Yoshida Akimasa was also startled when he heard this. He didn't want to make a big fuss. After all, everyone knew that the smuggled goods on the Xiangyang were all prohibited and controlled items. It was fine if people knew this, but if it got out, it would be impossible to handle. He would be unable to explain himself to anyone and would easily become the target of public criticism and a scapegoat.
Yoshida Akimasa quickly explained to Hirao Daichi, "Hirao-kun, why go to such lengths? Chairman Fujiwara is extremely busy; let's not trouble him with such a small matter. How about this, I'll arrange for the Hikari to enter port immediately. Let's all compromise!"
Kitaoka Ryoko was quite helpless. She didn't want to make a big fuss about it, since the Eclipse Project was of great importance. Making too much of a commotion would easily attract attention from all sides. Besides, judging from the tone of these people, the Fujiwara Chairman's identity must be extraordinary. If he really was a member of the Fujiwara family, even the Special Higher Police Section Chief Sagawa might not be able to control him. She still had to be careful.
She glanced outside at her agents and customs guards, who were locked in a standoff. Gritting her teeth, she decided to swallow her anger.
"Alright! We'll compromise, but once the Xiangyang passes through, you must make arrangements for us immediately. Please take good care of us!"
"Of course, of course, please rest assured, Team Leader Kitaoka!" Yoshida Akimasa immediately replied.
Upon hearing that Kitaoka Ryoko was willing to back down, Yoshida Akimasa and the other customs officers relaxed and quickly began directing the ship into port.
Kitaoka Ryoko waved her hand, led her team out of the command room, and returned to the sea pier to continue waiting.
Although Hirao Daichi managed to scare off the Special Higher Police agents by using the chairman's name, he was still very upset. Being threatened with a gun at his fingertips was something he could never tolerate under normal circumstances. So he secretly made up his mind that when he got back, he would definitely complain to the chairman and make this arrogant woman suffer.
He was making plans in his mind, but Kitaoka Ryoko, who had returned to the customs dock, was no different. She was also a person with a powerful background and a proud and arrogant personality. For so many years, she had relied on her teacher, Tsuchihara Keiji, as her backer, and she had been successful in everything she did. Now that she had suffered this loss, how could she give up so easily!
She turned to her intelligence captain, Yoshimoto Ichiro, and instructed him, "Go and keep an eye on the Xiangyang. Find out what kind of goods the Fujiwara Company is carrying, and where they were transported after being unloaded. I want to see what shady business they're up to!"
Kitaoka Ryoko knew very well that the Special Higher Police, where she worked, did not have much control over the military, but it was under their jurisdiction over civilian commercial companies and organizations. If they did something wrong, she could find some leverage and then she might have to teach them a lesson. Although Section Chief Sagawa had some reservations, her teacher was the highest-ranking Special Higher Police chief in China and the biggest intelligence chief, Tsuchihara Keiji, so she might not be afraid of him.
Under the direction of customs, the Xiangyang entered the port directly without inspection and soon entered the Huangpu River. It arrived at the French Concession dock to unload its cargo. All of this was observed by Yoshimoto Ichiro, who was monitoring it from a distance.
After arriving at the customs dock, Yoshino Maru, who had entered the port, was taken over by Kitaoka Ryoko from the naval intelligence department who was escorting her. The money and printing press were loaded onto a truck and driven towards the Special Higher Police.
However, they didn't notice that a car was hanging far behind them. Ning Zhiheng had already arranged for his team members to lie in wait in the city, at the customs dock and other places. He wanted to know who had taken over this batch of legal tender, as well as the exact location of the legal tender and the printing press.
As a result, both sides secretly tracked and investigated their targets, and an invisible contest officially began.
That evening, Kitaoka Ryoko was listening to Yoshimoto Ichiro's report.
"Team leader, I followed the Xiangyang all the way to the Lihui'an Wharf in the French Concession. They unloaded their cargo there, but I don't know the specifics. They wouldn't let anyone near them while loading and unloading. However, I bribed a foreman at the wharf. He said that the Fujiwara Company's shipments are very frequent, with a cargo ship arriving at the port about every ten days. The cargo manifests list grain and timber, but they require the dockworkers to be extremely careful during loading and unloading, and they pay them high wages. I'm certain it's not grain or timber," Yoshida Ichiro reported.
Just as I thought! Kitaoka Ryoko smiled coldly. This Fujiwara Company must be involved in smuggling. This is a very important handle we have in our hands!
"Where have the goods been delivered?" Kitaoka Ryoko pressed.
"The goods have entered the dock warehouse, but the warehouse is heavily guarded and I cannot get close, so I came back to report first," Yoshimoto Ichiro reported.
Kitaoka Ryoko nodded. Unfortunately, she was currently on an important mission. The Eclipse Project was crucial, and she had to concentrate all her efforts to ensure its successful completion. She couldn't afford any unforeseen complications. It seemed that dealing with the Fujiwara Company would have to be postponed.
"Investigate the Fujiwara Company thoroughly these next few days, especially the chairman, Fujiwara. I want to see just who this big shot really is," Kitaoka Yoshiko instructed.
"Yes, sir!" Yoshimoto Ichiro nodded in acceptance. He had just been brought from the North China headquarters by Kitaoka Ryoko and was unfamiliar with the Fujiwara Company in Shanghai.
Meanwhile, in the Fujiwara Company office, Yi Hua'an was reporting the situation to Ning Zhiheng. Ning Zhiheng's Japanese identity was top secret, and he could not easily contact his team members. All the work was arranged and completed by Yi Hua'an.
"President, our people followed these people all the way to a three-story building on the east side of the city. After they drove the vehicle in, they never came out again. Here is the exact location." Yi Hua'an went to the Shanghai map hanging on the wall and pointed out the location of the building.
Ning Zhiheng got up and went to the map. Following Yi Hua'an's finger, he found the location of the building.
Yi Hua'an continued, "This building was a library before the Battle of Shanghai. After the battle, it was abandoned and its purpose has remained unknown. However, the area around the building is open, not far from the headquarters of the Special Higher Police, and located in the center of the area where Japanese forces are concentrated. The Japanese will definitely deploy heavy troops to guard it. It will be extremely difficult to find an opportunity to destroy these legal tender and printing presses!"
Ning Zhiheng stared at the blueprints and racked his brains for a long time, but he was still at a loss. The Japanese had their reasons for choosing this location as the base for printing legal tender. This place was the center of Japanese power, surrounded by important Japanese units. The possibility of a large-scale attack and breakthrough was almost non-existent. In addition, with the Japanese's strict defense, it was impossible for them to infiltrate and do anything.
"Never mind, our mission is complete now. Hirao Daichi came back today and told me that Kitaoka Ryoko, the head of the intelligence group of the Special Higher Police, met Yoshino Maru at the customs dock. She said there were important supplies on board the Yoshino Maru and even had a conflict with customs. Combined with what our people have found out, the whereabouts of the legal tender are clear. The person responsible for counterfeiting the legal tender should be Kitaoka Ryoko, the head of the intelligence group of the Special Higher Police. Let's report to headquarters immediately and let them figure out a solution! We'll stand by and see what methods Wang Hanmin has to complete such a difficult mission."
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