Then, Let Them Offer Their Loyalty!

At this point, Tang Feifei looked around at everyone present, and then slowly began to speak, "Moreover, Minister Qiu told me this afternoon that he had met the 'assassin' disguised as Director Yan's daughter yesterday and this morning."

"And the meeting yesterday took place right in front of Director Yan."

"Isn't there a problem with all this?"

Upon hearing Tang Feifei's consecutive questions, the surrounding senior and mid-level members of the Investigation Bureau fell into a stunned silence.

If they were unclear about what had happened before, simply coming to check on the situation, the meaning behind Tang Feifei's words instantly made the situation crystal clear: this was yet another confrontation between the Tang Faction and the Yan Faction!

Although it was unclear exactly what had happened, it wasn't hard to deduce from the situation on site: either Yan Chen could no longer bear it, flipped the table, and assassinated Qiu Tu; or Qiu Tu and Tang Feifei were plotting a trap for Yan Chen.

But... regardless of the scenario, it meant a massive storm was brewing!

Frankly speaking... if this were in the past, there would be no such storm. These mid and senior level officials would have definitely already sided with Yan Chen, muddying the waters or arguing in defense of him.

After all, Yan Chen used to be the Local Tyrant of the Xinjie City Investigation Bureau, with all mid and senior level positions filled by his followers. Following him meant having a future and prospects.

But now... after a series of counterattacks by Qiu Tu and Tang Feifei, leaving Yan Chen in a difficult position, the whole Investigation Bureau of Xinjie City has come to realize... times seem to have changed.

Yan Chen no longer seems to be the Local Tyrant who had the final say in the Investigation Bureau.

Moreover, after Yan Chen transferred Qiu Tu and the Sanctuary itself promoted him... rumors began to circulate within the Investigation Bureau.

The rumors said: when Yan Chen chose the mid and senior-level officials of Xinjie, he only selected those from his faction, committing a taboo in officialdom.

The Sanctuary was very dissatisfied with Yan Chen's approach of running the Investigation Bureau of Xinjie City as a monolithic block, treating it as his own independent kingdom.

At the beginning of Xinjie City's establishment, there should have only been one Bureau Chief and two Deputy Directors, but the addition of Tang Feifei as a Deputy Director was a sign.

Yet Yan Chen had failed to understand the Sanctuary's good intentions and instead intensified his efforts, marginalizing Tang Feifei.

Only because Xinjie City needed stability in its early days did the Sanctuary refrain from acting against Yan Chen.

Now, after a year and a half, Xinjie's situation has stabilized. The Sanctuary finally made its move again: Qiu Tu's meteoric promotion to Head of the Political Department was a clear signal!

This rumor was well formed, and although it sounded a bit exaggerated, it had its basis in fact.

So, in recent times, the mid and senior levels of the Investigation Bureau have all become unsettled.

Some of them even started to quietly engage with Tang Feifei...

Consequently, when entangled in the struggle between the Yan Faction and the Tang Faction, the mid and senior officials present fell silent...

They felt as if they were being pushed to the edge of a cliff, compelled to make their own choices...

....

Meanwhile.

In Yan Chen's office.

The weather in Xinjie City was very nice today, and the sunshine was lovely. However, the curtains in Yan Chen's office, which are usually drawn, were only half open today.

This rare brightness made the normally dim office seem much more illuminated.

And there, sitting on the sofa in this office, were Yan Chen and Deputy Director Lai Shun, facing each other.

It appeared they had been talking for a while, as the tea by their side had gone cold.

The soundproofing of the office was excellent, blocking out all the noise from outside. But as both of them were Cataclysmics, they could see through the walls just with their Spiritual Vision.

So, they silently watched the commotion outside Qiu Tu's office door, wordless for a long time.

After a moment, Lai Shun let out a long sigh and then said to Yan Chen, "Director, it's my fault that this matter wasn't handled well."

"The Scarlet Widow is known as a killer with a reputation in the black market for the past two years, having hunted more than one Third Order Cataclysmic, especially skilled in disguise and assassination."

"I didn't expect Qiu Tu to see through it, arranging for Tang Feifei to suppress her Cataclysmic Power, disguising herself as an ordinary person, and waiting in the lounge."

Upon hearing Lai Shun's words, Yan Chen's usually expressionless wrinkled face remained unchanged.

He held the cold tea in his hands and then said softly, "You're not to blame."

"No one could have anticipated Qiu Tu being so astute..."

"He had never seen Yanyan, yet he still spotted the flaws."

Hearing this, Lai Shun said with some remorse, "If only I had not been merciful."

"I should have listened to you, Director, and let the Scarlet Widow take out one of Qiu Tu's confidants, disguise as that confidant, get close to Qiu Tu and directly assassinate him."

Listening to Lai Shun's words, Yan Chen slowly shook his head and then said, "The outcome would likely be the same."

"Qiu Tu is too cautious, and he's strong too."

"The Scarlet Widow excels in a one-strike kill following her disguise. Pretending to be one of Qiu Tu's confidants, she might have been discovered before even getting close to him..."

Having said this, Yan Chen let out a deep sigh, took a sip of his cold tea, and lamented, "Fate has its own will..."

After his heartfelt sigh, Yan Chen put his teacup aside, placed his hands on the armrests of the sofa, and then slowly stood up, saying, "Well, whatever the case, now that the plan has failed, we should still deal with the aftermath."

Upon hearing this, Lai Shun also stood up.