Chapter 1098

Carissa, knowing Yuvan and his family were leaving the city, ordered the Garrison Unit to monitor their departure and report back afterward. Max personally led the surveillance team. They observed Yuvan's grand procession leaving Edgeview Estate without intervention; his status exempted him from city checks. Yuvan, however, courteously acknowledged their presence with a nod from his carriage. The city gate officer returned a salute. With Yuvan's emblem, they needed no further identification.

Upon their departure, Max and his team returned to Capital Guard headquarters to brief Carissa. Her unease subsided upon hearing of their safe passage.

Recently, the Garrison Unit's fitness tests had revealed a disheartening truth. Even after culling underperforming members, the unit fell short of elite status, a disappointment given their Mystic Army recruits. Years of neglect had bred complacency; many saw duty as merely a monthly paycheck, eschewing hard work. While some retained discipline and their Mystic Army ethos, they were a minority; most succumbed to temptation. It was a drop of ink in clear water—corrupting the whole.

Carissa, acutely aware her command might be temporary, worked tirelessly to reorganize the unit. The widespread laziness frustrated her, forcing her to oversee training personally. Max's authority remained tenuous, further compounding her frustration. She joined today's training—running, jumping, climbing, and sparring—even inviting challenges. Violet's previous assessment—a unit rife with undisciplined soldiers—proved accurate, leaving Carissa to bear the burden of reform.

Under the scorching sun, Carissa engaged in hand-to-hand combat, soldier after soldier. Overcome by the heat, she shifted training to the evening. Several days of intense training transformed her fair skin from sunburned and peeling to a healthy tan. By midday, her clothing was drenched, requiring multiple towels to absorb the sweat.

"Commander Sinclair, you should drink some herbal soup," Max suggested during a training break. He ushered her inside, "The cook just finished it; it's cooled."

Carissa, wiping sweat from her brow, welcomed the prospect of chilled soup. While perfectly chilled wasn't feasible, cool would suffice.

Following Max inside, she declared, "We must continue training. Their stamina is appalling; they can't endure the heat or the work. They're weaker than farm women! In a real battle, how long could they hold?"

Max chuckled, "They're garrison soldiers, not combatants. The Capital Army would intervene."

Carissa shook her head, "You can't think that way. Remember the Southern Frontier? The Mystic Army was called in. Weren't you ashamed selecting from the Garrison Unit? How many did you choose?" Max's embarrassed silence spoke volumes. With the unfit soldiers removed, improvement was attainable with sufficient practice.

"If we train tonight, I'll order dinner," Max offered.

"Already done," Carissa replied. "Feeding so many requires planning. Several helped in the kitchen; large-scale cooking is more efficient, and we have ample meat and vegetables."

Fanning herself against the oppressive heat, she felt sticky and uncomfortable.

Max smiled, "You've thought of everything, Commander Sinclair."

Despite the heat, an unease lingered. Reflecting, she attributed it to Yuvan's departure. She dispatched someone to Hell Monarch Estate to inquire about Violet's return.