IE: Chapter 73. M.I.B's New Boss.

Zed was sitting at the main site of the oval desk, with only O sitting on one side, and all the other top agents' seats empty.

Suddenly, holographic projections appeared in all those places.

"Zed, what's the emergency call, is there another incident at headquarters?" C rubbed his nose, 'Why was there so much going on at headquarters? The Asian division here seemed too quiet and a breeze because of them.'

Zed looked at the holographic projection of C, "You're looking forward to an incident at the headquarters, aren't you? This meeting is called to discuss something about K."

"K? What happened to him?" H of the European division asked, "Isn't he retired?"

'It couldn't be that K's memory came back for no reason, could it? If so, we're in big trouble.'

"K is retired, but before he retired, K asked a friend to leave a message. If his girlfriend was terminally ill, he hoped the M.I.B would help."

"Now, his girlfriend has cancer and has less than half a year to live. If we cure his girlfriend, K is willing to work for the M.I.B until the moment he can't anymore."

"Zed, this isn't how the M.I.B does things. It's breaking the rules. Our medical technology is advanced, and we can find contacts for better ones outside Earth. But we did discuss it before. We can't disclose it to the public right now. The materials needed for that kind of treatment aren't from Earth. There's no way to explain it without exposing everything, and the cost is extremely high." M was the first to object.

If K was the one who was ill while he was still with the M.I.B, there would be no question about saving him. They didn't even need this meeting.

But the problem now was that K chose to retire, twice, with a very firm attitude. And what he was asking is to cure his girlfriend.

"I don't agree. I admit that K is a very good agent and has made a lot of contributions to the organization. But he chose to leave us, and was given a lot of care by the M.I.B."

"Now, because his girlfriend is sick, he wants us to step in? Don't forget what we set up the organization for, no one is special!" T's voice sounded firm.

"I understand, T. Don't get too worked up about it. But you have to admit that K coming back will be better for us, right? We need to upgrade Arc Net and protect the planet. At the beginning, K was the one who managed the Arc Net project. Wouldn't it be more appropriate for him to head up the upgrade and make it even better?"

"If you think K's merit isn't enough for this, I'm willing to place all my merit on this."

"Zed, what do you mean?" O asked, somewhat uncertain.

"My meaning is clear. I'm going to retire, and K should come back to work, in exchange for a life-saving treatment. And after I retire, I don't need any sort of protection and care. Is that okay?"

"Zed, don't make such irrational decisions. We've known K as long as you. If K was the one who was ill, we'd be willing to open a back door for him. But the problem is, it isn't K." T couldn't help saying so.

"I'm not irrational. I had thought about retiring when K said he was going to retire. When my parents died, I couldn't attend their funeral. Now's my chance to see them, before I have to plan for my own funeral."

Unlike most of the new agents that had very little family and contacts, before they were recruited, the establishing members had to give up so much more. This was the case for Zed, and T.

"I've been working in the M.I.B for far too long. I was also the one that suggested that the organization can't let a top agent serve as the head of the organization for too long. I propose that O take my place. In 5 or 10 years, she can recommend others."

"This will give each of us the opportunity to be with our families before we grow old. And, reduce accidents like what happened to D, letting his age place him in danger, and complicating the mission."

"I implore you to agree to my request, and let K come back."

"Zed, are you sure K wants to come back? Did he tell you about it himself? He once recovered his memories on his own, but he chose to erase them again. He was tired of this job and the responsibility." C asked.

"But you and I both know K. If he had memories, he would have made the same choice. And as long as we do, he will definitely stay with the organization and do a good job."

　　...

"N, who is Zed meeting with? Why is there another meeting, is it some big mission? Hmm... maybe he's going to give us a promotion because of the last mission, and is asking the other top agents to vote on it right now?"

Noah shook his head, "I don't know. But I don't think a promotion to top agent would be that easy. Otherwise, we would have a lot of top agents in the M.I.B."

At the moment, the M.I.B had eleven top agents, including Zed. These people, who were also the core management of the organization, were jointly responsible for the global operations of the organization, and the protection of Earth.

But half of them were old guys, in addition to two alien agents.

Because K's matter hadn't been decided on, Noah didn't tell J about it. J lost his father at an early age. He was raised by his mother, and his mother passed away when he got a bit older. He loved the warmth of a family, and was afraid of loneliness. That was why he was willing to help Noah pay for rent when Noah didn't have a job, because he just didn't want to be alone. Coming home to a friend to talk to was great.

K was actually about the same age as J's father, and K had taught J a lot of things, so he wasn't far from being a father figure for J.

'J would be very happy if he knew that K would come back. But it would be too cruel to disappoint him later on.'

"Hey, N, what's the matter with you? Are you hiding something from me? " J sat down on Noah's desk. "We're partners and friends, right? Don't hide anything from me."

"You better not lie to me. I have experience interrogating people, and I can tell when they're lying. Come on man, tell me what you're hiding?"

"J, I'm just looking at the rain outside and worried about you."

That half-truth silenced J. Yes, it was raining. When it was raining outside, he would always remember her.

"N, come on, let's go. Get a drink with me."

In the afternoon, they were suddenly informed that the M.I.B had something important to announce.

Zed stood at the center of the bullpen, with two familiar figures standing beside him.

"Today, I'm announcing two things. The first thing, K will return to the M.I.B, to take over O's previous work. He will be responsible for everything in the Americas Division."

"I don't think I have to introduce K to you all. If you really don't know him, you should look up the founding days of the M.I.B."

"The second thing, I'm going to hand over all my work to O. O will continue to lead the MIB and lead the way in protecting Earth and managing the aliens on the planet."

"And I will officially retire from the MIB ..."

"N, how come Zed suddenly wants to retire? And K came back? What the hell were these two old guys thinking?"

Noah turned his head and saw that J was full of smiles.