Spy-x-War Showdown
Chapter 1013 - 1118: Sincere Invitation

Chapter 1013: Chapter 1118: Sincere Invitation

Yang Yi found Aaron’s office on his own. He paused briefly at the door, straightened his clothes, took a deep breath, then raised his hand and knocked on the door.

"Come in."

Yang Yi turned the doorknob and walked in.

Aaron was sitting behind his desk, wearing a pair of decorative glasses. Upon seeing Yang Yi, he took off his glasses, stood up, and greeted with a smile, "I’m pleased to see you, Yang Yi. I’m sorry to disrupt your study plans by calling you here."

To stand up for a subordinate and apologize proactively—someone so far below in rank—Aaron’s demeanor was impeccably gracious.

Yang Yi smiled genuinely, but his muscles were a bit tense.

It’s indeed tough to act – to smile genuinely is not hard, but to keep one’s muscles slightly tense to show inner resistance and caution is a detail few can master.

Yang Yi wondered if Aaron could perceive such a perfectly handled detail; though he thought if he could do it, he might as well refine the nuances.

"Sir, you wanted to see me."

His demeanor was neither servile nor overbearing, but inside he was nervous and very cautious, instinctively resistant. Yang Yi managed all the details flawlessly.

Aaron smiled and gestured, "Take a seat, let’s sit down and talk it through."

Yang Yi hesitated momentarily but eventually sat down on the sofa closest to Aaron.

Contrary to Yang Yi’s expectations, Aaron did not sit back down right away but instead moved from his desk to sit on the sofa next to him.

Yang Yi’s muscles tensed even more.

"I’m transferring you to the operations department, you should know this by now."

"Yes, sir."

"Do you want to know why?"

Aaron didn’t ask if he knew the reason, but if he wanted to know the reason. After hesitating, Yang Yi replied softly, "Yes."

Aaron, still smiling, said, "Because operations need exceptionally talented individuals like you. Keeping you in administration is a waste of your abilities. I don’t mean to belittle the administration, but everyone has their perfect niche, and yours, Yang Yi, is in the field, not sitting in an office in administration. What do you think?"

After a pause, Yang Yi replied softly, "Thank you for the high regard, sir, but..."

"But what? It’s alright, speak your mind."

Yang Yi took a deep breath and said, "I don’t want to go into the field anymore, I want to stay in administration, sir."

Aaron maintained his smile, "Oh? You don’t want fieldwork anymore?"

"Yes, sir, I don’t wish to leave my current position, I apologize, sir."

"There’s no need to apologize. Why don’t you want to leave?"

Yang Yi hesitated, then said, "There’s no specific reason, I just don’t want to leave the familiar environment."

"Is that really why?" Aaron asked with a smile.

Yang Yi grew more anxious. His expression remained the same, but his heels lifted slightly from the floor, barely a centimeter, a subconscious gesture of wanting to bolt.

"I don’t understand what you mean, sir."

Aaron waved his hand dismissively, "You’re a Spy, but what you do is somewhat complex, Yang Yi. Or should I call you Sea God?"

Yang Yi was bold; anyone capable of the things he’d done couldn’t be a coward. Nervousness was allowed, but not fear when Aaron started to reveal truths.

Yang Yi looked sharply at Aaron. Now, he was no longer nervous but resolute.

The nerves weren’t from fear of Aaron but of the unknown. Now that the unknown had become reality, it was time for Yang Yi’s anxiety to shift.

As for what it should shift to, Yang Yi hadn’t yet decided.

"I don’t understand what you mean, sir."

Yang Yi stated this calmly, while Aaron shook his head, chuckling, "No need to keep hiding, what’s the point? I think it’s time you change your approach and talk to me differently, agree?"

Yang Yi took a breath, stood up, took a step back, and bowed his head respectfully, "Sir, since that’s the case... well, there’s indeed nothing left to hide. Yes, beyond my CIA agent identity, I have other ones too. But above all, it seems we are rivals!"

Realizing his words were improper, Yang Yi quickly added, "I apologize, I certainly don’t qualify to be your opponent. I mean, it seems we are indirectly competing with each other."

Aaron spread his hands open, "You admitted it so quickly, you’re more honest—or perhaps bolder—than I thought."

With a calm expression, Yang Yi said, "Dodging the truth is pointless, sir. Indeed, I am a CIA Spy, but I wasn’t recruited for my attempt to join the CIA. It was my capability and status in the underworld."

Aaron, equally composed, asked, "Then why did you join the CIA?"

"Because without joining the CIA, I couldn’t stand against Nicholas."

Yang Yi offered a smile, then with great resolve, he added, "With your support for Nicholas, I could never defeat him. If I also joined the CIA, it would be an internal competition. What do you think?"

"So, you’re the one who instigated the dignity battle between administration and operations?"

Yang Yi didn’t answer; he just nodded slightly.

Aaron chuckled and shook his head, "Your reasoning isn’t bad, but your approach is flawed. Do you think bribing Walter and even Porter with money would gain their support?"

Yang Yi didn’t respond, nor did he make any movements; even his expression remained unaltered.

Aaron waved his hand again, "That question was a bit sharp. I’ll change the subject. Do you think your actions were correct?"

Yang Yi pursed his lips and said softly, "Looking back, they were wrong."

"Why?"

Yang Yi still refrained from answering, so Aaron smiled and explained, "Because you brought your underworld thinking and methods into this, which is wrong. The CIA is different from the underworld you’re used to."

Yang Yi sighed softly, "I was mistaken."

Aaron’s smile faded as he said, "If I tell you I can support you in replacing Nicholas, would you be willing to join operations now?"

Yang Yi looked at Aaron in surprise, "What do you mean? Aren’t you trying to eliminate me?"

Aaron pointed at Yang Yi, "Your way of thinking is too limited, which is normal, as you’ve just started to truly experience the CIA. Alright, let me explain seriously once more, I really value you, my invitation is genuine. So, are you willing to join operations?"

Yang Yi stared at Aaron for a moment then said softly, "I apologize, but I can’t join operations."

Aaron didn’t get angry; he just seemed surprised, then curiously asked, "Why not?"