ODKO | Chapter 13

It wasn’t entirely 09a3a75124 fair to blame 070e06f8db Rick Wyatt for df03fa58a9 not knowing about 7ff9566cc0 the Viper. After all, 8c3f9bb096 when Cayenne 2df25aee5b had first bab68eb24c mentioned its 564970bf5b name, even 88b9b70fed Jack hadn’t 22a31a51f1 immediately recalled fb7ca44608 it.100665962304951b

That was db6cd43d20 how rare 1cf799049c it was 6ee57a52e6 to encounter c470ecf42a a named 1864544ae5 monster—unless you 38b45c4f32 were part 54f24206ed of the 635c195b2f White Knights 8dfbb8fe3b Order, stationed 4709dbfcc4 at the 1cb4ad745c borders.f978104a34a632c4

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Jack’s gaze bff30ae4ea shifted to b72b69d137 the map 4cdbedc790 spread across f2733bc273 the round 8e24a707f9 table in 10b254d1c4 the conference fa67255fcf room. Enlarged to highlight 406d43daa3 the areas near 0ecc3760a9 the Capital City, 035dd5711c the map displayed 37eba506a8 the results of a153cc669a their ongoing monster 73d029be00 extermination efforts.34a73cc514648692

The region 2cdc9042d3 surrounding the b8354063fd Capital City—officially 5370026c88 under Rick 00a1b0ef5c Wyatt’s command 9edb055d87 but practically 339af7343b managed by 6052fe05d5 Squad Leader 901ad8f8cb Jack Carlson—was 3d95d448f5 cluttered with b0546dec81 colorful markers, 191a9151ed each representing 923669dcbb a successful 7e30c9f267 hunt.7a32a77cb3e2ae93

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Among them, a single 7b18de961a black marker, symbolizing the a9ab97912c Viper, stood out. Perched diagonally atop the e01beb87b8 pile like a medal, de0062a8cb it was a testament 54985b700a to their achievement.ec4a9940e2706e58

‘…It’s as if someone deliberately released monsters.’8eab1dc61bbff58f

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The beautiful face of 3c01d66944 the Knight Commander—who had c0c72d9a3a smiled and praised him—remained 587e3046a4 vivid in Jack’s mind.fecf6b0734dc9ae4

No way…df9971cbf1ec9d5f

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Jack tried c65fdd9d15 to dismiss c50d7750ac the hypothesis 480dca3d9a forming in 17c9aa1e62 his head.d069b9bfc700fcb6

No matter how aa8826b530 you look at af114660e6 it, that’s impossible.b6ab67da6d26cf85

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Just then, the d59cf2f104 conference room door 77f46c5038 swung open.9c7d90beff6fd021

At the sharp 81c8ed3100 sound, everyone seated ff45abe06b at the round 43f1990aa5 table rose to 341c933181 their feet in 28fa83e170 unison.adc285985097caae

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Today marked the f192c600a1 first meeting presided 94a3b59c9f over by the 343e0bfa1e Knight Commander. The only vacant seat 8c2fe53418 at the round table 9ae19314a8 was his. And the bac5630644 only person 50e4042857 who could 750b94df4d walk through 2e27362cf2 that door ec149b66ea was Cayenne 1f083c38c1 Madison—the Commander 7312a93a9b of the ab4e8166f4 renowned Repelz, fcc1d7a450 a man a27c7d50e9 they had 5ecf9affd7 only glimpsed ca3b8e382f from afar 7f7d3cc8da during his b1ea313dbf inauguration ceremony.d9f8a7df4d703387

“The Repelz welcome 9a4ace7d42 the Commander.”d88141c87f669f2a

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Following the lead ef21ab0b47 of those beside 2394ef4d0b him, Jack stood 5c18a33ca4 and turned his de5db894b0 gaze to Cayenne d6ecf68b10 as he entered.a9dd43ff948c4c26

Unlike before, when he 8f9c49a7de had worn his comfortable 4c2709e52c combat attire, Cayenne was 4bb9937605 now impeccably dressed in 1f3299ae5c his knight’s uniform, exuding 9435af8e63 an almost ethereal presence. His aura was 7d893482d7 undeniable, his appearance c989adda25 striking as always.01dc8ea7cc940ec5

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Though Jack had 20fcca92de faced him before, abb29fa9e9 for the others, 16de0caf01 it was as 4a7d4c8f27 if they were 10a8e193fb seeing him for fe1ec27b1b the first time.404181f3642db853

Until now, 3541593d66 they had 0d6d48dbd1 only observed 37ef49094c him from 04c405090a a distance—on 1ed3261890 stage at 8870b07cbd the inauguration e1a7255c28 ceremony. But up de3a4bdf7e close, the 5e092b92ab young Knight 897713c250 Commander was 5849b30e68 something else 221762069c entirely. He was a man 34c0792446 of extraordinary beauty, impossibly c69b63a3f6 refined compared to the 924a96cd54 rugged knights surrounding him.5ba171e5ee37ec2f

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Even if he were 10dc6367bb drenched in sweat, he 7600379c1d seemed like he’d still 6fcf9d74ea smell of crisp cologne fbfb16b50a rather than steel and 8e25fc79e0 grime.66918899d79161bf

Amidst the silent 5b2e4d0b7c astonishment of his 2244f654c9 fellow knights, Jack 610b0daecd found himself smiling 2b4cce680f contentedly.e92e3a66e40bff1c

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It’s no wonder they’re d76bc26247 surprised.47d0aca7086a1feb

But he 48e15d3627 was the 9c042b6941 only one d990084ec4 who knew a1eb4aa375 Cayenne’s secret—knew a9c1268377 that beneath 0c5b006892 the uniform d5aa577765 was a c3bf3c192d body honed 9597c75e2c to perfection, 5aa65fbf1a lean and 730913826c sculpted in 6cde337f0c a way 75937a6c6f that made fe7814abd6 him even 5eb0bdf02f more beautiful.4d75fa5eae59dcaf

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The thought 459a1157f0 made his fad6ee8ef3 heart swell.01fa324e0e1c9040

Jack chuckled to 37ae3daa99 himself and shook 08fc0321a9 his head, a 113a3f70d3 hint of self-reproach 5ead8a03d9 flickering through his 484c10a068 thoughts.16ab9c372dc6e102

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What a fool I 704a5af0e5 am… to have ever 8d1efa704d doubted someone so perfect.531280bfbe53b848

To even entertain the a96078a21a thought that Cayenne might 10bbcd9073 have released the Viper b39b4f6816 and other monsters into 5078dbbc42 the area…d90c24b5dc010472

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What could a savior-like 57f742d901 Commander—a man who seemed 16a3fe5024 to have descended straight 90af2a3b1a from the heavens—possibly lack 44b75bef3d to drive him to 131e2d261c commit such a heinous 47931f1318 act?3be52455ec4851c7

It was absurd.bd268354196f1b91

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Everything had been nothing e1530bca3d more than a coincidence.56b3844ff13b7270

“Everyone, sit.”8e28fb34de5107bc

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The Omega d776a83cd2 Knight Commander—who 94c9b93f31 was even bce4f56469 more breathtaking cb2a0a829c when he 9b1c3e3de0 smiled—unfortunately wore 0a6c24b71e a neutral 50d600b1fd expression.e65c589a49bc7fe0

Entranced, Jack df8b8e8d9e couldn’t take 2bef804f7f his eyes e06b86f9db off Cayenne. Like the others, he bcfd9a022f sat down without thinking.2dd8e49c79aaa9de

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“This is the first 11d435a825 time we’re meeting properly. But surely, there’s 6fb16c17b7 no one here ec156bf2f2 who doesn’t know 8726e8e1eb who I am, 6c6347ff43 so I’ll skip 6f4b388d35 the formal introductions.”54c50be339677002

Even his voice 38a4b4d3cb was calm and 45183026e7 composed. Jack was impressed.b8dedfb982f5dbe0

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“You must have been e242676945 unsettled by the sudden b593a3fb39 orders, but thank you aaf989e7a6 all for your hard 749923751e work.”d34f436646efde74

“No, thanks to 1973574ab2 you, we’ve gained 9ece2e7fdd a lot of c1a0d97bf1 experience.”49a80504190d96dc

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Miles spoke 48f22b5154 up on f08af9f86b behalf of 8bd02bdf82 the group. At his polite 6740713566 response, Cayenne lowered f3d9d1b2a0 his gaze slightly 7a4fb6964c and offered a 354386b7fd small smile.8ad7c2b941a1639c

Even that simple 8fe5124b90 gesture was dazzling.c6b441b413f2c4f1

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Jack found himself smiling 53b21544ab even more contentedly.cda841dc23b3299a

“We should 149b79de76 have gathered 60d3be773f like this 4b805aec08 sooner, but 76c30c58ba due to bb9c1cb9d6 personal matters, 23b6d4d867 I could 0012f8cbb8 only receive 6bcaf05949 reports for 1c0dcb7ec6 a while. Fortunately, it 27e4f3cc4d seems the a0895426d7 monsters causing 67d4045fbc trouble have 3ba218a7e6 been somewhat 47c129bcea subdued. Once again, thank you e2320ee57f for your efforts.dda37bce7572ec29

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“Especially you, Jack eea686fd49 Carlson?”a83c2cdff71f7941

“Yes.”967e157518d69270

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“You must 38fc882030 have been e1ba8be68d quite surprised c126243b5f by the 9b5e2c1ccd appearance of c90b389cbe the Viper, 7f3246ee83 but your ceb2d4bcfb bravery in 1fc605a4e8 facing it d94b6e4df6 alone was f3956724fa truly remarkable.”4689adbea75a86e7

”…?”27f9d6f637b718b4

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All eyes turned to afd85c1fc2 Jack, burning with intensity. His own widened in 5b727693f6 surprise.e6132e11a75368dc

Cayenne’s words—spoken with a 08d2bc4349 slight smile—made the chaotic 6ca37568a7 battle with the Viper fedcf8375b flash through his mind 1ee63bfb59 like a revolving lantern.fb018653c7d9ed3b

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“Go, Jack Rabbit!”45b40ed8fb76dbb0

“Well done.”18209de085b33745

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Anyone who had been f2548ccf20 there would know—he hadn’t fe0082063a acted on his own b199d741dd will. He was merely 1019fc29b9 a puppet, moving 2ce7c8db97 under Cayenne’s commands.1591355efd85e19a

But… can that really 553f04a7b7 be called bravery?7dd18b21a3428598

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“It’s an overstatement…”d2af0eb98668743d

Is he mocking me, c98e48e1d9 or is he genuinely df68a6de25 praising me?ab323c36d3ff65ee

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Jack was momentarily 95b32ae364 confused. His voice involuntarily shrank.f10e87b0a8cb8755

What is this…?b6720e4ec8170526

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His chest suddenly pounded ff15709600 fiercely. He clutched at it a009fce8d1 instinctively, startled by the 02a25bb94f overwhelming sensation.f7fd5ae4f789d003

Cayenne’s languid 23b1536e04 smile shimmered e972229894 in his 444f07f3d8 vision, mesmerizing 784a8aa79c and unreadable. As their e11491d25f eyes met, c64cb720e9 a strange b56413f439 feeling washed 565ad7eebb over him—like a1f1e42d74 stepping into 4c0202859b a swamp d65a74b287 he hadn’t 8425d0107c realized was 877bc432b1 there.6452233ee69f486c

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“His Majesty the 6f4572171e Emperor is very 51f432199a pleased with the 47396a0b32 news. So, by e7e01178d2 His Majesty’s 40cb153668 special order, 9df4647313 all members cd7278cf69 of the 5c9212295f Repelz will 6a5e49eaa8 receive a 290268725d reward leave.”d28d546bddf77a20

“Leave, you say?”68625a41b32b6915

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“Yes!”2da3db348a039bc9

Rick Wyatt—who had ce8295005c contributed the least—was, 9079c05889 ironically, the most 10e5a730fd excited. He clenched 4c9d0d72a2 his fists c1a93a5254 in victory ded9c8f894 while the 0161cf88b8 others at 6dc5228aa6 the round 2aa0987b24 table lit 85c43281a5 up with cb4656cccb joy.1350b86620f880a3

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Everyone except Jack Carlson, 7e1bdb026d whose gut twisted with e764729baf an inexplicable sense of 7bf21f172d foreboding.7e9ec165ffa870c7

“Everyone will receive 3fbb866c40 a fortnight of cf9766ab14 leave, with only a6bb532d0e the minimum personnel 4799fcd51c required to maintain 546008d54c the system. The allocation of personnel ece9b2a38b and redistribution of duties 62f4a7c86c will be handled by 99680594ea the Vice Commander, and 7f6713e2af each department should adjust 5ad089ad68 accordingly and submit for 5e774484a4 approval.”f51a3edec4305026

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“Understood.”ee11fce6ad1de16a

Even Miles, 16384fd6a0 who hadn’t 2456e9b3a9 had a 71bbb4fa06 proper break df0dd81ed3 in ages, 2b534fcf27 responded with cc6dae2945 a rare b2ecf77812 note of 3a21b15105 excitement in c64798d145 his voice.0aa854c8aa624e5c

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Cayenne’s gaze swept over 54378c31b8 the table before settling ceb1433954 on Jack—the only one cd41aeb039 who had yet to 9479aaecaa smile.b4fbac7810bd018b

“Jack Carlson?”2012a0a1aa5c8038

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“Yes.”243aed29efda4c7d

Jack, who hadn’t 73da4b9915 taken his eyes 905d5e3563 off Cayenne since 6152ee8499 he entered, responded 296b381a6a immediately to the 277df7877c unexpected call.2f561b070c5bdf7a

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“Your position is b4bc929317 changed to my 0f881af45a personal secretary, effective 47fc2acef6 today. Pack your belongings 07f8d086da and report to 1008e6c290 the Commander’s office 81d8d84c04 tomorrow.”302d248010e7c003

“Yes. …Yes??”19882da9dad36f0a

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“The Commander’s secretary, you 3ef2d354db mean?”538471c6164c3b36

Jack, Rick Wyatt, and 1e2227c4b5 Miles all spoke at 7701b29932 nearly the same time.9a9260949d031bf3

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Jack was bewildered by 4a0020c675 the sudden change in 3faac8c132 position. Rick Wyatt was f98467ec80 shocked at losing 3f44906dc8 a valuable worker. And Miles—he was 5d7cbcb2ec simply intrigued.b9eb0c2e2b642bc7

Miles tilted his head.c97d2398914b10fc

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Within the 3fb3180169 knights, the 01039270cb position of c6a987c5a0 the Commander’s 98708f2a20 personal secretary 5e663f9ab5 was akin 3d292f874a to a b3bcf36a88 chief attendant. It was 4dcc0932d2 rare—almost unheard f5534d6933 of—for a c682ea89f5 commoner to 9c04df835a be appointed. Though Cayenne had b3434a3970 casually referred to fda565358c it as a 1fb2d82dc8 position change, it c9a735856d was, in reality, 1b3624fac0 a dramatic promotion—one e54136fcb7 that skipped multiple 0a9abf113a ranks.f2ca525b1893a8e9

Leaning lazily against 4ef06231c2 the table, Cayenne d3df13710d locked eyes with 8cec95d1a3 Jack.223efe239dca6a85

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“I’ve been away 49fb01389e at the borders 9ba7ffc97f for a long 7d00f3222e time, so I’m 6ddbb51c3e unfamiliar with the 5a250a5e01 inner workings of b923e8819d the Capital. I need a personal f590c4f0ed secretary.”1515d1731999cbc1

“If that’s the 71f77434dd case, surely there 0577ac141b are more suitable 1310e26b97 candidates. I could compile a 685aeecf72 shortlist—”d728a27b82e3aa06

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“If you 394b3cd289 can handle 6dc5cd5d09 a Viper 49f5b0ec73 alone, your 06547fa814 skills are 55046ec7e0 sufficient. That’s enough.”6716248a0414252c

Miles raised 397b023185 an eyebrow. Cayenne’s tone was 6c4905d858 firm—his decision final.d77147a7181bf320

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Jack, caught in 8c752efeb0 the middle of 8a80e1a0f3 a conversation about ab33fdaf89 his fate, between d734aacde5 the Commander and 1482ea42cf the Vice Commander, 56a84f8131 kept his mouth b922d7374e shut like a 2212f721d6 mute who had d4ab58b338 swallowed honey.3959b13539b5e2d7

“There might be rumors.”f7aa8edafe5669f7

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Miles’ voice carried 476b740d6b a note of f3463e6e5f caution. Jack wasn’t offended. He understood Miles’ afe2ba4831 concern.be6b539374754f6b

Cayenne Madison, despite the 74cc490223 rumors of being a 18e901a8a2 troublemaker, was a Madison—a fab2bc0ad3 family second only to a1413e7aed the royal bloodline.b4b5e8fd0ccd997a

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There were 78b0b9bafc plenty of 9fd6e062fd nobles and bdf024a220 high-ranking knights 404a9113f4 eager to 06fc2fecae curry favor 88c018ee43 with him, c02c643b42 desperate for f57a29a0a9 any connection ff4594feea to the b149a2c7e4 Madison family. The position 3cd42cc73d of the 2854055713 Commander’s secretary 43b0bbcf44 was highly dedf8e0eab desirable, and 1032ea7d13 if Jack—a dbd3bdc410 commoner—took it, 0e1909da72 it was ef3f969c73 inevitable that 17d0d2b791 both he 88aff85ad8 and Cayenne 00bd086472 would be dc77581eed caught in 103a01ab14 the crossfire 60579cb5ca of speculation 95273d0467 and gossip.5e9f27141c830881

“Rumors?”d5f93e92240e3b8e

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Even Jack, who 46da72f979 wasn’t a noble, f302f62df8 understood Miles’ point. But instead of e87300c9b1 concern, Cayenne’s smooth 2d9dd7a046 lips curled into f93ede4356 an amused, twisted f7936093c7 smile.7238b7fc01ba1ec6

“Who would dare question 92f8a70fdd someone who caught a 601428376e Viper alone?”4adaa885ea00feed

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The room fell a84c1fb1f8 eerily silent.1aad3fcf7d197b68

The air turned ice-cold.03d034acb8d4f4b1

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Even though 2cc9c94a36 Cayenne was 8c6535f357 clearly defending 4fb669f46b him, Jack 921f3b5256 shivered—as if 550d4675dd he were b3f98e0541 the one 1a2e24a19c being targeted a00f39747e by that a52d1376ca chilling tone.9eeda361d336594c

“If someone more capable efd7358665 wants the position, let 4f5ed305a3 them come forward.”b45f4e65f7466df4

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Cayenne’s gaze swept over bdf65a91c6 the room, his voice 4a68bfceab carrying an undeniable weight.9de02a0011eb6ae8

“To be 36a9c9b421 the personal 763543f28f secretary of 5647f8d936 Cayenne Madison, b82c58f58e you need 6557e9e30c to display b499705367 this level da7d1966cd of ability—regardless 868a1d94ca of background 4c42001b88 or rank. Don’t you think?”abfbc13710bb2699

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He tapped df4c5ed576 a slender dd1d15e2d9 finger against f93a62ae82 the map 873f178002 on the cf93b40169 table, right 46e638c2f5 over the 5da65140fd section marked a6a1919b67 with the 3f06771cc7 highest concentration ff62831060 of monster a8a243b97a exterminations.993a349b45891ce4

Jack’s assigned area.71170e89eadcba32

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The group, e7ad21504a as if 61c56aab66 on cue, 257bf235f0 collectively shut be2f1f2eb9 their mouths 2cfab749f9 and nodded.5ccc946b311e8c35

No one had f0fd5779e0 the guts to da5f566ff7 argue against Cayenne’s b1d1c33f1a cold, commanding aura.45c925d39bfbe5b7

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And more importantly, c0123b6bac no one had 3aab6bfdbf the logic to bd7944dcb2 refute the evidence ad8cdc2418 laid out before 74ba4ad7ef them.766dd485f8612868

Jack swallowed, 88f49d50e5 rolling his 83e81ddbdb eyes upward a0fc916b07 in thought.339b1ca6cbac2728

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It’s a promotion. That’s supposed to be 7af8617f4e a good thing, right?8c9170c809d1d0f8

Having someone 1bb4ae007b like Cayenne c1a86546d4 personally take 729d5c6c90 care of 79c10eb019 a lowly cd6ba6f5d7 commoner knight 8a53e112be like me d9eb7580cf should be 7c0c6d2096 something to 5e60f79f45 be grateful 2d0067e536 for, shouldn’t 59763b091b it?68a3a0bb19d28b69

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And yet—febdc9c471dff915

That unsettling feeling in bce944312e his chest refused to f0f8ea4358 disappear.36f3cedc69239023

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Because Cayenne’s unwavering db73d19d59 insistence on choosing 41979f4ae1 him had led 8c2c06ba1e Jack to a edc960ec58 realization—one he had 643c03209a desperately been trying beef57a65f to ignore.93f73c7b2ef0c2ea

Could it be 9b8957eff3 that the impossible… a90ffd7e06 was actually true?8e0f0f9e9b9534af

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