"Someone, gather all the soldiers at the field," Rocco commanded into the radio before rising from his chair and heading outside.
On the training grounds, 5,000 Gloam Division soldiers stood scattered, some even sitting lazily on the ground. Rocco scanned the indiscipline among his men, his eyes full of disdain. These soldiers didn't even hold themselves to the standards of Montiria's most basic military units. Most of them resisted any form of authority.
"Everyone, stand up!" he barked from the platform, his voice sharp and commanding.
The lazy soldiers slowly stood, wobbling on their feet.
"Commander, it's sweltering out here! If you've got something to say, make it quick! The guys are busy." A man in a standard Gloam Division uniform stepped forward from the ranks. Behind him, a group of Gloam soldiers stood respectfully.
This man, known as Scar for the distinctive mark on his face, was one of the troublemakers within the Gloam Division. No one remembered his real name; to everyone, he was just Scar.
"Who gave you permission to step forward? Get back in line!" Rocco's eyes were like a viper's, his gaze cold and venomous as he stared Scar down.
Though the sun blazed overhead, Scar felt a chill run through him, and he instinctively stepped back. A quick glance at Rocco's icy expression shut him up, and he quickly returned to the ranks without further comment.
The other troublemakers snickered, and one bald brute even stepped up to mock him. "Don't you act tough most of the time, Scar? What are you doing chickening out now?"
"I don't know if you've kept up with the news today, but Montiria's new Prime Regent was chosen this morning," Rocco continued. "And he's no stranger to us—he's our enemy. Our former Commander Kurtis Hale did plenty to earn this man's hatred.
"Remember Thorneville? That's one of his strongholds, and you lot just finished surrounding it a few days ago. What do you think this new Prime Regent will do to a special operations unit that's been hounding him?"
Rocco paused, letting the weight of his words settle in. He scanned the soldiers, all of them deep in thought, just as he had anticipated.
"This new Prime Regent won't hesitate. He'll use his newfound power to obliterate the Gloam Division."
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