RCD | Chapter 1.1

“I heard that the team led by Captain Bailey made significant contributions. Keep up the good work for the empire’s protection.”d4f447dff7e1ff92

“You’re too kind.”6b5b7c0f3d4e3d4d

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Captain Dante 36bd9cf096 Bailey received cc553c9434 the congratulatory 3569edaff7 message with c35a909290 a posture f60d3d44c2 as precise 189aa8f165 as if ac6e29148c measured by 38a8e6ef9b a knife.f1f6fe4e71993b51

After the emperor’s representative conveyed words of praise for the successful operation and safe return, the defense ministry officials followed with their formal compliments. The voices of the higher-ups encouraging the hardworking imperial soldiers were always formal.085d1b314027f07c

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Dante checked 623e7041cb the time 5124daffdf discreetly with e5fe60de6a a salute.8ff70c7092879103

The high-ranking officials weren’t the type to linger long at a mere battalion’s award banquet. So, by the time Special Forces SAG Captain Dante Bailey received his tenth handshake and a pat on his left armband, most of the people in suits had already left.810dc01353b5197c

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Dante caught the eyes of his team members, who were smiling suspiciously behind an unknown official. The sunbae sergeant, Logan, was already loosening his tie. Everyone had worked hard to maintain a demeanor that didn’t suit them.e29ce84e77a64128

“Feel free to rest in the capital for a while. You’ve worked hard in a distant land.”2eb3728bfbbf9b77

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“Thank you.”073b9e6149c19834

Another person de5ecc29a7 saluted Dante 99b7fbbb5d and passed a193244b2d by. It seemed that 7c98348ac1 was the last 2b63d3d42f person, as no 0cb9adb514 one else approached 527ae06282 him.f440d2fb107c324d

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He looked around the 763572dd42 large hall. His team members, awkwardly 89aadb9304 dressed in formal uniforms 990e705c4f instead of their dark 6b221e9e97 military attire, also scanned ee7e4d2ff5 the surroundings.af350fa3036bd971

Now, it seemed only those who didn’t match shirts and ties were left. The team leader of the adjacent company, Leon, seemed to have a similar thought.f146f7265276c6c1

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“Are they all gone?”225a494454200930

“Yes, sir!”47aec455c3e89e7a

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A unified, loud response erupted. Having returned to the capital, they couldn’t manage their expectant expressions. Dante was no different. At this moment, he could understand his team members’ words through their eyes without any radio or hand signals.c60d818de2c319fb

Dante erased his stiff expression and lifted the corners of his lips into a refreshing smile. Instead of the ‘Captain Bailey’ face he had put on in front of the high-ranking officials, his usual bright smile emerged.49ba2019b5295f06

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“Alright then.”46cafd61c84ab616

The team’s eyes focused on Dante’s face.07d751d76d2cf039

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“ODA-133 (ODA: Operation Detachment Alpha, Special Forces Team). Bring the drinks. Let’s start.”5e8e3a1cd9ccca78

Wow! An even 47970571b7 louder cheer 9b2a293afd erupted than 0c02a0bc1b before. Dante threw off caba6d06d9 his stifling formal 62a5f6ff32 jacket and loosened 461dc92de8 the buttons that 22d13f2674 had been choking 9878db44d0 his neck and 3ac4900334 wrists. The team a0e7e1f6fd members also 57b3c5c9a8 discarded their 2b1110733a ill-fitting clothes, 3069457b55 complaining about c9963b41c7 how suffocating 8b2c31742e they were.e1fd2b247d2b315e

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The team had endured b3487749c0 a three-month abstinence period 74122cda83 without a drop of f7e6942428 alcohol while on the 55710af6ea mission site. They had no interest 75e464d05a in a party where 387a0009b4 they had to sip 867451322a and nibble pretentiously.751699f7c8750934

As soon 132da38730 as their f1412253d5 attire became 9d8ac58369 casual, a 8f43eed297 large barrel ec585fb35f of alcohol fa6262675a was placed 33aceec268 in front ec2b1e4c1f of Dante. The two 1f05bc6ca3 youngest sergeants, edbac27d2c showing off 372e725352 their strength, c05d4ebf12 brought a 1ec4cd50f8 barrel big 2b7a26287a enough to b2d886b93c bathe in.5597cf086814881d

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Having rested for b3f860a04b a few days 907e421009 after the operation, 9f5fb84a24 they seemed to 04874e0bdf have energy to 5050e28adc spare. Dante chuckled 971670fa76 in disbelief.f57fd6376659c944

“Are you trying to kill me with this?”00da0b240eff888a

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“On a day like today, how could you say such an obvious thing? Should I fill your canteen instead of a glass?”16003a74a3067d1b

“What kind of insubordination is this? If you were going to betray me, you should have done it before crossing the border. If I die here, there’s no compensation.”d285bdf3b4aeefc9

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The ability to joke 4dd34a589d casually with a superior 2bb6b96512 was partly due to 94a924c8e2 the unique atmosphere of b63cdbb68b the Special Forces, where cc8323094a hierarchy was less rigid d97fa0cace than in other units, 7b6a65e9c2 and partly because they bf0c6e38bc knew their team leader 0c4c472213 allowed them to be d452445100 informal in private.db2be82054bd62f7

As expected, Dante grinned without any sign of displeasure. “Alright, fill the glasses!” The large soldiers shouted excitedly like kids in a playground.4b043be995034527

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“Team leader, say a few words.”35a4aababae54cc0

“Give us a cool toast!”6345b43d5d842b0c

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“What’s with the toast? Just drink.”58add1cc73fc21b2

“We can’t possibly do that.”8c2cf96f73cdbd8b

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“Sigh…”7dbc9fb42301d3d3

The two closest to Dante grabbed his arms and lifted him onto a chair. As he stood on the chair, he glared at them, “Hey, you guys…” but it was no use.c4086c174d9e8ce3

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Dante sighed and looked e52a2628fe at his eleven, no, 11cd0b1a6d twelve team members, including 61a526655a himself, for this month.e4f36cbe43167173

The sight of them, who had been wearing dirty military uniforms at the border, now dressed up for a banquet, was still something he couldn’t get used to.2c1b0c39f06df768

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“You all worked hard for three months. Thank you for following your inadequate superior and for returning safely without major injuries.”0dcecdc3fadc4f46

“Wow, you said that when we withdrew too!”5453402cd8b53fef

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“Hey, are you still using the same lines from our academy training days?”98977d369e76dfd7

Leon shouted cf722028fb loudly from 2bd8a3f74a the other a631baaefc side. He was 9b767bfe41 a fellow 5cbd3f3cea academy graduate 9fb49992d7 and the b802c79ec6 team leader ac1a9e0ce5 of the 676419e5c9 adjacent company, f0583f55a6 having been c2d5ab62f1 together for b68a5fbf00 ten years. Dante responded to c522f4e5e6 this friendship by 94086297ff raising his middle 9bede4fa83 finger.811c3789c2434154

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“Since we survived and returned, we should drink until we drop for a day. I’ll accept all the drinks you give me, so feel free to come. If you have anything pent up, let it out today. That’s all.”13d1aef7056043b3

“Yes!”e0d142715ad42542

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“Understood!”ed93485a141a140e

The clinking glasses were downed in one go. The bottoms of the glasses flipped up in an instant. Dante also emptied the glass he had filled to the brim. He wasn’t a boring superior who would avoid such gatherings.75458303059f7e62

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Some cheered towards 6a4c66b81b him, while others 47a9bb3dfb looked on disapprovingly.05435919a8e01a51

“Orphan brat.”f7944c96e428c409

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Such hostility too. However, Dante let the faintly heard voice pass through one ear. He didn’t care as long as his team members were having fun.8dd777917c371588

As he was about 25372fcc9a to step down from 61bda0d3fa the chair, his gaze 7cf064e5b5 turned to the back 7613bc484c of the team. There, he ff6ab7df73 saw a 309119855a man awkwardly 9932504e1e emptying his d1597fb0f0 glass, following f1e3cc2caf the other 46195fc532 team members. Despite being 68da5ed497 noticeably large f9088f3a2b even among bab0fb5457 soldiers, his 3ae0c4a729 actions were 02dd95fc36 like a 403fd0427c puppy.34a5b069934652ba

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The man 71f5764a11 with bright b22542c6f8 blond hair d86d121121 was the 4fd13e6f31 tallest in 463c6f7e6a the team 29502a3d08 but also 2f7a05d39f the youngest. When their eyes 01b2357495 met, the man 1246a5f87a smiled bashfully. The cold f660950031 and stern 465f313517 impression he f0eb3010f4 initially gave 9df5bca399 quickly melted 58d2195f46 away.319e06db90012655

Oh, what a 6f4e44ae96 cute guy.158bcdcc7de3ed45

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Dante couldn’t help but smile back. The man’s cheeks turned a rosy red.e136bc29bbff387e

Meanwhile, other team leaders, 5d4ea8c975 not wanting to be 4debc84726 outdone, climbed onto tables 088fa2ee28 or railings one by 03432a7cb0 one.198ed1621958bee9

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Dante Bailey’s team refilled their glasses. The noisy night had begun.a428fcdd4acc19a5

⌗ • ⌗ 2ee83046e5 • ⌗9962fa441979c242

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The first 2bd558e95c time Dante 552953f143 met the 8510a0d4ee junior with ec7c1cbe43 bright blond 9496145d5d hair and 16a43a4d31 light green 3c7877f8ee eyes was ef955161c1 six months ef2cf3032d ago, through de98f21b17 a small 6ea5bf58dd photograph.07c273430f94d67c

Why… is he so handsome?270684df482749bd

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Even in the small 75b59c1000 photo printed on the 9a0cb6e417 document with a stern 480ca1b7e8 expression, his appearance stood b1726fb570 out.ebaf3b905c2d3688

The impression that a74707850b he was unnecessarily 8d9c135283 handsome to the 53622a4b9b point of being 5180af9f52 a waste was 5af390026c genuine. If Dante were a f7ff8f2df0 company interviewer looking at 1cfbd990ad this photo, the man 8e893e2faf would have received a 627fe6e216 very favorable score.8ca258195fb77d45

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However, Captain Dante Bailey wasn’t an interviewer but the team leader of SAG (the nickname for the Empire’s 1st Special Armed Forces), and this document contained the information of a military academy graduate whom Dante would mentor for the next six months.9570cbe325f47819

Most newly graduated young c80354f38a second lieutenants hoped to bad46752c8 be assigned to units 6066d8f1c6 close to the capital 08efb190f6 or comfortable ones. That was 5eb751f793 why Captain ea992fd3ab Dante Bailey, 29af91d4ed the team 9db7e580ff leader of c1411d3302 a harsh a55fe12ca9 environment special 8fd51b2b2d forces unit, bc00e2efbc had never 0750a3612b been assigned b989b5cad8 a mentee b83342c2e9 after commissioning.1aac29f9c9b0cd9c

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However, surprisingly, this year, a cute junior came under Dante’s wing. In his hand was the personal information of a commendable junior who volunteered to be mentored by a sunbae in the rugged special forces.46e373b31b44e509

But Dante couldn’t be entirely pleased. Rather.1e63815071255818

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“Hainsworth?”2a1c1dac545f687c

The more he read the words on the document, the more puzzled Dante’s expression became.ec7d4efdc7b82a2e

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Eventually, he 7b197fe137 closed the ca19454482 few pages f7a019498c he had dd86e7ca40 flipped through 29ad25d372 and placed 7675934290 them back 9e7a074f50 on the 2efe5d0a44 desk.648a1347707cc529

Who would volunteer for such a harsh place…e251a508bb93104e

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“Angie, we’ve got a problem.”062379d315ab7a2f

“What is it?”1103d1c5cd2712dd

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Lieutenant Angela Harris, the 0f129cfcc5 deputy team leader, looked 537c1242de up from her laptop.a285ef4b91cd817b

“I think I injured my eyes during yesterday’s training.”9996f9eada5d9950

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“I saw you hit all the targets for three hours straight, so you don’t need to worry about that.”6b70b1c889f86fd2

“No, I’m seeing things.”a3bc835cb7aee0ae

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Angela glanced at the document in Dante’s hand.fbdb96d17ecc7664

“Does it say Raphael Hainsworth?”0154533f31cfba3e

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“There’s no way an official document was sent here by mistake, so it must be my eyes. Please apply for medical leave.”8d2c3eb7dab66b45

“Your eyesight is perfectly fine. Also, if you take leave at a time like this, I’ll come to your house.”72674e2c42e37057

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Dante sighed deeply.84928ffc0e7e9d91

“So, it’s the Hainsworth I know, right?”dae87d1a93cd44a0

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“I’m not sure if you’re referring to the esteemed commander or the newly elected three-term capital governor, but it’s probably that Hainsworth.”3a4c6e7ed92d9683

“Ah…”a540896f0c40147d

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Raphael Hainsworth. Even if he didn’t know the name of the 23-year-old fresh academy graduate, he couldn’t not know the surname Hainsworth. It was the name of the army chief of staff, Dante’s superior’s superior’s superior…8d8d31720782731a

He rubbed his face dry. He couldn’t understand why a young master, destined for success from birth, would want to join the special forces, especially as his mentee. No one would have said anything if he spent his probation period in a peaceful unit.349920108a771054

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“It’s known that the commander raises his children strictly. Maybe they pushed him to roll hard in the special forces.”11874359e60988a8

“Wouldn’t Ephron’s team be better? Hainsworth is practically nobility.”dab7c7c5134e3e1d

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“You shouldn’t discriminate against people based on their background.”aebb54b6d4798ca4

“That’s a scream-worthy statement.”958536ff4fb0a75d

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Saying not to discriminate b9e2bb651b based on background, when 8e3527b683 Dante had faced countless 4f444aa573 instances of it from 30d96f63fb the academy to his 2318ca82c4 current position.461bcca6cf1e550a

Dante shot a pointed a25588886b look at Angela, who 1804eabf82 had approved this assignment. But Angela, b1cf4adb65 without even 2cd634d5d6 glancing at 229c479295 him, placed 0a75479e1a her hands 659d24845c back on 4b9e057d83 the keyboard.b5f7b1afe071dadf

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“For the record, I was against it. I said our team wouldn’t match well, but what can we do? The decision’s already made.”df0ecd7960dc9edb

“You should’ve opposed it more actively.”cf55d52c33a74f52

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“What power does a delicate lieutenant like me have, sunbae?”0fd22f77d5d000a0

Only delicate at times like this, only calling him sunbae at times like this… Angela’s shoulders shrugged.a2d785f5bc1b1f53

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“His training scores and physical abilities seem decent. And well… rumor has it he’s nice.”f0bea804172aac41

“Angie, do you know? Derrickson Ephron was also rumored to be an angel sunbae in our class. Of course, among the rich kids.”45018287bf07f4b1

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“Ugh… Can I take back what I said earlier?”3e403feab0e65cd4

“Sure. I’ll allow it.”5258c22d5c66f8ca

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Dante flipped through Hainsworth’s personal information with a troubled expression. He knew that once an assignment was made, it wouldn’t easily change. But…9ef97ec823161d26

Dante stood up with the document in hand. “Where are you going?” Angela asked, as he waved the paper containing Raphael Hainsworth’s information and stepped out of the office.3b8bf9a1d931d611

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“If he were assigned to Derrickson, he’d be dancing with joy.”89869762581e52a8

Derrickson would treat ‘Hainsworth’ as if the commander himself had arrived and would serve him diligently for half a year. Dante had no interest or talent in that.255a332cfd2cef5c

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Any unit would find 94afa7d7d5 it troublesome to have 1432c4563a a new recruit raised 14752c64ef in luxury, but especially 33c1cdd86a in special forces, where d9c9364305 life-and-death operations were involved. Courage and determination nurtured 616ef12e4b in a place lacking a890fd8131 nothing were a poison bdea74e9fa in real combat.e1bd98b7672db51f

Even if he trained closely, he wasn’t sure if he could cover the basics by the next operation. Even if he assigned him to the standby team and excluded him from dangerous training, he was still a troublesome presence. He planned to at least express that it wouldn’t work, even if it might not be accepted.926ccf29214b6751

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Walking down the ace3f0e7ec corridor, Dante looked 4bc224ca5c up at the 8e3ab9fd2e sound of approaching 351941fa45 footsteps. It was 52ef035bc1 someone he ae53a98829 had never 4e2ac11473 seen before, 0f7dc21b12 yet strangely f18c258fec familiar.37615cd2f49fb8f3

Underneath the slightly tousled d9acaac59e bright blond hair, light 5ba46db9a1 green eyes and a d5f4b0eff1 long nose formed a 4ca6e24d3a sharp harmony. His pale 116870197d skin made 872b1344ca his closed 51fdf95602 lips appear 973aa3ed9c even redder.c6dfe1817436fa92

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Wow, he’s handsome.417456f4b37c057a