The First Volume: The Hollow Spirit Chapter 33: A Pleasant Cooperation

  Indeed, there was a small wine shop that had not yet closed, with two tables of customers inside, each table having only two people. Next to them stood two waiters waiting for new orders from the customers, while the boss was counting money on the side. Looking at the sturdy build of the two waiters, Wang Yaowu knew that there were several horse knives placed under the counter. When opening a shop until late at night, some preparations are necessary.

  When Wang Ya Zu and Yan Song arrived, the shopkeeper immediately stopped calculating the accounts, looked at Wang Ya Zu and Yan Song for a moment, and after making sure everything was fine, he quickly called over the waiter to serve them. He led Wang Ya Zu to sit in a seat near the door, which had good ventilation and wouldn't be too hot.

  "I'm sorry, sir. The chef in our store is on a break and there's no hot dish, only cold dishes." The little waiter helped Wang Yaowu wipe the table and chairs clean. Then, before Wang Yaowu ordered, he mentioned the dishes that were not available in the store.

  "Don't worry, first bring a bottle of bamboo leaf green, then bring a catty of beef and a catty of chicken feet. And bring a dish of cold mixed cucumber." Everything was taken care of by Wang Yaoyu, while Yan Song just sat on the side, his mind in a state of confusion and struggle.

  "Alright, gentlemen, just a moment, please!" When encountering polite and generous customers, the shop assistant also relaxes. The voice calling out is also light and quick, and of course, the movements are very nimble.

  "Sir, the dishes are all ready. Gentlemen, please take your time and let me know if you need anything." According to custom, wine should only be served after all the dishes have been served. Looking at the cold dishes on the table, Wang Yaizu had a good appetite. However, Yan Song on the other side still had a gloomy face, so Wang Yaizu didn't urge him and started eating and drinking instead.

  "Yaozu, I still can't accept this money. My position in front of Commander Xiong is already unstable. If Commander Xiong finds out that I betrayed him, then I'm done for. Without my current official post, I am nothing."

  Yan Song whispered his thoughts to Wang Yaozu, still afraid that there were prying ears on the other side of the wall, fearing someone would report what he was saying now to the Garrison Command or the police.

  Wang Yaoyu glanced at the other two tables of guests, and those four people were also speaking in a low voice. One table seemed to be discussing business, and there were many people doing business these days, with many wanting to make a fortune by doing so. As for what the other table was talking about, Wang Yaoyu had no idea, but the two of them were also being mysterious.

  "Yan Song, you've got it wrong. I'm not asking you to betray Commander Xiong, this is just a favor, delivering a message for us. Lately, Old Stone has been driving us crazy trying to catch the Communist Party, and your Security Command has been keeping an eye on a group of Communists. We just want to know some information, that's all. This isn't betrayal at all. Besides, you're not having an easy time in the Security Command either. If things keep going like this, you'll end up being squeezed out by other deputy officers and sent to the Cold Palace Gate. Are you willing to accept that outcome?" Wang Ya Zu said, pouring a full cup of wine for Yan Song. He listened for a while, then grabbed a chicken claw and started pecking at it, paying attention to the conversations around him. The two businessmen had already started drinking and their voices were loud, they were happy after closing the deal. The other two men at the next table got up to settle the bill and leave.

  "You guys are indeed well-informed. But if I sell you the information now and it gets out later, I'll be in trouble too. Many people know that I'm in charge of investigating stock links with you, so if something happens, they'll suspect me first. This 300 yuan is really too little."

  "Haha, Deputy Yan, you're thinking too much. With your intelligence, it's easy to make people think the information wasn't leaked by you, right? Besides, handling matters like this isn't your responsibility, is it? If things go wrong, it's those who stand in your way who'll be unlucky. If we suspect someone because they took action before our investigation team, who will dare take responsibility for contacting us again? Moreover, Deputy Yan, you seem to have forgotten one thing - the war is almost over, and Commander Chiang has already won. Who knows how long Commander Xiong can stay in his position? You're helping us now, and in the future, your contributions will definitely be rewarded, and we'll never forget your favors."

  All the officials on Shanghai Bund knew that Commander Xiong was not a general of the Central First Route Army, and when Wang Yaowu mentioned the outcome of the war, Deputy Officer Yan's eyes lit up immediately, and he suddenly gained spirit.

  "In ten days, I'll give you an update. The Zhangs are keeping a close eye on this matter, they've already gotten hold of half the list of Communist Party members, but in order to lure out the head of the Communist Party, they've been under surveillance for these past few days, so it's unlikely there will be any results soon. Since that group of Communists just gathered last month, I reckon it'll take around ten more days. If things change, then all I can say is sorry. I won't be able to notify you suddenly."

  That's Yan Song's bottom line, and Wang Yaozu agreed on the spot. If things go wrong, it won't be him, Wang Yaozu, who will be blamed by everyone, but Yan Song. At most, they'll face punishment together, but as long as they get Anthony's side of things taken care of, it's a win-win situation.

  The next morning, Wang Ya-zu handed over all the matters. He also started to take over the case of the French soldier who was killed by his own hands. The first thing to do in handling this case was to go to the morgue of the Shanghai Police Bureau and smell the foul odor of formalin.

  In form, Wang Ya-zu had to take a look at the body. However, he only needed to take a glance, and then it was up to the forensic doctor to read out the cause of death. The conclusion was very formal, but for Wang Ya-zu, it was all nonsense. In simple terms, the French soldier got drunk, extremely drunk, and then someone broke his neck with one twist.

  "Hey, I just want to ask you one question. Is the murderer a professional killer? Can they snap someone's neck with one twist, isn't that professional enough?" Wang Yaoyu had been listening all along and only asked the most crucial question when he heard almost everything.

  "Based on my years of judgment, the perpetrator's method is very skilled, and it is estimated that they have received some training. It should not be an ordinary person who did this." Such a big thing, the police department's forensic doctor would not dare to say too much, if it were an ordinary case, I believe they could immediately conclude that it was done by a professional killer.

  "Alright, I understand. In short, this poor French soldier was absolutely not killed by an ordinary person. This conclusion is more important than anything else, what do you think, Mr. Anthony?"

  Wang Ya-zu came to see the body, and Anthony also had to come along. To prevent the Chinese from playing any tricks. In fact, he was following Wang Ya-zu over to put on a show. The whole event must develop in a direction that is beneficial to both of them.

  "As the highest-ranking official of the French Consulate, I am responsible for the death of this loyal soldier. I must find out who the real murderer is, no matter who he is or what his status is! Let's go back to the consulate and discuss this matter thoroughly."

  Anthony finished speaking in French and left, Wang Ya-zu smiled at the accompanying officials and turned around to follow Anthony out. The officials were still anxiously waiting for the translators beside them to translate what Anthony had said clearly, but what Anthony had just said was too fast, and the two translators next to the municipal government officials couldn't translate it clearly for a while.

  "King, let's toast to our cooperation this time!" Back at the French Consulate, Antoine poured a glass of authentic Louis XIV wine for Wang Yaozu. When killing people, Antoine was actually very nervous, but when the whole thing turned into a situation that was beneficial to him, Antoine relaxed a lot. Antoine was very clear that as long as the truth was not revealed, he would be praised and rewarded by the French government.

  "It was a pleasure cooperating with you. However, it's not time to celebrate yet. When will your superior return? Will that affect our cooperation?"

  Wang Yaoyu took a sip of wine and stood up, looking around. He had known the principle of "walls have ears" for a long time. Anthony's last obvious move was to provoke the Japanese Consulate, so the Japanese would naturally try to monitor Anthony and grasp who he contacted and what conversations he had.

  "King, don't be so tense. Previously, two Chinese people hired by the Japanese tried to sneak into the consulate, but they were caught in no time and sank into the Huangpu River after interrogation. Moreover, the people at the consulate have also been reminded recently and are monitoring each other. Consul Fergusson won't be back until 15 days later. He doesn't want to take a plane, he wants to take a boat. To be honest, I don't want to take a plane either, planes are fast but really not safe."

  At the mention of airplanes, Wang Yaowu nodded in agreement, acknowledging that airplanes are indeed fast. However, if one were to die in a plane crash, it would be an unjust death. Taking a boat may be slow, but at least it's safer.

  Just then, as Wang Ya-zu and Anthony were discussing the airplane, Anthony took out a sheet of white paper and wrote in French: "The ship will arrive ahead of schedule. The transaction will take place nine days later."

  Wang Yaizu nodded, this voyage is under the care of God, it's common to arrive ahead of schedule if luck is good, and if luck is bad, encountering strong winds or something, delaying one or two days is also possible.

  "Then once again congratulations on our pleasant cooperation. I believe it won't be long before someone will send many gifts to us."

  Wang Yaizu raised his wine glass while putting the white paper into the ashtray, and Anthony struck a match to burn it to ashes. Gunsmoke Silent Volume 1 Empty Spirit Chapter 33 Pleasant Cooperation