Let them offer their loyalty!

And following the etiquette, after the banquet, everyone would exchange gifts with each other.

The gift list recorded the presents that the Qin Family and other attendees had given to Vice President Tian....

Within it, the book "Brave New World" was conspicuously listed.

However, what was odd was that most gifts on the list had a record of who had sent them. The only exception was this book, which had no record whatsoever.

It was as if... someone had secretly placed it in the pile of gifts.

Thinking this, Qiu Tu glanced over the guest list from that banquet.

Then his eyes slightly narrowed as he discovered another familiar name.

With this thought, Qiu Tu quickly pointed to that name and said to Qin Shuman, "Look, who is this?"

Qin Shuman followed the direction of Qiu Tu's finger and saw a name she recognized: Shun Yun Trading Co., Ltd.'s Qian Dafu.

Upon seeing this name, Qin Shuman fell into thought for a moment; then her eyes suddenly widened as she turned to Qiu Tu, "One of the transport companies that was robbed?"

Qiu Tu nodded.

He recalled the contents written in the case file.

Because of the listening devices installed by Yin Caimei, six transport companies in Xinjie City had been suffering from the predations of the United Front anti-government armed forces over the past year.

Among them, Shun Yun Trading suffered the heaviest losses.

They had not only lost a large amount of grain and life necessities purchased from other cities but also a significant quantity of herbs and potions.

"There's something wrong here." Qiu Tu tapped on the names of Shun Yun Trading and the Qin brothers, Qin Heng and Qin Shu.

Qin Shuman nodded, then stretched out her hand towards Qiu Tu.

Qiu Tu discreetly reached into his pocket and handed her the communicator specially made by the Security Department.

Qin Shuman took the customized communicator, pressed a few numbers, and then dialed out.

The call connected after a moment, and Qin Shuman spoke expressionlessly, "This is Rain Butterfly, help me look into the relationship between the Qin Family and Shun Yun Trading's Qian Dafu."

"Also, review Old Fourth Qin again to see if he knows any secrets."

After the person on the other end responded, Qin Shuman hung up the phone.

As Qiu Tu continued to rummage through other materials, he said, "I feel like there's really something wrong with the Qin Family."Nôv(el)B\\jnn

What he meant by "something wrong" obviously wasn't referring to the Qin Family's previously vague connections with the anti-government armed forces.

After all, in the Planning Area, especially the newly designated Planning Area, most forces had more or less connections with the anti-government armed forces—it was only before the influence of the Sanctuary had expanded to this area that these forces had been hedging their bets.

Therefore, Qiu Tu's "something wrong" clearly indicated a deeper cooperation between the two forces.

As the head of the Investigation Department of the Security Department and an old hand at the job, Qin Shuman seriously nodded in agreement with Qiu Tu's view, "Once is a coincidence, twice is a coincidence, but to call it coincidence three or four times is implausible."

Qiu Tu nodded slightly.

Having reached a consensus, they both immersed themselves in their own world as they continued to go through the materials.

For a while, no one spoke in the car, and it gradually quieted down.

Blue moonlight streamed through the car window and draped both of them in a soft and mysterious veil.

Time passed, perhaps only 10 minutes, or it could have been a full half-hour.

"Ring, ring, ring!"

The crisp ring of the communicator suddenly pierced the silence within the car.

Qin Shuman snapped back to reality and answered the phone with a succinct, "Speak."

The person reporting on the other end spoke so softly and quickly that Qiu Tu could barely make out what was being said.

He just saw Qin Shuman's expression change, going from calm to surprised, and then from surprised to excited!

After a moment, Qin Shuman hung up the phone and turned to look at Qiu Tu with barely concealed jubilation, "Qiu Tu! We might have stumbled upon a major case!"

Qiu Tu looked at her somewhat blankly.

Qin Shuman leaned in close to Qiu Tu and lowered her voice, "Let me tell you, it's shocking what you find when you look—Shun Yun Trading was actually founded by Old Master Qin."

"He already had a certain status in Xinjie City, and he had also carved out his own territory in the underworld."

"In order to train his own fighters and to expand his financial resources, he supported one of his confidants, directing him to take nearly half of the gang's core to establish Shun Yun Trading, mainly dealing with the transportation of materials."

"And that confidant was the father of Qian Dafu…"

Seeing Qiu Tu's surprised look, Qin Shuman continued, "Later on, a few years ago, both Old Master Qin and the father of Qian Dafu died in accidents. Moreover, as the Qin Family wanted to go legitimate, the two companies ostensibly went their separate ways on the surface and no longer had any dealings."

"But now it seems... the truth might be quite different."

Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu nodded slightly, thoughtfully musing for a brief moment before conjecturing, "So, Shun Yun Trading is very likely the real dark hand of the Qin Family."

"Some of the truly illegal industries of the Qin Family, like cooperation with the United Front, were in fact separated out long before Old Master Qin's death."

"And the black and grey industries that Fourth Master Qin got from the division of the family assets were actually those with very low risk already."

Qin Shuman's face lit up with excitement, "Exactly!"

"So, we've been investigating Old Fourth Qin for so many days without much progress, and in the end, it's because we were looking in the wrong direction!"

"If we investigate Shun Yun Trading, we might be able to dig out the Qin Family!"

"And you can perfectly close your case too!"

Qiu Tu was not swayed by Qin Shuman's excitement; he patted her hand and analyzed calmly, "So, you suspect that the Qin Family might be the mastermind behind the Yin Caimei case?"

Seeing Qin Shuman nod, Qiu Tu continued, "You're guessing... that the Qin family sensed danger due to our earlier investigation and the arrest of Yin Caimei was coincidental. So, worried about being exposed and getting themselves burned, they decided to make a clean break and silence her?"

"And simultaneously frame Vice President Tian in the process?"

Qin Shuman nodded in agreement and added, "Right. So, I suspect that Vice President Tian is truly being wronged."

"The robbery of the transportation company might well be a play they've staged themselves."

"Shun Da Trading and other transportation companies were likely already dealing in illegal business with the United Front. Then, by chance, Yin Caimei got recruited by Vice President Tian into the chamber of commerce, which provided these transportation companies with the perfect opportunity to set a trap."

Though it was just a speculation at this point, Qin Shuman had a hunch: this could very well be the truth!

With this in mind, Qin Shuman turned to Qiu Tu and asked, "What do you think?"

Since Qin Shuman began her analysis, Qiu Tu had been listening intently. Now, hesitating slightly upon her inquiry, he finally nodded, "I do think it's a possibility."

Seeing Qiu Tu agree with her theory, Qin Shuman couldn't sit still any longer. She said to Qiu Tu, "Please help me take Xiaowan home!"

"I need to go ahead and thoroughly investigate this case."

After speaking, perhaps worried that Qiu Tu might misunderstand, she took another look at him, "Don't worry, I won't steal your credit. Nor will I interfere with your case investigation."

Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu waved it off with a smile, "It's fine. I don't mind that."

After looking at Qiu Tu a second time and making sure he truly didn't mind, Qin Shuman kissed him happily, then left Su Xiaowan's body and decoupled her attachment.

——Clearly, the pressure Director Dai had been putting on her had nearly left her unable to catch her breath.

An unexpected case falling into her lap now was a complete relief from her urgent predicament!

If she could solve this case or do a good job with the preliminary intelligence work, not only would her past mistakes be overlooked, but she might even get a promotion and a raise!

So... in her excitement, she had even forgotten that she wasn't in her own body but in Su Xiaowan's...

Suddenly kissed by "Su Xiaowan," Qiu Tu felt strangely awkward...

He looked at Su Xiaowan slumping in the passenger seat, shook his head slightly, then leaned over... and fastened her seatbelt.

Perhaps because of that kiss, the friction between their bodies made Qiu Tu feel like his blood was rushing faster.

After securing the seat belt, Qiu Tu reorganized the files, then followed the address left by Qin Shuman to take Su Xiaowan home.

The vehicle traveled down the dimly lit street as Qiu Tu quietly pondered over the information he had discovered just now.

In truth, Qiu Tu wasn't afraid of Qin Shuman stealing his credit, nor was he concerned about her affecting his investigation.

That's because his responsibility was solely the case of Yin Caimei's death; the robbery of the transportation company by the United Front had nothing to do with him.

In his few days at the Political Department, Qiu Tu quickly learned a key to survival: to stick to one's post and abide by its responsibilities.

Investigating on your own another team's case, even solving it, wouldn't bring much credit but could easily attract resentment.

Beyond that, Qiu Tu also noticed several details that Qin Shuman had missed.

Perhaps due to different perspectives, while Qin Shuman was excited about uncovering a major case, Qiu Tu felt a chill down his spine.

Was this really all about framing and setting someone up?

The Qin family and the bosses of those transportation companies, even if they weren't afraid of Vice President Tian, wouldn't want to offend a vice president of a chamber of commerce with the backing of a sanctuary so casually, right?

So, they designed a trap for him simply because Yin Caimei was chosen by Vice President Tian?

Qiu Tu thought that was indeed too cruel and insane.

Moreover, if the Qin family was really framing Vice President Tian, then what was Jia Shu's unusual behavior about?

Could it be that Jia Shu didn't want to assist Vice President Tian, but instead wanted to accommodate the Qin family?

Then why did he hint to Qiu Tu that this matter needed to be settled to Vice President Tian's satisfaction?

One question after another led Qiu Tu to form a bolder hypothesis than Qin Shuman's.

It was... that all of this was indeed a self-scripted, self-directed scam.

But... from Yin Caimei to those transportation companies, to Vice President Tian, to the Qin family, they were all actors in this scam.

Even Jia Shu might have glimpsed some truth but chose to temporarily let it slide for the interests of the Investigation Bureau!

They wove web upon web, layer upon layer of lies, merely to create more buffers, to hide even deeper...

Though he might have guessed the real gist of the case, Qiu Tu was faced with a tremendously difficult question.

That was... what path he should take...

Carrying deep doubts, Qiu Tu took Su Xiaowan back home.

Su Xiaowan lived on New Fang Street, which was the same place where Qiu Tu had been stopped that morning.

This indicated that her family conditions were fairly good. Before Xinjie City was established, her parents likely had jobs at some reputable company or institution and held some status in society.

Their children, having received decent education and maintained good character, without any dark background, were among the fastest to climb the social ladder in the year Xinjie City was founded — the three major power institutions favored such young people with a clean background and a decent education. Song Qing was also one of them.

Qiu Tu stopped the car in front of Su Xiaowan's building, woke her up and watched her silhouette ascend the beautifully decorated multi-story western-style building, floor by floor, until all the lights went out. Then, extinguishing his cigarette, he turned and drove home.

Arriving at Old Alley Street, Qiu Tu parked the car and walked towards his own home in the shabby tube building.

Reaching the building, the lights were still on at home.

Qiu Tu climbed the stairs and opened the door, surprised to find... Shen Lingshuang was not asleep on the sofa tonight; instead, there were "rustling" sounds coming from the room.

Curiously, Qiu Tu walked over and then saw... Shen Lingshuang, showing her fair back, trying on lingerie.

Only... it wasn't just her trying on lingerie; she was actually stuffing things inside it....

-----