Spy war in the Republic of China, peak undercover

The car was bumpy as it drove through the streets of the mountain city before dawn.

The top brass was furious, and a rigorous internal investigation was launched, creating a suffocating atmosphere. As the last person to see Lin Zhaolu, Lu Yang was naturally interrogated, but his testimony was flawless and logical, and he was quickly exonerated.

He used this chaotic interval to deal with a personal matter that should have been settled long ago - collecting the overdue bail money for the woman's family.

This money is the only "debt of favor" left by him as "Lu Yang" in the mountain city.

He arrived at a police station in the western district of the mountain city. The building looked even more dilapidated than he had imagined, with blue bricks and gray tiles, and large pieces of wall paint peeling off, revealing the mottled red bricks underneath.

The stone lion at the entrance had half its nose broken off, revealing a sense of decay and decay. The air was a mixture of tobacco, dust, and an indescribable damp, musty smell.

Lu Yang did not reveal his identity directly. He just walked straight to the duty room like an ordinary visitor.

He didn't knock, he just listened.

Inside, a rough voice was mocking.

"Manager Zhang, tell me, how did you, a printing company owner, end up being associated with the Communist Party?"

This was the pseudo-sheriff, a short, fat man wearing a wrinkled police uniform with the buttons undone, revealing a greasy sweatshirt underneath.

He sat behind the table, holding a tea bowl in one hand and fiddling with an abacus in the other, with a playful smile on his face.

Across from him stood a middle-aged man, hunched over, his face pale and his suit and tie covered in dust. It was none other than Manager Zhang of the printing factory. He clutched his trouser seams tightly with both hands, a vein bulging on his forehead, as if he were straining to endure.

"Sheriff! I've told you so many times, I'm just a businessman! I have nothing to do with those people! I... I went to report it! I found a man named Peng who was in cahoots with those 'Red Party'!"

Manager Zhang's voice was tinged with tears, full of grievance and unwillingness.

The pseudo-sheriff snorted contemptuously and slammed the teacup on the table.

"Report? I think you've colluded with me and are pretending to report me in order to get away with it!"

He clattered the abacus, making a harsh noise.

"Stop talking nonsense! The order from the Grand Master came directly! You, Zhang Likun, must not make any mistakes! Do you still want to quibble?"

He emphasized the word "Taijun" with an overwhelming tone.

When Manager Zhang heard the word "Taijun," his body trembled violently, and all his arrogance instantly deflated, like a balloon being popped. The blood drained from his face. He opened his mouth, but no words of rebuttal could come out. He could only slowly retreat to the corner of the room, like a puppet with its bones removed.

Lu Yang stood outside the door, listening to everything that happened inside. He didn't push the door open, but just paced a few steps in the corridor like a casual passerby, and then walked out leisurely, as if he was just taking a casual stroll in the police station.

He didn't get many direct clues about the "Red Party" or the "Peng", but the involvement of "Taijun" made this case even more unusual. This seemed to be another tentacles of the "Shadow" organization in the mountain city.

Lu Yang walked to the gate of the branch compound and was about to leave.

A thin man wearing a pair of gold-rimmed glasses and a starched gray gown came quickly from the side, with a standard ingratiating smile on his face and a brown paper document bag in his hand.

This is the translator. He is responsible for handling some matters related to the Japanese in the branch. He is very good at dealing with people and can say different things to different people.

"Commander Lu, why are you here in person?"

The translator's voice was flattering. He trotted up to Lu Yang with a smile on his face.

"Sorry to have kept you waiting. This is the bail you paid for Miss Wang's family last time. It's all here."

He handed the briefcase to Lu Yang respectfully with a servile attitude.

Lu Yang took the document bag and weighed it, a subtle suspicion in his eyes. He didn't open it, but just shook it gently.

"Not a cent?"

Lu Yang's voice was calm, but the smile on the translator's face froze for a moment.

Fine beads of sweat oozed from the translator's forehead. He rubbed his hands with an awkward smile on his face.

"To be honest, Commander Lu, some of this money... this money was indeed accidentally... accidentally 'divided' by the brothers in the branch."

He glanced at Lu Yang's face cautiously.

"But don't worry, I've managed to collect all the money! Not a penny less, I've paid it all!"

Lu Yang put the document bag away and put it in his arms.

"Be more careful next time you do something like this."

He said lightly, with a hint of unquestionable meaning in his tone.

"I don't want to hear anything like this happen again."

The translator nodded repeatedly, like a chicken pecking at rice.

"Yes, yes, yes! Commander Lu is right! I will pay attention next time! I will pay attention!"

Lu Yang ignored him and walked towards the police station door.

"Miss Wang is waiting for me outside."

The translator immediately understood what he meant when he heard it. He bowed even more obsequiously and trotted to see Lu Yang out the door.

Outside, beneath a sycamore tree on the street, Miss Wang stood quietly. She wore a faded cheongsam, a dated style that still accentuated her graceful figure. Her eyes, tinged with anxiety, periodically glanced toward the police station's main entrance.

The translator's eyes quickly glanced between Lu Yang and Miss Wang, and the smile on his face deepened.

Lu Yang walked up to Miss Wang and raised the file bag in his hand.

"Come on, I'll treat you to a feast."

His voice was calm, with a hint of subtle tenderness.

When Miss Wang saw the file bag in Lu Yang's hand, a hint of surprise and gratitude flashed in her eyes.

"This is……"

"Your father's bail."

Lu Yang interrupted her.

"It's a lot of money, enough for you to live here for a while."

Miss Wang's lips trembled slightly and her eyes were a little red.

"Mr. Lu...thank you."

Lu Yang ignored her gratitude.

"What do you want to eat? It's my treat today, don't save money for me."

Miss Wang thought about it and a rare smile appeared on her face.

"I heard that the fish slices in braised sauce at 'Aloft' are amazing. I wonder if Mr. Lu would be interested?"

Lu Yang smiled.

"it is good."

"Anywhere is fine as long as you like."