Security Bureau!

Xinjie City was a zone pending planning that had just been opened up by the Eighth Sanctuary over the past two years. Material goods were scarce, living conditions were rough, and much of the infrastructure was still in the middle of being cleared and rebuilt. Yet several grand hotels and upscale restaurants had been established early on. After all, no matter how miserable life at the bottom was, the upper class still needed food, drink, and luxury. Stepping into the Milan Hotel, Qiu Tu felt as if he had traveled through time and space. If he didn't know he was still in this cataclysm world, he would probably have thought he had traveled back to Earth and walked into an upscale four-star hotel. A massive crystal chandelier hung from the high ceiling, premium marble paved the floor, and the walls were exquisitely decorated with reliefs or calligraphy and paintings. Even the lounge area was furnished with a luxurious set of sofas. While a grand hotel of this caliber generally catered only to wealthy merchants and officials arriving from the sanctuary, the living environment was still exaggeratedly lavish. With these thoughts in mind, Qiu Tu didn't gawk around like a country bumpkin. Instead, he made his way naturally to the lounge area in the lobby, ordered a cup of tea, and waited patiently as he sipped it. He didn't have to wait long. At 7:20 PM—forty minutes before the appointed time—a hotel waiter approached Qiu Tu, bowed, and handed him an envelope. Qiu Tu looked up at him. "Sir," the waiter said respectfully, "your friend asked me to deliver this to you." "My friend?" Qiu Tu looked around, but saw no one suspicious. He reached out and took the envelope. It felt light and thin in his hand, as if holding almost nothing. Once the waiter walked away, Qiu Tu opened it. Inside, he found... a room keycard. Room 416. Qiu Tu turned the keycard over in his hands, an amused, thoughtful glint in his eyes. Finishing his tea, Qiu Tu took the keycard, stood up, and headed toward the elevator. He pressed the button, and before long the elevator doors slid open. Qiu Tu stepped inside. As the elevator ascended, Qiu Tu reached down to touch his waist; his sidearm was resting obediently in its holster. Before heading out, Qiu Tu had already checked the pistol, chambered a round, and disengaged the safety. This would allow him to fire at the first sign of danger. The elevator climbed floor by floor, soon stopping at the fourth floor. As the elevator doors opened, Qiu Tu cautiously checked the surroundings outside before stepping out. Since Xinjie City was newly established and its business environment remained relatively poor, the hotel's overall occupancy rate was low; Qiu Tu didn't encounter any other guests along the way. Following the room numbers along the hallway, Qiu Tu soon arrived at Room 416. At the door, Qiu Tu gave a tentative knock, but there was no response from inside. He hesitated for a moment, then swiped the keycard. The sound of the lock turning came from inside, and Qiu Tu pushed the door open. Inside the room, a young man in plain clothes with a square jaw was standing by the window, watching him. "And you are...?" Qiu Tu stepped into the room, shut the door behind him, and probed as he looked at the young man. The young man pulled an ID credential from his pocket and displayed it to Qiu Tu. "Hello, Agent Qiu. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Lin Zuo, deputy section chief of the Investigation Section of the Security Bureau. "The reason I took the liberty of inviting you here today is that we would like your cooperation with our work." Hearing Lin Zuo's introduction, Qiu Tu's pupils contracted slightly. The Security Bureau...? If this were the old Qiu Tu, hearing about the "Security Bureau" would likely have left him baffled; after all, it was hardly a high-profile agency. However, during the days he spent with Shen Lingshuang, Qiu Tu had learned a great deal of confidential information from her. That included the Security Bureau. The Security Bureau, formally known as the Bureau of Security Protection and Secret Investigation, was a classified department subordinate to the Military Department. Its primary duties were cracking down on anti-government armed groups and emergency crisis response. More importantly, certain secret affairs involving Cataclysm Awakening also fell under its purview. According to Shen Lingshuang, everyone who could enter this department was an elite, and many were Cataclysm-users. Furthermore, members of this department were all selected directly from the sanctuary rather than recruited within the zones pending planning. Consequently, their combat effectiveness could be considered the highest among all departments in the zones pending planning. Still, why would such a powerful agency be looking for him? Had the commotion he caused lately been so loud that it drew their attention and interest? Or... was this department Qin Shuman's actual backing? With that thought, Qiu Tu probed, "What matter does Section Chief Lin need my assistance with? And why me?" Hearing Qiu Tu probe, Lin Zuo said, "To be frank, over the past six months, we've kept close tabs on key members of the Qin family. "So when the Reform United Front attacked you and Qin Shuman, our attention naturally shifted to you as well. "Later, we discovered that the Investigation Bureau seemed to be investigating the Qin family too, and had even transferred you to the Political Department specifically to handle this matter. Because of that, we were hesitating over whether to make contact with you. "It wasn't until yesterday, when you brought a squad of Political Department agents into the Qin family with great fanfare, that we felt things were getting a bit out of hand. Only then did we make up our minds to contact you urgently. "The reason I invited you here this time is twofold: we want to compare notes and exchange intelligence, and we also want to coordinate our respective scopes of operation to avoid stepping on each other's toes and compromising our missions..." Lin Zuo's reasoning sounded solid, and on the surface, nothing seemed out of place. Yet Qiu Tu simply didn't buy it. He probed again, "Section Chief Lin knows the Qin family's recent situation so well—could it be that you planted a mole in the Qin family?" Lin Zuo's expression didn't shift in the slightest. "My apologies, Agent Qiu. That is classified information within the Security Bureau. I'm afraid I cannot comment." Qiu Tu took no offense, his mind racing. "Fair enough. I won't press that question, then. Let's get straight to the foundation of our cooperation." He continued, "I recall Section Chief Lin mentioning in your text that you have intelligence that would interest me. May I ask, Section Chief Lin, what intelligence do you think I'd be interested in?"