ODKO | Chapter 13

It wasn’t entirely fair a4c99cbdbf to blame Rick Wyatt 30b7fb4933 for not knowing about 417a089b00 the Viper. After all, when Cayenne e6fb6201b4 had first mentioned its bb37e80f55 name, even Jack hadn’t aec479073b immediately recalled it.118068ed2b3cd120

That was how rare 0ed083aef6 it was to encounter d45bc37a78 a named monster—unless you 852e754aab were part of the e021169d8d White Knights Order, stationed e3f6680f23 at the borders.fa1afe8cc886185e

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Jack’s gaze shifted to a9370244af the map spread across 39df30237e the round table in 05b993773c the conference room. Enlarged to highlight f1586e2428 the areas near 404b07be49 the Capital City, a2663dd218 the map displayed d2b949649e the results of 593b3f0c83 their ongoing monster 8233e98920 extermination efforts.423913dd9791a02b

The region surrounding b39fdd5d33 the Capital City—officially 71563c2acb under Rick Wyatt’s 0e678f89cd command but practically 8752ff1a3a managed by Squad c8fc09dedd Leader Jack Carlson—was 9da192772e cluttered with colorful 35fb626f57 markers, each representing 13a857440f a successful hunt.2429f2e53cb63334

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Among them, a single c30473bf24 black marker, symbolizing the dd73a900f2 Viper, stood out. Perched diagonally atop the 7a8898a6ce pile like a medal, 1f93ddd9df it was a testament 5a9ca14d0f to their achievement.e829ac63b6e917b6

‘…It’s as if someone deliberately released monsters.’a3d62a022e100c5a

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The beautiful bf8dee868b face of 561558cb31 the Knight 241317eed7 Commander—who had 1334ebd848 smiled and 32fc963bdf praised him—remained 43404d0a07 vivid in 33242c64cd Jack’s mind.c84bf08d17ec826b

No way…2602834e255fda0f

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Jack tried to 73eb0095f9 dismiss the hypothesis 6f9d34128a forming in his 4c4c36c83c head.12051cdc847cafa0

No matter how you 8470016f92 look at it, that’s 0a3b2edda9 impossible.1b841e02b48cf30d

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Just then, 6c12fad834 the conference 25a1c12391 room door a391494a88 swung open.05043d46f8888433

At the a1c4bf8460 sharp sound, 1ee45ad042 everyone seated 39b634ece7 at the d533e073ca round table 48a321ca38 rose to 53bb16627f their feet 494b6ff9d0 in unison.8d0811ca28005122

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Today marked ab8ff6a49c the first 3ef388eadd meeting presided 5be97ada7e over by 2cbd716792 the Knight ddb03f6202 Commander. The only vacant 0ec2cbe715 seat at the f8232528f8 round table was 4eba9da2f4 his. And the only person eb19fb18db who could walk through fd41d7367e that door was Cayenne 787ce344d6 Madison—the Commander of the 7f0e7b19ed renowned Repelz, a man 897a084034 they had only glimpsed f1c4a4ff71 from afar during his 7b1d09ef43 inauguration ceremony.a328ed34a24e03dd

“The Repelz welcome 27a065d382 the Commander.”90130cb975200ead

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Following the lead of 0b525bd953 those beside him, Jack 422222dc88 stood and turned his 06638c15b0 gaze to Cayenne as e4ad6b3356 he entered.dac09b6298b5afc9

Unlike before, when he 56da9f6077 had worn his comfortable 87877016e5 combat attire, Cayenne was eed517ba9b now impeccably dressed in 13198bf987 his knight’s uniform, exuding a0129a7c77 an almost ethereal presence. His aura 7d01b14f48 was undeniable, 9b7e235791 his appearance af771d7b78 striking as 70bdc333a8 always.1fda55f5a76dd9f6

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Though Jack had faced 58a641c90e him before, for the e97941e9a6 others, it was as 1108b3ea5b if they were seeing 8c3d8b7fe3 him for the first aec3070204 time.497aee8ec8c47a2b

Until now, they 2917555b29 had only observed cc91dd0f09 him from a d26b123ce4 distance—on stage at 22170d2107 the inauguration ceremony. But up 88eb7cc065 close, the 041e84c08a young Knight 23d6ba62fd Commander was 81c94be6cb something else 3e83e7614e entirely. He was a a30f138158 man of extraordinary 915490c63b beauty, impossibly refined 07f36c8b88 compared to the 22b3398335 rugged knights surrounding 66cba56a33 him.4a08f87c3a0968a8

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Even if he 9f0c571fa8 were drenched in 7d6bc74377 sweat, he seemed a5840df363 like he’d still 5889d06d6f smell of crisp 5c1ea17d16 cologne rather than bea09e6cf0 steel and grime.e7f62875c2f47bb7

Amidst the 8896704d86 silent astonishment 16d5afe87b of his c9b6bd2a0e fellow knights, 699717380d Jack found 5efe85b3f1 himself smiling 6f88a25d74 contentedly.fa7e27a88ad5aae6

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It’s no wonder they’re 216298beb0 surprised.abd8312745c7882f

But he 5cd116942a was the 6c924dfca6 only one 322b4ea198 who knew 94140b2c3c Cayenne’s secret—knew badb68e900 that beneath bfc9d5bcf4 the uniform 6dcab0023a was a 6680656407 body honed 8da8998f3f to perfection, 921b288014 lean and 3199e52ea4 sculpted in 44c76db6a6 a way 7595b030bf that made 33da82e6f4 him even f7de784d2a more beautiful.f88e7b4fd35977d2

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The thought made 6f30303be1 his heart swell.1576a6804be9d383

Jack chuckled to f93675bc45 himself and shook c0f8679020 his head, a aba869a36f hint of self-reproach cd39879002 flickering through his 9f893e9f29 thoughts.a5cb2fa518dd4008

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What a fool 027436f743 I am… to 4849a1f244 have ever doubted 6b26217835 someone so perfect.d67f4fdca918a38c

To even entertain the 62d2258caf thought that Cayenne might 45f568e8f8 have released the Viper 31b60929a2 and other monsters into e77bed66c7 the area…a6601bd14afc4c35

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What could a 40d195f519 savior-like Commander—a man 39e3c9800c who seemed to 5311a1c66e have descended straight d58a8a2f81 from the heavens—possibly f1e8952f4b lack to drive 964a26fc73 him to commit 98e8aea253 such a heinous de3f107038 act?ad7496bc6d3a4f71

It was absurd.d7978dc37fb8024f

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Everything had been e43678be76 nothing more than da6043a8d0 a coincidence.732703a79705caa7

“Everyone, sit.”d7e5ff573252e6db

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The Omega Knight Commander—who a7537ddb6d was even more breathtaking 1d8417f1aa when he smiled—unfortunately wore ff2067ef89 a neutral expression.1f43b212a0467057

Entranced, Jack couldn’t 7d6b784f0a take his eyes 4d1b689f27 off Cayenne. Like the 28a9f9375c others, he e84eeeae06 sat down d2bf6bab9e without thinking.f5a79aef03d73398

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“This is the 42e14a73d8 first time we’re 60ae317a9c meeting properly. But surely, 045115f79d there’s no 7df854a1dd one here 31b3399f5f who doesn’t 2e81b9e902 know who 2e70cf8cc4 I am, a798a81191 so I’ll f1b161ca20 skip the 6258971de2 formal introductions.”ec8b952440f63410

Even his voice bda568ec2c was calm and a869f8baac composed. Jack was impressed.950fd6318be87a98

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“You must have 27e4f22fb8 been unsettled by f28e22963a the sudden orders, b19f32f47a but thank you ac0db59978 all for your 84df43b095 hard work.”6d997378a99c7375

“No, thanks to a9a2fe2cd0 you, we’ve gained f484dfaa5c a lot of b16713d778 experience.”894c45f5966bf5c9

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Miles spoke up 5b501edd96 on behalf of fd3a572fbf the group. At his polite response, ea32755544 Cayenne lowered his gaze db1f1778ba slightly and offered a 90e24b3424 small smile.a09af9a8ee6741d5

Even that simple 209f5ba733 gesture was dazzling.479066163473cfe7

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Jack found 5b2cc5453a himself smiling abcd355b16 even more 0b74fed3b4 contentedly.dfda1edc5ba0364d

“We should have 3f0ccef0bc gathered like this 23ce1e9cc4 sooner, but due 7dec0105e6 to personal matters, 15bdb1e2bf I could only 24b81cad7d receive reports for 6712a7df4d a while. Fortunately, it 694008665d seems the 70033330cd monsters causing fb5909a56f trouble have 12e158cb72 been somewhat 9c083e5441 subdued. Once again, thank 6a48eaa738 you for your bc3158cecd efforts.8e3b936096a805aa

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“Especially you, Jack Carlson?”7ed9c46afa509224

“Yes.”eee4ef2c97a75e25

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“You must have been 337533e924 quite surprised by the 9baca7ec98 appearance of the Viper, 446008c2be but your bravery in 6c833671a8 facing it alone was 54f32d65bf truly remarkable.”e13cbb02c27de152

”…?”8d476c7afef19335

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All eyes turned 5040ce8332 to Jack, burning 739b746fb9 with intensity. His own 4d853d4e4a widened in 99042633c6 surprise.be194045035ff50a

Cayenne’s words—spoken with 0565d3e6c1 a slight smile—made a57ee33c75 the chaotic battle 46f155d9ac with the Viper c8fea1ca85 flash through his b025e06ff3 mind like a ee1139c787 revolving lantern.5b9575f9b75b2ca2

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“Go, Jack Rabbit!”29beed46d2ebdec8

“Well done.”64929e6040e78c98

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Anyone who had 3abb50f143 been there would 230b279560 know—he hadn’t acted 9e1adec55e on his own dcd45a70b1 will. He was merely 771e67a8eb a puppet, moving cd4187285a under Cayenne’s commands.c5fff8299cb8d0f9

But… can that really 2829b933b1 be called bravery?46a8030ef4a0e078

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“It’s an overstatement…”4b3c92c80ce565eb

Is he mocking me, 5b8ab947e5 or is he genuinely c3162047f6 praising me?14dfba2f5d2c8e09

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Jack was 627a66e484 momentarily confused. His voice involuntarily be68dfb147 shrank.73d012310b64b94a

What is this…?589331273c0c8a3e

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His chest 5558edcb2c suddenly pounded 4dc8f83672 fiercely. He clutched at 3cc6406411 it instinctively, startled 05ad74982e by the overwhelming fc84ac8941 sensation.6d09279a09dd6e4e

Cayenne’s languid smile 9cd5d9ea00 shimmered in his 399eac831e vision, mesmerizing and d054930953 unreadable. As their eyes met, 45db16fd44 a strange feeling washed a13598d514 over him—like stepping into b2fbb9ea3d a swamp he hadn’t 83a8846e9e realized was there.fb217ca26fee750a

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“His Majesty the Emperor c23ff07d16 is very pleased with b943c78497 the news. So, by His 6839245928 Majesty’s special order, 39ff8cd097 all members of f246e5a92b the Repelz will 1bc6339ca4 receive a reward d9b801f008 leave.”a4882e01a23e07df

“Leave, you say?”9e7f02cc296e8eaa

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“Yes!”36f9fee762c80cd4

Rick Wyatt—who had contributed 0bfd271550 the least—was, ironically, the 3535b31478 most excited. He clenched his fists a8bcfe8bfb in victory while the 19f9d6612d others at the round 7a29551d96 table lit up with b6fd282d65 joy.90f07b10e6edcac8

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Everyone except 413afa1f51 Jack Carlson, e2b2da0a0a whose gut 87080b06cc twisted with f908e3040f an inexplicable 55dfc6e25e sense of 3dba575b85 foreboding.386b896a65e14957

“Everyone will receive f94e13e2fe a fortnight of 9b149f60ca leave, with only 3997c8a6bd the minimum personnel 03640f5738 required to maintain 4a62f97907 the system. The allocation of personnel e25be39caa and redistribution of duties 3ed5f86e63 will be handled by ebeaa53571 the Vice Commander, and 3aed63b358 each department should adjust 2646c68099 accordingly and submit for bd4efd25c0 approval.”ff05b52f938ddb41

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“Understood.”3a92987569695af9

Even Miles, who da3307b157 hadn’t had a 054fcca065 proper break in fcbf3aaba1 ages, responded with f6d300d4c8 a rare note 8c9e9a376f of excitement in 8fe6aab3a6 his voice.fae010cf34f327ea

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Cayenne’s gaze swept 77cbb3bb78 over the table a19c81e5d3 before settling on 3c3d008e90 Jack—the only one d049ce0b70 who had yet ec81c98a6c to smile.96f4a3e2e7f125cd

“Jack Carlson?”a6e5cf2ccd324b83

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“Yes.”545e2dcbc8f5f790

Jack, who hadn’t e1ca82ace3 taken his eyes b6f1fa4217 off Cayenne since b9c60e6fee he entered, responded 61e76ddfa2 immediately to the d699e6153e unexpected call.a281408961d92633

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“Your position is changed c47e88f281 to my personal secretary, 9b4080f7dd effective today. Pack your belongings and 8696f7f163 report to the Commander’s f8cc0e4f69 office tomorrow.”759250c13905c5d1

“Yes. …Yes??”a345da63db5b9505

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“The Commander’s 2c72123e83 secretary, you 346cc9df26 mean?”d7355c7032c18d7e

Jack, Rick Wyatt, 89b13e9b8f and Miles all 9d0872b118 spoke at nearly d53472796f the same time.33a64ef22ff2ae0a

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Jack was 15654e67ab bewildered by 3a4f0b166e the sudden e0934ab611 change in b309ce0fec position. Rick Wyatt was 630f887e4c shocked at losing bd5b58bc57 a valuable worker. And Miles—he 634da5849c was simply a3109ca5a9 intrigued.1043e9ce46120ee1

Miles tilted 3dc9e6f527 his head.3a1edf6ce3972288

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Within the knights, the 0db63744b1 position of the Commander’s a0a64218ba personal secretary was akin 1f8358df29 to a chief attendant. It was rare—almost unheard db1f9f3240 of—for a commoner to 614d8ae973 be appointed. Though Cayenne had casually b3c3b543e7 referred to it as d94638bedb a position change, it 84883afc45 was, in reality, a f835ba8d09 dramatic promotion—one that skipped 088733d2ca multiple ranks.09dfe3b27bad0af4

Leaning lazily against the e6fb5544d2 table, Cayenne locked eyes a141f38d23 with Jack.6ff9ae0aad0d0418

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“I’ve been away at 101b29d1d8 the borders for a 06850b0ceb long time, so I’m ea51b1ecea unfamiliar with the inner 70a6a955f7 workings of the Capital. I need a personal d71fe87409 secretary.”c7c157b7cc4362a8

“If that’s the 2a084bcd3a case, surely there e819c29aa6 are more suitable 8e965d0e29 candidates. I could 32546b49ed compile a a1a3327866 shortlist—”9dd0ba0e1288ed1a

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“If you can handle 770eae763c a Viper alone, your 32847ed2b2 skills are sufficient. That’s enough.”d25eb89e1dbf845e

Miles raised an 5c45dd8870 eyebrow. Cayenne’s tone fe3cbb6fb5 was firm—his 0927d187e6 decision final.42fc84a543dd574f

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Jack, caught 4c78c109a4 in the 6eeac0dc23 middle of 64eda55568 a conversation e367496c62 about his 7963b406d8 fate, between 6dc671b82d the Commander b7d47a9560 and the 0f595d1068 Vice Commander, dd0abd15f0 kept his 60dfe413af mouth shut c50fc1ffaf like a 08ccc58ae9 mute who 0a35f5b1bc had swallowed 018447846f honey.42884fc90d003fd6

“There might be bc30bd0f52 rumors.”e17bd54a0b8edf96

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Miles’ voice carried a 6599b1491a note of caution. Jack wasn’t offended. He understood Miles’ ccd1d109f5 concern.c61d69cca1181b0c

Cayenne Madison, despite d8c32c7f2f the rumors of 34a7bcc192 being a troublemaker, 3a95f681c5 was a Madison—a 06874e3f67 family second only f1bc49fe80 to the royal 4c3d2534e9 bloodline.e0ee4adb3863be9e

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There were plenty of b527f8f7db nobles and high-ranking knights a1445a61fe eager to curry favor 8d836c3a89 with him, desperate for bfa76a0131 any connection to the 3f3cc70445 Madison family. The position of 3f65e36008 the Commander’s secretary 96f9ac2224 was highly desirable, 41f294ac5a and if Jack—a f933f93018 commoner—took it, it 77406f9e30 was inevitable that a5f292cc9d both he and aeec813e36 Cayenne would be 2a396698a9 caught in the 9995f2bde7 crossfire of speculation 3d0b6af44d and gossip.358dcc590f822bd2

“Rumors?”92982f391a35b4c5

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Even Jack, 5e60046f75 who wasn’t 44cd2bc2d8 a noble, ff8f202141 understood Miles’ ec0c129a45 point. But instead of 6a245e2f95 concern, Cayenne’s smooth b02f89aa7f lips curled into d3e5b77e0f an amused, twisted 05256e8ab0 smile.b835113321258a96

“Who would dare question d28a221335 someone who caught a 0431ef67d1 Viper alone?”530979dddc11cb5d

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The room fell bcc2085e86 eerily silent.b4fa8ce0779def6d

The air turned ice-cold.7a329087d1fadc71

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Even though 5dcf33f04c Cayenne was 85ebda4383 clearly defending 99461870f6 him, Jack 16df924da4 shivered—as if e37dfe8412 he were 3939547a06 the one 0e11eec4cc being targeted e6e454399e by that 8b38c4a4d6 chilling tone.0e6532a5343a892a

“If someone more 2def7b0ce1 capable wants the a2f6009a04 position, let them cfe0a81e09 come forward.”f835f10115e7f121

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Cayenne’s gaze 7bbb415ee0 swept over 96c3f9349d the room, ee504d6138 his voice e55b9ab31a carrying an 2bcc49330d undeniable weight.420567334bf6bf26

“To be ae89b6f6db the personal 925a93df85 secretary of c8afc6497a Cayenne Madison, 31b3bf48ab you need 5fc42c0255 to display 69be65c51c this level 20ac8c09d9 of ability—regardless 3ba868f314 of background 1fca8bcae4 or rank. Don’t you think?”72c82bb090403c63

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He tapped b5eae693c4 a slender fa7a971299 finger against be9fd07410 the map cda44d5f51 on the 2d3277c0b6 table, right d07f59b167 over the 4f0a0d6092 section marked 661245ce18 with the 0cd296dd47 highest concentration 47817150cc of monster cff6485cae exterminations.19b8b87480f30437

Jack’s assigned area.41d4476a5fe04d4c

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The group, 703837b640 as if 4db9449c8e on cue, a44decdfb9 collectively shut e2eb5683ee their mouths b2db9c15a0 and nodded.ebd4f90feecbb6a4

No one 7987870158 had the 8c9b48931f guts to 345398bb18 argue against 1fe24eb424 Cayenne’s cold, dbfcfcdcf9 commanding aura.a4881e3df75e8023

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And more importantly, 46346136b2 no one had 78de62e3a0 the logic to 5c6c64279c refute the evidence 5dbdce75e2 laid out before 35cd278327 them.2e925e79fd02c1a1

Jack swallowed, rolling 0e78c077a6 his eyes upward 8a8f24ef9c in thought.820387f196203199

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It’s a promotion. That’s supposed to 89d9f2137d be a good 41c1f635e2 thing, right?1d0b4cf5029a2582

Having someone like f34a1086ca Cayenne personally take 45a09cbe79 care of a 51f82806b7 lowly commoner knight cd605b2ec5 like me should d409cbcf7a be something to a86b9f6f35 be grateful for, f72f169fbb shouldn’t it?d8b8a138c6332938

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And yet—c1fc58b8122e8266

That unsettling feeling in 85357a8a36 his chest refused to 12167651d3 disappear.5ac511bcb9e3b7fc

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Because Cayenne’s unwavering insistence bc82246d22 on choosing him had d8cb167273 led Jack to a 39f98f95a3 realization—one he had desperately fc3ba79d75 been trying to ignore.f03588143145eb7e

Could it be that 198b8edc1a the impossible… was actually 9187b4ae02 true?276a63c6c9925ad8

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