Chapter 16: Dai Su
The man patted Oshima's shoulder and said, "Don't overthink. As long as they pay, it's fine."
Zhou Lin's face brightened immediately, "Exactly! Money talks."
The man glanced at the forest.
Zhou Lin stated, "I checked, no one around."
The man then pulled out a small black cloth bag and handed it to Zhou Lin. "Inside are film rolls with information on the three aspects you need."
Zhou Lin didn't take it, questioning, "Aren't you meeting with Sato for the handover?"
"Why meet? Meeting means recognition. If he gets caught on the way back and reveals my identity, it's a big loss."
After some thought, Zhou Lin remarked, "You're as cunning as ever."
"No extra vigilance, and I'd end up like those guys, dead."
"Alright! You stay hidden, I'll talk to Sato. I'll directly trade with him, get the money, and then deliver it to you."
"We're old friends; you looked out for me when I was in Japan. Our friendship is worth more than this money. Let's go with your plan. I'm leaving."
The man swiftly left the forest.
Zhou Lin, hearing the man wouldn't be part of the transaction, felt anxious. However, in the trees, any movement would make noise, risking Oshima's discovery. Therefore, Zhou Lin refrained from trailing the man.
After Oshima left, he intentionally misled, walking back in the opposite direction.
Zhou Lin, emerging later, didn't follow Oshima but hailed a taxi directly to Lao Guang's tavern.
Upon entering, he headed upstairs.
Outside the door of a room on the second floor stood the squad leader.
Seeing Zhou Lin, the squad leader approached.
Zhou Lin asked, "Is the chief here?"
"Yes! The bureau chief is also present. Wait a moment; I'll inquire."
The squad leader entered the room and, after a while, the chief came out.
Leading Zhou Lin to the adjacent room, the chief inquired, "What's the matter?"
"Chief, today I went to Yuan Guan and got 45,000 francs. When I returned, I informed Oshima and prepared for the trade. Later, Oshima left to meet that person. I followed him."
"Not discovered, I hope?"
"No! But that person is cautious. He suggested Oshima handles the trade."
"Oshima to trade with you?"
"Yes! The man gave Oshima a film roll. All the intel is on it. Oshima gets the money, then hands it over."
The chief cursed, "Cunning fellow. If he hides, it's challenging for us to catch him."
Having said that, the chief asked Zhou Lin to wait and went to report to the bureau chief.
Zhou Lin sat and took a sip of water.
The door opened, and Dai Su and the chief came in.
The chief said, "There are others; the bureau chief is on the way."
Zhou Lin saluted, "Hello, bureau chief!"
Dai Su asked Zhou Lin to report in detail.
Dai Su said, "According to the Japanese plan after Sato gets the money, he'll immediately trade intel and return. If Sato doesn't return, the Japanese will know something's wrong. This line will be cut."
The chief nodded, and Zhou Lin agreed.
Dai Su stated, "We have to act now. Capture Oshima, then extract the identity of the traitor."
The chief stood at attention, "Yes!"
Zhou Lin suggested, "To capture Oshima, it's best to do it outside. It will confuse the Japanese and the traitor."
Dai Su agreed, "Oshima hasn't reached the meeting point at home. Let's go; we'll catch him midway."
The chief immediately rushed out to arrange personnel.
Dai Su said, "Your father entrusted you to me for training. Unexpectedly, you're a natural talent in espionage. You've done well in this matter; even better than an old spy. I'll commend you."
Zhou Lin stood at attention, "Thank you, bureau chief, for nurturing me!"
Dai Su said, "After capturing Oshima, you'll be responsible for exposing the traitor."
Zhou Lin asked, "What about the woman who provided the money?"
"No need to look for her. The location was a one-time use."
Zhou Lin realized; that after he got the money, the Japanese wouldn't use that building or wall again.
A few minutes later, the chief arrived with six people from Zhou Lin's team.
Two deputy squad leaders, an action team leader, and three seasoned veterans.
On the way, they didn't find Oshima.
"He must have taken a car back home," Zhou Lin said.
The chief ordered, "Definitely went home. Zhou Lin, lead the team to the butcher shop and apprehend him."
At the butcher shop, the chief and three men went to the front door, while Zhou Lin and three others blocked the backyard.
Under a tree, Zhou Lin and his team waited.
Suddenly, the front door burst open, and the chief and his team rushed in.
Oshima, in the backyard, found the bag Zhou Lin had hidden earlier. Clutching it, he shot at the team entering from the front.
Zhou Lin, just climbing the tree, saw a team member get shot and fall.
Panicking, Zhou Lin pulled out his pistol and fired at Oshima.
The shot hit Oshima in the chest, and as Oshima turned to look at the roof of the toilet, he saw Zhou Lin.
"So, you're... a Chinese... spy."
With those words, Oshima took his last breath and fell.
The chief and his team rushed in, seeing Zhou Lin with a gun on the roof.
The chief gave a thumbs up, "Well done!"
Jiang Xi walked over, "This guy might look fat, but his combat skills are impressive."
Zhou Lin jumped down from the toilet. At that moment, a voice rang in his mind.
"You killed a Japanese agent, receive system rewards."
"The reward is one of the deceased's technical specialties."
"Disguise skill reward: Basic disguise."
"Stealth skill reward: Basic stealth."
"Espionage skill reward: Basic espionage."
"Please choose one of the three for your reward."
Zhou Lin silently chose "Espionage skill."
"As you wish!"
Zhou Lin's mind immediately absorbed new knowledge, particularly on how to gather intelligence as a spy.
The system quickly taught him two main approaches: traditional espionage and obtaining information through phones, communication devices, and wireless shortwave, and long-wave methods.
Zhou Lin withdrew his thoughts, focusing on the current situation.
The chief checked Oshima and said, "He's dead."
Zhou Lin searched Oshima's body, retrieving the bag and handing it to the chief. "Chief, here's 45,000 francs."
The people nearby lit up at the sight of the bag.
The chief opened it and counted the money—45,000 francs in half-cash, all one hundred denominations.
"Not bad! A total of 45,000 francs." The chief put the money back in the bag.
(End of Chapter)