FMRV | Chapter 59

The old wooden door 9a88df45d4 groaned noisily, and as af16b6c35f if on cue, all 023aed1b00 eyes inside the tavern 8477e3cda4 turned to the newcomers.cbddd805536d4c61

The dimly lit space bec3ca5cc4 felt stifling. Coming in from the bright 20fa9bdeed sunlight made it feel as 3a2f2bb1b6 though they’d stepped into an 4f5049bf76 underground den. The sharp scent of whiskey 806dc4ff9d permeated the air. Luke, who wasn’t particularly 3dee33b91a fond of alcohol, frowned 97cc3a9511 slightly as he took 5b1a60708e in the surroundings.52f3bc664675cab8

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The tavern wasn’t large—just 009bff7fdc four wooden tables in 0ffaf5c3eb total. Coincidentally, only one of 0617a411b6 them was occupied, and 156256ead5 the group at it f0b3598eb9 seemed to be the 065c857c63 only patrons. Luke followed Theo’s lead 2588796d3d to the bar table 9ac8be7187 near the kitchen and c8eb52f24d took a seat.09d88f0ac8e9fd86

Moments later, the owner of 74e47087b3 the establishment emerged, a hulking 4b27ff2234 man larger than Theo. His most notable 814ff0e847 feature was the d20d6e6e85 deep scar running 42ace567c1 across his right eb5f484f33 cheek.84138c358ddaa94c

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“What’ll it be?” the man asked curtly, glaring down at the pair. Luke could feel c38a8256e5 the sharpness of f4017f870d the man’s gaze, 08d4def5b8 like he was 84b72914b2 scrutinizing every inch ecea0d1b27 of them.a893b97bda9ee522

“That one,” Theo replied, pointing at a dusty bottle on the bottom shelf behind the man. Its peeling label d2599df168 and careless placement 1199ba6b3a screamed low quality.089bafc67c579431

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“And I’d like to see… the other goods.”8ac00500a408e43a

Theo’s tone was 50d9cc5737 casual, almost relaxed. Luke, sipping the 82454a442e water the owner 22074aa63f had provided, glanced 337d4f351c sideways at Theo 5795e62487 with mild fascination. He was surprisingly good at 7aa070d659 this. Earlier, when Luke 7b90dcd641 had been eager b12be040fc to rush in, 13cf195263 Theo had stopped f4c16c9b76 him.49ff68bba2cace7e

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“Luke, let me explain the plan first. We’re going to act like 0fdc172ff0 customers.”658b400eb5f6deaf

“What?”63e5337d186da247

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Luke had expected to storm cd3fb336c8 in and beat the smugglers 3058efd0dd to a pulp, so Theo’s ae32d995a5 suggestion had thrown him off. But Theo had been resolute.468677f9d1c29784

“It’s better to approach them as customers looking to make a deal.”624a2049dcd843ad

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If these smugglers 06badfeb8d were bold enough 2ff28d46b9 to operate in 42e12d54b1 the middle of 1d2b587d6f the square, they e6d89bca2f were bound to 9beb110008 be cautious. Even Kallon had b3be90e093 spent a long e125cd203a time identifying their a563db9023 presence, and even c29292ed7d then, they had 286e22e799 been wary, making 44912e31fc it hard to ba103efa39 get close. Theo also pointed out that ce1bb41533 with no knowledge of the 28ee0e525f interior layout, the military had d91baa9ea8 been hesitant to act. The smugglers likely d3038c5d7f had an escape 6cbfa54ac4 route planned, making 94c453ada6 a direct confrontation 450183ef37 risky. Moreover, the square was connected 1b4be67a6c to the central plaza, and 6ee935de67 any sudden commotion could drag be6a840ec8 in innocent civilians.04f86d7349667a49

So, as reluctant as he 5769293659 was, Luke had agreed with f871a0f4df Theo’s cautious approach.6232cd811bed6eef

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“We’ll confirm first if these guys are really dealing with monsters like the one we have.”39f642af220ba4aa

Theo had glanced at the c80ccfbab8 fluffy creature tucked inside his e3564d82f6 cloak. The little monster seemed 83b856b9fa oddly content to stay b4971ff588 there.ce0948b7baecb8fd

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“You’ll play the role of a noble looking to buy a monster, and I’ll be your bodyguard.”b67ec17a3350e4bc

“What? Why am I the noble? Do I look 2af7c185f3 weaker than you?”e266d15ba737a95d

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Theo had chuckled, b52148526d pulling the hood a4d0a95d8e of Luke’s robe c223ed15ff up gently.3a7b96346d9bb738

“You’ve got a refined face. Nobility suits you. Let’s go.”f6e24289d7363e4b

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Refined face? Luke had bristled at the c1e611427b backhanded compliment, though the way f208dee9bc Theo said it almost sounded 887a169ebf genuine. Now, still a bit bee9a8d7d7 annoyed, he emptied his d357149bd0 glass of water in 7f1453e3f2 one go.88eb788fabc1e313

The bottle Theo had pointed c7e1bdd069 at was a signal—a coded 039427bbf4 message. Regular patrons wouldn’t pick such c601a27563 a shabby, unlabeled bottle, and c9490a94dc certainly wouldn’t call the wares e752a30539 “goods.” By doing so, Theo 81966d9fb4 made their intentions clear.793f5853c0667c96

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“What’s the goods for?” the owner asked, his tone cautious.33402ce166a2bdca

“My lord desires it,” Theo replied smoothly.1e17a09141bbb58a

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Luke, caught off 72bf03de9e guard by the 488a38bcbf sudden reference to 2a56fd3eb4 him as “my 7fbb4109c2 lord,” nearly dropped 50a372f62d his glass. The loud clatter d5a3716082 turned every head 0d16afd582 in the room a8d4b15d2b toward him. He could feel Theo’s glare 98f716417b from beside him.0fcd7797ab3fe4c3

But what could he do? Theo’s comment had come out ac7758cd0a of nowhere.0a50f5da53e2dbbd

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Luke internally chanted 6cd0af49ed his mantra: I’m c5151171fd a noble, Theo’s 3be3bf3889 my bodyguard. This is just a c9a6e37553 role for the mission.dcf4e7fc30a06693

“Ah, my apologies. I’ll compensate for d6d1d1ef31 the glass,” Luke 58d8221a01 said smoothly.4b9807beec9e5d5e

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He knew well ce3a78e673 enough how nobles 02e2c9ed68 behaved—after all, he’d 421489236f seen enough of b659b5b38c them during his c7b2e746db time in the b6eccabd9d military. Acting high and mighty, compensating d23497da29 for mistakes with money rather fce9239dde than apologies—this was exactly the ea2aa03a0c kind of behavior befitting a 80080458e9 noble brat.7170b2cc693c9b05

The owner, who had been f5817369f8 eyeing Luke suspiciously, now leaned 68a6230c46 closer to examine his face 155f228f9a under the hood. Luke’s silver hair, 688dc5b666 glinting even in 0c180c7644 the dim light, 5cf0b4be82 was impossible to f8538d8db5 hide. But more striking ef521bb2f8 than the hair 3c5fe05dd7 were his features—large, 705f50bd9d expressive eyes, a cc1daee2e7 sharp jawline, and 4ed73b7ada a nose as 13d134695a prominent as a b092db0f1e mountain ridge.59dc109d7070884e

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“It’s fine,” the owner finally said.a900a7002bf2f62d

Whether Luke’s appearance convinced him 32bdc13a7b or his earlier words placated f27301ea28 him, the owner uncrossed his d0ab77fd5a arms.e33617df47bbb45f

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“And the purpose of the goods?”375efb3fa07ceaac

“I’ve been a bit bored lately,” Luke replied, shrugging nonchalantly. He was putting every a5f8bf4b70 effort into looking like 8779be76f6 a spoiled noble.8f23489438718e3d

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“It’s rare for a refined young master to show up in person…” the owner mused, still guarded.7b3c64bd715b7bd9

“Just curious about how you filthy businessmen make a living,” Luke said with a smirk. “I’m a curious fellow. I decided to follow 1763c6069e my servant here.”2a405db6d12a7a52

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The owner’s expression twisted. Clearly offended by 2c0cef268c Luke’s arrogant demeanor, 0071f1059d he clicked his 5da31e9cf2 tongue but eventually eb997c33ff nodded.f767fccf088b8fa0

“Very well. I’ll show you the goods.”3caf0f2e9136fccb

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The owner tapped the bar b21652c4c9 twice, prompting the three men 697464c77d at the back table to db9e7fdede rise. They didn’t look like 4a7df30c07 ordinary patrons—they moved with 0c8b12116f purpose. One locked the front 430599eb35 door, another crouched in c8ff2c6112 the corner to fiddle 56f1c9de18 with something on the 4059507bd3 floor, and the last a2534f07bf stationed himself behind Luke 4990245b57 and Theo.70410d87285ac4cd

The previously unassuming tavern now 8fd5a2952e carried an air of menace, de054ee509 like they were standing on 97c18bb9a2 the edge of a cliff, 98f7454ef7 one wrong step away from f4968c32b6 disaster. Luke’s lips curled 5ee8173afb involuntarily at the 723d97b468 familiar tension and a8e931b295 thrill of danger.56a1415daf10e2ca

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“This way.”e423427e534d5d4a

The man in the 55d083657b corner lifted a trapdoor 8297ccf7e6 with a grunt, revealing 7570cfb6d9 a staircase leading underground. Dust swirled as the e1ae084ad0 heavy cover opened. The owner gestured for fdcbce3536 them to follow.be954d101a79eba0

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“You’re quite the actor,” Theo murmured as they descended.a98a442550c9920b

“That’s my line.”e1281708df2ff84e

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The two exchanged c45e6732ea whispers as they 3dbaaf1d0f cautiously descended the 23d7490ff7 stairs. A guard remained 31795d0867 behind to watch 96ace10933 the door, leaving 47b520b15d Luke, Theo, the 2a2a1250bf tavern owner, and 10740056f2 his two subordinates 4d66eeacb0 to venture down—a aebeb9cb58 total of five 49a223a655 people.c6db13ae008d086d

Luke had assumed the 3099399347 tavern was small, but 6aabb3dca5 the staircase descending into fca797e91a the underground was surprisingly 49ca6d6dd0 long. The deeper they 00582e3663 went, the more 443b238877 oppressive the air 9f388038d6 became, heavy with 6b4c9d62ec the unmistakable stench 18b7fa3bc2 of crime.1a3f096d2350f889

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While others risked their lives 18127cdef7 fighting monsters, these scumbags made 824eebd7e3 fortunes trafficking even the weakest 2aaeb195f5 ones. The thought made Luke’s blood 3a3011fb4a boil, and he had to e5e769085c suppress the urge to lash ecf7a0fa92 out and destroy everything right d18f469192 then and there.b27844180ceba0d1

Suddenly, he felt 070338acf5 a gaze on e42c42a96d him. Turning his head, he saw f1a5920e79 one of the subordinates leering 6a723d8337 at him, a grin stretched f8594c25c9 across his face.7d3823cd241f229b

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“What are you looking at?” Luke snapped.26ae6cccaf638d87

“I was just imagining…” the man began with an unsettling chuckle.ecb00ec4fb88f727

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Luke raised an eyebrow, confused. “Imagining what?”490387324cd50c15

“With a face like yours, even I could go for a man,” the subordinate sneered.df8e76941ec152a3

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What the hell? Crazy bastard. Luke furrowed his brow 41237a74f0 in disgust. The man let out a 718d5804d6 low laugh and slowly reached fa9cc45ed4 a hand toward Luke’s face.885b9ac5e8b66bf1

“Ah!”5a9c008e81403748

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Before the hand could a013373b6a get any closer, Theo, dd27a8a8f8 who had been leading b13e98998c the group, whirled around e3921239eb like a ghost. In an instant, 64c63bb6d7 he seized the 8fa80b0afc man’s wrist, his 32e7f5c3b2 grip so strong e9897f2b3f the veins on 47ec0c7b55 his hand bulged 8833ba30f1 visibly.31aa8ff8a32ecb83

“It hurts! Let go! It hurts!” the subordinate 445f51f71e howled, struggling against Theo’s a41e3c4fd3 unyielding grasp.2b3ee1169cad933b

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“Don’t touch him,” Theo said, his voice colder than the underground air.dd3b354e220175e9

The voice, as cold as 5cf1931dbb the underground air, even startled 01d1266c1e Luke. Theo seemed completely immersed 1f01f07461 in the role, almost 53790cb6d1 disturbingly so. Luke couldn’t help but c69f8ffbeb wonder if Theo might a2f9782ee6 have found fame in 672545c0f7 a prestigious theater troupe 888e6ab2d5 had he not become c98d41a892 a soldier. Yet, no matter how hard f436d2f627 he tried to picture Theo ca1a4d1d1a performing on stage, the image 92eeb23372 just didn’t stick. Luke decided to e4bd5cbecb stop entertaining the a8d64de1aa thought.439f6f330bfe0378

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“My apologies,” the tavern owner, and apparent leader of the smuggling ring, said as he reprimanded the subordinate who had tried to touch Luke. Only then did Theo 678ad5d189 release the man’s wrist.056e90d44a4a4363

“Lord… no, my lord,” Theo corrected himself, turning to Luke.8d4cae5610d14f12

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“Huh?”fa41984660c9ce8b

“Please, step ahead.”af52e776b66c56dc

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Theo even went so 77f29b9615 far as to switch 7e950be5c8 their positions, putting Luke cbe746d1c5 directly behind the owner 17cd4503b5 while Theo fell back 7de7696622 to stand near the 221e03d7a5 lackeys guarding the rear. Luke found that 272c6ee393 he didn’t entirely c534fa1ce8 mind Theo addressing be7f606797 him so formally. Smirking faintly, he 3a97cb310a descended the last 919f7d9725 few steps.f5c1f22a23ec1c9d

At the bottom, a881b6aa5b the owner pulled 0737c3493b out a key 7417499102 and unlocked the 1c485fcb64 heavy door. What lay beyond was 7153a622d5 a vast space. The two lackeys who 8f32618d90 had followed them strode 2c51216e51 inside, one stomping noisily 9e73f25589 as if still nursing e84630c174 a grudge from Theo’s 73b3fe5e32 earlier show of dominance.52f0a08002c860b6

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They moved about lighting sconces 7a802d2d66 on the walls with practiced cfff727a89 ease, and the warm, orange 910ddab21d glow of the flames began e4c58aa8a3 to fill the room. As the light c27a8b2bed stretched into every 6d658cf019 corner, the once-hidden a4e677a6c0 interior slowly came c82a054c35 into view.f6ec3bc3063321c1

The underground space was 8f183b25d9 expansive, far larger than 6761d8486e the small tavern above 145233201b suggested. Crates of various 79367844fb sizes were stacked 0811c67fb3 haphazardly along the a904ceaff8 walls, and the 0fe0242c5b faint smell of 0daa3c510f damp wood mingled 52d0a2be2a with something metallic—perhaps 0540363b4b blood or magic 41398611b0 residue. Luke’s eyes narrowed as he ea4e5b3fd2 took it all in, his a96b33b154 mind already piecing together the 4fe32bc359 operation.e064aebaf76b5076

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This was no ordinary fc21b0557a smuggling den.ee55ab5a30e82aca