FMRV | Chapter 8

The rumors spread like wildfire throughout the entire Imperial Army. What had been discussed in a meeting between high-ranking commanders was now known by nearly every soldier at the headquarters in a matter of hours. The story? Commander Luke had allegedly embezzled military supplies to curry favor with noble allies, but he vehemently denied the accusations.

Bad news always traveled faster than anything else, and Luke was painfully reminded of that bitter truth.

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

“He probably figured he could get away with it because he’s a commander.”

“Or he planned to pin it on one of his subordinates if things went south.”

“Trying every trick in the book to knock down Commander Theo and grab the Supreme Commander’s position, huh?”

Just like that, Luke had become the hot topic of the Imperial Army. Not that it was the first time, but this time, the attention was more intense. What irked Luke most wasn’t the spread of the rumors but the unanimous reaction they garnered.

“Of course, we knew he’d do something like this.”

Not a single person stood up to defend him. Nobody said, “Luke wouldn’t do something like that.” He was quickly labeled a villain who committed a crime and tried to throw his subordinate under the bus. And, to some extent, Luke could accept it as a consequence of his own actions in the past, so it didn’t bother him too much.

“What happens if it’s proven true that Commander Luke did it?”

“Hard to say. It’s been ages since a commander-level officer caused this kind of scandal. But since Commander Theo is leading the investigation, we can trust he’ll handle it properly.”

There was even talk among the soldiers about how great it would be if Luke were expelled from the military. Hearing these whispers, Luke couldn’t help but think:

“Come to think of it, maybe stepping down wouldn’t be so bad.”

After the meeting, Luke confined himself to his quarters as ordered. The request for him to “limit outings” sounded like a suggestion but was, in reality, a clear command that he couldn’t disobey.

“That guy Theo will manage just fine without me,” Luke muttered to himself, feeling a strange sense of apathy wash over him. Though he’d accepted the role of a villain, being falsely accused—especially with a subordinate’s involvement—left a bitter taste.

The term of the current Supreme Commander, Veil Winium, was nearing its end. He was advanced in age and unlikely to seek reappointment. The position would soon pass to someone new, and among the candidates, three names stood out.

First was Commander Leo Ruit, of the 7th Division. As the eldest son of the prestigious Ruit Marquess family and a graduate of the military academy with decent marks, he had strong backing. However, his free-spirited personality and lack of commanding presence made many doubt his suitability as a leader. He had also publicly stated he wasn’t interested in higher ranks, making him a less likely contender.

Next was Commander Luke himself. Unlike Leo, Luke had graduated at the top of his class. His defining feature was his humble origins—he was a commoner. Despite his lack of noble heritage, Luke had climbed the ranks at lightning speed, becoming the youngest commander ever and taking charge of the Special Forces. His meteoric rise naturally put him in the running for Supreme Commander.

Lastly, there was Theo Redrick. In contrast to Luke, Theo had graduated second in their class. During their cadet days, the two had constantly vied for the top spot, with Theo holding the edge in the number of times he secured first place during terms. Theo was also the current head of the Redrick Ducal Family, having stepped up as acting Duke after his father fell ill. His reputation as a soldier was as stellar as his family name. He was known for turning the tide of battle in even the most unfavorable conditions and was beloved within the military for his quiet yet steadfast care for his troops.

“If I get expelled over this, Theo will undoubtedly take the position without a hitch,” Luke mused. With Leo out of the running, the race for Supreme Commander boiled down to him and Theo—a rivalry that had fascinated many for years.

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

Luke shook his head vigorously. He couldn’t leave until he saw Theo safely seated as Supreme Commander. No loose ends could be left behind. For now, he needed to resolve this incident, one way or another.

“Commander Luke, it’s time to move to the investigation room,” a soldier announced with a knock at the door. Luke let out a deep sigh before rising to his feet.

“Theo, are you serious about this?”

“About what, exactly?” Theo asked without looking up from the documents spread out on his desk.

“The investigation into Commander Luke,” Mile pressed, standing before Theo and attempting to convince him to reconsider.

“Mile, you’ve asked me this three times now. Yes, I’m serious.”

“This isn’t like you. Whenever something like this happened before, you always delegated the investigation to another commander or vice-commander.”

In cases of misconduct—be it insubordination or harassment—Theo had always consulted with his peers to appoint an appropriate investigator. Mile had expected the same this time, thinking Theo would simply leave the task to him.

“…This case is different,” Theo said after a moment. “It involves a commander. That changes things.”

He deliberately avoided Mile’s gaze, returning to his papers instead.

“Are you sure you can handle this? You’ve got so much on your plate already…” Mile trailed off.

“Mile.” Theo closed the file and rose from his seat. “I appreciate your concern, but if you keep pushing, it’ll start to feel unwelcome.”

With that, Theo walked past Mile and left the office. Left alone, Mile clicked his tongue in frustration, his face twisting with annoyance.

“Commander Theo, Commander Luke has just arrived at the investigation room,” a soldier informed Theo as he passed.

“Understood,” Theo replied, nodding lightly as he made his way to the designated room.

Upon arrival, he noticed something odd—two guards stood firmly at the door, wearing armbands identifying them as sentries.

“What’s going on here?” Theo asked.

“As you can see, we’re guarding the investigation room,” one of the guards explained.

Theo’s brow furrowed slightly. Luke might have been a prime suspect, but he hadn’t been formally charged. It wasn’t as if they were interrogating a convicted criminal.

“This seems excessive,” Theo commented.

“Sir, according to military regulations, any subject or witness under formal investigation must be accompanied by at least one guard.”

Realizing his oversight, Theo let out a faint sigh. The soldier was right. While Luke’s guilt wasn’t proven, he was undeniably involved in the incident. Theo, who prided himself on knowing military law inside and out, found it strange that he hadn’t thought of that sooner.

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

“Not at all, sir!”

Theo stepped past the guards and entered the room. Inside, Luke sat casually, his expression a mix of boredom and mild irritation.

“Hey,” Luke greeted with a wave. Theo locked eyes with him for a moment before sitting across from him and placing a stack of documents on the table.

“You’re under investigation. At least try to look the part.”

“I don’t see why I should be nervous about something I didn’t do.”

“You still intend to deny the accusations?” Theo asked.

“Of course,” Luke replied with a smirk. Theo held his gaze for a moment before flipping open the file.

“But seriously, Theo, aren’t you busy? Do you really have time for this investigation?” Luke leaned back, his tone light but with an underlying jab. “Or are you using this as an excuse to climb higher by stepping over me?”

“I simply judged the matter to be of significant importance,” Theo replied, keeping his eyes on the file. The silence stretched, and when Theo looked up, Luke was leaning toward him, arm outstretched.

“…What are you doing?” Theo instinctively reached for the hilt of his sword.

Luke ignored the gesture, brushing something off Theo’s shoulder before leaning back.

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

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

“Yeah, yeah,” Luke replied lazily, clearly uninterested. Theo found him utterly insufferable. Maintaining this rivalry was necessary, but he was certain they shared nothing in common.

Clearing his throat, Theo finally spoke again. “There’s something unusual in the evidence I’ve reviewed.”