NIS Agents Tearing Up the Japanese Empire - Chapter 115



Only Krnovel

Kyung Sung Scandal (4)

A special investigation headquarters for capturing the ghosts of Gyeongseong, located on one side of the Government-General Building.

The name of the Special Investigation Headquarters was grand, but the facilities were very poor, as it was actually a temporary building built within the Government-General.

The desk was brought from somewhere in storage, and there was no typewriter, which is commonly found in other offices, so reports had to be written by hand.

However, the will of all the team members, including Miwa, to capture the ghost of Gyeongseong was so strong that they would burn down the entire city of Gyeongseong.

And now.

Superintendent Miwa Wasaburo, the leader of this special investigation unit and the so-called sole adversary of the ghost, sat in his seat, lost in thought.

The military supplies were missing from the command warehouse.

And the North Korean military command is hiding something.

These are the only two things Miwa knows.

‘Problems that arise in the military don’t come out, so we have to go in to investigate… … .’

The problem was that if Miwa and Banjang visited the North Korean military headquarters in Yongsan now, they would likely be blocked from the entrance.

At a time like now when the North Korean military command was trying so hard to hide something, going straight into the center was suicidal.

‘Just as the saying goes that even a bear skin that can stop a sword has eye holes, there must have been areas that the Yongsan headquarters failed to cover.’

The information Miwa has now is that the victim discovered at the Yongsan Command is Lee Jeong, a top spy for the Japanese Government-General of Korea, and that the victim discovered in Jongno early in the morning was… … who worked at the Yongsan Command.

“Lieutenant Daisuke Jigen.”

“It’s pronounced as Daisuke Tsugimoto.”

“?”

Miwa raised her head slightly and looked in the direction where the voice had come from, and there was a person wearing a white police uniform standing there.

“Who is it?”

“Nice to meet you. Chief Miwa, I am Inspector Heiji Zenigata, who has been assigned to the Special Investigation Unit as of today.”

“Zenigata Heiji… … ?”

The number of high-ranking police officers, such as superintendents, in Joseon was smaller than on the mainland.

And if you reduce that range to hardness, it’s even less.

That’s why Chief Miwa knew the names and faces of almost every high-ranking police officer in Gyeongseong.

However, the name of Inspector Zenigata in front of him now was something he had never heard before, and it was his first time seeing his face today.

‘I’ve been assigned to the special investigation unit… … .’

You were assigned to a special investigation unit there without any consultation with him?

In many ways, it was a sudden personnel arrangement that reminded me of someone I had met before.

“I think it’s the first time I’ve seen this in Gyeongseong.”

“I came from the interior.”

“I came from the interior.”

“Yes, I worked at the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department until recently, and then I moved to Joseon.”

The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department’s Inspectorate was a place where only the best of the Imperial Police could go.

An elite who worked in such a place suddenly came over to Joseon?

It was a story that naturally raised doubts.

“Hmm… … Why did you come to the harsh city of Gyeongseong instead of a comfortable place like Tokyo?”

In response to Miwa’s question, the stranger, who identified himself as Inspector Zenigata of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, answered with an awkward smile.

“That was the case in the old Tokyo, but it’s not the case in the current Tokyo.”

“Isn’t that so?”

“Yes, the earthquake occurred and the soldiers went on a rampage, so the security in Tokyo has become very unstable.”

“hmm…….”

This was a story I had heard before.

But it was the first time I had heard that Tokyo’s security was unstable.

“Tokyo’s security is unstable?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm… … . That’s strange. If the soldiers took over the streets… … . No one would be able to roam around, so shouldn’t the security be better?”

“That is… … .”

Inspector Zenigata told Miwa everything that had happened in Tokyo.

The content was so shocking that it cracked Miwa’s usually indifferent poker face.

“Huh… … . Tokyo… … . The capital of the empire… … . Was it that badly damaged?”

“Unfortunately, yes.”

“this…….”

Miwa did not completely trust Inspector Zenigata who was in front of her.

But even if half of what he said was true… no, even if only half of it was true, Tokyo would have completely lost its function as a city and turned into a lawless place.

Thinking about it like that made me feel suffocated and my chest tighten, so I had a hard time controlling my body.

‘I need to find out more news from the inside.’

That was it, and now I needed to find out more about the new team member in front of me, Inspector Zenigata.

“Didn’t you say earlier that you were assigned here under the orders of the Chief of Police?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

It would have been possible to go to the police chief later and ask him about it.

“I see.”

Miwa smiled and held out her hand.

“Welcome to the Special Investigation Unit! Inspector Zenigata.”

“Oh, yes… … .”

“I am the superintendent of the Miwa Foreign Affairs Department in charge of this place, and that guy sitting over there is… … .”

Miwa welcomed Inspector Zenigata with a bright smile.

On the surface, that is.

‘Whether your name is Zenigata or not will be discovered later.’

Miwa was almost half convinced that he was the ghost of Gyeongseong.

However, the person involved, Inspector Zenigata, seemed completely unaware of this fact.

“Welcome back to our team.”

“Go, thank you.”

Inspector Zenigata looked embarrassed despite the enthusiastic welcome.

“Okay, Inspector Zenigata.”

“yes?”

“Let’s see what our Inspector Zenigata’s skills are like.”

“Ah, so suddenly?”

“Oh, all of a sudden? That’s just how our team is.”

Captain Miwa gave Zenigata a mission that was simply too difficult to accomplish.

“There is a very important soldier’s body in the case we are investigating right now, but the Yongsan headquarters has stolen it. So you must now infiltrate the North Korean headquarters in Yongsan and find out where they took the body.”

“That lake, are you alone?”

“We are so busy that we don’t have time.”

“… … .”

Inspector Zenigata, who was suddenly assigned an impossible mission, had a sad expression on his face.

* * *

In the middle of a large room, where old, yet stylish, high-quality furniture imported from the West is neatly arranged, and the floor is covered with carpets imported from Persia, there is a large portrait of the current Emperor, Emperor Taisho, hanging on the wall.

There was a desk of moderate size and a luxurious leather chair made of cowhide to match, placed facing each other.

And the two people sitting here.

One was an old man who seemed to be getting older and closer to death than to living, while the other on the other side was a young man who looked to be just entering his prime.

“There’s a man named Oh Tae-sik who runs a weapons workshop in Shanghai.”

“Oh Tae-sik? Are you Korean?”

“Huh? Ah! I was born here, but my heart is set on the Imperial Palace of the Empire of Japan!”

“hmm.”

The Governor-General did not like the man named Oh Tae-sik.

Even though he had been recommended by Kuroda Kyuichi, he was not happy with the fact that a Korean merchant who was selling weapons in Shanghai, the land of traitors, had come to see him.

Although Kuroda was born in Joseon, he was a man who was completely devoted to the Empire of Japan and was willing to sacrifice everything for Japan.

‘But this guy… … .’

At first glance, he looked like a young fool who had just come out into the world and was unaware of the fears of the world.

At first glance, he seemed confident from head to toe, but his confidence was unfounded.

“Yes, that’s why you opened a military company in Shanghai.”

“China has always been at war, hasn’t it? So it seems like they could make some money by selling weapons there.”

That was a really stupid idea.

Why would the so-called warlords in China sign a contract with a newly opened military company?

If you think about it logically, that makes sense.

Their armies are enormous, numbering from tens to hundreds of thousands in number.

And it is true that to feed, clothe, and arm all those soldiers, an enormous amount of supplies were needed, and capable merchants who could provide these were desperately needed.

But even though the merchants are in dire need, they are not in a position to reach out to such small merchants.

All the famous soldiers that Governor Saito knew of would have merchants or companies that they did business with, so it was unclear how this kid was going to get through that route.

“That’s a wise idea.”

“Isn’t that so?”

But Governor Saito wasn’t a fool who would say what he thought, so he agreed with him appropriately.

Then the other person got excited and started talking about all sorts of things, even things I hadn’t asked about.

“I heard that during the last great war, a new thing called a submachine gun appeared, and all the Western powers made these things and used them in the war.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes! Even in the post-war talks, there was a treaty prohibiting the defeated countries from possessing machine guns.”

“I see.”

“So, I think… … If it is a weapon that has been proven to be combat-ready in the West, wouldn’t soldiers here in the East be interested in it too?”

“hmm.”

As I listened, it seemed like a plausible story.

“That’s why our Shanghai weapons workshop made submachine guns our main business item.”

“I see.”

At this point, Governor-General Saito had a hunch.

This guy said that he didn’t come here to sell things, but to scam me under the pretext of investing in him.

Nine out of ten businessmen borrow money in the name of investment, spend it recklessly, and later pretend not to know anything about it, so I thought this guy was no different.

“Unfortunately, it seems that it will be difficult to plan new investment projects this year due to the insufficient budget of the Governor-General.”

I tried to reject it after thinking about it like that… … .

“Huh? Investment? That’s fine. I have some money at home, so I’m not in a position to ask for help from others.”

“hmm?”

“I came here because… … .”

A blueprint of some kind of weapon design popped out of Taesik’s bag.

“I came here to ask the Governor to take a good look at our company’s new weapon.”

“hmm?”

And on top of the blueprints there was a small envelope.

“Heh heh.”

Governor Saito hit his forehead.

I thought he was a reckless young master who didn’t know anything about the world, but that wasn’t the case.

This guy was a real salesman who came to sell me stuff.

‘Well… … . I guess Kuroda must have asked me to meet him just once because he’s this kind of person… … .’

The corners of Governor-General Saito’s mouth went up.

“If you came to sell weapons, you should have gone to the military. I don’t know why you came to the Governor-General’s Office.”

“Haha, what military would buy weapons for Joseon? And in the Empire of Japan, the military isn’t the only one that legally uses firearms.”

“hmm.”

“I heard that the police were helplessly swept away by that goblin that stirred up Gyeongseong last time.”

“Ugh… … !”

When the story of the ghost of Gyeongseong came out of Taesik’s mouth, Governor-General Saito coughed uncomfortably.

Then Taesik also hastily picked up his words.

“Well, of course it’s not because the imperial police are incompetent. They probably had their reasons.”

“yes.”

“… … So I thought about the reason, and I thought it would be difficult to catch a guy running around quickly with only a rifle and a pistol, right?”

“then?”

“If several people fire at the same time like machine guns, how can they, even if they are the ghosts of Gyeongseong, escape?”

Governor-General Saito’s interest was piqued by Taesik’s words.

“It sounds good. That weapon will be one that sprays bullets into the air.”

“I guess so.”

“Then the price of bullets must be quite high.”

“Still, it’s a good deal since we can definitely catch the thieves.”

“Um… … I guess so.”

Governor Saito looked slightly troubled.

Then Taesik added urgently.

“If the Government-General purchases our goods, we will gladly donate two boxes of ammunition for each box of firearms to the Government-General.”

“Ugh… … !”

Taesik’s words sounded like a song blowing in the autumn wind to Governor-General Saito’s ears.

“So, how did you determine the price of one gun?”

“… … This looks more expensive than it is, and it takes a lot of materials and labor to make, so one unit costs about $10 to produce.”

“Ten dollars? Is it really that expensive?”

“… … However, since it is a special delivery to the Governor-General, if we have a mass production system in place, it may be possible to lower the price to $8.”

“Hmm… … . Excellent.”

Governor Saito nodded, seeming satisfied with the price, which was more reasonable than expected.

During his conflict with the military, he had been feeling that the police, which could be considered his force, were not well-armed, so he had no reason to refuse this opportunity to arm his troops cheaply.

Of course, Oh Tae-sik was the same.

Tensions were high between the two warlords, Zhili in Beijing and Fengtian in Manchuria, making it difficult to transport weapons to Manchuria, and there was no way to deal with the accumulated bad inventory in warehouses. So, it was great that the Governor-General took care of it in this way, making money.

Moreover, the production cost of this gun was 1 won per unit, not 1 dollar.

If they delivered it to the Governor-General for 8 dollars, they would make dozens of times more profit even if they added bullets to the transportation cost, so they could buy German weapons with them and give them to the independence army in Manchuria, and use the rest for operational expenses. It would be good for both the sister and brother-in-law, it would be killing two birds with one stone. What a lively and good situation this was.

“I have found another loyal merchant who is loyal to the Empire of Japan.”

“Haha! Thanks to Mr. Kuroda, I too am honored to meet His Excellency the Governor-General.”

The two laughed happily.

NIS Agent Tears the Japanese Empire Episode 116