What Hugo said and what Butler Lee replied were both true in their own ways.
Even the fiercest warrior might grow accustod to battle, but never to the lives lost in it. A battle won might be celebrated by those who didn’t take part in it, but for those who did, celebration was not an option.
At least, for Hugo, another victory only ant another weight on his shoulders.
He was proud to fight for those he cared about and for his country. However, the last thing he would ever do was celebrate—because behind every victory lay the blood of not just his enemies, but his comrades—his family on the battlefield.
Still, what Butler Lee said was true as well. Hugo might never get used to it, but he had learned to live with it. The burden didn’t lessen, but carrying it beca second nature. That was why he wasn’t surprised when Benjamin insisted on staying in town.
While searching for Penny, Hugo had seen the grueso trail Mint had left behind. Though, in a way, he considered it rciful—she had ended their suffering in an instant. They had died before they even knew it. He found it admirable, but at the sa ti, as a fellow soldier fighting for justice, he was painfully aware of the burden Mint had just added to her own shoulders.
And Hugo was right.
---
After an entire night of sweeping the town clean of corruption, Mint barely had a mont to breathe. The number of people they had apprehended and rescued totaled over a hundred. Many required dical attention, and with even the local police under investigation, things were chaotic.
In the end, they decided to keep everyone at the base for the ti being until more reinforcents arrived. Those in need of dical care were treated by Penny’s team, many of whom stayed behind—not just to assist dically, but because the island’s healthcare providers refused to treat certain people.
Beyond that, there were countless legal and logistical hurdles to navigate.
Even after the ceasefire, problem after problem landed on Mint’s plate. But she wasn’t one to complain—handling these issues kept her mind occupied. Only when things finally settled was she given ti to rest. She had a few options, but she chose to stay for the day and fly back in the afternoon.
With that, Mint was escorted ho. Since the incident had just occurred, so agents offered to stay around her house for extra security.
"I’m not letting you guys in, just in case you don’t know," she told them as she stood at her front door. "I’m going to take a nap. I’ll be out before my flight."
Without waiting for a response, she stepped inside and shut the door.
She didn’t move.
For minutes, Mint stood there, eyes cast downward, her expression far from what one might expect of soone who had just taken down a syndicate her colleagues had been chasing for so long.
She was exhausted, yet for so reason, she couldn’t bring herself to take another step.
"You’re back?"
The soft voice broke the silence.
Mint slowly lifted her gaze and found Benjamin standing nearby. He was already showered, dressed in his pajamas, an apron tied around his neck.
"I thought you’d leave without stopping by," he said with a faint smile.
Mint didn’t reply.
"I made breakfast," Benjamin continued, glancing toward the kitchen. "It’s almost done. Go wash up—I’ll call you when it’s ready."
With that, he peeked into the kitchen before hurrying back inside.
Mint remained motionless, her brows slightly furrowed. She slowly dragged her feet toward the entrance of the kitchen, stopping just short of stepping inside.
There, Benjamin was fanning the steam off a pot with his hand.
"Why are you here?" she asked, her voice quiet. "You should’ve gone to the other island with everyone else."
Benjamin glanced up at her and smiled. "If I left, who would make you breakfast?"
"..."
Mint pressed her lips into a thin line, her chest tightening. Looking away, she huffed and shook her head.
Benjamin sighed. Lowering the fla on the stove, he walked over to her.
When he was just a step away, he raised a hand and gently placed it on her head.
"Thank you for coming to my rescue, Mint," he said sincerely. "To be honest, that was probably one of the scariest things I’ve ever been through. But knowing you ca... it makes all the difference."
"I didn’t rescue you," Mint murmured, lifting her eyes to his. "In the end, duty ca first. I didn’t find you—I didn’t help you. Don’t thank ."
"But you ca." He shrugged, his smile unwavering. "Does it really matter whether you dragged out yourself? The fact that you were there for is enough. We’re both safe, and that’s what matters."
Her lips trembled as she exhaled shakily. "I’m sorry."
Benjamin let out a quiet breath, watching the unshed tears in her eyes.
This—this was why he had chosen to stay behind instead of leaving with the others.
Mint was the toughest, most fearless person he knew. But she had never taken life lightly—not even in the na of justice.
And having to choose between family and duty—two things that ant everything to her—was never easy.
Taking another step forward, Benjamin wrapped his arms around her and patted her back.
"Mint, I’m glad you chose to help those people instead of leaving them all behind to find ," he said softly, smiling against her hair. "It makes think... if there were more people like you in the world, maybe things wouldn’t be so difficult for you."
At the end of the day, there was one thing Benjamin had always wondered.
If there had been just one—just one person—kind enough to help a stranger, maybe Mint’s mother could have been saved. If soone like Mint had been there that day—soone who didn’t turn a blind eye—perhaps Mint wouldn’t have been left alone in this world.
"I’m so proud of you, Mint," he whispered. "What happened wasn’t easy, but knowing you always do the right thing, even in a place where right is wrong... I couldn’t be prouder."
He held her a little tighter. "I’m just glad we’re both safe."
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