Then, Let Them Offer Their Loyalty!

Chapter 74: A Pass to High Society

Chapter 74: A Pass to High Society

Meanwhile, as the Equipment Section Chief called Secretary Bai, Bai was standing in his office, gazing out the window, lost in thought. His hands were clenched, sweaty from the tension.

Only he knew what he had just gone through. This morning, after meeting Qiu Tu and getting a cold reception despite his warm approach, Secretary Bai felt something was off. Having worked closely with Qiu Tu for a month and having mentored him, he knew Qiu Tu well. Qiu Tu had the cleverness and shrewdness common in these chaotic times, but he was also kind, helpful, and grateful.

After risking a lot to tip off Qiu Tu last night, there was no way Qiu Tu would be so cold to him! His sudden coldness meant something had gone wrong. Qiu Tu’s subtle shake of the head in the elevator confirmed Bai's suspicions.

At that moment, Bai didn’t know exactly what had happened but trusted Qiu Tu enough to play along and curse him a bit, acting out the scene. Returning to his office, Bai pondered over Qiu Tu's unusual behavior but couldn’t figure it out.

It wasn't until he overheard someone mentioning Qiu Tu's interrogation of Cao Dabiao’s team that things started to make sense. Learning that Jia Shu had given Qiu Tu such a great opportunity made Bai realize something was amiss. As Yan Chen’s right-hand man, he knew how much Jia Shu disliked Qiu Tu. There was no way Jia Shu would be so generous unless Yan Chen had ordered it.

Why would Yan Chen give such an opportunity to Qiu Tu? Following this line of thought, Bai finally pieced together the truth and understood the message Qiu Tu was sending: he had been exposed and was under Yan Chen’s suspicion.

Realizing this, Bai understood why Qiu Tu had publicly distanced himself from him. Qiu Tu wasn’t just protecting himself; he was putting on a show for others to see, giving Bai a chance to explain last night's tip-off.

Once Bai grasped the situation, he acted quickly to remedy things with Yan Chen. Instead of clumsily explaining the call to Qiu Tu, he subtly spoke ill of Qiu Tu to Yan Chen, piquing his curiosity. When Yan Chen casually inquired, Bai remained vague, knowing it was better for Yan Chen to investigate himself.

Soon, Bai saw Political Division agents reporting to Yan Chen about his conflict with Qiu Tu, enough to spark suspicion about the true nature of last night's call and reduce suspicion of Bai’s disloyalty.

Bai knew that, given Yan Chen's suspicious nature, it would be hard to regain his trust. But as long as he could buy time, there would be opportunities to mend the rift. All of this was thanks to Qiu Tu's efforts!

After leaving Yan Chen’s office, Bai took a deep breath, realizing he had not misjudged Qiu Tu. Qiu Tu wasn’t the type to abandon a sinking ship but someone who would actively help and plan a way out in tough situations.

Standing by the window, recovering from the ordeal, Bai’s hands were sweaty from the tension.

The ringing phone on his desk snapped him back to reality. He took a deep breath, exhaled heavily, then turned and walked to the desk, picking up the receiver.

Hearing the voice of his subordinate, the Equipment Section Chief, on the other end, he asked, "What’s the matter, Chief Huang?"

Chief Huang, cheerful, explained, "Director, Chief Qiu from the Interrogation Office brought an equipment request form, asking for a batch of... well, a batch of equipment."

"But... these items are quite special, and I’m not sure how he knows about them or if we should grant his request."

"Also, his approach doesn’t seem to follow the proper procedures."

"Chief Qiu?" Bai paused, guessing Qiu Tu’s intention. "Read me the list of equipment."

Chief Huang read from the form, "Mist Index Book, Intangible Aberration Detector, Void Dimension Mapping Device, Retrospective Locator..."

Hearing the names of these disaster artifacts, Bai silently chuckled. After a moment, he sternly said, "Enough, put Qiu Tu on the phone!"

Chief Huang quickly handed the phone to Qiu Tu.

As Qiu Tu took the receiver, he heard Bai's furious voice, "Qiu Tu, are you out of your mind, listing these things on a report?!"

Meanwhile, as the Equipment Section Chief called Secretary Bai, Bai was standing in his office, gazing out the window, lost in thought. His hands were clenched, sweaty from the tension.

Only he knew what he had just gone through. This morning, after meeting Qiu Tu and getting a cold reception despite his warm approach, Secretary Bai felt something was off. Having worked closely with Qiu Tu for a month and having mentored him, he knew Qiu Tu well. Qiu Tu had the cleverness and shrewdness common in these chaotic times, but he was also kind, helpful, and grateful.

After risking a lot to tip off Qiu Tu last night, there was no way Qiu Tu would be so cold to him! His sudden coldness meant something had gone wrong. Qiu Tu’s subtle shake of the head in the elevator confirmed Bai's suspicions.

At that moment, Bai didn’t know exactly what had happened but trusted Qiu Tu enough to play along and curse him a bit, acting out the scene. Returning to his office, Bai pondered over Qiu Tu's unusual behavior but couldn’t figure it out.

It wasn't until he overheard someone mentioning Qiu Tu's interrogation of Cao Dabiao’s team that things started to make sense. Learning that Jia Shu had given Qiu Tu such a great opportunity made Bai realize something was amiss. As Yan Chen’s right-hand man, he knew how much Jia Shu disliked Qiu Tu. There was no way Jia Shu would be so generous unless Yan Chen had ordered it.

Why would Yan Chen give such an opportunity to Qiu Tu? Following this line of thought, Bai finally pieced together the truth and understood the message Qiu Tu was sending: he had been exposed and was under Yan Chen’s suspicion.

Realizing this, Bai understood why Qiu Tu had publicly distanced himself from him. Qiu Tu wasn’t just protecting himself; he was putting on a show for others to see, giving Bai a chance to explain last night's tip-off.

Once Bai grasped the situation, he acted quickly to remedy things with Yan Chen. Instead of clumsily explaining the call to Qiu Tu, he subtly spoke ill of Qiu Tu to Yan Chen, piquing his curiosity. When Yan Chen casually inquired, Bai remained vague, knowing it was better for Yan Chen to investigate himself.

Soon, Bai saw Political Division agents reporting to Yan Chen about his conflict with Qiu Tu, enough to spark suspicion about the true nature of last night's call and reduce suspicion of Bai’s disloyalty.

Bai knew that, given Yan Chen's suspicious nature, it would be hard to regain his trust. But as long as he could buy time, there would be opportunities to mend the rift. All of this was thanks to Qiu Tu's efforts!

After leaving Yan Chen’s office, Bai took a deep breath, realizing he had not misjudged Qiu Tu. Qiu Tu wasn’t the type to abandon a sinking ship but someone who would actively help and plan a way out in tough situations.

Standing by the window, recovering from the ordeal, Bai’s hands were sweaty from the tension.

The ringing phone on his desk snapped him back to reality. He took a deep breath, exhaled heavily, then turned and walked to the desk, picking up the receiver.

Hearing the voice of his subordinate, the Equipment Section Chief, on the other end, he asked, "What’s the matter, Chief Huang?"

Chief Huang, cheerful, explained, "It’s like this, Director. Chief Qiu from the Interrogation Office brought an equipment request form, asking for a batch of... well, a batch of equipment."

"But... these items are quite special, and I’m not sure how he knows about them or if we should grant his request."

"Also, his approach doesn’t seem to follow the proper procedures."

"Chief Qiu?" Bai paused, guessing Qiu Tu’s intention. "Read me the list of equipment."

Chief Huang read from the form, "Mist Index Book, Intangible Aberration Detector, Void Dimension Mapping Device, Retrospective Locator..."

Hearing the names of these disaster artifacts, Bai silently chuckled. After a moment, he sternly said, "Enough, put Qiu Tu on the phone!"

Chief Huang quickly handed the phone to Qiu Tu.

As Qiu Tu took the receiver, he heard Bai's furious voice, "Qiu Tu, are you out of your mind, listing these things on a report?!"

"Is this what Jia Shu taught you?!"

"Do you know that the information about cataclysm powers is not supposed to be disclosed to ordinary people? If Chief Huang wasn’t from the shelters, you would have already leaked classified information!"

"I’m telling you, this is no small matter. I will report this to the Director!"

Qiu Tu quickly responded, "Sorry, sir. This is my first time handling such a case, and I didn’t know the proper way to file the report. I apologize, sincerely."

The phone’s poor soundproofing allowed Chief Huang to overhear Bai's outburst. He awkwardly smiled, then stepped aside to the water dispenser, giving Qiu Tu some face.

Seeing this, Qiu Tu lightly coughed.

Secretary Bai, understanding the hint, lightly replied, "Mm-hmm."

After a second, Bai loudly continued, "If you don’t know the procedures, why didn’t you ask?"

"Now, take the form to your department head and have them approve it!"

"Those disaster artifacts will be approved through special procedures by your department head!"

With that, Bai hung up with a loud click.

Holding the phone, Qiu Tu gave Chief Huang an embarrassed smile, "Sorry for the trouble, Chief Huang. I’ll go back and follow the proper procedures."

Chief Huang smiled and shook his head, "No problem. It’s understandable. This is a special case, and it’s normal to be a bit flustered the first time handling it."

He then placed his water cup down, gently patting Qiu Tu on the shoulder, "Qiu Tu, we’ve met many times before."

"Back when you were working in the Administrative Office, I could see you were different, destined for great things."

"And now, you’re already a deputy section chief in such a short time."

He laughed, "You’re from the Administrative Office; consider me half a family member."

"So, let’s stay in touch and communicate more."

Seeing the positive feedback from his efforts to build a reputation, Qiu Tu seized the opportunity, "Absolutely, Chief Huang."

"I’ve always wanted to reach out to you more but thought you were too busy and didn’t want to disturb you."

"Now that you’ve mentioned it, just let me know when, and I’ll be there, rain or shine."

Pleased with Qiu Tu’s response, Chief Huang’s eyes lit up. After some thought, he smiled, "How about this weekend? We could go to Emerald Fortress to watch a few horse races. It’s an entertainment passed down from the shelters. Many prominent figures from New Realm City attend."

"Business tycoons from the Chamber of Commerce, council members, directors from the Municipal Council, military officers, and department heads from the Investigation Department all show up there."

He paused, showing a knowing smile, "And in the evening, I’ll take you to broaden your horizons."

"Since New Realm City was designated as a planning area, there’s still plenty of fun to be had."

Hearing this, Qiu Tu smiled, "Thank you, Chief Huang! I’ll definitely be there!"

Chief Huang laughed and patted Qiu Tu on the shoulder again.

Leaving the Equipment Section, Qiu Tu reflected on the events. His deliberate request for disaster artifacts was a ploy to communicate with Secretary Bai. After last night's scare, they were undoubtedly being monitored and couldn’t meet or contact each other directly.

He needed to ensure Bai understood his message and had taken remedial action, crucial for their safety. Bai's confirmation relieved him.

Additionally, Chief Huang’s unexpected offer was a pleasant surprise.

The Administrative Office was a weak department with little power, but the Equipment Section was an exception, controlling all logistical supplies, a lucrative position within the bureau. Chief Huang, managing equipment procurement, disposal, and daily losses, was a valuable contact courted by many factions.

For Qiu Tu, who wanted to expand his network and influence across various city departments, Chief Huang was the perfect gateway to high society.

Qiu Tu’s intention was to subtly show Chief Huang he was now privy to confidential matters, hinting at his acceptance by Yan Chen and Jia Shu.

He had planned to gradually build this rapport, but today’s events had unexpectedly accelerated the process.

‘Emerald Fortress? Horse races? Business tycoons, council members, military officers?’

‘And special activities in the evening?’

Excited about the weekend, Qiu Tu returned to the Political Division with the application form and headed straight to Jia Shu’s office.

Knocking on the door, he heard Jia Shu’s response, "Come in."

Entering, Qiu Tu saw Jia Shu engrossed in a document. He saluted, "Sir! I’m here to submit an equipment request form!"

"Equipment request form?" Jia Shu looked up, puzzled, with his trademark fake smile.

Qiu Tu approached, placing the form on Jia Shu’s desk.

Jia Shu glanced at the form, then his eyes widened, struggling to maintain his smile.

After quickly reading through it, he looked at Qiu Tu with a mix of amusement and disbelief, "Qiu Tu... do you know what you’ve requested?"

Author's Note