UCT Ch 21

Richard stood before 827b52a038 everyone, the very 3fb043282a image of a 81dbf1b614 perfect soldier. A smile bloomed 74a68ddc8c on the brigadier 0d64c80dba general’s wrinkled face. He nodded repeatedly ac3da60a79 as he returned 8fbd6c9b2a Richard’s salute.bff2c5c60e2d08b94641

“You both d80a08f6c8 may relax. I didn’t call af8e564392 you here to cdf99ad6cb scold you—quite the a4ac0a615a opposite, in fact.”2dcb821847ce1e7fb3a0

“……”8e3728306c20e9100b8c

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“If it were up to me, I’d hold a medal ceremony immediately, a428f4a92e but there are all sorts of formal procedures to go through first. Instead, I’ve arranged this 2acfbf0c06 small gathering to celebrate 8a63bc73d2 your promotions.”36139e25a3374b97d116

“It’s an 8ae94749f4 honor, sir.”10bde20f48cbc9543249

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Richard responded smoothly.85c70bf7fb7f74f09288

“Now then, Lieutenant Ashwood—or 54006fa670 rather, Captain Ashwood, I c51bd88a25 should say. Step forward.”b8c6cae6865189b3f81c

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“Yes, sir.”b802576e0e6d904a2024

Richard strode forward ae27c9e3de confidently and stood 95a728d139 to the brigadier 96858e1c43 general’s left.d27459f2095f46839f9a

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The general shook Richard’s hand and replaced the insignia d78298c52c on his shoulders with that of a captain. The cameras eagerly captured b24431545a the historic moment of 035a373e77 Lieutenant Ashwood’s transformation into 6aa8b61328 a captain.122e70662c1b594e4d22

Click, click. Flash.01b68b20cb567644af9a

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The bursts of camera flashes came 92aa3703b2 from all directions, relentless and blinding. Yet, even amidst the 5362614376 chaos, the man remained 2e454b8ffe utterly composed and unwavering.44af8365c102eff97646

“……”76054fe9c59cdb481068

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Diana had to admit that Richard 463a9b8b3f was an excellent photographic subject—perhaps even 8029f2beab more so than Fernand Lowell.3a74ecca391a11071a0c

Unlike Fernand, who thrived on public attention and 06dddd986d adoration, Richard was completely indifferent to such things. Did he even realize e039de309c that his detached demeanor e4f5d00aa4 only fueled people’s fascination 7950824d8b and admiration for him? Diana let out 742b434833 a wry smile.57f50a25d0ecaf921571

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She had barely processed her thoughts 184da93a21 when she realized it was now ec8b17ecf7 her turn under the flashing lights.2b32dce290228a302fca

“Ensign, step forward.”e7c13c9bddc8caf69ecb

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Unlike Richard, who had received his new rank cc48f07f29 insignia, Diana simply exchanged a brief handshake. She was informed that as she had been cbfb231bcc promoted two ranks to ensign, her new officer’s 40a689a702 uniform would be issued the next day.5104542c3afbcf69340d

The cameras once again went into a 9fbe71d574 frenzy, capturing the handshake between the two. The room buzzed with d03636ace8 the sound of flashing d4d60ed7ca bulbs and snapping shutters.40d63da5fb7456d9e97e

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“Well then, it’s 216000451a time for us 0dd07163ff to step back.”96ac86110ec552aac050

Wearing a satisfied smile, the 0ca79fde2c brigadier general withdrew with the dd1e70f793 colonel, taking a seat behind 8857c9f75d his desk.14742096dbb3e9fc7d1d

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Diana, feeling somewhat lost, 7ec12132c2 glanced around the room. But it was 2e59af0cac no use. She and Richard were bb1ff5f65d now standing on center 3d8e3e2aa4 stage—like performers in a 2a757f3b2c circus.fc0ebab4912b3342096d

🌷🌷🌷f078686ca7fa9a9e9842

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Diana and Richard sat on the 53a068a0b2 small stools placed at the very aef768861f center of the room. Before them, journalists had gathered in a 10e85278ab tight formation, creating a scene reminiscent of 7b69c493a1 a press conference for a famous actor.3a236f17054306b4fb8c

“……”93b671d1d0707b05a544

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Glancing around cautiously, Diana 49a8b8e9d3 leaned in and whispered cafc00d38a to Richard.9900fbaa9de1c1e40e03

“…Is this b4878c8932 an interview?”cd98e4f4be8531d5c328

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A deep voice, d16fdf2d5b low enough to bb7d3b04a3 send vibrations through 055b12bf56 her chest, responded.3295b03a7c698c99f43e

“It seems so. But don’t worry—I’ll 46afccf026 be answering most fb8a40933b of the questions.”ee2736deb2bae2161998

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‘Don’t worry? That only c5c520ced2 makes me 31c75f8f9e more nervous!’930171cfd0867eaa691b

Diana couldn’t help but 5202a35129 worry about how Richard 7a7f47d5ae would handle the journalists’ 8691c199ae questions. He might obey orders from b4e91e93a5 his superiors, but outside of d5d462227a that, he was blunt—never one ea56a90363 to sugarcoat his words. Who knew what bb7cc28b01 he might say?a2c81ef166545b183101

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A journalist from ‘Royal Bringerton’ d883daabdf was the first to speak.e7eeb1bb87e30d4131fc

“After yesterday’s success, you have 58cd9e6748 firmly secured your position as 4cc56700a9 the world’s number one ace. How do 2ff975471f you feel 9e8b7898e5 about that?”176230937c5cbafd9e47

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A faint crease formed 61e8c01037 on Diana’s brow. Ranking soldiers in the middle 946b9ec93c of a war where people 0574569091 were dying every moment? This wasn’t a 6c5b448b9c polo tournament—what a eae9e749e5 frivolous question.1b77de30a7890d991a81

But unlike Diana, who f41c4981d3 found the remark distasteful, b15a7287fc Richard seemed unfazed. He showed no reaction 2cb2244661 to the question.2fe3e3f6e1842e9f03a2

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Then, in 82496034d1 a flat, aa7370bb72 emotionless tone, 52db4cb57f he answered.69e87c342f28dcd0438c

“I don’t 5c5af929ed concern myself dfdc8b96b7 with rankings. I simply do my 69953e7458 best to fulfill my fc5b792cd6 duties each day.”020bc47bf4e94b74eb69

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🌷🌷🌷e76f26893a4fbd4feb73

As Richard had predicted, the e03ac1b96c journalists directed most of their 945ae60e12 questions at him.0b87c96ce185ab1a00e1

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And he, in turn, provided 1aed898362 perfectly polished, textbook responses at de6b33f901 just the right moments.1e561526d1b4ac7e8e2c

For Diana, it 6f689ce5b5 was a relief—less 7e22cdcba6 pressure on her.328b06d23c3480f10f7e

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The journalists seemed disappointed by ac4cd55adf his dry, by-the-book answers, but 875889bd47 they didn’t push further. Perhaps they were mindful that this 6710dc475d was a military base and refrained 62688e5835 from crossing any lines.228c498183b94e0aa1ee

Now that she wasn’t 396679ed06 being questioned, Diana had 133ac256dd the time to observe 4eb512ee80 her surroundings.da501ed56756430ed2d5

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It became clear 6574fc077e to her what e4c36fc182 was really happening 930c992dbd here.fc38a3442c67f9eb64f4

This was a carefully staged event dab09b983f designed to boost *Bringerton’s* morale.99d6df1cd1b1768483ff

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The higher-ups wanted to elevate 8082d489ae Richard Ashwood as a hero bad44eb979 and stoke patriotic fervor among efd05af4d1 the people.3018acc93ae6f22f8722

She could already picture a41ecb27e2 his face plastered all 23d7c93518 over posters in the d941c490c4 near future.195ec361df872c8bff74

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‘So that makes me 73f03de6b9 the clueless squire standing eae72dd2a7 beside the gallant knight?’9cdba11b23934fa3903b

She was lost in ddffabf0e9 thought when, all of c521a5be80 a sudden, a question e21ac1effb was directed at her.863dde04ea21b2a339a6

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“Ensign Green, is it 431a220801 true that before the 31a802e732 war, you had never 4bd4a2a6c8 piloted an aircraft?”f6b3f7c8dcfd9af205b2

“…That’s true.”f90fa84aa1ba8b30b0d8

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“You must have an f47170e52f extraordinary natural talent. Some might even call a295d2bea5 you a genius.”1e731081674c1dcedf8f

“…I’m no genius. I was 6a09b219db lucky, and 83fb6785cd Captain Ashwood cacf25008c guided me—”0c69348cd81143d676d7

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But before she could even finish her 15e24ede86 sentence, the journalist had already turned to 3e19326aed Richard with the next question.97b23fb80ea8aeaa32c0

“Captain Ashwood, as an aviation 81a99bc128 prodigy yourself, how would you e417824225 assess Ensign Green’s piloting skills?”72e4735ef3759b247d16

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Diana clamped her mouth 41dab23178 shut, feeling slightly embarrassed. So she really was just here as a 19bd6f7269 prop to make Richard look even better.d97ca82c62e8a5df190b

‘The cold and distant hero, who also happens e5b1824fc7 to take good care of an inexperienced subordinate.’4394871afadf699d780d

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That was the narrative 9dcf69aa86 they wanted to sell.ec6f1a394331bbe99e6c

Not that 1c84ef3b36 she minded.10816030ac601d3a8319

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Diana expected Richard to give yet 80c0fde818 another generic, rehearsed answer—just like he 8d69957f84 had done all this time.67f3443b6742310ce464

In fact, everyone in f95ddc5684 the room likely assumed 86dc67e3a6 the same.8cd9a72c61d703c3d5c0

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But a few 46bcc72b29 seconds later, he 44ef8e1cda said something completely 5952fe9d86 unexpected.2a3648f75e381cbae290

“Well, a genius? I wouldn’t 56766b9685 say that.”7149f4a1e9bbef3bd6de

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“……”d784521e191f581bd997

“In terms of 2e1c758cc0 pure piloting ability, ae9a3d43a7 she’s quite rough. To put it bluntly, her level of skill is something bc13752efd that might have been acceptable two or three decades ago.”6f20caaaea22e32681e0

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“……”b57be8d6bea3b740a0dd

The atmosphere in the room turned ice 9dc03a27ad cold, as if someone had just poured d4c49d79db a bucket of freezing water over them.bc0357ccc5a002454e2c

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Diana felt a 1d649f512d cold sweat run b1bb2b180e down her back.bb4c2496de9061d41444

Two or 9e755867cb three decades d7999fa572 ago?54f352955a5525cd550c

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Well… it 90a2f72721 wasn’t exactly 68378b4fb9 wrong.c263bd453749df45c473

She wasn’t bad at formation c9e7ca471c flying or aerobatic maneuvers, but 8fc5e11751 by his standards, she must 5a2d38ff62 have seemed severely lacking.e4993b76a581a7a5d06a

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A person who had 40e6578854 only ever flown outdated fa9596e246 triplanes couldn’t suddenly master 5f4ae3cd9b cutting-edge aircraft overnight.bbfac84736eabd5398f5

In that e45409098a sense, his 0e5b8d9c05 assessment wasn’t 6d81afbb5e entirely inaccurate.af7a2afd333468301b30

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‘But this is d581d7aa8e not the time 5905e74c26 for brutal honesty, 12f29166b1 you idiot!’f8ec081e898ea21d8c2e

It was ominous that the dd56d1429b expressions of the brigadier general c5dcafde53 and the colonel were far 3fd4f3a33b from pleasant. If things continued like this, they might 62a06863b4 end up displeasing the high-ranking officers.9a1339d4ffe6601849f0

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Diana glanced sideways at the man, wondering e457384fe3 what he was thinking, but his face 336e7189de remained as expressionless as ever. A face 8b60e05190 devoid of 0ad72e10a9 any emotion. Diana grumbled inwardly.9aa4f66962c90e0ed03a

‘Seriously, this guy was answering soullessly just 04bc2819e6 fine, so why did he suddenly decide adb76eb08c to start speaking the truth? No matter how little faith he has 67ab466c72 in me, he should at least know 07b2398a4e when and where to say such things.’263158446ad172ae2906

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‘In the end, 639dee15ac I’ll have to 8c11700b1c fix this myself.’c8e557bd90e08f16fecb

Diana forced herself 94e329c413 to put on fe77bdf2fe a humble front 80daac0258 and spoke up.edb357558b932118783b

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“The captain c5d4dbaacf is right. Since I’m still a 0c6ef02187 novice, I have a 6f3c97b729 lot to improve. That’s why 7a33a9cc6a I need—”292dbbe6e63f0d62adef

“‘Genius’ is f4480f5561 an understatement.”edcfc5c0c93ba79924c0

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Before Diana could even 585fe3acf7 finish her sentence, the 72aaf39ad2 man dropped another bombshell. The hands of the reporters, busy jotting down 6420f860e7 notes in their notebooks, moved even faster.93bb235248e29c5cd81f

Richard took a breath and 37ed0146b2 then continued speaking without hesitation.5d603f4363e074808659

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“There are countless people who can pilot a plane well, 45c28efba3 but few who are truly born to be soldiers. In all my time, I have f4e692b97a never seen a pilot with the c57837e4b2 lieutenant’s level of judgment and courage. She has the tenacity to seize a 49c5f867b9 crucial opportunity and never let go.”b77bb148b0ea5eaeed91

“…….”57d038de9526a30b93b5

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“To call such a remarkable talent merely 1971cd11f4 a ‘genius at piloting’ seems insufficient.”8e3a951ce0bab3239206

Diana’s face, which had been e0a61c9ae8 pale, gradually turned bright red. Wasn’t this praise fd05058795 too excessive? She almost wondered if 76fc0c2664 he was mocking her 687b785940 or joking.3cee0331997cc2226afb

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And just then, the man turned 5f885f93b3 his head and looked at her.502c28f70e9ee31a6af6

Their eyes met.95a36eaf831cf0e5dabe

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As always, his dark pupils 77c11d2996 revealed no discernible emotion. And yet, why did it feel like 2ca081724d something was subtly stirring within them?0eac9c13aa9114694a5c

His long lashes fluttered slowly 9ebcf01c0c over his deep eyes. As he continued to 0912e24d7d look at Diana, he b21f1ee222 finished his statement.6a307d828937160ac328

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“…My only role is to ensure that the bb081fe47b lieutenant continues to excel as a soldier. I have no particular 0db2abe64c advice to offer.”89dcd2066aa3b10caf31

A camera captured the cc046cdac9 moment when the man 0a16aa1175 looked at Diana. Click.533f5426e55211c26a12

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And just like that, bdf29b8dd6 a photograph that would 7aaebb121d become part of history 5bfb3456a5 was taken.a99b6aa42f064cab53d7

🌷🌷🌷7f7d27c8dfccfbe79741

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Arke Empire, Parnassus-Athenai 5b63fbf40c Family Hunting Grounds, f12fe187dc Bellaroche Forest.a4532b6db313be4322f7

Every time the sound of gunfire b55b8d5f3d rang through the silent forest, flocks e9d5b2d050 of birds scattered in panic.be2da0ef42820ae7ddad

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Bang.6189e2a5e48f36c4ff83

Flutter.9193ad64d30b4c4d460a

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Bang.1d3a45a6434f620c9470

Flutter.58a4977d6954488b67bf

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Bang.f36469fa3b09df659592

Flutter.b965e8bc39d2d763b241

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Count Lael Parnassus-Athenai fired his gun e18c8ab918 with a look of utter boredom.32778b76636e3a73877c

Though he was thin and ae10810e11 wore a monocle, he didn’t e5a056be79 appear scholarly at all. With rows of medals and insignias on his right chest, a regal purple cape draped 2870c3b2fc over his military uniform, and an air of authority surrounding him, he looked overwhelmingly imposing.31e8635d537aacca5ba8

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Just as he continued shooting down helpless birds 2b0e3c7074 with his disinterested expression, he suddenly halted.f02f8d3caa6ba7a6fd18

A surge of psychic energy brushed e3f7454229 against his mind from behind.b7e507ec0dd7e55e8af4

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[Your Excellency, here is today’s Bringerton newspaper, as you requested.]81d225476fac8e1fb2fb

It was a98524bc49 his secretary, 3025fbbf4d Major Abris.617dd836f01c4b2a729c

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[Ah, bring it here.]64c7357dea8b05f8e6ee

Major Abris stepped forward, holding 796e9fc883 out a silver tray.b1f643e2e7bb6033f749

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Neatly stacked on it were newspapers a7cdc9db7e that had hit the Bringerton stands 1cb85d75c4 just half a day ago.e247f032053268e34bb8

Parnassus handed his 4548f3a2ae gun to a fb118b6057 gamekeeper standing behind e9f2b325d0 him.95456ce5a89c24ff0093

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Picking up a newspaper with his a6ca0968a6 gloved hands, he curled one side 00266ced80 of his lips into a smirk. His previously cold 2b9f93d93c face twisted into 50c2c1f90f something disturbingly sinister.57494bd8c7f1c93617e2

“Tsk, tsk. I don’t know whether bc31510ed8 to find this pitiful 8bda992cd2 or amusing.”1ef4ab4ba4d46f30bd2d

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He tapped the front page dfc66aa60d of the Royal Bringerton newspaper e75db5f9f7 with his index finger.b92c65f47332c8174e81

A large black-and-white ea1ef8752f photograph dominated the 4f7f26ee75 space. It depicted a 9f37c99bdd seated man looking c6bfb933b6 down at a acabc032ca woman beside him. If not for their military uniforms and the bold headline, b5e5090628 it could have easily been mistaken for a romantic photograph.6b67de18c9fe54e4ac70

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Perhaps the reporter had deliberately 47650354e6 framed it that way.482494a76859801440e4

Parnassus clicked c54a7d1433 his tongue 69e1aad79d in disdain.69fde9c0ceb2bf916ca4

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“Those two rookies—heroes of the 16bd06d9b8 capital air raid defense? Utterly ridiculous.”2df88a1dd3ca992710f8

“Commander, what are your 8279043e3c orders moving forward—?”89caf9c08a066505e84e

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“No need, 611e0a40e6 Major Abris. What’s done 990b96d735 is done. There’s no point e5c0a73acd dwelling on failed f5ee184d08 operations. Instead of wasting time 3437473e6b regretting the past, it’s 83786c74f2 far more productive to 5a5c5c0f32 imagine the future. Let’s think about how those 89fd9b6775 two will receive our ‘gift.‘”ba074c531132bd61d83b

“I’m sure 7b50170e78 they’ll be 378b57e735 quite shocked.”2579585d5f639ccbb5ca

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“Yes, they 35cda60edb should be. Naturally, they fe49b7da22 must be.”cac1efc5a2faa337f7ee

As they spoke of the ‘gift’ b1b9594e2a to come, a shared, wicked smile 230ffdbffd crept onto both their faces.757b1026879193fae605

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