Chapter 230

While Leitao and his companions were tensely discussing their plan to retreat from the county at the Bell Tower, the atmosphere inside the Japanese Brigade Headquarters in Pingyi County was stifling. Takeshita Kongu sat behind a large desk, his brow furrowed as he studied a document. An intelligence officer hurried in, snapped to attention, and saluted. "Commander Takeshita," he reported, "we have just received urgent intelligence. The 'Nether Assassin' is suspected to have infiltrated the county. Furthermore, reports indicate that a group of anti-Japanese youths will be passing through Pingyi County in the coming days." Upon hearing this, Takeshita Kongu jerked his head up, his eyes turning as sharp as blades. He slammed the document onto the desk and stood, pacing back and forth across the room. He had heard of the "Nether Assassin" long ago; the figure was a mysterious presence that had caused the Japanese military endless headaches. Thinking back to the fierce gunfight that had erupted in the county earlier that day, all signs indicated that the situation was far more severe than he had imagined.