Minister Shimada looked at Akira for a long mont before speaking. She was hoping that the eting would go in a better direction, but Yamazaki Akira was a stubborn girl. She did not want to compromise, even though she had no reason for quitting the Immortal Sword Brigade.
The matter concerning soone eyeing Kaito as a sacrificial lamb for his career on the international scene was true. However, she had planned to use the information and its resolution as a reward rather than a threat, if only Akira were not so mule-headed.
"It is not impossible to give this person an alternative plan of action. He owes a favour, and I am privy to a lot of information that he could use to advance his career. Of course, I am not a philanthropist. I will require sothing in return." She said without pause.
Akira understood that the minister was prepared for any choice she would make. At the mont, it was useless for her to quarrel and struggle aninglessly.. The other woman would not let her go.
"And what is the sothing you want?" She asked.
"It is nothing difficult, and it will not require a lot of your ti." Minister Shimada said. "As you know, the Immortal Sword Brigade and a few other unorthodox governnt agencies are managed by a special panel."
"The current presiding panel has been in place for a long ti. It was there even before my predecessor's ti. Moreover, the director of the panel has been hospitalised due to the complications of old age. And even when he was there, the effectiveness of the panel has declined."
Minister Shimada sighed. The Immortal Sword Valley had been established in the feudal period, but it had managed to catch up with modern tis with regard to technology and operations. However, the people overseeing the brigade and a few similar groups was a little outdated.
The panel was established because the people in the old governnt were afraid of abuse of power. Over the years, the panel had played its role, but the people in it had hardly changed. The current panel had old people, with the youngest being seventy-one.
Moreover, the current director was one foot into the grave.
If the situation were different, Minister Shimada felt like she would have waited for a while before approaching Akira for the job. However, the cracks in the agencies were already showing, starting with the person responsible for that dreadful Watch app.
Yes, the minister was naturally aware of the nace, and she knew it had originated from the Immortal Sword Valley. Therefore, she could not afford to waste ti using soft tactics with Akira and helping her realise her importance.
"I have been seeing more and more problems cropping up with the agencies. If imdiate changes are not made, it is likely a lot of trouble will ensue in the country. I need you to take over as the director of the presiding panel." The minister finished.
Akira was a little overwheld by this request. She knew that Minister Shimada had a plan, but she did not expect that she wanted to put her in such a high position directly. It was a little flattering but also horrifying.
She was not one to thirst for power, especially political or military power. But she understood the significance of the position as the head of the panel. It would an overseeing all the clandestine operations of the governnt.
Unfortunately, it was also a risky position.
"Why do you want ? I am not an appropriate choice." She said.
It was not false modesty. While she thought she was competent enough to handle the duties, she knew that on paper, she was not a good choice. She was too young. The mbers of the panels were likely to be younger than her.
Also, she was in a long-term relationship with a criminal. Even though Kaito was not convicted, anyone who was anyone in the governnt would know about him. Additionally, she was currently pregnant, which would put her in an unreliable state for a while.
If she took over the presiding panel, she would be unavailable for full-ti work until Little Precious was stable. Her lack of complete commitnt was another strike against her.
"I can assure you that I have considered all the drawbacks. I have never been the kind of person who appoints people to a position by only looking at obvious things. My primary concern is your ability to deliver the desired result." Minister Shimada said.
"This position is not like a normal role in a governnt agency. I need soone who is of good character but flexible. I require soone who understands the underlying work of the agents who work tediously to defend the citizens."
"And I need soone with a well-rounded background. Instead of employing a civilian who will make assumptions without real knowledge, I want an individual who can make decisions and step into different roles where necessary."
The speech was quite clear and touching, and Akira was a little moved.
The thing that made her hate being in the Immortal Sword Brigade the most was that she was forced into it. Furthermore, she could not quit at will. She always felt like it was a prison, so she constantly looked for alternative paths for her life.
She could not deny the fact she was a little tempted. She did not like her life to have a fixed path, but the possibility of making a real difference in the world was dangling right before her. She had always wished that she could be in a place where she would have an impact.
However, she was not willing to make a major change without proper consideration. She would not make a major decision about her life without talking with Kaito. Since she decided to be with him, she bound her life to his.
Their paths would not deviate from each other.
As for the threat of soone using Kaito to launch his career in the international scene, she was not worried. She would not be threatened by a minor player. She had countless cards to destroy or build up all potential opponents.
Of course, she would not show her cards carelessly. It was better for Minister Shimada to think that she had no choice but to follow her orders.
"What would be my exact responsibilities if I were to take this job?" Akira asked calmly.
Minister Shimada smiled with unconcealed happiness. She launched into an explanation of the current situation in the defence agencies in the country. She was not afraid of Akira leaking out the information to anyone because she was sure that Akira would take the job.
A little while later, Minister Shimada's secure phone rang, and a call ca through from one of the agencies.
"We have received intel that there are terrorists in the city!"
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