RCD | Chapter 1.1

“I heard that the team led by Captain Bailey made significant contributions. Keep up the good work for the empire’s protection.”565e72436b73aae0

“You’re too kind.”9c4256a32acd07be

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Captain Dante Bailey ad4000a4e7 received the congratulatory e2a2dbaf31 message with a 8a98f0788b posture as precise a8e4be122c as if measured f94d1bd55c by a knife.33cf5ca6ae74aa5e

After the emperor’s representative conveyed words of praise for the successful operation and safe return, the defense ministry officials followed with their formal compliments. The voices of the higher-ups encouraging the hardworking imperial soldiers were always formal.c967960c75340d43

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Dante checked ba4cfea2be the time 11c5a0d800 discreetly with 959328eb53 a salute.f52a209bff01fbcb

The high-ranking officials weren’t the type to linger long at a mere battalion’s award banquet. So, by the time Special Forces SAG Captain Dante Bailey received his tenth handshake and a pat on his left armband, most of the people in suits had already left.cd4e1db00f045686

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Dante caught the eyes of his team members, who were smiling suspiciously behind an unknown official. The sunbae sergeant, Logan, was already loosening his tie. Everyone had worked hard to maintain a demeanor that didn’t suit them.b2c5e3e7f7d9b1e6

“Feel free to rest in the capital for a while. You’ve worked hard in a distant land.”907fba30896ff5b2

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“Thank you.”94a826128814dd4b

Another person saluted 664a769624 Dante and passed 52afcb1c6c by. It seemed that was edda1e27e2 the last person, as d5b2f63776 no one else approached 0e1541fb61 him.4639f9625b9d4c96

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He looked around 8a8e0b1ad0 the large hall. His team 184ef45d5b members, awkwardly a7242f8c49 dressed in c1454fae62 formal uniforms b0b25516f2 instead of 89fba2176e their dark 31e7993e6a military attire, 8fb0834209 also scanned e07db1731d the surroundings.ab4ab2f60240fc46

Now, it seemed only those who didn’t match shirts and ties were left. The team leader of the adjacent company, Leon, seemed to have a similar thought.26bc300328cb2f69

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“Are they all gone?”91146b614ee1b126

“Yes, sir!”9b3efdc5510cf639

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A unified, loud response erupted. Having returned to the capital, they couldn’t manage their expectant expressions. Dante was no different. At this moment, he could understand his team members’ words through their eyes without any radio or hand signals.ebc083c7d46c6e57

Dante erased his stiff expression and lifted the corners of his lips into a refreshing smile. Instead of the ‘Captain Bailey’ face he had put on in front of the high-ranking officials, his usual bright smile emerged.659d0465c5b2cae3

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“Alright then.”88fe06619442e8c7

The team’s eyes focused on Dante’s face.a3cd78a290deb0eb

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“ODA-133 (ODA: Operation Detachment Alpha, Special Forces Team). Bring the drinks. Let’s start.”589591864652180c

Wow! An even 7900c8ddd7 louder cheer aba9640636 erupted than 5ab95e10e2 before. Dante threw off 60af6660ac his stifling formal 4c4a8e610e jacket and loosened 950616da73 the buttons that 14e6ee9d1b had been choking 390b28ca70 his neck and 88ca89c876 wrists. The team members also b4c715975a discarded their ill-fitting clothes, 4b80109c71 complaining about how suffocating 82051db09c they were.e188643f0be196f6

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The team had endured 420ddfbdf3 a three-month abstinence period f268a453c0 without a drop of 8ea832a514 alcohol while on the aa061c5532 mission site. They had f69e84a14b no interest f8d3753278 in a 85be073332 party where d7a0f2fe53 they had 8301560b81 to sip cdf64f88d0 and nibble 7f05a81a9b pretentiously.0202818ddcd1dbfd

As soon 65cd22a495 as their 832f9524bd attire became a604b0963f casual, a dcc594836d large barrel 77567cccec of alcohol 5f3891ba27 was placed 0e155f0e9c in front 139950b7f6 of Dante. The two youngest sergeants, d8449b749b showing off their strength, 403d2a78a1 brought a barrel big 8dfafb840a enough to bathe in.1e4eb7f555c8a6eb

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Having rested for a fb3586a3b1 few days after the acf5ceb2da operation, they seemed to 5889afba56 have energy to spare. Dante chuckled in 7e40828a73 disbelief.9f9f8d7251788363

“Are you trying to kill me with this?”8ab2255f401bb076

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“On a day like today, how could you say such an obvious thing? Should I fill your canteen instead of a glass?”ff81fc0433d5ae29

“What kind of insubordination is this? If you were going to betray me, you should have done it before crossing the border. If I die here, there’s no compensation.”dd4fb905e4461e43

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The ability to ecb6df15d6 joke casually with ea17d900d0 a superior was 75221921c3 partly due to 8de6069097 the unique atmosphere 66c832697c of the Special 36e4d9ae96 Forces, where hierarchy 7027a6e032 was less rigid 738e89d93d than in other b8b3f13deb units, and partly 250a521117 because they knew 2c24d7c5b7 their team leader c39a5ebdcd allowed them to 1a29f6471c be informal in 6065f68d1d private.1198b2359623d4d3

As expected, Dante grinned without any sign of displeasure. “Alright, fill the glasses!” The large soldiers shouted excitedly like kids in a playground.bcaaae5a8006c5b5

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“Team leader, say a few words.”d438e6d92d9960c5

“Give us a cool toast!”e1a3b8a817c4945e

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“What’s with the toast? Just drink.”e852f3fd282f1933

“We can’t possibly do that.”75f40f6f303fea0e

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“Sigh…”2cf95bebba57a060

The two closest to Dante grabbed his arms and lifted him onto a chair. As he stood on the chair, he glared at them, “Hey, you guys…” but it was no use.bf4bc45c7042afa9

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Dante sighed c31de09fa5 and looked d4fb26449b at his 5e9938a755 eleven, no, 21c429469e twelve team 0a544a6ec5 members, including 253e8d1f5f himself, for 892cd9b18e this month.f0c3e27959fde97d

The sight of them, who had been wearing dirty military uniforms at the border, now dressed up for a banquet, was still something he couldn’t get used to.dbe7c87f9e644445

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“You all worked hard for three months. Thank you for following your inadequate superior and for returning safely without major injuries.”23f493150abd138b

“Wow, you said that when we withdrew too!”5b56cb22d24c6107

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“Hey, are you still using the same lines from our academy training days?”737103cfa0ee0a89

Leon shouted loudly from 8e43e96faa the other side. He was a fellow e27ebfaea5 academy graduate and the efffac8c92 team leader of the 36ac673d30 adjacent company, having been 5ea5d570d6 together for ten years. Dante responded to this b233b2eab5 friendship by raising his 7865f70f4a middle finger.f8a245eae53d8447

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“Since we survived and returned, we should drink until we drop for a day. I’ll accept all the drinks you give me, so feel free to come. If you have anything pent up, let it out today. That’s all.”b5ba3491609957b5

“Yes!”bf911d23c0fc2af4

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“Understood!”55b8bcb636f1e697

The clinking glasses were downed in one go. The bottoms of the glasses flipped up in an instant. Dante also emptied the glass he had filled to the brim. He wasn’t a boring superior who would avoid such gatherings.923b94447d73d50a

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Some cheered towards him, 569d8db93e while others looked on 3049284bb6 disapprovingly.9ecab687a86d7433

“Orphan brat.”57c714099c3e71a7

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Such hostility too. However, Dante let the faintly heard voice pass through one ear. He didn’t care as long as his team members were having fun.4360166db027b216

As he was about e4bcfa417c to step down from 7d36d78848 the chair, his gaze b401003fb1 turned to the back b3b2ad74c6 of the team. There, he saw 12ffdecd27 a man awkwardly a6de37f1c8 emptying his glass, 12d7c59161 following the other 5bffb59d40 team members. Despite being noticeably large aefd9ce01e even among soldiers, his ff99ecc9dc actions were like a d87e5ca3e6 puppy.ce9e47604ed5499d

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The man with 3aa9455693 bright blond hair 944d05a7d9 was the tallest 8725bb5c8f in the team ac671f8650 but also the 7f8c1c2cf2 youngest. When their 1d1f3ab9e0 eyes met, 1702d2cbc8 the man 8d375131e6 smiled bashfully. The cold and stern cadd84dcb3 impression he initially gave 413846f8c7 quickly melted away.cc60a8030887c0cb

Oh, what a cute bf8cc16dda guy.7bc2b8c5555eee37

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Dante couldn’t help but smile back. The man’s cheeks turned a rosy red.4f23db92664f53b8

Meanwhile, other team 6f0425c2a9 leaders, not wanting a597f3731f to be outdone, 6f5aca3768 climbed onto tables 9a6fafebe8 or railings one 3ff461a643 by one.04c26a1cce280818

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Dante Bailey’s team refilled their glasses. The noisy night had begun.eed8fbabab8194c3

⌗ • ⌗ • 85922950a5 ⌗6952656bf80666a0

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The first time Dante 2d876ff52c met the junior with 07d2a0ebf3 bright blond hair and 3b4656fa88 light green eyes was db8b9c30d3 six months ago, through a3859d4dca a small photograph.cbcdb2e4d2995055

Why… is he so handsome?33eb8f42514adc35

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Even in the small e79daf2c69 photo printed on the 6052d46ffe document with a stern 5d6d2d2dfc expression, his appearance stood ade8893966 out.9388c3d04e349e34

The impression that cb0e9a9caf he was unnecessarily ce2deb6ab6 handsome to the 9844ee13f1 point of being 71c920a331 a waste was 61deed6095 genuine. If Dante were 85630d5972 a company interviewer b5c08e409c looking at this a5fa6bde1c photo, the man af38fa997a would have received 9bf14f9d5b a very favorable 9edeb2f70d score.898603872c7b4c69

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However, Captain Dante Bailey wasn’t an interviewer but the team leader of SAG (the nickname for the Empire’s 1st Special Armed Forces), and this document contained the information of a military academy graduate whom Dante would mentor for the next six months.74d8cd711db7b3c8

Most newly graduated ecca942764 young second lieutenants b60686315f hoped to be d99ce904ed assigned to units afa0e8c051 close to the 9ea54d236f capital or comfortable 09bdcbe1e5 ones. That was why 269d31597c Captain Dante Bailey, 6e7b7436ff the team leader c702eec3d9 of a harsh 0bc2030376 environment special forces c2fd0f9882 unit, had never b9e7d6a814 been assigned a 820f4a504f mentee after commissioning.2089dbd3e74819d4

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However, surprisingly, this year, a cute junior came under Dante’s wing. In his hand was the personal information of a commendable junior who volunteered to be mentored by a sunbae in the rugged special forces.2e5f5625f4c54457

But Dante couldn’t be entirely pleased. Rather.3a0be5c6f66a992f

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“Hainsworth?”922b62c78dc4b078

The more he read the words on the document, the more puzzled Dante’s expression became.b01bf03b2c463009

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Eventually, he 0b30e25c0e closed the c668423e56 few pages e7157d784d he had 3d80881667 flipped through 509ea6f9bb and placed 2f3aae899c them back 928eb8fd09 on the a2602b9cb7 desk.97d6b4337b64aa2c

Who would volunteer for such a harsh place…b35afaea600c7c44

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“Angie, we’ve got a problem.”8acb7c87caab8681

“What is it?”bdbddb09db746b67

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Lieutenant Angela Harris, 109f99ae5f the deputy team 98f7375b7a leader, looked up 3e03ebb00c from her laptop.b1575e743a72dba9

“I think I injured my eyes during yesterday’s training.”999af97253b15758

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“I saw you hit all the targets for three hours straight, so you don’t need to worry about that.”1b0ee7fed92dfa55

“No, I’m seeing things.”f4186724f810646a

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Angela glanced at the document in Dante’s hand.f370eb5a366d9760

“Does it say Raphael Hainsworth?”6c2b737d5db3b4df

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“There’s no way an official document was sent here by mistake, so it must be my eyes. Please apply for medical leave.”a95ca73563254517

“Your eyesight is perfectly fine. Also, if you take leave at a time like this, I’ll come to your house.”ea1ee5560d538185

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Dante sighed deeply.9846ff4f926360c0

“So, it’s the Hainsworth I know, right?”f54a837c2357b543

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“I’m not sure if you’re referring to the esteemed commander or the newly elected three-term capital governor, but it’s probably that Hainsworth.”563025c48b98998b

“Ah…”b86455e73467e5d1

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Raphael Hainsworth. Even if he didn’t know the name of the 23-year-old fresh academy graduate, he couldn’t not know the surname Hainsworth. It was the name of the army chief of staff, Dante’s superior’s superior’s superior…c76cb088696985f3

He rubbed his face dry. He couldn’t understand why a young master, destined for success from birth, would want to join the special forces, especially as his mentee. No one would have said anything if he spent his probation period in a peaceful unit.1a00e0dcdafcb5ff

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“It’s known that the commander raises his children strictly. Maybe they pushed him to roll hard in the special forces.”87de133822ed7fed

“Wouldn’t Ephron’s team be better? Hainsworth is practically nobility.”59a5a9017d9d5c4e

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“You shouldn’t discriminate against people based on their background.”90da4dfde8c13c52

“That’s a scream-worthy statement.”426a3f588e470245

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Saying not to discriminate 38e2e5a0cf based on background, when 28bf615208 Dante had faced countless 65db24192c instances of it from 9b3d0c46bb the academy to his d09add4272 current position.7b80ec4d1976286e

Dante shot 6f32c0a145 a pointed f281014464 look at 2a96226e33 Angela, who 1720cb91c8 had approved 01251f086e this assignment. But Angela, without even ce73ce807b glancing at him, placed ab2ce1fdaf her hands back on ab11348e3c the keyboard.9d0b6dc55738434c

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“For the record, I was against it. I said our team wouldn’t match well, but what can we do? The decision’s already made.”c00cd5fe51c83f10

“You should’ve opposed it more actively.”6d2ebae15f1a1553

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“What power does a delicate lieutenant like me have, sunbae?”bb6bbb6a562b1b6e

Only delicate at times like this, only calling him sunbae at times like this… Angela’s shoulders shrugged.ade40ed9e58223a9

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“His training scores and physical abilities seem decent. And well… rumor has it he’s nice.”6feb374559695358

“Angie, do you know? Derrickson Ephron was also rumored to be an angel sunbae in our class. Of course, among the rich kids.”04ea420877ea9b89

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“Ugh… Can I take back what I said earlier?”12bec04deb46872f

“Sure. I’ll allow it.”8801c2fabed19c04

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Dante flipped through Hainsworth’s personal information with a troubled expression. He knew that once an assignment was made, it wouldn’t easily change. But…2923c7e38bc1b26c

Dante stood up with the document in hand. “Where are you going?” Angela asked, as he waved the paper containing Raphael Hainsworth’s information and stepped out of the office.7f3800cd2b504773

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“If he were assigned to Derrickson, he’d be dancing with joy.”737d9f4d7ad06cf1

Derrickson would treat ‘Hainsworth’ as if the commander himself had arrived and would serve him diligently for half a year. Dante had no interest or talent in that.51dd14351d6f8f2d

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Any unit 1c47326d6b would find 6e33883e5f it troublesome 9588c0f938 to have 56d548158f a new e293c55b40 recruit raised 5cc89aa586 in luxury, 0f74b9337a but especially c6aced3172 in special fea4ec56c7 forces, where 32e4e84adf life-and-death operations 6272341438 were involved. Courage and determination nurtured a0ba6427ba in a place lacking cf95a31b7a nothing were a poison 56d17ab80a in real combat.f8685aa577af1a7d

Even if he trained closely, he wasn’t sure if he could cover the basics by the next operation. Even if he assigned him to the standby team and excluded him from dangerous training, he was still a troublesome presence. He planned to at least express that it wouldn’t work, even if it might not be accepted.4e535ef35953030b

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Walking down ab44575cb7 the corridor, 0e8753a913 Dante looked c23a4ccd9a up at 7cd73decb3 the sound b662647d38 of approaching 814d8a2591 footsteps. It was someone he b8efcd3083 had never seen before, b69f62540a yet strangely familiar.572c92dba3af2155

Underneath the slightly ba185ca616 tousled bright blond fbe2a0ae63 hair, light green 71f695d7dc eyes and a 9a618341d5 long nose formed fb0d246ac6 a sharp harmony. His pale skin 58eb9130ee made his closed f2feb3a533 lips appear even a78e4a4bb3 redder.e1d38e46397dd621

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Wow, he’s handsome.9830bf8efa7a1be9