Spy game? Stop guessing, I really am an undercover agent!

Chapter 10: He can leave, but he can't go back.

“Mr. Pisona, I think the chances are slim.”

Lin Xueli said respectfully, "You may not know this, but he has already been internally selected by the Japanese to be the Director of the Economic Affairs Department of the new government."

"Moreover, he studied in Japan before, and his teacher liked him very much."

“I don’t think you can convince him to join us without enough incentives.”

"To persuade a director of the Economic Department of the Ministry of Finance, you would probably need to offer him a position as a director of the Board of Directors."

Pi Shaona shrugged and said, "That's a real pity. He's a talented person. If he could join us, my resource gathering operation would be much smoother."

Lin Xueli smiled in agreement and respectfully asked, "Mr. Pi Shaona, about this funding matter?"

Pi Shaona said confidently, "It's just a ton of gold, no problem. I'll contact the French Concession Bank and have them negotiate with the Hong Kong Monetary Authority."

"I guarantee the funds will be raised within a day. You just focus on your own work."

"More than a thousand tons of supplies would require at least twenty trucks to transport."

"We also need to make preparations for the warehouse. Most importantly, the people we hire must keep their mouths shut. If anything goes wrong, neither you nor I will be able to stay in the French Concession."

Lin Xueli was shocked to hear this; the purchase of supplies was clearly not as simple as he had imagined.

Pi Shaona is a director of the French Concession. If even he is so wary of him, could it be that he has someone backing him? What kind of background could make a director so cautious?
On the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month, every household in Shanghai begins to hang Spring Festival couplets and paste images of the God of Wealth in preparation for the arrival of the New Year.

However, the Osaka Chamber of Commerce office on Kawakita Road remained deserted.

The Japanese New Year is January 1st every year, and the Chinese New Year doesn't really mean much to them.

Third floor, inside the office.

"Hi, Hi, Assistant Chen, please rest assured, the warehouse has completed its inventory check, and all the inventory materials will be exactly the same as the report you have."

"Yes, yes, no problem. We understand the rule of cash on delivery."

"This afternoon? Sure, but they'll need to bring their own people. We're not responsible for transportation. Okay, okay, goodbye, Assistant Chen." Tanaka Taro hadn't even had a chance to catch his breath after hanging up the phone when there was a knock on the door.

"Come in."

With a creak, the office door was pushed open, and a short figure darted into the office, moving quite nimbly.

Not only that, he also cautiously peeked out the door and observed the outside environment for a while before carefully closing the office door.

"Arimura-kun, what's wrong with you?" Tanaka Taro looked at the other's actions with a hint of displeasure on his face.

“Director Tanaka, I… I still feel something is amiss.” Arimura Sejiro leaned forward and whispered, “They sent some kind of special affairs assistant to China for no reason. I have a feeling this Assistant Chen has ill intentions. I’m afraid he’ll find out something wrong.”

“Arimura-kun, don’t overthink it. Assistant Chen is here to handle matters related to supplies, not to audit the accounts,” Tanaka Taro chuckled. “Besides, Arimura-kun, didn’t you say you’ve balanced the accounts so that no one can see any problems?”

Upon hearing this, Arimura Sejiro seemed a little guilty and stammered, "There's a Chinese saying: 'There's always someone better than you.'"

"I have indeed balanced these accounts, but there's no guarantee that the other party won't spot the problem from some subtle clues."

"Director Tanaka, I would like to see Major Ino."

Tanaka Taro's heart skipped a beat, and his face instantly darkened. Was Ino planning to run away at this time?
“Arimura-kun, you’re making yourself so suspicious just because he’s a student from the local area.” “Aren’t you overthinking it?”

Arimura Sejiro frowned and said, "Director Tanaka, since the local government appointed him as special affairs assistant, he must have some ability."

"I've been cautious my whole life, and I don't want to suffer a major setback at the last minute."

"Please tell Major Ino that I only want what I'm entitled to, and I won't ask for anything else."

"Arimura-kun, have you made up your mind?" Tanaka Ichiro's tone gradually became low.

Arimura Jiro nodded repeatedly and said, "Director Tanaka, I have already bought the ship ticket back to the mainland. As soon as I get the money, I will disappear immediately."

“I’m leaving. You can push the responsibility for the accounts onto me. Even if that Assistant Chen wants to investigate, without evidence, I’m afraid he might not be able to find anything.”

"This is good for everyone."

Tanaka Ichiro suddenly laughed, nodding as he laughed, "Yes, as long as you leave, Assistant Chen won't be able to find anything useful. This is indeed a very good suggestion."

Shanghai, Military Police Headquarters, Logistics Department Director's Dormitory Building.

A knock sounded on the door. Department Head Suzuhara, who was sitting at his desk writing furiously, looked up, put down his pen, and said, "Come in."

"Minister." The man was dressed in a khaki military uniform, and the epaulets on his shoulders indicated that he was a Japanese army major.

"Yusuke, this isn't a military camp, you don't need to address me so formally." Chief Suzuhara waved to the other man, gesturing for him to come and sit down.

Yusuke Ino sat down opposite Department Head Suzuhara and said very seriously, "Uncle, something's happened. Arimura Sejiro of the Osaka Trading Company wants to leave."

Department Head Suzuhara raised his hand and said, "Don't rush, have you asked him why he wants to leave?"

Yusuke Ino replied respectfully, "The Osaka Chamber of Commerce has sent a special affairs assistant from the mainland to assist Director Tanaka in handling the supplies issue."

“Arimura was worried that this special assistant would discover the problems with their accounts, so he wanted to take the money and leave.”

"Director Tanaka's meaning is that he can leave, but he cannot go back."

“I agree with him. There are only two solutions to this problem: either get rid of that local assistant Chen, or get rid of Arimura Sejiro.”

"I can't think of any other options besides these two."

Minister Suzuhara shook his head slightly. Like most young officers in the Empire, his nephew liked to use violence to solve problems when he encountered trouble.

Minister Suzuhara has always believed that violence cannot solve all problems, but it is undeniable that it can quickly solve many problems.

“I have no objection to getting rid of Arimura Jiro, but Yusuke, have you considered who you plan to replace now that we're one person short?”

"You should know that I put a lot of effort into designing the perfect combination. Each of you is the best choice, and there will be problems if any one of you is missing."

After a moment of silence, Yusuke Ino said, "Director Tanaka suggested that we make contact with this Assistant Chen from the local area."

He believed that this person could succeed Arimura.

"Hmm?" Department Head Suzuhara was slightly taken aback: "What's the reason?"

(End of this chapter)