Slipping the documents into a file folder, Qiu Tu carried it into his study.
A safe stood inside the room.
Turning the dial to enter the combination, Qiu Tu opened the safe and took out a small booklet—the original evidence Fourth Master Qin had given him.
Setting the booklet on the desk, Qiu Tu retrieved several other paper documents from the safe. These were the reports from the past two days, compiled by the five teams led by Chen Feng and the others as they verified clues and evidence.
Placing them alongside the file folder on the desk, Qiu Tu leaned over the work surface and wrote down everything Lin Zuo had told him earlier that day from memory.
Half an hour later, looking at the several sets of materials laid out side by side on the desk, a faint smile curved at the corners of Qiu Tu's mouth.
Whether his plan would work all depended on tomorrow.
[4 days (Latest deadline to obtain incriminating evidence against the Qin family)]
[7:59:41 (Cataclysm potion can be brewed)]
The night passed without incident.
The next morning, Qiu Tu got up early, washed up, and went to report in with Qin Shuman.
After a full night's sleep, Qin Shuman was visibly in much better spirits. Moreover, perhaps because outsiders were around, she had resumed her innocent, naive facade: her large eyes exuded a clarity and silliness that could be seen through at a glance.
Yet Qiu Tu did not dare underestimate this woman in the slightest.
After all, she was not only a section chief in a covert department, but also an extraordinary Cataclysm-user.
Though she had painted a miserable picture of herself the previous night, and Qiu Tu genuinely intended to lend her a hand if the opportunity arose, a proper degree of vigilance was still necessary.
In this dog-eat-dog chaotic world, placing absolute trust in anyone was playing with one's own life.
After chatting with Qin Shuman for a bit and settling the guard rotation roster for her day, Qiu Tu left the courtyard residence and headed for the Investigation Bureau.
Yet barely a few steps beyond the courtyard gates, Qiu Tu's communicator rang. It was Fourth Master Qin.
Qiu Tu paused for a fraction of a second, then continued walking outward without batting an eye as he answered the call.
Once the connection went through, Fourth Master Qin's genial chuckle came over the receiver. "Did Agent Qiu make any progress last night?"
Hearing Fourth Master Qin's words, Qiu Tu smiled and replied, "Quite a bountiful harvest, in fact."
"I also have to thank you, Fourth Master, for providing the clues and assistance that finally allowed me to push this case forward."
Fourth Master Qin was visibly taken aback. "So quickly?"
He probed, "Did they provide you with key evidence last night, Agent Qiu?"
As he walked, Qiu Tu explained with a smile, "You misunderstand, Fourth Master. The Political Department is quite different from the other departments in the Investigation Bureau."
"Other departments investigate cases under the presumption of innocence; they must investigate before making arrests."
"Due to its unique nature, however, the Political Department operates under the presumption of guilt. As long as we have a lead, we can arrest people first and investigate afterward."
Hearing this, Fourth Master Qin couldn't help asking, "Then what if you get the wrong person?"
Qiu Tu burst into laughter. "Get the wrong person? How could that be? Since the day of its founding, the Political Department has never had a single miscarriage of justice."
At this point, Qiu Tu lowered his voice. "Otherwise, why do you think the floor of our interrogation room is forever stained dark crimson..."
Even as an underworld boss, Fourth Master Qin felt a sudden chill run down his spine at that moment.
Yet in the very next second, he chuckled and said, "Then I shall await your good news, Agent Qiu."
With that, he was about to hang up.
Right then, Qiu Tu interrupted him. "Don't be in such a rush, Fourth Master. Let's chat a bit longer."
Qiu Tu paused briefly before continuing, "Fourth Master, you know I have dozens of men under me. Over these past few days, we've been running ourselves ragged, pouring heart and soul into handling this matter. Wouldn't you say..."
Fourth Master Qin froze for a moment, then caught on and laughed heartily. "Agent Qiu truly is a straightforward man! Rest assured, we of the Qin family have seen every bit of your hard work and contribution to Xinjie City."
"Shortly, someone will deliver a few tokens of appreciation to your room. You must do me the honor of accepting them when they arrive!"
Qiu Tu smiled. "Then thank you very much, Fourth Master! Rest assured, as public servants, we will certainly do our utmost to handle every case thoroughly."
"We won't let criminals walk free!"
With a laugh, Fourth Master Qin hung up the call.
Listening to the steady beeping tone from the receiver, the smile on Qiu Tu's face slowly faded.
Expressionless, he slipped the communicator back into his pocket. Instead of heading back to his quarters, he carried the materials and walked straight out through the main gates of the Qin estate.
Just as he stepped outside, a brand-new black sedan pulled up directly in front of him.
Qiu Tu halted and tilted his head toward the car.
The rear window slowly rolled down, revealing the face of Qin Zhengguang—head of the Qin family's Second Branch and deputy division chief of the Investigation Bureau's Public Security Division. He sat inside, fixing a profound, searching gaze on Qiu Tu.
Seeing Qin Zhengguang, Qiu Tu's expression didn't change at all. He offered a crisp salute with a smile. "Good day, Chief."
Qin Zhengguang had slicked-back hair and wore a formal black suit, exuding an imposing aura without even needing to show anger.
Hearing Qiu Tu's greeting, he gave a flat, expressionless grunt. Staring straight ahead, he asked coolly, "Agent Qiu seems quite busy with official duties lately. Out and about quite often?"
Qiu Tu smiled and replied, "The Political Department does shoulder a heavy workload, so even when heading out on assignments, we end up putting in all sorts of overtime."
Qin Zhengguang remarked coldly, "Even with a heavy workload, one must still be thorough. Don't go mistaking every whisper of wind for rain. Be careful that your digging doesn't end up trapping yourself, leaving you unable to save your own skin."
Qiu Tu kept smiling. "Thank you for your concern, Section Chief. But my life isn't worth much anyway, so I'm not particularly afraid of getting trapped."
Hearing that, Qin Zhengguang gave Qiu Tu a deep, lingering look. Then, letting out a cold snort, he turned toward his driver, about to tell him to pull away.
Just then, Qiu Tu spoke up again, asking curiously, "Where are you headed, Section Chief Qin?"
Qin Zhengguang glanced sideways at Qiu Tu and answered flatly, "The bureau."
Qiu Tu beamed. "What a coincidence—I'm heading to the bureau as well. Would you mind giving me a lift, Section Chief Qin?"
With that, he casually pulled open the front passenger door as if they were old friends, settling comfortably into the seat before complaining, "Having a car really is the best! Without one, getting from the Qin estate to the bureau takes at least three bus transfers plus a ten-minute walk. What a hassle!"
Qin Zhengguang stared, completely flabbergasted.
Watching Qiu Tu close the door and even practicedly recline the seat back, Qin Zhengguang was initially struck dumb with sheer disbelief, followed by a prolonged silence...
The driver looked back toward him somewhat pleadingly. Qin Zhengguang stayed silent for two seconds before finally giving a nod.
After nodding, however, he shifted over to the side; Qiu Tu's reclined seat had made his own seating area noticeably cramped...
Just like that, the car drove steadily over the pothole-ridden roads of Xinjie City, making its way toward the Investigation Bureau.
Qin Zhengguang had initially assumed Qiu Tu had gotten into the car to discuss some covert topic. Yet after waiting the entire ride, not only did Qiu Tu say nothing at all, but he had even fallen sound asleep...
This left Qin Zhengguang completely bewildered, and all the more unable to fathom what Qiu Tu was actually planning.
Chapter 40