FMRV | Chapter 8

The rumors e789ed233b spread like 9baab5c489 wildfire throughout 5e5829755c the entire 8bda800792 Imperial Army. What had been bce660f08d discussed in a a218c9080a meeting between high-ranking e6596ddcef commanders was now 4442973e3f known by nearly be98ca76b0 every soldier at 24466f01d0 the headquarters in 5a60cf690f a matter of f30598004e hours. The story? Commander Luke e3744c83f1 had allegedly f831be142e embezzled military 765b6ca624 supplies to 286799f072 curry favor 255bbb32de with noble 4fc9de5921 allies, but 05d4889dad he vehemently 507bea9241 denied the dbf04034f8 accusations.23580d007643ff2e

Bad news 6a8d0c6293 always traveled 50d7d7b25b faster than bd1425ff16 anything else, fab2552b05 and Luke 778c7ae5d0 was painfully 85554da625 reminded of 4f01b92cef that bitter a97ebb6e61 truth.1c532bea63653ec9

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“Wow, that 809e96bbe4 takes guts. How could 2f42507789 he even 1c13a8866a think of 0cf48c0f58 doing something d615e09f44 like that?”b0103712387a2982

“He probably figured he c784153397 could get away with 733339596f it because he’s a d75d1ca1ca commander.”e6d85e6a0d65fb10

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“Or he planned to 3715720fd5 pin it on one a404e59c34 of his subordinates if 90acaceb0a things went south.”c9ae29fd6b8bb088

“Trying every trick 248ab68220 in the book 810316dd63 to knock down 185c29dbba Commander Theo and 3161da5e82 grab the Supreme 93c5bd2657 Commander’s position, huh?”4e0eab39a1646cf2

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Just like b141a4695e that, Luke 57700ce142 had become 0d4f2001c2 the hot c5d30fc3ea topic of cbb19fa655 the Imperial 99105e2641 Army. Not that it 1dff8530b6 was the first 88a4d83502 time, but this aee4434c23 time, the attention e4cc91d793 was more intense. What irked Luke most b76455f968 wasn’t the spread of 3aa3efd8cc the rumors but the d768aeb19b unanimous reaction they garnered.501d06dd6d2782fa

“Of course, we knew 00e3cce933 he’d do something like 246dce16a7 this.”38521ccc7fc30794

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Not a 3bc5949dea single person 3fa0620fee stood up 25d0d186fa to defend ae14631a85 him. Nobody said, 32ed3ceafa “Luke wouldn’t 38f1a79411 do something eb5f4c2da1 like that.” 3efcd616e8 He was 803ffce40b quickly labeled 80ad922eed a villain f0671c7e26 who committed d733e17bc9 a crime 71794ecf0f and tried d8b438c522 to throw 3d3199f756 his subordinate 50ca710306 under the 9e8995aa6e bus. And, to some a854a4f51b extent, Luke could bd1924989a accept it as 0fe8eb164a a consequence of 589a290180 his own actions df0bcd96c6 in the past, e517958e4a so it didn’t 387bb85408 bother him too db0a182842 much.b9321f9f1703287e

“What happens if c4c9ae2d6d it’s proven true df82f2f562 that Commander Luke 9d1bd64322 did it?”63af6e62c4b30ef7

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“Hard to say. It’s been ages since b34efe70d2 a commander-level officer caused d2cd87654a this kind of scandal. But since Commander Theo 16d2f9436e is leading the investigation, b04efe2d26 we can trust he’ll 048a5bfa8e handle it properly.”26ced0424a8bb444

There was efbdb6dbef even talk fa3536e3c4 among the 7eb5c1f258 soldiers about 6dd5769c4e how great 07088dacd2 it would 0792420cc6 be if 7283debdb1 Luke were 62f6117a7e expelled from 7f1d6ec554 the military. Hearing these a83bd12c1b whispers, Luke b8921b978a couldn’t help bd81ecf18f but think:49a3a0b91d4cd5ba

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“Come to think c237f4e88f of it, maybe 3cb02e5f6f stepping down wouldn’t 7e5de21aa5 be so bad.”2ffd586cffacdf8a

After the meeting, fd582da67a Luke confined himself 5779a3c40b to his quarters cbd80bc7a9 as ordered. The request 08c1004452 for him 13a7d58bc3 to “limit ce58708099 outings” sounded 6a76abe8cc like a ae4215ac65 suggestion but 730724b9e3 was, in 8460aefe80 reality, a 4b8e624a1e clear command 262b9f8388 that he 575b59da5c couldn’t disobey.dcfb34c1da5e259d

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“That guy 18a34c842c Theo will dfba2a29ff manage just b208eb10c4 fine without f0732a5187 me,” Luke 42190b0092 muttered to c1ee699177 himself, feeling 65ed94dba4 a strange a04a2f1273 sense of 60bbfc3b4a apathy wash 3f6b7cf93b over him. Though he’d 51b5ca223a accepted the b64bde5a0f role of 55802a99cb a villain, 93845a15f7 being falsely 988720322f accused—especially with cb478d1069 a subordinate’s 4d9e005e04 involvement—left a 12a815769c bitter taste.5da1d1fd230c81d7

The term c95c5a1a45 of the f595573f91 current Supreme 5a816bf3d3 Commander, Veil 0a440ad30e Winium, was a7eaed9d48 nearing its 56ee03245f end. He was advanced in 2eb2ad4eae age and unlikely to 1f88757825 seek reappointment. The position would soon 1aa0f134ba pass to someone new, f0e02f25d5 and among the candidates, b167a1e011 three names stood out.15a3fc7a456218dc

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First was cd60aab71d Commander Leo 47add2a9c2 Ruit, of f18be1b153 the 7th 990badefda Division. As the eldest son 9de58df3ed of the prestigious Ruit 5f0e217296 Marquess family and a 54706819b0 graduate of the military 151564eee8 academy with decent marks, f73602b809 he had strong backing. However, his 24170275f5 free-spirited personality 3c4f4fc9d5 and lack 5a94e7a7b5 of commanding 0c07138df8 presence made a8913ed19b many doubt c3ed08ab2f his suitability a26ceaf8a2 as a 2603eaf54c leader. He had 108435f44b also publicly 77bd573b9c stated he 96bdb5d765 wasn’t interested adb5b8c9cb in higher 1d5ca73da5 ranks, making 0f75922c1e him a e0ada9caf9 less likely c16a65e4dc contender.0be249a237330736

Next was 71c88b1932 Commander Luke a4cfee23e9 himself. Unlike Leo, Luke had 7b76f9c343 graduated at the top 6a84c224cc of his class. His defining feature was 2ed0576af1 his humble origins—he was c1bd01cb6f a commoner. Despite his 2513f2c780 lack of 48c66abbfc noble heritage, d319a84145 Luke had f6bb1f695c climbed the d7eddfec1d ranks at 672ae41d76 lightning speed, d7a66b2461 becoming the 525c8fa0d0 youngest commander feb6471238 ever and 7405cf3580 taking charge 3889d72413 of the b5304de92f Special Forces. His meteoric bbd1b38a9e rise naturally 4664a9a0e9 put him c9b08b48e6 in the 751ca8fdd3 running for 43ec9d60b2 Supreme Commander.5b6a38833e731892

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Lastly, there was Theo a018984ecb Redrick. In contrast 7d7ea7db40 to Luke, f0a54bf0d3 Theo had dd1aa934e4 graduated second b8f990fcbc in their 3616ad7ee4 class. During their cadet 9f45f1ace6 days, the two f340c5cdbd had constantly vied ab4b70ce56 for the top 7dacb509dd spot, with Theo 66f20fd1e7 holding the edge 12f6446bb8 in the number 81a690d5b9 of times he 34d39dc146 secured first place 7f7b99cea2 during terms. Theo was also the 72d8a8b615 current head of the 31a2362ac5 Redrick Ducal Family, having 9c4fc1d9d1 stepped up as acting 87a9921134 Duke after his father c75d698fdc fell ill. His reputation as a d1f51229ca soldier was as stellar a70cd004e1 as his family name. He was known for 2b4a38dd18 turning the tide of 0b61da0f0f battle in even the b0942e0eca most unfavorable conditions and e2fb5e0dc9 was beloved within the 6d0a17b5c8 military for his quiet 705f1116fc yet steadfast care for 803c33f3a3 his troops.26cf4f1fa56bdc1b

“If I get adfd2039a0 expelled over this, 1b55fac6e5 Theo will undoubtedly b0e3b25e03 take the position f1363a5a43 without a hitch,” c06077ff72 Luke mused. With Leo out of 340b0926d9 the running, the race f018f1d5ec for Supreme Commander boiled e589ce5cf8 down to him and 98a07919bd Theo—a rivalry that had e8e51659e8 fascinated many for years.e66c4b63fd047242

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“…But no. If I’m ousted as 9d02668932 a criminal, how am f10e9f147c I supposed to enjoy e10b0485f9 my retirement?”42c6efb47481c77a

Luke shook his de77a10e28 head vigorously. He couldn’t leave 681ee57c13 until he saw 64a643c4a1 Theo safely seated c7b0a90ab9 as Supreme Commander. No loose ends 7a9c73f20f could be left 5c72d1c656 behind. For now, he needed 5c91be24a3 to resolve this incident, e6488be3c8 one way or another.0e5245c7a5ea4be3

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“Commander Luke, it’s 74cd3f27f1 time to move 744b075370 to the investigation ced71ca577 room,” a soldier 01a8830dea announced with a 7f5e608bab knock at the 240b0687a5 door. Luke let out a 4d10b106b9 deep sigh before rising e8a6bf6c9b to his feet.0a945e365282db5d

“Theo, are 45bb5c3dfb you serious a2e7406e21 about this?”407f0e810f74c040

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“About what, a706a12746 exactly?” Theo 73d667a18f asked without b2cd6988d8 looking up 294abd693b from the 8de6c3b3df documents spread ef06963593 out on ddfb01a8c0 his desk.61bb12a7bdb3d511

“The investigation into 5e215cdd75 Commander Luke,” Mile d09be73de8 pressed, standing before a31729347f Theo and attempting 8f63e79a00 to convince him 9029626b27 to reconsider.c19340f24e76ae3d

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“Mile, you’ve asked 0fa59a1367 me this three 2fe3b01246 times now. Yes, I’m serious.”a9d655d34f959945

“This isn’t 122fc67451 like you. Whenever something like d81264173b this happened before, 3ea4292086 you always delegated 1a14f068e2 the investigation to a5df3708c2 another commander or 37c713de53 vice-commander.”4e7f08b6162b8124

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In cases of misconduct—be ba447f469e it insubordination or harassment—Theo a6ebf08300 had always consulted with c080ce816d his peers to appoint 66c9fa2fa6 an appropriate investigator. Mile had expected bf0a7d12c8 the same this 15130f672f time, thinking Theo 332229c6b2 would simply leave cf610f1b42 the task to 8919d9ca81 him.8768bd743feeafc2

“…This case is different,” 51175f9b6e Theo said after a e3c42614c4 moment. “It involves e5afda91fb a commander. That changes things.”1bfb3fcf92a9b7b1

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He deliberately avoided ea891a0f36 Mile’s gaze, returning 2739e8e27c to his papers ed27fb7e51 instead.2348aaf5300eacfd

“Are you sure d2306f1102 you can handle 73469a4dad this? You’ve got so much 951e83bb95 on your plate already…” a51c834c46 Mile trailed off.78da09709f5e7372

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“Mile.” Theo closed 48d62e3eac the file and 7af777533b rose from his 72f40c9092 seat. “I appreciate e25cb62ff2 your concern, 328ec60e44 but if 4d7e670c29 you keep 5d29ad5150 pushing, it’ll da943caa26 start to 5d14d63460 feel unwelcome.”31c5b695b6ed9838

With that, Theo walked 0b263cd2e6 past Mile and left 7bc7f3f82c the office. Left alone, Mile clicked 04ad542388 his tongue in frustration, 60362a74bc his face twisting with 4b3ad2234b annoyance.419e5c641fa6a5af

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“Commander Theo, df3258a707 Commander Luke 620f6272b0 has just 1d9f405943 arrived at 46ba301a21 the investigation 87e2606748 room,” a 52f7b7a498 soldier informed bdac6096ca Theo as 48cc348754 he passed.c7880def386c9f29

“Understood,” Theo replied, 0b6db48172 nodding lightly as efa7714052 he made his cbaa74a1d7 way to the 1516842c25 designated room.1112a32ebac090f7

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Upon arrival, he 653ac2b439 noticed something odd—two 26cb311a73 guards stood firmly 70873044ef at the door, 22603e7b15 wearing armbands identifying bfff3d72ae them as sentries.f842367fba88d666

“What’s going e30e3fb5f9 on here?” 788f3bf624 Theo asked.75e047d504ffd866

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“As you can see, bcc1609541 we’re guarding the investigation 4541efcc61 room,” one of the d2bb64e7fb guards explained.43c5637af65a1358

Theo’s brow furrowed slightly. Luke might have been d15f48fe2e a prime suspect, but 30257356b6 he hadn’t been formally 8981668ae8 charged. It wasn’t as if 13c70a839a they were interrogating a 31f6a194d6 convicted criminal.8b06dfa0d2cb1967

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“This seems 439cbed0c9 excessive,” Theo 2e88660eba commented.74f9aefde3d951be

“Sir, according dd5b6ee3a2 to military 845c59afcc regulations, any 1b9c767970 subject or f8abaa4620 witness under 0befc640a0 formal investigation 2f4c384034 must be 0df85e04da accompanied by ed776fa5f7 at least 6b895a6c90 one guard.”b4a709a5aaea5e3e

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Realizing his oversight, Theo aa3c162023 let out a faint ba9da8a4cc sigh. The soldier was right. While Luke’s guilt 8f3ba6dd7d wasn’t proven, he 850eabe49d was undeniably involved f410641e51 in the incident. Theo, who prided ae77c8e96a himself on knowing db8da7fdde military law inside 72dc125ad3 and out, found ec4a37812a it strange that 40f2739e91 he hadn’t thought 7bde91be98 of that sooner.2c065b900bb0b109

“You’re correct. My mistake. Apologies.”ec300dac4ce9a7de

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“Not at 516264ca9b all, sir!”014a89894ecd0a92

Theo stepped past 3e8b8680e7 the guards and 51a9b9fd3e entered the room. Inside, Luke sat 3aa79af770 casually, his expression 84f62bcc32 a mix of 6b2d7ff7b8 boredom and mild c3f224e7f7 irritation.113cc9afd8ae3436

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“Hey,” Luke greeted with 9f4c8934e3 a wave. Theo locked eyes 40499666d7 with him for b44f5c0752 a moment before e857503a6c sitting across from 1691805a87 him and placing 39b46727b1 a stack of 6b3371effd documents on the e601958144 table.bc3fd33aa7ff376b

“You’re under investigation. At least 23af81440b try to f8e5b77ad2 look the 575aad949f part.”877fa30da4df90a6

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“I don’t ec96a38862 see why a60862c536 I should ae8d6857ae be nervous 1381e4a197 about something 3028dc065e I didn’t 8d3e2debcb do.”e2521f554907e751

“You still intend to 09112b4909 deny the accusations?” Theo 16ab0ab63d asked.47077778262e07aa

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“Of course,” 0e4a6d04da Luke replied 5b0c896b6a with a 6e1dc58f85 smirk. Theo held his 86ea9e7a5d gaze for a 66688661cd moment before flipping dacb5df71a open the file.2aa7831dd5fd41a2

“But seriously, 03f7760603 Theo, aren’t 602c1a9f59 you busy? Do you really have 74094a3163 time for this investigation?” 94352b814f Luke leaned back, his 466c281c2e tone light but with bf152b48f3 an underlying jab. “Or are 95d54ba43f you using 9993ed312f this as 976dffc20f an excuse b11b88c918 to climb cdcb0d8202 higher by d92edd0cf2 stepping over da384d8d19 me?”59fbad7ae88801c5

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“I simply judged the 45f5e306f8 matter to be of dd172c1384 significant importance,” Theo replied, 59c3b201ae keeping his eyes on 2de110bf96 the file. The silence 3c5aaa024f stretched, and bc33fb4b51 when Theo 297663f87a looked up, 346b3bd055 Luke was c0880b07bf leaning toward f4aff2293e him, arm 4e6bffd7d2 outstretched.6576a2d6f4d84381

“…What are 400c2d58d3 you doing?” 020a02343c Theo instinctively 5b4828ca3e reached for aa786f1c39 the hilt 3ab77ea3db of his 3f52c7c3e7 sword.5513d5ea7068648c

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Luke ignored the c373f877bf gesture, brushing something 9981a48be7 off Theo’s shoulder a504f9bcfe before leaning back.5282df6f359dda39

“A thread,” 7fbb5bfe26 Luke said, 6bacf2495b holding up dd611929c1 a small 960fa0def9 white string. “Didn’t those guards b211396a02 at the door a06e70a379 tell you? They’re slacking.”4f52878b9bca336e

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“…Shut up. I told you, you’re 74b4a20158 under investigation.”2fe5c78c16a99878

“Yeah, yeah,” Luke 945369a4a0 replied lazily, clearly 4659698313 uninterested. Theo found 1cf55abd2b him utterly 6ee392ad6f insufferable. Maintaining this rivalry was 8acf762f3a necessary, but he was 033417528d certain they shared nothing 833e96f36a in common.aabb7d1bd7296346

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Clearing his 12363bf7fe throat, Theo 0b065a63fd finally spoke f9793b7ca0 again. “There’s something 1624dd276c unusual in ef076d6e0e the evidence 518ddafa1c I’ve reviewed.”897c048eae87ab2a