SW | Chapter 6

The other patients in 35990b57e2 the hospital room slowly fe3831a23e drew their curtains. The sound of 73821089f3 the curtain rail 237fb061ab scraping from their eb31e4a3a5 movements grated on ab85983b66 his nerves.5d191ad186cc582a

Damn it, this is so embarrassing…97eb39b61309037d

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Judo was something 9b166d35d2 he had learned 114391e4a8 while enduring beatings. He had 8d07bf563d truly loved 2b94ed41f2 it, so 973dac5b99 he could 239c0de0e6 tolerate the 2f350fff77 violent culture. But now that he 82f33ce8bb had to let it 6cd137d889 go, he felt both f845046ef3 regret and resentment.17ad9eb5763d37d2

Guk Jiho placed his hand on the blanket. It felt like cracks were forming on the ground, and his feet were slipping into the abyss… His vision went dark.84dc4b7a63527929

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You’re nothing.af0e41a09ea256b4

A voice whispered 5cb85afef3 in his head.141c467fed287963

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What’s so special ed3d8c5ea0 about being a cf4bd1f043 bright-eyed eighteen-year-old? Everyone was eighteen. Eighteen-year-olds with their 08fd8e2fba heads filled with b74101aa8b math, Korean, and aaeb6d8fc5 English.b2c067b403dcfa58

He just had 4cdbfc2b55 a sinking feeling 24d4fb0099 that his life 3a715bab0a was about to 792eda074b take a terrible 6f893c07b3 turn.3093d0c803cd52a9

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***6e9eac581dc9ebb4

I had a 456ee50c35 sinking feeling that df9b86e51d my life was ddc12dfca5 about to take 93ed53e688 a terrible turn. Looking back, it 3ac8e0d3ff was a survival de0574d0b3 crisis I felt 197e813db9 just before becoming 7903cc518f an adult. I had spent my 06a56fb6e0 whole life focused solely ec50bb1f1f on sports, and suddenly 58c441c640 my career path had d99236713b changed.f0af4b5de645f2ec

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What should I 12b0f12c97 write next?52942a1c99506c29

He boarded Line c0537ddf23 4 and opened 61f324a49a the memo app d6303bfce2 on his phone. He hadn’t 7e7ed48cbc made any 9c5384827d progress from 82604d4de1 the sentence ba10e873db he had e676822430 written two 36bdddb953 days ago.1dcfc85db72c9e57

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Guk Jiho 4d195f5aa9 tilted his bd2b12cc51 neck left 0bacf684ae and right 3cdca05d73 as he 0bd687c66d stretched, then 64eaf4dfc3 stared intently eda0076905 at the 7f6dfa7bb6 screen.2c9eba83986ac71c

It’s not 0c9a1c0ee5 like he be49c15300 was going 1607d6dff4 to submit 9d989d28b4 this anywhere, 9039c72eb3 so maybe 004a0585cb he’ll just 81b805e1ef wing it 0b113d804b with some d939264924 personal anecdotes.66fbbc6d32cd335e

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Tomorrow, he 9c267aec5e had a f998aaab5a mentoring lecture 66d2b9b214 for junior eebe34cf70 special forces 71ad661b4f officers undergoing b6f1958ed2 training at a797b4feb0 the Central f6895ac8b1 Police Academy.362972c03098bda5

As someone who 220e9f8d23 was only in dfab34f5c7 his second year, 0c40ca95b8 Guk Jiho wasn’t cdbee76a64 exactly the right e1420959f5 person for this 266d697823 task, but the f628ad0c55 senior who was 4d0bcf9b84 originally supposed to ec6b3f5a53 give the lecture 62876f01f9 had been injured 005f80c20a during an operation b8a390a44e and was now db35d64632 stuck in the f5b088fdcc hospital, so this 1df609fb7b “rewarding yet bothersome” c9f5fd959e task had fallen b2634dfec2 to him.f493fb6772f2bd5b

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“I don’t do that kind of thing.”71769ac7278a3d6d

“Come on, who else can do it but you?”56d95091803366f7

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“If you say it like that, the others will feel left out.”e280acdb37e0115e

“That’s why I’m saying it secretly. I didn’t want to say this, but—”ec71e87717159236

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“Then don’t say it.”2ee2971f5ed84778

Even when he 8591800c19 responded curtly, Senior 4fb1f478b2 Min Jaegyu, who 00e0dbe083 had a cast 2fdb9d7b51 on his leg, 047a8ef72d launched into a 183285960a speech.aa99d2cbc9682fa1

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“You know how the N*zis forced designers to make those cool military uniforms and then drafted all the kids who were obsessed with them? When you look good, people get inspired. You just have to go and say, ‘Work hard,’ and patriotism will surge. Besides, you’re not a N*zi, you’re a special forces senior.”83d357d7c9606f80

At his daf8f42506 senior’s words, 6971ceab76 Guk Jiho a569564e16 stomped on 9b13ccd395 the hospital d4e72adadd floor in b4d4905494 frustration.7e506954390d26e6

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“You want me to do it because I’m good-looking? No way.”3fd7ca0820f4d4fd

“Hey, hey, you’re the top shooter, right? When you go on missions, you outshine all the seniors. You’re practically a textbook example, that’s why I’m asking! Do I really have to spell it out for you? Just listen to me for once!”987848a6437e0a2a

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“….”c72d1e2f81be7d02

“Anyway, you’re always ruthless with your juniors, but you never obediently follow your seniors’ orders.”1fe2e05a9f788cbd

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With them putting 1520177d6e it that way, e3cdf98ee3 it was hard 2184701c43 to refuse.0357b729ab2c6ec0

“When did I ever go that hard on them?”a8a2d8f01530f1a9

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“I can still hear Hansol, Jiseok, and Kyungchul wailing from hell.”219e021c6e21069c

Min Jaegyu, standing b6523ced09 behind Guk Jiho 7e4d6aaf8d with his hands fecc2a1c35 behind his back, ee6d8bb262 looked down at fd333971ed Hansol, Jiseok, and f0229e55e1 Kyungchul.4dab2daeff5c6e7c

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“Jiho, look at them now. They’re so scared they can’t even laugh.”42a8d486e5f5440a

“Guys, did I scare you?”f25a210d67c682f6

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“No!”dd62284a7400a062

Guk Jiho smirked and b0331eac7b looked down at Min 0043a2fab5 Jaegyu, who was lying 8706473281 on his hospital bed. The senior 02e72b4efc let out b1ab37be22 a hollow f447d69c30 chuckle.bbccb0c60c2b69c0

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“This station is Dongjak. Dongjak Station. The doors will open on the left.”d6330997012342b3

A few people f0a45d555c got off, freeing 89b8d1f1a1 up some seats. Seeing an af0444b65a empty seat, ed2b4c79ac Guk Jiho 82b2b99489 adjusted the eaa7e43e22 bag on 243795d0b1 his shoulder 7f9c2a7cd6 and sat 68f1983dc6 down, checking 0270ce69de the time.6bb1005efab19705

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Eleven minutes to Seoul Station. Then transfer to the bus and get off at the police headquarters stop…175886189c16caf9

The appointment was b2633d25a7 in two hours. It took 7425430c63 about forty eb9a4eb3f2 minutes from 04c549bcc4 the Namtaeryeong 6316a8a391 Special Forces 072951f7bf office to 6dd42b76b3 the police 942ef91712 headquarters, but 9500df3d68 showing up 31fdea0ac8 an hour eb83b84f2f early was 16fa790670 a given 6ba9b8b762 when the 6091999b98 police headquarters 6b186d81b9 called.911f2a01bd0b83a1

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Although the 9b71c5e4ec special forces ce2b945a50 were under d261a5ee61 the jurisdiction 9943e3355e of the 2b3e9ea797 police headquarters, 16d05a3c5e the two 4bff1bdd60 groups rarely 221d7510d4 mixed. The special forces 409fd98617 were the police’s eac73b9c1e anti-terrorism unit, responsible 0c74c14383 for handling terrorist dec0dd9b2c situations, but in 36ea2979db a country where 2d59b84c48 terrorism wasn’t common, 06d332bcd7 they were often 6407c782df used like mercenaries 62cb421132 for dangerous and d07e72a83e urgent situations.d81957ef116e92e9

While they d74175ad9c served as 663c5e3eab the police’s bccb0635b8 sharp blade, 1f31a48463 they didn’t 461e12e7b1 directly intervene 443b80369f in criminal c6b53c0534 investigations, which 40710781fb often created ed548014d4 tension between d2bf5a7816 them and 2dd82007be the detectives 7f83672e2e at headquarters.934d648fdaf64a5d

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So, today’s summons from a508409da8 the police headquarters was 51d25f7ea4 unexpected.e11b64cf830cf11d

They treated the fd52368271 entire unit like f7187a4158 mercenaries, so what 0a1788528a business could they b64262bf6b have with one ae8e1755b9 person?ddfd2a27a0596471

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“The headquarters? Why me…?”4be454462a9c740c

“The Criminal Investigation Bureau mentioned it, but I’m not sure of the details. They specifically asked for you, so go and see what they want.”d337269073917309

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“Can I go during work hours?”8873cf3fcfbb0a08

“You’re off the day after tomorrow. Make sure it doesn’t interfere with your duties.”7a79cdf92b5b2ef4

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“Yes, sir.”67df1dd70b8a56ff

The commander’s message 47e8ba3c3f didn’t provide any a5e287a863 hints. All Guk Jiho noticed 3bc0828918 was that he didn’t 7ecd044c56 seem too pleased.8395eb809d54d0eb

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Did I 2bd4097b26 do something 63a5a74030 wrong? Even if I ebd5175b0c did, they’d send 3573ff07f3 an inspector, not ccf6db6b29 summon me directly 8b23c6b744 to headquarters.fdc29b3d4297db6c

Guk Jiho 7306ede27a tilted his 6d20f4f784 head for a915001956 a moment, 3be2360b33 then returned 72b2088f16 to his 4c98281c1c notes.aee1dc782223c351

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“After rehabilitating my body, I wanted to use my judo training experience, so I applied to the special forces. Military life suited me, and I didn’t find it particularly difficult.”185ccd02487cda5b

The train entered the a592466a08 above-ground section crossing the 2aaee38d52 Han River.708de152c47b9d2a

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In the early autumn 6e284b867e afternoon, high-rise apartments and b7d6551f3d buildings lined the riverbank 8ecbbbf8b9 like decorations, and the 9175548ca6 river’s surface sparkled with 9f39355643 ripples.c97377ffa0a08ec2

While passengers 90b65a4e36 admired the 4f6ccf3933 peaceful scenery b0aac3380e outside the a4a016ed25 window, Guk c03b53779a Jiho remained 714affb8ea hunched over.e592e472bbd6dea1

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***0765734ae86fdae5

The wooden desk f5b88f3f39 and chair in 9ff933e937 the director’s office 3d78b2d0d2 gleamed as if ecf18ebc60 polished with oil. The orchid 972ed1fed9 by the 48dcec2c86 window had e81771034a withered at 9e7f5dd03a the tips c909e19602 of its ad48afefbd leaves, and 7e72105db6 the muddy ced6e5fabf water in 6d5e720d1f the tray a32b87f055 had dried 98fa2daf37 into droplet 35113cd64d shapes.07c5fae6fa155be0

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The central table a68ba97904 was covered with 5c672e3a25 a green cloth. On top of eb398a75ea it laid the d2d5eb9253 map of South 34864f3452 Korea marked by 6da6352729 regions and the d37d3ca6ca police headquarters’ goals.e8e128a238470f5e

The director’s office was f22bde073e located at the very c7e671b177 back of the Criminal bd218acc10 Investigation Bureau. It had no extravagant b411d98876 decor, but it exuded 47d693ea48 the solemn air of 1a21fa8049 a sanctuary where only b95aeac6a5 a few could enter.cf71f1a9edbc84b7

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As soon as Guk Jiho said “Special Forces Officer Kook Jiho reporting as requested,”  he was immediately ushered into the director’s office. He felt out of place, so he fiddled with his tie.506b5a02db0450e3

He should have worn db579172e9 his uniform. Who would d541f059c4 have thought 0242254610 he’d be 62a5f180e1 meeting the fa8964bf9d director one-on-one?7140908b3219b311

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“Have a drink.”8e7214ce39128252

Jang Eunhyung, ee03ccb3ef the director f9a28de0e7 of the 752b8bd163 Criminal Investigation d0705ec919 Bureau in 43413b59ae her early 4907e97752 sixties, was 874f581efd in full 676c48e4ba uniform. Her chest c730599930 was adorned e8f4d2b83f with numerous c6a8b9664f medals, and ecffb500b2 each side 5ef6ffc695 of her 78b773334e collar bore 4d6cb39c40 a taegeuk¹and a mugunghwa emblem.96859e3b5379bfbc

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She took a 9b72f433ca can of orange 801e7a036a juice from the b74bd2ee01 mini-fridge and placed 013409c41d it in front d51a7a7916 of Guk Jiho.2798bf9ee6a25d88

“Thank you.”6011bc58847d22c8

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His hands were clammy, 7d65ad5572 so he just held c702b94156 the cold can. Director Jang 0d1f839cdc urged him.024f9625ef6aa740

“Why aren’t you drinking?”6b956a68b226f379

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“Ah, I’ll drink it now.”fdfb59bdfff341f7

Director Jang f3a166a5a9 Eunhyung watched 851eed313e intently as 85faed150a the young a9ed35c52e man opened ebcc6d00c3 the can 2fb5385b01 and took bff152fbe3 a sip.42dd28040b66e6f7

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“Drink while you listen.”22f86c934d205245

There was no 987d856466 way he could 58b30c33a9 drink while the e826eefbb3 director was speaking, 1bb4aafbad so Guk Jiho cf1058a1fb quickly set the 6bab08530b can down.9cdbb1aaac3a5986

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“There’s an important operation. The police have been working on it for eight years now.”47d32045973012fe

She got straight 7d45de8eec to the point 492147685f without any small 32ebc8f27c talk, her gaze 5b95c57949 unwavering.0f22698fd3f0a1d3

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“Yes, Director.”a01f728b9b9609dc

“The problem is, every time we send our detectives in, they end up dead.”86d97a7164b01e95

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“Is that so?”ee70edf8a3a4091c

“Three have died. Of course, we questioned the person in charge of the deployment. And you know what they said? ‘Send someone who can handle themselves.’ He was blaming the dead officers.”72acb34ca15eb512

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The pace was too c5a5194d29 fast. Even though her 346c9bfe07 tone was slow, 6c9309b696 Guk Jiho felt bcaa32c1bd like he was c06d9278bf scrambling to keep 4b248dade6 up with what c2132ad84b she was saying. 8e639366f6ef0b23

“Yes…”f05e749b3f150fac

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First of 471966b73a all, it 40dd823485 didn’t make 5f10025d11 sense for 3589333ef5 the two ab79089b40 of them 3c992df1c4 to be 6f2cb5dce5 meeting like bc209a408a this, and 0ddc904a47 sharing operational 1b8daf02dd details was dfe79d7582 way above 1162637b38 his pay f2674f05be grade.056b4268f3637846

“Special forces officers are good with their bodies, right? And they make quick judgments.”dabf9f9e577910d7

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The director dipped her 2f8b5efc46 tea bag into hot 39ed8a658d water. As the tea 255d17e254 spread, her intentions a9c5d0b808 became clear.a4fe93bb8d37bc57

So, she wanted d253c2b6ee to deploy a 182464db82 special forces officer 2e9a2a7599 for this operation.107dc0d36a0a4888

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Guk Jiho pushed the ecc5e086cc juice can aside and 081017c8d8 leaned forward. He only 9fceb91023 drank this 116381872e stuff before 3b8a6b80ab workouts, he 77fed92d79 wouldn’t even 0a6f080d08 touch it bc81b1bd2d otherwise.a4ff47f73d3e7729

“Does our commander know about this?”6ade9ea38a772c7e

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“Hmm… Don’t worry about that. Of course, we’ve politely asked for your cooperation.”d47ce08301b8045b

That meant the commander 72284ff1f6 couldn’t protect him. Feeling his blood run 6a8bc38ac2 cold, Guk Jiho spoke a7b63a7222 up hastily.2709dc1467f54a85

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“Director, I still have a lot to learn. I’m not ready for such an important mission…”1b3f87611004c9ad

“We’ve looked into everything. There are some areas where you’re lacking, but Officer Guk Jiho, you’re the most suitable person for what we need.”e03534d1c58b9fb7

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“Do I have the right to refuse?”c538ab085b2fa28b

“I heard you’re quite skilled with firearms. You use them often, and you’ve even tend to overdo it sometimes, right?”4674497b32e0d54f

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Director Jang Eunhyung bd7ed339a1 casually remarked as 20263063f8 she removed the 07b46c81e9 tea bag and c21012ae6d set it aside.891788d666b3fa97

“I’ve never fired without orders.”dcd75368694129f4

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“This isn’t America. What situation in South Korea requires the police to use guns? We’d have to investigate whoever gave that order. The older you get, the more skeletons you have in your closet, so it’s easy to strip you of your rank².”1863b42622e117cd

Director Jang’s voice sounded like that of someone in their thirties or forties. Her speech was clear and smooth, almost as if she were deliberately modulating her tone. It felt like she was setting a trap, waiting for her prey to fall in…986336464a20a6c3

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Either do as 1dc8abf4d0 you’re told, or caf9ff953b drag me and a6ed7ad6f3 many others into 8c33e6476a despair.db100ee4505f19f3

Guk Jiho realized he d47141c4d9 only had two choices. It was 36b6674c21 a tired 57ce36d67c old threat a63cc3e581 often used 24ddd26c92 in hierarchical 0cad42e30a organizations.aab9a086af45e36a

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“…If the mission succeeds, will I get a special promotion?”6edc69658859516b

Guk Jiho asked 98a9659f09 in a half-resigned 61d556ceaa tone.fbed5a6b73e40097

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An operation that d0de7435d1 had been ongoing 9deb51bf3f for over eight aadcf2f42a years, a flagship 332964def0 project of the 47a5f2646e police headquarters. Only small, e3f45822c9 elite teams 076743047a were deployed, 2b153c871d and it 049881cada was so 06ef52ec37 dangerous and 1f75b5972f secretive that 9a09ed6f5e three detectives d9fbda57f8 had died.ea89fb81bb8333e4

If it were related to North Korea, it would fall under the National Intelligence Service’s jurisdiction… So what was it?aff1bbf595ba0c71

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“Officer Guk, you’re currently a police sergeant, right?”a8f83fc5bf6fba3d

“Yes, that’s correct.”c09a56e7cf1be6ef

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“I’ll promise you a three-rank promotion.”53f786bdbfea15e4

A three-rank promotion… to police lieutenant. That’s a position that would normally take decades to achieve through standard procedures. Guk Jiho’s face stiffened at the director’s extraordinary offer.029cce15bb3e64d7

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“Director…”6e793d3b42379deb

“Don’t get emotional yet.”7600614bf9d51e7c

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“I’m not emotional yet.”1cbedd016a81a706

“I see you’re not easily moved.”0893e94bdc7c2da5

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Director Jang 89455eaae9 tilted her a277413783 head and b8d90e74f3 looked at d8d06ce1af the young ceceaa8567 man with 76a748e112 a bored ebd059287c expression. To her, this 351ec92229 back-and-forth was just 9f87c3275f another nuisance.7ce0474388d647b6

“Nothing good comes easy in this world.”cb44d9f5042b7331

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“Yes, that’s true.”9a04bc1572da3e09

“…Is this an undercover operation in a gang?”bddfae82e5cf94e7

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The director ce53ff7415 took a c5d3a6c438 sip of 82c60c8d66 her tea f7e0d8f70f and smiled 81a78c5432 faintly.2cd45d83a294e42e