Anti-Japanese War Espionage: I Have an Omniscient Perspective

After confirming that Huang Dazhu and his brothers had left safely, Lin Rui did not linger and turned to head towards Lianhua Film Studio.

By this time, the French Concession had gradually quieted down in the dead of night, with fewer and fewer pedestrians on the streets. Only the police officers continued to patrol the streets, guarding this seemingly prosperous but actually chaotic land.

Lin Rui walked briskly along the street, calculating his next move while cautiously observing his surroundings.

Soon, he arrived near the Lianhua Film Studio and saw Xiao Liu still selling cigarettes at the cigarette stand opposite the studio.

When Xiao Liu saw Lin Rui, he immediately stood up and greeted him with a smile, "Manager Chen, you're back so late?"

He should have packed up his stall by now, so there must be a reason why he's still here.

Lin Rui smiled and said, "Something came up, so I got back late. Bring me a pack of Hademen."

"Okay." Xiao Liu took out cigarettes, and Lin Rui took out money.

During the exchange of cigarette money, Xiao Liu lowered his voice and said, "Team leader, a liaison officer just came by and asked me to tell you that you need to go to the designated contact point tomorrow. There's something important they need to tell you."

Upon hearing this, Lin Rui frowned slightly, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes. He'd been suddenly ordered to the liaison point. Was there a new mission assigned at the Shanghai station? Or was there some urgent message to deliver to him?

He suppressed his doubts and replied in a low voice, "I understand."

Immediately, Lin Rui put away his cigarette and walked towards the film studio, while Xiao Liu stretched and began packing up.

……

As the night passed and dawn broke, the aroma of congee wafted from downstairs at the Lianhua Film Studio.

Lin Rui got up on time and sat down with the three members of the undercover team around a wooden table to eat breakfast. On the table were several bowls of white porridge, a dish of pickled vegetables, and steaming white flour buns that Zhao Erzhu had steamed early in the morning.

Zhao Erzhu held the bowl of porridge, a smile on her face, and looked at Lin Rui expectantly: "Team leader, please try this steamed bun. I think it's even better today."

Lin Rui picked up a steamed bun, broke it in half, and tasted its soft yet chewy texture. He nodded slightly, his tone calm but affirmative: "Not bad, very well done. It's all thanks to you that everyone can have a hot meal."

A simple compliment made Zhao Erzhu's eyes crinkle into slits with a smile, and she quickly pushed the steamed buns towards everyone, saying, "Everyone, eat more!"

Chen Shan, standing to the side, scoffed, put down his chopsticks, and said with a hint of sarcasm, "No matter how well you cook, you're still just a cook. We're here in intelligence, not to be cooks at a film studio, spending all our time around the stove. What kind of future can we have?"

Zhao Erzhu's smile froze instantly. He gripped the steamed bun in his hand tightly, his face flushed, and he retorted, "I'm doing this to improve everyone's meals! It's better than some people who idle away their days and only know how to talk big!"

"Who are you calling idle?" Chen Shan slammed his hand on the table, stood up, and stared at Zhao Erzhu with hostility, instantly creating a tense atmosphere.

"Enough!" Lin Rui put down his chopsticks. His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable authority. "What time is it now? The concession is fraught with danger, and Japanese spies are everywhere. You still have the mind to fight amongst yourselves?"

His gaze swept over the two men, his expression stern: "Zhao Erzhu gets up early to cook breakfast so everyone can have a hot meal, for the sake of the entire group; Chen Shan, your task is to gather intelligence, so be less sarcastic and more productive. From now on, anyone who argues without cause and breaks the group's rules will be dealt with according to the Special Service Department's disciplinary regulations!"

The two men lowered their heads after being scolded by Lin Rui, not daring to speak again. They silently picked up their bowls and chopsticks to drink their porridge, and the atmosphere became quiet for a moment.

Su Wan didn't dare to interrupt and obediently drank her porridge and ate her steamed buns.

Lin Rui said no more, quickly finished his breakfast, got up and picked up his coat: "I'm going out for a bit. During the day, the factory's affairs will proceed as planned. No one is allowed to leave their post without permission. Keep an eye out for unfamiliar faces outside the film studio. Record any unusual activity and report it tonight."

"Yes, team leader!" everyone responded in unison.

Lin Rui nodded and walked out of Lianhua Film Studio. The early morning Belle Street was still very quiet, with only a few vendors pushing their carts by, and a thin mist filling the air.

As agreed, he walked towards the eastern section of Xiafei Road with steady steps, but he always used his supernatural ability to observe his surroundings and make sure that no tail was following him.

The secret liaison point of the Military Intelligence Bureau's Shanghai station was located in a stationery store on the eastern section of Avenue Joffre.

Upon reaching the stationery store, Lin Rui pushed the door open and went straight inside.

The store was dimly lit, and the shelves were filled with various stationery items. A clerk in a long gown was tidying up the bookshelves, but the store manager was not there.

According to the usual procedure, Lin Rui should buy a thread-bound book and then go to the counter to complete the transaction and exchange the secret code.

Before he could even begin, the shop assistant glanced at him and whispered, "Sir, your order is in the back. I'll take you there."

Lin Rui's heart tightened immediately.

No need for the code anymore? Should we just take him directly to the back door?

This is not in accordance with the communication rules of Shanghai Station. Something is amiss and there must be something fishy going on.

Was there a reason for this, or was the base exposed? Was there a traitor who betrayed them? Was it a trap set by the Japanese?

He remained expressionless, nodded slightly, and followed the shop assistant into the store, but his steps were a beat slower as he secretly activated his three-dimensional superpower.

The line of sight instantly penetrated the walls and wooden boards, taking in the entire stationery store, the backyard, and even the neighboring house.

There was no ambush outside the back door, but the stationery store manager was not there.

Once he confirmed that everything was safe, Lin Rui finally felt a little relieved and followed the shop assistant through the store and out the back door.

The shop assistant pulled a black hood from his pocket and said in a low voice, "Team Leader Lin, it's the station's usual rule, please put it on."

Without hesitation, Lin Rui took the hood and put it on. His vision went completely black for a moment, but he was able to observe his surroundings through his supernatural abilities.

After circling around twice, we arrived at the secret hideout at Shanghai Station. Led by a shop assistant, we climbed the stairs step by step.

Upon reaching the third floor, the shop assistant stopped and whispered, "We're here."

Then, the hood on Lin Rui's head was gently removed.

This was a small conference room with a long table. Seven or eight people were already sitting around it, all with solemn expressions and silent. Many of them were unfamiliar faces to Lin Rui, while others were people he knew, such as Team Leader Li, Station Chief Zhou, and the liaison shop manager from the stationery store.

"Sit here." Station Master Zhou pointed to an empty seat on his right, but did not say anything related to Lin Rui.

Lin Rui took a seat, and then the door opened again, and two people entered, whom Lin Rui did not recognize.

Team Leader Li gestured for the two to sit in the seats next to him.

Lin Rui vaguely sensed that Station Chief Zhou was trying to curry favor with him, and that Team Leader Li also had his own people within the station.

There are factions within the Shanghai station. The new stationmaster wants to have his own capable assistants, but Team Leader Li has already amassed a group of his own people who obey his orders by relying on his hard work at the Shanghai station.

And he, being someone without any connections, became the person the station manager tried to win over.