I was wondering: in the first panel, with the funeral, I see an officer on the lower left saluting with the left instead of the right hand – is that due to an injury to the latter? (you can see it’s flexed at the elbow, so it can be in a sling).

Also, about the word balloon, I think it’s fine as it is, even though a wordless panel would work just as good.

I think the word balloon does lend something to the narrative. The smaller font communicates to me that Scavina is muttering the words quietly, but forcefully, as though she’s just barely containing her impatience (i.e. the tone as much as the content is meant as a warning to Carl).