Chapter 32: Catching the Eye of Director Dai

Lieutenant Yamamoto Kensuke pondered briefly before responding, "Are you referring to that Chen Ergou who helped us at the checkpoint and had a habit of groping women’s behinds?"

"Exactly, that’s him. He was assassinated earlier, found dead in his father’s hardware store, a screwdriver plunged straight into his heart. The manner of death of Mr. Wu Yi and his bodyguards is identical to Chen Ergou’s. The method, the location, even the screwdriver used—they’re all exactly the same."

Lieutenant Yamamoto studied the details carefully and nodded in agreement. "Indeed, that’s so. Could it be that this case is the work of the Military Intelligence Bureau?"

"At present, we cannot conclusively say it was the Military Intelligence Bureau, but one thing is certain: the same killer is behind these crimes. For now, let's refer to this mysterious assassin as 'Screwdriver.'"

"Agreed. Prepare a report immediately and send it to the Special High Command!"

"Yes, sir!"

...

That afternoon, sunlight poured over the imposing structure of the Shan City Military Intelligence Headquarters.

Inside Boss Dai’s office, filled with an atmosphere of secrecy, Mao Renfei lightly knocked before entering confidently, his expression bright. "Boss, the Shanghai station report: the traitor Wu Yi has been successfully eliminated!"

Boss Dai glanced up slightly, surprise flickering in his eyes. "Hmm, quite impressive! After such a severe setback, the Shanghai station still managed to free themselves to complete a task assigned by headquarters. Such execution deserves commendation!"

Mao Renfei bowed slightly, replying firmly, "Though the brothers faced many hardships and dangers, when it comes to orders personally issued by you, boss, they would risk their lives to fulfill them!"

Boss Dai nodded gently, a note of praise in his tone. "Excellent. Since the Zhang family in Hangzhou promised a reward of a thousand silver dollars, arrange for its immediate disbursement. Not a single cent must be withheld!"

"Understood!" Mao Renfei answered crisply.

...

If Li Haibo were here, he’d be spitting blood in fury. Damn it, the fat man swallowed half of that thousand-dollar bounty.

"So, which elite group accomplished this mission? What were the casualties?" Boss Dai leaned back in his chair casually.

"Boss, this time it was a single brother from Shanghai Station’s Operation Team Three who completed it alone. Wu Yi and his bodyguards were all wiped out, and the operative himself was unscathed!" Mao Renfei reported truthfully.

"Alone?" Boss Dai sat up straight, eyes wide with astonishment. "Wu Yi had quite a number of bodyguards, all reputedly experts. For one man to eliminate them all and walk away unharmed—that’s a top-tier assassin! Wait, Team Three? I thought Team Three was the cannon fodder unit. How did such a talent emerge there?"

"Indeed, he’s a lone wolf. His presence in Team Three is more by chance than design. He’s only been back in Shanghai under deep cover for less than a month but has flawlessly executed two missions. The previous task of punishing a traitor with family discipline was also done solo by him. He’s skilled with throwing knives, always hitting his mark, and has a penchant for killing with flying screwdrivers. That’s why Team Three’s leader gave him the codename 'Screwdriver,'" Mao Renfei explained in detail.

"'Screwdriver'? Interesting! Do we have his dossier?" Boss Dai’s gaze brimmed with curiosity and inquiry.

Mao Renfei had anticipated this. Knowing the boss’s temperament well, he quickly produced the dossier he had prepared earlier, offering it with respect and composure. "Yes, sir!"

Boss Dai took the dossier and flipped through it. His eyes lit up immediately. "Hmm! Li Haibo! A fine name! Ha ha ha! This name aligns perfectly with my Five Elements!"

Boss Dai’s real name was Dai Yunong. A renowned fortune teller once told him he lacked water and should avoid earth in his fate chart, which led him to develop a fondness for water-themed names. His past aliases often related to water, such as Wan Hanqing, Wan Tao, Tu Qingbo, and Shen Peilin, the last being his most frequent pseudonym.

Now seeing "Li Haibo," containing both “sea” and “wave,” he felt an abundance of water energy—how could he not like it?

Boss Dai studied the dossier carefully, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the desk as if pondering something. After a moment, he spoke, "Renfei!"

Mao Renfei immediately straightened and replied, "Yes, Director, please speak!"

"The Shanghai station is in chaos after that heavy blow, filled with confusion and disorder. Tell me, would it be suitable to bring this 'Screwdriver' directly under headquarters' command?" Boss Dai’s eyes gleamed with expectation and calculation.

Mao Renfei hesitated briefly, showing a hint of difficulty. "Well... Headquarters has many direct command units, but they are all intelligence-focused, staffed with ace operatives. There’s never been precedent for an action specialist like him. Besides, he’s essentially cannon fodder himself, without systematic training—basically a rookie who knows nothing but killing. Bringing him under direct command might not be appropriate. Also, the leader of Team Three may not agree, since he only has this one remaining operative under him."

"The leader of Team Three? The useless brother-in-law of Staff Wu from the Attendant Office?" Boss Dai frowned slightly, a trace of disdain in his tone.

"Yes, precisely him," Mao Renfei responded quickly.

"What was his name again? Liu something?" Boss Dai tried to recall.

"Liu Fuyong!" Mao Renfei added.

"Hmph! A complete failure! Given so many men and teams, yet all were wiped out. No matter how solid a foundation, it couldn’t withstand his mismanagement," Boss Dai said with obvious displeasure and reproach.

Mao Renfei was momentarily at a loss for words but inwardly thought that Team Three was designated by Boss Dai himself as the cannon fodder unit, tasked with suicidal assassination missions, mostly composed of death soldiers recruited from the army. Losing all personnel was hardly surprising.

Yet outwardly he dared not reveal a trace of this thought and instead followed Boss Dai’s line, "Director, you’re right. Liu Fuyong is greedy, lustful, cowardly, and extremely stingy. He has no moral boundaries and even embezzles his men’s compensation funds. No one at the Shanghai station wants to associate with him. He is marginalized. An elite like 'Screwdriver' is wasted under his command. Bringing him under headquarters would allow his talents to be better utilized."

Boss Dai narrowed his eyes slightly, thinking for a moment before saying slowly, "You speak well. Such a man is unfit for such a critical position. Arrange at once for that Liu Fuyong to be recalled to Shan City to report. Moreover, the Shanghai station is complicated; traitors have appeared repeatedly over the past year, severely disrupting operations and often preventing work from progressing. To prevent a situation where no one can be relied upon in critical moments, bring 'Screwdriver' under direct headquarters command. Immediately activate a deep-sleep unit equipped with radios and assign them to 'Screwdriver.' From now on, 'Screwdriver' will report directly to headquarters and, barring exceptional circumstances, must not have lateral contact with the Shanghai station!"

Mao Renfei nodded swiftly. "Understood! I will handle it right away!"

"Li Haibo! Heh heh!" Boss Dai murmured the name softly, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "To find a capable subordinate whose Five Elements align so perfectly is truly rare!"

Mao Renfei, however, thought to himself: What nonsense, a mere cannon fodder caught the boss’s eye just because of a good name? I’ll assign two lousy men to be his teammates and see if he still survives!

...