Chapter 129: Unintentionally Planting Willows, Reaping Their Shade

“Where’s Brother Liu?”

Cheng Qianfan swept his gaze around and did not see either He Guan or Liu Bo.

He knew where He Guan had gone.

He Guan had been deliberately placed under confinement by Jin Kemu on the grounds that the officer had shown disrespect toward Deputy Chief Inspector Jin.

But where was Liu Bo?

Before leaving Shanghai, he had sent a message requesting that the Organization investigate Liu Bo and determine whether he was in fact a Japanese intelligence operative.

After returning from Hangzhou, Cheng Qianfan had not yet made contact with the Shanghai Communist organization and therefore had not yet received a reply.

However, Cheng Qianfan had already made his own analysis and judgment.

The possibility that Liu Bo was working for the Japanese was extremely high.

Therefore, not seeing Liu Bo surprised him.

Had the man been alarmed and withdrawn from the police station?

“Old Liu called this morning and asked for leave.”

Big-Head Lu said.

“I heard he ate something bad last night and got diarrhoea.”

After hearing this, Cheng Qianfan nodded and muttered that he would find time to visit Liu Bo.

Afterward, he asked no further questions and continued chatting casually with his colleagues.

He could casually mention Liu Bo and show an appropriate degree of concern.

However, he could not appear to be paying special attention to Liu Bo.

“So you’re saying Cheng Qianfan agreed to provide false testimony for He Guan?”

Yingzuo Eiichi’s expression became vicious.

“He provided false testimony for the murderer who killed an Imperial citizen?”

“No, it cannot be called false testimony.”

Liu Bo shook his head.

“Yingzuo-kun, Cheng Qianfan’s actions can only be described as his willingness to act as a witness to He Guan’s whereabouts.”

This was a residence in a small alley located in the Mailan District.

Liu Bo and Yingzuo Eiichi were meeting there in secret.

“What?”

Yingzuo Eiichi snorted coldly and stared at Liu Bo.

Yingzuo Eiichi’s feelings were somewhat complicated.

On the one hand, he hoped to uncover evidence that Cheng Qianfan’s friendliness toward the Empire was merely a disguise.

If so, his previous decision to eliminate Cheng Qianfan would have been proven correct.

Deep down, Yingzuo Eiichi looked down upon Chinese people.

On the other hand, he hoped Cheng Qianfan remained as friendly toward Japan as ever.

Although he despised Chinese people, his admiration for his uncle Yingzuo Teiaki had long made him accustomed to following his teachings.

Yingzuo Teiaki had said that the more pro-Japanese figures like Cheng Qianfan there were, the better.

After careful consideration, Yingzuo Eiichi felt that this made considerable sense.

He found himself instinctively agreeing with it.

“When Cheng Qianfan met He Guan, he had only just returned to Shanghai. It was impossible for him to know about Miyamoto Saburo’s previous arrest case, much less that He Guan had killed Miyamoto Saburo only fifty minutes earlier.”

“So his willingness to act as He Guan’s witness was primarily because the two have a close relationship. Of course, the fact that Jin Kemu is already Deputy Chief Inspector of the Central Police Station must also be taken into account.”

Liu Bo was not intimidated by Yingzuo Eiichi’s anger.

He continued his analysis calmly.

“Therefore, in my view, Cheng Qianfan merely made the sort of choice that any normal person would make under ordinary circumstances. As of now, there are no suspicious signs regarding his friendly attitude toward the Empire.”

He had no doubts about Yingzuo Eiichi’s abilities.

However, Liu Bo felt that Yingzuo Eiichi was somewhat too self-confident.

For example, during the operation to capture Zhu Yuan, Yingzuo Eiichi had openly appeared at the Shuanglong Lane Residence and even stood there watching the police arrest a Communist.

That had been far too careless.

Had Liu Bo not provided cover for Yingzuo Eiichi at the time, Cheng Qianfan might very well have recognized him then and there.

“Seto-kun, your analysis is reasonable.”

Yingzuo Eiichi was not allowing his emotions to cloud his judgment.

He shook his head.

“I also hope Cheng Qianfan remains as friendly toward the Empire as ever. Although I dislike Chinese people, I must admit that pro-Empire Chinese such as Cheng Qianfan may still prove useful in the future.”

Liu Bo shook his head.

He only half believed Yingzuo Eiichi’s words.

Yingzuo Eiichi constantly referred to China using the derogatory term Shina, and his attitude toward Chinese people was therefore obvious.

Of course, this mentality was common among the vast majority of Japanese.

Liu Bo was somewhat different.

He had adopted a Chinese name.

He lived according to Chinese customs and had spent a long time living in China.

The deeper his understanding of this ancient country grew, the more confused and even vaguely apprehensive he became.

China was simply too large.

Its people were too numerous.

Even though this ancient nation was currently extremely backward, its potential for war would be terrifying.

Although he also enjoyed and anticipated the gradual process and ultimate result of the Empire’s encroachment upon China, he did not particularly look down upon China or the Chinese.

This country also possessed many talented and capable people.

They were not inferior to the Empire’s outstanding young men.

This nation was weak.

Even after the Empire occupied Manchukuo and continued encroaching upon North China, it remained “timid as a mouse” and dared not declare war on the Empire.

But that did not mean the country lacked talent.

Cultivating as many pro-Empire Chinese as possible, especially talented young pro-Japanese Chinese, would aid the Empire’s conquest of this ancient nation.

That was the understanding and realization Liu Bo had arrived at through serious study and reflection during his undercover work.

In his everyday work, he looked after Cheng Qianfan as much as possible.

This was not merely an act.

He genuinely appreciated and wished to help the talented young man.

“Seto-kun, have you discovered anything?”

Yingzuo Eiichi asked.

“After Old Mo was killed, He Guan was indeed very pleased.”

Liu Bo said.

“According to our investigation, He Guan appeared near Old Mo’s residence both on the afternoon before Old Mo’s death and again on the day after he was killed.”

“However, after deliberately cultivating a friendship with him over this period, especially after helping him lure and kill Miyamoto Saburo yesterday, He Guan no longer harbours any suspicion toward me. I questioned him indirectly.”

Liu Bo shook his head.

“He Guan said that before Old Mo died, he had intended to go beat him up one more time but ultimately gave up. After Old Mo was killed, he felt both pleased and curious, so he returned to the area around Old Mo’s residence.”

“What was he curious about?”

“He was curious about who had killed Old Mo. He wanted to find clues.”

Liu Bo’s expression darkened.

“He Guan is someone who harbours extreme hatred toward the Empire. He wanted to join the anti-Japanese organization that killed Old Mo.”

“In that case, He Guan has nothing to do with Mo Shouli’s death.”

Yingzuo Eiichi frowned.

“Based on my understanding of He Guan, he did not seem to be lying.”

Liu Bo nodded.

Most importantly, given He Guan’s limited abilities, there was simply no way he could successfully deceive him.

“Then Miyamoto Saburo died for nothing.”

Yingzuo Eiichi felt extremely uncomfortable.

Although he held no particular affection for Japanese rōnin like Miyamoto Saburo, Miyamoto was still an Imperial citizen.

In Yingzuo Eiichi’s eyes, even an Imperial Shiba Inu was worth a hundred times more than a Chinese life.

In order to discover the person who had killed Old Mo, Yingzuo Eiichi had ruthlessly arranged for Miyamoto Saburo to sacrifice himself for the Empire.

The purpose had been to help Liu Bo gain He Guan’s trust.

If He Guan truly had nothing to do with Old Mo’s death, then Miyamoto Saburo’s sacrifice had indeed been completely wasted.

“It wasn’t entirely useless.”

Liu Bo revealed a pleased expression.

“Unintentionally planting willows, yet the willows flourish. Yesterday we attracted an anti-Japanese activist. His hatred of Japan is even stronger than He Guan’s. According to him, he knows who killed Old Mo.”