Chapter 103: My Younger Sister Is Coming (Please Subscribe)

On Hujun Street, at the Yimei Tavern.

“Mr. Shibuya, he cooperated fully. I thoroughly inspected every possible hiding place in his home. Aside from that small arsenal in the storage room, there was nothing else,” Front reported, kneeling before Saburo Shibuya.

“Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Front. Please,” Saburo Shibuya gestured to Anna, clad in a kimono, to pour Front a cup of sake.

“Thank you.” Front raised his cup and downed it in one gulp. “Mr. Shibuya, I still prefer vodka.”

Saburo Shibuya nodded slightly. Anna understood immediately, rose, and fetched a bottle of vodka, filling Front’s cup once more.

Front lifted the glass and drank deeply, a pleased smile spreading across his face. “Mr. Shibuya, when it comes to liquor, nothing beats Russian vodka—strong, flavorful, the kind of drink a man should have!”

“Mr. Front, though Japanese sake is not a strong liquor, it is smooth on the palate yet packs a powerful aftertaste. Drink too much, and it quickly takes hold. It’s much like our Yamato spirit and the samurai’s endurance. We possess patience and subtle strength; victory ultimately belongs to us,” Saburo Shibuya smiled gently, not taking offense at Front’s bluntness.

Front nodded thoughtfully. “Mr. Shibuya, why choose a Manchurian to carry out this mission?”

“Because he was the most suitable.”

“Oh?”

“You’ve spent over four months alongside Anthony, haven’t you? What do you think of him?” Shibuya asked.

“He is passionate and talkative, generous with his drinks. We get along well.”

“For this operation, seven people went out: you, General Maratov, and five others. Only two survived—just you and Maratov. One survivor is still undergoing rehabilitation. The other four died, including Anthony, who was the guide. The mission failed because their intelligence had full knowledge of our plans.”

“You suspect one of our seven was a spy, leaking information to the Soviets?”

“Not just suspicion—we are certain. Without a leak, how else would you have fallen so neatly into their trap? You and General Maratov couldn’t be traitors; the spy must be among the remaining five. Of those five, two were selected from Asano’s unit, and the other three belonged to the Russian Patriotic Alliance. Anthony was the guide; he had lived there for years.”

“I wasn’t aware of that, but Anthony was indeed familiar with the area and its customs, easily gaining their trust,” Front said. “So you suspect him?”

“Yes. After the failed operation, we launched a covert investigation. Progress was limited since we had no concrete leads. However, another case we investigated became linked to Anthony…”

“If Sherkin was Anthony’s assistant and his identity confirmed, why kill him? Gaining his testimony could have revealed Anthony’s true loyalties,” Front questioned.

“By the time we uncovered their connection, Sherkin had already been executed. We had to shift our focus to Zhou Sen. Our investigation revealed that Anthony possessed a list of deep-cover agents planted in the Far East. These operatives had been carefully cultivated over the years to restore the Russian Empire. The empire now needed someone to command this force—someone controllable.”

“I see. Vasim is the key individual. Being Anthony’s adopted son, he naturally trusts him. Not being Russian himself, he harbors no imperial restoration ambitions. As long as he gets what he wants, he will serve you faithfully,” Front concluded.

“Though it may sound harsh, that is the reality,” Shibuya smiled faintly and clinked glasses with Front.

“What do you need me to do?”

“Now, we must find the list of deep-cover agents Anthony left behind. You already know this. Also, we need the means to contact them,” Shibuya replied.

“Networks of this kind, established for years, usually have a chief courier—someone who facilitates communication,” Front began, noticing Shibuya’s face slightly change. He quickly guessed the situation. “Mr. Shibuya, the chief courier must be the late Sherkin, right?”

Shibuya nodded. “That seems highly likely.”

“So, this list is probably in Sherkin’s hands. As chief courier, Anthony would entrust such a secret to him before leaving Ice City on the mission.”

“But we searched everywhere and found nothing.”

“If Sherkin was a Soviet spy, would he not have delivered the list already?”

“That’s possible. But if he had, how could Anthony explain upon his return? There is only one other possibility…” Shibuya’s eyes lit up with sudden realization.

“They were working together!”

“No. That’s unlikely. Over the years, Anthony provided valuable intelligence to the empire through this network. He personally managed it, though Sherkin shared some responsibilities, his knowledge was limited. This list is crucial. Anthony was selected for our operation without prior knowledge of mission details before training, conducted under strict surveillance in Xinjing. The final plan was only revealed upon arrival in Turkey.”

“Perhaps the spy isn’t among the operatives. The plan was known from the Kwantung Army’s intelligence agency all the way to the Japanese military headquarters. Though top secret, can we rule out leaks?” Front countered. “There have always been people like us within your ranks.”

“Correction: they are not ‘people like you,’ but traitorous Soviet spies. They are shameful betrayers,” Shibuya said darkly.

Front’s expression soured. Were they not also betrayers in their own way?

“Enough. Let’s not say hurtful things,” Shibuya immediately softened his tone. “Regarding Zhou Sen’s vetting, we have a preliminary conclusion: he has little connection to Anthony. Though Anthony may have had plans for him, our surveillance and wiretapping found nothing untoward. Of course, after learning of his adoptive father Anthony’s death, he showed emotional changes—his character matured. It is understandable: he transformed from a carefree young master into someone who must shoulder all burdens alone. Such growth is natural.”

“What about my mission?”

“Train him and keep him under observation. Anthony produced many excellent deep-cover agents in the Far East, but Zhou Sen was sent to police school without receiving any of Anthony’s skills,” Shibuya said.

“Perhaps because he is Manchurian,” Front suggested.

“Indeed. Cheers!” Shibuya raised his glass.

…

“This handgun is for your protection. If anyone asks, say I bought it for you on the black market,” Zhou Sen placed a Tokarev Model 1926 pistol into Bai Yulan’s hands.

“Why do I need this? Carrying it is cumbersome, and leaving it at home makes me nervous,” Bai Yulan glanced at the pistol.

“In these times, it’s better to have a weapon than not,” Zhou Sen said.

Bai Yulan considered briefly, then nodded.

Zhou Sen didn’t ask if she knew how to use a gun. A woman who dared to infiltrate a gang’s lair alone seven or eight years ago surely knew how to handle a firearm.

“Alright, I’m leaving.” Though Zhou Sen often slacked off at work, he couldn’t avoid going. Staying at Ningxiang Pavilion all day wasn’t an option.

Moreover, now there was Front—a clear “traitor”—and he had to learn espionage skills from him. The thought made him feel utterly disgusted.

But he had no choice. After all, he was short of instructors.

Arriving at “Sen’s” office in the morning, Anna was already there—half an hour earlier than him—and practicing his favorite darts.

Left dart, right dart, every throw hit the bullseye.

This woman was truly skilled.

“Come have some tea,” Zhou Sen called.

“Okay, coming.” Anna put away the darts, walked over, and naturally took a sip. “How are you getting along with Front?”

“Not bad. He’s straightforward,” Zhou Sen nodded instinctively.

“If you can’t find the roster, you can’t proceed to the next task. Understand?” Anna suddenly fixed him with a look.

“Why do you look at me like that? If I knew where the roster was, I’d have handed it over already. If it weren’t for you forcing me to do this and that, I’d be living a peaceful life!” Zhou Sen retorted.

“You think if we didn’t pressure you, you’d just keep to yourself? The Soviets have your dead comrade’s clothes. They may have identified him by now, and you’re exposed. They will send agents after you,” Anna warned.

“But they don’t know about Anthony’s secret roster, do they?” Zhou Sen argued.

“They consider you dangerous and might eliminate you for revenge. You don’t understand their methods—they kill without remorse, always under the guise of justice. You should be careful,” Anna advised.

“Where’s Front? Why isn’t he here?”

“He’s busy today, can’t come. Do whatever you want today—good days are rare,” Anna chuckled.

Suddenly, the phone on the desk rang.

“Hello, this is ‘Sen’s.’ Xiao Rou wants to see me? Okay, I’ll send someone to pick you up. Alright, it’s settled,” Zhou Sen said hesitantly, then agreed.

“Who is it?”

“My sister.”