Chapter 22: Chiyo Toyota

On the tenth day of Liu Yuezhen’s confinement in the solitary cell, Song Yingge arrived to conduct an interrogation. In just ten days, Liu Yuezhen seemed like a changed person. She was unkempt, her eyes dull and vacant, bearing no trace of the allure she once held as a top courtesan. She kept muttering something under her breath, though the words were indistinct, as if she had lost her mind—though it was also possible she was merely feigning madness.

“You fool! Do you have any idea how much financial and material loss your stupidity has cost the Great Japanese Empire?” Song Yingge stepped forward, slapped her across the face, and barked in Japanese.

“Yes! I deserve to die!” Liu Yuezhen straightened her posture and replied in Japanese.

“Your mission remains unfinished, and it requires a replacement. Give me a name,” Song Yingge commanded.

“I recommend Toyoda Chiyo,” Liu Yuezhen said.

“State your reasons,” Song Yingge demanded.

“Toyoda Chiyo is meticulous, tactful, and possesses exceptional beauty. She is the most suitable candidate for infiltrating high-end social venues,” Liu Yuezhen replied.

“What mission is she currently executing?” Song Yingge asked.

“She is...” Liu Yuezhen seemed to snap back to reality. “You are not Major Sugiyama.”

“You idiot! Are you questioning me? Answer my question!” Song Yingge roared.

Liu Yuezhen’s body trembled, and she let out a whimpering sound like a frightened puppy. “Don’t hit me, I won’t do it again, please, I won’t.”

Song Yingge recognized this as a stress response, something that only occurs after prolonged exposure to violence and mental pressure. He felt no pity, however, and shouted, “Answer me!”

“She stole the mission that should have been mine. She is currently embedded at the Jinling Hotel,” Liu Yuezhen stammered.

If only he had managed to break her sooner. Knowing Toyoda Chiyo’s location now was of little use; having been captured so long ago, Liu Yuezhen’s accomplice would surely have already evacuated. Regardless of how much further Song Yingge pressed her, Liu Yuezhen refused to speak again. Seeing that further coercion was futile, he left the prison and headed for the Jinling Hotel.

After questioning the manager in the lobby, Song Yingge confirmed that a waitress named Li Qianqian had indeed resigned about ten days prior. This Li Qianqian was likely Toyoda Chiyo. Most investigators would have stopped there, but to prevent the possibility of a decoy being left behind, Song Yingge had the manager summon all the female staff for individual questioning. The result, as expected, was nothing.

Using the manager’s description, Song Yingge drew a sketch of Toyoda Chiyo and handed it to Sun Xi and Zhang Ke, ordering them to check every hotel in the city. Although it was highly probable that Toyoda Chiyo was lying low in a safe house, he had to try.

Returning to Caodu Lane, Song Yingge had just sat down to drink a cup of tea when Wang Zhen approached him. “Team Leader Song, are you busy tonight? Would you like to go for a drink?”

Song Yingge stood up and poured Wang Zhen a cup of tea. “Technically, I should be the one treating you to a meal. I’ve been buried in work lately and haven't had a moment to spare. Please don’t hold it against me; I’ll treat you tonight.”

Song Yingge always made sure to maintain appearances. Polite words cost nothing and were far better than creating unnecessary animosity.

“We’re all family here, no need for formalities. Changsheng Restaurant tonight, my treat,” Wang Zhen said with a smile.

Song Yingge guessed that Wang Zhen’s promotion to the head of the Intelligence Section at the Shanghai Station had finally been finalized. While this was a promotion, it meant leaving the headquarters. It was said that having connections in high places made things easier. With Song Yingge’s current rise in influence, perhaps by the next time they met, Wang Zhen would be the one addressing him as “Chief.” Building a rapport now would make it easier to ask for favors later. Though he saw through Wang Zhen’s motives, Song Yingge readily agreed.

After work that evening, the two drank and dined in a private room at the Changsheng Restaurant. Once the wine had flowed, Wang Zhen brought up the real matter. “To be honest, I am about to be transferred as the head of the Shanghai Intelligence Section. Once the official order arrives, I’ll be leaving.”

“Congratulations on your promotion, Team Leader. Shanghai is a vast ocean where you can surely soar. This toast is to your success and continued advancement,” Song Yingge said, raising his glass.

“I appreciate the kind words,” Wang Zhen laughed, took a sip, and added, “I don’t know when I’ll be back in the capital. The informants I’ve painstakingly developed here in Jinling will no longer be of use to me. Would you be interested in taking them over?”

Song Yingge was secretly delighted, but replied, “How could I possibly accept such a thing?”

“We are all serving the Party and State; please, do not refuse,” Wang Zhen urged sincerely.

“I am truly humbled. Since I am new here, I indeed lack informants of my own. You are doing me a great favor. If you ever need anything in the future, just say the word. If it’s within my power, I will not hesitate,” Song Yingge promised.

That was exactly what Wang Zhen was waiting for. By the end of the meal, their relationship had grown significantly, and they were addressing each other as “brothers.” Back home, Song Yingge opened the list provided by Wang Zhen and counted over thirty names. He knew full well that this was not the entirety of Wang Zhen’s network—the most important assets would certainly have been kept back.

The thirty-plus individuals were distributed across various entertainment venues, restaurants, and military and political departments. Song Yingge kept the few who held positions in the military and government and decided to hand the rest over to Zhang Ke.

The next day, while Song Yingge was chatting with Chen Meili in the Communications Section, word arrived that Liu Yuezhen had committed suicide in her cell. When Song Yingge arrived, he saw her body lying in the cell, her head covered in blood. The cause of death was blunt force trauma from slamming her head against the wall, leading to shock from blood loss; she had not been rescued in time.

“Who was on duty last night?” Song Yingge’s face turned grim.

The prison guards who had been on duty at headquarters the previous night immediately knelt.

“Lock them in the interrogation room and keep them separated,” Song Yingge ordered.

It was a pity; Liu Yuezhen still held a great deal of valuable information that had yet to be extracted. Though the scene pointed to suicide, Song Yingge had his intelligence team interrogate the guards one by one to be safe. Once they confirmed the guards were not accomplices, he felt at ease. Even so, their negligence would not go unpunished; without someone to pull strings for them, they would likely be spending time in the Yangpi Lane Prison.

With Liu Yuezhen dead and no other leads, Song Yingge suddenly found himself with time on his hands. Near the end of the day, Chen Meili invited him to a cocktail party. With New Year’s approaching, the Jinling Chamber of Commerce was hosting an event, and the invitees were all wealthy merchants and socialites. Having nothing else to do, Song Yingge accepted. It wouldn't hurt to go; perhaps he would stumble upon an unexpected opportunity.

Chen Meili handed him a bag. “A custom-made suit for you.”

Song Yingge opened it to find a suit from the venerable Zhinu Tailor Shop. “So that’s why you measured me last time. Are two months of my salary enough to pay for this?”

“Don’t ask. If you do, the answer is that I’m working on credit,” Chen Meili laughed.

“Fine, let me try it on.”

After Song Yingge put on the suit and stood before her, he asked, “Well?”

Chen Meili’s eyes widened. Song Yingge already possessed handsome features and a tall, sturdy frame—a natural clothes hanger. In the tailored suit, he looked every bit the dashing young aristocrat of the Republic era.

“Wipe your drool,” Song Yingge teased.

Chen Meili punched him lightly. “You’re the one drooling!”

Afterward, Song Yingge took Chen Meili home, and once she had finished her makeup, the two set off together for the Fuchang Hotel.