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

After having an in-depth conversation with "Bodhi," Zhou Hongyi took a nap in the shop the next morning and didn't leisurely arrive at the police station until noon.

"Young Master Zhou, what brings you here? You're still injured; you should be resting at home."

As soon as Captain Xu saw Zhou Hongyi, his face immediately filled with concern, and the captains and members of the other teams also gathered around, their eyes filled with worry and curiosity.

"Yes, Young Master Zhou, you suffered a gunshot wound, so we can't be careless. Be careful to avoid any long-term effects," a team member chimed in.

“That’s right, anyway, there’s nothing urgent at the police station, so if anything happens, we’ll all help each other out,” another team member quickly added.

"But we must say that Young Master Zhou has done another great service this time. Not only did he kill the assassin, but he also saved Colonel Shimazu of the Special Higher Police in a moment of crisis. If he were to rise another rank, he would become a full director," a squad leader joked with a smile.

Zhou Hongyi waved his hand to indicate that he was alright, while scanning the faces of the team leaders, finally settling on a man with high cheekbones, sunken cheeks, and dark circles under his eyes.

This man, named Wei Zhe, was the captain of the third team and also A Gui's mortal enemy. Now that A Gui had joined Zhou Hongyi's side, he was determined to fulfill his promise and avenge his brother as soon as possible.

Wei Zhe used to be a thug, but after Shanghai fell to the Japanese and the puppet government came to power, he transformed himself into a policeman.

He was adept at currying favor and rose to the rank of captain through flattery and bribery. During the Qingdong massacre in April, he used various despicable means to lure fleeing civilians out of their hiding places, and then massacred them. One of the nine stab wounds on A Gui's body was inflicted by Wei Zhe himself.

Although Zhou Hongyi greeted and exchanged pleasantries with the other party with a smile, he had already placed the other party at the top of his kill list in his mind, alongside "Fireworks," the traitor of the Red Party.

"Oh, Zhongliang, what brings you here? You should be resting in the hospital. Come in and sit down."

When Director Feng saw Zhou Hongyi, he warmly invited him into his office and even personally made him a cup of tea.

Yesterday, he personally witnessed how favored Zhou Hongyi's sister was by Ding Mocun, and that the boy had also saved Colonel Shimazu's life.

No, it wasn't just Shimazu. Director Feng received inside information that the person who was with Shimazu yesterday had a very mysterious identity, and Zhou Hongyi's contribution was probably greater than it appeared.

"Director, actually I just can't stay idle. The hospital smells so bad, getting out and moving around is actually good for my recovery. But don't worry, I won't force myself. I'll arrange my work for the next two days, take two days off, and report back to you once my wound has almost healed."

"See, you're being too polite." Director Feng walked behind his desk, rummaged through the drawer for a while, and took out a cardboard box. He said, "Zhongliang, this is a ginseng that someone gave me. Take it and nourish yourself. There are two here. Please give the other one to Director Ding."

Zhou Hongyi found it amusing, thinking that even Director Feng had noticed his brother-in-law was a bit weak. Without further ado, he carefully put away the two ginseng roots, saying, "Don't worry, Director, I will definitely convey your good wishes. If there's nothing else, I'll head back now."

"Okay, okay, I'll have the driver take you home."

Feng Jinxiong was about to call the driver when the phone on his desk rang.

He picked up the receiver and said "Hello," his expression visibly shifting from serious to obsequious: "Colonel, yes, he's here, right next to me. Let him take the call? Yes, yes."

Feng Jinxiong smiled as he held the receiver and looked at Zhou Hongyi: "It's Colonel Shimazu. He sent someone to the hospital to see you, and when he heard that you had been discharged, he called here."

Zhou Hongyi thought to himself, "It's here." He took the phone and said "Moshi Moshi" in Japanese.

Colonel Shimazu, on the other end of the phone, also inquired about Zhou Hongyi's injuries in Japanese. After learning that he was alright, he tactfully suggested that Zhou Hongyi come to the Special Higher Police. After all, he was the one who discovered the assassin and killed him. If the Special Higher Police wanted to find out more useful information, they would need Zhou Hongyi's cooperation.

"Don't worry, teacher, I'm coming right away." Zhou Hongyi put down the phone and smiled at Feng Jinxiong, saying, "Director, Colonel Shimazu wants me to go to the Special Higher Police immediately. He has something important to discuss with me. Do you think it's appropriate to send a car..."

Feng Jinxiong straightened up and raised his hand, saying, "Of course, don't worry, I'll have the driver take you to the Special Higher Police right away. Xiao Liu, come in here for a moment!"

Sitting in the director's personal car, Zhou Hongyi arrived at the Special Higher Police Department's office building.

Outside the gate, he showed his identification to the Japanese soldiers on guard, and then walked step by step into this heavily guarded, infamous den of iniquity, stained with the blood of his fellow countrymen.

Zhou Hongyi walked very slowly. Although he kept his head down, he tried his best to memorize the internal structure of the Special Higher Police Department with the corner of his eye.

He didn't know why he was doing this, but he vaguely felt that he would return here sooner or later. And the next time he returned, it would probably be to destroy this den of demons, so he wanted to use this precious opportunity to gather intelligence and familiarize himself with the terrain, in preparation for any eventuality.

The offices chosen by the Special Higher Police were formerly office buildings in the French Concession, totaling three floors and more than twenty rooms, decorated in a distinctly French retro style. Wooden wainscoting with carvings, chandeliers, and wooden floors exuded an exquisite and romantic atmosphere. But now, after being occupied by the Japanese, this romance had changed, even giving rise to a chilling and eerie feeling.

Shimadzu's office was on the second floor, and Zhou Hongyi couldn't go up to the third floor, so he could only try his best to memorize the places he could see.

He knocked on the door three times, and when he heard someone inside say "Come in," he turned the handle.

"Teacher, I'm here."

Upon seeing Zhou Hongyi, Shimazu, dressed in military uniform, stood up with a smile on his face: "Come, come, sit down. I had no choice but to call you over despite your gunshot wound."

Zhou Hongyi bowed slightly and said, "Teacher, you are too kind. Yesterday's incident was sudden, and I was injured. Logically, I should have come here to cooperate with the investigation immediately. It is I who should apologize for delaying until today."

Shimazu's eyes were full of admiration. He turned to Hasegawa, who had a round head, and said, "See what I told you? This is the kind of outstanding young man the Empire needs most. Lord Hasegawa, let me reintroduce you today to my student, Sasuke."

Colonel Shimazu reintroduced Zhou Hongyi's identity to the middle-aged man next to him in Japanese.

Sasuke, Sarutobi Sasuke—this was the Japanese name he received when he studied Japanese with Shimazu. His name also had a meaning; Shimazu named him after one of the ten warriors of the Sanada clan during Japan's Sengoku period. Zhou Hongyi happened to be one of his ten students, so he named his student after one of the ten warriors. The other nine students were now holding important junior positions in various departments of the Japanese army.

Hasegawa nodded and said, "I had long heard that Mr. Shimazu's ten students were all outstanding individuals, comparing themselves to the Sanada Ten Braves. Seeing them today, I can confirm that their reputation is well-deserved. Sasuke-kun, please allow me to formally apologize to you here. If it weren't for you last night, I might have met with misfortune. But I'm very sorry to ask you to cooperate with the investigation while you are injured. This mission is of great importance and we cannot afford to be careless."