Espionage: You're tasked with spying, but you'll blow up the Special Higher Police?

112. Fusheng’s steamed buns

That's right, this person is Liu Yaqiao, the leader of the Axe Gang, known as the "Number One Assassin of the Republic of China".

However, the appearance of this Axe Gang leader was quite different from what Zhou Hongyi had imagined. He envisioned a burly, bearded man with fierce eyes, a mouthful of gold teeth when he smiled, and tattoos of dragons and tigers. But the man sitting at the round table was dressed in a long robe, and even seated, Zhou Hongyi could tell he wasn't tall, in fact, rather short. His appearance was quite ordinary, with a refined air; an outsider might mistake him for a private tutor.

But Zhou Hongyi was no fool. He would never judge a book by its cover, especially not in this kind of situation. He took two steps forward, clasped his hands in greeting, and said, "I am Zhou Hongyi. Greetings, Chief Liu."

The gang leader, Liu, chuckled and looked him over a few times before saying, "Director Zhou, you're too kind. I'm just a commoner, while you're an official. I should be the one bowing to you. But today is a private gathering, so let's skip the formalities. Please sit down, Xiao Dao, bring the food."

On the round table in front of Liu Yaqiao was a hot pot, the broth inside bubbling and steaming, rising straight up to the warehouse ceiling.

Zhou Hongyi naturally sat down opposite Liu Yaqiao. Fusheng also wanted to sit down, but Agui reached out and pulled him back, glaring at him. In the end, he could only stand there dejectedly.

After the boss spoke, Chen Xiaodao had his men bring out a lot of fresh seasonal vegetables, as well as thinly sliced ​​raw beef, mutton, and fish.

"Director Zhou, the weather is getting colder and colder. It would be more satisfying to find a place to eat hot pot. Haven't eaten yet? Come and try this. This beef is imported from Japan. I heard it's very expensive, but I didn't pay for it." Liu Yaqiao said, patting the axe tucked into his waistband, and laughed, "I stole it."

Zhou Hongyi remained calm, clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Just call me by my name, Chief Liu. There's no need for any bureau chief or anything like that. This is a private gathering today, so let's not talk about official positions."

Liu Yaqiao nodded in satisfaction and said, "Okay, Zhou Hongyi, then don't call me Chief Liu, just call me Liu Yaqiao."

"I wouldn't dare. Although it's a private gathering and we shouldn't talk about official titles, we still need to consider age and seniority. Chief Liu is an elder and a senior, so I, Zhou Hongyi, certainly wouldn't dare to address him by his full name. This is just the most basic courtesy."

"I didn't expect the legendary Young Master Zhou to be so polite. Then you can call me Mr. Liu."

"I would be more respectful than to comply, Mr. Liu."

Zhou Hongyi knew he was a guest today. Since the host hadn't spoken, he wasn't in a hurry to get to the point. If they were willing to play games with him, he would just keep them company. Anyway, he hadn't eaten yet. So, without any hesitation, he picked up his chopsticks, put a few slices of beef in the pot, swished them around a few times, dipped them in the prepared sauce, and ate them in big mouthfuls.

"Hmm...this beef is good, very tender, and the chef who cut the beef is also very skilled. It only needs a light dip to be ready to eat. It's really good."

Liu Yaqiao watched with a smile as Zhou Hongyi ate several large mouthfuls of beef in succession, then suddenly asked, "Young Master Zhou, you trust me so much, aren't you afraid I might poison this food?"

Upon hearing Liu Yaqiao's words, Zhou Hongyi's half-eaten beef stopped in mid-air, and A Gui also subconsciously raised his hand.

But to everyone's surprise, Zhou Hongyi simply looked at the other person, flashed a bright smile, and swallowed the piece of beef on his chopsticks without hesitation.

"How could that be? Rumor has it that Mr. Liu is a first-rate chivalrous man. Putting aside the fact that we have no recent enmity or past grudges, even if you really wanted to kill me, I don't believe you would use poison. You would most likely use that axe you carry at your waist, right?"

Liu Yaqiao looked at Zhou Hongyi with a hint of admiration in her eyes. She picked up a piece of beef and laughed, "Hehehe, I didn't expect that you would know me so well on our first meeting, Young Master Zhou. You're right, even if we were to kill, we would do it with an axe and a real sword. Besides, I invited Young Master Zhou here today to discuss business. What I just said was just a low-class joke."

Zhou Hongyi saw through it but didn't say anything. It seemed that this Axe Gang boss just wanted to test him or give him a warning. He had seen this kind of scene many times when he was an extra, and it didn't have any effect on him at all.

For the rest of the time, Liu Yaqiao mainly focused on "eating," talking about beef, mutton, and vegetables. Zhou Hongyi, on the other hand, seemed interested in every topic and could keep up with any conversation. Not only were A Gui and Fu Sheng completely confused, but even Chen Xiaodao's Axe Gang brothers couldn't help but chime in.

Chen Xiaodao was scratching his head in frustration, but after a while, he was the one who couldn't hold back any longer and broke the deadlock.

"Um...Young Master Zhou, our boss wants to know if you were responsible for the last Special Higher Police bombing?"

Upon hearing Chen Xiaodao's words, Zhou Hongyi froze on the spot, while Liu Yaqiao glared at his subordinate with a hint of exasperation, and chuckled, "Young Master Zhou, please don't take offense. I've been too lenient with this kid lately, he's so disrespectful. How could you ask such a question? Even if it was Young Master Zhou who did it, how could you admit it?"

Zhou Hongyi had already activated the [Eye of Insight] from the very beginning. This Boss Liu was indeed worthy of being the leader of the Axe Gang. He was meticulous and extremely shrewd. Although the entries he could see were quite limited, it was clear that he was very interested in him, especially after the Special Higher Police were blown up.

To everyone's surprise, Zhou Hongyi put down his chopsticks, picked up a tissue to wipe his mouth, leaned back in his chair and said, "Brother Xiaodao guessed right, it was indeed me who made it."

This time, the Axe Gang members were stunned. Zhou Hongyi admitted to such a big thing so easily?

Liu Yaqiao stared at the young man in front of her, trying to find some flaws in his expression, but unfortunately, the young man's eyes were like a still pool of water, unfathomable, with all his emotions hidden deep inside, without the slightest flaw.

Liu Yaqiao smiled and clapped his hands, saying, "Hahaha~~ Young Master Zhou, you don't need to play along with Xiao Dao. This kind of thing is no joke. If it gets out and the Japanese hear about it, you'll lose your head."

Zhou Hongyi shrugged and shook his head, saying, "Mr. Liu, I'm not joking about this. It was indeed me who did it, or more precisely, it was me and a group of brothers from the Military Intelligence Bureau who did it."

Liu Yaqiao's smile gradually disappeared. He narrowed his eyes and looked at Zhou Hongyi, trying to figure out what the young man's purpose was in admitting it so readily.

Liu Yaqiao chuckled twice, put down her chopsticks, patted her long gown, and said, "Young Master Zhou, you said you did it with the assassins from the Military Intelligence Bureau? Then can I assume that Young Master Zhou is actually a member of the Military Intelligence Bureau, and your identity in the police station is just a cover? And that traitor who died in the hospital a while ago, was also your doing?"

Zhou Hongyi nodded again and said, "That's right, I also killed that Mr. Su. He had to die. He had a lot of information and lists about the underground network of the Red Party. If we don't get rid of him, my comrades will all die."

Liu Yaqiao suddenly opened his eyes, a look of confusion on his face, and asked, "Red Party? You are an underground member of the Red Party and also an assassin of the Military Intelligence Bureau, Young Master Zhou, this is no joke."

"I'm not joking, Chief Liu. I respect you as a hero, which is why I haven't hidden anything. Both of these matters are indeed related to me, and they are my biggest secrets. Now that Mr. Liu knows my secrets, you can rest assured that you can do business with me without worry."

Liu Yaqiao's expression suddenly turned serious. After a while, he snorted coldly and said, "Young Master Zhou, if what you said is true, aren't you afraid that I will report you to the Special Higher Police? You should know that the Japanese hate you to the bone right now. Your head... is probably worth a hundred small yellow croakers."

After Liu Yaqiao finished speaking, the atmosphere in the warehouse suddenly became somewhat oppressive. A Gui moved his feet little by little toward Zhou Hongyi, and Chen Xiaodao and the Axe Gang members behind him slowly reached their hands toward their lower backs. A major battle seemed to be about to break out.

Just then, Fusheng suddenly pulled a big steamed bun out of his pocket and started eating it with gusto.

His action baffled everyone on both sides. Was this big, dumb guy out of his mind? Didn't he sense the atmosphere in the warehouse? Why did he suddenly pull out a bun from his pocket and start eating?

Everyone was stunned, except for Zhou Hongyi, whose hair stood on end as he activated his [Eye of Insight]. He hurriedly reached out and shouted, "Fusheng, no! They don't really want to report me!"

After Zhou Hongyi shouted, Fusheng stuffed the entire outer layer of the bun into his mouth, but what was inside was not filling, but a state-of-the-art grenade with a pull ring.