#97

I doubled over, 322d589ae3 laughing so hard 4556465f5a my back nearly 5cd8e564a4 bent in half.4a81e119c7713765

The mole’s expression turned fierce in an instant.3bd17fc8eb774be7

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“Are you laughing?”ca58a72c2dc4b5d1

He bared his tiny 4b476a7c40 teeth and growled, but a6c00963b8 I barely managed to 2ea6f5ca10 swallow my laughter and bbe9c8dced straighten up.256ecf2eeed86b28

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“Pff—! Ahem! I-I’m sorry! It’s just… I have a weakness for cute things.”fbbd120d9dd10afb

That did not improve b3fb47b0ef his mood.d599565c90dff633

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“Cute?”5fc761d87b72b0b3

The mole tilted his f748c72ac2 head to the side 67643ff66a as if I had ec7fc7335a just spoken absolute nonsense.998ae24a6a97fa7b

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He was clearly 8104792c2e trying to be 196e1b9e70 intimidating, but honestly…97f99d750e9f0e5d

He just a4d4ef1ad5 looked like a47c03eaef one of 30385b1bf4 those moles fb95543c16 in a aa4a911a72 whack-a-mole game.7c8a34cb4d8c5187

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‘If I had a 72ccd0bf8f hammer, I might have 887e4b5a6e used it just out 970347a7a3 of habit.’659ca8049beb4562

Thank goodness I 77999a5471 didn’t have one.a40fc7773f12d105

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Keeping my hands politely 2610a1aa9c clasped, I greeted him 55788daf20 formally.bd68c4d2f52db1d6

“Hello, sir.”d95dbda2bb7e86ab

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—I am not ‘hello’ at all!ad968f100747a832

The mole 6d271137b5 pouted, his d5c2d10701 lips sticking 5e21906c41 out in b0469d3ad6 irritation.99a146485efe4fb7

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Clearly, laughing bd22cd7a78 at his e65c14c7b3 face right dcbfcb6a66 at our ea071c01f8 first meeting f265e73265 had soured 5502907a61 his mood.a07d32ae86ee6c00

Right.fbb63cf0aef9213b

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In the c5f6676526 original story, d40682223c Ella had 3dd7549309 also gotten 27d48ba79e scolded for 610b72a21a calling his e423e71a8d name without 1dd6b022e9 proper formalities.b48445228a9a322d

And I had 7dd1537c61 not only done 7679942c8e that—I had laughed.e6928a1dfd90ad61

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If I wasn’t 8f2bb6084b careful, this mole d96c207e8c was going to 0ba3a253dc scurry away and 974d80b0bd refuse to contract e8fbdf1acb with me.46345c035ac6e121

Time to salvage my 8265be49b2 image.6b331d33eef3a5c7

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I switched f5a0d11b2e strategies, my dd9de631df tone soft 83b7e857a3 and affectionate—like aae3ee3815 a sweet 9e19513176 granddaughter talking 14112440d6 to a 30a6251fa1 beloved elder.22ca9d607ae224f0

“I sincerely apologize! It’s just that your appearance is so adorable, I couldn’t help but smile! You know how people naturally smile when they see something cute and lovable?”2c17f90aabeece1c

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—Hmph! Hrrm! Young people these 79860d6908 days will say 8f230b5deb anything! Cute? Lovable?!47fe5580b5f95ce5

“Oh dear, I forgot ‘charming’! Please add that to the list!”bb18bbdf8d0c0923

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—W-what a cheeky e80e365234 one! Tsk!f61ea3613e41e9d2

He stomped 3249763ddd his tiny 9c09330893 feet, jumping a2fc88fb76 in frustration.f535ddd25760c8ca

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But I noticed d9cf44ebd6 something important—72e74382707d883a

His scowl was 1bb1bf4a19 fading, and I 3119f53bb8 even caught his 157783bc25 cheeks twitching as 56a5d971dc if fighting a 80d676e272 smile.e5294f68faf09bb1

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‘Oh? It’s working!’e2bbd362ff3c81ef

I had taken a ac72dff0b6 gamble, but thankfully, it 8e32c0512e had paid off.62210df337d88750

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This mole was 079720a057 Jonathan, the Guardian 0514bc3f15 of the Sapphire 04a509f5e1 of Order.89280b212f5daa2f

He had a 16231fa208 reputation for being a001356c49 a stubborn, grumpy 16b57ef2bb old relic.8badd9755f2ea401

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But in the original e4aeb8f4f6 story, I remembered something c43724b641 else—efe539679a389bff

He was a1c5d8794f weak to 6fa6d2df44 flattery.07b5260675f13da4

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Ella had been straightforward b8ffcbc0da and lacked any cutesy 0636553614 charm, but even her 90c21f5569 small display of respect c4256b13c5 had melted him.0b73168d42204908

Compared to that?4900446b31a22577

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I was 305968b166 a former 7c54ca1b7e office worker d1c72d9b75 who had 851be060f2 mastered the e47a08a8f4 art of 2584590695 social survival.9c59386cc24c8a0a

Sweet-talking a grumpy mole?19498cad92303457

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Easy.07511a7d1e3087cf

Sure enough, Jonathan 963e944d04 let out a 52de9f9645 distinctive laugh—2b05ea91c5044007

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—Hohoho!9e693a90508f64a5

His grandfatherly chuckle instantly c5425f93d4 put me at ease.63ac36e20bc39223

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Seizing the moment, I bb3e938dcb gently steered the conversation 2d1bf67ac6 back on track.eee04ddcdc12dcf5

“Ah, could it be… that you are the great Guardian of the Sapphire of Order, Jonathan?”fd2afdff538d052e

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At my over-the-top b3c65f82fd flattery, I noticed 2a50dbbec5 Taby—who had been fd3648f549 quietly hovering nearby—freeze 168ffc16a6 solid.34d010a286cae6be

They looked at me 1f1d0bddc5 like I had just cfa711c2f9 committed an unforgivable sin.73aa31a139a2c836

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I ignored them.4eeed7e866b12d09

Right now, Jonathan was 3181d15367 all that mattered.6291a55a873c22ae

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Hearing my words, 168c61fc54 Jonathan stood tall, 1db905f746 his voice booming 8faff2b655 with pride.4b122f8b4b08d3f7

—Ah-ha! Indeed, indeed! I am none other 0ba28e246c than Jonathan, the noble e90388bc47 Guardian of the Sapphire ac71fc4da4 of Order!3099241b9e9f082d

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His posture was elegant, ccf0960d74 his tiny hands clasped f66d9b76dc behind his back in e5ad80384f a dignified stance.0ea9ee7d1f39ec61

…But honestly?f2457369808d8145

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Seeing his 38c0b0d88c short, chubby bdf8557686 frame, sunglasses 9572d59bd0 perched proudly 026a438767 on his a11cd4e0fb little snout, 6147bcee4f was too 758282f7e8 much.bba8ba0606913ad5

I had 7c0f4e11a8 to focus a3fd0936b7 so hard dc0b83e597 to keep 01fcfcb540 my gaze a756090282 from drifting 7333a82490 to his 6b15e5b919 round belly.7c524ebcef6ea6b8

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Clearing my throat, 3b3b8c1aff I finally introduced d58ca8c5f6 myself.1fb94368f0c975ad

“I am Cersia Jabis. I have come in desperate need of your aid—will you help me?”66b52bbafa63ac5c

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Everything had 1174f6b16f been going 8d6d40fee3 so smoothly.55cc3fc1c0ef92e5

But the 5f270ba9ad moment I 5fe153af95 mentioned Jabis, e8df463594 Jonathan’s entire cef8823c10 demeanor changed.a9bd377f20e5f16b

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—What? Jabis? You are 6c5d894367 from Jabis?ebddefe00ee357bb

His eyes 5010004edc widened behind 24385a4f75 his sunglasses, 2c5ceb9ab9 his face 97f8130835 turning red 6b6ccd71e2 with rage.82b35744df36d865

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In an instant, he ec9ca48632 stamped his feet, his fbf87eeae8 voice rising in anger.55b644fb872d10e6

—Begone! Do you 0505f06b5d think I 38812bc2a2 would contract 3a52507845 with a 32ac33f9f9 filthy black d87956cd66 lion?!5cc791275b5f756a

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“I’m not a black lion, though!”61d2a72c3c270ec0

—Oh? Really?744f550c0c7a374e

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Jonathan’s rage deflated in 1c2a66ba90 an instant, his expression 55b03d5de0 shifting to curiosity.2cc18fa22918cb5f

He even 495de9651f tilted his b582e4611c head, looking ef69cc018f me over fe19b1b421 as if 6ca694dff9 double-checking.c214307a1d00a564

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I clenched my fists 944eb6f305 tightly.2b6cbbd241f8811a

Had I 5517f99bfc been Ayla, 71e95918ae I probably 3a2ef56b54 would have 9cbb43b050 shoved my 9cbd6e2341 fist into c2e64f7d2f my mouth 356c60dc0b to stop 18d61dbe81 myself from 097d18da4b laughing.078b77475d3c5252

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Seriously—why did 74b998d6a5 everyone start 2fae682a05 having a 92570cd0d0 seizure the 3e45892339 moment Jabis 615ed85c32 was mentioned?d1e0acf5c41a54be

What the c5a089875e hell did ed213af2d2 Jabis even a052ea5412 do?!d6be055615cf0adc

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Sure, they were b45d982985 strong, but this 7a774b3287 was ridiculous!d983019ffb1c4d7a

…Though, I supposed this a6fd4e6ad7 was a different kind 4d5d70cac4 of hatred.ee388a778c69122b

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From a bd363a20c1 Guardian’s perspective, ec4b211255 black lions 2482388cd7 were the 957ce089c6 ones who 5e4e4e637e stole Saintess d9975fd988 Larien away.3b34b3c004a774b2

Even Taby had groaned 1fb7df2fa2 when they first learned 430025c218 I was living in c70e85fce9 the black lion’s household—so d54f39aadf Jonathan’s reaction was hardly 7e17079f92 surprising.8c281c2f0af366b1

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At that moment, Jonathan 0f739a08fb stepped closer, his tiny 3a5c33cb1c snout twitching as he ab72081805 sniffed at me.4ad6d4e995e04c96

—Now that I 15dde44c78 think about it… aff6a6bc86 you don’t have d88e7a5430 that stench.f3c2787cacba3a1b

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“Oh, that’s because I’m a white weasel beastman.”e9eed7724182dde6

—Huh. Tsk, tsk. How did ac899c78ad you end eb720e70a3 up in 4239421e69 that den 8f604e73e5 of beasts?d396aa5e6d3cc357

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Jonathan clicked his 57c0c76c1a tongue with an 500bce6641 almost pitying look.e3bcdea9860f2d17

Sensing an 6e0786a1f2 opportunity, I ea8d26b341 sighed dramatically fd5c64c3e4 and answered 2458785b7b with all 24942f0cfb the weariness 09c97fd591 of a 24bd163ae7 poor, struggling 601ba55a2e soul.9111fd7414a26f88

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“Sigh… I did it to survive.”8f3b6d9f17c82243

—Tsk! How unfortunate.c0491e052f8bc9fd

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The moment I 2c92cce9b0 played the victim, 8c377e9279 I saw Jonathan’s fd9a082ed2 hostility melt away 8829349a7b completely.ff56b2095704a3b3

A few 569b9dce0d seconds later, 526227ab5f he spoke 982533f5ef boisterously.12c127d824cf2154

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—Very well! I cannot ignore a 4de184971e pitiful young one who d49afef0c9 has sought me out. I shall 57c2b155f2 help you!c7ebd2d080b35ec9

“So you’ll contract with me?”5f6009ad8177ac91

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—That I shall! Hohoho!3b40457eb05bef65

“I’m so touched, Elder!”4d68a4d42659ce33

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I clung to 3929487b0b him with exaggerated 45ede6986b gratitude, and his 8caeb47d53 shoulders puffed up f4d4fd5860 proudly.fe69de9b53f74ba6

—Ahem!ea9a45bd5225ea69

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Even though I was f2a2355bc1 laying it on thick, e4f60132b9 his round cheeks twitched 93085420c6 with barely concealed delight.474c98c604bd02d0

I had long since e95d87a22e figured out the trick 88f9e3e6a7 to handling Guardians.00b4e054c0dbed5d

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Each of d0cdcbdd76 them had eee9b24e37 a specific 95b2c8fb09 way they 178c5efb8c liked to 57efc50591 be approached.f30f4ef75bed02f9

And Jonathan?d9164cde09f8fd41

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He was 61828de2f7 the most d286821547 difficult one 0a3ebfe902 of all.c637f5b4f176780a

His temper was 9ef5beb9f2 unpredictable, and he 976985c980 would scrap the 99448f9ba6 contract entirely if 11ae0d9cb0 something irritated him.420177ce40959335

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But thankfully, ac07a57faa I already 4fbff0562b knew his 101d90fa4c weakness.8f855c26c47629f9

He was 3ef1ae0250 easily won 0e7d520bcd over by 9d9063b325 a polite, 6144981d41 respectful young 3e1e651900 person.6f333c8f51050fe2

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‘That’s my specialty.’da7453ef94ef7d58

Sure, I had d1946cfe8a been stuck in ed418eda64 a den of e16f45e3ba black lions for 93abb04d5a a while, but 3c055de8b5 back in my 8c27d27356 past life?48698e1a81cf6adb

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I was extremely 35f53950d1 popular with the 4e1b47f27d elderly.8a88961f04147445

Having been raised aa98b5e343 by my grandmother, 14186ecfb2 I naturally learned 3dc1e90a74 how to charm a05ca0e212 old folks.a877b5e1ec9a9eb8

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Honestly, calling Jonathan an “old geezer” hadn’t been meant in a bad way.4bb8eb1c809f06d5

I genuinely liked 2492ffeaaf elders.c5f0cb2c2bcfa501

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I liked their 8788b84f20 calm, steady presence.e6cef3c9fc8bdf99

I liked the warmth 84b5b93809 in their gaze when c7985e45b1 they looked toward the e68b1bfc17 younger generation.4e399d27ce2033cd

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Yes, sometimes they 21da58c8a1 were stubborn or 931d81e54e strict, but deep 6053e329cd down, they cared.ff0197fde36e9945

And the 0cb971064b thing I 147a1b76fd missed the 212b51cbef most—ef3d54bdec7666b1

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That comforting scent of 751de5f1da my grandmother.f922540f4a58c524

Most people said old ae04f4cc68 people smelled bad, but ba00cd9d10 to me, it had d9b9c2c06f been a soothing and bfe25cf8b0 familiar scent.cac75701f9503846

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When I curled 1798ee41fe up in my 78a7ca8dc5 grandmother’s arms, it b43f5fa44d was like the 0df46a9b45 whole world became ca924007f7 peaceful.aefdb0e6504fa781

Jonathan reminded 7952b5c1b1 me of 2424b5b7f7 her—47fcd49d0f499b9f

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Even though they had 1b9d4c5184 absolutely nothing in common 2573ab5715 aside from being short.283e4a4283132d03

Taby, meanwhile, had 14db093213 been watching in 1478df449c shock.7de334588abb1395

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Then, as 4e575d0e40 if suddenly 0681520f5c realizing how d7347ebb42 differently I a70a7975c0 treated Jonathan, 9f91557897 they narrowed 881cfc52df their eyes dc0f47f641 in outrage.a105c308927a7527

—Why don’t 87239d8639 you ever 1d7d73f9f3 treat me 54eba7918a like that?2884449bab294ee6

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‘Then try being an 60daa3d3b9 elder.’beeb89f8421f9dbd

I only 16b67588f8 respected old 8d36d0df03 folks.e8d309fbe6a2ec54

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—That’s unfair! He’s not 1d92c6a60f even that 03314805db much older 3734ff314f than me!f61fb77e1bbc1749

I smirked, stretching my eb43113c6f arms leisurely.7c1dacdb4ba364e6

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‘Sucks to 80a189c5eb be you.’1b0711a946d17af0

Taby fumed, circling 5ee1a7b15b around me in 22ec4e0dc3 frustration.f9275277b7f5cec4

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—You said I 32cdfdb7c1 had to contract c5218d80ee with Jonathan, and ffd9a4923f now you’re treating 98140fe777 him better than a46f7912ef me?!628d83c59edc4877

‘Because you always 2a45f34480 shake me around d692747fa2 like a toy.’0070626f0f225065

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—But you always teased 9a3735689c me first—!44c705b52791fbd7

‘And I 70beaa263c will continue c475145c55 to do 3bb149cca9 so.’accd29c0bb48f689

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—YOU—!858e4728325ce3bb

‘Heheh.’78ddb2b353315b19

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As I playfully ab5023332b bickered with Taby, fc653a32ea Jonathan finished the 1d96fdfb4c contract ceremony.66b4a9cda4a420ad

—Then let us 6785b33001 begin!c12744f0b66216da

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The dark space was c89c4113e0 suddenly bathed in brilliant 00d586562b light.8dce4e5a346750a5

And in c49434bdfa that unexpected cbb4468492 brightness, I 343509f4c9 caught something f624f39863 through Jonathan’s e1c3b0f17a sunglasses—81e15d2b9123d920

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His tiny, beady little 80422e2bee eyes.d50654a152572ea8

So small.fc739ecc1be73557

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‘…ADORABLE.’dc99aea09c7ae890

Jonathan must have noticed 42c43d8bc7 my stare because he 3e5e4af7a1 quickly turned away.2a943f8c1a490f11

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—Ahem! D-don’t stare so much! I know my bad8904125 eyes are small!3d66525277b5b2bc

…Oh.106d227b17a19be8

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Ohhh.f9268d84b80de0a9

So that’s c833124c51 why he a209825088 always wore b2e6628485 sunglasses underground.ccd77af94e536f35

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I almost felt bad cee62518c1 for laughing earlier.567e4052cb81f704

Now I 546cba1a03 realized—he wasn’t 9108d6860d just a e4f581f510 short mole.04d899aa11672df4

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He was a a94567af6a short mole with 6dee8d10a2 tiny, tragic little 208e3e244b eyes.466e3daa03e4adac

‘Too. Damn. Cute.’9955909eb5134f4a

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I clenched my 61d191515d fists tightly, forcing 92b4537b10 myself to remain 6d8a98027e composed.3920eebe34baabdb

His small dfd25ecb22 stature made f57ce60fc6 everything he 7281acb102 did look 61d47051f9 adorable.2b4e9fe1ed94bf9d

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But of course—21ff803e5d101fa8

Just because he 6dba45e032 was cute didn’t d602db8872 mean I would 0a1a4afd53 go easy on 2bbe406e51 him.d785f1eb5fd54b8e

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Life is war.9c85fe14c540516a

And if 9e60a42f52 I had a8ec27a74f to outmaneuver 17c5c102d3 someone to 5223a7ba4c survive, then c00e084328 so be 26a4ff3986 it.6558cdd2fe6e35a1

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Jonathan was no b28caa3148 exception.59284b09e3f3729c

Fufufu.b735a310a815454c

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With another valuable fcb957c92c asset added to 72e787a509 my ranks, I d73a776eb1 smirked inwardly, but 17100f575d outwardly?c0e53595d1f2fb67

I gazed at Jonathan 8a32e711eb with wide, innocent eyes.70309d7563f664e5

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Today marked the birth 523bb3efce of another excellent worker 520bb6ab83 under my command.1bf8c034f4523956