บท 28: Next time, I might not be able to help.

As Juan turned to me and suggested I make myself comfortable, I found the only free seat close to the ripperdoc chair where Pierce was already seated. The tools around Juan's workshop caught my eye – they were rare, the kind you wouldn't just find lying around. "Did you raid a corporate warehouse for these?" I joked, trying to lighten the mood.

Juan just smiled at me, his eyes crinkling but he didn't answer. He started inspecting Pierce's shoulder, tutting under his breath. "I warned you about overusing this thing," he chided Pierce.

Pierce grunted, "I'll pay you soon."

Juan laughed heartily. "I doubt that. I do it in memory of your sister, not for your money." He then glanced at me and back at Pierce, his expression turning serious. "Is she another one who'll get killed because of you?"

I tensed at his words, questioning my presence here. Pierce remained silent.