Chapter 61: Chapter 60: Routine Traffic Stop
"Hello officer." Ricky reached the border, only to be greeted by a sea of policemen.
One man, with a deliberate stride, approached his car and leaned down to the open window, his gaze sharp and assessing.
"Ricky." Dewey tipped his hat to Ricky, who let out a weary sigh, already sensing that trouble was on the horizon.
"Passport and registration please." Dewey asked as Ricky pulled out his red passport while taking Chores from his and handing it to Dewey.
"Hmmmmmmmm, and the car's registration." Dewey asked, prompting Ricky to frown as he handed over the registration he had signed after Henry got him this car.
"Here." Ricky handed over the registration, and Dewey scrutinized it briefly before turning his gaze back to Ricky.
"Man, Ricky, it's uncanny how much you resemble a guy named Antonio Vispici who came through here a couple of days ago." Dewey laughed, both of them knowing full well he used his fake passport when coming through here.
"I thought you said that you weren't going to come after me-" Ricky changed the subject but Dewey waved his hand.
"I'm not, this is a routine traffic stop." Dewey cut him off, making Ricky all but scoff.
"That's bullsh*t and you know it." Ricky shook his head, while Dewey sighed and handed the passports back to him.
"I really didn't want it to come to this, Ricky," Dewey said, his voice tinged with regret.
"You're just a kid, but even kids get caught up in wars. Boys, search the vehicle." Dewey walked back to the array of cops, Ricky frowning before Chester hopped onto the steering wheel.
"Ricky, the Fourth Amendment's protection against unlawful search and seizure generally prohibits arbitrary vehicle searches by police. If the police search your car without a warrant, your permission, or a valid reason, they violate your constitutional rights." Chester reminded Ricky, who suddenly remembered that he had his own lawyer on speed dial.
Throughout all the time Chester had been Ricky's familiar, he had only ever been relied upon for his abilities.
Deep down, Chester longed to be more than just a familiar; he wanted to be seen as a respected comrade, eager to prove his worth beyond his given role.
"Hey, you know you guys are violating my fourth amendment right to-.......what was it again-oh, you can't search my car without a warrant, my permission, or a valid reason since they violate your-my constitutional rights." Ricky started to repeat what Chester had said, but stumbled halfway through, prompting Chester to politely repeat himself.
That single sentence made the border guards and the approaching police officers pause, their attention shifting back to Dewey, who raised an eyebrow in response.
"Ricky, I know you're smuggling drugs for your father." Dewey spoke, clearly understanding the situation, but he knew that what seemed obvious to him didn't necessarily hold weight with the law.
"Ask him where his warrant is and if there is no warrant, then ask him to please state his probable cause which is defined as: if there is a reasonable basis for believing that a crime may have been committed (for an arrest) or when evidence of the crime is present in the place to be searched." Chester quickly updated Ricky, who nodded along, somewhat vacantly, to his words.
"Where's your warrant and if there's no warrant then where is your f*cking probable cause!" Ricky gestured in frustration towards Dewey, swearing in his heart to give Chester everything he wanted once they were back.
Chester's Favorability: 68(+3)
"The kids got a point there Mr. Dewey-" An officer spoke up, but Dewey quickly extended his hand to signal for silence.
"You really want to be difficult with this?" Dewey asked, but Ricky merely shrugged, openly admitting his desire to be as difficult as possible.
He didn't care; even if they searched the car, all the evidence was securely locked away in his storage.
In fact, Ricky was hoping to embarrass Dewey or make him look bad, just to get a quick laugh.
"You're right, I don't have a warrant but I received an anonymous tip and an anonymous tip can demonstrate sufficient evidence of reliability to provide reasonable suspicion to make an investigatory stop." Dewey informed Ricky, who instinctively glanced at Chester who turned around, squinting at Dewey with a challenged gaze.
"The United States Supreme Court has rejected the argument that reasonable cause for an investigative stop can only be based on the officer's personal observation, rather than on information supplied by another person, Repeat that Ricky, word for word." Chester wasn't going to be outdone in a field he had spent countless hours researching as Ricky nodded in agreement.
"The United States Supreme Court has rejected the argument that reasonable cause for an investigative stop can only be based on the officer's personal observation, rather than on information supplied by another person." Ricky repeated Chester's request, and Dewey started to say something but then shut his mouth.
The surrounding government employees were clearly out of their depth; although they were enforcers of the law, they hadn't studied it with the same depth as a lawyer would.
"Ha, alright, what's the case law-"
"Robinson v. Virginia."
"Robinson v. Virginia."
Ricky repeated Chester's words, and it evidently had its effect as Dewey fell silent, visibly frustrated, as the officer turned his gaze toward him.
Gnashing his teeth, Dewey was certain that Ricky was transporting money from the drug deal, following the tip-off he had received.
Dewey was utterly convinced of his source as he gazed intently at the car, knowing that finding the money would send ripples through the Luciano family.
He understood all too well that if he wanted to strike a blow against the Luciano family and Lucky, he needed to act before they firmly established themselves not just in Harlem, but in Manhattan as well.
With the impending legalization of alcohol, many mafias were becoming sloppy, anticipating a shift in their profit sources.
Lucky's strategy was to focus on brothels and the prostitution racket since after Joe Masseria's downfall at the hands of his own people, Lucky had absorbed a substantial portion of Masseria's assets.
Despite this, Lucky hadn't been profiting as much as other mob bosses because he was heavily reinvesting in the prostitution racket, hoping it would eventually cover the costs of his bootlegging operations.
This approach proved advantageous, though Lucky had expanded too rapidly and Dewey had managed to grab hold of his coat tails and slow him down, but not his efforts.
However, if they could seize this money, it would dramatically shift the dynamics of the game.
"Search the vehicle." Dewey issued orders to the other officers, but Ricky and Chester both scoffed in response.
"You can't search-" Ricky knew his rights, or better yet, Chester knew their rights and could tell this was illegal.
"SEARCH HIS VEHICLE GODDAMMIT!" Dewey couldn't afford to let that weed money fall into the Luciano family's hands, which is why he was so anxious and reckless.
"Ricky Luciano, please step out of the car." The officer hesitated and asked a question, but Ricky considered resisting before a realization struck him.
"Yes, let them illegally search the vehicle." Chester confirmed Ricky's realization, prompting Ricky to get out of the car with Chores following behind.
The officers immediately reached for their weapons, while Chores looked down at them with a menacing, brutish demeanor.
"STAND DOWN!" Dewey quickly intervened, halting the officers as they hesitated and then lowered their guns.
Unlike Dewey, Ricky and Chores remained completely calm, a demeanor that unsettled the district attorney.
10 minutes later
"Mr. Dewey we didn't find anything-" One of the officers came back, scratching the back of his neck at the awkwardness of this situation.
"Strip the car bare." Dewey's startling words echoed as Barko stepped forward, but Ricky intervened to stop him.
"Let him, although the destruction of property won't hold up in court, this will strengthen your unwarranted and illegal search." Chester explained the situation clearly, while Ricky simply watched.
He observed as the officers methodically dismantled his prized car, a gift from Henry Ford Jr. II.
They took apart every component be it cushion, tires, and even the engine until nothing was left but the bare frame.
"How-" Dewey clutched his forehead, seeing the car literally barren before him but not even a single nickel was found.
"Hey idiot."
Dewey looked baffled as he glanced to the side, realizing there wasn't a single gram of weed in the car as Ricky stood up, dusting off his pants, and took in the scene with a quiet satisfaction.
"Do you know how badly you just screwed up?" Ricky said, his tone laced with cynicism.
"I'm gonna f*cking bury you now, and you'll have to watch while I repeat what I told you on that train." Ricky laughed darkly, and Chores also stood up, while Dewey squinted, his expression a mix of frustration and concern.
"Are you threatening me-"
"Anyone who agrees to testify against Dewey will be left out of my lawsuit." Ricky interrupted and proclaimed to the surrounding officers who knew they messed up.
"Mr. Luciano-"
"Please step back." Chores intervened, stepping in before a policeman could grovel at Ricky's feet, putting distance between himself and his boss.
At this moment, Dewey's entire world began to crumble.
The foundation upon which he had planned to build his future career was giving way beneath him.
Ever since he had entangled himself with Ricky Luciano, everything had started to go wrong.
Every time Dewey thought he had an opportunity to gain the upper hand, Ricky was always there to thwart it, driving him closer to the edge of madness.
The problem wasn't just that Ricky had outmaneuvered him and knocked him down several pegs, it was that, in this moment, Dewey no longer saw himself as above anyone.
Not above the law, nor the good man he once believed himself to be as Ricky hadn't just beaten Dewey; he had shattered Dewey's very perception of justice.
It was then that a memory resurfaced, his confrontation with the source of the tip, just days earlier.
*Flashback*
"Ricky Luciano."
A small bit of laughter echoed from the shadowy figure, the hood partially sliding back to reveal a single toothpick clenched between his teeth and a broad, toothy smile spreading across his face.
"What do you want to know about the so-called prince?" The man said, gesturing toward Dewey.
"And keep in mind, you get one answer," The man further explained as Dewey thought about his question for a long time, weighing his options carefully
"A while back, Detective Albert was chasing a car containing Ricky Luciano where he was able to escape across the old cricket bridge." Dewey explained, recounting everything his old friend had written down.
"The problem is there's a chunk missing in the center of the bridge, making it impossible for Detective Albert to still give chase." Dewey explained, grabbing his head since it was hard to believe from simply reading it.
"But a car managed to drive over it-"
"Speed it up Mr. Suit, I ain't got all day." The man gestured, and Dewey, though frowning, nodded in agreement while taking a deep breath.
"Is Ricky Luciano a mutant?" Dewey asked the single question that had been gnawing at him, the one responsible for Ricky's seemingly endless ability to get away with everything.
He thought back to the earlier recorded instance of the Five Points Gang leader's death, where Ricky just happened to be present.
Then there was the sudden secrecy surrounding his adoption, and all the scenarios where it should have been impossible for Ricky to emerge unscathed, yet somehow, he always did.
"Yes, Ricky Luciano is a dirty f*cking mutant."
*End Flashback*
"He's a mutant." Dewey made his proclamation, knowingly crossing the very line he had set up.
He was fully aware of the consequences that would follow, but in that moment, he accepted what was to come and knew that this was the only way.
The surroundings suddenly went dead silent, everyone in Ricky's sphere of influence stunned by Dewey's sudden proclamation.
The officers, who had been raised with Texas beliefs deeply ingrained in their blood, widened their eyes in disbelief as they turned toward a shocked Ricky.
'Sorry kid.' Dewey knew he was breaking his own promise and was about to hand this kid a death sentence.
But deep down, in the very core of his being, he also knew that if Ricky returned with that money, the Luciano family would recover from everything Dewey had worked so hard to dismantle.
"What does that have to do with stopping me-" Ricky genuinely asked a question, but before he could finish, all the officers instinctively reached for their guns, tension thick in the air.
"HANDS UP MUTANT!" The officer who had nearly been groveling at Ricky's feet moments earlier suddenly shifted, unholstering his gun and pointing it directly at Ricky.
The government was well aware of mutants and their increasing numbers, particularly in the South, where they were hung on trees by the dozen.
In New York, and among many religious communities, there might be a tendency to overlook or tolerate such matters regarding other races they didn't quite find equal.
However, for those raised in the South with deeply ingrained beliefs, there was no chance of letting Ricky off the hook.
"You're kidding." Ricky spoke, finally experiencing the discrimination and hatred faced by mutants firsthand.
As he prepared himself, a grim resolve set in to deal with the officers, ready to confront them all and end the situation once and for all as he was prepared to slather the ground below them in their blood.
"STAND DOWN, STAND THE F*CK DOWN!" A black car sped into the area, coming to a halt nearby as the window rolled down.
A man hurriedly exited the vehicle, moving swiftly toward the scene as his beer gut heavily bounced with every stride.
"Senator Sheppard?" A nearby officer, clearly confused, asked what was happening as Sheppard ran up to them, coming to a stop directly in front of Ricky.
"All of you best stop it here before your bodies are found at the depths of the Rio Grande, ya here?" Sheppard informed everyone of the situation, while Dewey bit his lip, acutely aware that his career was hanging in the balance.
Though Dewey saw himself as righteous, he wasn't exactly a paragon of virtue and was already analyzing his next steps.
"Senator, he's one of those freaks!" An officer aimed his gun at Ricky, who rolled his eyes in exasperation.
"You'll stand down, officer or I'll have your badge." Sheppard spoke with a serious tone, and the officers exchanged uneasy glances before reluctantly lowering their guns.
"Senator, I can explain-" Dewey stepped forward, trying to plead his case but the Senator was having none of it.
"Oh you'll explain alright, but that's for later." Sheppard adjusted his stance and wiped his forehead with a handkerchief, glancing over at Dewey.
"Ricky, I apologize for them. Would you mind if I gave you a ride?" Sheppard turned to Ricky with a smile and a nod, signaling for him to follow.
Ricky complied, walking towards the Senator's car and as they moved, Ricky cast a final glance at Dewey, who glared back with a clenched jaw and gritted teeth, taking a deep breath to control his frustration.
Ricky climbed into Sheppard's car, with Chores and Barko taking another vehicle. Sitting across from Sheppard, Ricky settled into his seat, ready for the ride.
"I know we haven't met formally, but you might be familiar with my associate, Senator Robert," Sheppard said, extending his hand with a nervous smile
"He's a good friend of mine. I also want to apologize for any actions taken by the police under my supervision." Sheppard then profusely apologized as Ricky shook his hand, acknowledging the gesture.
'It's good to have connections.' Ricky smiled, contemplating the potential benefits of a lawsuit over immediate revenge.
Though he could have killed Dewey on the spot, he realized he stood to gain more by using the situation to his advantage.
He wasn't sure if the government would simply assign someone else to take over Dewey's role, as they had with Albert.
Therefore, Ricky decided it would be wiser to leverage this moment to send a powerful message and score additional points within his family.
'Man it's f*cking awesome to have connections.' Ricky reflected once more, realizing that attending that high school had unexpectedly yielded some benefits.
As he released the Senator's hand, Sheppard glanced toward the two birds perched on his shoulders.
"I didn't know you were a birder?" Sheppard asked with wide eyes, his gaze filled with the beautiful and serene birds on his shoulders.
"A what-"
"Is that a large billed crow? Such a beautiful creature."Sheppard started to geek out over something, his enthusiasm clear as Ricky raised an eyebrow
"And is that-......a new species related to the blue mockingbird!" Sheppard gasped, his eyes widening as he gazed at the mockingbird perched on Ricky's shoulder.
"Ricky, I must say you are nothing what I expected and I am truly sorry for being presumptuous." Sheppard exclaimed excitedly as he pulled out a camera, his focus zeroing in on the mockingbird.
"Oh, may I?" Sheppard realized what he was doing and looked up, a bit embarrassed as Ricky chuckled and gestured for him to go ahead, encouraging him to take the shot.
*Snap*
"All my colleagues will be so jealous with this find, also would you mind if I publicize this find, I will of course credit you and-"
"Yeah, yeah, I don't care, tell me what's happening and how are you here?" Ricky asked and Sheppard eagerly nodded.
*Ahem*
"From what I know it all started-"
*Flashback*
"Um sir, you cannot go in there-"
*BAM*
*THUD*
*BAM*
Senator Robert flinched as he heard his male assistant collapse to the ground as the door was abruptly kicked open, and Lucky strode in, revealing himself with a commanding presence.
"WHAT ARE YOU-" Senator Robert lashed out only to recoil back at the culprit.
"Ricky Luciano's father, Lucky Luciano." Lucky said, closing the door behind him with a decisive thud as the knocked-out assistant still laid sprawled out on the floor.
"Mr. Luciano?" Senator Robert raised an eyebrow since he didn't expect Lucky to visit him at all.
"Call off your dog or else I'm going to make your life extremely difficult." Lucky bluntly threatened him, causing Senator Rober to raise an eyebrow.
"What are talking about-"
*BAM*
Lucky slammed his cane down on Senator Rober's desk, causing Senator Rober to take a few steps back in fear.
Confusion and panic were evident on Senator Robert's face as he struggled to understand what was unfolding.
"Mr. Luciano, our son's are friends and I even passed your paperwork through-"
"Senator Robert, I am usually a patient man, unless it has to do with my idiotic son as he really brings this anger out of me." Lucky took a deep breath, his eyes deadly while staring into the depths of Senator Robert's soul.
"So forgive me when I yell in your face and ask you, WHY IS THAT MOTHERF*CKING DISTRICT ATTORNEY DEWEY GOING DOWN TO ARREST MY SON!" Lucky took out his aggression on Wagner, who raised his hands and shook his head in a defensive gesture.
"I swear to you Mr. Luciano that I have no control over what District attorney Dewey does." Wagner said, his voice trembling, as Lucky looked on, baffled by the unexpected response.
"You don't-.......HE'S AN ATTORNEY IN YOUR GODDAMN DISTRICT, THE SAME ONE YOU BROUGHT IN AFTER THAT DUMBASS DETECTIVE DIED!" Lucky was infuriated at this seemingly bullsh*t response but Wagner was firm.
"Mr. Luciano, I swear to you, I didn't bring in Mr. Dewey." Wagner gave Lucky a perplexed look, causing Lucky to recoil slightly.
"W-What?" Lucky asked, his voice tinged with frustration, as he awaited clarification to resolve his misunderstanding.
"I didn't bring Mr. Dewey in as the district attorney but rather he was sent here." Wagner replied, and Lucky gritted his teeth in frustration.
"Who." Lucky said, his tone sharp, as he suspected that someone was maneuvering pieces on the chessboard behind the scenes and he didn't appreciate being a pawn.
"I apologize Mr. Luciano, but that information wasn't privy to someone at my position." Wagner regretfully informed as Lucky stood there for a second and sat down.
"Not privy to a senator?" Wagner regretfully informed Lucky, who stood there for a moment, processing the news before finally sitting down.
"Then how would you like a million-dollar donation for your next campaign in exchange for two small favors?" Lucky said, sitting down in a chair as Wagner's face lit up at the proposal.
"And what may those favors be, Mr. Luciano?" Wagner asked while Lucky put his cane in front of him and held the handle with two hands.
"Well the first one is pretty easy, I need you to make sure that Dewey doesn't try any bullsh*t when my son comes back from the border." Lucky held up one of his finger in the air, Wagner nodding his head at the simple favor.
"And the second one?"
*FLASHBACK END*
"So my father barged into Senator Wagner's office and offered to donate a million dollars if you helped me?" Ricky concluded, and Sheppard smiled in confirmation.
"Yes and I'll be privy to a hundred thousand dollars for successfully delivering a statement on behalf of your innocence though the mutant part will be a problem but I can-"
"Honestly speaking, is it really that important?" Ricky surprisingly asked, never experiencing a situation akin to that one before as Sheppard raised an eyebrow.
"Son, this matter is a very sensitive topic for many people and since this action transpired in Texas, the same state that has the highest numbers of hangings for any Mutants." Senator Sheppared eased these words carefully, trying not to upset Ricky who wasn't bothered in the least about it.
"Then just do as my pops ordered." Ricky waved his hand, knowing that he wanted to reveal his mutant status on his own terms.
"Very well, I'll proceed as instructed."
A couple hours later in a undisclosed location,
*Knock*
*Knock*
*Knock*
"Come in." A hoarse voice rang out as the door creaked open, revealing a dejected Dewey, his head hanging in shame.
"If you'll give me a chance to explain-"
"Sit." The voice, shrouded in darkness, spoke.
Dewey raised his mouth to respond, but then closed it as he nodded, walking over to the seat and sitting down.
"Do you realize what you've done?" The man said, reaching out and tapping his finger on the desk. The rhythmic sound made Dewey bite his lip, clearly agitated.
"If I didn't act there then that money-"
*BAM*
"THERE WAS NOTHING!" The man yelled, causing Dewey to recoil abruptly in his chair, visibly startled by the harsh tone.
"Not only did I have to find out about your presumptuous actions on my own, but I even learned it before someone in MY OWN DAMN PARTY!" The man yelled, leaning into the light to reveal himself in all his glory.
A man who would etch his name into the annals of history, forever altering the trajectory of America itself, stood before them: Franklin D. Roosevelt.
His presence was more than just a figurehead; it was the embodiment of transformation, a force destined to reshape the very fabric of a nation.
"Mr. President-"
"Shut up." Franklin extended his finger, silencing Dewey, who struggled to regain his composure.
That day, when Dewey made the call from the payphone, it was to the future president, seeking an enormous favor with the promise of a substantial payoff.
Franklin was acutely aware of the escalating threat posed by the Mafia and the Commission.
Dewey's initiative, though coming from a rival party, aligned with Franklin's own objectives.
It was a blessing in disguise that their goals converged, prompting Franklin to pull a few strategic strings to address the looming problem and tackle it together.
However, not only did Dewey fail, but he failed miserably in the face of a mere fifteen-year-old.
"I sent you there ahead of my presidency to dismantle the largest criminal organizations threatening our great country. You, the man renowned for winning in every endeavor, to the point where you've got Lucky Luciano cornered," Franklin declared, his voice filled with both frustration and an underlying sense of gravitas.
"But you ended up losing the entire foundation I sent you down there to build, and you were horribly embarrassed, not by Lucky himself, but by his kid. HIS FIFTEEN F*CKING YEAR OLD KID! YOU WERE EMBARRASSED BY A FIFTEEN YEAR OLD CHILD, DEWEY!" Franklin's voice rose with each word, his anger palpable as Dewey could only sit in silence, the harsh truth of Franklin's words echoing painfully in his mind.
Dewey had done everything right, and perhaps if Ricky hadn't been in the picture, he might have succeeded, but that was a scenario for another timeline.
"You'll fall back until I enter the office, then we'll reconvene from there." Franklin decided, with his upcoming inauguration in a few months, that something had to be done.
"Mr. President-"
"Dewey, you don't get a say in this. I'm not asking but telling you to gather everything and leave until I tell you to come back. Do you understand?" Franklin demanded, his voice brooking no argument.
Dewey closed his eyes and hung his head in shame, acknowledging the weight of Franklin's command.
"Yes, I understand." Dewey spoke out, lowering himself before Franklin coldly gazed at him.
"Spread it." Franklin commented as Dewey's ear twitched, looking up with confusion.
"Pardon me-"
"Spread the fact that Lucky's boy is a mutant, I want everyone in the tri state area, including the other families, to know about this fact and don't let Lucky cover it up." Franklin albeit demanded, Dewey absolutely shocked at this as he tucked his tail.
"But he's just a kid-"
"He wasn't just a kid when you violated his fourth amendment rights, so get it done or else I'll wring your career in a noose like the mutants down south." Franklin promptly instructed, leaning back into the darkness as Dewey lowered his head even further.
"Yes Mr. President."
Meanwhile In The Vatican,
"YOU DARE TAKE AWAY MY BIRTHRIGHT!" A man roared at the council, his voice echoing through the chamber as he stood before them, clad in a military uniform emblazoned with Nazi symbols.
"Ersnt, please call down-"
"I WILL NOT! THE FUHRER IS COUNTING ON ME TO BRING THE GLORY OF GOD AND SPREAD HIS NAME THROUGH THE REICH!" Ernst screeched at the priests before him, his eyes blazing with fervor.
The priests exchanged uneasy glances, their expressions reflecting a mix of confusion and apprehension.
"I apologize for the inconvenience Sir Ernst, but with another candidate appearing we must follow procedure-" Father Sebastion, attempting to calm the impassioned youth who was barely twenty, found his efforts met with increasing anger.
"YOU DARE LET SOMEONE OF TAINTED BLOOD ENTER THE TRAILS OF SUCCESSION! HE IS NOT APART OF THE MAIN FAMILY AND THIS IS-"
"Will ya stop throwing a hissy fit already? I mean you're a grown ass man for crying out loud." Abraham scoffed from the side, and Father Sebastion, exasperated, facepalmed.
"Abraham, you must see my way as we are both purebloods of religious families, dedicated to god that we must uphold his values-" Ernst pleaded to the side, his medals clacking together as he tried to salvage this right with another noble family of the church, but Abraham was having none of it.
"Oh, shut the f*ck up. I'm only tied to this church because I need to kill Dracula to avoid eternal damnation, and you just get a raging boner every time you wield that stupid black sword. We are not the same." Abraham raised his hand to halt the tirade, his expression uncaring, as Ernst furrowed his brows in confusion.
"Is this how you all feel?" Ernst turned towards the rest of the council though they all agreed.
"Fine, then let this dirty blooded bastard participate in the trails of succession, I shall squash him for the Fuhrer." Ernst then got into a military stance as he saluted the air.
"HEIL HITLER!"
Author's Note: I've totally been slacking on replying to some of the comments but I've decided to procrastinate instead of getting to them so I'll probably respond tommorrow, if made any that is.
Weekly Power Status
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Ranking 
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