Anti-Japanese War Espionage: I Have an Omniscient Perspective

The two walked side by side, seemingly chatting about trivial business matters, but in reality, every step they took was to stay away from the tiger's den.

While talking, Lin Rui used his supernatural abilities to observe the situation behind him.

They saw Fang Dongcheng peering through the curtains, staring intently at their backs with a sinister and suspicious look in his eyes, clearly doubting their identities.

However, there was a lot of foot traffic on Xiafei Road, and Lin Rui and his companion were not the only people talking. After watching for a while, they looked away again.

Lin Rui finally felt relieved.

The two walked forward together, without stopping at the alleyway leading to the secret hideout. Instead, they turned directly into Belle Street, as they had discussed.

Upon arriving at the Lianhua Film Studio on Beile Street, Lin Rui led Team Leader Li upstairs and instructed Zhao Erzhu and Chen Shan to guard the entrance.

Inside the manager's office, Team Leader Li ripped off his top hat, his face deathly pale, his chest heaving, his voice filled with lingering fear: "That was close! Thank goodness for you! If I had actually walked into the stationery store just now, I would have been completely finished today!"

"Who could have leaked the information about the contact point?" Lin Ruiming asked the consultant.

"It might be related to your former team leader, Fang Dongcheng. We closed the Dafang Stationery Store contact point because of him. But we didn't expect that he could find a new contact point," Team Leader Li replied.

Lin Rui said indignantly, "That bastard Fang Dongcheng is a coward who's afraid of death. He actually became a lackey of the Japanese."

He paused, then reminded him, "Team Leader Li, I think the Japanese aren't aiming to take down a single liaison point, but rather to use that liaison point to wipe out all the undercover agents at the Shanghai station. By the way, if the Japanese act now and find out about the intelligence station's secret location from the liaison point, things could get really bad."

Team Leader Li's expression changed drastically: "You're right, we must notify the Shanghai station to evacuate everyone."

He asked, "Do you know the famous clothing and hat shop on Avenue Joffre?"

Lin Rui nodded: "I know. The craftsmen at that shop are quite skilled. Our film studio used to use them for props and costumes, and I've also visited them."

"That's good. Go to the clothing store. The owner and staff are all our own people. The code is: can you make two garments tomorrow? The owner will answer: if you can't make them tomorrow, you can pay half a deposit and receive the garments in three days. Once you get the code right, tell him that I sent you there and explain the situation to him so he can notify the Shanghai station to transfer the items."

"Okay. Team leader, you can stay in my office for now. Lianhua Film Studio is a public business place, so the Japanese won't suspect anything and it's relatively safe here. I'll go to Yangming Clothing Store to deliver the message now."

Team Leader Li said gravely, "Please be careful."

Lin Rui nodded, opened the office door, and quickly went downstairs, instructing Zhao Erzhu and Chen Shan to stay downstairs and not to go upstairs to disturb them.

He didn't reveal Team Leader Li's identity, which made Team Leader Li feel safer.

........

Lin Rui strode out of Beile Street and headed straight for the Yangming Clothing and Hat Store on Xiafei Road.

Before long, they arrived at the clothing store.

Lin Rui pushed open the door and entered. The store was filled with ready-made clothing fabrics, and the owner was a middle-aged man with a calm expression.

He clasped his hands in a respectful greeting, a smile on his face: "Boss Liu, do you remember me? Manager Chen from Lianhua Film Studio."

The other party responded politely, "How could I forget you? I've been wondering when your film studio will ask me to make props and costumes."

Lin Rui gave the signal at the right moment:

"I happen to have an order for two garments. Can you finish them tomorrow?"

The shop owner raised an eyelid and replied, "If it can't be done tomorrow, you can pay half a deposit and have it delivered in three days."

Not a single word was wrong, and the code was perfectly matched.

Lin Rui immediately explained the situation: "The contact point has been exposed, and there are Japanese spies all around. Team Leader Li sent me to deliver this message. Immediately notify everyone at the station to evacuate!"

The shop owner's face changed drastically: "Something happened at the contact point?! Oh no!"

He didn't dare delay for even a second, and immediately called over a lean waiter to the back room, whispering in his ear, "Rush to the secret outpost immediately and report to Station Chief Zhou—the liaison point has been exposed, and the Shanghai station could be discovered at any moment."

"Understood!" The shop assistant darted out from the back door of the clothing store, taking shortcuts through narrow alleys and dark lanes, and quickly made his way to the secret hideout.

Twenty minutes later, the clerk, panting heavily, rushed to the alleyway entrance of the hideout and shouted urgently to the tailor acting as the doorman downstairs: "Urgent! It's a matter of life and death! I'm from Yangming Clothing Store, I need to see the boss! If you're late, it's all over!"

Seeing his odd expression, the gatekeeper didn't dare delay and immediately led him up to the third floor. At that moment, Station Chief Zhou was preparing for a meeting when the clerk burst in. He frowned and asked, "What is it?"

"Station Chief! The contact point has been exposed! Team Leader Li sent me to report this; we need to relocate immediately!"

The meeting room erupted in chaos.

Station Chief Zhou's face was ashen. He made a decisive order: "Emergency evacuation! Burn all classified documents, and destroy any materials that cannot be taken with you. Everyone, evacuate in three groups and take cover at backup points! Hurry!"

Chaos erupted instantly at the outpost, with papers thrown into the fire and burning fiercely, and codebooks and lists reduced to ashes.

Armed personnel left the stronghold and plainclothes officers guarded the alleyways.

Afterwards, the agents, having finished their business, packed their weapons and left the stronghold, quickly withdrawing in different directions.

In less than ten minutes, the entire building was empty, with only wisps of smoke drifting from the still-burning braziers.

.........

At the Dafang Stationery Store on Xiafei Road, the Japanese spies had been waiting impatiently, and the detective captain was summoned and scolded.

The captain then vented his anger on Fang Dongcheng.

"If we don't find anything else, then we should arrest them. We can't let our prey get away."

"Yes, Captain." Fang Dongcheng was covered in sweat, looking out the window.

Just then, two men in suits pushed open the door and entered the store, appearing suspicious to the secret agents.

"Is it them?" the captain asked.

"I'm not sure," Fang Dongcheng replied.

"We can't wait any longer, let's do it!"

Immediately, the Japanese military police detectives who had been lying in ambush rushed in and pinned everyone in the store to the ground.

Just as they were about to take them away, one of them shouted angrily, "We are consulate staff, how dare you arrest us?! We have identification on us."

The agents froze on the spot—they had arrested the wrong person.

They actually found French Concession consulate documents on the person.

The two had no choice but to go.

With things having come to this point, they decided to throw caution to the wind, pinning the stationery store liaison to the ground and subjecting him to severe torture in an attempt to uncover the secret hideout.

Fang Dongcheng scanned the store, his gaze landing on a shelf in the corner. He suddenly kicked it open, revealing a hidden door.

"Here it is!" Fang Dongcheng grinned sinisterly. "The Shanghai Railway Station's hideout, which leads to the back alley, might be nearby!"

The spies were overjoyed. They dragged the liaison officer into the secret door and frantically searched through the residential buildings in the back alley.

Subsequently, they actually found the secret hideout.

But when they entered the secret hideout, they were all stunned:

The building was deserted; the ashes in the brazier were still smoking, and all the rooms were empty.

"Baka—!"

The Japanese captain of the detective team was furious and slammed his fist hard against the door frame.