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

Chapter 184 Can’t afford to offend
Suddenly, Fujita, who was leaning against the wall, moved.

He didn't move forward; his voice, with its metallic, scraping quality, struck Chen Yang's nerves like a hammer blow: "Section Chief Chen,"

"Kumano's briefcase was a specially made military item with a combination lock, but it was broken open on the platform. This is very unusual."

"Would a highly trained agent make such a mistake? Or... was the collision designed in advance? To 'just' expose what was inside?"

Chen Yang naturally controlled his facial muscles, letting confusion and a hint of common sense emerge: "The briefcase broke open?"

"Well, Colonel Fujita, please forgive my frankness, but my knowledge of the details of special operations equipment is limited."

“I see that Kumano-kun carries this briefcase with him at all times, so I believe it must be very important.”

"So I agree with you, this kind of thing must be specially made."

"However, in my understanding, even the sturdiest locks can be damaged if subjected to a sufficiently strong impact at a coincident angle, especially at the connection points."

As for whether it's a design...

Chen Yang paused, then said with a hint of self-deprecation, "On a crowded platform? That... the success rate is too low, the risk is too high, it doesn't seem like... a professional approach at all."

Fujita remained silent in the shadows for a long while before slowly saying, "Professional actions are often hidden beneath the most unprofessional behavior."

“Section Chief Chen,” Fujita Tsuyoshi’s tone was as flat as a taut wire, “your answer sounds like it follows procedure.”

Just as Chen Yang's heart was beginning to calm down, Fujita Tsuyoshi's next words immediately plunged him into an ice cellar: "However, Kumano was carrying top secrets. His death cannot be ambiguous. Every clue must be investigated thoroughly."

He walked to the table, without even glancing at the clerk's notes, and said in a deep voice, "Anyone in the Transportation Section who has come into contact with document K-5471 is prohibited from leaving Shanghai immediately."

"You'll be available whenever called. The investigation team will conduct a 'thorough' check of your office to ensure there are no 'oversights'."

"As for you, Section Chief Chen, you need to stay here for forty-eight hours until we complete all the investigations. Your cooperation is related to your proof of loyalty to the Empire."

"Colonel Fujita, are you planning to place me under house arrest?" Chen Yang stood up, his body ramrod straight, his face a mixture of humiliation and forced obedience.

"Section Chief Chen, please watch your words. What we need is the truth."

Fujita said coldly, "Lieutenant Colonel Kumano is carrying the Empire's top secrets. His itinerary is theoretically absolutely confidential."

"But in fact, the fact that he took the K-5471 train is not without evidence. At least, the existence of this train is confirmed in the dispatching system."

"But there aren't many people who can accurately grasp train schedules and train formations."

"Someone who works in the transportation department and is familiar with all the rules and procedures, and also knows how to exploit loopholes in the rules and procedures."

"Or rather... the section chief who knows how to make a fatal 'accident' seem reasonable... is precisely one of the candidates who has this ability."

Matsushima Yokoji added ominously, "Chen-san, as far as we know, during your time working in the transportation department, you have always been 'dutiful,' even somewhat... too low-key and proper."

"Sometimes, this makes people curious about what's hidden beneath those rules."

"Motives. Everyone has motives. For money? For sex? For revenge? Or... for something more intangible, but also more persistent... like so-called 'patriotism'?"

“You, Chen Sang, a Chinese, hold an important position in the empire’s institutions.”

"We give you trust and status. But deep down, have you truly and completely abandoned your origins?"

"Do you truly place the interests of the empire above that corrupt nation to which your bloodline originates?"

"When an opportunity arises that could cripple a crucial operation of the Empire, or even... just possibly... save your compatriots who are stubbornly resisting in the mountain city, will that tiny spark deep within you suddenly ignite?"

"Is this the reason? There's no evidence, just because I'm Chinese?" Chen Yang's tone was very calm, but beneath that calm lay an undeniable anger.

He didn't explain or protest his innocence because he knew very well that at this moment, any extreme defense or emotional protest would be seen as a sign of guilt by someone as suspicious as Fujita Tsuyoshi.

He abruptly raised his head and calmly said, "Colonel Fujita! Group Leader Matsushima!"

“I…I don’t know how to prove my loyalty! Everything I did in the Transportation Division is documented! Every document I handled can be examined under the most rigorous scrutiny!”

The next moment, his tone became indignant and resolute: "Yes! I am Chinese! But precisely because of this, I understand all too well the backwardness, corruption, and hopelessness here!"

"I studied at Kyushu University for four years and was exposed to a lot of new knowledge, whether it was economics, medicine or other things. My vision was not limited to China. On the contrary, the advancement of the Empire gave me hope."

"Only the vision of the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere can lead China to break free from the backwardness brought about by the Qing Dynasty. I have long regarded the Empire as the object of my loyalty!"

"Your so-called 'patriotism'... that kind of thing that only brings war and poverty, has long lost all meaning for me! Actions to destroy the empire? What good would they do me? Do you want me to go back to that past where I lived in constant fear and was looked down upon?"

"If...if the colonel and the squad leader determine that I am a suspect,"

"I request... I request an immediate and thorough investigation into me!"

"Examine my accounts, wiretap my phones, monitor my every move, even... use any means you deem necessary! I only ask to prove my innocence; I only want to continue serving the Empire!"

Wow, what a loyal lackey!
Silence fell again in the interrogation room. Fujita Go's rock-like face remained devoid of any emotion.

His gaze was fixed on Chen Yang, calmly analyzing every inch of Chen Yang's expression, every fluctuation in his tone, and the authenticity of every emotion. Fujita knew there was no evidence. All his current suspicions were based on logical reasoning and speculation about human nature.

Chen Yang's reaction, from the technocrat's explanation to his later agitation, was somewhat dramatic, but also quite reasonable.

Just as Colonel Fujita was about to speak, a footstep sounded: "Colonel."

A Special Higher Police guard strode into the interrogation room and whispered a few words in his ear.

"What? Commander Otani wants to see me?" Fujita was clearly surprised.

Chen Yang had only been arrested for less than two hours when Otani Yunqi suddenly wanted to see him. What a coincidence!

"I'll go."

Office of the Commander of the Military Police Headquarters, Shanghai.

Fujita stood in front of the office door and gently knocked on it.

"Come in." A dignified voice rang out from inside.

Fujita pushed open the door and entered. Upon seeing Commander Otani Unshichi behind the desk, he immediately saluted and said, "Lord Otani, you wanted to see me?"

Otani Unshichi gave a soft snort: "Colonel Fujita, what are you doing? Why did you summon the head of the Army Transport Section for no reason?"

"You're now suspecting he has a problem?"

"What's wrong with him? What evidence do you have?"

Otani Unshichi's series of questions left Fujita Takeshi somewhat bewildered.

"Lord Otani, the Special Higher Police's interrogation procedure is as follows: since the train that Kumano-kun was on had a problem, the Army Transport Division naturally bears an inescapable responsibility."

Otani Yunqi's face darkened: "Colonel Fujita, are you deaf? I'm asking you what evidence you have to suspect that Section Chief Chen is involved in something?"

"You're talking to me about procedures and responsibilities, but I know these things better than you do. All I want to know now is your reasoning for doing this."

Fujita Tsuyoshi honestly replied, "Because Section Chief Chen is Chinese, we feel he has a motive."

"Nonsense." Otani Yunqi suddenly stood up: "Minister Oshima has even called me."

"The entire Transportation Department believes that Section Chief Chen is without fault—his ability, his attitude, everything about him—but your Special Higher Police believe that he is problematic."

"Moreover, you can't produce any evidence, just because he is Chinese."

"Do you know how much efficiency this Chinese man improved the empire's transportation?"

"His Army Transport Division was more efficient than all the transport departments combined before the establishment of the Transport Department."

"Are you thinking that the transportation department is too idle and want to find them something to do?"

"I'm not afraid to tell you, Minister Oshima has already suspended your special freight train for supplies this month."

"In other words, all your supplies for November are still in Jinling. If you want more supplies, drive to Jinling yourself to get them."

"What? How could he do this? He's settling a personal score." Fujita Tsuyoshi immediately became anxious.

Part of the supplies for the Shanghai Special Higher Police were distributed by the Military Police Headquarters, while the other part, which might be hard to believe, was actually allocated by the Nanjing Reformed Government.

In their eyes, the Nanjing Reformed Government was like a fat, juicy roast suckling pig, ready for any department to pounce and take a bite.

The key point is that supplies also need to be transported over, and they can't be flown over.

Kenjiro Oshima is the highest-ranking officer in the Ministry of Transport and has the full authority to stop the other party's special train. You can't argue with him about procedures.

Oshima is a professional logistics and transportation officer by training; he can come up with a hundred reasons, each one unique.
Otani Yunqi sneered, "Oshima is the Minister of Transport, so of course he has the authority. And let me tell you, not only will the Army Transport Division refuse to transport it, but even the Navy's transport fleet will not take it."

"That guy Yamaki is so anxious about you not having any supplies that he's probably laughing to himself in his sleep."

"Fujita Tsuyoshi, why did you go and provoke them? Everyone knows that those of us fighting on the front lines rely on logistical supplies for food."

"Don't you understand the principle that it's better to offend the front lines than the logistics?"

"How dare you detain the head of the land transport department without any reason? Fujita Tsuyoshi, are you a candle? Did you have your head moved to your butt after surgery?"

"If your Special Higher Police want to die, don't drag our Military Police Headquarters into it, you bastard! Even we don't dare to offend the Southern Transportation Department, where did you, a colonel, get the guts?"

"Go back and apologize to Section Chief Chen, then arrange for a car to take him away."

"Now, immediately"

(End of this chapter)