The Investigation Department Changes Hands!

Huang Shangzong changed course at the last minute and came to New Realm City?

Hearing Liu Fuping's words, Liu Xiongyuan was visibly startled.

He turned to look at Liu Fuping. Only after seeing the certainty in her eyes did he nod thoughtfully.

Although Liu Fuping had kept her voice low, everyone present was at least a Second Order Calamity Descendant. A trace of alarm appeared on every senior official's face.

Guan Weihua, Lin Ting, and Shi Youxin could not help showing a hint of delight.

After all, everyone present knew that Huang Shangzong was a senior figure in the Academic Faction and the Speaker of the East Industry State Council.

Coupled with Secretary Bai's suicide and attack on Qiu Tu—

His purpose in coming to New Realm City was obvious: he was here to deal with Qiu Tu.

The trusted subordinates of Yan Chen immediately felt much more at ease.

After all, the more they dealt with Qiu Tu, the more they could sense how terrifying he was.

They were truly worried about what they would do if even Yan Chen could not withstand Qiu Tu.

They could not exactly defect to their former subordinate just like that, could they?

If even Yan Chen's confidants were thinking this way, the others were naturally no exception.

Tang Feifei, whose expression had not changed at all since Qiu Tu entered the office, finally reacted as well.

She raised her head, her wheat-colored face filled with concern as she looked at Qiu Tu. Her mind raced, trying to think of a way to help him.

As she thought, her gaze fell upon Qiu Tu's face.

But the moment she saw his expression, Tang Feifei froze.

She discovered that there was not the slightest trace of panic, unease, or surprise on Qiu Tu's face.

On the contrary, though his brows were faintly furrowed as if he were thinking, the corners of his lips were slightly raised. It looked as though... he was smiling?

For a moment, Tang Feifei even thought she had seen wrong.

Qiu Tu was smiling?

Huang Shangzong was coming to deal with him, yet he was smiling?

Why?

With that thought, Tang Feifei suddenly felt inspired and could not help turning to look at Yan Chen and Yu Zhengyi, seated directly opposite her.

What she saw only confused Tang Feifei further.

Yan Chen, who had just been calmly assessing the situation while sipping tea, was glaring furiously at Yu Zhengyi.

Yu Zhengyi, on the other hand, looked as if he had been released from a burden. There was no relief on his face, but neither was there tension. It was as if his heart had completely died.

What exactly are they plotting?

Thinking of this, Tang Feifei's cool face turned again, toward Liu Xiongyuan at the head of the table.

She found that after his initial surprise, Liu Xiongyuan seemed to have no expression at all.

Moreover, as a Third Order peak Calamity Descendant with powerful senses, Tang Feifei could even feel how utterly relaxed Liu Xiongyuan was.

He did not seem at all like someone about to face an opponent.

What exactly is going on?

When a State Council Speaker came to town, New Realm City naturally had to arrange a special reception.

But Huang Shangzong's arrival had been sudden, a last-minute arrangement without any prior notice.

Thus, when Huang Shangzong's inspection convoy arrived in New Realm City, the senior officials of the three major institutions were somewhat thrown into a scramble.

However, the speakers of East Industry State all tended to act decisively. When Huang Shangzong learned that the senior officials of City Hall and the Military Department were urgently gathering to meet him, he had his secretary sternly forbid it.

His exact words were: "My sudden visit to New Realm City is to handle an important matter. I'll leave once it's settled. There's no need for a reception."

After stopping City Hall and the Military Department from coming, Huang Shangzong's convoy crossed all of New Realm City and stopped before the office building of the New Realm City Investigation Department.

Regardless of their relationship, Liu Xiongyuan had to show a State Council Speaker sufficient respect. He had therefore brought the Investigation Department's seven senior officials downstairs to wait early.

Qiu Tu was naturally among them.

Thus, he was the first to see this legendary Border Official.

Unlike Liu Xiongyuan's short, dark build, Huang Shangzong was enormous, standing a full one meter ninety-five.

Though he wore a crisp suit, his body was packed with muscles that stretched the fabric taut. At a glance, he resembled a towering mountain range, radiating an unshakable sense of steadiness.

Strong... so strong.

Even without knowing Huang Shangzong's actual strength, merely sensing the powerful aura around him gave Qiu Tu the feeling that he was impossible to contend with.

Huang Shangzong had arrived abruptly, and he appeared to be in an exceptionally foul mood.

The six senior officials of the New Realm City Investigation Department came out to greet him, but his tiger-like eyes merely swept coldly over them before never looking their way again.

Instead, he took the initiative to say to Liu Xiongyuan, "Speaker Liu, find somewhere to talk?"

Liu Xiongyuan seemed to have expected this. He smiled and nodded, then looked toward Qiu Tu and said warmly, "Minister Qiu, could we borrow your office?"

What could Qiu Tu say?

He could only nod steadily and say, "No problem."

Afterward, he led the two speakers upstairs to the 12th Floor.

As one of the Investigation Department's senior officials, Qiu Tu's room had undergone a fierce battle and even had holes in its walls. But everything had been repaired and restored that very night.

Therefore, it would not be improper for the two speakers to talk there.

After seeing the two speakers into his private office, Qiu Tu instructed Tan Huimin to pour them each a glass of water, then left the office with her.

Huang Shangzong and Liu Xiongyuan had not exchanged a single word throughout the Entire Process, but Huang Shangzong's tiger-like eyes had kept coldly assessing Qiu Tu.

Even as Qiu Tu and Tan Huimin left the office and closed the door, Qiu Tu vaguely heard Huang Shangzong bring up the first topic. "That's Qiu Tu?"

Outside, the other six senior officials were already waiting by the door. Their expressions were all rather grave.

After all, a state speaker and Shelter councilor had personally come to the New Realm City Investigation Department with such a foul expression. Someone was bound to be in trouble.

And the people most likely to be in trouble were the ones present.

Faced with a Border Official who had yet to make his move, even Tang Feifei, with her deep background, felt somewhat uneasy. After all, if Huang Shangzong truly resolved to deal with her, even the Fengtian Faction would find it difficult to go against his wishes. Officialdom still had its basic rules.

Perhaps noticing Tang Feifei's mood, Qiu Tu walked to her side and gently patted her hand.

Tang Feifei could not help turning to look at him. Qiu Tu gave her a smile.

Whether it was merely psychological comfort or not, Tang Feifei truly felt her heart settle in that instant.

The two speakers discussed matters behind closed doors for more than ten minutes before finally leaving the office.

They brought the seven senior officials to the conference room.

Huang Shangzong coldly swept his gaze over those present, slammed his fist down on the table, and shouted sternly, "I came to New Realm City because your New Realm City Investigation Department has gone too far!"

"Infighting! Internal attrition! Scheming!"

"Do you think this is peacetime?! Do you think you're playing house?!"

Huang Shangzong already had a broad, resolute face. When angered, his thick brows rose sharply over his forehead and his tiger-like eyes widened, giving him an overwhelming sense of oppression.

His gaze swept over the seven senior officials before finally landing heavily on Yan Chen.

As he looked at Yan Chen, Huang Shangzong's eyes were filled with disappointment, even killing intent.

He said heavily, "Yan Chen! As the director of the New Realm City Investigation Department, you bear an inescapable responsibility!"

Ever since Huang Shangzong had arrived without even offering a greeting, Yan Chen's expression had been somewhat livid.

But hearing Huang Shangzong speak so bluntly, Yan Chen's face grew even uglier.

But the man before him was the speaker of an entire state, East Industry State's highest-ranking official, and a senior figure from his own faction. Thus, Yan Chen could only sit there without saying a word.

Seeing Yan Chen like this, Huang Shangzong took a deep breath, his gaze cold and stern as it swept across the senior officials again.

Only then did he shout, "This is a critical time for the establishment of East Industry State! A critical time for the Boundless Mind Sea Expansion Plan!"

"The state will not tolerate this kind of infighting from you!"

"Therefore, whether it was the attack on Qiu Tu, Lai Shun's death, or Bai Yu's suicide, it all ends here!"

"Since the culprits have already been caught, sentence those who should be sentenced and execute those who should be executed! Starting now, turn the page on all of it!"

At that, his tiger-like eyes first looked at Yu Zhengyi, then at Yan Chen.

Then, as if making up his mind, he said, "Additionally, after discussion between Speaker Liu and myself, and after seeking the opinions of several other speakers—"

"Yan Chen is no longer suitable to continue serving as director of the New Realm City Investigation Department."

"Therefore, effective immediately, he is removed from his post as director of the New Realm City Investigation Department."

"He will be transferred laterally to the newly established Court of Judgment under the East Industry State Highest Council, where he will serve as chief judge!"

After saying that, he gave Tang Feifei a deep look and said, "As for the New Realm City Investigation Department... Tang Feifei will temporarily exercise the authority of the director."

Hearing Huang Shangzong's series of personnel appointments, the senior officials present exchanged looks.

Tang Feifei was somewhat surprised, while Yan Chen's face was livid. This was clearly different from the outcome the two factions had originally negotiated.

Only Qiu Tu looked relaxed, as if he had long expected this result. He even had the leisure to glance at Yu Zhengyi.

Yu Zhengyi lowered his head, shame written across his face.

Clearly, all these changes had something to do with him.

Huang Shangzong had come in a hurry and left in a hurry.

After announcing the appointments, he barely lingered before directly taking Yan Chen away from New Realm City.

He did not even give Yan Chen time to pack his luggage.

The Entire Process embodied swift, decisive action.

Very soon, the outcomes of the two meetings gradually began to spread.

When they heard that Secretary Bai was dead, Yan Chen had been transferred, and Tang Feifei had become acting director, the entire Investigation Department was stunned into silence.

Everyone had only one thought: fast, far too fast.

No one had expected the farce of the past few days to end this way.

And the final victor was actually the Tang Faction?

Huang Shangzong himself had come! Yet even he had failed to keep Yan Chen in place?

And Yan Chen had been transferred to become chief judge of the East Industry State Court of Judgment?

Most lower and middle-ranking officials had never even heard of this newly established institution. Only after people asked around everywhere did they roughly figure out its rank and structure.

According to the state's official explanation, the chief judge of the Court of Judgment belonged to the State Council and reported directly to Deputy Speaker Liu.

He was on the same level as the directors of each city and was responsible for trying major and serious cases.

At first glance, it seemed like a lateral transfer. But on closer consideration, it was actually somewhat marginalizing.

After all, what were the directors of each city's Investigation Department? They were the local emperors of their respective cities and members of the State Council.

Even the various speakers had to court them.

The chief judge of the Court of Judgment might not sound bad either, but he would be subordinate to the State Council, under its jurisdiction, and would have to follow Liu Xiongyuan's orders.

Considering that the Investigation Departments in each city might not give this new department any respect, its authority would be limited.

Thus, its share of actual power was vastly inferior.

"This is a demotion. It's definitely a demotion."

Once the position of chief judge of the Court of Judgment was understood throughout the Investigation Department, most bystanders reached the same conclusion.

"This time, the Tang Faction formed by Tang Feifei and Qiu Tu has won a complete victory."

"It looks like the skies over the New Realm City Investigation Department have truly changed."

As that notion emerged, the winds within the entire New Realm City Investigation Department abruptly shifted. Countless people began turning their attention toward the man and woman seated upon the Investigation Department's throne.

But compared to the middle and lower ranks' concern over the Investigation Department changing hands—

The Investigation Department's senior officials were more focused on Huang Shangzong's every action after his arrival.

Like the lower and middle ranks, the senior officials could not understand why Huang Shangzong, despite belonging to the same faction as Yan Chen, had chosen to suppress him.

And Huang Shangzong's extravagantly worded rebuke made them feel even more chilled.

Thus, they began mobilizing their Connections, trying to uncover the truth.

But compared with the other senior officials, Qiu Tu was the calmest and luckiest.

Because he did not need to seek out the truth at all. The "truth" would come to him on its own.

Six in the evening.

The 12th Floor, Qiu Tu's private lounge.

Qiu Tu sat on the sofa, looking at Liu Fuping standing before him, his face full of smiles.

Liu Fuping gave him a mildly coquettish glare, then said in a slightly spoiled tone, "My great minister~~ You really have influence."

"The speaker went to meet Committee Member Jiang from City Hall tonight. He was worried that there might be things you didn't understand, so he specifically sent me to talk with you."

Hearing Liu Fuping's words, Qiu Tu did not immediately discuss business. Instead, he asked suggestively, "So... you belong to me tonight?"

At Qiu Tu's words, Liu Fuping burst into giggles.

After not seeing her for one or two months, her chest seemed even more magnificent. Her full, round breasts hung heavily beneath her uniform, trembling as she laughed.

After laughing, her beautiful Peach Blossom Eyes gazed deeply at Qiu Tu. A misty sheen clouded her pupils, hazy and alluring.

Then she looked at Qiu Tu, seeming to persuade him while also tempting him. "Minister Qiu~~ I'm now a judge who hears all cases in East Industry State~"

"You wouldn't want to do something to this judge, would you?"

As she spoke, she sat in the chair opposite Qiu Tu. She first dramatically crossed her legs, clad in black stockings, then rested a hand atop them.

She wore only a loose judge's uniform. Her slender legs extended from beneath it, making them seem even longer while stirring an irresistible urge to explore the scenery within.

Qiu Tu let his gaze linger over those beautiful legs for a few moments before saying, "Judge Liu, as the head of the Political Department, how could I possibly do anything to you?"

"I merely wanted to remind you that we haven't seen each other in a long time. You should seize the chicken opportunity."

Hearing Qiu Tu's somewhat dirty joke, Liu Fuping could barely suppress the corners of her mouth.

She looked at Qiu Tu with a bright smile, then provocatively said, "Should I seize the chicken opportunity, or... do you want to deeply study the various legal knowledge I learned at the Shelter?"

To be honest, the two already had feelings for each other. And a short separation only made a reunion sweeter; their gazes had long since become entwined.

If not for the official business pressing on them, they would probably already have been kissing, pouring out their hearts to one another—

Please vote with your monthly tickets!

I've maintained ten thousand characters of updates every day for three consecutive months!

A new month! I'm begging for guaranteed monthly tickets!