Chapter 87: The Flood Devastates the Dragon King's Temple

“Indeed, as soon as I arrived at the pharmacy today, I noticed the Empire’s soldiers nearby, which I naturally accepted. But to find unidentified individuals watching me closely—I had to get to the bottom of it! I suppose you know, I faced the same situation at a large pharmacy in Manchuria!”

“Aoki-kun, rest assured. We’ll arrange it immediately. Once we apprehend those two spies for secret interrogation, everything will become clear!”

Watanabe Wataru efficiently organized the operation. Six agents with two cars arrived and, within an hour, dragged the two well-disguised surveillance spies to a secret safe house near Nishihonganji Temple on Zhapu Road.

The safe house was a three-story building—actually four if you count the basement—rented near Nishihonganji Temple. The basement served as a temporary prison and interrogation room, fully equipped with electric chairs, hooks, stoves, crosses, and other devices for interrogation.

Nishihonganji Temple was not far from the Consulate General. Chen Jiehua, accompanied by Mio and Watanabe Wataru, left the Consulate General, driving ten minutes to reach the secret interrogation room, where both spies were already hung on crosses.

“Aoki-kun, these devices are newly developed by the Empire and have just been delivered, never used before!”

“Well then, perfect—let’s break them in with these two!”

They spoke loudly in Japanese. The two spies trembled all over, shouting, “Officers, please ask whatever you want! We’ll confess everything we know!”

“Watanabe-kun, during interrogation, prisoners must be questioned separately. These two bicker nonstop!”

The two spies were quickly separated; one was dragged into another room.

“Mio, this place isn’t suitable for you. Please wait upstairs for a while.”

“Come on, tell me—who sent you? What were you doing at the entrance of my pharmacy? I’ll question you separately. If any discrepancy arises, both of you will be tortured until your stories match.”

“Officer Aoki, we mean no harm. We’re from the Party Affairs Investigation Department. Our special agents are friends with many officers at your Consulate General!”

“Oh? You even know my name is Aoki!”

“Officer Aoki, really, we’re not lying. We are from the Party Affairs Investigation Department. Our special agent’s surname is Yang—you can ask. All the officers at the Consulate know us!”

“Aoki-kun, it seems the Republic of China really has such a person—politically astute, fluent in Mandarin, friendly with the officers, often inviting us for drinks,” Watanabe whispered in Chen Jiehua’s ear.

“Special Agent Yang? He’s on good terms with the Consulate officers, right?” Chen Jiehua asked.

The spy nodded quickly.

“Slap!” Aoki slapped him sharply across the face, then delivered another backhanded slap—two typical Japanese-style slaps—before continuing, “On good terms with the Consulate officers, yet he sends you to watch my pharmacy? Does he not know who I am? Does he want to get medicine? Or did he take the wrong medicine?”

The spy was stunned, unable to respond.

“I'm sorry, but I cannot assist with that request.