Chapter 60: Catching a Pangolin Alive

"Didn't run?" Lin Dayou looked around: "Where could he go?"

Zhang Haifeng thought for a moment, his eyes lit up: "A Ren, you mean there's a hidden room on the second floor?"

"That's right."

Chen Yongren smiled and nodded: "That old devil deliberately caused a commotion on the second floor and opened the window."

"Creating the illusion that he'd lost his shoes and run away is just to trick us into going out, then he'd take the chance to escape."

Chen Yongren spoke while carefully scanning the room, earnestly recalling, when he entered the bookshop, which side upstairs and downstairs was different.

Finally, his gaze fell on a protruding spot inside the room; at first glance, most people would mistake it for a house pillar.

But Chen Yongren recalled the structure of the first floor.

This pillar's position on the first floor—there wasn't even a bookshelf, let alone a pillar—and regardless of its size or height, it was just right to hide a person.

Seeing Chen Yongren walk toward that pillar, Lin Dayou and Zhang Haifeng simultaneously drew their pistols.

"Old thing, come out yourself, or should I drag you out?" Chen Yongren gave the pillar a light kick, sneering.

Chen Yongren's analysis was correct.

Yanping Tailang was indeed hiding inside the pillar; this was his secret safe point, made entirely of steel plate, with an outer layer of wood paneling as camouflage.

Moreover, only he knew about this place, intended to save his life at a critical moment.

But Yanping Tailang didn't expect to be exposed so quickly.

He held a grenade in one hand and pulled the fuse with the other.

This was the grenade he used for suicide in emergencies.

But at this moment his expression showed some hesitation, his breathing growing more ragged.

Although the high-ranking Yanping Tailang liked to shout about dying for the empire, this was just to fool newcomers.

Having held a high position for years, he feared death more than anyone!

Listening to the outside sounds, it seemed there were three people?

"Give up struggling; it's a dead end."

"Fight a bit, and there's a chance!"

"No way, I, Yanping Tailang, cannot die here in a muddle."

"I've weathered great storms; how could I capsize in this little ditch?"

Yanping Tailang gritted his teeth, put the grenade back at his waist, drew his sidearm from his waist with one hand, and lightly placed the other hand on the hidden door.

After taking a few deep breaths to steady his emotions, he shouted loudly, "West inner!"

Then he shoved the hidden door open, his body darting out instantly; just as he was about to raise his gun and shoot, he saw a black mass lunging at him.

"Bang!"

Chen Yongren smashed the Browning pistol hard into his forehead, instantly splitting his head open and bleeding; the sidearm in his hand also fell to the ground.

The old devil clutched his head, letting out a piercing wail.

Chen Yongren then drove a knee strike into his abdomen.

"Ow." The old devil's eyes were bloodshot, straining to bulge outward, his waist bent like a shrimp.

Finally, Chen Yongren gave him an elbow strike to the back, directly knocking Yanping Tailang to the ground.

Yanping Tailang's old bones couldn't withstand Chen Yongren's three‑move combo; he lay on the ground gasping heavily, completely losing his fighting ability.

Chen Yongren quickly checked him over.

No poison in his mouth or collar; aside from a grenade on him, he posed no other threat.

But Chen Yongren still carefully broke each of his ten fingers.

Yanping Tailang's old face turned red, he groaned in pain, but had no strength to struggle.

Chen Yongren then pulled out his belt again, skillfully bound him, and at the same time activated mental control, ordering him to confess honestly.

Seeing Chen Yongren act so swiftly, Zhang Haifeng and Lin Dayou stared, dumbfounded.

"Haifeng, Squad Leader Lin, you two take notes; I'll interrogate him." Chen Yongren stepped on Yanping Tailang's head.

"Name."

"Code name."

"Position."

Being stepped on the head in such a humiliating way filled Yanping Tailang with rage, yet a faint voice echoed in his mind.

Anyway, since it's come to this, might as well surrender.

Answer whatever they ask, and at least get it over with quickly.

Yanping Tailang hastily shook his head, trying to fling the thought from his mind, and said through gritted teeth: "I am a warrior of the empire; I will never surrender!"

"Just kill me; don't think you'll get anything out of me…"

As Yanping Tailang was spitting out harsh words, his mouth involuntarily said: "My name is Yanping Tailang, code name Pangolin."

"My position is director of the East China Special Higher Police, rank of Major General."

"Huh?"

"What's going on?"

Pangolin's face showed shock; he clearly didn't want to say anything, yet he couldn't help blurting it out.

Lin Dayou and Zhang Haifeng looked astonished.

This old guy, just now he was speaking tough, but giving up his identity was quick.

If you won't answer when asked, you should volunteer the info, right?

Upon hearing the old devil admit he was Pangolin, Lin Dayou's face showed unprecedented excitement.

"Pangolin?"

Which old devil does Boss Dai miss the most?

Damn it!

I finally scored a major merit!

Although it was just hitching a ride, most of the credit goes to A Ren, but I can still manage to drink a couple of mouthfuls of soup.

Chen Yongren scored another great merit, and Zhang Haifeng was full of envy.

"Why are you still spacing out? Hurry up and record, don't you want to earn merit?" Chen Yongren said without lifting his head.

Hearing that, the two hastily picked up the pen and paper on the table to take notes.

"You little brat, are you a pangolin?" Chen Yongren pressed down with his foot and fired off four more questions in succession.

"What is the core of the Storm Rain Plan?!"

"How many moles and agents do you still have in Songhu City."

"How do the spies in the East China region contact you."

"What other missions do you have elsewhere!"

"Stupid Chinese pig, stop dreaming, I will absolutely not tell you..." said Yanping Tarō, gritting his teeth

"The core of the Storm Rain Plan, besides retaliating for your heavy blow to our Jinling station."

"Next, it is to weaken your intelligence capabilities in Songhu, preparing for our upcoming operations in Songhu."

"The entire Storm Rain Plan mainly proceeds from two directions."

"First, to destroy your Jinghu and Hanghu railways, roads, bridges, and all important checkpoints along the way, as well as your secret warehouses in Songhu and Su City."

"Second, to assassinate your high-ranking officials in Songhu City, and before the war begins, to cause as much chaos as possible, inciting your fear of battle."

"The most important target is your General Zhang and Mayor Yu."

"The moles hidden beside them have passed on the news of their meeting; we have already arranged personnel in advance to scout at the Huamao Hotel."

"It's a pity that our losses have been too severe recently; otherwise we could have deployed better!"

Yanping Tarō spoke on like a string of cannon shots, nonstop.

The note-takers, Lin Dayou and Zhang Haifeng, were dumbfounded.

This old bastard really dares to think that?

"Keep talking." Chen Yongren pressed down with his foot again, grinning: "Honestly confess, I can give you a swift end."

"The moles in Songhu are mainly concentrated in the Songhu municipal government." Yanping Tarō cooperated fully: "We spent three years planting..."