--Capital City, The Empire Of Carona--
.
The sun shined brightly, and the merry sounds of people talking, laughing and fighting... Could be heard all around the streets of Carona's Capital city.
Of course, one could also hear the sounds of people arguing and yelling... As well as those who were complaining about this and that.
In short, the entire place was as busy as a market.
On the main roads, several men on horseback rode through the busy city streets silently.
As they rode, they soon caught the attention of many pedestrians ... as well as many guards too.
Looking at their uniforms, those who had gone to Baymard before.... immediately knew who they were.
Their eyes lit up, and a broad smile was plastered on their faces as they sang out several praises to the men before them.
"Look!
That's Lieutenant Beri!
Last year within the Caronian academy back in Baymard, he was the one in charge of grading our examinations.
Quickly!....Go and inform the palace that Lieutenant Beri is here."
"Wahhhh!
Aren't those the Baymardian soldiers?"
"Yes! You're right!
I recognize that uniform anywhere."
"Look little Bruno, those are the Baymardian soldiers.
Even though you have a slight cold, if you want to be as dashing as them when you grow up... you have to take your medicines okay?
No more throwing your pills under the bed, or you won't grow up like them."
"Yes mummy"
"Amazing!
My brother told me that while he was at the academy, Lieutenant Beri was very strong.
It's said that he could take out more than 20 skilled people in his own using simple moves and techniques."
"Really?
Wahhh!
How strong!"
As Beri and his team passed by, many people continued to admire them..... this was the especially case for the noblewomen in their carriages, as well as the ordinary women on the streets too.
After all, most of them loved a man in uniform.
"Ahh!
Elder sister.... look!
Peep out your window and look to your sides!"
"Oh my heavens, how can someone be so handsome and dashing?
I wonder if he's still single?"
"Elder sister, I clearly saw him first!...so get your mind out off him."
"Hey you two!
As your friend, I can only tell you both to calm down... and Dream on!!
You said that you saw him first, but what about me?
I saw his shadow way before you saw his face.
So by default, he obviously belongs to me!"
"_"
And so, without even knowing it..... Beri and his crew had turned this quiet and peaceful morning, into a chaotic one.
.
As they rode, they also began to notice the changes within the Capital as well.
Just like Loplin coastal city, the Capital had also changed as well.
The people walked on the sidewalks, the market places were organized, there were also traffic control officers, and so on.
Beri smiled slightly while observing the happy people within it.
It was indeed a new era.
.
Time passed by, and soon.... they had arrived at the palace's grand estate.
"Lieutenant! Welcome!"
"Little Beri... Welcome! Welcome!"
"Bro.... how come you couldn't even send me a letter telling me about your visit?"
Standing before Beri, was Penelope, Carmelo, Santa, and several other Caronian soldiers.
Penelope and Beri immediately gave a military salute to each other.
As Penelope had once trained under Beri has well.
So no matter how she looked at it, he was once her superior.
Likewise, Beri gave out his salute too, as she was the queen of Carona and deserved much.
As for Carmelo, he immediately shook Beri's hands.
The Caronian soldiers greeted Beri and his team the same way Penelope had done.
They looked at them with reverence.
And even though many of them had yet to go for training in Baymard, they still knew how tough the training there was.
One should know that those who did train in Baymard, had begun teaching what they had learnt here in Carona.
And at the end of every month, several Batches of Caronian soldiers are sent to Baymard to undergo their yearly final examinations there.
Of course throughout the year, while they were studying in Carona, they would have multiple examinations too.... but the final one would be in Baymard.
.
Before one reached the position of being a warrant officer, there were 13 ranks that one needed to pass.
So in essence, before any of the soldiers transitioned to any warrant officer rank... they would have to do at least 1 semester of training within Baymard.
Anyway, with all that said.... coupled with the stories that they had heard of about Training in Baymard, how could these Caronian soldiers not look at Beri and his crew with awe and reverence?
They puffed out their chests and tried to maintain a perfect military pose so as to earn Beri's praise.... as well as the praises of the other Baymardian soldiers.
And when Beri nodded in appreciation, their hearts couldn't help but get overly excited.
They tried their best not to smile, as they wanted to maintain their cool facades.
Yup!
Looking at how pleased Beri was, nothing could definitely make them loose face today.
But of course, they had forgotten to pay attention to one important thing... or rather, one important person.
"Woo.... woo..... little bro, you're too mean...
How can you come for a visit without even informing me?"
"_"
True enough, everyone had forgotten how dramatic Santa could be.
He quickly ran up to his bro and bear-hugged him excitedly, while pretending to be pitiful.
"Bro... I thought you loved me?
Sure... you don't need to inform these old fogies that you're coming.
But what about me?
Aren't I your favourite?
How come I never even received a letter from you?" Santa said while pouting and blinking his big puppy dog eyes at Beri.
Beri looked at him and sighed inwardly.
This dude was still the same as ever.
.
With the formalities over, Beri and his crew followed Penelope and the rest in.
And after settling them in, giving them a grand tour and making sure that they had a hefty meal... Beri, Penelope, Santa, and Carmelo immediately went to the royal study for a meeting.
Of course on their way there, Adrian also tagged Sling as well.
He had previously been out visiting the Caronian barrack, which used to be the knight Academy..... but when he had that Beri and his crew had arrived, he immediately rushed over to the palace.
.
The meeting soon began, and Beri went through the entire criminal list with them again.
For sure.... since he and his men had arrived without any prisoner transporting wagons, he also needed to buy caged prisoner wagons from the Capital city as well.
But of course, before the prisoners needed to be transported, Beri had to gauge how violent they were.
So after the meeting, Beri and the rest immediately decided to visit the prison cells.
It was time to see how ferocious and dangerous these men truly were.