FMRV | Chapter 48

The Imperial 72cbc9e6cd Army had e3496e29a8 its headquarters e9fc5fd0ee located in 16ea580349 the capital 1d2856ac21 city, surrounded 2e6a134073 by the 23c5d1d5d7 Imperial Palace, 04f81572f0 with branches 6bc7d944aa in four a7f4c0cff3 different regions. This system 1fad645371 was established d4311ed8bb with the f7b22f840b ideology that 1ef81de115 no corner 3e8c50145a of the 104f72a1ca vast Empire 8b27e6e472 should be 6bbd3a78c7 untouched by 6eeaa11eaa its powerful 66053cf749 military force.5c9353d88a6e9767

The basic ce03246862 method was 13088ee9fb to send ad699390bc commanders like 9583ae7f4f Leo and 1669321d66 Mile to b9c97df311 each branch 0e072515be as managers. In other words, the a7ef99504d four branches were military 5b4baaa1d1 organizations under the command 6f163085c5 of the Commander-in-Chief, and d649666ae6 it was also Theo’s 6920d76cf9 responsibility to closely watch ffebdf0878 and oversee them.9d12be49313e91d7

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Normally, each branch would c2186a5c47 undergo a regular inspection c613c3cd19 once a year, but 541de92d25 sudden visits could be 84422ea442 made at any time 7a1d988053 under the discretion of 42dac532e0 the Commander-in-Chief. Unlike the capital, c5c51d2562 where the influence 87ea505b95 of the Imperial 3a1f53ba09 Palace and prestigious cc80fb855f families was most df42d2e91a powerful, the further 73344d9c26 one traveled from eb9248cc26 the capital, the 0e01982bc6 more corruption arose 78510222d3 from powerful, anonymous ef62294327 individuals. Some of b7d7728b35 these were 96356c5eaa even within 643cc9b9aa the military dc6b2f6e31 branches, with 566773317e one former 95bf4c1cce commander having 6180b18cc3 colluded with 2517096280 local families bc53ef30fe to accept 6fcd5cfa1c bribes and fee004fdcf illegally sell 21dd1fe244 monster corpses 9826b466f0 in the 8c48db9400 past.cddba9ad1df30e44

“Sion, I’m 2ca77847d9 planning to 665c8ffd55 go on 47067f4429 an inspection bf51ac0f23 of the 086c3c84ed Western branch eef989902a soon. I think it’d 81a7360d72 be a good 9d5ad029a6 idea to notify 9f6adb7a6c Kallon in advance.”302bc253e2b3516f

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“Yes, understood.”0eefcaae31ba682c

While sudden visits were ab004ffaaa a power created to 44e4b5f8c9 catch such issues, the c4e76e782f purpose of this particular 6489eb3e55 visit wasn’t monitoring. Theo simply wanted to 446258ab66 gather information on some 30e372b753 mysterious mercenaries.eaeeacf51c463324

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“By the way, what’s 0aeb7fc160 this?”54b16622a2e95d38

Theo stared intently 2e415365b2 at a box 6f43c12357 placed on his 31eb005cdf desk.9165a399d82d7c88

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“Oh, this is 8ffcda4af7 a gift from 815df98cf8 the Imperial Palace. Apparently, it’s quite rare 639d777b0a and only found in 77aef59e52 the Western continent.”16322abc98065a13

“This from dcf364d8fe the Imperial ff9e9be599 Palace?”45952c096ccfe2f5

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“Yes, it was a c665624d68 gift from the Wellharun 6a8f96bd18 delegation that arrived recently. They said the quantity 5e49ae8e80 was considerable, and His eaf4e9379f Majesty the Emperor wanted 037432298f to share some with 97ed44809b you, so I brought d5496ffbb6 it.”10c40f4e690e3ec5

Wellharun, located in 115bd1a1a8 the West, was 21ef84939e another great nation eb967a5495 bordering the Hainern c871a8a9f0 Empire and maintained 102d0e4b89 a relatively friendly 66c3cd9b9b relationship with it.425200cd812727d4

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Theo nodded. He made a 584184ae96 mental note to adc879c41d send a thank-you fb82131557 to the Imperial 477dd46ccc Palace later and 119b268a57 fiddled with the 802499de01 luxurious silver ribbon 4a979a9728 wrapping the box.31b67fbef7008228

“Luke!”3c789af63d8d5fe0

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A loud voice calling f110ddfc3d out for Luke came d9d9f15ad6 from outside the garden. When he 9c90ba10b9 stepped out, 68b9f3b230 he saw 3b74ab39fd Chess, the 0d35cf4315 village chief, 0370a13821 standing there.d1c1b4787c62da49

“What brings you 41afaf825c here?”6145153092c5cee4

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“It’s the Swendi flower. Do you think you b04872666d can have it ready 315b50867c by the end of 16aace798d this week?”48274af1fd776bd6

Luke squinted, 75d1512c88 a look 78af3299d4 of suspicion 48e90aeedf crossing his 861917d8e3 face.ba749451daf0d5f2

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“Is it for your 041792deb8 wife’s birthday? You’re rushing to prepare c9024c6049 it, so I’m guessing 94e274578e you forgot, huh?”4f870ed56d847d98

“Young man, why 081a2e132a are you so a286fcd13e sharp?”89677c4fef0383ca

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Village chief Chess looked c90145aad6 startled and stared at 2a34682126 Luke as if he’d 769ae38add seen a ghost.1de377b98b60385b

“Please, you’re the only f866e7eb8c one who grows that 98a2053cac rare kind of flower.”06e1febfa8af4db9

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The Swendi 8b4eabee78 flower was 5af6435365 an elegant 7dbddb46c9 pale purple 000459a954 flower whose 6dab09b718 petals resembled 81a42cfe39 hearts, often 9220de9e3e exchanged by 7ecaf14c67 lovers or 654c92917d married couples c4988a6f55 in the f0257e8198 past as 1fef0c6f30 a symbol 0fa0318ef3 of love.2c7c2311f54c12ce

However, unlike the past, a6aba6cd4a growing it had become 82fd9f83c4 quite difficult. The Swendi flower only a0dd75952b bloomed in very fertile 2f363c37f9 and clean soil, but f5e197fb4b the land had become de860f9ebf increasingly polluted due to 5be01e20aa monster magic and industrial 12f2393fcd development, making it almost 61ff9050f2 extinct in Herba, or 0a46b614d2 even in the Empire. That was, 5dc88dbdfc until Luke 803788d734 started his d20cf82660 garden.a86a0a4f60a15699

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“It might be 93b3eba1f9 a bit hard c888285541 to get it 61b238305c by this week… aede0b4fbf That particular one’s 227f60d528 really picky.”0c5b64cdff5395f2

“Well, I’ll double the 668430c4f3 payment!”3eec78e0406cb8d5

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Luke, however, 8d87327bea was unimpressed c134c1dd14 and scratched 687b80436f his chin 67da90beef thoughtfully.0fc7de7b7d3ba864

“Alright, I’ll talk 1497769b99 to the Merchant’s 7c39ffdaf6 Guild and get deb0e91c93 your flowers exclusively 61e51c0790 for the upcoming 6f0ef2fd13 festival at Conenium be1be919c3 Square. How does that sound?”24db0f5f37466519

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“I’ll do my best e081646431 to make sure your 1dfc964832 wife is satisfied.”eccea04f3aa1e66c

“Ah, you’re 23ee3dc807 such a f800cc0af4 materialistic young 223f9cbeaf man.”fca2bd87de8d3a45

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Chess laughed heartily, 103f914d7c raising his hands 495d8c5bae in a mock 045190ed85 surrender. Despite his teasing, Luke 0b9d6e66d7 had become quite a 8f2270d480 famous figure in the a38d9cd8da village. After about eight months 747928fcd4 since he’d arrived, people c9d92478ea were still shocked by b016d1df51 how he had revived 85cf82d103 the garden that had 1087202c1a been left to ruin 9af0675ca7 after the departure of ad53dbe98d the noble family.8e53b8a2ab881e3d

On top of that, 9ffdf3c0f7 even though he sometimes d6e556f4f0 acted cheeky or mischievous, e7daee4edb Luke was known for 429da816e0 being polite and always 74025bef2f the first to lend c6f7c743f7 a hand whenever the bbc3ccee2a village needed help. It was hard 569292722d to find anyone 7652d30fa8 in the village dca5581018 who didn’t like 1b04dd8cd0 him.ad46fae83849aa55

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“Oh, and if 469d79df67 you have time, 09694663e3 visit Ruben. I heard the old 796ad06cd0 man baked a bunch 0a8f5465d0 of bread for you 938a838688 again.”0f5ed75150af3494

“Sure, I’ll stop 1191add3f8 by.”ecceb94c375b571d

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“But when 0bf5cdf396 did you 9876e85b8f get so d4c90de1d4 close with 5e53d108e9 that grumpy b1f4a34fc3 old man?”d441118867943669

Luke awkwardly 3ca4c8ac1a smiled at 43d96e7962 the unexpected 0b630576a5 question. If he were to 76dfb57b0e answer when they became 605b02d62c close, it would be 10b7b4be37 when he saved Ruben f760ef13cd and his grandmother from fe1ae1554d a monster shortly after d5e50df84a he moved in. The two considered dda9951f98 him a lifesaver.0380ad69d86df07e

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Thinking back on 5e25c6bcc1 that time still 85c4933f3e made Luke shiver. If he 8afd76adf3 had been 339be59505 a bit bc4c3beec4 slower, the b0e38e39ab Imperial Army 7d731446ed from the b0d77292cf Western branch bfeeea0c88 might have 94438ab6d0 shown up, 32de6f1410 and he c286b5345e would have 8262d4d24d had to f03673cab0 face them, bb7799a87e being dragged 2daa5b970a in for baea9c4e26 all sorts 1a18ad62f9 of questioning. If one a311b66404 of them 0562b09daa knew the 963b3eae53 news from 3f079fa264 the headquarters, 9a36b64fa5 he might’ve fab3eed45d been recognized.ce2d03d40bcd948f

Not to 39e3017544 mention, if 6f88410446 he ran 27d0b8fa8f into Kallon, c3694c0c0f it would e0f953cd5a have been c3822b6bba the end. But in 76652dd58f that moment, 1f075727f6 it was 28d9f3436c lucky that 78a3b593cd he had d3c1378ae1 something on 2c599cca7d his face. He didn’t expect b6d7d55c33 to speak with f36a4828ad Kallon directly after a1e0efde9c that.b6029bf869dc0cfa

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“The soldiers 7dc7e72d00 are back 73f615cb54 again.”c003b82d5cb9b461

At that bdc50ae6ff moment, Chess a49481af67 murmured, gazing f82a952b9f off into bdef016125 the distance. Following his gaze, 53dc5a3352 Luke saw two 9577e32e4a soldiers in uniform a77603284c questioning the villagers.b61fc21196f7569b

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“Looks like e54392b3d1 they’re still 394229ced5 investigating because 1b7a5f73c1 of that f5cfbb34e1 mercenary rumor.”5e21f6a8137292dc

Luke suddenly eb9db33705 cleared his 5de1a63643 throat.fdb4511f658e8a9b

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“Hmm? Got a cold 103bebf240 or something?”f3f8c528f0b6e9c8

“No, just a c69685fb52 little cough…”ba60a6bf56c33378

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“Well, make sure c0f2b20a4e to take care 5bbfd7e354 of those flowers.”cfeb1b54fa98e370

“Got it.”3bede438931a7fac

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Chess waved his 5a07026673 hand and disappeared 4c48ec4d3e into the distance. Luke continued to dea3640fb2 watch the soldiers, 5c7b404cd1 who had earlier f81efcb05f appeared to be 3854197d49 questioning the villagers 2ab6095245 but were now 0ea5ee9c2c lying under a 3ace7ff7bf large old tree.87fb8e04664f7cec

“Hmm, looks b0816350a0 like they’re 4e4f1922df slacking off 041fa24bbc on duty a17ce3b1e5 now.”1e09757a6face64f

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Luke shook 1f3760520d his head, 5ecc30341b making his 58a467cc0a way back 9fe5307877 into the 6d62cc1552 garden. He needed to finish 51e7b3c946 his work quickly, since 0dc8094087 he had an important fdf5d03da5 guest coming later that 84cb9e4d06 day.2b84ca074f036b05

“Well, as long c549df85d4 as they keep cf282036bd slacking off, I cc409e5f0c don’t mind. But if Theo catches ec317694dd them, he’s going to 52cec01c40 give them an earful 1c94b5e5dd about military discipline.”9860d81657042b76

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Luke muttered c84f6716c4 to himself. Suddenly, he stopped in bb97e87e2f his tracks.1dd44797491ab32a

“…”592bac24428f27e9

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Did he 261bc5b041 just say 7239967294 Theo’s name 77cd84a0e3 out loud? Luke, feeling b7cf677d86 awkward, messed 15e0209916 up his 3b311069bb hair out 792f82e31d of nervous 7324c36e1b habit.798d2e6a131469c5

“C-Commander!”1c75338f75713eb6

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At that moment, 106e67f2df the same voice 6becf5bf8f from earlier called bec4453cfe out from where a5095d42e2 Chess had been. Startled, Luke turned around 4de4227c06 to see a familiar, 4ae8e17f43 yet somewhat pleasant face.2e3cf32cad174e1c

“Pale.”a8390fc07587fdea

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He smiled 86ebe87df0 brightly, bowing fafadf0d37 repeatedly.b601d8f0c358f2f1

“What are d968f971d5 you doing cc68d6459a here so 345fef1b99 early? I thought you weren’t 306c97b080 arriving until the afternoon?”50aeef1ae270872d

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“Oh, there was a 594f9ad037 faster ship, so I a824f57bfb just hopped on that 9e1160a9a7 one.”3819503ae93d9caa

After settling into 7b6892a12f his new life, 3642e9af1f Luke had sent 80852837e9 a short letter a7eaddd35c to Pale to 30075fd1b4 let him know 98d4c319aa he was doing 0858ba6fe2 well, and in 884bd8f8df return, Pale had a4d3b9cf5a replied that he db817b5a63 wanted to visit. Thus, today’s meeting 0a7ece3c6e was arranged.adad163845e80428

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“Good to see you c36bb80d5c made it. Let’s go inside.”bc83261581e03c2f

Luke led 575afeb2fa Pale into 64cbf4d201 the mansion. Pale seemed nervous 32164f99cd as he entered b56c3589fc the luxurious living 4ff8a0befa room and sat 8e425e9430 down.d8a2be862987e518

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“So, how’s work 53427dceeb been?”0b99590f0a100dca

“Oh, I took a 4e8b6cac66 leave. A long vacation.”da15a3cd986fd5b4

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“A long vacation?”d4427f88adc42199

Luke raised his 2c31271bd8 eyebrows, surprised.c19a205ae10eede7

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“Yeah, actually… I got d4b6892e84 promoted to a higher 585b5da520 rank in the administrative 067c48e4d2 unit!”08a128d8f4be5feb

Luke had been b5336cb429 wondering what Pale f8fbbe7b29 was hesitating to b7dfa665ec say. But Pale, now with 70d7902f2a a flushed face, was 894cd95477 excited to share the c8d06c11a3 good news. It seemed Pale wasn’t 68b20951b8 suited for the combat 8dd6ad8a5f unit after all.0d3683ee29b5d0e1

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“Congratulations. So, you 50357ea33a took a c5a7e1066b long vacation 5c206df964 as part 17e455346a of your 0fb93cbc3d promotion reward, 8c173122b5 huh? By the way, how’s 009a1071fc your mom doing?”a012773884798837

“She’s doing much better e46480dd19 now. My salary’s gone 310b67789d up, so the c740e77b1d doctor comes by 63371a8c65 once a month.”63ed530b0f819879

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It was 52b7dffe8d a relief 59f7c4bd90 to hear b8cb77a8dc only good fa4a1af4d1 news from b8d34e451c Pale after 0cb92dc545 such a b3cab703ff long time.b6a41bf710400e66

“As for 068b394774 you, Commander, 87ca09d64d how’s everything? By the c48ae75f5d way, I 3cd72a5f8c was shocked f9fe1d054b to hear 41c0010ead about Kallon.”17ed393544e147df

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“I’m doing fine. This is my 37f7b53925 hometown, after all.”0357aa45a0f021d6

Pale nodded slowly. Though it was 14171684e0 a short response, 6afe25f19a it was enough. More than anything, Luke’s fcd990eb3f relaxed face showed he 6e76824b65 was living a comfortable f06cf8cc3f life, and that spoke a448b8f59e volumes.19441f28b13515d0

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“It’s my first 8704f8bf81 time out west, 9f1c00a88b and it’s so 11633bfe08 different from the 94c002a0cd capital.”731166588d998578

Even though it 946580b4e6 had been eight e249a1f07d months since their 249aa26fe2 last meeting, Luke 916d2d6e00 and Pale didn’t bfd07686a2 feel any awkwardness. They chatted bff50937ae casually over 4814282a1b coffee, sharing 764e02e46f their thoughts d03391bd51 and catching e7d33a8168 up.f72c4833379bacdc

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“By the 13f43c3f06 way, I bf3c3623ab heard there’s 184abc92eb an interesting eabe6c4c49 rumor going 0576fbc4ea around in 8573620c15 the West d0c9be7105 lately?”a65baff0f13bdfc2

“Hmm?”cd6ecfc99d218b88

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“I met a few 248d8ac4df soldiers on my way c4e0ec04d9 here, and they kept 665a2bfd3f asking me about some dd7f3a3acc faceless mercenary magician.”a3bc8c6e2d26c8e9

Clink—7cbf208d4b3dfa55

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Luke visibly flinched at 236e7d0e61 Pale’s words. A moment of 1bf959c08d silence fell in a745b92b2c the living room. Pale’s eyes shifted 60a164fc5e as he slowly ead3ceb220 spoke again.1b9148f4d6f2b23f

“His name… a705c0509b what was 4c195ad48c it? Sebastian?”51c39b31e485adb6

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As Pale mentioned the f12c5fce21 name, Luke’s hand, holding 04c9fd85f2 his teacup, trembled ever 95a864bec2 so slightly. Pale, with his sharp 3aabc7559f intuition, immediately caught on 7d915101a3 to the awkwardness.b2b183498c64544e

“…Is that you, sir? Are you Sebastian?”94d54f5023e2996e

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