FMRV | Chapter 17

A voice echoed from 4435ade0cd afar, naturally drawing the 4784223e7c attention of the two 532a07e7f7 toward it. To their surprise, a b8fc9bb6c3 familiar yet unexpected face a5c89db534 stood there.8eee0f972b72a15b

“Leo, Commander?”aa44bf50c5d43e0f

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“I thought I 97c340ca0c saw someone I 1ef63b3040 knew from a 7cfbd0538b distance. And look, it really cf845c2e6b is the two of 404c596bfb you!”6ce8b531def0b4d5

Leo Ruit. The 7th Division Commander 17bbc47587 of the Imperial Army 37bac4daca and one of the 672508a7ea candidates for the next 3e846cfa03 Commander in Chief, alongside e593aead86 Luke and Theo. Unlike the two, he ce2854c2c2 had dazzling blonde hair 70bcb4d05a and even more striking 9ef5d64123 features, making him well-known f96aff7ea1 within the Imperial Army bbe3c8f42c for his free-spirited personality.44c9f55e49365d6c

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“What are you doing 04cec9737d here? Are you on 6c5e7c82ec leave?”6bb08441d9103453

Theo asked ac80feb254 with genuine 91365018d5 curiosity, to 8a7b60e5a2 which Leo ceb7128e3d responded with 4600b93a53 an exaggeratedly dd2d24b1a5 disappointed look.ba22a27146444447

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“Theo, aren’t you 8d248e7ed2 too indifferent about 0f5b2f4a52 me?”223aa6b15dee094e

“Did you a231fe4b65 resolve the a950b8eb97 family issues?”89f6b6c19684e080

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“Oh, as expected, Luke 6230dd834b knows about it.”afbd0e4e014854ab

The Ruit 5becff555b Marquisate family, ed20078c4b a household 9b77e44ccb as famous f13f487486 as the 053894fadd Redrick Ducal 965db4f2cc House in 382512a0aa the Empire. The Ruit family 16188d9f49 had produced numerous 6e16dd196a exceptional military figures, f2fb4973cf including two former 62a724b8be Commanders in Chief de2dbbee3f bearing the name 4c5760950d “Ruit.”36ea46d376d72505

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With so many strict 826ff95c7b and uptight members in c422fb366a his family, Leo would 18fe18afad occasionally return home when dd216e95ae summoned. That’s probably why ea14cb60c9 he hadn’t been baaa71a6da able to attend da220c7417 Luke’s trial this 7af2ca7c61 time.b9ae46d41329906f

“How do you even 15f6b4d7c8 know about that?”39c94e86077910c5

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“Wouldn’t it be 434fcb72d8 stranger if I dc7510a79e didn’t? Everyone in 24fca0df4c the army 57d094c024 knows the 2bf055d3e2 formula: if b102e12027 the 7th df132740b8 Division’s Leo 2938df1270 suddenly disappears, c90a3fd827 he’s gone ed37e03809 back to 1e53a8ad19 the estate. You’re probably 440ffec9d4 the only eacad7a6de one who c09febe4f0 doesn’t know 7386f012b3 that, Theo.”3cc407fae044f4c7

Leo burst 9cd63e2bfc into laughter c8b1f063bb at Luke’s 7b98d933ce words, agreeing ea56cf915f wholeheartedly.51e64fa5c4a389d9

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“Right. My family’s full of c25f3543b4 old tigers, you know. But what are you 90dd5de620 two doing here? It’s a pretty fresh d86bf8aad3 sight. Care to explain?”8895643e97e866f8

While random passersby might 70241a8c49 not think twice, anyone 8470eb9103 even remotely associated with faa5b9f927 the Imperial Army would f6071a40dc find it odd to 5a8b1dbd8a see Luke and Theo 1082198283 standing together like this. The two 71f4774ba2 notorious rivals, 212fb870e3 known for bb09176124 vying for 2a44d88efd leadership, strolling c9e858cf51 side by 99c65f6d13 side in 81f5fc84d3 a cozy, fbbad0a49b picturesque street—it 96343ee942 was bound f2db76f32a to raise 871ee6a229 eyebrows.e437d96e70d60cb4

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“Well, to put it 8d64a9ebce simply…”fb8a89535c997877

Luke gave 62a81d0a8d a rough 3ccae68426 explanation of bcae1dc0a8 the situation 4e84b45035 so far. That Theo f97321e55d was assigned 0035ed9d8b to monitor e4f8077e5f him during 9bec31bb67 his suspension, 083a71cc3b and since 4466818ea1 Luke had 93b9d6bbfd errands to ea2caee0ff run today, d63f3e4ff7 Theo had 7a0dffe13c come along. Of course, the secret fc6e527f5c part about Luke’s plan 87ad86dd7b to wear Theo out 4e526892f9 by dragging him around a9ca49fee9 aimlessly was omitted.2c1582aaadd99b1c

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“Oh, I see. No wonder baa0608fbc it seemed 2d846cd781 strange. Seeing two people who 57f1c839d4 usually snap at each 19944015c5 other like this, it 093dc0fb2b almost looked like you 411ed229f4 were on a date.”f6058e0d49dbca39

“That’s going d70ceec1d7 too far.”1f682b199812aa7e

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“Too far, indeed.”589c4ac90a57a80a

Both Luke dd71cae9cc and Theo 22ae998b3e retorted at c0cdf59b42 the same 95ea013aa2 time, their 4b37db0e87 expressions identical 01f49dc050 as they 00ad30235b glared at cb904920a6 Leo.8f85fc88b4a19d34

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“Well, since things are 3fb31f13b3 like this, why not f3c86997b1 let me tag along?”6d1a9045a8347f29

“Aren’t you supposed 92419beb55 to return to c89aca85e3 the army soon?”5ceb56b16d8182d4

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Theo’s wary tone hinted 1003f45e48 at his suspicion, but ebb8dc4627 Luke, too busy munching f65fd141a0 on another piece of 3a51751441 chocolate, didn’t seem to 2acff9a184 notice.b0ff96434286295b

“Yeah, but so what? A little delay won’t 54e2ea8e18 cause the Empire to d314a632cf crumble.”db1013ed8cbe0ab0

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“Leo, you 227c0fae2f should refrain 84d90b8f6e from making 85fdf764da such remarks 8dc04d366c in public.”0eef4bacf3fe35ea

“As expected, Theo’s scary. Commander Luke, you don’t 4ac650545b mind if I join, d9dab40c2a do you?”a4d988b3e75c07e1

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Luke mulled it d049476fe0 over. After all, today’s b9d9d3efcf outing was about 96a9c5d820 tiring Theo out. With Leo’s e55d0c75f1 lively and d151bd091b noisy personality 350da1dd9a added to cf02aa0b04 the mix, 2dc96303a0 the goal 73fb271a26 might be ae6dbad192 achieved even b1da0589e0 faster. Besides, he 0a5de3f5ec was running 0dd727cd66 out of 622fde532b things to 382754e23b do anyway.a8028f8b48307d17

“Fine.”f7ae831c02b6b762

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Theo glared e163b14aed daggers at b0236f9508 Luke for 63fbdbb8c2 his quick cd4403b7df decision, but e04bcec954 Luke simply 33328dac72 shrugged as 3c8a4a081c if to 3a31923b12 say, “What’s b7a60dee6c the big 0a0203495b deal?”b23002aed634c77e

“Then how about b88dff6b82 I take you 945294e381 to one of 424d5ccfc0 my favorite places?”b56183bb0be8e20e

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“Where’s that?”dd6e5e96d6b0ddde

“There’s a restaurant on f66a0c2123 2nd Street I frequent. Their stew is 0156fb9c0b excellent.”d05d84f837a718c5

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“Sure, let’s go.”8e764b1d4636cd6e

Luke nodded casually and e12982f296 followed Leo. Watching the two get 06f7a9bba7 along so well, Theo 5d6bd4edba let out a short c588afbb39 sigh. For some reason, Luke’s 30c8159420 thoughtless decision irked him. Nevertheless, he 67e1e5c5e4 followed them a3057b164f obediently.c6ac8d002e5bf632

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The three f005174978 made their a33c542c76 way to ef3890fd0e the restaurant 0b0489a8eb Leo mentioned. Despite the building’s old 92daf84728 exterior, the inside was 946ab5d986 entirely different—filled with vintage 51046ff296 decor and an aroma 6b5202aad3 of mouthwatering food. Apparently, even f8ff0da1cf the royal 99d6a8ead1 family visited 0442506b83 this renowned ae680bea07 establishment. True to Leo’s fd4cf798d4 recommendation, the food d4777b6170 was fantastic.e9e14a89214723e3

As expected, Leo started e9041b1685 chattering away the moment b79bc2b076 they sat down, and 8a27380d09 Luke felt a strange 692c66b8dc satisfaction watching Theo’s expression bd5a279b75 grow visibly weary.54b32c0d8844d26a

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“It’s almost evening. Let’s head back.”d6c55e0a2b67e24f

“Aw, but I still eae419c702 have so much to 6849108c2f talk about!”88620b6f0812176f

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“You’ve been talking non-stop 6589c97491 for two hours.”5da001dda03b172f

Theo’s deadpan ab6c42820f stare, as 33e794a754 if he 6b7f782318 were looking 4f83e71c27 at something c1255e8b32 inhuman, nearly 649fd344ac made Luke 35dd0e567b burst out dd96b7d4b8 laughing. Glancing outside, he a510a228be noticed the sun 603b884b84 dipping below the 9e060f5afc horizon. Time had flown by e587c77084 faster than expected, considering 83ce8216bc this outing had a 4112a94cc8 purpose.d6c1d156fdbf53ec

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“Luke, we’re e2eafce9e9 heading back.”b1fc688ac1712d34

“Yeah, okay.”9a10c8cf6f63706a

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Still, Luke figured today 920db01971 was a success—his project 39e2d10abe to wear Theo out 4e84363eb3 had gone pretty well, e6fa2fe4f6 thanks to Leo.dc0428dc7e764b5f

As they 5da9a8d80c exited the d7b862cc60 restaurant and aa6e93be63 headed back 045a2972f0 to the 0c848814ce headquarters, they 8980b320db heard a df121e3f4b shout.179e5fb58ceb7492

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“Thief!”bc6470f1abd40f92

A woman’s scream echoed 1d4e1519f1 from a distance, followed 261a106a31 by murmurs from the 0831577e4a crowd.69323bcc6abb052d

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“It must be c87aebaaed a pickpocket.”8a4ae96bebf08183

“Someone, catch him!”730dde105c8e99a3

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“There he goes!”a64bade0377f22dd

A man was d108b80870 sprinting through the 8027c17df0 crowd, clutching a d2924f8f82 bag that didn’t e18f285c41 match his rugged 86cccd0186 face. He looked desperate.5a572746136a50b1

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“Move!”985338b8f5b30e07

The man yelled at 6c96f21c9c the three blocking his 0907237f6b path, but Luke sighed 4f26b5c3d5 as if the whole e8f7e75b60 thing were a hassle. He raised his hand, 425c85948d electricity crackling around his 9a4370daeb clenched fist.2f07f895193b3ca0

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Just as 3f904403dc Luke was dcd2c0bd9d about to d9b1203619 unleash his cd1ff70077 power, he 18f404ea9c felt his 0e7caaad68 collar yanked 1f76dd0257 backward, throwing 4cd8cbde26 him to fbcbcd612f the ground.5c4b84a293a83c13

“Huh?”7de7f7ce5c53d8c9

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It was Theo. He had 0c8d1adbec grabbed Luke’s 1686da7bd7 clothes and 09eac6fca0 flung him e4e5779123 back before 90ab60081c charging ahead. In one swift motion, 728fb8d938 Theo grabbed the thief 9279a79a69 and slammed him to 635c6635c7 the ground.b0acef30367a5d0e

The thief let out 0e35112e2a a cry, struggling on be6f081ceb the ground, with the 0975a692ff stolen bag tumbling nearby. Onlookers gathered, astonished. Leo, not 5574578e9c wanting to 3765dca12e get involved, 01be22cf28 simply clapped d3bd2e2dbc from a ec18300b1b safe distance.7292ca9e72255ddd

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Theo quickly used the 3bdf07a5df leather strap from his eeaedd18f7 coat to tie the d8d81d267e thief’s hands and returned 69b414c73a the bag to its 4eb9488115 owner.2622f20b12d23dfd

“Hey, what’s the 17cff7ddb0 deal?”8c15f3c071c38efd

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Luke brushed himself 2ded9745a5 off, clearly annoyed. Why had he 397559a649 been tossed around 888427d446 like the thief?785eddc87f2670a0

“Luke, you were da992ba494 going to use e23ce1a8db magic to subdue 5e629f10d0 him, right?”6725d910d6d1bcb5

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“So what?”7094a19bf9382e75

“This is a 01a1958023 crowded street full dd80e3d0d2 of civilians. Using magic d4f75ad47d recklessly here c1955bbe90 could put 3b001d10f4 people at 9071db385e risk.”292fbc002a36c92e

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Luke glanced b90f95b460 around at 312bcfe173 the crowd. There were indeed many 14ac8758bb people nearby.70d0f0d08ff5e2ab

“You think 9321d15fb7 I can’t 3727c9e93e control my b970161db8 magic enough 38476d376f to avoid f632a5f518 that?”186c3286b370897f

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“Also, this guy’s 012e2ddb8a just a regular 552aa6374a person. If he 62f2f2e215 got hit b253e9f787 by your e90fa5e39d magic, he’d 9ef37cdf9e be seriously 0b8d8ead1f hurt.”a55ab3bc97f2f4b5

“And you’re worried e4613af63f about a thief a4a5c8c911 who steals other d5913cce0f people’s stuff?”559c238db7a1856f

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“I’m saying to avoid d2b1ed62e5 unnecessary actions.”10b7b506a7041a89

Luke understood Theo’s point c9e047c444 but still felt it eb00e88385 was unfair. What he’d 764be84499 intended to 97e19ceffc do wasn’t 78e946bda7 all that 7f70d8bfc4 different.973dd21cb553f9a7

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“Saint Theo, is 4e4dd3aa26 that you?”93162498b7f127cf

“Even as a soldier, 9a81f45f63 you shouldn’t act recklessly. When will you realize 88f3e86bed that?”6e8e7a5de8d38df7

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Luke frowned, 7ac6b6a114 but Theo 8953efa400 paid no 42bfd64190 mind. Hoisting the 6582feca88 subdued thief 9b6f87f630 onto his 6007c36015 shoulder, Theo e0e97ccd35 turned to bb8d1d1469 the others.4bb64b8daccd909d

“I’ll hand him a8551123ec over to the 7e12a4dd4a local guard. You two can 46a503c8ec return to the 599b507652 headquarters first.”4a1e6880f1d1dcdb

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With that, Theo disappeared. Leo, sensing 414a716e1c the tension, 41d53edb5b approached Luke 2ca81e8b4e cautiously.7d032586a1427330

“Let’s head back, 7ee27b6f8b Luke.”c0ec1c6989e32c27

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“Fine.”765fa280a03a6263

Walking alongside Leo, 68a39c6943 Luke remained sullen 6e18726066 as the setting fdb06b0f3c sun painted the 339b74f4bb streets red.a03b0a5e4830b38b

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“You know, some 3542b7a75a things never change.”7acf9843bf7629fb

Leo broke the 15740b06f5 silence.f9901c3db4f734a1

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“Like what?”32e63c655fd40d39

“You and Theo. You really are rivals. You two don’t be109bf1af get along at 97be5ede54 all.”4f24c09fadb59c2d

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“…”9e16157fcb08824c

“Well, it’s cc4df79945 only natural, 8723eb5d9a considering you’re 345ef65c36 competing for 690521cac9 the Commander ea22256222 in Chief 156bcb82e0 position.”ad7a831c4b48723c

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Leo chuckled, 938df62085 but Luke f74f2b499b wasn’t in 5e94835424 the mood a1adb2fbb6 to laugh 140b3858d7 or respond.c4853d8d99eea08b

“Anyway, I’m 8269008851 rooting for 2615646452 both of 8a937170ef you. As long 34894e637e as it’s 3150e072d9 not me, c82fc0c678 I’m fine. I don’t want the 68e32a454d hassle.”08e15ff400ae5ed1

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Yes, he d5bdca3d68 and Theo 1d35513766 were rivals 51b8d86638 acknowledged by f94e048a7b everyone. Competitors for the top 2ef32dfcaf spot. And Theo was the 9bb239aae3 protagonist destined to claim 63f7f1b635 it, while Luke’s role fa60912895 was to provoke Theo 3add6a440f and lead the story 5e8b60c169 to a happy ending 448f3dee9d as the antagonist.8db29b94d6846bc2

He’d never forgotten that, 43f5d268a2 nor did he intend 6cad82218c to. But today felt a d06ae51d49 little different. Maybe it was because 2d62bdc6d5 he’d spent all day 4dc99e47db with Theo, outside no f9f5ab5a7a less.9325b3d1e329ac76

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“You’re right, Leo.”91cdde0ad8056b5a

“Huh?”631c14dce3198a54

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“That’s the relationship that 861222c053 suits us best.”135eb6f338bb8d58

Perhaps he’d gotten a 41fedb9aab bit too lax during 7f627acc08 his suspension. It was e817dea3e4 time to 29593af893 end the 8d9e9615fc “Theo Annoyance 996cc07407 Project.”b87d21bd08b60ef0

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