Theo's face darkened rapidly as he received a message through the communication orb. Letting out a deep sigh, he pushed open the door to the Commander’s office.

“What’s the matter?”

Upon opening the door, it was not the hallway that greeted him but Sion’s office—the aide’s office directly adjoining his own. Surprised by Theo’s sudden emergence, Sion, who had been organizing some documents, shot up from his chair.

“Elder Gabe has arrived.”

At those words, Sion hastily checked his own communication orb, muttering that he hadn’t received such a notification. That action only served to confirm Theo’s suspicions—an all-too-familiar possibility he couldn’t ignore.

The number of people who knew the signal to the Commander’s personal communication orb was limited. Outside of the Imperial Army, only the Emperor and high-ranking members of the knights who protected the royal palace were privy to it. Internally, it was known only to Sion, the Commander’s aide, ten division captains, and the retired military elders.

However, knowing the signal didn’t mean anyone could contact the Commander directly at any time. While the Emperor was an exception, the others generally followed an unwritten rule: they contacted Sion first, who then ensured the message was relayed to Theo. This small protocol was meant to uphold mutual respect, even if inconvenient.

But Gabe had bypassed Sion entirely, contacting Theo’s orb directly. This blatant disregard for protocol and decorum was unbecoming of someone in Gabe’s position as a military elder. At the same time, it revealed just how inflated their sense of pride and honor had become within the Imperial Army.

“So, this is why Vale called them ‘old foxes.’”

“I’ll escort him to the reception room.”

“That’s unnecessary. Sion, just finish your tasks.”

“But—”

Sion hesitated, clearly uneasy about not fulfilling his duty. Yet Theo had no intention of allowing his aide to attend to the whims of the elder. Sion already had a full schedule of tasks to handle daily, and Theo wasn’t about to let an unplanned event disrupt his subordinate’s workflow. After all, the army was rife with unexpected situations; there was no reason for a subordinate to bear the brunt of someone else’s whims.

“If he’d arranged an appointment ahead of time, that would be one thing. But showing up unannounced? He’ll just have to deal with it.”

“Understood.”

Theo’s tone was sharp and unusually blunt, even for him. Sion, bowing to his superior’s authority, stepped aside as Theo left the office.

The reception room was on the first floor of the main building. There was no way someone who bypassed proper channels had come for a trivial matter. Standing before the door, Theo took a deep breath, suppressing his irritation, and knocked.

“Come in,” came the voice from inside.

“You called for me, Elder Gabe,” Theo said as he stepped inside.

The reception room, befitting a military facility, was sparse and utilitarian. A middle-aged man with a deeply lined face sat rigidly in a wooden chair, acknowledging Theo’s salute with a slight nod. The wrinkles on his face hinted at his age, but the air of gravitas around him set him apart from an ordinary older man.

“Do you have any idea how long I’ve been waiting? Time is of the essence for a soldier, is it not?”

Gabe’s sharp, cat-like eyes glinted as he scowled at Theo, clearly looking for an excuse to rebuke him.

“I was in the middle of handling other matters.”

As expected, Gabe’s complaint rolled off Theo without a hint of reaction. Maintaining his composure, Theo seated himself across from the elder.

“And where’s your aide? The table feels empty without him,” Gabe sneered.

Currently, the Imperial Army had four military elders, including Gabe. Each of them had left behind an impressive legacy as soldiers and took great pride in their past achievements. While they no longer held significant titles, their influence couldn’t be dismissed entirely, as they retained a voice in critical matters like the appointment of the Commander-in-Chief.

These elders prided themselves on their deep love and care for the Imperial Army, but their “care” was far from constructive. Their interference in the current organization, despite being retired, often caused more harm than good.

“I apologize, but my aide is currently attending to important tasks,” Theo replied.

“What kind of aide neglects their superior to focus on their own work?”

“It was at my instruction. While he assists me, he is not my servant. Furthermore…” Theo’s gaze hardened as he met Gabe’s condescending glare. “It’s hard to ignore the sudden nature of your visit, Elder Gabe.”

Whether taken aback by the unexpected remark or simply unprepared for Theo to call him out, Gabe flinched briefly. Yet his lingering distrust and disdain didn’t fade entirely.

“How are you finding the role of Commander?” Gabe asked, redirecting the conversation.

“I’m doing my best to adapt,” Theo replied curtly, deliberately keeping his response short to avoid giving Gabe ammunition.

“It seems your adaptation period is taking quite some time, Commander Theo.” Gabe smirked unpleasantly, his words dripping with derision as if he had come prepared to undermine Theo at every turn.

“There have been increasing reports of monster sightings in the mountainous regions around the capital lately. Imperial citizens are suffering because of it.”

“I’m aware. Measures have been discussed, and we’re working to minimize the damage.”

“Effort alone isn’t enough. When you walk through the streets these days, you hear a lot of talk about the military. People are anxious, Commander. They believe the Imperial Army isn’t fulfilling its duties.”

Elders like Gabe were all the same. Instead of rallying for internal unity, they busied themselves with preserving their own standing and honor, viewing the Commander-in-Chief as a threat to their influence. It was ironic, considering they had been part of the decision to appoint Theo, but the hypocrisy was just another nuisance Theo had to tolerate.

“If my shortcomings are causing the citizens to worry, I’ll address it as swiftly as possible.”

Theo wasn’t naive about Gabe’s intentions. This wasn’t about genuine concern for the Imperial citizens. Gabe’s visit was a calculated move to assert dominance over the newly appointed Commander and remind everyone of the elders’ lingering power within the military.

“You seem quite confident.”

“Of course. I appreciate your concern, but I assure you I’m more than capable of addressing these issues.”

Theo had no intention of playing along with Gabe’s transparent schemes. Showing weakness here would only paint him as an easy target to manipulate.

“Tsk.” Gabe clicked his tongue, realizing Theo wasn’t an easy opponent. The tension in the room was palpable, with neither willing to yield.

“By the way, has the Detached Force vacancy been resolved?” Gabe asked, changing the subject.

“Yes. I selected a candidate based on high evaluation scores among the senior officers.”

Privately, Theo was relieved he’d expedited the selection process. Had the position remained vacant, he could only imagine what criticisms Gabe would have lobbed at him.

“Train them well. The Detached Force is a critical unit of our army.”

“I’m aware.”

“Still, to think someone as irresponsible as that man was ever their captain…” Gabe muttered, clicking his tongue out of habit. Theo knew exactly who he meant—Luke.

“Resigning just because he wasn’t appointed Commander? Such a man is unfit to be called a soldier!”

“Elder Gabe, have you said everything you came to say?” Theo’s voice grew colder, cutting through the elder’s tirade. Even Gabe seemed to notice, his brow furrowing slightly.

“I can’t afford to leave my post for too long,” Theo added.

“Fine, fine. You may go,” Gabe relented, perhaps sensing that further confrontation would do more harm than good to his own image.

As Theo reached for the door, he paused and turned back.

“Elder Gabe, I believe Luke was an exceptional soldier.”

Leaving the elder to stew on those words, Theo exited the room.

His steps felt unusually heavy as he made his way back to the Commander’s office. Slowing to a halt, Theo approached a large window in the corridor and opened it. The crisp afternoon breeze rushed in, but it did little to lift the weight in his heart.

“….”

The frustration that had been simmering since the meeting now felt suffocating. Letting out a long sigh, Theo ran a hand through his hair, trying to dispel the irritation.

“Commander, did the elder leave?” Sion asked worriedly, rising from his seat as Theo reentered the office.

“He left. Don’t worry about it.”

“Understood…”

Sion stared at Theo, unable to look away even as his superior walked into the Commander’s room. It was the first time he’d seen Theo’s normally impeccable hair disheveled and messy, a sign of the turmoil beneath his composed exterior.