Welcome home

Even in the midst of something beautiful, there will always be some things that spoil the mood; that's normal.

Henry broke the silence, saying, "You all remember what I asked you to keep secret, right?"

No one spoke; they just stared at the man who had spoken. Henry turned to the Italian captain and said, "Captain Luca, you deserve all the credit for this successful emergency landing. Are you ready for a hero's welcome?"

"Hey kid, what's up?"

Interrupting Luca, Henry said, "If you don't play the hero, then all the scenes we've put on before will have been for nothing."

If you only start to claim it's someone else's achievement now, how many people will believe you?

"Besides, don't be afraid to take the credit. I did indeed do everything according to your orders. And I think..."

No one would be on your plane demanding a perfect recreation of this, so don't be afraid of being tested.

"Well... alright." The captain chose to compromise.

This level of fame and achievement will not actually have a positive impact on one's career; in fact, it may even be negative.

However, it's also a fact that he was rescued by someone else. If that person doesn't want the truth to be revealed, then helping them keep it a secret is his way of repaying that favor.

The captain was easy to handle, and the flight attendant who was so drunk she passed out could be ignored, but Henry hadn't forgotten Brian and the others' secret identities. Although he couldn't find any documents to prove they were CIA agents, they had indeed engaged in clandestine activities while protecting Ms. Hepburn in Africa, clearly indicating they were members of some intelligence organization.

Such a person, who simply asks the other party to keep a secret, is actually not reliable at all.

So, should we silence them?

As if sensing Henry's gaze, Brian spoke first, regardless of whether Henry had considered the worst-case scenario. "Henry, since we promised to keep your secret, we will. Don't doubt our promise."

As he spoke, Brian extended one hand to shake hands with the person, to show his determination.

"Alright." Henry shook hands and said, "I still think it's more valuable for me to owe you a favor privately than to report my situation for a promotion and a chance to make money. I think you can tell the difference."

This hint, coupled with Henry's demonstration of Super Hearing through the airplane cabin, made Brian realize a possibility: their secret identities might not be so secret after all.

Seeing through it but not saying anything, Brian sincerely said, "Having a friend like you is much more reliable, isn't it?"

Mark, Sam, and Old Bernie also expressed their support, shaking hands or hugging Henry. They said:

"Hey, tough guy, you saved my life. I'm not so stupid as to not know right from wrong."

"Yes, Henry. You don't have many friends you can trust, but you must believe that we are trustworthy."

"Kid, don't worry about your secret. I've kept plenty of secrets in my life, but you've never heard me blabber about them, have you?"

"Thanks," Henry replied.

Sam then suddenly asked, "Actually, you had a way of getting Ms. Hepburn to safety on the plane, didn't you?"

Now Henry was under everyone's watchful eyes, including Audrey Hepburn.

Henry shrugged and honestly replied, "Yes, that is indeed one of the options."

"Then why didn't you consider doing that?"

"I didn't intend to make such a cruel choice, and I don't think I could say no when those eyes were on me. If that's the case, why not discuss how to save the whole plane from the start, so that no one becomes the bad guy and needslessly become disliked?"

After a moment's thought, everyone understood Henry's predicament.

In that situation on the plane, if he said he could fly and save someone, regardless of who he was saving, the remaining people would inevitably harbor resentment.

But would Ms. Hepburn be the kind of person who only cares about her own survival and disregards the lives of others?

Based on my observations over the past few days, she is not. The lady will surely beg Henry to find a way to rescue everyone, even if it means using all sorts of tricks and pleading, she will find a way to get Henry to agree.

Even if everyone is successfully rescued by then, will people still be as peaceful as they are now?

Because they first faced being abandoned and left to die, and then received the opportunity to be saved. At this point, the emotion left in their hearts is most likely not gratitude, but resentment.

Even if Henry only rescued Ms. Hepburn, how would he face her afterwards?

It's important to understand that the plane wasn't in a life-or-death situation where there wasn't enough time to save more people.

Instead, they have ample time to discuss and consider how to save themselves.

Giving up directly like this is neither reasonable nor ethical.

Unless Henry chooses to save himself today, completely abandoning the other people on the plane and silencing everyone who knows the truth.

Otherwise, the best option for him would be the path he is on.

Regardless of the other party's motives, Henry chose not to abandon anyone or confront what he called "cruelty."

This still filled Sam with gratitude.

He shook Henry's hand firmly again, his gratitude evident.

Finally, Henry approached Ms. Hepburn. He rubbed his face shyly, wanting to say so much but unsure how to begin. In the end, he only asked, "Boss, you won't fire me, will you?"

"How could this be, child? How could this be?" Audrey Hepburn gave Henry a big hug.

In the past, this scene of a petite woman nestled against a boy would have been the envy of countless men. But now, the feeling is reversed; it's as if Ms. Hepburn is tenderly embracing a boy, like a mother holding her child.

Releasing Henry, Audrey Hepburn slapped him hard on the arm again and said, "Well done, tough guy. You've really been a help."

Henry grinned.

Just then, the loud sound of propellers came from afar, and searchlights swept haphazardly across the ground. In no time, the searchlights spotted the small passenger plane that had made an emergency landing, and the people on its wings.

Everyone waved and jumped excitedly on the ground.

Brian had Mark and Sam return to the cabin and bring out the still-unconscious flight attendant.

Two helicopters hovered close to the ground, kicking up clouds of dust. Several soldiers jumped out of the helicopters, ran to the crowd with guns drawn, and asked, "Is Ms. Audrey Hepburn here?"

Hepburn stepped forward from behind the others and said, "I am Audrey Hepburn, and the others are my assistants, security team members, and the plane's crew."

"Eight people in total, is that right?"

Yes, there were eight people in total.

The lead soldier said, "Madam, we are U.S. military rescue team. We will now take you back to base. The plane and the supplies on board will be collected later. Welcome home, Ms. Hepburn."

"Thank you." Audrey Hepburn boarded the helicopter under the escort of soldiers. Everyone else followed suit, boarding two helicopters and flying back to the U.S. military base, ending a night filled with both surprises and frights.