Chapter 88: All Have Ulterior Motives

After a scan, the identities of everyone in the hotel were revealed to Chen Yongren.

Agents from the Military Intelligence S Bureau, the War Situation Bureau, the KGB, and the Japanese Special Higher Police, among other organizations, had all gathered here.

After observing, they each had their own missions.

"That old man really persisted, stubbornly holding off Riben's fierce three-month offensive just to get us to step in and mediate—what a shame about those brave soldiers…"

"Where is that damned informant? He's been missing for five days—where was he caught in an underground casino again?"

"As things stand, the situation in Songhu seems unchanged—everything remains as it was before."

"Songhu has been occupied by the Japanese; if they dare to think about moving against the concession, we'll simply seize the arms they've purchased!"

"The Riben again want to buy new warships from us—we must ensure the transaction goes smoothly."

"The fiercer the fighting in China's theater, the more we can profit—let those Riben pigs keep buying our supplies!"

"The new transaction has begun, with many countries eyeing this fat piece of meat—we must ensure the transaction proceeds smoothly."

"The leader has already sent support to Gold Hill; Dawalixi has already sacrificed in China's skies—this damned bunch of ugly country folks and John stupid ox."

"If it weren't for them selling military supplies, those Riben monkeys could only stay on the island, riding pigs and running wild."

……

Spies from every country, each harboring their own hidden motives.

After sorting things out, Chen Yongren also roughly figured out their purposes.

Japanese forces have successfully taken Shanghai.

China's borders exist in name only; Songhu's provisional government has already been established.

They already had trade with Riben; seeing Riben's fierce offensive in China, they worried their interests would be harmed, yet they were reluctant to give up the benefits before them.

To ensure their interests wouldn't suffer losses, they dispatched a batch of agents to lurk here.

The KGB's purpose is also pure—military aid to China has already begun.

To better grasp Riben's offensive against China and promptly learn other countries' attitudes toward China, so as to seek greater gains in China.

The Japanese Special Higher Police are the same.

They knew the Huamao Hotel was the largest information trading point in the Far East.

But the Splendid Hotel is, after all, in the concession; although the Riben want to devour this fat piece of meat, they still have trade with the several nations of the concession, so they dare not make things too rigid.

Therefore, they deliberately monitor these agents here, while also trying to extract information from them.

But what truly piqued Chen Yongren's interest was Nolan, as well as Olga Johnson, code-named Black Widow.

From their inner voices, Chen Yongren also heard some interesting information.

Nolan:

"After this mission ends, I'll take my wife to a safe place to live, far from all this trouble."

"Whether it's the War Situation Bureau or the KGB, don't even think of finding me—I'll serve only my family from now on, no one else!"

Olga:

"The Provisional Intelligence Bureau has recently seen multiple leaks."

"The KGB inexplicably knows about our multiple operations in China."

"This time, we must ferret out the mole!"

"Who says women can't do intelligence work? I not only will do it, I'll do it better!"

"After the mission ends, I'll definitely have my superiors give me a new code name!"

"I hate the name Black Widow."

Chen Yongren picked up his coffee, rose, walked over to sit opposite Nolan, and decided to bluff about his mission.

After all.

The Insight skill can indeed read what's on someone's mind, but it can't hear what they don't think about.

Seeing someone suddenly sit down before him, Nolan frowned slightly, suppressed his displeasure, and spoke in English: "Sir, is there something you need?"

"If not, please move farther away—I prefer to be alone."

Although there were many empty seats around, Chen Yongren deliberately sat opposite him.

Chen Yongren set down his coffee, gave a faint smile, said nothing, and lightly dipped his finger into the coffee cup.

Immediately, he wrote a string of letters on the table.

At first Nolan didn't think much of it.

But when he saw the letters Chen Yongren had written, his face instantly turned grim, his whole body trembled slightly, and his eyes showed a hint of fear.

On the table surface, the letters GUGB were plainly written.

Nolan already couldn't help but want to run, but his legs had long since gone stiff, and he stared at Chen Yongren in disbelief.

"Who is he, and how does he know my identity?"

"Could he be the specialist tasked with rooting out moles—but why does he look so old?"

"If I give it my all, maybe I can succeed."

……

Nolan only felt his breathing grow ever more rapid.

He could be certain he had never seen this person before, and his KGB agent identity was concealed extremely well.

He merely passed information to them, had only one superior, and always disguised himself when meeting.

Aside from turning that Soviet agent of his, nobody knew what he looked like.

He had already been this cautious—so why was he still exposed?

Was the KGB going to purge him?

Impossible—the mission isn't even finished yet; they have no need to do this.

Furthermore, here there is not just one agent — myself.

Unless they're crazy, they wouldn't act here.

Nolan's mind was in a tangled mess.

If he's not from the War Situation Office, nor the KGB, then who could he be?

Could it be someone from the Sixth Bureau?

Maybe it really is.

His rich British accent seemed to carry a hint of old European aristocracy.

I haven't offended the agents from John Bull's side…

So there's no such thing as revenge.

Could it be that in the recent mission, those John fellows also want a share?

Surely it can't be that the John fellows also want to persuade me to defect, threatening me to work for them?

"Well then, Mr. Nolan?" Chen Yongren's words seemed to carry a hint of disdain: "I suggest you still put away your improper thoughts."

He paused, Chen Yongren revealed a gentle smile, and said.

"For your wife."

Upon hearing the name Nolan, Nolan's eyelid twitched twice.

This person in front of me actually even knows my real name?

He came to China and used only aliases, Krues.

All my files have been sealed; except for those from the War Situation Office, nobody knows my real name!

Especially that last improper thought, and when acting for one's wife.

Nolan's eyes gained a bit more fear.

"Who are you, what do you want to do!" Nolan looked around, noticed nobody was paying attention here, then sized up Chen Yongren, and said softly.

"What do I want to do, don't you know?" Chen Yongren still maintained his elegant demeanor, lightly wiping away the four letters on the table.

"Mr. Krues, if everything needs me to spell it out, then it's meaningless."

Watching the letters disappear before his eyes, Nolan visibly relaxed.

Chen Yongren appeared to have everything under control, moreover making Nolan's heart pound, racking his brains over the missions he had carried out…