Spy-x-War Showdown
Chapter 774 - 719: The Invisible Hand

Chapter 774: Chapter 719: The Invisible Hand

Brian and Annastasia were sent away, and as for what the two of them were going to do, that was none of Yang Yi’s business, and of course, he had no control over it. After all, Brian was not someone who needed looking after, so whatever he wanted to do was up to him.

As for Yang Yi, he returned to Kiev that very day.

Meeting with Yarebin made Yang Yi a bit nervous, but if asked why he was tense, he truly couldn’t give an answer. Perhaps it was because Yarebin had asked him to come alone, forbidding anyone else to accompany him.

It was the same hotel as before, and it was still Grevatov who received him when Yang Yi arrived. When Yarebin met with him, he was lying on the same recliner as before.

Yarebin sat up on the sofa, then he said to Yang Yi, who stood respectfully before him, "Please sit. I didn’t expect to see you so soon. Why did you insist on meeting with me?"

Yang Yi said in a deep voice, "It’s about the Grey-cloaked People. I saw in the material that Annastasia passed to me on your behalf that Aaron might be linked to the Grey-cloaked People. I came to consult you about them."

Yarebin laughed, then he asked with interest, "Why are you interested in the Grey-cloaked People?"

Yang Yi had already decided to tell the truth since it was the simplest option.

"My mother and father were killed by the Grey-cloaked People."

Yarebin looked enlightened as he said, "Oh, I see. That explains it. Ordinary people rarely get a chance to hear about the Grey-cloaked People, let alone take an interest in them. So, were your parents spies?"

Yang Yi hesitated for a moment before answering, "They were merchants."

Yarebin laughed, "Then do you know how much information on the Grey-cloaked People is worth? You come here to ask me for information on the Grey-cloaked People, what are you planning to offer in return?"

Yang Yi said sternly, "You can name your price. I just feel that since you want to deal with Aaron, and if Aaron is connected to the Grey-cloaked People, you should tell me."

Yarebin sighed, then he smiled and said, "I’ve been in the intelligence business my whole life, but I never sell information. I buy, but never sell!"

After speaking casually, Yarebin’s expression turned serious, and then he said in a deep voice, "How much do you know about the Grey-cloaked People?"

"Very little. I only know that the Grey-cloaked People trade in information, and then I know that they are a very large and mysterious organization. That’s all I know."

Yarebin nodded, "That’s right, the Grey-cloaked People deal in intelligence, but intelligence trading is certainly not their main business. You are curious about the Grey-cloaked People, and in fact, every country’s intelligence agency is interested in them."

Yang Yi said respectfully, "You must know more."

Yarebin fell silent for a while, then he shook his head and said, "I don’t know more; I just think more. In fact, I’ve never had any substantial contact with the Grey-cloaked People, but I know that during the Cuban Missile Crisis, this organization was quite active."

Yang Yi expressed his surprise, "The Cuban Missile Crisis?"

Yarebin said very seriously, "Yes, the Cuban Missile Crisis, a crisis that almost led to a nuclear war. Surprisingly, there seemed to be an invisible hand fueling this crisis."

Yang Yi certainly knew about the Cuban Missile Crisis and that it genuinely almost led to a nuclear war.

In 1962, the Soviet Union deployed medium-range ballistic missiles in Cuba. After reconnaissance by the United States, they believed those were nuclear missile bases, triggering a vigorous reaction from the U.S. The crisis lasted a total of thirteen days, during which a nuclear war almost broke out on several occasions as both U.S. and Soviet combat forces went into the highest state of readiness.

In the end, the crisis was resolved with the Soviet Union’s compromise and retreat.

If it were claimed that the Cuban Missile Crisis was a result of the power struggle between the Soviet Union and the United States, Yang Yi could believe it, but if it were said that the Grey-cloaked People single-handedly orchestrated the crisis, he would not believe it.

Yarebin said in a deep voice, "I was young when the Cuban Missile Crisis occurred. It was only over a decade later, in KGB’s top-secret archives, that I discovered something quite unusual."

The secrets that the world knows are no secrets at all; they are deliberately released after being carefully selected and edited by someone. But what Yarebin was talking about were true secrets that the world could not possibly know.

"What did you discover?"

Yarebin sighed, his face filled with emotion, "Everyone thought it was the American U2 spy planes that detected the Soviet’s missile racks in Cuba, but that wasn’t the case."

Yarebin looked at Yang Yi, then he said solemnly, "The intelligence that the Soviets had deployed missiles in Cuba was deliberately given to the CIA. It was only after the photos were laid out on the CIA’s desk that the Americans dispatched reconnaissance planes, and due to highly accurate locations, they managed to obtain proof after repeatedly flying over. The same is true vice versa; the KGB had no idea how the Americans would react, but before the Americans could respond, a CIA spy at an intelligence station in Europe defected. Based on his description, and after KGB’s confirmation, we knew the Americans were prepared for a nuclear war before they even made an official statement!"

Though it was history, Yang Yi still felt a chill listening to it.

Yarebin frowned tightly and said, "I can’t know what happened on the American side, but the KGB’s records indicate that whenever we obtained intelligence on the U.S., there were always inconsistencies, always severely overestimating the Americans’ response, forcing the Soviet Union to take countermeasures of equal force. Although the Americans’ later reactions proved the reliability of the intelligence, when I was reviewing the files, I always felt that the Americans must have received greatly exaggerated intelligence as well, otherwise the situation wouldn’t have escalated so quickly."

Yang Yi said anxiously, "Could such a big event really have been driven by the Grey-cloaked People?"

Yarebin exhaled and said, "At the time, everyone thought everything was normal, and even afterwards, there seemed to be nothing wrong. But twenty years later, having obtained more intelligence, I began to wonder why the Americans believed the Soviet Union was determined to start a nuclear war. Why did the Soviet Union come to the same conclusion? Keep in mind that the Soviet leadership was extremely reluctant to enter a nuclear war; Khrushchev might have seemed reckless and bold, but deep down he was somewhat timid. That’s why, in the end, it was the Soviet Union that chose to compromise. However, if the Soviet Union hadn’t compromised, then a real war could have broken out."

"This is the work of that invisible hand."

Brian nodded, "Yes, an invisible hand that could operate in the shadows when distrust and antagonism between the Soviet Union and the United States were at their peak. This hand could manipulate without leaving any traces. What I’m saying lacks any evidence; it’s all just speculation on my part. But why would I suspect the Grey-cloaked People? That begins with another matter."