Let them offer their loyalty!
Chapter 910 - 455

Hearing Qiu Tu's words, Huang Shangzong's thick eyebrows slowly knitted together.

His tiger-like eyes landed on Qiu Tu, as if trying to discern whether Qiu Tu was deliberately stalling or truly hadn't finished.

Qiu Tu seemed oblivious to Huang Shangzong's intense gaze, looking back at him with an air of nonchalance.

Huang Shangzong fell silent for two seconds, then finally said, "What work haven't you finished yet?"

Upon hearing Huang Shangzong's words, Qiu Tu responded earnestly, "Although we have already rounded up the entire middle layer, there are still hundreds, even over a thousand, remnants wandering throughout the Dongye 16 Cities."

"Furthermore, because I went to capture 'Red Hair' the other day, I haven't had the chance to interrogate these criminals."

As he reached the end of his explanation, Qiu Tu thought of the violently fluctuating 'Order Line' on 'Scarface's' body, a thought flickered in his mind, and he casually set a trap, "After all... no one knows if there's some other conspiracy behind their actions."

"I believe we should still be cautious."

Hearing Qiu Tu's words, a hint of irritation flashed across Huang Shangzong's face. He then asked, "How much longer do you estimate you will need?"

Seeing that Huang Shangzong was indeed a bit anxious, Qiu Tu felt even more at ease, as if settling in to fish comfortably.

He said with a smile, "Speaker, that's hard to say..."

"As you are aware, with interrogations, no one knows how long it will take to get results."

"Plus... I've just been out capturing criminals for four days, and need to rest a bit."

Upon hearing Qiu Tu's words, veins throbbed on Huang Shangzong's forehead.

While his political skills were relatively average, he still possessed basic political acumen.

Qiu Tu was obviously biding his time, clearly angling for a better deal.

If he was given enough benefits, he would expedite the process, or even transfer the criminals directly to him.

If not offered enough benefits, he would deliberately procrastinate, dragging things out until Huang Shangzong's side could no longer wait, or until Old Rao's celebration was over.

'This kid! Definitely not a good sort!'

Despite cursing Qiu Tu inwardly, Huang Shangzong had no alternative.

Power is only accountable to its source.

Only the Sanctuary can decide on the Deputy Speaker's candidacy. Even as a Speaker, also from Sanctuary's high ranks, he has no say in the matter.

If Qiu Tu were not already Deputy Speaker, and was looking to be promoted, he could be somewhat leveraged, especially as the Speaker of Dongye State, whose opinion holds significant weight.

But now that Qiu Tu was already Deputy Speaker, Huang Shangzong's influence was much diminished.

Thus, as long as Qiu Tu played by the book, there was really nothing he could do about him.

With that in mind, Huang Shangzong gave Qiu Tu a deep look, and then spoke up, "What kind of support do you think the state should offer you to accelerate your operation?"

Hearing his own words echoed, Qiu Tu feigned innocence. He looked towards Huang Shangzong and said, "Speaker, are you actually asking me to make demands?"

"I've always been a dutiful person, doing whatever the leaders ask of me, never making conditions."

"Hahaha." This time, it was Liu Xiongyuan who laughed first without saying a word.

After laughing, he stood up and said to Huang Shangzong, "If there's nothing else, Speaker, I'll go back to interrogating the prisoners. I'll strive to wrap up the case as soon as possible."

Liu Xiongyuan had been there all this time, making it awkward for Huang Shangzong and Qiu Tu to negotiate terms, so hearing this, Huang Shangzong didn't mind and simply waved his hand, "Go on, go on, Chairman Liu has the floor."

After Liu Xiongyuan left, the doors of the conference room slowly closed, leaving only Huang Shangzong and Qiu Tu.

Huang Shangzong looked at Qiu Tu, then spoke with a somber gaze, "Qiu Tu, there's no one else here now."

"Tell me, how does the state need to support you so that you can wrap up the case as soon as possible?"

Upon hearing Huang Shangzong's words, Qiu Tu coughed and then said, "Speaker. Sometimes it's not a matter of support."

"As you know, since I became Deputy Speaker, my jurisdiction has only been Bright Moon City."

"Besides this regular work, the 'Purge Mission' is the only extra task I have."

"Of course, I hope to complete it cleanly and beautifully."

"After all... after I'm done, I won't have any other political achievements to work on."

Hearing Qiu Tu's words, Huang Shangzong was momentarily stunned, then it dawned on him: Qiu Tu's condition was to adjust the scope of his powers, to augment his authority.

That was quite reasonable.

With that thought, Huang Shangzong's demeanor also visibly relaxed.

He leaned back in his chair and spoke deeply, "Speaker Qiu, I understand how you feel."

"But... there's one thing you've got wrong."

"How could the council possibly only put you, a young and promising Deputy Speaker, in charge of Bright Moon City?"

"That would be a waste of talent."

"It just so happens... I heard you say earlier, this 'Purge Operation's' finishing touches will take quite a bit of time."

At this point, Huang Shangzong probed tentatively, "Which departments do you think could cooperate with you to finish this operation more quickly?"

Hearing Huang Shangzong's words, Qiu Tu smiled.

He said as he had planned before meeting Huang Shangzong, "It really depends on the Speaker's level of support."

"If the Speaker's support is not strong enough, even if the Inspection Department were given to me, I guess I couldn't wrap things up quickly;"

"If the Speaker's support is strong enough, the help of the Judiciary Court would also speed up the completion of this mission."

Upon hearing Qiu Tu's words, Huang Shangzong's expression shifted slightly, and his penetrating tiger-like eyes stared at Qiu Tu, pressing down with overwhelming pressure.

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