Agent: Intercepting Yu Manli at the start!

Chapter 39 Unearthed some real stuff!

The next morning, the streets and alleys of Shanghai were already bustling with excitement.

"Breaking News! Breaking News! Minister of Social Affairs and Transportation Li Moqun was assassinated last night by anti-Japanese patriots!"

"Breaking news! Breaking news! Li Moqun was found dead in a hotel, and the killer is nowhere to be found!"

"Breaking news! A notorious traitor lies dead in a hotel room, with not a single clue left at the scene!"

Newsboys shouted as they passed through the streets and alleys, the still-wet ink on the newspapers rustling in the morning breeze.

Li Moqun's death became the focus of heated discussion throughout the city overnight.

The common people walked and laughed, clutching newspapers, whispering among themselves: "He should have been shot long ago!" "That traitor deserved to die a quick death!"—the bitter days he had trampled underfoot were finally over, and now they could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

When the news spread, members of the underground Communist Party, the Central Bureau of Investigation and Statistics (CBIS), and the Military Bureau of Investigation and Statistics (MMIS) all perked up their ears and secretly began to speculate: Who was behind this? What method did they use? Why did they choose the heavily guarded back alley of the Paramount Ballroom?

They themselves had plotted to eliminate the traitors several times, but they repeatedly failed, either due to leaks from insiders or exposure of their operations, resulting in losses for both themselves and others.

For the traitors throughout the city, this blow sent chills down their spines. Now, they always go out with four or five bodyguards, and before entering a house, they sweep the windowsills and check the ventilation openings. Even when they drink tea, someone has to test it for poison—for fear that a silent bullet might drift in from the wind.

At this very moment, Zhou Xiao, the top agent who personally sent Li Moqun to his death, was sitting deep inside the Special Higher Police building.

Inside the Special Higher Police Department's office, Takeshige Aoki sat in the main seat, his gaze slowly sweeping over the two men before him. He nodded and said, "You two are the most trustworthy arms of our great Japanese Empire, and also the most indispensable talents at present. I hope you will do your utmost to serve us loyally—the Empire will never mistreat its meritorious officials."

Feng Manna and Zhou Xiao responded in unison, "Hai!"

Aoki Takeshi shifted his gaze to Zhou Xiao's face, his tone carrying a hint of approval: "Mr. Feng Zixiong has repeatedly praised your quick wit and decisiveness. Your achievements during your time as an undercover agent in the Jinling Military and Political Association are also documented." After a slight pause, he tapped the table lightly with his hand, "By resolution of the Special Higher Police, effective immediately, Zhou Xiao is appointed as the Director of the Intelligence Department of the Special Operations Headquarters."

Chief of the intelligence department?

That was Feng Manna's direct superior—she herself, who was serving as the head of the intelligence section.

"Thank you for your guidance, Section Chief!" Zhou Xiao lowered his eyes and accepted the order.

This appointment came out of nowhere. The intelligence department was in charge of the entire network of informants, secret telegrams, intelligence reports, wiretapping, defection... all key information flowed through it—Aoki had actually handed this key directly into his hands.

A flicker of joy crossed Feng Manna's eyes, but she quickly composed herself and tentatively asked, "Then... who will head the Operations Department?"

The Special Operations Headquarters follows the structure of Unit 76, with two core departments: intelligence and operations, which complement and check each other.

Aoki laughed loudly: "Hahaha, Manna, Mr. Zhou, I was just about to introduce you—the new Director of the Operations Department, Mr. Bi Zhongliang."

Bi Zhongliang?

Feng Manna had never heard of this name before, but Zhou Xiao was startled.

This man is none other than the old-fashioned spy chief in "Sparrow," a man of deep cunning, always with a drink in hand, and deeply devoted to his wife Liu Lanzhi.

In the drama, he was the head of Operations 76. Now, with the shift in time and space, although his position has been slightly adjusted, his meticulous caution and ruthless nature have probably not diminished in the slightest.

Zhou Xiao instantly understood: Aoki gave him the position of head of the intelligence department not out of trust, but as a setup—to have him and Bi Zhongliang work together, one in the open and one in the shadows, one using soft tactics and the other hard tactics, to keep an eye on each other and check each other.

Aoki Takeshige is indeed no pushover.

Before he could finish speaking, the office door was pushed open.

A middle-aged man in a sharp suit, with slightly graying sideburns and a short, stiff stubble on his chin, strode in. His hair was combed slicked back and shiny, but his eyes were sharp and calm like those of a hawk.

It was Bi Zhongliang.

He first bowed deeply to Aoki Takeshige: "Greetings, Section Chief Aoki."

Aoki raised his hand to indicate: "Director Bi, these two are your colleagues who will be fighting alongside you from now on."

"This is Zhou Xiao, the head of the intelligence department; this is Feng Manna, the head of the intelligence section."

"Director Bi has just taken up his new post at the Special Operations Headquarters. I hope that you will all work together to contribute to the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere and to help the Empire expand its territory and achieve great things."

Bi Zhongliang's gaze was deep as he swept over Zhou Xiao and Feng Manna, then he nodded slightly: "Director Zhou, Section Chief Feng, we will be working side by side from now on, please bear with us."

Zhou Xiao clasped his hands in a fist and smiled, "We will certainly cooperate wholeheartedly."

After a few pleasantries, they officially met.

Ultimately, Zhou Xiao knew Bi Zhongliang's background inside and out.

This man was originally a staunch enemy of the Military Intelligence Bureau, but later defected to the enemy, effectively cutting off all his escape routes—the Military Intelligence Bureau would definitely regard him as a mortal enemy and relentlessly pursue him; if he did not fight to the death to serve the Japanese invaders, there would only be one fate: to lie dead in the wilderness. Therefore, Bi Zhongliang worked harder and more ruthlessly than anyone else.

The three then discussed for a long time the deployment of the special operations headquarters, the establishment of the intelligence network, and the list of key targets for monitoring.

Two hours later, Aoki Takeshige waved his hand, signaling Feng Manna and Bi Zhongliang to leave first, leaving only Zhou Xiao behind.

"When you were undercover at the Nanjing Military and Political Association, you were in charge of intelligence gathering. The Special Higher Police have taken notice of your qualifications." Aoki Takeshige leaned forward, his voice low and sharp. "Effective immediately, you will be the head of the Intelligence Department—this is not favoritism, but trust."

He paused, then tapped his fingertip on the table: "We've got a tough one up our sleeves right now, you'll have to handle it yourself. Try to pry him open and get some real information out of him!"

"Okay!" Zhou Xiao agreed readily, then asked only one question: "Underground Communist Party? Military Intelligence Bureau? Or Central Bureau of Investigation and Statistics?"

"The Military Intelligence Bureau's mouths are as tight as iron!" Aoki Takeshige slapped Zhou Xiao's shoulder hard, his eyes as cold as knives. "If even you can't pry him open, then just send him to the Western Paradise."

"Understood." Zhou Xiao nodded, fully understanding.

This isn't assigning a task; it's clearly testing their mettle and collecting their pledge of loyalty.

Aoki Takeshige didn't trust him and only felt truly involved after seeing him draw blood.

Special Higher Police Division dungeon.

"ah--!!!"

The screams tore through the air, echoing through the suffocating, damp torture chamber, one after another, a deafening buzz that sent chills down one's spine and made the hairs on one's back stand on end.

Someone else is being targeted.

Inside cell number 1, several thugs in military uniforms were taking turns "serving" the man on the cross—pulling his fingernails out by the roots, burning his flesh with red-hot iron bars, pouring pepper spray into his nasal cavity... They were using all sorts of new tricks, each one aimed to kill him.

The man was convulsing, his throat emitting incoherent moans, blood mixed with sweat streaming down his face, making it impossible to distinguish between wounds and flesh.

"Will you tell me or not?!"

He clenched his teeth tightly and didn't say a word.

The bones are really hard.

Upon seeing Zhou Xiao push the door open and enter, the executioners immediately stopped, lowered their hands, and retreated to the corner, not daring to breathe loudly.

Zhou Xiao strolled over, casually flipped through the interrogation files on the table, glanced at them briefly, and then looked up to examine the man.

His skin was torn and bleeding, not a single piece of intact skin remained; his body was covered in new wounds overlaid with old ones, clearly indicating that he had endured several rounds of torture.

"Tsk, tough one." Zhou Xiao grabbed his wet hair and pulled it back sharply, forcing him to look up. His voice was slow and chilling. "It's rare for the Military Intelligence Bureau to raise a man like you."

"But this is nothing! Have you ever heard of the death by a thousand cuts?"

"A thousand cuts, each cut a slicing away, starting with the thigh, then the calf, the arm... You watch helplessly as you are sliced ​​away inch by inch, blood flowing like a river, flesh falling to dust—is that enough to be excruciating?"

"Save your energy." The man didn't even lift his eyelids, his voice hoarse but calm. "I won't say anything."

Zhou Xiao knew perfectly well: this was a real man.

Although there were many traitors in the Military Intelligence Bureau, there were also many who were of unyielding integrity—enduring all kinds of torture, they still did not utter a single word and faced death with composure.

The person in front of me is Zhang Dong.

The case file clearly states: a telegraph operator in the Military Intelligence Bureau's communications group, codenamed "Green Pine".

"Keeping intelligence is useless." Zhou Xiao released his grip, turned around, strolled back to his chair, crossed his legs, and said lazily, "And don't expect anyone to come and bail you out. This is the Special Higher Police. Stepping in here is like entering the gates of hell—no living person can get out."

"Death?" Zhang Dong's lips twitched into a smile. "What's there to be afraid of?"

He was the telegraph operator, in charge of the entire keybook. If he spoke, all of the Military Intelligence Bureau's telegrams would be exposed, and the cryptographic system would be paralyzed overnight.

"I'll ask you one last time—keybook, are you going to hand it over or not?" Zhou Xiao suddenly stood up, drew his gun from his waist, and pressed the cold muzzle against Zhang Dong's temple. "If you don't answer now, I'll send you on your way."

While flipping through the case file, Zhou Xiao caught a glimpse of the Special Higher Police medical officer's diagnosis: Zhang Dong's five internal organs were damaged, his lungs and viscera were failing, and he would not last more than three days.

Aoki Takeshige had long since concluded that he couldn't be squeezed dry.

Zhang Dong has been arrested for more than half a month.

How swift was the Military Intelligence Bureau's response? Upon discovering the radio operator was missing, they immediately activated the emergency plan—changing the codebook, altering the call sign, and switching channels—a series of clean and efficient actions. Half a month was enough for them to overhaul the entire code system three times.

That's why Aoki Takeshige pushed Zhang Dong to Zhou Xiao: both to test his skills and to force him to personally eliminate this "useless piece," exchanging a life for an entry ticket.

Shrewd, ruthless, and meticulous.

From the moment Aoki Takeshige handed Zhang Dong over to him, this man was destined not to live past tonight.

"It seems you really want a quick death." Zhou Xiao looked down at the blurred face in the pool of blood, his voice as soft as a sigh. "You know in your heart—after being imprisoned for so long, and knowing so many keys, the Military Intelligence Bureau has long treated you as 'exposed.' The new notebooks have been in use for a while now, and everything you've memorized is just scrap paper."

"Hand over this worthless piece of paper, and you might be able to save your life; but if you refuse to budge, you're really stepping into a coffin with no way back."

"This is a great deal—trading a piece of waste paper for your life. You've actually come a long way in the Military Intelligence Bureau. Why fight to the bitter end when you've reached this point?"

"Have you finished speaking?" Zhang Dong didn't even lift his eyelids, his back ramrod straight, like an unyielding iron bar. "Get to work, stop talking nonsense."

Torture had already torn his flesh apart a thousand times; for him, death was nothing more than the moment his breath stopped.

At this moment, he only wanted a clean, decisive strike, without any hesitation.

"Very well! If you wish to be a loyal soul, I will send you to the heavens."

With a click, Zhou Xiao released the safety, the dark muzzle pressed against Zhang Dong's chest. He leaned forward, his forehead almost touching Zhang Dong's ear, his voice barely a whisper: "The one who pulled the trigger was one of our own... Please, don't hold a grudge."