Mirabe nodded slightly, leaning back in her seat. The dim lights in the auditorium made it hard to read her expression. After a pause, she said nonchntly, "One thing you should never fight over is money."


    Lisa, thrown off by the randomment, blinked and asked, "What?"


    Mirabe gave her a sidelong nce. "Just focus on your studies."


    Lisa''s lips twitched. Was studying really the answer to everything?


    Just then, the announcement came that the cultural evening marking the end of their military training week was starting.


    Lisa nced at Mirabe but decided not to ask any more questions. She turned her attention to the stage instead.


    The cultural evening was the usual fare-patriotic songs,edy sketches, and musicals filled with positive energy.


    Mirabe found the show boring. She eventually took off her cap, covered her face with it, and leaned back to take a nap.


    So dull.


    The next day was thest day of military training, focused on marksmanship assessment and overall grading to wrap up the week.


    At ten in the morning, the assessment began.


    Aside from their regr instructors, the head instructor, whom they hadn''t seen since the first day, made an appearance. Dressed in camouge, he stood tall and imposing, his face stern under the brim of his cap.


    Despite the murmurs about the head instructor, everyone instinctively avoided discussing him too openly.


    There was a deep-seated respect.


    "This guy is really intimidating," Lisa had said on the first day, and her opinion hadn''t changed by thest.


    ????


    Mirabe tilted her head slightly, her gazending on James in the distance. His aura wasmanding. She nodded and casually remarked, "You''ll get used to it."


    Lisa''s cheeks twitched. "Getting used to that kind of presence takes real guts!"


    James nced in their direction, and Lisa instinctively straightened her back, standing at attention.


    "He''s looking over here! He''s actually looking over here," Lisa muttered, barely moving her lips, her voice a muffled hum.


    Mirabe''s lips twitched. Was a simple look really that terrifying?


    Once James''s gaze moved on, and that intimidating presence faded, Lisa seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, her shoulders rxing. "Do


    you think he heard us talking about him? Is that why he looked over?"


    Mirabe remained silent, not answering Lisa''s question.


    The instructor''s stern voice then called everyone to prepare for the shooting


    assessment.


    Thanks to practicing the afternoon before and Mirabe''s guidance, Lisa had a decent grasp of the basics and performed well.


    She scored six out of ten.


    When it was Mirabe''s turn, she decided to keep a low profile and scored seven. Lisa had expected her to hit a perfect ten, so she was shocked to see the seven. She wasn''t the only one-other neers were surprised too.


    Mirabe put the gun down and stepped aside, indifferent to the stares.


    "Did you get nervous? That''s why you only scored seven?" Lisa asked, looking at Mirabe, the question slipping out.


    Mirabe raised an eyebrow, going along with Lisa''s assumption with a light hum.


    Her cap was tilted low, hiding her expression. Lisa, touching her earlobe looked disappointed. "Ah, what a shame. Based on how you were doing yesterday, getting a ten would''ve been no problem."