John Jones shook his head and said softly, "Young man, when you seek help, you should at least be honest."

"I really don't know."

"No, you do know. You're lying. Please don't test my patience and judgment. Given your status, it's understandable that you don't want to be completely open, which is why I'm willing to listen to your truth. But you're asking for my help, and I can choose not to help you, so you'd better tell the truth."

Brian Carter felt like he was being led by the nose the whole time, but as always, he had no choice, nor the ability to hide anything. He couldn't even lie in front of this man.

"Alright, the enemy might be the Grey-cloaked Man, just maybe. I really don't know anything more."

A trace of doubt appeared on John Jones's face, then he said in a low voice, "The Grey-cloaked Man... what is that, or who is he?"

John Jones doesn't know the Grey-cloaked Man?

Brian Carter was even more puzzled, so he whispered, "I don't know, I just know the name. It seems to be an organization, or maybe a person. Really, that's all I know."

John Jones stared into Brian Carter's eyes, then finally nodded and said, "Alright, I believe that's all you know. As for who the Grey-cloaked Man is, I don't want to know either. In any case, I absolutely won't get involved in your revenge. But now, tell me what you need."

Brian Carter coughed lightly and said in a low voice, "I just want to become a spy—not the kind who works for a country, but for myself. I don't know what you call it in your field, but I just want to be a spy."

John Jones smiled and said, "A spy is a spy, there's nothing special about it, and no one cares who you work for. Of course, 'spy' is just a general term. There are some distinctions, for example, I'm a corporate spy, and your father, he was an intelligence broker. He bought and sold information. Strictly speaking, he wasn't a spy, but this industry can't do without people like him."

Brian Carter nodded, and John Jones immediately said, "What did your father say about me, whether it was a last word or something else? Anyway, I want to know what he said."

"He said you were trustworthy, and left your name and phone number. That's all he said."

"Was it a last word?"

"It was a codebook he left behind. After decoding it, it was just a few sentences and a phone number."

John Jones let out a long sigh and said helplessly, "To be valued by your father, I really don't know if I'm lucky or unlucky."

Brian Carter wisely kept silent, and John Jones said with a helpless look, "Forgive me for being blunt, but your father was not an easy man to get along with. He was ruthless. If he were still alive, I would never refuse any of his requests—I wouldn't dare. But now he's been dead for many years, and you suddenly show up asking for my help, so I have to think this over carefully."

"That's understandable."

Brian Carter appeared very calm, while John Jones looked pained.

After a long while, John Jones finally said helplessly, "Your father knew so many people, and when he was alive, he was so powerful. As for me, in front of him, I was just a small, insignificant, utterly unimportant figure."

John Jones used several phrases to describe how insignificant he was before Brian Carter's father, then finally said with a pained expression, "But your father actually left you my contact information. God, I really wish he hadn't thought so highly of me. I'm just a small-time corporate spy."

This time, Brian Carter said nothing. Young people are often a bit reckless and inexplicably confident, but fortunately, Brian Carter knew his own limits, so he thought it best to remain silent and not express his opinion lightly.

John Jones looked emotional. He shook his head and said to Brian Carter in a deep voice, "Your father was a devil. He had the power to see through people's hearts. He saw right through me. He knew exactly what I would do. So, even though I really don't want to have anything to do with you, I have no choice but to help you, because your father helped me once—he even saved my life."

With extreme reluctance, John Jones waved his hand and said helplessly, "So your father knew I would have to repay him, and before he died, he arranged for me to be your backup plan, is that it?"

Brian Carter said cautiously, "Yes."

John Jones let out a long breath and said in a low voice, "Alright, what I owe your father, I can only repay to his son. But let me give you a word of advice: as the son of an intelligence dealer, the idea of revenge is extremely foolish. You shouldn't even have it, so I advise you to give it up."

Brian Carter immediately said, "I've waited eleven years, just for a chance, so I won't give up."

John Jones waved his hand and said, "You want to become a spy, so tell me what you can do."

Brian Carter thought for a moment, then said cautiously, "Does having a good memory count?"

"No, a good memory is a talent, not a skill. When I ask what you can do, I mean what skills you have mastered."

Brian Carter again said cautiously, "Driving. I'm very good at driving."

"Mm, and what else?"