The Mysterious Soldier of the Anti-Japanese War

Chapter 202: The Fury of Takeshita's Hollow Drum: The Crisis Caused by the "Ghost Assassin

At this moment, in a Japanese-style room, Takeshita Konggu, his face reeking of alcohol, shirtless, and embracing a beautiful geisha, was fast asleep. Clearly stressed out lately, he'd drunk too much the previous night, engaging in a deep, physical and spiritual communion with the geisha... Suddenly, a phone call woke him. He let go of the geisha and, dazed, reached for the phone by the bedside table. "Hello, this is Takeshita Konggu." "Your Excellency, Brigade Commander, something's happened. Our crucial Yangping stronghold is under suspected artillery fire from the 'Nether Assassin' armed forces. They've used incendiary bombs, setting the entire stronghold ablaze. Only a squad and a half of our entire brigade survived..."

Takeshita Konggu was still immersed in the chaos of a hangover, his head groggy and his consciousness hazy. But when he heard the bad news from the other end of the phone, it was like a sharp electric current instantly piercing through his body. His eyes widened instantly, and the drunkenness seemed to be doused by a basin of cold water, dissipating without a trace.

He sat up suddenly, his movement so violent that the bed shook violently. He roughly pushed the geisha beside him away. The geisha was caught off guard and whimpered in fear. Her delicate body lost its balance under the force. She curled up in the corner of the bed, wrapped in the quilt, her eyes full of fear and panic, and she trembled as she looked at Takeshita Konggu.

Takeshita Kugu completely ignored the geisha's pitiful appearance. His heart was filled with only raging rage and profound shock. He shouted into the phone, "Baka! 'Netherworld Assassins'? Why are they here again? How long are these damned fellows going to fight the Empire of Japan?" His voice was twisted and hoarse with rage, and the veins in his neck bulged.

The voice on the other end of the line trembled with fear as it continued, "Your Excellency, the brigade commander, their shells appear to have been specially modified. The fire that erupted after the explosion was extremely fierce. We had no time to mount an effective resistance, and the warriors of the empire..."

Takeshita Konggu's face turned ashen, veins bulging on his forehead. He gritted his teeth and said, "Send a message to Uesugi Kazuya's special forces immediately. We must find the whereabouts of the 'Ghost Assassin' and his men!" 'Ghost Assassin', humph, I will tear them into pieces!"

After he hung up the phone, he quickly stood up and dressed, buttoning his clothes while pacing back and forth in the room, his anger burning more and more fiercely. He knew the importance of the Yangping stronghold to their strategic layout. Now that it had suffered such a heavy blow, it was not only a military failure, but also a heavy blow to his personal reputation.

"Someone!" he shouted out the door, and an adjutant hurried in and saluted. Takeshita Konggu said grimly, "Notify all officers to gather in the conference room immediately. We need to discuss a counterattack plan. Also, increase patrols and security in the surrounding areas to prevent further enemy attacks. Furthermore, mobilize all intelligence networks to gather information on the movements of the 'Netherworld Assassins.' We must find them, even if we have to dig deep underground!"

After his adjutant left, Takeshita Kugu picked up the phone again and dialed his superiors, preparing to report the tragic news and request support and further instructions. He tried to keep his voice calm, but his slightly trembling hands betrayed his inner anxiety and uneasiness.

While waiting for the officers to gather, Takeshita Kōgu sat on a chair, looking ahead with empty eyes. The tragic scene of the stronghold being destroyed by incendiary bombs kept appearing in his mind. He secretly vowed in his heart that he must find the "Ghost Assassins" and completely eliminate them in order to save his own face and the dignity of the Japanese army.