Chapter 22: Striking in Silence (Please add to your favorites and vote for the monthly ticket!)

Zhou Sen paid for the book, took it, and left the bookstore with Gu Lao Liu, continuing to stroll along the street. After all, this was their job.

“Boss, I just remembered who that Miss Su is,” Gu Lao Liu muttered as he followed behind Zhou Sen, nodding and shaking his head, then suddenly quickened his pace.

“Don’t startle me like that; you’re scaring me.”

“No, really, boss, I just remembered— I do know that Miss Su. She’s the only daughter of Su Wenqing, the leader of the Seven Stars Hall in Harbin’s underworld. Her name is Su Yun,” Gu Lao Liu hurriedly explained.

“Su Yun, and what does that have to do with me?” Zhou Sen replied with a carefree smile.

“Boss, if someone could marry Su Wenqing’s daughter, that’d be hitting the jackpot. You’d save yourself years of struggle,” Gu Lao Liu said excitedly.

“Oh, come on—becoming the son-in-law of an underworld boss, do you really think that’s a good thing?” Zhou Sen retorted.

“Why wouldn’t it be? You’d eat well, drink well, and when Su Wenqing passes on, wouldn’t it all be yours?”

“And what if you don’t outlive Su Wenqing?”

“Uh… Boss, talking to you is like beating a dead horse,” Gu Lao Liu said.

“All right, take another round up ahead, then I’m heading home.”

“We haven’t even made it halfway through yet…”

“Then why aren’t you moving faster? Don’t you want to finish early?”

…

As Zhou Sen walked and observed, Harbin appeared far more vivid to his eyes than it did in his memories.

The street was considered lively, but there weren’t many pedestrians, and the tram was almost empty. It probably wouldn’t be running much longer.

“Boss, I think we’re being followed,” Gu Lao Liu suddenly stepped up.

“Followed? Are you sure?” Zhou Sen was surprised. He was just a patrolman—who could possibly be interested in him?

“I wasn’t sure at first, but I noticed the guy behind us entered the bookstore when we did, and left when we left. He didn’t have anything in his hands. At least I’m an experienced policeman—I can spot these things.”

Gu Lao Liu was indeed a seasoned officer, with a sharp eye and some experience.

“In Harbin, who would so brazenly tail a policeman? Who do you think it could be?” Zhou Sen grew wary as well. He had just learned about Anthony’s background, and now he was being tailed. Was this really a coincidence?

Gu Lao Liu shook his head. “It’s hard to say. Harbin is known as the spy capital of the Far East—there are all kinds here: Soviet spies, Communists, Nationalists… it’s a real mix. Who knows what face hides what identity?”

“So what do you think we should do? Pretend we don’t know?” Zhou Sen asked.

“That’s one way. As long as he doesn’t try anything, let him follow. We patrol the streets every day; we’ve got no secrets. If he wants to follow, let him,” Gu Lao Liu replied.

“But we’re investigating the Sheerkin murder case. If that’s a Soviet spy tailing us, it could be really dangerous…”

“Then what do you suggest, boss?” Gu Lao Liu tensed up at the thought.

Zhou Sen was worried about how to report back to Akiyama; since someone had shown up, why not just catch him?

To tail him so openly—eight or nine times out of ten, it was an agent from the Special Affairs Section.

If he were a well-trained Soviet spy, would he really need to follow Zhou Sen all over the city? Did he want Zhou Sen to know he was being followed?

“Call Ye San. The three of us will grab him and take him straight back to the station!” Zhou Sen said.

“Really? What if he’s armed?”

“Don’t you have a gun?”

“I do, but it’s just for show. I’ve hardly ever used it,” Gu Lao Liu admitted. Patrolmen sometimes joined in on arrests, but mostly handled the perimeter. If it got to the point that they had to go in, things would have gotten pretty ugly.

Harbin was already under Japanese control; when it was time to deal with anti-Japanese elements, the police headquarters and the military police would be dispatched.

Patrolmen like them rarely had cause to use their weapons.

“So what, have Ye San call in backup?”

“If the big guy were here, I’d feel more confident…”

“Then what are we waiting for? There’s a café up ahead. We’ll pretend to go in for a drink. You call, then come back and we’ll wait somewhere hidden to ambush him,” Zhou Sen said.

“Got it.”

Zhou Sen and Gu Lao Liu entered the café; sure enough, their follower pushed the door open and came in right after.

Gu Lao Liu went to the bar to borrow the phone.

Zhou Sen sat at a table by the window and beckoned for the waiter, ordering two coffees.

Gentle British country music played in the café, creating a warm, cozy atmosphere.

The follower found a seat as well, positioned diagonally across from Zhou Sen. With just a slight turn of his head, he could watch Zhou Sen out of the corner of his eye.

Clearly, this guy had received some training.

Zhou Sen’s predecessor had graduated from police college—how, Zhou Sen wasn’t sure, especially with honors. Surveillance and counter-surveillance had surely been part of the curriculum under Japanese control, but Zhou Sen himself was a poor student and hadn’t paid much attention.

Or perhaps not—the training Anthony had given him since he was a child included such skills. He must have learned them…

Then why had Gu Lao Liu noticed the tail while Zhou Sen hadn’t? Could there be missing or erased memories in his mind? That was a troubling thought.

Still, these things could be relearned—there was time.

Soon, Gu Lao Liu returned from making the call and gave Zhou Sen a reassuring look before sitting down.

If he’d been alone, he’d never have come in for coffee—foreign drinks like this were expensive and bitter, not to his taste.

The time it took to drink coffee was just enough for Ye San to arrive.

Zhou Sen casually opened the Tagore poetry collection he’d just purchased. It was a Chinese translation, the beauty of the words not quite matching the original English.

Sipping his coffee and reading Tagore’s poetry, Zhou Sen felt the bitter cold and harsh winds outside melt away.

“Boss…”

Zhou Sen, immersed in his book, was suddenly interrupted. Looking up, he saw a youthful, beautiful figure enter the café.

It was the same Miss Su they’d met at the antique bookstore.

There weren’t many customers inside, only about a third of the seats were occupied. It was easy to spot Zhou Sen, especially since Gu Lao Liu’s black police uniform was so conspicuous.

Her eyes met Zhou Sen’s across the room.

A hint of surprise flashed across her face. Zhou Sen had left a deep impression on her—young, handsome policemen were rare, and he also loved poetry. She felt a sense of meeting a kindred spirit.

When Su Yun saw the Tagore poetry collection in Zhou Sen’s hand, she lit up and walked straight over. “Excuse me, sir, may I ask you for a favor?”

Zhou Sen closed his book. “Miss, I don’t think we’re acquainted.”

“Well, yes, but…” Su Yun had never encountered someone who spoke this way. With her looks, everyone wanted to please her—who would have the heart to refuse?

“Sir, could I possibly—”

“No.”

Zhou Sen really had no interest in entangling himself with this Su Yun. The timing was about right; once Ye San and Uen arrived, they could move.

“Sorry to bother you,” Su Yun said, her face flushing red. It was the first time in her life she’d experienced such rejection.

Seeing her so flustered, Zhou Sen felt a pang of sympathy. As the daughter of Su Wenqing, leader of the Seven Stars Hall, it was unusual for her to be out alone with no escort. Among the wealthy and powerful, that was rare—especially for a young, beautiful woman like her. Harbin was not a safe place. How could her father be so at ease letting his daughter roam freely?

“Miss Su, you seem to appreciate poetry. Take this Tagore collection as a gift,” Zhou Sen said, handing the book to her.

“For me?” Su Yun was delighted but didn’t take it. She was no ordinary girl; she knew very well that some people went to great lengths to get close to her. Was this policeman one of those?

“If you don’t want it, forget it,” Zhou Sen said, withdrawing the book and calling to Gu Lao Liu, “Let’s go.”

He moved with impressive decisiveness, not hesitating for a moment.

Gu Lao Liu was stunned by the scene—his boss’s way of “courting women” was incredible. Was this some kind of calculated retreat?

“Boss, that was impressive!” Outside the café, Gu Lao Liu gave Zhou Sen a thumbs-up and waggled his eyebrows.

“Don’t drop the ball later. Focus,” Zhou Sen said, shooting him a glare.

“Heh, don’t worry.”

This street was their territory. Finding a spot to ambush the “tail” was a piece of cake.

It was Zhou Sen’s first time doing something so daring—there was even a hint of excitement.

Their tail, feeling confident, followed them right into an alley.

Suddenly, his targets vanished. He panicked, hurried forward, and then Zhou Sen and Gu Lao Liu appeared before him, coming straight at him.

Realizing he’d been spotted, the tail tried to turn and leave.

But a burlap sack dropped from above, covering his head, and a short club struck down.

He collapsed on the spot.

“Uen, wasn’t that a bit heavy-handed?” Zhou Sen said.

“Don’t worry, you