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

"What? Captain Wei is dead?"

The day after Wei Zhe disappeared, a headless body was found on a pebble beach along the Huangpu River. Analysis of the items remaining on the body confirmed it was Wei Zhe, the captain of the third squad of the second precinct.

His body has been taken back by Unit 76 for further research. His direct superior, Feng Jinxiong, was also shocked by the news.

Their police station hadn't experienced anything like this for a long time, but this time it came so suddenly that he felt as if an invisible dagger was hanging over his head.

The police officers at the precinct were all talking about it. Yesterday's operation was to raid a secret Kuomintang liaison point, but they didn't catch a single person and even lost one of their own.

After the bureau chief received a phone call, his face darkened considerably, but he quickly recovered, opened his office door, entered the lobby, and roared at his group of listless subordinates:

"Is everything alright? You've all looked like you've been struck by frost since this morning. In our line of work, it's either you kill me or I kill you. Do you think you can just come here every day to drink tea, chat, and bully the common people and that's it? This is also one of the risks of our job! Stop discussing it. Agents from No. 76 will be handling the follow-up investigation on Captain Wei's death. Wang Shun will temporarily take charge of the third group. Everyone else, get out and patrol. Don't get in the way!"

After Director Feng finished his tirade, the police officers put on their uniforms and hats, grabbed their batons, and went for a stroll on the street.

Just as Feng Jinxiong finished venting his anger, he saw Zhou Hongyi coming downstairs, and his tone immediately softened: "Zhongliang, come to my office."

Zhou Hongyi walked into the director's office and closed the door behind him, only to see the latter sitting on the sofa, letting out a long sigh: "Sigh... this is our fate. Those Kuomintang and Red Party underground agents often make an example of us, secretly targeting our people. I just never expected that this time the person being targeted would be one of our own colleagues. Director Ding even asked me about your recent patrol arrangements. The world is not peaceful, but in such a chaotic world, who can remain unscathed? So, Zhongliang, I heard that there is a vacancy in the Ministry of Finance recently. I have already discussed it with Director Ding. Here is a small token of my appreciation, and I would like to ask you to pass it on."

As Feng Jinxiong spoke, he took out a black brocade box from the cabinet, placed it on the table, and opened the lid. Zhou Hongyi saw that six small yellow croakers were neatly arranged on the black velvet surface.

Zhou Hongyi smiled and closed the box, holding it naturally in his hand, saying, "Director Feng, you're too kind. My brother-in-law and I both think this position is rightfully yours! It is indeed a bit dangerous here at the police station, so it's best to leave it to us young people to handle. You have a family and grandchildren, and you should be enjoying your retirement. I just don't know what will happen to our Second Branch Chief position after you're promoted..."

Feng Jinxiong, a man adept at research, straightened his expression and said, "Zhongliang, if you ask me, once my job reassignment goes smoothly, there's no one else who can replace me but you! Our Second Branch doesn't have many deputy directors to begin with. One of them has no power or influence, no background, and another is just waiting to retire. You, on the other hand, are in your prime, a top student from West Point, and you were instrumental in catching that Special Higher Police spy last time. If you don't take the position, who else is qualified?"

Zhou Hongyi pretended to be in a difficult position and said, "But Director, you know that I haven't been working for long, I'm too inexperienced, and I'm too young. I'm just afraid... some people will be dissatisfied."

"You're not convinced? I'd like to see who dares to disagree! Here's the arrangement, Zhongliang, starting tomorrow, you'll be the acting director of our Second Branch, responsible for commanding and disciplining these kids. I'll assist you from the sidelines, filling in any gaps in your skills. Consider this a way of getting you started early and giving you a boost."

Zhou Hongyi found it amusing. He hadn't expected that Wei Zhe's death would provoke Director Feng so much that the latter was actually trying to transfer him to another job. If Director Feng left, wouldn't the position of director of the Second Branch Bureau be a piece of cake for him? Once he got that position, it would be much easier for him to do whatever he wanted.

After exchanging pleasantries for a while, Zhou Hongyi, clutching the six small yellow croakers, walked out of the bureau chief's office.

As Zhou Hongyi walked out of the police station, he glanced around and saw a rickshaw driver with his head down and a thick beard walking towards him.

"This old Chen has become addicted to pretending to be a rickshaw puller. Can't he just switch identities? I'll have to talk to him about this when I get back."

Zhou Hongyi sat calmly in the back of the rickshaw pulled by the captain of the Central Bureau of Investigation and Statistics and the Military Bureau of Investigation and Statistics. After the rickshaw drove into a deserted back alley, Chen Gong slowed down and asked, "Kid, you were the one who did what happened to that third team captain yesterday, weren't you?"

Zhou Hongyi gave an unexpected "Oh," thinking to himself that the Military Intelligence Bureau's eyes were really sharp and their information network was quite extensive.

"Brother Chen, I just did it yesterday, and you already know about it today?"

Chen Gong chuckled and said, "Don't underestimate our intelligence capabilities. Well done. But I have a question: why did you have to kill a mere team leader? Wouldn't it have been more efficient to just take out your bureau chief?"

Zhou Hongyi gave a bitter smile and said, "Brother Chen, it would be better to spare his life and use him for my own purposes than to kill him and then deal with new enemies. As for why I killed the captain of the third team, it was to avenge my brother. The guy who died was one of the most direct perpetrators of the Qingdong massacre. He deserved to die, and the refugees at Guanyintang also needed an outlet for their anger."

Chen Gong nodded silently and said, "That's right, all these people deserve to die. We've already studied the route and suggestions you gave us last time, and we've also determined the specific location to take action. If things are as you say, and the Japanese have other plans, then we won't alert them. So, today I'm going to take you somewhere to meet some new friends, and it's also time for you to know my true identity."

Zhou Hongyi didn't say anything, but he rolled his eyes inwardly and thought, "Your disguise has already been exposed in front of me. Are you only now thinking of recruiting me? But it's not bad to be able to infiltrate the Military Intelligence Bureau at the same time and gather some intelligence from there."

“Great, Brother Chen. I’ve been worried about not having enough trustworthy people under my command. If the two of us can join forces, it will be much easier to get things done in the future.”

Chen Gong didn't answer him, but just smiled and quickened his pace. He pulled the rickshaw, carefully choosing deserted alleys to go in. After a while, he stopped, wiped his sweat with the cotton cloth draped around his neck, and said, "We've arrived, young man. Please come in and let's talk slowly."

Zhou Hongyi glanced around. The alley was extremely secluded. They hadn't seen a single person since they entered, but he could vaguely sense that several pairs of eyes were watching him from the shadows. They must be assassins from the Military Intelligence Bureau.

Zhou Hongyi dared not be careless. Even though he was certain that the bearded man had no ill intentions towards him, he could not guarantee that others might not. He tightened his grip on the gun holster under his arm, ready to activate his skill at any time for self-defense.