Chapter 144: Making a Fuss Over Nothing

The slip of paper had only an address written on it: Artillery Team Street, "Fu" Kee Grocery Store.

Zhou Sen furrowed his brow.

Could this be Shelkin's emergency contact address?

Yet, with merely this address, devoid of any contact codes or tokens of identification, how was he supposed to make contact?

This address was extremely easy to remember; there was no need to write it down separately. Even an "ordinary person" would understand such a basic principle.

What, then, was Shelkin's objective?

Who was this capsule left behind for? Was it meant for him, or someone else entirely?

Furthermore, had the Japanese discovered that one capsule was missing? If they had, yet feigned ignorance and acted as though nothing was amiss, could this be yet another test directed at him?

Judging by Shibuya Saburo's words, their plan was top-secret and required an absolutely trustworthy person to execute.

If he was deemed insufficiently trustworthy and the operation failed, the loss would be unacceptable. Therefore, testing him repeatedly, again and again, was entirely normal.

If they knew the capsule was concealed within the iron pipe at the head of the bed, they would inevitably know its contents.

However, if they did not know...

Then the address written on the slip of paper was very likely Shelkin's emergency contact location.

Yet, having only an address was useless; without a rendezvous passphrase or token, even if he went there, the people would hardly trust him.

Should he hand over this capsule and the address within it to the Japanese?

If he chose not to hand it over and the Japanese had known about it all along, he would instantly incur their suspicion and perhaps be arrested on the spot.

Conversely, if he handed it in and the Japanese were completely unaware, he would turn himself into a criminal. A fierce internal battle instantly raged within Zhou Sen's mind.

This dilemma was far more perilous than discovering the miniature film hidden inside the bullet casing on the roof beam of the Cat House.

No, he needed to prepare for both contingencies.

Zhou Sen rolled the slip of paper back up, tucked it inside, and fished out another capsule. He intended to fabricate a "fake" one using this spare.

When he went to "Shelkin's" residence, he had already anticipated the necessity of a backup in case he made any discoveries.

Regardless of whether it would be of any use, having a contingency plan was essential.

Now he faced a binary choice: either turn over the genuine capsule, or withhold it—or surrender a counterfeit one.

These two approaches were essentially identical.

If he withheld the genuine one and the Japanese had been aware of the capsule's existence from the very beginning, they still might not be able to prove that he was the one who took it. As long as he denied it to the death, he at least stood a chance of passing the test.

However, if he handed over a counterfeit capsule, the situation would become grave indeed, confirming his discovery of the capsule and his intentional deceit.

If he chose not to hand it over at all, he would have to report the missing capsule to the Japanese first thing tomorrow morning.

In that way, even if the Japanese discovered he had secretly returned to "Shelkin's" home, he could offer a plausible explanation.

Visiting the place did not equate to discovering the existence of the "capsule." After all, "Shelkin's" house had already been returned to its original landlord; countless people came to rent or view properties, and who could guarantee that someone else hadn't retrieved the capsule?

Yet, what if this capsule had been planted by the Japanese themselves...

Zhou Sen carefully recalled the handwriting on the slip of paper; it was unquestionably written by Shelkin. Having perused so much of Shelkin's documentation, how could he lack even the slightest discernment?

If that were the case, he would simply have to accept his fate. Undertaking such work inherently carried risks; operating completely free of risk was impossible.

Zhou Sen thought of the roll of miniature film hidden within the bullet casing. To his recollection, Old Anthony did not know how to photography—or perhaps he simply did not know that he possessed such a skill.

Who, then, had produced this roll of miniature film? Shelkin was a journalist with first-rate photographic techniques.

If the person who crafted the miniature film was indeed him, then everything fell into place.

If their identities were intertwined and Shelkin was a dormant Soviet spy, what about Old Anthony?

What exactly was his status?

Given his deep trust in Shelkin, wouldn't Old Anthony be...

Yet Old Anthony had been dispatched to execute a top-secret Japanese assassination assignment. Could the failure of Operation "Bear Hunt" be attributed to Old Anthony leaking intelligence?

When he was conscripted by the Japanese, he had no idea what mission he was being sent to accomplish. Confined completely and cut off from the outside world, how could he have transmitted any information?

The Japanese would likely have revealed the operational plan only at the very last moment, so how could he possibly have had the opportunity?

Much of the truth behind this affair would likely remain forever unsolved.

The more he thought, the greater his misgivings grew. Zhou Sen simply cleared his mind, refusing to dwell on it further. What will be, will be; what must come, cannot be avoided. Before long, he drifted off to sleep.

...

"I want to see Officer Shibuya," Zhou Sen instructed Anna directly the following morning.

"Right now?"

"Yes, right now, preferably in a private meeting," Zhou... Sen said with certainty.

"Can you tell me what this is about?"

"I report only to Officer Shibuya."

"Very well, wait for me a moment, I need to make a phone call." Anna nodded. Such a sudden request was beyond her authority to grant; she had to seek permission.

Anna made a phone call, rattling off a stream of foreign words before hanging up and walking over. "Mr. Shibuya says to come to my place in half an hour."

"Your place?"

"Yes, I rent a studio apartment in the Marumi Building on Station Street. That's where I live," Anna explained.

"Good."

Ocean City Street was not far from Station Street; walking there would take less than half an hour, and taking a carriage would be even faster.

In about ten minutes, they arrived.

"Boss Zhou, we're here." Anna led Zhou Sen upstairs to the door of her rented apartment, drew out a key, and unlocked it.

As she opened the door, Zhou Sen noticed Anna cast a careful glance at the floor, evidently checking whether any stranger had entered while she was away.

"Boss Zhou, please take a seat. My place is small, and I don't have any hot water ready. Please bear with me," Anna apologized. Her room was modest, featuring a small living room and no kitchen.

"It's no matter," Zhou Sen waved a hand and sat down on a chair.

Anna set about boiling some hot water.

After waiting for about ten minutes, the water on the stove began to boil, and footsteps sounded from outside the door. Judging by the sound, there was only one person.

Shibuya Saburo actually dared to come alone; he certainly possessed considerable nerve.

Knock, knock...

A rapid and rhythmic knock echoed.

Anna hurried over and opened the door. An elderly man of somewhat advanced age stepped inside, and Zhou Sen stood up to look.

It was Shibuya Saburo in disguise.

"Officer Shibuya."

"Zhou Sen-kun, sit." Shibuya Saburo acknowledged him and took a seat opposite Zhou Sen.

Anna poured a cup of hot tea each for Shibuya Saburo and Zhou Sen, then retreated directly into the bedroom and closed the door.

"You were in such a rush to see me; what pressing matter is at hand?" Shibuya Saburo asked slowly, leaning back in his chair.

"Officer Shibuya, yesterday I carefully studied the investigative files regarding Shelkin that you had Anna give to me, and I discovered a small detail..."

"Are you saying you discovered that one capsule was missing from Shelkin's imported daily stomach medication?" Shibuya Saburo's expression showed genuine surprise.

"Yes. Based on his daily medication habits, along with his purchase records and receipts, minus the one we took for testing, there should be twelve capsules left in his medicine bottle. It completely contradicts his routine—a single pill is missing!" Zhou Sen had even brought the medicine bottle along. He poured out the capsules within and counted them one by one for Shibuya Saburo to see.

"Indeed it is so. But what could a single missing capsule possibly signify?" Shibuya Saburo remarked. "Perhaps it was lost, or spoiled and rendered inedible, so he threw it away?"

"These medicines are imported and exceptionally expensive; ordinary people cannot afford them. Furthermore, they were purchased only a short time ago. If they spoiled, it wouldn't be just a single pill; and if it was dropped, where would it have fallen?" Zhou Sen countered.

"Zhou Sen-kun, this discovery is hardly remarkable. To summon me through Anna over something like this—isn't that rather frivolous?" Shibuya Saburo reprimanded with displeasure.

"This..."

"A mere tiny capsule is nothing to make a fuss over. You ought to keep your mind focused on locating the roster!"

"Yes, Officer Shibuya." Zhou Sen hurriedly assented. Though he had been scolded, his heart swelled with elation.

The Japanese were so careless that they had failed to notice this detail, dismissing it entirely. Didn't this precisely prove that they were completely unaware of the capsule hidden inside the iron pipe?

"I know you wish to find clues from Shelkin. After all, your adoptive father, Mr. Anthony, left Harbin to execute a mission, and an item as vital as the roster might very well have been entrusted to Shelkin for safekeeping," Shibuya Saburo said. "However, based on our investigation and judgment, Shelkin likely knew of the roster's existence, but had no idea where it was kept; otherwise, he would have transmitted it out long ago."

"Officer Shibuya's analysis is reasonable. Yet, your subordinate truly cannot fathom where this roster might be concealed."

"Did you not provide Front with a lead—the Racecourse Club?"

"That... I am not even certain if that counts as a lead..." Zhou Sen said sheepishly.

"I have made arrangements through my connections. You, Anna, and Front are to head there immediately. I shall await your news at the Police Headquarters!" Shibuya Saburo commanded.

"Yes, Officer Shibuya!" Zhou Sen sprang to his feet, bowing his head and standing at attention to reply.

"Zhou Sen-kun, do not waste time on such useless details. What I want is the roster—the roster, do you understand?" Shibuya Saburo emphasized heavily.

"Yes, I understand. I shall do my utmost to find the roster," Zhou Sen lowered his head.

"Very well, I am leaving. Tell Anna."

"I will see you out."

...

Zhou Sen watched Shibuya Saburo depart, slowly straightening his posture. A wave of relief washed over him. Although he could not tell whether Shibuya Saburo was putting on an act for his benefit, judging by his attitude, he appeared to harbor no suspicions toward him.

That was a good thing.

Should he pay a visit to that address, then?

Better not. For the sake of safety, it was wisest to stay away. What if this turned out to be yet another vetting test? All his previous efforts would be forfeited.

He could not take that risk.

He would head to the Racecourse Club first; since Shibuya Saburo had already made the arrangements, refusing to go was out of the question. He only wondered what that key would ultimately bring him.