Chapter 16: The Young Female Pharmacist

"Pharmacist?" Upon hearing this title, Qiu Tu's eyes blinked, and then his gaze fell on the girl.

Perhaps because she heard the two people discussing her, the girl bared her teeth at Qiu Tu in a fierce expression.

But unfortunately... she was too young, and with her two small canines showing, Qiu Tu only saw cuteness.

"Xiafang Street... Xiafang Street..." After mumbling the name "Xiafang Street" twice, Qiu Tu suddenly remembered why it sounded so familiar.

Wasn't this the task that Yan Chen had asked him to handle yesterday, which he had turned down?

So, this girl was the criminal he was originally supposed to take away?

Thinking of this, Qiu Tu couldn't help but feel a sense of fate, so he casually asked, "By the way, where is she being sent to?"

Perhaps Qiu Tu's question was a bit sensitive, so Fang Ming had a hard time answering it.

Just then, in the midst of this awkward moment, Fang Ming suddenly noticed Qiu Tu's new uniform.

He was initially stunned, then he pointed to the new uniform on Qiu Tu and asked in surprise, "You were transferred to the Political Department?"

Qiu Tu merely nodded lightly.

Fang Ming glanced at Qiu Tu's epaulets, and the next second, he was even more astonished, "First Level Detective? You got promoted too?"

Qiu Tu nodded lightly again.

Fang Ming opened his mouth as if to say something but couldn't find the words, and after several attempts, he just managed to utter, "Awesome."

After understanding Qiu Tu's new position, he didn't beat around the bush and directly answered Qiu Tu's question, "She will be temporarily detained at the Old Alley Street Public Security Office."

The Political Department has the authority to monitor all departments, so his response to Qiu Tu's inquiry was completely in line with regulations.

"Old Alley Street...?" Hearing this answer, Qiu Tu was startled for a moment, then thoughtful....

Like that, the two chatted a bit more before their conversation ended with the girl's shouting, "Are you guys leaving or not!" "You're really unprofessional!" "Don't criminals have rights!"

After bidding farewell to Fang Ming, Qiu Tu entered the villa and, following the directions in Jia Shu's message, quickly found a flight of stone steps.

He followed the stone steps downward, and at the end was a massive oak door adorned with iron decorations, ancient and solemn.

Qiu Tu stopped, lifted his hand to the door knocker, and rapped on the door, which soon conveyed Jia Shu's voice from inside, "Come in."

Qiu Tu pushed open the door and entered, discovering a huge underground chamber.

The walls were made of rough-cut stone; in the center stood an oak workbench marked with dried blood and knife carvings, surrounded by all kinds of blades and torture instruments.

A girl covered in scars and showing no signs of life was bound to the oak table, while Jia Shu, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, stood next to her, with a gloved left hand and a sharp scalpel in his right, dissecting her body.

The blade moved along the bones, flesh turned inside out, organs exposed. His movements were so precise they were nearly reverent, as if conducting a mute ceremony....

The chandelier swung, casting faint and harsh shafts of light, dividing light and shadow into a strange geometric pattern, with a faint scent of rust and undried blood lingering in the air.

Even someone like Qiu Tu, accustomed to grand scenes from a former life, was almost unable to withstand such a hellish setting.

After a while, "What a pity..." arose an enigmatic sigh from Jia Shu in the chamber.

Then, he set aside the scalpel, removed his gloves, and washed his hands in a nearby basin.

The clear water gradually stained red, as if it were a basin of blood...

He said faintly, "This girl's parents were once junior managers at the City Hall; she could have had a bright future, could have gone to school with other managers' children, played together...."

"And then after growing up, have a sweet romance, get married, have children, and lead a plain but happy life...."

"But during yesterday's investigation, we discovered that her parents secretly contacted and assisted the anti-government armed forces."

"Thus, a flower that was once vibrant simply withered away...."

Although Jia Shu's words seemed to carry regret, when combined with his indifferent tone and the fact that he personally tortured and executed the girl, Qiu Tu just felt a chill permeating into his heart.

After indifferently recapping the girl's situation, Jia Shu picked up a towel, wiped his hands, and then folded it neatly.

Then, he walked to the wall, opened a cabinet, and took out a familiar cloth package, tossing it to Qiu Tu from across the room,

"Did you see that pharmacist on your way here?"

Qiu Tu paused, then nodded, "I saw her."

A meaningful smile appeared on the corners of Jia Shu's mouth, "The Bureau Chief agreed to your plan but made a small modification."

"Cataclysm materials are controlled items, and we can't just take them out to assist you with your mission. So, that black market pharmacist is for you."

"She not only knows how to make the Cataclysmic Potion but also has black market connections. Her value vastly exceeds that of mere Cataclysm materials. Enough to satisfy the Qin Family."

Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu felt a surge in his heart.

The value of the pharmacist indeed outweighed that of the Cataclysm materials, but... it was not as convenient as the Cataclysm materials.

With the Cataclysm materials in hand, he could just run away if things turned south.

But a living person, a girl of fifteen or sixteen at that, would undoubtedly make it much more difficult and risky to escape with her.

Did Yan Chen guess that he might attempt to flee and intentionally arrange this encumbrance?

As Qiu Tu's brain raced, he didn't forget to keep up his act with Jia Shu, "Cataclysmic Potion? Pharmacist? What are all these?"

Jia Shu adjusted his gold-framed glasses, speaking indifferently, "You'll find all the answers to these questions in the material inside the cloth package. Take your time to read through it."

"Right, remember to destroy it and keep it confidential after reading."

Having said that, he looked deeply at Qiu Tu, and said lightly, "You wouldn't want to know the consequences of a leak..."

Qiu Tu: ....

After warning Qiu Tu, Jia Shu waved his hand in dismissal, "Now, go read the material."

"Once you are done, remember to find Qin Shuman and persuade her to return to the Qin Family."

"The Bureau Chief's patience is limited."

"Yes, sir!" Hearing this, Qiu Tu stood at attention and saluted precisely.

After saluting, Qiu Tu took the cloth package and stepped out of the underground chamber.

What he didn't know was that behind him, Jia Shu's gaze followed his departing figure like a shadow, the desire hidden behind his glasses nearly spilling out from the depths of his eyes....

[9:03:18 (Treasure Chest)]

.....

As he exited the basement, the fresh scent of soil and fallen leaves rushed to meet him, starkly contrasting the suffocating stench of blood from the basement.

Qiu Tu took a deep breath of the chilly air, looked up at the overcast sky, and stepped into the mansion.

Guided by a servant, he sat down in a reception room, ready to inspect the intelligence on supernatural powers provided by Jia Shu.

This information would be crucial for his plans moving forward...