Qiu Tu had a n forming in his mind...

    [10 Days (Yin Caimei case closure time)]

    ....

    Meanwhile.

    In arge holding room on the 9th floor of the Political Department.

    Cao Dabiao and another 13 detectives were inside.

    Since they were their own people and not real criminals, the guards did not mistreat them. Therefore, their physical condition was fairly good, but their spirits were greatly tormented.

    After a prolonged silence...

    Little Liu, a confidant of Cao Dabiao, nudged him and then whispered, "Brother Biao, will we be able to get out of here?"

    "It''s been several days already."

    "Why has no one cared about us?"

    "Could we be directly kicked out of the Investigation Bureau?"

    Upon hearing Little Liu''s words, Cao Dabiao looked up at him with a re and said hoarsely, "What a jinx!"

    "If you can''t talk properly, then don''t talk at all, no one''s treating you like a mute!"

    Little Qi on the other side of Cao Dabiao looked up upon hearing this and sighed, "If we were only getting kicked out of the Investigation Bureau that would still be fine."

    "We''ve lost the Bureau Chief''s mistress, and during the investigation, such a big event urred with the Qin family."

    "The Minister sparing us is only because we are their own people."

    Cao Dabiao didn''t expect that just as he had silenced Little Liu, Little Qi would speak up, mentioning the sensitive topic of the mistress.

    He pped Little Qi on the head with a "smack", "You talk too much! Do you have a death wish?"

    However, perhaps because they had been locked up in the Guard Room for two whole days, the atmosphere inside seemed like it was losing control.

    Little Liu and Little Qi, Cao Dabiao''s confidants, were hushed by Cao Dabiao, but the other regr detectives also started to grumble quietly among themselves.

    There were variousints.

    For instance...

    "We really got the short end of the stick. We didn''t do anything, yet suddenly such a big problem arises, and we immediately be the scapegoats."

    "Yeah. We are truly wronged. Who could have known something like this would happen?"

    "If you ask me, this is all Qiu Tu''s fault. If he hadn''t suddenly started investigating the Qin family, drawing us in, perhaps we wouldn''t have been so unlucky. And now he''s gone, while we all got into trouble."

    As soon as this detective voiced hisint, the atmosphere in the Guard Room became tense.

    In the face of unexpected "man-made disasters," most normal people''s first reaction is to look for external outlets to vent their frustration, to ease their internal distress. This is human nature.

    And Qiu Tu, the person who had called everyone over, naturally became the most easily targeted outlet for venting.

    But one should not forget that Qiu Tu was not the same as before.

    Even though Qiu Tu was nominally their superior, he was, in fact, just like them, a lower-level detective.

    But now Qiu Tu is a Deputy Staff, a leap into the mid-level ranks of the Investigation Bureau, with open channels for advancement and limitless potential for growth.

    In this situation, these detectives, bearing the guilt, how could they dare to offend Qiu Tu.

    Therefore, even if they wanted to curse at Qiu Tu, the most they could do was curse in their hearts; they wouldn''t dare to speak out loud.

    After all, who knew if these words would reach Qiu Tu''s ears and bring even bigger troubles.

    So, when they heard that fearless remark from the detective, everyone suddenly fell silent, and no one dared to join in.

    A moment passed before the deputy team leader, Chen Feng, spoke up. His face showed no emotion as he said, "This isn''t Chief Qiu''s fault."

    "He didn''t know this would happen."

    "It''s just our own bad luck."

    After he finished speaking, the guard room became quiet again. Although the investigators stopped talking, their expressions varied widely.

    At that point, Cao Dabiao also spoke up. With his arms crossed and leaning against the wall, he said in a muffled voice, "He indeed couldn''t have known in advance that this would happen, but... he must have found out after the fact, right?"

    "It was because of him that we all got dragged into this, and we''ve been subordinates to them for several days. Back then, he acted like he was our brother. Now, if he cared at all, he should try to find some way to save us."

    His words clearly resonated with many investigators. A significant number nodded slightly, their faces betraying their disgruntlement. Some even had reddened eyes as they reflected on their uncertain futures.

    But there were a few investigators, like Chen Feng, who showed no reaction and simply sat there with cold expressions.

    For a moment, every person in the guard room sat with varying expressions, lost in their emotions.

    Just then, the sound of unlocking the door suddenly came from the entrance.

    Upon hearing this, the investigators in the guard room quickly straightened up and looked towards the door, their hearts pounding with anxiety.

    They had been locked up here for two days and nights. Although food and water were delivered on time, not a single person hade to see them. This had left them restless for two days.

    Now, finally someone hade to see them. Regardless of whether the oue was good or bad, at least they no longer had to endure the agony.

    As these thoughts raced through their minds, the door to the guard room opened.

    A beautiful young woman with two gold stars on her shoulder stepped into the room, escorted by a guard investigator.

    Upon entering the guard room, the young woman held her nose and fanned the air distastefully, saying, "Yuck, it stinks."

    The investigators inside blushed slightly, feeling ufortable.

    After making her remark, the young woman looked around at all the troubled investigators in the room, confirmed the headcount, and then took out a document, announcing, "I am Second-ss Investigator Liu Fuping from the Interrogation Section, under orders from my superiors I am here to take you for an internal investigation."

    "Now, when I call your name, step out and line up. Follow me."

    With that, Liu Fuping began calling out names from the list, "Cao Dabiao."

    "Present!" Cao Dabiao quickly got up and hurried over to Liu Fuping.

    When he arrived in front of Liu Fuping, he showed a sycophantic smile and bent over as he greeted, "Hello, Officer, sorry to trouble you."

    He was a First Level Detective, addressing Liu Fuping, a Second-ss Investigator, as an officer ¨C a distinction that made Liu Fuping nce at him in surprise.

    "Chen Feng."

    Chen Feng stood up without expression from his spot in the corner and stood behind Cao Dabiao.

    "Ding Liu, Ding Qi!"

    As names were called out one by one, it wasn''t long before all 13 investigators stood in a line.

    After confirming the headcount, Liu Fuping gestured with her hand, then, swaying her hips, she left the guard room.

    Outside the guard room, six Operational Group investigators with live ammunition stood at the ready, handcuffing the investigators as they walked out, including Cao Dabiao.

    Thus, led by Liu Fuping and escorted by the six Operational Group investigators, Cao Dabiao and the rest arrived at arge interrogation room.

    To everyone''s surprise, this interrogation did not seem to be the usual individual interrogation, but a collective one.

    Cao Dabiao and the others entered therge interrogation room one after another, then stood in line against the wall with their handcuffs on.

    The braver among them stole nces at the interrogation personnel, noticing there were three seats for interrogators.

    Only the leftmost seat was upied, by a young girl, who judging by her shoulder insignia, was a Third-Level Detective, presumably the recorder, given the pen and paperwork in her hands.

    As for the other two seats, they remained empty for now.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Seeing this, the investigators couldn''t help feeling apprehensive.

    Their mission had indeed encountered serious issues. But as they were unforeseen circumstances, they could be excused, so the punishment could be severe or lenient, all dependent on the Interrogation Officer''s handling and sentencing.

    As a result, the attitude of the Interrogation Officer would determine their fate.

    With these thoughts in mind, the investigators all lowered their heads, standing straight in hopes of making a good impression on the soon-to-arrive Interrogation Officer and to possibly sway their fortunes.

    And just as everyone was wrapped in their uneasy thoughts, the interrogation room''s door was opened by someone from the outside, and two people stepped in.

    Before the investigators could react, the young female detective quickly stood up and saluted, saying, "Hello, Officer!"

    Hearing this, Cao Dabiao and the others discreetly lifted their gaze, eager to see who hade to interrogate them.

    The first person they saw was the young woman who had brought them here. Her hair was slightly disheveled, her cheeks were flushed, and a shimmer of moisture was in her eyes as if she had just been through something.

    Trailing behind her, the Interrogation Officer in charge of their fates was... Qiu Tu, smiling.

    The moment they saw Qiu Tu, Cao Dabiao and the others'' eyes widened.

    In that instant, they felt as though they were seeing their savior.

    Joy swirled within their chests.

    ---

 Chapter 71 Soaring Loyalty (7k for follow-up reading!)

    Qiu Tu looked at Cao Dabiao, Chen Feng, and their wide eyes, barely restrained yet still upturned lips, and smiled faintly.

    That was exactly the effect he wanted.

    Only when these detectives had given up all hope and could only pray that the interrogator would let them off easy, and then he made his entrance, could he elevate his status in their hearts to the highest degree and rapidly increase their loyalty.

    For this moment, Qiu Tu had even specifically reminded Liu Fuping to omit his name when announcing the order for the interrogation.

    And now, didn''t the effect seem quite good?

    Thinking thus, Qiu Tu walked to the interrogation seat, sat down in the center position, and calmly swept his gaze over all the detectives present, capturing all their loyalty levels in his mind.

    [Cao Dabiao: 23+8]

    [Chen Feng: 42+6]

    [Ding Xiaoliu: 29+6]

    [Ding Xiaoqi: 13+6]

    [Zhu Huoyan: 31+5]

    [....]

    The numbers in front represent the detective''s loyalty levels before seeing Qiu Tu, while the numbers following represent the instant increase in their loyalty after Qiu Tu made his appearance.

    Generally speaking, most detectives'' original loyalty levels were not high. Apart from Chen Feng, whose loyalty exceeded 40 points, and three detectives like Zhu Huoyan who were over 30 points, most detectives had loyalty levels in the 20-30 range.

    This was within Qiu Tu''s expectations.

    After all, he had only been their superior for two days, there wasn''t much emotional connection, and he had also dragged them into the mess that was the Qin Family.

    Now that he was no longer their superior, there was no superior-subordinate rtionship, and it was good enough that they didn''t hate him. Hence, it was quite normal for their loyalty to drop below 30 after just two days.

    Qiu Tu spected: their loyalty didn''t drop below 20 probably because he had given them benefits before.

    Therefore,pared to the original loyalty levels, what Qiu Tu was more concerned about was the increase in their loyalty.

    An appearance that increased loyalty by 5-8 points let Qiu Tu know that his n was working.

    He felt that as long as he made an effort, by manipting their perceptions a few more times during the interrogation, he could swiftly raise their loyalty to a new level.

    With this in mind, Qiu Tu continued to execute his n.

    He tapped on Liu Fuping''s desk. The beautiful young woman gathered her hair, stood up understandingly, and then began to read out the document.

    The content of the document was simple; it listed the mistakes made by Cao Dabiao and others during the mission.

    These included not protecting the key person (Qin Shuman) safely, allowing an important suspect (Shen Lingshuang) to escape, failing the tasks assigned by superiors (obtaining evidence of the Qin Family''s crimes), embezzlement of public funds, among others...

    The more these charges were read out, the weirder the expressions of Cao Dabiao and others became.

    They couldn''t help feeling strange because although these charges were indeed rted to them... it appeared that most were led by Qiu Tu himself, who was sitting in the center of the interrogation podium.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    And now, Qiu Tu sat at the interrogation podium, while they wore handcuffs?

    How could such a sharp contrast not make Cao Dabiao and the others feel bizarre?

    Of course, it was this very contrast that once again made Cao Dabiao "recognize" Qiu Tu''s background and power.

    After so many incidents, Qiu Tu was safe and sound, even in a position to interrogate them, he really was as favored by the Bureau Chief as he said.

    So, when Liu Fuping finished reading the charges and Qiu Tu slowly began to speak, they listened with utmost attention.

    That was when they heard Qiu Tu slowly say, "We''re all acquainted here, so I won''t beat around the bush."

    "Actually, I wasn''t initially in charge of this interrogation."

    "After all, I was involved in the mission, had been your superior, and should, by rights, recuse myself."

    "But then again... it''s precisely because I participated in the mission and understand everyone''s situation that I am the best candidate to preside over this case."

    "Therefore, I specifically went to the Bureau Chief and the Minister, and took over this internal review."

    Upon saying that, Qiu Tu tapped Song Qing, who was writing vigorously, and coughed, "Don''t record what I just said."

    Upon hearing this, Song Qing paused for a moment, then tore off the half page of interrogation transcript she had just written, crumpled it into a ball, and threw it into the trash can.

    With a simple statement andmand, Qiu Tu immediately left a deep impression on the group of detectives below.

    Those who had worked with him on a case knew that Qiu Tu was showcasing his power and giving them a tap on the shoulder as a warning.

    Qiu Tu not only told them that he had the support of Yan Chen and Jia Shu behind him but also demonstrated with a simplemand that he could freely alter the records of the interrogation and decide their fate.

    Thus, all at once, before Qiu Tu, rose another wave of prompts indicating an increase in [loyalty].

    Qiu Tu nced at them nonchntly and then began the formal proceedings.

    His gaze turned first to Cao Dabiao.

    "Cao Dabiao," he called out.

    Hearing his name from Qiu Tu, Cao Dabiao quickly put on an ingratiating face and stepped forward, "Here, Chief. I''m here."

    Qiu Tu looked down at the document in his hand and then said, "As a First Level Detective, you were the operational leader of this mission, as well as the leader of the Security Team."

    "Regarding your failure to protect key personnel, letting suspects escape, and embezzling public funds¡ªdo you have anything to say in your defense?"

    Upon hearing Qiu Tu''s question, Cao Dabiao was momentarily stunned.

    To be honest, he indeed had a lot of grievances he wanted to dispute.

    For example, about letting suspects escape...

    He could swear to heaven! He never even saw the suspect, okay?!

    Qiu Tu did not hand it over to him during the transfer.

    It was only after he was arrested that he learned there was even a suspect within the Security Team.

    For instance, embezzling public funds. He indeed... embezzled a bit, um... some. But out of the 500 Silver Yuan of public funds, most were taken away by Qiu Tu. He only took 100 Silver Yuan.

    If someone else were conducting the trial, he might hesitate and speak out. But now that Qiu Tu is overseeing the trial, can he say it?

    He cannot...

    He knows that even if he truly drags Qiu Tu down with him, it won''t save himself; it would only offend Qiu Tu. So, it''s better to take all the me, leave a good impression on Qiu Tu, and perhaps Qiu Tu might remember their former rtionship and give him a hand.

    Thinking this, he gritted his teeth and managed a forced smile, saying, "I admit it, Chief."

    [Cao Dabiao Loyalty +6]

    Hearing his words and seeing the prompt that appeared before him, Qiu Tu knew exactly what Cao Dabiao was thinking: He was starting to ce his bets on him.

    Therefore, Qiu Tu looked deeply at him and smiled, "Detective Cao, won''t you think it over?"

    "Are you sure it was you who let the suspect escape? The public funds, you embezzled them?"

    Cao Dabiao was startled.

    Looking at Qiu Tu''s mocking smile, a wave of silentints rose in his heart.

    He was convinced that Qiu Tu was testing whether he would truly not betray Qiu Tu; so, he bit his lip again and said, "Chief, it truly was me!"

    A look of disappointment crossed Qiu Tu''s face. He knocked on Song Qing''s record book again, asking her to stop.

    Then he said to Cao Dabiao, "Detective Cao, don''t feel pressured. This is just a normal internal investigation."

    "Let me share my thoughts first."

    He drank some water and said indifferently, "As members of the Security Team and the task force, your failure to aplish the task given by the department is indeed very disappointing."

    "But nobody expected the Qin Family to suffer such a disaster on that day."

    "Master Qin Si set fire to the main house, throwing the entire Qin Family into chaos."

    "You all realized something was wrong and hurried to protect Miss Shuman."

    "Only to find upon arriving at Miss Shuman''s residence, the detectives from the Special Service Department were knocked out and Miss Qin Shuman was taken away."

    "You followed the clues, intending to rescue her. But unexpectedly, you fell for a diversion tactic, and not only did you fail to rescue Miss Shuman, but your station was even attacked in the process."

    "You are indeed greatly negligent in this matter, but it is understandable."

    Hearing Qiu Tu recount the course of the case, the detectives present began to see new hope in their eyes.

    If Qiu Tu''s arrival had given them hope a moment ago, they now seemed to see the first light of dawn!

    At this moment, Cao Dabiao''s heart was filled with surprise, and he kept nodding, "Ah, yes, yes, you''re right, Chief!"

    [Cao Dabiao Loyalty +2]

    Upon hearing these words, Qiu Tu''s expression changed, and he scolded, "What do you mean by saying I''m right?"

    "What did I say?!"

    "Cao Dabiao! I warn you, don''t talk nonsense here!"

    Qiu Tu''s sudden change of demeanor startled Cao Dabiao, but he also quickly realized his improper wording could not only fail to save himself but also add to the evidence against him.

    Therefore, he hastily said, "Chief, I''m sorry, I misspoke. I''ve finally remembered what happened that day."

    [Cao Dabiao Loyalty +3]

    Seeing he understood his intention, Qiu Tu knocked on Song Qing''s hand and gave her a sign.

    Song Qing rolled her eyes and once more tore up the interrogation record just taken.

    Then while crumpling the record into a ball, she said to Cao Dabiao with annoyance, "Make sure you think it through this time before speaking! I''m tired of taking notes constantly!"

    Cao Dabiao hurriedly offered Song Qing an apologetic smile, nodding and bowing.

    Following Qiu Tu''s guidance, the record-taking went very smoothly.

    All the detectives insisted that the incident urred suddenly, and they were toote to respond, leading to all the subsequent consequences.

    After the records were taken, Qiu Tu flipped through the pages of the file, then casually pulled out a few records, saying, "Ding Xiaoqi, Shi Zhang, Su Yun, the three of your records are wrong."

    "I remember Cao Dabiao saying that you two were on duty at the station guarding the suspect and the petty cash."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Ding Xiaoqi, Shi Zhang, and Su Yun were all stunned.

    They were not fools.

    ording to the previous records, they were at most guilty of negligence, but now being specified as the guards of the suspect and petty cash meant dereliction of duty, facing harsher punishment.

    But before they could refute,

    Qiu Tu pulled out several more records and said, "And Chen Feng, Zhu Huoyan, Li Xian, Jiao Ming, weren''t you all dispatched to investigate a case that day?"

    "How did you end up going to rescue Miss Shuman?"

    "Make the corrections, all of you correct it."

    If it had only been Ding Xiaoqi, Shi Zhang, and Su Yun''s records being altered for the worse, many detectives might not have thought too much of it.

    But when the records of Chen Feng and others were directly changed toward exoneration, many detectives started to sense something was amiss.

    They looked at each other, then reflected on the situation, only to suddenly realize... Chen Feng, Zhu Huoyan, and the others seemed to be the ones who had been speaking up for Qiu Tu in the Guard Room these past few days.

 Chapter 72 Grateful Detective (7k for follow-up reads!)

    Yet Ding Xiaoqi, Shi Zhang, and Su Yun were dissatisfied with Qiu Tu, among those who had mocked him.

    With this in mind, they couldn''t help but look towards Qiu Tu. And then... they saw the calm and deep eyes of Qiu Tu, serene as the depths of the sea, as if he could see through people''s hearts...

    In that moment, a chill ran down the spine of all the investigators. Sweat formed on the foreheads of Ding Xiaoqi, Shi Zhang, Su Yun, and the others.

    At this moment, Qiu Tu also spoke indifferently, "If there is anything incorrect in the record, everyone is free to mention it."

    "The great fire at the Qin family only burned for two days, and most of the traces can still be clearly investigated."

    "If the testimonies of everyone here do not match up, I can apply to the higher-ups for permission to conduct an investigation in the Qin family residence."

    Hearing the threatening undertone in Qiu Tu''s words, Ding Xiaoqi, Shi Zhang, and the others no longer misunderstood Qiu Tu''s intentions.

    Right now, Qiu Tu only knew that they held dissatisfaction towards him, so he was giving them a warning.

    But if one were to not ept this goodwill gesture, Qiu Tu would directly determine their guilt.

    At that moment, the three of them hurriedly said, "No problem, Chief."

    [Ding Xiaoqi, Shi Zhang, Su Yun, Loyalty +8]

    [Chen Feng, Zhu Huoyan, Li Xian, Jiao Ming, Loyalty +10]

    The loyalty of the other investigators also changed differently.

    Once everyone''s guilt was determined, the next steps were to sign and fingerprint the documents.

    As each name was signed and each fingerprint was pressed, the entire interrogation finally concluded.

    After collecting the interrogation records, Qiu Tu slowly said to the 13 investigators, "Everyone can rest assured, with your testimonies and the traces left at the scene, the results of everyone''s review wille out quickly."

    "By then, we should all still be colleagues."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s decisive words, the investigators present could no longer contain the joy in their hearts, each of them looking at Qiu Tu excitedly.

    They had waited so many days, agonizing for so long. They had cooperated with Qiu Tu precisely for this oue, hadn''t they?

    In today''s Xinjie City, to be a formal investigator, especially a political investigator, was to have a truly formidable presence.

    Not only was the sry generous, but one could also protect family, neighbors. They could walk with their backs straight and heads held high.

    Therefore, having worked so hard to be investigators, how could they bear to take off their uniforms?

    Seeing the excitement among the investigators, Qiu Tu smiled and asked in a timely manner, "I have a case to work on next. Would any of you be interested?"

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, the group of investigators, freshly favored by Qiu Tu''s benevolence, eagerly raised their hands in unison, "Chief! I can!" "Chief! Count me in!" "Chief, I want to continue working on cases under you!"

    Even the reserved Chen Feng slowly raised his hand with a determined gaze.

    Seeing this, Qiu Tu also said with a smile, "Alright, I''ll take note of everyone''s names then."

    "See you this afternoon."

    Having said that, Qiu Tu turned to Liu Fuping and said, "Let the operations teame to take them back."

    Upon hearing this, Liu Fuping gave him a coquettish roll of her eyes and then got up, swaying her hips as she went to find the operations team''s investigators.

    Thus, the 13 investigators, lined up in a queue, were once again led away from the interrogation room.

    However, just as Cao Dabiao, thest in line, was about to leave the interrogation room, Qiu Tu suddenly called out to him, "Big Biao, wait a moment."

    Cao Dabiao stopped in his tracks, looking bewilderedly at Qiu Tu.

    When everyone else had left and only Cao Dabiao was left in the room, Qiu Tu lit a cigarette and quietly smoked as he looked at Cao Dabiao.

    At first, Cao Dabiao was bewildered as he watched Qiu Tu, but slowly, the sweat on his forehead began to umte, clearly guessing why Qiu Tu had kept him back.

    Seeing this, Qiu Tu finally stopped beating around the bush. He flicked the ash off his cigarette and said softly, "I''ve heard that these past days, you''ve had some grievances about me?"

    At that moment, Cao Dabiao''s legs went weak, and he almost knelt to the ground.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Bowing, he said to Qiu Tu with an awkwardugh, "Chi-Chief, what I said was unintentional."

    "Please be magnanimous and don''t take it to heart."

    Qiu Tu smiled and said indifferently, "But you were in charge of the operation this time, with much responsibility. There is too much guilt associated with it. I can''t fully absolve you."

    "So, a demotion by one level it is."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Cao Dabiao''s face turned instantly pale.

    A demotion by one level might not seem much, but a First Level Detective hasmand rights and many special privileges that are vastly different from a Second-ss Investigator.

    Thus, being demoted to a Second-ss Investigator would greatly reduce Cao Dabiao''s identity and status within the Political Department.

    Cao Dabiao wanted to tter Qiu Tu further, but he stopped himself as the words reached his lips, knowing this was Qiu Tu''s reprimand. Speaking ill of Qiu Tu in the past few days warranted a lesson, and it was entirely justified.

    Moreover, the fact that Qiu Tu had spared him was already something to be immensely grateful for.

    With this in mind, his attitude suddenly became much more peaceful. He gave Qiu Tu a deep bow and then said, "Thank you, Chief. I''m already very grateful that you would keep me in the Investigation Bureau."

    [Cao Dabiao Loyalty +5, Current Loyalty: 56]

    Seeing his reaction, Qiu Tu exhaled a ring of smoke, his face carrying a leisurely and free-spirited demeanor, "Big Biao, I''m pleased that you''vee to understand."

    "As a man, don''t dwell on the immediate gains and losses."

    With that, he asked, "Do you know about the garden rooftop on the 9th floor?"

    Cao Dabiao was stunned for a moment, then shook his head.

    A nostalgic look crossed Qiu Tu''s face as he said, "That''s a ce reserved for section chiefs and above, the middle-level officers."

    "There, you can drink tea, eat desserts, and look down at the whole of Xinjie City."

    "You can also have the waitstaff clean your uniform, prepare dinner, and even go out to buy anything you want..."

    Cao Dabiao was drawn into the scene by Qiu Tu''s description, looking somewhat mesmerized as if he could really see the garden rooftop.

    Then at that moment, Qiu Tu continued, "Big Biao, do you know of the rest room on the 12th floor?"

    Cao Dabiao again shook his head nkly.

    Qiu Tu said with a smile, "That''s a privilege you attain after bing a division head."

    "Once you be a division head, you''ll...."

    Qiu Tu went on to describe to Cao Dabiao thevish lifestyle and immense privileges of section chiefs, division heads, and even the Bureau Chief.

    Overall... it was simply passing on to Cao Dabiao, with a bit of added color, what Jia Shu had said to him today.

    This immediately beguiled Cao Dabiao, a First Level Detective unused to worldly affairs, leaving him absolutely wide-eyed.

    And in the end, Qiu Tu also gave him a meaningful look and repeated the brainwashing lines that Jia Shu had fed him, "Big Biao, achieving all this is actually very simple. That is, you must follow the right person."

    "Only by following the right person can you reach the pinnacle step by step."

    It must be said, Jia Shu''s brainwashing skills were indeed effective; as soon as Qiu Tu recited the spiel, Cao Dabiao''s face flushed red, and his eyes turned crimson with excitement!

    He firmly dered his stance to Qiu Tu, "Chief! Rest assured!"

    "From now on, I am your soldier! Wherever you point, I will strike!"

    [Cao Dabiao loyalty +8, current loyalty: 64]

    Seeing Cao Dabiao''s excited expression and his rapidly increasing loyalty, Qiu Tu''s face was filled with smiles.

    Indeed, his guess was not wrong....

    When you hold someone''s fate in your hands, when you can greatly influence someone''s future, it bes exceptionally easy to raise their loyalty....

    ...

    The duty officers were instructed to escort Cao Dabiao back to the Guard Room. Qiu Tu then, with the interrogation records and documents in hand, went to find Jia Shu for his signature.

    Although Jia Shu was a sly fox, his credibility was still not bad.

    Having promised Qiu Tu that he would handle this matter, he really didn''t even look at the report before signing it.

    And since these investigators were all under hismand, Qiu Tu was lenient with their punishments.

    A warning was noted on investigators like Chen Feng and Zhu Huoyan who held high loyalty towards Qiu Tu¡ªlight treatment, fined three drinks.

    For Ding Xiaoqi, Shi Zhang, and others who had previously been dissatisfied with Qiu Tu, the penalties were heavier: a major demerit and three months'' sry docked.

    The rest of the investigators had a demerit recorded and one month''s sry docked.

    As for Cao Dabiao....

    Actually, Qiu Tu had originally intended to teach him a lesson.

    But then he saw how quickly his loyalty was rising. Coupled with the fact that he was the only First Level Detective under him, after much deliberation, Qiu Tu still decided not to demote him in the end.

    He merely recorded a major demerit against him, docked three months'' sry, and suspended hismand authority temporarily.

    But no matter what, he managed to keep his position as a First Level Detective.

    So, when this punishment was announced in the Guard Room, the whole ce erupted!

    And when he heard that he had retained his position¡ªalready having resigned himself to a demotion¡ªCao Dabiao was overjoyed to tears, embracing Little Liu tightly and patting him with all his might several times, nearly knocking Little Liu out.

    This naturally allowed Qiu Tu to harvest another wave of loyalty.

    Following Qiu Tu''s series of twists + surprises, he firmly solidified his position in the hearts of those investigators who were already loyally inclined towards him.

    The loyalty of this group of investigators also generally reached over fifty points each, making their hearts ready to be harnessed...

    However, by this time, Qiu Tu''s attention had long since shifted away from this group of investigators.

    His "Chain n" was far from over.

    Upon leaving Jia Shu''s office, Qiu Tu had only walked a few steps when Liu Fuping pulled him into an empty conference room.

    Pulled into the conference room, Qiu Tu was far from panicked; instead, he confidently embraced the beautiful woman before him, then softly asked, "Have you done everything you''ve been told to do?"

    Liu Fuping rolled her eyes at Qiu Tu, coquettishly saying, "It''s all done~~ Chief."

    "But, are you sure this won''t draw attention from higher-ups?"

    Qiu Tu pondered for a moment, then dismissively replied, "Even if I did nothing, wouldn''t the higher-ups still pay attention to me?"

    "Besides, I haven''t really done anything, just established my image in front of all the junior investigators."

    "Think about it. Once most investigators know that by following me, not only can I get them promotions and raises, but I can also protect them. Once this image is established, it will be much more convenient for me to do certain thingster on."

    At these words, Liu Fupingughed and said, "But if something happens, can you really protect them?"

    Qiu Tu chuckled "heh heh" twice, "Whether I can protect them is another matter."

    "Image, you understand? It''s not necessarily real."

    Liu Fuping gave him an eye-roll, "Aren''t you the clever one?"

    Qiu Tu smiled and then soberly added, "Moreover, I''m doing this to give Cao Dabiao and their little group a sense of cohesion and honor."

    "This way, they''ll be even more dedicated in investigating cases for me."

    Hearing this, Liu Fuping blinked curiously and asked, "It feels like you ce great importance on them? And you seem eager for them to be involved in the investigation of the female spy''s death."

    Upon saying this, she hesitated, then inquired, "Why? Is there something special about them?"

    Upon hearing this, a hint of amusement glinted in Qiu Tu''s eyes as he replied, "They do have something special about them."

    With that, he paused, "You forgot, they have been locked in the Guard Room from dawn to dusk these past several days."

    "And Vice President Tian''s mistress... died right next to them."

    "Having them investigate this case might just bring some unexpected surprises, no?"

    At these words, realization dawned on Liu Fuping''s face....

    .....

    After leaving the Guard Room and collecting their belongings, Cao Dabiao and others went to report back to the Action Division and fill out their absence forms.

    They had expected that, after spending time in the Guard Room and receiving a disciplinary action, their colleagues would scoff and ridicule them.

    But what happened was beyond their expectations.

    The record keepers of the Action Division not only processed their paperwork with beaming smiles but even the other investigators watched them with envious eyes....

    -------

    Our book''s reader group: 486883284.

    You can prompt for more updates, chat, and water-cooler talk, interested readers are wee to join.

    Clicking on the direct link in the author''s note can also let you join the group directly.

 Chapter 73 Kill Several Birds with One Stone (Seeking 7k for Readthroughs!)

    ```

    This suddenly left Cao Dabiao and the others a bit confused.

    What? Is it now an honor to be brought into the Guard Room?

    I was squatting in the Guard Room for two days, and now I''m a hero of the department?

    However, although they were incredibly puzzled inside, they still pretended to be calm on the surface.

    It was not until they had finished the procedures and Cao Dabiao and the others were preparing to leave that a familiar First Level Detective quietly pulled Cao Dabiao aside and asked softly, "Brother Biao, I heard you guys have found a big backer?"

    Cao Dabiao looked bewildered at the familiar First Level Detective.

    The detective rolled his eyes at him, "Are you still putting on an act with me? The news about you guys has spread everywhere."

    Hearing the detective''s words scratched at Cao Dabiao''s heart like a cat''s ws.

    He felt as if the whole world knew about his situation, yet he himself was the only one out of the loop!

    With this thought, he asked half-pretentiously and half-probingly, "Which matter are you referring to?"

    The detective looked at Cao Dabiao with surprise and eximed, "Oh, there are that many issues?"

    But after eximing, he still exined in a low voice, "It''s about Chief Qiu protecting you guys, that matter."

    He whispered, "Let me tell you, now both the Political Department and the Special Service Department are abuzz with the news."

    "Chief Qiu has connections, brains, and loyalty, but most importantly, he protects his own."

    "You guys just followed him for two days, and when he knew you were implicated, without a second thought, he went to the Bureau Chief and the Minister, requesting to review your case."

    "And to everyone''s surprise, the Bureau Chief and the Minister actually agreed to his request. They really let him review your case."

    "Actually, at that point, everyone was just waiting to see a joke."

    "After all, the Special Service Department team that carried out the mission with you had already gotten their punishment. All the detectives involved in the operation were demoted one rank, suspended half a year''s pay, and received a major demerit."

    "The leading First Level Detective was even temporarily suspended for ipetence and sent home for reflection."

    "Even Fang Ming from the Special Service Department, who had an argument with you, received a warning."

    "With such a punishment standard in the Special Service Department, there''s no way your team''s punishment would be much lighter since you carried out the same mission."

    "Who would have thought, Chief Qiu actually took a big risk and managed to get all of you off the hook!"

    "Not just that, the Minister''s side actually approved it!"

    Hearing the detective''s words, Cao Dabiao, Chen Feng, and the rest also showed faces of astonishment.

    They, who had been locked up in the Guard Room for two days, had no idea about the punishment results of the Special Service Department.

    Although they guessed theirs wouldn''t be as light, they really hadn''t expected it to be so harsh.

    Teams that carried out the same mission, yet they were treated leniently just because they had Qiu Tu''s protection; the Special Service Department, without anyone to protect them, suffered such a miserable fate?

    In such a stark contrast, Qiu Tu''s role became even more evident, and they realized how much pressure Qiu Tu had to withstand to protect them!

    At this moment, the usually reserved Chen Feng also focused on the key point of the incident. He inquired, "So, regarding our punishment, the Special Service Department didn''t raise any objections?"

    Hearing Chen Feng''s words, the detective smirked and said, "How could there not be objections?"

    He continued, "Do you know how this all came out?"

    "It started because the Special Service Department disapproved of your punishment decision and made a fuss."

    "Then, the detectives from various departments went to watch the drama, and that''s when we learned about you being saved by Chief Qiu''s efforts."

    Having said that, he couldn''t help but feel a little emotional, "Ah, you guys are really lucky. You met a boss who protects his own and has a bright future. Such a big issue casually brushed aside."

    "I heard he has now pulled you guys into a new investigative team?"

    "I think your careers are boundless from now on!"

    After the detective finished exining the whole story, Cao Dabiao, Chen Feng, and the other detectives exchanged looks. They were feeling ratherplex emotions at the moment.

    To be honest, it was only until now that they truly understood how much Qiu Tu had "sacrificed" for them, how much pressure he had endured!

    Meanwhile, amidst the envious nces of the other detectives, they inexplicably felt a sense of collective pride.

    As if they were a cut above those ordinary detectives.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    For a moment, they all stood a little straighter....

    ...

    [Cao Dabiao, Chen Feng, Zhu Huoyan, Ding Xiaoliu.....Loyalty +7]

    Meanwhile, in the empty conference room of the Interrogation Section,

    Qiu Tu looked at the prompt that popped up before him and smiled. He knew his arrangements had taken effect.

    Indeed, themotion from the Special Service Department was not an unforeseen event but Qiu Tu''s design.

    Before the interrogation, he had called his former teammate Fang Ming from the Special Service Department, revealing his intent to go easy on Cao Dabiao, Chen Feng, and the others.

    With Fang Ming''s personality, he certainly wouldn''t gossip about it, but Qiu Tu purposely said, "There''s no need to keep this matter secret."

    And so.....the astute Fang Ming immediately understood Qiu Tu''s implication.

    Although he couldn''t figure out Qiu Tu''s ultimate goal, he was still willing to help out, seeing it as a simple favor that could earn him Qiu Tu''s gratitude.

    Therefore, right after Qiu Tu''s interrogation concluded, the news that Cao Dabiao and the others would face light punishment rapidly spread throughout the Special Service Department.

    ```

    Afterward, it was all thanks to Liu Fuping''s efforts.

    Before the interrogation, Qiu Tu pulled her aside into an empty office and asked her for a favor.

    He had asked her to find a few operatives from the Political Department to provoke those from the Special Service Department after the sentencing results were settled.

    The Special Service Department was an authoritative department, no weaker than the Political Department. Coupled with having the strongestbat power and the most staff of all the departments, they naturally couldn''t swallow this affront, so things escted as expected.

    When the two ace departments of the Investigation Bureau shed, it naturally caught the attention of the entire bureau.

    As a result, the unequal sentencing of people like Cao Dabiao and the operatives from the Special Service Department became widely talked about. In turn, Qiu Tu''s image as someone who was loyal and protected his own quietly took shape.

    This was why, after Cao Dabiao and others were released from the guard room, they received so many envious looks. To put it inly, it was all Qiu Tu''s scheming.

    As for whether this game would backfire, and the Special Service Department would truly start fighting with the Political Department, affecting Qiu Tu himself?

    Firstly, Qiu Tu didn''t care. If it really did affect him and he was punished from above, he would happily take the chance to go home for reflection, passing that hot potato of a case to someone else.

    Secondly, he didn''t think it would happen.

    Because... during his time in this world, he had already figured out the real power structure of Xinjie City.

    Besides the three obvious power institutions of Xinjie City, there was actually a hidden power structure: the native residents of Xinjie and the middle and upper sses who came down from the Sanctuary.

    Based on what Qiu Tu had learned and the information obtained from Qin Shuman and Shen Lingshuang,

    he found that even though there waspetition among the middle and upper sses who came down from the Sanctuary, they were very united. They saw each other as their own kind, while the original residents of Xinjie were considered a tier below them, refugees from the Cataclysm.

    This sense of superiority was mostly well concealed. It only asionally showed in their choice of words or when handling certain matters.

    Therefore, the dissatisfaction of the lower-level operatives would not affect the rtionship and attitudes of the middle and upper levels of the two departments.

    Moreover, since Yan Chen had approved this move, with the endorsement of the big boss of the Investigation Bureau behind him, what did Qiu Tu have to fear? He was only afraid that the situation wouldn''t blow up enough.

    After all, the bigger the fuss, the more his fame would grow, and the more widely the news of him forming an investigation team would spread, hence building his desired momentum!

    Having recalled his entire n, Qiu Tu snapped back to reality.

    He nced at the "peach" in his hand, whose shape kept changing, and then at Liu Fuping, whose eyes were starting to well up with tears. He coughed and said, "Sorry, I got carried away."

    Liu Fuping''s cheeks flushed red as she swatted Qiu Tu''s hand away, took a deep breath, and said indignantly, "Commander, that''s a bit too ''carried away,'' don''t you think~~"

    "Just before the interrogation, dragging someone into an empty office and identally grabbing on, and now this!"

    "How is someone supposed to face others after this?"

    Upon saying that, Liu Fuping yfully suggested, "Otherwise, I should just marry you. That way you can do whatever you want~~"

    At her words, Qiu Tu quickly withdrew his hand and said with a serious expression, "Sister Liu, it''s fine to y around, but don''t joke about a lifetimemitment! We''re all in this line of work; you can''t harbor other intentions toward me!"

    Hearing this, Liu Fuping spat out in annoyance, "Shameless!"

    However, being a woman who had been married before, Liu Fuping quickly adjusted her emotions after her yful banter with Qiu Tu.

    While she tidied up her disheveled clothes, she asked, "Qiu Tu, now that the case of ''Yin Caimei''s Death'' is in your hands, do you have any ns?"

    A hint of hesitation appeared on her face as she cautiously said, "I met with the team membersst night and probed them in a roundabout way. It seems... none of them are likely to be the murderer."

    Qiu Tu, however, seemed unconcerned. He stretchedzily and said with a smile, "ns?"

    "If a workman wishes to do his work well, he must first sharpen his tools!"

    "My n is to first apply for some investigation funds, then request some investigation equipment, and then take it slow."

    Liu Fuping looked at Qiu Tu oddly.

    She couldn''t shake the feeling... that Qiu Tu''s focus on the investigation seemed like a front, that his real goal was to take advantage of it to acquire funds and equipment... or even set himself up for a convenient escape if all else failed.

    But since Qiu Tu was her superior and in charge of the investigation team, she had no choice but to follow his orders.

    So after she and Qiu Tu stepped out, she began drafting several applications as per Qiu Tu''s instructions.

    This time, the investigation team assembled by Qiu Tu wasrge, including Liu Fuping, Song Qing, Wang Xi, the two Special Service operatives, as well as Cao Dabiao, Chen Feng, and 13 other detectives.

    His motive was simple: regardless of how the case progressed, he intended to build momentum first, test the waters, then use the opportunity to gather a wave of funds and equipment¡ªand if things went south, it would also be easier to flee....

    Soon, Liu Fupingpleted the personnel application form and the equipment application form as per Qiu Tu''s requirements.

    After Qiu Tu quickly reviewed them and found no issues, he went to get them signed.

    The personnel application form was easily approved. With the backing of Jia Shu and Yan Chen, both the Interrogation Section and the Action Section gave the green light. From this moment, Liu Fuping, Song Qing, Wang Xi, Cao Dabiao, Chen Feng, and the others became his subordinates.

    While the personnel form sailed through smoothly, the equipment application form hit a snag....

    ...

    Administrative Office, Logistical Equipment Section.

    Chief Huang looked at the long list of Cataclysmic treasures Qiu Tu had requested, then took a long nce at Qiu Tu, recognizing this division head who had be famous throughout the Investigation Bureau today.

    After a moment''s hesitation, with a contemtive look, he came back to his senses, did not outright reject the request, but said with a smile, "Chief Qiu, please wait a moment. I will inquire with the office head."

    Having said that, he picked up the phone on the desk and called Secretary Bai....

 Chapter 74 The Pass to High Society (7k for Follow-up Reading!)

    Meanwhile, as the head of the Logistics and Equipment Department was calling Secretary Bai.

    Secretary Bai stood in his own office, staring nkly out the window at the scenery.

    His hand was clenched tightly, filled with sweat.

    Because only he knew what he had just experienced...

    This morning, after meeting with Qiu Tu but receiving a cold shoulder, Secretary Bai felt something was amiss.

    Having spent a month in close quarters with Qiu Tu, and having personally mentored him, he knew Qiu Tu extremely well.

    The man had the cunning, calctions, and shrewdness that most possessed in the Cataclysmic era. Yet, he also had the kindness, enthusiasm, and gratitude that manycked.

    So, after taking such a huge risk to tip him off the night before, he couldn''t have treated Secretary Bai with such coldness!

    Hence, if he had suddenly turned so cold, it must mean that something had gone wrong!

    And Qiu Tu''s subtle shake of the head in the elevatorter on confirmed Secretary Bai''s guess.

    At the time, Secretary Bai had not been able to figure out what exactly had happened. But his trust in Qiu Tu made him go along with it, cursing Qiu Tu a few times to continue the act.

    Later, when he returned to his office to work, Secretary Bai had been pondering Qiu Tu''s abnormal behavior that morning, yet he couldn''t grasp the reasons.

    All of this was until he unintentionally heard about a change in Qiu Tu after the interrogation of Cao Dabiao''s team of political investigators.

    When he learned that Jia Shu had given Qiu Tu such a great opportunity, Secretary Bai finally sensed something was wrong.

    Being the right-hand man of Yan Chen, he knew how much prejudice Jia Shu had against Qiu Tu.

    How could Jia Shu be so kind as to give this kind of opportunity to win people''s hearts to Qiu Tu? It was 100% instructed by Yan Chen!

    But why would Yan Chen give such an opportunity to Qiu Tu?

    Following this train of thought, Secretary Bai finally pieced together the truth of the whole matter and finally guessed the message Qiu Tu was trying to convey: he had been exposed! He had aroused Yan Chen''s suspicions!

    After guessing the message Qiu Tu had passed on, Secretary Bai also instantly understood why Qiu Tu deliberately distanced himself in public that morning.

    Qiu Tu was not self-preserving, but was putting on a show for others to see, letting others know that they had fallen out, giving Secretary Bai a chance to exin the whistleblower call fromst night.

    Seeing the situation clearly, Secretary Bai, who knew Yan Chen''s personality well, immediately took action and made amends to Yan Chen.

    He didn''t tantly go to exin the call to Qiu Tu from the night before but started speaking ill of Qiu Tu indirectly in front of Yan Chen.

    This indeed aroused Yan Chen''s curiosity.

    Afterward, in Yan Chen''s casual inquiry, Secretary Bai still didn''t exin but deliberately spoke ambiguously.

    He knew that no matter how much he exined, it would not be as effective as letting Yan Chen find out on his own.

    As expected, it wasn''t long before he saw political investigators from the Political Departmenting to see Yan Chen, presumably to report on the conflict he had with Qiu Tu that morning.

    Although it was a minor incident, it was enough to provoke Yan Chen''s imagination, causing doubt about the real content ofst night''s call, thereby reducing Secretary Bai''s own suspicion of betrayal.

    However, Secretary Bai also knew that with such a significant mistake and Yan Chen''s suspicious nature, it would be difficult to regain trust easily.

    But... as long as he could stall, Secretary Bai would always have the chance to mend the rift.

    And all of this was brought to Secretary Bai by Qiu Tu!N?v(el)B\\jnn

    So, aftering out of Yan Chen''s office and taking a deep breath, Secretary Bai also felt that he had indeed made the right judgment about Qiu Tu.

    He wasn''t the kind of opportunist who would abandon an alliance in times of peril but rather someone who would actively think of ways to help him out of trouble and n everything for him!

    After frantically making all the necessary remedies, Secretary Bai stood by the window for more than ten minutes, scared, with sweaty palms...

    .....

    "Ring ring ring"

    Hearing the crisp ringing of the desk phone, Secretary Bai slowly returned to his senses from his thoughts.

    He took a deep breath, exhaled heavily, then turned around, walked to the desk, and picked up the handset.

    As he lifted the handset, it transmitted the voice of his subordinate, the head of Logistics, "Chief, this is Huang Hong."

    Secretary Bai uttered a grunt and inquired, "What is it, Chief Huang?"

    The Logistics chief said with a chuckle, "It''s like this, Chief Qiu from the Interrogation Section came over with an equipment request form, and he wants to apply for a batch... uh, a batch of equipment."

    "But... these are kind of special, I''m not sure how he knows about them, and I''m not sure whether we should give them to him."

    "Also... his approach seems to not follow the procedures."

    "Chief Qiu?" Upon hearing the words of the Logistics chief, Secretary Bai froze for a moment, somewhat guessing Qiu Tu''s purpose.

    He said, "Read out the list of equipment to me."

    Chief Huang read from the request form, "''Mist Index Book, Intangible Distortion Sensor, Void Dimension Surveyor, Retrospective Locator''..."

    Hearing one Cataclysm Prop name after another from Chief Huang, Secretary Bai smiled silently.

    Shortly after, he barked, "That''s enough, give the phone to Qiu Tu!"

    Hearing Secretary Bai''s words, the Logistics chief quickly gave the phone to Qiu Tu.

    Qiu Tu took the phone, and Secretary Bai''s roar came through the handset, "Qiu Tu, have you lost your mind? Listing these items in the report!"

    "Is this how Jia Shu taught you?!"

    "Do you not know that matters of Catastrophe Power are not to be known by themon people! It''s only because Chief Huang is a manager from the Sanctuary that if he were an ordinary person, do you realize you would have leaked secrets already!"

    "I''m telling you! This is no small matter, and I will definitely report it to the Bureau Chief!"

    Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu hurriedly said, "Sorry, sir. This is my first time dealing with such a case, and I didn''t know I couldn''t file the report this way."

    "Sorry, truly sorry."

    The handset''s soundproofing wasn''t good, so Chief Huang also heard Secretary Bai''s roar.

    Heughed awkwardly, then stepped aside to the water cooler to get water, leaving Qiu Tu to save face.

    Seeing this, Qiu Tu cleared his throat softly.

    On the other end of the phone, Secretary Bai immediately understood Qiu Tu''s intention.

    He softly "hmm..." in response.

    Another second passed before Secretary Bai spoke up again, loudly, "You don''t know the procedure, and you didn''t think to ask?"

    "Now, take this form to your minister for approval!"

    "Those Cataclysmic treasures will be granted to you through a special process!"

    With that, Secretary Bai hung up the phone with a "snap."

    Qiu Tu, holding the phone, showed an awkward expression to Chief Huang and said, "Sorry for the trouble, Chief Huang."

    "Secretary Bai said I followed the wrong procedure, I''ll go back and start over."

    Chief Huang smiled and shook his head, "No worries. It''s all understandable."

    "After all, cases like this are special, and it''s normal to be a bit flustered the first time."

    After saying that, he put down his cup and gently patted Qiu Tu''s shoulder, "You know, Qiu Tu, we''ve met quite a few times."

    "Back when you were working in the Administrative Office, I could tell you were different, destined to soar."

    "And look, it hasn''t been long, and you''re already a Deputy Staff Chief."

    After saying that, he smiled, "You came from the Administrative Office, so I''m somewhat like your kin."

    "So, when you''re free, let''smunicate and exchange more."

    Qiu Tu, hearing this, knew he was receiving positive feedback for the image he had crafted at the Investigation Bureau, so he climbed up the pole that was offered, "No problem, Brother Huang."

    "Actually, I''ve been wanting to get in touch with you more, but... I thought you were busy, so I didn''t dare to disturb you."

    "Now that you''ve mentioned it, just name the time, and I''ll be there, even if it means braving the storm of knives."

    Seeing how readily Qiu Tu took the bait, a glint appeared in Chief Huang''s eyes, and after a moment''s thought, he said with a smile, "Why put off until tomorrow what can be done today? How about this weekend?"

    "Let''s go to Emerald Fort together and watch a few horse races? It''s an entertainment passed down from the Sanctuary. Many influential figures from Xinjie City participate."

    "Big merchants from Xinjie City Chamber of Commerce,mittee members from City Hall, directors, military officers, and chiefs and deputies from our Investigation Bureau will all be there."

    At this point, he paused and gave a knowing look that all men understand, "And in the evening, I''ll take you, my dear brother, to broaden your horizons."

    "Let me tell you, since Xinjie City has been marked as a nning Area, there are still plenty of fun things to do."

    Hearing Chief Huang''s words, Qiu Tu immediately responded with augh, "Then thank you, Brother Huang! I''ll definitely keep the appointment!"

    Chief Huang smiled, and patted Qiu Tu''s shoulder again...

    .....

    After leaving the Logistics and Equipment Section, Qiu Tu contemted what had just happened there.

    He had deliberately listed some Cataclysm Props on the application form and came to the Logistics Section to request them, mainly to have a call with Secretary Bai.

    Afterst night''s attempt to startle the snake, he and Secretary Bai were sure to be under surveince and wiretapping by Jia Shu.

    The two couldn''t meet,municate, or have any contact whatsoever.

    However, he needed to be sure that Secretary Bai had understood the message he sent and whether any remedial action had been taken.

    Their safety depended on it.

    Now that he had received a positive response from Secretary Bai, he felt relieved.

    Secondly, there was the unexpected joy from Chief Huang...

    As a weaker department within the Investigation Bureau, the Administrative Office didn''t have much power and didn''t rank high within the Bureau.

    However, the Logistics Section was an exception within the Administrative Office.

    In charge of all the logistics and equipment for the Investigation Bureau, the Logistics Section was one of the most coveted positions.

    Procurement of equipment, disposal of retired equipment, daily wear and tear of equipment... each aspect could entice numerous forces.

    Therefore, Chief Huang was a sought-after figure by various department heads and factions.

    And Qiu Tu was no exception.

    He wanted to handle the case of Yin Caimei and connect with various departments from Xinjie City Chamber of Commerce, City Hall, and the military to understand their true views on the Yin Caimei case, and Chief Huang''s connections were the most convenient for this.

    In in terms, Chief Huang was the most suitable "upstairs pass" essible to Qiu Tu.

    Qiu Tu had two objectives in visiting the Logistics Section today, using the application for Cataclysm Props as an opportunity. Apart from brieflymunicating with Secretary Bai, it was to let Chief Huang know he was already privy to highly confidential treasures and considered "one of their own," recognized by Yan Chen and Jia Shu.

    He originally intended to hint at this to Chief Huang and then bide his time for the next move. Little did he expect that his efforts to build an image at the Investigation Bureau today would result in such a surprising development.

    ''Emerald Fort? Horse racing?''

    ''Big merchants from Xinjie Chamber of Commerce? Committee members, directors from City Hall? Military officers?''

    ''And special activities in the evening?''

    Thinking of this, Qiu Tu looked forward to the weekend with increased anticipation...

    [10 days (Yin Caimei case closure deadline)]

    ...

    With the application form in hand, he returned to the Political Department.

    Qiu Tu went straight to Jia Shu''s office.

    He knocked on the door and Jia Shu''s voice came from inside, "Come in."

    Qiu Tu entered and saw Jia Shu studying a document intently.

    Qiu Tu saluted, "Sir! I''vee to submit the equipment application form!"

    "Equipment application form?" Jia Shu looked up, giving Qiu Tu a puzzled nce with his characteristic fake smile.

    Qiu Tu walked over and ced the form on Jia Shu''s desk.

    Jia Shu picked up the document with a peculiar look, nced over it, and the next second, his eyes bulged and he struggled to maintain his facade of a smile.

    He read through the document quickly, then looked up with a half-smile at Qiu Tu, and asked,

    "Qiu Tu... do you know what you''re applying for with these items?"

    ----

 Chapter 75 Somethings Off About This Satisfaction (7k For Follow-Up Reads!)

    Qiu Tu certainly knew what he was applying for.

    "Mist Index Book," "Intangible Distortion Sensor," "Void Dimension Surveyor," "Retrospective Locator"....

    Despite the grandiose names of these Cataclysmic treasures, in reality... they were all standard-issue Cataclysmic treasures from the Sanctuary.

    And the function of these Cataclysmic treasures was simple: they were to investigate clues for cases or traces of Catastrophe Power through various methods.

    For example, the "Mist Index Book" could generate an unusual fog within a certain area, and this fog would reveal all traces of Catastrophe Power residue in the vicinity.

    The "Intangible Distortion Sensor" was for sensing distortions generated by the intersection of the Boundless Heart Sea and the real world, which were typically caused by Cataclysmic abilities, allowing this Catalysmic treasure to analyze the level and type of Cataclysmic ability.

    The other two Cataclysmic items had simr functions, differing only slightly in their manufacturing materials and subsidiary features.

    Why did Qiu Tu know about these Cataclysmic treasures?

    Simple, Qin Shuman had exined them to him the night before.

    ording to Qin Shuman, the standard-issue Cataclysmic treasuresmonly used to investigate supernatural cases in the Sanctuary were these four types.

    The Security Department brought two sets when they came down from the Sanctuary, but how many the Political Department had, she didn''t know.

    Her guess was: they definitely had some, but not all.

    Therefore, when applying for materials, Qiu Tu simply wrote down all the treasures, intending to see how many he could get approved.

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu regained his senses, looked toward Jia Shu, and replied, "Chief. I am aware. These are treasures used to investigate traces of Catastrophe Power."

    Upon hearing this, Jia Shu put down his pen, crossed his hands beneath his chin, and looked at Qiu Tu with an exploratory gaze.

    His eyes, narrow and profound behind his sses, seemed as if they could see right through one''s heart.

    After staring for a full two seconds, his face suddenly brightened with a faint smile, and he said, "I remember telling you that as long as you close this case sessfully, it would be sufficient."

    "So... give me a reason?"

    If Qiu Tu dared to test the waters with the application, he naturally had an excuse ready.

    He looked at Jia Shu and answered earnestly, "Chief, if we''re putting on an act, we should do it thoroughly. If it were an ordinary murder case, we could simply frame an offender and fabricate some evidence to close the case. But this is a major case that so many eyes in Xinjie City are watching."

    "I''m aware of Cataclysmic abilities, Cataclysmic treasures. Surely those important figures can''t be ignorant of them, can they?"

    "If I just conducted a superficial investigation for a few days, without even using the treasures to detect traces of Cataclysm, and close the case as an ordinary murder, do you think they would believe it?"

    "Wouldn''t this approach be too slipshod?"

    Seeing that Jia Shu''s eyes showed contemtion, Qiu Tu continued, "Actually, it makes no difference to me. After all, I''m just a small figure."

    "What I''m worried about is that if this matter is handled too carelessly, the Municipal Committee or the military might seize upon it."

    "At that time, it could cause trouble for you and the Bureau Chief..."

    Toward the end, Qiu Tu''s voice grew fainter, almost inaudible....

    The office slowly became quiet.

    Jia Shu silently pondered....

    After a moment, his face revealed a sardonic smile, then he picked up the pen and made a few changes to the document before saying, "You make a good point. Let''s go with your n."

    After making the changes, Jia Shu signed the document and handed it to Qiu Tu.

    Qiu Tu quickly stepped forward, took the document with both hands, then cast an imperceptible nce over it: Of the four Cataclysmic items, only the "Mist Index Book" was left, and it also noted the borrowing time: one week.

    "By the way, Qiu Tu. Where did you learn so much about these Cataclysmic treasures?"

    Just as Qiu Tu received the document and was slightly distracted, Jia Shu suddenly asked.

    At the sound of his words, Qiu Tu''s heart tightened, and he quickly gathered his wandering thoughts. Then he looked up at Jia Shu, smiled, and said, "From the Security Department. Last night, after I met with them, I learned about these treasures from their information."

    He fabricated a lie, "Last night, following your directive, I exined to them the situation that both you and the Bureau Chief have strange abilities and seemed a bit abnormal. They indeed showed great interest."

    "Then, under subtle prodding, they briefly exined Cataclysmic abilities and Cataclysmic items to mergely consistent with the contents of the materials you had given me before."

    "Because Ie from an investigator background, I naturally grew curious and inquired about what to do if these supernatural powers were used by a murderer tomit crimes."

    "They then introduced me to a few types of investigative Cataclysmic treasuresmonly used by the Security Department."

    "Today, when forming the investigative team, I thought of these Cataclysmic items, and also of the prospect of Catastrophe Power being used for murder. So I filed an application report to you."

    Qiu Tu''s story was watertight, hence Jia Shu nodded with a mocking smile, "I understand."

    He said, "Then take this application to the logistics section for record-keeping. They''ll have someone specifically unseal the Cataclysmic treasures upon receiving the application form."

    "These Cataclysmic treasures are quite dangerous and shouldn''t be easily dispersed, so they''ll need to be picked up by me personally tomorrow."

    "After I collect them, I''ll have them delivered to you."

    Hearing Jia Shu''s words, Qiu Tu hastily said, "When the timees, Minister, you can just call me, and I''lle to collect them."

    Jia Shu looked at Qiu Tu with a smile that was not quite a smile, "Chief Qiu is still quite sensible."

    After finishing his encouragement, he said, "Do well on the case. Don''t disappoint me."

    Qiu Tu promptly saluted, "Yes, Chief!"

    After saluting, seeing that Jia Shu had lowered his head to continue reviewing documents, Qiu Tu also turned to leave the office.

    However, having reached the door, Qiu Tu paused for a moment and then slowly stopped.

    He turned around and asked a question, "Chief, I remember you mentioned that the oue of this case needs to satisfy both the political andmercial sectors of Xinjie City."

    "I have a question, if the oue pleases some and displeases others, whose opinion should I prioritize?"

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s question, Jia Shu slowly raised his head. His eyes, narrow and deep behind his sses, stared intently at Qiu Tu, and then he said indifferently, "Vice President Tian."

    Hearing the answer Jia Shu gave, Qiu Tu nodded, "I understand, Chief."

    Having said that, Qiu Tu no longer hesitated and pushed open the door, leaving the office...

    But after he left, in the empty office, Jia Shu remained for a long time without looking down at the documents.

    He gazed at the spot where Qiu Tu had just stood, a manic smile slowly forming on his face. His eyes suddenly turned red, the desire within seeming to be on the verge of bursting out uncontrobly.

    In that moment, the space itself seemed to subtly tremble, as if something terrifying was about to happen.

    Possibly sensing his own loss of control, Jia Shu took several deep breaths, forcibly suppressing his emotions. Then his tongue suddenly elongated, stretching out to lick his lips before he whispered, "Interesting... very interesting..."

    "But there''s no rush, no hurry at all. It''s not often that youe across such an intriguing prey; you have to properly nurture it before devouring it when it''s ripe..."

    [Jia Shu: Suspicion-0, Satisfaction+5]

    ...

    Stepping out of Jia Shu''s office and seeing the "Satisfaction" prompt floating before his eyes, Qiu Tu paused momentarily, somewhat bewildered.

    He recalled everything that had happened in Jia Shu''s office.

    It seemed... he hadn''t felt that he had performed exceptionally well.

    Why had Jia Shu''s satisfaction with him suddenly increased by so much?

    Could it be... because of umted efforts finally paying off?

    He hadn''t exposed any ws, which had finally satisfied him?

    But... that didn''t seem right either. Shouldn''t the suspicion have decreased a bit?

    Qiu Tu found it a bit perplexing.

    However, since he couldn''t see the exact numbers for Jia Shu''s suspicion or satisfaction, there was too little information to analyze, so he could only temporarily push these thoughts to the back of his mind.

    After all, an increase in satisfaction was always a good thing. If he couldn''t figure it out, then so be it.

    It''s not like Jia Shu''s satisfaction was special, where the higher it was, the more dangerous, right?

    With that in mind, Qiu Tu followed Jia Shu''s instructions and went to the logistics department to submit the form once again.

    This time, with Jia Shu''s signature and notes on it, Chief Huang finally epted the form, and his gaze towards Qiu Tu became friendlier.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    Clearly, he was gradually starting to see Qiu Tu as one of their own.

    Qiu Tu spected that information rted to Cataclysmic ability might be an implicit threshold.

    To the middle management, natives who had obtained such information from the higher-ups were regarded as having gained trust and could be considered half-insiders.

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu and Chief Huang once again set a time to meet over the weekend. After exchanging a few more casual words, Qiu Tu left the logistics department.

    At noon, he ate lunch on the garden terrace on the 9th floor.

    In the afternoon, all the formalities for the establishment of the investigation team were finallypleted. The investigation team was officially established.

    Possibly because of the stir Qiu Tu had caused at the Investigation Bureau today, the investigation team was very motivated.

    So Qiu Tu didn''t dy and took advantage of the momentum to start assigning tasks directly.

    He looked around at the twenty or so people present and then said, "Liu Fuping, Song Qing."

    "Present!" Hearing Qiu Tu''s call, the two came forward.

    Qiu Tu said, "You two go to the inspection department to get the case files."

    "Yes!" The two female investigators epted themand.

    After arranging for those two, Qiu Tu turned to Chen Feng, "Chen Feng, Zhu Huoyan."

    The two stepped forward, "Present!"

    Qiu Tu said, "You two go to the morgue to handle the paperwork, request to review the autopsy records, and have them prepare a separate morgue. I may personally examine the deceased''s body from this afternoon to tomorrow night."

    Chen Feng and Zhu Huoyan saluted, "Yes!"

    Next, Qiu Tu turned to Wang Xi, "Wang Xi, Ding Xiaoliu."

    "Present!"

    Qiu Tu said, "You two go to the Surveince Department and apply to retrieve all surveince videos rted to the deceased from the past couple of days."

    "Yes!"

    Following that, Qiu Tu assigned all the tasks one by one. Only Cao Dabiao and a few other investigators remained in the conference room.

    This made people like Cao Dabiao, who were eager to prove themselves, as anxious as ants on a hot pan.

    So, after the other investigators had left ording to their assignments, Cao Dabiao scurried up to Qiu Tu''s side and, with a hopeful expression, asked, "Chief, what about me? What about me?"

    Seeing his impatience, Qiu Tu smiled.

    Then he said, "Don''t worry, I haven''t forgotten about you."

    After that, he dropped the smile and quietly said, "Big Biao. The one I trust most is you." "That''s why I have an arduous task for you."

    Cao Dabiao''s spirits lifted upon hearing this.

    Qiu Tu put an arm around his neck and continued in a lowered voice, "I need you to investigate the movements of Vice President Tian and those transport merchants over the past three days."

    "Figure out where they went, who they met, and what time they left."

    "If you have connections, try to check the movements of their confidants as well."

    Upon hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Cao Dabiao was stunned at first. Then pointing at his own chubby face with his right index finger, his expression turned nk as he said, "Huh? Me? I''m supposed to investigate Vice President Tian and those big merchants?"

    Qiu Tu clicked his tongue, "It''s not just you."

 Chapter 76 The Bizarre Book (7k Pleads for Follow-Up Reads)

    At this point, Qiu Tu pointed to the remaining seven or eight detectives and said, "They''re all at your disposal."

    "My requirements are very simple, absolutely no scare away the snake, we can''t let these big businessmen detect us."

    Cao Dabiao''s mouth slowly gaped open, "We''re not to let them detect us either?"

    At that moment, Cao Dabiao suddenly felt that being locked in the guard room wasn''t so bad; at least he wouldn''t have to face such an impossible mission.

    However, seeing the encouraging look in Qiu Tu''s eyes and thinking about the pressure Qiu Tu was under for his sake, Cao Dabiao clenched his teeth and then said resolutely, "Rest assured, Chief! I willplete the mission!"

    Seeing this, Qiu Tu smiled and patted Cao Dabiao on the shoulder, continuing to pua, "Big Biao, you''re the person I trust the most in the entire Investigation Bureau. Don''t let me down."

    Cao Dabiao nodded vigorously! Then he took the remaining detectives and left in a hurry!

    After all members were dispatched, Qiu Tu walked to the window of the empty conference room, looking out at the view and quietly contemting.

    Although Jia Shu had been hinting that he could randomly find someone to take the me and close the case, Qiu Tu... believed that would be a dead end.

    If the case could be resolved so easily, the "Crisis Intuition" wouldn''t have kicked in.

    After all, with such high attention on the case, the eyes of so many powerful and wealthy people were on it. Creating a sham case, he might get away with it if it isn''t exposed. But if it is exposed, neither Jia Shu nor Yan Chen would protect him. Then he would be a disposable pawn that could easily be sacrificed.

    Therefore, the investigation into this case must continue. Only by finding the real culprit can he be in a position to attack or defend.

    You must understand, this case involves several major forces. No matter who is behind it, as long as the truth is uncovered, he would essentially have control over the other party''s vulnerability.

    He could trade for benefits if advancing, or turn over the murderer for self-preservation if retreating.

    Perhaps, that was the real solution to this crisis.

    It''s just that.... what made him uneasy was Jia Shu''s slightly abnormal behavior today.

    As far as Qiu Tu knew, Jia Shu, as Yan Chen''s right-hand man, should always be loyal to Yan Chen and to the Investigation Bureau.

    But... Jia Shu''s attitude today was ambiguous.

    This made him worry not only about a deeper conspiracy behind the death of the female spy but also about... whether the Political Department had silenced her.

    If it really was the Political Department that did the silencing, then he would have been severely manipted, and the crisis would indeed be troublesome!

    Thinking along these lines, the hands behind Qiu Tu''s back clenched involuntarily.....

    .....

    Ten minutester, several groups of detectives began to return, and Qiu Tu''s hands became filled with more and more information about the case.

    First was the physical examination report conducted by the Interrogation Section after Yin Caimei (the female spy) had been captured.

    All the indicators were very normal; there were no external injuries on the body, nor any secret diseases found.

    Then came Yin Caimei''s physical examination after the interrogation that night.

    There were residues of various interrogation drugs in her body, a broken little finger on the right hand, and multiple external injuries and bruises on her body. But none were fatally dangerous.

    Then there was the surveince video brought back from the Inspection Department.

    The surveince showed that Yin Caimei was sent back to the guard room after the interrogation ended and the physical examination was done. Thereafter, her behavior in the guard room waspletely normal, and no other non-guard staff approached her.

    Until 6 o''clockst night, Yin Caimei had finished her meal and was resting on the bed, and even picked up a book to read.

    However, at 9 o''clock, while reading, Yin Caimei suddenly fell from the bed to the ground.

    The guard patrolling outside sensed something was wrong, hurriedly opened the guard room to check, and found that she was already breathless.

    And because Qiu Tu had taken over the case,

    All the evidence, such as the book Yin Caimei was reading and the leftover meal that night, had all been transferred to the Investigation Bureau.

    Qiu Tu didn''t pay attention to anything else but first put on his gloves and picked up the book that Yin Caimei had been reading before her death.

    It was a book with a ck cover that looked somewhat oppressive and eerie.

    The cover had the title: "Brave New World".

    Qiu Tu opened the book, and on the title page, there was a row of delicate writing:

    "Death is only the disappearance of the flesh; the spirit remains connected to the world. Only a world where spirit eternally exists is thest hope for our tribe tormented by suffering."

    After reading the content on the title page, Qiu Tu''s brows furrowed, then he opened the book and briefly flipped through a few pages.

    Most of the content in the book was metaphysical theory or visions and descriptions of the "Eternal Spirit World," with no other content.

    But... for some reason, looking at this book, Qiu Tu felt an inexplicable unease.

    Ordinary people may not think much of this book, just a regr publication. But Qiu Tu was a Cataclysmic.

    He truly knew that above the real material world, there existed a "Boundless Heart Sea" of the Spirit World.

    That was the source of the world''s cataclysm and the source of all supernatural beings'' powers.

    And this book just happened to describe a spirit world. Moreover, it called for approaching that world through death.

    Is this coincidence? Or intentional?

    And... who gave this book to Yin Caimei? What was their purpose?

    With these thoughts, Qiu Tu immediately arranged for Liu Fuping and Song Qing to investigate the book''s origin.

    Perhaps because it was not highly confidential, the answer came quickly: Yin Caimei had brought the book with her.

    Due to her special identity, after being captured, the department specifically authorized her to bring a limited amount of clothes and personal belongings. And this book was among them.

    The person who approved the request was... Jia Shu.

    Qiu Tu stared at the ck book in his hands, took a deep breath, his gaze growing deeper.

    Before he could recover, thest group of detectives: Chen Feng and Zhu Huoyan returned.

    And they brought Qiu Tu news he had not at all anticipated:

    Yin Caimei''s body had not been autopsied, so there was no post-mortem report.

    However, the morgue could arrange an autopsy room for Qiu Tu''s team, allowing them to schedule a suitable forensic pathologist for the initial autopsy.

    "No autopsy was performed?" Hearing this news, not even Qiu Tu was the most surprised, but Liu Fuping was.

    Her entireplexion changed, as if she realized something, and she stood frozen in ce, her face shifting through various expressions.

    For a moment, she fiercely turned to look at Qiu Tu, her face filled with shock and disbelief.

    Qiu Tu hadn''t expected this result either.

    His brows were nearly furrowed into the shape of the character "´¨".

    The information revealed by theck of autopsy was truly too peculiar.

    This meant that after Yin Caimei died, Jia Shu never bothered with her body, nor did he investigate the cause of her death.

    And following that line of thought, there were only two possibilities for Jia Shu''s actions.

    One, Jia Shu simply didn''t care about Yin Caimei''s life or death, nor the subsequent impact of her demise.

    Two, he knew that Yin Caimei would die. He might even have known the cause of death.

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu suddenly felt that the whole situation was developing towards the worst possibility.

    He pondered quietly for a moment, then turned to Chen Feng, Zhu Huoyan, and Wang Xi, arranging, "Chen Feng, you take Zhu Huoyan and Wang Xi to apply for a forensic pathologist to perform an autopsy."

    Chen Feng epted the order and was just about to leave with his team.

    Qiu Tu stopped him again, "Wait a moment. Leave themunicator behind."

    Chen Feng didn''t understand why Qiu Tu would make this decision, but with his Loyalty over 60, he obediently left themunicator behind.

    After he left, Qiu Tu fiddled with themunicator he had left behind, then stood up, instructed the team members to continue analyzing the case, and prepared to step out to make a call.

    But as soon as he walked out of the conference room, he heard footsteps behind him.

    Qiu Tu turned his head and saw Liu Fuping with a frosty face following him out.

    Qiu Tu nced at her, said nothing, and headed straight for another empty conference room opposite them.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Liu Fuping didn''t stop either, following him into that empty conference room.

    After ncing around the empty conference room to make sure no one else was there, Liu Fuping closed the door and finally dropped the pretense.

    For the first time in front of Qiu Tu, this beautiful young woman revealed her extraordinary nature.

    She looked up at Qiu Tu with a cold tone, "Qiu Tu! You knew! You knew all along! This is a trap!"

    Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu''s gaze held a hint ofplexity. He lowered his head to take out a cigarette from his pocket, ready to smoke one, but Liu Fuping snatched it away and threw it to the ground, then stood still, staring up at him.

    Seeing this, Qiu Tu sighed deeply and then gently wrapped his arms around the beautiful young woman in front of him.

    Liu Fuping stiffened for a moment.

    Possibly feeling she had been a bit too forceful, she let out a light sigh, her body about to rx, ready to have a proper talk with Qiu Tu.

    But at that moment, suddenly, she felt Qiu Tu''s embrace tighten fiercely!

    It felt as though two stone walls were crashing together, trying to crush her!

    It was as if she realized something, and she struggled violently!

    However, her strength seemed utterly insignificant in front of Qiu Tu! All her effort couldn''t even stop him by a fraction!

    "Crack...crack..." Liu Fuping even heard the sound of her own bones being crushed under the pressure.

    She struggled desperately, then looked up at Qiu Tu.

    But all she saw were a pair of eyes as dark as the abyss.

    In that moment, she truly felt the fear of death...

    "Please, please, I beg you!"

    Struggling to get the words out, Liu Fuping''s eyes reddened, pleadingly looking at Qiu Tu.

    Qiu Tu watched her with a profound gaze, just looking.

    A second, two seconds...just when Liu Fuping felt utterly desperate, Qiu Tu suddenly let go of his hold.

    Liu Fuping copsed to the ground with a thud, stumbled, and fell.

    But she hardly noticed, taking deep breaths, her eyes wide with the relief of someone who just escaped death.

    Qiu Tu emotionlessly stepped over her, walked to the window, and coldly dropped a sentence, "There won''t be a next time."

    "For a spy like you, killing you wouldn''t get me penalized."

    Liu Fuping swallowed hard, her face filled with fear as she looked towards Qiu Tu.

    She always thought that after sharing a secret with Qiu Tu for the past two days and their physical intimacies, even if Qiu Tu hadn''t fallen for her, he would at least have a modicum of pity and cherish her.

    But there was none.

    Just now, she truly smelled the scent of death.

    "Snap."

    Hearing that crisp sound, Liu Fuping turned towards it, quickly checking her waist, and then btedly realized that her gun had been taken by Qiu Tu again.

    How little must this man trust her...

    For some reason, Liu Fuping felt a sense of defeat.

    Meanwhile, Qiu Tu spoke again.

    Looking outside the window, he exined indifferently, "I only guessed everything this morning."

    "It''s all been a trap."

    "From the moment your handler passed you informationst night and you began your investigation, both of you were already trapped."

    "So, even if I guessed the truth, telling you would be pointless. You must have been monitored already and wouldn''t be able to escape."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Liu Fuping''s expression kept changing.

    And at that moment, Qiu Tu couldn''t help but add, "Unfortunately, I feel like I may have been trapped today as well."

    After saying that, as if a thought suddenly struck him, he turned around and asked, "By the way, who is your handler?"

    Liu Fuping: ??

    -------

 Chapter 77 Innate Consort Holy Body (7k for follow-up reading!)

    At that moment, Liu Fuping thought she was hallucinating.

    Who would attempt to kill her and then casually ask about her superior as if nothing had happened?

    But seeing Qiu Tu''s serious expression and probing eyes, Liu Fuping knew the man before her was not joking.

    ''What a bastard!''

    She cursed in her heart, but the lingering fear from her near-death experience stopped Liu Fuping from outright rejecting Qiu Tu, and she evaded the question, "Why do you ask about my superior?"

    Qiu Tu leaned against the windowsill, looking at her with a half-smile, "You and your superior have been exposed. Jia Shu won''t let you off. So hiding your identity is useless now."

    "Why note clean with me? Right now, we''re in the same boat. Who knows, I mighte up with a way for us to escape from this desperate situation."

    Liu Fuping didn''t immediately respond to Qiu Tu''s words.

    She first straightened her disheveled clothes, even pulling up the loose cor over her chest¡ªconsidering Qiu Tu''s recent treatment of her, he didn''t deserve to ''take advantage'' of her!

    Then she pushed herself up from the ground.

    As she did these things, she was constantly thinking about what Qiu Tu had said.

    So when she stood up, she naturally asked, "What do you mean when you say that you''ve also fallen into a trap and that we''re both ''grasshoppers on the same string''?"

    Qiu Tu fiddled with themunicator in his hand, his eyes slightly deep, "The reason I took on this case is because of Jia Shu''s arrangement."

    "He didn''t want me to solve the case, just to investigate casually, fabricate some evidence, identify a suspect, and close the case."

    "I didn''t understand it at first, but afterwards, the more I thought about it, the more wrong it felt."

    "With such high-profile attention on this case from the Xinjie Chamber of Commerce, City Hall, and the military, could simply pinning the crime on someone really cover it up?"

    "And if it didn''t cover up, would Jia Shu and Yan Chen choose to protect me, or to sacrifice me?"

    "So, after much thought, I decided to first clear up the case, find the real culprit, and then make a slow decision."

    Having said that, Qiu Tu paused and then picked a cigarette up from the ground, putting it back in his pocket, "And who knew, just as I started on the case today, I found that something is even more amiss."

    "Allowing Yin Caimei, such an important suspect, to carry personal belongings?"

    "And among those personal items, there was a book with extremely strong seductive power, suspected to be banned?"

    "What''s more unsettling is, for an important suspect like her, the department didn''t care about her death after 24 hours: no investigation was conducted, no suspects were detained, they didn''t even conduct an autopsy."

    "Thispletely contradicts her status as an important suspect and doesn''t match up to the department''s level of concern for this case."

    At this point, Qiu Tu nced at Liu Fuping, "You must have also realized that you had fallen into a trap because of this, right?"

    Liu Fuping nodded slightly.

    Qiu Tu continued, "Following these suspicions, if I investigate backwards, it seems like the higher-ups'' attitude towards this case is problematic."

    He pointed to the ceiling, "They seem not to care about the truth of this case."

    "That''s really not right."

    Qiu Tu said, "Even for a rigged case, shouldn''t they start falsifying it only after finding that the case couldn''t proceed, with no clues left, or after they''ve found the culprit but realized the implications were too vast to pursue further?"

    "To not investigate the case at all and directly request a fake case, isn''t that a bit exaggerated?"

    Liu Fuping had actually sensed something peculiar about the case earlier, but felt overwhelmed by theplexity and couldn''t find a breakthrough.

    Now, with Qiu Tu piecing together the clues, a bolt of lightning shed through her mind, and she understood his point.

    She looked at Qiu Tu with astonishment and said, "So... you suspect Yin Caimei was silenced by the Political Department themselves?!"

    Qiu Tu nodded slightly.

    With this line of thinking, Liu Fuping suddenly understood the "trap" and the "grasshopper on the same string" references Qiu Tu had been making. Her brain whirred, rapidly piecing together information.

    After a moment, she widened her eyes at Qiu Tu, "So, you''ve realized you''re in a no-win situation?"

    "If you investigate further, you might reach the higher-ups."

    "If you conceal it, you''re likely unable to keep it hidden?"

    Finally, Qiu Tu nodded in satisfaction, "You''ve finally caught on."

    "You!" Liu Fuping red at Qiu Tu, her chest heaving rapidly with anger.

    Qiu Tu''s gaze swept her and then drifted away, somewhat deted in spirit. Not that Liu Fuping''s impassioned demeanor wasn''t moving, but Qiu Tu really wasn''t in the mood right now.

    Besides, he wasn''t trying to belittle Liu Fuping. Compared to Qin Shuman, Liu Fuping''s abilities and professional quality indeed fell far short.

    With many matters, all it took was a nce from Qiu Tu, or even... no nce at all, and Qin Shuman would guess Qiu Tu''s intention and thoughts and then cooperate ordingly.

    As for Liu Fuping...

    After realizing she had fallen into a trap, her first action was to actuallye and confront him?!

    This seriously made Qiu Tu question how much professional training she had undergone.

    If not for the fact that intelligence couldn''t be transmitted by "X", Qiu Tu really wanted to help her smarten up forcefully.

    Meanwhile, just as Qiu Tu was mentally criticizing Liu Fuping, she had finally made up her mind.

    She looked at Qiu Tu and then said, "I can''t tell you who my superior is."

    Seeing Qiu Tu''s puzzled look, she quietly exined, "Because he might not have been exposed."

    "The information this time didn''te from him."

    "But from a higher-up in the department who admires me."

    ```

    Gossip is human nature, so when Qiu Tu heard it, he immediately became interested, "Which high-level official?"

    "Does he know you''re a spy?"

    Liu Fuping''s face showed a bit of struggle, and after a moment, she said, "It''s... Deputy Director Tang."

    "Deputy Director Tang?" Qiu Tu blinked and looked utterly baffled.

    He quickly rifled through his memory for information about this big shot.

    After a moment, he froze, then looked at Liu Fuping with a shocked expression, "Deputy Director Tang? You two?!"

    There was a rare blush on Liu Fuping''s cheeks, but as a married woman, she was different. The next second, sheposed herself and instead questioned Qiu Tu, "What?! Is there a problem with that?"

    Qiu Tu:.....

    "It''s not that it''s impossible. It''s just unexpected...." Qiu Tu wore a strange expression.

    He didn''t finish his sentence, but Liu Fuping understood his meaning...

    Deputy Director Tang, whose real name was Tang Feifei, was the only female among the nine high-ranking officials of the Xinjie City Investigation Bureau.

    She was just over 30, with a pretty face but wheat-colored skin, and her short hair added to her spirited bearing.

    Apart from some impressions of her appearance, Qiu Tu''s other memory of her was... her "good" figure.

    This "good" wasn''t the same as Liu Fuping''s delicate and feminine curves, but rather... agile like a female leopard.

    Her chest was robust, and her limbs were covered in streamlined muscles. Just one look and you could tell she was brimming with explosive power, the type that could run 1000 meters in one breath without getting winded.

    She was a woman who had climbed to the top of an aggressive organization like the Investigation Bureau; no one dared to underestimate her.

    And now, unexpectedly... she was involved with Liu Fuping?!

    Thinking of this, Qiu Tu inexplicably felt a chill down his back.

    Was he falling into a den of mistresses of the high and mighty? Having provoked the Bureau Chief''s mistress was one thing, but now he had gotten entangled with the Deputy Director''s significant other?

    Good heavens, was he gically destined to be rebellious?

    Moreover, Yan Chen was already troublesome enough, but Tang Feifei, a woman in a high position, was even more so. Her dark and calcting thoughts were no less than Yan Chen''s.

    Plus, given a woman''s extreme nature, if she found out about his ambiguous behavior with Liu Fuping, who knows, she might chop him into pieces and feed him to dogs.

    Out of nowhere, Qiu Tu thought of his first day at the Interrogation Section, recalling the gossip about Liu Fuping and the neighboring Section Chief Liu.

    He wondered if that gentleman was still safe and sound....

    As he entertained these wild thoughts for a while, Qiu Tu looked at Liu Fuping with aplex gaze and remarked, "I knew Sister Liu you were lethal to men, but I never imagined that even women couldn''t escape your charm."

    Liu Fuping gave Qiu Tu an annoyed nce, not bothering to exin, but asked, "Now you know who''s on my side. What do you think?"N?v(el)B\\jnn

    Qiu Tu propped his chin and fell into deep thought.

    If he remembered correctly, Tang Feifei was the Deputy Director of Administration at the Investigation Bureau, primarily responsible for training, organization, finance, and administrative tasks.

    But because Yan Chen was domineering and had many confidants, Tang Feifei spent most of her time effectively sidelined.

    Thus, there was a natural conflict between Tang Feifei and Yan Chen.

    And this case with the female spy was most likely engineered by Yan Chen''s camp. If Tang Feifei knew, was there a chance she''d take the opportunity to act?

    Thinking of this... Qiu Tu''s eyes brightened as he suddenly felt a breakthrough in thought.

    Yan Chen already knew Tang Feifei leaked intelligence to Liu Fuping, a spy whose allegiance was unknown, holding leverage over Tang Feifei.

    And if Tang Feifei got ahold of evidence implicating Yan Chen and Jia Shu in a cover-up to silence a key suspect...?

    If both sides thought they had leverage over the other, they might engage in some interesting conflict that would throw the entire situation into chaos?

    And if things got chaotic, he might have the chance to fish in troubled waters and make his escape? Perhaps then, the "Countdown Crisis" would be resolved?

    The more he contemted, the more feasible the idea seemed to Qiu Tu...

    However, the one thing he had to be careful about in this n was that he, being at the center of the storm, had to ensure his own safety. He didn''t want to be coteral damage before the war even began.

    But that wasn''t hard to achieve.

    Essentially, it boiled down to one strategy: stalling!

    After all, he knew the final deadline for this case: 10 days.

    He had to keep investigating within these 10 days but never conclude the case.

    Then, if he could present evidence of Jia Shu''s cover-up to Tang Feifei one step ahead, the matter would turn into a showdown between two strong factions, unrted to him.

    Besides, the key to this entire affair was... he couldn''t give either faction a chance to reconcile or negotiate.

    He had to drag Tang Feifei down with him and make sure she couldn''t get out.

    To achieve this...

    With that, Qiu Tu''s gaze fell upon Liu Fuping...

    Perhaps Qiu Tu had been silent for too long, and Liu Fuping had gotten a bit distracted. Suddenly sensing Qiu Tu''s profound gaze, she couldn''t help but look up, "What is it?"

    Hearing Liu Fuping''s words, Qiu Tu smiled very gently,

    "Sister Liu, do you want to survive? Do you want to continue with your mission?"

    For some reason, looking at Qiu Tu''s handsome smile, Liu Fuping felt a shudder.

    She had the feeling that Qiu Tu at this moment was even more terrifying than the brutal Qiu Tu before. Like a devil getting ready to toy with people''s hearts.....

    ```

 Chapter 78 This Woman has Transformed (7k for follow-up reads!)

    But it must be said, the current Qiu Tu indeed has be more charming and easily attracts people to want to continue the conversation....

    So, even though rm bells were sounding in her head, Liu Fuping still, as if possessed by a ghost or god, asked, "What n have you thought of?"

    Qiu Tu''s gaze flickered twice, and he asked with a smile, "Tang Feifei doesn''t know your identity, right?"

    Liu Fuping hesitated for a moment but finally nodded slightly and exined, "She only told me the secret beforehand because I was involved in the interrogation and was worried about me being influenced."

    Qiu Tu nodded and wasn''t surprised.

    After all, Tang Feifei was a high-ranking official of the Investigation Bureau, if she knowingly leaked secrets to Liu Fuping, aware that she was a spy. Then... it would be Qiu Tu''s turn to get promoted and make a fortune.

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu looked at Liu Fuping and made a "pulling down" gesture with a smile, "Drag her down."

    "Tell her about the trickery in this case and let her investigate it."

    Liu Fuping frowned slightly and looked at Qiu Tu, "Is it that simple?"

    Qiu Tu shook his head with a smile, "Of course not."

    "Besides that, you must crazily steal intelligence, tell her the clues and details I''ve uncovered, and then... using her trust, extract all kinds of secret intel from the Investigation Bureau."

    Liu Fuping clearly didn''t understand, "Why is that?"

    Qiu Tu gazed at her deeply, his smile very sunny, "This is to prove that to bring down Yan Chen, she''s willing to betray the Investigation Bureau''s secrets and exchange information with you, the spy."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Liu Fuping''s back instantly turned cold.

    She looked at Qiu Tu in surprise, "You''re really insane!"

    "You are framing and setting up a high-ranking official!"

    Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu walked over to her, embraced her gently, and then whispered in her ear, "I''m just adding ayer of insurance."

    "If she proceeds as nned, then this insurance will never need to be used."

    "But if she regrets it and decides to reconcile with Yan Chen, making a deal, then at least we have a chip that prevents her from backing out."

    Being embraced by Qiu Tu once again, Liu Fuping visibly trembled. But after realizing that Qiu Tu wasn''t as rough as before, her body gradually softened.

    Listening to Qiu Tu''s words, Liu Fuping''s expression kept changing.

    After a moment, she bitterly said, "You really are no good!"

    Qiu Tuughed upon hearing this, looked out the window, and said softly, "Actually, I wasn''t always like this."

    "I used to be very kind and naive."

    "Believing in kindness to others, believing that only through enduring the greatest hardships can one be a superior person."

    "I lived in a daze like this for many years. Until one day, I injured my foot, someone brought me a bowl of pig''s feet, telling me ''the ancestors said eat what you want toplement''. At that moment, I finally came to a realization."

    "Enduring hardship won''t make you a superior person; no matter how much hardship you eat, it only makes you suffer more, only by "eating" people... can you be a superior person!"

    He held Liu Fuping in his arms. The beautiful woman''s soft body was like water in his embrace, her gaze a bit unfocused, somewhat carried away.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    The two embraced each other as they looked out the window.

    After a while, Liu Fuping slowly came back to her senses, and this time, her mood seemed much calmer, no longer so "unprofessional."

    She leaned into Qiu Tu''s arms, then asked softly, "What if she doesn''t fall for it, doesn''t take the bait?"

    Qiu Tu replied softly, "Some things are not done only when there is no chance of failure but are done in the hope of seeing a chance for sess."

    "How can you know for sure that it won''t work if you don''t try?"

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Liu Fuping fell silent for a while, then suddenly her face lit up with a smile, "Alright~ I got it, boss."

    At that moment, she seemed to be somewhat unfamiliar.

    Qiu Tu looked down at her.

    But she suddenly turned around, trapping Qiu Tu''s arms with her own.

    Seeing this, Qiu Tu reflexively tried to exert force.

    At that moment, Liu Fuping suddenly reached out and patted his handsome face, saying coyly, "Good little brother, wouldn''t all that strength be wasted if used now? Come over to your sister''s house tonight."

    Qiu Tu paused, and Liu Fuping took the opportunity to step out of his embrace with a smile.

    After leaving Qiu Tu''s embrace, Liu Fuping pulled down her neckline, revealing her snow-white cleavage.

    Then she nced at Qiu Tu, her eyebrows arching slightly before she strode out of the empty conference room.

    With her lips curled up and her ample bosom bouncing, she walked with the air of a seductress, full of allure.

    This woman seemed to have undergone a transformation within minutes.

    Qiu Tu watched the beautiful woman in surprise.

    Compared to her previous half-baked state, she now truly looked a bit like a female spy....

    In the past, although Qiu Tu asionally took liberties with her, he really wasn''t that interested in her.

    But now... if something were to happen between them, Qiu Tu would be willing to be the Bureau Chief of the Investigation Bureau, live in a garden vi, surrounded by beauties, driving luxury cars!

    After silently musing to himself, Qiu Tu walked to the door, closed the door to the empty conference room, and locked it.

    Although Liu Fuping seemed to have truly had an epiphany, whether this n could be executed still depended on her subsequent actions.

    Ability is rted to attitude, but it also needs to be improved step by step.

    So, what Qiu Tu needed to do now was to add a fewyers of insurance for himself, to avoid being left without alternatives if the n failed.

    And his insurance was simple.

    One was that he needed to continue investigating this case. To see if the truth matched what he had guessed.

    Two was that he needed to pull more factions into the fray, to guarantee his safety...

    With that in mind, Qiu Tu took out Chen Feng''smunicator and made a call to Lin Zuo.

    "Beep... beep... beep..."

    The phone was answered after just a couple of rings.

    This time, before Lin Zuo could speak, Qiu Tu directly said, "416."

    Lin Zuo''s speech cut off, and after a second''s silence, he asked, "What''s the matter?"

    Qiu Tu spoke concisely, "I''m looking for her."

    The sounds of Lin Zuo getting up came through the receiver.

    After a while, there was a knock at the door, followed by the sound of opening the door, and then the conversation between the reticent Lin Zuo and Qin Shuman, "Is there something you need?"

    "It''s a call from Qiu Tu."

    "Okay."

    Shortly after, the somewhat unfamiliar yet familiar voice of Qin Shuman rang in Qiu Tu''s ear, "Hello? Is that you?"

    Qiu Tu couldn''t tell if it was an illusion, but he felt that Qin Shuman''s voice seemed tired and low.

    Qiu Tu hummed a confirmation, "It''s me."

    Then he added, "I''ve run into some issues here."

    "I might need your help."

    Qin Shuman didn''t even ask what the issue was before agreeing, "All right, tonight, I''lle to you."

    A smile crept onto Qiu Tu''s lips.

    See, it''s alwaysfortable to cooperate with smart people.

    With just one sentence, the other party could roughly guess what was happening and knew where to find him.

    With such an excellent partner, how could he worry about not oveing the crisis at hand?

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu hung up the phone and silently deleted the call record from hismunicator.

    ¡ªThis wasn''t to guard against Jia Shu but to protect Chen Feng.

    Afterpleting these tasks, Qiu Tu returned to the conference room next door.

    At this moment, several investigators were still having a heated discussion about the case in the conference room. However, Liu Fuping was nowhere to be seen.

    Qiu Tu looked around, didn''t see her, and guessed that she had probably gone to find Tang Feifei.

    Qiu Tu paid it no mind, sat in his chair, and continued to review Yin Caimei''s dossier while patiently waiting.

    Soon, Li Feng and Wang Xi returned, saying the forensic doctor was in ce and they could proceed with the autopsy.

    At that news, Qiu Tu stopped waiting for Liu Fuping and went with the team to the autopsy room to prepare for the examination.

    Upon arrival, Qiu Tu saw the forensic doctor: a young man in histe twenties, quite handsome, but slightly less so than Qiu Tu himself.

    After a brief chat, Qiu Tu learned some basic information about the forensic doctor.

    The doctor''s surname was Qin, from a coteral branch of the Qin family.

    Before the establishment of Xinjie City, he was a family physician for the Qin Family. Later, when Xinjie City was founded, he was sent to the Investigation Bureau to learn about autopsy and medical investigation skills, ultimately bing a forensic doctor.

    This kind of identity shift was not umon in Xinjie City over the past two years.

    Or to put it another way, the major families and powers of Xinjie City were gradually infiltrating the three great authorities through this method, affecting the entire Xinjie City.

    At first, when he learned of the forensic doctor''s identity, Qiu Tu was somewhat hesitant: after all, he had quite a few conflicts with the Qin family, and he wasn''t sure if this doctor might cheat or deliberately ck off.

    What surprised Qiu Tu was that, although the forensic doctor was from the coteral Qin family, he didn''t seem to harbor any animosity towards him.

    In fact, while examining Yin Caimei''s body, the doctor even casually chatted with him about the recent series of disturbances within the Qin family.

    ording to the doctor, after Master Qin Si absconded, the Qin family''s ck and gray industries were swept clean and confiscated, affecting many of the Qin family''s coteral branches in the Fourth House, who gathered and caused trouble within the family.

    If it weren''t for Commissioner Qin stepping in to suppress the situation and providing them with new means to make a living, it would likely have turned into a major chaos.

    The arrangement of these people was also not hard to guess ¡ª they were all stuffed into the legitimate businesses of Qin Shu, the Third Brother, as only his enterprises could amodate so many people.

    However, as most of these people were formerly in gangs, they brought their Jianghu habits with them into formal industries, causing trouble every few days, which brought great dissatisfaction to Qin Shu.

    As a result, Qin Shu and Commissioner Qin had argued more than once over this matter, causing even more unrest within the Qin family.

    Qiu Tu silently watched the entire process of the autopsy while also listening quietly to the forensic doctor''s report.

    As he listened, he sensed something was amiss.

    Looking at the forensic doctor, he tentatively asked, "Which branch of the Qin family are you from?"

    The forensic doctor, with his hands full of fresh blood, looked up at Qiu Tu and showed a toothy smile, "The Fifth House."

    Qiu Tu instantly understood.

    The Qin family''s Fifth House was the one with a younger half-brother from the same father, a yboy without serious pursuits.

    Since he was born of the legitimate wife, and being much younger than the four brothers, he had been excluded from the Qin family''s core of power early on.

    No wonder the forensic doctor from the Fifth House seemed to take such schadenfreude in the battles between the four Qin brothers.

    Qiu Tu got it.

    So, under Qiu Tu''splete observation, the forensic doctor quickly finished the entire set of autopsies.

    After cleaning the tools and washing his hands, the forensic doctor spoke as he walked out, with Qiu Tu following beside him, "Although many samples still need to be tested, and everything should be based on the final autopsy report,"

    "From my experience, there were no other injuries on her body, no damage to the internal organs, and no signs of poisoning."

    "Can we almost rule out foul y?"

    "So, could it just be an ident?"

    On hearing this, Qiu Tu paused, and let out a heavy internal sigh.

    The forensic doctor was unaware of the Cataclysm Prop, but Qiu Tu knew about it.

    So, these entirely normal autopsy results, in fact, strongly suggested the possibility of "murder."

    After all, if there truly was no fatal injury, and it wasn''t murder or suicide, then maybe... only a Cataclysmic ability or a Cataclysm Prop could secretly cause a person''s death.

    Contemting this, Qiu Tu couldn''t help but hesitate.

    If Yin Caimei was indeed killed by a Cataclysmic ability or Cataclysm Prop,

    Then... who could have done it?

    Keep in mind... even within the Investigation Bureau, there aren''t many Cataclysmics ¨C probably only a dozen or so division chiefs and four Bureau Chiefs and Deputy Directors.

    This range is too small, too frightening...

    ----

 Chapter 79 Harvest of Over Ten Million (7k)

    ```

    Forensic Doctor Qin turned his head to look at Qiu Tu, perhaps sensing his hesitation, and then seriously said, "Every body has its unique code; as long as we can crack it, it will speak."

    "So, we must believe in science, believe in evidence."

    "We can''t doubt everything just because a case is mysterious. That would lead us into the trap of ''skepticism''!"

    Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu chuckled.

    He indeed wished to believe in science, believe in evidence.

    But... he himself possessed supernatural powers that couldn''t be exined by science.

    How could he believe that just because science hasn''t detected any problems with the body, there really were no problems?

    However, these things weren''t something Qiu Tu could exin to Forensic Doctor Qin. It wasn''t just because of the principle of confidentiality; their rtionship also hadn''t reached that point.

    Thinking this, he chuckled again and said in a gentle tone, "I understand. It''s just that I indeed have some other doubts."

    Forensic Doctor Qin was a shrewd person. Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, he gave him a suspicious nce, opened his mouth, but in the end chose not to say anything.

    Afterpleting the autopsy, Qiu Tu led Chen Feng, Song Qing, Wang Xi, Little Liu, and others back to the investigation team''s temporary office.

    Upon returning to the office, Qiu Tu checked the time; it was already 5 p.m.

    He decisively pped his hands and then dered, "That''s it. Today''s work is done for now. Everyone should go rest if you need to rest; it''s time to clock out if it''s time to clock out."

    "If anyone has other ideas, we can discuss them tomorrow."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s remarks, people like Li Feng and Wang Xi were noticeably stunned.

    Obviously, at the Investigation Bureau, everyone was already ustomed to working overtime; there was never a time for leaving work punctually.

    So, for a moment, although they had heard Qiu Tu''s order, not a single person dared to move.

    Then, emboldened Little Liu nced at the others and raised his hand to ask, "Chief, are you serious? We''re not working overtime?"

    Qiu Tu looked at him, smiled, and responded, "Why work overtime if it can be done during regr hours?"

    Saying that, Qiu Tu pointed to the files spread out on the table, "Besides, what work is there to do now?"

    "We''ve finished studying the files and documents, and we''ve watched the autopsy beingpleted. As for... theb tests, the earliest results won''t be avable until tomorrow."

    "We don''t even have a preliminary autopsy report yet, nor do we understand how the victim died. We can''t just randomly arrest a suspect for interrogation, can we?"

    "So..." Qiu Tu gestured with his hand, "dismissed, dismissed, everyone go home and rest, recharge your energy for tomorrow''s case-solving efforts."

    After hearing Qiu Tu''s definitive statement, Song Qing, who had been restless on the side, couldn''t contain her excitement and leaped up, eximing, "Long live the Chief!"

    "I knew I read you right!"

    After she spoke, she happily gathered her belongings and dashed out of sight.

    With her leading the way, Li Feng, Little Liu, and the others exchanged nces, also smilingly thanked Qiu Tu, packed up their things, and left work stylishly...

    Qiu Tu was thest to leave.

    He neatly organized all the case materials and documents, locked them up, then turned off the lights, locked the door, and left the Investigation Bureau.

    Probably because it was rare for Investigation teams to leave work so early from the Political Department, Qiu Tu garnered many envious nces along the way.

    And the loyalty level notifications for his subordinates kept popping up.

    [Li Feng Loyalty +1]

    [Ding Xiaoliu Loyalty +2]

    [Wang Xi Loyalty +2]

    [.....]

    [Song Qing Loyalty +7]

    Seeing thatst exaggerated loyalty notification, Qiu Tu couldn''t help but crack a smile.

    This girl really hated overtime; her loyalty actually increased by so much...

    After work, Qiu Tu drove to the Investigation Bureau''s gas station to fill up his car with fuel.

    As he wasn''t a director yet and couldn''t enjoy official car benefits, the expense was his own¡ª a whole Silver Yuan.

    In Qiu Tu''s former life, that was almost 800 Yuan.

    And this much fuel would onlyst him three days. Indeed, in the nning Area, such controlled resources were incredibly expensive.

    If it wasn''t for receiving Old Fourth Qin''s assets tonight, Qiu Tu imagined he''d be reluctant to keep driving this car.

    While thinking this, Qiu Tu headed to the small restaurant at 29 Nanfang Street¡ª a frequent gathering spot for him and his brothers.

    The restaurant''s owner used to be a big shot in Ah-Tai''s gang, who, during the military''s crackdown in Xinjie City two years ago, was quick to escape, sparing his life but crippling one of his legs.

    Subsequently, he decided to retire from the underworld, opening this restaurant with his wife.

    Arriving at the restaurant, the owner, wearing an oilcloth apron, was sitting down, scraping fish scales.

    Seeing Qiu Tu, he smiled and raised his hand in greeting, "Ah-Tu''s here. The guys are inside."

    Qiu Tu nodded in acknowledgment, greeting, "Brother Qiang," before heading straight to the courtyard inside.

    The small restaurant wasn''t grand, without any private rooms, so Qiu Tu and his brothers usually took over the courtyard behind the owner''s house, setting up a few tables for open-air dining.

    Upon entering the courtyard, about a dozen young men were already there, scattered around and chatting in groups.

    Noticing Qiu Tu''s arrival, they greeted him in session, "Brother Tu''s here." "Brother Tu." "Brother Tu, you''ve arrived."

    Qiu Tu returned the greetings with a smile and then scanned over them.

    Besides Qiu Tu, his small group consisted of 15 people in total. The core was made up of Qiu Tu, Ah-Tai, and Eagle.

    The rest of them were mostly picked up by Qiu Tu or brought back by Ah-Tai after some scuffle somewhere.

    Now, Ah-Tai had gone to the Special Service Department. Eagle and Ah-Kun had gone to the Political Department. Twelve others hadn''t been ced yet.

    Today, Qiu Tu had to choose two suitable individuals from them to send to the military.

    [Monkey Loyalty: 85]

    ```

    [Ah-Shui Loyalty: 83]

    [Da Tou Loyalty: 81]

    [Ah-Xiong Loyalty: 89]

    [.....]

    Most of the brothers'' loyalty to Qiu Tuy within the 80-85 range. This proved their deep affection for Qiu Tu and their unwaveringmitment to follow him.

    Understandably so, as they had relied on each other for many years, weathering numerous trials and forging bonds as close as life itself.

    Among them, Ah-Xiong surprised Qiu Tu the most.

    Ah-Xiong hadn''t been picked up by Qiu Tu but was brought in one day by Ah-Tai from the outside.

    Back then, Ah-Tai was still involved in gang activities, and Ah-Xiong was a member of a rival gang. During a gang sh, Ah-Xiong''s reckless fighting style caught Ah-Tai''s eye.

    So, after Ah-Xiong was nearly chopped to death, Ah-Tai dragged him back to see if he could still be saved.

    By the time he was covered in blood and barely hanging onto life. Out of kindness, Qiu Tu spent money on a doctor to suture and clean his wounds; the rest was left to fate¡ªthis was the best medical care one from the lower strata could hope for.

    Perhaps it was his destiny to survive; to everyone''s astonishment, Ah-Xiong actually pulled through.

    From then on, he hung around with Qiu Tu, Ah-Tai, and the rest of the brothers.

    However, even though he was with Qiu Tu and the others, he was actually quite solitary by nature and didn''t talk much. He would silently sit to one side and eat during gatherings.

    Having apparently suffered a great deal of trauma since childhood, he seemed to regard everyone with innate hostility, which made him the least favored within Qiu Tu''s small circle.

    Initially, Qiu Tu presumed he would be the least loyal of all; unexpectedly, his loyalty turned out to be the highest, next to Ah-Tai''s and Eagle''s.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    Qiu Tu spected that this loyalty might have something to do with personality....

    At that moment, while Qiu Tu was observing his brothers, Monkey picked up a canvas bag from the ground and walked over holding it.

    Upon reaching Qiu Tu, Monkey handed the canvas bag to him with both hands, baring his teeth in a grin, "Brother Tu, this is what we snatched from Old Fourth Qin''s wife."

    Qiu Tu took the bag, which was slightly heavy in his grip.

    Opening it to look inside, he saw over thirty shiny Little Goldfish and a pile of paper vouchers.

    In the post-Cataclysm world, gold was much more valuable than silver. One Little Goldfish was worth about 200 Silver Yuan, equivalent to a purchasing power of about 160,000.

    The thirty-plus Little Goldfish in the canvas bag amounted to an immense sum of nearly six million.

    It was the cash that Master Qin Si''s family had carried with them during their escape.

    Adding the non-cashable paper vouchers, deeds,nd titles, and Master Qin Si''s hidden gold reserves....

    Qiu Tu roughly estimated that Master Qin Si''s fortune was at least in the hundreds of millions, and the contents of this bag could cash out to at least twenty or thirty million.

    Thinking of this, Qiu Tu couldn''t help but swear inwardly,

    "Damn, he''s so rich!"

    "Lucky for me, it''s all mine now!"

    With these thoughts, Qiu Tu didn''t sit idly; he began pulling out Little Goldfish from the bag, tossing each one to a brother as he drew it out.

    Watching as each brother caught one, he continued to pull out another, and toss it to another brother.

    Suddenly, cheers erupted in the yard, one after another.

    With a minimum monthly expenditure of about 200 Copper Yuan for ordinary people in this world, one Little Goldfish was enough to sustain amon person for decades.

    Even if one lived extravagantly, a few years of carefree living wouldn''t be a problem.

    And as Qiu Tu casually doled out such a vast sum to them, how could they not cheer?

    So, in just a moment, a plethora of +1, +2 loyalty notifications popped up before Qiu Tu.

    The reason the increases were modest, Qiu Tu guessed, was because the loyalty of those present was already too high....

    After quickly distributing twelve Little Goldfish, Qiu Tu set the canvas bag down by his feet and instructed, "The Little Goldfish is for your nest egg, to take a wife. Don''t squander it needlessly."

    "Later, I''ll have Eagle exchange a few Little Goldfish for some Silver Yuan and Copper Yuan for everyone''s daily expenses."

    "The rest of the money will stay with me for now; if you need any,e to find me."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s arrangements, Monkey, Ah-Shui, Da Tou, and the others promptly responded energetically.

    Because of the money distribution, the entire yard was abuzz with joy, even the sounds of conversation growing louder.

    Allocating wealth was always the most uplifting.

    Soon after, Eagle and Ah-Kun arrived, but Ah-Tai was nowhere to be seen.

    Qiu Tu didn''t wait for him: the guy had alwayscked a sense of time; there''s no telling what might have held him up.

    So Qiu Tu simply asked the owner to serve the dishes.

    Course after course wasid out, and the brothers ate and drank merrily.

    After the third round of drinks, it struck 9 p.m.

    Qiu Tu''smunicator buzzed with vibration.

    Picking it up, Qiu Tu saw a call from an unfamiliar number.

    A hunch crossed his mind, guessing who the caller might be.

    He answered themunicator, and indeed, Qin Shuman''s voice came through the earpiece, "I''m outside."

    Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu excused himself from Eagle and the others and then got up to leave the yard.

    Barely stepping out of the restaurant, Qiu Tu looked up to see Qin Shuman standing across the street.

    She appeared different tonight. Not in a cheongsam or military uniform, she wore a ck, stand-cor cashmere coat.

    Even though the coat covered her exquisite figure, it added to her tall stature, giving her an air of elegance that seemed to stand apart from the rest of the world....

    Seeing her, a smile involuntarily spread across Qiu Tu''s face, and then he started walking towards her....

    And as Qiu Tu approached, Qin Shuman''s lips also curved into a smile.

    She seemed to have applied light makeup deliberately tonight, and her smile was breathtakingly beautiful.

 Chapter 80 Monsters of the Immaterial World (7k)

    In the nning Area, vehicles are a rare sight.

    So crossing the street doesn''t require much care.

    Qiu Tu strode across the street and then opened his arms wide,ughing as he said, "Miss Shuman! To not see you for a day feels like an eternity has passed! Let me give you a hug."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Qin Shuman, dressed in a ck coat, stepped back with a smile and then pushed away at Qiu Tu''s chest with her hand, which was gloved in ck, scolding yfully, "Stop it! Be serious!"

    But Qiu Tu didn''t heed Qin Shuman''s rejection and still wrapped his arms around her to hug her tightly.

    With a beauty in his arms, Qiu Tu was surrounded by the faint fragrance of Qin Shuman.

    Somehow, the anxiety he had been feeling over the past days seemed to have quieted down a bit.

    Qin Shuman quietly leaned into Qiu Tu''s embrace, at first holding back a little, but in two seconds, she gently rested her head against his chest.

    The two of them, fatigued from the terrible issues in their respective departments, suddenly found a haven where they could briefly rest...

    After quietly holding each other for a while, Qin Shuman looked up at Qiu Tu''s face.

    Qiu Tu''s resolute, handsome face had a hint of worry, even his eyebrows were furrowed.

    Qin Shuman reached out and gently smoothed Qiu Tu''s brow, then said softly, "Chief Qiu seems to be in a really bad mood today~~"

    Snapping back to reality, Qiu Tu smiled and asked, "Oh, really?"

    Qin Shuman replied with a "hmm" and said, "I don''t think I''ve ever seen your brows so deeply furrowed."

    "Is the case that difficult to handle?"

    Qiu Tu said, "That''s not it. I was just thinking about how white that girl''s legs across the street are, and why she doesn''t show them off a bit more."

    Qin Shuman: ??

    Annoyed, Qin Shuman kicked Qiu Tu in the stomach and then pushed him away.

    Qiu Tu yelped, "Ouch," clutching his stomach. "You womanck martial morals! Attacking by surprise!"

    Seeing his reaction, Qin Shuman''s lips curled into a smug smile. She teased him, "Chief Qiu~~ If youck the alertness of the Security Department and hug people carelessly, you should be prepared to get hurt!"

    Qiu Tu looked innocent, "The work of the Security Department is too hard! Even a hug has to be so cautious!"

    The two bantered back and forth, lightening the somber mood from when they first met.

    While arguing with Qiu Tu, Qin Shuman was searching the periphery for the girl showing off her legs.

    But after a long search, she found no one.

    It took her a while to realize it, and then she nced at Qiu Tu.

    Qiu Tu, with a smile, let go of his stomach and took her hand, then invited, "Shall we take a walk together?"

    Qin Shuman felt as if something soft in her heart had been touched. She replied with a "hmm" and then joined Qiu Tu for a stroll along the street.

    Today, Qin Shuman hade out as her true self, so there was no need to worry about being recognized.

    Hand in hand, they walked along the street, with Qiu Tu softly sharing everything that had happened today with Qin Shuman.

    This included Jia Shu assigning him to handle the "Yin Caimei case"; Jia Shu saying he would gain the trust of the Security Department; and all the unusual signs and his spections after taking over the "Yin Caimei case".

    Since it was already past 9 p.m., there were no pedestrians on the road, so they didn''t worry about being overheard by others.

    Qin Shuman listened to Qiu Tu''s current problems in silence, pondered for a moment, and then also spoke up,

    "Let''s not talk about the Yin Caimei case for now. Jia Shu said you will receive attention from the Security Department, and I think I have some guess and understanding of it."

    She nced at Qiu Tu and said softly, "Because of protecting Master Qin Si, our Security Department leaked information to the Political Department, giving them an excuse to make things difficult."

    "So, just yesterday alone, several moles we had ced close to the upper echelons of the Investigation Bureau were all extracted, and we haven''t heard from them since."

    "Jia Shu is ruthless; I think they are very likely in a dire situation."

    "Considering what you said aboutst night''s Yin Caimei case information being bait, I suspect that some of the Security Department''s lower-level moles were also listed by him duringst night''s operation."

    "Therefore, next he is likely to one by one remove all the moles from the Security Department. In this case, to expand our channels of information, we will inevitably have to cooperate with you."

    "And that''s how you can infiltrate our ranks."

    Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu pondered for a moment, then nodded slightly, "It should be so."

    Then, Qiu Tu continued, "The situation for your moles now is very dangerous."

    "What do you n to do? Withdraw them?"

    Qin Shuman''s face showed struggle as she shook her head slightly, "We can''t withdraw them."

    "If we do, it could expose you."

    At this point, Qin Shuman''s gaze deepened, "The best course of action is if we can also find out the moles that the Investigation Bureau has within the military."

    "And through you, tip off Jia Shu."

    "That way, both sides holding each other''s people, we could reach a new bnce."

    Qiu Tu asked, "Then... how do you n to find out the Investigation Bureau''s moles in the military?"

    Qin Shuman said with a wry smile, "There''s no way for now."

    "Our lines to the higher-ups in the Investigation Bureau are all severed."

    "Trying to screen through so many soldiers is simply not realistic."

    Hearing Qin Shuman''s words, a bolt of lightning suddenly shed through Qiu Tu''s mind.

    He thought of... Liu Fuping and Tang Feifei.

    As a spy nted by some unknown power within the Investigation Bureau, and with the support of Tang Feifei, the Deputy Director of the Bureau, she must have essed a great deal of ssified information, right?

    I wonder if she has a list of the Bureau''s spies...

    Moreover, as the Deputy Director and a rival of Yan Chen, if there was a way to diminish Yan Chen''s power, I believe she would be very tempted.

    Futhermore, nting spies in other departments is inherently against the rules, so making a move on this matter wouldn''t put her in a difficult position.

    So¡­ even if Liu Fuping doesn''t have a list of spies, if I can connect with Tang Feifei and coborate, maybe there will be some unexpected results.

    After all¡­ Tang Feifei is the "Deputy Director of Administration" in charge of "training".

    Most of the spies among the three major power institutions are secretly trained in Xinjie City.

    If I could get from Tang Feifei the names of those who have been trained at the Bureau over the past year, who didn''t pass the assessment, but finally got jobs in the military, maybe we could catch arge number of spies¡­

    And such a coboration would be greatly beneficial to Qiu Tu as well.

    Besides reducing the power of Yan Chen and Jia Shu, it would also allow him to establish a connection with Tang Feifei.

    Having a Deputy Director as a hidden backer was far too important for Qiu Tu, who was currently treading on thin ice within the Investigation Bureau...

    The room for maneuver would suddenly be muchrger.

    Having rified his thoughts, Qiu Tu nced at Qin Shuman and said, "I''ll think of a way to help you with this matter."

    "I might have some ideas."

    Upon hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Qin Shuman looked at him in surprise.

    As the head of the Security Department''s Investigation Division, Qin Shuman knew all too well the difficulty of obtaining a list of spies; an opportunity like the one presented by Jia Shu was truly rare and hard toe by.

    And now, Qiu Tu was saying he had a way?

    Truth be told, Qin Shuman''s first reaction was disbelief... but after all, it was the thought that counteding from Qiu Tu. So after a brief pause, she still smiled and said,

    "Then I''ll thank Chief Qiu in advance~~"

    "My entire career is now in your hands~"

    Although Qin Shuman hid it well, using a light joke to dilute the seriousness of the matter, Qiu Tu still sharply picked up on her underlying emotions.

    Qiu Tu didn''t say anything. "Doing" was always more reliable than "talking"; handing over the list to Qin Shuman would be the best response when the time came.

    After discussing the matter of the double agent, Qin Shuman also brought up the "Yin Caimei case".

    When it came to this case, she became noticeably more serious.

    She said, "The book ''Brave New World'' is actually very famous."

    "It''s just that it''s known among the great Sanctuaries, not in the nning Area."

    "Sanctuaries?" Qiu Tu asked in surprise.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    Qin Shuman nodded, then continued, "Yes. This book was once wildly popr in the Eight Great Shelters."

    "After all, turbulent times are the best breeding ground for such cultic propaganda."

    "But, a few years ago, the Eight Great Shelters came to an agreement to ban the book and called for all residents to hand it over for destruction!"

    Qiu Tu asked curiously, "Why?"

    Qin Shuman''s brows furrowed as well.

    She said, "I''m not sure. It''s ssified as level B secret, and I don''t have ess to check."

    "But I''ve heard the director mention before that this book has caused a lot of trouble in the non-material world."

    "It seems that many peoplemitted suicide or died in strange ways after reading it, leading to the birth of a terrifying Cataclysmic Creature in the non-material world, which then caused some bizarre changes in the real world."

    The previous night, when she met with Qiu Tu, Qin Shuman had given him several pieces of information on Cataclysmic treasures and Cataclysmic abilities.

    It roughly recorded some of the information Qiu Tu received from the origin of the world.

    However, possibly to avoid leaking secrets or for some special reason, the information did not directly use the term "Boundless Heart Sea" but referred to it as "non-material world" instead.

    After listening to Qin Shuman, Qiu Tu automatically reced the keywords in his mind and sorted through the intelligence as well.

    Then, with some hesitation, he asked, "So, do you suspect that Yin Caimei''s death might be rted to that book?"

    Qin Shuman spread her hands, "I''m not sure. I''m just giving you a new direction to consider."

    After saying that, she paused for a moment before adding, "Besides, although ''Brave New World'' was banned and destroyed in the Sanctuaries, it is still very prevalent among anti-government organizations like the United Front."

    "So it makes sense that Yin Caimei had this book."

    Hearing this, Qiu Tu sensed something amiss.

    He paused for a moment, then tentatively asked, "If I''m not mistaken, the Sanctuaries have been continually purging anti-government armed forces, and it''s not just because they threaten the rule of the Sanctuaries, right?"

    "But it''s rted to... that non-material world, or rather the creatures in it?"

    "Things like ''Brave New World,'' which can give rise to creatures in the non-material world, are not the only ones?"

    ------

 Chapter 81 Cataclysmic Creatures: Phantom Jellyfish (7k)

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Qin Shuman clearly hesitated for a moment.

    Perhaps this matter was rted to the secrets of the Security Department, so she hesitated for a full two seconds before saying to Qiu Tu, "Yes."

    She exined, "The material world and the non-material world are not independent of each other but can influence each other."

    "In the material world, the spirits, obsessions, and negative emotions of living beings can cause various changes in the non-material world."

    "And if certain obsessions or negative effects reach a threshold, then the spirit world might give birth to rted Cataclysmic Creatures, or even more terrible disasters."

    Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu tentatively asked, "Then what kind of impact do these Cataclysmic Creatures and ''disasters'' have on the real world?"

    Qin Shuman said with a bitter smile, "A lot. So much that you wouldn''t want to know."

    "Let me give two simple examples...."

    "For instance, the Cataclysmic Creature that was born due to the book ''Brave New World'' once caused a disaster in the non-material world, destroying six or seven cities under the jurisdiction of the Third Sanctuary."

    "Later, the Third Sanctuary paid a great price to quell the disaster and drive it away."

    "Another example is a huge Cataclysmic Creature named the ''Phantom Jellyfish,'' which is several kilometers long and drifts in the depths of the non-material world, alone."

    "But once it moves towards the material world, it triggers a psychic tidal wave. The power of the disaster will surge toward the material world like waves."

    "Ordinary beings in the material world will be affected by this Catastrophic Power, rapidly evolving."

    "However, the spirits of many higher beings will be affected, with lighter cases experiencing dizziness and vertigo while severe cases may go mad or suffer from schizophrenia."

    "Material affects spirit, and spirit in turn affects material...." Qiu Tu softly evaluated.

    For the first time, he had a clear understanding of the information he had received from the world''s origin.

    The Boundless Heart Sea is not just the source of Catastrophe Power, but truly... the Cataclysm origin that has changed the entire world...

    Thinking of this, Qiu Tu felt a surge of new ideas about the "Yin Caimei case."

    If the emotions of beings in the real world can give rise to Cataclysmic Creatures, and if the Cataclysmic Creatures in the Boundless Heart Sea can in turn affect the beings of the material world...

    Then this matter may very well involve more than just the Investigation Bureau, Xinjie Chamber of Commerce, Anti-government Armed Forces, and City Hall; there might be deeper secrets involved.

    With this thought, Qiu Tu''s mind stirred, and he became curious about another matter.

    He looked at Qin Shuman beside him and inquired, "Actually, I''ve always been curious about something."

    "Why would The military, Investigation Bureau, and City Hall nt spies within each other?"

    "Aren''t we all people of the Sanctuary?"

    "Isn''t this like stirring up a civil war?"

    Qin Shuman pondered for a moment upon hearing this before carefully stating, "First off, I need to correct you on one thing. The Sanctuary has never supported the three major power authorities fighting against each other."

    "In fact, openly, the Sanctuary has always severely criticized this behavior."

    At this point, Qin Shuman''s tone shifted, "But..."

    "The Sanctuary is, after all, a new government that has only been established in recent years. Calling it a nation is one thing, but it''s more aptly described as a coalition of various forces."

    "Several top-level individuals sought to change the plight of humanity through cooperation and together rebuild the entire Cataclysm-affected world. So, they united, allocated interests ording to the resources each possessed, and established an entirely new social system."

    "Therefore, whether it''s the Investigation Bureau or The military, they are actually rtively independent entities."

    Qin Shuman gestured with her hand and exined, "It appears as though we are all led by the Sanctuary, but in reality, the power structure is segmented."

    "If you join the Investigation Bureau, your promotion is within the Investigation Bureau''s hierarchy. If you enter The military, you''ll only rise within The military."

    "The same applies to City Hall."

    "This has resulted in each of the three major power authorities being independent kingdoms, each developing on their own. They only coborate when facing crises."

    Hearing this, Qiu Tu said in astonishment, "Wouldn''t that cause chaos?"

    Qin Shuman exined, "It would. Which is why, after recognizing the problem, the upper echelons decisively implemented two measures."

    "One is to address the symptoms, and the other is to address the root causes."

    Qiu Tu was curious, "Address the symptoms? Address the root causes?"

    Qin Shuman nodded, "Addressing the symptoms is what you just mentioned. Although the Sanctuary forbids the three major authorities from targeting each other openly, it covertly encourages them to nt ''spies'' in other authorities."

    She paused for a second, correcting herself, "Actually, the correct term should be ''agents.'' They are encouraged to insert agents into other authorities."

    "And the agents inserted into other organizations should hide their true identities as much as possible, climb up thedder with the support of their original power, and ultimately attain high positions."

    "For example, if you''re the person we''ve chosen. If you''re a Deputy Staff Chief in the Investigation Bureau, that qualifies as a spy."

    "But if you take Yan Chen''s position and be the Investigation Bureau Chief... with the entire Xinjie City Investigation Bureau under your leadership, how could you be considered a spy?"

    "You''d just be an Investigation Bureau official with good rtions to The military."

    Qiu Tu''s mouth opened slightly: ....

    Inexplicably, it made sense.

    Perhaps sensing Qiu Tu''s shock, Qin Shuman covered her mouth and chuckled before continuing, "Actually, due to these actions, there has been a significant increase in personnel transfers between the three major authorities in the past two years. The connections between them have also be much closer."

    "After all, sometimes when ''spies'' have been in ce for too long, they can''t even tell who they really work for. They might help The military as well as the Investigation Bureau."

    "As it went back and forth, it did indeed shatter the scenario of an independent kingdom," Yan Chen said.

    Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu hesitated slightly before voicing his doubt, "What about the ordinary spies you send to the upper echelons?"

    "It can''t all be about climbing the ranks, right?"

    Qin Shuman shook her head, "That''s not it."

    "Those spies have three purposes."

    "First is to gather intelligence, to stay updated on what sibling agencies are up to, so as not to make decisions based on incorrect information."

    "Second is to help our own people rise through the ranks. There has to be a vacancy up there for our people to climb. If we discover any illegal activities on their part, it not only creates positions for our people but also rids the Sanctuary of a pest, doesn''t it?"

    "Third is... oversight."

    Qin Shuman''s expression becameplex as she continued, "Generally speaking, most mid- and high-level officials stationed in the nning Area are Cataclysmics."

    "Cataclysmics are too unpredictable; no one knows when they might Degenerate or undergo a Psychic Mutation."

    "Therefore, we three major agencies monitor each other to try to prevent certain uncontroble incidents..."

    At this point, she looked earnestly at Qiu Tu and added, "Yan Chen, for instance, is someone we pay close attention to."

    After listening to Qin Shuman''s exnation, Qiu Tu finally had a rough understanding of the spy games yed by the three major power agencies, a game of "tit for tat."

    No wonder he felt that the government infighting in this world was rather intense. It turned out to be due to structural issues at the founding of the government, which was now going through a painful adjustment period.

    ording to Qin Shuman, the three factions would probably fight for years, maybe a decade, before gradually merging and forming a cohesive whole.

    With this in mind, Qiu Tu couldn''t help but think of another, more fundamental solution mentioned by Qin Shuman.

    Since the conversation had reached this point, he naturally asked about it.

    When the topic shifted to this, Qin Shuman became much more serious. She said, "The fundamental method would be... to promote top-level political reform."

    "Initially, the highest governing body of each Sanctuary was merely a round-table meeting, with negotiations and benefit divisions amongst leaders of various factions."

    "Now, each Sanctuary is setting up a Supreme Council, centralizing power within the Council, which has the ultimate decision-making authority over all affairs of the Sanctuary and the nning Area."

    "To go against the orders issued by the Council would be tomit a crime against the government."

    "In various cities, the Supreme Council is also pushing for the establishment of Municipal Committees, trying to forge the Committee into the highest governing body of each city."

    "Leaders of departments like the military and the Investigation Bureau will eventually be members of the Municipal Committee, merely regr members."

    "The city''s major and minor decisions, even the appointment of mid-level officials, will be determined through discussions by the Committee members."

    "But this measure faces significant resistance, so for now it has only reached the propaganda stage."

    After hearing Qin Shuman''s ount, Qiu Tu finally had aprehensive understanding of the power structure of Xinjie City and indeed the Sanctuaries as a whole.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    It was an era moving from chaos to order, filled with all kinds of opportunities.

    If he could seize them well, perhaps he really could reach the peak!

    And moreover...

    He thought of his own journey towards Superhuman Power, "Order-Politics."

    He thought of the Cataclysmic Creatures that intruded upon the real world from the Boundless Heart Sea.

    Qiu Tu knew that he had to struggle up thedder, step by step, to the very top, to grow ever stronger!

    Only by doing so could he truly take control of his life in this bizarre world of Cataclysms!

    With this thought, Qiu Tu''s eyes became much more determined...

    Afterward, Qin Shuman discussed with Qiu Tu some other details about the "Yin Caimei case."

    As the head of the Security Department''s Investigation Department, Qin Shuman had plenty of experience handling supernatural cases.

    So many of her insights were enlightening to Qiu Tu.

    For example, many Cataclysmic abilities or Cataclysm Props might not require close contact with the victim, making long-range murder a possibility.

    For instance, the guard rooms of the Political Department and Security Department usually have the ability to block external Catastrophic Powers. Unless the door to the Guard Room is opened, external Catastrophes theoretically can''t prate.

    Moreover, ordinary objects in the hands of the deceased or within the body might have been "seeded" with Cataclysmic abilities, set to trigger automatically upon meeting certain conditions...

    After talking with Qin Shuman, Qiu Tu felt he had a new perspective on the case.

    Maybe... this case wasn''t necessarily a silencing by the Political Department?

    After all, if it was indeed the Political Department''s doing, their methods might not have been so crude?

    Such thoughts brought a glimmer of hope to Qiu Tu''s investigation.

    Most importantly... after they finished discussing the case. Qin Shuman took the initiative to say, "If you''re willing, I cane to the Investigation Bureau with you tomorrow night to examine the body for Cataclysmic traces."

    "See if I can provide you with new clues and directions."

    Startled by Qin Shuman''s proposal, Qiu Tu replied with a hint of surprise, "Would you really be able to do that?"

    "With both your identities, it seems quite difficult for you to enter the Investigation Bureau, right?"

 Chapter 82 Obtaining Key Clues (7k)

    ```

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Qin Shuman smiled.

    She ced her hands behind her back, stood on tiptoe, and raised her eyebrows with a bit of smugness, "I have my ways~~"

    Seeing her like this, Qiu Tu roughly guessed: This woman most likely had found a new possession target.

    Thinking of this, Qiu Tu suddenly felt.... that being with this woman wouldn''t be too bad¡ªothers at most could y with uniform seduction, but she... she could let you experience every woman in the whole world!

    No matter whether you like lolitas or prefer maturedies. Even if you were so inclined to drive a tank, she could satisfy you!n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    As Qiu Tu was indulging in his wild thoughts, Qin Shuman continued,

    "Also, I was nning to head to the Investigation Bureau tomorrow night anyway. It''s actually safer to be with you," she said.

    "I might even need your protection then."

    Hearing Qin Shuman''s words, Qiu Tu snapped back to reality. He nodded slightly, "Don''t worry."

    "As long as I''m still breathing, I will definitely...."

    "Run away and signal you for help!"

    Qin Shumanughed and punched Qiu Tu, "You and your smart mouth!"

    Afterwards, the two chatted casually for a bit more, and Qin Shuman politely declined Qiu Tu''s invitation toe over to his ce.

    Even after Qiu Tu imed that the mouse at his home could twerk, she spat at him and blushed as she said,

    "I suspect you want me to twerk on you."

    Qiu Tu cried foul at this usation and turned the tables, using Qin Shuman of being a hypocrite!

    Qin Shuman rolled her eyes at him, not bothering to respond.

    Before parting, they exchanged "gifts."

    Qin Shuman gave Qiu Tu apactmunicator.

    ording to Qin Shuman, this tinymunicator was specially made by the Security Department, with a unique number that the Investigation Bureau couldn''t trace back to Qiu Tu.

    With thismunicator, it would be more convenient for the two of them to contact each other privately without having to borrow someone else''smunicator.

    Qiu Tu dly epted this little gift, then reciprocated with a "small note" for Qin Shuman.

    Written on the note were two names: Wang Xiong (Ah-Xiong) and Hou San (Monkey).

    These were the two names Qin Shuman promised Qiu Tu for exemption from exams to enter The military.

    Seeing Qiu Tu''s "gift," Qin Shuman wanted to roll her eyes to the heavens,menting her misfortune in people.

    However, she didn''t reject it and instead solemnly ced the note in her pocket, then reminded Qiu Tu to ensure the two would report to The military the next day.

    This way, watching Qin Shuman slowly vanish around the street corner, Qiu Tu felt a trace of mncholy, then he shoved his hands in his pockets and turned toward the small diner.

    As he walked back into the courtyard of the diner, the boisterous atmosphere hit him immediately.

    Drinks were on their third round; it was the liveliest moment, with about a dozen young people calling out to their friends and clinking cups in the courtyard.

    And seeing Qiu Tu return, the brothers on-site greeted him in turn.

    Qiu Tu nodded to each of them in acknowledgment, then was surprised to find that Ah-Tai had shown up at some point. And... he hadn''t juste by himself; he had dragged Fang Ming along, too.

    Qiu Tu cast a surprised nce at Fang Ming and saw that Fang Ming''s face was filled with helplessness and innocence.

    Clearly... he had been dragged there by Ah-Tai.

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu couldn''t help but curiously ask, "Ah-Tai, howe Agent Fang is here?"

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s question, a flushed Ah-Tai quickly stood up and said to Qiu Tu, "Brother Tu! Fang Ming was dragged here by me."

    He pped Fang Ming''s shoulder vigorously with his huge palm, causing Fang Ming to shrink back, "Brother Tu, let me tell you, Fang Ming is reliable, a man of loyalty!"

    "I feel, we can make him our brother!"

    Listening to his introduction, and the direct way he addressed him, those who knew the inside story understood that Fang Ming was his captain, while those who didn''t would probably think he was Fang Ming''s captain!

    Hearing this, Qiu Tu looked at Fang Ming.

    Fang Ming was awkward and innocent. He shot a pleading look at Qiu Tu, but before Qiu Tu could step in, Ah-Tai had already hoisted him up!

    "Come on, Fang Ming! A toast to Brother Tu!" And with that, he thrust a cup of liquor from the table into Fang Ming''s hand.

    The brothers on-site started to hoot and holler at the sight.

    Fang Ming''s embarrassment grew.

    He wasn''t a three-year-old, he knew this was not just any drink but a rite of brotherhood. Once he drank this, it would mean acknowledging Qiu Tu as the big brother, and he would have to heed any call from Qiu Tu!

    So there he stood, uncertain whether to drink or not.

    Seeing this, Qiu Tu didn''t let Ah-Tai continue on and took the initiative to take the cup from Fang Ming''s hand, saying with a smile, "Perfect, I''m thirsty, thanks for the drink, you two."

    After that, he downed Fang Ming''s cup in one gulp.

    Relieved, Fang Ming showed a grateful expression to Qiu Tu.

    Qiu Tu then patted Ah-Tai''s shoulder, indicated for him to sit, and inquired about what was going on.

    A few drinks in, Ah-Tai really forgot about making Fang Ming pay homage and began to grumble.

    "Damn, that kid really thinks he''s something!"

    "Look who in the entire team respects him?"

    From Ah-Tai''s bits and pieces of conversation, Qiu Tu got the gist of the situation he and Fang Ming had encountered that day.

    The matter was quite simple. In the past few days, a person with connections had joined the Special Service Department.

    No sooner had this connected individual joined than he was made a First Level Detective and acted high and mighty every day.

    Since he didn''t have his own squad yet, he woulde and nitpick Fang Ming''s squad whenever he had nothing better to do.

    ```

 Chapter 83 Launching the Second Tier Loyalty Game (7k for Monthly Tickets)

    After half an hour of tossing and turning.

    The two women finally copsed into each other''s arms, exhausted.

    Liu Fuping held Tang Feifei tenderly, her eyes too tired to open properly.

    Yet Tang Feifei''s energy seemed to remain robust, and even where Liu Fuping didn''t notice, her eyes flickered with an orange glow.

    That glowsted for a few minutes before slowly retreating into the depths of her eyes.

    As Tang Feifei held Liu Fuping''s fair body, her wheat-colored skin created a stark contrast.

    Tang Feifei quietly relished the afterglow for a moment, then looked down at Liu Fuping and asked in a low voice, "You seemed especially proactive tonight."

    Her voice, a contralto,cked the sharpness of ordinary women and instead carried a weightiness of authority, and unexpectedly harmonious to the ear.

    Liu Fuping clung to her panther-like agile body, her entire being fluid, "No~~ it''s just that the new boss is easy to get along with, so I saved a lot of energy, enough to spend some on you~"

    Upon hearing Liu Fuping, Tang Feifei hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Is your new boss Qiu... Qiu Tu?"

    At this, Liu Fuping nodded and feigned curiosity, "Does Director Tang also know him?"

    Tang Feifei hummed in acknowledgment, then said, "I''ve only heard of him."

    Tang Feifei''s gaze became somewhat reminiscent, "I heard he was originally one of Old Bai''s men and was highly regarded by him."

    "Later, with Old Bai''s rmendation, he sessfully climbed onto Yan Chen''s good graces."

    "He''s quite talented; at first, he did all the dirty work for Yan Chen, neverining."

    "Later, when he got an opportunity, he immediately showed his capabilities. Not only did he protect Yan Chen''s mistress during a shootout, but he also gained the support of the Qin Family for Yan Chen."

    "Because of this, he earned Jia Shu''s appreciation and was recruited into the Political Department, where he is now being groomed."

    Liu Fuping hadn''t expected Tang Feifei to have such a high opinion of Qiu Tu. She was stunned for a second before continuing, "Is that so?"

    "But... I somehow feel that Chief Qiu doesn''t seem to get along well with Secretary Bai, the Bureau Chief, and Minister Jia?"

    "And in the Political Department, he doesn''t seem to be groomed as a key person."

    Her words sessfully piqued Tang Feifei''s curiosity. Her clear eyes nced at Liu Fuping as she inquired, "What do you mean? Have you discovered something else?"

    Liu Fuping tread carefully, "I can''t really exin."

    "Ever since Chief Qiu entered the Political Department, I''ve been under hismand."

    "I''ve noticed that he doesn''t seem very happy. Especially after taking on the current case, he''s been quite restless."

    "Today, after he reviewed the case files and conducted the autopsy, he immediately made phone calls to consult others. And after those consultations, he sat in an empty conference room, quietly smoking, without a word."

    "Moreover, I''ve noticed that every time he enters Minister Jia''s office, he''s on edge as if he''s afraid of being plotted against."

    As a trained multi-faceted spy, Liu Fuping had her skills, although due tock of time, many were still a bit rusty. But she possessed the basic abilities to gather intelligence and steer conversations.

    She knew that if she brought up the "Yin Caimei case" right off the bat, Tang Feifei would not only be uninterested but might be suspicious of her.

    So, she first dangled Qiu Tu as bait to catch Tang Feifei''s interest, encouraging Tang Feifei to investigate and approach Qiu Tu, making it easier for her and Qiu Tu to execute their n.

    As expected, after hearing Liu Fuping''s words, although Tang Feifei nonchntly patted Liu Fuping''s butt, saying, "Enough, let''s not talk shop in bed,e on, let''s do it again."

    But as she turned, her eyes clearly flickered, revealing a trace of deep thought....

    Liu Fuping keenly captured this signal. Comforted, she once again immersed herself in the arduous task at hand.....

    ...

    The dinner at the small restaurant continued until midnight.

    It''s quitemon for a group of single young people, all without girlfriends, to eat and drink into the night.

    Even, if it weren''t for the fact that they all got jobs or positions through Qiu Tu, it would be normal to drink all night long.

    When the gathering dispersed, Fang Ming took the opportunity while Ah-Tai was absent to secretly toast Qiu Tu.

    Fang Ming''s tolerance for alcohol was clearly average. But he... seemed to be easily overwhelmed by Ah-Tai, never able to refuse, so he was fed drink after drink from the very beginning.

    Thankfully, Qiu Tu noticed Fang Ming''s predicament and intervened, preventing him from bing utterly drunk.

    Additionally, since Fang Ming visited suddenly without informing Qiu Tu ahead of time, he had broken protocol.

    Hence, he took the initiative to offer Qiu Tu a toast before leaving.

    "Chief Qiu, I''m sorry about today. And thank you for tonight. Uh... I''m not great with words, let the drink speak for me," Fang Ming said.

    After finishing his words, Fang Ming drained his ss in one gulp.

    Qiu Tu smiled and replied, "Ah-Tai is someone I''ve watched grow up since he was a child. He''s not bad, just very enthusiastic with people he likes. Please be understanding of that."

    "Now that he works under you, please take good care of him."

    "Let the drink speak for me."

    After saying that, Qiu Tu too finished the drink in his ss in one go.

    After the toast, the two exchanged a look and couldn''t help butugh.

    Right when the atmosphere between them was warm, Ah-Tai suddenly emerged from somewhere, bringing his face close to the two men and strangely asked, "What are youughing at?"

    He looked suspiciously at the two, "Are you talking behind my back?"

    Hearing this, Qiu Tu and Fang Ming exchanged a nce, thenughed even louder.

    Ah-Tai was quite a character; seeing the twoughing so joyously, he didn''t get upset but rather scratched his head foolishly and joined in with a carefreeugh.

    For a moment, the yard was filled with more and moreughter.

    And so, the little gathering ended happily amidstughter...

    ....

    There was no drunk driving in this world, and on the roads in the early hours, there wasn''t even a single silhouette in sight. Therefore, after the gathering dispersed, Qiu Tu took the initiative to drive the furthest member, Fang Ming, home.

    Listening to Fang Ming''s drowsy directions, Qiu Tu meandered through the dimly lit streets.

    It took over half an hour before Qiu Tu finally reached Fang Ming''s residence.

    What surprised him was that Fang Ming actually lived in Longshan Road.

    From the unique name of this street, one could discern its extraordinary status in Xinjie City¡ªunlike the "Old Alley Street," "Xiafang Street," and "Nanxiang Street" where Qiu Tu and the others lived.

    Other people lived on "Longshan Road."

    This was thergest and most exclusive vi district in Xinjie City, and it had been the center of power before the city was established, housing all the prominent figures of the time.

    Within lived families second only to the Qin Family, wealthy merchants involved in various industries, and gang leaders with tens of thousands of followers.

    Even though these former notables had gradually lost their influence with the establishment of Xinjie City, Longshan Road still held a pivotal position in the entire city.

    At the entrance to Longshan Road, there were armed private security patrols.

    Qiu Tu didn''t continue driving forward but stopped the car instead.

    Fang Ming, who was sitting in the passenger seat, had somewhat sobered up by then and, slightly tipsy, said to Qiu Tu, "Thank you, Chief Qiu, for your hospitality tonight. I''ll head home now."

    "If you have time, you muste over for a visit. My old man has always been very interested in you."

    Hearing Fang Ming''s words, Qiu Tu smiled and nodded, "I certainly will if I get the chance."

    Fang Ming affirmed with a "hmm," opened the car door, got out, and walked towards Longshan Road.

    The patrolling armed personnel were clearly familiar with him and let him pass with a friendly greeting.

    The streets inside Longshan Road were brightly lit by streetmps, illuminating Fang Ming''s path home in the dead of night. Qiu Tu lit a cigarette and watched him leave before driving back into the darkness.

    The dim car lights shone on the uneven road, but Qiu Tu drove extremely smoothly....

    Back on Old Alley Street, Qiu Tu parked his car and strolled back to his cramped, dpidated home.

    The lights were still on inside his home.

    Pushing the door open, Shen Lingshuang was adorably asleep on the sofa, with two dishes on the table, already cold.

    Seeing the scene, Qiu Tu''s gaze slightly fluctuated, then he stepped forward, picked up Shen Lingshuang, and brought her back to the bedroom.

    Shen Lingshuang''s body stiffened for a moment, then her nose twitched, probably catching Qiu Tu''s scent, and finally, she settledfortably in his arms and fell back to sleep.

    After cing the girl on the bed and tucking her in, Qiu Tu took off his clothes, washed up, turned off the lights, and went to bed.

    Lying in bed, Qiu Tu stretched out his arm to embrace Shen Lingshuang. Shen Lingshuang nuzzled into his arms to find afortable spot, and then fell asleep again.

    Yet, Qiu Tu didn''t sleep. Holding the girl, lying in bed, he recalled the lengthy day he''d had.

    Today, he''d been through far too much too quickly for him to keep up with it all.

    It started in the morning when he woke up to discover that the "Yin Caimei case" was a trap, forcing him to rush to rescue Secretary Bai.

    Next was the interrogation of Cao Dabiao, Chen Feng, and their cohort, reaping a wave of their loyalty and making them his team members.

    After that, he discovered that Yin Caimei''s death very likely involved Yan Chen, the Political Department, and Jia Shu. He might have been made a scapegoat.

    And finally, he had unexpectedly learned of Vice President Tian''s coboration with the Investigation Bureau from Ah-Tai,pleting thest piece of the entire puzzle.

    With such a series of twists and turns, Qiu Tu was admittedly worn out.

    However, even so, he couldn''t rest because he had onest task to perform: to initiate the Loyalty Game.

    Without taking small steps, there can be no journey of a thousand miles. Every day, a bit more loyalty, a bit more clue, and maybe in a week, a month, there will be a qualitative change.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Therefore, no matter how tired he was, Qiu Tu did not forget his powerful Golden Finger.

    Thinking this way, Qiu Tu also summoned the Loyalty Game panel.

    When the panel appeared, Qiu Tu noticed that tonight''s Loyalty Game had undergone significant changes from the night before.

    Besides Ah-Xiong and Ah-Kun, whose loyalty had sessfully surpassed 90, bing the third and fourth subordinates after Ah-Tai and Eagle to exceed a loyalty of 90.

    The members of Cao Dabiao''s squad that Qiu Tu had harvested today had half their loyalty also surpassing 60, appearing on the Loyalty Game panel.

    Looking at the more than twenty names on the panel, Qiu Tu felt a sense of aplishment.

    It might be a small number, but they were his first core team in this world.

    And he believed that as his status rose and his power grew, the number of people on these two lists would increase.

    In time, he would have more and more followers in Xinjie City, in the nning Area, in the Sanctuary, and in the entire Cataclysm-ravaged world! His every word and deed would have a profound impact on the world!

    Immersed in quiet contemtion of the future for a while, Qiu Tu snapped back to reality and then started to inspect the Loyalty Game.

    Last night, Qiu Tu knew that the Loyalty Game had two levels.

    The first level was for those with a loyalty of 60, and the second was for 90.

    Last night, Qiu Tu had initiated the first-level game. Its effect was to arrange for subordinates with over 60 loyalty to engage in a bat game" with other subordinates, earning various rewards.

    Today, of course, he was going to try the second-level game.

    He wanted to know what changes would ur in the Loyalty Game once loyalty reached 90.

    With that thought, Qiu Tu clicked on Eagle''s name and selected the second-level loyalty game.....

    ---

    The previous chapter was blocked twice, and I have deleted several descriptions at the beginning. It does not affect the plot.

 Chapter 84 Cataclysmic Potion: Mandragora Love Drug (7k Requests for Follow-Up Reads)

    With a click, the introduction to the second-tier game popped up in front of Qiu Tu.

    "As a boss, you can assign one subordinate with a loyalty above 90 to ''work overtime'' every night."

    "The ''overtime'' subordinate will go to the ''Boundless Heart Sea'' to salvage."

    "The salvage area will correspond to the location in the real world within the ''Boundless Heart Sea''."

    "Therefore, each salvage operation gives you a chance to obtain ''Cataclysmic Potion,'' ''Cataclysmic Treasures,'' and ''Cataclysmic Creatures'' that exist in your area as rewards."

    "And each time you salvage, there''s also a chance that the subordinate will be permeated by Catastrophe Power, increasing the probability of Cataclysm Awakening."

    "Note 1: The loyalty of salvaged Cataclysmic Creatures cannot be guaranteed, so please be sure you can handle them before releasing them."

    "Note 2: Non-Cataclysmic subordinates can only salvage once a week. If done more frequently, there is a risk of Degeneration, Cataclysm, and so on..."

    After reading the introduction to the second game, Qiu Tu blinked, and his brain quickly made a simple analogy: A different-dimension version of Gold Miner?

    My subordinates work during the day, and at night, they have toboriously salvage Cataclysmic Potions, Cataclysmic Props, and even Cataclysmic Creatures for me, just like gold miners?

    That''s just too fort.... too utterly conscienceless!

    Am I really not going to be lynched?

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu silently made excuses for himself: Well, working overtime in dreams probably doesn''t count as overtime, right?

    With that thought, Qiu Tu didn''t hesitate and immediately selected Eagle to start the second-tier game.

    As Qiu Tu confirmed his choice, the very next second, a small screen popped up in front of him.

    In the screen was a chibi top-down view of Xinjie City, and a pixted little figure with a hooked nose was standing on the tallest building in Xinjie City, casting a fishing down with his hand.

    The in his hands was enormous, covering the entire Xinjie City in one sweep.

    But perhaps because the was too big, after several minutes of strenuous effort to pull the back up, it came up empty.

    Thus, he stamped his foot in annoyance and continued to cast his....

    Cast, retrieve, cast, retrieve, the animation repeated over and over.

    Qiu Tu watched quietly for a while, knowing that there wouldn''t be any results in such a short time, so he temporarily closed the game screen and prepared to open the first-tier "Fighting Game" from the loyalty game.

    He opened the "Fighting Game," and just likest night, selected Ah-Tai and Wang Xi.

    The memory fragment he obtained this morning helped Qiu Tu glimpse a side of Wang Xi unknown to others.

    So Qiu Tu also wanted to delve deeper into this mysterious subordinate who was "a Pharmacist by day, a motorbike thug by night."

    To see what organization he really belonged to, and what that organization was typically up to....

    After arranging the two loyalty games, Qiu Tu''s tasks for the day were finallypletely finished.

    He yawned, cuddling Shen Lingshuang''s small, soft, fragrant body, and slowly fell asleep....

    ......

    The Blue Moon hung high in the night sky, casting gossamer moonlight, quietly illuminating the new city of Xinjie.

    But for some reason, there seemed to be mysterious fluctuations urring in Xinjie City tonight.

    The fluctuations were very regr, urring every few minutes, and ordinary beings couldn''t detect them at all. Even the Cataclysmics or Cataclysmic Creatures were led to believe it was just the normal undtions of the Boundless Heart Sea....

    But if one could see the screen of the Loyalty Game, they would realize that the pattern of the fluctuations matched exactly with Eagle''s casting and retrieving.

    It was as if someone was really salvaging something from the entire Xinjie City in a higher dimension....

    And so, the night passed without incident.

    The next day, Qiu Tu was awakened by someone.

    He opened his bleary eyes, lifted his head, and saw Shen Lingshuang bending over prodding his lower half...

    Qiu Tu looked at her nkly and asked, "What are you doing?"

    Upon hearing the question, Shen Lingshuang''s ears turned a bit red. She whispered shyly, "You''re hard."

    Hearing this, Qiu Tu turned over with annoyance, "That means I''ve been dead for 12-16 hours."

    "Leave me alone, let me ''die'' a little longer."

    Shen Lingshuang made an "Ah?" sound, her mouth gaping wide as she stared at Qiu Tu in disbelief.

    After a long moment, she finally realized that Qiu Tu was referencing "rigor mortis."

    She got annoyed and hit Qiu Tu a few times with a pillow, "You''re disgusting! You''re really disgusting!"

    Qiu Tu couldn''t be bothered with her.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    She puffed her cheeks, pouted, and muttered softly, "Insensitive." Then she hopped out of bed to go to the bathroom.

    But her departure left Qiu Tu unable to fall back asleep. He turned over, opened his eyes, and stared at the ceiling for a while.

    Then he called out the Loyalty Game panel, ready to check out the spoils of the previous night.

    Upon opening the Loyalty Game, the first thing he saw was the settlement screen of the "Fighting Game."

    Unsurprisingly, Ah-Tai had once again smashed Wang Xi to bits.

    But perhaps because he had drunk alcoholst night, the pixted figure of Ah-Tai in the screen also had a "battered" left eye, which turned purplish.

    In the settlement screen, a drunken Ah-Tai was burping with a hammer in hand, stepping on Wang Xi.

    Wang Xi, meanwhile,y on the ground, clutching a brick, crying "wah wah."

    ''The oue screen actually changes?''

    ''And... it seems to vary ording to the real state of the subordinates?''

    Qiu Tu was surprised while checking the game''s spoils.

    Last night''s haul was rtively average, just a mere 2 points of loyalty, and there was nothing else.

    Qiu Tu felt a little short-changed....

    Drinking indeed caused trouble; he decided not to bring Ah-Tai to the next gathering.

    With a strong sense of dissatisfaction, Qiu Tu closed the "Fighting Game" and checked the "Salvage Game."

    Salvage Game''s settlement screen was rather simple¡ªit was just Eagle''s pixted figure, exhausted and panting on the ground. There was nothing else special.

    Qiu Tu initially thought this was a failed salvage.

    However, when he was about to close the settlement animation disappointedly, he noticed that next to Eagle''s figure, there was surprisingly a small pink bottle of potion.

    The icon was extremely small, and if it weren''t for Qiu Tu''s sharp eyes, he probably would have missed it.

    Curiously, Qiu Tu clicked on it, and sure enough, a prompt popped up in front of him,

    [Obtained Cataclysmic Potion: Mandragora Love Drug]

    Qiu Tu: ??

    What''s this?

    Qiu Tu tried to check the description of the potion.

    ''Cataclysmic Potion: Mandragora Love Drug''

    ''Potion Description: A Cataclysmic Potion made from Cataclysm Materials such as Mandrake Flower and Subs of Water, through a "Mystery" process used by Cataclysmics.''

    ''Potion Effect: Simply apply a small amount to the neck, and you will gain a half-hour effect of enchanting allure. Anyone who approaches you will involuntarily let down their guard to some extent and feel a certain fondness for you.''

    Seeing the effect of the pink potion, Qiu Tu''s mouth hung open slightly, somewhat stunned...

    This... thing is quite frightening.

    It felt akin to some banned substances.

    With this thought, Qiu Tu''s mind went back to the "Salvage Game" introduction fromst night.

    The introduction said that the items salvaged weren''t conjured from thin air but existed in reality...

    So, did Cataclysmics in Xinjie City secretly concoct this potion?

    And thinking about the identities of these Cataclysmics, Qiu Tu''s brows furrowed tightly.

    Most of the Cataclysmics in Xinjie City were mid to high-level officials, after all. What were they concocting this potion for?

    Qiu Tu could not shake the feeling that something strange was brewing in Xinjie City recently, as if some event was imminent...

    After pondering quietly for a while, Qiu Tu came back to his senses, silently put away the Cataclysmic Potion, and didn''t use it right away.

    The potion seemed like it could only be used twenty or thirty times, with one less use with each application, so it couldn''t be wasted carelessly.

    Qiu Tu nned to find an opportunity today to try it out on a suitable person...

    [9 days (time left to close the Yin Caimei case)]

    ...

    He had breakfast with Shen Lingshuang.

    During the meal, Qiu Tu also assigned Shen Lingshuang a task.

    The task was simple, which was to have Shen Lingshuang scavenge for gold in the ck market.

    Now that Qiu Tu had money, besides needing the money to generate more money, he needed to convert the money into power as much as possible.

    Among Qiu Tu''s small team, apart from himself, only Shen Lingshuang had knowledge of potions and treasures.

    Therefore, Qiu Tu decided to arrange for Ah-Shui and Da Tou to protect Shen Lingshuang while she scavenged for Cataclysmic Materials, Cataclysmic Potions, or Cataclysmic Props in the ck market.

    Even if they couldn''t procure these overly precious items, Shen Lingshuang could appropriately buy some ordinary herbal materials and practice alchemy at home.

    In times of chaos, the most sought-after items besides weapons are potions. As long as the quality isn''t too shoddy, no matter how much is produced, various powers would scramble to buy them all.

    Hence, a Pharmacist is like a walking minting machine. Well... given that there are sufficient materials.

    Shen Lingshuang wasn''t surprised by Qiu Tu''s arrangement. Since the night she decided to stay, she had anticipated her future work.

    However, what did surprise her was that Qiu Tu directly gave her 15 Little Goldfish as funds for purchasing.

    You should know that 15 Little Goldfish are equivalent to the purchasing power of over 3 million. Not to mention a normal person''s lifetime expenses, it could even be used to hire a private armed force of around a hundred people.

    And yet, Qiu Tu just casually gave them to her?

    Wasn''t that too much trust in her?

    Thus, touched beyond measure, Shen Lingshuang''s loyalty surged another 3 points!

    Seeing the sharply increasing loyalty, Qiu Tu reassuringly released the Little Goldfish from his hand: he had been prepared to backtrack immediately in case Shen Lingshuang''s loyalty plummeted.

    Though the Loyalty Game doesn''t allow one to lock down subordinates'' loyalty, it does enable estimation of subordinates'' thoughts and intentions through real-time changes in loyalty.

    So, if Shen Lingshuang''s loyalty dropped sharply, nning to run away with the Little Goldfish, Qiu Tu would retract his offer promptly.

    After assigning Shen Lingshuang''s tasks and finishing breakfast, Qiu Tu embraced her, sketched out a few more big ns, and then drove to the Investigation Bureau to work.

    The harvest fromst night had opened up new lines of thought for the "Yin Caimei Case."

    He nned to strike while the iron was hot and delve deep into the truth of the "Yin Caimei Case," thoroughly scrambling Yan Chen and Jia Shu''s ns.

    But who knew that before he reached the Investigation Bureau, halfway there, a woman in an investigator''s uniform stopped him.

    Living two lifetimes, Qiu Tu had never seen a beautiful woman gging down a car, especially not an investigator.

    Therefore, he stopped the car, rolled down the window, and asked curiously, "Miss, is there something you need? Looking for a lift?"

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, the woman lightly shook her head and then said, "Chief Qiu, I am Director Tang''s personal secretary."

    "I am waiting here because Director Tang has a message for you."

    Qiu Tu was momentarily stunned.

    Director Tang?

    Tang Feifei...?

    Qiu Tu''s mind raced. Could it be... Tang Feifei took the bait?

    It seems Liu Fuping worked very hardst night. Otherwise, Tang Feifei wouldn''te looking for me so eagerly early in the morning.

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu couldn''t help but ask, "What message does Director Tang have for me?"

    The beautiful assistant looked at Qiu Tu, smiled slightly, "Director Tang said, she would like to have a chat with you. Perhaps there are other solutions to your current predicament."

    -----

 Chapter 85 Second of the Twelve Types of Women (7k)

    Hearing the words of the beautiful assistant before him, Qiu Tu was once again certain that Liu Fuping must have done her job well.

    He guessed thatst night, Liu Fuping might have used some means to hint to Tang Feifei about her own predicament and the issues with the "Yin Caimei case".

    And this had sessfully piqued Tang Feifei''s curiosity.

    He surmised that after learning of this informationst night, Tang Feifei probably had someone conduct a cursory investigation into the case.

    The power of a Deputy Director of the Investigation Bureau in the nning Area was not to be underestimated; many issues that were extremely difficult for Qiu Tu to investigate appeared transparent before her.

    Therefore, in just one night, she must have found some fishy parts in the case and confirmed that the intelligence Liu Fuping told her was true.

    Hence, she took the initiative this morning to send an assistant to intercept him on his way, wanting to coborate with him, or rather... to recruit him.

    After running through the events in his mind, Qiu Tu also roughly had a n.

    He smiled and said to Tang Feifei''s beautiful assistant, "Thank you for Director Tang''s generous offer. But ''a servant does not serve two masters'', and I must respectfully decline."

    Having said that, Qiu Tu didn''t even close the car window before he stepped on the gas and left the ce.

    Watching Qiu Tu''s departure without a hint of face-saving for her, the intercepting assistant was full of surprise.

    As one of the four highest-ranking officials in the Investigation Bureau, who in Xinjie City would dare to offend Tang Feifei?

    Even Yan Chen, although she was suppressing Tang Feifei behind the scenes, still had to give Tang Feifei some face publicly to avoid being seen by the Sanctuary as tyrannical and overbearing.

    So, as Tang Feifei''s assistant, the female assistant was long used to everyone weing Tang Feifei with a smile and being at her beck and call.

    But... Director Tang personally invited Qiu Tu, and he just drove away?

    This truly shocked the assistant.

    She watched incredulously as Qiu Tu drove off into the distance, then picked up hermunicator and dialed Tang Feifei.

    The phone connected, and Tang Feifei''s distinctive low female voice came from the handset, "Is the matter settled?"

    Hearing Tang Feifei''s somewhat authoritative voice, the assistant swallowed hard and then cautiously said, "Director... Qiu Tu has declined."

    "Declined?" Tang Feifei sought confirmation, then suddenlyughed.

    The assistant thought that Tang Feifei wasughing out of extreme anger, so she hurriedly showed her loyalty, "Director, I think that Qiu Tu is just asking for a p in the face!"

    "You personally invited him, and yet he dared to decline, as if he didn''t take you seriously at all."

    "If you ask me, we should investigate him, see if there are any faults to be found, and directly bring him down!"

    "Enough," Tang Feifei cut the assistant off and then said coolly, "Stop using your pig brain to guess at what I''m thinking."

    Tang Feifei might indeed be in a good mood because she rarely exined in a softer voice, "Actually, after receiving that intelligencest night, I felt something was odd: everything seemed a bit too coincidental."

    "However, upon inspecting the case, there really were fishy parts. I didn''t want to let go of such an opportunity lightly."

    "Thus, today I had you invite him. In truth, the invitation was fake, the probing was real."

    "You need to understand who he is."

    "The confidant of Yan Chen, a key member of Secretary Bai''s faction, a subordinate valued by Jia Shu."N?v(el)B\\jnn

    "Even though he seems to have had some conflicts with Secretary Bai recently and the case he took on also encountered problems, his ability to be a section chief and progress to his current position relied entirely on the support of these three people."

    "So, how could he possibly betray them just because a high-ranking official came looking for him?"

    "Therefore, if he had really epted my invitation, that would have suggested that this matter might very well be a trap."

    "As for his refusal of me now, on the contrary, it''s a good thing."

    After hearing Tang Feifei''s words, the assistant suddenly understood.

    She quickly ttered Tang Feifei, "Director, how wise! How thorough you are in your considerations!"

    After the ttery, she lowered her voice and probed, "But, Director, now that we''ve proven it''s not a trap, Qiu Tu has left. How do we continue to make contact with him?"

    Tang Feifei said coolly, "No trouble at all. Although he declined you, he''s still aware that I extended an olive branch to him."

    "So, with his intelligence, once he returns to the Bureau, he will surely inquire about me and weigh the pros and cons cautiously."

    "As long as there is something fishy with that case, and it''s likely he can''t handle it, he definitely won''t let go of this lifeline I''ve offered."

    "So, let''s give him some time, contact him again tonight or tomorrow."

    "Don''t worry, the fish will bite eventually!"

    After speaking, Tang Feifei said in her distinctive low female voice, "Alright,e back now. Don''t embarrass yourself out there."

    "Yes," the assistant quickly responded.

    ...

    Meanwhile, Qiu Tu, who was driving towards the Investigation Bureau, was also organizing a "fishing n".

    Only... unlike Tang Feifei who was fishing for the case, he was fishing for Tang Feifei.

    Just as Tang Feifei had analyzed, Qiu Tu knew her first invitation was definitely a test.

    As a confidant of Yan Chen and Jia Shu, he could not ept.

    This was not only inconsistent with his persona, but also not conducive to his own fishing for Tang Feifei....

    Although Tang Feifei was the Deputy Director of the Investigation Bureau, she was also a woman.

    As long as she was a woman, Qiu Tu could use the "Emotional Fraud Manual" from his previous life, which recorded "12 types of women, 36 corresponding strategies, and 108 ways to enhance affection".

    ording to Qiu Tu''s analysis, Tang Feifei most likely fell into one of the 12 types of women in the "Emotional Fraud Manual" ¡ª either an Action-Oriented Person or a Rational nner.

    Both types of women have one thing inmon: they are particrly enterprising, ambitious, and they can very easily be strong, independent women.

    The difference is that an "Action-Oriented Person" needs to be more confident and strong, full of enthusiasm for work and career.

    While a "Rational nner" tends to be moreposed and independent, leaning towards rationality rather than emotion in their actions.

    But no matter which of these two types, both can be dealt with by using the "36 Strategies," specifically the technique of "To Catch and Release Deliberately."

    To put it simply and directly, such powerful women who hold authority and are career-driven are unlikely to be interested in ordinary men.

    Therefore, it''s necessary to provoke theirpetitive spirit and desire to conquer, making them feel like there''s a chance, yet they find themselves unable to control the situation each time.

    This consistent let-down, the frustration of repeated hunting failures, and the ongoing pursuit of sess will gradually cause them to lose control, until they eventually fallpletely into the emotional trap.

    Though the purpose of that booklet was to deceive women''s emotions, Qiu Tu felt it would have the same effect when used in business matters.

    Thus, his strategy for Tang Feifei was "To Catch and Release Deliberately."

    He would cooperate with Tang Feifei, but he couldn''t let her control the pace. He would give her a taste of sess, but after each sweet taste, he would withdraw.

    Stir up herpetitive spirit, her desire to conquer, give her the thrill of the chase, and let her slowly sink into this whirlwind of storms...

    This was Qiu Tu''s n!

    With that in mind, Qiu Tu slowly drove to the Investigation Bureau.

    Parking the car and sitting inside, Qiu Tu continued to contemte:

    Regarding the Cataclysmic Potion, the Mandragora Love Drug, he received that morning: in order to better execute his n, Qiu Tu was prepared to use it on Tang Feifei, but... not yet.

    Because... there''s a very high chance that Tang Feifei is a Cataclysmic.

    Using a Cataclysmic Potion in front of a Cataclysmic whose identity is important yet unclear, Qi Tu was unsure if some unpredictable idents might ur.

    So, he had to test it twice in advance.

    As for the targets of the experiment, he had already chosen them long ago...

    The first target was right at the Investigation Bureau...

    Thinking this way, Qiu Tu didn''t dy.

    He got out of the car, locked it, and then went straight to the Special Service Department...

    The Special Service Department was on the first floor of the Investigation Bureau.

    The reason it''s on such a low floor is not because it''s undervalued, but rather because they''ve established seven or eight training fields behind the Bureau building, which makes the first floor more convenient for their training.

    Arriving at the Special Service Department, Qiu Tu pretended to be looking for someone while secretly searching for his target.

    After wandering around for more than half an hour and almost catching the attention of the Special Service Detectives, Qiu Tu finally found his target¡ªTian Xiaotian.

    Yes, after obtaining the Mandragora Love Drug, Qiu Tu''s first reaction was not to use it on Tang Feifei, but on Tian Xiaotian.

    After all... no one said that Cataclysmic Potions couldn''t be used on the same sex...

    As for why he used the potion on Tian Xiaotian.

    The reason is simple: Compared to the shrewd Tang Feifei, Tian Xiaotian, who could get into fights with the fool Ah-Tai, was easier to deal with and thus a suitable test subject.

    Moreover, Tian Xiaotian is the son of Vice President Tian, and on the surface, Qiu Tu is a "confidant" of Yan Chen and Jia Shu, naturally providing a foundation for building a good rtionship.

    Plus, considering Yin Caimei is Tian Xiaotian''s stepmother and Vice President Tian is a key suspect, choosing Tian Xiaotian as the test subject might yield valuable information.

    The only thing Qiu Tu didn''t expect was... he was already at his desk waiting, and Tian Xiaotian was stillte, making him wait in vain for half an hour.

    With these thoughts, Qiu Tu stood not far away, observing his first target.

    Tian Xiaotian''s appearance almost fit Qiu Tu''s stereotype of a rich merchant''s son: chubby, round, weighing probably about 200 pounds.

    From this weight, it''s clear that the father-son rtionship is good. After all, in times of material scarcity, one could not grow so plump without a strong bond.

    There truly wasn''t a hint ofck of love on him.

    And yet, arriving half an hourte for work, Tian Xiaotian still brought a bunch of snacks: all luxury items from the Sanctuary. In Xinjie City, a pack could be traded for a bag of rice.

    Beingte for half an hour didn''t rush Tian Xiaotian; he waddled to the Special Service Department, punched in, and then wobbled his chubby body towards the training field.

    Qiu Tu followed him, then stealthily took out the "Mandragora Love Drug," dropping a drop and rubbing it on his own neck.

    The moment the "Mandragora Love Drug" touched his neck, Qiu Tu distinctly felt as though a mysterious power came from the void, enveloping him.

    But when he tried to calmly perceive it, he found that the fluctuation had disappeared, as if it were just an illusion.

    Since the effect onlysted for 30 minutes, Qiu Tu didn''t dy any further. He jogged along an alternate path to get ahead to the intersection, then walked toward Tian Xiaotian''s direction.

    Seeing Tian Xiaotian from afar, Qiu Tu suddenly became possessed by an acting god and began to curse quietly, "Damn it, what a piece of crap! A Third-Level Detective trying to act tough with me! Who the hell do you think you are!"

    "And who''s that Ah-Tai? So damn... I think it''d be better to call him too stupid!"

    While cursing Ah-Tai, Qiu Tu''s performance was tinged with a bit of the disappointment from this morning''s "Loyalty Game," making it exceptionally realistic.

    This immediately caught Tian Xiaotian''s attention.

    Especially after hearing the keyword "Ah-Tai," Tian Xiaotian''s ears perked up.

    He stopped Qiu Tu and asked boldly, "Bro, you got a problem with Ah-Tai too?"

    For a First Level Detective to behave like this toward a Deputy Staff was extremely rude.

    But Qiu Tu pretended not to notice and went along with it, "Yeah? I''ve got a problem with Ah-Tai!"

    "What about it? Are you close with him?"

    At this point, the skilled actor Qiu Tu''s eyes even reddened as if he had seen an enemy, ring at Tian Xiaotian.

 Chapter 86 Use (7k)

    Seeing Qiu Tu''s ferocious demeanor, Tian Xiaotian wasn''t annoyed. Instead, he excitedly said, "How could that be!"

    "How could I possibly be on good terms with him!"

    Tian Xiaotian stated emphatically, "I have a grudge against him too!"

    Pointing to the bruises on his face and arms, he said, "Look, this, this, and this, were all caused by him hitting me!"

    Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu''s face was a picture of astonishment,

    "Disrespecting a superior is bad enough, but he even dares to fight??"

    At this point, Qiu Tu nced at Tian Xiaotian''s epaulette, "You''re a First Level Detective. Good lord, he even dares to assault a superior?! He''s really flipping the world upside down!"

    When Tian Xiaotian heard Qiu Tu''s words, he reflexively nced at Qiu Tu''s epaulette and uniform, and upon realizing that Qiu Tu was actually a Deputy Staff Director from the Political Department, he was btedly shocked.

    But perhaps because his family had protected him too well, he was surprised, but not overly polite to Qiu Tu, just casually saluting, "Sir."

    Then he continued, "Sir, if he dares to offend you, hitting me is nothing."

    "I tell you, people from the lower ranks like him just refuse to be disciplined,wless!"

    Speaking of which, he nced around and whispered, "Sir, why don''t you take him to the Political Department and give him a good discipline?"

    On hearing this, Qiu Tu put on a face of feigned wretchedness, "I would indeed like to, but that''s not possible."

    "The Special Service Department is a big department, and it''s not weakerpared to our Political Department. If I dare to capture someone from the Special Service Department over such a trifle, it would be strange if they didn''t fight back against us."

    After hearing Qiu Tu''s response, Tian Xiaotian just made an "oh" sound, not really caring: perhaps he knew himself that this idea was a bit far-fetched.

    Afterwards, as the two walked and talked, they developed a profound "affection" for each other in just a few minutes.

    Especially Tian Xiaotian, for some reason, just felt that this Deputy Staff Director from the Political Department, whom he had only met once, was particrly endearing and easy on the eyes.

    If he wasn''t certain about his own sexual orientation, he might have suspected that Ah-Tai''s beating the previous day had caused him some disorder.

    And Qiu Tu.... found that the "Mandragora Love Drug" was indeed very effective.

    He had only just met Tian Xiaotian. And their meeting was such a coincidence, yet Tian Xiaotian showed no suspicion at all, eagerly answering every question. In just a few minutes, they started addressing each other as brothers.

    "Brother Tian, I never expected that you''re the son of Vice President Tian. To be a First Level Detective at such a young age, truly, like father like son!"

    Tian Xiaotian bashfully waved his hands, "No, no. I didn''t earn this position based on my own merits, but it was arranged by my father."

    "He said we needed to strengthen ties with the Investigation Bureau, so he ced me in the Special Service Department as a First Level Detective."

    Qiu Tu''s gaze flickered slightly: the first important piece of information was obtained.

    At that moment, Tian Xiaotian also asked out of curiosity, "Brother Tu, I heard you say earlier that you started off as a driver for the Bureau Chief?"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "Are you in a good rtionship with the Bureau Chief?"

    Qiu Tu smiled, "Of course, I am."

    "I''ll tell you, the reason I was promoted so quickly was all thanks to the support from the Bureau Chief and our Minister."

    "Otherwise, think about it, someone like me,ing from Old Alley Street with no background, no money, how could I be a Deputy Staff Director in Xinjie City just one year after its establishment?"

    "And in the Political Department, such an important and sensitive department at that."

    Tian Xiaotian nodded somewhat confusedly, feeling that it made sense.

    Seeing that Tian Xiaotian was convinced, Qiu Tu continued, full of pride, "I''ll tell you, I''ve protected the Bureau Chief''s mistress, been to the Bureau Chief''s vi, and even entered the Bureau Chief''s study as a true confidant!"

    "That night in the study, there were only the Bureau Chief, Minister Jia, and me. From that, you can see how much I''m valued."

    "Moreover, Minister Jia also values me a lot. Every time he sees me, his eyes are filled with fervent encouragement."

    "Even to get me ustomed to the Political Department, on my first day, he personally showed me how to dissect prisoners."

    "Now, he''s handed over the most important case in the Political Department to me. Tell me, if this isn''t trust, what is?"

    Tian Xiaotian nodded again, still a bit bewildered, feeling that this Deputy Staff Director spoke so pleasantly, everything he said seemed right....

    And at that moment, since they had reached the topic of the case, Qiu Tu changed the subject and naturally segued into the main issue.

    He said, "By the way, Tian, this case seems to be somewhat rted to your family."

    "It involves your father.... um...."

    Halfway through, Qiu Tu seemed to realize something inappropriate and suddenly stopped speaking.

    Could Tian Xiaotian stand being baited like this?

    His curiosity was piqued, and he quickly inquired, "Brother Tu, what were you saying just now? This major case is rted to my family?"

    After saying that, he expressed his confusion, "That shouldn''t be the case. My father is on good terms with Minister Jia, how could there be a case rted to him?"

    Qiu Tu''s eyes flickered slightly: the second important piece of information was acquired.

    Qiu Tu looked hesitant as if harboring an unspeakable secret.

    But under Tian Xiaotian''s prompting, he looked around, and atst, whispered, "Brother Tian, this matter is actually a secret. Normally, I shouldn''t be telling you."

    "But.... I don''t know why, even though this is the first time I''ve met you today, I feel an incredible affinity for you, as if we knew each other from before."

    "So, I''ll quietly tell you. But you must promise me, you can''t tell anyone else. And you can''t tell your father either."

    Upon hearing this, Tian Xiaotian also looked ecstatic as he said to Qiu Tu, "Brother Tu! I feel the same!"

    "For some reason, when I see you, it''s like seeing an older brother I''ve known for many years."

    "So, rest assured!" he patted his plump chest and said, "I definitely won''t tell anyone!"

    Seeing this, Qiu Tu pretended to breathe a sigh of relief, and then he whispered, "It''s about your father''s mistress."

    "A woman named Yin Caimei. She''s involved in an important case...."

    Next, Qiu Tu detailed the entire case involving Yin Caimei to Tian Xiaotian.

    Including Yin Caimei being a spy for the United Front, including Yin Caimei installing various eavesdropping devices. Including Yin Caimei being silenced in the Political Department.

    However, the only difference from reality was... Qiu Tu pinned all this on Vice President Tian.

    He whispered, "Let me tell you, all these things were actually done by your old man."

    "Minister Jia handed this case to me to handle the loose ends for your old man."

    After saying this, Qiu Tu even winked at Tian Xiaotian.

    Perhaps the things Qiu Tu said were too shocking, and after hearing them, Tian Xiaotian waspletely stunned on the spot.

    His chubby face was filled with shock and disbelief.

    After a moment, he stared at Qiu Tu and retorted, "Impossible! My dad could never do such things!"

    Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu continued to frame him without a change in expression, "Think about it carefully. If it wasn''t your dad who did this, why did he suddenly be so close with our minister?"

    "And why did he suddenly cooperate with the Investigation Bureau and send you to the Investigation Bureau?"

    Tian Xiaotian''s face kept changing. As a second-generation rich kid just out of his parents'' protection, he clearly hadn''t adapted to a society full of deceit and intrigue, and thus easily let Qiu Tu control the pace of the conversation.

    His expression changed for a long time, before he finally said, unconvincingly, "Anyway, my dad couldn''t have done such things!"

    Seeing this, Qiu Tu knew the time was right, so he soothed, "Xiaotian, you''re right. Maybe I jumped to conclusions."

    Qiu Tu "sincerely" apologized, "It was the minister who asked me to investigate the case and to quickly clear Vice President Tian of suspicion. I had assumed that Vice President Tian was the culprit."

    "Actually, now that I think about it... maybe the minister is just worried that this matter will affect Vice President Tian''s business."

    "That''s right, that''s right! It''s very likely the case!" Tian Xiaotian eagerly agreed with Qiu Tu''s usible reasoning.

    At this time, Qiu Tu finally revealed his ultimate goal. He said, "Xiaotian, I know you also don''t believe Vice President Tian would do such things."

    "So, look, how about we work together to help clear Vice President Tian of suspicion?"

    Although Tian Xiaotian was a naive heir from andlord family and was under the influence of the Mandragora Love Drug, he still had a shred of reason left.

    Hearing such a sensitive proposal, he hesitated first, then tentatively inquired, "Brother Tu, what do you want me to do?"

    Qiu Tu smiled and leaned in, whispering a few words in his ear.

    Tian Xiaotian looked at Qiu Tu with a surprised face and asked, "Just that?"

    Qiu Tu smiled and nodded, "Yes. Just that."

    Tian Xiaotian fell silent for a while, then finally said, "Let me think about it first, I''ll contact you once I''ve made up my mind."

    Qiu Tu didn''t press him, and took out hismunicator to exchange numbers with Tian Xiaotian.

    After saving each other''s numbers, Qiu Tu calcted the time and realized that the Mandragora Love Drug would wear off in a few minutes. To avoid spoiling the good first impression, he decisively took his leave.

    Watching Qiu Tu go, Tian Xiaotian stood in ce for a long time.

    The information he got from Qiu Tu was indeed surprising and made him wary.

    Especially after the Mandragora Love Drug''s influence had worn off and his reason gradually returned, he was not at all certain whether his father was involved in this case.

    If his own father really was involved, what then?

    By helping Qiu Tu, could he end up harming his own father?

    And... was Qiu Tu really a confidant of Yan Chen and Jia Shu as he imed, on his father''s side?

    With this question, he hesitated, took out hismunicator, and made a call.

    The call connected, and he whispered, "Butler Shi, help me look into someone. Deputy Staff Director Qiu Tu from the Interrogation Section of the Investigation Bureau Political Department."

    "I want to know about his rtionship with Bureau Chief Yan and Minister Jia."

    After hanging up, Tian Xiaotian took another deep look in the direction Qiu Tu had left, pondering.

    If Qiu Tu really was a confidant of Yan Chen and Jia Shu, then there was no harm in cooperating with him. Even if he did find some clues or issues unfavorable to his father, Qiu Tu could handle it better for him.

    And... if Qiu Tu was not a confidant of Yan Chen or Jia Shu, his approach must have another purpose! He must inform his father to avoid any problems!

    Thinking this way, and perhaps because the matter was so serious, Tian Xiaotian didn''t even feel like bothering with Ah-Tai anymore.

    So, he swayed his chubby body and headed towards the other training grounds...

    ...

    Meanwhile, after bidding farewell to Tian Xiaotian.

    Qiu Tu returned to the lobby on the first floor of the Investigation Bureau, then took the elevator up to the 9th floor''s Political Department.

    Once in the Political Department, Qiu Tu walked towards the temporary office of his investigative team.

    However, just as he got to the office door, he unexpectedly ran into the beautiful young woman Liu Fuping.

    Today Liu Fuping was not wearing her uniform but a in sweater. Though modest, the sweater was unexpectedly form-fitting, revealing her impressive figure in a way that made one''s blood race just by looking.

    Upon seeing Qiu Tu, Liu Fuping smiled and shivered, then raised her hand to greet him.

    But, just as she came within two meters of Qiu Tu, suddenly, there was a brief moment of dizziness in her eyes.

    For an instant, she paused slightly, seeming to change.

    Qiu Tu keenly noticed the change and remembered that his Mandragora Love Drug would still be effective for another two minutes.

    He intended to avoid the enticing young woman before him.

    But at that moment, Liu Fuping, with a slightly flushed face, quickly approached him, closed her eyes, and nestled against him to take a sniff.

    The gentle breath of the young woman made Qiu Tu feel ticklish.

    And it wasn''t over yet; after sniffing, Liu Fuping tiptoed closer and whispered in Qiu Tu''s ear with a voice that made one''s whole body tingle, "Chief... you smell so good."

    ------

 Chapter 87 How Is It Her? (7k for recommendation tickets)

    It has to be said, the charm of a married woman lies in her expertise in all of a man''s "weak spots."

    Compared to Shen Lingshuang''s naive seduction in the morning, Liu Fuping was far better at pressing a man''s soft underbelly.

    Not only was her voice sultry, but her entire body also gently pressed against Qiu Tu as she spoke.

    Now being autumn, the clothes were quite thin, so Qiu Tu could easily sense her soft curves.

    If that was all, Qiu Tu could have endured, but the problem was that although Liu Fuping pressed close, she didn''t press firmly; instead, she maintained a tantalizing proximity.

    She touched him and then backed away, touched him again, and withdrew once more... keeping their bodies in constant contact.

    With such skilled seduction techniques, no wonder even the protagonists like Yang Wei from some novels might be aroused!

    So, Qiu Tu endured and endured and ultimately couldn''t hold back any longer.

    He abruptly pulled Liu Fuping''s slender waist toward him, bringing her body close, and then whispered into the ear of the beautiful young woman, a low and maic warning, "Sister Liu, you''re ying with fire."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Liu Fuping looked up at him, her eyes almost dripping with water, she tilted her head back, blushed, and provocatively said, "Really...? Can the officer''s me dry up my waters?"

    At her ambiguously charged words, Qiu Tu felt a fierce fire burning in his chest.

    The air grew thicker with innuendo, their gazes locked onto each other, with the surroundings seeming to fade away.

    Seconds and minutes ticked by.

    The feeling was like two piles of dry tinder soaked in gasoline, just waiting for a spark to erupt into a ze!

    Just then... suddenly, Qiu Tu felt a void in his body, as if a mysterious force had been abruptly withdrawn from him.

    Qiu Tu snapped back to reality.

    Then he looked down at Liu Fuping, only to find that her dreamy gaze was also clearing up.

    She seemed quite surprised by her own behavior just now, her beautiful eyes filled with disbelief.

    ''Is the Mandragora Love Drug this potent?''

    ''To make Liu Fuping behave like this?''

    ''Is it because we are of different sexes, or is it because there''s already an ambiguous rtionship between us?''

    As astonished as Qiu Tu was in his mind, his hands didn''t stop.

    He let go of Liu Fuping''s waist, "Sister Liu, please have some dignity. I am a decent man."

    With that, he reached out and "smack!" pped Liu Fuping''s bottom, wave after wave.

    Liu Fuping startled, jumped to one side with a face flushed in shame and annoyance, covering her bottom.

    She red at Qiu Tu and said irritably, "The officer talks about dignity but sure didn''t miss out on taking advantage with his hands."

    Qiu Tu, without a blush or a skip of heartbeat, "That was just a punishment."

    "As an officer, I have the right to punish my subordinates for disrespectful actions."

    "Ha, I didn''t expect the officer to be into this kind of y," Liu Fuping said with a roll of her eyes, her verbal skills noticeably improved from the day before, "You could have just told me directly. I could have made some preparations in advance."

    "Even, if you want to y something more exciting, we can go straight to the interrogation room. They have a full range of punishment props there..."

    Qiu Tu: .....

    Indeed, once women let loose, men be irrelevant.

    For the first time, he found himself at a loss for words to respond to Liu Fuping''s rather bold statement.

    So, Qiu Tu swiftly and discreetly changed the subject, inquiring about Liu Fuping''s "user experience."

    He tentatively asked, "Sister Liu, what happened to you just now? Why did you suddenly lean in?"

    "Are you feeling unwell anywhere?"

    Upon hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Liu Fuping indeed shifted her focus. She hesitated, furrowed her brows, and said somewhat oddly, "It''s a bit hard to exin...."

    With her hands sped under her chest, she titled her head, recalling, "When I saw you from a distance just now, I didn''t seem to feel anything."

    "But after taking a few steps toward you, I suddenly felt a bit spaced out, followed by an overwhelming sense offort and security."

    "I wanted... wanted to be near you involuntarily."

    Her face blushed slightly, "And then... I just did that."

    "After that, my desires were magnified, my rationality diminished, and all I wanted to do was to immerse myself in that feeling."

    "It wasn''t until you pushed me away that I gradually snapped out of that state."

    After finishing, she looked at Qiu Tu with suspicion and a frown, "You didn''t do something, did you, Chief?"

    Qiu Tu ignored Liu Fuping''s suspicion. Resting his chin in his hand, he pondered quietly for a moment, then continued asking, "So, when you were getting close to me, did you think about anything ''strange''?"

    When he said "strange," Qiu Tu emphasized the word.

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s question, Liu Fuping''s fair face visibly reddened. Then, with a somewhat evasive look in her eyes, she shook her head unconvincingly, "No."

    Qiu Tu regarded her skeptically, his gaze intense as he scrutinized her.

    Liu Fuping somewhat awkwardly tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, and crossed her legs, then added in a lower voice, "But I just got off the phone with Director Tang..."

    Qiu Tu... understood.

    Stroking his chin, he began to analyze the differences between Liu Fuping and Tian Xiaotian, the two "users."

    First of all, Tian Xiaotian and he were of the same sex, while Liu Fuping was of the opposite sex.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    And from their reactions, the "Mandragora Love Drug," this Cataclysmic Potion, clearly had a stronger effect on the opposite sex.

    Next, the core effect of this Cataclysmic Potion seemed to be the enhancement of human senses.

    Tian Xiaotian, due to his hatred for Ah-Tai, met a "kindred spirit" in himself and had the desire to confide. Thus, his urge to talk was greatly strengthened, resulting in a lengthy conversation with himself.

    While Liu Fuping, having just finished a call with Tang Feifei, might have discussed some taboo topics over the phone.

    So, aftering out, upon encountering him, a certain desire of hers was also enhanced.

    Lastly, the effects of this potion were supposed to be immediate after application, and should end abruptly when the time is up.

    Therefore, for someone like Tian Xiaotian, having a process of approaching and leaving himself would minimize the discontinuity of his sensory experience.

    But Liu Fuping experienced the sudden cessation of the effect while in contact with himself, which made her feeling of disconnection particrly evident....

    Thinking of this, Qiu Tu also gained a bit of experience in using the potion:

    He felt it was best to use the Cataclysmic Potion when the target was in a good mood and state, and to make sure to leave before the effects of the potion wore off.

    That way, the effects could be maximized without drawing the target''s attention.

    After roughly understanding the effects of this new Potion, Qiu Tu came back to his senses.

    He ignored Liu Fuping''s inquisitive look and gave her a signal with his eyes, leading her to an empty conference room nearby.

    Once in the empty conference room, Qiu Tu locked the door behind them and started a new conversation, "This morning, Tang Feifei''s assistant came looking for me."

    Liu Fuping twisted her waist and half-sat on a table, crossing her right leg over her left, disying the exceptional beauty and length of her legs.

    With her hands propped on the table and her body leaning slightly backward, she looked at Qiu Tu, not showing much surprise on her face, "Last night, I hinted to her about you and this case."

    "Although she didn''t say much, I could feel she was a bit interested."

    Qiu Tu nodded, then asked, "How much do you know about Tang Feifei?"

    "Being at such a high position at a young age, is there something special about her?"

    Upon hearing Qiu Tu''s question, Liu Fuping hesitated for a bit, then said, "She is very cautious. She never reveals her own background."

    "So I don''t know much."

    "But based on her few remarks, I feel that she must have some backing at the Sanctuary. But... this backing doesn''t seem very strong."

    "The reason she could be a city''s Deputy Director at such a young age, aside from the help of her backers, is also because she is very capable."

    Pausing for a moment, Liu Fuping continued, "You''ll know once you meet her. That powerful confidence of hers radiates from the inside out."

    "It''s as if there''s nothing in this world that can stump her."

    Liu Fuping''s gaze carried a hint of heartfelt admiration as she recalled, "I have never seen a woman like her."

    "Hmm... don''t even talk about women, I haven''t even seen men like that."

    Next, Liu Fuping provided Qiu Tu with many details about her interactions with Tang Feifei, even sharing quite a few bedroom anecdotes.

    While Qiu Tu listened with rising excitement, he also continuously constructed a character model in his mind.

    Gradually, the image of Tang Feifei in his heart became more vivid.

    ''Powerful, confident, ruthless. She acts decisively, speaks in a low and icy tone,es across as difficult to approach, yet is actually very sentimental.''

    ''Even when faced with setbacks, she is unyielding, still full of confidence in herself, believing in her day to make aeback.''

    ''Hmm... a typical Action-Oriented Person. That''s actually good news. After all, strong-willed women of the Action-Oriented type are much easier to deal with than those of the Rational nner type.''

    Having determined Tang Feifei''s personality type, Qiu Tu''s n in his mind also became more refined: He could probably be more aggressive.

    Meanwhile, as Qiu Tu was deep in thought, Liu Fuping, who had just finished sharing anecdotes about Tang Feifei, looked up at Qiu Tu''s handsome and sunny profile.

    She paused for a moment.

    Not sure if it was an illusion, but after that heartfelt flirtation just now, Liu Fuping felt her feelings for Qiu Tu had undergone a slight change...

    Only, she herself was a bit unclear what that change was...

    [Liu Fuping Loyalty +12]

    Looking at the sudden pop-up notification in front of her eyes.

    Qiu Tu, who was still scheming about how to entangle Tang Feifei in his ns, was taken aback for a moment before regaining hisposure.

    He looked down at Liu Fuping, who was still in contemtion, and two question marks appeared in his mind: ??

    What''s with this woman? Why did her Loyalty suddenly skyrocket?

    .....

    After confirming the information about Tang Feifei with Liu Fuping, Qiu Tu went to Jia Shu to collect the Cataclysm Prop he had applied for the day before.

    This time Jia Shu didn''t say anything strange, nor did he give Qiu Tu a hard time, but naturally handed over a ck case to Qiu Tu.

    However, what made Qiu Tu uneasy was that Jia Shu''s eyes seemed to hold a weird smile when looking at him today... it gave him goosebumps.

    And what was even weirder to him was that today when he had done nothing out of the ordinary, upon leaving Jia Shu''s office, Jia Shu''s [Satisfaction] still increased by 2 points...

    This left him once again puzzled.

    What''s going on? Are all those who work in secret agencies so unreasonable?

    You do nothing, and yet one person''s Loyalty suddenly increases, and another''s Satisfaction goes up?

    That''s just too weird! Regr subordinates are much better, at least you can understand what they''re thinking!

    ....

    The day flew by in the blink of an eye.

    Soon it was time to get off work again.

    Qiu Tu sent all his team members home, but he himself stayed behind, against the rules of the investigation team: he worked overtime alone.

    The reason for his overtime was simple: Qin Shuman had promised to help him with the investigation into Yin Caimei''s cause of death tonight.

    Waiting patiently in the temporary office, Qiu Tu reviewed the autopsy report provided by Forensic Doctor Qin that afternoon while waiting for Qin Shuman to contact him.

    As time ticked by, soon it was eight o''clock in the evening.

    Just as Qiu Tu was almost getting bored with the autopsy report,

    Suddenly, someone knocked gently on the door of the temporary office of the investigation team.

    Hearing the knock, a smile appeared on Qiu Tu''s face. He put down the autopsy report, adjusted his emotions, and then said in his deep and maic voice, "Come in."

    The next second, the office door was opened from the outside.

    A woman walked in gracefully andughed lightly at Qiu Tu, "Were you getting anxious?"

    Seeing Qin Shuman in her new body, Qiu Tu waspletely dumbfounded, almost unable to control his expression.

    ''Why is it her?''

 Chapter 88 Cataclysmic Treasure: Cursed Printing Machine (7k for Monthly Ticket)

    Yan Chen might have noticed something off about Qiu Tu''s expression.

    Qin Shuman turned around to close the door, then looked down at her new body with curiosity, and asked, "What''s wrong? Do you know Xiaowan?"

    Qiu Tu said with a strange look on his face, "It''s not that I know her. It''s just... that I just met her this morning."

    After finishing his words, Qiu Tu addressed Qin Shuman, now in possession of the new body, "I''m not wrong, am I? Assistant Su Xiaowan."

    Yes, the person who appeared in front of Qiu Tu was indeed the beautiful assistant who had stopped his car that morning to recruit him for Tang Fei.

    Upon this realization, Qiu Tu couldn''t help but take a deep look at Qin Shuman.

    The Security Department truly deserved its reputation as the most powerful among the three major authorities in Xinjie City.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    They not only nted a nail next to Yan Chen, the Investigation Bureau Chief, but had also nted a spy by the side of Tang Fei, the Deputy Director.

    And both spies were the closest people to them!

    One a bedmate, the other an assistant.

    If those two made a move, how much could the Investigation Bureau possibly keep secret from the Security Department?

    While Qiu Tu was contemting this, Qin Shuman seemed to have had a brief exchange with Su Xiaowan and learned about theplete process of their encounter that day.

    After understanding, she covered her mouth and giggled, "You two seem to have quite the fate, don''t you?"

    "How about it? Want me to introduce her to you?"

    At this, Qin Shuman threw a coquettish nce at Qiu Tu and teasingly said, "I''ll tell you, Xiaowan is really adorable~"

    Qiu Tu: ....

    Seeing the shell of Su Xiaowan reveal Qin Shuman''s yfully cute expression, Qiu Tu''s heart couldn''t help but skip a beat.

    That contrast of an unfamiliar appearance with a familiar expression poked right at his XP.

    It made him recall a life-and-death question he had seen online in his previous life: If your girlfriend and her best friend swapped bodies, who would you choose?

    Good lord. Was there even a need to choose?

    Of course you''d take them both.

    So... faced with the current situation, Qiu Tu really just wanted to say one thing:

    "The soul of Rain Butterfly is the only thing I love. As for whose shell it is, I don''t care at all¡ªyes, really don''t care (wiping drool)!"

    Of course, this thought, like that life-and-death question from his previous life, was not something to be said out loud, so although he was running wild with his thoughts, he forced a bitter smile and said, "Stop it now. You''ll scare Assistant Su."

    Qin Shumanughed and finally stopped teasing them.

    Because Qiu Tu was not in that body, he couldn''t hear Su Xiaowan''s cries, but she shared a body with Su Xiaowan, and when she had thrown that seductive look at Qiu Tu and teased him, Su Xiaowan''s screams almost burst through the heavens!

    Walking up to Qiu Tu, Qin Shuman returned to being serious. She reached out her delicate hand and gently touched Qiu Tu''s forehead.

    Suddenly, Qiu Tu heard another woman''s voice beside his ear.

    Qiu Tu looked at Qin Shuman in surprise.

    Qin Shuman exined, "This is soulmunication, which allows you to hear not only my voice but also Xiaowan''s."

    "However, thismunication is short-range. You can only hear it if you are within two meters of me."

    Then, Qin Shuman also softly revealed Su Xiaowan''s identity, "Xiaowan is one of the first spies I trained aftering to Xinjie City."

    "Although her abilities are average, she naturally possesses a kind of affinity that makes people unconsciously want to trust her, which makes her perfectly suited for espionage."

    "After I trained her, I arranged for her to infiltrate the Investigation Bureau, lurking beside Tang Fei."

    "Over the course of the year, I possessed her periodically to handle her official duties, andbined with her own affinity, she was quickly favored by Tang Fei and became Tang Fei''s personal assistant."

    Hearing Qin Shuman exin this way, Su Xiaowan added from within the body, "But... since my abilities fall quite short of Chief Rain Butterfly''s, I always mess things up when she''s not around."

    "So... Director Tang gave me a nickname, calling me ''The Half-Dreaming, Half-Awake Assistant Su.''"

    "It means my performance is unpredictable, and nobody knows whether I''m awake or asleep on any given day."

    Qiu Tu couldn''t help but chuckle at this, yet he found the nickname both apt and amusing.

    He didn''t expect Tang Fei to have such a side to her.

    After introducing Su Xiaowan''s identity, Qin Shuman continued, "The reason I brought her here tonight."

    "One is to let you two get to know each other better so that you can help each other in case of emergencies."

    "Two is... I think Xiaowan''s identity might be of help to you right now."

    "As Tang Fei''s assistant, she can serve as a bridge between you and Tang Fei, giving you more room to maneuver in the Investigation Bureau."

    At this, Qin Shuman paused for a moment, chuckled, and said, "Yet... it seems like you had already thought of this and prepared in advance."

    "It almost makes what I did superfluous."

    Hearing Qin Shuman''s words, Qiu Tu smiled without denying, "I was driven into a corner, and that''s when I thought of leveraging the rtionships of the directors to make a move."

    "Originally, I was only 70% sure about my n, but now with Assistant Su''s help, I feel 100% confident."

    Qin Shuman smiled at this, and the two exchanged a knowing look, where all was understood without saying a word.

    However, Su Xiaowan clearly didn''t understand the hidden meaning in their words and expressed her soul''s confusion from within her body, "Huh? Did Chief Qiu deliberately draw Director Tang here?"

    "But that''s wrong. Chief Qiu and Director Tang had no contact at all, so how did he manage it?"

    "What''s the next n, Chief Qiu? I don''t understand anything you guys are saying at all?"

    Upon hearing Su Xiaowan''s bewildered question, both Qiu Tu and Qin Shuman couldn''t help but chuckle.

    However, they did not clear up Xiaowan''s confusion and tacitly began to discuss serious matters.

    Qin Shuman asked, "Has the autopsy report of Yin Caimeie out yet?"

    Qiu Tu nodded. He then handed the autopsy report he was holding to Qin Shuman and said,

    "The forensic scientist found significant narrowing in Yin Caimei''s coronary arteries, with local stenosis exceeding 50%, atherosclerotic ques formation, myocardial interstitial edema, and wavy changes in patchy myocardial fibers. Hence, the conclusion was made that she died of a cardiac sudden death."

    After carefully reading the autopsy report, Qin Shuman remarked, "Indeed, sudden death is a possibility."

    "But... many Cataclysmic abilities or Cataclysmic props could also create simr effects."

    "Or rather, most Cataclysmics disguise their victims as having died of cardiac sudden death when killing with Cataclysmic abilities or treasures."

    "After all, simply erasing the soul, leaving no cause of death, is too obvious and would easily attract our Security Department''s investigation."

    "Therefore, we still need to conduct a further examination on Yin Caimei''s body."

    After speaking, Qin Shuman inquired, "Have you obtained the treasure for Catastrophe Power inspection?"

    Qiu Tu nodded, opened a drawer, took out the ck box that Jia Shu had given him, and gently opened it.

    As the box opened, white mist slowly drifted out from inside.

    Qiu Tu used his hand to disperse the mist, then took out a ck goatskin-covered notebook.

    The notebook looked extraordinary at first nce, not only because of its exquisite craftsmanship but also because of the white mist seeping from the title page.

    Additionally, the wet feeling of the ck goatskin cover had a peculiar beauty to it.

    "The Mist Index Book?" Qin Shuman nced at it and remarked, "Not bad. It should be enough with that."

    Having said that, Qin Shuman said, "Put it back, let''s go and take a look at Yin Caimei''s body now."

    Qiu Tu nodded, then ced the ck notebook back into the box, and together with Qin Shuman, they went to the morgue.

    Upon reaching the separate morgue, Yin Caimei''s body was still lying there quietly.

    Because it had been autopsied and had been dead for a day, it looked somewhat ghastly, and it even began emitting bursts of the smell of corpse decay.

    As professionals, the three of them did not pay much attention to this.

    Locking the door of the morgue, Qin Shuman took a pair of rubber gloves from her pocket, put them on, and carefully inspected Yin Caimei''s body.

    After the inspection, she wore a contemtive expression on her face and then said to Qiu Tu, "Take out the Mist Index Book."

    Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu opened the ck box, took out the Mist Index Book, and handed it to Qin Shuman.

    Qin Shuman took the Mist Index Book with a practiced air, drew several symbols on the cover, and instantly, the book opened by itself. Dense white mist crazily surged out from the Cataclysmic treasure and swiftly spread to every corner of the morgue.

    The mist filled the air, and the material world seemed to vibrate subtly.

    Qiu Tu looked around and noticed the scene was somewhat simr to when he used his Cataclysmic ability. All the lines around him seemed to be gradually withdrawn, and they were slowly moving from the real world to the spirit world...

    At the same time, Qin Shuman''s reassuring voice echoed in Qiu Tu''s ear, "Don''t be afraid, this is the non-material dimension I told you about before."

    "Every space and corner of the material world, even the air, is filled with various active particles."

    "Therefore, traces of the spirit cannot be observed in the real world."

    "Only by transcending the material world and ascending to the dimension of the spirit world can the residual traces of the spirit be seen."

    As Qin Shuman exined, without any visible action on her part, a ghostly silhouette of Yin Caimei''s body slowly emerged from the white fog.

    However, unlike in the real world, this time a distinct ck shadow appeared very clearly within the translucent silhouette of Yin Caimei.

    Seeing this, Qiu Tu tried to walk over for a closer look, then he discovered that the ck shadow was located exactly over Yin Caimei''s left chest.

    "Could it be Resentful Spirit Entanglement?" Meanwhile, Qin Shuman''s voice of surprise reached Qiu Tu''s ears.

    Hearing this, Qiu Tu looked curiously at Qin Shuman and asked, puzzled, "What is Resentful Spirit Entanglement?"

    Qin Shuman was silent for a moment, then said, "It is said that within the Anti-government Armed Forces, there exists a Cataclysmic treasure known as the Cursed Printing Machine."

    "It can use ink tainted by Cataclysmic Creatures and special paper that has been purified by the non-material dimension to print books that have the ability to distort reality."

    "These books look no different from normal ones. But in fact, they contain various curses."

    "Resentful Spirit Entanglement is one of them."

    "Once someone has flipped through that book, the printer of the book can afflict the reader with a curse of resentment, causing the reader''s body to deteriorate, decay, and even... lead to death."

    ''Cursed Printing Machine? Books that distort reality?''

    ''Afflicting readers with a curse?''

    For some reason, as Qiu Tu listened to Qin Shuman''s exnation, he felt as though the information was strangely familiar.

    After a moment, a sh of lightning crossed his mind!

    His heart gave a sudden throb as he recalled the book he had read, "Brave New World"...

    Meanwhile, Qin Shuman evidently made the connection as well.

    She involuntarily looked towards Qiu Tu, and as their eyes met, both were filled with horror!

    ------

 Chapter 89 The Shocked Qin Shuman (7k)

    Qin Shuman looked at Qiu Tu and then asked softly, "I remember you saidst night that among Yin Caimei''s personal belongings, there was a banned book?"

    Qiu Tu nodded, "Yes. It''s called ''Brave New World''."

    Qin Shuman''s gaze grew a bit profound, "Have you already read that book?"

    Qiu Tu recalled for a moment and said uncertainly, "I should have only flipped through seven or eight pages, just skimmed it really, without looking closely."

    Qin Shuman''s eyebrows knitted slightly, "Although we can''t be 100% certain, the anti-government organization imprinting curses on banned books for members to carry around and read, so as to conveniently dispose of them at any time, is indeed a rather reasonable guess."

    Qiu Tu said, "So you also suspect that book could very well be the carrier of the ''Resentment Entanglement''?"

    "Have I been targeted already?"

    Chin in hand, Qin Shuman reminisced and slowly said, "I''m not very familiar with the effects of the ''Cursed Printing Machine''."

    "I only heard some rumors about it during training at the Sanctuary."

    "So, I can''t be sure what the impact of just reading a few pages will be, nor whether there''s any danger to life."

    As she spoke, Qin Shuman seemed to make up her mind, and she said to Qiu Tu, "I feel that guessing back and forth here aplishes little when we could simply verify it directly."

    As she spoke, Qin Shuman didn''t even wait for Qiu Tu''s reaction before she deactivated the effect of the ''Mist Index Book'' and then used it on Qiu Tu again.

    Qin Shuman was clearly worried about Qiu Tu''s condition, acting with incredible speed, so much so that Qiu Tu didn''t even have a chance to refuse before feeling a mysterious force appear out of nowhere, descending upon him.

    In that moment, Qiu Tu''splexion changed several times, but in the end, he chose to ept Qin Shuman''s kindness.

    The mist once again appeared slowly, filling the entire morgue.

    Lines began to extricate, and the material world started to fade away gradually.

    Soon, Qiu Tu''s body was illuminated in the mist just like Yin Caimei''s corpse.

    Qin Shuman approached to examine the traces of Catastrophe Power outlined on Qiu Tu''s body by the ''Mist Index Book''.

    ''Hmm... traces of Catastrophe Power in the head, that''s not good.''

    ''Traces of Catastrophe Power in the neck, hmm, that''s normal.''

    ''Traces of Catastrophe Power in the limbs, organs too...''

    ''How is the effect of this ''Resentment Entanglement'' curse so strong?''

    "Hmm?" Qin Shuman was startled momentarily, sensing something was amiss.

    She quickly stepped back and studied Qiu Tu''s entire body, only to discover that every organ, every cell in Qiu Tu''s body was filled with Catastrophe Power!

    Qin Shuman stood shocked, somewhat dazed!

    ''How could there be so much!?''

    The next second, Qin Shuman realized!

    This wasn''t the effect of Resentment Entanglement! This was... Catastrophic ability enhancing the entire body!

    Qiu Tu was actually a Cataclysmic!

    With that thought, Qin Shuman became entirely enlightened.

    She watched Qiu Tu with some disbelief. When had it happened? When had Qiu Tu be a Cataclysmic?

    She thought back but had no recollection.

    And... wasn''t Qiu Tu, like herself, in possession of this body?

    Could one still undergo Cataclysm Awakening after possession?

    Does this awakened Cataclysmic ability belong to the soul, the original body, or the current body?

    If I, Qin Shuman, were to take over Su Xiaowan''s body and then drink the Cataclysmic Potion, would it be I or Su Xiaowan who awakens?

    Qin Shuman felt question upon question piling up in her mind, overwhelming her thoughts.

    Fortunately, at this time, she hadn''t forgotten the reason she used the ''Mist Index Book'' on Qiu Tu.

    She forced herself toe back to her senses and then observed Qiu Tu''s left chest area for a while.

    This time, disregarding the disturbance from Qiu Tu''s own Cataclysmic abilities, she finally saw that smidgen of ''Resentment Entanglement'' enveloping Qiu Tu''s heart.

    The bad news was, Qiu Tu had indeed been targeted.

    The good news, however... was that the amount of ''Resentment Entanglement'' was much smaller than the traces left on Yin Caimei''s body.

    Qin Shuman breathed a sigh of relief, feeling that even if the curse erupted, it would at most cause Qiu Tu difort for a few days without threatening his life.

    But after rxing, Qin Shuman also felt a tinge of self-reproach for worrying unnecessarily on his behalf.

    Although she was unclear about what Qiu Tu''s former identity was,

    the fact that he could so quickly obtain the Cataclysm Prop that allowed her to recover and that he could experience Cataclysm Awakening while in possession clearly indicated... he was someone significant in the past.

    Very likely, a High Order Catastrophist.

    Therefore, Qiu Tu might be out of his depth when ites to investigating cases, but dealing with these Cataclysmic abilities, Cataclysm curses was likely not a big problem for him.

    With that thought, Qin Shuman once again lifted the effect of the ''Mist Index Book'' and said somewhatcklusterly, "You were indeed targeted, but it''s not a major problem."

    Having said that, she gave Qiu Tu anotherplicated look and added, "But you weren''t really worried about this Catastrophe Curse, were you?"

    Actually... when Qin Shuman used the ''Mist Index Book'' on him, Qiu Tu''s heart had skipped a beat.

    Having lived two lives, he had grown ustomed to keeping his guard up against anyone.

    So even though his rtionship with Qin Shuman had grown quite close, he had never told her about his own Cataclysm Awakening.

    He had even intentionally used the ''Nightmare Crystal Vial'' to conceal this from her while treating Qin Shuman.

    Who would have thought that Qin Shuman, worried about him, would use the ''Mist Index Book'' on him.

    Qiu Tu had indeed witnessed the effect of the "Mist Index Book" a moment ago, which essentially outlined a person''s entire Catastrophe Power.

    Therefore, the moment Qin Shuman used it on him, he knew he was in trouble: Qin Shuman would definitely discover the fact that he was a Catastrophic.

    As expected, it was not beyond his expectations; after inspecting his body, Qin Shuman''s expression seemed a bit off.

    Furthermore, with that hint of sarcasm in her speech now¡­ it was clear she was angry.

    So, after pondering for half a second, Qiu Tu still chose to tell the truth, "Yes, I have a way to lift the curse."

    What Qiu Tu actually meant was that his Catastrophic ability was a bit special and could lift such Catastrophe Curses.

    But to Qin Shuman''s ears, it turned into an acknowledgment that Qiu Tu''s former identity was not trivial, and that such a low-level curse was nothing in his eyes.

    So, Qin Shuman confirmed her spection once again: Qiu Tu must have indeed been a High Order Catastrophic in the past.

    Only... thinking about this, she was a bit puzzled again:

    If Qiu Tu''s true form was a High Order Catastrophic and he also had a way to lift possession, then why hadn''t he returned to his original form all this time?

    Why had he been possessing "Qiu Tu" all along? Was it for Yan Chen?

    After all, the highest-ranking person that the identity "Qiu Tu" could get close to was Yan Chen.

    Thinking of this, Qin Shuman followed this line of thought and continued to ponder¡­

    Who, and what force, would need to investigate Yan Chen?

    Moreover, recalling Qiu Tu''s actions during this period: he was neither close to the Investigation Bureau nor familiar with the Anti-government Armed Forces, and was even disinterested in those big businessmen...

    On the contrary, he was very close to her and the Security Department.

    With this realization, Qin Shuman suddenly had a bright idea...n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    ''Could he be a private soldier of some big shot from the military, or an investigator dispatched to the nning Area from the Sanctuary?''

    ''But then... I haven''t heard of such a personing to Xinjie City on a secret mission...''

    Guessing and guessing, due to the scarcity of information, Qin Shuman felt that the mist surrounding Qiu Tu was growing thicker.

    Therefore, she could only temporarily suppress her spections about Qiu Tu''s identity:

    She knew all too well that those working on the secret front despise others probing into their true identities.

    Up until now, Qiu Tu had never harmed her, nor had he damaged the interests of the Security Department or the military. Thus, there was no need to rify his identity. It was better to just interact with him over time.

    Especially since... with the current case potentially involving the Anti-government Armed Forces, helping Qiu Tu was also helping herself; there was a chance to gain merit, so there was no loss!

    With this in mind, Qin Shuman adjusted her mood, then said to Qiu Tu, "Since you can lift that curse, I don''t need to worry."

    "Let''s continue to analyze the case."

    She paused for a moment, then said, "We can confirm now that Yin Caimei was indeed a victim of homicide."

    "And the likely culprit is the Anti-government Armed Forces she was part of: the United Front."

    "As for the murder weapon, considering the curse inflicted on you, there''s a 90% chance it was that Banned Book she always carried with her."

    While saying that, Qin Shuman tapped the "Mist Index Book" in her hand and added, "So, what we need to do now is to confirm the murder weapon."

    "After all, although ''Brave New World'' is 90% likely to be the murder weapon, investigation requires not 90%, not 99%, but 100% certainty!"

    "Besides the Banned Book being the weapon: you and Yin Caimei might have seen the same thing, drunk the same water source, or eaten the same food that could have led to you both suffering the same curse."

    "Even..."

    "We can''t rule out the tiny possibility that someone crazily afflicted random individuals or arge area in the Investigation Bureau with a curse."

    Pausing, Qin Shuman became serious, "Investigations must be meticulous."

    "So, let us first confirm the murder weapon before moving on to the next step in reasoning."

    Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu nodded his head.

    He knew he was a novice detective, far less experienced than Qin Shuman. But his strength was that he took advice well. So he immediately replied, "That copy of ''Brave New World'' is still in the temporary office of the investigation team."

    "I will go get it now, thenpare it with the Catastrophe Curse on Yin Caimei''s body."

    Having said that, he turned towards the door.

    However, just as he reached the door and his hand touched the doorknob,

    suddenly, from outside the door came the steady sound of boots: "Tap... tap... tap..."

    Qiu Tu was startled for a moment, and his movements paused.

    "Tap... tap... tap..." The footsteps continued to approach, and finally... stopped right outside the morgue door.

    Qiu Tu''s brow furrowed slightly, and he let go of the doorknob.

    Then, at this moment, the doorknob which he had released turned a few times, making a "clicking" sound.

    But since Qiu Tu had locked the morgue door upon entering, it didn''t open.

    This clearly took the person outside by surprise.

    After a half-second of silence, the person outside asked in a deep voice, "Who''s in there?"

    At the sound of the person''s voice, Qiu Tu was taken aback, then his heart suddenly leapt.

    It was the voice of Zheng Tao, a confidant of Yan Chen and Jia Shu, his superior and head of the Interrogation Section.

    ''Why has hee?'' Qiu Tu wondered.

    At this thought, Qiu Tu''s brow knitted slightly, sensing something was amiss.

 Chapter 90 This Person is Somewhat Abnormal (7k for followers)

    Qiu Tu had good reason to feel that something was off.

    This morgue had been specifically requested by him to store Yin Caimei''s body alone.

    And given Zheng Tao''s footsteps just now, he wasn''t making rounds on the floor buting straight for this morgue.

    But the problem was... the Yin Caimei case was assigned to Qiu Tu alone by Jia Shu, and it had nothing to do with the Interrogation Section.

    Furthermore, Zheng Tao was not a member of the investigation team, so he had no reason toe to this morgue.

    Thinking of this, Qiu Tu quietly took a few steps back to create the illusion that he was not by the door and then finally called out, "I''m inside."

    Zheng Tao was clearly familiar with Qiu Tu''s voice, so as soon as he heard it, he hesitated and asked, "Deputy Chief Qiu?"

    Seeing this, Qiu Tu also pretended to be suddenly aware and said, "Oh, it''s Chief Zheng. What''s the matter?"

    After speaking, Qiu Tu gave Qin Shuman a meaningful look.

    Qin Shuman tacitly handed the "Mist Index Book" to Qiu Tu and then took a nce around the entire morgue.

    Finally, she crawled into a morgue cab.

    At this time, Zheng Tao''s doubtful voice also came through, "What are you doing in the morgue?"

    Qiu Tu quietly closed that morgue cab and then walked to the door, opening the morgue room door.

    Standing outside the door, as expected, was a puzzled Zheng Tao.

    Qiu Tu, standing at the doorway, said with a smile, "How novel. I''m obviously performing an autopsy in the morgue. What else would I be here for, to be a corpse?"

    After being indirectly snubbed by Qiu Tu, Zheng Tao frowned, peered into the morgue, and then asked, "Are you investigating a case, Deputy Chief Qiu?"

    Qiu Tu''s brow furrowed slightly, but he nodded nheless, "Yes."

    After speaking, he countered, "What brings Chief Zheng strolling around the morgue sote without going off duty?"

    Zheng Tao responded with an "Oh," saying, "Nothing much, just making a routine inspection."

    "I noticed the lights on in your morgue, and it seemed like there was some faint talking inside, so I decided to check it out."

    He then gestured with his hand, "Do you mind if I take a look inside?"

    Although he asked, he had already started to step into the morgue even before finishing his question.

    Qiu Tu''s gaze darkened slightly, but he did not obstruct.

    Zheng Tao, with boots cking "tap... tap... tap..." on the floor, took a slow look around the morgue''s setup. "Are you here by yourself, Deputy Chief Qiu?"

    Qiu Tu responded with a confirming "Mm."

    As soon as he realized that Zheng Tao was outside the door, Qiu Tu pondered whether or not to let Zheng Tao meet Qin Shuman (Su Xiaowan).

    But considering that he and Tang Feifei had yet to really connect, exposing Su Xiaowan now could lead to variousplications. In the end, he decided that it was best for Qin Shuman (Su Xiaowan) to hide and for him to deal with the situation at the door.

    Originally, he thought he would just brush Zheng Tao off and send him away.

    But who could have expected that Zheng Tao came to check specifically because he faintly heard voices and that he would barge in directly,pletely ignoring Qiu Tu''s refusal? It was a clearck of respect.

    Possibly sensing Qiu Tu''s resistant mood, Zheng Tao, while lifting the white cloth over Yin Caimei''s corpse to nce at it, turned back to look at Qiu Tu and said smilingly, "Don''t get me wrong, Deputy Chief Qiu."

    "I''m not being nosy."

    "It''s just that... as you know, this world is filled with many strange, ''Mystery'' powers."

    "And bodies tend to attract these kinds of forces."

    "I did indeed hear some odd sounds, and for peace of mind, I needed to check more thoroughly."

    After speaking, he went to the morgue cabs on either side and started to pull them out with a "shrr-shrr" noise.

    Since this morgue room had been cleared specifically for Yin Caimei, all the cabs were empty.

    Zheng Tao would open one, nce inside, close it, and then open the next.

    Seeing this, Qiu Tu also took out the "Mist Index Book," then said, "Chief Zheng, could it be the sounds emitted from this ''Cataclysmic treasure'' that you were talking about?"

    He added, "I was just using this to inspect Yin Caimei''s body."

    Upon hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Zheng Tao stopped in his tracks in front of the cab where Qin Shuman was hiding.

    He turned to look at the ''Cataclysmic treasure'' in Qiu Tu''s eyes, showing a glint of contemtion.

    After a moment, he nodded affirmatively, "It''s possible."

    "After all, ''Cataclysmic treasures'' may indeed make various noises when in use."

    With that, he yanked open the cab where Qin Shuman was hidden!

    Inside the cab...

    It was empty.

    Seeing this, Zheng Tao slowly closed the cab and then proceeded to open each of the remaining morgue cabs.

    Soon, all the cabs had been checked.

    Zheng Tao took another look around the morgue and then turned to Qiu Tu with a smile, "Looks like it was indeed the ''Cataclysmic treasures'' making the noise."

    "I was too sensitive."

    Concluding, he walked over to Qiu Tu, pped him on the shoulder, andforted him, "Chief Qiu, you''ve worked hard."

    "Seeing you volunteer for overtime tonight instead of leaving early like yesterday pleases me."

    "As investigators, we ought to use every minute and every second to work hard. Only then can we be the right-hand men of the Bureau Chief in the future."

    Qiu Tu:.....n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Although this world does not have the phrase ''to serve the people,'' the blunt aspiration to be the leader''s pdog'' still took Qiu Tu by surprise.

    So... he responded with a smile, "Chief Zheng is overthinking it. The overtime I''m putting in tonight, I''ll make up with a day off tomorrow."

 Chapter 91 The Puppet Master Appears (7k for Monthly Ticket)

    ```

    Seeing the name that appeared on Qiu Tu''smunicator screen, Qin Shuman froze for a moment. Then she looked at Qiu Tu with a slightlyplicated expression.

    To be honest, Qiu Tu really gave her a lot of surprises today... and scares.

    First, she identally discovered through the "Mist Index Book" that Qiu Tu was actually a Cataclysmic.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Moreover, he was one who could still partake in a sessful Cataclysm Awakening after possession of another person''s body.

    This unheard-of incident had already shaken her worldview.

    Then, right after that, there was the incident where she hid in the morgue cab and wasn''t found by Zheng Tao.

    Honestly, at the moment Zheng Tao pulled open the morgue cab, Qin Shuman''s heart nearly leaped to her throat. Even her mind had started to rapidly think of ways to deal with the imminent crisis.

    But who knew that Zheng Tao would act as if he hadn''t seen her and closed the morgue cab again.

    At that moment, Qin Shuman was truly bewildered for a good ten seconds. It was only afterbining the mysterious force that had descended upon her that she guessed Qiu Tu might have used his Cataclysmic ability or treasures to pull the wool over everyone''s eyes.

    And now, Qiu Tu had already established contact early on with Tian Xiaotian, the son of Vice President Tian, getting Tian Xiaotian to provide him with information about his father.

    Honestly, Qin Shuman felt like she was refreshing her understanding of Qiu Tu over and over again today.

    But it seemed like Qiu Tu always had new surprises waiting for her.

    This also made Qiu Tu''s image in her heart increasingly mysterious...

    Meanwhile, Qiu Tu had no idea what Qin Shuman was thinking.

    After showing themunicator to Qin Shuman, heughed and answered the call.

    Once the call connected, the somewhat honest voice of Tian Xiaotian came from the receiver, "Chief Qiu?"

    Qiu Tu responded with a smile, "Brother Tian. We don''t use titles after work."

    Tian Xiaotian didn''t really care about titles or such formalities, so he just went with the flow and called him again, "Brother Tu."

    Qiu Tu acknowledged with a "Hey!" and then probed, "Brother Tian, have you made a decision?"

    Tian Xiaotian hummed affirmatively over the phone and said, "Yes."

    "I''ve thought it over long and hard at home. I feel that cooperating with you would indeed make it easier to clear my father of suspicion."

    "Plus, I want to do something for my father, so I made this call to you."

    After saying this, he paused and asked tentatively, "Brother Tu, is it true that by providing ''Travel Records'' and ''Gift Registry'' from the past year between my father and Yin Caimei, you can help my father?"

    When Qiu Tu first spoke to Tian Xiaotian that morning, he had merely been looking for an excuse to drag Tian Xiaotian into the mix.

    But now, having found the murder weapon and the most crucial clue to the case, Qiu Tu did only need Yin Caimei''s ''Itinerary'' and ''Gift Registry'' from the past year to significantly narrow down the range of suspects.

    So without any hesitation, he said, "Yes."

    Hearing this, Tian Xiaotian obviously breathed a sigh of relief, then he said, "I''ve got both documents."

    "I found them in my father''s secretary''s office."

    "Inside, there''s a record of all the travel between my father and Yin Caimei for the year. While it may not beplete, it should be fairlyprehensive."

    "How should I get them to you?"

    Upon hearing Tian Xiaotian''s words, a trace of excitement flickered through Qiu Tu''s eyes.

    He quickly said, "Leave me an address. I''lle over right away, and we can meet and talk."

    Tian Xiaotian, sounding as if he was stealing something, whispered out an address.

    Looking at the location of the address, those documents must have just been stolen from Vice President Tian''spany.

    Qiu Tu quickly jotted down the address, then finally hung up the phone...

    .....

    At the same time.

    Xintian Communications Company, General Manager''s Secretary Office.

    Tian Xiaotian put down the phone, his face showing a conflicted yet bewildered expression.

    He wasn''t sure if he was doing the right thing.

    But... based on Butler Shi''s investigation of Qiu Tu, everything Qiu Tu told him today hadn''t been a lie:

    Qiu Tu was indeed just an ordinary civilian from Xinjie City at the beginning. Later, during the recruitment drive by the Investigation Bureau, he was selected because he could read, write, and drive, and was assigned to work in the Administrative Office as a clerical investigator.

    Afterward, having performed well in the Administrative Office, he was noticed by Secretary Bai, who then rmended him to Yan Chen, promoting him to Second-ss Investigator.

    Subsequently, because he saved Yan Chen''s mistress, Qiu Tu was promoted by Yan Chen to First Level Detective and was taken into the Political Department by Jia Shu to investigate the Qin Family.

    No one knew what he did in the Qin Family, but shortly after his arrival, the Patriarch of the Qin Family openly aligned with Yan Chen, and as a result, he was promoted to Chief Qiu.

    So, one could say that every step of Qiu Tu''s promotion was shadowed by Yan Chen''s faction, with Secretary Bai and Jia Shu, two of Yan Chen''s right-hand men, being his benefactors.

    With this in mind, Tian Xiaotian felt somewhat reassured: after all, if such a person couldn''t be trusted, then who else in the Investigation Bureau could be trusted?

    It''s not like Qiu Tu would still harbor ill intentions towards Yan Chen and Jia Shu after being promoted to Deputy Staff, right?

    With this thought, Tian Xiaotian finally made up his mind.

    With a determined look in his eyes, he packed all the files into his backpack and then stealthily slipped out of the secretary''s office, heading downstairs.

    ```

    However, what he didn''t see was that, just as he turned the corner, the secretary to the Vice President Tian happened to walk by on the other side of the corridor.

    The secretary caught a glimpse of the broad back that shed by the corner and hesitated for a moment.

    ''Was that President Tian''s son?''

    She looked at her office, then back at the empty corner, and shook her head slightly, paying it no mind.

    .....

    Driving with Qin Shuman, they arrived at the office building of Vice President Tian''smunicationspany. Qiu Tu met Tian Xiaotian alone in the alley next to themunicationspany and obtained the travel records and gift registry of Vice President Tian and Yin Caimei.

    Before handing over the materials, Tian Xiaotian seemed a bit uneasy, so he clutched his backpack and asked Qiu Tu with his little eyes, "Brother Tu, swear to me! You truly want to help clear my father''s name!"

    Seeing this, Qiu Tu didn''t hesitate at all and made a vow, "Don''t worry. I swear on my patron Jia Shu, the minister. If I intend to harm your father, may he never rest in peace!"

    Tian Xiaotian sharply noticed the problem with this promise:

    Although Jia Shu indeed was Qiu Tu''s superior, but... Qiu Tu''s promotions had more to do with Yan Chen, right!

    He quickly took back his backpack, shaking his head, "No! You must swear on Director Yan!"

    Qiu Tu: .....

    ''Director Yan, this kid won''t let you off, ah. It has nothing to do with me.''

    While internallyining, Qiu Tu yet again made a vow on Yan Chen''s life and fortune.

    This time, Tian Xiaotian finally showed a relieved expression on his face and confidently handed over the backpack to Qiu Tu.

    Taking the backpack and looking at the "foolish son of andowner" in front of him, Qiu Tu felt as if his conscience was slightly troubled... so he kindly and tactfully reminded him, "Xiaotian, you should eat less when you can. Getting too fat can affect the blood supply to your brain."

    But to his surprise, Tian Xiaotian looked at Qiu Tu with astonishment and said, "Where am I fat? My dad said that I''m just... inactive because our house is too small, and my muscles are a bit ck, that''s all!"

    As he spoke, he couldn''t help but touch his belly, muttering quietly, "Now that you mention it, I do feel a bit hungry. I need to find something to eatter."

    Qiu Tu: .....

    Indeed, you look hungry, so hungry you''re starting to talk nonsense....

    After saying goodbye to Tian Xiaotian, Qiu Tu returned to the car with the travel records and gift list.

    Qin Shuman had been waiting there, and the two of them sat in the car to sort through the box of materials.

    While organizing, Qiu Tu curiously asked, "Assistant Su has been quiet for a while, hasn''t she?"

    Qin Shuman chuckled lightly, "She''s asleep."

    "This girl has no other faults but just sleeps a lot."

    Qiu Tuughed,menting, "In this era, having good sleep quality is actually a bonus."

    Qin Shuman smiled and shook her head.

    As she continued to look through the materials, she added, "The approach you chose is very good."

    "Vice President Tian is not like ordinary people. He''s always busy with affairs, and everywhere he goes, he''s taken by car."

    "In the nning Area, private cars are a rarity, and with the fuel being so expensive, each of his trips has to be recorded by the secretary, who then regrly checks the fuel costs with the drivers and the finance department."

    "Moreover, with his frequent business interactions and numerous social reciprocities, and since the value of gifts given and received must be at least equivalent, the secretary also organizes a gift list for easy reference when returning favors."

    "So, with these two sets of records, we can quickly understand Vice President Tian''s social and connection circles, and even determine his range of movements, secret bases, safe houses, and other hidden locations."

    Qiu Tu nodded with a smile and flipped through the pages of the gift list rapidly.

    Both being Cataclysmics, their physical and their mental capacities were much stronger than those of ordinary people.

    So, in just a few short minutes, Qiu Tu quickly pulled out a gift list.

    He carefully reviewed it for a moment, his brows slightly furrowed, and he muttered softly, "Why would it be them?"

    Noticing Qiu Tu''s unusual reaction, Qin Shuman put down the file she was looking through, looked up at him.

    Seeing him engrossed in the materials, she moved closer to Qiu Tu and started looking as well.

    After one nce, she too was a bit surprised, "The Qin Family?"

    She turned to Qiu Tu, and he just happened to turn his head to look at her.

    The space in the car was already narrow, and since they were so close to each other, as they met eyes, their noses touched together, and it felt like there was a faint current flowing between their lips.

    His nose filled with the scent of Su Xiaowan, looking at a face different from Qin Shuman with hints of naivety and innocence, and feeling Qin Shuman''s familiar expressions, gaze, and aura...

    Qiu Tu found his lips getting dry. The contrast of unfamiliarity mixed with familiarity made it all too easy to make a mistake...

    Qin Shuman clearly felt the change in Qiu Tu, coughed once, stepped back, and gently reminded him in a low voice, "Stop it. It''s weird."

    After saying that, she pointed to the name on that list, bringing the conversation back on track, "This Banned Book is actually rted to the Qin Family?"

    Seeing this, Qiu Tu adjusted his emotions and refocused on the task at hand.

    The list indeed had connections to the Qin Family.

    It was from a small-scale dinner hosted by the Patriarch of the Qin Family.

    Not many attended the dinner, besides the Patriarch of the Qin Family, Qin Heng, and of the third house, Qin Shu, there were only a handful of others, most of whom were major businessmen associated with the Qin Family.

 Chapter 92 The Truth Surfaces (7k for follow-up reads!)

    And following the etiquette, after the banquet, everyone would exchange gifts with each other.

    The gift list recorded the presents that the Qin Family and other attendees had given to Vice President Tian....

    Within it, the book "Brave New World" was conspicuously listed.

    However, what was odd was that most gifts on the list had a record of who had sent them. The only exception was this book, which had no record whatsoever.

    It was as if... someone had secretly ced it in the pile of gifts.

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu nced over the guest list from that banquet.

    Then his eyes slightly narrowed as he discovered another familiar name.

    With this thought, Qiu Tu quickly pointed to that name and said to Qin Shuman, "Look, who is this?"

    Qin Shuman followed the direction of Qiu Tu''s finger and saw a name she recognized: Shun Yun Trading Co., Ltd.''s Qian Dafu.

    Upon seeing this name, Qin Shuman fell into thought for a moment; then her eyes suddenly widened as she turned to Qiu Tu, "One of the transportpanies that was robbed?"

    Qiu Tu nodded.

    He recalled the contents written in the case file.

    Because of the listening devices installed by Yin Caimei, six transportpanies in Xinjie City had been suffering from the predations of the United Front anti-government armed forces over the past year.

    Among them, Shun Yun Trading suffered the heaviest losses.

    They had not only lost arge amount of grain and life necessities purchased from other cities but also a significant quantity of herbs and potions.

    "There''s something wrong here." Qiu Tu tapped on the names of Shun Yun Trading and the Qin brothers, Qin Heng and Qin Shu.

    Qin Shuman nodded, then stretched out her hand towards Qiu Tu.

    Qiu Tu discreetly reached into his pocket and handed her themunicator specially made by the Security Department.

    Qin Shuman took the customizedmunicator, pressed a few numbers, and then dialed out.

    The call connected after a moment, and Qin Shuman spoke expressionlessly, "This is Rain Butterfly, help me look into the rtionship between the Qin Family and Shun Yun Trading''s Qian Dafu."

    "Also, review Old Fourth Qin again to see if he knows any secrets."

    After the person on the other end responded, Qin Shuman hung up the phone.

    As Qiu Tu continued to rummage through other materials, he said, "I feel like there''s really something wrong with the Qin Family."

    What he meant by "something wrong" obviously wasn''t referring to the Qin Family''s previously vague connections with the anti-government armed forces.

    After all, in the nning Area, especially the newly designated nning Area, most forces had more or less connections with the anti-government armed forces¡ªit was only before the influence of the Sanctuary had expanded to this area that these forces had been hedging their bets.

    Therefore, Qiu Tu''s "something wrong" clearly indicated a deeper cooperation between the two forces.

    As the head of the Investigation Department of the Security Department and an old hand at the job, Qin Shuman seriously nodded in agreement with Qiu Tu''s view, "Once is a coincidence, twice is a coincidence, but to call it coincidence three or four times is imusible."

    Qiu Tu nodded slightly.

    Having reached a consensus, they both immersed themselves in their own world as they continued to go through the materials.

    For a while, no one spoke in the car, and it gradually quieted down.

    Blue moonlight streamed through the car window and draped both of them in a soft and mysterious veil.

    Time passed, perhaps only 10 minutes, or it could have been a full half-hour.

    "Ring, ring, ring!"

    The crisp ring of themunicator suddenly pierced the silence within the car.

    Qin Shuman snapped back to reality and answered the phone with a sinct, "Speak."

    The person reporting on the other end spoke so softly and quickly that Qiu Tu could barely make out what was being said.

    He just saw Qin Shuman''s expression change, going from calm to surprised, and then from surprised to excited!

    After a moment, Qin Shuman hung up the phone and turned to look at Qiu Tu with barely concealed jubtion, "Qiu Tu! We might have stumbled upon a major case!"

    Qiu Tu looked at her somewhat nkly.

    Qin Shuman leaned in close to Qiu Tu and lowered her voice, "Let me tell you, it''s shocking what you find when you look¡ªShun Yun Trading was actually founded by Old Master Qin."

    "He already had a certain status in Xinjie City, and he had also carved out his own territory in the underworld."

    "In order to train his own fighters and to expand his financial resources, he supported one of his confidants, directing him to take nearly half of the gang''s core to establish Shun Yun Trading, mainly dealing with the transportation of materials."

    "And that confidant was the father of Qian Dafu¡­"

    Seeing Qiu Tu''s surprised look, Qin Shuman continued, "Later on, a few years ago, both Old Master Qin and the father of Qian Dafu died in idents. Moreover, as the Qin Family wanted to go legitimate, the twopanies ostensibly went their separate ways on the surface and no longer had any dealings."

    "But now it seems... the truth might be quite different."

    Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu nodded slightly, thoughtfully musing for a brief moment before conjecturing, "So, Shun Yun Trading is very likely the real dark hand of the Qin Family."

    "Some of the truly illegal industries of the Qin Family, like cooperation with the United Front, were in fact separated out long before Old Master Qin''s death."

    "And the ck and grey industries that Fourth Master Qin got from the division of the family assets were actually those with very low risk already."

    Qin Shuman''s face lit up with excitement, "Exactly!"

    "So, we''ve been investigating Old Fourth Qin for so many days without much progress, and in the end, it''s because we were looking in the wrong direction!"

    "If we investigate Shun Yun Trading, we might be able to dig out the Qin Family!"

    "And you can perfectly close your case too!"

    Qiu Tu was not swayed by Qin Shuman''s excitement; he patted her hand and analyzed calmly, "So, you suspect that the Qin Family might be the mastermind behind the Yin Caimei case?"

    Seeing Qin Shuman nod, Qiu Tu continued, "You''re guessing... that the Qin family sensed danger due to our earlier investigation and the arrest of Yin Caimei was coincidental. So, worried about being exposed and getting themselves burned, they decided to make a clean break and silence her?"

    "And simultaneously frame Vice President Tian in the process?"

    Qin Shuman nodded in agreement and added, "Right. So, I suspect that Vice President Tian is truly being wronged."

    "The robbery of the transportationpany might well be a y they''ve staged themselves."

    "Shun Da Trading and other transportationpanies were likely already dealing in illegal business with the United Front. Then, by chance, Yin Caimei got recruited by Vice President Tian into the chamber ofmerce, which provided these transportationpanies with the perfect opportunity to set a trap."

    Though it was just a spection at this point, Qin Shuman had a hunch: this could very well be the truth!

    With this in mind, Qin Shuman turned to Qiu Tu and asked, "What do you think?"

    Since Qin Shuman began her analysis, Qiu Tu had been listening intently. Now, hesitating slightly upon her inquiry, he finally nodded, "I do think it''s a possibility."

    Seeing Qiu Tu agree with her theory, Qin Shuman couldn''t sit still any longer. She said to Qiu Tu, "Please help me take Xiaowan home!"

    "I need to go ahead and thoroughly investigate this case."

    After speaking, perhaps worried that Qiu Tu might misunderstand, she took another look at him, "Don''t worry, I won''t steal your credit. Nor will I interfere with your case investigation."

    Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu waved it off with a smile, "It''s fine. I don''t mind that."

    After looking at Qiu Tu a second time and making sure he truly didn''t mind, Qin Shuman kissed him happily, then left Su Xiaowan''s body and decoupled her attachment.

    ¡ª¡ªClearly, the pressure Director Dai had been putting on her had nearly left her unable to catch her breath.

    An unexpected case falling into herp now was aplete relief from her urgent predicament!

    If she could solve this case or do a good job with the preliminary intelligence work, not only would her past mistakes be overlooked, but she might even get a promotion and a raise!

    So... in her excitement, she had even forgotten that she wasn''t in her own body but in Su Xiaowan''s...

    Suddenly kissed by "Su Xiaowan," Qiu Tu felt strangely awkward...

    He looked at Su Xiaowan slumping in the passenger seat, shook his head slightly, then leaned over... and fastened her seatbelt.

    Perhaps because of that kiss, the friction between their bodies made Qiu Tu feel like his blood was rushing faster.

    After securing the seat belt, Qiu Tu reorganized the files, then followed the address left by Qin Shuman to take Su Xiaowan home.

    The vehicle traveled down the dimly lit street as Qiu Tu quietly pondered over the information he had discovered just now.

    In truth, Qiu Tu wasn''t afraid of Qin Shuman stealing his credit, nor was he concerned about her affecting his investigation.

    That''s because his responsibility was solely the case of Yin Caimei''s death; the robbery of the transportationpany by the United Front had nothing to do with him.

    In his few days at the Political Department, Qiu Tu quickly learned a key to survival: to stick to one''s post and abide by its responsibilities.

    Investigating on your own another team''s case, even solving it, wouldn''t bring much credit but could easily attract resentment.

    Beyond that, Qiu Tu also noticed several details that Qin Shuman had missed.

    Perhaps due to different perspectives, while Qin Shuman was excited about uncovering a major case, Qiu Tu felt a chill down his spine.

    Was this really all about framing and setting someone up?

    The Qin family and the bosses of those transportationpanies, even if they weren''t afraid of Vice President Tian, wouldn''t want to offend a vice president of a chamber ofmerce with the backing of a sanctuary so casually, right?N?v(el)B\\jnn

    So, they designed a trap for him simply because Yin Caimei was chosen by Vice President Tian?

    Qiu Tu thought that was indeed too cruel and insane.

    Moreover, if the Qin family was really framing Vice President Tian, then what was Jia Shu''s unusual behavior about?

    Could it be that Jia Shu didn''t want to assist Vice President Tian, but instead wanted to amodate the Qin family?

    Then why did he hint to Qiu Tu that this matter needed to be settled to Vice President Tian''s satisfaction?

    One question after another led Qiu Tu to form a bolder hypothesis than Qin Shuman''s.

    It was... that all of this was indeed a self-scripted, self-directed scam.

    But... from Yin Caimei to those transportationpanies, to Vice President Tian, to the Qin family, they were all actors in this scam.

    Even Jia Shu might have glimpsed some truth but chose to temporarily let it slide for the interests of the Investigation Bureau!

    They wove web upon web,yer uponyer of lies, merely to create more buffers, to hide even deeper...

    Though he might have guessed the real gist of the case, Qiu Tu was faced with a tremendously difficult question.

    That was... what path he should take...

    Carrying deep doubts, Qiu Tu took Su Xiaowan back home.

    Su Xiaowan lived on New Fang Street, which was the same ce where Qiu Tu had been stopped that morning.

    This indicated that her family conditions were fairly good. Before Xinjie City was established, her parents likely had jobs at some reputablepany or institution and held some status in society.

    Their children, having received decent education and maintained good character, without any dark background, were among the fastest to climb the socialdder in the year Xinjie City was founded ¡ª the three major power institutions favored such young people with a clean background and a decent education. Song Qing was also one of them.

    Qiu Tu stopped the car in front of Su Xiaowan''s building, woke her up and watched her silhouette ascend the beautifully decorated multi-story western-style building, floor by floor, until all the lights went out. Then, extinguishing his cigarette, he turned and drove home.

    Arriving at Old Alley Street, Qiu Tu parked the car and walked towards his own home in the shabby tube building.

    Reaching the building, the lights were still on at home.

    Qiu Tu climbed the stairs and opened the door, surprised to find... Shen Lingshuang was not asleep on the sofa tonight; instead, there were "rustling" soundsing from the room.

    Curiously, Qiu Tu walked over and then saw... Shen Lingshuang, showing her fair back, trying on lingerie.

    Only... it wasn''t just her trying on lingerie; she was actually stuffing things inside it....

    -----

 Chapter 93 Congratulations, Youre a Girl Now (7k)

    Seeing the shocking scene before him, Qiu Tu was dumbfounded.

    He gaped at Shen Lingshuang''s actions, then asked, "I say... what are you doing?"

    Perhaps because she was too focused on her mischief, Shen Lingshuang hadn''t heard someone entering the house. Therefore, when Qiu Tu spoke up, she got startled right away.

    She covered her chest, then turned around with a flushed face and asked Qiu Tu in surprise, "When did you get back?"

    Qiu Tu: ...

    Is that the point?

    While internallyining, Qiu Tu replied, "Just got back. But... saw everything."

    Shen Lingshuang''s face turned as red as an apple. She shot an annoyed nce at Qiu Tu and, in a fit of resignation, turned back around and continued stuffing tissues into her bra.

    Perhaps because she was acting out of spite, her movements were so exaggerated that Qiu Tu could even catch a glimpse of the petite pair within.

    Qiu Tu stroked his chin, quietly appreciating the view while curiously asking, "What on earth are you doing?"

    Shen Lingshuang retorted stubbornly, "Wearing a bra, okay? What, do you go out without wearing a bra?"

    Qiu Tu nonchntly said, "First, I indeed don''t wear that kind of bra. Second... even if others wear a bra, they wouldn''t stuff so much tissue in it, would they?"

    "You... you know nothing. I''m doing this to protect my chest!" With her face red enough to steam from the top of her head, Shen Lingshuang still pretended to be indifferent and pulled down her T-shirt!

    Not to mention... after stuffing all that in, Shen Lingshuang''s front did look considerably more pronounced.

    Feeling Qiu Tu''s strange gaze, Shen Lingshuang stood up, clenched her fist, and with a flushed face, went to the bathroom.

    As she passed by Qiu Tu, she even purposefully bumped her padded chest against him, leaving Qiu Tu caught betweenughter and tears.

    Though she was acting tough in front of Qiu Tu.

    Once she escaped into the bathroom, Shen Lingshuang couldn''t hold it in any longer. She covered her face with her hands, her expression filled with despair!

    She had been eating and sleeping with Qiu Tu thesest couple of days, but he had made no moves on her whatsoever.

    This made her doubt her own charm!

    So, taking advantage of a trip to Xiafang Street for shopping, she secretly bought a few sexy bras, nning to seduce Qiu Tu.

    Even... worrying that her undeveloped body wouldn''t capture Qiu Tu''s interest, after much thought, she decided to pad her bra tonight as a deception!

    But... before the scam could start, she got caught.

    "Wuwuwu..." The more Shen Lingshuang thought about it, the more aggrieved she felt, and she couldn''t help crying with her mouth covered.

    ¡ªShe covered her mouth because she didn''t want Qiu Tu outside the bathroom to hear, which would be even more embarrassing.

    Meanwhile, outside the bathroom, Qiu Tu didn''t find this incident embarrassing at all; in fact, he found it highly amusing.

    He blinked his eyes, grinned, and walked to the bathroom door, knocking gently, "Actually... there''s no need for padding. I like you just the way you are."

    Inside the bathroom, Shen Lingshuang''s eyes were slightly teary, and she pouted her lips.

    Qiu Tu added another sentence, "After all, being small is cute too."

    Behind the door, Shen Lingshuang was close to exploding with anger.

    She opened the bathroom door, red at Qiu Tu, and said, "You are the one who''s cute and tiny! Your entire family is cute and tiny!"

    Having said that, she marched back to the bedroom on her short legs, still fuming, jumped onto the bed, and covered her head with the nket, ignoring Qiu Tu.

    Seeing Shen Lingshuang in her fuming state, the upward curve of Qiu Tu''s lips was almost uncontroble.

    After a busy day of public affairs, teasing the adorable Shen Lingshuang felt quite fun.

    He took off his uniform jacket, went to the bathroom to freshen up, then returned to bed andy down beside Shen Lingshuang.

    Shen Lingshuang was still under the covers, ignoring him.

    Qiu Tu didn''t mind; he simply hugged her and started caressing her through the nket.

    Shen Lingshuang initially held back, but after a minute, she couldn''t stand it any longer. She threw off the nkets, her face flushed with embarrassment as she red at Qiu Tu, "What are you doing?!"

    Qiu Tu looked at her sincerely and said, "I just want to prove to you... that I really do like you...."

    "Your figure."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s wordsced with suggestive undertones, Shen Lingshuang''s face grew even redder, seemingly on the verge of bleeding.

    She hit Qiu Tu a few times with the nket, frustratedly saying, "No need for proof! Stop moving around!"

    Qiu Tu still smiled as he looked at her.

    Shen Lingshuang''s head felt like it was steaming with heat from his gaze.

    Annoyed, she covered herself with the nket again, throwing in the towel, so to speak.

    Seeing this, Qiu Tu moved in closer once again.

    Before long, he tossed the padded bra aside and then said softly, "Don''t stuff these things in anymore; it''s not good for your health."

    "If you think they''re too small, I can help you out. I have a family heirloom breast ergement technique."

    Under the covers, Shen Lingshuang mumbled, "I''ll kill you in your sleep."

    But the words sounded more like coquettish pouting than threats...

    So, Qiu Tu''s smile grew even more brilliant.

    [108 Ways to Enhance Affection]#81: Take action when it''s time. Physical contact is the best way to increase mutual affection.

    PS: If you miss the opportunity, she won''t consider you a gentleman; rather, she might doubt her own charm and your feelings for her....

    [9 Days (Time until Yin Caimei''s case is closed)]

    ...

    The next morning.

    As soon as Qiu Tu opened his eyes, he saw Shen Lingshuang''s cute face close to his.

    She said seriously, "Congrattions, the surgery was sessful, and you''re now a girl.

    Qiu Tu nonchntly pulled her into his arms, thenzily said, "Sorry, the surgery failed. I can still feel it. Don''t believe me? Have a feel."

    Shen Lingshuang''s attempt at joking backfired, leaving her with a blushing face. She snuggled up to Qiu Tu''s chest like a tiny kitten.

    Listening to Qiu Tu''s strong heartbeat, for some reason, she felt incredibly secure....

    After enjoying a moment of tranquility in the morning, Qiu Tu took the initiative to go downstairs and buy breakfast.

    While having breakfast, Qiu Tu also took the opportunity to check the gains fromst night''s "Loyalty Game."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Last night, although he had yed around with Shen Lingshuang for a while, his good habits still made him set up the "Loyalty Game" before going to bed.

    Furthermore,pared to the previous two nights, this time, Qiu Tu even switched the participants of the two games:

    He sent Eagle to y the "Combat Game" with Wang Xi, while he had Ah-Tai y the "Salvage Game."

    He nned to test whether the game process and rewards would differ with different participants.

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu first opened the "Combat Game."

    As his mind clicked, the settlement screen for the "Combat Game" appeared in front of him.

    Compared to Ah-Tai''s battles on the previous days, the battle screen between Eagle and Wang Xi was noticeably more brutal: Eagle''s pixted figure wielded a bicycle chain, covered in wounds, dripping with blood.

    Meanwhile, Wang Xi''s pixted figure this time had switched to a kitchen knife, andpared to the blood-soaked Eagle, Wang Xi was in a significantly better state, with hardly any wounds on his body.

    This discovery made Qiu Tu''s heart skip a beat: Couldst night''s game have ended in failure?

    He hurriedly checked the game prompt.

    Fortunately... In the end, the victory in the battle was still won by Eagle: he had a bicycle chain wrapped around Wang Xi''s neck, squeezing until Wang Xi''s face turned nearly blue.

    Looking at Eagle''s hard-won victory, Qiu Tu guessed that the fighting power in the Combat Game might well be linked to real strength.

    Since his subordinates were all ordinary people for now, what they wereparing was their "hand-to-handbat ability."

    But if in the future his subordinates included Cataclysmics, it''s likely that their Cataclysmic ability would be the decisive factor in confrontations!

    With that in mind, Qiu Tu clicked on the reward for Eagle''s victory with his thoughts.

    With his click, several prompts suddenly popped up in front of him:

    [Victory in the Loyalty Game, reward obtained.]

    [Wang Xi Loyalty +2]

    [Wang Xi Memory Fragment (Small) +1]

    ''Eh? Another memory fragment?''

    Last time, Qiu Tu had also obtained a piece of Wang Xi''s memory fragment, and although it was only ''tiny,'' he had gotten a lot of useful information; now he had obtained a ''small'' fragment, Qiu Tu suddenly grew curious about what interesting scenes he might see.

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu tried clicking on this small memory fragment with his thoughts.

    The next second, the scene shifted, and Qiu Tu found himself in a new room.

    This room was clearly much more luxurious than thest one.

    Not only was there a wool carpet on the floor, a leather sofa set, but there were even paintings hanging on the walls.

    And the man he had seenst time, dressed in a ck suit, with bright red hair, wearing a clown mask, was sitting on the leather sofa, talking to "Qiu Tu"!

    "What have I told you! There''s no way it would be discovered!"

    "How could those idiotic detectives ever catch us!"

    "So, you being frightened every day ispletely pointless worrying!"

    After saying that, the masked man tossed "Qiu Tu" a booklet, "We''ve got the herbs now. Next is potion crafting!"

    "These are the methods for crafting several potions!"

    "You only have one month, you must craft these potions!"

    "Qiu Tu" took the booklet and started to examine its contents.

    Meanwhile, the man continued to raise his arms, mumbling somewhat sickly, "With these potions!"

    "I will be able to make a move in Xinjie City!"

    "Bring ''pleasure'' to ''God''!"

    "Then ''God'' will definitely bestow me with more power!"

    As he spoke, the masked man seemed to burst with a mysterious force, which violently swept across "Qiu Tu''s" body.

    "Qiu Tu" clearly felt "his" body trembling and shrinking back a little.

    "He" felt "his" inner self was both excited and afraid...

    The memory image froze on the masked man turning to look at Qiu Tu, his crimson eyes matched with his sick behavior, utterly unnerving...

    ...

    "Qiu Tu? Qiu Tu?!"

    Hearing the call from far to near, Qiu Tu came back to his senses.

    "Whew!" He took a deep breath and looked at Shen Lingshuang who had gotten close to him, with a worried look on her face.

    He couldn''t help but ask, "What''s the matter?"

    Shen Lingshuang looked at Qiu Tu with some worry and said, "You suddenly stopped moving while eating breakfast. And your body was stiff, eyes lifeless."

    After saying that, she showed a worried face, "You''re not sick, are you?"

    "Or is it a sequ from the Cataclysm Awakening?"

    Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu also slowly emerged from the memory he had just experienced and smiled as he touched Shen Lingshuang''s head, "It''s nothing, I was just a bit distracted."

    Shen Lingshuang blushed and swatted away his hand that was making teasing gestures, "Go away! Pervert!"

    She realized that ever since she changed her underwear and was seen by Qiu Tust night, Qiu Tu had be more and more bold, simply annoying!

    While ying with Shen Lingshuang, Qiu Tu pondered over the information he had acquired from the memory fragment just now.

    For one, he could confirm that the memory presented by this memory fragment likely urred within the past month.

    Because the memory clearly was from after Wang Xi and the masked man had robbed the pharmacy.

    Secondly, what Qiu Tu didn''t expect was that the masked man and Wang Xi didn''t rob the pharmacy for money, but for alchemy?

    But... what are those potions for?

    Why could they bring ''pleasure'' to ''God''? And why was the masked man so excited about it?

    With these thoughts in mind, Qiu Tu''s gaze fell upon Shen Lingshuang...

 Chapter 94 Acquiring a New Cataclysmic Treasure! (7k)

    Suddenly feeling Qiu Tu''s gaze on her, Shen Lingshuang was initially stunned, then reflexively covered her chest with a wary expression and asked, "What are you doing?"

    Having already indulged his hand addiction a moment ago, Qiu Tu now had no other thoughts in mind and asked, "Right. If I gave you a potion form or ingredients, could you roughly judge the effects of the potion?"

    Upon hearing this, Shen Lingshuang pondered for a bit and didn''tpletely reject the idea, "I... can try."

    After receiving a positive response from Shen Lingshuang, Qiu Tu closed his eyes and carefully recalled the forms of several potions from the first page of the booklet in his memory.

    A momentter, he opened his eyes and began listing the material names, "Defying Fate Scales, Dried Seven, brous Greenbrier, Great Thistle...."

    As Qiu Tu named each ingredient and material, Shen Lingshuang''s brow furrowed tighter and tighter.

    It was not until Qiu Tu finished listing the ingredient names that she quietly said, "This seems like... some kind of Cataclysmic Potion."

    "And it''s one that can only be made using a certain Cataclysm Path."

    Hearing Shen Lingshuang''s words, Qiu Tu looked puzzled and asked, "What do you mean by a potion that can only be made using a certain Cataclysm Path?"

    When it came to knowledge about potions, Shen Lingshuang clearly became more haughty.

    She tilted her head up slightly and confidently exined, "Cataclysmic Potions are different from ordinary potions. Although they also follow the ''Star, Moon, King, and Minister'' ratio,"

    "the ''Moon Medicine'' doesn''t necessarily have to be Cataclysmic Material; it can also be a Path power."

    "That is to say, you can rece one medicinal ingredient with the Cataclysmic Power of a ''Cataclysmic'' and concoct a potion that contains the power rted to the Path of that Cataclysmic."

    Then, Shen Lingshuang further exined the special Cataclysmic Potion to Qiu Tu in detail.

    To put it inyman''s terms:

    Formting a Cataclysmic Potion normally requires four types of medicinal ingredients and materials ording to the ''Star, Moon, King, and Minister.'' ''Star Medicine'' and ''Moon Medicine'' are Cataclysmic Materials containing Catastrophe Power.

    While ''King Medicine'' and ''Assistant Medicine'' are ordinary medicinal ingredients, serving to harmonize and add effects.

    Later, some pharmacists found Cataclysmic Materials too difficult to procure, so they only added ''Star Medicine'', and directly reced the ''Moon Medicine'' with the power of a Cataclysmic.

    This created a special Cataclysmic Potion unique to a certain Path.

    After understanding the formtion method for this special type of Cataclysmic Potion, Qiu Tu couldn''t help but curiously ask, "Then can you tell which Path''s Cataclysmic Potion is concocted from this form?"

    Shen Lingshuang shook her head slightly and slowly said, "It''s hard to say... but most likely, it''s a potion of the ''Mystery'' or ''Immortality'' Path."

    "After all, the entire form gives off a dark, twisted feeling."

    ''Mystery??'' Hearing Shen Lingshuang''s words, Qiu Tu suddenly felt a jolt, and couldn''t help but recall the Cataclysmic Potion ''Mandragora Love Drug'' he had obtained yesterday.

    He remembered the description on that potion bottle being: A Cataclysmic Potion made from Cataclysm Materials including mandrake flower, Subus of Water by a Cataclysmic from the "Mystery" Path.

    He had noticed this description at the time, but didn''t understand what it meant. Now it seemed... That potion might also be a special Cataclysmic Potion?

    With this thought, Qiu Tu suddenly had a startling suspicion: Could it be that the ''Mandragora Love Drug'' he received had actuallye from that man in the suit with the mask?

    After all... the ''Salvage Game'' introduction stated that all Cataclysmic Props were salvaged from one''s own region.

    That is to say, only if Xinjie City housed this Cataclysmic Potion would he have been likely to obtain it.

    And although Xinjie City is not small, there are not many Cataclysmics, plus the masked man was concocting potions rted to the "Mystery" Path, so his spection might very well be true!

    Meanwhile, as Qiu Tu was analyzing, Shen Lingshuang also finished carefully studying the entire form, and said with some uncertainty, "Although I''ve never seen this potion..."

    "Based on the analysis of the ingredients, it is likely a Cataclysmic Potion rted to disguising, concealing, and transforming."

    "For example, ''Impersonator Potion,'' ''Albino Phantom Potion,'' ''Reverse Transformation Potion'' and alike..."

    ''Disguise, transformation?''

    ''Mandragora Love Drug...?''

    ''"God"?''

    Afterbining these pieces of information, inexplicably, Qiu Tu felt that somewhat adult and sinister scenes and images seemed to emerge.

    ''Could it be that something major is going to happen in Xinjie City?''

    Upon pondering quietly for a while, Qiu Tu temporarily suppressed these thoughts and finished breakfast with Shen Lingshuang.

    After eating, Qiu Tu reminded Shen Lingshuang not to wander off in the next few days, then left for work...

    Today was thest workday of the week. Tomorrow was the weekend, the day Qiu Tu and Chief Huang had arranged to go to ''Emerald Fort'' to attend the horse racing meeting. There were only eight days left until the deadline for the Yin Caimei case.

    Stepping out onto Old Alley Street and getting into his car, Qiu Tu did not start driving immediately but continued to check the rewards forst night''s second ''Loyalty Game.''

    Turning off "Fighting Game," Qiu Tu opened "Salvage Game."

    With his click, a pixted figure of Ah-Tai popped up before Qiu Tu.

    Compared to Eagle, who looked nearly exhausted from a night of salvaging, the pixted figure of Ah-Tai appeared to be in much better condition, simply sitting on the ground and yawning.

    Qiu Tu observed the screen closely and soon spotted a small jade seal in the image.

    Qiu Tu mentally clicked on the jade seal, and the next second, a prompt popped up before him,

    [Acquired Cataclysmic Treasure: Seal of Ownership]

    ''Seal of Ownership?''

    ''What is that?''

    Qiu Tu tried to check the description of this Cataclysmic treasure.

    ''Cataclysmic Treasure: Seal of Ownership''

    ''Treasure Introduction: A Cataclysmic treasure made from an unknown material. As long as you stamp the seal on an item or a creature, you will have ownership of it for 72 hours.''

    ''Within 72 hours, if you want to retrieve IT, IT will cross space and appear before you.''

    ''Note: Acquiring items or creatures will consume a certain "cost." The amount of the "cost" is determined by various factors such as the volume, mass, rank of the item or creature, and the distance between it and the user.''

    Having read the introduction to this Cataclysmic treasure, Qiu Tu''s eyes lit up slightly.

    As expected... there is no such thing as a weak Cataclysmic treasure.

    With such a magical treasure, Qiu Tu, after a little thought, came up with many ways to use it.

    Whether it was for transporting items, stealing goods, orunching surprise attacks on hostile organizations, or sneaking multiple people into certain secret ces, it would be highly effective!

    The only problem was that he was unclear about the extent of the "cost" of using it.

    If it was small, Qiu Tu felt it was bearable; but if it was too much, then he would have to reduce the frequency of use...

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu packed away the Cataclysmic treasure and drove toward the Investigation Bureau...

    [8 days (Yin Caimei case closure time)]

    ....

    Upon arriving at the Investigation Bureau, Qiu Tu, holding the materials he had obtained from Tian Xiaotian the night before, took the elevator to the 9th floor.

    Once he reached the office of the 9th-floor investigation team, all of his subordinates were there.

    Even Cao Dabiao and the seven or eight investigators that Qiu Tu had sent out had returned.

    Seeing Qiu Tu, everyone greeted him in session.

    Cao Dabiao, the most astute among them, saw that Qiu Tu was holding something and quickly stepped forward with a sly smile, "Chief, let me help you with that."

    Qiu Tu did not refuse his kindness and casually handed Tian Xiaotian''s backpack to him, then inquired, "Why have youe back? Any progress on the case I gave you to investigate?"

    Cao Dabiao took over the backpack, smiled humbly, and said, "Chief, it''s all thanks to your good fortune. We''ve been finding people and connections these past two days, and finally found the brother-inw of the driver for Vice President Tian..."

    "Then, after arranging a few meetings and beating around the bush, we finally brought the driver out yesterday."

    "Afterward, we got him pretty drunk and managed to extract Vice President Tian''s itinerary for the next few days from him!"

    Hearing Cao Dabiao''s words, Qiu Tu looked at him in surprise and then praised, "Not bad, Big Biao. You really have some skills."

    "In such a short time, you''ve got chummy with Vice President Tian''s driver and obtained internal information."

    At this, Qiu Tu gave Cao Dabiao a heavy pat on the shoulder, "I really didn''t misjudge you!"

    "You''ve done a great job!"

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s praise, a rare expression of self-satisfaction appeared on Cao Dabiao''s face.

    Clearly, he too thought thatpleting Qiu Tu''s task in such a short time was quite an achievement.

    As they spoke, the two reached Qiu Tu''s desk. Cao Dabiao helped Qiu Tu ce the backpack on the desk and, out of curiosity, casually asked, "Chief, what''s in this bag? It''s quite heavy."

    Qiu Tu smiled and said, "Nothing much, just the record of Vice President Tian and Yin Caimei''s itinerary and gift-giving list for this year."

    Cao Dabiao: ???

    Cao Dabiao almost thought he had misheard.

    He was stunned for a second, then asked, "What? The records of Vice President Tian and Yin Caimei''s itinerary and gift-giving list for a whole year?"

    Qiu Tu simply nodded, then he unzipped the backpack, took out the materials, and handed them to Cao Dabiao.

    "Flip through it backwards and find Vice President Tian''s itinerary for the past few days, see if it matches the ount of the driver you know."

    "If it all matches up, that means the driver didn''t deceive you, and that line must be well maintained."

    "We might very likely get more hidden information from him!"

    Cao Dabiao uttered a couple of "ohs," but he hadn''t really taken it in: because at that moment, he had already been dumbfounded by the "heavy bomb" dropped by Qiu Tu.

    Now, he had only one thought in his mind: What kind of a god was his chief?!

    It took him and seven or eight people working painstakingly for two days just to get a handle on one of Vice President Tian''s drivers, securing a three-day itinerary.

    But his chief... his chief had just managed to bring over the entire year''s itinerary of Vice President Tian?

    Compared to him, their efforts seemed utterly useless!n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Thinking this, he nced over at the other investigators in the office.

    As expected, while those who had stayed in the office these past two days seemed unaffected, the seven or eight investigators who had gone out with him to look for leads were all stunned.

    Clearly... from the moment Qiu Tu entered, they had been paying attention to the conversation between the two, and now they were as shocked as Cao Dabiao...

    [Cao Dabiao Loyalty +5]

    [Ding Xiaoqi Loyalty +3]

    [Li Liang Loyalty +3]

    [....]

    Meanwhile, Qiu Tu, while pretending to sort out the materials, had the corners of his mouth slightly curled up in a smile at the string of Loyalty alerts appearing before his eyes.

    It was necessary to praise subordinates appropriately, but also to give them a shock from time to time.

    Everybody has the ''admiration for the strong'' mentality, so you have to make them realize the gap between you and them, only then will they willingly follow you...

    Just as Qiu Tu was habitually boosting loyalty, the door to the temporary office was suddenly pushed open from the outside.

    An investigator walked in, saluted Qiu Tu, and then said politely, "Chief Qiu, the minister has asked to see you."

    "He says he wants to discuss a case with you."

    Qiu Tu was momentarily stunned. Discuss a case with him? What case? The case of Yin Caimei''s death?

    And just as Qiu Tu was pondering, the long-inactive [Crisis Countdown] began to change slowly...

    -----

 Chapter 95 Have Yan Chen and Jia Shu Fallen Out? (7k)

    Seeing the change in the countdown hourss, Qiu Tu''s mind was suddenly filled with several question marks.

    He couldn''t understand why just being summoned by Jia Shu had triggered his "Crisis Intuition."

    Could it be... Jia Shu was plotting something against him in the office?

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu couldn''t help but look at the series of "Crisis Warnings" that had popped up in front of him, trying to see what kind of crisis he was actually facing.

    But with just one nce, Qiu Tu was baffled.

    Because the content of the crisis warning waspletely different from what he had imagined and even surprised him.

    Thinking this, he quickly skimmed through all the "Crisis Warnings," his eyes revealing a hint of deep thought.

    And as he finished reading the warnings, a 20-minute countdown hourss also popped up,nding in the upper left corner of his vision.

    [19:56]

    At this time, the investigator standing at the door, seeing that Qiu Tu had not responded to him, couldn''t help but urge, "Chief Qiu, the Director is still waiting for you."

    Hearing his words, Qiu Tu came back to his senses, then he looked at the investigator deeply before saying with a smile, "Alright, I''ll be there soon."

    After speaking, Qiu Tu handed the documents he was holding to Cao Dabiao, called over several investigators, and then arranged, "Go get a photocopier and several boxes of paper, and make three copies of all these documents."

    "Then one set should be categorized by location, one set by personnel, and another set in chronological order."

    "When Ie back, we''ll analyze these documents together."

    After finishing, Qiu Tu nced at Cao Dabiao and instructed, "Big Biao, you be in charge of this."

    Then he looked at Liu Fuping and Chen Feng, "Sister Liu, Chen Feng, you two assist."

    "Yes!" The three of them took their orders.

    Qiu Tu''s work arrangement was a normal procedure, so the investigator didn''t say anything, just waiting patiently at the door.

    Soon, the work arrangement was done, and Qiu Tu also stepped toward the door, leaving the temporary office together with the investigator.

    [18:27]

    Led by the investigator, the two quickly arrived at the door of Jia Shu''s office.

    Arriving at the office door, Qiu Tu did not enter immediately but instead straightened his clothes while asking the investigator beside him, "I don''t seem to have seen you in the Political Department before? Are you new here?"

    The investigator had a somewhat aloof personality and merely hummed in response.

    Qiu Tu asked, "What is your name?"

    The investigator said, "Ji Chen."

    Hearing this, Qiu Tu nodded slightly, then knocked on the door.

    Jia Shu''s voice came from inside the office, "Come in."

    Hearing that voice, Qiu Tu, with a full smile on his face, pushed open the door and stepped inside.

    [18:01]

    As he walked into Jia Shu''s office, the light suddenly dimmed, and Qiu Tu''s eyes widened slightly as his vision seemed a bit unclear.

    Only after his eyes adjusted to the office lighting did he notice someone sitting in therge boss chair, their back to him.

    That towering, solid, ck leather chair resembled a tall tombstone standing in the middle of the office.

    And Jia Shu was standing respectfully beside that "tombstone."

    In the whole of Xinjie City, there was only one person who could sit in Jia Shu''s ce andmand such respectful attitudes from Jia Shu...

    Sure enough, as Qiu Tu spected, the chair slowly turned, and one of Xinjie City''s Three Giants, Investigation Bureau Chief Yan Chen, appeared before Qiu Tu...

    Seeing this, Qiu Tu quickly pretended to be surprised and saluted, "Hello, Bureau Chief!"

    After saluting, as if he had just remembered that this was Jia Shu''s office, he quickly saluted Jia Shu, standing aside, "Director!"

    After exchanging greetings, Yan Chen said nothing but just looked at Qiu Tu silently, his gaze as deep as a bottomless spring¡­

    While Yan Chen was looking at Qiu Tu, Qiu Tu was also quietly scrutinizing Yan Chen.

    After all, this was not Yan Chen''s own study or office: the curtains were not very opaque, and Jia Shu''s deskmp was of good quality, so... this was the first time Qiu Tu got a clear look at Yan Chen''s face.

    How to describe it... he was rather unremarkable in appearance and seemed somewhat aged and decayed.

    Qiu Tu remembered that the official introduction stated Yan Chen was 51 years old, but... looking at him, Qiu Tu would put him past 65, he even seemed to have an old man''s vor.

    Qiu Tu recalled Qin Shuman''s previous hypothesis about Yan Chen''s Cataclysm Path: Life, Immortality.

    Frankly, Qiu Tu couldn''t see any signs of "Immortality" in Yan Chen.

    If it weren''t for Qin Shuman''s information usually being reliable, Qiu Tu might even think Yan Chen was nearly devoid of "life."

    [17:36]

    Meanwhile, as Qiu Tu was analyzing Yan Chen''s appearance and Cataclysm Path, Yan Chen slowly spoke.

    His voice was low and hoarse, like nails scratching on a chalkboard, "Qiu Tu, I heard you took the Yin Caimei case?"

    Hearing Yan Chen''s words, Qiu Tu nced at Jia Shu.

    Jia Shu wore a smile, looking straight ahead, as if the presence of Qiu Tu had nothing to do with him and this case wasn''t assigned by him at all.

    Seeing this, Qiu Tu nodded without denying, "Yes, Bureau Chief."

    [17:30]

    Yan Chen "hmmed" and then slowly said, "How is your investigation goingtely?"

    Qiu Tu nced at Jia Shu again.

    Jia Shu still had no reaction.

    Seeing this, Qiu Tu said with a smile, "Thanks to the Bureau Chief''s good luck, our investigative team has been working overtime the past few days, and we''re almost close to cracking the case."

    Upon Qiu Tu''s words, the whole office fell quiet for a moment. Yan Chen gave Jia Shu an expressionless nce, then asked in a grave tone, "Oh? That soon to crack the case? Tell me about it."

    [17:13]

    ```

    Hearing Yan Chen''s question and looking at the eerie scene before him, Qiu Tu''s thoughts couldn''t help but drift a little...

    Actually... Qiu Tu wasn''t surprised about what happened in Jia Shu''s office with Yan Chen.

    Even... when Yan Chen asked him these questions, Qiu Tu wasn''t surprised either.

    Because, after "Crisis Intuition" was triggered, the "Crisis Warning" had already made him anticipate everything that was happening now...

    "Crisis Intuition activated! Generating crisis report!"

    "Your immediate superior, the Investigation Bureau Chief of Xinjie City, Yan Chen, is experiencing a conflict with your superior, Head of the Political Department Jia Shu!"

    "The cause is that Jia Shu actually handed over ''the Yin Caimei case'' to you without informing him!"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "Feeling his authority was challenged, he''s not only dissatisfied with Jia Shu but also developed a profound distrust towards you!"

    "Now, under the pretense of Jia Shu''s directive, he has invited you to Jia Shu''s office to report on the case!"

    "You have 20 minutes to decide which case investigation results and so-called ''truth'' you will report. This will determine your image and position in the eyes of Yan Chen and Jia Shu!"

    "Please choose carefully, as it will affect your situation going forward!"

    Indeed, just when an investigator came on behalf of Jia Shu to get Qiu Tu, these prompts popped up before him.

    At that moment, it nearly caused Qiu Tu''s brain to crash.

    ''What''s going on? Wasn''t this case assigned to me by Yan Chen? Or was it actually given to me by Jia Shu without Yan Chen''s knowledge?''

    ''No? Is this guy sick or what?''

    ''Why dump such a difficult case on me for no reason!?''

    ''And moreover... because of this case, a rift formed between Yan Chen and Jia Shu, and as a result... Yan Chen only has a bit of dissatisfaction with Jia Shu but has developed a tremendous distrust toward me?''

    ''Is Yan Chen also out of his mind?!''

    ''What, am I the one getting hurt in every way here?''

    ''In the end, am I just a pawn in your y?''

    That''s why Qiu Tu stood there stunned at the time, feeling utterly overwhelmed.

    Fortunately, the investigator called him again, snapping Qiu Tu back to reality and reminding him that what he needed to do now was not toin but to quickly analyze the hints given by "Crisis Intuition."

    You should know that "Crisis Intuition" is only triggered when Qiu Tu''s life is threatened.

    So, this proved that if Qiu Tu couldn''t get through this crisis, it''s highly likely that he could be in mortal danger.

    And what made Qiu Tu feel even more screwed was that this "Crisis Warning" didn''t specify where the danger wasing from.

    He only knew that a discord had arisen between Yan Chen and Jia Shu, and then he was being called to the office.

    But... who will be detrimental to him in the future?

    Is it because he concealed the investigative facts, making Yan Chen unsatisfied, hence nning to eliminate him?

    Or did he reveal the truth of the investigation, unsettling Jia Shu, who''s now nning to secretly get rid of him?

    So many possibilities left Qiu Tu quite indecisive.

    So, he arranged work for Cao Dabiao and others on the spot after recovering, which was actually a pretext to contemte his strategies in silence.

    And thankfully, with the hints from "Crisis Intuition" and those few minutes of thinking, Qiu Tu finally figured out the key to this crisis.

    With this in mind, Qiu Tu also reined in his thoughts, then firmly addressed Yan Chen''s scrutinizing gaze, "Yes, Bureau Chief."

    [17:10]

    He said, "Actually, when I learned of this case, I felt something was off about it."

    "Because that night, I was overseeing the interrogation team interrogating Yin Caimei."

    "Yin Caimei seemed to have no psychological issues, nor any diseases. And the interrogation by the team was quite standard, with no use of illegal tools or potions."

    "Theoretically, she shouldn''t have had any problems."

    "So, when I heard she was dead, my first suspicion was: homicide!"

    "That''s why I had the coroner conduct a physical autopsy and examination on Yin Caimei."

    "The result came back as death due to sudden cardiac arrest, purely an idental death."

    "This result didn''t alleviate my suspicions; instead, it intensified them."

    "So, I asked the Director for permission to use a catastrophe investigation Treasure to try and detect traces of Catastrophe Power or a Catastrophe Curse being used."

    "And indeed, I found something."

    Qiu Tu said, "Last night, I detected traces of a Catastrophe Curse on Yin Caimei''s body using the ''Mist Index Book.'' I then followed the clues and found the murder weapon."

    [16:32]

    At this point, Qiu Tu clearly noticed an interested look in Yan Chen''s eyes.

    Qiu Tu wasn''t surprised.

    Yan Chen''s previous coldness was probably because he thought it was impossible for Qiu Tu to make any significant progress in just two days.

    Speaking of progress in front of him and even iming to have identified the murderer, he likely thought Qiu Tu was simply following Jia Shu''s lead to pin the crime on a scapegoat.

    But now, without following Jia Shu''s narrative, Qiu Tu was actually presenting something solid, so Yan Chen became intrigued.

    While Qiu Tu was mulling this over, Yan Chen questioningly, yet without joy or sorrow, asked, "Oh? The murder weapon? What murder weapon?"

    Qiu Tu said, "A book. A book that Yin Caimei brought into the guardroom against regtions, named ''Brave New World''!"

    He paused, then added, "After examination with the ''Mist Index Book,'' the book has been confirmed to be a Catastrophic Treasure, with the Catastrophe Power being of the same origin as the traces found on Yin Caimei''s body."

    "It''s precisely because of this murder weapon that I''ve greatly narrowed down the range of suspects, and even have a primary suspect in mind."

    [15:21]

    Hearing this, Yan Chen asked with an impassive expression, "So, who do you suspect now?"

    ```

 Chapter 96 Three Consecutive Countdowns? (7k)

    When Yan Chen asked this question, Qiu Tu felt a stir in his heart, knowing that the most crucial step hade.

    He stealthily nced at Jia Shu from the corner of his eye.

    Perhaps Jia Shu had not expected Qiu Tu to have actually uncovered so many clues, or perhaps he had not expected Qiu Tu to dare defy the covert signals he had given earlier and seriously investigate the case. Finally, Jia Shu was no longerposed and untroubled as before but was looking at Qiu Tu with a smile that was not quite a smile.

    Feeling the gaze of the two powerful figures on him, Qiu Tu did not feel much pressure.

    The reason he dared to disclose so many clues and developments was because he had already thought of a n to cope with this crisis¡ª

    So, looking at Yan Chen, he took a deep breath and suddenly pointed at Jia Shu, "Bureau Chief, I suspect it was Minister Jia who made the move!"

    [14:58]

    Upon hearing Qiu Tu''s words, the entire office fell silent in an instant.

    Let alone Yan Chen, even Jia Shu, who had been maintaining a forced smile, showed a trace of astonishment on his face.

    He probably had really not expected that after all Qiu Tu had said and all the evidence he had presented, the suspicion would fall on himself:

    The problem was... the clues Qiu Tu had just mentioned hadn''t pointed to him, had they?

    This is ridiculous!

    But then remembering that Qiu Tu was not one to make baseless assertions, Jia Shu couldn''t help but race through his thoughts, pondering Qiu Tu''s intentions...

    And while Jia Shu was deep in thought, Yan Chen''s brow also furrowed significantly, his gaze fluctuating: he was clearly also considering why Qiu Tu would use Jia Shu.

    During this time, Qiu Tu had already left a very deep impression on him.

    So, he also did not believe that Qiu Tu genuinely thought Jia Shu was the murderer, and to point it out in front of Jia Shu himself...

    At this moment, seeing both powerful figures lost in thought, Qiu Tu also held his breath, staring straight ahead without speaking.

    He was waiting, waiting for the feedback from "Loyalty Game" and "Crisis Intuition."

    Time passed by, each second stretching into an eternity.

    Finally... two secondster, two prompts popped up in front of Qiu Tu,

    [Yan Chen''s suspicion -3, satisfaction +4]

    [Jia Shu''s satisfaction +12]

    Qiu Tu took a furtive nce at the two of them.

    Yan Chen had returned to his previous unfathomableposure, while the forced smile on Jia Shu''s face was reced by a radiant genuine smile.

    What was more important was that the [Countdown Hourss] in the upper left corner of Qiu Tu''s field of vision had stopped after jumping to [14:28], no longer ticking down.

    Qiu Tu breathed a sigh of relief in his heart, knowing his gamble had paid off.

    In fact, while he was tasking Cao Dabiao and the others, Qiu Tu had been pondering something.

    Could the reason why "Crisis Intuition" had not indicated the source of the crisis mean that the crisis came from both Yan Chen and Jia Shu?

    That is to say, no matter which side he chose, he could potentially be the target of resentment from the other side, thus bing incredibly dangerous?

    Upon analyzing the situation to this point, Qiu Tu suddenly had an even bolder guess, which was... no matter which side he chose, it was not about offending one person, but two!

    You see, Jia Shu was not just Yan Chen''s right-hand man but also one of the nine high-ranking officials of the Investigation Bureau, with voting rights at the Bureau''s senior meetings.

    Further considering that he controlled the powerful Political Department of the Investigation Bureau, even if Yan Chen felt dissatisfied with him, would he really give up on Jia Shu over such a trivial matter?

    Qiu Tu felt he would not.

    Qiu Tu also had subordinates, so he put himself in their shoes. If Cao Dabiao or Chen Feng did something against his wishes, would he immediately give up on them?

    No. At most, Qiu Tu would sternly rebuke and warn them both, then continue to observe.

    After all, cultivating a subordinate with good skills, loyalty, and position is not a simple matter.

    Having thought all of this through, Qiu Tu finally understood his predicament.

    inly speaking, his first reaction after seeing the "Crisis Warning" was not wrong: he was a pawn being yed by both Yan Chen and Jia Shu.

    So, choosing either side was incorrect. Only by standing with both of them, satisfying them both, could he survive this crisis.

    With this realization, Qiu Tu quickly analyzed the "demands" of Yan Chen and Jia Shu.

    Yan Chen''s were simple. He was clearly angry and dissatisfied with Jia Shu''s loss of control. Therefore, Qiu Tu had to agree with him and not let him continue to feel things were slipping out of control.

    Adding the several increases in "satisfaction" from Yan Chen and the hints from "Crisis Intuition," Qiu Tu knew that Yan Chen must have begun to trust him again, considering him a confidant.

    Therefore, to satisfy Yan Chen, Qiu Tu had to cut ties with Jia Shu, remaining unwaveringly on Yan Chen''s side. He had to use "concrete actions" to tell Yan Chen: Jia Shu, that viin, deceived and manipted others, but he did not fool me! I am still working as per your intentions, Bureau Chief.

    As for Jia Shu''s "demands," after analyzing them for a long time on the road, Qiu Tu also found an answer.

    The reason Jia Shu was risking Yan Chen''s displeasure to calm down this case was 100% because of Vice President Tian.

    As to whether he had some private rtionship with Vice President Tian or because of themunication surveince system "donated" that covered the entire city, with too little information, Qiu Tu was not clear at the moment.

    But whatever the reason, what he valued most now was that this case could not be rted to Vice President Tian!

    As long as this condition was met, with his personality, everything else probably didn''t matter.

    So, having guessed the demands of both parties, Qiu Tu''s answer to dealing with this crisis emerged:

    He could not be perfunctory, could not find a scapegoat, he had to honestly report the truth he found¡ªbut this truth could not involve Vice President Tian.

    Not involving Vice President Tian also meant that the Qin Family and Shun Yun Communications couldn''t be mentioned.

    After all, once mentioned, given Yan Chen and Jia Shu''s cunning and ability to take advantage of the situation, they could guess the role Vice President Tian yed. It would still affect Vice President Tian and anger Jia Shu.

    So... after thinking it over, Qiu Tu simply threw the me on Jia Shu.

    This was a hint that killed two birds with one stone: it told Yan Chen that Qiu Tu had no rtionship with Jia Shu whatsoever, even daring to challenge his authority to his face; it also told Jia Shu that Qiu Tu had indeed found out about Vice President Tian but had followed his orders and not reported it.

    Qiu Tu admitted that his method of resolving the situation indeed involved gambling. But... he only had a brief 2 minutes from receiving the orders to meeting Yan Chen, and he had no time to think of a more perfect solution.

    Fortunately, the n worked....

    Meanwhile, as Qiu Tu was recalling his whole strategic thought process for the n, Yan Chen also "hehe"ughed a couple of times.

    He might have smoked too much; hisugh was very hoarse and raspy, like an ominous night owl.

    "Qiu Tu, your spection is quite interesting,"

    As he said this, he nced at Jia Shu with interest. The chilly atmosphere that had permeated when he first entered the office seemed to have dissipated quite a bit, reced by a more lively one.

    His hoarse voice asked, "Minister Jia, what do you think about your subordinate''s spection?"

    Clearly, he was using Qiu''s conjecture to take a dig at Jia Shu.

    But at this moment, Jia Shu didn''t seem to care at all. The fact that Vice President Tian had not been exposed already proved that Qiu Tu was "on his side."

    Thus, with a radiant smile, he leaned slightly toward Yan Chen and said, "Bureau Chief, I think Agent Qiu is just joking."

    Yan Chen turned to Qiu Tu and uttered an "Oh?" before asking, "Is that so?"

    Of course, Qiu Tu had to firmly stand with Yan Chen at this point.

    So he quickly shook his head, "Bureau Chief, I am not joking."

    He said, "Minister Jia is indeed at the top of my list of suspects."

    "For three main reasons,"

    "1. The murder weapon, the book-like cataclysmic treasure, was specially approved by Minister Jia for the deceased to bring into the guard room."

    "2. Last night, when I was using the ''Mist Index Book'' for the investigation, my boss, the head of the Interrogation Section, Zheng Tao, deliberately came to the morgue."

    "But the only person who knew I would go to the morguest night to investigate was Minister Jia. I suspect Zheng Tao was sent by Minister Jia to gather information."

    "3. And the most important..."

    At this point, Qiu Tu looked deeply at Jia Shu and said in a subdued voice, "When Minister Jia handed the case over to me, he hinted several times that I should find a scapegoat to muddle through this case."

    [Yan Chen Satisfaction +5]

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Yan Chen actually burst into heartyughter. He seemed utterly pleased, as if he had regained control of the situation and was reveling in his victory.

    And more importantly... Qiu Tu had been covertly observing Jia Shu''s expression.

    There was not a hint of murderous intent or malice in Jia Shu''s eyes, only a dense "interest" that seemed almost tangible...

    Clearly... for Jia Shu, as long as Qiu Tu did not drag Vice President Tian into the matter, he did not care how much dirt was sshed on him.

    After all, Yan Chen wouldn''t really believe it...

    With this thought, Qiu Tu felt even more at ease.

    [Jia Shu Satisfaction +3]

    At that moment, afterughing twice, Yan Chen also withdrew his smile. He reverted to the Bureau Chief of the Investigation Bureau who was powerful and impassive.

    He looked at Qiu Tu and criticized softly, "Qiu Tu, I recognize your investigative abilities. But... your thinking ispletely wrong!"

    "This time, I will forgive you on behalf of Minister Jia. But there won''t be a next time!"

    He paused and then said, with a hint of indirect scolding, "At any time, you must not question or oppose your superior!"

    "It would throw the entire Investigation Bureau into chaos!"

    Listening to Yan Chen''s stern but actually... rather feeble criticism, Qiu Tu also knew it was time to steer the conversation back. So he obediently bowed his head and replied, "Yes, Bureau Chief. It''s myck of experience that led me astray."

    Yan Chen nodded with satisfaction, then said, "Good. It''s great that you have this understanding."

    He spoke with a deep look in his eyes, "I originally thought that with your abilities, handling this case might be too difficult, so I was prepared to have someone else take over."

    "But now seeing that you have already done a pretty good job, I''ll leave this case in your hands."

    "However, the Municipal Committee is watching this case closely, so you need to solve it quickly and close it!"

    After speaking, he pondered for a moment and gave a deadline, "By next Wednesday at thetest, I want to see results!"

    As Yan Chen spoke, the first countdown hourss on the top left corner of Qiu Tu''s vision slowly turned into a little treasure chest. Then... a second countdown hourss gradually appeared.

    Qiu Tu: ??

    Qiu Tu nced at Jia Shu and saw that Jia was giving him a smile that was not quite a smile.

    Then he looked at Yan Chen, who had a stern expression.

    Qiu Tu: ...

    At that moment, Qiu Tu really felt like a million alpacas were thundering through his heart!

    Fuck, why are you torturing me, a small fry, with this love-hate drama between you two?!

    Wasn''t once enough, and now you want a second round?

    I was able to satisfy both of your demands this time by exploiting the information gap, but how am I supposed to meet both of your requirements next time?

    With that thought, Qiu Tu was inclined to refuse.

    But before he could say anything, in the next second, a countdown hourss quickly moved next to the two in front.

    Simultaneously, the third countdown hourss''s hint also popped up:

    [With your brilliant performance, Yan Chen has regained his trust in you.]

    [And with your "help", he has also sessfully intimidated Jia Shu and reimed the feeling of having great power in his grasp.]

    [So, don''t oppose him or anger him when he is happiest.]

    [You wouldn''t want to find out what he would do to you in a towering rage...]

    Qiu Tu: ???

    Fine, fine, fine. This is how you want to y it?

    Then don''t me me!

    With that thought, Qiu Tu took a deep breath and then looked at Yan Chen, saying seriously, "Chief, I believe I canplete the task!"

    "But... the time is a bit tight, so I request authorization to use special measures without restriction!"

    ------n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

 Chapter 97 Two Major Gains After the Crisis

    Hearing his words, Yan Chen''s gaze suddenly sharpened.

    He did not express his stance immediately, but fell silent for two seconds before asking, "What unconventional measures do you wish to utilize?"

    Standing upright, Qiu Tu spoke earnestly, "Including but not limited topulsory searches, arrests before investigation, torture during interrogation, the privilege to mobilize 2-3 squads of the Special Service Department''s teams, and the Special Arrest Warrant for arbitrarily detaining officials below the Bureau Chief level without liability!"

    Upon hearing Qiu Tu''s words, the office fell into silence once again....

    Were Qiu Tu''s demands high?

    Actually, not really. Since the Political Department itself functions as secret police, it inherently has the powers topel searches, make arrests before investigation, and even resort to torture during interrogation.

    But.... if you add the privilege of mobilizing Special Task Squads and the Special Arrest Warrant for arbitrarily detaining officials below the Bureau Chief level, it starts to be intimidating.

    How many senior officials at the Bureau Chief level and above are there among Xinjie City''s three major power institutions?

    Just dozens.

    This would mean that, apart from these few dozen people, Qiu Tu could do as he pleases in Xinjie City for the next five days, capturing and interrogating anyone he wanted!

    Moreover, without any liability!

    After all... Qiu Tu had also requested "immunity" from liability.

    Thinking of this, Yan Chen couldn''t help but hesitate. He instinctively nced at Jia Shu, wanting to gauge his opinion.

    However, just as his eyes were moving in that direction, he restrained himself.

    That''s because he suddenly remembered some of Jia Shu''s recent deceitful acts and secretive doings....

    Thus, his expression darkened slightly as he scrutinized Qiu Tu carefully.

    There''s one very important aspect of being a boss: that is, you must maintain the bnce of power among your subordinates, ensuring that no single subordinate bes too powerful.

    Because, once a subordinate gains too much power, along with a group of confidants and allies, it''s quite possible they could undermine their superior, rendering the superior a mere figurehead, with decrees that hold no power beyond their office.

    This is even riskier in the case of someone like Jia Shu, who is only one position below Yan Chen and holds significant sway over personnel decisions in the Sanctuary.

    Also considering the worrisome trends Jia Shu had exhibitedtely, Yan Chen, after some hesitation, suddenly thought: maybe... using Qiu Tu to divide some of Jia Shu''s power, to warn and contain Jia Shu, wouldn''t be a bad idea?

    After all, Qiu Tu was just a Deputy Staff, whose position and power could be decided with a word from him, without any fear of losing control.

    Moreover, a Deputy Staff asking for such extensive authority would have to depend on him to actualize that power, which would make it easier to control.

    Additionally, given the case has a deadline, the authority wouldst for no more than five days, making it less risky....

    With these thoughts, Yan Chen slowly came to a decision.

    He looked up at Qiu Tu and said indifferently, "Agreed."

    "I will sign the Authorization Letter and the Special Arrest Warrant for you in a moment."

    "With the Authorization Letter and Special Arrest Warrant, you can arrest mid-level officials below the Bureau Chief at will within five days, interrogate them prior to their arrests, and use torture if necessary."

    "As long as you solve the case within five days, I won''t mind however excessive your actions are."

    At this point, he paused and took the opportunity to admonish Qiu Tu, "But Qiu Tu, I still have to remind you. You only have five days. If the murderer isn''t found once five days are up, then... don''t me me for disregarding the camaraderie between us."

    Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu snapped his legs together and saluted, "Yes, Chief!"

    Seeing this, Yan Chen waved his hand towards Qiu Tu and said in a low voice, "You may leave."

    "Yes, Bureau Chief." Qiu Tu replied and then turned and left Jia Shu''s office.

    After Qiu Tu departed, silence slowly descended in Jia Shu''s office; neither Jia Shu nor Yan Chen spoke.

    Yan Chen sat quietly in the walnut wood office chair, as if he were the true master of the Political Department, while Jia Shu stood to one side, expressionless....

    After a long moment, Yan Chen propped himself up from the ck walnut wood desk and slowly stood. He patted Jia Shu''s shoulder lightly, then left without a word.

    Seeing this, Jia Shu followed behind and saw Yan Chen out of the office. Only after watching the receding figures of Yan Chen and Ji Chen disappear at the end of the hallway did Jia Shu''s gaze flicker, and he returned to his own office.

    Back in his office, Jia Shu''splexion gradually turned from rosy to ashen, his eyes bloodshot, and his expression began to twist into something quite ferocious.

    His tongue elongated as he licked his lips, eyes filled with perverted desire, "What a tempting fruit...."

    "To dare walk a tightrope in front of me and the Bureau Chief, ying with the gap in information."

    "Interesting, very interesting."

    "I really can''t wait for the fruit to ripen...."

    While speaking, his breathing became noticeably heavier....

    ....

    Meanwhile, Qiu Tu, having left Jia Shu''s office, was also sorting through the achievements of the day.

    Just now, due to the love-hate rtionship between Yan Chen and Jia Shu, Qiu Tu had triggered three [Crisis Countdowns].

    The first and third countdowns were short-term crises, and he had already dealt with them.

    Only the second countdown was a bit special.

    Qiu Tu clicked on his thoughts, and the Crisis Warning that had just appeared popped up before him again,

    "Your immediate superior, Yan Chen, has updated new directives for you regarding the ''Yin Caimei'' case, demanding you to rify the case within five days."

    "His forceful intervention is likely to agitate many people and powers."

    "rify the case within the allotted time and ensure your safety, for the danger may juste from the shadows...."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

 Chapter 98 The Boss is a Bad Guy (7k)

    "Your ce?"

    Having just received a "Crisis Warning," Qiu Tu was now a bit paranoid.

    So his first thought was... could Liu Fuping be nning to harm him?

    To arrange their first meeting, such an important guest, at the home of a lover?

    Was Tang Feifei crazy, was Liu Fuping crazy, or were the two of them plotting some unspeakable activities?

    Possibly sensing Qiu Tu''s wayward thoughts, Liu Fuping gave him a sidelong nce and then said, "Don''t get the wrong idea."

    "Actually... she wanted to have a coincidental meeting with you."

    As she spoke, Liu Fuping briefly shared Tang Feifei''s thoughts with him.

    Your next read awaits at empire

    Turns out, Tang Feifei had instructed her assistant, Su Xiaowan, to seek out Qiu Tu twice yesterday, once in the morning and once in the evening, in hopes of arranging a meeting with Qiu Tu, all of which Qiu Tu turned down.

    Thus, not one to give up easily, she had Su Xiaowan extend another invitation to Qiu Tu this morning, and yet Qiu Tu rejected her for the third time.

    This left her both infuriated and somewhat baffled as to what Qiu Tu was really thinking.

    Moreover, the news about Director Yan signing a "Special Arrest Warrant" and an "Authorization Letter" for Qiu Tu had spread among the upper echelons today, and she could no longer sit idly by.

    So... she then decided to meet Qiu Tu in person.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    And because of her unique status, and the sensitivity of meeting Qiu Tu alone, she decided to have Liu Fuping invite Qiu Tu over for dinner at her ce.

    Afterward, she would make a visit to Liu Fuping''s home during the meal, and thus naturallye face to face with Qiu Tu.

    After hearing Liu Fuping''s exnation, Qiu Tu''s first reaction was confusion: Hold on, had he really turned down Tang Feifei three times?

    If he remembered correctly, he had only refused once yesterday morning, hadn''t he?

    With this in mind, Qiu Tu''s brain started working at high speed.

    A momentter, he had a pretty good guess as to what was happening.

    If he wasn''t mistaken, Tang Feifei must have arranged for Su Xiaowan to meet himst night.

    However, Su Xiaowan''s visit coincided with his meeting with Qin Shuman, which was unexpected.

    And because Su Xiaowan ended up oversleeping after ate-night assignment, she forgot to convey Tang Feifei''s orders.

    As for the third invitation this morning, Su Xiaowan likely knew of Qiu Tu''s "true identity" and some of his thoughts, figured he wouldn''t ept, and simply took the liberty of not bothering to seek him out.

    But, it had to be said, this stroke of bad luck actually worked out for the best. Su Xiaowan''s repeatedziness had sessfully made Tang Feifei restless and had unintentionally made Qiu Tu''s "fishing operation" a tremendous sess¡ªshe nearly took the bait, hook, line, and sinker.

    Thinking this way, and having sorted out the whole affair, Qiu Tu snapped back to reality and shamelessly took all the credit, "So that''s how it is. Then it seems my n has worked."

    "It appears Tang Feifei has taken the bait..."

    Liu Fuping, believing all this was indeed Qiu Tu''s doing, closed the distance between them unwittingly, her eyes seductively lifted to meet his, and teasinglyplimented with a hint of suggestiveness, "Yes. I didn''t expect her to lose her cool so easily."

    "It seems... themander has quite the skills."

    Hearing Liu Fuping''s words, and feeling the heat of her yful fire, Qiu Tu unabashedly yed along.

    He gazed deeply into Liu Fuping''s eyes and joked, "Sister Liu, I''ve got more than just skills~~"

    After saying that, he winked at Liu Fuping.

    "Ho ho ho ho...."

    Liu Fupingughed so hard her whole body shook, and then she retorted, "Really? So... care for a firsthand experience tonight?"

    With that, she squinted her eyes, provocatively licked her lips at Qiu Tu.

    For a moment there... Qiu Tu admitted he was almost on his feet.

    ''Damn it. Ever since thest time I unraveled this woman''s seal, she seems to be ying more and more freely.''

    Cursing inwardly, Qiu Tu didn''t hesitate to reach out his hand.

    ''Who cares if she''s reserved or not, only a fool would pass up an opportunity!''

    Seeing his move, Liu Fuping blushed and swatted Qiu Tu''s hand away, spitting, "Shameless."

    "It''s just talk, there''s no need for action!"

    Qiu Tu chuckled "hehe," feeling the satisfaction of gaining the upper hand.

    Seeing Qiu Tu''s brazenness, Liu Fuping shook her head slightly, feeling that no matter what she did, she ended up at a disadvantage.

    Therefore, she stopped teasing Qiu Tu and turned to open the window, letting in fresh air to dispel the flirtatious atmosphere a bit.

    The cool breeze indeed helped the two overheated individuals cool down, and they were finally in the mood to discuss serious matters.

    Qiu Tu, enjoying the cool breeze, looked out the window and calmly asked, "Did you tell Tang Feifei about the leads you''ve found over the past two days?"

    Liu Fuping nodded slightly, "I did as you said, and secretly reported most of the information to her."

    She paused, "I guess that''s probably why she couldn''t stay put¡ªa big reason for her restlessness."

    Qiu Tu nodded slightly, his hands resting on the window sill before he fell into contemtion. After a moment, he asked, "So, did you manage to steal any intelligence from her?"

    Liu Fuping hesitated before responding, "I did steal a bit, but not much."

    Qiu Tu felt she was lying to him, but he didn''t call her out on it.

    He looked at Liu Fuping and asked, "Is there a list of spies from the Investigation Bureau in City Hall or the military?"

    At Qiu Tu''s question, Liu Fuping visibly startled. She then looked Qiu Tu up and down with suspicion and hesitantly said, "You... are you also?"

    Qiu Tu chuckled and tapped her on the head, "What are you thinking about?"

    "Of course I''m not one of their scouts, but... I want to work with them."

    "And to coborate, one needs leverage."

    "As you know, this case is far tooplex and unique."

    Upon hearing this, Liu Fuping fell silent for a moment before saying, "It would be quite difficult to get that list."

    "After all, the identity of a spy is top-level confidential information for any organization."

    "It''s not just about whether Tang Feifei can get it or not. Even if she could, she''d most likely keep it in her head instead of putting it down on paper."

    Qiu Tu nodded in agreement.

    Liu Fuping''s reasoning made sense. However, Qin Shuman was his important ally, and now they were working together on the Yin Caimei case. Helping Qin Shuman was helping himself, so he still wanted to give it a try...

    With that thought, Qiu Tu''s mind raced, as he schemed on how to obtain that list.

    After considering this for a while, a n began to take shape in Qiu Tu''s mind: It seemed that everything would depend on tonight...

    At this thought, Qiu Tu gave Liu Fuping''s plump buttocks a firm p and said, "Alright, forget about that for now! Tonight, we go to your ce and meet with Director Tang!"

    Liu Fuping was so startled by Qiu Tu''s sudden attack that she nearly jumped. She clutched her plump bottom and red at Qiu Tu, her face flushed with embarrassment and annoyance.

    She realized that her superior officer was a naughty rascal. He would take advantage with his words if he could and with his hands if he had the chance, never bothering to conceal it.

    Furthermore, as long as she gave him a chance, he would take it. Even without an opportunity, he would find a way to create one¡ªit was both embarrassing and frustrating.

    ''Such an annoying, naughty rascal...'' she thought.

    Thinking this, Liu Fuping once again nced at Qiu Tu with a coy look in her eye,

    .....

    She locked the documents and files in the safe, turned off the lights, and left her office.

    Qiu Tu and Liu Fuping left the Investigation Bureau building and headed towards her home.

    Liu Fuping''s residence was located in an upscale residential district not far from the Investigation Bureau building.

    This was built before and after Xinjie City''s establishment, renovated and reconstructed by the wealthy merchants from the Sanctuary.

    While it couldn''tpare to the vis of middle and high-ranking officials, it was already much better than other neighborhoods in Xinjie City in terms of the living environment.

    Driving into the district, Qiu Tu parked the car under Liu Fuping''s guidance beneath a Western-style building.

    After parking, Qiu Tu followed Liu Fuping up to the third floor.

    This Western-style building had only one apartment per floor, and upon opening the door, there was a spacious t of over 150 square meters.

    Qiu Tu, having never lived in such a fine residence in either of his lives, admired Liu Fuping''s home while eximing in wonder, "Sister Liu, is Director Tang wealthy or is it your organization behind the scenes that has money?"

    "Your ce is simply like a pce."

    Liu Fupingughed at Qiu Tu''s exaggerated tone, "My ce is like a pce? What would you say if you saw the vis of Director Yan and Director Tang?"

    Qiu Tu said with a smile, "I''ve seen them. But back then, there was only one thought in my mind."

    Liu Fuping was curious, "What thought?"

    Qiu Tu said in mock resentment, "Excessive luxury! Reckless extravagance! Living in a dream! Reveling in pleasure!"

    "Having those bastards as bureau chiefs is really an injustice by heaven! If I were the bureau chief..."

    Liu Fuping asked with curiosity, "What would you do?"

    Qiu Tu said earnestly, "I would be an even bigger bastard!"

    "Ho ho ho ho....."

    Liu Fuping was so amused by Qiu Tu that she shook withughter, waves following one after another, almost unable to straighten her back. Qiu Tu, thus, enjoyed another glimpse of the charms of a mature woman...

    Knowing that Tang Feifei would be arriving soon, they didn''t chat much more.

    Liu Fuping prepared several dishes ording to Tang Feifei''s n, ced them on the dining table, then uncorked a bottle of red wine of an undetermined vintage for them to enjoy.

    After that, they sat opposite each other at the dining table and started their dinner.

    Liu Fuping''s cooking wasn''t terrible, at least not fatal.

    However, Qiu Tu had barely taken a few bites when his body suddenly tensed, and all the hairs on his body stood on end!

 Chapter 99 Dinner with Two Women (7k)

    ```

    At that instant, his instincts made him look toward the door, filled with a sense of danger as if he had encountered a "natural enemy."

    As he savored the feeling, it didn''t seem quite like a natural enemy but more like the instinctive reaction of a lower animal on the food chain encountering a higher one.

    He couldn''t help but look up at Liu Fuping.

    But strangely, Liu Fuping seemed to have no reaction at all and continued to eat her dinner with her head down.

    Qiu Tu was somewhat puzzled: Could it be... that only Cataclysmics have this sense of detection? Ordinary people can''t feel it?

    With this thought, Qiu Tu couldn''t help but quickly conceal all his presence, trying to make himself appear no different from Liu Fuping.

    But... his attention remained fixed on the door.

    Because, if his guess was correct, the person outside the door giving him such a strong sense of presence must be Tang Feifei!

    Indeed, following Qiu Tu''s train of thought.

    Someone outside Liu Fuping''s room door gently knocked.

    Liu Fuping gave Qiu Tu a look and then stood up while calling out, "Coming. Who is it?"

    As she spoke, she walked to the door and then opened it.

    The next second was the moment for a showdown of two best actresses'' acting skills.

    Upon seeing Tang Feifei outside the door, Liu Fuping timely disyed a surprised expression, "Director Tang? What brings you here?"

    And Tang Feifei outside held up the food she brought and said somewhat aloofly, "I happen to be free today, so I came to have dinner with you."

    As she said this, she rigidly nced toward the dining area inside the house and then asked expressionlessly, "Do you have guests over?"

    Hearing her, best actress Liu Fuping also timely made room and said with an awkward expression, "Yes, we worked toote today at the investigation team, so I invited my supervisor Qiu Tu over for a simple meal."

    After saying that, Liu Fuping looked towards Qiu Tu and introduced him, "Chief Qiu, this is Deputy Director Tang from our Investigation Bureau."

    Hearing Liu Fuping''s introduction, Qiu Tu knew the time hade to test his acting skills. He stood up with a look of surprise, nced at Liu Fuping, then at Tang Feifei.

    Then he respectfully bowed to Tang Feifei, "Director Tang, hello!"

    Tang Feifei, upon hearing this, seemed to have some of the frost on her face melt away.

    Looking at Qiu Tu, she nodded, "Since it''s one of our own, let''s all eat together."

    With that simple sentence, Tang Feifei seized control of the conversation, depriving Qiu Tu of even the chance to refuse.

    So, Qiu Tu also timely disyed a hint of embarrassment and difficulty. Then he reluctantly said, "Then I will respectfullyply."

    "Please, Director Tang."

    And so, with three people and two agendas, the stage was set for the night''s events to begin.

    Readtest chapters on empire

    Liu Fuping led Tang Feifei to the dining table. Qiu Tu''s gaze lingered on Tang Feifei for a short moment, seeing this legendary woman for the first time.

    As Liu Fuping had said: Tang Feifei possessed a demeanor unlike ordinary people. She was like a mother tiger, a lioness, naturally exuding a confident regal aura, as if nothing in this world could ever trouble her.

    Coupled with her wheat-colored skin, her neat short hair, robust figure, and icy demeanor, she was indeed a woman with her unique charm!

    After Tang Feifei sat down, an icy atmosphere permeated the air, and the whole table''s ambiance became a bit more sober.

    Seeing this, Liu Fuping took the initiative to pour Tang Feifei a ss of wine and then raised her ss, inviting, "Director, Chief, meeting today must be fate."

    "Let''s have a drink."

    Having said that, she drained the wine in her ss.

    As the host, neither Qiu Tu nor Tang Feifei could refuse the courtesy, so seeing this, they "had to" pick up their sses and started to drink as well.

    After one drink, Liu Fuping poured another ss for both of them and herself, then continued, "This second ss of wine, I want to thank the Director and the Chief. Without you two, there would be no me."

    "It''s really not easy for a weak woman like me to find a ce in this chaotic world."

    After saying that, Liu Fuping once again drained her ss.

    Qiu Tu:.....

    Qiu Tu nced at Tang Feifei, who gave him a look back, then she picked up her ss and boldly drained it in one gulp.

    Qiu Tu felt a little bald.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    This part wasn''t in the script.

    His tolerance for alcohol could only be considered average; having drunk two sses already, how was he to continue drinking?

    Although he wasining inwardly, Qiu Tu had no choice but to refuse, so he could only pick up his ss and drink another one.

    The three of them were drinking red wine from sses that held around 200-300 milliliters; even if the wine was only poured halfway, it would still be about 100-150 milliliters per ss.

    Two sses down, this was equivalent to drinking 4-6 liang (200-300 milliliters) of alcohol on an empty stomach.

    So, seeing Liu Fuping picking up the third ss, Qiu Tu hurriedly decided to skip this "ice-breaking" activity.

    He took the initiative to pick up his ss and toasted to Tang Feifei, "Director Tang, I had long heard of your esteemed name, but I did not expect to meet you tonight. Truly, it is a great fortune in life."

    "To you."

    After saying that, Qiu Tu drained his ss.

    With Qiu Tu''s toast, Tang Feifei finally showed a hint of a smile on her ice-like face.

    She smiled slightly and also drank the wine in her ss, formally starting the evening''s serious conversation with Qiu Tu, "I have actually been paying close attention to Chief Qiu as well."

    "I have even asked my assistant to invite you over to my office several times."

    "But you seem to be busy and haven''t had the time?"

    Hearing Tang Feifei''s words, Qiu Tu took a bite of food, and while eating, he spoke as if he was troubled, "Today, I have been pursued here by Director Tang, so I won''t hide it from you anymore."

    ```

 Chapter 100 Using the Lucky Joker Card (7k)

    At this moment, Liu Fuping was still immersed in the topic guidance that Qiu Tu had towards Tang Feifei.

    Previously, she had only tangentially understood Qiu Tu''s brainwashing skills, but she had never experienced them firsthand.

    However, tonight, as an observer with "God''s Perspective," she watched Qiu Tu''s brainwashing process up close and felt she had gained a lot.

    Every word, every action, and even every expression of Qiu Tu''s was subtly guiding the situation at the dinner table.

    Clearly, Tang Feifei had an impressive presence, and she had taken control of the entire conversation as soon as she sat down, relying on her own status.

    But... under Qiu Tu''s silent and unnoticeable influence, the control of the topic was slowly being stolen by Qiu Tu.

    Possessing God''s Perspective, Liu Fuping could even clearly discern Qiu Tu''s purpose with each step.

    This kind of unique firsthand teaching was making Liu Fuping grow rapidly.

    Initially, Liu Fuping thought the conversation tonight would just continue indefinitely, but to her surprise, Qiu Tu suddenly stopped the topic and, with a tipsy stagger, stood up to go to the bathroom.

    Honestly, Liu Fuping was a bit puzzled by Qiu Tu''s purpose in doing this.

    But having already witnessed many of Qiu Tu''s miraculous actions tonight, she still chose to quietly observe his actions.

    She felt that if she could fully understand all of Qiu Tu''s actions tonight, then she was not far from bing an excellent con artist... ah, no, an excellent spy.

    So with that thought, when she saw Qiu Tu stand up, Liu Fuping quickly stood up as well.

    She first pointed towards the location of the bathroom, and then said, "The bathroom is over there. Chief Qiu, let me help you over."

    Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu, with a drunken wave of his hand, said, "I''m not drunk, and even if I were... I could still hold myself up! No need for your help."

    After saying this, he staggered toward the direction Liu Fuping had indicated.

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s coarse words, Liu Fuping''s face flushed slightly, then she stealthily nced at Tang Feifei.

    She had assumed Tang Feifei would be furious upon hearing Qiu Tu tease her like that.

    However, to her surprise, Tang Feifei seemed to be so lost in thought, furrowing her brows as if she hadn''t heard anything.

    The healthy wheat color of Tang Feifei''s skin looked exceptionally beautiful under the dim lighting, exuding a rare athletic beauty of a woman.

    Seeing this, Liu Fuping''s brain worked quickly, and then she sat back down in her dining chair, tentatively asking, "Director Tang, what''s the matter?"

    Hearing Liu Fuping''s question, Tang Feifei slowly came back to reality.

    Her expressions seemed to always be few, or even if she had any, they were always faint.

    So first, she looked deeply in the direction Qiu Tu had gone and then spoke somewhat pensively, "I was thinking about the information Qiu Tu just shared with me."

    "When he was talking just now, I only felt some interest, and it seemed very important."

    "But when he left and I had time to think, I started to feel more and more frightened."

    "If this case were really covered up by Jia Shu, the Political Department might soar to new heights, bing Xinjie City''s most powerful department."

    "From then on, no one would be able to escape the Political Department''s surveince and control."

    "No matter who it is, the Political Department could easily obtain their whereabouts,munication records, know everything about them."

    "At that moment, the Political Department would be the true ck terror of Xinjie City..."

    As she spoke to this point, Tang Feifei paused and then added hesitantly, "So... the more I think about it, the more I wonder if I should coborate with Qiu Tu to take a shot at Jia Shu?"

    Hearing Tang Feifei''s words, Liu Fuping''s face showed a sudden realization.

    It wasn''t that she understood Tang Feifei''s thoughts, but she suddenly grasped Qiu Tu''s intention: High-intensity expression of viewpoints wasn''t as effective as a high-intensity output of some viewpoints, followed by time for the other party to reflect, before continuing with the strong output.

    This was like a kind of life rhythm: learning by alternating effort with breaks was definitely more enjoyable than blindly toiling away.

    Having suddenly understood everything, Liu Fuping truly wished she could take out a notebook and jot down all her epiphanies.

    She felt this lesson was just too important...

    ...

    Meanwhile, while Liu Fuping was seriously studying, Qiu Tu had arrived at the bathroom.

    He closed the bathroom door, quickly checked the setup to ensure Liu Fuping hadn''t gone to the extreme of installing cameras in there, and then Qiu Tu took out the Mandragora Love Drug from his pocket.

    He dripped a drop of the love drug onto the tip of his right index finger, then skillfully smeared it onto his neck.

    Next, he put the potion back into his pocket and then took the Lucky Joker Card out from the Countdown Treasure Chest.

    As he took out the Lucky Joker Card, the next second, a deck of cards fell into his hands.

    ```

    The cards felt slightly heavy in hand, thicker and more coarse than traditional ying cards.

    Qiu Tu looked down and observed that the back of the 21 cards was blue, with a strange patternbining inverted triangles, circles, and squares.

    Qiu Tu flipped the cards, finding among the 21 cards a ck joker and a colored joker.

    The remaining 19 cards were all aces, with six of diamonds, six of clubs, three of hearts, three of spades, and one ace had a golden pattern that he had never seen before.

    With the joker cards in hand, Qiu Tu couldn''t help but contemte his n.

    In fact, if he was only after gaining Tang Feifei''s favor or striking a deal with her, then the "Mandragora Love Drug" would have sufficed.

    However, the reason he now produced the "Lucky Joker Card" was not only to experiment with the effects of this set of cataclysmic treasures but also to try to obtain the list of spies from the Investigation Bureau located in the Security Department from Tang Feifei.

    ording to Golden Finger''s exnation, if one drew the "Lucky Ace Card," they would get a chance for "Luck Guidance."

    This guidance could be "aimless" or "purposeful."

    Considering the sensitive nature of the spy list, Qiu Tu felt he had to use the "Lucky Joker Card" for guidance.

    If the "Lucky Joker Card" guided him to ask that question, then Qiu Tu would ask.

    If the "Lucky Joker Card" did not guide him to ask that question, then Qiu Tu would temporarily give up in order to avoid exposing a possible connection with the Security Department from asking it.

    After recalling his n, Qiu Tu didn''t dy, he flipped the cards and began shuffling.

    Once the cards were thoroughly shuffled, a mysterious force suddenly descended upon the deck.

    At that moment, Qiu Tu knew he could draw a card.

    Craftily, he attempted to flip the cards face-up and draw, but found¡ªastonishingly¡ªthat the card seemed to be fixed in mid-air, impossible to turn over.

    ''Could it be the power of the rules inherent in the treasure preventing me?'' he thought.

    While thinking this, Qiu Tu abandoned trying to be clever and drew a card normally from the deck.

    He flipped the card. An Ace of Clubs appeared before Qiu Tu.

    Qiu Tu breathed a sigh of relief: although he didn''t draw the golden ace, he had at least seeded.

    Along with his thoughts, the next second, a faint mysterious force descended upon him.

    Feeling that faint mysterious force, Qiu Tu put away the cards and then washed his hands before he awkwardly left the restroom.

    When he got back to the dining table, whether the two minutes he left for Tang Feifei let her reconsider her "situation," or the "Mandragora Love Drug" took effect, wasn''t clear.

    Qiu Tu felt that Tang Feifei seemed a bit different. Although she still appeared cold and indifferent, her eyes had softened considerably.

    Qiu Tu felt relieved in his heart; the worst-case scenario, Tang Feifei discovering he had used a cataclysmic treasure, had not happened.

    Indeed, as long as the other person had no malice and he provided a certain buffer, the covert nature of the "Mandragora Love Drug" was quite good.

    The situation like the one with Liu Fuping before must have been an exception.

    With that in mind, Qiu Tu continued with his n. He sat on the dining chair, his gaze cloudy as he looked at Tang Feifei, and asked with a slurred tongue, "So-sorry, Sister Tang. Where was I in the conversation just now?"

    Qiu Tu''s change in address was actually a probing act to shorten the distance between them, but although Tang Feifei''s eyebrows lightly furrowed, she didn''t correct him.

    She nced at Qiu Tu and said coolly, "You were just talking about Minister Jia and Vice President Tian''s coboration."

    Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu said, "Oh," as if just remembering, and pped his forehead, "Look at my memory, I just can''t handle my liquor."

    While saying this, he nevertheless offered a toast to Tang Feifei, "Come, Director, let''s drink while we talk."

    After speaking, he drained the ss of red wine in one gulp.

    Only after watching Tang Feifei drink did he continue, "Actually, I''ve never understood why our Minister Jia would do this!"

    "He clearly has power and influence, and even with a standard development, his future is limitless. There''s absolutely no need to risk himself for a businessman."

    "The things he''s done, tsk tsk...."

    Qiu Tu''s two previous steps had already set the objectives for Tang Feifei and built a sense of crisis, so what he needed to do next was to provide Tang Feifei with the handle on Jia Shu.

    As expected, Tang Feifei''s interest was immediately piqued upon hearing this.

    Coupled with the dual effects of alcohol and the "Mandragora Love Drug" lowering her guard and weakening her rationality, she couldn''t help asking curiously, "What did Jia Shu do?"

    Seeing Tang Feifei''s unusually off-guard demeanor, Qiu Tu immediately knew the cataclysmic treasure had taken effect.

    So, with his acting in full force, he said in his usual persuasive manner, "Sister Tang, actually, the moment I saw you today, I just felt an extraordinary sense of closeness..."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    ```

 Chapter 101 Liu Fuping, You Go Out First (7k)

    So he put on a dramatic performance, using his usual spiel he said, "Sister Tang, actually, from the moment I saw you today, I felt an unusual sense of closeness..."

    "Just like we have met before."

    "These are words I normally shouldn''t say. After all, Jia Shu is my boss. If he knew I was talking about his scandals behind his back, he would definitely not let me off."

    "But since it''s Sister Tang who asked...."

    Afterying the groundwork, Qiu Tu then leaned in close to Tang Feifei and whispered, "Sister Tang, let me tell you, Jia Shu... he''s actually mad!"

    Upon hearing this, Tang Feifei''s expression changed slightly, as if she had guessed something, her eyes flickering twice.

    Qiu Tu noticed this detail and continued, "He relies on his ability to cover the sky with one hand in the Political Department. In the Yin Caimei case, he actually operated against the rules."

    "In theory, a key criminal like Yin Caimei shouldn''t carry any personal items to avoid uncontroble incidents."

    "Yet, he specially allowed Yin Caimei to bring many personal garments, and even let her bring in a Cataclysmic treasure."

    "And what''s more crucial is that this Cataclysmic treasure was the murder weapon that killed Yin Caimei!"

    At this point, Qiu Tu said mysteriously, "If he didn''t know about this treasure, that''s one thing."

    "If he knew about the function of this treasure in advance, doesn''t that make him an aplice?"

    When Tang Feifei heard Qiu Tu''s words, her gaze began to sh crazily.

    Qiu Tu''s first few points didn''t much concern her: after all, letting a criminal carry items, though a bit negligent, was not a major issue for an official like Jia Shu.

    But... the spections in thetter half stirred her interest.

    How items illegally brought in could serve as murder weapons... there was much to be exploited there.

    If Jia Shu truly was an aplice in this major case, then just that alone would be enough for her to impeach him.

    And if Jia Shu wasn''t... huh? How could he not be? She dered him to be, so he was!

    With this in mind, Tang Feifei suddenly saw the light and even figured out how to target Jia Shu.

    However, precisely because of this, she looked at Qiu Tu with a hint of suspicion.

    For some reason, she always felt... that the idea was "imnted" in her by Qiu Tu. Was he deliberately leading her to such thoughts?

    But, seeing Qiu Tu''s drunken state, Tang Feifei doubted that assumption.

    ''Am I overthinking it?'' she wondered.

    As she thought thus, Tang Feifei took another deep look at Qiu Tu.

    But whether it was an illusion or not, after a few nces, she suddenly felt that Qiu Tu seemed... very handsome.

    Moreover, the drunken Qiu Tu appeared especially "cute"... giving her a desire to get closer.

    With this realization, Tang Feifei was stunned. Why would she... be interested in a man?!

    Impossible!

    With that thought, she couldn''t help but look towards Liu Fuping standing beside her.

    The beautiful young woman must have drunk some red wine and was slightly tipsy, her pale face blushing prettily, looking exceptionally beautiful and alluring under the dim lights.

    Yet, for some reason... whenpared to Qiu Tu, Tang Feifei suddenly felt ack of interest,

    She nced at Qiu Tu, then at Liu Fuping, but eventually chose to keep her eyes on Qiu Tu and continued to listen to the scandals about Jia Shu.

    Qiu Tu had indeed prepared long for this day.

    Thus, after finishing speaking about Jia Shu''s rule vitions in the "Yin Caimei" case, he began to recount the various rumors about Jia Shu in the department.

    Brutally killing suspects, secretly executing investigators, illegally arresting officials... he piled every true or false usation before Tang Feifei.

    After all, Qiu Tu''s primary goal was just to drag Tang Feifei into the fray, to divert attention and share the fire.

    So, all he needed was to imbue Tang Feifei with the image of Jia Shu as someone "riddled with scandal and filth," influencing Tang Feifei''s judgment.

    As to whether he could really take down Jia Shu, he didn''t care.

    Taking him down would be great, but if not, he would not be at a loss.

    So, under the barrage of Qiu Tu''s descriptions, under the dual debuffs of alcohol and the Mandragora Love Drug, Tang Feifei was indeed slowly "brainwashed" by Qiu Tu.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Although her aloof personality kept her from denouncing Jia Shu like Qiu Tu, her deep eyes indicated that the image of Jia Shu had taken form.

    However, people who could be Bureau Chiefs certainly had skills. So even under the influence of alcohol and the Mandragora Love Drug, Tang Feifei managed to maintain some rationality.

    After listening to Qiu Tu''s exnations, she pondered for a moment and still said, "Qiu Tu, I would really like to help you."

    "But... the Yin Caimei case is indeed veryplex."

    "In such an unclear situation, even I wouldn''t dare to take action rashly."

    Hearing Tang Feifei''s words, Qiu Tu paused for a moment, hesitated, then finally touched the Lucky Joker Card in his pocket and said tentatively, "What if it''s not just... you?"

    As Qiu Tu uttered these words, he suddenly felt an overwhelming desire to confess: as if he was being guided toy all his ns bare ande to an agreement with Tang Feifei.

    Qiu Tu was taken aback,

    ''Is this Luck Guidance?''

    ''So... is this telling me the timing is right? To reveal the Security Department and ask for the list?''

    With that thought, Qiu Tu once again took a step forward and probed, "Actually... the Security Department is very interested in this case as well..."

 Chapter 102 43 out of 108 Ways to Enhance Affection (Subscribe!)

    Watching Tang Feifei''s resolute expression, Liu Fuping felt a bit dazed.

    She really felt like she couldn''t understand the situation tonight.

    She briefly recalled:

    After Qiu Tu came out of the bathroom, he was as stable as ever.

    Whether it was getting closer to Tang Feifei or throwing out Jia Shu''s handle, he did it perfectly.

    The whole topic was gradually taken back under Qiu Tu''s control.

    And... she wasn''t sure if it was an illusion.

    At that time, Liu Fuping always felt that aftering out of the bathroom, Qiu Tu seemed to possess a special charm.

    That charm was both strong and enchanting, it even made her somewhat distracted from learning, only wanting to squeeze her legs together, her delicate body slightly twisting....

    So, in her spare time, she took a nce at Tang Feifei. To her surprise, Tang Feifei, who was usually indifferent to men, also seemed a bit off.

    This sudden realization while she was still perplexed made her heart skip a beat: she remembered the romantic incident that happened between her and Qiu Tu that day.

    Although that day Qiu Tu denied that he had done anything, and Liu Fuping indeed had no evidence. But a woman''s intuition was telling Liu Fuping that there was something wrong that day....

    Therefore, when that familiar feeling emerged again, Liu Fuping suddenly had an rming thought:

    Qiu Tu wouldn''t have used that method again tonight, and even used it on Tang Feifei, would he?n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    At that thought, Liu Fuping was startled: This... What to do?

    She wasn''t feeling sorry for Tang Feifei, but worried about Qiu Tu.

    Although Tang Feifei was a woman, she was quite strong.

    As a woman herself, barely enduring it, she couldn''t handle it.

    Qiu Tu... don''t get screwed by Mu Zhai!

    However, before Liu Fuping could think of a way to save Qiu Tu, the situation took a sudden and drastic turn.

    First, Tang Feifei suddenly sobered up and discovered Qiu Tu''s "conspiracy"; then Qiu Tu tore off the facade, actually admitting to the whole n!

    Subsequently, Qiu Tu''s honesty actually stabilized the situation?

    And Tang Feifei grew more interested in Qiu Tu?

    Truth be told, Liu Fuping, who was really worried that the two would start fighting, waspletely dumbfounded at that moment.

    Even when Qiu Tu smashed that 300 Copper Yuan ss and she was kicked out of her own home by Tang Feifei, she was all but dazed....

    Putting on a coat, standing at her own doorstep, Liu Fuping hugged her chest and stamped her foot, feeling.... What is all this about!

    That was obviously her own home! Why was she kicked out?

    And... why is there always a feeling of being cuckolded right to her face!

    Liu Fuping felt all messed up inside....

    Especially when thinking about how delectable Qiu Tu looked tonight, it annoyed her even more.

    She was the first one there! How did it end up like this?!

    Thinking so, Liu Fuping anxiously paced a few steps at the door, then she looked left and right to make sure no one had noticed her, after which she gently pressed her ear against the door, trying to listen to the movement inside.

    Two secondster....

    Liu Fuping had never hated the quality of her apartment building more! The soundproofing was just too good!

    Damn it!

    ...

    Meanwhile.

    After Liu Fuping was driven away, Tang Feifei looked at Qiu Tu with an expression full of interest.

    Possibly because of the alcohol, or maybe the effect of the "Mandragora Love Drug" was still there, her amber eyes were once again a bit hazy....

    "Qiu Tu. If... you were to score me, what would you give me?"

    Hearing Tang Feifei''s words, Qiu Tu sized her up and down.

    There was no denying, Tang Feifei was a very energetic woman.

    Although her looks could only be considered slightly above average, the unique wildness she carried, her healthy wheatishplexion, and that queenly aura were all different from ordinary women''s beauty.

    So Qiu Tu hesitated a bit, then said with a smile, "9 points."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Tang Feifei''s lips curved into a smile, ready to mock Qiu Tu for being unoriginal.

    Although her sexual orientation was different, being in a high position and good-looking, she wasn''t short of men ttering her, so she had seen plenty of men''s routines:

    10 points seemed insincere, below 8 points was likely to offend a strong woman like her.

    Therefore, 9 points was just right, as there was no perfect woman, and... it could naturally lead into the next topic.

    But before she could voice her mockery, Qiu Tu added with a grin, "Out of 100 points."

    At that moment, Tang Feifei first froze, then her lips curled fiercely upward.

    She looked at Qiu Tu with a smile, the danger flickering in her amber pupils, "Really? Then what does Chief Qiu think I''m missing in those 91 points?"

    Qiu Tu actually took it seriously and went on to evaluate her. He touched his chin, looking her up and down, "Breasts not big enough, waist not slim enough, legs...passable."

    "The aura is a bit too harsh and assertive,cking the gentle flow of a woman."

    "Your speech is cold,cking a bit of charm."

    "So... Commander, I really can''t give you a high score."

    [108 Ways to Enhance Affection] No. 43: Never satisfy a womanpletely; timely withdrawal will make her more insatiable for you.

    And when you can "control" her emotions, you can also "control" her body....

    ps: This move works especially well on [Action-Oriented Persons] and [Rational nners].

    Indeed, upon hearing Qiu Tu''s bold deration, Tang Feifei couldn''t help butugh in exasperation.

    The strong-willed woman, catalyzed by alcohol and the [Mandragora Love Drug], suddenly stood up, then she gripped her uniform with both hands and yanked it open on both sides with force.

    There was a series of "snap snap!" sounds as silver buttons popped off and her uniform was ripped open straight across!

    She wasn''t wearing anything underneath, so what appeared before Qiu Tu was a streamlined, slender waist and a chest bound by white straps.

    Possibly due to regr exercise, her waist was tight enough to grasp, even her navel was vertical, and her lower abdomen featured smooth mermaid lines.

    Moving upwards, a pair of bulging breasts tightly wrapped in manyyers of white straps stood out in stark contrast to her slender waist!

    Even without removing the bindings, it was clear that her size was not small; she could evenpare with the beautiful Liu Fuping.

    Qiu Tu admitted that the visual impact at that moment truly shocked him.

    For a moment, he even began to doubt his past aesthetic preference: Was wild beauty really not as good as gentleness like water?

    Shouldn''t men and women both seek health?

    Before he could figure it out, something even more shocking continued.

    Before he could react, Tang Feifei, with her clothes flung open, strode toward him.

    Then she leaned down, looking down at Qiu Tu from above, and asked in a cold voice, "What''s the matter, Chief Qiu, think you got your evaluation wrong?"

    Qiu Tu looked up; the bulging white straps protruded in front of him, and a light floral scent wafted toward him.

    Qiu Tu knew he couldn''t show weakness at this time...

    So, suppressing the pounding in his heart, he raised his hand and snapped his finger against one of the bulging white straps.

    The touch was soft, bouncy, and even quivered.

    Tang Feifei was stunned by Qiu Tu''s brazen action. Clearly, no one had ever dared to do such a thing to her!

    So she looked at Qiu Tu in disbelief.

    After snapping the strap, Qiu Tu realized he might have gone a bit too far, but the sensation on his fingertips still made him feel it was worth it.

    He leaned back slightly, stepping out of the shadow cast by the white straps, and with a smile at the corner of his mouth, he looked at Tang Feifei and said, "Director, I wonder if the Sanctuary has a saying."

    "y with fire, wet the bed."

    "Hehe...." Tang Feifei found it amusing, "What, are you implying that someone my age would still wet the bed?"

    Qiu Tu''s eyes narrowed slightly, full of innuendo, "Do you think adults don''t wet the bed? When adults do it, it can be far more exaggerated~~"

    At Qiu Tu''s words, Tang Feifei paused for a moment.

    But, after all, she was a woman who had rubbed shoulders with Liu Fuping and had seen certain scenes, so after a moment''s hesitation, she immediately caught the excessively fast undertone of his words.

    She looked at Qiu Tu with a teasing smile, her amber eyes growing brighter.

    "Chief Qiu, it''s not certain yet who will wet the bed."

    "After all.... I''m really getting more interested in you...."

    Having said that, she sat on the desk in front of Qiu Tu without bothering to fix her clothes, legs apart in a domineering posture, and looking down at him, she asked coldly, "Don''t you want the list of spies from the Investigation Bureau in the Security Department?"

    "I can give it to you."

    After speaking, to show her sincerity, she directly grabbed a pen and paper from the desk and began to write names on it swiftly.

    Soon, a dozen names were on the list.

    "I''m in charge of training affairs in the bureau. After careful attention, I have some guesses and understanding of the choices for spies."

    "Here is the departmental list; it should be enough for you to trade with."

    Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu took the list and read through it swiftly. Names, genders, and departments were all clearly disyed.

    The highest-ranked spy on the list had risen to the position of a lieutenant and the toon deputy leader, while the lowest were still ordinary soldiers.

    Although the names were unfamiliar to him, he believed Tang Feifei probably wasn''t deceiving him, given the detail and verifiability of the list.

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu breathed a sigh of relief.

    Although the process was a bit convoluted, the result turned out to be good eventually.

    It seems the [Lucky Joker Card] is still useful, right?

    Thinking thus, Qiu Tu pocketed the list and looked up at Tang Feifei with a smile, "Very good. Now, Director Tang, please state your terms."

    Since Qiu Tu began checking the list, Tang Feifei had been watching him.

    Seeing Qiu Tu looking over, she smiled with delight and said without any hesitation,

    "My condition is that you have to be my man!"

    Qiu Tu was stunned for a second, then without hesitation, he nodded, "Okay, no problem."

    Tang Feifei might not have expected Qiu Tu to agree so readily; she hesitated for a moment and rified, "I mean... as in a man, my man."

    Qiu Tu continued to nod nonchntly, "Alright."

    After saying this, Qiu Tu even began to undo the buttons on his own shirt, "Would you like to inspect the goods first?"

    ----

    Today''s update is 12,000 words! Starting tomorrow, updates of 10,000 words every day, and if the performance is good, I will continue with daily 10,000 words!

    New book aiming for the Monthly Ticket Chart, I seek your Monthly Tickets! My thanks!

 Chapter 103 Toying with the Bureau Chief (Looking for Monthly Tickets!)

    While unbuttoning his shirt, Qiu Tu still managed to say to Tang Feifei, with a smile, "Director Tang really overestimated her own charm."

    "You have a great figure and you''re not bad looking either. You''re also my immediate superior."

    "Being able to weather several storms with you, how could I consider that a condition? It''s clearly something one could only wish for!"

    As he said this, Qiu Tu undid his upper garment, revealing his well-built six-pack abs.

    Tang Feifei''s eyes narrowed slightly, suddenly feeling her interest fade significantly.

    At that moment, she was a bit confused about her own thoughts.

    The prey she had desired was right in front of her, evenying t, ready for her to do as she pleased, so why did she suddenly find it tasteless?

    Thinking thus, the amber glow in her eyes slowly vanished, and her facial expression gradually returned to indifference.

    Then she got off the table and coldly stopped Qiu Tu''s movements, "That won''t be necessary, I''ll call you when I need you."

    Hearing her words, Qiu Tu, as if he had anticipated it, smiled mildly, "Very well. I await Director Tang''s ''summons'' at any time."N?v(el)B\\jnn

    While saying that, he continued to fasten his buttons and headed towards the door.

    Seeing Qiu Tu''s expression, Tang Feifei instinctively felt that something was amiss... but she couldn''t pinpoint what it was.

    She hesitated, wanting to call out to Qiu Tu, but then she felt that being so fickle was meaningless, so she eventually stopped herself.

    At the door, upon opening it, Liu Fuping staggered and fell in,nding right into Qiu Tu''s arms ¨C obviously, this beautifuldy had been eavesdropping at the door just a moment ago.

    Still halfway through buttoning his shirt and not fully dressed, Qiu Tu solidly received Liu Fuping''s softness.

    Feeling Qiu Tu''s strong body and smelling that intense masculine scent, Liu Fuping''s cheeks flushed red.

    Her heart felt ticklish, as if it had been scratched by something, giving her a strange sensation....

    But she knew that now was not the time to think about such frivolous matters, so she quickly brushed her hair back, coloring her face red as she stepped out of Qiu Tu''s embrace, and whispered a soft "Thank you, sir."

    Standing by the dining table, Tang Feifei watched the two interact with a slightly narrowed gaze, feeling even more perplexed.

    But before she had time to ponder, Liu Fuping, who had straightened up, pointed at the two with open shirts, her face a picture of surprise, "You...you guys...."

    After that, she covered her mouth to stifle a giggle, "Isn''t this a bit too fast?"

    Tang Feifei: .....

    Qiu Tu: .....

    Is Qiu Tu the kind of person who lets himself be taken advantage of?

    Of course not.

    So, upon hearing this, he retorted with a smile, "Fast or not, Sister Liu would know if she tried, right? Why bother with trying to goad me here?"

    Liu Fuping''s face turned red, and she spat at Qiu Tu, "You''re so improper!"

    After that, she shook off Qiu Tu''s hand and walked back to the dining table with a flirtatious sway of her hips, smiling all the while.

    After that, things simplified. With all three of them calmed down, Qiu Tu and Tang Feifei discussed the details of their cooperation at length.

    Thanks to Qiu Tu''s prior groundwork, they quickly reached a consensus.

    The Security Department would take charge of investigating Vice President Tian''s collusion with United Front, while also dealing with the forces and support behind Tian.

    Tang Feifei would apply for an investigation to the Sanctuary on the grounds of Jia Shu''s dereliction of duty and silencing a critical suspect, and restrict Jia Shu''s actions.

    Qiu Tu would pursue the real culprit behind the case and mediate between all sides.

    All parties would start preparations after returning home tonight, and then stage a concentrated operation in the next two days.

    Soon after the cooperation was settled, Qiu Tu and Tang Feifei shook hands and then left Liu Fuping''s house.

    Watching Qiu Tu''s retreating figure, Tang Feifei''s brows were tightly furrowed, as if grappling with an unfathomable dilemma.

    Liu Fuping, after seeing off Qiu Tu, came back to find Tang Feifei looking just like that.

    She thought Tang Feifei was jealous because of the few jokes Qiu Tu had made with her that day, so she slinked up to Tang Feifei, wrapping her arms around her, and asked in a sweet voice, "What''s the matter? Director? Not happy?"

    Upon hearing this, Tang Feifei nced sideways at Liu Fuping, and then asked, "What do you think of Qiu Tu as a person?"

    Liu Fuping thought for a moment, resting her chin on her hand, and gave a fairly bnced assessment, "I think Chief Qiu is not a bad guy. Even though hemonly throws around flirtyments, he actually behaves in quite a measured way."

    "Also, he is protective of his subordinates and has some....."

    Tang Feifei didn''t hear what Liu Fuping said after that. Liu Fuping''s first statement struck her like lightning across the sky of her thoughts!

    ''Commonly throws around flirtyments, but behaves in quite a measured way?!''

    At that moment, Tang Feifei suddenly realized what had been off about her impression!

    Right, upon reflecting on her past exchanges with Qiu Tu. It was clear that Qiu Tu was a master of understanding human nature.

    Whether it was guiding conversations or gauging people''s hearts, he had considerable skill.

    How could such a person fail to see through her little ploy just now?!

    He could''ve just been a bit more persistent, or feigned reluctance, and she would have gone along with his desire, and shared a passionate encounter with him!

    Instead, he purposely agreed and even proactively began to undress!

    This was a clear indication that he had seen through her, but he didn''t actually want things to escte, so he was intentionally refusing her!

    With this realization, everything that had happened just then fell into ce for Tang Feifei!

    No wonder Qiu Tu, after helping her cool down, had gone to open the door for Liu Fuping ¨C to prevent her from losing control again and potentially forcing herself on him, thus bringing in a third party to control the situation.

    No wonder Qiu Tu was joking in such an unseemly way with Liu Fuping ¨C to help cool her down again and continue to reinforce his "persona"!

    ''Interesting... very interesting!''

    Tang Feifei, having figured everything out, couldn''t help but curve her lips into a smile, her pupils also slowly shifting back to a clear amber.

    Perhaps because the image of Qiu Tu that lingered in her mind was too enticing, she once again felt like she had discovered delectable prey!

    She felt that Qiu Tu was simply the most interesting man... no, person¡ªincluding women¡ªshe had ever met, and he suited her tastes best.....

    Since her birth up to now, she had never met such an intriguing man!

    She... was truly aroused with the desire to hunt!

    At that moment... Liu Fuping also noticed the change in Tang Feifei''s pupils, knowing that this was a sign that appeared after Tang Feifei was emotionally stirred.

    So, she gently leaned in close to Tang Feifei, whispering softly into her ear, "Stay with me tonight?"

    Tang Feifei, hearing this, snapped back to reality.

    A brilliant smile suddenly broke across her wheat-colored face, then she dered firmly, "No!"

    "I need to go back and study the cooperation with Qiu Tu first!"

    Having said that, she pushed Liu Fuping aside, fastened the buttons of her uniform, and, wearing her riding boots, took long strides to leave Liu Fuping''s home.

    Staring nkly at Tang Feifei''s retreating figure, filled with both wildness and beauty, Liu Fuping''s mouth hung open, stunned for several seconds.

    Only when the door closed did Liu Fuping graduallye back to her senses.

    What just happened?

    Was she rejected?

    Liu Fuping was a bit incredulous.

    And thinking back on what Tang Feifei had just said, she felt like... like she was the unnamed character in a movie for three, without a name of her own!

    Moreover....

    Looking at the closed door, she was somewhat frantic:

    Qiu Tu was someone she had met first! And she was the first to flirt with him!

    Tang Feifei was her woman! And they had spent the most time together!

    How, how... now she was the only one left?!

    What was going on! The world changed too fast, didn''t it?!

    .....

    At the same time, having left Liu Fuping''s ce, Qiu Tu drove while recalling the sharp exchange he had with Tang Feifei.

    Tang Feifei wasn''t wrong, he had indeed figured out her personality, so he had indeed retreated in order to advance, deliberately rejecting Tang Feifei.

    There were two reasons:

    First was... the effects of the Mandragora Love Drug were about to end.

    Qiu Tu wasn''t sure if any idents would ur if they were in the middle of something and the effects of the Cataclysmic Potion suddenly wore off.

    Therefore, he simply rejected Tang Feifei early on, letting her mistakenly believe it was her pliant" behavior that made her lose interest, thereby covering up the process of the Mandragora Love Drug''s effects wearing off.

    Second was... for a strong, wild woman like Tang Feifei.

    Only by keeping her interested, then disappointed, then interested again, and disappointed again, constantly swinging her emotions, could she fall deeper and deeper!

    The old saying goes: A wife is not as good as a concubine, a concubine is not as good as a secret lover, and a secret lover is not as good as one you cannot have....

    Only by constant pull and release, reeling in and letting out, can one truly control such a wild and strong woman!

    While silently summarizing his strategy for dealing with Tang Feifei, Qiu Tu also took out a special Communicator from the Security Department, and made a call to Qin Shuman.

    When the call connected, Qiu Tu asked concisely while driving, "Where are you? I need to see you for something."

    Hearing this, Qin Shuman reported a room number without any hesitation: Mn Grand Hotel, room 401.

    The sons and daughters of the covert United Front always acted directly, without dragging their feet.

    After hanging up, Qiu Tu stepped on the elerator towards the Mn Grand Hotel.

    The night lights of Xinjie City were dim, and the streets were sparsely popted, so it only took Qiu Tu a little over twenty minutes to reach the Mn Grand Hotel.

    After parking his car, he went up to the floor indicated by Qin Shuman''s room number and took the elevator in silence.

    Standing in front of room 401, Qiu Tu prepared to knock, but before his hand could touch the door, it swung open on its own.

    Qin Shuman stood at the doorway with hands behind her back, smiling charmingly.

    Today, she was using the body of Yan Chen''s mistress, "Qin Shuman."

    Seeing Qiu Tu, Qin Shuman smiled and said, "I actually needed to see you too, I didn''t expect our minds to be so in sync~"

    Qiu Tu, upon hearing this, mmed the door shut with a "bang!" and then swept Qin Shuman up into his arms and charged into the room.

    Qin Shuman was startled, her hands patting Qiu Tu''s back while she cried out frantically, "Wait, wait a minute!"

    Just like the first time something happened between them, Qiu Tu threw her onto the bed and said in a deep voice, "I can''t wait."....

    .....

    ...

    40 minutester.

    Qiu Tu, smoking a cigarette and embracing Qin Shuman, asked, "You said you had something to discuss? What is it?"

    -------

 Chapter 104 My Waist is Almost Broken (Seeking Monthly Ticket!)

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Qin Shuman, who felt as limp as water in his arms, felt her entire world wasn''t right anymore.

    What kind of good person doesn''t say a word and starts with a 40-minute exercise up front!

    After such a long exercise, how could she have any energy left to talk to him about things!

    So tiring!

    Thinking like this, inexplicably, Qin Shuman started to get a little petnt like a young girl. She turned around, with her back to Qiu Tu, refusing to pay him any attention.

    Seeing this, Qiu Tu wasn''t annoyed. He reached out and touched her smooth back, pinching here, tapping there.

    After a moment, Qiu Tu seemed to discover something astonishing, and eximed in surprise, "Eh? Howe you''re back in ''Qin Shuman''s'' body again?"

    "Has the Treasure''s effect worn off, or did you do it on purpose?"

    After he spoke, he paused, then added, "Can you still return to ''Rain Butterfly''s'' body like this?"

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s series of questions, Qin Shuman sat up angrily, saying irritably, "That''s exactly what I wanted to talk to you about!"

    After speaking, Qin Shuman also felt like she was a bit whiny.

    So she calmed herself down and regained herposure as the head of the Investigation Department. Only then did she touch the body she was in now and said, "Ever since the day you forcefully disabled my ability, I''ve discovered something magical."

    "Even when my soul leaves, ''Qin Shuman''s'' body astonishingly doesn''t decay, doesn''t die."

    "I found this phenomenon very interesting, so I tried soaking her in nutrient fluid, or feeding her liquid food, then monitoring her with equipment."

    "As a result, I found that this body has been maintaining vital signs all along."

    "It''s like an empty shell without a soul, but all the body parts are autonomously functioning!"

    As she said this, Qin Shuman was clearly a bit excited.

    She said, "So, I had a bold idea. What if I could use her as my second body for a long time!"

    "That''s why tonight I tried to possess this body again."

    "Sure enough, it was just as I expected. I''ve be ''Qin Shuman'' again. Moreover... this time, I can switch bodies freely and don''t need you to disable my ability anymore."

    Hearing Qin Shuman''s words, Qiu Tu sat up in surprise.

    Qin Shuman''s discovery was crucial.

    If ''Qin Shuman''s'' body is an empty shell without a soul that can be upied by a new soul or exists independently of one...

    Then... could ''Qiu Tu''s'' body be the same?

    And could it be because of this that Qiu Tu was able to traverse here and enter this body?!

    Then the question arises.

    What exactly did "Qiu Tu" and "Qin Shuman" experience that day to create such weird shells that could exist separately from their souls?

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu couldn''t help but ask, "Have you figured out what happened the day we... possessed?"

    Qin Shuman heard this and shook her head slightly.

    She said, "These past few days, I''ve also sent people to search for clues. But... there''s nothing noteworthy."

    She paused for a moment before adding, "So... I''m now suspecting that what happened to us that day might not be rted to the physical world."

    "It could be rted to the non-physical realm."

    As she spoke, she pointed upwards, "It''s very possible that some strange change urred in the non-physical realm that day, affecting us, which led to this situation."

    ''Some strange change in the non-physical world?''

    Qiu Tu repeated Qin Shuman''s words in his heart, and for some reason, thought of the ''God'' that the suit man had mentioned.

    Could it have something to do with that ''God''?

    Somehow... Qiu Tu always felt that Xinjie City seemed to be in the midst of some massive storm vortex...

    After discussing Qin Shuman''s matter, Qin Shuman naturally asked Qiu Tu what he wanted with her.

    Qiu Tu didn''t hide anything, proudly taking out the list from his pocket with the names of the spies in the military for the Investigation Bureau.

    Seeing this detailed list, Qin Shuman was thrilled!

    The biggest pressures for Qin Shuman recently were two things: one was to solve the "Yin Caimei case" for Qiu Tu. The other was... the safety of the spies nted by the Security Department within the Investigation Bureau.

    She was still working on the first issue, and the second... she had been trying hard but to no avail! She never expected Qiu Tu to have solved it for her!

    With this resolution, where could Qin Shuman find any reason to be upset, proceeding to reward Qiu Tu heartily...

    [7 days (The time to close the Yin Caimei case)]

    [4 days (The danger lurking in the darkness)]

    ...

    The next day was the weekend, no work.

    It was the day Qiu Tu and Chief Huang of the Logistics Equipment Department had arranged to go to the horse racing club at the Feicui City Residence.

    Early in the morning, Qiu Tu returned home to his small abode on Old Alley Street, satisfied.

    When he got home, Shen Lingshuang was already awake, washing clothes.

    When she heard Qiu Tu return, she came out of the bathroom, with panda eyes ring at Qiu Tu, muttering bitterly, "You dog of a man... noting home all night. You must have been out fooling around..."

    Hearing this, Qiu Tu smiled faintly as he changed into his casual clothes and casually retorted, "That''s nder, you know!"

    "I definitely didn''t go out fooling around."

    "A friend''s cat had two kittens, and she asked me to help take care of them. But who knew, when I got to her ce, she ended up washing my shoes andundering my clothes."

    "I couldn''t very well go home naked, could I?"

    "So I had no choice but to wait for my clothes to dry beforeing back!"

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s story that didn''t have a shred of credibility, Shen Lingshuang was going crazy, "You''re trying to fool a ghost here!"

    "Go out on the street and ask anyone you drag in; who would believe that?"

    "I believe..." As they were talking, arge, simple-looking head popped in from the door.

    It was none other than Ah-Tai.

    Seeing the two of them, he shed a toothy grin, then said, "Brother Tu really is such a kind-hearted person."

    "I remember one time when I was a kid, the wife of some big shot had a plumbing issue at home, and he was called to help. It took him all night to fix it, too."

    Shen Lingshuang: ??

    Is this really a defense?!N?v(el)B\\jnn

    By that time, Qiu Tu had changed into his clothes, and with augh, he patted Shen Lingshuang on the head, picked up her face, and kissed it, before leaving the house arm-in-arm with Ah-Tai.

    All that was left was Shen Lingshuang with a flushed face, bubbles popping over her head... she hadpletely forgotten to be angry...

    Easy-peasy!

    Having left the house and arrived at his car, Qiu Tu''s core team members: Eagle, Ah-Kun, several confidants from the Political Department: Cao Dabiao, Chen Feng, Ding Xiaoliu, Zhu Huoyan, and even Fang Ming, with whom he often coborated, had all arrived.

    These individuals had been briefed extensively over a period of time and knew each other''s identities, so they were all casually smoking and chatting.

    All of them were dressed in uniforms of the Political Department and the Special Service Department, and each was armed with a gun, making the ordinary citizens of Old Alley Street quickly detour to avoid stirring trouble with this fearsome group.

    And yet, this gang of fearsome figures promptly extinguished their cigarettes and greeted Qiu Tu in unison when they saw him approach: "Brother Tu!" "Brother Tu!" "Chief!" "Chief." "Chief Qiu."

    Seeing this, Qiu Tu chuckled and nodded, "Looks like everyone''s here."

    After speaking, he looked around at the group.

    This was the powerful team he had put together over half a month, and they were also key to the sess of today''s mission!

    That''s right, after a detailed discussion with Qin Shuman the previous night, Qiu Tu felt... investigating cases and making arrests should be done sooner rather thanter.

    Since Yan Chen had already handed over both the "Authorization Letter" and the "Special Arrest Warrant" to him, the best course was to strike with a surprise attack while the news had not yet fully spread!

    Capture Qian Dafu, capture those few transports, capture Vice President Tian, capture Third Brother Qin, capture Director Qin (second house)¡ªand then interrogate them slowly!

    For Vice President Tian, it''s inconvenient for Qiu Tu to take action, no problem. Qin Shuman can do it!

    With the list of spies from the Investigation Bureau inside The military and the leads and intelligence on the connections between the Qin family, Vice President Tian, and the United Front provided by Qiu Tu, Qin Shuman is confident that her boss, Security Department Chief Dai Yukang, would be interested.

    Moreover,pared to the intricate ties between City Hall, Investigation Bureau, and local forces, The military tends to be more independent and autonomous, without the need to look back and forth!

    Thus, The military often represents thest line of defense for the cities in the nning Area!

    Therefore, those the Investigation Bureau dares not arrest, the Security Department dares to arrest! The cases that Qiu Tu finds challenging, the Security Department can help handle!

    With the backing Qin Shuman gave him, the pressure Tang Feifei withstood from Jia Shu, and the "wrongly given" unlimited authorization from Yan Chen.

    Qiu Tu was brimming with confidence today, determined to turn Xinjie City upside down!

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu, who had snapped back to the present, proceeded to distribute today''s n to Cao Dabiao, Chen Feng, Eagle, and Fang Ming.

    Actually, before calling these few men here, Qiu Tu hadn''t informed them of what he intended to do today.

    So when they saw the arrest orders and various authorization documents personally signed by Qiu Tu, they were all astonished.

    Even Fang Ming, who had witnessed some grand scenes with his elders, looked at Qiu Tu with a bewildered face, and hesitatingly asked, "Arrest Director Qin? Third Master Qin? And even a few big businessmen?"

    "Chief Qiu, won''t this cause too much of a fuss?"

    At this, he paused, then continued, "Moreover... that is the Deputy Division Chief after all."

    "Although the ''Special Arrest Warrant'' allows for the arrest of anyone below Director level."

    "But... he''s still one of us from the Investigation Bureau, should we not check with the higher-ups first?"

    Hearing Fang Ming''s words, Qiu Tuughed and patted him on the shoulder, saying, "Don''t worry, I have everything arranged."

    "Just follow the n and make the arrest, bet he''ll even thank you when you p on the handcuffs."

    Fang Ming: ??

    For a moment, Fang Ming almost thought he had misheard.

    He was supposed to arrest Director Qin and Director Qin would actually thank him?

    Had he gone mad, or had Qiu Tu lost his mind?

    For a while, Fang Ming felt utterly confused.

    Butpared with Fang Ming, who wasn''t yet one of the confidants, the rest of the men were far moreposed.

    Individuals like Eagle and Ah-Kun, with loyalty levels exceeding 90 points, listened to whatever Qiu Tu said without a second thought.

    And for Cao Dabiao, Chen Feng, Zhu Huoyan, Ding Xiaoliu, the new batch of confidants whose loyalty had skyrocketed to around 70.

    -------

    This chapter was blocked, and I''ve edited it out. Then I put the rest of it in thement of this chapter... Everyone can check it out in thement. Also, I''m asking for Monthly Tickets!

 Chapter 105 High Society (Seeking Subscriptions 1w2!)

    Although they were not as blindly loyal as the former, but... after having witnessed Qiu Tu''s capability to manipte political situations and wield power within the Political Department, they were more inclined to trust Qiu Tu even if they harbored a hint of doubt.

    Only Ah-Tai... well, he was just in naive.

    If it weren''t for the sake of earning him some merit, and the fact that he was now sticking to Fang Ming like glue ¡ª to the point where Fang Ming couldn''t shake him off while working ¡ª Qiu Tu would not have wanted to bring him along today.

    So, after Qiu Tu had assigned their tasks, he split the seven people into several teams and gathered the personnel in preparation to set off.

    In order to keep the entire n confidential, Qiu Tu did not even allow them to summon personnel using officialmands but instead used team building and social events as cover.

    Qiu Tu and Qin Shuman had thoroughly calcted the manpower required for the entire capture n the night before. Thebination of the investigation team and Fang Ming''s squad, consisting of over thirty agents, was more than sufficient.

    After all, most of those caught by the Political Department were merely ordinary businessmen. If they approached with weapons and arrest warrants, the targets wouldn''t oppose the entire Sanctuary system unless they wished to resist; otherwise, they could onlyply meekly.

    The reason for assembling Fang Ming''s squad was merely to guard against the private armed forces of powerful and influential families like the Qin Family¡­

    After arranging everything and watching these confidants scatter in all directions, Qiu Tu drove off towards Emerald Fort while humming a tune.

    To deceive the enemy, Qiu Tu would spend the entire day today within Emerald Fort.

    He could only begrudgingly watch horse races, sing, y sports, rub shoulders with the elite and famous socialites ¡ª indulging in extravagance without a moment''s rest....n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Every time he thought about the hardships of today, Qiu Tu felt unspeakably sad ¡ª so much so that the corners of his mouth curled up.

    ...

    Emerald Fort, also known as the old Xinjie military camp.

    It was originally built by Major General Ye while stationed in Xinjie City as a defense against attacks from the Anti-government Armed Forces.

    The fort epassed an area of 0.08 square kilometers.

    After the establishment of Xinjie City, when the military moved to a new camp, the old grounds were sold to several big businessmen of the Sanctuary.

    After more than a year of renovation and rebuilding by those businessmen, it had be thergest den of iniquity around Xinjie City and the most fervently sought after social hub for the higher echelons from surrounding cities.

    The ce hosted all sorts of legal and above-board entertainment facilities such as a racetrack, an octagon cage, a nightclub, and a casino.

    Qiu Tu had often heard about this famous ce but had never been there. Today was his first visit.

    As he drove up to the outskirts of Emerald Fort, Qiu Tu didn''t encounter any inspections ¡ª in a nning Area, a private car in itself was proof of identity.

    Following the smooth roads around the fort, guided by signs by the roadside, Qiu Tu drove straight into the parking lot of the fort.

    Private cars, scarcely seen on the roads of the nning Area, filled more than half of the parking lot here. The sight was truly staggering.

    After parking and turning off the ignition, Qiu Tu stepped out of the car only to hear an enthusiastic greeting, "Chief Qiu! Over here! Chief Qiu!"

    Hearing the call, Qiu Tu looked up and saw Chief Huang from Logistics and Equipment walking towards him.

    His face was sporting an even warmer smile than a few days ago. Coming up to Qiu Tu, he gave a hearty pat on Qiu Tu''s arm and joked, "I was beginning to think you wouldn''t make it today."

    Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu asked curiously, "Why would you say that, Brother Huang? Why would I possibly stand you up when we had an arrangement?"

    Chief Huang squinted with a smile, "Are you still hiding things from me, Younger Brother Qiu?"

    He said in a lower voice, "The news that the Bureau Chief signed your ''Authorization Letter'' and ''Special Arrest Warrant'' has almost spread throughout the bureau~~"

    "Who knew if you might be apprehending people this weekend...."

    As soon as Qiu Tu heard this, he understood immediately why Chief Huang was so enthusiastic today.

    So, it was because he knew that Qiu Tu had the "Imperial Sword" in hand.

    Thinking so, Qiu Tu also replied smilingly, "You''re joking, Brother. Work is work, rxation is rxation."

    "Today is the weekend, how could I possibly be busy with work!"

    Upon hearing Qiu Tu''s response, Chief Huang immediately let out a heartyugh. He patted Qiu Tu and said jokingly, "I''ve long heard from Old Zheng that you hate overtime and always leave on time every day!"

    "Now seeing you, it seems it''s indeed the case!"

    Seeing Qiu Tu was alsoughing, Chief Huang changed his tone and said with a chuckle, "But you''re right. Work is work, rxation is rxation!"

    "Come on! Let me introduce you to a few friends!"

    As Qiu Tu was there today to blindside the enemy and gather information, he immediately followed up on Chief Huang''s offer, "You can''t just introduce me to a few friends, Brother. You said today you''d show me the world."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Chief Huang immediately made an "I understand" expression, "Don''t worry, today I''ll definitely broaden your horizons."

    Qiu Tu''s smile grew wider.

    As the most well-known and central attraction of Emerald Fort, the first ce Chief Huang took Qiu Tu was the racetrack.

    The racecourse was built at the heart of the Emerald Fort, or rather, all other facilities were constructed around the racecourse.

    Because the guests were all either rich or noble, this racecourse wasn''t an open-air venue like the ones Qiu Tu remembered from his previous life, but instead, consisted ofyer uponyer of enclosed observation decks.

    The observation decks protruded into the racecourse, with one side being the entrance, and the other three sides were 270-degree panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows, making it exceptionally spectacr and grand.

    Upon reaching the fourth-floor observation deck, Chief Huang naturally introduced Qiu Tu to the setup, "The whole racecourse has three levels of observation decks, located on the fourth, fifth, and sixth floors respectively."

    "The fourth floor, like here, is where staff members like us, deputy staff, lieutenants, captains, and wealthy businessmen watch the horse races."

    "The fifth floor is where the directors, deputy directors, major, lieutenant colonels, and some big businessmen from the Sanctuary visit."

    "As for the topmost... the sixth floor, it''s where those big shots standing at the top of various cities are located."

    "Like themissioners from City Hall, the Deputy Directors from the Investigation Bureau, and the colonels from the military. Even... those three highest-ranking officials, they all take their seats on the sixth floor."

    Qiu Tu nodded slightly upon hearing this, indicating that he understood.

    After introducing the entire situation of the observation decks, Chief Huang led Qiu Tu to the refreshments area to each get a cup of wine, then they quietly sipped and whispered introductions to a few people on the fourth floor who were watching the horse races.

    "That tall,rge young man is a captain from the military, surnamed Zhang, currentlymanding a battalion."

    "He is a local from Xinjie. When General Ye was stationed in Xinjie, he was one of the first to side with him and helped General Ye eradicate the entire underground forces of Xinjie City."

    "Therefore, when Xinjie City was established, and General Ye reorganized the military, he was also recruited and given key training."

    "However... he''s a bit of a gambler, often losing his entire sry."

    At this point, Chief Huang added in a quiet voice, "So, if he asks you to lend him money, never agree to it."

    Qiu Tu looked deeply at the Captain Zhang mentioned, nodding slightly.

    Seeing this, Chief Huang then pointed to a young woman on the left, "That one is Section Chief Bai from the Household Registration Division of the Civil Affairs Bureau at City Hall."

    "Her father is amissioner at City Hall, and her husband is a major businessman in Xinjie, mainly in charge of intercity transportation."

    "But I heard it''s been rough recently, with a lot of family wealth lost, which has also weakened her position at City Hall."

    Qiu Tu paused on the young woman for a moment, thinking that her looks were above average, but she had a unique charm.

    Next, Chief Huang briefly introduced Qiu Tu to a few other guests on the fourth floor.

    They were all middle-level officials with the rank of staff member or deputy staff member. Some were from Xinjie City, and some from neighboring cities. At their level, they could be hugely influential within their departments, but here, they were asmon as cabbages...

    In the meantime, several people took the elevator past the fourth floor, heading to either the fifth or the sixth floor.

    Astonishingly, there were quite a few acquaintances among them, including the head of the Qin Family, Commissioner Qin Heng, Vice Minister Wen from the Special Service Department, and Director Wang from the Public Security Bureau...

    Even during this time, Qiu Tu spotted Old Bai, Jia Shu, and Tang Feifei dressed in in clothes.

    When Old Bai realized that Qiu Tu had alsoe to the Emerald Fort, he was slightly surprised, but the next second he immersed himself back into his character: he coldly ignored Qiu Tu, but just as the elevator doors were about to close, he winked at Qiu Tu.

    As for Jia Shu and Tang Feifei...

    Upon seeing Qiu Tu, Jia Shu''s face first revealed a hint of surprise, then he quickly resumed his mocking smile, as if pondering over some amusing matter...

    And although Tang Feifei remained stoic from beginning to end, the flickering amber glow returning to her eyes indicated that Qiu Tu had once again be the focus of her attention...

    ''This world is really small...'' Qiu Tu silently reflected to himself, and then Chief Huang dragged him off to meet some friends.

    ording to him, there were quite a few people who wanted to meet Qiu Tu today, to get acquainted with the newly risen star at the Investigation Bureau!

    ...

    Meanwhile.

    While Qiu Tu was enjoying life... ah, no, while he was distracting the enemy.

    Ah-Tai, Eagle, and several teams were also fully assembled and began to carry out their n...

    Since Ah-Tai and Eagle didn''t have arrest authority, the team leader for this operation was Chen Feng.

    The target of the arrest was the most important suspect, the major businessman entangled with the Qin Family: Qian Dafu.

    Arriving near Qian Dafu''s residence, the group began implementing their control n ording to the strategy.

    -----

    Thest chapter was blocked... just unblocked.

    Updated with 4 chapters totaling 12,000 words! Requesting Monthly Tickets! Explosive updates during the new bookunch, 10,000 words daily! Please vote with a Monthly Ticket and follow the updates every day! Thank you!

 Chapter 106 Madam, You Wouldnt Want Your Husband... (10k for Monthly Ticket)

    As a locally well-known businessman in Xinjie City, Qian Dafu didn''t have the qualification to live in core vi areas like Longshan Road, but he resided in a nearby, smaller cluster of vis.

    This cluster of small vis was under the influence of Longshan Road, ensuring security and a rtivelyplete set of public facilities.

    Moreover, with good greening...

    It was especially suitable for concealment.

    At this moment, just outside Qian Dafu''s small vi,

    Chen Feng and Eagle were squatting behind a tree, holding a vi floor n, discussing the arrangements for the surveince.

    Chen Feng, "The vi has three floors in total, with front and back doors."

    "There are eight windows on the east and west sides."

    "To prevent the target from escaping, we''d better first position six detectives on each side, and then have three detectives enter through the front door."

    Eagle nodded and replied, "ording to intelligence, though Qian Dafu runs a transportationpany and maintains a group of thugs and some private armed forces, for convenience, he usually has only two armed bodyguards for personal protection."

    "Three armed detectives entering, six detectives staking out outside, that''s more than enough to disarm the opposition and take Qian Dafu away."

    "Unless Qian Dafu ns to openly oppose the Investigation Bureau, he won''t order his bodyguards to shoot."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    "You''re right, but even if he orders his bodyguards to take action, with my hammer, I can knock him out at any time."

    "Hmm... relying on the hammer might be a bit overconfident, it''s still best to use guns. We can arrange... wait, Brother Ted, when did you get here?!"

    Eagle had initially been earnestly responding to questions, but halfway through, he sensed something was off.

    Turning his head, he discovered Ah-Tai''s simple-minded head had appeared above him and Chen Feng, inconspicuously joining their conversation.

    Hearing Eagle''s question, Ah-Tai excitedly bounced the small hammer in his hand and said, "Oh, I was just a bit bored waiting, so I came over to see if there was anything I could help with!"

    Eagle and Chen Feng exchanged a nce, both feeling a bit helpless.

    Eagle reassured him, "Brother Ted, there''s nothing here that needs your help; what you need to do now is to keep an eye on those detectives from the Special Service Department."

    "After all, they''re not one of us and are notpletely trustworthy."

    "So, make absolutely sure they don''t leak any information."

    With understanding dawning on his face, Ah-Tai brandished his small hammer menacingly and dered, "Don''t worry! I''ll keep a close watch on them; they won''t spoil Brother Tu''s big ns!"

    After speaking, he tucked his small hammer at his waist and strode towards the group of Special Service Detectives not far away.

    With his fierce demeanor, he looked quite ready to randomly knock someone out for a bit of fun.

    Therefore, Chen Feng couldn''t help but ask Eagle with a bit of concern, "Is everything really okay?"

    Eagle shook his head, unconcerned, and said, "It''s fine. Brother Ted has always been like this."

    "Don''t worry, he has the charm of being ready to take you down at any moment, yet also being able to mess around with you like a brother."

    As he spoke, the group of Special Service Detectives indeed started jovially horsing around with the grim Ah-Tai, like brothers...

    Chen Feng:....

    ''The people around the boss are never simple indeed....''

    With this thought, Chen Feng shifted his attention back and once again started confirming the capture details with Eagle...

    To ensure not to rm the prey, Qiu Tu had devised a n for the groups to make their captures at a coordinated time.

    They were to wait until all targets were controlled before taking action, unless the target posed a risk of fleeing beforehand.

    Therefore, they had plenty of time to get into position.

    ...

    Meanwhile, at Emerald Fort, fourth floor southeast corner of the horse racing grandstand,

    There, Qiu Tu also met the friend mentioned by Chief Huang.

    As expected, they were all medium-ranking officials and wealthy businessmen with power in Xinjie City.

    From the Department of Education, Preparatory and Schooling Section: Section Chief Kong.

    Department of Environment and Sanitation, Public Works Section: Deputy Section Chief Zhuang.

    Department of Commerce and Economic Development, Investment Promotion Section: Deputy Section Chief Yuan.

    From the Investigation Bureau, Public Security Bureau, Security Patrol Section: Section Chief Xin.

    There were also several captains and lieutenants from the military; moreover, wealthy businessmen from sectors such as department stores and food.

    It could be said that every single one of them was a significant figure with the power to make rules within a domain of Xinjie City.

    Among these, the most noteworthy for Qiu Tu were several section chiefs and deputy staff chiefs from the City Hall.

    Not because they held high positions or great power, but because... after getting acquainted with Qiu Tu, they were quite proactive and enthusiastic in chatting with him, and between the lines, they also probed for progress on the "Yin Caimei case."

    Qiu Tu did not know whether it was their own initiative or if someone was directing them from behind.

    But still, he quietly took note of their names in his "little book" to consider bringing them in for questioning if given the chance...

    As others were busy trying to make Qiu Tu''s acquaintance and Qiu Tu was busy listing them, a new round of horse racing had started.

    As one of the oldest sports in human history, horse racing has different forms in each era.

    The rules at Emerald Fort were simr to those of Fragrant River in the past life: t obstacle racing with jockeys riding.

    This also brought new star horses and jockeys into the limelight each month.

    However, Qiu Tu had no interest in such "sophisticated" entertainment, so after symbolicallyying down 1 Silver Yuan, he sat in a chair to the side, watching the excited crowd to pass the time.

    Perhaps, as Chief Huang had mentioned, Qiu Tu was indeed bing a well-known figure in the political and business circles of Xinjie City, with many wishing towork with him.

 Chapter 107 Mistress? (10k Subscriptions Wanted)

    If it were any other woman with a different temperament, faced with Qiu Tu''s actions, most would have immediately called for help or, at the very least, turned around and walked away.

    But... a woman with the "Inner Protector" temperament couldn''t muster the courage to do so¡ªespecially when the other party had a grip on her Achilles'' heel.

    So, feeling Qiu Tu''s hand caressing her legs, sensing his increasingly ambiguous moves, Bai Ru''splexion changed several times until... she took off her short Chanel-style jacket and ced it over her legs, shielding Qiu Tu''s hand...

    Qiu Tu nced at Bai Ru, somewhat surprised by thedy''s "cooperation."

    Then... he saw the slight flush that appeared on Bai Ru''s fair cheek, and the unnatural expression that spread across her face...

    For some reason, Qiu Tu felt even more thrilled...

    After covering her legs with the jacket as if to "cover her ears to steal a bell," Bai Ru swallowed several times, suppressed the unease in her heart, and slowly revealed her purpose, "Chief Qiu, the reason I''m here today is that there''s some intelligence I''d like to discuss with you."

    Hearing Bai Ru''s words, Qiu Tu ''oh''ed and, while tracing circles on her leg, asked, "What intelligence?"

    Feeling the unusual movement of Qiu Tu''s hand, Bai Ru''s face grew redder, but she feigned calmness and revealed, "Actually, I''ve seen Yin Caimei at many gatherings."

    Qiu Tu gave her a look, puzzled, and asked, "Isn''t that normal? Vice President Tian naturally has social interactions with you all. Is it strange to see his mistress?"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    At this, Bai Ru seemed to regain some confidence. She shook her head slightly and said, "It seems that no one has told Chief Qiu."

    "Vice President Tian has his own wife, and at all formal events, he appears with his wife, never with other femalepanions."

    Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu was startled for a moment.

    Then he remembered Bai Ru mentioning that she "often encountered Yin Caimei at gatherings," his eyes suddenly widened with a shocking suspicion!

    Sure enough, Bai Ru stated, "So, every time I see Yin Caimei... she''s always attending banquets with other men."

    "Moreover, she''s exceedingly intimate with those men. When they leave, they leave together..."

    Bai Ru spoke in a subtle way, but the phrase "leave together" was enough to let Qiu Tu imagine the rest of the details.

    So, after a silence of two seconds, Qiu Tu slowly articted four words, "Shared mistress?"

    Perhaps the news was too shocking; Qiu Tu even stopped the movements of his hand.

    This, in turn, allowed Bai Ru''splexion to return to a more normal state.

    With some of the flush fading from her face, she then watched the "new friends" cheering for jockeys and horses in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows and said softly, "I believe that by now, you''ve guessed who those people might be, right?"

    Hearing this, Qiu Tu also looked towards the sectional chiefs from the City Hall who had just been seeking information from him.

    Bai Ru nodded subtly, whispering, "They are just the lowest ranking among them..."

    Qiu Tu: ...

    To be honest, it wasn''t until this moment that Qiu Tu finally understood why investigating the "Yin Caimei case" was fraught with so much danger!

    Before today, there was one thing that Qiu Tu couldn''t figure out: that is... no matter how important Vice President Tian was, it didn''t make sense for so many powers to be monitoring his mistress''s case, did it?!

    Moreover, they were so desperate that they would assassinate the officers investigating the case!

    At the time, Qiu Tu had two suspicions:

    1. Vice President Tian was simply too important to Xinjie City. So important that all sides wouldn''t allow anything to happen to him.

    2. These powers were likely to have some connection to the Anti-government Armed Forces.

    While both of these suspicions had some incongruities, before that, Qiu Tu couldn''t think of any other possibilities, so he had no choice but to investigate in those directions.

    However... He had nned for every eventuality but had not anticipated that Yin Caimei was the core of the case!

    She was not only Vice President Tian''s mistress but also the mistress of many others!

    So... when Yin Caimei was discovered to be a spy and was captured by the Political Department, it led to so many people wanting her dead!

    So... Jia Shu opened the doors of convenience for various powers to silence her.

    So... there was a threat to Qiu Tu''s life when Yan Chen authorized a deeper investigation into "the case of Yin Caimei"...

    Even more so, from this, Qiu Tu thought of something further: no wonder because of such a "minor" case, Yan Chen and Jia Shu were in such discord.

    If he was right, the majority sharing Yin Caimei were probably administrative personnel from the City Hall, and the implications were far-reaching.

    As one of the Three Giants of Xinjie, of course, no one dared pressure Yan Chen, and Yan Chen was happy to see those administrative personnel from the City Hall brought down because of the case.

    But Jia Shu was different. Even though his position in Xinjie City wasn''t low, the pressure and interests from all sides still influenced his decisions.

    That reasonably exined why, even though they were on the same side, Jia Shu and Yan Chen were so divided over this matter.

    Not for anything else, but for profit alone.

    And now, having thoroughly understood the intricacies of the case, Qiu Tu''s brain was whirling.

    A question surfaced in his mind: given the broad implications of the case, should he continue the investigation?

    Hisplexion rapidly shifted as his brain weighed the pros and cons.

    In the end... Qiu Tu''s gaze became resolute again!

    Having been given a second chance at life, he had no room for hesitation and second-guessing!

    Now that they were ready tounch, how could he possibly give up just because the enemies were too powerful!

    ```

    The broader the case involved, the greater the personal gain after resolving it!

    No risk, no reward, the higher the waves, the more precious the fish! Take the shot, a bicycle might turn into a motorcycle!

    Havinge to a decision, Qiu Tu felt his mindset be more natural.

    He smiled at Bai Ru and said, "Thank you, Section Chief Bai, for telling me such a secret matter."

    "You dared to take such a big risk to warn me, you must want something, right?"

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Bai Ru''s eyes, brimming with tears, turned to him as she pleaded, "I hope Chief Qiu can let my husband go... He''s been wronged."

    Qiu Tu was even more intrigued, "Are you talking about Qian Dafu?"

    Bai Ru nodded.

    Qiu Tu pretended to be puzzled, "What happened to him? Is he involved in this case?"

    Bai Ru probably didn''t expect Qiu Tu to ask such a question.

    For a moment, she couldn''t tell whether Qiu Tu really hadn''t found anything about her husband or if he was... hinting at something to her.

    Just then, a burst of cheers and some groans suddenly came from the direction of the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the scene.

    The cheers intermingled with people''s frustrated voices.

    Qiu Tu and Bai Ru looked in the direction the sounds wereing from and saw Chief Huang and others, someughing, some upset, engaged in a heated argument.

    It looked like a horse race had just finished.

    Noticing this, Qiu Tu curiously watched Captain Zhang.

    Indeed... Chief Huang hadn''t given a wrong introduction; this young man following General Ye had lost another bet, his eyes red as he roared something at the racetrack below, then... he started asking people around him for money.

    Qiu Tu watched thoughtfully for a moment and then looked away.

    At this time, Chief Huang and others returned as well.

    Seeing Bai Ru sitting intimately by Qiu Tu''s side, they exchanged nces, and when they looked at the two again, there was an unspoken ambiguity in their eyes.

    After all, Bai Ru was married, so upon seeing this, she quickly tried to get up.

    But at this moment, Qiu Tu reached out to catch her and drew her slender waist directly into his arms. Amidst her exmations, he pulled her into his embrace.

    With the beauty in his arms, Qiu Tu smiled at Chief Huang and others, saying, "Section Chief Bai and I hit it off right away, and she wants to join us."

    "I wonder if that''s convenient?"

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Chief Huang and the others exchanged looks, then replied with an ambiguous smile, "We have no problem with it."

    "It''s just that the uing activities might be a bit much for Section Chief Bai to handle."

    As they said this, they winked at Qiu Tu and Bai Ru.

    Qiu Tu then turned to Bai Ru and whispered intimately into her ear, "What do you think, Section Chief Bai? Do you want toe with us and broaden your horizons?"

    Bai Ru obviously guessed what "broadening horizons" the men were referring to and was not inclined to participate.

    But, remembering her husband''s fate was still in Qiu Tu''s hands and that she hadn''t fully grasped the meaning behind Qiu Tu''s previous words,

    she hesitated for a long time, her expression changing. Finally, she sighed and nodded slightly, agreeing to go along.

    Seeing her agreement, the men burst out into loudughter, especially Section Chief Kong, Deputy Section Chief Zhuang, and other City Hall officials involved with Yin Caimei,ughed the hardest.

    Becaue... in their eyes, Qiu Tu''s actions were a strong signal to them: they were all on the same side. There was no need to worry about Yin Caimei''s case.

    Qiu Tu also smiled especially heartily.

    Laugh,ugh all you want, your time to cry wille...

    After the race, fulfilling Qiu Tu''s request to "broaden horizons," Chief Huang took Qiu Tu and a dozen heads and deputy heads to the nightclub at Emerald Fort.

    Upon arriving at the opulent nightclub, Qiu Tu felt his left pants pocket vibrate a few times.

    With one arm around Bai Ru, he took out themunicator with his other hand.

    There was only one text on themunicator, from Chen Feng:

    "Boss, shall we gather tonight?"

    It was the code Qiu Tu and he had agreed on. It meant, "Commander, everything is in ce, should we execute the n?"

    Qiu Tu knew all the groups must have already taken positions near Qian Dafu and the other targets, ready to move.

    So, he typed a message: I''m tied up, you guys go ahead.

    "Take action."

    After sending the message, Qiu Tuughed and nted a kiss on Bai Ru''s face, then, amid her exmations, stealthily pressed the send button...

    -------

    Today''s 3 chapters total 10,000 words. I''ll post 2 chapters now and am still writing one more, which you can see tomorrow at noon. Ten thousand words for Monthly Tickets!

    ```

 Chapter 108 Caught 4 Section Chiefs in One Go! (10,000 Characters, Please Subscribe)

    After sending the message, Qiu Tu stuffed themunicator into his pocket, embraced Bai Ru, and called out to Chief Huang and the others, "Shall we start now?!"

    "Whew Whew¡ª"

    Apanied by unrestrainedughter and whistling, a line of scantily d beauties walked in one by one from the door of the private room, all smiling coyly...

    Soon, the entire VIP room was filled with the chirping and chattering of joyful voices...

    ...

    Meanwhile.

    Outside the small vi where Qian Dafu lived.

    Chen Feng and Eagle had also received the message sent by Qiu Tu.

    After seeing that it was a code for executing orders, Chen Feng looked at his watch, which showed 1:07 PM.

    All themanders of the action groups had synchronized their watches when they split up, so there was no discrepancy in time.

    Therefore, Chen Feng and Eagle sent out the action message to the other four action groups together: The chief has authorized the operation, and the arrest will officially begin at 1:10 PM!

    It didn''t take long for the two men to receive confirmation replies from all the action groups.

    With thest confirmation message received, themunicator went silent.

    Chen Feng and Eagle gave several hand signals, alerting the detectives in surveince to get ready, and then they began to patiently wait.

    Time ticked away by the minute and second.

    Soon, it was 1:10 PM.

    Chen Feng and Eagle exchanged nces, then nodded.

    Eagle stayed behind tomand, while Chen Feng led two armed Special Service detectives, holding an arrest warrant issued by Qiu Tu, and strode confidently up to the door of Qian Dafu''s vi.

    "Thump Thump Thump!"

    Following Chen Feng''s knocking, a middle-aged woman''s voice soon came from inside, "Who is it?"

    Chen Feng sternly said, "Political Department."

    Upon hearing Chen Feng''s voice, a flurry of panic ensued inside the house.

    Instead of opening the door, someone hurried to the windows on the east and west sides of the vi to peer out.

    When they saw several detectives on alert in each direction, moremotion arose from inside the house.

    Seeing this, Chen Feng didn''t give the people inside much time to react. He drew his service pistol and fired a warning shot into the sky, following Qiu Tu''s instructions from that morning!

    "Bang!"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    As the gunshot resounded over the entire viplex, the noise inside the house quieted down.

    At this time, Chen Feng shouted into the house, "Political Department on duty! Anyone dying will face consequences!"

    "I''m going to count to three! If the door isn''t opened by then, we will take it as an act of resistance to arrest, and we''re authorized to shoot to kill!"

    "Three!"

    "Two!"

    Chen Feng hadn''t even shouted "One" when someone violently flung open the vi door from the inside.

    A maid in her thirties looked out at Chen Feng with a face full of terror, her hands raised high, "Don''t shoot! Don''t shoot! I''m innocent!"

    She then quickly signaled toward the inside, "The...the master is inside."

    Hearing this, Chen Feng motioned to the Special Service detective beside him, who stepped forward, dragged the maid out, pushed her aside, and then stood ready next to Chen Feng again.

    Chen Feng held out the arrest warrant directly, and with a gun in hand, once again shouted into the house, "Qian Dafu! I am Chen Feng, a Second-ss Investigator from the Political Department''s operation section!"

    "I''m here to execute an arrest order on you!"

    "I''m giving you three more seconds! If you don''te out, don''t me us if our bullets are blind!"

    "Three!"

    This time Chen Feng didn''t even have to shout "Two" before a potbellied middle-aged man walked out from inside the house, pale as a ghost.

    Chen Feng looked at him coldly and waved to the Special Service detectives, "Take him away!"

    The two Special Service detectives stepped forward, cuffed Qian Dafu, and started to lead him outside.

    The entire arrest process took less than a minute.

    Qian Dafu''s two highly paid bodyguards had stood behind him from start to finish, not daring to make a single move...

    Simultaneously.

    The vis of the other three major transporters, the Qin Family, all action groups were moving at the same time.

    As Qiu Tu and Qin Shuman had expected, in the face of real bullets and armed detectives, in front of the mighty state machine, those businessmen had no power to resist at all.

    Even the well-rooted Qin Family, faced with over a dozen fully-armed Special Service and Political Department investigators; faced with the arrest warrant signed by Qiu Tu; faced with the photocopy of Yan Chen''s "Special Arrest Warrant," dared not resist.

    They could only watch helplessly as Qin Zhengguang and Qin Shu were taken away by Fang Ming, Cao Dabiao, and others.

    The operation was swift and fast, leaving these people with hardly any time to react before it was over.

    But... the end of the operation didn''t mean that everything was over.

    The sudden mass arrests by Qiu Tu were like a huge stone thrown into the already churningly turbulent waters, which then "boom!" created a huge ssh!

    The repercussions of the incident rapidly spread across the upper echelons of Xinjie City society!

    No one expected Qiu Tu to take action so quickly, so urgently!

    He had just received the Authorization Letter and the Special Arrest Warrant yesterday, yet today at noon he went straight to making arrests!

    He didn''t even give the various forces time to react!

    Especially since... at this moment, Qiu Tu was still singing with Chief Huang, Section Chief Kong, and others!

    ...

    Truth be told, when Chief Huang and the others dragged Qiu Tu to the night club at the Emerald Fort, although he appeared to be looking forward to it, he wasn''t particrly interested at heart.

    Having lived a profligate past life, he truly felt there was nothing new for him to see!

    However, after experiencing the services at the Emerald Fort with Chief Huang, Section Chief Kong, and the others, Qiu Tu couldn''t help but remark in his heart: This is indeed something I have never seen before!

    As his spacious private room echoed with the sound of onemunicator after another, Qiu Tu was draping one arm around Mrs. Bai Ru, the wife of Qian Dafu, and running his other hand up the thigh of a cheongsam-d beauty, while.... in front of him, he was enjoying a "facial wash" service from a big-busted girl.

    The cleansing cream rolled over Qiu Tu''s face, soft andfortable, making him feel utterly rxed and pleased!

    Bai Ru, blushing and looking away, couldn''t bear to watch the scene unfolding before her, but Qiu Tu''s persistent grip prevented her from escaping.

    So, she could only curl up like a quail, casting her eyes toward the group of dancing girls in the center of the room.

    Then, a series of ringing sounds began to rise and fall throughout the private room.

    Several City Hall section chiefs gradually stopped their "face wash" and stepped out to take calls.

    Bai Ru, somewhat puzzled by the scene unfolding before her, didn''t understand what was happening.

    It was at that moment, the Chief Huang sitting beside Qiu Tu spoke up.

    Chief Huang, too, was indulging in the pleasures around him. As he closed his eyes in enjoyment, he said to Qiu Tu, "Chief Qiu."

    "You know, I, Old Huang, have a wide circle of friends. Sometimes I can''t help but entertain friends when theye asking."

    "So.... if you catch them, you can''t arrest me, right?"

    The words of Chief Huang made Bai Ru startle, almost failing to catch on.

    ''What does he mean by not arresting Chief Huang if they arrest others?''

    ''Who is Qiu Tu going to arrest?''

    ''Wasn''t the issue with Yin Caimei resolved?''

    As she pondered, suddenly, her ownmunicator began to buzz.

    Bai Ru took out themunicator and saw that it was a call from her homendline.

    In that instant, perhaps realizing the caller was her husband, Bai Ru''s face flushed even deeper red.

    She awkwardly nced at Qiu Tu''s hand that was wandering along her waistline, feeling unspeakably ashamed.

    She wished that Qiu Tu would momentarily leave her alone to take the call.

    But before she could speak up, as if anticipating something, Qiu Tu took the lead in releasing her. His arms then embraced the girl in front of him, plunging his head forward!

    "Hmm,fortable!"

    Qiu Tu let out a satisfied cry, leaving Bai Ru with a crimson face.

    Bai Ru quickly seized the opportunity to sit aside and answer the phone.

    The moment the call connected, the anxious voice of a maid at home came through, "Madam, pleasee back quickly and see for yourself."

    "The Political Department, people from the Political Department have taken the master away!"

    Upon hearing the maid''s words, Bai Ru''s mind went nk with a "buzz"!

    On instinct, she turned her head in shock and looked at Qiu Tu!

    Before she could utter a word, the door to the private room was abruptly pushed open from the outside, with Section Chief Kong, Deputy Section Chief Yuan, and others all standing at the doorway, their faces filled with disbelief as they looked at Qiu Tu!

    Section Chief Kong, perhaps the bravest among them, pointed at Qiu Tu, his finger trembling, "Qiu, Qiu Tu! You, you, you have been ying a double game?!"

    Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu, who was reluctantly raising his head from the cleansing cream, pushed away the fair-skinned busty girl atop him. Then, with a smile that was not quite a smile, he looked at the three section chiefs standing at the door and said, "Gentlemen, I don''t believe I ever said or promised anything, did I? How can this be considered speaking one way to your face and another behind your back?"

    "On the contrary, I should probably thank you."

    "If you hadn''t jumped out on your own, who knows how much time I might have had to waste before I could uncover the true depths of this case!"

    Having said that, Qiu Tu took a deep breath and stood up. He then pulled out a nk arrest warrant from his pocket, drew out a pen, and briskly signed several names on it, showing it to everyone, "Section Chief Kong, Deputy Section Chief Zhuang, Deputy Section Chief Yuan, shall we take a trip to the Political Department?!"

    Possibly never expecting Qiu Tu to turn his face so quickly, the three men erupted in panic, shaking like leaves, barely able to stand.

    It was at this moment, Bai Ru, who had appeared so delicate and weak from the very beginning of their meeting, suddenly mustered her courage, stood up defiantly, and, with an indignant face, said to Qiu Tu, "Qiu Tu! You! How could you!"

    As if he had just noticed Bai Ru, he let out a surprised "Oh" and added her name to the arrest warrant,

    "Right, I almost forgot about you, Section Chief Bai...."

    "Thank you for your cooperation with ''the operation'' today."

    "I hope you can be just as ''cooperative'' when we reach the Political Department."

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    I toiled away until 4 in the morning, and finally, the third chapter is out. 10k words done! In light of my efforts to stay upte, I''m asking for your Monthly Tickets!

    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and

    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 111 No Ones Home Tonight (10,000 Words - Please Subscribe)

    It has to be said that Qiu Tu really gave Jia Shu many surprises today.

    In the past, although Qiu Tu was not exactly obsequious in Jia Shu''s presence, each time his spirit was tense. As an experienced interrogator like Jia Shu, he could see Qiu Tu''s nervousness at a nce.

    But today.... Qiu Tu seemed to suddenly reveal his edge.

    From the start of the phone call, he showed a demeanor ready to contend with me.

    Natural,posed. Unyielding, upromising. Later, he even directly threw a heavy bomb my way.

    Honestly, even Jia Shu, who had seen a lot of the world, had a hard time imagining what kind of mindset Qiu Tu had to dare reveal he had leaked case information to the Security Department.

    Wasn''t he afraid I would charge him with dereliction of duty and take him down?

    Wasn''t he afraid I would be furiously enraged and execute him secretly?

    It was precisely because of this curiosity and surprise that Jia Shu repeatedly became silent, contemting Qiu Tu''s changes.

    Guessing what kind of trump card did Qiu Tu have to be so confident.

    However, before Jia Shu could figure it out, Qiu Tu dropped another heavy bomb...

    "Are you doing all this to save me?" Jia Shu repeated Qiu Tu''s words with augh, interest in his eyes almost spilling over.

    He got up, walked to the VIP box windows of the racecourse''s fifth-floor viewing tform, and looking at the torrential rain outside, he asked with a light chuckle, "Chief Qiu, where does this ideae from?"

    At this moment, Qiu Tu was also standing beside the window in the empty conference room of the Political Department, gazing distantly at Xinjie City, shrouded in rain and mist.

    The two of them were clearly in different locations, yet it was as though they were facing each other across the boundless space, across the heavy rain, gazing at each other from afar...

    Qiu Tu said softly, "Minister. In fact, today in addition to arresting the Four Major Transportation Merchants and Director Qin and Third Master Qin, I arrested a few other people as well."

    This incident happened in a private box, and coupled with Chief Huang''s gag order, it had not been leaked yet.

    Therefore, Jia Shu was also somewhat surprised and he asked, "Who else?"

    Qiu Tu said, "Education Bureau''s Section Chief Kong, Environment and Sanitation Bureau''s Deputy Section Chief Zhuang, Commerce and Economic Development Bureau''s Deputy Section Chief Yuan, and also Civil Affairs Bureau''s Section Chief Bai...."

    Listening to this list, Jia Shu on the phone slightly furrowed his brows.

    But before he could speak, Qiu Tu then said, "Are you very curious, Minister? What kind of coincidence let me just so happen to encounter them?"

    "And what kind of coincidence allowed me to... silently bag them all in one swoop?"

    Jia Shu chuckled twice and teased, "Chief Qiu has already learned to answer his own questions, it seems."

    Qiu Tu didn''t mind Jia Shu''s sarcasm. He continued calmly, "I was introduced to them by Chief Huang of the Logistics Department, who acted as the facilitator."

    While looking at the heavy rain outside the window and listening to the sound of the rain, he analyzed, "Today, when I first met Chief Huang, he said he wanted to introduce a few friends to me, to help make some connections for us."

    "At the time, I actually doubted Chief Huang''s purpose, his identity. I wondered if he yed some important role in this case."

    "But when I easily coaxed insider information about the case from the mouths of those section chiefs, and just as easily caught them...."

    "A different thought arose in my mind instead."

    Stay connected with empire

    Jia Shu on the phone evidently guessed Qiu Tu''s thoughts too, as the smile slowly faded from his face, his eyes as deep as the rainstorm before him....

    Qiu Tu said indifferently, "Could it be that from the start, Chief Huang was actually helping me?"

    "He was instructed by someone or some power, to trick those section chiefs beforehand, allowing them to expose themselves before me."

    "Then... not only did he enable a breakthrough in my case, but he also outlined the full extent of the case...."

    "The Environment and Sanitation Bureau of City Hall, the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau, the Education Bureau, and the Civil Affairs Bureau...."

    At that, Qiu Tu smiled.

    He asked in return, "Minister, I believe by now, you must have guessed who is behind Chief Huang, right?"

    Jia Shu chuckled and feigned ignorance, "Who might that be?"

    Qiu Tu said somewhat dramatically, "It''s the Bureau Chief, Minister!"

    "We all thought the Bureau Chief was too high and mighty to bother with such a small case. But, actually... he had calcted every move!"

    "He is determined to get this case done! Nobody can stop him, no matter who they are!"

    "Today''s arrangement is both a helping hand and a warning."

    "He''s telling me, and he''s telling you. He has a thousand, ten thousand ways to advance the case!"

    "Letting us know we cannot y any tricks!"

    As he said this, Qiu Tu''s emotions gradually subsided, and he became calm again as he said, "Although I''m not clear on the reason that has kept you on the opposite side of the Bureau Chief in the ''Yin Caimei Case''...."

    "I think if things keep going like this, the Bureau Chief will soon abandon you, abandon me."

    "Therefore, after much consideration, I found the only way to perfectly resolve the conflict between you and the Bureau Chief was to cooperate with the Security Department, letting them face the brunt."

    "Minister, I really am trying to save you...."

    "So, believe me, Minister! I will definitely handle this case well! I''ll satisfy everyone!"

    Upon hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Jia Shu on the phone remained silent for a long time as if pondering the information in Qiu Tu''s words.

    After a while, a mysterious smile spread across his face, and crimson light began to flicker in his pupils.

    Heughed soundlessly, the distorted reflection of his face shimmering off the rain-obscured window, looking particrly unsettling¡­

    ...

    [Jia Shu''s suspicion +0, satisfaction +28]

    After hanging up the phone, he looked at the prompt that floated up in front of him.

    There were also Jia Shu''s words lingering in his ear, "Chief Qiu, it seems I have misunderstood you, so go ahead and boldly do as you please!"

    "I''ll cover for you against the external pressures."

    "You cane to me with anything..."

    To be honest, Qiu Tu didn''t feel much reassured. On the contrary ... his sense of urgency had intensified.

    Last night, when discussing today''s n with Qin Shuman, Qiu Tu actually knew there was a key factor that could make or break the n: how deeply Jia Shu was involved in the whole case.

    As the top officer of the Political Department and one of the nine senior members of the Investigation Bureau, Jia Shu had absolute disposal rights over the entire case.

    Even if Qiu Tu held the "Imperial Sword" given by Yan Chen, if Jia Shu wanted to take over the case by force and release people, Qiu Tu couldn''t stop him.

    Therefore, after arresting everyone, Qiu Tu didn''t go straight to work on the case but instead waited patiently for Jia Shu''s call.

    He needed to confirm from Jia Shu''s call the extent of pressure he was under and... whether he would flip the table or not.

    From the initial tit-for-tat, unyielding stance to the subsequent dropping of bombshells one after another, it was actually a process of "pressuring" and "stress testing" Jia Shu!

    Now, it seemed the effect was quite good. At least the worst possibility hadn''t happened.

    But for some unknown reason, Qiu Tu felt an inexplicable sense of crisis.

    He always felt he had to solve the case as soon as possible. Otherwise... there might really be danger!

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu didn''t dare to dy. He nced once more at the torrential rain merging earth and sky outside the window and then stepped towards the outside, ready to interrogate the prisoners.

    In times of emergency, extraordinary measures are necessary.

    He was ready to use his [Cataclysmic Ability] to interrogate all the suspects in one go!

    With that thought, Qiu Tu left the empty conference room and headed to the adjacent temporary office of the investigative team, ready to bring people in for questioning.

    But just as he pushed open the door to the temporary office, Qiu Tu found that none of the investigation team members were there.

    In the office... there was only the beautiful, young woman Liu Fuping. At that moment, she was leaning over her desk, rummaging through documents...

    Startled by the sound of the door, Liu Fuping quickly straightened up.

    But when she turned and saw Qiu Tu entering, a smile actually appeared on her face, and then... she bent down to continue her search through the documents.

    Today, she might have received a message on short notice and rushed to the Investigation Bureau, so she wasn''t in uniform but dressed in a somewhat professional casual attire:

    A in white female shirt and a ck tight-fitting mini skirt, outlining the perfect curves of her slender waist and full buttocks.

    Moreover, as she backed Qiu Tu while rummaging through documents, with hands braced on the table, legs slightly bent, and her buttocks lifted, there was a rather inviting pose...

    At that moment, Qiu Tu admitted that his "fist" had gotten hard.

    "Remember to close the door~~" Liu Fuping seemed to sense Qiu Tu''s reaction; she slightly turned, and seductively winked at Qiu Tu.@@novelbin@@

    ''This woman is seducing me...''

    After rifying this point in his mind, Qiu Tu closed the door behind him, and then walked over without hesitation, reaching out to give Liu Fuping''s full bottom a smack!

    A crisp "smack!" reverberated, wave after wave.

    But Liu Fuping acted as if she noticed nothing, didn''t even cover with her hands, and just blushed while straightening up, grabbing Qiu Tu''s cor, and said in a soft and sticky voice, "Chief, my house is empty tonight... do you want toe over and ''do it''?"

    Qiu Tu:.....

    Qiu Tu realized. It''s really not easy for a man to strive for a career.

    On the road of his career sprint, there were always various temptations waiting for him.

    But fortunately, having just undergone a round of cleansing with facial wash at Emerald Fort, Qiu Tu could barely resist Liu Fuping''s lure, and even spared the effort to analyze...

    So he gently embraced the beautiful young woman before him, holding soft jade in his arms, iparablyfortable.

    Then he leaned into Liu Fuping''s ear and whispered softly, "Sister Liu... the first rule of being a spy is to keep a cool head."

    "You are too anxious today. You''ve exposed the forces behind you..."

    ----

    Third chapter is up, still going for a ten thousand words update tonight, ask for Monthly Tickets!

    To be honest, I really overestimated the capabilities of my clumsy hands; I have to write nearly ten thousand words a day from morning till evening. I''ve only been sleeping 4-5 hours for thest three days.

    But... I will try my best to keep it up!

    Finally, ask for Monthly Tickets! Ask for subscriptions!

    I''ll probably update around 2 AM tonight, so everyone can read it in the morning, haha.

 Chapter 112 Discovering Liu Fupings True Identity (10,000 Words for Monthly Tickets!)

    If it were the Liu Fuping of the past, upon hearing Qiu Tu''s probing, she would have likely been a bit panicked inside.

    Even though she underwent professional training, her rtively average skills always resulted in quite a few slip-ups.

    But this period of time, following Qiu Tu''s learning and experiences, and even having had an epiphanyst night thanks to Qiu Tu, Liu Fuping had clearly grown and changed.

    Therefore, faced with Qiu Tu''s probing, she wasn''t flustered in the least; she even hooked her arm around Qiu Tu''s neck and giggled, "Heeheehee."

    With a slight lift of her eyes, her gaze full of provocation, she teased, "Since it''s like this, why doesn''t the superior try to guess which power is behind me?"

    Looking at Liu Fuping''s seductive manner, Qiu Tu felt an itch in his heart; ever since this beautiful woman had her awakening, she had be increasingly bold and flirtatious with him, often making it hard for him to restrain himself.

    However, it was precisely this thrill that made him increasingly interested in their cat-and-mouse game.

    So, he reached out, caressed Liu Fuping''s cheek as soft as a young girl''s, and asked with a smile, "If I guess correctly, what do I get?"

    "A reward, huh...?" A soft light twinkled in Liu Fuping''s peach blossom eyes as she leaned in toward Qiu Tu''s ear and whispered softly, "How about I... spend the night with you?"

    Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu scoffed disdainfully, "You sure that''s a benefit for me? It seems more like you''re rewarding yourself."

    "Hehehe..." Liu Fuping couldn''t help butugh at Qiu Tu''s words.

    With a mischievous smile on her face and looking cunningly at Qiu Tu, she boldly suggested, "How about this... Director Tang and I... both spend the night with you... What do you think?"

    Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu hissed as images of Liu Fuping''s creamy skin and Tang Feifei''s wheat-colored skin mingling on a bed began to dance in his head.

    Thus, he couldn''t help but raise his price and said, "Four nights."

    "Deal." Liu Fuping agreed with a smile.

    Qiu Tu, "...Six nights."

    "Heeheehee..." Liu Fuping was so amused by Qiu Tu''s unserious demeanor that she couldn''t straighten her back fromughter, her chest shaking continuously.

    After theughter had passed, Liu Fuping raised her eyes with a feigned pout and said, "Are you going to guess or not? If you don''t guess, you won''t get a single night."

    Qiu Tu, upon hearing this, also reverted back to his serious self. Stretchingzily, he casually said with a light smile, "I''ll guess... you''re from... the Investigation Bureau."

    Qiu Tu''s statement sounded like a truism.

    If someone else were beside them, they would probably think Qiu Tu was mental: as an agent of the Political Department, of course Liu Fuping would be backed by the Investigation Bureau.

    But... Liu Fuping immediately understood what Qiu Tu meant, so herplexion couldn''t help but change.

    Seeing her reaction, Qiu Tu teasingly smiled and gently patted Liu Fuping''s shoulder, "Looks like I guessed correctly."

    "Let me guess which city''s Investigation Bureau you belong to around Xinjie City?"

    Liu Fuping, upon hearing this, stared intently at Qiu Tu, as if she wanted to personally witness him guess wrong.

    But Qiu Tu clearly disappointed her, "Eastern City Investigation Bureau."

    Qiu Tu, with a smile in his eyes, continued, "Am I right? Agent Liu from the Political Department of the Eastern City Investigation Bureau?"

    Even as she tried her best to conceal it, Liu Fuping''s pupils contracted slightly, and her body stiffened for a moment when Qiu Tu revealed her identity.

    After a moment, she smiled radiantly, denying, "The superior is joking. I''m just an ordinary agent from our Xinjie City. I''m certainly not some spy from another city''s Investigation Bureau."

    Qiu Tu smiled and lifted Liu Fuping''s chin, asking, "So, are you trying to back out of the deal?"

    Liu Fuping giggled twice and replied, "Not really."

    Speaking, she stepped back, disengaging from Qiu Tu''s flirtatious advances, and asked, "I''m just a bit curious why the superior thinks I''m from the Eastern City Investigation Bureau? Do you have any evidence, or... is it just a random guess?"

    Seeing Liu Fuping step back, Qiu Tu didn''t follow. While walking to the table and tidying up the documents, he said with augh, "People like us who work on the secret front must always be keen to notice details and analyze information."

    "First of all, City Hall is very concerned with the ''Yin Caimei case,'' but you didn''t seem to take it seriously. Plus, City Hall clearly has no idea about the progress of my case; otherwise, they wouldn''t have been unprepared today."

    "Therefore, you''re not likely to be City Hall''s spy."

    Liu Fuping nodded thoughtfully upon hearing this.

    Qiu Tu continued, "Next, you''re not a member of the Anti-government Armed Forces."

    "The reason is simr to that of City Hall: Yin Caimei is a key figure in the Anti-government Armed Forces. Whether it''s to save her, kill her, or to use the opportunity to create discord among the three main authorities of Xinjie City, you have too many reasons to be invested in this case."

    "But you, yet again, were not..."

    "Moreover, the first time you revealed your identity as a spy in front of me, even though you seemed a bit panicked, there was no fear or confusion."@@novelbin@@

    "This indicates that you know even if your identity is exposed, you can get the necessary protection, with no threat to your life."

    "Such confidence in one''s own identity isn''t something that a spy from the Anti-government Armed Forces could possess." Explore hidden tales at empire

    Liu Fuping looked a bit surprised, clearly not expecting Qiu Tu to still remember that night when her identity was tricked out of her long ago.

    Meanwhile, Qiu Tu had finished tidying up the documents on the table. As he packed the materials into a file bag, he continued his analysis, "Furthermore, you''re not a spy from The military."

    "The reason is quite simple; your role as a spy is clearly aimed at Director Tang."

    As he said this, Qiu Tu nced at her and then said with a smile, "But I happen to know who The military''s spy is around Director Tang."

 Chapter 115 Qin Family Makes a Move! (10,000 Words for Monthly Ticket)

    As a seasoned investigator who had been working in the Interrogation Section for over a year, Liu Fuping was no stranger to such shouting and cursing.

    Many critical suspects, when stripped of important information and clues, would often bark powerlessly like this.

    Therefore, this kind of cursing and shouting was actually what interrogators most wanted to hear: a sound akin to the trumpet of victory.

    But now... hearing it from Qian Dafu''s mouth left Liu Fuping somewhat puzzled: Didn''t they say progress wasn''t going smoothly? How did the suspect crack so easily?@@novelbin@@

    Thinking this, she cast a slightly perplexed look at Eagle. What she saw was not a hint of surprise on Eagle''s face but an expression as if everything was within his expectations.

    Liu Fuping was momentarily taken aback. She realized what was happening in the next second.

    ''Just like the superior, so are the subordinates!''

    Liu Fuping cursed inwardly.

    Initially, she thought Eagle was a silent and honest person, which was why she approached him to glean some intelligence. Who knew he was also someone who had picked up some of Qiu Tu''s shamelessness...

    Of course... she didn''t realize her words actually implicated herself as well... Enjoy new stories from empire

    ...

    Meanwhile.

    The interrogation in the room was still ongoing.

    Under Qiu Tu''s arrangement, the switch of suspects was almost seamless: Ding Xiaoliu and Zhu Huoyan had just escorted Qian Dafu out, and Li Xian and Jiao Ming brought the next transporter, Qi Yun, in.

    Qi Yun, perhaps having witnessed Qian Dafu''s cursing and wailing upon entering the interrogation room, was much more cooperative than Qian Dafu from the outset.

    He sat in the interrogation chair, watched Qian Dafu leave, then squeezed out a smile toward Qiu Tu, "Chief Qiu, hello, I''m Qi Yun."

    Qiu Tu nced at him, and when the door of the interrogation room closed, he casually asked, "You actually know me?"

    Qi Yun''s agreeable attitude was clearly born from a desire to tter Qiu Tu to suffer less. However, the words that came to his mouth involuntarily revealed his true thoughts.

    "Of course. Ever since we heard that you took over the ''Yin Caimei case,'' we''ve been researching your information every day."

    "How could we sleep peacefully without knowing our enemies as well as ourselves?"

    No sooner had the words left his mouth than Cao Dabiao, Ah-Kun, and Eagle in the interrogation room could hardly contain theirughter.

    Even knowing Qiu Tu''s ability to make people speak the truth, hearing such a candid response still carried an inexplicable sense of amusement.

    At that moment, however, Qi Yun found nothing funny about the situation. He looked horrified, trying to cover his mouth to stop himself from blurting out anything further.

    But just as he raised his hand, he realized that Qiu Tu had made thorough preparations ¡ª the hands of the prisoners would be locked to the table once they entered the interrogation room.

    In that moment, Qi Yun finally understood Qian Dafu''s terror!

    He looked at Qiu Tu with a face full of fear, wanting to question what Qiu Tu had done to him and why he was uncontrobly spilling words he didn''t want to say!

    But at that moment, Qiu Tu didn''t give him the chance and began a relentless barrage of questions.

    So, under the control of his Cataclysmic ability, Qi Yun had no choice but topletely spill everything he knew.

    What he revealed was simr to Qian Dafu''s information. The transportation industry, by nature, operated in a gray area, especially amidst chaos.

    They not only maintained their own private militia, engaged in legitimate transportation but also asionally indulged in ck-market dealings.

    Under such circumstances, it was inevitable that they would have contacts with the Anti-government Armed Forces like the United Front.

    The two sides depended on each other and cooperated. So when the United Front offered to buy supplies at prices 50% higher than the market rate, doubling their profits, they naturally chose to take the risk.

    He also disclosed the rtionship between the Four Major Transportation Merchants and the Qin Family.

    ording to him, the Qin Family was the contact point for the Four Major Transportation Merchants with the United Front, and it was they who also controlled the Four Major Transportation Merchants.

    After all, given the longstanding and deep-rooted presence of the Qin Family in Xinjie City, controlling an entire industry was rather straightforward.

    After the interrogation of Qi Yun, Qiu Tu had a very urate grasp of the identities of the Four Major Transportation Merchants: he and Qin Shuman hadn''t guessed wrong; the Four Major Transportation Merchants were indeed the Qin Family''s true operatives.

    It seemed as if Old Master Qin had handed over various gray and ck industries to Master Qin Si merely as a distraction. The Qin Family''s true illicit businesses and private militia had long been split into four, decentralized, and joined the Four Major Transportation Merchants under the guise of transportation personnel.

    This discovery immediately put Qiu Tu on high alert: The Qin Family undoubtedly had significant hidden forces in the background.

    In this case, although the Qin Family might not breakpletely in the short term,

    But if this drags on for even a little longer, and the Qin Family senses something is wrong, they could remotelymand this private militia to cause trouble in Xinjie City or even act against Qiu Tu.

    At that time, a storm of blood and violence could sweep through Xinjie City!

    By then, even if the Investigation Bureau and the military managed to forcefully suppress the situation, as the instigator of the entire affair, Qiu Tu would not be spared punishment!

    He might very well be the final sacrifice of the incident, offered up to appease the anger of both sides.

 Chapter 118 36 Plans to Deal with Women, Part 2 (10,000 Words for Monthly Ticket)_2

    So, there is no theoretical difference in this technology between cloning a man and cloning a woman.

    Qiu Tu spected that the reason why the Qin Family told the outside world that their technology was "Cloned Female Body" was probably just to make the technology sound more scious and more likely to attract the attention of those lecherous big shots.

    However... don''t these cloned bodies have very short lifespans? If Old Master Qin and Deputy Director Bai were to enter cloned bodies, wouldn''t they die again very soon?

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu also voiced his doubts.

    It was only from Bai Ru''s words that Qiu Tu understood the strength of the Qin Family''s "Cloning Technology".

    ording to Bai Ru, the Qin Family''s technology was actually very powerful and was one of the world''s cutting-edge technologies before the Cataclysm.

    The reason for this was that the technology, apart from cloning and gene editing, also allowed for "Forced Maturation" of the cloned bodies.

    "Forced maturation" could rapidly grow a clone into an adult individual in just a year or two.

    Of course, the cost and drawbacks of such "forced maturation" were also significant. Aside from consuming a vast amount of resources, the lifespans of the forced matured individuals would often be significantly shortened, and their cognition of the world and thinking would also have certain gapspared to ordinary people.

    But if "forced maturation" technology was not used, then the cloned individuals could grow like normal people, not only consuming less resources, but also having lifespans no different from ordinary people.

    In this way, a normally grown individual could be the perfect "container".

    After listening to Bai Ru''s narrative, Qiu Tu involuntarily thought of the profligate son that was said to be born from the Qin Family''s Fifth House''s legitimate wife.

    Qiu Tu remembered that the Qin Family''s Fifth House was not very old, only in his teens. Compared to the four brothers of the Qin family, he was practically from a different generation.

    But then... going by the timeline, wasn''t that exactly when Old Master Qin had started his fortune and began preparing for the future?

    Could it be... he was Old Master Qin?

    With that thought... Qiu Tu''s brain whirred.

    After a moment, he felt something was off.

    If Qin Family''s Fifth House was Old Master Qin, then the distribution of power within the Qin family couldn''t possibly be what it was now!

    If Old Master Qin had already revealed the secret of his "immortality" to Bai Ru''s father, then it proved that it was not a secret that could be shared with just anyone.

    Therefore, even if he had entered the body of a clone that was only a teenager, he could still remotely control the Qin Family, rather than bing a profligate son who only knew how to y around wildly and was ignorant.

    This did not conform to the logic of power dynamics.

    So... in fact, as long as one knows who is currently in charge of the Qin Family, that person should be the real Old Master Qin.

    Following this line of thought, Qiu Tu suddenly felt stunned.

    So, was it... Commissioner Qin?!

    Thinking of this simple yet the most unlikely and the hardest for outsiders to suspect possibility... Qiu Tu was somewhat bbergasted.

    He couldn''t help but look at Bai Ru and tentatively asked, "So... Old Master Qin is now... Qin Heng, Commissioner Qin?"

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Bai Ru too was a bit bewildered.

    She recalled everything she had just said, and there seemed to be no inkling that Qin Heng was Old Master Qin.

    Moreover, all they had discussed thus far was her own father''s "immortality". How did Qiu Tu suddenly guess Old Master Qin''s identity?

    However, despite her many doubts, under the rules of the "Order Room", she could only answer Qiu Tu''s question truthfully.

    So she said uncontrobly, "Yes. Old Master Qin is now Qin Heng, Commissioner Qin."

    Bai Ru''s eyes held a touch of reminiscence as she spoke weakly, "I''ve always been a bit surprised about Old Master Qin choosing Qin Heng, Commissioner Qin."

    "It was my father who explicitly addressed it for me." Your journey continues at empire

    "He meant that Old Master Qin had actually groomed a cloned body for his own immortality, which is Qin Wuyi."

    "But when Old Master Qin died, that body was too young, not fully matured yet,"

    "Furthermore, handing over the family business to a young child would too easily stir up dissatisfaction within the family and attract the covetous gaze of outside wolves. That''s why, for his first body switch, he chose Qin Heng, who at that time wasn''t yet amissioner,"

    "As Old Master Qin''s eldest son, Qin Heng had the strongest legitimacy to inherit the Qin Family, which was least likely to arouse suspicion from outsiders. And because of his age, he couldmand respect from both the family and outsiders, and could smoothly take over the political assets left by Old Master Qin,"

    "The only drawback: an unhealthy body, which, in the case of merely being a ''transition,'' actually counted as a bonus point,"

    "After all, once Qin Wuyi came of age and all the roads were paved, the unhealthy Qin Heng could drop dead at any moment,"

    "By then, Qin Heng''s children would still be young, and the other brothers each had their own businesses, so it would be only natural for the matured and well-prepared Qin Wuyi to inherit Qin Heng''s political status and family position,"

    After listening to Bai Ru''s recounting, Qiu Tu had only one thought in mind: indeed, a self-made magnate is ruthless and resolute.

    To kill his son, sleep with his daughter-inw, plot against his "grandson''s" inheritance. He was capable ofmitting such cutthroat acts!

    But upon further thought, since Old Master Qin could live "forever," it seemed he really didn''t need to care about the life and death of his descendants.

    After all, as long as he preserved his own genes, he could live on and on forever....

    With this realization, Qiu Tu suddenly gained a deeper understanding of the entire case.

    Anti-government armed forces, immortality, cloned female body, "God"....

    The more he delved into the case, the more Qiu Tu realized it contained far too many secrets.

    Fortunately, he had the opportunity to unearth it all!

    Thinking this, he no longer felt like teasing Bai Ru; instead, he called Liu Fuping to take her away.

    After going through Qiu Tu''s private interrogation, Bai Ru was somewhat delirious, as if she had undergone a spiritual baptism.

    It wasn''t until Liu Fuping escorted her to the guard room that she suddenly snapped awake: Wait a minute! Wasn''t I negotiating and trading interests with Qiu Tu?!

    How did it be a one-sided provision of information?!

    At this thought, Bai Ru covered her face with her hands, feeling utterly useless....

    She squatted down, burying her head in her knees, with only one hope in her heart: hoping that the secrets she had just revealed wouldn''t bring trouble to her father....

    Hadn''t Qiu Tu seemed to promise that as long as she behaved well, he wouldn''t go after her father?

    With this thought, a faint glimmer of hope sparked within Bai Ru.

    And.... Meanwhile.

    Qiu Tu, left alone in the interrogation room, deactivated his Cataclysmic ability while sending a message to Eagle, who was out arresting people with Cao Dabiao, "New target: Deputy Director Bai Yongdong."

    A momentter, Eagle replied with two characters, "Received."

    This time, the use of his ability might have been too lengthy. As he deactivated his Cataclysmic ability, Qiu Tu felt as if his spiritual power had beenpletely drained!

    His head was dizzy, and it even felt as if there was a pump in his brain, incessantly squeezing his soul.

    Thus, without dy, he took out the prepared Nightmare Crystal Vial, opened it, and downed the liquid within!

    As the liquid entered his throat, Qiu Tu immediately felt a cool relief washing from his stomach to his brain. In just a moment, the emptiness in his brain was significantly alleviated....@@novelbin@@

    Sitting back in the judge''s seat, Qiu Tu slowly relieved his difort while also beginning to consider the benefits he could gain from this case, ording to n.

    As a deeply rooted major household in Xinjie City, the Qin Family''s sphere of influence was incredibly vast.

    -------

    Today there are still 3 updates of 10,000 words each, haha, I''m posting 2 chapters first, and the 3rd chapter will still be updated around 13:00 (I feel like I can take it physically). Ask for Monthly Tickets!

 Chapter 120 Slinging Mud at Jia Shu (10,000 Words to Seek Monthly Ticket!)

    Hearing Yan Chen''s words, Qiu Tu knew that the real test was finally about toe.

    Therefore, he looked at Yan Chen, listened to the "rustling" rain outside the window, and slowly said,

    "Bureau Chief, the ''Yin Caimei case'' actually consists of two separate cases."

    "The first case is the ''Yin Caimei Spy Case''."

    "The second case is the ''Yin Caimei Death Case''."

    "The murderer of the second case is simple. After our investigation and interrogation, we have locked down and confirmed the killer."

    "It is none other than one of the Four Major Transportation Merchants, Deputy Director Bai of the Civil Affairs Bureau''s son-inw, Section Chief Bai''s husband: Qian Dafu."

    "ording to his testimony, he has been working closely with the Anti-government Armed Forces, the United Front, over the years, not only supplying them with materials multiple times but also always running errands for them."

    "And Yin Caimei was an important spy for the United Front. Using her, the United Front obtained a vast amount of confidential intelligence from various departments and bureaus of City Hall."

    "Thus, when she was captured, the United Front feared she would expose their entire intelligencework, so they ordered Qian Dafu to silence her."

    "As a result, Qian Dafu used a Cataclysmic treasure, the ''Cursed Blueprint,'' to curse and remotely murder Yin Caimei, resulting in the bizarre incident of her death."

    After listening to Qiu Tu''s narrative, Yan Chen nodded slightly, his aged eyes reflecting thoughtfulness.

    Looking at Yan Chen, still with drooping eyelids and wrinkles at the corners of his eyes and mouth, Qiu Tu wasn''t sure if it was an illusion, but he felt that today, Yan Chen seemed somewhat younger.

    It was not so much a change in appearance as a manifestation of vitality...

    Yan Chen leaned back in his chair, pondering for a moment before asking deeply, "That Cataclysmic treasure is called the ''Cursed Blueprint''?"

    Qiu Tu, upon hearing this, snapped back to reality, nodded, and then brought out a document that detailed the murder weapon, presenting it with both hands to Yan Chen, "Yes."

    "That Cataclysmic treasure is a set of two pieces, consisting of the ''Cursed Book'' and the ''Curse Notes''."

    "The person holding the notes can curse the person reading the book."

    "ording to the location provided by Qian Dafu, we have found that notebook in the safe of his vi''s basement."

    "It indeed has the cause and time of Yin Caimei''s death written on it, matching his confession. And the handwriting has been identified as Qian Dafu''s."

    At this point, Qiu Tu paused, then added, "Although we haven''t yet done a Catastrophe Power sourceparison... it shouldn''t be wrong."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s ount, Yan Chen lightly nodded, "Not bad, it''s quite an aplishment to have managed the case to this extent in such a short time."

    Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu also replied with a smile, "Mainly, it''s because we made a lot of preparation and effort in advance."

    When receiving praise from a leader, one must never be modest. Instead, one should doubly emphasize one''s own hard work and efforts.

    Superiors rarely empathize with subordinates; if you don''t talk about your hardships, why would leaders think the task is difficult? Why would they believe you''ve done a great job?

    So... one part sess, seven parts talking.

    Qiu Tu naturally began to talk about his hard work during this time, "Bureau Chief, you don''t know, ever since I took on this case, I''ve been staying up almost every night working on it!"

    "The night beforest, in order to gather some clues for the case, I met with friends I knew from the past and drank until almost dawn, almost coughing up blood."

    "Yesterday, in order not to spook them and as a ploy to lull the enemy, I deliberately left work early and took my subordinates to her house for a meeting. We discussed the case untilte into the night."

    "Yesterday, in order to execute the n more perfectly, I stayed up all night discussing with the Security Department. We fought several times over the details of the investigation and the distribution of interests."

    After saying this, Qiu Tu rubbed his arms and back, saying with a wry smile, "I still feel a sore back and achy waist."

    "Even today, before wrapping up the case, I had to suppress my anxiety and butter up the suspects in the Emerald Fort to lower their guard."

    "For someone as tough as Section Chief Bai Ru, just trying to extract information from her left me with a dry mouth and barely able to raise my hands."

    After finishing his speech, Qiu Tu transitioned, "Nevertheless, it''s precisely because of the efforts these past days, all the preparation and arrangements made in advance, that we were able to make the suspects admit their crimes and resolve the case in just a few hours after their arrest."

    He bowed slightly and concluded, "Of course, we''ve been working so hard to repay the Bureau Chief for the grace of knowing and recognizing us."

    "Being able to fulfill the tasks given to us by the Bureau Chief and to alleviate your worries, is a blessing we''ve cultivated over several lifetimes!"@@novelbin@@

    [Yan Chen''s satisfaction +6]

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s mix ofints and ttery, an exceedingly rare expression of appreciation appeared on Yan Chen''s face.

    He did not merely offer a simple appraisal like "not bad" as before but instead praised directly, "Good job. If every department of the Investigation Bureau could share my concerns like you, I wouldn''t feel theck of people to rely on!"

    However, Yan Chen wasn''t knocked over by Qiu Tu''s brown-nosing. Aftervishing praise, he still sharply picked up on the sensitive information mixed into Qiu Tu''s speech.

    His tone shifted, then he suddenly asked, "However... you just mentioned that you and the Security Department studied the casete into the night? What is that about?"

    "Why would the Security Department get involved in this case?"

    His gaze was deep, showing no emotion, inscrutable.

    But... Qiu Tu had prepared various contingency ns beforeing to see him, so he wasn''t flustered and disyed a surprised expression on his face.

    "Wait a minute. Bureau Chief, I didn''t catch your meaning."

    "What do you mean by why the Security Department got involved? Isn''t this... your arrangement?"

    Upon hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Yan Chen''s brow furrowed visibly but quickly smoothed out. He asked in an unfazed tone, "My arrangement?"

    Qiu Tu nodded, his face still showing surprise, "Yes." Discover stories with empire

    He exined, "When I took on this case, Minister Jia called me up to the rooftop and then told me you had taken an interest in me, asking me to act as a double agent in the Security Department, maintaining contact with them."

    Yan Chen''s gaze was deep, as Jia Shu had indeed discussed this matter with him.

    Seeing Yan Chen''s reaction, Qiu Tu continued, "After that, I kept in touch with the Security Department on and off, trying to gain their trust."

    "And then... after you summoned me to your officest time, where I publicly expressed suspicion of Minister Jia, he found me and told me that I hadpletely misunderstood your and his intention."

    "You were actually giving me a hint. Not allowing me to investigate Vice President Tian didn''t mean I couldn''t continue with the case. Then he asked me to think hard and see if I could understand your hint."

    "So... after going back, I kept trying to recall your words to me, and then... I finally understood what you were hinting at."

    "This case mostly involves officials from City Hall, and our Investigation Bureau must enforce justice impartially; there''s no way we can let it pass."

    "However... if only our Investigation Bureau investigates this matter, it''s very likely to provoke strong bacsh and retaliation from City Hall."

    "At that time, although we would eradicate some scoundrels, we might also cause ill will with City Hall. We''d be restricted everywhere."

    "So, if we could cooperate with the military and the Security Department... pass this ''hot potato'' to the military, letting them take the lead, and then sit on the hills and watch the tigers fight, reaping the benefits, wouldn''t that be perfect?"

    Qiu Tu got a bit excited as he reached this point, "After I understood your hint, I thought your n was absolutely brilliant!"

    "This way, we get the benefits; the military takes the me! Indeed, it''s much smarter than just doggedly investigating the case as I had thought before!"

    Upon hearing this, Yan Chen let out a nearly imperceptible sneer through his nose.

    Qiu Tu pretended not to hear it and continued, "So soon after, I adjusted the n ording to your instructions and reported it back to Minister Jia."

    "After hearing my n, he said he was right to trust me, that I finally understood your painstaking efforts. It was due to his affirmation that I started to cooperate with the Security Department and implement this n..."

    "If you don''t believe me, you can call Minister Jia right now and ask if he knows about this n."

    After listening to Qiu Tu''s recount, Yan Chen took a deep breath, then quietly observed Qiu Tu with his turbid eyes.

    There was no imposing aura about him, yet Qiu Tu felt an overwhelming pressure bearing down on him.

    However, Qiu Tu also knew that he had to hold on, so he looked frankly at Yan Chen without averting his gaze, intentionally showing a hint of confusion about the situation in his eyes...

    After quietly observing Qiu Tu for a while, Yan Chen slowly retracted his gaze; he picked up his teacup, took a sip, andmented, "You people in the Political Department do have some craftiness..."

    "Being able to understand such ''hints''."

    His remark on "craftiness" seemed to carry an implication, though it was unclear whether he was referring to Qiu Tu or Jia Shu...

    [Yan Chen''s suspicion +0, satisfaction -2]

    After his evaluation, he also said indifferently, "I will verify this matter with your minister."

    "Continue with what you were saying..."

    "You mentioned the ''Yin Caimei case'' is actually two separate cases. One is the ''death incident,'' and the other is the ''espionage case.''"

    "Talk about the espionage case."

    Seeing the prompt that appeared before him, Qiu Tu inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.

    Yan Chen was a suspicious person. Hisck of doubt toward Qiu Tu meant that... his guidance had been sessful.

    For now, at least, he had sessfully shifted the me for "contact with the Security Department" onto Jia Shu, further intensifying the conflict between Yan Chen and Jia Shu...

    Given the personalities of both men and their current rtionship, it was unlikely that Yan Chen would question Jia Shu directly.

    Therefore, Yan Chen would probably arrange for someone to test Jia Shu or observe his subsequent reactions to determine if things were as Qiu Tu had described.

    And since Jia Shu had indeed been forewarned of the n by Qiu Tu, he wouldn''t overreact but would calmly wait for things to unfold.

    This would only solidify the suspicion in Yan Chen''s mind that the n was arranged by Jia Shu...

    What remained was to see how unlucky Jia Shu would be and what stance Yan Chen would take on the "espionage case"...

    Qiu Tu hadn''t forgotten that Yan Chen had always wanted to bring the Qin Family under his control, so the next steps of the case and which contingency n to implement would depend on Yan Chen''s reactions...

    With these thoughts in mind, Qiu Tu braced himself, looked at Yan Chen, and started dropping bombshells...

    ----

    Three chapters, ten thousand words, ha! Requesting Monthly Tickets! I''m working on the draft now and will continue to update tonight!

 Chapter 122 Xinjie City Trembles! (10,000 Words for Monthly Ticket)

    Upon hearing Yan Chen''s words, Qiu Tu didn''t act like many subordinates who would hastily decline and refuse.

    One must definitely ept what the boss gives!

    From the psychological perspective, demanding can enhance rtionships more than giving.

    Thus, with a smile, he said, "Bureau Chief, having the opportunity to work for you is my fortune."

    "If you really want me to make a request, I only wish to be closer to you and take on more of your worries."

    Possibly because Yan Chen had never been subjected to Qiu Tu''s ttery in his previous life, Yan Chen was so taken with Qiu Tu''s relentless bootlicking that heughed out loud.

    He pointed his finger at Qiu Tu and nodded, "You, you, haha."

    Having said that, he also quietly pondered the hidden request within Qiu Tu''s ttery...

    "Wanting to be closer to him" "To take on more of his worries"... this was basically a roundabout way of wanting a "promotion."

    If one were to follow the normal process of promotion or the Sanctuary''s assessments, an official like Qiu Tu with amon background, who had already been promoted recently, wouldn''t be promoted a second time right away.

    But... now it''s the initial stage of Xinjie City''s formation, and many promotions are being handled fairly casually. Moreover, there are a few vacant director positions in each department, so... it''s not entirely impossible...

    Moreover... with the Qin Family''s recent troubles, although Qin Heng can''t be touched, some middle-level officials associated with the Qin Family, like Qin Zhengguang, still need to be dealt with. Many positions will be vacant.

    Thinking of this, Yan Chen looked at Qiu Tu with an encouraging gaze and slowly said, "I understand your thoughts."

    "When the timees, I will pay attention."

    Hearing this, Qiu Tu immediately pretended to be excited and said, "Thank you, Bureau Chief!"

    Afterward, Qiu Tu even took the initiative to pour tea and water for Yan Chen.

    Yan Chen... was even more satisfied.

    [Yan Chen''s Satisfaction +4]

    After pouring the water, Qiu Tu set the thermos aside, then with a troubled look said, "Bureau Chief, actually... aside from what we discussed earlier, I have another rather presumptuous request."

    Yan Chen, who was in a good mood, didn''t mind Qiu Tu''s boldness and hummed inquisitively, "What else is there?"

    Qiu Tu, looking embarrassed, said, "During this period, because of investigating the Yin Caimei case, I frequently received threats from various powers, both overt and covert."

    "Today, again, four directors and the Four Major Transportation Merchants were arrested. I fear someone might take desperate measures and try to assassinate me."

    "So... could I stay by your side these next couple of days, serving you tea and water, and being at your beck and call."

    "This way, even if someone does want to harm me, seeing me by your side, they would probably not dare to make a move."

    Saying this, and perhaps worried Yan Chen wouldn''t agree, Qiu Tu quickly nced at the clock and said, "At 6 o''clock tonight, it will be the time I agreed upon with the Security Department."

    "At that time, they will take over the case and begin arresting the officials involved."

    "Once tonight is over and they have sessfully attracted the attention of the various powers, I should be safe."

    "Then, I will leave on my own and no longer trouble you."

    Hearing Qiu Tu mention the Security Department''s involvement again, Yan Chen''s smile slowly faded.

    He didn''t directly answer Qiu Tu''s question but instead asked, "Are you certain they are only pursuing the officials from City Hall?"

    Qiu Tu paused for a moment, then tentatively replied, "Their promise to exchange information with me was just that."

    "And besides... those officials were only involved with Yin Caimei, infiltrated by her and leaked some confidential information. Strictly speaking, they aren''t spies."

    "So, investigating them could only lead to Yin Caimei or the Four Major Transportation Merchants at most, right?"

    "Now that both the Four Major Transportation Merchants and Director Qin, Third Master Qin, are in our hands, even if they wanted to continue investigating, they probably couldn''t go any further, could they...?"

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s series of spective questions, Yan Chen thoughtfully nodded.

    Then a smile crept back onto his face, "All right, you can stay by my side today."

    "Thank you, Bureau Chief!" Hearing Yan Chen''s affirmative response, Qiu Tu quickly expressed his gratitude! And inside... he quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

    Thest step of the n: an alibi, was finallypleted.

    The rest is up to fate now...

    In the following time, Qiu Tu became Yan Chen''s assistant, serving tea and water, managing documents, and attending to arrivals and departures.

    Although Qiu Tu stayed by Yan Chen''s side merely toplete his mission, he also cherished this opportunity to learn and observe the work of the Investigation Bureau''s highest-ranking official.

    By Yan Chen''s side, he saw many confidential documents; witnessed discussions between Yan Chen and various directors and deputy directors; and saw Yan Chen''s skilled techniques in managing subordinates: rebuking, bncing, promising, and the carrot-and-stick approach, all came naturally to him...

    Even though he was performing an assistant''s duties for those several hours, he would still take advantage of any lulls to put himself in Yan Chen''s ce, considering how to handle the same situations and problems.

    This learning process deepened his understanding of the entire Investigation Bureau''s operations and how to manage his subordinates.

    Besides what he learned, serving as Yan Chen''s "temporary assistant" also allowed Qiu Tu to gain favor in front of the Investigation Bureau''s various directors and deputy directors.

    Being retained by Yan Chen as an assistant is a clear sign of being one of Yan Chen''s confidants, part of his inner circle. This was a very obvious political signal.

    So, it didn''t take long before various rumors about Qiu Tu began to quietly spread within the Investigation Bureau, and more and more investigators came to know about Qiu Tu, the Deputy Staff who had recently made a dramatic rise in the Bureau....

    Just like that, time passed by, second by second.@@novelbin@@

    Soon, it was 6 o''clock.

    Qiu Tu nced out of the window, which was pitch ck and devoid of any light.

    The heavy rain that hadsted all day hadn''t stopped with theing of night; in fact, it seemed to have gotten even heavier.

    Find your next read at empire

    Thinking of what would happen on this rainy night, Qiu Tu couldn''t help but tighten his grip slightly.

    Yan Chen didn''t notice Qiu Tu''s unease. After finishing a document, Yan Chen put down his pen and asked expressionlessly, "It''s time for dinner. Do you want to eat with me?"

    Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu hurriedly took up the offer, "Thank you, Bureau Chief!"

    Yan Chen: ...

    Actually, Yan Chen was feeling a bit annoyed with Qiu Tu''s constant presence by his side and wanted to send him away for some peace and quiet.

    But since Qiu Tu had already epted, him being one of the Three Giants of Xinjie City, it wouldn''t be appropriate to take back his offer. So he only let out a subdued "Hmm," picked up the phone, and ordered two sets of four dishes and one soup for dinner.

    Thanks to sharing in Yan Chen''s light, Qiu Tu also got to experience a dinner fit for a Bureau Chief. Plus, having been with the Bureau Chief''s mistress, after a bit of rounding up, he basically was....

    When dinner was served, Qiu Tu was full of anticipation, expecting some kind of delicacy! But when each dish was revealed... it turned out, to his dismay, that all four dishes plus the soup were entirely vegetarian!

    Even the soup was cucumber egg drop soup!

    At that moment, his face turned as green as the soup.

    He realized then that he and Yan Chen fundamentally did not get along.

    As a meat lover, how could he possibly coexist with a vegetarian!

    Hastily finishing their meals, they both plunged back into work: Yan Chen reviewed documents while Qiu Tu stood by, lost in thought.

    But this time, they didn''t work for long before the office door was knocked on urgently.

    "Knock knock knock."

    At the sound of the urgent knocking, Yan Chen shot a nce at Qiu Tu. Qiu Tu understood and went to open the door.

    Standing at the door was Secretary Bai.

    Secretary Bai had learned that Qiu Tu was serving as a temporary assistant to Yan Chen that afternoon, so he wasn''t surprised, merely nodding slightly before quickly stepping into the office.

    Qiu Tu closed the door behind him and followed him inside.

    As he walked into the office, before he even reached Yan Chen''s side, Qiu Tu heard Secretary Bai rapidly reporting the intelligence to Yan Chen, "Bureau Chief, we just received news. Half an hour ago, the Security Department mobilized various divisions and arrested a group of mid to low-level officials from City Hall."

    "Departments like the Bureau of Education, Environmental and Sanitation Bureau, and Commerce and Economic Development Bureau have all been affected. Even... a Director has been arrested."

    Hearing Secretary Bai''s report, Yan Chen looked up at him and asked gravely, "Is there a detailed list?"

    Secretary Bai was able to be Yan Chen''s right-hand man, the steward of the entire Investigation Bureau, because his capabilities were extremely exceptional. So upon Yan Chen''s question, he immediately took out a prepared list.

    Yan Chen took the list, quickly read through it, and then showed a smile on his face.

    He did notment further but instead handed the list to Qiu Tu, who was standing by his side.

    Qiu Tu received the list with both hands and looked it over as well.

    The names on the list were all familiar. They were the ones confessed by Third Brother Qin, Qian Dafu, and Qi Yun, which he then provided to Qin Shuman.

    The entire list contained 21 people, covering almost all the departments and bureaus of City Hall, including one Director, three Deputy Directors, and 17 Heads and Deputy Staff.

    One could say... with this list out, Xinjie City was turned upside down!

    Of course... the military and City Hall would most certainly be adversaries!

    This oue brought quite a few more smiles to Yan Chen''s face.

    [[Yan Chen Satisfaction +6]]

    He spoke to Secretary Bai with a smile, "Alright, I''ve got it. Next, have someone keep a close eye on the Security Department''s actions tonight. Report to me immediately if there are any issues."

    Secretary Bai, hearing this, acknowledged and then left the office.

    After Secretary Bai had gone, Yan Chen stood up and took the initiative to pat Qiu Tu on the shoulder as a gesture of encouragement.

    Clearly, although the case wasn''t progressing as he had envisioned, it had unexpectedly satisfied him.

    Feeling Yan Chen''s happiness, Qiu Tu kept a smile on his face, but in his heart, he was secretly sneering: Keepughing... keepughing, in a moment you won''t be able to anymore...

    ------

    We continue with a 10,000-word triple release for chapter 3. Vote for the Monthly Ticket!

 Chapter 124 Qiu Tus Deal with the Security Department (10,000 Words for Subscription!)

    The rain outside the window went "pitter-patter," hitting the windowpanes, sounding especially clear in the silent study.

    Yan Chen''s face was gloomy as he spoke to the person on the other end of the phone, "Have Old Chu from the Political Department... no, have Old Chue over to inspect the traces. See if any fingerprints or other clues were left."

    "Call Old Huang and ask him to bring you some Cataclysmic treasures to check for traces of Catastrophe Power."@@novelbin@@

    "Yes," the person on the other end of the phone quickly responded to Yan Chen''s words.

    After hanging up the phone, Yan Chen took a deep breath and extinguished his cigarette fiercely on the desk! Then his tiger-like eyes calmly stared at Qiu Tu, as if pondering something.

    Qiu Tu tried to appear as normal as possible, so his eyes conveyed innocence while looking at Yan Chen.

    Yan Chen stared at Qiu Tu silently for a while, then he finally said somberly, "You heard thest two phone calls."

    Qiu Tu gave a "hmm" in response.

    Yan Chen, "Any thoughts?"

    Upon hearing Yan Chen''s question, Qiu Tu tried his best to forget all of his ns for the day, putting himself in the shoes of an investigator who knew nothing of the matter.

    He pondered in silence for a moment, then ventured, "Could it be that a mole has surfaced within the Investigation Bureau?"

    Yan Chen stared coldly at Qiu Tu, not saying a word. Because... what Qiu Tu said was a titude: without a mole, could the evidence have flown away by itself?

    Seeing this, Qiu Tu carefully spoke, "I feel the mole is likely someone by your side."

    Yan Chen, expressionless, went "Oh?" and asked, "Why do you say that?"

    Qiu Tu replied with a sheepish smile, "Because... only someone close to you would know your safe''s password and be aware of your habit of cing evidence in the safe, right?"

    Yan Chen, clearly not really interested in Qiu Tu''s analysis but rather looking for any telltale signs or slip-ups in his words, gave an "hmm" and asked, "So, do you have a suspect in mind?"

    Qiu Tu coughed and provided Yan Chen with an unexpected choice, "Secretary Bai?"

    Perhaps this choice was too surprising for Yan Chen, so he looked slightly moved and took two seconds to think before asking, "Why him?"

    Qiu Tu tentatively said, "It''s just a guess."

    "After all, Secretary Bai is one of your most trusted individuals. He would definitely have a thorough understanding of your habits and probably also knows your safe''s password."

    "Moreover, when the investigation team came to deliver the evidence, he was the one who brought them in. So he knows that after the evidence entered your office, it never left."

    "Plus, he was aware of my reason for seeking you out, so he could guess what evidence the investigation team delivered."

    "All these factors make him satisfy all the prerequisites for this case."

    Yan Chen seemingly truly considered if Secretary Bai was the thief. After a moment, he asked, "And the motive?"

    Given Qiu Tu''s rtionship with Secretary Bai, of course, he wouldn''t actually smear Secretary Bai to cover for himself. He was merely using Secretary Bai to lead into the next part of the conversation...

    So, after hesitating a bit, he said, "I''m guessing... could Secretary Bai have a conflict with the Qin Family?"

    "Or perhaps, he feels that since the Qin Family has sided with you, his position by your side is at risk?"

    "Or maybe... he''s had some conflicts with you recently? Simply wanting revenge?"

    "Or perhaps, he... secretly reached some sort of agreement with the military or City Hall? Is this a Letter of Challenge?"

    Qiu Tu''s sessive hypotheses regarding motives made Yan Chen frown deeply. Because... as he listened to each motive Qiu Tu proposed, the suspect Yan Chen thought of was not Secretary Bai, but... Jia Shu.

    After all, although Secretary Bai was his right-hand man, his rolergely involved administrative work, such as filing all the information and tasks, or dealing with various matters within the Bureau.

    Such tasks, while still influential, were actually very intricate, meticulous, and difficult to wield power outwardly. Thus, few of his peers wished to rece Secretary Bai orpete with him.

    In contrast, Jia Shu was different.

    Also his right-hand man, Jia Shu was not only closer to him, but he alsomanded the Political Department, the most powerful department in the Investigation Bureau.

    Furthermore, many of his private matters were instructed to be handled by Jia Shu, which allowed Jia Shu to often exercise his power in Xinjie City in his stead ¡ª this was also a major reason why Xinjie City feared the Political Department.

    So should the Qin Family get too close to Yan Chen, it would inevitably affect Jia Shu''s status in his heart. Many tasks would no longer require Jia Shu''s assistance, further weakening Jia Shu''s power in the whole of Xinjie City.

    Considering that Jia Shu knew the safe''s password and was aware that he had the habit of cing evidence into that safe...

    Suddenly, Jia Shu became a much more suspicious figure in Yan Chen''s mind.

    More importantly, because of the Yin Caimei case, Jia Shu had been at odds with Yan Chen recently, and he had shown an unusual level of interest in the case. Not even Yan Chen knew what role Jia Shu yed in it, which undeniably increased his suspicion. Enjoy exclusive chapters from empire

    With these thoughts, Yan Chen''s brows were deeply furrowed, and for a moment, he was too preupied to suspect Qiu Tu...

    ...

    As the Chief of the Investigation Bureau, Yan Chen''s word wasw within the Bureau. He didn''t need to go through theyers of approval or wait for his superior to collect the Cataclysmic treasures, unlike Qiu Tu.

    Therefore, just 10 minutester, the phone rang again.

    By this time, the study had already been quiet for 10 minutes.

 Chapter 126: Yan Chens Daughter (10,000 Words for Monthly Ticket)

    Chapter 126: Yan Chen''s Daughter (10,000 Words for Monthly Ticket)

    Wang Xi, who had been indulging in pleasure, was now buried in hard work, oblivious to what the man in the mask was saying.

    So... he was somewhat baffled when he was yanked to his feet, still clutching the woman in front of him.

    As he turned his head and saw that it was the man in the mask who had pulled him up, he quickly let go of his grip.

    Then, while he was pulling up his trousers, he asked in confusion, "Boss, what happened?"

    Upon hearing Wang Xi''s question, the Suit Man looked out at the pitch-ck night view and the unceasing heavy rain, and a grotesque, malevolent smile emerged from beneath the mask. "God has just shown us a new path..."

    "Tonight will be our hunting night!"

    "Hunting night?" Wang Xi''s face was full of confusion.

    The man in the mask took out a pink potion from the pocket of his suit, his face expressing madness and desire, "Yes! Hunting night!"

    "We must let ''God''s'' seeds be sown all over this sinful city, making it our ultimate hunting ground!"

    If Qiu Tu were here right now, he would recognize the potion bottle as extremely familiar because... It was identical to the ''Mandragora Love Drug'' he had used many times before!

    Wang Xi obviously also knew what the potion and ''God'' symbolized, so upon hearing the man in the mask''s words, his face suddenly became much more hesitant.

    He pondered before speaking, "Boss... maybe we should consider this more carefully."

    "This might be too dangerous for us, the Investigation Bureau..."

    "p!" Before he could finish, the Suit Man pped him across the face!

    The man in the mask''s eyes were blood-red as he red at Wang Xi fiercely, "Do not question ''God''s'' decisions!"

    "You are ''spheming''!"

    With that, he drew a pistol from his waist and pointed it at Wang Xi''s head, threateningly saying, "spheme again, and believe me, I''ll blow your brains out!"

    Wang Xi staggered from the p, his face quickly swelling, his eyes full of resentment.

    But when he saw the crazed look of the man in the mask, and the dark muzzle of the gun, he cowered...

    He hastily apologized, nodding repeatedly, "Yes, boss. My fault, my fault. Let''s go hunting now! Go hunting!"

    Seeing Wang Xi submit, the Suit Man seemed pleased as his expression quickly changed, giving him an approving look before patting him on the shoulder, "That''s my goodpanion! ''God''s'' faithful believer!"

    After speaking, he pointed the gun at the several naked women on the sofa who had just been exercising with them.

    He tilted his head, squinted his eyes, and watched them with a crazed look, "God tells us, everyone has the right to choose their own life."

    "Now, I am going to kill you. You have 10 seconds, you can choose to run, you can choose to scream, you can also choose to beg for mercy..."

    "All the choices are in your hands!"

    Upon saying this, he paused, then continued counting down with a fearsome tone, "Now, I start counting."

    "10..."

    "9..."

    "8..."

    Upon hearing the man in the mask''s words, the three naked women showed faces of terror.

    They struggled to roll off the sofa and, heedless of their nakedness, they frantically ran toward the vi''s entrance!

    "Bang! Bang!"

    Two gunshots rang out, and the two women at the front were shot in the back and copsed to the ground. Blood spread beneath them, and with disbelieving faces, they turned back to look towards the man in the mask.

    The man in the maskughed maniacally with a "ha ha."

    Then he walked step by step toward thest woman.

    The final woman was already petrified with fear. She had copsed to her knees when the gun went off.

    Now, seeing the man in the mask approaching slowly with a gun in hand, tears streamed down her face as she frantically kowtowed to the man, begging him for mercy.

    But the man in the mask simply used the gun to lift her head gently, continuing to calmly count down in a soft voice, "7... 6... 5... 4..."

    Until he reached "1."

    At the sound of "Bang!" the woman''s head was blown apart by the bullet at close range, blood sttered onto her body, the floor, and the mask of the man in the mask...

    The man in the mask affectionately touched the blood on his mask, licked it clean with his tongue, thenughed softly to the slowly falling corpse, "Don''t me me for not giving you a choice..."

    "Although every choice leads to death..."

    After finishing, he got up andughed wildly with "ha ha."

    In the darkness, the women''s eyes remained open in death, staring maliciously at him, but he waspletely oblivious!

    Tiny pinpoints of light drifted from the corpses on the floor, entering his nostrils with his breath, filling his entire body!

    Afterughing, the man in the mask gradually quieted down.

    His gaze, neither joyful nor sorrowful, swept over the vi that was now blood-soaked, then he said to Wang Xi, "Let''s go... Let''s start our hunt tonight."

    Wang Xi was obviously shocked by the scene that had just unfolded; he shrank back slightly, then asked, "Where... where are we going?"

    The man in the mask thought for a moment, then chuckled lightly, "First, let''s pay a visit to... Section Chief Kong Qingchang''s house."

    He shook the pink potion bottle as he spoke, the smile on his face growing more maniacal.

    "We''re going to spread the ''glory'' of ''God''."

    ... @@novelbin@@

    Meanwhile.

    Qiu Tu, led by a maid, also arrived at Yan Chen''s vacant guest room in his vi.

    As a residence of one of Xinjie City''s Three Giants, the guest room had everything one might need; Qiu Tu didn''t have to prepare anything extra to move in¡ªa stark contrast to his rundown home.

    So, after a simple clean up, he sat on the bed, beginning to ponder over his next n of action.

    With the assertive intervention of the Security Department, the downfall of the Qin Family should just be a matter of time.

    Therefore, all Qiu Tu had to do was survive this period of chaos, and he should be safe.

    What remained to be seen was whether his n to pin the me on Jia Shu would go smoothly.

    If not, he would use the channels of the Security Department to run away, starting anew in another city.

    And if he seeded... it would mean that his recent efforts to drive a wedge between Yan Chen and Jia Shu had been effective.

    Then... he could set his next target on Jia Shu.

    Whether it was an illusion, Qiu Tu always felt that Jia Shu''s way of looking at himtely was strange.

    Combined with Jia Shu''s enigmatic satisfaction, Qiu Tu really had an ominous premonition...

    With this thought, Qiu Tu, following his daily habit, activated the "Loyalty Game" and then went to bed early, falling asleep...

    Perhaps because he had worked hard all day, he was really tired. It didn''t take long for Qiu Tu to fall into a deep sleep...

    The heavy rain continued, and the long night persisted in its madness...

    That night, too much happened...

    [5 and a half days (Yin Caimei case closure time)]

    [2 and a half days (Dangers in the dark)]

    ...

    The next morning, as the rain stopped and the clouds dispersed.

    The sun shone down on Xinjie City, which had been soaked through by the overnight downpour, making the newly built city appear exceptionally fresh and clean.

    Possibly because he had gone to bed earlyst night, Qiu Tu woke up early, got out of bed, and freshened up.

    Then he casually called for the maid to prepare breakfast for him, and after eating, he went to the vi''s garden for his morning exercise.

    After running twops and working up a sweat, Qiu Tu was just about to go back for a shower.

    But as he turned around, he saw a beautiful girl in a white dress slowly walking out from the vi, joyfully wandering in the garden.

    She was like a breath of elegant scenery that even the garden full of flowers nted by Yan Chen could not outshine.

    Qiu Tu curiously gave her a couple of nces, then called to a maid nearby and asked, "Who is that girl?"

    The maid nced at the girl, then whispered, "That is the Bureau Chief''s daughter. She just arrived in Xinjie Cityst night."

    At the maid''s words, Qiu Tu was taken aback.

    The Bureau Chief''s daughter? Was that Yan Chen''s daughter?!

    Qiu Tu looked surprisedly at the elegant girl for a moment, recalling the wrinkled old face of Yan Chen.

    Then one thought rose in his mind: Yan Chen''s wife must be very beautiful, right?

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu suddenly connected many other details from recent times.

    Like... how Yan Chen, despite being very busy with work and not interested in flowers, had built such arge garden at the entrance of his vi, filled with various expensive flowers.

    Like... there was no particr happy event yesterday, but Yan Chen had been cheerful from morning until night.

    Like... Secretary Bai, after reporting intelligence at about 7 pm, had disappeared without a trace.

    Like... Secretary Bai arriving at Yan Chen''s vist night soaked on one side of his body.

    All these things Qiu Tu hadn''t paid much attention to at the time, but now, they seemed likely to be because of the girl before him, right?

    With this realization, Qiu Tu couldn''t help but make a simple judgment: It seems... Yan Chen truly dotes on his daughter a lot, doesn''t he?

    ''Maybe... this could be useful in the future?''

    With that thought, Qiu Tu gave the girl another look and then turned his attention back, wiping his sweat as he returned to his guest room to shower.

    The morning passed quickly. At 8 o''clock, Qiu Tu once again hitched a ride with Yan Chen to the Investigation Bureau.

    However, unlikest night when he rode in the same car as Yan Chen, today, he was relegated to the following convoy.

    This seemed to foreshadow a change in his status in Yan Chen''s heart.

    But... Qiu Tu didn''t care, because he knew that didn''t mean much: his most crucial test¡ªthe one with Jia Shu¡ªhad not yete.

    Last night, Qiu Tu''smunicator was never put on silent, just left by his bedside.

    He had anticipated that Jia Shu would certainly call to inquire about the whole affair. But unexpectedly, Jia Shu really had the patience to not contact him the entire night.

    But that did not mean the situation had passed, on the contrary, it heralded an even greater storm.

    Therefore, what was most important for Qiu Tu now was to figure out the current state of affairs.

    And what Yan Chen, Jia Shu, and the senior members of the Investigation Bureau thought about the events that had transpired yesterday!

    Whether in espionage or regr warfare, intelligence is the key of keys.

    With that in mind, Qiu Tu got out of the car and followed Yan Chen into the Investigation Bureau Office Building.

    Yan Chen took the elevator, and of course, Qiu Tu couldn''t follow. So he watched Yan Chen ascend with a sullen face and then took the next elevator to the Political Department.

    He reached the 9th floor and had just stepped out of the elevator when a familiar figure approached: Eagle.

    Eagle passed by as if it were just a coincidence, nodding at Qiu Tu and then brushing past him.

    But... in the fleeting moment their bodies came into contact, unseen by others, he stealthily slipped a wad of paper into Qiu Tu''s pocket...

    ------

    I''ve only slept for two hours today, and I''mpletely unable to fall back asleep. Then my head has been dizzy, luckily I had a detailed outline, or I might not have been able to write at all.

    Then after lunch, I went to the clinic for a checkup. The doctor gave me a few injections, prescribed some medicine, and told me I couldn''t stay upte like this anymore.

    So, I might slightly adjust my schedule while ensuring the manuscript reaches ten thousand words, such as updating one chapter in the evening, and after waking up the next day, updating two chapters in thete afternoon.

    I''ll see how I feel after writing tonight. I''m going to get some sleep now.

 Chapter 127 Kneel Down, Liu Fuping (10,000 Words for Monthly Ticket!)

    Feeling the Eagle''s movement, Qiu Tu was slightly taken aback.

    Because... this wasn''t his arrangement; he wouldn''t have the Eagle pass him a message at such a sensitive time.

    However,pared to Ah-Tai''s reckless affection, the Eagle and Ah-Kun were always more steady in their work.

    Therefore... Qiu Tu believed there must be some important intelligence that the Eagle needed to convey to him, which is why at such a sensitive time, he yed this hand.

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu nonchntly brushed past the Eagle.

    As their figures crossed, when he looked back again, one was already in the elevator, and the other had walked to the corner of the corridor.

    Watching the Eagle take the elevator slowly down, Qiu Tu went to the Investigation Bureau''s temporary office as if nothing had happened.

    Since today was the weekend and yesterday''s tasks had all beenpleted, the office of the investigation team was empty.

    Qiu Tu entered the office, locked the door behind him, went to the window, opened it, and then took out the wad of paper the Eagle had given him.

    He smoothed out the wrinkled paper and what met Qiu Tu''s eyes was the Eagle''s untidy scrawl.

    In the wastnd after the Cataclysm, being able to read and write was an extraordinary skill for themon people at the bottom of society ¡ª clearly, the Eagle didn''t possess it.

    Thus, the letter was obviously copied or transcribed from someone else.

    And... that person had to be someone the Eagle knew and trusted; otherwise, he wouldn''t take such a big risk to pass it on to Qiu Tu.

    In that instant, the image of a person appeared in Qiu Tu''s mind: Secretary Bai.

    The rtionship between Qiu Tu and Secretary Bai wasn''t a secret among the small group of Qiu Tu, Ah-Tai, and the Eagle.

    After all, when Qiu Tu had brought the severely injured Secretary Bai home and taken care of him for so long, both the Eagle and Ah-Tai had seen him.

    Later, when Secretary Bai had recruited Qiu Tu into the Investigation Bureau, bringing everyone up with him, which brother didn''t praise Secretary Bai while drinking?

    Like other people who might pass information to Qiu Tu, such as Qin Shuman and Tang Feifei, the Eagle didn''t know them and certainly wouldn''t easily trust their identities to pass on intelligence for them.

    Having cleared up the identity of the letter writer, Qiu Tu then began to read the letter seriously from start to finish.

    After reading the letter, a smile couldn''t help but appear on Qiu Tu''s face.

    He had guessed right; the letter was indeed written by Secretary Bai.@@novelbin@@

    The reason was that Secretary Bai knew Qiu Tu would want to be aware of the movements of the Investigation Bureau''s higher-ups and Yan Chen''s attitude towards the whole incident yesterday.

    That''s why he wrote this letter, taking a risk after meeting with Yan Chen, and came to Old Alley Street in the middle of the night to find the Eagle, asking him to forward it to Qiu Tu.

    And to ensure that his identity wasn''t revealed, he had also instructed the Eagle to transcribe the letter before passing it on.

    Looking through the entire letter with its scribbles and distorted handwriting, one could imagine how desperate the Eagle, who was illiterate, must have felt receiving this taskte at night...

    Even... because he couldn''t read, he transcribed many words incorrectly. Fortunately, the rough strokes were still there, so Qiu Tu, by guessing and inferring, also managed to understand the contents of Secretary Bai''s letter.

    ording to what Secretary Bai said in the letter.

    Last night, after Qiu Tu left, Yan Chen had a small meeting with him and Ji Chen.

    In the meeting, Yan Chen went into detail about everything that had happened yesterday, emphasized the theft of the safe and the Qin Family being taken down by the Security Department, then asked for their opinions and suspicions.

    Ji Chen was the first to suspect Qiu Tu.

    After all, there were many peculiarities in Qiu Tu''s actions throughout the whole incident.

    Even if all those peculiarities had reasonable exnations from Qiu Tu... Ji Chen still felt that too many coincidences happening to one person definitely couldn''t be coincidental.

    But faced with Ji Chen''s questioning, Yan Chen didn''t agree.

    He even refuted Ji Chen''s views directly without waiting for Secretary Bai to speak.

    In the letter, Secretary Bai vividly described the scene at the time.

    Back then, Yan Chen sat in the executive chair, the dim light casting shadows over him as he smoked, frowning deeply while exining to Ji Chen... Explore more stories at empire

    "There are a few reasons why I don''t suspect Qiu Tu," he said.

    "First, the safe is ced in the rest area of my office. When storing the evidence, I did not allow Qiu Tu to follow me inside."

    "Instead, I had Secretary Bai and him wait outside."

    "Therefore, he had no idea where I ced the evidence, nor did he know thebination to the safe."

    "So, he was unable to steal the evidence I stored."

    "Second, even if he had a ''Cataclysmic treasure'' that could move items without needing location data,"

    "But... since yesterday noon, he has been by my side the whole time, hardly ever leaving my sight, nor interacting with anyone else."

    "... He simply had no time to carry out the crime."

    "If we assume it was a group crime, then... the whole case bes extremelyplicated. Because anyone could avoid suspicion through the method of group crime."

    "And even if we suppose he didmit the crime as part of a group, it doesn''t add up."

    "Because... he has no motive."

    Speaking of this, Yan Chen narrowed his eyes, casually tapped in the air with the hand holding his cigarette, and said seriously, "Aside from random crimes, all criminals need a motive."

    "Qiu Tu is someone I personally promoted. I''ve been quite fair to him, and his position is low, with plenty of room to rise."

    "Following me, his advancement shouldn''t be an issue."

 Chapter 129 What is "God" (10,000 words request for subscription!)

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s sudden inquiry, Qin Shuman couldn''t help but be serious.

    Standing by the French window with her arms crossed, she then solemnly said, "Qiu Tu... I must tell you: there are no ''gods'' in this world."

    "All those who im to be ''gods'' are merely elusive chatans trying to y god."

    "They usually fear the light. That''s why they deceive the people with deities and faith."

    Possibly fearing that Qiu Tu would stray onto the wrong path, Qin Shuman thought carefully for a moment before expanding on her exnation.

    She said, "Now... after all, it is the post-Cataclysm era, and the entire world''s Order is very chaotic. Moreover, the matter of Catastrophe Power hasn''t been publicized to the masses."

    "This leads to some powerful Cataclysmics or Cataclysmic Creatures exploiting the information gap to masquerade as deities, attracting followers, and harvesting their faith."

    "The former is less troubling since they are still part of humanity, merely Degenerating for vanity, wealth, or beauty."

    "Although we must crack down hard on such behavior, the actual harm isn''t considered serious."

    "But thetter is extremely frightening...."

    "It means that the Cataclysmic Creature is likely a higher-order being, very powerful, and possesses intelligence simr to humans."

    "Only then could it seek to grow stronger by attracting believers in the material world and spreading its power, in hopes of descending upon the material world."

    Hearing this, Qiu Tu paused for a moment, then asked in surprise, "So, by spreading its power, a Cataclysmic Creature can descend upon the material world?"

    Qin Shuman, hearing this, solemnly said, "Yes."

    She gazed at her reflection in the French window and slowly exined, "The idea that the spirit can influence reality, though often recorded by schrs and authors, has never been verified and has thus remained a legend throughout history."

    "However... ever since the material world went through that great Cataclysm, and the non-material world was born, everything has changed."

    "The non-material world is an ocean of spirit, where the spirit of all living beings can y a significant role."

    "The purer and more extreme the desires of a being, the more it can provoke changes there."

    "Therefore, when arge number of beings devoutly believe in a certain Cataclysmic Creature and pray for its descent into the real world... then that force can prate the world''s barrier, summoning the Cataclysmic Creature known as ''god'' to descend!"

    Hearing this, Qin Shuman provided an example, "Take, for instance, the Cataclysmic Creature born from ''Brave New World'' that once devastated six or seven cities under the jurisdiction of the Third Sanctuary."

    "It too had once descended upon the real world due to its multitude of followers."

    Hearing this, Qiu Tu grew serious. He couldn''t help thinking of what Wang Xi and the Masked Man in Suit had done: sacrifices, spreading the "glory of god"...

    Looking at it this way, they too must be attempting to summon ''god'' to descend, right?

    With this thought, Qiu Tu hesitated a bit: then... the ''god'' that Old Master Qin made a deal with, it should differ from their ''god'', shouldn''t it?

    He was a bit puzzled: don''t these Cataclysmic Creatures have their own territories? Would two ''gods'' set their sights on Xinjie City at the same time?

    While thinking this, Qiu Tu wanted to continue discussing the matter of ''god'' descending with Qin Shuman.

    But... perhaps the topic of ''god'' was just too sensitive. After giving Qiu Tu a brief exnation, Qin Shumanughed and switched the subject, "Let''s not talk about that for now."

    "By the way, why did you use your ownmunicator to call me? Aren''t you afraid of being discovered by Yan Chen and the others?"

    Upon hearing Qin Shuman''s words, Qiu Tu slowly came back to himself and exined with a smile, "I''m not afraid. In fact... I hope they find out."

    Qin Shuman hesitated for a moment upon hearing this, then some realization dawned on her, "That''s true. We in the Security Department have tricked you and even hijacked your case. If you didn''t call to question us, it would indeed be more suspicious!"

    Continuing, she said, "But... in that case, you should have called mest night, right? Isn''t it toote to call today?"

    At Qin Shuman''s words, Qiu Tu immediatelyughed and retorted, "How do you know I didn''t call?"

    Qin Shuman uttered an "Ah?" of surprise, looking confused.

    Qiu Tu said, "I just didn''t call you, that''s all."

    He paused for a moment, "I tried calling Lin Zuo all through the night."

    Qin Shuman didn''t understand, "Why?"

    The voice of Qiu Tu was gentle and maic, "Because I was afraid of disturbing your sleep. You had such a hard day yesterday, I didn''t have the heart to bother you....

    Qin Shuman was caught off guard by Qiu Tu''s abrupt expression of care and intimacy, despite they had been discussing serious matters, and her face flushed red.

    She bit her lip and chuckled secretly, "You must be more tired than me... get some rest...."

    Meanwhile, Lin Zuo, who had been standing in front of Qin Shuman''s desk reporting his work but found himself interrupted, was sporting dark circles under his eyes and wore a speechless expression as he watched the two speak on the phone.

    ''A pair of lunatics! Not willing to wake the chief, but ok with waking me up?!''

    ''One call after another! Had me hang up when they got through, to make another call!''

    ''Insisting this matched the Security Department''s attitude towards him!''

    ''Treating me like a machine for amusement!''

    ''I need rest too, alright!''

    And so, Lin Zuo silently vented his frustration at Qiu Tu''s inconsiderateness in his mind.

    Lin Zuo had been waiting until Qin Shuman hung up the phone with a beaming smile on her face before he slowly began to speak.

    With a stoic look, he nced at Qin Shuman and asked with his signature indifferent tone, "It seems that both the division chief and the department head hold Qiu Tu in high regard?"

    He was one of only three people who knew about Qiu Tu''s deal with the Security Bureau.

    So, after pausing for a moment, he continued, "They even agreed to his excessive demands. They even granted him the rank of captain."

    He left unsaid the fact that he himself was only a lieutenant.

    Upon hearing Lin Zuo''s words, Qin Shuman, who had been in a good mood from that phone call, paused mid-action.

    She put down themunicator heavily on the table and looked at Lin Zuo with a stern face, "Lin Zuo, don''t let jealousy cloud your judgment! Have you forgotten your Cataclysm Path?! This is a grave taboo!"

    Upon hearing this, Lin Zuo shuddered and quickly responded, "Yes!"

    Lin Zuo wasn''t naturally prone to envy, so after the reminder, Qin Shuman didn''t press the issue further but instead sat down in a chair and reminisced, "Although I... hm, have a rather good rtionship with Qiu Tu."

    "The conditions he proposed yesterday, however, did startle me," she admitted.

    "But when I reported them to the department head, he hardly hesitated before agreeing."

    As she said this, Qin Shuman sat down and, picking up a pen from the table, twirled it in her fingers and added, "At the time, I was a bit puzzled as well, just like you. But then the department head enlightened me."

    "He said that a person like Qiu Tu, who is resourceful, wise, knows how to strategize and bnce interests, is exactly the kind of talent that all three major power institutions are vying for."

    "Even if we didn''t give Qiu Tu that rank, Yan Chen would soon grant it to him anyway, and his future would be boundless."

    "We''ve only expended an honorary captaincy to bring such a talent into the military fold, which is a gain for us," shemented.

    Qin Shuman paused, then remarked, "So¡­ the department head is looking at the future, not just the present."

    "After all... if a mere deputy division chief can cause such a stir in Xinjie City, imagine the enormous impact he could have once he truly climbs thedder."

    "Some people are born to be the main character on the stage."

    Hearing Qin Shuman''s words, Lin Zuo nodded thoughtfully.

    After finishing his call with Qin Shuman, Qiu Tu stood by the office window, deep in thought.

    Wang Xi and the man in the suit with the mask were definitely up to some strange things in Xinjie City.

    From the information Qin Shuman disclosed, they seemed to be the followers or believers of a powerful Cataclysmic Creature, earnestly spreading that creature''s power.

    As for the benefits of doing this, although Qin Shuman did not specify, the information gleaned from Wang Xi''s memory fragments suggested that bing a ''God''s'' disciple likely bestows some unique Catastrophe Power.

    This Catastrophe Power probably didn''t have as low a sess rate as the Cataclysmic Awakening Potion and possessed all sorts of bizarre abilities!

    This thought led Qiu Tu to think of Old Master Qin, who had "immortality."

    If Qiu Tu''s guess was right, Old Master Qin was likely not so much making a deal with a ''God'' as bing a ''God''s'' disciple, which is how he obtained the chance for ''immortality.''

    He had just framed it to people like Director Bai as a deal with a ''God'' to beautify his own actions.

    If so... then he must have done some far-fetched things to spread the ''God''s'' power as well, right?

    Yet... considering all the evidence exposed by the Qin Family thus far, apart from collusion with the United Front, nothing else seems amiss, does it?

    ''Is there something being overlooked?'' Qiu Tu wondered, furrowing his brows slightly.@@novelbin@@

    Just as Qiu Tu was at his wit''s end, suddenly, "knock, knock, knock..." the door of the vacant conference room was gently rapped from the outside.

    Qiu Tu turned around, only to see Liu Fuping pushing the door open and walking in.

    After entering, Liu Fupingined to Qiu Tu without hiding her annoyance, "What are you, a rabbit? Always burrowing around. You just find an empty conference room and hide away in it."

    "I spent ages looking for you."

    At her words, Qiu Tu, leaning against the window with arms crossed, teased, "Doesn''t Sister Liu know whether I like to burrow around or not?"

    As he spoke, Qiu Tu''s gaze fell on Liu Fuping''s luscious red lips.

    Liu Fuping''s cheeks flushed red "swoosh" in an instant.

    At that moment, she seemed to recall once again the taste of Qiu Tu from not long ago...

    She red seductively at Qiu Tu before saying, "Stop talking nonsense. I''m here to discuss important matters with you."

    "The Minister wants to see you."

    Upon hearing Liu Fuping''s words, Qiu Tu froze for a moment, then his body involuntarily tensed up gradually.

    As expected... what was bound toe had arrived...

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 133 Bureau Chief, No Resistance Allowed (10,000 Characters Please Subscribe!)

    Qiu Tu''s gaze swept over the tight shirt beforending on Tang Feifei.

    At that moment, Tang Feifei was like a proud queen, expressionlessly strutting towards the bathroom while stripping off her clothes one by one.

    Tight pants...

    White chest binder...

    Underwear...

    As each piece of clothing was discarded, by the time she reached the bathroom door, her body waspletely uncovered, fully revealed to Qiu Tu for the first time.

    Her neck had graceful lines, her breasts were full yet firm, the lines of her vest delineating captivating curves, and her muscles across her body were solid without losing a woman''s softness. There was an indescribable wild beauty about her!

    Reaching the bathroom door, she turned back and arrogantly smiled at Qiu Tu before pushing the door open and walking in.

    Soon, the sound of "whoosh whoosh" from showering began in the bathroom.

    Hearing that suggestive noise, Qiu Tu''s mind seemed to conjure up images of Tang Feifei raising her arms to apply shower gel to her body.

    Qiu Tu admitted, at that moment, he was indeed a little stirred.

    ''How can I be so unprofessional! All of this is for work! Work!''

    With that thought, Qiu Tu diligently began to pick up Tang Feifei''s clothes from the floor and neatly piled them on the nearby shelf.

    After finishing this task, he approached the bathroom door, listening to the "whoosh whoosh" of the water and knocked, sincerely asking, "Director Tang, do you have a bath towel inside? Do you need me to bring it in?"

    Qiu Tu praised his own spirit of service.

    However, a cold voice from Tang Feifei came from the bathroom, "You cane in directly and scrub my back."

    Qiu Tu''s heartbeat sped up for a moment, and in the spirit ofplete service, he tentatively asked, "Is it possible to scrub the front as well?"

    The sound of the water inside seemed to pause for a moment. Suddenly, the bathroom door swung open, apanied by mist, and a wheat-colored arm with droplets of water reached out from inside toward Qiu Tu.

    But Qiu Tu wasn''t about to let Tang Feifei catch him so easily. He dodged with a "haha" andughed as he moved out of the bathroom''s range, calling out from a distance, "Director, you wash up first, I''ll wait for you outside."

    After saying that, he hummed a tune and left the fitness room.

    The wet wheat-colored arm hung in the air for a moment. Then a lightugh from Tang Feifei could be heard from the bathroom.

    "Interesting."

    With that murmur, the bathroom door slowly closed and the sound of running water resumed...

    ...

    After teasing Tang Feifei, Qiu Tu brought liquor and sses to the lounge''s living room.

    He ced the alcohol and sses on the coffee table, and then sat down on the sofa to wait for Tang Feifei.

    Somehow, Qiu Tu always felt that his current rtionship with Tang Feifei was akin to the dynamics he had with Liu Fuping today.

    It was always the superior using power to coerce the subordinate into servitude with seduction.

    ''Indeed, those who do wrong will eventually face retribution.''

    While thinking this, Qiu Tu propped his hands behind his head and rested his feet on the coffee table, nkly staring at the ceiling, contemting the terms of his deal with Tang Feifei...

    Lost in thought for who knows how long, as Qiu Tu was still immersed in his reflections, a fragrant breeze carrying moisture softly hit his face.

    Qiu Tu snapped back to reality and turned to look, only to see Tang Feifei wrapped in a white towel with her wet hair, wiping it with a towel as she walked towards him.

    She didn''t even ask before sitting snugly against Qiu Tu.

    "Paji~"

    From the sound made when her buttocks touched the sofa, one could infer the roundness and firmness of her behind.

    Qiu Tu also felt the sofa sink, and it seemed his leg touched Tang Feifei''s.

    Qiu Tu:.....

    He felt that today''s Tang Feifei had really gotten a hold of him.

    ''I can''t let her set the pace!''

    With this in mind, Qiu Tu picked up the square sses from the coffee table, pouring drinks for both of them.@@novelbin@@

    After finishing with her hair, Tang Feifei naturally took the square ss.

    She looked at Qiu Tu with a half-smile, then sipped the drink. She didn''t press directly but started with business matters, "So, how do you propose we cooperate more deeply?"

    Seeing the conversation turn to business, Qiu Tu also rxed a bit.

    His facial expression gradually became serious, and then he said, "Jia Shu is up to something."

    Tang Feifei nced at him, "And what about it?"

    Qiu Tu, "Is there a way to settle this once and for all?"

    Tang Feifei paused, almost thinking she''d misheard, "You mean...?"

    Qiu Tu raised his hand, making a downward shing gesture.

    Tang Feifei:.....

    Sheughed, "If there were such an opportunity, do you think Yan Chen would still be alive?"

    Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu looked at her in astonishment, "Yan Chen is alive because you can''t beat him, right?"

    Stay updated via empire

    Perhaps power is a taboo subject for Tang Feifei; upon Qiu Tu''s words, a vein on her forehead throbbed, and she looked at Qiu Tu grimly, "Who told you I can''t beat Yan Chen?"

    Qiu Tu mentally noted "intelligence acquired" to himself.

    He hadn''t guessed wrong; this woman must be among the top in terms of martial strength in all of Xinjie City.

    Tang Feifei continued, "It''s one thing to be able to beat someone, another to have the opportunity to do so."

    "Given Yan Chen''s identity, to dare touch him would be to cut oneself off from the Sanctuary, not justpletely giving up one''s prospects there, but also facing pursuit from all the major Sanctuaries."

    "Don''t underestimate such a pursuit. Bear in mind that even ordinary people with firearms can harm regr Cataclysmics."

 Chapter 137 Exposing Old Master Qins Identity (10,000-word plea for subscription!)

    Clearly, Qin Heng had also realized that Qiu Tu''s appetite was like a bottomless pit.

    If things went on like this, his entire fortune wouldn''t be enough to fill Qiu Tu''s "greed".

    Therefore, knowing that a soft approach wouldn''t work, Qin Cheng immediately switched tactics.

    He "whooshed" to his feet and then pointed at Qiu Tu and cursed, "You son of a bitch! I''ll fucking..."

    He had barely started speaking when Qiu Tu directly reached for the gun at his waist and "swoosh!", pressed it against his forehead.

    The muzzle of the Ice Spear caused Qin Cheng to swallow back the rest of his words instantly.

    He looked at Qiu Tu with a furious expression, feeling as if he had truly seen a ghost!

    Was this Deputy Chief really sowless!?

    Storming into a person''s home with investigators and starting to extort!?

    If extortion failed, just draw a gun and shoot!

    Was there now left!?

    This was the nning Area under the control of the Sanctuary! Qin Cheng remembered that even when Xinjie City was still a Disaster Zone, the public security had never been so outrageous!

    Although he was cursing Qiu Tu furiously in his heart... Qin Cheng really didn''t dare to gamble with Qiu Tu. After all, during this period, he hade to understand a bit about Qiu Tu''s "madness".

    Who knew whether Qiu Tu wasn''t just bluffing, but actually nning to end his life!

    Thinking this, Qin Cheng''s face once again wore a forced smile, "Chief Qiu, why can''t you take a joke?"

    "Just now, I was just trying to perform a little joke for you."

    Upon hearing this, Qiu Tuughed, "Ha ha," and patted Qin Cheng''s face with the gun, "Fifth Master, you indeed look like a joke."

    "But still... I actually prefer the unruly look you had just now." Read new adventures at empire

    Qin Cheng quickly piled on an even thicker smile, "Chief Qiu is joking. How could I possibly act unruly in front of Chief Qiu!"

    After saying that, he hastily added, "Right, Chief Qiu, weren''t you dissatisfied with the birthday gift just now?"

    "In addition to these two Golden Horses, how about I give you 10 more Little Goldfish, what do you think?"

    Qiu Tu smiled, "20."

    A hesitant expression flickered across Qin Cheng''s face, but in the end, he nodded, "Deal!"

    Qiu Tu, "40."

    Just as Qin Cheng was extending his hand to shake with Qiu Tu: ??

    "Pfft."

    At the entrance, a suppressedugh rang out. It was Liu Fuping who had just finished taking notes and returned to the vi.

    Perhaps because she remembered how Qiu Tu had raised the price with her a few days ago, sheughed so hard that her whole body shook, causing waves to surge.

    Seeing this, Qiu Tu nced at her and paid no mind to the woman shirking her duties.

    Meanwhile, Qin Cheng''s forehead was dotted with sweat, but faced with the dark muzzle of the gun, he didn''t dare to wipe it away.

    So he took a few deep breaths, begging for mercy, "Chief Qiu, I really can''te up with that many Little Goldfish."

    Qiu Tu, however, said indifferently, "Then you go sell them."

    Qiu Tu took another look at Qin Cheng top to bottom and clicked his tongue, "I must say, Fifth Master, you do have some good looks."

    "Kuku kuku..." Liu Fuping, standing at the doorway, couldn''t help but muffle herughter, sounding like someone stifling their chuckles.

    This intensified the humiliation felt by Qin Cheng, making his face even uglier.

    He took a couple of deep breaths, ready to throw some tough words out again.

    But just then, Qiu Tu unexpectedly interrupted him, "Enough, Old Master, you''re in your dozens and still putting on an act in front of a youngster like me, isn''t it tiring?"

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Qin Cheng''s pupils obviously shrunk sharply, and his body stiffened for a moment.

    But then, he pretended not to understand and looked at Qiu Tu, "Chief Qiu, what are you talking about? I don''t understand what you mean."

    Qiu Tu, however, looked at him expressionlessly and analyzed mercilessly, "After I exposed your identity, your pupils contracted slightly, you blinked three times in session. Lips pinched tight, your body involuntarily shook slightly."

    "This shows your inner nervousness and unease. You are on guard."

    "Heh heh," Qin Cheng chuckled dryly, "Agent Qiu, I don''t understand what you''re talking about."

    "I am me, not some old master."

    As he said this, he looked seriously at Qiu Tu, "Today, you forced your way into my house, drove away my... erm, friends. You took out a gun and threatened me, asking for bribes."

    "All of this I will record and then lodge aint with the Investigation Bureau, the Municipal Committee!"

    "Even if the Qin family is currently facing difficulties... there are so many families in Xinjie City watching."

    "In the establishment of Xinjie City, the Qin family has also worked hard for the Sanctuary, has its merits."

    "If our family has indeed made a mistake, we will ept any punishment from the Sanctuary."

    "But to treat an unrted family member like me with such unfairness, I believe that the major families of Xinjie City will not just stand idly by and watch!"

    "At that time, I''ll be interested to see if the Investigation Bureau can protect you!"

    Upon hearing this, Qiu Tuughed, "While you were saying the first part, your gaze drifted to the left; your body slightly turned to another direction, reducing direct contact with me; your body movements drew back, subconsciously performing self-protection."

    "This means you''re lying,"

    "And while you were speaking the second half, your hand clenched slightly, your body tensed up, and your tone raised. It indicates that you''re trying to muster up some nerve, attempting to intimidate me,"

    "Old Master, you have way too many slips...shall we keep going?"

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s questions, one after another made for an interrogation, "Qin Cheng" seemed to recall the fear he had been subjected to by the Security Department over the past couple of days...

    For the past two days, the non-stop interrogation by the Security Department had really worn him out, both mentally and physically. Thus, in his "spare time," he had called over three girls, hoping to rx a bit.

    But who would have expected that before he could even start to unwind, the Political Department burst in, and to top it off, that damned Qiu Tu actually came to his house to interrogate him!

    If it had ended there, "Qin Cheng" might not have so easily thrown in the towel. After all, at worst, he would just be dealing with two interrogations at the same time.

    But...as the kingpin who single-handedly brought the Qin Family into the top three in Xinjie City, even though Old Master Qin might not have had the highest level with the backing of family heritage and the Anti-government Armed Forces, he did have an eye for reading people, gained from years of grappling in the Jianghu.

    So, he was absolutely certain that Qiu Tu was not bluffing him. He truly knew his identity, his secrets.

    Facing the young Chief who single-handedly sparked a massive purge throughout Xinjie City, Old Master Qin knew that continuing to stubbornly resist was pointless.

    Thinking this, he took a deep breath, gradually rxed, and the hunched back due to obsequiousness slowly straightened.

    He finally stopped pretending and looked at Qiu Tu with eyes neither joyful nor sorrowful, asking, "How did you find out my identity?"

    After finishing talking, he paused to think, then confidently spoke to himself, "It was Yong Dong who spilled the beans, wasn''t it?"

    "He must have revealed my secret to that child, Little Ru. Then you interrogated it out of her, right?"

    Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu watched with great interest as Qin Family''s old master''s demeanor seemed to be that of apletely different person, feeling that things were finally getting interesting.@@novelbin@@

    However...even though he found it interesting, Liu Fuping and Chen Feng inside the room did not share the sentiment. They just felt like they couldn''t keep up with the unfolding events, as if their CPUs were burning out...

    At first, they watched withposed and spectator-like expressions as Qiu Tu relentlessly pressured Qin Cheng, thest scion of the Qin family.

    Due to their trust in Qiu Tu, they didn''t believe that he had traveled this far solely to extort a rich second-generation facing a great disaster.

    Thus, they were also waiting for Qiu Tu to show his hand, eager to discover what secrets Qin Cheng was hiding.

    But...when Qiu Tu called Qin Cheng "Old Master," they had already started to get confused.

    What Old Master? Who is the Old Master?

    Is this teenager in front of them the Old Master?

    At this point, their heads were wrapped in question marks.

    Therefore, when Qin Cheng finally admitted that he was the "Old Master," the two of them were utterly dumbfounded.

    They felt like failing students in a math ss, who, in the time it took to look down and pick something up, saw "1+1=2" turn into "Goldbach''s conjecture" on the ckboard!

    They felt as though they hadn''t missed anything, and the "problem" remained the same, but the entire process and development werepletely different!

    With this in mind, they rapidly reyed the conversation between Qiu Tu and Qin Cheng.

    Both considered elites within the Political Department and quite capable, they pieced together the dialogue between Qiu Tu and Old Master Qin as well as key names like "Yong Dong" and "Little Ru" that were mentioned...

    Soon, a bold spection began to take shape in their minds!

    ''Is this teenager really Old Master Qin, once a major figure in Xinjie City?''

    ''What the hell is going on!'' they thought.

    With this, they immediately considered another question: How did their chief find out?!

    Why was he looking for this supposedly resurrected Old Master?!

    With these thoughts, both felt as though their chief was shrouded in mystery!

    So, they eagerly perked up their ears, not daring to blink, afraid they might miss some critical information!

    Meanwhile, facing Old Master Qin''s question, Qiu Tu didn''t respond at all.

    He was the interrogator, not the criminal; he had no obligation to answer Old Master Qin''s questions.

    Instead, he simply started a new line of questioning, probing, "Old Master, how are you adapting to this new body of yours?"

    "What''s it like to have two bodies?"

    ...

    At the same time.

    Outside the vi.

    A shadow carrying an old rifle on his back and wearing goggles easily entered the vi''s garden along the side of the house.

    It seemed he had some kind of Invisibility ss Cataclysmic ability, which is why the agents, even after scanning his hiding spot several times, seemed unable to see his figure.

    Thus, utilizing various shadows and corners, the shadow sessfully avoided the patrolling gaze of the eight agents and the three handcuffed youngdies'', infiltrating the vi...

    Once inside the vi, his movements became even more cautious.

    Moving along the shadow by the wall, he skilfully headed towards the living room.

    Soon, he arrived at the entrance to the living room and saw Cao Dabiao and two other agents.

    -----

    Today will still have three updates of ten thousand words each, starting with two updates, and the third one around 19:00. Please subscribe and support with Monthly Tickets!

 Chapter 138 The Other Party Sent You a Party Invitation (10,000 Words, Please Subscribe!)

    At this moment, Cao Dabiao was at the living room entrance, keeping watch while chatting idly with Ding Xiaoliu and Zhu Huoyan.

    Since there were several other teams of scouts on guard outside the vi, the three of them weren''t very vignt.

    Leaning against the wall, Ding Xiaoliu peeked through the crack of the door at the scene inside the living room and then naively asked, "Brother Biao, I just overheard something about today possibly being the boss''s birthday."

    "Shouldn''t we also prepare a gift for him?"

    Hearing Ding Xiaoliu''s words, Cao Dabiao pped the back of his head and said in a low voice, "Are you an idiot!"

    "The boss could be celebrating his birthday any of the 365 days in a year, just not today!"

    "When he says it''s his birthday, it''s clearly a ruse to fleece that Qin Wuyi!"

    "Without finding a pretext, wouldn''t that be too embarrassing for him?"

    As he said this, Cao Dabiao leaned against the wall too, putting on the air of someone who had been around, and exined to Ding Xiaoliu, "Let me tell you. The boss is the smart one here. This kind of thing, it happens in every city. If we don''t eat, others will."

    "Forget about the Qin Family, even those lofty directors andmittee members would be stripped clean of their wealth and family by everyone in Xinjie City if they can''t survive this ordeal."

    "The juiciest benefits get eaten by those at the top, the broth and juices are taken by us, and even the scraps and leftovers are cleaned up by the neighbors or underground factions."

    "Anyway... it''s a dog-eat-dog world. Don''t think you''re above it all just because you were yesterday. If you fall today, countless others will want to eat your flesh, drink your blood, and suck your bones dry."

    After listening to Cao Dabiao, Ding Xiaoliu looked at him admiringly and said, "Brother Biao, you know so much."

    Upon hearing this, Cao Dabiao smiled smugly and boasted, "I heard it from my uncle who''s a Deputy Staff in Eastern City."

    "They established Eastern City a year and a half before ours, and they''ve been through all kinds of bloody storms."

    "A lot of their experiences are very useful to us."

    Continuing, Cao Dabiao lowered his voice and said, "ording to my uncle, the first to third year after a city is founded is when the upper-middle sses go through the most frequent reshuffling."

    "Many conflicts suppressed during the city''s early days start to erupt. The major families and powers are gradually adapting to the rules of the nning Area and also start scheming to seize power and profit from the higher-ups from the Sanctuary."

    "So, many forces and families could be wiped out, and many officials could be brought down. And this is when the real sifting begins!"

    "As long as you side with the right people in these two years, you will see significant development!"

    Hearing Cao Dabiao''s words, Ding Xiaoliu suddenly said, "I see. No wonder I''ve recently heard that those big shots on Longshan Road seem..."

    While Cao Dabiao and Ding Xiaoliu were shooting the breeze, a shadow silently lurked not far from them, listening to their entire conversation.

    He wasn''t concerned with thetter analyses from Cao Dabiao''s uncle but focused on the first part of Cao Dabiao''s words.

    ''The target is extorting Old Qin?''

    ''This is good news. It seems Old Qin''s identity has not been exposed...''

    ''Then I need to be extra careful when I make my move, to not expose Old Qin...''

    Thinking this, he estimated the distance between Cao Dabiao''s group and the door to be only half a meter. His Cataclysmic ability couldn''t guarantee not being exposed within this distance.

    Fortunately, he was very familiar with theyout of the vi, so he nced around the corridor and quietly made his way around the wall towards the other side of the living room...

    ...

    Meanwhile, inside the vi''s living room, Qiu Tu and Old Master Qin were continuing their tense standoff.

    Inhabiting a body that was only in its teens, Old Master Qin''s eyes were deep and restrained. Aside from that, he showed no difference from a young man, whether in expression or vitality.

    When he heard Qiu Tu''s question, he smiled faintly and said, "This body is a clone of my own genes, of course, I feel perfectlyfortable in it."

    "As for how it feels... of course, it''s a sensation of youth I''ve never had before!"

    "My skin no longer has disgusting age spots or wrinkles; my teeth are no longer loose; my joints no longer ache when it''s rainy and damp! Even... my manhood is brimming with energy every day!"

    As he spoke, he looked at Qiu Tu, his eyes filled with a naked desire that seemed ready to burst forth, "Do you understand the feeling... of waking up every morning, hard awake?!"

    "Do you understand the feeling of going through battle with several women and still being as spirited and energetic as ever?"@@novelbin@@

    "Do you understand the sound of women begging for mercy and their words of adoration?!"

    Qiu Tu: ...

    He shook his head slightly, advising, "Old Master, there''s always a loss for every gain in this world. If you''ve acquired such ability, you must have lost much more."

    Old Master Qinughed heartily, "Indeed! I''ve lost aging, embarrassment, and worries!"

    After saying this, Old Master Qin looked at Qiu Tu seriously, and said earnestly, "Qiu Tu, you''re young now and won''t understand the despair one feels when one ages gradually and life nears its end..."

    "To keep living, to return to youth, I would give anything!"

    "That''s why I made a deal with ''God''."

    As he said this, he nced at Chen Feng, who stood by his side, and Liu Fuping, who stood by Qiu Tu''s side, and spoke with a devout tone, "Today, since you''ve be aware of ''God''s'' information, it means you''re fated with ''God''."

    "Therefore, I can offer you a chance to bask in the ''Divine Light''!"

    "Rest assured, just basking in the ''Divine Light'' doesn''t mean you have to worship ''God''!"

    "Once you experience the joy within, you will willingly dedicate your loyalty to ''God''!"

    Qiu Tu: ....

    Qiu Tu felt like something was wrong with his ears, as if they could automatically trante certain phrases.

    Basking in Divine Light? Considering the path of ''God'' that Old Master Qin worships¡­ isn''t that basically an invite to a "silver party"?!

    This is¡­ if one could receive such an invitation without needing to bask in the ''Divine Light,'' Qiu Tu would certainly run faster than anyone!

    After all, he was a man who would never gamble or dabble in drugs!

    But¡­ the thought of having to bask in the ''Divine Light'' made Qiu Tu apprehensive. Explore more at empire

    Who knows if there might be some problems with it?

    This was a world with supernatural powers, and moreover, these powers were of a bizarre nature. Participating in such a "silver party," Qiu Tu genuinely worried that he would be a puppet to that ''God'' from this point forward!

    Thinking along these lines, Qiu Tu didn''t dare let Old Master Qin continue to control the pace of the conversation. He timely brought the pace of the conversation back under his control.

    He said disdainfully, "Experience the joy within?"

    "I can experience plenty of joy without your ''God.''"

    "Moreover, without your ''God,'' I can still hear the pleading cries and admiring words of women."

    "What? Can your ''God'' give me the experience of being simultaneously in front and behind?"

    Upon hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Old Master Qin immediately showed an evil smile, "Of course."

    "If you have two bodies, you can surely experience different sensations at the same time, can''t you?"

    Hearing this, Qiu Tu feigned surprise and interest as Old Master Qin had anticipated.

    Then he inquired, "What about three bodies together? Wouldn''t that be even more thrilling?"

    Old Master Qin confidently said, "Of course, that''s possible. As long as you are sufficiently devout to ''God,'' you can have three bodies at the same time!"

    Qiu Tu asked, "Have you experienced it?"

    This time, Old Master Qin obviously hesitated, but he still said with a smile, "Of course!"

    Seeing Old Master Qin''s expression and hearing his words, a smile formed on Qiu Tu''s lips: Key information obtained.

    In the exchange of questions and answers between Qiu Tu and Old Master Qin just now, the most important wasn''t the dialogue itself, but the moment of hesitation from Old Master Qin.

    That hint of hesitation was a clear sign of insincerity. So, Qiu Tu could be certain that he hadn''t tried having three bodies at once.

    And considering Old Master Qin''s behavior today, as well as the reputation of Qin Cheng as a profligate son in Xinjie City,

    if he truly had three bodies, he would definitely have tried it at least once to experience it.

    Therefore, Qiu Tu could almost be sure that Old Master Qin probably only had Qin Heng and Qin Cheng''s two bodies.

    So¡­ if both he and the Security Department captured one of his bodies¡­ he was very likely unable to escape!

    ''It seems¡­ I might not need to resort to my n B and can wrap this up directly.''

    With this in mind, Qiu Tu lost the desire to continue talking nonsense with Old Master Qin and was ready to directly issue the order to have him handcuffed and then slowly interrogate him and uncover the secrets of ''God''!

    At that moment, suddenly, Qiu Tu''s Spiritual Perception tingled, as if giving him a warning.

    Qiu Tu instinctively looked in the direction of the warning.

    It was the corridor that led from the vi''s living room to the backyard.

    But when Qiu Tu looked over, he realized that there was nothing unusual there.

    Forget about the cats and birds in movies and TV shows that draw the enemy''s attention; there wasn''t even a piece of paper.

    Qiu Tu''s brow furrowed slightly, puzzled: Could it be¡­ am I being overly suspicious?

    This small vi covered more than 600 square meters, with seven or eight rooms on the first floor, and as the living room that connected everything, it naturally had many pathways, with four or five exits alone.

    Although Cao Dabiao was only guarding the front door, other agents were on watch in the garden in the back, and it would be impossible for someone to enter the vi undetected from the back.

    With these thoughts, Qiu Tu withdrew his gaze, ready to issue hismands once again.

    But just then, suddenly!

    There was a loud "Bang!" of a gunshot!

    Qiu Tu reflexively ducked his head and then btedly realized it came from outside the vi!

    At the same time, that gunshot sounded like a signal for the enemy to attack, as a series of gunshots, "Bang! Bang! Bang!" "Bang! Bang! Bang!" began to ring out over the vi!

    ----

    Chapter of 10k words is done, haha. Continue with 10k words tomorrow! Asking for Monthly Tickets! Please subscribe!

 Chapter 142 Qin Shuman: Im Poisonous, You Know~ (12,000 words 1/3)

    Meanwhile, upon hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Chen Feng and Cao Dabiao nced at Qiu Tu''s receding figure, then back at the two corpses inside the house, feeling their hearts chill.

    At this moment, they seemed to recall Qiu Tu''s decisive killings of enemies and his maniption of people''s hearts, his capability to control circumstances as easy as turning his hand over.

    ''Ourmander, even if he''s not a Cataclysmic, is no simple character.''

    Thinking this way, the two exchanged nces, promptly followed Qiu Tu''s arrangement and went into the house to deal with the scene.

    Actually, Qiu Tu had already thought about the aftermath and his exnation when he shot Old Master Qin, so the two did not need to consider anything else, needing only to follow Qiu Tu''s n and restore the scene.

    Thus, quickly, a murder scene was reconstructed.

    After arranging the scene, standing in the spacious vi hall and looking around, the once splendid living room was now shattered and scarred, with the original owner of the viying in a puddle of blood, devoid of life. Added to the pervasive smell of blood inside and outside the vi, it indeed felt as if they were in apletely different world.

    After surveying the hall and looking at the busy agents outside the window, Cao Dabiao thought for a moment, then whispered to Chen Feng, "Chen Feng, the reinforcements from the department should arrive soon. Do you think... we should silence the others first?"

    The matter of Qiu Tu shooting Old Master Qin was known only to Cao Dabiao and Chen Feng, so clearly, Cao Dabiao wasn''t referring to this incident but rather... the incident where Qiu Tu shot and killed over a dozen United Front members in about twenty seconds.

    Hence, upon hearing Cao Dabiao''s words, Chen Feng also felt a bit hesitant.

    But after struggling internally for two seconds, he ultimately nodded and said, "We should indeed silence them."

    "I guess themander doesn''t want this matter to be a sensation either."

    With that, he paused, "Otherwise... themander wouldn''t have switched to three different guns to kill the enemy."

    Upon hearing Chen Feng''s words, Cao Dabiao''s face suddenly showed a look of realization, "Yeah! You''re right!"

    After agreeing, both of them paused, then involuntarily looked at each other, reading shock in each other''s eyes.

    Theirmander really was the type to n three steps ahead.

    Before, when Cao Dabiao had moved the middle-aged man''s corpse and while holding the rifle, he had already figured out how Old Master Qin would die.

    And now it seemed... he probably had also figured out his alibi while he was shooting his enemies.

    ''It''s really scary....''

    ''Is this the difference between a monster and an ordinary person?''

    Thinking this, they dared not specte on Qiu Tu''s thoughts further and quickly began to gather agents to start the cover-up.

    As for the surviving United Front members, were they likely to leak information?

    The two weren''t worried.

    Not to mention the crimes these United Front members hadmitted, and their insignificant status at the bottom, made it highly probable they would be executed on the spot, with no chance to divulge anything.

    And even if they weren''t executed on the spot and were taken back to the Political Department for interrogation... don''t forget, the Interrogation Section was Qiu Tu''s turf....

    ...

    Meanwhile.

    Qin Shuman was also discussing this issue with Qiu Tu, "You used your Cataclysmic ability in front of so many people, aren''t you afraid Yan Chen, Jia Shu, and the others will find out?"

    However, Qiu Tu justughed and said nonchntly, "It''s time they knew too."

    "Pieces have their own value, after all. The higher the value, the more you''re regarded, right?"

    Upon hearing these words, Qin Shuman realized that Qiu Tu had already considered all the consequences before using his power.

    So she didn''t press further, trusting him, and shifted the conversation back to the case at hand.

    "To be honest, if you hadn''t provided the information, we would never have guessed that ''Qin Heng'' was actually not Qin Heng but Old Master Qin, and that he had two bodies."

    "No wonder he was soposed all the time during our rotational interrogations."

    "We had spected that Qin Heng had received professional training and was ustomed to these interrogations."

    "Turns out, he was actually enjoying his time with his other body while we were interrogating him."

    At this point, Qin Shuman couldn''t help butugh bitterly, "And he didn''t just enjoy himself with one, but three! Unbelievable!"

    Hearing this, Qiu Tu seemed to see in his mind the scene of Qin Shuman and the Security Department members increasing the interrogation intensity, while "Qin Heng" appeared rxed and unconcerned...

    After all, how could he not feel blissful while frolicking with three girls?

    So they must have beenpletely baffled at the time, suspecting "Qin Heng" was a masochist...

    With that thought, Qiu Tu couldn''t help butugh as well.

    After theughter, Qin Shuman returned to serious matters, saying, "But now that you''ve destroyed his other body, he''ll soon break down."

    "Once the interrogation is over, I''ll give you a copy of his record."

    "As for the parts about ''God'', they might involve secrets I can''t give you in writing, so I''ll tell you personally when we meet someday," she said.

    Qiu Tu grunted in acknowledgment, smoothly replying, "Then... I look forward to the day we meet." Readtest chapters at empire@@novelbin@@

    At Qiu Tu''s words, Qin Shuman let out a softugh, her voice tender as she teased, "Is that all you''re looking forward to about meeting me?"

    Qiu Tuughed as well, saying, "Of course, I''m also looking forward to..."

    "Having a few drinks with you."

    A simple phrase split into two, suddenly infused with a suggestive undertone.

    On the other end of the phone, Qin Shuman chuckled lightly, yfully retorted, "That definitely won''t do."

 Chapter 145 Everyone Shocked by the Promotion (10,000 words plea for subscription!)

    Everyone in attendance was an old fox, so the moment Secretary Bai''s proposal was mentioned, they immediately understood Yan Chen''s true arrangement for Qiu Tu!

    Although it appeared that Qiu Tu had been promoted, in reality, he had perfectly assumed all of Qin Zhengguang''s scope of authority!

    Then, the question arose...

    1. Since Qiu Tu had taken over all of Qin Zhengguang''s responsibilities, then... should the Public Security Bureau appoint another Deputy Division Chief to rece Qin Zhengguang''s position?

    To appoint?

    Then... what would this Deputy Division Chief do?

    Not to appoint?

    Then... wouldn''t this position be reserved for Qiu Tu?

    inly put, although Yan Chen only promoted Qiu Tu from Deputy Staff to Principal Staff, he had expanded his scope of authority to that of a Deputy Division Chief level.

    Moreover, he had even reserved the position of Deputy Director of the Public Security Bureau for Qiu Tu, just waiting for him to establish more merit and endure the passage of time before he could be promoted directly!

    2. And what made these high-level figures deeply rmed was: although Qiu Tu had taken over Qin Zhengguang''s authority... after all, his title was still that of Deputy Division Chief of the Political Department''s Action Division!

    So... even though Qiu Tu did not manage the work of the Action Division, could he mobilize its personnel?

    Could he take part in personnel arrangements of the Action Division? Could he vote on important matters of the Action Division?

    Yan Chen was simply creating an incredibly terrifying "monster" that spanned two departments and was expansively augmenting his range of power without restraint.

    Now, Qiu Tu was stirring up trouble within both the Public Security Bureau and the Political Department, but who knew if he would suddenly leap over to a third department?@@novelbin@@

    Once this precedent was set, who other than Yan Chen could limit Qiu Tu''s development?

    Honestly, with this thought, the individuals couldn''t dare to think further on the matter.

    With these thoughts, the faces of the high-level attendees couldn''t help but look a bit unusual.

    However, since the Investigation Bureau was almost entirely under Yan Chen''s control, and most of these high-level figures were also part of Yan Chen''s camp, no one spoke out against it...

    At this moment, Tang Feifei was also stunned by Yan Chen''s arrangement for Qiu Tu.

    She felt that Yan Chen was truly investing a lot in Qiu Tu.

    No wonder such an ordinary position of section chief still needed to be discussed in a meeting. If Yan Chen dared to decide such a big matter privately, it would certainly arouse a lot of controversy afterwards.

    After all, even now, several high-level figures clearly held reservations about this... Stay updated through empire

    Thinking this, Tang Feifei''s expressionless face swept across the expressions of the high-level attendees in the conference room, capturing their attitudes...

    After a moment, she made up her mind.

    ''Little man... you owe me a big favor this time...''

    Thinking thus, Tang Feifei looked sharply towards Secretary Bai, then spoke slowly but firmly, "Secretary Bai, isn''t this proposal a bit too fantastical?"

    "For a Deputy Division Chief of the Action Division not to work diligently within the Action Division, but instead to interfere with the work of the Public Security Bureau, isn''t that a bit too much?"

    As she said this, Tang Feifei turned towards the Public Security Department Director, Guan Weihua.

    Guan Weihua gave an awkward smile, neither supporting nor opposing.

    Being Yan Chen''s confidant, by neither supporting nor opposing, he was, in fact, indicating some reservations about the proposal from Yan Chen and Secretary Bai.

    Seeing this, Tang Feifei purposefully allowed a hint of triumph to appear on her wheat-colored face, then continued, "Moreover, after all, Qiu Tu is just a neer who has only handled a case or two."

    "Do you all really believe he can handle the ''Pharmacy Robbery Case''?"

    "I don''t have that much faith in him."

    As Tang Feifei continued her salvo, the room fell into silence.

    At that moment, the head of the Special Service Department, Lin Ting, spoke up. He first nced at Yan Chen, and after confirming Yan Chen''s intentions, he began slowly, "Director Tang, your words are not quite right."

    "Since joining the Investigation Bureau, Qiu Tu has indeed umted quite a few merits."

    "Repelling the attack from the United Front, cracking down on Master Qin Si''s organized crime, and just this morning, once again annihting a United Front squad¡ªthese are all merits!"

    "And moreover... themendation from the Sanctuary is the greatest recognition of him."

    "If we still don''t trust him with this, then who else is worthy of trust?"

    "Besides... Secretary Bai didn''t want Qiu Tu to meddle with the matters of Public Security Bureau. He clearly said that everything was for the sake of the case!"

    "Having Qiu Tu temporarily handle these matters is only to better investigate the ''Pharmacy Robbery Case'', nothing more."

    "Even if we select someone now to rece Qin Zhengguang as Deputy Division Chief, wouldn''t Qiu Tu still need to control those personnel and have those Public Security Offices cooperate anyway?"

    "In that case, the handling of those business matters will be even more chaotic!"

    "Therefore, it''s better to let Qiu Tu deal with those matters for now, and we can discuss it again after the case is solved!"

    Honestly, Lin Ting''s argument was a bit of bait and switch: cooperating with the Public Security Office and managing it werepletely different things.

    He was just trying to show his loyalty to Yan Chen by purposely countering Tang Feifei''s arguments and did not actually expect to persuade her to agree with his points.

    So, after making his statement, he sat there waiting for Tang Feifei''s counterattack.

    But, to everyone''s surprise... after a quiet consideration, Tang Feifei actually conceded, "Minister Lin does have a point."

    "I don''t have any objections for the time being."

    Having said that, Tang Feifei leaned back in her chair and remained silent.

    Tang Feifei''s sudden concession almost caused all the high-level officials present to throw out their backs.

    Nobody had expected Tang Feifei tounch a fiery attack only to retreat halfway through the battle?

 Chapter 149 Saving Liu Fuping (10,000 Words, Please Subscribe!)

    ```

    Jia Shu, however, was as if he hadn''t seen Liu Fuping''s struggle, his face piled with a false smile.

    "But what really confirmed for me that you were a spy was the night of ''Yin Caimei''s Death''."

    "The life or death of Yin Caimei wasn''t actually that important, but it was a good opportunity to test for moles within the Investigation Bureau."

    "So... I deliberately exaggerated the impact of ''Yin Caimei''s Death'' at the senior meeting of the Investigation Bureau and covered up the cause of Yin Caimei''s death. I wanted to see how many moles it would draw out."

    "What I did not expect was that you were the first one to be stirred..."

    As he spoke, Jia Shu''s face showed his disappointment, "Although you are a skilled interrogator, you''re indeed not cut out to be a spy."

    "You are too impatient and too restless."

    "A minor piece of intelligence, a small test, and youpletely lost yourposure. This isn''t the quality apetent spy should have..."

    Saying this, Jia Shu''s scalpel traced a few lines across Liu Fuping''s exquisitely beautiful face, "So... following the information and issues you exposed."

    "I just did a simple check, and I found out your real identity."

    "Previously, because the ''Yin Caimei Case'' wasn''t closed, it wasn''t convenient for me to take action against you."

    "Now that the ''Yin Caimei Case'' has endedpletely, I can finally rx..."

    As he said this, Jia Shu''s scalpel drew a graceful arc, as if sculpting art, heading towards Liu Fuping''s delicate wrist¡ªit appeared that Jia Shu intended to bleed Liu Fuping while slowly dissecting her...

    At this critical moment.

    Suddenly! The door of Jia Shu''s office was violently pushed open from the outside!

    With a "bang," the door heavily struck the wall.

    The hand holding the scalpel came to a slow halt, without even a hint of a tremble.

    The smile on his face faded as he turned around slowly to see who hade.

    The visitor turned out to be... Qiu Tu, who had already left the Investigation Bureau building but returned unexpectedly!

    Seeing Qiu Tu, there wasn''t much surprise on Jia Shu''s face.

    He adjusted his gold-rimmed sses and asked with a feigned smile, "Chief Qiu... oh, I mean, Chief Qiu. Shouldn''t you give me an exnation for bursting into my office in the middle of the night?"

    Upon hearing Jia Shu''s words, Qiu Tu smiled, seeming to have a kind of reckless fearlessness.

    He did not respond to Jia Shu''s question but instead pointed at Liu Fuping, who was tied to the dissection table, and countered, "Then... shouldn''t the minister exin why he tied up my subordinate on the dissection table in the middle of the night?"

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s sharp response, a mocking smile appeared on Jia Shu''s face; his eyes hidden behind sses were full of amusement, "Certainly."

    He pointed at Liu Fuping on the dissection table, "This subordinate of yours is a spy. I am interrogating her now..."

    Qiu Tu heard this and shook his head.

    He said, "Minister, that''s exactly why I''vee to see you."

    "You might have misunderstood; Agent Liu is not a spy."

    "Misunderstood?" A curious look shed in Jia Shu''s eyes, "How have I misunderstood?"

    The bright lights in the room cast more shadows, making the entire room seem to be divided and crisscrossed by light and shadow, appearing exceptionally eerie and magnificent.

    Qiu Tu slowly walked over to Liu Fuping, holding her while saying, "Are you trying to say that Agent Liu is a spy arranged by the Political Department of the Eastern City District?"

    Jia Shu regarded Qiu Tu nomittally.

    Qiu Tu said, "That indeed was Agent Liu''s previous identity."

    "Oh?" Jia Shu adjusted his gold-rimmed sses, watching Qiu Tu with a semnce of a smile, "Her previous identity? Does she have a new one now?"

    The shadows in the room seemed to spread slowly...

    Liu Fuping, sensing the impending danger, widened her eyes and shook her head at Qiu Tu, as if signaling him to leave quickly.

    But... Qiu Tu, as if unaware of anything, confidently said, "Yes."

    "Because... during the ''Yin Caimei Case,'' I turned Agent Liu. I made her a double agent."

    Upon hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Jia Shuughed, "Chief Qiu, do I need to remind you that even if you really cultivated or turned a spy, you would still need formal documentation on file?"

    "And with your prior rank, you weren''t authorized to nt spies, were you?"

    Qiu Tu retained an utmost calm expression. While unlocking the handcuffs on Liu Fuping, he smiled and replied, "You''re right to remind me, minister."

    "So, I didn''t n to directly authorize her as a double agent myself at that time."

    "I was preparing to report to you and apply for it."

    As he said this, Qiu Tu went to the foot of the table and unlocked Liu Fuping''s shackles, "But then, who would''ve thought that tonight, I would be promoted."

    "And with my position, I just happen to have the authority to nt spies."

    "So... I simply wrote an Authorization Letter myself and created a spy profile for Agent Liu."

    With that, Qiu Tu produced a document and showed it in front of Jia Shu.

    Jia Shu nced at it, and indeed it was a legal spy profile with Liu Fuping''s signature on it...

    After showing the document, Qiu Tu quickly put the document away and then said, "But... I didn''t expect that in just a short hour or two, the minister would have taken away my spy."

    ```

    ```

    "So... In my haste, I barged into the minister''s office."

    "That was indeed wrong of me,"

    After speaking, Qiu Tu slightly bowed to Jia Shu and said earnestly, "So... please punish me, Minister!"

    At this moment, Liu Fuping, whose handcuffs and shackles Qiu Tu had undone, had already hidden behind the bent figure of Qiu Tu.

    She sped Qiu Tu''s clothes tightly with both hands, nervously watching the covert struggle between the two men.

    Seeing Qiu Tu bow to admit his fault, Jia Shu said nothing. He just looked at Qiu Tu, quietly watching...

    After about five or six seconds, a smile suddenly blossomed on his face.

    Then he threw the scalpel into the tray, took off the rubber gloves, and helped Qiu Tu to his feet, saying with a forced smile, "Chief Qiu, you make too much of it."

    "What is there to punish? It''s all a misunderstanding," he said.

    As he spoke, he nced at Liu Fuping and said with a smirk, "Additionally, Agent Liu, I have a criticism for you too."

    "Since you''re already one of us, you should have taken the initiative to reveal your identity."

    Experience new tales on empire

    "By staying silent, aren''t you deliberately causing misunderstandings between Chief Qiu and me?"

    Facing the perverted Jia Shu, Liu Fuping was genuinely afraid. So although she wanted to help Qiu Tu smooth things over, she opened her mouth several times but still couldn''t speak.

    Seeing this, Qiu Tu also conveniently said with a smile, "Minister, you can''t me Agent Liu. Look, she can''t even speak right now."

    "After all, who doesn''t know of the Minister''s reputation in Xinjie City?"

    "Haha." Listening to Qiu Tu''spliments, Jia Shuughed hollowly twice.

    Seeing this, Qiu Tu didn''t dare linger and timely suggested leaving, "Then Minister, if there''s nothing else, we''ll be leaving now. There''s still a pile of work to be busy with."@@novelbin@@

    Upon hearing this, Jia Shu casually picked up a remote control and pressed a button. Then, watching the autopsy table slowly lower, he said with a fake smile, "Go ahead, go ahead."

    Seeing this, Qiu Tu grabbed Liu Fuping''s hand and then walked briskly out of Jia Shu''s office without looking back...

    After Qiu Tu left, the autopsy table fully descended.

    With his back to the office door, Jia Shu''s eyes had turnedpletely crimson...

    A sick smile appeared on his face, "Hehehe. The fruit has finally ripened...."

    "I really must thank the Bureau Chief and Liu Fuping, hehehe...."

    ...

    Meanwhile.

    Having left Jia Shu''s office, Qiu Tu started sprinting with Liu Fuping in tow.

    Only when they had exited the ninth floor and stepped into the elevator did Qiu Tu finally heave a sigh of relief.

    Seeing Qiu Tu''s reaction, the color slowly returned to Liu Fuping''s pale face, and her body gradually regained sensation.

    She bit her ming red lip and gazed at Qiu Tu with her lovely eyes, asking softly, "Did you... see the ring I dropped?"

    "Ring? What ring?" Qiu Tu took a few deep breaths before looking at Liu Fuping with a puzzled expression.

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s question, Liu Fuping seemed puzzled, "The ring... the one I was wearing today."

    "You didn''t see the ring I dropped? Then how did you... know something happened to me?"

    Upon hearing Liu Fuping''s question, Qiu Tu chuckled and flirtatiously replied, "What else could it be, it''s because of our hearts being in sync, of course...."

    At Qiu Tu''s words, Liu Fuping smiled and gave him a gentle p, "Still, the chief has a way with words."

    Looking at Liu Fuping''s gradually normalizing state, Qiu Tu''s gaze turned somewhat distant...

    In truth, the reason he was able toe to Liu Fuping''s rescue was really just a coincidence.

    It was yesterday morning, which was Sunday.

    When Liu Fuping took Qiu Tu to meet Jia Shu, Qiu Tu had experimented on her with a Cataclysmic Creature he obtained from the "Salvage Game" - the Silver Key Beehive!

    This Cataclysmic Creature could follow, monitor, and record everything that happened to a target object or creature for 36 hours.

    When Qiu Tu used it, it happened to be 10:30 a.m. (Chapter 130)

    And tonight, when Qiu Tu calmed Bai Ru down and escorted her out of the Investigation Bureau building, it was exactly 10:30 p.m., which was 36 hours after he used the Cataclysmic Creature.

    So... as Qiu Tu was preparing to drive to find Tang Feifei, the Silver Key Bee returned to him from Liu Fuping.

    Since it was his first time testing this Cataclysmic Creature, Qiu Tu, who was sitting in the car, became curious and checked what Liu Fuping had done over the past day and a half.

    As a result... he happened to see the scenes of Liu Fuping being taken away and threatened by Jia Shu...

    At that moment, Qiu Tu was truly shocked.

    He was hesitant about whether or not to take the risk to rescue Liu Fuping.

    But then... a detail in the footage involving Jia Shu made Qiu Tu decide to act.

    -------

    Old rules, three chapters at 10,000 words each. The third chapter will be posted at 19:00. Begging for Monthly Tickets!

    ```

 Chapter 150 66 out of the 108 Ways to Enhance Affection (Seeking Subscriptions for 10,000 Words!)

    ```

    In the video, Jia Shu had been engaging in idle chat with Liu Fuping since calling her into his office.

    He asked about her recent work, her life, and her health, but... he never broached any spy-rted topics with her.

    Despite no abnormality in his expression or actions, Qiu Tu, who knew Jia Shu''s personality well, was 100% certain that Jia Shu was just dying time.

    After stalling for over half an hour, when the time for the "Silver Key Bee" was about to expire, Jia Shu finally took out handcuffs and shackles and restrained Liu Fuping with them.

    The whole process... seemed like it was deliberately performed for Qiu Tu to see.

    After noticing this detail, although Qiu Tu was reluctant to admit it, he thought it over and concluded that there was only one possibility that could exin Jia Shu''s behavior.

    That was... Jia Shu knew about the existence of the Silver Key Bee on Liu Fuping. He even knew the exact timing of its instation very clearly.

    Following this conclusion, Qiu Tu also came up with more chilling spections:

    For instance... Jia Shu had surveilled him at least since yesterday, which is how he knew all of Qiu Tu''s actions, including the testing of the Silver Key Bee on Liu Fuping.

    Then... continuing with this spection and deducing further, Jia Shu''s actions today became very intriguing.

    After the "Yin Caimei Case" ended, he did not lie low, nor did he choose to target Qiu Tu, but instead chose to strike at Liu Fuping.

    This was clearly not about the wine for the drunken guest, but a way to force Qiu Tu to make a choice:

    To protect himself and watch Liu Fuping die, or... to save Liu Fuping, expose his "Achilles'' heel," and fall into Jia Shu''s trap.

    After all, although Qiu Tu handled affairs thoroughly, making it difficult for anyone to grasp leverage against him, Liu Fuping was riddled with vulnerabilities. A simple spy profile could only protect Liu Fuping momentarily.

    Liu Fuping had far too many points of weakness that could be targeted.

    Therefore, once Qiu Tu saved Liu Fuping... Jia Shu could manipte Qiu Tu by controlling Liu Fuping.

    Wouldn''t this evening''s act of turning Liu Fuping into a spy erase all of Qiu Tu''s previous efforts?

    Then, all Liu Fuping needed to do was to send another piece of intelligence to Eastern City, and Jia Shu would have a reason to strike again!

    Moreover, every time Liu Fuping transmitted intelligence, Jia Shu could use it as an excuse to attack.

    Unless Qiu Tu kept covering for her every time, iming he was the one who ordered the transmission, Liu Fuping''s fate would really bepletely in Jia Shu''s hands.

    Beyond this passive waiting, Jia Shu could also regrly demand intelligence about Eastern City from Liu Fuping, forcing her into a dilemma between the Investigation Bureaus of the two cities.

    And just a slight mishap could lead to both Liu Fuping and Qiu Tu being wiped out by him in one fell swoop.

    This was a multiple-choice question, turned into a lethal trick!

    It must be said that Jia Shu was ruthless in his actions. But... after figuring out Jia Shu''s scheme, Qiu Tu could onlyugh.

    Because Jia Shu, for all his calctions, had misjudged Liu Fuping''s ce in Qiu Tu''s heart.

    Although Qiu Tu got along well with Liu Fuping and often shared flirtatious moments with her, the rtionship between Liu Fuping and Qiu Tu... was really not at a level that would make Qiu Tu willing to risk danger to save her.

    So, after considering Jia Shu''s transparent n fully, Qiu Tu hardly thought twice before deciding to abandon Liu Fuping.

    However, just then, an idea suddenly struck Qiu Tu: since Jia Shu was already preparing to target him.

    Why not go with the flow and control the "direction" of Jia Shu''s attack?

    In chaotic times, one cannot afford to have weaknesses. But... one can fabricate a weakness!

    Isn''t Jia Shu suspicious about his rtionship with Liu Fuping? Then he would confirm that rtionship!

    If Jia Shu wants to grasp his weakness, then he would hand over this "weakness" to him!

    After that, no matter how Jia Shu nned to manipte him through Liu Fuping, he would cooperate as much as possible! Create the illusion that he had truly fallen into the trap!

    As long as he maintained his rationality and held on to relevant evidence, even if Liu Fuping turned out to be unreliable and Jia Shu got a hold of her, he could easily disentangle himself and remain unaffected!@@novelbin@@

    During this time, not only would he not have to worry about Jia Shu''s unknown threats, but he could also secure valuable development time, working with Tang Feifei to bring Jia Shu down!

    Having thought of this new approach, Qiu Tu suddenly felt it was workable!

    The only remaining question in this whole n was: Would Jia Shu use the pretense of setting a trap tonight to actually attempt a forcible killing of Qiu Tu?

    Luckily, Qiu Tu had the "Crisis Intuition" Golden Finger.

    When Qiu Tu was about to save Liu Fuping, his "Crisis Intuition" was not triggered. This meant that Jia Shu was not deranged enough to actually attempt to kill Qiu Tu.

    Therefore, Qiu Tu could calmly rescue Liu Fuping throughout the process!

    Because he really knew that Jia Shu was just bluffing and would not truly try to kill him...

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu nced at the Loyalty that had surged by another 9 points for Liu Fuping, who had now given herself over to himpletely.

    So, Liu Fuping was truly just an addition to tonight''s entire n.

    Although Qiu Tu also admitted that deep down, he might have a hint of desire to avoid the demise of this fragile and beautiful woman.

    After all, who could bear to lose a beautiful woman who was loyal, rapidly advancing in ability, and served multiple roles and functions? Right?

    But... he was mostly executing his own n.

    Of course, this did not cause Qiu Tu to feel guilty towards Liu Fuping.

    After all, although tonight''s n might involve using her, being used by others is in itself a type of value.

    Moreover, if he didn''t use her, she would not even survive the night...

    ```

    Thinking about this, Qiu Tu''s thoughts gradually circled back.

    The matter wasn''t over yet. No one knew if Jia Shu might still be monitoring the two of them, so... he still had to perform the full act.

    With that in mind, Qiu Tu deliberately took a deep breath, then hugged Liu Fuping with a face full of fear and said with concern, "Sister Liu, when I found out something happened to you, I was really scared."

    "I was really worried that I would be toote, worried that I wouldn''t be able to save you."

    "Now that I see you''re alright, I''m finallypletely relieved."

    It was probably the first time anyone had seen Qiu Tu express his emotions so openly.

    After a moment of stunned silence, Liu Fuping''s eyes reddened slightly as she hugged Qiu Tu back.

    Although Qiu Tu''s affections for her were "feigned," her feelings for Qiu Tu were genuine.

    After all, only she knew how desperate she felt when Jia Shu called her into his office and tied her to the dissection table.

    At that moment, she had even given up any hope of survival.

    It was precisely because of this mindset that when Qiu Tu appeared in the office like a god, and then forcefully confronted Jia Shu and took her out of the office, her world seemed to revolve around Qiu Tu alone...

    Now, hearing Qiu Tu''s sweet nothings and feeling his heartfelt concern, her heart overflowed with nothing but immense gratitude and dependence...

    [Liu Fuping Loyalty +5]

    Seeing the loyalty score appear again, Qiu Tu''s expression remained unchanged, but he sighed inwardly: Indeed, genuine feelings never retain, only maniptions win hearts.

    [108 Ways to Deepen Affection] No. 66: Girls are emotional creatures. In front of a woman, what you say is always more important than what you do. If you do a little, speak as if you''ve done more; If you do more, talk even more highly of it.

    Ps1: Scumbags often capture girls'' hearts this way.

    Ps2: This method should be used inbination with others, or it might backfire and turn you into ap dog...

    ...

    He left the Investigation Bureau building with Liu Fuping.

    Qiu Tu drove her back to her home.

    Perhaps because she had finally returned to her "territory", or maybe because Qiu Tu had been gentlyforting her the whole ride, Liu Fuping''s overall demeanor had improved significantly, and she was no longer as fearfully stiff as she was when confronting Jia Shu.

    Once home, Qiu Tu poured a cup of hot water for Liu Fuping. After she drank it, warmth spread through her body. Experience tales at empire

    She raised her eyes to look at Qiu Tu, then said softly, "Qiu Tu... thank you for saving me tonight."

    Remembering his current role, Qiu Tu sat next to Liu Fuping, gently embraced the beautiful young woman, and whispered sweet words, "Sister Liu, do we still need to say these things?"

    "The most important thing is that you''re okay."

    Liu Fuping''s face reddened slightly upon hearing this.

    Then, with a worried expression, she whispered, "What are you going to do next?"

    "Even though you created a spy profile for me... Jia Shu won''t believe it that easily."

    "And... Eastern City contacts me every half a month for intelligence."

    "Even though they just came to me two days ago, there''s still about ten days of buffer time."

    "But... eventually, Jia Shu is bound to catch on."

    Hearing this, Qiu Tu gently held Liu Fuping''s delicate hand.

    Jia Shu wasn''t wrong; Liu Fuping did have talent and was a quick learner.

    But... shecked experience and her psychological quality was far from meeting the standard of a spy.

    Qiu Tu was actually curious who could bear to train such a delicate beauty into a spy and throw her into another city to fend for herself, let alone let her fall into this kind of trap.

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu simultaneously criticized Liu Fuping''s handler and gently patted her hand, reassuring her, "Don''t worry. I''ve thought about all this. Leave everything to me, okay?"

    Upon hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Liu Fuping paused.

    Since leaving her hometown to be a spy in Xinjie City, it had been a long time since she''d heard such a reassuring andforting promise.

    And Qiu Tu did possess a kind of magic: it seemed that anything he agreed to do, he would certainly aplish.

    At that moment, Liu Fuping felt a strong impulse surge within her.

    She looked at Qiu Tu, then lowered her head and bit her lip, saying, "Okay. I trust you."

    After finishing, she whispered, "I''m a bit tired, I''ll take a bath first. You go ahead."

    With that, she got up and walked toward the bathroom.

    Watching her leave, Qiu Tu froze for a second, with several question marks appearing above his head: ??

    Wait, is there an unexpected surpriseing?

    ------

    Still 3 chapters with 10,000 words each! Continuing the daily 10,000 words tonight! Please support more! Requesting monthly tickets and subscriptions!

 Chapter 151 A Night with Liu Fuping (10,000 Words, Please Subscribe!)

    ```

    Thinking like this, Qiu Tu couldn''t help but tilt his head to look at Liu Fuping''s retreating figure.

    The beautiful young woman seemed to have really prepared for something, even her way of walking was different¡ªas if she was a bit sneaky, and yet somewhat shy. Despite being in her own home, she was tiptoeing as quietly as possible.

    Perhaps ustomed to Liu Fuping''s usual carefree manner and the back-and-forth interactions with him, Qiu Tu found himself somewhat unustomed to this state of hers!

    Watching Liu Fuping go into the Shuigu Room, Qiu Tuy on the couch, gazing at the ceiling, pondering over what this all meant....

    Could this be the legendary "repaying a life-saving debt with one''s body"?

    Tsk, isn''t that quite thrilling?

    And while Qiu Tu was indulging in wild thoughts, the sound of "swish swash" of water also came from the Shuigu Room.

    Hearing that suggestive sound, Qiu Tu paused for a moment, then suddenly sat up from the couch, no longer able to lie down.

    He tiptoed to the door, ready to catch a breeze at the Shuigu Room.

    To go to the bathroom, he had to pass the main entrance. But just as he reached the door, Qiu Tu froze for a second.

    Because... he discovered that the riding boots he had just ced at the door were gone!

    Qiu Tu: ??

    Qiu Tu hesitated for a moment then looked up at the clothes rack by the door. His jacket, which he had just hung there... was also gone.

    Qiu Tu was stunned for a moment, then a smile curved on his lips. Suddenly, things felt a bit interesting....

    And at that moment, the bathroom door was also opened from inside by Liu Fuping.

    Liu Fuping peeked out, her beautiful eyes looking at Qiu Tu, and asked, "What are you doing standing at the entrance?"

    Qiu Tu let out an "Ah?" and exined, "Nothing. Just wandering around."

    Liu Fuping made an "Mmm" and then, with a shy nce at Qiu Tu, she said softly, "I noticed your clothes were a bit dirty, and your boots hadn''t been cleaned for a while."

    "So I''ve washed both your clothes and boots."

    "They should be dry by tomorrow...."

    With that, she lifted her gaze, looking warmly at Qiu Tu.

    When Qiu Tu saw his boots and clothes missing earlier, he guessed this might happen. So he responded to Liu Fuping with an eager look, "I think they might just be able to ''dry'' tonight."

    Qiu Tu ced emphasis on the word "dry". Hearing this, Liu Fuping bit her lip and coyly rolled her eyes at Qiu Tu before slipping back into the bathroom.

    With both man and woman willing, Qiu Tu didn''t bother to pretend anymore.

    He cleared his throat, stepped forward, and knocked on the door, asking, "Sister Liu, you''ve helped me wash my clothes and clean my shoes."@@novelbin@@

    "I''m feeling a bit guilty, how about I help you wash wash as well?"

    A muffled giggle from Liu Fuping came from the bathroom, "What could you help me wash?"

    Qiu Tu, thick-faced, insisted, "Anything, really. I can help you scrub your back, scrub the front, scrub your legs¡ªall possible."

    "I''m strong, I can endure hardship, and I''m not tired easily!"

    Saying this, and perhaps worried Liu Fuping wouldn''t believe him, he assured spiritedly, "Really!"

    The bathroom grew silent, save for the continual swish of the water.

    For any ordinary person facing this situation, they would mostly think they''ve been rejected. But a seasoned yer like Qiu Tu knew... this was consent!

    With the atmosphere already set, do you really need a girl to tell you what you can do before you do it?

    When would you ever get to the meat of the matter then!

    So, Qiu Tu coughed and added, "Sister Liu, if you don''t say anything, I''ll take it as a yes."

    With that, Qiu Tu reached out and pushed open the bathroom door.

    As expected, the bathroom door wasn''t locked; it swung open with just a push.

    As the bathroom door opened, a dense steam immediately spilled out.

    Qiu Tu walked in, feeling as if he had entered a fairnd, surrounded by mist everywhere.

    Through the hazy fog, he could barely see Liu Fuping''s silhouette, faint and elusive.

    Qiu Tu smiled, closed the door, and then walked towards that direction.

    Before he could even get close, the showerhead suddenly sprayed water at him.

    Qiu Tu couldn''t dodge in time, and his clothes were instantly soaked; the giggles of Liu Fuping also reached his ears.

    Could Qiu Tu swallow this defeat?!

    Provoked by his subordinate, he was "greatly enraged" and decided to show this unruly subordinate, Liu Fuping, the authority of his position as her superior....

    ....

    ....

    An hourter.

    The storm had passed.

    Qiu Tu and Liu Fupingy in bed, snuggled up to each other.

    The triumphant Qiu Tu wrapped his arms around Liu Fuping, and while smoking a cigarette, he also started discussing serious matters.

    "Sister Liu, is there any intelligence rted to ''God'' in Eastern City?"

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s question, Liu Fuping struggled to sit up, nced at Qiu Tu and asked, "Intelligence rted to ''God''?"

    "Are you referring to the ''God'' that Old Master Qin mentioned?"

    Qiu Tu responded with a "Mmm".

    With Liu Fuping''s loyalty now skyrocketing to 95, and given their current rtionship, of course, she would not keep any secrets.

    So upon hearing Qiu Tu''s question, she hesitated, then disclosed, "I might have really heard something about ''God''."

    She said, "I once heard it from an elder... Ah, a senior."

    "He said that, in fact... ''God'' is not far from ordinary people."

    "In an era where the Spirit World and the physical world are mutually influential, the material can affect the spirit, and the spirit can affect the material."

    "Therefore... the thoughts and desires of all living beings may catalyze the emergence of Cataclysmic Creatures in the Spirit World."

    "Among these, Cataclysmic Creatures spawned by several of the mostmon human desires are particrly numerous."

    "Common desires?" Qiu Tu asked with interest.

    Liu Fuping nodded, "Yes."

    ```

    "For example: jealousy, greed, lust, and so on,"

    Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu fell into thought for a moment, then couldn''t help asking, "These all seem to be negative?"

    Liu Fuping hummed in agreement and said, "Yes. That''s because... negative emotions tend to gather more easily."

    Qiu Tu pondered for a while and felt that it made sense.

    Indeed, many times, people''s positive emotions are far less intense than their negative ones.

    He hesitated for a moment, then said, "So... the ''God'' that Old Master Qin worships is very likely born from humanity''s own lust?"

    Liu Fuping nodded again, "It''s very possible."

    Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu couldn''t help but ask, "What about your rtive, has he ever mentioned how to deal with such High Order cataclysmic creatures?"

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Liu Fuping hesitated and then slowly shook her head, "No."

    Seeing that Qiu Tu was a bit disappointed, she couldn''t help but add, "But, I can find time to contact him and ask if there is a way."

    Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu happily hugged Liu Fuping and nted a kiss on her with a smack!

    Caught off guard by Qiu Tu''s sudden attack, Liu Fuping''s beautiful eyes instantly misted over, her gaze hazy and all the more enticing.

    She didn''t say a word, but it seemed as if a thousand words were conveyed in her eyes.

    Qiu Tu read the message in her eyes and, unwilling to be outdone, ascended once more...

    It was as if the moon had blushed, shyly pulling the clouds to cover the sky.

    This made Xinjie City, already shrouded in darkness, seem even darker by a third...

    And in the night of Xinjie City, where Order had not yet fully recovered, many were taking the opportunity to move about in secret...

    While engrossed in hard work, Qiu Tu sometimes felt as if he and Liu Fuping had forgotten something, but he couldn''t recall what it was...

    Meanwhile.

    At Tang Feifei''s private vi. Holding a ss of wine, Tang Feifei sipped lightly while patiently waiting for Qiu Tu...

    A silent night passed.

    The next morning, Liu Fuping got up from bed, her body aching all over.

    Seeing the marks that covered her body and recallingst night''s "protracted battle," she couldn''t help but smile.

    She tidied her hair and got up to take a bath...

    But no sooner had she stepped out of the bedroom than her Communicator started to buzz.

    Liu Fuping walked over to the sofa and fished out her Communicator from her uniform pocket to take a look.

    At that nce, her expression changed dramatically.

    Because the call was from Tang Feifei!

    Liu Fuping didn''t pick up immediately but first opened her contact list to check.

    Then she discovered that Tang Feifei had called her countless times throughout the night.

    At that moment, Liu Fuping truly felt like she had been caught in an affair.

    So she quickly racked her brain, thinking of what to say.

    After silently contemting for a few seconds, Liu Fuping took a deep breath and answered the call.

    As soon as the call connected, Tang Feifei''s distant voice came through, "Where were youst night?"

    Women are masters of acting, so Liu Fuping feigned a yawn and said, "Where else could I be? Of course, I was at home."

    After speaking, Liu Fuping counter-asked, "What''s happened? Is there some kind of problem?"

    Tang Feifei spoke gravely, "Qiu Tu didn''te to see mest night."

    "I didn''t dare contact him rashly and it wasn''t convenient to send someone to inquire, so I was a bit worried."

    Liu Fuping keenly caught the slip in Tang Feifei''s words, "Worried?"

    Before she could press further, Tang Feifei quickly filled the gap, "Yes. He and I were preparing to deal with Jia Shu, I''m worried that Jia Shu might have acted against him beforehand."

    "In which case, I might lose an important ally."

    This reason seemed reasonable enough. And,pared to Tang Feifei, Liu Fuping, who had just been intimate with Qiu Tust night, clearly felt guiltier.

    So she didn''t continue to fixate on this minor issue but instead said, "I''ll give him a call and ask about the situation."

    Tang Feifei hummed in response.

    Just when Liu Fuping thought the call was over, Tang Feifei suddenly asked another question, "Did you see Qiu Tu after you spoke to me on the phonest night?"

    Hearing this crucial question, Liu Fuping was at a loss for an answer.

    After all, she didn''t know whether Tang Feifei was onto something...

    So, after carefully considering for a moment, she finally said, "I did see him. Jia Shu sought me outst night, and when I left, I bumped into him. He was heading out."

    Tang Feifei responded with a cool "Hmm" and hung up the phone.

    ''Something is off about her.''

    ''Something is off about her...?''

    After hanging up, the two women who once shared an extremely intimate rtionship held their Communicators with a glimmer of suspicion in their eyes.

    Both knew each other too well, as well as how they treated their ordinary colleagues.

    And both Tang Feifei''s unusual concern and Liu Fuping''s slightly concealing demeanor seemed a bit different from usual.

    However, perhaps because they themselves were the "guilty" party, they couldn''t be sure if they were just seeing dirt in everything they perceived as "heartfelt."

    So... after hesitating, both women suppressed their doubts, preparing to use their own means to probe a bit further...

    Continue your adventure at empire

    At this time, Qiu Tu was unaware that the two women with whom he had shared intimate rtions were starting to doubt the purity of their rtionships with him.

    Right now, he had just woken up from sleep.

    Perhaps the constitution of Cataclysmics truly surpasses that of ordinary people since he was still full of vitality despite having slept for only four hours.

    Lying on Liu Fuping''s big bed, Qiu Tu didn''t idle. He took this spare time to start tallying up his recent haul of loot!

    -----

    I was blocked again. Then I took a long time to make some changes. I reduced some details, but it does not affect the overall plot.

    Today, as usual, three chapters of 10,000 words. The third chapter will be updated around 19:00. Seeking Monthly Tickets, seeking subscriptions!

 Chapter 152 Inventory of recent gains! (10,000 words asking for subscriptions!)

    Qiu Tu had a rather fruitful period recently.

    And his gains mainly came from three sources.

    The first source of gain was the "fixed harvest." Readtest stories on empire

    Since the second Golden Finger "Loyalty Game" was activated, Qiu Tu had a steady source of gains.

    During this time, through the two mini-games of the "Loyalty Game," Qiu Tu also obtained quite a few good items.

    Especially the "Salvage Game."

    This game allowed Qiu Tu to obtain Cataclysmic Material, Cataclysmic treasures, or Cataclysmic Creatures that exist in reality.

    The only limitation was that the loyalty of his subordinates had to be above 90, and it could only be yed once every seven days.

    Therefore, in the past few days, Qiu Tu had only Ah-Tai, Eagle, Ah-Kun, Ah-Xiong, and Liu Fuping y this game.

    Ah-Tai salvaged a Cataclysmic treasure called the "Mandragora Love Drug," Eagle salvaged the "Seal of ownership," and Ah-Kun salvaged the "Silver Key Beehive."

    As for the rewards Ah-Xiong and Liu Fuping salvaged, they were a bit different.

    Ah-Xiong brought up Cataclysmic Material called "Nameless Stele Powder."

    ''Nameless Stele Powder: One of the key Cataclysm Materials. Just match it with other materials, and you can create Cataclysmic treasures like the "Skull Talisman" or "Old Seal"...''

    As for the Cataclysmic Material Liu Fuping brought up, it was even more special.

    ''Overflowing Cataclysmic''s Spiritual entity: One of the very special Cataclysm Materials. It contains the power source of a Cataclysmic.

    ''If you integrate it into the Cataclysmic Awakening Potion, the sess rate of awakening will get infinitely close to 100%. However... it can only awaken the path and abilities of this particr Cataclysmic''s Spiritual entity.''

    ''Note: the path this Cataclysmic''s Spiritual entity follows is "Mystery", and the Cataclysmic ability it possesses is "Shadow Walking".''

    Besides the "Salvage Game," in the past few days of the "Combat Game," Qiu Tu still chose to fight against Wang Xi. Unfortunately, Wang Xi evolved rapidly during this period, and his subordinates sent to fight against Wang Xi could only im some wins and some losses.

    So, he only got two small Memory fragments.

    The first one, Qiu Tu had already seen, which was the scene where the Masked Man in Suit ughtered that wealthy businessman.

    The second one was the Memory fragment that Ah-Tai won by fighting desperatelyst night.

    Qiu Tu kept it for now, nning to check it when he had time today.

    Besides "fixed harvest,"

    Qiu Tu''s second source of gains was the "Countdown rewards."

    The resolution of Yin Caimei''s case turned all three of Qiu Tu''s countdown hoursses into Treasure Chests.

    The first was the one-minute timed countdown when Jia Shu suspected him. (Chapter 110)

    The second was "Danger in the Dark."

    The third, of course, was "Yin Caimei''s case closure time."

    Because Qiu Tu had been busy earlier, he didn''t have time to check these three hoursses.

    This time, taking the opportunity when he had a moment, he started to investigate the rewards for these three Crisis Countdowns.

    The reward for the first Crisis Countdown was named "Defying Fate Scales," which, as described, is a precious Cataclysmic Material shed from a High Order catastrophized creature.

    Qiu Tu remembered seeing this material on the potion form of the Masked Man in Suit as well...

    The second and third Crisis Countdowns, perhaps because they were more difficult, had considerably richer rewards¡ªtwo Cataclysmic treasures.

    One was called "Upromising Simcrum," and the other was "Ghostly Map"...

    Apart from the substantial rewards provided by the two Golden Fingers, Qiu Tu''s third source of gains came from the Cataclysmic he had killed.

    From Old Master Qin, Qiu Tu had already learned that the Cataclysmic''s name was Lone Wolf, a killer with Cataclysmic ability.

    More importantly, Qiu Tu found three items on Lone Wolf''s body.

    A dagger, a slightly odd small box, and a coin that looked a bit antiquated.

    The dagger, ording to Old Master Qin, was an ordinary object, simply sharper than usual, capable of cutting through iron like mud.

    But the small box and the coin each had their own stories.

    ording to Old Master Qin, inside the small box was a Cataclysmic Creature called "Heart-Connecting Silkworm."

    It''s a creature simr in appearance to a silkworm with the ability to spin silk.

    But the silk it spins is not suited for making clothes; instead, it can be ced within the heart of any living being within 10 meters, establishing a psychic link.

    The two people who establish this link can converse in their minds without making a sound.

    Lone Wolf was able tomunicate secretly with Old Master Qin by using the silk spun by this Cataclysmic Creature.

    As for the coin, ording to Old Master Qin, he wasn''t sure of its purpose.

    But... Lone Wolf obtained that coin after his first interaction with ''Larilo.''

    Supposedly, as long as he had this coin, Lone Wolf could be under Larilo''s divine protection.

    Old Master Qin actually tried several times to get this coin from Lone Wolf but was afraid of angering the deity, so he had to give up the idea.

    As it turned out, after all the twists and turns, the coin ended up in Qiu Tu''s hands.

    Beyond the collection of Cataclysmic Material, Cataclysmic treasures, and Cataclysmic Creatures, Qiu Tu still had many promises and resources from Qin Shuman that he hadn''t had the chance to exchange yet.

    These included money, talent, intelligence, and more.

    And more importantly, as Qiu Tu advanced in his position, it seemed his Cataclysmic ability... also improved?

    It was just that since he had been busy sincest night up until now, he hadn''t had the time toprehend and thus was temporarily unaware of the changes...

    One could say... that the Yin Caimei case had made Qiu Tu utterly wealthy! He hadpleted his initial capital umtion!

    ''Indeed... if you want to get rich quick, you have to bite off more than you can chew!'' he thought.

    While thinking this, Qiu Tu also quietly tucked away all the gains he had made during this time.

    Then he crossed his hands behind his head, contentedlyy on the bed, and took another rest.

    Once his mood had settled, Qiu Tu, smelling the lingering scent of Liu Fuping beside him, suddenly felt his interest piqued.@@novelbin@@

    So, he got out of bed, went to the bathroom shaking it off, and pressed Liu Fuping, who was squatting and brushing her teeth, onto the washbasin, and went "up and down" a few more times...

    In this manner, time passed until dawn.

    Qiu Tu finally spared her amidst the pleas of Liu Fuping...

    and took her along to the Investigation Bureau Office Building.

    Qiu Tu did a simple induction at the Action Division, then proactively met with the chief and deputy chief of the division to get acquainted.

    Since they all knew that Qiu Tu was only on secondment at the Action Division and had no direct conflicts of interest, the meeting was very pleasant.

    After all this, Qiu Tu left the Political Department and headed to the Public Security Bureau on the second floor, ready to take over the investigation team for the "8.16 Pharmacy Robbery Case."

    Public Security Bureau, as one of thergest departments of the Investigation Bureau, could only be said to have an average status, which was evident from the fact that they were only situated on the second floor of the office building.

    The main function of the Public Security Bureau was to fund and manage the public security offices of the various streets. Thus, maintaining public security and dealing with trivial matters were their primary duties.

    But... this also meant that they were somewhat at a loss when it came to major cases.

    Therefore, Cui Daren, the chief of the Xiafang Street Public Security Bureau, was right; the entire investigative team for the "8.16 Pharmacy Robbery Case" was looking forward to Qiu Tu''s arrival.

    This allowed Qiu Tu to fit in without any issues after joining the investigative team.

    Also, because Qiu Tu was now seen as the savior of the Public Security Bureau, he smoothly filed an application to bring Liu Fuping, Song Qing, Wang Xi, and the two groups of confidants Cao Dabiao and Chen Feng from the Action Division and the Interrogation Section...

    With this, the investigation team for the "8.16 Pharmacy Robbery Case" was officially established...

    ...

    Meanwhile, just as Qiu Tu finished tallying his gains and was eagerly preparing for a big showdown,

    At the military''s Security Department Investigation Department,

    Lin Zuo was also on the phone with someone.

    "What did you say? You''ve found the target?"

    Lin Zuo asked coldly, "Are you sure you''re not mistaken? Is it a ck suit, red hair, and wearing a mask?"

    Hearing Lin Zuo''s question, the man on the other end of the phone dragged out his voice, sounding sly, "Boss, we might dare to deceive the Investigation Bureau, but we''d never dare to lie to the military~~!"

    "You guys would actually dare to shoot us dead~~"

    "And, I, Fatty Fish, am also a person of some standing in Xinjie City, why would I give you false information!"

    "I know it seems a bit coincidental, but... it really just happened like that~~"

    "The person you''re looking for has been frequenting our bar these days. Red hair, ck suit. Such a conspicuous outfit, how could we not recognize him!"

    Hearing Fatty Fish''s words, Lin Zuo said expressionlessly, "Alright."

    "Then keep a close watch on him! Don''t let him get away! I''m going to report to the higher-ups right now!"

    After saying that, Lin Zuo hung up the phone and walked toward Qin Shuman''s office.

    Arriving at Qin Shuman''s office door, Lin Zuo knocked, and Qin Shuman''s stern voice immediately followed, "Come in!"

    Lin Zuo pushed the door open, and Qin Shuman inside was seriously looking through some documents.

    Seeing Lin Zuo enter, Qin Shuman looked up at him and asked, "What''s happened?"

    Lin Zuo stood up straight and then replied, "Section Chief, the target that Qiu Tu asked us to help find a few days ago has been located!"

    "Our informer from the Fatty Fish Bar, Fatty Fish, says that the man with the red hair and the ck suit has been frequenting his bar in the past few days, leaving with one or two women each time."

    "He went there again just after lunch today, the bar had just opened. But this time, he wasn''t alone; he was with a woman in her twenties, almost thirty, with a gentle demeanor."

    "Shall we move in now?"

    -----

    The previous chapter was blocked, and it took a long time to revise before it was released. It''s unclear if it may be blocked again at any moment. If it suddenly disappears, it has been blocked again. Just wait a bit.

    The usual rule: 3 chapters, 10,000 words. The third chapter will be updated around 19:00. Ask for Monthly Tickets, ask for subscriptions!

 Chapter 155 First Contact with the Evil God (10,000 Words, Please Subscribe!)

    Qiu Tu: ....

    Truth be told, at that moment, Qiu Tu really felt that Suit Man and Wang Xi had lost their minds.

    Previously, through a memory fragment, he had witnessed Suit Man in the vi that night, proiming he had received "God''s" instructions and was ready to make a big move!

    But... he truly did not expect the two to dare to do something so outrageous!

    The wife of a section chief, a well-breddy, just brought out into the public like that, and treated in such a manner!

    Perhaps misinterpreting Qiu Tu''s silence asplicity, Suit Man nudged him with his shoulder and then, with an evil expression, said, "And what is a section chief''s wife, after all."

    "Let me tell you, under ''God''s'' guidance, we will build a beautiful new world!"

    He began his speech again, "As living beings, what is our first instinct?"

    "It is reproduction!"

    "So! Let us release our nature! Don''t care about status! Don''t care about human social rules!"

    "If you want it, take it! If you want to do it, do it! Let those restrictions no longer hinder our reproduction!"

    "Let life burst forth with its true power!"

    As Suit Man became more and more impassioned, Qiu Tu knew he had to y along. So, while fondling inside Madame Kong''s coat, he also said excitedly, "Can this really be achieved?!"

    Upon hearing this, Suit Man smiled slowly, "Of course! As long as... you believe in ''God''!"

    Hearing that, Qiu Tu knew the critical moment had arrived. So, with a look of longing, he asked, "Then how can I believe in ''God''?"

    Suit Man produced a pink card, smiling mysteriously, "This card is the token to contact God."

    "Just keep this card by your side, and at night, you''ll meet with God in your dreams..."

    Seeing the token so easily offered, Qiu Tu even hesitated a bit.

    But he didn''t show it on his face, intentionally gazing eagerly at the card while his left hand continued to clutch Madame Kong''s softness, and his right hand stretched out from her embrace, eager to take the card.

    Just then, Suit Man sharply retracted his hand, then, smiling at Qiu Tu, said, "To meet ''God,'' you must be sincere."

    "So, I can''t just give you this card. You need to pay a Little Goldfish to buy it."

    Qiu Tu: ??

    Honestly, at that moment, Qiu Tu had a big question mark over his head and ten thousand "facepalming" emojis running wild in his mind!

    ''What''s going on? Have I met a colleague?''

    ''Could this guy not be some Evil God Cultist but just a scammer?!''

    With that thought, Qiu Tu hesitated for a moment.

    He looked closely at Suit Man for a while, scrutinizing him.

    After confirming... that he was the same person he had seen in Wang Xi''s memory, he finally took out a Little Goldfish and pped it into Suit Man''s hand!

    Seeing the Little Goldfish, Suit Man''s face suddenly showed a hint of madness, but... the next second it disappeared.

    He handed the pink card to Qiu Tu with satisfaction, and then in an ethereal voice said, "Very good. It seems, brother, you truly are devout. ept this gift, and believe me, ''God'' will bless you!"

    Qiu Tu:.....

    Honestly, listening to that familiar spiel, Qiu Tu felt more and more like he had been tricked.

    Thus, Qiu Tu spent a Little Goldfish, with a purchasing power of 160,000 RMB from his previous life, to buy an ordinary-looking pink card...

    The only thing that made him feel it wasn''t aplete loss was that Suit Man, before leaving, arranged to meet again in the bar the next day aside from leaving Madame Kong, who was nearly a stranger, with Qiu Tu.

    ording to him, this was a gift from ''God'' to his follower. And he assured her she was clean and that he hadn''t touched her.@@novelbin@@

    After hearing this, Qiu Tu only had one question: Did Section Chief Kong consent to this ''gift'' during its preparation?

    ...

    And so, after bidding farewell to Suit Man,

    Qiu Tu embraced Madame Kong and got into his car.

    He drove to a small vi near Longshan Road and gradually brought the car to a stop.

    This was the temporary residence Qiu Tu had applied for using his authority, to better disguise himself as a wealthy scion.

    After parking the car, Qiu Tu ncedplicatedly at Madame Kong sitting in the passenger seat.

    From the bar to the vi, Madame Kong hadn''t said a word.

    Qiu Tu tried tomunicate with her, but she seemedpletely lost in her own world, only giving Qiu Tu intense stares...

    As if she were a living, breathing doll with a special purpose...

    This discovery made Qiu Tu even more wary of Suit Man, and of the Evil God behind him.

    He got out of the car, unlocked the door, and entered the living room, still holding Madame Kong.

    Qiu Tu told Madame Kong to rest on the sofa, while he went to the door to smoke a cigarette.

    After finishing the cigarette, two cars slowly approached from a distance, stopping one after the other in the yard of the vi.

    Lin Zuo, Liu Fuping, Cao Dabiao, Chen Feng, and several specialists from the Security Department got out of the two cars.

    Aftering down, Qiu Tu exchanged nces with them and then shook his head towards the inside.

    A few of them understood and stepped forward, taking out apass-shaped treasure to scan over Qiu Tu.

    After a moment, the officer using the treasure shook his head at Lin Zuo.

    Lin Zuo nced at Qiu Tu, then pointed inside the room.

    The officer, apanied by Liu Fuping, walked into the room and scanned Madame Kong with the treasure once again.

    Seeing that the treasure did not trigger any rm outside, Lin Zuo, who was leaning on the railing next to Qiu Tu, said expressionlessly, "There are no fluctuations of Cataclysmic treasures, so there shouldn''t be any surveince or listening devices left on you."

    Qiu Tu hummed in acknowledgment, without much surprise. Enjoy exclusive content from empire

    Because he knew how sessful his disguise was that evening, he almost fooled himself with his own "disguise" of debauchery. Therefore, it was normal for Suit Man not to suspect anything.

    Seeing how calm Qiu Tu was, Lin Zuo added expressionlessly, "So, there''s also some bad news."

    "The card the target gave you... is very likely a fake."

    "After all, it doesn''t seem to have any traces of Catastrophe Power on it either."

    Hearing Lin Zuo''s words, Qiu Tu took out the pink card from his pocket and while smoking, he fiddled with it, looking at it.

    The card was made of thick cardboard and felt slightly coarse to the touch. It had no text on it, only an image on the front that resembled important female organs, and looked somewhat suggestive.

    As Qiu Tu looked at the card, he slowly said, "Maybe... this card is just a smokescreen?"

    "Actually... after he approached me, he had already chosen me as the target?"

    Lin Zuo was nomittal, "Possible."

    At this point, he changed the tone of his voice, "But... it is even more likely that he was simply trying to swindle your money. After all, ording to the intelligence, he didn''t ask for money from those young masters in the past few days either."

    "So... you probably won''t get any clues for the money you spent."

    Hearing this, Qiu Tuughed, "How could that be possible? I''ve made a second preparation."

    ¡ª¡ªWhen Qiu Tu had close contact with Suit Man, he had already pped a new [Silver Key Bee] onto his body.

    So, whether the card was real or fake, by the day after tomorrow at thetest, Qiu Tu would know all the details of Suit Man''s movements over the next two days; thereby, Qiu Tu would still obtain a lot of information.

    Therefore, even if it was just for the chance of close contact with Suit Man, the money Qiu Tu spent as Little Goldfish was worth it.

    As for the connection with Larilo, it would be great to have it; if not, no loss.

    With that in mind, Qiu Tu raised the pink card in his hand and then looked up at Chen Feng and Cao Dabiao.

    He hesitated between the two, but eventually waved to Chen Feng, "Chen Feng."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s call, Chen Feng strode over and asked seriously, "Chief, you wanted to see me?"

    Qiu Tu hummed in acknowledgment and passed the pink card to him.

    "When you sleep tonight, keep this card close to your body."

    "I''ll rest as usual."

    "Let''s see which one of us will receive the ''God''s'' summoning."

    Having said that, Qiu Tu paused and then added, "If you do get summoned, there''s no need to panic. Just follow the n I set up for tonight."

    Chen Feng nodded solemnly and carefully put away the card upon hearing this.

    With these arrangements made, Qiu Tu had initiallypleted his ns for the evening.

    They all went their separate ways.

    Qiu Tu and Liu Fuping stayed in this temporary vi. While Chen Feng and Cao Dabiao moved into the temporary vi on the left.

    As for Madame Kong, she was temporarily taken by the Security Department to the vi on the right for inspection: the Security Department would try to figure out what kind of Cataclysmic ability Madame Kong had contracted and how to counteract it.

    As everyone returned to their respective vis, Qiu Tu, with Liu Fuping''s slender waist in his arm, also returned to the small vi.

    Since Qiu Tu had an "appointment" with Larilo that night, nothing happened between the two. They just took a bath together and then went to bed.

    Qiu Tu slowly drifted off to sleep as nned, while Liu Fupingy beside him, quietly guarding him to prevent any idents from urring.

    The reason Qiu Tu had applied for the three neighbouring vis as temporary operation bases for the Investigation Bureau and the Security Department was to be able to provide mutual support at any time and to deal immediately with emergencies should any arise.

    And so... as the blue moonlight cascaded down, it tranquilly nketed thend of Xinjie City.

    Qiu Tu slowly entered the realm of dreams.

    It was unclear how long had passed, maybe a minute, or maybe an hour...

    In his sleep, Qiu Tu suddenly felt a soft voice calling near his ear, "Jia Shu... Jia Shu..."

    At first, Qiu Tu didn''t react to the voice, but as the calling persisted, he suddenly realized!

    He slowly opened his eyes.

    And then he found himself seemingly in a pure white world made entirely of mist.

    And a beautiful girl was sitting on a throne, quietly watching him...

    ---------

 Chapter 158 Tang Feifei: I Want Monogamy (10,000 Words, Please Subscribe!)

    ```

    Although he had such concerns, facing Qin Shuman, Qiu Tu was still full of confidence and said, "Don''t worry... I already have a n."

    Qin Shuman wasn''t the type to dilly-dally or engage in endless disputes.

    So, upon hearing Qiu Tu''s words, she hesitated slightly before agreeing. She didn''t continue to offer help, instead, she quietly said, "Just make sure you don''t die."

    When Qiu Tu heard this, he knew what she was worried about, so he joked, "Haven''t you heard an old saying? ''Good people don''t live long, troublemakersst a thousand years!''"

    At the other end of the phone, Qin Shuman''s lips couldn''t help but curve upwards a little.

    She teased, "You''re really quite unsparing when ites to belittling yourself."

    A joke lightened the somewhat heavy atmosphere between them considerably.

    After chatting with Qiu Tu for a bit, Qin Shuman asked, "Is there anything else that I can help with?"

    To Qin Shuman, Qiu Tu didn''t stand on ceremony, "Actually, there is. You should have a file on Jia Shu, right?"

    "If it''s convenient, could you give me a copy?"

    Qiu Tu had enough of suffering from insufficient intelligence in his confrontation with Larilo tonight. So when facing the threat of Jia Shu, he didn''t want to be caught off guard a second time.

    A file of a high-ranking member of the Investigation Bureau, although confidential, was not a big deal to the current Qin Shuman.

    Thus, with a "Hmm," she agreed...

    Qin Shuman was very efficient in her work.

    In just twenty minutes, Lin Zuo knocked on the door of Qiu Tu''s vi expressionlessly, then handed over Jia Shu''s information to Qiu Tu.

    Qiu Tu took the information, thanked him with a smile, but Lin Zuo didn''t even bother to respond and turned around to leave with a poker face.

    Clearly... he was once again woken up from his sleep due to Qiu Tu and Qin Shuman, feeling disgruntled.

    Seeing this, Qiu Tu justughed indifferently.

    He watched Lin Zuo leave, then closed the door and turned on the lights in the first-floor hall of the vi. He sat down on the couch and slowly began to peruse the file.

    The entire file was detailed, covering Jia Shu''s life experiences, character assessment, family rtives, to the time of his Cataclysm Awakening. It was all meticulously recorded.

    The only disappointing part for Qiu Tu was that there was no introduction to Jia Shu''s Cataclysm Power in the file.

    Clearly, even in the Sanctuary, this was part of personal privacy and would not be recorded in the file...

    Having finished reading all of Jia Shu''s file, the image of Jia Shu in Qiu Tu''s mind became much more vivid.

    As a genius with a high IQ, Jia Shu enjoyed a splendid youth. He graduated from the Sanctuary''s Military Officers'' Academy, his parents both deceased, with only his younger brother to rely on.

    While at the academy, he excelled in all his courses and was finally noticed by a mid-ranking member of the General Investigation Bureau, who took him into the Investigation Bureau''s ranks.

    This marked the start of his rapid ascent in the Bureau.

    However, in the character assessment section of the file, Jia Shu didn''t score very high. ording to the Security Department''s evaluation, Jia Shu might have "a second personality" inside him, which could be brutal, bloody, and evil.

    As a result, he was particrly susceptible to negative emotions, which could lead to his Degeneration into an aberration.

    This was also why the Security Department was keeping a close eye on him...

    After going through Jia Shu''s filepletely, Qiu Tu took out his lighter and ignited the document.

    As the mes slowly devoured Jia Shu''s gray photo, and as the whole file turned into ashes, Qiu Tu swept the remnants into the trash can. Then he stood up and returned to the bedroom, ready to sleep.

    When he reached the bedroom, Liu Fuping was already lying in bed.

    She was wearing a tight silk slip dress that perfectly outlined her fully developed curves.

    Biting her lips, her cheeks flushed and eyes shimmering with a watery light, she was looking at Qiu Tu as if she wanted to ask for something.

    Seeing the enticing scene, Qiu Tu was stunned for a moment, then he found it a bit funny...

    This woman must have heard his phone call with Qin Shuman and felt jealous, so she came to stake her im.

    ''Indeed, no matter how mature a woman is, jealousy is inevitable.''

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu didn''t make the prepared beauty wait any longer but pounced on her...

    However, the moment he pounced, Qiu Tu also reflected on himself:

    ''I''m nning to seek Tang Feifei''s help tomorrow, yet tonight, I''m sleeping with her "girlfriend." Isn''t that a bit too much?''

    But before he could fully grasp the implications, he sumbed to the tender trap and was thoroughly engrossed...

    .....

    Meanwhile, at Tang Feifei''s small vi.

    Tang Feifei was sitting in the living room of her vi, wearing a tight practice outfit, holding a drink, gazing somewhat absentmindedly at the blue moon outside the window.

    Last night, she waited for Qiu Tu the entire evening, but he didn''te. She... understood.

    After all, Qiu Tu had just been promotedst night, needing to hand over work and celebrate with friends and colleagues¡ªit was indeed hard to get away.

    But... it was already the second day. The handover tasks should have beenpleted, andst night''s celebrations should have been done, right?

    So why... has he still note today?

    And it was not just Qiu Tu''s absence.

    Tang Feifei, having difficulty sleeping alone tonight, sent Liu Fuping a message in the middle of the night, hoping to invite her over forpany.

    But... who knew, Liu Fuping who was always eager to help, actually refused her bluntly, telling her she was on her period today and did not want to move.

    Let''s not even mention that Liu Fuping''s period shouldn''t be this early, just recall that even if she were to be cut with a knife, Liu Fuping would stille to keep herpany.

    For a moment, Tang Feifei felt as if the world had changed!@@novelbin@@

    She reminisced about the "happy times" with Qiu Tu over the weekend...

    At that time, she felt the "monogamous" life she had seemed quite beautiful as well.

    ¡ªQiu Tu was the husband, and Liu Fuping was the wife.

    As a result, why does it seem like she now has nothing at all!

    What on earth is going on!

    Thinking this, Tang Feifei, who already had a strong desire for control, downed the wine in her ss in one gulp and then "crash!" she crushed the ss to pieces!

    The ss pierced her hand as if it were hitting steel, not even scratching the skin!

    ....

    [Jia Shu''s assassination (38 hours)]

    [Evil God''s gaze (¡Þ)]

    ....

    A night without words.

    The next day, Qiu Tu woke up feeling utterly content.

    Last night, Liu Fuping whispered in Qiu Tu''s ear that her period was two days away and she was in a safe period now.

    Such a hint was as clear as it could be.

    So... Qiu Tu had his fill of enjoyment, did it with her, and then went to sleep soundly.

    And indeed, as Lin Zuo had said, Larilo pulling people into dreams should consume quite a bit of energy, sost night after Qiu Tu went to bed, she did note to bother him again.

    This actually allowed Qiu Tu to have a good night''s sleep!

    Getting up in the morning, the beauty was no longer by his side, only the faint scent of roses lingered on the bed.

    Qiu Tu stretched, put on his slippers, and went downstairs.

    As expected, Liu Fuping was busy in the kitchen downstairs.

    She had tied her ck hair into a bun, revealing her fair, swan-like neck, and her palm-sized face was filled with serenity and intellect.

    The morning light was just breaking, and the soft sunlight poured through the window onto her, who was d in an apron, adding a touch of liveliness to her beauty, making her seem exceptionally calm and gentle today...

    Qiu Tu walked over, gently wrapping his arms around Liu Fuping''s slender waist, and rested his head on the woman''s neck, softly nuzzling against it.

    Tickled by Qiu Tu''s actions, Liu Fuping cooed in protest, "Stop it! I''m cooking!"

    Taking that as encouragement, Qiu Tu grew even more yful, his hands involuntarily reaching up...

    They yed around for a while until Liu Fuping was almost unable to continue cooking. Only after her pleading did Qiu Tu let her off.

    After breakfast, Qiu Tu didn''t go to work but had Liu Fuping call Tang Feifei to invite her over to the vi for a chat.

    Obediently, Liu Fuping got up to call Tang Feifei.

    While she did that, Qiu Tu took the opportunity to sit on the dining chair and check the rewards fromst night''s Loyalty Game.

    The "Salvage Game" had to be put on hold for the time being since there were no eligible subordinates.

    But for the "Fighting Game," Qiu Tu had once again sent out his lead "fighter" Ah-Tai.

    Thus, even though Wang Xi''s weapon had been upgraded to a rifle, he still lost the game without any suspense.

    Looking at Wang Xi''s slowly increasing loyalty, which had reached 56 points, Qiu Tu checked out the newly emerged Memory Fragment (Medium) and chose to view it, hoping to find new clues inside!

    Following Qiu Tu''s choice, the next second, he found himself in a strange but exquisitely decorated vi.

    In front of "him," seven or eight naked women were kneeling.

    "He" had one foot pressing down on one of the women''s heads, while the other hand stroked another woman''s Yue Xiong,ughing wildly.

    Qiu Tu was shocked for a moment, then tried to carefully identify the environment and the identities of the women lying around.

    But perhaps due to theck of information, he could only roughly discern that these seven or eight women were all between the ages of 23 and 30, and judging by the delicacy of their skin¡­ they clearly were not ordinary citizens from the lower strata.

    Looking at the vi''s exquisite cashmere carpet and hanging famous paintings, also considering yesterday''s Madame Kong...

    A bold guess arose in Qiu Tu''s mind: could these women all be family members of the various section chiefs and department heads who had been arrested!

    ''They are too brazen!'' he thought.

    And as Qiu Tu thought this, a voice came from upstairs, "Wang Xi, stop ying,e up, the God will Bless you now!"

    ---

    Just a note, guys. Although I have the outline set, the screen time for the characters is not fixed. So it may be adjusted based on what readers like.

    So... if you like a certain character, be sure to leave morements or vote for them on the [Characters] page in the book''s [Introduction].

    That way, I''ll know who everyone likes and then consider giving them more or less screen time.

    Lastly, a shoutout for Tang Feifei and Liu Fuping who I''ve just created; if you like them, feel free to give them your support with likes.

    The next chapter will still be around 19:00.

 Chapter 159 Cataclysmic Ability: Mitosis (10,000 words begging for subscription!)

    Upon hearing the words of the man in the suit, Qiu Tu felt a slight stir in his heart.

    ''Blessing?''

    ''It seems like this time I might actually witness something extraordinary....?''

    Thinking so, Qiu Tu continued to "experience" on....

    Hearing the call of the man in the suit upstairs, "Qiu Tu" responded, "Coming!"

    After speaking, "Qiu Tu" casually groped the woman beside him a couple more times before getting up and heading upstairs along the staircase.@@novelbin@@

    When he reached the corner of the staircase, "Qiu Tu" turned to look back at the several naked women still kneeling on the ground, whistled sharply, and thenughed wildly as he ascended the stairs.

    His demeanor was bing more and more like that of the man in the suit....

    Upon reaching the top floor, "Qiu Tu" was met with a modernly furnished study.

    In the middle of the study was arge solid wood desk, its surface as smooth as a mirror. Where once there were papers and amp, now they were all piled up in the corner, reced by 12 white candles and 1 red candle.

    Beneath the 13 candles, there was a red six-pointed star drawn with blood.

    The 12 white candles were precisely ced at the 12 nodes of the hexagram, while the red candle was positioned right in the center!

    Qiu Tu silently memorized the pattern on the desk, then continued to follow Wang Xi''s memories.

    Meanwhile, upon seeing "Qiu Tu" enter, the masked man in the suit looked over, his eyes crimson with evil.

    "Old Qi, you actually don''t have the talent to be a ''Divine Envoy,'' but.... who would have thought you''d be so fortunate to encounter our ''God'' in this lifetime," he said.

    "To ''God,'' all living beings are equal, with no distinction of high or low, noble or humble."

    "Even the most ordinary person, as long as they devotedly worship her, can still be granted ''Divine Power'' and be a divine envoy."

    "Moreover,pared to those who drink the ''Iplete Potion'' and steal ''Divine Power,'' we who receive power bestowed by ''God'' are much safer, without any risk of failure."

    "So.... open your mind and ept the power that ''God'' bestows upon you!"

    Hearing the words of the man in the suit, "Qiu Tu" fell to the ground with a "thud," then crawled on the floor and cried out, "Please, ''God,'' grant me power!"

    As "Qiu Tu" shouted, the man in the suit let out several wild, mockingughs. He then opened a bag, grabbed a handful of an unknown white powder, and fiercely sprinkled it over the hexagram array!

    The next second, 13 mes surged up fiercely, changing from their original red to a deep purple!

    As the mes rose, the study was bathed in deep purple light, and smoke filled the air, as if the real world had been pulled away!

    And the figure of Larilo slowly emerged in this illusory world.

    Her eyes, crimson with evil, watched "Qiu Tu," making a stark contrast to her pure, angelic face.

    Then she stretched out her delicate hand and pointed towards "Qiu Tu."

    The next second, "Qiu Tu" felt the whole world spinning wildly. In a daze, he seemed to find himself in the midst of a brilliant gxy.

    But before he could take in the beautiful view, the countless gxies eerily began to stretch and deform, turning into thin, long tentacles, prating every cell in "Qiu Tu''s" body!

    "Qiu Tu" felt as if his entire body was being torn apart, the pain was unbearable! Yet his mental rity prevented him from passing out!

    And just as the agony was reaching its peak!

    Suddenly, the scene before Qiu Tu''s eyes changed dramatically! When he came to his senses, he realized he had left the [Memory World] and returned to reality!

    "Whew!"

    Qiu Tu took a deep breath and then checked his body, finding it unscathed.

    But.... the scene from that memory felt so real that he thought it had actually happened to him.

    At that moment, Qiu Tu truly realized the terrifying aspect of the [Loyalty Game].

    It might just be a little [Memory Fragment], but it''s a real [Memory]!

    Not only were sight, hearing, and touchpletely restored, but even the [sensation] was fully reproduced.

    It could be said that everything the brain/soul remembers, Qiu Tu could experience!

    And what''s more....

    It seems that even the thoughts were recorded in the memory...

    With this in mind, Qiu Tu couldn''t help but take out a piece of paper and pen and scribble something on it.

    Soon, the paper bore the details of Wang Xi''s Cataclysm Path and ability....

    ''Cataclysm Path: Life Reproduction''

    ''Cataclysmic Ability: Mitosis''

    ''Ability Effect: The Cataclysmic possessing this ability will have the capacity for asexual reproduction. Under certain conditions of sacrificing strength, one can split into two identical beings.''

    ''This ability can not only be applied to the entire living creature but also to its various organs, allowing a short-term enhancement of physical fitness or the recement of organs.''

    Looking at the record of Wang Xi''s Cataclysm Path and Cataclysmic ability on the paper, Qiu Tu stroked his chin and felt.... Although this ability seemed a bit disgusting, it appeared to be very practical.

    Not only can he regenerate amputated limbs, but he can also leave behind an extra body to save his life?

    Is this the Cataclysmic ability bestowed by "God"?

    Out of the blue, Qiu Tu suddenly understood why some people would choose to worship the Evil God and why the Sanctuary allowed only Cataclysmics to take up middle and high-level positions in various cities.

    Forget about most people, even Qiu Tu. If he had been unable to undergo the Cataclysm Awakening and one day the Evil God approached him, telling him that by worshipping the Evil God, he could be 100% guaranteed to receive Supernatural Power, he reckoned that he would find it difficult to resist such a temptation...

    Thinking along these lines, Qiu Tu neatly folded the paper in his hand and put it away.

    His takeaway from the "Memory Fragment (Medium)" this time was not insignificant. Qiu Tu not only witnessed that bizarre ritual, but he also learned that Wang Xi was already a Cataclysmic, and also discovered even more victims.

    With that thought, Qiu Tu couldn''t help taking out his Communicator and calling Cao Dabiao, instructing him to pull up the files on the families of the officials who had been involved in the incident a few days ago.

    Because he had just "personally" seen those women, identifying them should be possible with photographs, which could rify the victims without rming most people.

    Having done all of this, Qiu Tu also took the time to recall other details in the memory fragment that he had just reviewed.

    Very quickly, two new details caught his attention.

    First was that Suit Man seemed to have been wearing a mask in front of Wang Xi all the time?

    But if they were clearly aplices, why did Suit Man wear a mask in front of Wang Xi? What was he hiding?

    Second was that Suit Man referred to Wang Xi as "Old Qi"?

    If Qiu Tu remembered correctly, he recalled Wang Xi had once called Suit Man as "Old Master"?

    Old Master, Old Qi? So... are there five other members in this gang?

    But, why had he never seen them?

    The more Qiu Tu thought about it, the more puzzled he became...

    Combined with the fact that Larilo had been scheming for decades, and after descending to this world, she abandoned Old Master Qin, and her im that Jia Shu was a follower of hers...

    Qiu Tu had this nagging feeling that the young female Evil God was ying a very big game...

    .....

    Liu Fuping made the call to Tang Feifei at 11 a.m.

    Tang Feifei arrived at the temporary vi at 11:20 a.m.

    From her brisk manner, one could tell how much she "despised" Qiu Tu and Liu Fuping...

    However, even so, she did not abandon her professional demeanor.

    To ensure secrecy, she parked her car at a nearby mall, then walked to Qiu Tu and Liu Fuping''s little vi, and climbed through a kitchen window...

    Therefore, as Qiu Tu and Liu Fuping were analyzing the case, they saw Tang Feifei appear in the vi dressed in sportswear, with eyes as sharp as swords and bright as stars, making a silent entrance...

    Sensing her imposing aura, Qiu Tu and Liu Fuping looked at each other, then awkwardly raised their hands to greet, "Director Tang, what brings you climbing through the window?"

    Tang Feifei''s eyes were sharp as daggers, and she stared at Qiu Tu with a gaze as intense as a leopardess locking onto its prey before bursting into a coldugh, "Otherwise... I was afraid Chief Qiu... no, Chief Qiu, would run away!"

    "I''ve been trying to meet with you for two days, and I haven''t seen you, the busy man, at all."

    Seeing Tang Feifei''s usatory expression, Qiu Tu smiled again.

    He sent Liu Fuping to make tea first, while he took the initiative to approach her and started to butter her up, "Sister Tang is kidding. I could hide from anyone, but never from you."

    He exined, "It''s just that I''ve been immediately assigned a case after my recent promotion, and I''ve been too swamped to find time."

    Saying this, Qiu Tu pointed to the dark circles under his eyes, which he had from working with Liu Fuping until the wee hours, and said, "Look, I hardly got any sleepst night."

    Tang Feifei narrowed her eyes suspiciously at Qiu Tu''s dark circles, "Are those from staying up all night?"

    Qiu Tu nodded earnestly, "Of course!"

    Tang Feifei was skeptical, but she was toozy to quibble.

    She wasn''t the type to be petty; after a few sneers, she let it go.

    So she sat down on the sofa, with a look of having already seen through everything, and asked with a cold face, "So, tell me, what did you want to see me for this time?"

    It must be said, she looked spirited by nature, sitting straight even on the sofa, so her cold demeanor appeared even more striking and valiant.

    As Qiu Tu admired her robust health, he remarked, "What kind of talk is that! Is it a given that I''m in trouble if I''m looking for Sister Tang? Can''t it just be that I missed Sister Tang?!"

    Tang Feifei looked sideways at Qiu Tu, clearly unconvinced.

    Sure enough, after asserting his righteous stance, Qiu Tu grinned and sidled closer, then cheekily said, "Actually, it''s nothing much..."

    "It''s just... my subordinates want to kill me, my superiors want to kill me, and my enemy, an Evil God, also wants to kill me... that''s all."

    Tang Feifei turned her head and frowned at Qiu Tu, her wheat-colored face full of question marks: ???

    -----

    Three chapters, ten thousand words, haha, continuing tonight!

 Chapter 160 The 44th of 108 Ways to Enhance Affection (Request for Subscription of 10,000 words!)

    Seeing Tang Feifei''s puzzled expression, Qiu Tu quickly sat properly on the sofa and revealed a "well-behaved" smile.

    Then he continued with a shameless face, "Sister Tang... actually... I didn''t want to trouble you."

    "But the thing is... the most capable and powerful person I know is you."

    "Who else should I turn to for help if not you when I''m in trouble?"

    "And the trouble I''ve caused this time is indeed serious, if there''s anyone in Xinjie City who could solve my problems, it would only be you."

    "You wouldn''t just stand by and watch me die, right?"

    Seeing Qiu Tu''s sycophantic demeanor, Tang Feifei was almost amused to anger.

    She had been handling his affairs for the past two days and had spoken well of him in meetings, intending to invite him for a serious talk in the evening. Yet, she hadn''t managed to arrange a meeting with him for two days.

    Now that he was in trouble and realized he couldn''t cope, he came running to her immediately!

    A smile for her, a few nice words, and he thinks he can win her over?

    Does she seem that easy to cate?!

    Hmm...

    Well, she seemed a bit easy to appease.

    After all, getting the always arrogant Qiu Tu to lower his head in front of her did seem quite satisfying...

    With that thought, Tang Feifei suppressed the upward curl of her lips and then snorted lightly,menting, "Smooth talker."

    But having said that, she quickly followed up with, "Alright, cut the crap. Just tell me straight, who have you provoked this time, why do they want to kill you, and what''s their strength..."

    Qiu Tu keenly caught the smile on Tang Feifei''s lips and secretly rejoiced in his heart: Nailed it!

    "Emotional Fraud Manual" method 44 out of 108 ways to improve rtionships: Proper praise andpliments are always the best way to enhance the feelings between two people.

    Note: If your target is an [Action-Oriented Person] or [Rational nner], please use this inbination with method 43 (Chapter 102), and do not use it alone.

    Tang Feifei, this woman, was always generous in her actions, so if she wasn''t upset, she genuinely wasn''t.

    Seeing her reaction, Qiu Tu began to recount the events that had urred over the past few days.

    As he talked about serious matters, his expression gradually turned solemn, "Sister Tang, you should know about the new case Jia Shu recently handed over to me, right?"

    Tang Feifei nodded slightly, her wheat-colored face expressionless, "The robbery at the pharmacy on August 16th, right?"

    Qiu Tu said, "Yes."

    "I''ve actually... solved that case."

    Even Tang Feifei, who was usually calm, couldn''t help but express surprise at Qiu Tu''s words.

    She did a quick calction. From the time Qiu Tu took the case to today, it had only been... three days?

    He solved a case in three days that the Public Security Bureau couldn''t solve in thirty days?

    Was the Public Security Bureau too ipetent, or was Qiu Tu too strong?

    While she was pondering this, Qiu Tu added lightly, "Actually, I solved the case on the day I received it."

    Tang Feifei:...

    Tang Feifei confirmed that the man in front of her was indeed strong.

    Although she evaluated Qiu Tu that way in her heart, Tang Feifei kept an impassive expression on her cool face.

    She pretended to be indifferent and continued listening.

    Qiu Tu''s gaze turned distant, "But... after solving this case, I realized that the implications of this case might be far beyond my expectations."

    He said, "I started my investigation when I discovered that one of my subordinates had suddenly be a Cataclysmic."

    Next, Qiu Tu recounted the entire process of the case to Tang Feifei.

    Most of it was true, except for certain details rted to Golden Finger, where Qiu Tu would adjust the sequence of information to make everything sound more reasonable.

    After hearing Qiu Tu''s narrative, Tang Feifei''s expression turned serious as well.

    Her wheat-colored face showed extreme concentration, and her spirited eyebrows furrowed slightly, "So... you mean to say that this Evil God is now rapidly infiltrating Xinjie City?"

    "Your subordinate Wang Xi and the Head of the Political Department, Jia Shu, are both her followers?"

    "And Jia Shu even ns to assassinate you in the next few days for Her?"

    Qiu Tu nodded, affirming Tang Feifei''s summary.

    Tang Feifei tensed up, absorbed in thought, evidently shaken by the news.

    After a moment, she asked, "You just mentioned Jia Shu is a Second-Order Cataclysmic?"

    Qiu Tu''s reply was based on Larilo''s words, "Yes. That''s what the Evil God told me."

    After finishing, he couldn''t help but ask, "By the way, I still don''t really understand the difference between a Second Order Cataclysmic and a First-Order Cataclysmic. Is there a big gap in strength between the two?"

    Tang Feifei did not respond directly. Instead, she stood up and walked with her long legs to the kitchen.

    Then her sharp eyes surveyed the kitchen and selected two items.@@novelbin@@

    Momentster, she returned to Qiu Tu with the two items. She ced the first item on the coffee table, "This is a date, akin to an ordinary First-Order Cataclysmic."

    Immediately after, she ced an apple in front of Qiu Tu, "And this represents a Second-Order Cataclysmic."

    Qiu Tu was somewhat shocked, "Is the difference between them that vast?"

    Tang Feifei nodded slightly.

    She sat back on the sofa, and her firm and bouncy buttocks pressed onto the couch, producing a semi-circr curve on it.

    "Actually... each promotion for a Cataclysmic is a reshaping of one''s life."

    "Like ordinary people experiencing Cataclysm Awakening, bing a Cataclysmic. Their body undergoesprehensive enhancement; they obtain their unique Cataclysm Path; they gain their own Cataclysmic ability; and they can use Spiritual Vision to see scenes from the Boundless Heart Sea."

 Chapter 163 Flirting with Yan Chens Daughter (10,000 Words Appeal for Subscription!)

    ```

    Hearing Ji Chen''s words, Yan Chen''s gaze deepened, and the blue moonlight draped him in ayer of cold colors.

    With a somber face, he asked in a calm tone, "Moreplicated matters? What are they?"

    Ji Chen looked down and said softly, "It''s said... that those thugs are not ordinary people but Cataclysmics."

    "They might have some kind of Disaster Medication or ability that can manipte women."

    "So, they took advantage ofst week''s Chaos... um... to seize and vite several family members of department heads and section chiefs who had been dismissed."

    Hearing Ji Chen''s words, Yan Chen''s gaze slightly contracted, clearly a bit shocked as well.

    To seize and vite the families of a few dismissed department heads and section chiefs was no small matter. Once it got out, it would be a huge scandal.

    Before he could fully process this news, Ji Chen continued, "And... their Catastrophe Power seems to be derived from worshiping an Evil God..."

    At this, even someone asposed as Yan Chen struggled to control his expression.

    He furrowed his brow, considering a certain possibility.

    "You... aren''t about to tell me, are you, that the Evil God they worship is the one honored by the Qin Family?"

    By now, sweat had formed on Ji Chen''s forehead. He dare not wipe it away but simply nodded, saying sinctly, "ording to Qiu Tu, it is so."

    "Huh!" Yan Chen exhaled a deep breath of white air.

    That breath, like a white chain, headed toward a cluster of flowers not far away.

    The next second, as the white chain descended into the flowers, a patch of precious blooms immediately withered, as if their life essence had been sucked away.

    Seeing this, Yanyan let out a cry, released Yan Chen''s arm, and ran towards the flowers, hitching up her dress.

    She knelt down, her face full of distress as she gazed at the wilted flowers scattered on the ground.

    Meanwhile, Ji Chen was so frightened that he didn''t dare to make a sound, simply standing there with his head bowed.

    Seeing this, Yan Chen''s face turned ashen, and he let out a cold snort beforemanding, "Tell Qiu Tu toe see me now, immediately, right away!"

    After speaking, he didn''t even bother to check on Yanyan, instead striding away with an ashen face toward the vi.

    Ji Chen bowed behind him, "Yes!"

    After giving his respect, Ji Chen straightened up and wiped his sweat.

    Seeing Yan Chen walk away, he gave a subtle signal to a few maidservants not far off.

    The maidservants quickly understood and rushed over,peting to help Yanyan up, "Miss, please get up. Don''t touch those flowers; it''s dangerous."

    "Yes, Miss, it''s cold outside. Let''s go back to your room and rest," another added.

    Yanyan was a bit petnt at first, her eyes reddening as she clung to the flowers, refusing to leave.

    But in this house, everything clearly revolved around Yan Chen. Now, with Yan Chen enraged, no one dared to provoke him in such a situation; they all just wanted peace and safety.

    So, they half-dragged, half-carried Yanyan back to the vi.

    Once Yanyan was taken back into the vi, the now deserted garden saw Ji Chen nce at the withered cluster of flowers and click his tongue.

    Then he took out his phone, standing amidst the flowers, and directly called Qiu Tu to tell him toe and report to Yan Chen...

    ...

    Qiu Tu arrived at the City Center Garden Vi twenty minutester.

    He was dressed in a crisp, ck detective uniform, with a shining double-petaled epaulette on his shoulder, eliciting salutes and greetings from all the agents he passed.

    After parking, he entered the vi and hadn''t walked far when he heard a muffled cry of a young girl.

    Following the sound, Qiu Tu turned his head and saw a beautiful girl crying on a sofa in a side room while several maidservants whisperedforting words to her.

    Qiu Tu recognized the girl''s identity: Yan Chen''s daughter, Yanyan.

    So, he watched her for a couple of seconds before signaling to a maid standing by, asking, "What''s this about?"

    Seeing Qiu Tu''s inquiry, the maid replied with an embarrassed look, "The Bureau Chief damaged Miss''s flowers, and she''s upset about it."

    Qiu Tu''s gazended on the withered blossoms on the coffee table in front of the girl, thought for a moment, then stepped outside the vi and picked a few fresh flowers of the same variety from the garden.

    Recalling a technique he learned in a past life, Qiu Tu hid the fresh flowers and then went to the side room.

    Entering the side room, Qiu Tu deliberately made his footsteps a bit heavier.

    Upon hearing the "ck ck" of boots on the ground, Yanyan, with tear-streaked cheeks, looked up towards Qiu Tu.

    Seeing a stranger, her expression became a bit timid.

    Qiu Tu, noticing this, asked with a congenial smile, "Did I just see a beautiful youngdy crying here?"

    "Has something bad happened?"

    Yanyan seemed shy around strangers, so she looked up imploringly at the maid beside her. Find your next read at empire

    Upon seeing this, the maid slightly bowed to Qiu Tu, "Agent Qiu."

    Although they had seen Qiu Tu many times and knew he wasn''t a stranger, they weren''t fully aware of his current position.@@novelbin@@

    Qiu Tu wasn''t bothered. He walked over, then looked at the withered flowers on the table with feigned surprise, "Is this beautiful youngdy crying over the wilting of these flowers?"

    From the reactions of the maidservants, Yanyan had realized that Qiu Tu wasn''t a stranger. So, although she still didn''t speak to him, she wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes and nodded her head lightly.

    Seeing this, Qiu Tu offered aforting smile, "Every flower has its own blooming season. Birth, bloom, flourish, wither, fall; it''s aplete cycle."

    ```

 Chapter 166 The Bewitching Female Secretary (10,000 Words Appeal for Subscription!)

    Seeing the strange description of the potion, Qiu Tu was truly a walking question mark.

    "Wait a minute, a potion for petrified skin turns you into stone yourself?"

    What kind of potion genius is this?

    After all... just say it did or didn''t petrify, will you!

    While silently criticizing in his mind, Qiu Tu set the bottle of "Fossil Potion" aside and then looked at the second potion.

    The second potion was named "Nameless Potion 2".

    With a forehead full of dark lines, Qiu Tu could roughly guess the remark on this potion.

    As expected...

    "A byproduct of a failed attempt at making the ''Giant Strength Expansion Potion''."

    "ording to the observations of the test subject, a small white dog, after drinking it, it failed to increase the user''s size and strength. However... it can cause certain body parts, such as an arm, leg, or head, to erge and gain strength."

    "The potion''s effectsst for a maximum of 3 hours."

    Qiu Tu: ??

    At this moment, Qiu Tu''s head was filled with little question marks.

    He could already imagine the scene where Shen Lingshuang gave the little white dog the potion, and its head suddenly erged, chasing her around and biting.

    What kind of sins did this little white dogmit in its past life to end up as the test subject for a "Potion Genius" like Shen Lingshuang?

    Qiu Tu recalled that when he had first met Shen Lingshuang, she told him about the fever-reducing potion she had made for her father. Although it did bring his fever down, her father ended up without any body temperature at all.

    Truly a Medicine God...

    When he first asked her to concoct the "Cataclysm Awakening Potion," his "Crisis Intuition" reminded him that he could only attempt it every three days. Could it be because of her mystical "Medicine God Constitution"?

    Silentlymenting in his heart, Qiu Tu warily took out the third potion.

    This time, Shen Lingshuang had finally not botched the potion.

    "Iron Will Potion"

    "Effect: After consumption, it can strengthen the mind tremendously for one hour. It not only effectively prevents mental damage, but also enhances concentration and pain tolerance."

    "The little white dog chased me for five whole streets after having a little bit of this potion! I threw several rocks at it and still couldn''t drive it away!"

    Looking at the remark left by Shen Lingshuang, Qiu Tu had a forehead full of dark lines.

    If he were that little white dog, he wouldn''t let Shen Lingshuang off either...

    With that thought, Qiu Tu pocketed the Iron Will Potion and temporarily set the other two aside.

    Although the effects of the three potions varied, only thest one, which could increase mental resilience, would be of some help in today''s battle.

    As for the other two, maybe...

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu suddenly paused in his actions.

    All three potions, if sessfully concocted, would have been one for physical defense (Petrification Skin Potion), one for mental defense (Iron Will Potion), and one for offensive use (Giant Strength Expansion)...

    At this thought, Qiu Tu felt a mix of emotions.

    He couldn''t help but look in the direction of his home...

    In a trance, he seemed to see Shen Lingshuang, without amunicator, sitting dumbly on the old sofa, propping up her chin, staring out the door, waiting for his return...

    And that unlucky little white dog would bezily sprawled at her feet, curled up and asleep...

    ''Damn it. I hate this sappy stuff!''

    ''No woman in heart, the firmer the trigger gets!''

    Cursing in his mind, Qiu Tu pressed the elerator, his face disgruntled, and headed towards the Investigation Bureau!

    However, on the way to the Investigation Bureau, Qiu Tu still took out hismunicator and found an excuse to vent his anger by giving Eagle and Ah-Kun a good scolding!

    After the tirade, Qiu Tu tossed themunicator aside, leaving the two on the other end bewildered.

    They racked their brains but couldn''t understand why they were being scolded. They could only scratch their heads and chalk it up to Qiu Tu being in a bad mood.

    After all, Qiu Tu couldn''t possibly be taking out his frustration about Shen Lingshuang on them, could he? Experience tales with empire

    All they did was not lend amunicator to Shen Lingshuang.

    Thinking so, they didn''t take it to heart: after all, to them, Qiu Tu was a big brother, almost like a father. If he scolds, so be it. They had noints...

    Like that, Qiu Tu sped all the way to the Investigation Bureau.

    Having vented all the way, his mood had finally improved a great deal.

    Getting out of the car, Qiu Tu locked up and prepared to go to the Investigation Bureau Office Building to start his day at work.

    However, he had hardly taken a step when a familiar voice called out to him, "Qiu Tu~~"@@novelbin@@

    At that voice, Qiu Tu turned around and saw Liu Fuping standing under a nearby tree, sneakily waving at him.

    Qiu Tu was momentarily stunned before a light went on in his head: Hiss... Could it be that the beautifuldy wants to get up to something naughty today?

    With that thought, he walked over, twirling his car keys, and asked curiously, "Sister Liu, why are you waiting here for me today? Is there something you need?"

    Liu Fuping, looking like she was about to do something secretive, nced left and right to ensure there was nobody else around in the parking lot. Then, grabbing Qiu Tu''s hand, she whispered, "Come with me."

    Qiu Tu nced at the Crisis Countdown in the top left corner, with no new Crisis Warning, suggesting there was no danger.

    And so, he followed her, ready to find out what kind of potion the beautiful young widow had in store for him today.

    After leaving the parking lot, Liu Fuping in uniform, hands behind her back, tiptoeing, peering left and right.

    Once she made sure no one had seen them, she pulled Qiu Tu into a residential house across from the Investigation Bureau.

 Chapter 169 Endless Trump Cards (11,000 Words, Subscribe Please!)

    Special Duties Department Director Lin Ting was unaware that Qiu Tu had already captured a masked man in a suit.

    Therefore, when a man in a suit suddenly appeared, he didn''t feel any surprise at all!

    However, he saw that the masked man in a suit did not flee but had the audacity to strike at him first!

    A trace of annoyance appeared on his face instantly, so his eyes became as sharp as an eagle''s, and without dodging or evading, he counterattacked with a palm strike!

    With a "Boom!" a loud noise erupted!@@novelbin@@

    As both individuals shed palms, the air itself seemed to be violently shaking!

    The next second, to the shock of the onlookers, both sides seemed to be evenly matched, each taking a step back!

    The man in a suit was wearing a mask, making it impossible for the various forces to recognize his true identity.

    But Lin Ting''s identity was known to everyone.

    A minister from the Special Service Department and one of the nine high-ranking officials of the Investigation Bureau, a standard Second-Order Cataclysmic Awakened!

    To face a man in a suit and only manage to fight to a draw?

    One must know that there were only a few Second-Order Cataclysmics in Xinjie City! Each one of them was a significant figure!

    And the number that might have a connection to Qiu Tu was even fewer¡­.

    So, at that moment, in the minds of all the scouts and spies, a bold idea emerged: This man in a suit... could he possibly be Jia Shu?

    Had he gone insane?

    Was he truly disregarding his status anding to assassinate his subordinate?

    What on earth was he doing?

    Thus, in no time, various messages about this assassination attempt started being ryed quickly to those behind-the-scenes power yers¡­.

    ¡­.

    At the Garden Vi in the City Center Garden, in an opulently decorated ordinary lounge.

    Yan Chen was sitting on a plush genuine leather sofa, quietly reading a book under themplight.

    His daughter Yanyan sat at the table next to him, holding a vase and arranging a bouquet of flowers.

    Just when everything was incredibly peaceful andfortable.

    Suddenly, hurried footsteps disrupted the quiet of the lounge.

    "Bureau Chief¡­"

    Ji Chen arrived at the door, knocked gently, and then called out.

    Yan Chen, after hearing the call, took his time to finish thest few sentences on the page before getting up.

    He picked up a gilded bookmark from the coffee table, ced it inside the book, set the book on the table, and then slowly stood up, hands sped behind him, to walk outside.

    Yanyan, seeing this, looked up at Yan Chen with bewilderment.

    But Yan Chen pressed his hand down toward her and said in a deep voice, "y by yourself for now, I wille back to join you in a bit."

    Having said that, he left the lounge with dignity, taking Ji Chen to the lounge across the way.

    Once there, Yan Chen sat down and then asked in a low voice, "Speak."

    Ji Chen uttered a sound of affirmation and then leaned closer to Yan Chen, speaking softly, "Just now, a message came through, saying Qiu Tu''s action tonight seems to have attracted the attention of many forces."

    "Our people alone have discovered at least two groups of unidentified persons in our vicinity."

    Having said that, Ji Chen paused, "And Qiu Tu, in order to lure out the legendary enemy, drove to the secluded vis around Longshan Road after leaving the Investigation Bureau."

    "And indeed, someone took the bait and made a move on him."

    "ording to reports from downstairs, the mysterious person at a distance of 200 meters took aim with a rifle and fired a shot at Qiu Tu. Qiu Tu was shot and fell to the ground on the spot."

    "Minister Lin Ting was provoked by the audacity of the mysterious person and charged forward to engage inbat with him."

    "As a result, this mysterious individual truly exhibited exceptional skills, going back and forth with Minister Lin Ting. It looked like he indeed was a Second-Order Cataclysmic..."

    Hearing Ji Chen''s words, Yan Chen''s murky eyes revealed no joy or anger. He did not speak nor react, just quietly contemting¡­.

    Seeing this, Ji Chen tentatively asked, "Bureau Chief... could that mysterious person really be Minister Jia?"

    "Do we need to dispatch more men?"

    Yan Chen neither confirmed nor denied it but said in a hoarse voice, "If this assassination is arranged by Jia Shu, there must be more to it than meets the eye¡­"

    Pausing for a moment, he continued, "Besides, although Qiu Tu was shot, it''s unlikely that something would easily go wrong with him."

    "He''s as slippery as an eel. Having received advance notice, he undoubtedly has numerous aces up his sleeve."

    "As for sending more men¡­," Yan Chen''s eyelids drooped, showing a touch of fatigue, "no need to send any for now."

    "Let them cause a stir. The more chaos they create, the more devils and demons will emerge, making some things clearer¡­"

    ¡­.

    Meanwhile, as Yan Chen was making such an assessment.

    At the doorstep of Section Chief Kong''s small vi, the residence of Madame Kong.

    Qiu Tu, who had just been shot and fallen to the ground, slowly got up.

    As he sat up, a "ng" was heard, and a bullet fell from his left chest to the ground.

    Upon closer inspection, his clothes did have blood on them, but there was only a small stain.

    His skin, including the exposed eyes and ears, seemed to be covered with a thin, semi-transparentyer of white paper.

    Clearly, this was the life-preserving charm he had obtained from Tang Feifei a few days ago: the Trigger Paper Figure! (Chapter 133)

    The effect of the Trigger Paper Figure was such that when the bearer was attacked, it would automatically be triggered, forming a protectiveyer over the body.

    This protectiveyer could withstand attacks fromrge caliber firearms andst for more than 30 seconds.

    The 30 seconds quickly passed, and the white paperyer covering Qiu Tu''s body slowly dissipated.

 Chapter 173 The Evil God Actually Appreciates Me? (10,000 Words, Please Subscribe!)

    It was Qiu Tu''s "Crisis Intuition" that had been triggered once again.

    And it was triggered three times at once....

    "Triggering crisis ''Appreciation of the Evil God,'' generating crisis report!"

    "You have sessfullypleted the task bestowed by the Evil God Larilo, helping the Evil God eliminate a stumbling block."

    "Because of this, Larilo appreciates you immensely."

    "She is preparing to meet you in your dreams in theing days to once again tempt you into bing her follower."

    "Please be aware that her appreciation could turn to rage fueled by rejection, and she may try to kill you by any means necessary!"

    "But if you ept, you will also be tagged as an ''Evil God Cultist,'' bing a thorn in Sanctuary''s side."

    "So, please make your choice...."

    .......

    "Triggering crisis ''Threat in the Darkness,'' generating crisis report!"

    "Your meteoric rise has caught the attention of many schemers. At times, standing out in the forest is not a good thing. In the shadows, someone might have already set their sights on you...."

    ...

    "Triggering crisis ''Revenge of the Linked Formation,'' generating crisis report!"

    "Your personal ughter of a small United Front squad is seen by them as a severe provocation."

    "Under someone''s instigation, the United Front has decided to teach you a profound lesson."

    "Therefore, you must protect yourself, your friends, and family."

    "You wouldn''t want to know what a group of frenzied thugs might do to you...."

    To be honest, when Qiu Tu saw that series of prompts and one countdown timer after another popping up, he was seriously puzzled!

    Qiu Tu: ???

    Had he stirred up the ho''s nest of "Crisis Intuition"?

    Or had capturing Jia Shu triggered some sort of chain reaction?

    Why did three crisis countdowns suddenlye up all at once?

    And on top of that, what was this about "Appreciation of the Evil God" and "Revenge of the Linked Formation"?!?

    Did he really need Larilo''s appreciation?

    Did he think he couldn''t see through Larilo''s tactics? It was just the "Drive the wolf to devour the tiger" strategy he had wanted to use from the beginning.

    However, he had always thought Jia Shu was too dangerous, even more so than Larilo, so he took the opportunity provided by Larilo to coborate with her and conveniently trapped Jia Shu in the process.

    And now... why had he been "appreciated"?

    Right now, in Qiu Tu''s heart, ten thousand alpacas were running wild!

    He slowlyy down on the soft,rge bed in Tang Feifei''s bedroom, feeling utterly despondent: Forget it, let it all end, he was so tired....

    "Appreciation of the Evil God (72 hours)"

    "Revenge of the Linked Formation (10 days)"

    "Threat in the Darkness (¡Þ)"

    ----

    Meanwhile, as Qiu Tu finished his call andy in bed, feeling life was devoid of meaning.

    In a vi in the city, Yan Chen''s study.

    After a quick phone verification to check on Qiu Tu''s safety, Yan Chen said to Ji Chen with a solemn gaze, "Continue to monitor the movements of those Supervisors and the various forces."

    "Report to me at once in case of an emergency."

    Upon hearing Yan Chen''s words, Ji Chen promptly bowed and said, "Yes!"

    Yan Chen waved his hand indifferently, "You may leave."

    Hearing this, Ji Chen replied again, then stood up straight and left the study.

    As he closed the door of the study, his gaze swept over Jia Wei several times as if trying to discern whether the "Jia Shu" before him was real or fake...

    If the Jia Shu before him was real, then why would his subordinates report that Jia Shu had been taken away by the Disciplinary Department?

    If the Jia Shu who was taken away was the real one, then who was this "Jia Shu" here?

    The door to the study slowly closed, sealing all of Ji Chen''s doubts within.

    As the door to the study shut, silence fell over the room.

    After a moment, Jia Wei chuckled lightly and said, "Old man, your new assistant is far worse than my brother or Old Bai."

    "His ulterior motives are practically written all over his face. Don''t you care at all?"

    Yan Chen''s half of his body was shrouded in darkness, making it impossible to see his expression.

    He fell silent for a moment before speaking softly, "He just hasn''t been polished yet."

    Yan Chen clearly didn''t want to talk about this topic, so after giving a briefment, he directly changed the subject, "You''ve already heard the things he just reported."

    "With all the troubles we have now, you''d better clean up your own mess first."

    "As for... the deal, I''lle to you when I''ve made up my mind."

    Hearing Yan Chen''s words, Jia Weiughed nonchntly. His focus had already shifted, and he stared at Yan Chen excitedly, asking, "My brother, has he been caught?"

    Yan Chen did not reply.

    But Jia Weiughed as if he had heard the best news ever, holding his stomach and cackling madly, "He deserves it, truly deserves it!"

    "Let him lust after that junior officer''s body."

    "Now he''s fallen into a trap!"

    "Indeed, it is our God who is mighty, using just a simple trick to make them fight each other to the death."

    "Hahahaha."

    ```

    Listening to Jia Wei''s information-packed ravings, Yan Chen''s expression remained unchanged.

    He just watched quietly as Jia Wei ranted on and on.

    Only after Jia Wei had finished his frenzied speech and slowly came to a stop did Yan Chen leisurely raise his aged hand and gesture towards the door.

    Clearly, he was once again sending someone away.

    Seeing this, Jia Wei didn''t mind. His bloodshot eyes locked onto Yan Chen as he said with a smile, "Old man, you''lle looking for us sooner orter."

    After saying this, he hummed a tune and cheerfully turned to walk towards the study door.

    When he reached the door, he reached out to grab the doorknob.

    But just as his hand was about to pull open the study door at that moment¡ª

    Suddenly!

    Stripe after stripe of straight bloodstains appeared out of nowhere on his entire body!

    The next second, blood erupted violently along those straight lines!

    And Jia Wei''s body was segmented into pieces, which then ttered to the floor!

    The only part that was still somewhat intact was his head!

    His face clearly bore an expression of disbelief, and his head frantically twisted backward, trying to look at Yan Chen!

    Until his head hit the ground did his eyes finally catch sight of Yan Chen!

    With a ferocious look, he cursed silently with his mouth, "Old bitch... "

    Afterward... his expression slowly solidified, and life faded awaypletely...

    The entire dismemberment scene was extremely eerie, as if it were cut instantaneously by some unseen thread!

    It was utterly creepy and terrifying!

    "Drip-drop" "Drip-drop"...

    Blood slowly dripped from the chunks of flesh, sounding exceptionally distinct in the silent study.

    Yan Chen, hidden in the darkness, slowly extended his aged arm from the shadows and picked up the teacup on the table.

    He sipped the tea from the lid, then opened it and took a small sip, it was bitter yet fragrant...

    ...

    Tang Feifei returned to the resting room at 12 o''clock midnight.

    By that time, Qiu Tu was already lying in bed and had fallen into a deep sleep.

    After a tiring day, having overexerted himself by bleeding and using spiritual power, he hadpletely drained his body and mind and urgently needed rest.

    Looking at Qiu Tu''s pale face, Tang Feifei hesitated for a long time, her eyes shing with frenzied golden light, but in the end, she didn''t pounce on him directly.

    She knew the difference between being fully satiated and being satisfied just for the moment.

    Even if she drained Qiu Tu tonight and upset him, it would be hard to lure him back in the future.

    It was better not to touch Qiu Tu tonight, to show some "broad-mindedness," and then slowly drain him after he had rested the next day!

    Thinking this way, Tang Feifei also took her change of clothes and went to take a shower...

    In the Shuigu Room, with steam enshrouding the air, Tang Feifei''s hand slid over her body. Since she had been prepared tonight but had not reached her goal, she felt something was missing.

    So, her hand slid down further...

    The way that used to be quite pleasurable to her felt suddenly numb after the day and night she had spent with Qiu Tu.

    Tang Feifei rubbed a few times and then, expressionless, withdrew her hand...

    .....

    The night passed without words.

    The next day, Qiu Tu woke up naturally from a restful sleep.

    Perhaps he had gotten enough rest, or maybe it was the strong constitution of the Cataclysmics. When he woke up, he felt energetic, as if he hade back to life!

    And when he thought about how his major problem, Jia Shu, had finally been captured, his mood brightened even more!

    Even the three Crisis Countdowns he had triggeredst night couldn''t dampen his mood.

    Just as Qiu Tu was being thankful for life, suddenly, "ring ring ring," his Communicator went off.

    Qiu Tu sat up from Tang Feifei''srge bed, picked up the Communicator, and saw that it was Cao Dabiao calling.

    Qiu Tu paused for a moment, then answered the call.

    As soon as the call connected, he heard Cao Dabiao''s voice, now hushed, "Chief! Something big has happened!

    Qiu Tu had a rough idea of what Cao Dabiao was going to say, but he still feigned ignorance and asked, "What happened?"

    Cao Dabiao whispered, "Chief, the Disciplinary Department hase, they''ve sealed off Minister Jia''s office and are examining the files there."

    "It''s said that Minister Jia was arrestedst night for some reason and hasn''te to work until now."

    "Hasn''te to work?" Qiu Tu pondered with his hand on his chin upon hearing this.

    If he remembered correctly, there should have been a fake "Jia Shu" yesterday, providing an alibi for him. Why was he gone?@@novelbin@@

    Did he flee because he saw something amiss, or... was there an ident?

    While Qiu Tu was thinking this, Cao Dabiao spoke up again in a low voice, "Also, Chief. The Disciplinary Department has juste to the investigative team, saying they''d like to have a talk with you this afternoon."

    "From what they imply, it seems to be rted to Minister Jia''s case."

    Stay updated via empire

    After saying that, he asked anxiously, "Chief, you''re not going to be in trouble, are you?"

    ------

    This chapter was continually being blocked; no matter how I changed the keywords, it didn''t work until I deleted everything before it was released.

    The deleted part is Tang Feifei in the bath...forting herself, but still feeling Qiu Tu was better. Something like that.

    Still 3 chapters of 10,000 words each, haha. The next will update around 8 pm.

    ```

 Chapter 174 Slapping Yan Chens Face! (10,000 Words, Please Subscribe)

    Hearing Cao Dabiao''s words, Qiu Tu was momentarily stunned.

    He almost didn''t catch what Cao Dabiao was worried about.

    It wasn''t until his mind had taken a few turns that Qiu Tu suddenly remembered that he had actually been unting his association with Jia Shu and Yan Chen at the bureau for some time.

    So... in other people''s eyes, thebel on him was actually: Die-hard supporter of Jia Shu and Yan Chen.

    Now that Jia Shu had run into trouble suddenly, it was normal for Cao Dabiao to worry about him.

    To tell the truth, in that instant, Qiu Tu felt likeughing: He had been at loggerheads with Jia Shu to the point where their brains were almost spilling out, yet to those ignorant of the truth, he was considered an ally. The world is indeed full of magic.

    With this thought, he casually reassured, "Don''t worry. This won''t affect me."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Cao Dabiao hesitated for a moment before whispering, "But... Commander, I think there''s something you might need to know."

    As Qiu Tu made a "Hmm?" sound, he got out of bed, slipped on his slippers, walked over to the window, and drew the curtains open.

    The oppressive ck clouds fromst night had still not dispersed by this morning, thickly coiling together and looming over the entire Xinjie City, as if brewing a massive storm.

    Looking at the somewhat oppressive weather outside the window, Qiu Tu asked, "What is it?"

    Cao Dabiao spoke softly, "I heard that the Bureau Chief called Minister Shi from the Organizational Department over this morning, followed by having him screen all department heads who had considerable achievements or seniority."

    "The aim was to select suitable candidates for the position of Deputy Chief of the Public Security Bureau."

    "Now some department heads who have a chance atpeting for this deputy position are making rounds on the Organizational Department''s floor for no other reason than to make it onto this shortlist."

    "This..."

    Hearing Cao Dabiao''s words, Qiu Tu''s brows furrowed slightly.

    Although Cao Dabiao spoke very tactfully, he had expressed the intended message:

    A few days ago, after Third Master Qin, Qin Zhengguang, was caught, a position of Deputy Chief of the Public Security Bureau at the Investigation Bureau had be vacant.

    During the meeting discussion, Yan Chen hinted that this position should be temporarily left empty, but then transferred all its authority and business scope to Qiu Tu.

    This was essentially a public statement to everyone that the position was being reserved for Qiu Tu.

    Next, it was just a matter of waiting for Qiu Tu to transition for a period as a department head before being promoted again.

    Through this near overt political statement, everyone at the Investigation Bureau received two pieces of information:

    One, Qiu Tu hadpletely opened his path to advancement. Despite being at the same Principal Staff level as other heads, he would soon be promoted.

    Two, Qiu Tu was a confidant whom Yan Chen especially valued and nned to cultivate vigorously for a promising future.

    Also as a result of these two points, Qiu Tu''s influence within the Investigation Bureau had begun to skyrocket. Wherever he went, people tried to ingratiate themselves with him.

    But now, in less than a week, Yan Chen''s attitude had taken a 180-degree turn, which was bound to draw everyone''s attention.

    Put bluntly, Yan Chen was signaling to everyone at the Investigation Bureau through this small action that his attitude toward Qiu Tu had changed: He was now very dissatisfied with Qiu Tu!

    However, Qiu Tu had already anticipated Yan Chen''s current attitude: from the moment he nned to take down Jia Shu, he had been prepared to face Yan Chen''s wrath.

    The increasingly self-reliant Qiu Tu had not only left himself with multiple backup ns but also had the support of dozens of loyal followers like Cao Dabiao, as well as the protection of higher-ups like Tang Feifei and Secretary Bai.

    Furthermore, this morning, he had been entered into the Sanctuary''s registry and could no longer be killed at will.@@novelbin@@

    So he really wasn''t afraid of having a falling out with Yan Chen.

    In fact... he was even thinking about pping Yan Chen''s face, pressuring him, and testing Yan Chen''s true attitude toward him!

    With these thoughts, Qiu Tu''s mind reeled back, and he came to a firm decision in his heart.

    Your journey continues with empire

    He walked over to the living room of the rest lounge, poured himself a cup of water, and while drinking, he said, "Big Biao, gather everyone from the investigation teamter. I have some good news to announce to you all."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Cao Dabiao curiously inquired, "What good news?"

    Qiu Tu lightly smiled, "The promotions I applied for you have been approved. All of your positions can be promoted by one level!"

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Cao Dabiao was clearly stunned on the other end of the phone.

    It took him a full two seconds to respond with disbelief, "Commander, what did you say? We''ve all been promoted in our positions?"

    Qiu Tu, "Yes."

    Cao Dabiao swallowed, then asked tentatively, "Commander... does that, include me, too?"

    Qiu Tu, looking at the ominous clouds outside the window, responded with a light-heartedugh, "Why? Don''t you count as a member of the investigation team, as my subordinate?"

    Upon hearing this, Cao Dabiao hurriedly expressed his loyalty with utmost seriousness, "How could that be possible! I, Cao Dabiao, am the most loyal subordinate of the Commander!"

    After speaking, his voice lowered again, as he chuckled awkwardly, "I just find it a bit hard to believe."

    No wonder Cao Dabiao found it hard to believe, when even Qiu Tu had been a bit incredulous receiving the approval yesterday.

    After all, although there''s only one rank between a First Level Detective and a Deputy Staff, a First Level Detective, no matter how senior, is still a detective, not part of the management, nor a realmander.

    While being a Deputy Staff might be the lowest in the management hierarchy, in terms of power, status, influence, potential for advancement, as well as benefits, it was worlds apart from a First Level Detective.

    This was a gap that was very hard to cross. It could be said that most detectives, if they didn''t make mistakes and endured their tenure, could eventually be First Level Detectives. But... most First Level Detectives might never be Deputy Staff in their lifetime.

    Having gone through this process himself, Qiu Tu understood Cao Dabiao''s excitement at this moment.

    So he reaffirmed calmly, "There''s no need not to believe. All the procedures arepleted. I''ve even collected your new IDs and epaulets."

    "Once I start work, I''ll be able to distribute them to you."

    Upon hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Cao Dabiao''s voice was already excited, starting to tremble as he said hastily, "Then, then I''ll call everyone to the office now, waiting for the chief to return!"

    [Cao Dabiao''s Loyalty +16, current Loyalty 96]

    Seeing the prompt that suddenly appeared before him, Qiu Tu smiled and hung up the phone.

    A Deputy Staff promoted to go with the flow in exchange for a Confidant with a Loyalty as high as 96¡ªworth it!

    After hanging up the phone, Qiu Tu stood up and went to the bathroom to freshen up.

    As he freshened up, he pondered about promoting these Confidants.

    Yesterday, Qiu Tu had been preparing for the uing major battle with Jia Shu, and since all his Confidants had been in the interrogation rooms, he hadn''t announced the good news to them.

    As it turned out, saving it for today actually came in handy¡ªan unexpected surprise indeed.

    Given the concerns raised by Cao Dabiao''s proactive call, it was clear his original two big backers¡ªJia Shu and Yan Chen¡ªone had been arrested and the other was dissatisfied with him, obviously making all his Confidants restless.

    At such a time, what he needed to do was not to test human nature: human nature is thest thing you want to test!

    What he needed to do was to quell everyone''s anxiety with a massive promotion celebration for dozens of people, boosting a huge wave of morale, and making all his Confidants and Subordinates believe that by following him, they would surely head towards victory!

    Only by joining all the forces that could be united in a crisis, could one better get through the crisis!

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu felt even more determined in his heart.

    After freshening up and getting dressed, Qiu Tu turned around and left Tang Feifei''s resting room, then left her office through the secure passage he knew well.

    Tang Feifei seemed a bit busy today and wasn''t in her office, so Qiu Tu didn''t run into her.

    Qiu Tu guessed that she might be joining the Disciplinary Department in investigating Jia Shu''s case.

    He believed that when he talked to the Disciplinary Department in the afternoon, he should run into her.

    Exiting the secure corridor, Qiu Tu took a detour and re-entered the Investigation Bureau through the main entrance of the Investigation Bureau Office Building.

    Possibly because the news of Yan Chen''s cold attitude toward Qiu Tu had spread throughout the Bureau, the rest of the way, Qiu Tu was met with unusual nces from Detectives and Chiefs of various departments.

    The Detectives, who were once so enthusiastic to see him, now all deliberately circumvented Qiu Tu.

    The warmth and coldness of human rtions were readily apparent.

    But Qiu Tu, confident in his position, didn''t panic at all. He ignored everyone''s strange looks, entered the elevator with his head held high, and made his way to the office of the [8.19 Pharmacy Robbery Case] investigation team.

    By then, his Subordinates were already waiting there.

    Possibly having received the news from Cao Dabiao, they all looked at Qiu Tu with a bit of fervor when they saw himing.

    Qiu Tu smiled and nced at them, without any dy. He walked directly to his desk, sat down, took out the key, and unlocked the drawer.

    The drawer contained all the new IDs, epaulets, and promotion documents for members of the investigation team, which he had collected from the Organizational Department the day before.

    Taking out all the IDs, epaulets, and documents, Qiu Tu began to call out names one by one.

    "Cao Dabiao!"

    "Present!"

    "Liu Fuping!"

    "Here~"

    "Chen Feng!"

    "Present!"

    With each name called out, each named individual stepped forward in turn, receiving their promotion document, new ID, and new epaulets from Qiu Tu''s hand!

    Upon seeing that everyone''s positions had indeed been promoted by one level, the delight was almost uncontroble in the eyes of all his Confidants.

    The worries of the morning about Jia Shu''s arrest and Yan Chen''s cold shoulder towards Qiu Tu had all vanished!

    Interests are always the easiest way to unite people''s hearts!

    And this was followed by a flood of Loyalty notifications!

    [Chen Feng, Ding Xiaoliu, Zhu Huoyan... Loyalty +9]

    Afterpleting the promotions for everyone, Qiu Tu didn''t let the matter end there.

    He had his Confidants bring over the records from yesterday''s interrogation of the Suit Man and Wang Xi, and then he sent them all out.

    Since he was already prepared to challenge Yan Chen and test her reactions, Qiu Tu did not mind scaling up the y.

    Having been promoted, it''s time to show off the sess, let everyone in the Bureau bask in a bit of joy, right?

    ------

    Three chapters, 10,000 words haha. Continuing with ten-thousand words tonight!

 Chapter 175 The Truth About Suit Man (11,000 Words, Subscribe Please)

    So, quite quickly, some rather peculiar scenes began to emerge on the 1st, 2nd, and 9th floors of the Investigation Bureau Office Building...

    For example, on the 1st floor, Eagle and Ah-Kun walked arm in arm to the Special Service Department''s training ground.

    Once they reached the training ground, the two didn''t speak and just kept circling around Brother Ted and Fang Ming''s squad.

    It wasn''t until Fang Ming was utterly confused and Brother Ted was about to punch someone with his sandbag-sized fists that Ah-Kun, with a big smile, gave a hint, "Captain Fang, Brother Ted, free toe to our promotion party tonight?"

    Hearing Ah-Kun''s words, Brother Ted, Fang Ming, and the members of their Special Task Squad suddenly noticed that the single golden star on the epaulettes of Eagle and Ah-Kun had turned into two!

    Fang Ming was still okay, but Brother Ted''s eyes really widened as he asked in disbelief, "How did you guys get promoted?"

    Hearing Brother Ted''s question, the somewhat reserved Eagle was alright, just smiling slightly, while Ah-Kun got a bit cocky, "How else could we be promoted? Of course, Brother Tu applied for us!"

    "See, that''s why you have to stick with Brother Tu for a future!"

    Brother Ted didn''t say anything upon hearing this, but his gaze kept darting towards Fang Ming.

    He nced once, nced again, and then another nce...

    Until he had Fang Ming thoroughly perplexed, he finally stopped.

    However, by this time, their conversation had already caught the attention of the other members of the Special Service Department. It wasn''t long before the news of the collective promotions under Qiu Tu spread throughout the entire Special Service Department, bing itstest gossip...

    And like Eagle and Ah-Kun, others such as Cao Dabiao, Song Qing, Ding Xiaoliu, Zhu Huoyan, and Li Xian went to either the 2nd floor''s Public Security Bureau or the 9th floor''s Political Department.

    Their objective was quite straightforward: catch a colleague and start bragging.

    Honest folk like Zhu Huoyan and Li Xian were alright, just chatting with colleagues and patiently waiting for them to notice the change on their epaulettes. Hmm... If they didn''t notice, they wouldn''t let them go...

    For social butterflies like the youngdy Song Qing, they were much more direct.@@novelbin@@

    She bounced around the offices of the Interrogation Section, grabbing anyone she saw and pointing at her own epaulettes to ask, "What is this?"

    "Two golden stars! Ever seen them before?"

    However, the most ruthless had to be Cao Dabiao. Unlike Zhu Huoyan and Li Xian''s steadiness or Song Qing''s exuberance, he was... incredibly smug. Discover hidden content at empire

    After leaving the investigation team, he went straight to the Action Division and, with hands behind his back, put on the air of a senior officer, inspecting everyone he recognized.

    Only after they looked at him with bewilderment would he gaze back gravely, imitating the tone of Qiu Tu when speaking or asking questions, and casually ask, "How did you know I''ve been promoted to Deputy Staff Head?"

    His questioned colleagues were truly puzzled: ??

    But after all, it was a happy asion, and with Cao Dabiao promoted to Deputy Staff Head, they really did need to suck up to him, so they could only offer one tteringment after another against their will.

    And at such moments, Cao Dabiao would just smile, nod slightly, with the unfazedposure of an officer.

    However, perhaps because his eyes always betrayed his pride, it did give off a bit of an upstart vibe...

    ...

    In this way, through a wave of bragging by Qiu Tu''s confidants, it didn''t take long for pretty much the entire Investigation Bureau to be aware of the news of the mass promotions within Qiu Tu''s team.

    This news truly made most of the investigators envious.

    After all, aside from basic needs, isn''t one''s life goal to get promoted and receive a raise, reaching the peak of life?

    Working under Qiu Tu, one would not only be protected in times of trouble but also be promoted immediately after making an aplishment.

    This was indeed better than what 99% of supervisors offered.

    While many still found it iprehensible why Yan Chen had blocked Qiu Tu''s promotional path one moment and then promoted all his subordinates the next,

    They couldn''t deny the fact: following Qiu Tu really did lead to promotions and raises!

    Thus, in an instant, Qiu Tu''s influence, which had just been suppressed by Yan Chen, bounced back vigorously, even more exaggeratedly than before...

    At this time, apart from the average investigators, the section heads and division chiefs of the Investigation Bureau were also a bit puzzled.

    Although they knew more secrets and information than the average investigators, it didn''t help them better analyze the situation.

    On the contrary, it made them even less able to understand Qiu Tu''s maneuvers than the average investigators.

    After finding out from the Organizational Department that the list of promotions had been decided yesterday, they knew that this sizable wave of promotions wasn''t orchestrated by Yan Chen.

    Yan Chen was still very cold towards Qiu Tu.

    So it became odder. ording to normal logic, after having upset the Bureau Chief Yan Chen, Qiu Tu should have tried to ingratiate himself with Yan Chen to regain his favor.

    So why... was he now challenging Yan Chen to a contest?

    A section head against the Bureau Chief? Was it he who was crazy, or had the world gone mad?

    This strange turn of events left most of the section heads and division chiefs confused.

    And with recent events piling up, even the Diciplinary Department hade, so for a while, they all shrank back, hiding and watching cautiously...

    So, with just a couple of simple tricks, Qiu Tu had stabilized the morale that was on the verge of dispersal and salvaged his influence within the Investigation Bureau that was about to copse...

    After striking back at Yan Chen, Qiu Tu didn''t continue to confine himself to this game of politics. His heart returned to focusing on his cases.

 Chapter 178 Qiu Tu: Jia Shu Is Wronged (10,000 Words Subscription Request!)

    Obviously, in the minds of these section chiefs and division chiefs, Qiu Tu should be Yan Chen''s trusted confidant.

    Even if Yan Chen was angered, there were still measures and possibilities for remediation. There was absolutely no need to openly break with Yan Chen.

    It should be known that as a former teacher from the Sanctuary Military Academy, Yan Chen had considerable influence in Xinjie City, let alone the entire nning Area.

    The Xinjie City Investigation Bureau was entirely under Yan Chen''s control. Although Tang Feifei also had her own backing, she was, after all, only a deputy, without proper authority or rhetoric, and simply unable to stand against Yan Chen.@@novelbin@@

    For Qiu Tu to so clearly switch sides was simply unwise...

    If Qiu Tu were here at this moment, he would certainly scoff at their thoughts.

    They indeed understood the situation... but they did not understand Yan Chen...

    If Yan Chen were someone who, after being betrayed, could forgive just by receiving an apology, then he and Jia Shu would not have reached the point they were at today...

    Therefore, the worst thing to do after showing so many signs of doubt was topromise...

    With these thoughts in mind, Qiu Tu also knocked on Tang Feifei''s office door.

    "Knock, knock, knock..."

    After a moment, the door to Tang Feifei''s office was opened from the inside. Su Xiaowan, Tang Feifei''s assistant and Qin Shuman''s spy, poked her head out.

    Seeing Qiu Tu, her eyes lit up, and then she smiled and said, "Chief Qiu, the Bureau Chief is waiting for you."

    With that said, she opened the door wider and gestured to Qiu Tu with her hand.

    Qiu Tu nodded slightly and then walked into the office.

    Inside the office, Tang Feifei was sitting behind her desk, reviewing documents.

    Qiu Tu saluted, "Good day, Bureau Chief."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s voice, Tang Feifei looked up, and her icy expression thawed into a pool of spring warmth.

    She pointed to the chair in front of the desk and motioned, "Sit."

    It was the first time Qiu Tu had encountered Tang Feifei in her professional setting, so he nodded, walked over, and sat down.

    Su Xiaowan seemed to have made some progresspared tost time. Seeing Qiu Tu sit down, she quickly scurried off to make a cup of tea and brought it to him.

    A couple of days ago, Qiu Tu had inquired with Song Qing; this youngdy and Song Qing were ssmates from the same school.

    Their family situations were simr, with both sets of parents being business people who had some wealth, so both girls had been quite spoiled since childhood. This upbringing gave them both a somewhat na?ve and lively character.

    But in these chaotic times, it was already extraordinary for parents to ensure temporary safety; for them to remain so na?ve and happy for a lifetime would be exceedingly difficult.

    Without going too far, just consider Song Qing and Su Xiaowan. Both had be embroiled in the struggle between the Evil God and humanity, as well as the conflict between the Security Department and the Investigation Bureau.

    In such major events, a single misstep could result inplete destruction.

    Thinking, ''This is truly pitiable...'' Qiu Tu picked up the teacup and took a sip.

    After a while, Tang Feifei finished reviewing the document. She raised her head, her spirited eyes turned to Su Xiaowan, "Xiaowan, take this document to the Training Department."

    As she spoke, she handed the document in her hand to Su Xiaowan.

    Seeing this, Su Xiaowan hurriedly took it with an adorable gesture and then scurried off to deliver the document....

    After sending off Su Xiaowan, the carefree girl, Tang Feifei leaned back in her chair with a smile that wasn''t quite a smile and teased Qiu Tu, "What''s the matter? Feeling a bit sentimental?"

    Qiu Tu hadn''t expected Tang Feifei to be so perceptive, but this wasn''t something he needed to hide.

    So, he spoke frankly, "Director Tang is joking. I just feel that her personality isn''t suited for these chaotic times where people prey on each other...."

    "If she lived in peacetime, perhaps she could happily go to school with peers her age, have a love affair that would mark her deeply, get into college, find an ordinary job."

    "With her personality, she''d surely be very popr with the boys. So, she would likely marry, have children, and then live out a simple yet happy life....."

    "But unfortunately, she lives in chaotic times..... Such a personality is only going to harm her." Your next chapter awaits on My Virtual Library Empire

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s genuinely regretful words, Tang Feifei smiled. She stood up, walked toward Qiu Tu, and as she did, she said, "Instead of worrying about her, you might want to think about your own uing situation."

    She continued, "Now, as per your request, I''ve had the Disciplinary Department arrest Jia Shu."

    "But Jia Shu is not cooperative at all. Clearly, he still harbors some delusions."

    "And those men in suits and masks seem to have lost their minds too, alive but like puppets, showing no reaction whatsoever."

    "Now, not only have we reached a deadlock in the case, even Yan Chen has started to press both you and me."

    Tang Feifei walked up to Qiu Tu, leaned her hands on his chair, her body leaning forward, her face close to Qiu Tu''s as she inquired, "So.... what are you nning to do, Mr. Strategist?"

    Hearing Tang Feifei''s words, a confident look spread across Qiu Tu''s face. He smiled and asked, "What does the Disciplinary Department think?"

    Tang Feifei raised an eyebrow, not answering directly, but instead offered a metaphor, "The Disciplinary Department, how should I put it...."

    "They''re like the lovers who are both indifferent and passionate."

    "The various powers battle it out, your turn follows mine, like the actors on a stage."

    "They just watch the excitement, not entering the fray."

    "So, if there''s evidence, they make the arrest. If not, they release. Without any bias."

    Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu nodded slightly, "That should also be what the Sanctuary truly requires of them."

    "After all, what the Sanctuary needs now is to unite all possible forces to try and restore Order in the world."

    "Under such circumstances, even if there are big ws or minor issues, they can be dealt with after achieving greater unity."

    "Thus, the Sanctuary won''t grant the Disciplinary Department the power to handle cases or conduct in-depth investigations into certain matters, but rather let them act as a referee. If someone steps out of line, they issue a warning; if there really is evidence, they take action; but if there''s no evidence, then they just ignore it."

    Upon hearing this, Tang Feifei nodded in approval, "What you said is right. This is indeed what the higher-ups in the Sanctuary are thinking."

    As she spoke, she added a change of tone, "So, how are you nning to handle whates next?"

    If before meeting Liu Fuping, Qiu Tu might have hesitated about his uing n, then after meeting Liu Fuping, having put thest piece of the puzzle in ce, Qiu Tu hade to a decision.

    He patted the file bag in his hand and said with a smile, "How else can I handle it? Be realistic and seek truth from facts."

    "I won''t wrong a good person, but I also won''t let any bad person off the hook."

    Seeing Qiu Tu''s confident expression, Tang Feifei''s face revealed a hint of a smile.

    Truthfully, she really loved that confident look on Qiu Tu.

    That spirit shining through his eyes always reminded her of an ancient poem from before the Cataclysm: With the spring breeze lifting his spirits, the horse gallops fast, admiring all the flowers in Chang''an in a single day.

    The youthful vigor and soaring self-confidence always seemed so enchanting...

    While inwardly moved, Tang Feifei straightened up and said, "Alright then, since you are prepared, let''s go meet those Supervisors together."

    Having said this, Tang Feifei, with her long legs, took the lead and headed towards the lounge.

    Qiu Tu put down his cup and followed her.

    When they reached the door of the lounge, Tang Feifei suddenly stopped. She turned around and looked at Qiu Tu teasingly, saying, "Oh right, I''ve been working really hard to help you these past few days. So... what about your promise to me?"

    Qiu Tu: ...

    Must we talk about such an improper subject in such a serious setting?

    Thinking this, he coughed and said, "Don''t worry. I''ve also been preparing diligently. Moreover, I''ve prepared a lot."

    Tang Feifei smiled and nodded her head as she was about to open the door. Suddenly, she paused and sharply turned to look at Qiu Tu, "When you say you''ve prepared a lot, you''re talking about energy, right?"

    "Not another word?"

    Qiu Tu smiled without saying a word.

    What''s the difference?

    Seeing Qiu Tu''s mischievous smile, Tang Feifei knew that what Qiu Tu had just said was definitely not something proper.

    But it must be said, Qiu Tu truly understood her character well. At times when open defiance could no longer pique Tang Feifei''s interest, this kind of stealthy resistance from Qiu Tu irrationally hit her spot.

    So, Tang Feifei''s eyes narrowed slightly, "Stay with me tonight."

    Qiu Tu, "How about tomorrow?"

    Tang Feifei: ...

    "Fine."

    The clean and crisp rejection reignited Tang Feifei''s hunting desire, a tawny glow beginning to shimmer in her eyes.

    However, it was this push-and-pull that heightened her anticipation for what was toe the next night to its peak!

    ''No rush... easy does it with hot tofu. Full meal after meal... full meal after meal...''

    Following Tang Feifei into the lounge.

    Inside the lounge''s guest room, Qiu Tu met the three Supervisors he had seenst night.

    The three were indeed like what Tang Feifei had described¡ªmere onlookers. Even with a case in hand, they just sat there quietly reading the newspaper without making any effort.

    As soon as they saw Tang Feifei leading Qiu Tu inside, they neatly put down their newspapers and stood up.

    The middle-aged man at the forefront nodded coolly to Tang Feifei, then said, "Director Tang, this must be Chief Qiu?"

    Tang Feifei''s expression turned to an iceberg as she entered the lounge. She nodded her head and introduced, "Correct. This is Qiu Tu, the Deputy Division Chief of the Action Division from the Investigation Bureau Political Department."

    After that, she also introduced the middle-aged man to Qiu Tu, "Qiu Tu, this is Tang Jiancha."

    Qiu Tu nodded and reached out his hand, "Hello, Tang Jiancha. I am Qiu Tu."

    Tang Jiancha coldly extended his hand and shook hands with Qiu Tu.

    Releasing the handshake, he continued, "This is the situation, Chief Qiu,"

    "Based on the reports by Director Tang and yourself, we have started an investigation on Minister Jia Shu."

    "However, we only have evidence of him attacking you. Weck evidence of his collusion with the Evil God."

    "After his arrest, he has also continuously refused to cooperate with the investigation. Only when asked why he wanted to kill you did he im to have a personal grudge."

    "He has beenbeling the incident as a coincidence."

    "In other words, he says his attack on you has no strong connection to the assault perpetrated by the Evil God Cultists that day."

    "Moreover, we did not detect any traces of the Evil God''s faith on him."

    "Therefore, we''d like to ask you some questions to understand the entire process of the event and see if there are any additional clues or information."

    Hearing Tang Jiancha''s words, Qiu Tu smiled and then said, "Actually, I don''t think it''s necessary. To me, Minister Jia might have been wronged. We should just release him."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, the atmosphere in the guest room became stagnant.

    Whether it was Tang Feifei or the three Supervisors, expressions froze on their faces.

    Tang Feifei was possibly more familiar with Qiu Tu''s remarkable maneuvers and trusted him, so she didn''t make any move.

    But the three Supervisors, meeting Qiu Tu for the first time, were staring at him nkly, momentarily at a loss for words.

    After a pause, the leading Tang Jiancha managed to force a smile and said, "Chief Qiu is joking, right?"

    "We personally witnessed Minister Jia attacking you."

    "Moreover..." he hesitated, warningly added, "Do you know how serious and vile it is to arbitrarily use a high-ranking official of the Investigation Bureau?"

    Hearing Tang Jiancha''s words, Qiu Tu smiled indifferently and replied, "However serious and vile it might be, shouldn''t it still be less grave and serious than arbitrarily detaining a high-ranking official of the Investigation Bureau?"

    As he spoke, Qiu Tu extended his hand again, then added, "So, Tang Jiancha, we are partners, not an Interrogation Officer and a suspect..."

    -------

    A message to the readers who have just caught up to this point.

    Our book updates with 10,000 words every day, typically in 3 chapters.

    Then, we update with 2 chapters of 7,000 words at 4 a.m. and another chapter of 3,000 words after waking up at 8 p.m.

    As a part-time writer, I am already pushing my limits to update, so please cast more Monthly Tickets if you can, and do subscribe daily if possible. Thank you all!

 Chapter 179 Do You Want to Get Promoted Again? (10,000 Words for a Monthly Ticket!)

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, the three Supervisors were stunned for a moment before they understood his intention...

    Put simply, Qiu Tu was very dissatisfied with how they had just treated Tang Feifei and himself.

    He was using this behavior to warn the three: now that Jia Shu has been arrested, if he is released without charges, everyone will have to take responsibility.

    So don''t y those patron and actor dramas, everyone is tied to the same string.

    If pushed too far, Qiu Tu would flip the table, leaving everyone with no game to y.@@novelbin@@

    Realizing this, Tang Jiancha''s eyes clearly showed a hint of surprise and interest.

    He looked deeply at Qiu Tu, then smiling, he looked at Qiu Tu''s extended hand and shook it again, "You are quite interesting, Chief Qiu."

    Feeling Tang Jiancha''s enthusiasm this time, Qiu Tu also smiled modestly, "Not bad, not bad. Just hoping the cooperation toe will be smoother."

    Witnessing the whole process, Tang Feifei''s gaze was shifting, and even the clear yellow at the bottom of her eyes seemed somewhat unstoppable.

    She found such a Qiu Tu very interesting. A few simple sentences hadpletely changed the attitude of the Supervisors.

    However, she was more curious about what Qiu Tu would do if the Supervisors'' attitudes didn''t change, or even if they agreed to release Jia Shu.

    After all... arresting a high-ranking official from the Investigation Bureau was a serious mistake for the Disciplinary Department, but it wasn''t to an unbearable extent...

    Thinking this, she took the opportunity to smooth things over and asked,

    "Chief Qiu, that''s because Tang Jiancha is magnanimous. If it were another Supervisor seeing your attitude, they might directly agree to your request."

    "What would you do then?"

    Hearing Tang Feifei''s words, Qiu Tuughed and said, "First, I believe Tang Jiancha won''t be such an irresponsible Supervisor."

    After giving apliment, Qiu Tu continued with his real reason,

    "Second... actually, what I just said was not out of anger, but the truth. Minister Jia being used of worshiping an Evil God might really be a wrongful usation. Of course... he has made many other mistakes."

    "So, release means release, but it''s not a release without charges."

    As he spoke, Qiu Tu raised the document bag in his hand and took the initiative to say, "I have already prepared all the relevant materials; we can discuss them in detail now."

    It has to be said, Qiu Tu''s response was indeed perfect. He ttered, eased the atmosphere, exined his backup n for his earlier response, and even managed to raise the expectations of the Supervisors.

    So, soon, Qiu Tu, Tang Feifei, Tang Jiancha, and the other two sat in the reception room, studying the materials Qiu Tu had brought.

    That morning, upon learning that he would meet with the Disciplinary Department, Qiu Tu began to prepare the materials.

    Included were all the clues and evidence he had collected during this time, as well as Wang Xi''s interrogation record, and a detailed description of the subtle rtionship between the Jia brothers, Jia Shu and Jia Wei, and the Evil God.

    As Qiu Tuid out the confessions and clues on the table, one by one exining them to everyone, they finally understood the full context of the case...

    They discussed it among themselves for a while. In the end, it was Tang Jiancha who summarized first.

    He looked at Qiu Tu, asking, "So... you mean to say, Jia Shu is actually not an Evil God Cultist, but his own brother, Jia Wei, is?"

    "And in the past two months, after discovering the dealings between the Evil God and Jia Wei, he has been trying to stop them?"

    Seeing Qiu Tu nod, Tang Jiancha continued, "However, his Cataclysm Path might be very special. He must kill someone and Devour them to improve."

    "So over the years, he has secretly killed many people. And his next target was you?"

    Qiu Tu nodded again with a smile, then followed up, "And just so happens, I have been investigating the Evil God Cultist cases recently. The Evil God wants to get rid of me."

    "So his brother became the bridge between him and the Evil God. They reached a cooperation to attack and kill me together."

    After Qiu Tu finished speaking, Tang Feifei, with a somber gaze, summarized, "So, although he has not betrayed humanity, has not betrayed the Sanctuary..."

    "But..."

    "1. Did he briefly collude with the Evil God?"

    "2. Has he harmed his colleagues?"

    Qiu Tu added another point, "And 3. He clearly discovered an Evil God Cultist, but not only did he let the cultist go, he also hid it and didn''t report it."

    "So, he vited the professional ethics and principles of his position as the Head of the Political Department."

    As Qiu Tu filled in all the details, the atmosphere in the reception room became a bit awkward for a time.

    The Supervisors looked at each other, and Tang Feifei also nced at Qiu Tu from time to time, and then at...

    Obviously... they were all somewhat puzzled by Qiu Tu''s thoughts...

    ording to normal logic, with the extent to which Qiu Tu and Jia Shu have fought, it really hase down to a life-and-death struggle.

    Let alone Qiu Tu helping Jia Shu reduce his culpability, it would be considered kind of him not to fabricate nder and evidence, and to furiously besmirch Jia Shu.

    And yet... Qiu Tu was actually earnestly trying the case?

    For a while, Qiu Tu baffled them all.

    Therefore, the reception room fell silent for a while, and after ncing at the three Supervisors, Tang Feifei reminded, "Qiu Tu, if the truth of the matter really is as such."

    "Then although Jia Shu may be removed from the position of Head of the Political Department... he will not be subjected to much punishment."

    "After all, he has not betrayed humanity or the Sanctuary. Even if he attempted to assassinate you... he did not seed."

    "Moreover, since you were not registered in the Sanctuary''s censusst night, the people he killed in the past few years are already beyond verification."

    "So, once themotion over this incident settles down, it''s very likely that he will be reinstated. His rank might not even be significantly demoted."

    Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu pretended to think for a moment, then deliberately asked, "Would it be possible to expel him from Xinjie City and never allow him back in?" Enjoy new tales from My Virtual Library Empire

    Upon saying that, Qiu Tu added, "He''s been keeping an eye on me, and I''m somewhat worried."

    Tang Jiancha thought briefly and replied, "Of course, there''s no problem with that."

    "After all, it''s a reasonable request."

    After finishing, he seemed still somewhat incredulous that Qiu Tu would let Jia Shu off so lightly, so he confirmed again, "Are you sure you have no other demands, or... that you don''t have any other evidence against Jia Shu?"

    Qiu Tu smiled while shaking his head, trying to appear as sincere as possible.

    He said, "I''m just being factual. If Minister Jia has not turned to the Evil God, he hasn''t. I won''t fabricate evidence."

    Seeing how earnest Qiu Tu was, to be honest, the three members of the Disciplinary Department felt a touch of respect for him.

    As members of such a particr department, they had seen too many vile acts. However... that didn''t mean theycked the notions of ''justice'' and ''fairness'' in their hearts.

    It''s just that, given the chaotic times, they had grown numb to many issues...

    Now, they suddenly encountered a youth like Qiu Tu, who also harbored ''justice'' and ''fairness'' in his heart. They couldn''t help but feel favorably toward him...

    Moreover, possibly contemting the grievances Qiu Tu endured in this case, Tang Jiancha fell into deep thought, then slowly asked, "Chief Qiu, would you like to be a real Bureau Chief?"

    What he meant by "Bureau Chief" was clearly a position at the Division Chief level, not the current Principal Section Level position that Qiu Tu held.

    Qiu Tu''s eyes lit up upon hearing this. However, instead of expressing his thoughts directly, he jokingly asked, "Can I be a Division Chief just by taking down our Minister? Is there such a great deal?"

    "If I take down Director Tang, could I even be a Bureau Chief?"

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s joke, Tang Feifei couldn''t hold back and gave Qiu Tu a punch whileughing.

    Qiu Tu winced in pain and chuckled while rubbing his arm.

    Tang Jiancha and the othersughed at the scene.

    After theughter, they spoke seriously, "Bing a Bureau Chief is definitely a joke. But a Division Chief or Deputy Division Chief, that we believe is possible."

    Speaking, the three exchanged nces, and then Tang Jiancha continued, "The Political Department''s main scope of work is intelligence, espionage, counter-espionage, and internal supervision."

    "We cannot interfere in other areas of work, nor is it right for us to ask. But... internal supervision is within the scope of work delegated to the Political Department by the Disciplinary Department."

    "With Jia Shu being dismissed, regardless of which of the two remaining Deputy Ministers is promoted, a Deputy Minister position will be left vacant."

    "If we strongly rmend you, you should be able to fill that position as the head of the supervision branch."

    "What do you think about it?"

    What did Qiu Tu think? He had no objections at all!

    Wasn''t this like a pie falling from the sky?!

    He originally thought that after offending Yan Chen, the position of Deputy Division Chief at the Public Security Bureau was out of reach. His Cataclysmic ability would take a long time to improve.

    Who could have anticipated a reversal of fortune when all seemed lost? Losing the position of Deputy Division Chief at the Public Security Bureau, there was a chance to obtain the position of Deputy Minister in the Political Department?!

    Wasn''t the Political Department much more desirable than the Public Security Bureau?!

    However, even though he was thrilled inside, Qiu Tu knew better than to celebrate too soon.

    Thus, he inquired, "But... isn''t the appointment of a Deputy Division Chief in the bureau subject to the Bureau Chief''s consent?"

    Qiu Tu spoke carefully, "Director Yan, due to Minister Jia''s incident, might have some objections to me. So... he''s very likely to refuse."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Tang Jianchaughed and looked at Tang Feifei, "Then it depends on your and Director Tang''s ability."

    "I can only say, I will do my utmost to fight for this opportunity for you."

    "If Director Yan is adamantly opposed, we indeed do not have that much clout. But if he is simply not opposed... even without his support, this matter should still be achievable..."

    -------

    A notice to readers who have recently caught up to this point.

    Our book is updated with 10,000 words every day, usually in 3 chapters.

    Then at 4 a.m. and 5 a.m., 2 chapters with 7,000 words are updated. After waking up at 20:00, 1 chapter with 3,000 words is updated.

    The author is part-timing, typing words; it''s already an effort bordering on life-consuming. So, if you could vote with your Monthly Tickets, please do cast more votes, and if you can subscribe daily, please do subscribe every day. Thank you!

 Chapter 180 There is no such thing as a free favor (10,000 words, please subscribe!)

    Hearing Tang Jiancha''s words, Qiu Tu pondered.

    ''So, if I want to get promoted, do I need to deceive Yan Chen now?''

    But...this was quite a bit earlier than the timing he had nned.

    With that in mind, Qiu Tu couldn''t help but consider if there were other methods.

    After a moment, he raised his head, looked at Tang Jiancha, and asked, "Tang Jiancha, you mean as long as the Bureau Chief doesn''t object, it''ll be fine, right?"

    "So, whether he is willingly non-oppositional orpelled by the situation..."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s remark, a look of satisfaction appeared on Tang Jiancha''s face, "Yes."

    It was as if he had been reminding Qiu Tu all along.

    However, after saying this, he also reminded, "But you need to understand, as a deputy division chief, if you can''t get the Bureau Chief''s support."

    "Then you may very well be limited to working within the narrow confines of your existing authority."

    "Moreover, you may face difficulties from above and be unable tomand your subordinates."

    Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu smiled.

    He truly didn''t care about this.

    Setting aside the fact that his desire for a promotion was to enhance his own strength, to see how his Cataclysmic ability would change after advancing to Second Order, even if it weren''t for the increase in strength, he wasn''t worried about the power he would hold after his promotion.

    After all, the nominal source of poweres from the upper echelons, but its essencees from the lower ranks.

    With a loyal direct line of several dozen whose loyalty exceeded 80, including a deputy staff chief, two first-level detectives, and numerous veteran investigators (second-ss investigators), Qiu Tu could already bypass permissions to do many things.

    Furthermore, at the Investigation Bureau''s high-level meetings, he had two allies in Tang Feifei and Secretary Bai.

    At the higher levels of Xinjie City''s Municipal Committee, there were two bigshots who appreciated him and were extending olive branches: Dai Yukang from the Security Department and Commissioner Jiang.

    With connections at all three levels ¨C upper, middle, and lower ¨C Qiu Tu was truly bing well-feathered and hard to cordon off.

    This was also the reason why he had just inquired whether it was possible topel Yan Chen to "not oppose" under certain circumstances.

    Thinking this way, Qiu Tu, sure of his approach, once again thanked the recently helpful Tang Jiancha, "Thank you, Tang Jiancha. I understand now."

    And so, a simple case analysis meeting quickly concluded.

    Although Qiu Tu provided many clues and details, there was still no direct evidence.

    And given the sensitivity of Jia Shu''s identity, the case would be dragged on for a few more days before reaching a result.

    However, everyone present actually understood that the case was highly likely to end with this oue.

    This was not only the real truth of the case, but also... the best result ofpromises from all sides.

    As a result, Qiu Tu resolved his grave threat and would be promoted one level; Tang Feifei eliminated one of Yan Chen''s core allies, preventing herself from bing more passive; the Disciplinary Department cracked the case; and even... Jia Shu didn''t suffer much, needing only to lie low for a year or two before he could quickly make aeback...

    Such an oue, even if the people behind Jia Shu knew, they probably wouldn''t stir up additional trouble.

    Politics is, after all, the art ofpromise...

    After sending off the three supervisors from the Disciplinary Department, Tang Feifei closed the door to her office and analyzed to Qiu Tu, "This is probably the fallback Jia Shu had prepared for himself all along."

    "He hasn''t crossed that red line in the past few months, precisely to avoid being unable to recover if investigated."

    Qiu Tu nodded andmented, "He''s very cunning. More cunning than most¡­"

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s assessment, Tang Feifei smiled, squinted her eyes, and looked at him, "But you''re also not simple, right?"

    Tang Feifei, walking back to her desk with her long legs, sat down and said, "Tell me, do you have any other ns?"

    "Based on my understanding of you, you''re not the kind of person who really harbors justice or fairness."@@novelbin@@

    At her words, Qiu Tu pretended to be surprised and said, "Feifei, I didn''t expect you to have such a big misunderstanding about me?!"

    After speaking, he couldn''t help but ask, "So what image do I have in your heart?"

    With narrowed eyes and a predatory gaze, Tang Feifei looked at Qiu Tu, "A bull, seemingly full of inexhaustible energy."

    Qiu Tu: ??

    That''s what you call spending money for power.

    Strangely, Qiu Tu felt that he had recently provoked Tang Feifei a little too much, that it was somewhat dangerous.

    The scariest thing isn''t putting on airs; it''s realizing you''re actually a bit inadequate after doing so...

    ''Seems like I need to get promoted soon, to boost my strength and stamina, otherwise I won''t be able to withstand Tang Feifei''s draining even a few times...''

    With that thought, Qiu Tu swiftly changed the subject. "Tang Jiancha seems quite good to me," he said.

    "Although at first his attitude toward us was somewhat indifferent,ter on, whether it was his advice or support, it showed that he''s a decent person."

    Tang Feifei''s eyes smiled into crescents¡ªthis woman, an ice queen in front of others, was remarkably expressive in front of Qiu Tu.

    "He is my maternal uncle," she revealed.

    Qiu Tu''s face showed understanding, yet he wasn''t surprised.

    In this world, there is no such thing as unreasonable "hatred," nor is there unreasonable "love."

    The moment Qiu Tu noticed Tang Jiancha''s lukewarm attitude toward him and Tang Feifei, he felt something was off.

    Latterly, after learning of his surname, Qiu Tu had a hunch. This was why he dared to make a move to test the waters.

    As for the end... when Tang Jiancha suddenly prepared to lift Qiu Tu up the ranks, even giving him deep advice under the guise of casual conversation, Qiu Tupletely saw through the other party''s identity.

    After all, he wasn''t a subus who could make a stranger fall in love with him at first sight and treat him as if he were a junior.

    Thus, there was only one exnation: Tang Jiancha was a rtive of Tang Feifei, and might even be aware of the special rtionship between him and Tang Feifei...

    That could exin the other party''s change in attitude.

    "Damn it... It seems no matter what world one is in, having connections is essential."

    "Fortunately... I''m also basking in the light now."

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu, who had just verified his guess, got up withposure and bid farewell to Tang Feifei, "Well, Bureau Chief, I should get back to work."

    "Even though Jia Shu has been captured, the case isn''t settled yet."

    "If I want Yan Chen not to oppose my promotion, I still need to do some other work."

    Tang Feifei watched Qiu Tu with a smile, pleased that he had guessed Tang Jiancha''s identity early on.

    Partners could only reassure you if they were smart enough.

    However, Tang Feifei was quite curious about how Qiu Tu would get Yan Chen to not oppose his promotion, so she couldn''t help but ask, "Do you have a n?"

    Qiu Tu pointed at his head and confidently said, "I''ve thought it all through already."

    After speaking, he smiled brilliantly and turned away with ir.

    It had to be said, the already handsome him, d in his ck uniform and boots, enhanced by his confident speech, instantly maxed out his sex appeal.

    Tang Feifei watched his retreating figure like a female leopard eyeing its prey, her eyes narrowed slightly, and her heart raced with a "thump thump"...

    Wasn''t this much more fun than Liu Fuping''s soft and coquettish charms?

    ...

    After leaving Tang Feifei''s office, Qiu Tu strode towards the elevator.

    The reporting hour must have passed. There were fewer division chiefs and staff waiting in the corridor, which meant fewer odd looks for Qiu Tu.

    However, he believed it wouldn''t take long for the news of Qiu Tu siding with Tang Feifei to spread throughout the Investigation Bureau.

    This was exactly what Qiu Tu wanted.

    The harder the pressure now, the higher the reboundter.

    As Qiu Tu was analyzing the situation, Secretary Bai happened to bring a division chief into Yan Chen''s office and then came out.

    Seeing Qiu Tu waiting for the elevator, Secretary Bai looked his way.

    Qiu Tu felt the gaze and looked up.

    Their eyes met across the corridor, and even though nothing was said, there was an unspoken understanding between them.

    "Ding."

    The elevator arrived.

    Qiu Tu took his gaze back and stepped into the elevator.

    As the elevator doors closed, Qiu Tu faintly heard someone brown-nosing Secretary Bai, bad-mouthing him.

    "Secretary Bai, don''t be angry. That kind of thankless wolf, he''ll fall sooner orter. Heh heh."

    "By the way, Secretary Bai, our Public Security Office''s equipment has always beencking. We''ve applied to Chief Huang several times, but he just won''t approve."

    "Secretary Bai, look, could you see if you can... approve it."

    Secretary Bai''s smile was radiant, "Director Tian, you have to understand, some things aren''t approved for a reason."

    "Did you say something wrong and offend Chief Huang?"

    He patted the director on the shoulder with an insinuating tone, "There are so many secrets in the Bureau, sometimes it''s very important to keep your mouth shut. Perhaps a single sentence has offended someone."

    With that, he turned and returned to his office.

    Hearing Secretary Bai''s words, that plump-faced director looked bewildered, "No way. I hardly ever spoke with Chief Huang. How could I have offended him..."

    Muttering to himself for a moment, the director saw Secretary Bai leave and hurried after him, "Secretary Bai, Secretary Bai, let''s talk more, just a bit more..."

    The elevator doors slowly closed. Qiu Tu''s lips turned up slightly... Old Bai was still Old Bai. Discover hidden stories at My Virtual Library Empire

    Taking the elevator back down to the second floor''s Public Security Bureau, Qiu Tu walked toward the investigation group''s office, ready to have a word with Commissioner Jiang''s "liaison," Liu Fuping.

    In Xinjie City, the only ones who could make Yan Chenpromise were his fellow Three Giants, Commissioner Jiang and General Ye.

    Qiu Tu had already given Commissioner Jiang such a big gift previously, and now it was time to get some pensation" in return.

    Besides, this would also help strengthen their rtionship.

    To quickly increase someone''s favor, you should never just give unterally, but also ask for something from time to time.

    In fact, most of the time, "asking" could deepen a rtionship more than "giving."

    Moreover, to thoroughly deal with Jia Shu, Qiu Tu needed Liu Fuping''s help...

    --------

    3 chapters, 10,000 words, ha. I''ve been doing 10,000 words a day for 26 consecutive days, many authors promise monthly ticket bonuses for updates but don''t update as much as me, so I beg for your Monthly Ticket! Thanks!

 Chapter 183 Evil God: Worship Me! (10,000 words subscribe!)

    Facing Larilo, the Evil God, Qiu Tu alwayscked confidence deep down.

    After all,pared to tangible people, Larilo was like a ghost.

    Qiu Tu didn''t know how to harm her, how to kill her, or even... where she was.

    Qiu Tu only knew that she had used the female body cloned by Old Master Qin toe to the real world; he only knew that she could Enter Dream at night and could be contacted with ancient coins during the day.

    But beyond that... he knew nothing.

    ''How exactly does the Sanctuary deal with an Evil God?''

    ''Facing such a pervasive enemy, how do the higher-ups of the Sanctuary prepare?''

    Thinking quietly for a while, Qiu Tu suppressed the thick anxiety in his heart, then made several phone calls.

    After everything was arranged, he returned to his room.

    ''No matter what, first make enough preparations, then y it by ear¡­'' Experience more tales on My Virtual Library Empire

    ''At least this time, I''m notpletely in the dark about her.''

    ''Moreover, if she is a living being, she must have her own desires. So¡­ maybe, I can apply the same methods I use against people to her?''

    Back in the room, Shen Lingshuang was once again holding arge mallet, banging on the workbench.

    Seeing this, Qiu Tu chuckled and shook his head, saying, "Stop banging. The neighbors are going toin soon."

    Upon hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Shen Lingshuang''s eyes widened, "Who dares toin!?"

    With one hand on her hip and the other hoisting the hammer, she warned with fierce cuteness, "If anyone dares toin! I''ll, I''ll¡­!"

    Qiu Tu asked, "You''ll do what?"

    Shen Lingshuang squeezed out a cute smile and pulled out a handful of peanuts from her pocket, "I''ll invite them to eat peanuts~~ and ask them to be more understanding. Hehe."

    "Hahaha." Qiu Tu was amused by Shen Lingshuang''s half-tough, half-timid demeanor.

    He walked over, took the mallet from Shen Lingshuang''s hand, and said, "I''ve already asked a friend to help us find a new ce to live."

    "We should have one by tomorrow."

    "Then, we can move to our new house tomorrow."

    The emphasis in Qiu Tu''s statement was on "new house," but Shen Lingshuang was keyed into "us."

    Thus, her eyes lit up slightly, "Our new house?!"

    Qiu Tu replied, "Yes."

    He exined, "Recently, I''ve made many enemies. Some might seek revenge."

    "Plus, now that Old Alley Street has developed, too many peoplee and go, and it''s a mix of good and bad."

    "So, we should move to a safer ce to live."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Shen Lingshuang nodded her head cutely, filled with longing, "In our new house, can I have my own bedroom?"

    Qiu Tu heard her and shook his head, "That won''t be possible."

    Shen Lingshuang''s head drooped immediately, a bit disappointed.

    Seeing her like this, Qiu Tu said with a smile, "Because I can''t fall asleep at night now without holding you."

    At Qiu Tu''s words, Shen Lingshuang''s face flushed red. Steam practically began to rise from her head.

    Qiu Tu watched the girl blush, then added, "So, although you can''t have your own bedroom, you can decorate any other room in the house as you wish. You can also choose one to be your Alchemy Room or workshop."

    Shen Lingshuang looked up, tilting her head, "Really, truly O.o?"

    Seeing Qiu Tu nod, Shen Lingshuang excitedly jumped onto him, overjoyed, "Yay! Qiu Tu, you''re not that bad after all!"

    Supporting Shen Lingshuang''s perky backside, and seeing her happy demeanor, Qiu Tu chuckled and shook his head: still such a kid, huh...

    He wondered why her parents would let such a young, cute girl wander the Cataclysmic world alone¡­

    ...

    Perhaps because they were moving to a new house tomorrow, Shen Lingshuang was exceptionally excited.

    She stopped hammering and started packing her belongings instead.

    The Cataclysmic Potions had to be taken; Cataclysmic Materials had to be taken; the workbench had to be taken; even some pots and pans, as well as rice, flour, oil, and salt, had to be taken.

    Watching her pack and mutter about what else she might have forgotten, Qiu Tu sitting on the sofa was a bit speechless.

    He said, "Anything you need can be bought once we get to the new ce."

    "That rice and flour aren''t expensive. They''re heavy to carry. There''s no need to take them."

    Shen Lingshuang rolled her eyes at Qiu Tu, mumbling, "Such a rich young master, never managed a household."

    "Those were bought with hard-earned Copper Yuan. How can we waste them?"

    Qiu Tu suggested, "We could give them to the neighbors, then."

    Shen Lingshuang paused, still shaking her head, and continued packing, "Better not. I picked these out meticulously, I can''t bear to part with them..."

    Seeing Shen Lingshuang''s stingy behavior, Qiu Tu found it quite amusing.

    This girl could not only help her neighbors make money but was also nit-picky when it came to buying and giving things away.

    What kind of living environment had shaped such a girl?

    Just like that, Shen Lingshuang continued to tidy up untilte into the night before finally finishing, and then the two of them washed up a bit and went to bed.

    Perhaps because she was a bit excited, Shen Lingshuangy in Qiu Tu''s arms, chattering non-stop with her little mouth going "pah pah pah."

    Unable to take it anymore, Qiu Tu covered her mouth and physically silenced her, atst putting a stop to her ceaseless desire tomunicate.

    In this manner, while blocking Shen Lingshuang''s mouth and gently patting her back, it took Qiu Tu a whole half-hour to finally put the girl to deep sleep.

    And after Shen Lingshuang fell asleep, Qiu Tu got up, looked at her for a moment, and then headed to the neighboring room.

    In the neighboring room, Sister Xin was already waiting. Also there were Ah-Tai, Eagle, and both Cao Dabiao and Chen Feng who had finished the celebration feast.

    Entering the room, Qiu Tu said to Sister Xin, "Sister Xin, I''ll have to trouble you to take care of Ling Shuang tonight too."

    Sister Xin said cheerfully, "No problem, no problem. Little sister Ling Shuang has been a big help to ustely; it''s only right that I take care of her."

    After speaking, she gestured towards her bed and said, "I''ll go over there now, make yourself at home, feel free."

    Qiu Tu nodded his head, watching Sister Xin leave his room for her own.

    Seeing this, Ah-Tai scratched his head, saying naively, "Brother Tu, you''re being overly cautious."

    "Even if United Front really nned to attack tonight, we''ll make sure Ling Shuang is safe."

    "You should just focus on dealing with the Evil God."

    Qiu Tu shook his head, "You don''t understand. There''s no cure for regret in this world."

    "We''ll be moving tomorrow, so tonight is the only night something could possibly go wrong."

    "Although it''s very unlikely that United Front knows about it, I don''t want to regret anything because of a slight oversight."@@novelbin@@

    Having said that, Qiu Tu also turned to Ah-Tai and Eagle, "Besides, tell the brothers to be more cautious these days."

    "Try to move in groups as much as possible, and don''t give United Front any openings."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Ah-Tai and Eagle immediately became serious and nodded.

    After arranging for Ah-Tai and Eagle to stand guard outside in the corridor, Qiu Tuy down on Sister Xin''s bed, ready to sleep.

    As for Cao Dabiao and Chen Feng, of course, they were staying by his side.

    The two had once undergone special training with the Security Department; they knew how to pick up on Qiu Tu''s warnings in dreams and how to wake him.

    Therefore, with Liu Fuping inconvenient to show up, having the two of theme over to stay the night was the best choice.

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu gave a few more instructions to the two, and theny down on the bed, falling into a deep sleep.....

    He didn''t know how long he had slept, maybe ten minutes, maybe an hour....

    Suddenly, Qiu Tu felt as though he was groggy.

    A woman''s voice was gently calling in his ear, "Qiu Tu.... Qiu Tu...."

    Hearing that familiar voice, Qiu Tu wanted to open his eyes, but found that he seemed unable to move.

    His muddled mind couldn''t quite figure out what was happening.

    He had a keen feeling something was wrong, yet he didn''t know what exactly it was....

    And it was then.

    That woman''s whisper came to his ears again, "Qiu Tu... what do you desire?"

    Qiu Tu mumbled, "Desire what....?"

    "I desire... power, money, women."

    The woman chuckled lightly, "Such vulgar yet true desires."

    "But that''s fine. I can give you everything you want."

    Still in a daze, Qiu Tu seemed to retain a shred of reason, "Why would you give me everything I want?"

    The woman replied, "Because... I am an omnipotent God."

    "Just worship me, be my follower, and you can fulfill all your wishes."

    "Power, money, women...."

    "I can make you the dictator of the Sanctuary."

    "Give you endless wealth."

    "Select for you, train all the women that meet your heart''s desire...."

    -----

    Three updates and 10,000 words haha. Continuing with the daily 10,000 words tonight. Love you guys!

 Chapter 186 108 Ways to Enhance Affection Part 2 (10,000 Words for Monthly Ticket!)

    As soon as Qiu Tu walked into the courtyard, he heard a beautiful harmonica melodying from inside the house.

    The sound was clear and melodious, like a mountain stream, twirling and dancing in the air.

    At times it was light and brisk, like a spring breeze, with a touch of joy that was hard to detect; at other times deep and somber, like the night, filled with thoughts and stories.

    Seeing this, Qiu Tu couldn''t help but stop in his tracks and listen intently.

    In these troubled times, too many people have too many stories. Clearly, the woman inside was no different...

    After quietly listening for two or three minutes, when the piece ended, Qiu Tu pped as he stepped inside.

    "I didn''t expect Secretary Tao to have harmonica skills. It seems that nobody who works as a secretary for the Commissioner is simple."

    Upon hearing Qiu Tu''s praise, Tao Yaoyao inside the house smiled and responded, "It''s just a little pastime of mine."

    "Compared to Chief Qiu... it''s nothing."

    During the conversation, she turned around to look at Qiu Tu.

    At the moment, Qiu Tu, who had just entered the room, happened toy his eyes on her.

    It had to be said, this woman was indeed enchanting, with bold makeup and attire.

    A tight-fitted professional outfit outlined her curvaceous figure, the contours shaped by the clinging clothes as if hiding secrets and charm unknown to others,pelling one to unravel and explore.

    And the upward flick of her eyeliner, along with the deep red of her lips, added a touch of danger to the mystery.

    It was clear that the woman before him was no innocent, but a ck widow who might take your life at any moment.

    Such a temperament and appearance, to be honest, were like the brightest spotlight in chaotic times, causing everyone''s gaze to converge on her involuntarily.

    It greedily attracted all covetous and lustful eyes.

    In such circumstances, this woman was still living well, and the fact that she was also skilled in instruments only further evidenced her extraordinary nature.

    ¡ª¡ªIn chaotic times, musical instruments are not somethingmon people cane into contact with.

    While constructing a model of the woman before him in his mind, Qiu Tu alsoplimented as he walked into the inner room, "Being proficient in a musical instrument in such times is not something trivial."

    Saying this, Qiu Tu suddenly asked, "Besides, Secretary Tao, surely you''re proficient in more than just one instrument, right?"

    Upon hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Tao Yaoyao wore a faint smile and frankly said, "Indeed, more than one. Harmonica, violin, harp, and even saxophone¡ªI know a thing or two about each."

    ''Certainly not an ordinary identity.''

    While continuing to sort through information in his mind, Qiu Tu praised, "Secretary Tao is truly talented."

    "I hope I''ll have the chance to listen to your performance someday."

    Tao Yaoyao''s eyes were seductive, but her tone of voice carried a prickliness.

    "Sure. As long as Chief Qiu bes the Bureau Chief, I will surelye to y for youte at night."

    A statement that was dangerous yet aggressive.

    It was as if mocking Qiu Tu for not being qualified, while also giving him something to look forward to, mixed with the ambiguity of ate-night serenade...

    Dangerous and alluring.

    Qiu Tu found it quite interesting.

    He focused on Tao Yaoyao''s narrow, enchanting eyes and smoothly said, "Then it''s a deal."

    "When I do be the Bureau Chief, I''ll definitely give Secretary Tao a call."

    "At that time, you mustn''t reject myte-night invitation..."

    Tao Yaoyao had thought her reticent retort would make Qiu Tu back off, yet unexpectedly, he dared to climb even higher.

    This caused a dangerous gleam to flicker within her slightly narrowed eyes...

    Qiu Tu, with his keen perception, noticed the change in Tao Yaoyao''s eyes and immediately knew better than to push further; so, without waiting for her to counter, he decisively steered the conversation back on track.

    He said, "Secretary Tao, this meeting is to discuss an important matter."

    Caught off guard, Tao Yaoyao''s mouth opened slightly but she did not continue the previous topic, "Oh? What''s the matter?"

    Qiu Tu gestured toward a chair, taking the lead as if reversing the host-guest roles.

    Sitting down first, he continued, "These past couple of days, I believe Commissioner Jiang has seen my sincerity."

    "So, now it''s time for Commissioner Jiang to show his sincerity."

    With a simple gesture from Qiu Tu and his move to sit down first, he swiftly reimed control of the conversation.

    Secretary Tao nced down at Qiu Tu, noticing she was standing while he was seated¡ªlike she was his subordinate or secretary.

    She chuckled lightly, "Heh..." and, unfazed, also took a seat.

    Then, she turned the tables, "What makes Chief Qiu think Commissioner Jiang needs to demonstrate his sincerity?"

    This remark seemed almost like she was ready to burn bridges after crossing, but Qiu Tu, as if he hadn''t heard, continued, "After what happened a couple of days ago, Jia Shu will no longer be able to serve as Head of the Political Department."

    "At that time, Director Yan is likely to choose from among the two deputy directors to fill the position. And I have my eyes on one of those deputy director positions."

    Pausing, Qiu Tu added, "This will require Commissioner Jiang''s help."

    Tao Yaoyao initially listened somewhat indifferently, but when she heard Qiu Tu wanted to be a deputy director, she was suddenly taken aback, "Deputy director?"

    She recalled Qiu Tu''s record and then said, "If I remember correctly, Chief Qiu, you''ve just been promoted recently."

    "Won''t it be a bit too much pressure to continue rising up now?"

    Qiu Tu didn''t exin; instead, he gave a mysterious smile, "Since I dare to make this request, I must be confident."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Tao Yaoyao''s brows slightly furrowed, revealing a measure of seriousness and focus.

    Her gaze fell on Qiu Tu, as if she wanted to see through the mystery he was selling...

    But Qiu Tu was now an Old Fox; how could he possibly reveal his emotions?

    Therefore, even after observing him for quite a while, she didn''t get any valuable clues.

    So, she could only subtly remind him, "Chief Qiu, you must realize that once themissioner helps you at the Municipal Committee..."@@novelbin@@

    "Then... your rtionship with themissioner would bepletely exposed."

    "Let''s not discuss whether your promotion will be sessful or not, even if it is, Director Yan will see you as a thorn in his side."

    "At that time, you''ll likely find it very difficult to move within the Investigation Bureau."

    Hearing Tao Yaoyao''s words, Qiu Tu smiled. He looked towards Tao Yaoyao''s enchanting eyes, and asked in return, "Is Secretary Tao worried about me?"

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Tao Yaoyao''s expression froze.

    She was just about to retort.

    But Qiu Tu immediately took back his words, "However, isn''t Commissioner Jiang precisely looking for someone in the Investigation Bureau who can stand up against Director Yan?"

    "By stepping forward now and attracting Director Yan''s attention, I allow Commissioner Jiang toy out his ns with ease. Isn''t that exactly what Commissioner Jiang desires?"

    "Whether I''m pped to death by Yan Chen or I manage to secure my footing, it''s a no-lose situation for Commissioner Jiang."

    "As for my own life or death, how does that rte to you, Secretary Tao, or to Commissioner Jiang?"

    "To trade a dispensable piece for massive gains¡ªSecretary Tao, do you still need to inquire further about such a sure-win gamble?"

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Tao Yaoyao took a deep breath and reassessed Qiu Tu with her narrow eyes.

    Even though Tao Yaoyao always held herself in high regard, she had to admit that Qiu Tu had a unique charm:

    He always managed to grasp the essence of the matter and then employed his unique rhetoric to draw people into the scenario.

    That trait always lent him an irresistible allure, making one unwittingly captivated by his words.

    The problem was, even if one were to rey and analyze his logic afterward, one would find that he wasn''t just ying word games; he was truly stating the facts.

    ¡ªA fact that made one feel they had struck it rich.

    But... how could anyone sacrifice themselves just so others could profit?

    ''So... what does this man rely on to believe he can survive between two giants?''

    ''And why does he think he can vault to higher positions and be a vice director in a short time?''

    Perhaps because there were too many questions in her mind, Tao Yaoyao momentarily felt that Qiu Tu was shrouded in mystery,pelling her to unravel its secrets...

    Qiu Tu, keenly aware of the shift in Tao Yaoyao''s emotions, quietly curved his lips into a smile.

    "Emotional Fraud Manual" 108 Ways to Enhance Affinity No. 2: Women are to be attracted, not chased.

    Strength (wealth and power) coupled with mystery are indeed the most crucial charms for attracting women.

    Once a woman bes curious about you, chances are she''ll soon fall into your trap...

    At this moment, perhaps sensing something amiss in her demeanor, Tao Yaoyao tensed up inside and started to reflect on her behavior.

    ''Am I being involuntarily drawn in, or have I fallen into a trap?''

    At that thought, Tao Yaoyao cast a thoughtful nce at Qiu Tu, feeling a bit uneasy.

    Her eyes narrowed slightly, she felt that this couldn''t go on.

    ''I must hit back. Otherwise, both my train of thought and the pace of the conversation will be thoroughly in his hands.''

    Thinking this, Tao Yaoyao''s eyes flickered, and suddenly she had an idea in mind.

    In the dark jungle, there are no kings who merely endure; to deter all beasts, one must showcase their might and not be underestimated!

    Therefore, she smiled and extended her hand, then said, "Chief Qiu makes a very good point."

    "Then, I will agree to this matter on behalf of Commissioner Jiang."

    Hearing Tao Yaoyao''s words, Qiu Tu''s brow furrowed, his expression immediately turning grave.

    Tao Yaoyao, with her keen senses, caught that flicker of emotion, and with a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth, she reminded him,

    "Indeed, as the confidential secretary, I have the right to decide certain matters on behalf of themissioner..."

    ------

    Let me report on our performance! With everyone''s effort, our book''s Monthly Ticket soared by 2000 today! Not only did we sessfully reim a spot in the top 10 of the Monthly Ticket rankings, but we also jumped ahead by 3 ces to number 8!

    And, we''re leading the 11th ce by nearly 1000 tickets!

    This is all thanks to you! I''m on my knees thanking you!

    I will continue to work hard to pump out more chapters! Let''s work together to maintain our position in the top 10 of the Monthly Ticket!

    During the double points period, one vote counts as two! Please make sure to cast your votes if you have them! Continue reading at My Virtual Library Empire

    If you find you can''t vote after casting 2 or 5 votes, it''s probably the daily limit, so you can vote again the next day!

    Thank you!

 Chapter 187 Someone Stealing the Credit! (10,000 Characters Appeal for Subscription)

    Hearing Tao Yaoyao''s thinly veiled threat, a hint of amusement flickered through Qiu Tu''s eyes.

    Actually, Qiu Tu wasn''t the least surprised by the authority Tao Yaoyao possessed.

    Because, after the first encounter with Tao Yaoyao, Qiu Tu, wanting to know his friend as well as his foe, had already inquired about Tao Yaoyao''s identity and rank from Liu Fuping beforehand.

    ording to Liu Fuping, being the confidential secretary to Commissioner Jiang, Tao Yaoyao''s rank was not low, the same as Qiu Tu''s, both were Principal Staff.

    Moreover, as the messenger for Commissioner Jiang to the outside world, her power and influence were exceedingly terrifying, far exceeding that of ordinary division heads like Qiu Tu.

    ¡ª¡ªWhether it was the various departments of City Hall, the various divisions of the Investigation Bureau, or the various units of the military, they all needed to give her face.

    If she called the high-level executives of the three major institutions, those executives would think very carefully about the implications of her words.

    After all, no one knew whether her words would represent Commissioner Jiang''s stance.

    This resulted in her being arguably the most powerful division head in the entire Xinjie City.

    She was acimed as the "Second Commissioner" of Xinjie City.

    This was also the reason she was so arrogant and overbearing.

    Because... she represented Commissioner Jiang on the outside.

    However, Tao Yaoyao might not know that... the reason Qiu Tu was teasing her today was precisely because of this identity of hers.

    Qiu Tu, who had once been a confidant of Yan Chen, knew how convenient it was to act under the cover of these big shots.

    He had already lost the halo of Yan Chen''s protection and had to keep a low profile for the time being.

    But if he could take down the woman before him, then through her unique status, he could quietly open up the situation again in the various departments of Xinjie City.

    This was a dark move that couldn''t be spoken to outsiders...

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu continued to follow his own n.

    He "Oh?" made a sound, feigned an expression of surprise, and then said, "I hadn''t realized Commissioner Jiang trusted Secretary Tao so much."

    "It seems I was too hasty just now."

    Seeing Tao Yaoyao''s expression slightly soften, Qiu Tu swiftly changed his tone, "However... I think Secretary Tao should still consult with Commissioner Jiang about this matter."

    "After all, this is a very important issue. If you overstep and agree on behalf of Commissioner Jiang and then there''s a problem, you won''t be able to bear the responsibility."

    "You!" Tao Yaoyao truly didn''t expect that, after revealing her "status," Qiu Tu would still dare to be so confrontational with her.

    No, it wasn''t confrontation, it was straightforward sarcastic ridicule of her pretentious behavior and overstepping her authority.@@novelbin@@

    This was a kind of grievance she had never experienced sinceing to Xinjie City and bing the confidential secretary to Commissioner Jiang.

    Thinking this, her eyes narrowed, and a dangerous glint flickered in her elongated eyes.

    But Qiu Tu acted as if he hadn''t noticed at all, looking at her calmly, without giving in.

    Stay tuned with My Virtual Library Empire

    Truth be told, it was only because Tao Yaoyaocked propriety as a host and didn''t pour a cup of tea for Qiu Tu; otherwise, he would have definitely taken a couple of sips just to infuriate her.

    The atmosphere in the room quieted down for a moment.

    One second, two seconds, three seconds...

    Just as Qiu Tu began to worry he''d taken it too far, Tao Yaoyao''s face suddenly blossomed into a dangerous smile.

    Her upward-curved eyeliner seemed to dance as she reached into the deep cleavage at her chest to pull out a small, specially mademunicator and then ced it suggestively in front of Qiu Tu...

    "Sure. Since Chief Qiu has requested it, I will certainly report to Commissioner Jiang."

    "When Commissioner Jiang makes a decision, I will take the initiative to contact you."

    As she said this, she paused, smiling, "However... I cannot guarantee when Commissioner Jiang will have the time to hear my report about this matter."

    Qiu Tu had already anticipated Tao Yaoyao''s direction of counter-attack, so he indifferently picked up themunicator from the table.

    Themunicator was warm to the touch, as if carrying Tao Yaoyao''s body heat.

    Qiu Tu brought it to his nose and smelled it, detecting a faint scent of milk.

    The smile on Qiu Tu''s face deepened, "No problem. If Commissioner Jiang is not avable, I will go to find him in person."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s ambiguous yet measured response, Tao Yaoyao''s nted eyes narrowed.

    She snorted lightly and then got up and left.

    The sound of her high heels striking the floor was like hasty drumbeats, each step revealing the displeasure of its owner.

    But to Qiu Tu, it seemed just right.

    The "Emotional Fraud Manual" outlines thirty-six strategies for dealing with women: [Stand Out From the Crowd].

    If a woman is naive, then take her to experience the world. If a woman has rich experience, then offer her the prosaic life.

    What a woman is ustomed to, she won''t find precious. It''s only when you present her with something she has never or seldom experienced that you will appear unique.

    So, when encountering a beauty, one must not be a fawning admirer; there are too many admirers around her already.

    And when meeting a woman like Tao Yaoyao, who isn''t short of tterers, one must not indulge her...

    Of course, the premise is not to overdo it.

    With that in mind, Qiu Tu silently recalled Tao Yaoyao''s personality traits from what he learned from Liu Fuping, as well as her expressions just now, and felt... there probably wouldn''t be a problem.

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu calmly took out the specially mademunicator Tao Yaoyao had given him.

    Turning it on, he checked it. Inside, there was just one number. It should be Tao Yaoyao''s.

    Qiu Tu then took out another twomunicators and that ancient coin from his pocket.

    One man, fourmunication devices; it was quite something. Add to that his rtionships with Tang Feifei and Liu Fuping...

 Chapter 189 Killing a Chicken to Warn the Monkeys! (10,000 Characters Appeal for Subscription)

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, the expressions on all the investigating officers present involuntarily revealed a startle.

    After all, the charge that Qiu Tu hadbeled Zheng Tao with was no small matter.

    Colluding with criminals, moreover, those involved in major cases. Not to mention Zheng Tao, the newly promoted Deputy Division Chief¡ªeven Jia Shu, before his dismissal, would have been subjected to an investigation by the Disciplinary Department had he been reported to the higher-ups.

    ''Chief Qiu is really ying a tough hand here. He''s ready to ssh the dirtiest water directly onto Director Zheng''s back.''

    There were quite a few clear-eyed agents present, so they immediately grasped the implications of Qiu Tu''s statements as soon as he spoke.

    Zheng Tao also clearly discerned Qiu Tu''s intent. He certainly could not let this dirty water douse him.

    So he quickly responded head-on, "Chief Qiu, one might eat indiscriminately, but one mustn''t speak carelessly."

    He looked at Qiu Tu with a stern face and exined, "My request for interrogation waspletely legal andpliant."

    "It is work that falls within the scope of my authority. I was conducting the interrogation in ordance with the rules and regtions."

    "Whether during the transfer or the interrogation, there were always more than three agents present the entire time."@@novelbin@@

    "The interrogation was also recorded in both audio and video the entire time."

    "If you have any doubts, you can apply to review the interrogation records."

    Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu was in no way disrupted by Zheng Tao''s reply: or rather... it was Zheng Tao''s exnation of this issue that thoroughly handed over the rhythm of the conversation.

    So, with a smile that was not quite a smile, Qiu Tu looked at Zheng Tao and said, "Director Zheng, the Political Department itself deals in spying and counter-spying."

    "Who among us doesn''t know that reminding a criminal, passing on a message, doesn''t require direct dialogue?"

    "A simple action, a simple secret sign. Even mere appearance in front of someone can already convey enough information to the other party."

    Upon hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Zheng Tao''s face had already turned ashen.

    He asked in a harsh tone, "Then what exactly does Chief Qiu want me to do to prove myself?!"

    "ording to what you''re saying, doesn''t that mean I already have no way to prove my innocence?"

    Actually, by this time, the agents present had gradually realized that Qiu Tupletely controlled the entire conversation.

    Zheng Tao, because of the procedural loophole grasped by Qiu Tu, had already fallen into a disadvantageous position.

    Following their line of thought, Qiu Tu should be taking advantage of his victory, kicking the enemy while he''s down. He should finish the job in one fell swoop.

    Who knew, however, that Qiu Tu would chuckle lightly, then suddenly changed his tone, "Director Zheng, you''re not wrong. From the moment you took my suspect, you were already in a melon field beneath a plum tree, unable to clear yourself."

    "You''ve also worked at the Political Department for many years, and you should know why one shouldn''t act rashly with someone else''s suspects¡ªto avoid the very situation you''re in now!"

    Having said this, Qiu Tu looked at Zheng Tao with a smile that was not quite a smile, "As for how you want to prove yourself. Actually, it''s quite simple."

    "It''s to clear up the case, isn''t it?"

    Qiu Tu gestured towards Jia Wei, who was propping up his body and watching the scene, and said, "As long as you can interrogate and get a confession from the criminal, you''ll naturally prove your innocence."

    "If you can''t manage it... heh."

    Quiet fell over the scene upon hearing Qiu Tu''s words.

    It wasn''t because what Qiu Tu said was too outrageous, but rather... it was too "light". Experience more tales on My Virtual Library Empire

    Letting Zheng Tao continue the interrogation, and moreover, demanding that Zheng Tao produce results from the interrogation.

    Was this purposely making things difficult? It sounded more like a concession, didn''t it?

    After all, with Qiu Tu''s ruckus, even an originally somewhat illegal interrogation by Zheng Tao had now bepletely legal.

    Moreover, once Zheng Tao truly obtained a confession, much of the credit for the case would be his, and Qiu Tu would have to cede the primary authority over the case.

    ''Is Qiu Tu getting timid?''

    More than one agent thought this way. They looked at each other, thinking there was more to the matter than met the eye.

    But what exactly the problem was, they did not know.

    Zheng Tao felt the same.

    Having had many dealings with Qiu Tu, he felt he understood him quite well.

    He knew that Qiu Tu had a strong character and was very assertive, neverpromising on his own initiative.

    Therefore, the presence of any concession meant there must be a trick!

    But, because Qiu Tu controlled the entire conversation, he was now put on the spot by Qiu Tu, with no way to step down.

    So... even knowing there was an issue, he had to reluctantly agree.

    He said with a deep look, "Fine! Then thank you, Chief Qiu, for the opportunity!"

    "I''ll proceed with the interrogation now!"

    Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu indeed interrupted him, revealing his trump card, "Then, Director Zheng, please set a time limit."

    "We can''t just keep the criminal at your ce forever, causing the case to be indefinitely stalled, can we?"

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Zheng Tao''s face went through subtle changes, as if he were considering what time to give.

    Eventually, he did not dare to push his luck, and instead proposed a rather generous time, "Today, 6 PM, before the end of the workday."

    Qiu Tuughed, "No problem. Then, Director Zheng, please go ahead. I wish you a swift and decisive victory."

    After finishing, he gestured with his hand, then turned and left the interrogation room.

    After leaving the interrogation room, Qiu Tu swept a cold gaze over the many agents who were onlookers, and then said to Chen Feng, Cao Dabiao, and others clustered around him, "Now, arrange for someone to stake out the door of the interrogation room."

    "From now on, until 6 PM, report back every hour to inform me of the progress of the interrogation!"

    Having said this, Qiu Tu''s voice was loud enough almost for everyone present, including Zheng Tao, to hear, "I want to see if the so-called strongest interrogator of the Interrogation Section can really extract a confession from my criminal!"

    He smirked condescendingly and sneered, "Daring to forcefully take over the case based on status alone, interrogating the suspect, trying to snatch the credit without even having a clear understanding of the case or the criminal''s identity!"

    "I really want to see how some people will lose face when the timees!"

    Having said that, Qiu Tu left with a flick of his sleeve!

    Upon hearing the harsh words Qiu Tu had thrown out, the onlooking investigators exchanged nces, suddenly "understanding" what Qiu Tu was thinking.

    They felt that Qiu Tu simply did not believe in Zheng Tao''s abilities.

    The previous action of throwing dirt at Zheng Tao must have been said in anger. But now, demanding that Zheng Tao interrogate the suspect within a limited time was Qiu Tu''s real stratagem!

    The two wagered on this interrogation as their battlefield.

    Qiu Tu bet that Zheng Tao would spend a day unable to break the psychological defenses of that criminal.

    As for Zheng Tao, he bet that he could break through the criminal''s psychological defenses within one day.

    If Zheng Tao obtained a confession, he would be entitled to share the credit for the case;

    If Zheng Tao failed to extract a confession, however, his attempted credit-grabbing stunt would be his biggest ridicule, spread across the entire Investigation Bureau, and any further issues with this suspect could likely be his burden to bear.

    ''A somewhat unfair gamble?''

    This thought briefly crossed the minds of many investigators.

    Because this wager seemed a bit too simple for Zheng Tao. After all, who didn''t know about Zheng Tao''s reputation. His interrogation techniques were truly something!

    ''Qiu Tu may be overconfident...''

    It was because of this very thought that when various departments within the Investigation Bureau learned of the wager between Qiu Tu and Zheng Tao, the majority of the investigators, section chiefs, and division chiefs actually believed that Zheng Tao was highly likely to win.

    They felt that Qiu Tu was underestimating the elite of the Investigation Bureau.

    Zheng Tao, after all, had undergone professional training at the Sanctuary and even learned various interrogation techniques from Jia Shu, an interrogation expert.

    How could he possibly fail to pry open the mouth of a suspect?

    At this moment, however, Zheng Tao was not as confident as everyone thought.

    Ever since he had agreed to Qiu Tu''s wager, a subtle unease had lingered in his heart.

    He always had the feeling he had fallen into some sort of trap, but he couldn''t see through what kind of trap it was.

    So, he could only sit with a gloomy expression, saying nothing.

    While he remained silent, Jia Wei, who was tied to the interrogation chair, started talking.

    Heughed hoarsely, "Hehehe," his voice rough as midnight gravel.

    "You''re finished. Qiu Tu is obviously using you as the ''chicken'' to warn the monkeys."

    "He wants the whole Investigation Bureau to know, even if you have Yan Chen''s backing, crossing him will not end well!"

    "He''s making an example, so others will think twice before opposing him in the future!"

    "So, the moment you agreed to this bet, you were destined to lose."

    "After all, I won''t say anything. Hehehe...."

    Upon hearing Jia Wei''s words, Zheng Tao''s gaze sharpened, and he looked at Jia Wei with a dark expression.

    He slowly stood up, wrapped his hand with a wet towel, walked toward Jia Wei, and then cast a fierce look as he fiercely pummeled Jia Wei''s abdomen several times!

    As he struck, he rebuked, "Not talking?!"

    "You know how many punishments are there in the Political Department?!"

    "No one has ever made it through all of them!"

    As he spoke, he grabbed Jia Wei''s hair with one hand, his face full of anger, and menacingly said, "So, I guarantee you''ll talk!"

    After speaking, he turned to the nearby investigators and barked, "Bring the potion! Start water torture!"

    "He''s a Second-Order Cataclysmic Awakened, don''t worry about his life or death!"

    "Yes!" Hearing Zheng Tao''s order, several confidants promptly responded....

    ...

    The wager between Zheng Tao and Qiu Tu could be said to be tugging at the heartstrings of many in the Investigation Bureau.

    Some supported Qiu Tu, wanting to see his triumph in humiliating others; some disliked Qiu Tu, hoping to see Zheng Tao put him in his ce; and then there were those who were just there for the spectacle.

    But regardless, this bet was indeed the biggest news within the Investigation Bureau for these two days. Countless eyes were attracted to this wager....

    Sure enough, an hour passed quickly.

    Chen Feng nced at the still tightly closed door of the interrogation room and instructed Ding Xiaoliu, "Tell the chief, the first hour of interrogation has not ended."

    "Yes!" Hearing this, Ding Xiaoliu saluted and then hurriedly ran back upstairs to deliver the report.

    And as he rushed to report, the various departments of the Investigation Bureau quickly received the same message as well: In the first hour, Zheng Tao had not broken through the prisoner''s psychological defenses....

    But they were not concerned. After all, to break through the psychological defenses of a significant criminal within one hour was indeed quite difficult.

    So, they continued to watch and wait.

    The time ticked by, second by second.

    Soon, the second hour arrived.

    Chen Feng looked at the still closed door of the interrogation room and said to Ding Xiaoliu, "The second hour, still a failure."

    ------

    3 updates, 10,000 words haha. Continuing tonight with another 10,000. During the double Monthly Ticket period, seeking the minimum Monthly Tickets!

 Chapter 190 "Slap in the Face!" (10,000 Words Asking for Subscriptions!)

    Hearing Chen Feng''s words, Ding Xiaoliu quickly saluted again, "Yes!"

    Then he turned around and left to go "give the good news" on the second floor.

    And with his departure, very soon the entire Investigation Bureau knew that Zheng Tao had not obtained any results from the second hour of interrogation!

    This actually didn''t catch anyone''s attention.

    After all... two hours and one hour were more or less the same. Both were just starting to apply some interrogation methods, so it was normal not to have results yet.

    And the attitudes of some big shots who were following the progress of this matter were simr...

    Organizational Department, Director''s Office.

    After listening to his subordinate''s report, one of the nine high-level officials of the Investigation Bureau, Director of the Organizational Department Shi Youxin, chuckled and nodded.

    Shi Youxin was a man in his forties.

    He had been Yan Chen''s old colleague at the Military Officers'' Academy, andter, when Yan Chen became sessful, he resigned to join Yan Chen and had been working under him ever since, belonging to one of Yan Chen''s important confidants and a key helper in Yan Chen''s control of the personnel power of the entire Investigation Bureau.

    Zheng Tao''s promotion included his contributions.

    Therefore, today, as soon as Qiu Tu and Zheng Tao started their conflict, he ordered someone to pay close attention to it.

    Knowing that Zheng Tao did note out from the interrogation room during the second hour, he smiled, picked up his tea cup steeped with goji berries and deer antler, took a sip, and then said indifferently,

    "Don''t worry... Zheng Tao''s abilities are widely recognized."

    "In the entire Investigation Bureau, aside from Jia Shu, his interrogation techniques are the most brilliant."

    "If even he can''t break through this case, then probably no one can."

    "And..." As he said this, Shi Youxin nced at the clock, "it''s only 11 o''clock now. There are still 7 hours until 6 pm."

    "Do you know what 7 hours mean to an interrogation expert?"

    "It means he can torture a suspect to the point where they''ll even disclose the color of their wife''s underwear!"

    While talking, Shi Youxin put a few goji berries into his mouth and concluded, "Seven hours, how can Zheng Tao lose?"

    "This time, Qiu Tu has really underestimated the heroes of the world."

    .....

    Special Service Department. Director''s Office.

    The man who had once helped Qiu Tu, one of the nine high-level officials of the Investigation Bureau, the Director of the Special Service Department Lin Ting.

    Facing his subordinate''s report, he shook his head with a smile, "I used to think Qiu Tu was a very smart person."

    "But unexpectedly, this time he''s be so muddleheaded."

    "So, rest assured. The advantage is with us."

    ....

    Among these high-level officials, the only different attitude might be Yan Chen''s...

    Investigation Bureau Chief''s Office.

    Yan Chen sat in his dimly-lit office, smoking and signing documents, while listening to Ji Chen''s report.

    Ji Chen obviously took pleasure in others'' misfortune, his voice buoyant and cheerful during the report.

    But what he didn''t realize was that as his report went on, the expression on Yan Chen''s face became less and less.

    Soon, after Ji Chen finished reporting, Yan Chen slowly put down his pen.

    He looked at Ji Chen with a dark expression and then said slowly, "Ji Chen, do you think Qiu Tu will lose this bet?"

    Hearing Yan Chen''s words, Ji Chen was clearly startled. Then he replied hesitantly, "But... Director Zheng is a renowned interrogation expert."

    "A 9-hour interrogation session, it''s impossible to fail."

    Yan Chen narrowed his eyes and took a drag of his cigarette, then seriously countered, "Since even you know such a simple truth, why wouldn''t Qiu Tu know it?"

    Yan Chen''s words were perhaps too direct, and Ji Chen''s face turned red and then pale.

    After all, Yan Chen was all but pointing at his nose and scolding him for being inferior to Qiu Tu.

    But faced with Yan Chen, Ji Chen didn''t dare to retort, so he could only quickly suppress his smile and lower his voice to admit his error, "The Bureau Chief is correct."

    "Hmph." Yan Chen snorted heavily through his nose and then judged, "Qiu Tu is not someone who loses his head easily. Since he dares to make this bet, it means there must be an inside story."

    "Zheng Tao has been calcted by him."

    As he said this, he waved his hand somewhat listlessly, "Enough. His position has already been bet."

    "Even if Zheng Tao loses face again, that position cannot be ceded."

    "You may leave. Report back when there''s news."

    Having finished speaking, he picked up his pen and started signing documents again.

    Hearing Yan Chen''s words, Ji Chen quickly saluted and then turned to leave Yan Chen''s office.

    However, from the disgruntled look on his face as he turned his back to Yan Chen, it was clear he didn''t agree with Yan Chen''s points of view...

    ...

    12 o''clock, the third hour after the bet was set.

    Since the interrogation room had not opened, it was evident that Zheng Tao had not prated Jia Wei''s psychological defense. Explore new worlds at My Virtual Library Empire

    1 pm, the fourth hour after the bet was set.

    Zheng Tao and his team hadn''t evene out for lunch, but were racing against the clock to conduct the interrogation.

    However... despite their efforts, it was clear that progress was limited. The door of the interrogation room remained closed.

    2 pm, 3 pm, 4 pm.

    At this point, 7 hours had passed since the bet was established. Yet, there was still no sign of the interrogation room''s door opening.

    Instead, some agents from the Interrogation Section had seemingly received some orders and brought in more drugs and interrogation tools.

    However, it was clear that these drugs and interrogation tools were not very effective. Jia Wei still showed no sign of speaking.

    By this time, the mood within the entire Investigation Bureau had finally begun to shift.

    Those who had been supporting Zheng Tao were now a bit unsure.

    After all, 7 hours was a long time for an interrogation that could use various drugs and punishment tools.

    By this point, almost all the drugs that could be used had been exhausted, and whatever punishments could have been applied should have already been used up.

    Now, the agents who were just watching, worried not about whether the interrogation had results, but... that the important prisoner wouldn''t be tortured to death.

    At this time, the entire Investigation Bureau''s attitude toward the bet had begun to shift.

    The detectives who originally supported Zheng Tao were now changing sides, starting to back Qiu Tu instead.

    Only a small group still staunchly believed in Zheng Tao''s ability and continued to "persevere."

    The perception of Qiu Tu and Zheng Tao among the detectives had undergone aplete 180-degree turn.

    Those who had previously mocked Qiu Tu for being "too full of himself" were now ridiculing Zheng Tao for "trying to steal credit," and failing at that.

    However, for the lower-ranked detectives, this bet might have just been a pastime for conversation over tea and meals.

    But for the section chiefs and division chiefs who knew more of the inside story, the bet held an entirely different meaning.

    ¡ªIf they had doubted before whether this bet was a trap, by now, they held no such doubts.

    Taking into ount Qiu Tu''s various past deeds, they knew he must have calcted everything before daring to publicly bet against Zheng Tao.

    Zheng Tao was driven into a corner and had no choice but to ept the wager. Now it seemed highly likely that he would face a massive loss of face before the entire Bureau.

    In the future, when people talked about Zheng Tao, they would probably not remember hisbel as an interrogation expert but only the incident of his failed attempt to steal credit.

    Such a reputation, that of someone with "more ambition than skill," would follow him for many years.

    This incident would have a huge impact both on his credibility among his subordinates and his image among those above him.

    It could be said that his future prospects werepletely ruined!

    And with this kind of downfall for Zheng Tao, Qiu Tu was warning all those mid-levels who schemed against him or sought to use him to curry favor with the higher-ups¡ªthat it was fine to try their luck with him, but they should be prepared to be crushed in the process!

    This realization made many section chiefs and division chiefs shiver, prompting them to reconsider their rtionship with Qiu Tu...

    As such, time ticked by, second by second.

    Soon, it was 5 p.m.

    This time, Qiu Tu didn''t even use Ding Xiaoliu to report. He arrived at the interrogation room''s entrance with his confidants in tow, waiting patiently.

    This assertive move also attracted a lot of detectives to gather around and watch.

    Everyone was waiting for the result of the final hour, eager to see who would win the bet!

    5:10 p.m.; 5:20 p.m.; ...; 5:40 p.m.; 5:50 p.m....

    When the seconds crawled towards 6 p.m.

    More and more detectives had gathered outside the interrogation room.

    At this moment, two of Zheng Tao''s confidants at the door were sweating profusely.

    The tension of the approaching deadline made them almost afraid to breathe. Several times they looked back at the interrogation room, hoping for a miracle in thest 10 minutes.

    But how could miracles happen so easily? If they did, they wouldn''t be miracles!

    So, as the minute hand slowly moved to the "6," the interrogation room''s door remained unopened.

    By then, the onlookers outside were beginning to whisper among themselves.

    Clearly, everyone knew that the dust had settled on the bet: Zheng Tao, a master of interrogation, had used every trick in the book and yet had failed to extract the truth of the case from the suspect''s mouth in nine hours.

    In addition to their shock, people also began to ponder why such a thing had happened.

    Was it Zheng Tao''sck of ability?

    Was there more to the case than met the eye?

    Or... was Zheng Tao truly an aplice of the suspect?

    Just as everyone was busy guessing, the door of the interrogation room slowly opened.

    Zheng Tao, covered in blood, walked out looking utterly defeated.

    In the hours that had passed, he had clearly been under tremendous pressure, his hair a mess and his eyes bloodshot.

    If one didn''t know better, one might have thought he had stayed up for two or three nights straight.

    And coupled with his blood-stained clothes and hands, it was clear that he had tried all possible means in those nine hours.@@novelbin@@

    He had truly and utterly lost the bet!

    Witnessing this scene, Qiu Tu tilted his head to nce inside the interrogation room.

    There, Jia Wei had been tortured almost beyond human recognition, barely an inch of his body left unharmed.

    But perhaps it was the hard fate of a Second-Order Cataclysmic Awakened that even now, he could still smile with a "heh heh heh" and hurl insults at all the female rtives in Zheng Tao''s family.

    Seeing this, Qiu Tu finally ceased to hold back his edge and began to kick a man when he was down!

    "Heh heh, is this the expert interrogator from the Political Department, the former head of the Interrogation Section?"

    "You''ve really disgraced our Political Department!"

    "I practically fed you the credit on a silver tter, and you couldn''t take it. Are you really so useless, or is it... that you''re indeed utterly useless!"

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s unapologetic mockery, Zheng Tao''s fists tightened.

    He wanted to retort, but the cruel reality of victory and defeat silenced him. He, a man who had lost a bet, had no face to talk back to Qiu Tu.

    So he could only glower and say in a low voice, "You won."

    "The criminal is yours, I won''t interfere with the case anymore."

    As Zheng Tao admitted his defeat, the room fell silent.

    Everyone knew that Zheng Tao hadpletely fallen.

    Just promoted to Deputy Division Chief, a position at the peak of his influence and prestige, he ended up trying to take credit at the behest of hidden yers.

    If he had seeded, it would have been a different story. Now, having failed and publicly humiliated by Qiu Tu, he had be aughingstock.

    For a moment, the watching detectives even felt a twinge of pity: who would have thought that the once envied Zheng Tao would be trampled into the dirt in just a few hours, reduced to a stray dog?

    Just when the detectives were reflecting on the bet, Qiu Tu spoke up again.

    "Director Zheng, please wait a moment."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Zheng Tao stopped and turned back with a puzzled look.

    Then he saw Qiu Tu looking at him with a radiant smile.

    But that smile seemed so bloodthirsty, no matter how one looked at it!

    It was like the smile of a giant beast about to devour its prey.

    -------

    Three chapters totaling 10,000 words, haha. First, I''ll release 7,000 words in two chapters, and one more chapter at 20:00. It''s thest day of the month, so I''m asking for the Monthly Tickets! They''ll expire if you don''t use them, you know.

 Chapter 191 Enraging the Enemy to the Point of Coughing Blood (10,000 Words for Monthly Ticket!)

    That moment, Zheng Tao''s heart "clunked": What? Isn''t it over yet?

    At this time, the surrounding detectives also noticed the change in the situation, and they all focused their eyes on Qiu Tu.

    They wanted to see why the victor Qiu Tu was calling Zheng Tao back.

    Could it be to mock Zheng Tao a few words?@@novelbin@@

    Or to smooth things over and give him a way out?

    Or perhaps... tofort Zheng Tao a few words?

    However, they obviously overestimated Qiu Tu''s cruelty towards his enemies.

    After calling Zheng Tao back, Qiu Tu''s voice slightly raised, then he said, "Director Zheng made our entire investigation team wait for 9 hours!"

    "Waiting until the end of the workday before returning the criminal."

    "This has greatly dyed our case process!"

    Speaking to this point, Qiu Tu''s tone shifted, "So now, I also ask Director Zheng to wait for us for half an hour!"

    "Let us finish interrogating the criminal, wrap up the case, then you can leave."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Zheng Tao''s eyes widened in disbelief as he looked at Qiu Tu.

    Half an hour to finish interrogating the criminal inside and close the case?!

    The next second, Zheng Tao also felt an indescribable humiliation!

    The case that he couldn''t get out in 9 hours of interrogation, Qiu Tu was nning to finish in half an hour?

    He was really openly mocking him!

    Thinking this, Zheng Tao also couldn''t help but remember how difficult Jia Wei was in the interrogation room.

    In his many years of handling cases, Zheng Tao had never encountered such a monster!

    Zheng Tao had already injected him with many interrogation-type potions, some hallucinogens, some to weaken willpower, and even increased the dosage specifically to avoid Second Order Cataclysmic Awakened''s strong physical constitution.

    As a result, even so, Jia Wei was like nothing was wrong, keeping silent or cursing Zheng Tao''s parents.

    Afterward, whether Zheng Tao used torture or verbal probing, Jia Wei had no reaction at all.

    If it wasn''t for Jia Wei''s body bleeding and reacting to all stimuli, Zheng Tao might even suspect he was a puppet!

    It can be said, Jia Wei was a Waterloo in Zheng Tao''s interrogation history.

    He felt that, unless given four or five days to slowly grind, exhaust, and slowly break through Jia Wei''s psychological defenses, otherwise, it was impossible for him to pry open Jia Wei''s mouth.

    And now, such a tough bone to chew, Qiu Tu actually said he could handle it in half an hour?

    At that moment, Zheng Tao was trulyughed at in anger.

    He red at Qiu Tu and said, "Fine! Since Chief Qiu invites, I will stay!"

    "I have to see how Chief Qiu intends to pry open that criminal''s mouth in half an hour!"

    Hearing Zheng Tao''s words, Qiu Tu justughed.

    His face was rxed and nonchnt, "Director Zheng misunderstood. Such a small criminal does not require my intervention."

    "Any one of my subordinates can easily break through his psychological defenses and obtain the interrogation confession!"

    Saying this, Qiu Tu looked back and his gaze swept over all his subordinates'' faces, then it settled on Song Qing, who was peeping out and thinking about leaving work and escaping.

    He called out by name, "Song Qing!"

    Song Qing, upon hearing her name, reflexively responded, "Present!"

    Qiu Tu said, "You go in for the interrogation."

    "In half an hour, bring me the interrogation record!"

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, everyone''s gaze at the scene concentrated on Song Qing.

    Song Qing looked not too bright, stretching her finger towards herself with an "Eh?" and a flustered "Me? ¦²£¨?§Õ?lll£©"

    Qiu Tu glowered at her, "What? No confidence?"

    Seeing Song Qing''s troubled face about to speak, Qiu Tu said, "Come here, I''ll give you a few interrogation tips."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Song Qing walked over in a daze, then leaned close to Qiu Tu.

    Qiu Tu leaned down, and in a low voice, whispered a few words in her ear.

    Song Qing, hearing this, looked at Qiu Tu with a puzzled face, then asked quietly, "Just...just this? (¡Ñx¡Ñ;)?"

    Qiu Tu ruffled her hair and said, "That''s enough. Go."

    After that, Qiu Tu directly pushed her into the interrogation room and closed the door behind her

    ¡ª Just now, when the interrogation room door opened, Qiu Tu had already checked the inside: Jia Wei had almost been yed into a puddle of mud and was utterly incapable of harming Song Qing.

    So, as long as Song Qing follows the "interrogation tips" he taught, she will definitely be able to pry open Jia Wei''s mouth...

    Meanwhile, all the detectives present had also seen the entire scene.

    Although they didn''t know Song Qing, they could see the bewilderment and surprise on Song Qing''s face as she was called out.

    So, almost instantly, they judged that Song Qing probably was not skilled at interrogation. Stay tuned with My Virtual Library Empire

    And such a girl, unskilled at interrogation, was to make a vicious and desperate criminal confess within half an hour?

    How could that possibly be!

    ```

    Has Qiu Tu gone mad?

    And while everyone''s hearts were filled with doubt, whispering amongst themselves. Time also passed, second by second....

    10 minutes, 15 minutes, 20 minutes....

    Until 25 minutes had psed.

    Apanied by the "creak" of a door opening, Song Qing walked out with a sense of pride, holding an interrogation record in her hand.

    She ecstatically said to Qiu Tu, "Chief! Jia Wei has confessed! He admitted to all his crimes! And he even disclosed the locations of the weapon and the loot!"

    "We can close this case now!"

    Upon hearing Song Qing''s words, there was a stunned silence at the scene....

    The next second, Zheng Tao quickly stepped up to Song Qing, snatched the interrogation record with disbelief, and started flipping through it!

    The more he read, the wider his eyes grew!

    Because... the interrogation record was veryplete and detailed.

    It not only recorded Jia Wei''s preparations beforemitting the crime but also detailed the whole process of Jia Wei''s robbery and the subsequent disposal of the loot!

    From the tight connection of events before and after, this was not made up!

    ''So... Song Qing really solved in 30 minutes, no... 25 minutes a case I couldn''t solve in 9 hours?!''

    Zheng Tao looked incredulously at Song Qing.

    As the former head of the Interrogation Section, Song Qing was Zheng Tao''s subordinate, and he knew her capabilities all too well.

    Therefore, he simply didn''t believe the credit was Song Qing''s!

    ''It could only have been the effect of the words Qiu Tu said to her just now!''

    Thinking this, Zheng Tao fiercely turned his head to look at Qiu Tu.

    To his surprise, Qiu Tu was also looking at him. But Qiu Tu''s gaze was filled with indifference, as if he were looking at a dead man....

    In that moment, Zheng Tao felt a shiver down his spine!

    He was indeed a "dead man"!

    If it were just that the suspect didn''t speak for 9 hours, one could say there was a problem with his ability.

    But when Song Qing solved the case in just 25 minutes after a couple of pointers from Qiu Tu, itpletely nailed him to a pir of shame!

    This stark contrast was enough to make him unable to lift his head in the Investigation Bureau for years, maybe even decades. Moreover, no one would believe in his interrogation skills ever again!

    ''Too cruel!''

    Thinking this, Zheng Tao red at Qiu Tu.

    Qiu Tu, on the other hand, responded with a smile and said, "Director Zheng, it seems that indeed your interrogation skills need improvement."

    "Now, thanks to you, we''re half an hourte getting off work."

    "Don''t worry, we''ll take a collective day off tomorrow to make it up. We definitely won''t be working overtime~"

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Zheng Tao pointed at him with a look of fury, "You, you, you....."

    He said "you" for a long time but couldn''t voice a singleint.

    Then the next second, "ugh!" Zheng Tao clutched his chest and vomited a pool of blood, then he copsed backwards and fainted.

    His confidants quickly rushed forward to support him, causing chaos on the scene.

    Seeing this, Qiu Tu was full of question marks: ??

    What''s the matter, getting so angry that you have an acute surge of blood to the heart?

    It seems the pressure created by the "Crisis Countdown" I manually simted for him was indeed great.

    But no matter what, with Zheng Tao as an excellent example, I believe that no other section chiefs or directors will provoke me in the future.

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu swept a nce at the surrounding agents.

    Clearly, the incident of Zheng Tao being so enraged he vomited blood added quite a bit of gossip and legendary color to today''s betting.

    So, it probably won''t take long before this spreads throughout the entire Investigation Bureau....

    ''Finally resolved.''

    Taking a deep breath, Qiu Tu beckoned his subordinates to carry the severely injured Jia Wei out, sending him to the Guard Room for treatment and recuperation.

    As for Qiu Tu himself, he was ready to take this time to write the case closure report.

    As long as the case isn''t closed, there''s always a chance for others to interfere.

    So, the best method is to close the case, cutting off any thoughts of opportunists.

    Furthermore, Qiu Tu''s promotion needed this case as a springboard...

    Having thought this, Qiu Tu''s subordinates had all left for the day after he pped Zheng Tao in the face metaphorically. As for himself, he sat quietly in his office writing the report.

    Soon, the case closure report waspleted. Qiu Tu made a copy and then prepared to submit it.

    His two reports were obviously not for the same person, one for Yan Chen and one for Commissioner Jiang.

    The promotion n he had been orchestrating for days was finallying to a close....

    ------

    ```

 Chapter 192 The Truth Behind Song Qings Interrogation! (10k words for Monthly Tickets!)

    After transcribing the report, Qiu Tu nced at the time.

    It was already 8 PM.

    Although he said Zheng Tao had dyed his departure from work to embarrass him, he had to admit that because of Zheng Tao, he really did end up working two extra hours.

    Fortunately... the hours he cked off during the day had just been made up for.

    ''So... it wasn''t a loss?''

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu looked out at the dark night sky, preparing to grab something to eat and then submit the report.

    At that moment, however...

    Suddenly, someone knocked on the office door with a "thud thud thud."

    The visitor was clearly an insider, who, after knocking a few times, naturally pushed the door open.

    Qiu Tu looked up and then discovered Liu Fuping walking in with her graceful strides.

    She obviously had already been home because she had changed into casual clothes: a white blouse, ck stockings, and a ck skirt.

    Feeling that such attire might not be sufficiently formal for the Investigation Bureau, she had also put on a ck uniform from the Political Department.

    But she might not have known that the ck Political Department uniform,bined with the ck stockings wrapped around her long legs, added a different kind of charm to her appearance...

    And with the bulging chest under her uniform, her allure was truly irresistible.

    "Qiu Tu, you haven''t had dinner yet, right?"

    Liu Fuping raised her hand to show the aluminum lunch boxes she was carrying and gave a gentle smile, "I made you something to eat."

    Qiu Tu''s eyes lit up; he felt the young woman was really considerate.

    So he put away the report, set it aside, and patted the table, "Set it down."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''smand, Liu Fuping bent over, ced her hefty bosom on the table, then propped up her chin with her hand, and smilingly gazed at Qiu Tu...

    Qiu Tu: ....

    Damn, this woman really knows how to do it!

    Qiu Tu licked his lips and then reached out to grab the food, ready to dive in right away.

    But Liu Fuping suddenly rose up briskly and dodged with a giggle.

    "Pop." She set the lunch boxes on the table, her beautiful eyes now brimming withughter like a rainbow.

    "Enough ying around, let''s eat first."

    Qiu Tu stroked his chin as he observed Liu Fuping and teased, "Sister Liu, with moves like that, do you think I can still focus on eating my dinner?"

    Liu Fuping threw a coquettish nce at Qiu Tu, "If you can''t eat, what else would you like to eat?"

    Qiu Tu scanned Liu Fuping''s bulging chest with a knowing smile.

    Liu Fuping''s voice took on a yful tone, as if cajoling a child, "Behave. After dinner, you''ll get everything."

    Qiu Tu looked at her intently for a moment, but ultimately decided to eat first.

    After all, one needed to be well-fed to have the energy for the tasks ahead.

    With that thought, Qiu Tu opened the lunch boxes, which contained two dishes and a portion of rice.

    Both the appearance and the taste were good.

    As he ate, Qiu Tu also praised her cooking, "Every time I eat Sister Liu''s cooking, I feel very fortunate."

    "I wonder who will be lucky enough to marry Sister Liu in the future."

    Upon hearing Qiu Tu''s yful words, Liu Fupingughed so hard that her chest jiggled.

    After theughter, she leaned in close to Qiu Tu and whispered, "I don''t need you to marry me, just tell me how you managed to make Little Qing an interrogation expert, will you?"

    Upon hearing Liu Fuping''s words, Qiu Tu''s action of picking up food paused briefly, and then he toned down his smile, looking up at her.

    Possibly sensing Qiu Tu''s misunderstanding, Liu Fuping quickly exined, "Don''t get me wrong. It''s not that Commissioner Jiang or Director Liu asked me to inquire."

    "It''s just my own simple curiosity."

    She said with augh, "You wouldn''t know, but ever since the interrogation of Jia Wei, Little Qing''s tail has almost been wagging."

    "She even stopped leaving work early as she used to but instead started strutting around the entrances of the Political Department with hands behind her back, enjoying everyone''s envious nces."

    "We asked her quietly how she did the interrogation, what secrets you told her."

    "But she holds her head high and is too full of herself to say anything."

    At the end of her ount, Liu Fuping wasughing with exasperation.

    Upon hearing her words, Qiu Tu slowly lowered his head and continued with his meal.

    Sensing Qiu Tu''s contemtion, Liu Fuping felt somewhat uncertain inside, wondering if she had somehow touched a sensitive topic.

    After some consideration, she then spoke softly, "Does it have something to do with your Cataclysmic ability?"

    "If that''s the case, then pretend I didn''t ask."

    Hearing this, Qiu Tu chuckled and replied, "It has nothing to do with the Cataclysmic ability. But... indeed, it''s even more sensitive than that."

    He said, "Since you''ve asked, I won''t keep it from you."

    "In a moment,e with me to see Jia Wei. This matter is rted to you anyway."

    "Me?" Liu Fuping blinked her attractive eyes, looking a bit puzzled.

    But Qiu Tu didn''t exin any further; instead, he began to gobble up his meal insanely.

    By the time he was "gulping" down hisst mouthful and had just put down his chopsticks, Liu Fuping had already handed him a ss of water.

    Qiu Tu nced at her, picked up the water, and took a sip.

    As he put down the ss, a tender, boneless hand reached out to his lips with a tissue, considerately wiping his mouth.

    ''This is a married woman for sure!''@@novelbin@@

    ''Give her butt a pat, and she knows whether to kneel or to lie down.''

    After a moment of reflection, Qiu Tu stood up from his chair and then said, "Alright! Let''s go! Let''s meet Jia Wei and clear up the doubts in your mind!"

    Having said that, Qiu Tu took the lead and headed outside the office.

    Seeing this, Liu Fuping followed with a smile in her eyes.

    Soon, the two arrived at the Guard Room on the ninth floor.

    It was still Wang Dawei on duty tonight, one of their own, so after Qiu Tu greeted him, he brought Jia Wei out.

    After taking Jia Wei to a separate interrogation room, Qiu Tu had Liu Fuping close the door, then said, "This is a secret interrogation, it won''t be recorded in the archives."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Jia Wei, already tormented by Zheng Tao beyond recognition, grinned and bared his teeth in augh.

    He raised his head from his disheveled hair, his swollen eyes giving Liu Fuping a sinister look, and then said, "It seems she is a confidant you trust."

    Qiu Tu shrugged his shoulders, saying nomittally, "Sort of."

    Jia Wei''s face was full of mockery, "Then does she know about your betrayal of humanity and your allegiance to ''God''?"

    Upon hearing Jia Wei''s words, Liu Fuping was suddenly startled, then looked incredulously at Qiu Tu.

    Qiu Tu, however, nonchntly waved his hand and said, "Don''t talk nonsense."

    "I''ve just had somemunication with Her Highness Larilo." (Chapter 184)

    Seeing Liu Fuping''s continued shock, Qiu Tu then sat in a chair, pointed towards Jia Wei, and methodically introduced him, "Jia Wei, the brother of Jia Shu, a follower of the Evil God Larilo."

    "Hmm... he is also the murderer that Director Liu has been searching for for many years."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Liu Fuping''s eyes widened sharply, and then she turned towards Jia Wei.

    Because Qiu Tu hadn''t shared the information with Liu Fuping previously, she did not know that Jia Wei was indeed the murderer in that past case.

    Realizing this, Qiu Tu reminded her, "His Cataclysmic ability, you should have known when interrogating Wang Xi, rtes to Devouring and Puppetry."

    "But what you don''t know is... the body before us is not his True Body, but a Puppet."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s reminder, Liu Fuping indeed cooled off and gradually calmed down.

    Qiu Tu continued, "That''s also why Zheng Tao got no results even after a whole day of interrogation."

    "He is a Puppet controlled by the True Body, albeit with certain self-consciousness, but... If the True Body doesn''t allow him to reveal the secrets, he definitely won''t."

    "Even under a hundred tortures or a hundred doses of Potion, he wouldn''t speak."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Liu Fuping roughly guessed the whole truth behind the interrogation.

    She looked at Qiu Tu and added, "So... the reason you burst into the interrogation room was to convey a message to him."

    "To let him know that you and Zheng Tao are adversaries. Your bet with Zheng Tao was also to tell him, in fact, to tell him the time toe and ''rescue'' him."

    Qiu Tu smiled and nodded, "Exactly."

    "I had previously warned Zheng Tao: to alert a prisoner andmunicate messages does not require direct conversation."

    "A simple gesture, a simple secret code. Even just appearing before someone can convey enough information." (Chapter 189)

    Upon hearing this, Liu Fuping continued, "And the reason Little Qing managed to pry open his mouth and get a confession... it actually didn''t matter what she did, it was simply because... she was chosen by you."

    Qiu Tu smiled and nodded again, "Yes. I actually didn''t teach Song Qing any interrogation methods."

    "I just told her a spell imbued with Supernatural Power: ''Pce Jade Liquor, 180 per cup.''"

    "Recite this Curse, and it will make the prisoner speak willingly."

    "That''s why she was so surprised at first."

    Liu Fuping took a deep breath, then inquired, "So what agreement did you actually reach with that Evil God?" Explore stories on My Virtual Library Empire

    "Why would She have Her follower cooperate with you to such an extent?"

    Qiu Tu casually replied, "That''s a story that involves you, or rather... Director Liu behind you."

    ------

    Three chapters and 10,000 words done, ha. This month I''ve updated with a daily ten thousand words for 30 consecutive days, totaling 310,000 words! Next month we continue!

    Tomorrow, May 1st, is my birthday. I ask for an early Monthly Ticket as a baseline.

    There should also be a promotion for merchandiseing up, everyone is wee to check it out.

    -----

    I rmend my friend''s book "Great Tang: Father Emperor, Your Son Desires Progress!"

 Chapter 194 Who is the Real Murderer? (10,000 words for Monthly Ticket!)

    Qiu Tu''s gaze shifted to Jia Wei.

    Perhaps during the interrogation that afternoon, Zheng Tao did indeed employ a great deal of methods on Jia Wei.

    So even with the exceptional recovery abilities of a Second-Order Cataclysmic Awakened, his face still sported blues and bulges, looking utterly miserable.

    Added to that were the fresh blood filling his mouth and covering his face, which made his recounting of his tragic experiences seem even more impactful.

    Jia Wei, "On our first day in Cuishan City, it was Liu Xiongyuan who received us."

    "At that time, Liu Xiongyuan was just a Deputy Staff Leader in the Administrative Office."@@novelbin@@

    "He had managed to cross the threshold of an agent with difficulty, but within the entire Investigation Bureau hierarchy, he still belonged to the very bottom."

    "Moreover, since the Administrative Office was considered a weaker department, a clean government office, he wasn''t taken seriously by anyone."

    Jia Wei''s eyes revealed nostalgia, "Back then, his eyes seemed to still hold light, filled with longing for the life ahead."

    "Even though he had worked so hard for so long, it might have only been our starting point. But his eyes were still brimming with hope for the future."

    "It was also at that reception that he brought his son."

    Jia Wei''s mouth bled as he spoke, "Actually, that night, I felt there was something peculiar in the way my brother looked at Liu Xiongyuan''s son."

    "But I thought I was overthinking it. So, I didn''t take it to heart."

    "Later on, we began our hands-on activities. Our group of students was divided among the various departments of the Investigation Bureau for internships."

    "Some went to the Special Service Department, some to the Political Department, and some to the Public Security Bureau. Only I... was assigned to the Administrative Office!"

    At this, Jia Wei''s eyes nearly burst with frustration, "I was bewildered at the time and went to confront my brother, asking why he assigned me to such a job scope!"

    "But then... he told me that the Administrative Office was the department that tempered a person''sprehensive abilities the most."

    "It might seem unimpressive, but it actually tested one''s capabilities a great deal."

    "Furthermore, you could learn from the Bureau Chief. So as long as you could hold on in the Administrative Office, whether for future development, like bing Deputy Director or Bureau Chief, it would all be beneficial."

    "At the time, I truly believed he had my best interests at heart, so I agreed."

    Jia Weiughed at himself with self-mockery, "But now that I think about it, he must have already calcted my involvement from the beginning."

    Jia Wei said, "Because I was assigned to the Administrative Office, and the very Liu Xiongyuan who had received us happened to be there, I naturally started to interact more with Liu Xiongyuan to quickly be familiar with the office''s affairs."

    "Thus, I gradually got to know Liu Xiongyuan''s son."

    "Liu Xiongyuan''s son was a very sunny, confident person. Like a sunflower, just like his father, his heart was always filled with kindness towards the world."

    "He believed that the Era of Disaster would soon pass, believed in the high-sounding but hollow ideals promoted by the Sanctuary, and believed that mankind would keep getting better."

    "To be honest, even in the Sanctuary, I have seen very few who are as optimistic as he was."

    "So gradually, we became friends with whom I could talk about anything."

    "We ate together, drank together, worked on cases together. He took the lead, while I supported him from behind with the logistics..."

    "Everything should have been very beautiful. Even if I went back to the Sanctuary, this friendship would have stayed in my heart for a long time."

    "Even... I was nning to apply to be assigned to Cuishan City as a department head, to be his superior, after I graduated."

    At this, Jia Wei pulled up a smile at the corners of his mouth, letting out a soft chuckle. Clearly, for him, this was a very pleasant memory.

    Qiu Tu was carefully analyzing Jia Wei''s microexpressions while continuing to listen.

    Jia Wei continued, "But everything changed on the eve of our return to the Sanctuary."

    "That night, to celebrate the end of my internship and to send me off, he and a few agents from our department took me out for dinner."

    "During dinner, we drank a lot of alcohol, but we didn''t drink to our heart''s content."

    "So, at 12 o''clock, we returned to my ce to continue drinking."

    "Since my home was a vacant house provided by the bureau and I lived there alone without any outsiders, everyone readily agreed."

    "And so we kept drinking until 3 or 4 in the morning, before we drunkenly fell asleep."

    "I had thought it was the most ordinary day. But who would have known, it turned out to be the day that changed my entire life!"

    Jia Wei''s gaze was filled with pain and regret, "When I woke up the next day, I found the whole house was covered in bloodstains."

    "In my hand was a police-issue dagger, and he and the other three colleagues were all lying in a pool of blood, lifeless."

    "I was terrified at the time. I had no idea what had happened, so I panicked and threw the dagger away and ran."

    "But I never imagined that this would be one of the key pieces of evidence that the trial panelter used to deem me guilty."

    At this point, Jia Wei''s gaze had turnedpletely sinister and fierce, "After that, I hid for two days, and I thought it over for two days. No matter how I thought about it, something seemed off. I felt as if I had fallen into some sort of trap."

    "Just then, my own brother, Jia Shu, found me."

    "He told me that the case I was involved in had caused a huge uproar. Everyone was looking for me, and once they found me, I was certain to face death."

    "So, he gave me two suggestions: either flee Cuishan City and wander the earth forever, or turn myself in and hope for leniency."

    "At the time, I actually didn''t want to choose either; I wanted to figure out what was really going on with the case, to understand if I was truly the murderer."

    "But..." said Jia Wei, ncing at Qiu Tu and Liu Fuping with a wry smile, "you both know about my brother''s brainwashing abilities."

    "Thus, persuaded by him, I eventually chose the second path: to turn myself in."

    "I turned myself in to Yan Chen on the third day after the son of Liu Xiongyuan died."

    "And the testimony I gave when I turned myself in, such as killing people in a drunken blur, and running away in fear after realizing what I had done... all became crucial evidence in my future trial."

    What Jia Wei shared next was mostly in line with the details of the case that Qiu Tu was aware of.

    Because Jia Wei had turned himself in, and the fingerprints, traces, and the spray pattern of the bloodstains, plus the fingerprints on the murder weapon... all matched only the four people in the room...

    Therefore, the trial panel in the first trial concluded that Jia Wei was indeed the killer, so he was sentenced to death.

    But in the second review, Yan Chen changed his mind, and ultimately Jia Wei was sentenced to exile.

    Such a result was obviously uneptable to Jia Wei. Thus, he had been quietly looking to investigate the old case.

    However, whether it was because his efforts were too apparent, after several attempts to investigate, Jia Shu found him.

    After finding him, Jia Shu told him to stop pursuing the case and warned him that if he continued investigating, not only would he cut off his financial support, but he would also send him to fend for himself in the Disaster Zone...

    It was only at that moment that Jia Wei suddenly sensed something very wrong about the entire situation.

    For instance... although Jia Wei had a very good rtionship with the son of Director Liu, Jia Shu''s rtionship with Director Liu''s son wasn''t bad either.

    For instance... Jia Shu seemed to always look at Director Liu''s son with an intense, strange gaze.

    For instance... during the entire "confession" and "sentencing" process, Jia Shu appeared to be guiding the direction of the whole affair.

    So, it was at that moment that Jia Wei suddenly realized that Jia Shu might just be the real culprit behind the scenes!

    After listening to Jia Wei''s narrative, the interrogation room fell silent for a moment.

    After a while, Qiu Tu and Liu Fuping exchanged nces, and then Qiu Tu said to Jia Wei, "About Jia Shu being the killer, do you have any evidence?"

    Jia Wei sneered, "Do you think that after so many years, there could still be any evidence for this case?"

    "Besides, with Jia Shu''s cautious nature, how could he possibly leave any evidence?"

    Find exclusive stories on My Virtual Library Empire

    He said, "I''ve met with him a few times over the years, even trying to secretly record him admitting to the murder."

    "But he''s been very alert and never took the bait."

    Hearing Jia Wei''s words, Qiu Tu nodded slightly.

    Then he nced at Liu Fuping and whispered, "Let''s step outside and talk."

    Liu Fuping had seemed to already anticipate this, so she nodded, stood up, and followed Qiu Tu out of the interrogation room.

    Once at the door of the interrogation room, Qiu Tu closed the door, sealing their voices away from Jia Wei.

    After that, he turned to Liu Fuping and asked, "Sister Liu, what''s your take on this?"

    ---------

    Still 3 chapters of 10,000 words haha. Chapter 3 will be updated around 20:00! Continuing with a daily ten thousand words for the new month, I ask for your Monthly Tickets! During the double-points period, our book''s Monthly Tickets are eligible for a lottery draw. Interested readers can check the single chapter update on the 1st in the early morning.

 Chapter 196 Jia Shu Dismissed from Office (11,000 Words, Subscribe!)

    Hearing Tang Feifei''s words, Qiu Tu''s expression turned solemn.

    He asked, "What kind of incident has urred?"

    At that moment, Tang Feifei was in the study of her vi.

    Compared to Yan Chen''s grim study, hers was much brighter, not only equipped with ceiling lights but also surrounded by spotlights.

    Additionally, the cool-toned modern decor gave off a sense of grandeur and ambition!

    Sitting behind a light-colored solid wood desk, Tang Feifei looked somewhat serious.

    While reviewing a document in her hand, she exined to Qiu Tu,

    "My second uncle reported it ording to the n we discussed earlier."

    "Although Jia Shu didn''t side with the Evil God or betray humanity, he did coborate with the Evil God."

    "Moreover, considering the attack on you and the suspected murders over the years, Sanctuary has been asked to relieve him of his duties and conduct further investigation and observation."

    "But after the report was submitted, there was substantial resistance."

    "Apart from theck ofprehensive evidence and Jia Shu''s own confession, there was also interference from the person behind Jia Shu."

    In this world, due to the chaotic times, not much energy could be spent on thoroughly investigating individual cases; many relied on "heavy testimonies, light evidence."

    This method of case handling was prone to false usations: as Jia Wei mentioned, being brainwashed into confessing by Jia Shu and turning into a real criminal was amon urrence.

    Therefore, with Jia Shu keeping his mouth shut during the attack on Qiu Tu, not cooperating with the Disciplinary Department, and not providing any testimony, the case inevitably encountered various obstacles, such as¡­ allowing those behind him to cause trouble.

    With this in mind, Qiu Tu asked, "Who is the person behind Jia Shu? What''s their identity?"

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s question, Tang Feifei from the other side of the phone lifted her head, her beautiful face filled with hesitation.

    After carefully weighing her words, she finally spoke, "The person behind Jia Shu is named Huang Shangzong."

    Continue reading at My Virtual Library Empire

    "He is one of the 36 members of Sanctuary''s council, and also one of the founders of the General Investigation Bureau."

    "During his years working at the General Investigation Bureau, he nurtured many mid-level and lower-level backbones, which is why his influence in the Investigation Bureau''s system is significant."

    "The reason Jia Shu was able toe to the nning Area this time also has to do with his support."

    "Although life in the nning Area is tough and resources are scarce, it is a ce where one can train to the utmost, and act like a Local Tyrant beyond the reach of the Emperor, and also instantly elevate one''s rank. So it''s considered a lucrative position."

    "Without Commissioner Huang''s help, Jia Shu would have never obtained this position."

    As she said this, Tang Feifei hesitated for a moment and then added, "Additionally, you might not be aware¡­"

    "Lately, in order to better rebuild the nning Area and for the seamless integration of the three major power institutions, Sanctuary is considering establishing higher-level administrative units in the nning Area."

    "When it happens, Xinjie City, Eastern City, and several other cities will likely merge into a ''state''."

    "At that time, like Sanctuary, a State Council will be formed as the highest governing body of the entire state."

    "The bigwigs of the three major power structures from the dozen or so cities will automatically be council members. In addition to the 36 council members, there will be three Deputy Speakers and one Speaker."

    "Sanctuary''s current consensus is that 1-2 Deputy Speakers will be elected from among the 36 council members. The Speaker, however, will be appointed by Sanctuary''s council."

    Having said this, Tang Feifei paused, then added softly, "And ording to the current public opinion, Huang Shangzong is very likely to be the first Speaker of the Dongye State Council¡­"

    Hearing this shocking news, Qiu Tu''s pupils on the other end of the phone couldn''t help but constrict slightly.

    Truthfully, this news took him by surprise!

    What could be more shocking than finding out your enemy''s ''backer'' is about to be your boss''s boss?

    ''This is really leaving me no way out!'' he thought indignantly.

    With this in mind, Qiu Tu felt almost anxious. A State Council Speaker, even without a deep understanding of the political system of this world,

    could still be equated to those Senior Frontier Officials seen only on television in his past life.

    Now such a powerful figure was standing in his way.

    Truth be told, at that moment, Qiu Tu felt tempted to back off: should he let Jia Shu off the hook?

    But no sooner had this thought surfaced than he quashed it.

    It wasn''t that he didn''t want to let Jia Shu go, but rather that Jia Shu wouldn''t let him go.

    Jia Shu''s ''Shadow Devouring'' cataclysmic ability could not change its target once chosen, and it had to devour the target before it could select another one.

    In such a scenario, as long as Jia Shu wanted to enhance his own strength, he would have to devour Qiu Tu.

    Thus, the two of them were caught in a deadlock, where only one could survive¡­

    ''Damn it¡­ I still have to kill him!''

    ''And, I cannot change the n. With such a powerful person behind him, giving him a chance to start over would spell even more trouble for me!''

    With these thoughts in mind, Qiu Tu suppressed the trepidation and unease in his heart and then said gravely, "What happened next? How did Huang Shangzong end up handling this case?"

    Tang Feifei, sensing the change in Qiu Tu''s emotions, went straight to the point upon his inquiry, "Huang Shangzong didn''t alter the oue of the case."

    "He merely tweaked the wording slightly."

    "He changed Jia Shu''s charge from ''coborating with the Evil God'' to ''mutual exploitation with the Evil God.''

    "As for the attack on a colleague, that part was simply removed."

    "ording to him, since you weren''t yet listed in Sanctuary''s records at the time, you couldn''t be considered Jia Shu''s colleague."

    "Regarding the suspected murders by Jia Shu in previous years, since there was no evidence and only conjecture and inference, they can''t serve as the basis for conviction. So those were also dismissed¡­"

    Upon hearing Tang Feifei''s exnation, Qiu Tu burst into sardonicughter. He "heh" and then remarked, "Not considered a colleague¡­"

    "Actually¡­ for Sanctuary, unless listed in their records, one is not considered a ''person,'' right?"

    "After all, for us who have silently perished in the nning Area or the Disaster Zone, there isn''t much difference."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Tang Feifei''s gaze fell, but she didn''t retort.

    After all... in the Era of Disaster, no one knows how many people will die each day. The Sanctuary indeed doesn''t have the energy to save or even count each person who dies.

    To the Sanctuary, those people aren''t even numbers...

    After briefly exchanging pleasantries, Qiu Tu forcefully exhaled a clouded breath and then asked, "So, in the end, did the Disciplinary Department agree?"

    Tang Feifei uttered a confirmation and said, "The Disciplinary Department, in fact, cares more about the result than the process."

    "As long as the result doesn''t change, even if Huang Shangzong lightened Jia Shu''s responsibility, it''s still eptable to them."

    "After all... politics is the art ofpromise."

    Listening to Tang Feifei''s conclusion, Qiu Tu nodded slightly.

    Politics truly is the art ofpromise. Seriously speaking, even he was satisfied with such a result.

    After all... no matter how light Jia Shu''s responsibility is, he''s lost the position and Sanctuary status that he relied on for his life. So, killing him would not break anyws besides possibly provoking the people behind him...

    After all, ording to Huang Shangzong''s words: Without the status of the Sanctuary, how could one be considered a colleague...

    Thinking this way, Qiu Tu fell into silence for a few seconds before he finally spoke up, "Feifei. Jia Shu''s dismissal notice will be issued tomorrow, right?"

    "When will he be expelled from Xinjie City?"

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Tang Feifei calcted briefly, then responded, "Actually, in theory, he should leave tomorrow morning."

    "However, the Disciplinary Department might process some rted paperwork. So, it is likely that he will leave tomorrow night."

    "Tomorrow night, huh..." Qiu Tu quickly made some calctions.

    ''There''s enough time!''

    With that thought, Qiu Tu finally made up his mind. He smiled and said, "Understood. I got it."

    Hearing the implied meaning in Qiu Tu''s words, Tang Feifei pondered for a moment before she said, "Qiu Tu... Huang Shangzong is no simple character."

    "Jia Shu is considered his prized prot¨¦g¨¦. You... you must be very careful."

    Tang Feifei didn''t understand the deep-seated issues between Jia Shu and Qiu Tu, so Qiu Tu knew she meant well for him.

    Therefore, Qiu Tu just smiled and said, "Don''t worry. I won''t make an enemy of such a high-level boss."

    After speaking, Qiu Tu sincerely added, "Thank you, Feifei."

    On the other end of the line, Tang Feifei fell silent for two seconds before saying coldly, "I''ve recently taken a liking to drinking ice water."

    Qiu Tu: ???

    This wasn''t even a hint, it was a deration.

    Qiu Tu paused for a second, then reached for his "kidney area."

    Indeed... some debts can''t be avoided.

    Forget it... Tang Feifei has indeed been very helpful during this period, and he indeed should put in effort for her!

    With that thought, Qiu Tu braced himself and agreed, "Okay. I''lle over to your ce tonight to let you drink lots of ''hot water.''"

    Hearing the implied meaning in Qiu Tu''s words, Tang Feifei''s lips curled into a smile, "I''ll wait for you."

    After speaking, she hung up the phone.

    On the other end, Qiu Tu set down themunicator, then took a deep breath, knowing that a fierce battle awaited him tonight!

    At this moment, as he was thinking this, the voice of Liu Fuping suddenly reached his ears, "Qiu Tu, is something wrong? Why do I sense that your expression is a bit grave?"

    Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu turned to look and saw Liu Fupinging out from the adjacent interrogation room with amunicator in hand.

    He carelessly replied, "Nothing''s wrong. It''s just that a friend''s house has a broken water pipe, it''s constantly leaking and can''t be stopped, and they wanted me to help fix it."

    Liu Fuping gave a somewhat puzzled "oh" not quite understanding what was so serious about fixing a water pipe.

    But right now, she clearly had more pressing matters to attend to, so she put this strange excuse to the back of her mind and told Qiu Tu, "Director Liu has agreed to speak with you. He wants to hear your opinion on what Jia Wei said about the past."

    "But you only have three minutes."

    "If you can''t convince him within three minutes, he will hang up the phone."@@novelbin@@

    Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu nced at themunicator in Liu Fuping''s hand and then nodded.

    He adjusted his emotions, then confidently said, "Don''t worry."

    "To say nothing of three minutes, I''ll convince Director Liu within one minute."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Liu Fuping handed over themunicator.

    Qiu Tu took themunicator, then walked into the vacant interrogation room next door, shut the door, and said into the microphone, "Hello, Director Liu."

    On the other side of the line, a robust and oppressive male voice came through, "Hello, Chief Qiu."

    "..."

    ....

    Liu Fuping stood outside the interrogation room, keeping watch for Qiu Tu while also worrying about him in her heart.

    Director Liu, Liu Xiongyuan, was never an easy person to deal with. Especially since the death of his son, he had be even more solitary and capricious.

    And managing to rise to his current status from a background with no Sanctuary backing, his abilities were clearly extraordinary, something that couldn''t be ignored by others.

    Even in the eyes of most, he was someone even more troublesome to deal with than Yan Chen.

    After all, although Yan Chen has deep seniority and tremendous influence, he still came from the Academic Faction, always possessing some pride in his armchair strategies.

    ------

    Three chapters of ten thousand words, ha. One more update around 20:00. Please vote for the Monthly Ticket!

 Chapter 197 Tang Feifeis Another Night (11,000 words seeking Monthly Ticket)

    But Liu Xiongyuan was not like that. As a low-ss citizen born in the Disaster Zone,

    he had wed his way up from the bottom, every step of his journey hard-fought.

    Therefore, Qiu Tu might be able to seize Yan Chen''s weakness to brainwash or trick her. But... he definitely couldn''t fool Liu Xiongyuan.

    Moreover, if Qiu Tu tried to y tricks, he''d most likely provoke Liu Xiongyuan''s displeasure....

    Thinking this, Liu Fuping couldn''t help but nce again at the interrogation room where Qiu Tu was.

    Just then,

    the door to the interrogation room suddenly opened from the inside.

    Qiu Tu, holding amunicator and wearing a smile, walked out.

    Seeing Qiu Tu''s smile, Liu Fuping quickly approached and asked, "How did it go? Did you seed?"

    Qiu Tu smiled and nodded, "Of course."

    Then he added softly, "You can always trust me."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s confidently cool words, Liu Fuping blinked her attractive eyes and also revealed a smile....

    What followed was simple. After Qiu Tu and Liu Xiongyuan reached an agreement, Jia Wei became of little use.

    Your journey continues with My Virtual Library Empire

    Qiu Tu and Liu Fuping conducted another quick interrogation of him, and after learning the exact location where the abducted section and department heads'' families were being held, they sent him back to the guard room.

    Perhaps because he hadpleted the "mission" given by Larilo, Jia Wei went back to the guard room andy down on his bed, quickly falling into a deep sleep--clearly, his thoughts had returned to his original state.

    Seeing this, Qiu Tu''s gaze flickered slightly, but he quickly and discreetly looked away....

    After leaving the guard room, Qiu Tu bid farewell to Liu Fuping and then drove off in his battered old car to Tang Feifei''s vi.

    This was Qiu Tu''s first visit to Tang Feifei''s vi.

    Compared to Yan Chen''s luxurious City Center Garden, Tang Feifei''s vi was much more modest¡ªit was just an ordinary standalone vi.

    There were duty officers outside the vi. Judging by their uniforms, they were likely confidants from Tang Feifei''s Training Department.

    Tang Feifei had clearly informed them beforehand, so as Qiu Tu drove up, they all saluted and let him through.

    He parked his car in front of the vi, got out, and walked up to the front door.

    Before he could knock, the vi''s front door suddenly opened from the inside, and a fair arm stretched out quickly, reaching for Qiu Tu!

    Caught off guard, Qiu Tu was grabbed by the front of his shirt and yanked into the vi.

    Inside, with the lights dim, Tang Feifei was half-naked, her amber eyes glinting as she watched Qiu Tu with a predator''s focus.

    Seeing this, Qiu Tu raised his hands, "May I take a shower first?"

    Tang Feifei''s gaze was icy, "Then together."

    Qiu Tu: ....

    "Forget it, I''m not that dirty anyway."

    Tang Feifei, "Thene with me to the bedroom."

    Qiu Tu: ....

    Tang Feifei, "Don''t worry, I promise I won''t touch you if you don''t agree."

    Qiu Tu: ??

    Qiu Tu felt this conversation seemed somehow backwards, and oddly familiar?

    10 minutester...

    Tang Feifei, "Don''t worry, I''ll just hold you."

    12 minutester...

    Tang Feifei, "Why does your leg pop up just by hugging you?"

    15 minutester...

    Tang Feifei, "It''s fine, I''ll just rub a bit."

    16 minutester...

    Tang Feifei, "Hmm, that feels good."

    That night, Qiu Tu once again spent all he had umted over time on Tang Feifei!

    It was 3 a.m. before Qiu Tu, after once again expressing his affection for Tang Feifei inside her, suddenly realized:

    Wait a minute! Weren''t those lines that Tang Feifei just used the same ones he often used to trick girls?

    Good lord! He had been yed by Tang Feifei!

    But... it was not a loss after all.

    So, the battle went on until dawn....

    ...

    The next day.

    Qiu Tu woke up in Tang Feifei''s bedroom.

    He felt that, aside from a slight soreness, he was far from as exhausted asst time.

    Putting on slippers and throwing on a coat, Qiu Tu stretched and left the bedroom.

    In the vi''s living room, Tang Feifei was dressed in a gray robe, eating breakfast and reading the newspaper.

    And... her assistant, the little spy from the Security Department, Su Xiaowan, was attending to her.

    Probably hearing footsteps from the bedroom, Su Xiaowan looked up and then saw Qiu Tu.....

    Her mouth slowly opened wide, and then her face was full of surprise, "Chief... Chief Qiu?!"

    "How... how are you here?"

    Qiu Tu hadn''t expected to bump into Su Xiaowan at Tang Feifei''s home.

    He was stunned for a moment, then coughed and said, "Actually... I was discussing a case with Director Tang inside the housest night, do you believe me?"

    Su Xiaowan: ???

    She pointed at the hem of Qiu Tu''s clothing and said, "I might believe you if you were wearing pants, Chief Qiu."

    Qiu Tu: .....

    Qiu Tu felt he must have caused a huge psychological shadow for Su Xiaowan.

    So, he could only...

    Reach out and knock Su Xiaowan out cold.

    Looking at Su Xiaowan, who had copsed into his arms after a karate chop, Qiu Tu said disheartenedly to Tang Feifei, "Do you have a ce to bury someone in your house?"

    Tang Feifei was amused by Qiu Tu''s actions.

    She puckered her lips, "The backyard. Just bury her under the tree."

    Qiu Tu: .....

    Afterying Su Xiaowan down on the sofa, Qiu Tu went back to his room to change into his own clothes, especially putting on a pair of pants.

    Looking at Tang Feifei, who continued to eat silently, Qiu Tu said, "Tell her I was never here when she wakes up. She was hallucinating."

    Tang Feifei made an "ok" sign with her hand.@@novelbin@@

    Seeing her so engrossed in the newspaper, Qiu Tu knew she must have seen some important information.

    So, he didn''t bother to embarrass himself further and stepped out of the vi.

    Then, just as he was about to step out the front door, Tang Feifei spoke again.

    Tang Feifei, "Oh, by the way, Qiu Tu."

    Qiu Tu turned around, a face full of question marks.

    Tang Feifei gave a thumbs-up, "You were greatst night."

    Qiu Tu coughed, just about to return apliment when Tang Feifei added, "By the way, don''t forget you still owe me one night. Try harder next time."

    Qiu Tu: ....

    Indeed, this woman never has anything nice to say!

    No matter! He would repay her someday!

    Beastmen shall never be enved!

    ...

    Fuming, he drove to the Investigation Bureau.

    Getting out of the car, just as he entered the Investigation Bureau building, Qiu Tu noticed that the lobby on the first floor was crowded with people.

    Qiu Tu nced around, not seeing what was going on, so he had to grab a detective and ask.

    The detective was initially a little annoyed at being pulled over.

    But when he realized the person holding him was Qiu Tu, his face immediately lit up with excitement.

    He saluted Qiu Tu and then reported, "Sir, here''s the situation."

    "Just now, the Administrative Office issued a ''Bureau Chief Order,'' relieving Minister Jia Shu of his position. Minister Jia Shu''s duties are temporarily assumed by Deputy Minister Cai."

    "Although the wording of the ''Bureau Chief Order'' is very cautious and restrained, who doesn''t know that Minister Jia Shu was taken away by the Diciplinary Department?"

    "So, he must be in trouble."

    "Everyone is gathered here because this news is too explosive, so they all want to see the original document to see if they can find any clues."

    After speaking, the detective smiled and asked, "By the way, sir, do you know any insider information?"

    Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu smiled and patted his shoulder, saying, "How would I know any insider information."

    "I just found out about it, same as you."

    Having said that, he added, "Alright then, continue your discussion. I have work to take care of."

    After that, Qiu Tu took one more nce at the notice board surrounded by detectives inside and out, then turned and entered the elevator.

    He pressed for the second floor, and as the elevator slowly ascended, Qiu Tu pondered his ns.

    Now that Jia Shu had been dismissed, could he also start the next phase of his n?

    With this thought, the elevator "dinged" as it reached the second floor.

    Qiu Tu exited the elevator and walked toward the investigation team''s office.

    Inside the investigation team''s office, they were also discussing Jia Shu''s dismissal.

    For most ordinary detectives in the Investigation Bureau, Jia Shu was an untouchable high-ranking official. They lived and died at hismand.

    Even though the Diciplinary Department had searched Jia Shu''s office a few days ago, many people couldn''t believe that he would be in trouble.

    And yet, today, such a figure was really dismissed. To be honest, it shocked most of the detectives.

    It was only at this moment that they vaguely began to understand what the Sanctuary represented...

    Entering the investigation team''s office, Qiu Tu looked around at his confidants, then gestured to Liu Fuping toe over.

    --------

    Chapter with 10,000 characters haha. One more chapter will be updated around 20:00. Ask for your Monthly Ticket!

 Chapter 198 Yan Chen: Qiu Tu Didnt Betray? (11,000 words ask for Monthly Ticket!)

    Your journey continues at My Virtual Library Empire

    Even before seeing Jia Shu''s dismissal notice this morning, Liu Fuping knew that Qiu Tu would definitelye to find her.

    So when she saw Qiu Tu signal to her, she immediately got up and walked out.

    Coming to the corridor outside and seeing no one around, Liu Fuping spoke in a low voice without waiting for Qiu Tu to speak, "People from Eastern City have already been sent over. But they need the exact time and location to take action."

    Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu nodded slightly, then said, "I will give you that tonight."

    Although the decision was already made, Liu Fuping was clearly still a bit worried.

    She looked up at Qiu Tu and asked, "Is it really Jia Shu?"

    After a moment''s thought, she said, "Actually, when Jia Wei was telling his story yesterday, I wanted to talk to you about it."

    "Do you know why Director Liu has been targeting Yan Chen all these years and never once targeted Jia Shu?"

    Qiu Tu also became a bit curious upon hearing this.

    He couldn''t help but ask, "Why?"

    Liu Fuping replied, "Three reasons."

    "First, in that case, even though Jia Wei is Jia Shu''s brother... Jia Shu has always supported executing his own brother."

    "At the time, many rumors imed that Jia Shu was cold-blooded, sacrificing his kin for his own future and greater good."

    "So Director Liu had no reason to target him."

    "Second, aside from yesterday, Jia Wei had never told anyone else that there was another culprit. Let alone Director Liu, even the case investigation team wasn''t given the slightest hint."

    "So from the beginning to the end, there was no second suspect in that case. No one would think there was another suspect."

    "Under such circumstances, could it be the pressure over the years has been too great, causing him to be mentally ill and experience hallucinations?"

    "Or perhaps, he just wanted to use someone else''s hand to kill Jia Shu, deliberately sshing dirty water on him."

    "After all, Jia Shu wanted to lead him to a dead end back then."

    After mentioning two suspicions, Liu Fuping continued, "Third, and most importantly, it''s said that Jia Shu''s background is not simple, he seems to be highly favored by a big shot in the Sanctuary."

    "His rise to power over the years was supported by that influential figure."

    Hearing this, Qiu Tuughed and said, "So Yan Chen doesn''t have the support and protection of influential figures?"

    "Director Liu still went after him."

    Upon hearing this, Liu Fuping hesitated for a moment, then shook her head and said, "It''s not the same."

    "Yan Chen has backers too, but... they''re just normal support rtionships."

    "But Jia Shu... seems to have, well, you know... a different kind of rtionship with that big shot..."

    Liu Fuping didn''t finish her sentence, but Qiu Tu already understood what she meant.

    Qiu Tu was surprised for a moment.

    Although Qiu Tu always disliked the saying "no smoke without fire" for fueling rumors, in official circles, many such bits of gossip truly followed the adage...

    ''Could Jia Shu have some illicit rtionship with Huang Shangzong?''

    ''That doesplicate matters.''

    Indeed, as Liu Fuping exined: normal patronage and this kind of unusual rtionship are different.

    If Jia Shu indeed ends up dead, the fury that will arise ispletely different.

    However, just as he thought yesterday, Qiu Tu and Jia Shu are now in a deadlock. One of them is destined not to survive.

    Therefore, even if the path ahead is fraught with danger and full of hardships, Qiu Tu has no choice but to continue on!

    Moreover... it''s not he who will make the move. When the sky falls, Director Liu will bear it! What is there for him to fear!

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu felt somewhat reassured.

    After confirming with Liu Fuping that everyone was in ce, Qiu Tu turned around and left the investigation team, continuing with his ns.

    He went to the second floor rooftop and found a secluded corner. Then he took out a specially mademunicator and called Qin Shuman.

    Lately, Qin Shuman seemed very busy.

    This time, it took seven or eight rings before Qiu Tu''s call was answered.

    Upon answering, the somewhat tired voice of Qin Shuman came from the other end, "Qiu Tu... what''s up?"

    Qiu Tu didn''t start with business matters, but first showed concern for Qin Shuman, "Another all-nighter?"

    At that moment, Qin Shuman stood in the corridor, with arge office behind her.

    Inside the office, many people were working overtime, processing and analyzing information.

    Rubbing her temples, Qin Shuman replied wearily, "Yeah... The intelligence work has just gotten on track recently, coinciding with the incident at Moonlight Lake."

    "The aura around Moonlight Lake has been getting stronger and seems about to condense."

    "To avoid Moon Crescent Lake falling into the hands of the Evil God or United Front, the military here has joined forces with the Eastern City Military Department to surround it thoroughly."

    "But even so, whether it''s the Investigation Bureau, City Hall, other city departments, or even the United Front and Evil God Cultists, everyone is frantically probing for intelligence."

    "So, we''ve been shing with them constantly."

    Hearing Qin Shuman''s words, Qiu Tu asked, "Is there anything I can help with?"

    After briefly thinking it over, Qin Shuman replied with augh, "There''s nothing you need to do. This matter is tooplicated, involving too many powers."

    "It''s like a giant storm that could swallow everyone."

    "So, it''s best not to get involved if you can avoid it."

    After chatting briefly with Qiu Tu, Qin Shuman''s mood evidently rxed considerably.

    Leaning against the wall, her already long legs appeared even straighter, and with her army green military uniform, she was the picture of a valiant female officer in the corridor.

    "You must have called me for something else today, right?"

    Hearing Qin Shuman''s words, Qiu Tu responded with a "hmm" and said, "Yes. I''m ready to proceed with the n."

    On the other end of the phone, Qin Shuman clearly paused. She fell silent for two seconds before saying, "Stay safe. The whirlpool you''re in isn''t much smaller than mine."

    Qiu Tu solemnly hummed in acknowledgment.

    Then Qin Shuman went on to say, "I''ll have Lin Zuo send the items to you."

    Qiu Tu replied, "Thanks."

    Qin Shuman smiled and said, "What''s there to thank for? Do we need such formalities between us?"

    Just as she said this, a girl''s voice suddenly came from her end, "Major! There''s new developments, we have news from Moonlight Lake...."

    Upon hearing this, Qin Shuman quickly said, "Qiu Tu, wait for me, I''ll get back to you."

    After saying that, she hurriedly hung up the call.

    Listening to the "beeping" sound from the phone, Qiu Tu''s gaze shed with contemtion: Is there finally a result from Moonlight Lake?

    Then, this great storm that has involved so many powers, is finally about to fully take shape....

    With this in mind, Qiu Tu couldn''t help but think of the soon-to-be-established Dongye State....

    This is likewise a huge storm sweeping across the entire nning Area.

    Two massive stormsing together, it''s hard to tell whether it will be a blessing or a curse, what impact it will have on me....

    ''I must resolve the matters with Jia Shu and Larilo as soon as possible.''

    Thinking so, Qiu Tu dared not dy any longer.

    He took out hismunicator and dialed another number, preparing to execute thest and most crucial step of his n....

    ...

    Xinjie City Investigation Bureau, Bureau Chief''s office.

    As usual, the curtains were tightly drawn, not a sliver of sunlighting through.

    Under the gloomy deskmp, Yan Chen quietly smoked.

    Lately, Yan Chen felt a bit drained.

    First, the Moonlight Lake found between Xinjie City and Eastern City had attracted the coveting of various powers, requiring him to expend immense effort to protect the interests of the Investigation Bureau, Xinjie City Investigation Bureau, and his own throughplex alliances and maneuvers.

    Then, the Qin Family, his valued source of strength, was uprooted, significantly reducing his surrounding influence, making all his prior ns ineffective.

    Next came the trouble from the Disciplinary Department, which utterly severed his right-hand man, Jia Shu.

    Andstly... Qiu Tu''s public betrayal.

    As Yan Chen''s most promising confidant over the past two years, he actually had high hopes for Qiu Tu.

    Seeing Qiu Tu, he felt as if he were looking at his archrival, Liu Xiongyuan: simr humble origins, simrly extraordinary abilities, and the same dauntlessness inbat.

    It was precisely because he understood his archrival so well that Yan Chen appreciated Qiu Tu all the more.

    He felt that if Qiu Tu could survive the midway and eventually grow into someone like Liu Xiongyuan, he would have a true great general!@@novelbin@@

    But who would have known, it seemed he was cursed when it came to these types of people.

    Just because he didn''t "publicly" intervene to help Qiu Tu against Jia Shu, Qiu Tu actually... openly defected!

    Yan Chen truly felt wronged.

    He just wanted to teach his subordinates not to be too indulgent, to toughen them up a bit....

    But who knew that his attempt at toughening up wouldpletely drive Qiu Tu away.

    Moreover, he left so thoroughly.

    Thinking about Qiu Tu''s duplicity towards him these past few days, thinking about Qiu Tu''s public affront to his face, thinking about Qiu Tu''s visit to Tang Feifei''s office, a nameless fire burned in Yan Chen''s chest!

    To be honest, sometimes Yan Chen truly wished he could have Qiu Tu tied up in the office, then point a gun to his head and make him choose once and for all! Ask him, where exactly does he fall shortpared to that woman Tang Feifei!

    "Damn it!" The more he thought, the angrier Yan Chen got. He muttered a curse under his breath and grabbed the expensive-looking purple y teapot from the desk, hurling it towards the ground in front of the desk!

    Just as the teapot was about to collide with the floor, about to shatter and send water sshing everywhere

    Suddenly.... the office door opened, and the teapot froze in ce, just a millimeter from the floor.

    Yan Chen paused mid-action, then looked up at the office door.

    At the entrance stood his other right-hand man, Secretary Bai.

    Secretary Bai waved his hand, and the teapot flew back to its original trajectory towards Yan Chen''s desk. He then advised Yan Chen, "Bureau Chief, now is a sensitive time, and if the staff find out about your loss of control, it might cause even more widespread panic...."

    Hearing Secretary Bai''s well-reasoned advice, Yan Chen''s eyelids drooped, concealing once again the profound depths of his gaze.

    He uttered a soft "hmm" and, while straightening up the nearly shattered purple y teapot on the desk, inquired, "Is there something you came in for?"

    Hearing Yan Chen''s question, Secretary Bai stepped forward, then lowering his head, he whispered, "This is why I''vee to consult with you. Qiu Tu... wants to see you."

    "Who? Qiu Tu?" Yan Chen nearly thought he misheard the name.

    He looked up at Secretary Bai.

    Seeing Secretary Bai nod, his gaze remained impassive as he asked, "What does he want with me?"

    "Shouldn''t he be seeking out that woman Tang Feifei?"

    At the end, Yan Chen even snorted through his nose, expressing his dissatisfaction with Qiu Tu''s betrayal.

    Secretary Bai said softly, "That''s why I''m consulting with you."

    "Qiu Tu said over the phone... that he has never betrayed you."

    "He deliberately took advantage of the previous opportunity to go undercover at Director Tang''s ce, intending to gather intelligence for you."

    "He originally nned to go undercover a while longer before reporting back to you.

    "Butst night, he obtained two extremely important pieces of intelligence. He thought they would be of utmost importance to you. So, he had no choice but to risk exposure to meet with you."

    At this point, Secretary Bai paused and then added, "Moreover, he said that due to his delicate position right now, he can''te to your office. So, he''d like to arrange a meeting elsewhere."

    Upon hearing Secretary Bai''s words, even with Yan Chen''s cunning and scheming, he struggled to keep control of his facial expression for a moment.

    He looked up with an incredulous expression, staring at Secretary Bai as if he were some fool...

    Qiu Tu hadn''t betrayed him? He was undercover? Are you telling me some kind of fairy tale?

    ------

    I''ll be adding more chapters today, 3 chapters, 11,000 words. Desperately asking for Monthly Tickets!

    We''ll continue with daily 10k words tomorrow.

    But there''s a party tonight, I might drinkte.

    Updating at 4 a.m., 5 a.m. might not be possible. Likely, the update will be at about 8 p.m. or 9 p.m. tomorrow, with 3 chapters at once.... let''s just say I''m readjusting my schedule.

    So, there''s no need to wait in the early hours. You can all read together tomorrow evening haha.

 Chapter 204 Tugging at the Heretic Goddess Girls Emotions (10,000 Words, Please Subscribe!)

    ```

    With those thoughts, Qiu Tu stepped away from Yan Chen''s City Center Garden Vi.

    However, just as Qiu Tu had walked three or four meters away.

    Suddenly, he heard Secretary Bai''s voice behind him, "Qiu Tu."

    Hearing Secretary Bai''s voice, Qiu Tu couldn''t help but turn around, looking at Secretary Bai with a bit of surprise, not understanding why Secretary Bai had called out to him.

    Then he saw Secretary Bai quietly looking at him for two or three seconds before slowly beginning to speak,"The Bureau Chief''s wife died a few years ago, and the Bureau Chief was devastated by grief."

    "At that time, the Qin Family approached him, took away the Bureau Chief''s wife''s genes, and then resurrected her..."

    After speaking that inexplicable sentence, Secretary Bai turned around expressionlessly, returned to the vi, and closed the side door.

    Find adventures at My Virtual Library Empire

    As the side door closed with a ng, the entire street became instantly silent.

    In the pitch-dark night, Qiu Tu stood alone on the street, his gaze still on the spot where Secretary Bai had stood, filled with astonishment!

    Although Secretary Bai seemed to have revealed nothing and merely rted an anecdote, the significance of this anecdote was too great!

    Before this, Qiu Tu had already known that Old Master Qin had been buying over middle and high-level managers of the nning Area and the United Front using the "Cloning Female Body" technology.

    He also knew that Old Master Qin once helped a general of the United Front "revive" his wife.

    But he really hadn''t expected that the genes used for "Qin Shuman''s" body would actually be Madam Yan Chen''s!

    The implications of this were utterly different.

    If "Qin Shuman" was just a regr mistress, even one created by the Qin Family to please Yan Chen, at most she would still be a ''ything''.

    If Qiu Tu''s position was high enough and the benefits were big enough, there could always be room to mitigate this matter.

    Yan Chen would not have a conflict with Qiu Tu over a mistress or ''ything'' with whom he had no emotional foundation.

    The thorn between the two men, along with time and their cooperation, would eventually vanish.

    This had always been Qiu Tu''s n.

    But... now, Secretary Bai had burst his "beautiful dream."

    If "Qin Shuman''s" body truly originated from Yan Chen and carried his emotional attachment, then that grudge had be very real indeed!

    ''Damn it!'' Qiu Tu cursed silently in his heart and knew he would have to adjust his strategy towards Yan Chen.

    He couldn''t think about slowly reconciling as he had before...

    With these thoughts, Qiu Tu grumbled to himself while making several turns, and got into his car.

    Driving the car and following the address given by Lin Zuo, Qiu Tu soon arrived at the entrance of a small vi near Longshan Road.

    He turned off the engine, stopped the car, and got out.

    Approaching the front door of the vi, Qiu Tu knocked.

    Soon, the door was opened from the inside.

    One of Qin Shuman''s subordinates, the new chief of the Investigation Department at the Security Bureau, Lin Zuo, stood in front of Qiu Tu.

    Still with his cold and aloof manner, Lin Zuo''s eyes showed no flicker of emotion upon seeing Qiu Tu, as if Qiu Tu owed him five million yuan.

    After opening the door for Qiu Tu, he turned and walked towards the living room.

    Qiu Tu closed the door behind him and followed along.

    Arriving at the living room, there sat a small, exquisite ck safe on the coffee table.

    Lin Zuo sat down on the sofa, took the safe, began to input the code to unlock it, and asked in a seemingly unconcerned manner,"Do you know... Jia Shu is dead?"

    Hearing Lin Zuo''s words, Qiu Tu was not surprised.

    Compared to the Investigation Bureau, the military''s intelligencework was clearly more developed.

    Moreover, Jia Shu was one of Xinjie City''s high-level officials, a person of interest to all sides.

    So when something happened to him, all parties in Xinjie City immediately knew, which was not surprising.

    However, knowing it was one thing, guessing it was rted to oneself was another matter.

    Inwardly, Qiu Tu raised Lin Zuo in his estimation and then denied it, "What? Minister Jia is dead? How did he die?"

    As a seasoned actor, Qiu Tu''s acting was quite excellent.

    So when Lin Zuo examined Qiu Tu''s face for several moments, he still couldn''t see anything amiss.

    He could only continue probing,"He was ambushed by a group of men in ck."

    "He didn''t even get to use his cataclysmic ability before being covered by concentrated fire and killed."

    Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu said with a look of shock,"That group of criminals is too bold!

    "To actually dare to ambush a former high-level official of our Investigation Bureau!"

    "That''s clearly disrespect for our Investigation Bureau!"

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Lin Zuo took a deep look at Qiu Tu and said,"Last time, Jia Shu was plotting to kill you. Shouldn''t you be happy that he''s dead?"

    Qiu Tu looked at him with a smile,"How could I not be happy? I''m just short of setting off firecrackers to celebrate."

    "But... private matters aside, official matters should remain official."

    "Although Minister Jia and I had a grudge, he was indeed a former high-up of our Investigation Bureau."

    "His death pleases me, but it also shocks me."

    Qiu Tu''s response and performance were wless, and Lin Zuo could not spot any ws.

    Just then, the safe had been opened. So Lin Zuo fell silent, instead taking out a very finely crafted small bowl from inside.

    The small bowl was made of white jade, pure and wless, with a pool of clear water inside.

    Lin Zuo introduced it,"The ''Purifying Jade Bowl,'' a somewhat special Cataclysmic treasure."

    "It has only one function: to remove the positioning marks left by cataclysmic creatures."

    "It''s also because we had this cataclysmic treasure that we dared to let you take the risk of contacting Larilo."

    "After all, even if you encountered any danger with Larilo, we could cut your connection with her any time."

    With that, Lin Zuo carried the bowl to the vi''s first-floor bathroom where Qiu Tu followed.

    Upon arrival, the bathtub was already filled with hot water.

    Lin Zuo poured the water from the ''Purifying Jade Bowl'' into the tub.

    The water, originally transparent, turned a pale gold as soon as it blended with the other water in the tub, quickly spreading throughout the entire bathtub and turning the whole tub golden.

    Seeing this, Lin Zuo put the bowl back into the ck safe and then told Qiu Tu,"Alright, just soak in it for 10 minutes, and all the marks from cataclysmic creatures on you will be cleansed."

    ```

    "After this, Larilo won''t be able to pull you into a dream anymore."

    Hearing Lin Zuo''s words, Qiu Tu sincerely expressed his gratitude, "Thanks a lot."

    Lin Zuo nonchntly waved his hand, "No problem. I was just following orders."

    After saying that, he turned around and was ready to exit the bathroom.

    However, just as he had one foot out of the bathroom, he suddenly paused.

    He said, "Qiu Tu... there are actually some taboos on the political scene. For example... you can defeat but not kill."

    "The assassination of Jia Shu may very well touch the nerves of all parties involved."

    After speaking, he didn''t wait for Qiu Tu''s reply or reaction, and turned around to leave the bathroom.

    Watching his retreating figure, Qiu Tu maintained a poker face, but inside, he shook his head with a wry smile.

    He didn''t know the huge repercussions of killing Jia Shu?

    But if he had other choices, why would he possibly choose this path?

    Was it like he willingly became an enemy of Yan Chen?

    If it weren''t for the intelligence provided by Secretary Bai tonight, he probably would have even considered finding an opportunity to make aplete reconciliation with Yan Chen...

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu shook his head, then locked the bathroom door from the inside and began to undress.

    After undressing, Qiu Tu found that the bathroom was well stocked with towels and a change of clothes.

    ''It seems Lin Zuo really has the potential to be a great steward. He''s taken care of every detail.''

    While thinking this, Qiu Tu stepped into the bathtub.

    The golden liquid slowly submerged his body, washing away all the marks of the Evil God...

    In a daze, Qiu Tu seemed to hear Larilo''s piercing scream and curses!

    Clearly, Qiu Tu had first "betrayed", plotted to kill her most important follower, and now had cleansed the traces of her dream entry,pletely breaking free from her control, infuriating her greatly!

    For Larilo, tonight was a huge failure!

    And it also allowed Qiu Tu to finally rxpletely: previously, he had put himself in the game, using himself as bait to lure Larilo and set up Jia Shu and Jia Wei, living in constant fear every day!

    Worrying about being pulled into a dream by Larilo at any time, Qiu Tu didn''t even dare to sleep at night!

    And so, afterpletely dealing with the brothers Jia Shu and Jia Wei, Qiu Tu had finally removed the crisis of Larilo''s dream invasion.

    Thinking of this, Qiu Tu couldn''t help but nce at the Crisis Countdown in the upper left corner of his vision.

    After he had done all this, the countdown in the upper left corner indeed underwent some changes.

    [Revenge of the Linked Formation (7 days)]

    [Commitment to the Evil God (¡Þ)]

    [Threat in the Darkness (¡Þ)]

    The original [Commitment to the Evil God], which only had 2 days left, slowly became infinity, just like the Threat in the Darkness...

    This was something that had never happened before.

    Previous Crisis Countdowns either froze, or werepleted and triggered the next one. It was the first time for such a direct change in time.

    Looking at the disy on the Crisis Countdown, Qiu Tu, submerged in the bathtub, stroked his chin and pondered slowly.

    ''Is this telling me... the crisis has been temporarily dyed by my actions, but it hasn''t been ovee?''

    ''So... if Larilo finds another opportunity, as long as I don''t provide any intelligence, she will stille to kill me?''

    Thinking this way, Qiu Tu found the [Crisis Countdown] quite interesting.

    After all... this really matched his understanding of Larilo¡ª that Evil God clearly wasn''t one to easily forgive, and given how he had schemed against her, she certainly wouldn''t let him off the hook.

    ''Fortunately, I have made other preparations.''

    With this thought, Qiu Tu indulged in the golden warm water, closed his eyes to rest, and began to recall and mentally rehearse the "Emotional Fraud Manual"...

    ...

    Meanwhile, while Qiu Tu was soaking in the bath,

    Lin Zuo was driving away from the secret base.

    On the road, Lin Zuo''s expression was profound.

    Even though Qiu Tu hadn''t shown any cracks in his expressions or actions from the time he entered until Lin Zuo left, he was, after all, a participant in the entire incident.

    So, he was almost 100% certain that Qiu Tu was behind it all.

    ''Boldly attacking a former high official of the Investigation Bureau...''

    ''Such decisiveness and ruthlessness!''

    Even Lin Zuo understood the importance of rooting out problems, but he also knew that if he were in Qiu Tu''s ce, he definitely wouldn''t dare to make such a decision.

    With this thought, Lin Zuo couldn''t help but let out a deep sigh.

    ''That''s what it means to be someone cut out for great things. I really can''tpare...''

    Thinking this way, Lin Zuo felt as if he had shed some burden, making himself feel much lighter...

    ...

    After the bath and a rinse off, Qiu Tu dried himself and got dressed then headed to the bedroom and went straight to sleep.

    Indeed, without the mark of the Evil God, Larilo could no longer harass Qiu Tu.

    Thus, Qiu Tu''s sleep was extremely sweet and secure...

    The next morning, Qiu Tu got up feeling utterly refreshed, stretched his body, and felt that life was wonderful.

    After washing up and having a simple breakfast, Qiu Tu took out the ancient coin he had received from the ''Lone Wolf'' from his pocket.

    When does a person''s favorability toward another person increase the fastest?

    Of course, it''s... when you first let her fall into Hell, then lift her to Heaven.

    Yesterday, Qiu Tu hadpletely cut off his connection with Larilo and added to that the killing of Jia Wei, Larilo must have felt like she''d lost her consort as well as her troops, probably so angry she couldn''t sleep all night!

    If he now contacted Larilo and "switched sides" back to her, how would she react?@@novelbin@@

    And the Heretic Goddess Girl? Isn''t she still a woman after all?

    If she''s a woman, then she can be manipted emotionally with the "Emotional Fraud Manual"!

    With this thought, Qiu Tu began to contact Larilo in the way he had seen in the Silver Key Bee, using the ancient coin...

    ------

    Three chapters with a total of 10,000 words haha. I will continue with 10,000 words tomorrow! Asking for your Monthly Ticket!

 Chapter 206 Evil God: Qiu Tu is My Devout Believer (10,000 Words, Please Subscribe!)

    If Larilo had felt just now that the entire affair''s twist left her a bit bewildered,

    now, she felt truly shocked to the point of stupefaction.

    ''What did Qiu Tu say?''

    ''He didn''t betray us?''

    ''How could he have the audacity to say such a thing?''

    ''What? Hepleted the mission I gave him and discovered the exact timing of Moonlight Lake''s congealment?''

    ''Then... maybe it''s really possible that he didn''t betray us?''

    At this thought, Larilo felt her mind a mess for a moment.

    However, she suppressed her wild thoughts and started discussing the matter at hand.

    She asked, "You say you have figured out the timing of Moonlight Lake''s congealment?"

    "When will it be?"

    Qiu Tu said earnestly, "In four days."

    Qiu Tu said, "You might not know, but I actually have some connections in the Security Department."

    Enjoy exclusive content from My Virtual Library Empire

    "I can get some inside information."

    "Yesterday, we happened to talk about Moonlight Lake and, with a few probing questions, I sessfully obtained this intelligence."

    He paused, then continued, "My friend mentioned that the aura emitted by Moonlight Lake is getting stronger and there are already signs of it coalescing."

    "Thus, through investigation and calction, they determined that the estimated time for Moonlight Lake''s formation should be in four days."

    "To prevent the news from leaking, and to avoid anyoneing to steal the ''Tears of Moonlight'', both the Xinjie City Military Department and the Eastern City Military Department dispatched a battalion of troops to encamp around Moonlight Lake."

    "They''ve surrounded Moonlight Lake from the inside out."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Larilo furrowed her brows tightly, temporarily forgetting to continue the topic of Qiu Tu''s betrayal.

    After a moment, she looked up at Qiu Tu and inquired, "Is this true?"

    Qiu Tu nodded sincerely, "Of course it''s true."

    ... As if.@@novelbin@@

    Of course, this was all made up by Qiu Tu!

    Although Qiu Tu had a good rtionship with Qin Shuman, they always maintained a bottom line with each other: not to pry into each other''s work.

    So, even though yesterday Qiu Tu happened to bring up Moonlight Lake with Qin Shuman,

    and Qin Shuman happened to mention that there had been recent movements at Moonlight Lake and that both city''s military departments had already begun deploying troops,

    she didn''t reveal the actual time of Moonlight Lake''s congealment or the strength of the troops sent by the military departments.

    However, with these small details, it was sufficient for Qiu Tu to fabricate a logically coherent fraud.

    After all, the "Crisis Countdown" only required him to resolve difficulties within a time limit and fulfill his promise to Larilo¡ªto obtain the timing of Moonlight Lake''s congealment.

    But it didn''t require that the timing he provided be real...

    In any case... Larilo had no way to verify it with someone else. So, this became the "real" timing!

    While Qiu Tu was thinking this way, possibly because Qiu Tu''s acting was too convincing, Larilo hesitated for a few seconds before finally nodding and praising, "Well done, I didn''t expect you, Qiu Tu, to really get such a high-level secret."

    She continued to lure him as usual, "Rest assured, as long as you can keep this up, the title of Pope will definitely be yours in the future!"

    Upon hearing this, Qiu Tuughed and said, "Your Highness, bing the Pope is only my dream."

    "What I truly wish for is to be by your side at all times."

    "So, please don''t doubt me any longer."

    As he said this, Qiu Tu took the opportunity while the iron was hot to exin the reasons behind his actions from the day before.

    He said, "As for Jia Wei''s death, I won''t say much. I really was jealous that he could always apany you."

    "Furthermore, as Liu Xiongyuan disagreed with only killing Jia Shu and insisted on killing both brothers together, that''s why I betrayed him to Liu Xiongyuan."

    After a pause, Qiu Tu said, "After all, there will always be sacrifices on the path to fulfilling your grand ambitions."

    "So why couldn''t the sacrifice be Jia Wei?"

    "Therefore, once I decided to sacrifice him, I made my decision: to suffer Jia Wei''s agony, to bear the infamy myself! To spare you any difort."

    After finishing, Qiu Tu pointed at his own body, then said, "Additionally, you must have been angered by me removing your Summoning signsst night, right?"

    Although Qiu Tu posed it as a question, he didn''t wait for Larilo''s reply and directly said, "Your Highness, you have truly misunderstood me there."

    "The reason I was investigating you was actually all the Security Department''s doing,"

    "They knew I had been marked by you, so when the incident was briefly resolved, they were bound to help me get rid of the mark."

    "Honestly, I didn''t want to remove this mark, but I had absolutely no say in the matter; I had no choice."

    "If I objected, it might even reveal my identity."

    "That''s why my summoning mark was cleansed."

    At this point, Qiu Tu even proactively extended his hand, then said, "If you don''t believe me, you can mark me again."

    "I absolutely won''t resist!"

    After hearing Qiu Tu exin the entire "ins and outs" of the situation, Larilo couldn''t shake off the feeling that something was odd, but had to admit that everything Qiu Tu said was logically consistent.

    ''So... could it all really be just a misunderstanding?''

    ''Has Qiu Tu truly be my devout follower?''

    For the first time, Larilo felt her brain wasn''t up to the task...

    But since Qiu Tu had told her the time of the Moonlight Lake''s convergence, she could just wait a couple of days to see if the information was urate, and use that to determine Qiu Tu''s allegiance.

    After all... there were only four days left.

    And so, like that, Qiu Tu once again briefly earned Larilo''s trust, and because he didn''t need the summoning mark anymore, he no longer had to live in fear in his dreams.

    Qiu Tu nned to find a way tomunicate more with Larilo in the next two days, locate her current body, and then resolve her once and for all!

    And if he couldn''t find her?

    Then Qiu Tu would just toss away the ancient coin, just likest night, and have no further dealings with Larilo.

    ¡ªAfter all, Larilo had no way of dealing with him now.

    With that in mind, after hanging up themunication with Larilo, Qiu Tu tidied up, put on his uniform, fastened his buttons, and then drove away from the viplex.

    Arriving at the Investigation Bureau Office Building, the lobby on the first floor was exceptionally lively today, with agents from various departments discussing gossip in groups.

    Out of curiosity, Qiu Tu listened in and heard them discussing the new candidates for Minister and Deputy Minister of the Political Department.

    "Have you heard? First thing this morning, the Bureau Chief called the high-ranking officials to a long meeting in the conference room."

    "The main purpose was because Minister Jia was dismissed, which led to adjustments in the Political Department."

    "I''ve heard the reshuffle will be significant. Not only do they need to select a Minister from among the Deputy Ministers, but they also have to pick a Deputy Minister from among the staff chiefs. Then, a Deputy Staff will take over the position of the vacant staff chief..."

    "So a lot of positions will open up."

    Another person replied, "Yeah, yeah. I heard about it too."

    "Who do you think it will be?"

    The first agent thought for a moment, then said, "For the Minister, I definitely favor Minister Cai. After all, he''s currently in charge of running the Political Department, and he hasn''t made any major blunders."

    "These points show that he is capable and has the appreciation of the Bureau Chief behind him."

    "As for the position of Deputy Minister... I think Section Chief Guan from the Espionage Division seems very promising."

    "After all, espionage is one of the biggest operations in the Political Department. Plus, she''s a long-standing member there."

    Upon hearing this, another agent countered, "I think Deputy Division Chief Xin has a better chance."

    "The Action Division is the ace division of the Political Department. And he has worked in the Action Division for many years, which makes him a strongpetitor."

    Hearing the agent''s counter-argument, another agent chimed in to rebut, "Isn''t it possible that they''ll bring in a chief officer of Deputy Division Chief level from another department?"

    "The Political Department is one of the ace divisions in the Bureau, not only powerful but also high-ranked."

    "All the Deputy Division Chiefs from various departments are probably fighting tooth and nail to get in there."

    "With such a great opportunity now, they won''t give up."

    As Qiu Tu walked, he listened. He almost got the full rundown of the candidates from these agents'' discussions.

    The only pity was... among the many agents discussing the Deputy Minister candidates, not a single one thought he could be Deputy Minister.

    After all, in the eyes of most ordinary agents, Qiu Tu had risen too quickly recently. Constantly skipping levels, he had no chance ofpeting for such an important position this time.

    And let''s not forget... Qiu Tu had just had a falling out with Yan Chen.

    In choosing a Deputy Minister, Yan Chen had a veto vote.

    As long as Yan Chen didn''t agree, Qiu Tu had no chance of bing Deputy Minister!

    ------

 Chapter 208 I Recommend Qiu Tu, Who Approves, Who Opposes (10,000 Words Seeking Subscriptions!)

    The high ranks of the Investigation Bureau originally consisted of nine members.

    These include the Bureau Chief, Yan Chen,

    and three Deputy Directors: Yu Zhengyi, Lai Shun, and Tang Feifei.

    Also, there are five senior officials of the core departments: Jia Shu, the Director of the Political Department; Shi Youxin, the Director of the Organizational Department; Lin Ting, the Special Duties Department Director; Guan Weihua, the Public Security Department Director; and Bai Yu, the Director of the Administrative Office.

    These nine individuals not only hold high status and power within the Investigation Bureau but are also among the most influential figures in Xinjie City.

    Directly beneath these nine notables are the deputy division chiefs of the various departments within the Investigation Bureau.

    Among them, the Deputy Director of the Political Department obviously ranks at the forefront of all non-senior officials. Not only does this position hold the greatest power and influence, but it also has thergest room for promotion.

    More importantly, this position can be decided upon by several high-ranking officials of the Investigation Bureau¡ªthey can choose a candidate on their own and then submit the name to the Municipal Committee for confirmation.

    However, ording to the tacit understanding of Xinjie City''s three major power structures, as long as the candidate is selected by the Investigation Bureau, the Municipal Committee won''t hold it up.

    Thus, with such a critical position at stake, it''s evident that each high-ranking official present has their own ulterior motives....

    With such thoughts in mind, Shi Youxin, the savvy Director of the Organizational Department who always knew how to interact with others, first nced at Yan Chen. He didn''t offer his own suggestion but probed Secretary Bai, asking, "Secretary Bai, do you have any rmendations for the Deputy Director position?"

    Hearing Shi Youxin''s words, Secretary Bai smiled and shook his head, "I''m not very familiar with the Political Department, so I don''t have a suitable candidate for the time being. Let''s see if anyone else has rmendations."

    Secretary Bai is Yan Chen''s right-hand man and typically represents Yan Chen''s stance in high-level meetings.

    So him saying that there is no suitable candidate actually means that Yan Chen hasn''t decided on anyone yet, and everyone is open to discussion.

    Everyone present was astute and immediately picked up on the hints from Secretary Bai and Yan Chen.

    Therefore, Shi Youxin no longer held back. After ncing at Guan Weihua, the Director of the Public Security Department, he cleared his throat and said, "In that case... as the Director of the Organizational Department, I would like to propose a candidate..."

    "My proposed candidate is Section Chief Guan from the Intelligence Section of the Political Department."

    "She is already a veteran in the Political Department and has made significant contributions during the preparatory work of the Department."

    "Moreover, she single-handedly established the intelligencework within the Political Department, a testament to her hard work and achievements."

    "If we are to promote someone to Deputy Director of the Political Department, I feel she is the most suitable choice."

    Upon hearing Shi Youxin''s suggestion, Lin Ting, the Special Duties Department Director, immediately voiced a different opinion. Leaning back in his chair with casual assertiveness, he said, "Actually... I think Section Chief Wang from the Political Department''s Intelligence Section is also not bad."

    "Although espionage is important, precisely because it''s so vital, elevating Section Chief Guan hastily could make it difficult to find someone capable of taking over her duties."

    "But it''s different with Section Chief Wang. He is involved in intelligence collection and summarization. Not only is he connected with all departments of the Political Department, but he''s also well-versed in all its core operations."

    "As a result, he could adapt more quickly to the new responsibilities of a Deputy Director, without affecting the original work of the Intelligence Section."

    At Lin Ting''s remark, Shi Youxin had yet to respond when Guan Weihua, the Director of the Public Security Department, took the initiative to counterargument, "Old Lin, that''s not quite right what you''re saying...."

    "If work is hard to take over, we shouldn''t promote?"@@novelbin@@

    "Won''t that discourage our subordinates?"

    "I think precisely because her work is irreceable, it proves she''s doing a great job. That''s even more reason to promote her."

    Earlier, the issue of choosing the Head of the Political Department had sparked an argument between Shi Youxin, the Director of the Organizational Department, and Lin Ting, the Special Duties Department Director.

    This time, with Guan Weihua added to the mix for the Deputy Director position, the situation instantly became even more chaotic. Consequently, the conference room became tenser.

    While the three of them were locked in heated debate, a few Bureau Chiefs seated in the front row of the meeting room remained unperturbed, keenly observing the entire situation with a detached interest.

    Among them, the spirited Tang Feifei sat expressionless in the second seat to the left of Yan Chen, watching the unfolding scene with an insightful gaze.

    Having been in the Investigation Bureau for some time, she had long seen through the current power structure of the Bureau.

    Aside from herself, all the other eight high-ranking officials were linked to Yan Chen.

    Whether it was the other two Deputy Directors or the five division chiefs, they were all former colleagues, prot¨¦g¨¦s, or individuals connected to Yan Chen in various ways.

    And among these seven people, they were divided into three factions.

    Jia Shu and Secretary Bai were Yan Chen''s staunch supporters;

    the Deputy Director of the Action Division, Lai Shun, along with Lin Ting, the Special Duties Department Director, and Guan Weihua, the Director of the Public Security Department, represented the interests of the Investigation Bureau''sbat departments;

    whereas Yu Zhengyi, the Deputy Director of Administration, and Shi Youxin, the Director of the Organizational Department, represented the interests of the Bureau''s various administrative departments.

    The recent discussion over the position of Director of the Political Department might have seemed like a sh between Lin Ting of the Special Service Department and Shi Youxin of the Organizational Department, but it was actually a collision between the two powerful factions they supported.

    And the dispute over the Deputy Director position was no different.

    Only... that "Section Chief Guan" was obviously rted to Guan Weihua.

    Guan Weihua, not having received support from his own side, thus chose to back the other party.

    Politics is thatplex and yet that simple: everything is driven by interests....

    One second they might be friends, the next, enemies.

    At this moment, Guan Weihua''s sudden "betrayal" obviously caught Lin Ting off guard. Therefore, he hesitated for a moment before looking towards Lai Shun, the Deputy Director of the Action Division, as if seeking his opinion.

    Lai Shun was a middle-aged man of extensive experience and strategic depth. This much could be deduced from his hair, which styled in a way reminiscent of a rural area encircling a city.

    Thus, seeing Guan Weihua stab him in the back so unexpectedly, his expression did not change. He simply pondered quietly for a moment and then made up his mind.

    He slowly began to speak, tossing out a third candidate, "Actually... I think Deputy Director Qi from the Public Security Bureau isn''t a bad choice either."

    "He''s already a very senior and experienced director. Transferring himterally to the Political Department to take over as deputy head should yield good results," he added. Continue reading at My Virtual Library Empire

    "What''s more, the work of the Public Security Bureau is obviously easier to hand overpared to the Political Department, less likely to cause issues... "

    This n was clearly Lai Shun''s way of using a bargaining chip to win back Guan Weihua:

    Transferring a Deputy Division Chief from Guan Weihua''s team to the Political Department would not only extend Guan Weihua''s reach of power but also allow him to promote another Deputy Division Chief.

    This shrewd move immediately caused Guan Weihua to waver and also changed the atmosphere in the room.

    Section Chief Wang from the Organizational Department and Deputy Director of Administration Yu Zhengyi exchanged nces, both seeing gravity in the other''s eyes.

    Just as they were about to speak and further muddy the waters, Tang Feifei spoke up.

    She pped her hands lightly, which sounded exceptionally clear in the quiet office.

    Hearing the p, everyone instinctively looked towards her. Waiting until she had attracted everyone''s attention, Tang Feifei also began to speak slowly, "Actually, I have a candidate in mind as well."

    When Tang Feifei spoke, the high-ranking officials present were visibly taken aback.

    As the "outsider" among them, Tang Feifei was the only high-ranking official not belonging to Yan Chen''s faction.

    Therefore, although she held the title of Deputy Director... she actually had very little say in personnel matters.

    And since Tang Feifei was of a proud and arrogant nature, she was reluctant to put herself in a position where she could be humiliated. Therefore, when it came to personnel decisions, she typically kept a low profile and never voiced her opinions.

    Now that she suddenly spoke up, and about such an important position no less, it was quite unexpected for everyone.

    Thinking about who she might have the authority to rmend, it didn''t take much for the officials to guess who Tang Feifei would suggest...

    As expected, Tang Feifei spoke with an air of aloofness, "The person I rmend is Qiu Tu, the Deputy Division Chief of the Action Division in the Political Department."

    "Ever since Qiu Tu joined the Investigation Bureau, he has made notable achievements, and it was also he who discovered the issues with Jia Shu."

    "Therefore, I believe he can also handle the job in the Political Department."

    Upon hearing Tang Feifei''s nominee, the atmosphere among the high-ranking officials present became muted for a moment.

    After all...pared to the other candidates, Qiu Tu obviouslycked both seniority and achievements, and what''s more, Qiu Tu was a "traitor" who had betrayed Yan Chen.

    Even if his qualifications and achievements were up to par, Yan Chen wouldn''t agree.

    So when Tang Feifei had just made her suggestion, before Yan Chen could even respond, several senior officials began to speak all at once, ready to refute Tang Feifei''s proposal.

    Then at that moment, Tang Feifei suddenly added, "Besides, this is not just my opinion. It''s also the view of the Disciplinary Department."

    "The Disciplinary Department?!" Hearing the name of this sensitive department, the officials who were about to speak shut their mouths again.

    Tang Feifei then looked around imperiously and continued to exin, "The Political Department has the power to oversee the City Hall, the military, and the Investigation Bureau."

    "This authority was originally delegated by the Disciplinary Department."

    "Their recent work in Xinjie City has found significant deficiencies in this area."

    "Therefore, they have requested that Xinjie City ce higher importance on this aspect of its work."

    "And after their investigation, they proposed Qiu Tu as the person in charge."

    "In ordance with practice, the official responsible for this business area should hold the position of deputy head."

    Having said that, Tang Feifei swept her gaze across the room with authority, "So, I propose Qiu Tu as the new Deputy Head of the Political Department. Who supports and who opposes?"

    Upon hearing Tang Feifei''s words, the conference room fell dead silent.

    All of Tang Feifei''s reasons for the rmendation were logical andpliant with the regtions.

    When the higher-level department demanded focus on this area of work and even provided a rmended candidate, in order to avoid being ''remembered'' unfavorably by the superiors, it was indeed right for the subordinate departments toply.

    But... that candidate was Qiu Tu.

    With this in mind, the high-ranking officials couldn''t help but turn their eyes to Yan Chen, who was seated at the head of the table....

    -----

    Today is still three chapters of ten thousand words each. The third chapter will probably be updated around 23-24 o''clock. Asking for Monthly Tickets during the double period!

 Chapter 209 The Situation Develops that Shocks Everyone (10k words for Monthly Ticket!)

    In the meeting room, if there was someone whose rtionship with Qiu Tu was the most tense, it would definitely have to be Yan Chen.

    After all, Qiu Tu was a mid-level official whom Yan Chen had personally promoted.

    Moreover, Yan Chen clearly had high hopes for Qiu Tu, genuinely nurturing him as a confidant andying out a majestic path for him.

    Yet, under such circumstances, Qiu Tu still betrayed Yan Chen and went into the embrace of Tang Feifei.

    Everyone somewhat understood Yan Chen. With his character of holding grudges, there was 100% no chance he would let Qiu Tu off the hook! Not to mention helping Qiu Tu get promoted! So, Tang Feifei''s proposal was definitely going to hit a snag.

    Indeed, as soon as Tang Feifei started to speak, Yan Chen, who had been silent since the meeting began, also spoke up.

    He lifted his drooping eyelids, and his old, murky eyes slowly shifted toward Tang Feifei.

    Seeing this, Tang Feifei also looked back at him squarely.

    The two stared at each other for two seconds before Yan Chen finally spoke with a somber expression, "Qiu Tu is not suitable, let''s just decide on the three candidates mentioned earlier."

    "Report them to the Municipal Committee, and let themittee decide which one they prefer.

    Upon hearing Yan Chen''s words, the senior members of the meeting room were taken aback, then exchanged nces.

    The selection of the Head of the Political Department was too important, and it was somewhat normal to report it to the Sanctuary if there was an ongoing dispute among everyone.

    But... a Deputy Director? That could''ve been internally decided after discussion before just going through a formality at the Municipal Committee. Why now let the Municipal Committee choose as well?

    Wasn''t this a surrender of power?

    At this time, Yan Chen didn''t care about what others were thinking. After he made his statement, he snorted coldly, then stood up, and left the room with a flick of his sleeve.

    Seeing his attitude, the high-ranking officials, who had been somewhat puzzled just moments before, suddenly had a look of realization as they "guessed" Yan Chen''s thoughts: Yan Chen probably felt disgusted just hearing Qiu Tu''s name and couldn''t be bothered to continue the meeting, nor did he want to keep arguing with Tang Feifei, which is why he directly exercised his Bureau Chief''s decision-making power to settle the matter.

    Thinking this, they could not help but nce at Tang Feifei.

    At that moment, Tang Feifei''s brow was indeed deeply furrowed, and her face was as cold as frost.

    Seeing this, the senior officials looked at each other and smiled, also rising from their seats and leaving the meeting room...

    Although they hadn''t achieved the oues they wanted, at least there was still hope. But for Tang Feifei, there was no hope left.

    People are such strange creatures; it doesn''t matter much if their own lives are mediocre, but if they see someone else faring worse than themselves, it often brings much joy...

    Soon, the aftermath of this meeting began to spread rapidly within the Investigation Bureau.

    So, not long after, agents, chiefs, and directors from different departments got wind of the juicy details from this meeting. Continue your saga on My Virtual Library Empire

    "Hey, have you heard? Deputy Director Tang and the Disciplinary Department proposed Chief Qiu for a promotion to Deputy Director, but it was vetoed by the Bureau Chief."

    "I''ve heard, I''ve heard. I also heard that Deputy Director Tang''s face was quite a sight at that time."

    "But to be fair... although Chief Qiu has less seniority, and he has just been promoted, the endorsement from the Disciplinary Department gave him qualifications to be promoted to Deputy Director. Without the Bureau Chief''s opposition, he would have had the greatest advantage."

    "Yeah, but who told him to offend the Bureau Chief? With the Bureau Chief''s veto, he lost all hope. Besides... now that the list has been reported to the Municipal Committee, there''s no turning back."

    "It''s fate, s..."

    "Isn''t that the truth?"

    Meanwhile...

    In the office of the Public Security Department Director.

    As he was anxious about his bet with Qiu Tu, Zheng Tao visited his superior Guan Weihua almost immediately after the meeting to find out the news.

    Being officials of the same faction, Guan Weihua didn''t keep anything from Zheng Tao.

    So, Zheng Tao quickly learned two pieces of news.@@novelbin@@

    The first news was: Qiu Tu was indeed nominated, and moreover, he was jointly nominated by Deputy Director Tang and the Disciplinary Department, making him a surprisingly strongpetitor.

    The second news was: But... Director Yan was extremely dissatisfied with Qiu Tu, directly vetoing this nomination, and reported the other three candidates to the Municipal Committee, just waiting for them to make the final decision.

    The first news nearly caused Zheng Tao to break out in a cold sweat, while the second brought him close to bursting withughter!

    At that moment, how could he not realize Qiu Tu''s "conspiracy":

    Qiu Tu clearly knew he would be jointly rmended by the Disciplinary Department and Tang Feifei, thinking he had a high probability of being elected, which is why he had the audacity to bet with him!

    He aimed to win over his wife and driver!

    Luckily, Director Yan exercised his veto power right then, or else he might have actually seeded!

    With these thoughts, Zheng Tao breathed a sigh of relief and also felt a tinge of schadenfreude.

    He felt that Qiu Tu, despite all his calctions, had still missed a crucial point.

    It seemed that the ultimate winner of this bet would be him!

    Thinking this, Zheng Tao suddenly paused: Wait a minute, in the bet between himself and Qiu Tu, why was it that only he had ced a stake, and Qiu Tu hadn''t pitched in anything?

    ''No, no! I must confront him about this!''

    Thinking this, Zheng Tao said farewell to Guan Weihua and then headed towards the 9th floor...

    .....

    At the same time, Qiu Tu was on the phone with Tang Feifei.

    Tang Feifei at this moment, although not as cold in expression as she was when the meeting dispersed, was not much better off.

    She frowned with a chilly tone, "Qiu Tu... didn''t you handle Yan Chen properly?"

 Chapter 212 Qiu Tu: I Finally Became a Big Shot Too (10,000 Words for Monthly Ticket)

    ```

    Hearing Tang Feifei''s question, Qiu Tu said with a smile, "Yes. A clean sweep of all four."

    Qiu Tu said, "Actually, after he vehemently opposed your suggestion at the meeting that I take the position of deputy division chief, I guessed his thoughts."

    "That''s why I cooperated in pressuring both the Municipal Committee and the military."

    "And his second refusal didn''t surprise me either, after all, he''s the Bureau Chief, he wants face; he can''t be forced into giving me the position."

    "In that case, his credibility wouldpletely copse."

    "Therefore, he had to report my name proactively after conceding to the Municipal Committee."

    "By doing this, he not only fulfilled his promise to me but also, by voluntarily reporting my name, he could garner favor from the Municipal Committee, the military, and the Disciplinary Department."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Tang Feifei was stunned for a second, thenughed and said, "He''s being too greedy."

    "But... will the Municipal Committee and the military remember this favor?"

    Qiu Tu said with augh, "Of course not."

    "Because he also misjudged the situation."

    Qiu Tu said, "I told him that I am now being put forward by the Municipal Committee and the military to contradict him."

    "So, in his view, the whole incident was initiated by Commissioner Jiang and Director Dai."

    "But in truth... whether it''s Commissioner Jiang or Director Dai''s pressure, it was all exchanged with a favor I gave recently."

    "They didn''t really care whether I got promoted or not. So, they would never acknowledge owing me this favor."

    "Even if Yan Chen really needs to call in this favor in the future, they would onlye to me to fulfill it or make an equivalent exchange."

    At this point, Tang Feifei alsoughed and joined in the conversation, "And since you''ve alreadye to an agreement with Yan Chen early on, you won''t have to pay any additional favors or price."

    Qiu Tu nodded, "Yes, that''s exactly it."

    As he spoke, Qiu Tu looked out the window at the dark but clear sky and remarked, "Yan Chen actually outsmarted himself this time."

    "However, it''s not his fault, after all... it alles down to the disparity in information."

    Ever since his first sh with Larilo, and now during the indirect "battle of wits" with Yan Chen, Qiu Tu realized the importance of "information."

    Whether it''s scheming or struggling, information is always paramount.

    In situations like tonight''s, Yan Chen''s tactics were extremely shrewd, but since he was deceived by Qiu Tu with incorrect information, he ended up losing everything.

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu couldn''t help taking a deep breath. No matter what, after nning for so long and utilizing so many connections, in the end, he had secured the position of deputy chief of the Political Department!

    The promotion to this position not only officially ushered him onto the stage of the Investigation Bureau''s upper hierarchy but would also transform his Cataclysmic ability, turning him into a Second Order Cataclysmic Awakened!

    The only regret was that, although the appointment had now been made, the process was not yetplete.

    To settle things once and for all, everything had to wait until work resumed tomorrow, for the Organizational Department to have a discussion first, then formally bestow the documents, epaulets, and various benefits and entitlements.

    Like a vi, car, personal secretary, personal chauffeur, and so on.

    ''Still have to wait a bit though.''

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu forced himself to calm his excitement and continued chatting with Tang Feifei.

    "Feifei, can I, as the deputy division chief rmended by the Disciplinary Department, be responsible for other areas besides supervisory work?"

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Tang Feifei hesitated for a moment, then said cautiously, "Of course you can. After all, you are the official deputy division chief."

    "So, in theory, you canpete for all the benefits thate with being a deputy division chief."

    "The key is whether the newly appointed head of the Political Department is willing to give you these responsibilities, and how much you can fight for yourself."

    At this, Tang Feifei paused, then asked, "Which area do you want?"

    For such a staunch ally as Tang Feifei, Qiu Tu naturally didn''t need to hide anything. He candidly said, "Intelligence."

    "I want the Intelligence Section."

    The reason Qiu Tu chose this direction was not only because of the critical nature of "intelligence work," but also because Qin Shuman was now in charge of intelligence work for the Security Department.

    Given their rtionship, sharing information to a certain extent, expanding the intelligence-gathering scope, and covering each other''s deficiencies could greatly enhance the intelligence capabilities of both the Political Department and the Security Department.

    And... to put it more opportunistically, after being in charge of this business, if there''s a period where Qiu Tu makes no progress, couldn''t he also mooch off Qin Shuman and eat soft rice to get by!

    Apart from cooperating with Qin Shuman, another key reason Qiu Tu wanted to delve into intelligence work was Larilo.

    While Qiu Tu had temporarily induced Larilo to let the matter go, he knew that... the deceit would inevitably blow up someday.

    ```@@novelbin@@

    Once the bomb goes off, Qiu Tu would still have to find ways to continue buying time or to deal with Larilo.

    In such a case, controlling the Security Department''s intelligence operations, Qiu Tu would have first-hand information about Moonlight Lake and Larilo from the Investigation Bureau.

    By then, whether Qiu Tu finds himself in a position where he has no choice but to betray intelligence to Larilo to win a sliver of survival, or he gathers information on Larilo to start dealing with her, he couldyout his ns with ease. Stay updated with My Virtual Library Empire

    And don''t forget, up to now, there''s still a secret mole for Larilo within the upper echelons of the Investigation Bureau.

    Only by being in charge of the Intelligence Department could Qiu Tu more easily root out that mole....

    Moreover....perhaps it''s a premonition, but Qiu Tu always felt that the incident at Moonlight Lake could likely have a huge and profound impact on the area around Xinjie City, Eastern City, and even the soon-to-be-established Dongye State...

    At such a time, without intelligence, it was like looking at the world blindfolded, groping for the future''s direction in darkness....

    Thus, after chatting with Tang Feifei for a while and determining the subsequent division of efforts, Qiu Tu hung up the phone.

    After hanging up, he stood by the window, quietly gazing at the night view of Xinjie City.

    Somehow, the nights of Xinjie City gradually gained light. Although it had not yet reached the bustling neon lights of a prosperous metropolis, it was slowly obtaining the glow of civilization.

    Then, recalling Old Alley Street, which had turned into a night market, Qiu Tu suddenly realized that Xinjie City was developing at a remarkably fast pace.

    Luckily, during this period, he was also developing at an astonishing speed.

    From a low-ranking Second-ss Investigator to his current position as Deputy Division Chief of the Political Department, he had worked his way up to where he was now, step by step.

    In the vast Xinjie City, he was ranked within the top 40 in terms of power.

    Finally, people could reluctantly call him a "big shot".....

    ''That was not easy at all!'' Qiu Tu thought, as he tossed his head back and drank down the ss of wine, his heart filled with boundless pride!

    The roc spreads its wings and soars with the wind, rising straight up for ny thousand miles!

    Qiu Tu believed that this was only the beginning and not the end!

    ...

    Meanwhile, at the same time.

    Just as Qiu Tu was feeling high-spirited.

    At that moment, in the office of the Deputy Division Chief of the Public Security Bureau.

    Zheng Tao sat in front of his desk with a gloomy face.

    Aftering out from Guan Weihua''s office, Zheng Tao returned to his own and sat quietly until now.

    From Guan Weihua, not only did Zheng Tao learn about Yan Chen''s favors traded among several government departments, but he also became aware of Qiu Tu''s influence.

    Having Commissioner Jiang and Director Dai speak for Qiu Tu meant he was no simple character, and there was definitely more than just Tang Feifei backing him.

    Although even Guan Weihua couldn''t rify who exactly stood behind Qiu Tu, he spected that Qiu Tu might, at some unknown point, have be connected with some big shot in the Sanctuary, gaining that big shot''s protection.

    This revtion made Zheng Tao even more troubled.

    If Qiu Tu truly had such a profound background, then... what did his recent actions provoking Qiu Tu amount to?

    What did his wager with Qiu Tu today amount to?

    In immense regret, Zheng Tao found himself entangled in an enormous dilemma and indecision.

    He had opposed Qiu Tu before because the price for his promotion to Deputy Division Chief was to be in opposition to Qiu Tu in the "8.19 Pharmacy Robbery Case."

    Now that the "8.19 Pharmacy Robbery Case" was over, Zheng Tao no longer needed to oppose Qiu Tu.

    So, the only thing left for him was how to deal with today''s wager....

    After much thought, Zheng Tao made a certain decision: he absolutely couldn''t let Hui Min apany Qiu Tu!

    He was her husband, how could he do such a thing!

    But what sort of excuse or apology could he offer that would be eptable to Qiu Tu and not further provoke him?

    And....did Qiu Tu actually know that his wife was his own secretary?

    How exactly should he handle this matter....

    A tangled mess of issues piled up in Zheng Tao''s heart like knotted yarn, difficult to unravel and impossible to cast off.....

    ---------

    Still 3 chapters and 10,000 words today. Last day for the double, asking for Monthly Tickets!

 Chapter 214 Zheng Tao: Wife, I Lost You to Qiu Tu (10,000 Words to Ask for Subscription)

    At that moment, Zheng Tao''s body shook violently, as he suddenly looked up with an incredulous expression toward the person before him....

    His eyes were full of shock, clearly not expecting to hear "Larilo" from the lips of the figure before him.

    Seeing this, the figure chuckled lightly, and tossed the ancient coin into Zheng Tao''s hands, saying, "Check Her Highness Larilo''s token."

    Upon hearing this, Zheng Tao''s hands trembled as he received the token.

    The coin had been in the figure''s hands for quite some time, so it felt warm to the touch.

    Zheng Tao meticulously inspected the token ording to the method Larilo had taught him.

    After confirming the token indeed belonged to Larilo, he respectfully handed it back to the figure, his gazeplex as he looked at him, "Sir...I never thought you would be a follower of Her Highness Larilo, too."

    The figure took the ancient coin back, and with a hint of mockery, countered, "Otherwise, do you really think you were chosen for the promotion to Deputy Division Chief purely on merit?"

    Zheng Tao:.....@@novelbin@@

    Seeing Zheng Tao''s embarrassment, the figure chuckled again, as if amused by Zheng Tao''s na?vet¨¦ in truly believing in pies falling from the sky....

    In this world, without backing or power, not even idental fortunes fall your way!

    However, knowing that he still needed Zheng Tao for the uing n, the figure refrained from further mockery and paused before humoring Zheng Tao a bit, "Of course...apart from our rtionship, your promotion is indeed also due to your respectable abilities."

    Sure enough, upon hearing this, Zheng Tao''s look slightly cleared up.

    Seeing this, the figure then continued back to the main topic. His voice carrying serious weight, he said, "I know you''re not truly a follower of Her Highness Larilo, you have only received Her Highness''s ''favor''...."

    At the mention of "favor", Zheng Tao''s hand clenched slightly....

    The figure, "But since you have received the favor, you''ve been marked by Her Highness, destined to be a follower. So, now you must work for Her Highness."

    "And now Her Highness needs you, needs your wife to make a small sacrifice, you should know what to do, right?"

    At this, the figure paused.

    Possibly worried about pressuring Zheng Tao too much, he softened his tone before saying, "And you should not feel any psychological pressure."

    "Your wife is just going to serve as a personal secretary to Qiu Tu."

    "It''s not like she''s being asked to sell herself."

    "Although Qiu Tu can be a bastard in his actions, he has his own limits. He wouldn''t dare to casually harm someone in such a sensitive position."

    "So, as long as your wife is careful, there will be no trouble."

    Hearing the figure''s words, Zheng Tao''s face still showed hesitation.

    He clearly didn''t want to ept this mission. But thinking of Larilo...thinking of the terrible Evil God, and that his very life and fortune were in another''s hands.

    After hesitating for ten seconds, he ultimately submitted....

    This couldn''t really be med on him.

    There were only two choices before him now.

    One was to obey the powerful figure before him, which would allow him to maintain his status as Chief and possibly reach even greater heights.

    The other was to refuse, which could lead not only to being abandoned but possibly executed by Larilo.

    It seemed he had two choices, yet in reality...he had no choice at all.

    Thinking this, Zheng Tao felt a surge of despair within himself, regretting ever epting Larilo''s ''favor.''

    If it hadn''t been for that affair, perhaps he wouldn''t be in his current predicament.

    But with things as they were, he had no choice but to bite the bullet and proceed. So he took a deep breath and said, "Yes, sir. I ept the mission."

    Seeing Zheng Tao finally agree, a smile finally appeared on the figure''s face.

    He pped his hands with a smile, saying, "Good. It seems Her Highness was not mistaken about you."

    "Now it all depends on you, and your wife."

    "When you go back, make sure to prepare your wife well."

    "Let her willingly ept the mission, and not show any ws."

    "Qiu Tu is a very cautious, sensitive man. Gaining his trust is not going to be easy."

    "Your wife may have to think of many ways, evene up with clever ideas to ingratiate herself to him, in order to gain his eptance over time."

    "Only when he has truly epted your wife and fully trusted her, seeing her as one of his own, can your wife obtain critically important intelligence from him, and be a decisive force at crucial moments...."

    Hearing the figure repeatedly mention "your wife," Zheng Tao felt extremely ufortable.

    Especially when hearing that his wife should please and take care of Qiu Tu, he felt an indescribable sense of frustration.

    But with the situation as it was, he had no capacity to dissent anymore. So, he could only sigh heavily, "Yes, sir. I''ll have a good talk with my wife when I get back."

    Upon hearing this, the figure hummed in acknowledgment and then gently waved his hand, "Then you may leave."

    Zheng Tao, seeing this, reluctantly saluted and then left the office with his head bowed....

    And as Zheng Tao departed, the office door slowly closed. Only the figure remained in the room, alone in existence.

    He sat behind his desk, his gaze gentle as he yed with the ancient coin, just gently toying with it.

 Chapter 217 Taking Office! Perks after the Promotion (10,000-word request for subscriptions!)

    Cao Dabiao was already frantic with Qiu Tu''s "disappearance", and when he heard Song Qing''s gossipy inquiry, he almost couldn''t keep it together.

    However, he was always slippery: there were only two women in the investigation team. Almost anyone who wasn''t blind could see the rtionship between Qiu Tu and Liu Fuping. So who could say for sure whether Song Qing was sister-inw reserve.

    So, although Cao Dabiao was irritated, he still picked up his teacup, took a sip, and then said to Song Qing in a soothing tone, "Investigator Song, we mustn''t casually talk about things without evidence."

    "That could cause trouble for the superiors."

    "Many rumors start like that."

    Hearing Cao Dabiao''s gentle criticism, Song Qing stuck out her tongue and then said, "Let''s not talk about the superiors'' romantic debts, let''s talk about Sister Liu instead."

    As she said this, she looked around, then cutely poked Cao Dabiao and whispered secretively, "Sister Liu didn''te to work yesterday. She''s not here today either."

    "And by coincidence, the superior isn''t here today either."

    "You think... they couldn''t have eloped, could they?"

    "Pfft!" Cao Dabiao nearly spouted his water.

    He hurriedly stood up, then whispered anxiously, "Ma''am, you really mustn''t specte wildly here."

    "Everyone is already feeling unsettled. You''ll further shake morale."

    Song Qing wasn''t a girl whocked a sense of reason. She was just really bored.

    Thinking back to their Interrogation Section''s team of four: Qiu Tu, herself, Liu Fuping, Wang Xi, with cases being taken and people leaving, only she was left behind.

    The other investigators in the team were mostly burly men from the Action Division, and she really had no one to chat with, which was why she came to gossip.

    Now, seeing Cao Dabiao looking so nervous, she knew she shouldn''t make wild guesses at this juncture.

    As a result, she could only go back to her own desk, boredly picked up themunicator, and started ying Tetris.

    Meanwhile, at the same time as Song Qing was chatting with Cao Dabiao, Tan Huimin was sitting on a chair, quietly observing everyone in the office.

    The state of the 8.19 investigation team''s members was clearly different from those under her husband Zheng Tao.

    Her husband''s investigators were busy to death every day, barely having a moment to rest, and even then, her husband would make them work overtime.

    So... even though everyone was busy and working at full capacity, they all seemed very repressed, with weariness written all over their faces and not a hint of a smile.

    But the members of the 8.19 investigation team were different.

    It might be because the case was over, or maybe because Qiu Tu treated them very leniently. There were sincere smiles on their faces.

    Experience tales with My Virtual Library Empire

    Whether they were working or just chatting, you could clearly see they all had very close rtionships.

    This discovery made Tan Huimin more curious about this investigation team, about Qiu Tu.

    What kind of person could stand out from the high-intensity work at the Investigation Bureau, not only making his subordinates livefortably but also climbing several ranks within a short period of time...?

    And at that moment, while she was pondering this, suddenly, someone pushed open the door of the office from outside. Ding Xiaoliu ran in excitedly and shouted, "The chief is back at the Bureau, he''s back!"

    Hearing Ding Xiaoliu''s words, the office erupted into excitement.

    Cao Dabiao, the one with the highest position, quickly stood up and asked, "Did you tell the chief about the Organizational Department wanting to talk to him?"

    Ding Xiaoliu quickly nodded, "I did, I did."

    "The chief said he''ll go there right now."

    Hearing Ding Xiaoliu, Cao Dabiao, who had been nervous all day, finally rxed.

    And all the people in the office were jubnt.

    After all... after having been around Qiu Tu for so long, everyone knew that Qiu Tu was never someone who only cared about his own advancement and wealth.

    After Qiu Tu got promoted, he would definitely not forget them.

    And as for the Deputy Minister of the Political Department... that could be said to be a position of power ranking in the top 15, or even top 10, of the entire Investigation Bureau.

    To put it inappropriately, if Qiu Tu rose to grace, they could all ascend to heaven on his coattails...

    And of course, all of this was observed by Tan Huimin.

    As she watched everyone''s exuberant cheer, she felt incredibly alienated...

    She had been with the Investigation Bureau for a long time and witnessed quite a few promotions of superiors or colleagues.

    To be honest, she had never seen such genuinely happy reactions before¡ªmost were just happy on the surface, while secretly being sarcastic or displeased.

    ''These people... seem to really like and admire Qiu Tu?''

    Making a mental note, Tan Huimin became even more curious about what kind of person Qiu Tu was.

    She felt that even if she couldn''t get any useful information from Qiu Tu, as long as she could understand why his subordinates were so loyal and teach it to her own husband, a few days of difort would be worth it...

    Thinking this, she couldn''t help but look towards the door, anticipating her meeting with Qiu Tu...

    ...

    Meanwhile. While Tan Huimin was concocting her n to learn from others, Qiu Tu had also arrived at the Investigation Bureau''s Organizational Department.

    The one who received Qiu Tu was the Investigation Bureau''s Organizational Department Minister, one of the nine high-ranking officials of the Bureau, Shi Youxin.

    Shi Youxin was a man in his forties with thinning hair.

    Qiu Tu had once heard Tang Feifei mention that Shi Youxin was an old colleague of Yan Chen back at the military academy.

    After Yan Chen rose to prominence, Shi Youxin resigned and went to work under him, having been one of Yan Chen''s key confidants ever since.

    He was known for his slickness, as slippery as non-stick rice cakes, and usually hung out with the Deputy Director of Administration from the same Eighth Sanctuary Officer School, Yu Zhengyi.

    The two of them, having teamed up, although not powerful, still held a certain amount of sway within Yan Chen''s faction.

    Facing Qiu Tu, Shi Youxin fully embodied an old slickster.

    He was neither overly warm nor unfriendly. Instead, he dealt with Qiu Tu in a manner that was both by-the-book and subtly amodating.

    "Yan Chen ah... I didn''t expect we''d meet again so soon."

    Hearing Shi Youxin''s words, Qiu Tu smiled humbly and replied, "That means I have a fate with Minister Shi."

    "It seems that in the future, we need to interact more often."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s smooth, ttering response, Shi Youxin "haha"ughed twice before replying, "Indeed, we should interact more."

    "I''ve been wanting to have more conversations with you, but there just hasn''t been the chance."

    "Once this busy period is over, we must definitely exchange more."

    Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu also smiled and said, "No problem. When the timees, we can go to Emerald Fort to watch horse races, sing, and have fun with facial cleansers together."

    Indeed, nothing closes the gap between two men faster than chatting about borderline topics. As soon as Youxin heard this, he could scarcely contain his smile, repeatedly saying, "Good, good, that''s great."

    After speaking, he picked up his thermos and took a sip.

    The thermos was filled with half a cup of goji berries, turning the water deep red.

    Qiu Tu: .....

    Qiu Tu felt that the image of Shi Youxin in his heart became much more vivid: Here was a man dedicated to his life''s strength...

    Just after they exchanged a few casual words, Shi Youxin coughed lightly and started talking about the main topic.

    His expression gradually turned serious as he looked at Qiu Tu and said, "Chief Qiu, the reason I called you here is to inform you about an important personnel arrangement."

    Upon hearing Shi Youxin''s words, Qiu Tu sat up straight and responded respectfully, "Please tell me."

    Shi Youxin said, "After discussion by the Investigation Bureau''s senior meeting and approval by the Municipal Committee, we have decided to relieve you of your position as Deputy Division Chief of the Action Division in the Political Department, and to appoint you as Vice Minister of the Political Department."

    Even though he had known the oue since yesterday, Qiu Tu''s heart still couldn''t help but pound when he heard Shi Youxin announce it!

    He nodded solemnly and then said, "I definitely will not let the leaders down and will assist in managing the Political Department well."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s response, Shi Youxin nodded slightly before taking out documents and materials for Qiu Tu to fill out.

    Initially, Qiu Tu thought he had to fill out his archives, but when he received the documents, he realized they were all rted to confirming his benefits.

    Like... an exclusive sedan, an exclusive vi, a small resting room on the 12th floor, and so on.

    The Organizational Department would start making preparations once Qiu Tu filled them out.

    Qiu Tu filled out the forms hastily and then handed them back to Shi Youxin.

    Shi Youxin skimmed through them briefly and then chuckled, saying, "Minister Qiu leads quite a simple life."

    On the forms, Qiu Tu had actually not written much, just putting down the word "Whatever" for some mandatory options.

    After all, he didn''t really pursue materialistic living that much.

    Afterpleting the forms, Shi Youxin handed over the official appointment documents, credentials, and epaulets to Qiu Tu.

    Afterward, Qiu Tu took off his epaulets in front of him: changing from one bar and two stars to one bar and three stars.

    ording to military ranks, Qiu Tu was now a Major, on par with Qin Shuman.

    And having received the appointment documents, credentials, and epaulets, Qiu Tu felt as if his body was undergoing some changes in the mysterious depths.

    But since Shi Youxin was still by his side, he temporarily couldn''t perceive or examine the changes.

    After handing over the documents, credentials, and epaulets, Shi Youxin also followed protocol and led Qiu Tu to the Political Department to meet the other two vice ministers.

    The other two vice ministers were named Cai and Zhang.

    Both were veterans of the Political Department and were confidants of Yan Chen and Jia Shu.

    ording to Tang Feifei, both had also graduated from the Eighth Sanctuary Officer School and were deemed pure and loyal sessors of Yan Chen''s lineage.

    Deputy Minister Cai was Qiu Tu''s "previous superior" and mainly in charge of the Action Division, making him one of the most powerful in the Political Department.

    Vice Minister Zhang, Qiu Tu''s "previous superior" too, was responsible for espionage and counter-espionage work.

    The other tasks such as interrogation, intelligence, and supervision were directly managed by Jia Shu himself.

    The portion of work Qiu Tu had his eye on was part of the remnants of what Jia Shu was responsible for...

    Hence, faced with two vice ministers who might be his superiors, Qiu Tu adopted a very humble posture, openly expressing his desire to learn from them.@@novelbin@@

    Inparison, the two senior vice ministers offered Qiu Tu a somewhat ambiguous reception.

    Perhaps influenced by Yan Chen and Jia Shu, they were somewhat distant and unaffectionate toward Qiu Tu.

    But when Qiu Tu took the initiative and offered to take responsibility for the "Intelligence" business, they did not object but remarked that they would discuss it in a meetingter.

    After meeting with his two colleagues, Shi Youxin returned to the Organizational Department. He then arranged for a youngdy from the department to continue the procedural matters with Qiu Tu.

    Next, guided by the youngdy, Qiu Tu visited his new private office on the 9th floor and the small resting room on the 12th floor.

    As a deputy division chief, although Qiu Tu couldn''t enjoy the type of 200 to 300 square-meter office and resting suites that Yan Chen and Tang Feifei had, his treatment was still not inferior.

    His office on the 9th floor was a small suite totaling over 100 square meters, with a secretary''s office at the very front, the office itself in the middle, followed by a bedroom further inside.

    It was convenient for Qiu Tu to rest directly in the office if he was tired from work.

    The small resting room on the 12th floor was even more extravagant, being a three-bedroomyout with a living room. The outer hall could be used for receiving guests, while the three bedrooms could be tailored into a home theater, a gym, and so on.

    Honestly, having lived two lifetimes, Qiu Tu was enjoying such over-the-top perks for the first time.

    At that moment, all he wanted to say was... indeed there is a reason why so many people pursue promotions and wealth!

    After finishing showing Qiu Tu around the office and resting room, the youngdy saluted and left.

    As she put it, she was going to continue selecting an exclusive vi and car for Qiu Tu.

    Qiu Tu didn''t try to keep her, not because the youngdy wasn''t attractive, but because he was eager to examine the changes in his own body after the upgrade!

    --------

 Chapter 222 Qiu Tu: Youre Mrs. Zheng Tao, Right? (10,000 Words to Ask for Subscription)

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Tan Huimin, who just had a smile on her face, suddenly changed her expression and couldn''t smile anymore.

    Actually, she didn''t mean to deceive Qiu Tu just now. She just didn''t recognize him and mistook him for a regr agent.

    And exining too much about her own identity would be awfully embarrassing. So when Qiu Tu asked, she casually said she was his secretary.

    She hadn''t thought much of it before. Now, when Qiu Tu brought it up proactively, she suddenly realized that her previous introduction was improper¡ªthere was a suspicion of impersonating an identity.

    Therefore, she quickly opened her mouth, ready to exin.

    But at that moment, Qiu Tu raised his hand to interrupt her, "Let me guess..."

    Qiu Tu stood up, walked over to Tan Huimin, then cupped his chin, circled around her, and appraised her from head to toe.

    It must be said, Tan Huimin was a very charming woman. Perhaps she was of a ripe age. Her figure was voluptuous, with curves in all the right ces.

    Although her waist wasn''t as slender as Liu Fuping''s, the slightly plump figure added a different kind of charm to her.

    Having lived two lifetimes, Qiu Tu had experienced all types of women, so he knew that it was this kind of slightly fleshy woman who was the mostfortable in certain aspects.

    She was indeed a perfect artillery mount.

    And after appraising her for a moment, Qiu Tu slowly opened his mouth, "If I''m not mistaken, you should be Zheng Tao''s secretary, right?"

    Upon hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Tan Huimin breathed a sigh of relief and quickly nodded, "Yes."

    She bowed slightly towards Qiu Tu, then said, "Deputy Director Zheng said you''ve just been promoted to deputy division chief, and it''s the busiest time for your work, you need a secretary to assist by your side."

    "So, he asked me to fill in until your secretary is in ce."

    Hearing Tan Huimin''s words, Qiu Tuughed twice and then said bluntly, "Is that what Director Zheng told you?"

    "He really is ttering himself then."

    Qiu Tu''s smile faded, and he said candidly, "Director Zheng didn''t send you over to help me for my own good."

    "It''s because he lost a bet to me, so he gave you to me as his loss."

    Overwhelmed by Qiu Tu''s blunt words, Tan Huimin felt quite embarrassed.

    She endured the humiliation and forced a smile, saying, "Is.... Is that so?"

    Seeing her react this way, Qiu Tu looked at her intently, then said, "Well, since you''re here, I''ll treat you as one of us."

    "Take the documents that are organized on the table ande with me to the new office."

    Sensing that Qiu Tu had finally dropped the topic, Tan Huimin finally let out a sigh of relief. She saluted him quickly, "Yes, sir."

    After saying that, she hurried to Qiu Tu''s desk with her plump and shapely legs.

    Picking up the file box Qiu Tu had organized, Tan Huimin followed him out of the temporary office.

    Walking toward the elevator, Qiu Tu received countless sycophantic smiles and respectful salutes along the way.

    No matter by what means Qiu Tu had done it, he was now the deputy division chief of the Political Department, and moreover, one with real power over three major areas of business.

    Qiu Tu had be a personage indeed, an existence that all the lower-level agents, and even most section chiefs and division chiefs, would look up to and try to curry favor with.

    Even the elevator ride had begun to afford Qiu Tu the privilege of one person per elevator: upon seeing him and Tan Huimin enter the elevator, the agents who had been there hurried out, giving Qiu Tu a salute.

    Qiu Tu, for his part, didn''t stand on ceremony, smiled and nodded his head, then watched as the elevator doors closed and started to ascend slowly.

    Tan Huimin had witnessed everyone''s attitude towards Qiu Tu from start to finish. To tell the truth, she was a bit surprised.

    The Public Security Bureau and the Political Department were at the same level, and a deputy division chief was at the same level as a deputy department chief, but she had never seen her husband receive such treatment.

    And as she thought this. Read new chapters at My Virtual Library Empire

    Suddenly, Qiu Tu, looking at the slowly ascending elevator and with an expressionless face, began to speak, "The Political Department is different from other departments."

    "It supervises the three big institutions and all the major departments. Spying, counter-spying."

    "Arrest first then interrogate, torture to extract confessions."

    "Some operations that are illegal in other departments are legal in the Political Department."

    "Such authority and deterrence cannot bepared to ordinary departments like the Public Security Bureau, which merely suppresses themon people."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Tan Huimin was startled at first, and then she understood that Qiu Tu was addressing her doubts.

    She couldn''t help but look up at Qiu Tu in surprise, as if asking, how do you know what I''m thinking?

    Seeing this, Qiu Tu looked down at her and pointed at his handsome face, "Everything you''re thinking is written all over your face."

    After saying this, Qiu Tu faced the elevator doors again, adding softly, "You''re not cut out for spying. Mrs. Zheng....."

    "Snap!"

    Qiu Tu''s words were light, but to Tan Huimin, they sounded like thunderps in her ears!

    Tan Huimin''s body shook, and her hands involuntarily loosened, resulting in Qiu Tu''s box of documents scattering all over the floor.

    Tan Huimin panicked and knelt down at Qiu Tu''s feet, then began to pick up the documents from below his legs.

    Qiu Tu looked down at the beautiful young woman beneath him, stepped aside, and said, "Don''t be nervous. I''m not some man-eating beast."

    While he spoke, the elevator arrived at the 9th floor and slowly opened.

    There were quite a few agents waiting for the elevator outside.

    They saw Qiu Tu standing, Tan Huimin kneeling, and the documents scattered across the floor, and were utterly confused about what had happened.

    But they all recognized Qiu Tu, so they quickly saluted and stepped aside.@@novelbin@@

    Seeing this, Qiu Tu coldly dropped a sentence, "Pick them up and bring them to my office."

    After saying that, he strode away with his athletic gait, leaving the elevator with the sound of his boots.

    Tan Huimin was left alone in the empty elevator, under the watchful eyes of countless agents, her face a burning red and her eyes brimming with tears as she picked up the documents.

    However, once he left the elevator entrance and walked alone down the corridor, Qiu Tu''s expressionless face copsed.

    His brows furrowed deeply, his face filled with shock and disbelief.

    ''That woman is actually Zheng Tao''s wife?!''

    ''Has Zheng Tao gone mad?!''

    ''He actually secretly made his own wife be his secretary, and after losing a bet, he really sent her to me?''

    ''Doesn''t he fear I might devour his wife?''

    Qiu Tu did not think of himself as a paragon of virtue in Zheng Tao''s eyes.

    In times of chaos, which powerful man doesn''t partake in the flesh presented to him? Especially when it''s handed to him on a tter!

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu couldn''t help but specte on Zheng Tao''s motives.

    ''After losing the bet, he couldn''t swallow his pride? Thinking it''s just for two days, I wouldn''t make a move, so he took a gamble?''

    ''He wants to set me up, using his own wife to tempt me, to make me slip up, and then take me down?''

    ''A modern-day honeytrap?''

    ''It surely can''t be that he was coerced to send his wife to me, right?''

    Question after question surfaced in Qiu Tu''s mind, shrouding Zheng Tao and Tan Huimin underyers of dense fog.

    Qiu Tu felt it would be best to investigate Zheng Tao and Tan Huimin to find out what this couple was up to before making a long-term n.

    With this in mind, Qiu Tu couldn''t help but think of that big shot with the dubious rtionship with Jia Shu: Huang Shangzong;

    He thought of the Heretic Goddess Girl who had always been preupied with him: Larilo;

    He thought of the Evil God Cultist lurking in the high ranks of the Investigation Bureau;

    He thought of Moonlight Lake, which was about to emerge, drawing the attention of various forces.

    Qiu Tu felt... it was essential to meet with Qin Shuman and have a "deep" conversation to see if they could work together.

    In the past, Qiu Tu was just a lowly agent or a division chief with a title but no real power, with no grounds for cooperation with the Security Department or Qin Shuman.

    But now, he was entirely different.

    As the Deputy Division Chief of the Political Department, even when standing in front of the Security Department Director Dai Yukang, Dai had to treat him with caution.

    With that thought, Qiu Tu took out the specially mademunicator from the Security Department and sent a brief message to Qin Shuman.

    The content of the message was simple, just one line: Tonight at 10, the usual ce. Have a proposition for you.

    Qin Shuman did not reply immediately.

    It wasn''t until Qiu Tu entered his own private office that Qin Shuman finally responded with a single word: Okay.

    Seeing this, Qiu Tu couldn''t help but smile.

    He felt that tonight would be quite enjoyable...

    And at that moment, while Qiu Tu was contemting, the sound of Tan Huimin''s high heels, "click... click..." approached from outside his office.

    Shortly after, Tan Huimin indeed came in holding the box of documents.

    Perhaps because she had time topose herself, herposure had returned, and she even found the courage to look Qiu Tu in the eye.

    First, she ced the box of documents on Qiu Tu''s desk and then stood prettily in front of him, asking, "Chief, how... did you know who I am?"

    -----

    3 chapters, 10,000 characters, haha. Continuing with 10,000 per day tomorrow! Seeking Monthly Tickets!

 Chapter 227 Qin Shuman: Lets Work Together (10,000 Words for Monthly Ticket)

    "The reason I work so hard is rted to this," she said.

    "Although something may have happened between us by a twist of fate. But... once this body decays, it won''t happen again."

    "Please understand." Stay updated via My Virtual Library Empire

    Upon hearing Qin Shuman''s words, Qiu Tu hesitated for a moment.

    He hadn''t expected Qin Shuman to take the matter so seriously.

    The jokes he had just made about Qin Shuman''s main body and marriage were really just going along with the topics she brought up.

    Now it seemed that Qin Shuman''s family might have some issues.

    Qiu Tu recalled every little interaction he had had with Qin Shuman.

    He could be fairly certain that Qin Shuman was probably not like Shen Lingshuang, who came from a distinguished family¡ªif she were, she wouldn''t have been trapped in Yan Chen''s mistress''s body and unable to summon the Security Department to free her.

    So... there must be some other reason, right?

    Just as Qiu Tu was trying to figure it out, Qin Shuman did not continue on this topic.

    She sighed, picked up a piece of clothing from the ground to drape over herself, then picked up several documents from the table. Looking at Qiu Tu, she said seriously, "Alright, we''ve already spent enough time tonight."

    "Let''s talk about intelligence and cooperation first."

    Hearing Qin Shuman''s words, Qiu Tu checked the time. Without realizing it, he and Qin Shuman had been ying for an hour and a half, and it was indeed time to work.

    Thinking this, he nodded and took the initiative to tell her everything that had happened to him during this time.

    There wasn''t much Qiu Tu felt the need to hide from Qin Shuman, a woman with whom he had shared life-and-death experiences, apart from the Golden Finger and his transmigration.

    As a result, after hearing all the intelligence Qiu Tu had shared, Qin Shuman''s brows were almost knitted into a "chuan" character.

    She was silent for a long time with a grave expression, then finally asked, "So, what you mean is... you''ve beenpletely entangled by that Evil God?"

    "And... she has followers within the high ranks of the Investigation Bureau?"

    Qiu Tu nodded slightly and said, "That''s right."

    Hearing this, Qin Shuman gave Qiu Tu aplicated look and then took out another document, handing it to Qiu Tu.

    Qiu Tu epted the document with a puzzled look, only to find that the information was about the founding of Dongye State and some news about the man behind Jia Shu: Huang Shangzong.

    ording to the information.

    Huang Shangzong used Moonlight Lake as a pretext to vigorously promote the establishment of Dongye State.

    Therefore, the process of Dongye State''s establishment would be greatly elerated. It was expected that Dongye State would be officially founded in as soon as half a month, and attest in a month and a half.@@novelbin@@

    The capital of Dongye State was chosen to be Eastern City, not far from Xinjie City.

    Besides the three Deputy Speakers, the members of the new State Council had all been confirmed.

    Chairman Huang Shangzong; the heads of the three major power institutions from the other dozen cities would automatically be council members.

    As for the three Deputy Speakers, Liu Xiongyuan, who yed a significant role and had high hopes, was vetoed by Huang Shangzong in one fell swoop.

    It was suspected this was due to Jia Shu being assaulted and killed by Liu Xiongyuan.

    Clearly, the death of Jia Shu was an unresolved issue.

    Seeing this, Qiu Tu couldn''t help but look toward Qin Shuman.

    Qin Shuman, noticing Qiu Tu''s gaze, casually exined, "Huang Shangzong is a very domineering person."

    "Moreover, because he came from an educational background, he has many disciples and former colleagues, which gives him tremendous influence throughout the Sanctuary."

    "You might think he''s just pushing for the establishment of Dongye State. But in reality, aside from promoting its establishment, he has already begun using the name of the Dongye State Council to meddle in the affairs of various cities."

    "For example, various cities'' intelligence agencies have already been instructed to fax their gathered intelligence to the Sanctuary for his Attendees'' Office to study."

    At this point, Qin Shuman paused and said, "Although I guess his main goal is to understand the situation of the major cities faster and moreprehensively."

    "But... he might also be investigating the inside story of Jia Shu''s death."

    "After all... anyone with interest would realize that someone from the Xinjie City Investigation Bureau tipped off Liu Xiongyuan about Jia Shu''s death."

    "In such a case, if he investigates thoroughly, he might end up finding you..."

    "After all, your conflict with Jia Shu was almost public."

    Hearing Qin Shuman''s words, Qiu Tu fell silent for a moment before he slowly said, "When Jia Shu was killed, he was no longer a senior official of the Investigation Bureau, and his name wasn''t even on the Sanctuary''s roster."

    "So, even if they trace it back, he can''t make an issue out of it, right?"

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Qin Shuman shook her head. She pointed to the intelligence in Qiu Tu''s hands and said, "You don''t understand Chairman Huang."

    "Even during his time in the Sanctuary, he was known for his straightforward temper and vtility."

    "His way of doing things is also very arrogant and overbearing."

    "To be honest, if he finds out that you were behind Jia Shu''s death, I can imagine himing to p you to death."

    At this, Qin Shuman joked, "So... you really did a good job. You managed to deceive the Evil God and anger the Speaker."

    "Otherwise... you might as well run away."

    Qin Shuman said with a smile, "It just so happens that we''ve recently caught another channel to the United Front."

    "Would you like me to provide it to you first? You make contact with them, and after you escape, we''ll take them down."

    Qiu Tu: .....

    Hearing Qin Shuman''s words, Qiu Tu couldn''t help but nce at the countdown in the upper left corner of his field of vision.

    [Revenge of the Linked Formation (5 days)]

    [Promise of the Evil God (4 days)]

    [Threat in the Darkness (¡Þ)]

    Qiu Tu really wanted to say... he had also offended the United Front. And not just the United Front, the Heretic Goddess Girl, as well as Huang Shangzong.

    Even in the darkness, it seemed he had also provoked some unknown Existence.

    ''My life is just too tragic! Why am I making enemies everywhere!''

    For a moment, Qiu Tu didn''t know how to describe his own feelings.

    And considering that in 4 days Larilo would be inspecting Moonlight Lake, and in 5 days the United Front would be attacking him...

    Qiu Tu felt tired... Let it all be destroyed.

    Yes, he really wasn''t just tired because of Sage Time!

    At this moment, perhaps sensing Qiu Tu''s dejected mood, Qin Shuman smiled and then said, "Actually, things are not that difficult."

    "Let''s solve one issue at a time."

    Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu couldn''t help but look up at Qin Shuman and ask, "Solve one issue at a time? Do you have an idea about which one?"

    Qin Shuman shook her head. "I have no clue about any of them."

    "But... the most pressing matter before you right now is actually that of Larilo," she said.

    With that, Qin Shuman paused for a moment before continuing, "And this is also the most urgent matter for our Security Department."

    "After all, a cunning and smart Evil God is really too dangerous."

    "Especially when she has learned to infiltrate the human world and has already cultivated followers within the upper ranks of the Investigation Bureau," she added.

    Qin Shuman looked at Qiu Tu, her face serious as she suggested, "Therefore, I propose that our two departments secretly form an investigative team."

    "To begin the full-scale investigation of Larilo''s upper-level followers and the whereabouts of her avatars."

    Qin Shuman said, "On my side, I can provide a full set of equipment, intelligence support, and even... provide you with some information about Moonlight Lake to help you gain Larilo''s trust."

    "As for your side. I hope you can take action personally."

    "Keep probing Larilo through that coin, or dig deep into the couple Zheng Tao and Tan Huimin."

    "As long as we make a breakthrough in either of these two lines."

    "We may very well find the avatar of Larilo who descended into this world and the high-level follower who worships her."

    Hearing Qin Shuman''s words, Qiu Tu opened his mouth and felt like he was somehow obliged to woo by order...

    Whether it was Larilo or Tan Huimin, he would have to deal with one of them in order to continue down either line.

    Andpared to Larilo, whose cleverness was not inferior to Qiu Tu''s, obviously... Tan Huimin was a better breakthrough point.

    Thinking like this, Qiu Tu couldn''t help but say, "Alright... I''ll give it a try."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Qin Shuman''s eyes narrowed slightly, looking at Qiu Tu with a hint of danger, then reminded him, "Although... I have no ce to say this."

    "But... I still need to remind you."

    "Qiu Tu... don''t fail to see through her and fall into the Beauty Trap instead."

    "Although we have not yet figured out what Larilo''s Cataclysmic ability is."

    "The more desperately an enemy wants something, the more we mustn''t let her have it."

    "She''s been trying every possible means to tempt you into dering yourself a follower, or she''s been trying every which way to send women to you."

    "It''s very possible... her ability is rted to this."

    Upon hearing this, a thoughtful look shed in Qiu Tu''s eyes.

    Qin Shuman''s reminder was indeed sensible.

    Larilo first sent Madame Kong to Qiu Tu, closely followed by Tan Huimin.

    There really could be a problem in all of this...

    Could it be... the pen is poisoned?

    -------

    Thest chapter was blocked; it should have just been released.

    Still 3 chapters of 10,000 words. The 3rd chapter will be updated between 23:00 and 24:00! I''m asking for Monthly Tickets!

 Chapter 229 The Second Evil God (10,000 characters plea for subscription!)

    In the night, light and shadows intertwined.

    The face of Qin Shuman, derived from Yan Chen''s wife, also seemed exceptionally charming.

    Qiu Tu looked at the beautiful, morous face and, while envying Yan Chen''s good fortune, also conjured up the image of Yanyan''s angelic, pure face.

    In fact, Qiu Tu had started to doubt Yanyan not today.

    As early as his second encounter with Yanyan, he had pondered whether she could be a part of the Heretic Goddess Girl Larilo.

    The reason was simple: what had Lariloe to this world for?

    To infiltrate this world, to spread her own faith.

    And what was Larilo''s method ofing to this world?

    Incarnation through a clone.

    That is to say, even if Larilo''s avatar in this world was destroyed, it would actually have little impact on her.

    Therefore, she definitely would not choose her avatar in a "covert" manner.

    To put it bluntly, in order to fulfill her purpose of infiltrating this world, she wouldn''t choose a random passerby.

    ¡ªBecause a "random passerby" has too little influence on this world.

    Thus, she would certainly pick someone with a high status, as only through such a person could she influence more people and more easily achieve her goals.

    During this time, although many people came and went in Xinjie City, the highest status girls were only a few, like Yanyan, Shen Lingshuang, and others.

    Although Shen Lingshuang''s status was high, her influence was mainly in the Third Sanctuary and couldn''t be "mized" in the Eighth Sanctuary.

    Moreover, Old Master Qin had likely not had the opportunity to contact her a few years ago, so of course, Yanyan was the person Qiu Tu most suspected.

    Later, when he knew that among the high ranks of the Investigation Bureau there were followers of Larilo, his suspicion of Yanyan grew even stronger.

    And all of this, until just now, had reached a crescendo.

    That is...if Old Master Qin was not coborating with Yan Chen for the future of his own son, then why would he create a clone of Yan Chen''s wife?

    Moreover, after creating the cloned female body, Larilo did not control Yan Chen.

    What then was her true purpose?

    It couldn''t possibly be to perform charity or to sing praises to love, right?

    So, after thinking it over, a bold idea arose in Qiu Tu''s mind: could it be that Old Master Qin not only cloned Yan Chen''s wife but also... cloned Yan Chen''s daughter?

    Was the reason Old Master Qin helped Yan Chen revive his wife to get close to Yanyan, to obtain Yanyan''s gic material?

    The reason for choosing Yanyan as a target, Qiu Tu thought, was not hard to guess.

    Because the location where Larilo descended was in Xinjie City, and at that time, Yan Chen had already been confirmed as the Investigation Bureau Chief of Xinjie City.

    As one of Xinjie City''s future Three Giants, Yan Chen''s future status was bound to be at the pinnacle of Xinjie City.

    Therefore, descending as his daughter would certainly be worthwhile.

    Secondly... if Qiu Tu was not mistaken, that betrayer among the high ranks of the Investigation Bureau, likely simr to Zheng Tao, was seduced and degenerated by Larilo during the Great Purge.

    And he was Yan Chen''s confidant.

    Therefore, with his support, Larilo''s undercover work would proceed more smoothly, and she would be able to exert her influence more easily.

    It was precisely because he grasped these points tonight that Qiu Tu was almost 100% certain that the cloned female body which Larilo descended into was Yanyan.

    With this realization, the image of Secretary Bai once again emerged in Qiu Tu''s mind...

    Because, if Yanyan really was an avatar of Larilo, then Secretary Bai''s suspicion would rise sharply again.

    After all... Secretary Bai was not only the person most likely to cooperate with Yanyan to exert Yan Chen''s influence.

    Moreover... more importantly, if Qiu Tu remembered correctly, the day Yanyan came from the Sanctuary to Xinjie City, it was Secretary Bai who received her. (Chapter 124)

    Thinking this way, Qiu Tu couldn''t help but recall the night in the study when Secretary Bai, soaked on one side, stood under an umbre.

    His heart began to sink.

    ''Old Bai... is it really you?''

    After reasoning through all the grounds for suspecting Yanyan to be an avatar of Larilo in his mind, Qiu Tu exined them one by one to Qin Shuman at a deliberate pace.

    After listening to Qiu Tu, Qin Shuman''s brows furrowed slightly, and after pondering for a moment, she nodded.

    "It makes sense..." she remarked, "No wonder our Security Department has not found any traces of anomaly despite casting a wide in various parts of Xinjie City."

    "It turns out that Larilo was hidden in Yan Chen''s garden vi."

    Qin Shuman brushed the stray hair at the side of her face behind her ear, "That ce is indeed the safest in Xinjie City."

    "After all, without a high-level search warrant issued by the Sanctuary... no, even with a high-level search warrant, we are not authorized to search the vi of the Investigation Bureau Chief."

    "To search a vi of the Investigation Bureau Chief, only a Disciplinary Committee dispatched by the Sanctuary can manage it."

    As she spoke, Qin Shuman seemed to recall something.

    She moved her slender legs and walked to the bedside, took some documents from a bedside cab, and handed them to Qiu Tu.

    Then she said, "These are all interrogation records of Old Master Qin."

    "They also involve information about Larilo."

    "Under normal circumstances, this document couldn''t be provided to you in written form."

    "But... who made you get promoted and be the Deputy Minister of the Political Department."

    "With your authority, you already have ess to this information."

    "So, I just brought them directly to you."

    Hearing Qin Shuman''s words, Qiu Tu took the documents and skimmed through them at a nce.

    The information revealed by Old Master Qin was actually not much. After all... Larilo had installed a "trigger word" device on him, and when he spoke of key intelligence, Larilo blew up his head.

    Moreover, Qiu Tu had already collected a lot of information about Larilo during this period. Hence, there was not much valuable content in the whole document.

    Only two pieces of intelligence caught Qiu Tu''s attention.

    The first was that Old Master Qin said Larilo had actually begun to strategize in the Cataclysm area near Xinjie City many years ago.

    He was neither Larilo''s first norst follower.

    In the cities near Xinjie City, Larilo actually also has widespread influence.

    After all, reproduction is the instinct of all living things, and men are particrly avid supporters of certain activities.

    Larilo not only perfectly satisfies men''s desires, but also trains women, so many powerful and influential figures actually worship Larilo in secret.

    The second piece of intelligence is that, apart from Larilo, other Heretic Gods are marking their territories around Xinjie City, and this has been happening in the past two years.

    The reason is that after Old Master Qin established Xinjie City, he once went to Eastern City nearby to conduct business.

    Continue your journey with My Virtual Library Empire

    At that time, Old Master Qin had tried summoning Larilo.

    After Larilo appeared, she was initially indifferent.

    But when she realized that Old Master Qin was summoning her in Eastern City, her expression immediately turned solemn, and without saying much, she returned to the Boundless Heart Sea.

    Old Master Qin didn''t understand at first. It was Larilo whoter exined to him that a very powerful Heretic God, Zhao Ji, was entrenched near Eastern City.

    And Heretic Gods do not coexist peacefully with one another.

    Initially, they would fight and devour each other. Later, realizing that this approach often resulted in mutual heavy losses, they started to mark their own territories like wild beasts.

    Among these, Xinjie City is Larilo''s territory.

    As for Eastern City and several other surrounding cities, they fall under Zhao Ji''s territory.

    After initially descending forcefully and shing directly with the human world¡ªonly to gain little to no benefit¡ªthe Heretic Gods became more cunning.

    They began sifting through believers using faith, bolstering their own strength, installing their spies amongst the three major power structures, and gradually infiltrating the human world.

    They aim to ascend their spies to high positions, or spread them through the mid-ranks, in order to crack open the human world and enable their true descent...

    This is also a significant reason why the three major institutions are wary of each other, nting spies, and investigating one another.

    Having finished reading the material from Old Master Qin, Qiu Tu''s gaze was profound.

    He had found it strange before: the world is already chaotic, and there''s also a major external enemy.

    Why do the three major power institutions still maintain their rivalries?

    Although part of the reason is that the powers within the Eighth Sanctuary had not fully integrated, and were still in the process of harmonizing.

    But such aggressive efforts at imnting agents within other forces still seemed a bit excessive to him.

    Now he finally understood.

    It is actually a special kind of mutual Supervisory systempelled by external pressure: internal monitoring is often only top-down, while peer monitoring can easily be a mere formality.

    So, simply turn internal monitoring into "external monitoring." Use spies from other organizations to monitor for Degeneration in middle and upper management.

    If there is any Degeneration in middle and upper management, it can be eliminated promptly.

    If there isn''t any Degeneration, it can also promote the improvement of secrecy and counter-espionage abilities among these middle and upper ranks.

    To prevent future infiltration or secret exposure to the Heretic Gods.

    ''Indeed... every unique system bears the imprint of the unique era in which it exists.''@@novelbin@@

    Thinking thus, Qiu Tu gradually withdrew his thoughts and then handed the documents back to Qin Shuman.

    Qin Shuman took the materials, then casually gathered up the other documents as well, and ced them in a silver brazier.

    Then she stretched out her hand toward Qiu Tu.

    Qiu Tu tacitly took a match from his pocket and ced it in her hand.

    Qin Shuman took the matchbox, pulled out a match.

    "Scratch!"

    A match red inside the room, Qin Shuman let go, and the burning match, sprinkling sparks, then fell into the silver basin.

    "Woosh!" mes leaped up, and the materials began to burn furiously in the mes.

    With the ze as a backdrop, Qin Shuman stretchednguidly, disying her wless curves and slender waist.

    Then, looking at Qiu Tu, she giggled and said, "Our Security Department isn''t quite convenient for investigating Director Yan''s family or Secretary Bai."

    "So... the next steps will have to trouble Minister Qiu~~"

    Qiu Tuughed and said, "Others at least promise something tempting. You can''t even bother with that, can you?"

    Qin Shuman covered her mouth and chuckled, then said, "Don''t worry. I will arrange an action team equipped with the necessary gear to protect you at all times and to follow yourmands."

    "They should find you to report tomorrow morning."

    "Should any emergency arise, or should you encounter danger, you can contact them immediately."

    Towards the end, Qin Shuman approached with a mischievous smile, adjusted the uniform draped over Qiu Tu with her hand, and giggled, "Don''t worry~~ After the case is cracked, I''ll definitelymend you for your work."

    Qiu Tu had known Qin Shuman for more than a day.

    If Qin Shuman wasughing so heartily, she was mostly acting. So, he unceremoniously put his arms around her, then leaned close to her ear and whispered, "Do I care about yourmendations? How about... a different kind of repayment?"

    "I''m quite interested in your true form..."

    This time, Qin Shuman didn''t blush. Perhaps because she had "put on her mask," she smiled and winked at Qiu Tu, "That depends on your efforts, Minister Qiu~~~"

    The quiver in her voice made Qiu Tu''s body feel a bit weak.

    His hand involuntarily moved to slide down her back.

    But just then, Qin Shuman reached behind and caught his hand.

    "Minister Qiu~~ It''s quitete. You should head back."

    Qin Shuman''s eyes were bright as she looked at Qiu Tu.

    Qiu Tu had the intention to let things escte, but remembering Qin Shuman''s recent fatigue and her direct way of showing him out, he ultimately suppressed what he wanted to say.

    "Alright then. I''ll be going."

    After speaking, Qiu Tu paused, then asked one final question.

    "By the way, if I want to help you, to what extent should I go?"

    If someone else heard this, they''d probably be baffled, not understanding what Qiu Tu meant by this question.

    ------

 Chapter 230 Attack of Huang Shangzong (10,000 words for Monthly Ticket!)

    But for Qin Shuman, her family was always a thorn in her side.

    So when Qiu Tu just asked, she understood what he meant.

    Her heart couldn''t help but tremble. Then she looked at Qiu Tu, smiling and said, "At least not until you be the Bureau Chief."

    Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu looked deeply into Qin Shuman''s eyes, then nodded, "Don''t worry, that day wille."

    Qin Shuman was stunned for a moment, her face breaking into a brilliant smile¡ªunlike the "masked" fake smile from before, this was a genuine smile from the bottom of her heart.

    After finishing thest question, Qiu Tu didn''t continue to cheekily stay on.

    He put on his clothes, then confirmed the next steps of their n with Qin Shuman before preparing to leave the room.

    But as his hand was about to touch the doorknob, he suddenly stopped.

    He turned around and asked, "Right, one more question. Do you have Secretary Bai''s file? Is he a Second-Order Cataclysmic or a Third Order Cataclysmic?"

    Upon hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Qin Shuman hesitated for a moment before answering, "He''s a First-Order Catastropher."

    Qiu Tu was surprised for a moment but then thought that positions within the Sanctuary weren''t necessarily linked to strength, and found it reasonable that Secretary Bai was a First-Order Catastropher.

    So he nodded and turned the doorknob.

    As the door opened, Qiu Tu stopped again.

    Qin Shuman was amused by Qiu Tu''s reluctance to leave andughed coyly as she leaned on the table inside the room, "Minister Qiu, it seems you can''t bear to leave Shuman~~~"

    "Ha-ha," Qiu Tuughed twice at her words.

    He reached into his pocket and pulled out the "Nightmare Crystal Vial."

    Then he opened the lid, quickly walked over to Qin Shuman, and handed it to her.

    Qin Shuman took the somewhat familiar vial, nced at Qiu Tu with some confusion, and said, "What''s this.....?"

    "Something tasty," Qiu Tu replied.

    Rolling her eyes at Qiu Tu, Qin Shuman said with irritation, "That''s what you said about that white stuff you had me swallow just now."

    Despite her teasing, Qin Shuman still took the Nightmare Crystal Vial and drank it all in one gulp.

    As soon as the potion was down her throat, Qin Shuman immediately felt a rity in her soul, the fatigue of the past few days swept away, and her spiritual power seemed to be nourished, replenished with energy.

    ''Is this a special kind of energy-replenishing Cataclysmic Potion?'' she thought.

    Thinking that, Qin Shuman looked at Qiu Tu with tender eyes, handed back the empty vial while softly saying, "Thank you."

    Qiu Tu took the crystal bottle, smiled and waved his hand, then left a message, "Take care of yourself, don''t overdo it. I would feel distressed." With that, he turned and left without looking back...

    Watching Qiu Tu''s retreating figure, Qin Shuman''s gaze was distant.

    ''If only it were him.''

    ''Sigh... It''s a shame, my family probably wouldn''t agree.'' Enjoy new chapters from My Virtual Library Empire

    After spacing out for a while, Qin Shuman slowly came back to her senses, her eyes once again filled with determination and passion...

    ''Keep working hard!''

    ...

    After descending the stairs and getting into the car, Qiu Tu thought for a moment and roughly set the n for the next few days.

    He would first return to his new home tonight to see Shen Lingshuang and spend time with her. Also, to tally up the recent gains.

    Tomorrow, he nned to continue training Tan Huimin, using her to investigate potential traitors in the higher echelons of the Investigation Bureau.

    After that, he intended to reach out to Yanyan and test this avatar of the Evil God.

    And finally, the most important, he nned to arrange a meeting with Secretary Bai to determine whether he truly was an Evil God Cultist.

    To be honest, although his rationality told him that Secretary Bai had too many red gs to not be an Evil God Cultist,

    But... his instincts still didn''t believe it.

    This was not just because of Secretary Bai''s character, but also because... Qiu Tu''s several encounters with Larilo made him realize that this Heretic Goddess Girl was no simple individual.

    She was just as cunning and calcting as himself (not really)... with a talent for strategic nning and setting traps just like him.

    In fact, Qiu Tu really thought there were too many doubts regarding Secretary Bai, so much so that it was almost enough to write his name directly into the traitor list.

    Therefore, Qiu Tu suspected... could this possibly be framing by Larilo?

    So, he still wanted to give Secretary Bai a chance to have a proper chat...

    But these were all things for tomorrow. Now,

    With these thoughts in mind, Qiu Tu drove towards his new home on Longshan Road.

    As the most top-tier local wealthy district in Xinjie City, the security measures of Longshan Road were always formidable.

    Indeed, just when approaching the intersection near Longshan Road, a squad of private soldiers armed with rifles stopped Qiu Tu.

    Upon seeing Qiu Tu''s ck uniform and the three stripes and three stars on his epaulets, the soldiers instantly adopted a more solemn demeanor.

    The leading soldier, not daring to be negligent, hastily saluted Qiu Tu and respectfully said, "Good day, Officer. May I ask which vi you wish to visit?"

    Qiu Tu, already familiar with the rules of Longshan Road, ordingly raised his hand and took out a purple residence card, showing it to the other party.

    The soldier was taken aback as he saw it.

    Then, after taking the purple card and inspecting it carefully, he spoke to Qiu Tu, "Officer, I apologize for the inconvenience. Please wait a moment."

    After speaking, he took out amunicator and began to contact his superior.

    Qiu Tu neither urged him on nor showed any irritation. The stricter and more meticulous the security of Longshan Road was, the safer he and Shen Lingshuang would be.

    After a short while, the soldier respectfully returned the card to Qiu Tu and said, "Minister Qiu, I am sorry for the dy."

    "Please enter."

    After speaking, he stepped aside, made a few hand gestures.

    Immediately, the checkpoint in the middle of the road lifted, allowing passage. The soldiers nking the road saluted, watching as Qiu Tu departed.

    From the strict security measures and the emotional value it provided, Qiu Tu felt that the vi was worth the purchase.

    And when he contrasted it with the slum he had lived in for two months after his arrival...

    Qiu Tu couldn''t help but feel contemtive: Indeed, no matter which world or era, the wealthy never treat themselves poorly.

    And so, Qiu Tu continued driving forward. He passed through three checkpoints before entering the vi area of Longshan Road.

    Following the address Lin Zuo gave him the previous day, Qiu Tu quickly found the vi prepared for him by the Security Department.

    After personally experiencing the outstanding security of Longshan Road, Qiu Tu finally felt at ease.

    He thought that the crisis of "Revenge of the Linked Formation", which was due in five days, should not be much of a problem.

    As he thought this, Qiu Tu couldn''t help but nce at the countdown hourss in the upper left of his vision.

    Just when he looked at those hoursses, suddenly, several lines of prompts popped up in front of him.

    "Crisis ''Threat in the Darkness'' has changed."

    "Your influential actions in the Jia Shu incident have not escaped the notice of Huang Shangzong''s legal eye."

    "After analysis, he has narrowed the suspects down to you. Hence, he has sent his Advisor Wu Zhi from his attendant''s chamber to secretly arrive in Xinjie City."

    "And due to your recent meteoric rise and actions, a certain member of the City Hall has also been preparing to deal with you."

    "The two hit it off. A huge conspiracy is about to descend upon you."@@novelbin@@

    "You have only one day to prepare, so please be sure to get ready for this conspiracy."

    Apanying the prompt in front of him, the original ¡Þ symbol slowly transformed into 32 hours.

    Looking at the prompts before him, Qiu Tu was silent for a moment. Then, he suddenlyughed.

    Indeed, he thought, the world doesn''t only have one smart person. He is smart, Huang Shangzong is smart, Qin Shuman is smart as well.

    Because Qin Shuman indeed guessed correctly. Huang Shangzong does not need reasons or evidence; if he suspects someone, with his status, he can take action directly against that person without concern for the consequences.

    The only thing different from the past is this: the Qiu Tu from before was just an ordinary person, someone who could easily be killed by anyone.

    But the current Qiu Tu is now the Deputy Minister of the Political Department, and he also has Sanctuary status. So even someone with Huang Shangzong''s stature has to resort to scheming against him, rather than simply crushing him outright!

    But... when ites to conspiracies, Qiu Tu has never been afraid!

    What he loves the most are conspiracies!

    So, Qiu Tu temporarily pushed the matter to the back of his mind, nning to give it some serious thought tomorrow.

    With that in mind, Qiu Tu parked the car, took out his keys, and opened the gate.

    He stepped across thewn and entered the vi''s outer hall.

    Just as he entered the outer hall, Qiu Tu''s ears suddenly caught a series of fierce barks, "Woof woof woof!"

    Qiu Tu jumped in surprise, then noticed a small white dog darting out from under the sofa, charging towards him.

    Not to mention Qiu Tu, now a Second-Order Cataclysmic Awakened, even if he were a First-Order Catastropher, dealing with such a small dog would be effortless.

    So, he bent down, reached out, and plucked the small white dog by the neck easily.

    While holding the small white dog on one side, Qiu Tu turned on the light with the other and curiously asked, "Where did youe from, little dog?"

    Just as Qiu Tu spoke.

    Suddenly, the small white dog''s head inted like a balloon swelling up drastically, ballooning from the size of a fist to that of a yoga ball.

    Immediately after, the small white dog fiercely opened its mouth, snapping at Qiu Tu''s head!

    ----

    10,000-word plea for Monthly Tickets, ha!

 Chapter 231 Shen Lingshuang: I Miss You (10,000 Words for Monthly Ticket!)

    "Damn, what the hell is this!"

    Qiu Tu was truly startled this time.

    After all, whose pet dog''s head suddenly gets bigger?

    So he reached out and flung his hand, sending the little white dog flying out.

    Just at that moment, a surprised cry came from upstairs, "Xiao Bai! Don''t hurt Qiu... Qiu Tu, don''t hurt Xiao Bai!"

    ''Xiao Bai?'' Hearing Shen Lingshuang''s calling, Qiu Tu was taken aback.

    He wanted to retract his movement, but his "move" was already made and couldn''t be stopped, so he could only slightly lessen his strength and adjust the direction, throwing the little white dog onto the sofa.

    But let''s not forget, Qiu Tu is a Second-Order Cataclysmic Awakened. So even though he held back his strength,

    the little white dog still smashed into the sofa like a cannonball!

    Fortunately, the sofa was somewhat stic, so after the little white dog deeply crashed into it, it immediately bounced back out.

    It probably realized that Qiu Tu was not to be trifled with, so this time it didn''t attack Qiu Tu again, but instead ran to Shen Lingshuang with its tail between its legs, whimpering.

    Meanwhile, Shen Lingshuang, dressed in a pink nightgown and pink slippers, also scampered downstairs with a "tap tap tap."

    Seeing Shen Lingshuang, the little white dog whined and leaped up, lunging towards her, as if to tell her its grievances.

    But Shen Lingshuang, as if she didn''t see it, passed by it without hesitation, and then...unched herself into Qiu Tu''s arms!

    The little white dog in midair''s eyes widened: Woof?

    And then... it plunged onto the floor.

    At that moment, Qiu Tu reached out to catch Shen Lingshuang''s leap, holding her small, soft body.

    Supporting Shen Lingshuang''s pert little behind, Qiu Tu lifted her up with a smile, then asked, "When did you get a dog?"

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s question, Shen Lingshuang suddenly realized she had forgotten her dog.

    She hastily looked back and saw that the little white dog had already fallen to the floor.

    She eximed, "Aiya, are you okay, Xiao Bai?"

    The little white dog seemed to really understand human nature, as it rolled its eyes at Shen Lingshuang and then burrowed under the sofa on its paws, ignoring the two of them.

    Seeing this, Shen Lingshuang chuckled and turned her head, wrapping her legs around Qiu Tu''s waist and her hands around his neck, then with augh, she introduced, "That''s Xiao Bai. The little white dog I mentioned to you!"

    Hearing Shen Lingshuang''s words, Qiu Tu hesitated, then btedly recalled that Shen Lingshuang had told him before, in order to test the potion''s effect, she had taken in a white stray dog for experiments.

    As a result, one moment she turned the stray dog to stone, another she made parts of its body grow big, and still, another got it extremely excited.

    Looks like this must be the one.

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu couldn''t help asking, "Why is its head still getting bigger now?"

    At his words, Shen Lingshuang,ying on top of Qiu Tu, said with a bit of embarrassment, "I''m not sure..."

    "I recently concocted two potions, one is ''Cataclysmic Awakening Potion,'' and the other is ''Transformation Potion.''

    "I''ve saved the ''Cataclysmic Awakening Potion'' for you. I tried feeding some ''Transformation Potion'' to it, and it didn''t have any effect. But... it seems to have made all of its previous potion effects permanent."

    Shen Lingshuang said, "Now Xiao Bai can turn into a small rock, or suddenly grow its head. Pretty impressive, huh!"

    Hearing Shen Lingshuang''s exnation, Qiu Tu: ...

    She truly is the Devil Potion Master.

    Xiao Bai, following Shen Lingshuang, must''ve either burned incense in its past life or desecrated someone''s grave...

    After all, although it now lives in a vi, no longer worrying about food or drink, and no longer needing to fear being captured and eaten bymon folk in turbulent times, it seems... it also has to endure potions that it shouldn''t have to at its age.

    And at that moment, while Qiu Tu was thinking this, Shen Lingshuang, as if she had sniffed something, suddenly started nosing around Qiu Tu''s neck and body like a little dog.

    After a moment, she looked at Qiu Tu with suspicion and asked, "Which woman did you go fooling around with tonight?"

    "Why do you smell so nice?"

    Hearing Shen Lingshuang''s words, Qiu Tu hesitantly lifted his arm and sniffed: no scent whatsoever.

    He asked in surprise, "Really? I don''t smell anything."

    Without waiting for Shen Lingshuang to continue her questioning or argue, he simply said, "Nah. Nobody."

    "I went to meet a major from the Security Department tonight."

    "We discussed some in-depth cooperation."

    "Maybe because we were talking close together,"

    "so I got the scent of her perfume on me, I guess."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Shen Lingshuang gave him a doubtful look, "Really?"

    Raising his hand as if to swear, Qiu Tu said, "Of course it''s true. If I don''t go tonight to discuss a coboration and talk about intelligence with the female major from the Security Department, I''ll... I''ll..."

    At this point, Qiu Tu''s eyes shifted, and then he looked at Xiao Bai, who was burrowed under the sofa, saying, "I''ll turn into Xiao Bai!"

    Not sure if it was because he heard his name or he understood Qiu Tu''s words, Xiao Bai "Woof... Wang?" poked his head out from under the sofa and looked at Qiu Tu.

    Meanwhile, having heard Qiu Tu''s oath, Shen Lingshuang actually believed him. She happily jumped down from Qiu Tu and said with an adorable smile, "Alright, then I believe you."

    After she spoke, her watery, almond-shaped eyes looked at Qiu Tu, and she considerately asked, "Have you eaten yet? Should I go downstairs and make something for you to eat?"

    The young girl clearly didn''t understand the innuendo behind Qiu Tu''s phrase from his past life, so she asked innocently.@@novelbin@@

    But Qiu Tu''s thoughts unavoidably drifted, and his gaze followed down from Shen Lingshuang''s slightly budding chest, over her t belly, slender waist, and finally rested below.

    The next second, he withdrew his gaze and coughed, "Forget it, you''re too young."

    "Wait until next year."

    Shen Lingshuang cocked her head, "???"

    Herrge eyes showed clear confusion...

    Preparing a simple meal of two bowls of noodles with a couple of eggs added, Qiu Tu and Shen Lingshuang each held a bowl and started eating at the dining table.

    During the meal, though Shen Lingshuang''s head was buried in her bowl, her wide eyes never left Qiu Tu.

    As a Second Order Cataclysmic Awakened, Qiu Tu now had incredibly sharp senses, so he was acutely aware of Shen Lingshuang''s gaze.

    He asked with a smile, "What''s up? Why are you staring at me the whole time?"

    Upon hearing Qiu Tu''s question, Shen Lingshuang giggled and then shed her cute dimples, "Nothing. Just... haven''t seen you in a while. I missed you."

    Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu tapped her on the head and said with a smile, "Nonsense. We saw each other a few days ago."

    "Besides, I came back tonight, didn''t I?"

    Shen Lingshuang pouted, "You don''t understand. This is called ''one day apart feels like three autumns!''"

    At that, Qiu Tu smiled and gently patted Shen Lingshuang''s head.

    Somehow, the once haughty female prisoner had be the closest person to him in this world.

    Not only were they living together, but her heart was also with him here.

    Thinking back to their first encounter with this little masochist, the little haughty girl, and then recalling the time they spent relying on each other, with her waiting for him like a little housewife every day, Qiu Tu''s eyes softened a lot.

    He gently wrapped his arms around Shen Lingshuang and asked softly, "How do you like our new home?"

    As expected, when Qiu Tu wasn''t the topic, Shen Lingshuang''s proud character came right back. She tilted her head up slightly and said with a haughty air, "It''s... average."

    She said, "Well, it''s a bit better than Old Alley Street."

    She stretched out her slender index finger and thumb, bringing them so close together that there was barely any gap.

    "Just a tiny bit better..."

    Seeing Shen Lingshuang''s adorable manner, Qiu Tu couldn''t help but chuckle.

    He nodded with a smile and teased her, "Alright, alright. Then... how about you move back to Old Alley Street?"

    Upon hearing this, Shen Lingshuang quickly crossed her arms in front of her chest, her face earnest as she said, "There''s no need to trouble Section Chief Lin and the others again."

    "They have it tough enough."

    "Hahaha,"ughed Qiu Tu, "Then you''re quite considerate."

    "That I am~~" Shen Lingshuang tilted her head proudly, showing off her two little canine teeth in a grin of self-satisfaction.

    Explore more at My Virtual Library Empire

    Before long, both had finished their noodles and were leaning back in their chairs to digest.

    As if struck by a sudden thought, Shen Lingshuang''s eyes sparkled, and she said, "Qiu Tu, wait a second! I''ve made something cool for you thest couple of days!"

    This young girl was also quite impulsive. Without waiting for Qiu Tu''s reaction, she ran up the stairs with quick, light steps.

    While heading upstairs, she didn''t forget to call for Xiao Bai, "Xiao Bai! Help me get something!"

    Upon hearing this, Xiao Bai also followed Shen Lingshuang upstairs with a "Woof, woof."

    Watching the girl''s youthful figure retreating, Qiu Tu''s eyes twinkled with amusement. He knew she must have crafted a new potion or Cataclysmic prop and wanted to show it off to him.

    This made him involuntarily think about his own gains from the past few days...

    -------

    3 chapters, 10,000 characters haha. Vote for Monthly Tickets! Continuing with 10,000 words a day tomorrow!

 Chapter 232 Inventory of Recent Acquisitions (10,000 Words Seeking Subscriptions!)

    Qiu Tust took stock of his gains before the fierce battle with Jia Shu.

    Since that day, more than a week had passed.@@novelbin@@

    In these seven or eight days, the "cooldown" period for the Salvage Game of several of Qiu Tu''s subordinates with Loyalty over 90 had ended.

    Therefore, Qiu Tu happily used them for salvaging.

    However, it was unclear whether the second salvage was less effective, or if it was because... all the treasures Qiu Tu had previously salvaged came from Jia Shu, Jia Wei, and others, and now that they were finished, there were fewer Cataclysmic treasures in Xinjie City.

    Anyway, out of the five chances to salvage, Qiu Tu seeded only three times.

    Luckily, the results of the three salvages were good: he obtained two Cataclysmic treasures and one bottle of Cataclysmic Potion.

    Both Cataclysmic treasures rted to defense.

    One was the "Trigger Paper Figure" lent to Qiu Tu by Tang Feifei, which Qiu Tu had used.

    This Cataclysmic treasure would automatically trigger and form a defensiveyer on the surface of the user''s body when they were under attack.

    The defensiveyer could withstand attacks fromrge-caliber firearms andst for over 30 seconds.

    Experience exclusive tales on My Virtual Library Empire

    It''s a very conventional type of Defensive Relic, produced by the Sanctuary and awarded to mid and high-level officials in the nning Area as a protection artifact.

    Furthermore, now that Qiu Tu had be a vice minister, the Investigation Bureau would theoretically issue him one too.

    So, Qiu Tu was thinking about giving the one he had salvaged to Shen Lingshuang.

    After all,pared to the fully armed women around Qiu Tu, who were even safer than him, Shen Lingshuang was the poorest and weakest among them.

    Qiu Tu''s recent Crisis Warning included [Revenge of the United Front].

    In the description of this crisis, the United Front would not only attack him but also target his family. So Qiu Tu didn''t want to wait for tragedy to ur before regretting...

    Of course, Qiu Tu''s willingness to part with such an important defense-rted Cataclysmic treasure to give to Shen Lingshuang had another important reason.

    That was... the second Cataclysmic treasure he had salvaged: the Gold-Addicted Wallet.

    "Cataclysmic Treasure: Gold-Addicted Wallet"

    "Treasure Introduction: A Cataclysmic treasure made of unidentified materials. As long as enough gold is ced inside, it will automatically trigger to defend when you''re attacked."

    "Theoretically, as long as you have enough gold, it can resist any damage. In practice, it can only withstand attacks up to light artillery."

    "Note: The item can be used multiple times with no cooldown period. However, make sure to deposit enough gold. If you encounter an attack after the gold is depleted, it will self-destruct."

    Upon first receiving this Cataclysmic treasure, Qiu Tu was astounded.

    This treasure was clearly not a standard defense treasure like the "Trigger Paper Figure"; it was a specially made Cataclysmic treasure.

    Not only was its defense much stronger, but it could also be used an infinite number of times¡ªprovided there was enough money.

    So, after getting the treasure, Qiu Tu immediately filled it with several Little Goldfish he carried on him.

    Afterward, he tested the effect of the treasure: he took out a metal dagger issued by the Investigation Bureau and made a tentative cut on his wrist.

    To Qiu Tu''s surprise, the moment the de broke the skin, a thinyer of gold light suddenly emerged from inside his wrist and gently blocked the de.

    Qiu Tu tried to continue applying significant force, trying to push the de down, but no matter how hard he tried, the thin gold light could not be prated.

    Afterward, Qiu Tu put down the knife and opened the Gold-Addicted Wallet to check.

    About one-tenth of a Little Goldfish was gone.

    This consumption wasn''t small, but... it was within an eptable range for Qiu Tu.

    After all, money can be earned again, but one only has one life.

    The greatest tragedy in life is: the person is gone, but the money is still there!

    And it was precisely because he had this defense treasure, far superior to the "Trigger Paper Figure", that Qiu Tu was willing to give the life-saving Cataclysmic treasure to Shen Lingshuang.

    After all... such defense treasures are not in conflict with each other; the more you have, the better, stacking endlessly, no oneins about living too long.

    However, besides these two rtively normal Cataclysmic treasures, the bottle of Cataclysmic Potion that Qiu Tu obtained was somewhat odd and special...

    "Cataclysmic Potion: Pregnancy Potion"

    "Potion Introduction: A type of Cataclysmic Potion made using Moonlight Water, Multiseed Red Beans, and other Cataclysm materials by a ''Mystery'' route Cataclysmic."

    "Potion Effect: Just a drop in water, when consumed, will significantly increase the probability of pregnancy in living beings, greatly increasing the chance of conceiving offspring. If consumed for 10 consecutive days, the next sexual intercourse is bound to result in pregnancy."

    To be honest, Qiu Tu was baffled upon seeing this potion.

    His first question was: who was supposed to drink this potion?

    From its description, it seemed like it was intended for women, since it could increase the probability of pregnancy.

    But... the potion''s introduction didn''t specify that it was for women only.

    So... at that moment, Qiu Tu had a bold idea: could it be that after consuming this Pregnancy Potion for 10 days straight, the next time he had sex, he could guarantee a woman''s pregnancy at a 100% rate?

    This thought made Qiu Tu, the pervert, feel a bit perverted himself.

    However, he then became curious about who had made this potion and for whom it was intended.

    After much thought, Qiu Tu concluded that in Xinjie City, the only one who was perverted enough and also happened to be associated with ''Reproduction'', was none other than the Heretic Goddess Girl, Larilo.

 Chapter 235 Shattering Tan Huimins Psychological Defenses (10,000 words to request subscription)

    "It''s precisely because he didn''t take you with him, and you followed him to Xinjie City on your own, that you weren''t apanying him as a wife should,"

    "forcing him to use his connections to hide your identity and create apletely new household registration for you, cing you within the Investigation Bureau."@@novelbin@@

    "Afterward, it was still you, wanting to be by his side for a longer period of time."

    "When he was choosing his new secretary, you demanded that he choose you."

    "This only made his attitude towards you worse, even more impatient."

    "It was your relentless pursuit that caused him to step back further and further."

    Stay connected with My Virtual Library Empire

    "You''re like someone clutching a handful of sand; the tighter you grip, the faster the sand slips away!"

    "And so, you''ve remained in this state of contradiction and entanglement until now. You want to cling to him, while he... is trying every possible way to rid himself of you, to abandon you. He''s even willing to cuck himself, pushing you towards me."

    "In order to please me sessfully, he even made you wear clothes that show off your figure, sparking men''s desires!"

    "Don''t you think, the rtionship between you and your husband is extremely abnormal, distorted?"

    Upon hearing Qiu Tu''s words, each one a stab to the heart, Tan Huimin almost went mad!

    She covered her ears, closed her eyes, and deluded herself by shouting, "No! That''s not true!"

    "You''re lying! Lying!"

    "The information you just gave is fake! Everything you inferred after that is also fake!"

    Seeing her breakdown, Qiu Tu smiled brilliantly and said, "Whether I''m lying or not, you know in your heart."

    "Madam... you can deceive me. But can you truly deceive your own heart?"

    The reason Qiu Tu was so certain about his information and inferences wasn''t because the Political Department''s intelligence work was really that strong.

    No matter how capable the Political Department''s intelligence work was, Qiu Tu still hadn''t taken charge of it as of yesterday.

    Besides, even if the Political Department''s intelligence capabilities were exaggeratedly strong, they couldn''t possibly be lurking at Zheng Tao and Tan Huimin''s bedside, eavesdropping on a couple''s private conversations or stealing a peek into their inner thoughts, right...?

    However... what the Political Department couldn''t do, Qiu Tu could.

    He was the tablemp during Zheng Tao and Tan Huimin''s bedroom conversations...

    Ah, no, he was "Tan Huimin" herself.

    This morning, when Qiu Tu woke up from bed, the first thing he did was to check the oue of the "Loyalty Game."

    As he expected, with Xiao Bai''s help, Shen Lingshuang easily defeated Tan Huimin: not only did she beat Tan Huimin until her head was covered in lumps, but she also held onto Tan Huimin''s big secret like a research project...

    And due to her victory, Qiu Tu received the victor''s reward: a medium-sized memory fragment without any Loyalty bonuses.

    Since Shen Lingshuang was still asleep at the time, after hesitating for a moment, Qiu Tu decided to take the chance to look into the information enclosed within that memory fragment.

    Qiu Tu initially thought that it would contain Tan Huimin''s most recent memories, much like Wang Xi''s.

    He even hoped that the memory would contain specific information about that high-level spy to verify whether his guess was correct.

    Surprisingly, what he didn''t expect was that the memory fragment would show a scene of Tan Huimin and Zheng Tao at their home in the Sanctuary.

    In the memory, Tan Huimin cried nonstop in Zheng Tao''s embrace, but although Zheng Tao held her, he smoked sullenly with a hint of impatience on his face.

    From the couple''s dialogue and conversation, Qiu Tu learned the reason for the heavy atmosphere between them:

    For years they had been hoping to have a child, but... they had always been unsessful. Tan Huimin had constantly dragged Zheng Tao to the Sanctuary''s hospital for examinations.

    But no matter the examination, the results for both of them were remarkably normal, showing no problems whatsoever.

    Moreover, given that both were at the optimal age for conception, theoretically, there shouldn''t have been any issues. Thus, even the doctors at the Sanctuary found it strange and couldn''t understand why.

    If it had ended there, Qiu Tu at most would have garnered a piece of gossip of little value.

    However, something Qiu Tu didn''t expect happened.

    While the memory fragment had few scenes and dialogues, mostly just Tan Huimin''s crying, and Zheng Tao''s smoking, Tan Huimin''s internal monologue was incredibly rich.

    From Tan Huimin''s thoughts, Qiu Tu gleaned more interesting details.

    That is... although both seemed to want children on the surface,pared to Tan Huimin, Zheng Tao was clearly lessmitted, almost perfunctory.

    When Tan Huimin curiously questioned whether Zheng Tao truly wanted children, he said he did.

    Additionally, every time they went for an examination, while Tan Huimin anxiously awaited the report, Zheng Tao seemed unconcerned as if he knew the oue, merely staring into space.

    After enough of these urrences, Tan Huimin naturally suspected that Zheng Tao probably knew something about their inability to conceive, something he wasn''t telling her...

    So Tan Huimin became more and more paranoid, wanting to cling tighter to Zheng Tao.

    In this situation, with secrets already burdening his heart, Zheng Tao, sensing his wife''s relentless pursuit, became even more eager to escape.

    And so, with one fleeing and the other chasing, their rtionship grew increasingly distant.

    Through Tan Huimin''s internal monologue,bined with the couple''s unusual status in Xinjie City, Qiu Tu quickly deduced their current emotional state, their contradictory and tangled predicament.

 Chapter 239 The Person Behind Secretary Bai Is... (10,000 words for Monthly Tickets!)

    Qiu Tu nodded, agreeing with Tang Feifei''s judgment, "You make sense."

    "So Old Bai exined to meter."

    Tang Feifei frowned deeply, a flicker of unusual color passing through her eyes, "Are you referring to when he said ''You think you''ve seen the truth, but in fact, you''ve seen it wrong?''"

    Qiu Tu nodded slightly, then said with a deep gaze, "Yes. He said that everything in this world is shrouded in ayer of white fog. We think we see chrysanthemums before us, but in fact... it''s orchids."

    "That itself is telling me that what I''m seeing now may not be the truth. Instead, it''s an illusion."

    "It''s possible that he really did defect to Larilo, but there could bepelling reasons. It''s just that he can''t say them out loud."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s exnation, Tang Feifei''s gaze deepened, and she sat cross-armed on the sofa, falling into thought.

    After pondering for a dozen or so seconds, she looked at Qiu Tu and slowly said, "So... the conversation you had after that seemed to be about whether that orchid from back then should be dug up."

    "In reality, it was about whether you can move against him now."

    "And Bai Yu''s answer was: Though it should be dug, we must rify what it looks like. In fact, he was hinting to you that you should still move against him, but make sure you don''t misinterpret his identity."@@novelbin@@

    "And what he said afterward: ''If you don''t dig up the orchid, how can you see him.'' was actually telling you that if you don''t apprehend him, if you don''t pursue this truth, how can you understand the true nature of the affair?"

    Qiu Tu responded with a smile, "Yes, that''s right."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s affirmative answer, Tang Feifei''s wheat-colored face didn''t show much joy, but rather, more doubt appeared.

    Her gaze slightly narrowed as she looked at Qiu Tu, "But... what could be the reason that he ''had no choice'' but to turn to the Evil God?"

    "Do you realize, once someone bes an Evil God Cultist, the only thing awaiting him is execution by firing squad. There''s no second path."

    "He can''t really think that just by hoodwinking you a bit, he could escape doom, could he?"

    Hearing this, Qiu Tu fell silent for a few seconds before slowly saying, "Perhaps... there are unspeakable difficulties."

    Seeing Qiu Tu''s expression, Tang Feifei sharply picked up on something. She questioned him with suspicion, "Do you know the reason?"

    Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu quickly shook his head with a smile, "How could I possibly know the reason. I''ve told you everything in my conversation with Old Bai."

    "What you know is what I know."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Tang Feifei paused to think. Although she still felt something wasn''t quite right, she eventually nodded slightly, "That''s true."

    After speaking, she inquired, "So... what are you nning to do next?"

    Hearing Tang Feifei''s question, Qiu Tu also pulled his emotions from the distress of Old Bai being the "mastermind" behind the scenes.

    He slightly curved the fingers of his right hand into a grasping motion and then said, "Catch him!"

    "I want you to help me apply to Tang Jiancha for an investigation order! Authorizing us to apprehend Secretary Bai and bring him back to the Political Department for interrogation!"

    When Tang Feifei heard Qiu Tu''s words, she didn''t leave immediately but asked another question, "It shouldn''t be just this one investigation order, should it?"

    At this, Qiu Tu chuckled, "Hehe," and with a cheeky expression said, "If possible, I''d trouble you to also approve the investigation order for Yan Chen''s daughter, Yan Yan."

    "That way, once I''ve captured Old Bai, I can go directly to apprehend Larilo and prevent her from escaping."

    Tang Feifei: ...

    Tang Feifei, looking at Qiu Tu, remarked, "You really can''t sit still, can you? You won''t be satisfied until you''ve stirred up the heavens."

    But Tang Feifei was a decisive and efficient woman, so even though shemented, she stood up and then said, "I''ll call my second uncle and ask."

    "However, I can''t guarantee it''ll be sessful."

    Qiu Tu nodded, then said, "Then I''ll go take a shower and wait for you."

    Upon hearing this, Tang Feifei''s heart raced for a moment.

    She sized up Qiu Tu with a dangerous look in her eyes, then coolly said, "Don''t worry, I guarantee it will be sessful."

    Having said that, she turned and walked away with her long legs, leaving the living room.

    Seeing her departing figure, Qiu Tu smirked, feeling like he was engaged in some sort of bribe.

    ''All of this is for the investigation, the investigation!'' he chanted to himself twice, brainwashing himself, before he finally turned to go to the bathroom to shower.

    In the bathroom, amid the "pitter-patter" of water, Qiu Tu''s thoughts grew even more profound.

    In truth... he had just lied to Tang Feifei.

    Although he indeed told Tang Feifei every detail of his conversation with Secretary Bai, what Qiu Tu didn''t mention was... he might have guessed the real message that Secretary Bai was trying to convey to him secretly.

    This hidden message wasn''t obtained through conversation or gestures, but through Secretary Bai''s series of abnormal behaviors tonight, which led Qiu Tu to his own realization...

    What kind of person Secretary Bai was, Qiu Tu knew best: he was someone who would repay even the smallest kindness with a fountain of gratitude.

    Ever since Qiu Tu saved his life, Secretary Bai had been repaying the kindness he owed.

    Including helping Qiu Tu and others buy houses in Old Alley Street; including leaving enough money for Qiu Tu for two or three years of living;

    Including, after the establishment of Xinjie City, recruiting Qiu Tu into the Administrative Office of the Investigation Bureau; including introducing Qiu Tu to Yan Chen as a driver;

    Including turning a blind eye to the fact that through his and Yan Chen''s influence, Qiu Tu was able to get Ah-Tai and others jobs; including secretly giving Qiu Tu hints and tips, helping him escape.

    It also includes that even though he was at odds with Qiu Tu, he still found an opportunity to tell him that an Advisor from Huang Shangzong had arrived in Xinjie City and was plotting against Qiu Tu¡­

    All these actions prove that although he seems indifferent on the surface, he actually has a clear sense of gratitude and grudges¡­

    Therefore, Qiu Tu boldly spected: Secretary Bai, who clearly has no desire for "Reproduction" nor interest in the Evil God, still became a follower of Larilo, probably also because of gratitude. Find exclusive stories on My Virtual Library Empire

    However, seeing that Secretary Bai did not hesitate to betray Larilo today, it seemed that the gratitude did note from Larilo.

    So¡­ Qiu Tu spected that maybe someone who was indebted to Secretary Bai asked him to be a follower of Larilo, leading to all this.

    For example¡­ Yan Chen.

    Although Qiu Tu is unclear about what kind of favor Secretary Bai owed Yan Chen, based on all of Secretary Bai''s actions, it seems that he is very loyal to Yan Chen.

    Even if Secretary Bai gave Qiu Tu hints or leaked information several times, it was all under the circumstance where he believed it would not affect Yan Chen''s interests. (Chapter 127)

    So, when he found out that Secretary Bai had be an Evil God Cultist almost without any motivation, and also did not hesitate to betray the Evil God.

    Qiu Tu''s first reaction was: Couldn''t it be that Secretary Bai became a follower of Larilo by Yan Chen''s arrangement?

    As for why Yan Chen would make such an arrangement, Qiu Tu is unclear¡­

    And to what extent Yan Chen is involved in this matter, Qiu Tu is unclear¡­

    Does Yan Chen actually know that his daughter has been switched? Qiu Tu is unclear.

    What role he yed in the incident of his daughter being switched, Qiu Tu is also unclear.

    The only thing he could guess was: Perhaps, Yan Chen wanted to gain a huge benefit from Larilo.

    But Yan Chen is cautious and does not want to take risks personally, nor does he want to ruin his future prospects, so he hinted or arranged for Secretary Bai to be a follower of Larilo.

    For more specific details, Qiu Tu could only wait to apprehend Secretary Bai to get a clear picture¡­

    ''So¡­ are Larilo and Yan Chen actually ying their own separate games of chess on the same board?''

    ''It all depends on who has the superior tactics. Who can outmaneuver the other?''

    The more he found himself in this chess game, the more Qiu Tu realized theplexity of the situation.

    And what''s more critical is that he discovered¡­ both the yers holding ck and white pieces were his enemies.

    It seemed that no matter who won, it wouldn''t be good for him¡­

    With that thought, Qiu Tu took a deep breath and then exhaled a heavy sigh!

    No matter what, Secretary Bai''s "surrender" allowed him to finally seem to glimpse the true whole picture of Xinjie City''s chess game.

    He believed that as long as he continued, he would soon be able to figure everything out and make his own choices!

    With that thought, Qiu Tu turned off the hot water, then dried his body, wrapped the bath towel around his waist, and walked towards the bedroom.

    As he entered the bedroom, Tang Feifei had just finished a phone call.

    Seeing Qiu Tue in, her gaze narrowed, and her sharp eyes swept across Qiu Tu''s bare upper body and the six-pack abs several times.

    The yellow glint at the bottom of her eyes began to flicker, like a female leopard spotting an interesting prey.

    There''s an awareness thates with being a kept man.

    So, ignoring Tang Feifei''s predatory expression, Qiu Tu sat on the bed nonchntly, propping his hands beside him, then asked, "What did uncle say?"

    Upon hearing this, Tang Feifei withdrew her gaze, then, as she began to undo her uniform jacket, she said coolly, "Uncle agreed."

    "And he knows you''re eager to work on the case. So, he said he''ll expedite the stamping and fax the Authorization Letter over. This way, you can take action tomorrow."

    Having heard what Tang Feifei said, Qiu Tu couldn''t help but give a thumbs up, "That''s uncle for you, always reliable."

    Tang Feifei let out a faint snort, as if to mock Qiu Tu''s naivety¡ªit wasn''t without her spending a lot of effort, using threats and temptations, that Tang Jiancha would have agreed so readily.

    But she herself was not the type to exin, so while she tossed her shirt aside and continued to unbutton her inner garment, she added, "Another thing. He asked me to warn you."

    "Huang Shangzong has set his sights on you and has been looking up your informationtely."

    "And since Dongye State is about to be established, from then on, city-level cases can no longer be directly authorized by the Sanctuary; they have to go through a procedure at the state level first."

    "So, once Huang Shangzong decides to cut you off, he might only be able to help you this one time. Therefore, he wants any conflicts you have to be resolved in one go."

    ------

    Three chapters, ten thousand words, ah. Asking for Monthly Tickets!

 Chapter 241 Tang Feifei is Shocked (10,000 Words for Monthly Ticket!)

    Clearly, Tang Fei didn''t quite understand how Qiu Tu knew so much information, even more than she did.

    After all, her news came from the Sanctuary.

    So, she couldn''t help but look at Qiu Tu with a puzzled face and asked, "This should be a very secretive matter, right?"

    "How did youe to know this? And know so much about it."

    Upon hearing Tang Feifei''s words, Qiu Tu: .....

    Qiu Tu actually really wanted toin that this so-called secret message didn''t seem secret at all.

    Not only did he know, but even Secretary Bai knew.

    Of course, although Qiu Tu thought this way, definitely wouldn''t say it.

    And... facing a woman like Tang Feifei, what he needed to do was maintain a sense of mystery.

    Not only could this arouse her curiosity, but it also easily increased her desire to conquer.

    Although Tang Feifei never explicitly said it, Qiu Tu had indeed clearly felt Tang Feifei''s interest in him diminish over time.

    Perhaps because she had already gotten him and no longer found him precious, or perhaps because the two had spent too much time together, gradually losing the sense of freshness and mystery. Anyway, as the rtionship between Tang Feifei and Qiu Tu became more and more familiar, her interest seemed to decrease.

    Qiu Tu knew this was a very dangerous signal.

    And he also knew that if he wanted to continue enjoying the benefits of being with someone as desirable as Tang Feifei, he would have to try some new tricks.

    Like his promotion to a Second Order Cataclysmic, which increased his strength, was sort of a new trick.

    And adding to his own mystery was another kind of trick....

    So, with that in mind, Qiu Tu then casually said, "Where I got this information from is definitely something I can''t tell you."

    "What I want to say is that what you consider secret might be nothing to me."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s smug words, Tang Feifei couldn''t help but curve her lips into a smile.

    And the interest in her eyes when she looked at Qiu Tu suddenly intensified.

    Licking her lips, she said with a dangerous look, "It seems our Minister Qiu is truly extraordinary."

    "Not only has your strength improved, but you''ve even expanded your intelligencework."

    "After some time, you''re not going to take my position, are you?"

    Hearing Tang Feifei''s words, Qiu Tuughed, unapologetically saying, "I''m not interested in your position."

    "What I''m eyeing is the position above you."

    Upon hearing this, Tang Feifei was firstly stunned, then her look at Qiu Tu changed.

    Seeing this, Qiu Tu gradually felt more confident.

    Since he met Tang Feifei that evening, he had been boasting and nting gs for a reason.

    The Emotional Fraud Manual [108 Ways to Enhance Affection] Article 27: A woman''s nature is to admire strength, so a meek mancks sexual tension.

    For women, if a man is tamed and overly cautious in making conversation, afraid of angering her, he cannot spark their interest.

    A woman''s genes determine they will only admire the strong.

    So, even if you boast but say the wrong thing, you''re still more charming than if you hesitated a lot.

    Even if the decisions you make or actions you take are wrong, they''re still more appealing than giving the decision-making power to a woman.

    Even if taking her hand abruptly makes a woman feel rushed, it''s still more attractive than being afraid to even reach out.

    This is why many women like bad boys. That kind of innate confidence satisfies them.

    Furthermore, while learning this method, Qiu Tu also remembered a note: the stronger the woman, the more she admires strength.@@novelbin@@

    So, even powerful women may asionally fancy a "little puppy" to adjust their weary mood, but they ultimately admire the strong more.

    The rtionship between Qiu Tu and Tang Feifei was clearly that of a "richdy" and a "little puppy".

    Although Qiu Tu had previously tried hard to "resist" to pique Tang Feifei''s interest,

    the huge gap between their strengths, positions, and family backgrounds still made Qiu Tu more like a "toy". Enjoy more content from My Virtual Library Empire

    Before, Qiu Tu had no way to change this situation, so he could only drag it out, enduring.

    But now, his position had been promoted to Deputy Minister, only two ranks below Tang Feifei, and his strength had risen to that of a Second Order Cataclysmic, barely catching her eye, so he definitely needed to change Tang Feifei''s impression of him.

    Therefore, he first made bold statements in front of Tang Feifei, then used his strength as a Second Order Cataclysmic to "attack" Tang Feifei. Now, he started to create a mysterious image.

    All this, was following the teachings of the Emotional Fraud Manual.

    And now, it seemed to be working well.

    So, with that in mind, Qiu Tu took advantage of his victory to continue the pursuit.

    He sat up from the bed and then continued to refresh his image in Tang Feifei''s mind.

    He said, "Additionally, Feifei, I feel that my strength is still somewhat weak."

    "Although I have been promoted to a Second Order Cataclysmic and became the Deputy Minister of the Political Department, and even established my own intelligencework...."

    "But... my personal strength is stillcking."

    "So...." Qiu Tu looked at Tang Feifei with earnest eyes and said, "....I want to learn martial arts!"

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Tang Feifei was indeed shocked again.

    A golden glow began to appear in her eyes, dangerous yet enchanting.

    She looked at Qiu Tu as if a female leopard had set eyes on her prey and inquired, "We just had a fierce battle, aren''t you tired?"

    Qiu Tu smiled and shook his head, "I feel like I could fight another battle, so studying martial arts surely...."

    Before he could finish his words, Tang Feifei interrupted him, "Then... let''s have another battle."

    Qiu Tu: Huh?

    The golden glow in the depths of Tang Feifei''s eyes almost overflowed as she said, "Only realbat is the best teacher."

    "Don''t worry, I will make you both happy and knowledgeable."

    "This time, I will go all out."

    Qiu Tu: Eh?

    Somehow, Qiu Tu felt he might have gone too far.....

    ...

    And so, Qiu Tu and Tang Feifei fought fiercely once again.

    This time, because he needed to learn martial techniques, the battle was somewhat different from before.

    Tang Feifei not only gave Qiu Tu some "mental arithmetic problems" but also gave him a few extremely vicious "fill-in-the-nk questions"....

    It wasn''t until Qiu Tu''s fountain pen was almost out of ink that Tang Feifei, with her mouth and body covered in ink, finally let Qiu Tu go....

    After Qiu Tu fell asleep, Tang Feifei, who had been nestled in Qiu Tu''s arms, got up, crossed the room with her long legs and a stride as agile as a female leopard, and went to the second bedroom''s bathroom to wash up.

    Even as a Third Order Cataclysmic, it''s ufortable to sleep with something sticky on your body.

    After washing up, Tang Feifei wrapped herself in a white shirt, left the front half-open, revealing her full and stic Yue Xiong, and then walked to the balcony.

    Resting her hands on the balcony rail, Tang Feifei gazed at the blue moon in the sky and seemed lost in thought.

    Tang Feifei was rather taken aback by Qiu Tu''s transformation today, it had to be said.

    As Qiu Tu had previously thought, Tang Feifei used to see Qiu Tu as nothing more than an interesting "toy."

    Although she hadn''t nned to cast him aside after using him, she merely thought about giving Qiu Tu some money after getting bored with him and arranging his future properly. That would end their time together without owing each other anything.

    And, perhaps everyone has a propensity for favoring the new over the old. So....as Qiu Tu agreed time and again to keep herpany due to circumstances, her interest in Qiu Tu rapidly dwindled.

    She thought things would continue to develop like this. But today, everything changed.

    Qiu Tu presented himself before her in a way she had never imagined.

    It was the first time she seriously scrutinized this little man in front of her after breaking up with her X partner.

    Only then did she suddenly realize this little man had achieved a height in a very short period that was enough to catch her attention.

    A Deputy Director of the Political Department, ranked in the top 12 for power in the Investigation Bureau, and an important person in the top 40 of Xinjie City, was enough to warrant more than a few nces from Tang Feifei.

    And as a Second Order Cataclysmic¡ªone who, apart from his Cataclysmic ability, possessed no other powers¡ªQiu Tu had already proven his potential and strength.

    Add to that his enigmatic intelligencework, and Qiu Tu''s increasingly swelling ambition.

    And so, Tang Feifei genuinely began to take an interest in Qiu Tu....

    ''An intriguing little man....''

    ''Worth observing more.''

    With that in mind, Tang Feifei couldn''t help but recall the phone call she had with her second uncle who was far away at the Sanctuary....

    ''Let him first get through this tough spot, then assess his worth.''

    ''If he truly proves valuable, perhaps... the family would be very interested.''

    With this thought, Tang Feifei turned back to look in the direction of the bedroom, ''If he could really connect with the family.''

    ''That would be a mutually beneficial arrangement.''

    ''After all.... Without support from the Sanctuary, Deputy Director is the highest position that someone from the nning Area could aspire to.''

    Thinking this way, Tang Feifei stood in silence for a moment, then moved towards the bedroom with her long legs.

    Since she was only wearing a shirt, her healthily tanned skin shed between the hemlines, like a leopard hidden in the jungle ready for another round of hunting...

    ...

    [Threat in the Darkness (1.5 hours)]

    [Commitment to the Evil God (1.5 days)]

    [Revenge of the Linked Formation (2.5 days)]

    ...

    A silent night passed.

    Early the next day, Qiu Tu awoke from his sleep.

    It must be said that the physical condition of a Second Order Cataclysmic is formidable.

    In the past, Qiu Tu struggled to hold on and felt like his back would retire the next day.

    But now...he only felt a slight soreness.

    ''Hmph! Third Order Cataclysmics are nothing special!''

    As he built up his confidence internally, Qiu Tu climbed out of bed.

    Just likest time, the self-disciplined Tang Feifei had already woken up early and finished her morning exercise.

    She seemed unfazed by the significant physical exertion from the night before.

    If Qiu Tu hadn''t felt her sweat-soaked body, he might have thought he''d mistaken someone else for herst night.

    After greeting Tang Feifei, Qiu Tu took a bath and then put on a bathrobe Tang Feifei had bought for him beforeing out.

    Taking the millet porridge that Tang Feifei handed to him, Qiu Tu took out his Communicator right in front of her and began making calls.

    The first call Qiu Tu made was to Cao Dabiao.

    When faced with Qiu Tu''s call, Cao Dabiao almost immediately picked up.

    After answering, Cao Dabiao''s ttering voice followed, "Brother Tu, you looking for me?"

    Qiu Tu stirred his millet porridge as he spoke, "Yes. Big Biao."

    "I have a task for you."

    "Gather all our people right now, arm them, and then assemble outside Director Tang''s house."

    "I have important business to attend to."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Cao Dabiao paused briefly before asking hesitantly, "Chief...You''re not nning on apprehending the Deputy Director, are you?"

    Qiu Tu scolded jokingly, "What are you thinking of! Have I lost my mind to do such an extreme act?"

    Relieved by Qiu Tu''s words, Cao Dabiao patted his chest and chuckled, "Scared me for a second."

    "I was just saying the Chief and the Deputy Director get along so well, how could you possibly make a move on her."

    After speaking, he added, "Then, Chief, wait for me! I''m going to gather the people right now!"

    Qiu Tu grunted in response and then hung up the call.

    After hanging up, Qiu Tu leisurely continued with his breakfast.

    Sitting across from him and eating her own breakfast, Tang Feifei leaned on her hand and watched him with interest. "You do seem very confident."

    "Don''t forget, today you have to catch Bai Yu as well as deal with the interference from Huang Shangzong''s confidant."

    ------

    Still 3 chapters with 10,000 words, haha. Ask for Monthly Tickets!

 Chapter 243 Shocking the Investigation Bureau (10,000 Words for Monthly Ticket!)

    A day had passed, and as Qiu Tu once again entered the vi, his state of mind waspletely different.

    When he came yesterday, Qiu Tu''s heart was uneasy. He harbored concerns about his own safety and curiosity about whether Secretary Bai truly was an Evil God Cultist.

    But today, Qiu Tu''s mood was one of unmatched tranquility.

    Leading his subordinates into Secretary Bai''s vi, the grass on the perimeter was trampled down by the group''s direct approach.

    Thewn, which originally looked exceptionally fresh andfortable, became messy and disorderly, just like this soon-to-copse estate.

    Upon entering the interior of the vi, internal guards immediately came down after hearing the noise.

    Two of Secretary Bai''s confidant detectives stood at the door, startled by the sight of the imposing crowd.

    But since their job was to protect Secretary Bai, the two exchanged nces and quickly extended one hand forward, palm facing out, making a "prohibitory" gesture.

    "This is the vi of Bai Yu, head of the Administrative Office. Which department are you from?"@@novelbin@@

    During this exchange, one of the detectives recognized Qiu Tu and also noticed the ck uniform representing the Political Department worn by the group.

    Hisplexion changed, and he quickly tugged at the detective beside him, wanting to whisper a few words.

    However, at this moment, Zhu Huoyan and Li Xian, who were beside Qiu Tu, took decisive steps forward, surpassing Qiu Tu''s position, and in unison drew out silver handcuffs, promptly cuffing the outsretched hands of the two detectives!

    The two detectives were clearly startled and quickly eximed, "What are you doing!"

    Before they could finish speaking, Zhu Huoyan and Li Xian snickered, yanked the handcuffs, and with a swift maneuver, pulled the two men aside.

    The actions of the four were very quick; from the detectives extending their hands to stop them, to Zhu Huoyan and Li Xian subduing the pair, it had taken scarcely two or three seconds.

    So when Qiu Tu, followed by his confidants, approached, the entrance was already unobstructed.

    Therefore, Qiu Tu didn''t even nce at the two subdued detectives and stepped over the threshold, walking straight into the outer hall of the vi.

    In the outer hall, Secretary Bai was sitting at the dining table, eating breakfast.

    Although his position in the Investigation Bureau was as Yan Chen''s secretary and house steward, their high statuses within the Bureau allowed them not to serve and apany Yan Chen like those personal or confidential secretaries would generally have to.

    Secretary Bai''s breakfast was notvish: a piece of bread, a fried egg, and a ss of milk.

    While eating, a maid stood silently by his side, waiting on him, as he simultaneously dined and read the newspaper.

    Hearing the morous footsteps intruding his vi, he didn''t seem surprised, his gaze still fixed on the newspaper.

    Only when Qiu Tu drew near did he lift his ss of milk, sipped it lightly, and then, with a hint of emotion, said, "Director Tang really thinks highly of you."

    "To havepleted the formalities for you in such a short amount of time."

    Your journey continues on My Virtual Library Empire

    As he said this, he put down the newspaper and extended his hand toward Qiu Tu, "Let me see the Authorization Order."

    Hearing Secretary Bai''s request, Qiu Tu straightaway took out the copy of the Authorization Order that Tang Jiancha had faxed overst night and put it in Secretary Bai''s hand.

    Secretary Bai took the Authorization Order, looked it over carefully, and then smilingly handed it back to Qiu Tu.

    After that, he picked up a piece of silk white handkerchief to wipe his mouth, put it down, and then extended both hands cordially towards Qiu Tu, ever the epitome of grace.

    All his actions were just as graceful as they had been over a year ago when he processed Qiu Tu''s entry paperwork, as calm andposed as ever.

    Watching him, images of all the moments spent with Secretary Bai seemed to sh before Qiu Tu''s eyes.

    He looked intently at Secretary Bai for a moment before finally taking the silver handcuffs passed to him by Song Qing.

    "Click!"

    With that sound, Qiu Tu cuffed the silver handcuffs onto Secretary Bai''s wrists, and the second of the nine high-ranking officials of the Investigation Bureau was apprehended...

    Time seemed to freeze at that moment, yet Secretary Bai''s expression remained serene, as if he had seen through all the vicissitudes of life...

    ...

    Meanwhile.

    At the same time as Secretary Bai''s arrest,

    In a conference room on the ninth floor of the Investigation Bureau, Wu Zhi, a confidant of Huang Shangzong, was intricately reviewing all the case materials and records handled by Qiu Tu over the past year.

    He seemed to possess some strong rapid-reading or memorization ability.

    Despite holding textual documents, a projector was set up on the table, with a tape recorder ced on his right-hand side.

    He was doing just that, simultaneously perusing the textual materials, watching the video footage, and listening to the audio recordings, as all three lines of investigation progressed in parallel.

    At his side, Commissioner Wang and Deputy Director Yu were quietly exchanging nces.

    Both being among the top 15 heavyweights in Xinjie City, they were certainly acquainted with each other. Though not frequently socializing in private, they would asionally exchange a few words.

    Now that there was no one else in the room, they surreptitiouslymunicated with each other.

    From their exchange of looks, it was clear they harbored doubts about Wu Zhi''s ability to multitask so adeptly, simultaneously reading, watching, and listening.

    Though Huang Shangzong was an important figure in the Sanctuary, with a retinue of capable followers, such an exaggerated method of investigation was somewhat beyond their belief.

    As they were entertaining these thoughts, suddenly, Wu Zhi''s hands also began to move.

    His right hand holding a red pen, he swiftly circled several segments in the textual documents.

    Then, his left hand hit the pause button on the projector, jotting down a few numbers onto a nk sheet of paper, as if recording the timestamps of problematic footage.

    Seeing this, Commissioner Wang and Yu Zhengyi couldn''t help but nce at each other before turning their attention back to Wu Zhi.

    And Wu Zhi, as if oblivious to their stares, began to write and draw swiftly.

    His movements were quick, and in just about ten minutes, he had filled several pages with writing, encircling numerous details in many interrogation records.

    Upon seeing this, Yu Zhengyi sneaked a peek at Wu Zhi''s notes and realized that while he couldn''t understand the textual part, the circled sections pertained to minor details.

    Some rted to Qiu Tu''s suspected irregrities; others to gaps in Qiu Tu''s documentation, relying on confessions for verdicts; and yet more indicated Qiu Tu''s careless clerical work, suggesting a tendency to determine guilt before finding evidence....

    Such issues were actually present in all departments of the Investigation Bureau: after all, the nning Area had only recently been brought under the control of the Sanctuary, with imperfectws, and most cases were handled expediently by the Bureau.

    Moreover, these issues weren''t exclusive to Xinjie City; other nning Area cities faced them as well.

    But... these were unwritten rules that were not to be openly discussed. If the Sanctuary''sws were strictly enforced, Qiu Tu would indeed be guilty of serious vitions.

    Once Qiu Tu was deemed in vition, he would immediately be stripped of his duties and work.

    And without his position, Qiu Tu''s "golden body" would be shattered, and then all those who bore grudges against him or were dissatisfied with him would pile on.

    Whether by offering clues or testimony, or even... framing and smearing. No one would want to see Qiu Tu rise again.

    After a few nces to understand Wu Zhi''s approach, Yu Zhengyi nodded slightly.

    Although Wu Zhi''s method was not particrly delicate, it had the advantage of being secure and systematically thorough.

    Particrly whenbined with his status as a confidant of Huang Shangzong, and Commissioner Wang, who theoretically had the authority to propose suggestions about the Bureau''s affairs. Added to that was Yan Chen''s tacit cooperation, shutting one eye. Qiu Tu''s fate seemed almost impossible to reverse.

    At that moment, as he was contemting this,

    suddenly, someone knocked "bang bang bang" on the office door.

    As the Deputy Director, it was natural for Yu Zhengyi to respond, so he said in a deep voice, "Come in."

    At the sound of Yu Zhengyi''s voice, the door to the office was pushed open from the outside, and an investigator rushed in hastily.

    Seeing his appearance, Yu Zhengyi''s expression darkened slightly, and he said coldly, "What''s the hurry? Has the sky fallen?"

    "I didn''t expect Commissioner Wang and Counselor Wu to be here. What a spectacle!"

    Upon hearing Yu Zhengyi''s words, the investigator, looking embarrassed, slowed his pace and then quickly approached Yu Zhengyi.

    Once in front of Yu Zhengyi, he first nced at Commissioner Wang and Wu Zhi, then leaned towards Yu Zhengyi and whispered, "Director, there''s been a problem."

    "Qiu Tu didn''te to work today, so when we took people to the Political Department, we couldn''t control him."

    "After that, we made inquiries from various sources and found out... it''s not just that he didn''t show up, he even took all his confidants with him."

    Upon hearing this, Yu Zhengyi''s brow furrowed deeply. The high echelons of the Investigation Bureau all knew that Qiu Tu had dozens of confidant investigators under hismand. It was a considerable force.

    So he couldn''t help but ask, "What is he doing taking so many people with him?"

    The investigator whispered, "He... he has taken Secretary Bai."

    "What?!" On hearing the investigator''s words, Yu Zhengyi, who had just been advising the investigator to remain calm, was so startled he almost stood up from his chair!

    -------

    Chapter three, 10,000 words, ha. Vote for Monthly Tickets! Continuing with daily 10k tomorrow!

 Chapter 244 Framing and Entrapment (10,000 words for Monthly Ticket!)

    Yu Zhengyi''s surprise was so astonishing that it echoed throughout the entire office, causing Wu Zhi to involuntarily pause in his actions and drawing Commissioner Wang''s gaze as well.

    In fact, when that investigator had walked in moments earlier, Commissioner Wang and Wu Zhi had been busy with their own tasks, yet part of their attention had been on him.

    This led to them vaguely hearing a few phrases despite the investigator''s low voice.

    Phrases like "Qiu Tu wasn''t restrained," "took away confidant," "Secretary Bai"...and so on.

    But because they missed some crucial information, they were unable to piece together the whole story, so seeing Yu Zhengyi''s shock made them both look over in curiosity.

    Compared to Wu Zhi, Commissioner Wang was obviously more familiar with Yu Zhengyi, so he asked with a chuckle, "Director Yu, what happened?"

    At that moment, Yu Zhengyi realized he had lost hisposure.

    However, this matter was an internal affair of the Investigation Bureau and likely involved some secrets.

    So, even though he knew they would find out sooner orter, he still chose to buy time at the outset.

    He forced augh and said, "Nothing, nothing at all."

    "It''s just a little mishap in one of the divisions. I need to sort it out now."

    After speaking, he turned to the secretary who had been standing by his side and said, "Xiao Zhang, I''m stepping out for a moment."

    "Assist Commissioner Wang and Advisor Wu here."

    "Fulfill any requests they might have, understand?"

    Director Yu''s secretary quickly bowed and responded, "Yes, Director."

    Seeing this, Yu Zhengyi smiled at Commissioner Wang and Wu Zhi, rose to his feet, and said, "Well then, I need to attend to something urgently, please excuse me, gentlemen."

    After finishing, Yu Zhengyi didn''t even wait for the reactions of Commissioner Wang and Wu Zhi; he promptly strode out of the conference room.

    The investigator who hade to report earlier, seeing this, gave everyone an awkward smile and hastily followed out.

    Witnessing the scene, Wu Zhi and Commissioner Wang exchanged nces. Just as they were about to quietly confer, Director Yu''s secretary suddenly approached and asked softly, "Commissioner Wang, Advisor Wu, if there is anything you need, please instruct me."

    Hearing this, Wu Zhi thought for a moment, then said, "Please check with the Public Security Bureau for me. The Deputy Division Chief Zheng, whom I''ve been hoping to meet since I entered the Investigation Bureau, why hasn''t he arrived?"

    "Has something happened?"

    Hearing Wu Zhi''s words, the secretary promptly nodded, then pulled out amunicator and, in front of Wu Zhi, began to make a call....

    Meanwhile, Zheng Tao had indeed encountered some issues.

    In fact, since learning this morning that Wu Zhi wanted to see him, he had been indecisive.

    He had discreetly approached Guan Weihua, the Chief of the Public Security Bureau, to inquire about Wu Zhi''s background.

    Upon discovering that Wu Zhi was a confidant of a high-profile individual and suspected ofing to deal with Qiu Tu, Zheng Tao felt tempted, to tell the truth.

    However, it''s important to know that he wasn''t struggling alone¡ªhe was a follower of Larilo.

    Qiu Tu was an important target for Larilo, to the extent that Zheng Tao had even sent his wife to go undercover.

    Therefore, after returning to his office, he didn''t act rashly but made a call to his direct superior: Secretary Bai.

    But now....Secretary Bai''s phone couldn''t be reached no matter what.

    Under such circumstances, Zheng Tao had no choice but to hold his position and patiently wait for Secretary Bai to contact him.

    But as he waited... came the news of Secretary Bai''s arrest.

    There are no secrets within the Investigation Bureau, and since Qiu Tu''s actions weren''t kept confidential, as soon as Qiu Tu disarmed Secretary Bai''s security squad and barged into Bai''s vi, some of the middle and senior staff at the Bureau began receiving the news.

    They were shocked by Qiu Tu''s audacity, and they were also inquiring why Bai was arrested.

    This caused the news to slowly leak out, and thus, Zheng Tao learned of it as well.

    Truth be told, at the moment he heard the news, Zheng Tao felt despair.

    Others might not know what crime Secretary Bai hadmitted, but he did!

    Colluding with an Evil God, a crime against humanity!

    And what''s more.... Secretary Bai was his direct contact. Now that Bai had been arrested, what if he was also exposed?

    So, for a time, Zheng Tao''s mind was in turmoil, feeling utterly at a loss....

    Then, at that moment.

    Suddenly, thendline phone on his desk began to ring.

    "Ring, ring, ring!" The sharp ringing in the office was exceptionally clear, startling Zheng Tao.

    Zheng Tao jolted back to reality, momentarily bewildered, and then his eyes finallynded on thendline phone.

    He hesitated for a short while before slowly reaching his hand out, inch by inch, toward it.

    "Ring, ring, ring...."

    Thendline rang incessantly.

    Zheng Tao''s facial expression changed. But eventually, he ced his hand on it.

    Picking up the handset, Zheng Tao tried to calm himself, "This is Zheng Tao, may I ask who''s speaking?"

    A man''s voice came through the receiver, "Director Zheng, good day, I''m the secretary of Director Yu. Half an hour ago, I invited you on behalf of Commissioner Wang and Advisor Wu to meet with us."

    "You agreed, but you haven''t arrived yet. So, I''m calling to inquire about your whereabouts. Have you been held up by something? Do we need to wait a bit longer for you?"

    Upon hearing Secretary Yu Zhengyi''s words, Zheng Tao instinctively wanted to refuse directly¡ªafter all, he was already overwhelmed and really had no time to deal with Wu Zhi and Qiu Tu''s matters.

    However, just when he thought of "Qiu Tu," Zheng Tao paused for a moment, then an idea struck him.

    Yes... the person who had arrested his line manager, Secretary Bai, was Qiu Tu.

    And Wu Zhi was also after Qiu Tu.

    If... he could help Wu Zhi take down Qiu Tu, wouldn''t he be able to save Secretary Bai and extricate himself as well?

    With this thought, Zheng Tao hardened his heart!

    He decided that once he was in front of Wu Zhi, he would dramatize Qiu Tu''s issues, even... frame him!

    In life and death situations, morality doesn''t count for much...

    With that in mind, he responded, "Ah, hello, Secretary Zhang. There was a bit of an issue in the office just now, which caused some dy."

    "I''ll be there now."

    After speaking, he hung up the phone, stood up, and prepared to meet with Wu Zhi on the 12th floor.

    Yet just as he was about to get up, suddenly, the door of his office was pushed open from the outside.

    Zheng Tao frowned and looked towards the neer.

    The visitor was his wife, Tan Huimin.

    Seeing Tan Huimin, Zheng Tao felt a surge of irritation.

    He ignored her desire to chat and simply dropped a line, "I have an urgent matter to attend to right now and need to leave first."

    "You help me clean up the office."

    After finishing, he adjusted his uniform and left the office.

    Tan Huimin watched his hurried figure, stretched her hand out as if wanting to stop him for a chat, but her hand, raised in the air, ultimately... was lowered.

    Sighing deeply, Tan Huimin closed the door of the office and began cleaning Zheng Tao''s office...

    Taking the elevator, Zheng Tao swiftly reached the 12th floor.

    Arriving at the conference room on the 12th floor, Zheng Tao took a deep breath and then knocked on the door.

    A middle-aged man''s voice from inside the room called out, "Come in."

    Zheng Tao pushed open the door of the conference room and saw four people inside.

    Two were sitting and two were standing.

    The two sitting people, one was a paunchy middle-aged man, the other was a young man with pride on his face.

    Although Zheng Tao had not met the two men before, with just a brief moment of thought, he guessed that the middle-aged man was Commissioner Wang, and the prideful young man was Wu Zhi.

    Read exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire

    The standing ones were obviously the secretaries of Commissioner Wang and Director Yu.

    With a quick mental turn to recognize everyone in the room, Zheng Tao squeezed out a smile towards them and said, "Commissioner Wang, Advisor Wu."

    Zheng Tao''s position was not low, so upon seeing him, Commissioner Wang and Wu Zhi did not put on airs, and they each got up to shake hands with Zheng Tao.

    After briefly getting acquainted, the three began discussing Qiu Tu''s situation.

    Faced with this lone opportunity for a desperate counterattack, Zheng Tao certainly didn''t let it pass by.

    He spoke solemnly, exaggerating the details of Qiu Tu''s work in the Interrogation Section.

    Things like disrespecting superiors, arrivingte, leaving early, and messing around in romantic rtionships were all mentioned.

    But... although Qiu had always been irresponsible, he seldom broke the rules. No matter how much Zheng Tao exaggerated, Wu Zhi''s expression hardly changed.

    Seeing this, Zheng Tao bit the bullet and resorted to framing and nder.

    He looked at Wu Zhi and said, "Advisor Wu, the truth is... Qiu Tu''s mistakes are far worse than what I''ve just mentioned."@@novelbin@@

    "In the time he''s worked in the Interrogation Section... he actually silenced important prisoners, epted bribes from prisoners'' families, and facilitated the escape of prisoners."

    ----

    Still 3 chapters of 10,000 words each. Requesting Monthly Tickets!

 Chapter 246 Qiu Tu Has Made a Name for Himself! (10,000 words for Monthly Ticket!)

    ```

    The incident happened too suddenly.

    At the time, Qiu Tu was being led by Ji Chen, walking up to Wu Zhi. The three of them formed a triangle.

    So when Wu Zhi''s head exploded, and blood burst forth, sttering both Qiu Tu and Ji Chen in the face.

    At that moment, time seemed to slow down, and a ringing filled the ears of everyone present.

    The brains of all who witnessed this scene were buzzing, leaving their minds nk.

    Qiu Tu, Ji Chen, Commissioner Wang, and others struggled to turn their heads toward the direction the gunshot hade from.

    But then, two more shots rang out ¨C "Bang! Bang!"

    Two bullets whistled towards Qiu Tu!

    At that moment, time seemed to resume its normal flow.

    Amidst the screams of the crowd, chaos erupted. Commissioner Wang, with his protruding belly, moved with a speed that did not seem to fit his body, diving behind the car for cover.

    He was one of the quick responders; most of the people he brought scattered and fled.

    Byparison, the investigators from the Investigation Bureau reacted much better.

    The guards apanying him and Ji Chen all evaded immediately, drew their guns, and started looking for the enemy.

    As for Qiu Tu''s confidants, they probably behaved most oddly: not one of them took cover, instead, they all rushed towards Qiu Tu with eyes split wide in fury!

    After all, the assassin hadn''t merely killed Wu Zhi, he had also fired two shots at Qiu Tu!

    The whole event happened so suddenly that even Qiu Tu himself hadn''t "reacted".

    By the time he did react, Chen Feng and Ding Xiaoliu had already rushed to his front, one ahead of the other!

    Then, two muffled "Bang!" "Bang!" sounds were heard.

    Two blooms of blood burst from Chen Feng''s shoulder and right chest.

    The assassin, perhaps confident in striking his target, saw Chen Feng block the shots and did not hesitate to fire several more rounds in Qiu Tu''s direction!@@novelbin@@

    It was then that people finally began to react, switching off safeties to retaliate!

    But as they aimed their guns in the direction of the gunshots, they shockingly realized... there was no sign of the enemy! Enjoy new adventures from My Virtual Library Empire

    The initial gunshot had been very close, only a few meters away from Qiu Tu, Wu Zhi, and Ji Chen.

    And the subsequent shots, although moving, were... also nearby.

    Yet now, as they searched for the enemy, they couldn''t find anyone?

    Could the enemy be invisible? Or some kind of ghost?!

    While everyone was somewhat disoriented by the sudden event, Qiu Tu, holding the injured Chen Feng who had fallen to the ground, shouted, "Lay down cover fire! Cover fire!"

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s voice, his confidants finally snapped to attention and hurriedly began firing a barrage at the direction from where the gunshots came.

    This tactic worked. Suddenly, blood sprayed from a shadow not far from the crowd, followed by a muffled groan from someone there.

    ```

    Seeing this, Song Qing, who had just been scared half to death, quickly cried out in rm, "There! There!"

    Upon hearing Song Qing''s directions, even more bullets were discharged into that shadow!

    However, this time everyone''s luck was not so good; despite firing many shots, they did not hit the enemy again.

    And that invisible enemy, perhaps due to the injury, did not attack anymore.

    Seizing the lull in the battle, Qiu Tu propped up Chen Feng and hid behind the car, then directed the others to take cover while remaining on guard.

    Like this, the group kept a vignt watch over the battlefield for over ten minutes, and seeing that the enemy really didn''t reappear, they gradually started to breathe easier.

    After all, no one wanted to face such an unpredictable and invisible enemy.

    It was at this moment, suddenly, cries of anguish erupted from the battlefield, "Advisor Wu! Advisor Wu! Are you alright?"

    Apanied by the wailing, Commissioner Wang crawled out from behind the car and then ran to Wu Zhi''s body.

    The incident had happened so suddenly that Wu Zhi was shot in the head, and everyone''s first reaction was to take cover, paying him no mind.

    Eventer, when the detectives were shooting, they had avoided his body, preventing any further harm.

    But now that over ten minutes had passed, not even a divine doctor could save someone with a bullet through the brain.

    So, when Commissioner Wang picked up Wu Zhi, his body was alreadypletely cold....

    At this moment, his eyes were still wide open, his face filled with disbelief.

    Clearly, even in thest moment of his life, he couldn''tprehend why he had to die here.

    After all, although not nobly born, he was a native resident of the Sanctuary, with Sanctuary status. Distinguished in youth and esteemed by such an influential figure as Huang Shangzong.

    Moreover, with Huang Shangzong not only serving as a member of the Supreme Sanctuary Council but also appointed as a Senior Frontier Official,

    everyone¡ªhimself included, as well as those who knew him¡ªbelieved his future was boundless!

    Even though he hadn''t aspired to reach a position like Huang Shangzong''s, he had dreamt of bing the head of the Investigation Bureau and being influential in a city.

    Coming to Xinjie City this time, in his view, was just the beginning of his career. All he needed was to get rid of Qiu Tu, and a bright future awaited him.

    But now.... who would have thought he''d die here, right after obtaining some of Qiu Tu''s incriminating evidence, without even having exchanged a word with Qiu Tu?!

    Who was so daring? To ignore the wrath of Commissioner Huang Shangzong, to dare assassinate him¡ªthe ''special envoy'' charged with such an important mission?!

    Perhaps because of the many questions and unwillingness he had before dying, Wu Zhi''s eyes remained unblinking, ring furiously at the heavens until hisst breath....

    At that point, hearing Commissioner Wang''s crying, Ji Chen, who btedly realized Wu Zhi had been shot, changed color and quickly strode over as well.

    Being from the Investigation Bureau after all, and with some experience in case handling, he merely touched Wu Zhi''s wrist to know it was beyond hope.

    ''This is bad....'' Ji Chen''s face turned extremely grim.

    The death of Huang Shangzong''s Advisor in Xinjie City was a matter that could be seen as big or small for the notables of Xinjie City.

    But for him, given orders by Yan Chen to host Wu Zhi, it was a cmity as if the sky had fallen.

    So he looked at Wu Zhi''s corpse with a troubled expression, his mind racing. After a moment, like grasping at a lifeline, he suddenly turned and red fiercely at Qiu Tu, "Qiu Tu! Advisor Wu died in your jurisdiction, how do you exin this!"

    "Was all of this orchestrated by you?"

    Upon hearing Ji Chen''s words, Qiu Tu remained silent. He made just one move: he put Chen Feng down, stood up, walked briskly to Ji Chen, and drew his gun!

    Then, with a "click," he pulled the gun''s bolt and pressed it directly against Ji Chen''s forehead!

    At that moment, the atmosphere, which had just rxed, suddenly tensed up again!

    The guards brought by Ji Chen''s heart leapt, and then they all drew their guns!

    While they were quick to react, Cao Dabiao, Ding Xiaoliu, and others were even quicker!

    "What are you doing! What are you doing! Are you rebelling!"

    Apanied by Cao Dabiao''s roaring, Qiu Tu''s confidants also drew their guns one after another, aiming at the guards!

    After all, Xinjie City had been established for almost a year and a half, and although there was still some chaos in certain areas, the overall danger was not high. Therefore, Commissioner Wang and Wu Zhi didn''t bring many people with them when they came.

    A dozen guards were not enough to stand up to the nearly thirty confidants of Qiu Tu, and the sheer numerical difference made them afraid to act rashly.

    So, within an instant, Qiu Tu''s men gained control over the situation.

    As if expecting the current situation, Qiu Tu never paid attention to the tense stand-off from the start.

    Instead, with the cold muzzle of the gun against Ji Chen''s forehead, he sinisterly said, "Director Ji, what did you just say? Please repeat it..."

    Qiu Tu may have disregarded the unfolding scene, but Ji Chen had taken everything in at a nce.

    Seeing Qiu Tu''s faction gaining control and the remorseless gun at his forehead, coupled with Qiu Tu''s notorious behavior of acting above thew, he truly didn''t dare to bet that Qiu Tu was just bluffing to scare him. So, in an instant, he caved in...

    He forced a smile and said, "Minister Qiu, it''s a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding."

    He hurriedly exined, "I was just a bit anxious earlier, so my words were careless."

    Seeing Ji Chen submit, Qiu Tu dropped the intimidation. He snorted coldly, then reached out to pat Ji Chen on the face, saying, "Director Ji. Some food can be eaten randomly, but some words must not be spoken carelessly!"

    "First, this is not within my jurisdiction."

    "I merely discovered the illegal and disciplinary vitions of Director Bai, so I came to take him back for investigation."

    "My defensive perimeter is only the inside of the vi. Anything outside the vi has nothing to do with me."

    "Secondly, I don''t even know who this distinguished guest is. How could I possibly harm him for no reason?"

    "Lastly, that assassin, apart from wanting to kill this distinguished guest, quite obviously wanted to kill me too."

    "Those shots were fired at me without the slightest mercy."

    "If it weren''t for my subordinates taking the bullets for me, I might now be lying on the ground just like this distinguished guest."

    "I know you''re a bit anxious because you failed to protect the safety of this distinguished guest, but even if you''re anxious, don''t bite wildly!"

    Having finished speaking, Qiu Tu turned to look at Commissioner Wang, who had been so frightened by the drawn swords and crossbows from just before that he turned pale and dared not speak. Qiu Tu then squeezed out a hideous smile, "Don''t you agree, Commissioner Wang?"

    The "truth" of the matter was just as Qiu Tu had described, and furthermore, Qiu Tu still controlled the situation at the scene.

    So how could Commissioner Wang dare to utter a word of dissent?

    He immediately grinned, nodding continuously, "Yes, yes. Minister Qiu makes sense."

    After speaking, he turned to Ji Chen, scolding, "Director Ji, now that Advisor Wu has had an ident, we should be united to ovee this problem, instead of turning against each other."

    "You mustn''t lose your senses!"

    Commissioner Wang''s words sounded like a criticism of Ji Chen. But in fact, he was giving him a way out.

    So, upon hearing this, Ji Chen hurriedly nodded and agreed, "Yes, Commissioner Wang and Minister Qiu''s criticisms are right."

    "I indeed panicked earlier."

    Seeing Ji Chen had submitted,

    Qiu Tu also withdrew his menacing gun.

    He looked condescendingly at Ji Chen and then inquired, "The Advisor Wu you just introduced, who exactly is he?"

    "What does he do?"

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s question, Ji Chen and Commissioner Wang nced at each other.

    With Wu Zhi now dead, their n to take down Qiu Tu certainly couldn''t be executed, and both of them couldn''t guess how the situation would unfold next.

    So they quickly put on a smile and gave a vague answer, "Actually, it''s not much. He was just an advisor from the Sanctuarying for a routine inspection in our Xinjie City."

    "Inspecting various institutions and departments."

    Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu uttered an "Oh" and then said, "Alright, you''d better make a call for reinforcements or report upwards now."

    "If you need my cooperation or testimony, you cane to me anytime. I should be working from Secretary Bai''s vi for the next couple of days."

    After speaking, Qiu Tu put away his gun, then waved to his confidants, "Let''s go, take Chen Feng with us. We''re withdrawing!" and then he walked back to the vi in a grand manner.

    At this time, looking at Qiu Tu''s imposing figure and his many followers,

    The expressions of Ji Chen and Commissioner Wang wereplicated.

    If they had previously only heard of Qiu Tu''s ability to win over people''s hearts and knew that he had cultivated a group of loyalists without taking it too seriously,

    Then, after experiencing today''s events, for the first time, they truly felt the difference between Qiu Tu''s subordinates and the subordinates of a usual senior official ¡ª that is the kind who would obey only Qiu Tu''s orders and follow him through life and death as true confidants!

    With so many officials and directors at various high ranks willing to die for him, Qiu Tu was indeed growing more influential.

    ''He''s be a force to be reckoned with, bing uncontroble¡­''

    For a while, Ji Chen and Commissioner Wang hadplex looks in their eyes...

    They watched as Qiu Tu and his people left, and regaining their senses, they finally remembered to call for help and report up the death of Wu Zhi!

    ------

 Chapter 248 Yan Chen Aims to Advance to Fourth Order! (10,000 Words for Monthly Ticket!)

    Qiu Tu shot Wu Zhi in the face, an act far removed from sending Wu Zhi to his death without God or ghost noticing.

    Therefore, after deciding on how to deal with Wu Zhi, Qiu Tu had been contemting how to kill him without arousing the suspicions of Huang Shangzong, Yan Chen, Commissioner Wang, and others. Your journey continues at My Virtual Library Empire

    It was at this time that Qiu Tu returned to his vi and met Shen Lingshuang.

    Shen Lingshuang told Qiu Tu that she had concocted two potions for him over the past few days, one odd and specific, which she gave to Xiao Bai to fixate his cataclysmic ability, and the other was a "Cataclysmic Awakening Potion." (Chapter 231)

    That bottle of "Cataclysmic Awakening Potion" reminded Qiu Tu: he still had a mighty weapon in his hand!

    It was the precious Cataclysmic Material he had salvaged from the "Salvage Game," "the overflowing spiritual entity of a Cataclysmic." (Chapter 152)

    This Cataclysmic Material had a miraculous effect: as long as it was integrated into the Cataclysmic Awakening Potion, the potion''s awakening sess rate would be 100 percent. Moreover, it could only awaken the cataclysmic ability of "Shadow Walking."

    "Shadow Walking" was the unique ability of a Cataclysmic called "Lone Wolf" that Qiu Tu had once killed. The effect allowed one to hide and walk freely within shadows.

    There were no traces, nor sound, nor scent, and even the things carried would vanish as well.

    It was because of this ability that Lone Wolf became a famous gold-ss assassin in the nning Area!

    After advancing to a Second-Order Cataclysmic Awakened, Qiu Tu had thought about granting this ability to Eagle. (Chapter 216)

    But there was never a suitable opportunity.

    Now, wasn''t it precisely the time to use this treasure and ability?

    So, the next afternoon, after sending Tan Huimin away, Qiu Tu specifically called Eagle into his office and gave him the Cataclysmic Awakening Potion fused with "Shadow Walking."

    After drinking this Cataclysmic Potion, Eagle indeed became a Cataclysmic through "Mystery" means, and he also acquired the ability of "Shadow Walking."

    Afterward, Qiu Tu gave him two pieces of equipment: a handgun made by the United Front and a Cataclysmic treasure.

    That handgun was specifically kept by Qiu Tu after the United Front squad attacked himst time, intended for framing and entrapment.

    And that Cataclysmic treasure was the "Upromising Simcrum" that Qiu Tu had once used.

    Qiu Tu was a person who liked to be thorough in his actions.

    If he was preparing for Eagle to assassinate Wu Zhi, he had to ensure that Eagle had a solid alibi.

    Otherwise, right after the assassination, if Yan Chen investigated and found that Eagle was conveniently not in the Bureau, wouldn''t that expose the scheme?

    But with the Upromising Simcrum, Eagle had a double in the Bureau, which provided a perfect alibi.

    To make the y convincing, Qiu Tu also instructed Eagle to aim for a precise spot for the first shot and, after killing Wu Zhi, to immediately turn the gun on himself.

    Qiu Tu, now a Second-Order Cataclysmic Awakened, was almost immune to handgun damage, so even if he was hit, it would at most be a superficial wound.

    Latter, Qiu Tu would intentionally tear open the wound a bit more, making himself look pitiable, and wouldn''t that make the act all the more realistic?

    In addition, Qiu Tu had arranged for Eagle to be shot in front of witnesses but nned to heal his wound using "Order Space" tonight.

    In this way, unless someone had God''s Perspective, trying to trace the assassination back to Eagle and then to Qiu Tu would beplete nonsense!

    Qiu Tu nned well, and the execution was wless.

    The only slight surprise in the entire n was... Qiu Tu hadn''t expected to hold such a high ce in the hearts of his confidants.

    When they realized he was about to be shot, Chen Feng and Ding Xiaoliu didn''t hesitate at all and threw themselves forward, taking the bullets intended for him.

    Though... it seemed like those bullets were rather pointlessly borne, their actions did lend even more authenticity and talking points to the scene.

    So, Qiu Tu looked at Chen Feng withplex eyes. He said, "The wound''s position is off, no threat to life."

    "But... you''ll need some time to recuperate."

    Qiu Tu paused for a moment, then reassured, "Don''t worry, though, if I''m not mistaken, you should be back to your normal activities in a couple of days."

    Having said this, Qiu Tu patted Chen Feng''s uninjured shoulder and dered, "When you return to the Bureau, I will definitely promote you!"

    Upon hearing Qiu Tu''s words, the reticent Chen Feng cracked a grin and said, "Thank you, Chief!"

    "Huh?" Qiu Tu interjected, "Don''t call me Chief anymore. Call me Brother Tu."

    "Yes! Brother Tu!" replied Chen Feng, his obedience flowing like water.

    Seeing this, Qiu Tu couldn''t help but smile too.

    After attending to Chen Feng''s wounds,

    Qiu Tu also stood up and instructed Ding Xiaoliu and Zhu Huoyan to carry Chen Feng down to rest.

    As for himself, he sat in the living room for a little over a minute in a daze, and then he made his way to the room where Secretary Bai was being held.

    When he arrived at Secretary Bai''s bedroom, Qiu Tu pushed the door open and entered.

    Inside the room, Secretary Bai sat in a recliner, leisurely reading a book, while Li Xian and Ding Xiaoqi stood watch over him.

    Seeing Qiu Tu enter, the two quickly stood up and saluted, "Commander!"

    Qiu Tu nodded, then said, "You two step out for a while, I want to have a good talk with Secretary Bai."

    "Yes!" Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, the two stepped out of the bedroom, then closed the door from the outside with the back of their hands.

    After the room was left with only Qiu Tu and Secretary Bai, Secretary Bai slowly put down the book in his hand, then looked at Qiu Tu and asked, "Is the matter resolved?"@@novelbin@@

    Qiu Tu said with a smile, "I don''t understand what you mean."

    Secretary Bai shook his head with a smile, and remarked, "You... your vignce is really strong."

    He said, "I''m already your captive. What is there for you to fear?"

    Qiu Tu stated righteously, "I don''t even know what you mean, so there''s nothing for me to fear or not fear."

    Having said that, Qiu Tu didn''t continue on that topic, but instead asked, "Brother Bai, now that I''ve arrested you, can you tell me some things?"

    "Why exactly did you choose to side with the Evil God?"

    "In my mind, you are clearly not that kind of person."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Secretary Bai did not respond to his question at first but instead asked, "Today... did you see the Bureau Chief?"

    Qiu Tu hesitated for a moment, then said, "I didn''t go to the Bureau today, so of course, I didn''t see him."

    Secretary Bai said with a smile, "But... he must already know about youing to see me yesterday."

    Qiu Tu was a bit confused about the meaning behind Secretary Bai''s words. He couldn''t help asking, "What does that have to do with our topic?"

    Secretary Bai first shook his head, then nodded, "It''s somewhat rted. But you can also take it as small talk."

    He always acted in a calm and steady manner, methodical andposed.

    So he put down the book in his hand, then walked to the floor-to-ceiling window of the bedroom, looking at the scenery outside while saying, "Qiu Tu, do you know the levels of Cataclysmics?"

    Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu nodded, "I know. From First-Order to Fifth Order."

    "Fifth Order is the highest, First-Order the lowest. The higher the level, the deeper the fusion with one''s own path, and the more liable the spirit is to influence."

    "That''s why the Sanctuary has decreed that Cataclysmics can only reach up to Third Order."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Secretary Bai turned away from the window with a smile, then said,

    "That must be something Director Tang told you, right?"

    In the face of Secretary Bai, Qiu Tu saw no need to deny it, so he acknowledged with a "Hmm."

    Secretary Bai said, "What Director Tang told you isn''t wrong. But... that''s just the most orthodox path."

    "If all humans, all Cataclysmics, stop at the Third Order,"

    "Then when those terrifying Cataclysmic Creatures, Evil Gods, descend into the real world, what will humanity use to withstand them?"

    Qiu Tu asked in confusion, "Aren''t rockets, artillery, and nuclear bombs used for that?"

    Secretary Bai turned and looked at Qiu Tu with augh, "Those are means to be used in thinly popted areas or when it is absolutely necessary to defend."

    "What if Cataclysmic Creatures descend upon the Sanctuary, the nning Area? What then?"

    After hearing this, Qiu Tu''s gaze also revealed deep contemtion.

    Secretary Bai slowly continued, "So, in fact, the Sanctuary has also researched a Pseudo Fourth-Order promotion method over the years."

    "Normally, the spirit and strength remain at the Third Order. But when it''s time to fight, one can enter the realm of Fourth-order Cataclysmics at any moment!"

    Shocked by Secretary Bai''s words, Qiu Tu suddenly realized the hint that Secretary Bai was giving him.

    He couldn''t help saying, "Is Yan Chen currently advancing to Pseudo Fourth Order?!"

    ----

 Chapter 251 The Meteoric Rise of Liu Fuping (2/2 Asking for Monthly Tickets!)

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Liu Fuping on the other end of the phoneughed.

    "Giggle giggle~" Sheughed so hard she was bending over backwards, "Indeed, with that heartless character of yours, you wouldn''te to me if there wasn''t an issue~"

    She was quite aware of her own character, so after herughter subsided, she spoke seriously, "Alright, tell me, my dear minister, what has brought you to me this time?"

    Even though Liu Fuping teased him, Qiu Tu wasn''t the least bit embarrassed. He said, "I have an important piece of intelligence that I''d like to pass through you to Director Liu."

    When Liu Fuping heard Qiu Tu''s words, she didn''t take much interest at first, asking, "What intelligence?"

    Qiu Tu replied seriously, "Yan Chen is currently advancing to a Fourth-order Cataclysmic, plotting for the position of Deputy Speaker of Dongye State."

    Indeed, the news was shocking enough to even startle Liu Fuping, who wasn''t very sensitive to intelligence.

    She didn''t bother flirting with Qiu Tu any further, and hurriedly confirmed again, "You''re saying Yan Chen is advancing to Fourth-order Cataclysmic? And she''s nning topete for the Deputy Speaker of Dongye State with that?"

    After speaking, she seemed a bit puzzled, "But... what''s the direct connection between bing a Fourth-order Cataclysmic andpeting for the position of Deputy Speaker of Dongye State?" Experience more content on My Virtual Library Empire

    Qiu Tu didn''t hold much hope for Liu Fuping''s intelligence analysis capabilities, so seeing that Liu Fuping couldn''t see through the game, he replied with augh, "Sister Liu, you just need to bring this intelligence to Director Liu. That''s all."

    "The rest, he will understand."

    Liu Fuping gave a couple of "Oh oh" sounds, then suddenly caught on.

    She asked indignantly, "Are you saying I''m dumb?"

    Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu "Ha ha"ughed out loud twice, then swiftly changed the subject, "By the way, what have you been up totely, Sister Liu?"

    "Since you left Xinjie City, I''ve never heard from you again."

    "I even specially had people inquire about you in Eastern City, but to no avail."

    Qiu Tu was actually telling a barefaced lie.

    Since Liu Fuping''s departure, he had hardly thought about her at all.

    Moreover... before the establishment of Dongye State, each city was rtively independent, and Qiu Tu''s influence couldn''t reach Eastern City.

    So, he waspletely hoodwinking Liu Fuping.

    But... women fall for this kind of trick.

    ording to the "Emotional Fraud Manual," this is one of the "108 Ways to Enhance Affection: No. 10, Benign Lies."

    Whether the woman is smart or foolish, they share amon trait: they like sweet nothings.

    Even if they know the ttery is false, they still enjoy it.

    This is not only because women crave emotional value more than men do, but also because they easily fall into a strange logical loop: if he is willing to lie to me, it means he cares about me.

    As expected, upon hearing Qiu Tu''s words, a lovely smile curved up the corners of Liu Fuping''s mouth on the other end of the phone. She was clearly very pleased.

    Even if she most likely guessed Qiu Tu was justforting her, she still exined with a soft voice, "I didn''t leave my real name for you, so it''d be a miracle if you could find any news about me."

    "And besides..." she paused for a moment, then chuckled softly, "I''m not in Eastern City now."

    This change was indeed unexpected to Qiu Tu. He was stunned for a second, then inquired, "You''re not in Eastern City? Then where are you?"

    Liu Fuping replied, "I''m now in the Sanctuary."

    She went on, "With the imminent establishment of Dongye State, it signifies that those dozen or so nning Areas of Eastern City, Xinjie City, will be integrated into a whole, officially entering the Sanctuary''s system."

    "Hence, the Sanctuary has demanded from Dongye State that the current chaotic legal system muste to an end. They require the establishment of a basic judicial system within the present Investigation Bureau framework."

    Saying this, Liu Fuping spoke with a hint of pride, "And Director Liu has rmended me to be one of the first members of this system."

    "I''m currently studying at the Sanctuary, striving to learn the basics ofw within a month, memorizing legal provisions, and then following the Sanctuary-appointed judges to Xinjie City to establish a basic judicial system."

    Hearing Liu Fuping''s remarks, to be honest, Qiu Tu felt genuinely surprised.

    Liu Fuping... was going to be a judge?@@novelbin@@

    And one of the first judges in the newly established judicial system of Dongye State?

    The value of this position really couldn''t be underestimated.

    Qiu Tu guessed that with the golden touch of the personnel sent by the Sanctuary, by the time Liu Fupinges back gilt in gold, she might really be treated at the level of a Deputy Division Chief.

    However, when he thought that... this judicial system was established within the framework of the Investigation Bureau, thereby further strengthening the power of the Bureau, Qiu Tu felt a bit of a toothache.

    With this, the power of the Deputy Speaker representing the Investigation Bureau system, who would now hold the judiciary of Dongye State, would be tremendously intimidating.

    And if Yan Chen actually became that Deputy Speaker, from then on, in Dongye State, Qiu Tu really would be at Yan Chen''s mercy.

    Considering this, Qiu Tu made up his mind once again: he had to stall for time, and not let Yan Chen be the Deputy Speaker.

    With that in mind, Qiu Tu first congratted Liu Fuping, "Then let me congratte Sister Liu in advance!"

    "I''ll be waiting to give you a warm wee when youe back to Dongye State. At that time, I will definitely throw a celebration for your return."

    After finishing, Qiu Tu immediately brought the topic back to the main point, "Then I''ll leave the matter of contacting Director Liu in your capable hands, Sister Liu. Please make sure the intelligence gets to him."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Liu Fuping giggled, then said, "Don''t worry, young man~ I will make sure the intelligence is delivered."

    "I believe the Director will be interested."

 Chapter 254 Madam, Your Body is Very Truthful (10,000 Words for Monthly Ticket!)

    Long after learning of Tang Feifei''s true background from Secretary Bai, Qiu Tu had discovered Tang Feifei''s greatest advantage.

    That was... she was the strongest backer in Xinjie City, the only one who didn''t need to cater to Huang Shangzong''s whims.

    As a talent heavily cultivated by her family, almost every step Tang Feifei took was safeguarded by her family''s support.

    Even when Tang Feifei was thrown into the lion''s den of Yan Chen''s stronghold, Xinjie City, for a test, her family never ceased to assist her. This was evident from the fact that she could summon her second uncle at the press of a button.

    And because of this powerful background and influence, while others had to please Huang Shangzong, Tang Feifei didn''t have to do such things.

    Therefore, the death of Wu Zhi was a significant event for other Deputy Directors andmittee members, but for Tang Feifei, it really wasn''t a big deal.

    Things then became simple:

    Tang Feifei couldn''t determine the fates of those Deputy Directors andmittee members, so they didn''t care about her;

    Huang Shangzong could determine their fates, so those Deputy Directors andmittee members didn''t dare offend him;

    And Tang Feifei wasn''t afraid of Huang Shangzong, nor did she care much about his influence on her;

    So... Tang Feifei could entirely take on the "death of Wu Zhi" case, using it to indirectly squeeze the soft spots of those Deputy Directors andmittee members.

    For instance... she could take on the case but suppress the report, dying the process.

    As long as she didn''t escte the case each day, those Deputy Directors andmittee members would have to y by her rules for that day, and she and Qiu Tu could roam freely in Xinjie City!

    Even if Qiu Tu and Tang Feifei went too far during this time, causing dissatisfaction or questioning at higher levels, as long as Tang Feifei brought out the "death of Wu Zhi" card, looking like she would hand it over for them to deal with, they too had to back down¡ªafter all, human nature is selfish, and no one wants to sacrifice themselves for the collective good.

    Moreover, the longer the "death of Wu Zhi" case was dragged on, the heavier the storm it would bring, and the less anyone would dare to take it on.

    And so... the less anyone would dare to oppose Qiu Tu and Tang Feifei.

    With such a strong trump card at hand that could always be used to manipte the Investigation Bureau''s higher-ups, Qiu Tu and Tang Feifei could afford to do much during this period.

    So, Wu Zhi could really be considered to have delivered his head over thousands of miles, helping Qiu Tu and Tang Feifei to weather this storm.

    Every time he thought of this, Qiu Tu would feel grateful for Mr. Wu Zhi''s righteousness. Continue your journey with My Virtual Library Empire

    As for whether the excessive actions taken by Qiu Tu and Tang Feifei would backfire once Yan Chen returned, this was something both had considered.

    Compared to the potential bacsh from their actions, the threat posed by Yan Chen bing Deputy Speaker seemed significantly greater to them.

    Moreover¡­ when Qiu Tu was nning, he had predicted the future many times and made numerous adjustments to his ns.

    He was confident that as long as the n could be implemented sessfully andpleted, even if Yan Chen returned in the future, the impact on him and Tang Feifei would be minimal...

    Thinking in this manner and having listened to Tang Feifei''s movements within the Investigation Bureau for the past few hours, Qiu Tu also had a good grasp of Tan Huimin''s purpose ining to him.

    So he lifted Tan Huimin''s chin with his hand, making her look up at him; then he clicked his tongue twice and said, "Wife, I''ve listened to all you''ve said."@@novelbin@@

    "At times, I thought I must have heard you wrong."

    "You seem to say... Director Zheng met with Wu Counselor today and recorded a statement."

    "The statement not only used me of messing around with men and women in the Investigation Bureau, but also alleged that I silenced an important criminal, epted bribes from a criminal''s family, and even let criminals go free?"

    "And that he was detained because he fabricated false evidence against me?"

    At this point, Qiu Tu pinched Tan Huimin''s chin and said ominously, "So herees the question. What do you think he has to pay to quell the anger in my heart and choose to forgive him, or even to rescue him...?"

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Tan Huimin gently bit her lip, her eyes reddening.

    Actually... long before Zheng Tao prepared to meet Wu Zhi and frame Qiu Tu, Tan Huimin had discussed this issue with Zheng Tao.

    Possibly because she had witnessed her boss''s cunning and strategic nning in recent days, Tan Huimin was firmly against Zheng Tao opposing Qiu Tu.

    She found it too risky.

    No one knew if Qiu Tu had any contingency ns, nor whether Wu Zhi could truly bring Qiu Tu down.

    If Qiu Tu really had a contingency, or if Wu Zhi failed, Wu Zhi could walk away, but Zheng Tao couldn''t.

    Then, Qiu Tu would definitely seek harsh revenge against Zheng Tao.

    But, whether due to a growing rift between the couple or because Zheng Tao truly hated Qiu Tu so much, no matter how Tan Huimin tried to persuade him, Zheng Tao still resolutely went to meet Wu Zhi in the end.

    And indeed, things turned out as Tan Huimin had expected, with Wu Zhi not only failing to bring down Qiu Tu but even losing his life.

    The affair of Wu Zhi''s death caused a stir within the Investigation Bureau, with all sorts of spections abounding. Some said the United Front was out for Wu Zhi''s assassination; others imed the United Front was seeking revenge on Qiu Tu but missed their first shot; there were also those who said... it was Qiu Tu silencing someone.

    The first two spections were dismissed by Tan Huimin in a second. As soon as the incident urred, her first reaction was that Qiu Tu had shot Wu Zhi.

    Possibly because she had been toyed with and brought to tears by Qiu Tu before, Tan Huimin was all too familiar with Qiu Tu''s methods.

 Chapter 257 The Chief Culprit Behind the Time Travel? (10,000 characters for Monthly Ticket!)

    Upon hearing Larilo''s words, Qiu Tu did not try to wrestle control of the conversation''s rhythm as usual.

    Instead, he actively handed over the control of the conversation to Larilo.

    He forced an awkward smile, then feigned stubbornness, and said, "How dare I discuss business with Your Highness."

    "I am here to save Your Highness."

    After that, Qiu Tu took the initiative to say, "I saw the Illusion of the Law belonging to Yan Chen appear and discovered that something big seemed to have happened in Xinjie City."

    "So, I captured many people, and after lengthy interrogations, I learned that Yan Chen had set up a trap, a snare, wanting to Devour Your Highness and be a Fourth-order Catastrophe-evolver."

    "Having obtained this intelligence, Imunicated with Your Highness immediately, wishing to save Your Highness."

    Sure enough, upon hearing Qiu Tu''s recounting, Lariloughed lightly, then taunted, "Save me? Do I need saving by you?"

    She spoke with slight disdain, "Do you really think Yan Chen can outwit me?"

    "The tactics he and Bai Yu have been ying, I have seen through them all too clearly."

    "In fact, I have made targeted arrangements."

    "Yan Chen feels that he has outwitted me, but in reality... everything is a plot within a plot, a scheme within a scheme."

    As Larilo spoke, Qiu Tu was intently watching her expressions, trying to discern whether Larilo was telling the truth or lies.

    But whether Larilo''s acting was too good, or everything was indeed fact, Qiu Tu could not detect the slightest w.

    Therefore, he became even more cautious, and tentatively said, "Is that so?"

    "Then... may I ask Your Highness to resolve some of my confusion?"

    Feigning a puzzled frown, Qiu Tu said, "Having learned about the general process of the entire affair today, I truly feel like the whole Xinjie City is a giant chessboard."

    "And it seems like you and Yan Chen have beenying out your ns for many years."

    At this point, Qiu Tu brought up several key terms on purpose.

    He said, "For instance... what exactly is the deal with Zheng Tao and his wife?"

    "And when did Bai Yu feign allegiance to Your Highness?"

    "When did Your Highness begin to conceal yourself by Yan Chen''s side?"

    "And how did Yan Chen n to outwit Your Highness?"

    Your next chapter awaits on My Virtual Library Empire

    Having said that, Qiu Tu then put on a look of dejection and said, "I''m now only piecing together a general picture from various sources of information, but I cannot understand the timelines or your arrangements at all..."

    On hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Larilo''s crimson eyes took Qiu Tu in from top to bottom, a flicker of surprise in their depths.

    Obviously, she had not expected Qiu Tu to know so much intelligence and detail, and that he had figured out the crux of the matter in just a day''s time.

    It was only certain key nodes of information and timing that were not clearly sorted out.

    Such ability to gather and analyze intelligence was indeed astonishing.

    Thinking this, Larilo also couldn''t help but reassess Qiu Tu, as if considering whether to tell him everything or not.

    After a moment, she came to a decision.

    She slightly tilted her head up, then said, "Well then~since you want to know, I might as well tell you briefly."

    "Consider it a demonstration of my might...."

    Saying so, Larilo roughly recounted to Qiu Tu the mutual strategizing between her and Yan Chen over the past two years.

    ording to Larilo, her focus on Yan Chen began a few years ago.

    At that time, the Sanctuary had just decided that Xinjie City would be a nning Area, and Yan Chen, General Ye, and Commissioner Jiang were subsequently designated as the highest officials for Xinjie City''s three major institutions.

    Old Master Qin learned of this news through some secretive channels.

    So he gathered information about these three individuals for Larilo to see who could be swayed or breached.

    Ultimately, Larilo chose Yan Chen.

    The reason for choosing Yan Chen was simple: his wife had passed away a few years ago and could be revived using "Cloned Female Body", and he also had a daughter, convenient for Larilo to descend in hiding.

    Thus, carrying with him grand gifts, Old Master Qin visited the Sanctuary as a would-be supporter, held secret talks with Yan Chen, and finally, with the condition of Cloning and reviving Yan Chen''s wife, reached a preliminary coboration¡ªOld Master Qin''s second son, Qin Zhengguang, would take up a post in the Investigation Bureau.

    Afterwards, the Qin family would continue their cooperation with Yan Chen once he arrived at Xinjie City.

    Of course... all of this was a ruse. Old Master Qin''s cooperation was fake, the real objective was to steal Yan Chen''s daughter''s genes.

    When discussing the technology of "Cloned Female Body", Old Master Qin fabricated a story: Since Yan Chen''s wife had been dead for a few years, cloning her directly from the leftover genes was impossible, and a living cell temte from his daughter was required for corrections.

    Not much living tissue was needed, just a vial of blood would suffice.

    Yan Chen, clearly not realizing that Old Master Qin''s target was his daughter, agreed to the condition without much hesitation.@@novelbin@@

    So, upon returning to Xinjie City, Old Master Qin began the cloning of Yan Chen''s wife and Yan Yan.

    During this period, the clone body prepared for Old Master Qin matured.

    Thus, Old Master Qin, following his n with Larilo, abandoned his old body, his Soul split in two, and entered both his cloned body and his elder son Qin Heng''s body, continuing to serve Larilo.

    In this way, Xinjie City was officially established shortly thereafter, and Yan Chen sessfully became the Xinjie City Investigation Bureau Chief and arrived at Xinjie City.

    Honoring the initial agreement, Old Master Qin presented the cloned wife to Yan Chen, who in turn promptly fulfilled his promise: Qin Zhengguang was appointed as the Deputy Division Chief of the Investigation Bureau.

 Chapter 260 Quitting Lust Tomorrow (10,000 words for Monthly Tickets!)

    And with Qiu Tu''s words, several opulent eldsters indeed appeared in the distance.

    Their hair was gray, but meticulously groomed, the silvery strands shimmering under the lights of Longshan Road.

    Possibly due to long-standing upper positions, their demeanors were dignified and their eyes as deep as still waters, radiating an aura of majesty without anger.

    They were... the legendary figures known as "The Five Elders," who once controlled Xinjie City for over a decade.

    The backgrounds of "The Five Elders" varied, but were simr in one respect: they all started from gangs, moved on to enterprises, took control of the livelihoods of the citizenry, and finally established the order of the city.

    Initially, when they had control of Xinjie, rtions among The Five Elders were tense, with endless overt and covert struggles.

    Unexpectedly, after being purged from the power center of Xinjie City by Yan Chen and General Ye, they ended up living together and even bing good friends...

    It could be considered a whimsical twist of fate.

    However, as Qiu Tu and Qin Shuman had discussed, although these five elderly men had withdrawn from the core stage of power in Xinjie City, they still wielded a considerable influence over it.

    Just this afternoon, Qiu Tu had taken the time to engage in a deep conversation with Tang Feifei¡ªyes, a truly deep exchange.

    In the midst of it, they came to a consensus: the authority they had now was temporary and superficial.

    Only by using this power to rally more people and solidify their base at the grassroots level could they make this authority endure.

    Only then, when Yan Chen returned, would they be able to stand up to him and even marginalize Yan Chen!

    So, who wielded the most influence over the grassroots of the three major institutions in Xinjie City? Readtest stories on My Virtual Library Empire

    Clearly, it was The Five Elders...

    After all, the grassroots of the three major institutions were the middle ss of old Xinjie City, or their children.

    And they had all been subordinates to The Five Elders...

    Thus, gaining the support of The Five Elders could mean quickly prating the grassroots of the Investigation Bureau, thereby fulfilling their goal of sidelining Yan Chen.

    After setting the goal of winning over "The Five Elders."

    The remaining question was... whether "The Five Elders" were still willing to get involved in these power struggles or not?

    And... how would Qiu Tu and Tang Feifei persuade "The Five Elders"?

    Regarding the first question, Qiu Tu soon gave Tang Feifei a definite answer.

    Over this period, "The Five Elders" had actually been getting restless. (Chapter 138)

    ording to the objective developmentws of cities in the nning Area, within one to three years after a city''s founding, many contradictions that were suppressed at the outset tend to erupt in unison.

    The various major families and forces of the original city, having gradually adapted to the rules of the nning Area, would start scheming to wrest power and profit from the middle and upper echelonsing down from the Sanctuary.

    "The Five Elders" were no exception.

    Hence, the two of them had a basis for cooperation with them.

    As for the second question, how to persuade "The Five Elders," Qiu Tu had thought of several aspects.

    The first aspect was undoubtedly "enticement."

    If The Five Elders were still craving power and wished to exert their influence, then Qiu Tu and Tang Feifei would give them power and influence.

    After all... the Investigation Bureau belonged to Yan Chen, the two of them wouldn''t mind spending its resources.

    Qiu Tu and Tang Feifei, being essentially neers in Xinjie City, didn''t have many confidants to install. So... they would install those of The Five Elders instead.

    Promote some confidants of The Five Elders, or transfer them to key departments. Give power to The Five Elders.

    By doing this, they could not only draw The Five Elders to their side, but also ntndmines between Old Wu and Yan Chen.

    ¡ª After Yan Chen finished his seclusion, if he didn''t adjust those positions, The Five Elders could continue to use their influence; but as soon as he did, friction between the two parties would inevitably intensify.

    Beyond "enticement," the second aspect was "disying strength."

    Simply providing benefits would only make people greedier; showing one''s own potency formed the basis for genuine cooperation.

    And this strength wasn''t just in terms of influence, but also in actual power.

    That is to say... Qiu Tu and Tang Feifei had to show The Five Elders that they were capable of dealing with them at any moment.

    Only then could they prevent The Five Elders from taking the benefits offered but then betraying them at the next turn.

    Hence... there was tonight''s grand performance...

    Qiu Tu flung away rockets with one hand and then single-handedly intimidated three squads of the Lianzhen! Eventually, hundreds of Special Service Detectives appeared and captured all the Lianzhen mobsters.

    Actually, Qiu Tu didn''t know from the start that he would be facing rockets this evening.

    Throughout the afternoon, he had been practicing his Second Order "Order Space," specifically working on "Static Bullet."

    He aimed to create a staggering scene where countless bullets flew at him, but he stopped them all in mid-air.

    For this, he had practiced all afternoon until he was finally able to effortlessly hold the bullets'' trajectories in ce.

    It was only because his spiritual power had greatly increased after bing a Second-Order Cataclysmic Awakened that his "Order Space" could "pause" and "move." (Chapter 218)

    Otherwise, he couldn''t have pulled off such a "performance."@@novelbin@@

    Of course, even so, he was fully equipped with defensive Cataclysmic treasures, just in case his abilities failed and his attempt to impress turned fatal.

    Luckily, even though the Lianzhen used rocketunchers instead of firearms, these were still within the effective range of his abilities, allowing Qiu Tu to showcase his terrifying strength in front of The Five Elders.

    After running through all of his arrangements for the afternoon in his mind, Qiu Tu also returned to his senses.

 Chapter 263 Madam, Arent You Going to Pay a Price? (10,000 words for Monthly Ticket!)

    Hearing Su Xiaowan''s words, Tan Hui Min''s face also turned noticeably awkward.

    She unnaturally gathered the stray hair by her ear and then stuttered, "I''m not pleading for Director Zheng, but exining his actions."

    "I am indeed Minister Qiu''s secretary, but Minister Qiu is also a person who acts fairly. He knows that Director Zheng was used by others and feels... um... that such a punishment is a bit too severe."

    "So... I''m not trying to ask Director Tang to let Director Zheng go, but to give him a fair punishment."

    Hearing Tan Hui Min''s totally untenable excuse, Su Xiaowan looked at her as if she were looking at an idiot.

    Su Xiaowan pointed to her own nose and then said with an innocent face, "Secretary Tan... I may be a bit silly, and my brain isn''t the sharpest. But I''m not that silly."

    "Your excuse can''t even deceive me, let alone the Bureau Chief?"

    Hearing Su Xiaowan''s words, Tan Hui Min became anxious and hurriedly tried to exin further, but at this moment, out of the corner of her eye, Su Xiaowan just happened to see Qiu Tu.

    She blinked her eyes and then looked up with a face full of surprise and waved, greeting, "Minister Qiu~~ Minister Qiu~~"

    Hearing Su Xiaowan''s greeting, Qiu Tu, who had been happily watching the drama from behind, knew he couldn''t continue to watch any longer.

    So he walked towards the two with a smile, taking those brisk steps.@@novelbin@@

    Meanwhile, hearing Su Xiaowan''s greeting and the footsteps behind her, Tan Hui Min''s face turned deathly pale in an instant.

    Her expression froze, and she stiffly turned around, then looked at Qiu Tu with a face full of despair.

    What is a person''s most embarrassing and frightening moment? Explore more at My Virtual Library Empire

    It''s not lying, but being caught lying by the very person they''re lying about.

    And moreover... this person has his hands stained with blood, is notoriously ruthless, and kills without batting an eye.

    Especially considering the corpses of United Front members brought from Longshan Road this morning, those United Front members who were tortured with severe punishment...

    And the widely discussed tale within the Investigation Bureau of Qiu Tu catching a rocketuncher with his bare hands, then overpowering a squad of five United Front members with his own strength.

    At that moment, Tan Hui Min went nk, her legs weakening, barely able to stand.

    She looked at Qiu Tu, who was walking towards her, forced a fake smile, and opened her mouth to say something.

    But as the words reached her lips, she felt her mouth dry and her throat tightening, as if she couldn''t utter a word....

    While she remained silent, Su Xiaowan did speak up.

    Perhaps because she was one of Qin Shuman''s "stunt doubles" and had worked on cases with Qiu Tu, sharing secrets, she always saw Qiu Tu as one of her own.

    So, she bounced over to Qiu Tu, tugged at Qiu Tu''s sleeve, pointed at Tan Hui Min, andined, "Minister Qiu, you''re not looking after your secretary."

    "She came to see the Bureau Chief early this morning. As she''s your secretary, the Bureau Chief thought it was arranged by you, so he met with her."

    "But who would have thought she''d actually plead for Director Zheng in front of the Bureau Chief?"

    Saying this, Su Xiaowan felt a rtable anger, "Director Zheng is the one who framed and trapped you, trying to put you to death!"

    "Such a person, not being executed by a firing squad is already a show of your magnanimity! Your secretary should condemn him with you and turn this case into an irond one!"

    "But she actually pleaded for Director Zheng!"

    Saying this, Su Xiaowan pouted cutely and discontentedly, "I really don''t understand whose side she''s on!"

    Hearing Su Xiaowan''s vivid words, Qiu Tu smiled.

    Tan Hui Min''s loyalty is, of course, with Zheng Tao right now.

    However, in the future, that loyalty might be his own....

    While being used by Su Xiaowan, Tan Hui Min watched Qiu Tu with a pale face, like a convict waiting for her sentence.

    Time and again humiliated in various ys by Qiu Tu, Tan Hui Min had long seen Qiu Tu''s true nature.

    He was a devil who took pleasure in tormenting the human heart.

    So when she realized she had run into that devil, her heart was already filled with despair.

    She was fully prepared for the uing exposure, humiliation, and torment.

    However, at that moment, something unexpected happened.

    Qiu Tu touched Su Xiaowan''s head and then said with a smile, "Xiaowan, you''ve misunderstood. Indeed, I asked Secretary Tan to find the Bureau Chief."

    "I also feel that Director Zheng''s punishment is a little too harsh. This is not conducive to the stability and unity of our Investigation Bureau at the moment."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Tan Hui Min was dumbfounded at first, and immediately afterward, she looked at Qiu Tu in shock.

    Clearly, she had no idea why Qiu Tu would cover for her!

    And... what did Qiu Tu say just now? He also thinks Director Zheng''s punishment is too severe?

    For someone of Qiu Tu''s status, even if not every word is golden, he still has to take responsibility for what he says.

    With Qiu Tu saying this just outside Tang Feifei''s office door, it will soon be spread throughout the Investigation Bureau.

    So... is Qiu Tu truly nning to spare Ah-Tao?

    Thinking thus, Tan Hui Min found it hard to believe for a moment.

    Yesterday, she had shamefully bared her body, and Qiu Tu even used his fingers to enter her, subjecting her to a round of humiliation.

    Even then, Qiu Tu did not relent.

    And now, he''s relenting?

    For a moment, Tan Hui Min''s brain short-circuited.

    But simple-minded Su Xiaowan was more epting of the new developments.

    Hearing that Qiu Tu was preparing to let Zheng Tao go, she first gave a cute "Ah?" and then scratched her head before saying, "I see."

    "Xiaowan doesn''t understand. But Xiaowan thinks there must be a good reason for the Minister''s decision."

 Chapter 265 The Counterattack of the Old Foxes (10,000 Words for Monthly Tickets!)

    As he thought this, Qiu Tu inadvertently paused in his steps.

    He didn''t continue walking forward; instead, he went to the side of the corridor bed and then opened his mouth to ask, "Big Biao, give me the details on what happened."

    Qiu Tu said, "I indeed arranged for your promotion, but it shouldn''t havee down so quickly."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Cao Dabiao also showed a sh of surprise.

    Immediately after, he realized there might be some aspects of the situation he was unaware of. So he gradually put away his excited expression and tone, then spoke, "Brother Tu, it was half an hour ago that I received the notification from the Organizational Department.

    "The Organizational Department told me that due to your rmendation, they had given me a serious consideration and found me to meet the promotion criteria, so they decided to adjust my position."

    As Cao Dabiao said this, he paused, then continued, "I was a bit excited at the time and forgot to confirm with you. So, I just went over."

    "Once I got there, it was Deputy Director Zhao from the Organizational Department who received me."

    "He talked with me about recent work and praised the achievements of my work over the past year."

    "In the end, he said that after the Organizational Department assessed, they decided to promote me to Section Chief."

    Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu''s mind raced, calcting the timing.

    After a moment, he asked, "Did they tell you which division you''d be working in?"

    Cao Dabiao said, "Action Division, Deputy Division Chief with the rank of Principal Staff, which is to take over your previous position."

    Upon hearing Cao Dabiao''s words, Qiu Tu''s expression suddenly changed.

    His gaze flickered, and then he asked in a deep voice, "Has anyone else received simr promotion news?"

    Cao Dabiao hesitated for a moment, then said, "Sir, I truly have no idea... because I called you as soon as I came out of the Organizational Department."

    At this point, Cao Dabiao was taken aback, then as if he had thought of something, he quickly added, "Oh! Right! Brother Tu! I think I saw Eagle and the others at the Organizational Department too."

    Upon hearing Cao Dabiao''s words, Qiu Tu''s face immediately became incredibly grim. Discover stories with My Virtual Library Empire

    After taking a few deep breaths, he then said, "Big Biao, do you trust me?"

    Upon hearing this, Cao Dabiao hurriedly patted his chest and said, "Brother Tu! Of course, I trust you!"

    "I wouldn''t be where I am today without you, and besides, we''ve been through life and death together. If I don''t trust you, then who can I trust!"

    "In this lifetime, I''m prepared to sell my life to you!"

    Hearing Cao Dabiao''s resolute words, Qiu Tu did not take them at face value.

    He knew his confidants well; if Chen Feng were to say such words, it would mean they were genuine.

    But when Cao Dabiao said them, a discount of sixty to seventy percent had to be applied.

    However, since Cao Dabiao had said it, Qiu Tu went ahead and spoke frankly.

    He said, "Then Big Biao, you go back now, return the ID and documents to the Organizational Department."

    "Just say that you feel unable to fulfill the duties of the position and hope that they can reassign you or demote you back to your previous position as Deputy Section Head."

    "Huh?" Upon hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Cao Dabiao was clearly confused.

    In the face of power and gain, few people can maintain their original intention.

    Stumbling over his words, Cao Dabiao said, "Brother Tu... You must be joking, right?"

    Qiu Tu, expressionless on the other end of the phone, said, "Big Biao, you know me. I never joke."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s chilling words, Cao Dabiao was startled, and quickly said, "Alright, Brother Tu! I will go to the Organizational Department and return the ID right away!"@@novelbin@@

    [Cao Dabiao Loyalty -12]

    Looking at the prompt that appeared before him, Qiu Tu''s expression showed no change.

    His subordinates are human, not machines.

    This is reality, not a game.

    Never mind suppressing a subordinate''s job like he just did; even after he was promoted from Xinjie City and the rtionship with his subordinates cooled, the loyalty would gradually decrease.

    This is all just a part of human nature.

    Besides, even after losing 12 points of loyalty, Cao Dabiao''s loyalty was still a high 84 points, making him one of the most loyal amongst Qiu Tu''s subordinates.

    So he would still look up to Qiu Tu unquestioningly and follow his orders.

    The sudden drop in loyalty simply reflected the frustration in the subordinate''s heart after his superior had thwarted his progression.

    If the subordinate was appeased well orterpensated for in other ways, his loyalty could likewise quickly bounce back.

    However, if neglected or if the superior repeatedly blocked the subordinate''s promotions, even the most loyal subordinates would eventually be estranged and disloyal.

    So, with that in mind, after Cao Dabiao disyed his loyalty, Qiu Tu changed his tone and began to appease Cao Dabiao.

    He said, "Big Biao,

    "I know you must feel some dissatisfaction or unwillingness towards my decision in your heart."

    Upon hearing this, Cao Dabiao hurriedly said, "Brother Tu, you''ve misunderstood me! I don''t have any..."

    Qiu Tu took his words for mere nonsense, and then continued speaking calmly, "Do you remember what I told you on the day we first met?"

    Cao Dabiao had obviously forgotten.

    He "um..." twice, unsure of how to respond.

    But Qiu Tu slowly said, "I asked you if you had the backing of arge and powerful family, if there was a high-level supporter from the Sanctuary for you, or a Bureau Chief to back you up."

    Cao Dabiao was taken back to the night several months ago by Qiu Tu''s words.

    Back then, following orders from above, he led his team to be under Qiu Tu''smand. But on the first day he was assigned, Qiu Tu stripped him of his power, sent him away, and sidelined himpletely.

    He was extremely annoyed at the time, and went to eat hot pot with Ding Xiaoliu and Ding Xiaoqi, the two brothers.

    But in the middle of the meal, Qiu Tu called him back, gave him a sum of money, and asked those questions.

    Just... even though he remembered the scene, Cao Dabiao still didn''t quite understand why Qiu Tu brought it up.

    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and

    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 265 The Counterattack of the Old Foxes (10,000 Words for Monthly Tickets!)_2

    Meanwhile, Qiu Tu also slowly said, "Now, I will ask these questions once again."

    "Do you have the backing of a large family or powerful force? Are you protected by the higher-ups in the Sanctuary, and do you have the support of Bureau Chiefs below?"

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Cao Dabiao quickly let out a "heh heh" and chuckled twice, saying, "Brother Tu, you know what kind of person I am."

    "I don''t have any of those backgrounds, protections, or supports."

    Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu retorted, "Indeed. You have nothing, so on what basis did you obtain the position of Deputy Chief of the Action Division?"

    "So many Principal Staff members want to be promoted to this position and have not succeeded. Have you not considered if there could be a problem with your rapid promotion?"

    "And with no one above you, aren''t you afraid that others will be envious, jealous, and then start targeting you, reporting you?"

    "If someone were indeed targeting you, reporting you, I could protect you once, twice, even thrice. But can I protect you every time?"

    By the end, Qiu Tu let out a long sigh and then earnestly said, "So, Big Biao, don''t be fooled. This is to ''promote and kill'' you!"

    "Someone wants to target Director Tang and me by ''promoting and killing'' you."

    "If you refuse this position, there''s no issue, but if you really accept it, you''ll be a live target waiting for them to come after."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, the face of Cao Dabiao on the other end of the phone instantly turned pale.

    He was not a fool; he was just a bit too greedy and easily blinded by benefits.

    Thus, as Qiu Tu broke down and spelled out everything for him, everything became clear all at once.

    He started sweating profusely.

    [Cao Dabiao Loyalty +10]

    Seeing the notification that popped up, Qiu Tu knew that Cao Dabiao had listened and understood the painstaking care he had for him. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    It was only a pity that such a big benefit would be difficult for anyone to give up, so there was still a bit of reluctance in his heart.

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu then slowly said, "Big Biao, actually... I already talked about you with Director Tang this morning."

    "I was hoping to add more responsibilities for you."

    "But also, we need to consider your future development."

    "So, this time I was thinking of first promoting your rank from Deputy Staff to Principal Staff, and to keep a low profile, you could transition through a less conspicuous department in the Administrative Office."

    "A promotion from Deputy Head of a powerful department to Principal Staff of the Lengshui Yamen would attract much less criticism."

    "After a period of transition, we will then transfer you back to the Political Department, and by then, it will not attract unnecessary attention."

    Upon hearing Qiu Tu''s genuine concern in his arrangements, Cao Dabiao felt deeply touched.

    Comparing the two career paths, even a fool could see the difference.

    The earnest care from Qiu Tu and the career path he meticulously designed for him, compared to the skip-level promotion offered by the Organizational Department, was incomparably more astute.

    It would not only similarly empower him but also minimize jealousy and impact, avoiding becoming a target for being the leading bird.

    With these thoughts, Cao Dabiao felt choked up for a moment.

    This time, he did not resort to the usual polished rhetoric. Hanging his head in regret on the other end of the phone, he said, "Brother Tu, I''m sorry...."

    "Just now in my heart...."

    Qiu Tu didn''t let Cao Dabiao finish his sentence but directly interrupted him, "Big Biao, there''s no need for so many explanations between us."

    "Everyone wants a promotion, a raise."

    "Put yourself in their shoes. If someone prevented me from moving up to such a good position, I probably would have complaints too."

    With that, Qiu Tu paused and then firmly declared, "And this is exactly what those schemers want to achieve!"

    Qiu Tu said, "If I agree to your promotion, they will make you a target. By going after you, they aim to get to me."

    "And if I don''t agree to your promotion, they can easily sow discord between you and me."

    "Their hearts are so dark."

    After listening to Qiu Tu''s words, Cao Dabiao finally completely understood the conspiracy of the Organizational Department.

    With a resolute face, he said, "Brother Tu! Don''t worry, I will go to the organization and make a fuss now. Say I don''t want to be Deputy Division Chief, and let them find another candidate!"

    [Cao Dabiao Loyalty +4, current Loyalty 98]

    Hearing Cao Dabiao''s words and seeing his restored Loyalty, Qiu Tu felt reassured. He hummed in response, then cautioned, "In such a sensitive time, be very careful...."

    Cao Dabiao hummed in acknowledgment.

    After hanging up the phone, Qiu Tu quietly pondered for a few seconds, then took out his communicator and made calls to key confidants like Eagle, Ah-Kun, and Chen Feng.

    As expected, they had all received notices from the Organizational Department, saying they were recommended by Qiu Tu for position promotions.

    However, unlike Cao Dabiao, they were obviously more cautious.

    So, Eagle and Ah-Kun went but politely declined the promotion, opting to consider it for now, whereas Chen Feng outright rejected the offer over the phone due to health concerns.

    Afterwards, the three prepared to call Qiu Tu to inquire about the situation, only to find the line busy the whole time.

    Now, with advice from Qiu Tu, they immediately understood that it was the enemy''s plot.

    Qiu Tu told them to alert their subordinates, and then he hung up the phone.

    After ending the call, Qiu Tu sent a message to Tang Feifei, explaining the current situation.

    Tang Feifei was likely in a meeting with Yu Zhengyi and Shi Youxin, so she simply replied with a "Hmm." Read latest stories on My Virtual Library Empire

 Chapter 265 The Counterattack of the Old Foxes (10,000 Words for Monthly Tickets!)_3

    But Qiu Tu, who was well-acquainted with Tang Feifei''s personality and abilities, felt somewhat reassured when he saw that character.

    He reflected on the entire situation, his expression becoming a bit grave.

    If he wasn''t mistaken, this was likely a probing move by either Yu Zhengyi or Shi Youxin.

    They knew that after Qiu Tu and Tang Feifei had seized control of the Investigation Bureau, they would certainly start meddling in personnel arrangements, planting confidants in various departments.

    Therefore, they simply launched a preemptive strike, promoting some of Qiu Tu and Tang Feifei''s confidants and, moreover, to some key positions.

    With just a simple action, they were able to achieve a triple effect.

    First, they could legitimately delay Qiu Tu and Tang Feifei''s personnel arrangements¡ªhaving just promoted a batch, the subsequent ones could wait.

    Second, if Tang Feifei and Qiu Tu accepted these appointments, it would show the Investigation Bureau how arrogant and domineering they both were, setting up mines for their future reckoning.

    Third, if Tang Feifei and Qiu Tu did not recognize these appointments, it could create a wedge between Tang Feifei and Qiu Tu and their own confidants.

    People like Qiu Tu, who deeply understood human nature and could dispel subordinates'' dissatisfaction and grievances with just a few words, were few and far between.

    At least Tang Feifei wasn''t such a person... Given her personality, she was even too lazy to explain.

    ''Indeed... One should never underestimate anyone who holds a high position.''

    It was merely a simple act of lifting to strike, yet it nearly impacted Qiu Tu and Tang Feifei''s entire plan.

    Qiu Tu had thought that after Yan Chen''s seclusion and Tang Feifei''s power grab, the Investigation Bureau would completely become his and Tang Feifei''s backyard.

    Now it seemed that they still had to be extremely careful at every step.

    None of those old foxes were simple...

    Thinking of this, Qiu Tu couldn''t help but feel fortunate about the United Front''s attack last night. Even the Deputy Director of Administration Yu Zhengyi and the Organizational Department Director Shi Youxin were so adept at calculating.

    If last night''s attack by the United Front hadn''t happened, with the assertiveness of the Deputy Director of Operations Lai Shun, the Special Duties Department Director Lin Ting, and the Public Security Department Director Guan Weihua, who knows what criticism might have come his way for moving so many people around to target him.

    ''Now it seems... the little move by Yu Zhengyi and Shi Youxin was actually good. At least it raised our alertness. Now we know this group of high-level officials are not sheep, but real jackals!''

    With this in mind, Qiu Tu pressed down the restlessness that had been in his heart for the last couple of days due to taking control of the Investigation Bureau.

    Then he took a deep breath and stepped towards the Guard Room.

    Upon arriving at the Guard Room, led by the investigator Wang Dawei, who was eager to join him, Qiu Tu reached Secretary Bai''s quarters.

    Watching Wang Dawei unlock the door of the Guard Room, Qiu Tu patted Wang Dawei on the shoulder and spoke with great significance, "Prepare yourself in the next couple of days, the burden on your shoulders might become heavier."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s implication, Wang Dawei''s eyes suddenly lit up.

    He snapped to attention with a sharp "snap!" and gave Qiu Tu a formal salute, saying earnestly, "Yes, sir!"

    [Wang Dawei''s loyalty +8, current loyalty 57]

    As unimpressive as this loyalty score might seem, remember that previously the two had no command relationship, and Qiu Tu had no influence over him.

    So an initial loyalty of 49 indeed proved his genuine desire to align with Qiu Tu.

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu smiled and nodded at him, then pushed open the door of the Guard Room and walked in.

    Entering Secretary Bai''s solitary Guard Room, what caught Qiu Tu''s eyes was the sight of Secretary Bai writing at the desk.

    Moved by curiosity, Qiu Tu walked over to Secretary Bai''s side, bending down to see what Secretary Bai was writing. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    But upon a closer look, a myriad of black lines crossed Qiu Tu''s forehead.

    Old Bai was actually writing a diary...

    Read exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire

    --------

    Chapter of 10,000 words, ha! Vote for the monthly ticket!

 Chapter 266 Seeing Fang Tangtang Again (10,000 words for Monthly Ticket~)

    However, Old Bai''s diary was clearly different from ordinary diaries.

    Other people''s diaries are all about which school''s girls have white thighs, or which school''s girl wore shorter shorts today;

    Or maybe today they had nothing to do, so they visited brothels to listen to music;

    Or... the Witch was so smooth.

    But Old Bai''s writings were exceptionally profound...

    "September 16th, light rain."

    "When the sun extinguishes and falls into darkness, on the other side of the world, it is also burning and climbing the clear skies. Therefore, the sun is always rising, always dawn."

    "So... when one day, I silently walk into darkness, will there be someone on the other side of the world emerging from darkness into light...."

    "Who is that person? Is he me? Is he really me?"

    Bowing his head, Qiu Tu finished reading Old Bai''s diary, which was enveloped in mist and full of philosophy. He looked at Secretary Bai with a face full of confusion and then said, "Old Bai, if you''re not feeling well, just tell me. I''d stake my position as vice-minister to get you out."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Secretary Bai smiled and closed the diary, then said with absolute clarity, "You''re not the kind of person who would sacrifice your future for someone else."

    "Plus, I''m not uncomfortable. I am very well."

    Qiu Tu pointed out the window to the clear sky and said, "Are you sure? Your diary entry says ''light rain''."

    On hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Secretary Bai chuckled and then shook his head, "How do you know it''s not drizzling now?"

    "Are you sure the world you see with your eyes is real enough?"

    Qiu Tu:.....

    Secretary Bai had always spoken in circles, with some innuendo and intelligence that had to be carefully savored to understand his meaning.

    And now, after being captured by Qiu Tu, he had become even more convoluted.

    Even, Qiu Tu felt that since he captured him, Secretary Bai seemed to develop a detached aura.

    It was as if he had completed all his missions, wishes, and had no desires or pursuits for anything, and viewed power, wealth, and life and death with utter indifference.

    It was precisely this change that made Qiu Tu feel a bit uneasy.

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu tentatively said, "Old Bai. Are you aware of some secret? Are you making some preparations in advance?"

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Secretary Bai turned around, then looked at Qiu Tu and shook his head, "Qiu Tu, I''ve already told you all that I should tell, and did everything I should do."

    "So, there really is nothing more I can tell you."

    Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu''s gaze deepened as he studied Secretary Bai, attempting to detect some hint in his expression.

    But Secretary Bai''s expression was utterly calm, revealing no change at all.

    Seeing this, Qiu Tu thought for a moment, then decided to proceed with a planned probe.

    So, he said, "Old Bai, do you know that Larilo can possess the followers she chooses and then share their vision and hearing with her followers?"

    On hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Secretary Bai nodded slightly, then said, "I know."

    He explained gently, "In fact, not just her, most Evil Gods have this capability."

    "That''s why Sanctuary labels some special Fourth-Fifth Order Cataclysmic Creatures as ''Evil Gods'', mainly because of their use of the power of faith."

    "Possession of a follower is just one of the common abilities of an Evil God."

    "Some Great Evil Gods of the Fifth Order even have the ability to perceive the thoughts and intentions of their followers."

    Hearing Secretary Bai''s words, Qiu Tu nodded in realization. It seems Larilo didn''t deceive him with this information.

    With this in mind, Qiu Tu continued, "Then do you know that Larilo has been possessing you while you were a spy, and even peeked at your diary?"

    On hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Secretary Bai smiled, then he nodded and said, "That''s a possibility."

    "It''s just.... there''s no intelligence in my diary, so even if she looked, she wouldn''t get any clues."

    Although he said this, Secretary Bai did not express any intention to hand over his diary for Qiu Tu to examine.

    Qiu Tu, although still somewhat puzzled, was facing Secretary Bai after all, so he didn''t insist on checking.

    After a brief ponder, he continued to probe, "Last night, I contacted Larilo."

    "Although she is being Devoured by the Bureau Chief, she can still send messages to the outside world."

    Secretary Bai shook his head, "It''s useless. She can only contact two types of people."

    "One is the follower holding a ''Mimetic Coin'', a communication-type Cataclysmic Treasure."

    "The second is the important follower who has been marked with the ''Believer''s Mark'' by her."

    "For the former, she doesn''t have many ''Mimetic Coins''. Apart from the one you have, I''ve already retrieved the rest."

    "As for the latter, I''ve spent more than half a year clarifying the list and handed it over to the Bureau Chief."

    "Other than Zheng Tao and myself¡ªboth with Sanctuary identities¡ªbefore the Bureau Chief enacted the Devouring plan, he had already sent people to eliminate all those important followers."

    "Afterward, I deliberately made Zheng Tao oppose you and escalated the situation, letting him send his wife to your side to catch your attention."

    "Once the Bureau Chief''s plan was exposed, with your personality, you would definitely restrict Zheng Tao." S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "So... now, apart from you, Larilo can''t contact anyone outside."

    Having said this, Secretary Bai couldn''t help but ask back, "And would you work for Larilo?"

    Hearing Secretary Bai''s words, Qiu Tu''s gaze became a bit complex.

    Indeed, you should never underestimate anyone.

    The seemingly harmless Secretary Bai, was actually a master strategist! Your next journey awaits at My Virtual Library Empire

 Chapter 266 Seeing Fang Tangtang Again (10,000 words for Monthly Ticket~)_2

    While thinking this way, Qiu Tu couldn''t help but say deliberately with a smirk, "Haha, well, that depends on Larilo."

    "If she offers a high enough price, there''s nothing to say I couldn''t do it."

    Speaking of this, Qiu Tu casually mentioned, "Plus, she gave me ten tasks yesterday, hoping I''d help."

    "Some are very difficult, and some are quite simple."

    "I actually wanted to do some small tasks within my power for her, but... she''s only leading me on with empty promises, not giving any practical benefits, making it really hard for me to be motivated."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Secretary Bai seemed unconcerned. Read latest chapters on My Virtual Library Empire

    He said gently, "The Bureau Chief is not much of a gambler. Unless he''s more than ninety percent sure, he won''t make a move."

    Qiu Tu asked indifferently, "So, Old Bai, do you think Zhao Ji''s involvement is within his expectations?"

    Upon hearing Qiu Tu''s question, Secretary Bai''s expression finally shifted subtly.

    However, that change was fleeting and quickly concealed.

    But Qiu Tu still clearly caught the change in Old Bai''s expression.

    ''It seems that "Zhao Ji" does hold an unusual significance for these heavyweights from the Sanctuary....''

    ''Could it be that "Zhao Ji" is well-known in the Sanctuary?''

    With this in mind, Qiu Tu couldn''t help but think about the Sanctuary relocating Dongye State''s capital to Eastern City.

    Once Eastern City became the capital of Dongye State, experts like Huang Shangzong would all be stationed in Eastern City.

    Could it be... this move was also to guard against Zhao Ji?

    Is Zhao Ji really that powerful?

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu pondered for a moment and chose to play a strategic retreat.

    He looked at Secretary Bai, then said with a smile, "Alright, Old Bai, I can see you''re not really in the mood for chatting. I''ll take my leave then."

    "There''s still a pile of work back at the department."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Secretary Bai eventually did not manage to detain him.

    He looked at Qiu Tu seriously and said, "Qiu Tu... Zhao Ji is far more terrifying than you can imagine."

    "She could be considered one of the most powerful Evil Gods the Sanctuary has discovered."

    "Working with Larilo, even if you back out, it would be hard for Larilo to target you."

    "But if you get involved with ''Zhao Ji'' and catch her attention..."

    At this point, Secretary Bai paused, then emphasized, "Your soul might be toyed with for eternity, suffering in flames."

    Old Bai''s words were highly credible.

    So, upon hearing this, Qiu Tu showed a trace of deep thought in his eyes.

    ''It seems this "Zhao Ji" is indeed not to be underestimated....''

    ''So is Larilo asking me to send a message to Zhao Ji purely for help, or does she also intend to trick me?''

    With these thoughts, Qiu Tu etched Old Bai''s information in his mind, then stood up ready to leave the Guard Room.

    And just as his hand touched the doorknob, Qiu Tu stopped again.

    With his back to Secretary Bai, and without turning his head, he said, "Old Bai, while I can''t release you, I do have a way to arrange for night shifts in the Guard Room."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Secretary Bai looked at him with a smile and whispered, "Thanks. But... never mind."

    "I''m quite content as I am."

    After saying that, he reflected, "Humans... always chase after certain things in life. But after all the pursuit, they find it''s all for naught."

    "It''s only when you let go of material possessions and truly find your inner self that you attain true peace...."

    Qiu Tu:.....

    To be honest, Qiu Tu was finding Old Bai increasingly enigmatic.

    The depth and Zen-like meanings in his words left him befuddled and unable to unravel.

    So, Qiu Tu simply stopped trying to interpret the underlying message in Old Bai''s words and pushed the door to the Guard Room open to leave.

    Just then, Old Bai suddenly spoke again, "Qiu Tu... each high-level member of the Sanctuary has their own political stance and philosophical system."

    Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu''s stride paused.

    He turned back to look at Old Bai.

    He saw Old Bai sitting there, head bowed, as if he had never spoken.

    Whether it was an illusion or not, for a fleeting moment, Qiu Tu felt as if there was a light rain falling around Old Bai.

    The rain gently wetted Old Bai''s clothes and hair....

    Qiu Tu:....

    Leaving the Guard Room, Qiu Tu remained immersed in the sudden daydream that had flashed through his mind.

    ```

    ''Political advocacy... Philosophical systems...''

    Thinking of Elder Wang whom he had met before, and his profound words, Qiu Tu vaguely felt as if he had grasped something....

    ''Philosophy... Spirit... Cataclysm Path... and the Boundless Heart Sea...''

    ''Is there any connection between these elements?''

    At this thought, Qiu Tu couldn''t help but recall Old Bai''s various peculiar actions.

    In the back of his mind, Qiu Tu always felt that Old Bai seemed to be brewing something very big.

    Something that seemed not much smaller than Yan Chen''s advancement....

    .....

    Time flew by, and soon, a day had passed.

    That day, several major events took place at the Investigation Bureau.

    First, Deputy Staff Chief Cao Dabiao caused a commotion at the Organizational Department, claiming that his promotion was a setup for failure, as he simply wasn''t capable of fulfilling the duties of the Deputy Division Chief of the Action Division.

    Following this incident, Deputy Director Tang Feifei personally visited the Organizational Department to understand the personnel arrangements.

    On Tang Feifei''s suggestion, Cao Dabiao was transferred to the Publicity Section of the Administrative Office to serve as the Section Chief.

    If things had stopped there, no one would have suspected anything unusual.

    But then, Tang Feifei produced a list of over two hundred individuals up for promotion, and then met with the Organizational Department to discuss the promotion of this group of people.

    Out of the 200 people on the promotion list, besides the 70 who were confidants of Tang Feifei and Qiu Tu, among the remaining 150, 70 seemed to have no faction affiliation or were just ordinary locals, and 60 were confidants of Yu Zhengyi and Shi Youxin.

    This move directly swayed Yu Zhengyi and Shi Youxin, who originally wanted to reject Tang Feifei''s involvement in personnel matters.

    So, after some bargaining, they quickly reached a consensus.

    Thus... this promotion list, justified as "annual job adjustments," was freshly released.

    The initial goal of Qiu Tu and Tang Feifei to install their confidants was officially achieved.

    This promotion list once again established a consensus within the Investigation Bureau: Following Qiu Tu leads to a bright future.... sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Not to mention others, the double promotions within a month for Cao Dabiao, Chen Feng, Song Qing, and others were enough to make the majority of ordinary agents, Section Chiefs, and Deputy Staff Chiefs green with envy....

    For a time, the number of people visiting Qiu Tu''s office had greatly increased....

    Besides the major internal changes in the Investigation Bureau, Xinjie City also underwent some other changes.

    ¡ªThe giant tree phantom that had always stood tall over the sky of Xinjie City suddenly shook violently in the afternoon, as if some accident had occurred.

    However, right after that, the giant tree stabilized. What''s more... it even began to sprout new branches and buds.

    This change was keenly captured by various forces that had been paying attention to the giant tree phantom.

    They knew that something must have happened to Yan Chen and Larilo; otherwise, such a significant change wouldn''t have come so suddenly after the second day of Devouring.

    However, no one knew for sure whether this change benefitted Yan Chen or Larilo....

    Except for... Qiu Tu.

    ....

    In the evening, after work,

    Qiu Tu had the driver assigned by the bureau, in a new car, take him back to Longshan Road.

    Now that Qiu Tu and Tang Feifei controlled the Investigation Bureau, all the regular perks were approved instantly without delay.

    Therefore, on the same day, cars and drivers suitable for the Deputy Division Chief level were all allocated. And a villa had also been prepared and was ready for occupancy at any time.

    However, Qiu Tu didn''t go there to live: he had just taken Fang Tangtang''s virginity the previous night, and it was only right to spend the evening with her today in consideration of both emotion and reason.

    This was not only an attitude towards Fang Tangtang but also towards The Five Elders.

    Moreover, Qiu Tu was very busy that night: he needed to contact Rilo, to glean intelligence from her, and to probe further. So it didn''t matter where he lived.

    After the driver parked the car at the villa''s gate included in Fang Tangtang''s dowry, Qiu Tu stepped into the villa and saw Fang Tangtang with an apron around her waist, humming a song, and happily cooking in the kitchen.

    Her impressive figure gave the apron a lovely curve, accentuated by her captivating juvenile charm in her eyes and eyebrows.

    The term ''baby-faced with large breasts'' spontaneously came to Qiu Tu''s mind....

    Fang Tangtang perhaps didn''t expect Qiu Tu to come back so early and be a witness to her somewhat embarrassing side. Thus, her song was abruptly stopped halfway.

    In that instant, her face turned crimson with embarrassment, and she timidly bowed her head, not daring to make any moves.

    Seeing this, Qiu Tu quietly observed her for two seconds before inquiring, "Did something happy happen today?"

    Fang Tangtang clutched her apron and said in a low voice, "No... nothing..."

    She clearly wasn''t good at lying. Qiu Tu didn''t even need to use any psychological tactics to notice her awkwardness.

    ------

    Still 2 chapters of 10,000 words. Seeking Monthly Tickets! Next update around 24:00~

    ```

 Chapter 267 Larilos Defense Breaks (10,000 Characters for Monthly Ticket!)

    ```

    However, Qiu Tu and Fang Tangtang''s marriage was a political union to begin with; there wasn''t much of an emotional foundation.

    The only bottom line for Qiu Tu in this relationship was that Fang Tangtang not betray him; as for the rest, he didn''t care.

    So Qiu Tu simply left her with a sentence, "You''re not good at lying," then he lifted his leg to go upstairs, preparing to start contacting Larilo.

    However, he might have underestimated his position in Fang Tangtang''s heart. Find adventures at My Virtual Library Empire

    Upon hearing Qiu Tu''s assessment, Fang Tangtang''s face went pale in an instant.

    Her eyes reddening slightly, she lifted her head to look at the back of Qiu Tu as he ascended the stairs, her mouth opening as if she wanted to explain something, but maybe the disparity between their statuses was too vast, and his towering authority placed much pressure on her.

    So she opened her mouth several times, but in the end, no sound came out.

    In the end, she could only clench her apron tightly and then slowly lower her head, daring not to say anything¡­

    Like that, she stood silently for two minutes.

    Suddenly, the smell of something burning wafted from the pot.

    Startled by the scent, Fang Tangtang let out a soft cry, then turned to look at the frying pan.

    By now, the food in the frying pan had burnt at the bottom.

    With panic, Fang Tangtang moved the frying pan away from the stove and then opened the lid with a distressed face.

    The meal that used to be full of color, aroma, and flavor was now nothing but a pot of burnt smell.

    Fang Tangtang took out a pair of chopsticks and carefully picked the still intact food into a Xiaowan, then tasted it herself to check if it was properly cooked, and after confirming there were no issues, she frowned and sneakily ate it all up.

    After devouring the small bowl of half-charred dish, Fang Tangtang dumped the rest of the burnt mess, then she walked over to the wall of the kitchen and stared at a few pieces of paper on it.

    Written on the papers were names of dishes, cooking methods, and tastes. They were all of Qiu Tu''s favorites from the outside restaurants and taverns, ones he frequently ordered or praised.

    Although The Five Elders had already left the core of Xinjie City''s power, they had deep roots from many years in the city, with tendrils reaching into every corner of Xinjie City.

    Finding out the preferences of someone like Qiu Tu, who was born and bred in Xinjie City, was nothing but a minor task for them.

    Therefore, this afternoon, all of Qiu Tu''s likes, habits, and favored dishes were delivered to Fang Tangtang, who was asked to memorize and recite them.

    The Five Elders even hired a specialized kitchen maid to force Fang Tangtang to learn.

    It could be said that from the moment last night when Qiu Tu selected Fang Tangtang, her life was to revolve entirely around him. Her every liking, every habit must be aligned with that of Qiu Tu¡­

    Luckily, Fang Tangtang seemed not to be repulsed by this.

    Or perhaps... she didn''t even realize how malformed her role was in this relationship with Qiu Tu.

    She still naively thought Qiu Tu was her husband, and that everything she did was to make her husband happy and to improve their little home¡­

    After checking the recipes on the wall, Fang Tangtang had an idea in mind. She stood up and went over to a box of fresh vegetables to choose from, then started chopping, washing the pan, heating the oil, and began seriously making food again...

    With her plump, oval-shaped face, big eyes, and pert nose¡ªaccompanied by the apron and her serious expression¡ªshe was the very image of an adorable little kitchen maid...

    He went up to the second floor of the villa.

    Qiu Tu entered his study. Then he closed the door, scanned every corner of the room to make sure there were no obvious listening or surveillance devices or Cataclysmic treasures.

    He took out a small square box.

    This was a shielding device commonly used by the Political Department, capable of blocking and disrupting various monitoring and listening electronic signals, something he had taken from the department today.

    Although he believed that due to his current honeymoon phase with The Five Elders, they would unlikely do something that could harm their cooperation.

    But in times of turmoil, one can harbor malicious intentions, yet one must never lack a defensive caution.

    So, Qiu Tu was better safe than sorry.

    Thinking this, after taking all the necessary precautions, Qiu Tu took out that ancient coin from his pocket and, according to the method of contacting Larilo, rubbed his thumb three times on the front of the coin and four times on the back, then threw it onto the desk.

    This time, perhaps there was some issue, for as soon as the coin hit the table, it began spinning non-stop.

    Metallic mist drifted upwards, but the coin continued to maintain a state of rapid spinning.

    Qiu Tu looked at the coin, his brow slightly furrowed.

    He then returned his gaze to the window, looking at the sprawling green-blue giant tree that spanned the skies above Xinjie City, resembling a mountain range, composed of green light points.

    Following the afternoon''s incident, the tree seemed to have grown larger. Its branches and leaves flourished, and more sprouts and branches began to emerge from the top.

    Although it was not certain what this signified, based on this phenomenon, Qiu Tu speculated that it was very likely Yan Chen had absorbed and digested a portion of Larilo''s soul, thereby advancing his strength a step closer to the Fourth Order.

    Now, coupled with Larilo''s long failure to connect "communications", Qiu Tu couldn''t help but develop an ominous premonition: Could it be... Larilo was in trouble?

    Today, through Secretary Bai and Zheng Tao, he delivered messages that provoked Yan Chen, and then Yan Chen directly devoured Larilo?

    "Swish swish swish... swish swish... swish..."

    The coin continued spinning on the table against the laws of physics for five or six minutes, eventually slowing down and finally coming to a complete stop on the desk.

    Seeing this, Qiu Tu had a bit of an ominous feeling, yet he wasn''t ready to give up hope. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The first time he contacted Larilo, it took several tries as well.

    ```

 Chapter 267 Larilo Breaks Defense (Requesting Monthly Ticket of 10,000 Words!)_2

    Larilo isn''t responding to communications now, but that doesn''t necessarily mean something has happened.

    Perhaps if I wait another half an hour, there will be a different result.

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu returned to the mahogany desk, then reached for the coin and put it back in his pocket. Afterward, he picked up some of the books laid out on the desk and began to read.

    In times of chaos, books are considered one of the most valuable things. Most people''s homes no longer have any.

    Yet, in this villa study prepared by The Five Elders, books were abundant.

    Moreover, these books were both old and new. Some dated back to before the Era of Disaster while others still had the fresh smell of ink.

    Qiu Tu casually picked up two new books and flipped through them.

    The written language in this world was in simplified characters, which Qiu Tu read without any difficulty.

    The book he was reading was a philosophical work called "Existence," written by someone named Rao Shou.

    Qiu Tu had never heard this name before, nor did he know who it was.

    However, the book was very interesting.

    It explored the meaning of "existence" according to philosophical thinking¡ªwhat exactly is existence.

    The relationship between life and death, and existence. Continue your saga on My Virtual Library Empire

    The concepts of "id," "ego," "super-ego," "consciousness," "physical body," and so on.

    The more Qiu Tu read, the more he found it interesting.

    The philosophy book seemed to be discussing philosophical issues, but it actually seemed to be delving into the essence of the Era of Disaster.

    As he read, Qiu Tu suddenly recalled the reminder from Secretary Bai that morning: Do all the high-ups in the Sanctuary have their political views and philosophical systems?

    Political views, Qiu Tu understood. After all, those who could become high-ups in the Sanctuary indeed had their own set of methods to change the world, to alter the course of human progress.

    It was also their own methods that led to the various disagreements over the Sanctuary''s direction of governance and development.

    The other middle and high-level members were gathered around them, forming factions, because they agreed with their methods and political views.

    But the philosophical systems, Qiu Tu had not truly understood before.

    Now, through this philosophical book, Qiu Tu suddenly had a bold idea.

    The biggest difference between the Era of Disaster and the previous era of normal science is¡ªmental power and the Spirit World (the Boundless Heart Sea).

    Even the "Cataclysm Path" requires one to acknowledge their own path, to proceed and carry out along their path to gradually level up.

    This is, in fact, a form of spiritual cohesion.

    So... may philosophical systems actually be a way to refine the spirit, to establish one''s own Spirit World?

    The more he pondered, the more Qiu Tu felt that his speculation might be interesting.

    But once you find your own political views, establish your philosophical system, and build your own Spirit World, what will happen then?

    Qiu Tu felt as if all this was shrouded in layers of fog.

    And while reading, Qiu Tu didn''t forget to occasionally toss the coin.

    Every half hour, Qiu Tu would rub the coin a few times, then toss it onto the desk, listening to its spinning sound on the desk while continuing to read.

    Time passed without his knowing how long.

    Just as Qiu Tu was about to finish the philosophical book, the coin on the desk finally reacted.

    The coin spinning rapidly suddenly exploded into a mist, which then condensed into the form of Larilo in midair.

    Today''s Larilo was wearing a black high-slit gown, with her perfect figure outlined by the tight-fitting dress.

    Her snow-white, slender legs peeked out from the edge of the slit dress, with a hint of seduction.

    She wasn''t wearing shoes or socks, and her small feet appeared smooth and flawless, like works of art.

    Even though Qiu Tu''s many experiences never featured feet, he couldn''t deny that these were feet that could drive any foot enthusiast crazy.

    However, compared to her exquisite attire and appearance, Larilo''s mental state was obviously much worse.

    This could be seen by her effort to look energetic, but her overall demeanor was still listless.

    "My Pontiff~~ to think you contacted me after just a day. I didn''t expect it," she said.

    "I hope I can hear some good news from you."

    Qiu Tu observed Larilo''s condition carefully and then replied with a smile, "Your Highness, I indeed have some good news to report to you."

    "I have developed more than ten thousand followers for you!"

    At Qiu Tu''s words, Larilo was taken aback. Her lethargic spirit even picked up slightly. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    She went "Oh?" and looked at Qiu Tu with her crimson eyes, asking, "Really? How did you develop those ten thousand followers?"

    Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu solemnly explained,

    "Your Highness. Today, I took the opportunity when Yan Chen was away to fiercely advance in the Investigation Bureau and inserted a large number of confidants."

    "Now, throughout the Investigation Bureau, every department has my people. My power and reach can be said to have spread throughout the entire Bureau."

    "So, as long as you and Her Highness Zhao Ji finish off Yan Chen, his influence in the Bureau will collapse, completely unable to confront me."

    "Thus, the whole Bureau will be firmly under my control."

    "Then, even if the Sanctuary appoints a new Bureau Chief, I can quietly neutralize him," Qiu Tu added, his face full of self-congratulation. "Your Highness, by then... I, no, you will be the uncrowned ruler of Xinjie City."

    "Thousands of investigators in the Bureau will follow your commands, abide by your will."

 Chapter 267 Larilos Defense Breaks (10,000 Characters for Monthly Ticket!)_3

    "Would you say that these are followers I''ve recruited for you?"

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Larilo¡­.

    Larilo felt her temples throbbing painfully, her complexion worsening.

    What kind of followers are these?

    If such peripheral forces that didn''t even know who they were could be considered her followers, then she would have long ago leapt into the ranks of the top ten Great Evil Gods in the Boundless Heart Sea.

    Moreover... even if these agents could truly become her followers, that would only be possible if she managed to kill Yan Chen and break free!

    At the moment, she and Yan Chen were at a stalemate at best; she was doing well to just maintain her own existence, let alone kill Yan Chen without external help.

    Experience new stories with My Virtual Library Empire

    Therefore, the pie Qiu Tu was drawing was huge and tempting. But Larilo couldn''t taste it¡­.

    Thinking this, Larilo took a deep breath, trying her best to hide her emotions, then feigned joy and praised, "Mm, very good. You''ve done quite well! You truly deserve to be the pontiff I chose."

    After that, Larilo probed further, asking, "Did you... have any other gains today?"

    On hearing this, Qiu Tu hurriedly nodded, "Yes, yes, yes."

    Qiu Tu said, trying to please her, "I also went to complete the 10 tasks you assigned to me today."

    At this, Larilo''s eyes lit up, and she asked, "How did it go? How many did you complete?"

    Qiu Tu held up a finger, "One."

    Larilo¡­.

    Larilo''s heart cooled a bit, but she still kept the disappointment off her face, and asked with hopeful expectations, "Which one?"

    Qiu Tu spoke seriously, "I found out the exact time Moonlight Lake will take shape."

    "It''s tomorrow night."

    "That is to say, it''s been delayed by one day from the last time I informed you."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Larilo became irritated, almost losing her composure¡­.

    Never mind whether the news was true or false.

    The main point was that this news was of no use to Larilo at the moment!

    Now she was trapped within Yan Chen''s Domain, unable to leave.

    If Moonlight Lake hadn''t taken shape, there might have been a chance for her. Once it formed, other than causing frustration, it was meaningless!

    With that thought, Larilo forced a smile revealing a grim, charming smile, then praised him strenuously, "Good, very good. I didn''t expect you, Qiu Tu, to even uncover such information."

    "It seems I haven''t misjudged you."

    Hearing Larilo''s words, Qiu Tu smiled innocently, then suddenly counter-questioned, "Your Highness, since time is so pressing, why don''t you and Her Highness Zhao Ji make a move early and kill Yan Chen to break free, then contest for Moonlight Lake?"

    At that moment, Larilo''s expression abruptly stiffened.

    Larilo had become an Evil God because she was among the smartest of the Cataclysmic Creatures; over decades of learning and evolution, she had gained a comprehensive understanding of conspiracies and deception.

    These last few days, she was simply unable to think calmly due to being trapped and schemed against by Yan Chen''s planning and Domain.

    Moreover, the least costly card in her hand was Qiu Tu. She had pinned her hopes on Qiu Tu, and that was why she had continued to act all this time.

    But now, Qiu Tu''s continuous teasing, stirring her emotions only to dash them, finally made her sense something was amiss.

    Her crimson eyes looked down upon Qiu Tu from on high.

    Qiu Tu, sitting on the chair, watched her with an ambiguous smile, devoid of reverence or awe. It was more like a performer singing a monologue on stage.

    In that moment, Larilo finally understood everything. Her last hopes died completely¡ªshe hadn''t fooled Qiu Tu with last night''s performance.

    Qiu Tu was like a hunter playing with his prey, watching his own entertainment.

    With that thought, Larilo''s lips twisted into a sneer¡­. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ----------

    Still two chapters, 10,000 words. Continuation tomorrow!

    The last three days of the month! Your Monthly Tickets will expire if not used! I''m asking for your Monthly Tickets!

    If we can maintain top 100 in the Monthly Ticket rankings, we''ll have a fan title activity next month!

 Chapter 268 Confronting Larilo (10,000 Characters for Monthly Ticket!)

    ```

    If it were an old fox like Yan Chen, upon discovering that his scheme had been seen through by Qiu Tu, he would likely keep a straight face as if nothing had happened. Then he would quietly lie low, continuing to set traps or lay snares for Qiu Tu.

    As for someone like Secretary Bai, who enjoys speaking in riddles, upon discovering that his plot had been uncovered by Qiu Tu, he would most likely pretend not to notice, then start to tease and probe with many hints, engaging in a battle of wits and words with Qiu Tu.

    But... Larilo is neither Yan Chen nor Secretary Bai. She is an Evil God, moreover, a brazen one with extreme confidence in herself!

    So, she sneered at Qiu Tu and stopped pretending altogether.

    She sat poised in the air, looking down from above at Qiu Tu, her crimson eyes deep and bright, her voice tinged with a devilish charm, "It seems I couldn''t hide it from you, after all."

    "When did you start to suspect something was amiss?"

    Hearing Larilo''s words, Qiu Tu also dropped the act. He leaned back in his chair and said with a smile, "I never trusted you to begin with."

    In front of Larilo, Qiu Tu had always been obedient, and even when he occasionally broke free from Larilo''s control, he would find various reasons to excuse his behavior.

    Thus, although Larilo had long known that Qiu Tu was no ordinary man, she had never seen him in such a state before.

    In that moment, her crimson eyes narrowed, a dangerous light flickering within them.

    She ominously said, "It seems... you really think I can''t escape, so you dare to be so arrogant?"

    "Aren''t you afraid I will survive and come after you?"

    Upon hearing Larilo''s words, Qiu Tu just laughed.

    He pointed at Larilo, then at himself, and said, "You are an Evil God, and I am a human, moreover, a senior member of the Investigation Bureau. There''s inherent hostility between us."

    "Even if I don''t provoke you, would you let me off the hook once you get out?"

    "Very well," Larilo laughed merrily upon hearing Qiu Tu''s words, her little feet twitching with delight...

    Larilo, having laid out her plans in Xinjie City for so long and avoided being caught by Qiu Tu several times, was clearly not a simple character.

    So, after she laughed, her pair of crimson eyes playful, she said,

    "However, what I don''t understand is, knowing that we are destined to be enemies, why didn''t you keep up the fa?ade and drag things out with me?"

    Discover more content at My Virtual Library Empire

    "Instead, you deliberately mocked me, letting me see through it? Why is that?"

    As she spoke, Larilo''s eyes squinted in a quasi-smile, her lips slowly curling up as she said, "Unless... it was intentional."

    "So... do you want to cooperate with me?"

    Cooperating with an Evil God was a capital offense, so this was a proposition Qiu Tu would never entertain.

    He flatly denied it, "Your Highness, you are mistaken."

    "I just noticed that Director Yan''s Illusion of the Law underwent a significant change today."

    "I guess, he might have taken another step in devouring you."

    "We are enemies, after all, so I came specifically to mock you. After all... if I don''t do it now, I might not have the chance to mock you later."

    Qiu Tu''s words seemed righteous on the surface, and even showcased his arrogance to the full, seemingly without any issue. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    But... just as Qiu Tu understood Larilo, Larilo also understood Qiu Tu.

    In her mind, even if Qiu Tu was not a master strategist, he was definitely cunning and calculating.

    Such a person would never act without purpose. There would always be a deeper meaning.

    And for someone like Qiu Tu to start celebrating at halftime, that''s even less likely to happen.

    Thinking this, Larilo immediately guessed the reason behind Qiu Tu''s seemingly contradictory behavior:

    Qiu Tu obviously still wanted to cooperate with her, but didn''t want to give her any leverage in his words, which was why he didn''t take up her offer.

    With this thought, Larilo felt a bit more at ease.

    She looked at Qiu Tu and said seductively, "Is that so? Then my Young Pope really is heartless."

    "However... you overestimate Director Yan and underestimate me. It''s not yet clear who will win or lose between us."

    As she spoke, Larilo paused for a moment, then said with a smile, "For example... if Zhao Ji makes a move, I will definitely turn danger into safety."

    Larilo''s message was clear: she still wanted Zhao Ji to take action.

    But when Qiu Tu heard this, he decisively shook his head, "Stop dreaming. Your believers are either dead or captured. You have no one to summon Zhao Ji for you."

    "Moreover, betraying an Evil God is a capital offense, they will never come out in this lifetime."

    Qiu Tu''s message was also unmistakable: no way. Consort with an Evil God is a capital offense, I am not taking that risk."

    Larilo had never harbored any illusions about this plan¡ªif Qiu Tu were willing to accept this, he would have done so already.

    She was just throwing it out there to see his response.

    So when she saw Qiu Tu''s refusal, she didn''t mind and continued, "But I might still have a chance to survive."

    "Don''t think that just because Yan Chen is devouring me now, my soul, my strength of spirit, is much stronger than his."

    "Right now, he is burning his Life in a desperate rush, trying to become a Fourth Order by devouring my status."

    "In the end... he even plans to turn his Fourth Order power into a Fourth-order pseudograde."

    "Every step is like walking a tightrope, the slightest mishap could lead to utter disaster."

    Larilo: You can''t call for backup, then you help me affect Yan Chen. If he makes any mistake, he will fail, and I will be able to escape.

    Hearing this, Qiu Tu shook his head and said, "I trust Director Yan''s abilities. He''s a master strategist."

    ```

 Chapter 268 Confronting Larilo (Requesting Monthly Ticket of 10,000 Words!)_2

    ```

    "Such a complex plan, he certainly made thorough preparations in advance. He even reserved multiple backup plans." S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Moreover, he has now severed all contact with the outside world, so his mind won''t be affected by anything at all."

    "Therefore, what you''re hoping for simply can''t be achieved."

    Qiu Tu: The plan is ineffective. Yan Chen isn''t the impulsive type.

    With a slight flicker in her eyes, Larilo hesitated for a moment, as if weighing whether Qiu Tu was trustworthy.

    After a moment, she looked at Qiu Tu with profound eyes and said with a light laugh, "Yan Chen isn''t as brilliantly cunning as you."

    "And even if he really is that cunning, so what?"

    "My true body is still in the Boundless Heart Sea, in the location corresponding to Xinjie City."

    "As long as my true body can enter Yan Chen''s domain and resonate with my incarnation..."

    "Then my consciousness will be able to tap into the power of my true body, blast open Yan Chen''s domain, and lead my consciousness back."

    Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu couldn''t help asking, "That must be difficult to achieve, right?"

    Larilo looked down, her expression obscured, "Not necessarily. Because the domain Yan Chen has set up isn''t just in the real world. It exists in the Boundless Heart Sea as well."

    Hearing Larilo''s words, Qiu Tu''s gaze also revealed deep contemplation.

    It was at this moment that Larilo spoke again.

    After revealing something about her true body, it was as if she had truly made up her mind, almost with a sense of resignation.

    She crossed her legs, shaking her little feet, and looked at Qiu Tu with a mischievous charm, then said, "In fact, besides the link between my true body and my incarnation, I have several other methods to escape."

    "For example, using special Cataclysmic abilities or Cataclysmic treasures to release the shackles of my incarnation and consciousness, allowing me to return at any time."

    "For example, I could self-destruct my incarnation and soul, and flee back to the Boundless Heart Sea to recover."

    "It''s just that these methods either require prior preparation or cause too much damage."

    "However... no matter what, I definitely won''t die."

    "You can let go of the thought of me dying."

    Hearing Larilo''s words, Qiu Tu first looked thoughtful, then chuckled and replied, "Then I''m going to be disappointed."

    "It''s unexpected that Director Yan, after all his effort, still can''t advance to the Fourth Order."

    Larilo clearly understood that Qiu Tu was seeking information from her.

    She snorted softly and said, "He is already of Third-Order Peak strength. It''s not necessary for him to devour my entire soul to advance to Fourth Order."

    "I reckon devouring a large part will suffice."

    As she spoke, Larilo nonchalantly added, "Today I talked to him about some things that could agitate him."

    Your next read is at My Virtual Library Empire

    "While making him angry, I also increased the intensity of his devouring."

    "Although this will increase the side effects after devouring, it also accelerates the process significantly."

    Calculating briefly with her hand, Larilo then said, "At most 10 days, no, 7 days, he will probably be able to advance to the Fourth Order."

    After hearing Larilo''s intelligence, Qiu Tu quickly did the math.

    Yan Chen indeed gave himself enough lead time.

    Forget 7 days, even 10 days would suffice; Dongye State wouldn''t be established by then. He would still have time to compete for the position of Deputy Speaker.

    ''I must delay the time....''

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu smiled and then tentatively asked, "Your Highness, the Director is devouring you so swiftly, yet there are still side effects. Is there really no way to prevent them?"

    What Qiu Tu meant by "no side effects" was a ruse; what he truly wanted was to slow down Yan Chen''s devouring process.

    Larilo clearly caught the subtext of Qiu Tu''s words, so she rolled her eyes in sarcasm and said, "The Bureau Chief is devouring me, yet you want me to give him advice?"

    "I am what you call an ''Evil God'', not a ''Living Buddha'' from before the Era of Disaster!"

    Although she said this, Larilo still added with rolling eyes, "At most, you can drag it out for another 2 days."

    After speaking, her expression changed as if she suddenly experienced some pain, her body curling up and contorting.

    Seeing this, Qiu Tu was initially shocked, but then guessed that Yan Chen must have finished digesting the portion he devoured in the afternoon and had begun to continue devouring.

    Indeed, Larilo could only hold on for a few seconds before she no longer had the energy to communicate.

    Consequently, her figure turned into a mist of white air, which then abruptly contracted into that ancient coin.

    Reaching out to pick up the coin from the table, Qiu Tu played with it in his hand while also pondering the information Larilo had just revealed.

    Plainly speaking, there were only three angles to interfere with or interrupt Yan Chen''s devouring process.

    The first was to enlist outside help, where overwhelming force could break all laws. The second was to directly interfere with Yan Chen, affecting his mind. The third was to assist Larilo.

    Although Larilo had not yet revealed her trump card to Qiu Tu...

    But... Qiu Tu had already guessed it.

    Human thought is linear, not jumping from one place to another. Thus, every word spoken, every decision made actually exposes the information known to them.

    This is also why many people are bad at lying ¡ª their words reveal things they shouldn''t know.

    And Larilo was similar.

    She was merely seeking Qiu Tu''s help.

    But when she talked about communicating between consciousness and the true body, and using the power of the true body to blast open Yan Chen''s domain to lead her consciousness back, she clearly hesitated.

    This indicated that the plan might have several versions. She was unsure which one to tell, or whether revealing the superficial plan would render her trump card ineffective.

 Chapter 268 Confronting Larilo (Requesting Monthly Ticket of 10,000 Words!)_3

    Moreover, Larilo can still contact the outside world.

    Qiu Tu speculated, "Larilo must have some method of establishing contact with her main body, leading it into her domain."

    However, this method was likely to have significant effects, which is why she was reluctant to use it.

    As for the other trump card, Qiu Tu felt that it might be related to the last method Larilo mentioned: self-destructing her avatar and soul to escape back to the Boundless Heart Sea to recuperate.

    Qiu Tu still guessed that Larilo deliberately beautified this method.

    After all... self-destructing one''s avatar and soul didn''t sound like a minor project.

    Larilo was bound to pay a price almost as great as being devoured.

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu more or less understood Larilo''s situation with Yan Chen, as well as Larilo''s trump card.

    Relying solely on Larilo, it was impossible to stall for time until after the establishment of Dongye State. So, after much consideration, Qiu Tu decided he had to interfere with Yan Chen, or urge Liu Xiongyuan to expedite the emergence of Moonlight Lake...

    ''There are at most 9 days left... no, only 5 days of buffer time.''

    ''You can''t pin your hopes on an Evil God. After all, Evil Gods have no bottom line.''

    ''Who knows if this Evil God will realize the futility and turn to discuss a coalition with Yan Chen.''

    With these thoughts, Qiu Tu took a couple of deep breaths and then made a decision in his heart: He must settle everything within five days.

    Just like that, he quietly reviewed the plan over and over again in his mind.

    In the end, Qiu Tu roughly had a plan in his heart. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Returning the rustic coin to his pocket, Qiu Tu touched his stomach and felt a bit hungry.

    He couldn''t help but look up at the clock hanging in the middle of the study.

    The clock showed that it was already half-past eleven at night.

    Qiu Tu was taken aback¡ªhe had just come to the late realization that he had been reading and waiting for Larilo the entire evening.

    With that thought, he once again glanced at the philosophical book titled "Existence," then got up from the study, went downstairs, and prepared to find something to eat.

    Descending slowly with the night light along the stairs, he reached the ground floor and discovered that the lights in the dining room were still on.

    Qiu Tu frowned and walked over, then saw that under the dim light, Fang Tangtang was dozing off, with her hands propped under her chin and her eyes closed.

    She was obviously extremely tired, her delicate nostrils breathing softly and steadily, and there was even clear drool flowing from the corner of her mouth...

    In front of her, three dishes were laid out: a pot of braised pork, a dish of spicy shredded potatoes, and a dish of stir-fried bok choy¡ªall Qiu Tu''s favorites.

    Next to the three dishes were also placed two pairs of chopsticks, one in front of Fang Tangtang, and the other at the main seat, obviously... reserved for Qiu Tu.

    From the intact state of the dishes and the orderly position of the chopsticks, it was evident that Fang Tangtang had been waiting for Qiu Tu to have dinner since she finished cooking...

    Under the dim light, the girl''s sweet oval face seemed even more beautiful...

    At that moment, perhaps sensing someone close by or hearing footsteps, Fang Tangtang jolted awake from her slumber.

    She clumsily wiped the drool from her mouth as she opened her somewhat bleary eyes.

    When her vision gradually cleared, she finally saw Qiu Tu standing not far from her.

    In that instant, her expression became a bit tense, and she quickly lowered her head, not daring to look Qiu Tu in the eye.

    After a moment, she timidly said, "Have you... finished your work? Are you ready to have dinner?"

    ------

    The end of the month is coming, don''t let your Monthly Tickets expire, please support with a Monthly Ticket!

    Discover exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire

    This month I updated with ten thousand words every day. Including last month, it''s nearly sixty days of ten thousand words per day. Everyone, please show your support~~

 Chapter 269 The Second Night with Fang Tangtang (10,000 words for Monthly Ticket!)

    Having said that, Fang Tangtang realized belatedly that she had been sitting there talking to Qiu Tu all along. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    She quickly got up in a panic, like a child who had made a mistake, with her face flushed and her head lowered, too scared to speak.

    The dim light shone on Fang Tangtang, adding a touch of tenderness to her, yet it also made her appear even more delicate.

    Hearing the words of the girl in front of him and seeing her timid demeanor, Qiu Tu remained silent for two seconds before asking, "Did you have dinner?"

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s question, Fang Tangtang hastily shook her hand in a bit of a panic, "No, no. I''ve been waiting for you."

    Qiu Tu:....

    Qiu Tu glanced at the clock on the kitchen wall. It was 11:40 PM.

    He vaguely remembered that when he had come home, it was about 6 PM.

    At that time, the girl was cooking.

    So... had she cooked the meal and then been waiting with an empty stomach for him to return?

    ''Is this a tactic taught by The Five Elders, or... does she truly want to wait to have dinner with me?''

    Because of his experiences across two lifetimes, Qiu Tu did not judge the girl in front of him so easily.

    So he simply said expressionlessly, "Then, let''s reheat the food and eat together."

    "Yes." Fang Tangtang timidly agreed, hurriedly carrying the dishes, and clumsily went to reheat them.

    Despite being usually clumsy in her actions, she had some talent in cooking, so it didn''t take long to reheat the three dishes, and she even made an extra soup.

    Moving on tiptoes, she rushed to bring the dishes to the table, reverting to the quail-like appearance: head down, sitting obediently in the chair waiting for Qiu Tu to speak.

    Seeing this, Qiu Tu picked up his chopsticks and softly said, "Let''s eat."

    It was only then that Fang Tangtang, with her bowl in hand, began to eat, keeping her head down. Continue your saga on My Virtual Library Empire

    During dinner, Qiu Tu''s gaze tended to drift towards Fang Tangtang from the corner of his eye.

    He noticed that Fang Tangtang was also sneaking glances at him.

    Those large eyes took quick peeks at him under the guise of picking up food with her chopsticks.

    Seeing this, Qiu Tu remained silent for a moment before starting a conversation. He inquired, "Did you make all these dishes yourself?"

    It wasn''t that Qiu Tu doubted Fang Tangtang. Mainly, he had seen too much deception in his former life¡ªordering takeaway and claiming it was home-cooked, and to make matters worse, it was fast-food chicken!

    So if Fang Tangtang had the Fang Family''s chef cook the meal and just pretended in front of him, it was a possibility.

    Who knew that upon hearing this, Fang Tangtang immediately looked nervously at Qiu Tu and asked weakly, "Is it... too bland?"

    Her face red, head lowered, she said sheepishly, "I... I don''t know your taste. So I didn''t dare add too much salt."

    At that, she raised her head, carefully watching Qiu Tu, and suggested, "Shall I go back and adjust it?"

    Qiu Tu:.....

    Qiu Tu hadn''t expected his simple question to lead to so many explanations from Fang Tangtang.

    However... these explanations indirectly proved that she had cooked the meal, which, in a way, answered Qiu Tu''s question.

    So Qiu Tu simply lifted his chopsticks slightly and said indifferently, "The taste is quite good. Let''s eat."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s affirmation, Fang Tangtang smiled sweetly, her large eyes curving into two crescent moons, making her look especially lovely, conveying a feeling of healing.

    Qiu Tu was momentarily lost in thought, his lips involuntarily curling upwards.

    After the meal, Qiu Tu was the first to put down his utensils.

    Seeing Qiu Tu do so, Fang Tangtang, who was eating with stuffed cheeks, quickly wiped her mouth and also hurriedly put down her utensils.

    Noticing this, Qiu Tu said, "It''s okay. Continue eating."

    Fang Tangtang''s eyes, brimming with a bit of longing, nevertheless firmly shook her head, whispering, "No need, no need. I''m already full."

    Seeing her reaction, Qiu Tu did not insist further.

    He adjusted his clothes and stood up, ready to go back and rest.

    But just then, Fang Tangtang took the initiative to call out to Qiu Tu for the first time, "Qiu... Qiu Tu."

    Qiu Tu stopped, then turned his head to look at her.

    Possibly because of Qiu Tu''s stern expression and imposing demeanor, Fang Tangtang visibly flinched.

    She shrunk her neck and looked up at him cautiously, then asked uneasily, "Can... can I call you that?"

    After two seconds of silence, Qiu Tu nodded.

    With Qiu Tu''s positive response, Fang Tangtang''s face showed a pretty smile. Then she timidly said, "I wanted to talk to you about the question you asked me when you entered today."

    Hearing Fang Tangtang''s words, Qiu Tu was startled. His mind raced as he tried to recall, and maybe because several hours had passed, he had already forgotten what he had asked on a whim.

    Meanwhile, earnestness was written all over Fang Tangtang''s round, goose-egg face as she scrunched up her cute little nose and sincerely said, "I really did encounter something happy today."

    "It might be because the two of us are together now. Grandpa has arranged for my parents a house twice the size of the current one, along with a sum of money."

    "My mother was very happy when she came to see me today. She said that Grandpa even secured a good position for my brother in the family''s business ventures."

    Fang Tangtang, with her head down and clutching her dress, was a bit nervous, "I know all this is because of you."

    "Grandpa is so good to our family, actually, all because of you."

    "But... I get a bit nervous when I see you, so after you asked me, I subconsciously denied it."

    Hearing Fang Tangtang''s trivial worries, Qiu Tu furrowed his brow slightly and couldn''t help asking, "Why tell me this?"

    Fang Tangtang became even more nervous at Qiu Tu''s words. She whispered, "But... isn''t that what you''re supposed to do when in a relationship? Be honest with each other?"

 Chapter 269 The Second Night with Fang Tangtang (10,000 words for Monthly Ticket!)_2

    "If there''s a misunderstanding, it should be cleared up. Don''t let small things turn into grudges, ultimately becoming serious issues..."

    In the end, she herself was a bit unsure. She lifted her head, her big watery eyes looking at Qiu Tu, and asked weakly, "Did I get it wrong...?

    Qiu Tu:.....

    Fang Tangtang''s understanding wasn''t wrong. According to Qiu Tu''s experience as a person in two lifetimes, dating indeed requires honesty and clearing up misunderstandings.

    But the problem is... their relationship isn''t romantic love!

    Using words like "marriage," "setting up a family," "dating," was just Qiu Tu and The Five Elders'' way of beautifying the relationship.

    None believed it, yet... Fang Tangtang, this silly girl, actually believed it.

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu gave Fang Tangtang a suspicious glance, trying to see if the girl in front of him really misunderstood, or if she was pretending.

    But all he met was a pair of clear, water-like eyes.

    Qiu Tu:.....

    Forget it. Let her think what she wants.

    I''ve been too busy lately to explain it to her.

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu nodded and then said, "You''re not wrong in your thinking. You did well.

    "Keep it up in the future."

    Fang Tangtang''s face blossomed into a sweet smile upon receiving Qiu Tu''s affirmation, clearly feeling a lot happier...

    Seeing this, Qiu Tu was at a loss for words for a moment and could only stand up and return to the upper floor.

    He randomly picked a guest room, took a bath, Qiu Tu returned to his study, brought the edition of "Existence" back to the guest room, and then started reading it leaning against the headboard.

    He planned to finish the book before going to sleep.

    This philosophical book was probably written by some big shot at the Sanctuary about their understanding of the world''s essence.

    After reading it, Qiu Tu''s knowledge about this world, the Spirit World, the real world, the Cataclysm Path, and the essence of Supernatural Power would significantly improve.

    With that in mind, Qiu Tu began to slowly read the book.

    But then, he didn''t know how long he had read, maybe 10 minutes, maybe over half an hour.

    Suddenly, the door to the guest room was gently pushed open from the outside.

    Qiu Tu cautiously lifted his head from the book, and then he saw Fang Tangtang, dressed in a white valley robe, her face flushed, walking in from outside.

    Qiu Tu slowly raised a question mark above his head:?

    He looked at Fang Tangtang and inquired, "What''s wrong?"

    Fang Tangtang gently closed the door, then lowered her head and timidly said, "I''ve come to sleep with you..."

    Qiu Tu:....

    Qiu Tu felt a headache coming on.

    He really wanted to explain to Fang Tangtang: their arrangement was only a political marriage, many things were just for show, and it was enough just to let both sides understand each other''s stance. Read new chapters at My Virtual Library Empire

    Last night, he took her... because he had to.

    But in the future, there really was no need to continue.

    And just as he was thinking this, Fang Tangtang shyly covered her face, then untied the belt around her waist.

    The next second, the valley robe slid off...

    Qiu Tu:.....

    Qiu Tu admitted, at that moment, his heartbeat seemed to speed up for an instant.

    But after all, he was a decent person. And he still had to read the philosophical treatise tonight!

    So, he kept his eyes on the book titled "Existence," one glance, two glances...and then he couldn''t read any further!

    ''To hell with "Existence," the meaning of ''existence'' is all about XX!''

    Thinking those extremely vulgar, philosophy-insulting words, Qiu Tu jumped down and in Fang Tangtang''s exclamation, scooped her up in his arms...

    Blue Moon blushed, drawing dark clouds to cover its face.

    And Qiu Tu once again indulged in the joy of Fang Tangtang''s facial cleanser...

    In the end, Qiu Tu had only one thought.

    ''Facial cleanser really is better when it''s big!''

    ....

    The next day, Qiu Tu woke up. He looked at Fang Tangtang beside him, speechless for a long time.

    ''What the hell is all this!''

    ''Why do I feel like this girl is jinxing me!''

    ''Dumb and cute thwarts the dark and crafty?''

    With this thought in mind, Qiu Tu was deeply puzzled. He then tiptoed to the master bedroom to freshen up.

    Without waking Fang Tangtang, who was still asleep from exhaustion, Qiu Tu dressed in his uniform and exited the villa''s main gate.

    At this time, the driver assigned by the Investigation Bureau was already waiting outside. Upon seeing Qiu Tu, he hastily saluted, "Minister."

    Qiu Tu nodded gravely and got into the car, heading toward the Investigation Bureau.

    Throughout the journey, the image of Fang Tangtang lingered in Qiu Tu''s mind.

    After hesitating for a moment, he decided to leave a voice message on the villa''s landline, informing Fang Tangtang that he had gone to work.

    Shaking his head to clear the image of the cute girl from his thoughts, Qiu Tu refocused his attention on his work.

    He now had only four and a half days to resolve Yan Chen''s promotion. He did not have the luxury of time to dwell on romantic entanglements.

    The day before, Tang Feifei, Yu Zhengyi, and Shi Youxin had exchanged interests, significantly promoting their various confidants.

    As a result, the influence of the three within the Investigation Bureau surged.

    Qiu Tu''s side also gained considerably from this. Cao Dabiao was dispatched to the Administrative Office as head of the Propaganda Department, and Chen Feng assumed the position of Deputy Staff Director at the Political Department''s Action Division.

    As for the other confidants, they were all promoted from Second-Class Investigators to First Level Detectives. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Even Ah-Tai, Eagle, and Ah-Kun¡ªthose brothers not under Qiu Tu''s direct command¡ªwere all promoted to First Level Detectives, allowed to lead teams independently and undertake missions, taking a significant step into the ranks of officials.

    Considering that yesterday Larilo infuriated Yan Chen to the point of shaking the Illusion of the Law and increasing the devouring speed, it was apparent that Yan Chen was also under immense pressure and remained highly concerned about the external world.

    So... the next steps were simple. What Qiu Tu had to do was disrupt Yan Chen''s devouring process.

    By doing so, he could prevent Yan Chen from focusing entirely on devouring Larilo.

    This would not only delay Yan Chen''s process, affecting his appointment as Deputy Speaker, but also potentially add complications...

    Based on the intelligence revealed by Larilo the night before, any disturbance of Yan Chen''s mental focus and acceleration of the devouring would damage his foundation.

    Therefore, Qiu Tu was naturally determined to continue his efforts in that direction!

    As for how to affect Yan Chen, Qiu Tu actually had a plan in mind since the previous night.

    Although Qiu Tu had gleaned many methods and ideas on how to influence the devouring process from Larilo''s lips last night.

    But actually... he had asked so many questions more for intelligence gathering, rather than real intention to execute them.

    Because... he had long held a stronger trump card in his hand...

    Thinking along these lines, after arriving at the Investigation Bureau, Qiu Tu strolled into his office.

    Tan Huimin hadn''t come to work today. Or rather, since her attempt to persuade Zheng Tao failed yesterday morning, she had not appeared at the Investigation Bureau again.

    Qiu Tu didn''t particularly mind. Zheng Tao and his wife were a gambit¡ªif they proved useful, excellent; if not, he wouldn''t pay them much attention.

    With that thought, Qiu Tu locked his office and then proceeded to the resting room, where from the "Gold-Addicted Wallet," he retrieved a black box.

    This was a citywide communication device given to Qiu Tu by Liu Xiongyuan.

    Using this device, he could directly contact Liu Xiongyuan via a secret line, impervious to any eavesdropping by those in the Investigation Bureau.

    Holding the black box and following Liu Xiongyuan''s instructions, Qiu Tu punched in a series of numbers.

    The next second, the black box made a "clatter" sound and a miniature earpiece fell out.

    Qiu Tu took the earpiece and put it on. The earpiece emitted a "beep... beep..." waiting tone.

    Qiu Tu patiently waited a few seconds until a "click" indicated the phone was picked up, and Liu Xiongyuan''s furious voice burst from the receiver, "Damn it! Are those bastards from the United Front looking for death? They dare eye Moonlight Lake!"

    "You! Take a few teams! Go sweep their contact points directly!"

    "Wipe out as much as you find! Kill all the related personnel! Not a single one spared!"

    "I showed them mercy! At such a critical moment, to play these kinds of tricks with me!"

    After ranting for a good ten seconds, Liu Xiongyuan seemed to remember he had just picked up a call from Qiu Tu.

    He took a deep breath, and his voice softened, "Qiu Tu, what''s the matter? You wouldn''t call me like this without an urgent issue, right?"

    Qiu Tu had heard every word of Liu Xiongyuan''s tirade, clear as day.

    These old foxes always had their own agendas in everything they did. Even the most transparent and magnanimous among them were no exception.

    This didn''t mean they didn''t trust you; it was an instinct honed from years of navigating the treacherous waters of bureaucracy.

    So, while Qiu Tu quietly analyzed the intelligence Liu Xiongyuan''s words revealed, he continued the conversation, "Director Liu, I thought I heard you mention Moonlight Lake just now?"

    "What''s happened at Moonlight Lake? Is there any change?"

    ------

    Still two chapters of 10,000 words. Last three days of the month, ask for your Monthly Ticket!

 Chapter 270 Madam, are you alright? (10,000 characters for Monthly Ticket)

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s inquiry, Liu Xiongyuan, that tough old man, huffed and then said, "What changes could there be? It''s still the same gang of petty thugs from the Anti-government Armed Forces."

    Clearly not inclined to delve deep, Liu Xiongyuan straightforwardly stated, "The benefits of that Moonlight Lake are just too immense. All kinds of powers are stirring, itching to make a move."

    "Eastern City and Xinjie City are just in the Planning Area, and the Anti-government Armed Forces have always had their nails in it."

    "Every move can''t be kept secret." S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Therefore, upon learning that the Moonlight Lake was about to form, the United Front has been spying from the sidelines."

    "The day before yesterday, that bastard Yan Chen advanced to a Fourth-order Catastrophe-evolver, leading to the Xinjie City Military sending several squads of soldiers over for protection, which immediately presented them with an opportunity."

    "The United Front secretly mobilized a regular army of nearly ten thousand from the Disaster Zone, ready to contest for Moonlight Lake."

    "And their spies in various cities started to frantically gather intelligence like madmen, assassinating officials."

    At this point, Liu Xiongyuan cautioned, "You also need to be careful these next few days. Your standing in Xinjie City isn''t low, and considering your past enmity with them, it''s very likely you''re also on their hit list."

    Hearing Liu Xiongyuan''s warning, Qiu Tu politely expressed his gratitude, "Thank you, Director Liu, for your concern. I will be vigilant and careful."

    With that, Qiu Tu, lost in thought, said, "I''ve only just started work today and am not yet clear on the situation in Xinjie City."

    "It seems we too must make some preparations in advance, to avoid being flustered at the last moment."

    After finishing this topic, Qiu Tu timely brought up the reason for his call.

    After a pause of two seconds, he then spoke in a low voice, "There seems to be some changes in Yan Chen''s situation..."

    Liu Xiongyuan was clearly also very concerned about the progress of Yan Chen''s devouring, so upon hearing Qiu Tu''s words, his gaze sharpened, and then he asked in a deep voice, "What changes?"

    ...

    Compared to the newly established Xinjie City of just one year, Eastern City had been established for five years. In terms of political stability and urban prosperity, it was far ahead of Xinjie City.

    The streets were almost all flat, with most covered in asphalt roads.

    Lampposts were erected at regular intervals on every street, with trash cans placed in between. Experience new stories on My Virtual Library Empire

    The neatly dressed people on the streets were clean, indicating they had access to stable and affordable water sources.

    From their full figures, different from the gaunt appearance of those in other cities, one could tell that their basic food needs had been met.

    On the roads, besides the occasional cars, there were rickshaws, horse-drawn carriages, and even bicycles shuttling back and forth, suggesting that the city''s fundamental transportation and trade had been restored.

    The Investigation Bureau agents in temporary uniforms were leisurely patrolling the streets in twos and threes, which also indicated the city''s security had become stable.

    And right in the middle of such a more prosperous city than Xinjie City, on the top floor of the 16-story Investigation Bureau Office Building, in the Bureau Chief''s office.

    Liu Xiongyuan was standing by the window, frowning and on the phone, while looking at the bustling scenery of Eastern City below.

    His skin was dark and his face rugged with the years, etched deeply with age lines, each one seeming to chronicle past hardships and battles.

    Listening to Qiu Tu''s words on the phone, his eyes were black as ink, flickering with a cold and sharp light.

    After Qiu Tu finished, he said in a deep voice, "So, what you mean is, Yan Chen actually left himself a lot of leeway?"

    "Now that he''s realized something is amiss, he''s willing to compromise his future foundations to accelerate the devouring of that Evil God?"

    On the phone, Qiu Tu hummed in agreement, then said, "He clearly made thorough preparations and backup plans. Even now, he still has reserves."

    "Otherwise, he couldn''t have adjusted the devouring speed so naturally."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Liu Xiongyuan said, "Then how many days does he have left to completely finish devouring?"

    Qiu Tu replied, "Five days."

    He paused for a moment, then added, "To be precise, it might only be 4.5 days."

    Upon hearing this, Liu Xiongyuan''s thick and rough eyebrows slowly arched up, as if symbolizing his unsettled mood.

    His mouth shut tight, the corners turning downward in a stern arc.

    After a moment, his eyes slowly became icy cold, "Tomorrow. Tomorrow night, I will make Moonlight Lake form ahead of schedule."

    "I will make Yan Chen''s advance to a Fourth-order Catastrophe-evolver utterly useless."

    Qiu Tu made this call primarily to get this answer.

    So, upon receiving Liu Xiongyuan''s response, Qiu Tu felt a bit more at ease.

    However, as it was a rare occasion to make a call, he didn''t just hang up, but continued to discuss related topics.

    "Director Liu, I''ve heard that around Eastern City, several cities are also fortified by a powerful Evil God?"

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Liu Xiongyuan on the phone grunted heavily, "Zhao Ji!"

    Qiu Tu acknowledged, "Yes, it should be her."

    Liu Xiongyuan was clearly very sensitive when it came to Zhao Ji, and he asked in a serious tone, "What about her?"

    Having no personal issues with Zhao Ji nor any secrets to hide, Qiu Tu naturally explained, "The precise intelligence I''ve received is that the Evil God Yan Chen is devouring may have some connection to Zhao Ji."

    "She''s been seeking help from Zhao Ji to escape her current crisis."

    Qiu Tu paused, then added, "I''m worried she might interfere with our plans."

    Liu Xiongyuan fell silent for a few seconds at Qiu Tu''s concern, and pondered quietly over his worries.

 Chapter 270 Madam, are you alright? (10,000 characters for Monthly Ticket)_2

    After a moment, he spoke in a softer tone, "Zhao Ji, this Evil God, is cruel and powerful. If there is one flaw, it''s her love of wealth."

    "But what she adores is not the gold and silver of the real world, but various Cataclysmic treasures, the remains of Cataclysmic Creatures, and even souls."

    "So, if one wishes to merely entice Zhao Ji to act with the promise of profit, the price Larilo would have to pay would be indeed colossal...."

    Qiu Tu recalled the method Larilo had him use to request Zhao Ji''s help¡ªlight three sticks of incense, and softly chant "my lord Larilo" three times.

    Clearly, this involved no negotiation, more like a request without any additional benefits: Larilo is in trouble, seeking assistance.

    This seemed somewhat inconsistent with what Liu Xiongyuan had said.

    With this in mind, Qiu Tu hesitated slightly before asking, "Could there be some other connection or relationship between Larilo and Zhao Ji?"

    In discussing Zhao Ji, Liu Xiongyuan always seemed extremely cautious.

    He pondered for a while before saying, "Both Larilo and Zhao Ji have been Evil Gods for many years."

    "Over these years, there''s been no intelligence suggesting any relationship between them."

    Hearing this, Qiu Tu "hmmed" thoughtfully.

    At that moment, Liu Xiongyuan suddenly spoke up, "Qiu Tu...do not get too closely involved with the Evil Gods."

    Qiu Tu felt a chill in his heart.

    He wanted to explain himself but Liu Xiongyuan continued, "We''ve all been through the phase you''re in."

    "Some cases, some intelligence, some leads might indeed be verified more precisely through the Evil Gods."

    "But... Evil Gods are not so easy to deal with."

    "They are among the smartest of the Cataclysmic Creatures, skilled in disguises, scheming, and bewitching minds."

    "We''ve seen too many people who sought information from them, only to be brainwashed and fallen in the end." sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "So, don''t get too involved or collaborate with them."

    "I don''t want to see you at the execution ground."

    Find adventures at My Virtual Library Empire

    Having said that, Liu Xiongyuan paused, then added, "See, the approach of Yan Chen is very appropriate."

    "Have confidants to deal with the Evil Gods, take action. Meanwhile, stay uninvolved, and from a safe distance, urge them on."

    "This way, you won''t have to directly face the temptations of the Evil Gods and you can still cut ties with them. Even if the Sanctuary comes to investigate, they won''t be able to trace it back to him."

    Warmed by Liu Xiongyuan''s heartfelt reminder, Qiu Tu spoke softly, "Thank you for the guidance, Director Liu. I will keep it in mind."

    After their conversation, Qiu Tu took the initiative to say goodbye, ready to disconnect the communicator and wait patiently for Liu Xiongyuan to initiate the plan.

    But just as the call was about to end, Qiu Tu, as if something had just occurred to him, suddenly asked, "By the way, Director Liu. There''s one more thing I''d like to ask you."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Liu Xiongyuan showed no impatience. He asked, "What is it?"

    Qiu Tu asked, "Do you know Rao Shou, the author of ''Existence''? Who exactly is he?"

    On hearing Qiu Tu''s question, Liu Xiongyuan on the other end of the phone was silent for a good two seconds before responding, "You don''t know him?"

    Confused, Qiu Tu replied, "Should I know him?"

    On the other end of the phone, Liu Xiongyuan gave a slight shake of the head before saying, "You should... pay more attention to the news, to the Sanctuary''s daily paper."

    "Rao Shou is the Speaker of the Supreme Sanctuary Council of the Eighth Sanctuary."

    Qiu Tu was taken aback upon hearing this.

    He had guessed that Rao Shou might be one of the Sanctuary''s higher-ups, but he didn''t expect him to be of such high rank.

    What it means to be the Speaker of the Supreme Council...the highest official of the entire Sanctuary, his commands in the Eighth Sanctuary are akin to law. Every word and action, even a sneeze, could create a huge storm in the Eighth Sanctuary.

    ''So he''s the Speaker of the Supreme Council...''

    While feeling astounded inwardly, Qiu Tu sincerely thanked Liu Xiongyuan and then explained, "Director Liu, after all, I have only recently been promoted and beforehand had no way to see the Sanctuary''s news and newspapers."

    "I will apply at the Bureau today to see if they can get me an extra copy."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Liu Xiongyuan showed understanding, "Indeed, it''s not your fault. Your foundation is too shallow, and you''re unaware of many basic facts."

    Continuing, he then changed his tone, "So come to Eastern City and join me. I will teach you personally."

    Qiu Tu didn''t expect Liu Xiongyuan would come around to the topic of recruitment again. He couldn''t help but smile wryly at the sudden turn.

    After exchanging a few more casual words, the two ended the communication.

    Putting the earpiece back into the small black box, the box automatically shut, securing the communicator inside.

    After placing the small black box back into the "Gold-Addicted Wallet," Qiu Tu examined the intelligence he had obtained from Liu Xiongyuan.

    There were primarily three pieces of intelligence.

    The first was that the United Front had dispatched a large force to seize the imminent Moonlight Lake.

    The second was that Moonlight Lake would truly form tomorrow night.

    The third was... to cover for the United Front''s main forces, the secret agents of the Front were assassinating officials in various cities to create chaos....

    At this thought, Qiu Tu was startled: Wait a minute! Tan Huimin hasn''t shown up for work; could she have been attacked or abducted?

    Although Tan Huimin''s rank wasn''t high, she was Qiu Tu''s secretary, privy to much of the Investigation Bureau''s intelligence and high-level information, which made her a target of value for assassination.

    With this realization, Qiu Tu, having initially not been too concerned about Tan Huimin''s disappearance, quickly left the lounge and opened the door to his office.

    He planned to call a few confidants and, using Tan Huimin''s home address, search along the route for traces or for any sign of Tan Huimin.

 Chapter 270 Madam, are you alright? (10,000 characters for Monthly Ticket)_3

    Unexpectedly, as soon as he opened the door to the office, he saw Tan Hui Min squatting by the door, holding several documents, looking utterly broken... Your journey continues at My Virtual Library Empire

    For the past few days, this beautiful young wife seemed to have been wearing the same clothes, the somewhat seductive professional skirt outfit she was wearing the second time Qiu Tu saw her.

    ¡ªA sheer blouse, a form-fitting skirt, paired with a gentle wife''s bun, and the dried tear stains on her face.

    It must be said... Tan Hui Min, in her distraught state, was indeed more attractive than usual.

    Seeing Tan Hui Min safe and squatting there, Qiu Tu let out a sigh of relief¡ª it seemed Tan Hui Min hadn''t been attacked. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    However... Seeing Tan Hui Min in this dispirited state made Qiu Tu blink, feeling somewhat sorry for her.

    Thinking this, he couldn''t help but lower his head and ask softly, "Madam, are you alright?"

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Tan Hui Min blankly raised her head to look over.

    Upon seeing it was Qiu Tu, she seemed to remember something and hurriedly stood up, then handed the documents she was holding to Qiu Tu,

    "Minister, these are the half-year work summaries of the Intelligence Section, the Interrogation Section, and the Inspection Department that you assigned the day before yesterday."

    "I went to their three departments to collect them after I came to work this morning. However, when I got back, I found the office door closed."

    Hearing Tan Hui Min''s words, Qiu Tu''s eyes slightly lifted in surprise, as he hadn''t expected Tan Hui Min to still remember work under these circumstances.

    It was more commendable compared to yesterday when she left her post without a word, running to the 12th floor to plead with Tang Feifei on Zheng Tao''s behalf.

    With this in mind, Qiu Tu nodded and said, "Alright, I''ll take a look."

    With that, Qiu Tu added, "Come in with me."

    Having said that, he turned back into the office.

    Behind him, Tan Hui Min walked into the office like a walking corpse.

    Qiu Tu sat down at his desk, opened the summary files while casually asking Tan Hui Min, "How many days has it been since you changed your clothes, took a bath, or rested?"

    "Go take a bath in my resting room and sleep for a while."

    After saying this, Qiu Tu felt a bit regretful. After all... given his relationship with Tan Hui Min, such words were a bit too abrupt.

    Unexpectedly, Tan Hui Min actually nodded, then said in a low voice, "Thank you, Minister."

    After saying that, she turned and went to the resting room, took off her clothes, and began to bathe.

    Qiu Tu:...

    Through the open door, Qiu Tu clearly saw the entire process of Tan Hui Min undressing.

    For a moment, he was speechless.

    Good heavens. How shocked must she have been to reach such a state of negligence?

    With that thought, Qiu Tu first closed the door to the resting room and then, after some deliberation, picked up the phone and called Song Qing.

    The content of the call was simple¡ª just asking Song Qing to send over the interrogation records of Tan Hui Min and Zheng Tao from the previous day.

    Although Qiu Tu had let Tan Hui Min conduct the interrogation alone yesterday, he had secretly placed recording devices in the interrogation room while being alone, recording the interrogation content. Now it was a good time to listen and review.

    After giving out this task, Qiu Tu listened to the sound of water "pattering" in the resting room while he started reviewing the summary reports of his three subordinate departments.

    Reviewing these reports not only helped him to understand the situation of the departments faster but also served as a process for him to identify gaps and fill them in his own intelligence work.

    Hence, his primary task while going through these reports was to look for information related to Yan Chen, Larilo, Zhao Ji, and even Moonlight Lake.

    It must be said, after flipping through a few files, he indeed found some interesting information...

    ------

    Still 2 chapters, 10,000 words haha! Full attendance this month with daily 10,000 words (will also do daily 10,000 words for the last two days)! Asking for Monthly Tickets!

 Chapter 271 Great Evil God Zhaohui (10,000 Words Asking for Monthly Tickets!)

    The first piece of intelligence is about Zhao Ji.

    According to the Intelligence Section''s reports, Zhao Ji is the most powerful Evil God around Xinjie City. Not only has her strength reached the Fifth Order, but all her cataclysmic abilities are combat-oriented, making her extremely formidable in battle.

    Therefore, the Political Departments and Security Departments of the dozen or so cities surrounding Xinjie City have determined their most significant and also most important task since their establishment to be to devise ways to collect intelligence on Zhao Ji.

    The Political Department of the Xinjie City Investigation Bureau is no exception.

    Based on the investigations of these dozen cities and more than twenty departments, it has now been basically confirmed that Zhao Ji''s "headquarters" is located in Eastern City, and her influence spans across eight cities.

    And in her vicinity, there are only three or four Fourth-Order Evil Gods, among whom is Xinjie''s Larilo.

    Thus, the territorial map of Dongye State might as well be divided intentionally according to the spheres of influence of the Evil Gods rather than being divided based on economic and geographic regions by the Sanctuary.

    Following this piece of intelligence, Qiu Tu also couldn''t help but fall into thought¡ªHuang Shangzong, as a member of the Supreme Sanctuary Council, is also one of the upper echelons of the Sanctuary.

    This time he personally took charge and was stationed in Dongye State; could it be that he was here for Zhao Ji?

    And the Sanctuary has established Planning Areas on Zhao Ji''s turf over the years; could it be that they were also scheming for her domain?

    After all... as long as Zhao Ji is defeated or killed, there will no longer be any powerful Evil Gods lurking near Dongye State, and the Sanctuary can establish defensive fortifications in this region of the Boundless Heart Sea.

    With some time to assimilate, it can formally be incorporated into the Sanctuary''s territory.

    Isn''t this how all the major Sanctuaries expand little by little?

    Stay updated through My Virtual Library Empire

    Thinking of this, Qiu Tu continued to look at the second interesting piece of intelligence.

    The second interesting piece of intelligence is about Larilo.

    According to the Intelligence Section''s information, it seems that Larilo doesn''t get along well with Zhao Ji.

    Larilo once fought Zhao Ji about seven or eight years ago and was almost slapped to death by Zhao Ji.

    Larilo then fought Zhao Ji again three years ago and was almost blasted away again by Zhao Ji.

    Finally, a year before the establishment of Xinjie City, she fought Zhao Ji once more. This time the results were not so unsightly.

    They exchanged blow for blow with several dozen moves. Zhao Ji tore off one of Larilo''s arms, a leg, and nearly twisted off her head.

    Therefore, even if there is no deep-seated enmity like a blood feud between them, there must be some deep hatred.

    This is probably why Liu Xiongyuan hesitated and mentioned that these two Evil Gods didn''t seem to have any personal dealings.

    According to the Intelligence Section, Larilo''s Cataclysm Path is "Life Reproduction."

    And among her several cataclysmic abilities, there is a high probability one resembles an ability like "Extraordinary Regeneration."

    Otherwise, she wouldn''t keep coming back for more after repeated defeats.

    As Qiu Tu perused the Intelligence Section''s collection of reports, he discovered there was not a shortage of information regarding Larilo.

    It not only recorded the traces Larilo left in Xinjie City over the past year but also documented her followers who were killed by Yan Chen, Jia Shu, and the Security Department.

    Even the overt confrontations and fights between Qiu Tu and Larilo during this period were noted in the records.

    At the end of the information about Larilo, the Intelligence Section also noted why Larilo was so eager to claim Moonlight Lake.

    The reason being, Moonlight Lake is able to produce a large quantity of "Tears of Moonlight," which is a rather common Cataclysmic Material known for its mild effects and soothing properties.

    This is especially suitable for a "Life" path Cataclysmic Creature like Larilo to enhance her strength.

    Although it''s uncertain how much a whole lake of Tears of Moonlight could help Larilo, the Intelligence Section estimates that it should significantly enhance her power.

    Moreover, some investigations by the Intelligence Section even suggest that Moonlight Lake might actually be related to Larilo.

    It is suspected that Moonlight Lake was either spawned, catalyzed by Larilo, or that she moved the "seed" from somewhere else and "planted" it near Xinjie City.

    After reading this second piece of intelligence, Qiu Tu couldn''t help but stroke his chin and fall into deep thought.

    He remembered that Larilo once told him that Moonlight Lake was fated to be hers, her possession.

    At that time, Qiu Tu took it as a typical act of usurpation by an Evil God and didn''t take it seriously. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Now it seemed there was a slight possibility?

    However, Qiu Tu didn''t fully trust the intelligence from the Intelligence Section.

    Based on what the chief of the Intelligence Section had introduced about their sources of intelligence, Qiu Tu knew that their intelligence came from three main sources.

    The first one was their own intelligence, which consisted of the information collected by agents from the government department''s intelligence branches through various forms of espionage.

    This part of the intelligence primarily consisted of various market rumors, secret news from all walks of life, and various messages from the three major organizations.

    This is also the "starting point" of the Intelligence Section''s information compilation.

    Often, the Intelligence Section would first come across an interesting core piece of intelligence through these channels and then start to frantically collect information and spy on news revolving around this core.

    The second one was summarized intelligence, which generally came from the brother departments of the Political Department.

    For instance, intelligence gathered by espionage, counter-espionage departments; as well as valuable intelligence obtained through interrogation by the Interrogation Section.

    The "Intelligence Agency" is usually the source of the most intelligence. A lot of the information about Larilo and Zhao Ji came from the Intelligence Agency, which obtained it from the Security Department''s intelligence branches.

    Lastly, the third source was the intelligence sent by the Sanctuary.

    According to the rules of the Sanctuary, the reports prepared by the Political Department''s Intelligence Section, after organization, summary, and conclusion, must be regularly reported to the Sanctuary.

 Chapter 271 Great Evil God Zhao Ji (10,000 characters for a Monthly Ticket!)_2

    While reporting to the Sanctuary, the Sanctuary would also send a lot of intelligence to the Intelligence Section.

    Some of this intelligence was related to Xinjie City, some was related to the situation around Xinjie City, and some was about important figures in Xinjie City.

    This intelligence was often obtained by the Political Department or the Security Department of other cities, summarized, selected, and distributed by the intelligence department of the Sanctuary.

    Of course, besides this passive distribution, the Intelligence Section could also apply to the Sanctuary for specific intelligence about a person, an event, or a certain Evil God.

    As long as the reason was legitimate, met the regulations, and reached the required level, the Sanctuary''s intelligence department was very likely not to refuse.

    For instance, the fact that Xinjie City Investigation Bureau, established only a year and a half ago, knew the intelligence about Larilo and Zhaohui from several years prior was actually applied for from the Sanctuary.

    After reading through the summary from the Intelligence Section, Qiu Tu picked up the summaries from the Interrogation Section and the Inspection Department to read.

    Compared to the interesting intelligence and information from the Intelligence Section, the summaries from the Interrogation Section and the Inspection Department were much more tedious.

    The summary from the Interrogation Section recorded the identities, positions, levels, and cases involved of the prisoners who were interrogated.

    The Inspection Department recorded the number of reports, information, and materials concerning officials from the City Hall, Investigation Bureau, and the military.

    As Qiu Tu had guessed¡ªXinjie City was newly established, the rules were not yet fully set, and the people had no concept of supervising law enforcement, so there were hardly any reports.

    Even if there were, they were mostly from small to medium-sized merchants reporting on the inaction of departments related to the economy and trade at the City Hall.

    These minor issues in Xinjie City at present couldn''t even count as matters warranting criticism and education...

    Having finished reading the summaries from the three departments, Qiu Tu had a clear understanding of his own responsibilities and powers!

    The Intelligence Section was truly of the utmost importance!

    It was the eyes and ears of the entire Political Department and even the Investigation Bureau.

    Controlling the Intelligence Section was like controlling the eyes and ears of the higher-ups at the Investigation Bureau.

    He could show them what he wanted them to see, and let them hear what he wanted them to hear.

    Moreover, with the authority to liaise upwards and request intelligence, the importance of the Intelligence Section was further highlighted.

    With control over this department, Qiu Tu would no longer be in the dark about anything he set out to do.

    As for the Inspection Department... Although it was the least developed and currently just about equivalent to a useless department.

    But that was only because the sword had not been drawn from its sheath.

    Once Qiu Tu sharpened this department, it would become his most powerful weapon, and also the sharp sword hanging over the heads of all his enemies!

    As for the Interrogation Section...

    Although it also held great authority, frankly speaking, it was far inferior to the previous two sections.

    Therefore, as long as it did not cause trouble for Qiu Tu, and even if it was later handed over to a new Head of the Political Department, Qiu Tu felt completely acceptable.

    Thinking this way, Qiu Tu put aside the summary reports from the three departments.

    The summary from the Inspection Department was handed to him personally by the Diciplinary Department, and nobody else could take it away.

    Thus, Qiu Tu''s next goal was to take complete control of the Intelligence Section.

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu also couldn''t help thinking about which of his confidants to transfer into the Intelligence Section to start setting things up...

    At this moment, just as Qiu Tu was thinking this way,

    "Bang bang bang" someone knocked on the door of his office from the outside.

    Qiu Tu snapped back to reality and said in a deep voice, "Come in."

    The office door was pushed open from the outside, and following that, a cute little head peeked in.

    That laughable little head looked left and right, and seeing no one else, bounced into the office with a smile, "Chief! I''ve brought you the record!"

    That cute, youthful appearance certainly belonged to Qiu Tu''s confidant, the young girl Song Qing.

    Seeing the carefree little girl, Qiu Tu couldn''t help but smile, and then he waved to Song Qing, "Bring it here."

    Song Qing quickly scurried over, handing over the document to Qiu Tu.

    The document was not voluminous, including one audio recording and one written material.

    Qiu Tu set the audio recording aside, then picked up the written material to take a look.

    To his discovery, it was a supplementary deposition from an interrogation¡ªadditional testimony compiled by the interrogators based on the audio and video recordings after the interrogation had concluded.

    And the person who had written the supplement was not Tan Huimin, but Li Xian.

    Possibly noticing Qiu Tu''s curiosity, Song Qing explained with her hands clasped behind her giggling, "This deposition was supplemented by Li Xian."

    "He said that since you personally arranged the interrogation yesterday, you would be very interested in it. So he worked overtime in the bureau last night, listening to the interrogation recordings to make a written version of the deposition."

    "This is for your convenience when you need to review it."

    Upon hearing Song Qing''s words, Qiu Tu''s eyes shifted slightly. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Li Xian...?" Qiu Tu recalled his impression of Li Xian.

    He was a young man in his early twenties, a little over 1.7 meters tall, and very capable.

    Qiu Tu remembered that his loyalty had always been ranked among the top few among this batch of confidants.

    And... Qiu Tu also remembered that during the Sudden Attack by the United Front, Li Xian was unlucky enough to get hit by a stray bullet in the right abdomen, nearly dying, but still he fought on the front lines. (Chapter 139)

    ''Loyal... Sharp-witted... And tenacious.''

    ''A promising talent indeed.'' Find adventures on My Virtual Library Empire

    With this thought, Qiu Tu couldn''t help but think of the people he had just been considering for placements into the Intelligence Section.

    For a moment, his eyes were pensive.

    Meanwhile, as Qiu Tu was pondering how to arrange his confidants, Song Qing seemed to have heard something.

 Chapter 271 Great Evil God Zhaohui (10,000 Characters for a Monthly Ticket!)_3

    Her eyes suddenly sparkled, her ears perked up, and she stealthily moved towards the direction of the break room.

    Being a Second-Order Cataclysmic Awakened, Qiu Tu was now extremely sensitive. So, as soon as Song Qing made a slight movement, Qiu Tu detected it.

    It was only then that Qiu Tu remembered Tan Huimin was still bathing in the bathroom.

    The faint sound of "splash splash" water made the entire office atmosphere a bit suggestive.

    Song Qing looked at Qiu Tu with a face full of gossip, blinking her eyes and grinning mischievously like a buddy, she whispered gossiping, "Boss~ is it Secretary Tan? Have you scored?"

    Qiu Tu:.....

    Facing Song Qing, the loudspeaker, Qiu Tu dared not admit anything. He looked at her seriously and threatened, "There''s a confidential case, it''s not suitable to take to the Interrogation Section."

    "So I called her to my office, where I''m using water torture."

    Water torture is one of the most brutal interrogation methods in the Political Department''s Interrogation Section, so upon hearing that, Song Qing really didn''t dare to gossip anymore.

    She quickly raised her hand and said at a rapid pace, "Yes! Boss! No problem! I''ll just! Leave first!"

    After finishing, as soon as Qiu Tu nodded, she ran out of the office like an arrow released from its bow.

    Watching Song Qing''s fleeing figure, Qiu Tu shook his head slightly.

    "This treasure...."

    It had to be said that Qiu Tu was relatively tolerant towards Song Qing. This might be because... of the original interrogation quartet, Liu Fuping left, Wang Xi got caught, and now only Song Qing was left.

    This special relationship made Qiu Tu always a bit more caring towards Song Qing.

    ''It seems... it''s best to adjust Song Qing''s work too. A young girl like her should go to the Administrative Office for clerical work.''

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu picked up the transcript of Zheng Tao''s interrogation by Tan Huimin from yesterday that Li Xian had prepared and began to read slowly....

    Time passed unknowingly, and the "swoosh swoosh" sound of water gradually stopped.

    The sound of slippers walking could be heard in the break room.

    Qiu Tu snapped out of the transcript, he perked up his ears and listened for a few seconds, then he heard a "thump," a dull sound.

    It was as if someone had collapsed on the bed.

    Qiu Tu''s heart tightened, then he continued to listen attentively.

    But, not knowing if something had happened, there were no more sounds coming from inside the room.

    Qiu Tu frowned slightly, and in the end, he put down his pen and stood up to go to the break room.

    He pushed open the break room door, passed through the living room, and arrived at the bedroom.

    What met Qiu Tu''s eyes was Tan Huimin, who had finished her bath.

    She was not wearing any clothes, having collapsed on the bed, curled up in a ball, deeply asleep.

    Find adventures at My Virtual Library Empire

    Her plump oval face was marked with exhaustion, her delicate eyebrows and eyes tightly shut. In just a few short days, her vivacity seemed to be drained away, and her pretty face was filled with gloom. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Women seem to like to separate bathing and hair washing, so even though she had finished bathing, her Young Wife with a Bun Hairstyle was still dry.

    But although her hair was dry, sleeping naked in the deep autumn season was clearly likely to catch a cold.

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu walked forward and gently princess-carried the woman before him with light steps.

    The woman in her sleep struggled slightly, but Qiu Tu just whispered softly, "It''s Ah-Tao."

    The woman''s body tensed up for a moment, then relaxed slowly.

    After pulling away the blanket from beneath Tan Huimin, Qiu Tu laid her back on the bed and then covered her with a blanket.

    Having done all this, Qiu Tu sighed softly, then shook his head and walked towards the bedroom door.

    However, just as he was stepping out of the bedroom,

    suddenly, a prompt flashed before his eyes.

    [Tan Huimin''s Loyalty +18]

    At that moment, Qiu Tu was taken aback, belatedly realizing something wasn''t quite right...

    -------

    It''s still 2 chapters of 10,000 words. It''s the last day of the month, begging for Monthly Tickets! We have a chance to be in the top hundred this month! Begging for Monthly Tickets!

 Chapter 272 Madam, Dont Look Up, Its Ah-Tao (10,000 characters for Monthly Ticket!)

    During this period, Qiu Tu had become extremely thorough and clear in his understanding of his two Golden Fingers.

    [Crisis Intuition], this Golden Finger, could predict crises. He could analyze his current situation based on its changes.

    Like Qiu Tu''s recent crisis, [Promise of the Evil God].

    This crisis arose because Qiu Tu promised to figure out when Moonlight Lake would take shape for Larilo.

    If Qiu Tu failed to fulfill the promise or deceived Larilo, she would retaliate and kill Qiu Tu.

    To ultimately trigger this crisis, two elements were needed. One, Qiu Tu failed to keep his promise; two, Larilo had the means to kill Qiu Tu.

    So, when Qiu Tu casually fooled Larilo last night, making her believe that Moonlight Lake would form before she was freed, and the lake did indeed take shape before her release, the [Crisis Countdown] naturally turned into a Treasure Chest.

    To put it plainly, [Crisis Intuition] had a [prophetic nature].

    However, [Loyalty Game] was different from [Crisis Intuition].

    Loyalty Game was a very "subjective" display.

    Even if Qiu Tu treated his subordinates very well, exceedingly well¡ªif they were unaware of it, their Loyalty would not change at all.

    If Qiu Tu treated his subordinates poorly, just making empty promises and deceiving them, as long as they subjectively believed in him, their Loyalty would still increase.

    Therefore, there was a prerequisite for the change in Loyalty in the Loyalty Game: the subordinates must subjectively know everything that happened.

    Applying this prerequisite to the current situation meant: Tan Huimin must be fully aware of all Qiu Tu''s actions for her Loyalty to change.

    In other words¡ªthis woman was pretending to be asleep!

    With this thought, Qiu Tu suddenly felt that everything that just happened was different.

    He had casually said "I''m going to take a shower," and Tan Huimin had really gone to shower; later, hearing a "bang" like a muffled sound, he thought something had happened to her, but when he checked, he found her undressed.... So, all of this was an act.

    So, was the "hunter" pretending to be the "prey"?

    With this thought, Qiu Tu became a little curious about what Tan Huimin really wanted to do.

    But he didn''t rush.

    Because... since she wanted to play the prey, it certainly wouldn''t be just this once.

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu left the bedroom without any expression, even "thoughtfully" closing the bedroom door behind him.

    After that, Qiu Tu left the lounge and returned to his desk, continuing to look at the written statements from yesterday''s interrogation of Tan Huimin and Zheng Tao.

    To avoid any misrecorded content from Li Xian, Qiu Tu even took a tape recorder, playing the recording while reading along.

    About five or six minutes into reading, a "snap" was suddenly heard from the lounge, sounding like the shatter of a glass hitting the floor.

    Qiu Tu knew instantly: the hunter disguised as prey was beginning another hunt...

    With this thought, Qiu Tu calmly put down the statement and walked inside.

    Entering the bedroom, Tan Huimin''s body was again emerging from under the blanket, her heavy left breast pressing against the bedsheets, full and round.

    Her eyes were tightly shut, her face a bit flushed, her lips somewhat dry as if she had a fever; she murmured softly, "Water... water..." as she stretched her bare left arm to fumble on the bedside table.

    It seemed the water glass had fallen this way.

    Seeing this scene, Qiu Tu''s gaze fluctuated slightly: Feigning illness?

    With that thought, Qiu Tu did not reveal her act but played along. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    He walked over, gently taking hold of Tan Huimin''s hand, and softly said, "You want water, do you?"

    "Don''t worry, I''ll get it for you."

    Tan Huimin''s hand was smooth and cool, like jade.

    "Who... who are you?" Hearing Qiu Tu''s voice, Tan Huimin murmured with her eyes closed.

    Qiu Tu''s hand gently caressed the soft edge of Tan Huimin''s left breast, and then slid up her swan neck, reaching her beautiful oval face.

    Gently stroking her face, Qiu Tu softly said, "It''s Ah-Tao, Hui Min."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Tan Huimin seemed to suddenly become tense.

    With her eyes still closed, she fumbled and tightly grabbed Qiu Tu''s hand, then said, "Ah-Tao... Ah-Tao... leave quickly, get out of here."

    Discover more content at My Virtual Library Empire

    "I know you were instructed by Secretary Bai. You don''t really want to hurt Qiu Tu."

    "Whether you do nothing or reveal all of this, Secretary Bai will kill you."

    Hearing Tan Huimin''s words, Qiu Tu was taken aback...

    Truth be told, Qiu Tu had considered many possible objectives Tan Huimin might have for disguising herself, and the methods she might use to achieve them. But he hadn''t thought of this ¡ª because it was too simple, too direct!

    This approach was as naive as children playing house.

    In that instant, Qiu Tu almost didn''t want to continue acting with Tan Huimin. It was just too trivial.

    However, while Qiu Tu was thinking this,

    Tan Huimin''s hand that stretched out suddenly flailed wildly.

    Qiu Tu jolted, nearly jumping to his feet in fright.

    And then, while still pretending, Tan Huimin closed her eyes and said, "Ah-Tao... you''re right to escape with a weapon."

    "But you must take good care of your weapon."

    Having said that, Tan Huimin then threw herself onto Qiu Tu, starting to undo his belt.

    Qiu Tu had seen all sorts of situations.

    Hmm... Except this one.

 Chapter 272 Madam, Dont Look Up, Its Ah-Tao (10,000 characters for Monthly Ticket)_2

    ```

    He had originally just thought that Tan Hui Min was simply playing "sick" and "sleeping" to seek revenge for her husband.

    To his surprise, it turned out to be cosplay?!

    Who the hell could stand this?

    And just as Qiu Tu was thinking this.

    Tan Hui Min, with her eyes closed, murmured softly, "When you''re going on a long journey, in addition to weapons, you must also bring food."

    "The food must be cooked, and most importantly, it mustn''t be spoiled."

    "You''ve always been careless about this, let me taste it for you."

    Qiu Tu couldn''t help but hiss.

    He had wanted to refuse, but.... how could he possibly refuse?

    At this moment, Tan Hui Min opened her mouth again and asked, "Ah-Tao.... do you think you can escape?"

    Qiu Tu:.....

    Qiu Tu finally figured out what Tan Hui Min''s plan was.

    In this situation, how could he refuse anything?

    So what could Qiu Tu say?

    Of course, he just stroked Tan Hui Min''s head and said, "Don''t look back... don''t look up, madam, I am Ah-Tao, and I can escape."

    With Qiu Tu''s affirmative response, Tan Hui Min finally put her mind completely at ease.....

    Half an hour later, everything was over.

    Tan Hui Min wiped the corner of her mouth, then wrapped the blanket around herself, murmuring, "Ah-Tao, once you leave, once you leave..... I''ll be relieved."

    "You must make sure to leave safely...."

    Looking at the woman in front of him, Qiu Tu knew exactly what she meant: she was using what would happen next to keep him on the hook.

    She wanted Qiu Tu to let Zheng Tao go safely and then play poker with Qiu Tu afterward....

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu felt it was somewhat amusing for a moment.

    Don''t judge Tan Hui Min by her weak strength and low position, for she was like a wild horse with her own convictions deep inside.

    A woman like that was much more interesting than other women and was more likely to arouse a man''s desire to conquer.

    Thinking this way, Qiu Tu''s gaze inadvertently fell upon Tan Hui Min, who had curled herself up into a ball and turned over to sleep, and then twinkled slightly....

    ''You want to play, then let''s play....''

    With this thought, Qiu Tu chuckled, picked up the chest, went straight out of the bedroom, and gently closed the door for Tan Hui Min.

    Hearing the sound of the door closing, Tan Hui Min''s body, which had been a bit rigid all along, slowly relaxed....

    .....

    It seems women are born actresses.

    Even though she obviously had Qiu Tu''s "meal", Tan Hui Min still acted as if nothing had happened.

    In the afternoon, after waking up, she naturally thanked Qiu Tu and then got back to work.

    Even when Qiu Tu intentionally let his gaze linger on her mouth several times, her expression didn''t show any change, as if... she really was asleep at the time.

    ''Is this the epitome of self-deception?'' Discover stories with My Virtual Library Empire

    Qiu Tu found it a little hard to understand women''s thought processes ¡ª they seemed especially good at deceiving themselves. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Sometimes, they just need a high-sounding excuse, and it seems they can accept anything.

    So, Qiu Tu kept busy for an afternoon.

    That afternoon, within his authority, he rearranged all of his confidants.

    Since they had all reached at least the level of First Level Detective and could lead a team on their own, Qiu Tu left behind Ding Xiaoliu and about ten other confidants in the Action Division, indirectly controlling over a hundred Special Service Detectives. As for the other dozen or so confidants, they were dispersed into various sections of the Political Department.

    Among them, Li Xian and Zhu Huoyan were transferred by Qiu Tu to the "Intelligence Section"; Guard Room Detective Wang Dawei, who had defected to Qiu Tu, was promoted on the spot by Qiu Tu into the Interrogation Section; Chen Feng and Eagle were transferred by Qiu Tu to the "Inspection Department",

    As for Cao Dabiao, he was sent to the Administrative Office according to the plan Qiu Tu had for him originally. Going along with him were the young girl Song Qing and Ding Xiaoqi.

    Plus, Li Ke, the Administrative Office Detective who had always wanted to side with Qiu Tu (from Chapter 15), was enough for Cao Dabiao to carve out a niche for himself in the Administrative Office.

    Adding to that, the Monkey, Ah-Shui, Da Tou, and over a dozen other brothers who were promoted by Qiu Tu from "temporary detectives" to "Third-Level Detectives,"

    Qiu Tu''s sphere of influence stretched from the Political Department to the Administrative Office, Public Security Bureau, and several other departments.

    ```

    With the addition of the confidants of The Five Elders, he was now so influential that a mere sneeze from him would shake the Investigation Bureau to its core.

    However, although Qiu Tu''s maneuvers were significant, they paled in comparison to Tang Feifei''s bold and resolute actions.

    While Qiu Tu was busy installing his confidants, Tang Feifei was also furiously promoting her own loyalists.

    This allowed her power to swell even faster.

    Moreover, following Qiu Tu''s advice, she immediately transferred all the squads under her loyalists'' control to the Training Department under the pretext of training after placing them in the Special Service Department.

    Because of her drastic actions, the Special Service Department was at one point left with barely any usable squads, which infuriated Lin Ting to the point of almost confronting Tang Feifei directly.

    However... whether it was Tang Feifei''s strength, background, or the leverage of "The Death of Wu Zhi", it all made Lin Ting feel somewhat powerless to act against her.

    So, after stewing in frustration all afternoon, he ended up doing nothing and simply let his driver take him to Emerald Fort to indulge and unwind...

    Soon, a day had passed.

    That evening, Qiu Tu didn''t go back to his home with Fang Tangtang but returned to his own home instead...

    In the days following the United Front assassination attempt, Qiu Tu hadn''t returned home at all, leaving only a female detective in the villa to accompany Shen Lingshuang.

    Now that Qiu Tu had finished his business, of course, he should go back to check on things.

    Upon returning to his villa, Qiu Tu was greeted by Xiao Bai, whose head had grown as large as a wardrobe.

    After finally dismissing Xiao Bai, Shen Lingshuang came pouting with discontent clearly written on her face.

    She was obviously dissatisfied with Qiu Tu''s absence from home for several days.

    Qiu Tu had no other merit but thick skin. So after giving a "hehe" and a quick apology, he got past it.

    Shen Lingshuang was actually still upset at the time and didn''t want to forgive Qiu Tu. But... who could blame him for knowing her submissive nature too well.

    So after pulling her onto his lap and giving her a round of sand palm treatment, Shen Lingshuang blushed and with eyes aglitter, let Qiu Tu off the hook...

    The night passed without further words.

    The next day, the day when Yan Chen utterly lost any hope of becoming the Deputy Speaker at Moonlight Lake, had arrived.

    Qiu Tu got up early.

    After washing up, having breakfast, and chatting with Shen Lingshuang, Qiu Tu called his driver and headed for the Investigation Bureau.

    On his way to the Investigation Bureau, Qiu Tu rolled down the car window and gazed deeply at the giant tree phantom that spanned the sky above.

    Dots of green starlight adorned it, forming a majestic and magnificent vast tree.

    ''Fourth-order Cataclysmics... I wonder when I will reach that level.''

    ''Moreover... with Moonlight Lake taking shape, Xinjie City is probably about to be hit by a huge storm, right?''

    Meanwhile, as Qiu Tu contemplated this, in Eastern City, a secret base.

    Liu Xiongyuan, dressed in the Bureau Chief''s uniform, paced back and forth in front of several individuals wearing white lab coats.

    The group in white coats looked somewhat like chemists from before the Era of Disaster.

    But judging from the various instruments and tools they were fiddling with, they seemed more akin to pharmacists like Shen Lingshuang.

    At this moment, they were gathered around a medium-sized device, engaged in intense discussion.

    "To fully form Moonlight Lake, we must use the ''Storm Skull'' to concentrate the Power of Laws brought by Yan Chen into Moonlight Lake!"

    "As for other methods, I think they are all somewhat lacking."

    "I think we could use a potion. Pouring a ''Gathering Spirit'' type of potion into the core of Moonlight Lake would naturally attract all the Laws and Cataclysmic Powers within its range."

    "By then, Moonlight Lake, having absorbed such immense power, would take shape earlier."

    "I don''t think that will work..."

    They discussed their diverse opinions for several hours like this.

    Eventually, just as Liu Xiongyuan''s patience was nearly worn thin, a detailed action plan was handed to him.

    With the plan in hand, Liu Xiongyuan finally relaxed.

    He carefully reviewed the entire plan and, after ensuring everything was within his capabilities, he thanked the individuals in white coats and then hurriedly left the secret base to commence accelerating the congealment of Moonlight Lake!

    ------

 Chapter 273 The Birth of Moonlight Lake! (10,000 Words for Monthly Ticket!)

    ....

    Meanwhile, as Liu Xiongyuan initiated his actions and began to catalyze Moonlight Lake,

    Qiu Tu also arrived at the Investigation Bureau.

    The current Qiu Tu and the one who first came to the Investigation Bureau were in completely different states.

    His neat black investigator''s uniform now bore the insignia of three bars and one flower on his shoulders; division heads and agents along the way all stood to salute him.

    Wherever he went, Qiu Tu began to enjoy the attention and deference befitting a high-ranking official of the Investigation Bureau.

    Secretary Tan Huimin was obviously more diligent today. She waited early in the parking lot, and as soon as Qiu Tu''s car stopped, she promptly came forward to open the door for him.

    After picking up Qiu Tu, she took the initiative to lead the way elegantly, all the while briefing Qiu Tu on the day''s schedule and arrangements.

    She epitomized the level of excellence expected of a secretary.

    Only, perhaps because her attire was too glamorous today¡ªnot only had she dressed up, but she also wore a light makeup and applied bright red lipstick¡ª

    every time his gaze fell upon her seductive lips, Qiu Tu couldn''t help but recall the scene where she swallowed his "provision" from the day before.

    ''I''m still influenced by this woman¡­''

    While contemplating that beauty was like a double-edged sword, Qiu Tu joined Secretary Tan in the elevator and went upstairs.

    Given Qiu Tu''s current status, no one of equal or lesser rank would take the initiative to ride the elevator with him. Therefore, the spacious elevator contained only Qiu Tu and Secretary Tan.

    Perhaps perceiving Qiu Tu''s unusual gaze, Secretary Tan took the initiative to ask, "Chief, why do you keep looking at my mouth?"

    With that, she extended her index finger and gently pressed her delicate lips, inquiring, "Is my lipstick smeared by accident?"

    Qiu Tu:¡­.

    Qiu Tu was 99% certain that this woman was trying to seduce him.

    Well, the remaining 1% was wondering if she was hinting at wanting to have a quick encounter right there in the elevator!

    Yesterday, although Secretary Tan acted convincingly, she was clearly sober. Being so, she must be aware of what happened between them.

    If she was behaving like this now, she was no doubt attempting seduction.

    As Qiu Tu was thinking this, Secretary Tan spoke up.

    In a soft voice, she said, "Yesterday afternoon, when I was sleeping, I felt like I had a long dream. I dreamed that Ah-Tao had left Xinjie City."

    "That was the most comfortable sleep I''ve had in recent days."

    "I wonder when that will become a reality."

    "By then, I guess my sleep will be even more comfortable."

    Qiu Tu:¡­.

    Although Secretary Tan spoke vaguely, she was actually reminding Qiu Tu to fulfill his "promise."

    And she continued to tempt Qiu Tu with promises¡ªthe "comfort" she referred to was likely not about how comfortably she slept, but rather how comfortable it would be to sleep with her, right?

    However, for some reason, Qiu Tu, who had been eager a moment earlier, suddenly cooled down.

    Although Secretary Tan was indeed tempting, Qiu Tu had his own principles about certain matters.

    Oh, it wasn''t that those who sided with an Evil God must die, but rather... if they are enemies, they must be eliminated without leaving future troubles!

    Even though Zheng Tao might not have intentionally opposed him and might have many compelling reasons,

    Qiu Tu never spared in contemplating the most venomous perspective of a person.

    ¡ªZheng Tao had offended him. Even if he was prepared to forgive Zheng Tao from the bottom of his heart, would Zheng Tao truly believe it?

    And having delivered his wife right to Qiu Tu''s lips¡ªalthough he hadn''t completely devoured her but had already tasted her¡ªwould Zheng Tao genuinely be indifferent?

    Qiu Tu, if placed in that situation, certainly would not simply put aside such animosity.

    He would certainly bear the grudge, gather his strength, and find satisfaction in eventually killing his enemy.

    Therefore, although Secretary Tan had good intentions, what she didn''t know was that from the moment she tasted Qiu Tu, Zheng Tao''s fate was truly sealed¡­.

    Thinking this way, Qiu Tu showed nothing on his face.

    He joked, "Director Zheng will certainly be safe. It''s just that Secretary Tan may need to dream a few more times."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s overt flirtation, Secretary Tan''s expression tensed for a moment and her hand involuntarily tightened into a fist, but she soon returned to normal.

    She was intent on probing further, but at that moment¡ª

    With a "ding," they arrived at the ninth floor.

    Qiu Tu stepped out of the elevator, and seeing this, Secretary Tan quickly followed.

    Arriving at the office, Qiu Tu soon immersed himself in a day''s work.

    As the vice-minister of the Political Department, especially one with extensive authority, Qiu Tu had a lot of work that was also highly valuable. Find exclusive stories on My Virtual Library Empire

    Especially now that he had officially taken over the intelligence department, the Intelligence Section began delivering daily important intelligence summaries, allowing him to understand comprehensively the events occurring in Xinjie City each day. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Just like yesterday, perhaps due to changes in Yan Chen''s Illusion of the Law, The military dispatched a battalion to be stationed around Garden Villa.

    Like the Security Department, which had recently been actively planting agents within the United Front.

    Like City Hall, which had successfully partnered with a wealthy Eastern City businessman yesterday to handle the redevelopment of an abandoned area of the city.

    The overall terms were not particularly generous; the businessman would probably not make much profit through normal operations.

    However, outside of this partnership, Commissioner Jiang from City Hall also gave the nod to allot a plot near Xinjie''s east gate to that wealthy businessman.

 Chapter 273 The Birth of Moonlight Lake! (10,000 Words for Monthly Ticket!)_2

    Aside from local intelligence in Xinjie City, the information about Moonlight Lake that Qiu Tu had been paying special attention to also arrived.

    According to the intelligence reports,

    the place where Moonlight Lake was about to emerge was actually a depression located between Xinjie City and Eastern City. Read exclusive adventures at My Virtual Library Empire

    It was originally a small Cataclysm Forest.

    But years ago, due to the influence of a clash between two Evil Gods in the Boundless Heart Sea, the ground collapsed in the middle of the forest, trees fell, and a 1.52-square-kilometer depression was formed.

    At first, no one cared about this depression. After all, in this age of Cataclysm, any sort of phenomenon could occur, and the three major power institutions had become accustomed to oddities.

    However, over time, things began to change.

    Just over a year ago, the forest would suddenly be enveloped in thick fog every night.

    The fog was impervious to wind and would not dissipate with rain, yet it receded every time the skies cleared.

    The Political Department and Security Department, having learned about this phenomenon from passersby, started regular observations and investigations.

    Gradually, they discovered strange changes occurring in the corresponding area of the Boundless Heart Sea¡ªa small tornado continued to swirl specifically in this region of the Boundless Heart Sea.

    After reporting to the Sanctuary, experts were specially dispatched to conduct research and analysis. They ultimately concluded that a Moonlight Lake was about to be formed there.

    According to the experts, the battle between the two Evil Gods years ago might have disrupted the Cataclysmic Power in this area.

    The injury of the Evil Gods, shedding a significant amount of "Divine Blood," coincidentally "activated" the Cataclysmic Powers in these areas.

    Thus, with a large amount of "Divine Blood" as the core, and the "activated" Cataclysmic Power as the force, a Cataclysm Storm began to form here.

    The Cataclysm Storm would engulf the surrounding Cataclysmic Power, making the power in this area more and more concentrated.

    It would undergo a qualitative change with the "Divine Blood," eventually producing the Cataclysmic Material¡ªTears of Moonlight.

    The expert who came for the research was clearly very experienced; after inspecting the depression and the aftermath of the battle between the Evil Gods in the Boundless Heart Sea, he also provided his estimate of the yield of the Moonlight Lake: 1.3 tons of Tears of Moonlight. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Suffice to create 65,000 bottles of Cataclysmic Potion.

    This astounding treasury shocked the military and Investigation Bureau in both Xinjie City and Eastern City.

    Therefore, over the past six months, four departments have been locked in a political chess game over this Moonlight Lake, ultimately reaching a delicate balance.

    The Investigation Bureau of Eastern City and the military of Xinjie City could each claim roughly 30% of the shares of Moonlight Lake; while the Investigation Bureau of Xinjie City and the military of Eastern City would each take 20%.

    Because of the ongoing power struggle, Yan Chen had deployed almost all the elite detectives trained by the Special Service Department over the past year.

    This is also an important reason for the current weakened strength of the Special Service Department.

    Now, due to Yan Chen''s sudden promotion, the military of Xinjie City had no choice but to start mobilizing personnel to protect Yan Chen.

    This led to a substantial weakening of Xinjie City''s military presence in the Moonlight Lake area. Hence, Eastern City has now completely overwhelmed Xinjie City.

    It''s said that although General Ye has not openly cursed Yan Chen in the past two days, his complexion has been constantly sour.

    After reading through all the reports on Moonlight Lake, Qiu Tu had a general understanding of the current intelligence on Moonlight Lake.

    He remembered discussing this with Tang Feifei.

    All the power departments actually had missions and requirements to collect Cataclysmic Materials in the Planning Area.

    Each year, depending on the amount of Cataclysmic Material submitted, the Sanctuary would allocate different ratings.

    Promotions above the Deputy Director level had a lot to do with this rating, even surpassing the evaluation of daily duties.

    This is one of the main reasons why various forces were tempted by such a large Moonlight Lake when it was discovered.

    After reviewing all the data, Qiu Tu had a comprehensive understanding of the Moonlight Lake.

    He picked up the tea brewed by Tan Huimin, took a gentle sip, and then walked to the window.

    It might have been a coincidence, but the window of Qiu Tu''s office faced directly towards the location of the depression.

    Qiu Tu stood by the window, quietly looking out for a while. In the end, he still took out his communicator and made two phone calls¡­

    The festivity surrounding Moonlight Lake had been targeted by various powers as early as six months ago, and it was already completely divided by several heavyweights. Thus, it was certain that he''d be unable to intervene and snatch any benefits now.

    But this didn''t mean that he couldn''t reap something indirectly¡­

    Especially when the United Front was very likely to cause trouble.

    ¡­

    Day turned to night quickly.

    Nighttime. The region between Xinjie City and Eastern City.

    The outskirts of the forest, recently renamed from "Nameless Forest" to "Moonlight Forest" over the past six months, where makeshift barracks had been constructed.

    On a deep autumn night, leaves withered and fell. Under the azure moonlight, one could clearly see squads of fully armed soldiers and Special Service Detectives patrolling through the woods.

    They were obviously the elite of various cities, not only robust in physique but also exceptional in demeanor.

    Armed with rifles, their boots crunched on fallen leaves with a "crackling" sound.

    This was another peaceful night over half a year.

    Hence, the patrolling soldiers and detectives weren''t particularly vigilant.

    After all, it had been like this every night for the past six months; they were long accustomed to it...

    But on this ordinary yet extraordinary night, everything seemed to have changed.

    Initially, it was just a faint fog spreading as usual.

 Chapter 273 The Birth of Moonlight Lake! (10,000 Words for Monthly Ticket!)_3

    The fog seemed to emerge from beneath the ground, spreading silently throughout the entire forest.

    Then the fog grew thicker and damper.

    The soldiers and detectives, already accustomed to this change, withdrew from the forest in line with their usual experience, standing outside the forest and observing in silence.

    Based on previous experiences, they estimated that the fog would reach its peak density around 12 o''clock, and then it would start to wane.

    By around 5 in the morning, it would have completely dissipated.

    Having been through this process for half a year, they didn''t pay much attention to it.

    Like in the southern part of the forest controlled by Xinjie City Investigation Bureau, a few detectives from the Special Service Department were even smoking and chatting casually.

    "Old Zhang, how long has it been since you were home?"

    "Sigh, almost a month. My shift''s about to end. When I get back, I can have a good rest."

    "That''s nice. I just came here last week for my shift, probably have another three weeks to go."

    Hearing his companion''s words, Old Zhang asked, "Huh? You just got here last week? Anything interesting happen recently?"

    Hearing Old Zhang''s question, the detective chuckled and said, "Anything interesting? Let me tell you, you''ve missed out this past month on duty. The Investigation Bureau has been bustling like we''re in a blockbuster movie, with one act after another. It was especially thrilling." Continue your adventure at My Virtual Library Empire S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Curious upon hearing this, Old Zhang went, "Oh?" and then as if thinking of something, he asked, "It wouldn''t be something Deputy Chief Qiu cooked up, would it?"

    "He''s really something. He shot up the ranks in just half a month, shocking us all."

    At these words, his companion smiled mysteriously, "Deputy Chief Qiu? Hehe¡­ He''s no longer a deputy chief now."

    And while they were talking...

    Suddenly... two brilliant stars lit up the pitch-black sky.

    One star was extremely bright, rivaling the Polaris from Qiu Tu''s previous life, while the other, though fainter, was crystal clear.

    Since the two stars appeared out of nowhere, Old Zhang and his companion were suddenly distracted from their conversation.

    They couldn''t help but look up to see what was happening.

    At that moment, a dazzling silver pillar of light suddenly appeared between the two stars!

    The next second, the pillar of light plummeted from the heavens, crashing directly into the center of Moonlight Forest!

    In that instant, the valley floor trembled slightly, and an invisible energy surged through the air, bringing with it gusts of wind.

    The silver fog was blasted into the air, then gathered above the forest, condensed, and rose until it formed a silver giant dragon spiraling in the sky.

    Seeing this, both Old Zhang and his companion were shocked!

    Their mouths slowly opened in awe, and their cigarettes fell to the ground unnoticed, clearly unaware of what had happened!

    But the transformation did not stop because of their astonishment!

    The silver-white foggy giant dragon circled in the sky for a few seconds, roared towards the heavens, and then suddenly plummeted straight into the central depression of Moonlight Forest!

    The very next second, waves of silver-white light emanated from the bottom of the lake.

    The light seemed to possess a magical power, appearing out of nowhere, growing from nothing to something, and spreading rapidly.

    Soon, the light filled the entire depression!

    The next second, the light solidified!

    Accompanied by the "whooshing" sound of rushing water, a lake as smooth and clear as a mirror, filled with silver-white water, was born out of thin air!

    A breeze swept across, creating ripples on the lake surface, with silver ripples shimmering in the moonlight, like countless stars jumping in the water!

    Drawing the attention of various forces from Xinjie City, Eastern City, the United Front, and Sanctuaries alike, and containing 1.3 tons of Tears of Moonlight, capable of producing 65,000 bottles of Cataclysmic Potion, Moonlight Lake¡­. was officially born!

    -------

 Chapter 274 Qiu Tus Stratagems Within the Tent! (10,000 words for Monthly Tickets!)

    At this moment, Old Zhang and his companions were scared stiff!

    Even though they had already known from their superior when they received the mission that they were guarding and patrolling a supernatural lake, a supernatural forest.

    But what one hears and what one sees for oneself are somewhat different.

    Seeing the brilliant, silver-white starlight falling from the sky, exploding over the entire forest; seeing the pervasive mist turn into a white dragon coiling up into the sky!

    Hearing the sudden sound of "gurgle gurgle" of water in the dried-up hollow at the center of the forest, feeling the sudden abundant presence of life, how could they not know that the supernatural lake spoken of by their superior had been born!

    Thus, they widened their eyes, stared dumbfounded for a few seconds, then turned and ran towards the back to report the situation!

    Soon, the quiet campsite was filled with the "rustle rustle" of whispered talking and the sounds of dressing.

    Before long, more and more shouting and rallying calls resounded over the campsite of the Xinjie City Investigation Bureau.

    Squads of Special Service Detectives promptly arrived at the ready, led by a First Level Detective captain.

    However, while the Xinjie City Investigation Bureau was quick, the other three factions were not slow. Or perhaps... even faster.

    Especially the Eastern City Investigation Bureau, which had already received Liu Xiongyuan''s signal. They had made their preparations early in the evening.

    Therefore, from the moment the starlight landed, they headed straight for the Moonlight Forest. This also made them one of the factions to arrive at Moonlight Lake...

    "Quick, quick, quick!"

    "This way! This way!"

    Accompanied by quiet commands in the dark forest, soon, the squad from the Eastern City Investigation Bureau arrived at Moonlight Lake!

    By this time, the newly formed Moonlight Lake lay quietly flat in the depression at the center of the Moonlight Forest.

    The lake water flowed quietly, like a silvery mirror, reflecting the Blue Moon in the night sky, creating a stark contrast with the pitch-black Moonlight Forest under the night''s veil.

    "Is this Moonlight Lake? It''s magical..."

    The commanding tall squad leader from the Eastern City Investigation Bureau gazed at the sacred lake before him, his face filled with joy and astonishment.

    He gestured with his hands for his subordinates to stay calm, and then he himself began walking slowly towards Moonlight Lake.

    It could have been an illusion, but Moonlight Lake seemed to be "blooming" at that moment!

    Every ripple on its calm surface brought up a whiff of mist, and this mist seemed imbued with a powerful life force; as soon as it floated to the vicinity of Moonlight Lake, it instantly made the plants it touched burst into unprecedented vitality.

    Seeing this, the lead tall squad leader purposefully walked through a strand of mist, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath!

    A faint fragrance lingered in his nostrils; he felt as though ancient trees were bursting into new greenery, and his whole body was extremely invigorated! S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ''Amazing!'' he exclaimed inwardly, but knowing the urgency of the night and the weight of the mission, he waved his hand to the back and commanded in a low voice, "Quick, quick! Set up the equipment now!"

    Hearing the squad leader''s words, the detectives, light on their feet and adept in their movements, ran over with the equipment and began to set it up.

    Their equipment resembled water pumps, but had undergone some special modifications.

    Such as adding a filtration device; connecting the water outlet to several large drums for easy transportation; and... the machine also had an external diesel generator, among other things. Experience tales with My Virtual Library Empire

    These dozen or so detectives had clearly rehearsed many times before, so it took them only a minute to assemble the machine.

    Then, under the command of the towering squad leader, two detectives threw the water pumping tube into Moonlight Lake!

    Meanwhile, several other detectives started pouring diesel into the generator and then started the machine.

    "Chug chug chug chug!" Along with the roar of the water pump, the pump began to operate furiously!

    Moonlight Lake contained not only Tears of Moonlight, but also a lot of pure water condensed from the air. The filtration system was meant to filter out the pure water, then extract the Tears of Moonlight!

    Soon... "drip... drip... splash... splash..."

    The plastic barrels started filling up with more and more filtered Tears of Moonlight.

    The Tears of Moonlight were just like the small bottle Qiu Tu had once obtained; they were silvery and luminous like mercury, shimmering as if moonlight were flowing through them.

    Seeing this scene, the tall squad leader finally let out a sigh of relief¡ªhis vanguard unit had at least successfully completed their mission.

    This placed the Eastern City Investigation Bureau at the forefront among the four major forces.

    They had secured a considerable amount of time to extract the Cataclysmic Material!

    Just as he was thinking this, suddenly, the west side of Moonlight Forest was filled with the clamor of footsteps.

    The tall squad leader was taken aback for a moment, somewhat in disbelief as he looked towards that direction.

    What he saw was that several squads from the Xinjie City Military Department had also arrived at the lake''s edge with equipment.

    And it was clear they were also well-prepared in advance; as soon as they reached the lake, they immediately began to assemble their equipment and started extracting the Tears of Moonlight.

    Altogether, they were only about 3 minutes slower than the Eastern City Investigation Bureau.

    ''How is this possible!'' the tall squad leader thought incredulously.

    After all, during this period, the four major forces had a thorough understanding of each other.

    Although they performed patrols at night, because the formation of Moonlight Lake was still a while off, most were just going through the motions.

    The night patrols usually comprised no more than 5-10 people. The rest of the detectives and soldiers were normally sleeping and resting.

    As for the equipment, some had not brought it along, while others were stored in the camp''s secret storerooms, making retrieval quite troublesome.

 Chapter 274 Qiu Tus Stratagems Within the Tent! (10,000 Words for Monthly Ticket!)_2

    Therefore, if the Xinjie City Military Department was only three minutes slower than them, it means they must have received the news early and made preparations.

    Explore stories at My Virtual Library Empire

    ''Did the Bureau Chief strike a deal with them? Or... is there a mole?!''

    Thinking this, the tall section chief''s gaze turned sharp.

    He squinted his eyes, looking towards the Xinjie City Military Department''s vanguard squad with a bit of danger, feeling an impulse to do something...

    Just at that moment, the sound of rustling footsteps erupted from both the east and west sides of the dark forest.

    Soon, from behind the tall section chief and from behind the Xinjie City Military Department''s squad, figures from large units appeared.

    The reinforcements had arrived.

    Quickly, key positions along the shore and in the surrounding forest were occupied by the two forces.

    Because the numbers and equipment of both sides were not significantly different, they were very restrained and only began to be wary of each other.

    Seeing this, the tall section chief no longer allowed his thoughts to wander but instead focused on commanding his men to extract Tears of Moonlight.

    But... the matter of why the Xinjie City Military Department arrived so quickly still gnawed at his mind like a parasite...

    ''Who could have done it...?''

    .....

    Meanwhile.

    Xinjie City, 12th floor of the Investigation Bureau, Tang Feifei''s office.

    Qiu Tu and Tang Feifei, wearing uniforms and holding red wine, stood by the window, gazing in the direction of Moonlight Forest and chatting leisurely.

    Qiu Tu took a sip of red wine and said softly, "I told the military about Moonlight Lake''s early condensation. Aren''t you angry?" S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Having held power for just a few days, Tang Feifei''s aura had become even more refined and profound.

    Her eyes flickered with a yellow glow as she stared distantly and said calmly, "There''s nothing to be angry about."

    She explained understandingly, "This time, our goal is very clear, which is to make Yan Chen lose face with the higher-ups."

    "If both the Xinjie City Military Department and the Investigation Bureau gain no benefits from the emergence of Moonlight Lake..."

    "Then the authorities will think that Xinjie is inferior to Eastern City."

    "Since Eastern City was established five or six years earlier and has capable figures like Liu Xiongyuan anchoring it, outshining Xinjie is somewhat justifiable."

    "Yan Chen''s loss won''t be too great."

    "However, now that the military has joined in on this grand event and gained huge benefits, what will be highlighted is Yan Chen''s incompetence and shortsightedness."

    "In this way, he can forget about being the Deputy Speaker; in fact, once he comes out, he''ll probably be directly criticized and dealt with by the authorities."

    Hearing Tang Feifei''s analysis, Qiu Tu smiled and nodded in agreement, then endorsed, "Exactly. The reason I told the military about this was, in fact, for the sake of contrast."

    "Only by comparing with the successful can we see Yan Chen''s failures."

    "And..." Pausing, Qiu Tu continued, "after all, we are people of Xinjie."

    "Whether it''s for battle or something else, we still need to strive for benefits for Xinjie when we can."

    "Moonlight Lake''s massive benefits, no matter which faction of Xinjie City obtains them, will actually bring considerable aid and influence to Xinjie City."

    "At least... it can give birth to a few more Cataclysmics."

    Upon hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Tang Feifei slightly nodded, indicating her agreement.

    Qiu Tu, looking at Tang Feifei''s serene profile, turned his gaze toward the distance.

    In fact... there was one more crucial point he hadn''t mentioned.

    He revealed the information about Moonlight Lake to the military not just because of the two reasons just discussed.

    Don''t forget that he is not only the Deputy Director of the Political Department at the Investigation Bureau but also a legitimate Captain in the military.

    Although he too was somewhat unclear as to which side he truly belonged to, it didn''t matter... as long as he had a position¡ªthis also served as a safety net for him.

    After all, climbing up the ranks step by step, he might indeed face something in the future that he couldn''t handle, and then he could simply switch allegiance.

    At that moment, while Qiu Tu was contemplating, Tang Feifei gazed at the distant scenery and then said softly, "Actually, the most important reason I''m not angry is that, after you called the military, you immediately phoned me."

    Tang Feifei said with a chill, "This shows that you don''t regard me merely as a boss or a regular partner."

    Qiu Tu replied with a smile, "Of course, I wouldn''t just see you as a boss or a regular partner."

    "We are comrades-at-arms."

    "And... you are also my Martial Techniques instructor."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s ambiguous statement, Tang Feifei''s eyes narrowed, suggesting something, "Indeed. We are comrades-at-arms..."

    After speaking, Tang Feifei looked at Qiu Tu like a leopardess eying her prey, the yellow glow in her eyes twinkling.

    Her cheeks were flushed from the wine, and coupled with her untamed aura, she seemed ready to engage in a lengthy battle with Qiu Tu.

    Seeing this, Qiu Tu hastily coughed and reminded, "Bureau Chief. I don''t mind, but... tonight''s operation still needs your remote command."

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, Tang Feifei''s eyes regained their clarity. She took another sip of wine and looked into the distance again.

    Afterward, she asked softly, "Are you sure something will definitely happen tonight?"

    Qiu Tu replied softly, "90% sure."

    Tang Feifei, puzzled, asked, "Why are you so certain?"

    Qiu Tu laughed, "Intelligence and analysis."

    "All of the enemy''s habits and methods are hidden in the intelligence they inadvertently reveal."

    "As long as we gather enough intelligence, make enough analysis, and thoroughly understand the enemy, we can predict the enemy''s every move."

 Chapter 274 Qiu Tus Stratagems Within the Tent! (10,000 Words for Monthly Ticket!)_3

    Qiu Tu commented, "Compared to the Sanctuary Force, anti-government armed forces like the United Front obviously need Cataclysmic Material and Cataclysmic Awakening Potion even more."

    "That''s why they''ve always had a huge interest in Moonlight Lake."

    "In order to take over Moonlight Lake, they''ve assembled the forces of three divisions in the Disaster Zone recently, moving rapidly towards Moonlight Lake."

    "The reason Liu Xiongyuan has been so quick to harness Moonlight Lake is partly due to the pressure from them."

    "As long as Moonlight Lake forms quickly and gets depleted swiftly, the United Front will lose its target and naturally retreat."

    "But, if we know this, the United Front surely knows it too."

    "So, they will stop at nothing to interrupt the process of us extracting Tears of Moonlight."

    Tang Feifei nodded thoughtfully and then said, "I understand what you''re saying, but how can you guess the methods they''ll use?"

    Hearing Tang Feifei''s words, Qiu Tu couldn''t help but smile, and then he said lightly, "Because... if I were them, I would certainly do the same."

    Upon hearing this, Tang Feifei gave Qiu Tu a deep look, then raised her eyes towards the direction of Moonlight Forest.

    After a pause, she slowly said, "Since you''re such a master strategist, I''ll make you a promise as well."

    "If I really do make a great achievement this time, once I become the Bureau Chief, I will definitely..."

    As she spoke, Tang Feifei paused, then continued, "Make you the Bureau Chief''s lover."

    Qiu Tu: ???

    Qiu Tu looked at Tang Feifei with a face full of question marks.

    Then he saw the corners of Tang Feifei''s mouth curl up into a smile, clearly, she was joking, trying to tease Qiu Tu.

    Seeing this, Qiu Tu couldn''t help feeling sentimental: the former Tang Feifei never joked, and now she had started teasing him.

    His "essence" really did have the power to change people!

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu smugly took a sip of his drink, planning to find time to give Tang Feifei more of his essence and change her aloof temperament.

    ...

    Meanwhile, as Qiu Tu and Tang Feifei were exchanging playful barbs.

    The situation in Moonlight Forest was also changing continuously.

    After a half-hour delay, the Xinjie City Investigation Bureau and the Eastern City Military Department finally arrived at Moonlight Lake, albeit belatedly. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    However, they were faced with two major forces that had already taken over the entire lake.

    They were eager to negotiate, but the two forces were adamant: they would only clear the path if they received orders from either Director Liu or General Ye.

    So they were asked to have the highest official in their organizations contact Director Liu or General Ye.

    Such a request wasn''t excessive. In the face of significant issues, the various departments often handled things this way.

    But... it was now deep into the night and with Moonlight Lake having just formed, time equaled life; every minute delayed meant countless Tears of Moonlight were extracted by the two forces.

    Therefore, both the Xinjie City Investigation Bureau and the Eastern City Military Department were as anxious as ants on a hot pan.

    Unwilling as they were, they had no choice but to urgently contact their department''s highest officials.

    The Eastern City Military Department still had a chance, with their highest official present, but the Xinjie City Investigation Bureau was in trouble: Yan Chen was in the middle of a promotion, and they simply couldn''t reach him.

    So, they could only call Lin Ting, the Special Duties Department Director, hoping he could coordinate things.

    But Lin Ting was two ranks below Liu Xiongyuan, far inferior both in seniority and position, and had no say in the matter.

    He was keen to try contacting Tang Feifei, but the logic was the same: a big shot like Liu Xiongyuan might give some face to peers, but even if Tang Feifei approached Liu Xiongyuan, it would be of little use.

    Read new chapters at My Virtual Library Empire

    And just as everything was at a stalemate, unknown to the four major forces, a group of people in black was silently approaching the Moonlight Forest¡­

    -------

    Still two chapters in 10,000 words, ha! A new month, asking for your Monthly Ticket!

 Chapter 275 Stemming the Tide! (10,000 Words for Monthly Ticket!)

    This squad had over thirty members. They wore black balaclava hats on their heads, complete black combat uniforms, and their faces were smeared with camouflage paint.

    Upon closer inspection, one would find a small red "X" marked on their right chest. This proved their identity¡ªthey were the elite of the United Front. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    And so, under the cover of night, this elite squad moved lightly, skillfully shuttling through the wilderness, towards Moonlight Forest.

    They seemed to become one with the wild grass and trees all around, further aided by the chaos following the premature emergence of Moonlight Lake and the disarray among the four major organizations, so much so that they reached a small hill near Moonlight Forest without being detected by anyone.

    Once they reached the high point of the hill, the leader signaled for concealment to the members behind him.

    He himself then lay on the ground and pulled out night vision binoculars to observe Moonlight Forest.

    At this moment, Moonlight Forest was bustling with activity.

    The Investigation Bureau of Eastern City and Xinjie City Military Department, thanks to their early advantage, firmly occupied the largest area of Moonlight Lake, setting up several water pumps to extract "Tears of Moonlight" from the lake.

    It seemed that the Eastern City Military Department had come to an agreement with Liu Xiongyuan, hence also occupying a small area and beginning to set up their equipment.

    Among the four powers, only the Xinjie City Investigation Bureau had not yet made a move.

    Director Lin Ting of the Special Service Department, who had already rushed over, was negotiating loudly with the other three parties.

    The detectives of the Special Service Department were already lined up, guns at the ready, making threatening gestures.

    But possibly one of the agreements reached between Liu Xiongyuan and the Eastern City Military Department was to withstand the pressure from the Xinjie City Investigation Bureau.

    So without the need for the Eastern City Investigation Bureau and Xinjie City Military Department to act, the Eastern City Military Department had already deployed several middle squads to block the Special Service Detectives from Xinjie City.

    Both sides faced each other with guns, neither daring to fire easily, merely showing their stance to the other.

    And it was precisely because of this standoff between the four parties that the reinforcements guarding and isolating on the outside of Moonlight Forest were being continuously pulled in, which in turn made the defenses outside of Moonlight Forest increasingly lax.

    This provided an opportune moment for the elite squad of the United Front. Explore more stories at My Virtual Library Empire

    After assessing the situation on the field, the United Front leader murmured, "The defenses on the south and north are both loose. We can sneak in quietly."

    With that, he raised his hand, licked his finger, and held it up to the air to feel the wind.

    "The wind is from the south tonight."

    "We enter from the south."

    After speaking, he turned to look at the United Front members behind him and said, "Are the materials and equipment ready?"

    "We only have one chance."

    Hearing their leader''s words, all the elites on the scene nodded their heads in unison and silently.

    They had a determined gaze, as though they were preparing for an important mission.

    "Move out!" After whispering the command, the leader rose from the ground, crouching low, and led the team of elites towards the south.

    The southern guard was manned by the Xinjie City Investigation Bureau, whose forces had been greatly drawn away because of the standoff at Moonlight Lake, leaving it particularly vulnerable at this time.

    Moreover, the situation had arisen so suddenly that no preemptive plans had been made, so the United Front squad effortlessly entered Moonlight Forest after quietly neutralizing a few sentries.

    Stepping on the thick layer of fallen leaves in Moonlight Forest, the leader quietly arranged for his men, "We''ll spread out and set up, trying not to attract official attention."

    "Afterward, follow my command to act together."

    "Yes! Yes! Major!" the other elites responded in unison after hearing their leader''s arrangement.

    Their mission tonight did not seem to be a frontal struggle for Moonlight Lake, nor to steal the "Tears of Moonlight" bottled by the four powers.

    Instead, they had other plans.

    They scattered throughout Moonlight Forest, then poured out thick black liquid from containers in their backpacks onto the fallen leaves.

    After emptying one container, they moved to another spot to continue.

    Soon, the southern area was covered with the thick black liquid.

    The black liquid carried a strong odor that, when blown by the wind from the south, went unnoticed by those on guard outside by the Xinjie City Investigation Bureau, but the four powers standing off at Moonlight Lake seemed to vaguely catch the scent.

    Director Lin Ting, who was in the midst of angrily rebuking the other three parties for not keeping their promises, was the first to sense something was wrong.

    "What is this smell?"

    Smelling the pungent scent, Lin Ting''s brows furrowed deeply, and he turned his head to look in the direction they had come from.

    At this time, the other powers also seemed to have caught onto the scent.

    "What''s this stench so unpleasant?"

    "What is this smell? Why does it stink?"

    As more and more people began to notice the odor,

    the driver who had been following Lin Ting seemed to suddenly realize something. He looked up abruptly, his face stricken with terror, and said in a low voice, "Chief! It''s gasoline! Gasoline!"

    Hearing the driver''s warning, Lin Ting''s realization struck hard!

    Gasoline! Why would there be gasoline in Moonlight Forest?!

    Thinking this, he abruptly looked up as if struck by a thought, then cast his eyes on the dry trees and down at the thick layer of fallen leaves beneath his feet.

    It was late fall now.

    The leaves had fallen completely and were baked dry by the hot autumn sun, devoid of any moisture!

    What would happen in a forest full of fallen leaves and deadwood if they caught fire from gasoline?

    In that moment, Lin Ting''s face turned ashen!

    A premonition of doom crept into his heart!

    And just then, suddenly, a red signal flare exploded above the dark southern edge of Moonlight Forest!

 Chapter 275 Stemming the Tide! (10,000 Words for Monthly Ticket!)_2

    The signal flare was like flipping a switch! The next second, clusters of flames burst forth in the dark jungle.

    Fueled by gasoline and at the upwind location, the fire took advantage of the wind. In just a few short seconds, the flames connected into a sheet, scorching leaves and dead trees, spreading rapidly toward Moonlight Forest like a fire dragon!

    In the Planning Area, there were few cars, so most of the soldiers and agents had never come into contact with gasoline. That''s why they hadn''t recognized the black liquid at first.

    But... fire is an instinctual fear etched into the DNA of all living creatures!

    So, when they saw the fire dragon, seemingly alive, rising and leaping among the dead wood and leaves, rapidly spreading through Moonlight Forest with a devouring ferocity, they became afraid!

    "Forest fire! It''s a forest fire! Run! Run!"

    The soldiers and agents who had experienced the terror of a forest fire immediately panicked.

    While the forces from Eastern City Investigation Bureau and Xinjie City Military Department could somewhat contain their subordinates'' panic, those from Xinjie City Investigation Bureau and Eastern City Military Department were not as easily controlled!

    Seeing the spreading fire, the well-behaved soldiers and agents were shivering with fear, while those who were not as disciplined had already started running to either side, trying to escape Moonlight Forest!

    At this moment, Lin Ting looked at the spreading fire with a face ashen with rage. He cursed, "Damn it! United Front! It must be the United Front!" S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Those rats must have seen that they couldn''t get to Moonlight Lake, so they decided to just destroy it!"

    Although his training wasn''t the best, he still was a senior official of the Investigation Bureau, with a few tricks up his sleeve.

    So, even in this crisis, he didn''t panic. Instead, he drew his gun and roared at the agents around him, "Chop down trees for me!"

    "Chop down trees! Clear a safe zone!"

    "As long as there are no dead trees or leaves, the fire won''t be able to spread over!"

    His command was correct, but the problem was... All four forces had come to extract Tears of Moonlight, who would carry an axe to chop trees!

    So, his assistant looked at him with eyes almost in tears and said, "Chief! We don''t have the tools! No tools!" Discover exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire

    Hearing the assistant''s words, Lin Ting also realized this point.

    His face still ashen, he watched the spreading flames, anxiously thinking of other strategies.

    Meanwhile, the leaders of the other three factions were also quickly discussing whether to retreat or to stay.

    Both retreating and staying had their pros and cons.

    Retreating would mean there would likely be no casualties due to the ample time. However, the downside was also clear: Tears of Moonlight are Cataclysmic Materials that cannot withstand burning or smoke.

    If they were to retreat, many of the Tears of Moonlight could be destroyed.

    Staying, on the other hand, may save the Tears of Moonlight, but the risk of casualties would be completely uncontrollable.

    Furthermore, it was very possible that the forest fire would become too large, leading to heavy casualties, and in the end, the Tears of Moonlight might still not be preserved.

    With these thoughts in mind, having consulted with each other, the leaders quickly leaned toward a decision: to retreat!

    After all, retreating was the safest option, and besides... it was the southern region, under the jurisdiction of Xinjie City Investigation Bureau, that the United Front had infiltrated.

    If they had to go to trial at the Sanctuary, it would be Xinjie City Investigation Bureau taking the blame; they saw no need to risk themselves for the sake of claiming credit.

    With that in mind, the leaders of the three forces made eye contact and started instructing their agents to throw all the collected "Tears of Moonlight," Cataclysmic Material and containers alike, into Moonlight Lake.

    Although the "Tears of Moonlight" in the lake might be scorched and contaminated by flames, the water in the lake could effectively protect this packaged "Tears of Moonlight"!

    After the forest fire was extinguished, they could come back and retrieve the "Tears of Moonlight."

    And just as the leaders of the other three major forces were making their critical decision...

    Suddenly.....

    "Ring ring ring!"

    The clear sound of ringing echoed by the shores of Moonlight Lake.

    It was the sound of a communicator.

    Everyone''s gaze couldn''t help but drift over.

    Then they saw a man over two meters tall, like an iron tower, who was, astonishingly, holding a communicator and taking a call at this crucial moment.

    Lin Ting had clearly heard the ringing too. He turned his head and glared fiercely at the man, then rebuked, "What''s the time for? Still making calls!"

    No sooner had he finished speaking did he feel something was off.

    Because... this place was between Eastern City and Xinjie, where communication signals didn''t reach. How could a regular call come in!?

    Unless it was... a specially made communicator and a special direct line!

    With this thought, he couldn''t help but look toward the towering man.

    At this point, his assistant hurried forward and whispered, "Chief, that agent''s name is Ah-Tai. It seems he''s a confidant of Deputy Director Qiu Tu."

    Hearing the assistant''s words, Lin Ting''s eyes narrowed slightly.

    Qiu Tu?

    Since when did he have the authority to use specially made communicators and special direct lines?

    ''There must be more to this!''

    As he was thinking this, Ah-Tai, under everyone''s watchful eyes, pressed the answer button.

    Just as Lin Ting had anticipated, as soon as the communicator was connected, it wasn''t Qiu Tu''s voice that emerged, but that of Deputy Director Tang Feifei!

    Ah-Tai clearly had rehearsed many times before, so as soon he connected the call, he immediately pressed the loudspeaker button.

    The next second, Tang Feifei''s stern, deep voice resonated across the shores of Moonlight Lake.

 Chapter 275 Stemming the Tide! (10,000 Words for Monthly Ticket!)_3

    She shouted sternly, "Lin Ting! What kind of defense have you set up?"

    "To let United Front''s people slip in so easily!"

    "If Minister Qiu and I hadn''t come for an unexpected inspection tonight, they would have burned you all to death and then slipped away royally!"

    Upon hearing Tang Feifei''s criticism, Lin Ting''s face turned red and then white.

    But it was indeed his fault for the defense breach, so he could only accept it. He said, "Sorry, Director Tang, it''s my fault..."

    Before he could finish the word "responsibility," Tang Feifei cut him off sharply, saying, "Now is not the time to discuss who''s at fault!"

    "We four departments have been waiting for so long, just to harvest the Tears of Moonlight from that lake!"

    "No matter how big the fire, the ''Tears of Moonlight'' cannot be lost!"

    Upon hearing Tang Feifei''s words, before Lin Ting could speak, a low murmur from an investigator could be heard, "The ''Tears of Moonlight'' cannot be lost... so we can be ''lost''?"

    "The wildfire is about to reach us, and we don''t have any tools. What can we do?"

    "Sit here and wait for death?"

    An investigator next to him whispered in agreement, "Yeah... She talks as if it''s easy. Why doesn''t she come over?"

    The muttering of those investigators was very soft, and Tang Feifei didn''t hear it.

    However, Tang Feifei''s next answer resolved the doubts of everyone present.

    She shouted loudly, "Ah-Tai! Give the ''Seal of Ownership'' to Minister Lin Ting!"

    "Let him summon me over!"

    "I have a way to stop this blaze!"

    Hearing Tang Feifei''s order, Ah-Tai hurriedly responded and pulled out a seal-shaped Cataclysmic treasure from his pocket, handing it to Lin Ting.

    Lin Ting skeptically accepted the seal, feeling something was amiss...

    Why did Tang Feifei seem to have a grasp on everything happening tonight?

    Why had she arranged for a specialized communicator and Cataclysmic treasures in advance?

    Despite his doubts, it was an emergency situation: the wildfire was growing stronger, and the fire was getting bigger! Thick smoke was already beginning to swirl and spread toward Moonlight Lake!

    So, he could only take the seal and then, following the method Tang Feifei had taught him, used it!

    As he did so, he felt his spiritual power being drained away like a tide!

    The terrifying sensation of being drained made him feel as though he was being sucked dry by a pump!

    Even worse, as his spiritual power depleted, he felt his physical strength and vitality also fading away rapidly!

    He wanted to abandon the summoning, but the seal had been activated and couldn''t be stopped!

    So, he collapsed to the ground, feeling his brain swell and his whole body nearly failing!

    Fortunately, the pain ended quickly.

    Just as he felt he was about to be drained, Tang Feifei suddenly appeared out of nowhere by the shores of Moonlight Lake!

    Clad in a crisp Bureau Chief uniform and long riding boots, she exuded an imposing aura! sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Facing the roaring fire dragon, she was like a general, opening a spatial Cataclysmic treasure and pouring out a pile of shovels and axes!

    Then she commanded, "Now! The agents of Xinjie City Investigation Bureau''s Special Service Department start chopping trees and digging soil immediately! Set up a firebreak!"

    After giving orders to her own Bureau agents, she looked toward the other three forces and shouted loudly, "I''ve already notified General Ye, Director Liu, and Colonel Wang!"

    "Now all soldiers and agents are under my command, follow my orders!"

    "Divide into three groups!"

    "One group will combine two water pumps to filter out pure water, then connect it to another pump, and start watering abundantly to the south to create a fire retardant barrier!" Discover hidden tales at My Virtual Library Empire

    "The other two groups, get the sacks ready, fill them with the soil you''ve dug up! Then prepare for the third fire retardant barrier!"

    After speaking, she walked over to the fallen Lin Ting, took the ''Seal of Ownership'' from his hand, and began summoning various firefighting tools with her own spiritual power, which she and Qiu Tu had arranged in advance!

    --------

    Two chapters, 10,000 words, haha! I''m asking for Monthly Tickets! Tomorrow continues with another 10,000!

 Chapter 276 Larilos Escape! (10,000 Words for Monthly Ticket!)

    Quickly, along with the massive expenditure of Tang Feifei''s spiritual power, one piece of firefighting equipment after another was summoned by her!

    The strength of a Third Order Cataclysmic was terrifying to begin with, as both their spiritual power and vitality far exceeded that of ordinary humans, so, in no time, the lakeside of Moonlight Lake was filled with hundreds of pieces of firefighting equipment.

    Seeing this scene, the soldiers and detectives from the four forces were all a bit dumbfounded.

    Clearly, they who had been ready to flee just moments ago, found themselves caught off guard by this sudden change.

    Moreover, Tang Feifei claimed she had already informed all the chiefs of the three major departments and now could restrain and command them, which they also found a bit hard to believe.

    After all... the right to command wasn''t something you could take over just by saying so.

    At the very least, you''d have to show a token or verify the orders, which was the normal protocol, wasn''t it?

    But the problem was... the situation was really too urgent, the fire was spreading incessantly with the help of the south wind, and it looked like it was about to come their way very soon.

    If they were to make a call to confirm now, they estimated that by the time the call connected and the message was confirmed, all the people present would have already been engulfed in flames.

    However... blindly obeying orders from other department chiefs was a big taboo. A single mishandling could lead to problems, or even disgust from their own chiefs.

    Thus, the several high-ranking officials present were also somewhat hesitant to decide at the moment.

    But Tang Feifei, seeing this scene, seemed as if she had anticipated it all along.

    Her eyes narrowed, like a female leopard, she swept her dangerous gaze over all the high-ranking officials present, and then, with the presence of a Third Order Cataclysmic bursting forth, she coldly shouted, "Who dares defy orders! Don''t blame me for decapitating you on the spot!" S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Upon hearing Tang Feifei''s thinly veiled threat of death and feeling the terrifying aura emanating from her,

    the complexions of the high-ranking officials present changed involuntarily.

    Your next journey awaits at My Virtual Library Empire

    Desperate times call for desperate measures. In such a critical moment, Tang Feifei might truly strike to kill and assert her authority!

    Under the threat of death, their inner scales began to slowly tilt.

    And it was at this moment that Tang Feifei spoke again. She gazed coldly over all the high-ranking officials present, then said, "I know what you are worried about."

    "So now I won''t command you. I''m just providing the firefighting tools; it''s up to you to decide whether to retreat or stay and protect Moonlight Lake," she said.

    Hearing Tang Feifei''s words, the eyes of the high-ranking officials of the three major forces lit up.

    Those who could climb to high positions all had their tricks. They wouldn''t really take Tang Feifei''s suggestion of "option to retreat" seriously, but this pretext indeed provided them with a face-saving cover.

    If they were criticized in the future for following Tang Feifei''s orders, they could straightforwardly claim: They didn''t follow Tang Feifei''s orders, but decided on their own to put out the fire and save Moonlight Lake!

    Thinking this way, the three major forces no longer hesitated and joined the firefighting ranks en masse.

    Between the two cities and four departments, there were about a thousand or two thousand people by the shores of Moonlight Lake. Once all of them started moving in an orderly fashion, it wasn''t long before several large firebreaks were created around the lake!

    And at this time, the fire dragon, propelled by the wind, finally reached near Moonlight Lake.

    But... because of the firebreaks, it was like a rootless duckweed, unable to cross at all!

    So, it "had to" change direction and burned through the surrounding dry trees and leaves instead!

    In this way, the forest fire burned for a good three to four hours, burning all the dead leaves and dry trees in Moonlight Forest before gradually coming to an end.

    This was because Moonlight Forest was not very large, and it was not connected with the surrounding underbrush and clusters of trees...

    Otherwise, in the late autumn season, a forest fire could easily spread to the entire mountain range, burning for days and nights...

    Meanwhile, on the southern side of Moonlight Forest,

    Qiu Tu, dressed in a smart black uniform, squinted and smoked a cigarette while he also observed the bare Moonlight Forest.

    And behind him were teams of detectives from the Political Department''s Action Division, led by his twenty trusted subordinates.

    Now, both Ding Xiaoliu and Zhu Huoyan had become First Level Detectives, each leading a team of 10-15 detectives.

    So, with a casual command from Qiu Tu, he could effortlessly muster a force of two to three hundred men, which was indeed strong and robust.

    With the protection of these loyal guards, coupled with Qiu Tu''s rank among the top twelve in the Investigation Bureau and his influence, in Lin Ting''s absence, he easily took control of the Special Service Department troops stationed in Moonlight Forest.

    It was with these two forces that Qiu Tu rounded up the United Front elites who had set the fire and attempted to flee, capturing them all in one fell swoop!

    The whole battle didn''t last long and the casualties were minimal. With only three seriously injured and a dozen lightly wounded, they killed thirteen United Front soldiers and captured the remaining eighteen!

    At that moment, while Qiu Tu was observing the fire situation, several of his Interrogation Section subordinates, who had pledged allegiance to him in the past two days, were also working overtime in the camp, interrogating the captured United Front elites, trying to extract key intelligence from their mouths as much as possible.

    The nights of late autumn were getting colder and colder.

    Possibly concerned about Qiu Tu getting cold, Tan Huimin came over and draped a long black coat over him.

    The black coat matched the uniform, adding an even more imposing air to Qiu Tu.

    Tan Huimin had witnessed almost the entire operation that evening. Even though she was not interested in such conspiracies, calculations, or military operations, the dizzying pace of change was still somewhat astonishing to her.

    So, after she draped the coat over Qiu Tu, she didn''t step back but stood behind him, half a step behind his position, and asked softly, "Chief... how did you come up with the entire plan tonight?"

 Chapter 276 Larilos Escape! (10,000 Words for Monthly Ticket!)_2

    "Why do you seem to have calculated everyone''s every move tonight so clearly...?"

    The beautiful young wife had, since tasting Qiu Tu''s dedication yesterday, seemed to add a lot more charm.

    Even on a night without light, her fair skin appeared to be shrouded in a faint glow.

    Hearing Tan Huimin''s words, Qiu Tu also came back to reality from the charred Moonlight Forest.

    He tilted his head to glance at Tan Huimin, then tapped his own head with a smile and said, "It''s simple. By analysis."

    Continue reading at My Virtual Library Empire

    Seeing the puzzled and uncomprehending look on Tan Huimin''s face, Qiu Tu chuckled but did not explain.

    "Emotional Fraud Manual"[108 Ways to Enhance Affection] Tip 3: A touch of mystery is always the best way to attract women.

    It''s in women''s nature to be stimulated by and to crave powerful men. "Mystery" can not only provide the thrill of decrypting but also greatly elevates you in her mind.

    So, when your mystery successfully arouses a woman''s curiosity, she is not far from succumbing.

    Women''s emotional nature will lead them to continuously guess everything about you. Thus, you will gradually occupy her time, her heart...

    As he thought this, Qiu Tu also reviewed the entire process of arranging tonight''s plan.

    In fact, from the moment he learned from Liu Xiongyuan that the United Front had dispatched three divisions to seize Moonlight Lake and even had their infiltrated members start assassinating officials in several cities near Eastern City, Qiu Tu felt that something was amiss.

    With Dongye State''s establishment imminent, more than a dozen cities are now inter-connected. Each city is stationed with roughly the strength of a division. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    There are six or seven cities bordering Xinjie City and Eastern City.

    Therefore, even if the United Front''s three divisions were dispatched, they might very well be lured into a trap, easily encircled by the military of the six or seven cities.

    Moreover... if the United Front wanted to secretly seize Moonlight Lake, why not march quietly, act stealthily?

    Why resort to assassinating the upper echelons of various cities?

    Isn''t this instead a warning to all cities about the United Front''s actions?

    Where there''s something abnormal, there''s a demon at work. So, through these abnormal events, Qiu Tu boldly made a guess: Both the march of the three divisions and the assassinations of the officials in the surrounding cities were likely a ruse by the United Front!

    The likelihood was that the three divisions were tasked with some other mission; the move towards Moonlight Lake was probably just for show.

    Then the question arose. If all of this was a diversion, what were the United Front''s real countermeasures?

    Qiu Tu thought: To the United Front, if they couldn''t have something, they would destroy it.

    So he boldly speculated: There must be an elite squad that, while the United Front was making such a commotion and drawing everyone''s attention, had stealthily infiltrated either Xinjie City or Eastern City, ready to sabotage Moonlight Lake at an opportune time.

    As for how to quickly and conveniently destroy Moonlight Lake, after understanding in detail the environment around Moonlight Lake and Moonlight Forest, the words "fire attack" immediately came to Qiu Tu''s mind.

    Water and fire are merciless and can turn the tide against the wind. Therefore, they are the most frequently used strategies in history.

    There is no water near Moonlight Lake, but there are fallen leaves and dry wood, which make for an ideal place for a fire attack.

    If Qiu Tu were the United Front, he would definitely set the entire Moonlight Forest ablaze, thoroughly polluting Moonlight Lake.

    And moreover... Qiu Tu also speculated:

    The reason why the United Front made such a big move after Yan Chen was promoted might very well be with the intention of forcing the four major forces to gather Moonlight Lake ahead of time, further disrupting the deployment of the four forces.

    After all, if Yan Chen had not been promoted, the four major forces, while competing, would have remained in mutual balance, with each force responsible for guarding one direction of Moonlight Forest, forming an impregnable fortress, offering no opportunity to the United Front.

    It was precisely because Yan Chen''s promotion gave the United Front an opening that they used the false information to confuse the judgments of the major forces, ultimately finding an opportunity to exploit.

    And it was by following these clues that Qiu Tu discovered the United Front''s conspiracy.

    As a result, he made some plans of his own.

    He had not only prepared various fire extinguishing tools for Tang Feifei in advance but had also used the Seal of Ownership to stamp these fire extinguishers and even Tang Feifei herself, well in advance.

    He also made arrangements for Ah-Tai to enter the rotation ranks of the Special Service Department ahead of time, ready to cooperate with Tang Feifei at any moment.

    All this could firmly establish the charge of dereliction of duty against Yan Chen and, by the way, let Tang Feifei establish authority in front of the entire Special Service Department.

    Of course... the other reason for using the "Seal of Ownership" to summon Tang Feifei was to temporarily disable Lin Ting.

    The effect of the "Seal of Ownership" is that summoning anything requires a certain "cost."

    The amount of the "cost" depends on various factors such as the volume, mass, order, and the distance between the item or creature, and the user.

    Not to mention anything else, to summon Tang Feifei, a Third Order Cataclysmic at her peak, the cost to Lin Ting would certainly not be small.

    While not fatal, it most likely would necessitate several days of recuperation.

    Do not forget, the plan Qiu Tu made for Tang Feifei was to control the most powerful department of the Investigation Bureau as much as possible: the Special Service Department.

    Whether it was pulling the agents of the Special Service Department to train at the Training Department or implanting the Five Elders'' confidants into the Special Service Department, it all served this purpose.

    And during this time, if Lin Ting, the head of the Special Service Department, could be temporarily sidelined, everything would proceed even more smoothly!

 Chapter 276 Larilos Escape! (10,000 Words for Monthly Ticket!)_3

    With these thoughts, he went over all the plans for tonight once again, and Qiu Tu felt somewhat relieved.

    Although he couldn''t directly benefit from the birth of Moonlight Lake,

    he had indirectly gained military credit and praise through its creation; he established authority for Tang Feifei; captured a group of the United Front''s elites, adding to his own qualifications; and incidentally took down Lin Ting...

    It was killing four birds with one stone.

    What was more important was... through the grand fire set by the United Front, and the crisis management by Qiu Tu and Tang Feifei, the Xinjie City Investigation Bureau would once again be eligible to sit at the table where the benefits of Moonlight Lake were distributed.

    Yan Chen''s dereliction of duty almost caused the Xinjie City Investigation Bureau to miss out on the benefits of Moonlight Lake, but Tang Feifei''s heroic efforts changed it all!

    The stark contrast between the two figures, one high and the other low, would become apparent; by then, Yan Chen wouldn''t even be able to make excuses at the Sanctuary!

    Thinking this, a smile couldn''t help but curl up at the corner of Qiu Tu''s mouth,

    ''I''m really looking forward to seeing Yan Chen''s expression after learning about the whole affair...''

    Meanwhile, as Qiu Tu was lost in these thoughts,

    with the flames extinguished and the temperature gradually decreasing, Tang Feifei, leading the agents of the Special Service Department and carrying Lin Ting, slowly walked out of the Moonlight Forest.

    Seeing this, Qiu Tu quickly went up to meet them.

    Approaching them, their eyes exchanged a glance, each read the perfect execution of the plan in the other''s gaze.

    ''Yan Chen is really finished this time...''

    ''If he doesn''t handle it well, he might not even be able to keep his position as Bureau Chief.''

    Thinking this, Qiu Tu felt almost ready to pop open a champagne bottle inside.

    But just then,

    suddenly, one of the two stars shining in the sky, one bright and the other dim, burst into light!

    The next second, a beam of starlight shot out from Xinjie City, trailing a dazzling tail, and raced backward into the heavens above!

    That action was like an escape...

    And that wasn''t the end; afterward, the green giant tree phantom that had always stood tall over Xinjie City suddenly exploded into a burst of starlight, scattering over the entire Xinjie City!

    Seeing this astonishing celestial phenomenon, Qiu Tu couldn''t help but be startled, then quickly looked towards Tang Feifei.

    Tang Feifei''s expression at this moment, however, was somewhat strange.

    It was a serious look mixed with a smile, but the smile was somewhat heavy...

    Possibly feeling Qiu Tu''s gaze, she turned her head towards him, then said softly, "It seems our series of actions have thoroughly cornered Yan Chen." S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "He directly risked a severe drain on his vital energy, then forcibly terminated the advancement, releasing Larilo, to resolve the crisis."

    Hearing Tang Feifei''s words, Qiu Tu was also shocked.

    His series of actions made Yan Chen give up his advancement?

    Honestly, Qiu Tu was quite aware of just how much he, Liu Xiongyuan, and Tang Feifei had done during Yan Chen''s advancement period, and how much commotion they had caused.

    Yan Chen had only disappeared for four or five days, and Qiu Tu and Tang Feifei almost uprooted his foundation.

    And Liu Xiongyuan even took advantage of Yan Chen''s Cataclysmic Power during his advancement to forcibly induce the early formation of Moonlight Lake.

    A combination of blows later, the situation had completely reversed.

    So, it wasn''t a surprise to Qiu Tu that Yan Chen was forced by the three of them to give up his advancement.

    What surprised him was... Yan Chen''s decisiveness!

    Upon realizing his efforts were futile, he immediately cut his losses and returned to manage the crisis!

    Don''t forget, Moonlight Lake had just congealed, and things were not yet over; Yan Chen''s return could possibly turn the tables. Experience exclusive tales on My Virtual Library Empire

    And as Qiu Tu was pondering this,

    sure enough, the next second, Tang Feifei''s special communicator rang.

    Tang Feifei glanced at the communicator, then answered it.

    No sooner had the call connected than Yan Chen''s voice, slightly weak but still deep and powerful, came through.

    "Director Tang, you and Minister Qiu have done very well tonight. You did not fail the trust I placed in you."

    Upon hearing Yan Chen''s first sentence, Qiu Tu''s brow unconsciously furrowed.

    ------

    It''s still two chapters, ten thousand words. Seeking a guaranteed Monthly Ticket for the new month!

 Chapter 277 The Fisherman Benefits! (10,000 Words for Monthly Ticket!)

    Qiu Tu was no longer a novice in the officialdom.

    After these several months, he had basically come to understand some of the unwritten rules and jargon of the bureaucracy.

    Yan Chen''s remark might seem unproblematic at first glance¡ªafter all, he was the Bureau Chief, and both Tang Feifei and Qiu Tu were his subordinates.

    So it was only natural for him to commend them for their meritorious service now.

    But on closer consideration, the focus of his message became clear: "You did not let down ''my'' ''trust'' in you."

    In effect, this was a covert signal that tonight''s operation had been authorized and arranged by Yan Chen.

    Consequently, the lion''s share of the credit would go to Yan Chen.

    After all, it was Yan Chen who had the merit of leadership.

    With just a simple phrase, Yan Chen nearly foiled the plan hatched by Qiu Tu, Tang Feifei, and Liu Xiongyuan to undermine him.

    When the time came to report to the Sanctuary, they would credit everything that occurred tonight to the achievements of Xinjie City Investigation Bureau¡ªthat is, to Yan Chen''s leadership.

    And he would no longer face criticism for choosing to advance his rank at such a crucial time at Moonlight Lake.

    Realizing this and understanding the deeper meaning in Yan Chen''s words, Qiu Tu quickly shook his head at Tang Feifei to signal her.

    If Qiu Tu could detect the self-aggrandizing message in Yan Chen''s words, Tang Feifei was certainly able to as well.

    Seeing Qiu Tu''s signal, she first nodded slightly at him, and then with an aloof expression, she said, "Bureau Chief, you flatter us."

    "Confronted with such an unexpected turn of events, we were very panicked tonight."

    "We wanted to seek your guidance at the first moment, but then we remembered you were in seclusion and completely unreachable."

    "Thus, in dealing with the situation, we took over the site without your consent and even falsely used the names of Director Liu, General Ye, and Colonel Wang, claiming they authorized us to control the three major institutions!"

    "Allowing the forces of the three institutions to follow our command!"

    "Here, both Minister Qiu and I need to apologize to the Bureau Chief first."

    "Due to the urgency of the situation, we took some actions that may not have complied with the regulations. Tomorrow, we will personally compose a written self-critique to submit to the Bureau Chief for your review and response."

    Tang Feifei played her tai chi masterfully, setting the tone for tonight''s events as an emergency.

    Because it was an "emergency," there was, in fact, no issue of leadership planning or command.

    Then, she proceeded with self-criticism, admitting that she and Qiu Tu, in order to save Moonlight Lake and capture the elite squad of the United Front, may have conducted themselves in a way that breached regulations, and thus needed to review their actions.

    There were two purposes for this. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    One was to minimize the impact by owning up to mistakes right after achieving a success, as well as to prevent Yan Chen from causing them difficulties later on.

    Two was that, by writing this critique, they would actually be reaffirming once again in writing that the credit for this event was entirely due to Tang Feifei and Qiu Tu.

    Yan Chen understood Tang Feifei''s implication.

    He was not a person who liked to confront issues head-on, and his body had not fully recovered since he had abruptly ended his advancement.

    So after remaining silent for two seconds, he spoke with his uniquely deep, husky voice, "Necessity knows no law. I understand."

    "Tonight''s sudden occurrence was unexpected by anyone. It''s understandable that some pre-arranged plans in the Bureau slipped up."

    "You were able to adapt on the fly, handle the situation flexibly, and help the Bureau to check and fill its gaps. You did well."

    "Regarding what comes next, I will have Director Lai take over and manage the negotiations with the military and Eastern City, as well as the matter of the share of Moonlight Lake. I will personally handle it."

    "You have worked hard tonight. Come back early and rest."

    After stating his plans in a low voice, Yan Chen did not wait for Tang Feifei''s reaction and immediately hung up the communication.

    Noticing Yan Chen''s last words, Tang Feifei''s face turned as cold as if it could freeze over.

    Although Yan Chen gave up his "leadership credit," he still played the card of "internal issues."

    Simply put, he separated himself from this oversight, positioning Lin Ting and Tang Feifei as the opposing side.

    The mistake was Lin Ting''s; the achievement was Tang Feifei''s. But whether it was an achievement or a mistake, it was an internal matter of the Bureau and not to be singled out.

    This was virtuous and seemed absolutely fair.

    Moreover, since Yan Chen was the Bureau Chief with the power to have the final say, Tang Feifei had no way to refute.

    Otherwise, it would appear as disunity and would cause an ugly scene in the higher-ups...

    Thus, following the phone call, Tang Feifei''s expression was frosty, and she remained silent.

    Standing beside her, Qiu Tu silently contemplated the spar between the two heavyweights and felt he had learned a great deal.

    Yan Chen was indeed Yan Chen. Just with one phone call, he had resolved the crisis...

    Fortunately, he still had a trump card up his sleeve.

    Discover exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire

    Thinking thus, Qiu Tu couldn''t help but look up at the dark sky above.

    In the sky, the bright "Polaris" had vanished, obviously representing Yan Chen, who had failed in his advancement.

    From this viewpoint, the dim star was undoubtedly Larilo.

    The difference in the brightness of their "stars" did not stem from Yan Chen being stronger than Larilo.

    Instead, it was because of... their respective worlds.

    Larilo''s True Body was in the Boundless Heart Sea, separated from the real world by a barrier, which naturally made it appear dimmer; whereas Yan Chen, being in the real world, would appear brighter.

    And at this moment, that dim star was still shining, with the meteor that had shot up into the sky now merging with it.

    "Larilo..."

    Qiu Tu whispered the name to himself and then lowered his head.

    At the same time...

    In the study room of a Garden Villa in the City Center Garden,

    There was the crisp sound of shattering glass!

    A crystal ashtray was smashed hard against Ji Chen''s head by Yan Chen!

 Chapter 277 The Fisherman Benefits! (10,000 Words for Monthly Ticket!)_2

    "Worthless!"

    Yan Chen''s eyes were bloodshot, like those of a raging lion!

    He glared at Ji Chen, his eyes filled with a chilling coldness!

    At that moment, he seemed to have completely changed, no longer the composed and restrained man he used to be.

    Ji Chen stumbled from the blow, his head suddenly swollen.

    But he didn''t dare to rub or touch it; he quickly steadied his dizzy body and stood upright before Yan Chen, saying nothing.

    Because he knew Yan Chen was truly capable of killing someone at that point!

    "Huff... Huff..."

    Yan Chen took a few heavy breaths, glared at him fiercely, and then heavily sat down on the mahogany chair.

    After that, he picked up the desk phone, dialed a few numbers, and rapidly made several arrangements. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    These included but were not limited to instructing the Deputy Director of the Special Service Department, Lai Shun, to take over the Special Service Department outside Moonlight Forest; instructing the Deputy Minister of the Political Department, Cai Peiyuan, to take charge of the captured confidants of the United Front; pacifying Lin Ting; warning Yu Zhengyi, Shi Youxin.

    Having made several calls, the fury in Yan Chen''s heart seemed to have gradually subsided.

    He sat back into the darkness, the light shining on his desk, illuminating a small circle.

    With his eyes closed, he seemed to be sorting through the recent turmoil caused by Tang Feifei and Qiu Tu at the Investigation Bureau and pondering how to put everything back on track.

    Thus, after thinking for a good fifteen minutes or so, Yan Chen slowly began to speak, "Ji Chen. Do you know why I''m angry with you?"

    Ji Chen, with a large bump on his forehead, kept his head down and said softly, "I know. I failed to handle the tasks the Bureau Chief entrusted to me."

    "You failed to protect Wu Counselor, failed to capture Qiu Tu, and let Director Tang and the others take control of the Investigation Bureau."

    Yan Chen snorted heavily through his nose.

    Then, with drooping eyelids and a face full of disappointment, he said, "Not only did you not accomplish these, but you even forgot all the tasks I had given you."

    He said, "Haven''t I told you before? Lai Shun is brainless, Yu Zhengyi is slippery."

    "The moment I''m not here, you must closely watch Yu Zhengyi. Pressured by Tang Feifei, he is likely to sit on the fence, offending neither side."

    "And relying solely on Lai Shun, you can''t outfight Tang Feifei."

    "So, whenever I''m not around, and Yu Zhengyi shows any tendency to shirk responsibilities, immediately put him up as acting Bureau Chief!"

    "Occupying that position, he can''t shirk anymore. Or even if he does, he can only drag Tang Feifei down with him."

    "And as long as Tang Feifei is held back, it will create time for me, which will be advantageous to us!"

    In his final words, Yan Chen''s voice again carried suppressed rage, "Instead of the current situation, where Tang Feifei has stolen the position, and that old slicker turned a blind eye, letting Tang Feifei run amok!"

    Ji Chen quickly apologized, "Yes... Bureau Chief. It was my lack of timeliness."

    He tried to argue, "Mainly because Wu Counselor''s death was so sudden, and Director Tang''s ''coup'' was launched so unexpectedly."

    "I didn''t even have time to convey your wishes before she directly turned Director Yu against us. She then suspended me, expelled me from the Investigation Bureau, convened a high-level meeting, and established her position as acting Bureau Chief."

    "I also tried to meet with Director Yu several times afterward. If he wasn''t unavailable, even when he did meet, he practiced Tai Chi, and I simply couldn''t do anything..."

    The actions of Tang Feifei and Qiu Tu this time were indeed too decisive, and Ji Chen was too slow to react; it wasn''t entirely his fault.

    So after a cold snort from Yan Chen, he still refrained from criticism.

    ¡ªAfter all... before his promotion, he also made a phone call to Yu Zhengyi, hinting that he might be away for a few days, asking Yu Zhengyi to manage the Investigation Bureau in his absence.

    Yu Zhengyi had agreed at the time.

    But when he called to inquire about this matter just now, Yu Zhengyi also played dumb, saying he thought Yan Chen wasn''t going away, assuming it wasn''t official.

    Moreover, compared to Yu Zhengyi''s habitual avoidance of responsibility, Bai Yu being controlled by Qiu Tu was the core issue causing all of Yan Chen''s arrangements to collapse.

    Despite being just Yan Chen''s secretary, Bai Yu held a high position, and his actions represented Yan Chen.

    As long as he was around, the Investigation Bureau couldn''t fall into chaos.

    Who would have thought that exactly at that time, Qiu Tu would discover Bai Yu was a follower of Larilo and got hold of the arrest warrant?

    Pondering this, Yan Chen couldn''t help feeling a bit weary.

    Continue your adventure with My Virtual Library Empire

    Previously, with his confidants Bai Yu and Jia Shu by his side, and stalwarts like Lin Ting, Guan Weimin, and Lai Shun, and even though Yu Zhengyi and Shi Youxin would occasionally play tricks, they were mostly obedient; thus, the Investigation Bureau could be said to be as impregnable as a fortress under Yan Chen''s management.

    Yet, in just a few short months, Jia Shu was killed, followed by Bai Yu''s arrest.

    The protege he had cultivated, Ji Chen, had mediocre abilities and was like a wall that couldn''t be leaned on.

    Even though the other senior officials were still on his side, he inexplicably felt a sense of impending doom.

    ''How did things develop to this point?''

    ''Merely because of Qiu Tu, the heavens of the Investigation Bureau changed?''

    To be honest, thinking this way, Yan Chen felt a bit ridiculous: That small detective from the beginning, was he really so capable?

    Having known him for over a year, had Yan Chen not realized that the other was a hero with grand schemes?

    For the first time truly acknowledging Qiu Tu''s capabilities, Yan Chen took a deep breath, his eyes becoming extremely sharp.

    Although the promotion caused a mess at the Investigation Bureau... it was all minor chaos.

    He was back now, and everything could easily be set right.

    Besides, he was not without the ability to fight back.

 Chapter 277 The Fisherman Benefits! (10,000 Words for Monthly Ticket!)_3

    Because he decisively cut off his own problems early on, he didn''t commit a major mistake and still managed to snatch some of Tang Feifei and Qiu Tu''s merits. Thus, he didn''t lose points at the Sanctuary.

    Your next journey awaits at My Virtual Library Empire

    But where he didn''t lose points, he was able to make Tang Feifei and Liu Xiongyuan lose points.

    His advancement to a Fourth-order Catastrophe-evolver this time was meant to strengthen the Sanctuary and bolster the power of the Investigation Bureau!

    And to Devour an Evil God was to further weaken the enemy''s power!

    Therefore, righteousness was on his side! S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    While Tang Feifei and Liu Xiongyuan, one seized power while he was absent; the other prematurely activated Moonlight Lake. Both interfered with his advancement! Forcing him to give up on Devouring the Evil God!

    This not only deprived the Human Race of one more Fourth-order Catastrophe-evolver but also allowed an Evil God to escape!

    The guilt was enough for Liu Xiongyuan and Tang Feifei to drink a pot!

    They might even end up with mere verbal criticism or a demotion.

    Thinking thus, Yan Chen''s anger about his failed promotion seemed to finally find an outlet!

    He stretched out his withered hand towards Ji Chen and gestured for him to leave.

    Then, he sank into deep thought for a long time before picking up the landline on the desk and dialing the direct line to the Sanctuary.....

    .....

    Meanwhile.

    On the outskirts of Moonlight Forest.

    After handing over the on-site troops to Lai Shun, Tang Feifei and Qiu Tu got into the jeep, ready to return to Xinjie City.

    The driver was Tang Feifei''s secretary, Su Xiaowan, basically one of their own. That''s why both of them didn''t hide anything when they talked.

    Since hanging up the phone, Tang Feifei''s face had looked a bit off.

    She coldly gazed out of the window at the desolate landscape and then said softly, "It has all fallen short of success."

    "Yan Chen is too decisive," she murmured.

    Qiu Tu nodded and said, "Yes. His decisive action indeed surprised me a bit."

    "I guess Liu Xiongyuan using his power to activate Moonlight Lake prematurely must have been sensed by him."

    "After weighing the pros and cons, he realized that if something went wrong with Moonlight Lake, even if he advanced, he wouldn''t get the position of Deputy Speaker, and he might even face questioning."

    "Thus, he made a quick decision, choosing the lesser of two evils."

    Upon saying this, Qiu Tu lightly added, "Besides, he is very likely harboring thoughts of blaming you and Liu Xiongyuan for his failed advancement."

    "The him of now might have already reported the situation to his backers at the Sanctuary."

    Tang Feifei, being magnanimous, though also adept at power plays, mostly engaged in straightforward strategies. She was, admittedly, a bit lacking in intrigue.

    Hearing Qiu Tu say that, she was momentarily stunned, then turned to look at Qiu Tu.

    Sensing Tang Feifei''s gaze, Qiu Tu smiled and glanced back at her, nodding in confirmation, "Indeed, with Yan Chen''s cunning and slyness, he won''t think about simply tidying up the mess. Instead, he might very well attack in defense, reversing the situation."

    Instead of panicking at Qiu Tu''s words, Tang Feifei''s wheat-colored face was filled with deep thought.

    After a moment, her sharp gaze turned to Qiu Tu and she confidently said, "If you already guessed his actions, then there''s a high likelihood... that you have a contingency plan, right?"

    Hearing Tang Feifei''s words, Qiu Tu gave a mysterious smile and responded, "Of course...."

    Qiu Tu leaned back with his hands behind his head and said, "Do you really think you didn''t get authorization from Director Liu, General Ye, and Colonel Wang?"

    "Guess why so many people can''t get in touch with them?"

    At Qiu Tu''s words, Tang Feifei was taken aback at first, then she looked at Qiu Tu with surprise, and pointed towards the star in the sky!

    Qiu Tu nodded with a smile, "What could be a greater merit than killing or routing an Evil God than a mere Moonlight Lake?"

    "Yan Chen had been consuming Larilo''s power for so long. For them, wasn''t that the greatest merit and gift?"

    "Hence, I''ve reached an agreement with Director Liu and them...."

    "This is what they call ''the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind; the snipe and the clam grapple, and the fisherman reaps the benefit''...."

    Seeing Qiu Tu''s confident gaze, Tang Feifei couldn''t contain her surprise any longer on her cool expression.

    She stared at Qiu Tu, almost unable to suppress the amber in her eyes....

    -------

 Chapter 278 Larilos Demise? (10,000 Words for Monthly Ticket!)

    Watching Tang Feifei''s eyes brimming with barely restrained desire, Qiu Tu was startled.

    He coughed lightly, then said softly, "Xiaowan is still here."

    Upon hearing this, Tang Feifei took a deep breath, as though suppressing that flutter inside her heart.

    That was just her nature.

    Possibly due to her martial arts training, which was intense and fierce like thunder, she found it hard to restrain her lust when she was extremely interested in someone.

    In the past, she had only ever felt this way toward women. After all, women were like water, perfectly suited to extinguishing the flames within her and allowing her to vent her passion in the tender land of love.

    But after meeting Qiu Tu, she realized that men could be just as interesting.

    She didn''t deny that her willingness to play those cat-and-mouse games with Qiu Tu was because of his appearance.

    After all, she had encountered many men who were mysterious and dangerous, but they were all old men who failed to spark her interest.

    That''s why she was still willing to be led on by Qiu Tu, even after seeing through some of his little tricks.

    However, things were different now.

    At first, she was only immersed in... dominating Qiu Tu, draining him dry, and taking pleasure in watching him weakly leave the bed.

    Every time she saw Qiu Tu stubbornly claim he was still fine, that he could go another round, she didn''t show it on her face, but she found it immensely amusing inside.

    Therefore, she controlled her own desires, trying her best to accommodate Qiu Tu, making sure each time to drain him to the last drop, yet leaving him just enough energy.

    And... she would even pretend to be close to her own limits.

    That was her second delight...

    But lately, she noticed things were becoming a bit different.

    As Qiu Tu''s position and responsibilities rose, offering her more and more assistance,

    she found more and more interesting points about Qiu Tu, like his strong self-confidence, his strategic planning, and his relentless determination!

    Just now, she had praised Yan Chen for his decisiveness, for amputating promptly like a great warrior.

    But... honestly, Qiu Tu was even more decisive than Yan Chen.

    At the moment when Yan Chen had just started his closed-door cultivation and Secretary Bai was under his control, Qiu Tu sharply recognized the power vacuum in the Xinjie City Investigation Bureau!

    Then he incited Tang Feifei to "overthrow" and take power!

    Even a "coup" within a city''s department was a life-and-death situation. If it failed, Tang Feifei might be fine with her powerful background, but Qiu Tu would have definitely met a grim fate!

    But Qiu Tu dared to do it, and he did it with utmost decisiveness!

    It was exactly because of this decisiveness that Yu Zhengyi didn''t have the chance to rise to power, and Ji Chen didn''t have the time to carry out Yan Chen''s plans, which allowed the "coup" to succeed!

    This time, upon learning that Liu Xiongyuan planned to bring forth Moonlight Lake ahead of schedule, not only did Qiu Tu earn a huge favor from the military; he crafted a plan that killed four birds with one stone; and he had even silently set such a huge trap without a sound!

    This naturally took Tang Feifei by surprise.

    That was also why she was struggling to control her emotions.

    So after taking a deep breath, Tang Feifei spoke with a solemn voice, "Come to my place tonight."

    Qiu Tu: ??

    Qiu Tu had actually been eating quite well these past few days, especially finding Fang Tangtang''s facial cleanser irresistibly delightful, so he really had no thoughts of indulging in Tang Feifei''s lavish meal.

    So he coughed and gently declined, "Bureau Chief, I have other plans tonight."

    The golden light in Tang Feifei''s eyes did not diminish, "One promise."

    This was her opening offer.

    Qiu Tu clicked his tongue and was about to speak.

    Tang Feifei, "Two."

    Qiu Tu:.....

    He coughed and wanted to say it wasn''t a matter of promises.

    Tang Feifei, "Three."

    After saying this, Tang Feifei turned to gaze at Qiu Tu, her expression cold as she stated, "This is the bottom line."

    "If you don''t accept, I''ll just dump you here now and go back to the city to find a gigolo."

    Qiu Tu: ???

    Honestly, Qiu Tu wasn''t particularly concerned about Tang Feifei''s threats to find a gigolo.

    What he mostly felt was that three promises were indeed quite a lot.

    So, he coughed and said, "Bureau Chief, this is coercion! Out here in the middle of nowhere, how long would I have to run to get back to Xinjie City? Do I even need to work tomorrow?"

    "So, I''m agreeing for the sake of work! Work!" S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Hearing Qiu Tu''s words, a beautiful smile couldn''t help but curl on Tang Feifei''s lips.....

    Occasionally teasing Qiu Tu, her strategic subordinate, and watching him crack, was Tang Feifei''s... third pleasure.

    With that thought, Tang Feifei couldn''t help but lift her eyes to the pitch-black firmament outside the window.

    Above the firmament, the retrograde shooting star seemed to approach that dim star closer and closer.

    ''Can Qiu Tu''s plan really succeed?''

    Although Qiu Tu was always good at strategizing, Tang Feifei also knew the saying that man''s plans are no match for those of heaven.

    Especially when it came to matters like hunting the Evil God in the Boundless Heart Sea, any complication wouldn''t be surprising....

    ...

    Meanwhile.

    Boundless Heart Sea...

    As the source of all Cataclysmic Power and the spiritual destination of the entire world, the Boundless Heart Sea was not, as ordinary people imagined, a mere ocean, but... a complete world, just like the real world. Discover hidden content at My Virtual Library Empire

    However, this world differed from the real one.

    The real world is spherical, while the Boundless Heart Sea is square-shaped....

    It is like a colossal mirror, hovering over the entire real world.

    And more bizarrely, in this Boundless Heart Sea, there is no direction, no east, west, south, north, nor any end.....

    The whole world is like a vast interactive sandbox. You walk forward toward what appears to be a desert, only to find upon reaching it that it''s a lush primitive forest instead!

 Chapter 278 Larilos Demise? (10,000 Words for Monthly Ticket!)_2

    You want to return to your original place, but you find the path back no longer leads to where you came from.

    This is the unpredictable "Boundless Heart Sea."

    In this world with no east, west, north, or south, without any direction, the only way to determine your location is through [coordinates]!

    These coordinates represent a region''s corresponding position in reality.

    No matter to which part of the Boundless Heart Sea the region has shifted. As long as you know its coordinates, you can reach the area quickly through certain means.

    And right now, within the Boundless Heart Sea, at the region corresponding to Xinjie City.

    There stand three people at the junction of regional transit, patiently waiting...

    The region corresponding to Xinjie City is a dense and magnificent jungle.

    The sky above the jungle is pitch black, with a blood moon hanging.

    Within the jungle, the ground is covered with low growing plants that have a dazzling array of appearances, emitting enchanting glows.

    Their leaves and flowers twinkle like stars under the night sky, illuminating the entire forest.

    Examining the forest before him, Liu Xiongyuan, the old man, kept his mouth tightly shut, his lips downturned, forming a cold arc.

    He said coldly, "It seems that after all these years of fighting with Yan Chen, I still don''t understand him as well as that kid Qiu Tu."

    "He told me there was a 60% chance Yan Chen might make a desperate move, forcibly halt his advancement, and let Larilo go. I didn''t believe it."

    "Now it looks like he was right after all."

    At this time, standing beside him were two middle-aged men dressed in military uniforms.

    Both of them were around forty years old. One stood straight as a column, exuding a steady dignity and an imposing appearance, with eyebrows sharp as swords, his whole body emitting a strong scent of blood.

    If Qin Shuman were here, she would recognize him. He was her direct superior, the highest commander of the Xinjie City Military Department, Major General Ye Mingfeng, who once carried out a bloody purge in Xinjie City!

    The other had a smile on his face. Though his demeanor was also extraordinary, he gave off a bit of a rough soldier''s air, clearly the highest commander of the Eastern City Military Department: Colonel Wang Hu.

    Like Liu Xiongyuan, both were Third Order Cataclysmics, and had been persuaded by Qiu Tu to come here to earn great merit.

    That''s why they had accompanied Liu Xiongyuan to the Boundless Heart Sea, to induce Yan Chen''s Illusion of the Law, precipitate the congregation of Moonlight Lake early, and ambush Larilo here.

    Initially, their thoughts weren''t much different from Liu Xiongyuan''s, feeling that Qiu Tu''s prediction was not very reliable. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    But... Qiu Tu was really persuasive, giving them the impression that they would regret it if they didn''t come.

    So, with the mindset that there was nothing to lose even if they did come on a wild goose chase, they gathered here.

    Who would have thought that Qiu Tu''s guess would actually prove correct!

    Thinking this, they couldn''t help but keep raising their estimation of Qiu Tu in their minds, and... they felt relieved that they really did come to snipe Larilo.

    With that in mind, they bucked up, calculating the time Larilo had been fleeing, and got ready.

    And so they waited another two minutes. Explore hidden tales at My Virtual Library Empire

    Finally, a meteor streaked across the sky, then plummeted straight down into this jungle region!

    Only a "Boom!" was heard!

    An empty hole was left on the ground!

    The next second, Larilo clambered up from the ground in a sorry state.

    She was covered in blood, her spirit wilted, and her condition was obviously very poor.

    After all, unlike the other three, she didn''t enter the Boundless Heart Sea with her spirit leaving the body independently.

    Her consciousness was inseparable from this body due to Yan Chen''s calculations.

    So, after Yan Chen lifted the Domain, she had to burn her spirit forcibly to break through the world barrier with her flesh and return to the Boundless Heart Sea!

    Her plan was simple: only by escaping back to her home turf and merging with her original self could she find a way to undo this merger and take revenge on Yan Chen!

    During this escape, no matter how great the cost, it was acceptable!

    Luckily, she succeeded and truly escaped back to the Boundless Heart Sea, to her own region...

    Thinking this, Larilo breathed a sigh of relief, then climbed out of the crater and directly used her consciousness to communicate with her original self.

    But at that moment!

    Suddenly, a "Swoosh!" of a breaking air came!

    The next second, a spear of lightning shot forth from afar!

    Larilo jumped in fright, rolling awkwardly in the dirt to dodge the lightning spear!

    Only a "Boom!" thundered as the lightning spear blasted another large hole in the pit!

    "Who is it!?" Larilo stiffened and then looked palely in the direction from where the spear had come.

    The next second, three figures emerged from the jungle, unmistakably Liu Xiongyuan, Ye Mingfeng, and Wang Hu.

    The three were levitating, their bodies radiating powerful auras.

    Perhaps because they were ready for battle, their appearances had also changed.

    Liu Xiongyuan, for instance... His pale hair stood on end, his whole body filled with the aura of a war god!

    His once short stature had somehow expanded more than twice its size, becoming tall and burly like a towering mountain, unshakable.

    He was bare-chested, his exposed muscles firm and powerful, seeming as though each muscle contained endless strength; his back was arched and resilient, his nostrils flared as if he were constantly breathing out flames and thunder!

    He glared at Larilo as if he were about to charge forward and shred her the next second!

    And Ye Mingfeng was similar, with a faint mist of blood surrounding him, standing quietly in the air, yet he exuded a sharpness that seemed to pierce the heavens!

 Chapter 278 Larilos Demise? (10,000 Words for Monthly Ticket!)_3

    Even though he did nothing, that powerful momentum still swept in like a hurricane! sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Seeing this scene, Larilo knew she''d been calculated.

    She glared at Liu Xiongyuan, Ye Mingfeng, and Wang Hu, her enraged words squeezing out from between her teeth bit by bit, "You''ve really gone mad! To dare ambush me in my own domain!"

    "It seems, when the tiger doesn''t display its might, you indeed treat me as a sick cat!"

    "Do you really think I, a deity, am famous for nothing!"

    While saying this, Larilo''s body also burst forth with a powerful momentum!

    Upon witnessing this, Liu Xiongyuan, Ye Mingfeng, and Wang Hu also tensed up, maintaining a vigilant state!

    But then, who knew, the next second, like an arrow released from a bow, Larilo turned tail and ran!

    While running, she used all her strength to shout loudly, "Sister! Sister! Save me! Save me! Zhao Ji! Save me!"

    Upon seeing this, the three men realized they had been duped and quickly gave chase!

    "Boom!" a thunderclap roared!

    The sky seemed to begin drizzling a fine rain!

    Lying in bed, having just gone through a round of passionate struggle with Tang Feifei, Qiu Tu tilted his head towards the suddenly overcast sky.

    Tang Feifei, with her arms bared, wrapped them around from behind his back, her elastic and wild body pressing against Qiu Tu''s back, letting him feel the softness of her chest.

    Her skin was the color of wheat, slightly different from Qiu Tu''s, but when they pressed together, it didn''t feel out of place.

    "Whoosh!"

    As if on cue, the rain began to pour down.

    Qiu Tu lit a cigarette, his right hand holding it, while his left hand reached back to stroke Tang Feifei''s slender waist, then he softly said, "Do you think... Director Liu and the others will succeed?"

    Upon hearing this, Tang Feifei coldly said, "As long as Larilo has no reinforcements, it shouldn''t be a problem."

    "But if an Evil God comes to her aid, it will be good enough if Liu Xiongyuan and the others can retreat in one piece."

    Just as she said this, suddenly, a star in the heavens shone brightly!

    The next second, it turned into a green meteor, plummeting straight towards the earth!

    Seeing this, Tang Feifei abruptly sat up, then with her long legs, dashed to the window!

    Looking at the celestial phenomenon, Tang Feifei''s calm face took on a hint of surprise, "Did they really succeed...?"

    Hearing this, Qiu Tu also quickly sat up and asked, "What succeeded? Did Director Liu and the others succeed?"

    Tang Feifei nodded and said coldly, "The fall of an Evil God is always marked by a phenomenon."

    "This green meteor is likely the fall of Larilo."

    Hearing this, Qiu Tu said excitedly, "So Larilo is completely dead?"

    Tang Feifei hesitated for a moment, then said, "Whether she''s completely dead or not, it''s hard to say."

    "After all, Larilo excelled in prolonging life and liked to use avatars."

    "But her main body is likely completely destroyed, and she has also lost the status of a Fourth-order catastrophe-evolver, no longer possessing a domain and the various powers of an Evil God."

    "That''s why this phenomenon occurred."

    Saying this, Tang Feifei seemed to recall something and chuckled lightly, "Yan Chen is going to have a headache."

    .....

    Meanwhile.

    Having exchanged information with the backstage of the Sanctuary and made several calls to understand the recent doings of Qiu Tu and Tang Feifei, Yan Chen sat quietly in the study.

    Perhaps because he had once again gotten a grasp on the situation, his face returned to its usual unflappable expression.

    In his aged eyes, there was also a touch of indifference.

    After sitting quietly for a while, Yan Chen was about to get up to rest.

    Your journey continues on My Virtual Library Empire

    But just then, all of a sudden, he trembled, his face changed, and he spat out blood with a "Wow".

    ------