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

Chen Xiaodao, being a mere martial artist, was indeed lacking in strategic acumen. Especially in front of Zhou Hongyi, a seasoned extra, he was quickly taken aback and left bewildered.

Zhou Hongyi's calm demeanor, confident words, and occasional air of mystery made him difficult for Chen Xiaodao and the others to understand. Coupled with the effects of alcohol, it wasn't long before the group at the table began to address each other as brothers.

After several rounds of drinks and dishes, Chen Xiaodao and his companions, under Zhou Hongyi's deliberate guidance, drank until their faces were red and their necks were thick, their eyes began to glaze over, and their speech became slurred. Before long, they were all slumped over the table, fast asleep.

Zhou Hongyi called over a waiter and asked him to help move his brothers to the guest rooms to rest. He then paid the bill and walked out onto the street, enjoying the night breeze.

As he walked, he heard the sound of a choir in the distance. The melodious singing floated in the night sky, carrying a sense of tranquility and peace.

Zhou Hongyi remembered Xiao Bei, whom he had sent to the church to avoid trouble, so he bought some snacks on the street and decided to go see the little girl.

Even at night, some believers sat in the church hall praying. Zhou Hongyi had just entered and sat down when he saw Xiao Bei, dressed in a nun's habit, emerge from a side door. Her figure appeared somewhat frail in the dim light, yet it exuded a kind of resilience.

After their eyes met, Xiao Bei turned a corner and sat down a short distance away from him, her movements gentle.

"Xiao Bei, how's your recovery going? I bought some snacks and clothes, please keep them. Don't go back to school for now. I've taken over a shop near the concession, you can go there to help out once you're healed. But don't worry, I've been keeping the grudges against my comrades in my heart, and soon there will be an opportunity to make them pay back some interest."

Zhou Hongyi clasped his hands together, pressed them to his lips, and whispered.

Xiao Bei also pressed her hands to her forehead. After Zhou Hongyi finished speaking, she whispered, "Brother Zhou, I heard from the nun that you were shot. Was it because you were protecting the Japanese?"

Zhou Hongyi gave a bitter smile, secretly pondering to himself that it was only the second day, and the news of his shooting had already reached here. He had reason to suspect that Shimazu had deliberately spread this news to completely bind him to the Special Higher Police and leave him no way out.

"Yes, I did save a Japanese man, but I shot myself."

Xiao Bei was a smart child. When she heard Zhou Hongyi say that, she immediately understood his intention.

"Brother Zhou, are you trying to gain the Japanese soldiers' trust?"

"Hehehe~ It's so much easier to talk to smart people. That's right, I've already gained the Japanese's initial trust. They're going to set up a chamber of commerce soon. My idea is to infiltrate it and use this identity to do more things, to provide more help to our guerrillas and underground comrades. And this identity can also well cover up my true identity."

Xiao Bei bit her lip, as if hesitating about something. After a while, she asked in a low voice, "Brother Zhou, have you heard that there's a talent show for dancers being held in the entertainment venues of Shanghai recently? I think it's called something like Rose?"

Zhou Hongyi was surprised. Why would Xiao Bei ask this question? He had indeed heard people in the dance hall say that this talent show was orchestrated by the owners of several large dance halls to create hype for their newcomers.

"That's true. What, do you have any thoughts on it?"

Xiao Bei took a deep breath and said, "Brother Zhou, do you have a way to help me register? I want to participate too."

"You want to participate in the talent show? Beckham, you should know that it's dangerous for you to be showing your face in public right now, especially considering your brother..."

Xiao Bei seemed to realize something, and she interrupted, "Yes, Brother Zhou, I've thought about all of this, but I can't hide like this forever. I'm just a girl, a student. Even if I disguise myself, there's no guarantee that anyone will recognize me. Brother Zhou is so capable, he'll definitely help me, right? Because I heard that one of the judges in this talent show is the murderer who killed my brother, the most direct killer... This is my best chance for revenge, Brother Zhou, you don't need to persuade me, my mind is made up."

Zhou Hongyi listened in silence, secretly wondering how all his enemies had suddenly appeared at the same time. However, eliminating these traitors and Japanese devils was exactly what he wanted to do. If he could help Xiao Bei conceal her true identity, avenge her, and deter those traitors, Zhou Hongyi would not hesitate.

"It seems you've thought this through carefully. Alright, Brother Zhou will help you this time. But I need to know who your target for revenge is. True revenge isn't about impulsively dying together with your enemy; it's about eliminating your enemy while remaining perfectly invisible, so no one suspects you. After all, our mission isn't just about killing one or two traitors. Shanghai is currently shrouded in the ravages of the Japanese invaders. Our mission is more about providing assistance and relaying information to our people and our army within enemy territory, playing a greater role."

Xiao Bei nodded, her voice tinged with excitement: "Yes, Brother Zhou, I'll do anything you say as long as it helps me get revenge! Just yesterday, I met Mr. Ruoshui. He was my brother's recommender for joining the Party, and now he's my recommender too... I've decided to change my image and identity. After all, a celebrity and a dancer have a greater impact than a female student. So I'm entrusting this matter to you, Brother Zhou."

Zhou Hongyi thought about it and realized it was true. These women in entertainment venues were incredibly good at gathering information, but they also faced a great deal of danger and temptation.

However, Xiao Bei was determined. She was so smart and had a good foundation. With a little more packaging and training, she could be completely transformed into a different person and easily charm those men.

"Alright, wait a couple of days while I make some preparations. This Miss Rose election will definitely make you an overnight sensation, but we still need a detailed plan for revenge."

Leaving the church, Zhou Hongyi's feelings became complicated once again, and he felt once more the weight of responsibility on his shoulders. As he walked, he pondered his next plan, various characters and scenes constantly flashing through his mind.

As the saying goes, "a hero needs three helpers," but nowadays he has pitifully few people he can rely on.

Fu Sheng, being simple-minded and dull-witted, could only stay at the police station. Although he was obedient, his abilities were limited. The blind man, on the other hand, was quick-witted, literate, and could do arithmetic. With a little training, he could easily be sent to manage "onepiece," which would free up Ah Gui.

My special operations team is short-handed, so I can take this opportunity to arrange for Ah Gui to be assigned to the police station to facilitate the execution of subsequent plans.

Chen Xiaodao and his Axe Gang brothers are essentially using each other; neither side fully trusts the other at this stage. The only people he can completely trust are "Bodhi" and the Red Party underground workers he's never met. Oh, and another person he could use is that bearded guy from the Military Intelligence Bureau; who knows when that guy might come looking for him.

As Zhou Hongyi was thinking, he noticed a rickshaw stop next to him. The man, wearing a felt hat and with his head bowed, asked him in a rough voice, "Sir, would you like a ride?"

"Hmm? Speak of the devil and he appears. This guy's arrival couldn't be more timely."

Zhou Hongyi smiled and said, "Sit down, of course you should sit down. Take me for a drive along the river and enjoy the night view."