Let them offer their loyalty!

After quietly reflecting for a while, Zheng Tao took a deep breath.

He felt it was pointless to keep guessing, and that it would be better to go and have a chat with Qiu Tu directly.

Perhaps many things were not as he imagined. Maybe Qiu Tu wasn't even thinking about his wife?

Perhaps, if he simply conceded, acknowledged his mistake sincerely, and offered some kind of compensation, he could resolve this matter?

With this in mind, Zheng Tao didn't bother with dinner and got up, preparing to meet Qiu Tu on the 9th floor.

However, just at that moment.

Suddenly, his office door was knocked on "Dong Dong Dong."

As a workaholic and a master of intense internal competition, Zheng Tao could switch to work mode at any time.

So, even though he was ready to go see Qiu Tu, when he heard the knock at the door, he sat down immediately, adjusted his expression briefly, and then responded in a deep voice, "Come in."

Along with his voice.

The door to the office was pushed open, and an investigator with a somewhat unfamiliar face walked in.

Seeing the unfamiliar face, Zheng Tao asked with a look of confusion, "Who are you?"

The investigator looked at Zheng Tao with an expressionless face and said assertively, "Director Zheng, an official would like to see you."

"An official?" Upon hearing the investigator's words, Zheng Tao was taken aback.

There were many officials in the Investigation Bureau. Everyone higher than a Deputy Staff could use this title, but only nine true bigwigs of the Investigation Bureau could be referred to as officials by someone like Zheng Tao, a Deputy Division Chief.

Thinking of this, Zheng Tao didn't feel enlightened; instead, he became even more puzzled.

Because... those nine high-level officials all had personal secretaries, and if they wanted to summon someone below them, they would usually send their secretaries.

Why did they send an ordinary investigator this time?

With these thoughts in mind, Zheng Tao couldn't help but probe further, asking, "May I know which official it is?"

The investigator replied curtly, "Follow me, and you will find out."

"The official is waiting for you on the 12th floor."

Despite still having many doubts in his mind after hearing the investigator's words, Zheng Tao took comfort in the fact that he was going to the 12th floor, where security was assured.

So, Zheng Tao eventually stood up, nodded, and said, "Alright. I'll be there shortly."

He followed the investigator out of the office, took the elevator, and soon arrived on the 12th floor.

Getting off the elevator and continuing to walk forward with the investigator, Zheng Tao quickly arrived at the "official's" office door.

Glancing up at the nameplate of the office, a look of surprise flashed through Zheng Tao's eyes.

By this time, the investigator had already smoothly pushed open the office door and gestured to Zheng Tao, "Director Zheng, please."

Seeing this, Zheng Tao quickly adjusted his clothes with his head down, and then stepped quickly into the office.

Entering the office, he saw a familiar figure already standing by the window, gazing out into the night sky while waiting for him.

Seeing that figure, Zheng Tao hastily wanted to salute and greet, but at that moment, the person put a finger to their lips, making a "silence" gesture...

Seeing this, Zheng Tao opened his mouth but ultimately didn't call out the person's title.

The figure gestured for Zheng Tao to sit down and then began speaking slowly, "Zheng Tao... if I remember correctly, you're also one of the old-timers who came down from the Sanctuary with the Bureau Chief."

As Zheng Tao nodded, the figure continued, "I've looked over your file, and your abilities were very outstanding back in the Sanctuary. Your performance has been remarkable after being dispatched to Xinjie City as well."

"With your capabilities, in a few more years, after accumulating some merits and seniority, you would have had a good chance to move up the ladder."

"Unfortunately... a few days ago, you were outmaneuvered by Qiu Tu, losing your prestige in front of so many investigators of the Bureau. Not only did you fail to complete the task the Bureau Chief and I assigned to you, but you also allowed Qiu Tu to expand his influence."

"This has truly disappointed me, and the Bureau Chief as well..."

"After all, we promoted you to this position hoping you would rein in Qiu Tu, not to make a fool of yourself."

Hearing these words, Zheng Tao's face turned beet-red, and he clenched his fists tightly.

The previous failure was indeed the greatest humiliation of his life.

Every time he thought about how he was thoroughly outplayed by Qiu Tu, even to the point where Qiu Tu used a young girl to make a fool of him, he wished he could crawl into a hole and hide.

These past few days, he had thrown himself back into the grind, immersing himself in the work at the Public Security Bureau, partly to numb his own thoughts.

So, it really was a thorn in his side.

His headstrong wager with Qiu Tu today was also due to this reason.

Thinking of this, Zheng Tao felt even more distressed.

And at that moment, the figure spoke again slowly, "However, the Bureau Chief and I can give you another chance."

"This time, if you do well, then the Bureau Chief and I will still consider promoting you for further use."

At the figure's words, Zheng Tao was initially stunned, then his face lit up with surprise as he looked up.

Zheng Tao tried hard to suppress the excitement in his heart, but his fervent eyes still betrayed his inner thoughts, "Do I still have a chance?"

He tentatively asked, "Will I be able to rise to the position of division chief in the future?"

Upon hearing Zheng Tao's words, the figure laughed heartily, "Ha ha," twice before speaking with gravity, "Division Chief?"

"You're aiming too low."

"If this matter is handled well, we can follow the Investigation Bureau's process for cultivating core members by transferring you back to the Sanctuary to get a gilt edge, and then parachuting you into a position within the state after Dongye State is established."

"By then, let alone a division chief, even being a Bureau Chief of a city or a legislator of a state wouldn't be impossible."

Upon hearing the figure's grand promise, Zheng Tao's breathing became rapid for a moment.

The sequence of nurturing core members in the Investigation Bureau is to first gain a basic identity in the Sanctuary, then be demoted to the Planning Area for rapid promotion, return to the Sanctuary for another gilding and then be demoted again for promotion.

This method allows for special promotion without the need for those above to vacate their positions.

It is the true core succession route for rising up the ranks in the Investigation Bureau.

And now... it could be given to him?

Honestly, Zheng Tao tried to keep his rationality intact, to not frivolously believe in the lofty promises made by his superior, but... one should know that his recent promotion was arranged by this upper-echelon individual!

The other party was not just making empty promises but was genuinely offering tangible benefits!

Therefore, he really couldn't help being tempted!

However, Zheng Tao also knew that one must pay a price to gain something.

The greater the harvest, the more one must pay...

So he tried his best to control his desire, to restrain, and then to restrain some more...

And then he failed to restrain himself.

His eyes blazing with eagerness, he looked at the figure in front of him and asked, "Superior, what would you like me to do?"

Seeing Zheng Tao take the bait, a subtle smile crept across the figure's mouth.

He turned around to face Zheng Tao, fiddling with an antique coin in his hand, and then asked softly, "I've heard... you've made a bet with Qiu Tu?"

Zheng Tao's gaze was attracted by that coin.

The figure continued, "The wager is to lend him your secretary for two days...?"

Hearing the figure's words, Zheng Tao felt a sudden, ominous premonition.

As expected, while playing with the antique coin, the figure said cheerfully, "And if I remember correctly, your secretary is your wife, isn't she?"

"I recall that according to the rules of the Investigation Bureau, this position cannot be held by a relative. Although you took many precautions to ensure both of you could work in the same department, avoiding recording your marital relationship in Xinjie City's archives."

"Yet in the Sanctuary's records, you are unmistakably husband and wife."

"Your little tricks might work on others, but to us, they are as transparent as glass."

Upon hearing this, Zheng Tao swallowed hard, feeling a chill run through his body... His knuckles white from gripping his hands tightly.

Seeing this, the figure gave Zheng Tao two seconds to relax before he continued deliberately, "So, my task for you is to extend this bet. Send your wife to Qiu Tu's side to monitor him."

"I will have someone deliberately delay arranging a secretary for Qiu Tu, leaving him with no one available, forcing him to use your wife."

"And what your wife needs to do is to gain his trust in these few days, ideally becoming his true secretary."

"This way, we can know Qiu Tu's movements in real time and be aware of his various plans. When necessary, we can even send him some... little gifts."

Hearing the figure's proposition, Zheng Tao was clearly still struggling.

He said bitterly, "Superior, is it possible to use someone else...?"

"For instance, I fulfill the bet by sending another person to be Qiu Tu's secretary; or you could directly arrange a more suitable spy to be his secretary."

Upon hearing Zheng Tao's words, the figure rebuked sharply, "Nonsense!"

"You know just how cautious Qiu Tu is."

"If I were to directly arrange a new secretary for him, would he easily trust them? If you suddenly switch to another person, wouldn't he be suspicious?"

"Only because of such a sudden wager, and because he was the one who initiated the bet, will he believe that the secretary hasn't been arranged by anyone."

"All secretaries are uniformly trained and arranged by the Administrative Office, and your 'secretary' has just been selected by you. In his eyes, she hasn't yet formed a bond with you and is a blank slate."
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"Only such a uniquely favorable condition for trust will make him take the bait!"

"Otherwise, why do you think I would come to you!"

Hearing the words of the high-ranking individual before him, Zheng Tao lowered his head and fell silent.

Possibly sensing the resistance in Zheng Tao's heart, the figure let out a faint sigh.

He walked up to Zheng Tao, reached out to grip the antique coin in his hand, brought it close to Zheng Tao, and said softly, "Zheng Tao, what if I say, this is Her Highness Larilo's arrangement."

"That she has specifically chosen your wife to go...?"

----

Still 10,000 words for these three chapters. More tomorrow! Vote for monthly tickets!