allonlinenovel Chapter 1023 I’ll come back as soon as I go
Chapter 1023 I’ll come back as soon as I go
"Hahaha!" Taro Shigeno let out a hearty, even exaggerated laugh, rubbed his hands together vigorously, and chimed in with a heavy Kansai accent: "Yeah, yeah!"
You guys are doing alright, staying in Harbin all this time, you're practically "enjoying" it.
"Back then, conditions were tough. I was with the troops in the mountains and forests, fighting against the Anti-Japanese Allied Army. We were exposed to the elements every day. It's nothing like the comfortable life we have now."
Then, Taro Shigeno changed the subject, his flattery overflowing: "You gentlemen are now deeply trusted by Commander Takasaki and stationed in Nanjing, a land flowing with milk and honey! Your future is limitless, truly limitless!"
Then, he leaned forward slightly, lowered his voice naturally, and gave a knowing, pragmatic smile—a common expression among the sons of the Fourth Division when discussing such topics: "Gentlemen, in the future, if there's anything to do to make money in Nanjing... well, I mean, if there's any good opportunity that requires 'cooperation,' don't forget to look out for your old friend!"
He cleverly replaced the blunt "get rich" with the high-sounding "work together," but everyone present was well aware of the naked exchange of interests implied in it.
"We, the Fourth Division, may not be able to say anything else, but we can still offer some small assistance in terms of logistics and material distribution."
Yusuke Ichijo smiled gently, raised his glass gracefully to the crowd, and said with unhurried ease, "Mr. Shigeno, you flatter me. We are all serving the Empire, His Majesty the Emperor, and His Excellency the Commander."
It is fate that we can meet here together.
"Maintaining security and order in Nanjing from now on will still depend on the strong support of the Fourth Division. As for cooperation..." He smiled slightly, a smile full of meaning, like an undercurrent beneath a calm surface: "Opportunities will always come. There's no need to rush. We can... take it slow."
Yusuke Ichijo skillfully handled the social interactions, raising his glass when appropriate and smiling when necessary. Every word he uttered seemed meticulously calculated, offering hope without making any concrete promises.
However, upon closer inspection, one would notice a subtle hint of irritation and absent-mindedness hidden deep in his eyes.
The warm yellow lantern light shone on his face, but it couldn't penetrate his slightly narrowed pupils.
He specially invited Taro Shigeno for drinks tonight in order to pave the way for various "business" operations in this newly occupied city.
But at this moment, most of his thoughts were uncontrollably drifting elsewhere.
The image of Xiao Juan, the little girl he had marked heavily on the roster with a red pen, would always stubbornly and inappropriately surface in his mind.
The child's clear yet frightened eyes seemed to be right in front of me.
This girl was a "living gift" he had meticulously planned to present to Ms. Takasaki Keiko, who was far away in Tianjin. She was a key element in his efforts to curry favor with his superiors and solidify his position.
Miss Huizi is deeply favored by the general. If a young, clean-backed, and easily controlled and tamed maid could be sent to her, it would surely greatly please the general and thus greatly solidify her position and value in Commander Takasaki Takuto's heart.
This "gift" must not be lost.
But yesterday, the sudden appearance of that Chinese man named Li Shouren, and his reckless behavior, did indeed disrupt his rhythm in an instant.
He has now sent people to secretly monitor the movements of the father and daughter, but so far there has been no definite news.
The feeling that this subtle detail might slip out of his control stirred up an indescribable unease within him, like a grain of sand mixed into fine wine and delicacies, shattering the false peace and harmony of the moment.
After several rounds of drinks, the room was filled with smoke, and the atmosphere became increasingly lively under the influence of alcohol, but it also seemed more superficial.
With a flushed face, Mitsuda Shoma began to vividly and even somewhat exaggeratedly recount the "funny things" he encountered today while "cleansing up" the remaining enemy forces in the south of the city. He described how he cornered several hiding routs like hunting rabbits, his words filled with the triumphant satisfaction of a conqueror.
Taniguchi Mayu, on the other hand, seemed more pragmatic. He was more concerned with the newly acquired warehouses and the management of supplies in the northern dock area, as well as how the huge "profits" should be distributed among the various forces. His words were full of shrewd calculations.
Meanwhile, Taro Shigeno cleverly shifted the topic to how to utilize the transportation network and channels controlled by the Fourth Division to achieve "efficient circulation" of some "special materials" that were not easy to discuss openly. His round face always wore that amiable smile that seemed to say, "Let's all make money together."
Yusuke Ichijo forced himself to stay alert and skillfully handled the conversations from all sides, nodding when appropriate and raising his glass when necessary.
However, the restlessness in his heart, like a hidden reef underwater, became increasingly clear beneath the false calm as time went by, disturbing his peace of mind.
at this time.
With a soft sound, the door was silently pulled open a crack.
A sergeant dressed in military uniform, his expression a mixture of respect and urgency, appeared at the door like a shadow.
He first quickly glanced at the lively scene inside the room, then his gaze precisely locked onto Yusuke Ichijo, who was sitting at the head of the table.
He strode to the edge of the tatami mat, knelt down in perfect posture, leaned deeply forward, brought his lips close to Yusuke's ear, and hurriedly reported a few words in a very low voice that only the two of them could hear.
The visitor was Sergeant Nishimura. He spoke quickly, and his expression was more solemn than ever before.
In an instant!
The carefully maintained, calm and gentle smile on Yusuke's face froze instantly, stiffened, and then faded away rapidly at a speed visible to the naked eye, like a mask splashed with ice water!
His brows furrowed slightly involuntarily, and his fingers gripped the wine glass with sudden force.
Although it was only a very brief moment, the astonishment that flashed in his eyes, and the obvious displeasure and even a hint of anger that followed, did not escape the deep eyes of Taniguchi Mayu, who was sitting nearby and had been secretly observing him.
However, Yusuke Ichijo had served as the captain of the Harbin Military Police for a long time, so his self-control was already quite remarkable.
He realized his lapse in composure almost immediately, and his strong willpower forced him to adjust his facial muscles in an instant.
The displeasure was forcibly suppressed, and as if by magic, a slightly apologetic, impeccable social smile reappeared on his face.
She gently set down the wine glass she had almost crushed, maintaining her usual elegance, then calmly stood up, gave a slight bow to the three people at the table who were chatting "enthusiastically," and spoke with just the right amount of regret:
"Gentlemen, I am truly sorry, but there is a small, unexpected matter that needs to be dealt with immediately. Please excuse me for a moment."
Please help yourself to the food and drinks. I'll be right back. Make sure you enjoy yourself!