Chapter 224: She Has Shed Blood For The Empire!
“I’m wronged!”
Cao Weida had a face full of grievance, “This wasn’t my intention either, it was, it was…”
He glanced at those on either side, cautiously saying: “Can I speak here? How about having them all leave for a bit?”
“.”
Seeing his timid and fearful appearance, Officer Kawamoto’s eyelids twitched hard twice.
Sure enough, Police Station Three Coward was still that Police Station Three Coward. During this time, he had been arrogant and overbearing, and he thought the other had changed.
Turns out it was just because he had a backer, felt his connections were strong, no one dared to touch him, so he became a bit arrogant and overbearing.
Deep down, he was still that gutless rat.
“No need to have them leave. You just need to honestly confess your matters.”
He sneered at Cao Weida, scoffing: “Don’t think that with Ono Shiota and them helping cover for you, you can hide your underlying motives.”
“Let me ask you again, those previous so-called cross-jurisdiction anti-crime actions were also your idea, right?”
“Who would have thought, you actually have such pity for China’s people. To save those people, you didn’t hesitate to stir up Beiping’s underworld forces into chaos.”
“What’s wrong with that?” Cao Weida hesitated a bit, then cautiously replied:
“This way, I can not only get a ransom, but also confiscate property money, and harvest some public support…”
“They are my compatriots after all, even my fellow villagers. Saving them gets me three benefits at once. It’s a great deal, right?”
“Uh…”
Faced with such a candid response, it left Officer Kawamoto momentarily speechless.
Was he supposed to say that this was wrong, and that he should exterminate China’s people without mercy?
After pondering for a moment, he snorted coldly: “It seems your style is very different from other pro-Japanese friends. I know that in the eyes of Beiping’s Chinese people, you’re a rare good police officer, with a very good reputation!”
“Quite unique, actually a bit like people from certain organizations.”
Cao Weida naturally understood the underlying meaning, dryly laughing twice, shrinking his neck as he said:
“Not entirely. Mainly, I used to be just a small farmer, so I might empathize a bit.”
“Besides, they are all poor wretches, can’t squeeze much money out of them. I still have to watch out for being targeted by Exterminate Traitors Squad all the time…”
At this point, he seemed to recall something terrifying, shuddering as he said: “Let me tell you, I’m from Cao Family Village. Our village used to have a trait… cough cough, scoundrel who often bullied us ordinary people.”
“Then, one night, he was killed by someone, his corpse hung from the rafter for three days before being discovered.”
“When he was found, they also discovered a paper inside the room, listing a series of his crimes. He was killed by the Communist Party’s Exterminate Traitors Squad.”
At this point, he paused, stammering:
“I was only 18, hadn’t lived enough yet.”
“Plus, in Beiping City, people get killed at the drop of a hat. I… I’m scared!”
“My Old Cao Family has only me as the male heir left. If I die, Old Cao Family will have no descendants!”
“I still want to branch out and spread descendants, develop and expand Old Cao Family…”
“Stop, stop, stop!” Officer Kawamoto’s head hurt listening to this, thinking this guy really could ramble on endlessly.
But this did fit the other’s cowardly and fearful personality. Not every traitor slaughters the people.
Especially someone like Cao Weida, who wasn’t a purebred traitor, just scraping by in the occupied territory government where he couldn’t hold an official post.
To avoid being targeted as a traitor, these actions were understandable.
What’s more, Cao Weida hadn’t really taken much care of the local people; he just didn’t bully them.
His “goodness” was more highlighted by his colleagues.
Though he hadn’t gotten anything out of him, he didn’t feel disappointed.
After all, he just wanted to use the chance to probe a bit.
Use torture to force more out?
He really didn’t have that idea. Cao Weida had connections with big and small Japanese Army high-levels in Beiping; many people’s eyes were on Cao Weida.
If he moved against Cao Weida without evidence, those people would be unhappy.
The ten-day city lockdown had already offended quite a few; pulling more hatred wasn’t worth it.
Helplessly waving his hand, he ordered: “Let Mr. Cao down.”
“Wha-what do you mean? Let me go?” Cao Weida seemed dazed again, mechanically unbound by someone, then propped back onto the stool, before snapping out of it, hesitantly saying:
“Officer Kawamoto, what do you mean by this?”
“Hahaha~~ Mr. Cao, please forgive me. Just now was merely a routine test.” Officer Kawamoto dropped his earlier cold face, showing a kindly apologetic expression.
“Hm? A test?” Cao Weida’s eyes widened, wanting to get angry but not quite daring, huffing and puffing several heavy breaths in frustration and cowardice.
Then, like a deflated balloon, he wilted, awkwardly smiling: “I don’t mind, of course not. It’s all duty, I understand.”
Understand?
I see you don’t understand at all and are quite furious.
Officer Kawamoto chuckled inwardly. He couldn’t be bothered with Cao Weida’s inner anger, didn’t care. After all, he was just a dog of the Great Japanese Empire.
This dog could have its little temper, but as long as it obeyed, as long as it worked for its master, it was a good dog!
As long as it obeyed, when there were bones, he naturally wouldn’t mind tossing it one to gnaw!
If it didn’t obey… hmph!
But evidently, this dog in front of him was still obedient, so still a good dog.
Officer Kawamoto smiled faintly:
“Mr. Cao, you’ve been wronged. This time, it’s mainly because Miss Fangzi insisted on seeing you. She’s here, and I’ll arrange for you to meet her right away.”
“Miss Fangzi? Why does she want to see me?”
“You’ll know when you see her.”
Officer Kawamoto didn’t ask Cao Weida’s opinion, directly waving for people to take the bewildered Cao Weida out.
Soon, Cao Weida was brought into a room, where Miss Fangzi was already sitting inside.
“Miss Fangzi, what do you want with me!” Cao Weida walked over and sat down, his tone very harsh, clearly in a very bad mood.
Miss Fangzi seemed not to expect this attitude from Cao Weida, stunned as she said: “Mr. Cao, I don’t think I’ve offended you, have I?”
“Heh, no offense?” Cao Weida sneered, “Do you know, just because you wanted to see me, Officer Kawamoto had me dragged to the interrogation room, and nearly tortured me!”
Though this incident wasn’t Miss Fangzi’s fault, and he’d definitely be probed later even without this.
But the tantrum still needed to be thrown, not just for Miss Fangzi to see, but also for those outside the room to see.
Caught off guard by this situation, Miss Fangzi was stunned for a moment, then apologetically said: “Sorry, Mr. Cao, I didn’t expect this to happen…”
Before she finished, Cao Weida waved her off, “Miss Fangzi, spare the apologies, I’m not interested in hearing them. Officer Kawamoto said you wanted to see me, I’m here. Say it, what is it.”
If apologies worked, what would police be for!
Oh, I’m the police, then that’s even worse!!
Miss Fangzi gritted her teeth, knowing he was still angry and she shouldn’t say more.
But if she didn’t say it now, she feared there’d be no chance later.
“Mr. Cao, I’m very sorry about this. I’ll make it up to you.”
“I want to see you this time because I’m in some trouble and want to ask for your help.”
“Help with what.” Cao Weida pretended not to know, asking with a puzzled face.
He knew better than anyone. Seeing her haggard appearance, Miss Fangzi must have been affected by that batch of gold being robbed.
“This time, I lost something crucial. The Empire definitely won’t let me off easily and will surely punish me severely.”
“You’re a major, what thing is so important that they’ll severely punish you who’s made so many contributions to the Empire?”
Made many contributions to the Empire?
Hearing this, Miss Fangzi smiled bitterly inside.
Yes, she had made so many contributions to the Empire.
She participated in planning the ‘September 18 Incident’.
She planned the ‘January 28 Incident’.
She formed puppet armed forces to aid Japan’s invasion of China.
She long engaged in espionage activities, providing much intelligence support for the Japanese Army’s invasion actions…
These were her ‘great achievements’!
She had shed blood for the Empire!
But because of one failure—and merely an peripheral advisory failure—the Empire was going to abandon her…
Suddenly, she smiled bitterly, waving her hand: “Forget it, no need to mention those. I know you have friendship with Ono Shōsa and Fujita Shōsa. I asked you before to help connect us, but now it seems there’s no chance.”
“Now, I want to ask you to have Ono Shōsa and Fujita Shōsa step in to help ease relations for me.”
Why had she wanted to connect with Ono Shiota and them before?
Because she knew Ono Shiota and them weren’t high-ranking, but their backers were very strong.
If Ono Shiota could speak up for her, maybe she could smoothly dodge this crisis!
As long as she was alive, she had a chance to make a comeback!
Cao Weida frowned deeply, “Miss Fangzi, are you joking with me?”
“You won’t even tell me what important thing you lost, and you want me to ask Ono-kun and them for help?”
“Never mind if Ono-kun and them will help, just your attitude in asking is already making me very reluctant.”
“Really sorry, if there’s nothing else, I’ll be going.”
With that, he stood up to leave.
This stupid woman, what did she take Cao Weida for?
A dog that wagged its tail at her words and a bit of benefit?!
“Wait!” Seeing him leave, Miss Fangzi panicked, quickly reaching to grab him, pleading:
“Cao Ye, that thing is extremely important. It’s not that I don’t want to say, I really can’t. I’m at my wits’ end now. Please help me out, Cao Ye.”
“Rest assured, if you’re willing to help, I can give you another five thousand!”
