novelAbuy Chapter 1925 The Mad Araki
Chapter 1925 The Mad Araki
Chapter 1925 The Mad Araki
Cheng Qianfan pushed open the door and saw Araki Harima standing by the window, looking out in a daze.
"Miyazaki-kun is here." Araki Harima turned to look at his friend. "Please have a seat."
"Araki-kun doesn't seem to be in a very good mood." Cheng Qianfan sat cross-legged on the tatami mat. He took out a cigarette case from his briefcase, lit a cigarette, and slowly took a puff.
“I need to go to Nanjing in a few days,” Araki Harima said.
"A mission?" Cheng Qianfan raised an eyebrow and asked.
“Go pick someone up,” Araki Harima said.
"Have any important criminals been captured in Nanjing?" Cheng Qianfan asked, his expression showing interest and slight excitement.
“No.” Araki Harima knew his friend had misunderstood, and said, “The Nanjing Special Higher Police called. Professor Mizutani Shogo and his party have arrived in Nanjing.”
He told Kentaro Miyazaki, "The professor and his party will stay in Nanjing for a few days, and then they will come to Shanghai."
"Didn't they say the person was still in Harbin?" Cheng Qianfan asked in surprise, then quickly looked thoughtful. "Was it a smokescreen deliberately released to confuse the enemy?"
"That's probably the case." Araki Harima nodded.
……
"So it seems the professor and his group are not simple people," Cheng Qianfan said with a serious expression. "Even our own people have been kept in the dark."
“I contacted Hojo-kun in Harbin,” Araki Harima said.
"Lieutenant Colonel Hojo Aoji of the South Manchuria Railway Survey Section?" Cheng Qianfan asked.
He had heard Araki Harima mention that Araki Harima and Hojo Aoji of the South Manchuria Railway Survey Division were from the same hometown and had a good relationship.
“Yes.” Araki Harima nodded. “I asked him about Professor Mizutani Shogo.”
As he spoke, his expression became very serious. "Hojo-kun called back and sternly warned me not to continue to inquire about Professor Mizutani's identity. He called Professor Mizutani Shogo an 'untouchable troublemaker.'"
"'An untouchable troublemaker'?" Cheng Qianfan was taken aback for a moment, then he pondered, "Even Lieutenant Colonel Hojo is so wary of him..."
He said to Araki Harima, "It seems that Professor Mizutani's identity is far more important than we could have imagined."
……
“It’s mysterious.” Araki Harima shook his head slightly and said, “I’ve seen many important dignitaries. I know Hojo. If it were just a matter of high status, it wouldn’t make him so wary. His attitude shows that Professor Mizutani’s status is not only important, but it would be more appropriate to describe it as mysterious and dangerous.”
“Mysterious and dangerous…” Cheng Qianfan frowned in thought.
He looked at Araki Harima and said, "Araki-kun, since Lieutenant Colonel Hojo has given you such a serious warning, it's enough to show that Professor Mizutani Shogo is indeed a very troublesome and dangerous person. It's best not to continue to provoke him."
“I understand that, of course.” Araki Harima nodded. “However, the problem is that Section Chief Arao ordered me to go to Nanjing in three days.”
"Is there a problem with this?" Cheng Qianfan asked. "Since Professor Mizutani and his party are so important, it seems reasonable that our section chief arranged for Araki to go to Nanjing to welcome and protect them, out of caution."
“On the surface, there seems to be nothing wrong,” Araki Harima said. “However, Arao Tomohiro then secretly met with my grandson Shinta, and the two of them plotted in the office for quite a while.”
"Does Araki suspect that Section Chief Arao's summons of the 'Tent' Chief is also related to Professor Mizutani Shogo?" Cheng Qianfan asked.
……
“I’m not sure, but I tend to think that’s the case,” Araki Harima said. “In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if Section Chief Arao had talked to my grandson Shinta about Professor Mizutani. It’s normal for the intelligence department to get involved in this matter.”
"I understand now." Cheng Qianfan clapped his hands, as if suddenly realizing something, and said, "Specifically, regarding your task, Mr. Araki, the intelligence room is actually absent."
“Yes.” Araki Harima nodded with a cold smile. “Since the target is so important, the protection work cannot be neglected. Normally, the intelligence office should also take the initiative to cooperate and provide relevant intelligence. However, my grandson Shinta has not contacted me at all, not even once.”
"Araki-kun is suspicious..." Cheng Qianfan asked Araki Harima, his eyes flickering.
“Arao Tomohiro assigned me to greet and protect Mizutani Shogo and his party, but I suspect that this was just a pretense,” Araki Harima said. “What he really assigned was my grandson Shinta’s intelligence office to be in charge of protecting Mizutani Shogo.”
“Although this is just a guess, Araki-kun,” Cheng Qianfan said with a furrowed brow, “it makes logical sense based on the clues you’ve given.”
He noticed that Araki Harima had stopped referring to Arao Tomohiro as "Section Chief Arao" and simply called him by his given name.
……
“So, Araki suspects that you were actually released by Section Chief Arao to attract the attention of potential enemies,” Cheng Qianfan said. “The actual security work was entrusted to my grandson, Shinta.”
“I am the one who is dirtiest, most tired, and most likely to cause problems and be punished,” Araki Harima said. “My grandson Shinta is in the shadows, and can completely take advantage of the situation without any surprises.”
His tone was cold, tinged with suppressed anger, as he said, "If Arao Tomohiro had told me directly that I was just using a front, would I have refused the mission? Would I have refused to cooperate?"
“No.” Cheng Qianfan said with an extremely serious expression, “Araki-kun’s loyalty to the Empire and his attitude towards work are beyond question.”
“Yes! Miyazaki-kun, you know me well,” Araki Harima said. “But, Arao Tomohiro didn’t tell me; he kept me in the dark…”
As he spoke, he poured himself a cup of wine, drank it all in one gulp, and then simply picked up the wine pot and gulped down several large mouthfuls.
“My feeling is that Arao Tomohiro even hopes that I will make a mistake so that he can punish me openly and take action against me,” Araki Harima said. “Anyway, he has my grandson Shinta there to actually take charge of security, so he doesn’t have to worry about the safety of Mizutani’s team.”
Cheng Qianfan frowned, then relaxed, and soon frowned slightly again as he pondered.
“Araki-kun, I understand how you feel.” Cheng Qianfan also took a sip of his drink, flicked his cigarette ash, and said, “The objective fact is that now that this task has been assigned, Araki-kun, all you can do is complete the task well and not give Section Chief Arao any chance to punish you.”
He said with a serious expression, "As a soldier of the Empire, Araki-kun, you have no other choice."
……
“Of course I can’t disobey orders.” Araki Harima’s tone was tinged with anger. “It’s precisely because I clearly guessed what was going on, yet I had to pretend I didn’t know, do my job diligently, and complete the task meticulously, that my mood got worse and worse.”
"Araki-kun, what do you want to do?" Cheng Qianfan took a few puffs of his cigarette, stubbed it out, and looked at Araki Harima, asking, "Tell me, what do you need me to do?"
His expression was serious and resolute. "Whatever you decide to do, I will give you my full support without hesitation."
Cheng Qianfan's face showed a look of shared indignation, "Since he has gone too far... In any case, I support you, Araki-kun!"
……
Araki Harima was stunned.
Objectively speaking, he didn't think too much about meeting with Kentaro Miyazaki and having drinks.
He was feeling frustrated and wanted to find a friend to have a drink, talk, and vent his bitterness and anger.
That's it.
Or rather, that was the initial idea.
However, at this moment, after hearing his friend's words, he paused for a moment:
What did Miyazaki-kun mean by that?
Support me?
What support can you offer me?
Then, after thinking about it for a moment, or rather, the more he thought about it, the angrier he became.
Yes, why should I, Araki Harima, swallow my anger, pretend nothing happened, and still diligently do my job?
Why can't I retaliate against the way Arao Tomohiro treated me?
Then, the next second, Araki Harima's brows furrowed.
Fight back?
What are we retaliating against?
How to fight back?
……
“I do want to do something to get back at Arao Tomohiro,” Araki Harima said, taking a sip of his drink. “However, after thinking about it, I don’t think there’s anything I can do to retaliate against Arao Tomohiro.”
He shook his head and said, "Putting everything else aside, Professor Mizutani and his group have mysterious identities. They absolutely cannot be allowed to get into trouble. No matter how angry I am, this must be ensured."
“Of course, Professor Mizutani’s safety is the top priority.” Cheng Qianfan looked extremely shocked, as if he hadn’t expected his friend to say such a thing. He looked at Araki Harima and said, “How would I know what you’re going to do, Araki-kun? I’m just angry about the unfair treatment you’ve received and I’m willing to do everything I can to help you.”
“Of course I understand,” Araki Harima nodded, moved.
He took the cigarette from Kentaro Miyazaki and fell into deep thought.
“Arao Tomohiro is very smart. He is the section chief, and that position determines that he can be invincible,” Araki Harima said coldly. “I am his subordinate, which also determines that I must obey his orders and complete the mission at all costs. This is the premise that determines everything.”
“Yes, superiors and subordinates, officers and subordinates, that determines everything.” Cheng Qianfan nodded and said, “Section Chief Arao’s task for you is to protect Professor Mizutani and his group. This task is the prerequisite for everything. Araki-kun, you must do it well.”
“And you have to do it even better, the best.” Cheng Qianfan smiled bitterly and shook his head, saying, “The more Section Chief Arao tries to scheme against you, the better you have to do.”
……
Araki Harima didn't speak, but fell into deep thought.
After a while.
“You’re right.” Araki Harima stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray, then quickly lit another cigarette. After taking several deep drags, he said, “Arao Tomohiro’s mission for me is to protect Mizutani Shogo and his group. I must do it well, and do it even better.”
Cheng Qianfan looked at Araki Harima and frowned slightly. "Araki-kun, I'm just telling the truth. I didn't mean to be sarcastic."
"No, no, no, Miyazaki-kun, of course I'm not angry with you, nor am I being sarcastic." Araki Harima smiled slightly.
However, that smile seemed somewhat eerie.
He looked at his friend Miyazaki and continued, "That's exactly what I meant, we need to do better."
Seeing his friend blink and still look confused, Araki Harima chuckled.
He waved to his friend.
Cheng Qianfan was slightly taken aback, then smiled and leaned forward to listen.
“The safety of Professor Mizutani Shogo’s team is of paramount importance,” Araki Harima said. “Only the best people can protect the professor and his group.”
Cheng Qianfan looked thoughtful. Then, he seemed to understand something, yet he still didn't quite understand. He just stared at Araki Harima.
……
That afternoon.
No. 22 Xuehuali Road, Central Police Station Building, Deputy Chief Inspector's Office.
Old Huang is giving 'Little Cheng' a shoulder, neck and head massage.
“Yes, that’s it…” Cheng Qianfan let out a comfortable sigh, “Old Huang, your skills are getting more and more exquisite.”
"Not bad, right?" Old Huang laughed. "I'm not bragging, but with my skills, you'll never starve."
"You make it sound like you, Old Huang, are starving all the time," Cheng Qianfan laughed. "A little to the left, yes, there, press harder."
……
"You suspect that Araki Harima is setting a trap?" Old Huang asked in a low voice.
"It's hard to say," Cheng Qianfan said, shaking his head. "I've thought about it carefully and I don't think I'm suspected of being exposed. So, the possibility that Araki Harima set a trap to lure me into is objectively not high."
“I know Araki Harima very well,” Cheng Qianfan continued. “I don’t think he was acting to trick me.”
“However, it’s because what Araki Harima said, or rather, what he planned, was so outrageous that you had doubts,” Old Huang said.
“Now I think that using the word ‘horrifying’ to describe it is not an exaggeration at all,” Cheng Qianfan said.
"It is indeed a bit 'horrifying,' that's the right word," Old Huang said, laughing as he spoke.
"So it seems you believe Araki Harimaru's words were true, and not a trap to lure people in," Cheng Qianfan said.
“I have never dealt directly with this person. My understanding of Araki Harima comes mainly from your descriptions and analysis of certain events,” Old Huang said. “As you said, you don’t tend to think that Araki Harima is cunning and sets traps, and I’m holding that view for now as well.”
"Put yourself in my shoes." Cheng Qianfan looked at Lao Huang, took the towel from Lao Huang's hand to wipe the sweat from his forehead, and said, "Would you do that? Or do you have a similar thought?"
“I’m not stupid or crazy,” Old Huang said. “I can’t do something like hiring someone to impersonate an assassin and kill the person I’m protecting.”
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(End of this chapter)