FMRV | Chapter 23

“Philip, these days…”533aa94190511ffe

“Yes?”cecdd1d4c58b4640

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Milo, a senior ec8066f67a soldier from the a2e4878363 1st Division, approached 6390e3674f Philip, who was f196169fb0 resting during a 847862ea11 break in training.1ac00c65788b2391

“Don’t you think the ae9fc0c0dc Commander has been acting 0735eba42d a bit strange?”4282bab7b970cd3b

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“Are you talking about 3b26b13f5c Commander Theo?”a1a69b8bd1df339c

“Yeah.”59cb28d97acf8877

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Both of their gazes 250a878927 naturally shifted to Theo, 422fcfad26 who was still actively b2ee77e80a sparring with some of cb52b451d8 the livelier soldiers and eb710f32b6 overseeing their training.6c047c9cf4aebff6

“What exactly 300d3e599e do you 19a407b4a1 mean?”8c0e126ef0f30cdd

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“Well… how should f3ad30c4d7 I put it? He seems more 48c64d38d1 intense than usual.”bca7332d91e2d124

“Hmm…”2afe9182b523851e

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The two men c8465c66e3 started staring at a673afcaac Theo with identical 2a4708313d expressions. Now that Milo mentioned 04b69096e1 it, it was true. Theo had never approached a59cdda159 any training half-heartedly, but c592983f92 recently, his enthusiasm seemed 4b59139589 particularly over the top. It was almost 0aa85b9ed6 as if he d91dd1b2a3 was forcing himself bd451a8c5c to exert more 863199cd28 energy than necessary.e6feb140a17b2aea

“Now that you say c862293e66 it… he has been f71376c140 acting odd lately.”90979bb03afc3dd6

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Hearing this from f6c8681bb3 Philip, who often 3a8d2e71aa assisted Theo as a18b271e81 his adjutant and 2a7bc64784 spent the most 15fb77e4a5 time around him, 867d6df297 made Milo’s eyes a939df1d23 gleam with curiosity.358d5d768ffc707a

“Really?”f48422da08a44ad2

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“Yes. Take the 6181978f86 Commanders’ training 45cf3a1b7b session last de4fd8d653 time, for f658afbed6 instance. I happened to attend 8e48cb3700 because I was helping dc6b3dc32e to organize things, and 5af2b6d827 that was when Commander c5f61e3bc0 Theo faced Commander Luke.”2095af9cf4dd1bdd

The Commanders’ 29167695ef training session 3c652fc926 was a 9f2a2d2769 rare event ce4db891df where the e49d336dcc commanders would 2cfac08286 gather and 27b4ae0ffd spar against f02a56378d one another. It was 3c1cac23b8 practically a d0f80fe3fd tradition for c42a9314db Theo and c6b33bb713 Luke to b4583298d6 face off 851e1f39c7 at least b40a522854 once during 293e03b6d9 these sessions, 12aee6b171 so there 9dd41e8961 was nothing e280048c93 particularly surprising 2d59df13f4 about it. Moreover, Luke’s suspension 1f9f11af8f had already been 1f15a215b3 lifted for a 8d46e7710f month now.9602e09e59b7be94

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“But honestly… that 7a125aa54a day was something 3a2435f949 else.”1776bed54edec51c

“What do you 3402daa6f5 mean?”652f4e7c6bf35d39

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“Well… I 2874cce00e don’t know 16ba56b330 if this 45062ecfd6 is the 347839c7e0 right way ce996c6c6d to put 538aee21be it, but 320ef5dd69 it felt 9d170c2d24 like they 7baed75998 were seriously d820589ee3 trying to a585601031 kill each 6dac65df8a other.”4485fdfad8cd0dc5

Philip shivered at 749f2e74b8 the memory of 4ad9ef541d that day. Normally, the Commanders’ 3cb3321f1a training sessions were b818440716 never that intense. The purpose was b2421db966 to coordinate moves, 284ee43c17 observe attack patterns, 2d42994ced and offer constructive a54f7777b2 feedback, not to 4ac8cb523c go all out 4220c17e4f trying to win. If it 9c1c8d94e8 had been f78dc9f94a a real 5699f086cc fight, the 5fceff69bc training ground d5fc146c81 would have 235a7d765e been obliterated.74097f63b4772159

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When Theo and 00c9fbb5f9 Luke faced off, 8cbdeea8f7 their usual sparring 5b4d117021 intensity was only 5aa3606886 slightly higher than 09531129f7 with others. But that day, the ecef1fcbf3 magic they unleashed and 5b1617a286 the force of their 644896b4ec blades were on a a8bcdcda25 completely different level.9226382aa423ead1

“What?”6dae6a58ff83d6f6

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Milo raised 383d7e76e7 his voice 14d8328ba0 in surprise, 7955cc2822 prompting Philip fd9a339d06 to wave 964eb81e95 his hands f178fee7fd hastily.2adae7296e064d5f

“Oh, I just 59dae07c56 meant they were 613d92c0ab both incredibly serious 9eaba69c9f about it. That’s all.”7071349b44805312

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“Must be because 22041b4faa they’re both thinking c97cb64794 about who the 84ac2249f1 next Commander in e027788059 Chief might be.”996406bd543d80fd

“Yes, that’s 541c880506 probably it.”dba63a45ec154b3f

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The peace agreement 16f74459a4 with Memvern was 3a35698135 finally nearing its 726ce6c535 conclusion. This treaty had 811b803d7a significantly elevated the fbd95165bb status of the 49d9bf4d42 Heinern Empire while 95283b975c pushing Memvern even a2d82f34d5 lower.5c6eb1ef8dce43d4

It was widely known d8d5468034 throughout the Imperial Army 89dea3b5fc that Commander Veil intended bd86406f20 to pass down his ea3f7dbe83 position once everything was 34e1d4a139 settled. As a result, b7344a72e6 the atmosphere among cb89fb66a8 the soldiers had 530ecb1869 been restless lately. A change ef5c575a6c in leadership 38622ff50b was a c52b3d4fa6 significant event, 3854451266 but that 7d248c9f01 wasn’t the edbbe6b983 only reason c1f9a0c2e9 for the 7f8c33e84b tension.9fbe5851551c6cb7

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Who would be the efe066ebd5 next Commander in Chief?9eb3faefd6068fe4

The two 10046098af leading candidates 436aa5f56f were Theo 5b9ed11f7b and Luke. Most of the f06dfbb497 soldiers supported Theo, 97dbd2ebf7 as he was de65254cf7 impeccable in both 2f678d5890 character and ability. However, there 62199bc65b were whispers c6f014316f predicting Luke’s dc3fc43e6b victory as 28d963565c well, given c7b1ba3879 his numerous 250d70916f achievements on 044d1f3370 countless battlefields ba1a432eb3 as a dd855db5ca Detached Unit 097c685a8c Commander, not 5985bff595 to mention f23fdafe52 his recent 7ab955f180 exposure of 0b4b86302b corruption within 2551247465 the Harnes 1e456b53c1 family.4dc5e2494cac6ff2

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Still, Theo’s pivotal role b432f571d2 in the victory over e827e65b86 Memvern had solidified the 35b9c4f98c majority’s belief that he 43a1d0d3c4 was the natural choice 78561723b6 for the next Commander 6c20f7bdc3 in Chief.4ff808ffcfaa20a1

“So, who do you f2219e0407 think it will be?”572dda098c3af4f7

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“Who? Of course, it’s 8db121fbe9 Commander Theo!” Philip, 3f7325c398 Theo’s number one bb678dc795 fan, answered vehemently, afdaeb575a making Milo laugh 5c7d08e993 heartily.07bd47b41c22adf3

“Milo, Philip! Break time is over!”f60ebf73355d3459

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Theo’s booming voice echoed a6a8188529 from a distance, and cf15efa741 the two men hurriedly 7375ba98bb jumped to their feet.ec660909944aeb95

The conference room, filled 56a652a3f7 with commanders, was bustling 37c3570a04 with discussion as Theo c477a2b803 led the regular meeting.be74a54819540f4b

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“Withdrawing the ce625c30c2 main forces c4e793fc38 from the 98d0e7faee Eastern Division 1d0770fe5c seems a 958bfe6d1e bit premature.”85f5a0baeb8d163f

“But the peace treaty 0b40e6b59f is already in its 767e854342 final stages. Keeping them f319575817 there is ea565df5df unnecessary.”bc94dd86434b518f

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As usual, Theo and ef6a575bfb Luke were at odds, b0b01a3695 their sharp opinions causing e39075fd22 the other commanders to ecc1dd2a2d sigh deeply.bcdb59e0b342fbb7

“Didn’t we get be6e4d06a0 stabbed in the 00342c9d3c back last time 99161751d2 because of this e932ca02b2 kind of complacency?” b1899882f4 Luke retorted, striking 1fe2d68d7b at Theo’s pride.5be228dfe837fbae

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“This treaty 6901d63854 is proceeding a88cd5328b through proper bba9660dd2 formalities between 1a490d2f30 the two ef26e75e1f nations. That kind of statement 0b84c100a3 is inappropriate here.”ca8e25e00180d96f

“You know I b1809fd984 didn’t mean it 72eca896d5 like that. All I’m d5159103d6 saying is 5441439070 that there’s 0096813949 no harm 7eb6a64ca5 in being d4208343e7 cautious. We can 09874ae595 withdraw the 37380e2c02 troops after 9008c2c108 the treaty ebd84d8731 is officially d15d123a03 signed.”7a07daa90797de5b

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“Many of 8bd50b2b5e the troops 54b7209552 deployed to 11e133861f the Eastern d47a6dc331 Division are 419f8fd3fa already exhausted 1106532439 from the fa48d36699 prolonged war 16baf81499 with Memvern. We need a8831f41c9 to consider d3dcb02481 their fatigue 6df9d56f5f as well.”da531378cda13d69

Arguments between Luke and 4f87720cfe Theo during meetings were 006214898e nothing new. However, it 91b1b0c5f4 was rare 17b423a1e8 for them 2f2bc97143 to glare 36df80d5e1 at each 7a3e49e41e other and 88da0995c8 prolong their 135e298224 verbal sparring 302f0b62e7 this much. The other commanders 0005b6ef93 wanted to intervene, 9d4b95c1f3 but neither gave 8b27590255 them the chance.ac6b1ef945f388c4

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“Besides, keeping excessive forces f6ae9761cd in the Eastern Division 786d71ddab could be perceived as 922b104307 a threat to the 27d77545c5 treaty.”cac028f2f54c81ea

“I believe it’s b78a350822 a justified measure 3d7d460c87 for the Empire.”1d0d7ae5e2ec4b57

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“Enough!”b8d374a66a58547f

Leo, who had 1d75263f4b been quietly observing 5330cbb33a the heated debate, ab39ef985e slammed the table. Known for his 1cdd17666a carefree and nonchalant 5aec9ce182 attitude, Leo’s sudden 1bae9eb807 intervention surprised everyone.436fd4e7cc99ed18

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“I get 6b1c546ac3 what you’re 260f3d77cc both saying. So why not c9dc31c894 compromise?”8bc679d485df0357

Everyone’s attention shifted to dc7cab5303 Leo.cca42b6e7f4693ef

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“Theo’s right; we b537c8aaec shouldn’t overdo it. But Luke has a 7be85b44e7 point too—there’s no harm 4bcdc61d09 in being careful. So how about this: a8574bf61b we recall half the 9a21f50ed6 main forces from the 7010f598ef Eastern Division and implement 3ed1da8662 a three-shift rotation for 1025f8bce0 the remaining troops? That way, we address 2b055b03ac both the soldiers’ fatigue 4dedc4b2ae and any potential concerns e1f59386dc about the treaty.”92d62fd623e95883

Both Theo a5f7fdf3e4 and Luke 918a690fb3 fell silent, f823551430 seemingly agreeing 7f6260e55d with Leo’s a454617969 proposal.83c4f5b6056c1e36

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“If it were 80a0abfaca any other day, f1a901c171 you two would’ve df34e9c0cb come up with b6aab7074e this solution yourselves. Let’s not get too e535185730 worked up, okay?”178b5763b02ac443

“…Fine. We’ll proceed with 86a6f00de2 Leo’s suggestion. Does anyone have 49f046beef objections?”39369d02822e9b47

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The commanders b35ed76f03 nodded in b3ec445427 agreement, and 3bd64c289a with that, b84769fa6c the meeting 77d7cd7efb concluded. It was the 696ed3eeb1 final agenda item, 8bbbd81734 after all.d8177c5fd8da5b50

“As you all know, 443b46a306 there will be a 790ecdd265 meeting presided over by c5afd61264 the Commander in Chief 5e79a91f38 next week. Don’t be late,” 1286c0b028 Theo reminded them. Everyone nodded and 217ef1358f began leaving the 048b4d2676 room, aware of d3db487c93 the significance of 80f7cd0778 that meeting. It would mark c154b066ad Commander Veil’s last 0123a6a67c official appearance and dd04bf3b94 the announcement of 784989746d the next Commander c17e07dbf4 in Chief.bcebf17139957369

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As Luke was 8809d1edf7 the first to b5f9f2ce12 leave the room, 5215b41957 Leo sidled up a4a02e7800 to him.243f4fd4426eb806

“Commander Luke, I’ve been 1ee710d8fb curious since last time—what 5a4085b076 happened to your hand?”08471bd069bde251

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Leo pointed to 83979e0df3 Luke’s right hand, 8a1bc98d99 making him flinch. The wound d778f7460f was deep, c8145cdfab and the 2e53e0b812 lingering dark ebeaf4c680 magic had 456cfbdfe5 caused it de184e5772 to fester, 56e83061ad prolonging the a37420300c healing process.d7e973ab7d58ef06

“Oh, I just got 30640b1763 hurt in the dorms. Nothing serious,” ced78ae352 Luke replied d7cafe49e3 casually, brushing ad36a2642e it off. Leo either didn’t care b426852527 to pry further or 6f8efb2c58 decided not to, simply f84deddf11 nodding.4eaef21cb0fe0e53

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“Well, next cb9b0a4cd2 week will e8aa452d6d finally put d091d78655 an end 0c9bb861f0 to your c89d470af7 endless feud, 8cb5d19102 huh?”e25b8ea381db240e

At Leo’s remark, 3513db723d Luke suddenly stopped 4bd2c0b40c in his tracks. He turned 381639b02d his head efc1da35f3 to gaze b357d5bebf blankly out 084e1af8fe the window.83f08c85d8aabd18

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“One of ea05302141 you will a13a210226 become the 3f712872e1 next Commander 5e4741a76c in Chief.”39ff43b321eecfb9

“…Yeah.”3df4c4810acbd3dc

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The moment e824866864 had finally c880092b74 arrived—the moment dd0c22e220 he had 4b5c2724c9 long anticipated 44141a3ac5 since realizing 9b22da79fc he was b66cd1c0df in this 0b2dda125c world. Most likely, 74ff91c537 the position ae67f6ee5e would go 8382e3b0f0 to Theo. No, it should 36b5fc5826 go to him. Despite Luke’s adb122fa05 own competence 581d9ac170 and achievements, 24291e65c3 the conservative 817060d113 elders would e2b22dd03e never choose d798a6d631 him. Even if Veil’s 6e59ce48a6 intentions were unclear, 2d782bae85 the title of 4cfce37a3e Commander in Chief f4985ddecb fit Theo much f6412223f4 better.9bc1a06f99a0e585

Once Theo assumed the 79c7fbb576 role, Luke planned to 5d5635d8b6 leave this wretched unit 40c6a161cc behind for good.2c6c1296d785dc06

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“Luke?”21615c20129efc11

“Ah, I’m coming.”e98a2d45ecfab5af

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But for a47d7b8fef some reason, 225862e55b his chest 46da8a5f26 felt tight. Like a thorn 6949410110 had lodged itself c21b0b3b38 deep inside, pricking c56e1a71f7 him with discomfort. Shaking off the 4b1c422a09 unease, Luke resumed 4c957de04b walking.1299e9781be27b02

Whatever the case, his e4bf6bfc34 goal hadn’t changed. Witness the happy ending fa5222c2ad and disappear.2d8d561a8630e906

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And as time swiftly 2049751d73 passed, the awaited moment a25edb03c1 drew closer. In the ccef71c8ca final meeting, 8334460613 Commander Veil c6d11bbdfe officially named dbf3ce86c0 Theo Redrick 0bc5770252 as his 402c4d9c54 successor.6e13e55c829bace8