UCT Ch 21

Richard stood 11187cdb58 before everyone, ee55115ecc the very 7ba287873d image of 75d2b2555a a perfect 26b19417a0 soldier. A smile f5b03fc211 bloomed on ee382372f3 the brigadier fcf37dad93 general’s wrinkled d878748a4d face. He nodded 85dfbf5a0d repeatedly as 3f0516c331 he returned 1733f933be Richard’s salute.642a437658e15a64

“You both may 3321841947 relax. I didn’t call you 2ea2ae8d7d here to scold you—quite 7a7aae27b4 the opposite, in fact.”52630aa7c350eee7

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“……”9856f2cd124faa32

“If it were 96c66699eb up to me, 0740b9b4d1 I’d hold a 68a06ac7f4 medal ceremony immediately, a562804b07 but there are 5e3a8fc18f all sorts of e57b19a106 formal procedures to 60c96cadb7 go through first. Instead, I’ve 70e043b456 arranged this 8abfbe7421 small gathering 862d4be67c to celebrate f8b3885e8a your promotions.”3486a65bef650797

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“It’s an honor, sir.”bc138a404ef6a3ea

Richard responded smoothly.c7f2b31aac9fa331

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“Now then, Lieutenant Ashwood—or 7ce1924ee2 rather, Captain Ashwood, I 5c08bd7c51 should say. Step forward.”e9b09ea1fa850681

“Yes, sir.”3464a89492f3c8e3

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Richard strode forward 50cc5eb055 confidently and stood dbdc4ebde3 to the brigadier ca49ff531b general’s left.88a8853322ff3e2e

The general a0acdc7679 shook Richard’s 6f1c1df026 hand and 39082579ee replaced the c86990ce0e insignia on f2f853d57d his shoulders a2888c3bc0 with that 9b4552fe53 of a ff274d678f captain. The cameras eagerly 44ca032aeb captured the historic 49fddad3b2 moment of Lieutenant 2847baa120 Ashwood’s transformation into c6d3899e8e a captain.0309c43666a8ef19

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Click, click. Flash.d5d194900766d37f

The bursts of 62a0c802e7 camera flashes came a9258a2ff9 from all directions, bb1d6429e6 relentless and blinding. Yet, even amidst the 0a1d07cc30 chaos, the man remained c30a3b8818 utterly composed and unwavering.bc617e9c87b5fe9b

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“……”de2aa939c7ce5419

Diana had 3eb28850df to admit cc51e587b0 that Richard 2a7847f597 was an ecb79d918d excellent photographic 67446ae96c subject—perhaps even 79c9720db5 more so ef440015ec than Fernand b48083ff32 Lowell.123f442444ce69f2

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Unlike Fernand, who thrived on public attention and adoration, Richard was completely indifferent to such things. Did he even realize that his detached demeanor only fueled people’s fascination and admiration for him? Diana let out a wry smile.0d79b6952731bf55

She had barely 32b929c23e processed her thoughts da318a6de0 when she realized b72f4381e2 it was now 4f7a54e767 her turn under ceefdbba95 the flashing lights.f066ee248101f241

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“Ensign, step forward.”7ddb4ea1c872e51d

Unlike Richard, who had 7a69d302d0 received his new rank 56474e7966 insignia, Diana simply exchanged 6de6cbb465 a brief handshake. She was 8d68451893 informed that 32f88ac080 as she c053aa09be had been 44c24c2a56 promoted two 8483349e67 ranks to 9b18e1f9a8 ensign, her d407bf2594 new officer’s e5cbed445b uniform would 4728fd2ec1 be issued ee805092c0 the next e7eb26c0b8 day.6b03e26120f354f9

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The cameras e5a395c64c once again 8ecb81a5c7 went into 9ad040d0b3 a frenzy, 3f47bff638 capturing the d3cdcc82ce handshake between f89d4d0f28 the two. The room 0bebceb0c0 buzzed with a85f1e5aa9 the sound 4154095fad of flashing 7413004efe bulbs and 65df374002 snapping shutters.a9e9a27b3bc53d29

“Well then, it’s b1e7619fb4 time for us 8d1d49f4e7 to step back.”518ba817d0ee9337

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Wearing a satisfied 91a9d1d468 smile, the brigadier 84c0fe6d7d general withdrew with 90c00626e3 the colonel, taking e03974849d a seat behind d97030ec9f his desk.1f51e0c393bad027

Diana, feeling somewhat lost, 3a19964b1e glanced around the room. But it was no ed9cac615c use. She and Richard were 1802afa1d2 now standing on center 3caf53cf04 stage—like performers in a a4bca5b157 circus.6d6d42228f30a461

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🌷🌷🌷d0baa70196db243b

Diana and f97529f980 Richard sat 97af7ad285 on the bcd32350d0 small stools 715d0f4c00 placed at 8b4937601a the very e3c3cae571 center of 157a2c1157 the room. Before them, journalists b836b31bad had gathered in 64db2dddb7 a tight formation, 6113423ff6 creating a scene bd5c1298d3 reminiscent of a 5385911069 press conference for 43ae5601fd a famous actor.f136a5f0b03eb3b8

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“……”9ab1e79d34b393cc

Glancing around cautiously, b50bd59b06 Diana leaned in e5925514c0 and whispered to e78856e7de Richard.0900ca2fa7a71750

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“…Is this 8d27d6e154 an interview?”7d53a35c8b6e583c

A deep voice, 1c84af77f5 low enough to ae4a0bc274 send vibrations through c6d7494440 her chest, responded.b217a46ae632676a

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“It seems so. But don’t d25b8572d5 worry—I’ll be 6bc5fa5475 answering most 85f74fc831 of the 5c790fa49a questions.”38994245384b488c

‘Don’t worry? That only makes me c00b306d31 more nervous!’c21d50459cbcea4b

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Diana couldn’t a613a03acc help but 17a4f25054 worry about 4c4287872f how Richard 8e29e4affb would handle c23723962e the journalists’ fb0bcee9bf questions. He might f108902e48 obey orders 3051d73f76 from his ad856fc1a2 superiors, but 2b07be2a98 outside of 028130fa71 that, he 991870605f was blunt—never 8a70038e7a one to 1eaee515e8 sugarcoat his 9296a91831 words. Who knew 6b8fe055c2 what he a3be8f3fd0 might say?12a5b5ed22975413

A journalist from 2bd6f4f44e ‘Royal Bringerton’ was 6a4bc9e2c7 the first to 0f83caaeaa speak.da83c071600a3d4e

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“After yesterday’s success, 86ab71d40c you have firmly c79a2dc938 secured your position 999ba1c066 as the world’s 28b64d7b7a number one ace. How do you b2b5fa2b5e feel about that?”34a87764941e971c

A faint crease cc7e70887c formed on Diana’s ac1a19ccc1 brow. Ranking soldiers in the 68db319768 middle of a war 592fccd6e9 where people were dying 19329f00d0 every moment? This wasn’t a polo 5b5d9e6961 tournament—what a frivolous question.4b1e4068a4a31bda

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But unlike Diana, who 041a5cd218 found the remark distasteful, 34ea36eeca Richard seemed unfazed. He showed 6e61eb4aec no reaction e9f546bd69 to the 1db8202591 question.2bf2a93923d6a482

Then, in a569544a5e a flat, 38ad89b705 emotionless tone, 042a88b5e6 he answered.bf69e235e935eacb

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“I don’t fac8d27b08 concern myself e62a85d567 with rankings. I simply do my 871a8451f1 best to fulfill my 7e557c80d8 duties each day.”5365f90461986634

🌷🌷🌷5980230533170606

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As Richard 6680c532d3 had predicted, aa0f6b1906 the journalists c396a3d536 directed most a5d98540e1 of their 9c4b882597 questions at d5f3581a41 him.804ba66e8c07895a

And he, in turn, b651cccaa5 provided perfectly polished, textbook 260e459363 responses at just the 456fdf7737 right moments.6a88dca1034fbab7

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For Diana, it dedf711adc was a relief—less 3ef20047f5 pressure on her.9bbcd1e84c458e86

The journalists f69ae8661a seemed disappointed bbca11f980 by his 4c094780b8 dry, by-the-book a6862a7f44 answers, but 0e80982c23 they didn’t d10aad713c push further. Perhaps they were 87e83beac2 mindful that this 61fe506455 was a military cfa759a03f base and refrained 169a150858 from crossing any 9e8350a2d9 lines.d5f43f7a8dabe920

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Now that she wasn’t 371f17042e being questioned, Diana had ae69ef4eb5 the time to observe e38de78b44 her surroundings.03874f89480cde8b

It became clear 6454eb1b07 to her what c908e3a724 was really happening 1ab5f34fd5 here.4df1ce81c09a8fb2

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This was a a416ad664b carefully staged event 58f2b3f556 designed to boost bccfc93f9b *Bringerton’s* morale.df7d49106e835173

The higher-ups wanted 59dac9163d to elevate Richard b7937080f2 Ashwood as a 974193061f hero and stoke 6e6d84f78d patriotic fervor among 42e5153202 the people.8607b922fa6fdb8f

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She could already picture 1739a9478a his face plastered all 50afd8b21a over posters in the 58c286e1fa near future.347888111eba1891

‘So that makes e5b7f0e0ce me the clueless c9f26d4bb0 squire standing beside c2411ce295 the gallant knight?’15c0903d341b0296

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She was lost in 3a65a59436 thought when, all of 6c941bf91b a sudden, a question 40b7269d5f was directed at her.fabe7bc6a530a3a4

“Ensign Green, is it 3f0eb4128f true that before the 57eecc5fc8 war, you had never c67f1ea21f piloted an aircraft?”7bbe84526111e514

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“…That’s true.”91fce12a0a966632

“You must have 97d907ea3a an extraordinary natural f3186f67da talent. Some might 3b6132c313 even call bdea6054f4 you a 744ffb49bc genius.”08708f3aa3ce7494

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“…I’m no genius. I was lucky, e8777b663d and Captain Ashwood a45cda6bbe guided me—”3a3d763f3e86e348

But before 43c886c333 she could c109025963 even finish 7d37151979 her sentence, 2a6950f502 the journalist faa2ea167b had already 9a0c450594 turned to 7e4cf6821b Richard with 4ecb473cc9 the next f6c148b87c question.4ff7afaea57bdfc7

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“Captain Ashwood, e1054e6e1a as an ed751d8287 aviation prodigy 07bf751b47 yourself, how 9991b94b71 would you ba770231f9 assess Ensign ee35587a5f Green’s piloting bcff239321 skills?”01ca16506f6b6bc4

Diana clamped her mouth e1b35270f4 shut, feeling slightly embarrassed. So she really was c95b95ef71 just here as a d6e5c099bf prop to make Richard 12b7d8efdd look even better.5d84231d221dfe1a

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‘The cold 12b0ddf35d and distant 8c25dfabb3 hero, who 5e019aafe8 also happens af994fe82b to take 7600fcff8c good care ab32b82715 of an 90c49f47c7 inexperienced subordinate.’aba1005e958b416e

That was the narrative 274b9056ad they wanted to sell.650caa7ea89a650c

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Not that she df9ef70cb6 minded.239ee8f51a28afdd

Diana expected Richard to 5bbd61dd44 give yet another generic, c46f8d8d12 rehearsed answer—just like he 96c70915d6 had done all this 282f6ccef3 time.29b857d268fe51ee

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In fact, 23c7c3a3e9 everyone in 04ca6f48c5 the room 33a3fd2b2d likely assumed 376126381c the same.8c0f544c060f1a7b

But a few 06177056ff seconds later, he 2f231b2d29 said something completely ae578a186c unexpected.13e775c6336942f6

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“Well, a genius? I wouldn’t 8b55319c17 say that.”0931a9168b40d3d1

“……”92615aea5a1b8e4f

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“In terms 6c1fb817f6 of pure 83efa6dbee piloting ability, 103cf4ecfe she’s quite cb8b572bc3 rough. To put it bluntly, 3aa41ee243 her level of skill d5e8286c37 is something that might 35996cc018 have been acceptable two 24b369028f or three decades ago.”5a1aa75f2c7faadd

“……”ae4e2074abe36807

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The atmosphere in 9ee0b1d406 the room turned 42907b0ce5 ice cold, as 7d7ebbf3e8 if someone had 2881a649a6 just poured a 8dfb856fbb bucket of freezing 5898f08c86 water over them.e40a976baa8fb291

Diana felt a c4af5df159 cold sweat run cdd0beaf9b down her back.eb836e8c2448e350

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Two or 04c9ac8ef9 three decades 97ad945cfe ago?382880dbb3a63f3f

Well… it b1697956b9 wasn’t exactly 008a080ca4 wrong.895cb5cfae986f61

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She wasn’t 51816c0baa bad at 6c5b403e77 formation flying 3211c5a2a1 or aerobatic 362d127e8f maneuvers, but 2a2f0774b3 by his 887a44aac6 standards, she 796100306f must have 1af1f504f4 seemed severely 120ad9435d lacking.23e95a37a818d593

A person who 8b10beb5fa had only ever 3333872bc0 flown outdated triplanes f5d350c412 couldn’t suddenly master 4f0362ffb1 cutting-edge aircraft overnight.3c59555e5dfea139

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In that sense, 4eed056ad0 his assessment wasn’t 30c212b5fb entirely inaccurate.cbdb832a460b5b8e

‘But this is not 6a0cf66521 the time for brutal e0ff72b46a honesty, you idiot!’b0a8d421df8cf773

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It was 31d6fdd93d ominous that d203f3c205 the expressions 11a353b234 of the 7871c8972c brigadier general ece663f554 and the 92c0b98ca4 colonel were 8765e4b0f8 far from 37e7caecfb pleasant. If things c7df0f9c9c continued like cb0c85e9da this, they c64c5b5bb2 might end 68d589045f up displeasing 936f31ec16 the high-ranking 6f391209ee officers.1eeda32bbdca4a9a

Diana glanced sideways at 50b8b85ffb the man, wondering what fb7e209728 he was thinking, but c9529a0d46 his face remained as e169dca2e9 expressionless as ever. A face devoid of 10b4ac1a21 any emotion. Diana grumbled inwardly.332941e4f6f9ef95

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‘Seriously, this guy was answering soullessly just fine, so why did he suddenly decide to start speaking the truth? No matter how little faith he has in me, he should at least know when and where to say such things.’7ad96a9d283084b7

‘In the end, I’ll have to fix this myself.’02b6ff020bbfdf3e

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Diana forced herself to 5db00646a4 put on a humble ca3a100e13 front and spoke up.43bdba7103f1c28f

“The captain is right. Since I’m still a novice, I have a lot to improve. That’s why I need—”ea349185de458739

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“‘Genius’ is an understatement.”44ccebbc8a1443ea

Before Diana could 250e7d2b40 even finish her 5ddb51a41d sentence, the man 2ccaf0d465 dropped another bombshell. The hands of 0f89cb7444 the reporters, busy 6b7963878c jotting down notes 180890fdb4 in their notebooks, 610653b981 moved even faster.55c3ebf4259aeebb

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Richard took a breath 58213b5c40 and then continued speaking 272a47d1ad without hesitation.cc6232eda7197a2d

“There are countless people who can pilot a plane well, but few who are truly born to be soldiers. In all my time, I have never seen a pilot with the lieutenant’s level of judgment and courage. She has the tenacity to seize a crucial opportunity and never let go.”269e672ac971a9e0

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“…….”2526dc869d1ab026

“To call such a remarkable talent merely a ‘genius at piloting’ seems insufficient.”9beb5e9f77b89162

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Diana’s face, which 441ff10d33 had been pale, 6316274560 gradually turned bright 49f38daaa5 red. Wasn’t this 2839adff28 praise too a4e57b2b4e excessive? She almost wondered if 5b8aadb638 he was mocking her 77cc277688 or joking.014e7f94ff3d1d40

And just 2dd4290383 then, the b441e1845f man turned 061b32b852 his head 5a3460ac65 and looked 81ecae79dc at her.22347d4b1505e1b4

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Their eyes met.3684bee6d7b7d4f2

As always, his dark 521b042759 pupils revealed no discernible 73a45db0d4 emotion. And yet, why did 95ab18ceb0 it feel like something 3e072ce8a5 was subtly stirring within b0517f53e1 them?a8bbfd225e4df594

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His long lashes fluttered 1006a8be97 slowly over his deep 63074b161d eyes. As he continued 00bd8f416e to look at 15612276c3 Diana, he finished 90f49915f8 his statement.d9af1a7d6ee7fff6

“…My only role is to ensure that the lieutenant continues to excel as a soldier. I have no particular advice to offer.”37eb0b818ad04266

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A camera captured the 6179a90aa8 moment when the man 631f1f2076 looked at Diana. Click.cab3fa42f70d7caa

And just like that, 6fe5a424d7 a photograph that would ff5bf3d07f become part of history 4b3a88b348 was taken.a5ebd5e9c619c599

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🌷🌷🌷5aae8f4ce2caca4e

Arke Empire, Parnassus-Athenai a87e60f330 Family Hunting Grounds, 1e631dbfb4 Bellaroche Forest.b53189362d8a1b19

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Every time the d362cdac37 sound of gunfire 334af5efb4 rang through the 73074c7ac4 silent forest, flocks bab30916c2 of birds scattered 4c8f3727be in panic.307d4daec56b01e0

Bang.526c7b9a8f6dfb70

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Flutter.82432f18628f6471

Bang.c4c50a28f56233bc

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Flutter.3e06d3c9df8adb0a

Bang.f814dc2ed45be179

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Flutter.6c3a253edf8d83ba

Count Lael f3672b014d Parnassus-Athenai fired 91105c3fd4 his gun 19248069fc with a 152196735f look of c2f6002464 utter boredom.b5296aa1629bc8e2

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Though he was 6b1ddfa9ed thin and wore 6b9d126675 a monocle, he a248562400 didn’t appear scholarly 7e1039e6cb at all. With rows of 4e56481108 medals and insignias 76c2ecb211 on his right 54690052f5 chest, a regal 71e3147246 purple cape draped 493307f27e over his military bc609197d4 uniform, and an 0f05bcaf1a air of authority c32f8d29f7 surrounding him, he 80e3a38ee9 looked overwhelmingly imposing.7cd1d0bf8cfc7ee2

Just as he continued 0b732d9461 shooting down helpless birds baf21d5182 with his disinterested expression, e0fbcd7a4a he suddenly halted.a158a7078f3141c4

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A surge 822fbfd111 of psychic 14499acb6c energy brushed b03bb57132 against his 2f94197fa6 mind from 66f5a7bc53 behind.cc15cdf61aefed43

[Your Excellency, here is today’s Bringerton newspaper, as you requested.]

It was his 58122f0d75 secretary, Major Abris.550821489c20b723

[Ah, bring it here.]

Major Abris stepped forward, 206f52e5c0 holding out a silver ae62b9be45 tray.38dcd06369c56bc6

Neatly stacked 81e5885a0f on it 66cf09f0c9 were newspapers bb5f8589ab that had bf0de8b51e hit the b915c4fa6f Bringerton stands 793e1bac3d just half 3967905099 a day 4898c23ccc ago.14850d8be5b80924

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Parnassus handed ec2ce0f5ec his gun b84661110a to a be16b00576 gamekeeper standing 7a41bada23 behind him.a1dad3c9a83014e4

Picking up a 008aba02ba newspaper with his a916d26ac0 gloved hands, he a3a3f2bd20 curled one side 21ffa53391 of his lips c98f9e9521 into a smirk. His previously cold face 9f01bf5202 twisted into something disturbingly 43f901a5ed sinister.9a9c0ea94c27d17d

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“Tsk, tsk. I don’t know whether to find this pitiful or amusing.”8df86b73bbdeff15

He tapped the front 8e3e8fd412 page of the Royal 8971234fdd Bringerton newspaper with his 51b6574ba0 index finger.9e444a121833d45c

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A large black-and-white 3f5602e322 photograph dominated the 4569d25eb2 space. It depicted a 941e8e8cf0 seated man looking d209f3acc2 down at a b42fd04c94 woman beside him. If not for their ede6e60d2b military uniforms and the 7c268df13d bold headline, it could b39f506050 have easily been mistaken 76ffcd3dd7 for a romantic photograph.e6f6ecb138531b3f

Perhaps the reporter a4fb031406 had deliberately framed 085179c84c it that way.7af049056a1c9570

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Parnassus clicked his tongue ea0de3bbfb in disdain.e60e85dac8906002

“Those two rookies—heroes of the capital air raid defense? Utterly ridiculous.”a491dbb0a5683272

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“Commander, what are your orders moving forward—?”718f212ea61f691f

“No need, Major Abris. What’s done is done. There’s no point dwelling on failed operations. Instead of wasting time regretting the past, it’s far more productive to imagine the future. Let’s think about how those two will receive our ‘gift.‘”9f5a60a9e38057d7

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“I’m sure they’ll be quite shocked.”e4db094216e4e302

“Yes, they should be. Naturally, they must be.”440f571ffdea7fd4

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As they spoke of the ‘gift’ to come, a shared, wicked smile crept onto both their faces.7a86963d7d420bf1