Slapping Fourth Master Qin

With that thought in mind, Qiu Tu spun the steering wheel, stepped on the gas, and made a U-turn toward the Investigation Bureau building. As he drove, he did not stay idle. Jia Shu had indeed restricted his movement, but... he hadn't restricted his mouth. Who said he couldn't keep this play going without being at the scene? A true protagonist never complains about his circumstances! Thinking this, Qiu Tu drove with one hand while pulling out another communicator—the one A Tai had received upon becoming an official agent of the Special Service Department. Holding A Tai's communicator, Qiu Tu first dialed his own number. "Beep... beep... beep..." After his own communicator rang a few times, Qiu Tu answered. He waited for a dozen seconds before hanging up. Having finished this preparation, he used A Tai's communicator to dial the third golden supporting actor in this grand drama: Lin Zuo of the Security Bureau's Investigation Section. A moment later, the call connected. Lin Zuo's cool voice came through the receiver. "Hello. Who is this...?" Pressed for time, Qiu Tu skipped the pleasantries and cut straight to the chase. "Lin Zuo, it's Qiu Tu." "My call logs might be monitored, so I'm calling you from this device." Hearing Qiu Tu's voice, Lin Zuo did not believe him immediately. He asked, "How do I know you're not using a voice changer?" Qiu Tu said, "416." That was the room number of the hotel where the two had met last time, something only the two of them knew. Lin Zuo gave a slight nod, tentatively convinced. He asked, "What happened? Have you made progress on your end?" Hearing Lin Zuo's question, Qiu Tu drove as he replied with exaggerated enthusiasm, "Not just progress—a major breakthrough!" "I'm prepared to give you a massive gift." Lin Zuo asked coolly, "What kind of gift?" Qiu Tu said, "I turned Fourth Master Qin. He has evidence in his hands of Yan Chen colluding with the Reform United Front." As soon as Qiu Tu's words fell, the clatter of falling objects sounded from the other end of the line. If Qiu Tu wasn't mistaken, Lin Zuo had probably been so shocked that he sprang up and knocked something over. At that, a slight smile curled Qiu Tu's lips. See? As long as someone was human, they had desires. Even an upright, dedicated man harbored an ambition for career achievement deep down. As long as you identified a person's desire, you could easily "manipulate" them. As Qiu Tu mused on this, Lin Zuo's voice came through the receiver, struggling to stay composed. "Is that true?" Qiu Tu did not answer directly. Instead, he replied indifferently, "Section Chief Lin, asking that only makes you seem unprofessional." Lin Zuo froze, instantly calming down considerably. He reflected on his question: indeed, since the information had come from Qiu Tu, no matter what he asked, Qiu Tu would only say "it's true." To find out if Qiu Tu was lying, he would have to verify it himself. 'A sudden lead made me lose my composure.' After quietly passing judgment on himself, Lin Zuo regained his calm and returned to the level expected of a section chief in a classified department. He stopped asking foolish questions and got straight down to business. "What do you need from me?" Qiu Tu gave a slight nod. As expected of an elite trained by the sanctuaries—far more professional than newly recruited agents. With that thought, he said, "Fourth Master Qin split his people into two routes when leaving the Qin family." "He is currently on his way to the Milan Hotel." "Meanwhile, his wife and children arrived at a courtyard at No. 19 Nanfang Street half an hour ago. My people are protecting them." "The leads in his hands are too important and involve Director Yan, making them extremely sensitive." "So I need your Security Bureau to send people to clean up all traces left by both groups." "Or at least break the trail." "Once it's done, Fourth Master Qin's wife and children will remain in the custody of my people, while he personally will be protected by your Security Bureau." "The intelligence and credit obtained from him will be shared between us." Lin Zuo did not agree right away. He pondered for a moment, then asked cautiously, "How long ago did this happen?" Qiu Tu made a quick calculation. "Less than ten minutes." Lin Zuo said, "There's still time." "I'll dispatch operatives to clean up the traces immediately." "I guarantee that even if the Political Department gets involved, they won't be able to trace it to you." Hearing this, Qiu Tu smiled. "A pleasure doing business with you." Lin Zuo replied, "Pleasure doing business with you." Hanging up, Qiu Tu felt a weight lift from his chest. When drafting this plan, the Security Bureau had been one of Qiu Tu's core components. With the massive commotion Qiu Tu had stirred up tonight, it would almost certainly catch Yan Chen's attention. And to investigate tonight's events thoroughly, Yan Chen would most likely deploy his ace division: the Political Department. Although most of the Political Department consisted of freshly recruited agents, there were also elites transferred down from the sanctuaries. If they intervened to investigate, the trails left behind by non-professionals like A Tai and Lao Ying would surely be exposed in no time. Therefore, Qiu Tu had to find someone to help scrub all traces of the operation. And in the whole of Xinjie City, only the Military Department—only the Security Bureau—possessed experts capable of sweeping away evidence and covering up the whereabouts of Fourth Master Qin's family without a whisper! Thus, Qiu Tu had to work with the Security Bureau. Of course, knowing how crucial the Security Bureau was to this plan, Qiu Tu hadn't pinned all his hopes on Lin Zuo. He also had Plan B: working through Qin Shuman. It was just that that would have made things far more complicated. Now that he had achieved his goal simply by dealing with Lin Zuo, Qiu Tu felt considerably relieved. Watching the streetscape flash past outside his car window, he murmured inwardly, 'In that case... all that's left is to give Fourth Master Qin his final instructions, and everything will be smooth sailing.' With that in mind, Qiu Tu picked up the communicator, preparing to call Fourth Master Qin. To his surprise, before he could place the call, Fourth Master Qin's incoming call rang first. Looking at Fourth Master Qin's number on the screen, Qiu Tu hesitated briefly before picking up. As soon as the line connected, Fourth Master Qin's voice came through, clearly agitated and seething with suppressed fury. "Qiu Tu! I want to strike a deal with you!" "A deal?" Qiu Tu glanced in the rearview mirror and asked, "What kind of deal?" Fourth Master Qin snarled, "I've finally figured it out—you are no partner to do business with!" "You're a deceitful snake who enjoys selling people out! Cooperate with you, and one day I'll be counting your cash after you've sold me down the river!" "Fortunately, for all your scheming, you missed one thing!" "All you thought about was using the chaos to rescue your mistress, Qin Shuman, but you forgot that once she was out, she would end up in my hands!" "Listen to me! Release my wife and children right now, or I'll kill Qin Shuman!" Hearing Fourth Master Qin's words, Qiu Tu froze for a split second. Then he chuckled... "Fourth Master, you've misunderstood. Qin Shuman isn't my mistress." "At most, we were just two lonely souls having an intimate exchange in the dead of night." "In a chaotic world... there are only bodies, no room for feelings." "You can't threaten me with her." Fourth Master Qin roared, "Cut the fucking bullshit!" "You really think you could keep your business with Qin Shuman from me?!" "If you had no feelings for her, would you have remembered to make me rescue her under circumstances like tonight's?" "Who are you trying to fool?!" Hearing this, Qiu Tu burst into laughter. "Fourth Master, you really have misunderstood. I had you rescue her for only two reasons." "First, to give you a plausible excuse to attack and kill agents, cutting off your way back." "Second, to make you cross Yan Chen. You abducted his mistress—given his personality, do you think he'd ever let you go?" "As for Qin Shuman, kill her if you want." "She has no use left to me anyway." Hearing Qiu Tu's utterly nonchalant tone, Fourth Master Qin was visibly taken aback. The conviction in his heart wavered. Just then, Qiu Tu added, "Still, Fourth Master, I truly didn't expect you to harbor second thoughts at a time like this." "It seems... I've been too lenient with you." At that point, he paused, then said flatly, "Pick one of your two children. Which one should live?" Fourth Master Qin froze, then became hysterical. "Qiu Tu, you dare threaten me?! Do you believe I'll kill Qin Shuman right now?!" Qiu Tu laughed softly. "All right. Then your eldest son dies." With that, he hung up with a click. No sooner had he hung up than the phone rang again within a second. Qiu Tu glanced at it—it was Fourth Master Qin. He declined. Fourth Master Qin called again. Qiu Tu declined again. Fourth Master Qin called once more. This time, Qiu Tu finally picked up. Fourth Master Qin's tone was no longer forceful; he gave a flattering chuckle. "Agent Qiu. Come now, I was only joking with you. Why take it so seriously?" Qiu Tu gave a faint chuckle. "As expected of a gang boss, Fourth Master—truly someone who knows when to bend and when to stand tall. Too bad. If you have something to say, say it fast. I still have tasks to assign to my subordinates..." Without a shred of mercy, he began counting down. "Five." Fourth Master Qin was caught off guard, and before he could react, Qiu Tu continued, "Four." Fourth Master Qin hurriedly shouted, "Qiu Tu! Qiu Tu!" Qiu Tu said, "Three." Fourth Master Qin panicked. "Money! All the money my wife and children took with them is yours! All of it!" Qiu Tu was almost amused. "Fourth Master, you really know how to offer a gift that isn't yours." "Your wife and children are already in my hands, so the money and property deeds they carried naturally belong to me. Do I need you to give them to me?" Fourth Master Qin hurriedly explained, "If you just take that money directly, it will always be dirty." "I can write a letter of employment and commission, stamped with my seal and thumbprint, certifying that I hired you to handle business and that the money is your commission." "Such a document is legally binding even with City Hall. Wouldn't that launder the money completely?" Hearing this, Qiu Tu was clearly tempted. He pondered for two seconds before smiling. "Fourth Master, a pleasure doing business with you." Then he added, "However... I have one more condition." Fourth Master Qin asked, "What condition?" Qiu Tu smiled and said, "Pull out your knife right now and stab Qin Shuman!" Fourth Master Qin went blank. "What?" Qiu Tu repeated loudly, "I told you to stab Qin Shuman!" He explained, "Though I don't know why you misunderstood my relationship with her," "I don't want to give you, nor do I want to give her... the slightest illusion." "As for where to stab her, that's up to you." "Her life or death is in your hands." Hearing Qiu Tu's words, Fourth Master Qin slowly turned his head on the other end of the line, staring in disbelief at Qin Shuman, who sat beside him with her hands and feet bound... Qin Shuman seemed to have heard their conversation as well. Leaning against the car door, her eyes fixed on the scenery rushing past the window, she said indifferently, "I told you long ago that I didn't matter to him, but you wouldn't believe me." Qiu Tu's voice urged him over the communicator. The corners of Fourth Master Qin's mouth twitched. He pulled a dagger from his waist and plunged it viciously into Qin Shuman's shoulder! *Squelch!* The dagger sank straight toward her shoulder blade. Qin Shuman let out a muffled groan, her gorgeous face contorting in pain. Fourth Master Qin let go with a dark scowl, then spoke into the communicator. "Qiu Tu, I've done what you asked." Qiu Tu's approving voice came through. "Well done." "Next, stick to the plan and head to the Milan Hotel. Someone from the Security Bureau will meet you there." "As for your wife and children... as long as you cooperate, I will guarantee their safety." "So, Fourth Master, don't try any funny business again..." With that, Qiu Tu hung up. Listening to the busy tone in the receiver, Fourth Master Qin's expression shifted unpredictably. After a moment, he turned to Qin Shuman, who was ghastly pale from the pain, and bared his teeth. "I've roamed the underworld for all these years; I still have some eye for reading people." "He genuinely couldn't care less whether you live or die." Leaning against the car door, Qin Shuman's face was white from the agony, yet completely expressionless... Meanwhile, having ended the call, Qiu Tu tossed the communicator onto the passenger seat and cursed under his breath, "Who does he think he is, trying to play games with me!" Fourth Master Qin's biggest mistake was genuinely misjudging Qin Shuman's place in Qiu Tu's heart. Qiu Tu indeed shared a "very deep" relationship with Qin Shuman, and he was indeed willing to help her when within his power—provided she did not stand in his way. The experience of two lifetimes had taught him that in a chaotic world, a man could have many women beneath him, but he could hold none in his heart—or at least, none on the surface. Because that would become his most fatal weakness. With all the calls finished, Qiu Tu focused on driving. Ten minutes later, he arrived at the Investigation Bureau building. Just as he got out of the car, a Political Department agent dressed in a black uniform jogged up to him. The agent held the door for him, and once Qiu Tu stepped out, saluted him crisply. "Greetings, Sir. The Chief instructed me to receive you here!" Hearing that, Qiu Tu smiled and asked, "Oh? And where is the Chief himself?"