69novels Chapter 109 Ogino Blocks the News
Chapter 109 Ogino Blocks the News
Inside Yan Shuo's secret hideout, the table lamp was on.
He laid out the confidential documents, codebooks, and account information he had seized from Saeki Shinkai Villa on the table, while his secretary, Doll Mimi, stood by his side, simultaneously deciphering the encrypted documents.
"Xiao Zhi, prioritize analyzing content related to the Japanese high command deployments and other intelligence networks, especially the Fifth War Zone codebook follow-up plan mentioned by Saeki."
Yan Shuo flipped through a document marked "Top Secret," his tone grave.
"Analyzing... Core information identified: Saeki Shinkai plans to transfer the Fifth War Zone codebook to the North China Area Army to intercept intelligence on the Nationalist Army's supply lines; another list of infiltrators has been discovered, involving multiple industries in the Shanghai Concession, codenamed 'Sakura Group'; there are also records of secret financial transactions with Ogino Kiyoshi, involving details of the distribution of smuggled arms." Xiaozhi's electronic voice clearly announced.
Yan Shuo's eyes narrowed, and he picked up the financial transaction record. The numbers on it were shocking: "Good heavens, that old bastard Ogino really got involved. No wonder he didn't dare to touch me before. He was afraid that the smuggling would be exposed."
Xiao Mi projected the deciphered "Sakura Group" list onto the wall. The dense list of names and identities made Yan Shuo frown: "These lurking scum need to be dealt with as soon as possible. Notify Xu Li to distribute this list and investigate and lock them down one by one, prioritizing those in key positions."
"Received, already forwarded to Xu Li," Xiaomi nodded in response.
Yan Shuo picked up another document detailing the methods used by Saeki to induce the surrender of seven regimental-level troops—coercion, bribery, arresting family members, and even using drugs to control officers.
"This is utterly depraved." He sneered, putting the documents into his spatial storage. "These are irrefutable evidence for future reckoning. Keep them; they'll be useful. Send them to headquarters."
After finishing the documents, Yan Shuo leaned back in his chair, pondering the next steps: "With Saeki dead, the Mei Agency will definitely be in chaos. Ogino will most likely try to shift the blame, and the 'Sakura Group' infiltrators will become more vigilant. We need to take advantage of the chaos to make another killing and also eliminate the remaining hidden dangers."
Early in the morning, the atmosphere at the Mei Agency headquarters was so oppressive it was almost palpable.
First came the news of a fire at the Saeki Shinkai villa. Then, the bodies of three officers, Matsumoto Takuma, Yoshioka Daiya, and Sakamoto Keiichi, were discovered at the site of the burned-down Namiko Izakaya. Subsequently, multiple bodies were also reported to have been found in the Special Higher Police's privilege room and two secret safe houses.
In Major General Kiyoshi Ogino's office, several core officers of the Ume Agency sat around, their faces all deathly pale.
"Urgent report! Colonel Saeki's villa is on fire, and the fire is completely out of control!"
The news spread like wildfire, instantly reaching the top echelons of the Mei Agency.
Major General Kiyoshi Ogino, the deputy chief of staff, stormed into the conference room in his pajamas, his face ashen.
"What happened? How could Saeki-kun's villa suddenly catch fire?"
Kiyoshi Ogino slammed his fist on the table, his tone agitated. "Where's the fire department? Have they rescued the person yet?"
The liaison officer, pale-faced, bowed his head and said, "Reporting to the general, the fire brigade has arrived, but the fire is too intense and the villa has collapsed... The search and rescue team found nine bodies in the ruins, and preliminary identification indicates that one of them is the remains of Colonel Nobuyoshi Saeki."
"What?!" Kiyoshi Ogino's pupils constricted, and he staggered back a step, grabbing the edge of the table to steady himself. "Saeki-kun is dead? He was a key member of the team, about to be promoted to major general! Who did it? Was it an anti-Japanese element?"
The meeting room was deathly silent; no one dared to speak.
Just then, another staff officer stumbled in, holding a telegram in his hand, his voice trembling: "General! There's even worse news! Lieutenant Colonels Yoshioka Daiya and Sakamoto Keiichi from the Strategy Section, and Lieutenant Colonel Matsumoto Takuma from the Intelligence Section, were murdered last night at the Namiko Izakaya. The izakaya was also set on fire, and there were no survivors!"
"Baka!" Kiyoshi Ogino completely erupted, kicking over the chair beside him. "Three lieutenant colonels and a brigadier general-level colonel died in one day? This is a provocation against the Imperial Japanese Army! It's a declaration of war!"
"General, there's more..." another subordinate hesitated before speaking, "We can't contact the personnel in charge of the secret privilege room. The soldiers we sent to investigate reported that there were signs of intense fighting in the third privilege room. Inside, we found the bodies of more than 10 guards and a captain, as well as... the body of Bai Zhimin, who is suspected to be a traitor."
"A VIP room?" Kiyoshi Ogino frowned, his tone puzzled. "What VIP room? I don't know anything about it."
The staff officers present exchanged glances. One of them cautiously explained, "General, this is a secret outpost set up by the intelligence and strategy departments to detain prisoners or traitors with special identities. It is an unreported secret facility, and only a few people, such as Colonel Nobuyoshi Saeki and Lieutenant Colonel Takuma Matsumoto, know the details."
"Damn it!" Kiyoshi Ogino trembled with rage. "Such a huge incident and they didn't report it? Now all the people who knew are dead. Who's locked up inside? And who is Shirai Zhimin? What secrets did he know?"
"I don't know, General." The old staff officer shook his head, his face full of helplessness. "There were no documents left at the scene, and all classified items were taken away. We only found out that Bai Zhimin was recently arrested by Matsumoto Takuma, and it seems to be related to a supply line for anti-Japanese armed forces, but the specific information... nobody knows."
"Useless! A bunch of useless trash!" Kiyoshi Ogino roared. "All the insiders are dead? All the documents are gone? This was a premeditated purge! Not only did they know about our secret base, but they also precisely eliminated all the insiders. They clearly have an encyclopedic understanding of the internal workings of our Mei Agency!"
A major, a staff officer, spoke nervously: "General, could there be a traitor within our ranks? Otherwise, how could they know Colonel Saeki Shinkai's whereabouts and the location of the secret VIP room so well?"
"Possibly," another section chief chimed in. "Moreover, their firepower is fierce and their actions are decisive. They are clearly well-trained professional agents, perhaps an elite squad from the Military Intelligence Bureau or the Communist Party."
The loss of four high-ranking officers, the raid on a secret base, and the exposure of an unreported privilege room—if this matter isn't handled properly, he might lose his position as deputy head of the agency, let alone his promotion.
"Who is it..." Kiyoshi Ogino muttered to himself, his eyes filled with fear and rage. "Whoever you are, I will find you and tear you to pieces!"
Kiyoshi Ogino rubbed his temples, forcibly suppressing his panic, and said in a deep voice, "First, seal off all news! The deaths of Commander Saeki, the three Matsumotos, and Shiroji are not to be spread, especially not to General Doi-mamura! Say that the fire at Commander Saeki's villa was an accident, that the three Matsumotos died from drunkenness in the fire, and that Shiroji committed suicide out of guilt!"