At 6:00 p.m., the dark clouds over Sogas vanished.
After a whole day of drizzle, the rain had finally stopped.
The setting sun, reluctant to end the day, shone through the haze, painting a vibrant farewell over the beautiful city of Sogas.
A soft breeze blew through, mixing with the poetic feel of the travelers at Sogas Airport, their hurried steps filled with dreams of far-off places.
Just as Robin and his companions entered the plaza in front of the airport lobby, his phone buzzed.
He glanced at the screen and saw a message from Alice. "Thank you, Robin!"
Robin smiled faintly and looked up. The sun, a deep red, was sinking quickly as flocks of birds hurried back to their nests in the rising wind.
The world never seemed to stop, with people constantly coming and going.
Fate had a way of bringing people together and tearing them apart—those who were close could end up far away, while strangers could meet in the most unexpected ways.
A voice pulled him out of his thoughts.
"Sir, what a coincidence to see you here!"
Robin turned to see a frail, middle-aged woman looking at him with grateful eyes that had seen hard times.
He then realized she had spoken to him in the Draconia language.
"Ma'am, are you from Draconia? Do we know each other?"
The woman bowed deeply to Robin, her face alight with joy. "Yes, I'm from Draconia. Sir, are you also from Draconia? Thank you so much!"
She wore the uniform of an airport plaza cleaner, showing that she worked there. Though her face looked worn and exhausted, her eyes shone with hope and gratitude.
"Thank you so much, sir."
Seeing her bow repeatedly, Robin felt confused.
"Ma'am, I haven't done anything to help you. Are you mistaking me for someone else?"
The woman shook her head firmly. "I'm not mistaken! Your words in court today changed the judge's decision. Do you realize how many lives you saved? What you said was incredible. You're a good person.
"If you hadn't been there, many of us would have been left with no hope."
Only then did Robin grasp what she meant.
He smiled gently. "Ma'am, were you at the court today?"
"I wasn't inside, but I was outside. I watched the broadcast and later heard other patients talking about you. Sir, what you did was amazing. You're a lifesaver!"
Noticing the light in her eyes, Robin asked, "Ma'am, I just said what any ordinary person would. If I may ask, are you affected by this situation?"
The woman nodded, her voice filled with emotion. "Very much so! I work at Sogas because of it.
"My son is 13 and has leukemia. The doctor said he could live if he took this medication. But the medicine in Draconia is too expensive—we can't afford it!
"I've spent all my savings, even sold our home. My husband couldn't handle it and left us.
"I have no way out. The money I earn is never enough to cover the cost of the medicine. But without it, my son will die.
"I've lived my life with nothing to show for it. If I lose my son too, there would be no reason for me to go on."
Her eyes filled with grief and despair.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: The Deadly Assassin Robin