When the word rcenaries ca out, Rumsfeld fixed his gaze on . Then he spoke to Myungsoo.
“rcenaries... Are you saying you intend to hire Black Bear?”
“Yes. I’ve heard Black Bear is unmatched even among PMCs. I know they have a branch in Korea as well. We will hire them and have them defend the north-central region.”
“...And the troops directly sent from Korea will go to the south?”
“Yes. The deploynt and the rcenary hiring will proceed simultaneously. We’ll need to discuss details with Black Bear’s people, of course, but we intend to request the best rcenaries available.”
Rumsfeld frowned and began whispering with Powell.
Myungsoo waited calmly for their answer. Under the table, I lightly stepped on his foot.
When he looked down in confusion, I raised my thumb slightly.
With eyes widened, Myungsoo let out a small awkward chuckle. Only then did the tension drain from his shoulders.
“Since we have soone here who can mobilize Black Bear, that part shouldn’t be a problem... but do Black Bear’s rcenaries still have manpower left? Enough to make another contract?”
“That is...”
Myungsoo trailed off and looked at . I nodded and opened my mouth.
“There are Eastern European rcenaries remaining.”
Rumsfeld responded with a puzzled tone.
“Aren’t they maintaining security in Afghanistan? Pulling them out ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) and sending them to Iraq would be difficult. Afghanistan could fall into chaos.”
“Unlike the U.S. and Western Europe, Eastern European rcenaries are plentiful. There are many who are training in Afghanistan to keep their edge.”
At my words, Rumsfeld muttered with a face that seed almost exasperated.
“Is Black Bear trying to build an army?”
He was exaggerating. I gave a small laugh and replied.
“An army? If the U.S. military seriously decided to eliminate Black Bear, you could wipe them out in half a day. If we compare levels, the U.S. military is far superior. It’s just that the U.S. military and Black Bear operate in different fields. Isn’t that why even the U.S. hires Black Bear?”
Of course, in a conventional war the U.S. military held absolute superiority.
But for small-unit combat, guerrilla warfare, and covert or illicit operations, no group surpassed rcenaries.
And Black Bear was playing a significant role in stabilizing Afghanistan.
Since Rumsfeld knew this, his reaction wasn’t strange.
“Black Bear’s rcenaries are indeed perfect for handling the terrorists in the Kirkuk region. I’ve heard of their achievents in Baghdad as well. They’ve shown results worth every dollar. No other PMC compares.”
Black Bear was not the only PMC active in Iraq.
But none of them perford on Black Bear’s level.
“If Korea requests it, I will assign soone I trust as commander and form the contract.”
After hearing my firm response, Rumsfeld nodded.
“Then Korea will sign a contract with Black Bear, send them to the Kirkuk area, and the Korean military will be assigned to the multinational division in the south under the British. Let us proceed that way.”
Myungsoo responded to Rumsfeld.
“We understand. But it will take at least six months. We need to form the deploynt unit and pass National Assembly approval.”
“Then we will hand over custody of the individuals involved in the incident after that. Is that acceptable?”
At the ntion of six months, Rumsfeld furrowed his brow. But he quickly composed himself and spoke.
But the precondition for all of this was their repatriation.
It was necessary to completely turn dostic public opinion.
“That will not do. You must announce the repatriation decision imdiately after the President’s visit to the U.S., and send them right away. Only then can we persuade the public regarding deploynt.”
“What if we hand them over first and you break the promise?”
“...We will not break the promise. We are not an unreasonable nation.”
The two argued back and forth for a long ti.
Of course, I could have stepped in to settle it, but I intentionally did not.
The protagonist here needed to be Myungsoo, not .
After a long debate, the conclusion was finally reached.
“If we hand over custody, then hire Black Bear first and send them imdiately. And then, within the next six months, dispatch Korean combat troops to Iraq.”
“Yes. Let us do that.”
“All of this will be written into an agreent and signed when the two Presidents hold a private eting.”
After that, other agenda items were addressed one after another.
Finally, Rumsfeld brought up the Korea–U.S. joint military exercises.
“And next month, we intend to conduct a joint exercise in the West Sea. Before that, one aircraft carrier will enter Jeju, and another will co to the West Sea.”
“Is this because of North Korea’s nuclear test?”
“Yes. We need to issue a warning.”
“China and Russia won’t like it.”
“We must still do it. North Korea provoked first. If we remain still, they’ll continue behaving arrogantly. Keep that in mind and prepare.”
It was essentially a notification, not a proposal.
But since the U.S. had already conceded so much, Myungsoo could only nod.
“Alright. I’ll relay that to the Ministry of Defense.”
Thus ended the long marathon conference.
For both the U.S. and us, it had been a favorable eting.
The U.S. secured South Korea’s commitnt to deploynt, and Korea secured the right to try the perpetrators of the incident.
Whether the verdict ca out as not guilty or negligent homicide didn’t matter.
People would rember only the mont the individuals were returned to Korea.
Just that alone would massively raise President Yun Changho’s approval rating.
Representatives from both countries stood up. Powell and Myungsoo shook hands, and the U.S. delegation left first.
The mont they were out of sight, Myungsoo collapsed into his chair.
“Ugh, I’m dying.”
“Good work, Assemblyman Lee Myungsoo.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs staff praised him, and Myungsoo replied with a smile,
“Everyone worked hard. And everything discussed today must remain confidential. If any rumors start spreading through the press or other channels, the first internal audit will begin with everyone in this room. Understood?”
He praised them with a smile but finished with a warning.
“You may all head back first. I’ll return after speaking more with Mr. Kim Muhyuk.”
“Yes.”
The delegation gathered their docunts and left.
“Want to have a drink?”
“Sounds good.”
“Let’s go to my room. And Vice President Eric from Black Bear will arrive soon — we need to discuss the hiring details.”
“Your friend is charging DC?”
Myungsoo joked. I raised an eyebrow and replied,
“Don’t try to save money on sothing like this. A nation is hiring rcenaries. These people will shed blood on behalf of that nation. Cutting their pay is disrespectful.”
“It was a joke, a joke. Don’t get so serious. You’re scary — I can’t even joke around.”
I lightly patted his shoulder and stood.
“Let’s go. We’ll talk while having a drink.”
Back in the hotel room, we ordered drinks via room service. We drank and talked at length.
While we were drinking in good spirits, Eric arrived.
“Charlie. It’s been a while.”
Eric entered with Manager Ma and greeted us.
“Welco. Co sit here. Have a drink first.”
I handed Eric a glass filled with ice.
When I poured the liquor into his empty glass, he drained it in a single gulp. Always a bold man.
“This is Assemblyman Lee Myungsoo, representing the Korean governnt on this visit to the U.S. He’s also my friend.”
“Ah, is that so?”
Eric rose and extended his hand to Myungsoo.
“Good evening. I’m Eric Clarke, Vice President of Black Bear.”
Myungsoo also got up and took his hand.
“Nice to et you. I’m Lee Myungsoo. I work in public office in Korea.”
After greeting each other, Eric and Myungsoo sat down again.
I poured more liquor into my empty glass and slowly swirled it.
“Eric, the reason I called you today is to sign a rcenary contract with the Republic of Korea.”
“The Republic of Korea? Would the Korean governnt ever need a rcenary contract? Is there going to be a war because of that nuclear test?”
Eric widened his eyes. How many tis today had I heard the word war?
“Does war happen that easily, Eric? You’re jumping too far.”
“Then the Korean governnt wouldn’t need us. Korea’s public safety is second to none — no, it’s safer than most countries. It’s not a place where rcenaries like us would be needed.”
Since he asked sincerely, I gave the answer without delay.
“It’s not Korea — Korea needs rcenaries to fight in Iraq on its behalf.”
“Ah.”
At that, Eric let out a short sigh. I hadn’t explained further, but that alone was enough for him to understand the situation.
“I’ve heard that Korea and the U.S. were in a tug-of-war over troop deploynt. So the decision is to hire rcenaries alongside sending troops?”
“No. We’ll send troops as well. Korean soldiers will be deployed to the south. Instead, Black Bear will be hired to handle security in the Kirkuk region.”
“So you intend to do it like the U.S. does?”
Eric imdiately grasped the point, as if used to this.
“Then what about costs? Will the Korean governnt pay? Or are we going under your na, Charlie?”
“We must separate public and private. This will be an official proposal from the Korean governnt.”
The mont I finished speaking, Myungsoo put down his glass and said,
“Yes. Our governnt will cover the costs.”
Eric nodded.
“But most of our rcenaries are already operating in Iraq and Afghanistan. We don’t have much spare manpower. Charlie, you know that. And we can’t break existing contracts with the U.S.”
After hearing Myungsoo’s reply, Eric looked at again.
“I know. That’s why we intend to send the rcenaries currently training in Afghanistan.”
“You an the Eastern European rcenaries?”
“Yes. They’re training to regain their edge. And you know their capabilities, Eric.”
“That’s true, but... we don’t have a commander suitable to lead them. The capable ones are already leading field teams.”
A competent commander was essential for controlling rough rcenaries.
If an incompetent leader sat at the top, everyone knew the whole team would die like dogs during operations.
That’s why rcenaries would stake their lives on a capable commander.
And if the commander was incompetent, mutiny or desertion was common.
“That is the problem...”
I was troubled by that as well.
But this task had to be done — for securing my share in the Iraq reconstruction projects.
In the end, I chose the best card available.
“Let’s send Igor.”
“Igor? What about Afghanistan?”
“Igor has many capable n under him. Let them handle the Afghan region. Afghanistan is already relatively stable.”
“Well, if it’s Igor, he’s trustworthy.”
Eric nodded. He, too, knew Igor’s competence very well.
“Discuss the details with the Korean governnt and finalize the contract. It’d be best if you visit Korea in person.”
“Should I enter Korea with you this ti?”
“No. I don’t think I can return to Korea right now. I need to go to China.”
I tilted my glass with a bitter smile.
It felt like I was spending more ti overseas than in Korea these days.
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