Chapter 80: Defeated by the Fear of Death

"Ren Zuhong, you’re an old hand at the Bureau, so you know better than I how they deal with prisoners. Speak now, save yourself needless suffering," Li Wensheng rose and strode to stand before Ren, his voice cold.

Ren Zuhong sighed heavily. "My real name is Watanabe Kyoichi, I am..."

"Wait, you’re from the island nation!" Li Wensheng was shocked—an old veteran of the Bureau turning out to be from Japan? How could this be?

"Yes, I am from Osaka. Eight years ago, the Tokko sent a batch of operatives to China to lie in wait. I was one of them. That Shadow was too—only she was assigned to the Mountain City, while I was sent to Shangrao.

Just as I arrived in Shangrao, by sheer coincidence, the Forty-Eighth Division was recruiting. At that time, every warlord was trying to bolster their strength. They called it voluntary enlistment, but in reality, it was compulsory. I didn’t understand, passed by the recruitment office, and was dragged in—before I knew it, I’d joined the Forty-Eighth Division."

Ren Zuhong’s expression softened, a wistful smile on his lips, his eyes full of nostalgia. "To be honest, those two years in the division were tough, but they were the happiest days of my life. I didn’t have to live in constant fear. I thought, if only life could stay like this forever."

He paused, slowly getting up, and asked Li Wensheng, "Section Chief Li, could I have a cigarette?"

Li Wensheng pulled out a pack and matches, handing them over. Ren took just one, lit it, and gave the rest back. After exhaling a thick plume of smoke, he continued, "Because I was literate, I quickly rose to deputy platoon leader in the Forty-Eighth Division.

I reported my promotion to Tokko, and they forged my false identity more convincingly, ordering me to look for opportunities to join the Revival Society.

From that moment, my days grew anxious—I lived in torment every day within the Bureau, dreading that Tokko would assign me some crucial mission.

I endured for six years, eventually becoming head of the Second Department’s General Affairs Section.

For those six years, Tokko gave me no orders. I even wondered if they’d forgotten me—if so, that would be ideal.

But what’s meant to come will come. Two months ago, Tokko sent down orders to steal the improved currency technology files, and gave me contact details for the Migratory Bird group and Shadow."

Ren blew out more smoke, the haze swirling around him as he fixed Li Wensheng with a steady gaze. "Section Chief Li, do you believe that I became a spy just to keep myself fed?"

Li Wensheng was silent for a while. "I believe you. I’ve visited your homeland, and I know many there live in poverty."

"Yes, it was just for a meal that I joined Tokko," Ren sighed deeply.

"So, tell me—what was the plan you devised?"

Ren smiled slightly. "Section Chief Li, you must have already guessed the plan—otherwise, I wouldn’t be here."

"True, I have my suspicions, but I’d still like to hear it from you."

Ren didn’t answer immediately. He drew deeply on his cigarette, then said, "Most of what Cong Wanyun confessed is accurate, so I’ll just explain the hidden part.

I first contacted Migratory Bird group's leader, Cong Wanyun, and had her reach out to Shadow.

After Cong reported Shadow’s identity to me, I drafted the plan overnight.

On the surface, the plan appeared to be jointly decided by Cong and Shadow, but in truth, I guided Cong to that outcome.

According to the plan, my role was simply to gather intelligence and deliver wine to Yu Haofeng—no real risk involved.

To avoid being traced back to me, I instructed Cong: if caught, name Shadow and the Migratory Bird group. That way, I could continue lying low, and she might survive.

To add another layer of protection for myself, I even picked Liu Wei as the scapegoat.

Before the operation began, I ordered Cong—everyone in the Migratory Bird group should watch each other closely, and if anyone was arrested, deal with Liu Wei immediately.

With so many precautions, I thought at worst, they’d wind up blaming Liu Wei.

But alas, fate outwitted me, and I was discovered after all."

"It’s not fate, it’s your fear of death—your panic gave you away.

If you hadn’t acted so indifferent about Liu Zuokang when I first questioned you, then the very next day traded gold bars to ask about him, I wouldn’t have suspected you."

Ren Zuhong froze, nodded. "Yes, I'm terrified of dying.

In the past, I wasn’t afraid—I thought my life was worthless, death would be a relief.

But after living peacefully in China for so long, I grew frightened of death."

Li Wensheng stubbed out his cigarette and asked, "After I noticed there was someone else involved, why didn’t Cong Wanyun implicate you? Don’t tell me she’s loyal to you."

Ren smiled faintly. "No, she isn’t loyal. I’m nothing to her.

As you said, I’m afraid of dying.

When drafting the plan, I didn’t put much effort into how to steal the files—my focus was entirely on protecting myself.

When I learned Cong had family in Japan, I had an idea.

Once the plan was ready, I bluffed her, claiming I’d already sent it to Tokko—that if I was exposed, her whole family would die."

Li Wensheng couldn’t help laughing. "You really are a talent—so scared of death.

Honestly, your plan was flawless, except for that dog not cooperating.

I don’t understand—with your intelligence, why entrust the key task to a dog?"

Mention of the dog made Ren chuckle too. "Heh, all my thoughts were on self-preservation—I never expected the plan would truly succeed.

As long as I took action, Tokko wouldn’t blame me. After all, I’m now head of the Second Department’s section—a position Tokko highly values.

Besides, Cong claimed her dog was smart as a person, so I believed her and went with it."

"By putting your own safety first when designing the plan, and then panicking during our talk, you exposed yourself.

Your downfall was your fear of death. Otherwise, no one would have found you."

With that, Li Wensheng turned and walked to the interrogation table.

"Finished writing?"

"Almost done, almost done," Yu Haofeng replied quickly.

Soon, the two finished their reports, pressed their fingerprints, and handed them to Li Wensheng before departing hurriedly.

Once they left, Li Wensheng sat down, writing up Ren Zuhong’s confession.

He handed it to Ren. "Take a look—if it’s fine, sign and press your fingerprint."

Ren didn’t even glance at it, simply signed and pressed his fingerprint.

With everything settled, Li Wensheng left at once.

He returned to the Counter-Espionage Section, grabbed Cong Wanyun’s earlier statement, and headed out from the Second Department to his distant uncle’s residence.

After informing the gatekeeper, the officer soon appeared.

"My dear nephew, is there something the matter?"

"Sir, the Sheng Mansion case is resolved. Here are the statements—the documents are still being traced."

The officer paused, took the statements and leafed through them. "You truly are capable, nephew, to resolve it so quickly."

As he spoke, he reached Ren Zuhong’s confession and frowned. "This man was undercover in the Bureau for six years?"

"According to his confession, yes," Li Wensheng replied.

The officer looked at Li Wensheng intently, smiling. "Looks like old Dai will get a scolding—a Japanese spy right under his nose for six years."

Li Wensheng said nothing. Dai’s scolding was none of his concern.

"These statements will be submitted. But recovering the documents is the key. Don’t lose sight of that, nephew."

"Understood, sir."

Leaving his uncle’s residence, Li Wensheng didn’t return to the Second Department, but went straight to the Yuzhong Waste Treatment Plant—after all, his system task was to recover the missing files.