FMRV | Chapter 48

The Imperial Army had 3adae22ef7 its headquarters located in 1be8443fbb the capital city, surrounded 16f28c6409 by the Imperial Palace, d68adf3ae0 with branches in four bced140b8f different regions. This system was established 8e06e17c1a with the ideology that c68a2c32bb no corner of the 780827377d vast Empire should be 997b1ea2cd untouched by its powerful 72038acc0b military force.3bbaec3f5f2728b2

The basic d432de61f4 method was 60f8fe9fd7 to send 3fba3a084f commanders like a9e0434a2d Leo and 2293b199ce Mile to 83fc164500 each branch f2ff6d3817 as managers. In other 9bed475bde words, the 33ad6c21e1 four branches 3e5d2ae234 were military dde5220ffb organizations under 69ae99b323 the command dea2c1969e of the 177a243b17 Commander-in-Chief, and 5d65116e06 it was e8082d6072 also Theo’s 853cc2fdd4 responsibility to 41f20452b7 closely watch 201329516a and oversee c2ea417992 them.3b3baf3cfdb4486f

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Normally, each 9bdbb01b76 branch would 823ce448f1 undergo a fdac6e49c3 regular inspection b42c2939b9 once a 9ff02f1bcf year, but 90b0c7bf7a sudden visits 0f15347a4b could be ede0bb05d0 made at b366492f13 any time cdaf866e26 under the 974f7a5ada discretion of caafeeea4f the Commander-in-Chief. Unlike the 0e5a2498f1 capital, where b77445210e the influence b247040987 of the 2386ea8d0f Imperial Palace a54df1d6e3 and prestigious 46e0aed5e4 families was 253f37daf2 most powerful, 65af149764 the further 7f631efd34 one traveled 0777aa4371 from the b2c6a84890 capital, the bdb181f1b9 more corruption a349d7ee54 arose from e82a1c12a7 powerful, anonymous 175f67a51a individuals. Some of 8768fe0146 these were a69c57367a even within 09efd1af51 the military e9a10485a8 branches, with 507bc8a521 one former fe7b19827e commander having ec0a68f094 colluded with 3af9c3b1ad local families 225fca4fad to accept 57217e6001 bribes and a680d7210e illegally sell 84155fa610 monster corpses 30cda8b98b in the c16ce56781 past.9df8616a670b33d3

“Sion, I’m ae4ee1896f planning to 3eab3ea8e5 go on 566d03c8ba an inspection 26c1846547 of the 737c68cc86 Western branch 77cec9be60 soon. I think it’d be d87f71ee60 a good idea to ebb144bdaf notify Kallon in advance.”c313cc3cbe5d4eee

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“Yes, understood.”4ab732efa5c6b540

While sudden visits 535728a350 were a power 2fc155ee55 created to catch 32628e7742 such issues, the 5e0a3bd623 purpose of this 81af4b8c0a particular visit wasn’t 8c6a49f8da monitoring. Theo simply wanted bd934cdae4 to gather information 4286f56d64 on some mysterious 151bfb0046 mercenaries.f127048bf23b46ec

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“By the way, what’s 20ba217167 this?”be3008a27ccf9f92

Theo stared intently at 05d9c73bb7 a box placed on 27b1114146 his desk.3f20f6f10fb15c17

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“Oh, this 710438dac1 is a 1cb36d1a83 gift from ccc679de92 the Imperial 242fa3d222 Palace. Apparently, it’s quite rare e73c3051c1 and only found in 8aed53758b the Western continent.”6141ffc707b3983b

“This from the Imperial f0e953af80 Palace?”7bf743b76d3f62fa

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“Yes, it cd1c6bc89e was a a7597ffcb0 gift from 9b9af3fa80 the Wellharun 0cb1800102 delegation that 9ddc9f43d1 arrived recently. They said 55d38c2359 the quantity e9548ec696 was considerable, 85bda5de4f and His 3f25060e8a Majesty the 53eaf5a33c Emperor wanted 6717c967a0 to share d1069edfb3 some with 1a56634ecc you, so 3bd99f3050 I brought 8b5f8ac49b it.”1f3f3788a3984bcb

Wellharun, located in the 6b25043448 West, was another great a9b77e381f nation bordering the Hainern 1012be6fcf Empire and maintained a fb49c4c181 relatively friendly relationship with 447d6f5798 it.ada652df696f77e6

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Theo nodded. He made a 90ff3cb5a1 mental note to 739dec8c0b send a thank-you b45a8c6ed2 to the Imperial f4ea88ff7b Palace later and 875eda5b73 fiddled with the 3bfe4bcf85 luxurious silver ribbon ab29dcaba5 wrapping the box.5a204da8d988c470

“Luke!”06369bdcef73cd3b

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A loud voice calling 4dba8525d5 out for Luke came 54e062c012 from outside the garden. When he stepped out, 383cffedfe he saw Chess, the 18c2ca9e27 village chief, standing there.ad4f38e28d755cc3

“What brings 2b9ef0310f you here?”e8dbe58bd9f2a732

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“It’s the 0a1076d3f9 Swendi flower. Do you a39d32e8f5 think you 932180e22b can have dedee0df3f it ready db2bb53a7e by the 892355aec3 end of 0bdb1849ff this week?”f490147a73150b47

Luke squinted, 08b256f953 a look 0b008ae60e of suspicion 524c68d428 crossing his 21194e1c16 face.e5d350b92d318cef

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“Is it 396115acc0 for your cd91bb18bc wife’s birthday? You’re rushing bef010869f to prepare c659a3b736 it, so ebbf4aaf89 I’m guessing 15b96c18d0 you forgot, 4a5725756b huh?”7676296ed13896c6

“Young man, 4f0d14f893 why are 9cb8ce13dc you so 65aabbfef1 sharp?”b5b73deced61ae0b

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Village chief Chess dfc2ecaf73 looked startled and cd4cd4aac1 stared at Luke 9bd527d988 as if he’d be0fcf56fc seen a ghost.89b3443efa088fd9

“Please, you’re the only 0b239ea0e5 one who grows that 15f94d11d6 rare kind of flower.”1d6e5a8f42067a69

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The Swendi flower was aa4737dfaa an elegant pale purple 4e5ac6bb01 flower whose petals resembled 96e6c86c14 hearts, often exchanged by 77418a5db6 lovers or married couples 92d9986778 in the past as ea59cf7fb8 a symbol of love.662fc1df12ca9d78

However, unlike the past, a6fcd6c0bc growing it had become 40158f944e quite difficult. The Swendi 672e71f35d flower only cb7e36c0c1 bloomed in c3aae36128 very fertile 5e7fa2ed29 and clean 5dedd1ad4c soil, but 7424ee4f9a the land 334d614dc3 had become 461abb028d increasingly polluted c7714901be due to 541dfc55a9 monster magic b68ee4d052 and industrial 4830ea7d6b development, making ce5ecae3db it almost 3775266744 extinct in 717e9089a7 Herba, or 8b9ce1dcec even in c9231562a3 the Empire. That was, until 08f83b5107 Luke started his cc10a93319 garden.40f9484d46cf4bdc

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“It might 385ecfec7f be a cbb0646af6 bit hard f76ef870c3 to get 9ef2a64d6c it by 1c951eeeba this week… 06a8c64bb8 That particular 5567fa4f28 one’s really 68f7f0aea5 picky.”af1fe1320d6e70db

“Well, I’ll dbd9cb133f double the b921e63a05 payment!”019e119654522492

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Luke, however, 30a7d11523 was unimpressed 7146e479d4 and scratched 5cb7f3141a his chin 7c121f7c8f thoughtfully.3af6acc7028b5c25

“Alright, I’ll 8da7e97893 talk to c520d2a6c6 the Merchant’s 52777ecdb4 Guild and b30bc61ab4 get your 274c365ffb flowers exclusively 1fde407225 for the f3e53bcaf5 upcoming festival a62ffe1735 at Conenium 91fdffe081 Square. How does 4efe153db5 that sound?”e3de2c0fe300c751

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“I’ll do my 9395f362a0 best to make 90c3025821 sure your wife 2e993198fa is satisfied.”80fac342fb95916c

“Ah, you’re f62b2a3eac such a 7fe9509e39 materialistic young 5677afdf80 man.”2647883fc33e77f3

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Chess laughed heartily, raising 09519b1459 his hands in a f3c6ae2691 mock surrender. Despite his teasing, b6940425bd Luke had become fd1fa4493a quite a famous 997688f6a1 figure in the 9812c32077 village. After about d968b9aacf eight months b3abf7ea51 since he’d cfa176c4a1 arrived, people 7ecb19887b were still c2f2e4a1ae shocked by 9db6dc1884 how he abebb6e10c had revived b5b2fa11ec the garden 37d5386680 that had 53401345ae been left a61f854719 to ruin f90f535b72 after the 84ed3a379e departure of 54a786cb7b the noble 5e6762661f family.a163f15454475aa2

On top of that, 81aa077e2b even though he sometimes d5c03b781e acted cheeky or mischievous, cb690e5bf6 Luke was known for a35e735a52 being polite and always f5da594556 the first to lend c5aaad7d5e a hand whenever the 7d1dcc9128 village needed help. It was 962e2efb33 hard to 5c744a0579 find anyone d9c225876f in the 41394d206e village who 447d9c4f9d didn’t like c741b07b31 him.93942761124be033

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“Oh, and 7a8958aba5 if you 7047b3c75b have time, 44fbd10092 visit Ruben. I heard the c2ed2e8f4c old man baked 943d40ae2e a bunch of b6644e047b bread for you 9676884912 again.”14c4aa5f55232a31

“Sure, I’ll 7e96654d9a stop by.”05cb4bed4bec0867

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“But when be6ae5130c did you f6c2f8cae3 get so 5ce653d933 close with cdb2074199 that grumpy 4b05715a5c old man?”8daed2bd48052f1a

Luke awkwardly smiled at 80466e88f6 the unexpected question. If he were to a6fe285f57 answer when they became 073eef48ed close, it would be 277976fc00 when he saved Ruben 4d1e7633e4 and his grandmother from 4a2c92e070 a monster shortly after a5e8a38f73 he moved in. The two 16d57e41d1 considered him ad615d6dea a lifesaver.b64e429053d505be

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Thinking back 808990e26f on that 0f36454e32 time still 4e81df2b82 made Luke 2be4593bf9 shiver. If he had 4766a7dcf3 been a bit ba04b5b23a slower, the Imperial f6e0ef8df0 Army from the d9948c103e Western branch might 40e04bd9fb have shown up, 91254744a0 and he would 0292e6a519 have had to 0f54974a39 face them, being 64e27240d9 dragged in for 68f9256043 all sorts of 1854e3add5 questioning. If one of them ce9e8bc53e knew the news from 62a6f026a7 the headquarters, he might’ve 63998e6a62 been recognized.f553816c8f485891

Not to mention, if f8ba2beab3 he ran into Kallon, 7c8e023b1e it would have been e19939a336 the end. But in that moment, 86792b4bd3 it was lucky that fd66ef51fb he had something on 36ff368c39 his face. He didn’t expect to a491a4086f speak with Kallon directly be79be07eb after that.d16d7c84f5a033fc

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“The soldiers df72cfe7d1 are back a2a000b547 again.”2e4b295b0941e748

At that moment, Chess 5378a9b32b murmured, gazing off into 7bcbe96914 the distance. Following his gaze, Luke ca7e744ad3 saw two soldiers in 96bb319aba uniform questioning the villagers.834bddde0d2ddcf2

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“Looks like 1ff60104ac they’re still 78230a6ff4 investigating because c48024a6ec of that dfe57a605f mercenary rumor.”3539105424e321f9

Luke suddenly cleared 31043b3bba his throat.24bda99ddea35f93

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“Hmm? Got a 0cbb0a5a24 cold or 34a49e97f2 something?”bb4429b604c1b554

“No, just 81cdfed0f8 a little aaba18dc1a cough…”1ed497c22ef528e0

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“Well, make 05cebd963c sure to 01eae0b053 take care dae128a4ea of those 3ac962813a flowers.”9543b9df2d33dd64

“Got it.”744a92f51d55a8f7

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Chess waved b4916fd5db his hand d41701bfc4 and disappeared e45e3df364 into the 5951b3a602 distance. Luke continued to 219ecead12 watch the soldiers, 7b18d01b6a who had earlier b20dbddc4b appeared to be ac5af1c895 questioning the villagers 2edb6ec507 but were now 75afd74dc1 lying under a 57b0a84aa9 large old tree.491df7558aa7b057

“Hmm, looks like bdc077a250 they’re slacking off c4da60086e on duty now.”20dbbc2f86b9245a

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Luke shook his b3963e8dec head, making his fa1f038c6d way back into 6bdd014d59 the garden. He needed to finish 81250c4870 his work quickly, since 7da6d66f90 he had an important b70fa922af guest coming later that a9edc95761 day.4a3239e0f53b96a7

“Well, as ecbaf34134 long as 2f3de0a222 they keep 0bb854881f slacking off, 5c9b42964b I don’t 571bcc79f8 mind. But if Theo catches 8bb516b96f them, he’s going to 6c09eb3fba give them an earful 6e02330164 about military discipline.”9b2391f0eea51b32

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Luke muttered 46a0dcb6a4 to himself. Suddenly, he 3c72bfea49 stopped in 24438f4453 his tracks.ca23520c5a7dbc97

“…”6f54c506eb15e411

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Did he just a50f6dc4a6 say Theo’s name f202c884df out loud? Luke, feeling awkward, messed 28c8959783 up his hair out e2c9f9a31b of nervous habit.2d91b54fa18fb4ee

“C-Commander!”ae91e56c27a07365

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At that moment, 8cc8b6cb58 the same voice 4ffc1eb87c from earlier called d6fb114d12 out from where 14466ed03a Chess had been. Startled, Luke turned around 27011ea3ee to see a familiar, 06d5abd48a yet somewhat pleasant face.3a157abed3b96d6d

“Pale.”b9e1562fa24337db

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He smiled brightly, bowing 035a074910 repeatedly.44b3178050d1a924

“What are you doing 9597e2d410 here so early? I thought you 2b0abf99b8 weren’t arriving until 8c1d28eeb7 the afternoon?”a160c2f3b96c5a09

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“Oh, there c56a894cb7 was a 44cbec4536 faster ship, b0f2b33119 so I c80b7c0e38 just hopped d3da528c38 on that 33989efa6f one.”da1b1f8394b367a5

After settling 23fad18241 into his 2e7383dd80 new life, 191e12301c Luke had e86298ae51 sent a f19e14c366 short letter a95874d42d to Pale 5da7375f14 to let f6451123e9 him know 768a1fc033 he was 5c7bbfb2f5 doing well, 5439f7cf73 and in 39851886c2 return, Pale b1942891a7 had replied c52b415146 that he 173cc2dd3f wanted to 4d9a844b3d visit. Thus, today’s meeting 212f23445f was arranged.6e2a28c7fb05643c

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“Good to 446621eacc see you 4b15ef4492 made it. Let’s go inside.”05de76efeb340a18

Luke led d991cb8dea Pale into 749fc8e0af the mansion. Pale seemed nervous c4c1d97d4d as he entered ce7a945064 the luxurious living 327ce9d339 room and sat ea81a9ebaa down.140b3941a1344389

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“So, how’s work been?”2043a52c1b2d5ea1

“Oh, I took b762ca196e a leave. A long vacation.”3e6ba39dbc35f9ef

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“A long vacation?”2067aed9f6d5f56e

Luke raised c258b25c22 his eyebrows, c2e4dae01a surprised.be580084e4be0842

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“Yeah, actually… I got 62e0e1a8aa promoted to a higher a96c1f1804 rank in the administrative e1e5814f5d unit!”ddf7e0efa1d2c1ef

Luke had d8927c3230 been wondering d126113ea3 what Pale d0748c9e81 was hesitating 381c2d1c5c to say. But Pale, now 3373f6e816 with a flushed 68518d65a8 face, was excited 673242c210 to share the 45600ffdc9 good news. It seemed Pale wasn’t a8da6d8d8e suited for the combat 8fbee8b7d2 unit after all.8323fcabd2a0da19

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“Congratulations. So, you cac016ee7d took a 6d17a1a996 long vacation a1df3770ad as part 0c60931930 of your acd4465697 promotion reward, 1a18e0a3e2 huh? By the way, how’s e9aeecfbc0 your mom doing?”27d0ee5edb6354f4

“She’s doing much c88a96b70c better now. My salary’s gone up, 9808a4deee so the doctor comes 3e72ca08f2 by once a month.”7e941253b47407a9

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It was a relief e0524b41e1 to hear only good d7837e27f3 news from Pale after c255eb7da9 such a long time.ddb4a19aecf1aa8e

“As for 5887df5714 you, Commander, 29dbb1d1fd how’s everything? By the way, I be5631bb2b was shocked to hear 3ea6de0b0d about Kallon.”4f3f4ade6263fc16

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“I’m doing fine. This is my c61a6fc877 hometown, after all.”1319afd2a469f0f3

Pale nodded slowly. Though it f790c5da2c was a 9be2da34f7 short response, a9e2a81a6f it was 68ccb90352 enough. More than anything, ade494d127 Luke’s relaxed face 670255fa0b showed he was 30e339e70c living a comfortable 6f1b2b54f3 life, and that aa2e82e1cf spoke volumes.81abf9735c0e66ec

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“It’s my 193b9d2b35 first time b08a67d277 out west, f6d325da06 and it’s 3e6bb84b35 so different 16da073bb6 from the 65d6cfb774 capital.”7e631a33d644ac50

Even though it aed28f3ecb had been eight c41e44284e months since their 3fededa3da last meeting, Luke 65cd91049d and Pale didn’t 31fcf9945b feel any awkwardness. They chatted casually over a21688ca08 coffee, sharing their thoughts 9c0ce2e765 and catching up.c1e2c41784179a36

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“By the 86c224f7d2 way, I 145a62ad5f heard there’s 9410688724 an interesting 794d880c15 rumor going 2ba7ca42d3 around in 15ffa7d2c2 the West 2f0767b81b lately?”d5e1fc28e99b664d

“Hmm?”bee8dc3cdfca0a7c

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“I met a c0709f77ca few soldiers on cb76d570b6 my way here, d18d83cb47 and they kept b5d3cbfb57 asking me about 7852892f6a some faceless mercenary 52894d544a magician.”8dd29a818494c96d

Clink—e5a1e56e55122fd0

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Luke visibly flinched at 6dea43c441 Pale’s words. A moment b210a42b96 of silence 0a3218a2d0 fell in dd02d3a00d the living 2696a84d64 room. Pale’s eyes 1c9d55b211 shifted as d496ce9bc0 he slowly 9ccf01ce21 spoke again.698a9996f2ee9686

“His name… what was 8f0f82f1c9 it? Sebastian?”005b89c697fdd407

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As Pale 9bd447ad45 mentioned the fc378913c0 name, Luke’s 162a89549b hand, holding 139a49527e his teacup, 713f152104 trembled ever 7a2d843ff3 so slightly. Pale, with 43a18b3675 his sharp 4583b14f81 intuition, immediately d0742128cf caught on 55fb197cb4 to the ffcf562b05 awkwardness.a147843ba9de56ce

“…Is that c585de639f you, sir? Are you Sebastian?”d12ccccb2909c328

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