"He's in a lord-knight relationship that was appointed as a knight as soon as Baroness Penrod received her title, but as you know, he's not a formal knight. When we showed the servant the photo registered in the personal information document at the time of appointment, he just kept saying the face seemed different. He couldn't remember the exact impression."
"The face is different?"
"Yes. He says the person he encountered in front of the facility room had a somewhat delinquent feel, but the person in the photo looks proper, so they don't seem to be the same person."
"...I see."
"And both Baroness Penrod and Henry Digliff's financial flows have stopped until now. Since quite some time has passed... wouldn't it be reasonable to consider them deceased?"
Hugo, who had been listening to Flynn's story, turned one more page of the paper. There was a record stating that Margaret Penrod and Henry Digliff's assets and possessions had been left unattended since the incident.
Hugo had started tracking the two people's whereabouts when he discovered unfamiliar noble names on the list of banquet attendees.
An unfamiliar figure appearing at the banquet. Since she had appeared with a noticeable means of transportation from the moment of entry, there were surprisingly many who remembered Margaret Penrod during the investigation process.
When her partner was included among the three suspicious individuals identified by the servant, Hugo was almost certain he had caught the tail. However, in the end, the servant's memory and Henry Digliff's attire did not match. Subsequently, Baroness Penrod's half-melted metal business card and a watch and tie pin with initials presumed to be her partner's were found near the first-floor hall among the explosion debris.
Internally, this was seen as decisive evidence that the two had been caught in the explosion, and eventually, they were included in the list of the deceased three months after their disappearance.
The reason it took considerable time to declare them dead was that no fragments of their remains were found at the scene. Of course, the scene of the incident had many people's flesh torn and mixed together, so it wasn't a situation where individuals could be clearly identified.
Even the late Richard Duncan, who was said to have been protected by the late Drake Duncan throwing his body just before death, was in such a wretched state that his final appearance could hardly be considered human.
Therefore, council members who didn't know the practical aspects consistently argued that the two suspects had also suffered a catastrophe and couldn't be located. After all, they needed to promptly handle the case to preserve the Council's dignity.
Hugo still had much to say about this, but as he was under suspicion as a suspect in the explosion incident at the time, his range of involvement in the case was significantly reduced as he stepped down from being the person in charge. Moreover, he was in a state of having lost some authority under the pretext of preventing abuse of power, instead of facing disciplinary action for Leonardo's trial case. There wasn't even an opportunity to raise uncertain suspicious circumstances.
Of course, regardless of such constraints, it remained an unchanging fact that Margaret Penrod was the owner of a business with quite a high profit rate. Considering that the production line had completely stopped after her disappearance, it was indeed correct to view that she had died at the scene during the accident.
Yes. That should have been clear, but... cases that are always pushed to conclusion by time inevitably leave a lingering discomfort. Perhaps it's even more so because he alone was burying the conviction that this incident was a planned terrorist attack.
"...."
The blue eyes surreptitiously went down to the wristwatch. The watch pointed to the exact time as always, moving its second hand at a constant speed.
From some point, he had come to not fully trust this watch. The time and events of that day, which had flowed strangely slowly as if trying to delay arrival at the destination, were vivid.
After cleaning up the explosion site and returning to the mansion, he had the watch inspected several times, but no traces other than basic enhancement magic were found on it.
Then what on earth was that, just a coincidence?
The silver tip that slid through five numbers at once. It was a chilling sight enough to make one doubt hallucinations.
Of course, the fact that Leonardo was the subject of that phenomenon was ultimately just a conviction. However, he needed definitive evidence that Leonardo was not related to this incident. In a way, it might be a similar feeling to the bereaved families. He wanted to find the real culprit tenaciously and completely clear away the suspicion that he might have foreseen the explosion incident.
Doubting moments shared with someone he had opened his heart to was an act that even eroded himself. It was something he couldn't do in his right mind.
"...Hah."
After contemplating for a long time, Hugo finally put down the pen on the desk without signing.
Soon, he set aside the paper Flynn had handed him and the document requesting permission to conclude the investigation. Flynn didn't show any particular reaction but carefully added a word:
"It seems the higher-ups already consider the investigation concluded. You probably won't be able to delay it for long."
"I suppose so."
Hugo replied simply and turned a few more pages of documents. Just then, an official letter typed in bold letters caught his eye.
"The League schedule has been confirmed in the meantime."
"The incident is almost wrapped up, and it's almost the new year. The Commander-in-Chief said it's an opportunity to change the flow since there have been many unfortunate events this year."
"A change in flow..."
Hugo, with his fingers entwined around the teacup, took a sip. His gaze carefully scanned the document detailing the schedule for the League to be held next month.
From the peninsula subjugation to the accident cleanup, he didn't know how many months had been postponed. If it was an event for changing the atmosphere, now was more than appropriate.
Raina Logia was about to face a thousand years of history, which was almost unique in the modern era throughout the continent, let alone neighboring countries. Though the imperial dynasty had changed several times in between, they all claimed to be collateral relatives of the old Raina royal family, and the name 'Raina Logia' itself had not changed even once during the long years since the founding of the country.
Thanks to this, the pride and exaltation of the imperial citizens were sky-high, and their spirit was expanding day by day. It was a glorious moment that would never come again in the short human life, too precious to spend only in the sadness of the accident and the atmosphere of mourning.
"It is the right time."
The hosting institution of the League had been the Council for generations, and the council members seemed to be aiming for an image renewal by implementing the event that had been postponed along with the conclusion of the incident.
The League was not simply a competition to test the combat abilities of individual participants. It was recognized as an important venue for scouting potential personnel that each institution could recruit. Therefore, not only the three main institutions—the Council, the Imperial Army, and the Imperial Knights—but also numerous guilds and organizations had various practitioners attending the games to make scouting offers.
However, there was a participation requirement that one must be unaffiliated, so direct participation by institutional personnel was not possible.
"Will Blaine come too?"
At Flynn's unexpected question, Hugo rolled his eyes to look at him. Seeing that his superior's expression didn't seem pleased, Flynn continued with an awkward smile:
"Well... he's unaffiliated, and one of the targets being watched by the institutions."
"No, he won't come. He..."
Hugo, who was about to answer firmly that he disliked public attention, suddenly trailed off. It was because he thought that might also be just a fragmentary aspect he had seen.
The Leonardo he had last laid eyes on was a precarious and lovely being that seemed like something to be held in both hands and protected. Driven by external perceptions, he was sometimes as sharp as glass fragments, and at other times as warm and brilliant as soft sunlight.
But the situation might have changed from then to now. He had become a free person who was no longer being chased, and quite some time had passed since he had let go of his hand in front of the gate.
Hugo stared blankly at the publication date of the article that first reported the explosion incident.
[999/08/22]
Then his gaze turned to the calendar for schedule management set up on the desk.
[999/13/24]
As he stared at today's date marked with the final briefing schedule, Hugo's brow naturally furrowed. He turned his eyes to the curtained window and answered rather coldly:
"A guy who hasn't contacted me once during this time wouldn't appear in such a noisy place."
Flynn was taken aback by Hugo's response. Though it was unlikely, he somehow seemed offended. It was quite different from the emotions the Commander usually showed, so Flynn was at a loss for how to respond.
But on the other hand, he could understand his feelings.
He had thought they had grown quite close while resolving the incident of the subjugation together. But since that day when they exchanged greetings in front of the gate that sees the sun, Leonardo had not conveyed news even once.
Since he hadn't heard any news, it was impossible that they had met face to face. Just like the days of the past when he had left without a plan to find him. Leonardo had cleanly disappeared from this world without a trace.
Even knowing it was for his own protection, it was inevitable to feel resentful at times. No matter what, couldn't he at least write a letter?
And it seemed the Commander, who always maintained composure, felt the same way.
Flynn had occasionally witnessed him opening the first drawer on the right, suddenly discovering a photo, and looking at it for a while.
"He must be busy. He was a hard person to meet originally. You also said it was a miracle that you found Blaine back then, Commander."
Flynn unconsciously revealed a subtle nuance of defense.
"A miracle."
Hugo chewed on Flynn's words. A being that could only be met if a miracle occurred. More than a god in mythology. He couldn't help but chuckle.
Coincidentally, while he might use the word 'miracle' metaphorically, he wasn't particularly one to believe in it.
Hugo, who had been tapping the desk with his fingertips, moved his lips at a sudden thought.
"...Flynn, what was the name of the mineral Leonardo was looking for in the peninsula?"
"Um... etaide?"
"Why did he say he was looking for it?"
"He said he was going to make a mana stone for an amp... I think. Because of that necklace."
"For an amp... amplifier."
Just as Hugo, who had been quietly murmuring, was about to answer, there was a dull knock at the door of the Commander's office. Hugo and Flynn turned to look at the same time.
Then Andreas's voice echoed from outside the corridor.
"Commander, may I come in?"
Hugo, recognizing the other person, covered the documents with a low sigh. Then he signaled to Flynn.
"We'll talk about this later."
Flynn, who received the signal, quickly approached the door. As he pulled the handle, Andreas, carrying several yellowish-brown paper bags, was the first to step inside.
He waved the bags that emitted a savory butter smell and smiled refreshingly.
"How about that, we're the only ones who look after you, right?"
Loren and Shorendo followed in succession. The quiet atmosphere suddenly became much more boisterous.
Hugo, who had been staring with an incredulous look, stood up from his seat and greeted them with a hollow laugh.