Hidden Radiance

Late at night. Hongkou Military Police Hospital.

The door to the ward at the end of the corridor was pushed open. The hinges made a dry, scraping sound.

Nanzo Yunzi walked in. Water dripped from the hem of her military overcoat, splashing onto the terrazzo floor.

There was only one wall lamp in the ward. Lu Minghui leaned against the headboard. His left arm was wrapped in thick gauze and slinged across his chest. Gu Yunqiu stood by the window, holding an enamel tray in her hands.

Nanzo Yunzi walked to the bedside, her gaze fixed on the left arm.

"Get out." Nanzo Yunzi didn't turn around.

Gu Yunqiu didn't move.

Lu Minghui raised his right hand and waved it. Gu Yunqiu placed the tray on the bedside table, turned, and left. The door clicked shut.

Nanzo Yunzi took off her military overcoat and threw it on the chair, revealing a deep purple evening dress underneath.

She reached out and placed her fingertips on the edge of the gauze on Lu Minghui's left arm.

"Did you hit it with a utility pole?" Nanzo Yunko asked.

"After the crash, I was shot." Lu Minghui's voice was hoarse.

Nanzo Yunzi pinched the end of the yarn and pulled it outwards.

One circle, two circles. The bloodstains changed from dark red to bright red.

The last layer of gauze was removed.

The skin and flesh were rolled up. The sutures were inserted into the swollen flesh one by one, the black threads sticking out. Deep in the wound, the broken bone was pressing against the muscle.

Nanzo Yunzi's hand froze in mid-air.

She turned to look at the doorway.

"Come in."

The Japanese military doctor who was waiting outside pushed the door open and entered. Upon seeing the wound on the bed, he immediately lowered his head.

"Section Chief. Director Lu's injury..."

"Speak." Nanzo Yunzi didn't see a doctor.

"The bullet is embedded in the humerus, and the bone is severely fractured." The medic swallowed hard. "Although the bullet has been removed, the bone damage is too great. Even if it heals, the left arm will be unable to bear weight. It won't be able to lift heavy objects or fire a gun."

He paused for a moment.

"It's ruined."

The ward fell silent. The hum of the wall lamp became exceptionally clear.

Nanzo Yunzi clenched her fingers into a fist.

"Seven Special Higher Police field agents died on Xiafei Branch Road." Nanzo Yunzi turned her head and stared into Lu Minghui's eyes. "There were Colt M1911 shell casings at the scene. There was a pool of blood on the ground."

Lu Minghui leaned against the pillow, meeting her gaze.

"Section Chief Yunzi thinks that pool of blood is mine?"

Nanzo Yunko looked at him. She looked at him for a long time.

She picked up the gauze and wrapped it around Lu Minghui's arm again, slowly and gently.

"No, I don't doubt Akira-kun." Nanzo Yunko tied her hair in a knot. "I'm just afraid. Afraid that Akira-kun and I are not on the same path."

She gripped the end of the gauze, her knuckles turning white, then she loosened her grip.

He grabbed his military overcoat, turned around, and walked out of the ward.

The following morning. Office of the Special Higher Police Section Chief.

Takeda stood in front of the desk and handed over a file.

"Chief. We've got it all figured out." Takeda said, head bowed. "The records from the French Concession police station are correct. Lu Minghui's car crashed into a utility pole in the middle of Avenue Joffre. We found his blood on the steering wheel."

Nanzo Yunzi opened the file.

"Were there signs of a firefight at the scene?"

"The bodies of two Green Gang thugs," Takeda replied. "They were killed by cheap pistols found on the black market. The police classified it as a shootout triggered by looting."

Nanzo Yunzi closed the file.

"What about the side of Xiafei Road?"

"No leads whatsoever. The gunman with the Colt has vanished." Takeda gritted his teeth.

Nanzo Yunzi leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes.

Those hands holding the wine glass at the Broadway Building were so steady. How could a chief of confidential affairs have such steady hands?

She opened her eyes.

"Remove the informants from the hospital. Increase manpower and keep a close watch on Lita Bank. I need to know Wan Molin's every move."

"Yes."

Three days later. Military Police Hospital.

Lu Minghui changed into casual clothes. His left arm was still slinged across his chest with a suspender.

He tried to clench his left hand. Three of his five fingers moved, but the force felt like it was coming through a layer of cotton. The remaining two fingers didn't budge.

Gu Yunqiu pushed open the door, carrying a briefcase in her hand.

"The discharge procedures are complete." Gu Yunqiu walked to the bedside and lowered her voice. "Nanzao Yunzi's people left yesterday."

Lu Minghui nodded.

"How are things going with Wan Merlin's side?"

"Very clean. The police station's files have been sealed off, and the families of those two scapegoats have received resettlement allowances and been sent out of Shanghai overnight." Gu Yunqiu drew the curtains.

She opened her briefcase and took out a folded piece of thin paper.

"A telegram from a paper kite."

Lu Minghui took the note and unfolded it.

"Wang Puchen has safely evacuated through the Wusongkou. Boss Dai's handwritten order: Lu Minghui has rendered meritorious service in covering Wang Puchen and is promoted to the rank of colonel. Effective immediately, he will be appointed as the acting station chief of the Military Intelligence Bureau's Shanghai Station. He will take full control of the Shanghai secret network."

Lu Minghui read the note expressionlessly and handed it to Gu Yunqiu. Gu Yunqiu struck a match and burned it to ashes.

Lu Minghui looked at his left arm. The red marks left by the suspenders were showing from the edge of the cuff.

"An arm, in exchange for a stationmaster." He shifted his gaze from his left arm. "Let's go."

Gu Yunqiu looked at the ashes on the ground and didn't reply.

"There's a new mission." Gu Yunqiu looked up. "In the past two weeks, a large number of counterfeit legal tender notes have appeared in the Kuomintang-controlled areas. The paper, ink, and serial numbers are almost indistinguishable from the real thing. The economic market in Chongqing is on the verge of collapse. Inflation has doubled."

Lu Minghui's fingers stopped at the edge of the suspender strap.

Counterfeit currency.

"Paper Kite suggested that we immediately trace the source of the counterfeit money," Gu Yunqiu said. "All indications suggest that this batch of counterfeit money originated from Shanghai."

Lu Minghui walked to the window, opened it a crack, and looked down at the bustling street below.

Wang Shijin instigated a bank run on Litai Bank, leading to the collapse of the Central Reserve Bank's credit rating. Shinichi Nakajima was demoted to advisor. Everyone thought the Sugi Project had failed.

But Shinichi Nakajima never really cared whether the Central Reserve Bank bonds could be implemented.

Lu Minghui turned around.

"Implementing the Central Reserve Bank notes is a pretext, or rather, a side effect." He looked at Gu Yunqiu. "What Nakajima really wants to do is to use counterfeit currency to destroy the economy of the Nationalist-controlled areas."

Gu Yunqiu withdrew her hand from the edge of the briefcase, her five fingers tugged at the clasp, but couldn't fasten it, so she tugged again.

Lu Minghui walked back to the bedside, picked up his coat and draped it over his shoulders.

"Why is he so determined to save Lita Bank? Why did he agree to let Wan Molin become the president?" Lu Minghui asked himself, answering his own question, "Wan Molin is just a front man. Lita Bank's underground vault is the core of the Shan Project."

Gu Yunqiu nodded.

"What has Takeda been doing at the bank these past few days?" Lu Minghui asked.

"He sealed off the second basement level of Lita Bank in the name of the Special Higher Police. Apart from him and a few of his trusted confidants, not even Wan Molin was allowed to get close," Gu Yunqiu replied.

Lu Minghui straightened his collar.

"Let's go. Let's meet this Takeda."

Ningbo Road, International Settlement. Litai Bank.

Wan Molin sat in the bank manager's office. He didn't have a plate of walnuts in his hand.

A stack of bills lay on the table. He stared at the numbers on the bills, his face ashen.

Lu Minghui pushed the door open and walked in. Gu Yunqiu followed behind and closed the door.

"Director Lu." Wan Molin stood up and glanced at Lu Minghui's left arm, which was slinged across his chest.

"Sit down." Lu Minghui walked to the desk, pulled out a chair, and sat down.

"Something's happened." Wan Molin pushed the bill over. "These past two days, Takeda has bypassed me and been using the bank's reserve funds to buy up gold and foreign exchange on the black market. The settlements are all in fiat currency. Bundles and bundles of brand-new fiat currency, still sealed."

Lu Minghui picked up the bill and glanced at it. The amount was astonishingly large.

"Where did the money come from?" Lu Minghui asked.

"The vault on the second basement level," Wan Molin said in a low voice. "Every night, several trucks covered in black cloth drive into the backyard. They unload large wooden crates. Takeda personally leads the way, carrying them into the second basement level. The next morning, this currency flows into the black market."

Lu Minghui threw the bill back on the table.

What's on the second basement level?

"I don't know. The iron gate is locked, and there are military police on guard outside 24 hours a day." Wan Molin shook his head.

Lu Minghui stood up.

"I'll go take a look."

"Director Lu," Wan Molin called out to him, "Takeda is a mad dog. He has Nanzo Yunzi's warrant. Forcing our way in will cause trouble."

"I won't force my way in." Lu Minghui patted Wan Molin on the shoulder. "I'm the leader of the Special Operations Team for Project Shan, here to investigate the bank's security loopholes. I have every right to do so."

Lu Minghui walked out of the office and down the stairs.

The basement level is a regular vault, with the door open and several employees taking inventory.

As they approached the stairwell leading to the second basement level, two Japanese military police officers carrying Type 100 submachine guns blocked their way.

"Military restricted area. Entry prohibited," the military police officer said coldly.

Lu Minghui did not back down. He stared at the tightly closed, heavy iron gate.

A faint smell of ink wafted from the cracks in the iron gate.

Just then, the iron gate was pushed open from the inside.

Takeda was wearing a shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, his hands covered in black ink. He saw Lu Minghui, paused for a moment, then a sinister smile twisted his lips.

"Director Lu, your injury hasn't healed yet, why don't you stay in the hospital for a few more days?" Takeda said, wiping his hands with a towel as he walked up the steps and blocked the iron gate.

Lu Minghui looked at the ink on his hand.

"Team Leader Takeda's methods are even more ruthless than those of the typists in the Confidential Affairs Department," Lu Minghui said calmly.

Takeda threw the towel on the ground.

"Director Lu had better not pry into the Special Higher Police's affairs," Takeda said, taking a step closer. "Otherwise, next time you won't just bump into a telephone pole."

Lu Minghui didn't move.

His gaze went past Takeda's shoulder and landed on the half-closed iron door.

From deep within the iron gate came the dull hum of machinery. Click, click. The rhythm was steady and uninterrupted.

Lu Minghui withdrew his gaze and looked at Wu Tian.

"Takeda-kun, you've worked hard. Take care of yourself."

Turn around and walk up the stairs.

Behind them, the iron gate slammed shut.

Lu Minghui walked out of the bank and got into his Ford sedan.

Gu Yunqiu started the engine.

"Did you hear that?" Lu Minghui leaned back in his chair.

"A money printing machine." Gu Yunqiu gripped the steering wheel tightly.

"Shinichi Nakajima moved the printing plant into the underground vault of Litai Bank." Lu Minghui closed his eyes.

The car drove into the traffic.

My left arm throbbed with pain. The three movable fingers clenched and then relaxed.

He opened his eyes and his gaze fell on the rearview mirror.

A black Buick sedan followed at a distance that was neither too close nor too far.

The license plate number is 76.

Li Shiqun's Special Investigation Committee.