Chapter 44: Courting Death

Good grief, this Zhou Mei has become an absolute shrew since leaving the Military Statistics Bureau!

Seeing Zhao轩 nod in approval, Zhou Mei appeared even more excited, feeling that she was getting closer and closer to the position of Head of the Intelligence Section.

Yet, such a display by Zhou Mei only made Zhao轩 feel that this wretch was getting closer and closer to her death.

The scanning result, however, came as quite a surprise to Zhao轩.

This Su Bai was indeed a man of the Military Statistics Bureau, but how on earth did Watanabe Kyoko set her sights on him?

Zhao轩 certainly did not believe that Zhou Mei spotting Su Bai yesterday was merely a coincidence.

From the very minute Watanabe Kyoko set her trap, Zhou Mei had perhaps already fallen into her chessboard.

Connecting this now with what Zhou Mei had just said, cold sweat was already beading on Zhao轩’s back.

It was impossible for Watanabe Kyoko to target Su Bai for no reason, which meant that Watanabe Kyoko was well aware of Su Bai’s background.

So how did she find out about Su Bai’s background?

And how could she be certain that she could use Su Bai to vet him?

Thinking of this, the answer was actually quite simple.

According to the information provided by Zhou Mei, Su Bai was a man of Section Chief Chen Chuyin, and Chen Chuyin was currently the Station Chief of the Shanghai Station.

Once Su Bai got into trouble, the newly established Shanghai Station would likely be destroyed once again.

And if he himself were an undercover agent of the Military Statistics Bureau, he would absolutely never stand by and watch such a thing happen.

Therefore, Watanabe Kyoko was preparing to kill two birds with one stone!

While using Su Bai to vet him, she also intended to wipe out the newly established Military Statistics Bureau station in Shanghai in one fell swoop.

There is truly no poison like a woman's heart; that saying was never wrong!

"Let's just grab a casual bite at a restaurant nearby. Tonight, Mr. Zhao, how about accompanying me to meet Su Bai, this old classmate of yours?"

Zhao轩 nodded with a detached expression. After watching Su Bai vanish from their field of vision, Zhao轩 got straight out of the car.

Glancing at Zhao轩’s sour face, Zhou Mei clenched her fists. Had it not been for Ding Mozhen promising her the position of section chief, Zhou Mei truly would not have been willing to share this credit with Zhao轩.

If she could swallow this entire credit by herself, not only would the position of Intelligence Section Head be secure, but she would also undoubtedly be able to make a name for herself over at the Special High Police Section. Once things reached that stage, even when facing Ding Mozhen in the future, Zhou Mei would have much more confidence.

Yet now, she could only swallow her pride and accept it—sharing the credit it was, then.

After getting out of the car, Zhao轩 did not rush to the restaurant.

Having analyzed the situation to this extent, Zhao轩 was certain that Watanabe Kyoko must have also sent people to keep watch nearby.

Otherwise, how could she vet him? Could she really rely solely on whether she could use Su Bai to dismantle the Military Statistics Bureau's Shanghai Station?

Therefore, Watanabe Kyoko's people were definitely around here, keeping an eye on Su Bai as well as watching him!

Looking around casually and seeing that Zhou Mei was also walking over, Zhao轩 raised a hand and pointed at a restaurant not far away:

"Let's go to that one. A Western restaurant should suit your palate quite well."

Zhou Mei gave a faint smile and walked side by side with Zhao轩 toward the Western restaurant.

As for that casual sweep of the eyes Zhao轩 had just made, while it looked like he was searching for a restaurant, he had actually scanned everything within his field of vision.

*(Sir, based on the keywords you set, the scanning results show that at the location where you just alighted from the vehicle, there are six individuals maintaining continuous surveillance. They are all of Eastern origin.)*

*(As for whether there are still people monitoring you in the blind spots you missed, or beyond your field of vision, Edith cannot be certain. However, Sir, your current situation is extremely perilous.)*

*(Edith, thank you for the reminder. I will be careful. Additionally, help me mark those targets that have already been scanned. The moment they appear again, notify me immediately.)*

*(Understood, Sir!)*

Inside the Western restaurant, Zhou Mei watched Zhao轩 skillfully and elegantly cutting his steak and savoring his red wine, and for a moment she was actually somewhat dazed.

"Mr. Zhao, it seems you frequent places like this for dining."

Zhao轩 did not answer, quietly eating the steak on his plate. After chewing slowly and deliberately, he picked up the goblet and took a sip of the red wine.

Seeing that Zhao轩 ignored her, a flash of malice crossed the depths of Zhou Mei’s eyes. Unwilling to bother with Zhao轩 any further, she lowered her head and began eating on her own.

Zhao轩 had no time to deal with Zhou Mei right now.

Su Bai’s problem was grave.

With such a fatal habit weighing on him, how on earth did Su Bai ever become an operative?

And furthermore, working right by Chen Chuyin’s side.

On this point alone, Zhao轩 still could not figure it out.

Moreover, it was one thing for Zhou Mei to know Su Bai's identity, but how the hell did Watanabe Kyoko find out?

After deep contemplation for a long time, Zhao轩 thought of a possibility: since Chongqing had a Wang puppet spy codenamed Pangolin, it wouldn't be strange to have two Japanese spies there as well, right?

Thinking along these lines, it seemed all the problems could be explained.

Could Watanabe Kyoko have activated a spy in Chongqing to obtain intelligence on Su Bai?

Zhao轩 wanted to slap himself twice for even coming up with such an explanation.

Since Watanabe Kyoko had planted a pawn in Chongqing, how could she possibly activate it solely for the sake of a single Su Bai?

Furthermore, prior to this, Watanabe Kyoko probably didn't even know who Su Bai was.

So, how was this trap actually constructed?

Everything was led right back to a dead end by Zhao轩.

Since this path could not be explained, the only other explanation Zhao轩 could think of was that Edith's scanning mode was simply imperfect.

Su Bai's scan result stated that he belonged to the Military Statistics Bureau, but belonging to the Bureau did not mean Su Bai was absolutely loyal to it.

Was this fellow secretly colluding with the enemy and selling intelligence?

This possibility was very high!

Zhao轩 quietly set down his wine glass. At that moment, Zhou Mei spoke, seemingly talking to herself or perhaps mocking something:

"I really am basking in Mr. Zhao's light today. Such high-end red wine is something I've never tasted before. If this wine were placed in front of Su Bai, he would probably have the cheek to swipe it from you."

Boom—

This sentence exploded directly in Zhao轩’s mind.

It matched. Everything matched.

With the salary of a Military Statistics Bureau operative, wine like this was basically something one could only look at.

Now Zhao轩 re-evaluated everything Zhou Mei had said before: liking novel things, loving to seek amusement, fond of high-end goods, and greedy for money!

Such a person possessed every single trait required to become prime material for engaging in intelligence trafficking.

Of course, these were still just Zhao轩's guesses, and the way to verify them was very simple: meeting this Su Bai with Zhou Mei tonight would make it clear.

As for whether Zhou Mei would arrest Su Bai tonight?

Wasn't Zhao轩 still here?

Once the hypothesis was established, coupled with Zhou Mei's urgent psychological desire to make a contribution, Zhao轩 did not believe Zhou Mei would refuse to make a win-win deal with Su Bai.

After all, once Su Bai was arrested, Chen Chuyin might notice.

Such a risk was one Zhao轩 was certain the present Zhou Mei would not dare to take.

But if the hypothesis proved false, then this Su Bai would truly become interesting. To borrow someone else's words: as an operative, Su Bai’s habits had already sealed his doom.