Agent: Intercepting Yu Manli at the start!

Chapter 46 This matter is too abnormal!

Although Feng Manna had always disliked Bi Zhongliang, she was now squatting beside the pile of corpses, her gloves on meticulously, her movements swift and precise.

This isn't about investigating the case for him, it's about protecting the reputation of the Special Operations Headquarters, and even more so, it's about saving my own life.

Zhou Xiao also crouched down, his fingertips tracing the bullet casings on the ground, the scratches on the corner of the wall, and the path of the blood pool...

The entire setup was flawless and without any mishaps.

Mingtai's methods are indeed shrewd and experienced.

As the two bent down to examine the area closely, a steady and authoritative set of footsteps suddenly came from the alley entrance—

Aoki Takeshige and Watanabe Ichiro have arrived.

Aoki Takeshige's face was ashen, a heavy, menacing aura pressing between his brows. His gaze swept over the chaotic scene, finally settling like two cold knives on Zhou Xiao and Feng Manna: "Tell me, what happened?"

With the recent loss of two intelligence chiefs, the Special Higher Police (STP) is on high alert, with everyone walking on thin ice.

"Section Chief, I haven't had time to investigate in detail yet—we're waiting for you to come in person so we can sort things out together."

Before Zhou Xiao finished speaking, he gestured with his chin toward a subordinate named Lü Ming in the action department: "You, tell me the whole story from beginning to end."

All the men Su Sansheng and Bi Zhongliang brought with them were killed. Now, the only ones who can uncover the truth are the survivors who witnessed the whole process.

Sweat beaded on Lü Ming's forehead. Without hesitation, he spilled the beans: "A few days ago, we arrested an underground party member codenamed 'An Liusan.' Captain Su interrogated him personally—he couldn't take it anymore and confessed."

"According to his confession, at 8 p.m. tonight, an underground party member codenamed 'Sparrow' who had infiltrated our Special Higher Police was to meet with his superior, the Prime Minister, at the MGM Grand. Upon hearing the news, Director Bi and Captain Su immediately mobilized troops to surround the MGM Grand."

Zhou Xiao, Feng Manna, and Aoki Takeshige listened intently, even holding their breath.

"Shortly after the encirclement was completed, someone suddenly broke a window on the second floor and jumped out, disappearing into the back alley. Director Bi and Captain Su immediately led their men in pursuit."

"I was guarding the main gate with Deputy Captain Liu Erbao when we suddenly heard two crisp 'bang! bang!' sounds coming from the alley—short, sharp, like close-range pistol fire. We all thought they had engaged in combat with their target."

"But Captain Chen Shen quickly realized something was wrong and immediately took me there—when we lifted the curtain, we found Director Bi lying in a pool of blood, dead on the spot; Su Sansheng had a cut on his shoulder and was unconscious."

Aoki Takeshige's face suddenly darkened, and he turned to stare at Zhou Xiao and Feng Manna: "Did you find any clues at the scene?"

Zhou Xiao spoke steadily and clearly: "I have examined the body repeatedly. All the victims were shot with standard-issue pistols, and the trajectories were consistent; each person was shot in the back of the head or back of the heart, the holsters were still closed, and not a single bullet was missing—this indicates that they were ambushed at close range, without even a chance to draw their guns."

"Look at the impact points: there are almost no ricochets left in the alley; the walls, brick seams, and ground are spotless. This is definitely not a melee; it was an operation by acquaintances, quick, accurate, and ruthless."

Feng Manna continued, "Section Chief, there were no survivors except for Su Sansheng—he was shot in the shoulder, lost blood and fell into a coma, and is currently lying in Renji Hospital."

Aoki Takeshige's Adam's apple bobbed, his voice low and hoarse: "The Sparrow... I've been watching it for so long, but I still can't catch a glimpse of it. So, you mean this Su Sansheng is the Sparrow?"

Chen Shen stood in the corner, listening quietly with his eyes down, without saying a word.

Feng Manna simply nodded slightly: "Very likely."

Zhou Xiao answered decisively: "I've already sent people to keep a close watch on his hospital room—he's the only living witness, and the only one who wasn't silenced."

"To determine who fired those shots, an autopsy will reveal the answer. By comparing the rifling of the bullets, we can pinpoint the gun owner."

"There's another strange thing: An Liusan has always been stubborn and would rather gossip than utter a word. But in Su Sansheng's hands, he confessed everything in just a few hours—this is too abnormal."

Aoki Takeshige was silent for a moment, then slowly nodded: "Director Zhou, you've made perfect sense. I'll leave this matter to you to investigate thoroughly. I want a definitive result."

"Yes!" Zhou Xiao responded crisply, a glint of light flashing in his eyes—this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for advancement.

The entire game was meticulously planned, with each step carefully executed and each move interconnected. Even the wind direction, timing, and people's hearts were calculated with absolute precision—truly surpassing the master, more experienced and meticulous than the kite of yesteryear.

During this time, Zhou Xiao had already undergone a complete transformation.

Now, all the clues, all the testimonies, and all the logical gaps all fit together perfectly to point to Su Sansheng.

He's going to take the blame for this.

Want to pick it? You can't.

Watanabe Ichiro also walked around the arena, then turned back and nodded slightly to Aoki Takeshige—a silent confirmation that what he said was true and impeccable.

Aoki Takeshige glanced one last time at Bi Zhongliang's stiff, lifeless body, then turned and left. The scene was thus handed over to Zhou Xiao and Feng Manna for their final disposal.

Bi Zhongliang's death will surely cause a huge uproar in Shanghai.

At this moment, the Military Intelligence Bureau, the Central Bureau of Investigation and Statistics, the Japanese intelligence agencies, and even the high-ranking officials of the puppet government all had their eyes fixed on the Special Higher Police.

The more critical the situation, the more decisive and swift the action must be.

The morning after Su Sansheng's surgery, Zhou Xiao and Feng Manna went directly to Renji Hospital.

At this time, Su Sansheng was still in the dark. He only felt the shadows moving and the footsteps frequent inside and outside the ward, and thought it was because the security had been strengthened. Little did he know that it was an iron wall surrounding him, surveillance, and house arrest.

He still didn't know that Bi Zhongliang had already died in the alley.

Zhou Xiao pushed open the ward door, his smile warm and his tone relaxed: "Captain Su, you look much better."

Su Sansheng propped himself up and sat up against the headboard, his gaze slightly suspicious: "Director Zhou? Section Chief Feng? So early, is something the matter?"

Zhou Xiao pulled up a chair and sat down opposite him, his expression calm, but his tone as crisp as a revelation: "Captain Su, I won't beat around the bush—you, aren't you Sparrow?"

"Me? A sparrow?" Su Sansheng's lips curled into a cold smile. "Director Zhou, are you trying to convict me?"

"I need to see Director Bi! Right now!"

Zhou Xiao's smile remained, but his eyes turned colder: "Captain Su, you're really putting on a good show... Still thinking about seeing Director Bi? I'm afraid you'll have to wait until you're in hell to catch up—but I guess you'll be on your way soon anyway."

"Hell?" Su Sansheng's pupils contracted. "You mean... Director Bi—?"

"Have you had enough of this act?" Zhou Xiao leaned forward, lowering his voice even further. "Last night you personally saw Bi Zhongliang off, then shot yourself in the shoulder. A beautifully executed act of self-inflicted injury. Now, you want to pretend to have amnesia?"

Su Sansheng froze, finally realizing that the footsteps outside the door weren't there to protect him, but to lock him up.

Feng Manna's gaze was like a knife, piercing Su Sansheng: "Captain Su... oh no, I should call you 'Sparrow' now—you've been hiding your true strength well, and your moves are ruthless!"

"Be smart and confess now. You've touched and seen the torture instruments in the Special Operations Headquarters dungeon before. What's the point of stubbornly refusing to talk? You'll only suffer a few more cuts and bruises."

"Confess? Confess what?" Su Sansheng jerked violently, his Adam's apple bobbing, his face tightening, and his eyes bloodshot. "I was surrounded and severely injured by seven or eight people in a narrow alley, and you all turn around and accuse me of killing Bi Zhongliang, even labeling me a 'sparrow'? If you don't trust me, Su Sansheng, you can just shoot me!"

"You think I wouldn't dare?" Feng Manna flicked her wrist, and the gun was already drawn, the dark muzzle instantly pressed against his forehead.

"Manna, put it away!" Zhou Xiao grabbed her wrist, the grip on his hand firm yet unyielding. He stepped forward, his gaze piercing Su Sansheng's eyes like iron nails: "Su Sansheng, are you really planning to wait until the corpse is completely cold before you speak?"

He held up several photos—close-ups of yellowish wounds with charred, curled edges. "The forensic expert determined that these were burns from a close-range shot. The bullet has been identified as one fired from your service weapon."

"The bullets removed from Director Bi and the five agents who died on the spot all came from your gun."

"The on-site investigation made it clearer: everyone was attacked in the back of the neck or the back of the heart, without even a chance to draw their guns—only an inside job could be so clean and efficient."

Su Sansheng stared at the photos, then suddenly sneered, a cold, hard line appearing at the corner of his mouth: "I, Su Sansheng, never deny what I've done; and if I haven't done something, even if the Emperor himself pressed my head down, I still wouldn't admit it."

"Fine, you're being stubborn, aren't you?" Zhou Xiao's tone was calm, yet it sounded like he was suppressing a thunderclap. "Then I'll break down tonight's game for you."

"The entire game, from beginning to end, was laid out by you."

"An Liusan slipped up in prison; he's a member of the underground Communist Party—Director Bi personally verified this, it can't be fake."

"You deliberately sent him in, and then used the interrogation to 'extract' information: Sparrows would be meeting at the MGM cabaret tonight. But no one actually went to meet them—that was bait you laid."

"Once we get to the dance hall, have someone impersonate the 'Prime Minister' and lead Director Bi into a dark alley. The moment he turns his back, pull the trigger from behind."

"To prevent leaks, you conveniently eliminated all the accompanying agents; to clear yourself of suspicion, you pointed your gun at your left shoulder and 'injured' yourself, acting more convincingly than a theatrical performer."

"The plan was indeed flawless... Unfortunately, the soil remembers footprints, bloodstains point in the direction, and ballistics reveal the truth."

"That's right!" Feng Manna replied, her voice like ice scraping against a metal plate. "We checked the time—from the moment Director Bi left his seat to the discovery of the body, less than seven minutes passed. Without days and nights of planning and deliberation, how could such speed, accuracy, and ruthlessness be achieved?"

"You're the only one who knew. You set up the scheme, the trap, and the crime. As for the motive..." Zhou Xiao paused, his gaze sharp as a blade, "First, to 'eliminate the traitors,' and second, to 'climb the ranks.'"

"With Bi Zhongliang dead, the Action Department is leaderless; Chen Shen has been a figurehead for years, so the only one left to take charge is you, Su Sansheng."

"You're desperately climbing the ladder, not for the official seal, but for intelligence channels—the higher the position, the more secure the filing cabinets, the newest codebooks."

"Su Sansheng, am I wrong in anything I said?"

"Bullshit!" he roared, his shoulder slamming against the chains with a clanging sound.

He would rather die than take the blame for this!

But the evidence is like a rope, tightening around your neck, the more you struggle, the more suffocated you become.