Spy-x-War Showdown
Chapter 1196 - 1201: Must Be Genuine

Chapter 1196: Chapter 1201: Must Be Genuine

"Four people, not bad in terms of skill."

After Yang Yi finished speaking, he pointed to the car labeled C514 and said, "Just follow his car. Stay far behind so we can observe from a distance. Where’s Bonnie?"

"She’s already disengaged for now. It seems like she’s fine. We’ve confirmed three cars are assigned to protect Gong Yang, but there could be more than just these three."

Yang Yi let out a breath and said, "The Cleaners know Gong Yang’s plans and movements. They can make very thorough arrangements. But there’s one thing I’m worried about."

Yang Yi exchanged a glance with Anton. Anton spoke in a low voice, "You’re worried that the Cleaners might deliberately create a situation where we’re forced into a conflict with the Grey-cloaked People. To achieve the best outcome, they would do something like that."

"Exactly. That’s what I’m concerned about. To gain the trust of the Grey-cloaked People, sacrifices have to be made. I believe there’s a division of responsibilities within the Cleaners, but I don’t trust that such a significant operation would be left entirely in our hands, without any backup plans from their side."

Yang Yi had every reason to worry. Indeed, the Cleaners might be willing to take losses. But to make the Grey-cloaked People believe Yang Yi had genuinely turned against them, the sacrifices they made would only enhance his credibility.

Anton mulled it over for a while before speaking softly, "Your safety won’t be an issue."

Of course, Yang Yi’s safety wasn’t a concern, because the Cleaners still needed him. But apart from Yang Yi, everyone else in the Organization of Water was in danger—especially Anton, Xiao Ran, and Bonnie.

They had to be cautious, extremely cautious.

The Cleaners might even entertain the idea of making Yang Yi suffer a significant loss, because doing so worked in their favor. At this point, there was no turning back for either Yang Yi or the Cleaners. Thus, the Cleaners wouldn’t worry that Yang Yi, having suffered losses or seeing others die, would genuinely ally with the Grey-cloaked People, rendering their investments and plans worthless.

The car kept driving until Gong Yang’s vehicle came to a stop, and then CIA operatives began attempting to monitor Gong Yang from close range.

Yang Yi and his group also stopped their car.

Checking his watch for the position of the emergency team, Yang Yi said in a low voice, "Straight-line distance is 600 meters from us. Walking would take about a kilometer. We’ll wait here."

Anton thought for a moment and then said in a low voice, "We can’t just stay here and watch. It’s... not convincing enough."

Yang Yi was genuinely worried about something going wrong because he knew the Cleaners would have plenty of tricks up their sleeve to infiltrate the Grey-cloaked People. He didn’t want to get too close.

But if they didn’t get closer, the act wouldn’t seem believable.

No matter how much the Cleaners lost, as long as Yang Yi suffered no apparent loss, he had no reason to betray them immediately. And if there was no immediate betrayal, it left time and opportunity to clear up misunderstandings with the Cleaners.

It was clear that the fallout between the Cleaners and Yang Yi would hinge on Gong Yang. If Gong Yang wasn’t harmed, if Yang Yi incurred no losses, would the Cleaners abandon Yang Yi just because a few people died?

They wouldn’t. For an organization like the Cleaners, no amount of casualties would justify cutting ties with an S-class client and collaborator.

Yang Yi had to move closer. Even knowing the danger, he had to approach Gong Yang, had to draw nearer to a place where trouble was almost guaranteed.

"We’ll head over. But remember, if we need to breach, I’ll lead. If we need to retreat, I’ll cover the rear."

Yang Yi looked over at Anton and Xiao Ran before saying in a low voice, "Don’t forget—The Cleaners could kill any one of you without hesitation, but they will never kill me. So, I don’t believe the operatives they sent would be ignorant of my identity. Even if they don’t know my mission, they must know who not to shoot at."

Neither Anton nor Xiao Ran responded. Yang Yi raised his voice and demanded, "Understood? Answer me!"

"Understood."

Anton finally answered, but Xiao Ran hesitated before murmuring, "Alright, I understand."

"Remember! Don’t do anything stupid!"

After growling the warning, Yang Yi took a deep breath and said, "Let’s get over there. Have Bonnie stay in the car and be ready to support. Hmm, drive closer. Once we’re closer, we can get out. If we can, we’ll monitor directly from the car."

Yang Yi initially planned to leave the car, but then changed his mind. Right now, the CIA posed no threat to him—the Cleaners did. And as long as the Cleaners weren’t sure whether he remained in the car, they wouldn’t act recklessly. This decision provided some measure of safety for Anton and Xiao Ran.

Anton picked up the radio and said in a low voice, "Bonnie, stay in the car and be prepared to support us. We’re heading in."

At that moment, Xiao Ran, who had been sitting in the backseat, suddenly said, "Put it on."

Yang Yi turned to look back at her. Xiao Ran had taken a bulletproof vest from the adjacent seat, opened the car door, and extended the vest outside towards him.

Her hand protruded out the car door, but Xiao Ran’s face was expressionless as she said, "Put it on."

"I don’t need it... Okay, I’ll wear it."

It wasn’t a heavy bulletproof vest, just one with level-three protection. It could stop handgun rounds, and if lucky, withstand submachine gun fire, but it was useless against rifle rounds.

Still, a level-three vest was better than nothing.

Yang Yi stepped out of the car, as wearing the vest inside was inconvenient. He donned the vest, grabbed his pistol, slipped three magazines into his pocket, and then looked at Xiao Ran and said, "You both better wear something heavier. Don’t worry about staying covert. If we’re really attacked, you’ll need more protection."

Wearing heavier protection had nothing to do with the temperature.

Anton silently pulled on a bulletproof vest, and under Yang Yi’s gaze, Xiao Ran obediently got out and donned her own heavier vest as well.

After making preparations for combat, Yang Yi returned to the car and said in a low voice, "Drive forward."

The car moved forward until Yang Yi spotted C514’s vehicle. When they were about 300 meters away, he said in a low voice, "Pull over. This distance is close enough."

Anton stopped the car, and Yang Yi checked his watch. "What’s the situation?"

"Everything seems normal. The target is meeting someone. Our people are closing in quickly. If nothing unexpected happens..."

C514 didn’t get to finish. Three individuals approached his car from opposite ends, front and back, hemming it in.

"Something feels off. Let me test it out."

After saying this, C514 started the car, pulled it out of the parking spot, and suddenly revved the engine. The reverse lights also came on.

The movements of the people surrounding the car remained unremarkable, as if indifferent to C514’s actions. Judging solely by their reactions, it was impossible to determine whether they were after C514 or not.

"I’m moving to another position."

After saying this, C514 drove the car forward. The figures walking along the roadside continued maintaining their air of normalcy. But just as his car suddenly accelerated, two men pulled pistols from their coats and began firing relentlessly at C514’s vehicle.