Spy-x-War Showdown
Chapter 949 - 954: Do Not Look Back

Chapter 949: Chapter 954: Do Not Look Back

Yang Yi and Elvin’s conversation was not loud, at least their talk would not be overheard by Rodriguez, but Rodriguez seemed to have sensed something. He glanced over at Yang Yi, and his expression appeared rather unnatural.

Yang Yi had his back to Rodriguez, and without turning around, he couldn’t see Rodriguez. Yet, Yang Yi seemed to feel Rodriguez’s gaze and so he turned his head slightly, meeting Rodriguez’s eyes and offering a faint smile.

Rodriguez smiled back with some difficulty, but he nodded at Yang Yi nonetheless.

Turning his attention away from Rodriguez, Yang Yi focused again on Elvin.

He had said all that needed to be said. Whether or not he could persuade Elvin, Yang Yi genuinely did not know.

Elvin began to eat, and Yang Yi stopped talking. With a spoon in one hand and a fork in the other, he too began to concentrate on his meal.

After ten minutes of silent dining, the two men had cleared their respective plates. Elvin put down his fork and sighed. "I will explain your situation in detail to the higher-ups, but... I don’t look favorably upon your plan. It’s not that your plan isn’t viable, but to help you realize it, we need to make significant sacrifices. And, no one can assure that you won’t be turned by the Grey-cloaked People."

Yang Yi’s voice was grave. "Have you lost confidence in yourselves?"

Elvin’s face was as still as water. "Anyone who has experienced the same failure multiple times has to become more cautious."

After a brief silence, Elvin spoke with apparent distress. "Alright, I’m moved by your plan, so give me one more reason, one guarantee that you absolutely won’t switch sides. Even if it’s just one more convincing reason, that will do!"

Yang Yi spread his hands. "Do I need to state a reason such as revenge? You know why I’m seeking out the Grey-cloaked People, and you must surely know it, so there’s no need for me to repeat it."

Elvin gave a bitter laugh. "Yes, revenge has never been within the scope of our consideration. The people we can absolutely trust have their own compelling reasons, reasons worthy of absolute trust, but they all... failed. And hatred is not always a reliable factor. In the face of various interests, hatred is often insignificant."

Yang Yi truly had no other reasons because he had none.

After exhaling, Yang Yi said with a look of helplessness, "What if I add other factors to my hatred, like... hyperthymesia? I can’t forget my mother, nor my father. I think of them all the time. Every night when I go to sleep, I can recall what it felt like to be in my mother’s arms as a child. My seeking revenge is not just for hatred, but also to find relief. If the Grey-cloaked People are not destroyed, I feel life is worse than death. Therefore, to spare myself from this torment, I must eliminate the Grey-cloaked People, regardless of the cost or the consequences. What do you think of this reason?"

Elvin pointed at Yang Yi and then said in a deep voice, "This reason is solid, and it’s a positive factor. So... I need to report to the higher-ups first, but with this reason, the possibility of us collaborating increases significantly."

Finally, Yang Yi smiled.

Elvin glanced at Rodriguez and asked, "Do you really have no intentions of getting rid of him?"

Yang Yi nodded. "I’ve had the thought, but it was just a thought. If I knew he wasn’t your undercover agent, I’d have killed him. But now that I know he truly is your man, how to handle him should be your concern. Also, to speak the truth, I’m glad he’s your agent because then I won’t have to kill him myself. That would cause me distress, knowing he’s an agent or not."

Elvin nodded. "I understand. Let’s leave it at this for today. I’ll get back to you with an answer as soon as I can. But let me clarify, even if we agree to collaborate with you, it will be based on your progress. We will decide whether to support you, and to what extent, according to your performance."

"Of course, I understand."

Elvin stood up and then he extended his hand towards Yang Yi with a smile, saying, "I’ll be taking the person away. I hope we can successfully cooperate. I’ll notify you of the results as soon as possible. Goodbye."

"Goodbye."

Elvin got up and left, and then he walked over to Rodriguez, speaking in a grave voice, "Come with me, your undercover role ends here, hmm, you have completed your mission."

Rodriguez was stunned as he stood up, his voice trembling, "What did you say?"

Elvin shrugged and said, "The person who sent you undercover, I am his superior’s superior. I am here to tell you that your identity has been exposed; he knows you are an undercover agent. You don’t know me, but you were working for us. I’m glad Yang Yi didn’t finish you off, but now you’ve got to leave with me."

Rodriguez looked at Elvin, then at Yang Yi who was sitting in the chair motionless, never once looking at him. After a moment of hesitation, he suddenly rushed to the front of Yang Yi, then he knelt down on the ground and voiced loudly to Yang Yi, "I’m sorry! Boss, I’m sorry, I didn’t want it to be like this..."

Yang Yi shook his head and said, "It’s okay, everyone has their own difficulties, don’t they? I understand you and I forgive you. It’s all in the past now; it’s all over. Let’s go."

Rodriguez looked very pained, staring at Yang Yi in silence, speechless, not knowing what to think.

No one likes a traitor; no one likes an undercover agent within their own ranks, regardless of whether they have a compelling reason or what that reason is.

Yang Yi didn’t kill Rodriguez because he wanted to know who Rodriguez worked for, nothing more.

Yang Yi also knew that Rodriguez must have passed on a lot of information to the janitors; he didn’t ask, and Elvin didn’t say, but Rodriguez must have certainly betrayed the Organization of Water, beyond a doubt.

Forgive Rodriguez, let him continue working for the Organization of Water?

Impossible, absolutely impossible.

Out of consideration for the janitor’s face, Yang Yi wouldn’t kill Rodriguez, but if Rodriguez wasn’t the janitor’s undercover agent, no matter how much history Yang Yi had with him, no matter how reluctant he felt, Yang Yi would have definitely killed him.

Kindness and magnanimity are reserved for one’s own people. If one maintains any kind of friendship with a traitor, it would be unfair to true friends.

Therefore, while Rodriguez seemed very pained, Yang Yi’s heart remained untroubled.

Yang Yi sighed and patted Rodriguez on the shoulder, then he spoke in a serious tone, "There are many things that make people feel helpless. I know you didn’t want to be this undercover agent, but you had no choice. Alright, your companion is still waiting for you. Let’s go."

Rodriguez’s face was ashen as he slowly got up from the ground, his voice hollow, "I’m sorry, I’m sorry..."

Rodriguez had nothing else to say. He walked out slowly like a soulless being, Elvin patted his shoulder, and they both walked out of the small restaurant together.

Rodriguez didn’t look back, and Yang Yi didn’t either.