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

"What? Dead?"

"Nani?"

Colonel Kameda's eyes widened, and he took two steps forward to test it himself. Major Yoshida was indeed dead.

"Bagya Road!"

Colonel Kameda was furious; his eyes were bloodshot, and he looked ready to draw his sword and strike.

Just then, a series of chaotic footsteps approached, and several more Japanese officers entered the dungeon.

The person who came was Colonel Shimazu of the Special Higher Police. The two had always been at odds, and Shimazu was not informed of the secret agent sent by Kameda.

"Kameda-kun, what are you doing?"

Colonel Shimazu was dressed in a Japanese military uniform, wearing a military cap. He was thin but exceptionally capable, with glasses perched on his nose and a distinctive mustache.

"Those idiots killed my men!"

"The man who killed you?" Colonel Shimazu glanced at the corpse tied to the wooden frame with its head drooping and questioned, "But as far as I know, this man admitted to having connections with the Bolsheviks. After our investigation, we even called the military headquarters to retrieve his file. Yoshida's older brother was punished for this matter, yet you transferred his younger brother to the Special Higher Police and entrusted him with such an important task. Mr. Kameda, didn't you know any of this before?"

Kameda gritted his teeth. Of course, he knew that he had used this as leverage to force Yoshida to work for him. But this young man was always steady in his work and was one of his confidants. If it weren't for the desire to claim credit, he wouldn't have made Yoshida stage this self-inflicted injury. He never expected that not only would the self-inflicted injury fail, but he would also lose his life because of it.

Now that Colonel Shimazu was questioning him like this, Kameda dared not answer casually. If he was not careful, he would also have to go to a military court. After all, Yoshida was now dead and could not defend himself.

Kameda glanced at the police officers beside him, took a deep breath, and said, "I truly knew nothing about this matter. Thank you, Shimazu-kun, for investigating for me. I will also strengthen my vetting process when hiring people in the future. Let's go!"

Kameda chose to swallow his anger, his right hand gripping the hilt of the sword tightly, his knuckles white and veins bulging, but he still chose to swallow his anger.

After Kameda and his men left, Director Feng approached Colonel Shimazu with a smile and extended his hands.

"Colonel, you've arrived. Welcome, welcome."

But to everyone's surprise, Colonel Shimazu ignored his outstretched hand and instead turned his gaze to Zhou Hongyi behind him.

"Zhongliang-kun, it's been a long time. How are you settling in here?"

Zhou Hongyi smiled slightly, stepped aside, shook hands with Colonel Shimazu, and said, "Sir, I'm doing well. Thank you for your concern."

Colonel Shimazu released Zhou Hongyi's hand before taking Director Feng's. He glanced at the corpse beside him and said, "Director Feng, uncovering the traitor lurking within our Special Higher Police is a great achievement, but I'd like to know, to whom should this credit belong?"

Director Feng paused for a moment, then replied very seriously, "The first credit for this matter naturally goes to our outstanding young police officer Zhou Hongyi. He was the one who interrogated this Red Party spy. He truly deserves to be a top student who graduated from West Point."

Although Zhou Hongyi gave the credit to Captain Xu, Feng Jinxiong knew that Captain Xu couldn't accept it. Colonel Shimazu's question meant he already knew what had happened, and Feng Jinxiong was just going along with it to do him a favor. Even if the credit wasn't originally Zhou Hongyi's, it should be his now.

"Oh, so it's Zhongliang-kun. The Empire's cultivation of you has not been in vain. General Doihara also looks at you with special regard. Keep up the good work."

As Colonel Shimazu spoke, he patted Zhou Hongyi on the shoulder before having someone take the body away and leave the police station.

Director Feng and his entourage stood at the door, watching Colonel Shimazu leave before finally letting out a sigh of relief.

He turned around and glanced at them, saying, "Alright, everyone go back and do what you were doing. Hongyi, come to my office."

Director Feng dismissed everyone else, but called Zhou Hongyi to his office and locked the door. When they were alone together, his serious face suddenly broke into a smile, a smile that was as warm and comforting as that of an elder in the family.

"Hongyi, it seems you not only have a close relationship with Colonel Shimazu, but even General Doihara looks up to you. This is a great honor for our Second Precinct. It's a waste of your talent to be a mere policeman. Starting today, a special operations team will be set up specifically for you. You will be the team leader, and you can choose whoever you want. I will speak to their captain. As for the rank... it will be equivalent to the deputy director. I believe that no one will object to this appointment."

Zhou Hongyi never expected that he would be promoted by the police chief after only a few days of working at the police station, and that the chief would even create a special task force. Wasn't this just a way of currying favor with the people behind him?

"Chief, there's really no need for that. I'll just start from the bottom and be an ordinary policeman. You don't need to give me such special treatment."

"How can this be considered favoritism? Based on your contributions alone, this position is rightfully yours. There's no need to discuss this further; just do as I say. I'll have someone prepare a separate office for you later. Let me know when you've chosen someone. From now on, your department will be specifically responsible for liaising with the Special Higher Police and the headquarters of Agent 76. Whether our entire Second Branch enjoys the best at the end of the year depends entirely on you, Hongyi."

Faced with Director Feng's overtures, Zhou Hongyi knew that it wouldn't be good to refuse too much. Moreover, becoming the team leader would also have its advantages. At least he wouldn't need to inform others whether he came late or left early; he could make his own decisions. However, he had to carefully consider the selection of his subordinates and not have a bunch of "third wheels" around him.

"Yes, Director. Then I will respectfully accept your offer. Thank you for your guidance. I will take the honor of all my colleagues in the Second Branch as my own responsibility, always remember your teachings, and continue to work hard."

"Hehehe, not bad, young and promising, young and promising indeed."

When Zhou Hongyi came out of the bureau chief's office, he found that many police officers were gathered together talking about him. They quickly dispersed when they saw him come out, as if they were all speculating about his background.

After all, Colonel Shimazu just said, "General Doihara also admires you." What does that mean? Even a general admires you. Is this an ordinary person? Yet you're just a lowly policeman in their police station. This alone is strange and makes people wonder.

"Hehehe, Hongyi, it's all my fault. I went a little too far. The man died before I could get any other information out of him. How about that? You're the one who earned all the credit for us, and we brothers got some too."

Xu Guodong wore his hat askew, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth, and approached Zhou Hongyi with a beaming smile. Anyone who didn't know better would have thought the latter was the team leader.

"Captain Xu, no need to be so polite. Come on, everyone, take these packs of cigarettes and share them. I don't smoke much, not as much as my brother-in-law gave me. If you want some in the future, just come and ask me."

Zhou Hongyi was generous; he opened the two packs of cigarettes he had on him and scattered them around the police station lobby. Everyone had one in their hand, and some even had one tucked behind their ear, their mouths agape in smiles.

"You should thank Mr. Zhou for smoking such good cigarettes."

"Thank you, Mr. Zhou!"

“We’re all brothers, so don’t be shy. And don’t call me Young Master Zhou, just call me Zhou Hongyi or Zhongliang. Let’s work together as one in our Second Division, and maybe we can even make a big bonus at the end of the year.”

When everyone heard that there would be a big red envelope at the end of the year, their smiles became even brighter, and they cheered with each of them holding up a cigarette.

Just then, the door to the director's office was pushed open, and Feng Jinxiong strode over, shouting, "Stop arguing! There's a new mission. The higher-ups are furious about the Red Party underground agents who appeared this morning. Almost the entire 76th Special Agent Unit has been mobilized, and all our police stations have been ordered to cooperate in the search. The arrest warrants have been issued; each of your teams will take one and go out to search. Oh, and I have another announcement to make: starting today, Zhou Hongyi will be promoted to head of the Special Operations Group, with a rank equivalent to deputy director. You guys better watch your words and actions from now on, and don't be disrespectful. Alright, understand? Get moving!"