Chapter 81: Released

“Miyazaki, be patient. Atsuto has a gift for you, my elder brother,” Kawada Atsuto said with a smile.

Upon hearing this, Okada Toshihiko revealed a look of surprise.

Sanben Jiro even cast a scrutinizing glance at “Miyazaki Kentaro.”

For Kawada Atsuto to publicly address Miyazaki Kentaro as “elder brother” was no trivial matter.

Although this merely reflected Kawada Atsuto’s personal attitude toward Miyazaki Kentaro, at this moment, Kawada Atsuto’s identity was no longer simply that of an operative in Kawada Eikichi’s agent team, but that of a direct descendant of the Kawada family.

Whether it was Okada Toshihiko or Sanben Jiro, neither could continue viewing Miyazaki Kentaro merely as an imperial “wandering poet.”

He was the “elder brother” personally acknowledged by the young master of the Kawada family.

Cheng Qianfan smiled and nodded. Regarding the gift Kawada Atsuto had mentioned, he neither declined it nor appeared overwhelmed with gratitude.

The Japanese army officer walked over to the foremost automobile, got inside, then quickly stepped out and jogged back.

Holding a document resembling an identification card with both hands, he presented it to Cheng Qianfan. “Miyazaki.”

Cheng Qianfan looked at Kawada Atsuto in confusion. He had assumed the gift Kawada Atsuto mentioned would be money or some physical item. He had not expected it to be an identification document.

Kawada Atsuto nodded, signaling him to accept it.

Cheng Qianfan accepted the document with both hands and examined it:

Bilingual in Japanese and Chinese:

Great Empire of Japan Consulate in Hangzhou, Republic of China, Temporary Identification Certificate

Name: Miyazaki Kentaro.

Position: Assistant Attaché.

The ink had not yet dried. It was obviously filled out only moments ago.

The validity dates were blank.

The photograph section was blank as well.

It already bore the red official seal of the Japanese Consulate in Hangzhou.

“Mr. Okada, this...” Cheng Qianfan looked toward Okada Toshihiko.

“Miyazaki, please accept this gift,” Okada Toshihiko said. “With this document, your safety throughout Zhejiang can be guaranteed.”

“Mr. Okada, the dates and photograph...” Cheng Qianfan asked, puzzled.

“The validity dates can be filled in by Miyazaki himself as needed, and the photograph can be attached personally,” Okada Toshihiko said with a smile. “If the Chinese have any doubts, they must telephone the consulate for verification. With the consulate vouching for you, they can only treat you with courtesy.”

Cheng Qianfan nodded. A satisfied and proud smile appeared on his face. “I understand. I am proud to be a citizen of the great Empire of Japan.”

“Mr. Okada, thank you!”

This was an identification document riddled with loopholes, one that was not even remotely compliant with regulations.

Yet it was genuinely valid.

The reason was simple: the Nationalist Government was weak, while Japan was powerful.

One could easily imagine that if Miyazaki Kentaro, carrying such a document, encountered difficulties from the Nationalist authorities, it could easily become a diplomatic incident of greater or lesser significance.

If the Japanese side said Miyazaki Kentaro was a diplomatic official, then he was a diplomatic official.

That was the gift Kawada Atsuto had given to Miyazaki Kentaro. Since Miyazaki Kentaro’s identity had already been exposed, he might face questioning or even arrest by the Chinese. With this document, his safety could be ensured, and the Chinese might even be forced to treat him respectfully.

Of course, the document was useful only under normal circumstances. If Miyazaki Kentaro were caught in the act of conducting espionage, the document would have no effect and would instead create trouble for Japan’s foreign affairs authorities.

Therefore, Japanese diplomatic departments generally did not issue such documents wholesale to agents carrying out espionage missions.

It was precisely because Okada Toshihiko had failed in his duty of protection and had nearly allowed Kawada Atsuto to be captured by Nationalist agents that he had no choice but to make an exception and comply with Kawada Atsuto’s “unreasonable request.”

Nanjing, Huangpu Road, inside the Central Military Academy.

Qilu, Chiang Kai-shek’s residence, commonly referred to by the cadets as the Principal’s Residence.

Chiang Kai-shek sat in his office, seething with anger as he berated Xue Yingzeng.

“Useless! You’re an idiot!”

“What exactly are you supposed to be doing?”

“Dammit, are you just eating government rice for nothing?”

“What on earth is Zhang Hansheng doing? He can’t even investigate such a minor matter. Idiot! Incompetent!”

“Chairman, I guarantee...”

“Get out! You have three days to find out the truth! Get out!” The furious Chiang Kai-shek pointed toward the door.

Watching the humiliated Xue Yingzeng leave, Chiang Kai-shek’s anger still had not subsided. He rubbed his forehead.

At that moment, the telephone in the residence rang.

An aide-de-camp hurried over, picked up the receiver, listened briefly, and said, “Principal, a call from Hangzhou. Director Dai Chunfeng secretly arrived in Hangzhou early this morning.”

“Good, very good.”

“Send a telegram to Hangzhou. Permit him to rest for two days. After two days, return to Nanjing.”

“Yes, sir.”

Previously, a secret telegram from Hangzhou had informed them that Dai Chunfeng had been detained by the Hong Kong authorities.

Chiang Kai-shek immediately instructed the Nationalist Government’s Foreign Ministry to contact the British government.

Faced with pressure from the Nationalist Government, the British government ultimately ordered the Hong Kong authorities to release Dai Chunfeng.

Thus, Dai Chunfeng, director of the Lixingshe and experiencing life behind bars for the first time in a detention facility operated by the Hong Kong Police Force, was released. He boarded an overnight passenger ship from Hong Kong to Guangzhou and then flew directly from Guangzhou to Hangzhou.

“A Japanese?” The policeman set down the document and examined Cheng Qianfan.

“Is there a problem?” Cheng Qianfan looked arrogant.

“Why is there no photograph, and why haven’t the dates been filled in?” the policeman demanded.

“Is there a problem?” Cheng Qianfan coldly looked the policeman over. “You may call the consulate right now to verify it, but if my work is delayed, your people will need to provide an explanation to the great Empire of Japan.”

Hearing this damned little Japanese repeatedly invoke the great Empire of Japan and demand explanations, the policeman was furious inside, yet utterly helpless.

“What’s going on?” An older police officer approached.

The policeman pulled the older officer aside and quietly reported the situation.

The older officer examined the bizarre and improper document, his teeth aching with frustration. In the end, he gritted his teeth, forced out a smile, and returned the document to Cheng Qianfan with both hands.

“Sir, our apologies. You may leave.”

“Tell your people not to follow me anymore.” Cheng Qianfan calmly put away the document and said coldly, “If it happens again, the Consul will lodge a formal protest and diplomatic complaint with your government.”

“Please rest assured, it definitely won’t happen again.”

Watching Cheng Qianfan leave carrying his suitcase, his face full of arrogance and satisfaction, the policeman spat on the ground.

“Bah, little Japanese devil!”

He hailed a rickshaw and had the puller take him through several streets and around several detours before getting out at the entrance of an alley.

He passed through the alley, found a secluded corner, climbed over a courtyard wall, and entered another alley.

After leaving the alley, he hailed another rickshaw.

“Take me to the nearest telegraph office.”

He needed to place a telephone call to Number Thirty, Xiongzhen Tower.

At that very moment, inside the small white building at Number Thirty, Xiongzhen Tower, in Yu Ping’an’s office, a somewhat weary man wearing a Zhongshan suit sat behind a desk flipping through documents.