Let them offer their loyalty!

Chapter 73 Kill Several Birds with One Stone (Seeking 7k for Readthroughs!)

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This suddenly left Cao Dabiao and the others a bit confused.

What? Is it now an honor to be brought into the Guard Room?

I was squatting in the Guard Room for two days, and now I'm a hero of the department?

However, although they were incredibly puzzled inside, they still pretended to be calm on the surface.

It was not until they had finished the procedures and Cao Dabiao and the others were preparing to leave that a familiar First Level Detective quietly pulled Cao Dabiao aside and asked softly, "Brother Biao, I heard you guys have found a big backer?"

Cao Dabiao looked bewildered at the familiar First Level Detective.

The detective rolled his eyes at him, "Are you still putting on an act with me? The news about you guys has spread everywhere."

Hearing the detective's words scratched at Cao Dabiao's heart like a cat's claws.

He felt as if the whole world knew about his situation, yet he himself was the only one out of the loop!

With this thought, he asked half-pretentiously and half-probingly, "Which matter are you referring to?"

The detective looked at Cao Dabiao with surprise and exclaimed, "Oh, there are that many issues?"

But after exclaiming, he still explained in a low voice, "It's about Chief Qiu protecting you guys, that matter."

He whispered, "Let me tell you, now both the Political Department and the Special Service Department are abuzz with the news."

"Chief Qiu has connections, brains, and loyalty, but most importantly, he protects his own."

"You guys just followed him for two days, and when he knew you were implicated, without a second thought, he went to the Bureau Chief and the Minister, requesting to review your case."

"And to everyone's surprise, the Bureau Chief and the Minister actually agreed to his request. They really let him review your case."

"Actually, at that point, everyone was just waiting to see a joke."

"After all, the Special Service Department team that carried out the mission with you had already gotten their punishment. All the detectives involved in the operation were demoted one rank, suspended half a year's pay, and received a major demerit."

"The leading First Level Detective was even temporarily suspended for incompetence and sent home for reflection."

"Even Fang Ming from the Special Service Department, who had an argument with you, received a warning."

"With such a punishment standard in the Special Service Department, there's no way your team's punishment would be much lighter since you carried out the same mission."

"Who would have thought, Chief Qiu actually took a big risk and managed to get all of you off the hook!"

"Not just that, the Minister's side actually approved it!"

Hearing the detective's words, Cao Dabiao, Chen Feng, and the rest also showed faces of astonishment.

They, who had been locked up in the Guard Room for two days, had no idea about the punishment results of the Special Service Department.

Although they guessed theirs wouldn't be as light, they really hadn't expected it to be so harsh.

Teams that carried out the same mission, yet they were treated leniently just because they had Qiu Tu's protection; the Special Service Department, without anyone to protect them, suffered such a miserable fate?

In such a stark contrast, Qiu Tu's role became even more evident, and they realized how much pressure Qiu Tu had to withstand to protect them!

At this moment, the usually reserved Chen Feng also focused on the key point of the incident. He inquired, "So, regarding our punishment, the Special Service Department didn't raise any objections?"

Hearing Chen Feng's words, the detective smirked and said, "How could there not be objections?"

He continued, "Do you know how this all came out?"

"It started because the Special Service Department disapproved of your punishment decision and made a fuss."

"Then, the detectives from various departments went to watch the drama, and that's when we learned about you being saved by Chief Qiu's efforts."

Having said that, he couldn't help but feel a little emotional, "Ah, you guys are really lucky. You met a boss who protects his own and has a bright future. Such a big issue casually brushed aside."

"I heard he has now pulled you guys into a new investigative team?"

"I think your careers are boundless from now on!"

After the detective finished explaining the whole story, Cao Dabiao, Chen Feng, and the other detectives exchanged looks. They were feeling rather complex emotions at the moment.

To be honest, it was only until now that they truly understood how much Qiu Tu had "sacrificed" for them, how much pressure he had endured!

Meanwhile, amidst the envious glances of the other detectives, they inexplicably felt a sense of collective pride.

As if they were a cut above those ordinary detectives.

For a moment, they all stood a little straighter....

...

[Cao Dabiao, Chen Feng, Zhu Huoyan, Ding Xiaoliu.....Loyalty +7]

Meanwhile, in the empty conference room of the Interrogation Section,

Qiu Tu looked at the prompt that popped up before him and smiled. He knew his arrangements had taken effect.

Indeed, the commotion from the Special Service Department was not an unforeseen event but Qiu Tu's design.

Before the interrogation, he had called his former teammate Fang Ming from the Special Service Department, revealing his intent to go easy on Cao Dabiao, Chen Feng, and the others.

With Fang Ming's personality, he certainly wouldn't gossip about it, but Qiu Tu purposely said, "There's no need to keep this matter secret."

And so.....the astute Fang Ming immediately understood Qiu Tu's implication.

Although he couldn't figure out Qiu Tu's ultimate goal, he was still willing to help out, seeing it as a simple favor that could earn him Qiu Tu's gratitude.

Therefore, right after Qiu Tu's interrogation concluded, the news that Cao Dabiao and the others would face light punishment rapidly spread throughout the Special Service Department.

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Afterward, it was all thanks to Liu Fuping's efforts.

Before the interrogation, Qiu Tu pulled her aside into an empty office and asked her for a favor.

He had asked her to find a few operatives from the Political Department to provoke those from the Special Service Department after the sentencing results were settled.

The Special Service Department was an authoritative department, no weaker than the Political Department. Coupled with having the strongest combat power and the most staff of all the departments, they naturally couldn't swallow this affront, so things escalated as expected.

When the two ace departments of the Investigation Bureau clashed, it naturally caught the attention of the entire bureau.

As a result, the unequal sentencing of people like Cao Dabiao and the operatives from the Special Service Department became widely talked about. In turn, Qiu Tu's image as someone who was loyal and protected his own quietly took shape.

This was why, after Cao Dabiao and others were released from the guard room, they received so many envious looks. To put it plainly, it was all Qiu Tu's scheming.

As for whether this game would backfire, and the Special Service Department would truly start fighting with the Political Department, affecting Qiu Tu himself?

Firstly, Qiu Tu didn't care. If it really did affect him and he was punished from above, he would happily take the chance to go home for reflection, passing that hot potato of a case to someone else.

Secondly, he didn't think it would happen.

Because... during his time in this world, he had already figured out the real power structure of Xinjie City.

Besides the three obvious power institutions of Xinjie City, there was actually a hidden power structure: the native residents of Xinjie and the middle and upper classes who came down from the Sanctuary.

Based on what Qiu Tu had learned and the information obtained from Qin Shuman and Shen Lingshuang,

he found that even though there was competition among the middle and upper classes who came down from the Sanctuary, they were very united. They saw each other as their own kind, while the original residents of Xinjie were considered a tier below them, refugees from the Cataclysm.

This sense of superiority was mostly well concealed. It only occasionally showed in their choice of words or when handling certain matters.

Therefore, the dissatisfaction of the lower-level operatives would not affect the relationship and attitudes of the middle and upper levels of the two departments.

Moreover, since Yan Chen had approved this move, with the endorsement of the big boss of the Investigation Bureau behind him, what did Qiu Tu have to fear? He was only afraid that the situation wouldn't blow up enough.

After all, the bigger the fuss, the more his fame would grow, and the more widely the news of him forming an investigation team would spread, hence building his desired momentum!

Having recalled his entire plan, Qiu Tu snapped back to reality.

He glanced at the "peach" in his hand, whose shape kept changing, and then at Liu Fuping, whose eyes were starting to well up with tears. He coughed and said, "Sorry, I got carried away."

Liu Fuping's cheeks flushed red as she swatted Qiu Tu's hand away, took a deep breath, and said indignantly, "Commander, that's a bit too 'carried away,' don't you think~~"

"Just before the interrogation, dragging someone into an empty office and accidentally grabbing on, and now this!"

"How is someone supposed to face others after this?"

Upon saying that, Liu Fuping playfully suggested, "Otherwise, I should just marry you. That way you can do whatever you want~~"

At her words, Qiu Tu quickly withdrew his hand and said with a serious expression, "Sister Liu, it's fine to play around, but don't joke about a lifetime commitment! We're all in this line of work; you can't harbor other intentions toward me!"

Hearing this, Liu Fuping spat out in annoyance, "Shameless!"

However, being a woman who had been married before, Liu Fuping quickly adjusted her emotions after her playful banter with Qiu Tu.

While she tidied up her disheveled clothes, she asked, "Qiu Tu, now that the case of 'Yin Caimei's Death' is in your hands, do you have any plans?"

A hint of hesitation appeared on her face as she cautiously said, "I met with the team members last night and probed them in a roundabout way. It seems... none of them are likely to be the murderer."

Qiu Tu, however, seemed unconcerned. He stretched lazily and said with a smile, "Plans?"

"If a workman wishes to do his work well, he must first sharpen his tools!"

"My plan is to first apply for some investigation funds, then request some investigation equipment, and then take it slow."

Liu Fuping looked at Qiu Tu oddly.

She couldn't shake the feeling... that Qiu Tu's focus on the investigation seemed like a front, that his real goal was to take advantage of it to acquire funds and equipment... or even set himself up for a convenient escape if all else failed.

But since Qiu Tu was her superior and in charge of the investigation team, she had no choice but to follow his orders.

So after she and Qiu Tu stepped out, she began drafting several applications as per Qiu Tu's instructions.

This time, the investigation team assembled by Qiu Tu was large, including Liu Fuping, Song Qing, Wang Xi, the two Special Service operatives, as well as Cao Dabiao, Chen Feng, and 13 other detectives.

His motive was simple: regardless of how the case progressed, he intended to build momentum first, test the waters, then use the opportunity to gather a wave of funds and equipment—and if things went south, it would also be easier to flee....

Soon, Liu Fuping completed the personnel application form and the equipment application form as per Qiu Tu's requirements.

After Qiu Tu quickly reviewed them and found no issues, he went to get them signed.

The personnel application form was easily approved. With the backing of Jia Shu and Yan Chen, both the Interrogation Section and the Action Section gave the green light. From this moment, Liu Fuping, Song Qing, Wang Xi, Cao Dabiao, Chen Feng, and the others became his subordinates.

While the personnel form sailed through smoothly, the equipment application form hit a snag....

...

Administrative Office, Logistical Equipment Section.

Chief Huang looked at the long list of Cataclysmic treasures Qiu Tu had requested, then took a long glance at Qiu Tu, recognizing this division head who had become famous throughout the Investigation Bureau today.

After a moment's hesitation, with a contemplative look, he came back to his senses, did not outright reject the request, but said with a smile, "Chief Qiu, please wait a moment. I will inquire with the office head."

Having said that, he picked up the phone on the desk and called Secretary Bai....