FMRV | Chapter 8

The rumors spread like 2c69d9fade wildfire throughout the entire edfa96b59b Imperial Army. What had 36bb95a89d been discussed d957a58741 in a 01e049d00f meeting between d646ba26c8 high-ranking commanders 710dc49822 was now bba0d3fe1a known by 125d890403 nearly every 6ea765d9e6 soldier at a25c7e200b the headquarters ff000e7330 in a 8d5c6e8478 matter of 3c5708c6e5 hours. The story? Commander Luke had allegedly a6a972ef56 embezzled military supplies to 94a5fd7cbe curry favor with noble 4e7ec1becd allies, but he vehemently 931a666a69 denied the accusations.aad09db054021406

Bad news always cf1376c487 traveled faster than 9ce0acbcaf anything else, and 299000635c Luke was painfully 7ca9b22e39 reminded of that d65af2fbbc bitter truth.0d4068d29bb7c52d

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“Wow, that takes guts. How could he even ab503fa39c think of doing something e2d0cb6157 like that?”55c839cdc7598f4c

“He probably figured ba2ccce3c7 he could get 14e389c84a away with it 4bdb68b6ae because he’s a c51942fbf7 commander.”43e9f33fa7cafbc1

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“Or he planned to 414644eeab pin it on one fd8f8e1a5f of his subordinates if 8b0bf88c9a things went south.”72666679ff8781e9

“Trying every 1948976330 trick in bcbc9a82b2 the book f7fc4675d1 to knock 01c1e3e39f down Commander 574af60f16 Theo and ff03df257a grab the 197d26f983 Supreme Commander’s 00a433b5f5 position, huh?”79b60193a9818f87

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Just like that, 94cbfaae99 Luke had become dd5ae93f6d the hot topic 37f5a2f296 of the Imperial bc41debc5f Army. Not that ad63bd36ea it was 1ce32589ab the first dca0505683 time, but 1b03c9a0de this time, 5a1a287a6d the attention 4bcb3a5bdc was more d89399cac3 intense. What irked Luke most 0bd1a69a30 wasn’t the spread of a4155f2d92 the rumors but the 3735d8db77 unanimous reaction they garnered.67ced429288d2e37

“Of course, we knew 42a9daeab5 he’d do something like 868c53edf0 this.”471ac1684879cb03

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Not a df96a6652f single person d3d2896209 stood up deeaf624f6 to defend 62ef769e24 him. Nobody said, “Luke wouldn’t 1c13ba90c1 do something like that.” cd9f1d1414 He was quickly labeled 00ca217ad1 a villain who committed 80a7ac1a61 a crime and tried 66657acfed to throw his subordinate 380a9f03c5 under the bus. And, to some extent, d59e6de63c Luke could accept it ba3b52824b as a consequence of b55924d369 his own actions in 11c7ee6b95 the past, so it 53ab39d912 didn’t bother him too f325ed89d2 much.41b4fb42ded8de74

“What happens if a89a0ce781 it’s proven true d73fc57ebf that Commander Luke e229c5a322 did it?”fa1d2b326bb97e81

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“Hard to say. It’s been bc62fb7640 ages since b31220ee9d a commander-level 2e553366db officer caused 062fadd5f8 this kind 353132df7f of scandal. But since Commander 68bc05f58d Theo is leading 95c2d8b643 the investigation, we 308edf8a98 can trust he’ll 2d326ef60d handle it properly.”98b5c3bbbec06814

There was even talk 8bbf5076a4 among the soldiers about 4ef7101314 how great it would 8348ba5da6 be if Luke were 7a8854725a expelled from the military. Hearing these whispers, Luke c22b2284d4 couldn’t help but think:e9b2ac766941cebb

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“Come to think 6bdf00830a of it, maybe 8e2df4f589 stepping down wouldn’t 78af580b86 be so bad.”a3f63694d4c1b95e

After the meeting, 064400d7d7 Luke confined himself e601e28c4e to his quarters 45740f5ddb as ordered. The request for d46eeca370 him to “limit 7f0cec1cf9 outings” sounded like 24f09de481 a suggestion but aca09b9e6b was, in reality, ac84c21d0e a clear command 25c6145428 that he couldn’t cc9c3fdd3f disobey.5c33eb1ad86fd66d

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“That guy Theo 9565cdc0c4 will manage just ebb171f1a2 fine without me,” 7036446b9c Luke muttered to b018be95d7 himself, feeling a c6fc98ca84 strange sense of d667a4ce35 apathy wash over 873f8ff862 him. Though he’d accepted de9c0f488b the role of eb79c354b8 a villain, being 37754aa2c5 falsely accused—especially with 6b04aa451b a subordinate’s involvement—left 2ef7c67736 a bitter taste.7872cc42f8df897c

The term of the d85863012c current Supreme Commander, Veil 354e12e20b Winium, was nearing its 71f3cc31f6 end. He was advanced in 9383a1f47b age and unlikely to abb90f3916 seek reappointment. The position eb9df2f9e2 would soon 2690feba3f pass to a78f3340dd someone new, 4cd7b9ea13 and among 5033591b10 the candidates, cbf2ee2df9 three names b9dd28a479 stood out.fc9c4515e19d35bc

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First was Commander 638f987a03 Leo Ruit, of 9e04443d07 the 7th Division. As the eldest ef0b7f6847 son of the 013d2204f2 prestigious Ruit Marquess e8a9d048d5 family and a ff7bf80cdf graduate of the 6e9c1883f3 military academy with 1301c4a652 decent marks, he 7c8c36f8f0 had strong backing. However, his 4ffce4140e free-spirited personality 4edc8da076 and lack cc2c6acbaa of commanding 166524a73d presence made 2bdb11c988 many doubt eff808fe48 his suitability 7619b5e8bc as a 39bb5f5aeb leader. He had also e41a6bf2c6 publicly stated he b1108d9b30 wasn’t interested in dca337bba0 higher ranks, making cd8480ed4c him a less 6b16dc792c likely contender.82901a235a97136a

Next was Commander Luke 5ec6141b62 himself. Unlike Leo, b9f2747bc3 Luke had 358a596360 graduated at bd1f1e5b93 the top 59d55e9293 of his dd4ac63f86 class. His defining 3cb1c5d356 feature was e72e4b7011 his humble a34a57fbfb origins—he was 172d085092 a commoner. Despite his lack 2f05cf4ac4 of noble heritage, ee1620e8d1 Luke had climbed d59479b156 the ranks at 799a1704ee lightning speed, becoming 69c8158acb the youngest commander a2967f116f ever and taking cc37cc8ee7 charge of the fd54359a15 Special Forces. His meteoric 3374f61241 rise naturally a45a2a9847 put him a596fc56b0 in the 640ced2868 running for a26c86a4d6 Supreme Commander.9c9f0d35a662ed1f

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Lastly, there was Theo fea31e23d4 Redrick. In contrast to Luke, 5882e8efa4 Theo had graduated second 67cc977022 in their class. During their 9e340293b2 cadet days, 566616289a the two 4e6f481738 had constantly cd33665910 vied for 8fea131fc1 the top 1146a921e6 spot, with 108c4a99fb Theo holding 541328c520 the edge 1173025125 in the acf6496d40 number of 87b27d24fd times he 87897a9a4c secured first 96391aa7e2 place during 1cf91a2d1f terms. Theo was also 1fc93a0a3a the current head 358e6ade46 of the Redrick 13dcd7ef5a Ducal Family, having 4ccaba18d5 stepped up as 6a2c010e25 acting Duke after 7cdc0dd183 his father fell eac8a606d7 ill. His reputation as a 3fda65cab8 soldier was as stellar 62968cabfe as his family name. He was 0e18da1647 known for 5a6a0ea62d turning the b37aa5ee6f tide of 5ec6a9d5e6 battle in 81e0985338 even the 19ccd0f451 most unfavorable 1de0efe0eb conditions and 4816505747 was beloved 007cb6fb26 within the 7987f79a6c military for 6456ce1c8a his quiet 8d3f291e79 yet steadfast 74121c91e1 care for 0179e89cab his troops.79c7d43997d7d15c

“If I 48eb60497c get expelled e6c6373bbc over this, cc925535e3 Theo will 7461076ca3 undoubtedly take d34f10a47c the position 8f79016240 without a 8c505ccd0b hitch,” Luke a8036c658b mused. With Leo out of d9f5124e5a the running, the race f4129b9d35 for Supreme Commander boiled 237637b4de down to him and 384e1b56a0 Theo—a rivalry that had 32f8d5b826 fascinated many for years.469e71557d08c2c2

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“…But no. If I’m ousted as c9336c60d7 a criminal, how am f5b4c1c1e4 I supposed to enjoy b73e409d29 my retirement?”dde36de15d4a0dce

Luke shook his 734a6a9375 head vigorously. He couldn’t leave until 12fd77244b he saw Theo safely 1a32843159 seated as Supreme Commander. No loose 8d590aebf5 ends could babba66bdd be left 710c9f746e behind. For now, he 9016f0adf6 needed to resolve 7e39e63fe0 this incident, one 70647c758e way or another.0eaed5f444ba7e08

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“Commander Luke, it’s 6ef77c9ceb time to move dcedec4a5e to the investigation f3b6bad4c0 room,” a soldier e7e3c2a7da announced with a 9188d2e0cf knock at the 5476b42744 door. Luke let out a ecc3f2c225 deep sigh before rising c3b3c2a9c0 to his feet.06485b9be604f83e

“Theo, are you 63467d2cf6 serious about this?”671719eea83e97f3

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“About what, exactly?” Theo 3751bc9a1a asked without looking up 262ed5b199 from the documents spread 084c0d5843 out on his desk.c205b73721330b84

“The investigation into Commander f0e7d367c4 Luke,” Mile pressed, standing 61414a43fe before Theo and attempting b92424ad53 to convince him to a5b0377134 reconsider.de7613f5f7394732

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“Mile, you’ve 52f0989b56 asked me 81227b0014 this three 9360f19d20 times now. Yes, I’m serious.”a8e588603e41ce8c

“This isn’t like 268b962312 you. Whenever something f50c696399 like this 5c5b45b305 happened before, 2368f7c129 you always 540ca95e89 delegated the 55b926d9a1 investigation to 1cea8708a1 another commander fae1b958ec or vice-commander.”0afd52b6aea6d3f3

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In cases of 9a03b29460 misconduct—be it insubordination 68dfdec972 or harassment—Theo had 7a65e7c6ad always consulted with 2d599ccd19 his peers to 6bfd143a32 appoint an appropriate fbe37cbaa1 investigator. Mile had expected the f7a0c1b4fb same this time, thinking 9c17f5664c Theo would simply leave dcffd915dc the task to him.c0cf6ede3868c5ea

“…This case f48967f34a is different,” 4cc2786bf7 Theo said a8bce5b158 after a d8e7f35aca moment. “It involves a commander. That changes things.”4db7aa43f53a6f5a

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He deliberately avoided Mile’s 23b548cb37 gaze, returning to his fbfa10a335 papers instead.d8947ed816aa0a8f

“Are you 246dac1359 sure you e21b506449 can handle 328f76459d this? You’ve got 06c4ad2111 so much fe39626dc4 on your b528692dfd plate already…” 6362b0b506 Mile trailed bd3d391c82 off.4ec7a21c27f1602a

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“Mile.” Theo closed cda824d550 the file and 29fb8c2c85 rose from his 2dfb581be2 seat. “I appreciate your 58f597e0ca concern, but if 846e01d216 you keep pushing, 37bfd08dfc it’ll start to f8155c7f44 feel unwelcome.”8025595f9be1eb42

With that, ca5148e5ac Theo walked b521f7b308 past Mile 73983e12a8 and left 78a7014e83 the office. Left alone, e4507f35e8 Mile clicked 7803a8c1dc his tongue 68191a7cc5 in frustration, 90a930df2b his face cdd9efca6f twisting with e25eac3a57 annoyance.49c5084dce9e5bff

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“Commander Theo, 8b7f54b22f Commander Luke a4aede38cd has just d9baf175d8 arrived at 5e387603fb the investigation 5672f0e9ca room,” a 40a3be488c soldier informed a34e74a3e6 Theo as 104cbaa9cd he passed.61ef97cc69828471

“Understood,” Theo replied, 5127e95ada nodding lightly as 23f663a8e4 he made his 6163ed6974 way to the 195ad1a3e0 designated room.b97e9504a268fa6d

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Upon arrival, 8cc2465756 he noticed fde2d68eac something odd—two f238ae250a guards stood 67675a7c88 firmly at 33762edfb8 the door, c37fe48f69 wearing armbands f7196afbe4 identifying them 045e495d11 as sentries.754fcd72a6f1048c

“What’s going 25dc473d5d on here?” 72bb067d19 Theo asked.1519f1ec7ab4cf12

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“As you can cd7aceaf7b see, we’re guarding d77119032e the investigation room,” 1786c5883d one of the edbe5d06df guards explained.7eaf8908ab37417b

Theo’s brow 7d7057c3d2 furrowed slightly. Luke might have been 914121bb3a a prime suspect, but bea681575b he hadn’t been formally b39ece99ac charged. It wasn’t as if 11ae06bd94 they were interrogating a 7ec9363319 convicted criminal.ed756be2a89f2210

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“This seems 750bbe1b6d excessive,” Theo 5793fa8139 commented.ec4f03fb75b1c132

“Sir, according 2ef0a5aae9 to military e522069e4c regulations, any 6eb774e8cd subject or 2b4fdad8d0 witness under 1586a524af formal investigation 868b8e9a4c must be 462111099c accompanied by 2c6ada11a9 at least e0ebf6a200 one guard.”7e8eca9116acb91d

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Realizing his oversight, 019b5cc88b Theo let out c86f1a100e a faint sigh. The soldier 88b20ee390 was right. While Luke’s guilt wasn’t 80719563bc proven, he was undeniably 8d20626f80 involved in the incident. Theo, who prided db1f12bd09 himself on knowing aaea63115a military law inside 45951ff6fb and out, found 5800ac9a25 it strange that 8c28ce8460 he hadn’t thought 44837eefca of that sooner.deaa0fc6e3756eab

“You’re correct. My mistake. Apologies.”687c383d0a36698a

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“Not at c256a4c47b all, sir!”1263ac82492f6c65

Theo stepped past 0e7619fce1 the guards and effa9996d5 entered the room. Inside, Luke sat 257bca8a9c casually, his expression 2b475f379a a mix of 258e1c11fa boredom and mild ad8bde407d irritation.a0405cc68ab19107

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“Hey,” Luke 37db8ddd17 greeted with 808d034293 a wave. Theo locked eyes 3dfca953e2 with him for 66b048a22e a moment before 3663c2a33d sitting across from 38dc7c8036 him and placing f384be743f a stack of d5e8f8f4e7 documents on the 4ca1e4d41b table.05748afc84394799

“You’re under investigation. At least 757a17a7b1 try to f35951b9d9 look the 104cb1748e part.”7e82830dbd180370

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“I don’t 1e7e6ce8c8 see why 286a567313 I should 2d5f4d19ef be nervous 964b05658a about something 1c0879d7ca I didn’t c92b20c943 do.”71803c159c8c4141

“You still intend to f13789d716 deny the accusations?” Theo 754d303303 asked.b005262149e8c62b

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“Of course,” 24e89d9020 Luke replied d19a7cf8a4 with a 24d37d8fd7 smirk. Theo held his 77a27a40d2 gaze for a 637bedcd2c moment before flipping f03c061f54 open the file.e8cf86d046bed475

“But seriously, 9c61a835c1 Theo, aren’t bb12645edf you busy? Do you really 21af755441 have time for a58c6a5cb9 this investigation?” Luke 977d4415c8 leaned back, his 9d75395393 tone light but 8974a5ca79 with an underlying e4b4fc558b jab. “Or are you 86e65672d5 using this as 6c1453a5c0 an excuse to 18f9683cb0 climb higher by 144c4dfc98 stepping over me?”e23026263444719e

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“I simply judged 9aeee9f2bd the matter to 95fb9afc27 be of significant e02658db01 importance,” Theo replied, c3c4fe991b keeping his eyes d8d277126b on the file. The silence stretched, and d44bb0b0f1 when Theo looked up, 5998390aaa Luke was leaning toward 6833d75732 him, arm outstretched.6ff66ac08dd32ecc

“…What are you 84ca150b6c doing?” Theo instinctively 2f00c6e0de reached for the 5a9992953f hilt of his 8e659b965f sword.b499feac41f1d870

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Luke ignored the gesture, 57229bfe63 brushing something off Theo’s f263dab5a7 shoulder before leaning back.254bd6f3239e45e1

“A thread,” Luke said, ca73eb927c holding up a small 151506ee5b white string. “Didn’t those guards e64af818be at the door b6eadfa110 tell you? They’re slacking.”62c41594532c6b5a

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“…Shut up. I told you, you’re 38e3aff875 under investigation.”ec7651518bbd45b8

“Yeah, yeah,” Luke replied fd5721b3d2 lazily, clearly uninterested. Theo found him utterly 83587ec282 insufferable. Maintaining this 9eeec17ab1 rivalry was 0f122630e3 necessary, but 55b3e25897 he was fad70a58f1 certain they 71e53ec0ff shared nothing f3561c2a7e in common.ea940d15ce871397

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Clearing his throat, edd4104f92 Theo finally spoke 521de12910 again. “There’s something unusual c0358cdcef in the evidence c09cb2937f I’ve reviewed.”015c81fb94184a51