Then, Let Them Offer Their Loyalty!

Chapter 73: Killing Several Birds with One Stone

Chapter 73: Killing Several Birds with One Stone

This left Cao Dabiao and the others completely baffled. Since when did staying in the holding room become an honor? Had their two days in detention somehow made them heroes of the department?

Despite their inner confusion, they kept a calm exterior. It wasn't until they finished the procedures and were about to leave that a familiar high-level agent quietly pulled Cao Dabiao aside and asked in a hushed tone, "Brother Dabiao, I heard you guys latched onto a powerful patron?"

Cao Dabiao looked at the familiar agent with bewilderment.

The agent rolled his eyes, "Stop pretending with me. Everyone knows about it now."

Hearing this, Cao Dabiao felt as if he were being scratched by a cat. It seemed the whole world knew something he didn't! Thinking quickly, he half-boasted and half-probed, "Which thing are you talking about?"

The agent looked at Cao Dabiao in surprise, "Oh, there are many things?"

After sighing, he whispered, "I'm talking about Chief Qiu protecting you guys."

He continued quietly, "Let me tell you, the whole Political Division and the Special Operations Division are buzzing about it."

"You guys only followed him for two days, yet when he found out you were implicated, he immediately went to the Director and the Minister to request handling your case personally."

"And surprisingly, the Director and the Minister agreed to his request. They really let him handle your case."

"Up to this point, everyone was just waiting to see a joke."

"After all, the Special Operations Division team, which participated in the same mission, had already received their punishments. All involved agents were demoted by one rank, had their salaries suspended for six months, and received major demerits."

"The high-level agent leading the team was suspended and sent home to reflect."

"Even Fang Ming, the high-level agent from the Special Operations Division who argued with you, received a warning."

"Given the Special Operations Division's harsh punishment standards, it was expected that your team would face similar, if not worse, consequences."

"But who could have guessed that Chief Qiu would take such a huge risk and manage to protect all of you?"

"And even more astonishingly, the Minister approved it!"

Upon hearing this, Cao Dabiao, Chen Feng, and the others were all stunned. They had no idea about the Special Operations Division's harsh penalties while they were in the holding room. Although they expected their punishment wouldn't be as severe, they never imagined it would be this bad.

Despite being part of the same mission, they had Chief Qiu’s protection, resulting in lenient treatment, while the Special Operations Division, without anyone to shield them, suffered greatly. This stark contrast highlighted the significant role Qiu Tu played and the immense pressure he endured to protect them.

At this point, the usually silent Chen Feng focused on a critical aspect of the event and asked, "Did the Special Operations Division not object to our punishment?"

The familiar agent smirked and replied, "Of course, they objected!"

He continued, "How did this news spread?"

"The Special Operations Division found out about your lenient punishment and raised a fuss."

"Agents from various departments gathered to watch the commotion, which is how we learned about Chief Qiu protecting you."

He sighed, "You guys are truly lucky to have such a protective and promising superior. Such a big issue was just brushed off lightly."

"I believe your future prospects are also limitless!"

After hearing the entire story, Cao Dabiao, Chen Feng, and the other agents exchanged glances. They felt a mix of emotions.

To be honest, only now did they realize how much Qiu Tu had "sacrificed" for them and the pressure he endured!

Moreover, for some reason, amidst the envious gazes of other agents, they felt a newfound sense of collective pride. It seemed they were somehow superior to ordinary agents.

Their postures straightened noticeably.

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

Meanwhile, in the Interrogation Office's empty meeting room, Qiu Tu smiled as he looked at the prompt on the screen. He knew his plan had worked.

Indeed, the commotion caused by the Special Operations Division was not a sudden event but part of Qiu Tu's arrangement.

Before the interrogation, he had called Fang Ming, a high-level agent and former partner from the Special Operations Division, and informed him about his intention to be lenient with Cao Dabiao, Chen Feng, and the others.

Knowing Fang Ming’s character, he wouldn’t spread the news, but Qiu Tu deliberately mentioned, "This matter doesn’t need to be kept secret."

Fang Ming, being perceptive, immediately understood Qiu Tu’s intention. Although he couldn’t figure out Qiu Tu’s exact plan, he was willing to help with such a simple favor that also gained him a good rapport with Qiu Tu.

As a result, right after Qiu Tu finished the interrogation, news of the lenient punishment for Cao Dabiao and the others spread throughout the Special Operations Division.

Then it was Liu Fuping's turn to act.

Before the interrogation, Qiu Tu had pulled her into an empty office and asked for her help. He instructed her to find a few Political Division agents to provoke the Special Operations Division once the punishment was finalized.

The Special Operations Division, being no less formidable than the Political Division, had the most personnel and combat power in the entire bureau. Naturally, they couldn't swallow this humiliation and thus started causing trouble. When the two ace departments of the bureau clashed, it naturally drew the attention of the entire bureau. Therefore, the unequal punishments between Cao Dabiao’s team and the Special Operations Division spread like wildfire, establishing Qiu Tu's image as loyal and protective without a word.

This explained why Cao Dabiao and the others received so many envious glances upon their release from the holding room. In short, it was all part of Qiu Tu's plan.

As for whether this approach would backfire, causing a real conflict between the Special Operations Division and the Political Division, affecting Qiu Tu himself? He didn't think so.

During his time in New Realm City, Qiu Tu had already figured out the true power structure. Besides the three apparent power institutions, there was a hidden structure: the original inhabitants of New Realm City and the mid-to-high-level personnel from the shelters.

From what he learned from Qin Shuman and Shen Lingshuang, although the mid-to-high-level personnel from the shelters competed with each other, they also stuck together, viewing each other as equals and the original inhabitants as disaster refugees, inferior to them. This sense of superiority was usually well hidden, only occasionally surfacing in casual remarks or certain actions.

Therefore, the dissatisfaction of the lower-level agents wouldn't affect the relationships and attitudes of the mid-to-high-level personnel in both departments. In fact, they might even watch the commotion with amusement.

Moreover, this plan had the approval of Yan Chen, the boss of the Investigation Department, so why should Qiu Tu worry? He only feared the matter wouldn't escalate enough. The bigger the commotion, the higher his image would be elevated, and the wider his background rumors would spread.

The lower-level agents, unlike him, didn't understand the hidden psychology of the mid-to-high-level personnel. They would only see him as highly capable: despite the uproar from the Special Operations Division, he stood firm without compromising, with unwavering support from above.

When Qiu Tu later sought to recruit trusted subordinates from various departments, it would be twice as effective.

Reflecting on his entire plan, Qiu Tu snapped back to reality. He looked at the constantly changing shape of the "peach" in his hand and then at Liu Fuping, whose eyes were already brimming with tears. He coughed, "Sorry, it was out of habit."

Liu Fuping, her cheeks flushed, pushed Qiu Tu's hand away and took a deep breath, "Sir, you are too habitual~~"

"You accidentally grabbed and squeezed a few times when you pulled me into an empty office before the interrogation, but this is the second time!"

"How am I supposed to face others now?"

She pouted, "Maybe I should just marry you, so you can do whatever you want~~"

Qiu Tu quickly withdrew his hand and said seriously, "Sister Liu, fun is fun, but don't joke about such important matters! We're just colleagues; you mustn't develop any feelings for me!"

Liu Fuping, embarrassed, lightly slapped Qiu Tu, "Shameless!"

But, being a married woman, Liu Fuping quickly composed herself after their playful banter. She tidied her disheveled clothes and asked, "Qiu Tu, now that you're in charge of the [Yin Caimei's Death] case, what's your plan?"

She looked hesitant and cautiously said, "I met our team members last night and subtly probed them. I don’t think any of them are the culprits."

Qiu Tu nonchalantly stretched and said with a smile, "A plan?"

"To sharpen one's tools, one must first apply for case funds and equipment, then start the investigation slowly."

Liu Fuping looked at Qiu Tu strangely. She felt as if Qiu Tu was more interested in obtaining funds and equipment than solving the case. But since Qiu Tu was her superior and the investigation leader, she could only comply.

So, after they left, she began drafting the applications according to Qiu Tu’s instructions. The investigation team Qiu Tu formed was large, including Liu Fuping, Song Qing, Wang Xi, the two Special Operations agents, and 13 other agents like Cao Dabiao and Chen Feng. His goal was simple: to consolidate loyalty among his former subordinates by including them in the investigation, thereby increasing their loyalty and establishing his core team in the Political Division.

Liu Fuping quickly completed the personnel application form and the equipment application form as requested by Qiu Tu. After a brief review, Qiu Tu took them for approval.

The personnel application passed smoothly thanks to Jia Shu and Yan Chen’s backing. From that moment, Liu Fuping, Song Qing, Wang Xi, Cao Dabiao, Chen Feng, and others officially became his subordinates.

However, the equipment application hit a snag.

At the Administration Office, Equipment Section, Chief Huang looked at the long list of disaster artifacts Qiu Tu had requested and then at the now-famous section chief before him. He hesitated, deep in thought.

After a moment, he returned to his senses, didn’t reject outright, and said with a smile, "Chief Qiu, please wait a moment. I’ll check with the director."

He then picked up the phone on his desk and called Secretary Bai.

Author's Note