During their descent in the elevator, the three of them happened to bump into each other.
After exchanging glances, Bai Zhi looked at Gu Qing and then asked with a cold expression, "You received the notice too?"
Gu Qing smiled casually and replied, "Yes. How could they not notify us when an Executive Councilor personally arrives at a high-level city's Security Bureau?"
"It's just... being notified at the door, that's rather interesting."
Bai Zhi's face grew stern, "It feels like ill-intent is afoot."
Xun Yi, adjusting her glasses, said expressionlessly, "Even if it is ill-intent, it's aimed at the Special Case Team. It has nothing to do with us."
"After all, you've been handling such a major case without informing us."
"Even a Municipal Councilor was arrested silently. Who wouldn't worry that one day you might even capture the Federal Chairperson?"
"You!" Bai Zhi glared at Xun Yi.
Gu Qing intervened to ease the tension, "Calm down, calm down. Meet force with force, water with earth. Let's first see what the situation actually is."
By then, the three had already reached the entrance of the Security Bureau.
At that moment, the uniformed woman who had alighted from the car, Councilor Wu, had already entered the lobby of the Security Bureau.
Following her were many attendants and security personnel, accompanied by an old acquaintance, the woman with glasses who had last come to assign tasks. She was somewhat resembling Xun Yi in demeanor.
Noticing Bai Zhi and her companions coming down, Councilor Wu glanced at them and then said with a smile, "Vice Director Qingping, it seems the response time of the Emerald City Security Bureau is average."
"If it were in the Provincial Government, let alone a minute. Everyone would have come down in a matter of seconds."
Hearing Councilor Wu's comment, Qingping replied expressionlessly, "Councilor is jesting. The Provincial Government's Security Bureau has special emergency passages, which Emerald City lacks."
In the meantime, Bai Zhi and her companions had finally reached the two.
The three of them bowed slightly and then greeted, "Councilor, Vice Director."
Councilor Wu looked at them and said indifferently, "This time, I am here to convey the Council's plot to the Special Case Team and notify relevant details. Shall we find a meeting room? And could you please summon Commissioner Jiang Cheng?"
Hearing her wording, the three exchanged glances, almost guessing the decision of the Council.
Several minutes later, in a small conference room on the fourth floor of the Security Bureau.
Executive Councilor Wu from Xida State, Vice Director Qingping of the Xida State Security Bureau, Bai Zhi, Gu Qing, Xun Yi, and the summoned Municipal Councilor, Jiang Cheng, sat opposite each other.
Jiang Cheng was neatly dressed, looked spirited, and was seriously reading a book when he entered the conference room, appearing not at all like a suspect detained there but rather like someone on vacation.
Councilor Wu looked at him and then said with a smile to Bai Zhi and the others, "Here's the situation. Last night, Qianfeng's father, the Municipal Councilor Qian He, voluntarily came to the Council to turn himself in."
"He voluntarily confessed to a series of illegal acts he had committed."
"Including collaborating with gangs, leaking Xida State secrets, and illicit selling of strategic materials, among others."
"The Council immediately requested the State Supervision Department to conduct an internal investigation."
"With his cooperation, the investigation went very smoothly. Evidence, both testimonial and physical, was conclusive."
"It can be confirmed that this case was a joint act by him and his son."
"During the investigation, he also voluntarily revealed that Qianfeng had acted under his instructions in initiating contact with Commissioner Jiang Cheng."
"And had deliberately acted in Jiang Cheng's name in Emerald City to cover up their illegal activities."
She emphasized the word "deliberately."
"After several rounds of discussion and considering the investigative report from the Supervision Department, the Council concluded that this indeed was the true account of events, clearing Commissioner Jiang Cheng of any wrongdoings. They sent me to clarify this."
After she finished speaking, the conference room fell somewhat silent for a moment.
After a short pause, Bai Zhi, with a cold face and in a not-so-friendly tone, questioned, "Isn't this a bit too fast?"
"Someone turns themselves in without any provocation? And spills everything precisely?"
"The Supervision Department solved the case overnight?"
"How come so many testimonies and pieces of evidence were gathered so quickly?"
"Is the Supervision Department... really that efficient?"
"Are you treating us like fools?"
Hearing Bai Zhi's words, Councilor Wu replied with a smile, "Director Bai, please don't get agitated."
"If you're dissatisfied with the efficiency of the Supervision Department, you can file a complaint with the Council. We will investigate."
"But the fact that they did it well and quickly is not a mistake, is it?"
Gu Qing yawned from the side and mocked, "It could also be because someone laid all the evidence out on their table."
"In that case, even if you tied a dog there, it could solve the case overnight."
Hearing his words, Councilor Wu was not annoyed.
She said with a smile, "That's just the way it is."
"As for the explanation, I've also given it to you all."
"What follows is the internal affairs of your Security Bureau, I won't interfere."
As she spoke, she looked toward the Vice Director of the State Security Bureau: Qingping.
Qingping's expression was also visibly strained.
But still, she said, "Councilor Wu has just clarified the details of the case."
"Therefore, after deliberation, the bureau has decided to immediately release Jiang Cheng."
"Qianfeng and Qiu Yue will be transferred to the State Supervision Department for processing."
Hearing that not only Jiang Cheng would be released but Qianfeng and Qiu Yue would be transferred as well, Bai Zhi slammed the table and exclaimed, "Why?!"