PDLP 151. May he die a horrible death.
151. May he die a horrible death.
Just two hours before the Special Higher Police and Agent 76 finished surrounding the antique shop, the neighbors of Phoenix Tail Lane were separated into two cells in the Special Higher Police's prison: one for the children and one for the adults.
Between the two cells were many instruments of torture that would make one's scalp crawl just by looking at them. Several Japanese soldiers stood in the center, throwing firewood into a brazier. The firelight reflected off their profiles and projected their ghostly images onto the wall.
"My name is Yamamoto Goro. Unlike our captain, I don't speak so politely. Here, I only want to hear what I want to hear. If you don't cooperate, I don't mind letting you experience what hell on earth is like."
Goro Yamamoto took off his shirt, picked up a leather whip that was soaked in water, and swung it sharply into the air, making a loud "crack" that startled the neighbors in the prison cell, who involuntarily closed their eyes.
"What...what exactly do you want? You've arrested us all without any evidence. All that talk about the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere and the unity of the military and the people—it's all a lie!"
A local resident, who worked as a laborer at the docks and had attended two of the speeches, loudly questioned Goro Yamamoto. He knew that these Japanese soldiers had been trying their best to appear friendly after occupying Shanghai, and perhaps if he threw out this big label, they wouldn't dare to touch them.
However, Goro Yamamoto didn't care about any of that. He pointed at the man who had spoken and said, "Drag him out here. You said something I didn't want to hear, so I'm going to punish you a little. Everyone, open your eyes wide and watch, especially the children. Don't cover your eyes. Stand up straight and see what happens to anyone who doesn't cooperate with our Imperial Army!"
"No...no! You can't do this! You're beating innocent civilians without cause! I...I'm going to the police station to report you!"
Upon hearing that they were going to report them to the police station, the Japanese soldiers exchanged glances and then burst into laughter.
"Well, this joke is hilarious. Which policeman would dare to interfere with our Special Higher Police's affairs? They must be tired of living!"
The laughter of the Japanese soldiers echoed through the dungeon. The neighbors covered their mouths, while the children were forced to watch the execution by having their hands pulled apart by other Japanese soldiers.
Goro Yamamoto had the man tied up, then brandished a water-soaked leather whip and lashed it hard across the man's back, making a terrifying "crack crack" sound.
"Ah-ah-!"
With each lash, he would leave a gash and deep welt on the victim's skin. After several lashes, the man's skin was torn and bleeding profusely. Even so, Yamamoto Goro's whip did not weaken in the slightest. After more than a dozen lashes, the victim, who had initially screamed in agony, had finally fainted from the pain.
His hands were suspended high on ropes, and because he was unconscious, all his weight was on his arms, which directly caused his wrists to dislocate.
"Dad~~~"
"Mommy~~~Mommy, I'm scared~~~ Waaaaah~~"
"Waaaaah... Daddy, help me~~"
"You Japanese devils, stop hitting them! You inhuman beasts, you'll all die a horrible death!"
The terrifying scene frightened the children into tears, and an elderly man, with tears in his eyes, cursed the Japanese soldiers.
Not yet satisfied with the beating, Yamamoto Goro pointed at him with his whip and said, "Come on, drag this old bastard out here too. He dared to curse me to die. I'll show you who's really going to suffer a terrible death."
"You little devils, just you wait and see! The Great Sage Sun Wukong, who slays demons and monsters, will come after you at night, break your bones, gouge out your eyes, and make you wish you were dead. Every single one of you will die a horrible death!"
The old man continued to curse loudly until someone punched him in the mouth, knocking out two of his back teeth. Only then did he grunt and stop cursing.
Several Japanese soldiers dragged him out of the cell and punched and kicked him. The old man was already old, and he could not withstand such a beating. He soon lay on the ground, his face covered in blood, and his life was unknown.
“Is there anyone who can’t remember what I said? I only want to hear what I want to hear, don’t make me repeat this question over and over again. Now, I’ll ask you one more time: Did a lame stranger ever live in your alley? Did anyone help him? Tell me his name, what he looked like, and who he met. Tell me, and I promise I’ll let you go.”
As Yamamoto Goro spoke, the neighbors suddenly fell silent. The women covered their mouths, while the men gritted their teeth, staring intently at Yamamoto Goro and the others with hateful eyes, but they did not say a word.
"Very good." Goro Yamamoto chuckled and looked at another cell, saying, "I hope your children are as brave as you are. Come on, drag that kid out. I'll let them watch as I throw him into the fire. Of course, I can stop whenever you tell me to.
"Hey! You little devils! I'll fucking kill your whole family if you dare touch the child!"
"I'll fight you!"
The neighbors went berserk and began ramming the fence. The Japanese soldiers guarding outside smashed their fingers with the butts of their rifles, leaving them bloody and broken.
With a sinister smile on his face, Goro Yamamoto dragged a child out of the cell and made as if to throw him into the stove.
"what--"
A scream pierced the air, and the child's mother could no longer bear it. She collapsed to the ground, sobbing, "I'll talk, I'll talk! Let my child go, let my child go~~~~"
"Oh, very good. If you had told me sooner, you wouldn't have had to suffer like this. Tell me, is there a lame stranger living in your alley?"
"Yes... I have."
"Who did he contact? Who offered him any help?"
“There is… there is someone who has been helping him, his wife.”
"wife?"
Yamamoto Goro narrowed his eyes, seemingly dissatisfied with the answer. Seeing the Japanese soldier holding her child in mid-air again, the woman cried out urgently, "It...it was her! It was her! Not me! She said that's her man! That woman is very famous...we all know her. She was a former singer at the Paramount Ballroom named Qingxia. She's very beautiful and was holding a child! She said they were a family of three. They recovered in the alley and then left. We really don't know where they went! A while ago...a while ago she brought back a lot of New Year's goods to thank us, saying her man had gone to sea. He's a sailor, so maybe...maybe he's not the person you're looking for?"
As a mother, she still harbored illusions, believing that as long as things were explained clearly, it was all just a misunderstanding.
"Hmph! You fell for their trick, you filthy woman! If you've got the guts, come at me. I know who that person is, and I'll tell you, but I'll only tell you."
Widow Liu, who had previously argued with Qingxia, rushed to the front. Yamamoto Goro was very satisfied and ordered the prison door to be opened and Widow Liu released.
“Your great citizen, I’m listening.”
Widow Liu took a few deep breaths, leaned close to Yamamoto Goro's ear, and whispered, "I'll tell you, I'll tell you that person... that person is... that person is... your ancestor!"
Suddenly, as if she had gone mad, Widow Liu pounced on Goro Yamamoto and bit his ear hard, causing Goro Yamamoto to scream in pain.
The other two Japanese soldiers kept hitting Liu the widow with their rifle butts, but Liu the widow was determined and refused to let go until one of the rifle butts hit her temple, which made her pass out. Even after she passed out, she did not let go. Yamamoto Goro's left ear was a bloody mess, while Liu the widow was still biting down on most of the ear.
"You idiot... Go to hell!"
Enraged, Yamamoto Goro snatched a rifle from a nearby Japanese soldier, pointed the bayonet at Liu the widow, and stabbed her viciously.