A-Train raised his head.
"...Huh?"
The sound slipped out almost instinctively.
It wasn't just him. A few people nearby who had heard the remark froze as well.
What did that mean?
He'd almost killed someone, and somehow that had earned him newfound respect?
Someone glanced at A-Train, then at Lin Mo, unable to tell whether that had been a compliment or something else.
A-Train was even more confused. He stared at Lin Mo, his mind briefly going blank.
He'd caused this much trouble, and the boss had actually praised him? Had he hit the ground too hard just now and misheard?
Or did those words mean something other than what they seemed to?
The more A-Train thought about it, the less certain he became.
But Lin Mo had no intention of explaining it to him now. After speaking, he looked away and turned back to Hughie.
The young man had clearly heard the remark too, but rather than figuring out why Lin Mo had said it, he was far more concerned about Robin lying on the ground.
His lips moved as he tried to plead for help again, but Lin Mo gently patted his arm before he could speak.
"I heard you."
His voice was much gentler than it had been when he spoke to A-Train.
"Steady yourself first."
Hughie looked at him, his breathing still uneven, but instinctively did as he was told.
Lin Mo kept the hand supporting him in place and waited until he was standing steadily before asking another question.
"What's your name?"
"Hughie."
He answered quickly.
"My name's Hughie. She's Robin, she's my girlfriend. We were just..."
"All right, Hughie."
Lin Mo gently interrupted him.
"I know you're scared."
"She's still alive. I can see that too."
At those words, Hughie's mind, already in complete