PDLP 147. Phoenix Tail Lane
147. Phoenix Tail Lane
"Speaking of Zhou Hongyi, also known as Sarutobi Sasuke, I was suspicious of him when I first came to Shanghai, but I couldn't find any evidence in the subsequent investigations. Moreover, he really didn't have the time to commit the crime. In fact, during a shooting incident at a dance hall, he even protected President Hasegawa with his body and was shot once."
Just before the transport team was attacked, he had injured his back while sparring with Master Sasaki. Master Sasaki personally tested him and confirmed that he didn't possess any particularly advanced fighting skills. Moreover, Director Ding of Unit 76 was his brother-in-law, and that Director Ding was very suspicious; he hadn't noticed anything amiss. Now, thinking back, it must all have been a coincidence.
Kondo poured out his investigation and speculations to Yosuke Saotome, who listened carefully and nodded slightly, saying, "In any case, give me all the information about this person first, and then check it again to ensure that nothing goes wrong. After all, Commander Kondo, you should know that since the Empire has someone like me with the special ability to see into people's hearts, then in such a vast country as China, is it possible that there are one or two people with the same ability?"
Upon hearing this, Kondo felt as if a thunderbolt had struck his mind. He gasped and realized that Saotome's guess was not without merit. Indeed, if China also had such extraordinary individuals who could see through other people's thoughts, then even if their plans were flawless, they would still be discovered by the other party. In that case, everything would make sense.
"But how do you test whether someone possesses this ability?"
Saotome smiled slightly and said, "Commander Kondo, don't worry. Let's not alert them yet. Let's start our investigation from other angles. Based on the previous intelligence, I've also discovered a suspicious point: before the chaos of the Lion King competition on New Year's Day, someone heard that they saw a lame and seriously ill man in an alley in the slums of Shanghai."
The report submitted by Agent 76 later mentioned a conflict with local residents, but the lame man mentioned above was not found during their subsequent search. I think this is a breakthrough point. The people in that alley haven't received professional training, nor do they possess any special abilities. I hope to find a way in from there.”
Kondo nodded silently, granting Saotome's squad the highest level of operational authority.
The five agents of Saotome's squad spread silently throughout the city like ghosts in the night. In particular, their leader, Yosuke Saotome, possessed unparalleled insight into people's hearts, able to quickly unravel a clue from a multitude of intelligence leads.
It was already evening when Yosuke Saotome and his team, following the clues from different directions, finally arrived at the entrance of an alley.
This is Phoenix Tail Lane, the place where weapons experts once hid.
"Captain, this is it. Two agents reported that the last time we had a conflict with the residents here, and when we entered again, the lame man mentioned in the intelligence report had already left and disappeared without a trace."
Yosuke Saotome squinted, a smile on his face, and looked at the dimly lit alley. He clapped his hands lightly, and a squad of fully armed Japanese soldiers marched into the alley in neat steps.
"Oh my gosh~ Look at her, look at how generous Brigitte Lin is! Now she has rice, noodles, and even meat! She can truly have a good New Year this year~~"
"Haha~ That's right, I've always said that Brigitte Lin is a grateful person, but I don't know if her man has really gone to sea?"
"Whether it's true or not, it's true here. Just keep your mouth shut. Okay, there are only a few days left until New Year's Eve. Then we can make braised pork and some glutinous rice balls to have a good New Year."
The residents of the alley all received New Year's gifts from Brigitte Lin, and they were all smiles, talking about what delicious food they would make for the New Year.
Just then, a stray dog at the alley entrance barked loudly, then seemed to have been kicked, let out a mournful whimper, and ran away in a flash.
"Who is it? Is there a stranger outside? Lao Liang, go and check it out."
The neighbors were drawn by the barking, but as soon as they reached the door and tried to open it a crack to peek, the door was suddenly kicked open, and at least two rifle barrels were pointed at their heads.
"Oh my goodness~ what is this?"
"The Japanese devils are coming! Honey, quickly take your little girl upstairs!"
"What are you trying to do? I'm a widow! You're kicking down a widow's door in the middle of the night! You have no shame, but I do!"
The doors of every household in Fengwei Lane were kicked open. During those days, soldiers broke in without explanation, drove everyone out of their houses, and made them stand in a row in the lane.
Some people tried to resist, but after being hit twice with the butts of guns, they dared not make a sound again.
Neighbors helped each other, shielding the children behind them and the elderly in front.
"Sir, what are you doing? We are all law-abiding citizens and have never done anything wrong."
Yosuke Saotome walked up to the old man with a smile, gave him a slight bow, and said, “Old man, I’m really sorry. They are soldiers, and soldiers are bound to be a little rough. I apologize on their behalf. My name is Yosuke Saotome. The reason I’m bothering you so late is that there is something important I would like to verify with you.”
He spoke excellent Chinese. The people in the alley looked at each other, wondering what this Japanese devil was up to.
"I just want to ask everyone to recall if, about two weeks ago, there was a stranger living in your alley? He was in his forties and had a dog bite wound on one leg."
Upon hearing the description from the Japanese officer, the villagers' expressions changed drastically. They exchanged glances, recognizing the man who had been looking for Qingxia. It seemed he had indeed committed some serious offense; first, spies came looking for him, and now even the Japanese were here.
Yosuke Saotome had already taken in everyone's expressions and chuckled, "Don't worry, everyone. I'm not going to arrest him. He's an old friend of mine. He was bitten on the leg by a dog set by a Red Party assassin and can only hide here temporarily. I'm going to take him back to our camp now. His true identity is a pro-Japanese scholar."
"Huh? What did you say?"
The neighbors were shocked once again. Qingxia's husband was a pro-Japanese scholar—what did that mean? He was a traitor! But how could that be? Qingxia's husband didn't seem like a traitor at all. If he were a traitor, why were those secret agents searching for and arresting him everywhere? Could this damned Japanese devil be lying, deliberately trying to trick them?
"Mom, are they talking about that uncle?"
A little girl tugged at her mother's clothes, asking curiously, because she thought the soldiers were talking about Aunt Qingxia's husband.
"Xiao Hui, shut up. Children don't know anything. Don't interrupt."
Although the child's voice wasn't loud, Yosuke Saotome still heard it. He squatted down with the expression of a caring older brother and said, "No, children don't lie. Children's hearts are the purest. Little friend, tell big brother, did such a person live here? Who did he come into contact with? And how did he leave in the end?"
Yosuke Saotome's question terrified the girl's mother. She quickly pulled her child behind her and said with a forced smile, "Sir, sir, please don't ask her. She's only six years old and doesn't know anything. Ask me instead. We... we did see a lame man, like a beggar, who smelled terrible. We avoided him like the plague. He had an infectious disease and eventually died. We wrapped him in a straw mat and threw him down the drain."