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

Outside the dance hall, a black sedan was parked to the side of the road, and two men stepped out. One of the men had a thick beard and sharp eyes. He was wearing a black suit and a top hat; wasn't he the "smokescreen" Zhou Hongyi had released from the dungeon?

That's right, it's that "leader of the Military Intelligence Bureau's Special Operations Group." This guy actually managed to get rid of the lookouts arranged by Director Feng and even swaggered in and out of entertainment venues? It seems he doesn't take the police seriously at all.

"What's that bearded man up to? It's a pity the Eye of Insight isn't working today, otherwise I'd really be curious about what he's doing..."

Zhou Hongyi pondered to himself. He knew that some people in the Military Intelligence Bureau and the Central Bureau of Investigation and Statistics were wholeheartedly committed to resisting the Japanese, adhering to the ironclad rule that "the enemy of my enemy is my friend," and trying to win them over to his side as much as possible. Moreover, he had saved the life of this bearded man, so communication should be easier.

As Zhou Hongyi was pondering this, he suddenly saw a familiar figure.

The man, dressed in a long blue gown, top hat, and gold-rimmed glasses, exuded a scholarly air and looked like a learned man. Although his face was disguised, Zhou Hongyi had only seen it before and remembered it vividly. Wasn't this the manager of the Florence Café, the comrade codenamed "Bodhi"?

He's back too? Heh~ These are truly elusive and powerful figures; his intelligence-gathering speed is impressive. But regardless, as long as the time and location of the enemy's sweep are accurately relayed to the guerrillas, their objective will be achieved.

Zhou Hongyi was like a bystander, stirring his wonton soup and watching the people coming and going at the dance hall entrance. One familiar face after another appeared, and he felt the scene was getting more and more interesting.

Just as he was wondering if he would run into a third acquaintance, he actually guessed right.

Although this person was dressed in civilian clothes, his vulture-like appearance and signature mustache made him instantly recognizable, even from a distance. Wasn't this Colonel Shimazu, the current supreme commander of the Special Higher Police?

"The Military Intelligence Bureau, the Red Party, the Special Higher Police, and now the Central Bureau of Investigation and Statistics have all gathered for a mahjong game. Why are they all heading to the Paramount Ballroom? Is there some major event tonight?"

However, the excitement tonight did not end there, and a voice rang in Zhou Hongyi's mind.

[Ding~ The latest check-in spot has been activated: Manyu's private dressing room in the Paramount Ballroom.]

"What? The dancers' dressing room? Oh my god... Are they trying to make me a voyeur, a pervert? Why put the photo booth there?"

Zhou Hongyi felt a chill run down his spine and couldn't help but mutter a few complaints.

"Brother, what's wrong? Can't you finish your wontons?"

Fu Sheng was getting anxious when he saw Zhou Hongyi staring intently at the dance hall, picking up the remaining wontons and putting them back down without putting them in his mouth.

"Oh, I'm full. Don't you need any more? Here, take all of this."

Zhou Hongyi picked up his bowl and placed it in front of Fusheng, who happily ate while smiling, feeling genuinely grateful to his newly recognized elder brother. He felt that his parents, watching from heaven, must have found him a benefactor from somewhere, and he was determined to cherish this opportunity.

The five bars that these three people entered at the same time were none other than the famous Paramount Ballroom.

The Paramount Ballroom was renowned throughout the bustling metropolis of Shanghai. It was a popular place for high-ranking officials, wealthy merchants, and tycoons to seek pleasure. Its decor was extremely luxurious, with dazzling crystal chandeliers that sparkled like stars, expensive oil paintings hanging on the walls, and the dance floor floor gleaming like a mirror.

The bands here were all hired from abroad at great expense, playing the most fashionable music, and the dancers were all graceful, beautiful, and charming. The most popular dancer at the Paramount Ballroom right now was Maggie Cheung, whose every smile and gesture could captivate countless men.

However, Zhou Hongyi didn't even know the person. By rashly barging into someone else's private changing room, he was undoubtedly asking for trouble. He would surely be beaten to death as a hooligan. It seems that this matter needs to be considered more carefully.

After a moment's thought, Zhou Hongyi tossed a few banknotes onto the wonton stall, patted Fusheng on the shoulder, and called him to head home.

He decided that safety should be his top priority, as the situation was far too complex and he could easily find himself in danger. He would wait until the cooldown of [Eye of Insight] ended tomorrow before exploring the dance hall again. Before doing so, he also needed to replenish his ammunition; having sufficient supplies would give him more confidence.

Zhou Hongyi remembered the blind man with glasses he had met when buying a gun on the black market. The man had mysteriously told him that he was at Pier 7 and that he should go there if needed.

Zhou Hongyi checked the time and felt that only a fully loaded magazine could give him a sense of security. He then sent Fusheng home to rest, while he hailed a rickshaw and went to the vicinity of the South Shanghai Wharf area.

It was already dark, and apart from a few ships still unloading cargo under the cover of night, most of the dock area was pitch black and eerily quiet.

Zhou Hongyi searched for a while and finally found Pier No. 7, which the other party had mentioned. He looked around and saw that it was piled high with goods, but strangely, there wasn't a single guard. Weren't they afraid that people would steal things?

With doubts in his mind, Zhou Hongyi continued walking inside until he reached a warehouse that was still lit up.

Strangely, he hadn't found anyone to ask for directions along the way. The surroundings were eerily quiet, with only the echo of his own footsteps.

Just as Zhou Hongyi sensed something was off, a scream suddenly came from inside the warehouse.

"Ah! Brother Dao... Brother Dao, please spare me! I'll never do it again~~~ I really, really did it to get my mother medical treatment, I had no other choice~~~~"

"You bastard, I put you in charge of the warehouse, and you actually stole from it! If we weren't going to have to fight the Green Gang this time, we wouldn't have discovered that you've been selling so many guns and bullets behind the gang's back. If we don't enforce the rules today, anyone who needs money in the future can just take some from the gang and sell it!"

"Brother Dao... Brother Dao~~~ Please spare my life, for the sake of our childhood friendship~~~ I really know I was wrong~~! My mother... my mother is very ill. The doctor said that only surgery at a Western hospital can save her, but the surgery will cost a lot of money. I really have no other choice~~~~ Brother Dao, please spare my life. I'll be yours in my next life, even if I'm blind~~~!"

"Do you think your life is still your own? From the first time you took the gang's weapons and ammunition out to sell, your life has no longer been your own! Men, break your arms and legs, stuff you into a sack, and throw you into the Huangpu River!"

"No...no, Brother Dao~~~Spare my life! My mother...if I die, who will take care of her?!"