Then let them offer their loyalty!

Page 475

Qiu Tu glanced at everyone present.

Dongcheng City was, after all, the city where Liu Xiongyuan had cultivated his influence for many years, so everyone present, from the detectives to Director Ning's "camp cloud," all pointed directly at Liu Xiongyuan.

Liu Xiong Yuan's camp cloud mostly extended into the void, presumably connecting to Elder Wang, while a small portion pointed towards Qiu Tu.

Clearly, he and Qiu Tu were of one mind and genuinely cooperating.

Besides the "faction cloud cluster," what caught Qiu Tu's attention was the "order line."

The East City Investigation Bureau's "order line" is almost flat, proving that everything is in good order.

While the order of events for several people, including Liu Xiongyuan, fluctuated slightly, it was almost entirely flat.

As the Investigation Department is a disciplinary body, it is perfectly reasonable for them to strictly adhere to order.

However... to Qiu Tu's shock, the fluctuations in Scarface's "line of order" were incredibly large!

The peaks and troughs were almost out of Qiu Tu's sight.

Something's not right... something's not right....

Although it's unclear why Scarface's "line of order" is like this, Qiu Tu knows that if Scarface truly resigned himself to his fate and awaited judgment, his "line of order" would definitely not be like this!

This means that he must have other plans or backup plans!

Thinking this, Qiu Tu's expression changed slightly, and he wanted to find a reason to personally conduct a surprise interrogation of Scarface!

Just then, Liu Xiongyuan also noticed Qiu Tu's arrival.

He turned around, reached out his hand, walked over, patted Qiu Tu's arm, and said, "You're here?"

"Let's go outside and talk."

Qiu Tu deactivated his "path ability," gave Scarface a deep look, and did not reject Liu Xiong Yuan's suggestion.

He smiled and nodded, saying, "Okay, it's not very convenient here."

After saying that, the two left the interrogation room together and went to an empty room next door.

He dismissed his attendants and had Shen Lingshuang and Tao Yaoyao stand guard outside.

Liu Xiongyuan took out a cigarette and handed it to Qiu Tu. Then the two walked to the window, lit their cigarettes, and chatted while smoking.

Qiu Tu, "The interrogation didn't go well?"

The old man squinted, silently taking a deep drag on his cigarette, the flame sizzling as it burned the tobacco...

After a moment, he exhaled two plumes of smoke from his nose and then nodded.

"It's really not good."

He gazed at the scenery of Dongcheng City outside the window, and then said, "According to Scarface, this disaster zone actually just happened to coincide with Huang Shangzong."

"Even without Huang Shangzong's 'infiltration plan,' the disaster zone is prepared to amass a large force and then put pressure on Dongye Prefecture."

Upon hearing Liu Xiong Yuan's words, Qiu Tu was taken aback, then asked in confusion, "Gather a large force? To put pressure on Dongye Prefecture? Why?"

Liu Xiongyuan's dark eyes were also filled with confusion. "I don't know. Even Scarface himself doesn't know."

"He only said that Dongye Prefecture has something very important, and this military expedition is to obtain it."

"Something very important?" Qiu Tu frowned slightly.

This information is too broad; it's practically nonexistent.

However, Qiu Tu felt that Scarface was not lying.

After all, the "line of order" has clearly shown that there is definitely a problem with him!

His wildly fluctuating "line of order" likely refers to this very thing.

'But... what are they looking for in Dongyezhou from the disaster zone?'

'What is so important to them? Enough to justify their massive military buildup?'

Just then, as Qiu Tu was silently analyzing the situation, there was a sudden knocking on the door.

When Qiu Tu and Liu Xiong Yuan entered the room, they made it clear that they should not be disturbed unless it was something important.

So, something important has clearly happened.

Thinking this, Qiu Tu and Liu Xiongyuan couldn't help but turn around and look over.

The next second, the door was pushed open, and Shen Lingshuang poked her head in, then said cutely, "Chairman Qiu...Chairman Qiu, Secretary Han just called and said that Chairman Huang happened to be inspecting the Dongcheng City Investigation Bureau."

"I heard you're here too, so I wanted you to give me a report on the progress of the purge of the remnants of the anti-government coalition."

Upon hearing Shen Lingshuang's words, Qiu Tu and Liu Xiongyuan exchanged a glance and then couldn't help but chuckle.

It seems... because of Elder Rao's advancement to the fifth rank, my superior is really getting restless. Afraid that I'll keep delaying, he's come knocking on my door...

Since that's the case... then don't blame yourself for killing him!

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Chapter 455 Extorting Huang Shangzong! (7000 votes needed, please vote!)

Thinking this, Qiu Tu nodded to Shen Lingshuang and said gently, "Okay, I understand."

"Tell Secretary Han that I will be waiting for the Speaker at the Investigation Department, and that he can rest assured."

Hearing Qiu Tu's words, Shen Ling Shuang seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and quickly nodded "Mmm," before pulling her cute little head back inside.

After Shen Lingshuang shrank back, Liu Xiongyuan took a puff of his cigarette, a smile spreading across his old, tree-like face. He then grinned, revealing his yellow teeth, and said, "This girl is quite interesting."

"I heard that she nearly drove the speaker crazy a couple of days ago."

Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu smiled and said, "It's all thanks to the Speaker's magnanimity. He's just not going to hold a grudge against a little girl like her."

Hearing Qiu Tu's words, Liu Xiongyuan, like an old man from the village, threw his cigarette butt on the ground and then stomped it out with his foot. "You've only met the Speaker a few times, but I didn't expect you to understand his thoughts so thoroughly."

"You're only in your early twenties! You're truly a promising young talent..."

Hearing Liu Xiongyuan's pointed remark, Qiu Tu's heart skipped a beat.

Good heavens, you really have to be extremely careful when chatting and exchanging ideas with these old foxes. Because there are traps everywhere!

fortunately....

Thinking this, Qiu Tu couldn't help but look up at Liu Xiong Yuan's "faction cloud," which showed no shift.

Therefore, this is probably just the old fox's habitual probing.

With this in mind, Qiu Tu's mind raced.

After a moment, he smiled, then imitated Liu Xiongyuan by throwing his cigarette butt on the ground, stomping it out, and said, "Uncle Liu is joking. Aren't the younger generation just one after another?"

"I am just a fairly outstanding young man. There will be many more outstanding young men than me in the future."

"I can't stay in my 20s forever, but there will always be outstanding young people in their 20s."

"Isn't it through this process of passing down knowledge from generation to generation that we humans have been able to develop better and better, and gradually dominate the world?"

Qiu Tu cleverly transformed his self-evaluation into a macro-level perspective on human development.

The element of "opposition" in the previous sentence was eliminated, and the negative attitude in the statement was cleverly transformed into a positive one.

So, upon hearing this, Liu Xiongyuan looked up, smiled, patted Qiu Tu's arm, and said, "I didn't expect you to have such awareness."

After saying that, he said, "Alright, stop chatting with this old man. Let's go prepare to meet the Speaker."

Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu breathed a sigh of relief and then softly hummed in agreement...

.....

Huang Shangzong was clearly in a real hurry. He arrived at the Dongcheng City Investigation Bureau just over ten minutes after Secretary Han's call.

After inquiring about the whereabouts of Qiu Tu and Liu Xiongyuan, he led Secretary Han and his entourage directly up to the 16th floor.

Upon arriving at the conference room on the 16th floor, Qiu Tu and Liu Xiongyuan were sitting opposite each other, exchanging intelligence in hushed tones.

Hearing footsteps, the two turned around and saw that it was Huang Shangzong. Qiu Tu quickly stood up and greeted him, "Speaker."

As for Liu Xiong Yuan, he was much more relaxed. He slowly stood up and then nodded slightly, "Speaker~"

Upon hearing their greetings, Huang Shangzong, standing at the door, gently pressed his hand down.

He strode into the conference room, his cashmere coat carrying a hint of winter chill.

Upon reaching the head seat in the conference room, Secretary Han, standing behind him, unbuttoned his overcoat, revealing his massive frame, previously encased in the speaker's uniform, in the office.

He took off his coat and sat heavily on the chair. Perhaps because he hadn't sat on a wooden or fabric chair in a long time, Huang Shangzong shifted his position and a satisfied expression appeared on his face.

Upon seeing Huang Shangzong sit down, Qiu Tu and Liu Xiongyuan also sat down.

After the two were seated, Huang Shangzongkuan swept his imposing eyes over them before slowly speaking, "Speakers, besides inspecting the Dongcheng City Investigation Bureau, I have another purpose for coming here today, which is the 'Purge Plan.'"

He paused for a moment, then asked, "How is the 'Purge Operation' progressing now?"

Perhaps Rao Lao's matter was indeed urgent, so Huang Shangzong did not give the two a chance to make excuses.

Instead, he spoke directly, "From what I understand, the middle-level members of the anti-government coalition forces that were scattered this time, totaling more than forty squads and several hundred people, have all been captured?"

"And the remnants of those anti-government armed forces have also captured more than 3,000 people one after another?"

Liu Xiongyuan probably genuinely felt that he had little hope of being promoted, so he spoke and acted rather recklessly.

He chuckled and said, "Speaker Huang's intelligence is quite impressive. You know exactly what Speaker Qiu and I are doing."

Huang Shangzong's expression froze.

Fortunately, Liu Xiongyuan only made a couple of sarcastic remarks out of habit, so he didn't continue after that.

Instead, he raised his head toward Qiu Tuyi and said, "Speaker Qiu, this matter is your responsibility. I am only assisting you, so you should report to the Speaker."

Hearing Liu Xiong Yuan's words, Qiu Tu nodded, then looked at Huang Shang Zong and reported, "Speaker, my 'Purge Operation' is indeed almost complete."

"We captured a total of three generals-level leaders of the anti-government armed forces, 36 field officers, 83 captains, several hundred other lieutenants and captains, and more than 3600 ordinary soldiers."

"It can be said that almost all the remaining anti-government armed forces and spies roaming in Dongye Prefecture were wiped out in one fell swoop."

Upon hearing Qiu Tu's words, Huang Shangzong's broad face revealed a satisfied expression.

He gave a deep "hmm" and then said, "In that case, have someone write up the records and report and submit them to the parliament."

Huang Shangzong was an honest and straightforward man. He said frankly, "This is one of the most important achievements since the establishment of Dongye Prefecture."

"In a couple of days, I'll be going to report to Speaker Rao at the shelter, so I can bring this up."

Upon hearing Huang Shangzong's words, Qiu Tu smiled and then said calmly, "Speaker, please don't be in such a hurry."

“Please note my wording: ‘almost done’ ‘almost wiped out’.”

"I used the word 'almost,' which actually means that this task is not yet complete."

Upon hearing Qiu Tu's words, Huang Shangzong's thick eyebrows, which lay horizontally on his forehead, slowly furrowed.

His tiger-like eyes fell on Qiu Tu's face, as if trying to see through whether Qiu Tu was deliberately delaying or hadn't actually finished.

Qiu Tu seemed oblivious to Huang Shangzong's piercing gaze, simply looking at him with a nonchalant air.

Huang Shangzong remained silent for a full two seconds before finally asking, "What work haven't you finished?"

Upon hearing Huang Shangzong's words, Qiu Tu said with a serious expression, "Although we have wiped out the middle-level of the anti-government coalition, there are still hundreds, or even more than a thousand, remnants wandering around the 16 cities of Dongye."

"We need to make further arrests."

"Furthermore, because I went to arrest 'Redhead' a couple of days ago, I didn't have time to interrogate these arrested mid- to high-ranking officials."

"Their statements were not recorded."

At this point, Qiu Tu recalled the violently fluctuating "line of order" on "Scarface's" body, and a thought struck him. He casually dug a hole in the hole.

"Although we all know their purpose in destabilizing Dongye Prefecture, it is to counter your infiltration plan."

"But... no one knows if they might have some other scheme in mind."

"I think we should still be more cautious."

Hearing Qiu Tu's words, Huang Shangzong's face showed a hint of annoyance. He asked, "Then how much longer do you expect to take?"

Seeing that Huang Shangzong was indeed a bit anxious, Qiu Tu became even more composed.

He smiled and said, "Speaker, it's hard to say..."