Agent: Intercepting Yu Manli at the start!

Chapter 82 A mixed bag, difficult to discern the true nature of things!

Although Feng Manna did not explicitly state the specific actions, and Zhou Xiao was too lazy to ask, he already knew exactly what was going on.

Please invite Sendoh Kaede to attend?

Isn't that hitting the bullseye?

Do we have to cooperate proactively?

That would be even more desirable.

This scheme, orchestrated through a Kuomintang agent, appears outwardly calm, but in reality, it's a trap set by a hidden hand on Xian Daofeng.

The key to the whole plan is to eliminate the newly appointed head of the Special Higher Police.

Previously, Zhou Xiao was still figuring out how to smoothly "invite" Xian Daofeng into the game; now that Feng Manna has taken the initiative to offer an invitation, the invitation is a natural and flawless arrangement.

What's even more ingenious is that the plan already had a place reserved for Zhou Xiao.

Now that he is the head of the operations department, it is both legitimate and seamless for him to intervene in the mission led by Feng Manna.

If it weren't for Xian Daofeng's hasty and reckless personnel reshuffle—which aggravated the long-standing resentment between Feng Manna and Lan Yanzhi, forcing Feng Manna to be eager to seize credit and establish authority; if this reshuffle hadn't just happened to push Zhou Xiao to the position of head of the action department—how could the whole thing have progressed so smoothly and been so interconnected?

That's why Zhou Xiao chuckled to himself: Didn't Xian Daofeng personally shove the hilt of the knife into his hand?

And that knife ultimately struck Sendoh Kaede himself.

He should even bow and thank her for this divine intervention.

On the same day, Zheng Yaoxian, the top ace of the Military Intelligence Bureau and known as "Sixth Brother," quietly arrived in Shanghai.

He arrived in Shanghai on time.

On the surface, things appear calm, but beneath the surface, undercurrents are churning.

If major intelligence agencies were to detect Zheng Yaoxian's presence, the entire city of Shanghai would be thrown into turmoil, with all eyes fixed on this isolated island city.

Shanghai, located at the confluence of the Yangtze River and the Huangpu River, is a coastal city that is strategically positioned with the Yangtze River to the north, the vast East China Sea to the east, and Hangzhou Bay to the south.

Living by the sea means making a living from it, and the docks are the lifeblood of the region—with a dense network of waterways and numerous ports, the Pudong docks are particularly bustling and vibrant.

This place serves both passengers and cargo, and ships from all directions dock here to unload their cargo. The crowds are so large that people are shoulder to shoulder.

As a freight hub, it was a melting pot of people, including porters, canal gangsters, street thugs, and all sorts of people from all walks of life, all mingling together in this muddy and salty place, making it difficult to distinguish between the good and the bad.

Zheng Yaoxian chose this most ordinary dock entrance.

"Pfft—pfft—pfft—"

A ship's horn pierced the morning mist, and a passenger ship slowly approached the shore.

Passengers, dragging suitcases and carrying bundles, rushed down the gangway.

Zheng Yaoxian was lost in the crowd, dressed in simple casual clothes, his face subtly altered. He carried only a heavy old wooden box, looking completely inconspicuous, much like a stranger who had just returned to his hometown to make a living.

At this time, the Japanese army still firmly controlled the Pudong Wharf, strictly inspecting and randomly checking passengers entering and leaving the wharf.

But no one noticed anything unusual about him—his eyes were calm and unwavering, his steps were unhurried, and even the wear and tear on the suitcase handle looked like it had been used for ten years.

After landing, he hailed a rickshaw and said in a low voice, "Master, Oriental Apartments, Kane Road."

"Alright!" the driver replied readily, bent down, and pulled him into the depths of the alley.

Silently, the sharpest knife of the Military Intelligence Bureau has quietly fallen into the heart of Shanghai.

Special Operations Headquarters.

After Zhou Xiao's guidance, Feng Manna made the final decision: to invite Xian Daofeng to participate in this operation together with Zhou Xiao.

But she kept the details of the operation a closely guarded secret, leaving no room for misunderstanding.

After she pushed open the door and left, Zhou Xiao leaned against the window and remained silent for a moment, a slight smile playing on his lips—the fire wasn't quite ready yet; he needed to add more fuel.

After all, since Feng Manna has extended an invitation, Xian Daofeng might not necessarily accept it.

He decided to take matters into his own hands and give her a push.

Military Police Headquarters.

Zhou Xiao's trip was solely to meet one person: Ken Oshima.

Meeting him was both to put pressure on Xian Daofeng and to secretly pave the way for gaining his trust.

As per Li Xiaonan's secret orders, the objective was clear: uncover the counterfeit currency den of the Shanji organization and wipe it out in one fell swoop.

Inside the commander's office, Zhou Xiao looked anxious, his tone sincere to the point of being almost bitter:

"General Oshima, I come from an intelligence background, so I'm very familiar with this area. But Section Chief Sendo Kaede's order transferred me to the Operations Division... This is too big a leap, it's no joke."

"Just getting familiar with this new setup will take so much time. We're at a critical juncture right now, and we can't afford to waste any more time."

"It's not just me who's changed positions—Director Chen Shen, Section Chief Feng Manna, and Lan Yanzhi have all been reassigned. There's been quite a personnel shake-up."

He then proceeded to recount the recent situation at the Special Operations Headquarters in detail, and added at the end: "If things continue like this, the integration between the higher and lower levels will probably take quite a while."

After listening, Ken Oshima nodded slightly: "Director Zhou is right."

He paused, then said slowly, "However, since Section Chief Xiandao has made this move, she must have her reasons. You just need to adapt quickly."

Zhou Xiao hesitated for a moment, then lowered his voice: "General, there is something I would like to tell you truthfully."

"Right now, there's a lot of skepticism surrounding Section Chief Sendo Kaede within the Special Operations Headquarters. Many people feel that... she can't keep things under control and isn't up to the standards of the Special Higher Police."

Ken Oshima slightly raised his eyelids, his expression unchanged.

How could he not understand?

With his delicate skin and effeminate manner, Sendoh Kaede was secretly called "Flower Butterfly" by his subordinates. How could he be the head of the Special Higher Police with the power of life and death?

Coupled with this round of swift and decisive personnel purges, resentment has long since grown like wildfire.

Not to mention the Special Operations Headquarters, there have also been complaints from the Shang Mansion and No. 76.

Ken Oshima tapped the table lightly: "A new broom sweeps clean; some noise is normal."

"If she can accomplish something significant, then everyone will naturally agree with her."

Zhou Xiao immediately chimed in, "That's exactly right! We leaders don't care, but we're worried about the morale of our subordinates getting unstable, which could affect our work."

Ken Oshima looked at him, his gaze warming: "Director Zhou, you truly are a trustworthy friend of our great Japanese Empire—always thinking of the Empire's best interests, how rare!"

Zhou Xiao straightened his back and spoke with firm conviction: "I am loyal to the new regime under Mr. Wang's leadership!"

Ken Oshima laughed heartily: "Same! All the same! Hahaha!"

Zhou Xiao was certain that Oshima Ken would soon call Sendoh Kaede—not to discuss, but to exert pressure.

Torn between coercion from his superior and a "golden opportunity to make a name for himself" offered by Feng Manna, Xian Daofeng had no choice but to grit his teeth and wade into this murky water. Once he stepped into the trap, his death was imminent.

The entire game was played flawlessly.

No sooner had Zhou Xiao stepped out of the Military Police Headquarters than Oshima Ken picked up the phone and dialed the Special Higher Police Section Chief's office: "Please transfer me to Section Chief Sendo Kaede, answer immediately."

The situation unfolded flawlessly along the trajectory Zhou Xiao had laid out.

After leaving the headquarters, Zhou Xiao drove back to the Special Operations Headquarters.

He knew perfectly well that his sixth brother, Zheng Yaoxian, was arriving in Shanghai today. But he had no idea which ship, where he would be staying, or when they would be contacted.

For now, all we can do is wait and see.

The method of contact had been agreed upon beforehand: publish an announcement in the newspaper, every word ordinary, every sentence concealing a sharp edge.

These past two days, he's been flipping through the Shenbao newspaper until it's worn out, but he still hasn't received that familiar code.

The next morning, at Zhou Enlai's residence.

Zhou Xiao put down his chopsticks and looked up at Lin Yiyi: "Yiyi, did you buy this morning's *Shen Bao*?"

Lin Yiyi nodded: "It's on the table, you can look for it yourself."

"Okay." He reached for the newspaper, his fingertips quickly skimming the yellowed pages before his gaze sharpened—a lost and found notice in the bottom right corner caught his eye...

The Shenbao newspaper was founded in Shanghai in 1872 and spanned the late Qing Dynasty, the Republic of China, and the puppet regime, circulating for over half a century. It was known as the "Number One Newspaper in Shanghai".

Because of its wide readership, stable reputation, and frequent circulation, it was often used by the underground front to transmit secret messages, arrange meetings, and set times.

The Communists used it, the Military Intelligence Bureau used it, and even the Japanese puppet regime's spies and informants found it difficult to prevent its infiltration.

Zheng Yaoxian chose it precisely because he valued its experience of being "no different in the open, but with a hidden door in the dark."

In the entire city of Shanghai, only Zhou Xiao knew that Zheng Yaoxian had quietly landed yesterday; but he truly had no idea where the other party was hiding.

At that moment, a line of small print on the newspaper caught my eye—"Oriental Apartments, Kane Road, 3:45 PM."

The apartment was noisy and crowded, with windows facing each other and doors close together; one could easily slip up and give oneself away.

Zhou Xiao closed the newspaper, a slight smile playing on his lips: "Sixth Brother has arrived safely."

During his time in the mountain city, Zheng Yaoxian taught him step by step how to see through disguises, dismantle coded messages, and hide three layers of intelligence with a pencil... Those real skills were not just theoretical; they were survival skills earned with one's life.

Zhou Xiao remembered this mentorship.

After quickly scanning the notice, he turned to Lin Yiyi and asked, "Has anything happened with Yongxin?"

Lin Yiyi shook her head: "It seems calm on the surface, but yesterday afternoon, Yongxin's people and Xingrong Gang met at the Shiliupu Wharf."

Xingrong Gang – one of the three major gangs in Shanghai, with territory spanning Nanshi and Zhabei. In the shadowy world of espionage, they have always been a tough nut to crack.

"Keep a close eye on them." Zhou Xiao's tone was gentle, but his eyes darkened.

Gang interference? He needs to reassess the situation.

However, right now, there are only two most important things: seeing Sixth Brother and eliminating the Immortal Path.

After breakfast, he grabbed his coat and headed out, the sound of his engine cutting through the morning light.

He now holds the title of Director of Operations, but still sits in the office of the Director of Intelligence. Nominally it's a "handover," but in reality, he holds both positions and wields power.

Chen Shen remained silent—after all, every handover process takes two or three days.

Inside the intelligence office, Zhou Xiao dialed the department's phone: "Lan Yanzhi, come to my office."

Before she could finish speaking, Lan Yanzhi pushed the door open and entered, closing it behind her.

"Section Chief Lan, good morning!" Zhou Xiao smiled gently.

She sank into the sofa and sighed lazily, "Right now, I doubt even the cleaning lady at headquarters believes I'm really a section chief."

"Manna is still staying in my room and refuses to move—let her be, I'm too lazy to argue."

Zhou Xiao nodded: "That's the right way to think. Xian Daofeng is best at finding fault and stirring up trouble. If you provoke him and he gets angry, it will only please him."

He paused, then changed the subject: "Is the situation with the Military Intelligence Bureau resolved?"

Lan Yanzhi sat up straight: "The mole has been caught. The scheme at Shitai Department Store will begin tomorrow. The only question is... will Xian Daofeng show his face?"

Zhou Xiao's smile deepened: "He absolutely has to come."

Feng Manna handed over the ladder, while Oshima Ken put pressure on his back. He himself was not comfortable sitting in the Special Higher Police's chair—how could he shut his subordinates up if he didn't give it his all?

"Also," he lowered his voice, "that 'Sixth Brother' next to him, he's clean-cut and has a very calm look in his eyes, you need to be careful."

Lan Yanzhi nodded silently.

Everything was under Zhou Xiao's control.

Special Higher Police Section Chief's Office.

Feng Manna held the microphone close to her ear, her tone respectful: "Section Chief Xiandao, we have an operation to wipe out the Military Intelligence Bureau's Shanghai station in one fell swoop, and we've come to ask you to lead the operation."

A short, nasal sound came from the other end of the phone: "Oh?"

The trailing tone was cold and cloying, making Feng Manna's neck go numb.

"Yes," she answered readily.

"Come to the Special Higher Police." Sendoh Kaede's voice was hoarse. "I need to see the entire plan."

"Yes, ma'am." Feng Manna hung up the phone and turned to leave.

Inside the Special Higher Police Department, the department head's office door was closed.