John Jones immediately said, "No, no, I don't think it's necessary to meet, or you can tell me your reason for contacting me first."

Brian Carter was stumped, because even he himself didn't know what he was supposed to do after reaching out to the people on the list his father had left behind.

Although it was a list left by his father, and although his father considered these people trustworthy, eleven years had passed. After such a long time, who knows how much has changed? Can the people who were once trustworthy still be trusted now?

Or rather, can Brian Carter even say for sure what he wants to do?

The ideal scenario in his plan was to first meet his father's old friends, or at least observe them first. But this John Jones didn't even want to meet, and directly asked Brian Carter about the purpose of meeting him. So Brian Carter was really a bit hesitant. Although he wasn't someone who overthinks things, there were some matters he had to be cautious about.

After hesitating for just a moment, Brian Carter made his final decision. Now, the only person he could contact was John Jones, so he really had no choice.

"I want to tell you how my father died."

Half-testing, Brian Carter gave a reason, and after a moment of silence, John Jones said in a low voice, "What if I don't want to hear it?"

"Then forget it. I'm sorry to have bothered you."

"Thank you."

John Jones immediately hung up the phone, and with that, Brian Carter was truly at a loss.

But just as Brian Carter was wondering what to do next, his phone suddenly rang again.

John Jones spoke very calmly: "I've changed my mind. If you still want to meet me, tell me where you are."

Chapter 9: What Have You Prepared

He talked for an hour, but waited in the agreed café for two hours, and still didn't see John Jones.

It started to rain outside, and it was getting heavier. In London, this kind of weather was all too normal. Brian Carter picked up his freshly refilled coffee and took a sip, glancing at the café entrance.

A man in a trench coat and a fedora pushed the door open and walked in. He scanned the room, saw Brian Carter, and walked straight over to him, asking in a low voice, "Is it you?"

"It's me."

The rain outside was coming down hard. The man who had just come in took off his hat, removed his trench coat and casually hung it on the coat rack nearby. Then, reaching out to the standing Brian Carter with a smile, he said, "I'm John Jones."

"My name is Brian Carter."

John Cook's hair at his temples was already graying, and he looked to be over sixty, but his hair was carefully groomed, his clothes were a perfect fit, and everything about him was meticulous, giving off a very comfortable impression.

John Jones wore an apologetic yet gentle smile. After sitting down across from Brian Carter, he smiled and said, "Sorry to have kept you waiting. The weather tonight is really awful."

"It is. Thank you for coming to meet me in such terrible weather."

John Jones's smile suddenly froze, then he spread his hands and said, "Your father was not an easy or agreeable man. I originally didn't want to meet you, but since your father sent you to see me, I thought I'd better come. Otherwise, I might have to pay a price I can't afford, so here I am."

Brian Carter's expression also froze. He didn't know how to respond.

John Jones ordered a cup of coffee from the server, then said to Brian Carter, "Now that I'm here, if you have something to say, you can start now."

Brian Carter didn't even know what to say. He hesitated for a moment, thought about it, and finally said in a low voice, "I might need your help."

John Jones nodded, "That was expected. Please continue."

"I..."

Brian Carter felt he couldn't control the pace of this conversation. Compared to an old spy like John Jones, he was as green as a newborn child. Trying to control the rhythm would only be asking for humiliation.

Since he couldn't hide anything, had no choice, and couldn't control the pace, he might as well just speak frankly.

Spreading his hands, Brian Carter said in a deep voice, "The whole thing isn't that complicated. Eleven years ago, my father and mother both died. Recently, I learned the real cause of their deaths, and I want to avenge them. But if I want revenge, I have to become a spy. To get into the business, I need someone to guide me, and you're the only one I could find."

John Jones let out a breath and said, "Revenge? That's really a terrible choice. Revenge is completely meaningless, and it will put you and everyone around you in great danger. So I don't know how I can help you. To be honest, if you're looking for someone to help you get revenge, you've found the wrong person. I will never help you with that."

Brian Carter immediately said, "I'm not asking you to help me get revenge. I just need to get into the world of espionage and understand the industry."

John Jones stared at Brian Carter. After thinking for a moment, he said in a deep voice, "Then who is your enemy?"

"I don't know. I only know that my father was poisoned and it was made to look like a car accident, and my mother also died of poisoning, disguised as a heart attack. But I don't know who the enemy is."