Let them offer their loyalty!

Chapter 72 Grateful Detective (7k for follow-up reads!)

Yet Ding Xiaoqi, Shi Zhang, and Su Yun were dissatisfied with Qiu Tu, among those who had mocked him.

With this in mind, they couldn't help but look towards Qiu Tu. And then... they saw the calm and deep eyes of Qiu Tu, serene as the depths of the sea, as if he could see through people's hearts...

In that moment, a chill ran down the spine of all the investigators. Sweat formed on the foreheads of Ding Xiaoqi, Shi Zhang, Su Yun, and the others.

At this moment, Qiu Tu also spoke indifferently, "If there is anything incorrect in the record, everyone is free to mention it."

"The great fire at the Qin family only burned for two days, and most of the traces can still be clearly investigated."

"If the testimonies of everyone here do not match up, I can apply to the higher-ups for permission to conduct an investigation in the Qin family residence."

Hearing the threatening undertone in Qiu Tu's words, Ding Xiaoqi, Shi Zhang, and the others no longer misunderstood Qiu Tu's intentions.

Right now, Qiu Tu only knew that they held dissatisfaction towards him, so he was giving them a warning.

But if one were to not accept this goodwill gesture, Qiu Tu would directly determine their guilt.

At that moment, the three of them hurriedly said, "No problem, Chief."

[Ding Xiaoqi, Shi Zhang, Su Yun, Loyalty +8]

[Chen Feng, Zhu Huoyan, Li Xian, Jiao Ming, Loyalty +10]

The loyalty of the other investigators also changed differently.

Once everyone's guilt was determined, the next steps were to sign and fingerprint the documents.

As each name was signed and each fingerprint was pressed, the entire interrogation finally concluded.

After collecting the interrogation records, Qiu Tu slowly said to the 13 investigators, "Everyone can rest assured, with your testimonies and the traces left at the scene, the results of everyone's review will come out quickly."

"By then, we should all still be colleagues."

Hearing Qiu Tu's decisive words, the investigators present could no longer contain the joy in their hearts, each of them looking at Qiu Tu excitedly.

They had waited so many days, agonizing for so long. They had cooperated with Qiu Tu precisely for this outcome, hadn't they?

In today's Xinjie City, to be a formal investigator, especially a political investigator, was to have a truly formidable presence.

Not only was the salary generous, but one could also protect family, neighbors. They could walk with their backs straight and heads held high.

Therefore, having worked so hard to become investigators, how could they bear to take off their uniforms?

Seeing the excitement among the investigators, Qiu Tu smiled and asked in a timely manner, "I have a case to work on next. Would any of you be interested?"

Hearing Qiu Tu's words, the group of investigators, freshly favored by Qiu Tu's benevolence, eagerly raised their hands in unison, "Chief! I can!" "Chief! Count me in!" "Chief, I want to continue working on cases under you!"

Even the reserved Chen Feng slowly raised his hand with a determined gaze.

Seeing this, Qiu Tu also said with a smile, "Alright, I'll take note of everyone's names then."

"See you this afternoon."

Having said that, Qiu Tu turned to Liu Fuping and said, "Let the operations team come to take them back."

Upon hearing this, Liu Fuping gave him a coquettish roll of her eyes and then got up, swaying her hips as she went to find the operations team's investigators.

Thus, the 13 investigators, lined up in a queue, were once again led away from the interrogation room.

However, just as Cao Dabiao, the last in line, was about to leave the interrogation room, Qiu Tu suddenly called out to him, "Big Biao, wait a moment."

Cao Dabiao stopped in his tracks, looking bewilderedly at Qiu Tu.

When everyone else had left and only Cao Dabiao was left in the room, Qiu Tu lit a cigarette and quietly smoked as he looked at Cao Dabiao.

At first, Cao Dabiao was bewildered as he watched Qiu Tu, but slowly, the sweat on his forehead began to accumulate, clearly guessing why Qiu Tu had kept him back.

Seeing this, Qiu Tu finally stopped beating around the bush. He flicked the ash off his cigarette and said softly, "I've heard that these past days, you've had some grievances about me?"

At that moment, Cao Dabiao's legs went weak, and he almost knelt to the ground.

Bowing, he said to Qiu Tu with an awkward laugh, "Chi-Chief, what I said was unintentional."

"Please be magnanimous and don't take it to heart."

Qiu Tu smiled and said indifferently, "But you were in charge of the operation this time, with much responsibility. There is too much guilt associated with it. I can't fully absolve you."

"So, a demotion by one level it is."

Hearing Qiu Tu's words, Cao Dabiao's face turned instantly pale.

A demotion by one level might not seem much, but a First Level Detective has command rights and many special privileges that are vastly different from a Second-Class Investigator.

Thus, being demoted to a Second-Class Investigator would greatly reduce Cao Dabiao's identity and status within the Political Department.

Cao Dabiao wanted to flatter Qiu Tu further, but he stopped himself as the words reached his lips, knowing this was Qiu Tu's reprimand. Speaking ill of Qiu Tu in the past few days warranted a lesson, and it was entirely justified.

Moreover, the fact that Qiu Tu had spared him was already something to be immensely grateful for.

With this in mind, his attitude suddenly became much more peaceful. He gave Qiu Tu a deep bow and then said, "Thank you, Chief. I'm already very grateful that you would keep me in the Investigation Bureau."

[Cao Dabiao Loyalty +5, Current Loyalty: 56]

Seeing his reaction, Qiu Tu exhaled a ring of smoke, his face carrying a leisurely and free-spirited demeanor, "Big Biao, I'm pleased that you've come to understand."

"As a man, don't dwell on the immediate gains and losses."

With that, he asked, "Do you know about the garden rooftop on the 9th floor?"

Cao Dabiao was stunned for a moment, then shook his head.

A nostalgic look crossed Qiu Tu's face as he said, "That's a place reserved for section chiefs and above, the middle-level officers."

"There, you can drink tea, eat desserts, and look down at the whole of Xinjie City."

"You can also have the waitstaff clean your uniform, prepare dinner, and even go out to buy anything you want..."

Cao Dabiao was drawn into the scene by Qiu Tu's description, looking somewhat mesmerized as if he could really see the garden rooftop.

Then at that moment, Qiu Tu continued, "Big Biao, do you know of the rest room on the 12th floor?"

Cao Dabiao again shook his head blankly.

Qiu Tu said with a smile, "That's a privilege you attain after becoming a division head."

"Once you become a division head, you'll...."

Qiu Tu went on to describe to Cao Dabiao the lavish lifestyle and immense privileges of section chiefs, division heads, and even the Bureau Chief.

Overall... it was simply passing on to Cao Dabiao, with a bit of added color, what Jia Shu had said to him today.

This immediately beguiled Cao Dabiao, a First Level Detective unused to worldly affairs, leaving him absolutely wide-eyed.

And in the end, Qiu Tu also gave him a meaningful look and repeated the brainwashing lines that Jia Shu had fed him, "Big Biao, achieving all this is actually very simple. That is, you must follow the right person."

"Only by following the right person can you reach the pinnacle step by step."

It must be said, Jia Shu's brainwashing skills were indeed effective; as soon as Qiu Tu recited the spiel, Cao Dabiao's face flushed red, and his eyes turned crimson with excitement!

He firmly declared his stance to Qiu Tu, "Chief! Rest assured!"

"From now on, I am your soldier! Wherever you point, I will strike!"

[Cao Dabiao loyalty +8, current loyalty: 64]

Seeing Cao Dabiao's excited expression and his rapidly increasing loyalty, Qiu Tu's face was filled with smiles.

Indeed, his guess was not wrong....

When you hold someone's fate in your hands, when you can greatly influence someone's future, it becomes exceptionally easy to raise their loyalty....

...

The duty officers were instructed to escort Cao Dabiao back to the Guard Room. Qiu Tu then, with the interrogation records and documents in hand, went to find Jia Shu for his signature.

Although Jia Shu was a sly fox, his credibility was still not bad.

Having promised Qiu Tu that he would handle this matter, he really didn't even look at the report before signing it.

And since these investigators were all under his command, Qiu Tu was lenient with their punishments.

A warning was noted on investigators like Chen Feng and Zhu Huoyan who held high loyalty towards Qiu Tu—light treatment, fined three drinks.

For Ding Xiaoqi, Shi Zhang, and others who had previously been dissatisfied with Qiu Tu, the penalties were heavier: a major demerit and three months' salary docked.

The rest of the investigators had a demerit recorded and one month's salary docked.

As for Cao Dabiao....

Actually, Qiu Tu had originally intended to teach him a lesson.

But then he saw how quickly his loyalty was rising. Coupled with the fact that he was the only First Level Detective under him, after much deliberation, Qiu Tu still decided not to demote him in the end.

He merely recorded a major demerit against him, docked three months' salary, and suspended his command authority temporarily.

But no matter what, he managed to keep his position as a First Level Detective.

So, when this punishment was announced in the Guard Room, the whole place erupted!

And when he heard that he had retained his position—already having resigned himself to a demotion—Cao Dabiao was overjoyed to tears, embracing Little Liu tightly and patting him with all his might several times, nearly knocking Little Liu out.

This naturally allowed Qiu Tu to harvest another wave of loyalty.

Following Qiu Tu's series of twists + surprises, he firmly solidified his position in the hearts of those investigators who were already loyally inclined towards him.

The loyalty of this group of investigators also generally reached over fifty points each, making their hearts ready to be harnessed...

However, by this time, Qiu Tu's attention had long since shifted away from this group of investigators.

His "Chain Plan" was far from over.

Upon leaving Jia Shu's office, Qiu Tu had only walked a few steps when Liu Fuping pulled him into an empty conference room.

Pulled into the conference room, Qiu Tu was far from panicked; instead, he confidently embraced the beautiful woman before him, then softly asked, "Have you done everything you've been told to do?"

Liu Fuping rolled her eyes at Qiu Tu, coquettishly saying, "It's all done~~ Chief."

"But, are you sure this won't draw attention from higher-ups?"

Qiu Tu pondered for a moment, then dismissively replied, "Even if I did nothing, wouldn't the higher-ups still pay attention to me?"

"Besides, I haven't really done anything, just established my image in front of all the junior investigators."

"Think about it. Once most investigators know that by following me, not only can I get them promotions and raises, but I can also protect them. Once this image is established, it will be much more convenient for me to do certain things later on."

At these words, Liu Fuping laughed and said, "But if something happens, can you really protect them?"

Qiu Tu chuckled "heh heh" twice, "Whether I can protect them is another matter."

"Image, you understand? It's not necessarily real."

Liu Fuping gave him an eye-roll, "Aren't you the clever one?"

Qiu Tu smiled and then soberly added, "Moreover, I'm doing this to give Cao Dabiao and their little group a sense of cohesion and honor."

"This way, they'll be even more dedicated in investigating cases for me."

Hearing this, Liu Fuping blinked curiously and asked, "It feels like you place great importance on them? And you seem eager for them to be involved in the investigation of the female spy's death."

Upon saying this, she hesitated, then inquired, "Why? Is there something special about them?"

Upon hearing this, a hint of amusement glinted in Qiu Tu's eyes as he replied, "They do have something special about them."

With that, he paused, "You forgot, they have been locked in the Guard Room from dawn to dusk these past several days."

"And Vice President Tian's mistress... died right next to them."

"Having them investigate this case might just bring some unexpected surprises, no?"

At these words, realization dawned on Liu Fuping's face....

.....

After leaving the Guard Room and collecting their belongings, Cao Dabiao and others went to report back to the Action Division and fill out their absence forms.

They had expected that, after spending time in the Guard Room and receiving a disciplinary action, their colleagues would scoff and ridicule them.

But what happened was beyond their expectations.

The record keepers of the Action Division not only processed their paperwork with beaming smiles but even the other investigators watched them with envious eyes....

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