And if the evidence in Qiu Tu's hands wasn't solid enough, things would be even simpler.
Without the Qin family having to lift a finger, Qin Zhengguang would see to it that Qiu Tu died without a burial place!
Yet at that moment, as if guessing what was running through Qin Zhengguang's mind, Qiu Tu continued his report with a smile. "After receiving these tips, I did not dare act rashly. Instead, I reported directly to you, Director, and requested a squad of reinforcements.
"That very night, you approved my investigation and dispatched the reinforcements."
At those words, Qin Zhengguang's heart gave a sudden lurch. He stole a glance at Yan Chen, who remained concealed in the shadows, and abruptly realized he might have misjudged the situation.
Qiu Tu's audacity to investigate this matter had clearly been sanctioned by someone higher up—and the most likely candidates were Yan Chen, Secretary Bai, or Jia Shu.
Even now, he had no idea what kind of connection existed between Qiu Tu and those three.
What was certain, however, was that Qiu Tu had close ties with them, and behind this operation, the shadows of the three seemed to loom faintly.
*What if they're the ones looking to move against the Qin family? What then?*
At that terrible possibility, Qin Zhengguang's expression darkened, his fists clenching involuntarily.
Qiu Tu glanced at him and went on. "Once the reinforcements arrived, I didn't waste any time. I had them investigate these leads immediately.
"Soon, I began turning up a great deal of relevant evidence.
"Not only did we uncover the warehouses where the Qin family secretly stored contraband medicines and the letters exchanged with anti-government organizations, but we also tailed their operatives and wiretapped the entire transaction process between the Qin family and the Reform United Front.
"We even... obtained proof of the Qin family illegally releasing members of an anti-government organization."
Hearing Qiu Tu's words, Qin Zhengguang's face went completely pale.
He knew something had gone catastrophically wrong. The Qin family definitely had a traitor in their ranks; otherwise, it would have been impossible for Qiu Tu to uncover so many critical leads and pieces of evidence in just a few short days.
Even more terrifying was the realization that he was finished.
With so much exposed, the Qin family couldn't possibly emerge unscathed.
Even if their deep roots meant the Investigation Bureau and City Hall wouldn't push for total annihilation, the family would still have to surrender massive interests and put forward a scapegoat to quell the storm!
And judging by the evidence Qiu Tu had amassed, who was a better fit for the role of scapegoat than him, the deputy chief of the Public Security Division?
To save itself, the family would sacrifice him without hesitation to protect the others!
At the thought, Qin Zhengguang felt his mouth go dry and his knees turn to water. A high-pitched ringing filled his ears, and the surrounding sounds seemed to drift further and further away, growing increasingly indistinct...
Yet right at that dazed moment, he faintly heard Qiu Tu say, "...And through the past two days of investigation, along with my questioning of Section Chief Qin this morning, we can essentially confirm that Fourth Master Qin—that is, Qin Jinsheng—is the mastermind behind all of this.
"After Old Master Qin..."
For an instant, Qin Zhengguang's mind went completely blank.
Who?
Who was the mastermind?
Not me? Old Fourth?!
In that single breath, Qin Zhengguang felt his scattered thoughts snap back into sharp focus. Even the sounds in the room suddenly rang loud and clear.
Then he heard Qiu Tu continue, "After Old Master Qin passed away, the Qin brothers divided the family estate. Fourth Master Qin was allotted underground brothels, casinos, usury, and other illicit businesses.
"Because of the nature of those enterprises, he came into contact with members of the Reform United Front. Thereafter, he realized it was an opportunity to reap exorbitant profits!
"And so, using the names of Section Chief Qin and Director Qin Heng behind their backs, he secretly amassed controlled pharmaceuticals and sold them to the Front at inflated prices.
"Furthermore, when settling payments, he refused to take ordinary currency from the Front. Instead, he demanded that the Front round up people from the Cataclysm Zone to settle the accounts.
"The girls in their teens and twenties were sent to his brothels, while two- and three-year-old boys were groomed into enforcers."
Qin Zhengguang's emotions had gradually begun to steady.
Listening to Qiu Tu's account, he knew Qiu Tu truly held a vast array of evidence regarding the Qin family's crimes.
While this evidence might not be enough to annihilate the entire family, it was more than enough to shake them to the bone—and to make him, the second-in-command of the family, take the fall.
Yet... Qiu Tu had raised the blade so high, only to let it fall so lightly, pushing Old Fourth forward to take the rap.
This was an outcome he had never envisioned.
With that in mind, Qin Zhengguang looked at Qiu Tu with a complicated gaze, trying to divine what game he was truly playing.
Just then, Qiu Tu happened to turn his eyes toward him.
Making sudden eye contact with Qiu Tu, Qin Zhengguang couldn't help letting his gaze flicker with a trace of guilt.
Then he heard Qiu Tu speak.
"Section Chief Qin, I recall that this morning, when I informed you of everything in the car, you were equally shocked. You then sternly instructed me not to worry about sparing your feelings, but to see the investigation through to the very end—with absolutely no leniency!
"What's more, you said that you and Director Qin had already forbidden Fourth Master Qin from running those illicit businesses as far back as when Xinjie City was first established. You never imagined he had merely humored you on the surface while continuing to operate in secret! Now that such a disaster has struck, it is entirely his own doing!
"You declared that you would put justice above family, ensure he personally handed over all evidence, and deliver him to the bureau to face whatever punishment we see fit!
"And to ensure the Qin family never repeats such an error, as well as to facilitate the bureau's investigation, you promised to turn over all the pharmaceuticals, resources, and industries involved, along with the Qin family's other grey enterprises that might be in breach of regulations, surrendering them for the bureau to take over and conduct a thorough sweep.
"Do you still remember saying those words?"
Hearing Qiu Tu's words, Qin Zhengguang cast him an impassive look.
If his memory served him right, Qiu Tu had spent the entire car ride sleeping and hadn't uttered a single syllable to him!
So... this was Qiu Tu's offer?
If he wanted to survive this calamity, he would have to supply all the remaining evidence and make Old Fourth confess in person?
As for those black and grey industries, they were plainly intended as tribute for Yan Chen and the other bureau higher-ups.
Though the price was steep, it was vastly better than the outcome Qin Zhengguang had anticipated.
Without hesitation, Qin Zhengguang accepted the terms. With a calm expression, he said in a low voice, "I remember."
After saying that, he couldn't help glancing at Qiu Tu once more.
Their eyes met, and he caught a fleeting trace of amusement in Qiu Tu's gaze.
In that instant, he felt an acute embarrassment, as though stripped bare before Qiu Tu, but beneath it lay immense gratitude. He looked away, pretending he hadn't noticed a thing.
Having pressed Qin Zhengguang into pinning the blame entirely on Fourth Master Qin, Qiu Tu turned toward Yan Chen and spoke.
"Director, the Qin family is a prominent clan after all. Both Director Qin and Section Chief Qin are distinguished figures in Xinjie City. If we bring Fourth Master Qin in for interrogation directly, it might stir up undesirable repercussions.
"So... would it be acceptable to grant Section Chief Qin a little time to personally escort Fourth Master Qin and all the evidence to the Investigation Bureau?"
Chapter 43