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

Chapter 248 Peace Talks
The underground interrogation room of the Mei Agency is a veritable hell on earth.

The stark white incandescent light bulbs hanging from the low ceiling illuminated the huddled figure on the iron chair in the center of the room, leaving no room for concealment.

Aoki Tomohiro was stripped of his suit and tie, which symbolized his respectable status and demeanor, and was only wearing a thin white shirt.

His hands were handcuffed behind the cold iron chair, and his wrists were chafed and bleeding from the struggle.

His gold-rimmed glasses had long since been thrown into some corner, leaving his vision blurred and adding to his sense of helplessness.

His former superior gaze and composed demeanor had vanished, leaving only the terror and trembling of a lamb to the slaughter.

Chen Yang sat behind the interrogation table, not personally participating in the proceedings. Like a detached director, he leaned back in his chair, his hands clasped in front of his abdomen, watching everything under the lights with an expressionless face.

He doesn't need to do anything himself; his very presence is an invisible yet immense pressure.

The person in charge of the interrogation was Qingqi Qingyin, the deputy director of the Mei Agency.

He skillfully rolled up his sleeves to his elbows, revealing his muscular forearms. His eyes showed no emotion, only a focused concentration as he carried out his mission.

Standing in front of the torture rack, Qingqi Qingyin gently stroked the various torture instruments hanging on the wall with his right hand. Judging from the smile on his lips, it was more like he was choosing an intimate partner than choosing a suitable tool!

Fingers slowly glided over various metal instruments: pliers, a barbed whip, an electrified wire, and a basin of steaming charcoal fire with a soldering iron stuck in it at his feet.

"Director Aoki," Haruki's voice was as calm as if he were discussing the weather, but it sounded particularly eerie in this oppressive space.

"Minister Chen's time is very valuable."

"Tell me everything you know about Nobuo Yasuda and about those rumors."

"Who ordered it? Who are the accomplices? Through what channels was it spread? Saving each other's time is better for everyone."

"It was Yasuda who asked me to spread some rumors through the South Manchuria Railway's intelligence department in Shanghai... I don't know anything else! I really don't know anything!"

Aoki Tomohiro's voice was choked with sobs, distorted by fear, "My cooperation with Yasuda was merely to expand the influence of the South Manchuria Railway Bureau's Investigation Bureau and to help Yasuda control the Ministry of Transport,"

"This is my job, and this is my only purpose! The rumors that were spread afterward have nothing to do with me. Mr. Haruki, please tell General Kagesa that you, you must investigate this thoroughly!"

Qingqi Qingyin sighed, as if lamenting the other party's lack of understanding of the times.

He said no more and took a leather whip soaked in salt water from the rack of torture instruments.

"Snapped!"

A whip lashed across Aoki's back, tearing his shirt and leaving a bloody welt that swelled up instantly.

Aoki let out a piercing scream, his body convulsing violently.

"Spare me! I...I really didn't know!"

"Clap! Clap! Clap!"

Qingqi Qingyin's movements were steady and rhythmic, the whip like a venomous snake biting, each lash bringing a burning pain, old wounds had not yet scabbed over, and new injuries were already piling up.

Aoki's screams, which started high-pitched, gradually became hoarse, and finally only consisted of painful groans and uncontrollable sobs.

He was soaked in cold sweat and blood, as if he had just been pulled out of the water.

Chen Yang frowned slightly in the shadows, seemingly dissatisfied with the efficiency of the whipping.

He raised his hand slightly.

Qingqi understood and threw away the whip. He walked to the charcoal brazier and picked up a red-hot branding iron with tongs.

The dark red tip of the branding iron radiated a terrifying heat wave in the air, emitting a faint "sizzling" sound.

"No...no! No!" Aoki Tomohiro's pupils contracted sharply as he saw the approaching branding iron, letting out a desperate wail...

He desperately tried to curl his body back, attempting to get away from the terrifying heat source, but the iron chair held him firmly in place, and no matter how much he struggled, he remained motionless.

With a blank expression, Haruki Yoshitaka pressed the branding iron firmly against Aoki Tomohiro's bare left shoulder blade.

"Zi la——!"

A burnt smell of flesh and skin instantly filled the air.

Aoki's body arched upwards suddenly, like a fish thrown ashore, convulsing violently, his eyeballs almost bulging out of their sockets, before his head lolled to the side and he lost consciousness.

A bucket of ice-cold salt water was poured over his head. The excruciating pain brought him back to consciousness.

He felt that he was no longer a person, but a piece of meat being slowly tortured.

"Speak." Qingqi Qingyin's voice remained completely calm.

Aoki Tomohiro wept uncontrollably, pleading incoherently, and even began rambling on about unimportant names in an attempt to satisfy Haruki's demands and gain a moment's respite.

But Chen Yang remained unmoved, because that was not what he wanted.

What he wanted was a "confession" that could implicate more people, to solidify Aoki's guilt, and also to use this to put pressure on the South Manchuria Railway Company.

Seeing that Aoki still hadn't revealed the core information they wanted, even more brutal torture followed.

……

Time lost its meaning in this interrogation room. But the pain was eternal.

Seven hours.

When Aoki Tomohiro was finally jolted awake from his coma by a splash of cold water, he was no longer recognizable as a human.

His body was covered in whip marks, burns, and bruises; his fingers were twisted and deformed; his eyes were unfocused; and saliva was uncontrollably drooling from the corners of his mouth.

Qingqi Qingyin walked up to Chen Yang, bowed slightly, and said with some worry, "Chen Sang, I'm afraid he can't hold on much longer. If this continues, things might..."

Chen Yang stood up from the shadows and walked up to Aoki Tomohiro, who looked like a rag doll. He looked down at him with a hint of barely perceptible disgust in his eyes.

He took out the "confession" he had prepared beforehand, grabbed Aoki's right hand, which could still barely move, dipped it in ink, and pressed a bloodstained handprint at the end.

"Qingqi-kun, that's fine then. Remember to clean it up." Chen Yang casually gave the order, as if he were instructing someone to clean up a piece of trash.

He wiped his hands with a handkerchief, turned around, and left the interrogation room without looking back.

Haruki Yoshitane glanced at the dying Aoki Tomohiro and waved to the military police beside him.

Shortly afterward, the Mei Agency issued a brief announcement: Aoki Tomohiro, the director of the South Manchuria Railway Bureau's Investigation Bureau, was suspected of participating in the spread of rumors and undermining the stability of the Empire's logistics. During the investigation, he suddenly realized his mistakes and "committed suicide out of guilt."

Immediately afterward, a disfigured and badly injured body was secretly smuggled out and hastily cremated. The name Aoki Tomohiro, along with the seven hours of hell he endured in the interrogation room, was thus completely erased, as if it had never existed.

The news of Aoki Yuki's suicide due to "guilt" was like a boulder thrown into the already turbulent pond of Xinjing, causing ripples to spread rapidly.

The South Manchuria Railway Company was filled with indignation. Although they dared not openly resist the atrocities of the Ume Agency, a passive-aggressive and compliant attitude had begun to spread, further reducing the already strained efficiency of material transportation.

The logistics department of the Kwantung Army was also in a state of panic, and cooperation with the South Manchuria Railway Company almost came to a standstill, with mutual buck-passing and blaming becoming the norm.

This internal strife severely impacted the allocation of "holy war" supplies, and the pressure on the front lines eventually reached the Tokyo headquarters.

A strongly worded order was issued to the office of Kagesa Teiaki, head of the Military Affairs Section: requiring the Ume Agency to coordinate with the South Manchuria Railway Company to resolve the current dispute as soon as possible and ensure smooth logistics channels.

At this delicate moment, a figure quietly arrived in Shanghai from Dalian.

This person was none other than Izumi Kotaro, a senior investigator in the South Manchuria Railway Bureau's Investigation Department...

This Izumi Kotaro was neither a radical militarist nor a mere bureaucrat; he was more like an observer and a pragmatic problem solver.

More importantly, he maintained relatively good relations with the military and various factions within the South Manchuria Railway Company.

He was entrusted by high-ranking officials of the South Manchuria Railway Company and some military personnel to coordinate this mess.

Of course, Izumi Kotaro was not qualified to negotiate on an equal footing with an opponent like Kagesa, so the South Manchuria Railway Company found him another backer.

Director of the South Branch, His Excellency Nakamura Isao.

The representatives of the Mei Agency who came to coordinate with the Shanghai Municipal Logistics Department were Chen Yang, the head of the Land Transportation Section, and Kageyama Yoshiaki, the head of the Mei Agency...

In the evening, Yingzuo Zhenzhao and Chen Yang's car arrived at the hotel on time for their meeting!

Wearing a military uniform, Yingzuo's face was calm, and his brows showed less of the outward ferocity than before, but more of a deep calculation.

The South Manchuria Railway Company (SMR) sent Nakamura Isao with the intention of knowing that, under the current circumstances, simply resorting to high-pressure tactics was not the best approach.

While Izumi Kotaro was nominally in charge of the negotiations, Nakamura Isao was actually the real decision-maker...

In a secluded room on the second floor, Nakamura Isao was already waiting in the tatami room.

He was dressed in a well-fitting dark kimono, his eyes were gentle and wise, and there was a faint smile on his lips.

Kotaro Izumi knelt in front of the tea table on the other side, skillfully brewing matcha with gentle and Zen-like movements.

The door opened, and Yingzuo and Chen Yang entered the private room one after the other.

"General Kagesa, it is an honor to have you here. I am sorry for not welcoming you sooner." When Nakamura saw Kagesa, he did not get up, but simply nodded slightly. His tone was calm, neither humble nor impolite.

"Mr. Nakamura, thank you for waiting." As soon as he finished speaking, Kagesa and Chen Yang sat down opposite Nakamura Isao.

Nakamura Kōchō and Izumi Kōtaro nodded slightly, and Izumi Kōtaro quickly poured two cups of tea.

Nakamura gently pushed a cup of emerald green tea toward Kagesa: "The general is busy with official duties. The reason I asked you to come here is because there is some misunderstanding between the South Manchuria Railway and the Mei Agency."

Kagesa didn't touch the teacup, but went straight to the point, his voice low: "Mr. Nakamura is a wise man."

"The evidence is conclusive that Section Chief Chen and Haruki-kun spread rumors about Aoki Yuki and undermined the harmony of the Empire. The Mei Agency is acting in accordance with the law."

"But this has disrupted the operation of the Imperial logistics system and affected the soldiers on the front lines, which is something no one wants to see."

"What is the South Manchuria Railway's opinion on this matter? And how does it intend to resolve it?"

Nakamura Isao smiled slightly, picked up the teacup in front of him, took a sip, and said unhurriedly, "General Kagesa, the matter of Aoki Tomonari is a matter of public opinion within the South Manchuria Railway Company."

"If he did engage in any misconduct, it was a personal matter. The loyalty of the entire South Manchuria Railway Company to the Empire is beyond question."

Kagesa's gaze sharpened slightly as he looked at Nakamura Kodo and said, "As far as I know, because of Aoki's matter, there are many discordant voices within the South Manchuria Railway Company, and their attitude is causing great dissatisfaction among the locals."

"As a representative of the transportation department, Section Chief Chen also wanted to know what explanation Nakamura had for this."

Nakamura Isao slowly said, "The reasons are multifaceted. There is the unrest caused by recent rumors, as well as technical issues in process coordination. Of course, there may also be some... misunderstandings in communication."

“Misunderstanding?” Kagesa Yoshiaki raised an eyebrow. “Mr. Nakamura believes that the current situation is merely a misunderstanding?”

“At least it’s one of the important reasons.” Nakamura’s tone remained calm. “Trust is like this teacup; once it’s cracked, it can no longer hold fresh water.”

"The general's swift and decisive actions to deter villains are certainly necessary, but afterwards, some gentle and subtle methods are also needed to mend the rifts and clear the channels."

“Izumi-kun came with me to meet the general with sincerity.”

"The South Manchuria Railway Company is willing to fully cooperate with the logistics department of the dispatched army to optimize transportation processes, improve efficiency, and ensure the supply of materials to the front lines."

"But at the same time, we hope that the Meiji government and the Southern Transport Department can give us enough trust and room for cooperation, and reduce unnecessary...interference and scrutiny. After all, the professionalism of the South Manchuria Railway is the foundation for ensuring transportation efficiency."

“Trust needs to be proven with actions.” After a moment of silence, Yingzuo slowly said, “I can temporarily halt the internal investigation into the South Manchuria Railway, and Section Chief Chen is also willing to cooperate with the South Manchuria Railway.”

“However, Mr. Nakamura, I must see results! Within a month, the efficiency of transporting critical supplies to the north must increase by more than 30%! Otherwise…”

"The South Manchuria Railway must hand over the authority to lead transportation in China to the Southern Transportation Department."

“Nakamura-kun, can you make this decision?”

Nakamura Isao's smile remained unchanged. "Improving efficiency is the responsibility of the South Manchuria Railway Company, and we will do our best to achieve it."

"As for rebuilding trust, that will take time. I believe that with a common goal, any misunderstandings and obstacles can be overcome."

He made no commitment to the questions raised by Kagesa, but spoke in generalities, focusing on "common goals" and "overcoming obstacles".

“Nakamura-kun, that’s not what I want to hear.” Kagesa’s tone became somewhat aggressive.

"Use dominant transportation authority as a fundamental condition for cooperation!"

"If the North and South can unite, it will greatly help improve transportation efficiency."

"What I want to hear is an answer, not an excuse."

“I need time to submit a report to headquarters,” Nakamura said slowly. “I don’t have the authority to make such a big decision.”

"I hope Mr. Nakamura won't disappoint me." Kagesa Yoshiaki remained silent for a long time before finally picking up the cup of matcha, which had already cooled slightly, and drinking it all in one gulp, his movements as decisive as a soldier's.

"I will do my best." Nakamura bowed slightly.

[Finally, I'd like to thank the patron "Naming is really troublesome" for their strong support. The author will add an extra chapter as a way of repaying them once they've recovered. They'll be able to walk around tomorrow.]

(End of this chapter)