Chapter 789: If something seems unusual, it must be a demon
Zhang Ping finally noticed that Zhang Yong's expression was not right.
Finding so much ocean silver, he should be dancing for joy.
So much ocean silver! Tens of thousands. Maybe even hundreds of thousands. How could he not be happy? He should be jumping for joy!
Why did Zhang Yong look like that...
It's a bit of an exaggeration to say he looked like he had lost his parents. But it was true...
'Shaolong.'
'Shaolong.'
Zhang Ping thought something had happened to Zhang Yong.
So much money couldn't even make Zhang Yong happy. Something must have gone seriously wrong.
'It's fine,'
Zhang Yong tried to calm himself.
There was no other way. You can't swallow your fortune once it's come into the light.
Thinking about that...
Since it can't be avoided, just close your eyes and enjoy it...
Ugh!
Where was I going with this?
I must find some time to purify my thoughts...
Brace yourself.
Think of it as a treasure offering.
It's all in foreign currency, and you can't even fit it all in your own wallet.
'Have you noticed any recent hot topics?' Zhang Ping changed the subject.
'What hot topics?' Zhang Yong also changed the subject.
Since the money doesn't belong to him, he won't look at it.
Out of sight, out of mind.
'The Japanese beating up the Americans. It's all over the papers. Even the Shanghai papers are reporting it.'
'Oh. I saw the papers. But I don't know what's going on.'
Zhang Yong nodded.
Before, at the temporary checkpoint, all he did every day was read the newspapers.
The focus was on the beating of MacFarland. Things had taken off faster than he expected. The Shanghai papers had also published it.
He deduced that it should be Katherine behind it. She was from MI7. Of course she had her own resources.
If the Japanese can plant spies in the press, it is only logical that someone from MI7 is also working at the newspaper.
There may be others who are also secretly cooperating. Adding fuel to the fire.
Shigeaki Akiyama must have known.
Rensuke Isogai must have known too. He is still in Nanjing.
I wonder how the Japanese are feeling at this moment? It's been three days, and there still seems to be no action!
But there's no rush. We'll wait patiently. The Japanese are the ones who are in a difficult situation now.
Once the news reaches the United States, and the New York Times and Newsweek start publishing it...
'That's strange...'
'What's strange?'
'Who rescued that American?'
'Who?'
'The newspaper didn't say!'
'Oh, I don't know.'
Zhang Yong spreads his hands.
He's playing dumb.
His acting is perfect. The newspaper didn't say anyway.
That was agreed beforehand. The report must never mention who rescued the person.
Michael Flanagan won't mention it himself either.
Let the Japanese people guess.
The Japanese are not fools, and they will definitely be able to find clues behind the scenes.
If they can't even do that, Toihara Kenji can go to hell. All the Japanese spies can also all commit suicide to apologise.
Useless wastes of space...
Suddenly, Wu Hai came rushing over, 'Team Leader, there's a phone call for you.'
'Who is it?' Zhang Yong asked casually.
'She said her name is Lin Xiaoyan.'
'Oh?'
Zhang Yong's expression changed. His eyebrows rose.
Lin Xiaoyan's phone call? What did she want with him? Had the Japanese finally lost patience?
Haha. Speak of the devil and he doth appear.
The Japanese were indeed not fools, and had finally found Zhang Yong.
Good. The curtain was about to rise.
Stand up. Get ready to answer the phone.
Take a look at the mountain of ocean. None of this was his. It was not good to look at it.
But then, perhaps he could get some wealth of his own. The phone was ringing. He had to show some sincerity. Otherwise, who would cooperate?
His eyes sparkled.
He was full of energy.
He returned to the office of the inspection team.
Now it had become Zhang Yong's own office.
Pan Laizhi had already been taken away a long time ago. He was locked up in a warehouse. He could do whatever he liked. It didn't matter. He didn't care.
He picked up the phone.
'This is Zhang Yong...'
'Zhang Sang, it's me.'
'What is it?'
'It's important. We need to talk face to face.'
'I'm afraid you'll try to trick me.'
'In half an hour, someone will deliver a package to you. You'd better open it alone and in silence.'
'What's in it?'
'10,000 US dollars.'
'Are you sure?'
'Yes. It's all in 10 dollar bills. 10,000 US dollars. I've personally sealed it.'
'What is it?'
'Please come out and talk face to face.'
'You want to buy my life with 10,000 US dollars?'
'How much do you want?'
'At least 100,000.'
'We can negotiate.'
'Really?'
'I'm just the messenger. Someone else has the money ready.'
'I'll talk after I get the package.'
'Okay. I'll call you after you get the package.'
'Okay.'
Zhang Yong hung up the phone first.
10,000 US dollars? Get out of the way? My goodness, the Japanese invaders are so generous?
Something's wrong!
Something doesn't feel right.
It's different from what I expected. It's a bit excessive.
I expected the Japanese invaders to pay some money. But I didn't expect that just clearing the way would be 10,000 US dollars.
Lin Xiaoyan even revealed that 100,000 US dollars could also be discussed.
This is very strange. There may be a huge conspiracy.
The little devils can't be that generous.
100,000 US dollars!
How can they spare it!
Either it's a deadly trap.
Or there's some reason behind it that they don't want anyone to see.
Which one will it be?
Zhang Yong frowned.
Unfortunately, thinking was not really his forte.
After thinking for a long time, he came to no conclusion. In the end, he set a strategy for himself: Take the money. Put it in his own pocket.
No matter what the Japanese invaders wanted to do. His goal was to take the money. And secretly put it in his own pocket. No matter what tricks the other party had up their sleeves, he would get the money anyway. Even if the earth were to be destroyed...
Huh?
Suddenly, he felt a change in his personal space. It seemed to have expanded a little bit.
Judging from the feeling, it seems to have expanded by about three centimetres in length. It could fit a slap. It could also fit a dollar or something.
Weird...
Is the system sensing something?
It seems to have expanded because it knows I want to swallow dollars?
Dizzy...
Is the system going to ask for kryptonite?
Let's try.
'System, I want kryptonite!'
'System, I want to burn money!'
'System...'
However, the system did not respond.
Damn it. Still no way to expand personal space.
It seems that krypton gold is not needed either...
There's nothing I can do. I'd better give up.
Sit down.
Close your eyes and relax. Think about life.
When I get back to Shanghai, I seem to have some important business to attend to.
The first thing is to exchange Yan Guangkun.
For this, I need to negotiate with Akiyama Shigaki. But I definitely can't use the kidnapping case as a bargaining chip.
I wonder who Akiyama Shigaki will arrange to bring Yan Guangkun out? I must get rid of him first. This will also help Akiyama Shigaki get rid of his rivals. We can then cooperate better in the future...
Suddenly, the map gives a prompt. A red dot appears at the edge of the map. It is heading towards the pier.
Judge the speed of movement. It seems to be a bicycle?
Yes. It is a bicycle.
Leave the office. Go up the stairs. Go to the roof. Raise the binoculars.
Sure enough, the red dot is a young man on a bicycle. Quite good-looking. Then he slowly realises that something is wrong. Is the target a woman dressed as a man?
Look more closely. It is definitely a woman dressed as a man. No wonder she is so good-looking. I guess she is one of Lin Xiaoyan's men?
She must have come to deliver the money herself. Hehe.
10,000 US dollars!
Someone is offering it to me!
It's just as well, everyone's attention is on the other side of the ocean.
But Zhang Yong is still cautious. What if she is a female assassin?
If it comes to a fight, he is no match for Lin Xiaoyan. Although Lin Xiaoyan is a woman, she is proficient in all kinds of killing techniques. Fortunately, Lin Xiaoyan has never wanted to kill him. Her thoughts are very strange. She always wants to draw him over to her side...
Going down the stairs. Approaching the door.
Soon, the target will arrive at the door.
She is indeed a pretty girl. Cross-dressing as a woman. She can't hide her beauty.
Zhang Yong pointed his finger at the ground, indicating that the other party should put the package on the ground.
The target, a Japanese spy, was very obedient. He put the package down. Then he turned around and left. His movements were light. He had agile hands and feet. Obviously, he was no ordinary person.
Zhang Yong, who was a bit depressed, couldn't help but think wildly in his head.
Beautiful Japanese spy, here I come...
Stop.
Stop.
Walk over and pick up the package.
The package is very small. It can't be a time bomb. The map doesn't show it either.
Sure enough, the package is light as a feather. He opens it. Inside are green banknotes. All US dollars in denominations of 10.
Good. No one else is looking. Zhang Yong immediately stuffs it into his pocket. Then, he leaves the empty package in his hand. Then he sees a string of numbers on the top of the empty package. It should be a phone number of some kind. So he remembers it. Then he tears the package to shreds. Tearing it very, very fine. Completely destroying the evidence.
After a moment's thought, he decided that this was still not good enough. So he took out a match and set the pieces on fire. He burned them to ashes. Then he ground them up with the sole of his foot. This should do it. After a moment's thought, he decided that this was still not good enough. So he called for a basin of water and poured it over the ashes. Splash. This should be impossible to recover now.
Done. He felt much better.
He returned to Zhang Ping's side. He noticed that Zhang Ping was also a little dazed.
At the same time, he understood why Zhang Ping was so mesmerised. There were just too many silver dollars pouring out of the cotton bales.
Zhang Yong's mood had basically calmed down. But then he saw so many silver dollars, and his mood immediately soured again.
Damn it!
Which idiot spy from Japan was so brain-dead!
You've put all your eggs in the same basket! Are you even professional?
Can't you store them separately? At least divide them into a few warehouses!
If they weren't all together, I could at least have found a way to move some of them. Now that they're all exposed, I can't even get my hands on a single piece of wool.
Damn it...
And just when I need someone to come up...
'Team Leader!'
'Team Leader!'
Chen Hai's voice was full of an excitement that he couldn't hide.
His bald head was brighter than a 100-watt LED light. It was as if light was bursting out of it.
Good for nothing...
It's just a hundred thousand dollars.
Haven't you seen it before?
Pish!
"What is it?'
'Team leader, it's over 200,000! 200,000! 200,000!'
'What?'
Zhang Yong felt his heart convulse a few times.
He felt a little dizzy. It was as if he had low blood sugar.
What?
Two hundred thousand? It's exceeded?
Oh no!
Is it really that much?
Once again, I greet that Japanese spy a million times!
Are you fucking stupid! You stuffed hundreds of thousands of dollars into a cotton bag!
Tell me, are you sick in the head!
Tell me, are you sick in the head!
You are definitely sick in the head!
Take a deep breath.
Try to calm your thoughts.
Recite silently a hundred times: 'What is meant to be, will be. What is not meant to be, will not be...'
Finally...
I feel slightly better.
Reluctantly, I encourage myself, 'Keep going. There may be a lot more...'
My heart spasms uncontrollably.
There's more...
Ahhh, is it going to exceed 300,000...
I can't live anymore...
Three hundred thousand silver dollars!
Before, when I saw the banknotes, it didn't seem that intense.
After all, they were just pieces of paper, not the real thing. But these in front of me are all shiny silver dollars!
And they're all in such good condition. Each one of them is shiny and bright. He picks one up. It's as if it could reflect a person's image. Damn it. I can't take it anymore. He really can't. Zhang Yong grabs a handful of them and puts them in his pocket.
Everyone around him sees it. Zhang Yong is unmoved. His expression doesn't change.
Yes, I grabbed a handful of silver dollars and put them in my pocket. So what? I've handed over hundreds of thousands of dollars. So what if I grabbed a handful and put them in my pocket?
Ahhh, the more I think about it, the more depressed I get. Gradually, I'm not feeling well again.
Then suddenly I remember a saying:
A bitch is just being pretentious...
Is that describing myself?
I'm daydreaming.
My mind is in a mess.
Forget it, I'd better go to the concession.
Go to the concession and meet Lin Xiaoyan. Then find a hotel and...
'Chen Hai!'
'Yes!'
'Each person take 50!'
'Yes!'
Chen Hai immediately passed down the order.
Everyone started working at once. Everyone took 50 silver dollars.
After all, everyone was wearing a Zhongshan suit. Zhongshan suits have pockets. Suddenly, the Zhongshan suits were bulging with weight.
'Shaolong, I'll ask someone to exchange the currency for you,' Zhang Ping couldn't bear to watch anymore.
How can you work with so many silver dollars?
It's not even convenient to move around.
'That's fine,' Zhang Yong agreed.
Carrying so many silver dollars did indeed seriously affect tactical movements.
Let's temporarily switch to fiat currency. We'll find a way to exchange it back for silver dollars later.
Zhang Ping immediately made the arrangements. Soon, someone delivered fiat currency. Fifty for each person. Hand over the silver dollars. Take the fiat currency.
But Zhang Yong still had a handful of silver dollars in his pocket.
There was no other reason. He just didn't like fiat currency. He liked silver dollars. Carrying silver dollars in his pocket didn't affect him either. He didn't need to do tactical movements.
'Team leader, your phone.'
'Who?'
'It's that Lin Xiaoyan again.'
'I see.'
Zhang Yong immediately answered the phone.
He picked up the receiver. It was indeed Lin Xiaoyan calling. She was in a hurry.
It had only been half an hour since they last spoke, and here she was calling for the second time.
'Zhang San...'
'Which one of you bastards is it? Is your brain in your butt? Ahhh, this really makes me angry...'
'Zhang San, what happened?'
'I'm at the Wusongkou dock, inside Warehouse 4. I opened the cotton bales and found 300,000 silver taels...'
'Shouldn't you be happy?'
'Happy my ass! It's all been exposed. It all has to be handed in. I've only got a handful in my pocket...'
'Zhang, I don't understand this.'
'Aaaaa, those idiots at the military headquarters, can't they be more clever next time...'
'Toiihara Kenji has been called back by the military headquarters for a debriefing.'
'Huh?'
Zhang Yong brought his thoughts back to the present.
Toiihara was called back to report for duty? Now?
Haha, good, good, this is his day!
Toiihara was basically being investigated when he went back to report for duty. He might be transferred to the reserve. In other words, he was being sidelined. From now on, he would never get a chance to shine again.
Serves him right!
I guess the kidnapping case is starting to heat up.
The Japanese army is arrogant, but they can't admit it even though the case has become so big.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs may also lodge a protest. The Minister for Foreign Affairs also has the power to attend the Imperial Conference. By the way, who is the current Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Japanese invaders?
"Zhang, I need to see you. As soon as possible. You decide the time and place.'
'Which is your Minister for Foreign Affairs?'
'Zhang, you mean the Foreign Minister? The current Foreign Minister is His Excellency Hiroki Hirota...'
'It's him...'
Zhang Yong muttered to himself.
So it's Hiroki Hirota! This old devil!
One of the seven Class A war criminals sentenced to death by hanging in the future. He was also the only civilian.
It can be seen that this old devil has committed countless crimes.
In this kidnapping case, I wonder how this old devil is going to handle it?
Damn, I must make good use of it.
'Zhang San, I...'
'French Concession. Kang Le Yuan Restaurant. 7pm.'
'Okay. I'll be there early.'
'That's all.'
Zhang Yong hung up the phone.
Lin Xiaoyan was so eager. It seems like she's under a lot of pressure.
Teko, which was already on the edge of power, was used again this time. Sure enough, it's a proper chamber pot.
You take it out and use it when you need it. Then you throw it away after you're done. And then you complain about the smell. But you can't do without it.
Look at the time, it's a little after 4pm. You still have time to get to the concession area.
Of course, it didn't have to be that early. The concession was relatively safe. Near the Kangleyuan Restaurant, the Japanese invaders couldn't ambush snipers.
On previous occasions, Zhang Yong had carefully examined the nearby terrain. The buildings were very messy. The Japanese invaders could not possibly ambush 500 meters away. If they wanted to snipe, they would have to enter at least 150 meters away. Otherwise, their line of sight would be completely blocked. And Zhang Yong could definitely spot anyone within 150 meters.
Go out and find Zhang Ping.
I don't want to get involved in this anymore. I don't want to see it either.
It hurts to see all those ocean liners.
I'd better go to the concession. See if there are any opportunities for riches there.
'You're leaving?'
'I've been given a temporary assignment. You can take care of things here.'
'Okay, go ahead!'
Zhang Ping had no problem with that.
Counting ocean liners was such a pleasant thing to do.
'I'm leaving.'
'Goodbye.'
Zhang Yong led his team away from the dock.
He headed straight for the concession.
Approaching the concession.
A yellow dot appears at the edge of the map.
It is not marked. It cannot be marked. But Zhang Yong knows it must be Li Yuanqing.
Who else would be standing at the entrance to the concession?
He suddenly thinks of Zhu Yuan. It seems like he hasn't seen this guy for a while. Where did he go?
Arrived at the entrance to the concession.
It really is Li Yuanqing.
He also saw Zhang Yong and came over.
'Captain Zhang, you don't look well,' Li Yuanqing noticed.
'Don't mention it. We just lost 100 million yuan,' Zhang Yong said listlessly, 'I'm in a bad mood. I don't want to talk. Please forgive me.'
'Please,' Li Yuanqing nodded. He asked someone to lift the railings.
The convoy entered in single file.
Li Yuanqing shook his head behind him.
What had Zhang Yong lost? Lost money?
Apart from money, it seems that nothing can make this guy so downhearted...
Approaching the Kang Le Yuan Western Restaurant.
No abnormalities detected within the surveillance range. There is only one red dot.
You don't need to look to know it's Lin Xiaoyan. She's actually here early. Or so early. It seems she's really anxious.
I know you're anxious. But don't worry. I'm not anxious at all.
Zhang Yong deliberately dawdled outside, circling the Kang Le Yuan Western Restaurant. Deliberately making Lin Xiaoyan wait.
It wasn't until his watch pointed to ten past seven that Zhang Yong stopped the car in front of the restaurant. He got out of the car and walked in. Sure enough, he saw Lin Xiaoyan. She was resting her chin in her hand and staring at an empty table. She looked a little haggard. She must be under a lot of pressure.
Well, I'll sleep with her tonight and make her feel better...
'Zhang Sang...'
'Yes, what is it?'
'How many more jobs do you have on your hands?'
'None.'
'You've dealt with them all. Take photos for me. I'll pay you in US dollars.'
'How much?'
'100,000. US dollars. Cash.'
'Huh?'
Zhang Yong was silent.
Sure enough, this matter was not simple.
Lin Xiaoyan had just mentioned 100,000 US dollars. It was very straightforward.
If things are unusual, there must be a problem.
There must be some hidden circumstances surrounding this matter. Otherwise, the Japanese would not be so impatient.
The question is, what exactly are the hidden circumstances?