Chapter 246
With only a week left before the net closed in, Shen Nanchu attended her classes at Beijing University on time every day. In the classroom, she still sat in the first row, twirling a pen in one hand and absentmindedly flipping through her textbook with the other.
Professor Yao was reading historical theories on the podium. After listening for a moment, she found it dull. Just as she was about to open the system's audiovisual function to binge-watch a show, the system's voice suddenly rang in her mind.
"Host, this Pei Zhengwei is really a piece of work. I've discovered a huge secret!"
Shen Nanchu's fingertips paused, her interest piqued. "What is it? What kind of petty tricks is he pulling now?"
"Look at the surveillance footage!"
The system said, transmitting the real-time footage directly into Shen Nanchu's mind.
In the footage, Pei Zhengwei looked completely different.
His hair had turned gray, and his face was smeared with brown greasepaint, heavily lined with wrinkles. He wore a faded, coarse cloth jacket that buttoned down the front and walked with a hunched back, looking exactly like a seventy-year-old man.
Beside him was a young man around twenty years old, dressed in blue work clothes. He supported Pei Zhengwei with one hand and carried a cloth bundle in the other, calling out, "Grandpa, slow down," looking as intimate as a real grandson.
The two slowly walked into a secluded alley and stopped in front of a mottled wooden door.
The young man knocked. A deep voice answered from within, and the door opened a crack. The two slipped inside.
The system immediately amplified the audio, transmitting their conversation clearly.
"Is everything ready? After the transaction next week, it must be shipped to Sakura Country as soon as possible. They have already urged us several times."
Pei Zhengwei's voice lacked its usual arrogance, becoming low and hoarse, yet carrying a hint of urgency.
"Don't worry, the contact person has been arranged. When the time comes, the artifacts will be mixed with other goods and transported out by truck."
The young man's voice changed too, no longer sounding simple and honest, but carrying a stiff foreign accent.
"However, Pei-kun, are you sure Pei Zhengnian and the others haven't noticed? Lately, I always feel like someone is watching us."
Pei Zhengwei sneered.
"So what if they notice? I am a son of the Pei family. No matter how suspicious Pei Zhengnian gets, he would never imagine that I am working for Sakura Country."
"If Sakura Country hadn't nurtured me and allowed me to show my worth, I would still be living under Pei Zhengnian's shadow. Now, serving Sakura Country is what I ought to do."
"Once these artifacts are shipped over, I'll get a massive sum of money. Then I'll live a good life in Sakura Country. Who would want to stay in this wretched place!"
Shen Nanchu's eyes instantly turned cold.
So Pei Zhengwei was not only a criminal smuggling cultural artifacts, but also a spy trained by Sakura Country!
No wonder he had always targeted Pei Zhengnian. The previous failures of missions related to Sakura Country led by Pei Zhengnian were probably his doing—he had intentionally sabotaged them!
"System, have the people around Pei Zhengnian noticed anything unusual about him?" Shen Nanchu asked.
"No. Sun Xuelin was tailing Pei Zhengwei earlier, but Pei Zhengwei's disguise was too good. Sun Xuelin lost him at the entrance to the alley and is currently wandering around nearby," the system replied.
Pei Zhengnian had to know this information, and fast!
Shen Nanchu frowned, calculating in her mind.
"System, where is Sun Xuelin right now? Is there anyone else around him?"
"Sun Xuelin is right across the alley, pretending to watch people play chess. The area is full of old men playing chess, so no one is paying attention to him."
The system immediately pinpointed Sun Xuelin's location.
Shen Nanchu thought for a moment. "Use my Disgust Points to redeem an Information Guidance. Help me lead Sun Xuelin to that wooden door so he can hear the conversation inside."
"You got it, Host!"
The system immediately sprang into action.
It quietly interfered with the chess pieces of the old men playing at the teahouse, making a piece roll right to Sun Xuelin's feet.
The two old men gathered around Sun Xuelin's feet, arguing noisily.
Afraid of blowing his cover, Sun Xuelin walked away.
The system then made him accidentally bump into a passing street vendor. The vendor's basket fell to the ground, scattering vegetables everywhere.
Sun Xuelin hurriedly helped pick them up.
The system then intentionally amplified the conversation between Pei Zhengwei and the spy in the courtyard for Sun Xuelin to hear.
Instantly, it caught Sun Xuelin's attention.
That voice was too familiar to Sun Xuelin; it was Pei Zhengwei's.
He quickly pricked up his ears to listen.
The conversation between Pei Zhengwei and the young man carried out clearly. From the artifact transaction to the orders from Sakura Country, and the malicious intent toward Pei Zhengnian, Sun Xuelin heard every single word.
Sun Xuelin's expression grew darker and darker. He quietly left and hurried back to the military base. He had to tell Pei Zhengnian about this immediately!
Meanwhile, the class dismissal bell rang at Beijing University.
Shen Nanchu packed up her textbooks and walked out of the classroom. Pei Yunzhou quickly caught up with her.
"Sister-in-law, we don't have classes this afternoon, and Pei Yunxi is back too. Let's go to the state-run restaurant and get a roast duck to go! It's Pei Yunxi's favorite."
"Alright."
Shen Nanchu and Pei Yunzhou headed toward the parking lot at the school gates, preparing to make a trip to the state-run restaurant.
On Pei Zhengnian's side, after hearing the news Sun Xuelin brought, his face instantly turned a livid iron-gray.
He sat at his desk, his fingers clenched into fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white.
The atmosphere in the office was so oppressive it was hard to breathe. Sun Xuelin stood to the side, not even daring to breathe too loudly.
"No wonder... no wonder the previous missions failed!"
Pei Zhengnian's voice was as cold as ice shards.
"I always thought they were accidents. I never expected it was intentional! Not only is he Lei Zhenghua's son, but he's also a spy for Sakura Country. This was all premeditated!"
Sun Xuelin hurriedly said, "Commander, should we arrest Pei Zhengwei right now? Since he's a spy, he definitely has other accomplices. There might be an even bigger conspiracy behind this!"
"No," Pei Zhengnian shook his head, his eyes sharp as an eagle's. "Now is not the time."
"We only know he's smuggling artifacts. We don't know how many accomplices he has behind him, nor do we know if they have informants in the military or the government."
"If we arrest him now, we'll alert the enemy. The people behind him will definitely flee, and it will be difficult to catch them all in one fell swoop."
Pei Zhengnian paused before continuing.
"Keep monitoring him and see if you can make any other discoveries."
"During next week's transaction, not only do we need to catch Pei Zhengwei and the foreign buyers, but we also need to follow the trail to root out all his accomplices, especially the internal personnel he has compromised."
"This matter must be kept absolutely confidential. No one can know, including the people around us, unless they are absolutely trusted."
"Yes, sir!" Sun Xuelin turned and left to make the arrangements.
...
Completely unaware that his identity had been exposed, Pei Zhengwei was still feeling smug about the transaction next week.
After work, he changed into a presentable Sun Yat-sen suit, combed his hair until it was slick and shiny, stuffed his bulging wallet into his pocket, and headed toward the state-run restaurant.
He wanted to treat himself well with good food and drink.
...