?Chapter 1320:


    Cade hesitated, frowning. “We need our captain’s permission to go to the store.”


    “You serious? You go asking and you’ll end up with nothing,” Moss said, lowering his voice. “Don’t forget you skipped lunch.”


    Cade went pale. Eventually, he slipped away with Moss, hoping to get something in his stomach before the next round of torment.


    Freya and the others noticed the two sneaking off and asked where they were headed. When they said their stomachs were upset, no one pressed. They simply assumed Cade couldn’t handle the strange lunch offerings.


    But when lunch break ended and everyone regrouped for training, they spotted Cade and Moss running endlessps around the giant training field. That was when suspicions started to rise.


    “What’d they do?” Riley asked, clearly puzzled.


    Freya and the rest were just as confused.


    Momentster, Ellis strolled over, water bottle in hand. Catching them eyeing the two dragging themselves around the field, he asked, “Do you know why they’re being punished?”


    “Didn’t finish lunch?”


    “Horsing around during drills?”


    The group threw out random guesses. How could they possibly know the truth?


    “They snuck off to the store without permission,” Ellis stated tly.


    It might have seemed like a small thing elsewhere, but here, in a ce built on structure and order, rules were rules—and they weren’t optional.


    “From now on, anyone who skips lunch and sneaks out for extra food is getting double the punishment,” Ellis warned, his eyes locking onto theirs, his tone sharp with authority. “Understood?”


    “Sir, yes sir!” the group answered in unison.


    “Stick to the training schedule I gave you this morning. Dismissed,” Ellis said firmly.


    The group scattered quickly, scrambling to follow instructions without a hint of protest.


    As for Moss and Cade, they were still struggling toplete theirps, dragging themselves across the enormous field that seemed to stretch forever. After a fewps, both were clearly running on fumes.


    Ellis stood waiting at the sidelines. When Moss finally dragged himself close enough, Ellis called out, “Stop right there.”


    “Yes, sir!” Moss shouted, a flicker of hope lighting up his face. He thought maybe he was about to be granted mercy.


    Ellis took one look at his sweat-drenched face. “Learned your lesson?”


    “I won’t do it again,” Moss replied instantly, standing at attention.


    Ellis handed him the water. “Have a drink. Take a short rest.”


    “Thanks!” Moss lit up like a kid at a festival.


    He took a deep drink, the water hitting like a gift from the heavens, the fatigue momentarily washed away.


    Then, Ellis sat beside him for a short chat.


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