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**□ Paramilitary Operations Officer**

The Paramilitary Operations Officer leads clandestine operations and collects foreign intelligence necessary for policymakers in national security.

As an expert, you will bear demanding responsibilities, take substantial risks, and shoulder the outcomes.

Full-time position.

Starting salary: $70,491 – $116,788 (higher salaries may be available based on experience).

Bachelor’s degree required.

**□ Minimum Qualifications.**

– Accredited 4-year bachelor’s degree.

– Military service experience.

– High physical fitness level capable of successfully completing military training.

– Strong determination to serve in dangerous foreign environments.

– Impeccable mental and moral integrity.

– Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, unrestricted by conditions.

– A mindset dedicated to CIA and DO.

**□ Preferred Qualifications.**

– A minimum of 8 years of active service.

– Served as an officer.

– Operational experience.

– Experience with overseas deployments.

**Note:**

The Paramilitary Operations Officer will spend most of their time conducting short and medium-term operations abroad.

-CIA CAREERS, Paramilitary Operations Officer.

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**Episode 9 – Old-Fashioned**

The Disciplinary Committee finally got to the point. It was a meeting disguised as a disciplinary inquiry. Perhaps it could also be a job interview.

Instinctively, I sensed that my future was being decided right at that moment.

“I see you’ve read the materials. Newspapers, magazines, academic journals… you’ve subscribed to quite a few, I see.”

One of the committee members, seated in the center, spoke up. The member, wearing thin glasses, casually flicked a scrap of paper and asked a question.

“What do you think is the most lethal threat to our security?”

“In the past, it was war. The military threat directly related to national defense was the most lethal threat.”

“And now?”

“There are various threats.”

The committee member spoke.

“How would you define terrorism?”

“I don’t think it’s a topic I can dare to discuss.”

The member took off their glasses and held them in hand. Gripping the temples of the glasses, the member bit the end and leaned back. Shoulders opened. A positive signal.

“According to a concept defined by academia recently, terrorism refers to groups or individuals that use violence to coerce others to achieve political objectives. We also consider groups in No Man’s Land related to the current situation to be included in that category.”

“The Minister of Interior will be delivering a speech in the National Assembly next week. He will identify terrorism as one of the threats faced by the government, and formally request legislative amendments and budget proposals through the Special Investigation Committee and relevant standing committees.”

One of the ‘major’ threats.

The way they specifically pointed that out suggests there’s more to it.

As expected, a warm-looking member spoke up. An ex-member of the Special Investigation Bureau.

“Information Officer. Do you know how much drugs were smuggled into the country from Abas in 1989?”

“I don’t know.”

“Seven tons. And last year, the total weight of drugs seized by our authorities was 56 tons. Do you know how much has been seized this year?”

“……”

“112 tons.”

The member said.

“This year, the number of drug offenders indicted is up 50% compared to last year, and the weight of seized drugs has nearly doubled. More drug offenders have been apprehended this year than in the last three years combined. The weight of the seized drugs is about quadruple that.”

“Drug issues aren’t the only problem,” the Foreign Ministry member interjected. A woman with short hair who had been silently staring at me with an expressionless face.

“In recent years, the civil war in Mauritania has been escalating day by day. Conflicts at the tribal level entangled with religious, cultural, historical, and ethnic issues have turned into a civil war. Currently, a significant number of governments have lost control.”

“……”

“Tribes based in local areas have transformed into warlords. It’s difficult to expect the central government to play a role, and they are effectively acting as local governments. I’ve even heard that some major tribes have absorbed local armies and initiated separatist movements, and some are seeking to establish independent diplomatic relations by approaching foreign governments.”

A hoarse voice continued.

“Of course, that’s not all.”

One by one, the committee members began to speak. Most of it was professional and localized content, but there was no problem understanding it.

It was related to me.

“When there was an assassination attempt aimed at the Information Officer, a Royal Intelligence Department employee active in Mauritania suffered an incident. He was an information officer managing armed forces in the area. While gathering intelligence on black magic items traded in the local black market, he was ambushed. We believe those items are related to this terror incident and that a foreign intelligence agency is behind the assault on the information officer, but due to uncooperative local authorities, we have failed to accurately trace the behind-the-scenes operatives.”

“Several months ago, there was a case where foreigners illegally entering from Abas to the south were apprehended. The Border Guard discovered and arrested them during coastal patrols, and through interrogations by the Military Intelligence Agency, Special Investigation Bureau, and the police, it was revealed that terrorists and rebels were mixed among the refugees. Through overseas channels, it was determined that the smuggling route had been used for the past two years via foreign brokers, and by the time the investigation began, there were too many foreigners that had passed through that route for an accurate count.”

“The Advanced Military Magic Research Institute. I thought you’d know since you’ve been there. When a spy sent from the Magic Tower was leaking secrets about weapon systems and pharmaceuticals being developed at the Advanced Military Magic Research Institute. On the same day, in a different location, the Special Investigation Bureau blocked attempts to leak industrial technology being researched by a domestic conglomerate. Compared to military secrets, that technology seemed trivial.”

“……”

“The funny thing is, when that technology was leaked, the predicted damage was a staggering several hundred billion shillings. If it had been leaked, it would not only have caused economic loss but also loss of our companies’ technological edge in the global market, making it difficult to estimate that loss. Of course, this doesn’t even factor in the activities of other foreign intelligence agencies. There’s no need to mention them.”

“……”

“This is the problem.”

The member stated.

“Terrorism, industrial espionage, international criminal organizations distributing drugs and counterfeit currency, conflicts, diseases, refugees, food, resources… Things we never thought of as threats in the past are now approaching as new threats.”

A plethora of unprecedented threats faced by countless intelligence agencies since the end of the Cold War, transcending traditional security threats. The member murmured in a calm voice.

“How long do you think this situation will last?”

It wasn’t a question. The answer was already there.

“Fortunately, the government has prepared measures to address the new threats we face. Strengthening cooperation among relevant departments, hiring more personnel, training and education to secure expertise, and deciding to expand exchanges with foreign governments.”

“……”

“Of course, there will also be significant organizational restructuring. It may take some time before each agency completes restructuring and stabilizes the organization and this committee.”

“…The committee?”

“This place where the information officer is seated is the newly established committee. It’s composed of personnel dispatched from major organizations, dealing with new threats faced by our government and issues of national security.”

That was quite an abrupt revelation.

The committee member, sporting a hard-to-read expression, stared at me intently after laying out such unexpected information.

“To put it plainly, if you continue to sit idly by, the nation will fall. Times are changing, and people need to change with them.”

“…….”

“In that sense, we would like you to join the newly formed organization.”

“What organization is that?”

“A task force. It’ll consist of experts pulled from various fields, not just the Ministry of Defense and the Information Agency, but also diplomacy and security.”

“Why me of all people?”

“Simply because you’re the right person for the job.”

As one of the members lifted a stack of papers, a person quietly stood up from the corner and handed the documents to me.

Inside the file were a jumbled mess of graphs and charts, with the emblem of the Cabinet Security Office at its center.

“This year, activities of foreign intelligence agencies and unusual movements of terrorist organizations have increased several-fold compared to previous years, particularly concentrated over the past few months. More specifically, it all started the moment the person you’re currently with was summoned by our Archmage.”

“…….”

“While we are still discerning the exact correlations, we believe the series of events that have unfolded this year is closely related to the hero’s appearance. You’re aware of that, aren’t you?”

I didn’t answer. And that silence was an answer in itself.

I remained quiet, and the committee member smiled gently.

“I understand. Anyone would be intrigued by a mage who can single-handedly wield the firepower of a regular army battalion without proper training or a fair grasp of their skills. The Magic Society believes she could reach the level of an Archmage. A level akin to those legendary mages who won battles against cults.”

“…….”

“You see what I mean?”

It would be a tremendous loss to let her slip away, and I needed to make a move before someone snatched her up. Be it for the nation, an organization, or myself.

What a grand scheme for a hit job.

“Two individuals have recommended you as a Quasi-Military Operative.”

I turned my gaze to those seated in the corner at the committee member’s words. Colonel Clevenz subtly averted his eyes, while Leoni was looking at me with her usual intense gaze.

I let out a faint sigh and blinked quietly. This was giving me a headache, and I wanted to wrap it up quickly. So, I asked.

“If I become a Quasi-Military Operative, what will happen to me?”

“If the information officer accepts the proposal, you will be assigned relevant tasks in the task force alongside other officers. Normally, you would undergo a period of training before being deployed, but… Unfortunately, we don’t have the luxury for that right now.”

So, they intended to throw me into the thick of it right away.

“And if I refuse?”

“That’s fine. You will continue your work in the embassy as before, and you won’t face any penalties.”

However…

“Given that you’ll be working under surveillance from foreign intelligence agencies in the embassy, you won’t be able to continue fieldwork like before.”

“…….”

“The fact that you’ve been in the field for a long time means you know how things work.”

The committee member finished speaking while maintaining a gentle smile. At the same time, the old man, who had been silent, finally spoke.

The chairman.

“I’m not saying you have to decide immediately. You’ll have more than enough time to think. Did you mention you’ve taken a month’s vacation? That should be sufficient. I will be awaiting your positive response.”

“…….”

“Enjoy your vacation.”

*

When you step into society and earn a living, you inevitably become perceptive. People call that socializing.

And after garnering a government salary from the information agency, one naturally becomes attuned to the unwritten rules. It’s just like any other workplace.

The higher-ups want me to become a Quasi-Military Operative. Two superiors have already recommended me, and they plan to bypass regulations and throw me into the field immediately. At this point, it felt less like an offer and more like coercion.

Given the nature of the job, this kind of pressure seemed like a tactic to drain me dry. If I were to make a feeble argument like, “Could I perhaps take a desk job instead? I haven’t been feeling well lately…,” it would clearly spell the end of my military career, forcing me to languish at home for the rest of my days. Even the offer of time to think felt more like a prelude to resignation rather than a suggestion.

Ultimately, I had to decide. It was either that or prepare for the end. I might as well comply if I needed to.

“Haah….”

“Why do you keep sighing? You’re going to sink the earth.”

Veronica, poking my side, grumbled beside me. Wearing sunglasses, she looked less like a saint than a tourist.

But that wasn’t the issue at hand.

“Saint…”

“Did you eat something bad? Why does someone who usually isn’t like this look so miserable?”

“Indeed…”

“Hurry up and unload your luggage.”

I followed Veronica’s instructions and began tossing bags out into the corridor. As I did, Camila, Lucia, and Francesca quickly stepped up, picking up the bags and scurrying back and forth.

Veronica released a slight breath of relief after placing her suitcase down and smiled brightly.

“Phew! Now I feel like I’m on a trip. It could have felt like dying stuck in that hotel.”

“Why are you vacationing at the beach when December is just around the corner? You should have stayed in the hotel….”

“No way! We’re in Abas, and it’s supposed to be warm all year round—how can we not visit that southern resort?!”

“Then how does it make sense for you to ditch your duties and stay here?”

“Well… I can’t really argue with that.”

“Geez.”

I sighed heavily as I grabbed the bulky bags and made my way down to the platform. Ahead, I spotted Camila waddling like a penguin. Just as I was about to call out to her, the wind rustled, causing some of my hair to brush against my eyes.

It was a warm breeze.

As I swept my hair away with my fingers and squinted, a picturesque coastal city appeared lined up under the clear sky in the distance.

“Wow. The southern part of Abas really is nice. Isn’t it, Colonel?”

“…….”

Instead of answering, I nodded, joining the group with Veronica.

This marked the true beginning of my long-awaited vacation after months.

 

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