Night's Nomenclature
Chapter 378: Who Arranged This?

"Boss, why are you investigating these two people?" Yan Chunmi cautiously asked, "Aren't they Qing Family's Shadow Candidates?"

Qing Chen glanced at Yan Chunmi: "You were with me just now, so you must have seen Qing Yi. In this Shadow Succession, I want to help Qing Yi win."

"I see. You've chosen Qing Yi. Although we know Qing Yi might be hiding his abilities, even so, he's not the best among all the Shadow Candidates," Yan Chunmi murmured.

"Oh? Do you have any other ideas? Who would you choose?" Qing Chen asked.

"I don't have any other ideas. I'll choose whoever you choose, Boss," Yan Chunmi laughed. "By the way, about the Kestrels…"

Qing Chen looked at her: "Finish the two tasks I mentioned first, then we'll talk about other things. Now, get back to your work."

Yan Chunmi sighed. This new Boss seemed to know the Kestrels were getting impatient, yet he wasn't worried at all.

Having such a clever Boss is undoubtedly a good thing, but the Kestrels' plans might not work out.

She watched the new Boss's back disappear into the crowd. He had come to City 10 alone and within just 10 days, he had brought both the Secret Spy Agency Kestrel and the Intelligence Bureau OneSeventh Group under his control.

This kind of skill requires both exceptional ability and mental fortitude.

Many newly appointed officials want to be as cool as Qing Chen, but few can subdue those tough guys from Intelligence Bureau One.

However, the phrase that echoed most in Yan Chunmi's mind was Qing Chen's words: "No one needs to sacrifice themselves to achieve my goals."

Thinking about this, Yan Chunmi smiled. The new Boss seems pretty good.

Qing Chen returned to Utopia Tower. As his elevator was about to close, a girl, wrapped tightly in clothes, rushed in.

Only after entering the elevator did the girl realize who was inside: "Ah!"

Qing Chen looked helplessly at the transparent elevator doors, as if he saw nothing and heard nothing.

The girl was none other than the A-list actress, Song Niao Niao, whom he had pointed a gun at before.

Perhaps even Qing Hua, Qing Zhun, and Yan Chunmi didn't know that one of the main reasons Qing Chen stayed at Intelligence Bureau One for so long was because he was worried about running into this actress back at Utopia Tower…

to avoid embarrassment.

But despite all his precautions, even after ten days away from home, he ran into her the moment he returned.

At that moment, Qing Chen even felt that this might be orchestrated by someone with ulterior motives.

How could it be such a coincidence!

At this moment, the atmosphere in the elevator suddenly became dramatic.

The scream continued, and Qing Chen felt like the actress was about to collapse. He explained earnestly, "Madam, I sincerely apologize for the fright I caused you last time, but could you please stop screaming…"

The elevator stopped on the 67th floor. Someone outside wanted to come in but was scared off by the scream.

Fortunately, the person outside didn't recognize Song Niao Niao, otherwise, this would have become big news.

The Outer World has its hot searches, and the Inner World also has a platform for public discussion called "Frontline."

If Qing Chen and Song Niao Niao were seen together in the elevator, and Song Niao Niao's screams were heard, Qing Chen might be the top trending topic on Frontline tomorrow.

Song Niao Niao pulled out a delicate, miniature handgun from her small handbag and pointed it at Qing Chen, her hands trembling.

Helplessly, he showed his credentials: "Madam, first of all, I'm not a bad guy. Here's my ID. I'm Qing Chen, Supervisor at the PCA Federal Central Intelligence Bureau. Last time, I was working on a case, so my nerves were on edge and I mistook you for a suspect."

Only after seeing the ID did Song Niao Niao finally stop screaming. She cautiously looked at Qing Chen: "Such a young Supervisor? This must be a fake ID. Besides, I heard that the PCA Central Intelligence Bureau isn't filled with good people either!"

After saying this, Song Niao Niao became wary again.

Qing Chen couldn't help but laugh. Was the PCA Central Intelligence Bureau's reputation outside already so bad?

In the Outer World, this ID alone would be enough to quell the situation.

This shows, from another perspective, that the Inner World's government credibility is already very poor.

The elevator reached the 112th floor, and Qing Chen quickly got out and returned to his apartment.

Only after Qing Chen closed his door did Song Niao Niao cautiously step out of the elevator.

Song Niao Niao walked past Qing Chen's door trembling, then ran back to her apartment.

Unsurprisingly, the room was still filled with the rich aroma of tea.

Qing Chen now understood that it wasn't that Qing Family Shadow was bored and came to his place to drink tea every day, but that they knew he had finally left Intelligence Bureau One and were waiting for him here.

Shadow smiled: "The things that happened on your way home are as exciting as what happened after you entered Intelligence Bureau One. I've checked into that girl named Song Niao Niao. She comes from a clean background, has no connection to the Conglomerate, and seems to have a good personality. Her father is the chairman of the Tax Administration Committee in City 3, so she comes from a prominent family and is more than suitable for a Qing Family member."

"You've been to my rented apartment more often than I have," Qing Chen sighed while changing his slippers. "Stop trying to matchmake. For those in our line of work, it's best to stay away from celebrities. To be honest, I don't quite understand why you're using someone like Yan Chunmi, a Kestrel."

"She has her uses. Powerful people don't care much about a woman's appearance; they care more about her status," said Shadow, taking a sip of tea in the dark room.

Qing Chen was stunned: "You're using her because her status is more tempting to men?"

"Yes," Shadow looked at Qing Chen. "Are you going to say that you won't sacrifice others' appearances again? What do you think intelligence work is? What do you think everyone relies on to turn people? Different methods for different people, that's what I do."

Qing Chen shook his head: "I won't use her to obtain information in that way."

Through these conversations, Qing Chen realized two things.

First: Qing Family Shadow, just like how he uses people to cultivate tea, is a very cruel person inside.

He is only kind to him.

Second: Qing Family Shadow's ability to gather intelligence is even stronger than he imagined. Everything that happened to him along the way was under the other's control.

"Suit yourself," Shadow shook his head. "By the way, why didn't you bring the tea I gave you to Intelligence Bureau One? Drink it at work. Remember, divide this can into 15 days' worth. You must drink it continuously to have an effect. Too much won't work, and too little won't work either."

Qing Chen calculated the time. There were 15 days left until his return, just enough time to finish the tea.

"I didn't expect so much to happen right after I reported for duty," Qing Chen explained as he sat on the sofa opposite Shadow, finding a comfortable position.

Looking at the dazzling neon lights outside the window, he felt that the city was unrealistically beautiful, while this dark little house gave him a sense of security.

Qing Family Shadow asked with interest: "I clearly told you that Qing Zhun could be trusted. Why did you say I didn't when he talked to you?"

Qing Chen looked at Shadow: "I need to establish a hierarchy within Intelligence Bureau One. What if Qing Zhun, relying on being your old subordinate, interferes with my work? Besides, as it turns out, I don't need your help."

"So, when arranging work, you gave Qing Zhun less to do, weakening his presence in Intelligence Bureau OneSeventh Group and promoting Qing Hua, who has little connection with me, to a core position," Qing Family Shadow nodded.

But the Shadow Master didn't seem angry, instead showing some approval: "People often believe things easily because of authority. So people who are good at talking often like to quote famous sayings or mention how familiar they are with someone authoritative to increase the credibility of their words. But this is often a sign of insecurity because you need others to prove you, which means you aren't authoritative enough. You were able to break free from my influence and didn't blindly trust Qing Zhun. This is a good thing, showing the basic qualities of a leader."

Qing Chen asked: "What qualities should a leader possess?"

Qing Family Shadow laughed: "First, don't trust anyone. I told you that a long time ago."

"That would be very tiring," Qing Chen didn't quite agree.

Shadow laughed: "You disagree because you haven't reached that position yet. By the way, do you know that the two people in the lottery center have been giving benefits to some core members of the Qing Family's main branch? You've eliminated two fat pigs now, and many people within the family are complaining about you, asking me to replace you."

Qing Chen looked at Shadow innocently: "I'm just following your orders."

Shadow waved his hand: "It's not a big deal. Don't worry about passing the blame… You haven't been in the workplace for long, why are you so good at passing the blame?!"

At this moment, footsteps were heard outside the corridor.

"Six people," Shadow's expression didn't change. "They're not here for you."

Qing Chen stood up and listened quietly as the footsteps passed the door and walked to the end of the corridor.

He sat back down on the sofa.

"They must be after that actress," Shadow laughed. "Nowadays, it's not uncommon for actresses to be kidnapped to be slaves for some powerful figures."

Qing Chen calmly asked: "Did you arrange this?"

Shadow smiled: "Guess if I did."

After saying this, Shadow opened the Shadow Gate and left.

Leaving Qing Chen alone on the sofa, thinking about the question Shadow left behind.

If he believed it was Shadow who arranged this, he could just sit and watch the show.

If it wasn't Shadow, the actress's fate after being kidnapped would be terrible.

Qing Chen stood up again and walked toward the door…

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