But today, Captain and the others acted as mercenaries through and through, and mercenaries are illegal. However, since Captain also said that today was just a side job for them, then there’s nothing to be afraid of.

After all, legal PMCs and illegal mercenaries can switch roles at any time. It’s perfectly normal for a PMC to take on a mercenary gig as a side job, and for a mercenary to become a legal PMC is also commonplace.

So being a PMC is doable; the only thing to consider is the risk of the profession.

But Raymond Brooks didn’t need to waste time researching how risky being a PMC is, because he already knew. That made things much simpler—before he could even start to hesitate, Raymond Brooks’s instincts had already made the choice.

“I’ll join.” Raymond Brooks chose to join, then quickly added, “I know what a PMC is, and I know the difference between a PMC and a mercenary. If the job you’re offering is a legal PMC position, then I’m in.”

“Huh?”

Raymond Brooks’s answer was so quick that even Captain was caught off guard. After a brief moment of shock, Captain said in surprise, “If you know what a PMC is, that makes things easier. But aren’t you going to think it over seriously?”

What’s there to think about? There’s no need. Just being poor is reason enough—what other reason do you need?

If you’re born rich and don’t mess around, it’s actually hard to squander your family fortune. So the rich can live a life of luxury and indulgence, and it’s only when they get a wild idea to start a business that they might actually blow through wealth that could last generations.

But the poor have to hustle. If you can start a business, you do it; if you can venture out, you go for it. If you want a stable life, chances are you’ll stay poor forever.

For someone like Raymond Brooks, a love of adventure is secondary. Being poor, but unwilling to stay poor for life, is the main reason he’s willing to take risks without hesitation.

“Captain, I’m very poor. I need a job with a good income. PMC suits me, so there’s nothing for me to consider. No, actually, you could say I’ve been considering it for a long time. If I can be a PMC, I’ll definitely do it.”

Raymond Brooks’s attitude was sincere and heartfelt, but now it was Captain who felt uneasy. After all, things that come too easily tend to make people feel insecure.

After thinking for a moment, Captain turned on the dome light, then looked at Raymond Brooks and said, “You got your passport? Let me see it.”

Captain wanted to see the passport—he had to do some background checks. So Raymond Brooks immediately took out his passport and handed it to Captain with both hands.

“Your name is Raymond Brooks, born in ’94, so you’re twenty-four this year. I can’t understand the emergency contact info here—who are they to you?”

“They’re my mom and dad, and that’s their phone number.”

“Is this your first time going abroad?”

“Yes, this is my first time abroad.”

“You’re on a tourist visa. Why did you choose Mexico for your first trip abroad?”

Captain’s questions were within reason, so Raymond Brooks immediately replied, “This isn’t a trip, not a real trip. I studied Spanish and just graduated from college. I need experience in a Spanish-speaking country—it’ll make it easier for me to find a job.”

Captain nodded. “Got it. You came to Mexico to look for work. So are you planning to overstay in Mexico, or use it as a route to sneak into the US?”

“No, I don’t want to work here, and I’m not planning to overstay, let alone sneak into the US! I just want to take lots of photos and some videos in Mexico, so when I’m job hunting, I can use them as proof. It’s not required, but it really helps me find a job.”

Captain didn’t say anything, but Cap turned around from the front, looking at Raymond Brooks with a puzzled face. “If you studied Spanish, why didn’t you go to Spain?”

Cap’s question was a classic case of “Why not eat meat porridge?”

Raymond Brooks replied helplessly, “Because I couldn’t get a Schengen visa. If I could, I’d go to Spain. Also, the Spanish I learned is more Latin American Spanish, and Mexico… has the cheapest flights among all Latin American Spanish-speaking countries.”

Captain nodded and said, “So how did you get kidnapped by Sanchez?”

Raymond Brooks waved his hand helplessly and said, “Before I came to Mexico, I did a lot of research and knew the security here was bad. So when I left the airport, I chose to take a taxi. But just as I got out of the taxi, three people surrounded me, pointed two guns at me. I thought it was a robbery, so I didn’t resist. But they put a hood over my head, tied my hands with zip ties, and stuffed me into a car, taking me straight to Sanchez. At first, I really thought it was just a robbery…”

“All right, that’s enough.”

Captain closed the passport, handed it back to Raymond Brooks, and said straightforwardly, “You’ve already proven your ability, and your background checks out. We’ll talk about your compensation when we get to San Diego.”

That’s passing the interview and the background check—next step is onboarding. Raymond Brooks put away his passport, feeling relieved, and said, “Thank you.”