"In this world, there aren't so many relationships of enmity, it's just a matter of different statuses."
"Didn't you see that with Qiu Tu's promotion, Zheng Tao had to take the initiative to maintain relations with him?"
Thinking this way, Qiu Tu exchanged simple pleasantries with Zheng Tao before heading to the Guard Room at the Political Department under Zheng Tao's smile-filled farewell.
Upon arriving at the Guard Room, Qiu Tu handed over the signed release documents to the on-duty investigator and was then led by that investigator to Bai Ru's cell.
After all, Bai Ru was a section chief at the City Hall and also a woman, so she was housed in a small single cell.
When they arrived at Bai Ru's cell, the investigator immediately unlocked the door with a key, then gave Qiu Tu a sheepish salute and said, "Chief Qiu, my name is Wang Dawei, I'm a Second-Class Investigator at the Political Department."
"If you need anything in the future, you can come to me at any time."
Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu looked deeply at the investigator and then nodded.
As Qiu Tu had become the Deputy Division Chief of the Action Division, his status in the Investigation Bureau could be said to have shot up drastically. Things like Zheng Tao's overture of friendship and Wang Dawei's covert allegiance were only going to become more frequent.
In the face of these people, Qiu Tu wouldn't fully accept them but neither would he outright reject them.
He needed brothers he could trust with his life, like Ah-Tai and Eagle; he needed confidants, and loyal supporters like Cao Dabiao and Chen Feng; and he also needed pawns like Wang Dawei who could be useful when necessary...
It seemed that a Guard Room investigator like Wang Dawei wasn't very useful, but with more people like him, it would make any endeavor Qiu Tu undertook incredibly convenient in the future.
With that in mind, Qiu Tu patted Wang Dawei on the shoulder with a smile, "Good. I'll remember you."
Wang Dawei's face immediately showed delight as he hastily gave Qiu Tu another salute.
Pushing open the door of the cell, Bai Ru was sitting in front of a table, lost in thought with her chin propped up on her hands.
The fragile woman seemed to have guessed the fate of her father and husband, so her eyes were filled with sorrow, which was heartbreaking to behold.
Since Bai Ru was confirmed not to be a criminal, Qiu Tu did not manhandle her but instead gave her ample respect.
He pulled out another chair, sat down, and quietly kept Bai Ru company by her side.
Perhaps noticing that the door to the cell had not been closed, or sensing something different about Qiu Tu compared to other days, Bai Ru looked up timidly, glanced at Qiu Tu, and ventured to ask, "Is... has there been a result for the case?"
Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu responded in a somber tone, "Hmm."
Bai Ru swallowed nervously and with trembling hands, gently grabbed Qiu Tu's arm, looking at him with a pleading gaze.
Qiu Tu understood Bai Ru's meaning: she simply wanted a positive outcome from his mouth.
But Qiu Tu also knew that even if he lied to Bai Ru now, she would still find out the truth after leaving the cell.
So he let out a slight sigh and slowly shook his head.
At that moment, Bai Ru's eyes instantly reddened, and tears began to fall drop by drop.
This indeed was a woman who had been pampered since childhood, had not suffered much hardship, delicate like a tender flower, unable to withstand the trial of any storm...
Seeing this, Qiu Tu quietly explained, "Your father, Director Bai, despite knowing that Old Master Qin was colluding with the Evil God, still facilitated Old Master Qin's various actions. Therefore, he has been convicted of 'crimes against humanity' and sentenced to death."
"Your husband, Qian Dafu, while having collusive dealings with the Anti-government Armed Forces, continued to assist the Qin Family in cooperation with the Anti-government Armed Forces and even actively collaborated with them. Therefore, he has been convicted of 'treason' and sentenced to life imprisonment."
Hearing Qiu Tu disclose the fates of her two closest family members, Bai Ru could no longer hold back her tears and burst into loud sobbing.
Seeing this, Qiu Tu sighed, handed her a tissue, and gently patted Bai Ru's frail back.
The "Inner Protector" might indeed be incredibly fragile; Bai Ru continued to cry for more than ten minutes before slowly stopping her tears with Qiu Tu's comfort.
Even so, her face was tear-streaked, her eyes red and swollen. However, her tearful appearance made her look even more pitiful and endearing.
She was a woman whose appearance might only be considered fine, but her temperament was indeed strikingly memorable.
So there he stayed, accompanying and comforting Bai Ru for more than ten minutes.
When Bai Ru's emotions had stabilized, Qiu Tu then led her out of the cell.
Taking the elevator to the lobby on the first floor of the Investigation Bureau Office Building, he escorted Bai Ru to the entrance of the building.
Looking at the pitch-black night, Qiu Tu stood firm, left her with his Communicator number, and cautioned, "Section Chief Bai, I will only see you off this far and will not continue. The situation in Xinjie City is a bit chaotic right now."
"Many gang members or Evil God Cultists are on the move."
"So... if there's anything, you can call me. As long as I have time, I will definitely come over to help."
Upon hearing this, Bai Ru lowered her head, clutching the communicator in her hand, with no clue whether she was really listening.
After a moment, she slowly nodded her head, then with a pale face, she walked towards the darkness...
Watching Bai Ru's bowed figure walking away, the gentle smile on Qiu Tu's face slowly faded: he knew... Bai Ru would come looking for him again. And he would certainly see this woman again...
After all, this woman was not only the key to unlocking the secrets of Larilo but also bait laid out by Qiu Tu...
Now that the bait had been cast, it was up to fate when the harvest would be.
Of course, Qiu Tu also admitted: he did indeed crave the body of this woman with a unique temperament...
However, he was not in a hurry. Only by casting a long line could he catch a big fish...
He had other fish to eat tonight, he wasn't eager to eat this particular one.
Thinking this, as Bai Ru completely disappeared from his view, Qiu Tu slowly withdrew his gaze.
He took out his communicator and checked the time; it was already approaching 10 p.m.
'It's time to meet with Tang Feifei.'
With that in mind, Qiu Tu left the Investigation Bureau and headed to the sedan that Qin Zhengguang had given him, ready to 'eat fish.'
But just as he stepped out of the Investigation Bureau Office Building, and hadn't walked a few steps, suddenly, a dark shadow flew towards him...
Liu Fuping, fully clothed, was bound hand and foot on an autopsy table raised in the middle of the room.
Jia Shu, with his back to her, was putting on rubber gloves, saying with a half-smile,
"Fuping... actually, I've always thought highly of you. I even considered promoting you to First Level Detective, or even Deputy Chief of the Interrogation Section, several times."
After donning the rubber gloves, Jia Shu bent over and continued choosing a surgical knife,
"Unfortunately... while you are indeed capable, your stance always seems to waver."
"You were someone I personally trained, yet you grew so close to Tang Fei, even to the point where the nature of your relationship is unclear."
"This has truly disappointed me."
As he spoke, Jia Shu picked up a surgical knife, held it up against the light to inspect it and nodded in satisfaction.
"But, I didn't give up on you just like that. Instead, I've always given you opportunities and observed you."
"What surprised me, though, the more I observed, the more I realized something was off."
"You seem to not only be interested in Tang Fei but are interested in anything to do with the Bureau Chief."
"Like a month ago, when the Bureau Chief casually criticized Deputy Chief Liu Feng of the Action Division, you immediately made secret contact with him."
"Or when a rumor about the Bureau Chief was inadvertently spread within the bureau, you also immediately gathered information and investigated."
"Even... with Qiu Tu. Didn't your initial enthusiasm towards him and your ambiguous relationship stem from the rumor that he was the Bureau Chief's confidant?"
Having said this, Jia Shu paused a moment.
Then he turned around with a smile, surgical knife in hand, and slowly approached Liu Fuping.
Liu Fuping was tied to the autopsy table, her face full of terror as she watched him, continuously shaking her head.
Old rule, 30,000 words for three chapters. The third chapter will be released at 19:00. Asking for Monthly Tickets!