𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬
“Alma!”
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Luke, having chased after the carriage, arrived at the clearing in front of the cave where Alma stood alone. He hurried over to her.
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“Are you okay?! Are you hurt?”
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“Luke!”
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Alma clung to Luke.
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“I was so scared. . .! They kidnapped me and threatened to cut me up if I didn’t comply. . .!”
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Around them lay men, strewn about like rag dolls.
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“Is. . . is she a monster? Twenty former magic knights couldn’t lay a finger on her. . .”
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A barely human face muttered these words, gasping for breath.
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Luke squatted in front of a relatively less injured fake attendant.
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“Who is behind this?”
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“I. . . I don’t know.”
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“Is that so.”
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Luke smiled faintly at the fake attendant, who, despite being battered and scared, tried to act tough.
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However, his eyes were not smiling at all.
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Luke placed his left index finger on the fake attendant’s forehead.
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“If you don’t want to talk, that’s fine. I’ll just ask directly inside your head.”
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Magical energy flowed from Luke’s left arm, entwining around the fake attendant’s face.
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The energy creepily made its way into his ears, nostrils, and eyes.
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“Noooooo!!!”
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The attendant screamed in a twisted agony.
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“I should warn you, it’s going to be very painful. It would be better if you just talk.”
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“I’ll talk! I’ll tell you everything I know, just stop, please!”
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“In the end, we didn’t learn much of importance.”
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Alma, sitting next to Luke, sighed.
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It seems the kidnappers also didn’t know who their employer was.
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The handovers and communications were layered with procedures, and any discrepancy meant the request would be as if it never existed.
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If the contact in Narejji territory hadn’t been informed by now, the contact would go underground, making further interaction impossible, the man had said.
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Stretching, Alma sighed again.
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“I thought we might be able to reach the mastermind behind the kidnappers, but it seems it’s not as easy as I hoped. . . Luke, Luke?!”
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Alma let out a surprised voice as she was suddenly hugged.
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Ignoring the flustered Alma, Luke continued to hug her.
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“I’m so relieved. . . I’m glad you’re safe, Alma.”
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“Luke. . .”
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Alma’s voice faltered as she stopped moving.
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“I was worried sick, thinking I might never see Alma again, or that you might be subjected to something terrible. . .”
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“I’m sorry for worrying you. I wanted to be of help to you, Luke. . .”
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“It’s okay.”
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Luke, wiping the tears from the corners of her eyes, smiled at Alma.
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“I’m just glad you’re safe. That’s all that matters to me right now.”
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“Luke. . .”
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The faces of the two, gazing at each other, slowly drew closer.
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Alma’s moist eyes quietly closed.
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“Alma! Luke! Are you two alright?”
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Sir Wilfred rushed in with a squad of guards.
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Alma and Luke, repelling each other like the same poles of a magnet.
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“What’s this disaster! Was there a war?!”
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“This is terrible, were they attacked by a demon beast?”
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“Even orcs wouldn’t do something this cruel.”
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Sir Wilfred and his guards were speechless at the sight of the kidnappers lying in a pitiful state.
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“Come to think of it, was that Alma?”
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“. . .I don’t know.”
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Alma turned away when Luke asked her.
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“But that man was also done in by Alma.”
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“I don’t know. It must have been the new Demonstration Armor acting on its own.”
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“Anyway, it’s good that both of you are safe. You’re not injured, are you?”
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Sir Wilfred let out a sigh of relief.
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“But who’s behind this. . .? Pretending to be Lady Flora’s servant is a serious matter. . .”
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“This is. . . a real noble’s carriage.”
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Luke muttered while looking at the carriage that had taken Alma.
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“Impossible?! Are you saying a noble did this?!”
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“It seems so. And this is. . . apparently owned by Uncle Greed.”
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Luke continued, grinding his teeth.
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“What?! Is that true?!”
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“I’ve analyzed the remains in the carriage. There’s a 99.9% chance it’s a carriage that ran through the Narejji territory. The clothes were also genuine, worn by noble’s servants. Probably this too. . .”
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Luke slammed his fist against the carriage.
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“If they hate me, why not target me alone! How dare they lay a hand on Alma!”
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“. . .Calm down, Luke.”
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Sir Wilfred placed a hand on Luke’s shoulder.
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“It’s not yet confirmed that Sir Greed was directly involved. What are these people saying?”
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“. . .The carriage and the servants’ clothes were provided by the client, and they don’t know the source. They’re probably not lying.”
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“I see. . . then we have no choice but to ask directly.”
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“Ask what?”
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“Obviously, Sir Greed himself.”
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Sir Wilfred winked and mounted a running dragon.
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“It’s better to act quickly! We’re heading to the Narejji territory right away!”
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“Danna-sama, it’s a disaster! The Rampart Margrave has arrived!”
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“What?!”
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Greed’s eyes widened at the words of the butler who burst into the room.
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“He says he has urgent matters to discuss. If I can’t get through to you, he threatens to report to the royal palace! And, moreover. . . a young man claiming to be Luke-sama is with him!”
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“What did you say!”
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Sweat trickled down Greed’s face.
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What on earth could it be about? Could it be that? Or perhaps that?
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There are too many possibilities to guess what he’s referring to.
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And Luke is there too?
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A heaviness settled in Greed’s gut, as if he had swallowed lead.
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“W, Well, for now, show him to the parlor! Tell him I’ll follow shortly!”
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Greed paced his study irritably.
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Damn it, ever since meeting Luke again, nothing good has happened.
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And now, with Rampart Margrave here, there’s no escaping.
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“Damn it! That brat! What has he come for!”
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Muttering curses, Greed finally made up his mind, burst open the door, and rushed out of the room.
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