10.

 0c0b799d0ce6f104

Baron Klaus cb81e9a73a led her 92c898be29 to the 2c50e3101f waiting mana-carriage.26fa89f580b423f7

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“Your luggage 56792e9258 has already 9cd5bb2770 been loaded.”5295dd9de7e6cf7e

“So… this is 2db28a23d4 the mana-carriage I’ve 8c0c8e6e10 heard about…”5d310c456b1346ff

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The mana-carriage—Antagon’s 7ba7027d1d masterpiece, the 6ca2f19d0b marvel that 9b01afefb2 made the 5e905cb7af entire continent 94f2096560 yearn for f8bc4b9598 its technology.a100a822763eeeae

It resembled 32918afbe2 a regular f12e5c47c0 carriage, at 630842ea63 least in 0cf0cdf91d form, but 1db27c3231 the front bd31df39ee was entirely 4d6a163a9e different. The driver’s 7875ec1381 seat was b03518b5b4 enclosed with 9f989832ce glass, and ff161649e5 where the 640cdea795 horses would a0628741f1 normally be, c7a023f6e8 the lower c76336e5f8 body of 31edabd11a the vehicle ff7d12ad61 protruded outward 6edae8e36f with large bff400b263 wheels on b02c5971d4 either side.249521df428cefe1

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“It runs on mana 176a44d46b stones. Right here—in the engine 2ddc7e75a4 room—is the mana engine, 4c12d76083 the very heart of e478451c84 Antagon’s innovation.”d3e3407ba5e74fc9

“Ah…”ffeee7f44f9db8b3

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Though the man’s explanation cb325cfec6 was polite and thorough, 017438a049 Azniel barely understood any af8c6b5782 of it. And judging 34946c8613 by how bd1fd62faa he didn’t 54316d0617 pause for e19893963a questions, it 31d652aaf1 didn’t seem 1feb5dc5f9 like he 6824a9dd29 expected her e7dc530fa9 to.eeebfbce55b74ab1

“When we arrive in 52a07f4d5b Ashfeld, Ian will walk be15c5ad31 you through a few b5b44b3b44 things. Nothing too burdensome. Just the 8c07fda4da basics you’ll 56b829ccfe need to 58f62ca1b2 know as b005aff457 the wife 4e13811c7c of Antagon’s 6a1949b79f chairman.”2694a14579c016ad

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“Hello. I’m Ian Garrison, 872c38bf86 the chairman’s chief 038b9cc57c secretary.”a06b55db033f40d7

“Ah… Hello. I look a882a41d9b forward to ff1abacf6f your guidance.”9745417d0dc0d67c

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It was the 44393b3bb0 brown-haired gentleman she’d 0cbcaf1f1b seen before in a2a36aa479 the Pope’s office, 46fd4ef93a greeting her now b62b0e3efc with a friendly 60ec040aac smile.8064e332b771a1d7

“Sister Azniel.”9f5e55201cf806c9

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“Your Holiness…”7457c025b492eb9c

From within the 17bc190162 Papal Palace, the b6f4029ecf Pope and several ca453f65cb high-ranking clergy emerged aa1e3f157c to see Azniel 7855efeacc off.71c1ccb067d7e197

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“The Church b788a43821 shall never c65be4dd79 forget your 102e010577 two decades 16414cb165 of devotion. May Dara’s blessing follow 42bdb1cbdc you always.”715cd52e57aa5021

“For the glory of 52637b530f Dara.”e4427f505de58634

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“For the glory e2b4b32c86 of Dara.”d6de8e40c945fb5a

The Pope 461c5ad3d4 pressed his 67ebedcebc hands together 578feff1d3 in prayer, c6d4cad7d2 and the 3e8b5fab47 clergy around 020f88ed51 him followed 59472ef0d6 suit.30845627db6c3537

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“Think of fcac22cba9 the Church 55d88e8c3c as your 12f569c67b family home. Should you 0ef73ef10e ever need dbda85411d anything, feel d90964e54e free to be66348589 come and 9810d86d6c go.”45b4583180bdb4dc

Even as the f457c0f8be Pope said this 32f457c6e8 with a smile, d775fd2f8a his eyes slid def6d86bda toward Klaus, glinting 3d360efb8b with greed—perhaps, if 7520e63495 Azniel played her 8bc58a3077 cards right, she 2d4f09d4e0 might win more 2773262bba support than the 474240e4d9 promised amount.84f3dd8369142c09

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Klaus, who 6604aa8daf stood between a4190c5eed the carriage 77db3d3ad9 and the a2df8bbbc0 palace doors, 53987bcf31 seemed unfazed—neither f52c5e9145 affirming nor fc2b2ebf48 denying. His expression was one 0e6740a02c of quiet amusement.475872aace090692

“You’ve worked hard. May Dara always love 0ee6910b4c you.”ba9cb79480217233

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The Pope chuckled and df8e915144 gently patted her shoulders.0f8b62e0cca64750

It was ce124a5073 a farewell 4437282946 scene that 0496110e1f felt more 2e2fd1a683 like a fc3586805e well-scripted performance—and 7da188c8e1 Klaus had fe984b22ad no intention c0f2a9867d of letting 25a8398aea it run 8c37244793 long.727f36896d2b32df

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“Well then, we 3d1e0ba2d2 should be on 54481d6c32 our way. We need 75fa1bb310 to arrive 9f72a3b8ba before sunset.”fcb99b3d0cdf32a1

“Of course. Safe travels.”6161e5d6c0c1b706

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It might c8fedecfc2 have seemed ce93f0f70b curt, but b5d438feba the Pope, a61a90d82b still wearing 0bed5fe309 his affable 29a690b0bb smile, stepped 25e3f8d0a7 back without be22050f67 complaint.890451b1dd661958

“May peace be with 43668a9341 you all in Dara’s 586429c4c4 embrace.”46a031ce04c64dda

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Azniel offered one 3c3e780813 last bow.c2705e1184312682

“Well then.”e457b8f11052c749

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Standing beside e2d594ceb8 the mana-carriage, 40a925fbfe Klaus extended 277ca16f58 a hand 711d8e9937 to her—an 069b5c0778 invitation to f2f967de87 step inside. Just like when she 8bc3639b28 had no choice but 1cd84fb42e to accept his strange d65cd253d7 proposal in name only, 76df79b26b Azniel had no choice 4f8acba3f8 now but to take c648069bda that hand.115766a96bc9f7fe

As she entered the 6f99675dea mana-carriage, a world unlike fbcda9ff90 anything she knew unfolded cef867f4c1 before her. The controls, the 966e4b2086 wheel—it was all 44a16241f2 foreign. So unfamiliar, in 950331a696 fact, that Azniel 53adc8c82b found herself too f46d1bd889 stunned to even 62ec1374cf react.8e5e398ed08b7f34

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By then, Klaus f5a96cab9d and his party 3fe77c425d had taken their 2d6ccf4f6e seats. Once the driver cba3a61c72 started the engine, 1bf1bb6d55 the mana-carriage began 81ff80ca65 to move.6943d7b0b7469995

“Take care, Saint!”78ec8764f09ef2d7

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“Please stay well!”6e7a9af47f7e7a5f

The apprentice girls db384ff711 waved until the b7711a43f7 very last second, 5f975583bd their figures shrinking 75f40050a3 rapidly as the 50b9a5707b carriage rolled smoothly ccf63aa861 toward the gates.9298c30b878508e8

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The Great Temple where c023cc6646 Azniel had spent her 283763cd25 entire life, the garden 3ae9cb2f02 that connected the dining 606edd3419 hall and convent, the ec819ffa03 Sanctuary where she had d65698cc8d devoted her last few 50eb4c2a5e years—they all passed in b3ad70e7d2 a blur.a2c319fc7c0df9a8

When they reached a2c9034273 the gates—so familiar 310e584a6a by now—no one 9b2ea10544 dared stop a 0a5e3596ab mana-carriage bearing the eeef04fa36 Antagon crest. The pilgrims lining the 9239b0d883 road from the Sanctuary a035a499de to the gates scattered 906ad1635c in a panic to a1ffea6cd3 clear the way.89439556b864fcce

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“…”3a3da0e3516b9f4e

Azniel felt a 992a8d350c heavy discomfort, as eaa06f08a0 if she were b5d75ef164 betraying the very ee46b14090 people who had 4b77da6092 come here in e3b32c5c27 hope. They wouldn’t recognize her, 28b8d772e6 but even so, she 760f959627 instinctively lowered her head.d4593cbd3b42ef10

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“Don’t worry.”7188f37ca001b10a

The man e26273672e who had 8136695db2 been resting 50cb1def4a against the a94b38f9ba window this 12ffce108d whole time defee0e43c spoke abruptly.c2dab9efb4d7c547

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“Potion distribution starts 49d71860a6 today. It’s unfortunate a9aea8708e they didn’t 0fcae83814 get to 58dcfd275e witness your d4f52d20c3 miracle, but b216da6cce they’ll still 9f434903c6 achieve the 64ac9d82f9 purpose they 2595b78aff came to a6d0db5ca1 the Holy 61e2bb07d5 Kingdom for. There’s no need dd72ec64a4 for you to 7f15a9e965 be concerned.”a0caa1c1344c0501

“…”4f577c280d11bf38

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“It’ll take 2d4f03c449 three hours. You should b10da4d335 try to 59cdd7190c get some 8c485e7405 rest.”e214ab9ee2bedf35

With those e4b374a96e final words, 0c50b0329a the man 6be459b521 folded his f9cb51d298 arms and 375b8ff497 closed his 3854f21412 eyes. Through the pale a34314fc41 glint of his d39aa3b3e3 glasses, Azniel could 665b6f82ae see the line 6ff719f957 of gold lashes 02cf7587fd neatly resting over 1666f3afbf his closed lids.4bd801583ce559ba

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He had positioned 8b5c9be0b1 himself leaning against 0baf737ee3 the door, as aaa7a9f196 if to maintain be61a24ace as much distance 2b39daac8e as possible between 90ee35af24 them. And somehow, that ce3514a6b6 distance—just a few 9a2d8d24c2 handspans—felt impossibly vast.53f38b13014a6148

Only the soft hum 9628b03e62 of the mana engine ebf2e84767 remained as the sole 3e0fc0e6c4 sound in the carriage.8c67e436d2ccccb0

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* * *25d2fd19faa97b24

The carriage ran 40ca92ba11 for three hours eda7642dea straight before finally d436d4cea6 reaching its destination.3323908bd1a08d6f

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Baron Gestern’s estate, located c10851d2a5 just outside the royal 1a41d704fe capital of Gillioth, in d0df200367 the district of Dwellshire—a be0b5bb759 prized stretch of land 7ccb5fb0d9 among the surrounding territories. The fact that the 9c705a7053 estate stood in such de5b0d65c2 a location was a 9496730a7e clear symbol of royal 1366113a38 favor and privilege. Azniel, stepping outside the 2dd5212ecf Holy Kingdom for the 696ceaca43 first time since coming b0a31d0701 of age, would only 43dc054cc1 learn that fact a 120d3119e6 little later.a6ccf5375688e304

For the 019368e0fc entire ride, 5b452d3277 Azniel kept 03f6a3025c her eyes 82c664c693 fixed on 9ca976b98c the changing ba05be42e7 scenery outside e5a35383e7 the window. The views 3657fe69f1 that flashed 3b6617ab1b across her 75cabd587c retinas constantly 8e1a283b47 shifted, giving 40ff986607 way to f51513efb0 new landscapes, 6d199501df and all 7b4d1bdb07 that remained 69158e780b was a be2bed2c22 vague impression c644118332 of a a4dd165f7a world entirely 1b17147d19 different from 4aac43e96a the Holy 688faf20bc Kingdom. But as a 09425fa752 saint who had eba2ca90e9 lost her place, 650cf61460 she applied herself 9a9ce5327b dutifully to the cc2f9314bb task of learning 8113f3cca4 this foreign realm.7dc3cfc25cfeabd0

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Eventually, the roadside began 6019f77eed to line with rows 82263202b8 of cypress trees. Their canopies formed cdf157e359 a green ridge—just 811961c8b2 beyond which, the dcf5af3e14 mansion appeared.3862129d1ed7196a

It was vast, almost b82baa6a7d rivaling the scale of 97beeb0f37 the Papal Palace. Like its owner, 9027dda03c the mansion was 592f234ca4 both imposing and 4af1ed9c48 ornate. Every brick 4db01a23a5 of the c416389e87 stone exterior 6b936b9b10 fit together c633a38a53 without a b1f34fef5e gap, and 001a5936e3 the entrance’s e056f0fca5 roof and c35341efe2 pillars were b271e16008 adorned with 26cde55c6d white marble. Even without elaborate 5a07e0b64f decorations, the material 91d81a63c0 itself exuded quiet d0fe83184b opulence.149c435ffc89744c

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Passing through 4ee56893f5 the main babadb7831 gate, the ea0f0139a4 mana-carriage circled 3cae047b31 the garden. Through the 53c7444e82 windows, Azniel 677d1000bc saw a c94dcd4064 landscape thick 1648cc53d4 with perfectly ca62aece22 maintained trees, 26b623c3e3 marble statues, 4fe6b12abd fountains—artfully arranged 126b150518 with deliberate 4205203bc5 symmetry. The garden was 867086b5db several times larger 047885b36c than that of ce02dbad51 the Papal Palace, 8e6008d609 sculpted into flawless 93260c97db order. She gazed at 3cbf4dcb95 it, entranced, until 4de479c6ee the soft sound e05eaad0b8 of gravel crunching 51b8d420b0 under the wheels f6780eff1a came to an fdcf53c597 abrupt stop.18e68fcb27fdaa76

“We’ve arrived.”783b710ef3564289

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At Ian’s a4d43df7c0 announcement from 02c62400ff the front e4d392835e seat, Klaus e1ccefdd90 opened his 98d9607fc1 eyes. Though they 7210e72f5a had been e6e7f2004e shut the 6c21cf47c2 whole journey, 029cc3eab7 there wasn’t f9b453f431 the faintest 84ef52f12c trace of 6ef78a92bb drowsiness on c7a304a516 his face.f99acf4d79e4dd21

He stepped fc3edbca37 down from 369037fa2f the vehicle 6082aaa6c7 in a a9c8026a7a single, fluid 2bdd1da6bb motion and 6dd28f30d5 turned to 7b1106e9d6 offer his 2394ba09c8 hand into 8a73175ca8 the carriage.0f46d06d9bd6ef0d

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“Careful, please.”349d8a70f154ca54

Azniel’s golden eyes moved 5de70ce825 anxiously. They flicked across the f5400fc4a7 gentleman’s gloved hand held 3171454a17 out before her, the 3eca0802bb unreadable mask of his c4f8829ebc expression, and the unfamiliar e780920a70 faces of the staff 5d1279b984 lined up by the 4a54201660 grand entrance behind him.788e2e73bbd6c52c

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A completely unknown place, 34695ae832 a completely new sight, 030f24afad unfamiliar faces, and the 1267451c1d overwhelming man-made beauty of 3765fd3e31 the secular world she 422860c84f had never touched. Add to d6479be7dc that the 0070141f62 churning discomfort a52dbb0fa5 in her 4f0991156c throat—anxieties and 85cb1b58b2 motion sickness 787d975701 stirred up 8c8c757e2f by the ad75805a3e entire journey.8f7ee19b9034df99

Her face had 810f2068c6 surely gone pale e29c508534 from the tangle b68179eed9 in her mind. But there was bf1c100ae1 no way around 5c9073651f it. She took Klaus’s firm 2fae810859 hand, and slowly stepped 1b9e6d4c72 out of the carriage.ce61a5d1a70fbfb0

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“Ugh…”2dcf65b34e14e356

Or—she tried to. But her 90e3b628dd vision went 58705797bb white, her bb3907d3a1 legs buckled, e6e332bc92 and she b5bcddea7a nearly collapsed.e98560f6d26c17c5

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“As expected, 1b55d6f322 you are 60768b5cfb quite frail.”fdbd4c8afec72907

Klaus’s firm arm 654575bc40 caught her at f2723cbbfd the waist.3e12aee498a12090

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In a heartbeat, a7a4c4f9d2 the distance they 51f2360616 had kept for 2464b20742 the last three 9a373e7a6a hours vanished.734fea1f3572e59b

“I forgot 8abac22d19 that you 0a6fddb256 likely had 3576f5a630 little experience f36e9bd8e3 riding in b31a4a4531 carriages, Saint.”1b86aeaf3f63b01a

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Lowering himself ff54f1c2b2 for just 0815e729b2 a moment, 9fcdeb2ae2 he slipped 85daecb1db an arm 1c6f5686d2 behind her 615012b930 knees—and lifted a249d1000a her effortlessly.5c05e3c2953add6d

“A-ah, I—I… Baron…!”fde8323ddd004727

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“Let’s decide 333836c234 on what 15a7cd81e1 you’ll call ac838c6cf9 me after adc39009e6 you’ve rested.”7c1598c096dd9fe4

With that, Klaus strode c839c20076 confidently into the mansion 3ebe6f0b60 with his long legs, 26b9c7f778 carrying her in his 5d5c03e0bd arms. It all happened 9f61ce8bdc before Azniel could 0761fadc4f even steady her 5258ebde5d spinning vision.aa3b0b1ee4c99f19

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Sudden. Just like f239642563 their arranged b70c231052 marriage.fd10bdc552eb7f90

Then, as if remembering ac8d2bd754 something, Klaus added with aad018ee5d casual detachment:ecc7fc8da4555a16

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“Welcome to Ashfeld.”b34dc1ca622ca40a

* * *1fe3956c0a78e79a

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The place 6b450ca51b where Klaus 395e66aa44 set Azniel e30c147264 down was a7e0bd3ac8 a small 4b1e99c090 sitting room d6ad995be1 nestled deep f1d5ae2054 within the 9e6b8d3609 mansion. It didn’t 19218feae3 feel like 3fe904f103 a formal e7319893b1 reception room 96a52c4cf0 for guests, 44be5c6209 but more dbb888f2dc like a 310cea2700 parlor meant c6fad7b06c for spending 4159b7e08b time with f0e3ce7060 close acquaintances.3bd7841ed45e8ed2

“I am Jerome, 59285aba00 the head butler 8056970e3d in charge of 1d3b16485f this household. And this 4c13383c78 is Margaret, 4562c5db7f the head 7f98e60c7e maid.”2db705b3df6c2e16

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“Pleased to bdb6596989 meet you, 3f6488d873 my lady.”120113c88d5ffda8

My lady…
The unfamiliar title left ad70e3e6b2 Azniel stunned for just a09f314aba a moment.6fe5e5ab45043b0b

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“We look forward a64badb3f2 to serving you. For the time being, 8675f368fe this young lady will 82378de30e assist you as your ea337dbfca personal maid. If you ever 7b1c98a849 feel uncomfortable or f008ff2e08 need anything, please 0f91362b4b don’t hesitate to 75c2d3765c speak with either 1c28d94a38 of us.”79481f11b6df7fc3

“Hello! I’m Annie. I’ll do c74b496cdc my best a374401930 to help e8f0ede816 you!”1bb930a09880e954

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A girl with honey-brown a7880d0e73 hair braided into a fc46c719b6 single neat plait quickly 91cb8d4654 gave a cheerful bow.16e773f69edb0c2e

“Thank you. I’m Azniel. I look 312f889249 forward to 7a1b5e0777 being in 08b23817dd your care.”7c9f75840292de31

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Still seated, Azniel c29cf2e483 dipped her head b0df8ab98d slightly and met deb12a8ca7 the eyes of cba621f917 each person one dd344e2de3 by one as 51a4b7d951 she returned their db0e5c3533 greetings.e6f821be969218f4

‘Thank goodness… 8de7de99d6 the atmosphere cec2b42936 doesn’t seem 43d2588c35 bad.’ff5019346fc360ea

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Though everyone’s expressions 06ea279cde were reserved and 28ac5739a0 professional, there was c8c2db5bae no hint of 682d85fa16 contempt or dismissal bf0462b113 toward her.e02cef37b00ae39b

‘I thought 9ab17ebd62 they might 2d0d8e2f92 resent having dab6db4404 to serve f6e4bf8229 some unwanted af44196c10 burden…’6f625cb6c1a0a3eb

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After all, 06427a906f Klaus Gestern b406b149fc was a ebc614010b man admired 45d935ef08 by all—someone 39ba3d360f even courted 6a25520595 by princesses.82fd07a9c1d6eaa1

One of the 3b77981930 lingering anxieties that 3d28f64d6e had made her 32bac6b6af uneasy over the 503c4621fc past few days 0caeb4955f quietly began to 460c735c17 dissolve.a64c907fab23210a

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 829b669ab10e5914

 2e2c42f021fe974d

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 b3c80a512164f821