Spy Wars: I am the Captain of the Military Police

"Treason?" Matsui Iwane almost jumped up from his chair. This accusation was clearly beyond his mental preparation: "This is too exaggerated!

It was just an accident!"

"Accident?" Nakamura Shunsuke's voice remained calm: "Commander, there are more than three armed personnel.

Using standard weapons, systematically attack military police officers wearing obvious markings in areas controlled by the Imperial Army.

Under what definition does this qualify as an “accident”?

Hasegawa Kiyoshi tapped the table lightly, drawing everyone's attention: "The Naval General Staff received an inquiry from the headquarters this morning, asking whether there was any loss of military discipline on the Shanghai front.

It seems the House of Lords is more informed than we thought."

Abe added: "The Third Fleet has also received instructions to strengthen the protection of important personnel, especially officers of noble origin."

These words echoed in the conference room, forming an invisible pressure network that trapped Matsui Iwane firmly in the center.

He looked around and found that his subordinates all lowered their heads and no one dared to speak up in defense at this time.

The strict hierarchy of the empire showed its power at this moment. The gap between the nobles and the common people was not something that could be easily crossed by the military ranks.

Matsui Iwane's chief of staff, Mamoru Iizawa, tried to smooth things over: "Everyone, this matter is indeed serious, but the current war situation is tense. Can you focus on the front lines first and investigate the matter later..."

"Chief of Staff Iizawa," Itai Yudai interrupted coldly, "Do you realize that if this matter is not handled properly, it may affect the logistics supply and troop replenishment of the entire expeditionary force?

The House of Lords has key seats on both the Estimates and Munitions Committees.”

This sentence hit the most sensitive nerve of the army generals. Several officers exchanged anxious glances, and some began to adjust their sitting posture uneasily.

Matsui Iwane took out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat off his face, and this subtle movement revealed his inner panic.

He took a deep breath, trying to regain his commanding authority. "I understand your concerns, but command on the front lines requires centralization. I will personally handle this matter and ensure a satisfactory response."

Nakamura Shunsuke leaned forward and crossed his hands on the table, this action made him look even more oppressive: "Commander, you may not fully understand the seriousness of the situation.

Commander Takazaki asked me to convey that this was not an ordinary attack on an officer, but a complete provocation to the Imperial Military Police and to His Majesty the Emperor."

It was only then that Matsui Iwane noticed a detail: Nakamura Shunsuke's left hand was always placed on a folder, the cover of which was a special royal color, light yellow with a chrysanthemum watermark.

Maybe he noticed Matsui Iwane's gaze.

"Commander," Nakamura Shunsuke's voice sounded again, even deeper than before. "Perhaps you should take a look at this." He slowly pushed the special folder over.

Matsui Iwane's fingers trembled slightly as he opened the folder.

The content of the document inside made him gasp. It was an inquiry letter issued by the Imperial Household Agency, directly requesting the Army Ministry to explain the "safety status of noble officers on the front line."

The document was issued on the second day after Yoshida Hayato was attacked, which means that the incident attracted the attention of the emperor's close ministers as soon as it happened.

"This... How is this possible..." Matsui Iwane's voice was almost a groan: "In such a short time..."

"The aristocracy is the cornerstone of His Majesty the Emperor's rule, and attacking aristocratic officers is to undermine this foundation.

"We've never encountered such rampant behavior in Manchuria or North China. If the Shanghai Expeditionary Force can't handle it properly, then the headquarters may have to reassess the command system here." Nakamura Shunsuke said with a smile, but his words were extremely cold.

It was a naked threat, but wrapped in the most polite official language.

Matsui Iwane's fingers began to tremble slightly. He tried to hide it by picking up the teacup, but the sound of the porcelain colliding with the tray revealed his uneasiness.

He really didn't know what to do. The evidence now pointed to the Expeditionary Force Headquarters, and even more so to himself. He didn't know how to explain Iizawa Mamoru's self-righteous act of "destroying the evidence." . . .

"I need time..." Matsui's voice almost dropped to a whisper: "The battle on the front line is at a critical stage..."

"Time is what we lack most." Itai Yudai interrupted bluntly: "The inquiry letter from the House of Peers will not wait, and neither will Commander Takazaki's patience."

The conference room fell into a long silence again.

Faced with a group of people from the Military Police Headquarters whose highest rank was only Lieutenant Colonel, the officers of the Expeditionary Force Headquarters and even General Matsui Iwane were somewhat overwhelmed.

At this moment, they felt that the people sitting opposite them were not just a lieutenant colonel and two lieutenants, but as if they were facing the old but high-ranking noble lords in the Imperial Noble Court.

Vice Admiral Hasegawa Kiyoshi cleared his throat at the right moment and said, "As a third party, please allow me to say a few words."

He surveyed the room, his voice steady and powerful, "Regardless of the cause, an attack on an Imperial officer on the front lines is an extremely serious incident, especially when it involves a noble officer. This goes beyond the scope of a simple military incident."

Nakamura Shunsuke leaned forward, his voice low but clearly audible: “Your Excellency, Commander, now you should understand why Commander Takazaki attaches so much importance to this matter.

This is not just a matter of an officer being attacked, but it concerns the dignity of the imperial aristocracy and even the trust of the royal family in the army."

After a brief pause to let the weight of his words sink in, Nakamura Shunsuke continued, "Commander Takazaki asked me to tell you that he hopes this matter can be properly resolved at the dispatched force level, rather than being forced to handle it through higher-level channels.

But his patience has its limits.”

Matsui Iwane slumped in his chair, as if he had aged ten years in an instant.

He looked around and saw the indifferent expressions of the naval commanders, the sharp eyes of the military police officers, and the evasive looks of his own subordinates.

He said with difficulty: "The investigation requires..."

"48 hours." Nakamura Shunsuke interrupted him mercilessly: "Commander Takazaki only gives you 48 hours. We will either see the real culprit handed over to the Military Police Headquarters, or... we will take real revenge, and all consequences will be borne by the dispatched troops alone!"

"What do you want to do!" Matsui Iwane stood up with a changing expression.

"You will see that we cannot sit idly by and watch our people being treated unfairly!" Nakamura Shunsuke also stood up, and Hasegawa Kiyoshi next to him also stood up.

Matsui Iwane pursed his lips, raised his trembling finger and pointed at Nakamura Shunsuke, but in the end, he lowered his head: "I... understand. Within 48 hours, I will give an explanation to the Military Police Headquarters."

But when he raised his head, a barely perceptible cold light flashed in his eyes: "But please tell Commander Takazaki that the fighting on the front lines is intense. Any investigation cannot affect combat operations. This is the bottom line of the Army Ministry."

Nakamura Shunsuke smiled faintly, a smile devoid of any warmth. "Of course, Commander, as long as we get the results we want, the Military Police Headquarters will naturally fully cooperate with the frontline operations."