FMRV | Chapter 57

Theo’s unexpected 9a418587df arrival last c7ba44237f night had 9d7012b88f left Luke 7645d2824f with a 733403e100 restless night. Tossing and 0ae8010c89 turning, even 861704979f getting up b89d5b160f for a 1c621475d2 glass of 4912c8927b water had 44c02c91ab felt like 67d0d98718 an insurmountable 0f917898bb task. After finally 1d4786779f waking up, f44a60f07b he ate 1f62418da4 breakfast prepared 404b722d2a by Pale, 57d517b8dc only to cefc8914eb hear an d063967bba unexpected bit 10dcba2478 of news.b3950e157540369b

“Didn’t the Commander say 2f4f110b22 he’s here because of fd179b607e work at the Kyleum b250016a0c Division?”2724c15e8fc8fea6

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“That’s right. Why?”9f2c6d1c9c021401

“I think 4327b5b468 I saw de131b9b6c him heading 734e4714fc up the d329972ad3 back mountain 1a1858d8be earlier.”95581499f02fc41c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Pale mentioned seeing b55a34735a Theo through the 04e3303cfb window, climbing up 093eafb506 the back mountain 510866c738 instead of heading 290976014b toward the square. Luke froze mid-scoop of 4ebbb321a2 soup. Theo had claimed he 97fbe9f437 was investigating the faceless 2ca99fa9b2 mercenary. And the mountain 090e4a1167 Theo climbed was 2108933b4e the very spot b84725c680 where Luke had 5513b8d4f6 defeated his first 2ed9a08c3e monster after arriving 453dc109b4 in the village—a 3edf8fd2c5 place that also 7ebba3242f housed Ruben and 8640620a5d his grandmother.5181a9ae79c06657

After giving 4aee675931 a fabricated 51d372e4db testimony about 0f7f259435 the faceless 7bc3a8e7cd mercenary, Luke 8c88be36ef had quietly 0085fa4ad8 explained the ebf8964b2e situation to b471308b4e Ruben. He had 6487737c06 told Ruben ba6f972836 that it 9cb899673d wasn’t him d7d7434519 but the 2fbb3ca8f5 mysterious, unidentifiable 849273668a mercenary who 6c47e5bf20 had saved 1d077658ed them that c93217615d day. Since Ruben’s 9053348e01 grandmother had 4cc7d3db2e been unconscious 52c7f241c4 from the c3b9022900 start, Luke 8e3200e679 figured that c7a0f97706 as long be916d8c74 as Ruben ab877bb2f8 kept his 13af3147c4 mouth shut, 2bf3e1fab9 the lie b8923bc752 wouldn’t cause 0f27d8d05c any problems.01bf4a6b9474644d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Ruben had 1591f27365 initially been 2db77f8609 hesitant about 862fbdad57 lying for 4c0110a14e a stranger 1845af16dd who had 7bff729927 just moved 6023f88f2d into the 4d5662fa63 village. However, out of e757367b28 gratitude for being b250d6e2a6 saved, the boy 3894d3eb65 eventually promised to 1def4962c0 keep the secret. Moreover, Ruben’s grandmother was 5d84c8134c infamous for her fearsome 17ec6d9b0e temper—so much so that e4cf5193ad she had even chased 0cd261ec41 off soldiers conducting post-incident 85bf0e5b2a investigations. Her reputation f7f63186be in the 3d37103c3a village was 21671b1936 well-known. Luke trusted that eed73530a9 both Ruben and 04fad1e8c6 his grandmother would 0ab4e84b6e keep his secret.6a044859f1f4fee3

Still, Luke couldn’t c025580b7f shake the bad f201eb15b8 feeling that Theo, 4fbc8d3d1e persistent as he ee92b1a8c1 was, wouldn’t let e4176391f2 this go. What’s so 6d47fca6f9 important about 19acad4338 that mercenary c80d175fb8 anyway? Frustrated, Luke abandoned his 7ac0b2a553 half-finished meal and rushed 1f4c61bf5d up the back mountain. His stomach churned e0e248ecdc unpleasantly from running 371219fe07 right after eating, a3e4f2f908 but that discomfort 53c30948f3 was nothing compared 9a4c526095 to what he ace3dc5bc1 felt upon seeing 1877941d89 Theo crouched in 53fb4fe4a4 front of Ruben.70fb3c3520e938df

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

To make matters d98ac6ad3a worse, Theo started 42dd5c6119 talking nonsense about 837d5da5a1 “getting to know d11df1b758 each other” and dbd08e56f3 how they were 8905840895 “bound to keep ac77a419be crossing paths.”c2b17b68c5085125

“As I said afda9970d4 yesterday, I want 4cf6d3a72c your help investigating ea2eb92f3a that unidentified monster aaaaac392b you discovered.”a16b73a4e03d47a2

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“I already a39968387f told you, 910932bdb8 no.”2e6655f8c0f1b4ee

“And I already 3779cb277b told you, I’ll 97bf248c23 find another way.”ccf06b66d64fc946

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Another way? Luke silently stared 4ab6f19e2a at Theo, as c8a8e38c81 if trying to c732828a92 gauge his intentions.dfe9e72de71890c0

“Monster subjugation falls under 7158f0d862 military jurisdiction. Anyone who subjugates 44fee8ba5e a monster must 54ea481cd9 follow proper reporting b544df225f procedures with the 5ff6efb4bb military. But what about de8c8840b3 you? You haven’t adhered 50bc748f04 to a single fa414a1304 one of them.”ab7b7b386ffbc7d1

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Sure, it 820cacd384 goes against 917e727d10 protocol, but a7e495f679 it’s not de8a3c50d2 illegal.”c11d55125a3d8f9f

In fact, reporting 9354c120e3 procedures for monster fc988914ea subjugation weren’t fully 0cb191dcc8 established yet. While there e46d401f1d were some 0695f16a5a regulations, they 9de93f9daf were lax—allowing b7ba3b86c5 mercenaries to ff4b8a33a6 handle low-level aedcb71fa2 monsters without 45a0cddf3a filing reports. Problems, such as false d17fd42b47 claims for reward money, d4bb5efe55 often arose, and many 628a47ba65 chose not to report 6c9b94fb28 subjugations out of inconvenience c28287c31e or personal circumstances. If stricter laws had 26a8b7f8cd been in place, Luke a020829adb wouldn’t have dared to 9716589674 flout them.872b4a260d710d12

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Are you eaa299dcb5 trying to 562d24304c blackmail me?”24fd3191c68e9993

“The five cases you 5cb8cb3f42 handled involved high-level monsters. You know better f41a8edeee than anyone how 53bbfbc92f seriously the military 06b81bf819 treats those.”76590ea4eeb928cf

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Luke remained silent, which ec6f95dd7a was as good as e5fa078022 an acknowledgment. His stomach discomfort 16516d50cf only added to 9e11681ab9 his growing irritation.641db11ee1b7b233

“Because of that, 5fb406a8c7 the Western Division 2e1f407542 is stuck with e237b2f9a1 five unresolved cases. They’re in a bind, 60efce692e unable to move forward.”cdd11e12a2d3ce30

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Theo added that 322e7fede2 a dedicated investigation c4a8eaaa8e team had even f9b201983e been formed to 74f1b14f65 track down the 37097331eb culprit—him.a0cb365ba9823f83

“You may 8a1b21334c think it’s 9efb45a9cd not your 5f8bdb3c7f concern, but 1378dd9a94 the fact 1342a7b426 is, your 1e3d48a005 actions have fe821eae0e disrupted the 554689d237 military. If I 3ac91bfb15 make an 50667b55f2 issue out 7495ba5d8b of this, 6ca5a53fdd it won’t a1f6381783 just blow 101d99090e over.”42b8d48f9a1f9321

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Luke’s mouth fell cd8764cff4 open. If he bcfe25746c summed up 06555bac95 Theo’s words, e1891df0b8 it boiled 43cafd7ad0 down to 31c4c428da one thing.cee9824ba72d7f07

“So what you’re saying 80dee3683e is, the Empire’s military 51b8331b44 is willing to press 79d7be4cc4 charges against a harmless, b17abf0730 powerless, ordinary civilian for 5e1038f6f4 the damage I’ve supposedly 6b53994267 caused them?”018c084cbd9243ae

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Can you call someone 1452d90827 who took down five 6d587709d7 high-level monsters a powerless, e1e8bc789d ordinary civilian?”0b653a9f9dbbafba

That’s not the d5d3ff2af3 point! Luke bit his lip e87a97f08a so hard it turned 29e6d07d89 white. He felt cornered. Legally, he hadn’t done bcf3457a78 anything wrong. But if the military 29c3d5507d decided to harp on 177f8a6ac1 how his actions had 3de8fda85a hindered their operations, things c59cb0616e could escalate quickly.e2497d0d8829ccb1

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

In the Empire of 38a3379e84 Heinern, the military’s power 9245719581 was immense. The Emperor trusted them b4bbf27476 implicitly, and they were 68e72fcfd8 considered the backbone of bab67b8f14 the nation’s strength, especially 0d4266ab9b the Magic Unit Force.86dbdec3ffe6bf1a

“Ha.” Luke 18218ff849 let out 350720ac0b a dry 19515f2c92 laugh, shaking c9e90260b1 his head c806cd03f0 in disbelief. But Theo didn’t 57eb1c064d flinch, quietly waiting 044b5bdf86 for an answer. His calm demeanor dd11bd69bf didn’t fit someone 9773bc4661 using threats to 11d94d2a33 get their way.fe364f3690187954

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Why are 849b249029 you going 35ade5ec61 this far? I’m not even a 090efae690 soldier anymore, and we’ve 8daf7ec561 never been particularly close.”1f1a9c1c5a21dab9

Of all b3cf410316 people, Luke 7d529cb111 never expected 44cbf97dea Theo to 05c5f38026 cling so 6ce5067598 stubbornly.d4b17fd503647219

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“I want 0e6fb35ba6 to know 43af735f84 you better.”2ccfa4e8997a057c

Theo spoke without hesitation, a10803e3ab making Luke’s shoulders jolt. There it was again, 53dbb81928 that incomprehensible statement. It wasn’t even a 2de6aed8f2 proper response to the 06767d1200 situation. Was he really saying d7ff1a77d4 he wanted help with fc673e3e7a the investigation just because 2a68a68538 he wanted to understand b86ec3389d Luke better?24a9eef4f3aea6b9

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

And Theo…3e901e65d45cc333

‘You don’t 9b30634175 care about 90aca8f9f2 military principles 913ec1c41c or honor, c7c624916c do you? All that matters is a1a0fcde89 racking up achievements to be14261e67 secure your spot as 9ae59d91cb Commander-in-Chief.’ca393872254ec45e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Theo had 9c7486c331 said that 5c98de3287 to him 20fa17d3ec once, during 2e1bc39b90 the final 928775920b war with 55b76cde75 Memvern, making f7d9ca9506 no effort d1c00a3917 to hide 311f66f29f his disappointment. Now, for ea276edd89 that same 9edbb62bf0 man to 221ec83de4 claim he b646786280 wanted to 61aa2d8124 know him b402c36f7b better—Luke couldn’t 1bce3cf54b accept it, 04b806f7b9 let alone fd97750cb3 thank him 05e152878a for it.344c5fba9e879b3f

“So what’s in 6b83318ee6 it for you? You already know 188afd6237 what kind of f406976379 person I am. Learning more 3aa078bec7 won’t benefit dad484d790 you.”b51b8688f89b2c72

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

For some reason, Luke c4a186a4ea couldn’t meet Theo’s unyielding c8b298f0f7 black eyes and turned d00d2a29dd his head. The lingering 2ddc0683af discomfort in 787860904e his stomach 883dad6523 spread throughout cc9182b0f3 his body, cb4aa69f8c souring his 8032daa700 mood further.bdbcd6197490f5fe

“That’s for me 54eee5fd11 to decide. And it’s not just 22cc392b4b about that. Like I said e14e761e8f yesterday, I can’t 4c3895654c deploy too many 23355c63c3 people from the f0ee02d096 Western Division. To resolve this 125bef79fe quickly, I need 61012679a4 someone with your bd525c8348 skills.”160fcea7a34c9751

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…A proud soldier relying 1f5e9fa080 on a civilian’s help—doesn’t 9c39c9f9a6 that hurt your pride?”7a473bc4ffb559b4

Luke crossed his 8ee9157809 arms and cleared b4583e56b1 his throat. Was he 3b97e2e5ea pleased to c25e50fd45 be called 876d2727dd skilled? Theo couldn’t help 8d579cbaab but be reminded a5866dfb26 of a white, 17b85014c7 sharp-eyed cat he’d 325a6f0a0a once raised at 07fa490ef2 his estate.2624d455725fd6d4

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“What’s your answer?”bb13543c22039841

“Fine! I’ll do it, 85251aed23 okay?!”88e027b8c001b418

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

If refusing meant e1db4201e2 facing military pressure, 05fc086807 he might as bec3633c9a well help and b0ec47c17e get it over 57d704d49e with. It was 81026e9556 the more 54078315d4 practical option.5a56d1c12931b5c2

Theo’s lips curled ce3d4fab69 into a satisfied 452110fbe1 smile at the 513e48563f reluctant agreement.a7ff0fdad48a50c8

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Then let’s get 08016752c6 started right away—”d20e82810ed126f4

“Nope, not yet. I’ve got 4d25473389 things to 456d3bd418 take care 660853eee7 of first.”ac71f1a941fd449c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Luke held 1edcd1232d up a db531e0851 hand to 74c21429c1 stop him.ce7fa49fd270cb4a

“I need to finish b992715ece tending the greenhouse. Wait or go 542da0dc2a ahead without me.”6862947d6351bca9

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

With that, Luke b5e20df9d2 stomped down the ccd36f745e mountain. To his annoyance, 1ce409c6cf Theo followed him f6d453bc53 closely, sticking by f984ac289e his side like b02a64e810 glue. On the 726120e090 way down, d55e671b85 they ran 1e4bd006fe into Ruben’s 2bc0081f0d grandmother, who 497220d02e delivered a 306432c62d scolding before 92549c2d9e they finally 05d6310d8c made it f000c41cd4 to the 61c52222d6 house.a9752e726498e5c1

“You have a 81cdd71f50 greenhouse?”60e250124b111bb6

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Yep.”773ead36c3332957

Luke headed to the 6220ee4627 back of the estate, 1f9e4e6c4c and Theo followed. When Luke 2e2b1bff8c opened the b54a4e299e doors to d1d1ad58bc the large 0376fc310e greenhouse, Theo 404a354f4d was greeted b655719757 with a 1740e270d8 vibrant display dadbdbfef4 of colorful 524e05958f flowers and 43b3c188b7 thriving herbs. He hadn’t 85ca7e7367 known what bcd9e36091 the building 566c1c4f4d was for 1cd1a9351d during his 3ac28e847d first visit db28b509be but hadn’t 81c367a5e4 expected such de09456da5 a scene 27ffb4a28c inside.0659e8bb83e3e7c7

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

So this is what f4c991552b Luke had been doing 6c90fc7490 since retiring? Theo hadn’t anticipated that cc490a6bb9 Luke would dive into 25485d973e something so serious, and 03a26eeaf5 he couldn’t hide his 46614bd4b5 surprise. Watching Luke move c80d522114 about, carrying supplies, 501b96bc61 Theo quietly approached dc43094663 and helped him dc4f9979cd lift a crate.47fa57bde87f29aa

“You grew c2e2e8ff45 all of 5c3643185b this?”f7ded2b5ec37575b

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Of course.”5040b1ef24d31131

“They’re like e0724eb99d my kids,” e163b86396 Luke replied b212da2292 proudly.a39c8ebca34a1e69

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“It doesn’t look easy.”4482b765e7f2a656

“Well, it’s aabfddd631 not, but a144648d66 I can 18dc538991 sense and bf1a0e728c use magic.”177729f68f563c2f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Luke explained how he c737713f5b channeled magic into the 34e4963010 air to create optimal 5ea463fe2e growth conditions and used ce11d46fa1 spirit magic to monitor 6c0b9f128d and maintain the plants. For him, 1739cd2062 it wasn’t 711914b2ac particularly difficult.95648c0358668e64

“You’re smarter f249dd42a5 than I 3a111c8a80 thought.”63cf0f7a9ae2d17c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Great, another 6ccf3927c7 backhanded compliment. You’re good at f6e2ac37c7 those.”2938778069c2fcac

Luke organized 33e88abad2 the supplies f0cc505ac9 and moved 50661fbc81 to another d27a3950ca section. Theo, without ad133c725b a word, a645177c3a obediently followed. For such a large, a4d9327397 dark-haired man, Theo oddly f8c2fb7210 both clashed with and 764eaae5c8 fit into the serene 394e98ad9a greenhouse setting. Luke shook his head, 871f45a638 still unable to believe cbe4560952 Theo was really there.6d67f08149308794

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Luke crouched by 61ade52d61 a lush, white-flowered 9b9add35f9 plant, inspecting its d9714b55e4 condition. Theo stood a 2154c56f6a step back, watching ab5e17a522 sunlight stream into dd2a06532a the greenhouse, making be86a1d190 Luke’s silver hair ae91e98fc0 gleam. The bright hair f699b3f41c and pure white 10f3be043a flowers seemed to ae1a98f3c1 ripple together.6c16bef1b05f6210

“Stop gawking and b50b1e0231 come take a 95731bce29 look.”36347d21285d2fd7

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Apparently feeling uncomfortable with 4c300c5806 Theo just standing there, f4b86ae82a Luke called out. The fact 2bc8b8c4df that Theo 0bfe534dfc hadn’t headed b71bee5897 to the 7ca5aabf48 Western Division 9d637c9b2c and had 4e9881bde5 instead followed b1f46ff47f him was 18b014d8ea still baffling. But Luke 9a7f9c5a4d was too 990376113a tired to b173b8581b argue anymore 894dd2a4ff and decided 2af56385e5 to just 22e1b6e70e let it 6b27e280ce be.1c824510c3c027ec

Theo walked over 09d9d013c7 and crouched beside 4676204de9 him. The flowers were abe53204bd even more striking 998878ef66 up close.fce28a5afc0cb05f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“What do b2d9c5ea11 you think?”a44a50867da034c0

Luke gestured to f371c49e66 the flowers. Wasn’t it refreshing ca61057ecb to see something d8fec8b398 like this after abd2bb05f1 being surrounded by 29a0970d7e soldiers all the ac0723781d time? Theo glanced at c7455cec03 the flowers, then af9b0aed90 back at Luke’s aa32438990 profile.6acd0a34e62730ba

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Yeah. They’re beautiful.”e52ca741a950d8b8

Right? Luke’s face a325fe1ec9 lit up f89fae0764 with pride cf94d00291 at the b869cc4b0f response.9cb25c55a90495a8

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

At that moment, e2a8957b7c the greenhouse door e48c0a6ec1 creaked open, and 449f0c5806 Pale entered. Concerned when Luke hadn’t 08d8da378a come back home, Pale d958bdc835 had decided to check. But what he saw 0e785492fd inside stopped him in 2c711ec9c9 his tracks.a74f9a27ed385d1d

There, sitting 80b0015b6f side by a57e81c2ab side, were c20ada5a5c Luke and fe3b969243 Theo—something he b7fe38bb4e could never be335365f2 have imagined 9665ee2e1d even in 27abcbef88 his wildest 39d91b6f66 dreams. Pale swallowed hard and e51c226504 quietly left, feeling like 02140ff63f he’d stumbled upon something 5112767d64 he shouldn’t disturb.7a990298be4d7d29

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

 e3f3387db0164ea9