Chapter 76: The Spy Unit Hidden Underground

Zhou Sen was extremely reluctant.

Yet now, being dragged along by Jin Suying, he could find no excuse not to follow her through the hidden door and descend underground.

It was painfully clear now: the Japanese intended to drag him into the mire, and he simply had no power to refuse. He could feel that intense sense of suffocation and resentment.

If even he, wearing the black dog’s skin of a policeman, felt this way, what about the ordinary people living in the frozen city? Perhaps some had become numb already, while others, still unwilling, nursed their anger in secret, waiting for the day everything would be overturned.

The underground was neither dark nor damp; there must have been a ventilation system installed. In fact, it was even warmer below than above. They descended a stairway built of bricks and stone.

From within, the sound of “di-di-da-da” echoed out.

That sound was quite familiar to Zhou Sen. It was part of the memories of his generation; in middle school, he had been part of the school’s radio communication club. (Some schools really did have such courses; nowadays, it’s probably rare.)

Of course, the original body’s owner had also studied at the police training institute (now the Third Local Police School of the Puppet State), so this was not unfamiliar at all.

“Mr. Hirakawa, allow me to introduce Zhou Sen, our new chief member in the Tokko Division,” Jin Suying soon said, bringing Zhou Sen into a hall about fifty square meters large, and introducing him to a short Japanese man.

“Zhou Sen-san, hello!” Hirakawa Shuichiro nodded slightly, his attitude haughty.

“Mr. Hirakawa, hello.” Zhou Sen bent at the waist in a deep bow—there was nothing else he could do. The other was Japanese; failing to show proper deference would only invite unnecessary trouble.

What did it matter how Hirakawa Shuichiro acted toward him?

In the hall, several people were seated; at least seven or eight receivers were in operation, and more than half of those present were actually White Russians, both men and women.

This was, in truth, a radio surveillance post, its main target the Soviet Consulate General across the street.

Any telegram sent from the consulate could be intercepted here and then passed on to the cryptanalysis department for decoding.

If the consulate discovered this, they would certainly protest to the Japanese. So, this surveillance post could only exist in secret, relying on the “Chunming” Photo Studio as a cover.

In fact, the consulate was aware that the “Chunming” Photo Studio was a Japanese surveillance point.

But they might not know that, beneath the studio, the Japanese had a secret radio monitoring center.

Such was the art of illusion—the overt surveillance was only the surface, while the true purpose was to intercept and monitor their external communications, to seize more secrets.

Under Hirakawa Shuichiro’s introduction, Zhou Sen took a quick tour. Besides radio monitoring, there was wired surveillance as well.

All three telephones in the Soviet Consulate had been tapped, something that was easily done with wired phones.

After all, the Japanese now controlled the frozen city; finding the lines and splicing in a tap was a simple matter.

Of course, the other side would check the lines regularly, and if they found any tampering, the game would be up.

But unless caught in the act, there was little that could be done. As long as things weren’t out in the open, both sides would continue their shadowy contest.

Zhou Sen was quite interested in eavesdropping technology. He had a bug in his own home, though he’d never dared tamper with it.

But in front of Jin Suying, he dared not show too much interest, lest she grow suspicious.

On one workbench, Zhou Sen spotted a bug identical to the one hidden in the chandelier of his study at home.

This confirmed his suspicion: the eavesdropping device in his home had been installed by the Japanese. The same model, used by the same organization and likely the same people.

Why had the Japanese bugged his home? Clearly, it was because the “Bear Operation” had failed, and they suspected a traitor within the action group. If they suspected Old Anthony, it was only natural they would suspect him as well.

On the one hand, they suspected him; on the other, they pretended they wanted to put him in an important position. Clearly, they could not be certain whether Old Anthony was the traitor.

Moreover, had the other potential suspects been screened and cleared? If all others had been cleared, Old Anthony would be the prime suspect—but Zhou Sen had no way of knowing these details.

Hirakawa Shuichiro quickly realized Zhou Sen was ignorant of radio surveillance—a complete layman. So he gave up on being polite, simply leaving him and Jin Suying to their own devices.

“Secretary Jin, it’s too stuffy down here. I’m not used to it. I’d rather go back up,” Zhou Sen said, having been cold-shouldered and not in the mood to linger.

Jin Suying saw it as well and nodded. There was too much classified here—Zhou Sen had only just joined Tokko; best not to let him get too deeply involved.

Akiyama’s instructions were to make him feel trusted and valued, but not to let him know too much.

Since Zhou Sen himself was unwilling, she was happy to oblige. “All right, we shouldn’t linger either, or we’ll arouse suspicion.”

The two of them ascended through the hidden passage.

Yuan Wenfu had not yet returned; it seemed he did not plan to show up that morning.

Afterwards, the two of them took a token few photographs, then left the building and climbed into a carriage that had been waiting for them.

“Secretary Jin, where to now?” Zhou Sen asked as they rode.

“Back to the station—Mr. Akiyama is waiting for our return,” Jin Suying replied.

“Oh, all right.” Zhou Sen said nothing more, resting his hand on his cane and closing his eyes for a nap.

“Hey, don’t you have anything to say to me?”

Zhou Sen was pondering whether Yuan Wenfu’s absence was Jin Suying’s deliberate arrangement or if the man was simply bold enough to shirk his duties. If it was the latter, it was no big deal. If the former—then there was real trouble.

Suddenly, his calf was struck hard—Jin Suying had given him a sharp kick.

“What’s the matter? Bitten by a dog?”

“You’re the one bitten by a dog! There are just the two of us in this carriage—can’t you talk to me at all?” Jin Suying’s almond-shaped eyes glared, full of grievance.

“It’s freezing out; can’t I save my breath?”

“Zhou Sen, I find you really changeable. You never treated me like this before,” Jin Suying demanded.

“You women are the changeable ones, not me,” Zhou Sen snorted, moving his leg a bit to put some space between them.

“Do you not want to work in the Tokko Division?”

“What’s it to you?”

“If you don’t want to, I can put in a word for you with Mr. Akiyama,” Jin Suying said. “It’s not as if you have any official position yet.”

“Would you really be that kind?” Zhou Sen half-opened his eyes.

“As long as you ask me, and we go back to the way we were, I’ll help you. How about it?” Jin Suying smiled.

“Then I’d better stay in Tokko,” Zhou Sen said, closing his eyes again to continue his feigned nap. Only a fool would become her lapdog once more.

“Zhou Sen, do you really think I’m inferior to that Bai Yulan?”

Zhou Sen couldn’t be bothered to reply.

...

“He truly doesn’t want to work in Tokko?” Akiyama’s tone was thoughtful as he listened to Jin Suying’s report.

“I couldn’t tell if he was lying,” Jin Suying replied with a nod.

Akiyama nodded in turn. “Secretary Jin, you were close with him before. What kind of person do you think he is?”

“He’s not very devoted, his character is somewhat timid, he likes the arts, and he’s especially stubborn,” Jin Suying said. “Sometimes he’s even childish—almost like a kid.”

“Wait—being unfaithful and being stubborn aren’t the same thing, are they?”

“Unfaithfulness is temperament, stubbornness is character. They’re different, Mr. Akiyama,” Jin Suying explained.

“Now that you put it that way, I understand,” Akiyama said. “So, in your eyes, he’s not fit for great responsibilities.”

“Yes, Mr. Akiyama. I don’t understand why you value him so much,” Jin Suying replied, bowing her head.

“He is of great importance—his identity is tied to a major imperial plan. You must understand that,” Akiyama said.

“Yes, sir.”

“He’s developed a rebellious attitude toward you, so you’ll need to make an effort to regain his trust. Do you understand?”

“Regain his trust, Mr. Akiyama? I’m not sure I understand…”

“Miss Jin Suying, do I really need to spell it out for you?” Akiyama stepped in front of her, looking at her intently.

Jin Suying started in alarm and quickly lowered her head. “Yes, I understand.”

“Go, take good care of him. Now is when he most needs attention,” Akiyama said.

...

Tokko had no office in the police station, so Zhou Sen returned to his own territory—the warehouse on Haicheng Street.

It should now be called the “Senji” Company.

He was now a one-man commander; Akiyama had promised to send him staff, but none had arrived yet. The chosen subordinate, Uen, would not be available for another two days.

All these transfers and formalities took time.

Essentially, he was now an idle man with nothing to do: drinking tea, reading the paper, and considering where best to install the custom equipment when it arrived.

He’d need a telephone—he’d opened a company, after all; a company without a phone wouldn’t do.

“Old Six, Third…”

“Here, chief—what do you need?” Guo Old Six and Ye Third ran up together, gathering before Zhou Sen.

“I need you two to run some errands,” Zhou Sen said. “One of you go to the telephone bureau and apply for a new line for the company, and the other to the newspaper office to place a recruitment ad. I’ve already written the copy. Sort it out between you, and have it done by this afternoon. Tonight, dinner’s on me.”

“I’ll go to the telephone bureau—I know an engineer there,” Guo Old Six volunteered for the phone job.

That left the newspaper run to Ye Third.

“Boss, how many days should we run the ad?” Ye Third asked.

“Let’s start with a week. If we find the right person, we’ll stop it,” Zhou Sen replied after some thought.

“All right.” Ye Third agreed, pocketed the money, and left.