Then let them offer their loyalty!

Hearing Tan Huimin's words, Yu Zhengyi said with a forced smile, "Secretary Tan is joking. Director Ellie, what are Miss Xue'er's status? How could she possibly wait for us in the department the whole time?"

"Moreover... as local officials, we must receive people from the state."

"So... please go in and report now, Secretary Tan."

At this point, Yu Zhengyi looked at Tan Huimin with a deep gaze and a half-smile.

Even though he didn't unleash his full power or influence because of Qiu Tu's influence, his position as deputy director of the Investigation Bureau and his identity as a second-tier Cataclysm user still put tremendous pressure on Tan Huimin.

Tan Huimin clenched her fists so tightly that her knuckles turned white.

But... just as Qiu Tu described her, she is a spirited horse that is gentle on the outside but strong on the inside.

They hold firm to their own beliefs.

So even when facing the Chief of Staff and the Deputy Director of the Investigation Bureau, she still bit her lip and said apologetically, "I'm sorry, Director Yu, Director Ellie... the Director just rested, and as his secretary, I must prioritize his health. Please forgive me for not being able to comply."

Tan Huimin's refusal did not anger Yu Zhengyi and Ellie. On the contrary... the more Tan Huimin insisted, the greater the possibility that Qiu Tu had a problem.

So, the two looked at each other and saw a smile in each other's eyes.

This time, it was Ellie who spoke.

She chewed on her bubble tea, looked Tan Huimin up and down, and had a somewhat nonchalant expression on her face.

"Secretary Tan, right?"

"If I'm not mistaken, your current rank is just deputy section chief?"

"But now they've taken it upon themselves to stop Director Yu and me at the door."

Do you think you can shoulder this responsibility?

"If anything goes wrong in the next few hours... can you take responsibility?"

Tan Huimin opened her mouth, wanting to speak. But the words caught in her throat, and she hesitated for a moment...

She understood the threat in Ellie's voice. She knew Ellie was telling her: they might not be able to touch Qiu Tu, but... touching her would be very easy.

Find some excuse to make Tan Huimin take the blame. Even Qiu Tu will have a hard time saving her then—after all... it was Tan Huimin who "took it upon herself" to keep the four of them out of the door.

Seeing her like this, Ellie chuckled, then took a step forward with her long legs, preparing to knock on the office door.

It's unclear whether this action triggered Tan Huimin, but she suddenly woke up.

She remembered Qiu Tu exposing her husband's hypocritical true colors, Qiu Tu helping her avenge her, and Qiu Tu's usual thoughtfulness towards her.

In that instant, she no longer hesitated!

She gritted her teeth, took a step forward, blocking the doorway, and said to Ellie resolutely, "Director Ellie, I'm willing to take responsibility!"

Upon hearing Tan Huimin's words, the scene fell silent for a moment.

Xue'er raised her head from inside the white fur coat and looked at her in surprise; Yan Yan looked at her with a strange gaze, her angelic face expressionless.

Yu Zhengyi looked a little surprised. As for Ellie, she was stunned for a moment, and then... as if she had heard something interesting, a bright smile bloomed on her face.

"Truly loyal... It seems Director Qiu..."

Before she could finish speaking, Qiu Tu's voice suddenly came from inside the office, "Huimin, let them in."

Hearing Qiu Tu's words, Tan Huimin felt as if she had found a pillar of support, and she breathed a sigh of relief, her imposing aura dissipating.

Yu Zhengyi felt a chill run down his spine and then looked at Ellie.

Ellie didn't seem to care. Instead, she put her hands in her pockets, blew bubbles, and her eyes remained expressionless.

A minute later, Yu Zhengyi, Ellie, Xue'er, Yan Yan, and Qiu Tu sat on the sofa in the living room.

Tan Huimin brewed tea for the five people, poured it, and then left the office to continue her duty outside.

Once there were only five people in the room, Ellie's gaze fell on Qiu Tu.

To be honest, Ellie's eyes lit up at first glance. After all, Qiu Tu was just too good-looking.

He was already handsome, but after being enhanced twice, at the third and fourth tiers, he became almost flawless.

A high, straight nose, deep-set eyes, and a neat, short hairstyle—it's safe to say that he's enough to make 90% of women fall for him at first sight.

'No wonder...the intelligence reports said his private life was so chaotic.'

At first, I thought it was an abuse of power for personal gain, an attempt to intimidate others, or a form of sexual harassment towards female subordinates.

Looking at it now... perhaps it really was mutual affection... no, mutual unrequited love?

While analyzing the situation in her mind, Ellie's face remained unchanged. She still maintained her nonchalant demeanor, blowing bubbles and looking at Qiu Tu.

She looks more like a rebellious young woman than a department head. And a department head in a confidential department at that.

Seeing that Qiu Tu and Ellie remained silent, Yu Zhengyi took the initiative to smooth things over.

He smiled and said to Qiu Tu, "Director Qiu, I'm sorry to disturb your rest."

"It's mainly because Director Ellie and Miss Xue'er's arrival was a bit sudden and the matter was a bit too urgent. I had no choice."

Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu glanced at Yu Zhengyi with a half-smile and then said, "It is indeed a bit sudden. So sudden that I was a little rude."

"After all, even if it's late, I should have received the report by the time Director Ellie and the others entered the Investigation Department, and then gotten up to prepare and welcome them."

"Unexpectedly, my secretary ended up stopping Director Ellie and her group at the door. It was quite an ugly situation."

Qiu Tu used the word "rude," but every word he said was an accusation that Yu Zhengyi did not follow the proper procedures in this matter, and even deliberately concealed the identities of Ellie and others, preventing Qiu Tu's confidants from notifying Qiu Tu in advance.

Yu Zhengyi is a cunning old fox.

How could he possibly admit to this? So he easily dodged the question, saying, "Haha, I just feel that Miss Xue'er's status is noble, and our New Territories City is going through a turbulent time, so we should keep a low profile. It's not advisable to publicize it too much to avoid unnecessary trouble."

"I didn't expect this; I forgot to tell you beforehand."

He then changed the subject, asking casually, "Director Ellie, where are you planning to stay for the next few days?"

Upon hearing Yu Zhengyi's words, Ellie popped a bubble with a "pop!" Then, while sucking the bubble gum back into her mouth, she pointed at Yan Yan and said succinctly, "We'll be staying at Yan Yan's house for the next few days."

Upon hearing this, Yan Yan nodded slightly and then said in a pure and lovely voice, "My father built me ​​a garden villa in the New Territories."

"Inside there are flowerbeds, filled with all kinds of flowers."

"We actually came here partly to enjoy the flowers in the flower garden."

After she finished speaking, she looked at Qiu Tu and said softly, "Director Qiu... after my father was transferred to the state, the garden villa should only have been equipped with the most basic guards."

"I wonder if you could personally arrange the deployment to ensure our safety?"

Hearing Yan Yan's words, Qiu Tu gave her a deep look...

To be honest, Qiu Tu found these three girls quite interesting when he first met them.

These three girls are all quite young, appearing to be between 16 and 19 years old. However... their personalities are all quite different.

Ellie has twin tails that increase attack speed, but one is pink and the other is blue.

In addition, her long, slender legs, blowing bubbles, and carefree demeanor in the dead of winter gave her the air of a female hooligan, a delinquent, or a bad woman.

Huang Xueer, on the other hand, was thin and petite. A large white fur coat wrapped around her frail body.

I don't know if she was injured or sick. Her face was deathly pale, and she looked so weak that a gust of wind could blow her over.

It evokes the image of Daiyu burying flowers, a classic beauty.

As for Yan Yan, she was the one Qiu Tu was most interested in.

No, Qiu Tu didn't have a perverse interest in sleeping with the enemy's daughter. Rather... he had seen "several Yan Yans".

There were La Riro in disguise, and Scarlet Widow in disguise, but this was the first time I had seen the real Yan Yan.

I have to say... that face was indeed as beautiful as an angel's, and pure and lovely.

However... I don't know if it's because of my preconceived notions, or because Qiu Tu's perception has indeed become more and more acute after reaching the fourth level.

He always felt that Yan Yan's inner self wasn't as pure and lovely as her outward appearance. Something seemed off...

In general, if these three girls were taken out individually, they could only be compared to Tan Huimin, Bai Ru, and Liu Fuping... but when they stand together, they are completely different.

Three beautiful girls with different personalities who are also best friends are just too appealing to men's tastes.

The thought of them fighting in bed or bending over to vie for my attention is unbearable.

Qiu Tu had a feeling... Damn it, could Huang Shangzong be planning a honey trap?!

But even if you're ruthless, you can't push your own daughter into a fire pit, can you?

So... there must be something wrong here.

Thinking this through, Qiu Tu's mind raced. After a moment, he made up his mind.

He began by saying in a serious tone, "No problem. I will definitely arrange the relevant security work for the three of you properly."

After saying that, he changed the subject and tentatively added, "Also... if you need, I can stay in a guest room in the villa and personally protect you."

Upon hearing Qiu Tu's words, the atmosphere in the entire reception room immediately fell silent.

Cher looked at Ellie pleadingly.

Ellie, however, looked at Qiu Tu, her eyes lighting up slightly...

'Walking into a trap?'

Thinking this, Ellie spoke up, "Then I'll have to trouble Director Qiu. I hope you can stay at the villa for the next couple of days."

'Did he really walk right into a trap?'

Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu remained outwardly calm, but inwardly he was genuinely surprised.

They actually agreed?

Hasn't his reputation reached Dongye Prefecture?

How could those three girls dare to do that?

Or is it... that Huang Shangzong is really using a honey trap?

Is this old guy really that cunning?

Thinking this, Qiu Tu couldn't help but look at Ellie.

Ellie was looking at Qiu Tu with a smile...

And so, without any apparent reason, it was decided that Qiu Tu would move into the villa with the three women.

Ellie and Qiu Tu discussed Xue'er's security again.

After all the details were finalized, Qiu Tu got up and saw the four people out of the office.

Outside the office door, Qiu Tu extended his hand to Ellie, saying, "It's a pleasure to work with you, Director Ellie. Have a great time these next few days."

Upon hearing this, Ellie blew a bubble, then took out her right hand from her pocket and shook hands with Qiu Tu casually. "Thank you, it's been a pleasure working with you, Director Qiu."

Judging from their equally genuine smiles, this should be a "win-win" collaboration...

.....

After leaving Qiu Tu's office, Yu Zhengyi escorted Ellie and the other two women out of the investigation department.

Although he wanted to ask Ellie about the results of her collecting the aura and the power of the alien cataclysm, Ellie hadn't invited him, so he couldn't force his way in. He could only watch the convoy slowly drive away.

There were three girls in three cars. In the car Ellie was in, there was a man with a long scar on his face and a thin, horse-like face.

Upon seeing him, Ellie casually took a small compass, about the size of her palm, from her pocket and handed it to him.

After that, she crossed her arms, blew bubble gum, and looked out the window at the scenery.

The man took the palm-sized compass, inhaling its essence while recording and analyzing it.

After a moment, he said to Ellie, "Director, besides Qiu Tu, there is another aura of catastrophic power."

Upon hearing this, Ellie immediately became interested. She straightened up, then said with an "Oh?", "Check if it's an evil god."

The scarred man nodded and continued his rapid analysis.

After a moment, he nodded and affirmed, "It's definitely the aura of an evil god!"

At this moment, Ellie's eyes lit up.

Her eyes gleamed as she looked intently at the scarred man. She could hardly believe she'd made such a significant discovery so soon after arriving!

As a result, at this moment, Scarface closed his eyes again and took another breath of the aura that the compass indicated.

After a moment... he hesitantly opened his eyes, looked at Ellie, and said, "Director, this aura is indeed that of an evil god, but... it doesn't seem to be from a living evil god. Rather... it's left behind by Xie Yue's 'Boundless Divine Crystal'..."