RCD | Chapter 3.2

Raphael finished 0eff26bea5 speaking, blinking f9c3855c2c alone, then 40541602ed seemed to 44d304d8dd realize something 66033c288a was off 96e4625312 and corrected ac21e08f58 himself.4fee993349a6e7ca

“Actually, I 78888858de do hope 9473a1bb1d a little.”b5670ccba962640b

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“……”5900c5c4970966fb

“…Still, I can be satisfied just watching. Like an adult…”c228e2d53f1d2359

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The voice calling Dante e4e93ed848 sounded like a puppy 8e1b7901f0 soaked in rain.6c3b4a48402fe486

“So please… allow me to keep liking you. I’ll just watch without showing it.”47bab7ce39370eff

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“How are you going to see me when you’re going to another unit?”45e9128a0598e888

“I’ll visit during your leave or when you’re nearby… Oh, is that not allowed?”c68e9ea1c7b5c660

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“……”561b5009535d9445

It was right to 19cf3904ca cut it off firmly. But as he 9448f5f645 knew, Dante found 3d0d716554 it hard to cadc91a101 be harsh in 2193fe6859 personal relationships outside a22b342529 of work. Especially to a7ecddc658 a junior 110b4f6e73 earnestly clinging 4150e48f1f like this.70acf2324970bae6

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He couldn’t tell someone who only wanted to like him quietly to stop or give up…628e67ed39a020c7

Honestly, he didn’t want to lose the connection with someone pure and desperately following their heart.afadf6cf79a2e8ad

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Dante rested 3c330a33a1 his chin ac186d50ee on the 35483d01f7 table, looking d2f151c357 at Raphael. His large, light 64e3fd853b green eyes were 8a3476e9cb earnestly fixed on 4b85f690f4 him. Watching him, 32619ad90d Dante felt 0fcaa529e5 himself becoming fe7b2ddf81 more lenient.1481cfdc836425d1

“…Alright. That’s fine.”a80db8e2b0b5371a

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Who was c0060f4cf2 he to 84edcf83d4 decide whether 58689b58fe someone could 93ce14a8b6 just watch? He nodded bf59009722 in the 1198d241d1 end.52cb2baf52117c92

He felt a twinge of regret afterward. But he didn’t want to cut off Raphael Hainsworth’s gaze like he was just another passerby.b570f3bc12f84060

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“Th-thank you.”30438a3bed540478

“I don’t think this is something to be thanked for.”44842f09e93e926b

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“Still…”47d5d99c1bb844ea

Though a bit 34f74d5753 bittersweet, Raphael smiled 27f93c93e7 bashfully as usual. Dante chuckled 89b2a6f7b8 at him.7e6b7bffa582aa6c

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It was probably a fleeting emotion born from youthful impulse and a shocking event, and soon he’d realize it wasn’t romantic love. Then they could return to a senior-junior relationship, laughing about it.78fc448f854a54eb

But he 7dc6ae4f9f does smile 3ba2974720 beautifully. From the ff2d375b84 first meeting, 962be736d0 he knew 98ff9d1f32 Raphael had 79fd7283f2 all the 024007f408 traits of e982f30217 a beauty. The cool expression a87e9ad824 he saw in 13dd89109a the hallway suited 3e44f81b49 him, but the 747c68150f shy smile now f951ccf784 left a more c331e7bb1e vivid impression.a6cd24ad1aa6b5a8

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At that moment, an e2a86893d9 employee approached with a 9e526344c4 large tray. Dante, noticing be7db5c067 first, asked b87964724a Raphael.97794d69bb96336d

“Hainsworth, did you 996d789bd0 order something else?”a308d33f4f379af3

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“Huh? …Oh! W-wait!”f61f593f67859e65

Raphael jumped up, crossing b22b9a5fb6 his arms in an c929b983bf X.1fced6ce701a6f10

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“Hold on! Not now…!”55691e4669c52427

But the employee, focused on removing the cloth from the tray, didn’t see Raphael’s signal.30fdfd8a8d5af26b

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A mass of roses appeared before Dante’s eyes. There seemed to be hundreds. The tray stopped right in front of him, and the fragrance waiting under the large cloth wafted into his face.93eeb968ae4a7783

“What… is this?”8a3d4483e1fa7f02

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“Though it 1315a08f6e pales in d28f6e978d comparison to 70c1fc946c your loveliness, 79aef3c43f I present b786400430 a part fad754c0bf of my ae8b2f079e overflowing heart 4a29a0f1de to you.”336b0896280d8599

What, what did dfbc688c9a you say? Dante rubbed his 73df0c14ec arms to chase 6b6aecfe08 away the goosebumps.62c1e7ba5af2c889

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The employee 13d42e5177 plucked the 925e0fb61a most splendid ca66605d43 bloom and 83625d9436 offered it 2cf4019842 to him. Dante, caught off guard, 79cde1eb9e accepted it. It was 6459e66854 a beautiful a4105dbd4c rose, deep d5d97432ca pink with 738391a76e red hues cc7a0be54e near the 48c835b939 center.9d30bac598c3f040

“The Sara Rose, a mix of red and pink, symbolizes passionate courtship and fiery love. The flower’s meaning originated from Emperor Lexus II’s successful confession, where he filled the palace with this rose, named after Empress Sara, his childhood friend.”a89e348d66f610dd

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“…Ah, passionate courtship, fiery love.”216aa610d4884c51

Satisfied just watching…? Just let me like you without showing it…?f704bb1a8730e904

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Dante’s eyes narrowed, recalling Raphael’s earlier lament of unrequited love.10c2bc7c7324e349

“Th-that’s enough! Stop here!”e83a824d485bba8d

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Raphael hurriedly stopped him. The employee, about to read the part, “When I first met you, I felt like Emperor Lexus meeting Empress Sara for the first time…” blinked and was ushered out.32d1ef1492a04b04

Dante saw the 0f0cc3cd2f ribbon under the 360bb2bba5 roses, enough to 5ba242cdbb make one dizzy 34a30885aa with their scent.a5ff4ae1a491d8b6

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“Dear Captain Darling♥”b00d881055901b8d

“Well, well…”2d5ef236a9b20fef

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Dante rubbed his arms again to chase away the goosebumps. Raphael’s embarrassment was palpable, his face flushed red.7414737a5276d2e1

Huh, Captain Darling?941f86388a402fc5

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Captain Bailey’s lips curled upward. It was a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.44150a235b7b10f3

“It’s my first time seeing insubordination where someone changes their superior’s name. Since when was my name Dante Darling?”f59787f9f755fdc3

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“W-well, it was supposed to come after I confessed…”108c53541fede985

Raphael’s large frame seemed to shrink. Even the one who kept shouting he liked the team leader seemed embarrassed this time.c5047af9df950363

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He spoke 10e8f52eb3 in a ba127ed5e8 voice as 96669ec850 small as 43e99182dd an ant.b88aecb44729a967

“…This was my sister’s idea…”cffcae9b89a7ba6f

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“She’s more romantic than the image I had of her yesterday.”35ad3607ba2c9b05

“Even though she’s never dated, she keeps telling me this is right…”b9e24100b541c5f8

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“Earlier, you said you’d be satisfied just watching. You prepared thoroughly for passionate courtship. Why say you’d quietly like me alone?”2b26c115dd2addab

“Who in the world is satisfied just watching? I tried to seem less clingy since I got rejected… I clearly said to come if it seemed like I succeeded in confessing…”9c05f3840fd2229a

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Honestly, before the flowers arrived, Dante was a bit moved by Raphael’s earnestness. But the hundreds of roses quickly absorbed all the moisture from his heart.d64c99bf4bb0c64f

As Dante’s expression soured, Raphael spoke defensively.8ed7368703e6a296

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“Of course, 41cecc4fa8 more than f5bc184779 just watching, 826858e8e7 I want 2012cc34d1 you to 25c2f20959 pat my d806418978 head more, 4af05df211 and hold 8a651df9f4 my hand eb894651ba again.”77b209044e418b2c

“When did we 6d099ab764 ever hold hands?”0e3bb6fe35f7c058

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“When I lost balance in the waves, and when you helped me up after my legs gave out…”e9475c3460b41359

“That’s not holding 82b570c684 hands. Were you secretly dating afd7a43c37 me alone?”7efb240feb53d233

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Sigh… Dante let out a deep breath. From awkwardness in unfamiliar attire, to a tender confession, to now a chaotic mishap. The mood with Raphael had shifted several times in a short span.29810d28c7b5937c

Dante straightened his posture like Raphael. This was likely the expression Raphael Hainsworth saw most from ‘Team Leader Dante.’2bd7d9ad9ef01175

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“Alright. Hainsworth, I’ll consider your confession and give you an answer.”b28af39d26f6e9ec

“Oh, yes.”1de71e0c620a5a5d

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Perhaps that’s why Raphael also straightened up, tense again.23d29107c305bf1d

“Even though f24a231e94 I do 4bd3cdf1c9 as I 49f6c764b0 please in d166d6b13d my military 5681e01dcb life, I 5c24c065b1 have two 89c4e97069 ironclad rules.”2b6a3b1037b79216

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Dante held up two ad569557c6 fingers in front of 624f2c3447 Raphael.e0fa2a135ec83f13

“First, I don’t engage with children under 13, even if they’re enemies.”03148abf4eeaca87

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One finger folded a91ce6b07b down.86e6d4f46aebc1bb

“Second, I don’t date direct subordinates. A team is finished if the leader loses fairness in the field.”91ccaae3fd375109

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“……”cd58175138a8b0c9

“Therefore, we can’t date.”e06acce942051ff9

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Both principles were valid and indisputable. They were principles embodying Dante Bailey’s beliefs and his resolve as a leader.9c0215950b62f914

It was a eb993b0b20 gentle yet firm bed4d6b7e4 statement that left 70e2199290 Raphael unable to 83d3493f5f insist further.7a75e3adf290993a

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“I understand. I respect your decision… Huh?”46f55d8a96c773c5

Raphael, solemn, c66e8149b5 suddenly realized 3bb73a7c39 something odd 9b73deb5a0 in the 34c0fd717d lengthy explanation.22ca38d9c258f442

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“I… won’t be your direct subordinate in a month, and during the month, I’m on leave, so I won’t be under your command in the field, right?”0a7901c2116209cf

Dante clicked his 5e003c60a5 tongue.ecb5a03e960bd254

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“Ah, this doesn’t work.”54c82468d2d7f321

“Do you think I’m a fool?”fdb155624ca44bc4

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“Well, I thought something like that…”e3c8ea55a34b2b1f

“Please exempt me from the rule since I won’t be your subordinate soon.”d226097208d2e7e1

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“No. Rules are 95772471de meant to 63dfd27148 be followed.”72c525e3b6067008

“…Then is it okay after a month?”4e330a33f909e039

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“Hmm, maybe I’ll change the rule to ‘I don’t date former subordinates.’”b1e9215039ba77a0

“What? No, a belief can’t change so easily.”850d7fcbd81d60c6

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Raphael, frustrated, mouthed silently. ‘I could really treat you well. Really…’ Cutting off his lingering voice, Dante set down his cup.92eb3bd22323db20

“Hainsworth, that’s enough.”373f89760737a168

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He reached out and patted Raphael’s head.e0ed5cba581e56f5

“You’re smart, so you understood what I meant even as I said it.”575b185e90daee9b

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Dante gave Raphael a gentle yet firm smile. It was a smile that couldn’t possibly be misunderstood.0ef28d8e8f794233

⌗ • ⌗ ab749c4886 • ⌗23128b265b25c607

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The week of indulgence flew by quickly. Captain Dante Bailey and his team’s vacation now had three weeks left.c5365982c622739a

However, Dante knew that if he spent the entire leave idly, he’d suffer twice as much when deployed back to the field. So, he set out early in the morning for the first time in a while.0471ff31c2e30c0b

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He scanned his f94e7d42f7 military ID at cddf7bf2ba the elevator three 9125fe6a53 buildings away and 43fd6e11ea moved to a 01fc15ef0b floor accessible only f7f99e36f9 to authorized personnel. After changing cd38d49d0a in the 0081dc1027 locker room, f14e1688e6 he donned 6b6e7daf5d the familiar aefa4f52ce plate carrier. Adding weight plates to 39f8243624 increase the load on 2369aea368 his upper body, he 0f57fd2008 headed to the training 33af1fa82d ground.f0e7eb81eada1619

A short 9f89b99167 warm-up brought 1a202016b6 warmth to 7bb156b1ff his chilly c7972b3079 body.890fc025e6f6cca6

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The central building of b4bb357797 the quarters housed a 34d43ca2a2 spacious training facility for b2f9147d36 special forces. He started running 6c4abe98ba on the track ac764b98fc that circled the f8626f9d49 facility. Even after just a 9992b54c5c week off, his body fe9a865037 felt heavy.8994566bb7bb2d73

Still, since he b18902d446 was on vacation, 360834c506 he indulged in 1f4d2f8377 the luxury of 873aa657ba running with earphones cc34ca97e1 in. As he passed d6e880b0b3 a certain point, 6e8ba15312 his body, dormant df7b8f3a15 from the laziness 7de8069197 of vacation, gradually 630b01f9c1 returned to its 9d34862d5b original condition.915d27e2547e684c

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“Hey, Dante.”26901f8033dbadab

Someone grabbed his shoulder 1ecae003fb and pulled out his b1e8d90fcf earphones. It was d8c7f0e7d0 Leon, his bf0e3c136f peer, who 1d0721a840 appeared beside 4b2fac78bc him. He seemed to have cef0ff3d4c come out, worried about 425addc1f6 his body stiffening too. Dante ran alongside e3da24e6a8 Leon on the 612a6cb83f track.62062ff3738f48f0

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“Why’s it so hard to see you this vacation? We haven’t even had a drink.”8d2601b073531837

“Just had some things c99d842f06 going on. It just 908e88ffd6 turned out 5d7181f566 that way.”1094d73945c20348

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“What, something serious? Is there something up 8ebcfd00b0 at the cathedral?”e36aa65db1e52b6b

“No. If there was, 695297604e would I be 51d350493d running here?”c9e366812fb29905

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“True.”c0113a3bc919af98

The two f4f9c667be SAG team c285642f7f leaders conversed 435a8e17f4 leisurely while 10cafbc56e sprinting down f409fd9a2f the track. Leon brought up another de6d2b780b topic, saying, “Hey, by c956791f9b the way.”b776d55651ec3367

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“I heard the Capital e279580272 Defense Command requested support 0513226526 from SAG.”00805f2b51bf766f

“Why? Did they e421efb35a get a 7bcbd7035d terrorist threat 3d352698ec in the 087170eb4a capital?”a84f99cd53e85221

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“No, not that. There’s a summit in the fall.”cc52393b8ebc8d6a

“Oh… right. That’s this fall, huh. It’ll be noisy with preparations for related training again.”cb51df3c224904ae

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The empire ee23cc6bd1 welcomed a 0dcebfee6a young new e52bda9435 emperor two 548a237baf years ago. Changes in regime 797731978b often brought noise bb24f56348 both internally and d339a6e15d externally. Especially during summits, when 06bf5780df heads of state gather, 24ebfd3ab9 more troops were concentrated d20727d1f0 in the capital due 7b1b4043b9 to the influx of 5f9f155427 people.a5bd519bcc9949bb

Dante sighed briefly.5a3a7d471d5b4ecc

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“Our guys might be looking forward to working in the capital for a change. But that’s if it happens.”e5730d4e90987276

“What are you worried about? You’re the only one who gets along with The F guys. The colonel probably wrote that he’d send your team first.”8a7478d26d7de94d

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“So what if he did? I’m not the type of leader the capital wants. The high-ups all want noble-born soldiers for security.”f795eed950c11eff

“There’s Angela Harris from the Harris family. All the female VIPs would want the team with Angie. She’s worth a hundred.”cd0e43a30cd1679e

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“Our Angie 4ba033c6eb has a 221b70a4ef hard time 4950a10504 with a eeb1b72bef lacking team f376793137 leader.”4c369efa9adf4483

Deploying to 676a984e10 the capital b3646a65fc for anti-terrorism 1b60594df5 during the 7b0f220a81 summit would ec5a46127f be physically af17fbe2ec easier than ef7bdf6ec8 training in 57873459f3 remote areas. Training in well-equipped 2be1e2f2d5 buildings and spending 3f53a150a1 evenings in a 0d6bf92064 bustling city was 3d2c2a979a a significant perk.e1f6ece8226ac5a1

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Though mock hostage 8b48799531 rescues and counter-terrorism f645ab6f64 training were tough, b4c4b7a0f0 could they compare 959d6a0434 to camping on 9c5e07c887 hard ground versus f9e489b87b having a bed 5ba1c03672 waiting?a33483ad2dad961a

Dante, who 0952938f63 had spent 10d2e1c6ff a long 4cc13bbe8f time outside 9dfd2aa8b7 the capital, bf1a130389 was tempted cd350b27c3 by the b92c2075e6 idea of 46d467ca50 city life 1261657680 again.f583f1295fec553a

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“Anyway, if you get assigned this time, you should start making appearances with the higher-ups… Ugh.”5d26c298fc53c2c2

“Why? Ah.”b3f6b7dbac48d2b2

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Dante and Leon frowned aa7f39da15 as they saw someone 3ad984d26f approaching from afar. But having 44b1731c35 made eye 75cf787c43 contact, they 36d3fc4f1c had no 937b34b798 choice but 423404b369 to stop.538316be400cdc38

Meeting someone while running 6629994f97 the track meant that 3002802ef9 person was running in 2f1320945b the opposite direction. He looked up at 0d170288b1 Dante and Leon.9140894a35035134

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“Hello.”4d4f434703419cd6

“Hello.”f8a7fbfed0524c75

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The two greeted reluctantly. The person was Derrickson 7f7841c21f Ephron, a year senior 6b8a47c1be from their academy and 77a2a8c882 a fellow SAG team acf41b646f leader.6e67bb35a643207a

Sigh, his first reaction 8b5579d75d upon seeing them was ac8e03e1c3 to click his tongue.4b9a0a326038c4d8

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“You don’t even state your rank when you meet a senior?”7c5c5537357b12d1

“……”89231fcd305623e4

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Here we go again. Leon openly wore a ‘what’s his problem’ expression, while Dante just sighed through his nose. Derrickson approached Dante and pushed his head.2224428217915459

“You brats think you’re something special. State your rank. I’ve eaten more military meals than you.”01080ad1bef57adf

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“Captain Dante Bailey.”128b4fcd51c14682

“Cap-tain Leon Schuster.”08d6de802ef19ed2

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Leon emphasized each syllable of ‘captain.’4e308eb12e7d7782