FMVR | Chapter 41

Theo’s face darkened rapidly after receiving a message through the crystal orb. Letting out a deep sigh, he pushed open the door to the commander’s office.

“What’s going on?”

Instead of a corridor, the office led directly to Sion’s workspace—the advisor’s office. Sion, who had been organizing documents, jumped up in surprise when Theo suddenly burst through the door.

“Gabe, one of the military elders, is here.”

At that, Sion hastily checked his own crystal orb and mumbled that he hadn’t received any such notification. From that reaction, Theo could confirm the possibility he had already suspected.

The signal for the commander’s exclusive crystal orb was known to only a limited group. Externally, it was restricted to the Emperor of the Empire and the senior members of the knightly order guarding the imperial palace. Internally, only Sion, the advisor, the ten division commanders, and the military elders had access to it.

However, even those who knew the signal didn’t have unrestricted access to contact the commander. While the Emperor was an exception, others were expected to first contact Sion and request he connect them to Theo. It was an unspoken rule—a way to maintain mutual respect, even if it caused some inconvenience.

But Gabe had bypassed Sion entirely and directly contacted Theo’s crystal orb. This blatant disregard for military customs and etiquette was unbecoming of a military elder. Yet, it also revealed how deeply ingrained their unnecessary pride, arrogance, and sense of honor were within the Empire’s military hierarchy.

“Now I understand why Veil calls them ‘old foxes.’”

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

“No need. Sion, you focus on your work.”

“But…”

Sion looked uneasy, clearly feeling it was his duty to accompany Theo. However, Theo had no intention of dragging Sion along to wait on the elder. Sion had his own daily tasks and schedule to manage. While unexpected events were common in the military, Theo wasn’t about to let his subordinates suffer for something like this.

“If he had made an appointment beforehand, that would be one thing. But since he’s dropped by unannounced, he can deal with it.”

“Understood.”

Theo’s words were sharper and more direct than usual, a tone that caught even Sion off guard. Bowing his head, Sion watched as his superior left the room.

The reception room was located on the first floor of the main building. Someone who didn’t even follow the proper communication process likely wasn’t here for an ordinary purpose. Standing before the door, Theo took a deep breath, suppressing his emotions, and knocked.

“Come in,” came the voice from inside.

“You summoned me, Elder Gabe.”

The reception room, like the rest of the military facility, was plain and rigidly functional. A middle-aged man sat upright in a wooden chair, nodding slightly as Theo saluted him. Deep wrinkles lined his face, hinting at his age, but the air of authority he exuded made it clear he was more than just an aging soldier.

“How long has it been since I contacted you? Don’t you know time is crucial for a soldier?”

Gabe’s sharp, cat-like eyes glared at Theo as if he had been waiting to pounce.

“I was attending to some ongoing matters.”

Theo’s response was calm and steady, exactly as he had anticipated the elder’s rebuke. Without missing a beat, he sat down across from him.

“By the way, where’s your advisor? The table feels rather empty without him.”

Currently, there were four military elders, including Gabe. These were individuals who had once achieved great feats as soldiers and held a deep sense of pride in their military identities. While they no longer held meaningful positions, their influence remained significant, especially in matters like appointing commanders.

They prided themselves on their strong interest and affection for the military, though their involvement was anything but positive. Having retired, their interference with the current organization often did more harm than good.

“My advisor is currently occupied with critical tasks.”

“What kind of advisor neglects to accompany their superior?”

“It’s work I assigned to him. While he supports me, he’s not my appendage. Besides…”

Theo’s gaze hardened as he looked directly into Gabe’s condescending eyes.

“The fact that you arrived so unexpectedly cannot be ignored either.”

Gabe flinched, whether from the unexpected remark or from the fact that Theo had dared to point it out. Despite this, his attitude remained filled with suspicion, contempt, and disdain.

“How’s the job as commander going?”

“I’m adapting diligently.”

Theo kept his answer short. He wasn’t about to give Gabe more ammunition to use against him.

“Your adjustment period seems to be taking quite a while, Commander Theo.”

A smirk spread across Gabe’s face, filled with ill intent, as if he had come prepared to tear Theo down.

“I hear there’s been a surge of monster sightings in the mountain regions surrounding the capital. The damage to the Empire’s citizens has been increasing as well.”

“I’m aware. We’ve held thorough discussions and are working hard to minimize the damage.”

“Effort isn’t enough. If you go out into the streets, the talk about the military is anything but favorable. The citizens are trembling in fear, saying the Empire’s forces aren’t fulfilling their duties.”

The military elders were all the same. Instead of uniting to strengthen internal cohesion, they fixated on protecting their own prestige and reputation, often targeting the commander—the military’s highest authority. It was a bizarre contradiction to appoint someone and then view them as a threat.

“If my inadequacies have caused distress among the citizens, I’ll rectify it as soon as possible.”

Theo knew exactly why Gabe had come and what he was aiming for. It wasn’t out of genuine concern for the citizens. This was about asserting dominance over a newly appointed commander, showing that the elders were still influential and capable of calling the shots.

“You sound quite confident.”

“Of course. I appreciate your concern, but I assure you I have both the capability and determination to set things right.”

Theo refused to play into Gabe’s transparent games. Bowing to him now would only reinforce the notion that Theo was someone easy to manipulate.

“Tch.” Gabe clicked his tongue, sensing Theo’s unyielding stance.

“By the way, has the vacancy in the Special Task Force been filled?”

“Yes. I carefully selected a candidate from among the top-scoring senior officers.”

Theo silently thanked himself for rushing to fill the position. If the role had still been vacant, Gabe would undoubtedly have used it as another point of attack.

“Train them well. The Special Task Force is a crucial unit.”

“I understand.”

“And to think someone without a shred of responsibility was once the leader of such an important unit…”

Gabe trailed off, clicking his tongue in disapproval. Theo knew exactly whom he was referring to—Luke, who had retired from the military.

“A commander who retires just because they didn’t get promoted? Such a person was never fit to be a soldier.”

“Elder Gabe, have you said everything you needed to say?”

Theo’s voice grew colder, a noticeable edge in his tone. Gabe frowned, clearly picking up on the shift.

“I can’t stay away from my duties for too long.”

“Fine. You may leave.”

Realizing he had pushed enough, Gabe dismissed Theo. While the commander was someone to be kept in check, pushing too far could harm the elders’ reputation.

As Theo stood and walked to the door, he paused with his hand on the doorknob and turned back.

“Elder Gabe.”

Gabe looked up, surprised.

“I believe Luke was a highly capable soldier.”

With those words, Theo left the room, leaving Gabe to stew in silence.

As Theo made his way back to the commander’s office, his steps felt unusually heavy. Eventually, he stopped by a wide window in the corridor and opened it. A cool afternoon breeze rushed in, but it did little to alleviate the suffocating frustration he felt.

Theo ran a hand through his hair with a sigh. The pent-up irritation from earlier refused to dissipate, stirring his emotions further. Forcing himself to move, he trudged back to his office.

“Commander, did Elder Gabe…?”

As Theo entered, Sion jumped to his feet, concern evident on his face.

“He’s gone. No need to worry.”

“Yes, sir…”

Sion stared intently at Theo’s face, unable to look away until the commander disappeared into his office. It was because he was seeing it for the first time.

The normally neat and immaculate appearance of Theo, with his hair always perfectly in place, was now disheveled and falling messily around his face