Chapter 197 — Training the Three Divisions
S.C. 1512 — Early Morning
Hidden Island — South Training Grounds
The sunrise painted the fog in soft gold.
Three banners fluttered in the breeze:
NEW DAWN — gold and white flame.
SILVER MOON — silver crescent over waves.
CRIMSON HAND — deep red handprint over black.
Rows of people stood beneath them—nearly two hundred men and women who, just weeks ago, had been starving refugees.
Now, they stood straighter.
Ate full meals.
Wore clean uniforms.
Held tools, not broken hopes.
Ren walked forward with Zemo at his side, Mira, Leo, Bram, and Kiro following behind him like the four pillars of the island.
All divisions went quiet.
Ren looked over his people—his first true organization, born from nothing but a hidden island, a dream, and determination.
"Today," Ren began quietly, "the Meridian Group begins its first real training."
1. New Dawn — Elite Formation
Kiro stepped forward.
New Dawn members—only thirty—stood in a tight formation.
Strong physiques. Alert eyes. Polished uniforms.
They had the best posture among all divisions, trained personally by Kiro these past days.
Ren nodded at Kiro.
Kiro spoke with calm authority.
"New Dawn—your roles are trade negotiation, luxury sales, political presence, and elite combat escort. Your strength must be quiet but undeniable."
He pointed at the training setup:
weighted staffs
observation drills
mental clarity exercises
high-end trade etiquette
"You will learn how to fight… and how to speak," Kiro continued.
"How to defend… and how to negotiate."
A woman raised her hand hesitantly.
"What if we're not good enough… sir?"
Kiro smiled faintly.
"No one is good enough in the beginning. That's why we train."
Ren saw confidence settle in them like fresh soil taking root.
2. Silver Moon — Foundation Force
Next came Mira.
She walked to the Silver Moon group—almost one hundred and twenty people.
They were rougher, louder, but full of energy.
Builders. Carpenters. Sailors. Farmers. Engineers.
The backbone of the island.
Mira's wolf-enhanced senses scanned them.
Then she spoke.
"You are Silver Moon. Your hands will build the bases, the docks, the ships, the factories. You are the heartbeat of Meridian."
Some of the men straightened proudly.
"But that does NOT mean you will be weak," she continued.
She pointed to the obstacle course Ren built:
rope climbs
balance beams
weight hauls
hand-to-hand zones
reaction posts
"You'll train here daily. Strength is not just for soldiers. We build stronger… when we ARE stronger."
Her voice was firm, unshakable.
Silver Moon roared with enthusiasm, raising tools and hammers into the air.
Ren felt a warm satisfaction settle in his chest.
3. Crimson Hand — The Silent Division
Last was Crimson Hand.
The group was empty.
Just a lone banner.
Ren walked to it and placed his palm against the cloth.
"Crimson Hand will not train today," he said quietly, addressing all divisions.
Confusion rippled across the crowd.
Ren turned.
"When the time comes… this division will be built from those who show patience, subtlety, discipline, and loyalty beyond orders."
He stepped back.
"They will infiltrate hostile ports. Gather intelligence. Find threats before threats find us."
The entire island went silent.
The idea of such a division felt… sharp. Dangerous. Necessary.
"And when Crimson Hand forms," Ren finished,
"They will answer directly to me."
Zemo growled softly, as if sharing Ren's instinct.
4. Division Training Begins
Ren clapped once.
"Positions!"
New Dawn shifted to precision drills under Kiro.
Silver Moon rushed to the obstacle course under Mira.
The general recruits followed Leo and Bram for fitness circuits.
Ren moved through all three divisions, observing silently.
When he passed Mira's group, he saw her guiding a young girl struggling to lift a log.
Mira didn't scold.
She adjusted the girl's footing, corrected her breathing, then nodded approvingly.
When he observed New Dawn, Kiro was showing them how to maintain calmness under pressure—teaching them negotiation postures, micro-expressions, and strategic awareness.
At Bram's section, he was shouting:
"FASTER! If you have breath to complain, you have breath to train!"
Leo added:
"And if you collapse, Bram will carry you! Trust me—you don't want that!"
Ren almost smiled.
Every part of the island was alive.
5. A Leader's Quiet Reflection
As training continued, Ren stood at a higher vantage point.
Zemo sat beside him, head raised proudly.
"Two months ago," Ren whispered to Zemo, "there was nothing here."
Now?
A shipyard.
A factory.
Docks.
Crane towers.
Smoke rising from chimneys.
Three official divisions training below.
Meridian was no longer an idea.
It was a reality.
Growing at a pace that even Ren hadn't predicted.
Zemo nudged him gently.
Ren placed a hand on the fox's head.
"We'll protect this place… all of them."
His telepathic senses stretched over the island.
Strength.
Effort.
Hope.
All connected.
6. Evening — The First Unified Drill
As the sun dipped, all divisions gathered again.
Ren raised his hand.
"One island," he said.
"One Meridian," they echoed.
Ren looked at each face.
"Tomorrow, training becomes harder."
"YES, CHIEF!"
"And the day after that… harder still."
"YES, CHIEF!"
Ren nodded.
The arc of growth was only just beginning.
"Dismissed."
The island buzzed with energy as the divisions broke off—some laughing, some exhausted, many inspired.
Mira approached, wiping sweat off her brow.
"Silver Moon is fired up."
Kiro added, "New Dawn is stable."
Bram flexed. "My team didn't die!"
Leo slapped him. "Low bar, Bram."
Ren chuckled softly.
"Good work. All of you."
Zemo barked proudly.
Under the stars of Hidden Island, the Meridian Group took its first step into becoming a force the East Blue would never forget.
End of Chapter 197