Girl Pharmacist

"Pharmacist?" Hearing the title, Qiu Tu blinked, then turned his gaze toward the girl.

Perhaps hearing the two discussing her, the girl bared her teeth at Qiu Tu in a fierce expression.

But unfortunately, she was too young, and with those two little tiger teeth, all Qiu Tu saw was childish adorableness.

"Lower Ward Street, Lower Ward Street." Repeating the name "Lower Ward Street" twice, Qiu Tu suddenly remembered why it sounded so familiar.

Wasn't this the assignment Yan Chen had asked him to handle yesterday, only for him to turn it down?

So this girl was the prisoner he had originally been supposed to take away?

Thinking of that, Qiu Tu couldn't help feeling that fate worked in strange ways, so he casually asked, "By the way, where is she being sent?"

Perhaps Qiu Tu's question was somewhat sensitive, so Fang Ming found it difficult to answer for a moment.

But in that awkward moment, Fang Ming suddenly noticed Qiu Tu's new uniform.

He froze for a moment, then pointed at Qiu Tu's new uniform and asked in surprise, "You transferred to the Political Department?"

Qiu Tu nodded indifferently.

Fang Ming glanced at Qiu Tu's epaulets, and the next second, he was even more astonished. "First-level Investigator? You got promoted too?"

Qiu Tu nodded indifferently again.

Fang Ming opened his mouth, wanting to say something but unable to get it out. After opening and closing it several times, he finally managed only one sentence. "That's fucking awesome."

After learning of Qiu Tu's new position, he stopped beating around the bush and directly answered Qiu Tu's question. "She'll be sent to the Old Alley Street Public Security Bureau for temporary detention."

The Political Department had the authority to oversee every department, so answering Qiu Tu's inquiry was entirely within the rules.

"Old Alley Street?" Hearing the answer, Qiu Tu paused, then fell into thought.

And so, the two chatted for another few sentences before ending their conversation amid the girl's shouting: "Are you two leaving or not?!" "You guys are way too unprofessional!" "Criminals don't have human rights or what?!"

After parting with Fang Ming, Qiu Tu entered the villa. Following the directions in Jia Shu's message through several twists and turns, he soon found a flight of stone steps.

Following the steps downward, he found a massive oak door at the end, embedded with iron decorations that made it look ancient and solemn.

Qiu Tu stopped, raised the door knocker, and tapped on the door. Jia Shu's voice soon came from within. "Come in."

Qiu Tu pushed open the door and entered, only to find a huge underground chamber inside.

The walls were built of rough stone. At the center stood an oak workbench covered in dried blood and knife-carved marks, with all manner of blades and torture instruments arranged around it.

A young girl covered in wounds and devoid of all signs of life was tied to the oak table. Jia Shu, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, stood beside her with a gloved left hand and a sharp scalpel in his right, dissecting her body.

The blade tip traveled along her bones, folding back skin and flesh and exposing her organs. His movements were precise to the point of reverence, as though he were performing a silent ritual.

The chandelier swayed with faint, cold light, dividing illumination and shadow into bizarre geometric patterns. The air was filled with the faint scent of rust and undried blood.

Even Qiu Tu, who had seen his share of major scenes in his previous life, nearly couldn't stomach that hellish sight.

After a long while, Jia Shu's inexplicable sigh echoed through the secret chamber. "What a pity."

Then he set the scalpel aside, removed his glove, and washed his hands in the basin nearby.

The clear water gradually bloomed red, like a basin full of blood.

He said flatly, "This girl's parents were originally low-level administrators at City Hall. She could have had a bright future, gone to school and played with the children of other administrators."

"Then, after becoming an adult, she could have fallen in love, gotten married, had children, and lived out an ordinary but happy life."

"But yesterday's investigation discovered that her parents had secretly been in contact with and providing assistance to the Anti-Government Armed Forces."

"And so, a flower that should have bloomed so brilliantly withered just like that."

Though every word Jia Shu spoke conveyed regret, paired with his indifferent tone and the chilling methods by which he had personally tortured and executed the girl, Qiu Tu only felt a creeping cold seep into his heart.

After coolly introducing the girl's situation, Jia Shu picked up a towel, dried his hands, then folded and put it away.

Then he walked to the wall, opened a cabinet, took out a familiar cloth bundle, and tossed it to Qiu Tu from across the room.

"On your way here, you saw that pharmacist, didn't you?"

Qiu Tu froze for a moment, then nodded. "I did."

A meaningful smile appeared at the corner of Jia Shu's lips. "The director approved your plan, but made a small adjustment."

"Cataclysm Materials are controlled items. They can't be casually taken out to help you carry out a mission. So that Black Market Pharmacist is yours."

"She not only knows how to make Cataclysm Potions, but also has connections in the black market. Her value far exceeds that of mere Cataclysm Materials. It's enough to satisfy the Qin Family."

Qiu Tu's heart skipped a beat.

A pharmacist was indeed more valuable than Cataclysm Materials, but she was also far less convenient.

With Cataclysm Materials in hand, if things went south, he could simply run.

But a living person, and a girl of only fifteen or sixteen at that—taking her along while escaping would undoubtedly greatly increase the difficulty and risk.

Had Yan Chen guessed that he might run, so he deliberately arranged for a burden to hold him back?

While his mind raced, Qiu Tu did not forget to keep acting before Jia Shu. "Cataclysm Potions? Pharmacists? What are those?"

Jia Shu adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses and said carelessly, "The materials in the cloth bundle cover all of that. You can read them yourself."

"Oh, and remember to destroy them and keep them confidential once you're done."

After saying that, he gave Qiu Tu a deep look and said flatly, "You won't want to know the consequences of leaking secrets."

Qiu Tu: ...

After warning Qiu Tu, Jia Shu waved him away. "All right, go outside and read the materials."

"Once you're done, remember to find Qin Shuman and persuade her to return to the Qin Family."

"The director's patience is limited."

"Yes, Superior!" Qiu Tu snapped his legs together and gave a standard salute.

After saluting, Qiu Tu took the cloth bundle and walked out of the underground chamber.

What he did not know was that behind him, Jia Shu's gaze followed his departing back like a shadow. The desire hidden behind those lenses was nearly overflowing from his eyes.

9:03:18 (Treasure Chest)

After leaving the basement, the fresh scent of earth and fallen leaves rushed over him, forming a stark contrast to the suffocating smell of blood below.

Qiu Tu took a deep breath of the chilly air, looked up at the gray sky, and stepped into the villa.

Under a servant's guidance, he arrived at a reception room and sat down, preparing to first examine the information Jia Shu had provided about this world's supernatural powers.

It would determine his next plan.