Hidden Radiance

Meiji Agency, underground isolation ward.

The ventilator's air bag rose and fell.

Lu Minghui and Nanzao Yunzi lay side by side on two iron beds. Their cheeks were flushed with a sickly redness, and the veins in their necks were bulging.

The heavy iron gate was pushed open.

Tomosada Masuda strode in. He was wearing a full hazmat suit and carrying a silver thermostat.

Shinichi Nakajima went to meet him. His gaze fell on the incubator.

"Colonel Masuda," Nakajima's voice was deep, "did you bring the serum?"

Masuda placed the incubator on the stainless steel trolley. He entered the password. Click. The lid popped open.

The cold air from the dry ice wafted out. Inside were three pale blue glass ampoules.

Masuda, wearing rubber gloves, reached in and pulled out one.

*Snap.* The lid closed.

Nakajima stared at the vial of serum, his brow furrowing. "Colonel, there are two people lying here."

"I only saw one Imperial soldier." Masuda handed the serum to the medic beside him, his gaze sweeping coldly over Lu Minghui. "A Chinese life isn't worth a vial of this special serum. He's a perfect live infection sample. Unit 1644 just happens to need the clinical data from this batch of mutant bacteria."

No one spoke.

The medic's hand trembled as he held the vial of serum. He glanced at Masuda, then at Nakajima.

Nakajima stood still. A layer of fog had formed on his protective mask, obscuring his expression.

Twenty-five carriages are gone. An investigation team from Army Headquarters is already on its way. All supplies are destroyed, and they will face accountability from higher-ups.

Nanzo Yunko was the head of the Special Higher Police. She died, and someone else can do the same job.

Lu Minghui was the head of Chengda Company. Now that he's dead, who will allocate supplies? Who will fill this huge gaping hole?

Loyalty? Lu Minghui's act of throwing himself on Nanzo Yunzi to shield her from shrapnel has already proven his loyalty.

Now, what he wants is value.

Nakajima reached out and took the vial of serum from the medic's hand.

"Section Chief?" The military doctor was stunned.

Nakajima ignored him. He walked between the two hospital beds.

On the left is Nanzo Yunzi. On the right is Lu Minghui.

Masuda stood with his hands behind his back, staring at Nakajima's retreating figure.

Nakajima turned around, facing to the right.

He picked up the syringe, filled it with pale blue liquid, expelled the air, and precisely inserted the needle into Lu Minghui's vein.

Press down with your thumb.

The entire liquid was injected into Lu Minghui's body.

Remove the needle. Press the puncture site with a cotton swab.

Masuda's pupils contracted sharply. He rushed forward and grabbed Nakajima by the collar of his protective suit.

"Nakajima! You've gone mad!" Masuda roared. "You injected the Empire's most precious serum into the veins of a Chinese man!"

Nakajima pushed Masuda's hand away.

He tossed the empty syringe into the metal tray. It clattered crisply.

"Colonel," Nakajima turned around, pointing flatly to the hospital bed on the left, "the person lying there is Major Nanzo Yunko, the head of the Imperial Special Higher Police. She has made great contributions to the Empire."

Nakajima took a step forward.

"She's dying now." Nakajima looked Masuda straight in the eye. "Will you save her, or not?"

Masuda stood frozen in place.

Force the palace.

Nakajima was just a captain, with a lower rank than him, even lower than Nanzo Yunko. But Nakajima was the de facto ruler of Shanghai. The Mei Agency, the Special Higher Police, and the 76th Bureau were all under Nakajima's control. Now, the Sugi Agency had to be added to the mix.

Even more critically, the supply line for Unit 1644 was controlled by Chengda Company.

Because he failed to save Nanzo Yunko, the head of the Special Higher Police died in front of the commander of Unit 1644. When this debt was sent back to Army Headquarters, Masuda could not bear the responsibility.

Nakajima had calculated that he wouldn't dare watch Nanzo Yunko die.

"You're trading the Empire's interests for something else," Masuda said through gritted teeth.

"I am saving the Empire from ruin," Nakajima said coldly. "Open the box."

Masuda stared at Nakajima for a full ten seconds.

He turned around and re-entered the password. He opened the box. He took out the second vial of serum and slammed it heavily onto the cart.

"Shinichi Nakajima," Masuda's voice was extremely low and deep, "I will report this matter truthfully."

"As you see fit." Nakajima turned to the medic and ordered, "Inject."

No. 19, Luojiawan, Chongqing.

Dai Li sat behind a large desk. On the desk lay a newly translated top-secret battle report.

"Fengjing Station was bombed by the US military. All twenty-five sealed carriages were destroyed. The Japanese army's supply lines were cut off."

Dai Li flicked his finger across the paper. The paper rustled.

Wang Puchen stood three steps away, head bowed.

"Well done," Dai Li said, his voice unreadable. "This kite tactic has dashed the Japanese hopes in Zhejiang. We've also delivered on our mission to the American forces."

"Director," Wang Puchen looked up, "Zhiyuan personally guided the bombing operation to ensure the coordinates. He is currently suffering from the plague, and his fate is unknown."

Dai Li leaned back in his chair.

"He disobeyed orders." Dai Li looked at Wang Puchen. "He forced Mao Sen to blow up the Jiaxing Bridge. Is this what they call 'a general in the field may disobey the emperor's orders'?"

Wang Puchen's back was covered in cold sweat.

"Chief, the situation is changing rapidly. If we listen to the General Staff's wrangling, the virus will have already reached Zhejiang." Wang Puchen braced himself and stepped forward. "Zhiyuan bravely entered a deadly situation and performed a great service. If we don't reward her for her merit, I'm afraid it will discourage the people below."

Dai Li remained silent.

The only sound in the office was the ticking of the grandfather clock.

The kite is incredibly skilled. It has an exceptional eye for talent. It's incredibly daring.

Dai Li's fingers hovered on the table, his nails digging into the grooves of the wood grain. Wang Puchen strongly recommended her, nurtured her, and personally arranged her entry into Shanghai. With each graceful step she took, Wang Puchen's influence in Chongqing increased.

"Reward him." Dai Li suddenly smiled, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly before disappearing. "Of course, he should be rewarded. But Zhiyuan's identity is special. To give her a grand reward now would be to tell the Japanese who the mole is. Record the merit in the file first. We'll settle the score after the victory of the War of Resistance."

Wang Puchen did not respond.

"However," Dai Li changed the subject, leaning forward, "the Americans didn't send out bombers for nothing. They had conditions."

Wang Puchen looked up.

"They want all the core data on the biological weapons of Unit 1644." Dai Li tapped his fingers on the table. "This task will be assigned to Zhi Yuan. Since he was able to destroy the bacteria, he can get the data back."

Having just escaped the poisonous gas, he was forced to go back into the source of the poison.

"Director, Zhiyuan is currently seriously injured..."

"He won't die," Dai Li interrupted him. "If he dies, let Mao Sen take over."

Dai Li stood up and picked up a transfer order from the table.

"Pu Chen." Dai Li walked around the desk to Wang Pu Chen and handed him the transfer order. "The situation in the Southwest is complicated. The Sichuan-Kang region needs someone who can keep things in check. I recommended you to the old man."

Wang Puchen accepted the transfer order.

Deputy District Chief of the Military Intelligence Bureau's Sichuan-Kang District. Major General and Section Chief of the Investigation Section of the Chengdu Headquarters.

A promotion in name only, a demotion in reality.

He was removed from the center of power. His direct connection with the Shanghai station was severed. Dai Li was guarding against Zhi Yuan, and also against him.

Wang Puchen accepted the transfer order with both hands. He stood at attention.

"Your subordinate obeys."

Dai Li patted him on the shoulder. "Pack your things, we're flying to Chengdu tomorrow."

Wang Puchen turned and walked out of the office.

The corridor was cold and damp. He folded up the transfer order and stuffed it into his pocket.

Shanghai, underground ward of the Meiji government agency.

The smell of disinfectant pungently entered my nasal cavity.

Lu Minghui opened his eyes. His vision was blurry for a moment, then gradually focused. He had been faking it before, but then he was genuinely dizzy.

A white ceiling. Blinding operating lights.

His throat was parched and cracked, and every swallow felt like a burning pain. He tried to move his right hand, but his wrist was strapped to the bed frame.

"woke up."

Nakajima's voice came from the left.

Lu Minghui turned his head away. Nakajima, dressed in casual clothes, sat on a chair by the bed. He wasn't wearing a mask.

This means the quarantine has been lifted. The serum has taken effect.

Lu Minghui glanced to the side. Nanzo Yunzi was lying on another bed, still unconscious, but breathing steadily.

"Section Chief," Lu Minghui said hoarsely.

"You're incredibly lucky." Nakajima poured a glass of warm water, dipped a cotton swab in it, and applied it to Lu Minghui's chapped lips. "Masuda only gave me one vial of serum. I injected it into your veins."

Lu Minghui's eyes twitched.

Nakajima saved him. Did he abandon Nanzo Yunko?

"Don't misunderstand." Nakajima threw away the cotton swab. "I forced him to take a second one. Yunko survived too."

Lu Minghui closed his eyes.

He forced Masuda to resign. To protect him, Nakajima broke ties with Unit 1644.

"Do you know why I'm protecting you?" Nakajima stood up and looked down at him.

"Your subordinate... is still useful."

"How could Minghui think like that? You're my best friend, my most outstanding junior, and a key member I personally promoted. Masuda doesn't want to save you, but I have to." Nakajima leaned on the edge of the bed and sighed. "Fengjing Station has been bombed. Army Headquarters is furious. All the supplies for Project Sugi have been lost. Special ink is gone, and Central Reserve Bank notes can't be issued. The front lines are cut off from supplies."

Nakajima moved closer to his face.

"Minghui. I'm risking court-martial to save you. You have to save me too." Nakajima's voice was extremely low. "Chengda Company is fully operational. I need to see two million in reserves within half a month. Buy as much penicillin and seamless steel pipes as you can from the black market."

Lu Minghui looked at Nakajima.

This life was bought on credit. He has to pay back whenever Nakajima demands payment.

"Understood, sir." Lu Minghui gasped for breath. "As long as I have a breath left."

Nakajima straightened up and nodded in satisfaction.

"Take good care of your injuries. Mao Sen is keeping an eye on things outside. He arrested a few Red Party sympathizers, causing quite a stir." Nakajima turned and walked towards the door. "If you need any medicine, just tell the medic."

The door closed.

Only the hissing of the ventilator remained.

Lu Minghui lay flat on the bed, closing his eyes to rest.

The door lock clicked slightly again.

It wasn't the sound of military boots. Very light. Cloth shoes.

Lu Minghui opened his eyes.

Gu Yunqiu, dressed in a nurse's uniform and wearing a mask, carried a dressing tray to the bedside.

She glanced at the unconscious Nanzo Yunzi beside her. She confirmed she was safe.

Gu Yunqiu put down the tray, picked up the scissors, and cut open the old gauze on Lu Minghui's arm.

"The kite has sent word." Gu Yunqiu lowered his voice, his fingers moving extremely quickly. "Instructions from Chongqing."

Lu Minghui didn't move.

"Dai Li wants all the core data on the biological and chemical weapons of Unit 1644." Gu Yunqiu changed into new gauze. "In exchange for the US military deploying bombers."

Nakajima wanted two million in reserves. Dai Li wanted the core data from 1644.

Unit 1644's train had just been bombed, and Masuda Tomosada now wished he could skin him alive.

"Where is Wang Puchen?" Lu Minghui asked.

"Transferred to Chengdu." Gu Yunqiu tightened the bandages and tied a knot. "A promotion in name only, a demotion in reality."

Lu Minghui stared at the ceiling.

"Understood," Lu Minghui said.

Gu Yunqiu picked up the tray, turned around, and walked to the door.

She stopped and turned around.

"My shot was very accurate," Gu Yunqiu said.

"I know." Lu Minghui closed his eyes.

The door was closed tightly.

Lu Minghui slowly clenched his left hand under the blanket.

Nakajima's account was due in half a month. Dai Li's work had no deadline.

Masuda's vengeance could come at any time.