Hidden Radiance

76 Jessfield Road. Cloudy.

The office of Ding Mocun was filled with the strong scent of sandalwood.

He leaned back in his chair with his eyes closed.

Lu Minghui pushed the door open and came in.

"Director Ding."

"Brother Lu."

Ding Mocun opened his eyes and adjusted his glasses.

"How come someone as busy as you has time to sit down?"

"If you squeeze it in, you'll always find time."

Lu Minghui walked to the table and handed over a thin document.

Ding Mocun glanced at the cover but didn't reach out.

"Lin Zhijiang," Lu Minghui said directly.

"Li Shiqun has been executed; his remaining followers are a menace."

Ding Mocun picked up his teacup and used the lid to skim off the floating tea.

"I remember, Lin Zhijiang was someone you protected." He looked up at Lu Minghui.

"Those were times, now are times."

Lu Minghui looked at him.

"The steel molds for the fine printing plant have been lost. Lin Zhijiang is Li Shiqun's confidant and is very likely to know the inside story. Getting him to talk would be a great achievement for the Japanese."

Ding Mocun blew on the steam and took a sip.

The case involving the Japanese's core secrets was a trap he had no interest in jumping into. But he didn't care about the life or death of a nobody like Lin Zhijiang. Doing Lu Minghui a favor was worthwhile.

"Since Director Lu speaks with such certainty..."

Ding Mocun put down his teacup and picked up the red telephone on the table.

"Action Division, arrest Lin Zhijiang and keep him under strict guard."

After hanging up the phone, Ding Mocun looked at Lu Minghui.

"This man is yours to interrogate."

"Thank you, Director."

Lu Minghui turned and went out.

Hongkou, Special Higher Police.

Nanzo Yunzi flipped through the surveillance report.

The dedicated line phone rang.

According to reports from the undercover agents, Lin Zhijiang has been secretly arrested by the 76th Division.

Nanzo Yunzi stood up.

Lin Zhijiang had been keeping an eye on Tongji Pharmacy for several days. Now that he was in Lu Minghui's hands, the connection with the pharmacy could be severed at any moment.

Military boots stepped onto the wooden floor.

"Assemble the team."

She stepped out of the office.

Target: Tongji Pharmacy in the French Concession.

Two black cars sped by through the rain.

Inside the pharmacy, Ah Bing was checking the accounts with his head down. The scar on his cheek was glaring in the dim light.

boom.

The door was kicked open.

Military police rushed in with their guns at the ready, pressing the muzzles directly against the counter.

"Take him away." Nanzo Yunzi stepped into the store.

Ah Bing did not resist and obediently stretched out his hands.

The handcuffs clicked onto his wrists.

Nanzo Yunzi stared at the scar on his face. She had compared the clues Lin Zhijiang had reported with the files overnight.

Chengda Company, second floor.

Lu Minghui sat behind his desk and listened to his subordinates' report.

"Chief, Ah Bing has been arrested by the Special Higher Police."

Lu Minghui waved his hand.

His subordinates withdrew.

Tongji Pharmacy. Lu Xuzhang's thread was half pulled out.

He stood up and walked to the finance office next door.

Gu Yunqiu stood by the window, her body taut.

Down in the courtyard, Major Ishihara was directing military police to move wooden crates to Warehouse No. 3. The crates were marked with a red skull and crossbones emblem.

"Stop looking." Lu Minghui walked to the window.

Gu Yunqiu turned around.

"Do you know what that is?"

"The raw materials for 1644. A single fire can cut it off."

"How can you be so sure it's genuine?" Lu Minghui asked, looking at her.

"Skull and skull emblem, top-secret transport, personally guarded by Ishihara—"

"Shinichi Nakajima would really display something so top-secret in the yard?" Lu Minghui interrupted her. "So everyone can see it?"

Gu Yunqiu shut her mouth. She was just eager to find a breakthrough, not stupid.

"Hold your positions." Lu Minghui turned and walked towards the door.

There was no turning back.

Mei Agency, Advisor's Office.

Lu Xuzhang sat on the sofa, holding a cup of hot tea in his hand.

Shinichi Nakajima sat opposite him, his gaze fixed on his face.

"Mr. Lu, what brings you here?"

"It's nothing." Lu Xuzhang put down his teacup and gave a slight bow. "There's a clerk at Tongji Pharmacy named A Bing who was taken away by Section Chief Nanzao's men. I don't know what rule he broke."

"The Special Higher Police never make small deals when they arrest people." Nakajima didn't laugh. "That Ah Bing, his background isn't clean."

"Mr. Nakajima."

"Ah Bing was originally someone I placed next to Fu Yewen."

Nakajima's fingers paused for a moment.

Fu Yewen. Former head of the Confidential Office No. 76. Li Shiqun's brother-in-law.

"After Fu Yewen got into trouble, I was afraid of being implicated, so I put A Bing in a pharmacy to hide," Lu Xuzhang said. "Businessmen always have to be careful. Keeping him around is also to keep an eye on Li Shiqun's financial movements."

"Mr. Lu has overstepped his bounds," Nakajima said in a deep voice. "Sending people into the 76th confidential office is a taboo."

Lu Xuzhang stood up and bowed at a ninety-degree angle.

"I was careless and deserve to die. At the time, I was only concerned with guarding against Li Shiqun and did not expect Fu Yewen to have a special identity."

"I swear on my life, Ah Bing never touched the Empire's secrets."

Nakajima didn't speak. He tapped his fingers on the table a few times.

Lu Xuzhang has just surrendered. He controls the entire pharmaceutical import and export channel in East China. This route cannot be cut off. It's not worth turning against a comrade.

"Since it's a misunderstanding," Nakajima picked up the phone and dialed.

"Yunzi".

"Just ask Ah Bing a few questions as usual. He'll be released tomorrow morning after one night."

On the other end of the phone, Nanzo Yunzi held the receiver.

"Hi."

Nakajima put down the phone and looked at Lu Xuzhang.

"The person will return tomorrow morning. This is a one-time exception."

"Thank you, Mr. Nakajima." Lu Xuzhang bowed again.

He left the office.

As Lu Xuzhang stepped out of the building, a gust of wind sent a chill down his spine.

Ah Bing must get through tonight.

Night falls.

He got into his car. The driver started the engine. The tires rolled over the puddles, splashing mud.

The car was parked next to a public telephone booth on the street corner.

Lu Xuzhang got out of the car, picked up the receiver, and inserted a coin.

Turn the dial to reset. The circuit is now connected.

"It's me," Lu Xuzhang said in a low voice.

Lu Minghui's breathing could be heard from the other side.

"Nakajima nodded, he'll release them tomorrow morning." Lu Xuzhang spoke very quickly. "He can keep quiet. Don't do anything rash."

Click.

The call was disconnected.

Lu Minghui put down the microphone.

The office was dimly lit. He stood by the window, looking down at the No. 76 compound. Searchlights swept across the parade ground. Guards patrolled with guns.

Lu Minghui turned around and opened the drawer.

Colt pressed down on his lower back, then took a Browning and tucked it into the left side of his belt.

Step out the door.

Underground torture chamber.

The iron gate was tightly closed.

Lu Minghui kicked the door open.

The stench of blood mixed with the reek of excrement and urine filled the doorway. Lin Zhijiang was tied to a wooden frame, covered in blood. Two thugs were taking turns whipping him.

"Stop," Lu Minghui ordered.

The thugs immediately retreated.

Lin Zhijiang raised his head, his one eye swollen shut, leaving only a slit.

"Director Lu..." he wailed. "Spare me!"

"Put this on." Lu Minghui pulled a tattered coat from behind him and threw it over. "Come with me."

His men untied the ropes. Lin Zhijiang collapsed to the ground, struggled to his feet, and hastily threw on some clothes.

"Where to?" he asked, trembling.

"I'm giving you a chance to make a contribution." Lu Minghui didn't explain further.

The Ford sedan drove off Jessfield Road and headed east towards Hongkou.

Special Higher Police (STPD) headquarters.

The sentry conducts a check. Lu Minghui hands over the joint investigation team's pass. The barrier is raised.

The car came to a complete stop.

Sun Yaozu grabbed Lin Zhijiang by the collar with one hand and dragged him down.

Lu Minghui led the way, heading straight into the interrogation area.

The corridor was cold and damp. The room at the end was brightly lit by a glaring incandescent light.

Nanzo Yunzi sat upright behind the table, her arms crossed.

The walls were covered with iron brushes, whips, and buckets.

Ah Bing was handcuffed to an iron chair. His clothes were tattered, and his body was covered in wounds. Half of the knife scar on his cheek was covered by rolled-up flesh.

"Did you confess?" Nanzo Yunko interrogated.

Ah Bing lowered his head and remained silent.

"Use torture!" Nanzo Yunzi shouted.

The military police raised the hissing electrode rod.

The door hinges turned with a creak.

Lu Minghui stepped across the threshold. Sun Yaozu followed closely behind, escorting Lin Zhijiang.

Nanzo Yunko turned her head to look at him.

"Mr. Minghui, this is the Special Higher Police interrogation room. What are you doing barging in?"

"I heard the section chief arrested a suspect, so I've come to deliver a witness."

Lu Minghui pulled up a chair and sat down. He pointed at Lin Zhijiang.

"Deputy Captain Lin recognizes this person."

Nanzo Yunzi's gaze swept towards Lin Zhijiang.

Lin Zhijiang's legs went weak, and he collapsed to his knees.

"Speak."

Lu Minghui took out a cigarette, put it in his mouth, and clicked the lighter on.

Lin Zhijiang pointed at A Bing.

"Sir, he has a scar on his face! I've seen him before!" Lin Zhijiang stammered.

"Where have I seen you before?" Nanzo Yunko pressed.

"Fu Yewen's residence!" Lin Zhijiang raised his voice. "The home of Director Li Shiqun's brother-in-law. That kid frequents it!"

Nanzo Yunzi stared at Lin Zhijiang.

Fu Yewen? The former head of the confidential office who died?

"Continue." Lu Minghui exhaled a smoke ring.

"He's definitely up to no good!" Lin Zhijiang shouted.

Ah Bing raised his head and spat out a mouthful of blood.

"Of course I've been there," Ah Bing grinned, his teeth stained with blood. "Boss Lu sent me."

Nanzo Yunzi stood up.

"Lu Xuzhang?"

"Yes." Ah Bing said, panting. "Director Fu is in charge of procurement for No. 76, and also oversees the bank and the black market. Boss Lu is in the Western medicine business. Business rivals are enemies, but also money-makers. The boss told me to keep a close eye on Fu Yewen and find out his bottom line."

Nanzo Yunzi stared at Abing but didn't respond.

"Nonsense!" Nanzo Yunzi slammed her hand on the table. "Fu Yewen is in charge of the 76th Bureau's confidential procurement, not some roadside pharmacy. What right do you, a mere employee, have to enter his mansion?"

"Section Chief, listen to me." Lu Minghui flicked off his cigarette ash.

"Mr. Lu is a guest of honor of Advisor Nakajima, and Huadong Pharmaceutical relies entirely on him. He planted a spy, which is breaking the rules, but it doesn't count as collusion with the enemy."

Lu Minghui stood up, his leather shoes clicking on the floor, and walked over to Ah Bing. He pinched Ah Bing's chin and looked him over from side to side.

"That scar is certainly eye-catching." He released his grip. "No wonder Deputy Captain Lin was suspicious."

Lu Minghui turned around and faced Nanzao Yunzi directly.

"Yunzi, Director Ding has handed Lin Zhijiang over to me for handling. I brought him here for confrontation to demonstrate the law and discipline of the Empire."

"The matter is clear. It's just business poaching; it's not something to be taken too seriously. If you really investigate further, it will be difficult to explain to Section Chief Nakajima. It will also be difficult to explain to Lu Xuzhang. He holds the key to the Sugi Project."

Nanzo Yunzi stared at Lu Minghui.

"Mr. Minghui is truly considerate of his subordinates."

"I can't really call myself a subordinate; I'm just doing this on someone else's behalf," Lu Minghui said with a smile.

He turned and walked towards the door.

"Lin Zhijiang, bring him back."

Sun Yaozu dragged up Lin Zhijiang, who was as limp as mud.

"Section Chief, take a rest. It's late and the dew is heavy."

Lu Minghui walked into the corridor.

Nanzo Yunzi stood behind the table, her hands supporting her on the surface.

Ah Bing closed his eyes. His shoulders slumped.

The next day at dawn.

The morning light is slightly dew.

The Special Higher Police Department's doors were wide open.

Ah Bing walked out, his steps unsteady.

Lu Xuzhang's car had been waiting for a long time.

The car door opened. Ah Bing climbed into the back seat.

"You've suffered." Lu Xuzhang handed over a hot towel.

"It's just a superficial wound, nothing serious." Ah Bing wiped the blood from his cheek. "It was almost too late."

Lu Xuzhang didn't say anything more.

The car started and drove into the morning light.

Chengda Company, third-floor office.

Lu Minghui flipped through the documents.

Gu Yunqiu pushed open the door and entered. She had changed into a smart Western-style dress.

"Ah Bing has returned safely." Gu Yunqiu walked to the table.

"Hmm." Lu Minghui didn't even look up.

Gu Yunqiu braced herself against the edge of the table with both hands.

"Going to the Special Higher Police Department last night was too risky."

"Nothing ventured, nothing gained." Lu Minghui closed the file. "Nanzo Yunzi is inherently suspicious. If I didn't go, she would have persisted. But when I offered myself up, she became hesitant to act."

Gu Yunqiu looked at him.

"Give me a heads-up next time."

Lu Minghui raised his eyelids slightly but didn't reply.

The phone rang suddenly. It was shrill and piercing.

Lu Minghui answered the receiver.

"Director Lu," Major Ishihara's voice was gruff. "There's been a change at Warehouse Number Three."

Lu Minghui gripped the receiver tightly.

"What is it?"

"This morning during inventory, one box of goods was missing."

Gu Yunqiu turned her head.

Lu Minghui hung up the phone and stood up.