69novels Page 183
Page 183
It is the promotion path for the truly core talents of the Investigation Bureau.
So...can I give myself now?
To be honest, Zheng Tao wanted to stay rational and not blindly believe his boss's empty promises, but... you have to understand, this promotion was arranged by this very executive!
The other party isn't just making empty promises; they're actually offering real, tangible benefits!
So, it really couldn't help but tempt him!
However, Zheng Tao also knew that to gain something, you must give something in return.
The more you gain, the more you inevitably have to give...
So he tried his best to control his desires, to control them, and to control them again...
Then I couldn't control myself.
He looked intently at the figure before him and asked, "Sir, what do you want me to do?"
Seeing that Zheng Tao had taken the bait, the figure couldn't help but let out a barely perceptible smile.
He turned around to face Zheng Tao, toying with an antique coin in his hand, and then asked softly, "I heard... you made a bet with Qiu Tu?"
Zheng Tao's gaze was involuntarily drawn to the coin.
That figure, "The bet is to lend him your secretary for two days...?"
Upon hearing the figure's words, Zheng Tao's heart skipped a beat, and he suddenly had a bad feeling.
Sure enough, the figure chuckled as he fiddled with the antique coin, saying, "And if I remember correctly, your secretary is your ex-wife, isn't she?"
“I remember that according to the Investigation Department’s regulations, this position cannot be held by relatives or related personnel. Although you did not include your relationship in the New Territories City’s records.”
"But your relationship is clearly exposed in the records at the shelter."
"And...you two seem to have a very good relationship, right?"
"Your little tricks may work on others, but they're completely transparent to us."
Upon hearing this, Zheng Tao swallowed hard, feeling a chill run through his body... his knuckles clenched so tightly they turned white.
Seeing this, the figure gave Zheng Tao two seconds to relax before continuing slowly, "So, my task is for you to continue this bet. Have your ex-wife go to Qiu Tu's side and monitor him."
"I will have someone deliberately delay the time for Qiu Tu to be assigned a secretary, so that he will have no one else available and will have to use your ex-wife."
"And what your ex-wife needs to do is gain his trust in these few days, and ideally become his real secretary."
"This way, we can know Qiu Tu's movements in real time and his various arrangements. If necessary, we can also send him some... small gifts."
Upon hearing the figure's words, Zheng Tao clearly still wanted to struggle.
He said bitterly, "Sir, could you please find someone else...?"
"For example, when I cash out my bet, I can replace Qiu Tu with someone else as his secretary; or you can arrange for him to be a more suitable spy as his secretary."
Upon hearing Zheng Tao's words, the figure retorted, "Nonsense!"
"You know how shrewd Qiu Tu is."
"If I directly assign him a new secretary, will he easily trust me? If you temporarily replace him with someone else, won't he be suspicious?"
"Only in a sudden bet like yours, and especially if he proposed the bet himself, would he believe that the secretary hadn't made any arrangements."
"All secretaries are trained and assigned by the administration department. Your 'secretary' was just selected by you and hasn't developed a relationship with you yet; he's a blank slate."
"Only with such unparalleled trust conditions will he take the bait!"
"Otherwise, why do you think I would come looking for you!"
Hearing the words of the important figure in front of him, Zheng Tao lowered his head and remained silent.
Perhaps sensing Zheng Tao's inner resistance, the figure sighed slightly.
He strolled up to Zheng Tao, took the antique coin in his hand, placed it in front of Zheng Tao, and then said softly, "Zheng Tao, if I told you that this was Princess La Ri Luo's arrangement..."
"Was it her preference for Tam Wai-man to go...?"
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Chapter 214 (10,000 words, please subscribe)
In that instant, Zheng Tao's body trembled violently. He abruptly looked up, staring at the person before him in disbelief...
His eyes were filled with astonishment; he clearly hadn't expected to hear the name "La Ri Luo" from the person in front of him.
Upon seeing this, the figure chuckled and tossed the antique coin into Zheng Tao's hand, saying, "Check Princess Larilu's token."
Upon hearing this, Zheng Tao accepted the token with trembling hands.
The coin had been handled by that figure for a long time, so it was a little warm to the touch.
Zheng Tao carefully examined the keepsake according to the examination method taught to him by La Riluo.
After confirming that it was indeed Larilu's keepsake, he respectfully returned it to the figure with both hands, then looked at the figure with a complicated expression, "Sir... I didn't expect that you were also a follower of Princess Larilu."
The figure reached out and took the antique coin, then asked with a hint of sarcasm, "Otherwise... do you really think you were chosen and promoted to vice minister based on your abilities?"
Zheng Tao:...
Seeing Zheng Tao's embarrassed expression, the figure chuckled softly, as if laughing at Zheng Tao's naivety in actually believing in a windfall...
In this world, without connections or power, even if a windfall falls from the sky, it won't be your turn!
However, the figure also knew that the next plan still needed Zheng Tao's help. So he didn't continue to mock Zheng Tao, but paused for a moment and casually saved face for Zheng Tao, "Of course... besides our relationship, your promotion is indeed related to your good abilities."
Sure enough, Zheng Tao's expression softened slightly upon hearing this.
Seeing this, the figure returned to the main topic. He said earnestly, "I know you're not actually a follower of Princess Lariluo, but you've received her 'favor'..."
Upon hearing the word "favor," Zheng Tao's hands clenched slightly...
The figure said, "However, since you have received His Highness's favor, you have already been marked by His Highness and are destined to be His Highness's follower. Therefore, you must work for His Highness."
"And now His Highness needs you, needs your ex-wife to make a small sacrifice. You should know what to do, right?"
The figure paused for a moment at this point.
Perhaps worried about putting too much pressure on Zheng Tao, he softened his tone and said, "And... don't feel any psychological pressure."
"Your ex-wife just went to work as Qiu Tu's full-time secretary."
"It's not like I'm asking her to sell herself."
"Although Qiu Tu is a bit of a scoundrel, he still has his own bottom line. He won't easily make a move in such a sensitive area."
"So, as long as your ex-wife is careful, nothing will happen."
Hearing the figure's words, Zheng Tao's expression still showed some hesitation.
He clearly didn't want to accept this mission. But when he thought of Lariro... when he thought of that terrifying evil god, when he thought of how his life and fortune were in the other party's hands...
After hesitating for ten seconds, he finally gave in...
It's not really his fault.
He now has only two choices.
One option is to submit to the important figure in front of you, which would not only allow you to maintain your position as section chief, but also potentially lead to a meteoric rise in your career.
The other option is to refuse the important figure in front of you, which could not only lead to your abandonment but also to your execution by Lariro.
It seems like he has two choices, but actually he... has no choice at all.
Thinking this, Zheng Tao felt an overwhelming sense of despair. He felt that he should never have accepted La Riluo's 'favor' in the first place.
If it weren't for what happened back then, he might not be in his current predicament.
But since things had come to this, he had no choice but to grit his teeth and continue. So he took a deep breath and said, "Yes, sir. I accept this mission."
Seeing that Zheng Tao had finally agreed, a smile finally appeared on the figure's face.
He clapped his hands with a smile and said, "Very good. It seems His Highness was right about you."
"Then it's up to you and your ex-wife now."
"When you get back, you must work on your ex-wife."
"Get her to accept the task willingly, and don't give anything away."
"Qiu Tu is a very cautious and sensitive person. It's not easy to gain his trust."
"Your ex-wife may have to think of many ways or clever tricks to please him so that he can gradually accept her."
"Only when he accepts your ex-wife, completely trusts her, and treats her as one of his own can he succeed."
"Only your ex-wife can obtain truly crucial information from him, and only then can she truly unleash her trump card at critical moments..."
Hearing that figure repeatedly refer to "your ex-wife" was incredibly grating to Zheng Tao.
He felt even more aggrieved when he heard that the man had told his ex-wife to please and take care of Qiu Tu.
But now that things had come to this, he had no way to object anymore. So he could only sigh heavily, "Yes, sir. I'll go back and have a good talk with my ex-wife."
Upon hearing this, the figure hummed in agreement, then gently waved his hand, "Then you may leave."
Seeing this, Zheng Tao also gave a sheepish salute, then left the office with his head down...
After Zheng Tao left, the office door slowly closed. Only that figure remained in the entire office.
He sat behind his desk, gently playing with the antique coin, his gaze soft and tender.
After a moment, he gently tossed the coin onto the table.
The next second, the coin slowly vaporized, and Larilu's delicate head appeared on the desk.
She still possessed the stunning beauty of a mature woman, resembling a passionate bar girl, her eyes radiating a desire that seemed capable of igniting everything.
Upon seeing Lariluo, the figure bowed slightly and said, "Your Highness, you heard what happened just now... Although Zheng Tao accepted it, he was clearly still somewhat unwilling. I'm worried that if he doesn't do a good job, it will affect your plans."
At this point, the figure paused slightly, then added, "Also, isn't Your Highness placing too much importance on Qiu Tu?"
Upon hearing the figure's words, La Rilu smiled wickedly, then said with an air of confidence, "Take it seriously? Qiu Tu's secrets are something I should take seriously."
"Moreover, he not only has secrets, but he also controls several key intelligence lines."
At this point, Larilu looked at the figure in front of her with her beautiful face and said with a charming smile, "And some of the information from those intelligence lines, you don't even have."
"Therefore, if Zheng Tao's ex-wife can really infiltrate Qiu Tu's circle and obtain some valuable intelligence from him, I think it's worth any price to pay..."
"After all, in the time leading up to the formation of Moonlight Lake, every bit of valuable information that comes in could have a significant impact on the entire outcome..."
"As for... Zheng Tao." La Riluo smiled contemptuously, "He was just a pawn I unintentionally planted back then."
"If it works, great; if not, I'll shut him up..."
"As long as you don't cause any problems with the Investigation Bureau, nothing else matters."
......
at the same time.
Zheng Tao left the office that had changed his fate with heavy steps.
Stepping into the elevator on the 12th floor, Zheng Tao pressed the button for the 2nd floor. As the elevator slowly descended, Zheng Tao felt a heaviness in his heart.
To be honest, even though he had accepted the important man's mission, Zheng Tao still didn't know how to tell his ex-wife about it.
What could he say?
Tell your ex-wife that you need her to serve another man? To be another man's secretary?
Or did he lose a bet to another man?
Thinking about this, Zheng Tao felt incredibly regretful.
He felt he shouldn't have taken that elevator today, and he should have kept his composure and not accepted Qiu Tu's bet. Otherwise, all this trouble wouldn't have happened.
"Ding!" The elevator has reached the second floor.
The elevator doors slowly opened.
Zheng Tao walked slowly back to his office with a blank expression.
Arriving at the door of his office, Zheng Tao sighed heavily, then took out his keys to open the door.