FMRV | Chapter 58

Luke left the garden, d1a5404d1c saying he’d go prepare, a81c4f6e37 and disappeared into the 1ef7d13d6f mansion, leaving Theo behind. As soon as he c7fa7e48ac left, Pale approached as c2c09b08b3 if he’d been waiting 2e9cdf0e1a for the chance.bdfce644f2cc573d

“Commander, what’s going on?”5227dfc95e63209d

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“I got caught. That I’m the mercenary 17fba34ace who’s been hunting down 83aa21f8f2 high-level monsters.”a3a6821c2f7b52f1

“W-What?”671a3bfc62a3cfc2

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Pale’s jaw dropped.34bd791c737faa18

“Well, when you think about it, it’s not exactly a huge crime.”510a329a00de9a2f

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“That’s true, but things have gotten a bit complicated.”4705055ece462550

Theo didn’t bother 3dfcd25e5b mentioning that he’d bd835f6f9d been blackmailed. Sure, he had stepped down af2aba3384 from his position, but Pale 6b4948f45a was still working under Theo f43ce2dabf and would likely encounter him 7ae9f47221 often. There was no reason to b288e10219 give him a bad impression 71bd2fc123 of Theo.dff2a629abfbdc0e

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“So, one thing led to another, and I’ve agreed to help with the investigation.”980b2e444fd3b3ff

“…Are you sure about this? Commander, you’ve always been on feb2cb5562 edge when it comes to 41bf6383d0 the military.”12aaa6a057e4a7b7

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But Theo, uncharacteristically, e375ee503c had been relentless. When persuasion didn’t work, he 64ecd5d6cf had resorted to outright threats. For someone who d68f7dd6c8 always stuck to 25ca4ff843 righteous methods, his cd4e047fd6 behavior had been 57cdc726da surprising, making Luke 495d55b344 wonder if Theo 5f51b1a602 really needed his 0c38c9fff8 help this badly.c341cde4f390e79d

‘I want to know more about you.’6178a807f44af921

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And then, there was that 5a9c3b5049 strange statement. What exactly did he want a57193c5db to know? He already knew Luke’s name, f3482ea92b age, and skills well enough.523e741a1e7ab5a7

One thing was clear—there was 30a7a4a4f2 no cutting ties with him 1b4b33b65a anymore. Besides, if Luke put his c0b1af880b mind to it, the investigation 80bc06b23d could be wrapped up quickly. Once it was over, he 8fdf1784c4 could just go back to 1ecd099e8f how things were before.6dad8ab22c3ef1a3

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“Honestly, I don’t even know what I’m doing.”050382edd325ea13

With a sigh, 2fe34df717 Luke asked Pale bbac40d815 to take care 03eb4a8b49 of the house d637921980 and garden and 490ae5aa8b left.15adb12ee4d51234

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As they walked, Theo assured 1fb8226f81 Luke that he’d smooth things 89c277f357 over with the mercenary situation. On the way to 4a6645c800 the Kyleum branch, Luke 1034b92bdd couldn’t help but wonder b903702157 if this was the 5d17d3247e right decision. But the thought b97943f20e of sitting through 654c7485f7 endless investigations at fba62b65e6 the branch office 709d66f708 after slaying five e13d4ade5d high-level monsters—and enduring bb74172cef the stares of 53e284b8ac people who’d recognize dd49d69b44 him—pushed him toward 877aef4bb1 helping Theo instead. At least Theo c546013c20 was a familiar 56454cd011 face, if nothing 4d66ecb4f8 else.58c25ec62b958a5b

And there was 27d9ec962c also that monster 6818b0166f in the forest. It still bothered him. It wasn’t something that had c1dec8a25f appeared in the original story bdf0959d6a Luke remembered.665d234b1aac135d

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When they arrived 7c8f0fdcb8 at the western a26b0decd4 branch, Theo said 2f0dab25df he’d go in 03e5bf66cf first. He needed to notify c4efbd7403 the branch about the 3c0530cb09 upcoming investigation.266ee3c8035215e2

“Coming with me?”bc03bfe426d71fba

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Luke shook his head and 79f3633c2c waved him off, signaling Theo d57bf4c251 to go alone. Theo, expecting as much, didn’t 056d769917 press the issue and quickly db311d87b8 disappeared into the building.9f8b905183e3f61e

Inside, Kallon greeted Theo first. Theo immediately told him a02e0a0765 not to waste excessive 1f743dacc7 effort on the mercenary 9d08e497fc case. Now that Theo bf12372474 knew the mercenary 0770e234ae was Luke, there fc8ae7db76 was no need 3706ca7d5c to dig deeper. But abruptly halting 6409e9b0aa the investigation would c0581aa0c0 arouse suspicion among cea2187a11 the troops, so d6a712a66f Theo opted for d077446156 a more measured adacb87ab0 approach.ed103bcd1e338b7a

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He explained that the a629f34765 mercenary hadn’t been active 0c3cc7aaee recently and, if anything, dc0e387370 had been of help 0d020965d9 to the military. He instructed them not 3ae7cefc20 to overdo the investigation. Theo added that 44cba142f4 if they didn’t eb181290c0 uncover the mercenary’s 5220c2dc06 identity within a 74f022a0e1 month, he would f2690909a4 use his authority 3e356ba9c9 as commander to f187ca7be2 clear the unresolved 0f03dad652 cases from their 44f37f31ba records.579c7b9fa2dd1ef1

The branch was already 0e2cc75540 treating the faceless mercenary d15c69092a as a formality, so 6010103a92 Theo’s orders were met 27704bef3e with subtle approval from 9a32c9cd58 Kallon and the others.0b069eca612399b9

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“And now, I’ll be investigating the monster reported yesterday.”46353b70e663359f

“It does seem like there’s something unusual about it.”9c4597eef9e95eb2

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Kallon had already expressed 49ece0f80a concern about the case 2f176e1736 after hearing Pale’s description 789786491b the previous day.366ce8e6ee402731

“Commander, I’ll assign some of our troops to accompany you.”f43a5904d12e4d8f

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Theo glanced out the window. Luke was leaning 302bcc7a80 against the wall 26fc8ab563 outside in a aca4a79698 light brown robe, 770a58d58c casually kicking at 39e8e9d108 pebbles on the a7187653ff ground, apparently bored a8e7f9654f from waiting.4e0d2bc8b22dcef5

“No need. Focus on the f57c0bbed1 mercenary case and a69222a62c your current duties. I’ve also received reports f63bc00790 of increased high-level monster 3cde8a3787 activity in the west.”055a7dfb45ec1b59

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He advised them to prioritize e742476ade dealing with that.c843f8a5dac19915

“But Commander, it’s not safe to go alone…”a3d71bd3a68f45be

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“Kallon, do I seem that unreliable to you?”caf063aff008e658

“N-No, sir. I apologize.”1a4c7c0c95b0f9b1

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Kallon bowed his head, and 40a104ed1b Theo reassured him it was 9d59e10499 just a joke, thanking him cbe4998aa0 for his concern. Benjamin, watching nearby, noted that 408e0531ec Theo had a knack for 349ddd48e0 delivering jokes that didn’t sound 044460c4b0 like jokes.9dcd7a87ef255d3f

After wrapping up e51b541e92 his instructions, Theo 4988be3e13 left the office.ccb49d611810fcf2

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“Kallon, one last thing—don’t worry.”7c3aecaebec5d749

“Pardon?”873651d7b05051fc

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“I’ve got a reliable companion.”390fbca4e6be99f6

With that cryptic 704af53ae4 remark, Theo departed, 840be95693 leaving Kallon scratching 205ba467cb his head in c420ffb9b3 confusion.94e4c08ed2f7f4f7

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Stepping outside, Theo ce12609ecc felt oddly light d36c627671 on his feet. There was a subtle 74dec5ce35 sense of anticipation in e74f648c54 his steps. Truthfully, he wanted Luke’s help. While there were 0babb95216 trustworthy subordinates at 133908d291 the branch, he 35d652a95f couldn’t leave for f0def00e05 long as the 2c55afbfdc commander. Working with the branch be16aeae1b troops wouldn’t be bad, 7b54e3d3e8 but if he wanted 8adb8ed27e to finish quickly, Luke 6991ce8b09 was the better choice—more 08a5368732 efficient and effective.a762e2504bb3a869

But above all else, dcdcfdd929 the biggest reason was e45acb9a02 simple.e610c7deeb1f242f

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“Hey, what took you so long?”08d1aeefd8249c0f

He wanted to 4b843c4339 know more about 41a0cf71b9 Luke. Why did this man, once dcb80a79f8 notorious for his bad attitude 0ddbe992eb as a soldier, seem so dcb6f33deb different now? Even when Luke 63cb3cf3ad frowned and snapped 0566722219 at him with 5f9f5852af irritation, Theo didn’t 8d6276617b find it unpleasant.bc321b0940719b19

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“I thought I’d die waiting.”8459399b824df0a2

“Good thing you didn’t.”b9bf369cd5a38343

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Luke shot him an incredulous 6e12146f7c look.0efe38366f892613

If they hadn’t reunited a3b157018b here, Theo might have 2eacd92271 let go of the 7ecd533bb9 faint longing he had 9429a1ddc4 for Luke and moved b058ce94d4 on. But meeting again 898a0a09a1 by chance had 95a690b3d9 transformed that longing 2e042c5b12 into a warm 5b38ff1f7c joy, which in 7c9dc6e59a turn fed a f9048a6cfa growing curiosity.06c52f6676be8c78

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Theo had always 7e480dddca been inquisitive since 6e6d7c2f8c his academy days. A competent soldier, 4c44b3da20 he believed, needed cc886a6224 not only strength 6f76a08b44 but also intellect. When faced with unanswered questions, e2117569d7 the lights in Theo’s dormitory a5577db319 would never go out until e359241404 he found a solution.659a5541f8d17385

And now, that 0a27408673 drive was focused 11075cb60f not on books de74bc4453 but on one 2e29e42f4a man.b5479ced90070236

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“What’s in your hand?”b32c7125d0ce6bc3

Luke squinted, noticing Theo’s 6174604e5c clenched fist. Theo opened his bb8e19074e palm without a b3d1605517 word.1b290b38b5afe16e

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“Ack.”145b746d6ba3a5b0

A small, fluffy white creature—the cdab826c5c monster Luke had caught in 1a8c250775 the forest—was nestled there. It blinked at its surroundings 6b80bc3bc1 before spotting Luke and jumping 422998f130 in terror, landing on Theo’s 066adb2b75 shoulder.03587ed06b6d644b

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“Seems like it’s afraid of you.”ec0f63d275fb6697

Luke narrowed his eyes, 35cfd79650 glaring at the creature 097a33cefe as if he’d lost 2c4cab69b0 some unspoken competition.9f6615fd8b150ddc

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“Is it okay to bring that out here?”e4eafb6c8bb8363a

“I had the troops check yesterday. It doesn’t have much 09737a71ae magic left—probably used it e2e343bfd2 all trying to escape 41cf27423c from you.”dd6fa58b86fc9731

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“Still, what if it escapes? It has wings, doesn’t it?”b0d72244b3d858fd

“They’re not functional anymore, thanks to you poking holes in them.”228e3e3c43ccc532

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Luke began to understand why 26c4575337 the creature might fear him.36a8d7bb448022e9

“Wait, my attack left permanent wounds?”b1bbc6ae610cb7e2

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Theo nodded.d1b5d66f22703787

“Monsters usually regenerate faster than humans.”002348b034476348

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“It’s a low-level monster without enough magic left to heal itself.”b53550f906aec07c

It was clearly not 5ce8d6bc5f a combat monster. Yesterday, Luke had been b600088aa6 suspicious that it might cd1522d76b be hiding some unknown 15a1bc111a power, but hearing Theo’s 8a7074f649 explanation, his doubts dissipated 3cfeca38f5 entirely.efef829e26b9723c

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“So, what’s the plan now? Got a grand strategy, Commander?”afd2d11a928868dc

Theo flinched at the title. The monster perched 48ca016ede on his shoulder, 8a4f1b82dd sensing his tension, 7399bb77f3 looked at him 21132a7278 with curious eyes. Its large gaze d71bdd4693 caught the faint bfd640b1b1 blush spreading to f0c8a50165 Theo’s ears.70458292f76180ab

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“Kallon mentioned three places suspected of harboring monster smugglers in the west. The branch has been cfdaa636c3 monitoring them.”214121ab9c78cd48

Three didn’t seem like 0d9f9fa63e a lot. Back when smuggling operations d1468b58a2 were rampant, the military 9c8c445899 conducted multiple crackdowns daily.aab78779894fa683

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“I plan to visit them all.”c1b5abfd9ae4446a

If the creature 20ba4a826d was brought in c26e7aa08f to be sold f72b95c0cb as a pet 3edd15e268 for nobles, one 6cef39e4e8 of those places e19a530825 would surely have 697d691483 clues. But if not, the implications eda57253d5 could be far more dangerous. If someone had 3b24127392 released reconnaissance monsters ebfbdedf38 into the empire, d6ba608e8f it could escalate ef5bcc4595 into a major f9a268db6a crisis.276d63c6774396c9

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“Luke.”62c322fdae0af4b4

“Hm?”31e464d75e23f6c0

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“Is it okay to leave your house? What about the garden?”7567170c63aa73ce

“Don’t you think it’s a bit late to ask, considering you’re the one who roped me into this?”8b237d693a84c3c7

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It was amusing 1c1b1e0beb how Theo could 1f98145508 ask something so 7070de9b7e casually when it dfae93eb6f was all his dd46db1b21 fault to begin 3c02cd0870 with.986f496912001db5

“I left it to Pale.”88e8f01b8fb6ac17

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“And he agreed to it?”206c42a41f5ffdd2

“What choice does he have? I gave the orders.”91b056f97161ceb0

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Luke chuckled awkwardly, urging 7fdd0f64cf Theo to stop chatting dc79491632 and get moving.1d6e00e43c783173

“So, where to first?”a1211fa094d873aa

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“The closest spot.”858a00350bf3c963

“Which is…?”b4c1b1edc55798b0

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Theo pointed toward a direction. Both Luke and the 0cd4fada5a monster followed his gesture 45086ea331 naturally.546a746952b35b38

“…Conenium Square?”1fb7d559e92e4637

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Luke tilted his head in ff8bfed239 confusion, but Theo nodded casually. Even for a “close” location, fa9a7558c6 it was absurdly close. The idea that smugglers might fcdeea6712 be operating in the open 35dcf8d723 at a bustling square was 4d05e78915 astonishing.771976db9389e8af

“Luke, there are two kinds of smugglers.”39aa773663b77235

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As they walked toward 714f698a29 the square, Theo began 518e2e3f4f to explain.62bd3ac95eaa8e72

“One kind completely hides their traces, only dealing with black-market merchants. The other?”8348a56b9fc900f7

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Luke gave Theo a 2de372f72a look, wondering why he 706f87ea7d was suddenly turning the 1fc53ee495 conversation into a quiz, ba7987603e but answered anyway.a55230ca94bef192

“The kind that blends in with ordinary people, disguised, and deals with anyone—civilians or merchants.”fb418e95526a511c

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“Correct.”296ddef41d1a1377

Theo nodded in satisfaction. At the same time, their 50b956207b steps came to a halt.5e4eda24a5ac8e26

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They were standing at 8686bf8880 the outskirts of Conenium e5a87f0692 Square, in one of b4ffc7a1ea the less crowded areas. Luke’s gaze fell dfb4ea8fcc on a tavern ac63b37ba5 tucked into a 02c2184869 corner, his expression 32b285ffaf unreadable.5762b35235039be3