Hidden Radiance

Chengda Company, second-floor office.

Lu Minghui threw a stack of personnel files on the table.

Sun Yaozu stood opposite him, bowing and scraping.

"Director, are you entrusting this delicate task of screening to me?" Sun Yaozu asked, a mix of excitement and worry.

"Section Chief Nakajima, keep an eye on things. Make a big fuss and be ruthless," Lu Minghui said, leaning back in his chair. "But don't kill any of our key technical personnel."

"Understood, all bark and no bite, just a formality." Sun Yaozu winked.

Lu Minghui didn't reply, and waved him away.

As soon as Sun Yaozu left, Lu Minghui picked up his suit jacket, pushed open the door, and went out.

The screening process is just a pretense.

His goal is elsewhere.

10:00 AM, Naval Club.

Lu Minghui stepped out of the Ford sedan.

The Marines at the gate checked his identity and let him through.

Japanese-style private rooms on the second floor.

Sakata sat cross-legged at the low table, and looked up when he heard the door open.

Upon seeing Lu Minghui, a cold smile curled at the corner of his lips.

Yesterday they were speaking righteously and sternly, but today they're taking the initiative to come to my door.

The backbone of the Chinese people is ultimately soft.

"Akira-kun," Sakata poured a cup of tea, "Have you figured it out?"

Lu Minghui took off his shoes and went inside, sitting down opposite him.

I didn't touch the teacup.

"Colonel, I am an undercover agent sent by Section Chief Nakajima."

The voice was flat, as if recounting a long-forgotten story.

Sakata's hand, which was holding the teacup, froze in mid-air.

A few drops of tea spilled and landed on the table.

He stared at Lu Minghui, his eyes practically brimming with tears.

"After returning yesterday, I relayed Colonel Nakajima's words verbatim to Section Chief Nakajima." Lu Minghui looked into Sakata's eyes. "Section Chief Nakajima instructed me to feign defection and investigate the military's covert operations and fund flows within Chengda."

The private room was deathly silent.

Sakata's face turned pale and then red.

He took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, as if trying to squeeze all the air out of his lungs.

"You..." Sakata gritted his teeth.

"Colonel, there's no need to panic." Lu Minghui interrupted him, his gaze passing over Sakata and landing on the tightly closed screen. "Colonel Inoue, since everyone's here, why don't we come out and talk? These tricks of sowing discord and counter-espionage are a waste of time."

A soft laugh came from behind the screen.

The sliding door opened.

Muneo Inoue, dressed in military uniform, walked out with steady steps.

He sat down next to Sakata, scrutinizing Lu Minghui with sharp eyes.

"Director Lu is certainly decisive," Inoue Muneo said. "He sold us Section Chief Nakajima's secret orders right to our faces. Aren't you afraid I'll turn around and tell Section Chief Nakajima?"

"If you tell Section Chief Nakajima, he'll just think I'm carrying out his 'high-level undercover' plan." Lu Minghui clasped his hands together. "Colonel Inoue, we're all serving the Empire; there's no need to make it a life-or-death struggle."

Muneo Inoue narrowed his eyes.

"Chengda Company is a treasure trove, but also a powder keg," Lu Minghui continued. "Section Chief Nakajima represents the interests of the Army Headquarters, while the two of you represent the interests of the Navy. If this fight continues, both sides will suffer. It's better to sit down and have a proper discussion on how to divide up the Sugi Project pie."

Muneo Inoue tapped his fingers on the table.

Lu Minghui did not betray Nakajima; he simply transformed the factional struggle into a negotiation of interests.

This frankness, on the contrary, strengthened Muneo Inoue's determination to win him over.

A person who values ​​pure interests and practical results is far more reliable than a fanatic who spouts empty words of loyalty.

"How does Director Lu want to discuss this?" Inoue Muneo asked.

"I'm only responsible for relaying messages. How the tasks are divided up depends on Section Chief Nakajima's preferences." Lu Minghui stood up. "However, before that, I need to complete the tasks assigned by Section Chief Nakajima."

He looked at Sakata.

"The steel mold was stolen, and Section Chief Nakajima ordered a thorough investigation within Chengda. The colonel has been with Chengda for a long time and knows those Chinese employees better than I do. Are there any suspects?"

Sakata snorted coldly, picked up a pen and paper, and quickly wrote down a string of names.

It was pushed in front of Lu Minghui.

Lu Minghui glanced at it.

There were twelve people in total.

Song Qingyuan's name was prominently listed.

"Thank you, Colonel." Lu Minghui put away the list. "I'll go back and report."

He opened the door and went out.

At noon, at the Mei Agency.

Consultant's Office.

After listening to Lu Minghui's report, Nakajima's face darkened.

"I told you to pretend to defect, and you just told them you were an undercover agent?" Nakajima's voice was cold.

"Section Chief," Lu Minghui said, bowing his head, "Inoue Muneo is an old fox, and Sakata is a roughneck. If I were to act, Inoue would see right through me and become wary, unable to get anything out of me."

Nakajima didn't speak, he just stared at him.

"I'll be direct and turn this undercover mission into a negotiation of interests." Lu Minghui looked up. "They'll think I'm honest, someone who only cares about practical benefits. Only then will they open up and reveal their cards."

Nakajima leaned back in his chair, his fingers unconsciously stroking the armrests.

He put himself in Inoue Muneo's shoes and thought about it.

If a Chinese person comes to act, he will kill them on the spot.

But if the Chinese person openly says, "I'm here to discuss benefits," he might actually see the person as someone of value and even try to win him over.

Lu Minghui's grasp of people's hearts is frighteningly accurate.

Nakajima looked at Lu Minghui standing in front of him, his knuckles tightening slightly.

This knife is so sharp it's almost painful to hold.

"Are they willing to talk?" Nakajima asked.

"Inoue Muneo has given his word," Lu Minghui said. "He doesn't want to fight to the death with the section chief."

"Alright." Nakajima stood up. "You go and negotiate. The Ume Agency wants 70% of the profits from Project Sugi. The bottom line is 50%."

"it is good."

3 PM, Naval Club.

Lu Minghui sat down opposite Sakata and Inoue Muneo once again.

"Section Chief Nakajima's conditions," Lu Minghui went straight to the point, "The Ume Agency will take 70% of the profits and resource allocation rights of Project Sugi."

boom!

Sakata slammed his hand on the table, knocking over a wine glass.

"Seventy percent? Why doesn't he just rob us?!" Sakata roared. "Our navy opened up the supply channels, who does Nakajima think he is?!"

Lu Minghui didn't move, looking at Inoue Muneo.

Muneo Inoue raised his hand and pressed it against Sakata's shoulder.

"Seventy percent, seventy percent," Inoue Muneo said calmly.

Sakata turned his head sharply and looked at Inoue Muneo in disbelief.

"We're all serving the Empire; being petty will only damage our harmony." Inoue Muneo looked at Lu Minghui. "The Mei Agency will take 70%, and the Navy 30%. Let's do as Director Lu says."

Lu Minghui's eyes flickered slightly.

Muneo Inoue agreed too quickly.

Even the process of bargaining is skipped.

This "sincerity" is a bit excessive.

"Colonel Inoue, you're a man of your word." Lu Minghui pulled the list from his pocket that morning and pushed it in front of Sakata. "Now that the interests have been agreed upon, we're all in the same boat. Please sort this list, Colonel. The screening process needs to be prioritized; I can't just kill them all."

Sakata gritted his teeth, picked up his pen, circled and crossed out the names on the list, and renumbered them.

Push it back.

Lu Minghui picked it up and looked at it.

Song Qingyuan ranked eighth.

Slightly towards the back of the middle.

It's neither at the very beginning nor at the very end.

There is room for maneuver.

Lu Minghui folded the list and put it in his pocket.

"It's a pleasure doing business with you both." Lu Minghui stood up. "I won't disturb you any longer."

He opened the door and went out.

The footsteps faded into the distance inside the private room.

Sakata suddenly stood up and kicked over the low table in front of him.

The sound of porcelain shattering was ear-piercing.

"Colonel Inoue! Have you gone mad?!" Sakata's eyes were bloodshot. "Nichisei! Why should we give away the channels we worked so hard to build to Nakajima Nanatsuri for free?!"

Muneo Inoue sat there, looking at the mess on the ground.

"Sakata, your vision is too short-sighted," Inoue Muneo said coldly.

"Is this short-sighted? This is ruthless self-sacrifice!"

"What's 70%?" Inoue Muneo stood up, walked to the window, and watched Lu Minghui get into his Ford downstairs. "This 70% isn't for Section Chief Nakajima; it's our way of showing our sincerity to Lu Minghui."

Sakata was stunned.

"Lu Minghui now controls Chengda Company and 76. He's a smart man, and also an extremely pragmatic one." Inoue Muneo turned around. "As long as we successfully win him over, the entire Sugi Project, and even the entire 76, will fall into our hands."

Muneo Inoue walked back to Sakata.

"You can't win over someone like Lu Minghui without sufficient sincerity." Inoue Muneo patted Sakata on the shoulder. "How much power Lu Minghui has in Chengda is entirely up to us. What we need to do now is fully cooperate with him and not create any trouble for him."

Sakata gritted his teeth and swallowed his anger.

"Keep your subordinates quiet about the screening process. Let him investigate whoever he wants," Inoue Muneo ordered. "Give him enough sincerity, and he'll know which side to side with."

Chengda Company, third-floor office.

Lu Minghui pushed open the door.

Gu Yunqiu sat on the sofa, looking through a stack of outbound slips.

"Have you reached an agreement?" Gu Yunqiu looked up.

Lu Minghui walked behind his desk, sat down, and tossed the sorted list onto the table.

"Inoue Muneo gave 70% of the profits to Section Chief Nakajima." Lu Minghui picked up the iced tea on the table and took a sip.

Gu Yunqiu put down the delivery slip and walked over to pick up the list.

"He's so generous?" Gu Yunqiu frowned. "The navy never suffers a loss."

"He's trying to hook me." Lu Minghui looked at her. "He thinks that as long as he wins me over, Chengda and No. 76 will both be his."

Gu Yunqiu's gaze fell on the list.

"Song Qingyuan is eighth," Gu Yunqiu said, pointing to the name. "How do you plan to protect him?"

"Sun Yaozu caused a scene downstairs all day, what did he find out?" Lu Minghui asked.

"We arrested several workers who were stealing waste paper and ink, beat them twice, and locked them all in the basement," Gu Yunqiu said.

"Give this list to Sun Yaozu." Lu Minghui leaned back in his chair. "Tell him to investigate in order. Convict the first three and the last three directly, make it an ironclad case, and execute them in three days. As for the ones in the middle, just go through the motions and let them go."

"Over the next three days, you, Paper Hawk, and Song Qingyuan will secretly verify the identities of the six people on the list. Those found guilty will be executed immediately, and those innocent will be fitted with blank bombs and transferred to the border region afterward. Those from Chongqing will be sent back to Chongqing. Paper Hawk and Song Qingyuan will handle the arrangements for the Military Intelligence Bureau and the Central Bureau of Investigation and Statistics personnel themselves."

Gu Yunqiu held the list in her hand.

"Do you think Section Chief Nakajima will believe you if you try to pin someone else on the blame?"

"Whether he believes it or not is not important," Lu Minghui said calmly. "What is important is that the Navy has shown sincerity, and Section Chief Nakajima must do the same."

He glanced at the list and said, "This shows sincerity."

Gu Yunqiu looked at him.

"You've included Section Chief Nakajima and Muneo Inoue in the same group."

Lu Minghui did not respond.

He turned to look out the window.

it's getting dark.

Song Qingyuan's life was saved, but the clues about Unit 1644 remain a mystery.

Major Ishihara hasn't left Warehouse No. 3 even once all day.

The phone on the table suddenly rang.

Lu Minghui looked away and answered the receiver.

"Director." It was Paper Kite's voice on the other end of the phone, low and hurried. "Something's happened."

Lu Minghui gripped the receiver tightly. "Speak."

"Zhou Fohai was assassinated in Nanjing." Paper Kite spoke very quickly. "It was the Kuomintang's Military Intelligence Bureau. He didn't die, but he was seriously injured. The issuance plan for the Central Reserve Bank notes has been completely halted."

Lu Minghui leaned forward, his knuckles taut.

Dai Li bypassed Shanghai Station and took direct action.

"And another thing," Paper Hawk swallowed hard. "News came from Nanjing that before Zhou Fohai was assassinated, he sent a coded telegram to the Noboru Research Institute, requesting the early delivery of the second batch of special inks to Shanghai. The escorts..."

The kite paused for a moment.

"Who is it?" Lu Minghui's voice was deep.