Spy game? Stop guessing, I really am an undercover agent!

Chapter 112 A feint attack to the east while striking in the west

Li Lang is right; when it comes to antiques, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Zhang Boju, a renowned collector in the antique world and one of the "Four Gentlemen of the Republic of China," almost squandered his entire fortune to acquire the "Pingfu Tie" from Fu Ru in Beiping.

This was because Fu Ru had lost his mother and needed money to make ends meet, plus Zhang Boju had an excellent reputation in the antique world.

He never resold any cultural relics, and with Zhang Daqian as guarantor, he spent 40,000 silver dollars to persuade Fu Ru to willingly hand over this calligraphy masterpiece known as the "Emperor of Ink".

Li Lang has been in the antique business for decades and is extremely adept at all sorts of tricks, especially how to use antiques to manipulate capital. He is even more skilled at this.

"Well, if you're going to put on an act, you have to go all the way. I'd appreciate it if Mr. Li could come up with something good to show off."

Chen Yang nodded and said, "Otherwise, it will easily attract criticism."

Li Lang smiled and nodded: "Don't worry, Mr. Chen, I know what I'm doing."

"However, let's get this straight: I'll only act as a go-between for you."

"I won't interfere in other matters; you can negotiate the price yourselves."

"You don't need to worry about them asking for an exorbitant price; the person I found is absolutely reliable."

Chen Yang nodded and said, "Then I'll leave everything to Mr. Li. Have Director Feng notify me if there's any news."

"I'll take my leave now."

Li Lang quickly stood up and said, "Boss Chen, let me see you off."

"No need, no need, Mr. Li, please wait."

********
Shanghai, Special Higher Police.

Zhao Peng's body was discovered the following afternoon by fishermen who made a living on the Suzhou River, and they reported it to the authorities.

Zhao Peng's body was taken to the Special Higher Police morgue via the Public Concession Police Station.

Special Higher Police medical examiner Shinichiro Kosaka immediately performed an autopsy on the body.

In the office of the head of the investigation team, Matsui Yokoji looked at the report sent by Kosaka Shinichiro with a somewhat distorted expression.

He finally managed to recruit a Red Party intelligence liaison, who even assured him that he would have a chance to capture the Red Party's Public Concession group leader, Che Fu.

This is a big fish; catching him will uncover the entire network of the Red Party in the International Settlement.

Thinking further, we might be able to catch the driver's superior, who is the highest intelligence commander in Shanghai.

But now, because Zhao Peng was suddenly killed, everything has vanished.

In particular, he just sent word yesterday that tonight, the head of the French Concession intelligence team, Qinghu, will be trading drugs with the special envoy, Yexiao.

Catching these two people is a great achievement.

"Kosaka-kun, do you suspect that Zhao Peng was robbed, murdered, and then thrown into the Suzhou River?" After flipping to the last page of the report, Matsui Yokoji looked at the conclusion and began to doubt Kosaka Shinichiro's judgment.

Shinichiro Kosaka said slowly, "Section Chief Matsui, I made this judgment based on my professional expertise."

"Judging from the wounds, the cause of death was that the throat bone was broken by a wire or similar object, causing suffocation."

"A small amount of mud and sand was also found in his mouth, proving that he was thrown into the river after his throat was broken."

"At that time, he was still in a near-death state, so he was still breathing a little."

"Not only that, his valuables and some of the important jewelry you provided earlier have also disappeared."

"All indications suggest that he was robbed and murdered on his way home."

Matsui Yokoji frowned and said, "But there's no other evidence on here to prove he was robbed and murdered."

Shinichiro Kosaka explained, "Section Chief Matsui, the body was soaked in the Suzhou River overnight, and a lot of things were damaged."

"We can only rely on the evidence left on the body's surface to make a judgment at this point." Matsui Yokoji suddenly asked, "Kosaka-kun, do you think it's possible that a professional assassin did it?"

Shinichiro Kosaka pondered for a moment, then nodded and shook his head: "As far as I know, professional assassins prefer to use guns and knives."

"That makes it easier to take down the target; the weapon they're using doesn't seem like that of an assassin."

Matsui Yokoji was at a loss for words. He wondered whether the other party had deliberately used such a weapon to mislead Zhao Peng, or whether Zhao Peng, being an idiot, had been smoking too much opium and had lost his senses, thus being targeted by some thugs.

He had warned Zhao Peng long ago not to wear those things after he became rich, because the expensive ornaments he wore could be exchanged for a few small gold bars.

It's exactly the behavior of a poor person who suddenly becomes rich.

"I understand, Kosaka-kun, thank you for your hard work." Matsui Yokoji nodded, gesturing for Kosaka Shinichiro to leave.

Shinichiro Kosaka bowed slightly and left the office.

Knock, knock, knock. Asano Ozo knocked on the office door and said, "Section Chief, Zhao Peng is in trouble. Should we continue our operation tonight?"

Matsui Yokoji rubbed his temples. He had started planning today's operation as soon as he received the intelligence from Zhao Peng yesterday.

But now, Zhao Peng has been inexplicably robbed and murdered.

Without an inside man, Matsui Yokoji couldn't be sure when Blue Fox and Night Owl would appear.

"Asano-kun, continue with the previous plan and lie in ambush at the Jiangnan Wharf."

"We absolutely cannot let Blue Fox and Night Owl escape."

"Hi"

*****
Shanghai, Jiangnan Wharf.

Matsui Yokoji stood at the entrance of Warehouse No. 3, the stiff collar of his dark green Special Higher Police uniform tightly constricting his neck, a trace of sweat slowly creeping up his spine.

His left hand was in his pocket, while his right hand was raised to his chest, with the knuckles of his white-gloved index and middle fingers pressed deeply into an unseen indentation below his left shoulder blade.

This is a penetrating wound left from the manhunt in Zhabei last year. In this sticky, sultry June heat, it feels like a rusty piece of iron buried deep in the flesh being repeatedly twisted by an invisible hand.

It wasn't a sharp pain, but a dull, aching, and throbbing sensation. Each press brought a tooth-grinding, gritty feeling, like a blade grinding between bones.

"Click... Pfft..."

The leather boots made a sticky sound as they stepped over the greasy, dirty water stains on the ground.

Asano Osamu's temples, beneath the brim of his hat, were soaked with sweat and clung tightly to his skin.

He walked to a distance of about one and a half steps in front of Matsui Yokoji, then slammed his boot heel against the ground, sending up a few specks of murky oil. He stood ramrod straight, in a perfect attention stance.

"Section Chief, we're ready. Once the targets appear, they won't escape our grasp."

"Very good, Asano-kun. Tell everyone to be careful. This time, we're arresting Qinghu, the head of the intelligence team in the French Concession, and Yexiao, a special envoy of the New Army."

"These two people are extremely important figures in the Red Party, and we must not let them escape from Shanghai."

"Hassi," Asano Ozo bowed slightly, a hint of hesitation flashing in his eyes.

"Asano-kun, is there something you want to say?" Matsui Yokoji's voice slowly rang out.

“Section Chief,” Asano Ozo hesitated for a moment before saying, “I have a question I don’t understand. You said that Qinghu is the head of the French Concession intelligence group.”

"Why would he choose Jiangnan Wharf if he wanted to leave Shanghai?"

"Wouldn't it be more reliable to go through the Xinkaihe or Shiliuhang Wharf in Shanghai?"

"There's no special passageway at the Jiangnan Wharf, so they went to great lengths to leave from here..."

Matsui Yokoji's brows furrowed suddenly: "What did you say? Say it again..."

(End of this chapter)