Spy-x-War Showdown
Chapter 384 - 372 Strategic Adjustment

Chapter 384: Chapter 372 Strategic Adjustment

Tactics must be subordinate to strategy.

Mike set a development strategy for the Organization of Water: gain notoriety quickly and to a significant degree because attracting the attention of the Grey-cloaked People naturally follows notoriety.

Mike’s strategy could not be said to be erroneous, but now the situation had changed. The CIA had become the biggest threat to the Organization of Water, and to continue seeking rapid fame under the CIA’s threat was tantamount to courting death.

The CIA perhaps did not know of Mike and Brian’s relationship with the Organization of Water, but Mike had contacted the outside world in the guise of ’Cheese.’ With Mike now dead alongside Charles, and considering Charles and Brian’s relationship was no secret, what if the CIA drew the connection between the Organization of Water and Brian?

So, whether or not the CIA, influenced by a mole, considered the Organization of Water a target to be eliminated, as long as there was that possibility,

the Organization of Water’s development strategy had to be adjusted. Before resolving the mole threat, they had to move into the shadows, not just operating discreetly, but ensuring not the slightest trace was left behind.

Yang Yi turned to Brian and said in a low voice, "Now that we know Aaron is very likely the mole, can we start spreading news to the outside? Even if we can’t take down Aaron, we could at least make life difficult for him."

But as soon as he had spoken, Yang Yi shook his head, "No, that won’t do. Mike only suspected Aaron to be the mole without certainty, and we lack evidence. Without any substantial evidence, such talk would only alert the mole and put us in even greater danger."

Brian nodded, "Exactly, evidence, we must have evidence. Otherwise, all the messages we release will be nothing but rumors, ineffective against Aaron. His current position can’t be shaken by mere gossip."

Yang Yi exhaled, "We need to counterattack the mole but we lack sufficient strength. The Organization of Water’s operational foundation in the United Kingdom has been destroyed, so we must leave. Where to, though?"

Yang Yi didn’t ask for anyone else’s opinion. He was reasoning to himself and quickly said, "We must go to a place where the CIA has the least influence, at least where their operations are less convenient. Western Europe is as permeable to the CIA as a sieve is to water. Therefore, Russia!"

Xiao Ran immediately said, "Russia is now the United States’ biggest adversary, so the CIA will undoubtedly have many agents there."

"Yes, the United States will certainly send numerous spies to Russia, but are Russian spies the same as those in the United Kingdom?"

Yang Yi glanced at Brian and, seeing no objection from him, spoke gravely, "Russia and the United States are enemy states. Therefore, spies sent to Russia play a more significant role and attract more attention. The mole dared to use personnel in the UK station, dared to launch an attack in the UK, but would he dare to do the same in Russia? Even if there are more American spies in Russia, they’re useless to the mole if he can’t utilize them. At the very least, it weakens the force the mole can wield. Don’t forget, our opponent is the mole, not the CIA!"

Xiao Ran pondered for a moment and replied, "That makes sense."

Yang Yi turned to Brian, who nodded lightly, "You’re correct. In the UK, the exposure of a CIA agent could be explained, but in Russia, there would be no chance for excuses. Moreover, the CIA doesn’t have as many spies in Russia as you might think. Russia may have declined, but the KGB is still active."

Yang Yi said sternly, "Russia inherited the Soviet Union’s status and most of its strength, and if the mole is Soviet, do we have any evidence of the mole in Russia?"

Brian sighed softly and replied, "It’s difficult, very difficult, practically impossible. A mole of such high status is top secret in any country. How could it fall into our hands so easily? Russia and the United States are adversaries, but don’t forget, Russia’s loss will be severe if the mole is exposed. So how could you possibly find evidence of the mole in Russia? Russia would do everything to protect its own mole."

Yang Yi was taken aback, then chuckled, "I actually forgot the most basic issue—that’s laughable. Nonetheless, it’s still better for us to go to Russia. No matter how low the chances of finding evidence there might be, it’s still greater than in the United Kingdom, right?"

Brian nodded and said, "That’s right, Russia is our best foothold."

Yang Yi fell silent for a moment, then he addressed everyone, "My thoughts are somewhat different from before now."

The journey of Yang Yi’s heart had been arduous, but he indeed was different from before now, his thoughts had changed, and what he pursued was no longer the same.

What Yang Yi wanted now was just strength, stronger strength.

"Before, I imagined a spy as someone who wore a well-fitted suit, holding a glass of red wine, eloquently conversing at a party filled with beauties and celebrities, elegantly and respectfully gathering one piece of intelligence after another, relying on my extraordinary wisdom to achieve victory time and again. I didn’t like getting myself dirty all the time, even less did I like being in the midst of bullets and gunfire every day. I felt that wasn’t what being a spy was about. A spy should be like a cloud that doesn’t leave a trace with a wave of the hand, with no one knowing I came and no one knowing I left."

He smiled and pointed to his chest, "I was shot, and it was then that I realized a truth: if you’re in this line of work, you have to be prepared to die at any time. I thought I was prepared before Mike died, but it wasn’t until I was shot that I truly realized I wasn’t ready to face death at any time. I thought the Organization of Water was strong, but now I finally understand just how weak it truly is."

Zhang Yong said somewhat awkwardly, "I’m sorry, but I have to correct you on one thing. You were hit by fragments of a hand grenade, not a bullet. If it had been a gunshot, you wouldn’t have survived."

Yang Yi gave a bitter smile and said, "Brother Yong, can you not interrupt? I know I was hit by fragments, not a bullet. I’m just, just..."

Yang Yi waved his hand, "I’ve just had some realizations, that’s all."

Brian said in a deep voice, "So what now?"

Yang Yi said with a serious face, "I’m really not a qualified spy. I idealized the role too much, made it too simple. Now, I want power, enough so that when someone wants to kill us, they’ll think twice about whether they can bear the consequences. At least! At least, when someone wants to eliminate us, they’d have to send an army, not just a few people to take us down!"

Yang Yi got somewhat excited. He took a deep breath, pressed his wound and said solemnly, "At least, when someone appears before me aiming a gun to kill me, I can shoot first and kill him! If my marksmanship is still good, if I can use a pistol to kill the person who throws a grenade at me, then Mike... he, he might..."

Brian suddenly held out his hand, then he said seriously, "Mike’s death is not your fault! Remember that, no one can guarantee hitting a moving target at forty meters away with a pistol, no one dares make such a guarantee. So, Mike’s death has nothing to do with you, remember that!"

Forget, how could one forget? It’s not related, how could it possibly not be related?

Zhang Yong coughed lightly and said, "Let me say something fair, hitting a moving target at thirty meters away with a pistol, especially a well-trained one, is really difficult, extremely difficult. Don’t be fooled by movies, I’m telling you, there are few who can do this and those who can have undergone extensive shooting training. Ask Xiao Ran if she dares to guarantee she can do it?"

Xiao Ran hesitated for a moment, but eventually, she said in a low voice, "Hitting a target at a range is no problem, but in actual combat, I really can’t guarantee it. I definitely don’t have the confidence to kill an enemy before they can throw a grenade. With a rifle, perhaps there is some chance, but with a pistol, it’s really not doable."

Yang Yi knew that, but he still couldn’t forgive himself. If there’s a deficiency, there is, and if his marksmanship wasn’t good, it wasn’t. Therefore, he had to make up for his shortcomings as soon as possible.

Yang Yi exhaled lightly and then he said softly, "Let’s not talk about that anymore. Let’s discuss what to do next; we must leave the United Kingdom as soon as possible. If we delay, there could be danger, but before we leave, we need to retrieve Mike and Charles’s bodies."