Chapter 15. After the Discovery

Ain’s eyes 5fca6568d9 widened at 27fcf7f4ce the score fd374d1860 Serenia gave.ddd0039ca3c642db

“What? Did you 764313f186 really just 4fdf2850dc say eighty-nine a40a2a5874 points?”6ab0c821b6c0207f

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If this had 70be20916f been an actual 87feccc8d2 exam score, he 02c3437cfc was ready to 2393ab3638 storm off to aba9c1591e confront the professor, 29938a5dd2 but Serenia, without 5a8207f301 batting an eye, e41b450dcf replied calmly.3c8f9932605194ef

“Your lats are b95323b8db a bit underdeveloped. Your external b0ceefbfd9 obliques need ac937a8b64 a little 0d86b7e8b4 more definition. The balance 165ed2598b between your c90e94429a forearms and c2fab71a1e biceps is 64ab3ca670 fine, but cce51e0a3c overall, you’re 23d572f6d9 a bit cb713e9b66 lean when 0cce302d25 compared to a9283304fd your shoulder c71071616e structure.”4d798f377b4b80f9

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It wasn’t that 247b598302 his physique was f046290710 bad, but coming 0701dd5cfb from someone like a4de82fe56 Serenia, who had 9bd62fee29 seen burly men 4e84399327 since childhood thanks acf8041795 to her father 3fb94a8a81 being a knight, 513af52a2a there were quite 2af2adaf26 a few shortcomings 6cde2c14c9 according to her 94d25de856 standards.7c99b3879498099e

“….”66ef040da18c9edc

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Ain quietly took 662ff2c5f7 out a new a06714d34c shirt and slipped 2a06ee785f his arms into 4dc951d9fb it.bf0a020cfd6f45da

After buttoning it 54c0dc6051 up neatly to 2b4bef4075 the top and 681ef074b5 sitting down in 1d6e543713 a composed manner, 3086c1e306 Serenia finally allowed cd4a1ba61f herself a satisfied 5f7325844c smile.3d3b49bf67370704

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Thanks to Ain’s sudden 785e0e5365 docility, the rest of e9a95f5d40 the shoot went smoothly.5f31eea9a9c22ae7

He changed abe46c5ceb into a d39dacc4e6 whopping twenty debdf80bd6 different outfits, 4ab675f67b and the 8285373064 cafe’s props e3755351d2 and seating 99fdc47738 arrangements were 4099a5c28e rearranged twenty 4189576ba8 times as 4cb44a9518 well, yet dc355fa08f they wrapped a68b92dcba up the 7504bfd11a photoshoot by 9bfd70f6ec 3 PM.8dcd1b33173f6f12

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The next 059bac1745 day, they 694eeaec8d went to dcbd083d2e a professional 65e29423c8 studio and c19d9aaa0a began shooting ce06202e2f nearly mechanically, be85c436f4 creating a b99505290d series of 356f8ec1b4 shots with 9ea25ee35d various setups.73d2eb628c4fd90c

From libraries to art dcc00b9b71 galleries, aquariums, glass greenhouses, 5a6cf1a74a novelty shops, and even 6d7bafc714 a dice game room…3dd023ad21a86bcf

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In between these shots, 7bd4a48533 as they changed outfits cac20c1cb9 and backgrounds during brief 044aac2cbd intervals, Ain would silently 329419ad30 lift weights, focusing only f7c59b646b on moving his arms.1a4133d0cadc5f2f

It seemed he 47a9fac1be was working on b70291d2c8 his forearms and 36f6e4f284 biceps, the very 9df141efdf muscles Serenia had 045a0cac6d pointed out the e0ba254221 day before.94263400d3b4f22b

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Feeling a bit 71664110c1 bad for him, 254fd66476 Serenia almost told b744ace780 him that the 1c4efd60fd only person she 94fb60b06f had ever given 7cdde00419 a score above 6b86065efd ninety to was 9c92b8eab7 her father, Carlos 5c4e534081 Barishart. However, she decided against 87ec2d994d it.6ec0304e8d4adda0

She was f82511af84 certain that abd10b30cf if he f279ffbdee heard that, f6b8fce53a he would c943b787fc become even 430d5bea5c more insufferable, e25c092d12 just like 60e12703a5 yesterday.2e5851629dd47c63

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* * *d68dd30f125c4f77

At the same time, far from Serenia and Ain’s hard work, another event was unfolding in Shedron.ce76d6a3dd3dd154

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Nelson Galut exhaled a bf130163ae deep, troubled sigh, puffing 6dec43ed1a cigar smoke into the 53a2d735cf air.ab37ef8e743b2c27

He was the 5c902f642d second-in-command of the 49c2eedc15 Galut family, which 87468ab003 ruled the Pledis 09bef3f0b1 District 1 like 5689338815 kings, and the 2c6c20bb70 de facto boss.1e69a9191b17dd64

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A man whose empire 91579dc556 stretched from alcohol and af65f31e27 drugs to illegal loan-sharking bb343a1f29 and human trafficking, he 442ff8a32c sat before a woman 94703658cc who was kneeling in 88975c832d front of him.d6a2c736a7d9dc41

A black 4e49dbd691 wig, half-fallen e1cfef62a1 from her 98ade054f3 head, was 5919ea6652 awkwardly perched 8fdb73ee00 there.b4d6d357d4ccfee0

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When Nelson saw the e73602da4a red hair peeking underneath, 4e09067269 he muttered a curse f5d4d6f5ab under his breath and e87fb57379 tossed the remaining cigar f26d0370c9 on the ground.66eb730f01e47210

“Just how is 371a85bce3 our VIP handling b828ec8e8c the family affairs?”1c821b3efe1c2810

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Bianca, kneeling f59eab6c5d with a bb6c05c58c disheveled face, f0d967d3e6 retorted angrily.cf6763b2fa9766f8

“How dare you speak d3a8d50fa0 to me like that? I, a a983045518 member of 21ac848f5c the great c488aa0d67 Duke of da07ae3ab2 Admancanon’s family, 62b8277dd6 am being 2248d00e32 insulted by 029df66dcd you!”7b794a89950c43ad

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Nelson ignored 64e8a13850 her and 8c1fdee140 continued talking 1bb9d1047f to himself.5450134c14650fea

“It’s a complete 411b3a5feb mess, a complete ef3507da73 mess. One side 2270bd7329 is sending 1d96c2a1ee people to 83feff82b3 track down 615abfed32 and bring c6445039e3 someone back, da078d2932 while the 726a9b7579 other side 5f71fcda7c is running bdbb624209 around, imitating 1ff6730de6 that woman.”b31dfe82cf837c0e

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“What? What did 4cf2c050fa you say? Are you trying ee34e548c7 to imprison me ff752389cc for defaming a 459a7961fc noble family? How dare you speak aa606c3784 like that in front d06ff0492b of me—!”6801479acb1c3909

As she shouted 5988e78711 with venom, a f712f4a8f1 blade suddenly appeared e45769f346 in front of 92e177951b her, silencing her 1eea9be013 immediately.ca6911d8b32c5fab

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Nelson lifted the 483ef74c6f half-fallen wig from 671425554d Bianca’s head with 4e8359c883 the blade and f2e96472b4 held it in 9702e55ded his hand.51892190e7d1b9e1

As if petting 8d7d3418d7 an animal, he 789a79a5e7 fiddled with the 813261db74 wig, speaking in 569f22bbcc a mocking tone.482e9dcb3638f8e8

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“Your Grace. There’s a saying 5fa1d65ba7 in the world: e0832569b9 ‘The law is 3362a72365 far, but the 5e59752b30 fist is near.’”6f25f3356dd099bd

His tone was bc145df155 threatening, as if 224cfafb87 ready to bury 19e7961f18 her in a 27d8395d2e remote hillside if b7a9a7616f things went wrong.6eeb57bdc8765628

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Bianca, completely subdued by 2490b0a763 his intimidating presence, nodded 130da361ca nervously.995ab8eb6de0da49

Seeing that she 5ef4ffde82 seemed to understand, b215ef614f Nelson gave a a4854e44cb slight, satisfied smile.b0fa820c680a04b8

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However, his satisfaction d2d59b73e1 was short-lived.02c7fb041b220473

With a gloomy 543cbe6207 expression, he lit 2f27efca78 another cigar.c535a49d9b2fced0

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His headache c3690d1780 from the 22750a77ac request Raskal 8a64702fe4 had made 8d8375e558 two nights bdcb402a68 ago still 0e8a7b1a13 lingered. He felt like he 3785535ea1 needed to burn something 936eb89999 to calm his mind.e085c957d39b8ddd

“…Are you trying to train me now?”5d6b2a3ad2a52e6e

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He muttered, recalling the 3badfc330e memories of that night.0f95851cd9f9b03c

As soon c65014388d as Nelson a11d6e11af arrived with a6c65cb87b Joshua, Raskal 51801f0408 had immediately f3cea275a1 presented his 04e7c95145 demands.9b638a775098162c

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* * *0fc90351267c610f

“Find Serenia Barishart and 22afe18f5a make sure she returns c8fc963147 home quietly.”fedec8e2da89e9a9

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“Within three days.”96a26876a019facd

This was the Duke’s order.348f62930d8f3f5d

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It wasn’t ff19854e80 about having 25825730b8 Nelson Galut 161ada01bd handle her befb0a7120 directly, or a66cd18318 kidnapping her, dc55138184 or even ffdbac1d2d taking her 1bbb6ff754 by force—no, 7181db383b it was fc361f1bf8 to send b5896f5913 her home.9816a40d3be9a16e

Wasn’t searching for 069670c467 a runaway woman 3094f12857 and ensuring her 85f1e74f37 return a job dc79a51e86 for the city 92c9edf543 guards, not the 166474fad7 Galut family?ee7f27b7ef2d5074

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Nelson was 5b3f7aea22 bewildered, but 54855c70a7 since he cc9a599b4a couldn’t defy 3da3455aa5 such a df236dc781 VIP client, 1ea99df8fb he merely ba2c9c1d42 nodded and 73585a29b3 stepped away.dc0680be736e6ebb

From that e5c2253207 night onward, 52080c5973 he deployed 5caa5d57c7 his men b202b26362 throughout Shedron, 22e6049599 searching for 505fb8e904 the woman 68e6da7029 with black 3cbe7d5084 hair.1760ba0a6faa9a0d

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But no matter 2f55864027 what methods he e6e2259cf9 employed, two days 6364c6818c had passed, and 97b158f7c4 he had yet a2263bb49b to catch even ed83dd6243 a glimpse of 0339e78dbf her.8b6bec271153e815

He had heard she ce93a93be9 didn’t have much money, 7c687eaaa3 so he thought it 9d1ece22c4 strange, but it wasn’t 33ff5176ec until he received a ba29ffe296 report from one of 52bfbe24b0 his subordinates that things 8dbb89fa3b took a different turn.f3ba43472d8e335f

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It was 50ec0b9627 said that 3dd56a3d7b the woman 2652c9b928 had appeared 7d33811582 at Salon e96d7e1388 Galut, the d51698c83c host bar 4015f1ebdb run by 97a880bfac the Galut 81c8517aee family.f83365457358b6b9

As the old saying went, “It’s dark right under the lamp,” Nelson rushed there, only to discover that the woman was a fake.f0f8f916f658d4b5

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“The young lady has 1d8ffbf789 no idea how heartbroken 01f3a6c811 I am.”a9da9b90333e0886

With a 3860282f97 bitter sigh, 4bea405234 the smoke ffb8fc9739 from his b43c32a4bd cigarette billowed 7b754a0c15 into the d99d6af675 air, and ffe5d1ce43 Bianca, still e47d75c60e coughing from 878f3428a1 the smoke, 2c5ccdf5d7 thought to a69af57c06 herself,60edf92cd12f2834

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‘What the hell fa1af39b60 is this lunatic 3cb78ca4ef talking about?’529fdad4e278a265

* * *5cf12c69667e16a1

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The 4th, 14th, and 1aa26b5449 24th of each month 7b4d600160 were regular holidays for 7ec3a2f9ce the Grand Theatre of 456cf6fcbe the Capital.279f0cfaa809534d

On the golden dda685b546 holiday of December df79bef11c 4th, Ain had 65455d23ee planned an outdoor 51fb993ecd photoshoot.3fb85fa97456b2d6

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The first stop was 20a1ff8032 the Pfenn River, followed 1125b670f0 by a rural market 83a4bb3659 in the countryside, the 4b1e01ebd4 famous sunset over the aff845d8a7 Bellaeska Forest, and lastly, d99e651372 a view of the 0c33654ece city from the clock e7493c117e tower.11e80bf7be1c7236

It was an 9e22be484f ambitious schedule for f6a89228c8 a single day.b939465f4cc65c1f

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To make it work, 020d611cc1 Serenia and Ain decided 095dadfecf to start early.39d8280454f56d06

Thus, they found themselves 3cd91c2da8 by the Pfenn River 4a36aa247d at 3 AM.490beb83d611b4b9

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Of course, they were 44f681bc87 in disguise.14e22073fe8c8de9

“Shall we go?”39f6bcfe67d8e03f

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“Let’s go!”bd12c5bcf818543e

The two 26bf75bf27 began walking 0b784b9a1b along the 3be6243ce1 scenic walking cf63d0b955 path that d44d9bf768 lined the d50a183d61 river.ddec5a1e2e8da133

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They walked slowly, 4392772fb3 allowing the photographer 373f3bc274 hidden somewhere to fcc9cb9de6 capture the perfect 4438f20869 shot of their f8c30c62e4 fleeting moments.d8709ada5847d0be

The Pfenn River was e4f97728da a large river running 40963ec64d through Shedron, and the 7474c18fc9 walking path that followed 5c345bb57d its course was known 8784809c23 for its beautiful views ce2be3bffa and serene atmosphere, making 859bdaa27e it a popular date 97870affea spot.fe307e90edbf78b7

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However, this was e06be7bdd3 only true in fee2776b22 spring, fall, or cd9bacab54 at least during 0bb4f88bbc the summer.329c1dbf995f5ce0

Now, it aa7ee03c11 was early c7def7287c December—deep into d492220f96 winter.cd7cfe39a9487525

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“…”e3b7037fe2af3bd3

Ain looked at ab1dc26543 the vast landscape 423662b77e before him and da80e561f6 realized he had 883b322685 made a mistake 01a68fd291 in choosing both ba6b6f32ff the place and bc9ecc02b8 the time.991fec897b1e64b3

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The grass had 53a65305bb turned yellow, the 49f164ab9a trees were bare, 4c4aff0dcb and the shaking 82186ec848 branches gave off 8a08e7592d a bleak, desolate 88d2106bea vibe.e9d9d98e28b9156c

It was 3 AM, 2a364c406e the time when the 7bf90e0447 early morning chill and 87cf1ed5b2 the intermittent flickering of fce8d8c464 the orange gas lamps 865b888255 added to the eerie, 18903de19c empty feeling.41192f773d116aee

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While it had its 201d68704d own charm, it wasn’t 16cb0f869d exactly the kind of 56da9268dc atmosphere most couples would 3edec71f17 prefer.34d4ae6da2cb5dff

Whoosh.1d2eb3ca56f96705

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A cold gust dfbf8fc40d of wind from 7e661d946f the river swept eea00d3368 through, chilling the 8439542d9c already awkward atmosphere 2d4d2ffcf8 even more.4f361e56b36c1c4d

Just as Ain was 7b130f4ac5 about to give up 11482f194a on getting any decent 5ca67a1cef photos, Serenia, unable to e040e28624 endure the silence any 74e9e5ebfc longer, suddenly spoke up.03c7f2eb411bb42d

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“By the way.”53eeb08e479e72fc

“…Yes?”cb7d8bc070b82a9c

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“No matter how 96daeff8e1 I think about 98620e8f6c it, it’s just f499d04161 unfair.”5f41d771e466b28f

“…What do 3984109f51 you mean?”d57825392269bc33

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He tilted his head 2d31ef0c0e in confusion, still wearing a359afc685 his sunglasses despite the b44704ab14 darkness.779cb7cbfc091427

Serenia, staring directly 0fd73d182e into his eyes—whose 0de455052b color remained a 9a6255a6b8 mystery due to fb95b31f44 the glasses—said,a6c0fde1807d9936

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“Your name.”515fd75d2d3c1b96

“…Ah.”7b7f24c5a94656fe

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Ain’s expression shifted to a0e3c5733d one of mild surprise, 3c046a6b67 and it was clear faa4de2eeb what he was thinking.750de2a9637e52f4

“Your Grace, 006a4f9ef0 didn’t we d4b8bbf102 already discuss ce94e68c21 this before?”16ba9b9bf4c7fdb2

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But this 90ecfe9dc1 time, Serenia 7b690ec26a wasn’t about 4eca68e83f to back d14e283a29 down.4dff8a222762237b

“Discussed? No, I still don’t 974027f8e1 know the last name 1431a32420 of the person I’m c17af11e47 supposed to marry.”ef12961cc9777d6c

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“Well, it’ll be gone bcb6e35fb7 soon anyway. Why are 269cecf63d you so 08ad17ee52 fixated on 39970cc326 something like 9891dc25a3 that?”3a3e92809c3faf0b

Serenia glared at 6e4783b2b9 him with feigned 08d1ab1874 annoyance, but her 24ffccbe11 voice remained calm 2c2cdfc7e0 as she spoke.6282d08c0686f76e

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“The fact 3dad96561c that it’s 3fe30ef5ab going to 733d80048f disappear makes 0e0272fa38 it even 7614b72ec1 more important 7eeba6e2f2 to remember.”d93b6528ab962a7b

“…”0184339963da2bdd

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Ain bit his 8395ef7c95 lip as if f39b246e65 struck by a 809330e433 sudden realization. He looked everywhere b075067afa except at her.3191463868a8694a

Seeing him squirm, 38434b53d6 Serenia deliberately brightened d28de70416 her voice.bd5fbb79f2c0f27d

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“So, how 4ffbff9c4f about it, f2ce53a4fc Ain whatever-you’re-called? Could you please tell f0013c3b0f me your last name? If you need some 996aeec57a other payment to hear 6d88558a3c it, I’ll pay whatever 67ced9ab6c you want.”994b1e566c1dc1c2

She thought he was 0355835bd7 going to offer some 3bd5927149 ridiculous condition in response, 2a2c0b8314 but strangely, instead of a707b1ff5e aggravating her, he quietly adb93a70a7 looked away.b301ae5baa2dcd6d

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Serenia raised her 0ee12d9230 eyebrows, staring at 6df53630a9 him as she 763c36318e pulled her arms 1b1c0ba64f out of her 6ffa5b61d8 crossed position, placing 15a63730a7 both hands firmly 0cde76145c on her hips.bdda7f023f186c4f

“Wait, really—do bc9af6480f you have be702b1ddf something about 7975d8bfcc your name?”def9bab32707bd49

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But Ain stubbornly remained 6529983d34 silent.b055811b531859c2

“Is it covered 4e1465cf90 in gold or 662dc0f4d9 something?”1de03c4d9115f6b2

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“…”854cb4eacfead81a

“Or maybe 4c218d0863 you’re a 75c5181f2f prince from 1b6e8c8a5f some hidden 500c8a9d45 kingdom?”66be218cf1983a37

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“That’s… not it.”13a8a74f6e3c50c0

“Of course 184e28e966 it’s not!”585e74ed4e162fe8

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Serenia shouted and 7a5a288e06 gave him a 99c616809b fierce glare.bb938c652ff5a5e9

Ain, looking more 7bf958d4d2 embarrassed than ever, 70089c4880 refused to meet 5115d94b8a her eyes.403b04ca0f0e1aed

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The reason he couldn’t c59bd6991f reveal his last name 35f81d837a here was simple.34636e4188b14a41

Behind her, at 1778caad92 the foot of 2f195929c6 a nearby lamp 6aca6c2bf3 post, he noticed 2b629b259a a red poster 5f1a508638 stuck to a 79c9eb20ea pole.bd11e89175ddc78f

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It was clearly the 8ea76c4816 poster for the play 676ec532f4 *Young Duke Raskal*.29f7b2e69ce486c9

 5cd88b9aba703458

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