Chapter 103: Takeda Appears (Please Vote)

Ning Zhiheng clearly assigned the tasks, and Liu Datong diligently took notes on each point.

Suddenly, Ning Zhiheng recalled something and asked Liu Datong, “Has Lin Mucheng been keeping a low profile lately?”

Lin Mucheng was the sole remaining member of the Shadow Spy Team, a pawn Ning Zhiheng had deliberately protected.

The first reason was that Ning Zhiheng did not want to offend him, nor the forces behind him. The second was to use him like a bright oil lamp, luring other Japanese spies to fly into the fire and get caught once more.

For the past two months, he had instructed Liu Datong to monitor Lin Mucheng’s movements, but reports were few and far between—so much so that Ning Zhiheng had nearly forgotten about him until just now.

Hearing this, Liu Datong quickly replied, “Nothing unusual so far. I’ve assigned Xiong Hongda to oversee this matter, but there have been no irregularities. We’ve had people constantly monitoring Lin Mucheng.”

“Have you thought about stationing someone close to him—perhaps his maid? If something unexpected happens, replace her. Lin Mucheng is a significant target; this might yield unexpected results!” Ning Zhiheng instructed. Since Lin Mucheng had no formal espionage training and weak counter-surveillance skills, he might neglect those around him. Close-range surveillance with someone daring enough to approach him would allow Ning Zhiheng to know immediately if anything occurred.

Liu Datong understood and promised to arrange it right away.

After sending them back to the police station, Ning Zhiheng hurried to the Military Intelligence Investigation Department. He photographed Dong Chengjie’s portrait, and by the time the photos were developed, it was already after six in the evening. Only then did he leave work and return home.

He opened his safe, took out several portraits, and found the one of Lu Ming, the party sponsor. Comparing the facial features carefully, he once again confirmed Fang Boyi’s identity. This was today’s greatest discovery—he had never imagined that a distinguished professor from Jinling University was actually an underground Communist Party member.

After confirming this, Ning Zhiheng carefully stored Fang Boyi’s portrait away. Then he opened the iron box, placing the twenty gold bars, the jade hook, and the gold-inlaid noble family crest seal into the safe.

Those twenty gold bars were undoubtedly Dong Chengjie’s operational funds. Japanese spies always had ample budgets, especially since Japan’s national strength was formidable at the time, with heavy investment in intelligence work.

For instance, when arresting Huang Xiansheng, Ning Zhiheng had seized a whole box filled with cash and gold—likely Huang’s savings accumulated over many years, but the operational budget was certainly substantial as well.

Looking at the many gold bars and cash in his safe, Ning Zhiheng chuckled to himself. It seemed that in the future, robbing Japanese spies alone would be enough to make him wealthy!

Early the next morning, Ning Zhiheng brought the photos to the Red Melody Teahouse. After ordering some breakfast, he ate while waiting. Shortly afterward, Liu Datong and Liu Yong arrived quickly.

Ning Zhiheng handed the photos to Liu Datong, then said to Liu Yong, “The boss has explained everything to you, right?”

“All clear,” Liu Yong replied hurriedly. “I found Cheng Guang yesterday and warned him to keep absolutely quiet about Cui Er’s matter.”

Liu Datong quickly added, “I’ve ordered my men to keep silent about Cui Er’s theft. We’ve also spread the word that Cui Er was arrested by the police for injuring someone during a robbery.”

Ning Zhiheng nodded. That was the best they could do—keeping news of Cui Er’s theft under wraps to avoid alerting those with ill intentions. But how effective that would be remained unknown.

“These are Dong Chengjie’s portrait photos. Spread them among your men and gather as much information about him as possible,” Ning Zhiheng instructed, handing the handbag to Liu Yong. Then he looked at Liu Datong and said, “Remember, if anyone inquires about the two jade artifacts or the whereabouts of local habitual thieves, you must inform me immediately. Alright, get to work. I’m waiting for your news!”

Both men took the photos and promptly agreed.

Meanwhile, in a small courtyard in the northern part of the city, Takeda Kaede sat beneath the eaves, breaking off sections of a tree branch in frustration and throwing them to the ground, his mood deeply dejected.

Just ten days prior, upon returning to his carefully arranged safe house, he discovered it had been ransacked by thieves. Not only had cash been stolen, but even the most hidden gold bars concealed within the bedroom wall cavity, his treasured jade hook, and the Takeda family’s crest seal had vanished!

It was like a bolt from the blue—damned thieves! The cash and gold bars were material possessions, but the jade hook was a coming-of-age gift from his father. More importantly, the family crest seal was a treasured heirloom passed down through generations—one of the three most precious relics of the Takeda family, vital to him.

His father had entrusted him with such an important family relic before he came to China, both as encouragement and a promise.

Originally, Kaede had hoped to build his reputation on the battlefield in China and make his family proud. But unexpectedly, he was assigned to the Special Higher Police Department’s Internal Affairs Division and selected to carry out espionage work in Nanjing, the Chinese national capital, becoming an intelligence officer in the Blackwater Group.

As part of Japan’s elite aristocracy, the Takeda family wielded substantial influence in both political and military circles. For Kaede—a strong contender for future head of the family—to be sent on the most dangerous espionage mission in Nanjing was nothing short of extraordinary.

Kaede fully understood why—he had been set up by other members of the Takeda family who wanted him dead in China, so they could promote another heir to lead the clan.

This was already a dire situation, but now losing the family crest seal made things even worse. Such an important treasure lost under his watch meant his position would become even more precarious.

The small courtyard was another safe house he had previously prepared, containing a portion of his operational funds. He had moved there immediately after the theft.

This was the safest contingency—if ordinary thieves had stolen the seal and the jade hook, it would be understandable. Most people wouldn’t recognize the seal or suspect his identity, so he would still be relatively safe.

But Kaede was extremely cautious. With Japan’s invasion of China, hostility was intense both among officials and the public. If anyone identified the seal’s origin, it would raise suspicions about him and pose grave danger.

Especially in the Chinese capital, surrounded entirely by enemies, every step could lead to ruin. He could ill afford carelessness.

If the theft was orchestrated by someone with ulterior motives, his safety was even more at risk. Perhaps it was fortunate he hadn’t been in the room at the time; otherwise, he might have been harmed.

In any case, he could no longer stay in that house. A wise man does not linger beneath a crumbling wall; he had to evacuate quickly.

Ten days had passed without the worst happening, but now he had to focus on recovering the seal. It was a family heirloom; without it, he could never explain himself to his father upon returning to Japan.

His cover identity in Nanjing was merely a section editor at Minsheng Daily, with no power to help recover the seal in the vast city. He would have to seek assistance—and quietly, too. It was a difficult task.

The only possible ally was the sole intelligence agent he could contact in Nanjing: “Wuyun.”

Wuyun was Chinese and, like himself, a member of the Blackwater Group. Kaede had personally turned him, so Wuyun knew his true identity.

Wuyun wielded some influence in Nanjing and might retrieve the seal. Though this severely violated espionage discipline, Kaede no longer cared.

Resolved, Kaede slammed the branch onto the ground and rose to leave.

He hailed a rickshaw and hurried to the Drum Tower Street intersection, paying the driver ten copper coins before walking some distance to the Minsheng Daily office.

He was always careful never to have the rickshaw stop directly outside his workplace, keeping a safe distance and walking the rest of the way—spies must be cautious in every detail.

Inside, he climbed to the editor-in-chief’s office on the second floor and knocked softly.

“Come in!” came the voice promptly.

Pushing open the door, the editor-in-chief smiled upon seeing Kaede. “Liqin, do you need something?”

He gestured kindly for him to sit. Kaede approached with a tense expression and said, “Editor Wu, I’d like to request a day off. I’ve been feeling unwell—had trouble sleeping last night and a headache this morning—so I want to see a doctor.”

Upon hearing this, the editor immediately responded, “Liqin, you should have told me earlier if you were sick. No need to come all this way!”

Liqin had been with the paper for a year, working diligently and amiably, well-liked by colleagues. The editor-in-chief valued him greatly and treated him warmly.

“I thought it best to ask you in person,” Kaede said apologetically, his tone sincere and respectful, which pleased Editor Wu even more.

“Don’t delay then—go to the hospital and take care of yourself. We’ll handle the work here. And don’t worry, today’s salary is guaranteed, not counted as leave. You’ve been working too hard—you’re not getting any younger! No more staying up late; it’s bad for your health.” The editor patted Kaede’s shoulder kindly, offering further concern before personally seeing him out of the office.