Rylie pressed her lips together and said nothing. Instead, she walked to the operating table. Her sharp eyes caught the seal on the sterile instrument cabinet. It had aged, and its edges were lifting—a sign of potential bacterial contamination.

She was about to speak when Candice interjected, “Miss Owen, you’re welcome to observe,” she said, her voice polite but tinged with authority. “But our systems directly affect soldiers’ lives. It’s important to have real expertise before making assumptions.”

The other medical soldiers nodded, their expressions tinted with disdain.

Rylie paused, then asked suddenly, “When was this ECG monitor last calibrated?”

Candice stiffened momentarily before replying, “Last week.”

“But the baseline is drifting,” Rylie pointed out, gesturing to the screen. “That suggests the electrodes are degraded, or moisture has affected them. In a humid environment, this is dangerous.” She glanced at the waveform again. “With critical patients, these errors could lead to misdiagnosis.”

The medical soldiers exchanged uneasy looks. Whispering among themselves, they muttered, “How does she even know this? Did she study naval medical systems online? Did she actually prepare for this?”

Hattie spoke up softly. “Miss Owen is a medical student. It’s natural for her to know a thing or two, don’t you think?”

A flicker of annoyance crossed Candice’s face, but she quickly composed herself. “Miss Owen, you do have a sharp eye for detail as a medical student. Still, the conditions on a ship are unique, and equipment wears out faster than it does on land. We run daily checks to ensure everything works perfectly.”

Rylie didn’t bother arguing. She had mentioned those observations casually. What truly caught her interest was the exclusive multifunction battlefield emergency system designed by Ronan’s medical company.

When she asked to inspect the system, a female soldier immediately blocked her. “Sorry, Miss Owen. That device only runs during drills or on the battlefield. Powering it up costs money.”

Hattie interjected quickly, “But Mr. Morgan’s orders were for me to show Miss Owen that very device.”

Candice’s tone hardened. “I don’t object to Brad bringing his girlfriend aboard for a tour, but examining the emergency system goes too far. This isn’t some romantic outing, and that system isn’t part of your entertainment. It would look like favoritism if personal ties disrupted official duties.”

The other medical soldiers nodded, clearly siding with Candice.

Even with Brad’s authorization, Rylie knew her “girlfriend” title could easily be twisted to make it look like Brad was abusing his position. Forcing the issue might backfire.

She replied coolly, “Isn’t there a drill coming up soon? I’d like to stay and observe how the system works.”

Candice shook her head. “No. Civilians aren’t allowed to take part in drills. That’s the rule.”

Rylie hesitated for a moment, then pulled out her phone and called Rory. “Rory, I need a favor.”

Rory paused mid-game, placing his chess piece down. “What is it? I’m playing chess right now. Aren’t you with Brad? If he can’t handle it, what do you expect from me?”

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