Then, Let Them Offer Their Loyalty!

Chapter 69: The Sugar-coated Bullet

Chapter 69: The Sugar-coated Bullet

Hearing Song Qing's words, Qiu Tu was momentarily stunned.

‘Cao Dabiao? The Political Division's first-class agent who was tricked into taking the blame at the Qin residence?’

Qiu Tu was momentarily confused, then realized, ‘So, this is about the Political Division team stationed at the Qin residence?’

His eyes flickered as he began to piece things together. The methods of managing subordinates were universally similar, usually involving a mix of stick and carrot. He had received plenty of "stick" already, so was it time for some "carrot"?

Combining this with the increase in Yan Chen’s satisfaction this morning, Qiu Tu felt his guess was likely correct.

While Qiu Tu was deep in thought, Song Qing watched him curiously. When he finally came back to his senses, she asked, "Do you already know what this is about, Sir?"

Qiu Tu glanced at her and smiled. "I have a rough idea. It’s probably about conducting an internal review of Cao Dabiao and his team. After all, I was their supervisor at one point. It seems the Minister intends to let them off lightly. They’re really lucky."

Song Qing looked surprised. She found it fascinating how her young superior seemed to have many different personas: the playful rogue who teased subordinates, the fighter who stood up to superiors, and the sharp mind who quickly grasped complex situations.

Perhaps influenced by Qiu Tu’s confrontation with Zheng Tao yesterday, Song Qing's impression of him had changed significantly.

Noticing the shift in her attitude, Qiu Tu decided to take advantage of it on their way to see Jia Shu. Recalling what had increased her loyalty the day before, he chose a similar approach.

“Is the Interrogation Division always this busy?” he asked, seemingly finding her trigger point.

Hearing his question, Song Qing launched into a detailed rant. Qiu Tu listened quietly, occasionally joining in with his own complaints, adding emotional value to the conversation.

In just two minutes, Song Qing's perception of Qiu Tu changed completely, seeing him as a confidant. Qiu Tu received the feedback he hoped for:

[Song Qing's Loyalty +11. Current Loyalty: 42.]

Seeing how quickly he had closed the gap with Song Qing, Qiu Tu smiled slightly.

‘Indeed, young girls are easy to sway.’

"Rule 41 of 108 Ways to Improve Relationships: Women are emotional beings. Being a good listener and sharing complaints can quickly bring you closer. A bad man should know how to draw out a girl's words and listen. Once you open the upper gate, the lower gate becomes much easier."

Though Song Qing seemed reluctant to stop talking, they had reached the place where Jia Shu was waiting for Qiu Tu, so she had to cut the conversation short. With bright eyes, she said, “Sir, I didn’t expect us to have so much in common. I hope we can talk more in the future.”

Qiu Tu smiled. “You can always come to me if you have any questions. Let’s keep communicating.”

Song Qing nodded cutely before pointing to a nearby rooftop garden. “Sir, the Minister is waiting for you on the rooftop garden.”

Qiu Tu nodded slightly, thanked her politely, and then headed towards the rooftop garden.

On the rooftop, Jia Shu was indeed there, standing at the edge with his hands behind his back, looking out over the rejuvenating cityscape of New Realm City. Hearing Qiu Tu’s footsteps, he didn’t turn around but continued gazing at the view and said with a smile, “When you find yourself in a conversation with a stranger and discover you agree on everything, be cautious. It’s likely not that you have a lot in common, but that their knowledge, experience, emotional intelligence, and IQ far exceed yours.”

He turned around, smiling slyly at Qiu Tu. “Would you agree, Deputy Chief Qiu?”

Understanding that Jia Shu was alluding to his "one-upmanship" over Song Qing, Qiu Tu responded with a nonchalant smile. “It’s my duty to communicate with subordinates and listen to their feedback about the department.”

Jia Shu looked at Qiu Tu, who calmly met his gaze. After a moment, Jia Shu’s smile widened. He turned back to look at the city and asked, “Do you remember this place, Deputy Chief Qiu?”

Qiu Tu hesitated, glancing around the rooftop garden. Jia Shu continued, “Don’t you remember?”

Qiu Tu quickly searched his predecessor’s memories but found nothing. He could only laugh it off. “I don’t seem to have any recollection.”

Jia Shu chuckled. “That’s because this is likely your first time here.”

Qiu Tu was baffled: ???

‘You’re kidding, right? You scared me half to death! I thought you were onto my secret of being a transmigrant!’

Jia Shu, oblivious to Qiu Tu's inner turmoil, continued gazing at the city. “This is the rooftop garden reserved for mid-level officers and above. Here, you can enjoy tea and snacks while overlooking the entire New Realm City. You can have your uniform cleaned, dinner prepared, or even have any item you desire brought to you by a server.”

As he spoke, Jia Shu gestured, and a young, beautiful waitress approached with a cup of coffee for him. Leaning against the railing, he took a sip and continued, “When you become a director, you’ll have a private lounge on the 12th floor, a dedicated secretary, and a personal driver.”

As he spoke, Jia Shu gestured, and a young, beautiful waitress approached with a cup of coffee for him. Leaning against the railing, he took a sip and continued, “When you become a director, you’ll have a private lounge on the 12th floor, a dedicated secretary, and a personal driver. The City Hall will provide a villa in the city center, and the Investigation Department will supply all the resources you need for your life.”

Jia Shu glanced at Qiu Tu with a sly smile. “As one of the three most powerful people in New Realm City, your orders will be the will of the entire city. Anything you desire will be brought to you the next day. Any woman you fancy will appear in your bed the following day. Whatever you want to do in New Realm City, as long as it doesn’t betray the Shelter, no one can stop you.”

Qiu Tu blinked. “Even the military and the Municipal Council?”

Jia Shu smiled and nodded. “Of course. And they won’t try to stop you. At that level, even if there’s conflict, it’s fought at the top. No one cares what you do below.”

Jia Shu's smile broadened. “To reach such heights, you must follow the right person. Only by following the right person can you climb to the top.”

Understanding Jia Shu’s intent, Qiu Tu immediately declared his loyalty. He straightened his back and said firmly, “Rest assured, Minister! I will follow you and the Director’s lead!”

Loyalty cost nothing, and Qiu Tu was happy to offer it in abundance. Jia Shu, however, didn’t fully buy it. He chuckled, “Talk is cheap. Actions speak louder.”

Then, Jia Shu finally revealed the purpose of the meeting. “I have two tasks for you.”

“Two tasks?” Qiu Tu was taken aback. This differed from what Song Qing had told him.

Jia Shu nodded. “The first task is to conduct an internal review of Cao Dabiao and his team over the next few days. As you know, a major incident occurred at the Qin residence. Not only did Fourth Master Qin escape, but Miss Qin Shuman is still missing. Cao Dabiao and his team were supposed to protect her and conduct a secret investigation, but they failed. They’ve all been detained. You were their supervisor, so you understand their strengths and weaknesses. It’s only fitting that you handle their review and punishment.”

Qiu Tu didn’t immediately agree but instead asked cautiously, “Do you have any specific instructions for this internal review?”

Jia Shu looked at him deeply before smiling. “No instructions. You’re in charge.”

But then he added, “I secured this opportunity from the Director specifically for you. Make the most of it.”

Qiu Tu understood that this was indeed the "carrot," allowing him to openly cultivate his own faction. He quickly expressed his gratitude, “Thank you, Minister, for your support!”

Jia Shu nodded in satisfaction and took a sip of his coffee before continuing, “The second task also involves you. Yin Caimei is dead.”

Feigning confusion, Qiu Tu replied, “Who?”

Jia Shu scrutinized him, as if trying to see if he was pretending. Not finding any flaws, Jia Shu explained, “The female spy you interrogated the other day. Deputy Chairman Tian’s mistress.”

Qiu Tu feigned realization. “Oh, her.” He frowned and admitted, “Minister, I heard about this last night.”

Jia Shu raised an eyebrow. “From whom?”

Having already guessed the truth, Qiu Tu didn’t hesitate to throw Liu Fuping under the bus. “From Agent Liu. Last night, she told me the news and asked what to do. I told her to follow the proper procedures: investigate, autopsy, and determine the cause of death. If it’s natural, close the case; if it’s foul play, find the mole. It wasn’t my interrogation, so it’s not my responsibility.”

Jia Shu chuckled. “You’re quite heartless, aren’t you? I thought you were close to Agent Liu. I assumed you had feelings for her.”

Qiu Tu laughed too. “I care for my pets, but losing one or two doesn’t affect me. In chaotic times, bodies have no emotions.”

Jia Shu clapped, whether in mockery or praise. “Good, very detached.”

Then he changed his tone. “But now, this matter concerns you. From today, you will be in charge of investigating the female spy’s death. She was Deputy Chairman Tian’s mistress, connected to many key figures in the city’s political and business circles. Yet she was also a spy for the RUF, sending information that caused significant losses to the city’s merchants. Her sudden death in our custody must be thoroughly investigated to satisfy both the political and business communities.”

Jia Shu didn’t wait for Qiu Tu to ask. “The case must be closed quickly and without causing too much disturbance. We need to ensure that both political and business leaders are satisfied.”

Qiu Tu was taken aback. He wasn’t naive and understood the implications of Jia Shu's words.

In essence, Jia Shu was implying that the truth of the case didn't matter; what the Investigation Department needed was a result that would satisfy everyone. In other words, Qiu Tu was expected to fabricate the case or find a scapegoat.

Combined with Jia Shu’s unusually generous promises today, Qiu Tu broke into a cold sweat. This was a classic carrot-and-stick approach, forcing him to pick a side. By accepting the benefits and fabricating the case, he would be handing over leverage that Jia Shu and Yan Chen could use to secure his loyalty before they would comfortably invest in his development.

Realizing this, Qiu Tu sighed internally at how cunning Yan Chen and Jia Shu were. But standing on the rooftop, he had no choice but to comply. The thoughts ran through his mind quickly before he smiled and responded, "Understood, Minister. Rest assured, I’ll handle this matter to everyone’s satisfaction."

Hearing this, a hint of satisfaction flashed in Jia Shu’s eyes. He patted Qiu Tu on the shoulder encouragingly. "Excellent. The Director and I were right about you."

[Jia Shu's Suspicion -0, Satisfaction +1]

After discussing the new tasks, Qiu Tu took the opportunity to briefly report on his recent meeting with the Security Department. In his account, he portrayed himself as having gone through great lengths to reestablish contact with them. He emphasized that they remained cautious and clearly did not fully trust him.

Author's Note