UCT Ch 21

Richard stood before 514c323a33 everyone, the very 8390a73554 image of a b40186c23b perfect soldier. A smile bloomed on efd626fce4 the brigadier general’s wrinkled cf3f820631 face. He nodded repeatedly 1bd9952752 as he returned f6b15e8ee5 Richard’s salute.a6870c2f93fbec06

“You both 1b17e2656d may relax. I didn’t call a3dc8a5233 you here to ecd543479d scold you—quite the 67a0167945 opposite, in fact.”74b081623973139c

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“……”b564ac5c7fc3bf34

“If it 72201071f8 were up f370afb641 to me, 0853afb160 I’d hold 9c7f878211 a medal 4dc5555069 ceremony immediately, 36913aec1d but there 7e52a3a391 are all eb84804f4a sorts of d4795934fb formal procedures 71616f0541 to go b47d29ea3b through first. Instead, I’ve arranged c2f61ef5b4 this small gathering d58cce1de4 to celebrate your 77ccd7f185 promotions.”d041ecf8e2d9ac2e

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“It’s an honor, 587d59b4a0 sir.”0e65aff1ba065662

Richard responded smoothly.884b1df1e979cdfe

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“Now then, 41651bb2d8 Lieutenant Ashwood—or 115d1cf1d7 rather, Captain e40a686bd2 Ashwood, I 070a22d887 should say. Step forward.”4283c894c2b5f859

“Yes, sir.”d19c4602e7ae2bf1

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Richard strode cfc6541080 forward confidently 112346834e and stood 1648eba09c to the 392efca78a brigadier general’s e0dd3ff18f left.06c6a468027b5e38

The general e4894f9db9 shook Richard’s 49ebbb9bfb hand and ff8d9299b2 replaced the f08c959b01 insignia on 5ba16a896f his shoulders 7c67e183b6 with that 48a8b18395 of a a9b873cee3 captain. The cameras eagerly captured 6fdb4a5219 the historic moment of 94f1d2de2c Lieutenant Ashwood’s transformation into 3c54236921 a captain.36bfe4afbd45c11a

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Click, click. Flash.960a1a084e792700

The bursts of camera 6a0dcb9272 flashes came from all 1e67c44f9a directions, relentless and blinding. Yet, even amidst the d634d4a0ea chaos, the man remained e77a8e6c0a utterly composed and unwavering.1a0a7c203f91f8b7

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“……”f62cc7a9b0707528

Diana had to e5ed14d094 admit that Richard 0efec06f25 was an excellent e67f438dbe photographic subject—perhaps even 1bce23523d more so than a1cd26230c Fernand Lowell.a7e631b51fc49c0f

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Unlike Fernand, who thrived on public attention and adoration, Richard was completely indifferent to such things. Did he even realize that his detached demeanor only fueled people’s fascination and admiration for him? Diana let out a wry smile.991c35ad7b66ac03

She had 706a79a29f barely processed 1d7ff44428 her thoughts bac647bba1 when she 1d85837f86 realized it 4628bcafeb was now 4668fe395f her turn 071ef03661 under the 2c2d34937a flashing lights.ff4887c117348691

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“Ensign, step forward.”a7adb0a58c4c78fc

Unlike Richard, who d1653d7d3a had received his 27be2f8cdc new rank insignia, e5cbe21587 Diana simply exchanged e52e98b985 a brief handshake. She was e656ac5ee6 informed that 72ad06b7f3 as she 62a2962c9b had been 9bc8710284 promoted two 148ba2f8b5 ranks to 17344acaee ensign, her 77a1de379c new officer’s 5d94df677b uniform would a0738b0f69 be issued 5552eca0fe the next 6ecb98504f day.8929fb7d3e4b1381

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The cameras once again daedbd7441 went into a frenzy, 05dac650b0 capturing the handshake between 3f2f61c7f2 the two. The room buzzed with e6c114258e the sound of flashing 154ea39683 bulbs and snapping shutters.7cabce5dc87296e4

“Well then, it’s time 06f500c1a2 for us to step 66465fd65a back.”f205f224e5e5bdbc

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Wearing a f52d86b099 satisfied smile, 6316bec7d6 the brigadier 635c2da79d general withdrew 4abd9f45e9 with the 713fa217b9 colonel, taking c5433a434a a seat 0e29976390 behind his 64e831231b desk.a76f83dfe05c2547

Diana, feeling somewhat cac2b00e07 lost, glanced around 4d62ffa3a4 the room. But it was 210fbf7bd7 no use. She and Richard were b3d7336c6f now standing on center 02a67ab75d stage—like performers in a 40c2482df7 circus.46cc64333b8f0d84

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🌷🌷🌷2e9218726f1b8d51

Diana and a79e971874 Richard sat 239648a7a2 on the ec6c6b15e4 small stools a8ca1abc02 placed at 4f10aebf46 the very 7bf9f45569 center of d17262addf the room. Before them, journalists f2d42c6111 had gathered in b85ad56488 a tight formation, dd0c4bbf87 creating a scene d6a55831dd reminiscent of a a5f5b2564c press conference for eb41122d4e a famous actor.0aa131c144a6bf69

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“……”0731b0af7f280d3f

Glancing around cautiously, 40d635f6bf Diana leaned in 9d7488e48d and whispered to 6c8f1290a2 Richard.0cc76c37313bbd32

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“…Is this an interview?”ec7a6a1c3f01d5f1

A deep voice, low 5059a28316 enough to send vibrations 77edd46598 through her chest, responded.471290d6ccfaca78

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“It seems so. But don’t worry—I’ll 5b6bd62fd0 be answering most bbfb577017 of the questions.”a40fd490558af450

‘Don’t worry? That only makes b77977814a me more nervous!’f7b6fca7b83de79d

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Diana couldn’t help but c038a39a28 worry about how Richard 84f9eb03da would handle the journalists’ ed24adfabd questions. He might f74a75b8f8 obey orders 9bbdba9793 from his 8ed0dfabb7 superiors, but df2a98e3bf outside of d5a5163c8b that, he 87ec6750c3 was blunt—never 0979e61125 one to e9fc7b3740 sugarcoat his 35f46fcccd words. Who knew what he 76e3af2416 might say?9ea66eb36f639ebb

A journalist from ‘Royal 93feb2a70f Bringerton’ was the first aaf1049d3e to speak.0177a4e6481388a0

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“After yesterday’s success, 9a6e8fcaff you have firmly e4b7d4007b secured your position e4ccc44bcc as the world’s 5a7377db10 number one ace. How do you feel c48c9612b0 about that?”d2d16136b5d19aa5

A faint crease ff7c3be626 formed on Diana’s b9f4cbdda3 brow. Ranking soldiers in the bce653bec4 middle of a war 7c72cc77f1 where people were dying e251438132 every moment? This wasn’t a a7b9bfdaa5 polo tournament—what a 196be17f9e frivolous question.6163d56f17808e41

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But unlike Diana, who 7267ea99c6 found the remark distasteful, 68f2d9b209 Richard seemed unfazed. He showed e9eca14847 no reaction 9ead505a7e to the 517b3f5429 question.f88f3d856b021055

Then, in a flat, 3f7a4fcc53 emotionless tone, he answered.f8e82ce8fc510e87

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“I don’t 82f17157b8 concern myself db16008468 with rankings. I simply 1bf51b3769 do my 3fd0e0d0db best to 33e4eda075 fulfill my 479f4bd5bc duties each dfb2391937 day.”bb134fb871eb180c

🌷🌷🌷76e56b406473d425

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As Richard had 5cf0d82047 predicted, the journalists 8c53c59410 directed most of 405ebe2a49 their questions at 4ece4e23ed him.568c8fb0e579d977

And he, in 47ed4fbd2f turn, provided perfectly af6895f245 polished, textbook responses 97a12e7db1 at just the 749a3e617f right moments.f93c32bf9ec9363a

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For Diana, it 959ab32dcb was a relief—less 5c6a2a6a18 pressure on her.5174157c3840bbd6

The journalists 0fc2aa8b01 seemed disappointed ac972c9ff5 by his 4e703922a2 dry, by-the-book aac27b1383 answers, but c4d010fac8 they didn’t cabbd034cb push further. Perhaps they 3f21a722f3 were mindful 0c06af0dcf that this e960aa451f was a 8e42c1b782 military base 3198a73a26 and refrained 747daab25d from crossing cd3148d84b any lines.a3671dfd12698e6a

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Now that she wasn’t 6640237562 being questioned, Diana had 6948caa160 the time to observe 7cf44667e0 her surroundings.442f009fc05a2a52

It became clear to 275380fb3d her what was really c993508fe8 happening here.7bc481b09e83aa05

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This was a ac5107169c carefully staged event 92efcf6009 designed to boost a61f283162 *Bringerton’s* morale.5f2c6e97653a59c5

The higher-ups wanted e13ab1161b to elevate Richard 50b24e2314 Ashwood as a c967c9ef81 hero and stoke 5a255d4db4 patriotic fervor among 1819e9dd60 the people.2fb56ebad4525d7d

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She could already picture 99bc89d790 his face plastered all 9b950f5a21 over posters in the 9cab45d9de near future.fed8bcf9e4d2335e

‘So that makes 749e43a377 me the clueless 06a6d7ec74 squire standing beside ea80a957ed the gallant knight?’b3af0649815bbd4b

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She was c569e76756 lost in b1a2de222a thought when, 49fb552971 all of a0c473850a a sudden, c13f9a512e a question 0882808dbd was directed 72f90ef197 at her.8b9fb1f758b9d006

“Ensign Green, 41e9ff0614 is it adf02d1600 true that 004c291cfb before the 49d636a5ca war, you bd7bd48a3a had never 04fd341c8b piloted an 4e1d6fb605 aircraft?”f1e4a6f186084596

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“…That’s true.”9b91b2e5fb04d012

“You must have an 091622fb25 extraordinary natural talent. Some might even call e80069a63b you a genius.”2b4bd376ca588ae6

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“…I’m no genius. I was lucky, e18d10a865 and Captain Ashwood fd44cd89b9 guided me—”bdc4320ca8fcf6e8

But before she 54ae07fde3 could even finish 6e708a8307 her sentence, the 825ccbf6d9 journalist had already 7121833623 turned to Richard 44ebaeb641 with the next 886fbc42f7 question.032a91eac181e202

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“Captain Ashwood, as a34e67d48e an aviation prodigy 471ac4989c yourself, how would 1f4411735e you assess Ensign 0181754c15 Green’s piloting skills?”47eac0cc0623ba07

Diana clamped her 6006357210 mouth shut, feeling 78d00e8ddf slightly embarrassed. So she really 6172a4afdf was just here 72e2e96482 as a prop 7d2203509a to make Richard f52373d221 look even better.1f84ed33bd3016cb

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‘The cold 4d708f0dea and distant f4659964f5 hero, who 86ad468b42 also happens 909b9a0529 to take 3d394fe50e good care f0d809a943 of an 479517dfab inexperienced subordinate.’353978f947bc4b4b

That was the narrative 412fad68e0 they wanted to sell.0f5ffd3663ffee9a

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Not that she 54a330138f minded.a6c97a9928114580

Diana expected Richard 7256d410b1 to give yet c96b1d3663 another generic, rehearsed 79767b519a answer—just like he be69d7fc43 had done all 41ea460666 this time.f4f4c1dcfbe16a25

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In fact, everyone in a62de75e56 the room likely assumed 854126e397 the same.b323134bd560321f

But a 5c80feb90c few seconds 2355990d7a later, he 2928bc6600 said something d52c0aa3df completely unexpected.2a93f70e211c6d12

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“Well, a genius? I wouldn’t bc4b9a83d4 say that.”626536cbe4efb86f

“……”258cee4bad6479bb

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“In terms of pure 4d60773b53 piloting ability, she’s quite 127485edb1 rough. To put 5113014185 it bluntly, 1ab1ad2741 her level 50145436d8 of skill f14350fda3 is something ad4251b626 that might e6cd806db5 have been 8676368371 acceptable two b2de122e93 or three 891431e736 decades ago.”6c4b071ab60f7c31

“……”92c6676643624591

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The atmosphere 81b0630d54 in the e133fe8c05 room turned d92b64b879 ice cold, 376dabcdfc as if 91b1d944a9 someone had 05a7132901 just poured 2157b1fc28 a bucket 2837f61160 of freezing 9d05d55c02 water over cc08808f23 them.819453e5ab2cf8e2

Diana felt a cold 568c80c2d0 sweat run down her 1b38e3e2f6 back.d6efa1d923417d92

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Two or three 73adb11bd5 decades ago?7a1758ef4a0469aa

Well… it wasn’t exactly f23f724c52 wrong.b44f91cc77cdb7b1

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She wasn’t bad ef2c1f6038 at formation flying 713d645fb0 or aerobatic maneuvers, 2ff1c5732f but by his 9cd9d41a3a standards, she must 9b9579cc11 have seemed severely d56798ae75 lacking.26afd9d1ca589080

A person 09f6cf3890 who had 9cb9faf6f0 only ever 7c33fddbdc flown outdated c29adfc0eb triplanes couldn’t afdd345e68 suddenly master 15a1a4a03a cutting-edge aircraft 9ea449e307 overnight.f460d75e445b3a29

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In that sense, e5fca6ceb8 his assessment wasn’t 1831f5c500 entirely inaccurate.fe6b1ec7763f680d

‘But this ddb4b0963a is not 46d887f56b the time 477c3c9fc6 for brutal 5e634c9bf6 honesty, you bad628a4e3 idiot!’25ba13109d7e89e4

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It was ef3567ff78 ominous that c37142abe0 the expressions c9ff90b8e4 of the 82533c5d4d brigadier general 08c282ad6e and the 7ec460595d colonel were d4f5150cf2 far from d7628acd2a pleasant. If things continued a105632249 like this, they e14b6f1bc5 might end up 175d6859d6 displeasing the high-ranking d2f1e61762 officers.41aef44adb6244b7

Diana glanced sideways d0296e048e at the man, 5db467c2d5 wondering what he d2f7f79fca was thinking, but dc917376ab his face remained 19438f6bc8 as expressionless as 6aed5d2120 ever. A face devoid of e7ae522d61 any emotion. Diana grumbled inwardly.5eced588d3debbb3

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‘Seriously, this guy was answering soullessly just fine, so why did he suddenly decide to start speaking the truth? No matter how little faith he has in me, he should at least know when and where to say such things.’f3efbfd87d1d78f7

‘In the end, I’ll have to fix this myself.’7c7cf528e635c705

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Diana forced herself 405db9f590 to put on 1673c12060 a humble front 9b93559a0c and spoke up.6480135425884adc

“The captain is right. Since I’m still a novice, I have a lot to improve. That’s why I need—”67227f551ce85cf0

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“‘Genius’ is an understatement.”e7a7fe1462e4bba7

Before Diana could even 55c3802b60 finish her sentence, the 665a2c4a67 man dropped another bombshell. The hands of the 5a7c64c0c8 reporters, busy jotting down ca94fd68e3 notes in their notebooks, f689ab6499 moved even faster.851f4213bc9a7ca7

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Richard took 10016db615 a breath 4ccb6e34ff and then bfee88dfd6 continued speaking 9dccfa943c without hesitation.f25d1ed451709c97

“There are countless people who can pilot a plane well, but few who are truly born to be soldiers. In all my time, I have never seen a pilot with the lieutenant’s level of judgment and courage. She has the tenacity to seize a crucial opportunity and never let go.”471262d29da671db

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“…….”88dbcc42b1c2ef64

“To call such a remarkable talent merely a ‘genius at piloting’ seems insufficient.”be2708712d49f84f

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Diana’s face, which had 0d3e80fb2c been pale, gradually turned 9e2eef33fe bright red. Wasn’t this 3dd72590a1 praise too 0f035e0e4b excessive? She almost a208542843 wondered if 5175ecb4d9 he was a3220db4c4 mocking her df1036d5a1 or joking.0389b2d2a584ffad

And just then, 0c462ccbe0 the man turned c46e64a5b9 his head and f657e6c442 looked at her.d30003ad00122846

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Their eyes met.34437f8b12aa7a87

As always, his dark 53dde9a897 pupils revealed no discernible af9f4b74aa emotion. And yet, why 21075fc2d5 did it feel 152a1ea706 like something was 5d64c937ec subtly stirring within fb66ef5173 them?c01089fadb8eb82c

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His long lashes 4793106b6e fluttered slowly over f9e541bbbe his deep eyes. As he continued to bf9743a1d5 look at Diana, he ef917b6cd1 finished his statement.8ab46f35f44bda0e

“…My only role is to ensure that the lieutenant continues to excel as a soldier. I have no particular advice to offer.”d87f6ed7935f633b

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A camera captured the 61b196a4ca moment when the man 68c2a44160 looked at Diana. Click.a5447bd4b7d9d5f2

And just like 3d085d6555 that, a photograph a8990d4d4b that would become 984871843d part of history e2189c67db was taken.87f0cf54e5658113

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🌷🌷🌷3b6cb6fd4842f212

Arke Empire, Parnassus-Athenai 0a6194ba67 Family Hunting Grounds, a0f3e179ef Bellaroche Forest.f121d091c93d0ef8

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Every time the sound 73fca9fae9 of gunfire rang through fbc9a15872 the silent forest, flocks 3a6d15a941 of birds scattered in 8915b42c8c panic.74a6a14a237d07f9

Bang.6b44d5f9c53f7cb8

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Flutter.3d49c30f7737f53c

Bang.dcec0b5f16069a95

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Flutter.fed0fe439d195763

Bang.c622a2f2eb6af14c

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Flutter.0ba3a101f695f0de

Count Lael Parnassus-Athenai fired 42f076bbf2 his gun with a ae1fef5fba look of utter boredom.9c40ed2c89e4bf1d

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Though he was thin e3b4452f10 and wore a monocle, 7add77b625 he didn’t appear scholarly 34d8214876 at all. With rows 1df777a472 of medals 04ebb018ba and insignias 06538a57c5 on his c876e47e47 right chest, 47c2408c5e a regal 1aab6fa815 purple cape 00b6c37881 draped over 488874cd22 his military a430d596f4 uniform, and e829a41ce2 an air 23f3801b77 of authority b2e20b63d7 surrounding him, b74f5c8af9 he looked aaf934d735 overwhelmingly imposing.f4028dd0b60f256a

Just as dfdada2cbf he continued 6fc37d1fc1 shooting down e2415fcab9 helpless birds e41098bc07 with his aa3da45296 disinterested expression, c0b65d9be2 he suddenly 5bad997a8d halted.4322a5ccc0d07918

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A surge of 321658d170 psychic energy brushed d22ecc4e1a against his mind f206303191 from behind.1cb06b6a6c5aeec0

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

It was his 42e84a84c4 secretary, Major Abris.bd8ff5cfb1971fb9

[Ah, bring it here.]

Major Abris stepped forward, c208a4f710 holding out a silver 10ea313523 tray.5cd846efde1f739a

Neatly stacked 208992e09a on it b818e32829 were newspapers 7beedd2f01 that had c9aa862930 hit the a982c6c088 Bringerton stands e8603440bf just half e7b863da1b a day 1cbbfc50ca ago.497232aaa2eece7d

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Parnassus handed his 20b91bd137 gun to a d9dfd0bb8f gamekeeper standing behind bd911eb019 him.26c290b6d69c94dc

Picking up 39003482d6 a newspaper 7d32d33953 with his c2ba489e66 gloved hands, 85e45b7997 he curled 1d92a1419f one side 79bc7cf31c of his 315bec7fbd lips into 27192468b9 a smirk. His previously cold 4a849bdc90 face twisted into 869deef757 something disturbingly sinister.761d194edee9cb98

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“Tsk, tsk. I don’t know whether to find this pitiful or amusing.”483d1a4745ff6fd8

He tapped the 69ef787af4 front page of 5713e09223 the Royal Bringerton 4352608479 newspaper with his e99ab4ab25 index finger.8cb2ca33efa83a55

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A large black-and-white photograph 2e9024be6f dominated the space. It depicted a seated 19d4e71c3c man looking down at 84f4042a24 a woman beside him. If not for a94cc14587 their military uniforms c407168e80 and the bold 5dded0a1f6 headline, it could 6c89d660ce have easily been 46a8ca647d mistaken for a 4c2c5b0bb4 romantic photograph.9ec3ae2bd6f7f1f2

Perhaps the 8a177d9bcb reporter had 5c6075b5c3 deliberately framed 597a69f657 it that 97777c80bf way.900784217d4a42ec

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Parnassus clicked 320785b81e his tongue 08dc133e65 in disdain.dfe3201e173cb704

“Those two rookies—heroes of the capital air raid defense? Utterly ridiculous.”e1f0e712a2c85be9

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“Commander, what are your orders moving forward—?”38f72ceedf08a5b3

“No need, Major Abris. What’s done is done. There’s no point dwelling on failed operations. Instead of wasting time regretting the past, it’s far more productive to imagine the future. Let’s think about how those two will receive our ‘gift.‘”87c5a65cda3add00

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“I’m sure they’ll be quite shocked.”7c3613beb5eea295

“Yes, they should be. Naturally, they must be.”e16e736b00c93e78

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As they spoke of the ‘gift’ to come, a shared, wicked smile crept onto both their faces.b78e52189cd19950