Chapter Forty-Two: Number Twelve Exposed

(Thanks to dreamlove, Southern Tiger King, 20180111011232447, 20171020084128137, and others for their recommendation votes.)

This file records information about a man named Tian Yaopeng. The contents are quite simple: just his name, photograph, the date he joined the Intelligence Section of the Secret Service, and the date of his death. However, the span between his joining and his death is extremely short—only half a year. As for the cause of death, the file merely states “unknown,” without any further explanation.

This is quite peculiar, because unless a file is classified, even the simplest cause of death would be listed. Given that Bai Zeshao is reading this file now, it must be of the lowest confidentiality level. What’s more unusual is that this file was clearly recreated later; both the handwriting and the tone differ from other Intelligence Section files, and the paper’s serial number has only existed for four years.

Yet, the date of death is listed as three years ago. Did they really make a death file for someone before he had even died?

Studying Tian Yaopeng’s file, Bai Zeshao fell into deep thought. At present, this man truly has many suspicious points. Who, then, placed such an obviously flawed file among the ordinary ones? And why? Was it to disguise the man’s true identity? If so, wouldn’t it have been simpler to raise the file’s confidentiality level? But that would only draw more attention.

If someone truly wanted to fake Tian Yaopeng’s death to conceal his identity, it must mean he was sent on a special mission. If his identity needed to be hidden, yet not arouse suspicion, making his file look perfectly ordinary would be the best way.

This was the only reasonable explanation Bai Zeshao could come up with. Perhaps even the person who helped hide Tian Yaopeng’s identity never imagined that, in order to find the traitor within the Secret Service, Bai Zeshao would be able to review the files of eighty percent of the personnel.

Bai Zeshao sensed that once he found this person, he would certainly gain something important. He gazed intently at the black-and-white photograph attached to the file, sighing inwardly—perhaps only this photograph was real; even that, however, could be fake, not to mention the name.

Still, since Tian Yaopeng belonged to the Intelligence Section, perhaps Liu Peiru knew something about him. Maybe this very file was drafted by Liu Peiru himself, Bai Zeshao boldly speculated.

Calming his slightly unsettled emotions, Bai Zeshao glanced at Yang Miao, who was still poring over files across from him. He put Tian Yaopeng’s file back into the box and continued examining the others.

Time slipped by unnoticed as the two continued their work. When the archives were about to close, Yang Miao rubbed her sore eyes and said, “Chief, I feel that at this rate, we’re not going to find anything. Someone so well hidden would have a perfect, flawless file.”

Bai Zeshao agreed with her reasoning, though his true purpose in reading the files wasn’t to find the mole, but to familiarize himself with the people in the Secret Service. In just three days, he’d memorized the faces and names of everyone whose files he’d seen.

Still, Bai Zeshao nodded in agreement and said after a moment’s thought, “Tomorrow, let’s meet with Xiaobing and the others, see if they have any leads. After that, we’ll report to Section Chief Qian and see what he has planned.”

“All right, see you tomorrow then,” Yang Miao replied, dragging her tired body away.

The next day.

Before Bai Zeshao could seek out Liu Xiaobing and the others, Liu Xiaobing hurried over just as Bai Zeshao arrived at work. Curious about Liu’s urgency, Bai Zeshao asked, “Xiaobing, what’s the matter?”

“Xiaobai, I’ve made a huge discovery! I think I’ve found where Mr. Li is hiding, but to avoid alerting anyone, I didn’t check the place myself,” Liu Xiaobing said quickly.

“Really? Where is it?” Bai Zeshao asked casually.

“No. 12, Xinyi Street.”

“Where?” Bai Zeshao nearly bit his tongue in surprise. He hadn’t expected Liu Xiaobing to discover that location. His heart raced with anxiety—three days had passed, and he had no idea if Mr. Li was still at No. 12, Xinyi Street.

Since meeting Mr. Li three days ago, Bai Zeshao hadn’t returned there, so he wasn’t sure if Mr. Li was still present. At the same time, he became more wary of his old friend.

“No. 12, Xinyi Street—you heard me right,” Liu Xiaobing said, secretly admiring the boldness and audacity of whoever chose that spot.

“Other than you and me, does anyone else know about this?” Bai Zeshao asked instinctively.

“Ren Qiang from the Communications Section knows, since we’re paired together. Li Xuetao and Qin Shuai are a team, but I don’t think they know yet,” Liu Xiaobing replied uncertainly.

“Does your uncle know?” Bai Zeshao glanced around and asked quietly.

Liu Xiaobing shook his head. “I haven’t had a chance to tell him; I came straight here after arriving at work.”

In fact, when Liu Xiaobing first discovered No. 12, Xinyi Street, he’d intended to inform Liu Peiru, but remembered something his uncle had told him and hesitated. Before coming here, he’d stopped by Liu Peiru’s office, but Liu wasn’t there, so he left a note and hurried over.

Unaware of Liu Xiaobing’s thoughts, Bai Zeshao’s mind was racing through those who were now privy to this information. He, Liu Xiaobing, and Ren Qiang from Communications knew; that meant Section Chief Li Hongwei would certainly know as well—just as he himself was Wu Zhengke’s agent, he couldn’t believe Ren Qiang wouldn’t pass the news to Li Hongwei.

Furthermore, Li Xuetao and Qin Shuai would soon learn as well, and their superiors in turn. In short, everyone who needed to know already knew. That meant the Red Party mole hidden within the Secret Service would also have heard by now.

Given the mysterious abilities of that person, as long as Mr. Li hadn’t left No. 12, Xinyi Street, he would be notified at once.

Thinking this, Bai Zeshao felt his anxiety ease a little.