Chapter 10: Industrial Espionage

Yang Yi whispered, "Do you mean that my template should be that of a boss or a conductor, rather than someone who is responsible for the hands-on tasks?"

The accounting firm is not large. Yang Yi took a glance and noticed that there are six cubicle work areas in the lobby, along with four independent offices. Currently, four of the cubicle work areas in the lobby are already occupied.

Of course it is useful. Since you want to act as a corporate spy and you need to use the identity of an employee here as a cover, you certainly must become an accountant. Moreover, even if you are to act as a spy, being able to calculate your own assets is quite beneficial. What do you think?

Yang Yi is not dissatisfied; he is merely curious at the moment. He then said softly, "Do I really have to start with these?"

In Yang Yi's impression, his father was very cheerful, low-key, and an ordinary businessman, yet a very successful one. He was often away from home, but whenever he returned, he would definitely spend time with him

Yang Yi certainly does not have such thoughts, but it cannot be said that he will not in the future. What John Jones is wary of is precisely this point: the help one offers to others does not necessarily yield good returns. To avoid future troubles, it is beneficial to know less. Therefore, even if Yang Yi speaks first, it is not certain that John will be willing to know.

Yang Yi said without hesitation: "Of course, if you would allow me to learn from you, I would be extremely grateful"

May I ask your name, sir

After fifty-eight minutes, Yang Yi arrived at 186 Savile Street, where there stood a three-story old building. The first floor housed a men's clothing store, while the third floor was the accounting firm mentioned by John Jones

Yang Yi let out a sigh and said, "I understand now, so I don't need to learn any specific techniques, right"

Yang Yi was taken aback by the question, and then he said softly: "However, many cases have proven that sometimes it is necessary to use violent means to obtain certain intelligence."

Yang Yi was even more perplexed than John Jones, and he asked in confusion: "As a spy, aren't these the most basic skills?"

But regardless, John Jones should help him, which is enough for Yang Yi

Yang Yi believes there are two reasons. One is that John Jones, as a spy, even if he is merely a commercial spy of a more peaceful nature, understands and strictly adheres to a principle, which is to not easily pry into the secrets of others

For reasons of gratitude, John Jones will help Yang Yi enter the industry and may teach him some things, but John Jones will not be involved in Yang Yi's revenge plan. Therefore, he simply does not ask Yang Yi anything to avoid any future conflicts or even the possibility of being silenced by Yang Yi.

In his own impression, Yang Yi truly believes that his father is a good dad, but Yang Yi also understands that everyone has two faces

Regarding Yang Yi's origins, how he proves his identity, where he has been over the years, how he learned of his parents' cause of death, and the mental journey that led him to decide on revenge, John Jones did not ask a single one of these details

I can understand this, but ... ...

Yang Yi took the document handed over by John Jones and found that it was the employment contract from Jones Accounting Firm

John nodded and said with a serious expression: "Yes, this is your position, a commander, not a soldier. Just like your father, he does not need to take action himself for the intelligence he requires; all he does is give orders, and naturally, others will take care of everything for him."

Hello, I am looking for Mr. John Jones

Yes, such situations do occur; however, instances of using violent means to obtain intelligence are quite rare. One cannot use isolated incidents that happen occasionally as evidence while overlooking how a spy operates under the vast majority of conditions.

I will arrive at the office at 9 o'clock. You can find me at 186 Savile Street, Jones Accounting Firm.

Yang Yi scratched his head and then said somewhat helplessly: "I will follow your instructions, but I would like to know what the use of learning these things is for a spy"

Yang Yi shrugged and said, "Uh, I have no problem with that, I can learn, but I also want to learn some other more useful things, such as shooting and combat. I have practiced combat, but later I realized that what I was practicing was meaningless. Of course, there are other skills that I need to learn as well"

A young female receptionist in her twenties led Yang Yi to an office, knocked on the door, and said softly, "Mr. Jones, your guest has arrived"

Yang Yi reviewed the document, and then he immediately signed his name and respectfully returned it to John Jones

I am a corporate spy, a pure corporate spy, searching for trade secrets on behalf of my employer in exchange for compensation. My work is highly risky yet peaceful. Many people believe that spies are as thrilling and interesting as portrayed in movies, thus harboring unrealistic misconceptions and aspirations about the profession of espionage. I hope you are not one of those people

Yang Yi was left speechless when asked. John Jones shook his head and said: "This is a plot from a movie; in reality, such things do not happen because for a spy, exposure means failure, a complete failure. Just imagine, even if you eliminate a thousand people and obtain extremely important intelligence, say, the Normandy landing plan, do you think the intelligence acquired in this way would be useful? If it is not useful, what is the significance of killing those thousand people? There is no significance; what are you doing it for, just to ruin the favorable situation where you could access important intelligence?" If it is not useful, what is the significance of killing those thousand people? There is no significance; what are you doing it for, just to ruin the favorable situation where you could access important intelligence?

John Jones has left just like that

Yang Yi made a gesture of confusion towards John Jones, who smiled and said: "Running an accounting firm is my main profession, and corporate espionage is my side job. If you want to learn something from me, you at least need to have a suitable identity"

In front of his own family, he plays the role of a good father and a good husband, but in front of others, it is difficult to say what role Yang Yi's father plays

After John Jones finished speaking, he stared into Yang Yi's eyes and smiled, saying: "I am merely a corporate spy, so I cannot teach you too much, nor can I introduce you to the circle your father is in. Apart from sharing a common name as spies, we actually have little in common. Having heard this, do you still wish to learn from me?"

Yang Yi immediately rushed out of the hotel lobby and got into the taxi he had already booked, urgently saying: "186 Savile Street, hurry!"

John Jones smiled and then said to Yang Yi: "I am willing to help you, and I will do so in the best possible way. Your future should not involve being a hands-on spy, or agent, or operative. You may indeed need to resolve many issues with violence in the future, but those problems should not be solved by you personally"

John Jones hung up the phone. Yang Yi thought for a moment and realized that he was quite far from Savile Street, and that it would be a bit tight to arrive in an hour

Yang Yi

Certainly, Mr. Jones is in the office, please follow me

John Jones waved his hand back and forth and said, "As a spy, what is the most important thing? It is gathering intelligence and transmitting intelligence. Given the current technological conditions, the transmission of intelligence is almost without barriers; any ordinary person can easily accomplish it. Therefore, the primary task that remains is to gather intelligence"

Yang Yifei rushed up and then, at exactly 9:00, pushed open the glass door of the accounting firm

John Jones took the document and smiled at Yang Yi, saying: "Your job is as an administrative assistant. As a newcomer, you need to start with the basics, such as tidying up and bringing coffee to others. Additionally, you need to familiarize yourself with the accountant's work as soon as possible. I hope you can reach the level of an intern accountant within six months"

John Jones nodded and said, "Yes"

Yang Yi entered the office, which was not large, simply decorated, and reasonably arranged. At the very least, it appeared to be a typical office for an accounting firm owner

No, no, no, you clearly do not understand one thing. I have mentioned that I am a corporate spy, and corporate spies do not need these.

There is no "but"; for a commercial spy, or even for someone you consider a true spy, the use of violence in any situation signifies failure, a complete failure! Imagine, during World War II, an Allied spy at the German military headquarters trying to obtain a piece of high-value military intelligence. What should he do? Shoot and kill a German officer? Or physically exhaust a general, obtain crucial intelligence, escape, and then return to enjoy the accolades of a hero?

Another reason is that John Jones will not get involved in his personal grievances

John Jones sighed, then stood up and placed a business card on the table, and then quietly said, "Call me at eight o'clock tomorrow morning, goodbye"

Yang Yi is now contemplating what kind of person his father truly is

Please come in

John Jones, wearing a pair of reading glasses, saw Yang Yi enter. He placed a stack of documents on the desk, then took off his reading glasses and set them aside. He pointed to the chair in front of the desk and said softly, "Please have a seat, take a look at this, and if there are no issues, please sign it."

At six o'clock the next morning, Yang Yi got up, washed up, had breakfast, and then waited in the hotel lobby until eight o'clock, when he promptly made the call to John Jones.

John Jones chuckled: "You need it, but not here with me. You still have to start from the ground up, getting familiar with every aspect. What you will learn from me is merely how to become a leader; as for everything else, you will have to learn elsewhere. Let me reiterate, I am just a corporate spy. So, do you still want to enter the industry with me?"

After finishing his coffee, Yang Yi left the café and found a hotel to stay in

John Jones wore a puzzled expression and said, "I don't understand, as a corporate spy, what do you learn these things for?"