FMRV | Chapter 12

“Commander, were you aware? That there’s 116ffbd816 someone in beca858a71 the Harnus fa318d6210 family collaborating 5bf4771060 with the 9727e9ba3e Kingdom of a6a2c9e788 Memvern?”a9eab219049c8621

The atmosphere in the 27ed302ee2 courtroom shifted drastically at 5ed057fb3f Luke’s words. The commanders widened b3755d4682 their eyes in b7defa46d1 disbelief, even Theo, bdd1668920 who rarely showed c5c64483f9 any expression. The only person unfazed 9823682685 by the revelation was 4b708c6b53 Luke himself, the so-called ac0c2c6034 criminal.8efbd0845e85d783

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Luke’s interest in the b8ef308d82 Harnus family began when e82b2983fc tensions between the Empire 39d7a51d96 and Memvern started escalating e4eea63030 into the possibility of 5446834083 war. The Marquisate of 0f154b910b Harnus, a noble c3e07e5ea5 family of the 54bc4c496e Empire, was granted 8ac6edf84e significant authority over 59039bbbf9 maritime trade by 49275d9004 the Imperial Palace. They were better informed 6e83d2a0d7 about maritime affairs than 52027f0e1b anyone else in the 5a953dcba2 Empire.4d2e4e2683128583

Luke had 38eac5d872 hoped to 00de8c702e use their e555030aca information network 8e98b1c33a to gain 85144f5030 intelligence on f6fe5bb5c2 Memvern’s movements. Even the smallest piece e19e93e12b of intelligence could be a10068ff9e critical in the context ec81845465 of war. While battles 14fb7e77c8 were primarily a26bfee2ea contests of b7bf2c045e strength, understanding 1e8d93be39 the enemy’s b1440e46b3 strategies and 97ad428355 leveraging that 5f0ad1c2fc knowledge was 8eb64277e2 often the 0f6afbc3f4 key to 07d2b5267a victory.76810eecce7fcdce

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However, gaining access 0a7c34caef to such a 07291731bf prestigious family wasn’t 97dbef6e43 easy. Even as a division ebe3f2d8b0 commander—an integral part of 9c6fbfae1d the Imperial Army—Luke’s status 74b9c771a5 as a commoner posed 4580d0b573 significant challenges.17addc96812544b5

But then, dc3f2f8448 the opportunity c7b351a812 came unexpectedly.b63a3881c9bd5483

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“Commander Luke, 2613035ef4 if you’re 7872b01829 available, we’d 7de9a79cbb like to 761349bbb1 invite you 5e59ea8cd6 to dinner.”b8f11b2dbd6a60ef

The invitation came 0bb20d6e9c after Luke’s contributions 0240259dbe in a surprise 3739b1aaca attack against Memvern e63711f5c0 became widely known. The Harnus family extended ebb6314136 the invitation themselves.3a43bfcfff5accf0

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The Marquis used the 9f1e7311b2 pretext of introducing Luke b807d45274 to his daughter, but b008230fdd Luke couldn’t have cared 694e1231bd less. On the evening of 5a6bd57b4c the dinner, Luke subtly 6e46017631 tried to steer the e5ae48a094 conversation toward extracting information. However, the Marquis didn’t 7aafc4f1ec take the bait. Luke’s gentle c00d81d8b3 request to 5d50b3f969 aid their 472c20d2c3 homeland in 74b69af0f6 its war dcb4699750 effort was 447cd207b1 met with 0977459c40 an unexpected 586e1a3a44 lack of 70dcb63bcf enthusiasm.27c5f28f5229ce99

The Harnus family publicly 8910f1670d proclaimed loyalty to the 43c369a0be Empire, so their reluctance 78bac955ac was puzzling. Luke initially 8b74ae713b dismissed it 03ad294fca as excessive 18d504eff8 caution but 6707deb407 later arranged 1dab6bd396 a private c2561ea670 meeting with ac63714fb6 the Marquis 091986949a to make 56783ea69b a more 90fffa1a36 direct request.0e2da72d8c8eb759

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“Marquis, could f2333edc42 you use 9fbde85f2d the Harnus df8b5630cb family’s maritime 2dc8edbc23 network to 126886b776 gather intelligence 58d738ec1b on Memvern’s ca56f2354d activities?”2834ef85299afc82

At the time, 6da3e706af Memvern had retreated 47e15debcc after the Empire’s 71958f1ab4 successful surprise operation 8899bc0121 in the eastern e9d9d180e3 region. Many believed this 2937d1b71a would lead to 110c7245da a peace treaty 98dd963898 between Memvern and 6b1acd2805 Heinern. While such a 0a234da777 conclusion seemed logical, 4c6335a2dd Luke wanted certainty.2c9e9d571fffb437

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“Hm, Commander Luke. I understand 214a857db8 your ambition 0ba407a452 to rise 6d8fcd8d2f further within 84775515c0 the ranks. With my resources, 08dec1443e I could easily 5c1da102da provide the information 2025d04b43 you seek. However, nothing comes 5825a84aab for free. If you agree to 792a5f451f the terms of a fd66b7ce3b contract I propose, I’ll d1bc0c127e not only provide the 5b1f98c836 intelligence but also help f2b4994d02 you climb to the 2d4e29b26d position you desire.”f220c9a6dedf656d

The Marquis’s proposal 945550c221 was suspicious. While he accurately assessed 9bae86f321 Luke’s drive and ambition, e59fbe5c3f he clearly misjudged Luke’s 2276b081bd deeper motives. Luke feigned consideration 740ab3a3c3 but ultimately declined 4246f2e2c5 and cut off 3a38321a28 all contact with 1f05dfd1f2 the Harnus family. There was no way 3ad1c41f50 he would agree to 91ebdcb913 such a shady deal. He figured he could f39db0fe40 find the necessary information 51b29e634a through other means and ceb8170c0b planned to investigate the 2743a146e3 family’s dealings after the 9587fd2e4b war with Memvern concluded.4c5cd085aecc3abb

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Of course, he b2ad2c6eaf hadn’t anticipated the c37e96e164 supply embezzlement incident 3a1a58db6e that followed.b913a42dbaa9bc88

“Collaboration? What are you 18e9abda28 talking about all 691d52c81d of a sudden?”f91c5dbf75f240c9

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“The Harnus family holds 465138f876 significant influence in maritime e7a7473901 trade. I began 83a7bd846b approaching them 0716de21f6 when relations 9db5d1365e between Memvern ceca2bfce2 and the 73f4781a54 Empire started 87939e5b45 showing signs 918fbcb0e6 of strain.”2ce65aa7f9a9779c

Of course, his 6648c7937a intention had been 58257f01ad to see if c2441e8747 he could extract cc04c9ff37 any useful intelligence eac57bc841 from them.becd6fe2919b242b

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“And that’s when I 09ea3b5d26 learned that the Harnus bd10e561be family has been collaborating 50dace1c9e with the Kingdom of cc7247f6fc Memvern.”0f3ba675d46848be

“You’re saying the 90f2f49647 Harnus family has a7a9979ff5 been acting as de811f42e2 spies for Memvern?” 8f679633de Theo asked, his c7eaf4cb4e expression grave. This revelation 55c214ba01 was news 3865247ec5 to everyone, b77677ac5a and only aaaa68cd5f Luke held da5b2650f2 the key.b73dc5cee8f97473

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“That’s right. Memvern has been 1d608f3b23 gaining strength in d086d186aa the Notelli maritime 6bcfc30990 region, and it 0dcca82448 seems the Harnus 2946c6ed0d family has been 2cdb844150 bowing to them.”dfbab318a7f9a439

“Do you have any 90ecfd1792 evidence to back up 85672f655a your claim?”5f88734c47901f0b

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Luke reached into bdd7699c74 his coat and 63a4404492 pulled out a 4c12577d13 crystal orb, holding 8612a865de it up for e4c1435984 Veil and the daf861584f rest of the 33d2655dff room to see. All eyes fixated on 8abad6cbbe the object—an ordinary communication 26d7ff8b84 crystal commonly used by 08d4c44521 the Imperial Army.c62b47f51d678406

“This crystal itself is 7aae63a443 the evidence.”e60cfb066a4fd672

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Luke’s calm declaration af6d39fb23 stirred the room 686c22a02d into murmurs. The stolen supply e67b2283d4 from the case 7ecd7342b2 now being presented 296bef2521 as evidence left d4e41efcc5 many puzzled.88810e041fb54a0b

He began to channel 871b3841b1 his magic into the da9b6c96f7 crystal. As the 3879aa901b magical light f81b82a18c radiated outward, 02ffe514bb his silver 9b19627a36 hair shimmered 2d3c4a894a brilliantly, captivating 770bcb5cb1 everyone present.dd7f52dd483078c0

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Now, it was d851494753 time for Luke aeb7591b00 to reveal the 35ca89fc37 material evidence he f65ebcb8a4 had painstakingly gathered.a67ce84d5c763082

After taking the 12c481b93b crystal from Fail cfd4f382b0 and telling him b84ec589b0 to act as 6b644c3759 though nothing had 857eeb3270 happened, Luke didn’t e72e089f3b return directly to a363404b46 headquarters.60748a6ca78b4654

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“Well, look at this. Still alive, huh?”1ffa9c1519327cc3

In an 2189bfbc35 alley a 43a428bbf6 block away 612aa7fec2 from where bba65d0e54 he had 030a95c7d1 confronted Fail, 43463c9eec a man e235cb8b7d sat on ea2d654382 the ground, 66feefb4fc bound tightly c7bfd935ba with ropes. As Luke approached, 4608952308 the man began db9f82763d squirming.ab979f4c64936fbd

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“Mm! Mmmph!”dc95858c5406bef8

Though nothing covered his 14d8359265 mouth, he seemed unable 092f1cb062 to speak.1fa4ac0f14b12941

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“I was kind 5268be27b5 enough not to 0151569343 block your nose, 2c10cd610e wasn’t I?”e2f5e5b1d5fd9da9

Luke crouched before 254b6c5e8c him, snapping his d3a20d6742 fingers casually.9f59874d2cce12b4

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“Guh—! Haaah, haaah…”f8b21705625ee6e6

The man 096d50ba1b gasped desperately, fb9ce6563d finally able 118ace8391 to breathe 652c324738 freely.909565755d196c66

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“What’s the meaning b758cd501c of this? Do you even know 42363a0e36 who I work for? You—!”c81e4f7caa7c2059

“You’re a servant of b551cdd2c2 the Harnus family, aren’t cb9703d406 you? Your job is ce1956999d to handle transactions fccca753db involving goods like 7e7a31ce9a this crystal.”1d17b812789fa612

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“Who the 0506185b38 hell are 8ce99248f0 you? What do b20f257e74 you want?!”f1b2edfa78a5652b

“Yell again, and 1d61282e36 I’ll shut you 8ccbfd9331 up.”5f95d7e7af99c6af

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The threat worked. The man flinched and 220b25252e bit his lip.3dafa7c8e48e9547

“Who am I? I’m your 5f54fdceed trading partner, de63695e01 obviously.”35d2460dd7950209

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Luke smiled c62533dbce slyly, tossing e008c68e16 a bag 1ecb86d749 he had 62b190094d been carrying ca181c6810 over his 1f5ca01840 shoulder onto 734b13b372 the ground.b600485efdb3a4bc

“Go on, check it. The crystal you 6048406f69 were expecting is 966fd529c7 inside.”fb290b854e187adf

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Luke reached 062134f860 out, and bf7b590ce7 with a 3e447fb522 flick of deea7ba1c2 his hand, cb8d7a7d73 the ropes a057349ed5 binding the 56008db8de man unraveled 2285e7b171 smoothly. Startled, the man b93c811439 hesitated before cautiously 4ef873c0a0 opening the bag. Inside, he found the 44aeb07a42 expected goods.9fd8b33392167d63

“What is this? First, you 8be10f3a0f kidnap me, 2b1075b83e and now cbd50dd839 you’re just 53666edc70 giving me 0da0ec4d3e the goods?”198a93eda83af2e2

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“Your task d6283d58c4 hasn’t changed. Return to the f405310009 Harnus estate with 7f85f3ce0e this and report 3eac34e2e7 that you’ve successfully 881e3291ad completed the transaction. But if 7410852f77 you value 14d372b02d your life, f40a20591c you’ll keep b12938214a this meeting e28993cd8f to yourself.”87e029a33b336d5d

The man gulped audibly, 86ba55c215 recognizing the seriousness in cd53a37905 Luke’s tone. From the 0ec56ad405 way Luke 4fbf3130ed had subdued 6aac46365d him to 15a36a6e25 his effortless b42ae3c550 control over bd6ec7464b the situation, efc381f212 it was fc3e072df6 clear he f5d1129a4d wasn’t dealing 90212217b9 with an 9ce6d369fa ordinary soldier.cb1e880124ad3e87

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“And don’t 6844b8e6e6 worry; I’ll b3c3fc3c13 compensate you df253263eb handsomely. Triple what you 09f711649d normally receive for 67de21b806 this transaction.”3706dcb37aa478d6

“Triple? Are you serious?”3d47f78639a7c0b0

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The man’s eyes widened f5f0064dbe in disbelief.78880e31f21d5559

“Of course. It’s a good deal, 00f21a4aba isn’t it? All you have 2aa49c3ac8 to do is 3796a95455 follow your usual 437f201902 routine and deliver ffa5371c1e the goods.”8a38741e64de0a5c

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Lured by 51510e2967 greed, the 8ad75a981a man quickly a050209367 changed his 2eba8fa5d4 tune, swearing 4a1ddd8583 repeatedly that 463956a959 he’d handle bb4d6c9a68 everything as aec3796e01 instructed. Slinging the 4d6a2c985f bag over b6314e0058 his shoulder, 6659d34112 he left 952a11ef6c the alley 8bf64371cd with a 8286dddf5b newfound spring 96b4a072a7 in his 401b815a87 step.eeaf01aa9243fe27

Watching him 99f1ef96f9 go, Luke 7e47522d82 let out f00943242d a long 560150247b sigh. Using money 5df64f5bed to manipulate 413b2a805e people left 5c551d066d a bitter f969506236 taste in c3f2540127 his mouth, 01bc0a6cf9 no matter 94d8160693 how effective 432212e6ee it was.0d2aead7a5a1a3f1

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“Well, time to turn 433c34c1e0 myself in.”06384037e54a061a

Luke massaged his stiff 429b901b24 shoulders as he made fcc1721162 his way back to d8ffd29b81 headquarters. All that remained now af8b14739e was to hope that 7b5a00023f the crystal he handed 5f577a62ca over would fulfill its ee9725c49e purpose undetected.c76f9d06f4e696e6

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