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

Chapter 181 Special Identity
The air seemed to freeze.

The sunlight streaming in through the window created an invisible chasm between the two of them.

"You're talking to me about the big picture?" Yingzuo was taken aback at first, then burst into laughter.

"Interesting, very interesting." Kagesa stared at Kumano Ryohei and said, "This is the first time I've been lectured by a lieutenant colonel about the bigger picture."

"Kumano-kun, are you teaching me how to do things?"

Faced with Kagesa's almost mocking words, Kumano Ryohei's jawline tightened instantly, and his expression became unusually serious.
Meeting Kagesa's oppressive gaze, he straightened his body even more, his eyes flashing with an almost arrogant determination.

“Lord Kagesa,” Kumano’s voice was firm and unwavering, “this matter involves the ‘Maple Project,’ which is classified as ‘Top Secret,’ the highest level of secrecy.”

"This level was personally confirmed by General Doi-mado, who also signed the highest execution order!"

"I cannot disclose the specifics, Your Excellency. You have personally coordinated all the resources needed for the plan! I only need to follow your orders and return to the mountain city as quickly as possible!"

"Baka..." A suppressed roar exploded like thunder in the office as Kagesa Tsuneaki slammed his palm on the hard mahogany table.

With a loud "bang!", the ashtray on the table jumped up...

Yingzuo suddenly stood up, his body trembling slightly from extreme anger, his face ashen, and veins bulging on his forehead.

"Kumano Ryohei!" Kagesa's voice was hoarse and distorted with rage. "This is Shanghai! The heart of the Empire's intelligence operations in China!"

"'Project Maple'? I've never seen that damned name in any briefing or intelligence report!"

"I'm reminding you, the North China Information Section is under the command of the China Affairs Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I am the commander of the China Affairs Division. Any action in the mountain city must! Must! Be evaluated by me! And approved by me!"

"You took a plan that came out of nowhere and bypassed me like a thief, going straight to the general. Now you dare to use 'classified' as a fig leaf to fob me off?"

"This is not only a blatant disregard for the authority of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but also a naked contempt for my authority!"

"Lord Kagesa, please watch your words!" Kumano's voice carried a sense of recklessness. "This subordinate is only responsible for the General's orders and plans! Now, I need your signature on my Shanghai exit permit!"

"If your delays cause the mission to be delayed, or if Mr. Wang is put in danger because of you, resulting in the failure of the Empire's mission to China."

"Lord Kagesa, even if you are the head of the Military Affairs Section, you may not be able to shoulder this responsibility."

Are you really prepared to gamble your future just to get revenge?

"Excuse my bluntness, but this is far too wasteful. You can simply pretend you know nothing about this plan, and then everything will be none of your concern..."

Kagesa Yoshiaki's face changed from ashen to a terrifying deathly pale.

Everyone knows that the army loves to play the trick of insubordination, but when it actually happened to him, Kagesa felt an indescribable anger.

"How dare you threaten me?"

Kumano Ryohei showed no sign of backing down. "Lord Kagesa, there's nothing I can do if that's how you see it."

"However, I am genuinely concerned for your future. You can't throw away your future just to vent your anger."

"Click."

The oak door handle was pulled open roughly.

Kageyama Yoshiaki appeared at the doorway.

Suppressing his anger, he addressed a silent guard adjutant not far from the door: "Kimura-kun, take her to the Southern Transportation Department and find Chief Chen of the Army Transportation Section."

After a pause, Kagesa took a breath: "Ask Lord Iwai to issue a special consulate pass."

"Now, immediately."

"Hai," Kimura Yuki bowed slightly and hurried to the third floor to find Iwai Hiroichi.

Shanghai, Southern Transportation Department.

The reorganized Southern Transportation Division was divided into two departments: the Army Transportation Section and the Navy Transportation Section.

Of course, there is also a general affairs department responsible for the maintenance of ships, trains, railway tracks, and the like.

The head of the General Affairs Section was still Kobayashi Shuzo, formerly of the North China Railway Construction Command.

Office of the Chief of the Army Transportation Division.

Chen Yang frowned slightly as he looked at the documents Kimura Yuki handed him.

"Kimura-kun, why would Lord Kagesa suddenly issue such an order?"

Kimura Yusei shrugged. He knew Chen Yang, since Chen Yang always needed him to announce his arrival when he went to see Kagesa.

"I don't know. Lord Kagesa only instructed that it be completed as soon as possible."

"Alright, I've delivered the message. Kumano-kun is outside. Please discuss any needs with him yourself, Section Chief Chen."

After speaking, Kimura Yuki bowed slightly and left the office.

A moment later, a figure appeared at the office door with a briefcase tucked under his arm.

"Hello, Section Chief Chen, my name is Kumano Ryohei." Kumano Ryohei was quite polite. After all, he had lived in China for many years and had dealt with Chinese people for a long time, so he naturally knew the rule of not hitting a smiling person.

"Kumano-kun, please have a seat." Chen Yang stood up and gestured for him to sit down.

"Kumano-kun," Chen Yang said slowly, picking up the warrant signed by Kagesa Masaaki from the table, "The Army Transportation Department will do its utmost to cooperate with Lord Kagesa's orders." "I wonder if Kumano-kun has any other requests, such as whether he needs protection?"

Ryohei Kumano said seriously, "No need. My only request is that Section Chief Chen arrange a vehicle as soon as possible."

Chen Yang's gaze naturally fell on Kumano Ryohei's briefcase under his armpit, which had a brass lock.

As if sensing Chen Yang's gaze, Kumano Ryohei's eyes instantly turned wary.

"Section Chief Chen, your job is to assist me in returning to Shancheng as soon as possible."

"It's best if you don't ask or inquire about anything else. It's better for both of us."

A fleeting look of displeasure crossed Chen Yang's face, but he didn't say anything, simply adopting a businesslike demeanor.

"Kumano-kun, according to the management regulations, I need to know whether the items you are carrying will affect the safe operation of the train."

"You should know that the Army Transportation Division is responsible for the safety of train transportation."

“Section Chief Chen, you’re overthinking it,” Kumano Ryohei said casually. “I only carry this briefcase with me.”

"I won't carry any extra items, and if any problems arise, the Special Higher Police will take responsibility."

"Section Chief Chen only needs to arrange transportation."

Chen Yang remained silent for a while: "Then let's leave it at that. There's a train departing from Shanghai to Nanjing in the early morning."

"You will first take a train to Nanjing, then transfer to Central China, and then enter Southwest China from Central China."

"Although the process is a bit complicated, it's safe enough."

After pondering for a while, Kumano Ryohei nodded, stood up and said, "Please arrange it as soon as possible, Section Chief Chen. I'm counting on you for everything."

“Of course, it’s what I should do,” Chen Yang said with a slight bow. “Then please wait at the supply center on Maigen Road, Mr. Kumano.”

"I'll make a call to the person in charge there and have him arrange a completely safe room for you to rest."

"If you're still worried about safety, I'll take you there."

"Alright, thank you for your trouble, Section Chief Chen. I'll wait for you downstairs." Kumano Ryohei did not refuse, bowed slightly in return, and said a word of thanks.

Watching Kumano Ryohei's departing figure, Chen Yang's gaze instantly turned deep.

There's a problem, and it's not just a minor one.

All things considered, Chen Yang had been working in the Japanese organization for a year now, so he couldn't say he knew everything about each department.
But Chen Yang was also aware of the conflict between the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Matsuoka Yosuke doesn't even give Prime Minister Konoe face, so how could the China Affairs Division cooperate with the Special Higher Police?

He also followed the instructions of the Special Higher Police and specially sent someone to deliver official documents to the mountain city.

What exactly is this mission? A regular mission would obviously only require radio communication.

The Special Higher Police actually abandoned radio and used manual transport instead.

This means that the operation is of great importance, and in order to prevent the radio station from being detected, using the most primitive manual transportation is the safest course of action.

But what kind of mission could be so highly classified that even Kagesa had to compromise with them?

Combining his memories from his past life, Chen Yang instantly realized the only possibility: it was related to Mr. Wang.

After the Battle of Wuhan, the Kuomintang (KMT) was still honorable in defeat, but this defeat also caused Mr. Wang to lose his last hope for the KMT.

The Special Higher Police's actions are likely aimed at getting Mr. Wang out of the country.

A cold smile appeared on Chen Yang's lips. He took out special draft paper from the drawer and wrote the encrypted characters on it.

Each character in the password felt like a red-hot branding iron, burning onto the thin paper and into Chen Yang's heart.

Soon, an encrypted message was folded into a cube smaller than a fingernail and placed into a small metal box.

Chen Yang put away the metal box, stood up and walked out of the office: "Secretary Li, arrange a car, I have something to do at the Maigen Road supply warehouse."

"Oh, by the way, tell the driver to stop by Hezi Department Store on the way. I want to bring some local specialties for Kumano-kun to eat on the way."

Without much thought, Li Ningyu immediately went to make the arrangements.

The twilight is closing, and the lanterns are starting to turn on.

Neon lights painted bizarre colors on the wet streets, while the sounds of tram bells and rickshaw drivers' shouts mingled to create the bustling background music of this city that never sleeps.

The restroom on the ground floor of Hezi Department Store in the Japanese-occupied area of ​​Shanghai.

Song Yilin disguised herself as a middle-aged woman, wearing a blue cleaning uniform and carrying a mop and a bucket.

Before entering the restroom, she took a triangular cone from the bucket. The cone had the words "Cleaning in Progress" written in Japanese on three sides.

After confirming that no one was inside, Song Yilin placed the traffic cone at the doorway and quickly closed the bathroom door.
Based on the information conveyed by the jam and bread delivered by the Belarusian bakery downstairs by Chen Yang, Song Yilin quickly identified her target: the water tank in the third compartment of the bathroom.

Upon opening the water tank lid, sure enough, there was a metal box covered with a sealed plastic bag at the bottom of the tank.

Song Yilin packed her things, walked out of the bathroom, skillfully placed the triangular cone into the bucket, and casually left Hezi Department Store as if nothing had happened.
(End of this chapter)