One day, after forming a contract with the old god,

Outside the task force office.

Lu Xiuli arrived first, and about five minutes later, Guo Pengqiang also arrived.

After the two of them greeted each other tacitly, they never spoke again.

The atmosphere suddenly became a little delicate.

From the moment they met until now, Lu Xiuli always had a polite and distant smile on his face.

This kind of smiling look made him feel inexplicably upset.

There was a feeling that he was being looked down upon, but he couldn't make a big fuss about it.

He is as cunning as ever...

But then I thought about it, how could the old fox raise a little white rabbit?

Perhaps the waiting process was too long, or perhaps Guo Pengqiang, the head of the Investigation Department, had never waited for others. After pacing in circles for a few times, he began to chat with Lu Xiuli, who always kept an appropriate distance from him.

"The weather is going to change." He hinted, looking out the window at the clear sky.

Lu Xiuli did not answer, but followed his gaze thoughtfully and looked out the window.

That faint smile still hung on his face.

Guo Pengcheng withdrew his gaze and looked at the other person carefully, trying to see any leaked emotions on his face.

Unfortunately, he saw nothing.

On the contrary, there was no smile in those eyes from beginning to end, which made people look inexplicably cold.

Lu Xiuli noticed the other person's gaze on him and calmly looked away: "Minister Guo really loves to joke."

He didn't say the rest.

Guo Pengqiang did not ask further questions.

But both of them knew the tone of the other's words.

It was obviously a clear sky, so how could it suddenly change?

At present, the federation is indeed increasingly divided due to the competition between various forces, but no one can say who will win until the last moment.

How can you be sure that this world will suddenly change?

Guo Pengqiang was not unhappy because of the hidden meaning in his words. Instead, he seemed to be aroused and patiently suppressed the other party's pride little by little: "Is Minister Zhao's term coming soon?"

He saw the coldness in Lu Xiuli's eyes, and his heart suddenly felt relieved.

"So?" Lu Xiuli responded calmly.

Guo Pengqiang did not answer immediately, but turned around and pulled up a chair and sat down, then slowly took out a cigarette.

After lighting it, I didn't smoke it, I just held it between my hands and looked at it with a half-smile.

He did not immediately answer the questions Lu Xiuli threw back, as if he was deliberately trying to embarrass the other party.

In the past, there were rumors of Guo Pengqiang's interrogation methods within the federation.

He is best at psychological warfare, and he disdains the method of subduing someone to make a move.

In his words, physical damage is far less satisfying than breaking down the enemy's psychological defenses bit by bit.

Guo Pengqiang sat down and Lu Xiuli stood.

The strength of the momentum between the two people gradually widened the gap from this subtle change.

The lit cigarette was an obscure metaphor for Lu Xiuli:

He was like this hand that couldn't get rid of its control, and could only watch himself being burned away bit by bit under the coercion.

Guo Pengcheng was telling him that even if you are someone close to Zhao Changzhong, you will still have to succumb to the suppression of status under the changes in the system. Finally, when Lu Xiuli was about to lose his patience, he turned his attention to the tightly closed office door.

Guo Pengqiang's voice came slowly from the smoke: "As far as I know, there are no people from the ancient school of thought in the federation. Zhao Changzhong, as a descendant of the ancient school of thought, did bring glory to the federation, but the glory will eventually be lost." It fades with the passage of time."

"It's just like now, when my term is about to come, but I have to face the situation of no successors and no successors." He slowly took a puff of cigarette and blew it in front of Lu Xiuli, "Tsk."

"The ancient school of thought will never die." Lu Xiuli said, "They just temporarily withdrew from the stage of history, not dead."

Ancient learning is a traditional school that has been passed down to this day. As a descendant of the ancient school, Zhao Changzhong once again awakened the public's attention to ancient learning with his illustrious military exploits.

For a long time, the Ancient School played an important leading role in society and helped the Federation consolidate its foundation.

A large part of the reason why Zhao Changzhong can take the position of Minister of National Security is everyone's choice.

At that time, if the Federation wanted to gain a foothold, it would have to rely on his influence in the hearts of the public.

Zhao Changzhong did not want the ancient knowledge that has been passed down to this day to be completely submerged by his generation, so he took up this responsibility and guarded the entire country conscientiously.

Once upon a time, due to certain needs, a large number of people from the Ancient School were introduced into the Federation.

This matter was actually a hidden danger planted for him by intricate forces.

Later, Zhao Changzhong resolutely expelled the ancient disciples who served in the federation, taking into account the suppression of various forces and to prevent ancient learning from being contaminated.

At that time, many people could not understand his self-destructive approach.

But Lu Xiuli knew that even if Zhao Changzhong did not do this at that time, under the pressure of many forces in the future, those people from the ancient school would be expelled.

Even in a more tragic way.

When the birds are gone, the good bow is hidden.

The cunning rabbit dies, the running dog cooks.

The principles that have been taught throughout the ages are always applicable no matter what time.

Guo Pengcheng saw the anger on Lu Xiuli's face, and the other party's pain points were displayed in front of his eyes. The unprecedented smoothness allowed him to continue to press on again and again: "After Secretary Lu reminded me, I remembered We found someone, Zhao Zhiru, who is in the abnormal project team. She is the granddaughter of Minister Zhao, and she is also the only one who can survive safely until now."

"Everyone knows that the anomaly project team is a thankless place and often needs to appear at the scene of accidents. But even if faced with this situation, Minister Zhao still resolutely sent her to the front line.

This reminds me of Minister Zhao many years ago, who also relied on his mortal body to turn the tide. "

"There is a saying that goes, if a veteran never dies, his legacy will be passed down from generation to generation." It was obviously a compliment, but when it came to Guo Pengqiang's mouth, it was obviously ridiculing.

It's like saying that Zhao Changzhong is an old fool.

The same beginning, the same process, and even the same predictable ending.

Obviously I have experienced it myself once.

Now that the same dilemma has happened to Zhao Zhiru, why is he still not smart enough to learn?

Even if Guo Pengqiang didn't look at Lu Xiuli across from him, he knew that his complexion must be bad.

Under such a double critical attack, no one else would feel comfortable hearing this.

But he didn't feel that discomfort, and he was even very relaxed.

"If Minister Zhao just wants Zhao Zhiru to accumulate some qualifications so that she can climb up the ladder in the future, then it is too late to push her into the game. Not to mention that after he leaves office, Zhao Zhiru will still be able to gain a foothold within the federation without asylum. Is that so?" He raised his lips and reminded with a pretense of kindness, "If Minister Zhao really cares about her, it would be better to let her leave with dignity as soon as possible."

"Just like back then." The last sentence was like a warning, but also like the last mercy between colleagues.

Just like what Zhao Changzhong did back then, he cut off his own wings with his own hands.

Isn't he the best at doing this kind of thing?

Lu Xiuli saw full of malice in his eyes.