Looking at Yan Chen's playful, cat-and-mouse expression and listening to an explanation so meticulous it bordered on mockery, Qiu Tu was already cursing the man's mother in his heart.
He finally understood why [Crisis Sense], when warning him the second time, had noted: "Your lie still contains flaws that cannot withstand scrutiny."
How was this just "flaws"? The whole thing was a gaping hole!
Who would have guessed that while everyone treated Yan Chen like a "brother," Yan Chen was playing mind games with his "brother," going so far as to fabricate the background of his own mistress!
Still, he knew this was no time for regret or frustration.
After all, neither regret nor frustration would do anything to help; they would only sever his last chance of survival.
He had to calm down and find a way to break the deadlock!
With that thought, Qiu Tu gradually composed himself, his mind racing at full speed.
At this moment, his years of "work" experience in a fraud syndicate in his past life finally proved useful.
During those years of "working" in the fraud syndicate, Qiu Tu had undergone comprehensive scam training. It covered not only how to see through someone's weaknesses, but also how to keep the con going even after being exposed.
Thus, he swiftly pieced together the clues he had and adjusted his plan.
Before long, he had settled on a strategy.
Confidence bred calm. The very next second, Qiu Tu naturally began his second performance.
He offered no defense. Instead, he put on a look of timely bewilderment and asked Yan Chen, "Director... are you certain everything you just said is true?"
"Because this matter... doesn't add up."
"The Qin Shuman you described doesn't match the Qin Shuman I interacted with at all..."
'Only liars rush to explain when their holes are pointed out. Someone who told the truth will instinctively suspect that something is wrong with the other person.'
Next, Qiu Tu pinpointed the flaw in Yan Chen's words with surgical precision.
He said, "Besides, Director, even if everything you said is true, it doesn't clear Qin Shuman of suspicion."
"After all, Qin Shuman was raised and trained by the Qin family ever since she was cloned. No one knows what the Qin family taught her during that time."
"The Qin family could have instructed her to remain eternally loyal to you, or they could have instructed her to gather confidential intel by your side."
Hearing Qiu Tu's rebuttal, Yan Chen's smile slowly vanished, his entire face turning expressionless.
Seeing this, Qiu Tu felt slightly reassured and continued to poke holes in Yan Chen's chain of logic.
"Furthermore, you said the Qin family doesn't dare offend you because you hold the power over their life and death."
"Allow your subordinate a bold supposition. If you truly hold the power of life and death over the Qin family, then surely you could just as easily manipulate the other clans and organizations in Xinjie City, couldn't you?"
"If you, as the Director of the Xinjie City Investigation Bureau, can so easily control all the clans and organizations across the city, large and small, does that mean the Bureau Directors of other cities can just as easily control the clans and organizations in theirs?"
At this point, Qiu Tu paused, then softly asked, "Then... why would the sanctuaries bother establishing City Halls in every city? Why wouldn't they simply let the Investigation Bureaus handle every major and minor affair of the cities...?"
Hearing Qiu Tu's words, Yan Chen remained silent for a long moment, and the study fell completely quiet.
Seeing this, Qiu Tu knew his gamble had paid off.
Outwardly composed, in his heart he was already cursing eight generations of Yan Chen's ancestors.
That old bastard really was bluffing him!
No wonder it had felt strange listening to him. If the Investigation Bureaus in every city were truly that dominant, wouldn't City Hall be completely sidelined?
How could the sanctuaries and City Halls ever permit the existence of such an overwhelmingly powerful department!
It made no sense whatsoever!
Of course, Qiu Tu did not believe Yan Chen would tell an outright lie about such things. He guessed that Yan Chen had most likely withheld part of the truth:
For instance, the Bureau Director could indeed "determine" whether a clan or organization was suitable for cooperation, but possessed only "investigative authority," not "decision-making authority."
Matters of such gravity would likely need to be submitted to City Hall for discussion and final decision by the Municipal Council.
Therefore, even if the Bureau Director concluded from an investigation that a certain clan was unfit for cooperation, City Hall could refuse to accept the findings and kick it back to the Investigation Bureau for reinvestigation.
Only this aligned with Qiu Tu's understanding of the power structure within the zone pending planning. Earlier, Yan Chen had clearly played a word game to bluff him.
Having figured this out, Qiu Tu felt even more grounded. Just as he prepared to press his advantage, the study door was suddenly opened from outside.
Qiu Tu looked toward the doorway and saw Jia Shu walk in.
Entering the study, Jia Shu shut the door behind him, then walked over to Yan Chen at a measured pace. Bending down, he whispered a few words into Yan Chen's ear.
The study was dead silent, so even though Jia Shu kept his voice very low, Qiu Tu could still faintly catch key fragments of their conversation:
"When the attack occurred, Qiu Tu was indeed the first to react."
"Fang Ming did instruct Qiu Tu to protect Qin Shuman and pull back, but Qiu Tu did not retreat."
"The Jiuxiang Street security post indeed received Qiu Tu's distress call right when the shootout began."
Qiu Tu looked calmly at Yan Chen and Jia Shu, feeling even more secure. Then... he brought out his most heavyweight piece of evidence at the opportune moment.
"Director, perhaps you feel that everything I've said is mere talk, which is why you don't trust me. But in fact, I have proof."
Saying that, Qiu Tu retrieved the cloth bundle that A Tai had brought from inside his coat.
Stepping forward, he placed the cloth bundle on the mahogany desk, then respectfully stepped back to his original spot.
Jia Shu glanced at Yan Chen. Upon receiving Yan Chen's affirming look, he stepped up to the desk, reached out to pick up the bundle, and opened it to look inside.
At first glance, he didn't pay much attention, but with the second glance, his pupils shrank violently. With a look of disbelief, he reached in and rummaged through the bundle.
A moment later, he walked briskly back to Yan Chen's side and whispered rapidly, "Director, look."
Hearing Jia Shu's words, Yan Chen lifted his eyes to look at the bundle.
In that instant, Qiu Tu clearly saw Yan Chen's body freeze for a fraction of a second.
The next second, Yan Chen looked at Qiu Tu with a solemn expression and asked in a low voice, "Do you know what this is?"
Qiu Tu first nodded, then shook his head. "Only a little."
"Miss Shuman only told me that this item could change my destiny and grant me incredible power."
"She didn't go into detail. She only said that as long as I kept doing things for her, she would give me more..."
Hearing Qiu Tu's response, Yan Chen took the cloth bundle and tipped its contents onto the mahogany desk.
*Clang! Clang!*
First tumbled out several silver dollars, followed by a few small gold bars.
Finally, shimmering with a faint light, an ocean-blue translucent stone landed on the desk with a clear *clink*.
It was none other than... the Cataclysm material: Aurora Stone.
Seeing this precious material obtained from his golden finger drop onto the desk, Qiu Tu felt not the slightest pang of regret.
Instead, as he calmly watched the flash of greed that flickered across Yan Chen's eyes, he was reminded once more of that saying:
Greed is the most powerful weapon in this world...
Yan Chen was about to take the bait—
Chapter 11