Takeshi Ishikawa roared, "Anti-Japanese suspicion? Do you think we're all idiots? If they were really anti-Japanese, would you have released them after taking bail? It's all about extorting money. I don't want to say anything more now. Release all these arrested businessmen immediately, right now!"
Ding Mo knew, of course, that Wu Shicai had arrested many wealthy businessmen. This was all Wu Shicai's doing. The establishment of the Special Agent Department required money everywhere: renovating the Special Agent Headquarters, bribing Green Gang bosses, setting up safe houses in various places, paying the salaries of his subordinates, and so on. Starting from scratch would naturally require a lot of money.
However, although the funds allocated by the Tsuchihara Agency were considerable, they were still insufficient. Therefore, Tsuchihara Keiji tacitly allowed them to target these wealthy businessmen, since it was all Chinese money and had nothing to do with the Japanese.
But now that the military police headquarters has ordered his release, he dares not disobey. He decides to swallow his anger, since they are all lambs to the slaughter anyway. Whenever he wants to arrest them, he can just find an excuse to arrest them again.
So he dared not delay and turned to Li Zhiqun, ordering, "Immediately have Wu Shicai release all those merchants."
Li Zhiqun nodded hurriedly and gave the order. Soon, more than a dozen local merchants were pushed and shoved to Ishikawa Takeshi's presence.
Takeshi Ishikawa glanced at them and then asked, "Which one of you is Qin Lechi, the manager of Lehe Trading Company?"
These merchants were led out by the secret agents, not knowing what was going on. When they saw a large group of Japanese military police guarding the courtyard, they were so frightened that their legs went weak.
Upon hearing Ishikawa Takeshi's question, he looked around but remained silent.
Ishikawa Takeshi's face darkened, and he grabbed Li Zhiqun by the collar, shouting, "You're utterly wicked! How dare you tamper with things like this!"
When Ding Mo and Li Zhiqun heard Ishikawa Takeshi mention Qin Lechi's name, they knew why the other party had come. This must be reinforcements that Su Yue had brought. The reason they arrested Qin Lechi was at the behest of Chief Tsuchihara. Otherwise, they wouldn't have bothered to make enemies with Su Yue. Now, Su Yue really has connections everywhere, even bringing out the military police. They couldn't just stand by and do nothing.
Li Zhiqun quickly shouted, "Lieutenant Colonel Ishikawa, let me explain! Qin Lechi is a serious criminal involved in smuggling and colluding with the enemy. It was an order given by Chief Tsuchihara. He is not the same as these people. He cannot be released!"
Ishikawa Takeshi already knew the whole story and had come specifically to rescue Qin Lechi. How could he listen to Li Zhiqun's explanation? He shoved Li Zhiqun aside, drew his sword from his waist, and held it to Li Zhiqun's neck, saying coldly, "I'll say it again, release Qin Lechi. I'm taking him away right now. If you dare to stop me, I'll take your life right now. Do you understand?"
Ding Mo, who was watching from the side, could see clearly that the Military Police Headquarters was determined to protect Su Yue to the death. He was just a traitor who depended on the Japanese. He didn't want to get involved in the struggles between the Japanese, nor did he dare to. So he quickly agreed, "Please calm down, Lieutenant Colonel Ishikawa. We will release him immediately. However, I would like to report to Chief Tsuchihara. Please wait a moment!"
Takeshi Ishikawa gave a cold laugh and said, "There will naturally be someone to explain to General Tsuchihara. You will also have to come with me."
Upon hearing this, Ding Mo and Li Zhiqun were immediately startled. Ishikawa Takeshi was actually going to take them away too. It was like gods fighting; they didn't want to get caught in the crossfire.
With Ishikawa Takeshi's sword at his neck, Li Zhiqun dared not move and quickly said, "Lieutenant Colonel Ishikawa, we are just following orders, why are you making things difficult for us!"
Takeshi Ishikawa looked at the two men with disdain and said in a deep voice, "Gentlemen, it is Mr. Fujiwara, the chairman of the Fujiwara Company, who wants to see you. You have arrested so many of Fujiwara Company's business partners. Shouldn't you go and explain to Chairman Fujiwara?"
Upon hearing this, everyone present finally understood. It turned out that the military police had been sent by Chairman Fujiwara because some of these merchants were business partners of the Fujiwara Company—in other words, downstream distributors in the smuggling network.
The businessmen all knew each other's backgrounds. They looked at each other, knowing that seven of them were involved in smuggling, including Manager Qin, who hadn't been released. It seemed that the Fujiwara Company had made a move.
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