Chapter 61: Night Meeting with Qin Shuman
Chapter 61: Night Meeting with Qin Shuman
Chapter 61: Night Meeting with Qin Shuman
"You helped me concoct the potion, and I promised you freedom."
"Now that you've fulfilled your part, I should honor my promise and give you your freedom."
Qiu Tu paused before continuing, "You were a suspect brought in by Yan Chen under amnesty rights for other purposes, and your record was already wiped clean in the Investigation Department."
"Yesterday afternoon, during the handover with other agents, I removed your name from the handover list."
"Moreover, after Fourth Master Qin's fire last night, all traces of you have been erased."
"So, you're free."
With that, Qiu Tu placed two small goldfish and a hundred silver coins on the table, instructing, "This is your travel fare to return home. Sew it into your clothes and make sure no one finds it."
"Be safe on your way back. Don’t act like a young mistress. Be accommodating. Others won't tolerate you as I do."
After finishing his instructions, Qiu Tu got up and left the room. At the door, he paused, turned his back to Shen Lingshuang, and said, "Remember to close the door when you leave."Without looking back, he left the house.
As a skilled apothecary capable of concocting awakening potions, Shen Lingshuang was well aware of her value. During her time with Qiu Tu and his friends, she had learned of Qiu Tu's resources. She never imagined he would let her go after successfully awakening and even leave all his money for her travel expenses.
At that moment, Qiu Tu reached a new level in her heart. She stared at his departing figure, her eyes reddening, and tears began to fall uncontrollably.
Having been away from home for so long, she had never encountered someone so kind to her.
Thinking of this, she quickly resumed eating, her food mingling with her salty tears.
After a few bites, she looked up with determination, making a silent decision.
[Shen Lingshuang Loyalty: +12, Current Loyalty: 83]
Driving towards the Milan Hotel, Qiu Tu noticed the prompt on the screen, feeling less joyful than expected. With the guidance of the "Emotional Handbook", he knew exactly how to handle a girl like Shen Lingshuang.
"Way 82 of the 108 Ways to Enhance Feelings: Empty-handed Sincerity."
Girls are emotional beings. Once emotions reach a certain stage, a large sacrifice is more touching than a series of small ones (and because of the magnitude, she likely won't accept it).
Thus, making a decisive departure and leaving all his money was a tactic to make Shen Lingshuang stay voluntarily.
The reason was simple. Besides worrying about her safety on the journey home, Qiu Tu desperately needed an experienced apothecary for his burgeoning plans.
However, despite knowing this, he felt a pang of guilt. Maybe it was Eagle and A Tai's jokes, or perhaps Shen Lingshuang's genuine care for him. He felt his methods were somewhat unscrupulous.
Reflecting for a while, Qiu Tu's resolve hardened. 'To achieve great things, one must overlook small details. I'll make it up to her in the future.'
Twenty minutes later, at 10:30 PM, Qiu Tu arrived at the Milan Hotel. Just like last time, he ordered tea and sat in the lounge area, waiting patiently.
This hotel was likely a Security Division base, with constant surveillance. Within two minutes, a waiter brought him another envelope. Inside was a room keycard: Room 511.
Taking the keycard, Qiu Tu headed towards the elevator. Just as he was about to step in, his communicator rang.
"Ring ring ring."
The clear ringing echoed in the empty lobby. Qiu Tu stopped, checked the caller ID—it was Secretary Bai. Without hesitation, he answered.
Secretary Bai's lowered voice came through, "Qiu Tu, where are you?"
Hearing the urgency, Qiu Tu whispered back, "I'm on a mission outside."
Secretary Bai acknowledged with a hum, then continued, "Listen carefully. There's trouble at the Interrogation Division, involving your task force."
Qiu Tu's heart sank. Secretary Bai continued, "The female spy you interrogated last night is dead. She died in her holding cell."
"The exact cause of death is unknown, but there's a possibility of silencing."
"The Director is furious and has called in a forensic expert from the shelter to determine the cause of death."
"Everyone who had contact with the spy over the past two days, including you, is now a suspect."
"This case was already high-profile, involving anti-government forces, several prominent New Realm City businessmen, Deputy Chairman Tian with shelter connections, and several municipal council members."
"Now, with the key suspect and witness dead, the Director is under immense pressure and may resort to extreme measures."
"Be very careful."
Without waiting for a response, Secretary Bai hurriedly hung up.
Listening to the dial tone, Qiu Tu's expression fluctuated. The female spy from last night's interrogation was dead? Silenced?
Qiu Tu frowned. This was bad news. If the spy was truly with the RUF, it meant the Investigation Department, especially the Political Division, might have been infiltrated by RUF spies. No wonder Yan Chen was furious.
Given the spy's high-profile case and the significant impact, Yan Chen's use of extreme measures was understandable.
But why would Secretary Bai risk giving him this information?
Pondering this, Qiu Tu stepped into the elevator, pressed the button for the fifth floor, and watched the doors close and the elevator begin its ascent.
“Ding!”
As the elevator doors opened on the fifth floor, a flash of insight struck Qiu Tu, causing his face to change dramatically.
He finally understood why Secretary Bai had taken such a risk to warn him: Secretary Bai, or more likely Yan Chen, suspected him of being the one who executed the silencing plan!
The reason was straightforward: when Qiu Tu first transmigrated, to make Yan Chen wary and to pique his curiosity, he had implicated every possible faction—municipal hall, RUF, and so on—with Qin Shuman. Yesterday, Qin Shuman’s true identity as a Security Division agent was confirmed, resolving many suspicions. However, the logic connecting her to the RUF remained unclear.
Originally, this issue would have gradually faded into an unsolved case with Qin Shuman’s “death” and the passage of time. But now, the RUF spy that Qiu Tu had handled was silenced. His suspicion immediately increased manifold.
After all, if Qiu Tu were an RUF spy, all doubts about the two cases would be reasonably explained. Hence, Secretary Bai had risked warning him, giving Qiu Tu time to escape.
'Damn! What bad luck!' Qiu Tu cursed silently.
Though innocent, his actions that night were questionable. If Yan Chen used unconventional methods—like extraordinary abilities—to investigate and discovered that he too had used extraordinary powers that night, it would be hard to explain.
'I must find this spy and solve this case! Otherwise, I’m done for!'
With this in mind, Qiu Tu took a deep breath and resolved to conclude his meeting with Qin Shuman quickly, leaving enough time to handle the spy case.
Just then, as these thoughts ran through his mind, the door to room 503 next to him creaked open, and a hand shot out from the darkened room, grabbing him!
Qiu Tu reflexively wanted to counterattack but smelled a familiar fragrance, causing him to smile slightly and relax.
The hand’s owner easily pulled Qiu Tu into the room.
“Click,” the door closed, restoring silence to the hallway as if Qiu Tu had never been there.
Inside the dark room, Qiu Tu felt a soft, alluring body pressing against him, with a cold dagger at his throat.
The contrasting sensations of the soft body and the cold dagger created a thrilling tension in the air.
“Chief Qiu seems off tonight~~ Not as vigilant as usual,” Qin Shuman's seductive, intoxicating voice murmured in the darkness.
“In a secret department, losing vigilance means death~~ Remember my words when you’re underground.”
With that, the dagger glinted, slashing towards Qiu Tu’s neck!
Author's Note
THIS CHAPTER UPLOAD FIRST AT NOVELBIN.COM