After all, Miss Ying could use the Teleport Waypoint.
By the time she arrived at Beryl Region, the primordial sea water that had almost completely submerged the entire Beryl Region had long since receded, leaving behind only widespread wreckage.
Roofs completely crushed by water pressure, houses utterly collapsed, metal walkways with several new holes...
All of this seemed to indicate what had just happened in Beryl Region, making one's heart clench.
Paimon looked at the ruins before her, finding it hard to connect this place with the Beryl Region she had seen before.
Although the previous Beryl Region was a bit rundown, it wasn't this tragic.
She quickly looked around and saw only Spina di Rosula members in black suits rummaging through the ruins, as if searching for something or conducting a rescue.
But none of them spoke, and their expressions were even somewhat heavy.
This alone made Paimon feel a bit scared.
She turned to Miss Ying, who was also searching for familiar figures beside her, and asked with some concern:
"Uh... Speaking of which, have you seen Mr. Yuto and Miss Navia? Given the current situation, they should be here, right...?"
Paimon stammered for a moment, perhaps because she had already thought of the worst possible outcome, but she didn't voice it.
Miss Ying gently shook her head, then led Paimon slowly down the somewhat dilapidated metal platform.
Just as they were about to reach the very bottom, a somewhat old but familiar voice came from behind them.
"Miss Ying, and little Paimon? Why are you here?"
Miles looked at the two figures and asked with some surprise.
To Miles, these two were like they had vanished for a while and then suddenly reappeared, appearing and disappearing unpredictably.
However, considering they were adventurers, he didn't dwell too much on this point and shifted his question to something more meaningful.
"We came here to find Mr. Yuto at the behest of Mr. Neuvillette and Mr. Lyney."
Perhaps because the surrounding environment was quiet and the atmosphere heavy, Paimon, who usually didn't pay much attention to her speaking volume, deliberately lowered her voice at this moment, as if... she was a little afraid.
Hearing the name "Yuto," the old man, who had not changed his expression when Vasher suddenly launched an attack from the prosecution stand, suddenly showed a hint of sadness on his face.
"Mr. Yuto he..."
Miles lowered his head slightly, then let out a soft sigh.
Looking at Miles, who appeared sad and somewhat dejected, Miss Ying and Paimon instantly understood the unspoken latter half of Miles's sentence.
The three fell into a prolonged silence.
Miles's mood was clearly low; as one of the elders of Spina di Rosula, Miles naturally knew how much Mr. Assistant Officer had helped Spina di Rosula.
Whether it was when Cares was building Spina di Rosula or when Miss Navia was struggling to hold on, this Assistant Administrator had helped them a great deal, both openly and secretly.
And this time was no different.
If Mr. Yuto hadn't been trying to get more Beryl Region residents evacuated quickly, he wouldn't have been swept into the Primordial Sea like that.
One could even say that the lives of the last two groups of evacuated Beryl Region residents were exchanged for Mr. Yuto's own life.
Seemingly sensing the overly heavy atmosphere, Paimon lowered her head slightly, then said in a very, very small voice:
"Mr. Yuto... was he dissolved by the Primordial Sea?"
Miles nodded heavily at her words, then turned his gaze to the Spina di Rosula members who were searching through the ruins everywhere.
Miss Ying and Paimon also noticed Miles's shift in gaze and likewise looked at them.
The old man remained silent for a long time before slowly saying:
"There are still about fifty Spina di Rosula members remaining in Beryl Region... but during this period of search and rescue... we haven't found Mr. Yuto."
"So... Mr. Yuto might really..."
Miles's voice was slightly choked; he didn't continue speaking, but instead wiped the corner of his eye slightly, then looked up and said:
"My apologies, both of you, I've lost my composure. If you two are looking for Miss Navia... please go down that way."
Miles said, pointing to a nearby metal ladder, and maintained his butler-like elegance as he spoke:
"Please watch your step. Although the damage to the metal floor isn't extensive enough for someone to fall through, please be careful to avoid unnecessary trouble."
"I still need to lead the other Spina di Rosula members to continue searching for traces of Mr. Yuto. Please excuse me for now."
After saying this, Miles turned and left without waiting for Miss Ying and Paimon's reply.
For Miles, Mr. Yuto's disappearance or dissolution was an immense loss.
This loss was not only for Spina di Rosula but for all of Fontaine.
After Miles left, Miss Ying sighed softly, then silently went with Paimon to find Miss Navia.
Now, the only thing they could do was ask Miss Navia what help she needed.
...
Following Miles's guidance, they soon saw that distinctly desolate golden-yellow back by the pool at the very bottom of Beryl Region.
Miss Ying and Paimon, with tacit understanding, stood not far from Miss Navia, quietly waiting for Miss Navia to notice their presence herself.
What she needed now was not help, but a space where she could be alone for a while.
Perhaps because Miss Navia had been standing there for a long time, or for some other reason, she quickly sensed Miss Ying and Paimon's presence.
The young girl turned her head slightly and forced a somewhat strained smile at Miss Ying and Paimon.
"Miss Ying... and Paimon, you've come..."
Miss Navia said, sounding somewhat listless.
At this moment, Miss Navia was no longer the always energetic boss and Miss Navia of Spina di Rosula, but an ordinary young girl who had lost a loved one.
A hint of weariness showed in her misty blue eyes, and her eye sockets were slightly red, as if she had just cried.
The young girl's normally imposing, elaborate curly hair also looked somewhat disheveled at this moment, as if she had suffered a great calamity.
"Miss Navia... are you feeling better?"
Paimon asked with some concern.
This time, Miss Navia did not speak, but merely stared blankly at the sea-blue cloth strip in her hand, falling into a long silence.
Miss Ying also noticed that this cloth strip... came from the sea-blue formal attire that Mr. Yuto often wore.
At this moment, the appearance of this item meant that...
Mr. Yuto might have truly vanished into the Primordial Sea, leaving behind not even his iconic staff.
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