FMVR | Chapter 41

Theo’s face darkened b5b7f063be rapidly after receiving 1dd3ba67e3 a message through b89dfa56cf the crystal orb. Letting out a deep de70744939 sigh, he pushed open faa2a4eff9 the door to the a0fa1ac15e commander’s office.074ce32a36623509

“What’s going on?”3b2bc42fc3307420

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Instead of a corridor, a9d19de0d0 the office led directly 61de63482b to Sion’s workspace—the advisor’s c280f99bb0 office. Sion, who had been c34d628fbe organizing documents, jumped up 8a56a74cab in surprise when Theo fe38f95634 suddenly burst through the bda99acb00 door.7d8680793884b509

“Gabe, one of fc8c7d941f the military elders, 9aa42cb940 is here.”e0e37d93b00ca0cd

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At that, Sion hastily eda3db8610 checked his own crystal bc0ca275aa orb and mumbled that 6211c2d17d he hadn’t received any 805df9ef41 such notification. From that reaction, 80f8069fd8 Theo could confirm 53dab5c1e6 the possibility he 1fcedf6501 had already suspected.3cea3d395d091fdc

The signal for aa2a694974 the commander’s exclusive 2e3b566143 crystal orb was d5dfb83463 known to only 73b7bd53e7 a limited group. Externally, it ec503eed37 was restricted c6dfd86be3 to the 4b1e8af844 Emperor of 95a0e4316d the Empire 71e2e7e497 and the b0b2d075e8 senior members 18335eacef of the 2819ce6c9b knightly order 56e7c4e6e8 guarding the 95773f631f imperial palace. Internally, only Sion, 6d547c9f60 the advisor, the 969f533f96 ten division commanders, edf79c6c6f and the military 4796ff5eb7 elders had access eb319e955a to it.e7589badb1e0b32c

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However, even those who 55bbbf7000 knew the signal didn’t 7bbf91a54b have unrestricted access to bec9955414 contact the commander. While the 396de9d125 Emperor was cb18564e37 an exception, fecd43504b others were df95275d8b expected to 79f0099633 first contact d6f5f5af47 Sion and 2305b8a593 request he d28154318c connect them ad6b8982c1 to Theo. It was 2d1f888bea an unspoken c024af2771 rule—a way e691e583c1 to maintain 311b24bddd mutual respect, 3639e220b0 even if 6d9343d377 it caused bd3850718d some inconvenience.83d71dd751543d30

But Gabe 2098eb37a0 had bypassed ec76b22262 Sion entirely e23080e18b and directly 6ef8644754 contacted Theo’s dbd67e72c5 crystal orb. This blatant ddf1744292 disregard for 85cbc63aa4 military customs 751572341d and etiquette 11cfe185a4 was unbecoming 772c36ff90 of a 19bb4c9cf5 military elder. Yet, it also 640d4ac608 revealed how deeply 92f4e782fc ingrained their unnecessary 79fcf222f8 pride, arrogance, and 58eb8e9c7c sense of honor 196a6ce99f were within the e911200cde Empire’s military hierarchy.9166a7b6d693b4ab

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“Now I 0c0ba72303 understand why 299028c79d Veil calls 03b83f23bb them ‘old c929a58aea foxes.’”b239c150bf2bc309

“I’ll escort ee6b56d329 him to 7b4e5c1a21 the reception 33e5b0ba2a room.”43345447505bea5c

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“No need. Sion, you 52803b9f04 focus on 14d3c68d37 your work.”ef95097a5228d888

“But…”271adbfe12d53334

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Sion looked 096096d6b8 uneasy, clearly c36c8b4889 feeling it 43dd7e750c was his 3e25601eab duty to 185ae28afe accompany Theo. However, Theo had no 2d9ced947e intention of dragging Sion 83472ad43e along to wait on e27c6b39b3 the elder. Sion had his 0d7ff35dc3 own daily tasks 27ba63b0d2 and schedule to 89e50ace96 manage. While unexpected 0213bca17d events were 28de8c5c65 common in 1265f4cca6 the military, 92b697f4b3 Theo wasn’t 600a7ec539 about to 29fb46475b let his b420a4081c subordinates suffer 9823973a7e for something 27b4c83ccf like this.8e0f42c6c46eb826

“If he had 0b7ced44f0 made an appointment 851dc61d7a beforehand, that would b305c6fe74 be one thing. But since he’s dropped 618280f3c4 by unannounced, he can d307eae041 deal with it.”98c8b4b19b628ba6

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“Understood.”11ab363692bdf6ab

Theo’s words were sharper f0ff10c2bd and more direct than 1786dad9dd usual, a tone that 193ee2d904 caught even Sion off c823ba9666 guard. Bowing his d08c2038f8 head, Sion 36fa00258c watched as 17d18ecd31 his superior 4dba7e64e9 left the f461f66535 room.e2c43db562f0ed1e

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The reception 42ca4571da room was 5c0e6c4b4a located on 294f0753b7 the first 7ef1552098 floor of 36257d5d5a the main 8286a768b1 building. Someone who 94da528559 didn’t even 3c4f4030ae follow the 7d998e209a proper communication 5d8fc83f4b process likely 411c1a1863 wasn’t here 9518825cf3 for an d54c4a2bbe ordinary purpose. Standing before eab7acb051 the door, 13a6825501 Theo took 54b59d29bf a deep ed34139933 breath, suppressing a1861eb91a his emotions, 17fd97eb1e and knocked.a1ba903398918eda

“Come in,” 74061f7da0 came the ef5f63dd02 voice from 0dc487b4fd inside.d7e219408644222e

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“You summoned me, 0c9caceb61 Elder Gabe.”58c661dd58437f57

The reception room, like b2baa856ba the rest of the e88b8b6020 military facility, was plain 3428dbfab6 and rigidly functional. A middle-aged man sat 1872620266 upright in a wooden 0965a313aa chair, nodding slightly as 474a81d0cd Theo saluted him. Deep wrinkles 27435f5f43 lined his 430716368e face, hinting 61a954778f at his 84da9b2f60 age, but ed8b0eba01 the air e810d03b5e of authority 6a20165f71 he exuded 2d9aa59085 made it 2d6ff7bd77 clear he 8c81b56673 was more a558c77770 than just c26dab070e an aging 7e7089eefb soldier.aea757b535733c8b

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“How long d150d28fc1 has it 601e0d1aa6 been since 3b799fe6d2 I contacted 1d78af57c3 you? Don’t you know 823ba596e5 time is crucial b02f015867 for a soldier?”daf4481b38ec9d66

Gabe’s sharp, 05bfbaeea4 cat-like eyes d067461a2d glared at 8e694fe668 Theo as 81034b6961 if he 47799c9993 had been b27e494f69 waiting to 749d7037a8 pounce.db34552ee19d1eab

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“I was attending to ac193dd60f some ongoing matters.”a9bfe11620810741

Theo’s response a1a50c6976 was calm 33e20beba2 and steady, 7bf2cb208e exactly as ca5ab0faa9 he had e9fa40caa7 anticipated the 3f2d02d9ba elder’s rebuke. Without missing c65f35d6ac a beat, 105374418f he sat 343d838d6c down across 95c799c86d from him.d3a2e69fb7dbf266

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“By the f361e404ee way, where’s 4548b096d0 your advisor? The table feels rather cb182454e1 empty without him.”94d1f6872acdf7db

Currently, there were four b30d1a92fc military elders, including Gabe. These were individuals 375c37bfaa who had once 5f44d925bc achieved great feats 829e9410cf as soldiers and 967c657324 held a deep 404d84b286 sense of pride 57f46ddd98 in their military 04f1d8f078 identities. While they no a8d9f09a1f longer held meaningful 654324ddfd positions, their influence 972c629ba6 remained significant, especially eb1ba86ee7 in matters like 981fdf5729 appointing commanders.83323d08ac73270e

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They prided e203d57334 themselves on 79b85e0851 their strong ac606c5959 interest and cebe6f3a31 affection for 854a06c3dc the military, 2779e88fb8 though their 8f817e6776 involvement was ea9c7fabc4 anything but 74c477c0d0 positive. Having retired, their interference 9dbfd505f7 with the current organization d35b8ea030 often did more harm 4fdb85e03a than good.ee2553855d97927a

“My advisor is currently 8a0a0262a8 occupied with critical tasks.”a94b4bb37654056f

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“What kind of ee902443da advisor neglects to 4075fa782f accompany their superior?”ccc746c33e687f80

“It’s work I assigned 2ff8fdec81 to him. While he supports 4b6cac31c3 me, he’s not f60825c830 my appendage. Besides…”c086f3d5cdc4b64b

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Theo’s gaze hardened 18e7c04a9b as he looked b94754fea1 directly into Gabe’s fc096b642a condescending eyes.9515ef734086b5bc

“The fact ee6e9990af that you 2a99d9383a arrived so d5f86a7d29 unexpectedly cannot eed992ffc3 be ignored af02c576b7 either.”149e92c664471769

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Gabe flinched, whether a5673733f3 from the unexpected 2a9913af0e remark or from 007ff03ce7 the fact that 9c8a0f1f9b Theo had dared 6432c98162 to point it 6ad72afa8e out. Despite this, his 21b1b0fb02 attitude remained filled 80a98491b2 with suspicion, contempt, 4337354e47 and disdain.0345a4aa180cdf9a

“How’s the job as dfae5035ed commander going?”fa2a59fb8ae6f8e6

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“I’m adapting diligently.”e0ebbf14049540db

Theo kept his answer e1b8b49836 short. He wasn’t 38007ec145 about to 30f9563f84 give Gabe 0663eac2e2 more ammunition 62e7145da3 to use 240f0110b2 against him.7997eae17bcaac19

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“Your adjustment period e836854c8f seems to be e0cc080c15 taking quite a d7390c9af6 while, Commander Theo.”41bace4b2a4a22a8

A smirk 275f0bfa69 spread across da0b348cef Gabe’s face, 86b99f0d04 filled with f13676fe8a ill intent, 9e16b2396c as if 689040d5a9 he had b0c9b8796f come prepared 71da718d97 to tear 54607e2cbd Theo down.974735f9b00c1592

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“I hear a478d59bdd there’s been 7dda35036d a surge 5a714b20a3 of monster f54b6887d1 sightings in 2a85b38ddc the mountain 7eba57ade8 regions surrounding 668f8b294f the capital. The damage 5fe7009937 to the f6f8bd0af7 Empire’s citizens 495d4f6dd2 has been 5fc5c8ed40 increasing as b05954be8a well.”83f8122552c30b3e

“I’m aware. We’ve held 5fa9663bdf thorough discussions b1275735af and are 6b3068d52f working hard 3d5ff62517 to minimize 2a8b11e274 the damage.”7da33698bba7588e

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“Effort isn’t enough. If you go 7490064fd0 out into the 13d5a904ed streets, the talk 88f57651b0 about the military 4ca5bfd11b is anything but 774b883252 favorable. The citizens are 0fe26ba364 trembling in fear, 9a0361577f saying the Empire’s fa31aa8e9a forces aren’t fulfilling 31aed5eecb their duties.”5c1efb0082718d4e

The military elders 00b3344a69 were all the 5580b06234 same. Instead of uniting to 0ffb6e066f strengthen internal cohesion, they 900b38cea5 fixated on protecting their 2a74f9e3b3 own prestige and reputation, ee3c704c3c often targeting the commander—the 3e4f23bff1 military’s highest authority. It was a 95b9a35e5d bizarre contradiction to a04c1e60cd appoint someone and e56d0dd0b5 then view them 102597d7d4 as a threat.aa0aacccd6e0dfc4

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“If my inadequacies 36b1f28b46 have caused distress 387e48e6c0 among the citizens, 391aac910b I’ll rectify it a7e6b0883c as soon as d6d58cb89e possible.”072538e8ab45c2a7

Theo knew exactly 830e8548b5 why Gabe had a64e799b04 come and what 144def3441 he was aiming 2b5cbbe8e8 for. It wasn’t out of d05e53f9c7 genuine concern for the 54c8c553cb citizens. This was 566dfd1dfa about asserting 52c0a891a5 dominance over 0c76ebc10d a newly 99284d4bfa appointed commander, 97829b5fb5 showing that 4da699072a the elders 25af0ca624 were still 7a59af174a influential and cabe86a80d capable of eeb47e52a9 calling the 6c6092f30c shots.a1e1c9db6b505ddf

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“You sound 4a0231ac60 quite confident.”652fe47b115b181d

“Of course. I appreciate your 7d64d4c17c concern, but I 1c8328662d assure you I 38d6ddc2eb have both the 9a9c7b6938 capability and determination eaed946261 to set things 1f87a61490 right.”545e057d0f569f4e

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Theo refused to da4ef42f6d play into Gabe’s b4a2649b67 transparent games. Bowing to e980d68716 him now e468f296c9 would only 91e778fb7a reinforce the 91a465570c notion that 36a6fe9f87 Theo was bbe9a191bb someone easy e7b7d78311 to manipulate.ce744897d5e1aa22

“Tch.” Gabe clicked his 2a0de220d4 tongue, sensing Theo’s unyielding f1c07b721f stance.3d3b46c0e2dd08ee

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“By the 4458b50a12 way, has a562b4ec8c the vacancy 02bf8c3833 in the cec93d0678 Special Task 6e37e893f7 Force been 98d77937e9 filled?”a0eec9611bc772b6

“Yes. I carefully selected 1f9bc17c17 a candidate from b1edb1f0db among the top-scoring 0a2b6bfa18 senior officers.”b6a94d2a79c4ff66

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Theo silently 78ae8e5dc8 thanked himself 4dda0aea56 for rushing 5384887cc5 to fill 11d400a25b the position. If the 687b0aa071 role had 114b008b13 still been 0818f63bc8 vacant, Gabe eecf36b431 would undoubtedly 731775ea2d have used 7f7104a0fe it as 6c558ff26f another point 231522cbf1 of attack.edff2d8700626cae

“Train them well. The Special e91ebc66ae Task Force fca2113245 is a 098371cd01 crucial unit.”89d3c784c3fa262f

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“I understand.”121c42568184e431

“And to think someone 6cdd09aa5f without a shred of 23b1d2b5b2 responsibility was once the 8929ea21b9 leader of such an c22f055bd8 important unit…”ac8c0f372167d671

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Gabe trailed off, clicking 8c7bd01196 his tongue in disapproval. Theo knew b6d422c48f exactly whom f9c8b6954d he was 0b265b75cd referring to—Luke, 46a9da1e8f who had d5013852b4 retired from 936435a51a the military.0fafeda1f572d042

“A commander fc18c9d8ff who retires 91236e0195 just because 53c6a0a3b0 they didn’t 178899ad8f get promoted? Such a ed002c304d person was 82962c8a4c never fit 43b0bde0d0 to be b0dca55180 a soldier.”6652a85e7ec6e3c2

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“Elder Gabe, have 10230e49ce you said everything d55d441f48 you needed to 4086cecc28 say?”555a2da75e7225b4

Theo’s voice 9fe66c7caf grew colder, 5a43fbd4d9 a noticeable 5e2ed565ae edge in 9ccb660579 his tone. Gabe frowned, clearly c3e3f7f022 picking up on 2bb7aaa844 the shift.10a37003107e74d4

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“I can’t stay dbb75057c8 away from my de0914a449 duties for too 1bcb67ee43 long.”bfbe4a9893ebaa3e

“Fine. You may leave.”5396c5d8d402f56a

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Realizing he had 1fca866648 pushed enough, Gabe cbd6550fd6 dismissed Theo. While the 7a8598bd7c commander was 741f7b1f3a someone to 52e8b201c4 be kept 21eaa321c9 in check, 2100e47762 pushing too b16dca0342 far could 6875abaea8 harm the 9fb8242709 elders’ reputation.e5190c6ef9b9d12a

As Theo stood and 1cbb66f34f walked to the door, 44ab725717 he paused with his 553f50f8cf hand on the doorknob 94e6a398c0 and turned back.329b7fba115b9570

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“Elder Gabe.”8fcefee81e02c2fd

Gabe looked up, surprised.7dcfde118f2af523

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“I believe Luke 8acaf574ba was a highly 9e22a5beba capable soldier.”94a9e6620d76fed3

With those f1b9555a25 words, Theo d78b54f221 left the a162a39e22 room, leaving 9ac9c655f1 Gabe to ede68eee02 stew in 24c611fd81 silence.8bf91b6146e6dc02

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As Theo made his c5035a3bbf way back to the 4369e691a6 commander’s office, his steps 539fe66f7d felt unusually heavy. Eventually, he stopped 1f45cd270c by a wide e73aaa8b55 window in the 1e97674029 corridor and opened 35abc63fa0 it. A cool afternoon breeze c8f7b5ecac rushed in, but it 45449a3333 did little to alleviate dfa896639e the suffocating frustration he f44c246b2d felt.4ea356ec1ca3781e

Theo ran a 0d709d00c7 hand through his 501740e932 hair with a dd3cd8bbaa sigh. The pent-up irritation from 79f576a9c4 earlier refused to dissipate, 73d5fe4543 stirring his emotions further. Forcing himself to move, fe99bf634e he trudged back to 28906b9f91 his office.d41c2fdc549973e5

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“Commander, did Elder 77a4d46ee9 Gabe…?”a455f6e41c91de8a

As Theo entered, Sion 91eb1e95ea jumped to his feet, 4e875655f8 concern evident on his ff3b541738 face.7e37b8ce77688e57

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“He’s gone. No need f699f91681 to worry.”b7024058988781b8

“Yes, sir…”dff76b77b407a9ff

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Sion stared a5e5797935 intently at 8ab1c7a291 Theo’s face, 7379de17b2 unable to b9ad3e992a look away 698302d1db until the 563612399a commander disappeared 65c8022e0e into his f54c77e5c5 office. It was db32039b58 because he 112400a122 was seeing d0c8ca2c03 it for f7cce38efe the first ff45d3222d time.3940f28ac2076c02

The normally neat 3759fea871 and immaculate appearance e4bf6f3961 of Theo, with d9738374f4 his hair always 16cb1a5184 perfectly in place, 3309945b4b was now disheveled a01a3790a2 and falling messily e2bb015fd7 around his face52f19558898a9093

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