Agent: Intercepting Yu Manli at the start!

As a result, whether or not they could return to Beiping was now uncertain.

Now, all they can hope for is this telegram—if its contents are still directly related to him, then he'll probably have to stay at headquarters to await his fate. Demotion is secondary; he might even be court-martialed.

The communications adjutant hesitated for a moment before speaking: "The second telegram is from the Shanghai Military Police Headquarters: This morning, the headquarters of the Sugi Agency in Shanghai was suddenly attacked by anti-Japanese forces. The entire building was completely destroyed, and all research personnel were killed in the line of duty, without exception!"

"What?!"

This time, it was Prime Minister Tojo and Prince Miyahito who gasped in surprise.

The two veterans' expressions changed drastically—first, they were dumbfounded, their eyes filled with disbelief; then, anger surged, and their faces turned ashen!

Enraged!

It should be noted that the Sugi Agency was established at the personal instruction of Prime Minister Tojo, directly under the command of the General Staff Headquarters, and is a core subordinate unit of the Ninth Research Institute of the Army.

It operated clandestinely in Shanghai for many years, a top-secret strategic institution. How could it have been wiped out by anti-Japanese forces in one fell swoop?

Uprooted?

What is most heartbreaking is that all the researchers perished.

Talent is the true lifeline.

A senior professor or a top expert often requires decades of painstaking cultivation. And now, all of that has been lost in a single day?

How could Tojo and Miyako not be horrified?

Who on earth was able to pinpoint and destroy this vital point so precisely?

"The Sugi Agency... has been wiped out?" Prince Miyahito, as Chief of the General Staff, was directly responsible for supervising the Sugi Agency. His shock barely subsided before a surge of anger welled up: "Baka! These anti-Japanese elements are utterly audacious!"

Prime Minister Tojo's face was ashen, his voice low but each word sharp as a knife: "The most urgent task is to find out—how did the anti-Japanese elements know the exact location of the Sugimoto Agency?"

"Furthermore, we must find out how they were able to successfully breach the walls, carry out the demolition, and ensure that none of the researchers escaped!"

"Yes! Yes!" Prince Miyahito responded repeatedly. "I will investigate immediately and also order General Oshima of Shanghai to give me a clear explanation!"

Impact!

This was a devastating blow!

With the destruction of the Sugiyama Institute, the plan to reverse the domestic predicament through this currency war was instantly shattered. Not only was the war stalled, but the very foundation was uprooted—all the key research personnel were sacrificed, and the losses were incalculable!

That's a slap in the face!

This slap landed squarely on Prince Miyahiro's face!

Just moments before, he had been confidently reporting to his superiors on the Sugi Agency's currency war strategy, when suddenly, a telegram came crashing down on him.

Doesn't Japan often experience earthquakes?

Why is there a tornado today?

However... this is a tornado designed to slap you in the face!

Snap, snap, snap—loud and swift.

The slap in the face came so fast, like a tornado, that the three Japanese high-ranking officials were caught completely off guard.

The destruction of the Sugimoto Agency and the assassination of Asano Hirofumi shocked and enraged Prince Miyahito, Prime Minister Tojo, and Doi Madoka. What's even more bizarre is that both events were highly classified, yet it seems that the anti-Japanese forces knew everything about them—this is what's truly chilling.

Tu Feiyuan glanced at the two people beside him and said, "In my opinion, it is not that we have failed to keep secrets, but that the anti-Japanese forces in Shanghai are too strong and have penetrated so deeply that they are ubiquitous."

Prince Miyahito immediately chimed in, "That's right, it was all the work of these hateful anti-Japanese elements!"

The responsibility for the two major defeats fell on the shoulders of Prince Miyahito and Doihara. Naturally, the two were eager to distance themselves, so they adopted the same line: the problem was not internal, but rather that the enemy was too rampant and used unorthodox methods—undoubtedly the safest explanation.

Prime Minister Tojo said in a deep voice, "Now is not the time to shirk responsibility. The destruction of the Sugi Agency not only severely damaged the Ninth Research Institute, but also shook the foundation of the General Staff Headquarters; and the fact that all the researchers died in the line of duty is a major crisis that is enough to shake the government and the public."

"If the news leaks out, public opinion will be in uproar, and the opposition will intensify. This matter must be handled with utmost care."

Doi-maru and Prince Miyahito responded in unison, "Yes!"

In comparison, the assassination attempt on Hirofumi Asano seems insignificant.

If we only consider Asano's death, Doi Madoka would have been forced to remain at headquarters, and demotion would have been almost inevitable.

But now that even the Sugimoto Agency, directly under Prince Miyahito's control, has suffered a devastating blow, he can no longer impose severe punishment on Doi-maru—he himself is under the same collapsing sky.

How dare you still hold a grudge against others?

Prime Minister Tojo remained silent for a moment, then slowly said, "This matter cannot be concealed. Especially not from the army's high command, and certainly not from His Majesty the Emperor. I must return to Kyoto immediately to report to the Emperor and discuss a solution for the aftermath."

"The Sugiyama Institute is home to many of the nation's leading scholars and professors, whose influence in academia and society is profound. If the public were to learn of their collective martyrdom, it would inevitably cause a huge uproar. Therefore, I must personally inform His Majesty the Emperor and discuss countermeasures."

"This matter must be thoroughly investigated, and the traitor who leaked the empire's core secrets must be found!"

Doi-mado and Prince Miyahito responded in unison, "Hai!"

Prime Minister Tojo immediately got up and left to go to the Imperial Palace to meet the Emperor.

Prince Miyahito turned his serious gaze to Doi-kun: "Doi-kun, what is your assessment of this matter?"

As a veteran of the intelligence system, having worked in this field for many years, Doiyuu paused for a moment before speaking: "Asano Hirofumi's whereabouts and the exact location of the Sugi Agency headquarters—these two pieces of intelligence have always been classified as top-secret matters."

"The fact that the anti-Japanese forces can now accurately grasp such top-secret information shows that enemy agents have infiltrated the Shanghai Military Police, the Special Higher Police, and even other intelligence units. Moreover, this person holds a high position and has sufficient authority to access core secrets."

Both men were seasoned espionage veterans, fully aware that such a serious leak was no accidental oversight; there must be an inside agent. And to have access to intelligence at this level, that agent must have already firmly established themselves in the middle to upper echelons.

However, who exactly is this person? There are currently no clues.

Prince Gongren's tone suddenly turned stern: "Prince Doi, the most important thing you must do upon returning to Beiping is to dig out this thorn in our side at all costs!"

"If this person is not eliminated, even if a new Special Higher Police chief is appointed, he will only suffer the same fate as the previous three—assassination and elimination!"

Doiyuu felt a sense of relief: according to Prince Miyahito's words, not only was he not held accountable for his dereliction of duty, but he was also tacitly allowed to return to Beiping and take charge of the secret service. Compared to demotion, dismissal, or even being sent to a military court, this was already a stroke of good fortune.

"Yes! I will investigate thoroughly immediately!" His voice was loud and resolute. "Even if it means using our deeply embedded agents in the heart of the mountain city, we will find this traitor!"

In the wartime intelligence arena, it is always a matter of mutual interdependence. Japanese spies have been lurking in the political and military circles of the mountain city, and even in the staff headquarters of the chief of staff. Some of them have been lying low for many years and hold prominent positions.

However, these top-tier undercover agents are rarely used—they are only quietly activated at critical moments of life and death, in order to achieve a decisive victory.

Right now, we're at that critical juncture.

With the destruction of the Sugi Agency and the successive deaths of three Special Higher Police chiefs, Doi-man had no choice but to activate his most secretive undercover agents, betting everything to target the mole in Shanghai.

If this drags on any longer, the situation will completely spiral out of control.

If one section chief is replaced and another dies, how can the regime be maintained?

Prince Miyahito nodded: "Very well. Mr. Doi, I have faith in your abilities. I hope that this time, you will not disappoint the General Staff, nor will you disappoint me."

The chubby-faced boy bowed his head solemnly and said, "Hello!"

Upon returning to Beiping this time, his top priority was only one thing: to investigate the internal traitors.

We must use all available resources and spare no expense to find this person.