I started with a ship full of max-level veterans, and I'm just a complete noob.

"Tighten the perimeter, don't go into the rooms immediately. First, keep an eye on the exits of the two streets in front of and behind the guesthouse."

Jiang Ming sat in the back seat, and by the dim light from the car window, he finished reading the room records that Director Wang handed him. He then put the copy of Gu Shaowen's photo back into the folder and lowered his voice to a level that the others in the car could hear him clearly.

Director Wang took back the photos and nodded, saying, "There are two people at the front gate, and Li Da is leading the team in the back alley. There is a narrow alley behind the guesthouse, and there are already people guarding the entrance. The situation in the rooms has not yet been verified."

"Have someone guard the stairwell and the back door of the kitchen. Don't disturb the guests for now. Comrade Song, come upstairs with me."

Jiang Ming opened the car door, and rainwater dripped down the umbrella ribs to the ground. The stalls selling hot pancakes and roasted chestnuts on the street had not yet closed, and their cries filled the wet street, drowning out the low engine noise of several cars approaching the guesthouse.

Comrade Song walked beside Jiang Ming, his right hand always close to the inside of his coat. His gaze swept back and forth between the windows, eaves and doorways along the street. He did not ask about the details of the operation. After receiving the order, he only focused on the location where people could hide.

Director Wang stayed at the street corner to set up the perimeter, while Jiang Ming and Comrade Song entered through the side door of the guesthouse, passed through the narrow passageway where coal briquettes were piled up, and went up the wooden stairs to the second floor.

The stair railings were chilled by the rain, and only a small light was on at the end of the second-floor corridor. The lampshade was covered in dust, and the light did not reach the innermost door.

Comrade Song first approached the door and listened for a moment. He then raised his hand to indicate that there were no footsteps inside. He then checked the door lock and door frame to confirm that the door had not been tampered with from the outside.

Jiang Ming took the key he was handed, but did not immediately insert it into the lock.

Someone was waiting for them in the room. The light coming through the crack in the door was steady, and there were no sounds being deliberately concealed inside.

He turned the key and pushed the door open to go inside.

An old man sat by the window at an old wooden table. His temples were gray, and he was wearing a neatly ironed dark woolen uniform with the collar buttoned up tightly. A worn black leather suitcase sat at his feet.

Two white porcelain teacups were placed on the table, the tea already poured, and steam rising from the rims. The old man reached out and pushed one of the cups toward where Jiang Ming was.

"Mr. Jiang, please have a seat. The tea has just been brewed, and the air in the corridor is damp. A sip of this tea will warm your hands."

Jiang Ming stood in front of the table without touching the cup. His gaze first fell on the tea, then moved to the old man's hands on the corner of the table, and then looked at the leather suitcase against the wall.

Comrade Song entered the room sideways, first checking the window latches, then looking up to check the vents and under the bed, and finally checking the wardrobe doors, the hidden compartment under the table, and the bathroom door one by one. After confirming that only the old man was in the room, he stood diagonally behind Jiang Ming.

After Comrade Song finished his inspection, the old man reached into his inner pocket and took out a pen.

The pen's body was worn, and the edge of the clip bore fine scratches from long-term use. The metal cap was engraved with Parker's old mark. The old man laid it horizontally on the table, then took out a folded piece of white paper and pressed the pen onto it.

Jiang Ming saw the ink color near the pen tip and gently ran his finger along the edge of the folder.

Those were the blue-black ink marks left on the note.

"By presenting the words 'Yuan Lei' to me, what do you want to verify?"

The old man looked at Jiang Ming, his gaze lingering on his face for a longer time than usual, as if confirming some old impression.

"I want to confirm whether Lei Zhenbang left any descendants, and I also want to confirm whether someone has been able to take over what he protected back then."

Jiang Ming pushed the chair back, remaining standing.

"Tell me your name first."

The old man pulled the teacup closer to himself, placed his palm against the cup, and said in a deep voice, "Chen Ke returned from England at the end of the Republic of China era. He did research on radar and electromagnetic waves and served as a short-term technical consultant at the Third Electronic Components Factory in 1953."

Footsteps came from outside the door, and Director Wang pushed the door open and came in, followed by Li Da.

Director Wang did not come to the table. Instead, he opened the document folder in his hand and checked Chen Ke's name, place of birth, work experience, and secondment procedures item by item. Then he placed a copy of the record retrieved from the old factory archives on the table.

"The identity temporarily matches. I entered the Third Electronic Components Factory in May 1953 and left in February of the following year. During my secondment, I participated in the organization of radar receiving components and pulse measurement equipment."

Chen Ke looked at the record, moved his fingers away from the edge of the paper, and lowered his voice.

"There are more files left than I expected. Back then, someone wanted to wipe me clean from the factory, and even my temporary transfer number was deleted once."

Director Wang looked up at him: "Who did this?"

Chen Ke did not answer immediately. He looked out the window at the glass that was scratched by the rain. The vendors downstairs were packing up their tarpaulins, and the sound of metal frames clattering came from the street corner.

"Meng Dechang's men."

The room quieted down, and Jiang Ming connected the three words with Gu Shaowen's photo, his gaze returning to Chen Ke.

"You are investigating Lei Zhenbang's old case."

"I found several acceptance records that shouldn't have been altered, and I also found that Lei Zhenbang had sent a batch of theoretical materials back to China before he went west." Chen Ke reached out and touched the lock of the suitcase. "Later, someone came to me and first advised me to hand over the materials, and then reminded me of my family's address. I did not continue to stay in the original research system."

So you left.

"After I left, they were still looking for those materials."

When Chen Ke got to this point, there was no hint of complaint in his tone. He simply laid out a fact that had been hidden for many years, as if he were delivering a belated task.

Jiang Ming looked at him, already listing several unavoidable questions in his mind: Why did Chen Ke appear at this time? Why did he use a note to test him? Why did he choose a room near the Third Electronics Factory? If it was just about handing over the remains, it could have been done through the security system. His personal appearance meant that he still needed some kind of confirmation from Jiang Ming.

"You've been hiding for years, and suddenly you've led me here. Your purpose isn't just to reminisce."

Chen Ke looked up at him, and the weariness in his eyes finally showed.

"I need to know if you have the ability to save it today."

He opened the suitcase and took out a document bag wrapped in several layers of oil paper.

The edges of the oil paper were brittle, and a dark-colored sealing wax was pressed at the seal. The seal pattern was incomplete, and only the letters and circular outline of a British laboratory could be identified.

Chen Ke pushed the file bag in front of Jiang Ming, but his hand did not leave immediately.

"These are things Lei Zhenbang prepared to send before he was murdered. The letter was never sent, and after it fell into my hands, I have been keeping it safe for him."

Jiang Ming did not reach out.

Director Wang looked at the oil paper seal, then at Chen Ke: "You know that once you hand over this document, you will never be able to go back to your original life."

"I no longer have the life I used to have."

Chen Kesong released his hand, and the file bag stopped in the center of the table. The steam from the tea passed over the edge of the paper bag and spread between the two of them.

Jiang Ming took out his gloves, and Comrade Song handed him the unpacking knife. The blade was close to the oil paper, but he hesitated to use it.

The hawking cries from the street outside continued, and the sound of cars driving through the puddles could be heard in the distance. Director Wang turned his head to look out the window and gestured for Li Da to confirm the location of the outer perimeter.

Jiang Ming put on his gloves and picked up the document bag.

The contents of the oil paper may not only contain Lei Zhenbang's relics, but may also bring back to the present day a radar technology line that has been buried in an old case for many years.

He cut open the seal.