Then let them offer their loyalty!

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These details reveal that while the Cataclysm may indeed be powerful,... it's very likely that it's not that powerful, or that it has some serious problems.

Sure enough, Tang Feifei explained, "Based on the shelter's research on the various catastrophic creatures in the [Boundless Heart Sea]."

"All the catastrophic creatures can be roughly divided into five tiers."

"The first rank is the weakest, and the fifth rank is the strongest."

"As their rank rises, the Cataclysmic Beings will progress further along their respective paths. They will become increasingly aligned with their paths..."

"This leads to a very serious problem: no matter which path is taken, once it becomes extreme, it is likely to cause enormous harm."

"For example, the most peaceful path of order. As their status rises, beings on this path become increasingly demanding in their pursuit of order."

"From the placement of a single item to the operation of a nation, everything must follow its order, without the slightest change or alteration..."

"For example, the most dangerous path to destruction. As a being's status increases, the destructive desires within it will also grow stronger."

"He wants to destroy objects, he wants to destroy the people around him, and even destroy everything in the entire world..."

"So when their rank rises to the fourth rank or above, ... no one knows whether they can still be considered human."

"Perhaps... they are just puppets assimilated by the cataclysmic pathway?"

Hearing this, Qiu Tu suddenly realized. He said, "I remember you just said that you are the highest-ranking Tier 3 Cataclysm allowed by the Sanctuary. Is that the reason?"

Tang Feifei nodded and explained, "Yes."

“While the shelters support officials at all levels to awaken as catastrophic agents.”

"However... we do not use strength as a criterion for promotion. Nor do we support officials at all levels becoming high-level Cataclysms."

Tang Feifei paused for a moment, then said, "Tier three is the highest level the shelter can accept. You could also say it's the limit for maintaining sanity..."

Hearing this, Qiu Tu finally understood why Tang Feifei was so confident in her abilities.

To put it bluntly, unless you're dealing with those reckless catastrophic creatures, Tier 3 Cataclysmic Beings are indeed the current ceiling of power...

Seeing that Qiu Tu had taken it to heart, Tang Feifei added, "Furthermore, the shelter's higher-ups have reached a consensus on whether to train high-level cataclysms."

That is, regardless of the world or the era, the power of the collective is always greater than the power of the individual.

"After all... the power of the collective can be passed down. But the power of the individual may cease to exist with the death of the individual."

"So... instead of piling up resources to cultivate a group of uncontrollable high-level catastrophe agents."

"It would be better to focus on studying the techniques used before the cataclysm, or researching how the power of the cataclysm can be integrated into machinery and objects, and forge a path for [Cataclysm Techniques]..."

"This is the precious treasure that can be passed down to future generations. This is the true path to save humanity."

At this point, Tang Feifei smiled and said, "After all, even the most powerful Cataclysm can't withstand a nuclear bomb, can it?"

After learning from Tang Feifei the differences between the first, second, and third tiers of Cataclysms; the Cataclysm's levels and paths; and the development direction of the Sanctuary.

Qiu Tu also gained a certain understanding of his future development and the comparison of his strength with Jia Shu....

Thinking this, Qiu Tu looked at Tang Feifei and said directly, "Feifei, this time, I might really need your help."

Tang Feifei didn't notice Qiu Tu's increasingly audacious change in address...

She raised an eyebrow slightly, then a smile appeared on her face, as if her prey was finally taking the bait. "Sure. But... it won't be free."

As she spoke, she stood up and stretched. Perhaps because her workout clothes were a bit short, her flat stomach and V-line were revealed when she raised her arms.

Seeing this, Qiu Tu laughed, "Aren't you curious about what kind of help I need from you?"

Tang Feifei looked down at her, her eyes filled with the teasing gaze of a hunter towards its prey. "Could it be... that you have other ideas?"

Meeting that gaze, Qiu Tu nodded slightly.

He said, "Politics has never been about fighting and killing."

"A dump truck hitting someone can be used once, but only in the most critical moment."

"Although I don't understand why my usually shrewd boss would choose such a risky path, I feel that he's not worth me using this last resort."

Hearing Qiu Tu's words, Tang Feifei looked at him in surprise, "Then how do you want to resolve this matter?"

Qiu Tu smiled mysteriously, then beckoned to Tang Feifei, "Come here, I'll tell you the next plan..."

Seeing Qiu Tu's confident expression, Tang Feifei curiously leaned closer to listen.

Two minutes later, her wheat-colored face was filled with astonishment...

She looked Qiu Tu up and down as if she were seeing him for the first time, and then commented, "You really are... insidious."

“However…” she drawled, whetting Qiu Tu’s appetite, before saying, “I like it.”

At this point, she changed the subject and asked, "But... what about my benefits?"

Qiu Tu was already lying down when he stretched out his hand. "Pay back with my body. I'll spend the night with you."

Tang Feifei, “Two nights.”

Qiu Tu: "Deal."

.....

Tang Feifei was efficient and decisive in her work. After reaching an agreement with Qiu Tu on the cooperation, she acted swiftly and decisively.

She readily jumped out of the window and left the villa. She didn't even... flirt with Qiu Tu.

In her words: No rush... After things are over, she will have two days to enjoy Qiu Tu.

Qiu Tu's expression at that moment was like that of an old man on the subway looking at his phone...

Watching Tang Feifei leave, Qiu Tu turned and went back to the villa. He then took out a pen and paper and wrote down the first step of his plan: capture the man in the suit...

[Jia Shu's Assassination (30 hours)]

【The Gaze of the Evil God (∞)】

.........

6 p.m.

Because it was already late autumn, it got dark relatively early.

In the dark evening sky, on the outskirts of a small villa near Longshan Road in the planned area.

Qiu Tu was communicating with the security personnel who were keeping watch, "Are you sure that the man in the suit hasn't come out of this villa since he entered last night?"

Upon hearing Qiu Tu's question, a male staff member nodded and said seriously, "Confirmed."

"Furthermore, we have also checked that apart from the three entrances on the ground, there are no other entrances or exits to this villa."

Qiu Tu nodded upon hearing this, then waved to Cao Dabiao behind him.

Upon seeing this, Cao Dabiao quickly bowed and walked over.

As Qiu Tu looked at the villa, he asked, "Has the ownership of this villa been clarified?"

Standing next to him, Cao Dabiao looked visibly embarrassed. He said, "Not yet."

“The villa is listed as unclaimed in the Civil Affairs Department’s records, but our records show that it has changed hands several times.”

"But... all the buyer records are blank. It's obvious that someone deliberately erased the records."

"There is likely some shady secret involved."

Hearing Cao Dabiao say this, Qiu Tu couldn't help but recall the scenes he had seen in his fragmented memories this morning...

Could it be that villa?

After an afternoon of investigation, the investigation team, as requested by Qiu Tu, secretly searched the homes of the section chiefs and department heads who had been taken away a few days ago.

Unfortunately, among the 33 section chiefs and department heads, at least 19 of their family members have gone missing.

They have most likely all been kidnapped by the man in the suit and Wang Xi, and no one knows where they are hiding or what kind of suffering they have endured...

It's fair to say that even before the "August 8.16th pharmacy robbery case" was solved, a colossal scandal was already on the verge of exploding in the upper echelons of New Territories society.

While worrying about this, Qiu Tu checked the villa's floor plan again and said, "According to the afternoon's plan, divide into groups to guard all the entrances and exits to prevent the target from escaping."

"At the latest by 6:30, a security officer will knock on the door to inquire, and at that time, the arrest will be carried out immediately!"

"Yes, sir!" Upon hearing Qiu Tu's words, Cao Dabiao quickly saluted and then went back to direct the operation...

.....

Meanwhile, inside the Investigation Department.

Office of the investigation team for the 8.16 pharmacy robbery case.

Because Qiu Tu had transferred two groups of people, there were only a few detectives from the Public Security Bureau, along with Wang Xi and Song Qing, in the office at this time.

Perhaps it was because he had become a Cataclysmic Being that he had developed telepathy. Wang Xi's right eyelid kept twitching, as if something bad was about to happen.

He looked up at the few people in the investigation team and felt something was off.

But perhaps worried that he was just imagining things, he looked at Song Qing beside him, hesitated for a moment, and then asked, "Song Qing, don't you feel like something's not right?"

The girl, Song Qing, was playing a mobile game with her head down.

On the yellow pixelated screen, a simple Tetris game kept her entertained.

-------

Still 3 chapters, 10,000 words each. I went to bed too late tonight, and I have to work tomorrow, so I estimate the third chapter will be around 8 PM. I'll try to finish earlier.

Chapter 162 The Man in the Suit is Arrested! (10,000 words, please subscribe)

Song Qing, engrossed in the game, clearly didn't understand Wang Xi's hint.

She gave a cute "Huh?" and then, without even looking up, asked while continuing to play her game with an innocent expression, "What's wrong?"

Wang Xi sat down next to her, pointed to the empty investigation team office, and then said in a low voice, "Don't you feel... like we've been abandoned again?"

"Brother Biao, Brother Feng and the others have been gone for two days. Xiao Liu, Huo Yan and the others were also called away this afternoon."

"Even... Sister Liu hasn't shown her face these past two days."

"We're the only ones who haven't had any other tasks; we've just been sitting in the office killing time."

Upon hearing Wang Xi's words, Song Qing looked up blankly from the communicator, glanced around the office, and then gave a dazed look. "Yeah!"

As if just realizing something, she stopped playing the game, jumped up abruptly, glanced around the office, and then said in surprise,

"We're really the only ones left behind!"

Why?!

"Were they on a mission? Then why didn't they take us with them?"

"It's not the weekend, and we haven't gotten off work yet, so it doesn't count as overtime!"

Hearing Song Qing's barrage of questions, Wang Xi's gaze darkened slightly. He considered a possibility...

So, his eyes flickered slightly, and an idea formed in his mind. He looked at the innocent-looking Song Qing and said with a smile, "Song Qing, how about... you call Sister Liu and ask what's going on?"

"Maybe they just went out to a party and didn't invite us?"

Song Qing: ? ?

Song Qing glanced down at Wang Xi and said irritably, "Wouldn't that make you even more ostracized?"

After saying that, she sat down angrily and lay back down on the table. Her newly developed breasts pressed against the table, instantly forming a "V".

She pouted, "I'm not going to ask. I'll ask the officer after the mission is over! I'll see if he doesn't consider me one of his own!"

Seeing that Song Qing hadn't fallen for it, Wang Xi hesitated for a moment, then smiled and said, "If you don't want to ask, then don't ask."

"I'm going to the restroom."

Song Qing took out her communicator and continued playing Tetris, pouting and saying nonchalantly, "Go ahead, go ahead."

Wang Xi grunted in agreement, then got up and left the office.

But... what he didn't notice was that as soon as he left, the innocent expression on Song Qing's face immediately vanished.

She cautiously peeked at Wang Xi's retreating figure, and once she was sure he was gone, she quickly closed the game and sent a text message via her communicator: "Target left the office, suspected of tipping off someone."

After sending the message, she returned to her relaxed state and continued playing games on the table as if nothing had happened.

As she played, she muttered to herself, "They didn't leave me out. They just gave me a more important task."

"So... you're the only one who's been isolated, Wang Xi... hehe..."