Republic of China, 1922: Rise from the Post-Zhili-Fengtian War

Haruka Yumi remained calm: "It's just an audit, why are you panicking?"

"Miss Chunshang, you said it was just an audit?" Lu Shoulian's voice changed. "You don't know, do you? Who is that Gu Cheng? He just arrived in Jinzhou and killed all seventeen of Tang Yulin's scoundrels—"

Public trial, on-the-spot execution! All he did was sleep with a few women and steal some things, and he killed him without batting an eye!

He became increasingly agitated as he spoke, "And I'm a traitor, collaborating with you Japanese! If he finds out, do you think I can keep my life?"

Looking at his hysterical state, Haruka Yumi's eyes clearly showed a hint of contempt.

These stupid Chinese pigs are not worthy of sitting down and talking on equal terms with the Great Japanese Empire.

"Mr. Lu, please calm down," she said slowly. "Is the evidence in your hands, or in his?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Shoulian became even more anxious: "It's in his hands! Can you control what those people involved say?"

Haruka Yumi looked back at him with a cold gaze: "Mr. Chairman, you are the leading figure in Jinzhou's business community, and those who handle your business are also your connections... Whether you can keep their mouths shut or not is not something you should ask me."

Lu Shoulian was speechless, his face turning red and white, unable to utter a single word in rebuttal.

Haruka Yumi walked to the window, turned her back to him, and said coldly, "Mr. Lu, when you first came to us, you patted your chest and said that you were in charge of the Jinzhou military supply line."

Now that things have gone wrong, instead of trying to clean up the mess yourself, you've called me in to solve it—what, is this all the collaborator of the Great Japanese Empire is capable of?

She deliberately emphasized the words "collaborator," clearly carrying boundless malice.

Lu Shoulian was both ashamed and angry at her words, but in front of this Japanese female envoy, he dared not show any anger and could only force a smile: "Miss Haruka is right, she is right... I was just anxious, wasn't I? You haven't seen Gu Cheng's methods, he—"

"Enough." Haruka Hiromi turned around, her gaze coldly fixed on his face. "Mr. Lu, I don't want to hear any more of your useless talk. You only need to answer one question—"

She took a step forward, staring intently into Lu Shoulian's eyes. "Do you still want to continue cooperating with us?"

Lu Shoulian was taken aback, then quickly nodded, "Yes! Of course I want to! Miss Chunshang, you can't just abandon me!"

"Then do as I say." Haruka Yumi remained calm, but her bright face carried an overwhelming sense of authority. "Hold your positions and continue with what you were doing. Let Gu Cheng check the accounts."

Those accounts were meticulously prepared; he won't find anything. Even if he does find something, there's no concrete evidence. Without concrete evidence, he can't touch you!

She then added, "Even if he did obtain some evidence—"

"Mr. Lu, don't forget, you're the president of the Jinzhou Chamber of Commerce. You've been operating in Jinzhou for so many years and have connections with various forces. Who is Gu Cheng? He's only been in Jinzhou for a short time... He'd better think twice before he tries to mess with you."

Only now did Lu Shoulian seem less flustered, but looking back at the Japanese woman, he still remained skeptical: "But Miss Haruka..."

"No buts." Haruka Yumi interrupted him. "If you don't trust me, you can go to Gu Cheng now and explain everything. See if he will give you a way out, or execute you in public like those dozen or so thugs."

These words were like a knife, precisely piercing the softest spot in Lu Shoulian's heart.

After a long pause, he managed to squeeze out, "Miss Haruka is joking... How could I possibly go looking for him? Of course I trust you! Think about it, with something this serious happening, you're still the first person I contact!"

Haruka Yumi smiled slightly, a smile that was exceptionally warm: "That's good. Mr. Lu, please remember—we're in this together. If something happens to you, it won't do us any good. So, I won't abandon you."

She took a small envelope from her bosom, placed it on the table, and gently pushed it towards Lu Shoulian with her fingertips.

"This is the final payment invoice for the last batch of goods. Please keep it safe." Her voice was very low. "Also, there are new instructions from above—another batch of supplies will be shipped from Dalian Port in a few days, still through your channels. I will notify you in advance."

Lu Shoulian reached for the envelope, his hand still trembling slightly.

Haruka Yumi felt a surge of disgust at his appearance, but she still maintained her smile.

"Mr. Lu, please take good care of yourself." She put her felt hat back on and pulled the brim down. "You need to keep quiet these next few days. I'll come to you if I need you."

After saying that, she opened the door and disappeared into the night.

Lu Shoulian gazed in the direction she had left, let out a long breath, and then pulled a silk handkerchief from his sleeve to wipe the sweat from his forehead.

He looked down at the envelope in his hand, then looked up at the dark night sky, feeling uneasy and sensing that something was wrong, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

What he didn't know was—

After walking out of the courtyard wall, Yumi Haruka did not head towards the outside of the city, but instead turned into a dark alley by the roadside.

Deep in the alley, two dark figures were waiting for her.

"Team leader," one of the shadowy figures whispered in Japanese, "that person, are we still keeping him around?"

Haruka Yumi leaned against the wall, took out a handkerchief from her bosom, and slowly wiped her fingers as if she had just touched something dirty.

"It's no use." Her voice was as calm as if she were describing the weather. "He's already panicked. A panicked person is capable of anything. Rather than waiting for him to betray us, we should—"

She didn't finish her sentence; she simply raised her hand and lightly traced a line across her neck.

The two figures exchanged a glance and responded in unison, "Yes."

"Listen, you have to do it cleanly, without leaving a trace."

Haruka Yumi stuffed the handkerchief back into her bosom, straightened her collar, and strode towards the other end of the alley without looking back.

The night wind whipped up fallen leaves, swirling them behind her.

In the still-lit study of the Lu residence, Lu Shoulian sat in his armchair, fiddling with the string of sandalwood prayer beads, pondering how to deal with Li Mao tomorrow, how to appease Mo Dehui, and how to continue maneuvering under Gu Cheng's watchful eye.

Damn it, it's all that greenhorn's fault! He actually came to Jinzhou to ruin my plans. Before he came, Jinzhou was a very lucrative place!

He even poured himself a cup of hot tea, took a leisurely sip, and muttered to himself, "Miss Haruka really knows how to handle things... With her around, what do I have to fear?"

He was unaware that his life had been quietly ended by the very person he considered his savior.