Hearing Qiu Tu's words, Lin Zuo looked at him expressionlessly, just like that.
Moments later, he sighed and said, "Agent Qiu, we both belong to the secrecy departments, and should know that some intelligence can be shared, while some cannot."
"We genuinely want to cooperate with you, so please stop probing us."
Qiu Tu looked at Lin Zuo and was not easily sidetracked, speaking earnestly, "Section Chief Lin, I understand the difficulties you face. But I'm not actually trying to make you break any rules."
At this point, he paused, then provided a very legitimate reason,
"We are, after all, in the business of exchanging information, so I think it would be beneficial for us to first understand what kind of intelligence each side can offer."
"This will not only allow both parties to more effectively assess the value of intelligence and reach cooperation but also avoid the risk of intelligence leakage after discovering that the shared information doesn't meet our needs."
Hearing Qiu Tu's words, Lin Zuo fell into deep thought.
After a moment, he made up his mind.
"Then I'll just speak frankly. We can provide you with clues about the Qin Family's secret collusion with the United Front and evidence of benefit exchanges between the Qin Family and several members of City Hall."
Upon hearing Lin Zuo's words, a smile couldn't help but form at the corner of Qiu Tu's mouth: Success...
In fact, the reason he had been persistently focusing on this topic was to verify something: whether the Security Department approaching him had anything to do with Qin Shuman.
After all... the work scope of the Political Department only covers espionage, counterespionage, and internal supervision.
So to outsiders, Qiu Tu's placement in the Qin Family had only one purpose, which was to investigate the Qin Family, especially whether Qin Zhengguang (of the second house) was involved in any illegal or undisciplined acts.
Although Master Qin Si provided Qiu Tu with some clues about Qin Zhengguang's collusion with anti-government armed forces and gangs, they all fundamentally fell within the Political Department's sphere of "internal supervision."
But Lin Zuo was different. The intelligence he offered to Qiu Tu was about the "Qin Family's collusion with the United Front" and "benefit exchanges with City Hall" which suggests that he was indeed fully aware of Qiu Tu's [real purpose] for staying with the Qin Family.
However, it should be noted that in the entire Xinjie City, only Yan Chen, Jia Shu, and Qin Shuman were privy to Qiu Tu's true purpose at the Qin Residence.
Even his own people like Ah-Tai and Eagle were not given the slightest hint by Qiu Tu.
So how did the Security Department come by this information?
Thus, the answer is seemingly apparent.
'I didn't expect Qin Shuman to keep such a deep cover...'
While he silently marveled to himself, Qiu Tu subtly nodded in agreement, confirming the cooperation with the Security Department, "Section Chief Lin, I am very satisfied with the intelligence you provided, so I agree to exchange intelligence with you."
Saying this, Qiu Tu took out the intelligence he had copied that afternoon, exchanged it with Lin Zuo, and they had a brief discussion.
The overlapping information between the two was not substantial, and the clues in Qiu Tu's hands were mainly four points.
1. Qin Zhengguang (of the second house) has a problem with benefit exchanges with the underground Fierce Tiger Gang.
2. Qin Zhengguang has been secretly collaborating with the United Front.
3. Two months ago, Qin Zhengguang released a batch of suspects, among whom were members of the United Front.
4. Qin Zhengguang skimmed medicines from black markets he controlled, then sold them at high prices to anti-government groups.
Lin Zuo, on the other hand, had some clues about the Qin Family's collusion with various forces.
For example, the Qin Family had dealings with the United Front even before Xinjie City was established, maintaining business in human trafficking, medicines, and weapons.
For instance, during the planning stages of Xinjie City, the Qin Family had very close interactions with Yan Chen.
Such as after the establishment of Xinjie City, the Qin Family engaged in some gray business with several members of City Hall in private, using these gray businesses to transfer benefits to those members.
Such as the Qin Family's underground dealings being anonymous, meaning any power could use vouchers to pick up and sell goods without verifying identities, making many underground organizations and anti-government armed forces their clients.
After comparing each other's clues and evidence, Qiu Tu and Lin Zuo keenly noticed an interesting point.
Lin Zuo, "All your clues relate to the Qin Family's second house?"
Qiu Tu, "All your clues relate to the entire Qin Family?"
The two exchanged a glance, then smiled at each other.
Qiu Tu explained, "The Political Department's jurisdiction is internal supervision, so its main target is naturally the Qin Family's second house."
After saying this, Qiu Tu asked, "But the evidence you have involves the entire Qin Family?"
He paused, then probed with a question, "Is it that you haven't examined the details, or do you think the entire Qin Family is problematic?"
Lin Zuo said, "It's that the whole Qin Family might be problematic."
His gaze was firm. "Don't forget that Old Master Qin has just passed away."
"Before Old Master Qin died, all four houses of the Qin Family had already begun handling their affairs and cooperating with each other."
"So, in terms of collusion with the United Front and the transfer of medicines and materials, they are likely all involved."
After hearing Lin Zuo's explanation, Qiu Tu nodded thoughtfully...
And so, in the following hour, Qiu Tu and Lin Zuo fully exchanged their respective departments' views and then reached a basic consensus, Qiu Tu would act openly, while the Security Department would work behind the scenes, with both sides jointly investigating and sharing information.
If in the end, no issues were found, they would keep each other's secrets.
If they really could take down the entire Qin Family, then the credit would be shared equally.
After finalizing their discussions, the two men clasped hands firmly together.
Thus, the cooperation was set, and Lin Zuo escorted Qiu Tu out the door.
Upon reaching the door, Qiu Tu suddenly stopped, then turned back to give Lin Zuo a smile and said, "Give my regards to your superior."
Hearing Qiu Tu's words, Lin Zuo visibly started, his brain whirring. After a moment, he nodded with a smile.
Seeing this, Qiu Tu turned with satisfaction and headed towards the elevator.
He wasn't bluffing Lin Zuo, but had genuinely guessed that there were others behind Lin Zuo.
The reason was quite simple:
Even though the military and the Investigation Bureau are separate systems, their rank structures correspond.
Starting with temporary investigators, temporary commissioners, and then rising to Third-Level Detective (Third-Level Commissioner), Second-Class Investigator (Second-Level Commissioner), and First-Level Detective (First-Level Commissioner) in succession.
After First-Level Detective, management roles follow; these would be Investigator and Senior Investigator at the operational level, and at the office, they would be Deputy Staff and Section Chief.
So, in terms of rank, Lin Zuo's position as Deputy Staff was in fact a whole level higher than that of Qiu Tu. Moreover, one was a manager while the other was a lower-level employee.
Therefore, according to the principle of equal inter-departmental cooperation, if the Security Department wanted to liaise with Qiu Tu, the person to approach him should not have been Lin Zuo, but someone subordinate to Lin Zuo.
Yet now Lin Zuo was stooping to make contact with Qiu Tu, which could only mean one thing: that the task was pressed down by his superiors, and furthermore, Lin Zuo's superiors had specifically requested that he personally take on this assignment.