Then let them offer their loyalty!

Yan Chen stared at Qiu Tu for a while, then picked up a cigarette case from the mahogany desk and took out a cigarette.

He put the cigarette in his mouth and then took out the matchbox.

"Snap!" With the sound of a match being struck, a flame burst forth in the dimly lit study.

Yan Chen brought the flame closer, lit a cigarette, then shook the matchstick out and threw it into the ashtray.

Qiu Tu watched silently the whole time without saying a word.

After lighting his cigarette, Yan Chen smoked while shaking the matchbox. He shook it quietly for a while, then exhaled two plumes of smoke from his nose, his gaze distant as he slowly opened his mouth.

"Qin Shuman can't be a nail. You've been using the wrong excuse from the start."

Perhaps because Yan Chen's words were so certain, Qiu Tu's heart skipped a beat for a moment, and he had a bad feeling.

Yan Chen didn't look at Qiu Tu. He silently smoked as he slowly said, "You said in the communications that there were a few suspicious points about her."

"For example, they just arrived in the New Territories, but they seem to know the New Territories very well."

"For example, she came from a poor background, but her skin was smooth, fair, and without any scars or calluses."

"For example, the New Territories is so big and chaotic, how did I manage to pick up such a beautiful woman like her...?"

At this point, Yan Chen looked at Qiu Tu with a deep gaze, "The suspicious points you found do indeed seem very reasonable."

"But you've overlooked the most important point."

"That is... the story I told you about Qin Shuman's background was a lie..."

Upon hearing Yan Chen's words, Qiu Tu's pupils contracted slightly, and a thunderbolt flashed through his mind!

Yan Chen lowered his head, took a drag of his cigarette, and continued, "Qin Shuman was not a disaster victim from the disaster zone that I picked up during my inspection."

"Instead, it was a cloned female body that the Qin family presented to me."

"This is pre-cataclysmic technology."

The swirling smoke made his voice sound almost ethereal. "Humans are very resilient creatures. Although the cataclysm 40 years ago nearly wiped out humanity, some people still managed to survive."

"Most of these people are ordinary people, but a small number are political figures from various countries, wealthy businessmen who control various means of production, and scientists who possess core technologies."

"In the first few years after the catastrophe, they lay low and conserved their strength."

"But after the catastrophe ended, they emerged from the ground and, using their core competitiveness, developed and multiplied generation after generation in various catastrophe cities, bound by blood ties and interests, eventually becoming clans and interest organizations of varying sizes."

"And the Qin family... is one of them."

"The technology they possess is [cloning female bodies]."

At this point, Yan Chen paused, looking at Qiu Tu with a neutral expression.

“Over the years, the shelters have been expanding into disaster zones, establishing new planned areas, so it is inevitable that they will clash with the existing forces in each disaster zone.”

“When faced with these established forces, shelters generally use two methods to deal with them.”

"First, cooperation. We will cooperate with clans and interest groups that are willing to seek refuge in the shelter, relinquishing some positions in the administration and investigation departments, and absorbing them to jointly govern the planned area."

“Take Fang Ming, for example. He was so young and hadn’t accomplished anything yet, but he was able to become a first-level detective in a key department because his family elders held high positions in the Investigation Department.”

"Second, suppression. We will resolutely suppress underground organizations, criminal gangs, and some clans and interest groups that are unwilling to cooperate, and eliminate them without mercy."

"The 'Alliance' group of vermin are remnants who managed to escape our attacks."

"As for how to distinguish which clans and interest groups are willing to cooperate and which are not..."

At this point, Yan Chen exhaled the last puff of smoke and stubbed out the scarlet cigarette in the ashtray, "It is determined by the director of the exploration department of each planned area."

After saying that, he looked at Qiu Tu with a deep gaze and concluded, "Therefore, the Qin family dares not offend me."

"Forget about offending them, they had already secretly pledged their allegiance to me four years ago."

"And Qin Shuman was a cloned female body they specifically sought out and cultivated according to my preferences..."

"Because the technology was not perfect, her lifespan was not long, only a few years."

"You mean... a woman of such status is a spy planted by the city hall next to me? And today they're trying to win you over and help you make a name for yourself?"

Finally, Yan Chen crossed her hands and rested them on her chin, looking at Qiu Tu with great interest...

Chapter 11 Turning the Tide!

At this moment, looking at Yan Chen's playful expression as if he were catching a mouse, and listening to his detailed yet somewhat sarcastic explanation, Qiu Tu was already cursing inwardly.

He finally understood why the "crisis sense" had noted "your lies still have some loopholes that don't stand up to scrutiny" when it gave him the second warning.

This isn't just "some vulnerabilities," this is a whole bunch of vulnerabilities!

Who would have thought that everyone treated Yan Chen as a "brother," but Yan Chen played tricks on his "brother" and actually fabricated the background of his mistress!

However, he also knew that now was not the time for regret or remorse.

After all, regret and remorse won't help things at all, and might even cut off his last chance to survive.

Therefore, he must calm down and find a way to break the deadlock!

Thinking this through, Qiu Tu calmed himself down and his brain began to work at lightning speed.

At this moment, his years of "work" in a fraud ring in his previous life finally came in handy...

During the years he "worked" for the fraud ring, Qiu Tu received comprehensive fraud training, which included not only how to see through a person's weaknesses, but also... how to continue the scam after being exposed.

So he quickly pieced together the clues he knew and adjusted his plan.

Soon, he made up his mind...

Perhaps because he was confident, he didn't panic. So, the next second, Qiu Tu naturally began his second performance.

He didn't offer any explanation, but instead showed a puzzled expression and asked Yan Chen, "Director... are you sure what you just said is true?"

"Something's not right about this."

"The Qin Shuman you described doesn't match the Qin Shuman I've met at all..."

"Only liars try to explain when others point out their inconsistencies. People who tell the truth will only suspect the other person of having a problem."

Then, Qiu Tu accurately pointed out the flaws in Yan Chen's words.

He said, "Besides, Director, even if what you said is true, it doesn't clear Qin Shuman of suspicion."

"After all, Qin Shuman has been raised by the Qin family ever since she was cloned. Nobody knows what the Qin family taught her during her training."

"The Qin family may teach her to be forever loyal to you, or they may teach her to gather secrets while she is by your side."

Upon hearing Qiu Tu's rebuttal, Yan Chen's smile slowly faded, and her face became expressionless.

Seeing this, Qiu Tu felt somewhat relieved and continued to point out the problems in Yan Chen's logical chain.

"Furthermore, you said that the Qin family dares not offend you because you hold the Qin family's life and death in your hands."

"Allow me to make a bold assumption. If you can truly control the fate of the Qin family, then you should also be able to easily manipulate other clans and organizations in the New Territories, right?"

"As the Director of the Investigation Department in the New Territories, you can easily control all the clans and organizations, big and small, in the city. Can the Directors of Investigation Departments in other cities also easily control the clans and organizations in their cities?"

At this point, Qiu Tu paused for a moment and asked softly, "Then... why are the shelters still setting up city halls in various cities? Why not just let the Exploration Bureau handle all the big and small affairs of the cities...?"

Upon hearing Qiu Tu's words, Yan Chen fell silent for a moment, and the atmosphere in the study instantly became quiet...

Seeing this, Qiu Tu knew he had made the right bet.

He didn't show it on his face, but in his heart he was already cursing Yan Chen's ancestors for eight generations.

That old bastard was definitely bluffing me!

No wonder I felt something was off when I listened to him: if the investigation bureaus in various cities were really that powerful, wouldn't the city halls be rendered powerless?

How could the shelters and the city hall possibly allow such an arrogant department to exist!

This is completely unreasonable!

Of course, Qiu Tu didn't think Yan Chen would lie about such a thing; he guessed that Yan Chen was most likely hiding some of the facts.

For example, the Director of Investigation can indeed "determine" whether a clan or organization is suitable for cooperation, but he only has "investigative power," not "decision-making power."

Such an important matter will likely need to be reported to the city hall and discussed and decided by the municipal committee.

Therefore, even if the head of the investigation department believes that a certain clan is not suitable for cooperation through investigation, the city hall can reject the investigation and send it back to the investigation department for reinvestigation.

This aligns with Qiu Tu's understanding of the power structure of the planned area.

Yan Chen was clearly playing a word game just now, trying to trick Qiu Tu.

Having figured this out, Qiu Tu felt more confident. He was just about to press his advantage when, suddenly, the study door was opened from the outside.

Qiu Tu looked towards the door and saw Jia Shu walk in from outside.

Upon entering the study, he closed the door behind him, then slowly walked to Yan Chen's side, bent down, and whispered a few words in Yan Chen's ear.

The study was quiet, so even though Jia Shu's voice was very soft, Qiu Tu still vaguely heard parts of the key conversation, for example,

"When the attack occurred, Qiu Tu was indeed the first to react."

"Fang Ming did indeed direct Qiu Tu to protect Qin Shuman during the evacuation, but Qiu Tu did not evacuate."

"The Old Alley Street Police Station did receive Qiu Tu's distress call right at the start of the gunfight."

Qiu Tu looked calmly at Yan Chen and Jia Shu, feeling more at ease. Then... he presented the most important piece of evidence at the opportune moment.

"Chief, you may think that everything I've said is just empty talk, which is why you don't trust me. But... I actually have evidence."

As he spoke, Qiu Tu took out the cloth bag that Atai had brought from his pocket.

He stepped forward, placed the cloth bag on the mahogany desk, and then respectfully returned to his original position.

Jia Shu glanced at Yan Chen, and after receiving a confirming look from Yan Chen, he walked to the table, picked up the cloth bag, and opened it to take a look.

At first glance, he didn't pay much attention to the items inside, but at the second glance, his pupils suddenly contracted, and he reached into the cloth bag and rummaged through it in disbelief.

A moment later, he walked quickly to Yan Chen's side and said in a low but rapid voice, "Director, look."

Upon hearing Jia Shu's words, Yan Chen glanced at the cloth bag.

In that instant, Qiu Tu clearly saw Yan Chen's body also freeze for a moment.

The next second, Yan Chen looked at Qiu Tu with a deep expression and asked in a deep voice, "Do you know what this is?"

Qiu Tu nodded first, then shook his head, "I only know a little bit."

"Miss Schumann only told me that this thing could change my destiny and give me incredible power."

"But she didn't go into details. She only said that as long as I continued to work for her, she would give me even more..."

Upon hearing Qiu Tu's words, Yan Chen took the cloth bag and poured it onto the mahogany desk.

Clang~ Clang~

The first thing poured out was a few silver dollars, followed by a few small goldfish.

Finally, a translucent, sea-blue stone, shimmering with a faint light, landed on the table with a "clang."

It was... Cataclysmic Material: Aurora Stone.

Seeing the precious material obtained from the cheat system fall onto the table, Qiu Tu felt no reluctance whatsoever.

Instead, he calmly observed the fleeting greed in Yan Chen's eyes, and once again recalled that saying:

Greed is the most powerful weapon in this world...

Yan Chen is about to fall into the trap....

----

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每天2-3更，6000-7000字。12点和0点更新。

Chapter 12 Promotion! Transfer!

In fact, Qiu Tu had already thought about how to deal with this catastrophic material the moment he obtained the "Aurora Stone".

Even just reading the description tells you it's very valuable. But... no matter how valuable it is, Qiu Tu doesn't need it right now.

Looking at the description of Aurora Stone, it's described as "one of the materials for catastrophic events," and also used for "containing potions" and "crafting catastrophic items." Is this something Qiu Tu can actually do right now?

That's simply unrealistic.