Chapter 33 - Could this person be a problem?

27 December, between JL International and City K Military base, City K

Hearing those words, the immediate thought that ran through Matthew's mind was that his adjunct would be highly problematic. He so missed the three musketeers as he had, for over eight years called his three key assistants, Majors David Dang Joseph Wang and Ben Pang. Having been given the chance over their actions helping him deal with the teenagers who thought armed storming of a high school dance would allow them to take their revenge, they committed themselves not only took the military but taking every chance they wanted.

The joint chiefs had agreed to his request for their reassignment to City K, but they would trickle in over the next three months. Like him before their deployment here they were going to receive a promotion but that would be kept secret for at least six months after they arrived here. He knew that they were completely trustworthy, unlike anyone here on the base. He just had to suffer until they started to arrive here.

"Warrant Officer, within boundaries I will allow you to ask questions, but be aware that if you cross the line not only will I not answer your question you risk me reporting you for insubordination. I tolerate more in those who work closely with me than I would most soldiers but even that will not save you."

"Yes sir," came the response in a quiet voice. Matthew realised that he had scared his adjunct, now he felt comfortable in asked "So what did you want to know?"

"Firstly, sir I was wondering why we left the base so early today to come to JL International and then you had me wait outside?"

"OK, that question does not cross the line. My brother works at JL international, and I needed to tell him face to face of my posting here. I did not want him to hear it from other sources."

Sensing that Colonel Rong did not want to tell him specifically who his brother was, he decided not to press. One thing he was reasonably sure on was that he would not be a member of the Rong family that owned JL International, given how anti-military the elder Rong couple, Anthony and Alice were. He figured Colonel Rong would simply tell him when he was ready.

"I also wondered sir, I had been informed that the new head of special forces was to be a general, and you were appointed. Was there some problem."

Matthew knew that one had to be headed off quickly "I will also give you that question. Apparently, the new appointment here was meant to be a general but something changed, and I was assigned here. I know nothing more, so do not ask. Now, I need to think about a couple of things before we arrive back on base."

Warrant Officer Wang looked at Matthew and realised that the other questions he wanted to ask at this time had to wait. He would ask them as he knew that that information would affect his ability to protect his boss, as his job required. Yes, he might be a colonel of the special forces, but Warrant Officer Wang knew that he needed to be kept safe.

Matthew knew in himself that his adjunct was going to ask further questions about his family and that was something he did not want to deal with. The problem was as he hugged Phillip before leaving Phillip dropped a bombshell on him. He had received military approval that he could be appointed as a non-executive director of JL International.

Matthew knew from the discussion on his appointment that the joint chiefs were aware of Phillip's recent cancer diagnosis, and that the country could not afford for JL International to collapse if something happened to him. Matthew having a role with the company would prevent that until a new CEO could be appointed.

Matthew had realised with that conversation there was the real potential that the joint chiefs would force him to the reserves while not discharging him and requiring him to run JL International. Yes, he knew he most likely could with proper supports in place, but that was not what he wanted. Hopefully it would not come to that, and he could continue the career he wanted, rather than having to be involved with JL International.

Matthew simply turned away from Warrant Officer Wang and watched the town stream by as they returned to base. He knew that he had to analyse a significant amount of intelligence regarding the Devil that he had brought with him or had been sent to him in the last couple of days. The intelligence team in the Capital were concerned about the Devil acting around City K in the next few days targeting a civilian, but the Intelligence group based at the base were dismissive of the concerns. Apparently, its head, a Major Hung had stated it was an utter lie.