Chapter 107: The Extra Person

Kawaki Company.

Okada Toshihiko hurried through the door.

He strode directly toward the middle-aged man who had just respectfully bowed to him beside Kawaki Company’s president, Kawaki Taro, and immediately slapped him across the face.

“Bastard!”

One slap was not enough.

Okada Toshihiko raised his foot and viciously kicked the man to the ground.

Still not satisfied, he continued kicking him repeatedly.

Kawaki Taro glanced over but did not intervene.

It was fine to let Mr. Okada vent his anger.

These people from Shanghai were far too unruly.

Only when it seemed enough did Kawaki Taro step forward and pull Okada Toshihiko back.

“Mr. Okada, that’s enough. Please restrain your anger. Although I also dislike this group, they have indeed rendered great service to the Empire. We cannot simply leave them to die.”

Kawaki Taro gave the middle-aged man another hard kick before returning to his seat, still seething.

He picked up a cup of tea and drained it in one gulp.

He had every reason to be angry.

The covert group of the Inoue Residence had been operating in Hangzhou, developing pro-Japanese forces and gathering intelligence.

The Inoue Organization had never informed Okada Toshihiko of this matter.

It was only today, after receiving an urgent message from Kawaki Company’s president, Kawaki Taro, informing him that the Inoue Organization’s Shanghai agent group had run into trouble, that he learned there had been an Imperial intelligence team operating right under his nose without his knowledge.

Objectively speaking, the Inoue Residence’s concealment made Okada Toshihiko furious.

What angered him even more was that they had not informed him when carrying out operations, yet the moment something went wrong, they came seeking his help.

Hangzhou was Okada Toshihiko’s jurisdiction.

Earlier, the arrest of Kawada Eikichi by Chinese agents had already resulted in disciplinary action against him.

The aftermath of that incident had not yet completely subsided when another burden suddenly dropped from the sky.

Okada Toshihiko’s rage could no longer be contained.

“Major.”

The middle-aged man climbed to his feet and bowed deeply to Okada Toshihiko.

“Kojima Kosuke respectfully begs the Major to rescue them. The entire Inoue Residence will be eternally grateful.”

Okada Toshihiko glanced at the man.

He could punch and kick Kojima Kosuke as much as he wished, but he could not afford to slight the Inoue Residence.

Although Inoue Hikaru held no military rank, his Inoue Residence was reportedly highly regarded by the Army General Staff.

Colonel Yingzuo Teiaki of the Japanese Consulate in Shanghai had praised the Inoue Residence on many occasions and spoke very highly of Inoue Hikaru.

“Tell me what happened.”

Okada Toshihiko spoke coldly.

Cheng Qianfan had not expected the Japanese spy organization uncovered in Hangzhou to be connected to Yingzuo Teiaki in Shanghai.

That brought Old Mo to mind again.

He thought of Ms. Luo Huijun and the other female comrade who had been murdered through Old Mo’s collusion with the Japanese.

A preliminary outline of a theory began taking shape in his mind.

The Japanese agents who murdered the two women from the anti-Japanese evening school were most likely operatives of the Inoue Residence.

And the operations of the Inoue Residence, or more specifically those of Inoue Hikaru, the head of the Inoue Organization, were largely carried out under the orders of Yingzuo Teiaki.

Cheng Qianfan continued interrogating Eguchi Hideya.

However, Eguchi Hideya was only an ordinary intelligence operative and knew little.

Many classified matters were controlled exclusively by Endo Hiroshi.

“What position does Yingzuo Eiichi hold within the Inoue Residence?” Cheng Qianfan suddenly asked.

“Yingzuo Eiichi?”

A bewildered expression appeared on Eguchi Hideya’s face.

“Officer, I don’t know this person, nor have I ever heard this name.”

Cheng Qianfan fixed his cold eyes on Eguchi Hideya.

Unease filled Eguchi Hideya’s heart.

“Officer, I truly don’t know. I’ve already told you everything I can.”

Cheng Qianfan rose from the swivel chair.

Eguchi Hideya was terrified.

“Officer, please believe me. I desperately want to earn merit. If I knew, I would certainly tell you. I truly have never heard this name.”

“I hope so.”

Cheng Qianfan smiled.

It was a bright, sunny smile.

He walked forward and patted Eguchi Hideya on the shoulder.

“If I discover that you’re lying, I can guarantee that you will regret ever coming into this world.”

Eguchi Hideya trembled with fear.

To him, Cheng Qianfan’s smile was more terrifying than the demons of hell.

“Loosen his restraints.”

Cheng Qianfan gave the order coldly and walked toward Oguri Motomitsuro, who was tied to a wooden frame, with his hands clasped behind his back.

“Mr. Eguchi has shown excellent judgment and should receive the treatment he deserves.”

Cheng Qianfan said:

“A private room, a blanket, and some good food and drink.”

“Yes, sir!”

Two Special Service Office agents stepped forward, blindfolded Eguchi Hideya, stuffed a gag into his mouth, and carried him out of the interrogation room.

With his hands clasped behind his back, Cheng Qianfan looked at Oguri Motomitsuro and Kurai Shinnosuke, who were tied to neighboring wooden torture frames.

A charcoal brazier burned fiercely to his left.

The crimson glow reflected in Cheng Qianfan’s eyes, giving them an eerie gleam.

He scooped up water and splashed both men awake.

“Oguri Motomitsuro, Kurai Shinnosuke.”

Cheng Qianfan smiled.

“Did you two rest well? Can we begin our pleasant conversation now?”

As he spoke, Cheng Qianfan glanced toward Kobayashi Jun on the tiger bench.

This man had suffered the most severe torture.

He had fainted many times and been revived many times with cold water.

This time, however, he had awakened on his own and was merely pretending to be unconscious.

Cheng Qianfan ignored Kobayashi Jun.

Some interrogators preferred to isolate prisoners and question them separately to prevent collusion and concealment.

Under normal circumstances, Cheng Qianfan would have done the same.

However, time was pressing, so he adopted this unconventional method of interrogating multiple people simultaneously.

What he employed was psychological coercion through interrogation pressure.

Some people might not fear death at first.

Some might even possess a certain ability to withstand physical torture.

Yet after witnessing their companions endure torture and face life-and-death trials, they would break.

In Cheng Qianfan’s view, such people could withstand physical suffering but lacked mental resilience.

Although the Special Service Office’s interrogation training courses mentioned this type of personality, its interrogation instructors generally favored physical torture.

In fact, the instructors did not particularly advocate this “civilized” method of interrogation.

Cheng Qianfan, however, found this approach quite interesting.

He enjoyed studying the human heart and human nature.

Eguchi Hideya’s confession had delighted him and also made him somewhat proud.

These people were all ordinary members of the Endo Group.

As long as one person talked, the interrogation was already a success.

Because the information they possessed would not differ significantly.

“Mr. Eguchi Hideya has gone off to enjoy fine food and wine, and he can even get a good night’s sleep.”

A gentle smile rested on Cheng Qianfan’s face.

“Now, I need someone to supplement the intelligence provided by Mr. Eguchi.”

“There is only one opportunity.”

“Gentlemen, who wishes to speak first?”

Cheng Qianfan smiled.

Just as the two Japanese agents were about to hurl curses at him, he waved his hand.

Two interrogation-section agents carried over basins of chili water mixed with salt and splashed them directly onto the two men.

Terrible screams rang out, then stopped abruptly.

“Group Leader Cheng, they’ve passed out.”

Cheng Qianfan nodded and walked over to the tiger bench.

Lowering his head, he looked at Kobayashi Jun.

Kobayashi Jun kept his eyes closed.

“Mr. Kobayashi, watching those two suffer must feel quite satisfying.”

Cheng Qianfan spoke slowly and calmly.

“One question. Who was the person who frequently came to Hengrun Teahouse to see Endo Hiroshi? Answer me, and I’ll continue helping you get your revenge.”