Nuvem Sombria de Espionagem

Chapter 1: Sudden Incident

Evening of December 30th, 1938. New Capital, Manchukuo.

Heavy snow had been falling for two straight days without pause, piling over two feet deep on the roads. The north wind howled, making the air damp and bone-chilling.

Xu Ruiyang, a patrol officer from the New District Police Station under the New Capital Police Department of Manchukuo, was wobbling along in the snow on his battered bicycle.

The thick police overcoat did little to ward off the biting wind. Snow blown onto his face stung faintly, and his vision was severely hindered.

He was surrounded by the residential areas of Manchukuo officials, Japanese employees, and ordinary Japanese citizens—known as the New District, a secondary zone.

Life here was exceptionally comfortable: every household had heating, electricity, and gas. Ordinary Chinese people had no right to live in this area.

Normally, the streets would be crowded, but today, not a single customer could be seen in taverns, restaurants, or shops.

With temperatures plunging below minus twenty degrees and no sign of the blizzard letting up, no one ventured out unless absolutely necessary.

Although Xu Ruiyang had been a full-fledged officer for over half a year, he was still considered a newcomer. His daily task was to patrol this area.

No seasoned or well-connected officer wanted to serve here; Japanese insults and beatings of Manchukuo police were commonplace, especially those meted out by Japanese ruffians.

This district had only two teams—one for the morning, o