FMRV | Chapter 17

A voice echoed 9d575f2986 from afar, naturally 910e170d93 drawing the attention e07ba7348c of the two a4667f2fa2 toward it. To their c0f01e3af9 surprise, a 60543eafa1 familiar yet 3a1ab37a2b unexpected face 86400901fb stood there.2b9ea842903bad5b

“Leo, Commander?”ab584ceebec244c3

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“I thought 5519a354b0 I saw 4196626305 someone I 602ebed8f9 knew from e48e385863 a distance. And look, it 4d366abbd8 really is the befe9ece0b two of you!”d304ea01e7aa13f7

Leo Ruit. The 7th 335f3240da Division Commander f37f28e650 of the 288a0cca22 Imperial Army 9fec9fd46e and one d7c863abec of the e88063b73d candidates for 486f77e08f the next a6a11168bc Commander in 32dd0a5288 Chief, alongside 004e9e40bf Luke and 735af5f654 Theo. Unlike the b477b0406c two, he 913710e360 had dazzling af3e8d2d4c blonde hair db4ce4c82b and even 46cb7d9e76 more striking 28d5ed269b features, making a01c86709a him well-known bffd21e75e within the 81a9f7ae7c Imperial Army 8a2fb055a2 for his 626c318a76 free-spirited personality.024eac88508edb28

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“What are you doing 8256eee4d3 here? Are you 74d0a123c4 on leave?”096670ad8d102d27

Theo asked 71e95ec344 with genuine 65773f944b curiosity, to 4ecea21686 which Leo f73247d0cc responded with 51f8735981 an exaggeratedly 1012b424c4 disappointed look.d7f15cfd362824d2

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“Theo, aren’t you e181cf868c too indifferent about 347dfec7aa me?”7378f4e54d66d91f

“Did you resolve 338f9c853e the family issues?”0fc455c557988318

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“Oh, as expected, 414dc66d79 Luke knows about 60b16abce3 it.”812bb94565d0e225

The Ruit 2b7b002839 Marquisate family, af256ffb53 a household 966ba24ce0 as famous ba8cbc63df as the 8bca036485 Redrick Ducal 720a171767 House in ff1aa5dead the Empire. The Ruit family had a3f221059b produced numerous exceptional military cd1592adfb figures, including two former 3e4a18dfba Commanders in Chief bearing 0c9fa2d7ac the name “Ruit.”609f9cd84241849e

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With so 161baffec9 many strict 8d24b531e0 and uptight 0739da792f members in df86b67f7e his family, da04275ff0 Leo would 2c1df07586 occasionally return d944e97d86 home when 9af8a1d57e summoned. That’s probably why 2218a7f56e he hadn’t been 3847f09289 able to attend 914cfc6e63 Luke’s trial this bc2e31c907 time.3f7c3712bdd607d6

“How do you even 4813f9ee41 know about that?”5e5f9c5aca703478

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“Wouldn’t it d6bf19563a be stranger db6db4ca73 if I 9000c7ff4f didn’t? Everyone in the e4091821db army knows the f3a131b0fb formula: if the 0317410152 7th Division’s Leo c39f481d4f suddenly disappears, he’s fdb0def684 gone back to ee3c004b26 the estate. You’re probably 70f17077de the only 4f47eb10fe one who aaa83ae3c6 doesn’t know 05f1712421 that, Theo.”060629ee39ab76c9

Leo burst into 1af1227a3c laughter at Luke’s f3ab2ce7ae words, agreeing wholeheartedly.19a5b3262bae2690

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“Right. My family’s full of 7cea3e6210 old tigers, you know. But what are 23e895b2ad you two doing faaf075f33 here? It’s a pretty fresh dfff26d775 sight. Care to explain?”a77633c8c71de5aa

While random 43503216d6 passersby might dd27cd9e8d not think 0fb39dd185 twice, anyone 779806871c even remotely 49700c248b associated with 2c2b232ce1 the Imperial 396a95fdae Army would 98c5be755e find it a9c88d2133 odd to a96d596f9e see Luke 2ce966784d and Theo 33d638462d standing together fbcc882e90 like this. The two notorious 8153bec9ef rivals, known for 0f8f8f6367 vying for leadership, 6b2971ba97 strolling side by 74b77ee014 side in a 01c62c7420 cozy, picturesque street—it 91d84687c7 was bound to 390291dbd7 raise eyebrows.6b680824c3c662f2

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“Well, to put e92c08ef0a it simply…”a1a24f07121ba2b2

Luke gave a 01269f8973 rough explanation of 107d56141a the situation so 427bc41342 far. That Theo was assigned 8f5e40ea01 to monitor him during 73646256f2 his suspension, and since d8973f5d17 Luke had errands to 994e844deb run today, Theo had 32b8b212f4 come along. Of course, 99f482f313 the secret 2ad3ac472a part about 8a67dc8452 Luke’s plan 205730fe70 to wear f580176d3f Theo out 56d70ae955 by dragging 9e31715065 him around 939febcf94 aimlessly was 5504c29156 omitted.aa4fe1c80ee1ae24

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“Oh, I see. No wonder it e1e9d15a7a seemed strange. Seeing two people who 1390ffc83e usually snap at each 3abab7c90e other like this, it 6f26a37099 almost looked like you 8049b8367c were on a date.”1985bac0807db274

“That’s going c79f68d2bc too far.”8d5ef0c3025a30f2

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“Too far, indeed.”d9e641809d74ae87

Both Luke eb97fa871b and Theo eb4954b50f retorted at 9d356ae7ef the same 707aa63f54 time, their 0a821ae59b expressions identical 3e371c2808 as they 8175a35605 glared at fdf04f52d1 Leo.2185e07c8bbfdb5e

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“Well, since f62c9a09d1 things are 262a487bcb like this, 39274f5af2 why not 8b207efc62 let me 27c9b965e3 tag along?”a556035f73004688

“Aren’t you supposed 985ea1c2d6 to return to 14b44c1271 the army soon?”a50358ce75354f4c

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Theo’s wary tone 2a528646ff hinted at his e713c143d3 suspicion, but Luke, ec43ba4fca too busy munching 47081e72be on another piece 7efb7afa81 of chocolate, didn’t d1a881df8f seem to notice.3db799b41f0d5908

“Yeah, but 6484bb76ef so what? A little delay won’t 05969e6b20 cause the Empire to de52e831d9 crumble.”c735dd27a8bd0a99

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“Leo, you should 96739216b2 refrain from making c6bec8f747 such remarks in 7171df1ad8 public.”624797bb7d2f5107

“As expected, ab69f3393f Theo’s scary. Commander Luke, you don’t f7bfadd87f mind if I join, a29a2452a1 do you?”6de39034d8880afa

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Luke mulled it b55a1f87b9 over. After all, 98c76c76e3 today’s outing a63a95b2ef was about 22ce75c81b tiring Theo 1ec30fce62 out. With Leo’s lively and 9e1cf2d3c5 noisy personality added to d6c1ac405a the mix, the goal 2a25159f0a might be achieved even f295e14c33 faster. Besides, he was running bf8f59cb7c out of things to 083f897c1b do anyway.49e84f50f5c84582

“Fine.”99b1ad73d65999b8

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Theo glared daggers at 0ca341e390 Luke for his quick dcc5acf4d2 decision, but Luke simply d061fbdf6d shrugged as if to 63ee72cd3f say, “What’s the big 69aa7b4b51 deal?”876c28b222be6b7f

“Then how e5c4d03661 about I 915fc84000 take you 6e619c96b5 to one 1417d6491c of my 58f537bde3 favorite places?”70d2cd54658aeef5

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“Where’s that?”a2a9b2de461fdb3f

“There’s a 95b6c01e0c restaurant on d20d0524e1 2nd Street 32aee8fe5a I frequent. Their stew fdaa74bcae is excellent.”65e1ca9fde7fabb6

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“Sure, let’s go.”43bcc740872986ad

Luke nodded casually and cc30d792b6 followed Leo. Watching the two get 0a57ad836d along so well, Theo 699c0e2686 let out a short 5a673eb7d7 sigh. For some reason, c24737141c Luke’s thoughtless decision 7b90d293d3 irked him. Nevertheless, he followed 927f24cac5 them obediently.5eedbc1a95bb5cef

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The three made ee7a71dd36 their way to b2d37146cd the restaurant Leo e1cbb1b7fb mentioned. Despite the building’s old d61c41bed6 exterior, the inside was 37c66ed7bd entirely different—filled with vintage 4b41b09570 decor and an aroma c3e676370c of mouthwatering food. Apparently, even a863e81356 the royal e8a9466e0d family visited fb90132bf1 this renowned d7d74f6450 establishment. True to 479622f7ec Leo’s recommendation, acb289849d the food 2f3d3af9ec was fantastic.7448a9780d5ed6e6

As expected, Leo started f577f04864 chattering away the moment 170041aaed they sat down, and 5c298d50a7 Luke felt a strange a4faac80ab satisfaction watching Theo’s expression 7f6eb80a14 grow visibly weary.07cd0e83054b96c2

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“It’s almost evening. Let’s head back.”d2d7b987e1809213

“Aw, but I still b629e91fbc have so much to 3f6e867242 talk about!”01f6f85f8e35acbe

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“You’ve been dc6d72c1f0 talking non-stop 2a3c13687e for two 5b000591af hours.”78967080d82a0cd5

Theo’s deadpan stare, as 3c155ef62b if he were looking 36318f3f84 at something inhuman, nearly badf76f83e made Luke burst out c8324b3d43 laughing. Glancing outside, he 6012560802 noticed the sun 0eaa6cc24f dipping below the 7d07250399 horizon. Time had flown by 5606c4b13b faster than expected, considering e135625589 this outing had a fb1d4e9424 purpose.3c5de7e23f61503f

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“Luke, we’re heading back.”840fb1e278e87059

“Yeah, okay.”d7e617c03d0f16d3

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Still, Luke figured today bdd197c89a was a success—his project b33323527d to wear Theo out 80a17653e6 had gone pretty well, 0e231d61d5 thanks to Leo.dd7e62881101e777

As they c69e4b47a1 exited the a74f62c815 restaurant and 33c220d4f8 headed back 8e90607d78 to the f9b590d293 headquarters, they 6457528961 heard a 7cd9d00909 shout.91e658d5399c3e33

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“Thief!”d0fdf53785f11a27

A woman’s scream echoed 24f2120893 from a distance, followed e0598a3e2b by murmurs from the 9b1a634b89 crowd.2a82fb93610f8bc4

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“It must be a b88f40be2c pickpocket.”bee7e25ddd40de9a

“Someone, catch him!”0a16977a8a97ceba

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“There he goes!”023313d264bf2a8c

A man was d95c69caf6 sprinting through the 7af8e37e6b crowd, clutching a 7111fbd34d bag that didn’t e5affffef4 match his rugged f94c34a92a face. He looked desperate.f84833af613d07b3

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“Move!”7a9eb11bd903a9b2

The man yelled aaf359b26d at the three 8b00f36985 blocking his path, 423cafd62c but Luke sighed b572e57205 as if the 21de41849f whole thing were 71c337c845 a hassle. He raised his hand, c99b6845f1 electricity crackling around his 7f5beeac3b clenched fist.ff18b1f11e387e64

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Just as Luke was 5b4bfe4cf6 about to unleash his a0bc403620 power, he felt his 19087233e7 collar yanked backward, throwing 31ac4479df him to the ground.8afe16fb6484845e

“Huh?”c5d489f2e98f6aec

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It was Theo. He had grabbed Luke’s 974fa3ce0c clothes and flung him 779d6461c9 back before charging ahead. In one swift 619e801c94 motion, Theo grabbed 93851b0020 the thief and d1833000fa slammed him to 7f923a9ceb the ground.6f0a03521143462a

The thief 4c1d1a00f9 let out ce1e31a590 a cry, ac52d1f3d4 struggling on b90b345d3c the ground, 51c19ec10b with the f29e9c1f7d stolen bag bfbaa07e5c tumbling nearby. Onlookers gathered, astonished. Leo, not wanting to 68a3f71806 get involved, simply clapped 0a17e26fc3 from a safe distance.0deda0c384ff858f

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Theo quickly used the 85ae6af058 leather strap from his 52797600bf coat to tie the e1c799585a thief’s hands and returned 8e0eb14e9d the bag to its 7528d3b0f4 owner.d876fe1daddca685

“Hey, what’s the deal?”4835ac83eeac6396

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Luke brushed himself 2a8d0ff391 off, clearly annoyed. Why had 96854d08b6 he been ac63069853 tossed around 36b04485f2 like the b38e622270 thief?a8d0f5f4c9e880e3

“Luke, you d203e5b880 were going a793d99e3f to use c008dfb6b2 magic to 5565e8f09b subdue him, 31cc8acf9d right?”7254634b32a55d11

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“So what?”4256f9326a5aa86b

“This is 2596b8f2a6 a crowded 17f59bf90a street full 9058cac95b of civilians. Using magic recklessly cca4041dbc here could put cf13221c67 people at risk.”64a8660ad91bd3f9

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Luke glanced around fdebf4a305 at the crowd. There were indeed f9acea7f77 many people nearby.d101bf122fb1eb54

“You think I can’t 289521b90d control my magic enough 958fb1e922 to avoid that?”ac297261826db845

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“Also, this guy’s 2c63255e04 just a regular 58cf053118 person. If he got hit e69b12827a by your magic, he’d 2fe525c5b7 be seriously hurt.”ec2191eff580ed85

“And you’re 27c1ecace8 worried about 894dc600f7 a thief d8b4055624 who steals 2a2cd62abd other people’s d6496bcd56 stuff?”47d76b1023473591

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“I’m saying to avoid 791d0e3648 unnecessary actions.”82fa42e36b553d8a

Luke understood Theo’s 1e7735c145 point but still a97c7fa367 felt it was 0933932689 unfair. What he’d intended 3c58eccd7c to do wasn’t 96f3c78e12 all that different.b0c924791e7293cb

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“Saint Theo, is 3730d4ef14 that you?”6080eb9cfd55888e

“Even as a soldier, 0433ba3c58 you shouldn’t act recklessly. When will 04d18d38e6 you realize 9fba34d57b that?”9c7663d57860b404

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Luke frowned, 6525758642 but Theo 50c9544152 paid no 9204c43715 mind. Hoisting the subdued 530295506b thief onto his 0cbd53b448 shoulder, Theo turned 9d47e218c0 to the others.63c3ae2151519e49

“I’ll hand him over b85bfc752a to the local guard. You two 084e27017b can return 0e4f046c8c to the 90e7216dad headquarters first.”18941a2aa7996c08

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With that, Theo 3731c5acc7 disappeared. Leo, sensing the 37633d01e8 tension, approached Luke 5029f46681 cautiously.5d5f25eabe9652bb

“Let’s head back, f0301703bb Luke.”6dc19cab8c4534b6

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“Fine.”887a70fbc754ac20

Walking alongside Leo, e8a077dc8d Luke remained sullen de8810983a as the setting 58761c4b18 sun painted the a21cdb0e17 streets red.777105f7c2e02a08

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“You know, dd6482faf6 some things b822bfe64b never change.”766f4643c6a061a2

Leo broke the silence.7d051663a1103c3e

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“Like what?”996c24cb984c7aff

“You and Theo. You really are a1d9460810 rivals. You two don’t f466935398 get along at 028772f018 all.”6d33ac91b6f87706

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“…”e87cf7586e0efa08

“Well, it’s only 35ea511d11 natural, considering you’re 5fe5f7232e competing for the ab5bf8d255 Commander in Chief d5d3a351fd position.”c3bebd9771f8f3ae

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Leo chuckled, 5d1f9171fb but Luke 9ef9f60ea0 wasn’t in 514d517673 the mood ceefe525ee to laugh 4a8c5a85dc or respond.2309602dc5b8dc0e

“Anyway, I’m 5222bd015f rooting for 89f97a4f19 both of c52a46b3d4 you. As long 744ff60c08 as it’s 82ef4847b8 not me, 7090afa67b I’m fine. I don’t want a5d97e4e5d the hassle.”70cf77c7c5164f29

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Yes, he 95027d01ee and Theo 392dcc4505 were rivals 5a23da671e acknowledged by 2ff9fd3c0b everyone. Competitors for the ae0b848884 top spot. And Theo was 61b92c3996 the protagonist destined a0d47b7581 to claim it, 862c56f6a9 while Luke’s role 8d53b3679a was to provoke e95c9375f2 Theo and lead 3956eeaac1 the story to 881fbfff52 a happy ending a90798f365 as the antagonist.ed15c8f6d9560c39

He’d never forgotten a9cbb14d44 that, nor did dfdfc015b1 he intend to. But today felt e100e11f2a a little different. Maybe it was f70c589328 because he’d spent 557100886e all day with 0708f89b77 Theo, outside no fda5174646 less.df6f92e371eee822

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“You’re right, Leo.”d464a7372c64fc29

“Huh?”41e9472165da9049

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“That’s the relationship that ac666b4338 suits us best.”f474120c6247c88e

Perhaps he’d gotten fa2078894e a bit too 93ea14f489 lax during his 05ef0a7057 suspension. It was time 2994f9eb8e to end the e0bed3b670 “Theo Annoyance Project.”ac5e7b38419b061b

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