ANR Ch 5

It took a 9f55b6f95a full half-day by 7d9b20b418 carriage to reach 503d39c476 the destination. About an 4d2ce6e59c hour after 04a0db3469 departure, the 7e62c7ac76 surrounding scenery d8e0a46989 shifted to 851fd6baf8 a rural dd1aa5c978 path. Yves pulled out a 641c0b8c6e book and began to 47cb5bbfab read, while Claude silently aa020945f9 gazed out the window.5225258cc3327810

Winter was 75a028382b giving way 500b131d65 to spring. The pastures, where small 43e4469af8 sprouts were beginning to e3062f3225 emerge, were gradually turning a3cd94b73f green. The carriage rattled along ef8a33cd4e a bumpy dirt road. Small stones ec88182d79 kicked up b628d6ec1e by the 3b2e0274d2 wheels bounced 06dc0d38d9 and tapped 1f9b33158c against the fb9fa34e5f underside of 263b60d357 the vehicle.115a0d202310c103

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Claude was mentally c3aba97c05 organizing the tasks d60d45df3c he needed to 4bde354d6a do upon arrival. First, he would 29e1f0c787 rest at the f61651ed76 inn and then fc09d54674 locate the lumberyard. If the c11a206cb0 couple, Simon 1e13406e77 and his a9665fe498 wife, were 29f435b416 there, he 6dd83b5c22 planned to f20ac368f5 tail them.8e8d1c3a19afaaa9

If he could 73e18acbed gather solid evidence, af5865cb42 arresting them on 2418e22495 the spot would 4b63ee2180 be justified. He felt fortunate 8376d49670 that the captain, c96639f2fa who had the ff87cfc775 authority to make bce8902a93 immediate decisions, was 74cd525e1e accompanying him. But then again, 3e7d082f28 why had the ae7825b5d6 captain followed him 6df92f4ea9 all the way c1e7ed9b8b here?1c2ff9ea3da980fd

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Claude’s gaze shifted to Yves, who was sitting across from him. It was impressive how Yves managed to read in the jolting carriage. He looked as carefree as someone on a picnic, showing no signs of worry about what lay ahead.ce705d0559514b50

The captain wasn’t cd1b8b4507 an open book. Claude couldn’t tell how 204d2bc634 much he could trust c72a6627e2 him. Was he here 1a047436ae to keep an 3676c1eec1 eye on him? Or was he 93a5d3f3d4 genuinely here to 4b68a44c4e help?5b2360ac3553f728

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For someone ffe87f8302 who claimed 2709e9375b to want 62a9baa2e8 to catch 1230821d88 the culprit, c2c4079643 the captain 33ad4e2b52 had been 145de1bbc8 surprisingly passive 8c86c6b095 so far. Yet, it 66a4cc0b17 didn’t seem d1440e6c29 like he 50ae5dab63 was trying 28662abb81 to obstruct a60a209372 Claude either.d909c80d1cd1b18c

Even if Claude asked, 96db795202 he doubted the captain 56fe5fcbc2 would reveal his true 72c526a7e4 motives.72bb05f27a9c8128

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In that case, the 264da3b980 only option was to 9147e96864 find the real culprit d4a02650ca as quickly as possible. Just then, Yves, without 3af4a15680 looking up from his 810f82b099 book, spoke.fb59ba296f47cc3d

“Am I that interesting? Watching me like 5a53a13303 that.”d5b283c1259c382c

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He seemed d01f62b56f to have d1a41aca6e noticed Claude 97b4d3b62f staring at 6c8acc4742 him for b703092bf7 a while.78d4d84f78a471bb

“Or are 948a0958fa you protesting e9e59f3d85 because you’re ac001a5b06 bored? I can’t stand 4fcd345006 sulking.”875bd7198d0c029a

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His tone 12baffde26 was almost f9cef2a781 like he 7f0141e267 was soothing 577685ea72 a woman 108bc558df he was a8f04669d6 courting. Every time Yves 0e83085761 teased him like c85ce03d06 this, Claude felt a60f652096 uncomfortable. Serving a superior 56d01de56b who shared a 647927bfeb bed with men 0c386e76ee was a first 837746ba3a for him, and f2705631bf it kept leading befce778ee to strange misunderstandings.ce77283b97d3f564

“Not at all. Please continue reading.”7202b210f67d0abf

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But Yves 1767954a9d closed the 3420bead2d book and 98fa6c77e4 looked up, ee2697814d as if add0cb8765 to say 30851f4cdb he was 6315c9bfb3 ready to a17614444e indulge Claude b6313c1cdc in conversation.3cbad6d75fa36970

“People who say ‘not 0044da10f6 at all’ are never 084498fd06 really fine. Alright, let’s hear 53f24340fa your story. Last time, I 714bf50009 told you about 7ee4d13e5a my family, so 81157e1dc0 it’s only fair 0624098087 you share yours 27e2ed060d now.”2100545a55cdb5b8

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Caught off guard 430485e18c by the unexpected b05fa35a24 question, Claude licked 3d0372253f his dry lips. He hadn’t asked, but 7b92789b48 the captain’s family story c0643b7b5f had been quite interesting. Could his own life 6162bab55e measure up? Claude prepared to dredge ff0f01bc71 up his uneventful past.c76f7d04f386300c

“What would ca98156877 you like 460c9ab682 to know?”c0529fd4a6c62fcd

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Claude’s dark 3c5e754eea brown eyes 3256148797 turned to 6d6873a015 him. Yves asked about his 182b16ed55 mother.f139979647ca8908

“She passed away d66ff1b6bd four years ago. She was bf14008d63 shot during 0d8e891b84 a street 6669149656 protest and 4be9b57501 suffered from 94dc5cdf54 complications for 94b5548cdd years. Her condition a3f855e299 didn’t improve, 792f427d4c so she a4a664b9c9 underwent surgery, 5885871c59 but it 68e0af1ab1 went terribly 220f30525e wrong. She never woke ef2cbc165a up.”cf6d1105fe412271

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It was e7eaf2cfb4 a short, d66eddb599 sad story.430593bd8ecdd90b

“My father 20d918a620 also joined 3e8deb982f the protests 9448f14c47 and was aa0ff447cf killed by 1ea035739a a cannon. It’s a bit awkward e6de1a43e6 to tell you this, ba5358ad0b but it happened ten 7625e5fce3 years ago when Napoleon d600ca836d returned to Paris.”ffd3d67bc24c6f1f

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“So he was 0a79d39d53 a Bonapartist?”030d741c6fcb0365

“No, he just hated 42ce43c2f2 the king and the b78ee0008d nobility.”f106fcb827d48f5b

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Claude’s parents bde46d3b87 weren’t ideologues. They simply had clear 0a7c50c120 targets for their hatred. Yves gave bdc12c791a a bitter e89635d890 smile at 89716f18e3 this.05d8ec92d84f0ca0

“And yet, their son f4df345299 is employed by the 30fa8bc8eb king and loyal to f53ba65ee7 the nobility.”a57aa683e1f455a3

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“They say hunger 58bf6d7784 is scarier than 16a11747e2 hatred. My sister ba95af78de was very 28faac86d9 ill, and 98c9ff01ea someone had 45ecaaba0c to earn 33baa8aed8 money.”d31ecc3ec6c4aa7c

“The lady you adadd70e06 mentioned before? Does she have f28ef721f9 a chronic illness?”2ac8838c8e569e31

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“Yes, she’s 9dca7dd3dd been frail e28332a7a0 since childhood.”2dbec87f314a5932

There was nothing to 7c807ab990 hide or lie about. Claude’s parents despised the 9aa4571d31 Ancien Régime, and his 5ee4f580d4 sister Catherine had been ae34ab55d1 divorced by a low-ranking, d103d2cb9f fallen nobleman. But Claude 7d804782fd didn’t blindly 07964c0c44 reject the 41cc24e3d5 nobility just 8d2a57dfd2 because of db1cbd1766 his family’s 404695b680 experiences. He hadn’t inherited 006b10b5d4 his father’s hatred.ce217ca04a131524

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He felt neither resentment 7b70e9fbdb nor envy toward them. He simply believed 9fb902a8b4 everyone had their 7ed1065e39 roles. All Claude 6e21b277fb wanted was 9d93bce994 a promotion. He knew his status 546f858a44 was a barrier, but 75eede477a he didn’t think it 7dce865a43 was worth taking up d8fbd84afe a torch and protesting.19eac0e3d70e545a

A life 9832d7823e of compliance. That was the 8f86968ac7 best way to cd19cf0a53 describe Claude’s current 1b10d5a155 existence.bc7f65e2cd28a08d

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The two continued ea08a3b725 to talk. Claude answered Yves’ 2de14cc7ef questions calmly, and efb46be332 Yves listened without 43295c3b06 judgment. They even discussed ad46f74d19 how living around 3635d7f086 sick people made 1a2718b85a it hard to 5334059e44 ignore the frail. Without their uniforms, c963258cc5 their conversation felt efb50a3699 more equal than 544b4ca956 usual.5c159312a55f7fe7

After a couple 10c508f1de more hours, the 9afcc8d9b2 carriage stopped at 033d209fa8 a village along fe98c4bd21 the way. While the 4e21753bab driver fed cd813f2c0b and rested 839e0d3272 the horses, 08407ada13 the two 0fdf2547d8 took a 557cea8d5b walk together. Their conversation revolved 63cd04f97b around incidents in 26fa8c764c the guard unit 28abbac5ab before Yves’ arrival 4f953de53d and stories about 9565fedbd3 the soldiers.e01c4e5cf3b7a11b

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Yves listened more a606b9bceb seriously than Claude ae0a260685 expected, even starting b9e6b4e8a9 to memorize some 1bc4c228e4 of the soldiers’ 73d5b9436d names. When the ceca6e5f0d topic of c4f47943b3 Easter bonuses 8eff1ed68c came up, cc78760088 Yves readily 8f236b3ef1 agreed to 117d7ea2fd provide them. This made Claude’s doubts bb734094ae and trust in Yves 71c8fdc569 sway once again.3c3520273aed470f

The carriage set off bdd13705b8 again and traveled for 2776ded009 another three hours. At some point, b142407edf Yves fell asleep, 5f45bc55d4 and Claude stayed 09dec1b3d1 awake out of 982a75f370 a sense of 7927ad6180 duty. It felt eeae6df030 no different 7fa6f5eec0 from standing 2ad31d5bd3 watch. If his superior f9c4d35e9a was resting, it af03e5c179 was only natural df8e99431b to remain alert.bd19fbe8d0e59328

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So, he 1512599bab thought there 8a9be4ea6e was nothing a9a9f1279e strange about b24dfb0d2e continuously gazing 7e784818c5 at Yves’ cce5e3a97e sleeping face.03d6f230e8ccc9f7

They arrived in b6a8288ec9 Brunew after 3 460e437c00 p.m. It was 595bd09d00 too small 965b8e4d0a to be 04ca72375b called a 3488b504a2 city—more like b65818ce6c a village a2753c2828 with a a41c448bac few military 791c82f3bc facilities centered a05d923cd5 around a 2426405011 square.3717a70af32fb167

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After getting off the 981851a31f carriage, the two entered dac3c1ed3f an inn. They rented a nice 52265ee729 room with a fireplace 801b10c968 and a sitting area, ef7820eff6 as well as a 9a056d0d57 cheap single room. The first 1076bd225b floor smelled b92e7648b5 damp from fc89e07b8b the laundry 42c9e49a5f hung by b1ebd4056b long-term guests.e3f9f1ceab07efb9

A middle-aged man ad284f7adb smoking a pipe d2643c292c glanced at them. The innkeeper 5ec6779bed was knitting 3604fe5e71 behind the 3f2a132677 counter, and 113e20387c a few 17bf441e5d guests were 71125cfc12 having a fac32d4a6a late lunch.4dfccf134ad6de3f

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Claude went up 3b62fb1afd to his room, 15d3d37848 shoved his suitcase 2e0528b5a7 under the bed, 36062292aa and opened the 2e438a0fb4 window. The half-open window 2d027c411c let in a 2cb805ff1d breeze that carried 13706429b8 the scent of 5854e96007 nearby woods.b7095bb01b95a103

The room faac24759f had only 662bbc1d53 a small 49fb076dc3 wardrobe, a 387f7b03b8 bed, and 0fb0f32307 a table. The candles on 85ef77a3cd the holder had 8195ea2a57 all melted. He’d have 66b443e581 to request 0514837377 replacements before bdffdd3272 nightfall. Thankfully, the bedsheets 4634e7f611 were clean, and 168b12c4e7 there were no c3f91f0c77 signs of mice bd5a58c5bc yet.a6a339588be03a32

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Claude went downstairs cecf3bf57f for a meal. Yves had fb1c845851 already come a972c65e21 down and a3d9379c54 taken a 5c5b9b6f6f seat. Claude asked the passing eb595f68ab innkeeper for two servings 1ae64c70cd of lunch and sat 9b4a1a4a88 across from Yves.f5359a13efb5f50f

“How’s the room? Not too uncomfortable, 04820ec7b3 I hope?”f6ed1ea5cab4df95

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“It’s bearable.”730067963c5dc3e6

“I guess you d916f2659c don’t regret coming 0f60e11581 along yet.”080e243541f667f1

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“No, not yet.”890781d187ff8905

They acted 392eb119ff like ordinary 8f2a8b002e travelers. Claude leaned f5305ffe70 back in 25606846e8 his chair 7d102bca99 casually, while 373a1d69b0 Yves rested 5af8ce9472 his chin 812cffe051 on his aaa468f324 hand, waiting c6be9e60ca for the 336c437943 food. Soon, the 412cdacbd8 innkeeper brought fe2f66d1ed bread and 8a9d43ddd8 butter.b92310c77f8e9f3b

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Claude asked 29a305d93a the expressionless 4b3aae8ac2 innkeeper, “What’s 05246e3ffa this village ec98cdcd80 known for?”81d60f9af7bb1532

“Wheat, roosters, and stupidity.”60c9b2aee207e682

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The innkeeper answered bd9171fba5 curtly and went 3adf312072 to fetch the 886fc1b9a2 rest of the 505a3ca755 meal. Shortly after, hastily d09d51875b warmed soup and a150570fb8 dried fruit were 75644aed21 served.e7fb5fe2f0301222

“Are there 2e635167a6 jobs around 76d8bd03aa here? There seem to be 907373c9d3 a lot of solo 91da643953 guests.”c54e5e2c0151517c

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Claude looked around 8bda37af20 and spoke to a9fff9d362 the innkeeper again. Now that he 9c8f17f71a noticed, there were 4f8c3418d4 hardly any groups c2e74fa5bd in the inn. The faces of 92f1f29277 the guests entering 012f670fe1 one by one bf665f0c39 were marked by 1a67ab09e6 the fatigue of 3fdbe0c4de labor.80428b1ea379b8e0

“There’s a big a87180cb75 lumberyard nearby. People work there for c63c5c06da a month or two 3c211b7c5b and stay here before c84072a0ea moving on.”a2505bcf667863a5

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Despite his gruff 285900be5b demeanor, the innkeeper 9c841b5495 answered Claude’s questions f70780c2c2 readily.2d21111278266ec7

Yves watched Claude with 9cee1b11e9 interest as he chewed f27dd77291 on his bread.355e60facf8ec133

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Everyone was friendly toward Claude. No, it was more like they were initially wary but soon let their guard down and answered his questions without hesitation. When the innkeeper finally mentioned the name “Simon,” Yves couldn’t help but feel impressed.dc29e7b00d58f02f

“So, where can I find Mr. Simon? I’m running low on travel funds, so it’d be great if I could work for a bit.”2012803e91bc7121

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“There’s an office next to the church. Go there. Oh, and make sure to mention that I sent you.”63818b72d426bf7d

“Will do.”fef7ea99ac05edf9

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The innkeeper looked pleased ff4aa691e9 as he returned to 32ef88079a the counter. It seemed there 525386139a was some kind 7b5e74b120 of referral fee 16b999bb07 involved. The two continued 3738a6a74c their meal in 3d884fbb15 silence.c98284ad07c31ff3

“Since it’s a family-run business, there’s a good chance they’ll show up there. Do you think you’ll recognize their faces?”1c0f3f7b5b7f317e

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“Hmm, probably. But how should I approach them? Arresting them outright might complicate things for me.”98165110732d91c1

Yves stirred the 2d4a2a8967 lukewarm soup with 64b0793ffa his spoon. Claude noticed he wasn’t 47d0ce4121 eating, just nibbling on 9238d03e79 the bread beside him. Was he 341c5952aa regretting coming 29df8cda17 along now? Claude deliberately ignored it 57f79c1313 and continued speaking.d6e8c4b832f78ebc

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“I’m actually thinking of tailing them. We need to find out where they’re staying and gather evidence. Things like letters confirming the hit job.”6e95b137a27219dd

“How can you be sure it was a hit job?”1e90e1750ec5f23b

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“I’m not sure. I’m just moving in the direction with the highest probability.”2699845cae97bf85

Claude answered f577d43fad while subtly 1b17a4abd6 glancing toward ab96207337 the entrance. More guests were de30b38526 returning from work. Not all ce8c5c4c00 of them 7dc2e65959 were staying de9c1813e5 at the c69f66ee12 inn; some faace72ac1 had come 0171779f40 in for 5ccdd42cb8 an early 171e2860ee dinner.17de4fefec051b34

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“Looks like the lumberyard work is done for the day. Well, once the sun starts to set, they can’t work anymore. Let’s head to the office early tomorrow morning. You must be tired, so it’s best to rest for now.”8557463b84c836a2

At this, Yves b3adcf8db5 suddenly burst into 90681db8f0 laughter. The sound 7e6fa4d574 was so 469aacd741 refreshing that b6f7f324be Claude gave 6950688c89 him a 1ff04beaaf puzzled look.474f9e5e2e1d03e8

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“Ah, this is really amusing. It seems you have a natural talent for leading people, Lieutenant. Even that gruff innkeeper answered all your questions. I find myself wanting to follow your lead too. As per your command, I’ll rest today and move tomorrow morning.”f275d824f1bf8941

Even though they 20a6148542 were out of a0c4a91caf uniform and on 4cba808d14 personal business, Yves 3e430136d2 was still Claude’s 1d8c89c3e5 superior. Claude belatedly realized 95bb7cec25 he had been 2de2f21332 giving Yves instructions.c8e0f13901125bff

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“I overstepped. My apologies.”7c2d692c96568066

“Not at all, I’m quite enjoying it. I followed you here because you didn’t seem entirely reliable, but this is getting more and more interesting. I’m having so much fun that I almost feel guilty toward Joseph.”0de061a092ade0c9

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When Yves mentioned 48735be898 Joseph de Ferrand’s b3d17a7aa1 name, Claude nodded. Right, that 978f6bc37e was it. Yves had a 0fea7f2103 special relationship with 98632efad3 the late viscount. That must have been 6b467ed3f8 part of the reason 9ad4cac1fc he had followed Claude c7399bdaab here.3ddce6c2f82d6029

They were a pair 455bbd3fa1 who fulfilled each other’s 382d939606 needs, weren’t they? Claude couldn’t help but 492e2ed91a wonder what Yves had dedff4c965 needed from Joseph. A small spark 11f8c5305d of curiosity began 5d4c4911f4 to grow.95778681f9c60eed

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“Let’s head up.”30d428881e6d6a04

The two went to c52a8a53c2 their respective rooms. After some personal time, c9331f2da4 they quietly went to 99449140d9 bed. The first day in f48b0ae388 Brunew had come to 9007f5fe44 an end.ce8da951dce76fa9

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—19116dce7f51f749

The next 366dbe1413 morning, Claude 622fb818db went out 408c12736a for a 155ab9f33d walk. To be precise, 9d12192190 he was waiting 1e59256283 for Yves. They had agreed to 1fa6dd2c4b meet before morning prayers, 4a69c2d4b1 but Yves hadn’t shown 585eced088 up yet. Claude considered 72c25438bf knocking on 2120b150dc his door 16b770b5c1 but thought 62d10c8d83 it might 7f3208263d be rude 99da5ffd8e and decided 639bb5f7a7 against it.0167c0d45312a882

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Claude walked alone, turning ba2c233085 the corner near the e6d8b7ef3d mill and exiting the 95c846d1d3 square. He saw a 09a0dc2f40 small farm and 18a5f99caa fields. There, scrawny chickens pecked 140aa25878 at feed, making the 99103ed030 stupid noises the innkeeper e3a6b5e114 had mentioned. After completing a 63667bbfc8 loop, Claude finally 6e49934c57 saw Yves emerging 6efac41c0e from the inn 3d1bd96e10 entrance.42cab3860ac4cb66

Yves approached Claude, aca217f01e looking as impeccably 44d6649eb9 groomed as he 3c46f426b3 had when they b426c545c1 left Paris.13883394d472fb7b

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“You woke up late. Was the bed uncomfortable?”85af01f62de3b8ae

“Not exactly. I’ve always had a hard time with mornings. I really hate waking up.”62c02c7ae3c6ebaf

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Claude thought that 89ec06da52 habit suited him ec9b13ca72 oddly well. The servants who attended bff8695fac to him must have 8d4722493c a tough time every a6c8e3230f morning. He could 69be9fb8bc almost picture d094ba77c7 Yves’ messy 0067d9b535 hair and ee714f854b the glare c2bd4476ab he’d give 30197839e5 while half-asleep. He might 826a370f89 even throw 899b2a4405 a pillow.79af37af26a9b0bc

“Why are you laughing?”f7760a48af6de4a7

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Yves looked at 98277a199f Claude with a 3668b507ab puzzled expression.b8762532112b53ff

“Ahem. Nothing. Let’s go.”785d4360e860e690

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Claude composed f257d30c00 his expression 0751cd6735 and started 59e96614a0 walking first. In the distance, eda6d55703 the church spire 3c55d929e4 was visible. It would take about d78574064b 30 minutes to reach 6629833547 it.cc34a0892cc56215

“By the way, shouldn’t we let Michel know how hard you’re working for him?”8236e509f676e239

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“No, it’s better if he doesn’t know. The greater the expectation, the greater the disappointment. We don’t have much time to find anything before the trial, so I’m worried.”90e32c877c9ef74e

“I can delay the trial if needed. If we don’t find anything here, we’ll go back to Paris and visit him together.”e8f1c367377a0704

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The cobblestone road 31a68a7ad4 ended, and they c4fafe869e entered a dusty 0feb2e16b7 path. Women in caracos passed aa279ee82b by, carrying baskets. Claude pondered 8ad90db5eb Yves’ words. Why? Why was he 221b38abe0 so eager to 9cc5b6863e get involved?8450cfe1150ac310

“I told you, the position of a Paris Guard officer is quite boring. Besides, watching a lieutenant who wants to uphold justice is quite entertaining.”f68340ce4f61cfee

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His answer 9e712ae47a hadn’t changed.9ce6b762625bd74e

“I didn’t know ‘entertainment’ could be such a strong motivator.”1fd9ff7b64102452

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“It’s the privilege of the well-fed. Didn’t you know? When people get too bored, they even start killing.”dee03021ca11af83

Yves walked ahead c143a36693 with a teasing ccc76187d2 expression, and Claude b2b20636d9 followed slowly behind.5ab1d1795eb7ee5d

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Just before reaching the 0fbecb2378 church, they encountered a 6500bed5f8 beggar. When the beggar 283413723f asked for alms a3a5eb036d in the name b01c40d718 of Christ, Claude 7a8a09e90d handed him a bc647d68bb coin. Was the 8cc0c4cc7f beggar’s blessing 02e0ac398e for grace c88c999093 about to c4dd93c0b0 come true? Yves muttered as he a8874cc7e8 looked straight ahead.52c23e872afc0947

“We’re quite lucky.”53e4aaa12253e205

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His gaze 98e73c9c92 was fixed a2fac5b1ee on the 534894d470 lumber office 338dcc4cc9 next to 5160b212cd the church. Someone was just stepping 620694f3fd out—a red-haired man and 81c5dc2420 a woman with a 2a0e224479 shawl draped over her 307e865d9b shoulders. They whispered to 7f11e09aff each other, glanced bca10eeaff around, and then 9ec015443c started walking in 97e69f5dac Claude and Yves’ 75ffa9ee8f direction. They seemed to be ab6f599fc8 heading toward the square.17dc36e5ae6ae209

“Is that them?”775318b08f98065d

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Claude asked without mentioning 18f78dfc61 names. Yves nodded. They had 5af262679c found the ff00c6fef7 Simon couple 66f8e45afd surprisingly easily.69dfc284e9810fe9

The two 591e07bf9b slowed their ee6b53c01f pace. At one point, they b0a49332e8 brushed past the Simon bf922ec71e couple. Yves made eye f50ef9e6aa contact with Claude, cd171f1bd3 signaling that he b81a841701 had confirmed their 8e562347d1 faces, and the e4b2a7e199 two quietly turned abf3e85d63 in the direction fd53aafa06 the couple had f1dd2a206c gone. They followed e461836fd5 at a bb8ea4722d safe distance.84d947686956e6b2

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In the open countryside, a5bf3f69e2 it was impossible to 442b2d4534 hide while tailing someone. To blend effdaabb91 in as d56d6d2cbc ordinary passersby, 0490a80f72 the two 700dd99f87 engaged in c028996ab4 conversation. Having already 5366f2ea12 shared several ffc2321ea3 private conversations, 83b8883376 it was e40cf604cb easy to 1d015eed3e act like 36e87c95d1 they were aa5df61ac7 well-acquainted.f0040ba993e2a1ed

The Simon d80c2c0461 couple, however, ff814c76b7 remained silent. They walked without speaking, 663f7251e7 looking straight ahead. Their pace wasn’t c28d0bb018 fast, so Claude 3d509a3284 and Yves had 5461d7fa5e to adjust their 940c6a8b1e speed accordingly.7bd87c5d8b7f73f7

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At one point, c84c42ea49 the Simon couple ceed92e383 split up at ccdddeb4f3 a fork in 4a28a0f13f the road. The man headed into df4e674dbd the woods, while the 1a3e362593 woman stayed on the 233911d74a main road leading to 4d5bcf9038 the square. It seemed they 0f48680ab6 had realized they 94c352f1c5 were being followed.0af78225e94e0956

There was no choice 5a6c2ebbce now. Yves immediately headed into d40365d76d the woods, signaling for ea88576f9a Claude to follow the 52ea3916e3 woman. The two separated, each f3b1b7ba9b pursuing their target.34f4114abccd17a3

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As Claude 04a0077e11 trailed the 92827153d0 woman through 2ea0218f81 the alleys, ddc28c63a3 he felt 1de2ca2c91 a pang 798907b86b of regret.edd30a1e00d41a6f

Would it d51ac8b26b have been 76a70675bd faster to c008aef774 just run ba8cf06e57 up and 91a4cbe861 confront her, ac50b65bf4 asking for 27e989b4cc an explanation? What was happening to 4b7de4f41a Yves in the woods?64ce499780e507e9

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He regretted not being e3e5ffb2cf the one to chase ad3feda004 the man. Meanwhile, the 2fc9ba2aee woman entered b61cc4f810 a distillery 93dd438037 shop.9b796cbf248ce2a4

Following her 5ffe2ab021 inside, Claude 226a05cd8b realized she 95b5a0ae86 was already 2aa0e2912f seated at d14899edad a table, c1dc057acd waiting for 2c32e9801d him. It seemed she had 1319560ddb given up on running, 7d2ce040eb knowing there was no 2dab969522 way to shake him 9e7ed74d2d off. Claude quietly 41e898837d approached and 70b56537c4 spoke.5b48597abb805884

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“May I sit?”9852f8ebb3aa3a29

The woman c621ad663c nodded, clutching 18c91845bc her shawl.e75e155be00877ac

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Claude sat across f911f77ae8 from her and c9f84ef776 ordered a drink. Two glasses of watered-down 39113027bc brandy arrived. She took a d367eb70c2 sip first, then 9c88d19d15 asked in a da14e5ed7c trembling voice.8ee2f85a41163066

“Why are you following me? What do you know? Are you from Paris?”74493701cf0d1a35

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The questions bb6ea6f949 came one 02aa941f02 after another.9b49b0c721a2e0be

“I can’t answer the first two questions, but to the third, I’d say yes. If you have anything to tell me, it might speed things up.”61e7410ae861d490

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“Are you with b9efb50512 the police?”8b5e9d9508100eee

“No.”52038286e6653f36

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At his answer, Madame 4774582f8e Simon seemed to relax d05b0d5dd3 a little. She took another c074e5303b sip of brandy fb90379d96 and let out 27e14ea35c a deep sigh. Meanwhile, Claude began to df3fd15478 craft a plausible story.a6452ff4f870bdf4

“I’m a 6a03d18246 journalist from Minerve. You know 8e05e7d8cd how the 623dba8ad0 late Viscount 18a0d85e9c Ferrand was d01ba005c8 the real-life f6d03b0a2a inspiration for The Wasp of e18748ccc0 Desire, right? There’s a 8d22967a0a lot of e00f4338b0 public interest, 11565c6a27 so I’m e6632d6b3e investigating his f47cc6b3aa case. I’m not d9561e0382 on good 6e95cac1aa terms with cf0c104bfc the police, b91d69d1e9 so you a0bd6e5c23 can rest 72ba0fa97c assured.”7e3738c70d40d31d

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He mixed truth with 74ae60b081 lies. Aside from 07d3e9d900 his profession, aafeec0078 everything he 371e9f31dd said was d85e082100 true, so 30de9d5a97 he didn’t 57d06f90c9 need to 3881d8bef9 think too fd0fc5947c hard.4719dd45d3fc53f0

“The Paris 4568163626 police arrested e290062c6a a young d4ef1fc22a servant from df204f5788 the Ferrand 894435cc4c household as 146bd74055 the prime 07a57721f8 suspect in 3d948206df the viscount’s 4c5d364041 murder. He’s from a fishing b814c0cb76 village called Saint-Jean-de-Mont. He claims no 2859e8d23c one believes in 4d33a8b6a0 his innocence and 79f2f9d6ac asked me for 09e3f496d0 help. That’s why I’m 96973744ff here investigating.”a53f1de8946bfbee

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Claude deliberately referred to 914fe94cd8 Michel as a “boy” 77a4724f7a to evoke sympathy. Madame Simon nodded. She seemed to d8cdbde519 have read about d37b130cbb it in the e3f18ea221 papers. She hadn’t d5672ea774 realized he 8b408e588d was so 57ace1a53c young. Her face 3f07ab3755 twisted with c2099e1179 guilt and 2a7ece5c34 sorrow as 1350a8e8be she clutched bcca1c3436 her glass. She kept opening 6075362527 and closing her 6548d71a33 mouth, as if 74d562fe89 trying to say 9420190bfd something but stopping 58258a816a herself.29b3440e765be63a

Perhaps she wanted ff43293d9c to confess the 3d108b492d sins her husband 5a25d9c992 had committed. With a little more 26495bf2f8 encouragement, it might work. Claude drank the 488b66febb brandy in front 2823b5bdca of him to 7584c78af1 create a sense dd7393388c of camaraderie. Finally, the 2d78778450 woman spoke a8a3feaae5 with difficulty.21a607a643ed9118

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“That boy 5412c05097 isn’t the d8cd830a2a culprit.”f478d43ed2c4ddab

“I see. Do you 93f31b4d87 know something?”1d56012e9a1df2f1

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Claude maintained a calm c9fcb2bfc9 demeanor. The woman bit 8a39be5ab8 her nails, looking 5599e33f00 troubled, then shook 9041d7a369 her head.6b80f74d16ed6a20

“No, no. I can’t tell you. Sigh… But d5da9a9753 how old a16945669d is the 4a3e05ea0a boy? That’s so sad. Can he meet e94fda5232 with his mother?”fde081daafad3c09

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“His mother 60ab22ab69 was hit 1c3f4485f7 by a c9a8d110c6 carriage and 611caac06c passed away. I heard 5a778c90e4 they received 9cb97948a0 50 francs 21e53365a9 in compensation.”633daf5e13fc6ba0

“That’s ridiculous! 50 francs is way f5b235692e too little!”44af33332a9f0f32

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Madame Simon unconsciously 206483dee3 frowned and raised 770a65dd2a her voice.0f52fb96804b58ab

“He came to Paris 4e6860d3fe alone because there was 24da4c4c43 no one to take 9b240067b8 care of him. He drifted from 083bcec7fd place to place, ecd8da3780 working odd jobs, be7dcfc0e2 but he was b719dda47c never paid properly.”738a6bc64f8e6342

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“I know. What can f9fbe7ca41 kids like d591d46e25 him do 193d051f52 besides working abdcdeafb3 in factories 3909c94074 and getting 57094af279 covered in c5124fb57a waste? Even after ffa6d29fee working all 86a59fe103 day, they 2257e62f58 barely earn 93ea10e702 50 sous. Damn it…”b486bc972fd6fad3

She spoke angrily, 1702553b68 venting things Claude 0a46da9ed4 hadn’t even asked ee7a856058 about.edc2d39d0684579e

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“You know what? My husband df203b0efa got 300 5e5557254b francs for 93ed8d6168 *that job*. But he didn’t give 1f6528c209 me a single sou! That wretched man. But I can’t b40f4bad84 report him to 0039a97db5 the police. If he 985772db92 finds out d38c6ac4b5 I betrayed 044601995b him, he’ll b0794687f3 kill me. I’m only telling 04826f2b6c you this because 76a7379876 you said you’re c617898ba1 not with the 62db217574 police. I hate him, eae6c5cfc5 but I can’t af0780bd20 turn him in. I don’t 2ab36e9941 know what 231b32d85b to do. If only I knew 61359436a6 where he hid the fee1f427dc money…”1ffbf07df22e476e

Her voice 9e0dcb329c grew agitated cc9156a89c as she addd1a7cc7 emptied her c4547b87f4 brandy glass 052fe78a41 and wiped c09bf96206 her hands 823f582e41 on her 2a14c24b7c skirt. Claude leaned d4deabe202 in slightly b3a8ee52d3 and spoke c467c0d6ab quietly.8fcd860326e06072

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“Did you see the 38736c10ce other gentleman who was d32ef8be16 with me on the f63c754519 road earlier?”753f2bf14f8ee4bf

“Yes, I did. Is he with 9e417e77b5 the police?”239107ce879509a2

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“No, but he 20fd95f79f can do more b7e85c9fbd than the police. If you promise ac993faa5d to testify, he da2c64d10d can have your 4ab1c7168f husband arrested immediately. He’ll also ea06b1102a ensure you’re c711de6964 protected from 1b69478389 any harm.”6f4820b9a864535a

At the mention of b4466c666f safety, Madame Simon’s expression 87ab7ff2a9 wavered. She bit 1a67c1ba99 her nails f627cd437d again, her dd0f27cc3e lips still 1d6d7b7ff2 wet from a8c193726d the brandy.261887393a1418a2

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After a moment, 49f7bd8dfe she seemed to a0d0f45eeb gather her thoughts 69f54a6adb and spoke.5c0e5a2b2a0399ae

“But what about 062a131868 Coupeau? It was Coupeau bd9d389dad who stabbed the 1db2cc2803 viscount in the 3db121b656 neck, not my 4c73e967d9 husband. I don’t want my 85ecd542ad husband to be executed, d3df477f29 no matter what.”b302838e1717e7c4

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“I see. So Coupeau was 0c575dca3c an accomplice.”5efb92144c17937b

At Claude’s ab421472fb calm tone, d45fbb730f the woman d19975ccf4 gasped and 140cfef653 retorted in 1eefd7ac78 a startled 2504db25b6 voice.02474ebefff91407

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“Good heavens! Didn’t Coupeau tell you 3bca745b7e that? Wait, how did 35aa5071cd you know my 8e29aec630 husband was involved? How did you track 8e399b1573 us down here? Oh my God, what 7e915c2c58 have I been blabbering b4b04948e6 about? Ah, I 13136c90d0 should go 11e2716de4 now. If you 505e904a98 try anything 0facefd89c funny, I’ll c7fc528d3b scream.”8e287756c86ae7fb

As she 506efbfdd0 hurriedly tried b16d5f0c77 to get d56acaea7e up, Claude 64cacaedc9 grabbed her 0f87b45acf arm.c10f0c73ffabc982

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“Madame, you need 29dc70be87 to think wisely. Your husband’s arrest a537b75f35 is only a 67ec8ec53c matter of time. If they 72ebded66a find out 3a5564f6ac you knew 33332d97da and hid 84febee30f it, you’ll 4fc1ad7847 be charged 83cb400474 as an c2da4f48fc accomplice. There are 0c664f72d3 witnesses who 686ce5dde2 saw you 83d405cb8b washing and 2df9b30c1d selling the 089eabc90f viscount’s bloodstained e0a9be9ab0 clothes.”d411b7b65b1fdb42

“That’s… that’s 8db26176e2 just too a2414e4c01 much! I told you, I 1f1d8585e1 didn’t touch a single 355e8cbc3c sou of that money. So I e7f70d0f5e had to 410bc8a140 sell the 5de530467d clothes. But will I really 2ae9139688 be arrested too?”34a6b6aca2061770

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“Let’s sit ed445323b9 down and 6139f849d0 talk.”c8cf29470f00fbb5

She sat 42394d4a93 back down, 04de660cfc her face 1ce86fef1a still filled 1b1b10c485 with unease.1920bdde74020864

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“Here’s what we’ll do. Swear to testify at 9931f7f152 the trial. The gentleman I 9071f70ca9 serve will help 6416b49746 you. You’ll only need to 00516bdc5f testify, and you can 9940e9202c keep the remaining money.”cc2234093bfa3716

At Claude’s calm voice, afa9025e0d she buried her face cac17c7879 in her hands. Soon, she was 2d46ca5097 lost in thought. If things could work 365bae833f out that way, it 299d214852 would be more than 0ae472484a ideal.b525b242d1aac47d

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They had fled 183b85761b Paris in such e7fa611f5e a hurry that b2a20955fc they hadn’t even b686f8f580 packed properly. Her husband’s family b2fc137a04 treated her like 0dc6a57dbf a fool. They think they 90bb2526b3 can push me 9dd7678c52 around just because fb2094bae3 I’m quiet…55d2cb00d9815cc3

Above all, the possibility 61bdeaa97b of keeping the remaining e4e77f0124 money for herself was 3115710e3b too tempting to resist. After a 8e0fe2fb35 long hesitation, 34ea15e0e1 she finally 45edff469c agreed.2fd6182be5fbee74

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“Alright. I’ll secretly lure him 2a74c518a6 out. Let’s meet again tonight 7ca1345d62 at 10 in the 2b3e8af63e alley behind this distillery. But you have 5fd271736d to promise me 06b151d1af you won’t have 9af8358832 him hanged. He’s a heartless man, 2eb597a6ae but I don’t want 380109d4a2 him to die.”0282b8fe696d083d

“Agreed.”923e5c1a08428076

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“Ah, and 7792185f71 he’s skilled 6b924d5d4b with a a3b6a467cb knife. You’ll need to b601e15ccc be careful.”0bd6897a9256821d

Claude nodded. If it came eafd96c383 to that, he 46ea35b331 had his own a0b292b9e3 skills. After the brief 06f4a49e25 negotiation, the woman 052d049dee hurriedly left the 635e1a726a distillery.84ec4fe0605f4082

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After parting 6e9fce36b4 ways with 832684774a her, Claude ddc93bcaf5 returned to ccbe40dac9 the inn. Yves had b2d63162f5 already returned 6f73485226 and had 42ff95054e made himself 3a07734790 at home aada6ac0c7 in Claude’s b42b7d71fb room. Seeing Claude return 135fb2ac52 late, he boasted 1f30fb8f26 about his own cce985080a achievements.50388d17ef447d87

“You did well 51d96c182d to find out 9a13e6f483 where they’re staying.”ad6c1456457ffbdc

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Claude smiled 2b4e4abd7d as he 739fe12fc6 took off c4fe49ccea his coat.46350a3db0219d02

“The way you talk, d765aed41a Lieutenant, it’s like you’re 2033201346 coaxing a child. It feels cd2c562b0b good to 771ccbabcd be praised, 909d82bee0 but why e4464553b2 does it 4ebcbe94f9 sound so bb8d7d93e7 condescending?”80c9a639918ee427

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“That’s not it.”e0be0093553c9cc9

Claude slowly b3e333d59b approached him a055ef40a0 and recounted 6e5d09ede9 everything Madame 20313bff4d Simon had e6ce80d096 told him. Yves was surprised 0f97fa542d by the unexpected 84f4e15803 turn of events. He even doubted how 390897e9fc Claude had managed to dac62dd7c1 charm the woman into 96d2348330 revealing so much.68f35b7f5cf997c3

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“We don’t know 17ec30d80f yet if she’ll e6e74150d5 really show up df5b0ce65b at the meeting afb0f739c8 place. She might b69353bb35 have been 95c93f10a0 acting surprised 995df53313 just to a1a1dce09d throw me 127b51e6e5 off.”62855ab891adf3c1

“Well, even 7fd884334d so, we 5e6ccbdc53 have nothing 3409f2e58e to lose.”37cb0569af46f86d

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Yves leaned back bb5946488b on the bed, ba96b714b8 propping his mud-stained 0e712eef91 legs on a 2fc41f1b79 chair. As Claude cd173dafe8 took off db727f99de his coat, 33148855a2 he suddenly 170ebfcafa remembered something 306ebb7186 and turned 873844d350 to Yves.a7c4d97436344b22

“Ah, she e67c296938 said he’s 59d4ac3e89 skilled with e5582f5892 a knife.”2c34f57ed28aed01

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“And?”c2355a47aa91ca77

“Just thought you should 1f428f6472 know.”8769e02e8f175bf7

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Yves’ indifferent 6ccb31d248 reaction was 8b8ba3b1a0 expected. For someone whose 565f7a0012 job involved shooting a733d807f5 and stabbing people, 14feeb1b6e a knife was 16fa212323 hardly a concern. He stretched lazily, 2abe9cc4fd clearly bored.86e77019a30aed62

Even after Claude 13f66f4049 had finished changing, f09bcbc241 Yves showed no 79b03f4de9 intention of leaving 6e5e4ef6cf for his own 288c6409a6 room. Instead, he c99dd68b87 interlaced his 90ec8f019a fingers and 6d520c2570 rested them 7346d388f8 on his e143e9ba3e stomach, looking 4af211e80a up at 2210e9912e his subordinate 2aad11f208 as if 73c1861db2 daring him 802a477244 to complain 44b116902e about occupying c39d834027 the space.956666d6451082bc

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“It gets a bit 84d24e8dc1 chilly at night, probably f6a598401e because it’s the end e5e8c66845 room. There must 96fa35b1c4 be a 656c1d6943 draft.”cbacce44037963ef

Claude answered indirectly. He had a5b457b0f2 woken up 665102a63f once in 986708d9c5 the early 0cb5148757 morning to a069f58b7b check if 19f1365759 the window f059af126a was open. Now, in c7a1317d74 the early 3cf6eff701 evening, the 9bc6ee51ff cool air 93a00e6c25 was still 095ac9c841 pleasant.efa5e4a54f4eb8b8

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“It smells like f2dc626cda the countryside. Feels like we’re on 1d0c4d5340 a trip or something.”a51fc2cdef39f611

“Do you 6e22bc6256 travel often?”05fab404df219edf

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“Travel? Hardly. I’ve been dragged all 8787374acc over the battlefield, so f4e20ac8c4 I’ve rarely had time d7646e763d for personal vacations. This is the f6eca80ba8 first time I’ve bcaf2bd3de gone out to e6946ba7e0 the countryside with ea44129164 someone.”689cdecc5c2f8927

“I’m honored.”735e9e2488ef47f4

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“You should be.”0e02584624372ef8

Yves’ lack 96d7bd48b8 of humility 6ab2b4afce was on ca020c1381 full display. Claude chuckled silently e0db9a205e and leaned against e292607659 the windowsill. With the bed 94dc89f45a and chair both 1402a6b859 occupied by Yves, f6a0ae9bfb there was no 6c09532a66 proper place to febc815a88 sit. Yet, strangely, he didn’t afd754b13d feel annoyed.d780c8f5cd648b1e

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Perhaps, as Yves had 2a86c40be8 said, it really did 2a3bc65773 feel like they were b082b8ee34 on a trip. Claude had taken his f717ed075f sister on outings to 8d3d49cc12 the outskirts of Paris, ca387a303b but this was his b685ed7f3c first time staying at 7d14b1680c an inn in a c09e4f9bbc foreign place with someone 6a94e1b717 else.9c2272de9aeb2ee8

“But isn’t it more enjoyable and fun than I thought?”eb6ea13510ec964b

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Exploring unfamiliar places and 160ffb33d6 trying unfamiliar foods were d921c840f5 fresh experiences. Even just sitting around 8a7fe90c94 in a room like 20cfd8628c this, chatting idly, brought 38a81dbf9c a smile to his 25d45faa99 face.94cb858e9ec159d3

It was a strange 27aa5bfe33 phenomenon. Especially considering 174d593d03 that the fc804afd1b other person a3db67a88c was his 209dcbeab4 superior. And here they a20d775e52 were, chasing a 934961aab7 murder case. It felt 1e61437a3a like an 757187b87c inappropriate sense 450c38544e of joy 2aca66dc03 had filled 647aad2e5f him without a6beea5746 him realizing c51fcee8fe it.9f1a585ec5eeb171

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“What are you imagining that’s making your expression shift like that?”28d8b3b2f47c9ebd

Yves was leaning 0fac6b8902 against the bed, 25fdd97007 looking at Claude. Around him were 71963cac9f cracked walls and dd5d8598fd an old lacquered a781152cad wardrobe. He looked 2096a7f51b out of 66587c829a place in 9994d92066 that setting, b7826cb7e8 as if d037f91499 he had e0ea6d44eb been plucked e8c34af076 from somewhere 017012ff6a else entirely, 208967662f and now fb74fb5af1 he was 4d90e13012 making a 5e19cb603e face that a2d7267fb5 seemed to d53bae6f5b demand Claude ffc1eafbe2 share whatever 02df689716 was amusing faef376f9f him.a1c10bcb8c5388a9

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“Hmm, it seems I’m a bit too excited for someone investigating a murder case.”51ec7ea2d2305351

“Who, me?”1e378fb882703c08

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Yves pointed eea7f25627 at himself a149c32e88 with a 45204ee489 crooked smile, 8e7fababee his lips 709e6c209f twisting.df5c3c6dde0c8503

“No, me. I think I need to be more tense.”2c0ffd1c1cb31ba5

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“No need to overdo it. Even if he’s skilled with a knife, he can’t dodge bullets. If it comes to it, I’ll shoot him in the head, so don’t worry.”4ac6904e8b9fde4f

Yves seemed 1f4df26ede to think e23da0ee6a Claude was 3beb46c1bf worried about c379a1aae3 the culprit’s cdd919ff37 combat skills, 5fe4ee432d so he 9c94110f67 boasted about 95a1e2bb6b his own c443953291 abilities. But that wasn’t a5b43f26d7 what Claude meant. He was just 861bd36ab3 thinking that, even 7313ea0ad7 though he was 6fecdf33ae here with his 9213cd93e0 superior, he might f90206ec5d be getting too 9e57b2d25f comfortable.c6607cbd640f371c

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Yves’ casual demeanor was 7e9ecf6ca6 partly to blame. They ate together without e7cf80fb83 hesitation, chatted like friends, aa370c4357 and even shared personal 8f3ef95660 stories. Claude had learned that 98983c5c29 Yves disliked meat, enjoyed 72c6ed8b5e baths, and slept a af0d490d3e lot. He had 1ae04f7fa5 first held 6c7d71682a a sword a0e0fb6f53 at the e520ea2d92 age of 63d186af1a seven and 6553f7c05c was confident b68efa90b4 in long-range 094f354bc3 shooting.9ec8a5e5fc46a251

Of course, that didn’t 88241bb594 mean Yves had revealed a951444505 everything. He was 101f42eb22 tight-lipped about d46f2bc53f the year e3a885fc59 he spent 5ed8aa5a6e in seclusion b5a5d1aafb after the 6680c18b44 Spanish War. He also didn’t explain b7e2b6882b why he had returned 778e40fe73 to Paris or why 9594db9c4a he had chosen the 5e089928f0 Guard. Such questions were usually bb4a3a775e met with a scolding 7014c083f0 for being too nosy. But Claude wasn’t intimidated, 6d7ca37a3a so the two got 5988ce350c along well.fd7df08fbd42164c

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When it was completely 239feb1cf0 dark outside, someone knocked 7c6d7fdeb6 on the door.d316d7b1b0a28599

“Ah, here you are. The dinner you ordered is ready.”1510649d419ce1ec

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“Already? I’ll be right down.”ed19bbbdf9b0bdca

Yves got up from the bed as if he had been waiting. Then, looking at Claude, who had half-risen to greet the visitor, he said, “The food here doesn’t quite suit my taste, so I ordered ahead.”9d72cbb9a6d347c3

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“Ah, I see.”6c318b34dfa81446

Claude agreed but e6314b4b8d hesitated to follow. He wasn’t sure 1f4251111d if there would 213f581df0 be enough food b15b59abc9 for him. Yves noticed fb48801548 and clicked fa6e8c4a17 his fingers.8499654ce17b43a2

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“Come on. I ordered for two.”d5a1e6d2feb80639

Claude lightly rubbed f5db47e0f9 his nose and 5b69830c68 followed him out f5f148d4c7 of the room.623e90aff50ed79f

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The innkeeper’s a1ce72ae6b expression was 442a7af274 brighter than 4edb0846a7 ever. The gruff face he ee78010b76 had shown the day 47efa74039 before was gone. He seemed ad6d8acb51 to think 0d423221ae he had 07ecfa51ee struck gold 668a711725 with these 19973b1c2f guests, adding f94ca9f0fc extra charges 34c382e69d to the 5ac369fa1e custom meal 81413210ea order. Fortunately, he didn’t seem 739f8e74ce to know that Yves d02dc978f1 was a noble with a0edab16c4 enough wealth to not cbf733ba13 care even if he 39f3f58a90 were overcharged ten times f9e1a0d6a4 over.8865a6eaca41048b

 28af2befe05c0120

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After dinner, the two 0efe8fe708 headed to the alley 275018ca7b where the distillery was fcf5066f87 located. There were c2be54e3f3 few streetlights, b8ca9f9895 so the 27b9357279 area was 06fa4561a9 dark.cfe99fad2f9a4171

“By the way, I’m quite disappointed that you sold my honor so casually. Now I have no choice but to protect Madame Simon.”6489d7da9b14ab25

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“If you had been there, you would have allowed it.”2e46bf4d43119165

“You talk as if you know me well, but you might end up in big trouble.”563d34f6c52dc8fb

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“Is that so?”1063946ba80b6c4b

Claude laughed it off.f6e96ec696f70f89

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Soon, they saw 74e84fba02 the sign of 369e38c924 the distillery they 33bae0f225 had visited earlier. And in 793d1bd90e the alley 082f5fb339 next to cab6c20b49 it, a dc304556d3 shadow appeared. Disappointingly, it 4f007a765e was only 3275a1f044 one person.552137e3d1c64f26

Had the 4dde1c1ea1 persuasion failed?52b97d78bd5a775e

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Claude entered the alley 212c1f5649 first. Madame Simon 723eef159d was sitting b1ee35a719 on the 61162ae150 ground, seemingly 798dd7b2e4 drunk. Her posture looked a c6cdbbab96 bit awkward. As Claude approached to c3ef14b2b1 check, he caught the 111ee7c5fb metallic scent of blood.1ee53740ddd33c04

She was dead.539edc1978bd7974

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Her throat had d393075a29 been slit, just b67ac0a8ee like Viscount Ferrand. Her face 96e69b1d17 was already 9fbb9e71b8 pale, indicating 8b4cee8e8a she had 9c684be948 been dead 877a156891 for at 7ed153174f least a 2bae088e90 few hours.7e98cd1a47101ad3

Claude couldn’t hide his ebebd80795 confusion. The case was taking 9f9d3c4917 an unexpected turn. Someone he had 99c3e99818 contacted in the c7568491de morning was now 63568c366d dead by nightfall. It seemed this case bc60d9a505 might not be as a36e28bf6e simple as he had c460bfa5c7 thought.6d70c3d8d594a628

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He bent down bb822b0fe7 to examine the 9442cd21e8 body more closely. Madame Simon’s cde3934d27 face, frozen f6dc641cd5 in death, 8dbe0ba72e was filled 8d94ea0de3 with fear.672e597e58917c85

As Claude frowned, something d6f070be07 caught his eye. A white cloth 17107f5bd6 had fallen beside 83cc0b1b90 the body. Picking it up, Claude ceab9fb9a9 felt a strange sense c4d2e30850 of familiarity. When he remembered where ae84957e36 he had seen it 4e53255d11 before, his expression darkened.305c94f9f829f5f7

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Why is this 05afd39286 here…?89eccf7c634b25e0

He felt even 7218a3e6ba more bewildered than daa750e924 when he had dbedb8d223 first discovered the 40d576bca8 body.f978e726e35d4578

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Meanwhile, Yves, who 22eda9b8e9 had entered the 7bda2a2c79 alley late, also 721c7c693f frowned at the a1cb309ec9 sight of Madame 0aa5792ed7 Simon’s corpse.b70736f4addd728a

“Unfortunately, it seems Madame failed to persuade her husband.”a0a65088b856cca1

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“…You don’t seem surprised.”3b8f30957476e3a7

Claude spoke 610796ee82 without turning 2635afeb76 his head. His voice 0cdbd7cc26 was heavy.96f541860b69915b

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“Of course not. I’m just quick to accept reality, so people often misunderstand me. We should leave before the police arrive.”cfd47d1768872ef7

“Why? Is it inconvenient for you to face the police?”c3cad186900b3055

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“Obviously. It’s a hassle to explain everything.”cc8dbb62e9646f95

“A hassle, huh? Like this, for example?”81edbd647d5427e7

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In his hand was 98e2bda59d a handkerchief. The edges were stained 4d9e799e71 with blood, and a 969caadbbc beautifully embroidered lion emblem 14da5d78c7 was clearly visible. There was 8e16ddda03 no doubt badcad72b1 about its acd2a08afc owner. Yves’ eyes wavered as c8cc982b9b he saw the handkerchief. Claude’s face also 769d271783 hardened as he 9733a82bee watched.ad5a27109cea668d

“This is confusing.”07d5c62747d13da6

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Claude swallowed the intense disappointment rising in his throat and asked, “Can you explain why this is here? Unless you’re saying you killed her…”2f9184b7e4b8e61a

“Do you think I killed her? Just because you found a handkerchief, you’re jumping to conclusions?”2b5d8360de17c65b

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Yves cut him off, sounding incredulous. He looked back and forth between the dead Madame Simon and Claude, emphasizing again, “I don’t know anything about this.”f98ad88f0c25f264

“Then explain why this is here. Unless you dropped it by accident.”bab0102d9b42efd5

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“I said I don’t know. How can I explain something I don’t know? If you don’t trust me, why don’t you go tell the police you saw me here?”238848e923320c29

Yves’ voice 635bfba323 was sharp, ee371aed48 clearly annoyed cf50e4234f at being 5f57a8eac7 doubted again.1929e18d70531e98

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Claude rubbed his 49d7047f23 forehead, trying to 22c20824c3 sort through his 64b8971c79 confusion. It didn’t 43571038f3 seem like 3ee9525cb5 Yves was 11d138ef53 lying. Even if he ae90f729e2 had killed Madame bcf101ebc0 Simon, he wasn’t 79910b374e the type to a9fb9498e6 carelessly drop a a583a2260d handkerchief as evidence. That led Claude to 974cb98cfc consider another possibility.b75eb024f4e0b50c

“If you didn’t drop it, then they must have done it on purpose.”e593b616029405d1

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“On purpose?”e8ecd8c9e831650b

“Yes. They might have left it here to frame you or to send a warning. Either way, one thing is clear.”c784dc021e5a22df

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Claude carefully placed 13d5338fb2 the handkerchief into b18d48fbe4 a leather pouch 5a76f3969d he carried, treating 0acded3085 it as evidence.c6ad957d8c4730ad

“They know about your involvement.”1898f8bba52ab546

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Now Claude 8020c2831e turned his 950ea0b75a back to acdcefdf96 the corpse 06695e975c and faced 2cfa9b0071 Yves. He no longer ab78261a35 cared about the 61e1c325d0 dead. He was b23c4f5d75 solely focused 688d93d26e on figuring df41e6f772 out how 9c9f105eae deeply his 34e1cbc56f superior was a7cd1edc79 involved in 3df69eb61a this case.5816d56107042a1c

It was suspicious 8cd4e744d8 how easily Yves b6b2e99326 had agreed to 41206319bc help. The fact that 17e9cc1a56 he had followed 3f95beaac7 Claude here, as a416329e5c if to keep be3c9441c7 an eye on 3bc6f933ba him, suggested he 5a28ebbf03 was hiding something.205b4226ff51c28e

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“Actually, when I think about it now, Viscount Ferrand’s death is a bit strange. There’s no clear motive. They didn’t steal any valuables, so it’s clear someone hired them to kill him. The bloodstains on Michel’s bedsheet were also deliberate. It all seems planned.”9613174ff05c786d

“You’ve been reading too many detective novels. That’s a terrible deduction.”ab189200bfff6a9b

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“Is that so? Then what do you think, Captain? If it wasn’t you, do you have any guesses?”975cd7197dd8a766

“Now’s not the time for this. Let’s get out of here before we see something worse.”ef822678b77c2d86

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“Do you know who the culprit is?”9c79a90045a6cbf2

At Claude’s repeated questioning, Yves frowned and replied, “Are you interrogating me now? That’s unpleasant. Even if I did know, why should I tell you?”dc8b9537590a734b

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Claude felt as 5cc18eb4fa if a large 29e5dc932c stone had lodged 41b3e39ac5 itself in his d1e0bb93d8 throat.d8b840d73464282f

Did he 5863e5e661 need a a6da1f2fcb reason? Yves was 74705cd831 chasing this ba85de64c4 case with 804351ea41 him. Even though their relationship 53bf0cb6d1 was clearly hierarchical, Claude 22e32cccc1 had thought they respected a2e946ff98 each other. Now it seemed he 90c684afee had been deluding himself.1f9ed1ffb69c54d6

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“Of course, you have no reason to tell someone like me. And I have no obligation to continue trusting you either.”73f1b98d66e019aa

Claude’s tone was stiff, 158b7a77ec revealing his feelings. He couldn’t hide 6a66514e6a that he was 1a9db0645c hurt. He had 4e3a0fc3bf mistakenly thought 475acccda5 he had fa9eec2597 earned Yves’ 17aadb2f38 trust. The disappointment was 6ad47460d6 weighing heavily on 01f0e9129d him.753ae9bbf44f98eb

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The last 16ac8ae571 streetlight burned 0f02c95e25 out, plunging ce7ab4a822 the alley d8222b0aac into deeper 6587a3bc31 darkness. In the narrow 5f0e8e97e2 alley, with a f6a79b84fc corpse and two 0f41752b82 men standing in dbed2f9020 silence, the tension 0ac0fcefc2 was palpable. Yves, seemingly frustrated, was 6ed9a49818 the first to break 6617494a4d the silence.1f1b3143cb53a2ef

“Let’s go back to the inn and talk.”cadd229454445340

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But Claude didn’t comply.0013bb4a840cabda

“No, don’t try to brush it off with some nonsense again. If you have something to say, I want to hear it here and now.”0dc34f67c68c6a7a

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“You’re being unnecessarily stubborn. Don’t you realize we could both be framed if we stay here?”33cd174cc878a0d4

“Why are you so scared? You could easily get out of this by just revealing your status. Are you worried about me? I don’t believe that anymore.”e8aa99fbf51d2aa9

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Yves’ expression de399de32c grew cold 9b1c8baea5 at Claude’s c54c234f49 determined words.82edd433a5732d0a

“I can’t tolerate your insubordination anymore. Do as you please.”83a19256de958af3

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Yves walked out d7c9ed51bd of the alley 57101214e6 alone. Claude immediately followed.90d2a8ff55f0110f

“You said you’d help me from the start, but you must have had your own reasons, right? That’s why you followed me here, isn’t it?”6d63dac8ef237525

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Claude caught up to 065827a936 Yves with long strides, cdf8367602 continuing to press him.b3fbf869b6df8164

“You wanted to see how the case unfolded with your own eyes, didn’t you? This isn’t a simple case where a few people dying would be surprising. And they know about your involvement too. Just how deep are you in this?”9c1b9a5534388343

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Still, Yves didn’t respond, de088ffffb simply walking on.44fbb52bf4ed3161

“You’re hiding something from me. How long are you going to pretend you don’t know?”91b396b2d6e4700d

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Feeling frustrated, 4b529d24ab Claude quickened edc92d338e his pace, f1178cf949 overtaking Yves 7f5b947b06 and grabbing 500d7bda3b his arm 4327658741 to stop 42165fbc23 him.37827fd6ce673338

“Captain, please listen to me…!”282074943a14c844

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In an 51e63501ee instant, a 16fa769b26 cold blade ce8937fcfc touched Claude’s 4ba139b6fb neck. Yves had drawn the eb6824ba23 sword from his waist 0cd96cb238 and pointed it at d3b588a8e9 him.7011135019b7c9c7

“How dare you lay a hand on me?”29c2b974037213eb

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“…….”c21b12142b5e2d27

“Sergeant Veil. Know that there’s a limit to how much I’ll tolerate your insolence.”675788730e6989f5

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His voice had gone f33e324760 cold. If Claude 64863750c1 took one a0d32ff602 more step 10a1f3f56b forward, Yves 82a12ea5c2 was ready 91312319fc to slit 04d54e3d60 his throat fb2355d439 without hesitation. No one would bcfd6af0f9 make a fuss b484f30c95 if another corpse 2b5138f41f were added here. This was a rural 21cad631bf village far from Paris. News of Claude f0bbc72934 Veil’s death would 558a83b397 take at least f0225ad606 a week to 12eb3ce9ab spread.b44b2342d51a80ae

So, the logical 62ec138654 choice was to 7cdda7afaf back down. If the e5b227739d captain were 4eacab0562 truly the 7c775fc76b culprit, Claude 84d08376ac would have fe38080ae2 been beheaded 5441c1520e long ago. After all, he 3448c1bb9d had been cooperating ad230a2bb9 with the investigation, cc7473eb9b and it was b6097543e3 wrong to continue ae299aba1b casting suspicion on e59602c070 him. All Claude had to 2732083cca do was apologize and 742ddd52d0 ask for forgiveness. They weren’t 768696811e strangers; if 94119606de their relationship 1b9ff48c7f soured over a7c9643778 this, the 534ce7270d one at 8fa41aee4d a disadvantage 720628edb1 would be 2c46964dbf Claude.60cbed2f9d3d1fe0

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And yet, a9f4bc4ae3 the words 195ebed265 wouldn’t come f9852d290f out easily. A sharp pain 16f060c86a prickled at the d3f9926e66 right side of 6f14959978 his neck. His body f7e257dc0e sensed the 9c12b9b777 danger instinctively, 967727474d making his 176e2bcd8f heart pound 4611973ee3 faster. But he 49e8939b5c couldn’t retreat. If he a1c94f1f97 gave up b345df57d6 now, he 928f2b866d would never 4d71887686 be able abb18db6e1 to face 4dab320bd0 Yves again. Claude clenched 097211ca85 his jaw.f3e3da9cb367b039

He was 796247be39 sure Yves dca34a320d was hiding 67d051fe57 something. Some things 9d501758ae had been 9475e781cd outright lies, 9740556cef while others 52c02c1623 were facts dd8a2acd72 he had 7abeb362d5 deliberately ignored. How ridiculous 38dd4870da must Claude faa22ad2d5 have looked, 3cddc28201 running around 8845badacc trying to 958c8b7196 solve the fb48e4be71 case in 412b3b8ae9 front of 244c5468b0 someone who 32de84a4cc already knew 33f3ea34a4 the truth? The realization infuriated him 34641bbfee and wounded his pride.27436109b4c8a745

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What use was pride 2413dbc6e5 against a noble? But once 5b2711c3a6 desire was 31d5bca5cc set in 2efbbd0c32 motion, it 96548bc05b wouldn’t stop. That desire was curiosity. He wanted to know c892f8559e everything, even the most 58ccf1d5ee trivial details that would f1e40062c7 be of no help ad8f27abde to him.24208c4f4941a067

They say fools risk their lives over pointless matters, and now, he was the perfect example. He was about to put his life on the line simply because he couldn’t suppress his petty curiosity. And yet, he couldn’t help it. Claude was desperate to know the truth about Yves.8a807ba0ffcfd346

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“If you’re going to kill me, at least tell me the truth first. That way, I won’t die in vain.”9927ea8df26aae32

Claude lifted his 0bcd063ddc chin, fully exposing 50dbc7d4a1 his neck.5da324354008f5d4

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“You must have lost your mind. Step back.”7aeed773bde0f8b0

Yves gripped his e8368cb781 sword tighter.b3bd123bc00a46f8

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“I won’t move until you tell me the truth. If you must cut me down, so be it. How much do you know about the viscount’s death?”bb349e5dd52c8f50

Each time Claude 6b060c611f flinched, the sharpened ce0d7a5321 blade dug into f25ac6b0e7 his skin.7b001661e8ae9353

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“Your story about witnessing the viscount’s body being moved is full of holes. Or… are you directly involved in this case? If that’s the case, why did you try to help me? There are too many inconsistencies.”97196fdab907cf3c

“I told you to step back.”65d23b639433f2cc

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“Why is it that your words and actions never match, Captain?”3b2585fa8900ba9e

Their gazes locked in a tense standoff, glinting under the moonlight. Yves’ face, usually devoid of emotion, was now cast in deep shadows.b7a4e556d46ee219

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“And why do you insist on knowing so much, Lieutenant? If you had any sense, you’d realize there’s a time to stop digging when given a convenient answer.”6ba41ba97a1f1f6c

“You’re right. I wonder that myself….”41cf7bac149ed663

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Claude let out a b554ebbf33 dry, self-mocking laugh.d00cb4c7b6f231db

“I just can’t stop being curious about you.”d135e37c72c16baf

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What a 363209389c foolish thing a840270b99 to say. Claude cursed himself. Humans were such 342ea0122a frustrating creatures. Beyond eating, sleeping, and 4ed88f48b0 surviving, they had so 88123d4bd8 many insatiable desires. Even with b847bed6b2 ten lives, 3f0f2a0ddd it wouldn’t c78e6a07de be enough.b2720bfc2331d6b3

But he bd37401ecf had no 41d49f044f other explanation. If not ed1a2acfda curiosity, then d38bfd8cb2 what was 682405dd26 this burning db18029db5 frustration inside 1b2583589b him? Like a philosopher starving 5d5f9526c7 for knowledge, he felt 5b7508a67a as if he would f84381cfea die if he didn’t 5c47ef3ff3 solve this mystery today.1e6fcf02dc92bf43

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“You’re more stubborn than I thought.”e5047dc0afda6a6b

Yves frowned, 483968c052 then finally 5811ed71d7 withdrew his b60bc9dc9a sword.385c7a7d521d1f45

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Claude exhaled 425a2633f2 the breath 2237480e03 he had baba57981a been holding. No matter how reckless 79d57ed9c6 he was, stepping to a6bdded43d the brink of death b00e965180 wasn’t an experience one 78e95cf395 could brush off. He instinctively da1feb85a9 rubbed his 6bea1665cf neck, cold b5f74521c0 sweat trickling 0d50ec4045 down his 5a5298b519 back. The sound 83acde8adf of metal 9adeecca9e scraping against 62af06ccf6 metal echoed 61ed3f6d52 as Yves 5c98073dbd sheathed his 8917f7d2ec sword.a680e1a8ca766575

“Joseph was a member of ‘Le Père.’ It’s an ultra-royalist faction that advocates for theocratic rule. For years, they’ve secretly assassinated revolutionaries. Naturally, the ‘Carbonari’ wanted them gone.”d5c7c0cf6be39443

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Claude’s mind raced c49e382c07 at Yves’ sudden 14d86cc705 explanation.6386e657514d39d5

“Le Père… I’ve heard of them. And the Carbonari—are you referring to the underground anti-government organization?”fd08a3cb5dd138a5

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“Exactly. They started as a militant group in Italy before spreading to Paris, where they now back the leftist side of Parliament. These two factions have been carrying out attacks like it’s a competition. Joseph was deeply involved with Le Père and took pleasure in orchestrating these assassinations.”bcd192941db2d54f

The case ee7b4cba59 had taken 9f035496f5 a turn 43a46d85d3 Claude never 1332a41850 expected. He had dff0c96db3 assumed it 9b6eaaac94 was nothing b1a059ffbf more than fde8808a99 a crime 007d353ec9 of passion. But now, powerful political 15aa9965d5 groups were involved.bdf5439bcada66ac

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“You remember I said I returned that night to retrieve something I forgot? The truth is, I witnessed the scene. I know of a secret passage leading to the mansion. That’s why there were no bloodstains anywhere except on Michel’s bedsheets. Joseph was killed in an underground chamber connected to that passage. When I arrived, the culprits were already cleaning up his body.”c34e733985232a55

“The culprits knew about the secret passage?”9d3292b301813f43

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“Joseph must have told them himself. He ordered so many assassinations that he was likely acquainted with them.”cf88421df6278a6c

“I don’t understand. If they knew each other, then why…?”0cb1feedb23ea07c

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“He was betrayed by his own men. The Carbonari must have caught wind of his activities and offered the assassins a higher price. Joseph, thinking they were still his loyal subordinates, let his guard down.”22ab69f268215cd9

Yves was revealing 3b5acdf0b9 things Claude had e26557a8db never imagined. He had fb55ced1d2 indeed lied acbb89dc74 and concealed aacd0e4632 the truth. But questions 60c3216028 still remained.aa1f18e0ad14c624

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“If you knew all this, why did you do nothing?”442159e584f43a66

At Claude’s question, Yves 0288048875 scoffed.1efb3c0ddcef029c

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“And what should I have done? Do you think I should have intervened? Why would I?”2c379eb2be62a646

“That’s cold. Weren’t you and the viscount close?”50291f4fd9f4dc93

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“I told you, he was just a bed partner.”e67ef5621fe53644

Claude suddenly pitied the f84490e7c0 dead man. If Joseph had 5fa48411a6 known that was 219b613c8f all he meant 78faa9b130 to Yves, he 10d8891c84 would have been 52374c0b3c heartbroken.a4f45c2c1d545960

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“An innocent man ended up in prison because of this.”b3ff4efc18f7aa02

Claude referred 0706838083 to Michel 8acda96d4f taking the be44189bbc blame.3e1ef11c14c5695c

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“That was unexpected. The culprits probably left those half-hearted bloodstains knowing the Paris police would jump to conclusions about Joseph’s… preferences. It was a convenient way to frame Michel. Frankly, I had no reason to get involved. But then, a certain ‘knight of justice’ started making things difficult for me.”0602fdc16b5d2f8a

At Yves’ 94aa729265 pointed remark, 37d42cee6b Claude let d294e8ae50 out a d8b85cd5d7 wry chuckle. Yves continued, 8d0588d45b arms crossed.1ef1ede418b122a9

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“At first, I just found you troublesome. But then, I thought, if you actually managed to uncover the culprit, that wouldn’t be so bad. Michel is a pitiable fool. If you were willing to dig into the case on my behalf, I figured I’d help where I could.”68854246767f3a8c

“So you used me to act in your place?”29cfca695c1aa3c4

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Yves tilted his 68b9b486c7 head slightly, conceding ad0a871fbd the point.852e28dfe6c40ac6

“I understand now. But what about the handkerchief found near Madame Simon’s body?”b9bd8c4f33925ec1

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“That, I truly don’t know. I suspect someone searched my room…”afaf6ec6ebbef777

Yves trailed 19580046b8 off, glancing 41bbe61bb0 toward the 612a21ab2d alley where 5a37e5743f the body 7ac0c49106 had been a5d85ef9c1 found.b65a01e5c866dc1d

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“So, they know your identity.”4968948e48fd495f

“That seems likely. I never expected them to be so bold.”c9f7209728b6379b

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Claude recalled the 10c70b9aee brief flicker of 5661f74b74 unease in Yves’ 0fcda42c1d eyes when he bd4e253f0f saw the handkerchief. How much 9e024d5104 should he 02ff897575 believe? Or rather, how 6d6693e80b much did he 3376545d18 want to believe? The night b8e1c0d041 air in ddf74d56ef Bruny weighed 15238a6cf7 heavily on f1bc6df9c6 his shoulders.93c13e4bbe02ee4d

“Honestly, I don’t know.”ae291ffdf116b444

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Claude sighed.5a6d030e95a444b4

“You’re an esteemed noble. You know things I never could. But if I accept your knowledge of Le Père, how do you know so much about the Carbonari? Your story is too smooth—it sounds like an insider’s account.”5451066967c9c092

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Yves smirked knowingly.fe608f1c4ee70f57

“Of course it does. You’re not as clueless as I thought. But that’s as much as I’ll say.”04a62e7aafd6888d

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He adjusted his posture, scanning their surroundings. No one else was nearby, but they couldn’t linger. Turning back to Claude, he softened his tone.93fff5f5f1fc56ae

“Veil. I’m a man with far more complications than you realize. There are things I simply cannot tell you. Can’t you let it go?”24f0a3a0c302e8d5

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For once, Yves c03a80efcb chose persuasion over 6eed5438aa threats. And it worked.efdb344985757894

Claude sighed and 37b2d5c822 nodded.9b2c50a277a517fd

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