Chapter 20: Progress

At a dawn training at the Kaul estate, Hilo spars with Jim Sunto using gun-versus-knife drills to practice lesser proficiencies. Hilo critiques Sunto’s technique and has his senior Fists rotate through, noting both their improving skills and his own age’s creeping toll despite undiminished jade prowess.

Afterward, Hilo and Sunto discuss the army’s progress: funding rises following General Ronu’s report, enlistment expands after loosening jade-training prerequisites, and martial schools consider evening programs. Sunto presses to recruit adults without prior jade training using safer SN2, but Hilo rejects doping on ethical and cultural grounds.

The debate turns personal as Sunto defends ROE practices and the notion of progress; Hilo rebuffs “foreign ideals.” Sunto then announces he is leaving the Kekonese training program and starting a private security and combat-support company employing jade-capable operatives, backed by ROE contacts and investor Art Wyles.

Hilo bristles at the concept of “jade mercenaries,” insisting jade belongs to oath-bound Green Bones. Sunto maintains the firm will be professional, headquartered abroad with Espenian oversight and government-supplied jade, insisting there need not be conflict.

Hilo declares Sunto naive and orders him to keep the company out of Kekon. Sunto names it Ganlu Solutions International, invoking a historical Kekonese figure, but departs under Hilo’s explicit threat. Their partnership ends in hostility, setting up future friction between clan ideals and privatized jade warfare.