r18novel Chapter 130 I'll arrange this right away!
Chapter 130 I'll arrange this right away!
His arrival, however, added a touch of unease to Zhou Xiao's heart.
Zhou Xiao now has almost complete control over the Special Operations Headquarters.
When Feng Manna was still around, many people in the headquarters still obeyed her orders—after all, the entire Special Operations Headquarters was built based on the intelligence network laid out by Feng Manna; many key personnel were Feng Zixiong's old subordinates, so naturally they followed her lead.
But now Feng Manna is imprisoned and her whereabouts are unknown. She is still being held in the military police building.
In addition, Zhou Xiao has a tough hand and steady methods, gradually winning people's hearts. Now, everyone in the headquarters basically revolves around him.
Lan Yanzhi is outwardly affiliated with the Military Intelligence Bureau, while Chen Shen, the acting director of the Action Department, secretly works for the underground Communist Party—in short, they are both people Zhou Xiao trusts.
The only variable is Shen Fang.
If he truly and wholeheartedly pledged allegiance to the Japanese puppet regime, it would be tantamount to having a ticking time bomb planted beside him—any future deployments would be hampered by constant vigilance and restraint.
Zhou Xiao could see clearly that Shen Fang was no ordinary person.
But when the time comes, all we can do is deal with things as they come. If things really come to a head, we can always find a pretext to send him to his death.
Dead people are the least likely to speak.
He hesitated for a moment, then picked up the phone and dialed Lan Yanzhi's office: "Yanzhi, come to my office."
Before long, Lan Yanzhi pushed open the door and entered the office of the head of the intelligence department.
Zhou Xiao was blunt: "Shen Fang will be transferred to the position of deputy head of the intelligence section starting tomorrow. You must be very careful in your actions from now on—this person is very likely a spy planted by the Japanese."
"He came from Nanjing, and the transfer order came from the headquarters of the intelligence agency, which means that he has long been regarded as a confidant by the Japanese. We must be more careful about our every move."
Lan Yanzhi nodded: "Previously, Director Zhou's word was law at the Special Operations Headquarters. Now, look what's happened, a deputy section chief from the intelligence department has suddenly appeared out of nowhere."
"Zhou Xiao, you're quick-witted and have a good eye for things. If Shen Fang is really determined to be a traitor, then let's just deal with him cleanly and decisively, hahaha."
After several encounters, Lan Yanzhi had already experienced Zhou Xiao's meticulousness firsthand—every step was calculated flawlessly, every operation was clean and efficient, and afterwards, not a single clue was left, so the Japanese could not detect anything unusual.
This is a true master.
Sometimes Zhou Xiao himself thought: if he had an opponent like him, he probably wouldn't even know how he was defeated.
He smiled and said, "If Shen Fang really becomes a stumbling block, I will take care of it myself."
"But if he really is one of the Japanese, we have to be extra careful to get rid of him—if he is found dead in the street right after being planted, even the stupidest Japanese would become suspicious."
The logic is clear: if the nail breaks before it can be used, the master will first suspect the person who used the nail.
Zhou Xiao never does things that would get him into trouble.
"I'm telling you this so you'll know what to expect."
Lan Yanzhi's expression turned serious. She knew that infiltration was never a game; the slightest negligence could lead to utter ruin. She nodded solemnly: "Understood. Leave Shen Fang to me. I'll make sure he can't find a single fault with him."
Although Zhou Xiao had never watched the spy drama "Rouge", he knew from their time together that Lan Rouge was a rare talent – she was slightly weak in combat, but had a sharp mind, quick reflexes, and first-rate adaptability.
Having her keep an eye on Shen Fang is a safe bet.
Zhou Xiao added, "Furthermore, the Intelligence Division and the Operations Division cannot stop recently; they must continue to intensify their efforts to create the appearance of a 'citywide siege of the Military Intelligence Bureau.' At the same time, notify the Military Intelligence Bureau to keep their necks down, lie low, and not show their faces."
"The fact that I've established a strong presence during this period is a real achievement, and it's crucial for my advancement and gaining more intelligence authority."
If one only focuses on the head of the intelligence department, the core secrets one can access will ultimately be limited.
Lan Yanzhi readily agreed: "Okay, I'll arrange it right away."
The following day, Shen Fang officially took up his post in the Intelligence Department of the Special Operations Headquarters, serving as the deputy head of the Intelligence Section.
This is his first public appearance in his new role.
Zhou Xiao personally led him around, introducing each member of the headquarters team to them one by one, with a warm attitude and impeccable manners.
Shen Fang was unaware that the smiling Director Zhou was already on edge in secret.
He stood beside Zhou Xiao under the title of deputy section chief, but became the person Zhou Xiao needed to be most wary of—because his true identity was a mystery, and no one dared to bet on whether he was friend or foe.
On the surface, all is calm, but beneath the surface, undercurrents are surging.
This is precisely the true predicament of those who are infiltrating: even though they are in the same room and smile at each other, they are each on guard in their hearts.
Zhou Xiao and Shen Fang are an example of this.
Shen Fang's arrival did not disturb the tranquility of the Special Operations Headquarters. Everything continued as usual; those on duty performed their duties, and those conducting analysis performed their analysis. The entire department remained calm and composed.
After a busy day at headquarters, Shen Fang clearly realized that everyone, from top to bottom, revolved around Zhou Xiao and followed his lead—although he had no official title, he truly controlled all the power here.
That evening, Zhou Xiao specially arranged a drinking party, and even got everyone to dance and have some fun, ostensibly to welcome Shen Fang back.
The banquet was filled with clinking glasses, laughter, and lively conversation; everyone enjoyed the food and the games to the fullest.
This is a common tactic for winning people's hearts.
After several rounds of drinks and several dishes, the atmosphere grew warmer, and everyone's faces flushed slightly.
Shen Fang picked up his wine glass, casually patted Zhou Xiao on the shoulder, and asked with a smile that was three parts drunk and seven parts tentative, "Director Zhou, if I may be so bold as to ask—who exactly are you doing this job for? The Japanese?"
Zhou Xiao tilted his head back and downed his drink in one gulp, then readily replied, "Of course not."
Shen Fang was taken aback, and before he could speak, Zhou Xiao added with a smile, "We're all Mr. Wang's men, aren't we?"
The essence of the words remains the same, but the name has changed, and they sound completely different—one is naked, the other is draped in a robe.
Shen Fang laughed heartily: "Hahaha, yes, yes, yes! Director Zhou is absolutely right! Come on, let's drink this!"
The table erupted in laughter and toasts, the aroma of wine filling the air.
But after this question and answer, Zhou Xiao became even more suspicious: What exactly is this new Section Chief Shen up to?
Shen Fang was also secretly weighing the situation—he had thrown out that probing question to try and figure out the other party's true nature; who knew that Zhou Xiao would respond so flawlessly and skillfully, neither showing any weakness nor overstepping his bounds.
This greatly increased the pressure on Shen Fang.
He could see clearly that Zhou Xiao had long held considerable power and influence within the Special Operations Headquarters. If this man was truly a traitor, his disguise could be exposed at any moment, and danger was imminent.
The pressure is immense.
Meanwhile, another thing kept swirling in his mind:
Just a few days ago, the organization transferred him from the Nanjing underground party system to the Shanghai underground party system. From now on, all instructions and tasks will be directly issued by the Shanghai side.
More importantly, ten days later, he will meet with an underground party leader codenamed "Lone Shadow" at the Peace Hotel—the two have already agreed on a secret code.
Shen Fang had only heard of this "Lone Shadow" by name, but had never met him, and the organization had not revealed any background information. His identity, position, qualifications... all could only be learned upon meeting him.