Having said this, his expression returned to calm. Then he took a deep look at Qiu Tu and reminded him softly, "However... Qiu Tu, you must not take it lightly...."
"Although the Bureau Chief is very satisfied with your mission this time, there is an unbridgeable gulf between you two..."
Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu's face also became serious.
Secretary Bai didn't finish his sentence, but both of them understood what was left unsaid....
However, Qiu Tu's expression eased up in the next moment.
After all... his plan was not finished yet.
Using the Qin Family's internal strife to complete his mission was just the first step of his plan. He still had bigger schemes to unfold....
Meanwhile, in Yan Chen's dimly lit office.
Yan Chen leaned back in his chair, his figure faintly visible in the darkness with only his facial contour slightly illuminated under the light.
He sat with his hands crossed over his lower abdomen, his gaze indifferent as he looked at Jia Shu and asked softly, "What do you think?"
Jia Shu responded with a chuckle, "A stratagem that kills multiple birds with one stone."
He adjusted the gold-rimmed glasses on his nose and analyzed, "If I am not mistaken, the person who provided Qiu Tu with this intelligence and clues must be Old Fourth Qin."
"And these pieces of information and clues point to Qin Zhengguang."
"It is through collaboration with Old Fourth Qin that Qiu Tu was able to grasp the various issues of Qin Zhengguang so quickly."
"But after clarifying the problems with Qin Zhengguang, he found himself at a dead end."
"If he supports Old Fourth Qin in trying to take down Qin Zhengguang, it would not only take a long time, but... he would likely face various forms of backlash and retaliation from the Qin Family."
"So instead, he cleverly changed his approach. He threw out the bait directly, letting the Qin Family fight amongst themselves, choosing their own scapegoat. Whichever side wins, he wins."
"By doing this, not only has he significantly reduced the enmity towards him within the Qin Family, but he has also caused internal division, preventing them from uniting their strength. He might even have won over the goodwill of some within the Qin Family."
"Most importantly, in front of Qin Zhengguang, he deliberately asked for your opinion."
"On the surface, it seems like he is showing respect to you, but actually, he is further passing the buck."
"If you agree to let the Qin Family resolve their issues internally, then not only do they owe you a favor, but they also owe him one. If you disagree, then their animosity might be redirected towards you."
"After all, he has shown leniency to the Qin Family, but you are not willing to let go. Naturally, you would become the most hated person to the Qin Family."
Having listened to this, Yan Chen chuckled twice, his voice growing deep as he said, "It's more than that...."
"This Qiu Tu really has a clear insight into things."
At this point, Yan Chen spoke with a complicated gaze, "The reason he sold out Old Fourth Qin and kept Qin Zhengguang safe is that he knew I would definitely protect Qin Zhengguang."
"Outsiders only know that Xinjie City has just been established and the Qin Family must not fall. But... can the Investigation Bureau afford to fall?"
"Qin Zhengguang is the head of my Investigation Bureau, and if he has collusion with United Front, how would outsiders view the Investigation Bureau, how would they view me?"
"Would City Hall take the opportunity to cause trouble?"
"There are far too many unknowns...."
"So, the Qin Family can have issues, but Qin Zhengguang cannot have issues."
"If Qin Zhengguang has no issues, the Investigation Bureau uncovering the problems within the Qin Family would be a merit."
"If Qin Zhengguang has issues, even if the Investigation Bureau uncovers them, at best it would be seen as offsetting the good with the bad?"
After finishing, he paused for a moment before summarizing, "One must understand that during this sensitive period, the Qin Family can have trouble, but the Investigation Bureau, City Hall must not make a mistake! The choice of people for the Sanctuary must also be flawless...."
Hearing this, Jia Shu smiled and bowed, "Bureau Chief is wise."
Yan Chen paid no mind to Jia Shu's flattery. He felt a bit uncomfortable in his throat after speaking so much, so he picked up the tea on the desk and took a sip.
After moistening his throat, he opened his mouth to ask again, "What do you think of Qiu Tu?"
Jia Shu assessed him with a smile that was not quite a smile, "A talent. Ambitious."
Speaking of which, he glanced at Yan Chen, "If it weren't for the entanglement with Qin Shuman, perhaps he could be enlisted for our purposes."
Yan Chen remained silent, his eyes fathomless.
Seeing this, Jia Shu further evaluated, "However, he would still serve as a good knife."
Upon hearing this, Yan Chen said in a low tone, "Be careful the knife doesn't turn on you...."
Jia Shu laughed, "Indeed. His ambition is too great."
"He dares to use the case funds to buy people's hearts and even dragged a First Level Detective down with him."
"If not controlled, who knows what chaos he might cause."
Yan Chen hummed in acknowledgment, "Then what do you plan to do next?"
Jia Shu adjusted the glasses on his nose, his eyes shimmering behind the lenses, "Simple. Go with the flow."
"He has found evidence of the Qin Family's crimes, which likewise confirms Qin Shuman's guilt."
"For such a spy planted by the United Front by your side, the Political Department would naturally take her into custody and then interrogate her thoroughly."
"The Investigation Bureau is in its inception, and many positions are vacant. He has made such great achievements, he certainly deserves a promotion."
"I think he should be promoted from the grassroots team to an office job, as Deputy Staff, where he can fully utilize his talents."
"For instance... the Interrogation Section of the Political Department."
The room was pervaded by darkness, as if it swallowed all traces of light. Only a few weak rays of sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting phantom-like outlines on the furniture....
Leaving Yan Chen's office, Jia Shu wore a smile as if he had encountered something extremely joyful.
However, that good mood evaporated after he met Secretary Bai.
"You've been waiting for me?" Jia Shu said to Secretary Bai, who stood at the entrance to his office, with a smile that was not quite a smile.
Secretary Bai, with a touch of coldness, produced two notes and handed them to him, "This is Qiu Tu's funding request. I need your signature for the records."
Jia Shu took the notes, glanced at them, and smiled.
On the note was an instruction from Qiu Tu to convert bribes from Master Qin Si into a personal bonus.
This was the request Qiu Tu had made to Yan Chen about the bribe from Master Qin Si while in the office.
Yan Chen obviously didn't care about such a small amount of money, especially during a key reporting moment, so he nodded in agreement.
Unexpectedly, Qiu Tu wasn't satisfied with just verbal approval; he had also drafted a formal paper request.
Without much concern, Jia Shu picked up a pen, signed his name on it, handed one copy to Secretary Bai for the records and kept one for himself. Then he scrutinized Secretary Bai and said with a half-smile, "You seem to have a special interest in Qiu Tu."
Secretary Bai collected the notes without a change in expression, then turned and returned to his own office.
The office door shut, leaving Jia Shu alone in the echoing corridor.
"Hehehe..." Jia Shu chuckled softly, his gaze flickering with an indescribable light, "Still the same old temper, I see."
As he spoke, his eyes seemed to redden considerably but were quickly subdued.
Then he took one more lingering look at Secretary Bai's office door, shrugged nonchalantly, and humming a tune, he stepped back to his own office.
Back in his office, he filed the request and then opened a drawer, taking out a document to sign a promotion order.
The content of the promotion order was simple: to appoint First Level Detective Qiu Tu as the Deputy Chief of the Interrogation Section, ordering him to take up his new post the following day.
After writing the promotion order, Jia Shu signed another document... to arrest Qin Shuman.
After signing both documents, Jia Shu did not issue them immediately.
He stood up, walked to the window, hands in pockets, his narrow eyes peering outside through the glasses.
For some reason... he felt a slight unease in his heart, as if something was about to happen.