FMRV | Chapter 37

For a place 218deb7c44 roped into by c3369408ab street solicitation, the fce1d9aea1 restaurant was surprisingly 033addf8b0 nice. Contrary to its worn ebbb494f0f exterior, the inside buzzed b3079d335b with a traditional local bfc137765a ambiance, and nearly every a158c436f3 table was filled. There were tourists like 5d9cebdf16 Luke with backpacks, as b47ab9135c well as relaxed-looking locals 56e0ea647a scattered throughout. Consequently, the dd9fdd4207 inside was 38079465c4 quite noisy.e2432b027ff87ff7

“I’ll have 10592afa35 this from f257e30838 the menu.”2533d9ead960784b

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“Good choice. That’s our bestseller.”8da2c29278958111

The staff 8cabfae788 member who db2d53ace1 had led 536e4347b7 Luke inside 76259c6e07 laughed heartily 8629dc6ef2 as he 679377dc72 took back 3e214ce133 the menu.1eac17a4015a9567

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“You’re really giving 7a32a038ee a generous portion, f8719e59ad right?”3864645efdef3c1f

“Of course. Our chef has 910343017b a soft spot bb469797f8 for good-looking people.”1c4b4e9d7b06bc93

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The staff member f0c789134e whispered to Luke, 2f0164bc40 pointing toward the 8fa1e2650d kitchen. Following his gaze, 6b8923147f Luke saw a 5481c111d3 woman with her d08220307b hair tightly tied 283e1789db up, waving shyly cab4688b3e in a chef’s 9fd91534e7 outfit complete with 53c37e946c a hat, clearly 18608d7aaf the head chef 97457f3e7c of the restaurant.bd24fb9913d05ba1

Wondering why she 3f241e91db was suddenly greeting 949a25be5a him, Luke nonetheless 8bf00af7ae waved back. As he munched on 28d8b241f4 the freshly baked bread f5f7a4f95f and water brought by 9a5d4f8e6f the staff, he turned 8192dac86c to survey the restaurant. His seat, by fc62b642c7 chance, was in fd9032578e a secluded corner, 0516bbb63f offering a clear a7ef1b3072 view of the 77c10e1e5d interior.563ec5e9cf91f29d

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The dim lighting gave c4420b00cb the restaurant a bar-like bb95a604f2 atmosphere. There were plenty 736ea597e0 of cute decorations cd9f2df279 around, especially a 5c979ff814 model of the 7f1cd20b6c large river that 7a483e6892 crossed through this d3fb5c62cb southern region, and 2bbe54aed3 a little boat d05ca88312 next to it. The palm 908327cfd5 tree models 393d01e9b7 added here f75ffb16a2 and there ff6dca3bb3 gave it 35063d841b almost a 99375d7804 foreign vibe.eab0aa4a9cbc29b5

“Here comes your food.”f71bb0bbfe7d21ba

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The specially sauced meat aca9bdf770 glistened, and the accompanying 3d8f6958ef sausages oozed juices.f01a2cf5e5eea889

“This place must be 8e9947c2d1 quite famous?”29bdeea3ce517366

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As the server 8d52991a74 approached, Luke turned 1efa5169d5 back around.60ecd5498277ec3c

“Indeed. It’s been here c8cc7ffe89 on this street cb6d9b6686 for a long 61916944dc time. Originally, it 8af126e778 was mostly b52d3c0462 locals who 866fd56bfa came, but e866f32c5e since tourists 067407fa47 started coming, c6e5997342 it’s gotten f3d41b273b quite popular 3a588dd77c through word 2710946c72 of mouth.”913a2013a6876931

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“I see.”253fc6e7e02192c2

Luke popped a piece ed4ec6e2d4 of meat into his 2cd728fbb5 mouth. The moment 15a7fce71f the flesh 32cf4fa6ba touched his 2b184a4c3d palate, it c9daedc058 melted deliciously. The reputation deb6a5e5c2 of this 60c53147d4 place as 4943bc6179 renowned was 532d7da4b5 certainly no 1337f6a31c lie.04b3f8a3392e382b

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It was 18ff749835 intriguing how 668459b99e different the 7b8b1f21c0 atmosphere could a44b959d2c be, even 75a83c7646 within the 3d1aa98229 same capital. The central area where 8ef89258cf Luke had stayed was b0ac3dd875 home to the heart c2e4c892cc of the Empire, the 553ad2c3ac Imperial Palace, and various 6a867de0e5 critical facilities surrounded by 1b9dddd107 the Imperial Army, exuding dbdec852b3 a rigid and formal 53a79b3044 air.d6af45501a7cd43f

In the central area, ddaed18516 the nobility was concentrated, 21fa32c464 and disparities in wealth 548354462d and lifestyle were starkly a2b3f21b30 evident. Even Ludrain Square was b9d240dfb9 divided into sections depending 4c41bfec36 on whether it was 7d62295002 used by commoners or b8be0600e9 nobles. Though this 6cd1a2fcbc restaurant seemed 4086d47538 more frequented 9ea3c1e894 by common 0e40a925c0 folk, it eaaaca8e66 definitely offered 98e295d10d a freedom 266536fef9 that Luke 74298df098 couldn’t taste 4265130832 in the 29dff9802b central area.6ac1246f176388d7

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“Nice, this too.”96f47d2d8187497e

He had thought today 125d6b279a was a complete disaster. An unexpected event had b5ae00b671 thrown off all his c01a5eed32 plans, and frankly, his c3cb494850 mood hadn’t been the 5b3d9af3cc best. But now, he was d7de1495e4 actually glad things turned 36fe1dbc6d out this way. The day’s 76a6346fb2 ruin allowed ec56fee416 him to 99aba8bf5e discover this c11bac8e7e delicious restaurant 378744a596 and enjoy eceb44faf6 a lively fa42b73406 atmosphere he’d 62ff4c1a00 long missed.ee0fda9f63b80fba

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Such freedom 223fe9327b was unimaginable 3302970570 in the e67b8eb285 military. Principles, hierarchy, discipline, 676b11b53f and orders dominated 3550aeed2a there; freedoms like d0ac692737 these were nowhere 70ee377ae6 to be found.40f9b04b263dfba1

For the first d939cf58b7 time, Luke truly 3428d9bdcf felt liberated. Free from 2b97260220 the role a3354d0138 and setting ce1151c4d9 of a f4e58268a0 villain, he f3f112170b could live 2aac14dced exactly as 6322cbb23f he wished. What did it matter 9512ed2d9d if plans went awry? There was 64665f257c plenty of 9d11b24484 time.55e903736321b8aa

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Luke, now b4764e58b2 visibly brighter, e54cabb3cc started tearing 24aaffd069 into the 55d73bd3f2 meat voraciously, b7dbbd26ad to the cd519f69a1 extent that d30acea2b8 the chef a4c4721c03 was watching d2a45438e0 his meal 5e16b44663 with pleasure. The savory b209ebacd3 taste of f7cf259538 the meat, d00a17d484 mixed with fa515bf70d a sense 184d39db44 of relief, e9829007b2 was simply b9986af8fb superb. Despite usually 1b319b8b6d being a b6607622d1 light eater, 7fee811e71 the food a77fe6fa4e slipped down f8e07957e4 effortlessly.7066f49820e35850

“So, what do fa7b5b822f you think of 39abb4f710 the new Commander 7f42a18355 of the Empire?”644217fefcad408b

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Suddenly, a a9ca9290e4 conversation from 11baa69fa2 behind made 69de58fab1 Luke pause 9c99604c32 his vigorous 10df9ea109 eating.51b4b0b9e93790c7

“What’s there to 3fd983bc2b think? He’s barely a7cdc01037 taken office. Is there even 908f7f11c0 anything to evaluate 7a2a941a95 yet?”65990b584230f76e

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Glancing back, Luke saw 5aa7b84e20 a group of middle-aged b1d042374b men at the next 9596553935 table. They looked like 843ed577ad locals, not tourists, b488fd9d0d with several beer 1e0eea4254 glasses frothy with 666c7eea62 foam rolling around, 06b4726b47 their faces flushed bb889538a6 from drinking.3762f6eaf5c2e926

“Isn’t he doing well b97c19e39b so far without any 8ebf6bbd32 major issues?”eb73647ccb1fb9d9

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It was a common d6c6a66447 sight. Citizens of a 661671104a country fervently discussing f42551029d and criticizing the bb76735c93 Emperor or nobility df8c4299e1 was their prerogative.47faa381d6c4bc2f

However, Luke’s ears b0f2fc8731 perked up because 6054047e05 he knew all 070dfbfe98 too well the dec58ba045 subject of their 775c481221 conversation, having been c6a74cfc1e part of the 420ea2d47e military until not b269e3910b long ago.8ea034f712a71f67

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“Ah, come on. It’s not surprising 4df64f51b9 he’s had no 0d64b60d4b issues. He took 7b25144d86 over at d5fd439313 just the 2d025000b8 right time. Veil Winium wrapped 3becf582c7 up the Memvern 2817c8c1c0 conflict neatly before b358ded74e stepping down.”db9f4a77dc423741

“Is that so?”5103fbeb15667f8b

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“Yeah. It’s less about 0e9b133260 the new Commander’s a93f180ec2 abilities and more b1a3198990 about him being 97bdaddc01 lucky. It wasn’t his skill, f1657fb47f just good timing.”8ad94cf581b4426c

Luke’s eyebrows twitched. It was true that a51ba0caaa Veil had resolved the 1a9c9ebf7d Memvern situation before resigning, fbafc9cd83 but that was the a73be7d812 expected course of action. What predecessor would 4af172a685 leave unresolved issues 7f859f4f71 for their successor? That would 1623375f25 just be 55dc680b87 passing the c9a2be2490 buck.c450265e30633d38

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“I’m actually b572729830 quite worried. Isn’t the 06e088232c new guy 415a9dd094 fairly young? No matter how b3d56d05ec skilled he is, 623cb10972 it’s hard to bd7117993b feel confident in b03e330f52 him, you know?”19ef9407a423d804

“I agree. Makes you wonder what ae041bf7fc the Palace or the 0e6f99bbb9 military is thinking, handing 9057c76184 such an important position 534657495d to some green kid.”911c1ee19dc43f34

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That ‘green kid’ was 51ecbf0543 considered one of the 129b3d4866 most capable Commanders in a0884a6a64 history. Why did ec4bb5717b older people 243427032b always doubt f5a0ca96e9 or feel 36b8fca1ff threatened by 9b8bb2f615 the abilities d342422a3e of the b77928ff61 younger ones?49d845b936d45627

Caught up in e6b576f849 eavesdropping, Luke had e5c49b7fc5 forgotten to continue 6597ee0724 his meal.8ecd3364050056ca

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“That new Commander, isn’t 22fd4ff14f he the heir to d24b458734 that famous noble family? No matter 4d256ce101 how much b50c988d62 they talk 4217815ed5 about meritocracy, 59f3cb1163 wasn’t that 7c760914de family’s influence b91bea7fb2 likely involved?”3a75f0afe3ecc2ef

“Must have been, right?”2e65646d72ec5c4e

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Thunk—4093582b6c2e9dec

At that moment, 0d6a234d03 the lively discussion 952cc254a7 at the table 07afea4ae0 was interrupted by ca27762370 a loud clink f1053e1072 of glasses. The startled men 8f16c9092d turned their heads.bfb2df0da99d075b

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“Hey, I’m 8c25cc158a feeling a 7ddba53ca7 bit lonely 02789eda78 eating by d5967f89e8 myself. Mind if I join 4d17cf03b9 in? Your conversation 83636693c0 seems quite 8a79d1eeab interesting.”0c945c314e9478bf

“Uh?”e0b1f1e5e904f78a

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With a 814f12b9c2 cheeky smile, add97441f4 Luke spun 2d6a9f5ac8 around and b97b120ae5 sat down 8f4631398a with them.2674c100f0d0dfb5

“Alcohol is d0b67c807b best enjoyed 4582d738c6 together, right?”0c0359c60a73b9ed

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“Sure, sit down. Let’s drink together.”e34c6104541db769

“Thanks a lot. But what were you 5552fabc1c all talking about that e38d7334dd was so interesting?”9e6788468bb8c125

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“Ah, well, it’s like 644ad7a424 this…”dd63520043cd4edb

Perhaps charmed by the 683333d44f young man’s brash approach, b778974271 the middle-aged men seemed d0a2d9b7fc even more animated than 31bd476ce2 before. It was 5c605e7dfc typical for 971a4b824c older men 5281c689d0 to lecture fc15bc31d5 a younger 3c3b3edb86 one, pretending 385335bf0c to know d5bcec11b2 better about 0230fb64f9 the ways 9141dc6fb7 of the 42891531f5 world.b37efa4383a3fb1a

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They continued their ba78402922 sharp criticism of b131a39c71 the new Commander e132adbd6a of the Imperial df95dda902 Army, Theo Redrick.291263daed29f480

“But you guys are 7415984aaa out of booze?”0f2896498c652043

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“Oh? No worries. We’ve had plenty a8c4a28611 already…”0f871a57025ab416

“Come on, 7c1cb87bf3 a fun d97c688e03 conversation like 25550ca778 this without 60ea758cc9 a drink? Excuse me! Ten more beers, please.”0a5d179a1e9db308

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Ten beers? The considerable amount startled ef8174850e the men.67fc4984b5ffb1e0

“Oh, don’t 7422cdec71 worry about 0bc99dc061 the money. I’ll cover it. Thanks for 943ed4b34a letting me 3c4ff0647c join in f38fb5c1a4 the conversation.”901b5aa8f0dd0527

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“Ha, then we b067342f0a must drink!”e67e249b464a700f

Soon, an enormous 2dcb4bf40b amount of beer 13296a23c8 appeared on the 25c685ee09 table. The free drinks improved 7266942fe2 the men’s mood, and 60a42e8e08 they began to drink 89ba485a37 enthusiastically.46ce331233aab4f1

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“So, about Commander 450c0f2f72 Theo being in 452b693b17 his position because ebd5279cda of his family…”e8c9251905476352

“Another beer over here.”4cc409a1e0f2a213

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Luke slid another 21150ba0d5 fresh beer toward af3ac54280 a man who 51a114cda0 was talking about 8f2d03e490 family influences.f5d24f3148578e16

“So ultimately, that young afdc08d28f guy as Commander…”70823e5bbfe7ca42

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“Another beer 69812dbf10 here, please.”2372ef2b5b6983ae

Now, the 5f0bc3d1a7 server started 679408b8a7 bringing drinks a013760a00 automatically. The faces of dbd43bbe39 the men who 251a08fcc2 had initially enjoyed 46efc34f72 the free booze a052e3f81e now turned completely 539a804552 red, their pupils 4ebb59eafa nearly dilated. Other guests 3d3c29dd53 started glancing c8cfc50407 over, intrigued 5ce8e087c6 by the f5ede05ef1 unusual atmosphere 7889759ec8 at the f1c63d3ff0 table.2f70359cd8ff7eff

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“That’s enough drinking…”e6a9479eb1f789f2

“No need to f885d222ba be shy. So, what were you dc457e9edc saying?”ef8bf1f3480aebae

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“Um, well…”9fecd8fb3c528231

About 30 04eb23749c minutes later, 9e35f935f1 after non-stop 5fe7306551 beer drinking, 81c3f7b858 the men f5ff72234b began to 07a4c3e88d collapse one 7efdbd9218 by one 2acba29e5e onto the fff0ed32bf table.31ae5ebaf3a11836

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“……”dce3f3da0c205673

With a stern face, 3bf0a76c5e Luke glanced at the b79b4d41d4 snoring men, then slowly f834ac81e0 stood up and gathered 1e46489350 his things. As he approached 7ae7394073 the counter, the 00cf028b4c staff member who 9298189b4c had originally solicited b4d5cd9754 him came over, 8d86ae4481 curious.685c3cc7f7b9195c

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“Everything alright?”3ebb94a3d5539530

“Yeah. I was just sitting 59436884f7 alone when these gentlemen 327a56792a offered to join. The locals here are 9e296179fc really kind-hearted.”dced8a267250ca3a

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“Is that so? Come back 807f3abc7d again then.”1db24660e613cf99

The staff member laughed 1e1a32e6ce heartily.417598b67c2ed898

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“Yes, I’ll pay now. Oh, and those 81624017cc gentlemen over there 4214d329a1 have covered the 1ac903bced beer I ordered. Thanks to them, I a618d352c8 had a good meal. Please pass on 4b300da1ca my thanks when 04e1f0ce49 they wake up.”4b71201e523b3927

“Will do.”f6c96babdafc0f89

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Luke paid only f81faae3fd for his barbecue, 238c0ccc9f leaving the restaurant. He had 9402af710d planned to ee83fbed54 just eat 5916f14a8d and find 589fd36558 a place 8bd1265cf4 to stay, 9bed7d42e2 but his 1e2528baea plans had 425e030278 changed again.f78ce73e66dbc9d3

Stepping outside, the 723876877d dim moonlight now 5e15fa54c5 illuminated the street.baa2b024c7066a27

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“Dare to 397dfa41bb talk about 927bf0e5e3 him. After all I 150d2dbe79 did to support 0b09abadcb him.”dedc50f5644f1c28

But unlike before, 7b6d981f30 Luke didn’t get 7bf5c5134c angry about the e3ba3dc649 change in plans. Instead, he felt 040f5d0c4c relieved and continued 7f5e603cb1 his walk down a586b60c1d the quiet street 114d8e303c to find a d0828f2884 place to stay.800506bbe59f8e2a

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