If you had to choose an identity to go undercover, you'd choose a gynecologist.

Chen Qing's clinic was thoroughly searched by agents from the 76th Division, leaving it in a complete mess.

He didn't know how many times this had happened; perhaps the feng shui of this place was bad, attracting disaster.

Naturally, they found nothing useful, and Chen Qing and Chen He were taken away amidst the sympathetic gazes of the people on the street.

I'm doomed. Chen He will definitely betray me this time. Even if he doesn't, I can't withstand the torture inflicted by No. 76.

Chen Qing wailed inwardly, "Damn Wang Tianfeng, why did he have to kill Xu Yan? I didn't expect his son to be so powerful. I'll haunt you even as a ghost!"

.....................

Office of the Deputy Director of the Special Affairs Committee.

Minglou stared blankly at the scenery outside the window. Dark clouds covered the sky, and the bare branches of the sycamore trees were like iron, much like the omnipresent thorns in the city.

The dim sunlight shone on his crisp suit and reflected the gloom in his eyes.

"elder brother!"

Mingcheng hurriedly pushed open the door and walked in.

"Brother, something's happened. A large number of agents from the 76th Bureau have sealed off Pinganli and arrested Chen He, the owner of Chen's Tailor Shop, and that doctor Chen Qing. Xu Tian, ​​Araki's staff officer, is too amazing. He locked onto the targets after just a few glances. The two are now locked in the 76th Bureau's interrogation room, with Araki presiding over the interrogation. I'm afraid the two are in grave danger."

Ming Lou asked with a complicated expression, "Have you confirmed with headquarters whether they are from the Military Intelligence Bureau?"

"Yes, they are members of the Ghost Group. Chen Qing is the leader, codenamed Parrot. Chen He is a member, codenamed Pangolin. There is also a person named Yu Manli. They have already escaped with Zhou Haichao, who is wanted by the authorities. This exposure is mainly due to a mole in Chongqing. Araki obtained Zhou Haichao's photo, and headquarters called back to ask if we have any way to rescue them."

Minglou sighed heavily, his voice filled with helplessness: "They are all heroes of the anti-Japanese war, but this matter involves the Japanese. Araki is currently keeping an eye on No. 76, so we can only protect ourselves. If we act rashly, it might arouse the suspicion of the Japanese. What is Zhou Fuhai's reaction?"

"According to his secretary, after Zhou Fuhai heard the news, he just gave a faint 'hmm' and didn't say anything more. The meaning couldn't be clearer: he wanted to stay out of it, didn't want to offend the Japanese, and didn't want to get into trouble."

Minglou sighed: "No one who goes into No. 76 comes out alive. Let's see if they can withstand the torture. We can only stand by and watch. Sometimes, a person's fate is not something they can decide. The world will sweep you along. Where you end up and where you stop is beyond your control."

As the sky outside gradually darkened, Minglou reached for his coat on the sofa and said to Mingcheng, "Let's go home. It's almost Chinese New Year, and Mingtai is back from his holiday. Let's have a family reunion dinner."

Mingcheng also sighed: "The end of the year is tough. That damned Wang Tianfeng dragged Mingtai into this too."

………………

In interrogation room number 76, the bloodstained instruments of torture gleamed coldly under the dim light.

Chen Qing and Chen He were interrogated separately. Wang Manchun interrogated Chen Qing, while Araki and Liang Zhongchun interrogated Chen He.

Liang Zhongchun smiled obsequiously: "Colonel Araki, you don't know, that Chen Qing next door, Wang Manchun is just settling a personal score! Last time she wanted to arrest Chen Qing and kill him, if someone hadn't stopped her, he would be dead already."

Araki simply raised an eyebrow: "I can see that Wang Manchun hates him to the core. Could it be that the two have some old grudge?"

"I don't know about that. Wang Manchun always wanted to marry into the Ming family, but she was afraid that Ming Lou would think she was a promiscuous woman. She even killed her boyfriend of several years because of this. I suspect that Chen Qing and she also had a relationship."

"What nonsense!" Araki interrupted Liang Zhongchun's rambling. "I only care whether he's a member of the Military Intelligence Bureau. The Peace Conference is imminent, and the Emperor's special envoy will be there in person. Before that, all anti-Japanese elements in Shanghai must be wiped out in one fell swoop, and no hidden dangers can be left behind."

He pointed at Chen He: "Let's begin."

An agent from Interrogation Division No. 76 stepped forward, his leather whip, coated with coarse salt, whistling through the air before lashing Chen He hard with a sharp "crack."

Salt water seeped into the cracked flesh, bringing excruciating pain. Chen He shuddered, veins bulging on his forehead, but he clenched his teeth tightly, remaining silent. Only cold sweat rolled down his cheeks, splashing onto the cold cement floor and spreading into a small wet patch.

The sound of whips lashing echoed in the interrogation room, each strike heavier than the last. Chen He's clothes were quickly soaked in blood, sticking to his back and revealing crisscrossing bloody welts.

But he kept his lips tightly pressed together, his eyes showing no fear, only burning hatred.

Immediately afterwards, the tiger bench was pushed up, bricks were placed under his heels one by one, and a sharp pain came from his knees as if his bones were about to break. Chen He's body trembled violently, and cold sweat soaked his hair and stuck to his forehead, but he still did not utter a single sound of begging for mercy.

Then, a red-hot branding iron, sizzling as it approached, burned his arm, instantly emitting a burnt smell. Chen He tensed up abruptly, letting out a suppressed groan, but still refused to lower his head.

The electric current surged into his body along the wires, causing him to convulse, his face ashen, and his lips bitten until they bled, yet he remained silent.

Finally, the agent turned off the power and turned to Araki, saying, "Reporting to the Colonel, we've reached our limit. If we continue the interrogation, the man might not be able to hold on."

Araki walked slowly to Chen He, looking down at him with a hint of coaxing in his voice: "If you just tell me whether Chen Qing next door is one of your people, and confess all your superiors and accomplices, I can spare your life if you surrender."

"Pooh!"

Chen He suddenly raised his head and spat a mouthful of bloody saliva onto Araki's face, his eyes full of contempt.

Chen Qing was his comrade and had cured his sister's eyes. He had been exposed and was doomed. He had made up his mind that even if he died, he would not expose Chen Qing.

Araki's smile vanished instantly. He took out a handkerchief and slowly wiped the spittle off his face: "Another die-hard. Looks like he's not worth anything."

Liang Zhongchun quickly stepped forward and cautiously asked, "Colonel, since he refuses to confess, why not just execute him to prevent future trouble?"

"No." Araki shook his head, a sinister smile playing on his lips. "I have other methods. Soon, he will reveal everything."

"What methods?" Liang Zhongchun asked curiously.

Araki Yuichi: "The new stuff that the United States just developed, sodium thiopental, also known as truth serum, can make people lose their mental defenses and tell the whole truth. However, it is very expensive and extremely difficult to obtain. I don't have much on hand, and I don't want to use it unless absolutely necessary."

Araki waved his hand, and a Japanese military doctor in a white coat walked in carrying a tray with a syringe and a small bottle of clear liquid on it.

The military doctor walked up to Chen He and tried to hold down his arm to administer the injection.

Chen He struggled violently, the chains clanging loudly against the rack, but he was bound too tightly to break free.

The military doctor took the opportunity to insert a needle into his vein and slowly inject truth serum.

Just as the medicine was about to be finished, Chen He suddenly glared, let out a muffled roar, and a large amount of blood quickly spilled from the corner of his mouth.

"Oh no! He bit off his tongue!" Liang Zhongchun shouted in fright, instinctively taking a step back.

Everything happened in the blink of an eye, and by the time the agents tried to stop it, it was too late.

Chen He suddenly opened his mouth, and a bloody tongue came out and fell to the ground with a slight sound.

He looked at Araki and suddenly burst into laughter, blood flowing from the corner of his mouth, staining his clothes red. His face was ferocious yet filled with an extreme sense of pleasure, his eyes filled with a resolute determination to die.

Araki's expression instantly turned serious. He gave Chen He a deep look, slowly straightened his hat, and reached out to fasten the top button of his clothes, his movements meticulous.

"You are a worthy opponent." He spoke calmly, yet with a rare air of solemnity.

"He won't say anything more. Take him to the military police headquarters. I'll personally carry out the execution tomorrow to avenge Xu Sang. Let's go check on the situation next door."