After the encounter with Tulka tribesmen, none of the soldiers dared to irk Malachi, for they knew the punishment. Still, a few of them weren't lucky enough and died at the hands of their commander and their body devoured by his sword.
Some would wonder why a commander would target his own people. The answer was simple: Malachi didn't care about anyone but himself. That was why he joined the exiled corpse in the first place.
The higher-ups were only bothered with the results and wouldn't question his methods as long as they performed to their expectations. No one would blink an eye even if Malachi absorbed the entire force, as they were criminals, nothing more or nothing less.
However, he knew the higher-ups had evidence of his 'atrocities' and wouldn't hesitate to use them if he ever messed up. This was one more reason why Malachi trusted only himself.