"Nothing to say?"

Ning Zhiheng's face was ashen, his gaze chillingly cold. Pointing at Tanikawa Chiemi, he could barely contain his rage, shouting, "This is betrayal! Betrayal! Utterly shameless!"

Since you surrendered, I have trusted you implicitly and allowed you to do as you please. After the Changsha crackdown, you were imprisoned, and it was I who risked exposing my identity to personally plead with Yuan Chunping to get you out. Back in Chongqing, I verified your identity, helped you join the Military Intelligence Bureau, and promoted you exceptionally, entrusting you with important responsibilities. Furthermore, I have never been stingy with money to reward your performance. Look around, which of my subordinates has received such treatment or possessed such wealth as you?

I've given you everything I could: money, power, a promising career—what more could you want? Is this how you repay me? Do you think you can turn back? The Japanese have already surrendered! You're a madman! A madman who's been bewitched!

As he finished speaking, Ning Zhiheng's voice grew louder and louder, almost roaring!

He simply couldn't understand how Chiemi Tanikawa could betray him.

Faced with Ning Zhiheng's questioning, Tanikawa Chiemi readily nodded in acknowledgment. She calmly said, "You have indeed been kind to me, and I have always been grateful to you, thinking that I could start a new life. But that was my thought a month ago. It wasn't until I learned something that I decided to take action against you!"

"What happened a month ago?" Ning Zhiheng was also stunned. He believed that he had not done anything to betray Tanikawa Chiemi. Everything between the two of them was out in the open, and there was nothing to hide.

“I remember telling you back then that I actually had no feelings for the so-called Japanese Empire. My parents died when I was young, and I only had my older brother to depend on. He was my only family. As we grew up, my brother went to the Army Academy, and I was sent to a spy school for training. Later, my brother also died on the Chinese battlefield, and I became a real orphan.”

Ning Zhiheng recalled briefly and confirmed that it was true. Back in Chongqing, Tanikawa Chiemi had shared these things with him while reflecting on her life, but so much time had passed that he had almost forgotten them.

"Is that so? What happened?"

"When my brother died in battle, I was still infiltrating Nanjing and didn't know the specifics. Later I learned that my brother died in Pudong during the Battle of Shanghai. His entire unit was wiped out, and almost no one was able to escape. So I never knew the cause of his death."

Just a month ago, I had a conversation with Sun Jiacheng. He casually mentioned that during the Battle of Shanghai, you had wiped out several Japanese plainclothes militia units in Pudong. The most successful one was burning down the reed marshes, burning an entire plainclothes unit to death. Is that right?

Tanikawa Chiemi's words made Ning Zhiheng suddenly realize that this was his combat experience when he first went to the battlefield. So much time has passed, could this be related to Tanikawa Chiemi's sudden betrayal?

Chiemi Tanikawa stared intently at Ning Zhiheng and asked, enunciating each word clearly, "Do you remember the name of the captain of that Japanese plainclothes brigade?"

Ning Zhiheng was taken aback. He knew that Tanikawa Chiemi must have a reason for asking such a question, but nine years had passed and he really couldn't recall these things.

Looking at Ning Zhiheng's expression, Tanikawa Chiemi knew the answer: in his eyes, this was nothing more than a trivial matter.

"This captain's name is Tanikawa Kazuma, who is my brother. You burned him to ashes. He is my only relative in this world. I cannot let this grudge go unavenged!"

These words almost made Ning Zhiheng vomit blood. Could there really be such a ridiculous thing in the world? The Japanese plainclothes captain he burned to death back then was actually Tanikawa Chiemi's brother. He had become Tanikawa Chiemi's brother's killer without even realizing it. Tanikawa Chiemi learned about this by chance and decided to avenge her brother, which is why she took action against him.

"So that's how it is!" Ning Zhiheng couldn't help but sigh. It was truly a cruel twist of fate. A small matter that happened unintentionally back then had turned into a major disaster.

"So you started plotting, even though you found the true identity of 'Nine Dogs,' you struck first, using a substitute to assassinate me. But what about Leng Qing? When did you convince him?"

As soon as Ning Zhiheng uttered his words, he knew that the question was pointless. It was obvious that Leng Qing, like those who had been turned by Tanikawa Chiemi, was blinded by beauty and had actually broken the law, thus getting herself into trouble.

Chiemi Tanikawa also confessed, saying, "My affair with Leng Qing actually started when we were undercover in Changsha. However, he knew that you were always wary of me and didn't trust me, a Japanese, so he was afraid you would find out and carefully kept it a secret. When I was about to take action against you, I was powerless and could only ask him for help, but he resolutely refused. Later, I threatened him with my life and promised him that after I avenged my brother's death, I would go to America with him and elope!"

At this point, Chiemi Tanikawa paused, then pleaded, "He was forced into this by me. He is very grateful for your kindness over the years, but seeing that my mind was made up and knowing that he couldn't stop me, and fearing that I would be exposed and die at your hands, he considered it for a long time before finally agreeing to help me. I hope that you will spare his life for the sake of his many years of following you!"

After hearing all this, Ning Zhiheng was heartbroken. His two most trusted confidants had betrayed him and joined forces against him, something that had never happened before.

“Even if you don’t say it, this matter can’t be kept secret. Just now, Huo Yueze arrested Leng Qing in Shanghai and interrogated him personally. It’s a pity. Leng Qing was someone I had nurtured all along. He originally had a bright future, but you ruined it…”

Having come this far, Ning Zhiheng didn't want to say anything more. He waved his hand, signaling Tanikawa Chiemi to leave.

Chiemi Tanikawa had no intention of resisting. She knew Ning Zhiheng and knew she had no chance; she could only suffer humiliation. She didn't say another word and turned to open the office door.

At this moment, Zhao Jiang and the others had been waiting outside the door. As soon as Tanikawa Chiemi came out, they surrounded her.

Chiemi Tanikawa simply stretched out her hands, and the guards handcuffed her and took her away.

Zhao Jiang strode into the office and asked Ning Zhiheng for instructions: "Chief, what should we do with her?"

Ning Zhiheng sat in his chair, his hand on his forehead, his eyes slightly closed. After a long while, he slowly said, "Lock them up first. When Leng Qing is brought back from Shanghai, let them see each other one last time, and then... deal with them all together!"

Although there were reasons for it, he was, after all, a powerful and arrogant man who was proud and self-assured throughout his life and never bowed his head. Under no circumstances could he tolerate such betrayal.

Zhao Jiang nodded in acceptance and turned to leave.

Ning Zhiheng leaned back in his seat, letting out a weak sigh: "Those who are not of our kind are bound to have different hearts!"