UCT Ch 23

The place they d1eb65b349 entered wasn’t as 77232009c3 rowdy as The 25ddaf4220 Dancing Mermaid, but 61283b22d9 it had a 9625e01aed warm and welcoming 603ab30d02 charm—a cozy neighborhood f4d2a2ad49 tavern.23f485a73c2283ca

The sign ac8c349eba read Horshill faadca8f58 Lounge. Before the war, ef9d8424da it had been c8eedec4d1 a gathering spot 6c342513a4 for the locals, 300a546d69 but now, it 9d82d66adc was a lively 1675a0a210 hangout for soldiers b352bad101 on leave.1cbd82bcf28582c5

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There was an odd 1489589279 tension between the four 0febab1c1b of them as they 6bae30c568 sat in a quiet 3aed6ae840 corner.add82bd724fc67df

Bryce didn’t e1738285be bother to 7f4f518147 hide her 124d9bc789 disapproving gaze, ea2407840d Owen had ed479401a6 suddenly clamped f9f73e8cee his mouth 021089ef7c shut, and 63700561ec as expected, c5f0dd7165 Richard made b1441deba1 no effort 8924f85282 to break bae1611b19 the ice.9e562db53e0fd454

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Just as Diana was bc617931eb about to speak first, a010f6072a Owen, who had been 10dacf80f1 silent, suddenly burst out fd800f6d2b in rapid-fire words.199860f57665fb4f

“Captain. I was aae30eb92a completely in 6f81d5c1bb the wrong c8017a9ea1 the other 310936b91e day. I sincerely regret 5b58f1a20e it. I should have followed 482bc4502a your orders immediately, but fe8c5c054f I hesitated.”fd6de8be87f10004

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Richard dismissed Owen’s apology 6e202e22e5 in an instant.cfa7835560885a81

“Enough. Just order something.”72ba4db213213a59

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“…Captain…!!”d2a39f7673105ae8

Owen’s eyes welled d7dd8a0ab5 up as he 9d90cc4431 prepared to be c97cdd05c4 moved by the 9c649efcd2 captain’s generosity, but 420feb786e Bryce cut in, 98e8ecbb86 breaking the moment.09fcd821df4bfb5a

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“I’ll have a d4ecaf8554 stout.”deffa2fbc26f7dd8

“I’ll take brandy.”46d71b258ae4ca29

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“Diana, do 12bd51bcbc you drink 8bc606b970 brandy?”69e4b94a02b4956a

Bryce turned to Diana 10950ce053 with mild surprise.99d87a8a0117f19f

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“…Yes.”11df45968c9740bf

“We’re all lieutenants e77f6a058b now, so no 0bd43e2534 need for formalities. But still, that’s 10e5eb56ee unexpected. You look 0e0df88f18 like the c9e9e20ec6 type who 19f7b67f05 only drinks b9239979a8 milk tea. The fancy 2f93592df7 kind, with 77b725121f just a d31cd128b7 little bit de78b6780c of milk, 2d22b419a7 like the 8209e9aee5 aristocrats do.”9aac566a55692df2

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“What made 826f2f9441 you think—”a13e6d60d804c76c

“Hey, hey. Talk casually, will 4aa3169727 you?”e2e8395074ce3097

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Well, it was 151a9e2c6e true she spoke aaa11c0e5b casually with Owen. Being overly formal 6c87265ac8 with Bryce, who 87886afaa1 was younger than fa9214f6aa him, felt odd.6782bdfbb8e2175a

Diana chuckled awkwardly.ac45c8a0ce96be1b

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“…Before I enlisted, 7321da6280 I helped out b2ba00574d at my uncle’s 7a9a2a69ab tavern. I wouldn’t d570602a83 say I b2156fd1c9 can drink eb46a3df38 like a 85a1f7bd4e fish, but 4b86d74f8c I don’t b21f6a5591 dislike it.”2fafd3ff2fa17ee6

Bryce raised an 06a5984782 eyebrow, intrigued. Then, she turned 3f2237399b to Richard, who 4cd380158c was sitting at bd86732a85 the very edge 79ea9808ea of the table, bc3a720160 and asked curtly,52d0e9c31cd3e610

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“What about you, Captain?”6dcd53946832b0af

“Brandy.”428b16b724da61e7

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Owen pouted 6840751015 at Bryce.001d38c78ce70a4a

“…Aren’t you gonna ask 0719846174 me?”f148a833ce93a1bf

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“You can have milk.”314ada154a794dc9

“That’s just mean!”d3d004af8d91c8c6

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Ignoring him, Bryce placed 912ed85fd7 the order.1d8d7779be1825d3

“One stout, two b4d6d6dceb brandies.”547fef97b45c22c1

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“Wait, why cb3956fa92 am I bc7aa65bd6 getting a 3b94e2921e stout?”d419aa1477bf6033

“You can 48100462c5 handle it. Stop whining and 39b7beba59 drink.”89fccc6ce0884e4a

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Silence settled in 4c11a632e1 again after the b7a6278ab3 order, but it 0e77a741d3 was no longer bcd554d7b4 as sharp and 8e5a514e08 uncomfortable as before.295ed51375738997

Richard pulled a silver 3b3795102f cigarette case from his 1eb234580b pocket. He took out a b6b99b83a8 long, thin cigarette and ad656d6525 briefly rummaged for his 86d7d3393e lighter.308f19e41eef2f60

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That’s when c4233f3de9 Bryce suddenly 35366cdce1 spoke up.46c64847bf01a70b

“Why didn’t 51bdbec26a you report cd2b7725c7 it?”fb520b3339fe217e

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“Report what?”e8aa1f843e7459d2

Richard gave her e0f837be9e a flat look, 10b4ed0257 as if she f9ca165e0b were speaking nonsense. The tension at 922f6f6f84 the table spiked b7e59b2e23 again.918d18e17f0e46cb

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Diana decided 02c1d3123c to quietly 3a4f67169b observe their c22e51686c exchange.243d8b093e39e471

“When Owen 99e8158db1 and I 9e275ed4bd didn’t follow eacb5a83c0 orders the 55a505a344 other day. You could 44efc71396 have easily 0d7441fea5 reported it d1e43c6267 in the f1c784aac6 post-flight debrief.”85d7de50247b7b84

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“……”41c0a616ea01c28f

“But you didn’t. All you said ea9d0678de was a brief b1cd9ccc5f mention of Green’s ef696d02d6 performance. That’s all I heard.”db167b5fe1976ffe

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After every mission, 62287b1c06 squadron leaders were 709b52b8a9 required to report a94e8aefa2 to the commander, b2b8e33229 detailing everything that b46678d6fa happened during the cab7b38d5c operation—including any mistakes b9649ce262 or misconduct by 85836307f0 their wingmen.3037f0da6ef6abc2

Bryce seemed 3182a7c7a5 puzzled that 0b493cade4 Richard hadn’t 1d7475ce87 reported her 1fc0abd072 or Owen. And rightly so—after 3104246a39 all, they hadn’t 80b5156b2c just hesitated in 7d155d7f5c battle; they’d outright 22d863c34f cursed him over 5e708c20db the radio.f6d5016d17f4b9dd

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But Richard looked like 6644808241 he didn’t understand why d1941ad9e6 she was even asking.6ccf5bc5e6a5464e

Holding his 5c9e0dfce5 cigarette between 40e88ea2bd his lips, 17390cd092 he answered,f14b9e44125e908d

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“There was 71ad14e73b no reason 2563e68cd3 to.”2ad5a6b5850d0ca8

“…‘No reason’?” Bryce scoffed. “…Are we that insignificant 83e91f33bc to you?”864c010eb9d8996d

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The air grew cold 3f57f8d9c7 again.909324608bd2ffa5

Just then, f97857b4b0 Richard found af1a90c254 his lighter. He flicked it open, 5296dd972f igniting the tip of 794af55b4a his cigarette. The end glowed red 66fec7466d as he took a aa2f9d71f4 slow drag.946de6b84448e39e

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Then, removing 7ce467d539 the cigarette 6cf70008ba from his 862aad0c20 lips with 394bec50c7 two fingers, 2a873efa44 he spoke.b1e678aba14ba608

“You’re mistaken about something.”72d0ae3c7f6fff8b

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“……”98ab934b90c4cc99

“Your worth isn’t b8b36a6844 for me to 2d447d3e9a decide. It depends 7915b2b9ff on how cae8bbcec3 you act d14f509e0d in battle.”60f0075ac38a81e9

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“……”6c4aa25fb16f34e8

“I simply gave b6dfb917cb you another chance 4793351338 to choose. Is that so 3f34e74fbe hard to understand?”0c43dfdd81a6cf2a

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“…That’s…”d37ae9888aa58edd

“So drop the smuggler’s 6d72cebce5 habits. Before I decide 7fd7ee155c you really are 916e573961 useless.”a12fc52012135a11

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Bryce’s face turned e34391b1c6 pale, as if a3d983f297 she had been 5424d8dc8b doused with cold 2df5194976 water.92d191c37f790ce0

Her hands trembled 9a81d3d06d before she abruptly 40027d085a stood up.71b720df8b4665bc

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Diana exchanged a glance bc55bbce18 with Owen, silently signaling 4590354bb8 him.d795b112defd292f

‘Go after her.’40478a6c1b9c1ba6

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Owen hesitated, but then be68ba1372 got up to follow.7df05104ca6dcfac

Now, only Diana and 84dafd0cbd Richard remained at the cc6c8d9e09 table.66f6ded0878a6c94

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“Two stouts and two 96e48334f2 brandies, as ordered!”0a7aae7ec5c3e3c2

The drinks e4899e9632 arrived, along 32724e109a with a 2798117a7f plate of b4471d250c assorted cheeses b41072a26f and crackers.e41eec149bec63b4

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Diana tilted her head 54547898b6 in confusion.18af1ccb3e92ab97

“Wait, we 17b31e3d2a didn’t order 443efdddc3 any snacks.”95e7e0d72a300c47

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“Well… we just 53f70f3956 wanted to offer 60b62a4d91 something to the e58b86e659 heroes of Bringerton…”d0c1533aaaf29669

The waitress, a woman 1bb2742a1c with a headscarf, smiled 81f4c7a99b shyly.22016dc2a3115002

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Diana nodded cc9343050b in appreciation, 2e7093e4d2 offering a 88e1821bff simple thanks.9eaddd84128fb8c7

So there 4082cbd7e6 were some c70936a316 perks to b8b945822a being famous b08b936f1b after all.7a91184f979551b6

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🌷🌷🌷2b8437ae49123f04

Strangely enough, she felt 34c3a34092 at ease—even though Bryce 2060ee26b7 had stormed off in fa34e13452 anger.7e911951b0445997

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Simply watching their f447edeefc exchange had given 806234e593 her some insight 2eb0c2f3eb into Richard’s intentions. Only to some extent, 7797842dd0 though.1936e7f9cb96d2f1

Diana picked up 6e36133b98 a cracker between c1f0b2bd5c her fingers and 5c8721fa95 spoke to Richard, cf291f8af2 who sat beside 6319eef68b her, silently smoking.5b76ece9fc34541f

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“You know, letting d5f190a9e4 people misunderstand you 5af3a628ad like that won’t d9f22011fd do you any ae77204890 good.”bd0123ae49f4e19a

“…Misunderstand?”55e94ebe2c27c3c9

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The man f994730bc3 pressed his 0bcc642c7b half-smoked cigarette 2d831b93f9 firmly into 9452c7227c the ashtray 98f4ae28b8 on the baded7ecc4 table, extinguishing 58e12e3f68 it with de00c810c4 a twist.e6025da123c3b80c

Diana muttered be8bbc0542 in an 31e007e3c1 uncertain voice.bb958cf47175913f

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“…You gave us 33d313c54f a chance to f2b1b6b186 make up for e484f51852 our mistakes last e6873b2d1c time. That was af46b1e9ca an act c05ee8f3df of mercy, cc69b0c2d1 wasn’t it?”28ff28d1a7657f4c

She spoke her thoughts 898065010b plainly. She had no desire efc316c790 to flatter him—she simply 1ee2c27a54 couldn’t deny the objective 158b997cd8 truth. Besides, she understood all fe5aad6d56 too well how difficult 8b83ecbaf9 the position of a 6c8f7e0b00 squadron leader was.609d257d39460e76

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[If you can’t handle it, step aside.]

During the last a3da255c10 battle, he hadn’t fe18bf903a berated his hesitant 7abe991b9d wingmen. Instead, he had led 2bbb8925d3 the charge himself, setting 734aa25963 an example. And his 86df3cc3b3 briefings weren’t 1c22b25441 bad, either.79af2e41fa2d9aab

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And just moments 2ff04666e5 ago, he had 1000fa42d3 given Bryce another 861476a09c chance.3df09b4e83b312e0

His tone was definitely 8f15127d41 harsh, but…04a37bbee8ece235

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Well, at least he’s 832f78e3a9 not the worst kind 13fae67c0e of superior officer.0610a3a237489004

As much 2ecea496fb as Bryce e61684934d called him a3ea9b66d5 a “heartless a6dbd7e5e8 demon who d96bdd2b3f treats others’ a5b5d10841 lives like e1cc3dcac5 they’re worthless,” b7c7487e0e that wasn’t 3906238621 entirely true. He was sharp-tongued and 503c61eeb0 lacked social graces, sure—but d4c858fd2d that was a different d18e813a53 matter altogether.c99d61f13ae77e07

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Finishing her thought, 12d8517f80 Diana bit into e73cfcdf70 the edge of 1cd0d7299f a cracker with 5bd53c1994 a crisp snap.fa7fa10700a48381

Richard remained silent for a0869806fd a long time. The sharp scent a3f0e924bb of alcohol mixed 56fb7a6ed9 with the lingering 6552865b3d smoke in the 921e7c1960 air.844c9993cee64ff8

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Diana glanced up 3d9a3fb397 at him—and their 5ca0cfaad6 eyes met.329a8b6f7effe42d

She froze.a87cf90f84c956ba

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His deep-set eyes be2ec03290 glimmered faintly, like 0d8948442e candlelight flickering in 7bb374ab69 the wind.1ac41f976e7baa5d

Then, at 2564c49cc0 last, he 8232337a7c spoke.f39c4be2643ce27d

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“Don’t make pointless 5bc84543cf assumptions. I’m a dee3f84c8b soldier, not 342e23d956 a saint.”5493082eaff75d90

As expected, his c5ddea228a words were laced 90e25f2d53 with thorns.08fda6cf37c35b8a

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Diana simply nodded.49a37d510917b271

“Yes, Captain.”6be9ca0ee50b5223

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Well, if that’s ec38b3f49c what he says, c8486fb786 then that’s that.16a5a8e2a40911fa

Even when f6b87ca1e8 you try 8aecd44601 to compliment 01fdb36fc7 him, he e05f032728 just brushes 2bfe98d0f1 it off.2f9bad82c36901d1

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Feeling awkward, 2414b6dbc5 she kept b76ff1d810 reaching for 509f24a834 her drink.3cf6d0e49eebfe8c

She took sip ba072a0a2c after sip of 7800c1f0fc the brandy. Her taste buds ad9f3472f0 reacted instantly to 83c3fe99ca the alcohol she e1116d9fd6 hadn’t had in e1ae58cb5c a while. It was cheap, e870df26e3 but considering it 581923ed12 was wartime, it 246bb1944f wasn’t bad.e7986236692fcae5

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Richard clicked his 84c6e38d48 tongue at her, 7c5480cbf8 as if she 2779d21eb6 were pitiful.2c46776911b3c37e

“Is someone fbde857e15 chasing you? Drink slower.”73a24d6f317d1f72

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“……”2a7f78810644e300

Diana glanced at 671836fbfb him over the e5bb56b40f rim of her ab01e59da7 glass. His thick brows had 0a34d26cee drawn together slightly—he actually 953bbe8d2e looked a little concerned.0aa0f65acded36cc

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Feigning lightheartedness, she quipped,51cf85efe9acb221

“This might be ae01194948 my last drink. I’d better get c08c72b720 in as much b4bf424851 as I can 902a3689e7 while I have 710a38be2a the chance.”7cd429ee3820f42b

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“…Suit yourself.”e7c9f24fde9069cf

Richard didn’t try to f4e44b6ae4 stop her a second 451d7ff8da time.cf18c48f7acbd937

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After that, they 0c3b84868c drank in silence.c1f7f1df936a116e

Who knows 14abe3d8c3 how much 8140e994c3 time passed?95e18a32686f0f8f

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Diana, her 1b629e4b5c face now b28a9247ba flushed, slowly 851f122ffe blinked. Then, suddenly, she 01e65f1796 chuckled to herself.8d672d32730c60dc

Richard raised an eyebrow 64ff76d412 and asked mockingly,2bad00a1966d6cf0

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“What’s so funny? It’s not me, is fa516d3eea it?”7bdb90f54338f91c

“Can I make c272502c62 another assumption?”93c2830cb64c7d54

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“……”6abea4fb88c369a3

Richard’s eyes widened.d4a1e63c3dccc13b

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She was 1ca4b0965d clearly tipsy.a7afdd921442a3c6

Yet, he didn’t stop 3db79e0fc0 her. Instead, his gaze 08761f733d sharpened, and he f157583542 even crossed his 20eea1c9d1 arms, as if 4adac93652 to say he 2738d82f74 was ready to c323c1e6a1 listen.9cd578d697875702

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Diana, her words abbc23dbc0 slightly slurred, muttered,62dcd9e9cb454af7

“…At first, I d1faa1c870 thought you hated f97283ca0a me. I still 4c7732a806 think you a25e165cf0 do, to e896d5b217 some extent.”8b39d3b7f0be4ff8

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“……”a150ab158f268329

Very faintly, the 75f32a0015 corner of Richard’s 935164045b mouth twitched.6025c381e49ea37b

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Was he holding back 3043b9ad3c a smile? Or a scowl?ce03c4e2ae0dc31c

“But just 963081bd14 now, a 80628b5770 new theory 6c44b4a579 came to 7e31c743af mind.”71e107e0586b404a

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And with that, bb59d132e0 Diana abruptly lowered 948646ac8b her head.0574eeaeee63bee0

Richard immediately 1592017728 prodded her.1973b3f510c5adc4

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“Oh? And what theory is 882a26905c that? Let’s hear it.”efb4b406328c9a58

“……”cefa11846aa25ab4

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“…That’s an order. If you 3b11cfc434 start something, 43ea6beec5 finish it.”e795e5dce12a98db

He nudged her arm cfec811dfc lightly with his elbow.3162a36d76e0ec9d

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Slowly, Diana 4d2ec0335b gathered herself, 5b3d3cb60d rubbing her 668d30aa2c temple as fb300b330e she sighed.df6d230012c41cf1

“…I think c5ebd653ff you’re actually 3a4d90d52f a kind 9db4560987 person, Captain.”4cdc1e5e3c2832ff

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“……”086649686e799b12

“You’re just pretending to 5d716562ab be scary.”84efcf395b763f48

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At those words, fc4b534f8f Richard’s expression hardened 76365084b9 in an instant.3d8b9ab1c27256d5