"I can't believe you just based on that," Ethan said. "How did you find me here?"
"I've been by your side all day, Ethan," the person outside the door replied.
"Let me jog your memory. Inside the consulate, when the deputy director asked you about the play and you said it was boring, I remember you scanning the room. So… think, the blond man standing at your nine o'clock, taking a glass of wine from the waiter's tray."
"Also, when you and Eugene couldn't reach an agreement and you were mistaken for a spy, outside the aquarium cafe, the blond man walking by."
The person outside added, "If you still don't believe me…"
"No need to say more." As the person outside spoke, Ethan's mind conjured up those two scenes. The information overload at the time had been too much, and although he had stored the memories, he hadn't connected the two.
Only now, with the hint, did he realize that the person in both scenes looked the same. It was the same person!
"Even so, how can you prove you're not a CIA agent?" Ethan asked.
"If I were a CIA agent, then talking with you for this long would have been more than enough time to set up a net outside and storm in directly, Ethan."
The person outside seemed exasperated by Ethan's doubt. "While your looks are comparable to mine, your brain seems a bit slow?"
Ethan's face darkened.
At that moment, he realized how idiotic his question had been.
If the person outside were truly a CIA agent, why would they approach him in such a manner, especially when it was almost certain Ethan was the mole? Knocking before entering and talking so much?
Even to be fully prepared, that much time would have been sufficient!
Yet, there was no action from the other party. Instead, they were patiently conversing with him from outside the door, which already indicated they were highly unlikely to be a CIA agent.
After all, he had just blown up a safe house…
"I assume you're also hesitant to open the door yourself, so I'll open it and come in. Is that alright?" the person outside asked.
Ethan's expression turned serious upon hearing this. "Yes."
With that, Ethan, holding his pistol, crouched halfway, aiming at the door.
Although he was certain the person wasn't a CIA agent, Ethan still couldn't be sure of their identity. Therefore, he had to remain cautious.
However, blocking the person outside and remaining in a stalemate wasn't a solution, so their meeting was necessary.
"Alright, I'm coming in," the person outside said. "Watch the muzzle, don't let it go off."
With that, the lock on the main door turned, and with a click, it was slowly pushed open.
Ethan was on high alert, focusing on the door while also guarding against other directions to prevent any diversionary tactics.
However, no unexpected events occurred. The door was fully opened, and the newcomer walked into the room, their face revealed under the light.
Ethan's pistol remained pointed directly at the newcomer. He gestured, "Come in, close the door."
"Of course." The blond man smiled, casually closing the door and taking off his jacket. This action immediately tensed Ethan. "Don't move!"
"Don't get excited," the blond man paused, shaking his head and smiling. "I'm not the enemy."
"How can I trust you?" Ethan frowned deeply. Although the blond man showed no intention of attacking, he seemed far too relaxed.
This made Ethan feel uneasy, so he naturally didn't dare to let down his guard. Moreover, as the blond man had said, he hadn't yet provided any proof that would earn Ethan's trust.
"Well, that would be with identification," the blond man said. He took out several identification cards and documents from his messenger bag, placed them on the table, and pushed them towards Ethan on the other side of the table. He pointed and gestured, "Take a look?"
"Identification can be faked," Ethan said. "I've done that kind of thing more than enough times."
"But intelligence might not be so easily faked," the blond man chuckled. "Why don't you take a look first?"
Ethan complied, warily watching the blond man. He picked up a fruit knife from the side and used it to handle the identification cards. He didn't dare to touch them directly, fearing some kind of trap. He would glance at the blond man after each look, remaining highly vigilant.
The blond man made no move, his face still holding a smile as he quietly watched Ethan.
"That's not right," Ethan suddenly stopped looking after glancing at one of the identification cards. He gripped his gun with both hands and pointed it at the blond man. "You're lying to me! This ID isn't yours!"
The blond man: "……"
"What?" the blond man looked utterly bewildered. "Not mine? Are you kidding me?"
"I should be the one asking if you're kidding me," Ethan said indignantly. "Do you think I'm blind? The person on the ID is an Asian with black hair and yellow skin!"
The blond man: "……"
"Uh… I think I forgot something," the blond man said somewhat awkwardly. "My apologies, let me remove this disguise."
With that, the blond man raised his hand, grabbed his face, and pulled hard!
The disguise peeled off, revealing his true face underneath.
Ethan wasn't stunned by this. He had used such things himself. It was a high-fidelity mask that looked as real as skin when worn, and it was extremely thin, capable of transmitting body heat. As long as it wasn't damaged, it was virtually undetectable!
However, Ethan became even more wary.
"With equipment like that, you still claim you're not with the CIA? Where's Eugene? Make him come out!" Ethan growled in a low voice.
"Why do you say I'm with the CIA?" Zhou Yi sighed and pointed at the identification card. "Can't you see it says IRS?"
Ethan: "……"
He quickly glanced down at the identification card again, but the time was too short to properly examine it. Ethan picked it up with one hand and raised it to eye level with his gun barrel. As he compared and identified it, he realized it was indeed an IRS identification card!
As an elite CIA agent, Ethan had numerous identities, constantly changing. These naturally included identities as employees of other US government departments.
For example, as is widely known, the FBI can do anything. All American agents carry an FBI agent ID card, allowing them to be FBI agents at any time if necessary, whether to take the blame or to take the blame or to take the blame!
FBI: "I *&%&¥##¥%!!!"
Therefore, Ethan and his colleagues could also authenticate identification cards. And now, Ethan discovered that this identification card actually seemed… real?
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