Chapter 61: Chamber of Commerce Director

As Boss Qiao departed, Zhou Hongyi continued to chat and dine with Gu Tianbo for a little while longer. Eventually, Gu Tianbo had matters to attend to, bringing their lunch to a definitive close.

Stepping out of the Grand World Teahouse, Zhou Hongyi strolled leisurely down the street to rest. Once the side effects caused by his skill gradually receded to a tolerable level, a contemplative look crossed his face. He gave Ah Gui some detailed instructions, ordering Fusheng to stake out and reconnoiter the entrance of the Western restaurant they had visited the other day. Meanwhile, he hailed a rickshaw and headed toward the Special Service Section headquarters.

After all, his official appointment had finally come through, and this matter was of paramount importance. Armed with this identity, it would be much easier for him to intervene in various affairs.

Arriving at the gates of the Special Service Section headquarters, Zhou Hongyi flashed his credentials, prompting the Japanese soldier on duty to actually snap a salute.

Ascending to the second floor once more, he knocked on Colonel Shimazu's office door. Soon, that familiar and somewhat oleaginous voice rang out from within: "Come in."

Zhou Hongyi gently pushed the door open, pulled it shut behind him, brought his heels together, and stood at attention. "Colonel Shimazu."

Beaming with joy upon seeing Zhou Hongyi, Colonel Shimazu said, "Sasuke-kun, you've arrived. Your official appointment has been finalized. You are specially appointed as the external director of the Cherry Blossom Chamber of Commerce Preparation Committee, in charge of all external liaison affairs for the chamber's setup. This means that on one hand, you will be dealing with President Hasegawa and the upper echelons of the chamber, and on the other hand, with local chambers of commerce and merchants. The Empire considered various factors before deciding to entrust this role to you. Of course, this also takes into account your loyalty to the Empire and your personal capabilities. Have faith in yourself; you can handle this well."

"As expected," Zhou Hongyi muttered to himself inwardly. Although he had long anticipated this outcome, he still feigned extreme excitement, mimicking the Japanese style by bowing deeply and expressing his gratitude repeatedly.

"Hahaha, Sasuke-kun, no need for such formality. As long as this task is accomplished well, your teacher will be able to pull some strings for you. Recently, a vacancy has opened up in the Shanghai Municipal Finance Department. If this mission is successfully completed, I intend to nominate you for that position."

A slight ripple stirred in Zhou Hongyi's heart, but he hurriedly waved his hands and demurred, "No, no, Teacher, that position is far too critical. My qualifications are still too shallow, and various factions are eyeing it covetously. Furthermore, Teacher, you have only recently finished dealing with the remnants of Colonel Kamedas's faction. If you were to place me in such a vital department now, it would inevitably provoke the jealousy and wariness of the military or interested parties. I believe it is best for us to maintain a low profile at this stage."

Never expecting Zhou Hongyi to show such regard for the bigger picture, Shimazu nodded in satisfaction and said, "Yet, Sasuke-kun, given the successive merits you have established, remaining merely a police precinct squad leader does you a grave injustice."

Zhou Hongyi assumed a look of shame and said, "Teacher, please do not say such things. Being able to share your burdens and shoulder worries for the Empire is my bounden duty. How could I ever covet personal glory? However... Teacher, have you heard? Feng Jinxiong, the chief of the Second Precinct to which I currently belong, seems to have reached the age for reassignment.

"This man is slick and worldly, and he loves money above all else. There is no one more suitable than him to sit in that Finance Department seat. On the surface, he is not our man, but in reality, he can serve as a balance point to check various factions—acting as a counterweight. Yet, if we wish to accomplish things, such as securing allocations from the Wang regime, going through him would make matters infinitely more convenient."

Shimazu stroked the small mustache above his lips, narrowed his eyes in thought for a moment, and remarked, "Sasuke-kun makes a valid point. Since this man belongs to no particular faction, having him act as a lubricant in the middle is an ideal arrangement. Teacher will give serious consideration to your suggestion. Moreover, once he departs, the position of your police precinct chief will become vacant. When that time comes, that post must be given to Sasuke-kun. You must not decline Teacher on this."

Overjoyed inwardly, Zhou Hongyi wished for nothing more, yet outwardly he still shook his head with feigned reluctance and said, "I leave everything to Teacher's arrangement. Then, regarding this chamber of commerce preparation committee, where will our office be located?"

Nodding, Shimazu replied, "Do not be in such a hurry. It is not appropriate for me to interfere too much in these matters; you will need to coordinate directly with Mr. Hasegawa."

Picking up the telephone, Shimazu spoke a few words to the switchboard operator before hanging up. A short while later, Hasegawa led a man and a woman into the office.

"Sasuke-kun, you're here. Splendid."

Round-headed and resembling a turtle, Hasegawa sat down with a cheerful smile and introduced the two to Zhou Hongyi: "These two are also members of our chamber preparation committee, Shunsuke-san and Toshiko-miss."

Zhou Hongyi politely shook hands with both and introduced himself, "You may call me Sasuke, or you can call me Hongyi or Churyo."

The young man was rather stylishly dressed in a plaid suit with a neatly combed, gleaming side-parted hairstyle. The woman sported fashionable, voluminous, large-wave curls, a white shirt, and a cloth skirt.

"How do you do, Sasuke-kun? I've been hearing Mr. Hasegawa praise you all the way here. I never imagined you would be so young, let alone Colonel Shimazu's prized pupil. We have high expectations for the prospects of this Cherry Blossom Chamber of Commerce. The chamber's office has been established right beside People's Square, right in the heart of Shanghai's most prosperous downtown area."

The large-wave-haired woman proactively extended her slender palm to shake Zhou Hongyi's, her bright, expressive eyes flashing with a gaze that was both friendly and, to a greater extent, appraising.

The other young man also shook hands with Zhou Hongyi. After the three young people of similar age chatted for a while, Hasegawa stated, "Sasuke-kun, since your transfer order has been officially issued, you won't need to come here to trouble Colonel Shimazu for matters hereafter. We have our own office space on People's Avenue."

Hearing this, Colonel Shimazu laughed heartily and said, "Indeed, Sasuke-kun. You should follow Mr. Hasegawa's lead; after all, Teacher is an outsider to you all now. But remember, the Special Service Section is always your home. As for the candidate you mentioned earlier, I will give it serious consideration."

With that, Hasegawa bid him a cheerful farewell, and the newly formed Cherry Blossom Chamber of Commerce Preparation Committee marched out of the Special Service Section headquarters, heading straight for their new workspace.

Naturally, when the little Japanese managed affairs, they kept the finest locations for themselves. On a broad avenue immediately adjacent to People's Square, there had once been a jewelry store. Later, because the Special Service Section discovered the owner was colluding with the Red Party, he was dragged off and executed on the spot, and the building was confiscated. Now, after some minor alterations to the interior layout and furnishings, it had been converted into the offices of the Cherry Blossom Chamber of Commerce.

When Zhou Hongyi followed Hasegawa into the chamber, he discovered that a large number of employees had already been hired. Most of them were locals from Shanghai, save for a single manager—a "two-faced dog" fluent in Japanese who appeared to have studied abroad in Japan.

"Mr. Hasegawa, Mr. Shunsuke, Miss Toshiko, you're back. This must be Mr. Sarutobi, right? All the offices in the chamber have been cleaned. Please follow me, sirs and madam."

Seeing this manager with his bowl-cut hair, round glasses, and strange accent, Zhou Hongyi felt an indescribable sense of revulsion. He instantly reined in his usual amiable smile, uttered a cold "Hmpf," and then pointed toward the front entrance, demanding sharply, "Does our Cherry Blossom Chamber of Commerce not even have security guards? With the front doors wide open for just anyone to walk in and gawk, Manager Huang, just how do you manage things?"