cicada

Chapter 1502 Fangs
The Hase Agency is located in Hongkou. Before the war, it was the residence of a high-ranking official of the Nationalist government. It was later requisitioned by the Japanese and has been there for several years.

Compared to the Special Committee on China at 76 Jessfield Road and Chongguang Hall, Hase Agency was not well-known.

At least the citizens of Shanghai did not know that this villa, which was always closed and showed no signs of abnormality from the outside, was an intelligence agency of the Japanese.

Because the work of the Hase Agency mainly involved surveillance and internal screening, it was quite distant from ordinary people in the Republic of China.

Tong Suo got off the car by a path lined with sycamore trees. He hunched over, looked around, and seeing that no one was around, ducked and slipped through a black iron gate.

"Kisan, Tasa~"

The Japanese agents inside the door saw Tong Suo and immediately offered him a warm welcome. As the deputy director of the Counter-Espionage Division of the puppet Political Security Administration, Tong Suo still had some influence.

Upon reaching the largest room on the second floor of the villa, the agent raised his hand and knocked on the wooden door. Hasegawa's voice came from inside.

"Enter."

Tong Suo strode in. Chang Gu, who was reviewing official documents behind his desk, looked up and glanced at him, a smile spreading across his face. He also put down the pen in his hand.

"Hahaha, Mr. Ji, why aren't you enjoying your freedom at the Political Security Headquarters? What are you doing here?"

Hasegawa invited Tongsuo to sit down on the sofa, his attitude very friendly, but in his heart he was wondering why Tongsuo had come.

The puppet Political Security Administration was divided into two bureaus. The first bureau was located in Shanghai and its personnel consisted of former members of the 76th Division. It was mainly responsible for targeting the Nationalist government and intelligence personnel in the Northwest.

Could Ji Dawei's visit today be related to the Military Intelligence Bureau?
Thinking of this, Hasegawa's smile remained unchanged, and he personally poured the other person a cup of hot tea.

Tong Suo stood up, said thank you, and then casually picked out an official matter to report. Chang Gu knew this wasn't the reason he came, but he still patiently listened.

After a long while, Tong Suo, having finished discussing work, casually remarked, "Your Excellency, Chief of Staff, why don't we take a walk in the garden?"

Hasegawa knew they were getting down to business, so he readily agreed: "Yosh, I was just thinking of getting some fresh air, let's go."

The two went downstairs to the garden, admiring the lush flowers around them while talking quietly.

"Lord Hase, what is your view on the current battle situation?" Copper Lock asked.

Hasegawa narrowed his eyes, unsure of the other party's intention in asking the question, and could only give an official answer.

"Although Germany has been defeated and the Reich's recent war with the Americans has not gone well, as long as the United States is dragged into a protracted war, victory will eventually belong to the Reich."

“Deputy Director Ji, the Western devils are different from our East Asian countries. Once the number of casualties exceeds the expectation, their domestic opposition will file for impeachment.”

Tong Suo silently analyzed how much of what he said was true or false. After much deliberation, he decided to take a risk.

"Chief, we both know that the Empire's defeat is only a matter of time, especially with the Empire's homeland being bombed."

"As soldiers, we should fight to the last moment, but as husbands and sons, we must think about our families."

Upon hearing this, Ryosuke Hasegawa slowly stopped and coldly questioned, "Deputy Director Ji, aren't you afraid that I will tell what you said to the new government's higher-ups?"

Tong Suo was certain in his heart that no objection meant agreement; otherwise, the other party could have simply arrested him instead of threatening him.

He glanced at the nearby Japanese agents and spoke again: "Sir, the bigwigs in the new government have long been in contact with the Americans."

"Nani?"

Ryosuke Hasegawa was "greatly alarmed," his eyes darting around, but he still didn't budge, because he didn't know if Dawei Ji was testing him.

Hasegawa feigned anger and shouted, "Baka! How dare they do such a thing? Ki-san, why didn't you report this to me sooner?"

“I must report this to Tokyo immediately. These damned bastards have treated the Empire well, yet they betray it.”

Seeing Chang Gu's bluff, Tong Suo didn't say anything else, chatted casually for a couple of minutes, and then took his leave.

The seeds have been sown; just wait for them to sprout. Saying too much will only arouse suspicion and vigilance in the other party.

After the copper lock left, Ryosuke Hase wandered around the garden a few more times, his mind filled with doubt and unease.

He didn't know whether he should report Ji Dawei. If this meeting was a test from headquarters, there would be a great risk in concealing it.

But if Ji Dawei is indeed backed by Americans, he will definitely face repercussions if he reports them.

Caught in a dilemma, Hasegawa sighed and returned to his office with a frown. He felt that he should ask "Fat Tiger's" opinion on this matter, at least to verify Ji Dawei's identity through the Military Intelligence Bureau.

That evening, Ryosuke Hase made several counter-surveillance maneuvers to reach the dead mail box, and did not return to his residence until an hour later.

But before he could even catch his breath after sitting down, a familiar call came from the radio he had turned on.

"Gian is calling Nobita. Gian is calling Nobita."

As the broadcast played, Hasegawa received the latest instructions from Zuo Zhong, which consisted of only one sentence: ordering him to accept recruitment by the Americans.

Here it comes again!

Hasegawa Ryosuke's head was buzzing. It was the same during the Golden Lily Project, and it was happening again. Just how many moles had Gian had planted on all sides? But Zuo Zhong's orders proved that Ji Dawei's probing was not a trap; the Americans did indeed want to turn him against them.

Hasegawa breathed a sigh of relief, but did not rush to contact Ji Dawei. He planned to wait and arrange to meet with him later.

There's a saying in the Republic of China: "You can't make a deal if you're too eager." If the Americans wanted to recruit him, they had to offer a price that matched his status.

Moreover, Ji Dawei is not qualified to negotiate; the US must send someone of standing to negotiate with him in person.

A week after Copper Lock and Hase confronted each other, it was June 1945. Japan was on the verge of collapse, with defeats on all fronts.

That evening, Ryosuke Hasegawa entered a nightclub. His eyes scanned the room and spotted Dawei Ji and Ava sitting in a private booth.

Copper Lock waved his right hand and warmly invited Hase over. Hase sat down next to the two of them, and the three of them nodded and greeted each other.

After taking a sip of whiskey, Hasegawa turned his attention to Ava. He knew that this woman was from Argentina and worked as a dancer, but now it seemed that her identity was not simple.

Because the dance hall was crowded and noisy, the three of them did not discuss sensitive topics, but only talked about some recent news.

When the party ended, Chang Gu, Tong Suo, and Ava walked out of the dance hall. The deserted street was empty, with only discarded newspapers rolled along the ground, blown by the wind.

Ava winked at Copper Lock, signaling him to look around for any suspicious people, while she quietly revealed her identity to Hasegawa.

"Mr. Hase, let me introduce myself again. I am from the Secret Intelligence Division of the Office of Strategic Services. Washington hopes that you can become our partner."

Hasegawa's eyes were serious. He said, "Just listen to the talk about partners. What the Americans want are obedient dogs."

The streetlights cast three shadows on the ground. The surroundings were silent. Hasegawa walked a short distance with his hands in his pockets, then suddenly looked up and asked.

"What are the conditions? What guarantees can you give me?"

Ava smiled broadly and said in a low voice, "We can support you in becoming the head of Japan's postwar intelligence agency."

Ryosuke Hasegawa's hand trembled slightly. The terms were undeniably generous, but could the Americans' promises be trusted?

Seeing that he didn't speak, Ava seemed to guess his concerns and put pressure on him again.

“Mr. Hase, the Strategic Intelligence Agency knows that you have purchased a lot of land in South America, and the fact that it has not yet been confiscated already demonstrates our sincerity.”

Upon hearing this, Hasegawa sneered and retorted, "Don't you Americans say that private property is sacred and inviolable?"

Ava raised the corners of her mouth and replied calmly, "But that applies to friends. We have different principles for enemies."

"Besides, with your salary, you simply can't afford a South American estate. If Tokyo finds out about this, how will you explain it?"

Hasegawa almost laughed out of anger. This was the so-called free world. But thinking of those lands and Gian's plans, he could only pretend to be angry and glare at Ava.

“I am not threatened by anyone! That money came from my business with the Navy, and no one dares to investigate.”

Tong Suo walked behind the two, vaguely hearing Hasegawa's angry voice, and slowly reached for his sidearm from his pocket.

Ava reached behind her and waved her hand gently, still wearing a bright smile, as if she hadn't heard what Hasegawa had just said.

"Alright, Mr. Hase, I don't care where your money comes from, that's your business."

"Let's be frank. I can tell you a top-secret piece of information: Washington is about to drop a special bomb on your country."

"This bomb is many times more powerful than a regular bomb, and it will cause long-term pollution after the explosion. No one can survive in that environment."

Seeing that Hase didn't take it seriously, Ava cursed the stupid Japanese under her breath, her tone becoming increasingly stern.

"Even without special bombs, how long can your country hold out? You should know the current situation on the Japanese mainland."

Ryosuke Hase looked conflicted, and after a long while, he let out a long sigh.

"Alright, I can cooperate with you, but the operation must be covert, otherwise if Tokyo finds out, my fate will be terrible."

"Of course~"

Ava responded with a smile, and then revealed another piece of news.

"To be honest with you, you are just one of our partners. We also have many friends in Tokyo."

"So don't worry, even if you are discovered, these friends have the ability to help you avoid being investigated, or even help you get a higher position."

Hasegawa's pupils contracted sharply, but then he realized it was normal. Japan's defeat was inevitable, and a smart person would naturally seek a way out.

The following day, the Office of Strategic Services headquarters at Navy Hill in Washington received a secret telegram from Ava.

Upon learning that a senior Japanese intelligence officer stationed in Shanghai had been turned, the Strategic Intelligence Bureau issued a new order to Ava—to infiltrate the Nationalist government and Japanese intelligence agencies with all its might.

As World War II drew to a close, the future "world police" began to bare their fangs.