Hidden Radiance

The car drove into the French Concession.

A light drizzle began to fall from the sky.

Lu Minghui looked out the car window. On the street corner, a shop with a sign that read "Tongji Pharmacy" was lit up. It was one of Lu Xuzhang's businesses.

"Stop the car," Lu Minghui said.

Sun Yaozu stepped on the brakes.

"Director?"

"My left arm is numb." Lu Minghui opened the car door. "Go buy some anti-inflammatory powder. You wait in the car."

Sun Yaozu glanced at the rain and didn't follow.

Lu Minghui walked into the pharmacy.

Behind the counter, the shop assistant, Ah Bing, was working on his abacus. He looked up and saw Lu Minghui, and stopped.

"What medicine would you like to buy, sir?"

"Anti-inflammatory powder. And two rolls of bandage." Lu Minghui walked to the counter and tapped his fingers twice on the glass surface. One tap was heavy, the other light.

Ah Bing turned around and went to the medicine cabinet to get his medicine.

Lu Minghui took a folded banknote from his pocket and placed it on the counter. Underneath the banknote was a strip of paper about two fingers wide.

Ah Bing returned with the medicine and swept it, along with the legal tender and the note, into the drawer.

"Sir, here's your change." Ah Bing handed over two silver dollars.

"No need." Lu Minghui picked up the medicine. "I want to read a new story in tomorrow's Shenbao supplement."

"What would you like to see, sir?"

"The Legend of the White Snake: The Collapse of Leifeng Pagoda." Lu Minghui turned and walked towards the door. "The sooner the better."

Ah Bing nodded.

Lu Minghui pushed open the door and stepped into the rain.

Leifeng Pagoda collapsed.

The highest level of warning he and Gu Yunqiu had agreed upon. The safe house was abandoned, communication was cut off, and they faced multi-faceted attacks.

Song Qingyuan, counterfeit money, Sakata, and the merger of Nakajima's cases.

The water is too murky.

Hongkou, Meiji.

Nanzo Yunko stood in the consultant's office.

Shinichi Nakajima tossed a document onto the table.

"A joint investigation," Nakajima said. "You and Lu Minghui will jointly investigate the case of Matsui and Takeda."

Nanzo Yunzi did not look at the document.

"Section Chief," Nanzo Yunko's voice tightened, "Lu Minghui is using the Special Higher Police as a pawn. He wants to use me to investigate Colonel Sakata while he reaps the rewards behind the scenes."

Nakajima picked up his teacup and took a sip.

"I know," Nakajima said, setting down his teacup. "So what?"

Nanzo Yunzi was stunned.

"His ability to muddy the waters shows his value." Nakajima leaned back in his chair. "The Sugi Project was leaked, Sakata was incompetent, and Chengda Company's accounts are a mess. The Empire now needs someone who understands the rules and can get things done. Lu Minghui is that person."

"But he's in danger."

"A dangerous dog is a good dog as long as it's on a leash." Nakajima looked at Nanzo Yunko. "Yunko, you are the Empire's best hunting dog. It's a pity that hunting dogs don't know how to set traps."

Nanzo Yunzi's jawline is taut.

"How was the drink at Cinque Terreus?" Nakajima asked.

"He was very wary."

"Being on guard is the right thing to do." Nakajima stood up and walked around the desk. "He sent Gu Yunqiu back to the South Manchuria Railway. Why? Because Gu Yunqiu crossed his line, or, he was making a statement to you."

Nakajima walked up to Nanzo Yunko.

"Although Gu Yunqiu is gone, she could come back at any time." Nakajima lowered his voice. "The people from the South Manchuria Railway won't easily give up their share of the Shanghai market. You need to take advantage of Gu Yunqiu's absence to completely tie Lu Minghui down."

Nakajima patted Nanzo Yunko on the shoulder twice.

"Whether we can get him to serve the empire wholeheartedly depends on this." Nakajima withdrew his hand. "Don't always look at us with suspicion."

Nanzo Yunzi stands at attention.

"Hi."

The following morning.

South Manchuria Railway Company, Shanghai Office.

Gu Yunqiu sat at her desk.

He was holding a copy of the Shenbao newspaper that had just been delivered.

Turn to the supplement.

In the corner, a line of bold text caught my eye.

The Legend of the White Snake: The Collapse of Leifeng Pagoda.

Gu Yunqiu stared at the line of text, her fingers tightening as she flipped through the newspaper, her nails digging into the paper.

He told her to cut off all contact when he left last night. This morning, the highest level of warning was published in the newspaper.

Gu Yunqiu closed the newspaper and stood up.

We went up to the third floor, to the office of the head of the investigation department.

Push the door open and go inside.

Zhongxi Gong is reading a secret telegram from the Kwantung Army.

"Mr. Zhongxi," Gu Yunqiu walked to the table, "I want to go back to No. 76. Or, I want to join the Mei Agency."

Zhong Xigong raised his head and took off his glasses.

"Something happened?"

"He issued the highest level of alert," Gu Yunqiu said without hiding anything. "I'm worried he can't handle it alone. I have to go back."

Zhong Xigong took out a velvet cloth and wiped the lenses.

"Lu Minghui has now taken over the Southeast Trading Company," Zhongxi Gong said calmly. "Nakajima has him and Nanzo Yunzi jointly investigate Matsui's case. The Special Higher Police and the 76th Division have already surrounded the Southeast Trading Company. In what capacity will you return?"

"The South Manchuria Railway Commissioner," Gu Yunqiu said.

Zhong Xigong put on his glasses.

"Not enough." Nakanishi Kō looked at her. "Nanzo Yunko is just looking for an excuse to arrest you. Now that you've delivered yourself to her doorstep, it's exactly what she wanted."

"The Southeast Trading Company has accounts with the South Manchuria Railway Company." Gu Yunqiu rested his hands on the edge of the table. "Before Matsui died, the South Manchuria Railway Company entrusted him with the transfer of a batch of strategic materials. Now that Matsui is dead, the whereabouts of the materials are unknown. The South Manchuria Railway Company has every reason to intervene in the investigation."

Zhong Xigong looked at Gu Yunqiu.

The lens cleaning cloth was placed back on the table, folded neatly.

"The special raw materials from Unit 1644 might also be mixed in with those supplies," Zhongxi Gong said.

Gu Yunqiu's body stiffened.

"If you want to investigate 1644, the Mei Agency is an unavoidable hurdle." Zhongxi Gong stood up and walked to the telephone. "Since the fire is already burning, we might as well add some more fuel."

Zhong Xigong picked up the phone and dialed.

After a few beeps, the call was connected.

"Mei Agency, Nakajima Advisor's Office."

"I am Zhongxi Gong."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone, then it was someone else.

"Nakanishi-kun," Nakajima's voice came, tinged with politeness, "I am Nakajima Shinichi."

"Advisor Nakajima," Nakanishi said seriously, "I've heard about Matsui's assassination attempt. The South Manchuria Railway Company has expressed serious concern."

"The Special Higher Police are doing everything they can to apprehend the killer," Nakajima replied.

"The Special Higher Police are responsible for apprehending the culprit. But the supplies from the South Manchuria Railway can't be lost without explanation." Nakanishi Kō went straight to the point. "Matsui has three batches of important supplies from the South Manchuria Railway in his hands. Now that the Southeast Trading Company has been seized, the supplies have stalled. The Kwantung Army is pressing us for delivery every day."

There was no sound on the other end of the phone.

"Advisor Nakajima," Nakanishi continued, applying pressure. "The South Manchuria Railway's business cannot afford to fail. I demand that the South Manchuria Railway send a specialist to formally join the joint investigation team and follow up on the audit of the Southeast Trading Company's accounts."

"Nakanishi-kun, this is against the rules," Nakajima said. "Investigating cases is the responsibility of the Special Higher Police."

"The audit is a matter for the South Manchuria Railway Company." Nakanishi Kou stood firm. "If Advisor Nakajima finds it difficult, I can ask the Kwantung Army Headquarters to send a telegram directly to General Kagesa."

There was silence on the other end of the phone.

"Alright," Nakajima conceded. "The South Manchuria Railway can send people to participate in the audit. But they cannot interfere with the Special Higher Police's actions."

"Of course." Zhongxi Gong glanced at Gu Yunqiu standing in front of the table. "I have appointed Miss Gu Yunqiu as my full representative of the South Manchuria Railway Company. She previously checked accounts at the Southeast Trading Company and is most familiar with the situation."

A soft gasp came from the other end of the phone.

They paused for a moment.

"Okay." Nakajima hung up the phone.

Nakanishi Kō put down the receiver and looked at Gu Yunqiu. "Nakajima agreed. You can enter the Mei Agency legitimately. But remember, your identity is a South Manchuria Railway Commissioner, and your mission is to audit the accounts. Don't let Nanzo Yunko find any fault with you."

"Understood." Gu Yunqiu stood up straight.

"Go ahead." Nakanishi Kō sat back down in his chair.

Two o'clock in the afternoon.

Hongkou, Meiji.

The rain stopped, and a chill permeated the air.

The last chill of spring.

A black sedan with a South Manchuria Railway pass was parked outside the gate of the Meiji government office.

The car door opened.

Gu Yunqiu got out of the car.

Instead of wearing a cheongsam, she changed into a sharp Manchuria Railway senior commissioner's uniform: a black fitted coat, a knee-length skirt, and black knee-high leather boots. Her hair was neatly styled in a bun.

He wore a full iron badge on his chest.

Two military police officers stepped forward to stop them.

Gu Yunqiu took out her identification and gave the two of them a cold look.

The military police checked the identification, immediately stood at attention, and let him pass.

Gu Yunqiu, wearing leather boots, walked into the Meiji Government Building.

The second floor houses the joint investigation team's temporary office.

The door was open.

Lu Minghui sat on the left side of the long table, flipping through a file.

Nanzo Yunzi sat on the right, holding several photos from the scene.

The two are verifying the details of the Matsui case.

The crisp sound of leather boots echoed down the corridor.

The rhythm is steady, and the stride is consistent.

Lu Minghui stopped flipping through the files.

Nanzo Yunzi raised her head and looked towards the doorway.

Gu Yunqiu walked to the door and stopped.

His gaze passed over Nanzo Yunzi and landed on Lu Minghui's face.

Lu Minghui closed the file and leaned back in his chair.

The two stared at each other. Not even a blink was exchanged.

"Miss Gu," Nanzo Yunzi stood up, her face grim, "this is a key location for the Special Higher Police. What are you doing here?"

Gu Yunqiu withdrew her gaze and turned to look at Nanzao Yunzi.

He took a document out of his briefcase and slammed it on the table.

"Special Appointment Letter from the South Manchuria Railway Company Shanghai Office." Gu Yunqiu's voice was cold. "By order of Director Nakanishi, representing the South Manchuria Railway Company, I formally join the joint investigation team. I am fully responsible for the audit of the Southeast Trading Company's accounts."

Nanzo Yunko stared at the documents on the table.

Nakajima's signature, a bright red seal.

Gu Yunqiu pulled out the chair at the top of the long table. The head seat.

sit down.

Cross your arms and place them on the table.

"Gentlemen," Gu Yunqiu said, looking at them, "from now on, every single account of the Southeast Trading Company will pass through my hands. Let's begin."