“There’s nothing else…”

John Jones looked utterly incredulous, then turned to Brian Carter with a puzzled expression and said, “I don’t understand. You say you’ve waited eleven years for revenge, and you want to enter the world of espionage, but now you’re telling me you don’t know how to do anything? So what have you been doing these eleven years? Just thinking about it? Young man, revenge isn’t something you can just think about and be done with.”

Brian Carter said in a low voice, “I only found out the cause of my parents’ death a few days ago. In the eleven years before that, I suspected their deaths weren’t normal, but it was just suspicion. I never made revenge my life’s goal, so what could I have learned? I didn’t even know what I should be learning.”

John Jones gave a wry smile and said, “So you’re a complete rookie, know nothing about espionage, yet you come to me saying you want to be a spy and take revenge on an enemy you don’t even know.”

Although he was reluctant to admit it, Brian Carter could only nod and say, “That’s right. But the good news is I learn things quickly—anything at all. I came to you because I want to learn, to learn everything I can. My desire for revenge is strong, but I’m not in a hurry, because I want revenge, not to get myself killed. And I haven’t let hatred blind me.”

John Jones nodded and said, “Alright, you’re pretty smart for a young man. I was really worried you’d be some idiot who knows nothing but is obsessed with revenge. It’s great that you’re not an idiot.”

Chapter 10: Corporate Spy

“I’m a corporate spy, a pure corporate spy. I search for business secrets for my employers in exchange for payment. My job is risky, but it’s peaceful. Many people think spies are as exciting and interesting as in the movies, so they have unrealistic and mistaken ideas and aspirations about this profession. I hope you’re not one of those people.”

After saying this, John Jones stared into Brian Carter’s eyes and smiled, “I’m just a corporate spy, so I can’t teach you too much, nor can I bring you into the same circle your father was in. Other than sharing the title of ‘spy,’ we don’t actually have much in common. After hearing all this, do you still want to learn from me?”

Without hesitation, Brian Carter said, “Of course. If you’re willing to let me learn from you, I’d be extremely grateful.”

John Jones sighed, then stood up and placed a business card on the table, saying in a low voice, “Call me at eight o’clock tomorrow morning. Goodbye.”

And with that, John Jones left.

As for Brian Carter’s background, how he could prove his identity, where he’d been all these years, how he learned the cause of his parents’ death, and what kind of emotional journey led him to seek revenge—John Jones didn’t ask about any of these details.

Brian Carter thought there were two reasons for this. One was that, as a spy—even just a more peaceful corporate spy—John Jones understood and strictly adhered to a principle: never pry into other people’s secrets lightly.

The other reason was that John Jones wouldn’t get involved in his personal vendetta.

Out of gratitude, John Jones would help Brian Carter get started in the field and might teach him a few things, but he wouldn’t get entangled in Brian Carter’s revenge plans. So, he simply didn’t ask Brian Carter anything, to avoid the risk of falling out with him or even being silenced by him in the future.

Brian Carter certainly had no such intentions, but that didn’t mean he never would, and this was exactly what John Jones was guarding against. Helping others doesn’t always bring good returns. To avoid future trouble, it’s better to know less. So even if Brian Carter volunteered information, John might not want to know.

But regardless, John Jones would probably help him, and that was enough for Brian Carter.

Now, Brian Carter was thinking about what kind of person his father really was.

In Brian Carter’s memory, his father loved to laugh, was low-key, and seemed like an ordinary businessman—but a very successful one. He was away from home a lot, but whenever he was home, he always spent time with him.

So, in his own memory, Brian Carter felt his father was truly a good dad. But Brian Carter also understood that everyone has two sides.

At home, he played the role of a good father and husband. In front of others, who knows what role Brian Carter’s father played.

After finishing his coffee, Brian Carter left the café and found a hotel to stay in.

The next morning at six, Brian Carter got up, washed, had breakfast, and then waited in the hotel lobby until eight o’clock, when he promptly called John Jones.

“I’ll be at the office by nine. Head to 186 Savile Street, Jones Accountancy, and ask for me.”

John Jones hung up. Brian Carter thought about it and realized he was quite far from Savile Street—making it in an hour would be tight.

Brian Carter immediately rushed out of the hotel lobby, got into the taxi he’d already booked, and said urgently, “186 Savile Street, quick!”

It took fifty-eight minutes for Brian Carter to reach 186 Savile Street. It was an old three-story building, with a men’s clothing store on the first floor, and on the third floor was the accountancy firm John Jones had mentioned.