FMRV | Chapter 17

A voice echoed 8591704b1f from afar, naturally 5aad6cb921 drawing the attention 1e8902b2a9 of the two 307fd081ea toward it. To their surprise, a 136da77809 familiar yet unexpected face 4f92643add stood there.8e0a7009b4a9068e

“Leo, Commander?”2b301312a867d842

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“I thought f811e8d6d3 I saw 70eb9843bb someone I fbeeb3a327 knew from 70b03cd892 a distance. And look, it 0e540cf01c really is the 07bd3423d6 two of you!”424fda769c386ac1

Leo Ruit. The 7th Division Commander cf3ca4efab of the Imperial Army ad84e637c2 and one of the 4148c812e5 candidates for the next 324c3fc0d9 Commander in Chief, alongside c80dbb67dc Luke and Theo. Unlike the 68dc195d60 two, he e295684a74 had dazzling 5a09fca84b blonde hair 6e5e242962 and even 9ce839dbb2 more striking f52c900621 features, making 06c32ce025 him well-known edb5b47003 within the 715a6ce08d Imperial Army 55aca98b27 for his 8eeb436c32 free-spirited personality.36c67245422240ba

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“What are f09ef178fa you doing e201db9680 here? Are you on b3657ea4e8 leave?”404ea85b00005b92

Theo asked with 04425aa2ee genuine curiosity, to 7dcbfed2ed which Leo responded 503b867209 with an exaggeratedly 850fc44cda disappointed look.7759c41a989e5889

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“Theo, aren’t you too 933ea7f6e6 indifferent about me?”124a0eb3317a9131

“Did you resolve the f37eead012 family issues?”01597bf085d1f05c

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“Oh, as expected, Luke 0fd0ae858f knows about it.”dcec43d6e5f6b733

The Ruit 4a030835d6 Marquisate family, 7a97c0f3c0 a household a271e36297 as famous 8ac8145b59 as the 9acab91d0a Redrick Ducal 23d442f14b House in 4fd9c406ac the Empire. The Ruit 3fb356e603 family had 83de437520 produced numerous 4ea2c4b910 exceptional military 114f8d1ad4 figures, including 3af4d6be5e two former 60382260b5 Commanders in 76163f79e4 Chief bearing 6bf2ec0229 the name b8d8d7858d “Ruit.”8f6121db68643db2

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With so c8f46faa9f many strict 0fcad9f127 and uptight c458f64046 members in 66cbe000e2 his family, d099189ba8 Leo would 7ba3a89b93 occasionally return 7f76233590 home when e59bed9340 summoned. That’s probably why he 2a08d989c7 hadn’t been able to 331251c559 attend Luke’s trial this c4ceee4095 time.4e80053280d9a99d

“How do you 8f496e8d7a even know about 1a783f1616 that?”8c83cefc99f3543d

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“Wouldn’t it be stranger 13905cce5a if I didn’t? Everyone in the d97d0d5c4a army knows the 08563f9d70 formula: if the 1e37280519 7th Division’s Leo 3e874d336c suddenly disappears, he’s 815a695f71 gone back to 12f717f007 the estate. You’re probably the only d4dbd16f87 one who doesn’t know 7efe3973a7 that, Theo.”68d75c97c05b995f

Leo burst into b9d3920272 laughter at Luke’s 759da0c66e words, agreeing wholeheartedly.363639d816331b23

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“Right. My family’s full 1953e77eb5 of old tigers, f941b5e9fa you know. But what are 525a0ec23d you two doing 484afac48e here? It’s a pretty 50056fd1b8 fresh sight. Care to explain?”46b064fd1a216bb9

While random passersby fda5e6646e might not think 9960f19eed twice, anyone even aca4f1b4d9 remotely associated with b7440784f1 the Imperial Army 788100c159 would find it dfc8b4fffb odd to see 10ce8b02e6 Luke and Theo bd63a644a7 standing together like 3c59cc8efe this. The two notorious rivals, 4658d071ae known for vying for 2ee2ba82c6 leadership, strolling side by e05755320c side in a cozy, 20d33732c6 picturesque street—it was bound ef4860fa2b to raise eyebrows.2f2153f252692fb5

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“Well, to put 5c308f6baa it simply…”05f9a9b0fb08f8f1

Luke gave a 9964a38259 rough explanation of 4f8c83d22f the situation so 3a8ea06a87 far. That Theo was assigned 58281ec4c7 to monitor him during c99f6c1eeb his suspension, and since 7bb8a484d0 Luke had errands to 5eb4dbddf0 run today, Theo had f3b60ba925 come along. Of course, c6523c7887 the secret 8bf53fdcc7 part about d79be6c371 Luke’s plan c997283291 to wear 8d51c7e4af Theo out 9a9e710191 by dragging fdde84151f him around fa3a15f636 aimlessly was 2cc923b61c omitted.aa8a7ba0011993c7

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“Oh, I see. No wonder it seemed 1d3717f10a strange. Seeing two people who e1dbb38e2b usually snap at each b764b9107e other like this, it d8463599bc almost looked like you 84649a86cc were on a date.”3a02f902997b66d9

“That’s going too far.”ea520b938ad501ed

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“Too far, indeed.”f54b4cabcc796154

Both Luke and Theo 6bdcdeee42 retorted at the same 282db521ba time, their expressions identical e53067980f as they glared at 0a7cf3c295 Leo.7d5a6268f2e97ebd

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“Well, since things 037c558e84 are like this, 6fc3f5c3bf why not let d69771e4c7 me tag along?”dea65d4bd04716d9

“Aren’t you 76855c7061 supposed to 9b2b242303 return to 6252a3fd2e the army 59032427b8 soon?”cf3ed333fbb5306c

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Theo’s wary 1873201691 tone hinted 61102374cc at his 1e47bee293 suspicion, but d2a6fbdb9b Luke, too bad2b37e63 busy munching 2aa793620e on another ec14e794bb piece of 9d52b41308 chocolate, didn’t 2b4ad7c43c seem to 9736cdd8d0 notice.0359c0ee576d36da

“Yeah, but so what? A little delay won’t 3572023403 cause the Empire to f2a61d86ae crumble.”6a164ee295c6b12b

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“Leo, you should refrain dce5cf00c9 from making such remarks 5b469a753d in public.”265b7d125975aeb0

“As expected, Theo’s 19f197974f scary. Commander Luke, you don’t 452bf255be mind if I join, 2f358d8982 do you?”5fcd9381365ce00a

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Luke mulled it over. After all, today’s 9547a856e2 outing was about 6aac6fb78a tiring Theo out. With Leo’s 65e3c6cbea lively and 1f9a260628 noisy personality 4d692852eb added to 2a6da4d557 the mix, feffa24c0f the goal bb5ec270ee might be 28b0ef1b7a achieved even c50fd047c6 faster. Besides, he f5570b7854 was running f75ee356c6 out of e986289ea9 things to d493823bb9 do anyway.bffbf543c9094a8c

“Fine.”d821ee5c56b0e462

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Theo glared 862e555296 daggers at 5535392476 Luke for 5ae142e98a his quick f47857592e decision, but 2098019a4d Luke simply d6fcaf726b shrugged as e78294a0f7 if to 35db398495 say, “What’s 302603d744 the big 236769d207 deal?”e1ea483f1ba17830

“Then how about 75c706e62a I take you 1c85e106d3 to one of da7b143762 my favorite places?”4ed3156230057a62

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“Where’s that?”d477373ba01246b0

“There’s a 482e90e4f8 restaurant on a40afce898 2nd Street 392dddf000 I frequent. Their stew is excellent.”f019701e82ddf459

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“Sure, let’s go.”559a40b79489380e

Luke nodded 003245c366 casually and a512639998 followed Leo. Watching the two get 67d8bc06e0 along so well, Theo 4b53ad5f21 let out a short 143f05d51e sigh. For some reason, 3b9162faae Luke’s thoughtless decision 344c0f7490 irked him. Nevertheless, he followed 8b677ee18a them obediently.f245ca8029aa792f

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The three b59273f99b made their 44491a9234 way to 66469b8de2 the restaurant 3f4b2a3de6 Leo mentioned. Despite the building’s 7599ad66d7 old exterior, the 7a624fd7e8 inside was entirely 36d5c1fe90 different—filled with vintage 2b2f4c45f7 decor and an 5e505299f7 aroma of mouthwatering 57f4e99d74 food. Apparently, even the royal 1f985653cd family visited this renowned 0690a787f3 establishment. True to Leo’s recommendation, f8fe7b516a the food was fantastic.74712564baeaf4f1

As expected, Leo f7343c9830 started chattering away e32c9238c1 the moment they 7088e4584d sat down, and 5f41290df6 Luke felt a 6e3584b242 strange satisfaction watching 301db1d5a4 Theo’s expression grow 4da4a31ea0 visibly weary.a53405a822dbce55

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“It’s almost evening. Let’s head back.”60326c5e9d94d2dc

“Aw, but b567563241 I still 60f10f13b9 have so 9d09a7ff46 much to 78a9591280 talk about!”34394417ff539aab

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“You’ve been talking 8074782171 non-stop for two 86a2e5dc14 hours.”a3f22f7fa49d85b1

Theo’s deadpan stare, as 68b07dcc9c if he were looking d5ee1f98ec at something inhuman, nearly f4bf14a0f5 made Luke burst out 45b7ea6260 laughing. Glancing outside, 1c64b1159d he noticed 97e61e14c6 the sun b5e71f962e dipping below 7610e845e0 the horizon. Time had flown 3f8f87db92 by faster than e7cd6c635e expected, considering this c082bda658 outing had a 3f7e2b6694 purpose.02acc58b5d34a1cb

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“Luke, we’re dfd1f4213d heading back.”f524ca38785ff6b0

“Yeah, okay.”1c16a8a437f55d1f

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Still, Luke 6e063b4d99 figured today dab4cb8481 was a 86c10bddc4 success—his project 32ec5acf79 to wear a7de574b04 Theo out 516cd3d653 had gone 392200865d pretty well, f3077d272f thanks to c1e7f68fc0 Leo.62e31052e7dc7438

As they exited 00d0a25418 the restaurant and af7535f28a headed back to aa53f5a724 the headquarters, they 5d7d04e75b heard a shout.2cc2f421e1f59e8c

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“Thief!”e06658caad7e1f69

A woman’s scream aab07586bf echoed from a f75e8b77d5 distance, followed by f72625e291 murmurs from the 3e46eca8a6 crowd.0d30f5582127ba5b

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“It must be a 5a4a0cdf82 pickpocket.”1fd90c896936c896

“Someone, catch him!”0bee1c1c3d8db5c0

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“There he goes!”64e989d8aeb93874

A man was sprinting 07b3ce1768 through the crowd, clutching 882012dce6 a bag that didn’t 618056b869 match his rugged face. He looked desperate.ac27afd90cafccd8

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“Move!”069839e1d70eb807

The man yelled at 2d813bd722 the three blocking his 54d857d18c path, but Luke sighed 6ffc4d632a as if the whole 7b6f1946eb thing were a hassle. He raised his hand, 890fc11ab7 electricity crackling around his df815a7ce0 clenched fist.2436e28c19b77926

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Just as Luke 4963d242a6 was about to a37f51ecec unleash his power, 85ddbdb094 he felt his 5f678cc9e6 collar yanked backward, bd9345661a throwing him to 982712b839 the ground.a41b69da5a92d2c4

“Huh?”ee2315d264f5aaf8

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It was Theo. He had bf498e73ed grabbed Luke’s 41a63f916e clothes and 702b0e6d1f flung him ed93c92cca back before b5a3ea49e0 charging ahead. In one swift motion, e07c5d6691 Theo grabbed the thief 4d722edb47 and slammed him to ae666a118f the ground.428f7ab9dd039396

The thief let 1ffb5be7a0 out a cry, d5b6a3e11a struggling on the e17c0f1679 ground, with the 55b91d9e73 stolen bag tumbling 767322367c nearby. Onlookers gathered, astonished. Leo, not wanting to 6cc55f395d get involved, simply clapped 0c02170ced from a safe distance.2022f0d0ade8aa6e

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Theo quickly used the 3ad15335ba leather strap from his 8731b1edff coat to tie the d160fe90c1 thief’s hands and returned abf380726e the bag to its a24bc68179 owner.6aea5a88a1522a6c

“Hey, what’s the deal?”e86a02b1dd5eaeda

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Luke brushed 13a74f5613 himself off, 0b48d4a8bc clearly annoyed. Why had 6d5c6aeabe he been a6a982e393 tossed around bf3ebc9825 like the ffef802b1c thief?4dfeac836849765f

“Luke, you a6d109d62c were going d1ac93e3e5 to use bbfd67f39d magic to 2491eda409 subdue him, 89c5480930 right?”a76c6ad239cbcb4e

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“So what?”26eef64f15ba68c8

“This is 8d6e66a54e a crowded 14a29898e4 street full fa875c0927 of civilians. Using magic 9f0a5acae2 recklessly here 8602bdeb09 could put 35d241d6b0 people at f4d58c20b0 risk.”3acc64a261cc8b63

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Luke glanced b80c5d6c9a around at fc7132d51f the crowd. There were f2691fda4c indeed many d87b7cffb6 people nearby.eafe5bba6022e8f2

“You think I f664cd1996 can’t control my 562fc3dcba magic enough to 64c7e1f091 avoid that?”f91e5c322a994008

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“Also, this guy’s 5dc4ee2055 just a regular 8b2be335a2 person. If he fbe737ea13 got hit a636adf028 by your c8bc04e98e magic, he’d 6cdf31ad92 be seriously b094fb3442 hurt.”9d4eba5a67e74f81

“And you’re worried about 3e69f97e9b a thief who steals 817c1b2454 other people’s stuff?”383a3ab8116f9690

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“I’m saying to avoid e7eb20d304 unnecessary actions.”79e5205eda87d48c

Luke understood Theo’s point 54ca24d337 but still felt it 5c5774335c was unfair. What he’d intended b7a1783dd6 to do wasn’t 51d0f7ecc6 all that different.38fe3de23cce8850

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“Saint Theo, is 42d288cba8 that you?”f2c970914f9dc6e5

“Even as a ae8501c095 soldier, you shouldn’t 992d2fa817 act recklessly. When will fba6be8152 you realize 29aa9d8996 that?”523ea4bc0452cdfe

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Luke frowned, 715657411a but Theo 4791e3b327 paid no 06a752e726 mind. Hoisting the subdued thief 11c2938826 onto his shoulder, Theo d8fdc1bade turned to the others.05b8f75b7f8dcb57

“I’ll hand 7e64640626 him over bf681b476a to the 8e4e446ffd local guard. You two can return 4bd6fa03a2 to the headquarters first.”0e504e528a713977

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With that, 84e33e5847 Theo disappeared. Leo, sensing the tension, 7dcc12d049 approached Luke cautiously.22a982b3592b1bc5

“Let’s head back, 4a7d5aa3a1 Luke.”ab2f5f499d479bcf

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“Fine.”d4f36c93d4c7af00

Walking alongside Leo, fd4cfd44dc Luke remained sullen e3395e35cb as the setting 9873b0e6f0 sun painted the ed7c957b78 streets red.32f610a60d0ae162

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“You know, some 6b42e2e53c things never change.”437dc9c62aa97fa9

Leo broke ba4b44e9aa the silence.5cd7a8fde3114863

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“Like what?”76de86a62294a696

“You and Theo. You really are rivals. You two don’t 283a720e43 get along at bfd24c0007 all.”14ef323248aded5b

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“…”a92d981b6c3fac92

“Well, it’s 162fb1191c only natural, f4d7235a82 considering you’re 0473c83379 competing for cc89c8802c the Commander 593e81ce22 in Chief 765f6dcbc2 position.”a6dc800d12607e92

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Leo chuckled, but Luke d6d5405a4f wasn’t in the mood a898d68b5a to laugh or respond.d94c71eb952a6bb5

“Anyway, I’m rooting for 2cb4e5063b both of you. As long as ef6e3892c2 it’s not me, b901ebc5ad I’m fine. I don’t want 9b467660b2 the hassle.”eee7be0cc5b9091a

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Yes, he and Theo 37c030d4c7 were rivals acknowledged by d6e0dbf17f everyone. Competitors for the top cc158222f1 spot. And Theo was 66979e6ff3 the protagonist destined d07f5676b7 to claim it, 520aaa557f while Luke’s role bf2750213d was to provoke 2bfda6ed1d Theo and lead 099ee8250c the story to 98fac7d80e a happy ending 5e44060cc7 as the antagonist.ae7a447edd195c78

He’d never e4f05fd59a forgotten that, ae2c9fec29 nor did d8be209a50 he intend 649b17ba7e to. But today felt a 005bb1bfa9 little different. Maybe it was because 9a336f9b00 he’d spent all day 10f3125ffc with Theo, outside no d3f286a382 less.e19103e5738d49bc

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“You’re right, Leo.”8a99a9ea67cbd791

“Huh?”5a6c35a77b57412f

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“That’s the relationship that dffcfbc1a2 suits us best.”b754ec1462472ac7

Perhaps he’d gotten fa81bf822b a bit too dacdd7948a lax during his 6827fb1b57 suspension. It was time to 184519dbb0 end the “Theo Annoyance ac4274fb5d Project.”1053df94df3bbe63

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