Then let them offer their loyalty!

Upon hearing Qin Shuman's words, Qiu Tu was taken aback at first, then realized he had asked a very stupid question:

Qin Shuman's predecessor was Yan Chen's mistress. Is Qin Shuman possessing her body truly just an investigation of the Qin family, as Lin Zuo revealed?

How can it be!

Why not choose other entry points to investigate the Qin family?

Given the size of the Qin family, which approach wouldn't be better than creating a cloned female body by the Qin family, who is always by Yan Chen's side?

Therefore, Qin Shuman chose to possess Yan Chen's mistress in order to investigate Yan Chen.

In other words, the security department's initial target was Yan Chen.

But who is Yan Chen? He is the highest-ranking officer of the New Territories City Investigation Department. He is also one of the three most powerful figures in the New Territories City, alongside General Ye from the military!

If the security department investigates such a high-ranking figure privately, nothing will happen. But if something does happen, both General Ye and the head of the security department will immediately distance themselves and label it as "Qin Shuman's private behavior."

Faced with such a major issue of right and wrong, no one would want to cause a clash between two major departments over a minor section chief position.

No one would secretly take Qin Shuman away for treatment: Qin Shuman's predecessor was Yan Chen's mistress. Would it be crazy to take away Yan Chen's mistress without his knowledge?

That's why Qin Shuman was so desperate.

Because she discovered that she couldn't move forward or backward...

Thinking of this, Qiu Tu also fell silent.

He pondered quietly for a while before saying, "So, only by bringing down Yan Chen can you be accepted back by the military and receive treatment?"

Qin Shuman shrugged. "There's only a sliver of hope. After all, nobody really knows how we're supposed to recover from this situation."

"Perhaps... it will recover naturally over time?"

"Would it require some special means for the Cataclysm to use their abilities to restore me?"

"Perhaps... we need some kind of precious catastrophic item?"

"It's also possible... that he'll never recover in this lifetime."

At this point, Qin Shuman's eyes dimmed. "Moreover, even if there really is a way for me to recover, this body's lifespan is too short, and I may not be able to live to see that day."

Perhaps influenced by Qin Shuman's mood, Qiu Tu couldn't help but sigh deeply upon hearing what Qin Shuman said.

He comforted her, "Actually, there's no point in thinking so much. We're already walking on a tightrope. Who knows, before your body's lifespan ends, we might already be killed by Yan Chen."

Hearing Qiu Tu's words, Qin Shuman smiled. Slightly tipsy, she raised her glass. "Yes. So, I've come to terms with it; let's enjoy life while we can!"

"Live for the moment!"

......

After getting Qin Shuman drunk again, Qiu Tu watched with complicated emotions as the maid helped the poor woman into the bedroom, then turned and left the villa.

Perhaps because of their similar experiences, Qiu Tu felt much more sympathetic towards Qin Shuman.

He felt that if he had the chance, he should help this woman.

After all, she's the section chief of the security department; if we can get her under our control, we can do a lot of things...

Chapter 39 The Dirty Qin Family (Please continue reading!)

As for how to help Qin Shuman, it's quite simple. First, rely on "connections," and second, rely on "golden touch."

As for connections, Qiu Tu plans to find an opportunity to subtly discuss it with Shen Lingshuang.

Shen Lingshuang's father is a high-ranking official at the shelter, and she is also a pharmacist, so she likely knows how to help Qin Shuman.

If Shen Lingshuang also has no way to help Qin Shuman, then Qiu Tu still has a cheat code.

His current cheat ability, [Crisis Sense], grants him rewards every time he survives a crisis. Perhaps among these rewards is an item that can resolve Qin Shuman's predicament.

Even if the "crisis sense" can't help Qin Shuman, Qiu Tu can try to refresh other cheat codes to see if they can help her.

Thinking this way, Qiu Tu suddenly had a goal in mind.

For this woman—the first person he met after transmigrating, the first woman with whom he had physical intimacy—after learning of her tragic fate, Qiu Tu, though not noble enough to feel obligated to take responsibility for her entire life, still hoped to save her as much as possible...

Moreover, Qiu Tu knew that this was not just wishful thinking on his part; Qin Shuman was also trying to save him.

After learning the security department's true objective, Qiu Tu immediately guessed that his meeting with Lin Zuo today was probably arranged by Qin Shuman on her own initiative.

The goal was simple: to provide more information about the Qin family and prevent himself from being sold out by Master Qin.

Thinking of this, Qiu Tu took a deep breath. Indeed, the hardest thing to repay is the kindness of a beautiful woman...

......

Back at the guard unit's camp, Cao Dabiao and his two companions had already returned. They reeked of alcohol and had eaten until their bellies were round and full.

Upon seeing Qiu Tu, Cao Dabiao greeted him with a fawning smile, then whispered, "Sir, I've taken care of everything you asked me to do."

"Oh? Is that so?" Hearing Cao Dabiao's words, Qiu Tu glanced at the drunken man and gestured, "Let's talk inside."

Cao Dabiao staggered inside.

Once inside, Qiu Tu brewed a pot of tea and poured a cup for Cao Dabiao.

Cao Dabiao, with his belly protruding, waved his hands repeatedly, "I'm not drinking anymore, I'm already full."

Qiu Tu glanced at him and laughed, "You guys are really using public funds for eating and drinking, don't you feel bad about it?"

Cao Dabiao chuckled, "It's all reimbursed by the department, so why not spend it?"

Qiu Tu knew he was testing him, so he reassured him, "As long as it helps solve the case, spend the money. If you don't have enough, I'll apply for more!"

Upon hearing Qiu Tu's domineering words, Cao Dabiao indeed smiled. He took out a file folder and handed it to Qiu Tu with both hands, "Sir, this is our haul for tonight."

Qiu Tu hummed in agreement, took the file folder, and sat down.

Qiu Tu opened the sealed file folder, took out the documents inside, and read through them page by page.

It must be said that Cao Dabiao was quite capable to become a first-level detective in the Political Department. The document not only meticulously recorded all the relevant information from the conversation in room 108 that evening, but also clearly distinguished and labeled the people involved.

For example, there were a total of 7 people who entered room 108 tonight. Among them, the main chatters were a young man with a crew cut and an old man in black.

The first page of the document also included simple portraits of the two individuals.

Although their identities weren't listed, it was enough for Qiu Tu to get a basic understanding of these two people.

In addition to the paper documents, the file folder also contained original audio tapes and undeveloped film negatives. Qiu Tu was quite satisfied with Cao Dabiao's task tonight.

Thinking this, Qiu Tu didn't hold back his praise. He glanced at Cao Dabiao and smiled, "Brother Biao is really something. The information is very comprehensive."

After saying that, he continued reviewing the documents while asking, "Was there anything noteworthy during the wiretapping tonight? What are your thoughts?"

Cao Dabiao had clearly prepared in advance. Hearing Qiu Tu say this, he smiled obsequiously, pointed to his drunken face, and said, "Sir, when I was listening in, I was so busy eating and drinking that I didn't really notice."

"You'll need to take a look at the specifics yourself."

Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu glanced at Cao Dabiao. Seeing that Cao Dabiao's expression remained unchanged, he immediately knew that Cao Dabiao was deliberately being cunning.

Qiu Tu wasn't annoyed. He quickly reviewed the information and then understood why Cao Dabiao was pretending to be stupid...

It's very simple. Cao Dabiao realized that tonight's events were a bit too sensitive, involving not only the middle-level officers of the Investigation Bureau but also the Qin family, a large clan.

He couldn't afford to offend Qiu Tu, who had a "mysterious background," but he also couldn't afford to offend Qin Zhengguang and the Qin family.

So, although he recorded everything that happened that night in great detail, he deliberately drank a lot of alcohol and used being drunk as an excuse to claim ignorance.

This is a common means of self-preservation for ordinary people in chaotic times.

So Qiu Tu didn't make things difficult for him and waved him off to rest.

After carefully reviewing all the materials and listening to the entire conversation in the private room through the cassette tape, Qiu Tu sat in his chair with his eyes closed, his fingers gently tapping the table.

The documents and recordings contained very simple information: representatives of two factions were negotiating.

Judging from their titles, one side was a captain from the Allied Forces (a young man with a crew cut), and the other side was a steward from the Qin family (an old man in black).

As for which branch of the family the butler belonged to, it's impossible to tell from the recording, but... he was most likely from the second branch.

The purpose of the negotiations between the two parties was very simple: to conduct drug transactions.

In times of chaos, besides hard currency like gold, the most valuable and sought-after items are medicine and weapons.

Therefore, when faced with the alliance, the Qin family made exorbitant demands, not only asking for prices far exceeding those in the market, but also imposing a series of other harsh requirements.

For example, they requested that the coalition cooperate with the Public Security Bureau in some of its operations to help Director Qin gain merit; for example, they requested that some payments be settled in the form of young women or two- or three-year-old boys, and so on.

Although the shelters control the unplanned areas, most of this world remains a catastrophe zone. Many ordinary people still live in dire straits within these zones. The Qin family cannot plunder populations from these catastrophe zones, but the Alliance can.

These young women, plundered from the Qin family, could be sent to the Qin family's underground brothels to generate huge profits for them; as for the two- or three-year-old boys, they were trained from a young age to serve as private soldiers or thugs.

After listening to all the recordings, Qiu Tu's gaze became deep.

The Qin family's dirty business reminded him of the days in his previous life when he was sold to northern Myanmar.

In the eyes of the fraud ring and the Qin family, people are never "people," but "goods."

"Damn it..."

Qiu Tu murmured a sentence, then his mind raced, pondering how to deal with the Qin family...

He quickly made up his mind...

Chapter 40 The Political Department Made No Wrong Cases

After putting the documents into a file folder, Qiu Tu took the folder to the study.

There was a safe in the study.

Turning the combination lock, Qiu Tu opened the safe and took out a booklet, which was the original evidence given to him by Master Qin.

After placing the booklet on the table, Qiu Tu took out several other paper documents from the safe. These were reports from Chen Feng and the other four teams on their investigation of clues and evidence over the past two days.

Qiu Tu placed them, along with the file folder, on the table and then bent down to write down all the information Lin Zuo had told him that day.

Half an hour later, looking at the several documents lined up on the table, Qiu Tu smiled.

Whether the plan will work out depends on tomorrow...

.......

[4 days (the latest deadline for obtaining evidence of the Qin family's crimes)]

[7:59:41 (Cataclysmic Potion can be crafted)]

Silent all night.

The next day, Qiu Tu got up early, washed up, and then went to Qin Shuman's place to check in.

After a good night's sleep, Qin Shuman's mood was noticeably better. And perhaps because there were strangers around, she reverted to her innocent and naive self: her large eyes revealed a clear-eyed naiveté that was easy to see through.

But Qiu Tu dared not underestimate this woman at all.

After all, she was not only the head of a secret department, but also a Cataclysm with extraordinary powers.

Although she portrayed herself as very pitiful last night, and Qiu Tu did intend to help her if the opportunity arose, it was still necessary to remain appropriately cautious.

In this chaotic world where people prey on each other, to completely trust someone is to play with your own life.

After chatting with Qin Shuman for a while, Qiu Tu arranged her duty rotation list for the day and then left the villa to go to the Investigation Department.

As a result, Qiu Tu's communicator rang just after he left the villa and hadn't taken more than a few steps: it was Master Qin calling.

Qiu Tu paused slightly, then continued walking out discreetly while answering a call.

As soon as the call connected, Qin Siye's cheerful voice came through the receiver, "Did Detective Qiu have any results last night?"

Hearing what Master Qin said, Qiu Tu smiled and said, "Quite a haul."

"I also want to thank Fourth Master for the clues and help he provided, which finally allowed me to move this case forward."

Master Qin was visibly surprised upon hearing this, "So fast?"

He asked tentatively, "Did they provide Detective Qiu with crucial evidence last night?"

As Qiu Tu walked, he explained with a smile, "Fourth Master, you've misunderstood. The Political Department is different from other departments of the Investigation Bureau."

"Other departments' requirement for investigating cases is the presumption of innocence; they must investigate the case before arresting anyone."

"But because of its special nature, the Political Department is subject to the principle of 'presumption of guilt.' Once we have a lead, we can directly arrest people and investigate cases."

Upon hearing this, Master Qin couldn't help but ask, "What if the investigation is wrong?"