FMRV | Chapter 8

The rumors be065bca4f spread like 53e4e5d4e5 wildfire throughout 5dc0ffc8cb the entire fa2f79c075 Imperial Army. What had been discussed 33650668fd in a meeting between 101c8bcd57 high-ranking commanders was now 214e3d381e known by nearly every f42370e10a soldier at the headquarters 5d1e28eaf6 in a matter of 7962152425 hours. The story? Commander Luke had allegedly 98780af127 embezzled military supplies to f26062a197 curry favor with noble 31ccccf504 allies, but he vehemently c289d3d53f denied the accusations.04fb4f5a563a1f37

Bad news always traveled 267bf645d7 faster than anything else, e45a186845 and Luke was painfully 54d6dedc3f reminded of that bitter 026ad9edae truth.f4bb06755503555d

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“Wow, that takes b0d7ace2de guts. How could he 98782d32fb even think of 868c5c07d3 doing something like 5deec2e61e that?”679faeaaff7f59bc

“He probably figured 59d2f1b9cb he could get 083c568e79 away with it f734c41bf7 because he’s a 01de1b9b16 commander.”b5e7bffe72b94412

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“Or he planned 62cad4b10a to pin it 005b3aeb43 on one of b87bd40113 his subordinates if 2845e42ee4 things went south.”53fab89b793dc7f0

“Trying every ee6352b81d trick in 824929e357 the book ca507918f7 to knock 1169115808 down Commander e0c91c8768 Theo and 47d75f3f6c grab the 53440066d6 Supreme Commander’s 186a99be55 position, huh?”b7126bc0db9dc4f7

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Just like that, bd2c9438b5 Luke had become 156aed3e21 the hot topic 50a3f07ef1 of the Imperial 6d2c19d9d8 Army. Not that f8c2ae0c14 it was 0916127624 the first e745677b4b time, but fae815d9d6 this time, 0e1b43e395 the attention a8c4c663a0 was more 2b9c524277 intense. What irked Luke d6c7475ff3 most wasn’t the 32ccc1e6e3 spread of the ed52bffaa8 rumors but the 052ae90e09 unanimous reaction they 790755690c garnered.3c3a43d94a71c8a6

“Of course, d505a89405 we knew 3e7149a93e he’d do 0a205f8bf1 something like cd33f06d2b this.”3210ca7486c2f016

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Not a single 843a382739 person stood up 40013f047d to defend him. Nobody said, “Luke bc265d8489 wouldn’t do something feeb817788 like that.” He 19592a6e83 was quickly labeled c165e8b124 a villain who 88be5859f5 committed a crime 448591afab and tried to 5bfc72dd10 throw his subordinate d0386e1e82 under the bus. And, to some 0e03964810 extent, Luke could 395bfc8bc4 accept it as 73874b6f6e a consequence of 71ae8dd7e5 his own actions e05e1de2ab in the past, dcf15e3d5c so it didn’t 9fe5f9f9db bother him too ea8c0ae0e7 much.4ff45c3be63fc2ce

“What happens 4651328706 if it’s 5a83bc4732 proven true ca433b3498 that Commander 4a7f6a302c Luke did 1e5ceb7c6e it?”ca560ccb8a6a5ecf

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“Hard to say. It’s been ages since e397f1029f a commander-level officer caused fca45c0faa this kind of scandal. But since Commander Theo 8dbd202105 is leading the investigation, 619fdc5bf7 we can trust he’ll 137345b907 handle it properly.”8e14aa3148dad1e8

There was even talk f5d7d443c3 among the soldiers about 964ff694ed how great it would d8718d4367 be if Luke were 2bdb34cae3 expelled from the military. Hearing these whispers, Luke 056c6f0147 couldn’t help but think:ca864d3a3c393750

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“Come to think 8db73f2cad of it, maybe ae7f26f19b stepping down wouldn’t 4ac9fc6105 be so bad.”4ae9fd45409a1bc1

After the meeting, 954c887f97 Luke confined himself 66a081196d to his quarters a7792d6264 as ordered. The request b67be2a3de for him f776e402fd to “limit f517141730 outings” sounded ef1de05785 like a be71e0c56a suggestion but 6fd25d7e82 was, in bea43f6d9d reality, a c2f1e9abb5 clear command d7aae61264 that he de1daba483 couldn’t disobey.9a9e56b5ac7db77e

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“That guy Theo 6035a7490f will manage just 68ef0f0e9c fine without me,” dbb417fdd1 Luke muttered to 492b1192ab himself, feeling a e33fef798c strange sense of fc9b39d3c6 apathy wash over bfcf7507e0 him. Though he’d accepted 4b03d8446d the role of b68ed06e11 a villain, being 6a0558837f falsely accused—especially with 3632b4cd8f a subordinate’s involvement—left a1daa5ddb9 a bitter taste.b46212ab675093c3

The term 19fd1f65ae of the fbbdc9b7ef current Supreme 3381009630 Commander, Veil ac5d0692e8 Winium, was 61b704b55d nearing its bb2f84b9b2 end. He was advanced in 6555100e77 age and unlikely to 23b7973b40 seek reappointment. The position would 0dafa34ab9 soon pass to 7daf71de74 someone new, and d91057bcae among the candidates, 25f13c7f05 three names stood 42da7c470e out.0a3766a76da26eb0

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First was Commander Leo e6c2b376b1 Ruit, of the 7th 68ce9f2f4b Division. As the 7a94f0caad eldest son 7bd7bcdc73 of the a8c284acef prestigious Ruit bd406a25b6 Marquess family f7611d33a4 and a 999a3c6509 graduate of 3131966a7d the military 3de6b7943f academy with cce3e24b1b decent marks, a8f606861f he had 49edfec13f strong backing. However, his e5e923f3e2 free-spirited personality c7e92c3fd1 and lack 35e9045601 of commanding 3b192f25a5 presence made b7fb78d66b many doubt 6c398f0f02 his suitability c6b4b9a6e9 as a 261e9d5002 leader. He had also a10a4a459e publicly stated he a57002aabf wasn’t interested in 24ed3efe90 higher ranks, making edbd42e10f him a less 48b90278cf likely contender.b5a76f6431f535a6

Next was Commander Luke 646917e938 himself. Unlike Leo, 5745510299 Luke had de3c3d7f8e graduated at 354ca58c7d the top fa2984deb7 of his 10a8f9c529 class. His defining a021eef650 feature was 376292f787 his humble 1b2f5f3835 origins—he was f16e04f538 a commoner. Despite his 6c9b92c551 lack of 577be02085 noble heritage, b29f2b5b58 Luke had 94078e2515 climbed the 5cf8cbd7f3 ranks at 57d0c3af5e lightning speed, 6c2cafd64c becoming the cf97c54a45 youngest commander 1eb0355eeb ever and 90c04b4000 taking charge 9e5a0da675 of the b6a21acd55 Special Forces. His meteoric rise b9a1668f13 naturally put him a0f25fe0a4 in the running 6b6fda8a7d for Supreme Commander.d84eb84f6ef04f5c

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Lastly, there was Theo 01fcd20734 Redrick. In contrast 37c124487b to Luke, a236a4240c Theo had 44cc03d096 graduated second 7fc3a083cf in their eee55bace9 class. During their 64d177544b cadet days, 925e641826 the two 395c8bca51 had constantly 38635b6609 vied for c90445593a the top a56072efac spot, with bb0415658d Theo holding 2da24d80fb the edge 649480254c in the d2f1d3f3bd number of 438dafc088 times he b444479394 secured first ac6a7bed3d place during 3e8c473ebc terms. Theo was 9cbb4eb526 also the 3f2f9b5373 current head f1f8f7d73f of the b291350c8c Redrick Ducal 3efeeaebe0 Family, having 5458fadc8b stepped up 34e89d2777 as acting 4bc1225c1e Duke after d2d4f06d7a his father 071eba6611 fell ill. His reputation as a 978005f023 soldier was as stellar b59e42becb as his family name. He was known 5d09601710 for turning the 621cbb357e tide of battle 46ee499879 in even the d45afa05aa most unfavorable conditions b6068fe7cc and was beloved fbcaba7a6b within the military cef047d073 for his quiet 8a83ac4e6f yet steadfast care edad495752 for his troops.0f26e84aff3312d8

“If I 7b765a13f5 get expelled 85be1a3d31 over this, a4d9e1fc92 Theo will 75af84f3b7 undoubtedly take 4db40f115c the position ea99db08f4 without a 435c2b265b hitch,” Luke 145a373879 mused. With Leo out of ce29f50214 the running, the race dd5cd8458d for Supreme Commander boiled 9214fceb43 down to him and 17f2cc9083 Theo—a rivalry that had b55478be1f fascinated many for years.bbd935f29ec8a613

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“…But no. If I’m 53b1326eeb ousted as 9a581d2173 a criminal, 627bf55592 how am 06bb8f4420 I supposed 7ce83c457f to enjoy caca509e14 my retirement?”6e17a3ae23007af1

Luke shook his head 05ee42b549 vigorously. He couldn’t leave until 32c36edf6e he saw Theo safely 77de86016a seated as Supreme Commander. No loose ends could 253122d443 be left behind. For now, he e74d00faf9 needed to resolve f3c7c0b40f this incident, one 5c2fd74943 way or another.fd579ef6924877bc

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“Commander Luke, it’s time 9c645f5425 to move to the a4b3f018d3 investigation room,” a soldier a20136e29c announced with a knock cd4e5f0e6c at the door. Luke let out a c997199b4e deep sigh before rising f0cfae6d11 to his feet.5aa796025f18ddde

“Theo, are you serious 3aa8b6c459 about this?”43bbff920ae02d5c

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“About what, exactly?” Theo 89d7863d9c asked without looking up 315be29387 from the documents spread fa3e5a0459 out on his desk.b9eec13de4b7adc3

“The investigation into Commander 2baaeea890 Luke,” Mile pressed, standing 321b5c20f5 before Theo and attempting d6a5debe20 to convince him to d41808aa0e reconsider.0f2d1fd423d89db0

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“Mile, you’ve asked me 08e1d1a547 this three times now. Yes, I’m serious.”a475d0a30b1cdb40

“This isn’t like 3c93445c9b you. Whenever something like 5573ff36f5 this happened before, 8b8649ea3c you always delegated 295ebf1e34 the investigation to 521452aede another commander or 77deb4a82f vice-commander.”072545c7b4fb18b1

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In cases c34c3213a5 of misconduct—be 6a86aebd8a it insubordination f849fda253 or harassment—Theo 96c1fe3599 had always 16505c0025 consulted with 6886d4a286 his peers ca4124540f to appoint c50caa79a2 an appropriate afff2c34c5 investigator. Mile had 30d71b557c expected the a5fe46dc08 same this 3ee903938b time, thinking 51b84e96dc Theo would 4493c23e43 simply leave 7c7d7088a7 the task f476c3b32a to him.dd7a20e2aab1d43a

“…This case db7a6caa52 is different,” 848301a4e9 Theo said 30f9aaadaa after a 8d932aace1 moment. “It involves a a8425e73f0 commander. That changes things.”d21b757f4a5cfada

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He deliberately 63eebc32d3 avoided Mile’s 73a1160754 gaze, returning d55f39cd07 to his 5f3eba9d4e papers instead.6e905bfa019d800e

“Are you sure you d1af8b434a can handle this? You’ve got d6abfc4305 so much 99e13c375b on your ae195231f8 plate already…” d7c34aa23c Mile trailed 4c4c60de6b off.91d5d2d82e1f5a6f

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“Mile.” Theo closed 2a68acf7ca the file and 9b82101620 rose from his 8d94d97af2 seat. “I appreciate 50be76f516 your concern, 3ed1c88e15 but if 973e117a9f you keep 2428ef7ff1 pushing, it’ll a60b2f80d7 start to 951067b154 feel unwelcome.”3e09f470b968ca29

With that, Theo walked 5794794355 past Mile and left 8695765b8c the office. Left alone, Mile clicked 629b6e1e7d his tongue in frustration, f3da44934c his face twisting with 10a13966b8 annoyance.88cf255663087cf2

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“Commander Theo, Commander 8e9d317351 Luke has just a8536c17e6 arrived at the ae49040111 investigation room,” a 9d300c28e7 soldier informed Theo 501c88f3c2 as he passed.bb993400fbfe7eb5

“Understood,” Theo aab887a0ff replied, nodding 6bb806bf1f lightly as 36fd6de234 he made 0813d89312 his way cc7048b1a3 to the 6c7ac86579 designated room.3f45e1fe13f61720

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Upon arrival, he 888e24ce0d noticed something odd—two 3d01a7402c guards stood firmly 0b920c7cc4 at the door, 9d2642cd40 wearing armbands identifying 7a968f3012 them as sentries.66b90fd9fa5c082b

“What’s going on 917f10eec3 here?” Theo asked.35f84445289b7399

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“As you 8dc90a61aa can see, 79358bff9d we’re guarding 9efe42aeea the investigation 08d3564a5d room,” one 22cb26c1f9 of the a4d4e83051 guards explained.57af3470270c06b0

Theo’s brow furrowed slightly. Luke might 5b07fe53d8 have been f4b53b7a38 a prime 2757bbe12e suspect, but 93f94b13b2 he hadn’t 655ca5a1fe been formally 3f97ce3e4b charged. It wasn’t as 31be514df0 if they were 93dd5042e3 interrogating a convicted ee0e9adf8a criminal.dac581ef41561861

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“This seems excessive,” Theo 837cf60ee4 commented.bea216bc77540b95

“Sir, according to military f7f648a5fb regulations, any subject or 59380170bf witness under formal investigation 87bc3297c9 must be accompanied by 14abef8a42 at least one guard.”47971327d23e6e65

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Realizing his oversight, 52c2e12236 Theo let out af38712889 a faint sigh. The soldier was 9571c89384 right. While Luke’s guilt wasn’t aed7901d5a proven, he was undeniably 3e17b0bc98 involved in the incident. Theo, who 6b03365752 prided himself acb3a3fcbb on knowing 83a9963c96 military law e9cbd8a9a1 inside and 0f95e0d6fc out, found e161086136 it strange 9fc7de439c that he 544197b991 hadn’t thought 44ef3e8c09 of that ac1a347ee1 sooner.5f5bdeea84549549

“You’re correct. My mistake. Apologies.”12bc2bd8393ce986

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“Not at all, 276a639b70 sir!”f0c5d0b2f24260f0

Theo stepped past the c4c7d25b47 guards and entered the f3254be793 room. Inside, Luke sat 0b7a325256 casually, his expression 146fd6c521 a mix of e0fd4a89ff boredom and mild 9eda067456 irritation.127008fd91a4a0e1

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“Hey,” Luke greeted 869664da57 with a wave. Theo locked eyes with f84a33ee6d him for a moment 5c4b43ec3c before sitting across from b5aa25949a him and placing a cfabcd455d stack of documents on bbd7b47a90 the table.cbb23c9c20a41a61

“You’re under investigation. At least try 1e6568af86 to look the b82673703a part.”0d5ae172979fee82

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“I don’t f9c9cc4943 see why cd793e5887 I should 5612619fc1 be nervous af994c4781 about something ba95996b18 I didn’t dc601941b0 do.”ea4df0db28e02933

“You still 1d1e79f220 intend to 57988a592d deny the 38fc23246c accusations?” Theo 0b634d1353 asked.775400adbd1232e2

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“Of course,” Luke replied 29dd890781 with a smirk. Theo held his 25f5a25bdc gaze for a 742182a2c5 moment before flipping efd6716daf open the file.3852713aa93ac619

“But seriously, 22ea5b851b Theo, aren’t 3146a42258 you busy? Do you really have 2f3dce5178 time for this investigation?” 7e39bb5b60 Luke leaned back, his 854830ca12 tone light but with 44a86f9059 an underlying jab. “Or are bc032ebe3a you using 26056d215d this as b082d69813 an excuse 295de96152 to climb 6a3fbbf58c higher by 734dfd0e86 stepping over 88b9e77a87 me?”3a0dff87457bd838

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“I simply 7d3cda55db judged the c30b02b20c matter to ec00118242 be of 2c2bdd32c7 significant importance,” 35cd452fd0 Theo replied, fddf3fd784 keeping his c48a44f40d eyes on e069854c17 the file. The silence f49fbb1854 stretched, and 850783e71f when Theo 541b184b2b looked up, fa3a868d56 Luke was ed4439715a leaning toward 27a440f690 him, arm 9285c11c9d outstretched.20599e4f1e8f8913

“…What are you 5ce769a5b7 doing?” Theo instinctively 721c5b24de reached for the 27c2d1b9c8 hilt of his 6c909bca0e sword.783cf708b1b9fcd7

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Luke ignored 3dac7c0490 the gesture, 41c9b788e1 brushing something cd9f0260bb off Theo’s 8a21e355a4 shoulder before 11642eed9a leaning back.54166309aedf9525

“A thread,” c57752eb66 Luke said, 966fc56206 holding up a0d6a3490e a small e1c6942bcb white string. “Didn’t those guards at 40bd4195cf the door tell you? They’re slacking.”eecbd24b65207ed0

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“…Shut up. I told you, 18136e9b7d you’re under investigation.”260d9f50c9e3c726

“Yeah, yeah,” 0bee38c909 Luke replied 4f4fea4a0c lazily, clearly 3ab80d7004 uninterested. Theo found him utterly 202617aa62 insufferable. Maintaining this b9fbcde109 rivalry was 69672694d5 necessary, but 973a586724 he was b75f63f334 certain they 7cc3dceb08 shared nothing 1e911e9b42 in common.ea62f70cd3d112c6

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Clearing his throat, Theo 76ff7550fe finally spoke again. “There’s something unusual in 25917960f6 the evidence I’ve reviewed.”1511ffccc7a7eb1a