69novels Chapter 106 is substantial and dazzling!
Chapter 106 is substantial and dazzling!
Soon, the three met at the designated meeting point.
Mingtai asked in a low voice, "Is everything taken care of?"
Yu Manli replied, "The counterfeit money printing site has been cleared out, and all the explosives are in place."
Guo Qiyun continued, "All the Japanese in the research labs have been dealt with—not a single one of those who were working on chemical and biological weapons escaped, and all the labs have been equipped with explosives."
Mingtai glanced around and decisively ordered, "Go! Evacuate immediately!"
The action must be swift, accurate, and quiet.
They encountered several patrols along the way, but the three of them worked together seamlessly and subdued them swiftly without making a sound.
After exiting the gate of the Sugimoto machine shop, Mingtai took out a remote control and steadily pressed the detonation button with his thumb.
Rumble... Bang! Bang! Bang!
Boom—Boom—Boom—
In an instant, flames shot up from the entire Shanji building, tearing through the night like a crimson wave, illuminating the entire dark sky of Shanghai, and swirling and rising, eventually condensing into a rolling gray-black mushroom cloud.
The explosion was incredibly powerful.
Under such a powerful shockwave, the building collapsed instantly, steel bars twisted, and bricks and stones flew everywhere.
Those Japanese military researchers who had hidden in the laboratory tinkering with poisons and developing pathogens all perished in the fire, finally getting their just deserts.
Although they were intellectuals, they used their minds to harm the Chinese people—manufacturing chemical warfare agents, cultivating deadly viruses, counterfeiting currency to disrupt people's livelihoods... Every single one of these acts is a blood debt.
Kill!
None of them should live!
The aftershocks of the explosion had not yet subsided, and a raging fire had engulfed the entire area, with sporadic explosions still occurring from time to time.
It turns out that the Sugimoto Agency was not only a counterfeit money den, but also a prototype factory for various military hazardous materials, storing large quantities of flammable and explosive chemicals. Now, the main explosion has triggered a chain reaction, igniting and detonating all the stockpiled nitroglycerin, chlorine cylinders, concentrated bacterial solutions, and more.
Rumble... Crash!
Thus, after the main explosion, secondary explosions followed one after another.
Under such devastating attacks, there were no survivors in the Sugimoto machine shop.
Along with the fruits of those crimes, countless experimental records, raw data, sample diagrams, precision molds, and banknote printing plates vanished into thin air...
For example, at the counterfeit banknote printing site—all the counterfeit currency templates, ink formulas, distribution channel analyses, and anti-counterfeiting feature files were engulfed by the flames and burned to a handful of light ashes.
The first half of the Green Lamp Project has now been successfully completed.
Rumble...
boom! boom! boom!
All the achievements that the Japanese had painstakingly built up over the years were reduced to nothing in this violent explosion, and even the ashes were scattered in the wind.
Mingtai, Yu Manli, and Guo Qiyun gazed at the towering flames and thick smoke, and simultaneously let out a long sigh of relief.
They knew perfectly well that the Sugi Agency was no ordinary stronghold—it was the Japanese army's most secretive and core intelligence center in Shanghai, containing a wealth of top-secret files and cutting-edge experimental data. Taking it down now would be tantamount to severing a vital lifeline for the enemy, a truly monumental achievement.
Yu Manli glanced at the inconspicuous remote control in Mingtai's hand and couldn't help but sigh, "You're really something! I didn't expect 'Pluto' to make such a powerful remote-controlled explosive. It can be detonated from a distance without even needing to get close to the fuse—he's really good at everything."
Back then, remote-controlled detonation devices were rare items, belonging to the pinnacle of technological equipment.
During World War II, remote-controlled weapons did indeed have their prototypes, the most famous of which was the "Goliath" remote-controlled demolition vehicle used by the German army.
That thing was a small, tracked metal box containing a high-explosive warhead, remotely controlled by wires, with a speed of no more than five kilometers per hour, about the same as a person walking. But it could climb slopes and cross obstacles. During the Battle of Kursk, Manstein used it to trigger a Soviet minefield—one vehicle detonated, and all the mines within a radius of fifty meters were overturned in a chain reaction, making it extremely lethal. As a result, this kind of tactic was once highly regarded by intelligence agencies of various countries.
Very few people truly understand the principles and know how to operate it, let alone manufacture it independently.
However, Zhou Xiao was an expert in the structure and detonation logic of explosives, and managed to develop a stable and reliable remote-controlled explosive, which was truly remarkable.
Mingtai and Yu Manli learned basic explosives knowledge during their training at the Military Intelligence Bureau, but they had no experience with remote detonation.
That's why Yu Manli gave that soft compliment from the bottom of her heart.
Without the explosives provided by "Pluto," this operation would likely have been roundabout, risky, and might even have failed.
Guo Qiyun interjected, "What's most amazing is that he was able to pinpoint the exact location of the Sugimoto Agency headquarters."
That's absolutely true. The Sugimoto Agency has always been elusive and secretive; it's the most heavily guarded and hidden black nest of the Japanese military in Shanghai, so secretive that outsiders can't even find a trace of it.
It not only concealed important documents but also secretly developed various insidious weapons, making it a prime target for elimination by multiple parties. Yet, for years, no one has been able to figure out where its doors lead, let alone take action against it.
Now, not only has "Pluto" been found, but it has also been decisively removed.
This achievement is worthy of being recorded in the annals of the War of Resistance Against Japan; it carries significant weight and shines brightly.
Mingtai stared at the rolling flames in the distance and said in a deep voice, "Retreat! If we don't leave now, the patrol teams around will surround us."
Before he finished speaking, he had already turned around and led the way, with Yu Manli and Guo Qiyun following closely behind and quietly leaving.
However, instead of returning to the bright photo studio, they turned towards the outer area of the Sugimoto Museum.
The mission isn't over yet!
Destroying the machinery was only the first step in the entire plan; there were still crucial actions to be carried out nearby.
Just as Mingtai's team was carrying out their operation at the Sugi Agency, Zhou Xiao, Asano Hirofumi, Oshima Ken, and others returned to the Special Higher Police headquarters.
Inside the Special Higher Police Division, in the division chief's office.
Ken Oshima pointed to the room and said, "Asano-kun, this will be your office from now on. If you need any supplies, you can start arranging them tomorrow; the Military Police will also provide full support for any other matters."
Hirofumi Asano looked around and nodded slightly: "This office is acceptable."
After saying that, he walked to the window, reached out and pulled back the curtains, opened the window, and looked out at the street scene of Shanghai. He slowly said, "This is Shanghai... the Shanghai that I long for."
Zhou Xiao stood quietly to the side, saying nothing.
It doesn't matter. Asano Hirofumi, the head of the Special Higher Police, can't stay in Shanghai for more than a few days.
His death is imminent.
Asano Hirofumi gazed out the window for a moment, then suddenly turned around and looked directly at Zhou Xiao: "Director Zhou, you've assisted both Section Chief Aoki and Section Chief Sendoh, you should be quite familiar with them, right?"
Zhou Xiao was slightly taken aback: "I understand him fairly well. Why did Section Chief Asano suddenly ask about this?"
"Oh, just a casual remark." Hirofumi Asano said in a flat tone, "There's a consensus in the criminal investigation field: in most murder cases, the perpetrator is often someone you know."
"Because the identity of an acquaintance provides natural cover, there are more opportunities for contact, it is easier to do things, the success rate is high, and it is not easy to arouse suspicion."
"Of course, I am not implying that Director Zhou's close relationship with the previous two section chiefs means that you did something."
"I didn't say that out loud; I was just analyzing the reasoning behind the case."
If it were someone else, they would probably just have to swallow these words.
But Zhou Xiao wouldn't.
His face darkened, and anger surged in his eyes: "Section Chief Asano, if you truly suspect me, execute me now; or dismiss me immediately. I don't want to be speculated about like this every day, and I certainly don't want to continue working with you amidst this suspicion!"
Kenjiro Oshima, standing nearby, also looked displeased: "Asano-kun, Director Zhou is a trusted partner of our empire. Making arbitrary accusations without any evidence will only damage mutual trust and affect the overall cooperation."
"The head of the agency had previously instructed you to be more restrained in your actions in Shanghai."
Hirofumi Asano glanced at the two men, his expression momentarily pausing, before laughing loudly, "Director Zhou, General Ken Oshima, I was just joking. Why take it so seriously? There's no need to get angry, much less make a big deal out of it."
"I really didn't suspect Director Zhou; we were just discussing our investigation strategies."
Ken Oshima nodded: "That's good. I hope you two can work together smoothly and without any barriers in the future."
"I'm sorry, Director Zhou!" Asano Hirofumi extended his hand and shook hands with Zhou Xiao. "Please don't take it to heart."
Zhou Xiao, his face cold, reached out and shook hands, saying simply, "No."
Hirofumi Asano leaned closer, lowered his voice, and whispered in Zhou Xiao's ear, "Director Zhou, one last reminder—you'd better not be an undercover agent. If you reveal even the slightest flaw, I won't give you a chance to breathe."
As long as Zhou Xiao is listed as a suspect, Asano Hirofumi will not hesitate to act first and ask for permission later.
You want to kill me?
I'm afraid you won't even have a chance to make a move.
Asano Hirofumi and Zhou Xiao only met twice, and both times the pressure was clearly directed at them.
Without any evidence, repeatedly implying or even explicitly stating that Zhou Xiao is an undercover agent is not an investigation at all, but a blatant act of psychological pressure.
If one's will is not firm enough, coupled with an already suspicious mind, it is easy to mistakenly believe that the other party has already grasped the details, and then one's behavior becomes abnormal and full of flaws.
But Zhou Xiao is a top-notch agent with an iron-like mental defense. How could he be disturbed by such a low-level test?
In fact, Hirofumi Asano couldn't produce even the slightest suspicious clue.
Zhou Xiao said calmly, "We have an old saying—if your body is upright, your shadow won't be crooked. Section Chief Asano, I'm afraid this time, you really don't have a chance."
Hirofumi Asano smiled and said, "That would be perfect."
There's no chance anymore.
There really is no chance anymore.
Because in a few moments, it would be his death day.
Kenjiro Oshima, upon assuming his post, immediately became suspicious of the head of the Special Operations Headquarters' intelligence department, fearing that this situation would seriously interfere with subsequent work. He then asked, "Chief Asano, do you intend to remain in the Special Higher Police?"
"It's getting late, let's go back and rest."
Asano Hirofumi immediately switched back to his gentle and refined demeanor: "General Oshima, Director Zhou, please go back first. I'll stay a little longer, so please don't trouble yourself to keep me company."
He has always been unpredictable—fierce-tempered, yet with a twisted stubbornness.
It was already late at night, but he insisted on staying behind alone in the Special Higher Police Department.
That's good, it makes it easier for Zheng Yaoxian to take action.
Ken Oshima nodded: "Alright, then Director Zhou, we'll be going now."