Chapter 133: Another Rendezvous

Ning Zhiheng watched the pathetic display of Dai Daguang’s groveling with utter disdain. He wondered if Dai truly expected mercy; in reality, he was likely wishing for nothing more than to tear Ning limb from limb.

Losing patience with the man, Ning waved his hand, and several operatives dragged Dai inside. Turning to Sun Jiacheng, who stood by his side, Ning ordered, "He’s yours now. Don’t be fooled by his wretched crying; he is a devious snake at heart and won't shed a real tear until he sees the coffin. Use whatever means necessary to crack him open and squeeze every last copper out of him."

Sun Jiacheng nodded and departed. In the past, Ning would have entrusted such tasks to Wang Shucheng. While Wang was obedient, Ning’s deep-seated suspicious nature meant he never fully trusted him. Now, with Sun—a subordinate he had personally promoted and whose life he had saved—he had a more reliable confidant. Naturally, such sensitive matters were best left to him.

Ning returned to the car and headed back to the surveillance point with Kang Shundong. Having witnessed the scene, Kang was not surprised; he had seen such things countless times. Agents of the Military Statistics Bureau held immense power and often lined their own pockets, a practice that was commonplace. Besides, the money held by scum like Dai Daguang likely had blood on it anyway.

"You’ve had a fruitful harvest this time, Zhiheng! Both wealth and people," Kang joked, eyeing Ning with an air of calculated camaraderie. He had spent the last few days intentionally building a rapport with Ning. "I hear Dai Daguang’s mistress is a real beauty. You haven't taken a fancy to her, have you? Haha!"

Kang knew this young man had deep roots in both the military and the Military Statistics Bureau, and was highly regarded by the Director. Combined with his ruthless efficiency, Ning was clearly destined for a brilliant future. Befriending him now would surely pay dividends later.

"Haha, Brother Kang, you mock me!" Ning replied dismissively. "You understand the Bureau’s intentions. Anyone caught in this web is treated as a major criminal. Given how deeply involved Dai Daguang is, how could we possibly let him walk out alive? That would be a fool’s errand." He paused, adding, "My apologies for the spectacle, Brother Kang. Once this is settled, I will certainly have a token of my appreciation for you. I hope you will accept it."

"In that case, I shall await the good news!" Kang, understanding the implication, readily accepted the gesture.

Upon returning to the surveillance point, they reported to Xia Yan, who nodded and said, "Su Yu now possesses the two precious jade pieces Tian Liqun requires, as well as a piece of high-value intelligence. He must pass these on. As planned, we will use these jade pieces to create an opportunity for them to meet. I expect him to move soon; we must tighten our surveillance."

Xia Yan then produced a business card and handed it to Ning. "This is a card signed by Song Hong, which I obtained through connections. With this, you will have unrestricted access to the private club."

The next morning at nine, Su Yu placed the film into a jade box, tucked it into a leather bag, and set off for the club in his pre-arranged car. Ning Zhiheng trailed him from a distance.

"It looks like he's heading to the private club again," Kang observed. "He’s definitely meeting Tian Liqun. We must witness the hand-off ourselves to confirm the transfer of intelligence."

Ning nodded. He smoothed his crisp suit, feeling a touch of irony; it was his first time wearing Western attire in the half-year he had been in this era.

"What's wrong? Feeling uncomfortable?" Kang asked, noticing his expression.

"A little," Ning replied. "The Ning family is traditional, and we rarely wore Western clothes. Since joining the military academy, I’ve lived in uniforms or Zhongshan suits. It feels a bit strange." In truth, he had worn suits daily in his past life, but he realized Kang’s observation skills were sharp. He would have to be extra careful around him.

When Su Yu arrived at the club and went inside, Ning and Kang followed, parking nearby. Seeing that Shao Wenguang was not at the entrance, they knew Tian Liqun had not yet arrived. "Let's go inside and keep an eye on him," Ning said.

At the entrance, the guards stopped them, not recognizing the pair. Before they could ask, Ning produced the card signed by Song Hong. The guards recognized the signature immediately—they were well-acquainted with it.

"My apologies, we were just being cautious to ensure our guests' privacy. Please, go right ahead!" they said, bowing and returning the card.

Ning nodded silently and led Kang into the lobby. They scanned the room and quickly spotted Su Yu watching a game of Go with great interest. Ning and Kang joined the crowd, occasionally whispering about the match to blend in as enthusiasts.

Twenty minutes later, Tian Liqun strolled in. He exchanged a brief, casual glance with Su Yu before looking away. After a while, Su Yu turned to him and smiled. "Mr. Tian, would you like to play a game today?"

"That is exactly my intention," Tian replied.

They sat down to play, moving with such natural intensity that even Ning had to admire their performance. Ning and Kang watched from the corners of their eyes, but until the game ended, there was no sign of an intelligence transfer.

Finally, the game concluded. Tian stood up and gestured for Su Yu to follow. They retreated to a secluded corner.

"Did you retrieve them?" Tian asked in a low, anxious voice. The family seal was vital to him, and he had been desperate for news.

Su Yu smiled. "Mr. Takeda, everything went smoothly. I have retrieved them." He placed the leather bag on the table.

Tian’s eyes lit up. He opened the bag to find the two familiar jade boxes. Inside one was the jade magatama his father had given him as an adult, and in the other, the Takeda family seal. He recognized them instantly. His voice trembled slightly as he said, "Mr. Su, you have my deepest gratitude. Rest assured, in return, I will ensure your son is delivered to you safely. I will not break my word."

Su Yu, relieved, bowed his head. "Mr. Takeda, I leave it all to you."

Tian then noticed a small film canister inside one of the boxes. "What is this?"

Su Yu smiled mysteriously. "A gift for you, Mr. Takeda."

"What do you mean? What is on this film?"

Su Yu dropped the act. "It is top-secret intelligence I recently acquired. It contains a list of the German government's recent aid plans for China, including the types and quantities of weapons. There is more I haven't had time to read—it is all in German—but it is certainly highly classified, accessible only to department heads."

"What! Such important intelligence! How did you obtain it?" Tian was stunned. This was the most significant intelligence in years.

"My apologies, Mr. Takeda, I cannot discuss the specifics," Su Yu said with a hint of pride. "It was extremely difficult to obtain, and I only held it for half an hour." He certainly wouldn't admit it had fallen into his lap; he had to emphasize the difficulty to ensure his payout.