Spy war in the Republic of China, peak undercover

Zhou Hai's body was disposed of secretly, as if it had never existed.

The top-secret document seized from him was carefully taken back to the photo studio by Old Wei and locked in the safe in Lu Yang's office. The turmoil at Military Intelligence Bureau headquarters was temporarily suppressed thanks to Lu Yang's decisive handling, and superficial calm was restored. But everyone knew that beneath this calm lay a more turbulent undercurrent.

Lu Yang sat in his office, fiddling with the blood-stained contact badge he'd picked up from the "old place" teahouse. The cold metal felt like a constant reminder of the hatred for his fallen comrades and the ghostly presence of "Zero."

Zhou Hai's dying words lingered like a demonic sound, piercing his ears. "'Zero' has to deal with not only the Military Control Commission, but also..." What else? What was it that Zhou Hai couldn't say? This became Lu Yang's biggest question.

The scope of Zero's target seemed to be far beyond his expectations. He not only wanted to steal intelligence and create chaos, but he might even have the ambition to overthrow the entire mountain city and even influence the entire war situation.

Who was that mysterious man in black? He was so agile, so ruthless, and so well-informed about the KMT's internal affairs, able to silence them precisely at the crucial moment. Was he one of Fujita's men? Or perhaps one of Zero's direct subordinates?

Lu Yang rubbed his swollen temples, feeling a wave of deep fatigue. The enemy was hiding too deeply, and the clues were interrupted again and again, leaving him with a feeling of powerless.

He opened the safe and took out the manila document bag. He needed to carefully study the documents Zhou Hai had stolen, perhaps he could find some clues about "Zero".

The contents of the file bag made Lu Yang more and more frightened. It contained not only a detailed map of the Military Control Commission's deployment in the mountain city area, the locations of secret contact points, a list of undercover personnel, but also several scattered intelligence analysis reports on the "Pangu Project" and the "Bashu Order"!

Zhou Hai, that bastard! He practically stripped the Military Control Commission of the mountain city of its underwear! Fortunately, these things didn't fall into the hands of the Japanese or "Zero", otherwise the consequences would be disastrous.

Lu Yang carefully read the reports on the "Pangu Project" and the "Bashu Order." Most of these reports were Zhou Hai's speculation and analysis based on various scattered information. Although incomplete, they still revealed some clues.

The report mentioned that the "Pangu Project" appeared to involve cutting-edge technology capable of changing the course of the war, with participants including not only American experts but also some scientists secretly hired from Germany. The "Bashu Order" was more than just a token of support for the Sichuan Army; it appeared to be connected to a vast, secret organization hidden within the army.

Cutting-edge technology? A secret organization? Lu Yang's brow furrowed even further. All this information pointed to a larger, more complex conspiracy.

He reorganized the documents and locked them back in the safe. It seemed that the most urgent task now, in addition to continuing to track down "Zero" and the whereabouts of the mysterious man in black, was to intensify the investigation into the "Pangu Project" and the "Bashu Order."

"Dong dong dong." There was a knock on the door.

"Come in."

Liu Ruyan pushed the door open and walked in, a serious look on her face. "Lu Yang, I have some new information."

"explain."

"I've sent people to monitor unfamiliar faces moving around the city and discovered that several of them have been frequenting a dance hall called 'Paramount,'" Liu Ruyan explained. "That hall has a complicated background. The owner is a Pao-bro tycoon named Huang Sanye, well-connected and well-connected. He's well-respected by both the black and white worlds."

"The Paramount Ballroom?" Lu Yang had some impression of this place. It was a famous den of illicit entertainment in the mountain city, and a place where various forces competed. "What were those strangers doing there?"

"It's not clear yet." Liu Ruyan shook her head. "However, my people noticed that every time they went there, they would come into contact with a singer in the ballroom. That singer is called White Rose. She is the top performer at the Paramount. She is very beautiful, but she is said to be very secretive and rarely interacts with the guests."

"White Rose..." Lu Yang repeated the name, a sharp glint in his eyes. "What kind of secrets could a singing girl have access to?"

"That's exactly what I'm suspicious of," Liu Ruyan said. "This White Rose might be someone special. Furthermore, my people discovered that the man in black, Wang Mingde, who we captured a few days ago, was also a regular at the Paramount and had contact with White Rose."

Wang Mingde also had contact with Bai Meigui? Lu Yang's heart skipped a beat. Could it be that Bai Meigui was also a pawn planted by "Zero" in the ballroom? Or perhaps, she herself had some special relationship with "Zero"?

"This White Rose must be thoroughly investigated!" Lu Yang made a prompt decision. "I will personally go to the Paramount and meet this White Rose."

"It's too dangerous!" Liu Ruyan objected immediately. "Places like the Paramount are full of bad people, and Mr. Huang Sanye is not someone to be trifled with. Your identity is sensitive now, and if you go there rashly, you'll easily be exposed."

"No venture, no gain." Lu Yang smiled, but his eyes were firm. "Don't worry, I know what to do. Help me prepare and find a suitable identity."

Liu Ruyan looked at Lu Yang's resolute expression and knew she couldn't persuade him, so she nodded. "Okay, I'll help you arrange it. But you must be careful."

That evening, Lu Yang donned a sharp suit and styled his hair into a sleek, sleek hairstyle, transforming himself into a wealthy, suave, and charismatic young man. This was the identity Liu Ruyan had meticulously crafted for him: a wealthy overseas Chinese businessman who had recently returned from Southeast Asia and was in Shancheng seeking business opportunities.

He drove a luxurious black car and arrived at the brightly lit Paramount Ballroom under the cover of night.

The dance hall was bustling with activity, neon lights flashed, and the air was thick with the scent of perfume, alcohol, and decadent music. Scantily clad dancers and men in suits came in and out, creating a scene of lively singing and dancing.

Lu Yang pushed open the car door, adjusted his tie, put on a cynical smile, and strode into the ballroom.

The interior of the ballroom was even more magnificent, with a huge crystal chandelier emitting a dazzling light. Men and women danced together on the dance floor, and the band played lazy jazz. The bar was full of guests, and waiters were walking around with trays.

Lu Yang found a booth by the side and sat down, ordered a glass of whiskey, but his eyes scanned the entire dance hall inconspicuously, looking for the singer named White Rose.

Soon, his attention was attracted by a dazzling figure on the stage.

A woman in a silver sequined cheongsam stood center stage, microphone in hand, singing a melodious song with deep emotion. She was tall, curvaceous, and breathtakingly beautiful, with a pair of bright eyes that seemed to captivate and captivate.

She is the White Rose.

Her voice was like a heavenly sound, instantly attracting the attention of everyone in the audience. After the song, there was thunderous applause.

Lu Yang looked at the white rose on the stage, but he was secretly wary. This woman, as beautiful as a rose with thorns, was definitely not as simple as she seemed. What was her relationship with "Zero"?

After Bai Meigui finished her song and walked off the stage, she was immediately surrounded by a group of men, all of whom were paying her attention. But she just smiled politely, kept her distance from them, and walked straight to the bar.

A glimmer of opportunity flashed in Lu Yang's eyes. He picked up his glass, stood up, and walked towards the bar.

Just as he was about to approach the bar, a burly man in a black suit suddenly blocked his way.

"Sir, our boss would like to invite you over for a drink." The man said expressionlessly, but there was a hint of unquestionable pressure in his eyes.

Lu Yang frowned slightly. He didn't know this man, let alone their boss. Could it be that he had been exposed?

"Who is your boss?" Lu Yang asked casually.

"Mr. Huang San." The man replied coldly.

Mr. Huang Sanye! The boss of the Paramount, the Pao Brothers boss! What did he want to do with him? Lu Yang was full of doubts, but he remained calm on the surface.

"Okay, it's my honor to receive an invitation from Mr. Huang San." Lu Yang smiled and followed the man in black towards a luxurious box on the second floor of the ballroom.

The second-floor private room was clearly more luxurious than the one downstairs, with thick Persian carpets, elegant European furniture, and a few incomprehensible Western oil paintings hanging on the walls. The air was filled with the rich scent of cigars, mixed with a faint hint of sandalwood.

Sitting on the sofa in the center of the box was a middle-aged man dressed in a black satin Tang suit. He was slightly plump, with a ruddy complexion and a large jade ring on his finger. He puffed leisurely on a cigar, his eyes narrowed, like a lazy yet dangerous cat. He was Mr. Huang Sanye.

Next to Mr. Huang Sanye, there were several men wearing long gowns and jackets, with tough expressions. They were obviously his subordinates.

When he saw Lu Yang coming in, Mr. Huang San didn't stand up. He just raised his eyelids and looked him up and down with a scrutinizing look.

"This must be Mr. Lu who came back from Southeast Asia, right? He is indeed a handsome man, young and promising." Mr. Huang Sanye blew out a smoke ring, his voice low and with an aura of majesty.

Lu Yang was secretly horrified. This Third Master Huang was indeed well-informed, even knowing his fake identity. It seemed that the Paramount was truly a place of hidden talents.

"Thank you for your compliment, Third Master Huang. I'm new here, so I'll be grateful for your continued support." Lu Yang wore a well-placed smile and bowed with a composed attitude. He knew that in front of the Pao Brothers, being too weak would lead to disdain, while being too assertive would only lead to trouble. He had to strike a balance.

"Sure, sure." Mr. Huang smiled and pointed to the sofa opposite him. "Boss Lu, please sit down. Someone, bring some good tea!"

A waitress in cheongsam immediately brought a set of exquisite purple clay tea sets and began to brew tea skillfully.

Lu Yang sat down calmly, his eyes calmly meeting Mr. Huang's scrutiny. He knew that Mr. Huang had called him here for more than just a cup of tea.

"Boss Lu, what kind of business are you planning to do when you return to Shancheng this time?" Mr. Huang asked casually, his fingers tapping lightly on the armrest of the sofa.

"Haha, I've been doing some small business in Southeast Asia and earned some hard-earned money. I'm thinking of returning to my roots and looking for opportunities in China," Lu Yang answered without missing a beat. "Shancheng is a major city in the southwest, with endless business opportunities. I'm still in the exploratory phase and don't have a clear direction yet."

"Oh? The investigation phase?" Mr. Huang smiled meaningfully. "I heard that Boss Lu seems quite interested in the arms business as well."

Lu Yang was startled, but remained expressionless. "Master Huang, you're joking. The arms business is a life-threatening one. I'm too timid to touch it."

"Really?" Mr. Huang's eyes grew sharper. "But my people saw Boss Lu wandering around the black market in the west of the city for quite a while a few days ago, and he even got a lot of information about arms."

Lu Yang cursed inwardly. It seemed that Mr. Huang's men had also noticed his trip to the black market. This old fox really had all the answers.

"Mr. Huang San is very perceptive." Lu Yang sighed in mock frustration. "To be honest, when I was in Southeast Asia, I did deal with some arms dealers and learned a little bit about them. This time I came back to China to check out the domestic market. After all, in troubled times, this stuff is the real currency. But I just want to take a look. I don't have the courage or the connections to really make it."

His half-truths and half-lies not only explained why he appeared in the black market, but also distanced himself from the matter.

Mr. Huang Sanye smiled noncommittally after hearing this, then took a sip from his teacup. "Boss Lu is quite frank. However, this mountain city is a very complicated place, and some businesses are not accessible to just anyone. Boss Lu is a smart man, so he should know what to do and what not to do."

There was an obvious warning in these words.

Lu Yang knew that Mr. Huang was trying to warn him not to get involved in the arms trade, and not to get into information he shouldn't be getting into. It seemed like Mr. Huang had some kind of unknown connection to that mysterious batch of arms, and even to the Japanese.

"Thank you for your advice, Third Master. I'm grateful for your guidance." Lu Yang echoed his words, "I just want to run a legitimate business peacefully and I wouldn't dare to cause any trouble for you, Third Master."

Mr. Huang nodded in satisfaction, his expression softening slightly. "That's good. Mr. Lu is a guest who has come from afar. If you encounter any difficulties in Shancheng in the future, please feel free to come to me, Huang. As long as I can help, I will definitely help."

"Then I would like to thank you, Third Master." Lu Yang bowed to express his gratitude.

The two chatted for a while, all of which were bland and superficial. Lu Yang knew that Mr. Huang's purpose in calling him here today had been achieved, and it was time to leave.

"Third Master, it's getting late. I won't bother you any more. I'll visit you another day." Lu Yang stood up and said goodbye.

"Okay, Boss Lu, take care." Mr. Huang Sanye did not try to keep him.