Chapter 340: Fake Death Plan

After finishing the arrangements, it was almost time to get off work, so Chen Yongren dismissed the meeting, telling them to work overtime to make the arrangements, while he went to the hospital again to visit Zhang Haifeng.

Nie Yu watched Chen Yongren's retreating back, returned to the Operations Department, arranged the tasks for each division, then via a dedicated line reported Chen Yongren's deployment to Sato Yusuke.

The deployment plan was fine, and Chen Yongren had no ulterior motives.

Outsiders trying to storm the banquet hall would have to break through layers of encirclement; unless they outnumbered the defenders, they wouldn't gain any advantage.

By then, not only would the assassination fail, it would even become a stage for Number 76's performance.

After ordering Nie Yu to continue observing Chen Yongren, Sato Yusuke hung up the phone.

In the hospital.

Chen Yongren didn't beat around the bush, directly saying that he was preparing to let him fake his death and escape during the conference.

Of course.

As for this matter, the two still communicated in Morse code.

On the surface they still used the pretext of inquiring about the conference as cover.

"'Old bastard Sato already suspects you; to avoid future trouble, I've decided to let you fake your death and go underground.' Chen Yongren tapped out a string of Morse code."

"'Shot again?' Zhang Haifeng asked."

"Chen Yongren gave a mysterious smile: 'You'll find out then; I'll have everything arranged.'"

"'What about you?' Zhang Haifeng asked again: 'Who will help you with your work from now on?'"

"'With you gone, I can work better.' Chen Yongren spoke frankly: 'Just like what happened yesterday, that will never happen again, and I'll be free to do some things.'"

Zhang Haifeng remained silent.

Indeed.

Special operations forbid having attachments or weak points, and besides, I know Chen Yongren well and am aware of his background.

What if…

Zhang Haifeng dared not think about it.

"'Get ready; I'll make the arrangements when the time comes.' Chen Yongren tapped out the final Morse string, then said no more to Zhang Haifeng."

Leaving the hospital, Chen Yongren hurried home to plan the assassination at the venue.

The security plan was personally devised by Chen Yongren, who naturally knew that breaking into the conference from outside was no easy feat.

Although his armored vehicle was powerful, it currently couldn't be remotely controlled.

If he drove himself, he would disappear; in an emergency, a Number 76 chief consultant would vanish without a trace.

The car disappears, and he reappears again.

No matter how you look at it, it's somewhat suspicious.

Chen Yongren's method of action is also simple.

Poisoning.

With the Golden Finger skill, he can do it without anyone noticing.

Moreover, Chen Yongren also prepared to use this opportunity to let Zhang Haifeng and Hua Lei fake their deaths and escape.

Only mass poisoning could conceal the deaths of the two people beside him.

Chen Yongren searched the warehouse and indeed found some good stuff.

Aconitine.

Fifty grams of aconitine—enough to kill not just a person, but even several elephants, with plenty to spare.

This stuff was seized by Chen Yongren from those Japanese puppet agents he killed, taken from their homes.

Normally it's not used; it's just kept in the warehouse for emergencies.

Now this item happens to be useful.

The conference is usually a buffet, so Zhang Haifeng and Hua Lei could first take some uncontaminated food, after which Chen Yongren could go poison it.

When people at the venue start showing signs of poisoning, the two can then take the fake-death potion.

My men are all dead—what else do you have to say?

Zhang Haifeng and Hua Lei are my people; after something happens to them, it's reasonable for me to take away their bodies, then later find two scapegoats and burn them to ashes.

No corpses, nothing to investigate.

Even if I can't bring them away, both have trackers on them, making their locations easy to find.

Zhang Haifeng's side is already settled.

Now only Hua Lei remains.

Chen Yongren was thinking when Hua Lei's pleasant voice sounded in his ear.

"'Ren Ge, it's time to eat!' Hua Lei stood at the doorway and knocked."

"'Mm, I'm coming.' Chen Yongren replied, opening the door."

The little cook Hua Lei wore an apron, her face still smudged with soot.

"'How did you turn into a little flower cat?' Chen Yongren said cheerfully."

"'Nonsense.' Hua Lei pouted: 'I didn't see you working too hard lately and wanted to make you some beggar's chicken to try.'"

"'Then what?' Chen Yongren asked."

"'Of course it failed.' Hua Lei spread her hands: 'I didn't control the heat properly, and the beggar's chicken turned into beggar's charcoal.'"

"After a pause, Hua Lei smiled again: 'Although there's no beggar's chicken, I made you my newly researched braised pork—quick, try my Hua-style braised pork!'"

Under Hua Lei's guidance, Chen Yongren came to the table.

The clay pot on the table bubbled with thick broth.

The diced braised pork, gleaming under the hanging lamp, filled the air with fragrance that whetted Chen Yongren's appetite.

"'The taste is not bad.' Chen Yongren said."

"Here, rice." Hua Lei scooped a bowl of rice, picked up the spoon, drizzled a few spoonfuls of sauce over the rice, then topped the rice with a layer of braised pork, and handed it to Chen Yongren.

He took the bowl and chopsticks, and tasted two bites.

The meat was tender and fresh; Chen Yongren normally didn't like fatty meat, but Hua Lei's braised pork was fatty yet not greasy, melted in the mouth, and tasted extremely delicious.

"Is it good?" Hua Lei asked eagerly.

Chen Yongren nodded.

"It's delicious; I'll make it for you every day from now on." Hua Lei rested her chin on her hands, watching Chen Yongren eat heartily, and smiled happily.

Later…

Hearing this, Chen Yongren set down his bowl and chopsticks, looked at Hua Lei, and said seriously: "For now, that probably won't work…"

"Huh?" Hua Lei was puzzled.

The listening devices in the room had been completely cleared, so there was no need to worry about being eavesdropped on.

Chen Yongren briefly recounted the matter of Zhang Haifeng, then looked sternly at Hua Lei and said: "Zhang Haifeng is just the beginning; that old devil Sato already plans to move against you."

"To ensure your safety, you must also fake your death, escape, and assume a new identity to continue living."

"……" Hua Lei fell silent for a moment, then asked: "What about you?"

"If I leave, will you be in danger? Will he continue to suspect you?"

"Of course not." Chen Yongren then explained the fake-death plan in full.

"Ren Ge, you're so smart!" Hua Lei immediately grasped Chen Yongren's meaning: "But if I fake my death, where could I go?"

"You silly girl, I'm not asking you to leave; I just want you to stay out of the old devil's sight, change your appearance, and go underground."

Chen Yongren comforted her: "Besides, I have plenty of business in Songhu that needs your handling; I couldn't bear to let you go too far from me."

"All right then." Hua Lei blushed, obediently following Chen Yongren's arrangement: "You definitely need to eat more; I'll prepare some extra for you these days…"

"Of course." Chen Yongren gladly agreed.

Living together with Chen Yongren, Hua Lei had grown accustomed to it; although she didn't say so, suddenly having to leave left her feeling somewhat unaccustomed.

After dinner, Hua Lei made another pot of braised pork.

Although Chen Yongren wanted to say, this isn't a parting of life and death; we just can't meet using our own faces anymore.

But seeing Hua Lei so enthusiastic, Chen Yongren didn't want to discourage her.

She worked until midnight before finally going to sleep.

These days, Chen Yongren also spent as much time as possible accompanying Hua Lei.

The day of the consolation gathering arrived quickly.