Then, Let Them Offer Their Loyalty!

Qiu Tu recalled Tang Feifei's recent behavior.

Indeed, she had been acting somewhat strangely lately…

The biggest issue was that she had stopped flipping over Qiu Tu's card.

Experience from his past life told him: if the bathwater suddenly turned hot and cold, someone else must be using the water with you.

At that time, Qiu Tu thought that Tang Feifei had finally gotten bored with him and had set her sights on another woman…

He actually didn't care. After all, though he had conquered Tang Feifei with "beauty", a relationship based on interests was always more reliable than a physical relationship.

Given the current status, positions, and predicaments of Qiu Tu and Tang Feifei, it was clear that cooperation between them would definitely be more beneficial than falling out.

And now, it turned out that Tang Feifei's recent hot-and-cold attitude was not because there was someone else, but because she was up to something big!

Thinking along these lines, Qiu Tu also analyzed several details revealed in Yan Chen's words.

Firstly, the main purpose of Tang Feifei, or rather the Fengtian Faction, in getting rid of Yan Chen was to clear a position for Tang Feifei.

This was not uncommon in official circles.

After all, what influenced promotion was not just background, ability, and seniority. There also had to be an open spot.

If those above did not get promoted, transferred, arrested, or retire, you would never be able to move up.

After all... for a regime, stability and order are paramount.

This was also why Qiu Tu started making achievements and rising up the ranks initially, but later began to plot against his superiors: if he didn't, he couldn't get promoted.

And now, Tang Feifei showed Qiu Tu just what "politics is the art of compromise" means.

As long as you have enough chips in hand, you don't need to undermine others, you don't need to engage in severe conflicts. Compromise and cooperation can still lead to promotions, and... that's the main melody of politics.

Transferring Yan Chen to the state side allowed Tang Feifei to take over as Bureau Chief while also easing the conflict between Tang Feifei and Yan Chen.

You should know... the kind of resources a core member of the Academic Faction like Yan Chen can mobilize is truly frightening.

Now with Huang Shangzong, a high-ranking member of the Academic Faction, being the State Speaker of Dongye State, Yan Chen's sustainable fighting power there is far stronger than Tang Feifei's.

The Fengtian Faction sent Tang Feifei under Yan Chen's command to toughen her up, not to bring about her downfall.

Now, Tang Feifei, using Qiu Tu's "momentum", has already been able to stand up against Yan Chen, proving her capabilities, so the Fengtian Faction has no further need to keep her locked in a death struggle with Yan Chen.

And moreover... Yan Chen's current weakness is because of [timing]!

The past few months just happened to be around the establishment of Dongye State, and Huang Shangzong was the first State Speaker coming from the Academic Faction.

At such a critical moment, everything in the Academic Faction had to give way to Huang Shangzong's control over Dongye State.

Just as Qiu Tu would not delay or disturb Liu Xiongyuan at such a time, Yan Chen would not disturb Huang Shangzong either.

But once a few months passed and Huang Shangzong had full control over Dongye State... then Yan Chen could employ the power of the Academic Faction and Huang Shangzong. At that time, Tang Feifei and Qiu Tu would face a dimensional attack from the Academic Faction from the state level!

That was the main reason the Fengtian Faction chose to reconcile with Yan Chen at this time and then use its connections to send Yan Chen away.

Having understood the goals of Tang Feifei and the Fengtian Faction, Qiu Tu did not feel the anger of "betrayal".

After all, they were not from the same faction to begin with, and at certain times, they certainly had to consider their own interests first.

Moreover, Yan Chen's transfer was not without gain for Qiu Tu.

His greatest gain was that he would no longer have any direct enemies in Xinjie City.

The most critical thing in Xinjie City right now was the "Boundless Heart Sea Development Project", and Qiu Tu's most important task was to coax Zhao Ji and Larilo and try to gain control of the Boundless Heart Sea Region for Xinjie City.

As long as he truly became the Regional Controller of this area, his path upward would be wide open!

The first Regional Controller of the Eighth Sanctuary!

By then, it wouldn't be Qiu Tu begging various factions for protection but the factions vying to court him!

In times of chaos, strength is the guarantee of status. This kind of strength can be military power, personal strength, or scarce privileges that are tied to oneself!

As for what Yan Chen said about Tang Feifei telling him that Qiu Tu would attack him this morning...

Qiu Tu didn't believe it for a second.

He even felt like laughing.

Because... Yan Chen had completely misjudged the relationship between Qiu Tu and Tang Feifei.

In Yan Chen's eyes, Qiu Tu should be dependent on Tang Feifei. The two of them would work together to deal with him, one providing the brains and the other the backing.

But in reality... Qiu Tu and Tang Feifei had merely a typical cooperation.

Throughout their association, both Qiu Tu and Tang Feifei had silently maintained a certain distance from one another.

They could enjoy each other's bodies, collaborate when dealing with Yan Chen, and consider each other when plotting against enemies.

But... they never meddled in or inquired about each other's affairs. This was their tacit understanding.

After all, the two of them were not fellow travelers.

So... contacting an Evil God, colluding with United Front, assassinating the Bureau Chief—such sensitive matters—Qiu Tu had not told Tang Feifei at all.

And Tang Feifei, though she had a slight hunch yesterday, had not inquired either.

So, Tang Feifei had no idea that Qiu Tu was going to assassinate Yan Chen this morning...

Thinking this through, Qiu Tu couldn't help but scoff.