Chapter 188: Kouji’s Investigation Record

The press conference was chaired by Colonel Yingzuo Teiaki of the Japanese Consulate General in Shanghai.

As they watched Yingzuo Teiaki appear wearing the uniform of a Japanese senior military officer and smiling pleasantly, some of the Chinese reporters present visibly changed expression.

A press conference for the so-called Sino-Japanese Friendship Symposium and Asian Peace Promotion Symposium had actually arranged for a senior Japanese officer in military uniform to serve as spokesman.

The irony itself was immense.

“Originally, today’s press conference was of great importance. Deputy Consul General Iwai Eiichi attached great significance to it. According to the plan, Mr. Iwai Eiichi was very willing to take this opportunity to discuss Sino-Japanese friendship and Asian peace with all of you, and was prepared to answer any questions you wished to ask the government of the Great Empire of Japan.”

After pausing, Yingzuo Teiaki continued,

“However, Deputy Consul General Iwai Eiichi has urgent duties to attend to and is unable to be present. He specifically instructed me to convey his apologies to all reporters, distinguished guests, and friends who cherish peace.”

Having spoken, Yingzuo Teiaki bowed respectfully to the audience in apology.

“Well said!”

“Mr. Iwai works tirelessly every day. He has worked hard.”

Some of the pro-Japanese reporters immediately cheered and applauded.

Soon, warm applause filled the hall.

Seated below the stage, Miyazaki Kentaro smiled and applauded while observing everything coldly.

He noticed that most of the reporters present were pro-Japanese, or at the very least outwardly friendly toward the Japanese.

However, there were still some reporters whose expressions remained stern throughout.

He noticed a young woman on the left side. She was petite, but her eyes were bright, as though stubborn light and flames flickered within them.

Yingzuo Teiaki then introduced the important participants attending the symposium.

There were quite a few attendees, but six representatives, three from each side, had been selected to sit on the stage.

The Chinese representatives were Zhou Huaigu, Liao Zhifan, and Liu Mingfei, president of the Wenyou Society, who had arrived late.

The Japanese representatives were Professor Sakamoto Nagayuki of Tokyo Imperial University, Vice Chairman Iijima Takunori of the Sino-Japanese Friendship Promotion Association, and the well-known Shanghai-based Japanese poet Kobayashi Hato.

Information on the other two Japanese representatives immediately surfaced in Cheng Qianfan’s mind.

The so-called Sino-Japanese Friendship Promotion Association had been established in Manchukuo by pro-Japanese intellectuals and so-called Japanese scholars.

A Sino-Japanese Friendship Promotion Association headquartered in Japanese-occupied Manchukuo had sent representatives to Shanghai to host a symposium on Sino-Japanese friendship. It was utterly absurd.

As for Kobayashi Hato, Cheng Qianfan knew little about him. He only knew that the man was a Japanese resident who had lived in Shanghai for many years. He had never been known for any wrongdoing and had always concerned himself only with romance, scenery, and poetry.

Yet unexpectedly, he had come to “join the excitement.”

On the stage.

Yingzuo Teiaki first spoke at length about Sino-Japanese friendship and how Japan had come to help the Chinese people live happy lives.

Then the six representatives each delivered speeches extolling Chinese-Japanese and Japanese-Chinese friendship.

Miyazaki Kentaro and Sakamoto Yoshino pretended to listen attentively while chatting quietly.

“Miyazaki-kun, how long have you been in China?” Sakamoto Yoshino asked.

“Several years,” Miyazaki Kentaro replied. “Over these years, I have traveled through nearly half of China. China’s vastness and beauty are truly admirable.”

“I also want to travel around and see the world,” Sakamoto Yoshino said. “But my father won’t allow it.”

“Why not?” Miyazaki Kentaro asked.

“My father hopes I will return to Japan and work there. He has already secured a position for me in the Foreign Ministry.” Sakamoto Yoshino shook his head. “But I don’t want to be a minor civil servant, buried in paperwork every day. I want to travel everywhere and see all the beautiful scenery this world has to offer.”

While Cheng Qianfan and Sakamoto Yoshino were enjoying their conversation, Kouji appeared at Yande Lane.

Earlier, he had first gone near the Central Police Station at No. 22 Rue Vallon and found a telegraph office from which he telephoned the station, asking for Officer Cheng Qianfan.

The reply was that Deputy Inspector Cheng was not there and had taken leave for family matters that day.

Kouji was quite surprised.

When had Cheng Qianfan been promoted to deputy inspector?

Cheng Qianfan had not come to work?

Could it be, as Yingzuo-kun suspected, that there was indeed something wrong with this Miyazaki Kentaro?

Thus Kouji appeared at Yande Lane.

Naturally, he was not about to knock directly on Cheng Qianfan’s door.

Instead, he asked the neighborhood residents.

“Old granny, I’d like to ask about someone,” Kouji said. “Is Deputy Inspector Cheng Qianfan at home?”

As a result, Granny Ma pointed at his nose and unleashed a torrent of scolding.

Kouji was utterly bewildered.

What he did not notice was that a half-grown boy who had been scraping dirt from his feet nearby quietly walked away.

A nearby resident laughed and explained that he should not have called her an old granny.

Although Granny Ma looked somewhat elderly, she was always neat, liked to dress herself up, and hated hearing people say she was old.

Kouji hurriedly apologized.

Then he asked again whether Cheng Qianfan was at home.

“Brother Fan? He’s home,” a neighbor said with a smile. “Today is the death anniversary birthday of one of Brother Fan’s elders. He’s staying home.”

“He’s there,” another person said. “I just saw him scolding that naughty cat.”

He was actually at home?

Kouji was only half convinced.

Remembering Yingzuo Eiichi’s instructions, he decided he had to see for himself.

“Haozi, take the cat away. That troublemaker.”

As he approached Cheng Qianfan’s doorway, he heard Cheng Qianfan’s voice from inside.

Then came the cat’s meowing.

During the earlier operation in which White Russians were arranged to impersonate Soviet agents and assassinate Cheng Qianfan, Kouji had followed Cheng Qianfan and heard him speak before.

He remembered the voice.

It was indeed Cheng Qianfan’s voice.

“Haozi, keep an eye on the cat. Don’t let it steal the fish. Damned cat, it’ll eat anything it can get. Be careful, or Sixth Granny might catch you and make you keep her company.” Cheng Qianfan spoke from inside the house. “I’m going upstairs to rest for a while.”

Kouji’s heart stirred.

He knew that the bed in Cheng Qianfan’s second-floor bedroom was near the window.

He continued walking until he found a good observation point and turned to look.

The window was clearly visible.

There stood Cheng Qianfan in a long gown, facing diagonally toward the window and gazing into the distance with sorrow in his eyes.

Although the glass reflected some light, it did not prevent him from seeing the man’s face.

That was it.

Today was the memorial birthday of an elder in Cheng Qianfan’s family.

He was grieving and thinking of his departed relative.

Cheng Qianfan really was at home.

Just then, Kouji felt sudden warmth on his foot.

Looking down, he saw a half-grown boy urinating against a wall with his little bird hanging out. The brat could not even stand still while peeing, swinging himself around until the stream landed directly on Kouji’s shoe.

“You little brat,” Kouji cursed, stomping his foot.

“Amao, come here.”

Kouji heard Cheng Qianfan call out.

When he looked up, the figure by the window was already gone.

“You dare curse at me!” the boy snorted. “Just wait until I tell Brother Fan. He’ll have you thrown in jail.”

Kouji was alarmed.

He dared not come face to face with Cheng Qianfan and quickly left.

After walking several dozen metres, he heard the sound of Cheng Qianfan’s front door opening behind him.

That boy, Amao, ran inside with rapid footsteps, shouting,

“Brother Fan, that man wanted to hit me, and he even said he’d cut off my little donkey!”

Kouji was furious.

The little rascal was blatantly lying.

He quickened his pace.

Behind him, neighbors were muttering.

“Wasn’t that fellow looking for Brother Fan?”

“He must have wanted Brother Fan to handle something for him, but he’s a poor wretch and couldn’t bear to spend the money,” Granny Ma mocked loudly on purpose.

“Pah! Poor wretch!”

Kouji fled in embarrassment.