Espionage: I Have Photo Editing Software

Jiro Sato shook his head slightly. "Your analysis is correct, but you overlooked one thing."

"Please give me your guidance, Director!" Yamagami Ryosuke said, bowing his head.

"What if he's not even in Manchuria?"

"This..." Yamagami Ryosuke hesitated, but when his gaze unconsciously fell on the photograph, it instantly sharpened. "Chief! Look at the background of the photograph!"

"What's wrong?"

"It looks like a tower!"

"Hmm?" Jiro Sato snatched the photo and examined it closely.

The background of the photo is blurry, but the outlines of distant buildings can still be vaguely discerned.

He quickly found a newspaper with a picture of the puppet Manchukuo State Council building, and after comparing it for a long time, his eyes gleamed.

"It really is a tower block!"

Ryosuke Yamagami exclaimed excitedly:

"This proves that the anonymous author was in Xinjing!"

Sato Jiro remained silent for a moment, then said in a deep voice:

"How could he reveal such important information so easily?"

"You mean, the anonymous author is deliberately creating a smokescreen?" Yamagami Ryosuke frowned.

"That possibility cannot be ruled out!" Sato Jiro paused, then continued, "If that's the case, it means he wasn't in Xinjing at all!"

"You're right! It's only been three days since Murakami's work was published. Even if the anonymous author knew about it immediately and sent photos, it's still too fast!"

"There's another possibility. He has special channels that allow him to bypass various checks, and he even has someone specifically assigned to deliver messages."

"Manchukuo has extremely strict censorship of letters. If your deduction is correct, this means that someone within our ranks is secretly helping him!"

"Don't speculate yet! Immediately have an expert examine the photos to confirm if there are any signs of manipulation."

"I'll get on it right away!"

Half a day later, Ryosuke Yamagami returned to his office with the photograph.

"The photos are real! I had several experts examine them, and they all agreed that the tower shows no signs of being fabricated."

"Really?" Sato Jiro asked in surprise. "Could this really be an unintentional mistake by an anonymous person?"

"With such a tight schedule, mistakes are possible in the rush!"

"In that case, quickly prepare a detailed report and send it back to headquarters. Include our analysis as well."

"Based on the light and shadow in the photo, we can deduce the exact time. Then, according to the direction of the tower and the location of the grass, we can determine the shooting location. I have a feeling we're very close to the anonymous location."

"That's not the point. The point is the mole! The fact that we couldn't find the anonymous traitor earlier means there must be an inside agent helping us! And since he's exempt from mail inspections, his position must be quite high. Finding him will be a major achievement!"

"Yes!" Yamagami Ryosuke thought for a moment and then said:

"Tomorrow, major newspapers will definitely publish the anonymous photos. How should we respond?"

Jiro Sato opened the drawer, took out a telegram, and sighed, "I just received news that tomorrow morning, Eisuke Morita, the section chief of the Business Division of the Cultural Affairs Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will arrive in Shanghai from Xinjing for an inspection and research."

"Why did they have to come at this crucial moment of all times?" Yamagami Ryosuke's face was grim.

"What's there to complain about? If we don't serve this guy well, headquarters won't let us off the hook." Sato Jiro picked up a pen, signed the note, and said, "Take the receipt to the finance department to withdraw some funds, and then invite Matsumoto Shigeharu to buy newspapers together. Buy as much as you can, stir up trouble first, and avoid one-sided public opinion."

"Where is Wei Renming?"

"Let his work be published in tomorrow's newspaper, and praised extensively."

"Yes."

Around noon.

Ryosuke Yamagami arranged to meet Renming Wei at a café on the Bund.

"This is a new work by an anonymous author. Please take a look."

Wei Renming pretended to examine it for a moment, then exclaimed in shock:

"This...this...he actually restored the Empress's crown and robes, as well as the Twelve Dragons and Nine Phoenixes Crown. How can we even compete with that?"

"You can't beat me?"

Wei Renming said helplessly, "His photography skills are only average; I could easily win. But in a fashion photography competition, the clothing is the key. You can't cook without ingredients!"

"You mean, kimonos are inferior to Hanfu?" Yamagami Ryosuke said with dissatisfaction.

Wei Renming shrugged and retorted, "Isn't that right?"

"You..." Yamagami Ryosuke wanted to lash out, but couldn't find an excuse.

"I'm only telling you the truth because I consider you a friend! Only by facing the gap can we bridge it." Wei Renming said, using a manipulative tactic.

Ryosuke Yamagami's expression softened slightly. "What's your plan?"

"If you can't beat them head-on, stir up trouble!"

"Oh? You think so too?"

"Also? Who else said that?"

"Director Sato."

"It seems the director and I have a mutual respect!"

"Stop joking around, tell me a solution!"

"As the saying goes, insults expose one's weaknesses; since we can't win in a direct confrontation, we might as well take a risky tactic!"

"Tell me more about it!" Ryosuke Yamagami said, intrigued.

"Besides the Japanese, what do you think the Chinese hate the most?"

Ryosuke Yamagami's expression was somewhat unnatural. "Manchu?"

"Wrong! I have to correct you. The Qing Dynasty is the Qing Dynasty, and the Manchus are the Manchus; the two cannot be confused! The Chinese people hate the Qing Dynasty, not all Manchus. If you don't realize this, then you don't truly understand China!"

"Stop beating around the bush, just say it!" Yamagami Ryosuke urged.

"The corruption of the Qing Dynasty was the reason for China's backwardness in modern times, and it is also a thorn in the side of the Chinese people. I intend to use this thorn to prick them."

"Are you planning to compete in Manchu-style clothing?"

"Yes! This way we can change the subject and also stir up internal conflicts among them."

Later generations of 500,000 people also used this method to undermine the cohesion of the Chinese nation.

Ryosuke Yamagami pondered for a moment, then said, "Aren't you Chinese too? Aren't you afraid of being labeled a traitor for doing this?"

"Business is business. You pay, I take the photos, what's wrong with that?"

Wei Renming believes that once the photographs are published, the hypocritical mask of the Japanese will be torn off, and their ugly faces will be seen by the Chinese people. At that time, anti-Japanese sentiment in China will surely rise even higher. The effects of the Japanese's painstaking and long-term cultural infiltration will also be greatly reduced.

He was willing to bear the infamy to do this, just to contribute to the fight against Japan.

Now, he's afraid that Yamagami Ryosuke won't agree!

"Doing this seems to go against the original intention of Sino-Japanese cultural exchange!"

"Is it really an exchange?" Wei Renming bluntly asked. "Japanese culture is primary, Chinese culture is secondary—that's an exchange. But what if Japanese culture is outshone? Would you still plan to exchange then?"

"Wei-san, you've truly impressed me." Yamagami Ryosuke stared at Wei Renming for a moment. "I'm curious, what exactly is the reason you're working so hard for?"

"Of course, it's for our friendship! At the same time, it would be even better if we could make some money!" Wei Renming said with a wicked smile.

"Making money is your main goal, isn't it?" Yamagami Ryosuke laughed as well. "How much?"

Wei Renming held up five fingers. "Fifty thousand!"

"I didn't!" Ryosuke Yamagami shook his head.

"Then find someone rich. President Matsumoto isn't short of money; if you ask, he won't refuse!"

"I can't make that decision myself! I need to consult with the director!"

Wei Renming picked up his coffee cup and said with a smile, "Let's toast with coffee instead of wine, wishing each other a successful collaboration!"

"Cheers!"