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¡¡The¡¡two¡¡told¡¡him¡¡that¡¡if¡¡he¡¡didn¡¯t¡¡want¡¡to¡¡bother¡¡with¡¡spending¡¡time¡¡buying¡¡gifts£»¡¡he¡¡could¡¡simply¡¡go¡¡to¡¡any¡¡of¡¡the¡¡houses¡¡of¡¡prostitution£»¡¡but¡¡they¡¡assured¡¡him¡¡that¡¡those¡¡women¡¡were¡¡not¡¡as¡¡young£»¡¡or¡¡nearly¡¡as¡¡pretty£»¡¡as¡¡the¡¡ones¡¡who¡¡approached¡¡them¡¡on¡¡the¡¡streets¡£¡¡They¡¡admitted£»¡¡though£»¡¡that¡¡they¡¡went¡¡to¡¡prostitutes¡¡sometimes¡¡when¡¡they¡¡didn¡¯t¡¡feel¡¡like¡¡wasting¡¡time¡¡being¡¡sociable¡¡for¡¡no¡¡more¡¡than¡¡a¡¡simple¡¡coupling¡£
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¡¡When¡¡he¡¡was¡¡spotted¡¡with¡¡a¡¡collar£»¡¡Richard¡¡drew¡¡women¡¡the¡¡same¡¡as¡¡Perry¡¡and¡¡Isaac¡¡did¡£¡¡Richard¡¡was¡¡beginning¡¡to¡¡see¡¡in¡¡a¡¡new¡¡light¡¡what¡¡Sister¡¡Verna¡¡meant¡¡about¡¡him¡¡soon¡¡finding¡¡another¡¡pair¡¡of¡¡pretty¡¡legs¡£¡¡The¡¡other¡¡two¡¡men¡¡thought¡¡Richard¡¡was¡¡mad¡¡to¡¡turn¡¡down¡¡all¡¡the¡¡offers¡£¡¡Sometimes£»¡¡Richard¡¡wondered¡¡if¡¡they¡¡might¡¡not¡¡be¡¡right¡£
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¡¡Richard¡¡asked¡¡Perry¡¡and¡¡Isaac¡¡if¡¡they¡¡weren¡¯t¡¡afraid¡¡of¡¡a¡¡woman¡¯s¡¡father¡¡cracking¡¡their¡¡skulls¡£¡¡They¡¡laughed¡¡and¡¡said¡¡that¡¡fathers¡¡sometimes¡¡brought¡¡their¡¡daughters¡¡to¡¡them¡£¡¡Richard¡¡threw¡¡his¡¡arms¡¡up¡¡and¡¡asked¡¡if¡¡they¡¡weren¡¯t¡¡concerned¡¡about¡¡getting¡¡some¡¡woman¡¡they¡¡didn¡¯t¡¡even¡¡know¡¡pregnant¡£¡¡They¡¡explained¡¡that¡¡if¡¡a¡¡woman¡¡¡®got¡¡herself¡¯¡¡pregnant£»¡¡the¡¡palace¡¡would¡¡provide¡¡for¡¡her¡¡and¡¡the¡¡child£»¡¡even¡¡her¡¡whole¡¡family¡£
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¡¡When¡¡Richard¡¡had¡¡asked¡¡Pasha¡¡what¡¡was¡¡behind¡¡such¡¡a¡¡bizarre¡¡convention£»¡¡she¡¡folded¡¡her¡¡arms¡¡across¡¡her¡¡breasts¡¡and¡¡presented¡¡her¡¡back¡¡to¡¡him¡¡while¡¡she¡¡explained¡¡that¡¡men¡¡had¡¡uncontrollable¡¡urges£»¡¡and¡¡those¡¡urges¡¡would¡¡be¡¡a¡¡distraction¡¡to¡¡learning¡¡to¡¡use¡¡their¡¡Han£»¡¡so¡¡the¡¡Sisters¡¡encouraged¡¡the¡¡men¡¡to¡¡satisfy¡¡their¡¡needs¡£¡¡That¡¡was¡¡why¡¡she¡¡didn¡¯t¡¡go¡¡to¡¡the¡¡city¡¡with¡¡him¡¡at¡¡night¡£¡¡She¡¡was¡¡restricted¡¡from¡¡interfering¡¡with¡¡his¡¡¡£¡£¡£¡¡needs¡£
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¡¡She¡¡had¡¡turned¡¡back¡¡to¡¡him¡¡and¡¡begged¡¡him¡¡to¡¡e¡¡to¡¡her¡¡with¡¡his¡¡needs£»¡¡saying¡¡she¡¡would¡¡see¡¡to¡¡it¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡no¡¡desire¡¡to¡¡go¡¡to¡¡other¡¡women£»¡¡or¡¡if¡¡he¡¡did¡¡go¡¡to¡¡the¡¡city£»¡¡to¡¡at¡¡least¡¡allow¡¡her¡¡to¡¡be¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡women¡¡he¡¡slept¡¡with¡£¡¡She¡¡told¡¡him¡¡that¡¡she¡¡could¡¡satisfy¡¡him¡¡better¡¡than¡¡any¡¡other¡¡woman£»¡¡and¡¡offered¡¡to¡¡prove¡¡it¡£
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¡¡Richard¡¡was¡¡dumbfounded¡¡by¡¡such¡¡talk£»¡¡to¡¡say¡¡nothing¡¡of¡¡the¡¡behavior¡£¡¡He¡¡told¡¡Pasha¡¡that¡¡he¡¡only¡¡went¡¡to¡¡the¡¡city¡¡to¡¡see¡¡the¡¡sights¡£¡¡Having¡¡grown¡¡up¡¡in¡¡the¡¡woods£»¡¡he¡¡had¡¡never¡¡roamed¡¡around¡¡in¡¡a¡¡city¡¡before¡£¡¡He¡¡told¡¡her¡¡that¡¡where¡¡he¡¡came¡¡from¡¡it¡¡wasn¡¯t¡¡right¡¡to¡¡treat¡¡women¡¡in¡¡such¡¡a¡¡way¡£
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¡¡He¡¡promised¡¡that¡¡if¡¡he¡¡was¡¡ever¡¡overe¡¡with¡¡need£»¡¡he¡¡would¡¡e¡¡to¡¡her¡¡first¡£¡¡She¡¡was¡¡so¡¡happy¡¡to¡¡hear¡¡this¡¡that¡¡she¡¡didn¡¯t¡¡mind¡¡when¡¡he¡¡reminded¡¡her¡¡that¡¡he¡¡wasn¡¯t¡¡ready¡¡yet¡£¡¡She¡¡had¡¡no¡¡idea¡¡that¡¡there¡¡were¡¡times¡¡when¡¡he¡¡felt¡¡so¡¡lonely¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡sorely¡¡tempted¡¡to¡¡give¡¡in¡¡to¡¡her¡£¡¡She¡¡was¡¡unquestionably¡¡alluring£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡was¡¡sometimes¡¡difficult¡¡for¡¡him¡¡to¡¡make¡¡himself¡¡keep¡¡her¡¡at¡¡arm¡¯s¡¡length¡£
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¡¡Richard¡¡had¡¡Pasha¡¡show¡¡him¡¡everything¡¡she¡¡could¡¡of¡¡the¡¡palace¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡her¡¡show¡¡him¡¡some¡¡of¡¡the¡¡city£»¡¡and¡¡take¡¡him¡¡on¡¡a¡¡tour¡¡of¡¡the¡¡docks£»¡¡to¡¡see¡¡the¡¡big¡¡boats¡£¡¡She¡¡said¡¡they¡¡were¡¡called¡¡ships£»¡¡because¡¡they¡¡went¡¡to¡¡sea¡£¡¡Richard¡¡had¡¡never¡¡seen¡¡anything¡¡that¡¡large¡¡afloat¡£¡¡She¡¡told¡¡him¡¡that¡¡they¡¡brought¡¡trade¡¡from¡¡cities¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Old¡¡World¡¡farther¡¡down¡¡the¡¡coast¡£
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¡¡Pasha¡¡went¡¡with¡¡him¡¡to¡¡the¡¡sea£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡sat¡¡for¡¡hours£»¡¡watching¡¡the¡¡waves£»¡¡or¡¡explored¡¡the¡¡tide¡¡pools¡£¡¡Richard¡¡was¡¡astounded¡¡to¡¡learn¡¡that¡¡the¡¡sea¡¡went¡¡up¡¡and¡¡down£»¡¡with¡¡tides£»¡¡all¡¡by¡¡itself¡£¡¡She¡¡assured¡¡him¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡not¡¡the¡¡magic¡¡of¡¡the¡¡palace£»¡¡but¡¡did¡¡such¡¡a¡¡thing¡¡everywhere¡£¡¡Richard¡¡was¡¡spellbound¡¡by¡¡the¡¡ocean¡£¡¡Pasha¡¡was¡¡content¡¡to¡¡simply¡¡sit¡¡with¡¡him¡£¡¡But¡¡Richard¡¡couldn¡¯t¡¡afford¡¡to¡¡sit¡¡and¡¡watch¡¡the¡¡ocean¡¡too¡¡often¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡things¡¡to¡¡do¡£
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¡¡Pasha¡¡wasn¡¯t¡¡permitted¡¡to¡¡go¡¡with¡¡him¡¡to¡¡the¡¡city¡¡in¡¡the¡¡evening£»¡¡in¡¡case¡¡he¡¡chose¡¡to¡¡be¡¡with¡¡a¡¡woman¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡to¡¡constantly¡¡reassure¡¡her¡¡that¡¡that¡¡was¡¡not¡¡why¡¡he¡¡went¡¡out¡¡at¡¡night¡£¡¡Since¡¡it¡¡was¡¡the¡¡truth¡¡that¡¡he¡¡wasn¡¯t¡¡sleeping¡¡with¡¡any¡¡of¡¡the¡¡women£»¡¡he¡¡had¡¡no¡¡difficulty¡¡being¡¡sincere¡¡and¡¡convincing¡¡her¡£¡¡He¡¡did¡¡not¡¡tell¡¡her¡¡the¡¡truth£»¡¡however£»¡¡about¡¡what¡¡he¡¡really¡¡was¡¡doing¡£
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¡¡Richard¡¡decided¡¡that¡¡as¡¡long¡¡as¡¡the¡¡palace¡¡wanted¡¡to¡¡provide¡¡him¡¡with¡¡money£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡going¡¡to¡¡allow¡¡them¡¡to¡¡finance¡¡their¡¡own¡¡undoing¡£¡¡He¡¡spent¡¡the¡¡palace¡¯s¡¡money¡¡wherever¡¡it¡¡would¡¡help¡¡him¡£¡¡He¡¡became¡¡a¡¡regular¡¡at¡¡the¡¡taverns¡¡and¡¡inns¡¡the¡¡palace¡¡guards¡¡frequented¡£¡¡Whenever¡¡he¡¡was¡¡around£»¡¡they¡¡never¡¡paid¡¡for¡¡a¡¡drink¡£
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¡¡Richard¡¡made¡¡an¡¡effort¡¡to¡¡learn¡¡all¡¡their¡¡names¡£¡¡At¡¡night£»¡¡he¡¡would¡¡write¡¡down¡¡the¡¡name¡¡of¡¡any¡¡new¡¡guard¡¡he¡¡had¡¡met£»¡¡and¡¡everything¡¡he¡¡could¡¡discover¡¡about¡¡him¡¡or¡¡any¡¡of¡¡the¡¡other¡¡guards¡£¡¡He¡¡paid¡¡the¡¡most¡¡attention¡¡to¡¡those¡¡who¡¡guarded¡¡the¡¡Prelate¡¯s¡¡pound£»¡¡and¡¡any¡¡other¡¡place¡¡he¡¡discovered¡¡he¡¡was¡¡forbidden¡¡access¡£¡¡He¡¡stopped¡¡by¡¡their¡¡posts¡¡whenever¡¡he¡¡was¡¡at¡¡the¡¡palace£»¡¡and¡¡inquired¡¡idly¡¡about¡¡their¡¡lives£»¡¡their¡¡girlfriends£»¡¡their¡¡wives£»¡¡their¡¡parents£»¡¡their¡¡children£»¡¡their¡¡food£»¡¡their¡¡problems¡£
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¡¡Richard¡¡bought¡¡Kevin¡¡special¡¡expensive¡¡chocolates¡¡that¡¡his¡¡girlfriend¡¡favored£»¡¡but¡¡which¡¡Kevin¡¡could¡¡ill¡¡afford¡¡on¡¡his¡¡wages¡£¡¡The¡¡chocolates¡¡earned¡¡Kevin¡¡favors¡¡from¡¡his¡¡girlfriend¡£¡¡Kevin¡¡always¡¡brightened¡¡at¡¡Richard¡¯s¡¡approach£»¡¡even¡¡when¡¡he¡¡looked¡¡tired¡¡from¡¡the¡¡favors¡£
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¡¡Richard¡¡loaned¡¡money¡¡to¡¡any¡¡guard¡¡who¡¡asked£»¡¡knowing¡¡it¡¡would¡¡never¡¡be¡¡repaid¡£¡¡When¡¡a¡¡few¡¡made¡¡excuses¡¡as¡¡to¡¡why¡¡they¡¡didn¡¯t¡¡have¡¡the¡¡money¡¡to¡¡pay¡¡back£»¡¡Richard¡¡would¡¡not¡¡hear¡¡their¡¡reasons£»¡¡telling¡¡them¡¡that¡¡he¡¡understood¡¡and¡¡that¡¡he¡¡would¡¡feel¡¡bad¡¡if¡¡they¡¡were¡¡to¡¡worry¡¡about¡¡it¡£
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¡¡Two¡¡of¡¡the¡¡toughest£»¡¡who¡¡guarded¡¡a¡¡restricted¡¡area¡¡on¡¡the¡¡west¡¡side¡¡of¡¡the¡¡palace£»¡¡would¡¡let¡¡him¡¡buy¡¡their¡¡ale£»¡¡but¡¡wouldn¡¯t¡¡warm¡¡to¡¡him¡£¡¡Richard¡¡took¡¡it¡¡as¡¡a¡¡challenge¡£¡¡He¡¡finally¡¡struck¡¡on¡¡the¡¡idea¡¡of¡¡hiring¡¡them¡¡the¡¡services¡¡of¡¡four¡¡prostitutes¡¡¡­¡¡two¡¡each£»¡¡just¡¡to¡¡get¡¡their¡¡attention¡£¡¡They¡¡wanted¡¡to¡¡know¡¡why¡£¡¡Richard¡¡told¡¡them¡¡how¡¡the¡¡palace¡¡provided¡¡him¡¡with¡¡money¡¡and¡¡he¡¡didn¡¯t¡¡see¡¡why¡¡only¡¡he¡¡should¡¡enjoy¡¡it¡£¡¡He¡¡told¡¡them¡¡that¡¡since¡¡they¡¡had¡¡to¡¡stand¡¡up¡¡all¡¡day¡¡guarding¡¡the¡¡palace£»¡¡he¡¡thought¡¡it¡¡only¡¡fair¡¡for¡¡the¡¡palace¡¡to¡¡pay¡¡to¡¡put¡¡a¡¡lady¡¡under¡¡them¡¡when¡¡they¡¡lay¡¡down¡£
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¡¡The¡¡offer¡¡was¡¡too¡¡much¡¡for¡¡them¡¡to¡¡resist¡£¡¡They¡¡were¡¡soon¡¡giving¡¡him¡¡surreptitious¡¡winks¡¡when¡¡he¡¡passed¡£¡¡Once¡¡they¡¡became¡¡amenable¡¡to¡¡his¡¡offers£»¡¡he¡¡saw¡¡to¡¡it¡¡that¡¡they¡¡had¡¡reason¡¡to¡¡give¡¡him¡¡the¡¡winks¡¡on¡¡a¡¡more¡¡frequent¡¡basis¡£
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¡¡As¡¡Richard¡¡knew¡¡they¡¡would£»¡¡the¡¡two¡¡guards¡¡began¡¡bragging¡¡about¡¡their¡¡romps¡£¡¡When¡¡some¡¡of¡¡the¡¡other¡¡men¡¡found¡¡out¡¡that¡¡Richard¡¡had¡¡been¡¡willing¡¡to¡¡provide¡¡those¡¡two¡¡with¡¡the¡¡services¡¡of¡¡ladies£»¡¡they¡¡pointed¡¡out¡¡to¡¡Richard¡¡that¡¡it¡¡wasn¡¯t¡¡fair¡¡to¡¡the¡¡others¡¡that¡¡they¡¡should¡¡be¡¡excluded¡£¡¡Richard¡¡conceded¡¡that¡¡he¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡logic¡¡of¡¡their¡¡argument¡£¡¡He¡¡soon¡¡discovered¡¡that¡¡he¡¡didn¡¯t¡¡have¡¡the¡¡time¡¡to¡¡handle¡¡individual¡¡requests£»¡¡so¡¡he¡¡struck¡¡on¡¡an¡¡idea¡£
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¡¡He¡¡found¡¡a¡¡mistress¡¡of¡¡a¡¡brothel¡¡open¡¡to¡¡an¡¡inventive¡¡business¡¡arrangement¡£¡¡He¡¡put¡¡the¡¡establishment¡¡on¡¡retainer£»¡¡open¡¡only¡¡to¡¡his¡¡¡®friends¡£¡¯¡¡He¡¡calculated¡¡that¡¡in¡¡this¡¡manner¡¡he¡¡was¡¡actually¡¡saving¡¡the¡¡palace¡¡money£»¡¡over¡¡a¡¡piecemeal¡¡arrangement¡£
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¡¡He¡¡wanted¡¡the¡¡men¡¡to¡¡remember¡¡to¡¡whom¡¡they¡¡owed¡¡their¡¡gratitude£»¡¡so¡¡required¡¡they¡¡give¡¡the¡¡mistress¡¡the¡¡code¡¡phrase¡¡¡®a¡¡friend¡¡of¡¡Richard¡¡Cypher¡¯¡¡before¡¡they¡¡would¡¡be¡¡granted¡¡admittance¡£¡¡There¡¡were¡¡no¡¡other¡¡restrictions¡£¡¡Richard¡¡gave¡¡the¡¡mistress¡¡a¡¡healthy¡¡raise¡¡in¡¡the¡¡retainer¡¡when¡¡she¡¡plained¡¡to¡¡him¡¡that¡¡business¡¡was¡¡steadier¡¡than¡¡she¡¡had¡¡anticipated¡£
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¡¡Richard¡¡soothed¡¡his¡¡conscience¡¡about¡¡the¡¡morals¡¡of¡¡what¡¡he¡¡was¡¡doing¡¡by¡¡reminding¡¡himself¡¡that¡¡he¡¡couldn¡¯t¡¡change¡¡what¡¡people¡¡chose¡¡to¡¡do£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡might¡¡save¡¡him¡¡from¡¡having¡¡to¡¡kill¡¡the¡¡guards¡¡when¡¡the¡¡time¡¡came¡£¡¡In¡¡that¡¡light£»¡¡it¡¡made¡¡sense¡£
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¡¡One¡¡day¡¡when¡¡Pasha¡¡was¡¡with¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡man¡¡gave¡¡him¡¡a¡¡wink£»¡¡she¡¡asked¡¡why¡£¡¡He¡¡told¡¡her¡¡it¡¡was¡¡because¡¡he¡¡was¡¡with¡¡the¡¡most¡¡attractive¡¡woman¡¡at¡¡the¡¡palace¡£¡¡She¡¡smiled¡¡for¡¡an¡¡hour¡£
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¡¡Richard¡¡accustomed¡¡the¡¡guards¡¡to¡¡seeing¡¡him¡¡in¡¡the¡¡black¡¡cape¡¡of¡¡the¡¡mriswith¡£¡¡He¡¡kept¡¡Pasha¡¡happy¡¡when¡¡he¡¡was¡¡with¡¡her¡¡by¡¡frequently¡¡wearing¡¡the¡¡red¡¡coat¡¡she¡¡liked¡¡best¡£¡¡Sometimes¡¡he¡¡wore¡¡the¡¡others£º¡¡the¡¡black£»¡¡the¡¡dark¡¡blue£»¡¡the¡¡brown£»¡¡or¡¡the¡¡green¡£¡¡Pasha¡¡most¡¡liked¡¡taking¡¡him¡¡to¡¡the¡¡city£»¡¡but¡¡she¡¡went¡¡for¡¡hikes¡¡in¡¡the¡¡surrounding¡¡countryside¡¡to¡¡try¡¡to¡¡be¡¡a¡¡part¡¡of¡¡his¡¡interests¡£
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¡¡Richard¡¡learned¡¡that¡¡the¡¡guards¡¡were¡¡soldiers¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Imperial¡¡Order£»¡¡on¡¡special¡¡detachment¡¡to¡¡the¡¡palace¡£¡¡The¡¡Imperial¡¡Order¡¡ruled¡¡all¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Old¡¡World£»¡¡but¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡have¡¡a¡¡nonintervention¡¡policy¡¡with¡¡the¡¡Palace¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Prophets¡£¡¡They¡¡never¡¡interfered¡¡with¡¡any¡¡Sister£»¡¡or¡¡any¡¡man¡¡wearing¡¡a¡¡Rada¡¯Han¡£
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¡¡The¡¡guards¡¡were¡¡stationed¡¡at¡¡the¡¡palace¡¡to¡¡handle¡¡all¡¡the¡¡people¡¡who¡¡came¡¡to¡¡Halsband¡¡Island¡£¡¡Every¡¡day£»¡¡people¡¡poured¡¡over¡¡the¡¡bridges¡¡to¡¡e¡¡to¡¡the¡¡palace¡£¡¡Sisters¡¡saw¡¡petitioners¡¡of¡¡every¡¡want¡£¡¡Some¡¡requested¡¡charity£»¡¡some¡¡intervention¡¡in¡¡disputes£»¡¡and¡¡some¡¡wished¡¡to¡¡be¡¡guided¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Creator¡¯s¡¡wisdom¡£¡¡Others¡¡came¡¡to¡¡worship¡¡in¡¡the¡¡courtyards¡¡scattered¡¡throughout¡¡the¡¡island¡£¡¡They¡¡viewed¡¡the¡¡place¡¡where¡¡Sisters¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Light¡¡lived¡¡as¡¡hallowed¡£
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¡¡Richard¡¡learned¡¡that¡¡the¡¡city¡¡of¡¡Tanimura£»¡¡vast¡¡though¡¡it¡¡was£»¡¡was¡¡merely¡¡an¡¡outpost¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Old¡¡World£»¡¡at¡¡the¡¡fringe¡¡of¡¡the¡¡empire¡£¡¡Apparently£»¡¡the¡¡emperor¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Imperial¡¡Order¡¡had¡¡an¡¡arrangement¡¡with¡¡the¡¡palace¡¡to¡¡provide¡¡guards£»¡¡but¡¡not¡¡law¡£¡¡Richard¡¡suspected¡¡that¡¡the¡¡guards¡¡were¡¡the¡¡emperor¡¯s¡¡eyes¡¡in¡¡an¡¡area¡¡of¡¡his¡¡empire¡¡where¡¡he¡¡was¡¡denied¡¡dominion¡£¡¡Richard¡¡wondered¡¡what¡¡the¡¡emperor¡¡received¡¡in¡¡return¡¡for¡¡this¡¡arrangement¡£
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¡¡Richard¡¡also¡¡learned¡¡that¡¡in¡¡at¡¡least¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡restricted¡¡areas£»¡¡the¡¡Sisters¡¡had¡¡a¡¡¡®special¡¡guest¡¯¡¡who¡¡never¡¡came¡¡out£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡was¡¡unable¡¡to¡¡discover¡¡any¡¡more¡£
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¡¡Richard¡¡began¡¡testing¡¡the¡¡guards¡¯¡¡loyalty¡¡to¡¡him¡¡with¡¡simple£»¡¡innocuous¡¡requests¡£¡¡He¡¡told¡¡Kevin¡¡that¡¡he¡¡wanted¡¡a¡¡special¡¡rose¡¡for¡¡Pasha¡¡that¡¡grew¡¡only¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Prelate¡¯s¡¡pound¡£¡¡Richard¡¡made¡¡a¡¡point¡¡of¡¡parading¡¡Pasha£»¡¡wearing¡¡the¡¡yellow¡¡rose£»¡¡past¡¡Kevin¡£¡¡Kevin¡¡smiled¡¡with¡¡pride¡£
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¡¡At¡¡other¡¡restricted¡¡areas£»¡¡Richard¡¡used¡¡the¡¡flower¡¡excuse£»¡¡or¡¡said¡¡that¡¡he¡¡wanted¡¡to¡¡get¡¡a¡¡view¡¡of¡¡the¡¡sea¡¡from¡¡atop¡¡a¡¡particular¡¡wall¡£¡¡He¡¡made¡¡sure¡¡to¡¡remain¡¡in¡¡sight¡¡at¡¡all¡¡times£»¡¡to¡¡reassure¡¡the¡¡guards¡¡and¡¡dull¡¡their¡¡sense¡¡of¡¡caution¡£
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¡¡It¡¡wasn¡¯t¡¡long¡¡before¡¡he¡¡had¡¡all¡¡the¡¡guards¡¡accustomed¡¡to¡¡his¡¡forays¡£¡¡After¡¡a¡¡time£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡ing¡¡and¡¡going¡¡almost¡¡as¡¡he¡¡pleased¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡their¡¡friend¡¡¡­¡¡a¡¡trusted¡¡and¡¡valuable¡¡friend¡£
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¡¡Since¡¡he¡¡was¡¡collecting¡¡so¡¡many¡¡rare¡¡flowers¡¡from¡¡the¡¡restricted¡¡areas£»¡¡he¡¡used¡¡them¡¡to¡¡an¡¡advantage¡¡¡­¡¡he¡¡presented¡¡them¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Sisters¡¡who¡¡practiced¡¡with¡¡him¡£¡¡They¡¡were¡¡puzzled¡¡as¡¡to¡¡why¡¡he¡¡would¡¡give¡¡them¡¡flowers¡¡from¡¡restricted¡¡areas¡£¡¡He¡¡explained¡¡that¡¡he¡¡considered¡¡the¡¡Sisters¡¡who¡¡trained¡¡him¡¡to¡¡be¡¡special£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡therefore¡¡didn¡¯t¡¡want¡¡them¡¡to¡¡have¡¡just¡¡any¡¡flowers£»¡¡but¡¡those¡¡that¡¡were¡¡special£»¡¡and¡¡artfully¡¡obtained¡£¡¡Besides¡¡making¡¡them¡¡blush£»¡¡this¡¡explanation¡¡also¡¡disarmed¡¡an¡¡otherwise¡¡inevitable¡¡suspicion¡¡if¡¡he¡¡frequented¡¡restricted¡¡areas¡£
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¡¡Though£»¡¡as¡¡near¡¡as¡¡Richard¡¡could¡¡tell£»¡¡there¡¡were¡¡close¡¡to¡¡two¡¡hundred¡¡Sisters£»¡¡only¡¡six¡¡worked¡¡with¡¡him¡£
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¡¡Sisters¡¡Tovi¡¡and¡¡Cecilia¡¡were¡¡older£»¡¡and¡¡as¡¡kind¡¡as¡¡doting¡¡grandmothers¡£¡¡Tovi¡¡always¡¡brought¡¡cookies¡¡or¡¡some¡¡other¡¡treat¡¡to¡¡their¡¡sessions¡£¡¡Cecilia¡¡insisted¡¡on¡¡bing¡¡his¡¡hair¡¡back¡¡off¡¡his¡¡forehead¡¡with¡¡her¡¡fingers¡¡and¡¡planting¡¡a¡¡kiss¡¡there¡¡before¡¡she¡¡left¡£¡¡Both¡¡blushed¡¡furiously¡¡when¡¡he¡¡gave¡¡them¡¡rare¡¡flowers¡£¡¡Richard¡¡had¡¡difficulty¡¡thinking¡¡of¡¡either¡¡as¡¡potential¡¡enemies¡£
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¡¡The¡¡first¡¡time¡¡Sister¡¡Merissa¡¡showed¡¡up¡¡at¡¡his¡¡door£»¡¡Richard¡¡almost¡¡swallowed¡¡his¡¡tongue¡£¡¡Her¡¡dark¡¡hair¡¡and¡¡the¡¡way¡¡she¡¡filled¡¡her¡¡red¡¡dress¡¡made¡¡him¡¡stumble¡¡ove
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