After A-Train finished that "sorry" so soft it was almost inaudible, Ashley cheered and immediately took the lead in applauding.
"What is responsibility?"
"This is."
"Although A-Train didn't actually need to make this trip, as a matter of responsibility befitting a superhero, he still came here in person to apologize to the victim's family."
"Our company will also provide the family with a humanitarian condolence payment."
"Our lawyers will deliver it shortly. So that concludes today's matter."
"If everyone has anything else they'd like to know, you can come to Seven Tower. We'll be there—"
Just at this moment, someone interrupted Ashley, "Please wait!"
Ashley frowned imperceptibly, then quickly switched to a smiling face and looked at Hughie, "Is there something else, sir?"
Hughie was a little awkward. Under the gaze of the media, his expression was tense, but he still stepped forward and said, "Did anyone hear A-Train's apology just now?"
"Because I didn't hear it."
"Look at him, he didn't even take off his goggles. He won't even look at me."
"I don't think this counts as an apology. It feels more like brushing it off!"
Hughie's dad looked at his son in surprise.
In his memory, Hughie had always been timid and passive, very much like himself.
But today, right now, he actually dared to step forward and say something like this. Commendable courage.
A-Train shook his head, took off his goggles, and looked at Hughie, saying softly, "That's enough, man."
At this moment, he didn't know what he saw, but his gaze subtly changed.
Hughie thought of his girlfriend's hands.
Robin had been smashed to pieces.
In the cemetery, inside that coffin, the only thing that could be buried were those hands.
That thought filled him with rage, and that rage brought him endless courage.
"Apologize!"
"Look at me and apologize out loud!"
"Apologize to the dead Robin!"
Ashley was about to step in and mediate, but she froze for a moment and then stopped.
The media, the reporters, all raised their cameras, flashes going nonstop, as if eager to record this special moment.
At this moment, Hughie felt like a warrior, engaged in a sacred war.
Then, a streak of red drifted into the corner of his vision.
Next, he saw a corner of the Stars and Stripes.
Then a hand filled with infinite strength gently pressed down on his shoulder, and Hughie heard a deep voice behind him.
"He's right, A-Train."
"Whether you're an ordinary person or a superhero."
"If you do something wrong, you have to apologize."
"That's the most basic etiquette."
'Homelander?'
Hughie turned around and saw the blond-haired, blue-eyed, handsome, sunny Homelander standing right behind him, becoming his powerful support.
And, Homelander agreed with what he had said.
This made Hughie so emotional that his eyes grew moist.
A-Train closed his eyes and took a long breath.
Only then did he lift his head and look at Hughie.
"I'm very sorry, Mr. Hughie."
"I'm sorry for what I did. For everything."
"I apologize!"
Clap! Clap! Clap!
Alex took the initiative to applaud.
"That was very well said, A-Train. I'm proud to have a teammate like you."
A-Train nodded, finally letting out a sigh of relief.
At this time, Hughie asked, "I accept his apology, but is that the end of this?"
"Doesn't he have to face legal punishment?"
A-Train suddenly raised his head, glaring at Hughie, grinding his teeth as he whispered, "Hey, nerd, don't push your luck."
The media all turned their cameras toward Homelander.
Ashley hurriedly said, "Regarding whether to prosecute A-Train, our legal department is currently following up. How about inviting our media friends to Seven Tower, where our legal counsel will give everyone a satisfactory answer."
"He will, of course, face punishment."
A voice cut in, interrupting Ashley.
In an instant, Ashley felt the urge to resign.
After all, following a boss like Homelander, who never shied away from stirring things up, no matter how capable she was, it was impossible to keep up.
Yes, that line about "facing punishment" was spoken by Alex.
A-Train thought he'd heard wrong. He looked up at Alex, then stepped forward two paces and whispered, "Homelander, you're joking, right?"
Alex smiled at the cameras, gently patting A-Train on the shoulder, and replied softly, "I'm serious."
Then he spoke loudly, "I know a lot of people are worried about the lack of restraints on superheroes."
"Here, I can guarantee to everyone."
"Superheroes also need to obey the law."
"They need to follow the code of conduct for citizens."
"They need to take responsibility for their actions."
"So yes."
"A-Train will be investigated. As for what kind of punishment he'll receive—"
Alex looked at Hughie and shrugged, "Sorry, that's for the judge to decide. I'm not a judge."
"But I will make sure he goes to see a judge."
"Isn't that so my friend?"
That last sentence was directed at A-Train.
A-Train said quietly, "Homelander, this isn't funny."
Alex replied with a smile, "I already told you, I'm serious."
A-Train spoke rapidly, "If I go to prison, what about my endorsements? I've still got a new movie about to start filming."
"All those breach-of-contract penalties added together won't be a small amount."
"The company won't let anything happen to me."
Alex chuckled softly, "You might not know this."
"This morning, I already settled the terms with Edgar."
"From now on, The Seven answer to me."
"So if I say you have to go see a judge, then you go see a judge."
"Do you understand?"
A-Train shook his head, "No! No! I'm not going to prison! I'm absolutely not going to prison!"
Alex's smile didn't change, "That's not up to you."
A-Train looked up at the handsome man with that sunny smile, yet found no warmth at all in his eyes.
At this moment, Alex turned his head toward Hughie, "I'll personally send A-Train to the police station."
Whoosh!
Suddenly, the sound of wind rose up.
Ashley's hair was lifted by the wind, floating upward.
When it fell back down, there were tiny droplets of red, warm liquid landing on her face.
She was still maintaining her smile, but she heard screams ringing out beside her, one after another.
She looked toward the media, and the smile slowly faded from her face.
She saw blood, shattered bones, organs, and shredded clothing. All of it mixed together, smeared across the pavement, dyeing the reporters' clothes red.
Where the tightly packed crowd of media had stood, a passageway now appeared.
On the ground of that passageway, everything was blood.
"A-Train disregarded the law, attempted to evade judicial punishment, and even resorted to killing to escape," Homelander's voice made Ashley turn back.
She saw the man draped in the Stars and Stripes cape slowly lift off the ground, solemnly and righteously declaring, "From this moment on, A-Train is no longer a member of The Seven."
"I will personally deliver his punishment!"
After saying that, Homelander shot straight into the sky.
Pausing briefly in midair he zoomed off towards the direction of A-Train.
Only then did Ashley finally react, finally understand what had just happened.
When she thought about the consequences this would bring, Ashley couldn't help grabbing at her hair, yanking out several strands of blond in the process.