Let them offer their loyalty!

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Enjoy new chapters from My Virtual Library Empire

Hearing Qiu Tu's words, Secretary Bai turned back with a smile, yet he didn't respond.

With his hands clasped behind his back, he stood by the floor-to-ceiling window with an air of gentle refinement, gazing out at the landscape and said softly, "It's started to rain."

Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu couldn't help but cast his gaze outside. Indeed, at some point, a fine rain had begun to fall.

The rain, like threads, bridged heaven and earth, a tenuous connection between the celestial and the terrestrial, linking spirit and reality.

Qiu Tu watched the veil of rain somewhat absentmindedly for a while before he snapped back to reality and inquired, "But... even if one is promoted to a Pseudo Fourth Order, what good does that do for Yan Chen?"

Hearing Qiu Tu's question, Secretary Bai slightly furrowed his brows. Then he reminded, "It's Director Yan..."

At this, Qiu Tu laughed, "Right. So, what good does that do for Director Yan?"

Qiu Tu added another sentence, "I heard from Director Tang that the appointment to positions in the Sanctuary has nothing to do with strength."

"Those with high strength aren't necessarily in high positions, and those with low strength aren't necessarily in low positions."

Secretary Bai nodded upon hearing this and said, "Director Tang is not wrong in what she says."

"But... that's all based on her experience telling you this."

Secretary Bai slowly continued, "But don't forget. What is Director Tang's strength? A Third-Order Peak Cataclysmic, the utmost limit openly supported by the Sanctuary."

"So, with her personal conditions, she doesn't lose to anyone in terms of strength. Of course, she would feel the impact of strength isn't significant."

"Moreover... you should also be clear about Director Tang's identity and background."

Secretary Bai turned around, sat on a low cabinet by the window, and gazed directly at Qiu Tu, "In the whole of Xinjie City, no one is more legitimately born and bred than Director Tang."

"Her father was one of the core founders of the Eighth Sanctuary, one of the highest-ranking officials in the Investigation Bureau."

"Her status and position are even higher than Huang Shangzong's."

"With the strength she has demonstrated, her background, and her current position. The higher-ups of the Sanctuary are indeed grooming her as the core for the Sanctuary's future."

"Who would dare to obstruct her promotion?"

Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu's eyes widened involuntarily.

Truth be told, he had considered that Tang Feifei's identity and background were quite substantial. Especially after meeting Tang Feifei's second uncle, he grew even more certain.

But to be honest... he really hadn't thought it would be this substantial.

If one were to put Tang Feifei into Qiu Tu's previous lifetime, she would be a bona fide red aristocrat, a princess-level VIP.

Seeing his reaction, Secretary Bai smiled genteelly and then said, "You see. You're still not thinking comprehensively enough."

"Actually, there is one detail from which you can infer just how extraordinary Director Tang's identity is."

"The entire hierarchy above and below Xinjie City's Investigation Bureau was built by the Bureau Chief's own hands.

"Whether it's Deputy Director Yu or Vice Director Lai, they're all his people. This also represents that both the 'combat department' and 'administrative department' within the bureau are comprised of the Bureau Chief's confidants."

"Plus, among the nine high-level officials, eight are the Bureau Chief's confidants."

"Under such circumstances, the fact that Director Tang still has a certain amount of influence in the bureau, and that the calculating Bureau Chief can still tolerate her presence, already suffices to prove the extraordinariness of her identity."

Hearing Secretary Bai's words, Qiu Tu nodded slightly, feeling that it really was the case...

At that moment, Secretary Bai continued to explain, "Going back to our earlier discussion."

"For Director Tang, strength is not that important."

He paused, "Or rather, for most mid and senior-level officials, strength isn't that important either."

"Even to the Bureau Chief, on a day-to-day basis, strength is not extremely important."

"But... have you forgotten what time it is now?"

Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu first was startled, then immediately had a realization.

He exclaimed in surprise, "Is the Bureau Chief aiming for the position of Deputy Speaker in Dongye State?"

Secretary Bai's lips curled into a smile. He said nothing, yet everything was communicated without words.

With this critical piece of the puzzle in hand, Qiu Tu suddenly felt as though all the pieces fell into place!

His mind was racing!

The strength of Cataclysmics might not be important under normal circumstances and might just offer a slight advantage during routine promotions.

However, at the time of establishing a new state, it becomes somewhat significant.

One must know that after the establishment of Dongye State, the highest-ranking officials from the three major powers of each city will automatically become members of the council.

And from those forty-plus councilors, three will become Deputy Speakers.

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And the highest officials of each city were of the same rank; their strength and abilities were similar as well; even the backing they had in the Sanctuaries might not be much different.

Choosing one over another was a matter of indecision.

At this time, if Yan Chen were to advance to become a Fourth-order Cataclysmic, wouldn't he stand out among the competitors in the Investigation Bureau's hierarchy?

Especially since Director Liu (the Investigation Bureau Chief of the state government), previously the most hopeful, had been vetoed by Huang Shangzong, he would very likely gain the full support of the Investigation Bureau's faction.

Moreover, the Sanctuary would consider the advantage of having a Fourth-order Cataclysmic to fall back on, so that in the future, even if an Evil God or Cataclysmic Creatures were to descend, Dongye State would have the strength to respond.

Therefore, a chip that initially didn't seem to matter much, when it fell onto the scale at this critical moment, suddenly became a heavy-weight chip that could influence the final outcome!

Realizing this, Qiu Tu suddenly understood Yan Chen's series of plans.

'Indeed, it's Yan Chen... still the familiar tactics: stirring the greatest waves with the slightest change.'

'But... why is Old Bai discussing this with me?'

'Weren't we talking about the Evil God Larilo?'

'What does Yan Chen's promotion have to do with Lariro?'

Thinking this, Qiu Tu's brain spun rapidly.

After a moment, he felt goosebumps all over his body!

He abruptly looked up at Secretary Bai.

At this moment, Secretary Bai had at some point moved to a small table in the bedroom and started brewing tea.

He was not in uniform today; his casual wear was in shades of white, exuding an air of suave and polished charm.

Qiu Tu just watched him, kept watching...

After a moment, he said, "I remember the Security Department once showed me intelligence on Yan Chen. It said he was suspected to be a 'Life' or 'Immortality' path Cataclysmic." (Chapters 42, 95)

"So..."

Before Qiu Tu could finish, Secretary Bai interrupted him, "The Bureau Chief's Cataclysm Path is 'Life'."

Qiu Tu suddenly bit his lip.

He had guessed right!

Yan Chen's Cataclysm Path was 'Life', and Lariro's Cataclysm Path was also 'Life'!

Therefore, the reason Yan Chen had Secretary Bai take refuge with Lariro, the reason he lured Larilo into the real world, was all because he wanted to devour Larilo!

And the reason Secretary Bai was discussing Yan Chen's potential promotion to a Fourth-order Cataclysmic with him was actually to tell Qiu Tu that Yan Chen planned to elevate himself to Fourth-order Cataclysmic by devouring Larilo!

'Damn! That's just insane!'

To be honest, last night, while diligently working with Tang Feifei, Qiu Tu had also pondered many reasons why Yan Chen might have directed Secretary Bai to become an Evil God Cultist!

He considered that Yan Chen had sent Secretary Bai to infiltrate Lariro to prepare for a clean sweep of her followers.

He thought that Yan Chen, fearing death in his old age, wanted to obtain the method of immortality from Lariro.

He even speculated that Yan Chen, like Jia Shu, wanted to cooperate with the Evil God to eliminate rivals but didn't want to get involved personally.

But... no matter which reason he considered, Qiu Tu felt something was unreasonable: after all, Secretary Bai's position and potential were too high.

To sacrifice Secretary Bai for the aforementioned benefits, setting aside whether Secretary Bai would agree, was a mismatch of investment and return even for Yan Chen himself!

Now that he knew Yan Chen was actually plotting a deicide, planning to "eat" Lariro in one bite, everything suddenly made sense to Qiu Tu!

If Yan Chen truly could commit deicide, truly 'eat' Lariro, then the traces of being a follower would also disappear from Secretary Bai!

So, Yan Chen could both advance to Fourth-order and keep Secretary Bai safe!

However, realizing this, Qiu Tu suddenly found himself confused about when exactly Yan Chen had begun plotting all this.

Had it been from the moment he arrived in Xinjie City? From when Larilo descended to this world? Or after he had discovered Larilo's identity?

Thinking this, Qiu Tu's expression turned ugly.

While he was still contemplating how to outsmart Larilo, Yan Chen had already cunningly included Larilo's variable in his plan, using her as nourishment for his promotion!

And he had silently allowed Qiu Tu to strike at Larilo's followers and weaken her forces!

Was this the strategic expertise of an Old Fox?

As Qiu Tu pondered this, suddenly, a green beam of light burst forth outside the window! It then shot from the ground straight into the sky!

At the same time, the phantom of a great tree appeared over the entire sky of Xinjie City, covering 11,200 square kilometers!

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