: Secrets Must Not Be Revealed

The next morning, Lu Chen specially changed into a Western-style suit, which cost him more than 100 yuan. In order to make himself look more presentable, Lu Chen gritted his teeth and bought it anyway.

Dressed smartly, I arrived at the building, where Huang Dayong's Lincoln was already parked.

"This outfit is nice."

Lu Chen got into the car, and Huang Dayong praised his outfit.

Huang Dayong was dressed exceptionally formally today, with shiny hair, slicked-back hair oil, and a black dress that fit him perfectly.

Lu Chen got into the car. He didn't bring a gun with him today and gave Huang Dayong a smile.

"Brother Huang."

"Let's go."

Huang Dayong spoke to his two subordinates in the front row, and then the car sped off towards the Japanese concession.

The banquet was held in a restaurant located at the border between the Chinese-controlled area and the Japanese concession.

There were already quite a few cars parked here, mostly belonging to Japanese people; Lu Chen didn't see many Chinese people.

There were two Japanese soldiers standing guard at the entrance of the hotel. Everyone who entered had to be searched to make sure they were not carrying any weapons before they could be allowed in.

"This is my pass."

Huang Dayong, accompanied by two of his men and Lu Chen, approached the Japanese soldiers, handed over his pass, and allowed the two men to search him.

They were searched three times before they were finally allowed into the hotel.

"Follow me."

After entering the hotel, Huang Dayong led Lu Chen toward the hotel garden.

Lu Chen observed the people who came to the hotel; they were all Japanese, and he didn't see any Japanese officers.

"Could it be that Huang Dayong didn't come here to discuss arms deals?"

Lu Chen was puzzled, but he soon realized he was right.

Huang Dayong led Lu Chen to the entrance of the hotel garden, where four Japanese soldiers were standing, twice as many as at the hotel entrance.

"Looks like this is it."

Lu Chen braced himself; with such tight defenses here, there must be important Japanese figures inside this garden.

"Who is it?"

When the Japanese soldiers saw Lu Chen and his companion approaching, and recognizing that they were Chinese, they raised their guns and aimed them at the two men.

Lu Chen quickly translated for Huang Dayong. Although he had been prepared, he was still very nervous to be pointed at by the Japanese with guns.

Even with his limited knowledge, he knew that the Japanese of that period were almost all ruthless killers.

"This is Director Huang Dayong, invited by Colonel Kuroda."

Lu Chen translated Huang Dayong's words to the Japanese soldiers, who told them to stay where they were and then turned and entered the garden.

Lu Chen saw from afar that the Japanese soldier walked up to a man wearing a yellowish-brown Japanese military uniform and whispered a few words.

Lu Chen didn't recognize this person, since he had only heard Colonel Kuroda's voice but had never seen him in person.

Upon hearing his subordinate's report, the man's brows furrowed instantly, and he looked towards Lu Chen and his companion.

"Colonel Kuroda, it's me."

Seeing him looking at him, Huang Dayong quickly greeted him, regardless of whether Colonel Kuroda could understand him or not.

"Traitor!"

Seeing Huang Dayong's enthusiastic greeting, Lu Chen cursed inwardly.

"Go in, but they can't go in."

The Japanese soldiers returned to Lu Chen and his men and said that Huang Dayong could go in, but Lu Chen and his men could not.

"Sir, this is my translator. Is it alright if I only bring him in?"

Huang Dayong quickly spoke up, asking why he had spent so much money to hire Lu Chen. It was for translation.

Communicating with Japanese people without a translator is not only inconvenient, but it also fails to demonstrate one's sincerity.

Seeing the Japanese soldiers shake their heads, Huang Dayong gritted his teeth, took out two small yellow croakers from his pocket, and stuffed them into the hands of the Japanese soldiers.

Upon seeing the small yellow fish, the Japanese soldier's eyes lit up immediately. He then waved his hand, signaling Huang Dayong and Lu Chen to hurry inside.

Lu Chen saw everything Huang Dayong did, including the little yellow croaker.

How much money did Huang Dayong make?!

A single small yellow croaker is worth about 5000 legal tender, so giving away two at once is 10,000 legal tender.

Thinking about it, Lu Chen couldn't help but feel a little toothache.

"Colonel Kuroda, this is my translator. Is it alright if I bring him in?"

Huang Dayong led Lu Chen to Colonel Kuroda, and with a big smile, extended his hand to shake hands with Colonel Kuroda.

"Your Majesty, what we're discussing is confidential. It's very unsafe for you to suddenly bring a stranger here."

Colonel Kuroda's displeasure was palpable. He looked Lu Chen up and down a few times before ignoring him.

So this is Colonel Kuroda.

Lu Chen thought to himself, and then firmly memorized Colonel Kuroda's appearance.

Huang Dayong and Colonel Kuroda were the two most important people in his mission.

Lu Chen dutifully translated Colonel Kuroda's words to Huang Dayong, who then told Lu Chen to stand still.

Huang Dayong walked to Colonel Kuroda's side, and Kuroda's Japanese translator also followed.

The three walked to a corner, and Huang Dayong asked the translator to translate for them.

"Colonel Kuroda, don't worry, this kid isn't an anti-Japanese element."

Huang Dayong patted his chest and assured him.

Colonel Kuroda glanced back at Lu Chen, who was still standing there, his brows furrowed.

"Even so, that won't do. We're talking about important matters concerning the empire. If it gets leaked, we'll both be in big trouble."

Hearing his words, Huang Dayong frowned. He had already investigated Lu Chen thoroughly and felt that Lu Chen, being a minor character, posed no threat to him.

Moreover, he really didn't trust Colonel Kuroda's translator; he estimated that Kuroda had made a lot of money off him in these few transactions.

Looking at the translator's protruding belly, Huang Dayong's eyes were practically spitting fire. The thought that the money that should have belonged to him had gone into the translator's belly made him furious.

"It's alright, Colonel Kuroda. I've investigated this man's background, his family, and his past experiences. He poses no threat whatsoever. He's just a businessman who speaks Japanese. He even said he wants to do business with the Japanese."

After thinking for a moment, Huang Dayong spoke again, risking angering Colonel Kuroda.

Upon hearing Huang Dayong's words, Colonel Kuroda turned and glanced at Lu Chen in surprise, his furrowed brows finally relaxing.

"In that case, we can talk about some less important things, and then discuss confidential matters after we've confirmed that he's truly no threat."

Colonel Kuroda was not so easily convinced by Lu Chen. The reason he agreed to let Lu Chen stay was because Lu Chen wanted to do business with the Japanese.

Although Lu Chen was just an ordinary Chinese, Colonel Kuroda saw him as a Chinese who could be turned to defect.

His role certainly wouldn't be as significant as Huang Dayong's, the director of the arms depot. As a Chinese person on this land belonging to the Chinese, he would find it easier and be more trusted than the Japanese army in doing anything.

"What was Huang Dayong saying to them?"

Lu Chen stood still, watching the three people walking towards him, his expression unchanged.

Huang Dayong smiled and looked very happy, as did Colonel Kuroda. The translator next to him stared at Lu Chen with a somewhat unpleasant expression.