He sighed. If it made her happy, it was okay to indulge her asionally.


    "It''s still early. I''ll take you to the training facility," Shanley said, opening a water bottle and holding it for Juniper. "We can check on how your sister''s training is going."


    "Okay." Juniper wanted to see her anyway, so she readily agreed.


    ...


    Half an hourter, the sports car pulled up to the base. Shanley led Juniper toward the training grounds.


    As they approached the entrance, they heard a trainee''szy, disrespectful voice.


    "We''ve never learned this move you''re teaching. It seems a little... soft. Maybe not suitable for men."


    "Reporting, instructor. I agree," another trainee chimed in, his tone defiant. "We''re used to male instructors."


    Ebony Fox stood nearby, her face pale with anger.


    "What''s going on?" Shanley stopped and asked a man standing nearby.


    "Sir," the man said, bowing his head respectfully. "These men were all handpicked from various elite special forces units. It seems they''re not pleased that their instructor is a woman."


    In their world, men were stronger than women. Male special forces soldiers weremon; female ones were not. These men were the best of the best, forged throughyers of brutal selection and training. They had been excited to hear their instructor was from the renowned Huntsman Institute, but their enthusiasm vanished when they saw she was a young woman. As a result, these ''elites'' had been insubordinate, refusing to cooperate with Ebony Fox''s training.


    "Follow my method and my pace," Ebony Fox ordered, her voice tight. She was dressed in military-green fatigues, a belt cinching her waist, and her pant legs tucked into brownbat boots, which entuated her long, lean figure.


    Her orders were met with sloppy, half-hearted movements from the men below. They were making their disdain perfectly clear.


    Watching them, Juniper chewed her gum, her eyes narrowing dangerously.


    She had looked into her sister''s file. The Huntsman Institute had few senior instructors, and Ebony Fox was ranked number one. Her graduates, from all over the world, went on to be legendary figures in their respective countries. These punks on the field weren''t worthy of polishing her boots, yet they had the audacity to challenge her.


    "Stop!" Seeing their tant defiance, Ebony Fox''s face hardened. "You think my techniques are inferior to those of your previous male instructors?"


    The men tilted their chins up in silent agreement.


    "You think because I''m a woman, I''m beneath you? You don''t respect my authority?" Ebony Fox continued.


    The trainees exchanged arrogant nces, their pride on full disy.


    "Let''s settle this," Ebony Fox said, taking off her hat and gloves and rolling up her sleeves. "One at a time, or all at once?"


    All at once? These men were top-tier special forces soldiers from their country. Even if she was from the Huntsman institute, asking if they wanted to fight her all at once was a tant insult.


    "We can fight, but let''s be clear on the terms," one of the trainees stepped forward, his expression serious. "If we win, we have the right to request a new instructor


    "And if you lose?" Ebony Fox asked, taking a sip of water.


    "We''ll eat crow and follow your every order!"


    "Fine." A smirk yed on Ebony Fox''s lips.