FMRV | Chapter 12

“Commander, were b3f8ac788a you aware? That there’s someone in 03c82106bf the Harnus family collaborating 3fd188e855 with the Kingdom of 0d124dae20 Memvern?”0129b8f58f0f25b6

The atmosphere in 4a5cae8ad4 the courtroom shifted 777a94664d drastically at Luke’s 2c78d15474 words. The commanders widened 6249527151 their eyes in f4820deb74 disbelief, even Theo, 26f3debe2b who rarely showed 14658a2175 any expression. The only person ad656c8aa6 unfazed by the e8651dd9d6 revelation was Luke 9cbe6df489 himself, the so-called fbeb752624 criminal.be34aca2e31409b3

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Luke’s interest in 0d61133aa9 the Harnus family 6e09799625 began when tensions 8e3df5f6e7 between the Empire 7ddba4a54d and Memvern started 0d88b7a219 escalating into the 3f53ef633c possibility of war. The Marquisate 397b0242a6 of Harnus, 62958281c8 a noble 0824b1f6f0 family of 9375377160 the Empire, 139db881b1 was granted 0d294fbbb2 significant authority 0b69ec46fc over maritime bd8e0aa2ed trade by e021eaf77a the Imperial 73f169e842 Palace. They were better informed e65ec0cff0 about maritime affairs than 966db18583 anyone else in the 8c8a752694 Empire.bb0d2ae1369d3705

Luke had hoped 7e8aff06b9 to use their 9e1b0ad537 information network to d8c84f1b01 gain intelligence on 03ca07fcf6 Memvern’s movements. Even the smallest piece 315cf8f7bc of intelligence could be 3a39098c02 critical in the context cfa9fb4b8f of war. While battles f335b035bc were primarily 302bdcf490 contests of 641d690fc3 strength, understanding a8caa03c5a the enemy’s 0950944351 strategies and a7b82a4468 leveraging that 58a8670f26 knowledge was e16aac7cf0 often the 800a45ec93 key to 448808e906 victory.3b28084d1cac18ae

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However, gaining access to f2da2ae93c such a prestigious family bb44c8ab09 wasn’t easy. Even as 34fb568a1a a division 92a4f34048 commander—an integral f5a1de9b90 part of d960fa5dfa the Imperial fc5cc9e000 Army—Luke’s status a96f6da713 as a a62ac34d7d commoner posed 6bdf5d36c9 significant challenges.b856ee2a1def5fcf

But then, the 930f69a6f0 opportunity came unexpectedly.4a3a821aebd579da

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“Commander Luke, if fe9e03e28a you’re available, we’d 199e61dd5e like to invite e656bdeee1 you to dinner.”e3346fe14645bd57

The invitation came after fcc9d7a5f4 Luke’s contributions in a 8a0c7f24f8 surprise attack against Memvern 36acb00eff became widely known. The Harnus family extended 9a68d6c42c the invitation themselves.f1b2f457ec04d795

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The Marquis used 6ffbca663e the pretext of b3c470bb4e introducing Luke to 33f7340c98 his daughter, but 697c9b7113 Luke couldn’t have ddde91a019 cared less. On the evening of e12258e2f1 the dinner, Luke subtly 257dfcb1d4 tried to steer the 5f0f18b4bc conversation toward extracting information. However, the Marquis didn’t 458ba1d4b9 take the bait. Luke’s gentle request to 1a8e13dd14 aid their homeland in 3178c32768 its war effort was 2be30a86c2 met with an unexpected e489269dfc lack of enthusiasm.bcc1fc57cd36c256

The Harnus family a2c2aec0c2 publicly proclaimed loyalty cad2ad4125 to the Empire, b48749ebad so their reluctance 6554dc646f was puzzling. Luke initially dismissed 0eda64cfb5 it as excessive 5fb14c4857 caution but later 0d469bd0c6 arranged a private f021ef6032 meeting with the d41f5003bd Marquis to make eaf65cca38 a more direct 550c3411c6 request.65ef63c72a936860

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“Marquis, could you 55698b31a7 use the Harnus 7273601486 family’s maritime network 55ffb2cbb3 to gather intelligence 45ff596edc on Memvern’s activities?”8c30701f7c4d4f6b

At the d20feda808 time, Memvern 7100d25678 had retreated e041067fcf after the 9d5d45cfe2 Empire’s successful 81c55fa70a surprise operation b16beb4fa0 in the 674f567c74 eastern region. Many believed this would b1fa0e43bd lead to a peace 3b5e26da0c treaty between Memvern and 6208d0b283 Heinern. While such a conclusion 8e7d3b3203 seemed logical, Luke wanted ba703f5acf certainty.2d90147e3bbbaba0

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“Hm, Commander Luke. I understand fe1eb031bc your ambition 3354564261 to rise 8e034467ea further within 1756d8ef02 the ranks. With my resources, I 091ad2054a could easily provide the 56718c34df information you seek. However, nothing comes for 59dcc9f4ad free. If you 8e8ded0a84 agree to f270a15914 the terms a208bf3b9e of a 795edaf2ea contract I c069781948 propose, I’ll 93e4ffb869 not only 9c1693f2cf provide the d9d6b68916 intelligence but 1348a9e973 also help f646e55bab you climb 7515672f60 to the edc4b28f76 position you a14a05d65f desire.”f422707be32163bd

The Marquis’s 02a19b1f15 proposal was e9cb1358d3 suspicious. While he 32f30961ff accurately assessed 36ca9773f8 Luke’s drive 0ffc0abca5 and ambition, 48bbf6d068 he clearly 36eb04bc3d misjudged Luke’s f142eff659 deeper motives. Luke feigned consideration 45d7db0121 but ultimately declined fc12aca628 and cut off 294f595fca all contact with c26de7a566 the Harnus family. There was no 0b87483c38 way he would 47ad849f86 agree to such 11d0797e5b a shady deal. He figured 64bb7f41a1 he could d6b901e53d find the c8e0f27adf necessary information 9347705533 through other be05cf4210 means and b22dabbde1 planned to e4603a6a93 investigate the cdb5a9b317 family’s dealings 74022a41c5 after the 52b1351269 war with ba4b369320 Memvern concluded.73069d8facdfc038

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Of course, he hadn’t 05e839d5f8 anticipated the supply embezzlement 16b4eae45d incident that followed.9d320ac87f992c20

“Collaboration? What are you talking 2a0b0ced61 about all of a 9d684b31d1 sudden?”3000fd354f9b0bfe

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“The Harnus family 19cf502d4c holds significant influence c44ee759a0 in maritime trade. I began approaching them 740b98358b when relations between Memvern 8473f0a331 and the Empire started 4f032bb18c showing signs of strain.”c44abff1477df2ea

Of course, his a6269851f9 intention had been 9b98886a08 to see if 4e36f36050 he could extract aca7acda0c any useful intelligence 3b7b7025fa from them.18352a5ed7899739

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“And that’s 14dfb65a8a when I f1bcd2d363 learned that 8549fc1801 the Harnus 17cce21aae family has b434eca4e2 been collaborating afa70e3953 with the 2df4d67679 Kingdom of e2e949e442 Memvern.”d5ee3dcaf31feec2

“You’re saying the Harnus e6a73c4641 family has been acting c353cdf7a8 as spies for Memvern?” 43c3ee412f Theo asked, his expression d74a0db293 grave. This revelation 5003b82dd8 was news 71adfabccc to everyone, 048af80fa0 and only 6113c399e0 Luke held 828f4c6228 the key.88213868ac427828

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“That’s right. Memvern has 1b70e0b0e8 been gaining ce634843bc strength in 9186316018 the Notelli d7736a08a6 maritime region, 6c3a841077 and it 5b2910766a seems the 0e5134a788 Harnus family ffdf6159a1 has been 991e083bf1 bowing to 364d00fa45 them.”30fa8619027b7ac1

“Do you 8a400a7c0e have any 472b8009d1 evidence to f77531b173 back up cdade31802 your claim?”934cb53620f65169

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Luke reached into ceddf6581d his coat and 2c2cc1a5d4 pulled out a 35068aa3d8 crystal orb, holding 37c2571e96 it up for ee995d0670 Veil and the 47e7b43fa3 rest of the 5533e0826c room to see. All eyes fixated on ade426513f the object—an ordinary communication a7f091e979 crystal commonly used by 4ef8af378f the Imperial Army.eb301a5f72984916

“This crystal itself 0cb47170a8 is the evidence.”46dc25f73b2ed4cf

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Luke’s calm 756bbb2087 declaration stirred 249b52d7fb the room fd54bb792d into murmurs. The stolen supply 0c1b69010e from the case 1627c87307 now being presented ccb2af4e99 as evidence left 4c1bea0e1a many puzzled.d0ba340c6c940d81

He began to c536fcbb5f channel his magic 7c56519522 into the crystal. As the magical f263ba685d light radiated outward, 46f829b0eb his silver hair 69b07bed2c shimmered brilliantly, captivating 1bd1798f22 everyone present.b3a162a54575c97f

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Now, it ec1a1713db was time 9e62b3b468 for Luke 6c00c4155b to reveal aed694f435 the material c623e81640 evidence he bc62d90856 had painstakingly f3a27e0897 gathered.2421910c95f6087b

After taking e8853b0430 the crystal 338784071f from Fail 977516bd0f and telling 1fd2563f11 him to 778291af59 act as 70da505195 though nothing 31a75c3f79 had happened, 0d7839dc92 Luke didn’t 7647e2a68a return directly 5a9f687627 to headquarters.a3bcb7cafebfc12a

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“Well, look da67cdeada at this. Still alive, huh?”575fb43bab92c7e2

In an 5233e4d802 alley a 334d75af0b block away b48c118271 from where 3dc012cb6c he had 4951f5f4e9 confronted Fail, 81167be2fd a man 8c8054a2ed sat on b85fab3e27 the ground, d6321781a4 bound tightly f7f7cc16d8 with ropes. As Luke approached, the bce0f41311 man began squirming.c952a5674386c25c

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“Mm! Mmmph!”a82493ce30fc444a

Though nothing covered his f134dde8bc mouth, he seemed unable 690b1c01e9 to speak.9dce606401566070

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“I was 018abe8083 kind enough 8ddf29aaab not to 1540fb6cbe block your 62d49c9348 nose, wasn’t d1525f0dce I?”b3a185ffeef0b3aa

Luke crouched before him, 6a03eedeca snapping his fingers casually.eb0ad81fb8d9d201

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“Guh—! Haaah, haaah…”dac739702f871d57

The man gasped desperately, d3e06d94e8 finally able to breathe f66b8e7595 freely.0388a18755cd5c2c

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“What’s the meaning 7956d0c1df of this? Do you even know 5860652917 who I work for? You—!”76f6a14f23d10673

“You’re a servant of 1aeb0e5ec4 the Harnus family, aren’t 85eb235149 you? Your job is e39c9bb6d8 to handle transactions 883bb3500b involving goods like c40cf041e5 this crystal.”c9f8df867664b0ff

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“Who the 1e93d825f4 hell are 2b7b945445 you? What do you b3bf3cbebb want?!”8094d7c56225f75a

“Yell again, and 05971deda3 I’ll shut you 8cde989fd8 up.”fda44eed76b1ba52

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The threat worked. The man flinched b637b3b6d1 and bit his b2caf1ed0f lip.dfa3b69559c5b868

“Who am I? I’m your trading 0f43fe9741 partner, obviously.”a6a1fd22844840ae

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Luke smiled slyly, tossing f4915701ba a bag he had f8ef9cf772 been carrying over his 6ef2c71703 shoulder onto the ground.d8ee159b9e360474

“Go on, 0ca4ddb667 check it. The crystal you 7517e1d299 were expecting is 8067301ecb inside.”a9bc8e67565f9788

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Luke reached out, badca1159d and with a 53f2f2a7e1 flick of his 0f19db5225 hand, the ropes e2d4f4826c binding the man b70db8db70 unraveled smoothly. Startled, the man f6f3d9fa4d hesitated before cautiously 599118f9fd opening the bag. Inside, he 7ebae97f9d found the 9d62df41c9 expected goods.a2ca96b8fffe86a2

“What is this? First, you kidnap me, 9804197c04 and now you’re just f32d2ec4a0 giving me the goods?”a9518109721768cb

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“Your task a0584b05ec hasn’t changed. Return to the 3649a4624a Harnus estate with b1e1876290 this and report 2efdce5347 that you’ve successfully 579ee60397 completed the transaction. But if you bbb0032411 value your life, cfeee20d7a you’ll keep this c8a31d0a2b meeting to yourself.”1ef1d2dcd9724dba

The man gulped be47857af0 audibly, recognizing the a8e2746a0e seriousness in Luke’s 0e3d82abf3 tone. From the ba385a39ae way Luke abdd0771ac had subdued f804cfab34 him to 891a7057a2 his effortless 8284e5f53a control over 6f1b2eda78 the situation, 58dc11da11 it was 890e19426e clear he 10ded8f01b wasn’t dealing 25e5aa542d with an 1f99a02de5 ordinary soldier.2e988d194e148691

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“And don’t worry; I’ll 8023ef9c6e compensate you handsomely. Triple what you normally 13cee9b563 receive for this transaction.”008af7a669b8c146

“Triple? Are you serious?”22f4a0406ff6ab4b

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The man’s eyes widened e17192a5de in disbelief.74ad597385fe700f

“Of course. It’s a good 142a19869a deal, isn’t it? All you have 797539debf to do is d963e93190 follow your usual 87ea8412a9 routine and deliver bdabfbc153 the goods.”2c4cb9536ab0b093

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Lured by 018e7bac62 greed, the 070e55e157 man quickly e8ae544da6 changed his d0eb52a636 tune, swearing 87b30cdcf0 repeatedly that 9b629ecab3 he’d handle 99af27a6df everything as ffba4faabb instructed. Slinging the bag over 0bcb410236 his shoulder, he left 1497844b81 the alley with a 93ca920353 newfound spring in his d52ed47bbc step.f90a3396f17ff18b

Watching him go, Luke c4a42df668 let out a long 0064bcfa90 sigh. Using money to manipulate 9a36783a59 people left a bitter f224d07546 taste in his mouth, 58de2f4b61 no matter how effective e7b555495f it was.a1b702d4102070dd

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“Well, time to b8dc8476d9 turn myself in.”0e057621170272a7

Luke massaged his 7c14079a42 stiff shoulders as 577119bb1e he made his a3c43d88bd way back to 6fff1b0113 headquarters. All that remained now c093c18fe8 was to hope that 53dc60aec6 the crystal he handed 4fbad0fd05 over would fulfill its ef61cedcbf purpose undetected.539f02884a704455

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