Chapter 79: Aristocratic Scion

“Kawada Atsuto is unharmed?” Sanben asked excitedly.

Ever since Cheng Qianfan entered this office, Sanben, short and sturdy and dressed in a kimono, had drawn his quiet attention.

This was a relatively taciturn man.

His expression was gloomy.

Or rather, one could say he had a vicious-looking face.

He fit the image often seen in newspapers of brutal Japanese invader officers.

At first glance, one would think him a vicious, brainless brute.

In reality, that was not the case.

The fact that this man could appear in the office of Okada Toshihiko, military attaché of the Japanese Consulate in Hangzhou, dressed in ordinary Japanese clothing, a kimono, indicated that he had a close relationship with Okada Toshihiko, or at least equal status.

Furthermore, Okada Toshihiko did not know of Miyazaki Kentaro.

But Sanben did.

This showed that Sanben had a closer personal relationship with Kawada Eikichi.

Birds of a feather flock together. A man who maintained close personal ties with an assistant to Dofihara Kenji could not be ordinary.

Earlier, Sanben had merely introduced himself as Sanben Jiro, an ordinary merchant of the Empire of Japan.

At this moment, seeing that the perpetually cold Sanben Jiro had failed to conceal his excitement, Cheng Qianfan was astonished.

When he learned that Kawada Eikichi had been hunted by agents of the Nationalist government, Sanben Jiro had remained quite composed.

Yet now, upon hearing news of Kawada Atsuto, this man had become so agitated?

Of course, the earlier reaction might have been because the Japanese had already learned of Kawada Eikichi’s predicament and had already released their emotions.

But the latter reaction was the other man’s most genuine and direct response.

Cheng Qianfan’s first thought was:

Kawada Atsuto’s identity was not as simple as he had believed.

This man had an extraordinary background!

If he were merely Kawada Eikichi’s clan nephew, whether he lived or died would not attract such concern.

“Yes, Sanben-kun.” Cheng Qianfan nodded. “At the critical moment, Kawada-kun ordered Atsuto to withdraw. He escaped from the Yang residence through the sewers. To evade pursuit by Chinese military and police forces, he hid from place to place until he encountered me.”

“Where is he now? I must see him immediately,” Sanben Jiro said urgently.

Okada Toshihiko frowned and looked at Sanben Jiro.

He had already guessed that Kawada Atsuto’s identity was anything but ordinary.

But he needed an explanation.

That explanation was not merely about learning Kawada Atsuto’s identity.

It was also because:

Why had Kawada Eikichi told you but not me?

“Okada-kun, Sanben-kun, this concerns confidential official business. I should excuse myself first,” Cheng Qianfan said.

“No need.” Sanben Jiro waved his hand. “Miyazaki-kun is Kawada-kun’s friend. He also saved Atsuto. There is no harm in letting him know.”

“Thank you.” Cheng Qianfan bowed slightly and did not insist on leaving.

“Kawada Atsuto is a direct-line descendant of the main Kawada family of Kyoto.”

“The Kawada family of Kyoto.” Okada Toshihiko’s expression changed slightly, as though he had realized something. Then he flew into a rage. “Sanben-kun, you owe me an explanation for this.”

Cheng Qianfan understood why Okada Toshihiko was so furious.

Although he did not know the true background or status of the Kawada family in Japan, he could guess that they were most likely nobles or a powerful clan.

If a direct-line descendant of such a prestigious family suffered an accident within Okada Toshihiko’s jurisdiction, he would not escape responsibility.

“Okada-kun, Sanben-kun.” Cheng Qianfan spoke up. “Since we did not know that Kawada-kun was a direct-line descendant of the main Kawada family, for safety’s sake we should first bring him back to the concession.”

The Kawada-kun he referred to now was not Kawada Eikichi, but Kawada Atsuto, the direct-line heir of a noble family.

“Indeed.” Sanben Jiro nodded and cast an appreciative glance at Miyazaki Kentaro.

Okada Toshihiko merely snorted and said nothing more. Miyazaki Kentaro’s words had effectively given both him and Sanben a way to save face.

Miyazaki Kentaro was right. Bringing Kawada Atsuto back and ensuring his safety was the top priority.

Xiongzhen Tower, No. 30.

The little white building.

Yu Ping’an was resting in his bedroom when a series of urgent knocks woke him.

“What is it?”

“Deputy Director Yu, emergency call on Line Two.”

“What time is it?”

“4:41 in the morning.”

Wearing pajamas and a coat draped over his shoulders, Yu Ping’an strode to the door, pulled it open, and headed directly to his office.

“This is Yu Ping’an.”

“Deputy Director Yu, several sedans have suddenly left the Okada residence. Japanese flags are mounted on the fronts of the cars. It appears that Okada Toshihiko is traveling late at night.”

“Where are they going?” Yu Ping’an immediately asked.

“In the direction of Zhijiang University.”

Yu Ping’an walked directly to the wall, pulled aside a curtain, and looked at the military map of Hangzhou hanging there.

He found Zhijiang University.

Then marked it with a pencil.

“Zhijiang University. What could have happened nearby to make Okada Toshihiko travel in the middle of the night, even openly displaying the military attaché’s official escort of the Japanese Consulate?” Yu Ping’an frowned as he pondered, yet remained unable to understand.

Okada Toshihiko was the military attaché of the Japanese Consulate in Hangzhou. His late-night journey, conducted without the slightest attempt at concealment, had come suddenly and seemed rather strange.

After the February 26 Incident, the Nationalist government closely monitored Japanese military activities concerning China.

The Special Service Office’s duties included not only combating Japanese spies but also monitoring Japanese diplomatic missions in China and gathering and analyzing information on Japan’s China policy.

Although Okada Toshihiko was merely a Japanese army major, his position as military attaché of the Japanese Consulate in Hangzhou was too important under current circumstances for Yu Ping’an to take lightly.

“This is Yu Ping’an.” Yu Ping’an picked up another telephone. “Keep Okada Toshihiko and his party under close surveillance. I want to know where they go and what they do.”

After hanging up, Yu Ping’an rubbed his temples.

Okada Toshihiko’s public departure clearly indicated that he had no intention of concealing his movements.

Agents of the Special Service Office and military and police personnel along the route no longer needed to hide. They could openly follow him and even secretly photograph him at checkpoints.

The Japanese suddenly pulling something like this in the middle of the night left Yu Ping’an baffled.

Yunlong Inn.

The inn’s door was knocked open.

The young inn attendant yawned.

The innkeeper was also bleary-eyed. Rubbing his eyes, he looked outside and was about to ask who was knocking so early.

Then he froze.

He saw automobiles flying the Rising Sun flag.

And fierce-looking men in Japanese military uniforms:

Japanese soldiers!

Both men were so frightened that their legs trembled.

Had the war started?

Had the little devils entered Hangzhou?

Had the National Revolutionary Army already been defeated?

Why hadn’t they heard any cannon fire?

“Innkeeper, sorry to disturb you.” Cheng Qianfan stepped forward. “I’ve come to pick up my friend.”

“Y-you-you...” The moonlight was bright enough for the innkeeper to see Cheng Qianfan’s face clearly. “You’re Japanese?”

Cheng Qianfan did not answer. Instead, he turned and bowed to Okada Toshihiko and Sanben Jiro.

“Gentlemen, I’ll go upstairs and invite Kawada-kun down.”