Thanks to Theo’s meticulous interviews and decisions, Dylan Kaylor, a senior soldier from the 3rd Division, was appointed as the new captain of the Detached Force. Among the top five candidates with outstanding evaluations, Dylan had the most contributions in monster subjugations and battlefield achievements. Moreover, he was a prodigy who had risen to the rank of senior soldier at an exceptionally young age.

Theo’s choice wasn’t made lightly. Dylan’s combat style emphasized mobility, perfectly aligning with the Detached Force’s needs. His magic proficiency also leaned toward speed and precision. Most importantly, during the interviews, Dylan displayed the strongest enthusiasm for the position. Despite three dissenting votes out of nine captains, the six votes in favor ensured his smooth appointment.

With the unexpected vacancy filled, the Imperial Army finally regained its stability and balance. Theo was steadily finding his footing as the new Commander-in-Chief, and with the reorganization complete, the army began to stabilize. For a moment, Theo allowed himself to feel a semblance of relief.

But was that sense of relief merely an illusion?

“There have been reports of increasing monster appearances in the mountains surrounding the capital,” Theo’s low voice echoed through the meeting room.

Military meetings typically occurred once a week at most or biweekly at a minimum, where the captains convened to discuss issues. These discussions were followed by a larger conference once a month, where critical matters were brought directly to the Commander-in-Chief for resolution.

However, Theo had changed this structure immediately upon his appointment. He eliminated the monthly conference and chose to personally attend the weekly captain-level meetings, effectively streamlining the process but increasing his own workload.

Previously, the system had been designed to ease the Commander-in-Chief’s burden, as managing a vast organization already demanded substantial effort. The captains would first deliberate among themselves, refining issues to present only the most crucial matters during the larger conferences.

Theo, however, seemed unbothered by the additional strain. He prioritized direct involvement over delegation.

“Most of the appearances are concentrated in low-altitude mountains,” said Roena, the 1st Division Captain, elaborating on the reports.

“The reported monsters are primarily of low to mid-tier. Fortunately, no high-tier monsters have been observed yet,” she added.

“For civilians, the grade of a monster doesn’t matter,” Theo replied. “To them, any monster is a source of terror.”

For those without magical abilities or combat skills, a low-tier monster was no less terrifying than a high-tier one.

“What’s the reported damage?” Theo asked.

“Thankfully, there have been no deaths, but approximately ten civilians have been reported severely injured in recent incidents. All injuries were inflicted by mid-tier monsters attacking people as soon as they appeared,” Roena explained.

She also pointed out that the low altitude of the mountains likely contributed to the problem. Such areas were easily accessible to civilians and, conversely, made it easier for monsters to descend into villages.

“Dylan.”

“Yes, sir!”

Theo’s calm voice called on the newly appointed captain, who snapped to attention with a voice filled with nervous energy. Swallowing hard, Dylan visibly tensed under the weight of everyone’s gaze.

“What are your thoughts on this report?”

“Ah…,” Dylan stammered, clearly caught off guard by the unexpected question. He scratched his head awkwardly, his eyes darting around as if searching for an answer.

Leo, watching the flustered new captain, let out a soft sigh—a mix of pity and frustration.

“Early response is crucial in monster subjugations,” Leo finally said, stepping in to help.

“The higher the monster’s grade, the more intelligent they become. To them, humans are either prey or targets to be toyed with, making swift intervention even more critical,” Leo added.

“Yes, sir! I’ll keep that in mind!” Dylan replied, swallowing again.

This matched the reports; all injuries had been inflicted by mid-tier monsters. Dylan nodded quickly, taking the advice to heart.

“This is something every cadet learns,” Theo remarked suddenly, his tone cold.

The sharp comment sent a chill through the room. Even Leo, who was typically unshakable, was caught off guard. Theo had always been known for his composed demeanor and encouraging words. For him to lead with criticism, especially directed at a newly appointed captain, was highly uncharacteristic.

“I-I apologize!” Dylan stammered, his face flushed with embarrassment.

Theo ran a hand through his hair, exhaling deeply. “It’s not your fault. You’ve only just taken on this role, and there’s much to adjust to. Don’t take it too hard.”

“Thank you, sir!” Dylan replied, his voice filled with determination.

To ensure Dylan’s smooth transition, Theo instructed the other captains to support him and offer guidance. Maile, who had once served alongside Dylan, gave the young captain a reassuring pat on the shoulder.

“What are your suggestions for addressing this issue?” Theo asked, shifting the focus to the room.

The silence that followed was almost deafening. Theo’s brow furrowed slightly at the lack of response.

Eventually, Leo hesitantly raised his hand. “What if we deploy watch units to the most frequently affected areas?”

“Perhaps units proficient in detection magic could be prioritized?” Roena added.

While these were reasonable suggestions, the lack of additional input from the other captains didn’t escape Theo’s notice. When his sharp gaze fell on them, some shifted uncomfortably, avoiding his eyes.

“Do either of you have objections to these proposals?” Theo asked Leo and Roena.

“None, sir,” they replied in unison.

This wasn’t new to Theo. In past meetings, Leo and Roena were often the only captains to voice opinions. It reminded Theo of a time when someone else would always break the silence with insightful, if occasionally irreverent, remarks.

"What about this approach?"

"That’s inefficient. The cost alone makes it unfeasible."

"Is that what you call a suggestion? My sleep-talking makes more sense."

Those remarks had always come from Luke.

“The units will be composed of mid-tier soldiers skilled in detection magic. They’ll be deployed to the areas with the highest reported monster activity first,” Theo stated firmly.

His voice carried a weight that left no room for argument.

“We’ll also distribute mana-detection devices strategically to monitor other areas. Additionally, access to these mountains will be restricted temporarily, and a danger alert will be issued to nearby residents,” Theo continued.

“That sounds like an excellent plan,” Maile said, eager to offer his approval.

“Do you really think there’s no issue with this plan?” Theo asked sharply.

“Pardon? Um, I don’t see any major problems…,” Maile stammered, glancing at Seth for support. But Seth merely averted his gaze.

“The affected mountains are fertile land, rich with herbs and fruits. There are likely people whose livelihoods depend on collecting resources there,” Theo pointed out.

The captains remained silent, seemingly caught off guard by this oversight.

“It’s an issue that should’ve been obvious with a little thought,” Theo muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose. “It’s something Luke would’ve pointed out without hesitation…”

Theo stopped abruptly, realizing he’d spoken Luke’s name aloud. The room tensed as the captains exchanged uneasy glances.

“Allocate military supplies to support the nearby residents impacted by the restrictions,” Theo finally said, brushing past the awkward moment. Rising from his seat, he dismissed the meeting.

Back in his office, Theo reviewed the meeting minutes Sion had prepared. Yet, his mind kept circling back to why he had mentioned Luke’s name.

“Am I losing my mind?” Theo muttered, exhaling a long sigh.

Just then, the communication orb on his desk began to glow, signaling an incoming message.