Wearing a faint, ambiguous smile, Jia Shu looked at Qiu Tu and said, "Qiu Tu, there is no need to worry too much about this mission.
"You are now a member of our Political Department. We certainly will not leave you to fight alone. We will do our utmost to create favorable conditions and provide you with support."
Hearing Jia Shu's words, Qiu Tu snapped back to reality.
He was right. With an entity as powerful as the Qin family, how could anyone bring them down single-handedly?
Then he heard Jia Shu chuckle and continue, "When the time comes, I will have the Director arrange for Miss Shuman to return home to visit her family.
"As head of her security detail, you will accompany her to the Qin household and launch an investigation from within.
"Given Miss Shuman's trust and high regard for you, I am sure you will smoothly uncover the Qin family's secrets and complete the mission."
At Jia Shu's words, Qiu Tu's heart skipped a beat.
Meanwhile, Jia Shu went on, "Furthermore, I can point you toward a direction for your investigation.
"Earlier, when reporting to the Director, you said you suspected Miss Shuman belonged to City Hall. But there is no evidence to support that.
"On the other hand, you witnessed Miss Shuman's connection to the Reform United Front with your own eyes.
"Which means... you may very well have guessed Miss Shuman's faction incorrectly.
"Perhaps she and the Qin family do not work for City Hall at all, but are instead supporters of an anti-government organization!" By the end of his sentence, a cruel smirk spread across Jia Shu's gaunt face, his clear lenses flashing with a cold glint.
"Investigate along this line, and you cannot go wrong!"
At that moment, Qiu Tu felt as though a bucket of icy water had been dumped over his head, chilling him to the marrow.
Vicious! Utterly vicious!
This clever stroke of going along with the flow sealed off every single retreat and excuse Qiu Tu had!
Since he had "personally witnessed" Qin Shuman "bribing" him, and "personally witnessed" Qin Shuman directing the Reform United Front to help him build his reputation, then whether Qin Shuman and the Qin family were tied to City Hall was up in the air—but they were unquestionably colluding with the Reform United Front!
And since Qin Shuman hadn't hidden her dealings with the Reform United Front from him, it ought to be simple for him to follow the trail and uncover evidence of the Qin family's treason!
Murder and arson might not bring down a powerhouse like the Qin family, but a heinous crime like colluding with an anti-government militia certainly would!
So... Qiu Tu either had to produce ironclad proof that the Qin family truly conspired with the Reform United Front, weather the family's retaliation, destroy them entirely, and fully prove his own loyalty;
Or... his lies would fall apart on their own.
It was an open trap that blocked him at both ends.
With that realization, Qiu Tu reined in his surging emotions, forcing himself to calm down.
Perhaps because his mindset had shifted, the study—which had seemed bright only moments ago—felt dim and somber once again.
Darkness pressed in from all sides, leaving only the pool of pale yellow light cast by the desk lamp on the mahogany surface struggling to hold it at bay.
Yan Chen sat while Jia Shu stood, their bodies half-concealed in shadow as they watched him—one expressionless, the other wearing a half-smile—making Qiu Tu's scalp tingle.
Suppressing the agitation inside him, Qiu Tu's mind raced, searching frantically for a way out.
Seconds ticked by...
After a moment, he finally had a plan.
He deliberately knitted his brows tight. "Sir, I believe the investigative direction you pointed out is entirely correct.
"However, isn't it a bit too hasty?
"Miss Shuman only bribed me today, and right on the heels of that, the Director arranges for her to visit her family. On top of that, I get promoted and assigned to accompany her.
"An arrangement that obvious practically writes the word 'trap' on our foreheads. There is no way she and the Qin family won't see through it."
Jia Shu looked at Qiu Tu with interest. "Then what do you propose?"
Qiu Tu said gravely, "I believe we shouldn't have the Director arrange her visit. She needs to propose it herself!"
Hearing this, Jia Shu's eyes flickered behind his lenses as if weighing the suggestion.
Yet Qiu Tu gave him no time to ponder, laying out his proposal at once. Pointing at the Aurora Stone on the desk, he said, "Though I don't know what this stone is used for, seeing how seriously Miss Shuman, the Director, and you, Sir, treat it, it must be a treasure anyone would covet.
"I hope the Bureau can provide me with more treasures like this, along with relevant intelligence.
"Then, I will take these treasures and information to Miss Shuman, telling her that I've struck gold and wish to report to her and take my next orders.
"However, such sensitive matters cannot be discussed inside the Director's villa. So I will suggest that she take the initiative to request a visit home, using the shock from the recent ambush as an excuse.
"That way, everything appears entirely natural. Not only will it avoid raising suspicion from Miss Shuman and the Qin family, but they will trust me even more because of the hefty pledge of loyalty I bring.
"And I will be able to uncover proof of the Qin family's collusion with the Reform United Front much faster."
When Qiu Tu finished speaking, total silence fell over the room.
Both Yan Chen and Jia Shu fell quiet.
Did Qiu Tu's reasoning hold water? Yes, it did.
Was the plan more thorough? Indeed, it was.
Yet... both men sensed that something felt slightly off.
Why was it that the Cataclysm material they had barely gotten their hands on had to be returned before it even warmed their fingers—and they were supposed to fork over even more of it?
Doesn't this... reek of a scam?
Could Qiu Tu be planning to take the treasures and run?
After a brief, silent deliberation, Yan Chen finally spoke.
He gave Qiu Tu a searching look, his voice raspy. "Qiu Tu, this treasure is called an Aurora Stone. While not extraordinarily priceless, it is still a controlled item.
"Even I cannot simply withdraw them from the Bureau at will.
"So, while your plan is sound... I still need to consider it carefully."
Pausing, he waved a dismissive hand. "Go back and get some rest for tonight.
"Tomorrow, I will have someone deliver my answer."
Hearing Yan Chen's response, Qiu Tu's eyes flickered slightly, taken by surprise.
Yan Chen's suspicion hadn't been far off: backed into a corner, Qiu Tu had indeed intended to fleece him for a massive haul, throw the board into utter chaos, and search for a fresh path forward.
In fact, Qiu Tu had even entertained the thought that if all else failed, he would simply take the fleeced Cataclysm materials and the lovely lady and flee far away.
Yet the man hadn't agreed right away?
In an instant, Qiu Tu gained a deeper appreciation of the Aurora Stone's true worth.
'If an Aurora Stone is truly that valuable, then there is no way Yan Chen would ever willingly let go of me as a lead, is there?'
'In that case... can't I play an even bigger game?'
As thoughts whirled through his mind, Qiu Tu felt as though he had glimpsed the key to breaking the deadlock.
And so, with all three men harboring their own hidden motives, Qiu Tu was escorted out of the study by Jia Shu.
Once outside, Qiu Tu took the initiative to salute and bid Jia Shu farewell. Jia Shu didn't say much, merely patting Qiu Tu's shoulder with that same ambiguous smile. "Good. Very good."
As Qiu Tu walked away, he could feel a gaze lingering on his back like a haunting specter.
That sensation persisted until he rounded a corner and it vanished completely.
The moment it disappeared, Qiu Tu let out a slow breath of relief. Just then, he noticed that the crisis countdown timer in the upper left corner of his vision was quietly beginning to change...
Chapter 13