Then let them offer their loyalty!

Upon hearing Qiu Tu's words, Master Qin fell silent.

Indeed, just as Qiu Tu said. When he refused to take the blame for the Qin family and angrily questioned why Qin Zhengguang couldn't take the blame voluntarily, Qin Heng taught him a lesson on the spot.

He learned that Yan Chen and Qin Zhengguang were actually in cahoots, and Yan Chen would not allow Qin Zhengguang to take the blame at this crucial juncture.

The Investigation Department cannot afford to make mistakes!

Sensing Qin Siye's silence, Qiu Tu smiled and said softly, "So, Siye...would you like to switch sides?"

For a moment, Master Qin was startled.

His incredulous voice came through the receiver, "Aren't you Yan Chen's confidant? You...?"

Qiu Tu laughed, blatantly lying, "I am indeed Director Yan's confidant. But... I am not Qin Zhengguang's confidant."

"You don't know, after I took down the Qin family this time, Qin Zhengguang was actually very grateful to me. He even gave me a car and a lot of gifts."

"To be honest... I'm very scared."

Qiu Tu sighed, "Fourth Master, to be honest, if he were to curse at me or threaten me, I wouldn't be worried. After all, that would just show that Director Qin is nothing but a reckless fool."

“But he was insincere with me and even gave me gifts. I was so worried that he was up to no good and was planning to settle scores with me in the future.”

"Furthermore, the Qin family is about to align themselves with the director and be accepted as his confidants. Tell me, in the director's heart, am I more important, or is the Qin family, which is so large, more important?"

"Therefore, I don't want the Qin family to align themselves with the director. Or rather, even if they do align themselves with the director, there must be someone I can control."

"For example...you."

Qiu Tu's contempt and threats did not anger Master Qin. On the contrary, they reassured him considerably.

Qiu Tu said, "Fourth Master, I have dirt on you, evidence that you betrayed the Qin family. In the future, when you take charge of the Qin family, you won't dare to harm me."

"Even if you can't swallow this insult and are really planning to attack me, we can just die together."

"We have a basis for cooperation..."

After listening to Qiu Tu's words, Master Qin's expression kept changing on the other end of the communicator.

After a long pause, he asked, "Which faction is the other one?"

Qiu Tu's smile grew wider and wider, and he uttered two words indifferently, "Military Department".

Master Qin's pupils contracted slightly, his heart filled with shock.

The military is the most inconspicuous of the three major powers. Even General Ye of the military is frighteningly low-key in the New Territories.

But... no one can ignore the existence of this department and this important figure.

After all, just two years ago, when he was still Colonel Ye, he led a division of troops to be stationed in the New Territories under the guise of passing through.

After thoroughly investigating the distribution of power in the New Territories, they wiped out all the underground forces and dozens of families, large and small, in the entire New Territories.

At that time, the entire New Territories was awash in blood, and all those who opposed the rule of the sanctuary were humanely exterminated.

Afterwards, Colonel Ye was promoted to Major General Ye. While retaining the core strength of a regiment, he recruited soldiers in the New Territories and expanded it to a division, which continued to be stationed in the New Territories.

Therefore, although the City Hall is the highest authority in the New Territories, and the Detective Agency is a violent institution closely related to most people in the New Territories, no one dares to ignore General Yip and the military...

'If I could really get on the good side of the military, then...'

Thinking of this, Master Qin shuddered and suddenly realized that he had almost been knocked unconscious by Qiu Tu's empty promises.

Once he regained his senses, he couldn't help but question, "The military? Why should the military protect me?"

"Besides, the military has no authority to interfere in the city's internal affairs. How can they protect me?"

"You're not going to tell me they'd openly go against the Investigation Bureau for the sake of a pawn like me, are you?"

Hearing Qin Siye's words, Qiu Tu smiled, and then he said softly, "Fourth Master, do you know... the military's security department?"

Master Qin's body jolted, and a look of sudden realization and...surprise appeared on his face.

.......

For the next ten minutes or so, Qiu Tu vividly described to Master Qin the benefits of joining the security department.

For example, the Security Department would protect Master Qin to the military headquarters' safe house and destroy all traces to ensure that the Investigation Department could not find him.

This is much more reliable than the Qin family's promise to send Fourth Master Qin to prison.

For example, the security department might arrest Qin Zhengguang based on a report from Master Qin, thus paving the way for Master Qin and Master Qin San to take over.

For example, the security department might use Qin Siye's surrender and whistleblowing as grounds for granting him a pardon, waiving his punishment, and restoring his freedom after the matter is resolved, etc.

After listening to Qiu Tu's description of the future, Master Qin was still somewhat hesitant, but he was clearly tempted.

Seeing this, Qiu Tu didn't pressure or urge him. Knowing people well, he understood that the key to getting someone hooked was to alternate between loosening and tightening the reins, and to avoid being impatient.

So, the two agreed on a final time. Not too early, not too late, exactly one hour before Qin Heng was to meet Yan Chen: 7 o'clock.

After this time, the deal between the two will be void. Before then, Master Qin can give it his full consideration before making a final decision.

After hanging up the phone, Qiu Tu looked at the sky outside and was amazed at how beautiful the sunset was.

Although it's not time yet, he's over 90% sure the fire will start.

In the few days since he met Master Qin, Qiu Tu had already figured out Master Qin's personality through various intelligence reports.

Perhaps because he was the last son born to the first wife, Master Qin was arrogant and eccentric from a young age. He was not only cold-hearted but also had an extreme gambling addiction.

Qiu Tu still remembers the phrase that Master Qin most often said during the investigation: "The winner takes all, and the loser is condemned; you have to accept the consequences of your bet!"

Therefore, if the same conditions were offered to Qin Zhengguang, he would most likely choose to give up due to family ties or the risks involved.

But Master Qin... as long as there's even the slightest possibility, he won't sit idly by and wait for his doom...

So, I gave him so much hope. Now, all I have to do is wait patiently for him to take the bait...

Thinking this, Qiu Tu stopped focusing his attention on Master Qin and went to the bedroom to check on the progress of his [Catastrophe Potion].

Pushing open the bedroom door, a pungent, salty smell, like that of the sea, hit him. Qiu Tu then felt as if he were in the middle of a vast, turbulent ocean.

The entire room had turned a deep blue, and the shimmering sea surface reflected on the ceiling, making it look like the seabed.

The sounds of the sea breeze and the waves crashing against him filled his ears.

He stretched out his hand, and seawater washed over his body, soaking his clothes until they clung to his skin...

"Hey! Qiu Tu! Qiu Tu!"

Just as Qiu Tu was immersed in the wonderland of the [Indoor Ocean], he suddenly heard Shen Lingshuang calling out to him.

Qiu Tu came to his senses in a daze and realized that he was standing in the bedroom.

But... there was no ocean, no sea breeze, no waves, only a field of alchemy equipment and medicinal herbs.

Was everything just an illusion?

Qiu Tu was startled. But then he realized something was wrong, because... he really looked like he had just been pulled out of the sea, completely soaked.

"Tick-tock...tick-tock..."

Qiu Tu looked down; his clothes, pants, and shoes were all soaked and dripping water.

He dipped his finger in the water and put it in his mouth. It was salty...

Qiu Tu looked up at Shen Lingshuang, who had a worried expression, and asked, "What's wrong with me?"

Shen Lingshuang hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but then stopped.

She hesitated before saying, "I don't know either..."

“I’ve encountered similar things before. But… my father told me that it involves the truth of the catastrophe and the nature of the world.”

"They said that unless you embark on the path of catastrophe, there's no need to know. So, I don't know what's going on either. I can only say that this isn't an isolated case."

Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu's eyes turned to the blue potion churning inside the device...

Could it be that everything that just happened was caused by this bottle of [Catastrophe Potion]?

Just a bottle of potion, yet it could induce such realistic hallucinations? And... these hallucinations could even turn from false to real?

Then... just how wondrous must the path to transcendence be in this world...?

Thinking this, Qiu Tu looked at Shen Lingshuang and asked, "How much longer until the medicine is ready?"

Shen Lingshuang pondered for a moment, then said, "10 minutes."

Qiu Tu nodded. "I'll go change my clothes first."

After saying that, he went to the bathroom to get a towel to wipe himself clean, and then found two clean clothes in the living room to change into.

And just like that, 10 minutes passed in the blink of an eye.

After Qiu Tu changed his clothes, Shen Ling Shuang slowly walked out of the bedroom, carrying two bottles of azure-blue potion...

Chapter 48 Successful Cataclysmic Awakening (7000 words, please continue reading)

With just one glance, Qiu Tu felt his gaze drawn to the two bottles of deep blue, ocean-like potions.

His spirit seemed to be pulled by some invisible force, deeply immersed in that jewel-like liquid, unable to extricate himself for a time.

The unique, salty scent of the sea seemed to fill his nostrils once more; the low murmur of waves crashing against the shore echoed in his ears, and the vast, magnificent ocean appeared before his eyes...

Fortunately, having learned from his previous experience, he didn't sink into the sea this time. Instead, he jolted awake and broke free from the hallucination.

Shen Lingshuang was a little surprised that he was able to break free from the illusion on his second attempt, so she exclaimed, "Qiu Tu, you might actually have the talent to become a Cataclysm."

“I remember experiencing similar hallucinations more than a dozen times, and I always had to be awakened by my father.”

After saying that, she looked down at the two bottles of [Cataclysmic Potion] she had concocted and said with some emotion, "Also, although I don't know exactly what happened during this concoction process."

"But I always feel that the [Cataclysmic Potion] I made this time is different from the ones I made before."

She tilted her head, her eyes gleaming with reminiscence, and said in a cute voice, "I feel that this batch of potions is particularly potent. Even I, every time I look at them, involuntarily fall into hallucinations."

"This is a phenomenon I have never encountered before."

Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu immediately had a guess: Perhaps... it was due to favorable timing, location, and human factors. The probability of catastrophic awakening from these two potions was indeed quite high, which was why this special phenomenon occurred.

Thinking this, he took a bottle of medicine from Shen Lingshuang's hand, and then glanced at the upper left corner of his vision.

Two small treasure chests are flashing in the upper left corner, but no new crisis countdown appears.

'It seems there's at least no danger to his life.'

With that in mind, Qiu Tu made up his mind.

He shook the bottle of medicine.

"Qiu Tu!"

As the potion swayed, the hallucinations slowly began to appear again. But at that moment, Qiu Tu heard Shen Ling Shuang's clear voice.

Qiu Tu stopped what he was doing and looked at the girl in front of him.

Shen Lingshuang gently placed her hand on Qiu Tu's hand, her beautiful eyes filled with worry, "Are you... really sure you want to drink this potion?"

Noticing the girl's nervousness, Qiu Tu jokingly asked in a lighthearted tone, "What? Did you spit in there?"

Hearing Qiu Tu's inappropriate joke, Shen Ling Shuang blushed and said coquettishly, "What nonsense are you talking about?"

Qiu Tu smiled and patted her head, then said softly, "Don't worry. I'll be fine."

"Furthermore, I have made proper arrangements for all of you."

As he said this, his smile became warm and powerful. "If I hadn't come back to life, 'Eagle' would have taken you away from the New Territories and sent you home."

“I have prepared two small goldfish and 200 silver dollars for you. That should be enough for your journey back to the Third Shelter.”

Hearing Qiu Tu's words, Shen Lingshuang's face paled. She gripped Qiu Tu's hand tightly and explained, "I'm not worried about myself. I'm worried about you."

"I always feel..."

But before she could finish speaking, Qiu Tu's hand, which had been stroking her head, turned into a karate chop, nimbly slicing the back of her neck.

The next second, the girl, with an expression of disbelief on her face, softly collapsed into Qiu Tu's arms.

Qiu Tu carefully took the second bottle of [Catastrophe Potion], placed both bottles on the table temporarily, then picked her up and carried her out the door.

A moment later, as his front door opened, the door to the next room also opened from the inside.

The eagle came out of the house.

He nodded to Qiu Tu and then stepped aside from the doorway.