Spy Wars: Return of the Red Luan

The most crucial element was that the island's workers, engineers, and soldiers all drank sake from Nara, but the remaining sake, after testing, did not reveal any traces of sedatives or poisons.

Alcohol? Something just doesn't feel right.

"Oh my god! The truth is really elusive."

Meanwhile, the local war in North China was not yet over, and the Chinese Nationalist government, the Red Army, and patriots were closely monitoring Japan's movements.

Although Chiang Kai-shek was busy suppressing the Red Army, he still secretly sent a military advisory group to Europe to purchase weapons and attempted to obtain more Japanese intelligence through the European intelligence network.

The secret naval shipyard in Kagoshima, Japan, was attacked by an unknown organization. The entire shipyard was engulfed in flames, and the giant battleship "Yamato" under construction was destroyed!

The news reached China through multiple channels, first in Shanghai and Nanjing, then in Tianjin and Beijing.

Holy crap! This is absolutely gratifying! Patriotic organizations and schools in major cities across the country are in an uproar.

Jinling: "Damn it! Who did this! Beautiful! Let Spring Breeze come to see me."

Tianjin: "Baka! This is terrible! Quickly contact all the assassins heading to Tokyo and tell them to stay silent!"

"Young Master, send someone to investigate secretly and see if there's more to the story behind the Kagoshima bombing. In particular, find out how the evidence pointing to the United States ended up at the scene."
-
In Tokyo, the special investigation team is gradually gathering information.

Residents and dockworkers in Kobe Port have reported that many unfamiliar Western faces appeared in the port and city center a few days ago.

Then, the cargo owner who frequently delivered goods to Kagoshima finally escaped after great difficulty. According to the cargo owner's tearful account, a man named Sakuragi Taro recommended Nara sake to him. When he didn't want it, the man knocked him unconscious and locked him underground. He had only managed to escape with great difficulty.

"Sakuragi Taro, Nara's sake! The truth is getting closer!"

The technical department sent over a preliminary analysis report: although the explosive device was simple in structure, the materials used were very special and could not be easily purchased on the market. Only the United States had them, and the United States had no record of publicly exporting them.

Fishermen reported that they saw a large warship outside Kobe Port on the night of the 22nd, after the explosion.

The fishermen's reports of the time varied, but since fishermen generally don't have clocks, it's possible they misremembered the time. However, they emphasized that it was after the explosion, and they would have been able to see more clearly by the light of the fire.

Just after Yoshihiro Tomoyuki's Second Fleet returned to Tokyo from Yilan, upon hearing about the "April 423 Kagoshima Incident," the officer who had been holding binoculars at the time personally went to the Naval General Staff building to report to Aoki Seigen: the fleet had encountered an American warship near the Ryukyu Islands!

There was only one ship. We even used flag signals to ask its identity, and it replied that it was the U.S. Pacific Fleet, on routine patrol, and that there were many American sailors on board. Many sailors in our area saw it.

Well, we're getting closer to the truth. The Ryukyu Islands, what's the point of an American warship on routine patrols? Besides, that's not their territory!

It must be the ship that the fishermen saw. After destroying Kobe Port and Kagoshima, it fled towards the Philippine naval base. The timing matches.

Shameless Americans!

Rear Admiral Minoru Maeda stood in the temporary office of the Special Investigation Team of the Naval Headquarters, his fingers unconsciously tapping on the table.

The photos spread out on the table showed bearing fragments left at the explosion site, and these metal pieces bearing the Bethlehem Steel Company mark seemed particularly glaring to him at that moment.

"Someone come here! Have the technical department re-examine those bearing fragments, focusing on the signs of metal fatigue."

“Mr. Maeda, is this really necessary?” Chen Jiehua stood by the office window, his back to Maeda Minoru. Outside the window, in the distance, the torii gate of Yasukuni Shrine looked particularly dazzling in the sunlight.

Suddenly, a new, crazy idea popped into Chen Jiehua's head: why not go all the way and blow up the torii gate too? What would the result be?
-
On the evening of April 30, at the American naval base in Subic Bay, Philippines.

U.S. Naval Intelligence Director Johnson rushed from the U.S. mainland to the Philippines to secretly meet with Mark Holt, who had also rushed there.

"Breaking news: Some within the Japanese Navy are beginning to question the nature of the explosion. Our informant has discovered that Rear Admiral Seigen Aoki, the designer of the Yamato, seems dissatisfied with the preliminary investigation results."

Holt breathed a sigh of relief. "So our plan hasn't been completely exposed yet?"

"But the danger remains. Someone within the Admiralty leaked information about the missing parts from Bethlehem Company, and this person is likely still among us."

"We did want to cause trouble, but before we could even make a move, someone else beat us to it."

"The key issue is that this organization is even more ruthless than us. The shipyard was almost completely destroyed, and it is estimated that it will take at least a year to resume production."

"I can't worry about all that. The Secretary of State has ordered that all traces be destroyed!"

Just then, a secretary rushed in, "Director, an urgent telegram from the Secretary of State!"

In the White House cabinet meeting room, Secretary of State Hull, his face grave, said, “Gentlemen, the Japanese ambassador to our country has just submitted a formal protest note, along with new evidence, demanding an explanation from us regarding this matter.”

"What's worse is that anti-American sentiment in Japan is almost out of control."

President Rosford looked around at everyone. "We need a solution that can both quell Japan's anger and uncover the truth. Have Johnson expedite the investigation, focusing on personnel within the Navy, to find out which warship went out and caused the trouble."

"The president personally ordered an investigation of all personnel within the Navy, a review of all port entry and exit records of all warships here, and a continued review of patrol records for those that have sailed out."

Johnson, holding the telegram, spoke to Holt.

"Unfortunately, it is no secret that our Admiral James Richardson just returned home a few days ago to hand over command of the fleet."

"The new Commander-in-Chief, General Husband Kimmel, is still in the country."

"The timing wasn't just unfortunate, it was extremely coincidental."

"Coincidence is abnormal. Two admirals, which one should we investigate?"
-
Following the bombing, Kazuki Obata, the head of the Shanghai Division of the Special Higher Police, received a notification from headquarters instructing his subordinates to closely monitor the movements of Americans in Shanghai, especially any new or unfamiliar faces.

Sure enough, a dark-skinned American arrived in Shanghai and, instead of staying in a hotel, chose to rent an apartment.

This behavior was too strange. His men had been watching him for two days, but this guy suddenly boarded a ship and left Shanghai in a hurry.

After his subordinates reported this, Section Chief Obata Kazuki felt that this person was definitely suspicious; he was very likely from the U.S. Navy. His chance to make a name for himself had arrived!

"Take me to see the house he rented!" (End of Chapter)