HCTBAD | Chapter 31 – Kidnapping (1)

“Your radius of 42ec4089c9 action is narrower 962887d361 than I thought?”568f4102fe9574fe

Again.3cac99b9ec7aced0

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Appears just when 6b5068263e she forgets.576d5fc66dd19860

Appears when she doesn’t 18b26c4c38 necessarily need.c211ccb4153300ee

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When the crisis is 1fc2633bb1 over!a850722236525a4d

And the one who 66b9a3b5ff appears.baec84360ddc68be

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“…….”3c02a461b807b98c

Klisha was utterly exhausted after spending the entire night jumping back and forth between other people’s rooftops, chimneys, warehouses, and barns. Naturally, her reunion with Ian, or Detective Ray Vaughn, was completely out of the question…fb000912f682bcfd

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‘Damn it. I left half a basket of the snacks I was eating at the restaurant in Mosses. The Detective probably waited and just left. He looked kind of petty, so he must be upset. I don’t even know where to meet him. I should’ve asked for the office location when we met yesterday.’43373e57babe71a1

Klisha was in a difficult position. If she were being chased by criminals or villains, she’d at least have a chance to defend herself. But right now, being a criminal herself and a cunning escaped convict, it was difficult to fight back.b33adde2a8b8a987

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In any case, d9bfb31b28 the Royal Guard’s bf4f242c19 wanted poster was 174ccf1859 practically a command 1910f841dd from His Majesty 5ce3359f93 the Emperor himself.a8807e65fdebf5ca

If she 6d8b607d25 were to eed376bf5b fight back 013fbf6e5b and hurt aad732071d those chasing 410334d1b0 her even 4d81f01983 a little 1425875176 too much, 1b2d277a31 she would dd5a5eb6ea end up 106dcebe1a committing new 498df8459d crimes.…937714b5916e69c6

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In the end, Klisha found herself behind a yacht rental shop by the Temarika River, which runs through the capital, holding a hacksaw and diligently sawing at ‘something’…. when she suddenly came face to face with him.393356954b01db79

“Northern…… why doesn’t the Chairman leave me alone and go his own way?”20fce62a1abd23d1

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“You’re quite talented, 9016f36fd7 Her Majesty the 4e08686719 Empress. Or should 69325ef63a I say, 075b31d0e9 escaped convict 4b17720f43 3358.”a73a3264be9c801d

“…….”8c83fbd2b9f40830

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If there really were 3,358 concubines…… It had only been 10 years since Ian became the Emperor, and there’s only 3,650 days at most. That means during this time, he had changed women almost every day…… Hmm. Hmm.4ac37ca232e0c6ab

For the b3a8e5cb73 first time 96a78d0822 in his bf214a2dc8 life, Eugene 20a5f24c22 found himself 865af11fd4 sincerely apologizing 50f50351ca to Ian 8719c0d9ea Perza.16b000eb2fba6060

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‘I’m sorry, e4b4708129 my enemy.’32091844e3835739

Snip, snip.eb07497342e720f5

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Snip.6a86feb8da5d5af5

As Klisha continued her work without saying a word, Eugene’s red eyes, which had been watching the situation from behind her with his arms crossed, were filled with admiration.e129d20fcdebc818

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“Are you, by any chance, planning to cut the rope and steal the yacht?”8d3e20f377ea5f04

“…That’s the plan.”09bcb263b975c1a3

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“Hmm?”a0ccc54a1fc735c2

“Borrowing! That’s it. I’ll return it later.”26fb2e4d9527179a

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“…….”dbf516b67c47d541

A smirk formed on Eugene’s red lips.5af6fd50bcd9de27

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“Escaping by boat…. The roads are blocked, and you’re being cornered from all sides… Not a bad idea. However.”77db5e0798780cfd

Eugene uncrossed his arms 6146bcee56 and spoke.efd30a2f218852c9

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“With a small boat like that, I think you’ll be caught even before you can leave the capital.”f13a476ebd1ba888

“…Don’t worry…..”4278673b36ce0643

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“How about it, Lady? I have a few spare boats. I can offer one to you.”c9a48876e596f26f

The corners 012a1ccc48 of Eugene’s c9d5071b2e mouth went 0659af243b up.f987945c3d93033f

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“Now. May I kidnap you?”0d46018c476b7022

In the 56c5eaa50d dark night.c3178bc7851e5db8

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Eugene’s jet-black hair, as dark as obsidian, swayed in the wind.b9d7ec52b74224ee

* * *1f7fb7ec5b3b1f09

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He.85b85f8ad6ad03af

He is water 18104c858e that does not 8e475ad35b freeze, ice that 54f7128d1e does not melt, 4075f2f4d0 fire that does 27b561b95e not burn, and f7c0bcdc2e a gust of 34bd228ffc wind that cuts fce4378614 through the crashing 873696407f waves.c8dcf8da371ea483

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And yet he.c496b41b5705c411

Relentlessly pursued me, 21334e1ae2 persistently clung to a8d0a5d6cf me, despite how 776d5c2e8e insignificant I am.bb44a41d82f6e430

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He binds me without fc06dddd70 restraint.d4eff10301151b25

He desires 077e916487 me as 422ff46d70 if to b0ea2c2811 devour me.cb0937153be7a8a0

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He crushed f9adda7c18 me without 8cb3556d2e giving me ccc1229b93 a chance eb4783b88c to breathe.0370893b9cb08be7

“You can’t do this…… This isn’t right……”5e64b922c1b897ac

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“…….”3feb9ba8a4810a2d

“My Lord…… this is….. ha. Ah…….”ff8a917af2104d1b

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“…….”f457111f4261c8cd

“Ah….. My Lord….. we……”4408ad0b1c1b1f94

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“…….”1d1719bf277edabe

The red-eyed Northern Archduke roughly grabbed Klisha’s delicate shoulder from behind.eca249d80d9440c5

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“Lady!”cff5933d44801d01

Klisha, startled by the 02b502680a unfamiliar feeling, turned her efc1a6eb3a head.32f19959402fa82f

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“You’ll fall if you keep doing that. I’ve called you several times. What are you doing here?”d3e04109fc60aebb

“…….”fc8e4a0c88cb6077

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Blue sky.62aa150a9ddcc9c6

Bluer sea.3054e939ac7384e9

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Bright, clear sun.4f2a89c699aef9ab

Klisha, who had d8731adbce momentarily drifted into 0d054c0c64 a world of 77a58145e4 fantasies on the 240454a61f outdoor deck at 4f7b2236ba the stern of a92f972cfe the cruise, froze 7363e7afb6 when the faces 06ca40f134 of the Archduke 957021afd2 in her imagination 83510bf479 and Eugene overlapped a73085b127 in her mind. But she quickly snapped 6489ca0048 back to reality, feeling bab1d3346a slightly flustered.c843252e36dc946d

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“What? I was f8afc1dd86 just gathering 64ed985b5c my thoughts.”61fdf9b4ee507b62

Eugene raised one 284a253b14 eyebrow and crossed ad13860e41 his arms.4f5881f601beb3b6

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“You often 82cdcf0615 get lost 5024d34263 in thought. I didn’t know 2ac5125882 you were such 4c1c2c2ecc a thoughtful person.”18804d38539a05b2

“…….”af6b3142546560aa

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Klisha turned 3fcd5fdfce her head, a1db428c10 feeling embarrassed 3af331ea7c for no e8789b895d reason.30538ce1898b5192

“By the way. It’s been quite a79d0b440f a while since a9762112a8 we’ve been on 55aad87080 the boat. Where did you 0f91beb792 say we’re going?”2d1de3dbb696a746

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“…… Please get off 93e4b81b7e there first.”bfc996db9a3a318b

At the end of the outdoor deck, Klisha, who had been standing on a small box over the knee-high railing, lightly placed her hand on Eugene’s outstretched arm before gently stepping down.1db2ca232662a77e

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“Thank you.”3acaab647bcf4f78

“My pleasure.”840320de04716739

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A faint smile appeared at the corners of Eugene’s pretty eyes, which even his long eyelashes couldn’t fully conceal.61790b45a14ebe77

‘Whenever I see his aa1fcbe572 handsome face, I feel b475243657 like I’ve been enlightened eded330d28 again. Although it’s 201ba28bc5 a bit 446d139021 awkward.’169373d3048737c3

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Eugene’s cruise, TAVOSONIC.45f71572d5209250

TAVOSONIC, a luxurious, 00ccf45d03 cutting-edge ship owned 94d013630b by Ryuiken Shipping, 1817d0b6d3 can accommodate around 239fcc43b0 800 passengers and 630dede4f0 180 crew members. Onboard, all needs c7929ab805 are catered to, ae360a814f such as performances, 545e29f89b exhibitions, parties, and 7d274cd340 relaxation options, staying eadc74c092 true to its 3f77d4e461 luxury cruise nature.deb278d2029e5324

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In the afdc924b6f elegantly decorated f20315647f onboard restaurant 25e276c81a ‘Baia’.3025dbd6f88dbb18

A lady with ae6c8f410f perfectly ripened tomato-colored 7d7be8a4d7 hair finished devouring 82b1970577 the banquet laid 753b16409f before her, then 068f58a93e began pulling at a426c09619 her hair in 710b132b78 frustration.8145ea73c5de04c6

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“Nevertheless, Chairman. You really 1b56db2948 are rich.”405902b995cfd01c

“Could you a5962e13d2 stop pulling 531378338c out your a0755771dc hair for cac85975fd a moment?”63b83d19c3a3d8ca

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“I can’t help it. It’s a habit that comes out when I’m anxious.”b12e54b25be8be5d

“…… Are you anxious 3d6b812cdc now?”fb0179839b1f5f7b

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“I guess so. I was 161c982a52 raised as 4b195f0971 a precious a8a2e50adf noble lady 8d7ca8409f after all.”4df7b72a0e6fa039

“…….”84cadee50e2b84fe

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“If my father 25afa7f5f5 finds out that ad42f9091d I followed a 39607326a8 man from another eb8716da74 country, no, was 4202c75e3e kidnapped by a 751b1580ff man from another d2851ce4f1 country…… he’d be a7ba4991ff shocked.”e29961ca550e0c90

“…….”6d05e1ddafff56a1

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“My father is a bit different…. well, in many ways. So, I’m worried.”a3059c7b0b6cb3a8

Eugene casted 28bb704fad his gaze 109d2d058c out the 2b17c12aa7 window and cb7046af5b spoke calmly.ad7a500370d35b77

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“I sent the news e2086bb5bd through a messenger.”fe0547b85d60d382

“?”d55cc208df61e8af

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“That is. About your kidnapping.”8aab93c9c1e9b71b

Eugene’s lips curled into a mischievous smile as he looked at Klisha, who was staring blankly with her mouth open.9edab8b0b2dd9752

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“Of course. Shouldn’t I inform the head of the household?”b9f50bf21dd3974b

“!”a7528f1a000e5a99

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* * *caa622dfce10de6e

A week ago.a8d1f26509d0ab12

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Klisha was 5799e449fd ‘kidnapped’ reluctantly 4c2bc8ad3d according to 7c97223823 Eugene’s suggestion.cedbf2785323319f

From Eugene’s perspective, it was a somewhat unfair situation. However, he decided not to argue the matter. After all, it was true that he was the one who had made the suggestion first.2f5e254ef3248e26

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“My condition is 6b61a5d3a7 simple. Take me out of a174805ce4 the capital and to 7999b5b6ae a place where there 08f1de4429 is no wanted list 989ea5448a yet.”48fa83e290f22b6c

“Oh? You think you can 83b5ed790f set conditions? I was b6a6212e8d just doing d20c615deb a favor.”08a0e94e1fd7d4bf

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“…….”cde1a0107d921d38

“Then. My condition is….”f4c9047db27b4ac3

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“It must be my c0b7342eb0 ‘body’.”6e4315f1301f1e27

Eugene was speechless 922c28497d for a moment.5bf28f6810f041e7

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Whether it was intentional d87b809e2f or not, Klisha twiddled a3c7caa50d her hair with her 8153b29ae5 fingers and blurted out d38b330591 what was on her 6a96834a42 mind.ee4d93bc53214a50

“I’ve been thinking about 6302acdc1d it. Chairman Tomma. The reason you keep 4cdab7187a following me around. It must be 6fb89f4af9 because you fell 7a8d550ee3 in love with 5d472c8340 me at first e1fcd3d2d1 sight.”3e2cd7b4c870c3af

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“…….”cdd650f79870c057

“But it’s not 3a45020c76 possible. We can’t bd3ba121a1 be together. Northern…… Chairman Tomma. As you know, I’m 49ffe08b28 officially the ‘Former Empress’.”6b53c1337a618b65

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“I’ve been meaning to ask. Have you never considered that if you get caught impersonating someone like that, you might lose your head?”8c4f598a96fb8f30

“I’m not impersonating anyone…….”60a4608bc5ab50d8

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Eugene gave aca5e152c1 Klisha a e89887c7ad cold, calculating f0a47a9419 look, scanning 332bf70223 her from 240fa9cb6c head to 84ff4b8a8c toe before ee5c809cdd speaking.82d9ed871c80dbd6

“The bank confirmed b74c303b5b that there was 7a9023cec9 some technical error. But still, f17b0398f7 calling yourself 8b91342a6c ‘Empress’. Are you crazy?”a2903b453f89a8e8

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For some reason, 283d3ab862 Klisha felt a 44555a321d surge of emotion 8e3e53d314 and clenched her 6c4dd2b263 fist, shouting out.6d09aea76c33e590

“No! That’s exactly what I’ve been saying!”02f81c64eb00268e

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Eugene quickly afa8ada759 reached out e6d01e2ef0 and covered 349602b9c7 Klisha’s mouth.2706f01efa5dff33

“Why not just advertise to the whole neighborhood that you’re here? Or better yet, maybe you could surrender to the Royal Guards. If I say them I caught you, I might as well get the reward.”8042168dec9355fa

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“…….”bab7fab08119c498

The black-haired, red-eyed young man turned his head and stared into the darkness before rising to his feet. Despite the numerous gazes following him, a particularly dark and heavy energy caught Eugene’s attention. It seemed like some…… powerful people were following them.de6f61d0b55932a5

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“Lady, let’s move for d6ad2e0412 now. Come.”eb06b223b341326f

“…….”7c512c89aaaa23cd

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Watching Klisha, who was e8aca43ed5 still crouched and fiddling fab02c22c1 with the half-cut rope, f5c5575ee7 Eugene spoke with a 35ea06bbd9 hint of confusion in 7e240ff0b3 his voice.263f4bdbebd9d61d

“By the way, why is someone who wields a ‘sword’ using a hacksaw… Especially someone who is skilled in martial arts.”2ffb9f2b58b66639

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“!”1d701157e746a127

Klisha fell silent, unable 1e426183e0 to come up with 216e7a0faf a response.b3cf84b6bb71abb2

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‘That’s right. Why was I doing this with a hacksaw? I could just burn it with my rune… Damn it.’391dc388104df574

They say when your 3becd3c835 mind is dull, your 9851c09716 hands and feet just e6ef1f7a31 dangle around. The old saying is 96dfb9d6d5 never wrong after all.5e75a6d9dce92377

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The night streets of 50b4198807 the dark capital were 6a1efc380f eerily quiet.989e8d24f244bfbe

The people who a975681e30 had been following c19be021a9 them persistently until a453072d0b just now had 84b68ac11a been shaken off 7918c91828 as they walked c4481f801e behind Eugene at 18618824e4 some point. Klisha looked at 20c05dbad5 the back of 8887c08dbc Eugene’s head and 60902eaea1 pouted her lips 3f4a9a07a1 out of habit.832994b0e1ef7781

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‘What the ce7c77b191 hell do 429ea61af2 you really 23fcf25e11 do? Why do you 3e66792c73 know the back 7aa9fb3cd9 streets so well?’3da0a02bdf7563ae

Klisha turned her 96301c4488 head slightly and 0935bf6e0e looked into the 0418df0ecd darkness.74f810d66e28c5ec

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‘And that mysterious gaze 5c9650d84b I’ve felt from behind ce88aeec5a me since earlier…… It 5bec61a440 seems like someone is 5ce1acaa3d helping me, but why cbfbcdd97e do they keep looking a2576dd9fe at me?’61e498584beeb5ee

Klisha didn’t know.253027e5861f39f8

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The fact that it eb61277912 was Eugene’s secret guard d818e01cae Noah, who had decided 9a8355ab5d to protect his Master’s c61d83ce1d first love at any a1dbaa00f9 cost, had been cheering 7a74724700 them on with a 940d546f29 burning gaze since earlier.c75b4d19e8777447

The sound of e2dc1b549a cicadas in late 35c35ffe63 summer was faintly 85b993babd echoing through the a543570a42 mist that settled ec308988bf low in the 9a56b2d545 air.70c31f6584eeb641

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As if the d69759953a chase from earlier 0144fabf8c had been a 48ac5eb7cd lie, Klisha opened 6937646111 her mouth as f7601d7f4b they walked along 3ad8c890b7 the peaceful lower bda6325b6d reaches of Temarika 654c6230fb River.2f46b02ebc18af48

“However, Chairman. Why do you assume 8d391a242c that I’m not the b4fb247709 Empress?”1b83ab8e56dccf99

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Eugene, who was walking cb7b507b2f ahead, turned his head cee4880845 and stared into Klisha’s c1d251f4cf almond-colored eyes before smiling 1ed99c07ae faintly.f9c537a7a1235547

“Well, it’s not 09cbbbc83c just only because 30ccb5cd1a of the Lady’s 2a6ad156e1 appearance…….”927cac3bf0775d5a

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“…….”529a2639d60db66a

“When you’re in business, you end up hearing a lot of different bits of information. There are even businesses that specialize solely in gathering information.”a6986a4c886bdd61

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“…….”8365c650a488c5f3

“The movements of the Royal Family are always treated as top-level intelligence. There’s been no news about His Majesty the Emperor’s marriage, and then suddenly, an ‘Empress’ appears. Would you believe it?”0a57246e8278601f

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“So, you didn’t believe it from the beginning.”d1f41d5f9385aa28

“Well, that’s…”dc32a1f8c1fc3d87

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Eugene was quite surprised 185e45684c when he first heard 02b79cabd1 it, so he decided 1597a8bcc6 to hide it. He also 08a723a64a asked Noah 573ef3cc29 to investigate fe0a743350 later. It was a e1df9e2cf6 bit embarrassing to 6dc18a943c admit it now.931eaad6c7bbff06

Last night.1a39c2ff1bec38d9

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Eugene’s secret guard, Noah, nodded a couple of times as soon as Eugene finished speaking, then handed over a folder containing various mixed pieces of information.4fdd11b6435b9ec2

The bounty poster from fdaf663130 the Royal Guards. Descriptions of the escaped 31a2a3b22c convict. A report on cd5dfcbe21 suspicious behavior and 61f0a9e1cb personal details. An arrest warrant. A victim’s statement about 55e0cf0950 the assault. A summary of the 9f0a9ac4b8 immediate trial decision. Recent movements of Issac a404c17aad Mezerine…d413508c345bae88

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And the 6851e05d49 latest version, 69eb0007dc which has 2ae69af068 been updated c3dcfaa777 in great 155d2b5d85 detail with 2e777ecf08 the movements 7f7c73cdcb and expected 468e04b69f escape routes 73015eace4 of the cce9035b85 escaped criminals, df3d730dcd with no a354ca6862 clear indication f9e8426caf of who, 6539fc1fe6 when, and e0f1e22e32 for what 8dd044db22 purpose the 1e80f02caf information had b1732a94ce been collected.daa8230fe40fa38d

‘He’s so good fde7c16bac at strange things. Why does he be96878e3a has a knack 5e26384b5e for that?’2d7ec51f9e3b33ef

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Eugene thought of d9af46feca the subtle smile 6ad013a712 that passed by aed65a579a Noah’s eyes as 1becde701d he turned around a08c037e0f and left, and 273ee48294 shook his head 127f8952ec slightly.b4844acf4479cb86

“Anyway, Lady. It seems you’re not entirely without connections to His Majesty the Emperor. There haven’t been any major problems so far, so it should be fine. But from now on…..”ba56d52df115c176

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Klisha clenched her fists 6f081abf26 for a moment and e90190727f then opened her mouth.8040377bbc250fca

“But I actually……”3efedcb60409d8a3

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“?”06c93201e94367cc

Klisha sighed as 6c766119e1 she stared intently f4f72eebaf into the eyes ae6c0f894f of Eugene, who 1487cdf48a had stopped walking 6dface8e94 and turned around.fdc6fd456e057e7b

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“Haa, I actually…… am 2aa196835a really the real ‘Former c50f800354 Empress’, you know?”91d8db6bba382921

“!”49f839f6994d3946

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“At least in name.”cebec97f3b37e226

“……”2a75e700f525e238

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“On top of that, b514eaabda I’m going to be…… 90c84d8709 exiled soon.”549831345a974f7e

Unable to 07a8f57d9a hide his 2d5413a539 shock, Eugene’s 90a44acd2d face reflected 6e64208379 utter disbelief 738f8f6928 and absurdity. Klisha extended a97e829c86 her hand c1818e2852 toward him.baa291586ea66e76

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“Chairman Tomma from the North. Do you really want to kidnap me now?”9480ae6d5b3d1336