Let them offer their loyalty!

Chapter 129 What is "God" (10,000 words request for subscription!)

Hearing Qiu Tu's sudden inquiry, Qin Shuman couldn't help but become serious.

Standing by the French window with her arms crossed, she then solemnly said, "Qiu Tu... I must tell you: there are no 'gods' in this world."

"All those who claim to be 'gods' are merely elusive charlatans trying to play god."

"They usually fear the light. That's why they deceive the people with deities and faith."

Possibly fearing that Qiu Tu would stray onto the wrong path, Qin Shuman thought carefully for a moment before expanding on her explanation.

She said, "Now... after all, it is the post-Cataclysm era, and the entire world's Order is very chaotic. Moreover, the matter of Catastrophe Power hasn't been publicized to the masses."

"This leads to some powerful Cataclysmics or Cataclysmic Creatures exploiting the information gap to masquerade as deities, attracting followers, and harvesting their faith."

"The former is less troubling since they are still part of humanity, merely Degenerating for vanity, wealth, or beauty."

"Although we must crack down hard on such behavior, the actual harm isn't considered serious."

"But the latter is extremely frightening...."

"It means that the Cataclysmic Creature is likely a higher-order being, very powerful, and possesses intelligence similar to humans."

"Only then could it seek to grow stronger by attracting believers in the material world and spreading its power, in hopes of descending upon the material world."

Hearing this, Qiu Tu paused for a moment, then asked in surprise, "So, by spreading its power, a Cataclysmic Creature can descend upon the material world?"

Qin Shuman, hearing this, solemnly said, "Yes."

She gazed at her reflection in the French window and slowly explained, "The idea that the spirit can influence reality, though often recorded by scholars and authors, has never been verified and has thus remained a legend throughout history."

"However... ever since the material world went through that great Cataclysm, and the non-material world was born, everything has changed."

"The non-material world is an ocean of spirit, where the spirit of all living beings can play a significant role."

"The purer and more extreme the desires of a being, the more it can provoke changes there."

"Therefore, when a large number of beings devoutly believe in a certain Cataclysmic Creature and pray for its descent into the real world... then that force can penetrate the world's barrier, summoning the Cataclysmic Creature known as 'god' to descend!"

Hearing this, Qin Shuman provided an example, "Take, for instance, the Cataclysmic Creature born from 'Brave New World' that once devastated six or seven cities under the jurisdiction of the Third Sanctuary."

"It too had once descended upon the real world due to its multitude of followers."

Hearing this, Qiu Tu grew serious. He couldn't help thinking of what Wang Xi and the Masked Man in Suit had done: sacrifices, spreading the "glory of god"...

Looking at it this way, they too must be attempting to summon 'god' to descend, right?

With this thought, Qiu Tu hesitated a bit: then... the 'god' that Old Master Qin made a deal with, it should differ from their 'god', shouldn't it?

He was a bit puzzled: don't these Cataclysmic Creatures have their own territories? Would two 'gods' set their sights on Xinjie City at the same time?

While thinking this, Qiu Tu wanted to continue discussing the matter of 'god' descending with Qin Shuman.

But... perhaps the topic of 'god' was just too sensitive. After giving Qiu Tu a brief explanation, Qin Shuman laughed and switched the subject, "Let's not talk about that for now."

"By the way, why did you use your own communicator to call me? Aren't you afraid of being discovered by Yan Chen and the others?"

Upon hearing Qin Shuman's words, Qiu Tu slowly came back to himself and explained with a smile, "I'm not afraid. In fact... I hope they find out."

Qin Shuman hesitated for a moment upon hearing this, then some realization dawned on her, "That's true. We in the Security Department have tricked you and even hijacked your case. If you didn't call to question us, it would indeed be more suspicious!"

Continuing, she said, "But... in that case, you should have called me last night, right? Isn't it too late to call today?"

At Qin Shuman's words, Qiu Tu immediately laughed and retorted, "How do you know I didn't call?"

Qin Shuman uttered an "Ah?" of surprise, looking confused.

Qiu Tu said, "I just didn't call you, that's all."

He paused for a moment, "I tried calling Lin Zuo all through the night."

Qin Shuman didn't understand, "Why?"

The voice of Qiu Tu was gentle and magnetic, "Because I was afraid of disturbing your sleep. You had such a hard day yesterday, I didn't have the heart to bother you....

Qin Shuman was caught off guard by Qiu Tu's abrupt expression of care and intimacy, despite they had been discussing serious matters, and her face flushed red.

She bit her lip and chuckled secretly, "You must be more tired than me... get some rest...."

Meanwhile, Lin Zuo, who had been standing in front of Qin Shuman's desk reporting his work but found himself interrupted, was sporting dark circles under his eyes and wore a speechless expression as he watched the two speak on the phone.

'A pair of lunatics! Not willing to wake the chief, but ok with waking me up?!'

'One call after another! Had me hang up when they got through, to make another call!'

'Insisting this matched the Security Department's attitude towards him!'

'Treating me like a machine for amusement!'

'I need rest too, alright!'

And so, Lin Zuo silently vented his frustration at Qiu Tu's inconsiderateness in his mind.

Lin Zuo had been waiting until Qin Shuman hung up the phone with a beaming smile on her face before he slowly began to speak.

With a stoic look, he glanced at Qin Shuman and asked with his signature indifferent tone, "It seems that both the division chief and the department head hold Qiu Tu in high regard?"

He was one of only three people who knew about Qiu Tu's deal with the Security Bureau.

So, after pausing for a moment, he continued, "They even agreed to his excessive demands. They even granted him the rank of captain."

He left unsaid the fact that he himself was only a lieutenant.

Upon hearing Lin Zuo's words, Qin Shuman, who had been in a good mood from that phone call, paused mid-action.

She put down the communicator heavily on the table and looked at Lin Zuo with a stern face, "Lin Zuo, don't let jealousy cloud your judgment! Have you forgotten your Cataclysm Path?! This is a grave taboo!"

Upon hearing this, Lin Zuo shuddered and quickly responded, "Yes!"

Lin Zuo wasn't naturally prone to envy, so after the reminder, Qin Shuman didn't press the issue further but instead sat down in a chair and reminisced, "Although I... hm, have a rather good relationship with Qiu Tu."

"The conditions he proposed yesterday, however, did startle me," she admitted.

"But when I reported them to the department head, he hardly hesitated before agreeing."

As she said this, Qin Shuman sat down and, picking up a pen from the table, twirled it in her fingers and added, "At the time, I was a bit puzzled as well, just like you. But then the department head enlightened me."

"He said that a person like Qiu Tu, who is resourceful, wise, knows how to strategize and balance interests, is exactly the kind of talent that all three major power institutions are vying for."

"Even if we didn't give Qiu Tu that rank, Yan Chen would soon grant it to him anyway, and his future would be boundless."

"We've only expended an honorary captaincy to bring such a talent into the military fold, which is a gain for us," she commented.

Qin Shuman paused, then remarked, "So… the department head is looking at the future, not just the present."

"After all... if a mere deputy division chief can cause such a stir in Xinjie City, imagine the enormous impact he could have once he truly climbs the ladder."

"Some people are born to be the main character on the stage."

Hearing Qin Shuman's words, Lin Zuo nodded thoughtfully.

After finishing his call with Qin Shuman, Qiu Tu stood by the office window, deep in thought.

Wang Xi and the man in the suit with the mask were definitely up to some strange things in Xinjie City.

From the information Qin Shuman disclosed, they seemed to be the followers or believers of a powerful Cataclysmic Creature, earnestly spreading that creature's power.

As for the benefits of doing this, although Qin Shuman did not specify, the information gleaned from Wang Xi's memory fragments suggested that becoming a 'God's' disciple likely bestows some unique Catastrophe Power.

This Catastrophe Power probably didn't have as low a success rate as the Cataclysmic Awakening Potion and possessed all sorts of bizarre abilities!

This thought led Qiu Tu to think of Old Master Qin, who had "immortality."

If Qiu Tu's guess was right, Old Master Qin was likely not so much making a deal with a 'God' as becoming a 'God's' disciple, which is how he obtained the chance for 'immortality.'

He had just framed it to people like Director Bai as a deal with a 'God' to beautify his own actions.

If so... then he must have done some far-fetched things to spread the 'God's' power as well, right?

Yet... considering all the evidence exposed by the Qin Family thus far, apart from collusion with the United Front, nothing else seems amiss, does it?

'Is there something being overlooked?' Qiu Tu wondered, furrowing his brows slightly.

Just as Qiu Tu was at his wit's end, suddenly, "knock, knock, knock..." the door of the vacant conference room was gently rapped from the outside.

Qiu Tu turned around, only to see Liu Fuping pushing the door open and walking in.

After entering, Liu Fuping complained to Qiu Tu without hiding her annoyance, "What are you, a rabbit? Always burrowing around. You just find an empty conference room and hide away in it."

"I spent ages looking for you."

At her words, Qiu Tu, leaning against the window with arms crossed, teased, "Doesn't Sister Liu know whether I like to burrow around or not?"

As he spoke, Qiu Tu's gaze fell on Liu Fuping's luscious red lips.

Liu Fuping's cheeks flushed red "swoosh" in an instant.

At that moment, she seemed to recall once again the taste of Qiu Tu from not long ago...

She glared seductively at Qiu Tu before saying, "Stop talking nonsense. I'm here to discuss important matters with you."

"The Minister wants to see you."

Upon hearing Liu Fuping's words, Qiu Tu froze for a moment, then his body involuntarily tensed up gradually.

As expected... what was bound to come had arrived...

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