Chapter 184: Someone You Can’t Afford To Offend
Suddenly, Fujita Go, who was leaning against the wall, moved.
He did not walk forward; that voice with a metallic friction texture hammered Chen Yang’s nerves like a heavy hammer: “Section Chief Chen,”
“Xiong Ye-kun’s briefcase is a custom military item, with a combination lock, but on the platform, it was smashed open. This is very abnormal.”
“Would a specially trained agent make this kind of mistake? Or… was that collision deliberately designed? To make the things inside ‘just right’ exposed?”
Chen Yang naturally controlled his facial muscles, letting confusion and a trace of judgment based on common sense emerge: “The briefcase was smashed open?”
“Yes, Colonel Fujita, forgive my bluntness, but my knowledge of special service equipment details is limited.”
“I saw Xiong Ye-kun carrying this briefcase every moment; I believe it must be very important.”
“So, I agree with your statement; this kind of thing is definitely custom-made.”
“However, in my understanding, no matter how sturdy the lock is, if it suffers a sufficiently violent and coincidentally angled impact, especially at the connection parts… there is a possibility of damage.”
“As for whether it was designed…”
Chen Yang paused, then said with some self-mockery: “On a crowded platform? This… the success rate is too low, the risk too high; it doesn’t seem at all like… a professional approach.”
Fujita Go remained silent in the shadows for a long while, then slowly said: “Professional actions often hide beneath the most seemingly unprofessional appearances.”
“Section Chief Chen,” Fujita Go’s tone was as straight as a taut iron wire, “your answer sounds procedurally compliant.”
Just as Chen Yang’s heart was about to settle slightly, Fujita Go’s next words immediately smashed it into an ice cellar: “But what Xiong Ye-kun carried was top secret. His death allows no ambiguity. Every thread must be pulled to the end.”
He walked to the edge of the desk, without even looking at the secretary’s records, and said gravely: “All personnel in the Transportation Section who have contacted the K-5471 documents are prohibited from leaving Shanghai effective immediately.”
“On call at any time; your office will undergo a ‘thorough’ inspection by the Investigation Team to ensure no ‘oversights’.”
“As for you, Section Chief Chen, you need to stay here for forty-eight hours until we complete all investigations; your cooperation relates to proof of your loyalty to the Empire.”
“Colonel Fujita, are you planning to place me under house arrest?” Chen Yang stood up, his body ramrod straight, his face interweaving humiliated pallor and the stiffness of forced obedience.
“Section Chief Chen, please mind your wording; we need the truth.”
Fujita Go said coldly: “What Lieutenant Colonel Xiong Ye-kun carried was the Empire’s highest secret; his itinerary was theoretically absolutely confidential.”
“But in fact, he took the K-5471 train; this matter is not untraceable. At least, in the dispatch system, this train’s existence is confirmed.”
“And there are not many people who can precisely grasp the train schedule and formation.”
“Someone serving in the Transportation Section, familiar with all rules and processes, and knowing how to exploit loopholes in the rules and processes.”
“Or rather… how to make a fatal ‘accident’ appear perfectly reasonable—a section chief… is precisely one of the people with this capability.”
Matsushima Yoko added sinisterly: “Mr. Chen, from what we understand, during your time working in the Transportation Section, your performance has always been ‘dutiful’, even somewhat… overly low-key and rule-abiding.”
“Sometimes, this instead makes people curious about what exactly is hidden beneath those rules.”
“Motive. Everyone has a motive. For money? For lust? For revenge? Or… for something more nebulous but also more stubborn… like so-called ‘patriotism’?”
“You, Mr. Chen, a Chinese person, holding an important position in the Empire’s organization.”
“We gave you trust and status. But deep in your heart, have you truly completely abandoned your origins?”
“Have you truly placed the Empire’s interests above that decayed country tied to your bloodline?”
“When there is an opportunity to severely damage the Empire’s important action, even possibly… just possibly… save your compatriots stubbornly resisting in Chongqing, won’t that spark deep in your heart suddenly ignite?”
“Is this the reason? No evidence, just because I’m Chinese?” Chen Yang’s tone was extremely calm, containing an anger that could not be ignored.
He did not explain or cry injustice, because he knew very well that at this time, any overly intense defense or emotional outburst of grievance would, to someone as paranoid as Fujita Go, appear as signs of guilt.
He suddenly raised his head and said calmly: “Colonel Fujita! Team Leader Matsushima!”
“I… I don’t know how to prove my loyalty! Everything I’ve done in the Transportation Section is on record! Every document I’ve handled can be brought out for the strictest review!”
The next moment, his tone became grief-stricken and resolute: “Yes! I’m Chinese! But precisely because of that, I know even more clearly the backwardness, corruption, and hopelessness here!”
“I studied at Kyushu University for four years, exposed to too much new knowledge, whether economics, medicine, or other things; my vision is not limited to China; on the contrary, it was the Empire’s advancement that showed me hope.”
“The Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere conception can lead China out of the backwardness brought by the Qing Dynasty; I have long regarded the Empire as my object of loyalty!”
“The ‘patriotism’ you mentioned… that thing that only brings war and poverty means nothing to me anymore! Sabotaging the Empire’s actions? What benefit to me? To return to that precarious past where I’m looked down upon?”
“If… if the Colonel and Team Leader deem me suspicious,”
“I request… request an immediate and most thorough investigation of me!”
“Audit my accounts, monitor my telephone, surveil my every move, even… use any means you deem necessary! I only seek to prove my innocence; I only want to continue serving the Empire!”
Hah, what a loyal running dog.
The interrogation room fell into dead silence again. Fujita Go’s rock-like face still showed no emotion.
His gaze fixed on Chen Yang, calmly analyzing every inch of Chen Yang’s expression, every fluctuation in tone, every emotion’s authenticity.
Fujita Go knew there was no evidence. All current suspicions were based on logical chains and human nature inferences.
Chen Yang’s reaction, from technical bureaucrat’s defense to later agitation, though somewhat dramatic, was reasonable.
Just as Colonel Fujita was about to speak, footsteps sounded: “Your Excellency Colonel.”
A Special Higher Police Affairs guard quickly entered the interrogation room and whispered a few words in his ear.
“What? Commander Otani wants to see me?” Fujita was clearly surprised.
Chen Yang had only been brought in less than two hours, and Ootani Unshichi suddenly wanted to see him—how could it be such a coincidence.
“I’ll go right away.”
Shanghai, Gendarmerie Headquarters Commander’s office.
Fujita Go stood in front of the office door and gently knocked on the office door.
“Come in.” A majestic voice sounded from inside.
Fujita Go pushed the door open and entered, seeing Commander Ootani Unshichi behind the desk, immediately saluted and said: “Lord Otani, you wanted to see me?”
Ootani Unshichi lightly snorted: “Colonel Fujita, what are you doing? Why did you summon the Army Transportation Section Section Chief for no reason?”
“Are you suspecting him of issues now?”
“What issues does he have? What evidence do you have?”
Ootani Unshichi’s barrage of questions left Fujita Go somewhat at a loss.
“Lord Otani, the Special Higher Police Affairs interrogation procedure is like this: the train Xiong Ye-kun took had a problem, so the Army Transportation Section naturally bears undeniable responsibility.”
Ootani Unshichi’s face darkened: “Colonel Fujita, do you not understand human speech? I’m asking now what evidence you have to suspect Section Chief Chen of issues?”
“Yet you’re talking to me about procedures and responsibility; I know these better than you. I just want to know the reason for your actions.”
Fujita Go said honestly: “Because Section Chief Chen is Chinese, we think he has motive.”
“Nonsense.” Ootani Unshichi suddenly stood up: “Minister Oshima even called me.”
“The entire Transportation Department thinks Section Chief Chen has no issues—his ability, his attitude, everything—and yet your Special Higher Police Affairs thinks he does.”
“Moreover, you have no evidence, just because he’s Chinese.”
“Do you know how much efficiency this Chinese person has improved for Empire transportation?”
“His Army Transportation Section’s transportation efficiency is higher than all the previous transportation departments combined before the Transportation Department was established.”
“Are you seeing the Transportation Department too idle and want to give them something to do?”
“I’ll tell you frankly, Minister Oshima has stopped your special train for this month’s materials transportation.”
“That means all your November supplies are still stuck in Nanjing; if you want supplies, drive to Nanjing and transport them yourselves.”
“What? How can he do this? This is personal vengeance.” Fujita Go immediately panicked.
Shanghai Special Higher Police Affairs supplies are partly issued by the Gendarmerie Headquarters, and the other part—unbelievable as it may sound—is allocated by the Nanjing Restoration Government.
In these people’s eyes, the Nanjing Restoration Government is like a fat, oil-dripping roast suckling pig that any department can pounce on and tear off a mouthful.
The key is, material supplies also need to be transported over; they can’t fly here.
Oshima Kenjiro is the Transportation Department’s highest commander and fully has the authority to stop the other’s special train; if you argue procedures with him.
Oshima is a professional logistics transportation officer; he can give you a hundred reasons without repetition.
Ootani Unshichi sneered: “Oshima is the Transportation Minister; of course he has this authority. And I’ll tell you, not only will the Army Transportation Section not transport, even the Navy’s transport fleet won’t take it.”
“That guy Yamaki will be jumping with joy seeing you without supplies, probably grinning even in his sleep.”
“Fujita Go, oh Fujita Go, why did you go provoke them for no reason? Who doesn’t know that we frontline fighters rely on logistics supplies to eat.”
“Don’t you understand the principle of offending the frontline is better than offending logistics?”
“You even dared to detain the Land Transport Section Section Chief without reason. Fujita Go, are you a candle? Has your brain been surgically moved to your ass?”
“Your Special Higher Police Affairs wants to die, don’t drag down our Gendarmerie Headquarters. Baka yaru, even we don’t dare offend the Southern Transportation Department; where do you, a colonel, get the guts?”
“Go back, apologize to Section Chief Chen, then arrange a car to send him off.”
“Now, immediately.”
