Commander, Please Spare Your Little Merman

went deat

e room stopped moving. No one dared to make a sound. Their thoughts stalled, and the

assed through Vi

om the technician. He kept his face composed

ected to hear

, but he knew how thorough

fore anger quickly followed, makin

m to remain calmer than most peo

s. Every detail on the page belonge

Vincen

e:

feet and

ecord: Evening o

reau, Chief Inspector of the Marine Administration Agency, Chief Revi

fication: Conf

entered Vin

he mentally retraced every part of

d never met Nolan. He certainly ha

e man remained seated at the interrogation table and refused to meet his eyes. Fear filled

ep felt heavier as he made his way to the investigation

from their chairs and cleared the seats. Non

wall. The recording had stopped on the

like him entered the hotel where Nolan had been staying and walked straig

ed the controller. He watched the footage t

nlarged the image. He checked several ca

ooked out

as that your lover?" someone

ate immediately dropped his gaze an

couldn't remember. If he said no, everyone would assume he

h his account history. His high-level account showed a wit

ed off the sur

om felt different wh

us you were heading home to rest." A subordinate quietly reminde

ordinates stared at Vincent in shock

rything made

ed someone, and threatened him so badly that the

he really was

t-looking guy, refused to admit it,

his pants and thrown 8

a scu

ir hands to their temples an

one wanted

the s

ight be interested in men or that th

illed the

isunderstanding. We'd like to step away from the

They jumped out of their seats and rushed fr

leave as well. One after anothe

Vincent and No

brow and released a

judgment would drive him to take advantage o

o merman scales and sometimes carried them as part of his investigat

ay. 8, 000 dollars really was missing from his account, and he couldn't dispute that fact. Every personal account at the Protection & Control Bu

resolve. He left no room for "possibly," "perhaps," or "un

t final one percent, he would settl

incent straightened to his full height and looked down at Nola

nse of everything, but the man before him truly f

strands of Nolan's hair. He glanced up and caugh

refused to pick it up. He already felt vulnerable enoug

," Nolan blurte

he continued forcing himself to meet his eyes. Beneath all that

urprisingly

what happened,"

Nolan mu

e you?" Vin

Yes

use pro

ghter until the knuckles turned w

nt for a moment.

Nolan repli

ing. Someone so skilled at hiding his f

be sorted out and filed away. None of the emotions most humans would have shown

incere apology, and close the matter wit

r raised voices. Vincent's steady and measur

could make even an apo

ble and approached Nolan. He set the document in f

lan asked as he st

or personnel at the Protection & C

f you despise me. Someone will speak with you about compensation and confirm the d

ed Nolan to

wn life the day before. Countless terrible outcomes had crossed his mind, but he ha

would ever dare seek th

I choose not to report you

esitation. "No. I'll submit my

in front of him. Vin

ifted away before r

tween us?" Nolan whispered. As soon as the question left