Espionage: You're tasked with spying, but you'll blow up the Special Higher Police?

Upon hearing this, Bodhi was speechless. Zhou Hongyi had actually brought that weapons expert to his police station and assigned him to work in the archives. "Comrade Four-Faced Buddha truly lives up to his name," Bodhi thought, "his methods are all about being unpredictable."

"Okay, that's all for today's meeting. Now that it's settled, I'll be leaving. The situation in Shanghai has been a bit tense lately. The newly transferred Ryunosuke Kondo has a complicated background in the mainland. His visit might not be just a simple investigation. You need to be careful."

"You all be careful too. This meal is on me."

Zhou Hongyi got up, patted Bodhi on the shoulder, and turned back to his cubicle to continue eating.

Seeing Zhou Hongyi return, but seemingly distracted during the meal, A Gui asked in a low voice, "Big brother, what happened?"

Zhou Hongyi looked at the street and tapped the table lightly with his fingers, saying, "We do have some tricky issues to deal with right now. After dinner, you two go back to the police station first. Remember to keep an eye on Old Wang in the archives. I'm going to the Special Higher Police to find Shimadzu. It's really abnormal that he hasn't shown up for so many days."

Ah Gui didn't say anything, just nodded. In his heart, he had already decided on Zhou Hongyi. As long as the latter said one word, Ah Gui would charge into battle, go through fire and water, without even blinking an eye.

After the three finished their meal, Zhou Hongyi went to the Special Higher Police Department with his purpose in mind. However, this time, even though he showed his identification, the Japanese soldiers guarding the gate did not let him through.

"You can't go in. It's Commander Kondo's order. All previously issued non-staff personnel passes are now invalid."

The Japanese soldiers standing guard at the gate had serious expressions, as if they didn't recognize Zhou Hongyi.

"Hello, it's me, Zhou Hongyi, Sarutobi Sasuke, Colonel Shimazu's student, the chief of the Second Precinct. You won't even let me in? Where's my teacher? Where's Colonel Shimazu?"

The soldier on guard still wouldn't let him in, raising his hand and saying, "The Special Higher Police are now under the full command of Commander Kondo, and Colonel Shimazu should have already returned to Japan."

"He's back in Japan? How could that be! Even if he really did go back, he would have told me beforehand. Where's my teacher? Let me in, Kondo, Kondo Ryunosuke~~~ Are you in there?"

Zhou Hongyi was a little annoyed. He shoved the soldiers at the door for a while and then shouted loudly upstairs.

A moment later, Kondo appeared upstairs with a smile on his face. He leaned halfway out and said, "Sasuke-kun, you're here? Let Sasuke-kun in, we're all on the same side."

Although he said that, he invalidated Zhou Hongyi's previous identity certificate with just one sentence, which was quite ruthless.

As Zhou Hongyi passed the sentry, he shoved him hard backward and walked into the office building cursing.

He arrived at the familiar office door, hesitated for a moment, and then knocked twice.

Kondo opened the door and gestured for guests to enter, saying, "Sasuke-kun, please come in. We're honored guests, and I'll have someone brew you the best tea."

Although Kondo appeared to be very polite on the surface, Zhou Hongyi gleaned important information from his words.

What does "all guests are guests" mean? He's already treating Zhou Hongyi as an outsider, which means he can no longer freely enter or leave the Special Higher Police.

Zhou Hongyi sat there, looking displeased, and said, "Mr. Kondo, what does this mean? I am Colonel Shimazu's student, a field agent of our Special Higher Police. How come you invalidated my work permit as soon as you arrived?"

Kondo sat down behind the desk and said with a smile, "Sasuke-kun, don't be angry. This is just a normal internal restructuring. Many people's ID cards have been invalidated and need to be remade."

Zhou Hongyi then asked, "What about my teacher, Mr. Shimazu? Why haven't I seen him for so many days? Don't tell me he went back to Japan. As his student, even if he wanted to go back, he couldn't just leave so quietly. What have you done to him?"

When Zhou Hongyi asked this question, he silently opened the [Eye of Insight]. He saw that one of the entries on Kondo's body was clearly written, which was also the thought that he was not saying at the moment.

Of course he couldn't tell you; after all, how could a corpse talk?

Zhou Hongyi's heart skipped a beat. Dead? Just like that? With Shimazu's position and power, he was actually killed by this Kondo? Not even a single word got out... This person came from mainland Japan this time, probably with another mission, it's definitely not just a simple investigation. Could it be that he came here specifically for Shimazu?

Kondo sighed with some regret, "Commander Shimazu returned to Japan ahead of schedule for some special reason. Unfortunately, I only just received the news. The ship he was on encountered a storm halfway through the journey. The huge waves generated by the storm capsized the ship, and all the passengers, including Commander Shimazu, perished."

"What? You mean my teacher is dead?"

Kondo did not hide anything and nodded directly, saying, "Yes, we have already held a grand funeral in his hometown, and his relatives have taken care of the burial. I am sorry to tell you this sad news. I also feel very sorry. Commander Shimazu was always conscientious and meticulous in his work and in his conduct. Now he has passed away in this way, which is undoubtedly a great loss to the Empire."

Zhou Hongyi had initially stood up upon hearing the news, but now he slumped back onto the sofa in dejection.

His eyes seemed somewhat vacant as he stared straight at the white wall in front of him. His mouth opened and closed as if he were saying something, but even though Kondo was so close to him, he couldn't hear what he was saying.

Zhou Hongyi's emotions progressed from shock, sadness, doubt, and grief to worry, with each different emotion building upon the last and interacting with the next, resulting in a textbook-worthy performance.

Kondo sat there, watching him intently. Only after seeing that Zhou Hongyi had gradually calmed down did he speak: "Sasuke-kun, I heard that you used to give advice to Commander Shimazu frequently, and you were behind his many meritorious deeds. But now that Commander Shimazu is no longer here, you should focus on your work as the head of the Second Branch. If there is no need to communicate by phone, you don't need to go to the Special Higher Police anymore. You are a person of status now. If you are stopped at the door by the sentries like before, it would be a loss of face."

Zhou Hongyi understood that this guy was telling him to avoid going to the Special Higher Police Department less often in the future, as he wasn't welcome there.

"Alright, alright, Kondo-kun, no, Commander Kondo, then I'll take my leave now."

Zhou Hongyi stood up somewhat fearfully and bowed slightly to Kondo. The contrast between his appearance before and after entering the room was so stark that it was heartbreaking.

"Sasuke-kun, the tea isn't ready yet. Aren't you going to finish it before you leave?"

"I can't drink anymore, I have other things to do, Commander Kondo, I'm so sorry."

Kondo did not try to keep Zhou Hongyi. After the latter left in a hurry, the look of fear on his face vanished in an instant, replaced by a dark face so gloomy it seemed to drip water.

"Damn it, Ryunosuke Kondo, you dared to kill my backer! How am I supposed to work happily now? How am I supposed to complete my tasks smoothly? If you won't let me have an easy time, I won't let you have an easy time either. Just you wait and see."