Chapter 62: The Umbrella

"Captain Li!'

'Captain Zhang!'

'Please!'

'Please!'

Li Yuanqing invited Zhang Yong to drink iced black tea.

English black tea. With ice. On this hot summer day. It tasted superb.

Of course, that wasn't the point.

The point was...

'Captain Zhang, you said that Dr. Liu is Japanese?'

'Yes.'

'But as far as I know, Dr. Liu has never been to Japan. She is from Hangzhou. She grew up there. Then she went to the United States to study. After she finished her studies, she returned to China. Her nationality is now American. She has an American passport.'

'She is Japanese,'

Zhang Yong calmly responded.

Without explanation.

You can believe it or not.

Anyway, in his eyes, Liu Xi is Japanese. She has secrets.

Li Yuanqing was silent.

He drank his iced tea in silence.

After a long while...

'I heard that Captain Zhang has ten quotas for people?'

'There are still nine.'

'Help me pick someone out. I owe you a favour.'

'Say it.'

Zhang Yong nodded.

He owed Zhu Yuan a favour. Li Yuanqing owed him a favour.

Very good. A debt owed to three parties. No need to repay it in the future.

Li Yuanqing took out an envelope and pushed it in front of Zhang Yong. It was obvious that he had been prepared for this.

'The information is inside.'

'Good!'

Zhang Yong reached out and took it.

He opened the envelope and pulled out the documents inside.

They looked very ordinary. The man in the photo looked like an ordinary citizen. The photo didn't show anything special about him. He looked a little older than usual.

Of course, any idiot knew that the documents were definitely not real.

Or rather, they were only superficially real. They were a disguise.

In the concession, there were many people with multiple identities. And each of those identities was real. The documents were all legitimate.

Therefore, neither the police station nor the Tilanqiao Prison knew the real identities of the prisoners.

'I'm a little curious...'

'I can't go in person. Otherwise, it will alert the others.'

'When do you need it?'

'As soon as possible!'

'I'll go pick someone up now.'

'Thanks!'

Li Yuanqing stood up.

He personally escorted Zhang Yong to the outside of the Tilanqiao Prison. Then he waited nearby.

Zhang Yong explained his purpose to the Annan constable at the prison. Soon afterwards, a senior Indian constable appeared. He arrogantly summoned Zhang Yong to enter the prison alone. He said that the prison warden was asking for him.

'Thank you!'

Zhang Yong entered the Tilanqiao Prison.

It was very large. It was also relatively desolate. There were not many people being temporarily detained.

At this time, the concession had not yet seen a large influx of outsiders. So, the population was not particularly large. Two years later, the Battle of Shanghai broke out, and the situation would change drastically.

At that time, hundreds of thousands of people poured into the concession. The concession would become chaotic.

Even Jews fled here for refuge.

Zhang Yong was worried that his English was so bad that he might not be able to communicate. In the end, he found that he had worried for nothing.

The prison had a special translator. There were translators for all kinds of languages.

Zhang Yong took the opportunity to slip each interpreter two silver dollars, and they immediately became much friendlier.

The prison warden was called Bob and was British.

The arrogance of the British in the presence of the Chinese was undisguised. The dream of the British Empire had not yet completely shattered.

'Mr. Bob, this is the person I want to mention...'

'There are eight more. Bring them all together. I will release them all today.'

'I haven't decided on the others...'

'No. I'll give you one chance. You decide now. Otherwise, I'll change my mind.'

'Fucker...'

Zhang Yong couldn't help swearing under his breath.

These foreigners really have no shame. For 5,000 US dollars, they're willing to throw away their dignity.

How can he decide on the other eight when he doesn't know anything?

Just pick eight at random? That's definitely not an option. 500 US dollars each. How can he waste it so easily?

Damn...

'You only have one chance!' Bob was aggressive, "You must decide before you leave prison. Otherwise, I will cancel all your places.'

'Then I can take a tour of the prison, right?" Zhang Yong said slowly, "I have to see if there is anyone I should mention.'

'Of course there is no problem with that," Bob nodded, "but you cannot enter the cells.'

'Okay," Zhang Yong agreed without emotion.

Bob then arranged for someone to take Zhang Yong on a 'tour' of the prison.

Zhang Yong was followed by a bunch of Annan policemen and Indian policemen. But there were no Chinese.

In the entire Tilanqiao Prison, apart from the interpreters, all the policemen were foreigners. Either they were Annanese. Or Indians. Or Westerners.

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The chain of despise was here, undisguised.

'Clang!'

The first iron door opened.

'Clang!'

The second iron door opened.

Zhang Yong saw the people inside the cell. They were all strangers.

This was inevitable. He had never had contact with the people inside. How could there be anyone he knew?

He kept walking along the corridor.

From time to time, he glanced at the sides. The result was of course fruitless.

Frowning.

This method of looking for a needle in a haystack was not going to work.

Political prisoners and those sentenced to death should not be mentioned. It would be a waste of time to point at a few at random.

In the end, he decided to turn back.

No more looking. Just find someone. Who? Shi Bingdao.

Shi Bingdao had just been released from Tilanqiao Prison. He should know something about what was going on inside.

At least, he should know about the people in the same cell as him.

A phone call was made to the Social News Agency.

This newspaper is not on Si Ma Lu. It is behind Si Ma Lu.

'Hello...'

'This is Zhang Yong. Put Shi Bingdao on the phone.'

'You are...'

'Tell him I am Zhang Yong!'

'Okay!'

Soon afterwards, Shi Bingdao answered the phone.

He had just gathered some people and passed on some very important information. He had just returned to the newspaper office.

'Boss...'

'I am in Tilanqiao Prison. I need the names of eight people.'

'What?'

'I can still get eight people from inside Tilanqiao Prison. But I don't know who to get. What do you suggest?'

'Suggestion...'

Shi Bingdao felt a surge of excitement.

Zhang Yong can actually get eight people from inside? This guy has so much energy?

Well...

He suppressed the excitement in his heart.

He couldn't reveal his identity in front of Zhang Yong. Otherwise, everything would be for nothing.

However, the quota of eight people was indeed very tempting. Because the comrades who had been arrested one after the other had not yet been identified, and if they were included in the list, they should all be able to be released on bail.

The question was...

Would Zhang Yong notice?

This guy was an agent of the Lixing Society's secret service!

Not to mention Li Boqi.

Shi Bingdao had a personal relationship with Li Boqi. However, it was also impossible for Li Boqi to know his true identity.

After a moment's thought, Seok Byeong-do answered slowly, 'I only know a little...'

'That's enough. Give me the list. I'll take them all out today. Otherwise, there won't be a chance.'

'Okay. Let me think.'

Seok Byeong-do took a deep breath. He provided the list in fits and starts. In the end, there were eight.

None were political prisoners. None were prisoners sentenced to death. All were comrades who had been arrested but whose identities had not yet been revealed. Whether or not Jang Yong was aware of this, they must be rescued first.

'What about Team Leader Lee...'

'It's fine. He's already given me full authority. I don't need to report to him. And I don't need to report to anyone else either.'

'I see.'

Shi Bingdao felt slightly relieved.

If only Zhang Yong knew, it would still be feasible.

'Arrange new identities for them.'

'What?'

'I want them all to work for me.'

'Understood.'

Shi Bingdao promised.

Work for Zhang Yong? Work for the Force Society's Secret Service?

In fact, it's a good thing. At least it provides an extra layer of protection. If there's ever a danger, they can use the name of the Li Xing Society's secret service.

Besides, working for Zhang Yong means Zhang Yong pays.

'Prepare the information,' Zhang Yong continued, "I'll bring someone out in a while. Meet at the New Era Photo Studio. Take a photo. Then get new documents.'

'Got it," Shi Bingdao replied calmly, 'I'll wait for you at the photo studio.'

'Oh, yes. You should talk to the owner of New Era Photo Studio and see if he's willing to work for the Li Xing Club Secret Service.'

'Do what?'

'Just use our Li Xing Club Secret Service name and ask him to take all the photos you need in the future.'

'I'm sure he'll be willing.'

'That's good. Hang up. You go back to work!'

'Okay...'

Zhang Yong hung up the phone.

He thought about the little girl behind the curtain.

Well, it's just for her sake. It's okay to be kind once in a while.

With the powerful Li Xing Society secret service as an umbrella, no one will dare to cause trouble for New Era Photo Studio in the future. Unless someone is blind.

Collect yourself and get ready to make an arrest.