Bermuda [bl]

As soon as morning came, Flynn organized the luggage he had packed in advance and went outside.

While Hugo was away for a moment to receive necessary reports from the investigator in charge and proceed with the handover, Flynn looked at the square of the Frost territory that he would soon be leaving.

From the morning, people were bustling, and the investigation tents were already busy with Council members coming and going. They seemed to have been conducting the investigation all night, taking turns.

Flynn felt a little regretful that he had to leave without being able to uncover everything until the end. It would be fine once he received a report on the progress of the investigation later, but sometimes there were pieces of evidence that disappeared over time. And Flynn thought that one of them was none other than Tergio.

However, there was nothing more he had to do or could do here. It was right to trust his colleagues in the Northern Branch and return to his original position.

And regardless of the situation, Tergio was someone who had helped him a lot. So, Flynn wanted to put aside all the suspicious circumstances and at least express his final gratitude before leaving.

While keeping an eye on the clock in the square, Flynn decided to stop by the place where Tergio's accommodation was located, as it seemed his superior was taking a little longer. As he flew straight up and headed somewhere, the villagers looked at him as if it was amazing.

When he quickly crossed over the buildings and arrived in front of Tergio's accommodation, Flynn heard an unexpected remark.

"What? He already left?"

"Yes, he packed his bags and left early in the morning, saying he would leave."

"I see... How long has it been since he left? The gate's travel restrictions shouldn't have been lifted yet..."

"That guy said that low-ranking merchant group members like himself can be issued a travel permit and leave right away after a simple investigation if there are no issues. It hasn't been long since he left... He should be at the Council's investigation headquarters in the square by now to get the travel permit, right?"

"Ah, I see. Thank you."

The owner of the accommodation informed him that Tergio had already packed his bags and checked out. Flynn had just confirmed that the travel gate hadn't opened yet, so he thought he could meet Tergio if he hurried.

Without delay, Flynn went outside and immediately headed to the square where the investigation headquarters he had been waiting for his commander was located. There were quite a few people gathered there, and it seemed that some residents and low-ranking merchant group members were waiting nearby to receive travel permits for the controlled gate.

Flynn looked around the people lined up in a long queue to find Tergio, but he was nowhere to be seen. His heart grew more and more anxious.

'Are we going to part ways like this without even saying goodbye?'

He had apologized for being sorry, but he hadn't been able to express his gratitude while suspecting him until the end. Flynn was troubled by that. Although it was a short acquaintance, he still wanted to exchange farewells and tell him to live well wherever he went.

"Flynn, you were here. Let's go."

When he heard a voice calling him from behind and turned his head, his commander was waiting as if he had finished the handover.

"Ah, Commander."

"Are you looking for something?"

"Well... it's Teo. I haven't said goodbye to him yet, and when I stopped by Teo's accommodation, they said he had already packed his bags and left. But he helped me a lot in many ways, so I'd like to at least express my gratitude. Can I look for him for a moment?"

When Flynn spoke earnestly, blinking his eyes, Hugo looked at him and soon readily nodded. At that, Flynn immediately smiled brightly and expressed his gratitude.

Seeing that, Hugo realized that Flynn had grown quite fond of Tergio, knowingly or unknowingly. As he was thinking that, he suddenly saw someone coming out of the tent and gestured to Flynn with his chin.

"There he is, coming out."

When Flynn turned his head at Hugo's words, he saw Tergio coming out of the investigation headquarters tent after receiving a travel permit. He packed light luggage, slung it over one shoulder, and quickly walked off somewhere. Flynn hurriedly called out to him and stopped him.

"Teo!"

At the sound of someone calling him, Tergio flinched and looked back. As Flynn ran over in a hurry, he looked at Flynn with a slightly surprised face and said,

"Mr. Investigator?"

"Ah, Mr. Teo, are you leaving already?"

While Flynn caught his breath after rushing over, Tergio simultaneously raised his head and looked at Hugo, who was standing at a distance behind Flynn. When their eyes met, Hugo raised one eyebrow.

Tergio immediately turned his gaze and patted Flynn's shoulder, answering,

"Yes. I don't know much about the important information of the merchant group... and although I was investigated, it was determined that I wasn't closely related, so the Council gave me permission to leave now. So, I just received a travel permit and was about to leave."

"Ah... I see."

Flynn couldn't say the words 'That's a relief' that should have come out. Should he let him go this quickly?

"Are you leaving now too, Mr. Investigator?"

"Ah, yes. The Commander and I belong to the Central Branch, and we came here on a mission, so we have to return to our original place of work."

"I see. You must have worked hard coming all the way here. Will you receive a reward when you return? You solved a huge case."

"Haha, it's thanks to you, Mr. Teo. I've been wanting to say thank you all along."

"To me?"

Teo asked back as if it was a bit unexpected. Flynn nodded and continued,

"If Mr. Teo hadn't told me about the monsters in the first place, I probably wouldn't have known that such enormous things were hidden in the mountains, and I wouldn't have been able to catch that fire mage who secretly escaped through the closed gate."

"It's a bit embarrassing. I just did what I had to do."

Teo scratched his cheek as if he was embarrassed. Flynn looked at him with a pleased expression and asked,

"Where are you going now, Mr. Teo?"

"Well... since I lost my job, I'll have to go and find another place. Somewhere I'm needed."

Seeing Teo speak with a slightly bitter tone, Flynn was momentarily flustered and tried hard to comfort him.

"Don't worry. You'll find one soon. Mr. Teo, you're calm, and you have good intuition... Above all, the reason I was able to solve the case was all thanks to you. There will surely be many places that need you, Mr. Teo."

Flynn rambled on about what he felt about Tergio. At those incoherent words of comfort, Teo listened the whole time and then smiled slightly at him as if letting out a small laugh.

As the smile spread faintly in his eyes and the corners of his mouth, Flynn was continuing his words but unconsciously stared at him in a daze.

"Thank you, Mr. Flynn."

He really had an ordinary face. Nevertheless, Flynn felt that the curved eyes and the parabolic lips were quite pretty, so he momentarily blushed without realizing it.

"Uh..."

Flynn lost his words and stammered, then suddenly realized that it was the first time Tergio had called him by his name, not Mr. Investigator. At that, he felt that he and Tergio had finally opened up their hearts and gotten a little closer just before parting.

Hugo, who had been watching them from a distance, habitually tried to check his wrist but turned his eyes to the clock in the square.

The time for lifting the gate's travel restrictions was approaching. Since people might gather and delay the return time, Hugo soon approached the two people having a conversation.

As he approached and stood, casting a shadow nearby, Teo stopped smiling and raised his head. Flynn thought it was a pity that the smile that had shone for a moment disappeared.

"Flynn, we should get going now."

"Ah, yes, I understand. Mr. Teo, then... take care. Thank you."

Flynn bid farewell, trying hard to hide his regretful expression. In response, Teo smiled again, but it was quite different from the smile he had shown until a moment ago.

"Be careful on your way back. Both of you."

Hugo lightly nodded his head while looking at Tergio, who spoke like that. Then, as Hugo turned around and walked away, Flynn also waved his hand at Teo and followed behind him.

Teo quietly watched the two people's retreating figures. Then, he sighed softly, so that no one could hear, and brushed back his hair.

At that moment, Hugo, who had been walking with long strides, abruptly stopped.