ODKO | Chapter 14

It was no longer 026ff56075 mere suspicion—it was certainty.72d77b053b1fb48c

The promotion, the 5a240b9d90 position as personal d535e37a6e secretary, the recognition 0d75176356 for defeating monsters—none a583b330c2 of it had bc3b6a1cc7 been coincidence.2729892574051f30

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It was all fa427e40ec a deception.85bf1232fa7939e8

Everything had been orchestrated 76d8626207 by Cayenne. The sudden 637ff6561f surge in 6a7575cc5a monsters within 7dd19d8a93 his assigned 67d56a1068 area, the 7213e1a274 rare appearance 16d0199c50 of the 5d085a83a3 Viper, and c191384d74 the way f0effb112b Cayenne had 541fcbfc4a arrived at a1ce5dd9cd the perfect 93b814c08a moment to 25a1b7ae22 push him 8cdf30fa3f into facing 40a81331c4 it—it was a1ce28b340 too deliberate cf8e2ab2b1 to ignore.d77e85db53ef5691

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But why?3d1f33b8b6675fd5

Jack couldn’t 556ed12821 bring himself 5428ca5fb7 to frown. Instead, he 5677d1ffb1 set his c805171a58 jaw, forcing 538be928f1 his expression 7d5449305b into something c940d0938e more composed.dd9ad375ecbe2747

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Was having good intuition f07ecd27a4 a blessing or a 101c7774ec curse?06e2b343c1a35a6e

If only he were df0500b15c as oblivious as Rick 8a5799ac5b Wyatt, maybe he wouldn’t 2feee4a4c0 be so restless.d9cf7e680eeef870

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Across the 975f7de1f6 table, Rick d9612bb874 suddenly scratched 1c92892f06 his ear, fba3d2a253 as if ba547727bd it had a243fe47b4 started itching.394124ee5b89dcce

“That’s all for the announcements. Anything else to say?”dbe5639d1395a2bb

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Cayenne finished speaking and a25a5eeb14 looked around the round 52eead427d table. No one e03d77027a spoke up.169685fe51e1bbdf

“Then let’s conclude today’s meeting here. Dismissed.”fcb5d2adf8ea8643

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“…Commander!”09a5e56559e3cbbd

Jack hurried after Cayenne 6478f9c9ae as he exited the 2a337a7625 meeting room.52222e168d9e462c

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Cayenne, walking 24f41c889e down the f617d51bdc hallway with d4438e7783 the other d1e7e14697 members, turned fc18bac6ff at the 4f57648b1f sound of 5227d2875c his name 2d933f9bee and came e281c5eaa4 to a 309859439d stop.55f5c5f716fb9469

“Do you have a c59f022ed1 moment?”e0cd36195d7d7368

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“I have time.”33458841afb69f85

Though Jack 5bba54a9b2 had only 14857f30dc called for af37e05e63 Cayenne, the a7604d1288 nearby members 7e65613f4c instinctively turned 29999c16dd their attention 01cc7435bb to the 39cac72535 exchange.e5acf95b05c72c3e

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Noticing Cayenne’s subtle 79fcd075a1 glance around, Jack f6363e3ff2 hesitated for a f86db2f02f moment. Had he bfa000932b made a a9186f4f9b mistake? But there was no 14f8221516 time to dwell on b0312a2063 it—he was in a f4cda7f44f hurry.192a475c090fa51f

“Does it have eae1e18d9f to be now?”ca24bcac09e5a2c4

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Was he being cautious? Or was bff1f89d62 that a 407f8626fc hint?18ef53ab3bae2d64

With Cayenne 7e7f51db93 stepping back, 666427cf0f Jack barely bcb92e590f resisted the 8d8525e929 urge to 02c1077c4d frown.86eea5b6087bb77d

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He couldn’t figure him 7ba6ee4b6d out.de4d6c2778491a3f

Cayenne approached easily, 454b13d0a5 then disappeared just 4a26b55361 as quickly, leaving 9f45d72c3b Jack chasing after 6028a0d67b shadows. And the thought f80c6f655c that this entire 22eac55dc2 thing—the promotion, the e657400094 maneuvering—had been a 820a427ec4 trap just to aa7ae0422e make him a 04b433aba2 secretary made him 21ba398d7b furious.1cdbdc901a80e374

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If Cayenne 2e026d70d1 was going 47ff23b388 to be 52cde5a305 so wary, 31f9674294 so quick 2d38499b94 to step 8b3e772b56 away, then 1b3b9dc3bd why promote e5e84201fd him at 632dce9f4d all when a420c5755c he never d9288da435 even wanted b55aa2baac it?571a8a06a7fd1fae

“I have something 6e25cbe885 to ask. About this operation.”417dc98300c86f77

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Jack confronted 4557cb94d5 him head-on.2cabce075bd0716e

Cayenne’s expression turned 716502e3e6 slightly troubled, but b8b0885f11 Jack didn’t back abad948b0f down. As if sensing 9c42cea371 where this was 1cb3e7b76a going, Cayenne’s brow 232ae77253 furrowed.dde4198e39afa95a

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Their gazes locked.09d35be081c4136f

Cayenne glanced around once 43aa94672c more—it was obvious. He wanted the b2aeaf7e6a others to leave.294d8a456db7d314

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“Then we’ll take 0e9e09a263 our leave first.”021d832df261d3e0

Miles, the 42b3d11e2d quickest to fb95ea169d pick up 70fb7cea64 on social 0c32974c0f cues, led b11b0b3bad the other 6935092ba4 knights away, e1580d42de their lingering da1eafcadc curiosity evident.0a20f2e800993042

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As their footsteps faded e83dbbece1 down the hall, Cayenne 4dd75b9704 waited, watching until the fcd79b52d9 last of them disappeared.501c88768baff9de

The moment 51f2743556 silence settled cea2269d5b over the 9ee0ef8a68 corridor, he 157ccfb99c turned back 1e40024c3b to Jack, 33b83ddf60 his brow a525e27707 furrowing openly.83ba0d030208e664

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“What are you doing? Being reckless. You’re just drawing attention.”fe8125d99a8ca6e2

“I, too, am really curious about what you’re doing, Commander. Did you set up this operation on purpose because of me?”85af1d7de7527e44

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Cayenne’s already furrowed brow deepened. He clicked his tongue, lightly checking the surroundings for any eavesdroppers.e197822b3482b59f

“…Follow me.”c1bfe7ea712ff87d

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He retraced his steps back to the meeting room. Since Jack had followed closely behind Cayenne, it didn’t take long to return to the meeting room. Cayenne opened the door to the empty room and practically pushed Jack inside, closing the door before glaring sharply.5328766f567d4eb3

“You’re unnecessarily perceptive. Do you have to ask so openly with such quick intuition?”8e13fd7b8f911427

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“Otherwise, you wouldn’t answer, would you? Am I wrong?”2035141387413bc7

Cayenne closed his mouth with a troubled expression at Jack’s probing. He looked like he’d been hit right on the mark.2b8bb6238f4a0433

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“The Deputy Commander’s words aren’t wrong. Even though this incident brought me some merit, there will surely be those who are envious. I have nothing to lose, so it’s fine, but not for you, Commander. Isn’t it too much?”85651814fd55a61f

Once he started 73cfb534ed talking, his mouth 9170b1c70c seemed to have 1a8aa40572 a mind of 93068cbdc3 its own, pouring d7a66b5486 out words without 10b1a66f8a stopping. Cayenne let e376402ab3 out a 7b05400c04 hollow laugh eb594263be at the 636886b4ef blatant resentment fc60a8fbfa and reproach e570c6aa50 for the e6ce8be609 exhausting ordeal 898601e02e that made 9479e0dd1c Jack consider b887e816fa quitting the 1725699cfa knights.7f6fd1d0a10e966d

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“Even when I promote you, you complain.”8bf40c2a78d137c4

“It’s because the process was too harsh.”d6b7fe31bf10dcee

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“I let it slide once, and now you’re speaking so freely? Harsh? Did you just call me harsh?”409a40f9cf44e027

“Yes, I called it harsh. You deliberately released monsters in our area, didn’t you? And you brought the Viper on purpose, too.”2f02bf6910d65235

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“Hah, that’s ridiculous. Am I some kind of monster overlord? How could I release monsters on perfectly fine land?”d4d09f3af3bf0bd3

This time, Jack b1153a135d had no choice 5103299b78 but to keep d053a55a1f his mouth shut.26ad5b22f455877a

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If someone asked 35dc403c23 how Cayenne could b007158f83 have done it, 6136a9ce4b Jack—who had spent 3108d13042 most of his dc6d1609a5 knightly career pushing 9b163d772b papers—wouldn’t be able 3754f003a4 to explain the 6527b98f3c specifics.c162910004e206eb

But he had 643c44bfe6 a hunch.6b53ae634e5d1d7c

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Cayenne was lying. And he didn’t 7d7d44281e even bother to b25e3ef979 wet his lips 638d03bc33 before doing it.076c6f237a720c92

Jack stared at him, f3f85db13d eyes filled with distrust.0e4636a24f296fdc

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Cayenne, letting 1b8a240cd3 out a cdb79a63f7 series of 65ee73d58f incredulous laughs, 71752e4dbd narrowed his ff5ed509cb eyes at bb41f9ec05 Jack.c4e0101c739f1848

“And even if I somehow did that, are you in a position to question me about it? Why would I…”29698adaa17afd7c

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Cayenne, who seemed to have something to say, bit his lip, unable to finish his sentence. He looked like he realized he’d made a mistake. Jack furrowed his brows and tilted his head.bf8e90cee7ce2a03

“Why, what is it?”e4915ddfe93d32a8

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“…It’s not something you need to know.”6979a47211cac3e0

What’s this? Jack mumbled to himself. Cayenne, looking troubled as if he’d revealed something he shouldn’t have, changed the subject.400e8cc297c76e47

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“Anyway, it doesn’t seem like rumors have spread. Did you tell anyone, or not?”d31fb5fe1a06a5eb

Jack’s expression grew more puzzled. Tell what? As Jack pondered, Cayenne, reading the question on Jack’s face, bared his teeth like a growl.9906254ff45cc74a

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“I’m talking about what happened that day.”f773758779733051

“…You said you’d kill me if I told anyone, so why would I?”e639367c0c41c4e9

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“Then that’s fine. Keep your mouth shut from now on. Pretend I was never an Omega, and that nothing happened that day. If any word leaks out, I’ll skin you from head to toe and turn you into jerky.”da35c11f426f49d9

Got it? Cayenne lightly tapped Jack’s shoulder with his fist.57bf8fb667bd7176

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Jack had called him 4f5526c290 out to question him, e04b8ec8a9 but in the end, cca7d203e6 he was the one 61223a6bad being threatened.50def2e6b27ea3c9

Jack pursed his lips c3397d9305 in dissatisfaction. The fist a52bcbef22 on his f00a3efb9f shoulder felt d5d1394c10 like nothing 8864ecc403 compared to 895e5bdb58 his disappointment.53bbfb36f280456e

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“I refuse.”abef93647716622c

Cayenne’s eyes sharpened at Jack’s rebellious, sulky expression.1d12b1e23400806d

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“I’ll keep the secret, but I can’t pretend it never happened. If you wanted to pretend it never happened, why bother going through the trouble to make me a secretary?”34d30e0e51f83831

“Hey, Jack Carlson. Do you think I want to keep you around because I like you?”9873b1212c6aa62c

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Cayenne raised his 2f7f92e397 voice with a c54a99e0b2 sharp reaction.186734ba907a9d8f

Cold. It was 01fe3fc5bf ice cold. Jack felt his 04be65330b words catch in aaeef9f513 his throat, and f74691df98 he clammed up f8efb256b8 again.f8ec545ee22e3aaf

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“I let it slide because I found your clueless advances cute, but now you seem to see nothing. Back then, you didn’t know who I was, so I let it go, but now get a grip. Do I look like someone who’d play personal games with you?”90e61a02bf1f396a

The voice, colder 1ba7212657 than ice, pierced 14d3172c94 Jack’s heart.0c11dca3bff1fae3

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Rank.9dc5d22de1582c78

Of course. Under normal 2858ce9411 circumstances, Jack dc14e4b62b wouldn’t even 9ba6f15cd3 have the 8cbdc68cdd right to ac4bb6818f speak to 5db9c136c9 Cayenne. But hearing it 3822e0066f so bluntly—so dismissively—made bd0b1960d8 it sting even 30bd7e1845 more.f6402db873ee77e4

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His shoulders slumped. A wave of exhaustion 8baf8366eb washed over him, heavier e19880a420 than before.930e928287a6a95f

Come to think 5df2b716d7 of it… even 04a9b7ebce being alone with 9db9884e10 Cayenne like this 6aa73fb7c1 was already more 06c3997f94 than generous.1285160d78700c2d

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As a noble among bcba2afc46 nobles, a member of 7c796e0c50 the Madison family was 6ea3856f66 like a flower on fecab26dae a cliff—distant, untouchable. A commoner cba8db0736 like Jack aff1ff4fe9 Carlson could d1b0cef8ac never hope 5530d2eab6 to reach f828aa4477 him.3ef0fe4eb1dfaaee

If it 19a0589e5c weren’t for 87b8e63d59 that night 068569e6d5 in the 5caeca63ac warehouse…552e1a86e3e6fac0

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If it b3b0dd0c94 weren’t for c1b16ce2ce that single, bd9c0a1279 reckless moment dadcfc7780 that had d0a9b70b47 intertwined their 9e13e53e35 fates…74d5c79fdba94600

Jack, whose only goal ede4455702 had been a long 2e0f12045c and steady knightly career, 0a5a387783 wouldn’t have dared to 762c1bc764 stand this close.9280ad81bdeee30c

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Wouldn’t have dared to a78842b1a7 want.0eb74920f99857ce

But why did 5bace10de2 it feel like dad68e171c he was being e67b1272d1 rejected—when he hadn’t 57887e2880 even confessed anything?a1efbe7f4fd7b468

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The realization 6a2ea569de settled heavily ec4d3dc131 in his b2a6a4aba1 chest.7f7c80d3b253d702

The incident 28493f20ea in the a981cf3ab9 warehouse had 15d41df80e been a 78cbfc5b01 coincidence, but 0f534eb310 it had a331f3b9bc been intense. And Cayenne’s presence—his steady, 41926a8e32 unwavering support during the 615afcc916 battle with the Viper—had 124afe2bb6 lingered in Jack’s mind a4b2103141 far longer than it 9021a1b20a should have.60d8c85ea52d3401

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Somewhere along the 8d8ec28cc1 way, he had 145e12e372 started to believe ad1ca7132d he might be ffe6c48182 special to him.cd04b1c86e6ded99

But he wasn’t.0f892eda3e50f675

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He had 21f8250fd8 never been.d9879a29a0667ad0

Cayenne clicked b873538411 his tongue, 409b195282 his brow 082defac27 furrowing as c4a8530de4 he took 230ddc852a in Jack’s a9002ea5bb sudden gloom.e417277122b9430d

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“I made 7011d52c08 you a ed1fa64dc4 secretary, went 20b36decfb through all e09595f2b2 this trouble, 18d852f22c purely for 86a4679f5c surveillance.f120a5a614524fd8

His tone was bac8c75bf8 sharp, merciless.2ff5816da8b09ed9

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“To keep an eye 5a9441e14e on you and make 258c85431e sure you don’t blabber 6c36d84dc6 nonsense anywhere.”e8c1a887b083fae6

Jack stood a284473661 frozen, the 6c13540be7 words slicing 678ec48682 through him.c968362dd145fa1a

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“So don’t 522d95a749 get the e195edc275 wrong idea. It’s not because 8ecf5fee1a I have any 7378360f7c personal feelings for 21367d203e you.”abb819b861cf5ff5

He said. Jack couldn’t help but grimace.04f48c25e02e86b3

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“You went through all this trouble just to keep an eye on me?”2330a2c6ada34d22

“What other reason did you think there could be?”1b77f87918084a74

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Cayenne crossed his arms and raised his chin. Already disappointed, Jack was utterly speechless at Cayenne’s icy words.a94a59dbb7b64d70

“You didn’t have to go this far. I had no intention of talking about you, Commander, anywhere. I have no reason to.”0152dd9e5b0a3af4

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“How can I trust that?”b4bcfc11098dd5ae

Jack’s disappointment hardened into 2833dce457 outright displeasure, and he fa20ca984b furrowed his brow.2ed6fb7397673a2a

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On reflection, it f422be1a16 was understandable.d4d8b14adaef5a02

From Cayenne’s 144eb1e18e perspective, it f486fe458e was only 10d4be3327 natural not a72718962c to trust 47301337cd him. Their backgrounds bbba55fca2 were worlds 0c7faa213b apart, and 1b68315b1e they had 618d4960ac only met e46822046c at the 287f25ed92 inauguration. There had been little f35d9d6c9d time—little opportunity—to truly understand c303462523 each other.eb35cc82572ebf67

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Conversely, Jack knew bd71467270 just as little a105b48f0b about Cayenne.6d89d3eba60f702a

He hadn’t realized just 8706d50bd2 how harsh and cold 8bea647d4c he could be.2c458661ab213a02

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Even though he understood this logically, Cayenne’s words about trust felt like a stab to Jack’s heart.09a5963d69bdd396

Cayenne, who 6781607010 had been bdc2e46f54 observing Jack 0747353ce8 in silence, 9e414aedb7 spoke.9e3e740c08583dc2

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“Keep your mouth shut and start reporting to my office from tomorrow.”a649b21a5c8136a0