Then let them offer their loyalty!

Page 479

After all, Mu Ye had indeed been secretly observing Shen Ling Shuang from the shadows, and Shen Ling Shuang had been staying with Xiao Bai the whole time.

Therefore, it's entirely possible that he wasn't actually observing Shen Lingshuang, but rather secretly observing Xiaobai...

But if Qiu Tu remembers correctly, Xiao Bai is just an ordinary, unremarkable mongrel dog from the slums. Why would it be considered special disaster material?

And...do such coincidences really exist in this world?

Why is a puppy that someone just picked up from their own neighborhood so special?

Am I truly a chosen one?

Furthermore... there are actually many suspicious aspects to Shen Lingshuang. For example, how did an ordinary person like her get from the Third Shelter to the Eighth Shelter?

For example, given her noble status, why didn't she have any bodyguards around her?

For example, if she got lost or wandered off by accident, wouldn't her parents be worried and come looking for her?

It's been almost a year since Qiu Tu first met Shen Lingshuang, which is completely illogical...

Thinking about this, Qiu Tu felt that the mysteries surrounding Shen Lingshuang and Xiaobai were growing stronger. It seemed like they were both suspects...

And so, filled with deep doubt, the elevator reached the top floor of the parliament building.

"Ding!"

The elevator doors opened, and Qiu Tu and the others stepped out, where Secretary Han was already waiting.

Upon seeing Qiu Tu, he gave a polite but distant smile, and then said to Qiu Tu, "Speaker Qiu, the Speaker is waiting for you inside."

Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu nodded slightly, then led Guan Xiao and followed Secretary Han toward the Speaker's office.

As for Shen Lingshuang and Tao Yaoyao, they could only wait outside.

Upon arriving at the Speaker's office, Secretary Han knocked lightly on the door a few times before pushing it open.

Standing at the door, Secretary Han bowed slightly to Huang Shangzong and said happily, "Speaker, Vice Speaker Qiu and Director Guan have arrived."

Upon hearing Secretary Han's words, Huang Shangzong, who was bent over signing documents, gave a deep "hmm" and then looked up at the door.

Upon seeing Qiu Tu, Huang Shangzong nodded slightly to him and said, "Chairman Qiu, please come in."

Qiu Tu nodded his thanks to Secretary Han, then led Guan Xiao inside.

This was Qiu Tu's first time in Huang Shangzong's office. To be honest, it was completely different from what he had imagined.

He assumed that given Wong Sheung-chung's status, his office would be incredibly luxurious. After all, the high-ranking officials from the shelters he had met in the New Territories all lived extremely extravagant lives.

Even if Huang Shangzong disliked extravagance, given his status, the layout and decoration should have been understated and refined, with exquisite materials.

As a result, what appeared before Qiu Tu was... well, a rather modest office.

A sofa, a few coffee tables, a desk, and a chair.

Apart from a carpet, there were no other decorations.

What's even more puzzling is that, apart from the sofa, all four pieces of furniture—the coffee table, desk, and chair—were made of stainless steel?

Seeing this arrangement, Qiu Tu was truly puzzled.

Does Huang Shangzong have some special hobby?

Thinking this, Qiu Tu walked to the table and sat down, saying with a smile, "The Speaker's office is quite unique."

Upon hearing Qiu Tu's words, Huang Shangzong, who was writing something, paused slightly: ...

Qiu Tu touched the chair under his buttocks and asked curiously, "The reason why the Speaker uses furniture made of such fine steel is to remind himself not to fall into hedonism, to live up to the trust placed in him by the sanctuary, and to strive to govern Dongye Prefecture well?"

Huang Shangzong: ......

Huang Shangzong looked up and saw the culprit that had caused him to replace his furniture...

Seeing that the guy was genuinely curious and not mocking him, he took a deep breath and decisively changed the subject, "Speaker Qiu said there's something urgent, what is it?"

As he spoke, he snapped the cap off his pen, the sound echoing clearly in the office.

Although he didn't understand why Huang Shangzong didn't want to talk about furniture, Qiu Tu also brought his thoughts back to the point because they were talking about serious business.

He looked at Huang Shangzong in front of him and then said, "Speaker, there is indeed an important matter to report to you."

Huang Shangzong's broad face was expressionless. He sat in his steel chair, his tiger-like eyes looking at Qiu Tu with a stern expression.

Qiu Tu: "Scarface is dead."

Upon hearing Qiu Tu's words, Huang Shangzong's pupils contracted slightly, and his brows furrowed gently, clearly showing some surprise.

However, the ups and downs of so many years, as well as his demeanor as a state legislator, prevented him from expressing his own opinion.

He waited patiently for Qiu Tu's explanation.

But at this moment, Qiu Tu didn't speak. Guan Xiao had already taken a step forward and bowed deeply to Huang Shangzong, admitting his mistake, "Speaker, I accidentally killed Scarface."

“I had already obtained crucial information through interrogation. But he became enraged and suddenly attacked me. In a moment of carelessness, I accidentally killed him.”

After Guan Xiao finished speaking, Qiu Tu, who was sitting in a chair opposite Huang Shangzong, took the opportunity to say, "This matter cannot be blamed on Director Guan."

"It happened very suddenly. And... Scarface was clearly also determined to die."

Although Huang Shangzong lacked political acumen and the ability to judge character, he was no ordinary person to have risen to his current position step by step.

Qiu Tu and Guan Xiao's back-and-forth banter, coupled with their seemingly fearless demeanor, made it clear to him that Qiu Tu's purpose in coming to see him tonight was obviously not this.

So after a moment's thought, he didn't press the issue, but instead asked, "So, what key information did you get out of the interrogation?"

Qiu Tu said with a serious expression, "We've fallen into a trap. If we don't resolve this, it could lead to serious problems."

Then, Qiu Tu recounted the entire "blood sacrifice plan" that he had obtained from Scarface.

When he heard that Scarface had stirred up trouble in Dongye Prefecture this time, it was actually to deliberately send the anti-government coalition to their deaths, so as to increase his own resources for advancement as a god!

When he heard that Mu Ye was already at the peak of the fifth rank and occupied eight areas, and was only one step away from igniting the nine stars and advancing to the sixth rank!

Upon hearing that the hundreds of high-ranking and middle-ranking members of the anti-government coalition currently under the control of Dongye Prefecture, along with more than 3600 ordinary soldiers, were about to trigger the "blood sacrifice mark," they were terrified!

Huang Shangzong finally couldn't sit still any longer!

He stood up abruptly, looking at Qiu Tu like a towering mountain, and asked, "Is this information accurate?"

Qiu Tu said, "I'm 99% sure."

Upon hearing this, Huang Shangzong frowned, his thick eyebrows framing his forehead, and paced back and forth behind his desk with his hands behind his back.

After walking back and forth twice, he suddenly stopped and asked, "How much longer will it take for them to trigger the blood sacrifice ritual?"

Hearing Huang Shangzong's words, Qiu Tu did some calculations and then said, "There should be about 18 hours left."

He said, "Director Guan and I used all sorts of methods to finally uncover how 'Scarface' actively triggered the 'blood sacrifice mark'."

"He actually set up an automatic triggering device on the 'Blood Sacrifice Mark'."

"He must remove it every four days. If there is no contact, the 'Blood Sacrifice Mark' will automatically trigger and begin a three-day countdown."

"If he hasn't triggered it by the end of the three-day countdown, then the 'Blood Sacrifice Mark' will fully activate."

“And now…” Qiu Tu calculated for a moment and said, “It’s been just over five days since he was arrested.”

"He had just started the last countdown the day before he was arrested, so the day before yesterday was the start of a new countdown."

"Based on this calculation, tomorrow night will be the time when the 'Blood Sacrifice Plan' will be launched."

After listening to Qiu Tu's words, Huang Shangzong nodded with a slightly somber expression.

As a state assembly speaker who rose through the ranks from the bottom, Qiu Tu didn't even need to analyze it; he knew how much of a passive situation it would be if these thousands of people died at the hands of Dongye State.

Especially given his plan to infiltrate the disaster zone and take over another state for the shelter, this is practically setting the difficulty of the mission to "hell level".

Therefore, thinking of this, he looked at Qiu Tu with a complicated expression and said, "Speaker Qiu, the intelligence you and Director Guan obtained this time is very important."

"I will remember your merits and contributions."

Huang Shangzong's satisfaction level increased by 3.

Guan Xiao's loyalty +2

Seeing the two notifications floating in front of him, Qiu Tu's expression remained unchanged. He smiled, stood up, and said, "Then I won't disturb the Speaker any longer."

"Speaker, you can come to me with anything."

Upon hearing Qiu Tu's words, Huang Shangzong nodded seriously.

To be honest, Qiu Tu's behavior tonight has changed his opinion of him quite a bit.

It should be noted that Scarface has been in Liu Xiong Yuan's hands for three or four days now.

Liu Xiongyuan was also a skilled interrogator, but he couldn't extract this crucial information from him.

Qiu Tu only went to review the case once tonight, and as a result, he discovered such a major secret.

This in itself proves Qiu Tu's ability.

Moreover... Qiu Tu and Huang Shangzong actually don't have a good relationship.

Just like this operation, Qiu Tu dragged things out as much as possible, deliberately causing trouble for Huang Shangzong and making him bargain.

If Qiu Tu conceals this major incident and directly hands the prisoner over to Huang Shangzong, then...

If Huang Shangzong, unaware of the "blood sacrifice plan," were to cause a major incident involving the mysterious deaths of thousands of prisoners, he would lose face in the shelter and even face criticism and blame.

While it may not affect his position, it will certainly subject him to a great deal of questioning and distrust.

Therefore, Huang Shangzong's opinion of Qiu Tu has truly changed because Qiu Tu was able to report this matter immediately after the interrogation ended tonight.

'This young man... doesn't seem as treacherous and cunning as I initially thought.'

'At times, he can still uphold his principles and prioritize the greater good.'

Just then, as Huang Shangzong was thinking this, his landline phone suddenly rang.

Huang Shangzong glanced at the number, then picked it up and said, "Speaker Liu, what's the matter?"

Liu Xiongyuan seemed to say a few words on the other end of the phone. Huang Shangzong glanced at Qiu Tu and then said, "I already know that Scarface is dead."

"Speaker Qiu is reporting to me here."

"Yes."

"By the way, Speaker Qiu has also obtained some new information during the interrogation. Why don't you come over here for a meeting later? I'll call Lao Ye and Lao Dai then."

"Okay, we'll talk when we meet."

By slamming the receiver onto the landline, Huang Shangzong said, seemingly casually, "Don't let Speaker Liu's seemingly carefree demeanor fool you; he's actually quite shrewd beneath his rough exterior."

“Look at his call, it came at just the right time, right when you were reporting to me.”

"He not only reported the intelligence to me immediately, but he is also telling you that he did not betray you."

Hearing Huang Shangzong's probing, Qiu Tu smiled and said, "After all, Vice Speaker Liu climbed up step by step from the bottom, so it's normal for him to be meticulous."

After giving a brief comment, Qiu Tu stood up and said, "Then, Speaker, I won't disturb you any longer."

"If you need anything, just let me know."

Upon hearing Qiu Tu's words, Huang Shangzong gave a deep "hmm".

And so, they left Huang Shangzong's simple office.

Qiu Tu led the three women and the guards downstairs, got into the car, and headed towards his villa.

He has already reported the intelligence to Huang Shangzong; the rest is up to Huang Shangzong to handle.

Although there are currently seven speakers in Dong Ye State, each speaker has their own specific responsibilities.

Apart from Huang Shangzong, who is in charge of the overall situation, the other deputy speakers will not interfere in work outside their own authority.

Matters like the "Blood Sacrifice Plan" fall under the jurisdiction of the Security Bureau, and the Investigation Department also gets involved to some extent. Therefore, Huang Shangzong only summoned Dai Yukang and Liu Xiongyuan to discuss the matter together.

In fact, there are reasons for Qiu Tu to get involved: after all, he is the person in charge of the "purge operation".

However, Huang Shangzong was clearly still wary of him, and worried that he might join forces with Liu Xiongyuan and raise different opinions at the meeting, so he simply replaced Qiu Tu with Ye Mingfeng.

This was all within Qiu Tu's expectations.

Even when Qiu Tu reported this matter to Huang Shangzong, he had given it careful consideration.

Besides the fact that the blood sacrifice of these thousands of prisoners had such a huge impact that it could easily drag him down with it...

Also because... he knew that this matter would at most have some negative impact on Huang Shangzong, but it wouldn't bring Huang Shangzong down at all.

Since a decisive blow is impossible, it's better to remain patient and lull the enemy into a false sense of security.