Chapter 1553 - 1554: Confession
At this moment, Zhao Gongming felt like both a spear and a shield, his mind reaching extreme complexity.
On one hand, he hated the likes of the hunting cat who led him down the path of destruction. If he had the chance, he would never let the likes of hunting cat off easily. Now, that opportunity has arrived. As long as he cooperates, revealing all the inside information he knows, he could deal a severe blow to hunting cat and others’ forces.
However, he had too many concerns, and dared not speak of anything that involved secrets.
On the other hand, the hunting cat and others were ruthless, stopping at nothing. For the safety of his family, he must keep his mouth shut, otherwise, those who would suffer misfortune would involve his family—a result Zhao Gongming swore to never witness.
"It’s not that I’m uncooperative, it’s truly that I am powerless. If I divulge the truth now, the next moment, my family of five will be in danger."
Zhao Gongming said troubledly: "Those like the hunting cat are a group of demons, cutthroat and merciless, willing to use any means to achieve their goals. Such tactics are truly frightening."
Having said these words, the impulse within him to reveal the truth once again returned to calm.
Whenever he thought about the consequences of betraying the hunting cat and others, and the fate his family would face, he shivered involuntarily.
The current outcome is entirely his own making, stemming from his lack of firm will. He could blame no one else; only himself for having weaknesses, which gave hunting cat and others the chance to exploit. Had he been resolute, it wouldn’t have come to this.
Ye Fan looked meaningfully at Zhao Gongming, not at all surprised by Zhao Gongming’s reaction and realization.
"Originally, I only intended to secretly protect Wu Dayong’s elderly mother. Upon further consideration, I also sent people to protect your family. As long as the hunting cat’s people appear at the ambush site, we will capture them." Ye Fan spoke calmly.
"Mr. Ye, being able to foresee this, gaining the upper hand before the hunting cat and others can react, already secures a substantial advantage and, to some extent, success is largely guaranteed."
Zhao Gongming objectively analyzed, then began to suggest: "But I can’t help but pour a cold bucket over it. As soon as you undertake any major actions, you will expose yourself, and the operation group consisting of just those people will similarly be leaked out. So, under such circumstances, how is there any winning chance? How can the secrecy of the operation be ensured?"
"What you say is entirely self-inflicted worry. Why you were caught, it seems you are still in the dark." Ye Fan spoke without emotion, "Do you think I don’t know the situation of the operations group and the research institute?"
"..." Zhao Gongming stared blankly for a moment, then suddenly realized, blurting out, "So that’s it. I understand now, so that’s how it is, a joint action in light and darkness. You attract the attention of the insiders and hunting cat’s eyes, while the real deadly moves are all in the dark."
Combining his capture, the two strangers besieging Wu Dayong, and the failure of hunting cat and others, this sufficiently indicates that Ye Fan had prepared other contingencies.
"Brilliant, truly brilliant, I am impressed." Zhao Gongming sincerely exclaimed.
He couldn’t help but admire.
Ye Fan unveiled strategies one after another, causing hunting cat to be unsure of how to proceed.
Should a flaw appear in the grand web targeting the research institute, the risks would be immense.
"Getting you to speak is just a matter of time. I’m not worried at all that you will hold onto the secrets. Securing a time advantage naturally brings significant benefits." Ye Fan spoke unhurriedly, "Since you are uneasy about my arrangements and wish to wait, then fine, once the traps around your family achieve their effect, I will relocate your family to someplace safe. By then, you can speak freely."
"Thank you for not pressuring me, and for leaving me a shred of dignity, always considering my family." Zhao Gongming expressed gratitude, bowing in respect.
"Family should not suffer because of one person’s actions; this is a basic ethical principle." Ye Fan said: "Although you deserve death, your family shouldn’t bear an unbearable price for your betrayal."
"I understand this principle, if not for your generosity, it’s nearly certain my family would have faced hardship. In this aspect, I am eternally grateful and forever indebted." Zhao Gongming voiced sincerely.
After hesitating a bit further, he continued: "Actually, I didn’t lose to my own weakness of mind; I lost to money. At that time, my granddaughter was ill, needing a large sum for surgery, and then Cheng Mu found me, saying nothing but providing substantial funds freely and introducing several medical experts."
"Just like that, I fell into Cheng Mu’s first trap."
"My granddaughter was saved, while I sank deeper still."
"When Cheng Mu first contacted me, asking me to steal the structure diagram of the research institute, I realized then, Cheng Mu’s true intentions were coming to light."
"Naively, I thought if I completed this task from Cheng Mu, I could free myself, and Cheng Mu also assured this."
"However, the first time led to a second."
"The leverage in Cheng Mu’s hand grew increasingly."
"Thus, I became the knife in Cheng Mu’s hand, used to attack the very thing I endeavored to protect."
"Since I began this shady collaboration with Cheng Mu until now, it’s been three years, seven months, and five days. I’ve aided the enemy 39 times, only engaging in minor wrongdoings—achieved after frequent disputes with Cheng Mu, earning myself the sole privilege."
"Yet, in the end, Cheng Mu assigned the task of stealing the key to me."
"I realized I was already in too deep, unable to retreat."
"And so, this is the fate I ended up with."
Zhao Gongming recounted his journey inwardly, sinking into his memories. These secrets had resided deep within him for quite some time, never daring to mention them, not even in sleep-talk.
Thus he lived cautiously, trembling every day.
He nearly felt he was no longer human.
Rather, a sensitive entity, neither entirely human nor ghost-like.
Every night, alone in the dark, was when he endured agony at the utmost.
This kind of life was truly a fate worse than death.
"Wise for a lifetime yet foolish in a moment, a lifetime of honor thus ruined—I lament, regret, and despair." Ye Fan spoke logically.
"From the moment Liu Anping died, I knew that one day, I too would meet a similar fate. I’ve wronged Liu Anping, and even more so Liu Qianjin, because Liu Anping’s death was caused by internal information I provided—I deserved to die." Zhao Gongming confessed regretfully.