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

Wan Chonglin thought he had misheard. He took a half step back in shock and looked at Zhou Hongyi's face, while the latter glared at him and said, "What are you looking at? Look again and I'll gouge your eyes out!"

But after saying those harsh words, Zhou Hongyi winked at him behind everyone's back.

Wan Chonglin retreated somewhat doubtfully, helped his head guard to his feet, and asked in a low voice, "Dazhu, how badly are you injured?"

The young man, who had seemed to be in considerable pain, gasped and said when the boss asked him, "The injury... it's nothing serious, but someone hit my nerve, and it's been tingling and it hurts so much."

"Numbness..."

Wan Chonglin gave Zhou Hongyi a meaningful look, already having made up his mind. Seeing the growing crowd, he weighed the pros and cons and said softly, "Sir... I was ungrateful. Your Chamber of Commerce's sincerity has moved me, but we still need to discuss the specifics of the cooperation. Don't worry, I will personally go to your Chamber of Commerce this afternoon to discuss the details with President Hasegawa."

Zhou Hongyi snorted and said, "You spineless bastard, you won't listen to reason, so you'll have to suffer the consequences! But it's not too late for you to agree now. Brothers, let's call it a day. Since Boss Wan has agreed to cooperate with the Imperial Army, he is our friend. Boss Wan's safety will be protected by the Imperial Army. Anyone who dares to harm him, I'll kill their whole family! Did you all hear that?"

Zhou Hongyi was afraid that this scene would be overheard by patriots or assassins hiding in the shadows, unknown to them, who might then emerge and kill Boss Wan, creating a huge misunderstanding. He needed to spread the word first to deter them from taking action for the time being, and then he would move Boss Wan's family to a safe place. This work as an undercover agent behind enemy lines was truly difficult.

After dealing with Boss Wan, Zhou Hongyi, along with Chen Gong and the others, swaggered and made a show of themselves as they arrived at Boss Wang's shop, which dealt in Chinese medicinal herbs.

Boss Wang not only collected Chinese medicinal herbs himself, but also contracted several plots of land to grow them, making his business quite large. These medicinal herbs were considered strategic resources by the Japanese, which is why they wanted to recruit him.

Mr. Wang's real name is Wang Heng. He is in his forties, lean, with high cheekbones, simply dressed, and looks very energetic. If you weren't told, you would think he was just an old clerk in the pharmacy, not the owner.

When Zhou Hongyi and his men arrived at the other party's traditional Chinese medicine shop with murderous intent, the owner, Mr. Wang, stood alone at the door with his sleeves rolled up, looking like he was going to his death.

"You've come after all, but my answer remains the same. Our Chinese medicinal herbs are only sold to the people of China, not to barbarians like you. Please leave! Of course, if you insist on taking them by force, I can't stop you. You'll have to step over my dead body for now."

Zhou Hongyi narrowed his eyes, thinking to himself, "I've met a stubborn old man, a real tough nut to crack. Trying to be tough with this kind of person is no good. Even if you beat him to death, he'll only think that sacrificing himself for his ideals and his country is an honor, and he'll never give in. If you try to be soft, that's even more hopeless, especially since he wants to use this opportunity to cultivate a certain image."

Zhou Hongyi needed to do these three things quickly and efficiently today to deepen Hasegawa's reliance and trust in him. Immediately, he decisively activated his [Insightful Eye], thoroughly examining Mr. Wang's private affairs.

"Hmm... Mr. Wang, I know you're a tough nut to crack, but you have to sign this contract for me today no matter what. I'm the kind of person who loves to tackle tough challenges."

The boss, Mr. Wang, looked coldly at Zhou Hongyi and suddenly said, "You like gnawing on tough bones? Then you admit you're a dog, because only dogs gnaw on bones."

Zhou Hongyi was taken aback, not expecting this old guy to have caught the loophole in his words and gained an advantage. He found it amusing, but immediately put on an angry and embarrassed expression. This acting style of having one thing in his heart and another on the surface was mastered to perfection. Sometimes Zhou Hongyi even wondered if, if he hadn't time-traveled, with this acting skill, could he have won a Best Actor award?

"Damn it, who are you calling a dog?"

Zhou Hongyi roared and slammed his hand down, knocking over the herbs drying on the rack outside the Chinese medicine shop. He moved closer, staring intently at the other man and gritting his teeth, "Boss Wang, I know you're a tough guy, you're not afraid of death. But just because you're not afraid doesn't mean your family isn't; and just because your family isn't afraid doesn't mean your descendants aren't. I know you're a filial son, and there's a saying, 'Of the three unfilial acts, the greatest is to have no descendants.' If you cut off the Wang family line, you may die and achieve your own pride and prestige, but how will you face your parents and ancestors in the afterlife?!"

Wang Heng remained unmoved, tilting his head back slightly as he said, "Kill me if you want, stop talking nonsense. So what if I have no descendants? I, Wang Heng, am destined to be unable to carry on the Wang family line. I have five daughters but no sons. Even if you threaten me, you can't control me on this matter!"

Zhou Hongyi knew, of course, that the man had five daughters, but he also knew that just two years ago, this Mr. Wang had an affair with a singer and accidentally fathered his own child. The singer was particularly fertile and gave birth to a son for him.

Instead of publicizing the matter, Boss Wang secretly sent the mother and son out of Shanghai and to the Xiangjiang River, buying them property and shops to escape the war. He originally thought that this would be done discreetly and that no one would know, but little did he expect that a freak like Zhou Hongyi would expose him so thoroughly.

"Boss Wang is truly proud and unyielding. Yes, you may not care about your five daughters, but don't think that our Imperial Army Special Higher Police are just for show. I heard that you have a two-year-old son who lives in Xiangjiang and runs a tea restaurant with his mother. They employ two wet nurses, three waiters, and own six properties. If I remember correctly... his nickname should be Hengsheng, right?"

"What? You...you...how did you know?"

When asked about his absolute weakness, Boss Wang instantly broke down. He looked at Zhou Hongyi in shock, his lips trembling rapidly, and he could barely speak. All his previous pride was gone, and his eyes conveyed only fear.

Of course, Zhou Hongyi spoke in a very low voice, so that only the two of them could hear him. He was keeping this secret for Boss Wang's sake.

"Don't worry, Mr. Wang. Right now, only I and my men know about this. The Japanese soldiers don't know yet. But if you don't sign this contract today and don't cooperate with my work, it will put me in a difficult position. I will lose face in front of the Imperial Army. If I lose face, I will be unhappy, and when I'm unhappy... I like to find a chubby little boy and play hide-and-seek with him. Once I catch him... hehehe... I have plenty of ways to punish him."

When Zhou Hongyi said those words, it felt as if Boss Wang had fallen into an ice cave in the dead of winter. Every pore on his body was chilled to the bone. At that moment, he was like a snake whose vital spot was being held, and he dared not move. He had no choice but to agree.