Chapter 187: The Suspicious Yingzuo

Yingzuo Eiichi looked at the bewildered “Cheng Qianfan.”

Seeing that the other man actually dared to “pretend” not to know him, he felt extremely displeased.

Although he and Cheng Qianfan had not been in the same year, they had interacted before.

As one of the most prominent figures at the East Asia Common Culture Academy, Yingzuo Eiichi had always been proud of that period of his life.

“Brother Cheng truly has a poor memory for old acquaintances,” Yingzuo Eiichi said darkly.

Miyazaki Kentaro looked completely confused, then suddenly appeared enlightened.

“Sir, you have mistaken me for someone else.”

His new friend Sakamoto Yoshino asked quietly, “Miyazaki-kun, what’s going on?”

“A policeman at the entrance also mistook me for someone else earlier. I was quite surprised myself,” Miyazaki Kentaro said quietly, looking helpless.

“So that’s it.” Sakamoto Yoshino nodded and said to Yingzuo Eiichi, “Sir, you’ve made a mistake. This is Mr. Miyazaki Kentaro of Kobe University, not the Chinese man you’re talking about.”

“What?” Yingzuo Eiichi heard the two conversing in Japanese and became puzzled. He gave “Cheng Qianfan” a long, careful look.

Then he noticed the differences.

Although this man’s appearance was almost identical to Cheng Qianfan’s, there were indeed differences in his mannerisms, bearing, and temperament.

Could there truly be people in the world who looked this alike?

“My apologies. I mistakenly took you for a Chinese friend,” Yingzuo Eiichi said in Japanese. “Allow me to introduce myself. I am Yingzuo Eiichi, an employee of the Imperial Consulate General in Shanghai.”

“So it is Yingzuo-kun.” Miyazaki Kentaro bowed slightly. “Your relation to Colonel Yingzuo Teiaki is...?”

“Military Attaché Yingzuo is my uncle,” Yingzuo Eiichi replied with a smile. “Once again, my apologies, Miyazaki-kun.”

“It is of no consequence.” Miyazaki Kentaro smiled. “I am curious. Is there really a Chinese man who resembles me so closely?”

“There is indeed. Had I not seen it with my own eyes, I would not have believed such a resemblance possible,” Yingzuo Eiichi said with a nod. “Where have you been traveling before coming to Shanghai, Miyazaki-kun?”

“I’ve been wandering about. Most recently I visited Hangzhou and Kunshan.”

“When did you arrive in Shanghai?” Yingzuo Eiichi continued.

“Half a month ago,” Miyazaki Kentaro replied. He frowned. “Are you investigating me?”

“You misunderstand, Miyazaki-kun.” Yingzuo Eiichi looked deeply into his eyes. “Anti-Japanese sentiment among the Chinese is running high. I merely wish to remind you to pay attention to your safety.”

“That is very considerate. Thank you.” Miyazaki Kentaro smiled.

“I apologize for disturbing you. Please continue your conversation.” Yingzuo Eiichi nodded and took his leave.

Watching Yingzuo Eiichi depart, the smile on Miyazaki Kentaro’s face faded.

“What’s wrong?” Sakamoto Yoshino asked.

“I don’t like the way he speaks.” Miyazaki Kentaro shook his head. “It feels as though I’m a criminal being interrogated.”

After thinking for a moment, he smiled bitterly.

“Perhaps it’s because I’ve never gotten along well with others. I simply don’t like that man.”

“So you feel that way too!” Sakamoto Yoshino said happily. “I know him, a young master of the Yingzuo family. He’s extremely arrogant. I don’t like him either.”

“Is that why you pretended not to know him just now?” Miyazaki Kentaro asked with a smile.

Sakamoto Yoshino burst out laughing.

Then he glanced around and lowered his voice.

“That fellow Yingzuo works in the Special Higher Police Section. In any case, he’s a troublesome person. We’d better stay away from him.”

Miyazaki Kentaro nodded to show his understanding.

“Go find out who that man is.” Yingzuo Eiichi walked aside and quietly instructed a Special Higher Police Section agent disguised as a waiter.

He had not continued questioning Miyazaki Kentaro.

Partly because he sensed the man’s displeasure, and partly because he did not want excessive conversation to influence his judgment.

Yingzuo Eiichi trusted no one.

He trusted only intelligence and his own objective judgment.

Or rather, he trusted only himself, whom he considered the most capable.

“Understood.”

Not long afterward, the waiter returned and reported what he had learned.

“A student of Taniguchi Hiroyuki, dean of the Chinese Literature Department at Kobe University. A native of Fukushima. An itinerant poet named Miyazaki Kentaro?”

“Yes.” The waiter nodded. “Imamura-san appears to know him. Professor Sakamoto Nagayuki also knows him. The person currently with Miyazaki-kun is Sakamoto Yoshino, the youngest son of the Sakamoto family.”

Yingzuo Eiichi pondered this.

He knew of Taniguchi Hiroyuki.

The man maintained fairly close relations with the South Manchuria Railway Company, and Yingzuo Eiichi had heard of him while he was in Manchukuo.

“So he is Taniguchi Hiroyuki’s student.” Yingzuo Eiichi murmured to himself. “What else did you find out?”

“Zhou Huaigu also knows him. The two appear to be old acquaintances from Beiping.”

“Bring Zhou Huaigu here,” Yingzuo Eiichi said in a deep voice.

Soon, Zhou Huaigu was “invited” over.

“Your Excellency Yingzuo wishes to see me? I wonder what service Zhou can provide?” Zhou Huaigu asked with a face full of smiles, bowing respectfully.

For the past few days, Yingzuo Eiichi had been responsible for his security.

He could sense the distrust and contempt this young master of the Yingzuo family concealed toward Chinese people.

As a result, Zhou Huaigu felt somewhat uneasy in his presence.

“Mr. Zhou need not be nervous. There are a few matters I’d like to inquire about.” Yingzuo Eiichi smiled.

He enjoyed both the fear and flattery Chinese people showed him, while at the same time distrusting and despising them from the depths of his heart.

Despicable Chinese!

“Please ask whatever you wish. Zhou will withhold nothing,” Zhou Huaigu immediately replied.

“You seem quite familiar with Miyazaki-kun?” Yingzuo Eiichi asked, watching Zhou Huaigu’s face closely for any reaction.

Upon hearing the question, Zhou Huaigu relaxed.

He quickly considered how best to answer.

Being on good terms with a Japanese scholar hardly seemed a bad thing.

Earlier, he had noticed a detail.

Imamura Hyotaro, aide to Deputy Consul General Iwai Eiichi, appeared to hold Miyazaki Kentaro in exceptionally high regard.

Zhou Huaigu paid close attention to high-ranking Japanese figures.

He knew another aspect of Imamura Hyotaro’s identity: he was the nephew of Imamura Hitoshi, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Japanese Kwantung Army and military attaché to Manchukuo.

Having spent many years in northern China, Zhou Huaigu deeply understood the strength of the Japanese Kwantung Army.

With Imamura Hyotaro’s favor, Miyazaki Kentaro’s future appeared bright indeed.

Furthermore, Zhou Huaigu was fully aware of the influence Taniguchi Hiroyuki wielded within the South Manchuria Railway Company.

Therefore, Zhou Huaigu smiled and answered,

“So Your Excellency is asking about Miyazaki-kun. Yes, we are indeed acquainted. In Beiping and Tianjin, we have shared drinks and conversations many times. As for a talented young man of the Great Empire of Japan such as Miyazaki-kun, I hold him in great admiration.”

“I see.” Yingzuo Eiichi nodded. “When was the last time you met?”

“About half a year ago.” Zhou Huaigu said, “I visited Professor Taniguchi and happened to meet Miyazaki-kun at his apartment. Just now he even mentioned how much he enjoyed the roast duck I treated him to last time.”

Yingzuo Eiichi pondered silently.

Half a year ago...

“Mr. Zhou has always been friendly toward the Empire. I, Yingzuo Eiichi, am willing to be your friend as well.” He smiled.

“Your kindness overwhelms me.” Zhou Huaigu beamed.

What followed was a stream of fawning compliments.

Suppressing his disgust while enjoying the flattery, Yingzuo Eiichi eventually found an excuse and dismissed Zhou Huaigu.

Although Zhou Huaigu’s testimony confirmed that Miyazaki Kentaro truly existed, and although both Imamura Hyotaro and Sakamoto Nagayuki appeared to know him, Yingzuo Eiichi’s suspicious nature still prevented him from abandoning his doubts entirely.

He glanced at Miyazaki Kentaro, who was quietly conversing with Sakamoto Yoshino.

Looking at that familiar face, he could not help but think of Cheng Qianfan.

“Kouji,” Yingzuo Eiichi said quietly.

“At your service.”

Kouji stepped forward.

“I have three tasks for you.” Yingzuo Eiichi paused briefly. “First, investigate whether Cheng Qianfan was in Shanghai half a year ago, and whether he was absent from the city for any extended period.”

“Understood.”

“Second, determine where Cheng Qianfan was and what he was doing when Miyazaki Kentaro arrived in Shanghai.”

“Understood.”

“Third, go immediately to the Central Police Station in the French Concession, and to Cheng Qianfan’s home, and anywhere else he might appear. In any case, you must find Cheng Qianfan and verify his whereabouts.”

“Yingzuo-kun suspects this Miyazaki Kentaro is Cheng Qianfan in disguise?” Kouji asked softly. “That seems unlikely, doesn’t it? Zhou Huaigu and Imamura-san...”

Yingzuo Eiichi said nothing.

He merely gave Kouji a cold look.

“Yes. I will go immediately,” Kouji said without daring to delay.

“You will go personally. You must confirm it with your own eyes.”

“Understood.”