Let them offer their loyalty!

Suddenly feeling Qiu Tu's gaze on her, Shen Lingshuang was initially stunned, then reflexively covered her chest with a wary expression and asked, "What are you doing?"

Having already indulged his hand addiction a moment ago, Qiu Tu now had no other thoughts in mind and asked, "Right. If I gave you a potion formula or ingredients, could you roughly judge the effects of the potion?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Lingshuang pondered for a bit and didn't completely reject the idea, "I... can try."

After receiving a positive response from Shen Lingshuang, Qiu Tu closed his eyes and carefully recalled the formulas of several potions from the first page of the booklet in his memory.

A moment later, he opened his eyes and began listing the material names, "Defying Fate Scales, Dried Seven, Glabrous Greenbrier, Great Thistle...."

As Qiu Tu named each ingredient and material, Shen Lingshuang's brow furrowed tighter and tighter.

It was not until Qiu Tu finished listing the ingredient names that she quietly said, "This seems like... some kind of Cataclysmic Potion."

"And it's one that can only be made using a certain Cataclysm Path."

Hearing Shen Lingshuang's words, Qiu Tu looked puzzled and asked, "What do you mean by a potion that can only be made using a certain Cataclysm Path?"

When it came to knowledge about potions, Shen Lingshuang clearly became more haughty.

She tilted her head up slightly and confidently explained, "Cataclysmic Potions are different from ordinary potions. Although they also follow the 'Star, Moon, King, and Minister' ratio,"

"the 'Moon Medicine' doesn't necessarily have to be Cataclysmic Material; it can also be a Path power."

"That is to say, you can replace one medicinal ingredient with the Cataclysmic Power of a 'Cataclysmic' and concoct a potion that contains the power related to the Path of that Cataclysmic."

Then, Shen Lingshuang further explained the special Cataclysmic Potion to Qiu Tu in detail.

To put it in layman's terms:

Formulating a Cataclysmic Potion normally requires four types of medicinal ingredients and materials according to the 'Star, Moon, King, and Minister.' 'Star Medicine' and 'Moon Medicine' are Cataclysmic Materials containing Catastrophe Power.

While 'King Medicine' and 'Assistant Medicine' are ordinary medicinal ingredients, serving to harmonize and add effects.

Later, some pharmacists found Cataclysmic Materials too difficult to procure, so they only added 'Star Medicine', and directly replaced the 'Moon Medicine' with the power of a Cataclysmic.

This created a special Cataclysmic Potion unique to a certain Path.

After understanding the formulation method for this special type of Cataclysmic Potion, Qiu Tu couldn't help but curiously ask, "Then can you tell which Path's Cataclysmic Potion is concocted from this formula?"

Shen Lingshuang shook her head slightly and slowly said, "It's hard to say... but most likely, it's a potion of the 'Mystery' or 'Immortality' Path."

"After all, the entire formula gives off a dark, twisted feeling."

'Mystery??' Hearing Shen Lingshuang's words, Qiu Tu suddenly felt a jolt, and couldn't help but recall the Cataclysmic Potion 'Mandragora Love Drug' he had obtained yesterday.

He remembered the description on that potion bottle being: A Cataclysmic Potion made from Cataclysm Materials including mandrake flower, Succubus of Water by a Cataclysmic from the "Mystery" Path.

He had noticed this description at the time, but didn't understand what it meant. Now it seemed... That potion might also be a special Cataclysmic Potion?n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

With this thought, Qiu Tu suddenly had a startling suspicion: Could it be that the 'Mandragora Love Drug' he received had actually come from that man in the suit with the mask?

After all... the 'Salvage Game' introduction stated that all Cataclysmic Props were salvaged from one's own region.

That is to say, only if Xinjie City housed this Cataclysmic Potion would he have been likely to obtain it.

And although Xinjie City is not small, there are not many Cataclysmics, plus the masked man was concocting potions related to the "Mystery" Path, so his speculation might very well be true!

Meanwhile, as Qiu Tu was analyzing, Shen Lingshuang also finished carefully studying the entire formula, and said with some uncertainty, "Although I've never seen this potion..."

"Based on the analysis of the ingredients, it is likely a Cataclysmic Potion related to disguising, concealing, and transforming."

"For example, 'Impersonator Potion,' 'Albino Phantom Potion,' 'Reverse Transformation Potion' and alike..."

'Disguise, transformation?'

'Mandragora Love Drug...?'

'"God"?'

After combining these pieces of information, inexplicably, Qiu Tu felt that somewhat adult and sinister scenes and images seemed to emerge.

'Could it be that something major is going to happen in Xinjie City?'

Upon pondering quietly for a while, Qiu Tu temporarily suppressed these thoughts and finished breakfast with Shen Lingshuang.

After eating, Qiu Tu reminded Shen Lingshuang not to wander off in the next few days, then left for work...

Today was the last workday of the week. Tomorrow was the weekend, the day Qiu Tu and Chief Huang had arranged to go to 'Emerald Fort' to attend the horse racing meeting. There were only eight days left until the deadline for the Yin Caimei case.

Stepping out onto Old Alley Street and getting into his car, Qiu Tu did not start driving immediately but continued to check the rewards for last night's second 'Loyalty Game.'

Turning off "Fighting Game," Qiu Tu opened "Salvage Game."

With his click, a pixelated figure of Ah-Tai popped up before Qiu Tu.

Compared to Eagle, who looked nearly exhausted from a night of salvaging, the pixelated figure of Ah-Tai appeared to be in much better condition, simply sitting on the ground and yawning.

Qiu Tu observed the screen closely and soon spotted a small jade seal in the image.

Qiu Tu mentally clicked on the jade seal, and the next second, a prompt popped up before him,

[Acquired Cataclysmic Treasure: Seal of Ownership]

'Seal of Ownership?'

'What is that?'

Qiu Tu tried to check the description of this Cataclysmic treasure.

'Cataclysmic Treasure: Seal of Ownership'

'Treasure Introduction: A Cataclysmic treasure made from an unknown material. As long as you stamp the seal on an item or a creature, you will have ownership of it for 72 hours.'

'Within 72 hours, if you want to retrieve IT, IT will cross space and appear before you.'

'Note: Acquiring items or creatures will consume a certain "cost." The amount of the "cost" is determined by various factors such as the volume, mass, rank of the item or creature, and the distance between it and the user.'

Having read the introduction to this Cataclysmic treasure, Qiu Tu's eyes lit up slightly.

As expected... there is no such thing as a weak Cataclysmic treasure.

With such a magical treasure, Qiu Tu, after a little thought, came up with many ways to use it.

Whether it was for transporting items, stealing goods, or launching surprise attacks on hostile organizations, or sneaking multiple people into certain secret places, it would be highly effective!

The only problem was that he was unclear about the extent of the "cost" of using it.

If it was small, Qiu Tu felt it was bearable; but if it was too much, then he would have to reduce the frequency of use...

Thinking this, Qiu Tu packed away the Cataclysmic treasure and drove toward the Investigation Bureau...

[8 days (Yin Caimei case closure time)]

....

Upon arriving at the Investigation Bureau, Qiu Tu, holding the materials he had obtained from Tian Xiaotian the night before, took the elevator to the 9th floor.

Once he reached the office of the 9th-floor investigation team, all of his subordinates were there.

Even Cao Dabiao and the seven or eight investigators that Qiu Tu had sent out had returned.

Seeing Qiu Tu, everyone greeted him in succession.

Cao Dabiao, the most astute among them, saw that Qiu Tu was holding something and quickly stepped forward with a sly smile, "Chief, let me help you with that."

Qiu Tu did not refuse his kindness and casually handed Tian Xiaotian's backpack to him, then inquired, "Why have you come back? Any progress on the case I gave you to investigate?"

Cao Dabiao took over the backpack, smiled humbly, and said, "Chief, it's all thanks to your good fortune. We've been finding people and connections these past two days, and finally found the brother-in-law of the driver for Vice President Tian..."

"Then, after arranging a few meetings and beating around the bush, we finally brought the driver out yesterday."

"Afterward, we got him pretty drunk and managed to extract Vice President Tian's itinerary for the next few days from him!"

Hearing Cao Dabiao's words, Qiu Tu looked at him in surprise and then praised, "Not bad, Big Biao. You really have some skills."

"In such a short time, you've got chummy with Vice President Tian's driver and obtained internal information."

At this, Qiu Tu gave Cao Dabiao a heavy pat on the shoulder, "I really didn't misjudge you!"

"You've done a great job!"

Hearing Qiu Tu's praise, a rare expression of self-satisfaction appeared on Cao Dabiao's face.

Clearly, he too thought that completing Qiu Tu's task in such a short time was quite an achievement.

As they spoke, the two reached Qiu Tu's desk. Cao Dabiao helped Qiu Tu place the backpack on the desk and, out of curiosity, casually asked, "Chief, what's in this bag? It's quite heavy."

Qiu Tu smiled and said, "Nothing much, just the record of Vice President Tian and Yin Caimei's itinerary and gift-giving list for this year."

Cao Dabiao: ???

Cao Dabiao almost thought he had misheard.

He was stunned for a second, then asked, "What? The records of Vice President Tian and Yin Caimei's itinerary and gift-giving list for a whole year?"

Qiu Tu simply nodded, then he unzipped the backpack, took out the materials, and handed them to Cao Dabiao.

"Flip through it backwards and find Vice President Tian's itinerary for the past few days, see if it matches the account of the driver you know."

"If it all matches up, that means the driver didn't deceive you, and that line must be well maintained."

"We might very likely get more hidden information from him!"

Cao Dabiao uttered a couple of "ohs," but he hadn't really taken it in: because at that moment, he had already been dumbfounded by the "heavy bomb" dropped by Qiu Tu.

Now, he had only one thought in his mind: What kind of a god was his chief?!

It took him and seven or eight people working painstakingly for two days just to get a handle on one of Vice President Tian's drivers, securing a three-day itinerary.

But his chief... his chief had just managed to bring over the entire year's itinerary of Vice President Tian?

Compared to him, their efforts seemed utterly useless!

Thinking this, he glanced over at the other investigators in the office.

As expected, while those who had stayed in the office these past two days seemed unaffected, the seven or eight investigators who had gone out with him to look for leads were all stunned.

Clearly... from the moment Qiu Tu entered, they had been paying attention to the conversation between the two, and now they were as shocked as Cao Dabiao...

[Cao Dabiao Loyalty +5]

[Ding Xiaoqi Loyalty +3]

[Li Liang Loyalty +3]

[....]

Meanwhile, Qiu Tu, while pretending to sort out the materials, had the corners of his mouth slightly curled up in a smile at the string of Loyalty alerts appearing before his eyes.

It was necessary to praise subordinates appropriately, but also to give them a shock from time to time.

Everybody has the 'admiration for the strong' mentality, so you have to make them realize the gap between you and them, only then will they willingly follow you...

Just as Qiu Tu was habitually boosting loyalty, the door to the temporary office was suddenly pushed open from the outside.

An investigator walked in, saluted Qiu Tu, and then said politely, "Chief Qiu, the minister has asked to see you."

"He says he wants to discuss a case with you."

Qiu Tu was momentarily stunned. Discuss a case with him? What case? The case of Yin Caimei's death?

And just as Qiu Tu was pondering, the long-inactive [Crisis Countdown] began to change slowly...

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