However, upon hearing Qiu Tu's words, Jia Shu just smiled and said something rather inexplicable, "It doesn't matter, even if they don't trust you now, they will soon rely on you heavily."
Qiu Tu always felt there was a deeper meaning to Jia Shu's words, as if there were some problems within the Security Department. But because of his position, he couldn't inquire further, so he had no choice but to let it go.
And so, after discussing all the matters, Qiu Tu and Jia Shu had a brief chat before Qiu Tu saluted and left the Sky Garden.
After leaving the Sky Garden, Qiu Tu held the two Authorization Letters from Jia Shu, and as he walked towards the Interrogation Section, he pondered his next steps.
According to the hints provided by "Crisis Intuition," this case was riddled with a great deal of insider dealings, and various forces were involved, likely with misaligned targets and interests.
Take Jia Shu, for example...
Given the implications of Jia Shu's words, it was clear he wanted Qiu Tu to make the case appear fraudulent, to deal with it perfunctorily.
But... Qiu Tu definitely couldn't just comply with his wishes.
Otherwise, who knows, he might end up being thrown out as a scapegoat!
Therefore, he must investigate this case personally, or at the very least... he had to make some noise about it!
Investigating required manpower, and so did making noise. Right now, he had only a few individuals at his disposal, so the first step was to release Cao Dabiao and his group.
Thinking along these lines, Qiu Tu couldn't help but contemplate how to release Cao Dabiao and his people, while also taking this opportunity to maximize their loyalty...
Gradually, Qiu Tu had a plan forming in his mind...
[10 Days (Yin Caimei case closure time)]
In a large holding room on the 9th floor of the Political Department.
Cao Dabiao and another 13 detectives were inside.
Since they were their own people and not real criminals, the guards did not mistreat them. Therefore, their physical condition was fairly good, but their spirits were greatly tormented.
After a prolonged silence...
Little Liu, a confidant of Cao Dabiao, nudged him and then whispered, "Brother Biao, will we be able to get out of here?"
"It's been several days already."
"Why has no one cared about us?"
"Could we be directly kicked out of the Investigation Bureau?"
Upon hearing Little Liu's words, Cao Dabiao looked up at him with a glare and said hoarsely, "What a jinx!"
"If you can't talk properly, then don't talk at all, no one's treating you like a mute!"
Little Qi on the other side of Cao Dabiao looked up upon hearing this and sighed, "If we were only getting kicked out of the Investigation Bureau that would still be fine."
"We've lost the Bureau Chief's mistress, and during the investigation, such a big event occurred with the Qin family."
"The Minister sparing us is only because we are their own people."
Cao Dabiao didn't expect that just as he had silenced Little Liu, Little Qi would speak up, mentioning the sensitive topic of the mistress.
He slapped Little Qi on the head with a "smack", "You talk too much! Do you have a death wish?"
However, perhaps because they had been locked up in the Guard Room for two whole days, the atmosphere inside seemed like it was losing control.
Little Liu and Little Qi, Cao Dabiao's confidants, were hushed by Cao Dabiao, but the other regular detectives also started to grumble quietly among themselves.
There were various complaints.
"We really got the short end of the stick. We didn't do anything, yet suddenly such a big problem arises, and we immediately become the scapegoats."
"Yeah. We are truly wronged. Who could have known something would happen?"
"If you ask me, this is all Qiu Tu's fault. If he hadn't suddenly started investigating the Qin family, drawing us in, perhaps we wouldn't have been so unlucky. And now he's gone, while we all got into trouble."
As soon as this detective voiced his complaint, the atmosphere in the Guard Room became tense.
In the face of unexpected "man-made disasters," most normal people's first reaction is to look for external outlets to vent their frustration, to ease their internal distress. This is human nature.
And Qiu Tu, the person who had called everyone over, naturally became the most easily targeted outlet for venting.
But one should not forget that Qiu Tu was not the same as before.
Even though Qiu Tu was nominally their superior, he was, in fact, just like them, a lower-level detective.
But now Qiu Tu is a Deputy Staff, a leap into the mid-level ranks of the Investigation Bureau, with open channels for advancement and limitless potential for growth.
In this situation, these detectives, bearing the guilt, how could they dare to offend Qiu Tu.
Therefore, even if they wanted to curse at Qiu Tu, the most they could do was curse in their hearts; they wouldn't dare to speak out loud.
After all, who knew if these words would reach Qiu Tu's ears and bring even bigger troubles.
So, when they heard that fearless remark from the detective, everyone suddenly fell silent, and no one dared to join in.
A moment passed before the deputy team leader, Chen Feng, spoke up. His face showed no emotion as he said, "This isn't Chief Qiu's fault."
"He didn't know this would happen."
"It's just our own bad luck."
After he finished speaking, the guard room became quiet again. Although the investigators stopped talking, their expressions varied widely.
At that point, Cao Dabiao also spoke up. With his arms crossed and leaning against the wall, he said in a muffled voice, "He indeed couldn't have known in advance that this would happen, but... he must have found out after the fact, right?"
"It was because of him that we all got dragged into this, and we've been subordinates to them for several days. Back then, he acted like he was our brother. Now, if he cared at all, he should try to find some way to save us."
His words clearly resonated with many investigators. A significant number nodded slightly, their faces betraying their disgruntlement. Some even had reddened eyes as they reflected on their uncertain futures.
But there were a few investigators, like Chen Feng, who showed no reaction and simply sat there with cold expressions.
For a moment, every person in the guard room sat with varying expressions, lost in their emotions.
Just then, the sound of unlocking the door suddenly came from the entrance.
Upon hearing this, the investigators in the guard room quickly straightened up and looked towards the door, their hearts pounding with anxiety.
They had been locked up here for two days and nights. Although food and water were delivered on time, not a single person had come to see them. This had left them restless for two days.
Now, finally someone had come to see them. Regardless of whether the outcome was good or bad, at least they no longer had to endure the agony.
As these thoughts raced through their minds, the door to the guard room opened.
A beautiful young woman with two gold stars on her shoulder stepped into the room, escorted by a guard investigator.
Upon entering the guard room, the young woman held her nose and fanned the air distastefully, saying, "Yuck, it stinks."
The investigators inside blushed slightly, feeling uncomfortable.
After making her remark, the young woman looked around at all the troubled investigators in the room, confirmed the headcount, and then took out a document, announcing, "I am Second-Class Investigator Liu Fuping from the Interrogation Section, under orders from my superiors I am here to take you for an internal investigation."
"Now, when I call your name, step out and line up. Follow me."
With that, Liu Fuping began calling out names from the list, "Cao Dabiao."
"Present!" Cao Dabiao quickly got up and hurried over to Liu Fuping.
When he arrived in front of Liu Fuping, he showed a sycophantic smile and bent over as he greeted, "Hello, Officer, sorry to trouble you."
He was a First Level Detective, addressing Liu Fuping, a Second-Class Investigator, as an officer – a distinction that made Liu Fuping glance at him in surprise.
Chen Feng stood up without expression from his spot in the corner and stood behind Cao Dabiao.
As names were called out one by one, it wasn't long before all 13 investigators stood in a line.
After confirming the headcount, Liu Fuping gestured with her hand, then, swaying her hips, she left the guard room.
Outside the guard room, six Operational Group investigators with live ammunition stood at the ready, handcuffing the investigators as they walked out, including Cao Dabiao.
Thus, led by Liu Fuping and escorted by the six Operational Group investigators, Cao Dabiao and the rest arrived at a large interrogation room.
To everyone's surprise, this interrogation did not seem to be the usual individual interrogation, but a collective one.
Cao Dabiao and the others entered the large interrogation room one after another, then stood in line against the wall with their handcuffs on.
The braver among them stole glances at the interrogation personnel, noticing there were three seats for interrogators.
Only the leftmost seat was occupied, by a young girl, who judging by her shoulder insignia, was a Third-Level Detective, presumably the recorder, given the pen and paperwork in her hands.
As for the other two seats, they remained empty for now.
Seeing this, the investigators couldn't help feeling apprehensive.
Their mission had indeed encountered serious issues. But as they were unforeseen circumstances, they could be excused, so the punishment could be severe or lenient, all dependent on the Interrogation Officer's handling and sentencing.
As a result, the attitude of the Interrogation Officer would determine their fate.
With these thoughts in mind, the investigators all lowered their heads, standing straight in hopes of making a good impression on the soon-to-arrive Interrogation Officer and to possibly sway their fortunes.
And just as everyone was wrapped in their uneasy thoughts, the interrogation room's door was opened by someone from the outside, and two people stepped in.
Before the investigators could react, the young female detective quickly stood up and saluted, saying, "Hello, Officer!"
Hearing this, Cao Dabiao and the others discreetly lifted their gaze, eager to see who had come to interrogate them.
The first person they saw was the young woman who had brought them here. Her hair was slightly disheveled, her cheeks were flushed, and a shimmer of moisture was in her eyes as if she had just been through something.
Trailing behind her, the Interrogation Officer in charge of their fates was... Qiu Tu, smiling.
The moment they saw Qiu Tu, Cao Dabiao and the others' eyes widened.
In that instant, they felt as though they were seeing their savior.
Joy swirled within their chests.