PFC Chapter 1137 You've crossed the line; it's definitely inappropriate.
Chapter 1137 You've crossed the line; it's definitely inappropriate.
"Alright." Prince Asaka Yasuhiko gently raised his hand, interrupting Itai Yūdai's explanation. His tone remained calm, yet carried a chilling authority: "I don't want to hear the specifics."
Kagesa Yoshiaki and his organization are still useful to the Empire and the Expeditionary Army.
In Kyoto, some people value his ongoing work highly. "King Yasuhiko said, finally turning his head to glance at Itai.
The word "Kyoto" was emphasized slightly, whether intentionally or unintentionally.
Yudai Itai was shocked. What did Kagesa Yoshiaki, a mere lieutenant colonel, have that could attract the attention of "Kyoto"?
King Jiuyan continued, "You've detained the person, so it's understandable to teach him a lesson."
These words eased Itai Yudai's mind slightly, but his next words immediately put him on edge again.
"But let's stop here and find an excuse to release them."
Prince Kyohiko paused, seemingly observing Itai's reaction, before slowly uttering the final sentence: "This is also the intention of your General Takasaki."
What does the general mean?
Yutaka Itai's brain was working at lightning speed.
If this is truly the general's intention, then why didn't the general issue the order directly, but instead had it conveyed through Prince Asaka Yasuhiko?
Unless... the general doesn't want to be directly involved in this matter, or there's some kind of tacit understanding between the general and the prince, either way, it shows that the situation surrounding Kagesa Yoshiaki is much more complicated than he imagined.
Moreover, why would Prince Asaka Yasuhiko make a special trip to Shanghai? Could it really be for the sake of Kagesa Yoshiaki?
Would someone really make a special trip for a mere lieutenant colonel?
Unless this Kageyama Yoshiaki is really important!
"Yes, Your Highness! I... understand. I will obey Your Highness's orders and the General's will."
Yudai Itai bowed slightly.
The general has given the order, so no matter what I think, I have to release them! I must obey the general's orders!
"Hmm." King Kyūhiko seemed fairly satisfied with his attitude, his soft hum carrying a hint of barely perceptible approval, but more so a condescending scrutiny.
"Lead the way, let's go see Kagesa Yoshiaki. There are few people in Kyoto who don't know your name."
I was a little worried; things were urgent in Nanjing, so I even made a special trip to Shanghai! You, this brat from the Ban family, are a real headache!
"Hi! Your Highness, please!"
. . . . . . . . . .
Half an hour later, in a room that had been hastily prepared but was relatively clean, next to Yuta Itai's gloomy underground interrogation room, the atmosphere was so heavy it was almost palpable.
This room, which was originally the rest room for military police officers, had been hastily tidied up: a sofa with an unidentified stain had been moved to the corner and hastily covered with a cloth.
Several wooden chairs were arranged in a semi-circle, and a table with peeling paint had been wiped clean enough to be barely presentable. On it was a set of rough porcelain teaware, the tea of which had long since gone cold.
Kagesa Tsuneaki sat upright in a hard wooden chair against the wall, his face ashen. The chair legs wobbled slightly, but he sat ramrod straight, as if that were the last shred of dignity he could maintain.
His military uniform was tattered, with a tear in his left shoulder revealing gauze soaked in dark red blood.
His right wrist was bent at an unnatural angle, a result of torture. Although it had been reattached and fixed, every slight movement brought excruciating pain.
The black-rimmed glasses he put back on had a tiny crack in one of the lenses, but this only made him look more dangerous, like a wounded but still deadly beast.
Behind the glasses, his eyes were sunken and dark-rimmed, but what shone in them now was no longer the gentle elegance of a scholar, but a deep gratitude for Prince Asaka Yasuhiko's sudden arrival that saved his life, and a profound fear of Itai Yudai.
Beside him, Haruki Yoshitane's condition was even worse. This shrewd and capable major in his early thirties was now almost unable to stand on his own.
He changed into a clean military uniform that clearly didn't fit him well; it was probably a spare uniform for a small military policeman. The sleeves were too short, revealing his wrists wrapped in bandages.
Beneath those bandages was skin burned by a branding iron; every breath aggravated the wounds, causing fine beads of cold sweat to seep from his forehead.
The most shocking thing was his face. His left cheek was swollen high, his mouth was cracked, and one eye could barely be opened. Only a faint ray of light could be seen through the swollen eyelid.
The other three Mei Agency agents stood behind them, equally battered and looking dejected.
They supported each other, barely maintaining their military posture, but their trembling legs betrayed their weakness.
These Japanese spies, who were feared throughout Shanghai, were now like a pack of wolves with their teeth pulled out, looking disheveled and miserable.
Of particular note is Kagesa Yoshiaki's top henchman, Hase.
He was slumped in a chair in the corner, looking as if his spine had been removed.
His entire face was swollen and deformed, almost unrecognizable, covered in bruises and purple marks, and one ear was missing.
His right hand hung limply at his side, its five fingers twisted at an odd angle, clearly having been deliberately broken.
What's most terrifying is his eyes—empty and lost, as if his soul has left his body.
This ruthless man, who once killed Tian Luning and his wife without hesitation, didn't even have the strength to look up at the sky. He was only able to stay upright by being supported by his companion.
In the center of the room, Yudai Itai stood with his hands behind his back, expressionless, like a cold stone statue.
Beside him were two fully armed military police, holding rifles with bayonets fixed, their eyes scanning everyone in the room warily, as if ready to deal with a possible sudden attack at any moment.
Prince Asaka Hiko sat in the only relatively intact armchair, which Yudai Itai had specially moved from his office.
His posture was relaxed, even somewhat languid. His gaze slowly swept over the injuries on Yingzuo Zhenzhao and the others. When he saw Qingqi Qingyin's miserable state, where he could barely stand and his face was bloodless, his brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.
The frown was very slight and lasted only a very short time, but everyone present noticed it.
"Lieutenant Shadow Zuo."
Prince Asaka Yasuhiko spoke slowly, breaking the suffocating silence. His voice was not loud, but in the deathly quiet basement, it was clear and somewhat jarring.
"Section Chief Itai has already reported what happened."
He paused, his gaze shifting between Kagesa Yoshiaki and Itai Yūdai, as if weighing something.
"It was a misunderstanding, and both sides acted impulsively. You crossed the line, which was indeed inappropriate."
Kagesa Yoshiaki's heart sank. King Kyohiko used the word "misunderstanding" and said that he had "overstepped his bounds," which was tantamount to acknowledging, to some extent, the reason why Itai Yudai detained them.
He clenched his teeth, his jaw muscles tensed, but he dared not make a sound.